Manford Torondo leads his Butlerian warships toward the Thonaris star system, trusting Gilbertus Albans’s Mentat prediction. In his cabin, Manford studies Erasmus’s logbooks, whose accounts of torture and experimentation deepen Manford’s belief that thinking machines must be eradicated. Although Manford remains uneasy about Gilbertus’s admiration for machines, Manford now sees Mentats and Butlerians as useful allies.

Manford shows Gilbertus the Erasmus journals, emphasizing the robot’s warning that humans may forget and recreate machines. Gilbertus is visibly disturbed and instantly memorizes the pages with his Mentat training. Uncomfortable with the expedition, Gilbertus asks to withdraw and meditate before the coming battle.

During the week-long voyage, Manford reflects that destroying a supposedly dead machine outpost may be an empty victory. Even so, Manford decides the attack will strengthen his followers’ unity and prepare them to accept future action against less obvious enemies, such as those who justify using machines.

When the fleet arrives, the Butlerians discover that Thonaris is not dead. The old machine manufacturing center is active, with automated factories, construction docks, and new ships under production. Anari Idaho identifies VenHold patrol ships guarding the complex, and scans reveal that Josef Venport has reactivated fourteen robotic manufacturing facilities.

Josef Venport contacts Manford and insists the facility is legitimate Venport property, threatening legal action, financial penalties, and denial of transport services. Manford declares the factories illegal thinking-machine technology and orders his ships to target three automated complexes. The bombardment destroys the facilities in massive explosions.

Venport angrily reveals that people were inside the destroyed areas and remain in other facilities. Manford refuses to stop, arguing that those who revived machine operations are already damned, but he allows one hour for evacuation. Manford offers three ships for personnel, who will be taken as prisoners before the Butlerians resume destroying the Thonaris complex.