Fred Johnson, uneasy about public speaking despite a violent, storied past, waits in a Ceres greenroom before addressing a historic Earth–Mars–Belt conference. Briefed by his secretary on volatile politics, potential Blue Mars hecklers, and probing interviews about Anderson Station, he weighs the crumbling Earth–Mars trust and the necessity of a real peace that includes the Belt. He also counts on leverage: a hidden live protomolecule sample that keeps all sides listening. Reports hint Venus is still active.

James Holden arrives, still recovering from high-g trauma, and mentions new feeds of two-kilometer crystal towers rising on Venus. They banter, then confront legal fallout from Holden’s on-air “gift” of Venus and his insistence on salvage rights to the Rocinante. Holden pushes for amnesty for his crew and recognition for Miller’s role.

The talk turns to Miller. Holden urges Fred to honor “Josephus Aloisus Miller” as a person, not a faceless Belt icon. Fred counters that Miller’s sacrifice must be used as political capital to win peace. He recalls Miller’s dour character yet credits his decisive act, then ends the debate: he will use the symbol.

Escorted to the modest conference hall, Fred surveys opposing Earth and Mars delegations gathered on neutral Belt ground. Tempted to reject propaganda and speak about shared, flawed humanity, he instead chooses efficacy. At the podium he frames the stakes—mutual annihilation versus a broader future—and begins his address: the crossroads, with Venus’s ominous new growths as the silent backdrop.