Freighters for trade, spares, and survivor accommodation

Freighters in the proposed expedition would carry extra spare parts and sample goods for establishing trade. The objection that replicators can make those goods receives a technology-transfer argument: a new contact might then demand the replicator itself. Clarke would use ordinary cargo to demonstrate trade without revealing that capability. Extra hulls would also accommodate survivors if a Galaxy were lost. Another participant thinks one ship could absorb its crew, prompting a reminder that a normal five-year mission also carries civilians. The freighters' value is therefore disputed across commercial, security, and recovery functions.