Communication Overhaul Bounty (Formerly Infosec)

[Rukofamicom]

For those without a GitHub account wishing to leave feedback: https://forums.beestation13.com/t/infosec-improvements-crosspost-from-github/19328?u=ruko

The original post, before converting this into a bounty

What is infosec

Information Security, and applying it to this game is a bit of a stretch on it's normal usage, especially if you're versed in cyber security. In this sense I mean how information travels across the game, from player to player

In this sense infosec includes:

• Radio channels and headsets
• Suit sensors and tracking beacons
• PDA messages and the logs of those messages being stored even if wiped from the PDA itself
• Alert consoles
• Desk announcements
• Laptop chatrooms
• Mailing via disposals
• Face to face speaking
• Probably some other things that have been forgotten.

What are the current issues with infosec?

Subjective, but these are the issues I see with our current infosec:

1. Players are all connected to each other at almost all times, and as a result players are almost never truly alone.

• This causes issues for antagonists who are strongly encouraged by this point to kill as suddenly and with as little interaction as possible to prevent the whole station from being potentially alerted to their presence.
• Enables the other side of the coin, valid-hunters, to a degree that almost nothing else does.

2. Comms look and behave more like a fast-paced chatroom than actual station comms a solid chunk of the time. Much of the game is spent playing with a constant overload of information as a result, whether this is actually information or just people goofing off on comms.

• Important information is completely lost in the flow of chatter unless you're specifically looking for it
• Some players completely miss what is happening immediately around them as a result of focusing on comms

3. "SUIT SENSORS TO MAX" + portable crew monitors

• Sometimes even playing "optimally" will be immediately given away because there's a security officer or paramedic with an open crew monitor screen.
• The fact these are regularly grabbed by security officers should be enough to highlight that they're too good at their job.

4. The invisible eye of big brother, the AI, can see you potentially anywhere and you won't even know it until it is too late most of the time. There are current PRs addressing this part of the issue right now, just mentioning this because it's relevant and they aren't merged yet

• Removes xray camera upgrades #7385 No more X-ray cameras, except for Malf AI
• Nerfs the AI's tracking ability. #7386 AI tracking ability doesn't work as well for moving targets
• Adds two new station traits concerning silicons. Roundstart AI is now a positive trait. #7377 No more roundstart AI most of the time, so big brother isn't potentially watching from minute zero and can be sabotaged during or before installation.

Proposed solutions to these issues

Remove the common channel from all headsets

• As a side effect of this, using ; to speak will go to your department by default instead of common.
• Headsets should only communicate within the umbrella of a their given leader. All of supply should be connected to the QM, All of service and civilian jobs should be connected to each other and the HoP, and all others should probably be obvious.
• Heads of Staff and Silicons will have comms which bridge departmental gaps, with silicons having all channels and heads having the command channel.

Remove station bounced radios

• Pretty much just to prevent bypassing the above change.

Remove vitals tracking from suit sensors, but have location sensors on by default.

• Being able to track player locations is now the norm, and if someone has vanished from sensors then something is up whether they intentionally disabled them or the player has been killed and stripped.

Promote the various obsolete, and largely unused (and even unknown) means of communication.

• Various alert consoles can make requests to other departments
• Newscasters can be utilized to send generic, low priority information across the station.
• PDAs can be easily used for remote direct communication to each other, and also open opportunities for antags due to easily disguising identity
• Intercomms are littered across the station and barely used currently, and can be set to broadcast by default. Players can access them by standing adjacent to one and starting their message with 'i:' to send a message to all other active intercoms.
• Laptop chatrooms, and laptops in general will be relevant for use again as well.

PDA integration for relevant alerts

• Alert Consoles should be able to call for assistance from relevant departments with an ID swipe.
• Most alerts should ping via PDA to come to the location the emergency was activated, without any description beyond who placed the alert.
• Security alerts should tell officers to check the nearest security console for information about the report, and the person making a security alert can give a description.
• Fire and Air alarms can automatically alert Engineers and Atmos techs. Manual activations should still require an ID.

