The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Six: Holden
Overview
Holden, Naomi, and Amos bring the disguised relief freighter Somnambulist to Ganymede and narrowly pass a UN boarding inspection by relying on Naomi’s composure and Amos’s deliberate distraction. Once cleared, Holden discovers that corporate food shipments are leaving the starving moon, deepening his anger at profiteering amid disaster.
The descent reveals the scale of Ganymede’s devastation, including wrecked military hardware and ruined agricultural infrastructure. After landing, Holden’s frustration boils over when he exposes and drives off a corrupt customs official trying to steal relief supplies, setting the crew on a tense path into the crisis zone.
Summary
Holden wakes aboard the aging food freighter Somnambulist as the ship approaches Ganymede. Naomi reports that incoming ships are being queued and boarded by UN forces, with a Martian frigate nearby. Because Holden is wanted by both Earth and Mars, the crew relies on disguises and false identities supplied by Tycho while the Rocinante waits hidden far from Jupiter under Alex’s care.
Holden joins Naomi and Amos on the operations deck and confirms that UN boarding skiffs are inspecting ships before landing. The crew prepares for inspection: Naomi poses as Captain Rowena Estancia, Amos as chief engineer, and Holden as a low-ranking crewman whose job should keep him from speaking to authorities.
A UN lieutenant and marines board the Somnambulist. Naomi keeps the lieutenant relaxed with humor while showing him the relief cargo. During Naomi’s absence, Amos deliberately provokes the marines with crude insults, creating a memorable distraction from Holden’s nervous behavior. After the inspectors leave and clear the ship, Amos explains that Holden is a poor criminal because he cannot hide acting like himself.
After inspection, the Somnambulist waits hours for landing clearance because Ganymede is prioritizing launches. A tower supervisor, Sam Snelling, explains that many departing ships are not carrying refugees but delayed corporate food shipments. Holden and Naomi are outraged that food is being launched away for profit while relief supplies are needed by starving people on the moon.
During descent, Holden sees the scars of the recent battle: a wrecked destroyer, flattened domes, damaged rescue operations, and a ruined agricultural greenhouse crushed by a fallen mirror array. The destruction reinforces Holden’s disgust at human shortsightedness and the catastrophic damage to Ganymede’s food infrastructure.
After landing, a man named Mr. Vedas arrives claiming to be a customs inspector, accompanied by unofficial-looking guards. Holden recognizes the encounter as a shakedown aimed at stealing valuable food and medicine for the black market. Holden interrupts Naomi, threatens to let Amos beat Vedas while Holden keeps the guards back with a pistol, and scares the corrupt inspector away before leading the crew onward to learn what happened on Ganymede.
Who Appears
- James HoldenDisguised crewman on the Somnambulist; anxious during inspection, angered by profiteering, confronts corrupt customs.
- Naomi NagataPoses as Captain Estancia; manages the UN inspection and keeps the ship’s cover intact.
- Amos BurtonDisguised chief engineer; distracts marines from Holden’s nervousness and backs Holden against Vedas.
- UN lieutenantBoarding officer who inspects the Somnambulist, banters with Naomi, and grants clearance.
- Sam SnellingGanymede tower supervisor who explains food freighters are launching corporate shipments before landings resume.
- Mr. VedasClaimed customs inspector attempting to extort or steal relief supplies until Holden threatens him.
- Alex KamalRemains hidden aboard the powered-down Rocinante, awaiting contact while the others approach Ganymede.