– Didn't notice. Just like everyone else here. Ready, here I come.

– Did you give a request to get out?

– No. What's the request?

– It's not like we're in a backyard, you have to give notice, get permission.

– No one told me.

– Go to the ops guy you talked to, he'll authorize it.

Ruthra made his way to the CUO and scanned his eye, the door opened. An operative with two assistants sat at a console with numerous glowing indicators, with numerous monitors in front and to the sides. The Operative was not the one who had been in charge of the alert headquarters: it was more pleasant for Ruthra, he didn't want to ask something from a man who had just been court-martialed.

– Here. I was warned," the operative said and held out a small device that looked like a magnifying glass.

Ruthra picked up the object, began to examine it.

– Put it up to your eye," the operative said.

Rutra held the device up to his eye, it shone a directed light into his eye.

– That's it, thank you, you can go," the duty officer thanked him.

Ruthra, eyeing the instrument with curiosity and suspicion, handed it over. A strange feeling haunted him. Although he was in a hurry to leave, something kept him from doing so. It was curiosity. He remembered Alikhanov.

– Do you know if Alikhanov's body is still at the station? – he asked the operative, "in passing" pondering whether the bodies of "secret citizens of an unknown city" were buried here or still as ordinary people.

– As far as I know, it should be in the morgue, the 200th were not sent, – the operative dryly answered.

– Thank you, goodbye.

The elevator ride up was not long, he stepped directly into the room in front of the underground basements of Trekhgorny. After passing through the scanner, through the door, he stepped out into the underground bunker of Trekhgorny. Involuntarily, Rutru was visited by numerous thoughts, "So I really didn't go anywhere in the capsule. How the hell is this happening, since I didn't even feel like sleeping?" Rutru was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice – there was someone waiting for him in the bunker. It was the same people who had accompanied them here, and they had escorted him upstairs. He didn't have to meet with the plant management or explain anything. They took him in a "service car" to the hotel, no one even asked where the old man was. Mushtrika in such organizations was at the highest level. They brought food to Rutra's room, he ate, quickly got ready, and left.

From the beautiful forest park that was part of the virgin forest that had been carefully preserved during the construction of the city, Rutra looked down at the nuclear weapons factory, humming away across the river. Only the roofs of its workshops were visible. It was not hard to guess that they were like icebergs, two-thirds of them underwater. The famous factory staircase of 385 steps descended to the Yuryuzan. Rutru was waiting for a car, he got into it, and the driver took him to the airport in Magnitogorsk. Now he cared little about reports and commitments, he was heading home, his head was spinning, literally and figuratively, from recent events. Now he dreamed of becoming an ordinary man, as before, which, most likely, was impossible, although, maybe, and it was not necessary, the main thing – to take control.

***

Rutra, of course, said he was going home, wanting to spend a couple of days with his family. He was met at the airport by the staff of Center Zero, headed by the administrator, who, although he was a family man, was, according to the firm rules, only the administrator in such situations. On the way home, they outlined the most important events that had occurred in the "invisible" world, which had not been reported earlier in the report via encrypted communication, albeit in coded phrases, for security reasons. From the information received, even with superficial analysis, Ruthra concluded that the game was heading toward a certain finish line. Someone had to be sacrificed. Snowden, WikiLeaks, offshore scandals were nothing compared to the release of information by Stratfor.

"Stratfor was an American private intelligence and analysis company. It has been called the "shadow CIA". It was founded in 1996 by American political scientist George Friedman, who heads the company until now. The company collects and analyzes information on world events.

The company's client list is confidential, but Rutra was aware that among them were major corporations and government agencies – both U.S. and foreign, including Russian.

All this was just a screen for periodic leaks from real intelligence agencies. During Rutra's absence, information was leaked about the Russian president's ties with agents of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND). Naturally, with secret information thrown in, with signatures and seals, meeting places, passwords and safe houses. The seedbed was launched, and no one has ever realized that the president had been working abroad in the past, in the past, in a structure of a different orientation. It was proved that he was recruited under the threat of disclosure of information about his connections with the Colombian drug mafia.

At the same time, the press received information that the United States had allegedly completed work on the missile defense system and secretly tested it. The test was officially presented as a joint firing exercise with European allies to repel a missile attack by a terrorist group whose name was translated as "punishment from heaven" or "punishment from heaven.

The third part of the information pyramid was the leaking to the media of an allegedly existing report by the U.S. Military Space Intelligence Service on the installation by Russia, along the U.S. coast, of the latest Skif ballistic missile capable of being in standby mode on the seabed and ocean floor and, at the right moment, firing on command to hit land and sea targets. It was noted that the laying of such missiles in several areas of the bottom will make it possible to hit the target at the necessary moment without involving submarines. This caused such a stormy resonance that European and American media were "boiling". Some blamed the United States, claiming that it pays so much tax and the military allowed enemy missiles to be placed under their noses, while others were angry at Russia, demanding that it be punished.

