Kishiro Technologies have secured a lucrative contract with Bretonian authorities, focusing on revitalizing their network's reduced sensor capabilities. While many see this initiative as a step in the right direction for normalizing strained relations between the Houses, others have grown increasingly concerned about the new power imbalance in the region. With steadily increasing traffic through the main avenues of commerce and and aura of secrecy about the initiative, it is difficult for opposing groups to resist this technological exchange. And the publicly acclaimed optronic deliveries are but an insignificant part of a much larger secret project, involving substantial developments of Bretonian jump capabilities, with expert Kusari oversight. Based on the little that Bretonian criminal elements have been able to ascertain, the project is still at its R&D stage, without an immediate strategic threat. But this is about to change.

With R&D efforts on Portsmouth reaching their final, critical stages, the last component of the structure is ready for delivery. Known by many of the researchers and specialists by various names, including humorous attempts at cross-cultural cuisine, this component in necessary for live testing of the infrastructure. Without it, the various interlocking components of the devices are so much inert metal, with only their potential differentiating them from the scrapyard. But these last items, for all their importance, have one major flaw - they cannot be hidden among civilian cargo to slowly trickle in undetected.

In order to ensure the safe passage through the relatively limited danger zones, the governments of Bretonia and Kusari have announced an unprecedented counter-terrorism efforts in the area. While many civilians are happy to see the soon-to-be reduced rates of insurance for the passage, unlawful elements of both Houses know - something big is about to come through. And if the House forces want to keep them down, they will be bled sufficiently to be forced to stay down alongside their enemies. Pilots incentivized to fly patrols through the developed Tau regions will find it a more difficult route from the months prior, and many will not return to their bases of operations - not without scars and claims of glory.