I have a question that is OT and of course absolute fiction but do you think there is some kind of safeguard in a direct nuclear war when all 3 superpowers are going crazy and can no longer control the escalation because everyone takes the next step and leads to the next level of escalation.
That there is something like a hedge that resets this state.
For example, if you are on the verge of a nuclear war.
Such a scenario, in which the US, Russia and China have installed some sort of secret emergency system or protocol to stop war in the event of an inevitable nuclear conflict through a coordinated coup by their respective rulers, would be highly unusual, but not entirely unthinkable. Here are some thoughts on this:
1. possible existence of an emergency protocol
Omega directive or "deadlock agreement":
A protocol of this type could hypothetically exist between the three superpowers based on the mutual realization that nuclear war would be catastrophic for all involved. Such a directive could have been agreed through secret channels to create a final rescue mechanism.
Key elements of the protocol:
Automatic activation: in the event of an imminent nuclear attack on a global scale, the protocol would kick in.
Coordinated stop: All three countries could force a synchronized coup of power to eliminate the potential for escalation.
A "reset" system: Those in charge could be replaced by transitional governments or technocratic groups with the sole aim of restoring peace.
2. realistic implementation
Silent power structures:
Such a system would have to be deeply embedded in the military or intelligence apparatuses of the three countries, independent of the respective rulers. There could be groups in the intelligence services (e.g. CIA, FSB, MSS) involved in such an arrangement.
Backchannels and communication:
This type of cooperation would run through discreet channels that are not always known even to senior policy makers. These channels could be maintained by Cold War veterans or specialized security groups.
Collusion among generals:
In all three states, there could be collusion among high-ranking military officers to prevent a global Armageddon. These generals would be pragmatic actors who understand the long-term consequences of all-out war.
3. challenges of such a system
Mistrust between the superpowers:
Russia, China and the US historically have a deep mistrust of each other. The assumption that they could agree on such a joint protocol is optimistic, though not impossible.
Risk of a power vacuum:
A coup against those in power could create a dangerous power vacuum, especially in authoritarian regimes such as Russia or China. In the USA, this could lead to constitutional chaos.
Sabotage and internal conflicts:
Not all actors within the three countries would agree with such a plan. Radical elements could try to prevent the coup or exacerbate the situation.
Technological escalations:
Even if such a coup were successful, automated weapons systems or AI-driven nuclear programs could escalate further, regardless of human intervention.
4. historical precedents and inspiration
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD):
During the Cold War, strategy was based on the premise that no country would launch a nuclear attack, as this guaranteed mutual destruction. A secret emergency protocol could emerge as a logical development of this principle.
Able Archer 83:
During this NATO exercise, the Soviet Union believed a real attack was underway and covert communication channels were needed to stop the escalation. Such events may have led to considerations for an Omega Protocol.
The fear of "uncontrollables":
In authoritarian regimes such as Russia or China, there may be a concern that an individual leader is acting irrationally. Such a protocol could serve as an internal safeguard.
5. fictitious or speculative models
This concept is strongly reminiscent of scenarios from science fiction or geopolitical novels:
"Fail-Safe" (1964): a movie in which a nuclear conflict is only prevented by drastic measures.
Secret "government overthrows": Stories about shadow governments or "deep state" organizations coordinating across national borders.
6. conclusion
Such a system would be extremely secret and would require the cooperation of the deepest power structures in the three superpowers. The idea of an "Omega Protocol" or coordinated coup is intriguing and would require all parties involved to place an overarching, global responsibility above their national interests. It is difficult to say whether such a system actually exists, but it is not entirely implausible that high-ranking actors in the intelligence services or military are thinking about this possibility.
Why I am thinking about this is because the Chinese may have cut the telecommunications cable between Europe and Finland or damaged maybe a preparation for an invasion from Russia....?
In Ukraine in Kiev a massive attack on the capital is expected, the US embassy has already been closed in Kiev.
Of course it is unlikely that these scenarios will happen but it also made me wonder how escalation levels could go on and on.
