Artur Zadikyan
Binary code: Mystery number one
– A little more basic, the rest on demand," the captain replied calmly.
Vasilievich and the General smoked a second one.
It did not turn out to be brief. It was a rather long and detailed report. To everyone's delight, it came to an end.
– That's pretty much it. I'll submit the whole printout," the general's subordinate finished.
There was silence in the office. Everyone was silent. Vasilievich looked at Rutra with a concerned look. The general spoke first:
– Do you intend to inspect everything? I can provide you with the records of our inspections.
– We saw them," Zhidkov replied.
– Oh yes, how could it be otherwise! – exclaimed the general. – You can count on my comprehensive assistance.
– Thank you," Vasilyevich replied, sighed heavily and added: "I dare not interrupt you any longer. We'll go.
– Why, at any moment, Yuri Vasilyevich," Sukhov replied kindly.
Vasilievich stood up, the general behind him. Rutra followed suit. The captain handed Rutra a secret package with a crossed-out red stripe, asked him to sign it, which Rutra did, and then they said goodbye. The car took them to the "institute".
– Do you understand the program? – Vasilievich asked briefly.
– Understood," Ruthra replied just as briefly.
– Here's your assignment, research the topic, we'll discuss it tomorrow.
– The point is, we're looking for an unregistered transmitter? I take it the signal is illusory? The location of its output is constantly changing? And does it signal irregularly? – Ruthra asked.
– Good, right on target. The only thing I would add is that it interferes with the Perimeter system's data collection stations on a frequency appropriate to its purpose. It is suspected that it was camouflaged a long time ago, and it turns on on a timer or automatically. Could be cloaked anywhere. The most likely place is where something similar has been. I will also say that a conspiracy or collusion is not excluded, that is, I do not trust them either, – said Vasilievich, pointing his finger in the direction from which they came. – That's all for now.
– I understand," Ruthra replied, shook hands with his superior and went to his office.
Zhidkov left in the service car. Ruthra spent the rest of the day studying the Perimeter system and everything connected with it. His intuition told him to look where something like it had been. For some reason, its exploitation had been abandoned, though the urgency of the subject had not waned.
During the Cold War, the U.S. had its own "backup" codenamed "Mirror". Crews were constantly in the air for three decades with the mission to control the skies if control of the ground was lost due to a surprise attack. The main difference between the Mirror and the Perimeter system, which they called "dead hand", was that the Americans relied on humans to warn them of an attack.
After the Cold War, the U.S. abandoned the system, although it is still not clear who exactly controls the Soviet version. Rutra was never able to figure out who made the initial decision, as there were three other posts besides the official ones. One of them was within the structure of Center Zero, but the other two were designated by the secret code "Polygon" and the facility "Kremlin-2". No indication of the disposition of these posts he did not find. Vasilievich also strangely evaded answering, citing that he could not talk about it, even on a closed line, and added: "This is an empty designation. These posts do not exist. The secret of these posts is only this. To have spies looking for something that doesn't exist."
Such an explanation, which could not be said over the special communications telephone, raised even more questions. Ruthra didn't seem concerned by this answer, though there was certainly common sense in such a disguise. He also found out that even high-ranking military officers were careful not to speak on the subject.
General Ivashov, head of the analytical department for new types of weapons and, at the same time, head of the "P" department where Post No. 3 was located, was the only person in the center who was knowledgeable on the subject. When asked by Rutra about the structure of the system and the problem it posed, he evasively replied, "Those who know about it avoid talking about it." When asked to talk about Polygon and Kremlin-2, he replied in a way that stumped Rutra: "I can't talk about it, because I know what happens to those who try to find out.
Ruthra decided to wait until the next day and talk frankly with Vasilievich. In the meantime, he decided to study what was opposing the Perimeter system.
