The Outbackers

"Outpost of Empire."

The outbackers have learned much about trace chemicals and glands from the Arulians who have become the local front for the Merseians and who are currently at war with the Nine Cities which are protected by the Terran Empire. Furthermore, the outbackers themselves also attack the Cities. None of this makes the outbackers allies or clients of Merseia but it does demonstrate to what extent spheres of interest can interpenetrate and overlap. 

Of the Nine Cities, at a certain point in the story, one has been destroyed by the outbackers, two have been incapacitated by war and two are occupied by the Arulians who, however, are cut off on Freehold and will not be able to sustain their war effort.

The outbackers cannot be located for bombardment in the wilderness. Destruction of the entire wilderness would change the climate, make agriculture impossible and thus ruin the Cities. Therefore, the outbackers can be eradicated only by gradual clearing of the forests which they will continue to resist. 

This scenario is vastly more complicated than a straightforward good guys-bad guys routine. The narration alternates between the viewpoints of the Imperialist, Ridenour, and the outbacker, Karlsarm, so which of these guys do we least disagree with? Or do we say, "A plague on both your houses"? Probably not the latter, though.