Virginia emerges with her Lions and Valdir’s Obsidians into Phobos’s hydroponic farms as Salvation and a Hollows counterattack roll past. She recalls how they blasted out of a waste collector, fled through the fertilization plants under pursuit, and used the open inner levels’ better comms to call for help.

The Obsidians, filthy but buoyant, banter about stench and suffering. Valdir explains they will mourn later, finding comfort in survival now, which steadies morale. Harnassus trundles by in a towering mech as friendly mechs and infantry flood toward the front.

Screwface arrives with fresh Lionguards and medici. He explains Rath and Votum abruptly abandoned their pursuit because Victra dropped Pegasus behind their lines to break the enemy’s momentum and “save the moon,” sending the message: “Do not worry for her. Pity them.” He reports the fleet is struggling, though Niobe and Char fight hard.

Screwface offers to take Valdir and his warriors into the Howler Den, and Valdir agrees to fight under that banner. Medici swarm the survivors. Virginia thanks her Lions for sacrifices that enabled the escape, the fresh Lions salute the ragged veterans, and Virginia proceeds with Screwface to the command center.