The Expanse, #3
Abaddon's Gate
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Forty-Five: Bull
Overview
Bull leads a ragged coalition to storm Behemoth’s engineering before Ashford can force Ruiz to fire the comm laser. After a brutal ramp fight, a Martian concussion grenade breaks the defense and engineering falls.
Naomi takes control to disable the laser and sedate command via atmosphere controls, while Holden and Corin move to secure sleeping officers. The victory shifts control from Ashford toward Bull’s faction.
Summary
Bull spearheads a hastily assembled convoy—Holden’s team, Martian marines, loyal Behemoth crew, and Earth soldiers—racing to seize engineering before Anamarie Ruiz must obey Ashford’s lethal order. Under microgravity near the transfer point, Ashford’s troops ambush them. Marine Juarez’s precision fire and Sergeant Verbinski’s team press the defense back toward the airlock doors.
As Ashford’s people try to seal the transfer hatches, Naomi halts a closing door by bleeding its hydraulics. Facing a kill zone beyond, Verbinski deploys a concealed “spine cracker” concussion grenade through the gap, stunning the defenders. Bull pushes through despite failing health.
Inside engineering, resistance collapses; several surrender. Garza holds a corridor until Corin kills him with a pistol shot. Prisoners are zip-tied to bulkheads. Ruiz is found hiding, shaken but alive. Naomi begins auditing Sam’s sabotage and asserts control of engineering operations.
Bull sets priorities: take the comm laser offline, adjust command deck atmospheric mix to sedate Ashford’s team, then perform a controlled ship shutdown. Holden is paired with Corin to ascend the external elevator and restrain officers once they’re unconscious, while Alex prepares to return to the Roci to shut down residual systems. Bull, ever the hardliner, praises the marines then confiscates Verbinski’s remaining grenades to prevent further risk.
Who Appears
- Carlos "Bull" c de BacaLeads the assault on engineering, sets priorities, and consolidates control despite severe injuries.
- Naomi NagataTakes command of engineering to disable the comm laser, sedate command, and plan controlled shutdown.
- James HoldenSupports the breach, then heads with Corin to restrain command once the gas takes effect.
- CorinFrontline fighter; kills Garza; assigned to secure sleeping officers with Holden.
- Sergeant VerbinskiLeads Martian marines; uses a concussion grenade to break the defense; later disarmed by Bull.
- Anamarie RuizTarget of Ashford’s coercion; found alive; assists with atmosphere controls against command.
- JuarezMartian sniper providing precise kill shots that collapse the ramp defense.
- GarzaAshford loyalist who holds a corridor until Corin shoots him dead.
- Alex KamalHeads to the Rocinante to shut down remaining systems after the breach.