Ethan kept his eyes on the winding trail ahead as his hover truck sped through the barren landscape, the storm whipping around them. The refugees he had picked up huddled in the back seat, their eyes vacant and their bodies slouched in exhaustion. The woman, who clutched her two children close, had barely spoken since they'd left the wrecked area where he had found them. Even now, the horrors of what they had survived weighed heavily on them all.
He gripped the wheel tighter, his thoughts wandering to what had unfolded over the past few weeks. Bandits had been raiding outposts across Kynara, but this wasn't some random, scattered pillaging. No, this was methodical, deliberate. The Black Sun Syndicate, a notorious criminal network operating exclusively within the Ashen Sector and planet Kynara, had orchestrated these attacks. Alongside them were various bandit warlords, each with their own vicious crews, exploiting the chaos.
Ethan's mind drifted back to the debrief he had gotten from the Guild branch master after his team returned from defending an outpost. They had barely held off the assault there, but the worst news had come after. Across Kynara, similar outposts had been hit. Smaller ones, with weak defenses and far from Federation-controlled cities. The Black Sun Syndicate and the warlords were smart. They avoided confrontation with heavily armed Federation forces stationed in the major cities, instead targeting remote, under-defended outposts.
Outposts like Gamma.
He glanced into the rear view mirror, his eyes landing on the woman again. She sat quietly, staring out the window as her children slept against her. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow.
"Which outpost were you from again?" Ethan asked, though he already knew the answer.
The woman blinked, as if waking from a nightmare. "Outpost Gamma," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the truck's engine.
Ethan's chest tightened. Outpost Gamma had been one of the first settlements hit in the wave of attacks. It was a small place, just a handful of families, traders, and miners who made their living off Kynara's harsh landscape. Its defenses had been minimal at best, barely enough to repel a small raiding party, let alone a coordinated assault from the Black Sun and the warlords' forces.
He had heard the reports. Outpost Gamma didn't stand a chance.
"They came out of nowhere," the woman continued, her voice trembling as she recalled the horrors. "We heard the alarms... but it was too late. The bandits came first. They swarmed the gates, overwhelming the guards. My husband... he tried to fight. But there were too many."
Her voice broke, and Ethan felt a deep sense of unease settle in his gut. He had seen the aftermath of the attacks, the charred remains of outposts, the smoldering ruins, the bodies of those who hadn't made it out. But hearing it from someone who had lived through it? That was different. It was personal.
"They don't hit the cities," the woman whispered, her eyes far away. "They know better. The Federation guards... they don't come out this far. Not for us. So they... they strike where it's safe for them. Where they know no one will come to help."
Ethan nodded grimly. The Federation's presence on Kynara was sparse, concentrated mainly in the large cities like Valeris, where trade routes were crucial and populations dense. But out here, in the remote areas of the Ashen Sector, the Federation's influence was thin. The outposts were left to fend for themselves, relying on private security firms or mercenaries like Ethan's team for protection.
And that was exactly why the Black Sun and the warlords were targeting them.
"We barely escaped," the woman continued, her voice strained. "We were lucky. So many others... they didn't make it. We saw the fires... heard the screams."
Ethan's hands tightened on the wheel. His team had fought to keep the outpost they defended from meeting the same fate, and they'd succeeded. But Gamma, and the others like it, hadn't been so fortunate.
He couldn't help but wonder what the Black Sun was really after. The attacks weren't just random acts of violence; they were coordinated, strategic. The syndicate and the bandits were working together, something that didn't happen without a bigger plan in place.
Ethan's voice was rough when he finally spoke. "They're building something."
The woman looked at him, confusion flickering in her tired eyes.
"The Black Sun," he clarified. "They don't just attack for the hell of it. There's a reason behind it, territory, resources... maybe something bigger."
She nodded slowly. "We heard rumors," she admitted. "Some said the warlords want to take over the outlying territories, create their own empire. The Black Sun... they're supplying them. Weapons, vehicles, soldiers."
Ethan frowned. That made sense. The Black Sun wasn't a galaxy-wide syndicate, it was far more concentrated, operating within the Ashen Sector. Their reach extended across Kynara, where they could exert control over the unprotected regions, like the outposts. They had the resources to back a full-scale campaign here, and now, it seemed, they were helping the warlords consolidate power in this sector.
He shifted in his seat, a deep sense of foreboding settling over him. "What about Valeris?" he asked. "Any word on whether they plan to hit the cities?"
The woman shook her head. "Not that I know of. They're careful... too careful. They don't want to risk a direct confrontation with the Federation. Not yet, anyway. That's why they're sticking to the outposts. Picking them off one by one."
Ethan nodded, his jaw clenched. It was a smart strategy. The warlords didn't have the numbers or firepower to take on the Federation's garrisons in the cities. But by taking control of the outposts, they were slowly cutting off the flow of resources and weakening the Federation's hold on Kynara.
And the more outposts they destroyed, the stronger the warlords and the Black Sun became.
"Iris," Ethan called out, addressing his AI companion, who had been silent for most of the journey. "Any updates on Black Sun activity in the region?"
Iris's voice chimed in through the comms. "I've intercepted several transmissions suggesting that additional outposts have been targeted. Black Sun forces and bandit groups are continuing their campaign, focusing on remote locations with minimal defenses. No confirmed movements toward major cities as of yet."
Ethan cursed under his breath. He knew the pattern well by now. The Black Sun was playing the long game, weakening the planet's infrastructure while avoiding direct conflict with the Federation's forces. But how long until they felt strong enough to make a move on Valeris? Or worse, how long until the Federation finally took notice and escalated the situation?
The refugees stirred in the back seat as they neared their destination. A small, fortified outpost that would provide them temporary shelter. For now, it was safe, but Ethan knew that safety was a fleeting thing on Kynara.
"They're not done yet," he said softly, more to himself than anyone else. "This is just the beginning."
The woman looked at him with tired, hollow eyes. "Will it ever end?"
Ethan didn't answer. He wasn't sure if it would.