After the unification of Agurts, Aldaman shifted his focus to the Federation's northern neighbors, where trade had thinned to a trickle due to post-imperial chaos. The new Senate consolidated its forces and established the 88th Sand Team to securitize northbound trade routes into neighboring Gray Zones. The campaign proved a smashing success, showcasing the extraordinary prowess of the combined might of the Federation and special refugee platoons such as the Hellbenders. Once the northern trade arteries matured, the Minotaurus team assumed responsibility for huge monthly supply runs that keep Gray Zone settlements alive and Agurts prosperous.