| Planet New London
|
- What a cold and wet place this is. It's a long journey for our H-Fuel from Sapporo, Hokkaido. For the return trip we often pick up either Gold or Super Alloys for the Yokohama Shipyard in New Tokyo. Having to go around the Tau systems creates excessive delays and higher costs, but we are forbidden from crossing the Bretonian border into Tau space. Gallia could use that as an excuse to restart their war with Kusari.
- Bretonia is the largest source of Gold for the entire Sirius Sector. We are heading back to Yokohama with a load as soon as we can arrange the escort. Between Outcasts, Lane Hackers, Liberty Rogues, Xenos, Blood Dragons and Golden Chrysantemums, whomever we hire will have plenty to do.
- We ship a large amount of Fertilizer to New London, where it is transferred to Bowex freighters for the final leg of their trip to Cambridge. We are proud to assist Bretonia's farmers, who are still independent and not under the evil eye of Synth Foods.
|
| Battleship Nagasaki
|
- Nagasaki was wise to position it where it has. Kusari forces may not venture here per their agreement with Gallia, and Gallic forces do not usually go far from the Jump Gate - they don't want to run into the Outcasts unneccesarily, I think. This is a no mans land where only Samura and the Outcasts will go, and the Outcasts are no match for these Naval Forces veterans.
- We saw reports of the initial invasion of Planet Leeds by Gallia. True to form, Gallia decided to land their troops en-masse, all over the planet rather then concentrating on a bridgehead. They assumed their numerical superiority in space would also be true on the ground. Their initial assault barely made it to the surface. A lot of soldiers died a foolish death. Their second tactic was more effective - bombard an area from orbit, then land a large force covered by orbital fighters.
- It is good to see those who were abandoned are still in good spirits. That the Emperor passed away before his time is saddening, but the time to mourn is not now. The forces here are in need of supplies, but those in power on New Tokyo still deny them. We will remedy this situation as best as we can.
- Supplying the Exiled fleet is troublesome if we do it directly. The amount and type of goods they use are not generally in use by mining bases like Shinkaku. Our transports are generally scanned by the Nagumo upon leaving Kusari. Some goods we can claim lost to Outcast attacks, but others have to be brought in covertly. The Hogosha are invaluable there.
- It would not be possible to supply these men purely by smuggling, were it not that they are so few in number and ships. That does not mean they are a diminished force. This is perhaps the most battle hardened force in all of Sirius.
- I am glad to be back at the edge of Kusari. Being behind the Bretonian front for a year was not a pleasant experience. Shinegawa may be only a lowly mining base, but it is a Samura station, with accomodations that far surpass anything those crude Bretonians are capable of. That there are Outcasts here doesn't really change things. Outcast or Gallic fighters, they would both shoot at me. And eachother.
|
| Shinkaku Station
|
- There are freelance pilots who can make life difficult for Kishiro in this system. Samura makes sure that they remain employed as much as possible. If we could wrest control of this system from our chief competitor, the only issue would be the Outcasts. Gallia has no interest in this system, apart from keeping it as a neutral zone. As much as I would wish our government to take back what was once ours, I shall be content to keep making a living here in peace.
- I get an opportunity to see my family on Junyo when I fly HydroGro there from this base. Then I pick up Mining Machinery at New Tokyo, or Rice from Kyushu for the return trip. Although the trip to this base from the Kyushu system is not long, it is very dangerous because the Outcasts try to attack us almost every time. It is like they know we are coming.
- I'm sure Samura didn't know that they had built this base so close to one of the Outcast smuggling routes. We often see Outcasts at the edge of our sensor range. Sometimes they get intercepted by Bounty Hunters. If the Hunters succeed, we can expect an Outcast attack on our operations here not long afterwards.
- Unlike the agricultural habits of our sister colonies, Kusari largely focuses on Rice and Fisheries to sustain its population. Our planets are mostly water worlds - New Tokyo, Honshu, Junyo. There are few products that cater to hydroponic agriculture, and none that work on a planetary scale. We decided to develop our own.
- This system was once an extension of Kusari space rather than a Border World. It is unfortunate that Gallia intruded when they did. It was a complete waste of Kusari lives for us to have fought like we did. This is what happens when two prideful nations meet under these circumstances. Still, not all of Kusari was beaten. Something Gallia will eventually be reminded of.
- My brother is an accountant and cost estimator for our corporation. He told me that Samura was well aware of the danger associated with this system, and this field in particular because of its proximity to Outcast operations. The profits gained outnumber the expenses; human life is relatively cheap on a balance sheet. Pilots know what they sign up for when they accept a posting here. We pay them well, but we do not guarantee anyone's safety here.
- The Shinkaku field is rich in various organic substances. There are light Hydrocarbons such as Methane and Ethane mixed with Ammonia, all frozen in ice. We extract all these components by crushing the ice asteroids in space, then gathering up the ice dust in an unheated hold. Back on the station, the ice is heated and refined. In space, there is no gravity, so we use density differentiation to seperate the compounds. It is cheaper then thermal seperation.
