001 [TEXT] [LOCKED TO NEW HIRES ONLY]

[pathkin]

[The screens of the New Hires flicker with a text message. The image of a starburst briefly flashes on the screen, alone in an empty sky.]


[The screen that pops up changes the way the network interface usually looks. It makes it a bit more surreptitious, so that pencilneck looking over their shoulders would think they're using an innocuous data entry program. There's also a panic button in the corner that they can hit to shut their connection down early.]

[The program makes their comms connection even slower, since the network's already running at terrible speed, but at least it's discreet. And resources have been devoted to at least making the panic button shut down fast if they need it.]

[The post is a text post, and where the posters name should be it says: ┖⍟ϗϵ⸈₮αℜ]

Evening, ladies and gents and variations thereupon, the name's Lonestar.

None of us have all day and I'm not the type for melodrama about how big brother's eyes are watching, so I'm going to keep this to the point. I'm a New Hire like you and want us to get out of here as much as most of you all likely want to leave

With these internal shock collars, getting free is most likely going to be difficult. And a long-term, coordinated effort. But to coordinate, we need ways of communicating Jorgmund can't see.

I've created this program to let us encrypt and filter our conversations away from Jorgmund. It just auto uploaded and self-executed to your comms but you can quickly uninstall it any time if you need to be extra cautious.

[A link appears on the screen to some kind of drop box type interface, containing a file.]

That link will let you download the installation file so that it can be saved and dispersed by any New Hires to any future kidnapping victims even if I'm found out and killed.

Locked posts will have a small signifier noting they're locked, an innocuous interface that mimics a notepad application Jorgmund has on our comms, and a panic button to cut off the connection and boot you out of the interface in case a Jorgmund staffer is looking over your shoulder.

However, while it can encrypt our conversations, it can't mask overall network usage so we'll need to keep maintaining non-locked conversations about whatever inane topics make for good public discussion. The resources the encrypted posts use are minimal, so as long as unlocked traffic occurs, it should be able to mask our more discreet conversations.

[That means they must shitpost like their lives depend on it.]

I know that you have good reason to not be inclined to trust me, but the only reason I'm hiding my identity is so any potential snitches can't report me to Jorgmund so I get "fired."

Possibly out of cannon.

The encryption will let any of you go anon, too, in case people want to play spy and drop something useful that Jorgmund would get in a snit about. As much as it'd be helpful to all hold hands and sing happy songs, we don't know if anyone here might brown nose and snitch for their own benefit.

Anon posting and replies can only happen in locked post because Jorgmund doesn't have it enabled on our normal network posts.

Oh, also, there seems to be script for a swearing filter on normal network posts. In locked posts, you can say "fuck" all you want.

Comments

[ahtohollaback]

Amazing! I can see what you're writing too. It is the strangest way to write I've ever seen.

[shipoftheseus]

its annoyingg trying to write like this
i hate it

text -> video

[ahtohollaback]

Let me show you something that might help.

[She activates her video setting.]

If you touch the picture in the corner that looks like this--

[She draws the video icon in the air, not knowing how to attach a screengrab. Ice crystals linger for a half-second in the air behind where her finger was, but they don't last long -- just enough to give an idea of what Elsa's trying to draw.]

--you can use the device to talk to someone like they're right there in front of you.

It's much easier than the spelling thing.

[shipoftheseus]

[Oh! One of the humans. The little picture in the air is a neat trick and they appreciate it, but frankly they don't know shit about anything so as far as they can tell that's just something humans can do? Or maybe some feature of this stupid device? Who knows, honestly.

But they excitedly hit the indicated button, and the person in the video feed that pops up is...unique. They only really resemble a human at a glance. Any longer than that and everything off about it becomes hard to miss. The hair and eyes being somehow crystalline is obvious, but the "skin" looks wrong in a more subtle way. It's too smooth and perfectly even in color and there's no sense of softness in how it moves, no squish and stretch of natural flesh.

They sure do look pleased with themself, though.]

Thanks! I think I did this by accident before but I couldn't figure out how it happened.

[ahtohollaback]

[...what a strange being. However, there are many strange beings here, and this one has the number of arms, eyes, mouths, and tails that Elsa's used to, so she's not going to make too big a deal out of it. Helpfully:]

You're welcome. Dr. Emily Grey showed me how to do it. I hope it helps.

[She waves at the screen, smiling.]

I'm Elsa.

[shipoftheseus]

It does, thanks. I'm Phosphophyllite.

[This is all very sweet and pleasant but someone should maybe tell the technologically-inept dumbasses that public video interactions and straight introducing themselves by name is maybe not the best idea on a revolutionary post of still questionable security.]

TEXT | anon

[xrater]

[Oh boy. Oh boy. How does she even phrase this politely? Alia just wants to slap both of them upside the head. Operational Security? Had these people never heard of it? Still, she shoots off a text as soon as she notices this whole mess.]

