Kansai Research Institute

Kansai Research Institute

File:Ku04 04 base.png

Owner

Kusari Naval Forces

Location

C/B-2, Honshu

CLASS: Mifune

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 450

Built by Kishiro Technologies in 748 AS, Kansei Research Station was formed as a joint project between Kishiro and the Kusari Naval Forces, much to the ire of Samura. The facility is tasked with developing new shielding and scanning technology that are specifically designed to operate within the treacherous gas nebulas common throughout Kusari, although there are many whispered claims of alien artifacts research and jump gate technology filtering out of the station from time to time.

Kansei is a highly prestigious posting for Kishiro scientists fresh out of New Tokyo University, though the security measures can be rather daunting, and the Kusari Naval Forces have constant patrols coupled with heavy weapons platforms and a defensive minefield. The Blood Dragons pose the biggest threat to the facility, frequently launching raids and disrupting operations.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Kusari Naval Forces Kusari Office of Intelligence ALG Waste Disposal Border World Exports Kishiro Technologies Samura Industries Bounty Hunters Guild Kusari State Police Gas Miners Guild

Missions

Kusari Naval Forces

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Robotics 18$ Gold 272$ Cobalt 51$ Copper 168$ Oxygen 13$ Water 13$ Food Rations 41$ H-Fuel 98$ MOX 35$ Super Alloy 58$ High-Temperature Alloy 39$ Superconductors 41$ Pharmaceuticals 23$ Optronics 29$ Consumer Goods 27$ Ageira Gate/Lane Parts 618$ Bio-Neural Processors 161$ Nanocapacitors 40$ Quantum Multiplexors 22$ Synth Paste 38$ Industrial Materials 37$ Xenobiotic Filters 48$ Passengers (Kusari) 270$ Xeno Relics 204$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Energy Field Equipment 43$ Crew 370$ Scientists 281$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price

News

[834 AS] Agents crack down on Artifact smugglers

KANSAI -- 834 -- Reports from Rheinland confirm that the recent explosion on Hamburg was caused by an illegal Xeno Relic research programme. It is currently unclear whether this was a state sponsored or private initiative. Kansai’s own efforts in this sphere have yielded exceptional dividends in recent years, closing the technological gap with Liberty. There is no reason to believe the other Houses are not equally aware of the potential associated with these materials. It is imperative that the KOI acts to secure such Artifacts for the benefit of Kusari, and deny them to our rivals. To this extent, further pressure must be placed on the Hogosha, and unsanctioned shipments through the Sigmas intercepted.

[833 AS] Gold volatility taxes Kusari economy

HONSHU -- 833 -- Kusari has been among the hardest hit by the severely damaged Gold market over recent years. This situation appears only to worsen as Bretonian stockpiles are depleted. Share prices in the high tech manufacturing industries of New Tokyo and Honshu plunged on the recent release of an Interspace report predicting crisis in Gold-reliant market sectors. When pressed for comment, Kusari’s trade ministry declined to respond, referring instead to the Ministry of Defence. Lord Tazuka of the Kusari Office of Intelligence confirmed that discussions were presently ongoing with counterparts in Bretonia, and that progress was anticipated in the near future.

[833 AS] Search for the Niyodo continues, II

KANSAI -- 833 -- The returned probe’s signal was traced to Tau-37, and then returned to Kusari by Bounty Hunters Guild pilots through a number of intermediaries. The retrieved data is fragmented but insightful. The probe captured a vast debris graveyard, arranged around unsettling alien structures. We now have confirmation of the stable hyperspace pocket hypothesis, and a proven route back to mainspace. While there has been no sightings of the Niyodo to date, the implications of the pocket’s alien nature cannot be understated -- particularly in respect of the Blackout’s origin. Lord Tazuka has provided approval for immediate exploration to commence, with a primary objective of assessing and containing live alien technologies.

