As for the Molotov, I don't think anything really happened to it. All of the action of the book took place in 2031 while the Molotov was still in deep space. I guess it will eventually arrive at Home, unless the Americans decide to pick them up for some reason, or the Soviets build an FTL ship.
Excellant as always. BTW, what is in store for Haiti and the Dominican Republic? Will they remain protectarates, albiet an informal one in Haiti's case, become states, or be conqured by *USA?