Darrow’s trap closes as Orion’s engineered storm engulfs Mercury’s coast, blinding communications and wrecking the enemy landing waves. Seizing the moment, he leads five thousand Drachenjägers and accompanying starShells across the flower latifundia toward the disordered Votum landfall between Tyche and the Plains of Caduceus.

Finding fortifications incomplete and formations in chaos, Darrow’s columns split into wedges and strike. The first Drachenjägers fire four alpha-omega nukes above clustered titans, vaporizing the heaviest armor and collapsing resistance. Particle cannon volleys and quad railguns carve lanes through infantry, vehicles, and transports buffeted by the storm.

As the charge bogs in debris, starShells dismount and wade into close combat. Darrow and Alexandar overrun a titan bearing the Votum standard. After rescuing Felix from Gray fire, they scale the titan, kill its defenders, and rip out the pilot. Alexandar pins the captured Gold while Darrow identifies him as Scorpio au Votum and executes him atop the machine.

With the enemy shattered, Alexandar claims the standard and the host presses on. Darrow rallies the force toward Tyche, leaving the ravaged division behind. In two hours, they lose only five hundred drachens while capturing fourteen legion standards and rearming from battlefield salvage.

The chapter closes with Darrow intent on the coastal highlands and Tyche beyond, vowing to take Atalantia’s head as the storm continues to serve as his decisive lever.