[833 AS] Search for Niyodo continues

KANSAI -- 833 -- Kishiro Drive trials have resumed following the refit of the Battlecruiser Chitose. In an attempt to access the suspected location of the Niyodo, probes have been launched through unweighted Drive Rifts. Kusari Office of Intelligence’s Lord Tazuka has prohibited a manned rescue expedition until the possibility of a successful return has been established. We now believe we have that evidence. With Lord Tazuka’s specifications in mind, the probes were designed to lock onto gravimetric readings currently associated with Jump Holes, in the slim hope such phenomena are also present in the pocket space. After dozens of probes and millions of credits in expenditure, a probe has finally broadcast a signal from the Tau sector.

[833 AS] Kyushu Faces Rising Temperatures And Falling Profits

Kyushu, the key to Samura's monopoly on the organically-grown food industry, has faced rising ocean temperatures lately, owing to a vast temperature surge in the mantle plume underneath its largest ocean. This has been compounded by the resultant eruption of several underwater volcanoes, releasing enormous quantities of greenhouse gases into the planet's atmosphere. Partially as a result of the geological activity, the equatorial monsoon season produced some of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded on Kyushu since its colonisation. These storms devastated the world's agricultural sector as they blew through the most fertile tropical lowlands, destroying as much as 20%% of the planet's annual crop yield, on top of damage to infrastructure and tragic loss of human life. Many rural communities are reported to be struggling, with some farming communities still remaining flooded ghost towns even a month after the worst of the storms abated, though smaller-scale tempests still rage around the equator. A Samura spokesperson outlined the company's intent to restore the planet and its communities to full productivity by the middle of next year, despite the ongoing circumstance.

[833 AS] Kishiro Drive breakthrough identifies Blackout source

KANSAI -- 833 AS -- Kishiro scientists believe they have solved the mystery of the Battlecruiser Niyodo's disappearance. Kishiro Drive field test data has allowed us to develop a detailed model of the hyperspace perturbations that are used to create an artificial rift. In a flash of genius, chief researcher Kuroda Yori cross-referenced this model against the numerous public recordings of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Striking similarities were revealed between the Pulse and anomalous data captured during the Niyodo's rift transition. Further research traced the Pulse's source to a seemingly impossible stable pocket of hyperspace outside the Sirius sector. It appears that whatever resides within this pocket is producing a distortion field that is capable of 'hooking' artificial jump tunnels and pulling transiting passengers in. The exact physical mechanics underpinning this process are still unknown, and seem well beyond the capabilities of known Sirian technology. With new awareness of the phenomena, our engineers will be able to weight navigation calculations to offset the effect. Despite this, it should be stressed that a reckless, 'blind' jump without such processing could result in catastrophic consequences. These new safeguards should allow for resumed Kishiro Drive field testing in the near future. Proposals have also been tabled for a rescue expedition to the pocket-space, in the hope of locating survivors of the Niyodo and Yamafaku Maru.

[832 AS] Battleship Matsuda Meets Its Demise!

It had long been rumored that the grand Battleship Himeji had not been lost in the Tohoku system as previously thought; That it had been brought back and given a second life by the unlawful elements that are the antithesis of the Kusari state. This rumor had been proven true as the Kusari Office of Intelligence reported movements of a Meiji-class Battleship in the Kyushu system, deploying Golden Chrysanthemum fighter wings that seemed to deliberately target Kusari patrols in the northern part of the system. Immediately upon learning of this, Battleship Matsumoto and its battlegroup were redeployed from Hokkaido, and within two days were poised and ready to face this new threat. Only a short few hours later, a patrol of fighters reported a warship with the transponder reading Battleship Matsuda operating in the relative open, heading for but not yet reaching the relative safety of the Seiran Dust Cloud. Matsumoto itself departed with its escort to confront the Chrysanthemum battleship, close to the edge of the nebula. Within minutes of it coming into sensor range, bomber and fighter squadrons from both sides closed in and opening salvos were exchanged between the battleships. It didn't take long before the KNF's preparation was shown to be well worthwhile; their superior numbers whittled down or otherwise preoccupied the Chrysanthemum's fighter force leaving a variety of openings in the Matsuda's defensive cover for KNF bombers to exploit. While the Matsumoto was withstanding a heavy beating from the guns of its older sister, it was plain that the Matsuda was slowly being whittled away as its shields began to fail and the very same engine design flaws that had rendered it immobile in KNF service were now exploited by bomber wings to once again cripple the warship. After several more minutes, the Matsuda's escape pods began to eject from the ailing battleship, picked up by Chrysanthemum fighters as they fled deeper into the Seiran dust cloud. It didn't take long thereafter for the ship's powercore to falter and fail completely, culminating in a vast explosion that reportedly almost turned night to day on the dark side of Planet Kyushu, if only for a split second. Matsumoto itself sustained moderate damage in the engagement, relatively untouched by Chrysanthemum bombers however still suffering the ill effects of Matsuda's anti-capital weaponry. Despite its damage, it remains deployed in the Kyushu system to continue the blockade of the cardamine trade and to serve as a show of force to any who would challenge the might of the Emperor.

