"Aaron, are you sure you want this site as Sirius Software's headquarters?" asked Harry, nervously looking around the eerie abandoned lead mine, Aaron had just spent nearly 4 million of Sirius Software's game revenue on acquiring.
"I'm thinking ahead Harry. The lead mine will give us a good shield for the nuclear reactors I want, and we can use it to build out electromagnetic shielding for the main building." said Aaron coldly.
"You know that even if you get government approval, it will take years and cost you billions to build a nuclear reactor right?" asked Mario.
"Don't insult my intelligence Mario. A small modular reactor isn't going to cost me billions." said Aaron.
"Wait, you want my prototype modular heavy water reactor? I was laughed out of the room when I presented that proposal to my professors!" said Mario incredulously.
"So what? They were renewable lobby obsessed morons anyway. So are you in or out?" asked Aaron.
"Are you building a game studio or a nuclear power company?" asked James.
"You boys are about to graduate and still don't understand the concept of vertical integration and grid independence?" asked Aaron scornfully.
"Wait. Let me get this straight. You want to build a nuclear power plant inside an abandoned lead mine to power a game studio HQ?! You can pretend to be Lex Luthor all you want, but Sirius Software isn't Lexcorp! Heck, you barely have enough cash left after you blew $4 million on this dump!" snarled Harry.
Aaron sighed wearily at the apparent ignorance of his friends. He pulled out his laptop and showed them a detailed plan.
"This is a four square kilometer land parcel that has an abandoned lead mine, a lead contaminated groundwater source, and an uncontaminated aquifer. Which means that we can build the nuclear reactor first with commercially supplied heavy water, and then sell its power back to the grid to fund the building of a heavy water distillation plant to make our own heavy water supply. The lead in the mine can be used to shield the reactor and as a waste storage site until we can set up breeder reactors and processing plants to recycle the waste. Once the entire site is operational, we'll have not just a game studio, but revenue streams from power generation, irrigation, and nuclear isotope production. Does that make things clear? Or is my confidence in your civil, electrical and nuclear engineering skills misplaced?" he challenged.
"I need a stiff drink. Or maybe lead poisoning. Do you have any idea the kind of legal and political red tape this harebrained idea of yours is going to need to cut through?!" thundered Andre.
"That's where you come in Andre. If you boys are on board, we can spin off new nuclear, energy and construction companies that you can have full reign over, with Sirius Software being your first client, and this being your first project." said Aaron.
"You're still going to need super-villain levels of money and political clout to pull this off, which you don't have boy." said Andre scornfully.
"That's why we're going to do this in phases, and use the new companies to secure venture capital funding on their own merits." said Aaron.
"Phases?" asked Mario.
"Phase 1 would be to secure this mine and start working on the small modular reactor. Once you demonstrate commercial viability, you can secure funding for production, so money in your pocket Mario." said Aaron.
"And I suppose phase two would be to build the water treatment plant and the heavy water distillation plant?" asked Harry.
"Can you think of a better construction project to sink your teeth into Harry?" asked Aaron rhetorically.
"And I suppose tying both those phases together would be the build out of a local energy grid?" asked James.
"But of course. And what better way to prove that you're the best energy company in the business?" asked Aaron.
"Stop! Stop!" shouted Andre, holding up his hands. "Aaron, I'm just an IP lawyer. You're going to need a full-blown legal army and maybe even a few senators and congressmen in your pocket to pull this off. I can't help you with that." he said.
Aaron just gave Andre a predatory smile. "I'm sure I'll be able to find at least one senator and congressman smart enough to see how this project would act as an economic and industrial force multiplier." he said.
Harry, James and Mario looked at each other, and then nodded together.
"Alright, Aaron. We're at your disposal. But if this goes south, we want a clean escape plan." said Harry.
"In that case, we'll make the new companies private limited liability companies, and Sirius Software will be the sole shareholder initially, and will still have a 90% stake regardless of who decides to put venture capital in. Andre, can you do that?" asked Aaron.
"Well, it's your money, and your neck on the line here, so fine. I'll do it." grumbled Andre.
"Good. Then incorporate them as Sirius Energy, Sirius Construction and Sirius Nuclear. And get the paperwork done by the end of the week." said Aaron.
"Yes sir." said Andre, rolling his eyes.
"Harry, I want a full Environmental Impact Assessment, and come up with blue-prints for the reactor facilities with Mario. James, I want a power grid plan as well. Let's get the design phase done before graduation." said Aaron.
"Yes sir" said James and Mario, seriously, as they all piled into the minivan Andre had rented for this "inspection" trip.
-----
"I appreciate the assist, by why exactly are you mucking around down here Aaron?" asked Mario as he, Aaron and Harry walked through the dark tunnels of the lead mine in thick hazmat suits and carrying various survey equipment.
"You could call it owner's prerogative, after all I do own the mine" replied Aaron.
"Yeah, well environmental surveys are actually quite boring." chuckled Mario as Harry carefully knocked on the tunnel walls with a hammer.The hammer struck a wall with a hollow crack, and part of the wall collapsed, causing Harry to jump back in surprise.
"Whoa, what was that?" asked Mario, looking at the dust cloud that had formed.
"It looks like a well or something" replied Harry, cautiously shining his flashlight into the hole.
"A well? In a lead mine?" asked Mario, looking at the hole with curiosity.
"Well there is a lot of water in it, can see the ripples right there" replied Harry, pointing at the water.
Mario cautiously stepped closer to the hole and shone his flashlight upwards, revealing a concrete roof.
"Harry, can you get a sample of the water? I think this is a hydraulic fracking well." said Mario.
"A hydraulic fracking well? Those have been banned across the state. What's one doing here?" asked Harry, as he carefully filled a small vial with water.
"Probably started back in the 70s as a response to the oil crises, and then abandoned when they didn't hit petroleum, and the green factions took over" replied Mario, looking at the water.
"I'm picking up some strange readings on the Geiger counter" said Aaron, looking at the device in his hand.
"Strange? How strange?" asked Mario, looking at Aaron.
"Well, given the amount of lead in this mine, I would not expect to see any readings at all." replied Aaron.
"Alright, let's find the source of the readings" said Mario, and the three of them began to walk deeper into the mine.
As they walked, the readings on the Geiger counter began to increase, and Aaron's expression grew more serious.
"Looks like its coming from behind this wall." said Aaron, as they reached the dead end of the tunnel.
Harry carefully knocked a few rocks loose with his hammer. A faint glow began to appear, and the Geiger counter began to beep more rapidly.
"You've got to be kidding me!" said Mario, looking at the wall with disbelief.
"Is that Uranium?" asked Harry, looking at the glowing rocks.
"Yup. That's Uranium alright." replied Mario, looking at the Geiger counter readings.
Aaron started to chuckle, and then he burst into a fit of manic laughter, causing Mario and Harry to look at him in concern.
"This is perfect! We now don't even have to worry about securing a uranium fuel source for the reactor!" said Aaron, still laughing.
"I don't know if you are lucky or crazy. To think that we would find a uranium vein in a lead mine!" said Mario, shaking his head.
"Mark this place on the map, and let's get out of here. I'm going to have a chat with Andre to secure the mining rights" said Aaron, as he turned to leave.
"Wait, what about the water sample?" asked Harry, looking at the vial in his hand.
"Grab that too, we can check its heavy metal content and see if we can use it." replied Aaron, as he walked back towards the entrance of the mine.