A routine reconnaissance mission. Saitō Dōsan set out to investigate the latest happenings in the bordering system of Tau-23.
"Knowledge is power. Wisdom is second only to intelligence." "Would a wise man really lead his cruiser through hostile trade lanes then, and past hostile warships?" The Captain couldn't help but smile, just a little - Katsuyori was probably right. But speed was of the essence for this mission, they could not afford to give the Naval forces a chance to intercept or block their escape.
As the ship approached the jump hole to Tau-23, the ship's scanner began picking up contacts sporadically - the Ohka dust field was causing great interference, so that even the powerful advanced deep scanner was not operating efficiently.
The ship advanced to try to get visual contact. "Visual contact now Captain... Outcasts... Attacking what looks like IMG ships..."
"Ah. The Independent Miners Guild... How well are they faring?" "They are putting up quite a fight, but I fear they will meet a warriors death in battle here - being up against gunboats in their small escort fighters..."
The Captain pressed a button on his chair, transmitting his own voice in an open frequency to all ships in the immediate area - confident that any naval forces patrols outside the field would be unable to receive the signal.
"Outcast ships, leave the area immediately. I will not tolerate common pirates exploiting miners in Kusari." The gunboats did not respond, seemingly too busy battling to respond. The Captain did not wait any longer, and after one last attempt at communications, he ordered his crew to battle stations, and the cruiser engaged.
The battle was difficult for Saitō, due to the slow-firing nature of her weaponry. However, the gunboats were unable to even scratch her thick shielding, thanks to their reliance on anti-fighter weaponry, and after a few accurate shots from the Bo-Hiya, the gunboats fell like leaves from the tree of piracy. [1][2]
The IMG ship and its allies were grateful, and made a generous donation as thanks. Saitō followed the ships back to Java Station, continuing the mission.
When they came close enough, the crew took reconnaissance images of the Gallic battleship. [1][2][3][4]
"I had no idea... that the miners here were now under the oppression of the Gallics... This is greatly disturbing... And means operations in this system will be most dangerous..." "...And we cannot help them then. And others choose not to help them... We must pray that they must endure no further hardships, or they will surely perish..."
The crew were growing weary. Although they were having great success in their mission of spreading the message of the dragon mission and gathering donations for the cause, their jobs were tiresome, and they were kept constantly on their toes. Therefore, the captain had decided that he must acquire something to cheer them up... Sake.
Hence, they headed to the New Tokyo system, in order to try and catch a merchant hauling Sake, and ask them to donate some.
"A crew is only as good as it is dedicated. Dedication decays with weariness. Weariness can be expelled with alcohol."
However, what they encountered was not a Sake merchant, but a slaver - with his cargo pods packed full of slaves.
Appalled by this, Saitō Dōsan and his crew could not let this villain leave. However, the transport kept trying to move away - even with repeated warnings.
Soon, a KNF fighter, with a Golden Chrysantheum prisoner, found the Saitō Dōsan and the slaver. The slaver again attempted to make an escape - presumably hoping the KNF would distract the Kagutsuchi.
But this was denied, with a swift and accurate shot from the Bo-Hiya cutting the ship apart. "Captain, the slaves are free, but probably not in the way they want to be... They're stranded in space now..." Saitō Dōsan quickly rescued as many of the slaves as would fit in the ship safely - but many more remained in space.
Unfortunately, the KNF-requested transport was too late onto the scene, and over 3000 lives were lost.
"May they haunt us forever, so that we never fall as low as their recently deceased master..."
The Captain opened his eyes and saw another captive however - the GC pilot who he had ignored up until now. He quickly began negotiating the GC pilots release - knowing her destiny was none other than confinement to Fuchu prison, unless he could do something about it.
Suddenly, contacts appeared on the scanner - Outcasts.
"Hmm... good fortune comes in an unexpected form - even an enemy may be a blessing..."
Saitō Dōsan took the opportunity to help the pilot escape. He even shared with her some of his wisdom on the way.
"She was lost... and now I've helped her find her way... May she find what she is looking for and live the rest of her life in prosperity, and freedom..."
However, the day was not over for Saitō Dōsan when they reached Hokkaido once more. They headed back to New Tokyo, where they were confronted by a large number of naval forces. And a freelancer.
"Would you attack an old man, just trying to buy some Sake for his crew?" Saitō Dōsan negotiated, and never gave up doing so. The KNF had no real reason to engage his ship - it would not be beneficial to anyone. So they let him purchase the Sake, using the Freelancer as a middle-man for the transaction.
"Not all KNF pilots contribute to this houses' sorrow then - there are still many among them who can think for themselves..."
