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driftfleet_ooc2016-08-02 09:46 pm
spaceshipit) wrote in driftfleet_ooc2016-08-02 09:46 pm
A-drifting we will go...
To some passengers, the hand-holding planet has been a much-needed resting place. To others, it came with its own set of trials and tribulations. Whether the world of the Magic Tree has been a blessing or just another thorn in their side, passengers will soon notice that the Marsiva is beginning to move again, ready to begin the next stretch of her long adventure.
It is time to pack up and head back into space! But as the crews all settle into their next week of drifting, something odd appears on one of the ships...
THE DRIFTING WEEK.
For those who may be new to the Drifting Week, this is a week-long break between star systems where passengers have some time to catch up with crews, work on (or start) backdated threads, check in with CR, make network posts, and play out threads that are confined more to ships, individual shuttles, and the occasional waystation that passes within range of the Fleet.
The Marsiva should be coming in range of another Star System once this week is over--but until then, there's a surprise waiting for crews who investigate!
COMMUNICATION ERROR.
Shortly after the Fleet leaves the previous star system and returns to the endless black, the S.S. Golden (chosen at random!) has a bit of a communications systems meltdown. This lucky ship gets to suffer a massive internal malfunction that takes its entire main communication array offline. It disappears off every other ship's radar, and members of the S. S. Golden's crew are only able to call out or receive signals through their personal communication devices.
When the ailing ship is inspected by someone with a communications or engineering augment, it is found that the calamity was caused by a small, foreign device that had apparently been installed in the internal workings of the communications array. It looks like a palm-sized, square jumble of parts. At some point during their return to space, this little hacking bug's system had failed, and this failure subsequently caused the whole comms board to short-circuit. Being that this complex device is now fried, it is readily apparent that causing a communications system breakdown was not this device's original intention.
If anyone is worried that this is not an isolated event... their suspicions are well-founded. Any member of the crew that thoroughly searches their communications array for a similar device will find that their ship has been bugged as well!
Who could have installed such devices?? What does this mean for the rest of the Fleet? What else is there to be discovered?
THE DEVICES.
The hacking device on the S.S. Golden is the only one that has malfunctioned, which means that the others will be be online and functioning when they are discovered. They can either be left in place to do... whatever it is they are doing, or safely removed (as described below.)
The devices must have been installed while the ships were parked somewhere stationary, either on stations or on some planet, but it is impossible to tell when. Routine scans and upkeep on the communications array would miss these devices completely, so there is every possibility that these devices could have been in place for several months.
If the devices are inspected and tested more thoroughly--either while still online or after they have been removed--the following can be discovered about them:
WHAT DO WE DO?
Any device can be removed by any communications or engineering officer, though teamwork is advised between all crewmembers, and even between different ships. The devices deactivate themselves upon removal and cannot be brought online again (yet), but they can be studied and potentially tinkered with until the proverbial space cows come home! More information about them and what can and cannot be done with them will come out later.
The S. S. Golden should be able to get their entire communications system back online in a day or two--though it probably wouldn't hurt to offer them some help!
In general, players are each welcome to play with or ignore this mini-event during the drifting week as they so choose! Make posts or threads about it, imply involvement, or just cruise on and focus on other things. Everything described above is there for optional RP flavor.
After the Questions comment, there is a second comment asking for definite involvement--whether you are planning on RPing or implying--but it's only so that the mods can have a loose idea of how the passengers/ships are reacting to the discovery of hacking devices in the fleet. It is not meant to be a complete list of every character getting involved, so if you miss it or choose not to reply, but still want to be involved, that's just fine.
However the specifics play out, dismantling the devices will take roughly a week--at which point we will tune in again with updates on that, along with information about the Fleet's next destination!
As always, please reply to the Questions comment below to ask us anything about the Drifting Week, and reply to the Involvement comment if you happen to know for sure how your character and/or ship will be reacting to the presence of the hacking devices.
Enjoy your Drifting Week, everyone!
