David Anderson walked into the dimly lit room and seeing the way the Tamati mats had been arrayed with the true oligarchs of Japan, the unelected rulers of the nation hidden in the shadows, all were seated just a few inches above him kept seperate by thin noren style cloth. David Anderson knew each of their faces, had shaken hands with each of them, and with the public leaders who were more traditionally seated on equal ground with the E.U. Captain.
Despite the dividers Anderson could tell who each of the six Oligarchs, 'the Six Houses', were based on the silhouettes of each of the non-public figures. Anderson was here meeting them in person in this highly secret meeting, bypassing the typical arrangement of countless middlemen speaking on behalf of the six houses, both due to the level of trust Anderson had earned over his years of service, but also because the severity of the topic of their negotiations.
So respectful of the Japanese customs, but refusing to submit himself in any way as he was of course an icon and hero of Europia United. David took his seat and began to exchange the expected greetings and pleasantries to each of the public figures in the room, while giving silent acknowledgement and respect to the Oligarchs waiting for them to begin the discussion of their meeting.
"Thank-you for coming Anderson-san. I know this is probably very last minute for you, but the other heads refused to speak with anyone else from your government directly, they were somewhat paranoid considering the subject we are discussing." A younger, feminine voice began her speech formal showing that the eighteen year old Kaguya Sumeragi was being as proper as possible and likely under heavy scrutiny of the other houses. Likely she was the only reason Anderson was even here, rather than these negotiations following a more roundabout path.
"It's a great honor to be invited into your presence Sumeragi-sama, as well as..." Anderson began, but was cut off in the middle of his greeting.
"Enough, we don't have time for politeness, we have business to discuss and a public waiting for our pronouncement." Paranoid indeed, however Anderson couldn't fault them, after Genbu Kururugi's assassination the six houses had chosen to fade from the public view, ruling from the shadows to hopefully avoid another disgrace.
"Of course, Japan wants to open up their military for candidates for the spectres." Anderson made the statement almost dismissively but they already knew the obvious even though it needed to be formally declared.
Faintly Anderson almost swore he heared a triumphant, almost laughing, grunt from Kaguya's seat. "Yes Captain Anderson-san. We saw that the E.U. was even proposing subordinates of Leila Malcal, Akito Hyuuga and Ayano Kosaka, Japanese born individuals, as the E.U.'s proposals to present to the Spectre program."
And there was why they had called Anderson like they had. The six houses were upset that Japanese born, then displaced, immigrants to the E.U. were being pushed forward, they felt the prestige of their people was being subverted, that if Akito or Ayano were to be proposed it had to be as Japanese citizens. But both Akito and Ayano were both loyal to Leila, so much so it was even seen as a political issue within the E.U., not that the six houses should know of that issue. The only reason those two were listed was in hope of weakening the potential combat power directly answering to Leila Malcal.
"You know that the E.U. has a wide variety of initial proposals, Germany's Panzer-Hummel Ace Michael Wittmann, Russia's Lyudmila Nomokanov, Italy's..."
"Captain Anderson, we know well enough the reputations of each individual proposed. We also have heard who the Chinese Federation has pushed forward to represent them for consideration, and we know the Middle Eastern Federation also has even started pushing forward the names of some of their most decorated, even those from the Sultanate Guards." Kirihara apparently had no patience today.
"Then make your proposals and be done with it." Anderson snapped back to the Old Man, if Kirihara didn't want to observe polite behavior, then Anderson would force them all to cut to the heart of the issue.
"You know that Genbu's final acts had tainted the Japanese name in the eyes of the Citadel Council. We're looked down upon almost as poorly as the Britannians thanks to the Shinshirokuni massacre. We cannot simply take Tohdoh, or one of his subordinates and put them forward, the council will never accept it." Kirihara was cutting through to the heart of the issue today. Was this due to discomfort, or severely limited time on his part though?
"And of course, you want your proposal to be accepted by the rest of the Federated Systems Alliance and win a spot as one of the first names put to the Council." Anderson voiced the unspoken kernel of truth, which got a mixture of outraged or outright shamed expressions from the public representatives of the Japanese Government.
Anderson let their non-verbal outrage wash over him with practiced ease. "If you were staying out like the Australians, or didn't think you had a chance of proposing anyone with worthwhile talent, you wouldn't have called me for my input in this matter."
