Hogosha

A quasi-legal organization that ostensibly exists to promote the "welfare and prosperity of the Kusari people". Hogosha have influential agents inside Samura, Kishiro and even in the Kusari government. However, the organization is heavily dependent on the Corsair's supply of artifacts and their military power.

Synopsis
The Hogosha have ensured that the complex relationships and connections involved between themselves and officialdom would make any serious attempt to dismantle their organisation almost impossible. Who knows secrets and deals with revered public bodies and individuals that until now had been out of the public eye might come to light in any such attempt?

On the other hand, the Hogosha do not have a free license to operate. Arrests of low-level Hogosha operators who flaunt their activities are frequent and help to keep up appearances with the public -- very important in Kusari. The Hogosha accept these low level losses in order to maintain their core business and ensure that key members of the organisation are never ensnared. "Hard" crime, such as drug smuggling, is not tolerated.

Individual opinions vary, but most police consider the Hogosha a necessary evil required for the smooth functioning of Kusari society. The government simply treats the Hogosha like any other large keiretsu and the Kusari population as a whole has a similar attitude: It is pointless to like or dislike the Hogosha; they are simply a fact of life. The Hogosha handle Artifact and gun smuggling and the fencing of stolen goods. They also do occasional dirty work for Samura and will engage in limited covert activities with the Corsairs for the benefit of Kusari.

History
Hogosha translates literally as "guardian" or "protector," reflecting the organization's rather romantic view held not only by its own members, but by a large portion of the Kusari population -- though by no means the majority.

However, far from being protectors, the Hogosha are actually descendents of the organized crime syndicates that grow within the shadow of any sizable human society although their subtle and often shady political and military connections have, over the years created an oddly symbiotic relationship with both the Kusari government and Samura.

Diplomacy
The Hogosha view the Blood Dragons as a major threat to their existence and have engaged in turf wars with them, mostly in the asteroid fields of Tokyo.

The Golden Chrysanthemums are also proving to be a problem with their attempts to enforce a matriarchal government in Kusari. Since they have no corruptible leaders, The GC -- like the Blood Dragons -- are dangerous to the Hogosha way of life and must be held in check by all means possible. The GC also has few qualms about dealing in the drug trade or its consequences, a practice abhorrent to Hogosha.

Hogosha view the Junkers as their only real competitors within the Sirius Sector, and their only obstacle to expansion into the other Houses; relationships are tense in this respect.

Diplomatic efforts with the Corsairs have been successful in leading to a Trade Agreement for artifacts directly with them, a move that infuriated the GMG, who formerly served as the middleman between the two crime syndicates. It also raised the ire of the LSF, who applied pressure on Orbital Spa to deny landing privileges to the two factions.

Known Bases

 * Kabukicho Depot, New Tokyo
 * Kanagawa Depot, Tottori