29. Panic Time

Bob discovers a massive communications blackout affecting BobNet, with multiple space stations going offline and refusing connections. He evacuates the four mannies to safety underwater and establishes a temporary relay using a backup drone, then coordinates with Bill and Bridget while stranded in Three Lagoons. After researching local history in the library, Bob learns that Heaven's River was presented to the Quinlans by Anec, who later implemented harsh punishment rules including random scattering for those who disobey.

Bob panics when he loses contact with Bill, Garfield, and Bridget, discovering that the Midway relay station is actively refusing connections while other BobNet stations go offline. He quickly moves all four mannies to the river bottom for safety and reactivates a temporary drone relay, allowing limited communication with Bill via audio-only. Bill reports over half their space stations are down and unreachable, with the main network offline. Bob sends a drone to investigate the Midway station, which will take six weeks to arrive. Unable to maintain VR or manny connections through the limited relay, Bob deploys roamers throughout Three Lagoons's pubs and municipal buildings to gather intelligence, then reunites the mannies at their hotel. Bridget contacts him through an alternate route via the Pav home system, and Hugh offers to transfer himself to help, but Bob declines due to bandwidth constraints. Bob orders Guppy to prioritize building three local replicant matrices. While exploring Three Lagoons, Bob visits the library and interviews the librarian, discovering that Anec originally gifted Heaven's River to the Quinlans but later implemented harsh retribution including random 'scattering'—forced relocation of individuals or entire towns to random locations—after they disobeyed or betrayed him. The long-distance communications and rapid travel systems were also removed as punishment. Bob and Bridget discuss the implications: with a population possibly numbering in the billions and the Administrator's apparent willingness to use violence, going public would be dangerous. They conclude that for now, the expedition must continue relying on Bob and his future clones.