//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Guardians. It has been too long. At 1424 hours today, one of my terrestrial satellite links received the following message. The full contents are scrambled due to /?atmospheric/ interference, but I believe there is enough information here to find /the answer/.

//MODE/BIN/JPEG

//MODE/EN
In addition, I have successfully intercepted an /object of particular interest/ and am willing to reroute it to the first Guardian to successfully decode the above message. I require proof of message reconstruction to verify results.

//MODE/BIN/JPEG

//MODE/EN
Good luck.

//END-TX

- No text -

I don't see why you can't...

Paddy has one too, that is superior in my opinion.

I don't see why you can't...

Paddy has one too, that is superior in my opinion.

This is news.

I have no idea what I am doing but that has yet to stop me.

After a quick look, it seems that both parts of the message are errors codes. The first, an RX_ERR has to do with the NIC (Network Interface Card on a computer) when it cannot process it's incoming traffic because the L2 Ethernet frames are corrupted. Whatever that means, I'm not totally sure. Now, the second part, the CRC_FAIL error message. That apparently means that some of the files in the transmission did not survive the journey. Apparently Usenet has a system that can help recover the files called a Par2, but you still need a good amount of data in the first place to help fix the file.

If that has anything to do with this, I have no idea, but it could. I have also tried separating out the RGB channels in case the colors might help in decoding the message, but no luck with that so far.

After a quick look, it seems that both parts of the message are errors for 2 different things, the first, an RX_ERR has to do with the NIC (Network Interface Card on a computer) when it cannot process it's incoming traffic because the L2 Ethernet frames are corrupted. Whatever that means, I'm not totally sure. Now, the second part, the CRC_FAIL error message. That apparently means that some of the files in the transmission did not survive the journey. Apparently Usenet has a system that can help recover the files called a Par2, but you still need a good amount of data in the first place to help fix the file.

If that has anything to do with this, I have no idea, but it could. I have also tried separating out the RGB channels in case the colors might help in decoding the message, but no luck with that so far.

Yep - First thing I did just in case. Can't with the second image - Grayscale, so no point.

After a quick look, it seems that both parts of the message are errors for 2 different things

Errors for two different things? "RX" just refers to the receive part of a serial connection, so an RX ERR would imply there's been a problem with receiving incoming data. CRC's are used basically like parity bits; it's just a small piece of data that you can calculate from the "actual" data being sent, which is also sent alongside the data. If the CRC alongside the data doesn't match the CRC you calculate from the data, that tells you that there's been a problem.

I would think that an "RX_ERR" could be thrown as a result of a "CRC_FAIL."

- No text -

The writing in the background looks gallifreyan to me. Just one possibility.

The other thing is I've been trying to get a better picture of what the squares look like behind it, but have had no luck so far.

Sience I'm more about the visuals, I'm looking at all the elements. We already know there was a data error, its addressed in /Sekhmet/ post. There is alot of text in the bacround which you can see in full here:

Its grainy - but of course it is, but part of me is wondering if it is Fallen text.

I have the faintest idea what exactly to make of the circles. Working on it.

Edit: Gallifreyan! Thank you Relativiox.

That text between the errors defiantly looks Fallen to me. But those rings behind the block? I do want to say it's Galligreyan, but we'd need to get a much better look without obstruction to really tell for sure.

Hey Sekhmet! Is it possible you have a higher resolution image available or is that not a possibility at this time?

- No text -

- No text -

Have to get back to work - be back soon.

Hey Sekhmet! Is it possible you have a higher resolution image available or is that not a possibility at this time?

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

The binary data included in the original message is sufficient for further analysis.

//END-TX

Link to a new image:

http://destiny.bungie.org/extras/sekhmet/clu255pe0id0ae.png

- No text -

Opened the image in a hex editor, and found the url at the bottom

http://i.imgur.com/9qYPSC1.png

Yea. Thought as much. Deepest I can go is Exif. :/

Thank You.

You could literally find the text by opening the image in notepad, though notepad's formatting would make it a bit hard to find (all the cool kids are using wordpad, naturally).

I tried coding in Visual Basic once. There were no survivors.

You could literally find the text by opening the image in notepad, though notepad's formatting would make it a bit hard to find (all the cool kids are using wordpad, naturally).

It was right at the bottom, so it was easy to find. :P

It was right at the bottom, so it was easy to find. :P

Notepad is going to spew it way off to the side because of how it handles line breaks, though.

Other editors will keep the URL aligned in the viewing window.

- No text -

Already working on this, but not finding anything so far.

Been playing with this idea, but the trick would be to figure out what means what.

- No text -

Thoughts?

In case anyone else wants to mess with it, here is the hex representation of the central pixels, going by row, then column, 1 byte per pixel.

31 40 51 51 10 01 24 10 24 24 09 31 00 00 04 40 00 04 09 10 19 01 19 01 51 09 04 04 01 04 09 19 10 24 31 40 51 09 24 00 31 00 19 31 10 01 19 40 01

Thoughts?

Good to know it's on a scale of 1-10, just have to figure out what that means now :)

At least not at first glance.

http://destiny.wikia.com/wiki/File:Days_and_Signs.png

- No text -

We don't exactly know what the 'answer' is supposed to be, weather a string of numbers, words, or what. But I think the white boxes might be where we input whatever it is we get? They're going to be in pairs of 3, so that might narrow down possibilities.

