It has been long time since I heard from you. I hope that you won't stop in your struggle to rebuild the Sisterhood. Please, remember that you can always count on our support. Our assassin has just completed an assignment in Kusari. As I have promised I am making available for you data gathered by our operative. I hope that at least some of these information will prove useful for you.
On 3rd November I have received intelligence report on a lone Kusari Naval Forces fighter patrolling Kyushu. I have launched from Ainu with my Sabre and approached Planet Kyushu. After I detected a hostile fighter on a short range scanner I kept safe distance and lured it deep into Seiran Dust Cloud. Ship scan revealed it was Tetsuo Shimizu, ranked nito kaisa within KNF and flying a Chimera equipped with Cannonball missile launcher and standard Sunfrenzy laser guns' layout. I have engaged the hostile vessel while initiating standard electronic warfare protocol. Tetsuo Shimizu appeared to be a skilled fighter, however, not yet accustomed to upgraded missile technology. When I managed to drain all his nanobots and shield batteries, I had still half load of nanobots and full of shield batteries. Seeing this turn of events, the target decided to run, which is quite unusual, as a typical Kusarian officer is usually fighting until death. I have chased the target for some time, however, due to low ammo count on both Firestalkers and Mosquitos, as well as having in mind close proximity of Planet Kyushu and low efficiency of Excalibur weaponry in pursuit scenarios, I have aborted the assassination and returned to Ainu.
Assassination attempt 2
Once the assignment priority was lowered I have returned to Liberty and did not return to Kusari for quite some time. On 4th January, I have decided to return to Kusari. Leiden technicians detected a strong susceptibility of my ship's systems to ion interference and suggested postponing the mission. Regardless, I have decided to enter Kusari space and I encountered a lone KNF fighter near planet New Tokyo. Using standard operational technique, I lured him into a desolate region of space and there engaged. Unfortunately, the target Jiro Taiyouji, ranked itto kaii within the KNF, turned out to be extremely skilled pilot trained in both prolonged slide tactics, as well as anticipated turn manoeuvre. My opponent's skill coupled with my systems suffering from strong ion interference sealed my fate. Just before losing critical hull integrity I managed to initiate a self-destruction sequence and lost consciousness.
Assassination attempt 3
I have woken up over a month later in Leiden's infirmary and learned that the explosion instead of destroying my pod, propelled it into Saiun Cloud, where it was found by the Golden Chrysantemums and returned to Leiden. With my Sabre being destroyed and having no replacement ship I was grounded. However, when we received a distress call from Padua Liberty Rogues operating in Shikoku on 15th February, I have taken Leiden Interceptor, a Falchion class vessel equipped with standard Hellflurry weapon loadout and entered Shikoku space. Once I joined the Rouge forces, I was engaged by two Chimera-class fighters. I have focused fire on Taisuke Bei, ranked nito kaii within the KNF - as further scan revealed. My target was moderately skilled pilot delivering only minor damage to my hull. Unfortunately, the other pilot, Tokkeitai operative Gaikotsu, proved to be efficient wingman and once I managed to destroy Bei's ship, I was left with critical amount of nanobots. Having assessed success chance of second assassination as minimal, I have set escape vector to Morioka Base. I managed to reach the base but once again I lost my fighter. It's hard for me to assess threat level of that operative, but judging from his fire efficiency it is rather high.
Assassination attempt 4
Once Leiden received a replacement Interceptor, on 16th February I entered Shikoku space again to find a lone KNF Chimera fighter spotted earlier on long range scanner. Remiyu Hamada, ranked nito kaii within the KNF, proved to be rather mediocre fighter pilot. Relying mostly on mine damage, he had blown himself up shortly before I could lay a final Tachyon bolt on his Sunfrenzy equipped Chimera. I spotted him near Deshima Station, lured away from the station and destroyed swiftly. Afterwards, I quickly returned to Leiden to avoid any possible hostile reinforcements.
Assassination attempt 5
After preliminary analysis I concluded that neither Sabre nor Falchion is capable of going toe to toe against a Chimera equipped with a standard Sunfrenzy loadout. I have ordered a delivery of one of recently purchased Rapier class fighters to Leiden. Once I received report about Kusari Naval Forces presence in Shikoku, I immediately launched to test this new acquisition. Near Deshima Station I have encountered hostile destroyer and fighter. Using standard tactics, I lured the fighter into Keiun Cloud and there engaged him. It turned out to be recently promoted to the rank of itto kaii Taisuke Bei. This time, without a supporting wingman and facing a Rapier, he was not able to lay a clear shot on my hull. I was slowly wearing him down using sporadic mines and precise Excalibur salvos. When his hull integrity was severely reduced and he had no more nanobots left, I've relaxed my cardamine trance and allowed him to commit suicidal collision.
Final conclusions
I assess Kusari Naval Forces threat level as high. First and foremost, enemy possesses an extremely deadly technology. Chimera-class fighters equipped with standard Sunfrenzy weapon loadouts surpass both Sabre and Falchion, either in terms of survivability or firepower. This disadvantage can be countered through use of more sophisticated fighter designs, most notably Outcast Rapier line. Secondly, although some of encountered pilots presented rather mediocre combat skills, in general Kusarian officers are usually well trained, not to mention several highly skilled individuals. Furthermore, Kusari Naval Forces seem to be well organized and prepared to quickly respond to any hostile incursions into Kusari space. Lone patrols are very rare and in most observed cases there was a destroyer ready to join an ongoing operation. For these reasons any direct confrontation with the Kusari Naval Forces is highly discouraged. Instead, a completely different approach is suggested. Most encountered KNF officers showed a typical over-confidence and inability to accept failure, which means they can be easily provoked, lured into an ambush, where they will fight until death. Taking advantage of this weakness must be a key point in any formulation of long term guerrilla operations against the Kusari Naval Forces.
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