Trouble for the Company, Cheers All Around

Lal City lay in the northwestern hemisphere of Rhode Star.

It was about 800 kilometers from Vine City in a straight line, but void-source contamination, energy turbulence, and ancient radiation along the roads made the actual overland journey roughly 2,400 kilometers.

At 4:00 a.m., the once-vast Lal City was completely shrouded in an eerie mist.

Numerous ships and camps had appeared on the outskirts of the city.

The camps' styles and banners were distinctive. They spread out evenly around the city's northern gate.

Five factions had gathered at Lal City.

They came from beyond Rhode Star. Their ships varied in design, but most were over 300 meters long.

They clearly did not get along. Patrols swarmed between the camps, while a group of flame-haired humanoids faced off against pirates in battered Powered Armor.

Not far away, people in crisp white police-style uniforms confronted another group in gray robes who held blue flames in their hands.

Just then, the distant roar of engines sounded.

Everyone looked up. A dense swarm of aircraft painted in black-and-red company colors was approaching.

A rough count put their number at no fewer than 150.

None of the aircraft was particularly large, but their sheer number was staggering.

Most carried an assortment of weapons, making them an intimidating sight from the ground.

When the five groups saw company personnel arriving, much of the tension between them dissolved.

One flame-haired humanoid cursed. "Company dogs. Everywhere we go!"

"Those damned bastards are all over the Mountain River Star Sector!"

"How could the great Goddess of Black Cinders favor parasites like them?"

A pirate facing him spat toward the approaching aircraft. "Those dogs are always the same!"

"Wherever there are resources or ruins, there they are!"

The young people in white police uniforms looked up at the company forces