From:	"Mark L. Neidengard" <mneideng@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject:	Diffusing the bomb
Date:	Thu, 9 Jan 1997 20:47:35 -0800

*****PRIVATE: Hephaestus
>>>>>[Why do we keep crossing paths under the most incongenial of
circumstances? But down to business.

>From scrutinizing the footage as provided, the detonator appears to be a
<ENCRYPTED>, which I have had some dealings with in the past. _If_ that's
what it is, its standard specs are:

+++++include specsheet

Notice the pressure sensors on the mountings and the accelerometers at the
mounting joints; the detonator does _not_ want to be taken apart. Also, once
its activated the relays keeping the ignition network from firing are held open
by electricity; it failsafes to "closed" just like a nuclear power plant, only
in this case that means "on". _Some_ versions of this unit are actually
positively pressured internally and will react if this seal is breached; this
also aids in their use in high-pressure environments like undersea.

The unit in question has been disarmed in the past by using a Fine-Diameter
Ion Beam array to weld the ignition relays open; this doesn't require opening
the case and is, of course, unlikely to accidentally jostle the damn thing.
The arrangement I'd recommend for the array is:

+++++include fdib.cadf

The crucial thing is to figure out what's in the box. I was able to acquire a
sonodigitized scan of the unit (for a hefty fee) and have the following
signature trace, annotated for which features correspond to which parts of the
detonator.

+++++include sonotrace.cadf

If you're _very_ careful, you should be able to get the Feds to use their
<ENCRYPTED> to try to sonodig the unit and match it with the features from the
original detonator, but _make_ _sure_ not to exceed the following power
envolope:

+++++include env.data.

It'll be very crude, but if the rumors I've heard about that thing's
sensitivity are accurate, it should suffice. The main thing is to try to
find out if the firing relays are part of the assembly. If they aren't then
I'm afraid you folks are on your own. For what it's worth, I pray for your
success.

And if you folks make it through ths one, I'd be interested in breaking bread
with you in person. ]<<<<<
-- AlexandriaN <20:21:39 / 01-09-58>