The U.S. system Operation Looking Glass, or "Looking Glass": air command centers of the U.S. Strategic Air Command on Boeing EC-135C aircraft. 24 hours a day, two Looking Glass aircraft are constantly in the air – one over the Atlantic and the other over the Pacific. The crews are on constant alert to assume command of strategic nuclear forces in the event that ground command centers are defeated. The VCPs are currently on duty at 4 airbases in constant readiness for takeoff.
Ruthra knew what the Perimeter system was before. But why was it the world's number one problem? Although, judging by its purpose, it very well could be.
– What do you want to know about her? – I heard General Ivashov's voice behind me.
Rutra was not confused.
– Everything. And more details," he replied, turning around in his chair. – Everything.
– And more details?
– Yes. Anything you know. It's important to me.
Rutra invited the old military specialist into his office and asked him to sit down. He began to tell everything he knew about the system without charging a price.
– The Perimeter system remains the only weapon in the world that guarantees a retaliatory nuclear strike against the enemy, even in the nightmare event that we no longer have anyone to decide on that strike. The unique system counterattacks automatically – and brutally. The Perimeter system is nicknamed "the dead hand" in the West and "the hand from the coffin" in the East. This is the control system of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Strategic Missile Forces. In documents it was named "Perimeter". The system was supposed to create such technical means and software that would allow in any conditions, even the most unfavorable, to bring the order to launch missiles directly to the launch teams. According to the idea of the creators of the system could prepare and launch missiles even if everyone died and there would be no one to give the order. This component became unofficially known as the "dead hand". That's the main thing I know about it.
– Not the main one? And what exactly is the problem?
– The problem is this: the logic of the dead hand's actions implies regular collection and processing of a huge amount of information. All sorts of information is received from all sorts of sensors. For example, about the state of communication lines with the higher command center: there is communication – no communication. On the radiation situation in the surrounding area: normal radiation level – increased radiation level. About the presence of people at the starting position: there are people – no people. About registered nuclear explosions and so on. "Dead Hand" has the ability to analyze changes in the military and political situation in the world. The system evaluates the commands received over a certain period of time, and on this basis can conclude that something is wrong in the world. When the system decides that its time has come, it will activate and launch a command to prepare for the launch of missiles. At the same time, the "dead hand" cannot start active actions in peacetime. Even if there is no communication, even if the entire combat team leaves the launch position, there are still a lot of other parameters that block the system. After the order received from the highest levels of control to a special command post, the command missile with a special head is launched, which in flight transmits launch commands to all launchers and command posts that have appropriate receivers. The command missile is the only widely known component of the system. The system is designed to guarantee the launch of silo-mounted intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles in the event that, as a result of a crushing nuclear strike by the enemy against Soviet territory, all command units capable of ordering a retaliatory strike are destroyed.
– USSR? Is it still like that? – Ruthra interrupted forcibly.
– Yes. The system's program tracks the boundaries originally put into it.
– Can't be changed?
Ivashov was silent for a moment. Rutra recognized that there was some mystery in this, and perhaps part of the "cipher" to the solution, and, to conceal it, did not inquire, though they both realized that they had said what they wanted to say to each other.
– The system is the only existing doomsday machine in the world, a weapon of guaranteed retaliation, the existence of which has been officially confirmed. There are similar systems, but they are very dependent on human error. The system is extremely classified and is still on alert to this day, so any information about it cannot be confirmed or denied. Even for military personnel with high level security clearance. In essence, the Perimeter system is an alternative command system for all branches of the military that have nuclear weapons in service. It was created as a backup system in case the key nodes of the Kazbek command system and its communication lines were destroyed in a first strike, in accordance with the U.S. concept of limited nuclear warfare. As you are of course aware, Kazbek is a device that stores the codes to activate a nuclear arsenal. To ensure guaranteed fulfillment of its role, the system was originally designed to be fully automatic. In the event of a massive attack, it is capable of making a decision to retaliate on its own, without human involvement. It is the only deterrence factor that provides real guarantees that a potential enemy will reject the concept of a preemptive crushing blow. To complete the picture, it would be good for you to find out who of the system's creators is alive, where they are, and whether it is possible to meet them.
