Lens of History (58): Fish Fraud

STEC Archives, Print Document Division
Curator signature: [Classified]
Format:  Print Media – DECLASSIFIED under [REDACTED], [REDACTED]
Special Documents Division – [REDACTED]
Time (if known): Undated

Editor’s Note: While many of STEC’s prominent technological developments had significant practical applications, there were other, less successful programs such as the fabled proposal no. 6. It wasn’t until [year redacted], with the advent of the compression methods fully applicable to living creatures, that the program found new life – as a capable & scalable seafood producing platform.

Unparalleled in its efficiency, the [redacted] is a fairy-powered factory that requires only approximately 1000 gallons of water and intermittent sunlight to synthesize, in theory, a near-limitless quantity of any nautical organism from an ecosystem that feeds on krill. Crewed by only [redacted] (though for optimal efficacy two to three rotating brigades of fairies with proper expertise is recommended), it has the additional benefit of “wasteless” processing – able to deliver to STEC hand-trimmed filets, pre-hucked oysters, and even (mostly) whole crab leg meat and applying the rest directly back into feed. 

There was only one issue.

America is, for lack of a better term, not a country of fish-eaters. Consumption of seafood remain a constant flatline across the last half-century, with many Americans consuming on average less than 5 oz. per week – far below that of chicken (9 oz), pork (12 oz), and beef (29 oz). 

As the Abyssal War never reached the degree of intensity in which it would have been necessary to deploy this unit, [redacted] was mostly used on Naval Base Avalon throughout the war to supplement the culinary staff with ingredients on demand – a task in which it faithfully carries out to this day.

From: Maury (United States Shipgirl)
To: MAILIST-SERV – DIPLO_trainee_shipgirl

Ladies, 

I want to know which one of you came up with the brilliant idea of showing the JAPANESE NKT S&T CONTIGENT our ability to in theory, and I quote, “instantly flood the seafood market with soulless, high quality, and cheap American products in an effort to force Japanese economic capitulation.”

No need to feel bad. We all make mistakes sometimes – I just think it’s a bit much given the recent fiasco at the UN over fishing.

Maury


MORGAN Intercept no. [Classified]
Code: Shiga-11
Location: Naval Base Avalon
Date: [Classified]
Speaker A: Fusou (Japanese Shipgirl)
Speaker B: [Classified] (Japanese Shipgirl)

A: Why are we even here? 
B: On behalf of Japan.
A: I fail to see how these technologies help us fight the Abyssals.
B: Necessities for the preservation of life is an aspect of living, too. We also don’t typically pay attention to these matters – and we should.
A: Do you not feel humiliated AT ALL at the sight of all that, though? What do we have to offer in exchange, given the American’s abundance – excess, in fact, would be a better word! 
B: It is important for us to begin this sort of work. Some day, we too will have an R&D program to rival the finest in the world.
A: But that is NOT the situation now! Ugh, it makes me feel like we are a pair of beggars!
B: I hardly see it that way; they offered first…
A: Are you mad?! With the rotating nature of the [Fleet Admiral] of the NKT you think anyone but [redacted] or old man [redacted] gets a hold of this, they aren’t going to rush it over to their own prefectures the first chance they get?
B: Uh-huh. 
A: … You don’t think this is a problem?
B: I do.
A: … You Goshuers are so frustrating to work with.
B: I know. 
A: Have you been listening to a WORD I’ve been saying all this time, you fox-brained merchant?!
B: … You do realize I have to take into account my own ancestral homeland, yeah? I’m not that interested in the fish, but more in their ability to automate the processing…
A: Ieyasu did nothing wrong.
B: YOU TAKE THAT BACK YOU FILTHY DEGENERATE KYOTOITE!!


From: Cusk (United States Shipgirl)
To: [REDACTED] (United States Shipgirl)

I know that the prices of seafood is too damn high, but this really isn’t what it’s designed for, and we really shouldn’t. Operation “Fish Fraud” sounds great on paper – we can even come up with a cover facility or aquaculture farm, whatever else, USDA approval, you name it, but – just no.

More seafood than not is adulterated. I’m well-aware of the situation. The issue is, just like how we aren’t releasing our engines or materials out to the public, this, too, represents something that in my opinion we shouldn’t be messing with. The world’s interconnected through trade, and what we do have effects not just back home, but all over the world. We actually flood the market with our stuff, and we’ll – I guarantee you – price thousands of Americans out of a proper livelihood. 

This would be directly contradictory to our non-interventional strategic vision. Believe me, I’d love to see this thing be more use than having Avalon-trained chefs win culinary competitions, but it’s been years and we haven’t came up with a good way to break this out to the public.

F for content, A for effort, looking forward to your next proposal?