Holden calls the Rocinante crew together in the galley, initially stalling while making coffee. He admits that fear has made him mistreat the others, especially Alex, and apologizes for acting as if the crew owed him obedience or loyalty. Alex forgives him, but Holden insists he must earn that forgiveness.

Holden reframes the crew’s situation: they are no longer Canterbury employees, and no government or corporation grants Holden authority over them. Because the money from their OPA contracts belongs to all of them, Holden argues that the crew needs to decide collectively who they are, what they want, and what happens after Prax’s contract to find Mei ends.

Using his parents’ collective legal arrangement as an example, Holden proposes that the crew incorporate as a company and jointly own the Rocinante as an enterprise. The idea is that, after rescuing Mei, their success could become public proof that a small, independent, well-armed ship can take jobs no ordinary civilian vessel could handle. Naomi warns that they may fail and die, but the crew votes unanimously to form the company.

The crew also agrees that Holden should remain captain. Naomi, Alex, and Amos each explain that they have their own roles and that Holden is the person best suited to speak, bluff, take risks, and protect them. The emotional vote reassures Holden that the crew still trusts him, and Prax, still somewhat outside the core group, offers pudding as a small gesture of inclusion.

After the meeting, Naomi sends Amos to cover operations and reconciles physically and emotionally with Holden. Holden reflects on how different his relationship with Naomi is from his earlier shallow sexual relationships, because friendship and genuine affection came first. Their peace is interrupted when Alex calls Holden to view an urgent message.

On the monitor, Chrisjen Avasarala identifies herself as a UN official and warns Holden that a UN admiral has sent six Munroe-class destroyers to kill the Rocinante. Avasarala gives Holden a transponder code and tells him to meet her if he wants everyone aboard to survive.