- I signed up for a dangerous assignment when I began working for Samura. It is the only way to get promoted quickly in my company, and I am an excellent pilot. I am proud to supply those who were left behind. It is a just cause to supply the Exiles - our Kusari brothers who were betrayed and exiled by Kishiro. Who would have thought Kishiro would be capable of such treachery?
- Welcome to the very edge of Kusari space. This is the last Kusari station in the Tau systems, and it has a reputation as such an outpost. There are no safe postings here. The Outcasts frequently attack this station, in force. We believe their aim is to destroy this station and thereby push the Kusari border back. They will fail of course, but their attacks inflict a great deal of damage.
- One of the reasons we are developing agricultural growth acceleration is to revitalise the exhausted fisheries on Junyo and Honshu. The fisheries were exhausted through pollution and overfishing, which caused not the fish stocks, but the plants and microorganisms that feed them to falter. HydroGro will revitalise those quickly. We have, for some time, experimented with using Alien Organisms to supplement fish stocks but there are some... side effects that makes us want to consider alternatives.
- This station uses the gases it mines in this field to produce our customized HydroGro hydroponic fertilizer, along with small quantities of other organic base products. We have to bring in Food and Mining Machinery from Kusari, but we produce a surplus of Water and Oxygen. We sometimes sell our surplus to Freeport 6.
- Tau-29 was discovered shortly after 300 AS by a Kusari research expedition. They encountered large fields of Hydrocarbons, frozen Methane, and Oxygen frozen in ice. The system's abundance was staggering, yet these resources could not be fully exploited until the addition of jump gates. Now the trade lanes extend all the way to Bretonia, and into Tau-23. It would have heralded the coming of civilization to the sector - if it were not for all the war that followed.
|
| Freeport 6
|
- Samura has to content itself with using this base as a meeting point with Gallic merchants. We would prefer to host them on Shinkaku Station, but protocols forbid it for the timebeing. I dislike stations as these. They play host to many people, including many of our enemies.
- The demand for Niobium in Kyushu is high. You may be a foreigner, but I'm sure the merchants there will accept your Niobium anyway. You can return from Kyushu with Basic Alloys to sell here, if you feel that it is worth it to you.
- I plan on shipping Helium-3 from our Hokkaido fields out to New London. The demand for fuel in Bretonia is very high now, the price makes the longer route through Liberty worth it. Bretonia has access to a supply of Deuterium, and Hydrogen isn't hard to obtain, so they can mix over 5 times the volume in fuel for each shipment of Helium-3 we deliver. Gallia may not like this, but we have contracts to maintain.
|
| Planet New Tokyo
|
- My ship is just passing through, and it's good to drink real Kusari beer again. We normally do the Superconductor run from Denver. Tomorrow we'll drop by our company offices in Shinjuku, and then head to Kyushu with the bulk of the load. We often bring Ship Hull Panels on the return trip.
- Almost all Kusari shipping stops in Tokyo. My family is here, but I don't see them often. It is a lonely life, that of a tanshin funin. We just brought a load of Fertilizers from Shinkaku in Tau-29. I'm transferring to an armored transport leaving for Hokkaido on a Marine deployment to the Matsumoto within the next hour. Hokkaido is not an easy trip. Maybe I'll have some whiskey before I go.
- Kusari industrial might is shared between the two diversified corporations of Samura and Kishiro. Tokyo is the only neutral ground for the two giant companies. Kyushu is Samura territory and Honshu is Kishiro country. We are the older, more established concern, founded in the early days after the Arrival.
- I just sold a shipment of Manhattan Luxury Goods for the spoiled brats of our Shibuya district. The trip from Liberty is tiring, given the threat of Xeno and Lane Hacker attacks. Then you must contend with those crazy Golden Chrysanthemum pirates, who would rather steal their designer clothes than buy them like a proper Kusari woman.
- They just unloaded my ship's Luxury Food from Junyo at the Tsukiji fish market. Junyo is Samura's most exciting project. We have transformed a sterile ocean moon in Shikoku into Kusari's top seafood production area within 50 years. The secret is the Alien Organisms from Kurile in the Sigma-17 system. They have not only oxygenated Junyo's oceans in record time but have provided cheap and abundant Food for the shrimp and fish farms.
- Samura handles our share of Kusari cargo runs across the Sigma-13 system to Rheinland. Trade with Rheinland has opened up a lot in recent years. Crossing the Sigmas can be perilous, and I don't trust the GMG to assist me if I run into trouble. Out there, we Samura look after our own.
|
| Narita Outpost
|
- This is not a very lucrative run because it is only one Trade Lane jump to Yokohama. Republican ships its High-Temperature Alloys and Boron all the way from Rheinland but must terminate here at Narita. Only Samura ships are allowed to land at Yokohama -- no Rheinland ships. Rules and regulations ...
- Even though this is a short run, the Blood Dragons are always waiting. You never know when they will hit next. Sometimes I think I should change companies to Kishiro, although that would be disgraceful to my employer. At least Kishiro captains don't have to worry so much about pirates.
- Just between you and me, the real reason Samura doesn't want Republican landing on Yokohama is that Samura uses the Hogosha to steal shipbuilding supplies here. It's always cheaper to steal than to buy, and it keeps costs down. Is it any wonder why they put the foreign commercial ship builders out of business?
|
| Yokohama Shipyard
|
- Most of our structural materials for shipbuilding come from Stokes or Pueblo. Combustion chamber and nozzle materials are supplied by Rheinland. They are transferred at Narita or brought in directly by our ships from Mainz.
