The Dionysus Program: Parts One and Two

The Dionysus Program: A New Age of Exploration

 Chapter 1: Origins of a Vision

Winston Sanks gazed out the window of his quarters at the United States Air Force Academy, lost in thought.

As an undergraduate studying Astronautical Engineering, he had learned about the immense challenges facing humanity's expansion into the solar system and he sensed revolutionary solutions were within reach, if the right vision and leadership could unite today's technologies.

Over the past seven years, Winston had closely monitored research into monoatomic graphene and carbon nanotubes. The unprecedented strength of these new carbon allotropes far surpassed any previous structural material. Suddenly, ideas explored for over a century raised first by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in establishing a space elevator at Earth’s equator seemed plausible.

Winston also realized that NASA had underestimated resources near to Earth which could aid missions, such as the momentum available from an asteroid approaching the planet in 2029. 

That's when Winston had an epiphany – what if all these pieces could be combined into an all–encompassing program? A transportation system fostering rapid, sustainable, and affordable access to space. His concept included mining Helium Three on the Moon to fuel clean nuclear fusion reactors on Earth, and lifting humanity to space on a daily basis.

Winston knew executing such an audacious vision would demand immense funding, international cooperation, and expertise across numerous fields. But if successful, “The Dionysus Program,” named after the Greek god of passion, could establish a new epoch in humanity's exploration of the planets.

Over the next two years, Winston refined the concept, garnered mentors' support, and earned an astronautical engineering degree. Now it was time to present this Dionysus Program to NASA and seek approval to manifest his vision. The future was ready to be shaped.

Chapter 2: Securing Support 

Lieutenant Winston Sanks took a sip of black decaffeinated coffee as he reviewed the PowerPoint slides one last time. Today was the day he would present a plan for an ambitious new NASA initiative to the agency's administrators and leading scientists.

 The proposal, if approved, would change the future of space exploration and establish the United States as the undisputed leader in pioneering humanity's reach beyond Earth. 

Winston strode into NASA headquarters, nervous excitement surging through him. All his preparation had led to this moment.

Winston had been polishing the proposal since graduating from the Air Force Academy. Through his education and experiences in both the military and civilian world, he had developed a unique and comprehensive vision for how newly realized materials science could revolutionize access to space. But convincing the decision makers at NASA would be no simple task.

The presentation began and Winston calmly laid out the rationale and objectives for the Dionysus Program. He started by outlining the opportunity afforded by Near–Earth Asteroid 99942 Apophis, which was predicted to make an exceptionally close approach to Earth in 2029. A portion of Apophis' momentum could be harnessed through direct kinetic energy transfer to drastically reduce the power requirements for launching payloads beyond low–Earth orbit. 

Winston then detailed his proposed methodology which involved using nets deployed from 'angler' space caravels to capture part of Apophis. The captured mass would serve as an orbital “counterweight’ while the kinetic energy of the counterweight was exchanged to lift a 100,000 kilometer long tether made of monoatomic graphene into space.

This newly realized material was nearly 200 times stronger than steel and would be perfectly suited for constructing an Earth–based space elevator, which he provisionally named Onira – “Dream’ in Greek.

With the elevator operational, the economics of space access would be transformed. Launches to low–Earth orbit could be accomplished for a fraction of current costs. But Winston stressed that this was only the beginning. The Dionysus Program would also establish a spaceport located at the Earth–Moon Lagrangian point L1 to construct a space elevator on the Moon. 

This infrastructure would open renewed possibilities for missions to cis–lunar space as well as Mars and beyond. Commercial entities would be able to profitably extract resources like Helium Three from the Moon by ascending along the Earth Space Elevator Onira.

Finally, Winston addressed safety concerns through precision tracking of Apophis and careful kinetic energy transfer procedures. The asteroid’s orbit would not be altered in any way to endanger the Earth. He also outlined plans for securitizing the space elevators to address anti–sabotage threats. 

When Winston finished his 90–minute presentation, there was a moment of silence as the administrators processed the enormous scope and implications of the Dionysus Program.

Then, the Director of NASA stood up and smiled. "Lieutenant Sanks, your vision is breathtaking. I believe if executed properly, this program could usher in a new era of exploration and achievement for humanity.”

Winston was humbly honored by the Director’s positive words.

"Your plan could establish the next space race. Consider the Dionysus Program approved. When can you begin assembling your team?"

With both elation and veiled sobriety Winston thanked the council for their time and responded to them that he would begin tomorrow. He immediately and quietly left the briefing room and, after closing the door carefully behind him, he thrust his fist upward in triumph. 

With NASA's backing, Winston began gathering necessary resources to bring the Dionysus Program to life. His first objective was forming a team of the best scientists, engineers, and program managers across government, industry, and academia. 

Soon Winston was traveling the country, recruiting the brightest minds. 

Winston reached out to two pioneering materials science researchers, Drs. Zhigong and Zhongwei Song from MIT, who had achieved breakthroughs in mass producing high strength carbon nanotube and graphene monofilaments. Their work was crucial for developing a tether capable of withstanding the stresses of a 100,000 kilometer space elevator. 

For engineering the 'angler' caravels and net deployment system, Winston recruited a team led by mechanical engineer Dr. Kiran Mayani from JPL and veteran aerospace designers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. For tracking Apophis with unprecedented precision, he enlisted Drs. Ian Carnelli and Julia Kapteyn from the Aerospace Corporation alongside radar astronomer Dr. Isaac Pravec and his team in the Czech Republic.

To manage the immense logistical challenges, Winston selected program managers Scott Douglas from NASA, Elaine Walker from the Air Force, and David Kim from Boeing. They would oversee integrated master schedules, budgets, risk management plans, and procurement of rockets from America's top defense and aerospace contractors.

With the core Dionysus team now in place, Winston's next objective was securing the estimated $40 billion dollar budget over 10 years. He traveled to the United States Congress, delivered presentations to key staff, and met with policy analysts to advocate for his vision. With America striving to regain dominance in space and enormous economic potential at stake, Winston was invited to answer questions in committee.

For several hours representatives sought to find potential faults in the proposal, however none were found.

Senator Beth Lodge inquired, “Tell us about Helium Three.”

Winston readily answered,

“Unlike Earth, which is protected by a magnetic field, the Moon has been bombarded by the solar wind for billions of years with large quantities of an isotope called Helium Three. Helium Three has been trapped in the Moon’s “soil,” which is called regolith, and could provide clean nuclear energy in a fusion reactor.

Helium Three is not radioactive, cannot produce an uncontrolled self–propagating chain reaction as in a fission power–plant, and would not create dangerous nuclear byproducts due to the fusion process.

The presence of Helium Three in the lunar regolith has been verified by Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Based upon a research cost–sharing agreement that NASA has signed with Shell Corporation in London, Helium Three is accessible on the surface of the Moon within the lunar regolith at a concentration of approximately twenty parts per billion.”

Muted murmurs spread throughout the senate chamber. Winston continued.

“For reference, approximately 90 million kilograms of oil, 150 million kilograms of coal, 95 billion cubic meters of natural gas, or 24 thousand kilograms of enriched uranium are required to produce one Terawatt – hour of energy.

In contrast, approximately twelve kilograms of Helium Three will provide one Terawatt – hour of energy.

This means that one metric ton of Helium Three can produce 87.6 Terawatt–hours of electrical power, and approximately two–hundred and ninety–seven metric tons of refined Helium Three would have provided for the entirety of global electricity grid consumption in the year 2023.”

A louder whisper spread through the chamber, with some senators speaking with their aides and others writing down information on pen pads.

Winston persisted,

“Projections suggest that by the year 2051, 180 years of coal, 44 years of oil, 65 years of natural gas, and 90 years of fissionable minerals respectively will remain accessible on planet Earth.

With a view toward our shared future, total Helium Three reserves available on the Moon could continue fueling the Earth for three thousand seven hundred and three years at the current global energy consumption rate.”

Senator Thomas Sparrowmerit, after reviewing a note written by a staff member on his left, asked Winston,

“Theoretically, how far away could a person travel on a space elevator?”

Winston responded,

“5.3 astronomical units away from the sun – which is larger than the mean orbital radius of Jupiter.”

Senator Sparrowmerit smiled and, after writing two words down on the paper that had been handed to him and returning the note to his assistant, thanked Winston for the information.

Senator Gerrard Sandusky was given the floor near the end of the session,

“Lieutenant Sanks, you and your team have done a great deal of work, and the concept is straightforward. You personally have invested your career into this endeavor. I won’t claim to know if every itemized cost estimate you have provided is accurate, however I trust that you would not have wasted our time. I do not have anything to ask beyond what my colleagues already have, however there is one piece of the puzzle that you haven’t addressed. This is a large question: are you ready?”

Winston responded with a pen and paper in hand, prepared to take notes, “Absolutely, ready.”

Senator Sandusky inquired, “São Tomé, Gabon, the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Colombia, or Brazil?”

Winston smiled and quickly replied, “Brazil. There is no better choice than Brazil.

The remote Alcântara Space Center, of the state of Maranhão, is located within the Amazon Rainforest near Brazil's northern Atlantic coast.

Alcântara is the closest spaceport to Earth’s equator, which currently provides significant advantages when launching geosynchronous satellites.  

The bedrock of Alcântara is mainly composed of granite, which is an igneous rock that forms from the cooling and solidification of magma – granite can withstand both high tensile force and shear stresses.

Alcântara is a suitable foundation for the establishment of a geosynchronous space elevator Fixed Station because of a combination of these factors.”

Satisfied with Winston’s response, Senator Sandusky closed out the session and Winston was permitted to leave. Four weeks later the Congressional committee had allocated the full amount requested.

This success gave Winston and his team the resources to begin construction and testing in earnest.

Over the next three years, Winston worked tirelessly alongside NASA and industry partners to develop and prove critical technologies such as precise orbital monitoring of Apophis, automated net deployment, and space elevator structural analysis through scaled demonstrations. 

Dionysus was shown feasible. By 2027, every component was declared flight–worthy. With Apophis' close approach on track for April 2029, Winston had assembled the greatest minds on one singular goal – ushering a new age of space exploration.

Chapter 3: Kinetic Energy Transfer 

April 13th, 2029 – Winston stood on the observation deck of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, looking up at the night sky. Somewhere among those stars, the ominous object Apophis was silently approaching Earth. The trajectory of the asteroid would arrive within a hair's breadth of the planet – only 35,000 kilometers above the surface. 

Radar observations of unprecedented resolution had tracked Apophis continuously for over a decade, mapping its path with exquisite precision. But minor perturbations from sunlight, Earth's irregular gravitational field, or any unanticipated space debris impact events could still pose danger. Winston felt the immense responsibility of millions of taxpayer’s expectations weighing on his shoulders. 

At T–2 hours, four 'angler' space caravels launched aboard four Falcon Heavy rockets from the Alcântara Space Center towing a graphene monofilament tether. The tether extended in a large 100,000 kilometer coil cartridge fastened in a gargantuan cavern which had been drilled underneath the Alcântara’s Fixed Station.

Each angler caravel carried custom–woven Kevlar nets underneath the main fairing within ejection chambers. The edges of each net were belayed to each angler caravel and were deployed with frangible bolts – designed to electromagnetically link with the other angler caravels after deployment.

The full–mast configuration of the four angler caravels, flying in a square formation with the Kevlar net spread between them, was capable of gently arresting a section of Apophis. Advanced free space tracking data provided by above–altitude Global Positioning System triangulation directed the inertial guidance systems aboard each angler caravel and ensured pinpoint accuracy for the critical rendezvous. 

Small automated drone probes deployed from the rocket’s fairing well ahead of the fleet of angler caravels. These probes latched on to Apophis in order to image the asteroid's pockmarked surface. 

As data had previously indicated, a 140–meter wide section of the asteroid, with an average density matching limestone, was perfect for capture without endangering the core. At T–5 minutes, the drones triggered shape–charged detonations along a precise plane, cleaving the targeted boulder from Apophis. 

At T–3 seconds, electromagnetic winches began tightening coils of the Kevlar net between the spacecraft, ready to brake the captured mass.

Then Apophis streaked by, and the angler caravels achieved intercept over the Indian Ocean.

At T–Zero, the Kevlar net caught a section of Apophis like a giant baseball glove. The asteroid’s boulder was moving at a differential velocity of 16,627.15 miles per hour, and the electromagnetic winches unwound quickly in order to lessen the immense acceleration on the angler caravels.

Vibrations surged along the filaments as asteroidal rubble struggled against the intertwined Kevlar. Simulations predicted the webbing could withstand twenty times the impact. Friction heat within the expanding Kevlar net was dispersed using embedded liquid nitrogen cryogenic jets. 

Momentum was exchanged between the captured mass and the spacecraft–nets–tether system, accelerating the assemblage upwards and away from Earth at a survivable 10gs as Alcântara’s Fixed Station expended the full length of the graphene tether.

Mission control erupted in joyous cheers as the first phase of Dionysus succeeded flawlessly. Winston allowed himself a brief smile, knowing the hard work was only beginning.

Chapter 4: Construction Begins

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, observed stabilization of asteroid Apophis and deemed its orbit unchanged and non–threatening to Earth. Attention now shifted to Project Counterweight Station – erecting Winston's functional space transportation system from the captured asteroidal mass. 

The graphene tether was infused with electromagnetic rails embedded along its continuously woven length. From miles away the silhouette of Space Elevator Onira could be seen. No comparison could be made to any other structure on Earth – neither the impressive view of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai nor the Skytree in Tokyo inspired a similar sense of awe.

The Space Elevator’s Fixed Station at the Alcântara Space Center, anchored by single–crystal graphene pylons fastened five kilometers into the Earth’s crust, was the most stable building ever created. 

