Rhoda and Ricardo now head the Clan's War Thing, opposing the Circle of the Foe. So, Martin is able to end Yohanna's lockdown at Antonia's house, and he and General Smith can deal with the nearby cache of Soviet-made atomic bombs. The atomic bombs fit into Rhoda's plan to deal with a political faction in the Soviet government in a way that dovetails with rescuing Evelyn from the clutches of the Foe. Now, Hans, Isabel, and Leo, who have learned the tragedy of Ottilie Kruger's War Thing, have time to work through their separate and dangerous life-changing opportunities to join the new War Thing. With a little help from Rhoda, Ricardo establishes himself incognito in the Keep of the Ancient Foe, adjacent to New City University.