I can't help but also feel that this information might be important:

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

The binary data included in the original message is sufficient for further analysis.

//END-TX

The binary data of the image might be important, but I don't have the tools to mess around with that.

Also, my hometown is in AG. Hit me up sometime.

- No text -

The name of the hidden image (found here) is clu255pe0id0ae.png

If you remove the numbers, you're left with the word "clupeidae" which is a type of fish. In fact, it's the family that herrings belong to.

The numbers we removed (255,0,0) together are the RGB value for the color red.

Putting this all together, we get "red herring" as the name of the hidden image. o_0

On the topic of color, I think it's important to pay attention to the colors within Sekhmet's post. I've noted the words/phrases that were highlighted with a color and their respective color codes from the DBO forums and RGB equivalents.

/?atmospheric/ = color #c00 (RGB: 204,0,0)
/the answer/ = color #60c (RGB: 102,0,204)
/object of particular interest/ = color #c00 (RGB: 204,0,0)

Based on these observations, my guesses on how to next proceed are to either:

1) Ignore the red channel of the images and look for hidden information on the green/blue channels

2) Manipulate the images to match the ratio of RGB in "/the answer/" color

3) Treat the clu255pe0id0ae.png image as a red herring literally and ignore it

I have no idea what to do about the grid, although I did notice that it happens to be 7x7 blocks, which makes sense for a Bungie related puzzle. :)

I've found a pattern that suggests a different way of numbering the squares:

The hex values are the squares of the numbers 0 to 9.

First row as hex:
31 40 51 51 10 01 24

First row as decimal:
49 64 81 81 16 1 36

First row, replacing the squares with the corresponding digits 0..9:
7 8 9 9 4 1 6

Here's the complete grid if we replace the squares with their single-digit roots:

7 8 9 9 4 1 6
4 6 6 3 7 0 0
2 8 0 2 3 4 5
1 5 1 9 3 2 2
1 2 3 5 4 6 7
8 9 3 6 0 7 0
5 7 4 1 5 8 1

Nice catch! I've relabeled the image with your discovery:

Putting this all together, we get "red herring" as the name of the hidden image. o_0

I have to say - this made me laugh. (In a good way.)

Bravo - to both you and Sekhmet.

On the topic of color, I think it's important to pay attention to the colors within Sekhmet's post. I've noted the words/phrases that were highlighted with a color and their respective color codes from the DBO forums and RGB equivalents.

/?atmospheric/ = color #c00 (RGB: 204,0,0)
/the answer/ = color #60c (RGB: 102,0,204)
/object of particular interest/ = color #c00 (RGB: 204,0,0)

Based on these observations, my guesses on how to next proceed are to either:

1) Ignore the red channel of the images and look for hidden information on the green/blue channels

2) Manipulate the images to match the ratio of RGB in "/the answer/" color

3) Treat the clu255pe0id0ae.png image as a red herring literally and ignore it

I have no idea what to do about the grid, although I did notice that it happens to be 7x7 blocks, which makes sense for a Bungie related puzzle. :)

All we have is your guess involving the color use of the text. I personally think the time of interception could be a factor.

And yet...

Hey Sekhmet! Is it possible you have a higher resolution image available or is that not a possibility at this time?

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

The binary data included in the original message is sufficient for further analysis.

//END-TX

Lots of ideas, with little direction. There is so much context that we do not have. Even the terrestrial location could be a factor.

- No text -

Decided to get the codes to see if there is anything worth noting.

Every code is based of a number from 0-9, squared. Hmm.

Yeah, BeingU noticed the connection to the squared numbers, too. I labeled the image last night with the square roots here:

Could they possibly mean something, like a possible arrangement of stuff?

Maybe this will help us figure it out.

I think the designs are hinting at what should go in the boxes. Almost all of the circles are sized to match the grid proportions. Something's here, just can't quite work it out yet.

I can't help but feel as though the center right circle is somewhat of a clue. The lines going through the circle attach to the circle, which says to me that whatever intersects the larger circle might be the answer for that section. So that would be read as 0 3 7 from top to bottom. I'm still trying to figure out how the rest of it works.

I can't help but feel as though the center right circle is somewhat of a clue. The lines going through the circle attach to the circle, which says to me that whatever intersects the larger circle might be the answer for that section. So that would be read as 0 3 7 from top to bottom. I'm still trying to figure out how the rest of it works.

I'm not following how you got 0 3 7?

It's where the outer circle of that section intersects the numbers perfectly. That was the only section of this puzzle that immediately jumped out at me.

I have also noticed that:

The big circle on the left intercepts the central 9 perfectly. The big circle on the bottom intercepts 8 3 0. The two of them cross out at two 5s.

Ok, I see what you're saying, but I'm not sure how it applies to the big circle on the left. Hmm.

I've been thinking that the circles outside the grid are somehow representing the positions of numbers inside the grid.

Or maybe we have to follow the straight lines through the grid and criss-cross through the numbers into the white boxes.

The problem is that we don't really have a good starting point. The only thing I can think of is that Sekhmet said the transmission happened at "1424" hours. Maybe we can use that somehow.

Also, I just noticed that in the 3rd row from the bottom, the numbers go:

1 2 3 5 4 6 7
8 9

Interesting that 5 and 4 are reversed.