– Most likely," Ruthra agreed, and then asked, "I take it the problem didn't come on suddenly, but was dealt with thoroughly.
– What did you think," Ivashov replied, shaking his head. – Do you realize what we are talking about, the scale and risks involved? To be frank, since we are a supranational, worldwide service, very, very influential people are interested in solving this problem.
– Yeah, I've already realized it's not an easy question. And the solution to finding the cause is likely to be unconventional. So I need to know everything about who had access to the secret.
– I was dealing with the problem itself. A signal failure. Or rather, a duplicate, unauthorized signal. It's not that simple. You realize how high this is, except, uh.
The general did not finish, he was silent, thinking about something.
– What?" asked Ruthra, staring at him intently.
– Later," he replied, rubbing his temples. – For now, I will tell you about putting the system into combat mode. The first launch of a command missile with the equivalent of a transmitter was successfully conducted on December 26, 1979. In January 1985, the complex was put on combat duty. For 10 years, the command missile complex successfully performed its important role in the defense capability of the state. Then it had to be shut down under the treaty, but it turned out that it was impossible to turn it off completely.
The general stopped speaking, looked at Rutra's desk, where there was a package with a red stripe crossed out.
– Have you been to Sukhov's? – he asked.
– Yes, we collect all the data, including the work done.
– May I know the results of their investigation?
– I think so," Ruthra said and began to open the package.
Inside were documents about the system, a description of the constituent parts.
– In general, nothing new. And nothing about the results of the investigation," summarized Ivashov.
Ruthra looked at him questioningly, as if asking: "Why?"
– You'll have to study this, because I don't remember everything by heart. You need all the details. And then I can kindly share with you some oral information that you won't find in the papers. Maybe you'll get something out of it. Maybe you'll look at the question from a different angle. Maybe you'll find where the thread from which the tangle unwinds. So, I have the honor, because finding the cause of failure is a professional necessity for me.
Ruthra was used to the fact that every statement at the center carried a hidden message, but he did not ask further questions. He thanked the head of Department P, promising to contact him after he had studied the documents. After he left, he began to go through the documents, intuitively realizing that it was just a decoration. They had been given to him as a diversion, because, judging by the level of Center Zero and the presence of Department "P" in it, everything should be there – everything that Sukhov's assistant had handed over. But they didn't know about it.
Still, Ruthra decided to go through and study the technical part of the Perimeter system. After going through the papers, he found almost everything Ivashov had told him.
He was most interested in the autonomous control and command system, a key element of the system.
Although the latter was listed as a key element of the system, there was no information about its functioning in the available sources. As promised, Rutra decided to contact Ivashov on this matter. He called him on the intercom and the latter kindly agreed to receive him in his office. Rutra went to him, thinking on the way why he was the deputy head of the center and not, for example, General Ivashov. Apparently, he did not yet know the secret meaning of the ranking list and his mission in Zero.
It was not easy to get through to Ivashov's office. He had to pass through two automated stations, the ZAS special communications station and the encryption-coding department. Rutra didn't have clearance yet, so the general came out to meet him and escorted him to his office.
As he entered his office, Ruthra noticed through the ajar door to the P station compartment that it was a sort of miniature movie theater – no rows of seats, but a huge screen and a control panel with a ball-shaped apparatus covered with oval, touch screens in the center.
– This is the central post of the Perimeter system," explained the post commander.
Whether he wanted to show that he had no secrets from Ruthra, or whether he realized that soon Ruthra would not only have clearance everywhere, but would be checking and controlling the posts, or whatever, Ruthra was not overly curious.
– I'm interested in the autonomous control and command system. There's nothing about it in the package.
– It's top secret," Ivashov replied, not seeming surprised at Rutra's reluctance to see the post itself. – Some of the information is transmitted only orally!
