Binary code: Mystery number one. Artur Zadikyan

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