If you are new, we are the right faction for you. We can get you started, and show you few tricks here and there.;)
Lucendez Wrote:
It is every Corsair's responsibility to die a beautiful death in defense of Crete, regardless of how OORP or how capwhoring the opposition is. Launch your fighter, joust the battlecruisers and die a beautiful death. Then, drink it down in the bar.
Comm ID: Yomokita_Bolanda
Location: New Tokyo
Begin Message
Dear Kumicho Hitomi Ryuu,
I have been in contact with a Smuggler on New Tokyo, who informed me of you Comm ID. I am currently a Civillian, living and working in New Tokyo. I would like to apply for the role of Kobun in your mighty faction.
Thank you in advance for the reply.
Yomokita Bolanda
End Message
OOC: Since we haven't created a roll-call thread yet, I'm posting my Black Dragon characters here using the following format -- Character Name (meaning of name), rank, tag/ID (which should be Hogosha unless the character is under construction), ship.
-{BD}-Kirikabu (Japanese meaning "stump," a reference to the Yakuza custom of cutting off a fingertip for making a mistake), Kobun, Hogosha tag/ID, X-Shuttle;
-{BD}-Wako (Japanese meaning "pirate, buccaneer or Viking-style raider"), Kobun, Hogosha tag/ID, Turanic Raiders freighter.
Naming conventions that I've used: In ancient times (1600s or earlier on Earth), only upper class and middle class Japanese had a full name, which they used in the order of FamilyName GivenName. I imagine that modern (i.e. 2008) Japanese use the GivenName FamilyName naming convention, as the rest of the world does (as far as I know). Ancient lower class Japanese didn't have a full name -- only a single name, usually a nickname based on their occupation. The Yakuza (Japanese mafia and ancestors of Freelancer's Hogosha) were considered lower class, so most of them didn't have a full name. That's why the two characters I've created thus far have nicknames. Note that I haven't yet created my Wakagashira character yet (I know the name that I want to use, but I've been having trouble getting it properly translated into Japanese). I also have ideas for two other Black Dragon characters that I haven't yet created. I'll edit this post as I add new Black Dragon characters or to update the current listings.
Yomokita & Gretik: If you see me in-game as one of my Black Dragon characters or one of my civilian characters, feel free to contact me, so that I can help you get started.
A young mans face appears on a short video message that was dropped off in a package of energy cells, which was unfortunately mislabelled and sent not to a computer processing plant but instead to the smoky office of the man or woman now looking at it.
The sound quality isn't great, it crackles as the screen flickers in and out of focus but the message, brief as it is gets the point across.
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, I think I got that right, anyhow.
Liberty space is stagnant like dead cow in a rice paddy, I'm looking for pastures green and can offer another fighting hand. I'm not looking for any fancy responsibile position, a constant paycheck and promise of something a little more rewarding than what the liberty pencil necks can offer is about all I need.
I've spent a bit of time in Kusari space and I can't say I'm adverse to the culture, certainly can't be much worse than it is here. Anyhow, for now,
Sayonara..."
The message blinks out of existence and sullenly refuses to anything other than emit a thin trail of blue smoke from the data disk it was contained within.
A tall, dark haired gaijin (foreigner), dressed in simple Kusari work clothes walked out of a small personnel shuttle and onto the hanger deck of the liner Kokuryu, currently in orbit around the Kusari home world of New Tokyo. After a brief pause at the bottom of the boarding ramp, to adjust to the new lighting levels, he focuses then walks in the direction of a middle aged man dressed in a formal business suit with short hair, glasses and a data pad in one arm who seems to be organising the chaos of workers milling around the cavernous room carrying cargo boxes like ants to a hive. “Konnichiwa”, the stranger confidently speaks with a respectful bow of the head, “I have come to request an audience with Kumicho Hitomi Ryu. I believe he may find my ‘talents’ of benefit to both himself and his organisation”.
