The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Forty-One: Avasarala
Overview
Avasarala uses the Rocinante’s communications freedom to publicly defend Prax and privately pressure Errinwright, but the crew’s shared evidence reveals a far greater danger. Prax explains that the protomolecule soldiers are networked, learning, and likely to escape human control, meaning any military deployment could become an Eros-scale or worse catastrophe. Errinwright’s apparent response is not restraint but moving Earth destroyers at high burn, confirming that Avasarala and the Rocinante are in immediate political and military danger.
Summary
Avasarala settles uneasily into the cramped, military Rocinante after fleeing Mao’s yacht, but she gains one crucial freedom: access to a tightbeam not controlled by Nguyen or Errinwright. With Naomi’s editing and voice-over help, Avasarala releases a public statement presenting herself, Holden, and Bobbie as part of a multilateral effort to investigate Ganymede and defend Prax against Nicola Mulko’s accusations.
Avasarala receives a message from Admiral Souther confirming that Nguyen met with Jules-Pierre Mao and that Errinwright knew about it, but Souther warns that this is not enough to justify disobeying direct orders. Avasarala then overhears Bobbie and Alex discussing Avasarala’s abrasive methods, and Bobbie admits that, despite not knowing who she officially serves anymore, she likes Avasarala because they care about the same things.
Avasarala calls the crew together and shows Bobbie’s classified suit footage of the Ganymede attack. Prax reacts not with horror but with excitement, recognizing that the creature’s detonation was a failed restraint system. Holden then explains how the Rocinante killed its own stowaway protomolecule creature, and Avasarala shares data about Venus energy spikes.
Prax connects the evidence: the protomolecule soldiers are linked to Venus, learn from attacks, and can share information about escaping imposed controls. Prax concludes that the abducted immune-compromised children, including Mei, were likely taken because they would be easier to reshape into longer-lasting protomolecule soldiers. Avasarala and the crew realize that using these creatures as weapons could cause them to break programming and revert into an Eros-like outbreak on inhabited worlds.
Avasarala records a long warning to Errinwright, attaching the Rocinante’s security footage and urging him not to deploy the creatures. Exhausted and unable to sleep, Avasarala waits for a reply, but Alex instead reports that the pursuing Earth destroyers have gone to a six-g high burn. Avasarala understands this as Errinwright’s answer: not negotiation, but military escalation.
Who Appears
- Chrisjen Avasaraladrives the investigation, manages public messaging, and warns Errinwright against using protomolecule soldiers.
- Praxidike Menginterprets the evidence and realizes abducted children may become protomolecule soldiers.
- James Holdenhosts Avasarala aboard the Rocinante and explains the crew’s fight with the stowaway creature.
- Bobbie Drapershares the traumatic Ganymede footage and recognizes the military danger surrounding Avasarala.
- Naomi Nagataedits Avasarala’s public release and operates the playback during the crew briefing.
- Alex Kamalspeaks with Bobbie, monitors the destroyers, and reports their high-burn acceleration.
- Amos Burtonobserves the evidence calmly and reacts sharply to Mei’s likely fate.
- Admiral Southermessages Avasarala with confirmation of Nguyen’s Mao meetings and limits of military support.
- Sadavir Errinwrighttarget of Avasarala’s warning and implied force behind the destroyers’ escalation.
- Jules-Pierre Maolinked by Souther to Nguyen and blamed by Avasarala for selling uncontrollable weapons.