Kansai Research Station

CLASS: Mifune

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

POPULATION: 450

A technology incubator formed as a joint project between Kishiro and the Kusari Navy, Kansai Research Station is tasked with developing new shielding and scanning technology specifically designed to deal with the often treacherous conditions found inside the gas nebula scattered throughout Kusari space. The Kusari Navy maintains a close watch on Kansai and has deployed several automated weapons platforms nearby to guard against terrorist attack.

## Bribes & Missions Offered

* Border World Exports
* Kishiro Technologies
* Samura Industries
* Bounty Hunters Guild
* Kusari State Police
* Gas Miners Guild

## Commodities

* High-Temperature Alloy
* Superconductors
* Pharmaceuticals
* Optronics
* Cardamine

* Water
* H-Fuel

## Rumors

* This base is dedicated to high-temperature Superconductor research. This is a key technical problem faced by both gas miners and military ships in the brutally hot conditions typically encountered in the interior of the Crow Nebula. The challenge is creating a strong enough electrostatic heat shield to keep the ship from melting.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.

* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.