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Personal Log Entries
Those bastards! They were right on my front door this time! I'm getting tired of this cat and mouse game. Why does everyone want this stupid rock so bad? And how did they get that deep into Bretonia? No matter where we go, there they are. It's funny. I always thought that all of Tobias' boasting about his days in the Royal Space Force was just that -- boasting, but I'm sure glad he showed up. I owe him a lot, actually. One of these days I'm coming back here and repaying him for everything he's done for me.
Damn Rheinlanders are persistent! How are they blocking us at every direction? In any case, we've managed to get out of this mess, and we're one step closer to... to... Where are we going anyways? Shinden, Shinagawa, Shinkaku! That's it! We're supposed to meet some guy named Kress. I hope whoever he is, he can get Quintaine and Sinclair out of my hair. Dealing with Juni is about all I can take as it is.
I was hoping Kress was there to take this old fart away! Oh well, it's not too far from here -- small price to pay to keep from embedding my foot in his head. Tobias is going back home. I hope he doesn't do some damn fool thing like re-enlist. Well, at least I won't have too much to worry about. He'll probably do something like hit on a higher ranked female officer. I get the impression there weren't any female pilots in his days. Heh, that's Tobias though. Hope he's gonna be alright. Well, off to Kress' base.
First we have to go through this giant methane field into a giant open area of space where -- surprise, surprise -- a Rheinland fleet awaits us. This is NOT what I signed up for. Protecting the old windbag is hard enough; having to take on an entire fleet is not my idea of fun. It's more like suicide. Kress' men showed up, but they didn't really help much. What good are scrub fighters against capital ships? Well, at least we got out of there alive. Maybe now I can finally dump this guy. ME-thane?! Who pronounces it like that?! It's METH-ane! If this is the best scientific mind the universe has to offer, we're all in a lot of trouble.
If anyone gets to shoot Quintaine, it's gonna be me, not some damned lackey. I've already been shot at, electrocuted, and nearly bombed to death. A good ol' stand off isn't gonna shake me. Well, at least Quintaine is outta my hair. At least Sinclair was easy on the eyes. Well, on to Kyushu to meet a Lord Hakkera. I've actually never been to Kusari before. I'm very curious to see what it's like.
So that was Lord Hakkera. There's an air about that man. I don't know -- he's very... commanding. Anyways, Juni seems to know him, not that that's saved us in the past. Hopefully her home system will provide better protection than Bretonia. I guess I'll do some sight seeing and take up a few jobs while I'm here. It's not often I get to be a tourist.
News
KUSARI CITIZENS STILL HELD HOSTAGE
There is still no news of the fate of thousands of Kusari citizens being held captive by the Rheinland government. Though the Shogun has been successful in persuading Liberty and Bretonia to apply additional economic and political pressure on the Chancellor, the Shogun is also considering more direct military action.
TEKAGI MEETS WITH SHOGUN EDO
Governor Tekagi briefly met with Shogun Edo to discuss the Rheinland conflict and Liberty's proposed meeting. After the short, private discussion, the Governor said that he has been ordered to Liberty to "organize the release of our people through our allies." Tekagi will leave at once to meet with President Jacobi.
LIBERTY TO RECEIVE TEKAGI
Amid assurances of heightened security, President Jacobi prepares to receive our Governor Tekagi in the Presidential residence at an undisclosed time. Tensions remain high around Kusari, but the Governor says he is cautiously optimistic, particularly because Queen Carina of Bretonia will also be in attendance.
SOME CITIZENS MOVED TO BREMEN
We have just received word that many lawful Kusari citizens, wrongfully accused of espionage, have been rounded up and sent to a makeshift detention facility in Bremen. Officials are looking into this disturbing report.
TEKAGI ARRIVES IN LIBERTY
Governor Tekagi arrived in Manhattan today under well-armed escort. There he met with President Jacobi and Queen Carina of Bretonia, in the hopes of establishing a joint resolution aimed at pressuring Rheinland to release its hostages and negotiate a peaceful settlement.
INCREASED TENSION IN KUSARI
Patrols have been increased around the Rheinland border in answer to the Chancellor's recent actions. However, several civilian ships have reported unusual conditions around the area, including "radar ghosting" and other false readings. Some have speculated that Rheinland is attempting to jam early warning systems, but local officials dismiss these reports as the result of instrument malfunctions.
BAN ON ARTIFACTS TO SPREAD?
Today Liberty unveiled what some have seen as an ulterior motive to negotiations on Manhattan: a potential ban on Artifacts throughout the colonies. Local Artifact dealers reacted negatively, particularly when learning that this ban would be administered by a separate, though still Liberty-run, agency.
SPECULATION ON ARTIFACT BAN
Authorities say that the President wants to extend the Liberty Artifact ban to the other colonies to better control the black market. Meanwhile, it appears that the Artifact market has shown signs of slowing slightly, thanks in part to Liberty's resolutions and political lobbying. Sources inside Liberty say that shipment after shipment of confiscated Artifacts appear to be going into Zone 21 under military watch.
