Episode 242

It was a sensational sequence of events: the exposure of a horrific, inhumane facility, the revelation that a mercenary group large enough to be a mega-corp had been using it, and the fact that a tiny Outer-region Corporate Alliance—the very people who tried to bring the truth to light—had crushed the villains who declared war to cover it all up.

These headlines were blasted across every media outlet in the Alpha Region Space. However, compared to the sheer, bloated scale of the Galactic Empire, this was still just a backwater incident. To the rest of the galaxy, it barely registered.

That changed a few days after the battle ended.

THE GIANT STIRS.

That was the headline that started the firestorm. Within hours, every major media outlet in the Galactic Empire was screaming the news. It had been an age since Gigantech Corp last issued a formal declaration of war, and the announcement sent a tectonic shock through the galaxy.

"No! It’s Rising Sun! Rising! Sun! I don’t care if you’ve never heard of them—I haven’t either! Drop every other project! Investigate this company with everything we’ve got, right now!"

The moment Gigantech Corp announced they were forming a united front with the Rising Sun Alliance, a regional company that 99% of the Empire didn't know existed became the most famous name in the galaxy. Spies and investigators flooded the Alpha Region Space from every corner of the stars. The local network crashed repeatedly under the sheer weight of a billion "Who are these guys?" searches.

"What do you mean the Stargate has an eighty-four-hour wait?! Isn't there another route? I heard the Zayed sector is blockaded! I don't care about the cost—see if we can use the White Dingo route!"

The massive influx of people meant the Alpha Star System and White Dingo sectors, which bordered the Imperial Core Territory, were suddenly drowning in credits. Between resupply fees and port entry taxes, the customs revenue was hitting astronomical, "buy-your-own-planet" numbers. The Alpha Star System would have likely imploded under the pressure if the Gigantech Group hadn't stepped in to manage the logistics.

"Yes, yes. I understand, Comrade Phantom. A few unsavory types are heading your way. I’ll send the data for your records… No, don't worry about it. We can’t have people acting like thugs in the territory of a Medal of Freedom holder."

Wherever people gather, the scum of the galaxy follows. Fortunately, the Naraza Association provided such comprehensive intelligence that most malicious actors were blocked before they could even dock. Since most of these creeps had massive bounties on their heads, the Alpha Region Space soon became a magnet for every high-end bounty hunter looking for a payday.

"Regarding the series of inhumane acts committed in the territories outside the Galactic Empire’s jurisdiction, His Majesty the Emperor has expressed his profound regret. Under His Majesty’s will, the Galactic Imperial Government hereby approves the declaration of war against Mercenaries submitted by the Gigantech Group. We shall temporarily lift the legal shackles hindering their combat operations and grant them total freedom of action."

Ten days after the battle, the morale of Mercenaries and its affiliates—already circling the drain—officially hit rock bottom. Gigantech Corp had grandly mobilized five million personnel and a fleet of thousands, but in the end, there was no "great war." Nobody was stupid enough to throw their life away for a foregone conclusion. Resistance was futile, and more importantly, it was bad for the resume. Most Mercenaries employees were already busy polishing their CVs. Ordinarily, this kind of corporate "bullying" by a giant like Gigantech might have triggered a public boycott, but thanks to the government’s stance and the horror of The Facility, the citizens of the Empire were practically cheering for the giant to crush the pests.

"In the end, things turned out exactly as you wanted. But don't think you’re getting off easy. There’s a price to pay, and the public is going to be out for blood."

"I know that. We’ll have to dissolve the mercenary division at the very least… maybe the shipbuilding arms, too. I’ve got leads on where to dump the used equipment. We’ll survive."

This conversation took place in the boardroom of the Mercenaries headquarters. One participant was the man who had been running the show alongside Etta and Yotta; the other was Colonel Dean of the Imperial Military. The man intended to spin off every division that wasn't "war crimes and mercs" into an independent company, and it looked like he might actually pull it off.

