Episode C – 9 December, 2020

In which the Scooby Gang solves the case of the cunning codes, learns how the Apple II mini-assembler works, and Carrington is suspiciously quiet.

In which the Scooby Gang solves the case of the cunning codes, learns how the Apple II mini-assembler works, and Carrington is suspiciously quiet.

Today’s Cohort of conspirators

Charles — @Chicken_Missile
Mark
Paul — @yesterbits
Carrington — @carrington
Kay — @KaySavetz

Brought to you by the letter: C

C is for Codes, Cyphers and Cryptograms

Today, we will watch, or listen, while our steely-eyed missile men decode a secret message of my devising. Individual points will be awarded for intuitive leaps and making progress toward the goal. The group will receive points for solving the two cryptograms in the allotted sixty minutes.

To assist toward the goal, I will give a hint or answer a specific question once every ten minutes, provided the group all agree that they need the help. Each hint will reduce your final score.

See if you can play along at home, and solve the following puzzles before our coven of collaborators:

CYPHERTEXT 1 
31 FF 14 FD 13 ED EF FC 0C F4 07 FF FA 06 FE FC
08 F8 05 02 07 18 F3 08 E1 26 F4 F9 0D FD 08 DB
FF F3 00 00 00 00 00 00 18 F8 1E F7 13 FC F1 F5
18 F3 08 E1 13 0F 00 FC F9 04 00 E5 18 09 03 F3
11 EF 0D CE 1A EF F7 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
16 FA 0F F1 0B FF 05 F1 0B FF 0C 09 03 F3 F8 F3
24 FB E4 07 18 F3 08 E1 29 F2 0B F4 E6 FF 10 EE
12 E3 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
12 FE 13 FA F8 FE 06 FA 00 07 0C 09 03 FD EE F4
23 FB E7 04 18 F3 08 E1 26 FB DF FF 10 EE 12 F0
01 F2 00 00 00 00 00 00 17 F9 0F 02 01 11 D5 1D
E8 05 F7 01 FE 1D E6 08 F6 01 FE 1D E6 07 F7 06
07 05 FF 18 F3 08 E1 1F F8 DB 00 00 00 00 00 00
15 FB 1E F7 13 FC FB EB 18 F3 08 E1 22 FF F5 FF
FE 12 01 F5 05 F9 E7 FF 10 EE 12 F0 01 31 CF FF
10 E3 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
13 FD 22 F3 FC 03 00 F6 09 FA 06 E8 19 F6 18 F3
08 E1 17 11 EF 0D 07 F6 FF F7 E6 12 F0 01 31 CF
FF F3 00 00 00 00 00 00 14 FC 20 02 F7 05 06 EF
05 0A D2 04 28 F5 00 06 DD 1B E6 00 12 FF 18 F3
08 E1 18 09 03 DC FF 10 EE

CYPHERTEXT 2
G O R J Z X E H H V Z
L Z N T F F M V U O S
M ` U J E T P Z a M ^
X ] T J L F W U N E N
F L R L I T Y L W T W
B P Q C W K P I ] M V
R U O U T R I T Z T I
C D U P O Z E K G O S
L G D R N G [ W N G T