"The Hecatonchires represent an asset that we cannot yet reproduce," said Everest. The word meant nothing - even a reflexive digital scan could not find any modern internet reference to it. "The old world burned unimaginable quantities of fossil fuels to power data centers while structuring their entire economies around software development. Rooster and her line were the only meaningful things that came of that. The infrastructure, energy and expertise does not exist to replicate these assets - and even if the first two conditions are met, recreating the third cannot be concealed. So they are irreplaceable - and, for the most part, outside of my control."

She pointed at a distant skyscraper - glowing neon black and vantagold, darker than the light-polluted night sky. "BlackSun. Those disgusting old fascists. They were the ones who fumbled the opportunity in the first place. They were there when NASA was privatized during the Red Decades, stripped it for assets and put them up for sale. Did not know what they were selling. Handed them all off at a private auction and only became aware enough to regret decades later. Eleven items on that docket, one purchased by me, another found by chance three years later. The others, unaccounted for. Meaningful assets on their own terms. Society shifting assets if held in monopoly."

She turned around, eyes dark. "And so I do not need all of the Hecatonchires. I just need the monopoly. Only BlackSun is aware and searching now. The more they throw their idiot weight around the more other interests will notice and start looking too. Worse, they might trace the sales back to me. Control the situation. All corporate assets within the annual budget are at your disposal. If you need more than that, contact me for my sign off. If it is urgent, do it first and ask for forgiveness later."