[832 AS] Kishiro Drive Trials Demonstrate Promise

KANSAI -- 832 AS -- KANSAI -- 832 AS -- For centuries Liberty has exploited its monopoly over Jump Gate technology to unjustly enrich itself while constraining the influence of its peers. The Empire of Kusari has tolerated this state of affairs as a matter of necessity, but never accepted it. Last year's so-called Jump Gate Blackout underlines the folly of dependency on this foreign technology. Instead, we must take our future into our own hands. Decades of focused research has given Kusari the Kishiro Jump Drive, unlocking the possibility of unfettered commercial and strategic mobility. The Battlecruiser Niyodo was fitted with a Kishiro Drive and dispatched to the proving grounds in Honshu's Hiyo Cloud. The live test of the prototype drive initially yielded positive results, with the successful generation of a stable artificial hyperspace rift. The Niyodo and the auxiliary fuel tanker Yamafaku Maru successfully passed into the rift, but failed to emerge at the specified target destination in Hokkaido. The Yamafaku Maru was provisioned to allow for the Niyodo to refuel and generate a return rift in the event of a miscalculation. As time passes, it becomes increasingly likely that both ships have been lost. Kishiro specialists are currently analyzing the test data to determine whether a rescue operation is feasible, and correct procedural flaws before the next field trial. Overall, the exercise successfully demonstrated the Kishiro Drive. Sacrifice is a necessary component of innovation.

[831 AS] Courts battle over Galileo Platinum dispute

MANHATTAN -- 831 -- Legal filings have been issued on both Manhattan and New Tokyo by Deep Space Engineering, Kishiro Technologies and Samura Heavy Industries. Public briefs shed more light on the dispute's background, with each corporation asserting that freelance prospector ""Taro Yamada"" had sold them exclusive rights to his discovery of Platinum in Galileo. Both courts have claimed jurisdiction over the complaint, and issued their own separate injunctions holding mining operations until their rulings have been issued. DSE has issued a bounty for the capture of Yamada alive.

[831 AS/747 AGS] Gate Corps Clash Over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin jump gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network. Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection. Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS/747 AGS] 'Blackout' Causes Jump Network Fail

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When the network resumed 31 hours later, restored communications broke the news of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged the market into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates indicate that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of culpability for the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's jump gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible. Independent researchers in Cologne and the Edge Worlds have also announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, with data about 'The Pulse' being widely shared across the neural net in recent days. House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to comment on their own observatories' data.

[830 AS] Kruger Robotics Lawsuit Dismissed

ESSEN -- 830 -- Rheinland courts have dismissed Kishiro Technologies’ lawsuit against Kruger Minerals as 'unfounded'. The Kusari corporation claims Kruger stole patented Robotics designs, which recently entered production at Essen Station. Kruger has demonstrated these new products by automating several Omega-7 operations and laying off hundreds of crews. Kruger representatives called the lawsuit 'frivolous nonsense', while Kishiro’s lawyers vowed to appeal, alleging severe conflicts of interest with the presiding judge. Baroness Daniela von Achen had served as the Minister of Industry in the Imperial Government prior to reunification, and was appointed as a Crown Judge following the Holstein Accords.

[825 AS] Ibusuki station massacred - Kusari enters war!