Anderson then activated his omnitool, breaking from the traditional manners of this meeting and transmitted his own two proposals to everyone present, their omnitools all silently signalling the reception to their owners, and some even opening in a manner that was invisible to all but the owner of the futuristic tool. "The first proposal is Suzaku Kururugi, despite being Genbu's son, he's exemplified himself serving in the French Foreign Legion, and under the command of the janissaries, and even as an advisor to the Jianruiying of the Chinese Federation. While he's considered Ronin by your standards, he still even upholds the bushido code and could be considered a modern Samurai. He's also the only living soldier to go against a Knightmare alone and win, while I know for certain that if he was in a Knightmare he'd be even more of a threat."
The scowls and disdain in the faces of everyone Anderson could see told the man plenty. Susaku probably wouldn't even be added to the list. A disgrace really, but despite the recent bad blood, ironically Japan and Britannia were more similar than not, and both long ago in their pasts had powerfully influenced each other for the better. Of course time had certainly soured those relations, and what good both nations had done for each other was either cast aside over time, or negotiated by decades of blood as both powers had sought imperialistic control over the Pacific.
"My other proposal is Hana Shepard. Mindoir Colonist, with an honorable reputation and a penchant for vengeance. She has faced off against Batarians and Britannians more than any soldier Japan has ever provided to the Alliance and has already completed multiple tours of duty in Alliance service. She's also got heavily mixed blood, Father's the child of an exiled Britannian noble and a British mistress, mother is two thirds Japanese with a little Chinese ancestry. No one can complain too much about her ancestry, plus she's got low level Biotics. She's not a Samurai but she is certainly a Teishin Shudan, meaning she can operate anywhere which widens her appeal." Anderson smirked, he was pretty sure he made his point, the Teishin Shudan were paratroopers and airborne infantry had been a blight on Britannia for decades before Mass Effect technology had allowed for FTL travel and since then they became Japan'd premiere extra-solar forces. And for Susaku, no one could deny how impressive going toe to toe with a Knightmare was, let alone actually defeating one all by yourself, typically that took a prepared infantry Squad with heavy weaponry, or at least biotics to achieve.
Kaguya pushed the next question to Anderson. "I notice, every recommendation you've made both to us and the E.U. have been people you've mentored yourself."
At this, Anderson allowed himself a small chuckle. "Well I've mentored a lot of people since I was taken off the front lines. But to be honest I'm better at judging a person's character in person than through some documents stored on a computer. I made my recommendations based on the character of the individuals, looking for someone who will uphold the universal human spirit, and put our best foot forward to the Council."
"Others would say you're trying to secure your own legacy. After all, you made quite the name for yourself in the First Contact war, and in the Continuation War." Taizō Kirihara's statement was just that a statement, likely something to invite challenge to Anderson, but also one Anderson could take. He was from the E.U. and raised in London, he knew how to play these political games.
"I don't need to secure my Legacy. It's written in the presence of everyone currently in this room, with the lives I saved during the wars end during the invasion of the mainland. My actions a decade ago have saved not only your lives, but perhaps helped preserve all of humanity's independence and secured the Alliance forces autonomy from tribalistic partisanism. Any suggestions I make have far less to do with my own Legacy than that of humanity on the galactic stage. And it would reflect terribly if you allow prejudice to prevent you from submitting the applicants I suggested to you, because to be frank, Susaku and Shepard are the two best the Alliance has." The room turned cold and silent as most mulled over Anderson's words. the Federated Systems Alliance was fragile at best and needed everyone to work on strengthening it. The Continuation War had made that blatant and obvious, and of course that was made all the worse by the fact that the man actually responsible for starting the entire war was still seated on the Britannian throne, and the Britannians still nominally were part of the Alliance.
When Britannia and Japan started the Continuation War, followed by the Britannians unveiling their new mass production Knightmare frames, while Japan unleashed an entire fleet they had constructed in secret utilizing their mass supply of Sakuradite and stores of Element Zero. The Chinese Federation and the E.U. had been shocked into inaction for weeks and the Alliance military had been co-opted and weaponized by the two nations. Of course the war had been conducted against the wishes of Federated Systems Alliance, and had been a flagrant violation of the peace the Asari had forged with humanity tarnishing their image on the galactic stage, and all because two men could not get past their own xenophobic ideals. One pushing for pointless massacres and the other commanding invasions of solar systems that served no military purpose. It was men like Anderson and the best of the E.U. and the Chinese Federation who brought the war to a early end by meeting Japanese and Britannian forces in battle on earth virtually trapping their militaries in place and making the whole war all but unwinnable for the two nations as the Alliance forces slowly slipped away from the Imperialists control.
