Name: Jien Kogen
Position: Former Emperor of Kusari
Rank: None
Jien Kogen ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the young age of 23 with the death of his uncle. Before his ascent, Jien Kogen served in a forward attack unit in the KNF. Kogen served with distinction during the Nomad War. Kogen took a leading position in the planning of the Kusari invasion of Leeds, and is blamed by many in Kusari for over extending the Kusari forces leaving them vulnerable to the Gallic advance in the Taus.
In late 818 A.S. Kogen went to Leeds to meet with the military commanders to plan the assult on Planet Leeds. The Gallic Navy used this opportunity to launch an invasion of the Taus, cutting the Emperor off from Kusari proper and his government there. Speculation is that the Liberty government, an outspoken critic of the Kogen regime, would not give Kogen and his forces safe passage through Liberty space to return to Kusari. Kogen, and a sizable portion of the KNF remained stuck in Bretonia.
With Kogen locked in Bretonia, Kishiro backed elements in the Council of the Rising Suns, staged a political coup, ousting the Kogen regime from power. Kogen found himself, along with many KNF pilots and officers, homeless, adrift in foreign space, with no way home, and even if they had a way home, the only thing waiting for them would most likely be trial, followed swiftly by an execution. Even so, some attempted to break through the Taus and return to Kusari, most found themselves quickly cut down by the GRN or CR. The former KNF forces quickly found themselves in disarray, and separated from each other, with one segment of the forces in orbit of Planet Harris, and the other in Leeds and Newcastle.
Weeks went by and the men could do little more than continue a daily routine of fighting off the Bretonians and Gallic forces. While they did more damage than they took, few in numbers, the men began to lose thier motivation. It was at then that Jien Kogen once more stepped into the spotlight. From his command ship, the Satsuma, deep in the Newcastle nebula, Kogen begain rebuilding a command structure. Most of the KNF High Command was on the Satsuma when the coup took place, as well as the Shogun. Kogen made use of these military leaders, the best and brightest of the Kusari samurai, to consolidate and orginize the former KNF forces in Bretonia. Quickly Kogen had taken command of most of the Kusari pilots and ships beyond Tau-29.
While Kogen was solidifying his power among the Kusari Exiles, the new Kishiro backed Kusari government had made peace with both Bretonia and Gallia. Kogen and his advisers quickly realized they would be unable to do anything against either enemy on thier own. Kogen realized the demoralized Bretonian forces were much less of a threat to his forces, and his plans for a glorious return to Kusari. Kogen sent the Shogun to meet with the Bretonians and negotiate a peace. The result was an agreement of peace and co-belligerency against the Gallic forces. The Kusari Exile forces, would be allowed to base off their ships in Bretonia and Tau-31, as well as receive supplies from companies following Bretonian law. The Kusari Exiles would be given freedom of movement and command so long as they did not attack any Bretonian intrests. Bretonia and the Kusari Exiles would coordinate attacks, but neither would be under the command of the other.
Kogen and his forces went about pushing Kogen's master plan. It is all based on Kogen's view of his downfall. Kogen saw Gallia as being responsible for creating the opportunity for his downfall. He also felt that Gallia would provide the opportunity for his return to power. Kogen had been educated at the finest schools and military academies in Kusari, and he had spent 17 years as Emperor of Kusari. He had learned much from each of his enemies. Kogen had spent his entire life watching as the Blood Dragons tried to bring about a return of their dynasty, accomplishing nothing for their effort more than the loss of good lives. He had learned that deception and surprise could quickly demoralize a military, and the public that support it from his own campaign in Bretonia. Kogen's plan was to be at the forefront of the defeat of the Gallic forces, which would lead to calls among the public in Kusari for his return to power, beyond that, the defeat of Gallia would lead to the eyes of all the Houses falling on the Kishiro backed government for not taking part in the fight. Kogen was sure at that point, the calls for his return to Kusari would be deafening, and he would return, triumphant to parades and shows of loyalty from all over the Empire.
And so the Ronin, as they began calling themselves, with Kogen in command, went about the thing they knew best, which was war. Those forces trapped after the coup were the best of the best of the KNF, as Kogen refered to them, the tip of the spear. The finest the Empire had to offer. From their bases behind the lines, the Ronin began launching savage raids on Gallic shipping and military convoys. The motto of the Ronin became "Let none be left to tell the story." Only time will tell the outcome of Kogen's master plan.
