In his lab, Ryland Grace interrogates three Astrophage cells (Larry, Curly, Moe) about their Venus-bound behavior while surveying frantic global findings: inconsistent magnetic responses, odd biological effects, and Earthlike biochemistry including DNA, mitochondria, water, and ATP. Seeking their lifecycle, he builds a lightproof closet with an IR camera. In darkness the cells stop twitching, implying light-based navigation. A visible LED and a Venus-temperature IR source fail to elicit motion.

Grace hypothesizes spectroscopy-based guidance and constructs a light box emitting carbon dioxide’s 4.26 and 18.31 micron lines. The cells vanish between frames, then are found as heat spots on the filters. A fourth spot appears—one cell divided—proving reproduction. Further tests show two cells respond to one CO2 band while two ignore it, and vice versa, leading Grace to deduce the lifecycle: Astrophage charge at the Sun, follow magnetic lines away from the solar pole, lock onto Venus via CO2 spectral lines, breed in its upper atmosphere, then parent and child return to the Sun—the Petrova line. He confirms sun-seekers respond to an intense flash.

Grace calls Stratt; she immediately extracts him via a whirlwind military relay to a Chinese aircraft carrier hosting an international council. He presents his methods and lifecycle theory. Asked about scaling, he proposes an elbow-shaped CO2-filled ceramic breeder with a hot, bright “Sun” end, a magnetic coil to guide migrants, and a CO2-spectrum “Venus” end. China confirms reproduction and an ~8-day doubling time.

Stratt unveils normalized amateur data: many nearby stars have dimmed for decades, with infections propagating to neighbors within ~8 light-years; uniquely, Tau Ceti remains uninfected amid infected neighbors. The team resolves to send a spacecraft there.

Russian researcher Dimitri Komorov reports laser tests: an Astrophage absorbs 1.5 MJ without heating, then becomes 17 ng heavier—direct mass–energy storage. Astrophage later reconverts mass to Petrova-frequency thrust, making it an ideal propellant and engine. The plan requires ~2 million kilograms of enriched Astrophage for a 100,000 kg ship. Stratt assigns Grace to design and build breeder facilities aboard the carrier, operating at sea to mitigate catastrophic risk.