63.Well, Hold On

Herschel and the other Bobs devise an emergency plan to save six million additional people by landing the Bellerophon in Earth's atmosphere and using it as a massive transport vessel. They execute the first pickup operation successfully, loading the first enclave into stasis pods and cargo bays despite logistical challenges and some casualties.

Neil and Will arrive in Herschel's VR to report that eight million stasis pods have been installed on the Bellerophon, occupying only two percent of the ship's volume. Will reveals he has postponed the difficult decision about which six million humans to save, unable to face the public backlash. During planning for orbit operations, Herschel learns from Bill that the ship's thirty-two mover plates can support atmospheric entry, leading him to propose landing the ship on Earth to pick up refugees directly. After brief discussion, the four Bobs vote to proceed without UN approval due to time constraints. Herschel carefully descends the ten-kilometer vessel through Earth's atmosphere using the mover plates, with Neil managing the cargo doors and station-keeping. As the ship equalizes internal pressure over thirty minutes, Will coordinates with transport vessels to begin evacuating humans. The first enclave is successfully loaded, though sixteen people die during boarding through trampling, medical issues, and police confrontations. Will encourages Herschel not to dwell on the losses. The plan calls for filling the first eight million stasis pods, then loading remaining refugees into cargo bays equipped with netting, with no permanent life-support infrastructure prepared. Herschel directs the Bellerophon upward for the next pickup location, having completed one of ten planned stops to collect all Sol system humanity.