Soledad begs not to volunteer for the Prince's Ring crossing, and Melba takes the assignment without revealing the darker purpose behind the kindness.
After emergency repairs to the Seung Un, Soledad learns that each Cerisier team must provide one temporary volunteer to the Thomas Prince for pursuit through The Ring. The prospect breaks through her remaining discipline. Remembering her father on Eros and her nightmares since the deceleration flip, she comes to Melba's cabin with darting eyes and a clenched jaw and pleads for Bob or Stanni to be chosen instead.
Melba Koh touches her arm, asks her to explain, and then declares that none of the others will go because she will take the assignment. Soledad receives genuine relief without knowing that Melba wants the transfer to continue hunting James Holden. Clarissa departs too quickly to say goodbye, leaving Soledad on the support ship she feared abandoning.
Soledad is a young adult woman in technician's clothing. Her specific features are undescribed; terror works visibly through a clenched jaw, wide darting eyes, and a voice compressed toward panic.
Soledad is the terrified subordinate whom Clarissa genuinely spares from the crossing while using the same choice to renew her revenge.