21.The Return

Bill receives a shocking interruption while visiting Mack at 82 Eridani: the Brazilian Medeiros has attacked and destroyed Mack's vessel with a missile. A desperate battle ensues as Bill coordinates multiple roamer crews across Mack's ship and Medeiros' vessel to protect the colony's infrastructure. Though Mack's replicant matrix escapes, Bill and the other Bobs must now contend with an enemy agent loose in their developing system.

Bill is relaxing at Mack's location in 82 Eridani when his connection is abruptly severed and Guppy reports the vessel is heavily damaged with the replicant offline. Using roamer drones, Bill discovers the Brazilian Medeiros has attacked Mack with a missile from close range. Bill immediately sends an emergency alert to all Bobs and begins coordinating a response, ordering crews to protect Mack's replicant matrix, sequester or destroy sensitive technology, and prepare to repel boarders. A fierce roamer-to-roamer battle erupts in Mack's cargo bay; though Medeiros' forces win and the vessel is destroyed by another missile, Mack's cube escapes with Thor, and the Bobs manage to disassemble most critical technology. Bill and other Bobs attempt a counter-assault on Medeiros' ship, winning a free-fall skirmish before Medeiros withdraws. Bill convenes an emergency meeting at the Moot and deduces that Medeiros likely built explosives at an intermediate system over decades and is now taking control of 82 Eridani's autofactories. With no help available from other Bob locations for at least a decade, Bill orders the separation and dispersal of all printers, coordination with the colonies, and a thorough review of Mack's records for any useful defensive resources.