CQB story
On Ceres, Miller identifies the dead "Nightbandit31" as Bizi Betiko, only to later discover the real Betiko is alive. Miller then learns that the deceased man was a data broker with multiple spoofed electronic IDs and recovers an implanted, encrypted memory storage device. Meanwhile, the Donnager's pursuers initiate an attack and reveal themselves as six stealth ships, which Holden identifies as the same ones that attacked the Canterbury. Unexpectedly at a technological disadvantage, the Donnager is soon severely damaged and Shed Garvey is decapitated by a railgun shot. As the Donnager is being boarded, Holden is evacuated on the Martian captain's orders to secure him as a witness to the attacks. He bargains for his crew's release and they all narrowly escape aboard a frigate, right before the Donnager self-destructs. Far from the battle, at Tycho Station, a massive generation ship, the Nauvoo, is being built at the behest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Station manager Fred Johnson, who has ties to the OPA, turns the Nauvoo's sensors towards the battle.
15 total · 6 major · 9 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| false flag operation | major | An unknown and mysterious new enemy attacked Mars' flagship, the Donager, in order to eliminate anyone who had witnessed them. It became apparent that the new faction was trying to provoke a war between Mars and Earth by making it seem like Mars had destroyed the Canterbury. |
| human vs. human | major | In one storyline, the Martian flagship Donnager was overwhelmed by a squadron of six mysteriously powerful warships. Holden and his crew, who were being held aboard the Donnager, escaped by the skin of their teeth moments before the vessel self-destructed to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. |
| law enforcement | major | In one storyline, Detective Miller continued his investigation into the disappearance of the heiress Julie Mao. |
| loyalty to a group | major | Despite being given every incentive to do so, Holden heroically refused to leave his former crew mates behind. This was highlighted time and time again in his conversations with the Martian marines. |
| sacrifice to defeat an enemy | major | The story ended with the captain of the Donnager ordering its self-destruction so that Holden could escape and testify to the new threat and the fact that it wasn't the Martians that were behind the mysterious attacks. |
| speculative weapon | major | There was a space battle that featured guided missiles and rail guns. The story dwelled on the details of these weapons. For example, a turning point in the battle came when the attackers' guidance system made their missiles outmaneuver the Donnager's defenses. |
| Christianity | minor | The Mormon Church was planning to colonize another star system. |
| multi-generational spaceship | minor | The Mormon Church had commissioned the construction of a massive generation ship. |
| social activism | minor | In one scene, Detective Miller stumbled on a man as he was in the middle of spraying the slogan "Remember the Cant" on a public wall. The phrase had become a rallying cry of Belter resistance. |
| space colonization | minor | The Mormon Church was planning to colonize another star system. |