The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Forty-Eight: Avasarala
Overview
The confrontation at Io erupts into open chaos as Souther takes legal command of most UN ships and Nguyen’s faction collapses. Io then launches hundreds of protomolecule monsters toward Mars, forcing Earth and Martian forces into an emergency defense while the Agatha King becomes infected.
Avasarala blocks any rescue from the King to prevent an Eros-like outbreak, and Nguyen refuses to help stop the weapons without evacuation. With Mars possibly doomed unless the transponders can be restored, Holden chooses to board the infected battleship while the others prepare to descend to Io for Mei.
Summary
As alarms sound, Naomi reports that the UN flagship is firing. Avasarala realizes Errinwright has abandoned Nguyen, prompting Nguyen to resist Souther’s lawful takeover. Avasarala broadcasts civilian authorization for Souther’s command, while Holden orders everyone strapped in as the Rocinante is threatened by torpedoes and pulled into the spreading UN civil conflict.
The battle becomes chaotic because UN ships’ systems still recognize hostile UN torpedoes as friendly. Naomi tracks IFF confusion, Bobbie takes remote control of the Rocinante’s PDCs, and Avasarala answers comms from ships trying to determine which orders are legitimate. Souther sends a new IFF code, and most UN ships shift to his side, leaving Nguyen’s Agatha King isolated.
Before Nguyen can be contained, Io launches hundreds of protomolecule-based monsters toward space. Avasarala broadcasts that the launch is an unauthorized first strike against Mars and urges every ship to shoot them down. Earth and Martian ships cooperate, but the monsters cut thrust, go dark, and maneuver unpredictably, making it uncertain whether any have slipped through toward Mars.
One monster holes the Agatha King, and Nguyen broadcasts surrender on the condition of evacuation. Avasarala orders the ship quarantined, warning everyone that the protomolecule may be loose aboard. In a private exchange, Nguyen confirms by implication that something is happening on the King but refuses to reactivate the monsters’ transponders unless Avasarala rescues him; Avasarala refuses because evacuation could spread the infection.
Readings from the King show reactor activity dropping while radiation spikes inside the ship, and Prax identifies the process as the ship being turned into an incubation chamber like Eros. Souther’s forces destroy a survival pod launched from the King. With Mars still endangered and the King infected, Holden decides the crew must both descend to Io to search for Mei and send Holden by pinnace to the Agatha King’s CIC to retrieve the transponder activation codes.
Who Appears
- Chrisjen Avasaralacoordinates lawful command, orders quarantine, and tries to stop Nguyen’s protomolecule weapons.
- James Holdencommands the Rocinante under fire and decides to board the infected Agatha King.
- Naomi Nagatamanages comms, sensors, IFF updates, and tracking during the chaotic battle.
- Bobbie Drapertakes PDC control, shoots incoming threats, and argues for rescuing the King’s crew.
- Alex Kamalpilots evasively, tracks threats, and maneuvers the Rocinante toward the fight.
- Admiral Augusto Nguyendefies Souther, flees, surrenders after infection, and refuses to help without evacuation.
- Admiral Southerasserts legal command, reorganizes loyal UN ships, and helps contain Nguyen.
- Praxidike Mengsedated but identifies the Agatha King as becoming an Eros-like incubation chamber.
- Amos Burtonsecures Prax and prepares to take him to Io’s surface for Mei.