Grace discovers the Hail Mary mission

Stratt reveals the Hail Mary Project to Grace: an interstellar mission to Tau Ceti, a star mysteriously unaffected by Astrophage. The goal is to discover why Tau Ceti is immune and use that knowledge to save Earth. Grace learns that the ship will be powered by Astrophage itself, which can convert mass into energy with incredible efficiency. The mission is a one-way suicide trip, and Grace is initially horrified by the prospect. This revelation sets the stage for the novel's central quest and Grace's eventual acceptance of his role.