Theft

What we know about the theft of The Receda Cube has changed a lot over the past year.

An older summary (which has been modified and squished about over time and at this point is all but useless) can be found here:

Theft-Archive

The current facts abut the theft as we know them are thus:

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4 people -- Bernardo Holyoke, Monica Grand, V, and C -- were hired to steal the cube. However they never actually touched it. Someone else had already taken it. According to the Viard Album Secret Message, it was The Third Power (Viard had nothing to do with this, of course; his album was merely a vehicle).

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One running theory is that the V, a member of the third power, hired people around him (C, Q, and K) to run a decoy theft. That is, while he knows perfectly well the cube has been stolen by his own organization, he setup some other people to take the fall. And now, as those people are starting to talk, V is having them all killed. This theory has some problems and un-answered questions.

Another theory is that while V et al planned to steal the cube for whatever purpose, someone else intercepted it. It was stolen by another team first, in order to protect, and sent somewhere V could not reach it. This, too, has some problems however.

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Hard facts we know:

• The cube was stolen during the annual Founder's Ball at the Academy.
• Violet Kiteway told her father she was sick that night and could not attend.
• According to Kurt's friend, stealing the cube would require 2 people from the academy who knew what they were doing.
• It was stolen sometime before 2AM.
• A number of people have threatened to steal the cube in the past.

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Puzzle card 146 deals with The Founder's Ball, and the theft. Facts we can attain from this card are:

• Attendees of the ball were asked to arrive at Gatehouse 1, in Taversen Square.
• Attendees were to meet at 7:38, PM.
• The card contained UV printing, which reads:

  Electric splash
  BB, 21 to 24
  4: C, V, K, Q
  20, V to 24

Also note: The Founder's Ball is, in particular, set to honor the Grand Champion of the PCAG. Thus, Ryan Cahill would have been the man of honour at that time.

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As Pietro Salk was researching the theft, he uncovered some things and discounted some things.

• Scarlett Kiteway discovered a scrap of paper with the words "Viendenbourg. Reynolds Ionizers." The full meaning here is unclear.
• The Reconstructionists almost certainly had nothing to do with the theft.
• Bernardo Holyoke, Monica Grand, and C did not know each other, though they all knew V.

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Leaked E-mails have become available which indicate certain things.

• Violet was sick the night of the ball.
• V has connections at the Academy (though it is now believed he worked at Hesh Records).
• Someone involved in the theft was/is in a fairly high-standing position at the Academy.
• Someone involved in the theft almost gave the plot away to a complete stranger just weeks before the theft was to go off.
• Bernardo Holyoke somehow tried to double-cross the rest of the team.
• Bernardo Holyoke hid Reynolds Ionizers and Klebold plates in his bar before his death, probably to keep them from V.