Battletech Welcome to the Jungle

[Knowledgeispower]

Its kinda funny to see everyone frantically trying to figure out what exactly the Lyrans have on their data core. We know it contains ferro series armor, endosteel, freezers, ERPPCs, LBX-10s, ER large lasers, how to make streak launchers but not the ammo, Guass Rifles, and XL engine tech but outside of a handful of very trusted people who aren't on Catachan no one has the complete picture. Also the more ComStar tries to use ROM in this matter the more likely they are to have someone figure out major intel group not belonging to any of the major Intel services is around

 

[Orangeduke38]

I'm sure that the Lyrans also restricted the information they put on the cores to the designs that the company in question needed. This will help slow down the spread of information to the other states.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

I'm sure that the Lyrans also restricted the information they put on the cores to the designs that the company in question needed. This will help slow down the spread of information to the other states.

That's exactly what they did

 

[Yellowhammer]

Its kinda funny to see everyone frantically trying to figure out what exactly the Lyrans have on their data core. We know it contains ferro series armor, endosteel, freezers, ERPPCs, LBX-10s, ER large lasers, how to make streak launchers but not the ammo, Guass Rifles, and XL engine tech but outside of a handful of very trusted people who aren't on Catachan no one has the complete picture. Also the more ComStar tries to use ROM in this matter the more likely they are to have someone figure out major intel group not belonging to any of the major Intel services is around

Also half the fun for this was writing how ROM looks at the new Thud and jumps to the totally incorrect conclusion (that it was going to have Artemis) using flawed logic.

 

[Lancelot]

“I think I’m more impressed that someone recognized that they couldn’t prevent the knowledge from getting out eventually, and that they acted rapidly and effectively to set up defenses intended to allow the other Successor States access to information that looks priceless at first glance, but is nearly worthless in application,” he continued after a short pause.

Why isn't this data encrypted so that couldn't pull a quick switch like this? I understand putting faulty data in to sabotage but they should have to work to decrypt said data. Leaving it setting there like an open book is just stupid.

 

[Speaker4thesilent]

Also half the fun for this was writing how ROM looks at the new Thud and jumps to the totally incorrect conclusion (that it was going to have Artemis) using flawed logic.

Logic, n, A way to be wrong with confidence.

Why isn't this data encrypted so that couldn't pull a quick switch like this? I understand putting faulty data in to sabotage but they should have to work to decrypt said data. Leaving it setting there like an open book is just stupid.

There you go assuming again.

 

[Tel Janin Aman]

I don't think advanced technology will help the confederacy as much as comstar hopes it will, their problems run deeper than some better weapons can fix. Without plot needs keeping a status quo they will have trouble staying afloat. Plus if the suns and lyran alliance still goes through then the suns get the lostech sooner then comstar intended.

 

[Speaker4thesilent]

I don't think advanced technology will help the confederacy as much as comstar hopes it will, their problems run deeper than some better weapons can fix. Without plot needs keeping a status quo they will have trouble staying afloat. Plus if the suns and lyran alliance still goes through then the suns get the lostech sooner then comstar intended.

It's almost like, for all their capabilities with signals intelligence and manipulation, Com* aren't experts in the fields of interstellar logistics or manufacturing.

Every person and, to the extent that organizations are composed of people, every organization has strengths and weaknesses as well as blind spots. First-hand look at some of the phone company's here. The two big problems the CapCon has is that they're Spess Commies, and they're run by a dynasty prone to outbursts of madness excess enthusiasm. So sometimes they waste a bunch of resources that could be better used on propping up their civilian economy on some military boondoggle. Or a new palace. Or, or, or.

 

[Rodon]

There you go assuming again.

Not to mention BT encryption seems to be rather shitty. Decent, IRL encryption for financial transactions, would need a couple billion years of CPU time to break it. I guess the centeralized processing that BT has rather limited the need for encryption, compared to IRL, where everyone has access to processing power, thus increased the need for encryption services (and testing those services constantly, since a badly implemented encryption is far easier to break).