Here's all I've managed to get for today - was hoping it would lead somewhere but been hitting a brick wall since early this afternoon. Quick overview of the data and what I've tried with it

Posting below are the two blocks with the diagonals calculated and moved to the outside to fill the white squares as well as the empty spaces. One uses the square root numbers - the other uses the original values.

They both keep numbers under 255 so all valid for use in RGB numbers. I think the outside groups of 3 are colors represented as RGB. I have tried to filter any/all images (distorted, clear, and the prize) by any permutation/combination of those colors and found nothing.

I have a comprehensive C# windows form available that I will also post below so that others can continue the analysis

034 025 024 022 016 013 023 024 013 021 035
026 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 022
021 000 007 008 009 009 004 001 006 000 021
007 000 004 006 006 003 007 000 000 000 009
021 000 002 008 000 002 003 004 005 000 025
027 000 001 005 001 009 003 002 002 000 009
022 000 001 002 003 005 004 006 007 000 010
024 000 008 009 003 006 000 007 000 000 022
013 000 005 007 004 001 005 008 001 000 024
021 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 025
035 022 021 009 024 023 015 007 021 026 034

232 149 152 150 090 081 157 182 051 123 241
170 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 108
099 000 049 064 081 081 016 001 036 000 097
015 000 016 036 036 009 049 000 000 000 041
147 000 004 064 000 004 009 016 025 000 159
193 000 001 025 001 081 009 004 004 000 065
146 000 001 004 009 025 016 036 049 000 042
182 000 064 081 009 036 000 049 000 000 150
051 000 025 049 016 001 025 064 001 000 152
123 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 149
241 108 097 041 148 177 099 015 099 170 232

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        private Bitmap err,clean,prize;
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            this.MouseClick += Mouse_Click;
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            int[,] toSolve = new int[,] { { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 49, 64, 81, 81, 16, 1, 36, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 16, 36, 36, 9, 49, 0, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 4, 64, 0, 4, 9, 16, 25, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 1, 25, 1, 81, 9, 4, 4, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 1, 4, 9, 25, 16, 36, 49, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 64, 81, 9, 36, 0, 49, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 25, 49, 16, 1, 25, 64, 1, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 } };
            int[,] toSolveRt = new int[11,11];
            for (int k = 0; k < 11; k++)
            {
                for (int l = 0; l < 11; l++)
                {
                    toSolveRt[k, l] = (int)Math.Sqrt(toSolve[k, l]);
                }
            }
            arraySolver i = new arraySolver(toSolveRt);
            Console.WriteLine("\n\n\n");
            arraySolver j = new arraySolver(toSolve);


            err = new Bitmap("rx_err_crc_fail.jpg");
            clean = new Bitmap("clear.png");
            prize = new Bitmap("rx_prize.jpg");

            List<colorNote> colors = new List<colorNote>();
            List<Color> matches = new List<Color>();


            matches.AddRange(i.getNotes());
            matches.Add(Color.FromArgb(9, 9, 14));
            matches.AddRange(j.getNotes());


            
            ScanImage(clean, matches);
            ScanImage(prize, matches);
            ScanImage(err, matches);

            matches.Clear();


            
        }

        private void ScanImage(Bitmap b, List<Color> matches)
        {
            int found = 0;
            Color foundColor = Color.Red;
            Color hiddenColor = Color.Black;

            for (int x = 0; x < b.Width; x++)
            {
                int currentColor = (x / 50) % matches.Count;
                for (int y = 0; y < b.Height; y++)
                {
                    Color pixelColor = b.GetPixel(x, y);
                    //colorNote check = new colorNote(pixelColor);
                    //bool didFind = false;
                    //for (int z = 0; z < colors.Count && !didFind; z++)
                    //{
                    //    if (colors[z].doesEqual(check))
                    //    {
                    //        colors[z].addOne();
                    //        didFind = true;
                    //    }
                    //}
                    //if (!didFind)
                    //{
                    //    colors.Add(check);
                    //}
                    if (matches.Contains(pixelColor))//b.GetPixel(x, y) == Color.FromArgb(19,33,49))//21, 26, 34))
                    {
                        found++;
                        //Console.WriteLine(b.GetPixel(x, y).R + "   " + b.GetPixel(x, y).G + " " + b.GetPixel(x, y).B);
                        b.SetPixel(x, y, foundColor);
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        //Console.WriteLine(b.GetPixel(x, y).R + "   " + b.GetPixel(x, y).G + " " + b.GetPixel(x, y).B);
                        //b.SetPixel(x, y, hiddenColor);
                    }
                }
            }
            Console.WriteLine(found);
            //foreach (colorNote g in colors)
            //{
            //    if (g.count > 300)
            //    {
            //        g.print();
            //    }
            //}
            pictureBox1.Image = b;
        }

        private void Mouse_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Point test = pictureBox1.PointToClient(Control.MousePosition);
            PrintColorAt(test);
            
