Lunarians and Demetrians explore Dis, a planet of Proxima Centauri. Slow robotic ships visit other systems. The Astronomy Web searches for planets with oxygen atmospheres. One small near-light-speed supership bearing a copy of download Guthrie visits each of the three known examples:
one orbiting 82 Eridani;
one orbiting Beta Hydri;
one orbiting HD44594 in Puppis.
Two centuries later, the three ships have returned. The Guthrie copies download into their original and terminate. HD44594 turns out to have two oxygen-atmosphere planets, one already covered with complex life but the other suitable for terraforming and colonization.
Port Fireball has become a large city with a mostly machine population. Two centuries before the destruction of Demeter, the Demetrians are significantly reducing their population so that only a small number will need to travel elsewhere.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteIow, what we see here is a sense of urgency developing as the day of doom approaches for Demeter and its people make preparations for the evacuation. I might almost say EXODUS.
Sean