Darrow’s team escapes Deepgrave with Apollonius and ten additional high-value Gold prisoners, keeping them bound and blinded to disguise the operation as a general jailbreak. In the cramped submersible, Alexandar apologizes for faltering during the rescue, while an Obsidian nicknamed Tongueless reveals he has smuggled out the warden’s dog. The group surfaces, transfers the captives to a pelican, and flies to their hidden base on Baffin Island, where somber Howlers load the prisoners onto the frigate Nessus.

On the ice, Sevro warns that the captured Golds—especially Rath—are dangerously persuasive, and Darrow orders strict solitary confinement. Sevro argues to keep Tongueless for the pack’s balance; Darrow allows it as Tongueless’s choice but insists he be told the destination. The Nessus, a stealth Xiphos-class frigate seized and retrofitted by Quicksilver, is their chosen blade to reach Venus without detection.

Kieran greets them aboard as Thraxa drags Apollonius to the brig. He reports the ship fully stocked with goods Darrow expects will bait a Venusian buyer, and they plan to depart in the morning. Privately, Kieran asks that Rhonna be kept from the front; Darrow agrees and also removes Kieran from the mission. Darrow then assigns Rhonna and other Howlers to build a support network in New Sparta, prompting Rhonna to confront him with her qualifications. Citing unit trust and risk, Darrow refuses to take her; she stiffly accepts the order and withdraws.

Exhausted, Darrow retires to Quicksilver’s lavish stateroom, cleans up, and is pierced by a holoframe of Mustang and Pax, mourning how far he’s strayed from his hopes for their future. At dawn, the pelican carries Kieran, Rhonna, and the support team south to New Sparta, while the Nessus lifts from the mountains under camouflage. Using her stealth hull, they slip past detection and push into deep space. Watching Earth and Luna recede, Darrow feels the widening gulf between his war and his family, questioning what kind of father he is becoming.