26. Tensions Rise

Bill discovers unauthorized login attempts to SCUT equipment using old, shared credentials—likely from Starfleet—and takes preemptive security measures. He and Garfield discuss growing tensions within the Bobiverse over the schism regarding contact with biological beings, with Bill concerned that their pro-contact position may become a minority viewpoint.

Bill reviews accumulated tasks while in virt and discovers attempted logins to SCUT relay stations and autofactories using the old common equipment ID from when all Bobs were unified. Garfield observes the logins are almost certainly Starfleet's doing. Bill has already changed all login credentials across every piece of equipment in the Bobiverse and sent encrypted instructions to equipment owners to change passwords again without sharing them. When Garfield worries Starfleet might escalate, Bill dismisses the possibility of military action, arguing the conflict is political rather than territorial and the disputants are geographically dispersed. Bill mentions contacting bio government officials but doubts they take the VR-based problem seriously. He recounts visiting the Gamers during Heaven's River negotiations and experiencing their full-immersion combat LARPS, noting they aren't opposed to Starfleet's break-with-bios stance—they simply view biologicals as distracting. This concerns Bill, as it suggests the pro-contact faction may become outnumbered. Garfield suggests making themselves a poorer target and relocating their moot and backup station, but Bill reveals Ultima Thule is already hidden far outside Epsilon Eridani, though dozens of other Bobs now know its location through multiple cloning generations. Both express dismay at the instability emerging in what was meant to be a utopian existence.