Eros Incident

The **Eros Incident** is actually two separate, though interconnected, events that occurred in fairly quick succession in 2292 CE.

## Protogen Experiment

After the protomolecule experiments on Phoebe were completed, Protogen made moves to test the extraterrestrial substance on a larger scale. They chose Eros as their laboratory and its population of roughly 100,000 inhabitants as their guinea pigs. The science team arrived on the asteroid aboard the *Osiris*, expecting the live sample to arrive via the *Anubis.*

Instead, however, the sole survivor of the *Anubis* -- which had become infected by the protomolecule, Julie Mao arrived aboard the shuttle *Anubis 1A*. She checked into the Blue Oster hotel, only to discover shortly afterwards that she too had been infected by the protomolecule. Despite efforts to prevent the infection spreading, she was unable to preserve her own life. Her corpse was soon discovered by Josephus Miller and the crew of the *Rocinante*. Ultimately, this led Anthony Dresden to discover the corpse and learn that he did, in fact, have a live sample with which to continue his plans for the large scale protomolecule experiment.

A ship docked at the station exploded, allowing CPM Security Corporation personnel -- who were actually criminals Protogen had hired to enact the experiment -- to declare a state of emergency and direct the population into shelters. Before entering, each civilian was given a shot for protection. These shots, however, actually contained protomolecule. Inside the shelters, the civilians were exposed to high levels of radiation. Most of the crew of the *Rocinante* returned to their ship instead, bring as many civilians as they could along with them.

Meanwhile, James Holden and Josephus Miller managed to enter one of the shelters without receiving a shot -- but fled after exposure to the radiation, using medication to slow the effects of radiation poisoning. As they made their way through the station, they encountered infected humans -- vomiting protomolecule. The duo began dodging these Pukers while making their way to the docks. Hostilities opened between CPM personnel, who had not realized the intentions of their employers, and the remaining Protogen personnel -- all of whom, on both sides, were attempting to flee the asteroid as well.

Ultimately, Holden and Miller made it to the *Rocinante* -- which promptly left the station. The only other ship to leave the infected station was the *Osiris*, which set off for Thoth Station.

## Destruction of Eros

The research project on Eros was abandoned after the attack on Thoth Station, the live feeds of Eros were unlocked and publicly broadcasting. The protomolecule, and the zombie-like humans infected with it, seemed to be singing and even eventually formed words. Realizing this might tempt people to enter the station, a plan was set in motion to destroy the asteroid.

The Outer Planets Alliance stole the *Nauvoo*, which they were responsible for constructing at Tycho Station, and launched it towards Eros. Meanwhile, the *Rocinante* and the *Guy Molinari* burned for the asteroid. The *Rocinante* reached Eros first and discovered the ship the *Marasmus* on its surface. When the captain of the *Marasmus* claimed they had not ventured inside, Holden gave them permission to depart.

On the surface of the station, Miller and a team of Belters were placing nuclear bombs, in order to destroy any entrances to the station. In the midst of this, they discovered the corpse of someone wearing a *Marasmus* uniform. After this was reported, Holden ordered the *Marasmus* destroyed in order to prevent the protomolecule from infecting other parts of the Sol system. Debris from the destroyed ship flew into Eros -- Miller and Diogo Harari had to hide to avoid being struck themselves. Unfortunately, one of their nuclear weapons was hit by the debris. In order to prevent it from detonating prematurely, Miller volunteered to manually deactivate the device every minute, allowing Diogo to leave the asteroid with his life.

As the *Nauvoo* approached the asteroid, about to strike it, the asteroid itself moved its position -- suddenly racing towards the inner parts of the Sol system. The protomolecule inside Eros had gained sentience, using the stations spin reactors through unknown means to propel the asteroid through space. Miller, aboard the speeding rock, discovered that the mind at the center of the protomolecule was actually that of Julie Mao, believing she was racing the *Razorback* home to Earth. Miller dragged the nuclear device to her corpse and made contact with her -- convincing her to instead crash into Venus.

## Source

The Eros Incident is derived from *The Expanse*.