Holden reviews Bobbie Draper’s Martian intelligence on how the Rocinante might engage a Munroe-class light destroyer, but he is distracted and intimidated by Bobbie herself. After Bobbie leaves the galley, Avasarala joins Holden, and Holden bluntly explains that the six approaching UN destroyers will eventually close the range enough to overwhelm the Rocinante’s point defense cannons with torpedoes.

Avasarala asks Holden what his plan is, and Holden says he intends to broadcast all the evidence about Mao-Kwik, the protomolecule monsters, and the missing children to the entire system before the Rocinante is destroyed. Avasarala rejects this, arguing that a public dump would provoke Mars into immediate military action and risk a wider war, including strikes on Io where Mei may be held. Instead, Avasarala wants the evidence sent to Admirals Souther and Leniki, especially Souther, so friendly factions inside the UN can move against Nguyen.

Holden distrusts Avasarala and sees her plan as another political maneuver, but Amos reminds Holden that the Rocinante crew now votes on major decisions. The crew debates the issue, and Avasarala wins the vote. Holden sends the evidence package to Souther and Leniki, though Holden remains angry and worried that the information could be buried or misused.

Naomi suggests sending the information to one more person Holden trusts, someone outside the political struggle who can release it if Avasarala’s contacts fail. Holden rejects Fred Johnson as too politically motivated, then secretly sends the data package through public routers to Holden’s mother, asking Holden’s family to use it when they think the time is right.

Holden arms himself and gathers the crew, Avasarala, and Bobbie in the galley. Holden announces that the Rocinante has about two days before the UN ships can destroy them, and proposes putting Prax and Naomi aboard the Razorback pinnace while the Rocinante turns to fight the destroyers and buy the pinnace time to escape. Holden chooses Prax because of Mei and Naomi because Holden refuses to let Naomi die with the ship, but before the plan can proceed, Bobbie says she has an idea.