Fushimi Inari-Taisha Consecrated


The mountain was heavy with snow which had been expertly shifted from the path to the shiny new outpost near the top (but not at the top) of the imposing mountain.

Sumiko paused before the first prayer gate to cleanse herself before leaving. It had felt remarkably good to stay a few days whilst the shrine was consecrated.

As she left two of her senior advisors stepped forward where they had been waiting alongside a larger military escort.

"Out from the holy and into the profane?", she queried with little reaction from the professional demeanours before her. She sighed and continued, "any reaction from the populace beyond 'meh' ?"

The left advisor an experienced politician whose family was from old earth Tokyo shook his head," the majority of the populace is… placid? About such matters. The colonists which we have recruited have been more enthusiastic but they are all mainly nihon-centric it is to be expected"

" How many colonists have we persuaded to arrive so far"

"a hundred and fifty thousand or so, not much in a population of this size but if the trend continues the mix will adjust relatively quickly. We could move quicker on this if you would allow us to tie advancement to adherence"

"The old Christian religions style? We will not show favouritism that way as it just generates discord and even if successful there will always be someone who wants to break in. No we keep it low key. Any items we produce and integrate will be Nihon themed. To use a practical example we produce Basic Housing but with a heavy Nihon style. If the general population would prefer the boxes they used to live in and are happy to pay out of their own guilders and stellars then good for them. Plenty will be happy to live in a better quality nihon styled building. The same goes for clothing and everything else. Plenty of carrot and they can apply the stick to themselves. "

She swung to the other advisor, " was the Shrines opening correctly announced?"

"Yes my Lady. It only had a muted response and I don't accept many will make the pilgrimage up here"

"No, you are probably correct. I have some friends who will assist with that though so do not concern yourself unduly though I suspect it might come as a shock to many. How about our fleet? "

The advisor actually scowled," it exists but let's not pretend it's anything other than a paper tiger."

"apparently literally. Didn't a small child skim a rock at one of the frigates and break its armour?"

"that's what the press announced and is a total exaggeration the child in question was a teenager who had stolen a speeder and rammed one of the ships being built at around 200 miles an hour.. But the fact our new warships are heavily outclassed by everything out there cannot really be denied. "

"You have to remember a journey of a million miles has to start with a single step and our fleet is being built for a purpose and that is to convoy our ships through danger zones which means its primary target will be pirates and criminals. Much like the Japanese of the late twentieth century ours is a Self Defence force only and our war ships somewhat akin to armed freighters to dissuade piracy. Armed conflict is not a game I want to get involved with. Trade brings prosperity to all. ". She stopped a second to admire the view of the Port in the distance distracted by its pristine beauty," but his planet and its people are so..vanilla.. sometimes. Perhaps it is to be expected considering the history but it is certainly something we can aim to correct. I see in the future a unique not identikit planet in balance with both beauty, nature and civilisation where the wonders of life can be shared. A laudable aim no?"


Stepping into a waiting land speeder the shrine was soon left behind and the more prosaic concerns of organisation would come to dominate again but the Shrine was a sign both to her and the planet that acceptance of the status quo was not something that this Noble House would acquiesce to.




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