Chapter 25
Summary
- The characters have made a breakthrough and acquired Taumoeba-35, a nitrogen-resistant strain.
- Their goal is to enhance Taumoeba to the point where it can survive on Venus and Threeworld.
- To get to Taumoeba-80, they have to incrementally increase nitrogen resistance through breeding in tanks.
- Rocky, the alien, creates a power converter for transitioning to Earth's electrical systems.
- Ryland Grace and Rocky discuss exchanging gifts before parting ways: technology from Earth for Rocky, and xenonite for humans.
- Ryland Grace faces the methodical cleanup of Taumoeba feces, which complicates fuel storage.
- Some Taumoeba survives the cleanup, necessitating more thorough tank scraping & nitrogen purging.
- Rocky continues to work on technological solutions and shares the exciting progress with breeding Taumoeba-62.
- The mission becomes "un-suiciding" as Ryland Grace must cater to contingency plans from previous one-way expectations.
- An issue arises with unusable bolt holes in fuel bays, which may impact the ship's structural integrity.
- They finally achieve success with Taumoeba-82.5, able to survive Venus and Threeworld atmospheres.
- Ryland Grace and Rocky share a celebratory moment with vodka, acknowledging their accomplishments and upcoming separation.
- Ryland Grace looks to Ilyukhina’s personal belongings for alcohol to celebrate their successful experiment.
- Preparations for departure begin, such as ensuring farm systems for Taumoeba are operational for both ships.
- Rocky departs on his spacecraft towards Erid, while Ryland Grace remains on Hail Mary, setting course for Earth.