The Hunt For Theta Seven - You Could Win 750,000,000 Cr!

Jmanis · Nov 14, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
CMDRs,

Apologies for the delayed explanation of how I deciphered this. I had to high-tail it to Panjabell to look for anything unusual. There is nothing apparent there, but I haven't searched exhaustively yet. Please feel free to join in the hunt at Panjabell.

Like many, I tried a number of techniques to no avail until I stumbled upon the right one. The key was indeed the fake traffic logs. Using the incrementing Type-7 numbers to determine order, the other ship types spelled out a 7x7 matrix, namely:

0
0
1
2
1
1
2
0
2
1
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
2
3
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
2
0

Assuming this to be the key, I arranged the numerical ciphertext provided in the Galnet article into a matrix 7 columns by 24 rows. I then multiplied it by the inverse of the key above. The result yielded a reasonable number of unique values, 27 (with 30 being an outlier). To me, this appeared to be the alphabet (single case) plus a space. I started with 1=A, 2=B, etc. I set the remaining values after Z to space. This deciphered to the message I posted, to my surprise.

Good luck recreating my results. I used Excel for all of this. Good luck to us all in tracking down Theta 7 from here, and I'll see you in the black!

o7,
CMDR Therion Cygni

How interesting. I did that last night and got nothing useful.

Do you mind showing me the two matrices.

stringtheery · Nov 14, 2021

His method worked when I tried it, FYI.

Jmanis · Nov 14, 2021

stringtheery said:
His method worked when I tried it, FYI.

Do you have a screenshot of the inverse matrix?

At this point, it's not that I don't trust the response, it's exactly what should have worked... but it didn't in my previous post. So just wondering where I went wrong.

EDIT: Just to illustrate a bit better, these are the bits.

Inverse matrix is calculated as "MINVERSE(K1:Q7)"
Result is calculated as "MMULT(A1:G24;R1:X7)"

... in OO Calc.

CMDR Therion Cygni · Nov 14, 2021

Jmanis said:
Do you have a screenshot of the inverse matrix?

At this point, it's not that I don't trust the response, it's exactly what should have worked... but it didn't in my previous post. So just wondering where I went wrong.

Here is my inverse of the key:

-0.40816	0.020408	0.163265	0.306122	0.020408	-0.12245	0.163265
0.163265	0.091837	-0.26531	-0.12245	0.091837	0.44898	-0.26531
-0.05102	-0.12245	0.020408	0.163265	0.377551	-0.26531	0.020408
0.163265	-0.40816	-0.26531	-0.12245	-0.40816	0.44898	0.734694
-0.12245	-0.19388	0.44898	-0.40816	-0.19388	0.163265	0.44898
-0.05102	0.377551	0.020408	0.163265	-0.12245	-0.26531	0.020408
0.44898	0.377551	0.020408	0.163265	0.377551	-0.26531	-0.97959

Here is the result of multiplying the numerical ciphertext by the inverse key:

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

o7

stringtheery · Nov 14, 2021

Jmanis said:
Do you have a screenshot of the inverse matrix?

At this point, it's not that I don't trust the response, it's exactly what should have worked... but it didn't in my previous post. So just wondering where I went wrong.

From an online matrix calculation site:

Jmanis · Nov 14, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
Here is my inverse of the key:

-0.40816
0.020408
0.163265
0.306122
0.020408
-0.12245
0.163265
0.163265
0.091837
-0.26531
-0.12245
0.091837
0.44898
-0.26531
-0.05102
-0.12245
0.020408
0.163265
0.377551
-0.26531
0.020408
0.163265
-0.40816
-0.26531
-0.12245
-0.40816
0.44898
0.734694
-0.12245
-0.19388
0.44898
-0.40816
-0.19388
0.163265
0.44898
-0.05102
0.377551
0.020408
0.163265
-0.12245
-0.26531
0.020408
0.44898
0.377551
0.020408
0.163265
0.377551
-0.26531
-0.97959

Here is the result of multiplying the numerical ciphertext by the inverse key:

