But look how a capital ship enters a scene, imagine a thargoid mothership appearing with the coalsack behind it. It would look like it was reaching out, trying to swallow them. And the size of the scrapes on the Adamaster. Its more than just a thargoid attack we've experienced before
"The Stones"
- Thread starter Jmanis
- Start date
But look how a capital ship enters a scene, imagine a thargoid mothership appearing with the coalsack behind it. It would look like it was reaching out, trying to swallow them. And the size of the scrapes on the Adamaster. Its more than just a thargoid attack we've experienced before
Hm. Looks like, maybe, Thargoid damage.
But didn't the salvage crew say they damaged it when moving it into orbit?
Galnet: '...so tugs were deployed to wrench it into a safe orbit. This caused onboard power systems to overload with explosive results, damaging cargo holds and spilling debris.'
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I've messed around a bit with it, both the raw LP text and the binary of the LP, but it's no less gibberish than anything else I've tried. I'm kinda hoping you don't need any out of game data to "solve" the LP message. Hopefully it's not just a dead end.
Same, many attempts, much nonsense. Both masking and keying between the two give nothing meaningful.
To be honest, the frequency analysis a lot of us tried earlier on was very unpromising. A string of ~185 characters should be long enough for it work reliably, even with a 35 character "alphabet".
I did another brute-force approach at any partial substitution cipher that yields "MUSCA DARK REGION" without success.
So either the LP transmission is not a simple substitution cipher (definitely not top-of-the-line), or the plain text doesn't contain "MUSCA DARK REGION".
The closest I came is only one partial mapping 'T.WR456-2' --> 'MUSCA DRK' that does yield 'MUSCA DARK'; here is the partially decoded version:
Here's the code:
So either the LP transmission is not a simple substitution cipher (definitely not top-of-the-line), or the plain text doesn't contain "MUSCA DARK REGION".
The closest I came is only one partial mapping 'T.WR456-2' --> 'MUSCA DRK' that does yield 'MUSCA DARK'; here is the partially decoded version:
Here's the code:
Python:
#!/usr/bin/python3
import string
import itertools
import sys
import math
import time
import re
def reverse(s): return s[::-1]
def rotate(s): return s[1:] + s[0]
if len(sys.argv) > 1:
CIPHERTEXT = sys.argv[1]
else:
CIPHERTEXT="8BFGTY4PLU67-RTYO06.45:GN63-74PHGJI E67-:F563-21-574.9 ER34.6-DER8+WEST U.5 -RTG10 RTH8-4 6T.WR4564-21 +G134.2 RT55.4 GDW THE42.1LY 764.2Y- 45TG4.BTJ-Y.6ORT437.1D341-67.Y5DS 243 45TY-3234"
CHARSET = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789 +-.:"
# "Known" plaintext words/phrases in order of priority and
# increasing length...
#WORDS = [ "MUSCA", "DARK", "REGION" ]
WORDS = [ "MUSCA", "MUSCA DARK", "MUSCA DARK REGION", "PJ-P" ]
def test_match(word, map_from, map_to):
global Count
if Count % PRINT_EVERY == 0:
print("%9d %s --> %s" % (Count, map_from, map_to) )
Count += 1
plaintext = CIPHERTEXT.translate( str.maketrans(map_from, map_to) )
#print( "%2d: %s" % (i, plaintext) )
if word in plaintext:
print(map_from + ' -----> ' + map_to)
print(plaintext)
print("")
return True
else:
return False
def recurse_wordset( words, word, wordset, avail_chars, map_from, map_to ):
#print(">>>> recurse_wordset(-,%s,%s, %s, %s, %s)"%(
# word, wordset, avail_chars, map_from, map_to ))
if not wordset:
# Done recursing into wordset (all chars in 'word');
# Now see if the mapping matches 'word'
if test_match( word, map_from, map_to ):
# recurse into the next word...
recurse_words( words, avail_chars, map_from, map_to )