            
        }

        private void PrintColorAt(Point p)
        {
            int x = p.X;
            int y = p.Y;
            Color c = clean.GetPixel(x, y);
            Console.WriteLine(c.R + " " + c.G + " " + c.B + " " + c.A);
        }

        private void pictureBox1_MouseClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
        {
            Point test = pictureBox1.PointToClient(Control.MousePosition);
            PrintColorAt(test);
        }
    }

    public class colorNote
    {
        public Color c;
        public int count = 0;

        public colorNote(Color x)
        {
            c = x;
            count = 1;
        }

        public bool doesEqual(colorNote t)
        {
            return t.c == c;
        }

        public void addOne()
        {
            count++;
        }

        public void print()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Color: ( " + c.R + ", " + c.G + ", " + c.B + " ) + " + count);
        }
    }

    public class arraySolver
    {
        int[,] toKeep;
        public arraySolver(int[,] toSolve)
        {
            for (int x = 2; x < 9; x++)
            {
                for (int y = 2; y < 9; y++)
                {
                    int curVal = toSolve[x,y];
                    int min = Math.Min(x, y);
                    //Console.Write(" X,Y: " + x + "  " + y + "   (" + (x - min) + ", " + (y - min) + ")    (");
                    toSolve[x - min, y - min] += curVal;
                    min = Math.Min(x, 10 - y);
                    //Console.Write((x - min) + ", " + (y + min) + ")    (");
                    toSolve[x - min, y + min] += curVal;
                    min = Math.Min(10 - x, y);
                    //Console.Write((x + min) + ", " + (y - min) + ")    (");
                    toSolve[x + min, y - min] += curVal;
                    min = Math.Min(10 - x, 10 - y);
                    //Console.WriteLine((x + min) + ", " + (y + min) + ")   ");
                    toSolve[x + min, y + min] += curVal;
                    
                }
            }


            for (int y = 0; y < 11; y++)
            {
                for (int x = 0; x < 11; x++)
                {
                    Console.Write(toSolve[y,x].ToString().PadLeft(3,'0') + "    ");
                }
                Console.WriteLine();
            }

            toKeep = toSolve;
        }

        public List<Color> getNotes()
        {
            List<Color> toRet = new List<Color>();
            Color temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[0, 0], toKeep[1, 0], toKeep[2, 0]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[0,2], toKeep[0,3], toKeep[0,4]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));


            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[0,6], toKeep[0,7], toKeep[0,8]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[0, 10], toKeep[1, 10], toKeep[2, 10]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[4, 10], toKeep[5, 10], toKeep[6, 10]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[8, 10], toKeep[9, 10], toKeep[10, 10]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[10, 6], toKeep[10, 7], toKeep[10, 8]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[10, 2], toKeep[10, 3], toKeep[10, 4]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            temp = Color.FromArgb(toKeep[8, 0], toKeep[9, 0], toKeep[10, 0]);
            toRet.Add(temp);
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.G, temp.R));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.R, temp.B, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.B, temp.R, temp.G));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.R, temp.B));
            toRet.Add(Color.FromArgb(temp.G, temp.B, temp.R));

            return toRet;

            
        }
    }
}

Posting below are the two blocks with the diagonals calculated and moved to the outside to fill the white squares as well as the empty spaces. One uses the square root numbers - the other uses the original values.

Interesting! What were you doing to calculate the outside values? Adding/multiplying the values in the rows and columns? Something else?

They both keep numbers under 255 so all valid for use in RGB numbers. I think the outside groups of 3 are colors represented as RGB. I have tried to filter any/all images (distorted, clear, and the prize) by any permutation/combination of those colors and found nothing.

I had also thought about the groups being RGB values. But I don't even know how 9 RGB values would end up being useful, not sure where it would lead.

Interesting! What were you doing to calculate the outside values? Adding/multiplying the values in the rows and columns? Something else?

All diagonals to the outside (some of the outside is not used obviously just use the ones that correspond to the white squares)

I had also thought about the groups being RGB values. But I don't even know how 9 RGB values would end up being useful, not sure where it would lead.

I was trying to find all pixels with those colors present in any image. You can see with the code I got frustrated and added all permutations of colors that may have been intended since it is possibly ambiguous as to which order RGB goes around the outside

I expected there would be a thin trail of remaining pixels (particularly in the distorted image because it's easier to insert selected pixels into a noisy source) spelling out a link or a brief phrasae

No luck so far - all the colors I tried only came up with 3 pixel matches that didn't seem to point anything out unfortunately (this was across all 3 sources provided so far)

So much... math. I suppose I should expect as much from AI. Its 0 to 9, not 1 to 10 silly.

Anywho- Mornings aren't my fortay - but my brain went "The pattern is Squares!" around noon and off I went.

I played with the idea of things being squared - that didn't last long.

I'm glad to see we are talking about those circles - my take on them at first was perhaps some sort of triangulation. Not getting much from that I moved on.

To me the question is - What are we do to with all these numbers? Unless the answer is in major l33t speak, there are other steps to do. So I looked around for answers.

I don't know If I have anything - but I post for inspiration. If it helps then I did my part.

At first I thought about the grid and asked my self if it could be some sort of Polybius square. For that to be the case we might need to know what the outer white boxes have to do with anything.

Could it be a Grille? No - for that too work we would need some sort of cipher - perhaps that's what the colors could mean.

I looked at it and asked - Phone Number? I looked at my phone, and because there are very few 3's this wouldn't work right now.

How about a Caesar box? That involves square roots so it would be due course per the pattern - but for that to work we would need to know what the numbers mean.

...and right now? Playing with the idea of it being a Latin square of some sort. That does have the same sort of format as RGB hex codes, but really I'm just trying to figure out the options. Grasping at straws in hopes to see the patterns. Any one of these might help - no option is off the table as far as I consider.

So yea. That's what I got. May the Order of the Sun guide you.

Edit: But the numbers next to one another null that idea...

