The Fourth Protocol (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Preston was demoted after his unauthorized methods during a covert operation to infiltrate government official George Berenson's home embarrassed Acting Director Brian Harcourt-Smith. His discovery of top-secret NATO files at the residence, though significant, was obtained through means that created a diplomatic scandal, leading to his demotion to managing Airports and Ports.

• john preston
• demotion
• mi5
• harcourt-smith
• berenson

The Fourth Protocol is a Cold War agreement established in 1968 that banned unconventional methods of delivering nuclear weapons. General Govorshin ordered Major Petrofsky to violate this protocol by assembling and detonating an atomic device in Britain, designed to look like an American nuclear disaster.

• fourth protocol
• nuclear
• kgb
• govorshin
• cold war

Preston was suspended after reporting his discovery of a polonium disk found on a deceased Soviet sailor in Glasgow. Harcourt-Smith claimed Preston was fabricating the incident to regain his standing within MI5, but in reality, Preston had uncovered genuine evidence of the Soviet nuclear plot.

• preston
• suspension
• mi5
• polonium
• glasgow

Irina Vassilievna was herself a KGB agent assigned to work with Petrofsky, but she secretly turned against the operation. She reset the bomb timer from the supposed two-hour delay to zero, effectively triggering the device early. After doing so, she tried to warn Petrofsky about the impending betrayal but was silenced before she could reveal the truth.

• irina vassilievna
• petrofsky
• betrayal
• bomb
• timer
• kgb

After Preston apprehended Petrofsky at his hideout near RAF Baywaters, an SAS operative executed him on the spot, citing directives from higher-ups. This execution, rather than capture and interrogation, raised suspicions about a cover-up, as Petrofsky could have provided valuable intelligence about the broader conspiracy.

• petrofsky
• execution
• sas
• cover-up
• RAF Baywaters

Preston chose to leave MI5 after discovering that Sir Nigel Irvine had been collaborating with General Karpov to discredit General Govorshin for personal gain. At Hemmings' funeral, Preston observed Irvine meeting with Karpov, confirming the high-level betrayal. Disillusioned by the corruption within his own agency, he chose to reunite with his son rather than expose the conspiracy.

• preston
• mi5
• irvine
• karpov
• disillusionment
• hemmings funeral

The KGB operation, ordered by General Govorshin, involved planting a nuclear device near RAF Baywaters that would detonate and appear to be an American nuclear disaster. This false-flag attack was designed to create severe tension between Britain and the United States, strengthening the anti-nuclear movement in Britain ahead of an election that would benefit Soviet interests.

• soviet operation
• frame usa
• false-flag
• nuclear
• election
• govorshin

Preston tracked down Winkler, a notorious Czech KGB agent, at an airport and confronted him there. This encounter was a turning point in Preston's investigation, helping him close in on the larger conspiracy and ultimately leading him to Petrofsky's location in Ipswich.

• winkler
• kgb
• airport
• preston
• ipswich

Acting Director Harcourt-Smith opposed Preston throughout the investigation, first by demoting him and then by suspending him. Harcourt-Smith dismissed Preston's findings about the Soviet nuclear plot and accused him of fabricating evidence. His persistent obstruction suggests he was either part of the conspiracy or deliberately covering up the threat to prevent a diplomatic incident.

• harcourt-smith
• conspiracy
• mi5
• obstruction
• preston

The polonium disk found among a deceased Soviet sailor's possessions in Glasgow was a critical clue. Polonium is a key component for a nuclear bomb detonator, confirming that the Soviets were actively preparing a nuclear device. This discovery directly led Preston's investigation toward the imminent threat.

• polonium
• glasgow
• sailor
• bomb detonator
• soviet

Despite his suspension, Preston was backed by Sir Bernard Hemmings, the seriously ill MI5 Director, and high-ranking official Sir Nigel Irvine. Their support allowed Preston to continue his investigation off the official books and pursue the truth behind the Soviet conspiracy.

• hemmings
• irvine
• support
• mi5
• preston
• suspension

Preston tracked Petrofsky to Ipswich by following the investigation trail from Winkler's arrest at the airport. He eventually pinpointed Petrofsky's hideout located dangerously close to the RAF Baywaters airbase, where the nuclear bomb was being prepared for detonation.

• petrofsky
• ipswich
• hideout
• RAF Baywaters
• preston