Fires set by the Red Hand sweep the dumpsite, forcing Lyria to flee with Liam through smoke and garbage toward the river and its moored boats. Refugees from multiple clans converge, but a soot-covered Red Hand firing line, led by a scarred, red-haired woman, blocks the way.

Time breaks as the Red Hand open fire. An old man and several children are cut down; Lyria throws Liam to the ground and is shot in the shoulder, dissociating amid the carnage. As refugees collapse in the mud, three ships descend—one heavy and two bone-white—raining missiles and deploying armored soldiers.

An orange-armored knight with a canine-helmed visage slams into the mud and devastates the Red Hand line before jetting skyward. Lyria shepherds Liam to reeds with a handful of survivors. When the knight is shot down and crashes into the river, bystanders freeze; Lyria berates them, wades out despite her wound, and ties a rope to the submerged armor.

With others hauling, they drag the armored figure to shore. Almor, an old drillBoy, finds the emergency release, revealing a red-bearded, bald Gold who coughs up water and lives. More Republic craft arrive and pound the raiders, who withdraw. Even with the rescue, Camp 121 is left in flames.