– Could it be? – Ruthra asked without embarrassment, trying not to offend his interlocutor.
– That's the point! At least the documents for this part are written in such a way that they don't reveal everything about it. According to the instructions created by those who created and brought the system into combat, the key controls are transmitted orally. I received them verbally, too, and will only pass them on verbally. Those are the instructions. Also, the holder of the information does not know who else has the information. I know for a fact that there are several redundant systems, but who is in them is not supposed to know. It will be up to the committee to decide to whom I will pass the information, but the other duplicators will not know about it.
– But the committee knows about it, right?
– Makes sense, but I don't know exactly.
– Who's on the committee?
– More on that later. It's a separate clearance. The Committee is no less complex than an autonomous control and command system. Some of the information there is anonymized.
– How's that?
– If you are admitted and happen to be present at the gathering, you will be very surprised. In the meantime, listen up. This is a complex expert system, equipped with multiple communication systems and sensors that monitor the combat situation. This system monitors the presence and intensity of conversations on the air on military frequencies, the receipt of telemetry signals from the posts, the level of radiation on the surface and in the vicinity, the regular occurrence of point sources of powerful ionizing and electromagnetic radiation at key coordinates, coinciding with the sources of short-term seismic disturbances in the Earth's crust, which corresponds to the pattern of multiple ground nuclear strikes, the presence of live people at the command post. Based on the correlation of these factors, the system makes a final decision on the need for a retaliatory strike. There is another variant of the system's operation. Upon receiving information about the first signs of a missile attack, the Commander-in-Chief puts the system into combat mode. After that, if within a certain time the command center of the system does not receive a signal to stop the combat algorithm, command missiles are launched. This is where the interesting part comes in. What is the combat mode?
– How's that?
– Here we go. At first, we did everything by the book. Every four hours, the codes change. The system resets the download and starts over. It's monitored by all the understudies and someone else! If any of the posts on schedule duty miss even a minute, an alarm goes off, and the codes are changed by one of the understudies, and the one who missed is classified. That is, nothing else is known about him. The most interesting thing is that in order to test the system, maintenance was once conducted under the new instructions. An emergency occurred during the maintenance. According to the instructions, the Cheget and Kazbek systems were switched off and they were de-energized. The commands came from the post of the object "Zero", that is, from us, or rather – from me, to whom all understudies are subordinated. Everything went smoothly, without fail, but after the moment of code change, which had not been changed, because the tests were in progress and the time of change was shifted, the system suddenly gave a command to the combat mode.
– Was it supposed to be different?
– You see, the autonomous control and command system was de-energized, we didn't enter a command, the system had nowhere to get an order.
– So what?
– Everyone's in shock. What do we do? Confirmation signals are coming in from all stations. The commander-in-chief is on the line: "What's the matter?" Submarines, missile sites are requesting confirmation or cancelation! My hair is standing on end! No one was really in such a situation. Although the launch training was going on in such a way that everyone was so sure of himself that he would have made a decision without hesitation. Everything was mixed up in my head. What if there was a malfunction, a mistake, a test, a drill? Time is running into seconds. I give the command to urgently shut down the phase and enter new codes. The thing is, the whole system was under routine maintenance. The decision was made at the top, that is, at the bottom. You know what I mean. There was no one to argue with.
– Why?
