In Rome’s restored Colosseum, Lysander attends Atalantia’s summit of the Two Hundred after quietly confirming with Horatia that their dockyards plan is in place. A briefing on Volsung Fá’s raids sets a tense backdrop, with factions seated in a U-shape facing Atalantia’s black chair.

Cornelius au Carthii pleads for help against Apollonius at the Venus dockyards, only for Atalantia to announce she has already dispatched ten legions to resolve the issue—effectively seizing the Carthii heirloom and politically neutering the house. Scipio au Falthe mocks the Carthii as they swallow the humiliation.

Diomedes au Raa delivers a blunt casualty report, then Dido au Raa replaces him and castigates Atalantia for neglecting Rim sacrifices and stalling the promised Mars campaign. Atalantia needles Dido over Romulus and Seraphina, provoking a chamber-wide shouting match until Julia au Bellona restores order. Dido demands an immediate declaration to attack Mars or threatens to leave the alliance.

As Atlas perches above the awning, Atalantia expects Reformer protests, but Horatia has orchestrated silence. Lysander amplifies it by glancing at Atlas, making fear seem the cause and casting Atalantia as an overbearing sovereign. Atalantia unveils her plan: Mars will fall after Luna; she sets a six-month Luna Iron Rain and names Lysander to lead its vanguard with gens Falthe legions.

Diomedes storms out, with Dido and Helios following, signaling Rim displeasure. Fearing his dream of unity will die if he stays seated—and despite Ajax’s silent plea and Glirastes’s peril—Lysander takes Horatia’s signal and stands to speak, ready to defy the momentum of Atalantia’s spectacle.