Vendar-Dominion Border, Agricultural Region
Brenn stood on ridge, watching Dominion force advance. Three thousand heavy infantry, siege equipment, standard imperial formation.
Real goal: seize grain stores, intimidate Covenant allies.
Covenant defense: 2,000 soldiers plus Velnar.
First real combat deployment.
Beside him, Velnar clicked forward, scorpion form, tail coiled, eight eyes scanning.
Bearer stationed you here. I will not fail him.
"We're outnumbered 3-to-2. Need force multiplier."
I am force multiplier. Watch.
***
Velnar's tail struck ground. Roots exploded across kilometer-wide front.
One hundred constructs materialized:
- 40 wooden wolves (fast assault)
- 30 bears (heavy breakthrough)
- 20 serpents (underground harassment)
- 10 hawks (aerial reconnaissance)
Dominion force stopped. Scouts reported: "Unknown enemy type. Plant constructs. Count: 100+."
Dominion commander: "Burn them. They're wood. Fire beats wood."
Archers fired flaming arrows.
Constructs ignored flames—wet wood, living tissue, fire-resistant.
Wolves charged. Hit Dominion flanks simultaneously—coordinated pack tactics. Chaos spread through ranks.
***
Brenn: "ADVANCE! Constructs create openings, we exploit!"
Two thousand Covenant soldiers plus 5,000 Vendar militia charged. Not to meet Dominion head-on—to strike disorganized flanks.
Dominion tried reforming.
Bears crashed through center—physical tanks, unstoppable momentum. Siege equipment destroyed, formations broken.
Underground: serpents erupted beneath supply wagons. Food stores collapsed, morale shattered.
Aerial: hawks dove, harassed commanders. Not lethal—disruptive. Couldn't coordinate when fighting flying wood.
***
Two hours combat.
Dominion lost 800 soldiers—killed or wounded. Remaining 2,200 retreated in disorder.
Covenant casualties: 43 dead, 120 wounded.
Acceptable ratio.
Constructs lost: 35 destroyed—fire eventually worked, but slow. Velnar recalled remaining 65.
*Acceptable performance. Energy reserves: 40% remaining. Could sustain another hour if needed.*
Brenn: "You just changed warfare. 100 constructs equals 800 enemy casualties. That's... unheard of."
*Nature fights when provoked. Dominion learned: forest bites back.*
***
Covenant forces equipped with Forged Bloom weapons reported: "Cut through Soulsteel armor easily. Disrupted control rods. Dominion beasts broke free mid-battle—three Servitors fled, two turned on handlers."
Brenn: "Joran's innovation works. We're not just equal anymore. We're superior in close combat."
Vendar representatives watched from fortifications. Saw 2,000 hold against 3,000. Saw Lord-tier summons. Saw Forged Bloom effectiveness.
Lord Thalen: "We chose correctly. This alliance keeps us safe."
***
Retreating Dominion Column
Gareth ran. Didn't care about honor. Didn't care about formation.
Ran.
Behind him: wooden wolves. Faster than him. Tireless. Unnatural.
Beside him: comrades screaming. Not dying—terrified. Facing enemy that shouldn't exist.
His sergeant, veteran, fifteen years: "REFORM! WE OUTNUMBER THEM!"
Didn't matter. Numbers meant nothing when forest itself fought back.
Gareth saw it: bear-construct grabbed siege tower. Crushed it. Wood, metal, men—compressed to rubble. Single motion.
His weapon: Soulsteel sword. Standard issue. Struck wolf-construct's leg.
Blade bounced. Didn't cut.
Construct turned, tackled him, jaws at throat—
Stopped. Didn't kill. Just held him down. Waiting.
Covenant soldier approached. Offered hand.
"Surrender. You live."
Gareth stared. Enemy offering mercy? Dominion taught: Covenant killed prisoners.
"I... surrender."
Soldier pulled him up. Bound hands—gently, didn't break fingers. Led to prisoner area.
Fifty other Dominion soldiers there. All captured. All alive. Fed water. Wounds treated.
Gareth's worldview cracked.
Dominion taught: Covenant equals barbarians. Anarchists. Murderers.
Reality: They took prisoners. Treated wounds. Offered water.
Who lied? Emperor? Or experience?
***
That night, prisoner camp. Covenant guard asked: "You from Heartlands?"
"Yes. Conscripted two years ago."
"Family?"
"Mother. Sister. Both in capital."
Guard pulled paper, pen. "Write them. We'll send via neutral merchant. Let them know you're alive."
Gareth stared. "Why?"
"Because they deserve to know. War's between armies. Not families."
He wrote letter. Hands shaking. Didn't understand.
But maybe... maybe that was point.
Understanding came from questioning. And Dominion never let him question.
***
Bloomring Hold, War Room
Lysara compiled results for full council.
"Week of political warfare complete. Final assessment."
Covenant Alliance Network:
Full Military Allies:
1. Free Cities Alliance (2,000 mercenary guards, trade escorts)
2. Kingdom of Vendar (3,000 militia + 2,000 regulars, agricultural support)
3. Coastal Confederacy (1,500 marines, naval supremacy)
4. Eastern Reach (2,000 refugee volunteers)
5. Western Highlands (5,000 elite mountain warriors, strategic passes)
6. Northern Clans (500 veterans present, 1,000 more en route)
Total Allied Forces: 17,000 soldiers plus Covenant's 15,800 equals 32,800 combined.
Economic Partners:
- Free Cities control 40% merchant guilds
- Vendar provides 60% eastern grain
- Coastal Confederacy blockades Dominion ports
- Western Highlands iron mines
***
Dominion Status:
Forced Allies:
1. Ironcrest Principality (2,000 soldiers, coerced, unreliable)
2. Shadowfen Marshlands (500 scouts, intimidated)
Total Dominion Forces: 70,000 imperial troops plus 2,500 coerced allies equals 72,500.
