Kusari Empire

	House Kusari
	鎖帝国
Capital	Planet New Tokyo,; New Tokyo System
Official languages	Japanese, English
Government	Semi-Democratic Monarchy
- Leader	Emperor Kogen Tetsuya (head of state)
Founded	5 A.S.
Controlled space	Core Systems New Tokyo; Kyushu; Shikoku; Honshu; Hokkaido; Hiroshima; Other Territory Tohoku, (restricted access); Tottori; Nagano (under Blood Dragon sieges); Shared systems Rishiri (alongside Gallia); Galileo (alongside Liberty); Kepler (alongside Liberty); Tau-29;
Affiliated organisations	Kusari Naval Forces; Kusari State Police; Kusari Imperial Guard; Kempeitai;

Kusari or the Empire of Kusari (鎖帝国 Kusari Teikoku II) (also the second empire of Kusari or restored Empire of Kusari) is the current title of one of the four original houses in Sirius. The Kusari is a small yet expansive house, with significant forces holding the four core systems (New Tokyo, Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu) and claims and patrols to many other lesser systems surrounding them. Kusari influence stretches from the distant Tau-31 system to Sigma-19, effectively occupying the entirety of the known lower northern Sirius sector. Kusari is allied with Gallia since the war with the Kingdom of Gallia has ended. With the end of this war the emperor was deposed and Kusari became a republic (鎖共和国 Kusari Kyōwakoku). The Navy, who tried to get Leeds under Kusari's control, had the old emperor on one of their battleships while Gallia cut the fleet off from home. After Gallia started its attack on Bretonia the Navy began working with the BAF and was subsequently exiled by the Kusari government. Later these Exiles started a civil war at home, to take the gallic puppet regime called Republic of Kusari down and restore the old Kusari along with its emperor. After three years of Kusari Civil War both sides finally come together and renewed the Kusari House.

History

Main article: History of Kusari

Shogunate Kusari (4 AS - 321 AS)

First landing

Planet New Tokyo - the capital of Kusari

The Kusari was originally the name of one of the five Alliance sleeper ships carrying colonists on their escape from the Solar System to the Sirius Sector. This particular ship carried refugees from the Japanese part of the Alliance. The ship arrived in the Sirius sector in 4 A.S., taking a standard year to survey space until finally discovering a system within the Crow Nebula containing a planet suitable for human life. The system, as well as the planet would be officially named as New Tokyo. Conditions for food production were more than adequate, and the newly established house Kusari would quickly enjoy a period of quick growth and technological advances.

The Hideyoshi shogunate

Little is known about the period of the Hideyoshi Shogunate, except for the events that led to it's end. The Shogunate held control of Kusari power at a early period in the House history, until 321 AS, when Samura backed forces staged a coup during the Sakura Festival. The Shogun was surrounded in the palace by Samura-backed elements of the military and asked to surrender, along with the Royal Guard. The Shogun, humiliated by the shame he had brought his family, committed suicide. The guards, headed by Kozue Okamura, did not acquiesce so easily. In a bloody battle, they fought their way out of the palace and retreated into the darkness of northern Kusari space. Here they regrouped and began a long guerrilla campaign aimed at overthrowing the Samura-controlled Kusari government, taking the name of the Blood Dragons.

Coups and power plays

First Empire (321 AS - 819 AS (as Exiles until 825))

Nomad War (800-801 A.S.)

During the Nomad War Kusari would temporarily fall under the influence of the infested Governor Tekagi, who would play a vital part in pitting the forces of Kusari and Rheinland against each other during the Battle for Honshu. Tekagi himself is known to have been assassinated by a joint action of the Blood Dragons and the Order during the height of the war, possibly averting the Nomad infestation of the then Shogun Edo.

During the climax of the war a massive Rheinland fleet pushed through Sigma-13 straight into Honshu, where a large battle then commenced, eventually ending with the defeat of the infested Rheinland soldiers, and the subsequent end of the conflict.

Bretonia War

813 A.S. marked the start of the largest conflict in the 9th century so far: the War for the Tau systems, more widely known as the Bretonian-Kusari conflict. The Kusari Naval Forces would dominate over the Bretonian fleet in this war, eventually leading to an ongoing invasion of Leeds.

Kusari Republic (819 AS - 825 AS)

Arrival of Gallia

While Kusari tried to occupy Leeds, a huge fleet of unknown ships invaded from Orkney into Bretonia and the Taus. Without big resistance they attacked Kusari and Bretonia ships and cut the link between Kusari's attacking fleet and the core systems of Kusari, leaving the Kusari fleet stranded. The fleet then began to help the BAF against this new force called the Gallic Royal Navy. Kusari's government as a result banished them to exile; although Bretonia struggled against Gallia, Kusari soon capitulated. Kusari then became a republic and Gallia's only friend in Sirius. The war between Bretonia and the Gallics destroyed a lot of systems. Many factions such as Liberty, Colonial Republic, the Council, the Kusari Exiles, and Bretonia itself are now fighting for Bretonia's freedom. But even this alliance was not able to keep Gallia away from Leeds. After Leeds fell, the Exiles went with the Council to one of their systems, so that their damage fleet could get some repairs. But the most important thing is that this system (Roussillon) has a jump hole linking with Tau 29, a border system to Kusari. Now the Exiles want to go home and fight for the old Empire of Kusari to bring the republic of Kusari down.

