Able Archer 83'

Greetings. This game revolves around making choices which can impact the lives of billions. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of nuclear weapons and their use, then don't play [[this game.]]

MISSION: [[Monitor the space above the arctic circle for a possible first strike from NATO]]. SECONDARY MISSION: Detect, inform, then launch a counter-strike against targets on the American eastern seaboard.

You have worked this job for 3 years without incident. It seems unlikely that anything will happen. If a launch is made by either side, it will result in a GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR. [[Monitor your sector]] [[Get a coffee]]

The room is filled with computers, tape recorders, radios, CRT screens, and smell of old, stale coffee. There are 3 other men present in the room. The engineering technician - Александр The political officer from the politburo - Виталий The missilier - Никита [[Continue to Monitor your sector]]

The coffee beans always come from the same Venezuelan farm. The milk always comes from the same Ukrainian farm. The sugar always comes from the same Brazilian farm. It's not bad, but not great. Maybe you'll bring in some fresh milk from home next week. It has been 7 minutes. Maybe you should [[monitor your sector|Monitor your sector]]

You wait for something to [[happen]].

Then after 3 years of monotony, something happens... You have to do the other half of the job. The part that no one ever wants to [[do]].

SATELLITE WARNING 5 INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES DETECTED. LIKELY MINUTEMAN III TYPE MIRVs. LAUNCH COUNTERSTRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO]]?

You have failed. You have started a [[GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR]].

Stay calm. You have about 15 minutes before Moscow is incinerated, along with everyone in it. [[Recheck SAT data]] [[Ask for advice]]

Perhaps you should have given more thought to the decisions you make. This may be a game, but for some, it is unfortunately a necessary [[job]].

In the game of GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR, the only winning move is not to play. So how about a [[nice game of chess?]]

Would you like to [[play again|Introduction]]

WARNING SATELLITE: 5 ICBMs detected. All 5 are near the maximum altitude. LAUNCH COUNTERSTRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|Ask for advice]]

You look at the other members of the command room. They have no advice to give you. You are in [[command]].

How [[many missiles]] are in the air?

The satellite data has remained unchanged. 5 ICBM's fly over the north pole. 5 missiles carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Each warhead holds the explosive power equal to [[several hundred kilotons of TNT]].

That's many times more than the bombs dropped on Japan. Maybe someone else outside the bunker can [[tell you]] something.

A single red rotary phone sits on a desk in the center of the room. Taped to the side are 3 phone numbers. Each number calls a high-ranking officer in the Soviet military. Maybe they can tell you [[more]].

Call: A general in the [[SOVIET ARMY]]. A general in the [[SOVIET AIR-FORCE]] An admiral in the [[SOVIET NAVY]].

You ask about NATO forces in europe. He replies: "NATO has called for a massive exercise which has units from Canada, the U.S, France, Britain, West Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Turkey, and others all involved. They claim it to be an exercise, but the Kremlin and KGB are not so sure. They have built up a substantial number of troops, tanks, helicopters, and artillery in Germany". You ask about a possible [[attack from NATO]].

The General says: "NATO planes have been flying everywhere over western europe. They have flown everything from recon planes to strategic bombers and in groups containing 1 to 24 aircraft. They say it is just an exercise, but those in the Kremlin and KGB are not so sure. I know that if they attack then our airforce would surely make it cost more than it's worth." You inquire about the [[strategic bombers]] and the payload they carry.

He replies: "The west may attack, but it would be very costly. That is unless they launch a suprise attack with short-range nuclear weapons on our ground forces and another on our cities, ports, farms, and airfields. NATO does have several nuclear-armed Pershing missile batteries in Europe that they may use. Call: A general in the [[SOVIET AIR-FORCE]]. An admiral in the [[SOVIET NAVY]]. Or [[continue]].

The Admiral listens to your concerns and says "The American and British navies outgun, outman, and outmanuver us by a huge margin. NATO has told us that the American and Royal navies are only testing their skills, but Moscow and the KGB are not so sure. You ask if any launches have been detected by [[him]].

None of the others know for certain if NATO has launched an attack on the Soviet Union. The West has said that the massing of their military is just an exercise, but it wouldn't be the first time that the Soviet Union was caught off guard in Germany. [[What to do]]?

