53. Bob – June 2166 – Delta Eridani

Milo arrives at the 82 Eridani system and discovers two potentially habitable planets in the Comfort Zone. While surveying the outer planet, he is suddenly attacked by missiles launched from the moon—eight total, in two waves—revealing an ambush by Medeiros. Milo manages to destroy the first four missiles with his busters but runs out of defensive ordnance and cannot intercept the second wave before impact.

Milo decelerates into the 82 Eridani system, a G5V yellow star with characteristics favorable for habitation. Initial surveys indicate two planets within the Comfort Zone, exciting Milo with the prospect of multiple successful discoveries. As he moves toward the outer of the two planets, which possesses two moons and substantial water bodies, proximity alarms alert him to four missiles accelerating toward him from behind the larger moon. Unable to escape, Milo launches all eight of his defensive busters in paired formations to intercept the first wave while simultaneously transmitting his situation back to Bill at Epsilon Eridani. Before his busters can complete their mission, four additional missiles appear from the opposite side of the moon, revealing a coordinated two-pronged ambush. With no busters remaining and insufficient time to reload his rail gun, Milo manages to destroy two or three of the second wave with his rail gun before the final missiles close on his position. The chapter ends with impact imminent.