"Stage 5 preparing to drop reactor payload," announced the mission control operator.

Aaron, Erik, Friedrich, Hajime, and now even Saladin, watched nervously as the heat shields of the fifth stage of the Energia Lunar rocket opened.

Cameras mounted inside the cargo bay showed a massive metal case, bristling with retrorockets.

A small burst of gas dislodged it from the cargo bay and sent it hurtling towards the lunar surface.

"Retrorockets igniting," announced the operator, and the cargo bay camera revealed the bright white plumes of the reactor payload module's rockets firing to slow its descent.

"Reactor module touchdown success. All systems within working parameters," confirmed mission control.

Friedrich let out an explosive breath.

"Whew! That was rough! All right, let's do a reactor systems check," he said, and brought up the liquid metal reactor's systems on his computer screen.

"Diagnostic complete, systems are operational," he announced with relief.

"All right, drop the refinery module," said Erik, as the Energia Lunar rocket stages came around again.

"Refinery module jettisoned, rockets igniting," came the announcement.

This time, it was Hajime's turn to bite his fingernails as the refinery module hurtled towards the moon's surface.

"We have touchdown," announced the mission control operator.

"All right, deploy the drones, and we'll hook them up," said Aaron, as the sixth stage of the Energia Lunar rocket separated, and performed a controlled vertical landing.

"Why did you get a full rocket stage?" asked Hajime, as the sixth stage which was the lander module touched down.

"That's why," said Aaron, as the lander module's bay doors opened and hundreds of mining drones swarmed out.

"Can't argue with that I suppose," grumbled Friedrich as the drones hooked up thick power cables from the reactor module to the refinery module.

"Power systems have been connected. Friedrich, start the reactor," said Aaron, monitoring the information on his terminal.

"Initiating reactor startup," said Friedrich, tapping the startup sequence code into his terminal.

They waited with bated breath, as the reactor slowly came to temperature.

"Reactor core approaching criticality, lead reflector starting to melt," reported Friedrich.

"Auxiliary power systems are starting the LBE loop," reported Hajime.

"Reactor at operational temperature, secondary loop online. Turbines spinning up. Switching to main power," confirmed Friedrich.

"Ice processors starting up, generating hydrogen and oxygen fuel," confirmed Hajime.

"All right, switching drones to mining mode," said Aaron.

Erik watched in awe as the camera feeds showed the drones starting to dig out the rich ilmenite ore and cart it off to the refinery module.

"Smelters powering up," said Hajime.

As the Energia Lunar orbiter passed over the dark mining site, a brilliant blue flash emanated from the refinery module as the smelters processed the ilmenite into high-grade titanium.

"So beautiful," whispered Erik.

"Processing at 10 ingots per hour. We should have the first shipment ready and loaded in about 48 hours," reported Hajime.

"Excellent work everyone. This is just the beginning," said Aaron, a triumphant smile on his face.

----

Anne Frank-Silverman, the newly elected President of the United States, looked around the Sirius Zone as her convoy made its way to Sirius Software's compound.

"So, this is what they've all got their panties in twists over," she chuckled wryly, seeing the mixture of sleek glass and concrete office towers, upscale residential homes, avant-garde shops and restaurants, and the vaguely sinister-looking Sirius Software cell towers and fences.

"You seem to be taking this pretty well," observed her former campaign opponent and now head of her national security council General Gordon Harris.

"Contrary to my public image, General. I'm not a rabid firebrand like some of my constituents," said Anne, leaning back in the plush seat of the limousine.

"Thank God for that. Working with Mamba was a real pain in the ass," sighed Gordon.

The convoy approached the Sirius Software compound, and they were vetted and waved inside.

"OK, I'm genuinely torn. Love the way that uniform looks, hate what it stands for," said Anne as she saw Natasha and Olga approach the limousine.

The Secret Service agents, quickly coordinated with the Sirius Software security team, and the limousine door was opened.

"Welcome to Sirius Software Headquarters Madam President," said Natasha politely as Anne stepped out of the limousine.

"Let's not stand too much on ceremony, I'm here to meet Mr. Aaron Zakhrov," said Anne.

"Mr. Zakhrov is expecting you, please follow us," said Natasha, gesturing for Anne and her entourage to follow her inside.

They approached the Sirius Software Portal door, and Natasha took off her glove and placed her hand on the biometric scanner.

The door hissed open, and they walked into the empty lobby.

"Oof! This is intense," grumbled Anne as the clip-clopping of Natasha's and Olga's heels echoed through the cavernous space, making her head throb, and her ears ring.

"Weren't you a supermodel once?" asked Gordon, surprised by Anne's reaction to the sound of high heels.