There was no less hype in Russia. The country was clearly divided into two camps in terms of its attitude to what was happening, and not on the socio-economic principle. Some were convinced of the incumbent president, claiming that only he would punish Russia's enemies, which turned out to be almost everyone around them, while others were ready to die to free the country from the "junta that seized power. There were those who believed that both options were wrong. Rutru had little interest in all of this, he was just wondering how such a company had turned out so quickly. He even began to suspect that it had been at least a month, not a few days, since the events had unfolded so quickly, then he analyzed the reality that said it was not so.

– How so soon, why now, who authorized it, what is the purpose? – Rutra demanded reports from his subordinates.

– A direct order from Hristoforovich," reported the head of the security service.

Rutra's questioning look was answered by the center's administrator.

– The top of all news bans jamming pro-Western information, the purpose being to prepare the U.S. Treasury's refusal to accept U.S. dollars printed to "walk" outside the states.

– It's already started, isn't it? I haven't finished my investigation yet.

Rutra now decided to finalize some details. In order to save time, including family time, he called Hent, said that he was ready to discuss a further plan in the morning, and received approval. Thus, discussing current affairs, he arrived home. At home, as always under such circumstances, everyone was jubilant.

The next day Ruthra met with Hent, the latter was in high spirits.

– Well, did you bring the scientist to the coffin? – he asked, ostensibly seriously.

Ruthra realized that Hent was joking like that.

– How can you think that of me," Ruthra said with supposed indignation. – I tried my best to save him, and he went in there himself.

– What conclusions, what is your opinion? – Hent asked seriously now.

– I connected to you during the explanation to the members of the operational staff, nothing else so far.

– Yeah, I wrote it down. And further investigation, details, chronology of events at the firing range?

– Yarovitovich said he'd take care of his own. By the way, he sends his regards to you.

– Thank you," Hent laughed.

Ruthra, realizing he didn't quite get the humor, decided to clarify for himself.

– By the way, here's a question. He can call you, can't he?

– Well you businessman, even here forget to have a conversation about it," he said and pointed his finger downwards.

– And yet – what, there's no connection?

– Forget it. Of course there is, why would there be a "hub"?

Rutra wanted to ask what was behind "saying hello" to someone you could call, justifying it as not personal curiosity.

– That's it, cease and desist. Remember only the main task. The nuclear center in Sarov still hasn't figured out anything, continue the investigation, go to them, we need to understand what the point is. What are your thoughts on the matter?

– Perhaps it is because the operation of their supercomputer is based on the principle of parallel computing, while the program is encrypted using the serial mode principle.

– So check on another computer based on the right principle. If it helps, of course.

– You don't think so?

– I think some results should have been here.

– There's a supercomputer at the firing range, too. How does it work?

– It's the same. Even if there were another, he can't be "distracted".

– Which one can I use then?

– You had Los Alamos on your program, there.

– That's not what I was supposed to check with them, something else.

– And you check it out, we'll make a deal, it's in our system.

– How do I get the program out?

– You don't understand the level. The program is ours, it's being protected for us, not from us. We'll take it out in a special case, with an escort. Just finish it here. At least I'll be sure that everything we could check was checked. Do you understand? Think like they do. They knew we'd be looking where something related to top-secret storage. Something we don't see. That's why I gave you this assignment, knowing that you think abstractly, unconventionally.

– Thank you. Let me check what I've already outlined, so that I can feel more at ease in this sense, and then I'll calculate the completely unbelievable. Once I'm done in Russia, I'll go overseas. I want to check the data centers, Los Alamos, Area 51, NSA, and then I'll see what sequences arise. You won't have any problems?

– Oh, I see the level. You've obviously benefited from the range. It won't be a problem, we have a single center and purpose.

– Just a question. I realize I'm supposed to be above some "coasts", but still – why take control of our Perimeter system and not theirs?

– You probably know the answer to the question, you just want confirmation. What they have is already under control. You'll see for yourself at Area 51. And only Russia has the Perimeter system. That's it. Whoever created it didn't just make it clever, they envisioned a lot of things. It's not just one person, it's a team, you can't get into their brains like you can into ours. They will get into anyone's brain and soul.

– I see. I realized that a long time ago. Thank you.

– Thinking outside the box. It's quite possible they have set up legitimate international organizations too. We have to look everywhere, everything is under suspicion – Putin's secret bunker and the safe house where Bill Gates' archives are kept, everything. This place can be under a plausible pretext closed, secret with restricted access. In any variants it can be a circuit in the signal transmission system. The logic is the same. Just as they created hidden mines, from which missiles will fly out three days after the winner will launch a salute in honor of victory, so also hidden transmitters, servers will work at the right hour, on a predetermined signal, perhaps automatic. And everything around can serve as a screen to hide it. For example, you could hide anything anywhere in some billionaire's secret and heavily guarded fortified bomb shelter somewhere. You had on your list of locations in the US to be thoroughly scanned. Including brain scans of the staff, unnoticed by them. We've done everything you think we've done before, now we're going global. I think we underestimated them. They could plant it everywhere, because we don't know who they are, we only know they are, because they're somehow manifesting themselves. They could put it in Cheyenne or Raven Rock, or even the Kremlin. I've come to the conclusion that they've been running this show, with actors in the form of friends and enemies, as well as we have. I've been to Cheyenne once. Go there. My heart tells me it's harder than we imagined. I'll make all the arrangements, they'll meet you, organize everything. According to the legend, you'll be a researcher at a closed research institute. It's fashionable now, it's called experience exchange. Whoever needs it will know why you're there.

