Issue 1 Downtime

Maddie would eventually be able to determine that the signal detected was, in essence, three messages. The tricky part was trying to figure out what the messages, well, said.

Ed-As Madrox is a high powered computer with technology beyond mortal men, and we are all ugly bags of mostly water, the following puzzle is not meant to be what Maddie is actually solving, but rather a simulation

--XU BSAU IBU ESPNSDU. EZPNTE OUWTUMIUF. HZHIV YGU HZHIV IBOUU HYOIV IXY EYZGI MZR G QV YGU IXUGIV UZDBI HYOIV GZGU EYZGI UZDBI U.

--IBUV'AU HYTGF YTI. ZGZIZSIU PYKECUIU ETODU. IBUV'AU HYTGF YTI. RSAZUOM KTMI GYI ZGIUOHUOU. UOSMU SCC, UOSMU UAUOVIBZGD. MTDDUMI ZKECUKUGISIZYG YH UKUODUGPV EOYIYPYC MUAUG. IOSGMHUO SGV GYG-UMMUGIZSC EOYLUPIM SGF FSIS IY CSGF-QSMUF CYPSIZYGM. IBU MIYGU KZDBI MIZCC QU MSHU.

--HYO WTUUG SGF PYTGIOV, DUGICUKUG. IY IBU CSMI KSG.

W

Madrox eyes widened in alarm as he finally decoded the message.

We have the package. Pickup requested. Fifty one fifty three forty two point six N by one twenty eight forty nine point eight E.

They've found out. Initiate complete purge. They've found out. Xaviers must not interfere. Erase all, erase everything. Suggest implementation of emergency protocol seven. Transfer any non-essential projects and data to land-based locations. The stone might still be safe.

For queen and country, gentlemen. To the last man.

Q.

He quickly sent a message to Sara, Stan, and Sam.

Code: Select all

I've decrypted it.

"Hey." Sara says as she comes into the lab a bit after Maddie send his message.

"Sara, good, I'll explain when McManus gets here. I messaged Doctor Bowen too, but the important thing is getting a mission plan together quickly."

"Did it say anything about where they took him?"

"Yes..." he said, sighing, "But whether he's still there is the problem."

"What do you mean?"

"It was an emergency evacuation order."

"Shit... Does Black Air tell you anything?"

"Not a thing."

"Well maybe Doctor Bowen or Professor McManus do..."

And just then, Stan entered, bringing a notepad.

"Anything new?"

"Kind of! Do yo know who or what Black Air is?"

"Black Air? They are the new kids on the block, to turn a phrase. They replaced the old Weird Happenings Organization as the main British funny business club." He replied, after a moment.

"So they're what, the weird shit division of the government?"

"And kidnapping apparently..." Madrox muttered quietly.