4. Collection Run

Herschel and Neil oversee the loading of massive metal ingots onto their cargo ship at New Pav, discussing the troubled state of human relations with alien species and considering how to use their newfound resources. They debate between accelerating to explore distant systems or establishing a human colony far outside known human space as insurance against existential threats.

Herschel monitors drones loading raw material ingots into the Bellerophon's hold while roamers secure them with cable netting and winches. He reflects on the inefficiency of their fifty years of system-hopping and notes that Jacques's trade deal with the Pav was successful, though the Pav themselves were curt in their interactions. Troubled by negative encounters with alien species—the Others, the Pav, and the Deltans—Herschel voices a pessimistic theory to Neil that mutually alien intelligences cannot coexist peacefully, and that humanity will inevitably face a technologically superior starfaring species leading to war or extinction. Neil dismisses this as overly gloomy and suggests they've earned credibility through their achievements: operating the largest cargo ship in human space and establishing five colonies. When Neil initially proposes using their windfall to accelerate toward interesting distant systems where other Bobs are heading, Herschel counters with the idea of placing a human colony far outside human space as insurance. This proposal appeals to Neil, who suggests using the ore to add thirty-two mover-plates to increase acceleration capability. They recognize the Bellerophon and its stasis pods have become obsolete but could regain relevance by establishing such a colony, though they acknowledge the remaining challenge of locating willing volunteers.