Kusari Civil War

In 823 AS the returned Exiles attacked Tau-29 and Kyushu and started the civil war. The now called Imperial Kusari Navy figthed to bring down the republican system and reset the emperor as the only leader of the house. In 824 AS Planet Kyushu has been 'liberated' from the republic and became a temporary capital of the empire while the KNF tried to hold the position around Tokyo. 825 AS the IKN started their final fallout on the capital itself. After the Battleship Nagasaki was shot down in Tokyos orbit, the weapons of both - INK and KNF - stand still and both sides came together. After much bloodshed and years of civil unrest, the Imperial and Republican Kusari governments arranged talks for a joint concession. Both sides believe that any further continuation of the war is abhorrent and an unnecessary weakening of Kusari amidst the uneasy presence of expanding neighbors. Although it is a hard political change for many to swallow, the fleets and separated civilians were reunified under a single House. Constitutional conventions are still underway, paving a road for Kusari's monarchic emperor and the newer democratic parliament to coexist and share a balance of power.

See for more detail: Kusari-Civil-War

Second Empire (Since 825 AS)

Controlled and contested space

Kusari lays claim to as many as twelve star systems (New Tokyo, Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu, Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hiroshima, Nagano, Tottori and Tau-29). Out of these, six hold colonised planets: New Tokyo, Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku, Nagano & Tottori (Planet Miyazaki is not dockable).

Despite the relative proximity to the Sigma systems, Kusari military do not often operate in the area, giving leeway to the fiercely independent Gas Miners Guild, on which the supplies of H-Fuel to Kusari rely.

Territorial claims

The Tau-29 systems are considered as under the protection of Kusari since 812 A.S. This claim resulted in a state of war with the Kingdom of Bretonia. Until recently, the Kusari Naval Forces were in near total control of both Tau systems, with Planet Harris being the last Bretonian controlled base left.

However, with the invasion of the Gallic Royal Navy, Kusari has lost it's control of the Tau-31 system. For Tau-29 and Tau-23, the KNF and GRN have made an agreement: Tau Decree.

Government and politics

With the new empire the political system has been changed in many ways combing the former political systems of shogunate, (first) empire and republic. The Emeror has not a direct conection to the law and is limited by the consitution but is still the state's head. Also he has no power for the 'normal' civil live. In addition he does not order the executive (except his Guards) anymore. Therefore there is the new Shogune (military governor)that is the head of Naval Forces and Kempeitai (Secred Service). Theoretically he also commands the State Police (KSP) and normally handles the Imperial Guard. So the Shogune can be seen as the executive's head. The government is now created by the Diet (parliament) and leaded by a prime minister that is voted by the full diet. The legislature is mainly build by the Diet's lower house that is elected by all Kusaris that are older than 18. The upper house is created from the noble and choosen by the emperor. This is the main reason why Kusari's political system is just 'semi-democratic'. The Upper House does not appear in the normal law drafting anyways, but serves also as something like a constitutional court. The Upper House needs to accept a law; without it is not effective. The emperor needs to sign it too.

Scheme of political system

Internal affairs

To outsiders Kusari might look like a single, unified empire, standing together in all matters. But in the house itself the reality is quite different.

Much of the house is divided between the influence of the two great keiretsu (corporations): Samura Industries and Kishiro Technologies. These two companies compete with each other fiercely, often to the point of an indirect war. While Kishiro prefers economic competition, Samura (being the larger of the two) utilises it's influence among the local thugs to physically impede it's rivals' growth, frequently resorting to sending attack parties against it's shipping. Kishiro on the other hand struck a deal with the Gas Miners Guild (disgruntled over Samura's ever growing prices) for exclusive distribution of H-Fuel, as well as taking several contracts with the Kusari Naval Forces. Kusari is also in the grasp of the Hogosha, who control much of it's middle structure through bribery. The Empire is known to openly endorse political organisations that resort to terrorism against foreign shipping when the state police aren't paying attention. Fighting against the Emperor and his Shogunate are the Blood Dragons and Golden Chrysanthemums - dedicated to different views, yet united in their similar goal of overthrowing the state and removing Samura's influence from the government.

All this is often carefully hidden by the Kusari government itself, which regards all foreigners with extreme suspicion, especially those looking to meddle in the local affairs.

Economy

File:Yokohama.jpg

Yokohama Shipyard is the largest shipyard in Kusari, as well as the most profitable one.

