The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Forty-Three: Bobbie
Overview
Bobbie turns the pursuit into a chance for survival by realizing the Martian ships shadowing the UN destroyers can be asked to intervene. Avasarala persuades Mars to protect her from Nguyen’s rogue UN faction, forcing a battle in which Bobbie takes the Rocinante’s weapons station and helps defeat the attacking UN ships. The victory preserves the mission to Io but openly binds the crew, Avasarala, Bobbie, and the Martians against powerful elements of the UN.
Summary
As six UN destroyers close on the Rocinante, Bobbie realizes the pursuing Martian squadron changes the situation. The Martian ships, including two powerful Raptor-class cruisers, outgun the UN force and are already shadowing them to prevent escalation. Bobbie suggests asking Mars to protect Avasarala from Nguyen’s rogue UN faction.
Avasarala agrees to make the appeal after testing whether Bobbie can face being seen as a traitor. On the comm, Avasarala bluntly tells the Martian commander that rogue UN ships are about to attack her while she is on a peacekeeping mission, and she promises political cover if Mars intervenes. The commander sends the request up the chain, and Avasarala notes that she has effectively given Mars permission to fire on UN ships without triggering wider political blame.
The crew revises Holden’s earlier plan to put Prax and Naomi in the Razorback. Avasarala argues that Nguyen’s people need her dead to avoid being exposed as rogue actors, so they would assume Avasarala was aboard any fleeing pinnace and destroy it. The crew accepts that everyone must survive or die aboard the Rocinante. Bobbie then assesses the ship’s combat roles and claims the weapons station, explaining that as a Martian gunnery sergeant she is trained on assault-boat weapons systems.
Bobbie straps into the too-small weapons chair and waits as the UN and Martian ships close to firing range. When a Martian cruiser launches torpedoes, the UN ships answer, and the engagement erupts at once. Naomi feeds Bobbie targeting data, Alex throws the Rocinante through high-g maneuvers, and Bobbie uses the point defense cannons against incoming torpedoes while firing torpedoes at the UN destroyers’ drive cones.
The Rocinante is hit by small projectiles and loses atmosphere, but the rounds pass through without crippling the ship. Bobbie continues firing through the chaos as the Martian squadron and the Rocinante overwhelm the UN ships. Three UN destroyers are destroyed, three are badly damaged and surrender, while the Martians lose two destroyers and suffer damage to a cruiser. Afterward, Avasarala thanks the Martian commander and invites the Martians to accompany them to Io, while Bobbie tells her that they are all traitors now; Avasarala replies that they are only traitors if they lose.
Who Appears
- Bobbie DraperRecognizes the Martian tactical advantage, proposes intervention, and serves as the Rocinante’s gunner.
- Chrisjen AvasaralaPersuades Martian forces to protect her from rogue UN ships and reframes the political stakes.
- James HoldenCaptains the Rocinante, abandons the Razorback escape plan, and coordinates the combat engagement.
- Naomi NagataRuns electronic warfare and countermeasures, rapidly feeding Bobbie targeting data during the battle.
- Alex KamalPilots the Rocinante through high-g maneuvers while coordinating flight with Bobbie’s weapons fire.
- Amos BurtonMonitors mechanical damage and reports that the projectile hits passed through without crippling systems.
- Prax MengShelters aboard the Rocinante during combat and reacts fearfully when rounds pass through his room.
- Martian commanderReceives Avasarala’s request for aid and helps bring Martian forces into the fight.