I spotted the red star before I understood the size of the machine carrying it. Rad Rux's Grand Liberator stands in the Ash Heap with a tall cylindrical body balanced above several broad mechanical feet. Steam rises around its base, and heavy pipes run down its sides.

The people gathered beside it call themselves Iron Star. Their colors match the machine, and the accounts I heard describe a search for old military equipment and technology. I cannot vouch for their intentions, but the robot itself is plain to see: layered steel, glowing instruments and a central red emblem built into the front.

I kept my visit brief. A man's skill with metal does not make every cause he serves a sound one, and I will not confuse the two. Rux's construction is impressive enough to examine carefully, even when the company around it gives me reason to keep my distance.