To: Kusari Government

[Anaximander]

---Incoming message---
---Planet New Paris, Saint-Denis Spaceport---

Dear Kusari authorities.

My name is Lawrence, and I am a freelancer trader. I help out unloading Kusari wares in Gallia, and I bring back exotic commodities from there. The route is long and perilous, with many pirates and bandits along the path - the Kusari Hogosha is one of those groups who try to steal the goods I haul, but since it is out of your jurisdiction I figure you can't and won't do anything about that.

However a while ago I discovered that the base in orbit of New Tokyo has changed hands, and it now shoots at my ship when I bring in supplies for Kusari. I talked to other pilots, as well as a few New Tokyo residents, and they told me this is a regular occurance. Some say I should bribe Hogosha to get them off my back, but I am not a criminal and I will never bribe or attempt to bribe anyone. It would offend my honor greatly, surely you must understand.

Since these acts of Hogosha aggression are detrimental to your economy (as well as mine), I would like to propose that you put a leash on that heavily armed base to ensure safe skies and free passage for any and all law-abiding traders, and to ensure the continued success of the thriving Kusari economy. A lot of us had high hopes when the regime changed, that Kusari would leave it's reactionary ways behind, and finally blossom and become a part of the wider Sirian community. I hope it's not too late, and that someone somewhere in your administration has the vision to realize the full potential of your House in a dynamic interdependent Sirian economy.

Do what is right for your citizens, as well as those who risk life and limb to bring supplies to and from Kusari on a daily basis. The alternative is that traders like me, and before long larger corporations, will withdraw their operations in Kusari because it is too unsafe.

Good day.

~Lawrence Stargazer

---Awaiting response---

[Tigger]

***INCOMING TRANSMISSION***

Timestamp: Republic of Kusari, secure diplomatic encryption.

From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To: Lawrence Stargazer

Sir,

Your transmission was referred to my desk due to its alarming and accusatory tone. In your opening you accuse a lawful corporation of Kusari of piracy. Do you have proof to support your accusations? If you do, then I will forward your complaint to the Kusari State Police to open an investigation. As no evidence was provided I wish to inform you that your statement will be forwarded to the Black Dragon Society to determine whether they wish to take legal action for libel and slander.

I have contacted traffic control within the vicinity of planet New Tokyo and have been informed that hundreds and hundreds of vessels pass through the area each day unmolested. It has been suggested that perhaps you have a less than honorable reputation with the Black Dragon Society. As you did not provide your vessel's name, registry information or other such documentation, there is little that can be done at this time. As you have identified yourself only as a freelancer, the information provided to me states that there is no such hostility inherent with your being a freelancer shipping agent.

It is recommended that you perhaps contact the Black Dragon Society yourself personally to perhaps arrange to be placed within their good graces. If you do not wish to contact them directly, I am led to understand that they have agents at nearly every planet and station within Kusari space, especially those run by the Samura corporation. For a fee, they will examine your records and make adjustments while you wait.

Further, you contact a government office speaking of bribery. Again, as before, I ask do you have any evidence to support this? As none was provided in your transmission I am left only to conclude that your accusations are mere bluster and that there may be some other reason why you did not provide your ship information in your transmission.

Suffice it to say that no lawful Kusari corporation indiscriminately fires weapons at genuinely lawful traders. There must be a root cause for such to occur and the hundreds of vessels passing through the corridor daily safely without fail would seem to attest to this fact.

It is suggested that you fix your reputation to a more honorable level. Barring that, if you can provide evidence of your accusations, I will forward your case onward.


Signed,
Miyoko Saito
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
Planet New Tokyo
Republic of Kusari

***END TRANSMISSION***

---

[The Hand]

At the Office of The Hand, Head of The Bureau, Security for The Hogosha Black Dragon Society.....

The Hand, fingers pensively steepled under his chin, reflected on the remarkable resilience of the Black Dragon Society.

