Patria soldiers find a newly built New Patria fortress at Bold Creek before being sniped by Miles, the Incarnate Centaur. One week later, a council is held at Patria's capital. With the fortress, New Patria has a straight shot across the central mountains to the capital. The army is assembled to bring down the fortress. Claude interrogates Hank, certain he's with Cain. He wants to know what Cain is planning and what his brother is thinking, but Hank doesn't know. He's about to shift to torture when Schaal says they should work together for the same goal. When orders come in from the president to head to Bold Creek, Claude agrees as they have a more pressing problem...