Ethan squinted through the windshield as the faint silhouette of the outpost emerged from the swirling sandstorm. Its thick, reinforced walls stood like weathered sentinels, holding their ground against the elements. The storm had been raging for hours, cutting visibility to almost nothing, but finally, he had made it. The outpost loomed larger as he approached, the gate slowly sliding open as the guards inside recognized his Guild insignia.
The hum of the hover truck's engine was the only sound inside the cabin, a welcome contrast to the howl of the storm outside. In the back, the two children clung to their mother, eyes wide with exhaustion and fear. They had been through hell, survivors of a brutal bandit attack, one of the many outposts devastated in the coordinated raids orchestrated by the Black Sun Syndicate and their warlord allies. Ethan had found them in the wreckage of the fallen settlement, stranded and terrified.
As the truck rolled to a stop inside the outpost, the gates clanged shut behind them, sealing them off from the fury of the storm. Ethan powered down the engine and stepped out into the relative calm, taking a moment to stretch his tired limbs. The air was thick with dust, and the sky was an angry swirl of reds and browns, but at least here, within the outpost's walls, it felt safe.
The outpost leader, a broad-shouldered man with a hard, lined face, approached from the main building. His expression was grim, but his eyes lit up slightly when he saw Ethan. "Didn't think you'd make it through this storm, but here you are. Good to see you."
"Good to be here," Ethan replied, his voice steady but weary. "I brought the supplies you requested, and a few extra."
The leader glanced at the back of the truck where the family was still huddled, recognizing immediately what Ethan meant. "Survivors?"
Ethan nodded, his jaw tightening. "Outpost about fifty clicks north of here, hit by the Syndicate and their bandit allies. The place was a wreck by the time I found them. Most didn't make it."
The leader's face darkened, his eyes scanning the family for a moment before turning back to Ethan. "We've been hearing the same story from all over. Syndicate's not just raiding for supplies anymore, they're wiping out entire settlements, leaving nothing behind."
"That's what I've gathered." Ethan motioned to the family. "The mother and her kids were lucky to survive. They're in bad shape, though."
The leader nodded grimly. "We'll take care of them. Get them inside and settled. I'll send for a medic."
Ethan moved to the back of the truck, opening the door and helping the family out. The mother clutched her children tightly as they stepped onto solid ground, eyes still wide with lingering fear. She gave Ethan a shaky nod of thanks, her voice too weak to speak.
One of the guards approached, leading the family toward the main building where they would be given food, shelter, and medical attention. Ethan watched them go for a moment, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. He had done what he could, but it still felt like a drop in an ocean of chaos.
The outpost leader clapped him on the shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. "We'll get them back on their feet. You did good bringing them here."
Ethan gave a small nod, but his mind was already racing ahead. There was more. "There's something else. On the way here, I found two more survivors further out, in a tunnel system about thirty minutes from here. I couldn't bring them all in one trip, but they're in bad shape. They'll need help."
The leader's face tightened, and he cursed under his breath. "Damn it… Alright. Give me the coordinates."
Ethan quickly relayed the location, watching as the leader jotted it down. "We'll send a team as soon as the storm lets up," the leader promised. "Can't leave anyone behind out there."
Ethan felt a slight wave of relief knowing that the others wouldn't be forgotten. He had done what he could, and the outpost team would handle the rest.
"Anything else I should know?" the leader asked, his tone now more business-like.
Ethan leaned back against the truck, crossing his arms. "It's the Syndicate," he said, cutting straight to the point. "They're not just hitting random outposts anymore. This was coordinated, organized. They're targeting places with weak defenses, far from any Federation presence. You're sitting in their crosshairs."
The leader nodded, his expression darkening. "We've noticed. Been hit twice already in the last month. Managed to hold them off, but barely. We're not getting much in the way of reinforcements, either."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "No word from the Federation?"
"Nothing useful," the leader spat. "We've sent out messages, but they're spread thin dealing with their own problems elsewhere. Not to mention, the Syndicate knows how to stay under the radar. They hit hard and fast, then vanish before anyone can respond."
Ethan frowned. This was worse than he had thought. "They're cutting off supply routes, too. Trying to isolate outposts like this."
The leader sighed. "Yeah, we've been seeing that. Most of the outer settlements are either gone or on the brink of collapse. It's only a matter of time before the Syndicate consolidates power in this region."
"And if that happens, they'll have control over most of the planet," Ethan said grimly. "You need to prepare for a bigger fight."
"We're doing what we can," the leader replied, his voice heavy. "But it's hard when we're low on everything, food, ammo, manpower. These supplies you brought will help, but it's just a stopgap."
Ethan nodded, glancing around the outpost. The walls looked sturdy, but he knew that wouldn't matter if the Syndicate came in force. "I'll keep my ears open," he said. "If I hear anything useful about their movements, I'll let you know. But I can't make any promises."
The leader clapped him on the back again, his expression tired but grateful. "Appreciate it, Ethan. Every bit helps right now."
As the leader walked off to organize the supply distribution, Ethan lingered for a moment, looking out toward the storm. The Syndicate was growing bolder, and Kynara's outer edges were falling under their control, one outpost at a time. The Federation wasn't going to save them. Not in time, at least. It was up to people like him and the few who still had the will to fight back.
With a final glance at the horizon, Ethan turned and headed back toward the truck. There was always more work to do.