Chapter 66

Mario, a Bob clone who ventured far from Sol to Beta Hydri, discovers an alien spacecraft crash site on a barren planet stripped of all metal deposits. His investigation uncovers evidence of an advanced alien civilization with dangerous self-replicating nanomachines and a dead ecosystem killed by radiation, suggesting the aliens systematically harvested resources and eliminated planetary life.

Mario arrives at Beta Hydri system after 23.4 light-years of travel, hoping to establish a presence before other Bobs. Finding the system mysteriously depleted of metal ore despite the star's expected metallicity, he investigates the fourth planet with Guppy, his AI companion. Deep scans reveal an anomaly: a crashed alien cargo vessel containing refined metal ingots and remnants of a dead ecosystem spanning the planet's surface. Biological analysis drones determine the ecosystem was killed by gamma radiation approximately fifty to one hundred years ago. When roamers investigate the wreck, they trigger self-replicating mechanical ants that immediately attack and disassemble the roamers. Mario destroys the roamers to prevent contamination and discovers the ants are powered by SUDDAR scanning beams—technology allowing power transmission through subspace. High-precision scans of captured ants reveal sophisticated alien engineering. The wreck itself contains fusion reactors, SURGE drives, and modified SUDDAR transmitters designed for power transmission. Evidence suggests the aliens conducted systematic resource extraction and biological harvesting across the system, possibly killing the planetary life intentionally. Mario realizes he must inform the other Bobs of this threat but lacks sufficient materials to build a transmission station, forcing him to abandon his newfound domain.