Cold War Scenario: False Alarm or Real Danger?

[Aeritai]

You are a Soviet officer stationed at a top secret early warning base within the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War where tensions are very high. Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union. Your job is simple you are to watch over the early warning systems and alert the higher ups and warn them of American nuclear warheads. You sat down in chair as you watched the radar to see if the satellite detects anything, you expect that nothing would happen since both nations are fearful of launching a nuclear attack on each other. That was until the radar started to beep loudly making you jump from your chair to see what was going on.

On the radar screen it shows that five minutemen nuclear warheads had been launched from the United States! You are now in full panic mode as you rush over to the telephone station to warn the higher ups that the Americans have just launched nuclear warheads. But before you could dial the phone you get a feeling in your mind that those nuclear warheads weren't real and the early radar system just had an error. But if it was real and you didn't bother to contact Soviet High Command then the motherland would be nothing, but a radioactive wasteland.

You have two options

Option 1: You ignore the feeling you have in your mind and contact Soviet High Command about the quote on quote nuclear warheads heading towards the Soviet Union.

Option 2: You listen to your feelings and ignore the early warning system hoping it was just a error and not a real nuclear attack.

I would choose option 2 mostly because, the early warning system might've made an error and mistook something else for a missile. Plus if it was a real nuclear attack the United States would've launched more than five nuclear warheads at the Soviet Union.

What would you do in this scenario NSG? Would you think its a false alarm or would you think the Soviet Union is in danger?

Do note this did almost happen real life, but since this a scenario you do not have that memory. You are just a Soviet Officer nothing more nothing less.

[Aeritai]

Another note you are the only one in the room that is overseeing the early warning systems.

[America-1980s]

You are a Soviet officer stationed at a top secret early warning base within the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War where tensions are very high. Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union. Your job is simple you are to watch over the early warning systems and alert the higher ups and warn them of American nuclear warheads. You sat down in chair as you watched the radar to see if the satellite detects anything, you expect that nothing would happen since both nations are fearful of launching a nuclear attack on each other. That was until the radar started to beep loudly making you jump from your chair to see what was going on.

On the radar screen it shows that five minutemen nuclear warheads had been launched from the United States! You are now in full panic mode as you rush over to the telephone station to warn the higher ups that the Americans have just launched nuclear warheads. But before you could dial the phone you get a feeling in your mind that those nuclear warheads weren't real and the early radar system just had an error. But if it was real and you didn't bother to contact Soviet High Command then the motherland would be nothing, but a radioactive wasteland.

You have two options

Option 1: You ignore the feeling you have in your mind and contact Soviet High Command about the quote on quote nuclear warheads heading towards the Soviet Union.

Option 2: You listen to your feelings and ignore the early warning system hoping it was just a error and not a real nuclear attack.

I would choose option 2 mostly because, the early warning system might've made an error and mistook something else for a missile. Plus if it was a real nuclear attack the United States would've launched more than five nuclear warheads at the Soviet Union.

What would you do in this scenario NSG? Would you think its a false alarm or would you think the Soviet Union is in danger?

Do note this did almost happen real life, but since this a scenario you do not have that memory. You are just a Soviet Officer nothing more nothing less.

I would've chosen option 2 as well, this may sound a little bias but knowing my country at the time of the cold war (despite not being born then), we wouldn't have attacked the USSR unless provoked.

[Aeritai]

You are a Soviet officer stationed at a top secret early warning base within the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War where tensions are very high. Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union. Your job is simple you are to watch over the early warning systems and alert the higher ups and warn them of American nuclear warheads. You sat down in chair as you watched the radar to see if the satellite detects anything, you expect that nothing would happen since both nations are fearful of launching a nuclear attack on each other. That was until the radar started to beep loudly making you jump from your chair to see what was going on.

On the radar screen it shows that five minutemen nuclear warheads had been launched from the United States! You are now in full panic mode as you rush over to the telephone station to warn the higher ups that the Americans have just launched nuclear warheads. But before you could dial the phone you get a feeling in your mind that those nuclear warheads weren't real and the early radar system just had an error. But if it was real and you didn't bother to contact Soviet High Command then the motherland would be nothing, but a radioactive wasteland.

You have two options

Option 1: You ignore the feeling you have in your mind and contact Soviet High Command about the quote on quote nuclear warheads heading towards the Soviet Union.

Option 2: You listen to your feelings and ignore the early warning system hoping it was just a error and not a real nuclear attack.

I would choose option 2 mostly because, the early warning system might've made an error and mistook something else for a missile. Plus if it was a real nuclear attack the United States would've launched more than five nuclear warheads at the Soviet Union.

What would you do in this scenario NSG? Would you think its a false alarm or would you think the Soviet Union is in danger?

Do note this did almost happen real life, but since this a scenario you do not have that memory. You are just a Soviet Officer nothing more nothing less.

I would've chosen option 2 as well, this may sound a little bias but knowing my country at the time of the cold war (despite not being born then), we wouldn't have attacked the USSR unless provoked.

But what would you do in the shoes of a Soviet Officer? Seeing these quote on quote "missiles" on the radar screen?

[America-1980s]

I would've chosen option 2 as well, this may sound a little bias but knowing my country at the time of the cold war (despite not being born then), we wouldn't have attacked the USSR unless provoked.

But what would you do in the shoes of a Soviet Officer? Seeing these quote on quote "missiles" on the radar screen?

Without American Bias, I would still pick option 2 probably for the same reasons you did.

[Aeritai]

But what would you do in the shoes of a Soviet Officer? Seeing these quote on quote "missiles" on the radar screen?

