The Edgeless Blade turns sideways and pops out of Newtonian existence. It too can micro-jump, reemerging a short blink away. It lists to one side, gravely wounded: the archangel Misery has left hir mark, at least. But now zie floats helpless, all eight limbs inert. Unforgiveable, what these Heretics have done. They must pay. But zie can’t move. Hir rage is indescribable.

In another sector of the battle, something moves with great deliberation. The Cherub-class destroyer, under the command of Captain Sunyata Diamond, cuts through space at full speed, its destination fully clear. At its helm is the woman whose life was destroyed years ago, whose existence had lurched forward on featureless gray tracks until the Messiah Misery Nomaki had come and showed her grace and light. She once again had found hope. Once again had a direction charted on the map of her life. A reason to be, a purpose for existence. And Captain Diamond Sunyata has sacrificed enough to get here. Crossed so many boundaries she didn’t think were breakable. She’s conspired against the Throne. Lied and participated in sedition. Abetted those condemned to death by law, admired them even. And at last, when she least expected it, she betrayed the direct orders of a general—the order to hold back, to abort the mission they had planned together, the path she had affixed her entire soul to. Captain Sunyata Diamond is prepared to give her entire being to the fight led by Misery Nomaki. She has pledged it. Her crew has pledged it. And it will be done, no matter the cost.

Captain Diamond Sunyata sees that her archnemesis is wounded. She knows she stands no chance against this ship. She does not have the weapons to fight it one-on-one.

She also knows this is the only chance she’ll get. If she wants to avenge her crew, if she wants to right the wrong that has darkened her life for the past five years, she has to act now.

The destroyer angles itself toward the gaping wound in the side of the Edgeless Blade, as though moved by the hand of the Larex Forge Hirself. This is a gift, the captain knows, this vulnerability in their inhuman and merciless enemy. She will do what needs to be done.

The hand of the Larex Forge cannot be denied.