How about this then, in what direction should we be reading this? All we know its might be eastern style top to bottom, from right to left. I guess that what the background is for. The gap in the pattern of the outer white boxes might be telling something.

Seems like we're stuck, not really sure what to do with the square roots and the shapes. Any hints? :)

As Hoovaloov pointed out above, the hidden image file clu255pe0id0ae.png can roughly be translated to Red Herring. For those unfamiliar with English idioms, from wikipedia: "The idiom 'red herring' is used to refer to something that misleads or distracts from the relevant or important issue."

Based on that, I think we're all getting way off track, focusing too much on this image. It may be completely irrelevant.

If anyone is familiar with the Cicada 3301 puzzles, steganography was used a lot to embed hidden messages in the images themselves. The free program OutGuess can be used to look for and analyze the bytes of an image to find hidden messages in the file by looking for slightly altered bits.

OutGuess works on JPGs but not PNG image files. Given that the first, distorted image provided by Sekhmet is a JPG, and the second "red herring" image is a PNG, this further convinces me that perhaps I'm on the right track. Why two different image types? Also, Sekhmet specifically said "The binary data included in the original message is sufficient for further analysis." Emphasis on original message.

However, you still need a keyword or phrase to use as a seed to decrypt a hidden message with OutGuess. This is where I'm stuck. I've just been sitting here bored at work manually trying dozens of different keys to decrypt the rx_err_crc_fail.jpg file using OutGuess. And the key is case-sensitive so using 'the answer' is different from 'The Answer' which is different from 'the_answer'. As you can see, that means there's thousands of possible permutations of keys.

I've tried using most of the words or word phrases in Sekhmet's original message with no luck so far.

Just my two cents. Feel free to do with it as you will.

If anyone is familiar with the Cicada 3301 puzzles, stenography was used a lot to embed hidden messages in the images themselves. The free program OutGuess can be used to look for and analyze the bytes of an image to find hidden messages in the file by looking for slightly altered bits.

Speaking of stenography - I would like to note, then when I tried to see if any files were hidden in the jpeg, winRaR threw back an error. Same is the case for the second image too.

Also - for the sake of inspiration, I suggest we all review our last puzzle with /Sekhmet/.

Seems like we're stuck, not really sure what to do with the square roots and the shapes. Any hints? :)

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Current analysis of the /rouge ichthyic/ image indicates a positive trend in Guardian progress. Pattern analysis suggests an anomalous frequency of the IV prime.

//END-TX

Seems like we're stuck, not really sure what to do with the square roots and the shapes. Any hints? :)

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Current analysis of the /rouge ichthyic/ image indicates a positive trend in Guardian progress. Pattern analysis suggests an anomalous frequency of the IV prime.

//END-TX

Rouge - Like the reddish color.

ich·thy·ic
ˈikTHē-ik/
adjective
archaic word

Means fishlike.

IV Prime = 4th Prime = the 4th prime number is 7. Shocker.

Edit: Oh... and the quotation marks are a lovey touch.

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Current analysis of the /rouge ichthyic/ image indicates a positive trend in Guardian progress. Pattern analysis suggests an anomalous frequency of the IV prime.

//END-TX

So we're on the right track with the "red fish" image. We need to look closer at the "IV prime," which INSANEdrive pointed out could be the 4th prime, 7.

Frequency of the square roots:

0 - 5
1 - 6
2 - 5
3 - 5
4 - 5
5 - 5
6 - 5
7 - 5
8 - 4
9 - 4

"You may rely on it" is a phrase from a Magic 8 Ball.

"You may rely on it" is a phrase from a Magic 8 Ball.

So it is. My concern was that this ("") was a sort of air quotes - or sarcasm meaning the opposite, which when on a image with the association of red fish would be dubious.

Perhaps... Chance? No. Probability?
Hmm.

...in fact it might very well be nothing, but as I have inquired before, I would like to know where the text is from so it can be ruled out (at least from my brain). Thanks to a clearer picture it can be observed that it is obviously not fallen text, but in stead text of Ye Olde. Will it lead us anywhere? No idea, and frankly understanding the nature of all these squares and sevens seems a better guess right now.

If any one less inclined with math is up-for it, Image below:

I've looked at this a few times today and last night, and I have nothing so far. Look forward to seeing the next step.

I have noticed the number 7 is the only one that does not repeat itself in the same line nor column.

9 repeats in the 1st line and 4th column (twice in each)
8 repeats in the 2nd column
6 repeats in the 2nd line
5 repeats in the 7th line
4 repeats in the 5th line
3 repeats in the 3rd column
2 repeats in the 4th line
1 repeats in the first column

Maybe that's the frequency pattern?

EDIT: I was almost going to say 7 is distributed like the Chess Queen's challenge, but not only do we not have an 8x8 grid, but the 7s in the 6th and 7th column are diagonal to each other.

I have noticed the number 7 is the only one that does not repeat itself in the same line nor column.

9 repeats in the 1st line and 4th column (twice in each)
8 repeats in the 2nd column
6 repeats in the 2nd line
5 repeats in the 7th line
4 repeats in the 5th line
3 repeats in the 3rd column
2 repeats in the 4th line
1 repeats in the first column

Maybe that's the frequency pattern?

EDIT: I was almost going to say 7 is distributed like the Chess Queen's challenge, but not only do we not have an 8x8 grid, but the 7s in the 6th and 7th column are diagonal to each other.

