Chapter Twelve: Anna

Anna participates in a lengthy interfaith prayer meeting aboard the Thomas Prince. Early contributions move her, but as the hours drag on—and Hank Cortez arrives with a camera crew and delivers a long, performative prayer—she grows frustrated by the pageantry and lack of substantive discussion about the Ring’s meaning.

Over lunch, Anna and Tilly discuss family updates and politics. Anna voices her core concern: the mission’s religious leaders are not addressing the theological implications of the protomolecule and the Ring—questions of grace, souls, and nonhuman intelligence. Tilly dismisses Cortez as a vote-chasing politician, prompting Anna to decide she doesn’t need his permission to organize genuine faith conversations.

That night, a brief alarm and action-stations call awakens Anna. In the officers’ mess, she meets young officer Chris Williams, who admits fear—not of the Ring alone, but that Earth and Mars still ready weapons against each other despite the greater unknown. Anna prays with him and commits to holding Methodist services on Sunday.

As she prepares to leave, Anna notices a despondent civilian woman alone. When Anna approaches to offer comfort, the woman reacts with alarming hostility before fleeing, leaving Anna shaken and aware of the mounting strain aboard the ship as the fleets draw within weapons range.