====== Slate messages ======

**Slate messages** are very short texts found on [[agent systems#AS32]] at agent codes ''301'', ''302'', ''303''. They are used for bidirectional communication between the HQ and field agents. Each message is broadcast for 24 hours starting at 00:00 UTC.

<box fit-content left>{{:agent_systems:as32-slate.flac|}}</box|Typical Slate message as heard on AS32><box fit-content left>{{:agent_systems:as32-slate-null.flac|}}</box|Empty message>

===== Format =====

  - "Sequence number ####### start." The number denotes the key to use, and consists of the year and day of the year.
  - Ciphertext: decimal numbers ranging from 0 to 255 inclusive. If there's no message, this is omitted entirely.
  - "End of message. Cheers."

Messages are encrypted with the [[wp>XOR cipher]], using the book //[[books#Slate Deposits in the Intermountain West]]//. Each agent code is referred to as a //story//, and uses keys from a different section of the book:

  * ''301'': "Finger of Fate, ID"
  * ''302'': "Winston, NM"
  * ''303'': "Devils Twist, UT"

===== Archived messages =====

  * [[slate:January 2024]]
  * [[slate:February 2024]]
  * [[slate:March 2024]]
  * [[slate:April 2024]]
  * [[slate:May 2024]]
  * [[slate:June 2024]]
  * [[slate:July 2024]]
  * [[slate:August 2024]]
  * [[slate:September 2024]]
  * [[slate:October 2024]]