The Archimedes travels beneath the ecliptic as Darrow and Sevro awkwardly reconnect over a tense meal. Sevro, gaunt and traumatized, recounts killings during his captivity and needles Cassius, then despairs over losses and the war’s direction. He declares he will prioritize Victra and their children when they reach Mars. Darrow apologizes for past choices and promises to respect Sevro’s decision.

Aurae arrives with a holocube from Athena, a hidden Rim leader of the Daughters of Ares. First, a recording from Fitchner reveals he sowed a Rim cell and left Sevro a cultural inheritance via Bryn’s book, urging him toward a future beyond their war. Athena then indicts Darrow’s Ilium sacrifice yet calls for unity, revealing years of recruitment and arms-building, and invites Sevro to lead as their “god of war.”

Overwhelmed, Sevro withdraws. Darrow questions Aurae, who confirms her deep-cover role and says she forgave him long ago. Darrow brings Bryn’s book to Sevro, assures him he can choose family, and offers that—if Virginia vets the offer—Darrow will go instead. Darrow reads until Sevro falls asleep.

In the cockpit, Cassius vents about Aurae, Lysander, and Alexandar. He restores Darrow’s confidence, arguing Virginia and Mars still believe in him. Darrow urges Cassius to stop ceding space to Sevro and to own his worth. Cassius proposes retraining Darrow—his body battered, style known—to rebuild his edge; Darrow agrees to begin the next day.