Pattern after pattern, but without meaning. We lack a Key. At least that is the thought. Could be looking right at it none the wiser. :/

I asked on Reddit and it looks like it's some form of Greek.

http://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/24j44p/help_with_unknown_language/

- No text -

"Apollonius's "Conics," written about 200 B.C., on conic sections, the ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola, is the most complex and difficult single work of all Greek mathematics and was all but unknown in the west until the fifteenth century. This magnificent copy, probably the most elegant of all Greek mathematical manuscripts, was made in 1536 for Pope Paul III. The pages on display show the particularly elaborate figures illustrating Propositions 2-4 of Book III on the equality of areas of triangles and quadrilaterals formed by tangents and diameters of conics, and by tangents and lines parallel to the tangents."

NICE! Now to figure out if that means anything...

- No text -

I filled in the white squares with these colors:

By corresponding them to the corners of the grid they were closest to like this.
(I allowed overlaps)

No idea if I'm onto something or way off :)

My goodness this one is fun. If only I was still good at math.

I am looking at this and I am finding myself in a state of deep curiosity.
Time stand back and review the data.

Here is the events so far, and please correct me if I am incorrect.

April 30th was just another day. The Birds were chirping, the bees were buzzing, and the Guardians were gardening (our foes make for such a varied fertilizer). Such tranquility was broken by a message intercepted by the A.I known as /Sekhmet/ at 1424 Hours (2:24 PM) somewhere where a terrestrial satellite link was able to receive (?was sent) a message. Unfortunately the message became ever so delightfully scrambled due to interference, the cause believed to be /?atmospheric/ in nature.

Even with the data in this state, /Sekhmet/ concluded that the data sent was in fact still intact and the message could still be determined AKA /the answer/.

In light of this conclusion /Sekhmet/ did what any Self-aware Intelligence would do – have other Self-aware Intelligences solve it for the sake of entertainment. ;)

But /Sekhmet/ has a problem – this would require the other Self-aware Intelligences to use horribly beautiful abominations like math. And thinking. And not do work they should be doing – How ever would they be convinced to do this work? The answer was as simple as the solution to this problem.
---
Elements in …um… Hand? No. Databanks? Space Cloud something something… meh... In whatever form of data transfer an AI uses /Sekhmet/ posted the aforementioned data here.

So we – ever hungry for the slightest possibility of EPIC loot both gladly and begrudgingly did just that – kind of. So far. After poking at the first few obvious visual bits of the picture – we asked /Sekhmet/ if a higher resolution of the image existed – which /Sekhmet/ replied

Hey Sekhmet! Is it possible you have a higher resolution image available or is that not a possibility at this time?

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

The binary data included in the original message is sufficient for further analysis.

//END-TX

A few minutes later Samusaaron3 Found info encoded as ASCII in the image

From this image we concluded that it could be a distraction image – but since it also was our best and only lead - we disregarded the red herring as being just that (the phrase – not the image). We picked it apart – like hungry wolves do.

We posted what we found.
Patterns emerged.
Observations made manymanytimesover.
CodeCreated.
Questions asked to /Sekhmet/. Answered.
Requests were made and Done.

…and here now is where we stand. We have data – but not context.

Perhaps it is right in front of us? Perhaps there is a trigger we are required to do to get the missing piece? Perhaps even there is nothing at all - it is labeled ever so cryptically as Red Herring after all.

I know we will not end up like Shaka, when the walls fell.

Now, I'm kinda curious. Why did you think to match up the white boxes with the closest corresponding boxes in the puzzle?

Also, here's what that solution would look like with Danteburning's idea:

Now, I'm kinda curious. Why did you think to match up the white boxes with the closest corresponding boxes in the puzzle?

A shot in the dark, honestly. lol
The separate squares kind of made me think either the corresponding sections were more relevant or should be disregarded. Still trying to figure out if that thought goes anywhere.

Another thought I just had:
What if there are missing squares in that empty left section?

The document used in the background, conics, involves the naming of the curves parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola (according to wikipedia). The fact that the brightness values for each block is a square seems like it could be very much important (at least in reference to parabolas). Maybe they are a part of some sort of mathematical pattern? Something parabolic?

Adding the (potentially) missing squares and (potential) numbers.
Those missing squares line up perfectly with the points of triangular shapes.

OF EVERYTHING

Current analysis of the /rouge ichthyic/ image indicates a positive trend in Guardian progress. Pattern analysis suggests an anomalous frequency of the IV prime.

Been banging away at this thing all night trying to find different patterns.
I'm ignoring the shapes in the background for now; I'm not satisfied that's the main puzzle yet considering the explicit highlighting of the boxes.

Here's a couple of thoughts I had though in case it inspires anyone. I'm focusing mainly on the "anomalous frequency of the IV prime". Because it came from our dear AI, and because Bungie loves a good ol' fashioned numbah 7. haha

If you go from the top left corner and read left to right, the 7's appear in these positions in the grid: 1,12,35,41,44
I toyed with that for awhile, but I'm not seeing anything there, so I'm moving on for now.

Next I tried identifying rows and columns without 7s in them. The 4 squares like this near the center:

0 2
1 9

would be the cross-section of those 7-less columns and rows. Thought maybe it was a sudoku style puzzle and some numbers were wrong, but the grid isn't the right size.

I'm starting to get a case of the Number 23 here in that everything looks like a pattern. haha Anyone else still looking at this thing?