Bounty details

Bounties have been adjusted and are now approved

Headsets ($25)

• Remove the common channel functionality from all headsets entirely
• Rename "Station Bounced Radio" to "Emergency Radio"
• Give the newly named Emergency Radio a unique "Walkie" channel, separate from common, which is only shared by handheld radios. These radios should function even if comms is down or nonexistent just as they currently do.
• If the server population is below a certain, configurable amount at roundstart, give all players a "Walkie Talkie" which looks and functions identically to emergency radios. Supply one to all latejoining players as well up to the threshold.
• Head of Staff offices should have a box of decryption keys for their relevant departments, to better enable transfers
  • Supply decryption keys should be located in the quartermaster's office rather than the HoP's
• With exception to command and syndicate keys, headsets should refuse encryption keys if they already have one.
• Cyborgs can access binary channel via ; and additionally gain a matching department channel when they choose a module:
  • Standard -> Service
  • Mining -> Supply
  • Engineering -> Engineering
  • Security -> Security (Even though it is currently unused here)
  • Medical -> Medical
  • Janitor -> Service
  • Peacekeeper -> Civilian
  • Clown -> Civilian
• AI retains near universal NT comms access, with exception to the new emergency radio channel
• Heads of staff should have access to their own department via ; as well as the Command channel.
• Normal crew should access their own department with ; and should not have additional channels for the most part.
  • Security Officer, Detective, Brig Physician* and Warden have security channel
  • Engineers and Atmos Techs have the engineering channel
  • Medical Doctors, Chemists, Geneticists, Brig Physician* and Virologist should have the medical channel
  • Janitors, Bartender, Cook and Botanist should have the service channel
  • Scientists, Roboticists and Explorers* should have the science channel
  • Quartermaster, Cargo Technicians and Shaft Miners should have the supply channel
  • All other jobs should have the civilian channel
    • *Explorer should also have the exploration channel, set as default for use with ;
    • *Brig Physician should have security set to default for use with ;, due to primarily serving security despite their placement under the CMO

PDAs ($50) COMPLETED

Completed in #7550

• Port all functions unique to PDAs over to tablet code
  • Traitor uplink functionality
  • Direct messaging to another device
  • The various PDA cartridges can be inserted to run their matching program without download.
  • PDA bombing
  • The ability to store IDs
  • Various odds and ends
• Make players spawn with a new version of tablet, designed to replace PDAs.
  • Should use PDA sprites and have all the same innate functionality as current PDAs, including pre-installed job cartridges
  • Should be upgradeable like tablets
  • Should be able to download additional programs

Quote from @PowerfulBacon

Tablet PDAs should have these conditions for merge:

• UI needs to be updated to be embedded rather than create new windows. Will require updating ui_data of tablet UIs. This means it won't close and open new UIs when you change programs.
• UI needs to have a consistent resolution. Different apps should not resize the PDA.
• PDA background colour functionality should remain.
• All current features of PDA should be retained.
• Some kind of hardware should determine what programs are accessible. (Cartridges)
• Powerful tablet programs like the suit monitor should not be accessible in PDAs.
• Retain current sprites, make them more of a compact phone window rather than a huge tablet that covers half the screen

Alert Console Integration ($20)

• Make changes to alert consoles to accommodate the tablet programs outlined in the next bullet
• Create the following tablet-compatible programs:
  • Security Alert -> Alerts the user to check the nearest console for details about a new security alert and tells them who created it. The security alert should allow but not require the person creating it to type a short blurb describing the incident.
  • Medical Alert -> Alerts the user to come to the location at which the alert was created, and tells them what ID activated it
  • Cleaning Alert -> Alerts the user to come to the location at which the alert was created, and tells them what ID activated it
  • Engineer Alerts:
    • Automatic Air Alarm -> Alerts Engineer of the location of an automatic activation of Air Alarm and alert type (Low Pressure, High pressure, Low Temp, High Temp, Toxins detected)
    • Manual Fire Alarm -> Alerts Engineer of the location of a fire alarm activation and tells them what ID activated it if any ID was equipped by the person tripping it, and reporting "Unknown" if not.

Suit Sensors ($10)

• Downgrade all forms of monitoring to update only once every three minutes with respect to actual round time as listed in-game, so that observant antagonists may use this to their advantage.
• Suit sensors should stop working when comms are offline.

