4-015: Aboard Snark 416 – Control Room
Oliver deduces the following:
- The earliest books start some time (kilocycles) after Argyle moved into the lodge
- The small notebooks are all from an earlier time period
- His electrical engineering work was somewhat sporadic up to about a kilocycle ago and then assumed the current focus on building a device to hide messages inside the network traffic
- Prior to that his cryptographic/math work seemed to be leading up to that, then it looks like he made a breakthrough in understanding a key cryptographic element used in the Dominion’s networks
- There has always been an element in the crypto notes about solving difficult math problems and obscure proofs – some not related to cryptography at all
- Once the focus on building the device started, the crypto notes contain more abstract math puzzle work
- At that point the network crypto often moves to the electrical engineering books
- It also looks like he funded his life by doing occasional jobs for an one or more unknown parties – cracking or building codes and cyphers, extracting data from devices etc.
- From the general books, he also had a small sideline in selling animal pelts and teeth that he had hunted
- He seems to be a film buff
The exercise books are a useful learning resource for Oliver; he now knows things about cracking Dominion network comms and cryptography he didn’t know before.
If he studies the exercise books for as long again has he has spent going through them so far, he can have an extra skill point in either Cryptography or Electronic Engineering. If he spends that much time again (ie four times what he has spent so far) he can have a skill point in the other discipline.
How much time has he spent so far and how much time is left?
“It appears to all be related, at least loosely. I’m about 94.76% done with all the books we acquired and the computer is doing everything it can. If we can secure some time for me to do some more research after we land then I will know all I can about the subject and be able to provide Frederick with as much data as possible. How’s the crew?”
With that, Oliver will check on the computers progress.
I’ll take you up on that offer for both points if time permits. If only one is achievable I’ll take the engineering point.