The Master was silent, elbows resting on his elbows, his palms spread apart, gesturing that that was all. Ruthra stood up, shook Hentu's hand, and headed for the exit. He stopped at the door and asked:

– So everything's okay on Polygon?

– Yarovitovich will figure it out for himself," Hent replied thoughtfully.

– What did Alikhanov die of? – Ruthra asked, squinting his eyes a little, indicating that he was not satisfied with that answer.

Rutra decided to show his principled position regarding this and further investigation, which was based on the fact that since he had "entered" the role, the status, so be kind, accept what you wanted. Hent, as it turned out, was even pleased by the question. He smiled, shook his head affirmatively while shaking his index finger, pointed at Rutra, changed his smile to a "firm" expression with tightly pressed lips, and answered:

– It's called "woe is me", we'll figure it out before you get there. You've found the main thing. Go on to new feats, the motherland should know its secret heroes, though maybe later on. By the way, it's almost a second homeland for you there, you'll remember your service.

Ruthra smiled, too, then changed his expression to a serious one, letting him know that uncertainty breeds when he doesn't get an answer to his questions, blinked at Hent with both eyes, said he understood, walked out, and headed for the elevator. The hardest part was explaining at home that he was leaving again. What to do, I had to.

Rutra went down to Zero, work was boiling, around the world many people were hustling. Anyway, the point of Center Zero was to keep tabs on those who kept tabs on others. Rutra assembled the team, listened to the reports, made important observations about collecting banking information. A variety of information from multiple entities flowed into Center Zero legally. Everything that happened with accounts, transfers, transactions, bearer trusts, and more could be inaccessible to all but those who registered and the one who was registered. Everything that was registered was official information, certainly not accessible, but it was registered. Accordingly, no matter how hidden it was, it was still reported. It was important for the client, whose property or finances were kept secret from the whole world. These reports were received by some controlling or registering body, and it in turn fell under another control. And so on in complicated ways to the center "Zero". Accordingly, when there was information that a special service was monitoring the banking operations of citizens, Rutra smiled.

Rutra commissioned a review (over the last 30 years) of large transfers and financial transactions of international organizations legally operating under other names; the same for employees of closed research institutes, suspended or dismissed high-ranking military officers, intelligence officers, their relatives and their circle of contacts.

– I hope you can handle your main job and your new one. Is that clear? How long my next business trip will last, I cannot yet determine.

– You won't be in touch? – asked the head of security.

– That's a possibility.

– What to do if BT Group refuses to use the single digital signature certificate protocol previously adopted in the European Union? – The Information Control Administrator has already asked.

– I don't think it will come to that, if it does happen, then they should certainly, in accordance with our internal rules, coordinate this issue with the center. If not, you turn on Tempora and blocking of inter-network traffic, and then GCHQ will take over.

GCHQ – Government Communications Headquarters is the UK intelligence service responsible for conducting electronic intelligence and ensuring the protection of government and military information. The center is a member of the UKUS SIGINT alliance and is responsible for the collection and analysis of information in the countries of Europe, including the European part of Russia and Africa. The intelligence service is part of the Joint Intelligence Committee, together with MI5 (domestic intelligence) and MI6 (foreign intelligence).

– For all questions you will contact me, using a specially organized for this program communication complex, under the legend of the Institute of Experimental Physics. Not directly, but through Christina to VNIIEF Sarov, and there the automation is already in place.

– I see," the employees replied in unison, some in a voice, some nodded, mostly the male part; the female part expressed the expected and, apparently, long overdue.

– Tell me, Chief, why do you keep leaving us? – smiling and jokingly asked the ladies from the analytical department.

– Everything will be fine, I'll be back soon, we'll celebrate, – said Rutra, reassuring, because in "Zero", purely because of the specifics of the organization, there was an atmosphere where the team could not "go wild" in the circle of "alien" individuals.

Something suspicious was seen in everything, and it was already a professional reflex.

– Yay, hurry up, it's getting boring.

– All right, keep your nose to the wind, I'm outta here. Goodbye.

– Goodbye," they said in unison.

Already on the way out, the head of his own security department approached him and said in a quiet voice (more to indicate the individual importance of the information than for the sake of secrecy):

– You know, I've been paying attention lately to the fact that our department is getting information out of official channels of communication.

– How did you figure that out?

– There has been no dispatch from you, however there appear to be assignments based on the recommendations of your analysis.

– Orders from who?

– From a higher authority.

– From Hristoforovich?

– Yeah. You can send it to us directly.

– Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I must have missed something. What's the nature of these recommendations?

– Ordinary – make a report, analyze what's going on, plan something.