"Mr. Saladin, wait!" called out a voice.
Saladin stopped, and turned around.
It was a large hulking Russian diplomat, he stopped running to catch his breath.
"I’m Erik Gorbachev. I have a better deal for you," he said, his voice heavy with a Russian accent.
Saladin raised an eyebrow.
"I’m listening," he said.
"You give us chips and software contracts, and we’ll give you titanium, plus we’ll sign a mutual defense treaty," said Erik.
"I see. Why?" asked Saladin.
Erik gave him a wry smile.
"Let’s just say that we too are kind of sick of NATO and the West’s ddling. After all, Russia too has had its share of sanctions," he said.
"Well, the chips and software are not under my control, if you want those, you’ll have to talk to Aaron Zakhrov," said Saladin.
"Can you arrange that?" asked Erik.
"I’m going to see him right now, would you like to co along?" asked Saladin.
"Yes, I would," replied Erik.
----
"This is the guy who built your tech and nuclear industry from the ground up?" asked Erik as he looked in awe at the massive obelisk that was Sirius Software’s main HQ building.
"Indeed. He’s quite the visionary," replied Saladin.
"Where exactly do his loyalties lie Saladin? He’s obviously Arican, but he’s happily flouting US laws and sanctions by doing business with you," asked Erik.
"To himself. He’s not beholden to any governnt or ideology. When I invited him to relocate to Libya, he refused. He told that Arica may be his ho, but he bows to no one," said Saladin.
Erik nodded thoughtfully.
"Such a man is dangerous," he mused.
"Only if you cross him. Had he been left alone, we probably would never have t. However, circumstances forced him to vertically integrate, and I rely saw an opportunity to ride that wave," said Saladin.
The convoy passed through the security checkpoint, and drove up to the main entrance.
"Very impressive," remarked Erik, as they got out of the SUVs.
"Wait till you see the inside," said Saladin, as they entered the lobby.
----
"Aaron, it’s good to see you again," said Saladin, as he shook Aaron’s hand.
"Likewise, Mr. Saladin. And this must be Mr. Gorbachev," said Aaron, extending his hand to Erik.
"Yes, have we t before?" asked Erik.
"No, but I’ve had dealings with your company, Rostov Technologies," replied Aaron.
Realization dawned on Erik.
"Ah yes, you’re the one who’s been buying our titanium," he said.
"Indeed. Please, have a seat," said Aaron, as they all sat down in his office.
"Mr. Gorbachev here has a proposal for you," said Saladin.
Erik nodded, and got to the point.
"What I’m about to reveal is highly confidential, so I trust you will keep this between us," he said.
"Of course," replied Aaron.
Erik pulled out a folder, and slid it across the table to Aaron.
"Russia is looking to develop a Lunar mining operation. We have the launch facilities, but we’re also under a silicon and chip embargo, much like yourself. We need your help to design and build the mining drones, and we’ll need your chips and software to run them as well. In return, we’ll supply you with titanium, initially it will be low, but once the operation is up and running, we can supply you with all the titanium you need," he said.
"Great minds think alike," chuckled Aaron, turning his computer monitor towards Erik and Saladin, showing them a 3D model of a lunar mining drone.
"That’s impressive. How far along is the design?" asked Saladin.
"The design is complete, we can start prototyping as soon as the contracts are signed," replied Aaron.
"You were planning sothing similar yourself?" asked Erik, astonished.
"I was working bottom to up. I’m able to build the drones, but I don’t have the capacity to build full-blown launch vehicles, best I can do is small cruise missiles, and SLBMs," replied Aaron.
Erik threw back his head and laughed.
"It’s so gratifying to do business with a man who is a nation unto himself," he said.
"That’s one way to put it," chuckled Saladin.
"All right, let’s get down to brass tacks. I get that for now, Russia will need their titanium reserves to build the launch vehicles, but what kind of costs and turnaround tis are we looking at?" asked Aaron.
"We’ll be looking at a 4-week turnaround ti for the mining operation to return 1000 kg of titanium ore," replied Erik.
"Hmm, not very good. How about we do the processing on Luna and get 1000 kg of pure titanium?" asked Aaron.
Erik looked surprised.
"That would an a full-blown processing plant on Luna. Sure, the lower gravity would help, but we’re talking about a massive quantity of energy to run the slters," he said.
"That can be solved with liquid tal nuclear reactors. The initial ramping will be longer, but the payoff is we can ship pure titanium back to Earth, which is far more efficient than shipping ore," replied Aaron.
Erik nodded thoughtfully.
"Small problem with that. If your US governnt gets wind of this, they’ll start World War 3 in a heartbeat." he said.
"That’s easily solved. Just say that it’s a joint partnership between and you. I’m running the mining operation, you’re running the space logistics and launch vehicles. That way, if push cos to shove, you can always say that you’re just doing business with a private Arican citizen," said Aaron.
"And if they tell you to stop?" asked Erik.
"They can’t. I’m well within my rights to extract and own extraterrestrial resources, as part of their own Space Act. And even if they try to start a war, they’ve already lost," said Aaron.
"How so?" asked Erik.
"Because if they do, then all bets are off. We’ll be able to militarize Luna, knock everyone back to the 1920s, and obliterate them with impunity," said Aaron.
Erik nodded slowly, an evil smirk forming on his lips.
"All right, I’m in. Let’s draw up the contracts," he said.
----
"Well Aaron, you seem to be assembling quite the alliance," chuckled Friedrich, as he sipped beer in the Sirius Software executive lounge.
"Now, now, Friedrich. We all know why we’re here. It’s because we’ve decided to embrace the new civilizing corporate future," said Aaron, with a grin.
"I suppose it was sowhat inevitable. Each of us are not exactly patriots in the classical sense," Friedrich mused.
"Hey, I’m the Libyan Premier you know," said Saladin.
"Semantics, Mr. Saladin. You’re remaking Libya in your image. Had it been politically stable, you’d have been an oil magnate or a rcenary contractor," chuckled Aaron.
"Touché," replied Saladin, with a grin.
"Well, so much the better. The old-world order was basically what we’re doing now, only it was done by a bunch of bankers, diplomats, and aristocrats in advisory capacities. Those younger upstarts were crushed during the world wars, but now, we’ve learned from their mistakes," said Erik.
"I’ll drink to that," said Friedrich, raising his glass.
"To the next step in human civilization," said Aaron, raising his glass.
"To the next step," echoed the others, clinking their glasses together.
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