This thread aims to collect all likely contenders for the “key” memory targeted by the Virus affecting System for deletion. Replies to this post are expected to suggest contenders, whilst justifying their importance.
The top post will be updated with consensus-backed candidates, as well as relevant hints and links important for the search.
Current Clues:
The initial prompt for the puzzle was the error log image, with dots which can be joined to form “SAVE THE DATE”. The words in the image relate to crashes and end with “temporary cache writes collide with orphaned packets in fragmented memory block”.
System feels as though a “termite” is eating their brain.
System has described being “like a skyscraper whose foundations are being attacked”.
The Architect has made several references to “foundations” and “foundational”.
The initial prompt for the puzzle was the error log image, with dots which can be joined to form “SAVE THE DATE”. The words in the image relate to crashes and end with “temporary cache writes collide with orphaned packets in fragmented memory block”.
System feels as though a “termite” is eating their brain.
System has described being “like a skyscraper whose foundations are being attacked”.
The Architect has made several references to “foundations” and “foundational”.
We tried the Foundations memories (27th and 28th November 2016), but they apparently weren’t the target.
We have acccecpted that the Virus is not necessarily looking for a memory block that matches the seed. 11/29 is directly beside 11/28, and 11/28 is the seed. Currently protected and by proxy protecting 11/29 for now.
So an interesting point on that corrupted font pointed out by @toddumptious is that is from System when its memory became overloaded. So it may not be from the virus. But still a memory to be considered
My proprosal on Discord was 1970-01-01, the date marked as Origin, and ComputerZeroTime.
System measures time in relation to this point, so erasing it would mean that System is unable to keep track of time (no past, no future). It is used by computers to track time, so might relate to error logs?
“Termite” is the name of a few computer programs:
a terminal for linux (which uses the epoch), now made obsolete by Alacrity.
a RS232 serial terminal emulator for Windows, used to capture raw data streams from embedded systems.
ransomware (which systematically encrypts data and erases backups).
I’m not entirely positive that this is the memory the virus is after, but thought I should offer it up as a candidate.
Some ideas for targets that might be foundational:
NMS release related (release date, alpha vector announcement,…)
Posts specific to Emily or Arnaud, e.g. the TRACE one, system waking up,…
Alternatively we could place a trap consisting of a black hole or infinite number (pi) to trap the virus. I’m not sure this would work necessarily, it feels a little too meta and is not aligned with System and Archie’s suggestions.
Sorry I can’t be present to help you guys with this today but I made a list of all unpreserved 2016 dates with filled memories in them yesterday that might prove useful to todays task in picking out a prime candidate.
Originally this was being gathered as a preserve all list for Archie before we learned that preservations were limited, so its somewhat lacking for todays task and not a full list.
I realise it would be more helpful with the preserved data dates too, as one could very well be the target and in its failure to get to it will just continue to consume the rest of 2016.
