Royal Hastings, University of London Multimedia Art MA Final Project

Candidate name: Jonathan Danners

Candidate number: 0883482

The final event continued:

As project manager it’s my job to keep the big picture in sight, while everyone else concentrates on their individual tasks. The big picture changed. When we first approached Gela she was looking for professionals to fill places on a new course. The promise of Alyson Lang’s name was the first carrot. Then there was the first payment of twenty grand, and the prospect of another at the end of it, if and when we managed to expose RD 8. Someone who fears for their livelihood is an easy target.

My mother was a research scientist at RD 8’s Gloucestershire laboratories in the early 80s. She worked on active deterrent technology known as the ‘Dead Hand’ – a Cold War dinosaur that refused to become extinct.

This system must be neutralised each and every day to prevent its activation. If it doesn’t perceive human interaction, it will suspect a nuclear attack and start a process of attestation. First, it examines its immediate environment for signs of life – then reverts to radio airwaves to elicit a response from survivors. If it gets neither, or that process is blocked, it will initiate the automatic launch of missiles buried deep in the sea and trained on the other side.

Mum would say her specialist subject was ‘just in case’. Just in case the unthinkable happens. Just in case someone fancies destroying half the world. Just in case someone presses that button, they won’t live to tell the tale. Kiss … kiss.

Documents sent to me by Patrick Bright:

Somerset trip WhatsApp group members Jonathan Danners, Suzie Danners, Patrick Bright and Ludya Parak, 18 May 2024:

Suzie

Jem visited Alyson’s studio today. Don’t ask me to reply to Ali’s text. No energy.

Ludya

WTF ? How did she even know to go there?

Jonathan

No one panic. Think logically. The first thing Jem will do when she realises the Alyson on the course is in fact her sister … is tell Gela.

Ludya

Gela better have something logical to say.

Jonathan

Calling her now with a heads-up.