39. Bob – October 2165 – Delta Eridani

Bill receives Milo's report from Epsilon Eridani detailing the discovery of two habitable planets in that system. Bill considers the implications for humanity's future and discusses the findings with Garfield, while continuing work on various projects including artificial bodies and ice mapping in Ragnarök's Kuiper.

Bill is interrupted from his work on artificial muscle analogs when Guppy indicates an incoming message from Milo has arrived. The report reveals that Milo's probe has discovered two habitable planets in the Epsilon Eridani system—a significant finding given that habitable worlds are rare. Bill notes that Milo has named the planets as he himself would have done. Bill queues the report for forwarding to Earth, though he acknowledges the transmission will take nine years to arrive, leaving him uncertain whether anyone at Sol still exists to benefit from this discovery. He pings Garfield to discuss the findings, and they express both excitement at having a potential destination for human colonization and concern about whether humanity has survived. Bill reflects on his changed perspective since leaving Earth—he now finds himself wanting to help humanity despite initially wanting to escape it. Garfield updates Bill on the Kuiper mapping project, where they are identifying large ice chunks to eventually move to Ragnarök, with Garfield having already deployed beacons on promising candidates.