Alaska System: Outside scanning range of Prison Station Mitchell
The ship with its escorts continued its course through the ice clouds. But in the shadows, secretly waiting were several Phantoms... watching as the target flew exactly where it was supposed to be. The Phantoms had excellent intel on where and when to hit this target.
When the time was right the trap was sprung. Four Phantoms materialized surrounding the ship on all sides... The Devastator, Virus, Mayhem, and Rebel. The Devastator jammed the ships transmissions preventing any call for aid, while the other Phantoms quickly dealt with the escorts. With the escorts drawn, the Devastator then opened controlled fire upon the Kusari Gunboat slowly draining away its shields. This target was too valuable and useful to be simply killed. The ship attempted to make a run but with the other Phantoms returning there would be no escape. With the shields down, the Nomad Battleship quickly targeted individual weapons, rendering the ship completely defenseless.
Virus: Pardon us... your highness, but we must ask you to follow us We would like you to meet someone... TAKE HER.
Projecting some sort of an energy beam that enveloped the Gunboat, The Devastator seized the vessel. And the Phantoms left the area with their unbeliveable prize. Bound for the safety of Omicron Delta.
GNN: Liberty Protests linked with Rheinland Prison Transport Bombing
Liberty Security Forces have found evidence linking the protests on Manhatten with the bombing of the Phantom prison transport. The evidence consists of recordings showing three of the more fanatical individuals at both the protests and the supply operations on Manhatten. Liberty Police have issued arrest warrants for the three bombers, and the Liberty Government made a brief statement before a press conference stating that if the trial and execution took place on Manhatten this tragedy could have been avoided.
Still mourning the loss of his friend, Firebird attempted to get some work done but found it very difficult to concentrate. Putting his work aside, he decided to look over reports and catch up on current events.
Bretonia and Kusari on the verge of war, needing now only a trigger....
Relations between Liberty and Rheinland failing...
The powers of the LSF reduced and given to the Liberty Navy...
But then something new caught his eye, a report from the corsairs of a Kusari Gunboat being held by a Nomad Battleship in Omicron Delta.
Firebird: What the?
Looking up further details, the corsair fighter had attempted to investigate further but lost sight of the vessel when some unknown fighter suddenly opened fire forcing him to take evasive maneuevers. He only managed to escape because a corsair battleship was just entering scanning range which scared off the unknown fighter. The pilot described his attacker as flat, thin, and very agile.
Firebird: Why would a Kusari Gunboat be held by a Nomad Battleship and the Phantoms, they usually would just destroy any craft encountered?
A sudden news bulletin then came in:
GNN News: Kusari Imperial Family Missing in Alaska
A Kusari Gunboat carrying the Kusari Imperial Family was undergoing a tour of Alaska at the request of the family and with the permission of Liberty. All details regarding the tour were kept as confidential as possible to avoid any possible attack. However, the Liberty Navy is now informing GNN that the Kusari Gunboat was attacked and captured by a Nomad Battleship in Alaska. Search patrols have been scrambled from Prison Station Mitchell, but given how much delay there was in responding to the information it is expected that the Kusari Gunboat is no longer in the Alaska System.
Firebird: Well that explains the Gunboat, but what do they hope to gain... they can't have the Nomads infest them, we would scan for that... what do they gain by holding the family hostage instead of just killing them?
Continuing to ponder the last question, Firebird set course back for Yaren.
The Nomad Battleship holding the Kusari Imperial Family Gunboat with its tractor field was proceeding on-course towards Omicron Gamma. Escorted by two fighters, the Phantoms were only a couple of kilometers from the jump-hole, when a small fighter appeared from ahead displaying Asguard Warrior identification marks. Being outside weapons range the Nomad Battleship continued on course and left the intruder to the escorts.
Quickly dodging incoming missile fire and returning its own, the AW fighter was holding well against the two escorts. But with time short, one of the escorts figured enough was enough and decided to finish the single fighter off. Heading straight for the cockpit of the AW fighter, the two fighters collided and were last seen disappearing in a small explosion.
