20. Bill – December 2145 – Epsilon Eridani

Bill, one of the Bob clones, arrives at Epsilon Eridani and encounters a Delphian ship in the system. He must navigate first contact protocols while dealing with the reality that the Delphians—an ancient spacefaring species—are now aware of humanity's expansion.

Bill enters Epsilon Eridani space and immediately detects an unexpected vessel: a Delphian ship. Rather than attack, Bill initiates communication protocols, broadcasting peaceful intent. The Delphians respond with their own peaceful overtures, though there is underlying tension in the exchange. Bill realizes that his arrival and the presence of multiple human expansion efforts have not gone unnoticed by the Delphians, who have clearly been monitoring human activity. The encounter represents humanity's first direct contact with an established spacefaring civilization, raising significant questions about territorial claims, future coexistence, and the timeline of human expansion.