Chapter 20: Virginia: Nucleus
Contains spoilersOverview
Virginia arrives at Phobos and assumes control of the Nucleus and orbital battle-station complex, arraying fleets for a defensive stand. She identifies Rim and Core battlegroups, including the refurbished Lightbringer, and refuses to be lured out. The enemy unexpectedly reduces speed, hinting at an unorthodox plan and heightening uncertainty.
Summary
As Victra’s Pandemonia forms up over Mars’s north pole, Virginia descends to Phobos, reflecting on the moon’s teeming cityscape and monuments to the Rising, including Darrow’s. She confides worries to Holiday about Darrow charging home into a battle’s energy wash; Holiday reassures her of his resilience. With the enemy armada approaching fast, Virginia notes Atalantia’s absence and suspects an Iron Rain attempt.
Virginia enters Bastion One and the Nucleus, where Commander Oro places the battle crown on her, granting OBC control. She reviews the layered defenses—two OBC shells and minefields—and confirms a defensive strategy to exploit fixed guns with mobile fleets. Imperators report readiness: Victra’s Task Force Spear at the north pole, Niobe’s Task Force Fox at the south, and Colloway Char’s Task Force Warlock guarding Phobos.
Scanning the enemy, Virginia catalogs six battlegroups and a trailing floater: Helios au Lux’s Dustmaker leads the Rim elite; Dido commands Shadow Dragon; Diomedes leads a nimble group. Core forces are led by Julia au Bellona, Apollonius with newly built ships, and Cicero au Votum. Behind them, the rechristened Lightbringer—Darrow’s former Morning Star—looms as a symbolic provocation. Oro judges it a hollow threat with incomplete refit and weak output; Virginia orders no pursuit.
As the armada nears the gauntlet of OBC guns, Oro reports the enemy reducing velocity—abandoning their speed advantage. Victra and Virginia debate command possibilities, suspecting Apollonius or a split plan. Holiday confirms anti-sabotage sweeps and secure vital systems. Virginia, uneasy yet resolute, holds the defensive posture, determined to force the enemy to pay for passage and wary of an unexpected stratagem without Atalantia present.
Who Appears
- Virginia
Sovereign of the Republic; assumes the Phobos battle crown and directs OBC defenses in a cautious, defensive strategy.
- Oro
Blue commander of Phobos; manages the Nucleus, briefs Virginia, and assesses the Lightbringer’s limited threat.
- Holiday
Security chief with Virginia; reassures her about Darrow and confirms anti-sabotage measures across vital installations.
- Kavax au Telemanus
Veteran ally; analyzes enemy composition, doubts Apollonius’s control, and probes Virginia about her secret source.
- Victra
Imperator commanding Task Force Spear from Pandemonia; ready at the north pole and questions the enemy’s reduced speed.
- Niobe
Imperator at the south pole; reports Task Force Fox ready to support the defensive plan.
- Colloway Char
Newly promoted Imperator; leads Dejah Thoris and household ships as Task Force Warlock guarding Phobos.
- Helios au Lux
Rim commander aboard Dustmaker; leads the primary Rim battlegroup approaching Mars.
- Dido
Rim leader commanding Shadow Dragon; leads another Rim battlegroup in the assault.
- Diomedes
Rim commander; leads the smallest, nimblest battlegroup from destroyer Charybdis.
- Julia au Bellona
Core commander; leads the strongest Core battlegroup aligned against Mars.
- Apollonius
Core warlord; commands a small group of new ships, possibly seeking to lure the Republic out.
- Cicero au Votum
Reformer-aligned Core commander; leads a Votum-heavy battlegroup.
- Lysander au Lune
Parades the refurbished Lightbringer in a trailing floater fleet, a symbolic lure rather than a proven threat.