Down to a single escort the Nomad Battleship continued on course for Gamma but time was up. Suddenly on long range sensors a fleet of ships were detected approaching from Omicron Delta. The fleet belonged to the Sirius Federation and consisted of both a Bretonian and Rheinland Battleship along with several supporting craft and a Transylvanian Gladiator vessel. With vastly superior firepower, the fleet made quick work of the single escort and concentrated on the Nomad Battleship. With a few tricks the nomad vessel attempted to use the spike field to reduce the other battleships maneuverability. The Rheinland ship found it particularly difficult to maneuver in the dense field but the Bretonian battleships smaller size meant it was less affected and was able to maintain fire on the Nomad ship. Noticing the failing hull of the TG vessel, the Nomad Battleship turned and fired a full broadside into the vessel crippling it and rendering it effectively dead in-space. But with continuous fire from the fleet, the Nomad Battleship eventually succumbed to its wounds and shattered in a blinding flash, releasing the Kusari Gunboat.
With the Nomad Battleship destroyed, the Kusari Imperial Family Gunboat was escorted by the SF fleet to Prison Station Mitchell, where the CRI stood waiting to conduct tests upon the Imperial Family for signs of Nomad Infestation and/or brainwashing.
GNN: CRI finds no physical harm has come to the Kusari Imperial Family
After conducting a long series of tests and examinations of the Imperial Family, the CRI could find nothing physically wrong with them. The doctor performing the examinations made the following statement:
Apart from some signs of additional mental stress and drugging that would be typical after an event such as this, we can find nothing physically wrong with the family. Were hoping to conduct some further psychological comparisons but the Kusari are pressuring us to return the family immediately and are refusing to provide us with a reference for the comparison.
A Kusari Battleship recently entered Liberty space to escort the Kusari Imperial Family back to New Tokyo.
GNN: Kusari Imperial Family Returning to New Tokyo
Under direct orders from the Liberty Government and at the urging of the Shogunate, the CRI has been forced to end its lengthy examination of the Kusari Imperial Family. The Kusari Imperial Family was transferred to a Kusari Battleship and immediately left Liberty bound for New Tokyo.
However, prior to their departure, a press conference was held where the members of the family briefly described their ordeal on-board the Kusari Gunboat.
They administered drugs and kept asking questions regarding Kusaris defensive capabilities, the location of key production facilities, and information on recent contracts and agreements that we have had with the other houses, specifically with Rheinland and Liberty. We were so drugged up we cant even remember what we told them. They also had several Nomads moving about the ship and interfaced some sort of organism with the Gunboats central computer. Figured they were attempting to get as much information out of us and the ship as possible.
The Kusari Gunboat is currently being examined by the CRI and will likely be destroyed once the examinations are complete.
Omicron Delta: Firebird in Communication with Kansai Research Station
Firebird: WHAT DO YOU MEAN SUSPENDED?
Some low-level Bureaucrat: Im sorry, but by order of the Shogunate all research in association with the CRI has been suspended until further notice. All research materials and information concerning Kusari Technology is to be confiscated and your researchers have three days to vacate all Kusari Research Complexes.
Firebird: This cant be right, I want to speak immediately with General Higashionna.
Bureaucrat: The General is unavailable at the moment. However, Im transmitting to you the signed order from the Shogunate. Other than that there is nothing I can do. Kansai out.
Firebird: But<transmission fades> gahwhats going on Kusari was one of our strongest supporters and the research was mutually beneficial both to their Navy and CRI. Somethings wrong here, something's very
GNN News Bulletin: Another Kusari Patrol lost to Bretonian Weapons - Kusari Declares War on Bretonia
Another Kusari border patrol was reported destroyed by Bretonian weapons fire. The four fighter patrol was launched from Battleship Nagumo and was outside the Battleships sensor range when they were attacked. Analysis of the wreckage confirms that the damage is consistent with bretonian weapons, although there is no other confirmation on the attackers identity.
With the loss of several patrols to Bretonian weapons, the Shogunate, under direct command from the imperial family, has declared a state of war with Bretonia. The move does not go unexpected as tensions between the two houses have been steadily rising for months. A representative for the Shogunate made the following statement to a press conference on New Tokyo:
The recent sneak attacks by Bretonia have not gone unnoticed. We will not stand idly by and watch as Kusari citizens are murdered and killed by the acts of a coward. We will protect and defend Kusari territory with our lives.