Slowly but surely over the next two years, Winston's vision materialized. Teams carefully monitored stresses, tuned resonant vibration frequencies, and studied plasma shedding of Onira.

Meanwhile, the Alcântara Space Center had been transformed into a bustling city complete with new condominiums, restaurants, and even a library. The Brazilian government invested millions in the region to ensure that all visitors to the Space Elevator Onira were provided with a positive experience.

By 2032, travel between the Fixed Station and the orbital Counterweight Station at 100,000 kilometers altitude had been tested hundreds of times.

As approved by NASA and Brazilian Space Agency engineers, the Earth Space Elevator Onira achieved operational status.

Micrometeoroid shields and van Allen power transfer inductors blossomed along the length of Onira, and dozens of climbers per day carried materials and passengers into space.

Eight months later, the four angler caravels which captured a section of Apophis were ferried upward along Onira for a second mission – this time to the Moon’s L1 Lagrange point, carrying cartridges of additional graphene tether along their port and starboard fuselage anchor points.

After releasing from Onira, the angler caravel fleet conducted slingshot loops around the Moon system before resting at Lagrangian Point L1. There they would wait for two years before being ready to extend the 61,350 kilometer–long lunar space elevator tether to the lunar surface. 

Chapter 5: Securing the Vision

The new orbital tower was valued by international stakeholders, and ensuring transnational security of the system demanded coordination with military agencies worldwide.

NATO and allied space forces convened under the auspices of the UN to assign responsibilities for protecting the critical infrastructure. 

The United States Space Force activated orbital defenses such as lasers to thwart hypersonic anti–satellite missiles being used against the Earth Space Elevator Onira. Space debris streams which could threaten Onira were tracked by the USSF Space Fence, and specialized tungsten kilometer–long “Shield Carriages” were shuttled to the appropriate altitudes along Onira for protection three hours prior to a potential space debris collision event.

Treaties enshrined the Space Elevator Onira as a protected zone, while permitting autonomous weapons legitimate self–defense capabilities.

Russia, China, The United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Colombia, France, Taiwan, Ghana, Iran, Australia, Vietnam, Belarus, New Zealand, Moldova, Germany, Japan, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Poland, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey, India, Argentina, Norway, South Africa, Israel, Nigeria, and Spain contributed monitoring assets and interceptor technologies to a multilateral defense grid.

Terrestrial security also concerned multinational stakeholders. Specially selected units from allied nations formed a Rapid Deployment Force stationed strategically in the Amazon jungle. Their robotic systems patrolled elevator routes and installations, ready within minutes to quell any assaults. Stringent background checks and biometric screening vetted all with installation access.

These measures convinced governments to progressively deregulate the space industry and encourage civilian expansion. With security assured, private entrepreneurs poured billions into commercial cis–lunar space ventures: deploying a plethora of new advanced satellites for pennies on the dollar of what chemical rockets previously could provide.

With this new found access, universities created their own scientific experimentation space stations for students and professors to fly in orbit alongside the International Space Station, SpaceX began to build zero–g low Earth orbit luxury hotels based on their Starship design for lease, and Virgin Galactic offered sub–orbital “space dives’ from the Earth space elevator tether varying in altitude depending on the desired landing location.

Due to the rotation of the earth, space divers would not only begin accelerating downward at the beginning of their jump but would also have a tangential – sideways – velocity when they stepped off of the Space Elevator. Therefore, a diver could arrive far away from the Fixed Station in Brazil when he or she reentered the atmosphere depending on his or her initial altitude: potentially hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.

Each space diver was provided with a one–size–fits–all reinforced cermet winged spacesuit much more resilient and capable than that used by Felix Baumgartner during his comparatively low altitude space dive in October of 2012.

Virgin Galactic’s suit contained drinkable water bladders, a wastewater storage tank, and was coated with a radiation–resistant polymer that was able to absorb micrometeoroid collisions.

A standard NASA extravehicular maneuver unit system with hydrazine reaction control system thrusters was fitted for attitude adjustment. The system’s major flight controls were governed by an automated GPS/internal guidance software package linked to a powerful back–mounted personal liquid oxygen and kerosene rocket.

This 3–inch nozzle rocket was installed for modest inclination adjustment (and wind correction after the atmosphere was reached). Sufficient breathing oxygen for 70 hours was siphoned off of the liquid oxygen tank and a triple–redundant supersonic–rated parachute was wrapped above the insulation of the kerosene compartment.

The space dive “jumps’ were initially offered for $5 million dollars each, but Virgin Galactic was eventually able to lower the cost to $600,000 each due to their frequency.

This new form of skydiving soon colloquially became known as “Iron Man Jumping.” The popularity of this new hobby was highly publicized and each jump was accomplished only after weeks of training with (and evaluation by) Virgin Galactic astronauts. Virgin Galactic routinely offered Iron Man jumps as a part of end–of–year bonus incentives for daring employees who wished to experience parabolic microgravity.

The Iron Man divers would arrive to the Fixed Station in Brazil to be shuttled to a pre–planned altitude–on the elevator. Although many landing zones were offered all across the equator, the most popular destination was the landing zone at the Changi International Airport in Singapore – 5,000 kilometers away at a latitude of one degree north of the equator. That specific jump and orbit took approximately 16 hours to accomplish.

Additionally, harvesting electromagnetic energy within the van Allen radiation belts proved an effective method for keeping the low Earth orbit environment safe for the new Earthling visitors.

As a consequence of the increasingly congested space in low Earth orbit, Johnson Space Center in Houston became a new “Air Traffic Control’ to coordinate ship–to–ship deconfliction along busy transfer routes.

A common joke developed among military and civilian space pilots when speaking to no–nonsense NASA controllers, “Why do I have to listen to you? You are not an FAA air traffic controller and I am flying at flight level 870. This is class E airspace!”

Winston knew maintaining open access relied on continued cooperation between stakeholders from all sectors. His transparent partnership model between progressive defense, scientific, and commercial groups fostered trust worldwide in Dionysus' crucial role ushering a new age of human achievement.

Now, years of work had realized expansive yet secure infrastructure – it was time to actualize the final phase.

Part Two: Lunar Settlement

Chapter 6

Winston gazed at the monitoring screen of the central control room at NORAD and marveled at the progress made possible by the Dionysus Program. It was five years since he had first proposed utilizing the near–Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis to provide the energy needed to construct Space Elevator Onira. 

The Dionysus Program was now ready to enter its most ambitious phase.

         It began when the Earth Space Elevator Onira hoisted a Brazilian Space Agency crew and seed construction materials for a Lunar Mission Control base within the Herschel Crater on the Moon. That initial success spurred bolder plans to establish permanent settlements beyond low Earth orbit.

Careful feasibility studies identified lunar lava tubes within the Sinus Medii basin as an ideal location protected from temperature extremes and micrometeorite bombardment.

        Now a second, unpiloted, mission was set to depart. The lunar L1 station, angler caravels, and graphene tether cartridges had lied in wait for two years, orbiting within the L1 gravitational well. A solitary unmanned scout craft would be launched from the Earth to the Moon in order to connect the lunar space elevator tether to the lunar Fixed Station in the Sinus Medii basin.

The scout would travel up Onira alongside a larger cargo mule carrying automated habitats to be deployed within the lava caverns of the Sinus Medii.

Within the main control room in Cheyenne Mountain, Winston monitored every indicator as the countdown reached its climax.

Chapter 7

        "T–minus 10 seconds...9...8...7...6..."

        At Mission Control, everyone was laser focused on their screens as the final seconds ticked away. For Winston, this was the culmination of half a decade's work to realize his vision of changing humanity's relationship with space through non–ballistic–rocket transportation infrastructure. If all went according to plan, this mission would prove the viability of establishing a permanent off–world civilization.

        "...3...2...1...current initiation!"

        Silently two massive climbers wired into the space elevator's carbon nanotube filament accelerated the carriages skyward. Through open–circuit cameras aboard, the controllers watched sternly as familiar geographical markers smoothly disappeared into a black void. Within minutes, the Earth itself fell away to reveal the sparkling galactic panorama stretching endlessly overhead.

        "Structural integrity is nominal, all systems green across the board," reported the flight director.

        Winston breathed a sigh of mixed relief. The climber sped toward the Counterweight Station and released on a high–speed trajectory toward the Lagrange point L1 between the Earth and the Moon. When nearing L1, operational command of the unmanned carriage would be transferred to staff within the Lunar Mission Control center at Herschel Crater.

        There, Lieutenant Colonel Aria Ramirez of the Brazilian Space Force and her team monitored the carriage progress with rapt focus – the Brazilian Space Force assigned officers to serve at Herschel Crater with the Brazilian Space Agency on fifteen–year contracts.

The scout and cargo mule carriages were handed off to Lieutenant Colonel Ramirez who docked the spacecraft to the Moon–side L1 station, “Obrigado, the connection is secure. Initiating lunar elevator descent.”

Celebration broke out across all control centers. Following this mission, the lunar Fixed Station would be capable of receiving cargo, and a permanent lunar colony would become economically possible. From here, monthly supply carriages would sustain a growing lunar civilization – gradually weaning away from sole dependence on Earth.

Chapter 8

        Three months later, within the follow–on climber carriage launch, the international crew of Winston Sanks, Alexei Petrovsky, and Naoko Okada could barely contain their excitement. As Mission Specialists for the Dionysus Program, no small part of their role was educating the public and stirring greater interest in space development through film footage and livestreams of their pioneering mission.  

Alexei, a former Russian Navy officer, Winston, a former United States Air Force officer, and Naoko, a Biologist and Medical Doctor from Japan, had all agreed with NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency to remain semi–permanently at the lunar base to guide its development and to lead arriving lunar settlers.

Winston, Alexei, and Naoko were the first humans to arrive to the Lagrange L1 station, and as their space suited figures manually opened the cargo bay for the first time, the olive hue sphere of the Moon filled little more than the bottom edge of the cargo bay observation window. They were still very far away from the surface of Sinus Medii.

Winston stepped closer to the window and watched the Moon’s pockmarked regolith come into view. The grey expanse stood awash in shadows like stretched ink blots.

Alexei had followed him to the window, and was recording Winston with a small handheld camera. Winston spotted him and turned around – Alexei animatedly exclaimed, “You’re on camera, say something!”

Winston announced with a wide smile to social media viewers worldwide.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the United States, Russia, and Japan—welcome to the Moon!"

        Cheers erupted across Instagram and X as live views of their maneuvers around the darkling sphere were shared endlessly. With a permanent settlement planned, the once airless world was being transformed into humanity's second home.

Chapter 9

       Two days later, the crew uneventfully descended in a shuttle along the lunar space elevator tether toward the Fixed Station on the surface of the Sinus Medii—a long rift valley preserving the opening of an ancient lava cavern over 30 miles in length.

Robot builders had already erected a temporary inflatable habitat inside the cave until the permanent residents' complex could be finished.

As Naoko piloted their rover inside, Alexei and Winston marveled at the scale of the cavern which was stunning even in the dim safety lighting.

Stretching as wide as ten American football fields and taller than a 20–story skyscraper, the lava caverns of Sinus Medii offered ample living space for up to 300,000 lunar colonists.

         The Permanent Habitation Plan called for airtight and reinforced cermet habitats for pressurization redundancy. After the cave was sealed at an Earth–normal 14.7 psi, fully equipped bunkers would be built into the lowest reaches of the cave system for emergencies to house at least one sixth of the maximum population capacity. The administrators assumed that a majority of settlers could evacuate to Earth during an emergency, and would hold access to these restricted areas secure until civilian settlers arrived at which time the bunkers would be released to their control.

To reduce claustrophobia, private investors convinced project leaders to transform sections of the cavern ceiling into massive stadium–sized LED screens to mimic an Earth–like blue sky with clouds and an artificial sun.

The caves would host landscaped parks, swimming pools, and fine restaurants that would captivate the wealthy.

A small flotilla of shuttle buses would convey guests between the lodgings, entertainment zones, and observation platforms.

         As the rover cruised past the sites which were designated to become manicured artificial lawns and fountains fed by reclaimed wastewater, Naoko mused how far humanity had come since those first fragile footsteps in the Sea of Tranquility by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

She wondered: what would Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin think of our plans today?

On Earth, after Naoko told her grandfather that she had been selected for the initial scouting mission to establish a permanent settlement on the Moon, he had spoken to her with nostalgic excitement about watching the television as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the grey expanse when he was a child in Nagoya. His own granddaughter would walk upon the very same soil now.

Quietly, Naoko corrected him, “On the Moon, the soil is actually referred to as regolith due to the fact that there are no living organisms present.’ However she didn’t think he heard her. She smiled with her grandfather as he was lost in his reverie.

A new epoch of off–world civilization was dawning, and Sinus Medii would be its shining beacon for all to see.

Chapter 10

International support coalesced around Winston's Permanent Habitation Plan. In–Situ construction materials would be harvested from the lunar bedrock for 3–D printers, while oxygen would be produced by algae farms powered by LED lamps.

On the surface, lunar regolith would be electrolyzed to produce aluminum rocket fuel and additional oxygen which would then be stored  underground.

The lava tunnels of the Sinus Medii basin offered protection unmatched on the surface: with extreme temperature fluctuations between 250 ° Fahrenheit to nighttime temperatures of –208 ° Fahrenheit, insulation was a priority. 

To oversee planning, the United Nations designated Winston as Director of the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone. The settlement's popular name, however, was chosen through an online global social media vote: the winner was Luna, in tribute to the ancient Latin goddess.