After a moments silence the suited man, quietly speaks into a microphone clipped to his lapel and then gestures across to two heavily armed guards, “hand over any weapons in your possession and then follow these two, if you decide to take a little ‘detour’, they will shoot you”, with no further conversation he begins to wander off toward a group of workers that have managed to drop a wooden crate marked waremonochuui (fragile) spilling its contents onto the cargo bay floor.
From a holster on his hip the stranger hands the first guard a regular laser pistol and deftly removes a gleaming katana with a handle shaped like a dragon from a sheath on his back, “You make sure this doesn’t get damaged or lost”, he reluctantly hands it over to the wide-eyed guard.
The two guards lead the stranger through a maze of tunnels and walkways through the bowels of the ship and up several levels until they emerge into a waiting room with a marble floor and a large maple desk at the far side where a young woman looks up at them briefly, “Sit down”, she barks without expression and then continues with her work.
The guard holding the sword leaves the room, leaving the other one stationed at the entrance. At the opposite side of the room the stranger notices a leather couch and a small glass topped coffee table with a collection of neatly stacked magazines with pictures of antique vases and statues on the front covers, he ignores them and sits in the middle of the couch and waits.
…
After about 15 minutes a buzzer rings on the desk, the woman stands up and touches a small button on the wall, “Father has agreed to talk to you”. A few seconds later a door appears where once only a wall stood, it begins to quietly slide open.
The stranger eases himself out of the hard leather couch and slowly walks towards the now visible doorway and then ducks slightly to enter into the mysterious new room. The lights inside are dim and he can barely make out a mysterious figure sat behind a desk with the katana he was so protective of lying on a silk cushion in front of him. A spotlight in the ceiling seems to be focusing on it, drawing attention from the shadowy figure in the background and towards the ancient weapon.
After the visitors customary bow of respect, the man behind the desk speaks, “Tell me stranger, why is a ‘gaijin’, walking around with a 13th century samurai blade and who did you steal it from?”
“I did not steal it, it belonged to my father, it was given to him by his father and so on”, the stranger chose his words carefully, “and it has been used to protect the Japanese and now the Kusari Empire for thousands of years”. Realising that he may have spoken out of turn the stranger suddenly fell silent and bowed his head slightly in respect for the man he faced.
The shadowy figure paused for a moment then spoke, “Go on I am sufficiently intrigued, who are you and what are you doing on my ship?”
“My name is Tomodachi (friend) and my father was in the Kusari naval forces”, the strangers face softened a little as he spoke, “I never knew my real parents but I was told that as a baby I was rescued by the navy when outcasts attacked a mining platform some 30 years ago”. He continued, “My father general Miyoshi, took my into his house and raised me as his son and on his death bed he gave me that sword”, Tomodachi looked up at his interviewer, “My father knew I would never be accepted into the Navy but he told me that some day I would find a way to guard the empire, just as my family has done for many centuries. I didn’t know how I would do that until I learned of the Black Dragons during my last deuterium run to New Tokyo; let me prove my worth to you and your organisation for the honour of my father!”
Ruuku Ochi steps out from the shadows behind Hitomi Ryu. As he whispers into the Kumicho's ear he never takes his eyes off the man sitting across the room from them. "I do not trust this gaijin, father" He says in his whisper, "I have heard the tale of general Miyoshi's gaijin son, but for him to seek us out... this smells of a trap."
After a few moments of silence, Ruuku sais to Tomodachi "Tell me, gaijin, how is it that the mongrel son of a noble Samurai knows not just where to find us, but the Kumicho by name?"
Before letting the man speak, Ruuku interrupts, "You see, I don't trust gaijins. I look at your face, I saw how you walked in here, and I have noticed the way you carry yourself. I find all of that offensive. If I had my way your throat would have been slit the moment you mentioned the Kumicho's name. But the decision for you to live or die here today is not mine to make. However, i do have the job of getting these answers from you, how ever I see fit."
