PrologueIn 1983, Whiskey 601 existed as a fictional rectangle of ocean located approximately forty miles off the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was relatively insignificant in size; only 20 miles wide and 10 miles high. However, it was its location, near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, that made it significant. Its official name on a nautical chart was Exercise Area W-601. However, it was more often called “Whiskey Six Oh One,” or as Canadian Navy sailors shortened it, “Whiskey.” Naturally the name gives the idea that there is a connection with the libation; however, the curious title is simply due to the military's desire to use the phonetic alphabet to write letters. This is why the “W” in W-601 is vocalized as “Whisky”. As you might assume, not a drop of whiskey is to be found in the entire area. The only exceptions may be a few stray bottles stored in liquor cabinets, lockers or bars belonging to the crews of ships that may pass through the area. Ironically, a bottle of whiskey was a certain luxury one would probably have to bring with them if they were headed somewhere in the vicinity of Whiskey 601. There was nothing romantic or luxurious about Whiskey 601, as the name. Of course, there were simply no luxuries at Whiskey 601. The area is neither scenic nor noteworthy in any way. No stoic landmass emerges from the depths of the ocean to form islands. Essentially, to the naked eye, there is nothing that can be seen. In fact, it's quite boring. The only landmarks available to view are dozens of miles of ocean waves, occasionally interrupted by a freighter or container ship that may at times trudge past the area, on their journey to... middle of paper... the n the fall of 1983, a US national television network took advantage of the American public's discomfort and released the television movie “The Day After.” A film that depicted the eventual extinction of mankind after a large-scale nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union, more than 100 million viewers watched the film during its initial broadcast. Although fictitious, it in fact alarmed multitudes of US citizens and reportedly surprised even Ronald Reagan himself. When the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, the Cold War was said to be over. Coincidentally, in 1989, Whiskey 601 was decommissioned as a Canadian Navy operating area. Was it a coincidence? Most likely, however, since Whiskey 601 was somehow linked to the Cold War, it is fitting that the end of the conflict seems to have marked the end of Whiskey too 601..