I may be dooming this post to oblivion given the noise being generated about the new ship, but whatever.
The following is a summary of investigations conducted into the Numbers Beacons (after their real-world namesakes,
Numbers Stations , in-game these are marked as "Unregistered Comms Beacon", or UCBs) over November 1st and 2nd by myself and a (relatively) small group on the Discord server. Most of what we've done is catalogue what we know already accurately, and investigate a few possibilities. This data also corrects some erroneous data on the OP, namely transmission times of Group 1 beacons. Emphasis has been placed on accuracy, completeness, and what I like to call
not lying: Did you decode a message? Don't just give the plaintext, give the ciphertext and how you decoded it. Did you find a beacon? Where,
exactly?
It's my belief that it is very important to have accurate and complete data for the numbers beacons. If FDev use them just like their namesakes, their messages may change in future. I have already set-up a schedule of weekly (though I may choose bi-weekly depending on how stir-crazy this makes me) checks of the numbers beacons in case of such an event.
Finally, this is all rather poorly formatted because these forums don't support Markdown and I've had to transfer all this by hand, and I have a math class in a few hours to get to. If you want to see this in a much more readable format,
check the Trello board we have going.
Group 1
These beacons are the originals and all point to Lave and Eravate. The messages in this group are identical.
Sol
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Europa
Transmit Time: UTC XX:00
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
12 9 19 20 5 14 12 15 3 1
20 9 15 14 5 18 1 22 1 20
5 20 9 13 5 10 12 9 19 20
5 14 12 15 3 1 20 9 15 14
12 1 22 5 20 9 13 5 30 3
12 21 5 4 Charlie
[Message repeats.]
Gateway
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Gateway 2
Transmit Time: UTC XX:20
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
12 9 19 20 5 14 12 15 3 1
20 9 15 14 5 18 1 22 1 20
5 20 9 13 5 10 12 9 19 20
5 14 12 15 3 1 20 9 15 14
12 1 22 5 20 9 13 5 30 3
12 21 5 4 Charlie
[Message repeats.]
Achenar
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Capitol
Transmit Time: UTC XX:40
Message Video (Message is audio, recording is video)
Message Transcript:
Code:
12 9 19 20 5 14 12 15 3 1
20 9 15 14 5 18 1 22 1 20
5 20 9 13 5 10 12 9 19 20
5 14 12 15 3 1 20 9 15 14
12 1 22 5 20 9 13 5 30 3
12 21 5 4 Charlie
[Message repeats.]
Conclusions
All messages match. Messages can be decrypted using Latin alphabet checkerboard, where each number is the letter's position in the alphabet.
Message reads:
Code:
Listen Location Eravate Time 10
Listen Location Lave time 30
Clue 4C
Group 2
These beacons provided information to form the nonogram. The data, however, is incomplete. Note that through our work, we have independently verified this data multiple times, via myself, Zenith, and others. The nonogram is definitely complete in its current state, no question. The missing data is definitely there for a reason.
Lave
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Lave 2
Transmit Time: UTC XX:10
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
["p" indicates a long pause.]
YANKEE 0 p 6 p 1 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 p
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 9 9 9 1 1 9 1 1 7 p
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 p
6 1 5 5 5 5 5 p 0 p 1 1 1 1 1 p 0 p 1 1 1 1 p 0 p 1 1 1 1 p 0 p
1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 p 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p
[Message repeats.]
Eravate
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Eravate 5
Transmit Time: UTC XX:30
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
["p" indicates a long pause.]
XRAY p 0 p 6 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 p 6 p 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 p
0 p 1 1 1 p 5 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 5 1 1 p 1 p 1 1 p 1 p
5 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 5 p 1 p 0 p 1 p 5 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p
1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 5 p 1 p 0 p 3 p 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 p 3 p 0 p 1 p 5 p 1 1 1 p
1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 5 p 1 p 0 p 5 p 1 1 p 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p
1 1 p 1 1 p 5 p 0 p 1 p 3 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 p 3 p 1 p 0 p
[Message repeats.]
