Chelsea Park steals a transport ship and spends three days at the nexus coordinates searching for Kate, broadcasting messages into empty space where she can almost perceive the faintest shimmer of the dimensional barrier.

Abdullah stands before the ship's officers for Gregory Tillman's sentencing. Despite preparing for execution, he cannot bring himself to kill. At the last moment, he lowers his gun and sentences Tillman to seven years imprisonment instead of death.

First IOC meeting. Heaven acknowledges disproportionate force. Rossetti declares shared culpability. Triage system for 47,000 applications. Maya Hargrove pilot program approved unanimously. Sandra Petrova denied for failing identity articulation.

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 Historical documents contradict Church doctrine.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.