Red Sun Rising the Japaneses in Space 1889 Mars

8/10/2019 Red Sun Rising the Japaneses in Space 1889 Mars

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Red Sun Rising

The Japanese Enclave on Mars in Space: 1889

by John Gannon

Introduction

With each passing year, the Human presence expands across the faces of Mars as the soldiers, scientists andexplorers of Earth range far and wide across the dry, deadly surface of this dying world. But while the French, English,

Americans, Belgians, and Germans usy themsel!es in the "oprates #alley Area, the Mare Acidilium, or the $yrtis%apis Basin, the &apanese ha!e 'uietly ut efficiently estalished a presence for themsel!es near the remote city of

Euxinus %acus. While the other powers may clash with nati!e Martians and each other, the &apanese go 'uietly aouttheir tas(s, de!eloping their area of influence without fanfare, and slowly, carefully, ringing their plans to fruition . . . .

Euxinus Lacus -- Bacground

A poor city since its founding, Euxinus %acus has ne!er figured prominently in the affairs of Mars. %ocated in the)orthern Hemisphere, nearing the *olar "ap, Euxinus %acus was always considered an out of the way place. Founded+, years ago as the site of -esort *alace, the city itself grew slowly, almost as an afterthought. ts ma/or waterway,the Herculis "anal, dried up almost a thousand years ago, and the *ropontis "anal followed only a few decades later,lea!ing Euxinus %acus in a position similar to that of Auachon. $ince that time, the fact that Euxinus %acus hassur!i!ed as a city is due mostly to the annual spring run off from the *olar "ap which pro!ides enough water tomaintain the city, as well as the passage of cara!ans and aerial merchants, ringing needed supplies and assortedhard0to0get items to Euxinus %acus. E!en the arri!al of Humans on Mars nearly 1 years ago had little impact on thecity, for it was so isolated and out of the way that it seemed to many as if no human go!ernment or trading concerncould e!er e othered to ma(e contact with Euxinus %acus. 2hings ha!e changed in recent times for Euxinus %acus

though...and not always for the etter.Euxinus Lacus -- Recent !istory

Four years ago, in 344+, a &apanese expedition 5consisting of two companies of infantry, a s'uadron of ca!alry, aattery of field guns, and a large group of scientists, merchants, and go!ernment officials6 ended almost a year ofcross0planetary tra!el at a small !illage aout 7+04 miles west of the city of Euxinus %acus. While details are s(etchy,it is (nown that the &apanese scientists in the expedition were adamant and determined that they must ha!e access tothis site. After se!eral days of what the &apanese felt were fruitless negotiations with the local inhaitants, theexpedition attac(ed and sei8ed the site. n the days that followed, the &apanese consolidated their hold on the small!illage, ensuring it9s suordination and then dri!ing out the nati!e inhaitants. Four days later, in a simple ceremony,2he Honourale $ato chi(awa, *ersonal -epresentati!e of His :i!ine Eminence, 2he Emperor, raised the mperial$tandard o!er the site and proclaimed the founding of ;nei $tation, an mperial possession. Why they chose thisremote and poorly accessile spot to estalish their holding on Mars is a secret (nown only to the &apanese, ut it is in(eeping with the haits of the closed, intro!erted &apanese society and culture. $ignificantly, it was only after they had

estalished control of ;nei $tation that a &apanese delegation approached the Anwaa( of Euxinus %acus to discussmatters of recognition and economic exchange.

$ince the &apanese had attac(ed and sei8ed an area nominally under the rule of the Anwaa( of Euxinus %acus, theinitial reaction to the &apanese was not a positi!e one, nor did further contact ease any of the anger or resentment thatthe attac( had caused. <nce they met with the city rulers, the &apanese essentially dictated a deal to the Anwaa( andhis council, which awarded the &apanese all rights to the area now (nown as ;nei $tation without compensation forthe Anwaa(, ut granting him the =friendship and gratitude of the Emperor=. When the Anwaa( hesitated to appro!e thisarrangement, the &apanese used sutle threats of force or the possiility of a &apanese alliance with the city ofHerculis to ensure that the ruler of Euxinus %acus went along with it. $ince that time, the &apanese ha!e eenscrupulously correct ut somewhat tactless y Martian standards, in their dealings with the city. As &apanesego!ernment representati!es and merchant agents arri!ed to help consolidate the &apanese position, they made sure touy e!erything they used and to pay for all facilities and ser!ices. Howe!er, the insults to the honour of the Anwaa( ythe =%ittle -ed Men= 5as the &apanese are called6 ha!e not een forgotten, nor forgi!en. 2hus, while the &apanese and