The Kusari economy can be described as a free market system sporting little regulations and government intervention into the area of private businesses. This allowed two prominent companies to grow outwardly into corporate giants, scooping most of the other businesses to either one corporation or the other. In the present times these two great keiretsu (Samura Industries and Kishiro Technologies) control many of the largest and most profitable markets in all of Sirius (specifically the exclusive distribution of H-Fuel), which in turn places Kusari in a key political position on the international arena. Beside this two both are also the half Kusarian and half Libertian Renzu Cooperation in Hiroshima, who owns 40% of the Kusari Civil Ship market and around 10% in all Sirius. The Renzu Coop is a daugther of the IC that hold also stations in Hokkaido and New Tokyo. OS&C have some Liners in Kusari and its borderlands.

The Gas Miners Guild started as an Kusari guild but has turned to a more or less independent state which holds the Sigmas and their gas fields.

Although very competitive with each other, both Samura and Kishiro managed to corner certain markets in Kusari into monopolies, taking their competition to a new level of profit and control. Samura being the larger of the two is especially oriented towards developing new Kusari acquisitions in Hokkaido and the Tau systems. It could be said that Kyushu, Rishiri, Tau-29 and Shikoku, Hokkaido are Samura's systems and Honshu is Kishiro's system while New Tokyo is shared and Hiroshima a Renzu (IC) system.

Both corporations also operate commercial shipyards within Kusari territories, lending their services to civilian contractors, as well as the Kusari Naval Forces.

The most imporant exports of Kusari is fuel and gas. Kusari has also larger food resources based on grwoning (rice) and fish. The industry is not bad but smaller compared with the other houses beside of the fuel industry. The civilian ship manufacturing is an exception here. Kusari has very low metal resources and needs to import almost every metal. The IMG in the Taus and Rheinland are very important to keep the heavy industry of Kusari running. This lake of metal was a main reason for the Kusari government to help the IMG in the first Tau War by declairing war on Bretonia. Since Gallia has opend its borders with Kusari, there are even more traders running through Kusari; especially IC but also Zoners, Freelancers and gallics like EFL or IDF.

A list of most important export products and trading objects of Kusari; this includes the GMG and Tau-23:

Food and other agracultural or watercultural products of Kusari:

Resources

Raw Hydrocarbons, Tau-29 and Tau-53
Helium-3, Hokkaido
Oxygen
Alien Organisms, Sigma-17, Tohoku & Hokkaido
Toxic Waste, Hiroshima (minable)
Water
Platinum-198 Ore, (ore) Nagano
Plutonium, Okinawa

Industrial Products

Human Resources & Tourism

States and other Sovereign or Semi-Sovereign Entities

Faction

Relationship

Federal Republic of Rheinland

Allied

Gas Miners Guild

Friendly

Independent Miners Guild

Friendly

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Commonwealth of Liberty

Unfriendly

Unfriendly

Unfriendly

Unfriendly

Unfriendly

Hostile

At War

At War

At War

At War

Crime and dissent

Kusari has a fair number of criminal and reactionary organisations, all formed into two camps: pro-government and anti-government.

Pro-government (quasi-lawful)

Hogosha lieutenants are free to fly throughout Kusari territory as they please -- as long as they don't commit any crimes in public.

These groups are characterized by their non-hostile status with the local police forces, as well as their relationship with Samura Industries, essentially working as the corporation's handymen. This camp also has relations with the Corsairs, and is frequently engaged in widespread artifact smuggling. Two factions are recognized as part of this camp:

Hogosha is a large criminal organization engaged in a number of criminal activities (these including anything from protection rackets to artifact smuggling), with its influence spread all across Kusari. Similar to old Earth Yakuza, the Hogosha have have gained an understanding with the local police force primarily using bribery and extortion. Several notable political figures are known to cooperate with the Hogosha, thus making the organisation an entrenched part of the house, as long as the current government remains in power.
The Farmers Alliance is a political group with the goal of removing foreign food shipping from Kusari. Working closely with the Hogosha, the Alliance is frequently deliberately ignored by the state police, regardless of their criminal actions against foreign traders. It is also suspected to be very closely tied to the corporate giant Samura.

Anti-government (unlawful)

The anti-government camp is composed of two groups openly hostile to both the state police and naval forces, as well as to the two keiretsu and their supporters. Despite this dislike, the involved factions are more likely to spare Kishiro shipping than they are to not attack Samura. They also have a secret understanding with the Gas Miners Guild. This camp links two factions:

The Blood Dragons are a radical terrorist organization dedicated to overthrowing the Emperor and his co-conspirators in order to install a direct descendant of the Shogun Hideyoshi, and resume the Hideyoshi Shogunate formerly overthrown in the Sakura coup of 321 A.S. As a result, they are locked in a guerrilla conflict against the Kusari Navy (who are dedicated to the protection of the Emperor) as well as Samura and their Hogosha and Alliance cronies.
The Golden Chrysanthemums are a primarily female movement for the institution of a matriarchy, and a subsequent liberalisation of Kusari. The group is characterised by its heavy usage of Cardamine, as well as its sympathy to the Bretonian war effort in the Tau border worlds and the Bretonian government as a whole.