NationStates Jolt Archive


Nuclear missile goes awry

Aztec Lands
15-10-2004, 01:26
MAP: http://img13.exs.cx/img13/6703/ALMAP.jpg

During a routine test, a nuclear ICBM carrying a real warhead managed to somehow suffer a guidance system shutdown. As soon as that happened, quick action by the test team managed to save the day- they instantly plugged in the self-destruct code, which destroyed the weapon before it could start a nuclear explosion.

The Toniatuh-III/Quetzalcoatl-III missile was last seen speeding for Nopal Island from somewhere over the central Aztec Lands. It is estimated that the remains of the missile will scatter about 15km south of Imperial Port.

"There is no need for alarm. There will be no radioactive leak. The self-destruct mechanism has three modes: recovery, destruction, and nuclear detonation. The first one, recovery, was activated. This triggers the nuclear warhead tip to separate so that it falls down and lands via parachute. We have already recovered it. The rest of the missile is destroyed.

"The other two modes are simpler: destruction simply blows it all up. We use this when the missile is not over our territory, and we risk having nuclear materials loose. The third, nuclear detonation, is rather self-explanatory." said the Minister of War at a press conference.

"This was done to protect our citzens, as without a guidance system, the missile could have barrelled out of control and hit anything."

There is no word as to why the missile behaved erratically.
Nycton
15-10-2004, 01:31
"You must find the bug in the system, plug it, and test it and fix it. Then stop nuclear tests altogether. The world needs no more nuclear blasts going off on it's surface than there already is."

General Smithson, Commanding Officer of Strategic Command