Quoted from @PowerfulBacon

Suit sensors could be part of NTNet and use NTNet signals? Might make them hackable in the future if we allow forging packets. This would also require the NTNet relay to be active.

[Rukofamicom]

There will be an initial learning curve to utilizing the various means of communication again, but the rounds won't be nearly as desolate as some people have made it out to be without common.

[Megaddd]

What is Station Bounced radio for $200, Alex.
(removal? what? Why not give them a range restriction or function between other radios only (make it more garbled by distance for e.g.))

What about custom freq. ?

[Rukofamicom]

Station bounced radios are the radios you find in emergency lockers that always work even if comms are down and exclusively use the common channel.They don't have or accept radio keys and can't have their frequency adjusted.

With one of the major goals of this PR being a huge reduction in portable station wide comms, they kinda need to go. Even without common radios they will broadcast to all intercoms

[Dejaku51]

and can't have their frequency adjusted.

pretty sure you can change freq

[PowerfulBacon]

Bounced radios are fine and you kind of need them for exploring in non comm zones of space

[Megaddd]

If you're gonna remove vitals from suit sensors full stop. Can you add a debug one where they show vitals for everyone regardless?
This is a mild admin situational awareness nerf.

[Sinestia]

This can be compensated for with attack logs showing up in chat situationally ala paradise

[Absolutely-Steph]

Hell yeah, I've been saying this for too damn long.
Keep the tracking of the suit sensors, but have that one PR which makes the interface update more slowly implemented.
And station bounced radios should still be a thing, but they should only be able to transmit/receive if you're holding it in your hand, and maybe apply a crackly text filter on it to make messages a bit harder to understand. the same filter also being applied to intercoms.

[Sinestia]

Something like that could be pretty good, such as if the suit sensors updated at predictable intervals like every 5 minutes station time

[Mat05usz]

Players are all connected to each other at almost all times, and as a result players are almost never truly alone.
This causes issues for antagonists who are strongly encouraged by this point to kill as suddenly and with as little interaction as possible to prevent the whole station from being potentially alerted to their presence.
Enables the other side of the coin, valid-hunters, to a degree that almost nothing else does.

So after these changes antags will be able to remove you without alerting anyone, while also making the station feel so empty because noone would be talking over the radio. It's already often a problem that people are so focused on their jobs so they don't talk, making it even worse is not gonna change that.

[PowerfulBacon]

Heres my idea:

All computers that can magically communicate should be moved to using NTNet.
Add in ways to hack, such as spoofing packets.
There are now multiple ways to sabotage systems like this, since you can destroy the NTNet relay or get a tablet and spoof packets.

I always wanted to remove common but people probably won't like that.

[Dejaku51]

I will be doing it after NTnet pr is merged

[Rukofamicom]

I always wanted to remove common

I think this is the first I've heard you say this somehow, which is odd considering how many times I've pitched this idea just to gauge the reception of it to the people present.

[Tavczan]

Removing the ability to speak through comms while handcuffed/disabled would be a good addition alongside these changes, or even a separate one if most of this doesn't get implemented.
Most of validhunting is caused by ANNETAGINWESTMEDMAINTHALPKILLINGME which then prompts a med/sec tide to the location.

This still doesn't stop your target from calling for help if you can't properly set up an ambush

Internal radio implants could be immune to this and actually become somewhat worth buying

Edit - I'm blind and this is a discussion and not PR lol

[Mat05usz]

That is actually a cool idea. Make it so free hands are needed to use the radio, but keep the common channel.

[DerpiestBruh]

Remove the common channel from all headsets

BASED BASED BASED BASED BASED

Remove station bounced radios

What if you make them really limited? As if, they cannot be printed and there's a limited amount of radios per station. Or making them need batteries like tablets? Or maybe them needing tcomms machines to be intact to work?

[Mat05usz]

And how is making the game feel like singleplayer: 'BASED BASED BASED BASED BASED'?

[DerpiestBruh]

You're saying as if the game isn't singleplayer already. Plus there's other means of comms that isn't just the radio.

[Dejaku51]

And how is making the game feel like singleplayer: 'BASED BASED BASED BASED BASED'?

people that play singleplayer will still play singleplayer
people that don't want to play singleplayer will still play multiplayer by going to bar or just talking on ntnet messaging app (which is the reason of common being deleted)

[heepox]

I mean most people dont use signal jammers AI detectors or chameleon kits with agent IDs since they want to use the real gamer stuff only or do a no TC antaggery.

