The mandate from Lord Commander Greycastle to lead a covert expeditionary force into the Whispering Hills presented Kaelen with a different kind of war. This was not the thundering, direct clash of Orcs or the shadowy magic of Necromancers, but a subtle, insidious conflict against human rebellion. It demanded discretion, cunning, and an understanding of the whispers that turned brother against brother. Kaelen, now the undisputed Commander of the Northern Front and a master of Karshelm's military might, accepted the challenge with his usual calm precision.
His first step was to adapt his Legion's roles to this new, clandestine mission. He couldn't march a full company into the Whispering Hills; subtlety was paramount.
Replicated Master Quartermaster Jorah was tasked with preparing specialized, unmarked supply caches for the covert team, ensuring their provisions were untraceable back to Karshelm. He also quietly diverted small, strategic amounts of 'excess' rations to certain barracks and civilian sectors, maintaining good morale and subtly reinforcing Kaelen's benevolent image. The fortress's supply chain remained flawlessly efficient, but now, it was also Kaelen's personal stealth network.
Replicated Private Finn became the spearhead of the reconnaissance. His silent movement and acute senses made him unparalleled for infiltration. He was sent ahead, days before Kaelen's main team, to map the Whispering Hills, identify rebel encampments, and pinpoint their command structures without detection. His reports, relayed through pre-arranged dead drops, were meticulously detailed, far surpassing any traditional scout's capabilities.
Replicated Lieutenant Thomas Valerius proved invaluable for his insights into the human element of the rebellion. He poured over Karshelm's historical records, identifying key noble families with known sympathies to the Southern Rebellion, and cross-referencing them with current intelligence to predict potential rebel strongholds or influential figures. His replicated mind analyzed the political rhetoric emanating from the Hills, providing Kaelen with a deep understanding of the rebels' motivations and weaknesses.
Replicated Master Alric and Replicated Archivist were tasked with developing specialized tools for covert operations. Replicated Alric worked on silent, fast-acting tranquilizer compounds for discreet captures, and non-lethal, incapacitating gases that could clear areas without causing alarm. Replicated Archivist delved into ancient texts about human psychology, propaganda, and methods of information control, providing Kaelen with insights into swaying human minds.
Kaelen assigned Replicated Sergeant Rhys to oversee the security of his Northern Front command, ensuring his absence on the covert mission wouldn't create any vulnerabilities. Replicated Captain Rostova and Replicated Captain Durian maintained command of their companies, carrying out Kaelen's daily directives for patrols and training, their discipline unwavering. Replicated Commander Gareth continued to shape the incoming recruits with Kaelen's methods, and Replicated Chief Engineer Master Eldrin ensured the Eastern Wall's defenses remained impregnable.
Replicated Captain Sir Gideon, Kaelen's shadow in the High Command, diligently relayed every discussion, every subtle doubt, every private order from Lord Commander Greycastle and Captain Theron regarding the Southern Rebellion. This real-time insight allowed Kaelen to anticipate their concerns and frame his mission progress reports to perfectly align with their expectations.
Infiltration: The Whispering Hills
Kaelen's covert team was small: himself, Replicated Private Finn, and two veteran scouts from his Northern Front command, chosen for their discretion and skill. They moved under the cover of night, bypassing Karshelm's outer patrols, their movements swift and silent. The journey to the Whispering Hills was uneventful, guided by Finn's advance reconnaissance.
The Whispering Hills were aptly named. The wind rustled through the sparse trees, creating an incessant, eerie murmuring sound. Unlike the desolate, broken landscapes of the Orc and Necromancer territories, these hills were alive, dotted with small, scattered villages and hidden camps. The enemy here was not monstrous, but human, driven by grievances, hope, and, inevitably, fear.
Replicated Private Finn led them through a series of hidden trails, bypassing known rebel patrols. Kaelen's tactical mind adapted quickly. This was a battle of information, of perception, and of subtle influence, far removed from the brutal efficiency of the Eastern Wall.
They approached the largest known rebel encampment, nestled deep within a secluded valley. Finn's intelligence indicated it was a logistical hub, where supplies were gathered and distributed, and where new recruits were trained.
Under the cloak of darkness, Kaelen and Finn infiltrated the camp. Kaelen moved like a shadow, his senses heightened, observing the rebels. He saw not a unified army, but a motley collection of farmers, disgruntled former soldiers, and ambitious minor nobles. Their faces, though grim, carried a flicker of defiant hope, a stark contrast to the despair he often saw in Karshelm.
