video + text + action

[mucked]

Who: Agent Carter + YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: Aboard the Starstruck or the Iskaulit.
When: Today!

[ not too long ago, peggy pitched the fleet a diversionary puzzle. with all this talk of encryption and subterfuge, she's reminded how the puzzles were meant to be part of a series (of sorts) and so she gets out her notepad and pencils. after a few scrapped ideas (too long or too advanced or too dull), she settles on a code that's only a half-step up from her last one. ]

Last time we talked ciphers, we did a simple substitution. [ peggy addresses the network directly, and with little else in the way of a greeting. ] This time 'round, I've got something only a teensy bit tougher. Frankly, it can be just as handily brute forced as the other one -- but I'm more interested to know if anyone can figure out the math behind this one. Brute force only brings you so far in this hobby and I'm already working on something for next month that will require a lighter touch.

Extra credit, as ever, to those who can identify the source. Or express the cipher in modular arithmetic. And apologies for those in the Fleet who cannot speak English. Despite our augments, code seems to defy translation.

FA UYBDAHQ UE FA OTMZSQ, EA FA NQ BQDRQOF UE FA TMHQ OTMZSQP ARFQZ.

[ she'll field questions and answers for a little while from aboard the starstruck, but then it's off to the iskaulit where she passes an hour in the library -- in search of new source material, perhaps. for those players whose characters should be able to decode it but who don't want to try decoding it themselves, here is the quotation. ]

Comments

video

[mucked]

It made the papers, of course. The accusations -- not the denouement. But I wouldn't doubt Stark money went into sanitizing that bit of history, regardless of whether he'd been on the right side of it or not.

video

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe. Considering what he had to offer, though, I'd be surprised if the government wasn't keen to help clean up after him. Wouldn't want to get n the bad side of one of your top weapons manufacturers.

video

[mucked]

-- I rather think they may have already ploughed ground on the bad side with the warrant for his arrest. And the seizure of many of his properties. And the congressional hearings. It's no wonder he about-faced and dabbled in film after it all went down. Something to get the taste out of his mouth.

video

[outstandingbalance]

All the more reason to help clean up the mess on their side. Howard actually going elsewhere with his talent would be worst case scenario for them.

video

[mucked]

Not that he ever would. Howard is disloyal to a great many things -- but he's no traitor.

video

[outstandingbalance]

And I'd never imply it. You'd know better than I would, and probably better than the CIA did after the war.

Just observing, they'd have reason to want to make sure that bridge wasn't completely burnt.

video

[mucked]

The organization called the CIA doesn't exist. Not yet. [ a pause. ] I only know of its existence because the Starstruck used to house one of its operatives for a short while.

[outstandingbalance]

If it's not already, then soon enough. The point remains.

[mucked]

[ when the agent had described his organization, peggy had begun to wonder whether his cia would even form in her version of the world -- or whether it was only shield that rise from the ssr's inevitable ashes.

quiet-like, as though her thoughts have already shifted elsewhere: ] Of course. Yes. The point remains.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha watches that, considering it.]

Probably enough speculating about politics neither of us was actually involved in.

[mucked]

-- Oh, I was quite involved. I'm the one he suckered in to clear his 'good' name. [ ... ] Not my finest choice, but it was vindicated in the end.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha smiles at that, faint, willing to surrender this particular argument.]

Would you have done it differently if you knew then what you knew now?

[mucked]

That isn't so easily answered, I'm afraid. The cost was high but the cause was right. Dissecting those choices in hindsight only ever invites self-doubt. I'm not interesting in self-doubt.

[ -- and yet it dogs her every step, it seems, since learning about her future. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Not so easy to answer, but not answering is still kind of an answer, isn't it?

[She and Steve really are alike in some ways. Even if the situation that has her saying that is very different, the sentiment is familiar.]

[mucked]

[ time to inject a little levity into the proceedings. ] Well, for one? I wouldn't have chosen to give sight-seeing tips to a Russian operative.

[ -- because this is what counts for levity when you're keen to deflect off the harder questions. ]

[outstandingbalance]

What, and let her know you were onto her?

[Levity it is. Natasha can roll with that. No problem.]

I doubt telling her to avoid tourist traps got her much new information anyway.

[mucked]

[ a snort of laughter. onto her? wouldn't that have been bloody nice. if there ever was something to stick in her craw, it's how she never sniffed dottie out at an earlier opportunity. ]

True enough. But now I rather wish I'd doomed her to the queues and bad souvenirs.

[outstandingbalance]

Now you'e just being spiteful.

[Said with a snort of amusement.]

[mucked]

Spiteful? Maybe. But I give you my word that's more than justified.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't doubt it. She certainly seems to have made an impression.

[mucked]

-- When we finally caught her, she was as good as imitating the greatest hits from my wardrobe. [ so. yes. ] An impression was certainly made.

[outstandingbalance]

Don't take it too personally. You do have an enviable style.

[mucked]

[ -- alright, she laughs. ]

I can take comfort in that. At least. Thank you, Natasha.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha will consider that a win.]

All a matter of keeping things in perspective.

[mucked]

On the topic, however -- do give us a ring if you manage to come across any decent hats in any future systems. I haven't yet found a single one what's suitable.