Farewell Dossier: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:29, 21 March 2007

Revision as of 18:35, 30 March 2007

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The Soviets needed sophisticated control systems to automate the operation of the pipeline's valves, compressors, and storage facilities. As the United States was unwilling to provide the necessary technical infrastructure to operate the pipeline, a KGB operative was sent to infiltrate a Canadian software supplier in an attempt to steal the needed software.

The CIA was tipped off by Farewell and informed the CanadiansCanadiansssss about the attempted theft. The U.S. then delivered doctored software through Canadian software firms into Russian hands. This software, designed to run the pumps, turbines, and valves, was a [[Trojan Horse]] programmed to malfunction after a period of smooth running. The malfunction would reset the pump speeds and valve settings to produce pressures that were far beyond those acceptable to the pipeline joints, and welds. (Reed p. 268-269)

The result was the greatest non-nuclear explosion ever seen from space, rated at around three kilotons by the Air Force Chief of Intelligence (Reed p. 269.) There were no casualties of the pipeline explosion, but significant damage was made to the Soviet economy. In time, the Soviets came to realize that they had been stealing faulty technology, but this only exacerbated the situation. As they did not know which technology was sound and which was doctored, all became suspect.