Why We Fight

In the dark forests of Laconia, Cara places her deceased brother Xan's body on the ground. She calls to the strange dogs she met before, begging them to fix Xan like they fixed the sunbird she accidentally killed some days ago. She falls asleep beneath the medical stretcher she used to carry her brother, only to awaken some time later to the voices of her parents Gary and Dot searching for her in the woods. Much to her satisfaction, she finds Xan's body is no longer there.

Cara sends the stretcher away and hides from her worried parents, who are desperately calling for their daughter. Running back to the clearing where she first met the strange dogs, she finds three of them surrounding a miraculously revived Xan, his skin having turned grey-ish and his eyes black. The creatures return to the forest as Cara approaches, and Xan recognizes her, saying he feels weird and asking what happened. She explains he got really hurt, as in killed, which doesn't phase Xan, who remembers being scared and hearing voices, and asks Cara what it means to "be in substrate", though she doesn't know the answer. Xan inspects his hand and says that everything looks different, staring into the distance and remarking he "never saw that before". When Cara looks, however, she sees only darkness.

Cara observes her brother, then smiles and hugs him, thankful that the dogs "fixed" him. Xan takes a moment before slowly returning the hug.

An MCRN strike force of six ships, led by Admiral Sandrine Kirino, approach the Ring and take out all of the Free Navy sentries protecting it. Kirino warns Medina Station to immediately surrender uner threat of fire and, when she gets no response from them, orders her crew to prepare the plasma warhead torpedoes to destroy it.

She is surprised to get a report of high plasma readings on the surface of the Ring Station in the middle of the Slow Zone, which turn out to be a set of railguns embedded into the Station itself. Kirino doesn't even have time to issue an order before all six ships are destroyed in a matter of seconds.

On the Pella, Marco looks over the news feeds showing unrest on Iapetus, with its people rejecting the Free Navy, killing Marco's loyalists and declaring independence. Rosenfeld gives him a report on supply transfer logistics and tries to get him to give Filip something more important to do than repair skiff work, but Marco tells her to do what she wants as it's of no concern to him.

Marco is upset to see Belters blaming him for the war, and though Rosenfeld feels Iapetus is insignificant in the large scheme of things, Marco is angry and worried as a single outlier is all it takes to sow doubt, which is what Drummer has accomplished by openly defying him. Rosenfeld stops his escalating panic and admits that they could lose if enough Belters turn to the Inners' side, which is why she encourages him to focus on getting to Medina, where they are strongest. Their plan is to assert control over the Ring Gates so that any flow of resources between all of humanity's colonies will have to go through Marco first. Rosenfeld also mocks Drummer, saying that if she wants to act like a hero for raiding a defenseless supply depot, she doesn't care.

Their discussion is interrupted by a report on the railguns' success at eliminating the Martian strike force, which causes Rosenfeld to let out an exclamation of excitement and relief. Marco notes her surprised tone and asks with slight derision if she doubted it would work, but Rosenfeld, though frustrated, just says it calls for a celebration and leaves.

MCRN Admiral Mazzuca presents Kirino's recording of the Ring Station railguns to Avasarala, Bobbie, Sidiqi and Gareth. Bobbie theorizes these railguns might have been part of his deal with the rogue Martians in exchange for the protomolecule, while Gareth wonders how they were built considering the Ring Station is impenetrable. Mazzuca explains they have been tied to the station with massive titanium bands and, with the Station's infinite inertia, the emplacement is perfect. What's worse is that, with the way the railguns are placed, Marco can rain fire on any point inside the Ring Space, giving him complete control of the Ring Network.

Sidiqi warns they can't allow Marco to reach Medina, as its farms will make it possible to sustain his forces indefinitely, while Gareth proposes they nuke it, though Bobbie reminds him that the last time they nuked something in the Ring Space, the Station nearly wiped out the entire Solar System. Mazzuca offers they still have time to intercept the Pella before it reaches the Ring Gate, but the time window is closing fast.

