AWD #480: A Favour to Ask
A Favour to Ask
Summary: PO2 Jaxon Swick is asked by Major Elias Gray how the breaking of the Linten Code goes. Jaxon asks for an unconventional favour.
Date: 14/10/2016 (OOC Date)
Related Logs: None
Jaxon Elias 
Combat Information Center - BS Orion
The Combat Information Center is the tactical heart of the ship. This CIC is designed in a circular formation, the original Admiral apparently a fan of the classical set-up. Dead center are a set of large monitors suspended from the ceiling with DRADIS readings as well as other vital shipboard information. Under this is a small map table outlining current plots and positions. The table has a built-in phone as well as smaller displays relating to critical damage reports. Both port and starboard watch stations are set at all times, in two rows of tiers like stadium seating, one above the other. Each station has a purpose — Helm, Weapons, Communications, Electronic Warfare, Damage Control, and further tactical monitoring. More displays and banks of computer monitors line the walls. This area is heavily guarded by armed Marines at all hours of the day and night.
01 May 2006 AWD #480

<FS3> Jaxon rolls Cryptography: Good Success.

Settled at one of the consoles of the Combat Information Center, PO2 Swick has the Linten transmissions pulled up and is currently trying to crudely translate them. He has out an old Cylon code book, and several notes. Sticky pads are all over the console and screen where he's made notes on the panels and tones he's heard as he works. A large one on top reads 'Have you factored in the signal degradation for distance?'

Another change for Elias, as acting TACCO? He has to stand watches in the CIC as Officer of the Deck. Which does not seem to be his favorite task. Possibly given that the can't smoke in there, and in orbit around Piraeus, there isn't a great deal to do except keep an eye on things. So today he has a folder of Intel reports to catch up on, a mug of coffee, and a look of determined concentration as he reads. At least until the third interruption, at which point the young Major snaps his folder shut and starts to wander among the command consoles, checking things over. When he sees the code book, Elias halts by Jaxon's station and clears his throat. "Any luck, Swick?"

It's not that he heard the Major approaching, but he caught his reflection in the monitor. Pulling off the oversized headphones he's wearing, Jaxon shakes his head. "Slow and steady, sir." he offers honestly. "I have bits and pieces but nothing that makes complete sense and any conjecture I would offer at this point would be spitballing at best." he admits as he turns in his chair to look up at the Major. "Though I'm glad you stopped by. I had a question.. well, a request, really. But I'm not sure if it's going to fly, either."

There's a quick nod of understanding for Jaxon's progress — decrypting the new Cylon codes isn't something done overnight. But slow and steady is progress. "Good." Then there's a cautious look for the mention of a request — or perhaps it's the way it's mentioned. "Mmm." He pauses to take a sip from his coffee. "What is it you need?"

"Well, sir. I know of the Raider in the Deck, and that it's dead as can be. And most of the Centurion parts we have is just that, parts." Jaxon admits. "I haven't started on the code they're using yet, though cracking that would make this much easier. The crux of the matter is, I don't have current, active code to work off of." He lifts his coffee mug to take a sip from it, favoring the right side of his mouth as he does so. Setting down the mug, he draws in a breath. "One of the Marines mentioned it last night, well, off-hand and I'm sure she was being an ass, but, what it boils down to, if the opportunity presents itself, is there a way we could capture a live Centurion, perhaps disable it somehow, remove it's arms and legs and bring it back to the Iron Pilgrim so I can hack into it's code?"

Elias settles in to listen to Jaxon's pitch, and to judge by the tightening of his mouth, the TACCO has a guess where it's going before he's finished. Still, he doesn't dismiss the idea outright. "Mmm." The Major takes a moment to mull the idea over, studying his the contents of his mug as he thinks. "I'll discuss it with Captain Ommanney, but I can tell you he's probably not going to be keen on the idea. So no promises."

"Of course sir, as I said, it's a spitball idea. And I know there would be a lot of risk involved in trying to do such." Jaxon frowns a little. "Thank you sir, it's all I could really ask for. I'll let you know as soon as I have a break through on this.." he says, gesturing to the screen where he has a bilateral screen running, one side is the codes the Linten group intercepted in a continuous loop, the other is his notes and programming code as he's trying to make a breakthrough.

"It's a good idea," Elias says with a nod. "We're in an … unconventional situation. We need unconventional thinking." There's a nod as the code breaker gets back to work. "Carry on." And then lingers for a few seconds, watching the signals and the code scrolling by, before he leaves the technical work to the expert and resumes his own duties.

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