Sakiya Itemi is an enigmatic soldier that was part of the Kusari Naval Forces. The very few records available tell that her father suffered an honorable death after fighting blood dragon opponents to give a civilian convoy the opportunity to escape. She became an orphan and was sent to the Imperial Academy at the age of ten.
She was taught at the Imperial Academy to cultivate her rage against the Blood Dragons, however it went to the exact opposite of what her mentor was trying to teach her. Instead of using her rage to her convinience, she became blinded by it. Her mentor spectated as she continued to grow her, trying to explain her the true way of the Samurai, but it seemed hopeless. The only satisfaction Sakiya had found so far in her life was to train day and night untill exhaustion.
The path she had chosen worked so far, and she was respected by all other students at the academy, inevitably beating most of them during training. But the day came, the day where she had to fight her mentor during a training session. It only took three hits for him to take her down.
It's at that point that she understood what he meant. He was able to use his rage during a fight, but at the same time be able to think, and not strike and move with as only desire the opponent's death.
No records have been registered for twelve years untill late 818 A.S. During the coup by Kishiro, she was aboard the Satsuma as part of Jien Kogen's personal guard. Some internal rumors have been floating around related to the absence of records for such a long period, even some very eccentric saying she may be involved with Jien Kogen further than simply being part of his personal guard.
Born on the planet Honshu in samurai family, learned to live as samurai and
as a man of honor he wrapped up a military academy and joined the KNF in the 816th
as an officer in the KNF executed all the superiors ordered, as in the Seto
same and in Kusari,
He expressed himself in many battles in units KNF, against BAF and also against traitors Blood Dragon's and various pirates in kusari.
He advanced to the rank Daii and served also in the katana wing is likely to progress in
the KNF that did not happen GRN attack on his Kusari. Since the war began with bretonia 814, the majority of his duties he performed in the batlleship Nagasaki in Seto, and where he served and executed the command of Emperor Kogen when they were suddenly attacked GRN unit. honorably serve under the command of Emperor Kogen of Leeds, and to obey His commands such as carried out, and while he was emperor in Kusari.
He passed all his combat skills to the management of Emperor Kogen, both in his fighter and bomber.
Born in 786 A.S. on planet Kyushu to a farmer family who honoured the traditional Kusarian way of life. His childhood was very troublesome. In his fourteen years, his father deflected to the Blood Dragons who he sympathized to. They have honoured the traditional way and the new Kusari was not of any satisfaction to his father. His father tried to convince Ryouchi to come with him, but Ryouchi was taught to serve the Emperor with his body and soul. This ended up with a big argue and his father left the family. This had put him, his two sisters and his mother into a very difficult situation. With the leave of head of the Kokuri family, he became the man in the house. He had to spare the young years of his life to earn money to feed the whole family.
In the early 04s he moved to the Tokyo system In the hope to find a better place to work and take care of his family. He had the opportunity to serve the Emperor in the most honourable way, to join the Naval forces. This decision was not as easy as he thought. But he realized he will not only serve the Emperor but also earn enough money to take care of his family.
His application was accepted in September 804 A.S. and he started the training with the lowest rank, Kaigun Shōi. The Kusarian Naval forces were well equiped and slowly he learned all the basics to finish the training programe and fly out and do everything what was necessary.
In 806 A.S. Kokuri's Kusari naval forces squad he was asigned to, was sent to meet the Blood dragon threat in Northern Kyushu. This was the first time Kokuri saw the Blood dragons. Untill then he could only read about them, but now they were standing face to face. The Dragons stood still in one line of three ships. They have opened a communication window and Ryouchi could see who is he facing, his father...
'Konnichiwa father...' Ryouchi bowed and could see the suprise in his father eyes.
' My son, I did not expect to see you ever again....' He replied and answered the bow.
' Father, one of us will fail today...'
' It will be an honour to fight you, my son...'
The odds were not on the dragon side, even though they were great fighters, the Naval forces outnumbered them two to one. They did not stand a chance and soon the only one left was Ryouchi's father. This was the last time he had seen his father, he smiled and bowed. It was a sad day for Ryouchi, but the same day he was promoted to the rank of Kaigun Chūi for the success against the Blood Dragons that day.
The years passed by and Ryouchi became an experienced fighter. When the war against Bretonia started, Ryouchi was sent to front lines to defeat the Empreror's enemies. In this time he climbed up to the rank of Kaigun Chūsa. Even though the Kusarian progress the battles began to be toughter as they were before. With the arrival of the new enemy, the situation became more deperate, but Ryouchi promised to fight for the emperor untill the end.
