Maybe the Art of War, i forget where i read it That centralized states are hard to conquer but easy to then control the entire state. Decentralized states are easy to conquer but difficult to then control.

So is the cabal a central autocracy or a feudal confederation? I think the latter. Treasonous villainy abounds in the system it created. Multiple independent self enclosed pockets of villainous self interest operate according to their own little satanic covens and secret societies. They overlap but do not command each other and dont even need to coordinate. Cruelty and fear and deception are a unifying web but logistical and administrative agendas all function in their own chains of command.

Easy to walk into the palace. Hard to rule it.

Just musing about dooming and losing and the long games.