For transporting cermet habitats, fleets of cargo climbers from Earth would lift pre–fabricated modules along Onira and then to the L1 Lagrange point.

From there, transfer vehicles would trolley the freight to the lunar Fixed Station base anchored at the surface of the Sinus Medii. An automated subway system was also planned to link the developing lunar “port’ at the Fixed Station to the main underground settlement of Luna.

Chapter 11

With the opening of Luna imminent, Winston was busy overseeing final preparations. The layered lava tubes had been painstakingly reinforced with girders and polymer columns to form several pressurized tunnel networks connecting self–contained living cavern sectors. 

A small town square had even been carved out, and a venture capitalist associated with the Mariott and Cornell University demanded an opportunity to visit the new lunar base at this early stage of development.

A plot of land was purchased on behalf of Mariott Hotels in order to plant a handsome vineyard. Mariott hoped to be the first to serve Lunar–grown grapes.

A media frenzy was expected for the grand opening of Luna, with reality shows already signed to film the first residents. 

Some criticized the project as a vanity endeavor, but Winston hoped to prove permanent settlement was economically viable. A tax haven for spacer billionaires could also help fund expansion.

In a meeting with private investors, security concerns were voiced over controlling vast swaths of unmonitored lunar sky. 

Winston agreed that a small, remotely operated, observation outpost could be established on the lunar surface alongside an interagency monitoring center at the L1 depot from which early warnings satellites would coordinate laser–based countermeasure defenses against kinetic meteorites. Underground seismic activity sensors would also be installed, along with an emergency clampdown protocol to isolate sections of the caves in case of depressurization.

In the effort to move humanity forward, Winston knew protecting innocent lives had to be the priority. With so many stakeholders, open communication and transparency would be key to maintaining trust. The dream of expansion must keep all of the Moon’s diverse inhabitants safe, not only technical elites.

Chapter 12

Luna's grand opening was a global media sensation. The underground city played host to dignitaries, investors, and the first wave of pioneering residents. Winston took great pride in giving tours through the bustling tunnels and cavern homes.

The lunar vineyard's first harvest was cause for celebration, with early signs that lunar–gravity grapes produced an exquisitely smooth wine. 

Commercial space agencies were already signing contracts to retain exclusive rights to use the shuttles along the length of the lunar space elevator and competitors questioned the ethics of "lunar luxury" being accessible only to the ultra–rich.

Winston emphasized the importance of bringing down long–term living costs through economies of scale – making the Moon an affordable alternative to visit when compared to any other major city on Earth. For example, several 3–D printing firms volunteered to develop modular designs for single–family low–cost future housing expansions.

Meanwhile, security demands intensified as extraterrestrial real estate speculation increased. High–resolution sonar mapping within the caves helped monitor the growing tunnel network and Winston worked closely with Alexei to ensure protocols balanced oversight with an open and cooperative environment. Barracks outposts were staffed with garrisoned lunar police throughout the growing colony and were designed with room for expansion similar to the single–family modular unit neighborhoods.

An incident was narrowly averted when four curious Chinese tourists strayed near a restricted sensor monitoring room within the L1 depot, and mobile armed drone patrols were deemed necessary to accompany sparse lunar law enforcement officers to protect the new frontier.

Some neo–Luddites viewed such militarism as counter to the dream of space settlement. Winston argued a measure of prudent policing was needed to protect innocent residents and foster long–term stability. With so many interests at play, confidence and cooperation between public and private sectors would determine if humanity's expansion could continue peacefully.

Remote sensing satellites scanned for signs of uncontrolled mining – albeit the automated Shell Helium Three refinery operations on the surface routinely conformed to zoning laws.

Harvest boundaries were established as a part of the exclusive profit–sharing agreement between Shell Corporation and the nascent Lunar Assembly governing export rights of Helium Three to Earth.

When Shell engineers in London couldn’t remotely fix a faulty refinery hydraulic valve or a leaking pipe, engineers at Luna were contracted by Shell to inspect components within the refineries. Luna was also responsible for conducting routine maintenance on the lunar regolith harvesting combines.

In many countries, and particularly the Netherlands, Helium Three reactor proliferation was spreading rapidly. New shipment orders were received by Shell each day. Some nations, such as Bhutan, had even transitioned early to an all–Helium Three electric grid.

The lunar mass driver, also built by Shell, was used to send refined Helium Three ore back to Earth in ablative shield capsules (the ablative coatings were also harvested from the lunar regolith).

The Shell mass driver was zoned into its own region encompassing a five–kilometer–long industrial area along the lunar equator adjacent to the main Luna port dock doors.

Following the successful construction of long–term housing in addition to increased security precautions, Winston began working with private sector partners to develop ways to utilize the new infrastructure for economic growth. 

One opportunity that Winston eagerly anticipated was a proposal from Hilton Hotels to establish the first luxury space tourism destination on the lunar surface. Hilton envisioned a lavishly appointed resort built within the protective shell of a fused lunar quartz dome, with panoramic views of the lunar landscape and Earth at high noon.

Due to the tidal lock of the Moon’s near side, Earth appeared to remain in a static position from the vantage point of the “Conrad Hilton Luna,” which would soon become known as the “Hilton Luna,” the “Hotel Luna,” or the “Luna Hotel.”

While Winston was concerned the increased risk factors associated with living near the Moon’s surface were too great,Hilton architects and engineers developed a sound plan to mitigate exposure possibilities as well as to efficiently transport visitors between the main lunar city and the Hilton Luna.

For security, Winston also oversaw the construction of a small autonomous “Iron Dome” laser–based missile defense system capable of intercepting moderate projectile threats to include meteorites near the lunar surface. Additional early warning satellites were placed in low orbit around the Moon.

Chapter 13

After five years of planning and development, the opulent Conrad Hilton Luna was ready to welcome its first guests. The compound was designed in a centralized fashion, modeling the Louvre in France, and was reviewed as one of the most beautiful accommodations on the Moon or on Earth.

Winston looked forward to personally observing the space tourist experience from the perspective of a luxury surface facility.

Additionally, “Iron Man” dives would be offered on the Moon after the establishment of the Luna Hotel. Hilton hosted a Virgin Galactic equipment facility on the ground floor of the new hotel and a landing zone was leveled and cleaned of lunar rocks in front of the main lobby viewing gallery.

When a hopeful lunar diver arrived by ship to the L1 Lagrange station (Virgin Galactic began to call these particular customers “Lunatics’) the Lunatic would thereafter be trolleyed down the lunar space elevator tether upon a special Virgin Galactic shuttle – equipped with a Lunar Iron Man suit – towards the surface of the Moon.

The Lunar Iron Man suit had a much larger 276kg fuel tank than the Earth version in addition to a more powerful rocket with a 7–inch nozzle. These additional maneuvering capabilities would allow the suit to slow down from an estimated 120 miles per hour after nearing the lunar surface. No atmosphere was available on the Moon to slow the descent of a Lunatic.

All Lunatics had completed lunar Iron Man training on Earth (which included at least five “normal’ Iron Man jumps from the Earth space elevator), and rather than being shuttled down the full length of the lunar space tether (and being transported by train to the Hilton Luna) Lunatics were instead stopped at a paltry altitude of approximately 1,000 meters.

Paradoxically, the low height of the lunar dive made the jump significantly more unsettling: Lunatics report that jumping from a much higher altitude on the Earth space elevator is preferable to jumping only a kilometer from the ground as the surface is much more visible, and therefore the potential for impact seems a real possibility instead of merely a potentiality. All lunar space dives were solo.

After a briefing by Virgin Galactic staff, the Lunatic would have all fittings and suit seals checked, cycle out of the lunar space elevator airlock alone, take several deep breaths, and jump away from the lunar space tether into the dark lunar sky.

As the grey pockmarked surface came rushing toward the Lunatic at alarming speeds, with literally nothing between the diver and the ground to slow the ever increasing acceleration, the automated guidance system would activate and begin gently guiding the Lunatic toward the Hotel Luna.

A massive plume of kerosene and liquid oxygen would then erupt from the back of the suit as the lunatic assumed a fetal position in accordance with the procedures taught to them in training (in order to reduce the possibility of the jetpack’s blast scorching the back of the Lunatic’s suit’s legs). Hydrazine RCS thrusters ensured the correct attitude was maintained. This maneuver would guarantee that all velocity was zeroed out as the lunatic approached the landing pad during a 24 second burn.

Although the jump allowed for only six seconds of freefall, lunatics report that this was more than enough to achieve the desired thrill.

The lunar space tether and the Hotel Luna were located near to the other, and therefore a comparatively short dive of 30 seconds was sufficient to reach the landing zone destination from the 1,000 meter jump altitude.

While enjoying breakfast, hotel guests could watch Lunatics with binoculars (provided by the Hilton) which were wirelessly fed with space dive departure times. Each binocular set had arrows along the periphery of the viewing window in order to automatically find and track falling divers. To lunar visitors from Florida, these spectacles were reminiscent of the landings that the SpaceX Falcon–9 rockets previously accomplished on Earth at the Kennedy Space Center.

As an Iron Man approached, suited hotel staff left the airlock next to the landing zone to await the programmed Iron Man landing and to guide the Lunatic inside for a lunar regolith removal, assistance desuiting, a debrief with an instructor, and likely a hot shower.

In contrast to the Earth, the Hilton was the only landing zone available for Iron Man jumps on the Moon. While the Hilton did have staff available to find and rescue a diver who had been inappropriately strayed by the internal landing software, the diver could not fall too far away, and therefore no Lunatic would be left stranded.

Additionally, no other surface sites on the Moon’s equator were capable of retrieving and hosting a visitor better than the Hilton Luna could.

The Herschel Crater Lunar Mission Control center was available if necessary and had robust medical facilities, however the Crater lacked surplus personnel and rapid transit equipment.

The multiple Helium Three mining sites were not staffed and contained no atmosphere, however Shell nonetheless directed that the refineries remain open for Lunatics to shelter in during emergencies and to seek refuge from undetected micrometeoroid showers.

A tradition soon developed that, on the evening of a Lunatic’s landing, Winston, Alexei, Naoko, a Virgin Galactic divemaster, and the Hilton Luna manager would visit the lobby of the Hotel Luna to award each new Lunatic with a lunar quartz pin with their name and jump number inscribed on the backside. The pin depicted an astronaut in a fetal position with a plume of fire erupting underneath.

Virgin Galactic waived the five–jump requirement for faculty and staff on board the Lunar settlements, and also offered a ground school tuition reimbursement to all interested Lunar colonists if they wanted to jump. For colonists, this lowered the cost of becoming a Lunatic to approximately $100,000. Although the opportunity was financially out of reach for most of the Moon’s inhabitants, wearing the Lunatic pin was universally considered a great honor on the Moon.

Winston was pleased with the success of the inaugural Hilton Luna Hotel, and he knew that the door had been opened for other luxury brands to enter the developing space tourism market.

Just a year later, Marriott announced plans for their own sumptuously appointed "SkyMarriott" complex built underground overlooking the lunar vineyard and only 2 kilometers from the Hilton. While the SkyMariott could not boast surface views as the Hilton could, Mariott challenged their competitor by spending an estimated $250 million dollars on LED ceiling screens which spanned the entirety of each hotel room’s upper surface showing real–time views of the lunar sky as though each guest was staring straight through the ceiling of their suite at the fixed–in–place Earth and accompanying stars above.

Additionally, each week spent underground was safer when compared to the Hilton’s surface hotel. The radiation equivalent of one chest x–ray per hour was present on the lunar surface without protection, however specialized radar absorbent materials were used by Hilton on quartz windows to significantly lower this risk to safe levels.

Soon after, Sheraton and European brand Aman Resorts unveiled competing proposals as well. This led to increased traffic on the Earth–Moon elevator climbers as the popularity of lunar vacationing grew and survey teams for all four hotel groups transported additional equipment to the lunar surface.

Chapter 14

While Winston believed competition could drive further innovation, he was concerned about over–development in the early days before regulations were established. He worked with hotel teams to implement cooperative zoning plans that allowed each to stake exclusive claims to non–overlapping cave networks, while also protecting historically or environmentally significant public areas such as the town square.

A “sublunarian” train system connected locations beyond walking distance. The term “subterranean” train system was commonly used by engineers early in construction, but this expression was later changed when visiting tourists pointed out that the description “subterranean” was not strictly correct on the Moon.

After the completion of the “Moon Subway,’ guests could experience all four luxurious destinations during a two–week vacation without losing travel time. Many strong parallels were being drawn between Andy Weir’s “Artemis” and the growing underground metropolis.

Winston continued advising on all aspects of lunar construction and operations safety. Ten years after the opening of the first Hilton hotel, the thriving tourism industry had brought unprecedented prosperity to the Moon, while delivering profits far exceeding projections back on Earth. Winston took pride in achieving this revolution in space utilization and helping to create new economic opportunities for the broader solar system.

Chapter 15

       News of the Moon resort spread like wildfire across social networks. Each new room was booked through the following year within hours of opening, and a waiting list stretched well into the thousands. Investors scrambled to fund additional expansions, spurred by headlines calling it "The Ritz of the Regolith." Engineers designed faster transit networks between the main cave and new secondary sites being developed nearby.

       To handle the impending surge in traffic, greater security protocols were mandated across all lunar installations.

Checkpoints using biometric access and X–ray scanners were established at the Earth–Moon L1 Lagrange point of the lunar elevator and Fixed Station on the lunar surface enforcing contraband restrictions.

Alexei assumed the role of Chief of Public Safety of the Moon, and at his order armed paramilitary detachments were formed who were officially christened the “Lunar Guardians.”

