The sun hung low over the horizon as Ethan drove the rented hover truck across the barren expahe desote ndscape stretched endlessly, the golden sand broken only by the occasional jagged roations jutting from the earth like the bones of a long-dead beast. Beside him, Zyrix sat in fortable silence, his psma sniper rifle resting against the dashboard.

  Ahead, the ral outpost loomed, a small, weathered settlement perched on the edge of a yon. It had clearly seeer days, its walls patched with mismatched panels, its towers leaning with the weight of years. Yet it stood, a testament to the resilience of those who lived outside the retive safety of Valeris City.

  "This is the pce?" Zyrix asked, his sharp eyes sing the settlement.

  Ethan nodded, his hands tightening slightly oeering wheel. "The resistance picked it. Far enough from the Federation's read ral enough that no one will feel like they're ourf."

  "They don't trust us," Zyrix remarked casually, his tone devoid of surprise.

  "And we don't trust them," Ethan replied, his voice even.

  The truck hovered to a stop outside the main gate, where resistance fighters waited. Their ons, an assortment of salvaged Syndicate and Federation gear and improvised arms, were trained on the approag vehicle. The fighters' stances were teheir faces hard with suspi.

  One of them stepped forward, a tall woman with cropped hair and a rifle slung across her back. "You the guild team?"

  Ethan stepped out of the truck, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of peace. "Ethan Walker, D-Rank merary. This is Zyrix Korran, also a D-Rank merc."

  The womahem critically befesturing for her team to lower their ons. "Marik and Ta are waiting inside. Follow me."

  The meeting was held in a rge, dipidated building at the ter of the outpost. Inside, a long table had bee up, its surface covered in maps, datapads, and scattered wo figures stood at the far end: Marik Vos and Ta Ryn, Joran Kren's trusted delegates.

  Marik was a man of quiet authority, his lined face betraying years of experience. His calm demeanor trasted sharply with Ta, a fiery young ander whose every movement radiated impatience. Both turned as Ethan and Zyrix eheir expressions guarded.

  "You're te," Ta snapped, crossing her arms.

  "We're here," Ethan replied simply, meeting her gre with steady calm.

  Marik stepped forward, extending a hand. "Ethan Walker. I've read the reports. Xelthar's death was a signifit blow to the Syndicate. Well done."

  Ethan shook his hand. "Thank you. But we both know the Syndicate's far from done."

  "Which is why we're here," Marik said, gesturing to the table. "Let's begin."

  The holographic map of Ve Drasik's stronghold flickered to life, casting a cold blue glow across the room. Key points were marked with red indicators: supply depots, anti-air defenses, and her tral aer.

  "This is the target," Ethan began, pointing to the map. "A coordirike here will cripple Ve's operations and prevent her from ung the teroffensive she's pnning."

  "And what's your pn?" Ta asked, her tone ced with skepticism.

  Ethan outlihe guild's strategy: precision strikes on key infrastructure, supported by resistance forces engaging Syndicate patrols to create distras. He emphasized the need for synization to avoid unnecessary casualties.

  Marik houghtfully, but Ta wasn't vinced. "This is too cautious," she said. "We've been hitting the Syndicate hard for years. A full assault would overwhelm them faster."

  "And cost us more lives," Ethan tered. "Ve's defenses aren't just for show. Rushing in without a pn will only get people killed."

  The room grew tense as the two fas stared each other down. Marik raised a hand, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Ta, let's hear them out. We came here to cooperate, nue."

  Ethan took a steadying breath, his voice firm but measured. "I uand your frustration. You've been fighting this war lohan we have. But this isn't about pride, it's about strategy. If we work together, we dismantle Ve's operation swiftly and from the bud. If we don't, she'll use that time to solidate her power."

  Ta's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent.

  Marik stepped in, his tone diplomatic. "A hybrid approach might be best. The resistance hahe distras, drawing Syndicate forces away, while the guild focuses on disabling key infrastructure."

  Ethan nodded. "Exactly. We'll divide our strengths to achieve a on goal."

  After a moment, Ta relented with a curt nod. "Fine. But if your pn falls apart, we'll do it my way."

  As the meeting tinued, smaller flicts arose. Resistance fighters accused the guild of prioritizing efficy over civilian safety, while guild meraries dismissed the resistaactics as reckless.

  Ethan found himself mediating once again, his voice calm but firm. "We're all here because we want the same thing: to stop the Syndicate. That's the priority. Let's not lose sight of it."

  To demonstrate goodwill, Ethan volunteered to assist the resistah a reaissaask ter that evening. The gesture went a long way toward easing tensions, though the alliance remained fragile.

  During a break in the pnning, Marik pulled Ethan aside. His tone was low, his expression grave. "There's something you should know. Our scouts have reported Syndicate voys heading to Rath Zorrek's mines in the northern mountains."

  "What kind of voys?" Ethan asked.

  "Advanced equipment, heavily guarded. And crates, rge ones, unmarked."

  Ethan frowned. "Could it be tied to the mind-trol alloy?"

  Marik nodded. "Possibly. Whatever it is, it's important enough that they're willing to divert signifit resources to protect it."

  "I'll report this to the guild," Ethan said. "But for now, Ve is our priority."

  "Agreed," Marik said. "Just... keep it in mind."

  As the meeting cluded, both sides returo their respective camps to prepare for the strike. Guild meraries polished their ons and calibrated drones, while resistance fighters gathered salvaged Syndicate gear and explosives.

  Ethan took a moment to step outside, the cool desert air brushing against his skiared out at the horizon, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the operation.

  Zyrix approached, his voice breaking the silehink this alliance will hold?"

  "It has to," Ethan replied.

  The two stood in silence for a moment before returning to their tasks. Daproag, and with it, aep in dismantling Ve Drasik's operations.