Sidiqi pressures Avasarala to abandon Ceres, but she refuses to let everyone on the station starve to death. Gareth opines they don't owe the Belters anything, and he, Sidiqi and Mazzuca all concur the best move is to mobilize every warship they have, engage with Marco and fire until they're out of bullets. Avasarala still feels they are at a significant disadvantage and, when Sidiqi admits the odds are not in their favor, she expresses that, if they are to send more people to their deaths, the least they can do is give them a chance to win. She promises to make a decision soon and dismisses them, leaving her alone with Bobbie in the room.

Avasarala notices Bobbie watching her and, when Bobbie notes she looks tired, Avasarala tells her to stop mothering her. She then confesses the Martians had been pressuring her to send a joint strike force to the Ring since they arrived on Ceres, but she refused. Bobbie asks if she believes it would have made a difference, but Avasarala wants to know Bobbie's opinion. Bobbie replies it's not her place to say.

Avasarala hesitates before asking Bobbie if she has gone soft. If she was trying too hard to be good, when she should have been ruthless. Bobbie maintains she used her best judgement, but Avasarala points out she lost and there's no prize for the best victim, complaining about the rotten luck of the Roci's torpedo misfiring. Bobbie asserts the fight is not over yet, but Avasarala angrily says she doesn't want empty platitudes; they are fucked, and it's all her fault. Bobbie loses her patience and says that it's true Avasarala has gone a bit soft, which might not be so bad in small doses, but now is not the time for self-pity bullshit. It's time to keep her eyes on the enemy and wait for the next time they slip up, because Bobbie still thinks they are the good guys and she'd rather do less soul-searching and more fighting back. Avasarala calmly tells her to go do something else, and a frustrated Bobbie walks away.

Clarissa and Holden walk out of the Rocinante in the Ceres docks, and she informs him the UN will reinforce their hull with carbon silicate lace plating, which she describes as "some kind of badass new armor", the same kind used on the UN One. Holden is all for it if it means less holes in their hull, while Clarissa is reminded of her father; the lace plating is new metalurgy inspired by protomolecule research, and her father had tried to justify all of his horrible crimes by saying the protomolecule was the key to ensuring humanity's survival. Stuff like this makes him seem right.

Holden wonders why Amos hasn't come out of the Rocinante yet, but Clarissa explains he's already left and is out in the station. Holden asks what he is doing went and when he'll be back, but Clarissa doesn't know.

Inside the Roci, Naomi receives a message from Dr. Elvi Okoye, whom she has shared the data on the Ring anomalies with. Dr. Okoye finds the disappearances of ships in the Ring Gates are clearly linked and similar to whatever happened to the Barkeith, and she and her team reached the conclusion that there is a mass-energy threshold which precedes, or perhaps triggers these events. This has dire implications for the future use of the Rings by humanity, so Dr. Okoye has embedded the analysis for Naomi to look through.

Holden arrives as the message ends, and Naomi tells him he was right; Anytime anyone goes through the Rings, they don't know they are taking a massive risk. She remembers him saying that he feels the unknown aggressors getting angrier every time he transits, and wonders if they are trying to get out. Holden isn't sure, though the artifact on Ilus is proof they are capable of directly affecting our world, and he affirms Avasarala needs to see it as it is bigger than the war.

Naomi sees something on another screen and smiles. Holden asks if something seems funny to her, but she explains it's something good instead. The screen shows Drummer and her fleet arriving on Ceres, promising "Help is on the way."

Drummer frustratedly tries to negotiate with the UNN harbormaster, pointing out she is freely giving him food and fuel to help the station, but he is adamant that UN soldiers board all of Drummer's ships to pilot them into the docks and conduct a thorough security check, arresting anyone with outstanding warrants. Drummer refuses, and the harbormaster is about to threaten her when he is overriden by Avasarala. She welcomes Drummer to Ceres with a smile, thanking her for her help and giving her and her crew full clearance, as long as there are no disruptions. Drummer stoically informs her they will only be there long enough to unload the supplies, so there will be no "disruptions."

