Avasarala considers another unexplained protomolecule activity spike, but Soren interrupts with an intelligence report claiming Bobbie Draper is actually Amanda Telelé, a Martian intelligence operative. Soren says he investigated Bobbie on his own initiative and expects Avasarala to arrest her, but Avasarala notices Soren’s nervous tell and realizes the report is fabricated.

From that false report, Avasarala rapidly reconstructs the larger betrayal. Soren has been filtering information for someone else, Nguyen’s fleet movements were hidden from Avasarala, and Errinwright has been managing Avasarala for some time. Avasarala concludes that the Ganymede monster was not from Venus but a weaponized protomolecule project, probably involving Mao-Kwikowski, with Earth now trying to acquire or use it before Venus completes its unknown transformation.

Avasarala calls Errinwright and pretends to accept Soren’s information without acting on it. Errinwright then proposes that Avasarala travel to Ganymede to report on the humanitarian crisis aboard Jules-Pierre Mao’s yacht. Avasarala recognizes the assignment as a trap meant to isolate her, but accepts because refusing would make her look weak and politically finished.

Bobbie arrives and reports that Soren passed Avasarala’s data to a military contact. Avasarala tells Bobbie that Bobbie is now the only staff member she trusts, explains Errinwright’s betrayal and the coming trip to Ganymede, and insists they must step into the trap while still hiding what they know. Bobbie warns that Avasarala may be killed, but Avasarala believes the political game requires her to keep moving.

When Soren returns with tea, Avasarala dismisses him by warning that his patrons will abandon him now that he has failed, then tells him not to leave anything personal at his desk. Afterward, Avasarala makes Bobbie responsible for arranging crucial meetings, acting as bodyguard, and helping her navigate the next four days under surveillance. Avasarala also promises to get Bobbie armed for the yacht, preferably by recovering Bobbie’s powered armor, which makes Bobbie a far more dangerous ally.