They both knew that Nippon One carefully refrained from using nanotechnology. Instead of using nanomachines to extract helium-three from the ground, they used cumbersome bulldozers and old-fashioned mass spectrometers to separate the isotope from the other lunar ores. It kept the cost of helium-three at least ten times higher than it would have been if nanomachines had been employed to ferret out the helium-three nuclei, individually.

But Nippon One bought its water from Moonbase. Shut down Moonbase and the Japanese base dies, too.

"I don't understand how that can be," Doug said.

"Those are my instructions."

Walking beside his virtual friend in silence, Doug thought, He wants to tell me what's going on, but he can't. His loyalty to Yamagata is preventing him from telling me the whole truth.

"We've already declared our independence, you know," Doug said.

"Yes, you told me. I doubt that it'll do you any good."

"What was Tokyo's reaction to that?"

"No reaction. The first I heard of it was just now, when you told me."

"Your corporate superiors didn't tell you about it?"

"Not one word."

"We beamed the information to Yamagata headquarters and to every news agency on Earth."

"I have not received any information about that," Takai said, genuinely upset.

"That must mean that Faure intends to ignore our declaration and proceed as if it's a non-starter."

"Yes, of course."

They took a few more paces across the crater floor, skirting a fresh-looking craterlet about the size of a beach ball's indentation.

"Toshi, how are you going to get water if Moonbase is shut down? You can't use nanomachines, and-"

"We will get our water the same way we do now."

"But Moonbase will be closed. The Peacekeeper troops are on their way to shut us down."

Takai grimaced, struggling inwardly. At last he said, The Peacekeepers are coming to remove you and your people from the management of Moonbase. That does not mean they intend to close the base entirely."

Doug stopped in his tracks. "Not…' His mind started spinning. "Not close the base? Toshi, are you sure?"

"It could cost me my position if anyone learns that I told you. Yes, I am quite certain. Or I should say that Tokyo is quite certain."

"They're not going to close the base?"

"Faure spoke directly to the head of the Yamagata clan himself and assured him that Moonbase will continue to supply water to Nippon One—after the Peacekeeper troops remove you and your staff from the base."

"Faure intends to continue running Moonbase," Doug repeated, feeling hollow with surprise. "The little fur ball doesn't care about the nanotech treaty; he wants to control Moonbase himself!"

TOUCHDOWN MINUS 93 HOURS 45 MINUTES

"But don't you understand what this means?" Joanna demanded.

"It means that Faure wants to take over Moonbase," said Doug.

"It means we can do business with him!" his mother replied eagerly. "We can cut a deal."