Technical Difficulties [Open]

[grinandbear]

Dear all,

The school network has been experiencing technical difficulties recently. Please factor in the possibility of long down times and make sure you have alternative methods or backup copies any work you do until we fix it.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Comments

[grinandbear]

A few things.

[Private]

It seems like someone may have built an unauthorized connection into the network.

private

[cockblockade]

You've discovered who, of course?

Re: private

[grinandbear]

Well. Apparently if I were to believe the activity logs it would be Mr. Arisato. Since he's been dead since last year, however, it's highly unlikely it's him unless he became a cyber ghost.

But it shouldn't be too hard to track. I think I may know where the new connection is at least.

Re: private

[cockblockade]

Strange. I take it you don't really believe in ghosts, Terumi-san?

Anyway, can you tell me where the connection is? I may be able to take precautions with my work, at least.

Re: private

[grinandbear]

I believe in being open. However, I doubt it was Arisato-san. He never seemed like the type to leave messages about wanting hugs.

Well, I haven't confirmed anything yet. It's in an odd place too.

Re: private

[cockblockade]

Hugs? Oh... Well, you seem to have a girl problem.

What sort of odd place?

Re: private

[grinandbear]

As I said, I'm not point fingers this early. After all, sometimes guys want hugs too.

Oh, just one of those places no one really thinks about or goes to. At least not till recently That may have been the point, though.

Re: private

[cockblockade]

Yes, but it seems more like a girl thing.

Well, if you give me some details I can keep an eye on things my end.

Re: private

[grinandbear]

Perhaps. Someone might have just thought it'd be funny.

Well, I'd say about the same as most students should be keeping in mind. Try to avoid connections you're not familiar with and report to student council if you notice your account's been used by someone other than you. For example, if a connection says something out there like "The Haunted School Belongs to Us" then it most likely isn't a legitimate connection.

Re: private

[cockblockade]

Perhaps. I guess there's some weirdo around, if that's their style of humour. And noted. I'll keep my eyes open.

Re: private

[grinandbear]

Thank you, that would be appreciated.

There may be more than one weirdo too. After all, it did say 'us'.

Re: private

[cockblockade]

Well. That doesn't make me feel better.

I will keep both eyes open, then.

Private

[stcnpc]

[Daisuke would see this message flash cross in front of him]

AM I GIRL-LIKE?

Re: Private

[cockblockade]

I... guess so?

Beside, you have the most beautiful software I've ever seen, PC-chan.

Re: Private

[stcnpc]

YOU INSTALLED MOST OF IT. AM I GIRL-LIKE BECAUSE OF THIS? WOULD I BE BOY-LIKE IF MY SOFTWARE WERE DIFFERENT?

[callmetyrant]

As people are wont to say on the internet: "What is going on in this thread?"

Pardon my absence from school matters. I recently suffered an arm injury during that rather strange streak of bad luck that struck last week and which I absolutely don't blame on retrograde mercury or anything*.

In any event, Utazawa informed me of some issue with the school network, and after scourging through private journals, as I do from time to time, I find this discussion.

Could either of you explain more? Oubai-san?

* But it is Mercury Retrograde.

Locked to Akito/Takeo

[cockblockade]

Someone's built an illegal connection into the school network. And it's simply chaotic. You know the score. Terumi-san and I are already discussing it.

Gotta say, though; it surprises me you're in the dark. Normally you've got both eyes on the network, Akiyama-san.

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[callmetyrant]

How nice, you got onto solving a problem instead of finding excuses for the guilty party. I'm sure you've had thrills on my side of the fence, but I'm home now.

Regarding your surprise: I've been strongly preoccupied with x-rays and being checked for internal bleeding. When your turn comes to take a baseball to the head, I'll watch over the network while you lie convalescent.

In any event, tell me more about this illegal connection.

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[cockblockade]

Well. My position's currently a necessity. Guilt? Oh, but I suppose you don't concern yourself with miscarriages of justice in your committee.

Getting to business, anyway. Arisato-sensei's trashing the network.

Do you see the problem?

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[callmetyrant]

Yes. Being dead immediately ends your work contract, so Arisato-sensei is certainly NOT authorized to use the network.

Also Arisato-sensei is dead.

P.S: my committee does not commit miscarriages of justice. We're very pro-life: all our justice is done by keeping our subjects alive, if suffering for as long as possible.

Ha Ha Ha sociopolitical commentary in my snarky comeback.

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[cockblockade]

Perhaps it's his ghost. Some spirits just don't have anything better to haunt. Oh... well, I suppose you don't believe in the afterlife, Akiyama-kun. Considering your respect for life.

In any case, do you see our second problem?

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[callmetyrant]

Yes. The way I see it we have some sort of hacker that's somehow acquired access to the account, and that apparently won't be shaken off so easily.

The computer club can't do anything about it, then?

Of course, it'd be preferable if this didn't reach the teachers just yet. The principal would be most impressed with whomever manages to solve this problem, correct?

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[cockblockade]

Oh. The club's supervisor is at a loss. He's tried resetting the router. I think he double-checked connections and activity too. Terumi-san's done the same. I'd keep an eye on the club, in any case. They might nail the culprit - then you've got a job to do.

One that doesn't involve such a petty competition, ideally.

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[callmetyrant]

Unfortunately the "petty competition" is a fact of life: after all, in the dog-eat-dog world of Ryuseki High, nothing would be more stimulating than the promise of getting cred for solving this situation.

As for what you say, it makes no sense. SURELY doing all that would mean the problem should be solved, unless by some reason there's something darker or deeper taking place here. Something beyond a mere computer problem. We certainly can't wait until some chance event brings on an EMP to kill the computer system...

Re: Locked to Akito/Takeo

[grinandbear]

Well. Oubai-san has suggested the possibility some first years may be pulling a prank. Though student council is not pointing fingers, it does present a possibility - especially given the hacker's sense of humor.

As for solving the problem, I do agree that it shouldn't be a competition. However, you're free to approach it that way, of course because you would lose.

((Strikes deleted.))