These policemen and soldiers provided public safety by continuing to conduct internal patrols and assured external security by protecting approach corridors to the Moon’s surface and monitoring early warning sensor arrays from the L1 station.

Chapter 16

        Eleven standard Earth years after the first colonists' arrival, Sinus Medii bustled with over 10,000 residents and 50,000 visitors. Self–sufficient agriculture, mining, and manufacturing districts ringed the cavern outskirts. The original cermet habitat clusters grew upward and outward now encasing entire hilltops of the cave system resembling vistas of Rome or San Francisco.

Naoko remained at Luna as the Chief of Life Support and smiled as she saw Earthlings on brief holidays mingling with off–duty locals in the central  plaza during her daily constitutionals.

Meanwhile, an inaugural group of 100 permanent Martian colonists, selected from thousands of applicants on Earth by the Brazilian Space Agency, began arriving to train on the Moon.

Scientists, engineers, resource extractors, and support personnel unloaded prefabricated living modules modeled after those that would be used on the oxidized regolith of the Red Planet.

With robots and machinery, the 100 colonist trainees began constructing a temporary residential and industrial zone apart from the surrounding bustling city, however the rapid growth forced even this Martian training center to merge seamlessly into the existing tourist infrastructure. Within weeks the Martian training camp itself became a tourist attraction. The new frontier was open—and humanity's spread across the stars had truly begun in earnest.

Chapter 17

At the L1 Lagrange point guests no longer queued in industrial settings, but rather chic lounge areas while waiting for the lunar elevator carriages to arrive, or for Earth–Moon space ferries which would insert the visitors back into the Earth’s orbit.

        Tourists now traveled to the Moon not only by elevator but also by private spacecraft. Normally these multistage spaceplanes were used for rapid suborbital transit between cities on Earth, however more powerful versions were now being manufactured with upgraded modular engines rated for Trans–Lunar flight. Sierra Nevada cycler cargo vessels were also becoming a frequent sight in the lunar sky – though their shipments were transferred to smaller “lighterage shuttles” which were designed to land on the lunar surface. The large cargo vessels then sped back to Earth along the optimized Moon–Earth cycler trajectory.

The United States Navy often patrolled the the cislunar cycler trajectory passages with torpedo destroyers to ensure that piracy did not occur. The Helium Three reentry capsule shipping lane was also kept clear of vessels.

Four hundred meters beyond the Virgin Galactic landing zone, views of spacecraft entering the lunar port through dual one–meter–thick aluminum–steel airlock doors were visible from the lobby of the Hotel Luna.

A small customs facility now processed wealthy travelers who flew independently.

While this proper “spaceport” was beginning to form on the Moon’s surface – all visitors, no matter their point of origin, boarded a modern train together at the port toward the underground settlement of Luna. The brightly lit trains with sparkling clean lunar aluminum surfaces reverberated a pre–recorded message from Alexei Petrovsky who, as the Chief of Public Safety, welcomed all visitors in the accent of his native Saint Petersburg.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the solar system’s best technological marvel.

We at Luna are committed to pushing the boundary of the human experience – and we have created a community which provides ample opportunity for all persons to pursue their dreams whatever they may be.

During your stay, we ask only that you abide by the golden rule: do unto others as you would wish that others would do unto you. That is all we ask. We are grateful that you have traveled to the Frontier of the Heavens and please enjoy your stay on the Luna–Glob.”

Winston was satisfied with the success of the four original luxury hotel brands establishing facilities on the Moon. However, he recognized the potential for overcrowding if more developers followed suit without coordination. Growth placed strain on resources.

His worst fears were soon realized when Disney and Six Flags both announced ambitious plans to open theme parks. Disneyland Moon would feature rides and live shows across an expansive complex. Meanwhile, Six Flags Moon proposed a “lunar slides" theme within multiple vertical lava tube capillaries.

Concerned about the ecological and safety risks, Winston called an emergency summit of Disney Parks’ president, Six Flag’s chairman, and CEOs of hotel chains on the Moon. After tense negotiations, all agreed on a comprehensive zoning plan to limit environmental impacts drafted by Winston and his advisors. 

Disneyland Moon and Six Flags Moon would be located at the farthest surveyed cave systems while hotel brands agreed to additional cooperative measures such as shared waste processing facilities. 

With oversight from Winston and the newly formed Luna Development Commission, construction proceeded in an orderly, coordinated manner. After these eleven years on, the unofficially named “Luna Entertainment Basin" had become a thriving tourist destination, rivaling the Anaheim Resort and Las Vegas on Earth, while protecting the pristine areas such as the town square that Winston fought to preserve. 

The Moon's promise was being realized through partnership: Walt Disney World Moon was opened after three years of development to reveal meticulously crafted lunar parks – Tomorrowland Mare and Frontierland Crater. But neither compared to Magic Kingdom Hills, a sprawling complex sculpted to resemble Sleeping Beauty Castle nestled in sublunarian volcanic hills covered in verdant grass and trees.

The immersive experience transporting families from Earth to an all–too–real future on the Moon was a sensation. Tourism and interest in lunar development soared.

This success showed what could be achieved through cooperation rather than competition alone. Winston was proud to have helped establish a model of sustainable development that would allow lunar settlements to continue prospering for generations to come.

Chapter 18

With the success of the initial tourist sites, Caesars and Bellagio (through their parent company MGM) announced their own casino plans for the Moon. Winston once again brought all parties together to coordinate construction and limit impacts. 

This time, the pace of development was dwarfing anything similar in any one location on Earth. In 2051 the population of Luna exceeded one hundred thousand for the first time and permanent residents now grew to approximately 15,000. The Moon's lava tubes were being honeycombed with interconnected cities and transit links. What once seemed a fantastical vision was becoming reality through coordinated partnerships.

Back on Earth, some began to realize that the Moon was well on its way to becoming a self–sustaining world in its own right. Populations were booming, economies diversifying, and the need for governance was apparent. 

Winston helped draft the Luna Accords, establishing basic principles of an independent lunar government. Senators would be elected to the now officially designated “Lunar Assembly” to oversee shared resources and to act in the interests of all Lunar colonists. Alexei and the Lunar Guardians often testified in front of the Senate to provide security briefings, and staff members of Herschel Crater regularly visited Lunar Assembly sessions in order to record minutes and send transcripts to the Brazilian government.

Many doubted that such an entity as the Lunar Assembly could truly represent the frontier society emerging beyond Earth's orbit. But Winston believed that the Lunar Senate could rise to meet any challenges. As the Moon expanded its presence in the Solar System, so too would the Assembly’s ability to govern for the benefit of citizens on Luna and Earth alike. 

Winston took pride in playing a part in this historic transition, ensuring an orderly path toward democratic self–rule that protected freedoms and resources for generations.

The lunar vineyards planted by Marriott were successful beyond expectations. Tourists flocked to the developing Moon cities and were delighted to sample the larger–than–Earth–sized Lunar grapes. 

One visitor, partaking a bit too liberally, had the bright idea to soar among the vines wearing homemade Mylar wings instead of the store–bought versions. Under the gentle lunar gravity his flight resembled more of a hot air balloon’s amble than a bird’s swift scudding in the sky. He captured fifteen feet of altitude before he lost stability and fell languidly to the surface of the cave.

Spotting his unlikely acrobatics, Winston couldn't help but chuckle as the would–be flier’s friends gathered around him and surveyed his minor bruising. Progress was allowing new experiences, but the spirit of adventure remained the same whether on Earth or beyond.

Chapter 19

Back on Earth, geopolitical winds were shifting as lunar ambitions grew. Many nations saw their own leadership receiving less attention than the lunar endeavor and an "Earth Identity" alliance was forming to foster unity in governance.

Winston remained vigilant that this did not infringe on the autonomy of the Moon's burgeoning communities. While cooperation between Earth and Luna had benefits, forced control could undermine the future they were building together. 

Through respectful diplomacy and appeal to the ideals of democratic representation, Winston helped ensure the Luna Accords protected the lunar colonist’s right to self–determination. As ever, his pragmatic leadership kept all parties focused on mutually–shared progress.

Some governments on Earth, however, still felt displaced by the success of private enterprise beyond their borders.

Political factions fearing loss of influence pushed for an even stronger "Earth Identity Alliance” to counter the growing prosperity and autonomy of the Moon.

“Earth Alliance” party members claimed that lunar settlements threatened international order by emerging independently from any single nation's laws, particularly with respect to mineral deposits.

Winston lobbied hard against these efforts to impose planetary control. The fragile biosphere and energy needs of the lunar colonies required focus on cooperation, not conflict over finite resources.

A fair compromise respecting both Earthly concerns and lunar self–governance was paramount.

Through tactful negotiation with the United Nations General Assembly, many of whom were Earth Identity Alliance party leaders on Earth, and members of the Lunar Senate, Winston helped craft the Unity Accords – recognizing the shared future of Earth and Luna while protecting the fledgling lunar democracy.

The United States Senate also reviewed early drafts of the Unity Accords, and affirmed that mineral rights on the Moon would remain within the jurisdiction of the Lunar Senate.

Meanwhile, the President of Brazil drafted a resolution within the Unity Accords to assure that Luna’s exclusive economic zone would extend no further than the L1 Lagrange Station.

In two years of special sessions, the Unity Accords were thereafter signed and ratified between the Lunar Senate, the United States Congress, the President of Brazil, and the United Nations General Assembly.

Though political forces still eyed the prosperous Moon jealously, open conflict was averted in the name of mutual progress.

Winston confidently believed that the sky was no longer the limit for what could be achieved when the citizens of Humanity worked in harmony with one another united by their shared view of the cosmos.

Chapter 20

The lunar colonies continued to thrive economically, and Winston continued to spearhead collaborative partnerships between public institutions and private industry to ensure progress. One such effort was the dedication of two acclaimed higher education institutions on Luna. The first, Les Roches Moon, brought together the best minds for luxury tourism, fashion, and culture. Many Les Roches graduates went on to work in nearby new hotels.

The second, Dionysus University, was chartered by Winston himself, and there he taught biweekly in courses ranging between physics, space policy, and law. At these places of higher education, the foundations of lunar self–rule began to take shape, as students grew increasingly passionate about drafting the early blueprints for Lunar Sovereignty and a Lunar Constitution.

Luna’s economy also continued to grow in part due to a new method of refining Helium Three utilizing nanotechnology. This capability dramatically reduced energy costs and increased profits from Helium Three exports.

Helium Three fuel from the Moon not only reduced concerns of a climate crisis on Earth but also boosted many national economies: the Lunar Senate made a point of ensuring that each citizen of Earth was granted the ability to purchase stock in the extraction of Helium Three regardless of their country of origin.

Speculation in Helium Three reserves increased steadily as dividends to shareholders improved each year. Helium Three became seen as a stable investment–similar to gold, and purchasing micro shares of lunar Helium Three became popular with tech–savvy citizens with access to the Internet all across the world, and particularly in the Philippines.

Helium Three quickly gained notoriety in the developing world market as a means to secure their children’s future.

Since the first Helium Three shipments were sent to Earth via the Shell mass driver eleven years ago, approximately one new Helium Three fusion reactor per week was being built on Earth.

Sixty percent of electricity consumed in Europe was fueled by lunar Helium Three, and China developed plans to transition to a minimum of fifty–seven percent Helium Three by 2065 as carbon–based fuel deposits dwindled and raised the price of natural gas.

In contrast, Shell Helium Three costs continued to fall with increased supply.

On Luna, funds from the Helium Three trade were invested in lunar defense, standard healthcare, and robust infrastructure throughout the city. A safe, healthy, democratic, and business friendly society had been firmly established on the Moon for over a decade. Luna’s political stability funded by Helium Three exports gained attention from private investors around the world.

However, Earth Identity Alliance leaders in the United States and Brazil still felt that their nations ought to have a greater share of wealth being produced on the Moon.

Behind closed doors, potentially envious officials grumbled about "lunar supremacy" and how the settlers of “Air Dhabi” were not doing enough to deserve the benefit of an exclusive economic development zone.

Winston received word of these discussions and grew concerned that the true purpose of this discontentment was the profit potential of clean Helium Three supported by lunar mining sites.

Winston knew cooperation was key to continued progress. At a major summit of the United States Congress, the European Union, and the United Nations held in Geneva; Alexei, Naoko, and Winston stood together on stage to address the gathered world leaders on behalf of permanent lunar colonists:

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States Congress, Representatives of the European Union, and Delegates of the General Assembly, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this summit.

Fifteen years ago Ms. Okada, Mr. Petrovsky, and I boarded a carriage on board Space Elevator Onira to begin an adventure to expand the human race’s reach across the solar system.

We have been successful – more so than we could have previously dreamed.

Our accomplishments have encouraged competition, this competition has driven jealousy, and jealousy can breed conflict.

We are brothers and sisters. Rather than argue over crumbs, please let wisdom guide us to share the bakery. Thank you.”

Many approved, but most representatives remained unmoved. The Secretary-General of the United Nations then took the stand and demanded order from the assembly.

In the fifteen years since Winston had first answered questions about the Dionysus Program at the United States Congress, Senator Beth Lodge had risen to the station of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Within the Summit Hall, an increasingly loud “Earth Identity Alliance” bloc shouted jeers of “Down with Air Dhabi,” and called for Winston’s resignation.

The Secretary-General once again called for order, but this only fueled the protests.

Soon, chants demanding the repeal of the Unity Accords, the cancellation of Shell Corporation’s exclusive profit–sharing agreement, the release of Luna’s mineral rights to the government of Brazil, and the repatriation of permanent lunar colonists echoed through the Summit Hall.

Then, an eccentric elder, Senator Gerrard Sandusky of the United States, stood up.

