UAs, Barnacles and other mysteries Thread 8 - The Canonn

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rizal72

rizal72
Nagual said:
Facts:

Unknown entities:

Artefact.
Currently found in 'the shell' around Merope system. They appear to point to Merope. When Artefacts are in Merope they appear to point to the main star.
They emit a signal that contains a vector picture of a ship (not sure what happens if more than one ship are equal distance from it and arrive at same time - probably not relevant) - The picture / transmission is the purpose of the Artefact (as per FDev comments) When sold in 'large numbers' to stations, the stations suffer numerous system failures.

Probe.
Currently found with in Ross 47 and G 99-49 systems, found in USS. Carried by Military Transport, python. Python has chatter about testing. Probe seems to point towards Merope. When in Merope system it appears to point to Merope 5 c. When scanned with an Advanced Discovery Scanner, the probe emits a signal that disables some ship systems (if that ship is too close / close enough). Spectral analysis of the signal reveals an image. Testing in various locations so far has not changed the image.

Both the artefact and probe look similar and sound similar. They both have a visual distortion around them, and have 'sparkles of light around them. They also both flash / pulse with light while emitting the noise / signal.

Both the probe and artefact may or may not come from the same location and or species which is currently unknown.

Barnacles.
Found on planets within nebulae. They emit a noise, which as of yet has no determinable meaning. They also have sparkles of light around them. They have meta-alloys (and now materials) in the spikes which can be harvested.
Meta-Alloys can be sold to stations. If sold to stations suffering malfunctions due to Unknown Artefacts being sold there, the stations can repair themselves somehow.
They can be scanned with a SRV and the collected data can be sold.



Possible clue(s)

Newsletter refers to it possibly being 'a key'. Fdev have not yet denied this is a clue.
Chatter refers to NHE-17 and just NHE. (possible meaning - Non Human Entity)
Chatter refers to orbital testing.
Tip Off Missions reveal messages which infer being attacked by unknown craft, or encountering something highly unusual. So far these have been located in various locations within the human bubble. Reports can include reference to lights / noise [Thanks Alec Turner for reminding me]
Jaques Station had reported numerous problems while in witch space.

Possible hypotheses:

If it is a key, what sort of key? A physical key, a map key, a data key? Possibly others. A key does not usually change shape because it would then not fit the lock it was designed for. A map key would imply there is a map where these symbols / glyphs / images can be seen. A data key implies that the information contained within the image can be uses for decrypting some form of data (sound/light/writing/etc).


If it is a 'report' of something it has scanned, what use is it? A report may contain items of data like 'current location' 'findings' etc. Since the image doesn't change when the probe is scanned in different locations 'current location' may not be included. If 'current location' isn't included why not? Perhaps the probe only reports to ships near it, thus current location is not needed. Or it only transmits a different image when it 'finds' something it's programmed to look for, if anything.


Possible actions.


Continue to look for Rocking Horse Poop, sorry, Unknown Probes.
Take probes to various locations either selected randomly or with specific goals in mind and scan them. Note and record results if possible, with screenshots and or video/audio records.

Attempt to find a map with these symbols on it. Then decipher the map. And the key.

Attempt to find some kind of encoded information that can be unlocked with the image or the audio.

Attempt to decode flashing lights.

Attempt to decode the glyphs in the image in the hope they are co-ordinates to something else.

Sell lots of Unknown Probes to stations to see what happens.

------------------

I haven't got a clue how to proceed in a logical manner from this point without any further data. This isn't meant to be a post about "hey this is all true and we must do this" it's more, here we are, these are my musings. Please feel free to add, disagree, or ignore me ;)
Click to expand...

This is going straight to the FrontPage, FAQ section.

Could you please edit it, specifying that the UP reacts to each of the three types of scanners, not just the Advanced?


Thanks!
 
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Keybuk

Keybuk
smargh said:
Any codes would be most likely octal, not our human base10.
Click to expand...

Any particular reason?

My assumption here is that the -|-, -||, |--, and |-- in the message are binary numerals (base2). If they are, it stands to reason that binary would be used elsewhere in the puzzle. And if the numbers correspond to a co-ordinate system described by the image, you'd need 9-bits to go from 0-360 if you assume degrees for angles.

Though I have no clue what unit the radius would be, assuming that's what the quadrant I'm assuming is the first, means ;-)
 

Nagual

Nagual
Keybuk said:
Any particular reason?

My assumption here is that the -|-, -||, |--, and |-- in the message are binary numerals (base2). If they are, it stands to reason that binary would be used elsewhere in the puzzle. And if the numbers correspond to a co-ordinate system described by the image, you'd need 9-bits to go from 0-360 if you assume degrees for angles.

