The Ice Tariff

Ceres Reach supplies the belt's water and metal, but every kilogram inward is priced by lift capacity it does not control. As the Orbital Exchange reweights freight against energy futures, Ceres argues it is being taxed for the crime of being far away — while inner polities counter that the transfer-window calendar, not malice, sets the price. A quiet accounting fight with the potential to redraw who the belt economy answers to.