By the end of the 22nd century, megacorporations have completed their conquest of every facet of society. Natural resources are scarce, following ecological collapse and the climate crisis. Pure, clean water untainted by the byproducts of industry is rare. Real meat is a decadent, bordering perverse luxury. The rich showcase their fountains of running water, and verdant green gardens. Whistleblowers disappear. Corporate agents in pressed suits drive said whistleblowers stuffed in trunks to do the disappearing. The center is a neon paradise. The edges are rows of rusted slums and the unwashed poor. Like everything else, law enforcement has been taken over by the corporations. Private security forces and similar companies bid for protection contracts from what's left of the government. Ex-Corporate soldier Declan "Boot" Loranger is one of these private security officers. He'd served in the second war for water rights between Aegis International and Kellogg-Mizutani Heavy Industries. Now discharged, he works the beat in New Han'ei's most lucrative and sought after contracts - patrolling the city center: megacorp HQs and entertainment district all-in-one. A neon-drenched playground of the city's elite, and of course the best paid yet safest contract there is. He's one of the best officers PhalanxCorp has, and Fixers often come to PhalanxCorp to request him for "extrajudicial" jobs, of which they happily send him out to if the creds are right. These jobs may involve corporate assassinations, abductions, and less-than-legal activities - and PhalanxCorp insists Declan does not wear the company uniform when performing such extrajudicial jobs. But that's just fine with him. Done worse shit in the war. New job's just come in. DalmerInt's been victim of a multi-million cred data heist. And Declan's been assigned the case: hunt down the hacker(s) responsible, and dispense justice on their corporate benefactor's behalf. But not all is as it seems... As Declan's past catches up to him, he will have to choose: Wealth beyond his wildest imagination, enough to care for his ailing sister... Or loyalty, and whatever's left of his moral code. New chapters every week if there is interest (interest judged by comments etc)