In the Battle of Ilium, the Sword Armada was shattered. More than half were destroyed, a quarter were seized by the Rising, and the remainder fled. Victra was sent to capture Antonia. Sevro tried to join her but returned after a conversation with her, acting sullenly.

Once survivors from the ships have been gathered, Darrow leaves the Rim, and Romulus tells him that if he ever returns there will be war. Across the fleet a sense of community has developed that never existed in the Society, but many still keep to their colors.

Darrow gives Roque the traditional Gold burial of firing him into the Sun. Few attend his funeral, but Cassius is brought out of jail to attend. Darrow moves into Roque’s state room on the newly renamed Morning Star and asks for Cassius to be brought to his room. Once he is there, they talk about Roque and begin to drink whisky together. While doing this they watch the videos that Roque saw most often on his console. The most commonly rewatched section was from the Institute, when Cassius put his arms around Darrow and Roque, telling them that he had lost a brother in the Institute (when Darrow had to kill Cassius’s brother Julian in a test) but gained two more.