Though I have no clue what unit the radius would be, assuming that's what the quadrant I'm assuming is the first, means ;-)
Click to expand...


Maybe they are counting in Troll language. One, two, many. So it's really base 3... [internet points for those who get the reference.]
 

Jorki Rasalas

Jorki Rasalas
Colonel Kenney said:
Twas me I'll post his replies once I find them

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Summary of new clues from MB
---
The message has a specific purpose, and a very different one to the UA.
---
The pointing is deliberate, but also for a different reason to the UA.
---
The transmission from the UA is its purpose.
---
The UP has a different purpose.
---
That's a testable theory.

(So that means the information in the UP about the planet in the sound is NOT merope it is from a nearby planet probably in the UA range. Its just the wording the U P is the PROBE which is something you'd think would be the thing looking since its a probe.. the artifact who knows what it is. Maybe it is the more advanced of the 2?)

I was rambling too because I was working and noticed his reply hit the feed and tried to get something out there as soon as I could since I knew he was watching the thread at that time.

The gist of what I was asking and saying that maybe the PROBE is a PROBE and should be looking elsewhere within the UA bubble not at Merope. I think he said we should test that.

Then I meant that Maybe the UA is still more advanced than the UP. Maybe he meant to test that?
Click to expand...


As is so often the case with this thread, what has been said is being mangled and the meaning changed. I have gone back through the recent MB conversations & pulled them out to clarify. I have cut out some carriage returns etc to save a little space, & separated out upfront a response to Cmdr Ash which, whilst interesting, is not relevant to the UA/UP mystery nor the timeline of this conversation. In a couple of cases I have repeated MBs response to show which comment he was responding to. Hopefully by collating these comments the meaning will be clearer.

@RIZAL Perhaps before he goes off on his Tuscan retreat Riz would be so kind as to paste this on the front page so we have an accessible record.

MB recent conversations:


Ash 09:53, #644, "I'm curious as to how you guys come up with these great ideas for puzzles and story, is it just you working it all out in a super secret dark room? or do you have a team of awesome puzzle masters? Also, (if your allowed to say) how long did it take for you to come up with this particular puzzle?"
MB 10:42, #668, "It's a mixture, in this instance I set the basic idea (based on the story arc developed with David and the design/writing team) and audio ran with it."


Cynaqq 25/7 19:42, #427, "I think we should approach this as 'designed to be understandable'. I know we don't seem to have enough information (certainly a lot less than the Evpatoria message) but this can also mean the actual information and the content of the message is that much simpler. What I'm trying to say is, we have to set some ground rules as to what to look for which could define a purpose. FD designed this to be a puzzle or easter egg for the game but if we stop metagaming for a second, someone or something designed this as a message to be understood by some other one. No other way around it. Why would a sentient being send out a message for the purpose of being cryptic, unless they are deeply religious? I'm maintaining this two options:
1- The message is pretty straightforward and we are overcomplicating things (step by step approach with a defined methodology will lead to solution).
2- There's nothing to be solved and this is just a cool tidbit (we'll see what the meaning of this all is when they tell us).
It's obvious which one is more fun and I hope FD didn't go for the other."
MB 09:50 #643, "The message has a specific purpose, and a very different one to the UA."


Kaltern 10:08 #650, "So it isn't pointing at a star system? Interesting."
MB 10:43, #669, "THe pointing is deliberate, but also for a different reason to the UA."


MB 09:50 #643, MB "The message has a specific purpose, and a very different one to the UA."
Slartybartfast 26/7 11:52, #724, "so there is something else in the UA transmissions then, that HAVE a purpose other than just drawing pictures."
MB 26/7 12:26, #751, "The transmission from the UA is its purpose."
iFred 26/7 12:30, #759, "UA, not UP, right?"
MB 26/7 12:57, #787, "UA yes - the UP has a different purpose."


MB 26/7 12:26, #751, "The transmission from the UA is its purpose."
Colonel Kenney 26/7 13:42, #846, "So that means the information in the UP about the planet in the sound is NOT merope it is from a nearby planet probably in the UA range. Its just the wording the UP is the PROBE which is something you'd think would be the thing looking since its a probe.. the artifact who knows what it is. Maybe it is the more advanced of the 2?"
MB 26/7 13:55, #862 "That's a testable theory"

Looking at this sequence of questions & responses to me it is clear that MB has NOT refuted the hypothesis that UP points to Merope5C, NOR did he indicate in any way that the UP sonogram is unrelated to any body in Merope, and has NOT said UPs would be found outside Merope system. Some people seem to have leapt to conclusions. What he DID say was that the hypothesis that 'it' is the more advanced of the 2 is a testable theory, however it is then NOT clear which of the 2 (i.e. UA or UP) is supposed to be the more advanced, because the question ran on from a separate question which just made the paragraph confusing. Hence MB's "that is a testable theory" could also be intended to apply to "the information in the UP about the planet in the sound is NOT merope" OR (slightly paraphrasing) "the PROBE is looking for something". Actually MB did not even confirm that the circle in the sonogram represented a planet, never mind that it was or wasn't merope5C.

