Iron Gold
by Pierce Brown
Contents
Chapter 53: Darrow
Overview
Darrow’s stealth approach into the Ash Lord’s darkzone erupts into open combat. The Howlers massacre pilots to deny air superiority, take losses, and Sevro fires a baby nuke that tears open the island’s defenses, dropping the dark veil. With Apollonius pressing from the east, the Gold host reveals itself, signaling the decisive confrontation.
Summary
Apollonius’s Minotaur-1 engages the Ash Lord’s darkzone as Darrow rides the Nessus for a stealth insertion. Inside their starShells, the Howlers trade grim banter and invoke Ragnar before plunging through sensor blackout into heavy anti-air. Darrow and the team fight through perimeter batteries, destroying turrets and regrouping on an atoll under punishing fire.
From altitude, Darrow and Sevro survey the battlefield: a shielded main island crowned by a white spire, Apollonius’s assault surging from the east, and a vast enemy airfield launching ripWings. Seeing the impending air threat, they decide to stop the pilots before takeoff.
The Howlers swim toward the airfield under minefire; a pursuing smart mine vaporizes one Howler before Rhonna’s gunnery saves the rest. Boarding hoverboats, Darrow and the team annihilate command cabins and then the pilot complements, ensuring the ripWings stay grounded. Tongueless, Alexandar, and Milia torch aircraft on their pads. Losses mount as the Nessus is forced low and one of Apollonius’s frigates falls.
As Apollonius’s legion claws onto the main island, Darrow is struck by a sniper round that disables his shell. He ejects, and Sevro, enraged, takes Thraxa’s baby nuke and fires over the ridge. The half-megaton blast carves a wound in the coastline and makes the darkzone’s black distortion flicker and vanish.
Through smoke and a rising mushroom cloud, the Ash Lord’s white fortress gleams and “iron men” assemble—Golds finally taking the field. Darrow draws his razor and rallies the Howlers for the Republic as the decisive clash looms.
Who Appears
- DarrowPOV commander; leads the stealth assault, kills pilots, survives a sniper hit, rallies the Howlers.
- Sevro au BarcaHowler leader; drives the assault and fires a baby nuke to breach defenses.
- Apollonius au Valii-RathAllied warlord; slams into the darkzone and lands his legion to draw defenders.
- Ash Lord (Magnus au Grimmus)Unseen antagonist within the white spire; his darkzone and island defenses dominate the battle.
- CollowayWarlock Squadron ace; screens the Nessus and shreds enemy ripWings in brutal dogfights.
- Thraxa au TelemanusHowler carrying the nuke; hands it to Sevro before the decisive strike.
- RhonnaNessus gunner who vaporizes pursuing mines, saving the squad underwater.
- TonguelessHowler; damaged starShell and battle chants as he fights through the perimeter.
- PebbleHowler who stabilizes and assists Darrow after the sniper shot.
- AlexandarHowler sent to demolish ripWings on the landing pads.
- ClownHowler; provides cover and banter; reacts during Darrow’s wounding.
- WeedHowler; assists Darrow and monitors the island interior.
- CharNessus crew; reports Minotaur’s contact and breach timing.
- MiliaHowler who joins the demolition of enemy aircraft.
- GranaHowler; later found missing after the airfield fight.
- VandrosHowler; missing alongside Grana after early engagements.