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Deanna heads to the door “Deanna, stay,” I say
“No,” she says gruffly “Maybe I can one day forgive you for doin’ what needs doin’ But I can’t give you permission to abandon hed in
“Virginia, there’s so else you need to know,” Niobe says “The Riet any worse Fresh ships, fresh legions of enemies, thrown into the fray at the exact moment they could break our backs “They are currently unae have this intel We don’t knohere they will strike, but we can assume it will be decisive” She looks at her husband “Mercury is in far orbit I think they will hit us as we cross near the sun, when our sensors are distorted”
“No,” Kavax says, disagreeing again “They will hit Mars Take out the Phobos Dockyards Eye for an eye”
“And that is e should return to Mars,” Niobe says “Kavax knows better the Rim, and I know better Atalantia Mars cannot fall”
“No one has suggested rescuing Sevro,” I say
“We sent three teah the tunnel after we evacked you We lost contact with theinia, we have four operatives still in the building under Moonhall They are Sevro’s best chance But if we try to hammer our way in now—”
Massacre, and the clone kills my friends
“We can’t stay here,” Niobe says “The Vox fleet wants a fight They’re still pursuing and we’re a million klicks away from Luna”
“Surely Publius can be reasoned with,” Kavax says to ht have used the ht his fleet, no matter who loses, Gold wins”
It’s almost too much to bear “What do you think, Holiday?” I ask
Finally, she roup on Mars” If we go, that leaves Earth alone with the Vox, and the swelling Gold host It will fall unless the clone sees it is in his interest to try to defend it with his Lunese fleet But Mars can be defended, without help from Luna Earth cannot
“Then we go to Mars,” I say
Though I promised my husband I would come for hirave
Kavax sags in exhaustion He sees me notice and finally seeave otten theather in his eyes as he leans over the bed “All hope is not lost,” he whispers to me I fail to see how he can believe that He kissesDarrow home if Heliopolis falls”