And then it had been Anderson who had saved as many of the Japanese government as he could from off the books council reprisals, and Britannian and Japanese warhawk extremists in the following week after the war's end as Japan was being occupied by nearly every major military in human and council space. They claimed that Genbu had taken his own life after the disgrace of defeat and to encourage a peaceful surrender, but Anderson wasn't too sure. His death made him an easy political scapegoat for the Britannians, easily could have been ordered by the council to bring the war to an early end, been ordered by someone else within the Federated Systems Alliance, or even could have been the actions of an outsider. Either way Japan was left with the blame for the mass death, but with a government that had reformed itself. While Britannia left the war with a tarnished reputation, their 'numbers' dissatisfied and prone to acts of terrorism against them as was the case with the death of Empress Marianne, and the stripping of their authority in the Federated Systems Alliance, but not their presence.
"We don't question your achievements, Captain. Simply what type of future for humanity you're actually pushing for?" This was Kaguya Sumeragi, her voice actually carrying a tone of genuine curiosity.
"I seek to have the Alliance join the Citadel Council. Thanks to the past it might not be in my life, but I still believe we can do it, and from there we can be of service to the galaxy and start to overcome our own failings." Anderson stated firmly.
"I for one, suggest we do put forward Hana Shepard's name, and if no one wants to also put forward Susaku then I suggest we at least try to place him under Hana-san's command so she can use whatever advantages he has to give for herself." Kaguya then suggested, and then based off their movements a silent vote was held, and then the Japanese Government officials received their orders. Within minutes Anderson was receiving the first draft of the Japanese proposals for the Spectre program. Despite the racism of Charles Zi Britannia, and the speciesism of Saren Arterius, humanity would be moving forward into the future.
The Imperial city of Pendragon was a massive looming city surrounded by vistas, manors and palaces in the surrounding Countryside, all of which dwelt in the shadow of the mountainous structure of the Imperial Palace itself. Yet despite how open the area was and how grand the architecture, Pendragon was indeed still a city. But rather than dock workers, office workers and all the other typical jobs associated with a city, Pendragon was filled with servants, butlers and maids, as well as knights, nobles, plutocrats, and the associated secretaries, technicians, master chefs, and propagandists they all needed to maintain their holds on power. On the surface Pendragon was more a work of art than any city in Britannia, and under its surface there was a certain beauty to be seen, but beyond that venier of civil opulence was a cruel truth. The original Pendragon had been built by slaves shortly before the outlawing of the barbaric practice and the resentment of their ghosts seemed to haunt the city even centuries later.
But today chasing ghost stories was certainly not why Kallen Stadtfeld, a shapely and extremely fit Britannian-Japanese woman with short fiery red hair slicked down to keep her hair from going every direction wildly, had come to this city once again. In truth if she could avoid Pendragon all together she would more than happily stay away from this accursed place all together. Her extended family had plotted to try and kill her and her mother and brother from here after her father had gone and gotten a vasectomy simply to spite their demands for a pure blooded heir. This was also where Empress Marianne had died, the woman whose life and death served as the trigger for the sequence of events that both lead her to coming into the service of what was perhaps the most intriguing, and frustratingly closetedly kind man she had ever known, but also triggered a decade of looming conflict, political games, and shadow wars so bad the only thing positive she had really heard about it all was 'at least it's not the Emblem of Blood'.
Still her life was made up of her own decisions. She looked the most Britannian of her father's two children, so naturally she was given two options, she could be made his heir, or she could remain with his secret family in Japan. 'Honestly Dad is an idiot. Or rather all us Stadtfelds are.' Kallen thought still walking the absurdly long hallways of the Imperial Palace. She knew he kept his wife and children secret to protect them from his racist family and the wealth and influence they could leverage. But the very act itself, while born of concern and love, hurt all of them.
