Post by Hez on May 26, 2015 16:01:10 GMT -5
Lesson 0204: Comlink
So yeah, I know I said last time I wouldn't require math in class, but technically you didn't have to know how to decipher the message to pass it on. Those who missed the previous lecture were baffled, much to my amusement. All in all, I was pretty happy with how this one played out, although I admit it may have been better to have practiced sending the messsage without all the crazy encryption, codenames, and other complications. In my defense, we had a bit of a time squeeze that night. To counter my own defense, maybe the Headmaster should've showed up on time!
This evening’s class was more of an activity than it was a lecture. Utilizing the basic encryption method taught at the previous lecture, I tested the class’s ability to convey a message under dynamic conditions. I’m happy to report that the cadets failed the group exercise. An odd perspective, I’m sure, but personally I’m glad to still have something to teach these cadets and even graduates, some of whom have remained in our company to assist in continuation of espionage education.
I began class by asking Thayta to begin teaching the lecture, without any prompt or forewarning that he was to do so. He responded without hesitation, speaking in line with the previous week’s lecture without skipping a beat. This demonstrated to the class the basic theme of the evening, that of adapting to unforeseen circumstances. It also demonstrated to me that my Executive Officer has what it takes for the job: the ability to lead in my stead, should the need arise. After seeing what I needed to, we regrouped at the promenade for some fresh air. Well, the freshest air we could find on Nar Shadaa, that is.
The activity was based on an old Core World children’s game known as ‘Comlink’, wherein one person whispers a phrase to the next person, and so on, until the last person says the message aloud. Often the last message is far different from the first. Being as we’re no longer children, I decided to make the game a bit more challenging. I distributed code names based on various fauna found throughout the galaxy. Apparently not everyone was pleased with their given codename, but rarely will you get your choice of codename in the field. In my time with Intelligence, I didn’t much care for being called “Cipher” rather than my own name, but that’s what the job called for. Once codenames were distributed, I had participants position themselves in such a way that only certain members were within earshot of each other. That’s when it got interesting.
Drawing on our previous lecture, I decided to encrypt the message using the Coruscanti Cipher. Although difficult to pronounce aloud, I’m sure, conveying this message did not necessarily require a student to know the decryption key. Additionally, codenames were swapped and the message itself was changed midway through the transmission. In the end, the message was only off by one word. Given the additional complexities added, I consider this result satisfactory for a first attempt at carrying out this activity.
I began class by asking Thayta to begin teaching the lecture, without any prompt or forewarning that he was to do so. He responded without hesitation, speaking in line with the previous week’s lecture without skipping a beat. This demonstrated to the class the basic theme of the evening, that of adapting to unforeseen circumstances. It also demonstrated to me that my Executive Officer has what it takes for the job: the ability to lead in my stead, should the need arise. After seeing what I needed to, we regrouped at the promenade for some fresh air. Well, the freshest air we could find on Nar Shadaa, that is.
The activity was based on an old Core World children’s game known as ‘Comlink’, wherein one person whispers a phrase to the next person, and so on, until the last person says the message aloud. Often the last message is far different from the first. Being as we’re no longer children, I decided to make the game a bit more challenging. I distributed code names based on various fauna found throughout the galaxy. Apparently not everyone was pleased with their given codename, but rarely will you get your choice of codename in the field. In my time with Intelligence, I didn’t much care for being called “Cipher” rather than my own name, but that’s what the job called for. Once codenames were distributed, I had participants position themselves in such a way that only certain members were within earshot of each other. That’s when it got interesting.
Drawing on our previous lecture, I decided to encrypt the message using the Coruscanti Cipher. Although difficult to pronounce aloud, I’m sure, conveying this message did not necessarily require a student to know the decryption key. Additionally, codenames were swapped and the message itself was changed midway through the transmission. In the end, the message was only off by one word. Given the additional complexities added, I consider this result satisfactory for a first attempt at carrying out this activity.
So yeah, I know I said last time I wouldn't require math in class, but technically you didn't have to know how to decipher the message to pass it on. Those who missed the previous lecture were baffled, much to my amusement. All in all, I was pretty happy with how this one played out, although I admit it may have been better to have practiced sending the messsage without all the crazy encryption, codenames, and other complications. In my defense, we had a bit of a time squeeze that night. To counter my own defense, maybe the Headmaster should've showed up on time!