The Conference room on Cape Soya was prepared, all of the finest fish, rice, oranges and vegetables that the Farmers and Fisherman of Kusari had to offer was spread across a large table. There was a second, smaller table nearby. On this table were two notepads, pens, a pitcher of water with two glasses. Two comfortable chairs were set at each side of the table. The staff had finished putting all the finishing touches on the room. The Emperor was in his suite. All that was left was the arrival of the head of Samura. Cape Soya was usually a quiet, lonely place for the staff, but with the return of Ze'ev, and the Emperor and now this, there was a real excitement in the air.
The battleship class vessel Hakkan-Maru pulled alongside Cape Soya as a single shuttle disembarked, heading into the landing hanger.
Slowly an old man made his way into the facility in no particular rush.
He was escorted by a man in a very smart suit.
As he made his way along the corridors he admired what had been built in this so called "back water system".
Cape Soya was a master stroke, the best sensor system money could buy allowed the Farmers Alliance to keep an eye on most goings on in Kusari and the ship building facilities allowed vessels to be constructed away from the prying eyes of others.
Now with them being upgraded, they were serving an even greater purpose.
After a decent while he made his way to the conference room and slowly surveyed his surroundings.
He noted the excellent food and furnishings.
There were two lovely ladies preparing fruit, twenty years ago he thought with a smile.
"Please tell Tenno Kogen-san that Nora Samura and Fujiyama Hitoshi are here to meet his excellency."
"And please don't take too long miss, as you can see by my age, I might not have that long left."
A slight chuckle escaped his lips.
Jien Kogen walked into the conference room. He saw the old man, Nora Samura, a man he had known for years, along with a younger man he did not recognize.
"Nora-sama. It has been far too long, I have missed your intelligent council."
The two men gave a long bow to Emperor Kogen as he entered the room, then Nora moved forward to embrace him.
"Jien-san, it is good to see you in good health and returned to the homeland."
"Now we must see about making that a triumphant return."
It has been a long time since you were that young boy, full of life, that used to terrorise the halls of the imperial palace.
To watch you chase the Imperial Guardsmen with your sword held high, that was a sight indeed."
Nora moved to place his arm around the Emperors shoulders and turned away from the others.
"When Kobi-san died it was a sad day for my family, but we saw hope the moment of your coronation as we witnessed the honorable man you had become."
"Your strength of character was critical in quietening the masses that always chose times of weakness in my beloved homeland to bring about change."
"Change that was never in Kusari's favour and only seek to destroy everything my family had worked towards for the last eight hundred years."
"The honored line of Yamaoto realised this and stood at our side, working hand in hand with us for centuries."
"I would not lie to you Jien-san and say that we were not a little worried once the Chrysanthemum Throne was passed to the honored line of Kogen."
"You see the Samura family had invested considerable expense into making sure that each Emperor was best trained to know what to do to ensure Kusari was well looked after."
"Alas when Kobi-san passed beyond, there was some measure of uncertainty as to where the title of Emperor would fall."
"I am sure you can understand that uncertainty is something that my family is very uncomfortable with and we had to for the first time in centuries trust that the new Emperor was someone that was well suited for the position."
With this Nora took Jien's hands and smiled with the warm face of a grandfather looking upon a favored grandchild.
"It brought great serenity to us to see your first days as Emperor live up to our every expectation and more."
"This brings me to the reason for our meeting Tenno.
"You see you have always been a man who is a great leader for the people."
"You have always walked the path of honor and greatness."
"You have always done what you felt was the best for Kusari despite any opposition that stood in your way."
"This has been both a boon and a curse for Samura."
Make no mistake, the Samura family has always looked after the great Kusari Empire.
Throughout changes of Imperial line, regimes and even government systems, Samura has stood firm in our core belief that the people of Kusari must be guided on their path to greatness.
"Sometimes they need the hand of a loving parent figure to lift them up so they may see themselves for what they represent."
"Sometimes they need the stick of a disciplined guide to help them remember where the true path lies."
"Either way the Samura Family and through us, Samura Omotai Zaibatsu, is more then capable and willing to remember our place in the mandate laid before us."