“Friends, hear an old fool's tale! Long ago, tribes warred over scraps ‘til a boy shared his lunch, ending strife. The men and women of Winston’s small settlement have shipped Helium Three to the Earth at razor thin profits for years, saving billions of lives from the greenhouse cliff. Luna has delivered us from revolution: yet we yearn for more?”

His simple words struck a chord with many Senators and United Nations members.

However, then, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Senator Lodge, stood again and asked Senator Sundusky to have a seat.

“Senator, thank you for your address, but  your appeal for peace had failed to prevail.”

Secretary Lodge looked toward members of the Earth’s Identity Coalition, who were continuing to griw angry within the assembly hall. She then stated to all present,

“The Earth Alliance is committed to regaining control over what is perceived to be ‘their’ Moon.”

Secretary Lodge then turned to Winston specifically and stated,

“Director Sanks, it would be wise for the lunar delegation to leave.”

In a turn of event that Winston had not anticipated, the Earth Identity Alliance faction won popular support at the Geneva Summit and continued diplomatic efforts would not be productive.

The situation in Geneva had become dangerous.

Winston, Alexei, and Naoko were quickly ushered out of the assembly hall and were shortly evacuated back to the Moon via three separate lunar–rated multistage spacecraft provided by an anonymous benefactor.

After departing Earth’s atmosphere from Geneva, Winston looked southwest toward the Earth Space Elevator Onira in Brazil – however the tower was too thin to be seen at this distance.

Winston strived to build Luna based on unity, but it seemed now as though the future would include conflict over resources.

Chapter 21

After Winston gave a report of the Geneva summit’s proceedings to the Lunar Senate, quiet disappointment spread throughout the assembly. In response to the governments of Earth, some lunar senators suggested a joint governance model, with designated representatives from the Earth Identity Alliance included in the Lunar Senate.

However, after hours of debate, this option failed to progress toward a vote.

Instead, most lunar senators voted to declare Luna’s independence as a sovereign nation, and to defend Luna’s citizens against any threats foreign or domestic.

On Earth, word of this development spread quickly, and without rhetoric Earth’s Identity Alliance dispatched a large fleet towards the Moon’s orbit, claiming ownership over all celestial resources.

The trans-lunar sortie would take three days.

After the launch of Earth’s ships, the Lunar Senate directed that tourists and cislunar cargo vessels were to be immediately evacuated to Earth ahead of the arriving fleet, and permanent lunar residents were offered no-cost transit back to their country of origin on Earth if they so chose, however most colonists elected to stay.

The Lunar Senate convened once again to discuss next steps. A minority of senators again advocated for a shared government model with the Earth Identity Alliance and a surrender of mineral rights to Brazil – and the United States. Another minority proposed a war.

Winston and Alexei emerged as natural leaders during this crisis.  Neither capitulation nor combat were acceptable outcomes if the safety and well–being of Luna’s civilians were at stake.

Drawing upon their shared expertise from their respective Academies in engineering, mathematics, political philosophy, and law of armed conflict, Winston and Alexei were uniquely suited to ensure Luna’s safety.

Alexei agreed to command the lunar defense, while Winston would work with the Lunar Senate and among the populace.

Alexei and the Lunar Guardians fortified key infrastructure. Should violence erupt, Alexei was resolved to protect civilian life at all costs. Still, Winston stressed repeatedly that lines of communication between all parties on the Earth and the Moon could avert bloodshed.

Winston asked Naoko to call an emergency meeting of the administrators of the largest lunar hotel chains. Control of the underground emergency bunkers had long ago been released to their managers, and all present agreed to temporarily house endangered refugees within these outposts.

Constructed within the deepest cave networks, the lunar bunkers were the safest places in the solar system.

Supplies were also rationed according to population, with surplus sent to the forward military staging garrisons.

Two Virgin Galactic engineers volunteered to remain at their L1 facility position to ensure that communications remained open.

Naoko’s Life Support team began preparing the underground bunkers for approximately 20,000 refugees. All personnel left their homes, jobs, and belongings behind save for one small suitcase each to enter a bunker.

Colonel Aria Ramirez, now a full Colonel and commander of Herschel Crater, chose to stay on the Moon against orders. She was threatened with court–martial, and she responded that the Moon was her place of duty: to protect the lunar settlers.

Nevertheless, even if the conflict hadn’t occurred, her contract at Herschel Crater with the Brazilian Space Force was nearing its completion.

Despite protests Colonel Ramirez arranged for all of her staff to travel back to Brazil, and she shortly thereafter arrived at the lunar port from Herschel Crater with one suitcase.

There Colonel Ramirez found Alexei and asked how she could help. Colonel Ramirez was directed by Alexei to enter the central bunker to assist Naoko and the engineering team there.

Meanwhile, the Lunar Assembly directed Winston to draft a formal Declaration of Independence for Luna.  This document would affirm the Moon's right to self–governance.

Chapter 22

Winston sat alone in the bunker quarters designated for him by the Life Support staff, deep underneath the Hilton Luna which he shared with three members of Alexei’s internal Guardian Corps. The Guardian Corps policemen were at the bunker’s galley now, and Winston stared at the blank wall–screen opposite him.

Declare our independence, he thought. Make a bold assertion that the Nation of Luna belongs to no corporation or government on Earth.

His quarters in the bunker were no larger than any others, though each “suite” was big enough to partition into a sitting room and a separate bedroom. It even had its own bathroom, though water was strictly rationed.

Sitting forward in the chair made of yielding lunar silicate foam, Winston asked the computer to call the American Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson’s eloquent words filled the wall–screen.

Winston reduced the display to a less imposing size, and then spent several minutes studying the treatise. Finally, Winston attempted to write a powerful Lunar Declaration of Independence.

"We the People of the Nation of Luna, in order to secure our rights and liberties, establish justice and peace, provide for the common defense, promote the common welfare, and advance the exploration and development of space, do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent nation. We hold these truths to be self–evident, that all beings are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We affirm our respect and gratitude for the Earth, our home planet, and our desire to maintain friendly and cooperative relations with all her nations and peoples. We also assert our sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Moon, her resources, her activities, and our responsibility to protect and preserve her environment and heritage for the benefit of all humankind."

Winston looked at the words and read them twice. He shook his head. This document would read well for 1776, he told himself, but this is nearly three hundred years later.

The justifications that Thomas Jefferson used for the United States of America sound stilted for the Nation of Luna.

Besides, he thought, everybody would recognize the source. I’d be accused of plagiarism. That’s no way to start a new nation.

The United Nations had once named Winston the Director of the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone: all that Winston and his fellow colonists wanted now was to continue the work that they had always done in peace.

What words could be used to express our desire for freedom?

He thought back to the Luna Accords, the Unity Accords, and his studies of military history. Who was the American general that served as commander for the Allied armies in Europe during World War II? A few touches of the laser pointer and he had summoned Dwight Eisenhower’s multimedia biography to the screen.

Winston scrolled slowly through the text, searching for the laconic statement that General Eisenhower had written back to Washington D.C. when the Nazis of Germany surrendered.

General Eisenhower’s aides had wanted a long, flowery announcement filled with stirring phrases and fulsome praise. Instead, General Eisenhower had disregarded these recommendations and rather wrote,

“The mission of this Allied force was fulfilled at 0241 local time, May 7, 1945.”

That’s what I want, Winston said to himself. Short, strong, direct.

Winston cleared his throat and requested to the computer, “Dictation.” Then, after a moment’s thought, he said slowly:

“Luna hereby declares her independence from Earth and asks for admission to the United Nations.”

He stared at the words for a long moment, then decided that the short statement said what the settlers of Luna needed for him to convey.

Briefly he thought of running the statement past Naoko, Alexei, and members of the assembly. He shook his head at the idea.

Alexei may want to hedge the statement as a warning, and Naoko might perhaps decorate the United Nations request with arguments. Winston shook his head again.

The assembly has agreed to declare Luna’s independence. Naoko, Alexei, and I have agreed to declare our independence. I am making the decision that this is the message that we will send to Earth.

Winston called the communications desk at the L1 station.

“Please beam this message to the United Nations headquarters in New York,” he said, “and copy the same to every communication satellite, as well.  Send the message to the Pentagon in Washington D.C.”

The Virgin Galactic technician’s name at the L1 Station was Robert. He was a young man from San Diego that Winston had previously played basketball against in Luna’s annual low–gravity games.

Robert grinned as he scanned Winston’s message.

“Right away, boss,” he said.

Winston thanked the young man and turned off the screen. “Okay, it’s done.” He said. Now to see if it has any effect.

The Life Support staff would not issue the final bunker entry roll–call for another twenty–five minutes, and therefore Winston went back to the top side to check on the preparations of other bunkers.

Chapter 23

Winston walked towards the central bunker in order to see Naoko prior to the final lockdown roll–call.

“How are you feeling Naoko?” He asked – she had her back to him. Naoko turned towards Winston and away from a Life Support staff member who took away a one–page document on a clipboard that she had signed.

Naoko looked flustered and as though she hadn’t slept well the previous night.

She responded to Winston, “I wish that I had thought of this sooner. I ought to have anticipated that Luna’s growth would be bounded by–” Winston shook his head and raised his hand slightly to stop her.

“I meant how are you feeling Naoko. You can’t hold yourself accountable for this. We did our best with the information that we had at the time...”

Winston looked at the families rushing past who hardly noticed the two of them speaking,

“…The safety of these men and women are the only responsibilities that we can control now. You are doing well.”

Naoko nodded, trying to weigh what to say in response. She looked at Winston silently.

After a moment, Naoko took a breath and quietly said, “Thank you. I am responsible for you, too. Please return to your assigned quarters.”

With that, Naoko spun away and walked quickly towards the threshold of the central bunker. A nearby Life Support staff member looked up at her from a document he had been examining and she asked him to read her the sealing checklist once again.  

Winston also turned away and walked back toward the Hotel Luna bunker and the room which was allocated to him and his three Lunar Guard roommates.

Another group of three Lunar Guardians jogged in step from his right to cross on his left, and Winston stopped to let them pass. The Guardians slowed to a walk, and greeted Winston nearly in unison, “Good afternoon, Director Sanks.” Winston knew each of the men well – they had each been selected by both Alexei and Winston for duty at the secondary private spacecraft customs facility on the surface, “Good afternoon Stefano, Jacob, and Khaled.” Winston replied.

As Winston paused for the Guardians, he looked up to the LED strewn sky–blue roof of the cavern streaked with white clouds – just like the view from Earth. He prayed silently while staring above, “We have shaped this city to become our home. I hope that we will do enough to keep our home safe.”

Winston returned to the bunker’s suite and spent the next seventeen hours reaching out one–on–one to diplomats around the world – wherever daylight was present – in hope of strengthening Luna's political position.

Seeing that he was busy, Winston’s roommates elected to remain in the special barracks quarters of the Hilton Luna Bunker established solely for Guardians.

Winston believed that building coalitions with communities who shared similar values could gain leverage in negotiations for peace. While most representatives were kind, no party was willing to acknowledge Luna as an independent nation.

In desperation, Winston once again called the L1 communications desk for what seemed to be the 70th time. Instead of Robert, this time, the bristled face of Dmitri appeared on the wall screen.

Dmitri was a former jump master with Virgin Galactic who had actually taught Winston and Alexei in ground school for their first Lunatic dive – after four years Dmitri requested to take on a less stressful role with Virgin Galactic as a communications technician at the L1 station and had also volunteered to serve with engineers of the Life Support team.

Winston asked Dmitri to call New York with a formal virtual meeting request addressed to Secretary Beth Lodge.

Thirty minutes later, Dmitri contacted Winston.

“Secretary Lodge is calling from New York.” Dmitri said.

Surprised with the rapidity of her response, Winston readily accepted the call.

“Thank you, Dmitri. Please patch her through.”

Dmitri disappeared and a second window opened on the wall. Secretary Lodge’s face appeared, no larger than life-size, opposite Winston.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Secretary-General. Thank you for responding very quickly to my request.” Winston said calmly.

While he waited three seconds for her reply due to the distance between the Earth and the Moon, Winston examined the room in which Secretary Lodge was sitting: a parlor within a spacious apartment of a high-rise building.

Behind Secretary Lodge, Winston could see a window that looked out on the skyscrapers of Manhattan. After the pause, Secretary Lodge replied.

“Good afternoon, Director Sanks. I was grateful to receive your inquiry and I am not speaking to you as the secretary-general: this is a personal conversation between two private citizens.”

Winston nodded an acknowledgment and Secretary Lodge continued, but changed the subject to her own observations.

“May I say that you look healthy and that you are dressed quite well Director Sanks? Even your quarters from what I can see of them, seem sophisticated. Lunar aluminum furniture… I ought to have expected that such luxuries were to be found in the director’s office on the Moon.”

Winston wore a tailored jacket of dark blue with Luna’s emblem imprinted on the breast.  

“Thank you,” he said. “This is the standard uniform for public servants on Luna. Likewise, I am grateful to see that you are in good health.”

Winston’s name badge rested above the Luna Emblem: a lunar full moon on a black background with a discernible crater formation in the center. The emblem’s craters resembled a cluster of grapes in honor of Dionysus.

The uniform was worn by all Life Support team members and was designed to be comfortable and not overly formal.

Winston was puzzled that Secretary Lodge would describe wearing the uniform as “well-dressed,” and that she would consider lunar aluminum a luxury. Secretary Lodge was surely being generous in her compliment, as she must have known that aluminum was one of the most abundant resources available to colonists on the Moon.

“In addition, Secretary Lodge, if you do not mind my continued interjection, this is not my personal office. As I am certain you know, all lunar colonists including me are currently taking shelter in underground bunkers in anticipation of an imminent invasion from Earth. All quarters within the shelters are identically appointed.”