- Yokohama is also the site of Samura's commercial transport assembly. We currently control 70% of the market for Small and Large Transports. Kusari military contracts are not as numerous and lucrative as they once were, so we must be flexible to keep our yards busy.
- We have a special arrangement with Bowex in Kusari. They are allowed to land at our military shipyard to deliver Super Alloy and remove Toxic Waste. We then transport the two dangerous substances within Kusari space to and from the appropriate bases.
|
| Shinjuku Station
|
- As far as we're concerned, building a gate to Chugoku was never a realistic option, as it is a colossal waste of money that only aggravates the Blood Dragon problem. The Blood Dragons are an annoyance, but they have served their purpose well. Now we are ready to open our new venture in Tau-53, it is time to reveal Samura's true intentions for the Hokkaido system - a gateway to a Kusari future without foreign interference.
- The Farmers Alliance was created to combat the unfair business practices and inferior products that Synth Foods has introduced to the Kusari populace. We make occasional contributions to their worthy cause but do not at all condone their somewhat blunt methods.
- Privately, I've heard that our scientists believe that eating farmed fish fed with the Alien Organisms may have long term health consequences for the Kusari population. We have already noticed some changes among the workers on Junyo and especially Kurile. It would be best if this is kept private, to not create a panic in the populace.
- Samura is proud of our tradition as the builder and provider of Kusari. Our Food production units in Kusari and Junyo employ the latest technologies to produce top quality Foods that are more tuned to the sensitive Kusari palate than rough foreign imitations like Synth Paste.
- Samura is the largest corporation in the Sirius sector. We are a vertically integrated company that produces everything from Fertilizers to Large Transports. We also ship to more locations than any of our competitors.
- This base serves as our corporate headquarters and research center for all Samura operations in the Sirius Sector. H-Fuel and Food are also distributed to various Samura bases in the field from here.
- Our research laboratory on F deck is devoted to researching the mysterious Alien Organisms. We harvest them on Kurile in the Sigma-17 system for shipment to terraforming activities in Liberty and Bretonia. They have also proven most useful supporting the fish farming effort in Junyo.
- The Hokkaido system is now ours. The government funded and constructed the Hokkaido Gates in the name of security, which allows us access to the H-Fuel fields there, and to our new holdings in the systems beyond. Samura is on the path towards self-sufficiency for Kusari, and the GMG and Kishiro can only sit and watch from the sidelines.
- The Hogosha serve us well. By relieving our suppliers and competitors of extra Commodities in storage, we can keep our costs down and remain clear of suspicion. The occasional Hogosha gets caught, but that is the risk that they take. We will deny any knowledge of the arrangement if they are caught.
|
| Fuchu Prison
|
- Cryocubes are shipped in here by Samura and Kishiro traders from Gallia. This machinery has been a godsend for cooling the station and our stored perishables.
- A large portion of the basic supplies that keep this prison running are shipped here from Deshima. Deshima may be a haven for Gaijin and other filth, but it is also a trading hub in this sector.
- The prisoners here produce much of the Hydrocarbons in Kusari. It is our job to ship them to Tsushima.
- I do not like coming here usually, though it is rewarding at times. They brought in a group of Liberty Rogues that had been attacking our shipments for weeks. It was good to see their faces, particularly when they were pushed into their cells.
|
| Battleship Myoko
|
- My family members are fishermen in Junyo. I thought it would be exciting to become a pilot. Now I wish I could be a fisherman again. I suppose one always to be something else, but this is different. Do you know how often Samura pilots die in this system just running supplies?
- This battleship has most of its basic supplies brought here by Samura from Deshima. It is a good run because you know it should be reasonably safe.
- Samura makes runs to this ship bringing HazMat Canisters from Rheinland. The engines of this battleship produce Toxic Waste, which Kishiro takes out to Shinagawa. Kishiro is useful for that sort of thing - handling the waste products.
|
| Deshima Station
|
- Detroit Light Arms brought here from Detroit Munitions are then shipped to New Tokyo. Samura has more contacts than Kishiro -- of course, we are the ones who deliver the more sensitive Commodities into the heart of Kusari.
- Along with basic commodities, Samura ships Light Arms from here to Fuchu and Myoko. It is a short run to either base.
- I make the Gallic Tobacco run for Samura. My family originally comes from Kyushu, so I am lucky that I got that assignment.
|
| Planet Junyo
|
- We bring Alien Organisms to this planet to help maintain our fish populations. Most of the Organisms we get are from Kurile.
- Manhatten buys a lot of Junyo Pearls. It is a difficult journey for Samura because of the Xenos, but you may find it easier.
- I used to be an important man in New Tokyo. My division was always ahead of schedule, and my team very efficient. One of my men was a terrible worker, so I fired him. Little did I know he was the cousin to a powerful executive.
- This planet is very young. We first overlooked these oceans as a place to raise fish because they were bereft of life. It would have taken a very long time for a food chain to develop here, that is, until we used Alien Organisms to jumpstart the process.
