Thomas descends into the underground facility, discovers the operating theater and Harrow's Polaroid documentation of transformations. Finds blueprints showing five facility levels with Heart Chamber at the bottom. Takes the maintenance shaft route but it ends at Level 3.

When morning came Quinton prepared them a meal of *dahri*—a thick porridge of ground grain stretched with vitamin supplements, the staple of every Mali household—and a loaf of stale bread.

Kate recovers from the failed raid in the medical bay, processing survivor's guilt and the deaths of twelve soldiers. Chelsea helps her accept that the seal is inevitable.

Kate overhears debate about her. Walks into war room uninvited. Tells admirals SHE chooses to help. Not their decision. Silence. A child teaching adults about duty.

Dawn vote before the full High Council. Sir Martin presents evidence and testimony proving genocide occurred, both sides caused the Collapse, and defenders showed restraint. Historical documents contradict Church doctrine. Fifteen Councilors vote: eight vote for reforms, seven maintain doctrine.

Miranda Cross visits Abdullah in the brig, attempting to convince him to apologize to Captain Grove to save his life. Abdullah refuses, revealing that Grove is planning genocide on Tellus—bombing 13 billion people.

Arthur sits outside the command tent before dawn, writing in his journal and processing fatherhood, Abigail, Dominick's death, and his feelings for Frieda. He reflects on being a committed but imperfect father versus Aram's corruption and reckons with the scars of self-reliance.

Belphegor's final gambit: full mobilization targeting refugee camp with 300 civilians. Emma's monitoring network sounds the alarm. Haatim processes the impossible options — every path leads to loss. Arthur says we go, we fight. Abigail accepts the cost. The team deploys.

Haatim returns to safe house, breaks down in his workspace. Rage destroys his pen and notebook. Abigail sits with him in silence, shares her own experience of corruption from the inside. His notebook gains two new sections: things that cannot be fixed, and things that must be fixed.