Still she was foolish enough to choose to return with her father, and he had played her off as a happy accident from a very drunken party in the Oregon provinces, though later he "confessed" and "admitted" that his secret lover was a California woman. That of course raised the family's paranoia even more as California might as well have been part of Area three in their twisted minds.
Kallen still never learned of how they had gotten ahold of her proper medical data linking her to her mother, to this day she wanted to kill whoever leaked that to the rest of the Stadtfeld bloodline. And to this day she refused to think of the look on her father's face when the news arrived, her mother gunned down in her own home and brother missing. Of course a much younger and much more naive Kallen as well as her father had immediately flown to Japan, just in time for the Continuation War to begin taking its impact on Earth.
She and her father were left roaming Japan seeking shelter as Chinese, European, and Citadel troops flooded the nation. And if not for her Prince she would have died. Left dirty, hungry and a scared outsider in the streets of Japan, a land that was as much her birthright as Britannia was. Of course Lelouch hadn't actually done anything, a Knight of the Round and a team of Alliance special forces had both gone to Japan to try to save whomever they could and Lelouch happened to be nearby. Still his young face, the mixture of concern and outrage he had when he saw her, she had immediately found her first crush then and there.
Of course that had just been a crush, there weren't moments when, when she looked into his eyes, her heart sped up, or her mind struggled in a desire to be closer to Lelouch than she already was, to know him like no one else. After all, despite the childishness of the whole thing, she had declared herself his knight and actually tried to force him to make her his knight, and she had been his knight, unofficially for ten years now, and officially for two.
It had actually been Empress Marianne's idea. On reflection each time Kallen could never decide if the woman was humoring her out of kindness, had seen the actual Knightly potential in Kallen, or had some other weird roundabout motive. But she had 'officiated' a mock knighting ceremony for Kallen and Lelouch only a few months after both children had made it back safely from Japan, and she had pulled strings to ensure Kallen had been pre-approved for any Knightly education she could have hoped for, noble etiquette classes, Knightmare training, even a N7 course at the Interplanetary Combatives Academy and courses on how to pilot a space ship.
Then Empress Marianne had died. 'Gunned down by terrorists in the Aries Villa' they claimed, a blatant lie. The woman was unpopular, more than being a commoner by birth, she was violence incarnate more likely to negotiate with shields raised and projectiles flying, than by having tea. Her death had nearly broken Lelouch, and it had taken everything Kallen as a child had to keep him from ruining himself, and it had nearly ruined her father to help the Ashfords after Marianne's death, and their thanks was to open a academy on one of Britannia's colonies, their nobility intact but their fortunes severely diminished.
And finally she arrived at the corner office that Lelouch had decided to sequester himself into today. She cast aside the proper decorum of announcing herself, and instead immediately walked into her lord's office. He was there, sleeping as reports read themselves aloud to him at his desk. A chess set lay in the corner of the Room, a game with a VI abandoned, though Kallen couldn't be sure how close or far from winning Lelouch had been when he had grown tired of that particular exercise.
Kallen took a moment to watch Lelouch, amused at his work ethic and wondering genuinely if he was actually retaining the information the VI voice was listing to him, or if he was simply going to rely on his incredible ability to think and learn on the fly to make up for whatever he was missing. So Kallen approached gently, when she was younger she might have tried to prank him, and with how terrible of a influence Milly Ashford was, she probably would have pranked him if Milly was around, or Nunally even, that princess could be worse than Milly at times with her own mischievous nature.
"Lelouch, wake up. I've finished your Royal Guard's preparations. Now will you tell us what it is that we're supposed to be doing?" Kallen stated while gently shaking Lelouch's shoulder.
The prince did not startle, nor did he groggily try to stay asleep. Instead his one eye snapped open and fixed on Kallen in an intense glare that lasted for a few seconds, long enough for her to step back and away. This allowed Lelouch the chance to attempt to discretely stretch and wake himself up before he answered. While the thin, and relatively unfit Princeling, now shook off his exhaustion and stiffness from his rather improper nap, his dark hair still as pristine and his violet eyes sharp as ever Kallen once again promised herself that she would make Lelouch exercise and fill out his frame with some muscle, a certainly attractive prospect, not that that was why she wanted to do it, her intentions were purely out of concern for her prince, or so she told herself. "Kallen, you're just on time. Tell me have you read the newest reports from Eden Prime?"
