∝Transmission 015: The Battle of Wits: Part 1
[the pleasant, mechanical three-note chime rings out before DIVA appears on the Sphere Network.]
Attention all non-commissioned and field-enlisted personnel. This is DIVA with a status update. All traces of the "Mimicking Invasive Suppressive And Observation", or MISAO, virus installed when the anomaly merged the fleet's ships together have been eradicated and all databanks updated. During the process, a second message with the same signature from the First was found in a sector of my memory. Admiral Ganymede has been briefed on the contents of the message and has given his approval for a fleet-wide broadcast. The message reads as follows:
That is-- [there is a single chime that interrupts DIVA before she signs off, her expression one of vague surprise] We are receiving an incoming transmission from a people calling themselves 'the Cedirra'. Admiral Ganymede has approved this broadcast as well. Please attend with caution.
[the image of DIVA is replaced with the face of another woman, a slight smirk on her face. her dark hair is pulled up into a hasty pony-tail, several piercings adorning her ears, but other than that, there isn't anything too remarkable about her, not for a woman of her stature. she looks to be in her early-thirties and isn't too pretty; only parts of her are.]
Hey, Alliance clowns! Sorry to say, but you've wandered into our territory--but oh, where are my manners? I'm Captain Gemma S. Maris of the Cedirra. They call me "The Brilliant One in the Sky", and yes, I think I am. Looks like it's our turn to play with you for a while! We saw what you did against those other anti-Alliance fellas. [she sneers at the end of that sentence, her nose wrinkling like she's smelled something extremely unpleasant] Heh, uncouth sons of--never mind. Looks like you panicked them enough to use that kamikaze trick of theirs. I suppose you did us a favor taking them out the way you did.
But we're going to try something a bit different than those heathen snakes. We're going to play an ancient Terran game known as "Hide and Seek". We'll hide, and you'll seek--except we're going to add a twist to this. We're not going to make it so easy to find us, though. No sirree! We're sending along a couple of clues that should lead you to our chosen location for this battle, but keep your blasters and lasers to yourselves! This isn't that kind of battle.
However, if you fail to meet us... [her expression becomes dark, her eyes narrowing] I won't be held responsible for my actions. [her expression changes returns to what it was before] Just kidding! ...Or am I? You've got a single Terran week to get here and you'd better get a move on. The clock's ticking. I look forward to enjoying a glass of wine with you, Orion--if you're man enough to meet me in person, that is. [she laughs and cuts the transmission]
DETAILS
Attention all non-commissioned and field-enlisted personnel. This is DIVA with a status update. All traces of the "Mimicking Invasive Suppressive And Observation", or MISAO, virus installed when the anomaly merged the fleet's ships together have been eradicated and all databanks updated. During the process, a second message with the same signature from the First was found in a sector of my memory. Admiral Ganymede has been briefed on the contents of the message and has given his approval for a fleet-wide broadcast. The message reads as follows:
- "Thank you so very kindly, Admiral and crew of the Alliance fleet. We enjoyed our time with you. Really got to...know you. Saw how you all...tick.
Do not, however, think you have seen the last of us. This has only been the beginning! We have...many fun things in store for you. Enjoy your peace while you can."
That is-- [there is a single chime that interrupts DIVA before she signs off, her expression one of vague surprise] We are receiving an incoming transmission from a people calling themselves 'the Cedirra'. Admiral Ganymede has approved this broadcast as well. Please attend with caution.
[the image of DIVA is replaced with the face of another woman, a slight smirk on her face. her dark hair is pulled up into a hasty pony-tail, several piercings adorning her ears, but other than that, there isn't anything too remarkable about her, not for a woman of her stature. she looks to be in her early-thirties and isn't too pretty; only parts of her are.]
Hey, Alliance clowns! Sorry to say, but you've wandered into our territory--but oh, where are my manners? I'm Captain Gemma S. Maris of the Cedirra. They call me "The Brilliant One in the Sky", and yes, I think I am. Looks like it's our turn to play with you for a while! We saw what you did against those other anti-Alliance fellas. [she sneers at the end of that sentence, her nose wrinkling like she's smelled something extremely unpleasant] Heh, uncouth sons of--never mind. Looks like you panicked them enough to use that kamikaze trick of theirs. I suppose you did us a favor taking them out the way you did.