other humans settle into the city, the Anwaa( waits for his opportunity to redeem his honour 00 at their expense.2he presence of the &apanese rought increased trade and tra!el to the area, stimulating the economy and ringingthe name Euxinus %acus into the courts and councils of other Martian "ities. With the entrenchment of the &apanese inthe city, other human nations ha!e also sent en!oys and delegations to Euxinus %acus, if only to monitor the &apanese.2hus, Euxinus %acus now finds itself experiencing new growth and prosperity 0 ut it is not a happy city and thediscontent is old and emedded in the local population.. ne!italy, it9s peaceful facade seems to slip a little with eachpassing day...

Euxinus Lacus -- Today

$ince the estalishment of ;nei $tation, most of the &apanese ha!e (ept to themsel!es out there. Howe!er, the&apanese ha!e y no means adicated any interest in Euxinus %acus itself. All &apanese trade comes through Euxinus%acus and the &apanese presently monopoli8e the small shipyard within the city as they use its9 facilities to construct



&A$ Rakio, sister ship to &A$ Mikasa. 2he &apanese maintain their ma/or diplomatic mission within the city to dealwith the Martians and the other "olonial *owers. With the influx of &apanese merchants and scientists, the economy of Euxinus %acus is now on the upswing. 2ensions in the city are 'uite high though, for while this le!el of in!ol!ementhelps the economy, it does nothing to impro!e the relationship etween &apanese and Martian. 2he &apanese tend totreat the locals with poorly concealed contempt 5as efits a !an'uished inferior under the code of Bushido6. 2he localpopulation for their part are resentful of this treatment within their own city, ut understand that the &apanese ha!e theguns and ships to ac( up their stance. Anwaa( $asidaar of Euxinus %acus is determined to learn what the &apaneseare up to at ;nei $tation, ut since his army is poor and his f leet is little etter, he (nows he cannot challenge the&apanese with force of arms. He has tolerated the &apanese attitude, ut has recently made secret contact with the

-ussians at Hecate %acus, in the hopes of arranging some sort of deal with them to help him oust the &apanese fromhis lands and while at the same time earning -ussian protection from &apanese reprisals.

2he city shows the impact of the ages upon itself. 2he portion of the city that lies north of Herculis0*ropontis "anal5(nown as the )orth $hore6 is the older, more estalished region of the city with the etter homes, most successfulusinesses, the -oyal *alace, and associated offices of go!ernment. 2he $outh0East >uarter of the city was at onetime the great mar(et and merchant area, though since the passing of the canals, it has ecome only a shadow ofitself. )ow, many uildings are simply aandoned while those that remain are occupied y what merchants still operatein the city, y transients and cara!ans, and y middle to lower class residences. "rime is rampant in the district, andmany of the anti0human mo!ements ha!e estalished themsel!es in this part of the city. 2he $outh West >uartersur!i!es as a residential?retail centre, much as it has for years, and it is also the site of the local shipyard, as well asthe city9s =Human :istrict=. 2he district itself is ounded y a medium0si8ed wall and the district is irregularly patrolledy &apanese soldiers who act in the role of a deterrent to the street crime that is rampant throughout the rest of the city.

Almost all humans li!e inside the Human :istrict, although there are a few who maintain residences and usinesses in

other areas of the city. Within the :istrict, 2he British, French, and -ussians all maintain small consulates for handlingrelations with the &apanese and the *rince. 2he &apanese maintain a large compound that houses one company ofmperial infantry, a large diplomatic?administrati!e staff, as well as a large trade?scientific delegation. 2he entire&apanese mission is headed y "ount @asushi Hashimoto, 2he Emperor9s $pecial -epresentati!e to Mars.

Japanese In"luences on Govern#ent

n a truly no!el approach to human influence on Mars, the &apanese do not in!ol!e themsel!es in the administration orforeign policy of the city in any way. nstead, since the day the &apanese made their deal with the *rince regarding;nei $tation, they ha!e maintained a policy of non0interference in the local go!ernment, except to ensure that noother colonial power gains any great influence with the *rince and his council. 2he &apanese -esidency within Euxinus%acus is a large and usy place, ut not much different from any other Emassy elonging to a European power. Forhis part, the Anwaa( continues to administer his city and lands, all the while searching for an opportunity to reco!er theinitiati!e from the &apanese and gain the upper hand in his dealings with them. Both sides (now that the present calmis merely a facade until the moment when the Martians are ready to act. n the meantime, the &apanese continue their

wor( at ;nei $tation while their military forces ready themsel!es for the coming confrontation.Japanese$Martian Relations