"When our family and the Imperial family work together there is none that can stand in our way, but when we are divided, Kusari always suffers and stagnates back upon itself."
Nora took a step back, lowered his head slightly and gave and inquisitive look.
"I know an old man such as myself can tend to ramble on at times, we never seem to get to the point and sometimes can just wander off on wild tangents.
But I believe you can find the wisdom in our words if you are patient enough."
Do you understand what I am saying so far Jien-sama?
"Nora-sama, of course I understand, and I have valued your council since my youth. While I can understand your misgivings, I want to be clear, nothing in me has changed these two years since I have seen you last. My first loyalty is to Kusari and her people. I have always had an interest in history, as you I am sure remember. I have studied, and one of the things I have taken strength from Yamamoto dynasty, a line that held honor, and stability above all else. I have strove for those goals. When the Bretonian spat on our honor by attempting to seize the Taus, we defended ourselves and push the out. When cut off, by the Gallics, we fought back, with our very lives we fought to get home, so we could return honor to Kusari. I did this because defending Kusari's honor is paramount. It gives us our position, it gives us our power, and with those comes stability. You Nora, you are also a student of history, you know that Kusari and Samura are intertwined. So much so that often they appear as one, their interests are one. You know that the golden ages of Kusari have also been the golden ages of Samura. The droughts and famines of Kusari have been the droughts and famines of Samura. We are one Kusari and Samura When Kusari is strong, Samura is strong, when Samura is strong, Kusari is strong."
Kogen pulled the other man in close.
"This imposter government, it is not strong. Because of that, Kusari is not strong. Because of that... Samura is not strong. I know this pains you, and I know that you will do anything to reverse this course, but I urge you to remember, a government without honor will bring Kusari no strength, no power, no stability. Understand that as important as you are, and you are most important to the future of Kusari, that this task, it belongs to me, it is my divine responsibility to restore Kusari to it's glory. This is my commitment to my people, and only death shall stand in my way. Mind you, I am not the child that you remember. I am a graduate of the Kusari Naval Academy, a veteran of the Nomad War, as well as having spent the last two years leading our forces, not as a political figure, but as a military leader. Surprisingly, I have turned into quite the general, I would not have imagined this during my tactics classes at the academy. "
Walking to a water pitcher on the table, Kogen poured one glass for himeself, and one for Nora.
"Why do I say this to you? Because we must all understand our roles so we may best fight this war."
Looking the man straight in the eye he finished.
"I am quite sure you understand what I am saying Nora-sama, no? "
Nora took a step back, looked directly into the Emperor's eyes and smiled.
"Oh there is the fire in your eyes I was looking for Jien-sama."
"It is good to see you again my friend."
"You are indeed a fine man of great character and one I hope to see leading Kusari once again."
"My family is willing to offer our complete support to your cause and indeed have been preparing certain protocols while you have been away."
"I prayed to the gods you had not died because finding someone to replace you was a very hard prospect indeed, you are the right man for the job."
"But still somethings must be said between us and although it pains me to even say them to you, my respect for you is high and I will not dishonor you by leaving them unsaid."
"Your reign so far in Kusari has been glorious and worthy of great praise."
"But at the same time, your endeavors to change certain long standing traditions within Kusari have caused us some problems."
"You showed much trust to Kishiro Technologies, perhaps too much.
Despite our continued advice to your court, we lost vital government contracts to them."
"Naval and civilian contracts were opened up for them and we were even tasked with working directly with them on some very large projects in the name of your glory."
"The trust you have shown Kishiro at the expense of my family was one of the major contributing factors to your isolation from Kusari."
"While Samura has always remained at your side, we were forced to watch as our protection of you was removed a piece at a time."
"Make no mistake, I do not believe in divine right and I do not bow down to you out of fear of upsetting some manifest destiny."
"I will bow down to you out of respect alone."
"While some of the previous Emperors had some problems with this arrangement, most understood that the loyalty the Samura family shows is one truly earned and not surrendered lightly."
"We work with the Imperial Family and help to raise them to greatness because that is what benefits Kusari."
"My hope now is that you will work with us as well, we have proven our loyalty to the Imperial line without fault for nearly five hundred years, do not begin to doubt that we will continue for another five hundred."
