Grace teaches Rocky relativity, then both spend two weeks mass-producing a 10 km xenonite chain and a steel sampling probe that can seal, heat-hold, and transmit Eridian telemetry. They spool the chain externally and prepare for a risky low, engine-supported pass over Adrian’s breeding layer.

Grace manually flies butt-first at 1.5 g, leveling to about 127 m/s forward speed while the engines’ IR blast creates a growing red-hot glow in Adrian’s air. Rocky releases twenty chain spools; the probe detects target density and seals. With the sampler full, Grace dons an EVA suit in 1.4 g and uses a purpose-built winch to disassemble and lift the chain, dumping links into Adrian to avoid tangles. He slows in time and secures the sampler.

Sudden jolts hit the ship as hull structures strain. Grace sprints inside, fires the spin drives to reach orbital velocity, and fights unstable attitude. In orbit, apparent gravity persists and increases. Diagnostics reveal a melted 20 m hull breach on the port fuel tank from reflected IR; exposed fuel Astrophage “sees” Adrian and migrates, creating chaotic thrust. Grace jettisons a fuel bay, then a second, to stop the leak, but the off-axis plumes spin the ship violently.

Pinned and unable to breathe under extreme centripetal force, Grace starts to black out. Ammonia floods the compartment and heat builds; Rocky has come through the large airlock into the human side, slashes Grace’s restraints, and heaves the seat off him. Free but gasping and coughing in ammonia, Grace watches Rocky collapse from the hostile environment after saving him.