9.      Something is Out There

Bill's third cohort Bob arrives at Eta Cassiopeiae and discovers planet three—a water world with no land, abundant oxygen-producing plant mats, and a rich underwater ecosystem. After surveying the system and setting up mining operations, he creates two new clones, Skinner and Jonny, whose divergent personalities immediately become apparent.

The Bob of this cohort reaches Eta Cassiopeiae A after twenty years of travel, finding no Jovian planets but locating a habitable third planet in the comfort zone with oxygen and water signatures. Initial surveys reveal the planet is entirely oceanic with no land masses and an ocean floor eight hundred kilometers deep. Further investigation discovers massive floating plant mats kilometers in diameter that produce the planet's oxygen through photosynthesis, supported by a rich underwater ecosystem teeming with life. The biology drone confirms the ecosystem is biocompatible with humans, making the world suitable for colonization despite its unusual all-water environment. Meanwhile, the Bob sets up an autofactory on the fourth planet's moon and begins mining operations. He constructs two new computer matrices and creates two clones: Skinner and Jonny Quest (HIC3821-1 and HIC3821-2). The clones immediately show divergent personalities—Skinner is cooperative and considering staying in the system, while Jonny is sarcastic, dismissive of the system as uninteresting, and eager to leave once his vessel is ready. The Bob decides to name the water world Poseidon and plans to create additional clones while continuing automated mining operations.