 

[Lancelot]

There you go assuming again.

Not assuming unless the encryption is the password equivalent to using 'password' at the very least decryption should have taken months at least with dedicated super computers. It reads like Com* broke it in transit and and still had time to replace it seamlessly with an unaltered datacore. As these are datacores being put into storage just in case they shouldn't even have the Key with them.

At the very least Com* should have had to waste time and people to expose the sabotaged data as early as realistic. If you have a reason why Com* could just ignore the encryption as it isn't mentioned how they did that feel free to explain.

As for BT encryption, as it makes no more sense then anything else that was changed from BT canon maybe change that so it makes any sense what so ever.

 

[cawest]

I wonder how long it is going to take before someone brings up about needing to start upgrades ComStars mechs to Royal (clan busters early) level. if they start now and (only) update a few a month it could have an impact deeper into the new time line.

 

[Speaker4thesilent]

Not assuming unless the encryption is the password equivalent to using 'password' at the very least decryption should have taken months at least with dedicated super computers. It reads like Com* broke it in transit and and still had time to replace it seamlessly with an unaltered datacore. As these are datacores being put into storage just in case they shouldn't even have the Key with them.

At the very least Com* should have had to waste time and people to expose the sabotaged data as early as realistic. If you have a reason why Com* could just ignore the encryption as it isn't mentioned how they did that feel free to explain.

As for BT encryption, as it makes no more sense then anything else that was changed from BT canon maybe change that so it makes any sense what so ever.

In most cases, take it as one of the conceits of the setting that encryption technology is well behind decryption technology instead of the reverse, because the shit Com* manages to get up to is inexplicable without being able to read the mail in near real time. Assume that the only encryption that can stand up to Com* for any significant time is the one time pad.

As for encrypting the cores ... stop and think for a minute. If they heavily encrypt the cores and then get paranoid with the key, all it takes is the destruction of the key to make all the data cores useless again, so you go back to having an easily exploited point of failure. The overriding imperative is to not lose access to this technology a second time. So, yes, the encryption on the cores is very basic and vanilla. The sort of thing that anyone with any expertise related to Star League tech could break. Just in case.

 

[Dreth]

Also half the fun for this was writing how ROM looks at the new Thud and jumps to the totally incorrect conclusion (that it was going to have Artemis) using flawed logic.

The bit with C* giving out advanced tech was very funny. The reactions to learning they gave out advanced missile tech will be gold.

They also seem to be underestimating the cost and financial strain upgrading will cause on the cappies. Barring FASAnomics a comprehensive upgrade like this done under security should be doing bad things to everyone's budgets. Also a few lean years in the logistics department when they are refitting factories to make the new stuff, unless they really go for paying the big bucks to build all new factories- but most of the SS already have logistic and military budget problems.

C* looks like they spaced the better factory designs, or will be handing out SL factory designs.

 

[Crazyone47]

It's almost like, for all their capabilities with signals intelligence and manipulation, Com* aren't experts in the fields of interstellar logistics or manufacturing.

Every person and, to the extent that organizations are composed of people, every organization has strengths and weaknesses as well as blind spots. First-hand look at some of the phone company's here. The two big problems the CapCon has is that they're Spess Commies, and they're run by a dynasty prone to outbursts of madness excess enthusiasm. So sometimes they waste a bunch of resources that could be better used on propping up their civilian economy on some military boondoggle. Or a new palace. Or, or, or.

In most cases, take it as one of the conceits of the setting that encryption technology is well behind decryption technology instead of the reverse, because the shit Com* manages to get up to is inexplicable without being able to read the mail in near real time. Assume that the only encryption that can stand up to Com* for any significant time is the one time pad.

As for encrypting the cores ... stop and think for a minute. If they heavily encrypt the cores and then get paranoid with the key, all it takes is the destruction of the key to make all the data cores useless again, so you go back to having an easily exploited point of failure. The overriding imperative is to not lose access to this technology a second time. So, yes, the encryption on the cores is very basic and vanilla. The sort of thing that anyone with any expertise related to Star League tech could break. Just in case.