"No I hadn't, I was too busy reading about the newest turian Knightmare tests and seeing to security." She had also been trying to take off sone of Lelouch's work load addressing financial issues, and seeing to yet more military matters, costing herself significant sleep as well, but she didn't need Lelouch to worry about her, she was his Knight and no longer a little girl needing someone to save her from the night terrors anymore.
"Then I'll summarize. Eden Prime is an agrarian world and one of Earth's first colonies past the Charon Mass Relay. The Chinese Federation, E.U. and Britannia all established colonies on the planet, and its population boom eventually led to it being seen as the second Earth. Normally while there would be natural tension there, the tensions on Eden Prime are exceptionally high as Prothean ruins were discovered directly situated in the joint occupation territory between Britannia and the E.U. colonies.
It's almost certain the Council has already learned of this and will soon be trying to muscle in on this development. An Alliance excavation site has already been established, but Britannian armed forces apparently need to be present to ensure our share of the vital prothean data can be received or stolen if need be. Father has chosen to give this mission to me. This mission should be our first chance to help me establish a reputation among the population. Allowing me to start meeting the minimum criteria for my future plans." The explanation was long winded and dramatic, just like how Lelouch liked.
"I'll make sure everything proceeds as scheduled then, But do you think this will really be our first step in making you Emperor?" Kallen asked, she knew Lelouch wanted to be Emperor for the longest time. And he most certainly was worthy of consideration for that title, but with his older siblings and the nature of the wider galaxy it had seemed like a distant dream. Yet now, Kallen could see a miracle taking form and it was doing so exactly as Lelouch had predicted.
"How many Knightmares are we expected to be squaring off with?" Kallen asked more seriously.
"If I play my part appropriately, just your squad, four E.U. Knightmares, and four Alliance Knightmares. If combat begins it's almost certain that the Alliance will be bringing in experimental units, and they and the E.U. will have another dozen knightmares each. However, I expect Infantry will be the real concern on this deployment." Lelouch's assessment of course could prove wrong, but Kallen also knew to error towards assuming the Prince's assessment was closer to the truth than not.
"Are these ruins really that significant?" Kallen then asked, trying not to allow her hopes to grow too much.
"These ruins are supposed to be some of the most intact Prothean ruins discovered. Perhaps since the discovery of the Citadel. We could be looking at anything up to finally unlocking the secrets of producing our own Mass Relays, or uses for Mass Effect Fields no one had even considered." The Prince answered simply while going once over some data on his omni-tool. Lelouch walked out of his office without word and Kallen followed after him a eagerness to her gait.
"This could be huge. We could be assuring Britannia's independence for generations if all of this is true. Your plans could..." Kallen began but was cut off by her prince.
"That's why I want you to get into contact with Jeremiah. He'll be my bodyguard during this event, We will also need to dedicate resources for keeping both of Schnizel's beneficiaries out of this affair, as well as keeping Marrybelle or worse yet Carine from trying to interfere. I might need to call in a favor with Nunally." Lelouch sighed at the last statement and Kallen had to stifle a laugh that would have come at the Prince's expense. Nunally was a kind, but troublesome and rambunctious girl and even at eighteen she was adorably possessive of her brother and loved to force him to visit her in the colonies and often lured him into Milly Ashford's waiting clutches, though that had lessened somewhat as Milly took over Ashford academy from her grandfather.
"Well whatever torture Nunally intends to put you through should certainly be worth it my Prince. Truly a sacrifice I am willing to make." Kallen teased though Lelouch kept his straight demeanor.
"But torture is a gift meant to be shared Dame Stadtfeld, do you truly wish for two royals to use your body for their amusement?" Lelouch's sly grin, set off a blush on Kallen who blustered at the statement.
"I-I'd never... Lelouch how... not like that." Kallen's attempts at protest only set her prince chuckling, and honestly even if it was at her own expense seeing him laughing unguarded like this was good, he'd been so drained by the Emperor's games of succession, pitting all of his children against one another for years. So despite her embarrassment and the severity of what they were preparing for, Kallen couldn't help but hold a soft caring smile as she watched the back of her Prince's head even as he returned to listing off the requirements for their mission and of course his greater plans.
Codex Entry:
The Federated Systems Alliance
The Federated Systems Alliance is a supernatuonal polity nominally responsible for the care and defense of all of humanity's extra-solar colonies and stations and representing humanity as a whole.
