The strategic picture confronting Pro-Consul Maximilian was now clearer than ever, laid bare by the meticulous work of the DEA. In the sterile, silent heart of his Central Command, Max reviewed the final intelligence with Ambassador Theron, confirming the scope of the challenges ahead. The conquest of the Dunbar Kingdom and the pacification of the Central Region had been a triumph of efficiency, but the remaining external threats required careful calibration of his formidable power.
Theron projected the key data points, illuminating the holographic map of the continent. Max's intense focus was first on the technological enigma of the North: the Kath Empire.
"Ambassador, the definitive analysis on their primary defense," Max commanded, his voice a low, precise instrument. "The anti-mana towers. Give me the operational reality."
Theron, calm despite the gravity of the subject, presented the technical findings. "The towers are, as suspected, a genuine tactical hurdle, Pro-Consul. Our long-term analysis confirms they operate on a powerful, specific arcane frequency capable of momentarily overloading and disrupting Scorpia's Mana Shields. It means an entire mechanized column, protected by standard shielding, would be critically vulnerable if it stalled within a tower's immediate broadcast radius. They have confirmed the existence of a viable counter to our core defensive technology."
Max pressed his fingers against the table. "A disruption, not a destruction. And outside that immediate operational radius?"
"Outside that radius, the effectiveness falls off exponentially," Theron explained. "The towers are static, ancient, and rely on raw, immense magical power. They are not scalable for mass deployment. Our new Fighter Jets, with their dynamic shield modulation, could survive initial passes, and crucially, the V-2 MSW-2 warheads would render the towers utterly inert and irrelevant the moment they were targeted. The conclusion remains: the Kath Empire may possess a technical counter to our defense, but they possess no counter to our devastating offense. The full power of the Scorpian war machine—the MSW-2 strikes, the new air superiority, the sheer kinetic mass of our divisions—would level Kath to the ground within seventy-two hours of a full commitment."
With the core technological threat minimized, Max shifted to the human cost, a factor he always weighed for logistical efficiency. "Population and military strength. Give me the scale of the resistance."
Theron adjusted the projection, displaying startling numbers. "The Kath Empire has a very large population. Their standing military, reliant on conscription and feudal levies, is estimated at a vast five million personnel. This sheer number alone is a logistical nightmare for occupation. More critically, Pro-Consul, this military is heavily supported by countless powerful mages. Unlike the chaotic remnants of the Central Region, the Kath Empire has systematically trained and integrated its arcane population into its military structure. These mages are disciplined, numerous, and possess powerful, ancient techniques, making every engagement a high-risk scenario. Occupation would be protracted, bloody, and extremely costly in manpower, even if initial victory is guaranteed."
"Five million men and countless mages," Max mused, a cold glint in his eye. "A problem of attrition and logistics, not force. We break the army, and then we subdue the five million. And our eyes in their capital?"
Theron allowed a rare smile. "The Kath Empire is technologically decades behind us. They understand arcane spying but are blind to digital reality. We have successfully mounted surveillance devices all over Kath, utilizing the trade agreements and the embassy as perfect cover. The Faceless Men have integrated micro-sensors into merchant goods; The Sisters have placed deep-cover nodes inside the palace district. They are oblivious to the fact that they are being spied on. We possess their troop movements, their supply lines, the coordinates of every mage academy, and the location of every tower. Their military strength is an open book."
The final piece of intelligence shifted the focus East, revealing an immediate, political challenge. "The eastern reports are confirmed, Pro-Consul. The Eastern Dukes—the most feudal, conservative lords—have combined their forces with the lords of the northern regions. This alliance has culminated in the foundation of the Zanzeer Kingdom. This is an overt, reactionary move against our expansion. Furthermore, to solidify their defense and deter our attack, they have formally joined the Kingdom Alliance, bringing their collective political and military weight into an established treaty structure."
Max ran his hand over the holographic map, tracing the newly formed, hostile border of the Zanzeer Kingdom adjacent to his integrated territories. The choice was clear. The Kath Empire, though immense and magically potent, was neutralized by intelligence. Its destruction would be wasteful, costly in manpower, and unnecessary, as the technical threat was managed. The Zanzeer Kingdom, however, was actively challenging his sovereignty by consolidating a new hostile state on his border and seeking collective security through obsolete alliances. They required an immediate, overwhelming demonstration of power, a second, unforgettable Dunbar moment to shatter their political will before their alliance could truly mobilize. The sheer size of the Kath military was daunting, but the political fragility of Zanzeer was an immediate opportunity, ready to be exploited by the newly minted Scorpian Air Force. The new priority was not destruction, but decisive political collapse achieved through kinetic terror.
The time for analysis was complete. The time for the next wave of conquest had begun.