• Signal jammer (No comms, No suit sensors, No AI/borg door controls)
• Chameleon kit (Disquise on the fly and pretend to be someone else so your real identity is not discovered)
• Agent ID (no AI tracking and ditto on disquising yourself)
• AI Detector (See blind spots and when the AI is or is not looking)

What about PDA bombs?

In addition

• Removing suit sensors will make finding dead people who died of some cause so much harder and increase round removals.
• Xray cams removal is fine i guess since they are extremely cheap and easy to make (how about making them expensive instead and needing a special camera instead of upgrade?)
• People stick together to avoid being caught out usually so reducing comms will increase mass murder antaggery due to longer response times. (I will methbomb that group that has my target in the middle collateral be damned)

[Sinestia]

Removing suit sensors will make finding dead people who died of some cause so much harder and increase round removals.

I've really wanted to look at adding more ways to get people back into the round such as purchasable employees

I think round removal is something people need to just get over (provided it was done sensibly)

[FriendlyContractor]

First of all i agree with almost everything and wish to thank you for starting this very important discussion. Now lets get to my thoughts and suggestions:

Remove the common channel from all headsets

How about going a step further and restricting headsets to security and command only? Departments are not that big and there are intercomms in every room. It would be quite interesting if headset was something rare and valuable rather than available to everyone and it would have many interesting implications.

Remove vitals tracking from suit sensors, but have location sensors on by default.

Lets suit sensors removed entirely. I feel like removing health monitoring is going to result in medical/security department simply swarming last known location after sensors go offline rather than when person is shown to be wounded. This would also probably lead to a situation where players can identify antagonists who cannot for obvious reason have their sensors enabled. And finally i just personnaly think being able to track every player in game about secret antagonists is not a good thing and ruins the tension.

[itsmeow]

Just want to note

I am already working on and have been working on the PDA section of this bounty.

The following PRs were made in preparation for this overhaul:

• [TG PORT] Gets our HoP console / ID console code up to date with TG #7335
• [TG PORT] Gets our Modular PCs (mostly) up to date with TG + small runtime fix #7338
• [TG PORT] Removes Robot Commands and replaces it with an integrated control tablet program + silicons start with HUD on #7351
• ModPC Update V2 #7551

EDIT-
See:

• [MDB IGNORE] Replace PDAs with tablets #7550

[PowerfulBacon]

Tablet PDAs should have these conditions for merge:

• UI needs to be updated to be embedded rather than create new windows. Will require updating ui_data of tablet UIs. This means it won't close and open new UIs when you change programs.
• UI needs to have a consistent resolution. Different apps should not resize the PDA.
• PDA background colour functionality should remain.
• All current features of PDA should be retained.
• Some kind of hardware should determine what programs are accessible. (Cartridges)
• Powerful tablet programs like the suit monitor should not be accessible in PDAs.
• Retain current sprites, make them more of a compact phone window rather than a huge tablet that covers half the screen

[itsmeow]

Powerful tablet programs like the suit monitor should not be accessible in PDAs.

Tablet program downloads are already ID-locked.

[Rukofamicom]

Quoted into the bounty 👍

[PowerfulBacon]

I think fire alarm should be changed to not require an ID. They are emergency alarms and should be usable by anyone in an emergency.

[Rukofamicom]

Adjusted 👍

[PowerfulBacon]

Suit sensors could be part of NTNet and use NTNet signals? Might make them hackable in the future if we allow forging packets. This would also require the NTNet relay to be active.

[Rukofamicom]

Quoted under the bounty 👍

[Dejaku51]

that was my first idea to make with the NTnet update lmao

[Rukofamicom]

With those + some discord conversation, I'd say the bounties are finalized as is now.

[itsmeow]

Just found an important part to add.

Our newscaster needs to be updated to TGUI.

tgstation/tgstation#65038

This is also necessary so the newscaster PDA cartridge can be added to tablets.

