15.      A Visit From Bill

Mario arrives at Zeta Tucanae after a seven-year journey and discovers another civilization has been systematically destroyed by the same unknown force that devastated Beta Hydri 4. The planet's habitable zone shows signs of massive industrialized destruction—ruined cities, disassembled infrastructure, and evidence that all life and useful materials have been stripped away.

Mario completes his journey from Beta Hydri to Zeta Tucanae, spending the transit reviewing records of the previous system's genocide. He remains uncertain about the mechanism or motive behind the planetary destruction but knows he must warn Bill and the other Bobs. Upon arrival at Zeta Tucanae, Mario follows cautious protocols while scanning for threats—including potential Medeiros clones, aliens, or other probes. The star is slightly larger and more luminous than Sol, with lower metallicity but still viable for colonization. Mario discovers the asteroid belt has already been stripped of metals by the unknown Others. Examining the habitable zone planet reveals catastrophic destruction: entire cities dismantled, bridges and dams disassembled, vehicles emptied of contents, and infrastructure torn apart regardless of collateral damage. Drone scans confirm the devastation is global in scale, indicating billions of sentient beings were killed. The systematic collection of bodies combined with the thorough resource extraction leads Mario to conclude that contact with these Others will inevitably mean war.