Sally Schultz thought she had found her dream home in Rio Rancho Estates, New Mexico, after a life-altering divorce. For $3,500, she bought a trailer plot and began to cultivate a life of hope and stability. But then a startup called Castelion, with plans to build America’s largest hypersonic missile factory, moved to the neighbourhood. Now, Schultz and others face the looming threat of potential explosions and the uncertainty of their homes.

The company, founded by former SpaceX executives, has since been valued at $13 billion and is rapidly securing military contracts, including a $200 million Navy deal. But the safety risks associated with storing hazardous chemicals on the site are alarming, with the potential for a catastrophic fire releasing deadly gases.

Despite these concerns, Castelion has not provided clear answers to basic safety questions, leaving local residents to wonder if their lives are now at risk. This situation raises important questions about the balance between national defence and community well-being.

The saga unfolds as Castelion moves its plans from Nevada to New Mexico, leaving local officials and residents scrambling to understand the full extent of the project's potential dangers. As the facility nears completion, the community grapples with the knowledge that future conflicts might very well be manufactured in their backyard.