In Tinos’s warroom, Darrow’s council argues over Cassius’s warning that the Jackal holds roughly 500 nuclear warheads. Quicksilver doubts the claim, citing lack of detectable activity, while Darrow and Mustang note old caches could exist. A display of asteroid S-1988 frames their speculation about hidden “goody bag” arsenals.

Tension shifts to trust and methods. Victra and Dancer question Mustang’s motives; Mustang counters with logic and the risk she took leading Orion to preserve Darrow’s command. A torture debate erupts: Sevro, Quicksilver, and Theodora press to extract certainty from Cassius; Dancer refuses on principle. Victra bares her scars to affirm commitment. Darrow argues torture won’t resolve truth, wins reluctant agreement, and the council stands down.

Darrow relays Cassius’s proposal: a holoconference with the Sovereign to ally against the Jackal. Sevro mocks the idea. Mustang advises leveraging their growing navy—Orion is racing in with the Pax and remnants—to sow discord rather than aid Octavia.

Darrow then challenges Operation Rising Tide on Mars. He argues the Jackal would nuke cities and slaughter Obsidians if cornered, turning Mars into a ruin after years of attrition. Dancer insists the war must be won on Mars; Sefi demands protection for her people. As bickering rises, Sevro restores order.

Darrow unveils a new strategy: refuse containment on Mars, leave the planet, and shock the Society by striking where least expected. He targets Jupiter’s Ilium, where Roque commands the Sword Armada with elite Golds and Rim reinforcements. Darrow sets a decisive objective—destroy the Sword Armada in forty days—to rip out the Society’s war heart and seize the initiative.