"My family has no wish to rule Kusari, we only have the wish to remain in our station and continue to guide Kusari towards the greatness it can show."
"As such I propose a formal agreement, one of mutual weakness on each of our parts, and of mutual respect."
"We are willing to formally agree to bankroll your entire campaign, I am sure you can see how this makes us very vulnerable until such time as victory is achieved."
"Our faith in you as a military commander and symbol to the people will guide us through this difficult time."
"In return however, we do wish for a formal agreement from yourself."
"One in which we can be sure to remain in our station of guidance and secure our dignity in the future."
"We propose that when we are finally victorious over the Republic’s forces, you will grant the Samura family the right to choose the position of minister of finance in your court."
"This comes with no special power towards the ministry position than what they had in your previous court."
"I do hope you see the wisdom in this as well as the intentions behind them.
This old man will always be honest with you Tenno-sama."
"While I will continue to show you the respect you deserve as an Emperor in public."
"I will always show you the respect you deserve as a friend when we are alone."
"If you agree to this arrangement, all we need to do is call that snappy dresser I bought along over to join in our conversation."
"He has always been a big fan of yours and I am sure he is dieing to meet you."
Nora places his hand upon the Emperor's shoulder. "If however you wish to continue our conversation, well Jien-sama, I always have time for you.
Kogen looked at the older man with a look of surprise. "Nora-sama, I can not imagine you could think that I would reconstitute the Empire without Samura at my right hand. Of course the Minister of Economy will be chosen by Samura, and of course, it is yourself and Ambassador Barak who's council I hold above all overs. Your loyalty and the loyalty of your family is beyond question. There are few in Kusari history who could be measured against your family in devotion to Kusari."
Kogen took another sip of water.
"I should tell you, I have sent Ambassador Barak to make contact with one known as Silver, who represents the Reavers Mercenary Company. They worked for us in the past, fighting the Bretonians. They are efficient, reliable, and loyal to their paycheck. I am sure it will be a hefty paycheck though. As it will be your money, I thought it best to tell you, but I assumed that you would be of like mind on this. As our forces are limited in our operational area, the Admiralty in Exile felt this would be a worthy strategy for hitting Kishiro and the rebel naval forces throughout Kusari."
"Now, introduce me to this man you have brought to meet me, and please, tell me why?"
Nora thought for a second, trying to perceive the various outcomes from such a plan.
"This is an ingenious plan Tenno-sama, the Reaver Mercenary Company could be instrumental in sowing the seeds of confusion amongst the corrupt republicans."
"Such a state could not only afford your forces more freedom in moving around unseen, but make my job of supplying your forces somewhat easier as well."
"You of coarse have my blessings."
"I would like to know however that they would be discriminating in their targeting, after all we wish to see the regime fall, not hurt our people."
With that Nora pointed over towards the younger man waiting on the other side of the room.
"The man I would like you to meet is a representative of my company, Hiyoshi Fujiyama."
"I am sure you are aware that we have made some distance between our family and business interests, in the name of security."
"While my family has the right to remove any member of Samura Omotai Zaibatsu without reason, we try and stay out of the day to day operation of the corporation."
"As such he is here to make sure of what we are going to agree with and put his stamp to it on behalf of the company."
These are the formalities my kinsmen have come to accept as our burden for our guidance."
Nora waived the younger man over.
"Tenno-sama may I present to you one of the Samura Directors and your loyal servant Hiyoshi Fujiyama."
"Hiyoshi-san, please make welcome his Imperial Highness, Tenno Jien Kogen."
I will leave you two to talk shop while I see where our upgrades have been going here."
"Tenno-sama" he said with a long bow before stepping back.
A vivacious, charming but yet winsome guy walked in. Its more or less like stormed in with protection. He was gasping due to the haste at which he had arrived to deliver the letter.
"Tennō Heika, my Lord. Sorry for the interference my lord and all the honoured dignitaries"
He actuates towards the emperor, bows down and forwards a letter.
"My Lord, Its from General Ze'ev Barak. He had asked me to deliver it personally and in a rather quick session"