It strikes me MB is extremely clever and precise with his use of language.. If we must ask him questions (he doesn't respond to requests for clues), then we need to be very specific in what we ask -single sentences without any ambiguity in the question.
 

RED D2 PACCA

RED D2 PACCA
Allant Doran said:
Agreed. This stuff will be figured out eventually. A lot of people only popped in when the UA was first discovered and then later when Barnacles were thought (and later found) to be a thing.
There is nothing wrong with the complexity of this puzzle. People just don't realise how much hard work has gone into the previous steps.
Click to expand...

I am one of these sinners, I can't keep up and can't think of anything useful to input so I hang around for the ride, test some stuff other people have posted and just wait!!.. This ones going to be good tho!.. Lol
 

rizal72

rizal72
Nagual said:
Facts:

Unknown entities:

Artefact.
Currently found in 'the shell' around Merope system. They appear to point to Merope. When Artefacts are in Merope they appear to point to the main star.
They emit a signal that contains a vector picture of a ship (not sure what happens if more than one ship are equal distance from it and arrive at same time - probably not relevant) - The picture / transmission is the purpose of the Artefact (as per FDev comments) When sold in 'large numbers' to stations, the stations suffer numerous system failures.

Probe.
Currently found with in Ross 47 and G 99-49 systems, found in USS. Carried by Military Transport, python. Python has chatter about testing. Probe seems to point towards Merope. When in Merope system it appears to point to Merope 5 c. When scanned with an Advanced Discovery Scanner, the probe emits a signal that disables some ship systems (if that ship is too close / close enough). Spectral analysis of the signal reveals an image. Testing in various locations so far has not changed the image.

Both the artefact and probe look similar and sound similar. They both have a visual distortion around them, and have 'sparkles of light around them. They also both flash / pulse with light while emitting the noise / signal.

Both the probe and artefact may or may not come from the same location and or species which is currently unknown.

Barnacles.
Found on planets within nebulae. They emit a noise, which as of yet has no determinable meaning. They also have sparkles of light around them. They have meta-alloys (and now materials) in the spikes which can be harvested.
Meta-Alloys can be sold to stations. If sold to stations suffering malfunctions due to Unknown Artefacts being sold there, the stations can repair themselves somehow.
They can be scanned with a SRV and the collected data can be sold.



Possible clue(s)

Newsletter refers to it possibly being 'a key'. Fdev have not yet denied this is a clue.
Chatter refers to NHE-17 and just NHE. (possible meaning - Non Human Entity)
Chatter refers to orbital testing.
Tip Off Missions reveal messages which infer being attacked by unknown craft, or encountering something highly unusual. So far these have been located in various locations within the human bubble. Reports can include reference to lights / noise [Thanks Alec Turner for reminding me]
Jaques Station had reported numerous problems while in witch space.

Possible hypotheses:

If it is a key, what sort of key? A physical key, a map key, a data key? Possibly others. A key does not usually change shape because it would then not fit the lock it was designed for. A map key would imply there is a map where these symbols / glyphs / images can be seen. A data key implies that the information contained within the image can be uses for decrypting some form of data (sound/light/writing/etc).


If it is a 'report' of something it has scanned, what use is it? A report may contain items of data like 'current location' 'findings' etc. Since the image doesn't change when the probe is scanned in different locations 'current location' may not be included. If 'current location' isn't included why not? Perhaps the probe only reports to ships near it, thus current location is not needed. Or it only transmits a different image when it 'finds' something it's programmed to look for, if anything.


Possible actions.


Continue to look for Rocking Horse Poop, sorry, Unknown Probes.
Take probes to various locations either selected randomly or with specific goals in mind and scan them. Note and record results if possible, with screenshots and or video/audio records.

Attempt to find a map with these symbols on it. Then decipher the map. And the key.

Attempt to find some kind of encoded information that can be unlocked with the image or the audio.

Attempt to decode flashing lights.

Attempt to decode the glyphs in the image in the hope they are co-ordinates to something else.

Sell lots of Unknown Probes to stations to see what happens.