The general answers: "They can carry multiple nuclear bombs, normal bombs, cruise missiles, or air-launched nuclear missiles. We do not know if the planes flying at the moment carry any real weapons, but they can launch a suprise attack which when combined with a nuclear attack could end us." Call: A general in the [[SOVIET ARMY]]. An admiral in the [[SOVIET NAVY]]. Or [[continue]].

"I have not detected any launches from their destroyers, frigates, or missile cruisers, but several American carrier battle groups are in full strength in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific. However, the nuclear missile submarines could be anywhere and I cannot tell if they launch their missiles as they could be under the Arctic ice. Our ships try and retain RADAR contact with the NATO ships, but they warn us to back away if we get too close". Call: A general in the [[SOVIET ARMY]] A general in the [[SOVIET AIR-FORCE]] Or [[continue]].

Do you: [[TROUBLE-SHOOT YOUR EQUIPMENT]] [[TRIANGULATE THE LAUNCH SITE]] LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE: [[YES]]/[[NO|TROUBLE-SHOOT YOUR EQUIPMENT]

What to check first? The [[RADIOS]] The [[COMPUTER]] The [[RECEIVER]]

You take out a piece of paper and grab a nearby pen and start working through the math with Александр, whose engineering background helps with the physics. From the SATELLITE DATA you and Александр are able to put the launch point of the missiles to originate somewhere in [[North America]].

The radios are functioning properly. Check the [[COMPUTER]] Check the [[RECEIVER]] Or do you [[TRIANGULATE THE LAUNCH SITE]]?

The computer diagnostic test came back successful. There are no problems with the computer system it is reading the SATELLITE DATA correctly. Check the [[RADIOS]] Check the [[RECEIVER]] Or do you [[TRIANGULATE THE LAUNCH SITE]]?

The reciever is getting the correct information from the satellite. Check the [[RADIOS]]. Check the [[COMPUTER]]. Or do you [[TRIANGULATE THE LAUNCH SITE]]?

North America is far too vague to give an idea of where the missiles came from. Normally the satellite should have detected it earlier then. That also means it could have been launched from a submarine, ship, B-52 bomber, or a silo. You look to the other men in the bunker and ask [[them]].

You ask: Александр - the [[ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN]] Виталий - the [[POLITICAL OFFICER]] Никита - the [[MISSILER]]

He says: "All of our systems here are working fine. Perhaps something has gone wrong elsewhere." Ask: Виталий - the [[POLITICAL OFFICER]] Никита - the [[MISSILER]] Or do you [[stop]] for a moment.

He says: "All of the military men think it could be an attack, and so do I. The West lies often, so what makes you think that it would be any different now? The Germans already launched a suprise attack on us in the great patriotic war. The capitalist west will surely try it again!" Ask: Александр - the [[ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN]] Никита - the [[MISSILER]] Or do you [[stop]] for a moment.

Никита replies: "You are in command and are the more experienced officer. I will trust your judgement". Ask: Александр - the [[ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN]] Виталий - the [[POLITICAL OFFICER]] Or do you [[stop]] for a moment.

5 ICBM's are still detected. LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|retain composure]]

There is a lot of information to take in. Unfortunately you are not a computer, so you have to take some time to figure it out. Take a pencil and [[summarize]] the data.

You write: -All on-site systems are operational and functioning properly. -No confirmed launches from the armies, navies, or airforces of NATO. -Massive exercise has been stated to be underway. -High troop concentrations in Western Europe. -NATO fighters, helicopters, recon planes, cargo planes, and bombers are already in the air. -Parallels to the German invasion in WWII. -Vague launch site in North America. [[CHECK LOGS]] [[REVIEW SOVIET NUCLEAR DOCTRINE]] LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|summarize]]

You open the logbook present in the room. It is a dusty, red, hardcover book. It is opened once a week to run diagnostics on the facility. It also contains information on American, and Soviet nuclear stockpiles, as well as weapons terminologies and the mechanisms behind a nuclear launch. [[Open the book]]