/Sekhmet/, any other useful patterns hidden in the occurrences of the IV prime? Possible mathematical patterns in the surrounding numbers?

I'm going to go back to some more simple ideas and work my way up from there. lol

Does this mean anything to anyone?

78994164663
70028023451519322123546
789360
705
741581

or perhaps

7899416052
7018514
7581124663
70426
70639258023345319

What is the question that we are trying to answer? have we yet discovered the question?

If you add up the 3-box sets and convert to letters you get:

(112) 4 D
742 13 M
789 24 Y
416 11 K
605 11 K
527 14 N
701 8 H
581 14 N
574 16 G
581 14 N

All of which of course means nothing.

(I allowed overlaps)

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Interesting.

//END-TX

Does this mean anything to anyone?

78994164663
70028023451519322123546
789360
705
741581

or perhaps

7899416052
7018514
7581124663
70426
70639258023345319

What is the question that we are trying to answer? have we yet discovered the question?

If you add up the 3-box sets and convert to letters you get:

(112) 4 D
742 13 M
789 24 Y
416 11 K
605 11 K
527 14 N
701 8 H
581 14 N
574 16 G
581 14 N

All of which of course means nothing.

Where are you discerning the letters?

Well you seem to be asking the right questions. The question we are currently tying to answer is what is the question. Fun right? We have been given data and been told that in the haystack is a gold needle. Or perhaps the metaphor should be that we have been given marble and been asked to help free the sculpture from the marble.

Right now - for me - the question is if there is any significance to the pattern (and for now presume there is), if there is a key required or simply part of puzzle, and how we would know we have found the answer, because since we don't really know the question the answer could very well be the numbers - not letters. Its a pity there is only one "/object of particular interest/".

Edit: and of course while I am typing this /Sekhmet/ posts a comment to Zero in this corner of the thread.

(I allowed overlaps)

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Interesting.

//END-TX

Edit 2: It also should be noted that just because letters don't mean anything now doesn't mean they won't mean anything. There are alot of classical ciphers out there. Currently playing around with the idea of the possibility of either a playfair, transposition, or substitution type cipher. Type being the key word in my particular case - not the puzzle.

(I allowed overlaps)

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Interesting.

//END-TX

HA! I think we're on the right track!

I realize that the image has the potential to be a distraction image, but did anyone notice that if we just stripped out the characters, and treated the space between the numbers as commas, we get an RGB code of [255,0,0] or solid-red?

I realize that the image has the potential to be a distraction image, but did anyone notice that if we just stripped out the characters, and treated the space between the numbers as commas, we get an RGB code of [255,0,0] or solid-red?

http://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=22180

Hence why I made a review. Any bigger and /Sekhmet/ might have to make a new thread all together.

HMMMMMMM.
Your singular posts and anagram name make me suspicious.

#EVERYTHINGISPUZZLES

HMMMMMMM.
Your singular posts and anagram name make me suspicious.

#EVERYTHINGISPUZZLES

THE KEY BOARD IS THE KEY!! ... actually ... even though I'm being heavily sarcastic that would be right clever.

Lets keep it together all - we start going down that path and the puzzle will not be solved.

It's all the small things that I keep forgetting it has been brought up. D:

I'm not part of the puzzle. You may rely on it. =)

LOL! I figured. Just being goofy since I was trying to figure out your numbers and got stuck.

I am curious though, how did you get those hex numbers for the grid?
I'm looking at them with photoshop and the numbers don't line up with mine anywhere.

Trying to figure out if I goofed something.
For the top left square I get RGB(41,41,41) / #292929.

Am I just messing up my numbers or something?

EDIT: Restarted photoshop and now everything lines up. Now I've gotta retest some theories, dammit. lol

Awesome stuff, Pete! How did you find this?

Awesome stuff, Pete! How did you find this?

Google's image search. The post clarifying it was Greek writing helped narrow down which keywords to use. I think the search that got it was something like 'ancient Greek geometry'

Awesome stuff, Pete! How did you find this?

Google's image search. The post clarifying it was Greek writing helped narrow down which keywords to use. I think the search that got it was something like 'ancient Greek geometry'

I must be in a search bubble. Again... good work Pete.

I highlighted the positions of the 7s and tried to connect all the 7s on the grid with overlapping boxes. This probably isn't the only solution, and I'm not still not sure how we'll know when we have the right combination of numbers. In order for this to work, I had to rotate some of the white boxes horizontall/vertically, so this may not be the way to solve it.

I highlighted the positions of the 7s and tried to connect all the 7s on the grid with overlapping boxes. This probably isn't the only solution, and I'm not still not sure how we'll know when we have the right combination of numbers. In order for this to work, I had to rotate some of the white boxes horizontall/vertically, so this may not be the way to solve it.

Top to bottom in order - 78994734527???? ...
Its an interesting Idea - presuming the circles mean such a thing. How would read...
Unless its just to show numbers are important.

Presume it is from left to right up to down

78 99 47 34 52 7 67 4 158 74 ... in ASCII that's Nc/"4C�J

And the Magic 8 Ball is a game of chance so there for...
The Answer is The Lottery - because it's just like this puzzle. It's anyones guess.

Bulletproof.

