The Expanse, #3
Abaddon's Gate
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Fifty-One: Clarissa
Overview
Clarissa defies Ashford by opening the bridge access and, amid a firefight, decides to stop his plan to fire the comm laser. Trusting Anna’s warning relayed from Holden, she uses her enhancements to kick Ashford from the controls and triggers a fail-closed power cascade. The Behemoth powers down, aborting the shot as the bridge plunges into darkness.
Summary
As gunfire erupts outside the bridge, Ashford berates Clarissa for opening the doors to Holden’s team and orders her killed. Pastor Cortez shields her, insisting it was a mistake, but the standoff continues while Ashford’s guards contain the attackers in the corridor.
Clarissa fixates on Anna’s broadcast and Holden’s warning that attacking the Ring could endanger everyone. Remembering Holden’s history of honesty, she rejects Cortez’s patronizing offers of forgiveness and Ashford’s authority.
With Ruiz reporting the comm laser grid ready, Clarissa activates her combat implants, launches from cover, and kicks Ashford away from the firing controls. Under fire, she reaches an access panel and, using Ren’s lesson, reseats and trips the brownout buffer to induce a cascading fail-closed shutdown.
Systems flicker and begin collapsing as Ashford recovers and aims his pistol at Clarissa. Cortez, distraught, lunges with a contact taser. The power cuts fully, emergency lighting fails to engage, and the bridge is left in total darkness, the laser shot aborted.
Who Appears
- Clarissa Mao (Melba Koh)Defies Ashford; uses implants to disrupt Behemoth’s power, preventing the comm laser shot.
- Klaes AshfordBridge commander preparing to fire the comm laser; orders Clarissa shot; foiled and enraged.
- Pastor Hector CortezAttempts to protect and later subdue Clarissa; argues Anna is wrong; lunges with a taser.
- RuizReports the comm laser grid is online and ready, heightening the immediate stakes.
- James HoldenIdentified among attackers in the corridor; his warning via Anna motivates Clarissa’s choice.
- Naomi NagataAmong the team in the corridor trading fire with Ashford’s guards.
- CorinSeen with Holden’s group in the corridor during the firefight.