Lyria trains with Republic long-rangers led by Fel, searching Belt asteroids for the origin of the parasite in her head. Four months of silence from the device and growing ranger resentment strain the mission, but Lyria persists, motivated by failures past and the hope of helping Volga.

Fel and Lyria EVA to a metallic anomaly and locate an old underground refuge: a hangar with a derelict corvette, dead corridors, and drifting skeletons. Communications degrade. Fel identifies a green-stained remains pattern as the Green Death bioweapon and orders a withdrawal, intending to reestablish contact on the surface.

On the rim of the crater, they witness the Snowball torn in half by approaching Rim Dustwalker ships. Dustwalkers deploy; Lyria’s suit is gashed and sealed, and Fel retrieves an unconscious Xaria. Hyperfast attackers sever Xaria’s leg and Lyria’s hand. A female Dustwalker knight reveals her face, swiftly dismembers Fel, and orders both captured for truth flayers.

Before the Dustwalkers can depart, the asteroid shudders. Chrome obelisks rise and lattice white light across the sky, unleashing a blast that obliterates the enemy ships. Lyria is overwhelmed by excruciating neural agony and loses track of time. When she recovers, chrome orbs methodically execute surviving Golds with lances.

Spinning in space, Lyria broadcasts to Agea Command that she has found pay dirt. A horse-sized orb approaches and, over her comm, addresses not Lyria but the “sister” hiding in the warmblood—identifying and acknowledging the parasite within her as the target of the machine’s attention.