Part 2

Bob learns about Project HEAVEN—the initiative to send replicant probes to discover and colonize habitable Earths—and the political obstacles threatening it. Dr. Landers briefs Bob on the geopolitical landscape of 2133, rival nations' competing probe projects, and the sabotage risks posed by hostile factions both within FAITH and internationally.

Dr. Landers arrives visibly angry, explaining that FAITH factions opposing the project have intensified their efforts after the announcement of viable candidates for Project HEAVEN (Habitable Earths Abiogenic Vessel Exploration Network). The project has been repeatedly scaled down from eight vessels to four to one due to budget cuts and political pressure. Multiple groups oppose it: those who dislike replicants, those against off-world expansion, and those who view self-replicating vessels as blasphemous. The main concern is sabotage, made easier by reducing the project to a single point of failure. Later, Bob presses Dr. Landers on geopolitics. The doctor explains consolidation into major powers: FAITH controls North America (except Washington, British Columbia, Alaska); the USE covers Europe and western Russia; China dominates eastern Russia and Asian territories; the Middle East remains devastated and uninhabitable after resource wars following cheap fusion energy. Six major powers account for 80% of the planet. When Bob asks about competing probe projects, Dr. Landers confirms that the USE, China, Brazil, and FAITH all have active programs, with Australia suspected. The SURGE drive breakthrough made interstellar probes feasible only two years ago, creating a new space race. Dr. Landers describes the other nations' approaches: China sacrificed quality for speed using an AMI (problematic); Brazil is believed to be militarizing probes for sabotage and competition elimination; the USE represents the most serious long-term threat due to superior resources, technology, and colonization experience. Bob and the other replicant candidate are positioned as FAITH's advantages—their adaptability and intelligence contrast favorably with the expected phlegmatic replicant design philosophy. The chapter ends with Bob humorously requesting a raise.