Kingdom of Veyra — Eastern Command Citadel
"This is madness."
Commander Solas slammed his fist onto the table. "Our supply depots in Karsin just went dark. No explosions. No warnings. They simply… stopped responding."
General Rethar's jaw tightened. "Communications failure happens."
"Not simultaneously," Lady Vireen replied coldly. "Across four provinces."
Marshal Kovan leaned back, eyes narrowed. "Say it plainly. He's already inside."
Solas scoffed. "Inside what? Our borders haven't been crossed."
"That's because you're still counting borders," Vireen said. "Kael doesn't."
A messenger rushed in, breathless. "My lords—civil authorities in Karsin have requested external assistance. Food distribution has collapsed. Port traffic is frozen. They're invoking emergency accords."
Rethar froze. "External assistance… from whom?"
The messenger hesitated. "From Kael's coalition units."
Silence detonated in the room.
Kovan laughed once—short, bitter. "He didn't attack us. He made us ask."
Solas spun on Rethar. "You said we had time!"
Rethar snapped back, "I said he wouldn't strike the capital!"
"And he didn't," Vireen said quietly. "He struck legitimacy."
Another officer burst in. "Sir! Northern garrisons are refusing redeployment orders. They claim civilian protection mandates take priority."
Solas rounded on them. "That's insubordination!"
"No," Kovan said, standing slowly. "That's protocol. His protocols."
Vireen closed her eyes for a moment. "He's using our own laws to immobilize us."
---
Elsewhere — Kael's Forward Command
"The Veyran council is arguing," Joren reported. "Publicly."
Kael nodded. "Good. What about the generals?"
"Split," Joren said. "Solas wants a decisive strike. Rethar wants consolidation. Kovan believes the war is already lost."
Michael watched the live feeds, expression grim. "You haven't fired a single shot."
Kael replied evenly, "Violence is a tool, not a requirement."
Lysa folded her arms. "And when they force it?"
Kael's eyes flicked to another display. "They already are."
---
Back in Veyra — War Council
"This is exactly why we should have struck first!" Solas shouted. "Now half the kingdom thinks he's saving them!"
Rethar shot back, "Because you want to bomb our own supply corridors?"
"Better than letting him own them!"
Kovan cut in sharply. "He already does. The people trust his units more than ours."
Vireen looked at the map—regions glowing pale blue where Kael's forces operated under invitation.
"He's conquering Veyra," she said softly, "without declaring war."
A junior officer whispered, "Then what do we call this?"
Vireen answered without looking up. "The end of how wars used to begin."
---
Kael's Command
"Phase one complete," Joren said. "Veyra is operationally dependent in five regions."
Michael turned to Kael. "You've turned their unity into an argument."
Kael didn't smile. "Arguments delay decisions. Delays decide wars."
He issued one final, quiet order.
"Maintain restraint. Let Veyra tear itself apart debating whether this is conquest."
Outside, aid convoys crossed Veyran borders under white banners.
Inside Veyra's command halls, voices rose, alliances cracked, and trust evaporated.
And everyone finally understood what Kael was conquering:
Not land.
Not cities.
Authority itself.