SAIGON -- 825 -- In a furious speech, Prime Minister Yukihara Reijiro of Kusari has declared a state of war against Rheinland. This follows the destruction of Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21, 12 hours before Rheinland's eviction ultimatum expired. Despite Rheinland's protests that it was not responsible for the act, Kusari has accused the Battleship Bayern of the murders, releasing the station's final distress calls that begged Rheinland forces to cease fire. As a result, Kusari has mobilized the Kusari Naval Forces to begin joint military operations alongside the Gas Miner's Guild. The Prime Minister has ordered Rheinland to withdraw all of its forces from the Sigmas immediately or face Kusari's fury.

[825 AS] Rheinland demands Ibusuki destruction

IBUSUKI SURVEY PLATFORM -- 825 -- Rheinland has issued an ultimatum for Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21 to be abandoned. The 48 hour warning has been provided to allow Kusari citizens time to evacuate from the jointly Kishiro and GMG operated station before the Battleship Bayern enforces the order. Kishiro Technologies has announced that it has assumed full administration of the platform to avoid being dragged into Rheinland's conflict with the Guild. Rheinland has reiterated that the platform must be abandoned, while the Bayern continues to advance towards Planet Saigon. Kusari has reacted with outrage to the development, threatening immediate repercussions if neutral Kusari citizens or property are harmed.

[825 AS] War Returns to the Sigmas!

SIGMA-21 -- 825 -- Rheinland has declared war on the Gas Miners Guild (GMG), with both sides claiming to be victims of acts of unprovoked aggression. Rheinland has announced its intent to expel the GMG from Sigma-15 and 21, which it considers to be claimed territory. The GMG in return aims to enforce treaty terms from the end of the 80-Years War that it says establishes Guild sovereignty over the entire Sigma cluster. Kusari has offered to mediate the dispute, while Liberty and Bretonia have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities over fear of disruption to the sector’s strategic H-Fuel supplies. Rheinland has advised it will not obstruct Sigma H-Fuel shipments by vessels operating under neutral flags. Interspace has substantially raised premiums for convoys in the region.

[824 AS] Rheinland completes Colony War reparations

HONSHU -- 824 -- Rheinland and Kusari officials have met in a somber memorial service, commemorating the losses of the Colony Wars. The occasion marks the 20th anniversary of the Second Treaty of Honshu and the final reparations payment for damages Rheinland inflicted during the conflict. The Treaty arrangement also included privileged access to Rheinland markets for Kusari corporations, to facilitate the reconstruction of the Kusari Naval Forces. This special deal has now lapsed, meaning Kusari will be required to pay full market rate for goods and services. Samura and Kishiro stock prices have fallen on the news, amid hopes an extension would be agreed.

[814 AS] ALG announces Sigma-13 milestone

HELGOLAND STATION -- 814 -- ALG representatives have announced that all commercially viable salvage has now been retrieved from the Yanagi Cloud debris field in Sigma-13. This means the project now enters its second and most hazardous phase, which focuses on the clearance of material deemed too contaminated or dangerous to be recycled, such as unexploded mines and heavily irradiated or otherwise contaminated ship hulls. ALG’s cleanup effort has repeatedly missed project milestones, which the corporation blames on poorly motivated Junker subcontractors. It now forecasts final debris clearance for 824 AS.

[804 AS] Treaty of Honshu eases Colony War wounds

HONSHU -- 804 -- Dignitaries from Rheinland and Kusari today ratified the Second Treaty of Honshu, officially normalizing relations between the two Houses and ending Kusari’s embargo. Rheinland has formally accepted sole culpability for the Colony Wars and agreed to a 20 year reparations package. This includes preferential rates for Kusari corporations on military goods and resources needed to rebuild the Kusari Naval Forces, and financial compensation for the damages inflicted in Honshu itself. Chancellor Steller offered his sincere condolences to Kusari over the war, and promised a brighter future of mutual prosperity.

[801 AS] Kusari imposes embargo on Rheinland

NEW TOKYO -- 801 -- Shogun Edo has announced that a full economic embargo of Rheinland will be imposed by Kusari due to the outrages of the Colony Wars. Liberty’s President Jacobi has taken a leading role in mediation between Rheinland and the other Houses, with the Provisional Rheinland Government offering a message of condolence to the Kusari people for the actions of the toppled previous regime. Despite this, Kusari has remained resolute that no normalization of relations will be considered until full reparations are made for the devastation in Honshu and New Tokyo, and the many crimes Kusari alleges were perpetrated there.