While relations with Euxinus %acus may e poor, the &apanese are presently in!ol!ed in wooing some of the otherneary cities with economic and social pac(ages 5fa!oured trade position, political non0interference, access to somehuman (nowledge, etc6 in exchange for a preferred status in their dealings as opposed to the other colonial powers.2he &apanese are particularly eager to conclude some sort of arrangement with the city of Herculis that will (eep the-ussians from gaining a foothold in that city as they !iew -ussian colonial expansion on Mars with the same dread asthey !iews recent -ussian mo!es near the orean *eninsula on Earth. n the other direction, the &apanese areconducting low0le!el tal(s and trade with *ropontis, if only to (eep the city neutral and so as to e ale ha!e a finger onthe pulse of local e!ents and trends.

Amongst the European *owers, the &apanese seem content to merely maintain diplomatic relations at their presentle!els, neither worsening or impro!ing them, while they concentrate on de!eloping relations with the !arious Martianfactions. 2his means that their contacts are correct and formal with the British 5who they !iew as a ri!al in Asia ut noton Mars6, friendly with the Germans 5the &apanese are now studying German military techni'ues and adopting many of them for their own ser!ices6, tolerant of the French ,and annoyed with the Americans 5mostly due to trade policies6.-elations with the -ussians are formal and aw(ward as oth nations seem to e competing for influence in the sameregions oth on Mars and on Earth.

%nebi Station

<nce a small community of canal fishermen, itinerant farmers, laourers, and simple peasantry. When the &apanesecame, howe!er, the 'uiet life of the !illage was ended 00 'uic(ly and !iolently. What made ;nei $tation so highlypri8ed to the &apanese is not (nown, though oth humans and martians constantly see( to disco!er the reason. Whatis (nown it that the &apanese consider it !aluale enough to ase their entire military might there, and to deny accessto all foreign humans and martians. $ince the &apanese occupation egan, no martian or non0/apanese human has setfoot in ;nei $tation.



The Secret o" %nebi Station

For most Game Masters and *layers, a single 'uestion stands out from all others =What is the secret of ;nei$tation= Allow me to present three possile answers to that 'uestion, each of which has een used in playtestsituations. )aturally, each Game Master will ha!e their own ideas aout what is most suitale for their own campaigns,and other possile secrets, rather than the one9s presented here can always e used.

First, the &apanese may ha!e disco!ered that ;nei $tation sits upon a !ast, rich untapped and heretofore un(nowndeposit of -adium, a well0(nown element of #ictorian $cientific Fiction. -adium is a glowing, non0contaminating sourceof incredile energy and power, which when harnessed to special turines, produces unlimited amounts of electricityand propulsion power. For game purposes, this allows the use of -adium Engines9 on airships. 2hese engines can efitted into a !essel hull in a manner similar to "on!entional and Forced :raught $team Engines. 2he Engine $i8e 5E$6of the -adium Engine multiplied y 3+ is it9s weight in tons. E$ multiplied y C di!ided y Hull $i8e 5H$6 D $peed. tshould e noted that -adium Engines9 cost , per si8e numer, ut do not re'uire a "oal Bun(er. 2he enduranceof -adium Engines is calculated at E$ 3+ D the numer of days. -eplacement loc(s of -adium cost per E$ 5ie,a E$ -adium Engine would cost 31 to refuel at the end of it9s Endurance6. )aturally, these numers assume youcould find -adium to egin with, which should e (ept extremely rare. For the purposes of this plot line, only the&apanese would ha!e access to significant amounts of -adium, and would e de!eloping a =-adium Engine= at ;nei$tation for use in their warships.

Alternati!ely, the &apanese could ha!e disco!ered another rare mineral 00 "arelium. "arelium is an unstale,corrosi!e sustance which, when mixed with measured amounts of mercury and lead, can e used to create enhancedammunition types. 2he impact of "arelium0treated rounds for aerial comat would e to increase the *en !alue ofsuch rounds y a factor of 3 5ie, a C0pdr H-" would ha!e a *en of 1?3 with "arelium0treated rounds as opposed to it9snormal *en of 3?6. <n smaller 'uantities of ammunition, or weapons whose rate of fire is low 5ie, rifles and pistols6 theeffects of "arelium are negligile 5no modifiers6. &apanese !essels or artillery units firing "arelium0treated roundswould e ale to ring de!astating fire, 'uite out of proportion with the numer and types of weapons they might eusing. ;nei $tation would e a mine, a smelter, and an Ammunition *lant, turning out "arelium02reated rounds foruse y their airships and artillery units.

