15.Enclaves

Riker confronts the severe resource scarcity problem limiting colony ship construction from Sol. He proposes an alternative plan to place fourteen million people in stasis pods instead of continuing the slow emigration process, but the UN representatives reject the proposal as emotionally unpalatable despite its mathematical logic.

Riker reviews a report from Charles detailing declining productivity in construction efforts due to resource depletion. Metal caches throughout the solar system have been exhausted by previous human mining and warfare, forcing crews to scavenge scraps. At current rates, completing emigration would take approximately 560 years, with only 25,000 people leaving annually. Charles suggests building colony ships at other stars, but Riker notes the logistical difficulties and that Sol remains the best construction location. They discuss keeping enclaves viable through subterranean or ice-based existence, though this would create complete dependence on the Bobs and eliminate industrial autonomy. Riker reflects on recent deaths of Homer and other extended family members, prompting him to reconsider previously dismissed ideas. Charles proposes mass stasis as an alternative: fourteen million pods could preserve the population indefinitely, though construction would require cannibalizing twelve existing ships and halting new construction for fifty years. Riker decides to present this to the UN despite reservations. Representative Misra questions the proposal but ultimately rejects it, noting that three hundred thousand people would emigrate under the current system during delegates' lifetimes, whereas the stasis plan would leave seven million dead of old age while awaiting pods. Minister MacIntyre hostilely questions whether the Bobs would ever revive the stasis sleepers. After hours of debate, the UN defers decision and continues the current emigration schedule.