Economic Situation:
- Lost 45% trade revenue
- Currency debased, rejected by Free Cities
- Grain shortages beginning
- Iron imports reduced
***
Lysara: "Numerically, Dominion still superior. 72,500 versus 32,800. But:"
"One: Our forces motivated. Theirs increasingly conscripted or coerced."
"Two: We have three Lords—Zor, Velnar, Feyra—plus allied Kings. They have maybe four Kings in reserve?"
"Three: Economic collapse coming. They can't sustain 70,000 troops without trade revenue."
"Four: Political isolation complete. No major neutral kingdoms left willing to ally with them."
Brenn: "Timeline to Dominion collapse?"
"Without major military victory? Six months. Economy fails, army deserts, empire fragments."
Draven: "They'll attack before that. Desperate, all-or-nothing assault."
"Agreed. Expect 60,000+ troops marching within two months. Final battle coming."
***
Bloomring Residential District
Thessa, Servitor wolf, counted coins. Third week's wages: 15 silver Covenant Standard.
Her cubs, four months old, playful: "Mama, what's silver for?"
"Everything. Food. Shelter. Choices."
She'd worked construction. Humans treated her as equal—lifted what they couldn't, they directed where she shouldn't.
Partnership.
First week's wages—10 silver: bought blankets, food, medicine for cubs' cough.
Second week—12 silver: saved 5, spent 7 on clothes. Winter coming, cubs needed warmth.
Third week—15 silver: Could save more. Or spend on... what?
Choices overwhelmed.
Human neighbor, baker Marda: "First time having money?"
"First time having choices."
Marda smiled. "Overwhelming, isn't it? Freedom means deciding. Here—"
Handed her list: "Priorities. Food first. Shelter second. Savings third. Luxuries last. Follow that, you'll never starve."
Thessa studied list. Made sense. Structure within freedom.
She budgeted:
- 5 silver: food
- 3 silver: rent (shared housing)
- 4 silver: savings (emergency fund growing)
- 3 silver: cubs' education (literacy classes, small fee)
Cubs learning to read. Her. Learning to read. Investment in future.
Under Dominion: no wages, no choices, no future. Just survival.
Under Covenant: wages, choices, futures. Plural. Multiple paths possible.
Her eldest cub: "Mama, teacher says I can be anything. Is that true?"
Thessa looked at savings pouch. At education receipt. At Covenant Standard coins—heavy, real, honest.
"Yes. Anything you choose. That's what freedom means."
Cub smiled. Returned to playing.
Thessa watched, eyes wet. For first time in life: hope.
Not survival-hope. Thriving-hope.
Her cubs wouldn't just live. They'd grow. Choose. Become.
That was worth every silver. Every day's labor. Every risk.
***
Prisoner Camp, Vendar Border
Eight hundred Dominion prisoners from border battle. Covenant offered choice: return to Dominion, or stay as civilians or soldiers.
Results after 48 hours:
- 520 chose return (families in Dominion, loyalty to homeland not empire)
- 280 chose defection (no families, or families fled already)
Brenn interviewed defectors personally.
***
Gareth:
"Why stay?"
"Because I wrote my family. Mother responded via neutral merchant. She said: 'Don't come back. Empire's collapsing. Food scarce. Soldiers deserting daily. Save yourself.'"
"Your mother told you to defect?"
"She told me to survive. Under Dominion, I'm conscript—disposable. Here, you offered civilian work. 20 silver monthly, construction labor. I can send money home. Actually help them."
"You'd work for former enemy?"
"You're not enemy. Emperor is. I fought FOR Dominion, not for slavery. When I learned truth—Stonecross, human shackles—I couldn't unsee it."
***
Veteran Soldier, thirty-two, named Korin:
"Why stay?"
"Because I'm tired. Fifteen years. Fought ten campaigns. Killed people who just wanted freedom. Told myself it was order, stability, civilization."
"Then I saw your constructs. Wooden wolves that didn't kill prisoners. Could've slaughtered us. Didn't. Captured instead. Treated wounds instead."
"That's not chaos. That's discipline. REAL discipline. Not forced obedience. Chosen cooperation."
"I want to fight for that. If you'll have me."
Brenn: "You'd fight against Dominion?"
"I'd fight FOR Covenant. There's difference. I'm not traitor. I'm convert."
***
Defector Integration:
280 defectors divided:
- 120 chose civilian work (construction, agriculture, trade)
- 160 chose military service (Covenant army, probationary status)
Military defectors formed separate unit—**"The Redeemed."** Symbolic name, self-chosen. Commanded by Korin. Fought under Covenant banner, wore gray sashes marking status.
Earning trust slowly.
Brenn to Draven: "160 soldiers with Dominion training. Imperial tactics, weaknesses, intel. If they're genuine, they're invaluable."
Draven: "Test them. Small engagements. Watch for betrayal. But give them chance to prove loyalty."
***
Notes:
Vendar Battle: 3,000 Dominion vs 2,000 Covenant + Velnar; Dominion 800 casualties vs Covenant 43; constructs prove devastating; Forged Bloom cuts Soulsteel effectively.
Gareth's Perspective: Fleeing soldier; mercy shown; propaganda shattered; letter home allowed; worldview cracking.
Strategic Assessment: Covenant 32,800 vs Dominion 72,500; quality over quantity; economic collapse timeline 6 months; final battle expected within 2 months.
Thessa's Family: Freed beast mother; third week wages; budgeting priorities; cubs' education; thriving-hope not survival-hope.
Defector Integration: 800 prisoners; 280 defect (35%); "The Redeemed" unit formed; Korin leads; 160 military, 120 civilian.
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