“Yes, I do know,” said Secretary Lodge, not acknowledging the fleet-in-transit. “However I did not know that emergency quarters were so equally elegant. The privileges of wealth.”

Winston bit back the temptation to comment on Secretary Lodge’s posh apartment. Instead, he asked the key question directly.

“Secretary Lodge, will the United Nations accept my request and acknowledge Lunar Independence?”

The question jolted Secretary Lodge.  She looked offended, but quickly regained her composure.

“Declaration of Independence? The message that you sent to the United Nations is a transparent stratagem to avoid complying with the orders of the Earth Identity Alliance.

The lava cavern region that you call ‘Luna’ is a division of the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone alongside Herschel Crater. The land within the colony – in addition to any lunar regolith on the surface – is jointly owned by NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency in partnership with Shell Corporation. The Earth Identity Alliance does not recognize the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone as anything other than what it is.”

Winston was disappointed in this answer, and calmly responded,

“Secretary Lodge, with all due respect, the Earth Identity Alliance is a political association. The United States Senate represents the people of the United States of America, and the United Nations represents all of Earth’s citizens. As of yet the Unity Accords have been repealed neither by the United States Senate nor the General Assembly. The lawful-”

Secretary Lodge began to speak before Winston had finished, and not due to the three-second communications lag.

“The official annulment of the Unity Accords is not important. If your continued insubordination presents a difficulty to the squadrons of the fleet, please know that use of force has been authorized. You must submit to their orders.”

Winston listened, and then he responded.

“Secretary Lodge, I do not understand why a lawful treaty signed between the Lunar Senate, the United States Senate, the Executive of Brazil, and the global assembly over which you currently preside would not be honored. While Luna may be located on the Moon, the colonists ask only for the same recognition that the legislature of any nation on Earth would receive.”

Secretary Lodge’s expression became increasingly upset before she sharply countered,

“You are not a nation!”

Winston winced slightly at her exclamation, and evenly replied,

“Secretary Lodge, Luna is a permanent community of more than twenty thousand people. We have homes, schools, a daycare, a hospital, a library, three churches, and a legislature. We have a right to be recognized as a legitimate party to treaties.”

Secretary Lodge’s cheeks flushed, and she waved one hand dismissively.

“You are not a nation.” Secretary Lodge repeated.

“Twenty thousand people do not make a nation. You cannot even exist by yourselves without supplies from Earth. It is as if a group of people on an ocean liner declared themselves an independent country. Your declaration is absurd.”

Winston took a deep breath and insisted calmly,

“Luna is self-sufficient. We produce most of our own food. We regularly have a surplus of oxygen, and we recycle all water.

As I am certain you are well aware, Luna exports power for a growing percentage of the population on Earth.

Luna can exist on her own without any imports from Earth. We are asking that we be given the same rights as any other member of the United Nations.”

Winston’s statement was an embellishment, he knew. Food supplies had dwindled after Earth ceased exports and Life Support staff worked overtime to plant a surplus of wheat, vegetables, and fruit in the remote farms prior to lockdown. Luna could subsist for possibly three months without imports from Earth.

Yet a part of Winston’s mind marveled at the realization that the bluff of self-sufficiency was not far-fetched. With small changes in crop rotation, supply chain management, and rationing, Luna could indeed exist indefinitely without imports from Earth.  

Secretary Lodge’s expression seemed to recognize the truth of Lunar economy as well, and she made a visible effort to calm herself.

“Director Sanks, both you know, and I know, that this so-called ‘declaration of independence’ is nothing more than a smoke screen.

Your call for Lunar Sovereignty is a camouflage to disguise the fact that you wish to continue your intransigence and evade the directives of the Earth Identity Alliance.”

Winston stated firmly in response.

“Secretary Lodge, the intentions of the Earth Identity Alliance are to deport the permanent citizens of Luna and continue exporting Helium Three. Nothing on the Moon would change save for personnel. The colonists of Luna and the voters of Earth know this.”

Secretary Lodge’s face went from red to white. She took a deep breath, then said quietly, “What makes you think that?”

Winston pretended that she was referring to mining operations and replied, “Several lunar senate members are also on the board of Shell Corporation.”

Secretary Lodge sat in silence for several moments. Then she admitted,

“It is entirely possible that Helium Three exports will continue once the Earth Identity Alliance has taken control of the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone.”

Winston knew what this meant.

“Secretary Lodge, if the Earth Identity Alliance were to win, Luna would continue to supply Helium Three to the world, prices would be raised due to monopoly, and the profits would be invested in communities other than the lunar colony.”

Reluctantly, Secretary Lodge nodded.

“The Earth Identity Alliance will continue her stewardship of all celestial resources.

The Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone currently has contracts with international power distribution companies for the shipment of refined Helium Three: when the Earth Identity Alliance has reestablished control over the Moon, her directors will ensure that these contractual obligations remain fulfilled.”

With sudden understanding, Winston responded, “There are many nations who oppose this takeover of Luna.

If for any reason the Earth Identity Alliance could not continue Helium Three deliveries after gaining control of the Moon, your constituents would abandon you. The Earth Identity Alliance cannot survive an energy crisis.”

Secretary Lodge acknowledged the validity of Winston’s statement. If energy progressive governments opposed Secretary Lodge’s agenda amid Helium Three shortages, a bloc of opposition could arise in the United Nations.

“You are perspicacious,” Secretary Lodge said. She leaned back in her chair, seeming to relax.

“The facts are that Japan, Denmark, the Netherlands, and many other nations support the efforts of the Earth Identity Alliance. The fleet will land at the Sinus Medii Special Administrative Zone in less than twenty hours. Fait accompli.”

Winston stared curiously at the person in the wall screen.

“Secretary Lodge, who is going to direct Luna when the fleet departs?”

After Secretary Lodge heard his question, she smiled like the Chesire cat.

“Why, Director Sanks, who else but me?”

Winston was surprised, but he was not stunned.

Chapter 24

As Earth's ships entered lunar orbit, the fate of the fledgling Nation of Luna hung in the balance.

The Earth fleet was principally led by the United States Navy, with accompanying support from the United States Marine Corps and the Brazilian Marine Corps.

The Navy commenced an invasion wordlessly, without hail, and began launching shuttles toward the surface of the Sinus Medii basin.

Early warning satellites precisely identified the United States Navy troop transports which had not yet launched landing shuttles. The transports alone were fired upon by the Lunar Guardians’ non–lethal long–range electromagnetic pulse cannons – disabling all electronic functions to include guidance and propulsion. As a result, these troop ships continued to orbit harmlessly without deploying any shuttles.

The arriving shuttles which did launch successfully began firing harpoons into the lunar bedrock to moor ships in place such that they could not be removed easily.

From his command post within the central bunker, Alexei ordered the commander of the Lunar Guardian Fleet, Captain Mikhail Andreivich, to begin to maneuver seven fast–reaction unarmed Lunar Guardian corvettes prepared outside the lunar port dock doors and to begin towing the large cargo vessels assigned to them.

Each freighter was loaded with unrefined and compacted lunar ore. In the event that the United States ships prepared a kinetic missile attack of the Moon’s surface, the corvettes and cargo ships were to be used as sacrificial barriers.

The seven exposed surface facilities:

the Hotel Luna, Herschel Crater, and five Helium Three mining sites, had been successfully defended in virtual reality simulations.

The Hotel Luna’s autonomous “Iron Dome” missile interceptor defense lasers would act in support.

Meanwhile, a separate United States Marine Expeditionary Unit frigate secured control of the L1 depot, placing the technicians there under arrest.

Alexei’s and Mikhail’s preparations were tested: while the Lunar Guardians had designed robust defensive strategies, the personnel of the invading United States armada outnumbered the colonists two – to – one. The Lunar Guardian Corps was outclassed twenty – to – one.

The warships of Earth carried more combined tonnage than had been received at the lunar port in eleven years of operation.

The standard lunar dock entrance near the base of the lunar space elevator was also protected. There, Lunar Guardians waited in reinforced pillboxes controlling drones carrying electromagnetic pulse rifles to provide at least a delaying measure.

While protections from kinetic weapons were important, Alexei knew that the greatest threat to Luna’s civilians came from the risk of the lunar bunkers being boarded and captured.

Based on Winston’s testimony with the United Nations Secretary General, Alexei knew that the colonists would without a doubt be apprehended and returned to the Earth if the bunkers were breached.

The colonists must be protected from the United States Navy Sailors as an arrest could be considered a lawful detainment in Earth Identity Alliance courts.

Unarmed lunar rover maneuvering units sprung into action on the surface acting as decoys to divert attention away from the main lunar settlements as the final remaining operational transport shuttles began to land and offload Navy Seabees in reinforced cermet spacesuits.

The Seabees gathered near the Shell mass driver and installed seismic sensors in the ground there in order to map the extent of the underground city. A full survey of any lava caverns which may have not been publicly released in blueprint form was taken.

The Seabees knew that these areas were likely to contain reinforced shelters where the lunar colonists could take cover during the assault.

Meanwhile, the colonists deep within the fortified emergency bunkers continually broadcast messages asserting the sovereign existence of Luna.

These patriotic speeches were sent along both the space elevator communications network – for the Earth population to hear – and on all channels for the landed Sailors.

The invading forces were undeterred by the announcements. 

However, immediate action could not be taken by the United States forces against the lunar settlers.

Through clever modification of technology developed for the space elevator tether climbers, all power from Luna’s Helium Three reactors were routed to vacuum electromagnetic pulse barriers well ahead of the encamped Lunar Guardians.

Similar in principle to a powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine operating in vacuum, metallic bullets or spacecraft were repelled from Luna’s entry docks by the electromagnetic pulse barrier before an approach of even thirty meters could be made.

Defense – in – depth barriers were similarly placed through the Hotel Luna’s dome and within each pressurized bulkhead of the lunar colony. Seven coordinated parallel layers continued deep within the cave system all the way down to the underground bunkers.

In this way the Lunar Guardians successfully and non–violently delayed the Earth forces' advance for weeks while neutralizing risk to civilians.

Plans for delivering a volley of torpedoes against the Hotel Luna’s quartz-and-electromagnetic-pulse barrier dome were drawn, however the Sailors were uncertain if adequate quantities of the weapons were available to both overwhelm the laser defenses, to penetrate the cargo freight vessels which the Lunar Guardians continually deployed around the surface, and break through the dome itself.

The Earth forces also considered an option to drill through lunar bedrock to reach the settlement, however this was an endeavor which was unsuitable for the equipment that the Sailors had brought with them.

The drama of the invasion was continually shown to viewers across the Earth, and protests intensified calling for an end of this war of aggression. The scope of the civil unrest rivaled the opposition of the United States citizens to the Vietnam war during the 1960s.

Seven weeks into the siege, Winston and Alexei met electronically for a daily situation report. On this day, Alexei sat alone behind a lunar aluminum desk in the central bunker command post engaged once again in a passionate debate with Winston about resources and offensive operations.

“Oxygen depletion?” Alexei asked heatedly. “Surely you do not expect the Navy to give up and go home due merely to low oxygen? Winston, yesterday was the best time to begin guerrilla tactics as the oxygen shortage will only stimulate the Navy’s efforts to access the colony.” 

Winston quickly responded,

“No, Alexei, I do not expect the Navy simply to leave. However, as you know, the Sailors have not planned to begin electrolyzing lunar regolith on the surface, and they will run out of oxygen within the next three weeks if the calculations by Naoko’s algae farm engineers are accurate.

The Navy will not risk a major offensive while a critical resource is in question.

The Sailors must wait for resupply or for a second squadron. The fleet is built for short near-Earth maritime patrols, not for long-term habitation in space. The Navy was not prepared for electromagnetic pulse barriers and a month-long stalemate.

Additionally, Alexei, we have declared independence; the United States Navy is already operating in an illegal capacity. We do not need to initiate aggression against a numerically superior foe.”

Alexei countered,

“The United States Navy is only operating illegally if the United Nations accepts Luna’s independence. Until then this is a police action in the eyes of the Earth Identity Alliance.

Perhaps, Winston, the Earth Identity Alliance will see the lunar colonists as brothers if we should open our port doors to the Navy and offer the Sailors our oxygen? We have extra oxygen.”

Winston acknowledged Alexei’s point with a head nod. In the month and a half since the beginning of the siege, only one nation of the United Nations General Assembly, the State of Israel, had recognized Luna’s Declaration of Independence.

Of course, Alexei was being facetious with respect to opening Luna’s doors - even if we could fulfill the biblical command about giving aid to one's enemies by doing so.

What was the verse in the book of Proverbs? Winston searched his mind, yes, Proverbs 25:21, "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink."

This verse encouraged kindness and generosity even to enemies, as doing so can have a positive impact and may result in reconciliation. This led Winston to think that he ought to have provided the longer version of the Lunar Declaration of Independence to the United Nations headquarters.

The eloquent verbiage and the British colonists’ beliefs in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” might’ve made a stronger impact in the United Nations General Assembly.

Alexei’s continued argument broke Winston away from his reverie.

“Winston, the Navy has commandeered the L1 station, the mass driver, and the lunar elevator. The lunar dockyard is currently blockaded.

Unlike the Navy, Winston, Luna now has no ability to send or receive goods. The United Nations will not acknowledge a weak ‘independent’ country who cannot or will not defend her ports.

Winston, the Guardians are standing by for my order, ready to reclaim our land.”

Winston nodded.

“Alexei, the Guardians are brave.