Avasarala is glad to finally meet Drummer, saying Fred Johnson spoke well of her. Drummer replies he also spoke well of Avasarala, though pointedly adding she didn't always agree with him. Avasarala says that, in that case, her arriving to help says even more her character and the true OPA's. She states Marco is an enemy to both of them, to which Drummer retorts that a century of oppression made Marco Inaros inevitable; if it hadn't been him, it would have been someone else. Avasarala keeps trying to convince Drummer to meet and have a discussion in person, but Drummer maintains the Belters here are hungry and she has food; she came for them, not for Avasarala. She ends the call, leaving both of them frustrated.

Rosenfeld triumphantly announces the Free Navy's victory over the Martian strike force through the Pella's speakers, promising all the crew will be rewarded at the end of their shift with the finest Earth brandy looted from Ceres. The crew cheers and chants Marco's name as Filip reports in to work, where a man named Pascal tells him to hurry up so they can get to the brandy quicker. When he inquires about Tadeo, Pascal says he is in the brig. Much to his confusion, Filip leaves immediately.

In the Pella's prison, Filip asks Tadeo what he did to get arrested. He explains he can't stop worrying about his brother Mas's whereabouts, as he has found no information after the explosions at the Ceres docks, so he rigged a transmitter and sent a message to his brother. Filip calmly berates him for breaking radio silence as he could have given away their position, which he could have been spaced for, but Tadeo wasn't thinking about himself; Mas has always been there for him, and he needed to know if he was okay. Filip sinks into thoughtful silence.

In the Tynan, a medic inspects Josep's regrowing arm but, though he tries to play tough, it quickly becomes evident the regrowth was faulty. Michio offers they could ask Drummer's Inner friends for help, but the doctor says it wouldn't make a difference; the limb is as good as lost and must be removed. Michio promises to get Josep the best prosthetic and also some medication for the pain, but the doctor advises against it, as it could make the pain worse in the long run.

Josep asks when he will be able to pull his own weight again, but unfortunately the entire process of removing the arm, killing the invasive nerve fiber and fitting him with a prosthetic would take two weeks even in normal times. While Michio negotiates with the doctor, who agrees to speed Josep's procedure along as a favor to Drummer and her family, Drummer gets a message from Naomi, which she ignores. Michio sits at Josep's side, while Drummer returns to the Tynan's command deck.

She opens Naomi's message, in which she happily greets Drummer and remarks it's been a long time since they actually saw each other, but now she is with the Roci on Ceres. She admires Drummer for her work and notes she must be busy, so she offers that, whenever Drummer has a little time, she should let her know so they can meet. As soon as the message is over, Drummer deletes it.

Avasarala tells Monica about the information received through Prax, noting he wasn't a UN spy but a regular Belter who risked his life and family to send them experimental biotech research, simply because he believed it could help restore the Earth's ability to grow food, and initial reports suggest he might be right. Monica remarks that Prax is a "good apple", and sometimes that's all it takes.

Avasarala's assistant informs her that a visitor has arrived, and she asks for a moment. While Monica tells her about the "Lucky Earther" piece, which has been well-received but also resulted in Owain getting death threats, she notices Avasarala inject herself with a medical syringe, which she waves off as a simple stimulant.

The visitor is allowed in, who turns out to be Holden. He greets Monica, who notes he's been busy and asks him for an interview. He replies "never, ever, ever again" and the two of them smile at each other before Monica leaves.

