Theft Case Notes/OB

General

This is the case file from Helena Frye, which she released to Kurt, who released it to us, so we might help pin down The Third Power.

The original was posted at:

http://www.perplexcitypolice.com/case_notes.php?cid=PXC978C675&section=OB

++++ PERSONAL CASE NOTES - OPERATION BAYONET ++++ Lead investigator: Detective Helena Frye Notes: This is a dark project. Objectives Objective 1: Locate, neutralise and detain the Third Power Objective 2: Rescue any civilians being held Objective 3: Retrieve any information related to the Receda Cube's location Current Status Attacking Third Power encryption (negligible chance of success) Locating the destination of messages sent from Earth via the CRR and Relaynet Attempting to discover the method the Third Power are using to transmit message from their base back to the CRR, and then Earth STEP 1: Relaynet Intercepts Last week, Signals Intelligence members from the Perplex City Police confirmed that the Third Power was using Relaynet to send unauthorised messages to an unknown location. While much is still unclear, the following is known: 1. Third Power hackers were accessing computer servers located at the subway stations throughout the city. Exactly which servers were compromised is still unknown (each subway station houses one server, and is connected to other servers in a network similar to that of the subway system itself). 2. It is known that all of the messages were first entering the network at KEY SQUARE station (SigInt believes that the messages are being transmitted from the nearby Centre for Reality Research). From there, the hackers were carefully choosing which servers through which to route the messages (trying to use as many compromised machines as possible to minimise the chance of detection). 3. While we are still trying to discover WHERE the messages were being sent (i.e. which station/server was the final destination), with the aid of Academy CRT member Kurt McAllister, we recovered the following information about five of the messages transmitted: the times (in milliseconds) that the following five messages were bouncing around the network servers before reaching the final destination. Intercept 1: 60 ms Intercept 2: 48 ms Intercept 3: 57 ms Intercept 4: 46 ms Intercept 5: 59 ms 4. Police also have a network map (see image below) which lists the transmission times between servers on the network. 5. A complication is that messages can loop between servers in any fashion, possibly visiting servers more than once. However, as with normal routing, once a message reaches the destination server, it stops (i.e. it would not have bounced away from the destination server). 6. Knowing that all five messages originated from KEY SQUARE, and the above transmission times from KEY SQUARE to the destination, each message, individually, may have ended up at several possible stations. However, we believe that whichever station is reachable by the most of the five messages is the destination server to which the hackers were sending their messages. 7. Along with discovering the destination server of the messages, we also need to know which of the other servers were compromised and used to relay the messages to the destination server - this information may help us decrypt the messages we have intercepted. It is vitally important that we find the correct destination; guesses will not do, as we cannot afford to mount simultaneous assaults on multiple targets in Perplex City. Message to readers on Earth: All members of Operation Bayonet are at full capacity. We require your assistance to discover the destination of the Relaynet intercepts. Please liaise with Kurt McAllister.

Possible Routes

60 ms route

• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Lyttleton -> Azad Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Caldera
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Caldera -> Foreman Station -> Camblin Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Amandier -> Lyttleton
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon South -> Taverson Square
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Lyttleton -> Azad Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North -> Auger Park -> Polygon North -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Azad Park
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Varenne
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Trellis Gate
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly

48 ms route

• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Caldera -> Foreman Station
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Caldera -> New Hampden
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon South -> Taverson Square
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Upper Mobius -> Lower Mobius

57 ms route

• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Polygon North -> Schrodingers Junction
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Magine Corner -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point -> Meridian
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Upper Mobius
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Trellis Gate
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne

46 ms route

• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park-> Polygon North
  
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Lyttleton -> Azad Park
  
• Key Square -> Grand Frederik's Station -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner
  
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy
  

59 ms route

• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Cheverly -> Varenne
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Meadow Road -> Trellis Gate
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Second Archway -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park -> Ascendancy -> Lyttleton
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Cheverly
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Lyttleton
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North -> Auger Park -> Amandier
• Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Milamont Parade -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy -> Domus Plaza
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Lyttleton -> Azad Park -> Lyttleton -> Amandier
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Ascendancy -> Auger Park
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade -> Domus Plaza -> Polygon North
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Varenne -> Ascendancy
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Milamont Parade
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner
• Key Square -> Cheverly -> Magine Corner -> Cheverly -> Varenne
• Key Square -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Magine Corner -> Grand Frederiks Station -> Feynman Point

Solution

Taking into account all of these possible routes, Ascendancy becomes the station with the most valid routes, 8 in all. Which implies that the following stations/servers are compromised

• Key Square
• Milamont Parade
• Domus Plaza
• Polygon North
• Auger Park
• Ascendancy Point
• Grand Frederiks Station
• Cheverly
• Varenne
• Second Archway

STEP 2: Ascendancy Point Identifying and triangulating radio messages

We now know that the Third Power are based in Ascendancy Point, the city's tallest building with over 170 triple-height floors and tens of thousands of occupants, but we do not have access to their surveillance systems. Instead, we must pinpoint their location with Ascendancy Point by other means. While Third Power messages from Earth to Ascendancy Point are being sent via Relaynet, the opposite is not true. Rather, Police have intercepted encrypted radio transmissions coming from within the Tower, presumably to the Centre for Reality Research. This is what we know: 1. Four receivers stationed on top of skyscrapers near Ascendancy Point have intercepted the radio transmissions. This diagram shows the exact altitude of each receiver as well as the distance between any pair of the receivers (straight-line distance in 3D-space). 2. Furthermore, using advanced ranging technology, we have determined the distance between each receiver and the originating source of the encrypted transmissions: Receiver 1: 646.12m from source Receiver 2: 1548.28m Receiver 3: 1249.19m Receiver 4: 1267.62m We need to discover where in Ascendancy Point the Third Power is transmitting from. This should not be too difficult to calculate, but all members of Operation Bayonet are at full capacity. Again, we require your assistance to discover the source of the Third Power's radio transmissions. Please liaise with Kurt McAllister.

Solution

The signal appears to be coming from 1111 meters above the ground.

Since Ascendancy Point is 170 floors, and 1700 meters tall, we might guess it is somewhere on floor 110. (Unfortunately, the known list of residents doesn't go down that low.)