Even if the enemy were of equal numbers, establishing control of the port, the lunar space elevator, and the mass driver would be a harrowing assignment.

The United States Navy has brought twenty Sailors and Marines for every Lunar Guardian, and the Navy’s equipment is far more advanced than our weapons.

Any physical altercation could result in a pyrrhic victory at best.

Time is on our side Alexei: we can hold on and prevent the Navy from entering Luna. If they do enter the colony, we can successfully defend the bunkers. We will gain favor. The moral imperative—”

Alexei pointedly exclaimed,

“Winston, time was on our side until imports ceased! We do not have the luxury of the moral imperative. Now is the time we must act to keep the enemy from taking Luna!”

Winston stopped and said nothing, looking silently at Alexei.

Alexei persisted,

“Winston, Luna has approximately six more weeks of provisions in the bunkers. There are approximately two months of foodstuffs growing in the fields if we dare venture into the colony.

We, Winston, also did not anticipate a stalemate lasting longer than one month.

I strongly recommend that we take offensive action now or at the very least bring this discussion to the assembly for a vote. When is the time to strike? Will we defend Luna when our citizens are on the verge of starvation?”

Winston waited a moment before attempting earnestly to persuade Alexei.

“Alexei, all that we must do is show the world that we can survive. We will ration if we must, but we will prove that we are self-sufficient.

The Guardians are defending the citizens Alexei and we are not being weak. The delegates of the United Nations will recognize that we are independent.”

Alexei shook his head. “This is a fantastic vision, Winston. We have the capacity for offensive operations now.

Luna must demonstrate to the world that our air space is safe in order to resume regular trade with friendly nations.

Let us initiate the defense of our home.”

“No,” Winston insisted. “This is the situation of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War.

The Confederacy was besieged, and the Union sought to conquer her.

If the Confederacy remained intact, the leaders of Europe would recognize the Confederacy as a nation.”

Alexei asked gently.

“But that didn’t happen, did it?”

Winston acknowledged that Alexei was correct but replied with determination.

“No, it did not happen Alexei, and the Confederation was defeated. However, we at Luna will remain intact and we at  Luna will be recognized as the Nation of Luna.”

Chapter 25

Eight weeks into the siege, reports circulated that 40 percent of individual Navy shuttles had consumed all available oxygen reserves and had returned to transport vessels in orbit.

Evening news segments covered the stagnant naval fleet, standing idle on the Sinus Medii basin, and rumors circulated that a salvo of torpedoes would soon be launched at the Hotel Luna’s dome.

Lunar Independence gained worldwide popular support, and most citizens were sympathetic to the lunar cause.

Phone bank campaigns to elected representatives and protests in favor of the lunar population’s right to self–determination rippled across the planet in a similar fashion to the support of Palestine’s refugees in the early 2020s.

The daily lives of Lunar colonists under siege was broadcast on social media, and the members of the small community of 20,000 were resolved to prove to the Earth alliance that the safety of their friends and family would be fiercely defended.

Meanwhile, the return to fossil fuels as Helium Three shipments were temporarily halted caused unrest around the world. Since the introduction of Helium Three in 2036 fifteen years ago, limited carbon–based infrastructure was available to support coal or natural gas imports in many countries. Rolling brownouts occurred in cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

Secretary Lodge watched these developments with concern and received increasing pressure from colleagues to recall the Navy ships to port.

As well, political opinion was increasingly weighing against the Earth Identity Alliance invasion: what was the purpose of the fleet on the moon? What were the colonists doing wrong?

Additionally, unless a critical resupply mission was launched, the Navy Sailors would be forced to return home with no objectives accomplished.

After reviewing all available data and meeting with key aides, Secretary Lodge suggested a solution: the dormant electromagnetic Shell mass driver on the lunar surface – which was previously used to fire refined Helium Three reentry capsules to receiving docks on Earth – could be repurposed as a weapon for the landed United States Navy fleet.

After the colony of Luna was forced to open, oxygen stores could be accessed from either the algae farms or the long-term oxygen surplus tanks near the lunar regolith aluminum electrolysis smelter.

This proposal was considered a genius use of resources by key leaders of the Earth Identity Alliance. What was once the lunar colony’s largest source of income would soon be used as a weapon of war.

The on–scene United States Navy Seabees reprogrammed the polarity of the electromagnetic mass driver and reversed its firing order.

The lunar colonists had removed power from all systems not related to the vacuum electromagnetic pulse barriers, and therefore the Seabees disconnected the uranium fission reactors of two spacecraft carriers in orbit and brought them to the surface of the Sinus Medii.

After constructing a makeshift wiring harness to accommodate power line compatibility, the Seabees connected the reactors in parallel to what was now the most powerful railgun in the solar system – incomparable to any similar weapon possessed by the United States Navy on Earth.

Over radio channels the Navy warned the Lunar Guardians standing post that the Shell mass driver had been modified into a weapon, and that a tungsten projectile would be fired at the lunar port doors in three minutes. The Guardians remained at the pillboxes.

The vacuum electromagnetic pulse countermeasures were no match for the tungsten projectile being fired at would be hypersonic speeds, 2.38 kilometers per second: even the dual one–meter–thick lunar aluminum–steel alloy port dock doors were punctured as though the doors were made of wax.

Once inside, the tungsten slug ignited the surrounding air in a sudden flash. The one–hundred–meter–tall port bay cavern was briefly illuminated and every parked ship was visible in the darkened space marina. The slug quickly slammed into the carved lunar bedrock on the opposite side of the bay as sparks and molten basalt were ejected from the rapidly deepening hole. The projectile buried itself several hundred feet within the lunar bay’s wall.

Ceiling mounted klaxons began to sound warning of a breach of the lunar port’s pressure hull. However, the cacophony quickly quieted down thereafter as the air inside the bay rushed out into the vacuum of the lunar surface.  No medium was left inside the bay through which the klaxon’s urgent audio alarm could be transmitted. All that remained inside were silent amber rotating emergency lights shining along the hulls of the parked spacecraft.

After the first shot was prepared and fired, the pillboxes were immediately abandoned by the Guardian Corps alongside their drone companions. Two pillboxes were vaporized by following tungsten slugs. The Lunar Guardians possessed no air, land, or electromagnetic force sufficient to lessen the impact of these hypersonic bullets.

After seven clear shots at the dock port door, a wide enough opening with red–hot peeled metal edges was made for Sailors and Marines to carefully enter the port dock landing bay. Automated systems recognized the air pressure drop and had cordoned sections of the lunar settlements off from one another by thick pressure bulkhead seals. While this action did once again delay the invading units, rumors quickly spread within the bunkers that the United States Navy had successfully entered Luna, and that Winston's solutions had failed to resist the Earth’s attack.

Once inside, frustrated Earth Sailors began to destroy much of the infrastructure that the lunar inhabitants worked for fifteen years to build.

The main Helium Three fusion reactors were dismantled, deactivating the many remaining electromagnetic barriers throughout the colony – though the backup reactors in the bunker’s core remained operational. The water treatment facilities were rendered inoperable and the oxygen algae farms were taken offline.

Most lighting, furnishing, carpeting, and decorative art were either removed or destroyed. Even the Marriott vineyards were uprooted and many of the organic fruits and vegetables grown in fields on the outskirts of the city were taken outside of the habitat to desiccate and roast in the 200° Fahrenheit lunar day.

The bunkers’ vacuum electromagnetic shielding systems protected the colonists still.  However, after the Earth invaders understood that supplies within the reinforced bunkers could sustain the colonists for only five more weeks, the invasion force left Luna for the landed US Naval fleet, disabling all pressure bulkhead seals, cave polymer support beams, and spacecraft kept in the lunar port bay prior to their departure.

The fleet lifted from mooring anchors on the surface to return to Earth, however one US and one Brazilian Marine detachment traveled on foot to the base of the lunar space elevator.

There, the Marines placed shaped Helium Three – Tritium nuclear charges at each single–crystal anchor point of the lunar space elevator Fixed Station. Thereafter the Marines used two lunar space elevator shuttles to travel upward along the tether and subsequently returned toward the Marine Expeditionary Unit frigate connected to the L1 station.

The four angler caravels which had flown graphene cartridges to the L1 station fifteen years ago for the lunar space elevator were still berthed. Their engines had been removed long ago and their hulls were serving as museum ships for arriving lunar colonists.

Marines boarded the four angler caravels and detached their slips. With compatible docking mechanisms brought from Earth, the four angler caravels were secured at 90 ° angles to each other along an aluminum ring bolted around the Marine Expeditionary Unit frigate. After each of the amidship fittings were double–checked, the Marines set course for Earth.

As the frigate and the captured angler caravels departed, the remote Helium Three – Tritium nuclear charges were detonated at the base of the lunar space elevator. A great shockwave could be felt even deep in the underground bunkers as pressure waves traveled rapidly through solid matter.

After the blast, the anchor stations gave way, and the centrifugal force of the lunar space elevator tore away from the Moon, twisting and gyrating, as though it were an animal wounded. The 61,350 kilometer single–crystal graphene tether swung upward toward the L1 station.

Further along the Sinus Medii basin, a duck boat rover exited one of the few remaining Navy shuttles and deposited a team of seven Seabees near one of the five Shell Helium Three refineries.

A platoon of thirty Marines exited the duck boat rover after the Seabees: the Marines guarded the rear of the now mobile team, taking long strides in the low lunar gravity.

The combined Navy squad of 37 had landed much closer to the Helium Three refinery than the Lunar Guardians had placed the ore–laden freighter.

While the Lunar Guardians’ expectation of a missile or other kinetic threat to the refineries from the US Navy fleet was well founded, no simulations for a ground invasion by a mobile assault team had taken place.

The now space–suited Lunar Guardians watched from the bridge of their corvette, armed but not attacking – merely observing – as the Seabees and Marines approached the Helium Three facility.

While numerically the Lunar Guardians were evenly matched with the squad of 37, Alexei himself had given strict orders not to fire upon any United States Navy personnel unless in self–defense. Therefore, the Guardians could do nothing more but watch.

The harvesting sites surrounding the refinery were comparatively flat and clean, as most of the regolith had been stripped away for processing. Outside the facility, several rows of automated lunar combines were parked neatly.

Seabees arrived at the entrance of the Shell building and found it unlocked. The refinery was not sealed nor was an atmosphere provided within.

Inside, the sophisticated bespoke hardware for chemically isolating Helium Three at twenty parts per billion amid the lunar regolith stretched seven stories high. The Seabees found the central processing unit of the plant and accessed the mainframe.

A decentralized and non–networked CPU was used in all refineries to discourage remote tampering or sabotage, however Shell engineers had not anticipated any unwelcome visitors physically entering the refinery site on the Moon.

The lead Seabee took out a hard drive loaded with malicious software from her chest mounted kit and connected the device to the CPU with a standard USB–C cable. The hardware’s compatibility had previously been tested in a vacuum on Earth by the Navy.

As she uploaded the virus, refinery pumps could be felt to physically shutter as operating systems began to power down for the first time since having been activated.

The Seabees would leave the physical hardware untouched, however the code that the US Navy Sailors installed would make rebuilding the refinery systems impossible without a complete refurbishment.

The process took only four minutes, after which the crew of seven Seabees quickly left the Shell plant and exited back onto the lunar surface alongside the waiting Marines.

The 37 Sailors and Marines then quickly passed underneath the Lunar Guardian corvette and moved swiftly on foot toward the duck boat rover less than a kilometer away.

From the central command post Alexei observed four other Seabee teams with identical orders accomplishing similar missions at the other four Helium Three refinement sites. Thankfully the Herschel Crater center was not approached.

Alexei knew these actions were taken by the United States Navy knowing that the lunar inhabitants would have two options: 1) attempt to swiftly rebuild algae farms for oxygen, repair water treatment facilities, and restore Helium Three power plants, or 2) be forced to beg the governments of Earth to either send aid or allow the colonists to return to Earth as refugees.

The 20,000 inhabitants of the lunar colonies were awestruck at the reports of catastrophic loss that were spreading among the bunker complexes, and some wept bitterly at the inefficacy of the many defenses that they had erected since their arrival.

Fleet Captain Mikhail Andreivich returned to the lunar dock after the Earth forces departed, and radioed to Alexei with an after–action report. Mikhail was born in Sevastopol and had anticipated that this conflict could be settled ship–to–ship long before any shuttles landed on the lunar surface – much as his grandfather had described many naval battles over centuries near the city of his birth. However, Alexei ordered that a strictly defensive posture be maintained.

With tears in his eyes Mikhail surveyed the devastation of the colony of Luna, and somberly stated that significant materiel damage had occurred both on the surface and within the colony.  

The two Virgin Galactic technicians at the L1 station were reportedly forced to return to Earth with the United States Marines, who had also taken the museum angler caravels with them.

Thankfully, however, the technicians were unharmed and similarly no Guardian Corps casualties were reported.

The Herschel Crater site was safely intact, however all five mining facilities were permanently disabled by hostile software that the United States Navy had installed.

The seven corvettes and the towed cargo freighters remained in working order as were the EMP cannon which fired at the United States Navy troop transport ships.

The port dock doors were heavily damaged but could be repaired, and all satellites remained operational.   

The Shell mass driver’s firing polarity had been reversed and the driver had thereafter been loaded with a non–standard payload.

The mass driver’s frame sustained warping, but the system was not damaged irreparably.

Finally, Mikhail took a deep breath and said softly that the root of the lunar space elevator tether had been detonated. The tower had detached from the Moon and was now rising to the L1 station.

Alexei thanked the Captain and asked him to confirm that all hostile forces had evacuated the L1 Lagrange station. Mikhail responded in the affirmative, and he thereafter offered his resignation to Alexei in recognition of his failure to defend the citizens and property of Luna.

