The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Five: Avasarala
Overview
Avasarala continues investigating the political and military conspiracy from inside the gilded confinement of Mao’s yacht, but Holden’s broadcast about Ganymede creates immediate public panic and a coordinated official denial campaign. The chapter shifts Avasarala and Bobbie’s relationship from professional friction toward painful mutual recognition, as both confront grief, guilt, and helplessness. Avasarala’s fears broaden the stakes: humanity may be too politically divided to face either the war hawks’ weapons or whatever is emerging from Venus.
Summary
Avasarala speaks by delayed video with a young ally on Earth, asking for military budget and research-inventory information that might expose hidden links among Mao-Kwikowski, Nguyen, and Errinwright. The lag frustrates her, and she realizes that even if incriminating funding streams exist, her enemies may hide them before her people can find them. She decides to keep pushing on multiple fronts and look for the shape of what is being concealed.
Alone in her luxurious quarters aboard Mao’s yacht, Avasarala receives new reports from Venus about the Arboghast wreckage and possible clues to the protomolecule’s behavior. Although the information may be historically important, Avasarala finds herself more immediately consumed by the human political crisis: war hawks, betrayal, Bobbie’s condition, and her own failure to anticipate Soren’s treachery.
Avasarala summons Bobbie and shows her James Holden’s public appeal, in which Holden claims the protomolecule is loose on Ganymede. Avasarala notes that Holden, Prax, and the Rocinante crew escaped, and Bobbie recognizes that the broadcast has triggered panic. Newsfeeds show riots and deaths on Ganymede, while official experts publicly dismiss Holden’s claims as irresponsible and insist the evidence is harmless binding-agent residue.
Bobbie points out that Holden is at least acting from his own ship, while Avasarala and Bobbie are stuck on Mao’s yacht. Avasarala lashes out, then backs down when Bobbie withdraws emotionally. Trying to explain her concern, Avasarala compares Bobbie’s restless grief to her daughter Ashanti after the death of Avasarala’s son Charanpal, describing how the family nearly broke under guilt, anger, and helplessness.
The personal exchange lets Avasarala admit that she is afraid: afraid she has already been outplayed, afraid she cannot stop the war faction from using new weapons, and afraid humanity will be too divided if the force on Venus acts. A coded-looking but meaningless reply from Admiral Souther delights Avasarala because it will waste her watchers’ time. Bobbie admits she wants to hurt someone and fears turning that violence on herself; Avasarala answers that no amount of killing can undo Bobbie’s losses, just as no amount of saving others can bring back Charanpal. Bobbie leaves to drink, and Avasarala returns briefly to Holden’s broadcast before shutting it off.
Who Appears
- Chrisjen AvasaralaInvestigates hidden military links, manages crisis messaging, and opens up to Bobbie about grief and fear.
- Bobbie DraperWatches Holden’s broadcast, struggles with trauma, and admits dangerous anger over her platoon’s deaths.
- James HoldenAppears in broadcast asking for help and publicly claiming the protomolecule is loose on Ganymede.
- Admiral SoutherSends Avasarala a deliberately meaningless coded-looking reply to confuse her handlers.
- Arjun AvasaralaAppears in Avasarala’s memories as her compassionate husband who comforted their grieving daughter.
- AshantiAvasarala’s daughter, remembered during a traumatic episode after Charanpal’s death.
- CharanpalAvasarala’s late son, whose death shapes her understanding of grief and responsibility.