return
# pop the next char off wordset and add/iterate it into
# the mapping if it doesn't already exist.
while True:
char = wordset[0]
wordset = wordset[1:]
playable = char not in map_to
if playable or not wordset: break
if playable:
# iterate over all mappings from avail --> char
for c in avail_chars:
recurse_wordset(words, word, wordset,
avail_chars.replace(c, ''),
map_from + c,
map_to + char)
else:
# not playable; wordset must now be empty
recurse_wordset(words, word, wordset,
avail_chars, map_from, map_to)
def recurse_words( words, avail_chars, map_from, map_to):
# pop the next word and test it
if words:
words = words[:]
word = words.pop(0)
print("========= SEARCHING: %s ============" % word )
recurse_wordset( words, word, word, avail_chars, map_from, map_to )
else:
print("MATCHED ALL WORDS")
exit(0)
PRINT_EVERY = 100000
#PRINT_EVERY = 1
Count = 0
print( "CIPHERTEXT = %s" % CIPHERTEXT )
print( "CHARSET = %s" % CHARSET )
recurse_words( WORDS, CHARSET, "", "" )
# Here's the MUSCA DARK match:
#map_from = 'T.WR456-2'
#map_to = 'MUSCA DRK'
#charset = re.sub( "[T.WR4562]", '', CHARSET)
#charset = charset.replace('-', '')
#recurse_words( WORDS, charset, map_from, map_to)
print( "Count = " + str(Count))
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Could very much be, and would make the story more creepy and in line with foreshadowing the new expansion..but we also need to keep it in mind that the thargoid artifacts are destroying the ship and cargo holds of anyone if we don't use Corrosive resistance holds. So "the cage won't hold" could also just mean that it was rapidly deteriorating due to corrosion that the artifact created.
I drew some pictures with thick crayons ! Im doing my part too !
Your super cool codey stufz made me feel Dumber than normal, Good job keep it up
Greetings commanders, since the discussion seems to stalling I'd like to submit my idea(s)
I spent some time messing around with the given code so far i've noticed the following:
The char ":" only appears in the first part of the message and exactly 2 times which seems just about right to be a galactic coordinate
"8BFGTY4PLU67-RTYO06.45:GN63-74PHGJI E67-:F563-21-574.9"
I went for the simpler way i could find and i removed all the letters and used the - as a minus between two numbers (the space gave me some trouble, but after noticing that -7000 was not possible i simply merged the given digits)
8461:-1167:-32
(I ignored the decimal point as the galactic map is not that precise)
If you are interested the zone is a very low portion of the Inner Orion Spur around 8000 Ly from the bubble. I already explored what i felt could be the right systems but my research was a flop, many interesting systems with a ton of features but nothing remotely related to the Adamastor.
Now even if my hunch is correct and those are galactic coordinates there are more possibilities that my initial interpretation, one could be it's two set of coordinates (minus the depth would be my guess) so something in the lines of
8461:-11
67:-32 (this one is in the middle of the bubble)
One more thing i'd like to add is that the Comlink in the Geological Survey 23B camp gives you a message about "encryption" maybe is nothing or maybe somebody smarter than me can find it helpful
I spent some time messing around with the given code so far i've noticed the following:
The char ":" only appears in the first part of the message and exactly 2 times which seems just about right to be a galactic coordinate
"8BFGTY4PLU67-RTYO06.45:GN63-74PHGJI E67-:F563-21-574.9"
I went for the simpler way i could find and i removed all the letters and used the - as a minus between two numbers (the space gave me some trouble, but after noticing that -7000 was not possible i simply merged the given digits)
8461:-1167:-32
(I ignored the decimal point as the galactic map is not that precise)
If you are interested the zone is a very low portion of the Inner Orion Spur around 8000 Ly from the bubble. I already explored what i felt could be the right systems but my research was a flop, many interesting systems with a ton of features but nothing remotely related to the Adamastor.
Now even if my hunch is correct and those are galactic coordinates there are more possibilities that my initial interpretation, one could be it's two set of coordinates (minus the depth would be my guess) so something in the lines of
8461:-11
67:-32 (this one is in the middle of the bubble)
One more thing i'd like to add is that the Comlink in the Geological Survey 23B camp gives you a message about "encryption" maybe is nothing or maybe somebody smarter than me can find it helpful
I finally made it to the listening post. So far we have, in chronological order
A couple of questions remain:
- 13 oct 3111: team of prof Penelope Carver (PC) established site on Musca dark region PJ-P B6-1 planet 3 in the Coalsack nebula
- 20 oct 3111: PC first log prof Penelope Carver reporting. She has her reservations about the assignment but needed the money.
- 26 oct 3111: Adamastor, departure from Chukchan.
- 27 oct: PC alien crashed ship discovered and retrieved something from it. Ordered to maintain radio silence.
Ad no log entry - 28 oct: Ad deleted or corrupted log
- 29 oct: Ad arrived at the listening post in SYNUEFE XE-Y C17-7.
