nnoi. [text/computer]

[vanisland]

[#ping (arbitrary number)

Invalid address. Proceed anyway? (y/n)

This was unprecedented. All of Miranda's IT experience told her it was impossible.

And yet, here it is. Now what could be so important to someone that it would be hidden like this...

Sadly, to her it appeared to be some sort of social network. ...okay, a kind of morbid social network, judging from some of the more recent posts. Still, she feels like it deserves some credit.]

Well, this is a surprise. No DNS registration and a completely new address format, and yet I've just stumbled over whatever this is.

Whoever is running this, congratulations on making something so well-hidden, but you might want to check the security a bit if anyone that finds it can just start posting.

Comments

[Text]

[formermagicalgirl]

Try writing those numbers on a piece of paper. That's the more interesting part about this network.

[text: kindle]

[peacefulwinter]

If I've been understanding right, it's not that anyone can post - you need to have a "number" to gain access, but if you have it there are no restrictions. Is that what you meant by the address format?

video {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

[this bleached blond has a Japanese accent, is sitting in a file room and drinking an overpriced coffee.]

Actually, the fact that you can see this means that you're one of the lucky new members to the secret numbers club.

text forever

[vanisland]

[So it really is all about luck? Some prize this is. She sees no reason to respond using a webcam or anything, this is working fine as it is.]

Well then, what else do I win?

[Text]

[vanisland]

What? Why would that do anything?

[vanisland]

[It takes her a moment to parse this.]

...so it's an address and login key at the same time?

[Well then. She has got to crack how this was done now.]

[peacefulwinter]

It's more... if the numbers you enter are yours, then it'll direct you to the network. If they aren't, but you have your own numbers, it'll supposedly let you contact the person whose numbers you entered.

But if you don't have numbers... well, we don't actually know what happens then. And it's not a use case I think we want to find out about, given what tends to happen to us that have numbers.

video forever

[ursoreckless]

A chance to stay alive and fight off invading forces.

[Text]

[formermagicalgirl]

You'll see when you try it.

text

[iaijutsu]

None of us are responsible for making it; we all simply...found it.

The summary of everything we currently know about it is here.

text;

[thorny]

I would pay quite a bit of money to whoever could institute some kind of moderated posting process here. I'd double it if the ability to ban were implemented.

[Text] [typed] [1/2]

[vanisland]

You're not going to tell me, then? Fine.

[That seems a lot like what she herself would do, so she might as well try. Besides, what's the worst thing that could...]

[Text] [written] [2/2]

[vanisland]

[...]

...What the hell?

[My, that is some very neat, crisp handwriting.]

[vanisland]

So somehow everyone's gotten a death threat and we're the only ones who know?

That sounds more like a story than anything that would actually happen.

[Although, thanks for the idea; maybe she'll use it for a project.]

[Text]

[formermagicalgirl]

[and since it is text Miranda can't tell that Tamara is giggling in the background. The new people's reactions always were entertaining, but it was true that it was often best to let them see for themselves.]

It's very simple. It's not a computer based network like you were assuming. What it is we still do not know other than the fact that those who do not have their own number cannot access any of it.

[vanisland]

So this... thing doesn't have a name?

[She doesn't feel comfortable calling it a site anymore. Not after having written into it with a pen. She'll just keep the information about using a different number in the back of her mind. And ignore the rest.]

text

[vanisland]

Maybe whoever did has been watching the entire time.

[She takes a few moments to read the linked document. Very well thought out. And furthermore...]

Typical of them.

text;

[vanisland]

I'll see what I can do. After all, as of now we don't know whether we have an administrator. And it's not every day you get to work with an entirely new form of web development.

text;

[thorny]

I'd hope that you would consider an opportunity like this as an exciting challenge rather than fold under the pressure. Incompetent admin or not, we need some structure in this place desperately.

text

[iaijutsu]

If they are watching, they've neither identified themselves nor answered any of the speculation about our purpose here, which has been happening since day one. I'd think that leaving us in the dark is counterproductive, so I tend to assume they can't or aren't watching, but I admit that anything is possible, at this juncture.

[text]

[lackinginfaith]

I thought something like that too, even if computers aren't my biggest thing. Looking everything over, though, I'm inclined to believe their story about it.

[dorkytracksuit]

tech people coming here are almost starting to annoy me more than the people who don't understand anything about anonymous security.

[ursoreckless]

Pretty much. Of course, we're the only ones that could see it thanks to the numbers.

[peacefulwinter]

Not that I know of. We've just been calling it "the network" for convenience. I've also heard it - or rather, us - referred to as the "numbers club," for likely obvious reasons.

text

[vanisland]

Maybe they want to see us squirm for a while. Although it is interesting that I find this almost as soon as I move in, assuming it really is restricted to Locke.

Anyway, if there is a police conspiracy like you say I intend to find out what it is.