On 5 November, the war had begun with a formal declaration from the Valkyrian National Assembly. For the first time in its young history, the Valkyrian Republic was at war—with the Union of Hystaiga. When the country was last at war, it had existed as the Republic of Qvait in a conflict against Sporaltryus during the Great War of 2014. Valkyrian Chancellor Stella Kaufman had blamed Hystaigan Supreme Voice Blisse Starke for the downing of a Valkyrian fighter jet in October and the Stockholm chemical attack that killed nearly 200 people in June. Before the declaration vote was held, Defence Secretary Elena Haig had given several orders to the military leadership, mobilising the Valkyrian Defence Forces for war.

On the other side of the border, the Supreme Voice knew that war was imminent. In a speech before the Hystaigan Legislative Council, Starke warned that the country will be invaded soon. As the Valkyrians were declaring war, the Hystaigans reciprocated by naming Starke as Chief Defender of the Realm, giving her emergency wartime powers to command the Defence Force at will. At Starke's order, the Defence Minister prepared the military for a defensive against the Valkyrians. The war has begun.