WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Expanse Season 5, Episode 10, "Nemesis Games," available now on Amazon Prime Video.
In the closing moments of The Expanse Season 5, Episode 10, "Nemesis Games," Marco Inaros makes a play for Medina Station within Ring Space, with assistance from partisans in Medina Station as well as a rogue Martian fleet that seems to be coordinated by Admiral Sauveterre, the Martian Admiral who spoke of defending Ring Space in the second episode of the fifth season, "Churn." After the battle, Sauveterre has a tight beam conversation with Marco Inaros in which he congratulates Marco on behalf of Admiral Duarte and announces the Laconia system beyond one of the gates within the Ring is now under their control. But who is Admiral Duarte and what is the Laconia system?
Duarte and Laconia play a big role in Persepolis Rising and Tiamat's Wrath, the seventh and eighth novels in The Expanse book series, however both stories are set almost 30 years ahead of the story currently unfolding on the TV show, leading to questions surrounding Duarte and Laconia's involvement in Season 6. Furthermore, on the show, the rogue Martian fleet have struck a deal with Marco that included the acquisition of the Protomolecule sample and the expert services of Dr. Cortazar, so it's likely some dubious experimentation is afoot.
First introduced in Nemesis Games, the fifth novel in the book series, Winston Duarte is a former commander in the Martian Navy who assumed the role of Admiral after establishing a rogue fleet comprised of Martian navy defectors. Following the apparent fall of Mars after the appearance of the Ring Gates, Duarte started taking steps to ally himself with the Free Navy, supplying their fleet in exchange for the Protomolecule sample and Dr. Cortezar. Now that the rogue faction has helped Marco capture Medina Station, Duarte has taken much of his fleet through the Laconia Gate to a viable settlement on the other side. Cortazar has already started using the Protomolecule sample there to aid in the construction of highly advanced orbital platforms that will help Duarte create Laconian ships.
Cortazar indicates that he's almost ready to move onto the third phase upon Admiral Sauveterre's arrival on the Barkeith. However, upon transit through Ring Space, the Barkeith begins to dematerialize with Sauveterre and Babbage still on board. What this means is unclear, but if the previous instances of similarly uncanny events are any indication, it is likely that Protomolecule shenanigans have once again caught the attention of something else out there, as Holden has already alluded to.
In Persepolis Rising, Admiral Duarte finally reveals his Laconian Empire, having already elevated himself to the role of High Consul. Years of work with the Protomolecule in secret have resulted in technological advancements that far exceed anything else in the Sol system, which ultimately leads to a rather one-sided expansion of his empire. Duarte sends two ships through the Laconia Gate and into the Sol System, dominating all who oppose them, leading to a surrender by Earth, Mars and the Belt. During these events, Holden is captured and transported back to Laconia, where be lives in Duarte's guilded cage as Naomi, Clarissa, Bobbie, Alex and Amos all attempt to fight back against Laconia alongside a Belter-led underground rebellion.
How these elements will fit into Season 6 is unclear since they're technically not expected to enter the story for another three decades. However, fans will need some kind of resolution when the final season comes to a close. It may well be that Marco and his Free Navy will be taken care of relatively early in the season so Laconia and Duarte can become the show's next big bad. That said, to do all of that in the usual 10 episodes that Seasons 4 and 5 have consisted of may seem a little rushed, leading us to hope that Season 6 is longer than those that have come before it.
An adaptation of the novel series of the same name by James S.A. Corey, The Expanse stars Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Frankie Adams. All five seasons of the show are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.