You open a musty blue book which outlines your overall mission, as well as the Soviet nuclear doctrine. You quickly read through the doctrine trying to find the rationale behind the 5 missiles in the air. Maybe there are parallels between the American and Soviet strategies. You pick out the following: -The USSR has a strict no first-strike policy. -A retaliatory strike will be launched from remaining bombers, silos, and missile trucks, along with the nuclear submarines. -The counter-strike will require thousands of warheads in hundreds of MIRVs, targeted at cities, farms, ports, airports, air-fields, military bases, factores, dams, conventional power plants, nuclear power plants, and other strategic assets. -A limited tactical use of nuclear weapons is permitted, provided the siutation is desperate. -The tactical use is strictly against military targets. [[Think]] LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|Think]]

ESTIMATED U.S STOCKPILE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: ~22,000 nuclear warheads divided between silos, mechanized missile trucks, submarines, and bombers. APPROXIMATE U.S.S.R STOCKPILE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: ~38,000 nuclear warheads divided between silos, mechanized missile trucks, submarines, and bombers. MIRV: Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle. A nuclear missile which carries several warheads. ICBM: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction. The theory behind nuclear war, which states that no winner is possible because the retaliatory strike will be equally devastating as the first strike. Do you [[check the Soviet nuclear doctrine|REVIEW SOVIET NUCLEAR DOCTRINE]], or [[recheck the data that you have|summarize]]?

There are 5 missiles flying over the arctic. There is very little time left before they impact. If the missiles were launched from North America, then they are likely silo missiles. [[Continue to think]]

You think about the logic behind this attack. If they are from silos then the missiles are likely the American Minuteman 3 missile. Each missile carries 3 warheads. 3x5=15 warheads Since the warheads are launched from 1 missile, all 3 warheads in a missile can land anywhere from a few kilometers apart to 1000km apart. [[EVALUATE PROBAILITY OF A LAUNCH]]

The evidence supporting a NATO launch stands as: -Massive NATO military buildup. -5 missiles deteced by SATELLITE. -Suprise attacks on the Soviet Union have already happened. -Hard evidence suggests a launch. [[EVAULATE EVIDENCE AGAINST A LAUNCH]]

You think of reasons against a launch. You hope that these are true. -Only 5 missiles have been detected with there being 15 warheads maximum. LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|IDEA]]

Maybe you can call the Soviet High Command in the Kremlin. No, there's no time. It would take too long for your authorization to clear. You got [[it]]!

If the missiles had 15min to impact when the satellite first detected them, then they should be in range of the RADAR by now. You realize that there isn't much time. If you remember your triangulation calculations correctly, the missiles are entering their terminal phase where they will reach speeds of almost 29,000km/h. You pick up the red phone and dial in the number to a [[RADAR installation]].

You are sweating. You hope that you can get an answer. Your legs feel like jelly. You can hardly [[breathe]].

You hope to at least get something. Anything. You don't want to be forced to make a decision. But no one answers... You are faced with a single 2-faced [[choice]].

LAUNCH COUNTER-STRIKE? [[YES]]/[[NO|ABORT]]

You tell everyone in the bunker to stand down. You try and calm yourself. Maybe it was the coffee. You [[wait]]...

And [[wait...]]

But [[nothing]] happens.

A loud ringing suddendly wakes you from your sleep. You look at the clock, it has been 2 hours since the missiles should have landed. The phone continues to ring. You [[answer it]].

You are informed that there was a satellite malfunction which caused it to read a rare form of clouds as 5 nuclear missiles. You get up, still shaken and walk to the kitchen. [[You continue doing a job which you never want to complete]]

Congratulations You have avoided a GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR. Fortunately for you, this is just a [[game]].

But for some, this is a very real job. This scenario was based on the story of Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov, who experienced nearly the exact same [[situation.]]

In the game of GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR there is only 1 way to win. [[The only winning move is not to play]].

[[How about a nice game of chess]]?

End

You are a lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces. You are based in a Soviet [[command missile bunker]] in an undisclosed location near Moscow.

This game was made by: Taras Skotar References: Lockie, Alex. "The real story of Stanislav Petrov, the Soviet officer who 'saved' the world from nuclear war." Business Insider, 26 September 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/stanislav-petrov-the-soviet-officer-saved-the-world-from-nuclear-war-2018-9.