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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
[UPDATE] AQSYS - kurt blog 19/7/06
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spugmeistress
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Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 460
Location: manchester, uk

 		[UPDATE] AQSYS - kurt blog 19/7/06
The path of least time wrote:

AQSYS
Published: Today, 14:16

I've had a number of emails in suggesting parts to tag, which thankfully agree with my own thoughts. Basically, it looks like we'll be wanting to try the Nelis Nuclear Isomer Battery and the Baker Spherical Magnetic Containment field (thanks Ryan, Dan and Tammy). SteveC also made the good point that the Third Power might also be looking for replacements for the Reynolds Ioniser and Klebold Plates that they lost when Holyoke died. It's possible that they've already found replacements, but they're as good options as any.
It's quite a fearsome selection of parts that the Crypto guys have been working on - and have had stolen, as well. Exactly what they're doing with an 'explosively pumped flux compression generator' and nuclear isomer batteries is an open question, but both of those parts deal with serious amounts of energy.

Armed with this information, I met up with Karen in the Museum cafe again on Monday evening. It was practically empty this time; the place was due to close in an hour, and besides, there was some political debate being broadcast that everyone was probably watching at home. Karen was still watching something on her key when I sat down opposite her. With obvious reluctance, she wrenched her gaze away from the screen and looked up.

"Not one for politics, are you, Kurt? We're probably the only people in the city who aren't watching the debate." she said.

"No, I'm pretty sure that the CRT and CRR guys are still working on setting things up for the new data link. We can't make time for this other stuff," I replied blandly.

Karen raised her eyes, as if to say that I'd completely missed the point. "Don't you think that this... stuff... matters?" she said, nodding her head at the silent figures on the screen.

I shrugged. "Sure, it matters. It's just that what we're doing matters even more. What real difference does it make if Earlywine becomes the council leader instead of Scott? I don't recall Scott being much different from old 'Bones anyway."

"And here I was, thinking that Crypto surely wins the competition for 'most reclusive department' when the Cube Retrieval Team clearly have us beat," she said. "The reason why it matters is because, sometimes, it affects us in our ivory tower." Ivory tower? Must be some Crypto term, I decided.

Karen touched a few buttons on her key, and slid over the screen. It displayed an article from the Sentinel. I'd actually heard of the AQSYS project before - I'd considered using it as part of my search net for Miranda but decided that its sensors weren't suitable.

"What about it?" I asked.

"If Earlywine had managed to gut the sensors on the AQSYS craft any earlier, we wouldn't have any way of tracking the stolen parts from crypto."

"Are you seriously telling me that you want to track the stolen parts using those aerostats? They're basically weather balloons, you know, they don't have the instrument package to track the parts." I abruptly stopped myself from saying any more - Karen seemed slightly surprised that I knew anything at all about AQSYS.

"I bet you're going to tell me that we should use some active tracking system, right? Maybe a radio-based tag, and that AQSYS isn't configured for that?" I kept quiet. "If we put a radio tag on the parts, they'd be found instantly. Any criminal worth their salt would be on the lookout for them, and if they're smart enough to steal from Crypto, they'll be smart enough to find and remove them."

"So what's the answer then?" I said. "Maybe some low power system, spread spectrum-"

Karen shook her head. "Nope. Already looked into that. Anything low power enough to avoid detection wouldn't be trackable by us. We're going to have to use isotope tagging."

"I thought you said that that was bad idea."

"It is. But it's the only option left, and it just so happens that the AQSYS craft have isotope detectors on board. If you network together enough of them, then in theory it should be possible to triangulate the source," she said.

"In theory," I repeated, thinking about the logistics. "Just what are isotope detectors doing on the AQSYS craft, anyway? What else do they have in there, cheese sensors? No wonder Earlywine wants to cut back the program!"

"Anyway. The point is that it can be done. No-one will think to look for an isotope tag-"

"I don't blame them."

"-and even if Earlywine gets approval to cut down AQSYS, it won't happen for months. This is something we can move on."

"Alright," I said reluctantly. "But where are you going to get isotope tags from, anyway? And isn't it going to be difficult to get access to the parts."

"Leave that to me," replied Karen. "You just have to worry about getting into the AQSYS system and hijacking their isotope detectors."

"Yeah, about that. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to network them, they're probably manually controlled and any AI system would have to be calibrated..." I trailed off, an idea occurring to me.

Karen looked speculatively at me, frowning. "You're the one who wanted to track down these parts, Kurt. You don't seem very confident."

"I don't know... the whole plan just seems a bit shaky," I said.

"It's the only way. Anyway, I bet that this isn't the first time you've executed a shaky plan."

"No," I admitted. "I guess I'm just worried about what we'll find, where all of this is leading." I paused, then drew myself up, and tapped on my key. "Ahh, it's probably nerves. I just sent you a list of parts - these are the ones you should tag."

We talked a little about the specifics of the tagging, but I think I'd unsettled the conversation too much, so we retreated to the safer topic of politics as we left the museum.

I'm going to have to look up the tech specs for AQSYS - that'll take a day or two, and in any case Karen will have to sort out the isotope tags. I'll keep you all updated - I may need your help, again...


looks to me like he wants us to be the AI - and manually operate the AQSYS during the search?

although a bit of vote rigging during the elections might be quite fun too ;) who needs democracy?!

rach =)

PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:30 am
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Mico
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Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 66
Location: Leighton Buzzard, Beds

 		I was going to make some pun about teh 3P and the AQSYS of Evil.... but thought better of it! Laughing

So I'll go back to sellotaping my chin into a pointier shape for typing...

M

PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:46 am
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sledgecallier
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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Location: Behind the Sofa...
Quote:
"Yeah, about that. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to network them, they're probably manually controlled and any AI system would have to be calibrated..." I trailed off, an idea occurring to me.


It's odd that they wouldn't be networked?? If they are all monitoring the same parameters they they would need to be networked to allow them to efficiently cover the city without duplication. (Unless they are autonomous and just follow their own flight plan?)

Also... "an idea occurring to me..." That would be where we come in then... Smile
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:54 am
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cassandra
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
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 		So is Karen suggesting that Earlywine may be complicit in our overarching conspiracy plot? Would fit in nicely. (Can said AQSYS craft track the Cube when in PXC? Kurt's post last year certainly offers food for thought...)

Interesting that she's so very determined to use the isotope tagging - but (oog-wise) it seems that's the way to involve us in this next bit of hacking and tracking.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:09 pm
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Ashin
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Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 140

 		<TIAG>

It's too bad we can't actually USE a neutrino detector Sad

(We wouldn't need one this big, just one of those bulbs would help. Would act like a metal detector in way.)

</TIAG>

PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:22 pm
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