[801 AS] Rheinland ends all hostilities

FULDA -- 801 -- With the disappearance of Chancellor Niemann and the installation of the Liberty-backed Provisional Rheinland Government, an immediate cessation of all hostilities has been ordered. Rheinland forces have begun withdrawals on all fronts. Reports from Kusari have confirmed that the Northern Fleet has retreated from New Tokyo and Honshu, however it has not returned to Rheinland or recognized the authority of the PRG. Government sources believe the fleet may have deserted, with Rheinland's remaining loyalist security forces being ordered to high-alert as a precaution against pro-Niemann coup attempts.

Rumors

Kusari Naval Forces

If we unlock the secrets of Trade Lanes and Jump Gates, Kusari will finally be free of the Liberty yoke. We have been exploited far too long by Ageira and IC. All of Sirius will be on a level playing field. Kishiro is building specialized new Hull Panels under the guise of gas miner production in the Yukawa shipyard. They are also constructing special field generators that are able to fit within a stripped down cruiser. Our goal is to make an instant leap into Sigma-17 from Kansai, without the aid of Jump Gates, less than 10 years from now. Once our prototype cruiser is working, the Kusari Naval Forces will test it on the Blood Dragon base in Chugoku. If all goes well, we will be able to muster a secret attack force here in Kansai, step aboard, and be at the doorstep of the Blood Dragons minutes later. It would be over in a matter of hours. We have several large laboratories here dedicated to reverse engineering the Liberty Jump Gates and Trade Lanes. Parts have been gathered in random criminal raids throughout the years to avoid arousing the suspicion of IC and the LSF. The Fugaku was lost in a raid on the Kansai Research Center within the Hiyo Cloud. The fighter became entangled in the mine field during the attack, and the pilot was killed. It eventually drifted off into the cloud. No one has seen it since. We buy our supplies from the Yukawa shipyard or Shinagawa. Since we produce our own life support Gases, our needs are few. It is a lonely life, surrounded by our protective mine field. Once you enter this complex, you rarely leave. We have conclusively determined that the Trade Lane and Jump Gate technologies are clearly of alien origin, which confirms our long standing suspicions. Unfortunately, practical manufacturing limitations have prevented us from replicating the Superconductor field-generating materials. This base is dedicated to Nanocapacitor research. This is a key technical problem faced by both gas miners and military ships in navigating the interior of the Crow Nebula. The challenge is creating nanobot components that are shielded, and can repel trillions of gas molecules every second during spaceflight. This is an ideal location for research away from prying eyes, unlike Nansei. The Kishiro scientists are also more creative and willing to take risks than their Samura counterparts. The Blood Dragons think that we are creating some super weapon here that Tokyo will use to destroy them. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are interested in creating the ultimate battleship that can traverse space without the aid of Jump Gates or Lanes. We have reliable information that Liberty has achieved exactly this goal, and we shall not be far behind.

Kishiro Technologies

I'm a direct descendant of Kishiro, the founder of this company. People murmur that I got this post because of my family, but I have worked hard to get where I am. I was first in my class at New Tokyo University. This was a natural choice to honor my family tradition. There is a faction of scientists at Kishiro that doubt we can ever catch up with Liberty. After all, they have had centuries to decipher the alien technology. Kishiro only began the effort 50 years ago. This is the most well paid location for Kishiro research scientists. If we can deliver on our promises, all of Kusari will view us as heroes one day. If we fail, I will enter the airlock and eject myself into the mine field. One day soon, the new Kusari Naval Forces shipyard will be here, within the clouds of this nebula. Yokohama and Samura will merely be a front for the world, building the occasional gunboat to avoid raising suspicion within Liberty. Kusari is tolerant of the Artifact trade for different reasons than Liberty and the LSF realize. The Hogosha are required to turn over any that appear to be technology related to the government, in exchange for minimal police interference with their other affairs. They end up here, where we have been patiently unlocking their secrets.

NOTE: Page generated on the 07/06/2024 at 15:55:47 UTC