NEIMANN REQUESTS TEKAGI
Governor Tekagi's mission to Liberty has reportedly gone well, yielding a series of directives for Rheinland. Interestingly though, once these directives were transmitted, word came back that the Chancellor would not accept them unless they were personally hand delivered by the Governor. Despite being advised otherwise, Governor Tekagi has agreed to do so.
AMENDED ARTIFACT BAN SIGNED
Governor Tekagi left Manhattan, but not before endorsing an amended version of the controversial, joint ban on Artifact trading proposed by Liberty. After spending several hours in a secure-link conference with the Shogun, the two agreed to the ban in concept, but only as a temporary measure, and specifically as a means to better lawfully regulate the trade coming out of the Rheinland Border Worlds.
ARTIFACT BAN LIMITS LIBERTY
As we learn more about the recent Artifact ban, we understand that this agreement also now limits Liberty's access to the temporarily impounded Artifacts and now allows for the individual House to retain them within their own borders. This was good news to many merchants, as was the generous government subsidy. Meanwhile, Governor Tekagi heads back to Kusari briefly and then on to New Berlin.
CARINA SIGNS ARTIFACT BAN
On the heels of Governor Tekagi's departure, Bretonia formalized its agreement with Liberty and Kusari by also signing the Artifact ban. It is hoped that this initiative will continue to put pressure on Rheinland and put much needed government credits into the pockets of local merchants.
SEARCH FOR KUSARI TRANSPORT
The arrival of a special transport and her escorts from the Border Worlds is reportedly long overdue. Several patrols have been dispatched along the intended route, and though hopes of a rescue are high, there has been no discovery of the wreckage. The disappearance of the single vessel, carrying a cargo of new Artifacts bound for a museum in Kusari, is ironic since it falls on the cusp of the signing of the colony-wide Artifact ban.
CARDAMINE SWEEPING THE CAPITOL: ROPPONGI
The foreign presence in Roppongi has always been viewed as a necessary evil, but Kusari citizens are now facing a new threat to the moral fiber of Kusari... Cardamine from Roppongi has appeared on our home planet. Many New Tokyo youths flock to the bars and discos of Roppongi, where they are exposed to Cardamine and other corrupting influences of the foreigners. "My son is strictly forbidden from visiting that lair of miscreants, yet I found out that he has been going without my knowledge," said father Jin Takashi.
ALLIANCE CANDIDATE AHEAD IN POLLS: KYUSHU
Many have been surprised by Farmers Alliance-backed gubernatorial candidate for Kyushu Hakita Toho's popularity and strength in the polls. It appears that Toho has a strong lead over current governor and incumbent Hitoshi Sasaki. Toho has been electrifying his audiences at rallies in the past two months, and now it looks like all that leg work is starting to pay off. The elections will be held within the next two weeks, and everyone is watching to see who will emerge as the new leader of Kyushu.
SAMURA CEO VISITS KYUSHU: KYUSHU
The current head of Samura Industries honored the people of Kyushu during his visit to the garden planet last week. After touring several traditional rice farms, Nora Samura gave a rousing speech that many believe could reinvigorate the working spirit on the planet and throughout the system. He praised the work ethic of the laborers within Kyushu, citing their dedication and honorable family values. He stated, "Samura is blessed by all those here that have contributed so much to the strength of our great company and to all of Kusari."
KYUSHU LAND VALUES PLUMMETING: KYUSHU
The price of land on Kyushu has been dropping steeply recently. The real estate industry attributes the decline to so many people leaving the planet to make their futures in New Tokyo or Honshu. This migration includes primarily the younger segment of the population, but some older families are among the outflow as well. Many local residents blame Synth Foods and its low-cost foods that are enjoying such popularity in New Tokyo and Honshu. "If those fools in New Tokyo wouldn't buy the Paste, then Synth would leave Kusari and my son would still be here," said farmer Hisaki Okimoto.
UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 30 YEAR HIGH: KYUSHU
It is a bleak time for the residents of Kyushu. The planet and the system are suffering through one of the worst periods of unemployment in its history. Most blame the Food and Consumer Goods produced by foreign hands in Shikoku for their troubles. The last Consumer Goods factory in Kyushu closed its doors more than a month ago, and many are leaving the system to find work in New Tokyo where it is hoped that jobs will be easier to find.
MILITARY INTERCEPTS DRUG SHIPMENT: BATTLESHIP NAGUMO
A Kusari Naval Forces patrol based on the Battleship Nagumo intercepted three Golden Chrysanthemum ships heading west through the north edge of the Ohka Dust Field. The three smugglers came back positive on Cardamine scans and did not respond when ordered to stop. The military patrol then engaged and destroyed the enemy; a large amount of the illegal drug was collected from the wreckage. Only one military craft was destroyed in the engagement.
BLOOD DRAGONS ATTACK AGAIN: TSUSHIMA
The ice mining facilities at Tsushima have suffered another devastating attack at the hands of the Blood Dragons. The terrorists made their move last week at the end of the day when the miners were cycling down and returning to the station. Six miners were killed and many more wounded as the transports tried to run back to the station amid weapon salvos. This is the fifth Blood Dragon attack in the past three weeks, and many are wondering if the Battleship Nagumo is any deterrent at all.