Luke LaManna

He then discreetly gathered some documents and took them to an apartment in West London. He parked far away and covered the diplomatic plates on his car. Then he walked to the apartment where he had a scheduled monthly meeting. The meetings were never to last longer than 50 minutes, so he could return to the embassy without raising suspicion.

There, in the West London flat, he met two British MI6 agents. Gordievsky was a double agent. He'd been recruited by British intelligence eight years earlier and had been providing them with intel ever since. The Soviet embassy was right to be paranoid. An MI6 administrator in the apartment took photos of the documents Gordievsky brought.

There, in the West London flat, he met two British MI6 agents. Gordievsky was a double agent. He'd been recruited by British intelligence eight years earlier and had been providing them with intel ever since. The Soviet embassy was right to be paranoid. An MI6 administrator in the apartment took photos of the documents Gordievsky brought.

All the while, he updated the agents on what he'd learned that month. This time around, he'd provided MI6 with all the details he had on Operation Ryan. He explained that KGB agents like himself were looking for any signs that the UK was preparing for war.

All the while, he updated the agents on what he'd learned that month. This time around, he'd provided MI6 with all the details he had on Operation Ryan. He explained that KGB agents like himself were looking for any signs that the UK was preparing for war.

Since it was America's most powerful ally, the KGB was monitoring any British troop movements, travel plans of politicians, and even construction of new roads. Gordievsky's job as a Soviet agent was to help arrange government contacts and befriend journalists who could unknowingly supply information to the KGB.

Since it was America's most powerful ally, the KGB was monitoring any British troop movements, travel plans of politicians, and even construction of new roads. Gordievsky's job as a Soviet agent was to help arrange government contacts and befriend journalists who could unknowingly supply information to the KGB.

The hope was all these bits of information would paint a picture of what the British were doing. But Gordievsky had a hunch that his anxious Soviet bosses would take all the information he provided and twist it to confirm their fears. If you're nervous enough, even ordinary road construction could be interpreted as proof the West was about to attack.

The hope was all these bits of information would paint a picture of what the British were doing. But Gordievsky had a hunch that his anxious Soviet bosses would take all the information he provided and twist it to confirm their fears. If you're nervous enough, even ordinary road construction could be interpreted as proof the West was about to attack.

He predicted that his bosses would see imminent threats everywhere.

He predicted that his bosses would see imminent threats everywhere.

A few months later, on September 14, 1982, President Ronald Reagan sat across from a man named Edward Teller in the Oval Office in the White House. Teller was a nuclear physicist and chemical engineer. He was known as the father of the hydrogen bomb for his work developing one of the most destructive technologies ever created.

A few months later, on September 14, 1982, President Ronald Reagan sat across from a man named Edward Teller in the Oval Office in the White House. Teller was a nuclear physicist and chemical engineer. He was known as the father of the hydrogen bomb for his work developing one of the most destructive technologies ever created.

Teller briefed Reagan on a revolutionary concept, a third generation of nuclear weapons. His idea was to deploy powerful X-ray lasers in space that would destroy incoming enemy missiles before they reached the U.S. It sounded like science fiction, but Teller convinced Reagan it was possible.

Teller briefed Reagan on a revolutionary concept, a third generation of nuclear weapons. His idea was to deploy powerful X-ray lasers in space that would destroy incoming enemy missiles before they reached the U.S. It sounded like science fiction, but Teller convinced Reagan it was possible.

After witnessing the Ivy League 82 exercise six months earlier, Reagan was more frightened than he'd ever been of nuclear war. but he also believed that the US had to be prepared for it both offensively and defensively.

After witnessing the Ivy League 82 exercise six months earlier, Reagan was more frightened than he'd ever been of nuclear war. but he also believed that the US had to be prepared for it both offensively and defensively.

It previously didn't seem possible to defend against a nuclear attack, but now the father of the H-bomb was describing a strategy that might just give the US the upper hand against the Soviets. Reagan asked his top advisors to further study this wild idea of space defense and see if it was feasible.

It previously didn't seem possible to defend against a nuclear attack, but now the father of the H-bomb was describing a strategy that might just give the US the upper hand against the Soviets. Reagan asked his top advisors to further study this wild idea of space defense and see if it was feasible.

Six months later, in February 1983, Reagan listened as the head of the Navy confirmed that Teller's idea could theoretically work. Computers, lasers, and particle beams had advanced to the point that shooting nuclear missiles down from space was a legitimate prospect. Reagan was so excited about the news that he wanted to announce this bold new plan during an upcoming televised address.