- If you wish to go to New Tokyo, there is a way to line your pockets and travel there as well. Take a load of the Luxury Foods we produce here to the capitol. From there you can go wherever you like.
- I will stare into the depths of the waters here. There is little I can do to escape this place. I miss New Tokyo dearly, and I want only to be back there. I hate fish; I can never completely wash its smell from my skin.
- Most of the criminals that attack my ship in the Trade Lanes pour from the Saiun. It's such a beautiful place that to be filled with so many loathsome creatures is very regrettable.
- Sometimes I will look across these waters and wonder what creatures might have eventually emerged from these depths had we not meddled with nature here. Sometimes it is better for a man to eat rice, but you didn't hear that from me.
- The communications tower is very high in the center of the station. There are always many people nearby. Perhaps I could throw myself off of its highest point and end this suffering.
- In the Border Worlds on the eastern side of Kusari space is a planet where Alien Organisms are found in vast numbers. That planet, Kurile, is in dangerous space. If you believe yourself to be a good pilot, you could always bring them here.
- You seem to be an honorable fellow. This base could always use more Robotics to keep our operations running smoothly. Pearls out to Rheinland, and return with Robotics and you stand to make a tidy profit.
- Food production here is good, and has always been profitable. But the real money now is in Samura's Pearl farms. There is huge money to be made moving these luxury goods to the wealthy citizens of Rheinland and Liberty. I also deliver some to Luxury Liner Hawaii on my trips down to Planet Kurile.
|
| Ohashi Border Station
|
- Only Kusari companies are allowed to land at this base. We are honored with the task of keeping Kusari safe. It is true that we do not do the work ourselves, but how would the police operate without our assistance?
- Basic supplies are brought to this base by Samura. It is either brought in from New Tokyo, or we ship it here from within the system.
- Even though we are shipping to a police base, our convoys are attacked quite often. I do not wish to speak ill of our police force, but they cannot always defend us from the mongrels in this system. It is all the foreigners that turn their attention away from the real criminals, the Blood Dragons.
- The Light Arms you see strapped to all of our honorable law bringers come from Deshima station. It's ironic that we must use Ageira weapons to protect ourselves from Liberty criminals.
- My son -- he is a good boy -- told me he wanted to make a difference and was going to join the police. He was never interested in business or I would have secured him a position with Samura. I told him that the police did not live long enough to make a good career. He is serving in the military.
- Kusari's corporate interests in Shikoku are faithfully represented by Samura. Planet Junyo dominates the region with its quality food production. The Kishiro concern over on Deshima is just a sideshow.
|
| Planet Kyushu
|
- If you would care to cross the Border Worlds, there is business you might conduct for us in Freeport 6. They send us the Spaceship Crews for R&D, in return we take them Consumer Goods and other basic supplies.
- The Bio-Neural Processors we are shipping in from Gallia will give us new inroads to the technology market. Perhaps you could be a link in that chain?
- The H-Fuel we get from Shinjuku and Sapporo is distributed throughout Kyushu. It is not as lucrative a run as others, but relatively easy.
- Fertilizers make their way here from Shinkaku in the Border Worlds. In return we send them H-Fuel. It is a very beneficial relationship.
- The Food grown here is shipped to every system in Kusari space and into the Border Worlds. Oxygen and Water produced here is shipped to every base in the system. Samura is the heart of this system and Kyushu feeds Kusari.
- The Farmers Alliance focuses its attacks on foreigners' commodities moving through Shikoku, especially those produced by Synth Foods, who undermines the hard work that we the farmers do. The Alliance has also been known to make accidental attacks on Kishiro shipping convoys moving through the system. How unfortunate for Kishiro, to think I used to have some sympathy for them. Not anymore, not after their betrayal of our Emperor and our people.
- Kyushu is the recipient of Luxury Goods, Side Arms, and Engine Components from New Tokyo. These fine products are sent here to keep the people of Kyushu satisfied, armed, and on the move.
- Samura saw that this system was a perfect opportunity to really break into the Food market. We grow the finest Foods in all of Kusari in Shikoku. When the government offered us incentives to relocate investments here, we jumped at the chance.
|
| Tsushima Depot
|
- The young bucks who come to work here do not understand the life they have chosen for themselves. They will understand in twenty years or so that we are nothing more than machines that Samura will throw away when it is done with us.
- My family members have been joint fitters in the Yokohama shipyards for many generations. I came because Samura is paying well for laborers to mine the Methane and Ethane out of the ice rings that surround this planet. Besides, New Tokyo was getting much too crowded.
- I have no idea why the Blood Dragons attack this base. It could serve them no good to harass ice miners. I hate terrorists. Their political objectives are always so extreme, and so are their violent actions.
- Golden Chrysanthemums lifted our Water supplies twice in a row. I have not been able to bathe in more than three days, nor has anyone else on the base. It smells unbearable. Do you know how badly miners smell? I am slowly being driven mad.
- Just beyond this planet lies the Ohka Dust Field. Beyond that is the Border Worlds, the Barrier, Gallia... and adventure. I am tired of being a miner. I wish to discover Sirius like Matsuo, the great Kusari explorer. My father just doesn't understand.