Duty and honour
Elder Ruuku Ochi, So-Honbucho of The Black Dragon Society
Tomodachi focuses on the second interviewer and his challenging line of questioning, he instinctively gives the man a polite bow and chooses his words carefully, “I understand your mistrust of me, I have been considered an outsider as long as I can remember, people glaring at me and commenting behind my back.”, sighing he continues, “but, my father was a wise man and he taught me that this is only through fear and ignorance and that if I could prove myself to them with honorable deeds and noble acts then I could earn the peoples respect.“.
He turns towards the first shadowy figure, “The only home I have ever known is here in Kusari space and every day I can see the empire further under threat from groups like the Blood Dragons, Golden Chrysanthemums and those damn outcasts who killed my parents, I see them corrupt and pollute our laws and core values with their filthy drugs and radical ideas and know that someone who isn’t afraid to bend a few rules has to stop them. My adopted father led the Kusari fleet into the great battle of Kyushu in 816, where he successfully defended the New Tokyo jump gate against an overwhelming Bretonian invasion fleet, a battle that ultimately cost him his life, so there is no need to doubt my loyalty to the empire against its enemies.”.
Tomodachi pauses for breath and then faces the second figure, “You asked how I knew so much about your organisation, that’s easy your not as big a secret as you imagine! Rumours are spreading throughout the bars and streets telling of the return of the mighty Black Dragons, they also know that the emperor is helping you or at least turning his navy in the other direction while you go about your business cleaning up the empire of all the filth and scum that shames us all. Finding you was just a matter of calling in a few favours, my fathers name still commands a great deal of respect”.
Ruuku bends down so that the Kumicho could whisper into his ear. Ruuku ponders upon the Kumicho's word for a few seconds. "Your story amuses the father, Gaijin. You should be thankful of that, because I didn't like it.But that only earns you the opportunity to leave here safely." Ruuku states, " Now, what, exactly, are the names of the people whom sold you Hitomi Ryu's name, and the location of the Kokuryu?"
Duty and honour
Elder Ruuku Ochi, So-Honbucho of The Black Dragon Society
Tomodachi thinks carefully about his response, he senses this is a test of loyalty and must not be too eager to betray his contact, that would only seem weak and untrustworthy, As a Kusari, you know there would be no honour in openly betraying the name of anyone that has taken such a great risk to lead me this far. However if this is the only way to validate my story, the name of my main source is for the ear of Hitomi Ryu alone as I am sure that he is already familiar with the name I will give him.
Ruuku is clearly angered but is calmly motioned to step aside to let the newcomer whisper into the ear of his superior, because of his unquestionable loyalty to his master he is forced to reluctantly move several feet away, however he stands in striking range should the need arise.
Tomodachi slowly moves forward and lowers his head slightly to get within whisper distance of the seated figure, but is careful to keep an eye on the ever watchful Ruuku. He whispers a single name to the Kumicho and is surprised to see the man actually grin back at him, Dont look so surprised son of Miyoshi that was the name I was expecting to hear, you dont think anyone gets to know of me unless I wish it to be so and certainly if I hadnt planned this meeting all along you wouldnt have got past the cargo bay doors., he graciously hands Tomodachi his prized sword, which is skillfully sheathed without hesitation, and then he continues again, Ive been watching your progress with interest ever since your father died, waiting to see if you would choose the right or wrong path in life. Please leave now while I hold council to discuss with Ruuku and my other advisors on whether you can have a future with the Society, we will contact you when a decision has been made on the matter.
With a courteous bow to both men, Tomodachi leaves the office and is escorted back to the cargo bay by the one remaining guard.
After half an hour of closed door discussion. Ruuku Ochi enters the cargo bay, a look on his face that shows of him to contain his rage.
"I do not like you, Gaijin. But that is not necessary. The father likes you, you seem to amuse him. I ask you now. Do you pledge your honour and your life to The Black Dragon Society?"
Duty and honour
Elder Ruuku Ochi, So-Honbucho of The Black Dragon Society