While it's good for you two to be getting along, this is a secret network that either Jorgmund doesn't know about or they're pretending they don't know about. Either way, if they should catch you on here, talking like this, the consequences could be rather dire.

No one wants to see you two suffer a punishment, and the topics discussed here so far are very punishment worthy, so perhaps exercising some discretion would be wise?

[shipoftheseus]

[They still stick with video because it's easier for them, so the confusion and then shock on their face is clearly visible.]

Wait, the person who wrote all that might have been lying?

[xrater]

[This one might be poretty, but they're definitely a little... Dim.]

Yes. I've done some poking around to see if it's safe and it seems fine, but it's best to give it some time.

Even if they weren't, letting Jorgmund employees see you using video functions with no corresponding videos on their networks will let them know something's up anyway. And you'd be the first in line for questioning.

[ahtohollaback]

They can do that??

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get anyone in trouble.

[xrater]

All they need is someone smart enough to check for time stamps. That is, indicators of when activity should be happening.

I don't believe you did mean to, don't worry. But until we know this is safe, and unless we find areas where Jorgmund doesn't have an eye on us, it's better to use text.

[ahtohollaback]

[She has no idea what a time stamp is, or how someone would look at activity happening on these communicators, or why video is less safe than text. But she'll take the advice, feeling very small and in over her head.]

Okay.

But if they come after me, then that'll prove this is a trick. At least that way everyone else will know not to trust it.

[xrater]

Yes.

But they'll probably come after the Easter Bunny first.

[Alia might reach out and comfort her later. Elsa's not from around here, she realizes. But a little bit of time to think on the mistake won't do her any harm. It might help her think about the consequences next time.

...Still. Alia makes a mental note to find her soon. Just to tell her it should be okay.]

[ahtohollaback]

Who is the Easter Bunny?

[xrater]

The giant rabbit with the bad accent.

[ahtohollaback]

Oh, him. We've met.

[shipoftheseus]

[ agsjfskdhas ]

I'm not going to let anyone come after you for trying to help me!

[ahtohollaback]

If they really do know what we're saying, then you're in as much danger as I am. We probably shouldn't talk any more here.

Do you want to talk on the other post? The one that isn't secret? That way, if you want to use the video function, it won't look funny to anyone who might check the

[She looks back at the earlier message to make sure she's remembering the term right.]

time stamps.

[pathkin]

Thank you for warning them. Several Jorgmund staffers came near and I needed to put my comm away for a time.

This is a legitimate encrypted communique but we have no idea what forms of visual and audio surveillance they have on us. Text on a more subtle interface is much safer than recording oneself where their prying eyes might see.

[ahtohollaback]

[Visual and audio surveillance....that means--]

But I'm alone, and there's no one outside. Could they still be watching me? How?

[pathkin]

Just like these devices can record image and sound, Jorgmund may also have similar devices placed around the rig recording image and sound. These are called cameras.

I've already spotted a few things that look like them but haven't had a chance to investigate and make sure they're operational.

And even if you see nothing around you that looks like one, sometimes cameras can be small or hidden. They can mimic something as small as a button on a shirt. Until we verify there's no surveillance you must be careful.

The technology here is likely very different than where you're from.

[ahtohollaback]

No. We didn't have anything like this.

[ohhhh god.]

We have cameras, but they aren't small, and the pictures don't move. You have to stand very still when they're taken actually or the picture doesn't come out. It's a new invention, for us.

[pathkin]

In time, your own world might develop to have technology this advanced.

When looking around you, it may help to think of what your own world might be like some day. Metal-working and working with materials will be easier, creating more complex and sturdier structures, the same way they have likely improved from your world's past. Technology like cameras will become faster, more versatile, easier to use and smaller. Transportation will become more mechanized, efficient, faster.

This technology isn't magic, this world is just likely several steps forward in the future, in the same way your world and time is likely several steps more advanced than the past.

It won't be impossible for you to learn to understand how it works, it just may take some time and help from others. If you were back home and someone magically moved forward from several hundred years in the past, they might need your help understanding some of how the world works, too.

There are people here willing to help you understand what to expect. Don't be afraid to ask those around you.

[ahtohollaback]

[Stay calm. Focus on what you're reading. Don't panic; you'll only make it worse. It's good advice, and she's going to take it, and not spiral into fears of being watched all of the time, of not being able to trust that she's alone in any room, of being stuck without anyone she knows in a place like this.

She has to focus for a second to deliberately dispel the ice that's forming on the communicator where her bare hands are touching it. Think of Anna; she will see Anna again. To get back to Anna, she has to live through this, and to live through this, she has to learn.]

Thank you, I will.

[pathkin]

In the meantime these encryptions will allow you to speak privately and coordinate with others with more discretion, unwatched.

Some of the others doubt my intentions but I promise they will be clear in time. I want to help everyone get home.