Holden thanks Avasarala for seeing him so quickly, to which she replies he is one of the few people who rarely waste her time. He shows her Naomi and Dr. Okoye's research, as well as the footage of the Barkeith's disappearance into the Ring, explaining that Ring transit is unsafe and that ships vanish when a certain mass-energy threshold is exceeded, and also that it's connected to the artifact on Ilus. Avasarala stares at the information dejected and whispers she might need to up her dosage, asking Holden what they can do. Much to her shock, he proposes they share the data with Marco, causing an infuriated Avasarala to exclaim that he is truly one of a kind, but he explains the matter impacts all of them and they might be able to convince Marco to cooperate. Avasarala mocks the idea that Marco would suddenly put down his arms and decide to solve this together like a big happy family, telling Holden he has to be the most naive person she has ever met. He maintains that every time someone travels through a Ring, it puts all of humanity at risk, and it's a problem that's not going to go away. Avasarala shows him the real problem they have: the very big railguns that Marco has placed in the Ring Station. She presses they cannot afford the luxury of worrying about the future until the war is won, and asks him how well he knows Camina Drummer.

Holden asks what she wants with Drummer, and Avasarala explains she needs a Belter who is respected by her kind to fight alongside them against Marco. Holden deduces this is why Avasarala agreed to see him so quickly and asks if it really is that bad, to which she explains that the EMC Joint Fleet has sustained heavy losses, while Drummer started out as a fugitive with a single ship and came to Ceres with eight, full of missiles and guns. She hopes the trust Belters have in Drummer might be enough for them to turn against the Free Navy, which could make all the difference.

Holden warns her that, though Drummer despises Marco, she also has no love for Earth and won't trust Avasarala. She sits down, tired, and reminisces about using Earth's gravity to torture Heikki Sabong for information. The Belt sees her that way, because she truly used to be that person, but it's not who she is anymore.

Amos grabs a full bottle of alcohol from a bar on Ceres and stumbles through the tables, when he is stopped by Bobbie, who herself appears to have finished a bottle of her own. She invites him to sit with her (and also to share his alcohol), noting the lipstick, scratches and glitter smeared on his neck and realizing he's been "drinking and fucking", which he confirms he has "till they run out of one or the other." He asks about her, and she downs her drink, saying she's trying to forget how much she hates politics.

As Amos pours her another one, she tells him that Avasarala is trying to win the game with a crap hand. Amos asks her if she thinks they are going to lose, which she doesn't, but she also doesn't think they can win; their grandchildren will be killing each other over this shit a hundred years from now. She advises Amos to go back to his ship, but he isn't sure he's going back as he doesn't know what he is doing out there anymore. Bobbie asserts they are fighting a war, but Amos wonders what kind of war it is if they didn't kill Marco when they had the chance and reveals to Bobbie that Holden disarmed their missile to spare the life of Naomi's son.

Bobbie is stunned for a moment, but ends up bursting into laughter. Amos says he usually understands Holden, but it sometimes feels like he's trying to get them all killed. Then a couple times, he saved the whole human race, so it balances out. Bobbie downs another drink and comments Holden is not a man who does things by degrees, while Amos ponders that war is the wrong place for good people. Bobbie feels that, good or bad, it's the same for everyone, prompting Amos to ask what difference it makes if you're good or bad then. Bobbie admits that, when you're in the fray, it doesn't matter much, and expresses she has fought for her home, she has fought for money, and once she even would have said she fought for honor. In the end the only thing that matters is fighting for your people, regardless of if they're saints or assholes. They've got your back and you have theirs, otherwise you've got nothing.

Amos ponders on it for a moment and ultimately agrees with her. When Bobbie asks if he'll return to the ship, he says he will, though he wants to go to the brothel first. As he is about to leave, he turns around and asks Bobbie if she wants to come with him. She asks if he means to go with him or with him, to which he replies "whatever" and walks away. Bobbie shifts awkwardly, looking around the crowded bar.

In the clinic, Josep stares at the stump left behind by what used to be his arm, noting this was the easy part. Drummer comments that doctors are expert liars, while Michio sits by his side and looks at him lovingly. Josep says he is sorry, which Michio reassures him he has nothing to be sorry about as he begins to cry. He laments that, though the fight is not over, he cannot help Drummer anymore.

