Ron-Goron
Communications Technician
Examination for Communications Technician
Exam 2: Human/Signals Intelligence Collection & Analysis
[Platoon Commander's Choice]
If someone passing by could have described the look upon Ron's face as he threw himself around the foyer of the examination room; they would undoubtedly say that he had the look of frustration, anger, and hopelessness all rolled into one. And Ron most likely would have agreed.
He was locked into the foyer of the examination room, the very room where he was "told" that he would take his test. Of course, his first test was on the way to his "exams"... the faulty speeder being his first test. Now here he was, unable to get in or out of the tiny room between the hallways of the specialty building and the examination room.
This was undoubtedly another test, his Cryptology test. The card that he was given didn't work; of course it didn't work. When he swiped it through the recognition slot the computer told him that it was outdated. That was easy enough to figure out; those inside who were testing him probably changed it right before he arrived. Ron slammed his fist against the door in front of him, hitting it harder and harder to think of an idea, any idea to get out of the foyer.
All he had brought with him was his laptop, the ace in the hole for most communications technicians. The only problem was that the door wasn't any ordinary door. The examination room doubled up as both a strategy room and as a war archives library; it was built to keep out any unwanted company. This door was reinforced with two layers of reinforced carbon; had three different alarm sources, and there was only one way to get in... via access card.
Ron pulled out the access card from his pocket to inspect the small jagged edges that had the power to let him in or lock him out. Surely the card was no different from any other in composition; such tiny details was unnecessary in keeping out the common trouble maker. Hopefully all he needed to do was change the programming on the card- and pick the right access code.
First he took out his computer and found the correct file extension to connect to the password card. Fortunately he had a usable slot to insert the card- otherwise his attempt would be futile. Ron opened up the card's diagnostics and read through all the changes to the card's programming. Most likely the card was set on a code that didn't work... perhaps a past code would work, even if it was outdated.
He found what he was looking for quickly enough. It was a code that read for today's exact date which didn't match up with the other codes that were used in the past. Ron erased the code set for that date and reinstalled a past code. Hopefully the register at the door wouldn't be picky.
Ron took out the card from his laptop and swiped it through the register. No response. He blew on the edges to get any dust of it and tried again, slower this time. The register recognized the card, but refused it. Ron tried again with the same result, and tried once more.
This time the register emitted a few short beeps before a red beam appeared two feet over Ron's head. Ron realized what it was just in time, and he ducked behind a table laden with magazines as the beam passed over without another second to lose.
"Damn, damn, damn." Ron mumbled. That must have been the first of the alarm systems. Chances were that if he kept on failing, more alarm systems would come on- and he would be detected. That would set off the general alarm, and he would be laughed at and dejected.
If nothing else, Ron knew that if he somehow managed to dodge all of the defense mechanisms of the register- that the door would have to reset itself, which would provide him with enough time to weasel a bypass through the security. It would have to be quick though, these doors tend to reset themselves in a minute flat.
Ron tried another past code; this time a little more recent. The register dejected it three times like before, and on the last time two ports opened on either side of the door: security blaster guns.
"No, no, no!" Ron yelled. He leaped to the only place where he would be safe, right up against the door between the two guns. A trail of fire followed him as he jumped... eventually stopping when the guns couldn't turn sharp enough to target him. He was on the floor, but flat up against the wall. Those guns weren't flexible enough to reach him there. Ron took jacket off and waved it behind the gun on the left. The right hand gun targeted the jacket and fired- disposing of the left hand gun. Ron sighed and put on the jacket; two blaster holes visible in the back. Ron reached up and snapped off the other gun, allowing himself to get back up and try again.
Ron plugged in the card to his laptop and tried one last code. He knew that if this one didn't work then he would have a chance... just one chance to hack into the register while it was resetting. He hoped that the code would work; the other option only came if he would be able to avoid the defense system.
Ron swiped the card and cringed, squinting one eye as he expected the register to reject it. There was no reply, no acceptance, nothing...
Suddenly a ticker appeared on the display monitor of the register.
19.
It was a countdown. Ron realized too soon that the wall material of the foyer in which he was locked could withstand a minor explosion, there were only a few items within that would be destroyed, but they were easily enough replenished. Ron ran about in a panic- slamming his fists against both doors, afraid that he would end up as the wallpaper of the damned foyer.
18.
Ron rushed at the register and ripped open the plate which covered the wires he needed to get at. He picked out a green connection wire from his pocket and plugged his laptop into the door.
17.
The display panel for the door's security flickered onto his screen and he searched frantically for the security files. They were tucked away in a ghost file, which took Ron a minute to unpack and open.
16.
Ron was working faster now, keeping an eye on the ticker as well as on his laptop. He found the codes for all of the door's defense mechanisms except for the current one.
14.
"What?" Ron screamed. The ticker had jumped from 16 to 14 without bothering to go to 15.
"That's not fair!" Ron screamed.
13.
Evidently the ticker didn't care. Ron ran his hand through his hair in his frustration, finally deciding on using a general command to open all files in the register's defense file.
12.
The files came up. Ron searched through it in a panic, and finally came down to the "SELF_DESTRUCT" file.
11.
Ron opened up the file without hesitating, tapping his foot on the ground impatiently as it downloaded onto his computer.
10.
SELF_DESTRUCT had three files within that one. They were labeled as A, B, and C... probably three different codes to make it difficult for hackers such as himself to get through it.
9.
Ron opened up the A file. Dozens of letters and numbers filed onto the screen, eventually ending with the message "SOURCE NOT FOUND"
"Dammit." Ron grumbled.
8.
Next he tried the B file. The same procedure happened, with the same message, "SOURCE NOT FOUND"
"Figures." Ron said. "It's C."
7.
Ron opened up the C file and successfully managed to get it downloaded onto his laptop.
6.
He pulled up the ACTIVATE/DEACTIVATE file and searched for the password prompt. This was taking too much time.
4.
"Bastard!" Ron yelled at the ticker.
3.
Finally the password prompt came up. Ron opened it and typed "STUDENT" for user, "CPL_RON" for name, and "COMTECH" for class.
2.
The computer was registering. Beads of sweat poured down Ron's face...
1.
"Damn you! Stop!" Ron yelled.
It stopped. The doors opened, and beyond he could see the examination room with a large oak table in the center that stretched back to the wide, bright windows in the back of the room. Ron sat on the ground and leaned his head back.
"That was rough." he whispered.
