Leaving the Ash Lord’s fortress, Darrow and the Howlers face grim news: Pax and Electra are taken, and Atalantia’s fleet closes in. With enemy ripWings minutes away, the expected triumph evaporates into despair. Darrow, hollowed by fear for his son, resists boarding the Nessus despite Pebble and Thraxa urging him to return to Luna.

Darrow decides he cannot abandon the armies he led to Mercury and Venus. He argues that Mustang can fight for Pax, but only he can try to save the trapped Republic forces. Sevro, enraged at “abandoning” their children, refuses to follow. Darrow orders Sevro to take the Nessus to reach Mustang and Victra, while he departs in the Ash Lord’s shuttle to continue the war.

On the shuttle, Alexandar arrives with the captured Gold prisoners from Deepgrave, joined by Colloway, Tongueless, Thraxa, and Rhonna. Apollonius appears, reminding Darrow of the explosive implanted in his skull. Choosing honor over duplicity, Darrow deactivates the bomb but denies Apollonius the promised hostages, sealing the ramp as Apollonius rages.

Colloway lifts off and forms up behind the Nessus. Over the com, Sevro brandishes images of the captured Gold heirs, coercing Venus’s Praetors to hold their fire. The ships punch for orbit despite capital ships maneuvering to cut them off. Darrow offers no farewell, reflecting that his strength has always been his friends. Realizing Atalantia meant to lure him from the war with the kidnappings, he stows Pax’s key and surrenders to the Reaper within, recommitting to the fight on Venus and Mercury.