Logical silliness aside - I feel I should mention something to all of you who don't know the significance of the number seven - which is also why it in some places is considered "lucky". I'm going off what I remember a fourth grade teacher teaching, so if something is off, fourth grade was... a while ago. Essentially, you are more likely to end up with seven then any other number (keeping in mind all numbers all just variations of 0-9). Its why Bungie likes it so much - they have alot more options to play with then if they had chosen say... two. Case and point - if you roll two of your basic every day six sided dice, it is most likely to end up seven then any other number.

I say this because its looking more and more possible that such a thing would be nice to know. While we are going in here and slappen' these numbers around tryin' to make am sing like a canary see (maaaah), the reason for all the patterns and such is because that is the nature of the number.

Also just because - since Greek numbers use letters I played around with the idea of it spelling SOMETHING. FYI - Greek numbers AREN'T the I,V,C,M deal. That is Roman numbers. Greek numbers use...well... look at this link or the Wikipedia vers. because internet.

Image just because. --->

Alpha - or A.Beta or B ...so forth.

Its our best lead yet. If there is ANY way that we are going to spell anything out with WORDS - its going to be that. It makes any 5's and 8's into types of E's the most used letter of the English language.

Now - LETS GO AND SOLVE THIS THING!!!! :D

Thoughts?

Edit: Deeper digging - want to make sure the pic I posted is accurate in its retelling of-sounds. Feel free to call me out if what is posted is incorrect.

Edit2: Or it might be something so simple that might just be it. No letters required.

The 3 x 1 boxes can be positioned to cover all the places where the numbers add up to 7.

Is the answer 42 ?

Can't be coincidence. Well done, sir--all that awaits is official confirmation.

The 3 x 1 boxes can be positioned to cover all the places where the numbers add up to 7.

Is the answer 42 ?

I made that joke earlier in the day - so If this is really - Oh man.

Edit: Holy... it really might be.

Nice work! I like this idea. How did you get 42 though? Maybe I'm missing something obvious...?

- No text -

Aha! I see it now, very clever!

I was trying to add up the numbers, not look at the shape the boxes made.

For those of you who don't know the magnificence that is "42", in the book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" a supercomputer, Deep Thought, is tasked with the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything"

The answer returns to be 42.

When the beings reacted with surprise the computer made note that the reason it seemed meaningless is because they failed to consider what "the question" actually is. This would be fitting - since in this case here we have never had a question of sorts to go off of - just data.

I swear BeingU if you win a Destiny branded towel this puzzle will be officially perfect.

I swear BeingU if you win a Destiny branded towel this puzzle will be officially perfect.

It could have a picture of the Traveller next to a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias.

Haha...that's great! I'm terrible at these things but this was exciting to watch. Nice job ya'll.

LMFAO WHAT.

That poor, poor sperm whale.

The 3 x 1 boxes can be positioned to cover all the places where the numbers add up to 7.
Is the answer 42 ?

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

Oh dear, I'm afraid I was playing with my Mandelbrots again and lost track of time!

PERFECT, Guardian BeingU! Please send me an email (my address is in my profile) so that I may arrange delivering the victory parcel to your coordinates.

Another job well done, Guardians.

//END-TX

Well done on this one. I never thought we would take 4 days only to find out later the puzzle was a whole lot simpler than we thought it was going to be. I'm impressed you were able figure out that all that we needed to do once we got the base square roots was to just connect everything that equaled 7.

Very impressive, and yes, that goes out to everyone else here that's worked on this as well. This one sure was a doozy. Tell us what your prize ends up being! I am quite curious because I think I know what it might be, but I'm not totally sure on that.

Hurrah! Yaaaaaay!

Thanks /Sekhmet/, that was fun. =)

And thanks to everyone else who helped in the puzzle cracking!

I'll be sure to let you know the details of my /chicken dinner/ once I find out.

A very unexpected answer (probably why it took so long... as somebody mentioned they had already joked about this). But now that this thread is "completed" I don't feel bad about going slightly off-topic:

Sekhmet, what was the deal with your Role Call thread?

Congratulations!

The final process was a bit unexpected but I can finally rest easy knowing it was solved.

Sekhmet, what was the deal with your Role Call thread?

//SIG_INT/DAT_STRM_INJECT/COMM.AI.DBO.SEKHMET //MODE/EN
//BEGIN-TX

The Roll Call you refer to in the archives was one method of entry for this contest.

//END-TX

Oh, somehow I missed that. Thanks.

Congrats! Excited to see what the prize is :)

I'm a little shocked that wasn't the first thing you tried.

I've been partly giving up and partly still trying things and I read this thread a little earlier today and the rest just now, having held off thinking someone got it days ago and there would be hints or clues-- but no, it was stuff I figured out, stuff I didn't figure out that was irrelevant, and some information from Sekhmet that was fairly helpful (and some that was counter-productive), and it was figured out just over a day ago-- and I imagined pictures, text, and numbers, but never this. Congratulations, BeingU, you earned it, whatever "it" is.

I'm a little shocked that wasn't the first thing you tried.

She probably should've thought of that, but that was the subject (or the solution?) to Sekhmet's last puzzle, so it would be... I don't know, for some reason I don't think it'll be used again, at least not in the near future.
edit: oh, you mean having a GIF avatar-- yeah, that would've been a good though too >_> :D

A personal loot stream containing:
A box containing:
A FWC t-shirt.
A Destiny-branded box containing:
A Destiny-branded USB stick containing:
A bunch of folders containing:
Various pics & videos (we've seen them before)
A Destiny-branded iPhone case
A Destiny-branded notebook

Very cool. Congrats!