piper90 | 🛠 001 🛠 [Encoded, Text]

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🛠 001 🛠 [Encoded, Text]

So, we have a bit of a decision to make here. I have my preferences, of course, but they may not line up with yours and since they might mean some... dramatic life changes for us, it would be best if I asked you.

Some of you may know many of the security cameras don't work. It's a longstanding problem. Some of you may know why they don't work. (If you don't, the less you know, the better.) I can fix this issue so that the security cameras on the Rig work. All of them. Everywhere. However, with the limited functionality of the computers I'm allowed to use, I can't keep them selectively blind. They'll either work for both Jorgmand and us or not at all. In addition, once I've informed Jorgmund that the problem's been fixed, there's no plausible way for us to go back to enjoying the relative privacy we've had so far.

So, in short, we'd have eyes and could rely both on Security and ourselves to spot anything... amiss, like our attacker moving into action again. But there would be no more blind spots, we'd have to be more careful, or find a way to engineer glitches that won't raise suspicion.

That's option 1.

Option 2 is simple.

^{^╭}Download aliaworkshop062.gif? y/n_{_╯}

[The image is of Alia's workspace, largely spotless and polished to a near mirror-sheen. For those with lots of hope and a fertile imagination, no, this isn't her attempting the one finger selfie challenge. Repent for your sins. No, instead it's a few small robots. Some mechanical worms about four or five inches long, something that looks like segmented snake, and a metallic spider the size of a large tarantula. Only five total.]

Apologies for the low quality image. Jorgmund's communicators are rather substandard. For the past several weeks, I've been allowed a small budget to build useful machines and advance Jorgmund's scientific knowledge. As you can see in the attached image, this is what I have available so far. The other options are either too loud or too large to fit into the ducts without issue. I could build more, easily, but I've used up my allotted budget and couldn't put cameras inside of them.

We can send these on patrols, inspecting various rooms, point them at specific suspects to track, or set to watch specific areas where an attack or an escape may occur. I can explain their use to the R&D heads as field testing, if need be.

With these active, we would maintain our privacy but, as you can see, we would be limited to only five more sets of eyes in addition to our own.

Personally, Option 1 feels like the best choice, but I'm not going to take such a step without consulting the rest of you.

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[Brainy thinks.]

I also have experience with creating miniaturized tech due to a size-changing teammate. I've only been limited by a lack of tools and components but that's a more easily resolvable situation than wresting control back from Jorgmund if we give it away.

I have worked things that could be classified as modern day miracles with beeper parts, small screwdrivers, and a soldering iron. Most cellphones of this era already have micro-cameras.

There are Jorgmund staffers, including minor executives, that can be found in areas like the Mess Hall. I'm sure there are some among us that might be able to liberate their cell phones from them without getting caught, and the engineers among us can potentially transform the components into something useful. Why don't we create our own system of surveillance? Independent of any of Jorgmund's computer systems? We have New Hires that can find placement for surveillance devices in areas like the vents, peeking out in the halls?

It would be useful for more reasons than this attacker.

Not every gain against Jorgmund needs to be about infiltrating restricted areas. If we can find a way to protect ourselves without handing over more control it would be worth the risk.

Okay, MacGyver, but you don’t think serial theft of cell phones would be incredibly suspicious? Like if I’m role playing the security team, I have my jelly filled space donuts, I’ve given way too much control and leeway to Nedry when setting up this place, and I’m on the lookout for anything going missing that might benefit the new hires, because I’m breaking them to saddle by restricting access to basic things like enough blankets and doors.

You say that like a large employer in a post-apocalyptic economy wouldn't already have constant cell phone theft. When I went to the kitchen late at night for a snack because of the abysmal diet they have us on here, I noticed signs in the cafeteria noting that workers should keep belongings in a locker to avoid theft, noting high levels of it.

This rig has the population of a small city and has some of the most advanced technology in this world, short of the universes occasionally layering over reality here. Many of the workers here have loved ones in the Livable Zone trying to survive in a society that is only just rebuilding, with manufacturing only just starting to regain its footing.

And any technology that could be scavenged only exists beyond the bounds of a giant wall Jorgmund is building around all of them, leaving their only alternative buying tech from the mega-conglomeration that is no doubt enjoying a lack of competition in almost every market.

Forget even normal levels of workplace theft, I'd be shocked if this rig didn't fuel an entire black market economy. Yet we haven't been tapped as responsible for any of the other thefts inevitably happening yet.

