Navin Weeraratne

An "Elon Musk" of asteroid mining, launches a private, interstellar, space program. Its mission: to settle humans at Alpha Centauri. He is mocked by a climate-ruined world of failing states.
Yet, as the "Pathfinder" Program progresses, it inspires hope for the lost and ignored. The status quo fights back - the world order of the "Big Five" superpowers isn't to be overturned by an upstart dreamer, who refuses to know his place.
From the United Nations to Antimatter Physics, they face blocks. All the while, banned and restricted technology calls to them with easy answers. Will they solve fuel and mass problems using AI and self-replicating machines?
Meanwhile, war-weary America and an ascendant China, hunt a terror group that has built a new weapon. Yet, can they even trust each other?
In the world's greatest struggle since World War Two, a vision of space exploration and discovery, struggles to be justified.

This is a hard science story of the development of an interstellar mission. It examines antimatter, nanotechnology, and ISRU in the mission profile - and their promise for a troubled Earth.
Hard science fiction readers of Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Gregory Benford will find it true to the subgenre of serious, interstellar missions. Non-fiction fans of James Benford, Robert Forward, and Robert Zubrin will be just as pleased. Those who appreciate the military writing of Dan Abnett will not go wanting. Near future, combined arms warfare is featured, against an asymmetric foe with a deep international network, and employing deadly, near future, technology.