Story so far
Rhone returns with Atlas au Raa to Lightbringer's isolated Hangar 17B and immediately surveys the machines, the guards, and Lysander for deviations. He understands Atlas's caution, learns that Darrow and Diomedes offered Lysander an alliance, and interprets Lysander's apparent indecision as a way to keep their enemies engaged. That careful loyalty makes him the hardest obstacle in the ambush.
When Cassius opens fire, Rhone saves Atlas by suppressing the sniper, then turns his full attention to Lysander. He uses multiple ammunition types, trick shots, gravBoots, a buffer pulse, acid, concealed knives, and an astonishing willingness to fight within a Gold's guard. Lysander impales and flays his thigh, but Rhone tears himself free, wounds Lysander through chest, lung, face, forearm, and hand, and continues after losing weapons and balance. A final daisy-cutter takes both calves above his gravBoots. Still trying to speak, Rhone is pinned and razored through the dragon helm three times. He is dead, and Lysander later publicly claims Dustwalkers killed him.
Appearance
A fit Gray officer in full Praetorian field armor with a dragon helmet, at once precise and predatory; his lethal battle wounds and death are not his canonical living appearance.
Role
Rhone is Atlas's and Lysander's formidable Dux, whose death removes the most disciplined immediate defender of the old covert order.
Relationships
Atlas au Raa — Atlas au Raa is Rhone's commander in the trap, and Rhone's suppressing fire gives the Fear Knight the chance to survive Cassius's opening attack.
Lysander — Lysander kills Rhone despite being nearly dismantled by him, then uses his death to falsely accuse Rim assassins.
Cassius — Cassius is Rhone's distant sniper threat, whom Rhone suppresses while Atlas moves to engage.
Sources — 8 recorded facts, by chapter
Chapter 5
- A scarred Praetorian commander becomes the hard-minded engine of Lysander's growing military power on Mercury.
Chapter 23
- Lysander's scarred Gray commander drives the Praetorians through the launch of Operation Polyphemus, enforcing ruthless professionalism while absorbing the political slights of a Gold-led army.
Chapter 29
- Lysander's Gray commander exposes the danger created by the missing Votum reserve and organizes an urgent recall as Victra lands Pegasus Legion behind the Phobos advance.
Chapter 31
- Rhone reports Ajax's death without softness and argues that a smaller, uglier Phobos war can still be won, calling it what it is: war.
Chapter 49
- Lysander's longtime Praetorian mentor admits that he poisoned his ward and joined Atlas, placing the Lune guard's war debts above Lysander's alliance with the Rim.
Chapter 66
- Rhone returns Lysander to the Lightbringer as the hard adviser who helped script the counteroffensive, while his Atlas connection turns every show of loyalty into a threat.
Chapter 81
- Rhone directs Lysander's brutal ground campaign with absolute discipline, arranging a false account for Gaia and policing even his own Praetorians' disrespect.
Chapter 86
- Rhone recognizes the Hangar 17B trap and fights Lysander with terrifying improvisation, dying only after refusing every disadvantage of being Gray against Gold.