I really like this interlude.... It is almost like they are all really good manipulating bastards but for all that the reality of never being able to do everything will eventually catch up. I especially like how C* is manipulating the polities by taking advantage of their own intelligence services.

Also can I ask a few questions?
Is Simon Johnson is a supporter of Alessandro because he seems to be appointed by Alessandro Steiner if I recall correctly?
Is Melissa Steiner (Katrina's daughter) going to show up next arc?
Also is Edward Regis off of Katrina's list of traitors yet?

 

[ConfusedCanadian]

Hmm COM* is on the move here with them trying to maintain there status quo for the Inner Sphere, though with there increased movement Lyran Intel services are bound to notice something sooner then later that a third party that isn't a Inner Sphere power is up to something. And with them giving the wrong tech on there Data Cores will be a major warning flag for the Lyrans once they find out about that. So it's by no mean a death blow for them but it's going to draw some serious suspicion towards them as the Lyrans starting asking where/how they got a completely different weapon tech from "their" core.

And from my understanding of Johnson here this is something he will investigate as thoroughly as he can.

 

[Satorious]

If I am reading this right Comstar got a partial copy of the core and is feeding it to the other houses? Well it was bound to happen and Comstar was the most likely to pull it off.

 

[Speaker4thesilent]

Is Simon Johnson is a supporter of Alessandro because he seems to be appointed by Alessandro Steiner if I recall correctly?

Simon J is, like Duke Brewer, a supporter of the Lyran Commonwealth. Just moreso. Anything that makes the Commonwealth stronger is good. Anything that makes the Commonwealth weaker is bad.

Is Melissa Steiner (Katrina's daughter) going to show up next arc?

She'll be around. It may or may not be next arc. She's quite young in this time period and canonically, somewhat smothered by Katrina due to security concerns.

Also is Edward Regis off of Katrina's list of traitors yet?

He has been off her shit list for quite some time. The operation on Sevren was so well done because he was the one on the back end insisting on 'another Battalion of BattleMechs' that eventually led to Weber's Warriors being hired for the invasion.

Hmm COM* is on the move here with them trying to maintain there status quo for the Inner Sphere, though with there increased movement Lyran Intel services are bound to notice something sooner then later that a third party that isn't a Inner Sphere power is up to something. And with them giving the wrong tech on there Data Cores will be a major warning flag for the Lyrans once they find out about that. So it's by no mean a death blow for them but it's going to draw some serious suspicion towards them as the Lyrans starting asking where/how they got a completely different weapon tech from "their" core.

And from my understanding of Johnson here this is something he will investigate as thoroughly as he can.

Your proposed chain of events is actually quite close to the existing plan, but not quite correct. The devil is in the details. And yeah, Simon J will not leave any leads unpursued.

If I am reading this right Comstar got a partial copy of the core and is feeding it to the other houses? Well it was bound to happen and Comstar was the most likely to pull it off.

Nah, they helped the Crappies get ahold of one of Simon J's sabotaged date cores, then fixed the sabotage for them so that the Crappies wouldn't waste time or money chasing their tails.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

Also half the fun for this was writing how ROM looks at the new Thud and jumps to the totally incorrect conclusion (that it was going to have Artemis) using flawed logic.

Say doesn't the Bauer scope when combined with SLDF Neurohelmets give effectively the same bonus as Artemis without the extra weight and not nearly as much costs?

 

[ConfusedCanadian]

Your proposed chain of events is actually quite close to the existing plan, but not quite correct. The devil is in the details. And yeah, Simon J will not leave any leads unpursued.

Fair enough and since I already see the broad-strokes of the plan I can wait until you reveal it in full.

 

[WolfknightX10]

Also half the fun for this was writing how ROM looks at the new Thud and jumps to the totally incorrect conclusion (that it was going to have Artemis) using flawed logic.

So what was the correct answer then, personally thought it was gauss rifles?