The Alliance was created via an amalgamation of treaties by the various Earth superstates and then coalesced into a singular entity only a year before the relay-314 incident. Initially the Alliance was dismissed as a political consideration by those on Earth, their military capabilities only acknowledged after the Alliance took decisive action in the relief and liberation of Shanxi, and their independence from the existing political superstates of Earth only acknowledged after the Continuation War.
Despite this the Federated Systems Alliance are still treated as and seen, even by fellow council space races, as being ultimately a subservient polity hamstrung and upheld by the superstates of Earth.
Codex Entry:
Chinese Federation:
Born of the Han Dynasty of the China region of the Earth Asia Continent. The Chinese Federation had conquered what was the largest portion of the human population to exist under a singular state. The Chinese Federation thus has pushed to acquire as much extrasolar territory as possible.
The Chinese Federation holds a long standing tradition of upholding a strong welfare state through the use of targeted taxation as directed by the High Eunuchs and the Chinese Empress. Opponents of this welfare state point out that this disproportionate taxation targets non-ethnic Han populations. However the Federation government also points that among the richest men in the Chinese Federation are individuals such as the Maharajah of India, the Tibetan Dalai Lama, and several others of opulent wealth from various minorities. Both sets of claims however are considered highly controversial.
The Chinese Federation's outward focus has made them a simultaneous supporter and rival of the Federated Systems Alliance, as the Federation enjoys the Systems Alliance's naval protection in space, but challenges their authority in economics at every available turn.
Codex Entry
The United Republic of Europia:
Also known as Europia United, or just the E.U. This Coalition of Confederated Republics spread across the European continent of Earth. These Republics were formed from the Imperial Kingdoms from before the age of revolution on earth. As such these Republics maintain Imperial colonies spread across the African continent of Earth as well as their own territories consisting of all of Europe and the northern reaches of the Asian continent.
Of the three primary superstates of Earth Europia United is the most active in their support of the Federated Systems Alliance. However their interests in space exploration and colonization are based purely out of economic interests particularly pertaining to resource exploitation and as with their African Colonies heavy pressure to send all possible natural resources to European holdings is constant.
Due to Europia United's material and logistical support for the Federated Systems Alliance of the three leading superstates of Earth is seen as the most emblematic of the future of the Federated Systems Alliance, sharing much of the same political culture, and military structure.
Codex Entry:
Holy Britannian Empire:
The Holy Britannian Empire which operates as a Absolute Monarchy entered into the post-FTL age of human development as the leading human super power. The nation had become a hegemon over a vast Imperialistic Empire spanning the entirety of two continents, and once interplanetary colonisation became a possibility the royalty of Britannia immediately invested heavily into colonization projects, and despite a national policy of cultural supremacy and several policies dictating racial discrimination the Holy Britannian Empire became the leading voice and polity behind the eventual formation of the Federated Systems Alliance.
Despite joint interplanetary colonial borders and economic interests shared with the rest of humanities colonies Britannia has come to stand virtually alone as they had openly rejected the idea of becoming a member species under the Citadel Council in Citadel Space and do not share the same benefits of open immigration and Citadel protection.
While still nominally a part of the Federated Systems Alliance and even holding voting rights within the Alliance Assembly, Britannnia's political influence over the Alliance is severely limited and much of the Empire's resources are currently expended on producing ships and arms to defend their colonies with, and the creation of new colonies to extract the necessary resources from to fund their expanding political and military apparatus. The main thing halting the Britannian expansion into Skyllian verge is the low population of loyal Britannian citizens the Empire possesses.
Codex Entry:
Middle Eastern Federation:
Comprising multiple muslim states and heavily influenced by both the ottoman empire and the caliphates of old Earth, the Middle Eastern Federation is a cultural Alliance of Arab states which then developed into an singular super state. However placed between the Chinese Federation and the territories of Europia United and situated so as to have only an abundance of fossil fuels and some sakuradite the Middle Eastern Alliance is relatively incapable of expressing any influence outside of itself.
As such the Middle Eastern Federation has made extensive attempts to gain influence over the Federated Systems Alliance and has shown immense interest in engaging in joint economic ventures with corporations of the Citadel willing to work with humanity. Similarly they have also taken extensive efforts to secure their own independent colonies, though their last several attempts had been met with failure often due to pirate attacks.