8
1
22
5
27
1
18
18
9
22
5
4
27
1
20
27
16
1
14
10
1
2
5
12
12
27
27
23
5
1
16
15
14
19
27
18
5
13
1
9
14
27
19
5
3
21
18
5
27
27
9
27
14
15
27
12
15
14
7
5
18
27
20
18
21
19
20
27
15
21
18
27
2
5
14
5
6
1
3
20
15
18
19
27
15
18
27
20
8
5
9
18
27
14
5
20
23
15
18
11
30
27
23
5
27
23
9
12
12
27
2
5
3
15
13
5
27
9
14
22
9
19
9
2
12
5
27
21
14
20
9
12
27
20
8
5
27
20
9
13
5
27
9
19
27
18
9
7
8
20
27
20
15
27
19
20
18
9
11
5
27
1
7
1
9
14
27
27

o7

Aaaaah I see, I rotated the traffic report matrix. Goddamnit.

EDIT: I don't know what's happened with my middle row, but regardless, it looks good. Well done mate.

HRDiagram · Nov 14, 2021

CODEBREAKER
"I am sorry to say this but my friend and who have both played elite since it very first started will no longerplay this wonderful game if it isn't fixed in June.
We have talked at length about this and this our conclusion."

Now, please give my Cr to a charity!

KnifeTail · Nov 14, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
CMDRs,

Apologies for the delayed explanation of how I deciphered this. I had to high-tail it to Panjabell to look for anything unusual. There is nothing apparent there, but I haven't searched exhaustively yet. Please feel free to join in the hunt at Panjabell.

Like many, I tried a number of techniques to no avail until I stumbled upon the right one. The key was indeed the fake traffic logs. Using the incrementing Type-7 numbers to determine order, the other ship types spelled out a 7x7 matrix, namely:

0
0
1
2
1
1
2
0
2
1
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
2
3
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
2
0

Assuming this to be the key, I arranged the numerical ciphertext provided in the Galnet article into a matrix 7 columns by 24 rows. I then multiplied it by the inverse of the key above. The result yielded a reasonable number of unique values, 27 (with 30 being an outlier). To me, this appeared to be the alphabet (single case) plus a space. I started with 1=A, 2=B, etc. I set the remaining values after Z to space. This deciphered to the message I posted, to my surprise.

Good luck recreating my results. I used Excel for all of this. Good luck to us all in tracking down Theta 7 from here, and I'll see you in the black!

o7,
CMDR Therion Cygni

Well great job ! I though about the inverse, but when I saw it gave me floatting numbers I though "nah, it won't give my anything usefull", and then I realised I flipped the multiplication wrong...
GG !

Amata Lirein · Nov 14, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
Run an internet search for matrix inversion. There are a number of educational sources, and even some handy tools to help with the calculations.

Ah, gotcha... a quick readup in my native language reminded me on how that worked....

Here's a bit of salt though: Matrices are more advanced algebra, I highly doubt that most people were teached those ever in their lifetime at one point or another

shevek · Nov 14, 2021

Wasn’t Panjabell the far god CG! Are they the benefactors and where did the mega ships they build go?

shizy · Nov 14, 2021

Interesting timing of things in Panjabell.

July 22nd: Initiative to help Far God Cult prep new ships (Testament, Perdition, Sacrosanct)
July 31st: Theta 7 headed to Panjabell
August 6th: The launch of the Testament, Perdition, Sacrosanct

Is it possible Theta 7 is hiding among the Far God cultists on one of the ships?

RetroPaladin · Nov 14, 2021

shizy said:
Is it possible Theta 7 is hiding among the Far God cultists on one of the ships?

99% likely

So the Far God cult is latent traitor and thargoid agents (or indoctrinated persons by thargoids, remember that forgotten base near barnacles)

earth-traveller · Nov 14, 2021

Where are those mega ships now ?

LCU No Fool Like One · Nov 14, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
CMDRs,

Apologies for the delayed explanation of how I deciphered this. I had to high-tail it to Panjabell to look for anything unusual. There is nothing apparent there, but I haven't searched exhaustively yet. Please feel free to join in the hunt at Panjabell.