[Kenionatus]

I'm here as a player and sometimes coder on NSV. I'd highly appreciate if the communications rework (common removal, sensors, max number of keys) would be easily configurable (if they aren't already). We try to only change the code we inherit from Bee slightly or preferably not at all because resolving merge conflicts is a pain in the ass. Especially if it's complicated or important systems like comms.

[Kenionatus]

Some inspiration, also containing points for and against removal of commons, from Rimmy Downunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1pFWhlnG4w
(against: radio creates a shared experience in games with mostly localised gameplay
for: limited information makes better emergent stories)

[PowerfulBacon]

I removed the common radio for a round and redirected the common channel of headsets into their appropriate channels.
It was actually a lot more interesting to watch as information slowly spread around the station.
Security got bombed, science talks about how it wasn't a science bomb while service fight among themselves over an accusation of a rogue chef.
One thing to note is that there should probably be someone to spread the information up to command who can then relay it out to their departments, without a head of the department it makes it so there is nobody that can relay information out.
Would also be interesting if there was a PDA application to send requests to a specific channel that you don't have access to with a cooldown.

[PowerfulBacon]

Here were some of the comms I got during the round.

Shizzle yells, "WE NEED TO UNIONIZE!!" [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Pda bomb." Central Command Update

Electrical Storm Alert

An electrical storm has been detected in your area, please repair potential electronic overloads.

(F) [Common] The newscaster beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Im deaf."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "SSSending out the sssupply ssshuttle, lassst call for cratesss and bountiesss."
(F) [Supply] Alyssa Raub says, "Was one of the baldies dumb enough to rush a tendril and die."
(F) [Service] Jim Russell asks, "Anyone got lights out?"
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Im in bridge."
(F) [Supply] Alyssa Raub says, "Dont revive them."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "PDA Bombs?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "We got pda bombs."
Central Command Update

Your default radio channel (;) has been reconfigured to go to the appropriate channels.

(F) [Common] The newscaster beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "AI deactivate messging."
(F) [Service] Cryphia Goniosigma flutters, "Yay."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "Test."
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood says, "Test."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "That's so cool."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Test."
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk says, "Test."
(F) [Service] Cryphia Goniosigma flutters, "Pdas aree bombs."
(F) [Science] Rubette Magenta meows, "Woo."
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim asks, "What do you mean?"
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "Test."
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk says, "I guess common is gone then."
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim says, "Wait."
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim says, "Hmm."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Test."
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim says, "Alright."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "Where main comms?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Turn off pda messaging."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "We have pda bombs."
(F) [Command] Migdorn Bagdallen says, "Oh my goodness."
(F) [Medical] Take-A-Broom hisses, "Reconfigured how."
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim asks, "Wait so does that mean?"
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim asks, "Is this common?"
(F) [Medical] Sully Jimtim says, "Nope."
(F) [Medical] Melody Baker meows, "No."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Fun."
Central Command Update

Incoming dust-storm at beacon location. ETA: 547 seconds.

