Reborn as a Space Mercenary: From Salaryman to Galactic Legend

The Syndicate's terror campaign had plunged Kynara into chaos, but for a brief moment, the fires in the settlements smoldered, and the battlefronts quieted. It was a false reprieve. Ethan sat in the meeting room of the guild in Valeris, doing small maintenance on his plasma dagger while a muted local newsfeed displayed images of devastated settlements. Exhaustion weighed heavy on him, but the simmering anger within kept his focus sharp.

A sudden static interrupted the newsfeed. Across Kynara, screens in every settlement, from the sprawling city of Valeris to the isolated outposts on the planet's fringes, crackled with interference. Citizens paused, looking up at the disrupted displays. Ethan's gaze shot to his screen as the static resolved into a familiar, chilling visage.

Raeth appeared, his face framed by the eerie glow of flickering screens. His sharp features were twisted into a cruel grin, his eyes cold and calculating. Behind him, a Syndicate flag fluttered against the dim light of an industrial backdrop. The sound of distant machinery hummed ominously in the background.

"People of Kynara," Raeth began, his voice smooth yet menacing. "I trust you've enjoyed the little chaos we've brought to your doorsteps. Consider it a mere prelude, a taste of what's to come."

Ethan's fists clenched as he leaned forward, his dagger forgotten.

Raeth continued, his tone mocking. "For too long, you've clung to the illusion of safety under the watchful eyes of the Federation, the Mercenary Guild, and your pathetic resistance. But let me make something clear: they cannot protect you. They are fractured, weak, and scattered, while we, the Black Sun Syndicate, are united by purpose and strength."

The broadcast cut to harrowing footage, leaving no doubt about the Syndicate's cruelty.

The first clip showed a small settlement, its streets aflame. Mind-controlled civilians, their faces void of emotion yet glistening with tears, turned on their loved ones, striking out with improvised weapons. The camera lingered on the haunting image of a young woman, her eyes blank, holding a bloodied pipe over the body of a man who had likely been her father.

"Do you see this?" Raeth's voice echoed as the footage played. "This is the future of Kynara if you dare oppose us. Your neighbors, your friends, your family....they will all bend to our will, just as we bend the mind to our purpose."

Ethan's stomach churned. Around Kynara, others watching the broadcast shared his disgust. Citizens covered their mouths in horror, and seasoned fighters clenched their fists in rage.

The next clip showed burning settlements, charred bodies lying in the streets as Syndicate thugs marched through, laughing and looting. Raeth's voice remained unshaken as he narrated the destruction.

"And don't think for a second that this is our limit. No, no. These are merely tools, a fraction of the weapons we've perfected. Let this serve as a reminder of what happens when you oppose us. But I am a merciful man," Raeth sneered, his grin widening.

The footage returned to Raeth, who leaned forward as if addressing each viewer directly.

"Mercenaries," he said with derision, "your so-called leaders, Darrik Voss, Joran Kren and all your other beloved heroes. Where are they now? Scurrying like rats, trying to undo the inevitable. They've sacrificed their comrades for nothing. They think they've stalled us, but in reality, all they've done is delay their inevitable end."

Ethan's jaw tightened, his hand gripping the edge of his table. The taunt wasn't just a jab; it was personal.

Raeth's tone shifted, growing darker. "You see, you cannot fight what you cannot comprehend. Our advancements, the alloy, the mind-control devices are only the beginning. Soon, Kynara will kneel before us, and those who resist will serve as examples. This planet will be ours, not through conquest but through complete domination of mind and body."

In the guild's meeting room, Ethan and his allies watched the broadcast with grim expressions. Darrik Voss, seated at the head of the table, rubbed his temples in frustration. Resistance leader Joran Kren, communicating via hologram, stood stiffly, his face a mask of fury. Around them, mercenaries and resistance fighters muttered curses under their breath, their anger barely contained.

The broadcast ended with one final, chilling statement from Raeth. "This is your only warning. Surrender, and you may live. Resist, and you will become the tools of your own destruction. The choice is yours, Kynara."

As the screens went black, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Darrik finally spoke, his voice low but steady. "This isn't just a declaration of war, it's psychological warfare. Raeth wants to break our morale."

Joran nodded, his holographic image flickering. "He's weaponizing fear. And we have to show him that it won't work."

Ethan stood, his voice cutting through the tension. "We've all seen what they're capable of. We've felt the losses. But this isn't the time to falter. Raeth thinks he can scare us into submission, but all he's done is fuel our resolve."

The room turned to him, his words igniting a spark of determination among the gathered fighters.

"They want us to lose hope," Ethan continued, his tone firm. "But we've faced their traps, their weapons, and their brutality and we're still here. This isn't the end. It's just the beginning of their downfall."

Kael placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "You're right. We'll hit them harder, smarter. But first, we need to regroup and strengthen our defenses. Valeris, Arak's Hollow, and the other settlements can't take another blow like this."

As the meeting adjourned, Ethan lingered for a moment, staring at the darkened screen that had shown Raeth's smug face moments earlier. He thought of Valeris's scorched streets, the shattered windows of Nara's Nest, the frightened faces of civilians in Arak's Hollow.

Raeth's broadcast had been a reminder of the stakes, but it was also a challenge. One Ethan intended to answer.

"I'm coming for you, Raeth," he muttered under his breath, the glow of determination in his eyes. "And I'll make sure you pay for every life you've destroyed."

As Ethan left the meeting room, his mind was already turning to the battles ahead. Kynara was scarred, but its defenders weren't broken. He will fight back, and he will finally kill the bastard no matter the cost.