Michio caresses his head as he falls asleep again, and then she tells Drummer she will stay with him. Drummer offers they can take shifts, but Michio clarifies she intends to stay with Josep on Ceres and gives Drummer permission to go. She is taken aback, pointing out the Inners control the station, but Michio resolves to live under the Inner's yoke, and to help Josep find a way to also, because she knows Drummer will not be able to give up the fight with Marco now, and they can't help her in that fight anymore. Michio tears up as she tells Drummer it's okay to go, and Drummer turns away, but stops to tell Michio she never loved them because they were fighters; she loved them because they were builders, and she had wanted to build something with them, together. Drummer leaves the clinic, while Michio returns to Josep's side.

On the Pella, the crew thank Rosenfeld for the brandy as she passes by and wishes them "yam seng." She walks into the command deck, where Marco is inspecting the war plans, asserting that they have the advantage of numbers and the EMC fleet cannot engage them everywhere at once, so they have the upper hand. Noticing a glass of whiskey at the side of the console, Rosenfeld asks Marco if his father was a big part of his life. Marco never knew his father, so she thinks he's improved on the role, though Marco replies he hasn't as much as he hoped. Rosenfeld shows him a recording of Filip riling up the crew against Drummer in the galley, commenting it's nice to see that kind of fire in him and wondering where he got it from. Marco watches the video wordlessly.

Filip, meanwhile, uses his advanced security clearance to breach the external communications link. He visits Tadeo in prison and informs him he pinged Ceres' network to look for information on Mas. Unfortunately, he was working in the docks the day of the attack and died in the explosions. Tadeo breaks into tears and says it's his fault; though Filip tries to put the onus on the Inners, Tadeo feels that he has killed his brother, as he personally planted the bombs in the docks because they told him no Belters would get hurt in the attack. Filip is shocked and opens the cell door, sitting by Tadeo's side and giving him a hug. As Tadeo sobs mournfully, Filip struggles to contain his own tears.

On Ceres, Drummer joins a long line of Belters waiting to be scanned by UN security before entering the green zone. She is recognized not only by many Belters in the street, who nod at her approvingly and make way for her to pass, but also by one of the UN guards, who tells her she is free to move through as she has been pre-cleared by Avasarala. Drummer initially refuses the special treatment and decides to wait like all the rest, but is convinced by the man behind her, who tells her not to waste her time there as she has important things to do. While crossing the line, she is stopped by Sanjrani, who films her on their hand terminal and asks her how it feels to be the Inners' favorite pet. Drummer stares at them but doesn't reply, instead walking away.

Entering the Tynan, Drummer finds Naomi waiting for her. Their conversation is stunted and awkward; though Naomi apologizes for dropping in so unexpectedly and affirms it's good to see her, Drummer is much colder and keeps her answers brief. Despite this, she invites Naomi into the ship.

Naomi walks through the command deck, admiring its good state. Drummer remarks she tries to keep it the same way Ashford left it, even though it's been through a lot. Naomi asks to meet Drummer's family, but Drummer explains they are gone; Bertold and Oksana left after she turned against Marco to save the Rocinante, Serge was executed by Marco in retaliation, and Josep and Michio decided to stay on Ceres so they don't have to keep paying for Drummer's choices.

Naomi senses the tension between them is due to Drummer's family falling apart because she chose Naomi over them, though Drummer says she only blames herself and not Naomi. Despite Naomi's attempts to empathize and offer support, Drummer is reluctant to talk about it and asks her to state the real reason of her visit. Though she says she wanted to see Drummer, she retorts they know each other well enough that Naomi should understand Drummer's silence meant she didn't want to be seen. Naomi admits Holden asked her to speak to Drummer on Avasarala's behalf, who wants their factions to join forces against Marco.

