Nuclear escalation after command and communications fail

A hypothetical general war removes experienced leaders and diplomats, leaving exhausted replacements to make decisions beyond their preparation. In this scenario, failed communications prevent a commander from obtaining guidance, while inherited authority and doctrine make nuclear use appear available. The danger is that safeguards designed around competent, connected decision-makers no longer operate as expected. Separated custody and authorization are offered as protections against such failures. The argument draws partly on a contributor's medical experience of life-and-death decisions under severe fatigue, while Fleet continues to dispute the wider escalation assessment.