Suppressing the torrent of Independent Hogosha pirating in Kusari had been bloody and created perilous times for the credibility of the Society, however the pending disaster of alienation from the Governmenment had been averted and the Society had survived yet again, even unto gaining the privilege of a base in the near perimeter of New Tokyo.

However, it seemed some groups of pilots, particularly traders, were unwilling to accept the new status quo within Kusari and particulary now that their gaijin profiteering ways were being challenged through the value for money offered by the expanding Hogosha trade fleet.

So, not unexpected that these pilots would try to start some conspiracy theory based around tales of the Hogosha shooting Freelancers and trainee pilots in front of New Tokyo. In full view of the Kusari Navy and Police? Meh! Why would we do that?

Calling his personal secretary in via the intercomm, the Hand dictated a note:

***Incoming Transmission***

To: Miyoko Saito
Executive Assistant to the Personal Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs

From: The Hand
Head of The Bureau, BDS Security,
Golden Dragon Casino

Miyoko,

Thank you for providing me with a copy of the correspondence between Mr Stargazer and yourselves. Your reply to his complaints is totally satisfactory to ourselves and should Mr Stargazer wish us to assist in the rehabilitation of his craft and the provision of authentic papers for passing through Kusari then we are more than willing to provide help, although, as you say, there will be a fee.

Please feel free to continue to offer this service by proxy to any other Kusari friendly or neutral traders where appropriate. As you know, the Hogosha do not bear grudges where suitable reparations are available.

It is of interest that Mr Stargazer rues and resents his declining profits now that the Hogosha trading fleet is becoming effective and that some control has been established over those operating under illegal papers. However we expected this from gaijin previously free to profiteer throughout Kusari, I can almost feel the shockwaves from my office.

Best Regards,

The Hand

***End Transmission***

---

[Anaximander]

---Incoming message---
---Planet New Paris, Saint-Denis Spaceport---

Dear Ms. Saito

This transmission above, I am rather confused. Why would you share sensitive information between you and I with this organisation I obviously do not trust? Is that how the Republic of Kusari operates? I understand your status as a Republic is rather new, but other developed (and perhaps less anachronistic?) Houses operate on the concept of "legal certainty" - it's a cornerstone for the rule of law, you might want to look it up. I trust that any and all information between you and I will be handled on a confidential basis from here on by you and your branch. I certainly did not sanction this haphazard handling of my sensitive information.

Thank you though for the swift reply, I did not expect that, and I certainly didn't mean to offend you or your House, I am however worried about how you handle sensitive information and formal complaints. I am just a trader looking out for my own neck, and I start to feel like it was a very good idea I didn't include my ship's name. One cannot be too careful these days.

Being a trader I am very vulnerable. I don't have the luxury of testing the weapons of pirates and, as you put it, "lawful corporations". I run, and I do so without collecting evidence in those cases where there are no authorities to seek help from. This particular "lawful corporation" has certain operations outside of Kusari jurisdiction. I thought that was well-known and I didn't think it concerned you. I'll see what I can dig up on the matter, but I suppose your proposal of a libel and slander charge against me would warrant a full-scale investigation into this corporation's actions outside of Kusari. Your investigation would probably grant you access to information mere traders like me wouldn't be able to obtain. Who knows, something good might come of it?

As I said, I am vulnerable. I have to take a lot of advice and listen carefully to what information I can get whenever I visit a station or planet. That knowledge helps me to avoid dangerous situations with those who would want to steal my cargo. On that note I took a look at the Kusari News Channel's archives, and I'm surprised if you didn't know this:

Old news about the "Hogosha Crime Syndicate"
Old news about presumed Hogosha illegal smuggling activities

As they say in Liberty, "where there's smoke, there's fire"...

Now let me know where I should go from here, if I should hire legal help and if the Hogosha should prepare for an investigation either by your authorities or a private enquiry by my legal defense.

---Awaiting response---

[Anaximander]

---BOOSTING SIGNAL---