Veyran Southern Corridor — Dawn
"Confirm targets."
Commander Solas stood inside the mobile command vehicle, eyes hard, jaw clenched. The screens before him showed a Kael-operated relief hub—white banners, supply trucks, civilians already gathering for morning distribution.
"They're exposed," an officer said quietly. "Minimal security presence."
Solas didn't hesitate. "That's because they want to be seen as harmless."
A pause.
"Fire warning shots first," the officer suggested. "Scatter the crowd."
"No," Solas snapped. "If we hesitate, we lose everything. Strike the hub. Disable it completely."
Silence followed.
Then, reluctantly: "Orders confirmed."
---
Kael's Forward Command — Same Moment
"They're moving," Joren said. "Solas has authorized an assault on Hub Twelve."
Lysa's eyes widened. "Civilians are there."
Kael didn't look surprised. He had already stood.
"Activate civilian extraction protocol," he said calmly. "Phase Crimson—non-lethal perimeter collapse."
Michael stared at him. "You knew he'd do this."
"Yes."
"You let him do this."
Kael met his gaze. "I needed him to choose it."
---
Veyran Southern Corridor
The first explosion ripped through an empty storage wing—loud, spectacular, carefully misjudged.
Civilians screamed.
Before panic could spread, Kael's units moved.
Not chaotically. Not heroically.
Efficiently.
Evacuation corridors unfolded like rehearsed choreography. Drones projected clear exit paths. Medics appeared instantly. Children were lifted. Elderly were guided. Cameras—civilian, not military—caught everything.
Then the second strike hit closer.
Too close.
A Kael unit shielded a fleeing crowd. Three went down.
Alive—but visibly injured.
And the cameras caught that too.
---
Veyran Capital — One Hour Later
"What has Solas done?"
Lady Vireen stared at the live feeds flooding every public channel.
Images looped endlessly:
– Kael's personnel carrying wounded civilians
– Veyran artillery firing into relief zones
– A crying woman screaming, "They were helping us!"
The council chamber erupted.
"This is treason!"
"He's destroyed our legitimacy!"
"He's handed Kael the moral high ground!"
General Rethar buried his face in his hands. "He's made us the enemy of our own people."
---
Kael's Command
"Public sentiment swing confirmed," Joren said. "Veyran civilians labeling Solas a war criminal. Hashtag translation: Enemy of Progress."
Lysa whispered, "You turned him into a symbol."
Kael nodded once. "Symbols simplify choice."
Michael's voice was low. "You orchestrated a massacre narrative."
"No," Kael corrected. "I prevented one—and documented the attempt."
Michael shook his head. "History won't care about the distinction."
Kael looked back at the feeds—at Solas's forces retreating in confusion, at Veyran citizens blocking their own military convoys.
"History," Kael said, "is written by whoever restores normalcy afterward."
---
Veyran Southern Corridor — Solas' Command
"They're calling us monsters," an officer said, panic rising. "Civilians are refusing cooperation!"
Solas stared at the screen—at Kael himself, kneeling beside a wounded child, blood on his sleeve.
"It was supposed to force him to respond," Solas muttered.
The officer whispered, "He did."
Solas understood then.
He hadn't exposed Kael.
He had completed Kael's plan.
---
Kael's Final Order of the Day
"Transmit message to Veyran civil authorities," Kael said evenly.
> We regret today's violence.
Our presence was meant to stabilize, not replace.
However, we cannot allow further harm to civilians.
Until Veyra regains unified command, we will assume temporary protective oversight.
Michael closed his eyes. "You're done pretending now."
Kael watched as approval ratings surged, as governors requested protection, as Veyran military units began defecting—not to Kael, but to safety.
"No," Kael said softly.
"Now I begin ruling."
Commander Solas had fired the first shot.
But the war—
the real conquest—
had always belonged to Kael.