- All of this station's basic supplies come from this system's main planet, Kyushu. It is an easy supply run to make, if not very lucrative.
- The subsidies that Samura receives from the government to run this plant more than pay for the pilots we hire to attack the Kishiro Polymer production plant that operates in the Border Worlds. Still, the added expense cuts into our profits.
- Recently Kishiro opened a Polymer manufactory in the Border Worlds. Somehow they are able to produce their Polymers for a smaller cost. This has made our operations here more difficult since the market is being flooded by lower priced and obviously lower quality products. I'm sure the shipyards will realize the importance of using better, slightly more expensive components.
- I would love to take a shower; I haven't bathed in days. At least those damnable Chrysanthemums didn't steal our Food shipments or else we would be starving to death right now. Imagine starving to death in Kyushu -- there's irony for you.
- I am getting too old for this job. I would like to retire like they do in Liberty and Bretonia. But, Samura hires its employees for life. If I quit I will dishonor my family. Maybe I could have a mining "accident."
- The gas rings that surround Aso comprise valuable Methane Gases that are mined and used to make Polymers. The Polymers manufactured here are shipped to Osaka for distribution to Rheinland.
- Hydrocarbons are shipped to this facility from Fuchu prison in Shikoku. The Hydrocarbons will be used to convert the Gases we mine into Polymers.
|
| Battleship Hamamatsu
|
- The Nansei Research Center is protected by this battleship. It is a great responsibility protecting the best and brightest minds in Kusari. Someone must take the forefront of scientific research in Kusari, and that great task falls upon Samura's shoulders.
- I enjoy this assignment aboard the Nagumo. I am afforded the pleasure of seeing the worlds beyond Kusari, but in the safety of a battleship patrol. Yes, sometimes the pilots will take me with them on circuit sorties -- very exciting.
- All the basic supplies needed to run this base are brought here from Kyushu. The shipments also bring in mail, since many of the soldiers aboard the Nagumo are from the finest families planet side, and send care packages to their kin aboard the ship.
- We often have Armored Transports taking Prisoners to Fuchu Prison. As part of our supply contract with the KNF, we bring back Marine contingents used for ship-boarding parties.
- This ship plays an important role in keeping the foreign criminals out of our beautiful system. Let them infest Shikoku if they must; Kyushu is ours. Personally, I wish that Kusari was still strictly isolationist. We could always transfer goods at our borders, but the government has grown lax.
- Light Arms are given to every soldier aboard the ship. They are supplied from relay bases in New Tokyo.
|
| Nansei Research Complex
|
- The Samura scientists stationed here have been demoralized by the cuts in overtime and bonuses by Samura during the last year. Rumor is that our support of the Farmers Alliance has been more costly than expected.
- We supply this facility with the Superconductors and Robotics that it needs, along with Basic Supplies from Kyushu. It is an isolated location, which I guess it needs to be, given the dangerous nature of their research here.
- All the best scientists work for Kishiro -- everyone knows that. Most of us are Kyushu University graduates, a school known more for its agricultural research than up-to-date propulsion engineering programs.
- In 400 AS the Kusari government decided to offer corporations incentives to move offices and bases into Kyushu. This was to help stimulate development of the system. We decided to take advantage of that offer; in return the government is getting the best research available governing antimatter. Eventually, these projects could lead to new forms of propulsion, energy, and weaponry.
- This is just another kickback from the government to Samura. Samura receive 50 million from Tokyo every year, yet we never are allowed to spend more than 20. The rest goes to fund all of Samura's extracurricular activities around Kusari. I don't know how much longer we will keep getting the money though. If the new government ever audits us there will be serious questions asked about our operations here.
- We are not making nearly as much money as Kishiro research scientists. Plus, all of our equipment is outdated. Some of our materials are getting so old that accidents can happen. This is not a good place to work, though I could not dishonor myself by leaving Samura.
|
| Planet Honshu
|
- We must purchase many of our shipbuilding supplies for Yokohama here -- engine Components, Optronics, and Construction Machinery mostly. Samura once manufactured most of these Commodities, but we could not remain competitive with Kishiro in these specialties.
- You must understand that Kusari palates are more sensitive to delicate Foods than foreigners. We can detect a great difference in quality between Kusari Food Pastes and Synth Food imports. That is why the Kusari people will pay so much more for Kyushu Food products. Now that we have extra produce from Tottori coming in, we can even compete on price.
- Samura still makes the daily Food run from Kyushu, but we may need to reduce it soon to bi-weekly. People are no longer eating Kyushu Rice like they did. Those Synth Food invaders have been granted landing rights on Honshu at the insistence of Kishiro. It will not last, not with agriculture on the rise in Tottori. Synth Foods is but a small asteroid along the Trade Lane to prosperity for our Foods Division.
- We are delivering a load of Junyo produced Luxury Foods. Sometimes we ship Luxury Goods or Light Arms from Tokyo. It just depends on the local demand.
- Those cursed Blood Dragons harass us all the way across Honshu to the Tokyo Gate. They do not seem to bother Kishiro as much. That is suspicious in my opinion. Perhaps Kishiro is secretly supplying them with weapons and money.