%astly, the &apanese could ha!e disco!ered either a large and highly exploitale !ein of Martian Gold 5purer than EarthGold and extremely rare with corresponding !alue6 which would gi!e them enormous economic clout, or perhapsanother treasure, such as !ast deposits of coal or e!en oil.

Whate!er the true secret of ;nei $tation may turn out to e, the &apanese presence there and their in!ol!ement in theday to day life of Euxinus %acus ensure that tensions in the regions will not fade away, and as oth the &apanese and-ussians are slowly and inexoraly drawn towards Herculis, a new confrontation looms in the offing. For the present,the &apanese continue to conduct their research acti!ities and marshal their forces at ;nei $tation, while stayingacti!e on the diplomatic front, to ensure no other powers gains a dominant position in Euxinus %acus. 2he &apaneseha!e ta(en a different tact in their dealings with the Martians as opposed to the other human powers, and the purposeto their low0(ey approach to colonialism is not yet clear. 2here is no dout howe!er, that the &apanese are on Mars tostay.

Euxinus Lacus *opulationI C,Go!ernment 2ypeI Wea( *rince 5$u/ect "ity6"orruption %e!elI "orruptEconomy 2ypeI MercantileEconomic #italityI *oor

Attitude 2owards HumansI ndifferent 5leaning towards Hostile6

Euxinus Lacus &ir 'leet (The &n)aa*s &r#(

2he grand title of this aerial force was estowed upon it last year y the Anwaa( himself, in a ceremony that included

the re0affirmation of <aths, presentation of $words of "ommand, and the award of Banners to each !essel. )either thetitle nor the Banners howe!er, ha!e done little to impro!e the o!erall efficiency or 'uality of the Air Fleet.

Fleet >ualityI GreenFleet $i8eI 4Fleet #alueI 34,

2he fleet is composed of eight !essels 00 one Swiftwood 5Flagship6J one Fleetfoot J three ClearsightsJ and three BloodRunners. All !essels conform to the standard description for their class. 2he crews of all !essels are green with 2rainedofficers, except for the Flagship Anwaak's Wrath, which is manned y an Experienced crew with #eteran officers.<fficers carry rifled pistols and swords. "rewmen and Marines are armed with smoothore mus(ets. All officers aoardthe flagship carry French %eel re!ol!ers and Martian swords, while the crew of the flagship are armed with German 73*attern, single0shot, reech0loading Mauser -ifles.



The +ar !osts o" Euxinus Lacus

2he massed armies of Euxinus %acus consist of 3 ands of infantry, supported y 7 ands of ca!alry and 3 guns. thas een many years since the Anwaa( of Euxinus %acus has felt the need 5or had the money6 to employ mercenarieswith his army.

Army >ualityI *oor Army $i8eI 7

2hough some of the soldiers are armed with smoothore mus(ets, most of the troops still fight with swords, ows, andspears. While the ma/ority of the infantry and ca!alry ands are ;#I 23, the -oyal Bodyguards 5$hields of Glory6 is a

;#I #1 warand, and are armed with 73 *attern Mausers, as per the crew of the Flagship Anwaak's Wrath ao!e.

Japanese Military 'orces

%i(e the other minor colonial powers, the &apanese ha!e assemled what amounts to a small rigade worth of troopson Mars. What is different howe!er is that the &apanese ha!e chosen to concentrate their military forces at ;nei$tation, lea!ing only a single company of infantry to guard their -esidency within Euxinus %acus, as if indicating thatwhate!er secrets exist at ;nei $tation are more !aluale than their hold on the city itself. 2he forces that guard ;nei$tation are under the command of General Baron Masa(u8a chamura, and consist ofI

• 2he 3st K 1nd Battalions of the 1rd mperial nfantry -egiment 57 companies total6J ;#I #1."olonel Hiroshi awamura commandingJ

• 2he th 5ndependent6 Field Artillery Battery 53+0pounder field guns6J ;#I #."aptain Emi(o oayashi commandingJ

•

2he 3st 5Emperor9s6 "a!alry -egiment 5 s'uadrons total6J ;#I E3"olonel @asunou shigama commandingJ

• 2he mperial &apanese Air $hip 5&A$6 Mikasa 5"ommander a8ahisa @oshimura6 and the &A$ Yashima 5"ommander A(i atsuno6

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Red Sun Rising the Japaneses in Space 1889 Mars