Like many, I tried a number of techniques to no avail until I stumbled upon the right one. The key was indeed the fake traffic logs. Using the incrementing Type-7 numbers to determine order, the other ship types spelled out a 7x7 matrix, namely:

0
0
1
2
1
1
2
0
2
1
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
2
3
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
2
0

Assuming this to be the key, I arranged the numerical ciphertext provided in the Galnet article into a matrix 7 columns by 24 rows. I then multiplied it by the inverse of the key above. The result yielded a reasonable number of unique values, 27 (with 30 being an outlier). To me, this appeared to be the alphabet (single case) plus a space. I started with 1=A, 2=B, etc. I set the remaining values after Z to space. This deciphered to the message I posted, to my surprise.

Good luck recreating my results. I used Excel for all of this. Good luck to us all in tracking down Theta 7 from here, and I'll see you in the black!

o7,
CMDR Therion Cygni

Thanks for the explanation I was scratching my head at first as I'm not really familiar with matrices then when I twigged what you were saying I was able to pull it all together

I put your solution in a google sheet so others can see how it is done.

Theta 7 Crypto

docs.google.com

The formula for multiplying the matrices is so simple!

=mmult(A2:G25,minverse(A28:G34))

Jmanis · Nov 14, 2021

LCU No Fool Like One said:
Thanks for the explanation I was scratching my head at first as I'm not really familiar with matrices then when I twigged what you were saying I was able to pull it all together

I put your solution in a google sheet so others can see how it is done.

Theta 7 Crypto

docs.google.com

The formula for multiplying the matrices is so simple!

=mmult(A2:G25,minverse(A28:G34))

Yeah, matrix calculations from basic principles are complex. But thanks to computers, it's no harder than A * B, so you don't really need any of that knowledge.

The hard part (or at least, apparently hard part XD) was just arranging the numbers correctly.

CMDR Zenard Elenthalyn · Nov 15, 2021

CMDR Therion Cygni said:
CMDRs,

Apologies for the delayed explanation of how I deciphered this. I had to high-tail it to Panjabell to look for anything unusual. There is nothing apparent there, but I haven't searched exhaustively yet. Please feel free to join in the hunt at Panjabell.

Like many, I tried a number of techniques to no avail until I stumbled upon the right one. The key was indeed the fake traffic logs. Using the incrementing Type-7 numbers to determine order, the other ship types spelled out a 7x7 matrix, namely:

0
0
1
2
1
1
2
0
2
1
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
2
3
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
2
0

Assuming this to be the key, I arranged the numerical ciphertext provided in the Galnet article into a matrix 7 columns by 24 rows. I then multiplied it by the inverse of the key above. The result yielded a reasonable number of unique values, 27 (with 30 being an outlier). To me, this appeared to be the alphabet (single case) plus a space. I started with 1=A, 2=B, etc. I set the remaining values after Z to space. This deciphered to the message I posted, to my surprise.

Good luck recreating my results. I used Excel for all of this. Good luck to us all in tracking down Theta 7 from here, and I'll see you in the black!

o7,
CMDR Therion Cygni

Good one commander! Congratulations! I hope this criminal gets caught before killing more innocents.

MyMumIsAstronaut · Nov 15, 2021

Simple Python script for people interested:

Theta 7 decryption - Pastebin.com

Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time.

pastebin.com

earth-traveller · Nov 15, 2021

So far in the system nothing out of the ordinary.

CMDR Erumaron · Nov 15, 2021

Congrats! I wish I had known about matrix math before I spent 7 hours on excel spreadsheets. I'm not bitter.

Yumasai · Nov 15, 2021

@CMDR Therion Cygni

Congratulations. Now let's find the man and bring him to justice for his actions against the Imperial Dynasty!

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27

8	1	22	5	27	1	18
18	9	22	5	4	27	1
20	27	16	1	14	10	1
2	5	12	12	27	27	23
5	1	16	15	14	19	27
18	5	13	1	9	14	27
19	5	3	21	18	5	27
27	9	27	14	15	27	12
15	14	7	5	18	27	20
18	21	19	20	27	15	21
18	27	2	5	14	5	6
1	3	20	15	18	19	27
15	18	27	20	8	5	9
18	27	14	5	20	23	15
18	11	30	27	23	5	27
23	9	12	12	27	2	5
3	15	13	5	27	9	14
22	9	19	9	2	12	5
27	21	14	20	9	12	27
20	8	5	27	20	9	13
5	27	9	19	27	18	9
7	8	20	27	20	15	27
19	20	18	9	11	5	27
1	7	1	9	14	27	27