(F) [Service] Cryphia Goniosigma flutters, "I will be scurrying around in maints, do not mind me."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "We have traitors on board."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "I was PDA bombed in bridge."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Friendly reminder to turn your PDA messages off unless you like getting blown up."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "Everyone get your PDA sssend/recieve turned off. We had reportsss of Detonating PDA'sss."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "I am deaf for now."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Understood."
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "Test."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "You didnt even secure the disk."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "AI."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "Any idea on how to deal with someone that became a legion?"
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "There is no cure for them."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "Just death?"
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "They even ash upon death."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Jesus."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen asks, "Get a blood sample maybe?"
(F) [Exploration] Lia Brinigh meows, "I'll just depressurize his place."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Botany clone them with pods."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen asks, "Maybe?"
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk asks, "Something happen to the botanists?"
(F) [Science] Rubette Magenta asks, "Should we vote for Gloria to be temp stand in for RD?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Cant even draw blood."
(F) [Service] Isabelle McConaughey meows, "HoP."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Check it out."
(F) [Service] Isabelle McConaughey yells, "You didnt LOG OUT!!"
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk says, "Found both of their pdas in one place."
(F) [Service] Jerald Montana yells, "HAH!!"
(F) [Service] Isabelle McConaughey meows, "And the windoor is open."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Probably tossed them then."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Not sure if I can even do much, I'd need access and I doubt Hop or cap would give it to me."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "We've got an officer down an ID."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "PDA bombs."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "Tessst."
(F) [Medical] The Medibot declares, "Medical emergency! Jerry Rowley is in critical condition at Medbay Central!"
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan asks, "AI, can you get medical open?"
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk says, "Oh yeah."
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk asks, "Cant they just disable messaging?"
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "It's the easier and simplier option."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "My god, space lag is really slowing down Xenobiology."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "One of the minersss isss dead, but they're in medical."
(F) [Science] Reginald Nehling says, "Alright, sorry abouit thart."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "I sssaw two more."
(F) [Science] Reginald Nehling says, "Urgen SSD occurance."
(F) [Exploration] Lia Brinigh meows, "It's a war of attrition."
(F) [Exploration] Lia Brinigh meows, "Just go back inside and heal."
(F) [Service] Milah-Beekatan hisses, "Tessst."
(F) [Supply] Daniela Koepple asks, "HOP you alive?"
(F) [Supply] Lillian Carter asks, "SINCLAIR where are you?"
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The chaplain was totally covered in blood."
(F) [Supply] Lillian Carter exclaims, "I have a mail for you!"
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Please investigate."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "We have an id less officer."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Chaplin has been killing monkies."
(F) [Command] Migdorn Bagdallen says, "Hey AI, would you mind opening this door please? I wanted to grab the pAI over there."
(F) [Service] Shizzle exclaims, "Chef bad!"
(F) [Service] Isabelle McConaughey asks, "Huh?"
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "What."
(F) [Service] Shizzle yells, "He is heretic!!"
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Ai im going to the sat to set up teleported."
(F) [Command] Migdorn Bagdallen exclaims, "Thank you!"
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "WHAT."
(F) [Common] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Chaplin to chappel please."
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "Don't molto malemouth my-a cuisine, buffone."
(F) [Service] Shizzle exclaims, "He drew a rune in his freezer!"
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "I'm an honest pizza pasta man."
(F) [Common] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Ah janitor."
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "By the way."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Bomb outside armoury."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "Whos' the acting cap?"
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor says, "Buffone went to cryo."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Oh jesus."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Spacesuit man ran south with it."
(F) [Service] Vaughn Heckendor asks, "Are you the magical voice?"
(F) [Common] The Pwr Game Vendor beeps, "The POWER that gamers crave! PWR GAME!"
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Currently riding a space carp off of camera range."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Wait."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "There was a medical guy with a carp."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The bomb is in space."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Hey is time broken for you too."
(F) [Engineering] Frank Adamczyk says, "I dont htink so."
(F) [Common] Frank Adamczyk says, "I dont htink so."
(F) [Service] The tony flutters, "Bartender's drinks are good."
(F) [Engineering] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Oh dear CE."
(F) [Engineering] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "What have you done."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "The bomb there?"
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Figured it out."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Right."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The bomb is outside the armoury."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese asks, "Toxins?"
(F) [Service] The tony flutters, "For i am the tony."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "The fuck was that?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "It went boom."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Toxins has been done."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "WHERE ARE THE SUITS?"
(F) [Common] The YouTool beeps, "Thank you for shopping with the YouTool!"
(F) [Science] Reginald Nehling says, "There's 5 TTV's still in toxins."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Yes, but when you make one bomb."
(F) [Science] Reginald Nehling says, "Considering we're equipped with 6, that wasn't toxins."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Yeah."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "They'd need stuff from atmos to do it."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Guns are gone."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "One bomb takes all the O2 cans we have."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "In toxins."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "I think I found it."
(F) [Common] P. Tomo queries, "Sin?"
(F) [Security] Gage Kimple says, "I'm gonna be honest about 2 things."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Not that big."
(F) [Common] P. Tomo queries, "You around?"
(F) [Security] Gage Kimple says, "This feels like a nukie attack."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Just outside of med."
(F) [Command] Reginald Nehling asks, "What?"
(F) [Security] Gage Kimple says, "And I might cryo."
(F) [Command] Reginald Nehling asks, "Whats the problems?"
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "0 idea why but gasses are freezing."
(F) [Common] Bill Green says, "Suit sensors to max."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "It was not a nuclear operative, it was a man in a regular space suit riding a carp."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Randomly."
(F) [Security] Gage Kimple says, "Still deaf by the way."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "A man just bombed the armoury."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "OH."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Looks like something may have happened on brdige."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Blood and a big dent in the floor."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Attention, the bomber may be a paramedic."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Set them to watch."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "Don't expect any greens soon."
(F) [Engineering] Imhotep Richblood says, "Nevermind 100% time dilation figured it out."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Also."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "Any idea on the hos?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Aha."
(F) [Security] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "I cannot locate the HoS."
(F) [Common] The ShadyCigs Deluxe beeps, "Smoke!"
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "ZAMN."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "AI when can we have common comms back?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Well."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "We have no guns."
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Never."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "Why not?"
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Common has ceased to exist."
(F) [Syndicate] Beth Green says, "Hello."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "Why?"
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "I have no control over it."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "Who does?"
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The SILKWIND virus does."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "Give me a rundown on what happened in the last 10 min as i have just got back my hearing."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "Fucking hell, can we remove it?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Armory went boom."
(F) [Service] Cryphia Goniosigma flutters, "Hydro guy stole my wheelchair."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "And no more guns."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine asks, "Is the armory fixed?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Negative."
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "No, because the SILKWIND virus is a central command level threat."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "It isn't going to be fixed for a while."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "I will order more weapons."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Christ."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Mime just threw a strange object at sci."
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood says, "Test."
(F) [Supply] Milah-Beekatan asks, "Everyone ssstill good?"
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "Check check."
Central Command Update