Conclusions
Messages are X and Y axis data for a nonogram. Refer to Nonogram list on
this board for more information.
Unclassified Numbers Beacons
This is where the other beacons go. They appear to be tenuously related, in that the ciphertext they provide keys for appears to be from observers of some sort. (No, before you start, Sirius Corp. is likely ruled out.)
Caucama Beacon
Current as of: 2016-11-02
Location: Caucuma 10 D
Transmit Time: UTC XX:00
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
4 1 14 7 5 18 15 21 19
[Message repeats.]
Conclusions
Message can be decrypted using Latin alphabet checkerboard, where each number is the letter's position in the alphabet.
Message reads:
No related news articles were found at time of writing. It is an open question at this time what this key is for.
Takurua Beacon
Current as of: 2016-11-02
Location: Takurua 3
Transmit Time: UTC XX:00 (Assumed, one observation was for two hours and got nothing.)
Message Audio
Message Transcript:
Code:
7 5 20 21 13 2 15 25 19
[Message Repeats]
Article Text
Article Title: The Takurua Herald:
Article Date: 25 OCT 3302
Retrieved: 2016-11-02
Article Text:
Code:
***Compromised Carrier Signal***
Charlie Juliet Quebec Delta Victor Delta Juliet - Tango
Romeo Juliet Sierra Bravo Charlie 1 - Lima Juliet
Victor Oscar Sierra Alpha - Bravo India Kilo Juliet
Tango Bravo Lima Tango Victor Oscar India Golf Sierra
Bravo Victor India
[Article Ends]
Interpreted as NATO phonetic alphabet:
Code:
CJQDVDJ - TRJSBC 1 - LJVOSA - BIKJTBLTVOIGSBVI
Article Decryption
Keyword cipher: GETUMBOYS
Keyword is obtained from Takurua numbers beacon message via Latin alphabet checkerboard.
Message reads:
Code:
TAKURUA - PLANET 1 - DARING - ESCAPEDPRISONERS
Conclusions
There is a PoI near Takurua 1. Ships have been seen entering the area and disappearing
without low wakes. Upon inspection, three ships were seen in the PoI, apparently leaving the area. One ship (scans revealed it to be a Sirius Corporation vessel) spoke to others referencing the escape. Observer was then fired-upon (NPCs do so love their cargo).
Given the nature of the decoded messages, a third party is suggested. This tentatively rules-out Sirius Corporation as the operators of the numbers beacons. The planet Takurua 1 may be harbouring a prison facility. Further investigation is required.
Velli Beacon
Current as of: 2016-11-01
Location: Velli 6
Transmit Time: ? (unknown at time of writing)
Message Audio (unavailable at time of writing)
Message Transcript: (unavailable at time of writing)
Related News Article
Article Title: The Velli Herald:
Article Date: 25 OCT 3302
Retrieved: 2016-11-02
Article Text:
Code:
***Compromised Carrier Signal***
Victor Alpha Oscar Oscar Charlie - Quebec Charlie Sierra Foxtrot Tango Alpha Foxtrot Golf Golf Foxtrot Uniform Oscar Tango Papa Bravo Kilo Alpha Juliet Alpha Sierra Foxtrot Tango Charlie Papa Bravo - Quebec Oscar Foxtrot Bravo Alpha Tango 7 - Uniform Bravo Tango Lima Sierra Alpha Foxtrot Tango Alpha Bravo Charlie Bravo Deltav
[Article Ends]
Interpreted as NATO phonetic alphabet:
Code:
VAOOC - QCSFTAFGGFUOTPBKAJASFTCPB - QOFBAT 7 - UBTLSAFTABCBD
Article Decryption
Keyword cipher: ENIGMAS
Keyword is obtained from Velli numbers beacon message via Latin alphabet checkerboard.
