The Zap Gun

As the Cold War between the Wes-Bloc and Peep-East countries drags on, each side employs weapons designers who enter a trance-state and emerge with schematics for advanced and terrifying weapons. But what the frightened populaces of these civilizations don't realize is that none of the weapons actually work. Nor are they designed toyears ago, Wes-Bloc and Peep-East devised a truce, with both sides pretending to still be at war in order to keep their people subservient. The plan works perfectly. That is, until alien invaders begin enslaving entire cities. Now, Lars Powderdry, the Wes-Bloc designer, and Lilo Topchev, the Peep-East designer, have to work together to do something neither of them has ever done: create a true doomsday device.