The Conflict of Taumoeba Contamination

The unintended side effect of the bred Taumoeba threatens to destroy both ships.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The First Contamination

The Fuel Turned to Sludge The Smell of Rot Grace opens the BOCOA container of Astrophage and smells rot. He realizes Taumoeba have escaped and are eating the fuel. The contamination is spreading. He quickly vents the ship's air and replaces it with nitrogen to kill the microbes. The Investigation Grace discovers that the Taumoeba-80 can permeate xenonite, the material of the breeder tanks. The contamination originated from the tanks. He isolates the farms and sterilizes the ship. The Lesson Grace learns that evolution is unpredictable. The Taumoeba developed the ability to hide from nitrogen by entering the xenonite. This is a classic example of unintended consequences.

The Blip-A's Contamination

The Dire Realization The Xenonite Ship Grace realizes that the Blip-A is made of xenonite. The same Taumoeba that contaminated his fuel will have infected Rocky's ship. He calculates that Rocky's fuel will be consumed, leaving him derelict. The Decision Grace must choose between going home and saving his friend. He decides to turn back. The conflict is personal as well as technical. The Rescue Grace finds the Blip-A dead in space. He rescues Rocky, and they travel to Erid together. The contamination crisis is overcome, but it alters the course of Grace's life.

After Grace's Taumoeba breeding

After Grace's realization