Alexei quickly rejected Mikhail’s resignation, and ordered Mikhail to gather all Lunar Guardian Corps soldiers at the town square in seventy–two hours. Alexei would thank both the Guardians and Mikhail publicly for the service that they had rendered for the protection of the settlers of Luna.

Alexei quietly said to Mikhail in Russian, “Mikhail Andreivich, you defended the colony with everything you had without causing further escalation.”

Alexei thereafter immediately routed Mikhail’s report to Winston, and Winston similarly thanked Alexei and Mikhail for the Guardian’s fight. Winston then called engineering crews to first repair the large port doors and then to begin to re–pressurize the habitat.

While this process was ongoing, Winston confirmed with Naoko that all residents were safe and accounted for. After Naoko confirmed, Winston climbed into a space suit at the entry dock of the Hotel Luna’s bunker and cycled out swiftly.

In twenty minutes he stood in the lobby of the Hotel Luna where he watched in shock as the base of the lunar space elevator spun silently upwards and away from the Sinus Medii floor, towing the lunar Fixed Station as a whip.

Winston called the engineering team and Life Support staff for a complete damage assessment and requested that a town hall be held forty minutes after full repressurization. The town square was the only open space large enough to accommodate every member of the colony.

With Hilton binoculars Winston watched the final Marine Corps craft disappear along its trajectory away from the L1 Lagrange station. Mikhail had reported that the Virgin Galactic technicians there had been forcibly detained and were returning to Earth.

The deep blue liquid oxygen/hydrogen flame of the Marine Corps frigate was wider than the craft itself, due to thermodynamic over–expansion.

This design was inefficient for a spacecraft operating in a vacuum, Winston thought to himself, however the only true way to take full advantage of the rocket’s thrust would be to install an infinitely large nozzle while in vacuum.

Though it was too far away to see with the naked eye, Winston knew that the L1 station spun the lunar space elevator tether in a tightening coil around its width, and that both the station and the tether would stay in place due to the L1 gravity well.

Winston wondered at the ships returning to Earth. “Why hadn’t you protested against the harm you were being ordered to inflict? Are we not brothers and sisters to you – Sailors just as you?” Winston received no answer – neither internally nor externally, and he instead watched the Virgin Galactic landing site lie abandoned just outside, quiet along the glistening stars above.

Chapter 26

In spite of the seven puncture wounds through the dual one–meter–thick lunar aluminum–steel alloy doors of the lunar dock port, Luna’s Engineers developed a novel method to swiftly restore pressure to the habitat.

The Helium Three reactor which powered the aluminum electrolytic smelter was repaired and 3–D printed molds of the exit wounds caused by the tungsten slugs were captured. These casts were used to form a semi molten aluminum–steel patch which was quickly delivered and set.

After several cycles pressurizing and depressurizing the port bay, the main port dock door held and was declared safe for inhabitants to use. Half of the engineering team then turned their attention to plastering over holes caused by the spent United States Navy tungsten slugs embedded in the lunar bedrock on the other side of the bay while the other half began to clean debris from destroyed spacecraft parked in the dock.

Inside the central bunker, Naoko prepared the colonists to exit the shelter in an orderly fashion, and the engineering team confirmed over radio communication that full pressure in all sectors of the habitat had been restored.

Winston verified 14.7 psi on his suit’s readout screen and lifted the suit’s helmet off while separation bulkheads reopened – though the partition’s seals had already been rendered unusable by the departing sailors. Both he and Luna’s tired residents from the bunkers began to arrive one by one into the town square.

Chapter 27

Winston surveyed the scene of his fellow 20,000 citizens, men and women with whom he had lived and worked with over the previous decade and a half, standing amidst splinters shorn from the trees of the town square’s park.

The scene was surreal – a nightmare – and he spoke slowly and carefully into a microphone set up for him having formed a plan for survival and recovery.

"My friends, we have lost a battle. But we will not lose our freedom. Our priority now must be to restore infrastructure needed to sustain life in our city," he announced.

Whispers began to spread through the gathered crowd, but Winston quickly continued in a firm tone of voice.

“Life Support teams, begin preparing charcoal oxygen scrubbers to recycle the air we currently have. Engineering staff, please survey the water reprocessing plants – use whatever salvaged materials you can find to repair them. Medical personnel, please return to the hospital bay and report all injuries and their severity to me directly."

Thankfully, as Naoko had previously stated, all citizens were protected inside the bunkers during the assault, and therefore no casualties were sustained inside.

Unfortunately, however, three elderly men incurred superficial injuries from broken glass after leaving their shelter, and one young mother was rushed to the hospital bay into early labor due to stress. All were expected to recover swiftly and the young male child was born without complications. The boy’s mother named him Bas after Basmati rice, which had been frequently served at the galley during the weeks long stay in the bunker.

Within days, emergency oxygen filtration and treated water were restored through a Herculean cooperative effort.

Volunteer cleaning crews mobilized immediately, banding together in the face of adversity. Not one lunar settler suggested leaving the colony to return to Earth.

Some volunteers worked to shore up ruptured sections of cave ceiling pylons before a collapse of roofing polymer could endanger lives. Winston worked among the roof polymer repair teams and helped repair pressure bulkhead seals.

The 100 Martian volunteers, who had been assigned to the central bunker, were asked to build ad–hoc structures as temporary shelters for lunar colonists whose homes had been destroyed – at least until the 3–D modular home printers could be brought back online. The volunteers readily agreed, as this was an opportunity to use the techniques that they had been practicing for months.

Colonel Ramirez, no longer an officer of the Brazilian Space Force, was asked by Alexei to assume the responsibility of establishing radio contact with Shell Corporation on Earth. Working alongside engineering teams, she would assist in activating backup antennae stored at Herschel Crater which were built in the event of a malfunction on the lunar space elevator.

After successfully contacting Shell headquarters in London, she would also travel to the Helium Three sites on rovers to install software provided by Shell in hopes that the refineries might be restored to normal. Unfortunately, however, her efforts were unsuccessful, and it was thought that hardware repair from Shell employees on Earth would be required.

Meanwhile, agricultural engineers worked around the clock to repurpose algae farms as temporary nutrient solution until standard provisions could be renewed.

The fruits that had been taken outside by the United States Navy were suitable to be consumed as fruit jerky: the vacuum of the lunar surface had removed all moisture within the fruits and ultraviolet radiation had destroyed bacteria which might cause spoil.

The ruins of the soybean farms and other organic produce were catalogued by the Life Support team, and all existing foodstuffs from other areas, such as the dried fruits on the lunar surface and produce in the bunkers, were brought in to supplement temporary public cafeterias hosted by the Life Support team.

Reserve produce seeds stored deep in the bunkers were retrieved. Kale, mushrooms, and Brussels Sprouts were planted in neat rows among the soil of the town square’s green spaces while the remote farms were being repaired.

While provisions did dwindle towards the critical six–week mark, the ad–hoc farms began supplying a modest surplus. Months of cultivation would be required to fully replenish stocks, but for now survival was secured.  The grit and ingenuity of the colonists was a match for the arduous circumstances left to them by the United States Navy.

With literal breathing room gained, repair crews turned to restoring power generation from the standard Helium Three reactors. Reserve Helium Three ore was accessed and engineers also charted intact tunnels leading to undamaged cave complexes. These sectors could be used for possible relocation of Helium Three reactors and distribution sites if current power plants proved irreparable.

The destruction of the ships parked in Luna's port dealt a heavy blow, cutting off the possibility of emergency return to sympathetic communities on Earth. Many of these ships were owned by normal laborers who traveled frequently between Earth and Luna; they did not expect that the Marines would destroy their ships. Winston knew restoring orbital transport capabilities was critical for long–term redevelopment.

Teams of engineers pored over the wreckage, salvaging any usable components and systems from the burned–out hulls. Power was diverted from the aluminum smelter to power 3–D printers to fabricate replacement parts from stored schematics, and unrepairable ships were cannibalized for their modular engines and life support systems.

Three weeks later, the colonists gathered silently in the Lunar town square, looking up as Winston stood on the small floating stage at the center.

There had been many other town hall meetings since the attack covering a variety of topics, including a ceremony thanking the Lunar Guardians for their efforts to keep the community safe, however today was about honoring the loss of the lunar space elevator, as well as Robert and Dmitri, the Virgin Galactic crew who volunteered to remain at the L1 station and who were currently still detained on Earth as political prisoners.

"My friends, we have overcome much to get to where we are today. But we do not stand by our own merits alone – our achievements are built upon the sacrifices of those who came before us.”

Winston stepped to a side on the stage.

“Before us lies a plaque, crafted from the same graphene that once stretched between Luna and the L1 station."

Winston gestured to where Alexei and Colonel Ramirez held a shining memorial. Engraved upon it were the words:

"To those who first dared reach for the stars, and to Robert and Dmitri, who stood by their posts so that we might continue the journey. We will never forget."

As Winston spoke of dreams realized through unity and resilience in the face of loss, tears glistened in the crowd. When he finished, a moment of respectful silence fell before applause rang out.

Alexei and Colonel Ramirez then nodded to Winston. After checking each other’s Virgin Galactic suit fittings one last time, they each alighted their back–mounted seven–inch maneuvering rockets and launched from the stage, Alexei carrying the precious plaque. Onlookers watched as they arced overhead toward the train depot and port dock where visiting spacecraft and tourists once flowed through in more prosperous days.

When beyond the airlock, Colonel Ramirez, who had first operated the scout to connect the lunar tether to the lunar Fixed Station fifteen years ago, stepped onto the foundation where the lunar space elevator’s Fixed Station once stood.

Alexei, who had been the first to travel the tether’s length alongside Winston and Naoko fifteen years ago, waited several steps behind.

Colonel Ramirez carefully mounted the plaque into the Sinus Medii bedrock with a large electric drill and lunar quartz bolts.

While Winston knew that few who came to Luna in the future would go outside to honor the graphene plaque that Colonel Ramirez installed, Winston would always remember the pioneering tower which enabled the colony of Luna to thrive.  

Chapter 28

Meanwhile, astrodynamicists ran simulations on alternative transfer methodologies to send and receive cargo without the lunar elevator.

In contrast to the Shell mass driver which sustained minor damage after being used as a weapon and was being repaired, Luna engineers ran simulations and found that the lunar elevator could only theoretically be reattached to the lunar floor through major modifications in its design. The anchor moorings of the lunar tether had been irreparably damaged by the Helium Three – Tritium nuclear charges and would need to be replaced.

 Additionally, while the graphene matrix of the tether could be repaired, no guarantee could be made about the strength of the entire crystal structure when reattached to the base due to the extreme heating and compression that the tower’s Fixed Station had sustained during the Helium Three – Tritium detonation.

If the lunar elevator’s graphene fibers experienced even minor perturbations at the Fixed Station in the future, the tether’s integrity could be compromised.

The lunar space elevator made the Moon a viable long–term settlement option through significant initial logistical cost savings. Rebuilding Luna without the operationally safe tower seemed impossible.

However, Winston offered a daring alternative – the lunar space elevator's tether fiber could be used as building blocks to construct graphene – hulled single–stage–to–orbit spacecraft.

These light “space clippers” would be sent out of the Moon’s comparatively mild gravity well from the lunar surface using solid aluminum fuel mined from the Moon’s surface.

Similar to Sierra Nevada’s cycler cargo vessels, these clippers would travel between the orbit of the Moon and the Earth on transfer trajectories, however unlike Sierra Nevada’s design, the graphene ships could reenter Earth’s atmosphere independently and without requiring ablative shielding.

The carbon graphite tiles used on the Space Shuttle in the 20th century were replaced after each reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

However, in contrast, the thermal properties of carbon graphene could allow the reentry surface of a clipper – from the keel to the atmospheric draught line – to withstand hundreds of reentries into Earth’s atmosphere before requiring a refurbishment.

Winston’s idea would sustainably recycle the lunar space elevator’s graphene monofilament.

The Space Elevator Onira remained the most efficient method to travel out of the Earth’s gravity well toward the Moon, however if the Brazilian government denied access to the Alcântara Space Center in the future, a graphene clipper would be light enough to mount on a multistage rocket at any launch center on Earth in order to return to Luna.

When the refineries were repaired, standard Helium Three reentry capsules would resume shipment to Earth via the Shell mass driver.

In addition, other heavy cargo normally transported by the lunar space elevator from the Moon to Earth would be loaded onto the mass driver within Helium Three reentry capsules and would be fired toward the Earth.

Mass driver payloads sustain 57.64gs of acceleration along the five–kilometer electromagnetic rail for 4.21 seconds.

This increase in speed was required to reach the Moon’s escape velocity of 2.38 kilometers per second. While an acceleration of this magnitude was tolerable for some freight, transit to Earth from the Moon via the mass driver was not survivable for lunar colonist passengers.

Even if the Shell mass driver was lengthened to 50 kilometers, the more modest acceleration would resemble a Top Fuel drag racecar’s on Earth: 5.77 gs sustained for 42.09 seconds. This would be uncomfortable at best and potentially harmful at worst for human respiratory health.

Until a major extension of the mass driver well beyond 50 kilometers could be installed with the permission of Shell engineers, the graphene space clippers would be the best option suited for Moon-Earth passenger transit.

Manned travel and economic trade between Luna and friendly nations of the world could continue under this plan – if at a lower volume.

After listening to astrodynamicists confirm the plausibility of a manned clipper and unmanned Shell mass driver trade infrastructure in the absence of the lunar space elevator, the Lunar Senate agreed with Winston and voted to approve building graphene–hulled ships for Moon–to–Earth transit.