Anomaly Alert

Localized limb swapping agent. Expected location: Library. Wear biosuits to counter the effects.

(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga asks, "Do y ou read me?"
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Ce the VIP wants engineering access to help."
(F) [Common] The newscaster beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [148.1] Unknown beeps, "Breaking news from Station Announcements!"
(F) [Medical] Noms-The-Wires hisses, "Hey cloning i got ye 400u of sssynthflesssh."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen asks, "Tools yet?"
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood says, "Uh."
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood says, "Don't need much help but sure."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Got em."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "WIZARD."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "BELOW CARGO."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "That explains it."
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "This is syndicate officer Kanaga, cybersun operative, your explorers were sent to kill me."
(F) [Medical] Noms-The-Wires hisses, "There'sss 200u worth of patchesss in the front chemfridge."
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "I wish to negotiate the recovery of their corpses."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Hello."
(F) [Common] Bill Green says, "Ai open dying explo."
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "Machine, route me to this place's leader."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "AI please open cargo."
(F) [Medical] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Wrong area."
(F) [Medical] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "They are in arrivals."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "AI, I wish to deliver this odysseus for a bounty."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Captain."
(F) [Common] Bill Green asks, "Wait is the explo shuttle in arrivals?"
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "AI I wish to deliver a strange object for a bounty."
(F) [Common] Bill Green asks, "Could you let me out ai?"
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "AI can you unlock the door?"
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Where are you."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker asks, "Or you dont see it?"
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "I am in station space, I wish to speak with your leader before approaching further."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "I will inform the captain."
(F) [Medical] Take-A-Broom yells, "SSSomebody wnated Inacusssiate itsss in the chem fridge!!"
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "Any unapproved attempt to near my new vessel will be met with violence and my departure, with your people's corpses."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "That is understood."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Either way I am obliged to prevent you from coming to harm."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "So, like.."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "AI please open."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. queries, "Captain?"
(F) [Science] Ella Aese asks, "Is the wizard dealt with?"
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Yes my hearing is back."
(F) [Science] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Cannot locate wizard."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "No clue."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "There is a syndicate operative in space."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese asks, "Also, is anyone using the science shuttle?"
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood asks, "Nukies?"
(F) [Science] Reginald Nehling says, "Miners, we've got your tech researched but we're still significantly lacking materilas."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "No."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Ahh shit."
(F) [Command] Imhotep Richblood says, "Not my problem then."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine asks, "Where?"
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He has the exploration shuttle along with the dead explorers."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He wishes to negotiate."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine asks, "For what?"
(F) [Command] Reginald Nehling says, "Ughg."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He has not specified."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen asks, "HoS you ok?"
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen asks, "Or still deaf?"
Automated Lighting System Announcement

Good morning, crew. As it is now day time, all of the lights aboard the station have been restored to their former brightness.

