Darrow’s group lands at a dilapidated Sons of Ares safehouse on Phobos. Sevro seizes command, orders Quicksilver and Matteo revived, and locks up Kavax while preparing for an imminent crackdown. Their Obsidian disguises are ruined, the Sons recognize the Reaper, and Darrow fears the Jackal’s analysts will identify him from the escape footage. Sevro wants Darrow to model the likely assault; instead, Darrow sends Holiday to the datacenter and goes to question Kavax.

Kavax recounts Mustang’s actions during the Triumph: suspecting a trap, she warned Orion and House Arcos that Roque conspired with the Sovereign. When assassins struck, Orion survived a wound, the fleet fractured under Roque’s fire, and Mustang preserved Darrow’s crew and the Pax, leaving Orion in command. Kavax frames Mustang’s choices as belief in protecting the weak, not personal loyalty, moving Darrow and earning Ragnar’s agreement that the tide rises.

Kavax admits they are losing; the Moon Lords cannot hold, Mars bleeds under Adrius, and the Sons are stretched thin. He says Quicksilver proposed peace: pardons for Mustang and allies, Mustang made ArchGovernor, Adrius imprisoned, and limited reforms while the hierarchy endures. Darrow is wary and asks why Sevro wasn’t contacted; Kavax says they reached out months ago. Meanwhile, the Howlers’ exfiltration plan collapses as flights are grounded and their faces spread across the station.

Rollo argues they should stay and rally the Hive, claiming millions of lowColors will follow the Reaper and that engineering sabotage can cripple the Society. Victra warns a mob will be massacred by Legion weapons and Obsidian. Tensions spike as Sevro declares, “I am Ares,” orders preparations to torture Quicksilver for an escape route, and plans to blow the bombs, while Ragnar refuses to abandon the Sons. Darrow confronts Sevro at Quicksilver’s cell, where the industrialist recognizes Sevro and shocks them by asserting he is a founding member of the Sons of Ares.