Several Kusari battle-groups have already been mobilized towards the Kusari-Bretonian border.
Liberty took a surprisingly neutral stance towards the declaration:
The war between Bretonia and Kusari does not yet involve Liberty. We will take no sides in the conflict.
No response as yet from the Rheinland Chancellery; however, given the dubious relationship between Kusari and Rheinland, it is expected that they will give their support behind Bretonia.
Chanceller of Rheinland made a brief statement today about the open conflict between kusari and Britonia.
Chanceller Kristy Pryde: With Conflicts now increasing between Britonia and Kusari, Rheinland will be increasing its patrols into out lying systems, It sadens me to see an escalation of war, but we have our own borders and people to take care of, hopefully this war will come to a swift conclusion,
Alignment:The Outcasts Status: Retired Personal Bio Click here Current Ships:The BlackPearl Base Of Operations:Pryde Villa, Planet Malta
A few moments ago, the acting commander of the Sirus Federation had this to say:
It saddens me to see that Kusari is unwilling to hear our pleas and listen to reason as we are not behind these attacks. Unfortunately, they have declared war, and we have no other alternative but to defend ourselves. I have dispatched a communique to the 8492nd Squadron to see if they can find this... phatom bretonian ship that is firing on Kusari ships. I cannot tell you much more than this. I can only hope that this ends quickly, and without more bloodshed. Thank you.
There you have it. Sirus Federation has asked for the 8492nd to help them.. the question is, Will they accept? It is widly known that the 8492nd Fighter Squadron has no allegiance to any of the houses and will work for the betterment of all houses involved. We can only speculate as to what the communique said.
More as this story develops.
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Last CRI Transport: Moving Equipment and Artifacts from Kansai to Atka Research Station
The armored transport had been delayed slightly when leaving Kansai so was separated by a couple of minutes from the rest of its convoy. Escorted by two fighters, the armored transport piloted by Lieutenants Jefferson and Jacobs was following the tradelane to the Sigma-19 jump-gate in the Honshu system.
Jefferson: Man, it's going to be nice to finally get to eat something different. I was starting to get tired of Kusari cusine.
Jacobs: Ya... hey did you see that one researcher there... what was her name?
Jefferson: Sakari. Ya, she's a pretty one... nice too. Heard she was getting transferred to some station on New Tokyo. She told me to look her up the next time I was in the area.
Jacobs: You... When did you get a chance to... <warning signal> wait a minute... I got a Kusari Battleship patrol covering the tradelane exit... they're hailing.
Kusari Battleship Musashi: Armored transport this is Battleship Musashi, you are not transmitting your identification tags, please identify yourself immediately.
Jefferson: Battleship Musashi, this is armored transport Condor, we are carrying research equipment and artifacts as part of a CRI convoy. Transmitting clearance codes.
Musashi: You've been found to be carrying illegal equipment and artifacts. Hold position and identify yourself immediately or we will open fire.
Jacobs: Are they not receiving?
Jefferson: Guess not, bring us to a full stop and flash the docking lights. If we take no provocative action they should just escort us to their docking bay.
Jacobs: K, I hope you're right about this.
As the Armored Transport and fighters came to a full stop, several Kusari fighters swept around from behind the battleship and took flanking positions on all sides. The huge Kusari Battleship overshadowed the group. All guns trained upon the small ships.
Musashi: Armored Transport, proceed to dock but make no attempt to take evasive action, you are being targeted.
Jefferson: Don't have to tell me, twice. K, move us in slowly.
Some distortion suddenly appears just above the transport.
Jacobs: What the hell is that?
A unknown fighter suddenly decloaked only meters above the transport and accelerated quickly towards one of the Kusari patrol fighters, destroying it with a single burst of fire.
Musashi: ITS A TRAP, OPEN FIRE!!!
Jefferson: NO WAIT!!!
Opening fire with all guns and missiles, the Kusari Battleship obliterated the small transport and fighters. The unknown ship, being very agile, easily evaded the fire from the Kusari fighters and effortlessly escaped back to the shadows from which it came.