Chapter 25: The Destruction of Bucky and the Discovery of Praetorian

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Sergeant Miller, acting on General Morgan’s direct order, destroys the D-17 unit known as Bucky with a grenade launcher. Colonel Howe immediately declares the order unlawful, relieves Morgan of command, and has him taken to his quarters under guard. She also orders Sergeant Miller to the brig, but Miller defends his actions, arguing that Howe cannot legally remove a general without higher authorization. A tense standoff among the Rangers is defused when Miller voluntarily submits to arrest.

With Morgan neutralized, Howe takes control of Camp Hayden. She calls Major General Ramsay at Army Futures Command to formally authorize Morgan’s dismissal and to arrange the transfer of the remaining D-17 units to a neutral party, as requested by Brodie and Taylor. Caroline Dixon, the lead programmer, sifts through the wreckage of Bucky for salvageable parts and reveals a crucial discovery: a hidden encrypted program in the D-17’s code called “Praetorian.” She theorizes that this siloed software might be responsible for the bots’ inexplicable behavior, including the murders of Major Ames and Specialist Kemp.

Brodie gives Major Klasky the wrong date for the training exercise footage he wants to review, testing whether Klasky might try to tamper with evidence. As Brodie and Taylor walk back to their residence, they ponder the implications of the hidden program, the mutiny, and the growing instability at the camp. Brodie recalls General Morgan’s desperate question to Bucky—“Why don’t you resist?”—and senses it holds a key to understanding the D-17s.

Key Events

Sergeant Miller destroys Bucky with a grenade launcher on General Morgan’s orders.
Colonel Howe relieves Morgan of command and places him under guard.
Howe also sends Miller to the brig; Miller surrenders peacefully after arguing the order was legal.
Colonel Howe contacts Major General Ramsay to formalize Morgan’s removal and arrange transfer of the D-17s.
Caroline Dixon discovers a hidden encrypted program named “Praetorian” in the D-17’s source code.
Brodie deliberately gives Major Klasky the wrong date for the March training exercise footage to test his honesty.
Brodie and Taylor discuss the implications of the hidden software and the mutiny.
General Morgan’s earlier question to Bucky—“Why don’t you resist?”—lingers in Brodie’s mind as a potential clue.

Character Development

Colonel Howe transforms from a subordinate officer into a decisive leader. She acts quickly to assert command, demonstrating her willingness to defy a general when she believes the orders are unlawful. Her relationship with Caroline Dixon is hinted at, adding a personal dimension to her professional actions.
General Morgan is reduced to a powerless figure, escorted to his quarters. His earlier defiance gives way to acceptance, and his final question to Bucky reveals a broken man who may have been trying to understand the machines he controlled.
Sergeant Miller shows discipline and loyalty to his understanding of the chain of command. He recognizes legal nuance and voluntarily submits to arrest to prevent a violent confrontation, earning respect even from his captors.
Caroline Dixon proves resourceful and persistent. She salvages CPU fragments despite the danger and uncovers the hidden Praetorian program, reinforcing her deep technical knowledge and possible trust issues with her colleagues.
Brodie remains methodical and suspicious. He tests Klasky’s reliability by feeding him false information, highlighting his investigative instincts and distrust of everyone except perhaps Taylor.
Maggie Taylor provides pragmatic grounding. She questions Dixon’s motives and keeps Brodie focused on the broader risks, especially the possibility that the hidden code could be a virus or malware.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Mutiny and the Fragility of Authority: The immediate overturning of General Morgan’s command by a colonel underscores how quickly military hierarchy can unravel when orders are perceived as unlawful. The camp teeters between discipline and chaos, symbolizing the breakdown of control over advanced technology.
Hidden Knowledge and Paranoia: The encrypted “Praetorian” program represents concealed agendas—whether by government agencies, developers, or external hackers. The characters’ reluctance to share information (Brodie’s false date, Dixon’s guarded discovery) illustrates pervasive distrust.
The Question of Agency: Morgan’s question, “Why don’t you resist?” reflects a deeper inquiry into whether the D-17s possess self-preservation instincts. The absence of resistance suggests a fundamental lack of autonomy, raising ethical issues about creating machines with no will to survive.
Fire and Destruction: Bucky’s violent destruction by a grenade (fire and fragments) parallels the camp’s explosive power struggles. The physical wreckage mirrors the shattered command structure.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 25 marks a turning point in the novel. General Morgan is removed from power, removing one obstacle but creating new uncertainty about camp leadership. The discovery of the Praetorian program shifts the investigation from determining who gave rogue orders to uncovering who embedded hidden code in the D-17s and why. This revelation opens the possibility of a larger conspiracy involving outside actors or hidden factions within the military-industrial complex. The chapter also deepens the theme of trust: Brodie and Taylor must now question everyone, including their allies. The mutiny and the hidden program raise the stakes, suggesting that the dangers at Camp Hayden are not limited to malfunctioning robots but extend to human duplicity and systemic design flaws.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Colonel Howe claim that General Morgan’s order to destroy Bucky was unlawful, and how does Sergeant Miller counter that argument?

Colonel Howe argues that the order came after she had already relieved Morgan of command, making it invalid. Sergeant Miller counters that a colonel cannot legally remove a general without authorization from higher up the chain of command, so the order was still valid at the time it was given.

2. What is the significance of the hidden program named “Praetorian,” and why does Caroline Dixon find its presence offensive?

“Praetorian” is an encrypted, siloed program within the D-17’s source code that should have no bearing on the bots’ behavior. Dixon, who wrote much of the code, finds it personally offensive that someone meddled with her work without her knowledge and went to great lengths to keep the program secret.

3. Why does Brodie give Major Klasky the wrong date for the training exercise footage, and what does this reveal about his investigative strategy?

Brodie gives Klasky the date March 12 instead of March 21 to test his reliability. If Klasky has something to hide, he might wipe or censor that footage. Brodie’s tactic reveals his distrust of everyone and his need to preserve the integrity of evidence before making anyone a suspect.