------------------

I haven't got a clue how to proceed in a logical manner from this point without any further data. This isn't meant to be a post about "hey this is all true and we must do this" it's more, here we are, these are my musings. Please feel free to add, disagree, or ignore me ;)
Click to expand...

As I'm linking it on the frontpage, Could you please just edit it, specifying that the UP reacts to each of the three types of scanners, not just the Advanced?
Also specifying that the shell is between 135-150ly from Merope could be useful ;)


Thanks!
 

Erid

Erid
some unusual coincidence in my calculations...
tell me plz what system is in (-112,6; -438,5; -198,0)

and on line from -117,4; -452,4; -204,8
to
-123,3; -469,5; -213,2
 
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Allant Doran

Allant Doran
RED D2 PACCA said:
I am one of these sinners, I can't keep up and can't think of anything useful to input so I hang around for the ride, test some stuff other people have posted and just wait!!.. This ones going to be good tho!.. Lol
Click to expand...

To be honest that's mostly me too. I'm not the best at this kind of stuff so I just support people where I can and try to put forward some interesting observations.
 

rizal72

rizal72
Jorki Rasalas said:
As is so often the case with this thread, what has been said is being mangled and the meaning changed. I have gone back through the recent MB conversations & pulled them out to clarify. I have cut out some carriage returns etc to save a little space, & separated out upfront a response to Cmdr Ash which, whilst interesting, is not relevant to the UA/UP mystery nor the timeline of this conversation. In a couple of cases I have repeated MBs response to show which comment he was responding to. Hopefully by collating these comments the meaning will be clearer.

@RIZAL Perhaps before he goes off on his Tuscan retreat Riz would be so kind as to paste this on the front page so we have an accessible record.

MB recent conversations:


Ash 09:53, #644, "I'm curious as to how you guys come up with these great ideas for puzzles and story, is it just you working it all out in a super secret dark room? or do you have a team of awesome puzzle masters? Also, (if your allowed to say) how long did it take for you to come up with this particular puzzle?"
MB 10:42, #668, "It's a mixture, in this instance I set the basic idea (based on the story arc developed with David and the design/writing team) and audio ran with it."


Cynaqq 25/7 19:42, #427, "I think we should approach this as 'designed to be understandable'. I know we don't seem to have enough information (certainly a lot less than the Evpatoria message) but this can also mean the actual information and the content of the message is that much simpler. What I'm trying to say is, we have to set some ground rules as to what to look for which could define a purpose. FD designed this to be a puzzle or easter egg for the game but if we stop metagaming for a second, someone or something designed this as a message to be understood by some other one. No other way around it. Why would a sentient being send out a message for the purpose of being cryptic, unless they are deeply religious? I'm maintaining this two options:
1- The message is pretty straightforward and we are overcomplicating things (step by step approach with a defined methodology will lead to solution).
2- There's nothing to be solved and this is just a cool tidbit (we'll see what the meaning of this all is when they tell us).
It's obvious which one is more fun and I hope FD didn't go for the other."
MB 09:50 #643, "The message has a specific purpose, and a very different one to the UA."


Kaltern 10:08 #650, "So it isn't pointing at a star system? Interesting."
MB 10:43, #669, "THe pointing is deliberate, but also for a different reason to the UA."


MB 09:50 #643, MB "The message has a specific purpose, and a very different one to the UA."
Slartybartfast 26/7 11:52, #724, "so there is something else in the UA transmissions then, that HAVE a purpose other than just drawing pictures."
MB 26/7 12:26, #751, "The transmission from the UA is its purpose."
iFred 26/7 12:30, #759, "UA, not UP, right?"
MB 26/7 12:57, #787, "UA yes - the UP has a different purpose."


MB 26/7 12:26, #751, "The transmission from the UA is its purpose."
Colonel Kenney 26/7 13:42, #846, "So that means the information in the UP about the planet in the sound is NOT merope it is from a nearby planet probably in the UA range. Its just the wording the UP is the PROBE which is something you'd think would be the thing looking since its a probe.. the artifact who knows what it is. Maybe it is the more advanced of the 2?"
MB 26/7 13:55, #862 "That's a testable theory"

Looking at this sequence of questions & responses to me it is clear that MB has NOT refuted the hypothesis that UP points to Merope5C, NOR did he indicate in any way that the UP sonogram is unrelated to any body in Merope, and has NOT said UPs would be found outside Merope system. Some people seem to have leapt to conclusions. What he DID say was that the hypothesis that 'it' is the more advanced of the 2 is a testable theory, however it is then NOT clear which of the 2 (i.e. UA or UP) is supposed to be the more advanced, because the question ran on from a separate question which just made the paragraph confusing. Hence MB's "that is a testable theory" could also be intended to apply to "the information in the UP about the planet in the sound is NOT merope" OR (slightly paraphrasing) "the PROBE is looking for something". Actually MB did not even confirm that the circle in the sonogram represented a planet, never mind that it was or wasn't merope5C.

