Chapter 31: Virginia: Détente

Summary

• The chapter titled "Détente" focuses on the protagonist, Virginia, reflecting on the brutal struggle over Phobos, which requires a high level of sacrifice and willpower.
• Virginia struggles with tough decisions about how many people to sacrifice in the battle, as well as coping with the absence of key figures: her trapped ally Victra, the valuable prisoner Kavax, and the lack of communication from Darrow and Sevro.
• The protagonist's fleet is too battered to challenge the enemy and cannot receive reinforcements from Mars, leaving the protagonist to face hard truths about leadership differences compared to her nemesis, Lysander.
• Virginia makes a point of visiting the wounded to remain connected with the personal cost of war, a principle she attributes to Holiday’s advice.
• In the medical wing of Bastion Four, Virginia interacts with those injured in the battle, who, despite their devastating injuries, hold onto hope and express unwavering faith in Darrow’s return and victory.
• The protagonist admires the wounded for their belief in the cause and the freedom they are fighting for, not for themselves, but for future generations.
• After her visits with the wounded, Virginia is both moved and envious of their faith and resolute in her mission to protect the idea of freedom her husband had ignited.
• Returning to the command center, Virginia finds a commotion and discovers that Victra has returned, along with fighters of the Pegasus Legions and two significant captives, Cicero au Votum and the head of Ajax au Grimmus — symbols of a small victory in the ongoing war.