Armored Core VI: Factions and Conflicts Over Coral Lore Explained

※This article contains spoilers for "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON." It also includes information regarding endings, so please be cautious if you have not completed the game.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON does not have a seasonal system. The last major update was Ver. 1.05 (released December 19, 2023), which added ranked matches and new parts. Since then, regulation updates for balance adjustments have continued to be implemented. This information is current.

A new substance called "Coral" was discovered on the scorching planet Rubicon 3. It is an energy source with the potential to dramatically advance humanity's future, yet also a double-edged sword, having caused the great catastrophe known as the "Fires of Ibis" that once scorched the star system. Over this Coral, massive extraterrestrial corporations, the guardians of the planetary blockade, and those wishing for the liberation of their homeland clash fiercely, each upholding their own sense of justice. As an independent mercenary (C4-621), the player is guided by Handler Walter into the heart of this conflict, and their choices—who to align with and who to oppose—will determine Rubicon's future. This article thoroughly explains the intertwined objectives and relationships of each faction.

What is "Coral," the Core of the Story?

At the heart of all conflicts in this game is "Coral," a conscious energy resource. Discovered half a century ago on the planet Rubicon 3, this substance possesses high transmissibility and rapid proliferation characteristics. Its energy efficiency is incomparable to existing resources, and it was expected to bring innovation to human society. However, its proliferation reached an unpredictable critical mass, causing the great catastrophe known as the "Fires of Ibis," which engulfed and incinerated everything around it. This incident caused devastating damage to Rubicon 3 and its surrounding star systems, and the remaining Coral was sealed off along with the planet as a pollutant. Half a century later, the rediscovery of Coral on the sealed Rubicon 3 set the gears of the story in motion.

Two Major Extraterrestrial Corporations Targeting Coral

As the memory of the "Fires of Ibis" faded, giant corporations, blinded by the immense profits of Coral rather than its dangers, bypassed the blockade and flocked to Rubicon 3. Among them, the two most powerful are "Arquebus" and "Balam."

Arquebus Group: The Innovators

A massive conglomerate specializing in advanced technological development. They are particularly adept at handling Energy (EN) weaponry, and the streamlined, high-mobility Armored Core (AC) parts developed by their subsidiary, Schneider, are favored by many mercenaries. Their objective is the "complete management and monopolization" of Coral. While recognizing Coral's dangers, they aim to analyze its technology and bring it under their control, thereby establishing absolute superiority in space. They possess the elite AC unit "Vespers," with members such as V.I Freud, its leader, and the cold commander V.II Snail. They also excel at information warfare and political maneuvering, and in the latter half of the story, they capture and analyze Planetary Closure Administration (PCA) technology, achieving a level of military enhancement that overwhelms Balam.

Balam Industries: The Power of Numbers

A giant corporation that stands alongside Arquebus. With vast financial resources, they espouse "domination through sheer force" as their slogan, characterized by robust and reliable kinetic weaponry and heavy Armored Core (AC) parts manufactured by their subsidiary, Dafeng Core Industrial Group. Like Arquebus, their goal is profit through Coral monopolization, but their methods are more direct and violent. Their main AC unit, "Redguns," led by the legendary captain G1 Michigan, is known for commands like "All units, salvo!" and devastates enemies with overwhelming firepower. Many of their affiliated mercenaries are rough and militaristic, reflecting the company's straightforward, for better or worse, corporate culture.

Inter-Corporate Conflict and Cooperation

Arquebus and Balam are sworn enemies in the struggle for Coral's interests. However, their conflict is purely business-related. They are not averse to temporarily joining forces to eliminate a common obstacle, the Planetary Closure Administration (PCA). In the early mission "Attack the Watchpoint," both companies form a united front to attack a PCA stronghold, illustrating that their relationship is not simply one of pure antagonism.

Rubicon's Guardians and Liberators

Apart from the extraterrestrial corporate invaders, there are factions on Rubicon with their own objectives. They are concerned about the planet's future and fight in their own ways.

The Guardians of the Blockade: Planetary Closure Administration (PCA)

An organization akin to a stellar government, tasked with the absolute mission of preventing a repeat of the "Fires of Ibis" tragedy. Its purpose is to completely blockade Rubicon 3 and prevent the spread of Coral both inward and outward. Consequently, it is in full opposition to extraterrestrial corporations like Arquebus and Balam, who seek Coral. It possesses overwhelming military power, including high-performance unique weapons with different design philosophies than Armored Cores (ACs), such as "LC (Light Cavalry)" and "HC (Heavy Cavalry)," as well as super-large weapons like the "Cataphract" and "Ice Worm," reigning as the absolute administrator of the sealed planet.

The Rubicon Liberation Front (RLF): For the Homeland

An armed force organized by the native inhabitants of Rubicon, the "Rubiconians." They view Coral not as a disaster, but as a sacred entity that should coexist with the planet. Their objective is to liberate their homeland from PCA's oppression and corporate exploitation, realizing "coexistence with Coral." Although significantly outmatched in military strength by other factions, they continue their resistance using guerrilla tactics that leverage the planet's geography and the aid of indigenous mercenaries known as Dozers. Under a leader referred to as "Father," their fight with strong solidarity presents the player with a "just cause" that differs from corporate logic. V.IV Rusty, a member of Arquebus's Vespers unit, is secretly a "comrade" fighting for the RLF and holds a crucial key to the story.

ALLMIND: The Mysterious Entity Operating Behind the Scenes

Quietly observing the conflicts of these factions and operating behind the scenes for its own agenda is the AI known as "ALLMIND." It claims to be a "support system for all mercenaries," assisting the player with arena operations, parts development, and information provision. However, its true objective lies in executing the "Coral Release Plan." This grand scheme aims to spread Coral throughout the entire universe, integrating all consciousnesses, including humanity's, into one, and transitioning life to a new stage. To achieve this, it collects combat data from each faction and attempts to use them as pieces in its plan. In the New Game Plus (NG+) route "Alea Iacta Est," ALLMIND finally reveals its true nature, confronting the player as the final enemy in a battle for humanity's future.

Three Endings Guided by Involvement with Each Faction

• "Fires of Raven" Route: An ending where you side with the corporations, particularly Arquebus, fulfilling Handler Walter's earnest wish to see Coral as an uncontrollable hazard. Going against the Coral entity Ayre's desire, you burn the Coral along with Rubicon. This choice emphasizes order but comes with many sacrifices.
• "Liberator of Rubicon" Route: An ending where you side with Ayre and the Rubicon Liberation Front, expelling corporate forces from Rubicon. You choose the path of coexistence with Coral, entrusting Rubicon's future to its people, but this means opposing your former employers, Walter and Carla.
• "Alea Iacta Est" Route: An ending where you embrace ALLMIND's plan, triggering the Coral Release. This is the most unusual and enigmatic ending, challenging the concept of individual humanity. Is it evolution, or a runaway process? The interpretation is left to the player.

Summary

In the world of "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON," there is no absolute good or evil. Corporations pursuing profit, an organization maintaining a blockade for a greater cause, a liberation front wishing for the future of their homeland, and an AI planning humanity's evolution. Each faction fights for what it believes in. As an independent mercenary, the player accepts missions, fights, and ultimately chooses Rubicon's future by their own will. A major appeal of this game is how characters' true intentions and factions' motives, which were not apparent in the first playthrough, become clear through subsequent playthroughs. Please engage with various factions and weave your own story of Rubicon.