The dusty air of Master Quartermaster Jorah's office felt charged with a new, quiet power. Kaelen stood beside Replicated Master Quartermaster Jorah, observing the original Jorah's bewildered, yet relieved, acceptance of his new "cousin" and assistant. This was the final piece of Kaelen's initial Legion, and with it, the fortress's entire logistical heartbeat fell under his silent command.
Replicated Master Quartermaster Jorah wasted no time. With the same gruff efficiency as his original, but driven by absolute loyalty to Kaelen, he plunged into the labyrinthine world of Karshelm's supplies. He reorganized manifests, streamlined distribution routes, and identified every hidden cache of resources. Kaelen's mental commands flowed to him, turning the fortress's arteries and veins into direct extensions of his will. The noble families' pre-positioned evacuation supplies, which Jorah had unknowingly revealed, were now meticulously cataloged and, more importantly, subtly repositioned or delayed, always under the guise of "optimizing strategic readiness."
Kaelen's core Legion was now fully operational, a silent, intricate network of influence woven into the very fabric of Karshelm.
Replicated Private Finn continued his crucial work as Kaelen's omnipresent observer. His casual conversations and subtle inquiries in the barracks and civilian quarters provided a constant stream of ground-level intelligence. Kaelen learned of the latest whispers, the shifting moods of the common soldiers, and any new complaints or dissatisfactions that emerged. Finn also discreetly observed the original Sergeant Rhys, providing Kaelen with updates on his reactions to the "efficient new sergeant" (Replicated Rhys), ensuring their movements remained coordinated without suspicion.
Replicated Sergeant Rhys continued to mold Kaelen's Northern Watch company into a paragon of military discipline. His unwavering resolve and tactical precision were inspiring. He led daring patrols into the misty wastes, always minimizing casualties while maximizing intelligence gathering, further bolstering Kaelen's reputation. He also implemented Kaelen's advanced training methods across the fortress, a directive issued by Lord Commander Greycastle himself, ensuring Kaelen's tactical philosophy permeated the entire garrison.
In their secluded laboratory, Replicated Master Alric and Replicated Archivist delved deeper into the ancient artifacts. Replicated Alric, with his profound alchemical knowledge, began to experiment with the "infusion" formulas found in the ancient scrolls. He successfully imbued armor plating with a subtle, protective resonance, making it lighter and more resistant to impact, and he developed a compound that, when applied to a soldier's boots, allowed for near-silent movement. Replicated Archivist, meanwhile, meticulously translated more ancient texts, revealing forgotten defense mechanisms of Karshelm itself, as well as arcane rituals for strengthening mental fortitude against Necromancer corruption. Their combined efforts were quietly transforming Karshelm's defensive capabilities, all under Kaelen's direction.
And then there was Replicated Lieutenant Thomas Valerius. His insights into the fortress's political landscape were invaluable. He relayed the inner workings of the High Council of Noble Houses, their rivalries, their alliances, and their increasingly agitated discussions about the stalled evacuation plan. His original self, sensing the logistical delays caused by Replicated Jorah's "optimizations," grew frustrated, but remained loyal to Kaelen, attributing the delays to Karshelm's inherent inefficiencies. This gave Kaelen a direct line into the nobility's concerns, allowing him to anticipate their moves.
The Controlled Test
Kaelen knew the whispers of the evacuation plan would eventually grow louder. He needed to subtly assert control over it, to demonstrate his own indispensable authority without causing mass panic or revealing his hand. He decided on a calculated, controlled crisis.
During a war council meeting, Kaelen presented a grim report. "Lord Commander, Captain," Kaelen began, his voice calm, yet carrying a subtle urgency. "Our Northern Watch scouts, supported by new intelligence from my… logistical audit, have identified unusual activity beyond the Whispering Woods. A large Necromancer force, larger than any recent incursions, is mobilizing. Their movements suggest a direct, overwhelming assault on Karshelm's Southern Gate, perhaps a diversion for an attempt to breach the Outer Keep."
