71.Victory

Following the climactic battle against the Others, Bill reports the military victory and reveals a devastating secret: he orchestrated the destruction of the Others' home system years ago, which has now gone nova. The Bobs and their human passengers discuss the implications of genocide and prepare to return the survivors to Earth.

Bill arrives with cartoonish injury effects to report that the Bobs have destroyed all Others hardware in their system except Bellerophon, though losing 90% of their own ships in the process. He then discloses that he launched an experimental attack in 2225 targeting GL 877, the Others' home system. The system went nova ten days ago, confirmed by monitor drones, eliminating the Others completely. While Herschel notes the philosophical weight of committing genocide, Bill acknowledges the Others' atrocities justify the action. Herschel then delivers grim news: a grazing attack hit Cuba, killing approximately 150,000 people on Earth. Bill accepts responsibility and commits to informing Will. The conversation shifts to practical matters: the Bobs begin unloading human passengers from Herschel's ship. They decide not to revive the remaining six million humans in stasis, as Earth's current habitability is limited. Instead, they will produce additional stasis pods using available materials and autofactories repurposed from defense manufacturing, allowing waking survivors to be dropped at the best locations while others remain in stasis until conditions improve.