The arrival of the Duke's mobilized force was preceded by a low, rhythmic vibration in the earth, a mechanical resonance that reached the barony hours before the first banners appeared on the horizon. Through his calibrated optics, Kael observed the progression of a thousand-man levy, supported by three professional mercenary companies and a specialized engineering train. This was no longer a probe; it was a total commitment to the physical destruction of Kael's industrial experiment. The Duke had utilized his Peacekeeping Mandate to assemble a force designed to overwhelm a frontier settlement through sheer volume, bringing with them heavy mantlets, three massive siege towers, and the components for a counter-ballista battery.
Kael stood atop the central northern bastion, his mind functioning as a central processing unit for the barony's defense. He did not feel fear; he felt the pressure of a high-stakes engineering problem. The enemy force was a complex system of logistics and kinetics, and Kael's task was to identify the most efficient points of failure. He signaled the transition to the Siege Protocol, a pre-planned defensive state that utilized every citizen, regardless of their previous social standing, as a functional component of the machine.
The Duke's mercenaries began the establishment of their siege camp exactly five hundred yards from the northern gate, just beyond what they calculated to be the maximum effective range of the barony's heavy ballistae. They began erecting heavy wooden pavise shields and earthwork berms, intending to create a protected zone for their own artillery. Kael observed their engineering teams with focused intent. They were moving with the confidence of men who believed they held the superior range.
"Range measurement five hundred and twenty yards," Kael noted to the lead ballista crew. "Wind velocity four knots from the east. Adjust for lateral drift."
The five hundred citizens of Ashfall moved with a quiet, terrifying efficiency. The Second and Third Defensive Shifts occupied the walls, their standardized crossbows checked and leveled. The Dependent group moved in a continuous line from the Iron Works to the ramparts, carrying freshly forged bolts and heavy iron-shod ballista projectiles. There was no shouting, no panicked movement. The literacy program had ensured that every individual understood their task cards, and the months of disciplined labor had forged them into a singular, responsive entity.
Kael waited until the Duke's engineers were in the process of raising the first heavy counter-ballista frame. It was the moment of maximum vulnerability—the structure was top-heavy and unanchored.
"Release primary battery," Kael commanded.
The three heavy steel-spring ballistae fired in a perfect, synchronized sequence. The singular, deep metallic thrum shook the stone of the bastions. The six-foot, iron-shod bolts cut through the air with a velocity that defied the mercenaries' expectations. The first bolt struck the center of the rising siege frame, the kinetic energy of the impact shattering the seasoned timber as if it were dry kindling. The second and third bolts punched through the heavy pavise shields as if they were made of parchment, striking the engineers behind them.
The shock in the enemy camp was visible. The mercenary captains scrambled to pull their men back, but Kael did not permit a pause. He ordered the "Suppression Cycle," a rhythmic firing pattern designed to prevent the enemy from establishing any stable infrastructure within five hundred yards. For three hours, the ballistae maintained a consistent, timed fire, the bolts falling with a geometric precision that made the entire forward zone a death trap. Every time the mercenaries attempted to raise a shield or dig a trench, a heavy bolt arrived to dismantle their progress.
"Log the tension fatigue on the primary springs," Kael instructed Hektor, who was monitoring the thermal output of the Iron Works. "We are operating at eighty percent of rated capacity. Ensure the cooling baths are ready for the spare spring sets."
By sunset, the Duke's force had been forced to retreat an additional hundred yards, their initial plan for a swift, overwhelming bombardment neutralized by Ashfall's superior range and standardization. They were now forced into a long-distance stalemate, their siege towers stalled in the rear and their engineers demoralized. However, Kael knew this was only the first phase. The Duke's numerical advantage was still absolute, and his professional mercenaries would eventually adapt, attempting a night assault or a multi-pronged diversion.
The internal state of the barony remained stable. The aquaculture system continued to provide the necessary caloric intake, the heat from the Kiln diverted to the boiling vats to provide the citizen-soldiers with hot, nutrient-dense broth during their shifts. The psychological barrier had been broken; the five hundred knew that their machines were superior. They were no longer victims of a siege; they were the operators of a high-precision defensive system.
Kael returned to the central command room, where Steward Elms was documenting the day's expenditure. "One hundred and twelve standardized bolts expended," Elms reported. "Zero casualties. Production at the Iron Works is currently keeping pace with expenditure plus five percent."
"Increase production to ten percent over expenditure," Kael ordered. "The Duke will attempt to exhaust our reserves. We will ensure our reserves outlast his will to fight."
The chapter ends with Kael looking out over the flickering campfires of the thousand-man army. The siege had begun, but the first day belonged to the math of the frontier. The industrialization of Ashfall had not just provided food and tools; it had provided the kinetic dominance required to hold the world at bay.