Chapter 56: Darrow: Dust Mice

Summary

• Obsidians are forming battle formations when two fast-moving specters, resembling humans made of distorted air, attack using GhostCloaks and skipboats.
• One specter throws an explosive device at an Obsidian, while the other hurls an EMP bomb, slightly disrupting their defense.
• Sniper fire follows but is mostly absorbed by the Obsidians' shields.
• An Obsidian yells "Mice!" as their enemy becomes evident—it's short figures that turn out to be not Dustwalkers but "The Daughters."
• Cassius identifies the attackers alongside Darrow as a missile strikes an Obsidian ship nearby, creating chaos and a fog of yellow sulfur disrupting visibility.
• Amidst the confusing battle, Cassius and Darrow encounter a "Kuon hound," which is actually Sevro in disguise, slaughtering enemies.
• Darrow and Cassius navigate the foggy battlefield, aiming to take down Skarde, a significant Obsidian enemy.
• Skarde kills a Red woman and dispels another specter, showcasing the Obsidians' ruthless efficiency.
• Darrow confronts Skarde alone and with Cassius's support, he manages to disable and capture him.
• Darrow utilizes loudspeakers to demand surrender from the Obsidians with the captured Skarde, but the battle continues.
• A smaller voice, belonging to Lyria, brings hope as the ship Archimedes arrives, offering support and balance.
• With cover from Archimedes, remaining Obsidians withdraw and Seasides regroup, while Cassius tends to civilians.
• Sevro captures Sigurd, an Obsidian who wishes to surrender and offers to help Darrow.
• Darrow delivers a powerful speech to the Obsidians, urging them to remember their oaths and challenging Volsung Fá.
• Darrow entrusts the Obsidian civilians with a message and returns alone to the Archimedes, packed with survivors.
• Diomedes, on parole, remains on the guns to defend incoming threats while Cassius pilots Archimedes to safety.
• The Daughters' leader, a Jovian ultra-heavy named Cheon, criticizes Darrow for sparing the Obsidian jarl but informs them of Athena's new hold on Europa.
• The chapter ends with Cheon explaining that Europa is prepared for invasion and Athena's strategy of sealing the Deep.