Edited 2020-09-21 11:52 (UTC)

Yeah, point. You can’t blame me for trying to give the average Jorgmundrone a little credit, because it’s not like there’s a lot of employment options out there. They’re working for an evil conglomerate and building their Nuremberg defenses, but I want to think stealing from friends and coworkers would be too much of an active, independent evil for most people. Is it too much to expect honor amongst minions? Can you really not get good help these days? I know the world has gone to crap, but you can’t bail out a boat by throwing the water on other people in the same boat. I saw a better future so I’m ruined for all other futures. You should start taking my gray glop rations that’s purportedly potatoes.

I see it more likely a source of understandable wealth re-distribution. Some of the executives clearly make more than the working class employees so if they relieve wealthy executives or Jorgmund itself of easily replaceable technology as a way of securing the well being of their families...

Well, who can blame them?

As for sustenance, you needn't worry. The over night kitchen staff are apparently quite generous if you come at night and let them know you've been underfed. They...were somewhat hesitant at first because of my appearance and their concerns that I was "New" but then one of them called me "Spock" and for some reason they seemed more comfortable with me after that.

I’m having a hard time accepting it as some noble Robin Hood thing. All theft is wealth redistribution. If you’re only doing it to benefit yourself, you’re no Robin Hood. Maybe if they’re doing it to feed their kids, there’s a morality to that, but their kids are probably already better off than most. It just bugs me that they can’t put stuff in their lockers - it’s not the fat cats using the lockers, so you can’t pretend it’s all wealth redistribution. They’re stealing from people just like them. It stinks. Spock almost works. You do love logic, and science, and there’s the cultural suppression of emotions, but Spock was only green on the pilot episode. The lunch ladies are probably discussing when you’re due for pon farr... I am not calling you Spock.

yeah, that's human nature for you. always finding new and exciting ways to disappoint. don't knock'um too hard though, at least in this insistence rampant petty greed and thievery it's working to our advantage.

and i am totally down for snagging phones and rigging our own security system.

[Just going to pretend he didn't see that last bit, that is none of his business, whatever it means.]

tarnishedavenger - 2020-09-22 01:51 (UTC) - Expand

oh shit really? ive been losing weight. gonna hit the kitchens tonight.

[priorities!]

How many do you need? Or is this more of a 'whatever comes to hand' kind of situation?

Well now I just want to see what you come up with and what he does with it.

Now there's a challenge if I ever heard one.

What are the odds of me regretting this?

I'd say that depends on him, really. I'm just trying to provide the parts.

Nah, I’d regret it if you got caught, too, so try not to.

Re: [Text]

kingofneworleans - 2020-09-22 14:00 (UTC) - Expand

We should aim for only two or three at a time. That's a small number that can escape notice.

As we finish each piece of surveillance equipment we can try to obtain more electronics for the next piece. We should attempt to not accumulate a stockpile that could be uncovered.

Hmm. Noted. Shouldn't be too difficult to come up with that many. As you say, they're not really very careful with their stuff. Anything else you're looking for, components wise?

You should probably leave such things to me. For one thing, I'm not banned from the workshop and I'm not likely to be punished for carrying a plasma torch in my pockets. For another, I have more hiding spaces than either of you. It's a lot easier to pass things through a metal detector when you're made of metal.

And while I may not match Brainiac 5's capabilities in the miniaturization department, I do build things smaller than Jack tends to. Most of these models are only large because they're designed for harsher environments than the vents, an iworm is all I need for that.

I could manage flying cameras a little smaller than Buzz, but there are more complications with those.

Collaborating might allow us to work most efficiently and be able to optimize our designs to use as few components as possible.

And if only you were to have knowledge of how the surveillance devices and network work and something were to happen to you, we'd be at a disadvantage.

Edited 2020-09-22 04:16 (UTC)

what i'm hearing here is that you have a means of getting the tools we need in and out of the labs without getting caught. happen to know of any hiding spaces outside of the labs?

[He has very selective hearing/reading capability apparently.]

Edited 2020-09-22 04:56 (UTC)

No. I haven't needed them. They've been mostly pleased with my work in the labs and I haven't seen the point in doing anything in secret yet.

okay, i got an idea.

if we can get gadget in on this, we could pass the phones off to her, let her do the disassembly and keep the parts hidden, while we work on plans together outside the labs. then alia could sneak the components into R&D and do assembly there.

i would say we could both do that part but it would probably raise eyebrows if we're working on the same project, and they're less suspicious of you.

this way, we have four people who know how the system works, and one person working on the majority of the assembly, cutting down on time spent looking suspicious together.

Oh yeah, I can definitely do that. I've already got a couple of good hiding places for things like that, and I can put the phones in my pocket dimension when I need to move them.

Edited 2020-09-25 19:44 (UTC)

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