
It’s important to separate our awe at Irina’s sheer willpower from any real respect for her character. She remains as manipulative and untrustworthy as ever. If she sees an opening, she’ll exploit it – and the current situation at Happy Valley, with Lenya trying to keep things running and the iridium shipments flowing, is perfect for her. Being part of the Kuragin delegation on Mars gives her plenty of chances to get ahead, and she clearly enjoys causing trouble. She finds a ready-made group of people to bother – Lenya, Tasha, Aleida, and Dev, just to name a few – which makes the trip instantly satisfying for her.