In a crowded security bar, Miller watches reports of escalating violence and asks Havelock to cover for him while he chases Julie Mao’s case off the books. He proposes a drunk, lovesick cover story to avoid scrutiny. Havelock agrees, noting Earth’s silence amid the Belt–Mars crisis.

Miller visits the Ceres Center for Jiu Jitsu seeking background on Julie. The cautious instructor refuses without a warrant, then privately confirms Julie trained there for five years, arriving angry after being attacked. He says she kept training even off station and offers to find contacts who might know her shipping arrangements.

News breaks that Phoebe Station has been devastated, with half dead and half missing, further inflaming tensions. Drinking alone, Miller studies Julie’s file and reflects on how she fits the rare victims who channel trauma into discipline.

OPA liaison Anderson Dawes—whom Miller recognizes from an earlier incident—arrives asking Miller to stop looking for Julie. Dawes admits Julie worked with the OPA and reveals she was on the Scopuli, the ship linked to the Canterbury’s destruction. Miller challenges Dawes about stolen riot gear and vanished Belt groups; Dawes denies involvement and offers only to share OPA findings later. Miller refuses to drop the case.

Sobered, Miller cleans up, researches, and calls Havelock near midnight, urging him to take leave and get off Ceres. He believes the OPA is frightened, signaling that the situation may soon turn deadly for Earthers on station.