Letters from Kurt

Kurt McAllister is the first person to be interactively talkative at all. This page is to collect the things he says.

Tech Talk

zaeil wrote:

Kurt-- A bunch of us have a little question for you regarding something we picked up from Pietro Salk's files. I know you can't divulge much about Perplexian technology, but we're curious--what is a Klebold plate? What is it used for? Same question in regards to a Reynolds ionizer, as well. Like I said, we understand that you can't be specific, but even just a general idea is more than we have now! Thank you for any help you can give. Sincerely, Stacy

KURT'S REPLY:

Hi Stacy, Unfortunately, I don't think I can help you. I don't actually know what a Klebold plate or a Reynolds ionizer is - they sound like very specialised pieces of technology, and I haven't heard of them before, so your guess is as good as mine right now. Even if I *did* know what they did, I still wouldn't be able to help you, what with the technology transfer rules. Kurt

zaeil wrote:

Kurt- I certainly didn't expect a direct response! Thank you. We figured VERY specialized--these were articles found by police at The Five of Cups -- and hoped that you might provide some general information. Certainly a little bit of info as to what a piece of tech does wouldn't be against the transfer rules? We still wouldn't know how these objects worked, or even what they looked like, and we certainly don't have the means to replicate them. Anyway, thanks again. I'm sure the crew will appreciate the response. Smile -Stacy

KURT'S REPLY:

Stacy, I will have a look into what those pieces of tech might do, but I can't promise anything, and if I do find anything then I'll only be able to give you a *very* general answer. Cheers, Kurt

zaeil wrote:

Kurt, Thank you so much! As I said before, even a *very* general answer will be more information than we have now. If you find anything out, please let us know. -Stacy

KURT'S REPLY:

Hi Stacy, Hope you're keeping well. I haven't been able to find out a Reynolds ioniser does (other than what all ionisers do, of course - ionise stuff) but I managed to dig up something on Klebold plates. Klebold plates are experimental prototype devices, constructed to make highly accurate physical measurements in 3D. I know that's vague and it doesn't say anything about how they work, but it's the most I can tell you. I hope this helps! Kurt

KURT'S REPLY:

Hi Stacy, I did a little research on Reynolds Ionisers this morning. I didn't get very far. The first - and only - thing I did was to conduct a search of the databases that I can access with my Academy privileges. The results came up totally blank, but my Key's security system detected a military-grade trace; it's only because I use custom security systems that I designed myself that the trace was automatically blocked. All I can conclude is that a Reynolds Ioniser is some sort of classified military item, and that it would be a very good idea to stop poking around in such things. Kurt

Aiko

Mosestrotsky wrote and asked about Aiko and security concerns.

KURT'S REPLY:

Hi, A lot of questions! The reason why I can't talk too much about things concerning my work is security, as you guessed. Whoever stole the Cube must have had inside knowledge about the operations of the Academy so we've had to tighten everything up dramatically. I'm not sure how I feel about Aiko. Before she joined the Cube Retrieval Team, I'd heard that she was brilliant, but fairly private and reclusive. Judging for myself, I'd agree with that. For example, she rarely came out to any social events at the Academy, let alone to bars or restaurants with people on the CRT. That's not to say that I didn't like her though; you meet all sorts of people at the Academy and she was perfectly cordial whenever we talked. When I found out that she was a Recon and that she'd been arrested, I was shocked, but not that surprised. It fits in with her work patterns, at least. I'm not that bothered that she's a Recon - what she believes is her own business, even if I don't agree with it - but she definitely caused problems for herself by not revealing it to the Academy. Given all of this, it's hardly surprising that she's under suspicion. Personally, I find it difficult to see how she could have physically stolen the Cube on the night of the ball, but it's hypothetically possible that she could've rendered the Recons some assistance in other ways. This is all private though! I'm fine with doing the occasional amateur sleuthing, providing that I know what I'm getting into, which would make a change! Kurt