It strikes me MB is extremely clever and precise with his use of language.. If we must ask him questions (he doesn't respond to requests for clues), then we need to be very specific in what we ask -single sentences without any ambiguity in the question.
Click to expand...

All MB comments are already on the FP in the correct order, since months ;)
 

Nagual

Nagual
rizal72 said:
As I'm linking it on the frontpage, Could you please just edit it, specifying that the UP reacts to each of the three types of scanners, not just the Advanced?
Also specifying that the shell is between 135-150ly from Merope could be useful ;)


Thanks!
Click to expand...

Cheers Riz, I had actually missed the other scanners bit myself. So thanks for pointing that out. I was originally going to have the shell distance in, but my mind went blank and forgot to check. D'oh.

And done.
 

Lordxenu

Lordxenu
Im working on the theory that the UA is searching for a crashed ship and the probes are a surface map showing exactly where to look.

the purpose of the UA is to search for ships and transmit back the ship image and the planet they have surveyed. So I'm wondering (I havent seen this been done but it doesn't mean it hasn't) has anyone decoded the UA Morse when next to a UP and / or after it has been EMP's by a probe?

My thinking being that when in the presence of a UP the UA transmits the name of the system that the crashed ship is located at we could then figure out where to go from there.

Note - this is all based on several rolls of tinfoil and I defend the right to claim space madness for any ridiculous statement I have or will say.
 

Nagual

Nagual
Lordxenu said:
Im working on the theory that the UA is searching for a crashed ship and the probes are a surface map showing exactly where to look.

the purpose of the UA is to search for ships and transmit back the ship image and the planet they have surveyed. So I'm wondering (I havent seen this been done but it doesn't mean it hasn't) has anyone decoded the UA Morse when next to a UP and / or after it has been EMP's by a probe?

My thinking being that when in the presence of a UP the UA transmits the name of the system that the crashed ship is located at we could then figure out where to go from there.

Note - this is all based on several rolls of tinfoil and I defend the right to claim space madness for any ridiculous statement I have or will say.
Click to expand...

Do you mean - scan the Unknown Probe while a Unknown Artefact is in space near it, then record the Artefact to see if it's different ?
 

Lordxenu

Lordxenu
Nagual said:
Do you mean - scan the Unknown Probe while a Unknown Artefact is in space near it, then record the Artefact to see if it's different ?
Click to expand...


Thats right the reason being that we already know the morse in the UA changes in different situations (pre and post ship scan) or at least we know it used to be the planet name and changed to ship co-ordinates so maybe it will tell us where to go.

Perhaps the UA's have found the crashed ship and the probes are ready to go find it so - decode the UA morse, take the probe to the right planet then the probe shows us the rest of the picture.

Edit: I did find a youtube vid of them both together but it was filmed in ship and I could only really hear engines and proximity warnings that and my massive lack of ability to decode morse held me back.
 
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Jorki Rasalas

Jorki Rasalas
mach10 said:
For the UAs, yes the transmission was its purpose. Its purpose was to actively scan objects extrapolate a triangle mesh and report it back to Merope, searching for something (fulfills MB quote of different reason, transmission was the purpose, pointing back to different location for a different reason). The shell is a great example of a search ever expanding from its center point of Merope. Point back at Merope when nudged to reorient to source and stay on course. After the something was found, probes were sent to deliver a message, from triangle mesh to spectrogram sure seems more advanced (fulfills MB quote hints).

UPs purpose was to the deliver the message, provide a map and point of origination (pointing to Merope system for a different reason). Using the point of origination you can find the next piece of the puzzle. Both items related but not part of the same puzzle, also fulfills hints.

The image (map) provided isn't of a resolution to determine angles or math. It is a pictograph of where to start and end. The center image is of Merope's center star, lower right from origin goto center of system (star), top right is 2nd planet from star center, top left is 3rd orbiting body.. but I'm having trouble with the lower left. I'm thinking either something impacting or leaving.
Click to expand...

I think you are on the right lines. We dont know the reason yet for UAs pointing to Merope star & UPs pointing to 5C, but the specificity of that 5C pointing suggests to me that is the significant body. However if the sonogram symbols lead to anything it should be within Merope. Whether that something launched the UAs &/or UPs is yet TBD, as is the intended recipient(s) of the UA & UP messages-could be two different parties, one of which may or may not be humanity.
 
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