The clan Kitabatake was an ancient one. Many were those claiming the heritage lying in its name.
Kogo didn't even know if that patronymic was borne legitimately by her ancestors.
All she could say, if she ever took time to contemplate the past, was her clan didn't thrive much during the last century.
Initially members of the small nobility, they were forced to sell their land due to the increased pressure made by Liberty corporations, especially Synth Foods.
On top of that, the acts of a couple of members in the family lead to a fall in disgrace that forced her parents to leave New Tokyo and settle on Nansei.
+++++
Kogo spent her youth there. Soon she became fascinated by the job of the pilots garrisoned there.
Her mother only had to check a few places in the station to find her... The docks, the bar and pilots quarters.
Kogo knew what she wanted to do. However, a major obstacle would forbid her to for a long time.
She was a female, and as such, wouldn't be able to serve in the elite forces she wanted to join.
To make it worse, her father didn't want to hear anything about that inclination.
To him, she needed to become a scientist, and stay along side with them in Nansei.
Kogo never let him bend her will however, and beaten, he finally had to half-heartedly give her his permission to serve in the KSP.
She won... But yet she wasn't satisfied.
+++++
The work in Kusari State Police was boring to her. The three years she spent in it gave her some valuable experience, but the promotion chances were low for someone like her.
She also felt the call for war.
Kogo couldn't help but follow with her eyes those vessels en route to Seto, their pilots covered in glory and honor.
It came to the point she couldn't bear it anymore.
She harassed her parents until his father definitely gave up. Maybe he somehow hoped her to get bored and come back to them.
Either way... The conjuncture was good. The KNF needed warriors due to the stalemate in Bretonia.
+++++
The months she spent in the front hardened her heart to the point some of her acquaintances didn't recognize her.
The casualties were heavy. Bretonians were fighting, again and again, even when out numbered.
It was a slaughter. A war that degenerated to the point little honor could be seen in both sides.
The Bushido code was buried for good.
Despite this, Kogo was satisfied by her life. She did what she always wanted to do.
She however had to bear with the preconceptions withing the Naval Forces, and despite her service record, she was rarely promoted.
+++++
Kogo was with the strike forces protecting the landing vessels involved in the invasion of planet Leeds when the first reports about the Gallic advance started to spread within the fleet.
It soon came to the point it was obvious they couldn't push back to Tau 31.
Kogo never trusted Bretonians, and still bear a grudge against them.
Too many died around her by the hands of the ones now siding with the Exiles...
Name:Isami Kondo Position: Kusari Naval Forces Rank: 海軍大将 Kaigun Taishō (former)
The Gallic royal navies arrival was dire, in unison thousands of ships emerged from the ice fields. Dwarfed by comparison, perhaps a million fighters flitted between the monstrous gallic battleships whose hulls cast dark shadows across the entire system as they obscured the sun.
Isami gripped the scabbard of kotetsu in alarm "Emperor save us..."
The First ranks struck even as the orders were relayed down the navy lines, the darkness of space suddenly alight with superheated fire. Screams echoed across the comms as isolated explosions were visible inside the slaughter. Within Minutes the fighting had killed thousands, after an hour combatants had to destroy debris to clear a line of fire.
Hours became days as overwhelming sustained fire from Gallic ships obscured Upper Tau 31, the sheer intensity of light and power was enough to blind the naked eye. Eventually Kusari Forces realised that they could no longer hope to hold, as the Gallic navy annihilated the centre line: driving a burning wedge between Kusari fleets.
"Order the withdrawal." Isamis voice was cold as he gave the order which would endanger hundreds of thousands of civilian lives. "B..But Taisho! Our Hon-"
The gunners words were cut short as Kotetsu sliced through the mans jugular and larynx, forming a thin red line which quickly welled with blood as the mans head lolled backward.
"The next man to question my orders will suffer the same fate. Signal the retreat. Provide what cover we can, call in Tengu, Shibatsu and mitsurugi wings for support."
****
Evacuation was underway as the Taishos battleship burned, damaged beyond repair: it crawled through space shedding its own burning hull. The incredible noise/volume of the huge vessels creaking as its frame bowed and warped, was almost too much to bear. Weapons were non existent, bodies lay about the main deck, burned and rent.
The Taisho had ordered all officers to pods and any remaining snubcraft to rally at the nagasaki. As last man off the bridge, his trip to the hangar was perilous: molten metals poured through decks, sparks and wiring shot and slithered about the gangways.
