57. Mario – August 2169 – Beta Hydri

Bob and Marvin defend the Deltan migration against a devastating gorilloid raid, saving some abductees but losing many busters in the process. Facing resource constraints and the realization that gorilloids are numerous on this side of the mountain pass, Bob decides to halt the migration temporarily and dramatically increase manufacturing capacity by bootstrapping printer production and building a chemistry lab for explosive weapons. He also works with the local Deltans, particularly Archimedes and Arnold, on practical improvements like tent design and spear straightening.

The chapter opens with a gorilloid raid at dawn on the Deltan migration. The attackers overwhelm the unprepared Deltans despite Bob and Marvin's intervention with busters (flying rocks that disintegrate targets). Bob orders drones to track abducted Deltans and has Guppy bring in additional busters from the autofactory. Marvin suggests using busters at low speed to stun rather than destroy, allowing Deltans to finish off the gorilloids hand-to-hand. They save approximately one-third of the abductees, though some suffer permanent injuries. Nearly twenty Deltans are killed in total. Bob orders the autofactory to prioritize buster production and begins retrieving the damaged units for repair. Facing what he calculates to be gorilloid territory, Bob makes a major strategic decision: he halts the migration for five days, orders printer bootstrap production (duplicating manufacturing capacity despite operational costs), and commits to building a chemistry lab for explosive weapons—a significant philosophical concession given the Bobs' aversion to explosives. He pitches this plan to the Deltan elders, emphasizing temporary delay and better preparation. Arnold supports Bob's assessment that the gorilloids are numerous and organized. Bob then spends time with Archimedes and Arnold on practical matters: attempting to teach tent construction (which Archimedes finds impractical for a mobile people) and discussing spear straightening techniques using steam and bending jigs, which both Deltans embrace.