After leaving Sevro, Darrow meets Victra in the hall. He has placed her in temporary command of their new navy until Orion returns, a move that further unsettles Dancer. Victra points Darrow to the commissary, hinting at Mustang’s location before heading off to see Sevro.

Darrow finds Mustang in the commissary telling Institute stories to Kavax and Daxo au Telemanus, with Narol, his mother Deanna, and his brother Kieran listening. The gathering is warm and disarming; Kavax is exuberant and Sophocles begs treats. Deanna shares a tender story of Darrow selling his late father’s watch to buy medicine for Kieran, then departs with Kieran, leaving an affectionate calm between Darrow and Mustang.

They discuss Mustang’s tense meeting with Dancer. Mustang admits they were mutually guarded, but says seeing Darrow’s family has renewed her commitment to an alliance aimed at building a world without endless war. The Telemanuses declare Darrow family; Mustang provides Orion’s communication frequency and notes Orion’s fleet is creating chaos, vital for striking Octavia.

Daxo then challenges Darrow’s plan to use clawDrills to insert Obsidians into Martian cities. He and Kavax refuse to endorse unleashing Obsidians on civilians, citing Sefi’s brutal treatment of Gold prisoners and the risk of barbarity; the Arcos women would refuse as well. Their objections force Darrow to confront the moral and strategic costs of his approach.

Mustang adds a strategic warning: the Jackal’s obsessive, puzzle-solving mind will anticipate a repeat of the clawDrill tactic, turning any city campaign into a protracted war. She urges going for the jugular instead and Daxo seeks assurances Darrow won’t erect a dictatorship or impose a full democracy. The moment is cut short when Holiday enters with an urgent call from the Bellona.