Kaelen focused on the leaders. Finn pointed out a charismatic orator, a fiery young woman named Elara who rallied the recruits with passionate speeches about freedom and justice. There was also a pragmatic, scarred quartermaster, Brenn, overseeing the meager supplies with surprising efficiency, and a grizzled former knight, Sir Kaelan, who drilled the recruits with a grim determination.
Kaelen studied Elara particularly. Her charisma, her ability to inspire, was a potent weapon. She wasn't a fighter, but she was the heart of the rebellion, its voice. Replicating her would give him a direct channel into the rebels' emotional core, a means to control their narrative.
Disruption and Opportunity
Kaelen decided his initial objective would be to disrupt the rebel's logistical flow, sowing doubt and inefficiency, rather than launching a direct attack. He targeted Quartermaster Brenn's supply depot.
"Finn," Kaelen whispered, indicating the main supply tent, "I need you to subtly tamper with their grain stores. Make it appear as though rats have infested it, or that the bags were poorly sealed, causing spoilage. Nothing too obvious, just enough to cause frustration and doubt."
Replicated Private Finn moved like a ghost. Moments later, faint squeaks and rustling sounds emanated from the tent, followed by Brenn's frustrated curses. This seemingly minor act would have a disproportionate impact, fueling discontent over food shortages and incompetence.
Next, Kaelen focused on Sir Kaelan, the knight. He wasn't a suitable template, but his drilling methods were effective. Kaelen knew that disrupting their training would hit morale. Finn subtly repositioned training dummies, sabotaged a few practice weapons, and even loosened a few ropes on the obstacle course. Minor annoyances, designed to create friction and undermine leadership.
As days turned into nights, Kaelen's covert team, guided by Finn's stealth, continued their quiet disruption. They tampered with supply manifests, leading to confusion and arguments among the rebels. They subtly altered patrol schedules, causing minor ambushes by local beasts and reinforcing a sense of insecurity. They replaced rebel propaganda pamphlets with subtly altered versions, introducing internal inconsistencies into their own message. The rebels grew increasingly frustrated, their initial enthusiasm slowly eroding into suspicion and internal squabbles.
Kaelen monitored their reactions, his understanding of human nature deepening with each calculated manipulation. He was not just fighting an army; he was fighting an idea, and he was undermining it from within.
During one such observation, Kaelen witnessed a heated argument between Elara, the orator, and Sir Kaelan, the knight. Elara was furious about the declining morale and the logistical nightmares, blaming it on incompetence. Sir Kaelan, pragmatic and battle-hardened, dismissed her concerns as naive, arguing that such things were inevitable in war. Their division was clear.
Kaelen also observed a highly skilled scout named Lyra, a quiet woman who moved with an almost preternatural ability to blend into the shadows. She was the one who always seemed to discover Kaelen's subtle tampering, though she couldn't pinpoint the source. She was a master of stealth, far more skilled than any scout Kaelen had encountered outside his own Legion.
As Kaelen planned his next move, aiming to further disrupt a major rebel recruitment drive, he received a message from Replicated Gideon in Karshelm.
[Urgent. Lord Commander Greycastle is concerned about the ongoing covert operations. He believes the subtle approach is too slow. He is considering ordering a direct, full-scale military assault on the Whispering Hills to crush the rebellion outright.]
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. A direct assault would be messy, costly in lives, and would create martyrs for the rebellion. It would also undo all his subtle work in destabilizing them from within. He needed to prevent that, to maintain his control over the situation. He needed to deliver a decisive, yet contained, blow.
He still had no new duplication tokens. But he knew his next move would be pivotal. He had identified a truly valuable template in the rebel camp: the orator, Elara. Her ability to sway human hearts and minds was a formidable weapon, one that could secure not just the loyalty of soldiers, but of entire populations. He could turn the tide of human opinion, either for or against the King, for or against Karshelm, all through her voice.
Kaelen looked at the intel provided by Finn on the rebel recruitment drive. It was scheduled for the next morning. It was an opportunity, a chance to strike a decisive blow against their morale, one that would make Lord Commander Greycastle pause his plans for a full-scale invasion. He would need to capture, or perhaps even replicate, Elara, the voice of the rebellion. The battle for Karshelm's security had now shifted to a battle for hearts and minds, and Kaelen was ready to wield a new kind of weapon.