"Yeah, for pro-feminist clothing brands. I had a clause in my contract that I wouldn't wear high heels," replied Anne through gritted teeth.

"This way ma'am," said Natasha, as the elevator doors opened.

Anne sighed in relief as they entered the elevator, and Natasha and Olga stood still, ensuring that their heels didn't make any noise in the elevator.

The elevator ascended to floor 128, and the doors opened to reveal the antechamber outside Aaron's office.

Anne braced herself as they walked across the black stone floor to Aaron's office door.

The door hissed open, to reveal Aaron standing next to his massive obsidian black desk.

"So, what brings the President of the United States to little old me?" asked Aaron, a bemused smile on his face.

Anne fought down the wave of discomfort from Aaron's presence, and stepped forward.

"I'm here to cut a deal with you Mr. Zakhrov. Technically, you're a US citizen, but in practice, I have to treat you as a damn head of state," said Anne bluntly.

Aaron raised an eyebrow, but gestured for her to sit down.

Anne sat down across from Aaron, with Gordon next to her, while Aaron sat with Natasha by his side.

"OK, I'm kind of aware of the conflict between you and Monica Goldberg, so here's what I want: Stable law and order, and no more spectacles like that massacre the SZPD pulled right in City Hall Park. What would it take to get me that?" asked Anne.

"First off, Sirius Software and the Sirius Zone Redevelopment Authority didn't start anything. It's you guys who bussed in a bunch of Somali apes to stir up dissent and break down both law and order, and public trust in the police forces. To me the answer is simple: You don't want massacres in City Hall Park? Don't legitimize anarchy and that ACAB bullshit," said Aaron.

Anne bristled at Aaron's tone, but composed herself with a deep breath.

"I can't guarantee that, Mr. Zakhrov, there is a little thing that the US Constitution guarantees, which is the right to freedom of speech and expression," she said.

"That is based upon the assumption that the populace has the fortitude to exercise that right responsibly. When that populace dissolves into the unwashed masses, that same right becomes a vehicle for anarchy and violent overturning of civilization itself. Contrary to your popular belief, Madam President, civilization and civilized society are not organic. It is built, often painstakingly by people who believe in a higher order than the simple hunter-gatherer rules. So if you and your cohorts believe that social justice or whatever else is more important than the foundations that I build, then we are at an impasse," said Aaron.

"Look, I can't stop people from protesting, but what you can do, is not treat every damn protest like a full-blown insurrection. You got lucky that you and the SZPD were able to prove that those protesters were here illegally, and that the Somali government was too politically unstable to do anything about your execution. But you still had your forces kill innocent men in cold blood, and that, Mr. Zakhrov, is something that I will not tolerate, no matter how much you try to dehumanize them," said Anne.

"Innocent men? May I remind you Madam President, that those 'innocent men' were armed with knives and crowbars, and were hurling stones at Boston Police precincts. The only reason why they didn't use them on the SZPD, was because of the choppers circling them with cannons pointed at them!" snarled Aaron, tossing the after-action report onto the table between them.

"But... This wasn't in the report!" blustered Anne, color draining from her face.

"Well of course it wasn't! The people who report to you don't want you to know the whole truth. Just enough to keep you outraged, and manageable by them," scoffed Aaron.

Anne recovered her composure.

"All right, Mr. Zakhrov. I get where you're coming from. But this situation isn't stable. I cannot have you turning a chunk of the United States into your own personal fiefdom," she said.

"I'm afraid that particular ship sailed long ago. Here's what I propose. You can make the split official. The Sirius Zone will no longer be under Boston's municipal authority, nor will it be part of Senator Goldberg's, or her allies' constituency. Congressman Dupont will be your only liaison between the SZRA and the United States Government. And you had better make all this clear to that rabble who voted for you, and those vipers who support you," said Aaron.

"What you're proposing is essentially an independent nation in all but name on US soil!" said Anna through gritted teeth.

"That's because it already is one, Miss President. You may thank your predecessor's gross incompetence and misguided policies for that," said Aaron.

Anne rubbed her temples in frustration.

"Fine. I'll agree to your terms, on one condition: You will not under any circumstances interfere with US federal law enforcement, nor will your SZPD use lethal force against anyone outside the Sirius Zone. The only other alternative, is for me to declare martial law, and turn this into a war zone," she said.

Gordon placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm afraid I cannot support the latter alternative ma'am, we're talking full-scale warfare on American soil here," he said.

"That's the last of last resorts. I believe beneath all that contempt for humanity, Mr. Zakhrov is a reasonable man," said Anne.

"That I am," said Aaron.

"Then it is settled. No more massacres, and we'll leave you alone," said Anne, standing up.

"Agreed," said Aaron.

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