It is an honor to receive a direct response from your office.
I am Yukihiro Fujimoto, Regional Manager for Kusari of the White Star Line, the luxury branch of Orbital Spa & Cruise. Director Cross has asked me to continue the communications with your Ministry, as she is currently unavailable to respond.
We are disappointed to encounter an unexpected obstacle from the Government. However, there are some points in your reply that have caused confusion, particularly for our legal team.
Allow me to outline them below, followed by our legal team' objections to your statements.
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote: [...] your contacts at Samura are misinformed.
OS&C Legal Department' Wrote:The contact we maintain within Samura Heavy Industries is none other than its Director, Karl Kamimura. Communications have been conducted between him and our Director. Although we do not possess nor have we requested records of these communications, as they are private conversations, the message conveyed is clear: Samura Heavy Industries has no issue whatsoever with the construction of an Amaterasu for our company, a long-standing partner and great friend of Samura itself. It seems unusual to us that Director Kamimura would be "misinformed," especially regarding such a sudden and substantial volume of orders from the government. Were the contracts you refer to perhaps awarded overnight, so swiftly that even Samura's Director was not made aware of them, and in such a number that they would indefinitely overwhelm one of the largest shipyards in Sirius?
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote:[...] contemporary retreat of operations by Interspace Commence [...]
OS&C Legal Departement' Wrote:Interspace Commerce is far from having disappeared from Kusari's market. Tsukishima Liner Yard, although located on the outskirts of the Shikoku system, remains under Interspace's management. While Roppongi Station may indeed be a smoking, radioactive wreck, Tsukishima is not. In fact, we can assure you that it, along with Intespace Commerce, remains fully operational and in regular contact with us, considering the significant number of vessels we have produced there.
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote:[...] unwillingness to handle insurance affairs for Amaterasu-class vessels operating outside of Kusari. [...]
OS&C Legal Departement' Wrote:With all due respect, it is you who appear to be "misinformed" regarding the dynamics involving Interspace Commerce. From their perspective, there are no technical, economic, or other difficulties in ensuring the insurance coverage for that type of vessel, given that that vessel is flying under Orbital Spa & Cruise's flag. With four stationary liners, one orbital resort, dozens of planetary resorts, and nearly a hundred liners, yachts, and ferries operating daily across all quadrants of the sector, we are their regular clients, with bespoke insurance packages tailored to the nature of our business and the type of "cargo" we transport.
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote: [...] will continue to occupy Yokohama's reserve docks for the time being [...]
OS&C Legal Departement' Wrote:Always regarding Tsukishima, its drydocks are specifically designed for liner production. Should Yokohama's facilities indeed be fully occupied, we would have no issue renting spaces and securing local and Samura personnel to produce the Amaterasu directly in Shikoku.
OS&C Legal Department' Wrote:Your ministry is "contemplating" a halt in sales, a term which itself implies something not yet debated in your parliamentary chambers, not approved, and not ratified. As of today, September 22, 834 A.S., no changes have been made to the current Kusari Legal Codex. Your mere "contemplation" of a change to the existing laws holds no legal weight, just as there is no legal basis for preventing a third party, fully compliant with all required standards, from obtaining a license from your government based on simple speculation regarding a ministerial decree which, as of today, we reiterate,does not exist.
Even if such a decree were to be approved in the future, making it retroactive would be technically challenging and would have significant implications.
The law is the most sacred and unequivocal invention of mankind. To use nonexistent laws to place "obstacles in our path" is not, and has never been, your way. Since when has the Kusari Empire chosen to deviate from the righteous path, discarding nine centuries of upholding justice and three millennia of civilization?
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote:[...] a full stop on the construction and sale of these vessels [...]
OS&C Legal Department' Wrote:Now, we are fully aware, as is everyone within our company, of Kusari's protectionist policies—policies that, frankly, we understand and support. We are the first to carefully select deserving clients for our native products. We do not sell a Taurus or a Regent to just anyone or to the first person with enough credits to purchase one. Only those who merit it, who share our values and meet our standards, may earn the privilege of acquiring the products we offer. We imagine that you find yourselves in a similar situation every time a foreign company approaches, requesting a license for an Amaterasu.
Vice-Minister of Economy & Industry' Wrote: [...] for foreign entities [...]
OS&C Legal Department' Wrote:While we may be falling into the stigma of being a foreign company, we ask: are we not deserving of your approval?
Our company and the Kusari government have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for decades. For years, we have been the only foreign company licensed to conduct tourism within your Empire. For years, millions of your citizens have benefitted from the luxuries that only we can provide, and even more millions of foreign visitors have had the opportunity to experience the wonders that your nation has to offer. We have always committed to utilizing local suppliers, businesses, and personnel for our operations in Kusari, thereby ensuring you reap all the economic benefits generated from such activities. We have long fought to promote your cuisine and local products, rejecting any abomination that Synth Foods might produce. We even share the same economic partners: the enemies of the Empire are our enemies, and your friends—even the "less appreciated" ones in other Houses—are our friends.
In closing, Vice Minister, we urge you to reconsider your position. In light of the absence of any economic, technical, insurance, or legal difficulties, we conclude that the justifications you have provided are, forgive the term, unfounded.
Why risk damaging an excellent and prosperous relationship out of mere pride? That ship is your flagship product, as we well know. Who better than us, a company dedicated to luxury and elegance, can fully showcase such a jewel? Any Sirian, upon seeing it from afar, would be compelled to think of the strength and superiority of the nation that built it. With our colors, it could serve as a roaming ambassador of Kusari, an invaluable tool of soft power that no other House could currently match.
Should you change your mind, we stand ready to provide any clarification or support required.
Sincerely,
Yukihiro Fujimoto and the OS&C Legal Department
Orbital Spa & Cruise Management and PR Department
Luxury Liner Hawaii, Sigma 19