- I'm taking a breather while my ship is repaired and refitted for the return journey to Kurile in the Sigma-17 system. We must brave Outcast and Corsair every trip. I've seen many of my friends' supply ships destroyed in front of my eyes. It is the fastest way to early retirement, though. Each roundtrip to Kurile counts as four years of normal service. I will be able to retire to Kyushu in three more trips, if I survive.
|
| Kamakura Base
|
- The Blood Dragons have become bolder. They have attempted frontal assaults on Osaka in recent years. It would be a catastrophe if they were to start a chain-reaction explosion in the storage areas. We have strengthened the tank walls as a precaution.
- This is the largest storage and shipping facility in the entire Sirius Sector. From here, Samura can ship H-Fuel into Rheinland and Bretonia, without risking the Gallic warzone. H-Fuel is the lifeblood of space transportation. It is the one raw material that Kusari has been blessed with in abundance.
- Samura will open an H-Fuel complex larger than this in Hokkaido, once the criminal element has been reduced to an acceptable level. Hokkaido is much closer to markets and less susceptible to Edge World pirates than the Sigma systems. Kishiro and the GMG will not be able to compete.
- Rumor is that there will be an "attack" by the Blood Dragons someday soon that will result in the destruction of this facility, and a massive insurance claim will be filed with the government. Just business as usual for our company, I guess ...
- Kusari has controlled the H-Fuel since the dawn of Jump Gates. There are those at Samura who feel that Kusari did not exploit this powerful tool more effectively in the past, as Liberty as done with their Trade Lane technology monopoly.
- A Blood Dragon spy was discovered last week. He had entered a restricted H-Fuel re-pressurization area without the proper credentials. When confronted, the imposter blew himself up, killing several guards. We were lucky -- the effects of the blast were absorbed by a structural bulkhead. One must always be vigilant.
- The GMG has transferred its Gas here as long as anyone can remember. Osaka's isolated location was intentional. It would not have been cost effective or safe to place such a facility planet side. We needed to keep it clear of the clouds for security reasons. Nowdays we store what we can from Hokkaido, but we have to double back through New Tokyo to ship supplies to Liberty. We should strip this place bare, sell it to Kishiro, and then upgrade Sapporo Station so it can handle new shipments of gas coming from our Hokkaido project.
- Osaka is old and Samura is no longer maintaining the tanks well. We are too far removed from Hokkaido for Osaka to be of much use now. We need to downsize this facility, and build new ones in New Tokyo or even Shikoku where Kishiro has less influence.
- We bought the GMG's Gas at very reasonable prices for 400 years. Then they betrayed our trust and started dealing with Kishiro. They will both pay, the Farmers Alliance will never forgive Kishiro for usurping the government, and we will never forget the GMG's betrayal of our partnership.
|
| Akita Border Station
|
- Upper management is trying to put pressure on the GMG and Kishiro by having police patrols removed from this base. Even with Samura losing its dominance in government, our expansion into Tottori gives management a strong basis for their claims. I'm not sure it really helps us though, as Samura ships must still travel to Rheinland with other supplies.
- I'm just switching some crew with a transport bound for Mainz. They lost a couple in a Blood Dragon attack near Osaka and needed a full complement for the Sigma-13 crossing. I wish them the best of luck.
- I've been hauling supplies in my little freighter around Samura and government bases for as long as I can remember. Honshu was pretty quiet until the Edge World pirates showed up. Shikoku has always been active. You've got Liberty criminals in the southern end, and Bounty hunters and Blood Dragons feuding in the rest. All of that paled in comparison to the blood-bath in the Taus though. I am glad I never went out that far.
- One day soon they will shut down Osaka, and many people like me will be forced to find work elsewhere. Hokkaido does not sound attractive to me. They say there are great new jobs going in Tau-53 and Tottori, if this place goes under I hope they will offer me a new placement out there.
- We supply this base with its essential needs. We've had to ship a lot of new issue Light Arms in from Tokyo. Guess there's been a little attrition around here lately.
- Just having a quick beer with an old friend who's posted here with the Police. We graduated from the same school in Kyushu years ago. I miss the green isles of home. Honshu is always grim and gray -- and full of Kishiro people.
|
| Battleship Matsumoto
|
- Samura has had advisors here since the beginning of the Gate construction project. We have surveyed the Kayo and Unyo Clouds for potential Gas reserves. It appears that the southern area of the system is richer. That is probably for the best, as we may be forced to withdraw from this area soon.
- The MOX run to this ship and the Chugoku gate is very dangerous. The enemy seem particularly interested in intercepting our special cargo. I don't know why we are supposed to return the Toxic Waste to Yokohama. We should just dump it in the Gap.
- Samura has accomplished our primary goal of establishing a viable gas field in Hokkaido. The government's assistance was invaluable achieving this goal. We no longer need to justify our presence in Hokkaido, we can stay well below the Gap around Sapporo, or move on into Tau-53.
- I'm not feeling so well -- probably all the radiation up here. I volunteered for the position because of all the hazard pay. The previous chief on the Hokkaido supply route refused to run it anymore. Now I understand why.
