Free Web NovelDaniel Goldberg sat at the head of the massive conference table in the Cabal's meeting room, looking over the terms of the treaty:
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# Lunar Mining Alliance Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Defense
## Article 1
An act of aggression against a member is considered an attack on the alliance, and will be met with immediate and overwhelming nuclear retaliation.
### Section 1 A
An Act of Aggression is herby defined as:
- Punitive or otherwise disadvantages trade tariffs
- Economic sanctions and embargoes
- Blockading of direct trade routes
- Search and seizure of civilian or military assets
- Freezing or seizure of financial assets and forex reserves
- Military invasion or violation of airspace and sovereign waters
### Section 1 B
All trade and diplomatic agreements between a member and non-member must be negotiated beforehand and agreed upon to avoid the casus belli trigger of Section 1 A, and can be safely revoked by either party.
Once an agreement is cancelled or revoked, it cannot be considered as a trigger cause.
## Article 2
Members are hereby required to withdraw from the United Nations, and all of its agencies or subcommittees.
The Alliance does not recognize the United Nations as an authority over its policies or operations.
## Article 3
Members are required to maintain a minimum nuclear arsenal of 200 warheads, with each warhead having a minimum yield of 4 kilotons.
Members are required to maintain a full nuclear triad delivery system, and full operational readiness.
## Article 4 freēwebnovel.com
Members who engage in warfare, conventional or otherwise with non-members cannot claim the casus belli provided in Article 1, other members are not obligated to offer or provide economic aid, and require a unanimous vote to provide military aid or intervention.
All disputes and conflicts between members are to be settled through arbitration and not conflict.
## Article 5
The Alliance Credit is the reserve currency and the only medium of exchange between both member and non-member states to engage in trade, members may use their own currencies and mediums for "internal" trade. This includes strategic goods and services such as oil and oil products.
The Alliance functions as a unified economic zone with free movement of goods, services and people between members.
While the Alliance Credit system and unified economic zone model is a requirement, members cannot dictate or interfere in the internal economic policies, such as taxation, internal market policies or external trade deals.
The Alliance Credit is decentralized and held by the central/reserve banks of members, and its value and exchange rate is dictated by market conditions within the Alliance.
## Article 6
All alliance members are required to conduct joint military exercises to foster the mutual defense doctrine.
## Article 7
Non-members may seek membership and can be formally inducted if they meet the requirements listed in Section 7 A.
The representative of the member must be de facto or de jure head of state.
### Section 7 A
Eligibility for membership requires:
- A recommendation from an existing/founding member
- The nuclear and military requirements laid out in Article 3
### Section 7 B
Membership is granted only by a unanimous vote from existing members
Membership once granted cannot be revoked.
A member that surrenders their membership and leaves the alliance cannot return without a unanimous vote.
A member that surrendered their membership once, cannot surrender their membership again without surrendering their nuclear arsenal, and being permanently banned from the alliance.
## Signatories (Founding Members)
Russian Federation
Republic of Germany
Sirius Software Corporate City State (The Sirius Zone)
Albrecht Nuclear Systems Corporate Enclave
Yamamoto Corp Corporate Enclave
Libya
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"I'll get right to the point. Our current playbook needs reworking. This treaty," he said, holding it up as if it was something noxious, before slamming it down on the table.
"This treaty, presents a temptation that cannot be underestimated under any circumstances! So, this is our new pivot: First order of business, India gets Russia's spot in the UNSC as a permanent member with veto powers, plus the number of permanent seats of the council is expanded to include anybody else who declares nuclear weapons. Second, the tariff gravy train we've been running with China ends here and now. No more trade wars with them. Third, every single country that has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty gets an unconditional nuclear umbrella from NATO, India, China, and anybody else who has nukes hidden in the basement. And fourth, we pull out what's left of our operatives from Russia and Libya. It is too risky to keep them after those crackdowns," said Daniel.
The other Cabal members nodded nervously.
"Dr. Durgavati. Besides permanent UNSC membership, what would it take for India to not follow Russia into the Alliance?" asked Daniel.
"Unrestricted oil and gas trade, full transfer of technology for critical nuclear and dual use technologies, and arbitration in border disputes between itself, Pakistan and China," replied Dr. Durgavati, running a hand nervously through her hair.
"Mohammed Khan, do you agree that those same concessions would keep Pakistan out?" asked Daniel.
"Yes sir. We would also require NATO security guarantees against India and Afghanistan," said Mohammed Khan.
Daniel turned to Elijah. freewebnσvel.cѳm
"Eli, we can no longer afford the Begin Doctrine. You'll have to play nice with the Arabs, because we're bringing the entire Middle East into NATO's security framework. Are we clear?" he asked Elijah.
"Yes sir," said Elijah, sweat furrowing his brow.
"I cannot stress this enough. This treaty they dropped on us is our biggest crisis. Nobody, and I mean nobody else gets to join it. If that happens, our hegemony collapses, and even our host countries might resort to the barbarism of the previous millennium. Our Global South chapters have only just reconciled, we need to show solidarity here. Are we in agreement on that?" asked Daniel.