Drummer's composed attitude starts to crack, and she seethingly tells Naomi to leave. When she refuses, Drummer yells at her crewmates to clear the deck and, once they are left alone, she lashes out at Naomi, accusing her of running errands for the Inners and asking how she can bear to work with them and live with them and pick their side against her own people over and over. Naomi retorts she picks her own side, and she despises Marco and everything that he stands for, but Drummer believes Avasarala and her Inners are no better. Naomi agrees it was true once, but she feels things are now different.

Drummer, exhasperated, wonders what is left for her to do; having to choose between being killed in exchange for Marco's rising bounty, or putting a collar around her neck and handing the leash to the Inners, she feels this universe has no place for her. Naomi wishes there was another way forward, and promises that she and the Roci crew will help Drummer in any way they can if she can figure out how to make a different way, but Drummer laments she doesn't know how, so Naomi urges that the only thing they can do is stand by the people they love. Drummer, choking back her tears, tells Naomi to fuck herself and calls her a self-righteous shit, but Naomi only gives her a tight hug in response. Drummer breaks down and, though she keeps telling Naomi to fuck herself, she returns the hug and weeps into Naomi's shoulder.

Avasarala, escorted by a contingent of UN Marines, walks out of the Zenobia for the first time since her arrival on the station. Drummer, meanwhile, wades through the crowds of Belters and arrives unescorted. They meet in the docks, surrounded by Belters witnessing the exchange, including Monica who watches carefully from the walkways above.

Drummer comments she didn't expect Avasarala to leave her ship, to which she replies by playfully asking if she would have agreed to meet otherwise. Drummer is mistrustful and speaks concisely, while Avasarala puts her charm and charisma on display, though remaining uncompromising and serious. After a bit of trading jabs and comparing losses, Drummer asks her to plainly say what she wants, and Avasarala replies honestly; she needs Drummer's help to win the war, and the sooner they end it, the less casualties will be suffered by both their people.

Drummer asks if, when Marco is dead and the last shot is fired, Avasarala will remember all the Belters who bled for her victory. Avasarala replies that she can only promise she will, adding that, though she's given Belters many reasons to hate her, she has given them none to think she is a liar. Both women express they never thought they'd see the day when Belters and Inners joined forces to fight against other Belters, and Drummer warns that she and her people won't take orders from Avasarala. She replies she doesn't expect them to and offers her hand to Drummer. After a moment of consideration, Drummer shakes Avasarala's hand.

Main

• Steven Strait as James Holden
• Dominique Tipper as Naomi Nagata
• Wes Chatham as Amos Burton
• Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper
• Cara Gee as Camina Drummer
• Nadine Nicole as Clarissa Mao
• Keon Alexander as Marco Inaros
• Jasai Chase-Owens as Filip Inaros
• Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala

Guest Starring

• Anna Hopkins as Monica Stuart
• Joanne Vannicola as Nico Sanjrani
• Krista Bridges as Sandrine Kirino
• Kathleen Robertson as Rosenfeld Guoliang

Co-Starring

• Lyndie Greenwood as Elvi Okoye
• Samer Salem as Josep
• Vanessa Smythe as Michio
• Emma Ho as Cara Bisset
• Ian Ho as Xan Bisset
• Daniel Jun as Gary Bisset
• Dianne Aguilar as Dot Bisset
• Conrad Coates as Admiral Sidiqi
• Ted Dykstra as Gareth
• Joe Perry as Tadeo
• Hannah Gallant as Admiral Mazzuca
• Virgilia Griffith as Tynan Cremember #2
• Emmanuel John as Pella Officer
• Kristian Kadirgamar as Pella Officer #2
• Emily Woloszuk as Drunken Pella Crew Member
• Lindsay Owen Pierre as UN Harbormaster Hoult
• Jermaine James as Pascal
• Andre Colquhoun as Ceres Medic
• Sean James as UN Checkpoint Marine #1
• Samy Osman as UN Checkpoint Marine #2
• Tremaine Nelson as Belter Line