Off Jupiter, Darrow watches the Lightbringer’s coms flood the Rim with images of Lysander annihilating the Ascomanni, liberating prisoners, and restoring the Garter. Sevro, at Darrow’s urging, secures passage to Athena’s ships as Lysander delivers a speech rallying the Rim and threatening Volsung Fá. Darrow seethes, calling the display Atlas’s “Good Tyrant” theater.

Cassius and Diomedes debate whether Lysander now works with Atlas. Diomedes recalls Lysander’s surprise on the bridge and that Lysander saved his life, concluding a new arrangement likely exists. Darrow warns the Volk and the Daughters cannot outrun Core ships and will be slaughtered by the Lightbringer’s overwhelming power.

Seeking a counter, Diomedes argues the Volk’s only hope is to unite with Athena, but that requires time. He advises the Volk stay on Europa. The trio reasons Atlas thrives in silence and trusts his operatives, so they should hide that his plan has unraveled until they act.

They assess Lysander’s disposition: he is fair and not greedy for glory, so he will likely wait for Ganymede’s soldiers to honor Rim dignity, granting a narrow window. This delay becomes their opportunity to act before Atlas or Lysander adapt.

Diomedes proposes using their surface-capable ship to infiltrate Io and enter the Garter, find his grandmother, Gaia Raa, and reveal the truth behind Lysander’s theater to gain leverage. When Darrow asks what Lysander fears losing most, Cassius answers: his reputation. Committed to that strategy, Cassius accelerates the Archimedes toward Io.