- I'm not sure what they will do with this battleship now the gate is complete. Billions of Kusari credits have already been expended on the jump gate project. At the very least, it is a monument to the power that we have over the corrupt bureaucrats. Even with a new government, our claws dig deep into the bureaucracy. It will take years to weed out our influence, the new government will be thrown out long before then.
- One of the more exotic requests we get from the Navy boys here on the Matsumodo is for Gallic Tobbaco. Who are we to deny them? The Commander of the Matsumodo has his own private smoking room for his own indulgences. He invited me to join him, he is one of the few Naval Forces commanders who still looks after Samura the way we used to be, and we intend to do the same in kind.
|
| Sapporo Station
|
- We have begun gas mining operations here, but they are not up to full production - too many attacks by the Golden Chrysanthemums and Blood Dragons. The Matsumoto should be stationed here, not up by the Tau-53 Gate.
- We deliver supplies to this post on a weekly basis, and then continue on to the Matsumoto. They always need more MOX on the battleship - add some more radiation poisoning into the mix. It is a nasty little war we have going up there.
- One day this system will be full of gas miners, and the enemies of Kusari will be distant memories. The police must first find and eliminate the GC base, which lies somewhere to the west of this outpost.
|
| Osaka Storage Facility
|
- We supply Manhattan's luxury market with its Niobium from our dealers in Freeport 6. I used to pilot the flight myself a while back, but I lost my nerve; I just can't do it anymore. I'm not going to get killed for a paycheck. Luckily, I knew a higher-up and got transferred to a desk.
- The young bucks who come to work here do not understand the life they have chosen for themselves. They will understand in twenty years or so that we are nothing more than machines that Samura will throw away when it is done with us.
- My family members have been joint fitters in the Yokohama shipyards for many generations. I came because Samura is paying well for laborers to mine the Methane and Ethane out of the ice rings that surround this planet. Besides, New Tokyo was getting much too crowded.
- I have no idea why the Blood Dragons attack this base. It could serve them no good to harass ice miners. I hate terrorists. Their political objectives are always so extreme, and so are their violent actions.
- This station pretty much runs itself these days. The construction process for our engine components is fully automated. Most of the people here either maintain the machines building the parts, or inspect newely made components to make sure they are no errors.
- Located in the north of the system, the Ezo Ice Field is known to have a very high presence of Maquis terrorists. Even though the Gallic Navy police the field, attacks on the Lorraine Gate by insurgents are not uncommon.
- Golden Chrysanthemums lifted our Water supplies twice in a row. I have not been able to bathe in more than three days, nor has anyone else on the base. It smells unbearable. Do you know how badly miners smell? I am slowly being driven mad.
- All of this station's basic supplies come from this system's main planet, Kyushu. It is an easy supply run to make, if not very lucrative.
- Just beyond this planet lies the Ohka Dust Field. Beyond that is the Border Worlds, the Barrier, Gallia... and adventure. I am tired of being a miner. I wish to discover Sirius like Matsuo, the great Kusari explorer. My father just doesn't understand.
- Recently Kishiro opened a Polymer manufactory in the Border Worlds. Somehow they are able to produce their Polymers for a smaller cost. This has made our operations here more difficult since the market is being flooded by lower priced and obviously lower quality products. I'm sure the shipyards will realize the importance of using better, slightly more expensive components.
- The subsidies that Samura receives from the government to run this plant more than pay for the pilots we hire to attack the Kishiro Polymer production plant that operates in the Border Worlds. Still, the added expense cuts into our profits.
- I would love to take a shower; I haven't bathed in days. At least those damnable Chrysanthemums didn't steal our Food shipments or else we would be starving to death right now. Imagine starving to death in Kyushu -- there's irony for you.
- I am getting too old for this job. I would like to retire like they do in Liberty and Bretonia. But, Samura hires its employees for life. If I quit I will dishonor my family. Maybe I could have a mining "accident."
- The gas rings that surround Aso comprise valuable Methane Gases that are mined and used to make Polymers. The Polymers manufactured here are shipped to Osaka for distribution to Rheinland.
- If you want your ship's engines to run cleanly, you should buy Samura's Osaka Brand H-Fuel. Our fuel convoys are under constant attack by Xenos, Blood Dragons, and the odd Rogue, but it doesn't matter -- we keep Sirius fueled.
- A lot of the technicians here at Osaka spend their days off at Planet Honshu. It's a short trip, espeically with all the traffic coming and going from that place. We also get shipments of rice and fish from Honshu here, the prices are quite high however.
- Hydrocarbons are shipped to this facility from Fuchu prison in Shikoku. The Hydrocarbons will be used to convert the Gases we mine into Polymers.
- Yokohama is also the site of Samura's commercial transport assembly. We currently control 70% of the market for Small and Large Transports. Kusari military contracts are not as numerous and lucrative as they once were, so we must be flexible to keep our yards busy.
|
| Fukuoka Border Station
|
- We supply this base with its essential needs. We've had to ship a lot of new issue Light Arms in from Tokyo. Guess there's been a little attrition around here lately.
|
| Planet Manhattan
|
- We supply Manhattan's luxury market with its Niobium from our dealers in Freeport 6. I used to pilot the flight myself a while back, but I lost my nerve; I just can't do it anymore. I'm not going to get killed for a paycheck. Luckily, I knew a higher-up and got transferred to a desk.