The general looked at Rutra surprised, not answering the question, he continued:
– Perimeter" requests "Cheget" and "Kazbek", but there is silence. We wait for a request directly to the post to confirm the presence of a person, i.e. to manually give the command "Stand down", and then it turns itself off. And the automatics records in the log that the command to disconnect was from a person. Who gave the command? At first we thought it was the understudies. We're waiting to see who will be sent to the "grave". A large gathering is announced. The question is raised: who made such a regulation? Specifically unknown. From official positions – the head of the Ministry of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief – refer to the requirement of the developer of the system. All those who had anything to do with it, veiledly hint that it is necessary to deal with the specialists of NPO "Impulse", on whose recommendation the regulations were changed. That is with the specialists of the Zero Center, because in this situation our specialists acted under the legend of this enterprise. You should know that by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation NPO "Impulse" was determined to be the leading organization for creation of automated control systems for the benefit of the Russian Armed Forces. Those responsible for Cheget and Kazbek report that the command came through an internal closed line. That it was coordinated and approved by the top leadership. It is not known who or what gave the command "Stand down". We had to close the case and deal with it quietly. That is, to take the blow on ourselves, declaring that there was no failure, the system worked according to its program. We appointed a guilty person for misinterpretation of the functionality of the stages of routine work, which was the reason for the fuss. Everything was settled, settled, but the questions remained. It is impossible to hide it completely. That's why "specialists" of NPO "Impulse" had to write a report about possible failures in the system due to interference from an unknown source. Admiral Hent says that after he conducts an internal investigation at the Zero facility, we will reconvene. The investigation isn't finished yet, though a reassembly is scheduled in a couple days. So time is short…
The general was silent again, thinking.
– What?" Ruthra asked warily.
A certain Admiral Hent, whom only the "veterans" of Center Zero knew, was an unknown, mythical person for Rutra. And if Vasilievich said that Zero was an international supranational organization that analyzed information flows from all intelligence services, including "hostile" ones, then who could this Hent be? His level Rutra was still imagining in the abstract.
– It would be surprising to me if you didn't have questions," the head of the "P" department finally spoke up.
– How, after your story…
– So think about it, but do not forget that at first glance this is some kind of official, let me say, vested interests, and secondly, it is a serious danger in the security system. And thirdly, it is a catastrophic situation at the world level. Do you realize what can happen if someone thinks that we do not control it or, even worse, that the control is in unknown hands? And what if it fails at all and goes off automatically?
– I can imagine," Ruthra replied quietly, and he realized the precarious ground on which the world and human existence lay. – Are you saying she can launch missiles?
– Exactly. When it happened, Hent looked like he was in first grade and they were asking him to solve an integral equation. I mean, there was no team with Zero.
– So what?
– Nothing. That's what we need to figure out now. That's where it all started.
Both were silent, staring into each other's eyes, unable to find an answer to their many questions. Ivashov covered Rutra's wrist with his palm and said in a friendlier tone:
– In this case, there is no "tug of war". You will most likely have the highest level of clearance. Believe me, everyone will help you. Everyone who knows this problem exists. Keep listening.
Ruthra didn't want to distract the general with questions, so he answered confidently:
– I'm listening.
– Officially, the automated Perimeter system is installed in the area of Kosvinsky Kamen mountain. There are four other points located in different locations that can duplicate the work in case of failure. Their main purpose is to collect, process and transmit data to the main post. The location of some may change. One of them is located here. The others are less significant.
– And where are they?
– Don't be surprised. The points whose locations may change are outside Russia. One is in Belarus, another in Ukraine, and the third in Kazakhstan.
– So how do we control them?
– How? For some people, the USSR fell apart. But for management, everything is the same. Any play can be played out, the main thing is the puppeteers. You should already realize that the power that is visible is not the power that moves the pieces on the global chessboard. Physically at these points cannot give the command to launch, only the hardware will work there to send a signal, if the signal from the head part of the command missile does not pass. But this is the most spare and most improbable scenario.
– Could it be because of them? Isn't what happened an incredible accident?
– All this has been repeatedly tested, and not only by us. You understand that the signal cannot be hidden. And if it is hidden, imagine what level it is. Imagine the depth of penetration and the breadth of possibilities that must be assumed!