- 30 oct: PC base is in trouble, team is turning on themselves. The crashed ship was not alone? Thargoid rescue mission?
Dr. Dominic Murphy reporting: retrieval of the alien object is interrupted by the Thargoids?
Ad pick up cargo at an M class star, Musca dark region PJ-P B6-1. Emergency departure. - 31 oct: Ad A class star system, HIP 69200. The Adamastor is in trouble and prof Carver jumps ship but crashes her Sidewinder on the planet.
A couple of questions remain:
- The Adamastor made the 616 ly from LP to Coalsack in one day. Was that emergency speed? So why did it take three days to reach the LP from Chukchan? Was that her cruising speed or was she investigating the systems between Chukchan and LP? Where they indeed HIP 39748 and HIP 33386 as per official flight plan?
- Why did the Adamastor push on towards SYNUEFE XE-Y C17-7 arriving at 29 oct, when the crashed Thargoid ship was already found at 27 oct? Did they suspect something equally important in there?
- How much fuel did the Adamastor carry? Only 370 ly or enough for the return trip? Was she supposed to refuel at LP?
- Should we be looking for barnacles in SYNUEFE XE-Y C17-7 only? Or in nearby systems?
We know the Thargoids chose low-G high metal planets.
So I landed on 3A, no barnacles. But the human location could not be ... well located either.
Landed on 3B, no barnacles there either. - What range does the LP have?
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is there any online version that will translate numbers & characters into / from same? I either end up with 'code' for a computer or they all simple letter subsitutions, I have a lot of 'keywords' and 'numbers' to try but nowhere to try them? I could list a few in a spoiler for anybody to try maybe?
Inferred - Log of 20th ends with 'have they found something?' or similar, inference is that this was the Crashed Ship being found on the 20th. So that changes your timeline somewhat but...
Uncertain but.
Could be that the megaship was simply adding to the 'misdirection' and secrecy. A submarine today may leave Port and spend a few days just plodding around in case theyre being watched and to hide the urgency of their mission (misdirection). Then they will rush to the target site, maybe open concealed orders and proceed from there. Also GalNet says passing by or through, so maybe the jump destination to see if anybody tailing them. So
26th Leaves Chukchan
27th Arrives first HIP (1 Jump misdirection)
28th Arrives second HIP (1 Jump misdirection)
29th Arrives LP + (full speed ahead for real target system)
30th Arrives Geo Survey
Probably found on 20th as above.
Probably more of a clue to us that it cant be further than 370 LY so we wouldnt go trotting off to Barnard's Star. it could refuel itself or be refuelled in lore so how it was done is not really an issue.
Thargoids like systems with Ammonia in them. Have a look around and the FSS will tell you. DSS will pinpoint what and where. Current 'issue' with DSS & NavPanel, only shows StellarForge created objects like Geo & Bio from space, need to be in the planets space to see hand placed like human, tharg etc (normal or glide - worth testing if dropping from SC in space will find them? )
Unknown, perhaps infinite or effective infinite. If this one is the 3rd point in the triangle of comms to misdirect anyone as I believe then it completely changes how they work in my mind as they are 2 way and not just receivers. Either way we have evidence from this event that there was effective 'real time' communication (even if 24hrs delay and not instant) which must have been FTL comms which I dont think we had before, in fact we may have been told the opposite, but if it was the MIC (Military Industrial Complex later aka The Club) we civilians would have been lied to for many years so nobody would get salty over that and appreciate instead that we have new information we have uncovered about the conspiracy.....
Link finally works at 15.15 UTC, I had forgotten though so will catch up 15 minutes behind everyone else.
Urgh, im 57 minutes late... have i missed anything?
Gentlemen we should probably check that NPC ship flying around the base. What is his cargo, where is he heading if he run away. Scan him, probe him as much as we can.
Nope, nothing interesting so far.
Ooh the ship flying around the geological site? You guys saw that too?! I thought that was just a random npc or a bug..
Not that I know of. Most of us are using Python or Matlab to swap punctuation and spaces, character substitution, and search for particular character strings. If you have suggestions or notice any potential patterns, go ahead and post them.
One thing that's been bugging me is that there's a space at the end of the binary twitter messages after the period.
im about 25 mins behind but Bruce has just said there is still some story point we are missing, with no indication whatsover they have read the forum posts about it so we may have discussed it at length here already...and that @Thatchinho said something (in chat? Twitch?) that was along the right lines, but didnt mention what it was for those not seeing the relevant chat/ @Thatchinho can you please post here for posterity what it was you said?