He presented fabricated scout reports (courtesy of Replicated Private Finn's careful infiltration of scout muster rolls) and distorted logistical patterns (courtesy of Replicated Jorah's data manipulation). He even included a vague "ancient omen" translated by Replicated Archivist, hinting at a historical precedence for such a large-scale feint.
Captain Theron, ever pragmatic, studied the reports with a grim expression. Lord Commander Greycastle, true to his traditional nature, bristled at the idea of a diversion. "The Southern Gate is well-defended, Lieutenant. They would not dare a direct assault of such scale unless they had a secondary objective."
"Precisely, Lord Commander," Kaelen affirmed, his gaze steady. "And that secondary objective might be to draw our forces to the south, while a smaller, elite force attempts to breach a less-guarded section or even an evacuation route." He subtly guided their thoughts towards the very weaknesses he had identified in the nobles' escape plan.
The council erupted into a tense debate. The noble families, already anxious about their evacuation plan, became agitated. They demanded immediate action to secure their designated escape routes.
Lord Commander Greycastle, convinced by Kaelen's logical and well-supported (if subtly manipulated) presentation, eventually slammed his fist on the table. "Very well! Lieutenant Kaelen, you were right to bring this to our attention. Captain Theron, divert additional heavy infantry to the Southern Gate. And Kaelen, you will personally oversee the strengthening of all secondary exits and evacuation routes. Ensure they are impenetrable. Deploy additional guards. No one enters or leaves without explicit authorization."
This was exactly what Kaelen wanted. A direct mandate to control the very passages the nobility planned to use. It allowed him to deploy his loyal duplicates, especially Replicated Jorah and Replicated Thomas, to those critical locations under the guise of "securing the fortress."
Over the next few days, Karshelm became a beehive of defensive preparations. Under Kaelen's direct command, Replicated Master Quartermaster Jorah meticulously audited and locked down every single supply depot near the evacuation routes, ostensibly to prevent enemy infiltration. Replicated Thomas Valerius was instrumental in providing Kaelen with the security codes and protocols for the nobles' private vaults and temporary strongholds along the evacuation paths, all under the guise of ensuring "maximum security for their assets."
Kaelen also deployed Replicated Sergeant Rhys and his veteran squad to reinforce patrols around these "vulnerable" areas, ensuring that any movement would be observed and controlled. He even had Replicated Master Alric and Replicated Archivist quietly supervise the placement of newly developed, inert magical wards along certain tunnel sections – wards that could be activated at Kaelen's command to seal passages.
The 'threat' passed without a major Necromancer assault on the Southern Gate, as Kaelen had anticipated. It was merely a probing attack, easily repelled. But the exercise had served its purpose. The noble families, having attempted to discreetly move some of their goods along the 'secure' evacuation routes, found themselves frustrated by unexpected delays, rigorous inspections by Kaelen's loyal guards, and, in some cases, the discovery of "structural weaknesses" that forced their goods to be rerouted. They saw Kaelen's efficiency, not his control.
Lord Commander Greycastle, however, was immensely pleased. "Your foresight saved us, Kaelen," he declared in a private meeting. "The Necromancers intended a feint, just as you predicted. And your proactive measures to secure those vulnerable points… brilliant. You have a comprehensive understanding of fortress defense, both external and internal."
He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Kaelen, our scouts have detected increased Orc activity to the west, near the Sunken Fens. A critical chokepoint, vital for their raiding parties. We need a strong hand to clear it out. I am appointing you to lead a Special Expeditionary Force to the Sunken Fens. You will have command of two full companies, in addition to your Northern Watch complement. Clear out the Orc presence, secure the Fens, and establish a forward observation post. Your mission is to push our defensive perimeter outward, to break their stranglehold."
This was a major escalation. Command of a full expeditionary force, two companies beyond his own. Not just defending Karshelm, but actively taking the fight to the enemy. It was a clear sign of Greycastle's profound trust and Kaelen's undeniable ascent. He would be moving outside the walls with a significant force, and this time, he would not just secure a location, but hold it. This meant more missions, more challenges, and inevitably, more opportunities for duplication. His Legion was ready to expand its influence beyond the walls of Karshelm. The fortress was largely under his quiet control; now, he would begin to control the battlefield itself.