Saitō Dōsan encountered a Golden Chrysantheum pilot whilst travelling through the New Tokyo system. She explained that she was going to meet someone, in the Kyushu system, and as Saitō Dōsan was also cruising towards the system, the captain decided they may as well join her, just in-case a naval forces or police patrol caught her alone.
Eventually, the Geisha yacht she was waiting for appeared. The Saitō Dōsan stayed in the shadow of the gate, hoping to remain undetected, until they figured out what was going on.
It turned out to be a very comical dispute. At least for a neutral on-looker. The captain of the Geisha was forced, over the comms, through some harsh treatment, to "never think he could exploit women again", or something along those lines. Saitō Dōsan himself had to hold in his amusement, seeing his first mate was beginning to glare at him whenever his emotions began to break into expressions.
As the Geisha was finally allowed to leave, however, unexpected guests arrived at the scene. Two farmers alliance ships - a Raba and a fighter of some description, as well as a Kusari exiles destroyer, found them, at the gate.
The Chrysantheum pilot made no attempts at negotiation - opting to just insult their enemies - "Samura lapdogs". Saitō Dōsan however preferred to avoid bloodshed here - none of the parties here could benefit from the situation.
"There is no honour to be won here - a fight which does not need to take place, and will only weaken us all..."
However, their enemies chose to attack anyway - and rather than letting them get the first strike easily, Saitō Dōsan and his crew reacted whilst the enemy gave the order to attack - and landed several hits before the destroyer's gunners were prepared.
Despite being outnumbered, the Saitō Dōsan and the Chrysantheum pilot were the victors - the Kagutsuchi Cerberus cannons claiming their first victory - over the destroyer, and the mighty Bo-Hiya claiming yet another victim - the Raba. [1]
"They were most unwise to attack - and now they see how the cornered rat bites back against the cat."
Saitō Dōsan continued his frequent movement throughout Kusari, looking for opportunities that would help his goals without hurting the house or the people themselves.
He had begun to feel the pressure of his position - refusing to fight the naval forces without good reason, believing in the need for the state police, and yet having to fight under the Blood Dragons.
"Why do you still fight for them then?"
"If just leaving was so simple, I may have done so years ago. Abandoning a cause is dishonourable, even if you had no attention of joining it." "It is not dishonourable, if you were forced to join".
"Hmm... and what would the dragons do, if Saitō Dōsan and his crew left the cause?" "You could fight them. You have lead this crew to many victories already, and with help from the KNF..."
"No. There is another problem, right there. Would you really think that people could ever forget who's colours I fly? Even if they knew my story, Saitō Dōsan was still a Dragon - and they will always see me as a traitor."
It wasn't the first time Saitō Dōsan had been asked such questions, and it wouldn't be the last. He had hope, that one day, someone would understand his position without the need for extensive explanation. But that would clearly require great amounts of wisdom and thought - and he may lay long dead before people thought long enough to unlock and understand his complicated struggle.
"It is surely only a matter of time, before the inevitable occurs."
Saitō Dōsan received a transmission from the Blood Dragons. When they told him to join an attack on New Tokyo, he knew he couldn't decline - he couldn't afford to ignore every call. The Dragons had people everywhere. They would find out, eventually.
But Saitō Dōsan had a bad feeling this time - something was off. There was of course, no reason for a large attack on New Tokyo, and no need for a vessel such as the Kagetsuchi to be involved in such a mess.
"I would be wise to question such an order..."
Perhaps it was a suicide mission? The Dragons would dispatch of both a successful yet unusual (to put it lightly) captain in the most honourable manner - a glorious death in battle with the core forces of the KNF?
He pulls down his communication device to the entire ship.
"We have been betrayed. Those of you who want to live, prepare to disembark at Hikone."
Katsuyori turns around to face him, in surprise. "What? You can't be serious captain!"
"When have I ever lied?" Katsuyori had no answer to that - she couldn't remember a time when the captain had lied in the past.
The doors to the bridge slid open, and in rushed the engineering team from the engine room.
"If this is your last stand, we will die with you, old man!"
"Fools... This will be the end of us..."
"No, not if you're in command." Some of the bridge staff were stirred by this brave outburst by the 'dirty men from below decks', and hesitantly also volunteered. But Saitō ensured the majority of the crew - whether they liked it or not, were left at Hikone.
"Katsuyori, this is where our paths diverge. Look after my crew for me, they are your responsibility now."
And before she could object, he calmly reached out and injected her, so that she fell asleep.
"Live a long and fulfilling life, Katsuyori. This is where my own is destined to end..."
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