Chapter Two: Bull

Carlos “Bull” de Baca, skeptical of Captain Ashford’s posturing, accompanies Ashford and Fred Johnson through Tycho’s gantries as Fred briefs them on the Ring. Mars is sending science ships with escort, Earth is staging a high-profile media convoy, and the Ring has not changed since the initial incident. No signal has come from Venus.

Fred states the OPA must be visibly present: if Earth and Mars deploy, the Belt must counter to maintain political parity. They reach the Behemoth—formerly the Nauvoo—now a massive but imperfect war platform. Bull questions the three-day launch given outstanding engineering work, arguing for finishing in dock; Fred insists on the schedule for crew morale and in-transit work advantages.

Later, in Bull’s quarters, Fred visits as Bull packs to move aboard early. They banter about the Nauvoo’s legal status, then Fred reveals a change: for optics, Ashford will command and Michio Pa will serve as XO. Bull is reassigned to chief security officer. Fred explains that a visible Earther on the command deck undermines OPA messaging despite Bull’s competence.

Fred tasks Bull to make the mission succeed—preventing embarrassment or strategic loss at the Ring—because Ashford and Pa may lack experience with Earther and Martian forces. Bull calls out Ashford’s insecurity but accepts the role despite reduced authority, acknowledging the political necessity. The Behemoth awaits launch in three days.