– 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".