GoldenEye (weapon)

The GoldenEye was an orbital EMP weapon, which was developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The GoldenEye was the key instrument in Alec Trevelyan's vengeful plot to decimate Britain's financial economy.

Description

GoldenEye's main method of attack was a powerful electromagnetic pulse (EMP) fired via special satellites which orbited around Earth. Once activated, the satellites would set off a nuclear blast within the planet's atmosphere, creating an electromagnetic shock-wave that hit the ground below. In reaction to the EMP, all electronic items within a twenty-mile radius would either short circuit or overload to the point of exploding, thus eliminating all forms of electronic communication or retaliation.

The phenomena of the EMP was originally discovered after the American bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Soon after, the Soviets found a way to weaponize the concept and secretly proceeded with funding for the GoldenEye program. Intended only for the direst of circumstances, the GoldenEye was the crown jewel of the USSR's military arsenal, giving them a massive advantage over their enemies if any major conflict were to ever arise.

Components

A collection of items made up the GoldenEye, each playing an intricate part in the use of the weapon. Two identical orbiting satellites code-named "Petya" and "Mischa" were the central components of the weapon system, each capable of delivering an overwhelming electromagnetic shock. In order to activate the the satellites, three keys were needed; two conventional golden keys were used to start the system's targeting network. The third key, a large rectangular cartridge that housed an optical disc and golden gem, was used to read the system's complex access and firing codes. Setting off the weapon also proved to be a rather complex process as these several items needed to be sequentially set in place for them to work together as a single super-weapon.

In order to obtain the three keys, an authorization code was needed to unlock the eye shaped vault where they rested. After the cartridge key was loaded into the console, the golden keys needed to be turned with precise synchronization to activate the targeting system. With the target coordinates set, the weapon needed to be manually armed by entering the firing codes. After unlocking yet another compartment, the system would be ready for firing once the trigger switch was turned.

Other Appearances

Nightfire features a multiplayer scenario titled "GoldenEye Strike" which involves two teams scrambling to find both the GoldenEye key and disc, in order to fire the EMP on the opposing team and score points.

Trivia

• The ring which appears on variations of the film's logo is meant to symbolize the center of the antenna cradle at the Cuba facility.