Without American Bias, I would still pick option 2 probably for the same reasons you did.

Ah alright.

[Great Winminster]

Option 2. No one starts a nuclear war with just 5 warheads.

[Kowani]

Okay, we all know what this is based on.

[The Grims]

Option 1 and share my doubts. ]Comrade, the newly installed early warning system claims the capitalist pigs have launched. Do we believe it ?

[Ethel mermania]

It depends on what I know about the system. If I think its reliable, I sound the warning. If not I investigate further.

[Shofercia]

You are a Soviet officer stationed at a top secret early warning base within the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War where tensions are very high. Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union. Your job is simple you are to watch over the early warning systems and alert the higher ups and warn them of American nuclear warheads. You sat down in chair as you watched the radar to see if the satellite detects anything, you expect that nothing would happen since both nations are fearful of launching a nuclear attack on each other. That was until the radar started to beep loudly making you jump from your chair to see what was going on.

On the radar screen it shows that five minutemen nuclear warheads had been launched from the United States! You are now in full panic mode as you rush over to the telephone station to warn the higher ups that the Americans have just launched nuclear warheads. But before you could dial the phone you get a feeling in your mind that those nuclear warheads weren't real and the early radar system just had an error. But if it was real and you didn't bother to contact Soviet High Command then the motherland would be nothing, but a radioactive wasteland.

You have two options

Option 1: You ignore the feeling you have in your mind and contact Soviet High Command about the quote on quote nuclear warheads heading towards the Soviet Union.

Option 2: You listen to your feelings and ignore the early warning system hoping it was just a error and not a real nuclear attack.

I would choose option 2 mostly because, the early warning system might've made an error and mistook something else for a missile. Plus if it was a real nuclear attack the United States would've launched more than five nuclear warheads at the Soviet Union.

What would you do in this scenario NSG? Would you think its a false alarm or would you think the Soviet Union is in danger?

Do note this did almost happen real life, but since this a scenario you do not have that memory. You are just a Soviet Officer nothing more nothing less.

I'd contact the higher ups, but tell them that the system is likely to be glitching. You have to report, but do so with as much information as you can give. Since confirmation requires numerous sources, a retaliation would've been unlikely.

[Tornado Queendom]

Option 1, because then I could inherit a f**king BADASS Anarcho-Capitalist utopia. YEAH!

[Infected Mushroom]

Option 1

I would obey my orders, which are to report what I see on the radar

If they start a nuclear war, I am blameless

I was just following orders

[Kowani]

Option 1

I would obey my orders, which are to report what I see on the radar

If they start a nuclear war, I am blameless

I was just following orders

You’re aware that the Nuremberg defense doesn’t work anymore, right?

[Walkerfort]

option 2

because if you want a nuclear war, fire everything damn nuke in the arsenal to annihilate the target

[The New California Republic]

Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union.

The system is new. I'd describe what I was seeing but I'd report it as a likely glitch, and ask them to use the Duga OTH radar to verify it.

[Infected Mushroom]

Option 1

I would obey my orders, which are to report what I see on the radar

If they start a nuclear war, I am blameless

I was just following orders

You’re aware that the Nuremberg defense doesn’t work anymore, right?

I’m a Soviet officer and in-scenario I have no reason to believe the leadership or regime is changing

[The New California Republic]

You’re aware that the Nuremberg defense doesn’t work anymore, right?

I’m a Soviet officer and in-scenario I have no reason to believe the leadership or regime is changing

What does that have to do with anything?

[Thermodolia]

Option 1

I would obey my orders, which are to report what I see on the radar

If they start a nuclear war, I am blameless

I was just following orders

You’d be dead

[Thermodolia]

Just days ago the Soviet Union launched a early warning radar satellite that would detect any American nuclear warhead heading towards the Soviet Union.

The system is new. I'd describe what I was seeing but I'd report it as a likely glitch, and ask them to use the Duga OTH radar to verify it.

Pretty much this. Kick the ball into the higher ups court. They can decide what to do

[The New California Republic]

Option 1

I would obey my orders, which are to report what I see on the radar

If they start a nuclear war, I am blameless

I was just following orders

You’d be dead

Indeed, as the BMD/EW sites were high on the target list, as they were classed as a "time critical" target.

[Purgatio]

Option 1, if its real you don't have time to contact Soviet High Command, get a response, and make a response. Sure, we know from the benefit of hindsight now that it was a false alarm, but in real life I'm not gonna take the chance that an adversary nation has launched a foolish first strike, pre-emptively crippling the Soviets before it has the chance to respond and retaliate. The whole point of MAD doctrine and having two competing nuclear-armed nations is when one makes a first strike, the other retaliates as threatened, anything else would turn the threat of retaliation into one emptied of any substance and content.

So basically, fire the Soviet nuclear arsenal back on the Americans. Sure, it'll start a nuclear war which, with the benefit of hindsight, never needed to have occurred, but I obviously don't know that when I receive the alert, and that's what I would have done. If the people in this thread are fully honest with themselves, Option 1 is probably what they would do too.

[The New California Republic]

If the people in this thread are fully honest with themselves, Option 1 is probably what they would do too.

Nope.

[Purgatio]

If the people in this thread are fully honest with themselves, Option 1 is probably what they would do too.

Nope.

I'm not losing my job (or worse) or seeing my country get nuked without the capacity to retaliate on the off-chance the warning system is wrong

[The New California Republic]

If the people in this thread are fully honest with themselves, Option 1 is probably what they would do too.

Nope.

I'm not losing my job (or worse) or seeing my country get nuked without the capacity to retaliate on the off-chance the warning system is wrong

That's you. You are not me.