Message reads:
Code:
VELLI - PIRATEASSAULTONFEDERATION - PLANET 7 - UNTHREATENING
Conclusions
Given that this is in reference to, at the very least, the disabled Federation capital ship at the PoI in the system, this suggests the operators of the beacons see such a situation as "unthreatening". Take that as you will; this lowly collator of data is very ill-at-ease. - T'vol
Unfortunately, we have hit a stumbling block:
Multiple attempts to complete the instance have failed. Driving off the pirate Farragut does nothing, and we even get bounty in Velli for attacking it.
Thread created. - T'vol 2016-11-01
UPDATE: @Strudel successfully completed instance. Federation support ships arrived. Nothing else of note.
Laklano System
Herald Article. No in-system beacon.
Article Text
Article Title: The Laklano Herald:
Article Date: 25 OCT 3302
Article Text:
Code:
***Compomised Carrier Signal***
Alpha Golf Romeo Juliet Echo Romeo November - Sierra Bravo Golf Foxtrot Golf Alpha Echo Victor November Golf Romeo Delta Echo Zulu Echo Bravo Juliet - Echo India 1 - Quebec November Papa November Victor Echo Bravo Charlie Alpha Delta Kilo Alpha Hotel Sierra Golf November Romeo Victor```
[Article Ends]
Interpreted as NATO phonetic alphabet:
Code:
AGRJERN - SBGFGAEVNGRDEZEBJ - EA 1 - QNPNVEBCADKAHSGNRV
Article Decryption
Keyword cipher: CRYHAVOK
Keyword is obtained from unknown GalNet source.
Decrypted message:
Code:
CONDANI - PROVOCATIONHAZARD - AB 1 - MILITARYCHECKPOINT
This potential PoI warrants further investigation.
Closing Thoughts
We have a pickle on our hands here. Who the hell is operating these beacons, and for what purpose? Are they human? Alien? We've tossed these ideas around and both seem to have merit. The latter possibility is the one I find most disturbing, given that it implies said aliens would have intimate knowledge of our technology, culture, and language.
For those looking to hunt these beacons: I have no easy answers. From the above data, we can conclude that presence of a Herald: article at stations in a system is not a guarantee that there is a numbers beacon in the system, and neither is the opposite true. So here is my general advice to all Canonn members, and this is intended to be passed-on to explorers and player groups of all stripes:
- Keep your "Points of Interest" filter on in your navigation computer, and keep an eye out for any more "Unregistered Comms Beacon" PoIs. If you find one, report it to Canonn, and if you have the time and are willing to wait, sit at the beacon and wait for a transmission. Be sure to have some way of transcribing the message, or be recording audio. Preferably both. (Video is useful as a "just in case" but given the very long listening times, audio is more practical.) Please check the Trello board's Numbers Beacons list to see examples of what data is being collected.
- Unregistered Comms Beacons will only be visible on your nav computer within 1,000Ls of your current position. So far, all of them have been found orbiting planets and moons.
- While at stations, check news articles for an article with a title in the format of "The <system name> Herald:". This will likely contain ciphertext in NATO phonetic code. Record this and report it to Canonn for verification and key cipher testing. Same advice about checking the board to see what data is being collected applies.
- Data is being actively collected, verified, collated, and passed through hamster-wheel-computers on the #chat_science channel of Canonn's Discord server. Please drop us a line there, as well as here in the threadnaught, should you find anything more of value.
Here's the weird part though: when i first saw them - there was a whole fleet, like 6 or 7 ships for sure. When i got closer - more than half of them disappeared! JUST disappeared, not jumped away or anything! The next time i came - i saw no ships, but had few signals on my radar which also disappeared as i got closer to signal. And on third time i got there and there were 4 of 'em and 2 disappeared as well. When i got back 5 minutes later with scanners i had no luck in spotting anything..