@abel.navigator

[adsero]

Hello everyone,

Unless I’ve missed something in the past hour or so, it seems like our network hasn’t been compromised by whatever has caused this massive security failure. I have at least five messages in my inbox that I’m certain aren’t for me, but everything seems clean here.

I think, as the group of people with the (apparently) only properly functioning network (and various talents, in a manner of speaking), we’re obligated to use it to organize ourselves and assist. The entire city is facing more problems as a result of this breach than I’ve ever seen before from one event. If you’re not particularly interested in helping those that could be trapped in cars or victims of accidents right now, consider that the external temperature has been rising. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m personally certain that once it gets around 55C I’m going to start dying.

The network has apparently been used before to coordinate teams of Displaced, let everyone know what’s needed and who to meet with, and I suggest we do it again. I’ll keep an eye on this and provide hotlinks to pertinent discussions, so anyone with particular skills or interests can volunteer themselves.

Stay safe everyone. Don’t spend too much time in the heat without decent protection, you can only help so much if you pass out in the middle of it.

Comments

@margaret.carter

[revlon]

[ She's been in and out of this conversation with the nightmare unfolding with her job in government, but she's pleased to come back to this. ]

Well, if this DAWN was truly looking to be poetic, they missed the chance to use a Caesar's cipher, didn't they?

[ But on to the matter at hand. ]

This is excellent work. If we're working off the pattern of things coming in threes, in conjunction with the message being addressed to us in particular, I wonder if the intent is less political and more a question or challenge being posed to us.

Three catastrophic events have happened since the first transport of Displaced arrived in New Amsterdam: the monster in June, the blizzard née monster in New Tokyo (and the shift in reality due to the "dreams") in October, and now this. Caesar declined the crown thrice but the Displaced helped in these disasters each time. Does DAWN feel we haven't done enough?

@goro.akechi

[impede]

What if they didn't use a Caesar's cipher for a reason?

@vee.blake

[verselet]

An easy cipher so that we may all read it, you mean.

[ex_dictator317]

Could be.
But it's just as likely to be symbolic.

Caesar's cipher was used to coordinate with his generals. Whoever DAWN is, they don't see themselves as the Casear of this world.

@loki.odinson

[selfimage]

Then who's the alternative?

[ex_dictator317]

Maybe they think of themselves as the Senate.
Power was taken from them, and now they want it back at whatever cost.

[selfimage]

Perhaps, but it's not as if we're missing the meaning, but the complete context.
Without that, we're left guessing.

[ex_dictator317]

Guessing is all we have right now — unless you have any better ideas.
People are working on trying to get into contact, but getting into contact doesn't mean they'll just hand us the answer to their riddle.

[selfimage]

Lucky for us, if we get into contact, the riddle will be the least of our concerns.

[verselet]

Perhaps, but then the question is this — why a cipher at all? If it’s a simple thing, meant to be unraveled with no symbolism behind it, we may be dealing with red herring.

[ex_dictator317]

It's not impossible.
The people here treat AI like they're the bogeyman.
If they were going to mask themselves as anyone, they'd choose what these people see as their biggest threat.
Easier to sow chaos and fear that way.

[verselet]

If that is strictly their only goal, then yes.

But it’s a message to us directly. The farce of an AI is a strange one in that sense. I simply feel that there is more to this than we’re truly discussing.

The mention of north, for example. Are we to head somewhere?

[ex_dictator317]

I never did have the patience for riddles.

North could mean North America.
There was a message sent to me earlier. Something meant for Gill-Jade's eyes, not mine.

[ message.txt ]

Shot down by "unidentified assailants."
How much do you want to bet those assailants have something to do with DAWN?

[impede]

Farce or not, we are the ones who would be less frightened by the aspect of an AI. Perhaps even more believing that they could still exist. We have no way of knowing how impossible that is, or how possible it is.

[impede]

The "solution" is phrased as a question. I'd be willing to guess that that's where the answer lies.

[verselet]

Then we delve into the realm of Shakespeare, as seems to be the popular opinion according to this post. If there are bigger implications behind the name Mark Antony in this world, then we've yet to do the proper research to explain how.

As far as I'm aware, at least.

[He's still new, maybe someone's already got an idea?]

[impede]

Leave it to an AI to drop a game on us when we're least able to contextualize it.

As it is, I'm still very new, but the name doesn't ring any bells.

Unless it's commentary on us in some way. Speaking of absolute power.

[ex_dictator317]

You think this is their way of putting us through a trial to prove our worth?

It could be more. It could be a concentrated attack against the Displaced now that we're being toted as divine.
Just like Caesar was considered divine. Just like the monarchy thought they inherited the right to rule through God or Gods.

Maybe they think we're the ones trying to wear the crown, but if that's the case, I can't see why we're considered a greater enemy than the government and its anti-AI propaganda.

[revlon]

Elaborate field tests with us as the subjects of an equally elaborate experiment has been a theory bandied about a handful of times, yes. But it's just as possible this is an attack or some sort of punishment aimed at us with the entire city as collateral.

So we look to the rest of the message, not just the cipher, for clues as to why or how to make it right. If the answer is even contained in it at all. The quote was deliberate; we have to proceed as though everything else is, too.

@cassian.andor

[evasives]

Three chances to prove ourselves?

Perhaps all three were machinations meant as a test for us. Offering us a crown, seeing how we react, what we do. The impression I get of this story was that it was a demonstration.

Maybe it is asking if we know who is testing us.

[revlon]

Except in all three instances, including this one, our first instinct has been to help this world rather than turn away from it. Yet the message claims we're only "playing hero."

Who is testing us is certainly one question. So is what do they want, if what we've done thus far hasn't sufficed?

[evasives]

Perhaps it is a warning, that there is more out there for us to face than these disasters. The message also told us we need to open our eyes. We are "playing hero" in these tests, but what will be do when faced with something greater?

I think it is difficult to tell whether or not this DAWN is against us or on our side, and the truth of that would dictate the tone of the message.

[revlon]

Something greater than the continent possibly burning to a crisp? I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Difficult to say. Can an AI, if that's what this is, truly take sides?

[evasives]

So do not think about it, yet.

I imagine it would depend on their programming. Is it capable of evolving so that the choice is their own and not the person who decided so? I am afraid I do not know much about the former AI of this planet, but this gives me incentive to look.

[revlon]

AI is a technology far beyond the stuff of my time. Hell, machines (robots?) that talk are beyond my time, let alone machines that can think for themselves.