- Samura gets the best for the people of Kusari. We do not manufacture Luxury Goods ourselves so we come here to get them. The finest Luxury Goods are bought here at Newark and shipped to our intermediaries on Planet New Tokyo.
- If you want your ship's engines to run cleanly, you should buy Samura's Osaka Brand H-Fuel. Our fuel convoys are under constant attack by Xenos, Blood Dragons, and the odd Rogue, but it doesn't matter -- we keep Sirius fueled.
|
| Newark Station
|
- Samura supplies Norfolk Shipyard with Ship Hull Panels from Planet Kyushu. Both Kepler and Galileo are difficult systems to cross, and once inside Liberty we are plagued by the accursed Rogues.
- Samura ships Polymers to this base from Tsushima Depot in Kyushu. Polymers are used in a wide variety of manufacturing and industrial processes. Universal handles most of the local distribution from here at Newark or Trenton so all we have to do is handle wholesale deliveries.
- Samura is an ancient company dating back to the first Shogunate of Kusari. Since then Samura has become the leader in a wide array of technologies. Samura supplies Liberty with Quantum Multiplexors, so they are indispensable to the people of this House. Remember that.
|
| Fort Bush
|
- It is obvious to Samura that Liberty does not take our shipping problems seriously. Our shipments are under constant attack from Xenos, but the Liberty government does hardly anything for us. Where is their navy? Ah yes, they only operate in the southern sector of New York, leaving us to be guarded by the LPI.
- We are an ancient company spanning the centuries since just after Kusari was founded. We have survived this long because we create excellent products. It also doesn't hurt to have good friends in the executive suites of other companies.
- I would prefer not to venture outside of Kusari space to peddle our products to the Gaijin here in Liberty, but I must pay the price for accidentally breaking one of my general manager's prized Alien Artifacts at last year's Sakura celebration.
|
| Baltimore Shipyard
|
- We used to provide this station with all of its H-Fuel. Unfortunately, Deep Space in their wisdom allowed Kishiro to come in and sell their H-Fuels. Kishiro, being the fools that they are, have lowered their prices to try to force us out, so we must lower our prices also. DSE ends up paying less while both Kusari companies lose.
- The best Optronics that Kishiro makes are used at their own manufacturing facilities in Kusari. They would never sell Liberty the best of what they produce. I have told DSE this many times, but they seem satisfied with their inferior Kishiro products.
- We risk many dangers shipping Quantum Multiplexors to this base from the factory in Tau-53, but Deep Space Engineering pays well for the commodities it needs.
|
| Planet Denver
|
- Denver has an insatiable demand for Junyo Pearls. We also bring in H-Fuel from Okinawa, which gets distributed to the Colorado bases by Universal and Ageira.
- I can't stand this Synth Paste you Liberty people eat everyday. In Kusari we have superior Food grown by the dedicated farmers of Kyushu using traditional methods. It may cost a bit more, but it's worth it.
- We ship Pharmaceuticals to Tokyo, which supplies all of Kusari. Less frequently we haul Superconductors for ship construction in Yokohama.
|
| Pueblo Station
|
- The Xenos are a constant thorn in our side in Galileo and Colorado. We've had to invest in better ships and more escorts to protect ourselves. Samura doesn't understand why the Xenos blame us for their misfortunes. Most of it can be blamed on their own Deep Space Engineering and Ageira, who did not respond to the Kusari challenge in commercial ship building.
- Samura ships Beryllium to Pueblo all the way from Java Base in the Tau-23 system. We're picking up a return shipment of Superconductors bound for the Nansei antimatter research center in Kyushu.
- Samura uses Superconductors for construction of Kusari naval force ships in the Yokohama Shipyard. House Kusari would love to manufacture these items internally, but we have been unable to duplicate Ageira's manufacturing techniques, which are truly a mystery.
|
| Philadelphia Station
|
- Aluminium has become a problem for Liberty now that Bretonia has lost control of Leeds. Rheinland has plenty of it, but with the war going on, that's a dead end - for them. Samura can turn a tidy profit by shipping it via the Sigmas to Kusari, and then back to Liberty.
- Basic Alloy is a commodity that is in demand in Kusari. Our nation does not have many raw materials, so we need to import a lot of those. We usually ship it to Yokohama Shipyard in New Tokyo.
- The Xenos are a problem for us. Those barbarians have cost the loss of countless transports and lives, and their numbers keep rising. The Liberty Police is either incapable or unwilling to put an end to their attacks, so we've had to start sending stronger escorts and ship less frequently.
|
| Mainz Storage Facility
|
- The Silver we purchase in this dying system will be shipped aboard our convoys to New Tokyo. If you wish to see a vibrant, living system, go there. But bathe first.
- Yokohama is in need of High-Temperature Alloys. This Commodity is necessary for the construction of ships, and Kusari ships are amongst the finest in Sirius.
- The foolish Rheinland people tried to wrestle the control of H-Fuel production from the GMG. They could never do so; even today if you want H-Fuel you must travel to the Border Worlds and do business with Kusari companies. Samura Fuel comes from Naha, so you can purchase from the source if you like.
|
|