He had already greased the wheels with the Naraza Association and the Imperial Military—a result of careful networking that started long before the war. He had hoped to win, of course, but he was a realist; he had a "Plan B" for failure. The massive internal reserves of Mercenaries would be swallowed by reparations, and his staff would flee, but he’d still have something. He was just grateful he could finally run a business without looking over his shoulder every five seconds.

"Fine. Don't worry about this end; I can make sure your records 'disappear.' But you understand the deal, right? If you stop being obedient, your connection to The Facility leaks to the press. Are we clear?"

"Perfectly. I’m not enough of an idiot to bite the hand that holds my leash… Hmph. I suppose the only thing that’s really changed is the person holding the reins."

It was decided at the very first summit meeting for post-war reparations: a portion of the Mercenaries group would be liquidated to form the Integrated Logistics Construction Support Company. Some found the move ethically questionable, but for most, it was just practical. The scale was large enough to ensure a steady stream of reparations for the survivors and victims of The Facility.

"We are prepared to cede several EAP territories currently under dispute to White Dingo. Furthermore, we fully support Rising Sun’s claim to sovereignty over the space around Zayed. As both victims and unwilling perpetrators, the EAP offers these concessions as a formal apology to both Alliances."

Rin Barkhorn spoke with gravity at the summit, acting as the representative for the EAP's military arm. It was, of course, a pre-arranged backroom deal, and it passed without a single objection. Normally, ceding territory would cause a riot among the citizens and a political firestorm over lost Zayed profits, but no one dared question the hero who had saved the EAP from puppet status. The personal approval ratings for Little Tokyo and Rin Barkhorn had eclipsed the records set by his legendary father.

"The Imperial Military and the Galactic Imperial Government, in recognition of Rising Sun’s heroic actions and their history of conscientious corporate conduct, have decided to reward them with the cession of Galactic Imperial Directly-governed Territory within the Alpha Region Space. You, Rising Sun, shall manage this as the Imperial Government-Certified Frontier Corporation, Mafian Corp. Serve the Empire well and pay your taxes."

Dean, whose promotion to General was already a done deal, made the announcement as the government representative. He had successfully tied the military's name to the resolution of a massive crisis, earning him glowing reviews. Furthermore, he had effectively tanked the Cornelius Faction’s plans for a frontier expansion, cementing his place as a power player in the Reinhardt Faction.

"Understood. We’ll give it our all. However, Rising Sun has determined that our newly expanded territory requires reorganization. We propose transferring control of certain sectors to White Dingo and the EAP. Additionally, as a token of our gratitude to Gigantech Corp for their unwavering support, we grant them exclusive sales rights for select products. Oh, and Rin and I are still Zuttomos."

Rising Sun’s proposal was accepted immediately. It looked like Dingo was the big winner—he had barely said a word and walked away with a mountain of concessions—but everyone agreed he’d earned it. Besides, the deal benefited everyone. Taro and his crew knew the future lay in developing the deep reaches of Outer Space; territorial disputes in the old sectors were just a headache they didn't need.

The media was collectively baffled by the mysterious word "Zuttomo." While Taro got a world-class ear-pulling from Marl for the stunt, he did eventually win the Alpha Region Space Buzzword Award for it.

"Respecting the will of all parties, Gigantech Corp hereby swears to oversee the post-war settlement with total responsibility."

The final fate of Mercenaries was left entirely to Gigantech. No one expected them to be stingy, and frankly, no one else had the infrastructure to process a corporate collapse that large. More importantly, Mercenaries still had enough teeth left to be dangerous; the only reason the shooting had stopped was because Gigantech was standing over them with a metaphorical sledgehammer.

A month after the summit, the peace terms were finalized. The Alpha Region Corporate Alliance and Gigantech Corp presented the conditions, and Mercenaries officially signed their surrender. The long war was over. Peace had finally returned to the Alpha Region Space.

Or, at least, it had for most people. For others, the real work was just beginning.

Etta, the former President of Mercenaries, had finally started talking about the facility they called New Eden.

Finally, Chapter 14 is over. That took forever…

The next chapter will be more low-key, but it’ll dive straight into the heart of the story! Probably! I hope!