"Yes," replied the rest of the Cabal.
"All right. Then let's set the plan in motion. Mamba, you're up first. Announce the US-Africa mission," said Daniel, as the Cabal members filed out to carry out the plan.
---
"Erik, good of you to come," said Aaron, as Erik stepped off the Tu-144 at the Sirius Software Aerospace and Weapons division airfield, that was functioning as the Sirius Zone's airport, until a new site could be found and acquired - not an easy thing to accomplish when the US was hostile.
"Nice to see you, Aaron. So, you've finally managed to get the launch site completed eh?" chuckled Erik.
"Yes. We needed to take a secession detour, but we managed to finish it," said Aaron, leading the way to the waiting HellVortex chopper.
"As much as I like military hardware, you really should get yourself a private jet or a normal helicopter," remarked Erik, as Natasha and Olga flew them to the launch site.
"I don't know. I think I prefer this," chuckled Aaron.
"Youngsters! Wait till you get to my age, and then you can tell me," grumbled Erik.
The HellVortex touched down, and they disembarked to reach the launch control room.
"Ready for final systems check, Mr. Zakhrov," reported the mission controller.
"Go ahead," said Aaron.
The man nodded and started the checks.
Each system specialist sounded off:
"Fuel systems are a go flight,"
"Radar tracking, is a go flight,"
"Propulsion systems, go flight,"
"Telemetry, go flight,"
"All systems, are go flight. Initiate Ground Launch Sequence," ordered the mission controller.
"Ground Launch Sequence initiated. Purging residual systems," came the response.
Outside, they saw the massive rocket vent out steam from its base, clearing the engine bells.
"T-minus ten seconds, Ignition Sequence Start," reported the mission controller, and a loud rumble emanated from the rocket as it s boosters and main engines powered up.
Smoke and flame blasted out from underneath the launch pad, as the Kerosene and Liquid Oxygen powered boosters ignited.
"We have lift off. Tower clear," confirmed the mission controller, as the rocket blasted off the launch pad, and climbed past the launch tower.
"Booster separation," announced the mission controller, as the rocket's eight boosters separated, and performed a controlled burn to descend back.
The boosters landed in a row on their recovery pads, just as the rocket cleared the troposphere, accelerating further.
"Stage one separation," said the mission controller as the rocket's main stage separated, and the final payload stage ignited its liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engines, pushing the rocket into orbit.
"Lunar Transfer Orbit confirmed," said the mission controller, as the first stage safely landed on its recovery pad, and everyone in the control room clapped and cheered.
"Well, Aaron. Looks like the second pillar of our lunar mining infrastructure is on its way. This one is for tungsten and rare earths, correct?" asked Erik.
"Yes. Saladin's project will be for Helium-3, and then Germany will launch the expansion modules for titanium," said Aaron.
"And we'll have a full supply chain of scheduled launches in each member state. Very nice," said Erik, rubbing his hands together in excitement.
"Plus, we should be able to start the nuclear fusion project once we get enough Helium-3 stockpiled," said Aaron.
"You do know that Helium-3 is more valuable as a nuclear medicine isotope right now than trying to smash it in a giant fusion reactor," pointed out Erik.
"True, but I'm also looking forward to carrying civilization forward. A guy can dream right?" chuckled Aaron.
"Yeah, you might as well invent warp drive and solve the theory of everything while you're at it," said Erik.
"One thing at a time, Erik. Moving from splitting atoms to fusing them is challenge enough," said Aaron, as Natasha served them Champagne.
---
"Daddy!" squealed Mikaela, hugging Ivan tightly.
It was Ivan's second supervised visit, again at Edward's house.
Ivan had come by himself this time, and Annette while still sour, was a little less tensed.
"Hey, Princess, how have you been?" asked Ivan, stroking her head.
"I've been good. That evacuation thing last month was a bit scary though," said Mikaela.
"Yes it was, but it was also the birth of an almost new country," chuckled Ivan.
"It was?" asked Mikaela.
"Yup. The Sirius Zone is now independent. We are no longer in the United States of America, we are in the Sirius Zone," said Ivan, enjoying Mikaela's wide-eyed look.
"Pine Springs is not part of the Sirius Zone," said Annette, her arms crossed defiantly.
"Actually, it is. Haven't you seen the new checkpoints?" asked Ivan.
"I don't recognize the Sirius Zone as my country. I'm American!" growled Annette.
"Well, that is technically true as well. We are now all dual citizens," said Ivan, unable to resist needling her.
"All right, that's enough you two! Annette, Pine Springs is part of the Sirius Zone, but we are also still citizens of the US, so don't worry, nothing has changed," said Edward, as Annette's hands started to shake.
"OK, let's see, how's Anna?" asked Ivan.
"We... are not talking to each other anymore. Anna's teacher's pet act has become a little too much for me," sighed Mikaela.
"I see, I'm sorry to hear that," said Ivan.
"Mr. Stanislaus is still cool though," said Mikaela.
"Tell you what? How about we go to WonderWorld tomorrow with everyone?" suggested Ivan.
"That sounds cool! Yes!" said Mikaela.