(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Ask him what he wants."
(F) [Common] The Pwr Game Vendor beeps, "The POWER that gamers crave! PWR GAME!"
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He threatens to leave with the corpses if approached without a deal."
(F) [Security] Nanako Wise says, "HOS inst on sensors."
(F) [Security] Ashton Valentine says, "My hearing is back again."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Operative."
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga asks, "Yes?"
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The station commander wishes to know your demands."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Shells still in armory so that is good."
(F) [Syndicate] Beth Green says, "Hello."
(F) [Exploration] Nyla Kanaga says, "I want a brute and burn medkit, a sizeable ration of food and at least fifty plasma sheets."
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey asks, "RD are you okay?"
(F) [Science] Gloria Northey says, "Good."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine asks, "He is in explo shuttle yes?"
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "The operative wants the following:"
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He is."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine asks, "How arremed is he?"
(F) [Syndicate] Beth Green says, "Oprative."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "I do not know, as he has parked in space. He will leave if approached."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Need engi to brig."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Ah damn it."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "These new headsets."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "He wants 50 plasma sheets, a large supply of food, a brute first aid kit and a burn first aid kit."
(F) [Science] Malcolm Archer says, "I need HoP at the line."
(F) [Security] Melody Baker meows, "Im hating them."
(F) [Science] Malcolm Archer says, "HoP."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "I would PDA them."
(F) [Exploration] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. states, "Message relayed. Awaiting commander's response."
(F) [Science] Malcolm Archer says, "Fuck."
(F) [Science] Malcolm Archer asks, "Why is the common radio out?"
(F) [Medical] The Automated Announcement System coldly states, "Jose Antonio, Chief Medical Officer, is the department head."
(F) [Science] Ella Aese says, "Felinid scientist, wait for me."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "Silkworm virus."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Send a brute and burn kit next to the shuttle entrance."
(F) [Science] Malcolm Archer says, "Ah well."
(F) [Science] Osmund Rockwell says, "Probably because of the wizard."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Have him leave the shuttle."
(F) [Command] H.A.L.F.W.I.T. queries, "Arrivals shuttle entrance?"
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "A.I. please inform Engieering of brigs status and need of repair."
(F) [Security] Kalavi Lumen flutters, "Also state laws."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "Yes."
(F) [Command] Ashton Valentine says, "I want him outside the shuttle."

[PowerfulBacon]

Another interesting thing was still being able to use inetrcoms. Let you send messages to all if you really needed

[PowerfulBacon]

This is now starting to become an idea that I'm willing to play with and tweak around to get different results

[Rukofamicom]

Greatly appreciate the ghetto test of the concept, gives me a lot of hope for a fairly positive overall reception based on this.

[PowerfulBacon]

Not sure how lowpop will fair, the station did feel fairly empty.
There definitely needs to be buttons to call people in departments to their desks, as well as a way to do requests via PDAs rather than request consoles which can be fairly hard to find.

[Mat05usz]

the station did feel fairly empty.

That's the thing I fear the most, that the station will feel empty. It already fucking does when nothing is happening and this idea will only make it worse.

[hotimep]

me when it's ~25 pop and i'm playing as an engineer and i get an awesome 8 radio messages in a 2 hour round

[dwasint]

Frankly all of these should probably be given some form of NT-Net integration as it opens far more in the future if we have packet forgery

[ike709]

PDA section is now marked as completed, because it just was

[Bokkiewokkie]

Question about the radio's, would intercoms talk over the same radio channel as the walkie talkies? And should players be able to configure either of these to communicate over different frequencies? (Signalers also use these radio channels, so should changes be made to those?)
On top of that I'd like to suggest a change. On NSV we've changed how Syndicate encryption keys work, only letting them hear Syndicate comms, and added a new type of key, the "Universal Decryption Key", which lets you hear but not speak in all channels. Both of these can be purchased seperately by traitors and it also means Syndicates don't drop a free all access card to comms for whoever gets their hands on a key. I think this would fit on Bee as well.

[Bokkiewokkie]

Oh and should the AI's private radio channel still be accessible to everyone like how it is right now?