It is time to pack up and head back into space! But as the crews all settle into their next week of drifting, something odd appears on one of the ships...
THE DRIFTING WEEK.
For those who may be new to the Drifting Week, this is a week-long break between star systems where passengers have some time to catch up with crews, work on (or start) backdated threads, check in with CR, make network posts, and play out threads that are confined more to ships, individual shuttles, and the occasional waystation that passes within range of the Fleet.
The Marsiva should be coming in range of another Star System once this week is over--but until then, there's a surprise waiting for crews who investigate!
COMMUNICATION ERROR.
Shortly after the Fleet leaves the previous star system and returns to the endless black, the S.S. Golden (chosen at random!) has a bit of a communications systems meltdown. This lucky ship gets to suffer a massive internal malfunction that takes its entire main communication array offline. It disappears off every other ship's radar, and members of the S. S. Golden's crew are only able to call out or receive signals through their personal communication devices.
When the ailing ship is inspected by someone with a communications or engineering augment, it is found that the calamity was caused by a small, foreign device that had apparently been installed in the internal workings of the communications array. It looks like a palm-sized, square jumble of parts. At some point during their return to space, this little hacking bug's system had failed, and this failure subsequently caused the whole comms board to short-circuit. Being that this complex device is now fried, it is readily apparent that causing a communications system breakdown was not this device's original intention.
If anyone is worried that this is not an isolated event... their suspicions are well-founded. Any member of the crew that thoroughly searches their communications array for a similar device will find that their ship has been bugged as well!
Who could have installed such devices?? What does this mean for the rest of the Fleet? What else is there to be discovered?
THE DEVICES.
The hacking device on the S.S. Golden is the only one that has malfunctioned, which means that the others will be be online and functioning when they are discovered. They can either be left in place to do... whatever it is they are doing, or safely removed (as described below.)
The devices must have been installed while the ships were parked somewhere stationary, either on stations or on some planet, but it is impossible to tell when. Routine scans and upkeep on the communications array would miss these devices completely, so there is every possibility that these devices could have been in place for several months.
If the devices are inspected and tested more thoroughly--either while still online or after they have been removed--the following can be discovered about them:
- The devices seem to be capable of recording/downloading information, and could potentially have access to everything stored on the network.
- The devices also seem to be emitting a potentially powerful field, perhaps to scramble or disrupt, against some frequency that the Fleet can't quite get a lock on.
- They very likely could be broadcasting/sending information elsewhere, but this can't be locked-onto or tracked.
- The technology level is quite sophisticated, but the devices don't have the same shiny, indestructible qualities as Atroma tech seems to.
- The word "Interceptors" is painted in English/Common on the outer plate of every device.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Any device can be removed by any communications or engineering officer, though teamwork is advised between all crewmembers, and even between different ships. The devices deactivate themselves upon removal and cannot be brought online again (yet), but they can be studied and potentially tinkered with until the proverbial space cows come home! More information about them and what can and cannot be done with them will come out later.
The S. S. Golden should be able to get their entire communications system back online in a day or two--though it probably wouldn't hurt to offer them some help!
In general, players are each welcome to play with or ignore this mini-event during the drifting week as they so choose! Make posts or threads about it, imply involvement, or just cruise on and focus on other things. Everything described above is there for optional RP flavor.
After the Questions comment, there is a second comment asking for definite involvement--whether you are planning on RPing or implying--but it's only so that the mods can have a loose idea of how the passengers/ships are reacting to the discovery of hacking devices in the fleet. It is not meant to be a complete list of every character getting involved, so if you miss it or choose not to reply, but still want to be involved, that's just fine.
However the specifics play out, dismantling the devices will take roughly a week--at which point we will tune in again with updates on that, along with information about the Fleet's next destination!
As always, please reply to the Questions comment below to ask us anything about the Drifting Week, and reply to the Involvement comment if you happen to know for sure how your character and/or ship will be reacting to the presence of the hacking devices.
Enjoy your Drifting Week, everyone!