If your browser cannot download it, I think the most reliable way to get it is with the Itch app: https://itch.io/app
I don't think it has the same problem that browsers sometimes have with the very large download.
There is no .exe in any of the mods, including ERAS. The .exe and .dll modules are all within the Maelstrom download and you can create multiple shortcuts, pointing them do the single .exe, but all the different mods. That way if Maelstrom gets updated, there is just a single point to update for the engine.