Isami had never imagined that it would end like this: years of planning ruined in one massive strike, obliterating the dream of the Imperial forces and its dreamers.
Isami was maudlin and still in shock as he climbed into the last craft on the flight-deck and escaped the collapsing mountain of super-alloy, his once treasured 'Kinen'. The radar still swarmed with activity as Isami cursed and fed all power to flight, still under fire, the gallic navy picked at the Kinen like orca chasing a whale. A bright flash lit the ice fields as the reactor exploded behind him, kondo knew a brief moment of satisfaction as he imagined the pilots caught in the blast incinerated in an instant.
After a day of avoiding gallic cleanup patrols, hiding amidst debris (both kusari and bretonian alike) and moving around unknown space, Isami Kondo eventually picked up a kusari signal. A sliver of joy pierced his heart momentarily as more and more signals appeared and Isami realised that others had managed to escape, hundreds of others. As he approached for landing at the nagasaki, 3 blessed words greeted Kondo : "The Emperor Lives!". The former Taisho knew another moment of hope, as his resolve grew.
After landing Isami managed to squeeze out some space for himself amongst the hundreds of displaced pilots, and take some food. Enquiries were made and the sum of survivors tallied. With a Small fleet collected in Bretonia, made up of the battered pieces of different wings/squadrons: Isami had something to present to Emperor Kogen.
The Emperor had looked battle-weary, his Uniform smeared with patches of blood, the edges scorched. His speech had been Candid and yet heartening, despite their impossible position:
The Bretonians had also been engaged in the onslaught and taken heavy losses. Obviously wanting to avoid a rogue Fleet of foreign warriors in their homeland: the bretonians had agreed to talks with an end to co-operation against the leviathan that was Gallia.
Isami reflected on past engagements and dealings with the Bretonians. True they were foreigners: but they fought with vigor in the face of any odds. They had acted honourably, never executing prisoners of war and, he realised, were doing what they thought was right: protecting their families and their way of life; just as he had. Hai, indeed the Bretonians had been worthy adversaries, and were truly warriors. Though it would be difficult to address the past, in this desperate situation: he could comfortably fight alongside these warriors; he could trust in their mettle to hold and their spirit to oppose the terrible King of Gallia.
Name: Chikage Kazama (Takaya Kagakagari)
Position: Former Chujo of Kusari Naval Forces
Rank: Kaigun Chujō (former)
Takaya served for a long four years in Kusari Naval Forces and during this time advanced in his career really fast, due to his strategic mindset. He were leading numerous assaults on Bretonia forces during war and succeed in most of them, unfortunatelly in last battle with Gallic Royal forces his Battleship were heavily damaged and towed for repair to New Tokyo, Chujo also were injured and as such during coup in Council of Rising Sons he was in hospital and was not avaliable to do something to prevent downfall of his master, true emperor of Kusari, Jien Kogen.
His loyalty to emperor was unwavering and he sworn to make all what he can to help his master. Unfortunatelly situation in Kusari was far worse than he expected, almost all old high command were left behind in bretonia, and new one were loyal to new government. He started to gather all those who were still loyal to him and to emperor, his plan was perfect but he couldn't foreseen that those who once were loyal to emperor will now turn against him.
New Kusari Naval Forces High Command somehow became aware of the upcoming events, due to this operation was accelerated and was ready to perform faster than expected and with changed meeting location. Unfortunatelly, when almost all forces gathered, Shosho Takahashi who once were loyal to Emperor came not only with her part of fleet, but with new government fleet to intercept and prevent others from fleeing from Kusari. During long range artillery battle one battleship were heavily damaged, another one called Edo destroyed, debris of which were providing cover for retreating units. We had no place to run and only due to loyalty of farmer alliance to our true Emperor we found shelter in Tau-42 on Cape Soya station. Our agents reported why Shosho Takahshi concentrated fire on Edo, they were thinking that I was there and wanted to kill me, fine let's play their game Takaya Kagakagari died today for Kusari and for KNF, but new warrior borned and his name Chikage Kazama loyal to Emperor until his last drop of blood.
Thanks to our scouts that were able to reach communication range and setup direct channel with Emperor now we know his plan, and with our remaining forces, that consist of 1 heavily damaged battleship, 2 battlecruisers, 3 escort destroyers , 7 gunboats and a bit over of one thousand units of small craft we will join with rest forces of Emperor when we will have such oportunity. In the name of our true Emperor, in the name of Empire, Banzai, Banzai, Banzai!