I'm trying to figure out the "bad guys" in this story without knowing the previous games.

I'm playing the game for the second time. No I didn't beat it yet, I lost all my saves. I don't mind THAT much because I felt like I missed a lot of context the first time. But, now I'm at the start and still confused.

I think the Ward is supposed to be perceived as military/bad guys, or at least that what the story seems to default into. But A lot of the things people blame on Ward is just false or its often much more complicated.

Yet the story feels like either you are a stalker, or you chose to work with the Ward. Like I will get the worst ending if I work with Ward, but I like Ward.

Keep it spoiler free if possible, but what am I missing here