one ▐ video

[tomemyoutliers]

( the face that appears on the screen is open and friendly - framed by blonde hair. dressed in a blue and red outfit, it serves to put one in mind of a police force or military without obviously being a member of such.

rather than broadcasting from the terminal located in one's assigned quarters, the background is clearly a cafe in metal. )

Who must I talk to in order to place a complaint about these devices? ( a tap of a finger against the screen for extra emphasis. ) Not only are they extremely unintuitive, they're also impossible to modify. I could make so many improvements if they would stop melting every time I opened them up.

( how many terminals has shockwave gone through? it's probably best not to ask. )

My name is Shockwave, and I have a request for those of you with a talent for technology. Included is an attachment with different levels of encryptions that I've coded myself. I would appreciate it if you indulged my curiosity and attempted to break all of them, although you're certainly not obligated to try. Let me know how far you get!

( the coded attachment has four layers of encrypted code - one at 90%, one at 95%, one at 99%, and then one at an unhackable 100% - and when one encryption is broken, the next instantly takes its place. shockwave is aware that no one will get through the last one but it's the principle of the thing. and a bit of showing off - anyone who can get through to the last level will find that the final encryption is a thing of beauty from a coding standpoint. )

Comments

encrypted; 80%

[tomemyoutliers]

A pleasure, Rang.

I am and he has, yes. It wasn't a thorough summary of the last four million years, but I have some grasp on the major events. And my role in a few of them.

( it goes without saying that Shockwave is still in the process of dealing with "YOU BECAME A FEARED MEMBER OF THE DECEPTIONS ALSO WHAT THE HELL IS THE DEAL WITH THE ORES" as something that happened rather than the certainly unwanted but unknown future that faced him in the Institute. )

encrypted; 80%

[outpatients]

I see. I am sorry you had to learn of it this way, senator. If you would like someone to talk to, I am a trained therapist and counselor.

[ Of course, whether or not Shockwave takes him up on this willingly, he's going firmly on The List of people Rung will be keeping tabs on. ]

Did he tell you of the... 'role' he has given me? Or his instructions regarding exposure of our species to the natives?

encrypted; 80%

[tomemyoutliers]

Thank you, but that will not be necessary.

( at the very least he's more polite in his refusal of Rung's help than Orion was. )

It did not come up in our discussion. I assumed that standard protocol applied, if only out of convenience, but it seems I was in error.

encrypted; 80%

[outpatients]

I have been upfront with the locals regarding my species. However, Orion has requested that I keep our number a secret, as well as various sensitive subjects relating to our people and our interactions with other species..

As far as they are aware, I am the only one of our kind here.

encrypted; 80%

[tomemyoutliers]

Then I will keep it that way. None of them have acted adversely to your presence so far?

( with what Orion had mentioned, Shockwave wouldn't blame anyone for wanting to have nothing to do with them. )

encrypted; 80%

[outpatients]

There has been some confusion, and some wariness, but no one has been outright hostile. Our species seems unknown to everyone I have spoken with.

encrypted; 80%

[tomemyoutliers]

Even the ones admitting to having traveled in space admit to knowing nothing. If our reputation is as bad as Orion made it seem, I can only think this is an extremely lucky break.

encrypted; 80%

[outpatients]

I have to agree. As much as I'd prefer full disclosure with the locals, I'd rather not have to explain our sordid history or how we're viewed in our own universe.

encrypted; 80%

[tomemyoutliers]

Perhaps after we've established ourselves here we can work on full transparency - the example we've set will tip the scales in our favor. It may take them time to come to terms with our reasons why it was necessary, but I have hopes they'll come to accept it.