Ivashov leaned slightly toward Rutra and said in a whisper:
– The signal is received from all possible sources, even seismic waves. That's not the point, the point is that the hardware accepted it as valid. And the second is that something triggered a primary, weak signal to activate a program to send a signal from any possible transmitting devices. A general anomaly was detected. All transmitting devices, in a chain, like a domino effect, began to transmit an alien, not peculiar to their functions signal, with avalanche-like amplification from the weak to the strong transmitter. That's why we can't find the original source. The instruments were shocked, as in a massive magnetic storm. It's as if the receiver was waiting for some kind of signal to start a timer. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Perimeter program, the computer program itself, which is also called that, had provided for such an option in advance. Although we have to think rationally, but I will tell you, my friend, my tenure allows me to think this way. Even during the launch of the system there were rumors that the developers were part of their closed group and did not trust the power top. Not the legal one, but people like us. After all, behind the back of the CPSU were the same secret structures.
Ruthra pulled back, looking surprised at the postmaster. He realized he was in the wrong place, so he did not pretend to reveal a secret that could have incredible consequences for him and for the logic of his assumptions.
– I can't say anything more about the general technical part. You can get acquainted with the operation of the equipment, codes, ciphers, programs from the technicians who maintain the system or from the manufacturers. In the Western press, the system is known as the "dead hand". You must understand that secret information is secret only for those who do not know that there are structures like ours. Inside our system information is freely transferred, so in search of a solution to the problem you will have access to any database – CIA, MI-6, "Mossad", NSA… The existence of such a structure as ours makes it very easy to manage the world. We know everything, while the secret services fight among themselves, thus ensuring that the world is kept in a "vise".
Rutra realized he had to leave, thanked the general politely, promised to consult him on controversial matters, and left for his room.
The next day Vasilyevich was aware of his conversation with Ivashov, which did not surprise Rutra. Zhidkov didn't emphasize it either; he was glad that Ivashov himself had shown a desire to help.
– It may have been turned on during the incident with Colonel Petrov. The story is, of course, very suspicious," he said abruptly, listening to Rutra's speculation as to the existence of possible collusion.
– Are you referring to the incident of September 26, 1983? The day our world almost died? – Ruthra asked.
– Yes. Understand, despite all the concern about global warming, the most important threat to mankind is still its vast nuclear arsenals. It's hard to suspect him, though. He had the day off and his partner was sick. Petrov was called back to duty at the last minute.
The head of the center sat down in a chair in Rutra's office and began to narrate as usual:
– On the night of September 26, 1983, Lieutenant Colonel Petrov was on operational duty at the Serpukhov-15 command post, 100 km from Moscow. At that time, the Cold War was at its peak: three and a half weeks earlier, the Soviet Union had shot down a South Korean Boeing 747 passenger plane that had violated the border twice. The command center received information from the Oko space early warning system, which had been adopted a year earlier. In the event of a missile attack, the country's leadership was immediately notified, which made a decision to retaliate. On September 26, while Petrov was on duty, the computer reported a missile launch from an American base. However, after analyzing the information that the launches were from only one location and consisted of only a few ICBMs, Lieutenant Colonel Petrov decided that this was a false alarm. Subsequent investigation determined that the cause was the illumination of the satellite's sensors by sunlight reflected from high-altitude clouds. If the cold war turned into a hot war, every second mattered. Everything depended on instantaneous decisions… I talked to him. As he tells it, it all happened suddenly. Alarm lights flashed, sirens blared. The computer said the United States had just started a war. Told how he turned pale. Cold sweat ran down his back. Yet he acted coolly. The computer was literally screaming: "Missile strike imminent!" It didn't make any sense. The computer seemed to have detected three, then four, now five missiles, but the number was still incongruously small. According to the basic tenets of Cold War doctrine, if one side launches a preemptive nuclear missile strike, it should be a mass launch of missiles of crushing power. Accordingly, it is logical that he considered it a mistake. In a friendly conversation, over a drink, he confessed to me that he decided to wait, because besides him, except for his post – the launches should have been recorded by others. The alarm on September 26, 1983 turned out to be false. It turned out that the fiction in the movie was based on the realities of human psychology, mentality, faith.