But we're going to try something a bit different than those heathen snakes. We're going to play an ancient Terran game known as "Hide and Seek". We'll hide, and you'll seek--except we're going to add a twist to this. We're not going to make it so easy to find us, though. No sirree! We're sending along a couple of clues that should lead you to our chosen location for this battle, but keep your blasters and lasers to yourselves! This isn't that kind of battle.
However, if you fail to meet us... [her expression becomes dark, her eyes narrowing] I won't be held responsible for my actions. [her expression changes returns to what it was before] Just kidding! ...Or am I? You've got a single Terran week to get here and you'd better get a move on. The clock's ticking. I look forward to enjoying a glass of wine with you, Orion--if you're man enough to meet me in person, that is. [she laughs and cuts the transmission]
DETAILS
- As of right now, everyone's senses should be back to normal! Or so you would think. With your senses being completely out of whack all week and coming back so suddenly, you'll find that the senses you were lacking have returned but are now hypersensitive. Meaning that if you couldn't see, you'll be sensitive to even the slightest of lights; if you couldn't hear, loud noises will definitely hurt your ears; if you couldn't speak, you'll find you can't control the volume of your voice; if you couldn't feel, you'll be hypersensitive to temperature changes. Your senses of taste and smell, too, will make things taste/smell stronger than normal, and therefore meals have the potential to taste absolutely fantastic--or extremely awful. Of course, all the effects will fade after a few days until your body becomes accustomed to the senses again, then you'll be back to normal!
- A recording of the transmission from Maris (isn't she kind?)
- The clue, with the words "Ancient Terra is a good place to seek for this too! ", written just above it:
- "Uz ftq oqxqefumx tqmhqzxk napuqe, tqmp fa itqdq ftq zanxq, oagdmsqage iuzsqp tgzfqde eamd mnagf ftq buxxmde."
- Note that you, and your character, can use any resource to do research. The databases of the Hawking are quite extensive and any data, especially of the sort pertaining to mythology on old Terra, or good ol' Sol 3 as some may know her, can help! There are three types of mythologies alluded to in the above, but only one that could lead you to the number you need to solve the coded message.
- On that note, the clue has to be solved in rounds. If you don't solve it in the correct order, unfortunately, it won't make any sense. First, look around at the hints in the IC portion of the post and try to discover the number associated with the hint. Use the number to unscramble the message, and once you've done that, it will lead you to a location in space. We are looking for one place in particular.
While you're waiting for those senses to settle down once more, though, you'll have the chance to figure out those clues from Captain Maris and the Cedirra. With their appearance, we're launching into a month-long plot, and will have to temporarily close applications in about two weeks time. (But don't worry, they'll open again once the plot has reached its conclusion.)
We've left several hints throughout this entry that can help you figure out the solution to the clues, but be careful...some are red herrings! Or some you might not be using in the correct order... For you Crucible veterans, you may remember a similar plot, but like Captain Maris said, we're trying things differently this time around. Characters will each receive the following in their Spheres:
Characters can work together in order to solve the puzzle! When you think you have a solution, put [HIDDEN MESSAGE] into the subject line of your entry so we know what entry to watch.
However. Unlike the last quick-time, we are, unfortunately, going to keep you thinking all week until the next mod post has been put up. So if more than one person gets it right? Terrific! It'll show to the Admiral and the Commanders that the otherworlders are thinking along the same lines as they are, and therefore show to them that the mystery location is the best place to go.
If players are struggling with this one, Jchan and Toph will post during the weekend with the Doctor and Sally, respectively, to give players the right amount of guidance and additional hints in order to solve things!
As always, if you have any questions, please don't be afraid to ask them here or email the mod email (gauntletmods @ gmail .com)! Good luck solving the puzzle!
EDIT: I did try to clarify things a bit in the instructions so hopefully it will be a bit easier to understand what we want.
EDIT 2: I am so, so sorry. I didn't notice there were typos in the coded message I gave, but I've put the fixed one up, so please use the corrected one. Again, I apologize!