As fleets flock to his banner, Darrow prepares an Iron Rain on Mars from orbit over Phobos. He reflects on power, fear, and purpose before rallying Golds and their legions with vows to protect lowColors, capture cities, and win glory recorded on holoCams. The Jackal’s disinformation has scattered relief forces, and he confirms a satellite-borne virus will mute all communications and sensors for fifteen minutes. He quietly asks Darrow to spare Nero au Augustus, a request Darrow accepts for political necessity.

A solemn White-led blood rite binds the assembled Golds, and enemies are named—Bellona leaders, Aja, Octavia, and others—while Darrow notes bounty hunters and Olympic Knights will stalk him. He fixes on taking Agea despite counsel to strike elsewhere first. Command assignments are finalized: Orion takes the Pax; Roque commands the fleet alongside Victra.

Roque questions the rush on the capital, warning of casualties, but Darrow insists that seizing Agea will topple the rest. The two share a fraught farewell, with Darrow apologizing for past wrongs and Roque promising amends later. Lorn arrives in Rage Knight armor, jokes darkly, and urges Darrow to be better than his deceptions; he laments killing Tactus and warns that pride cycles death, invoking Achilles as caution.

Darrow trades parting words with Victra, whose plan is pivotal to the space battle, and Theodora pins a red flower in his hair as a knight’s token, urging caution. En route to the hangars with Ragnar and Sevro, Darrow learns Sevro has sent a risky holoNet message but cannot confirm delivery. Passing Gray and Obsidian troops—some bearing slingBlades—Sevro admits he hasn’t considered facing his father planetside, as the armada moves toward the decisive strike on Agea.