Why is the phone ringing? : Day 0
-October 21, 2008-
That evening marked the 4th and final orientation for the game. The room was packed as Mark L. Thompson IV (President of Syrner) started off the presentation. After welcoming the newest recruits to Kirksville the stage was handed off to Col. Victor Solomon, Maj. Lucian Freeman, and Dr. Kathleen Reinhurst. After a short security briefing from Solomon and Freeman and the signing of non-disclosure agreements Dr. Reinhurst explained to the audience a breakthrough five years in the making. Using highly advanced nano-bots her team had discovered that it was possible to temporarily control the infection. While not a cure, such a treatment could keep the infection in check.
During the presentation manila envelopes were passed out to the players. The envelopes contained a welcoming letter from Syrner’s president along with several pages of in-game information. A percentage of the players also found slips of paper that simply read:
Magruder Clocktower Court Yard
10:00 pm
Bring only those you trust…
50 individuals approached shortly before 10. Many brandished nerf guns and socks. When they entered MG2001 they found a cell phone, speaker system, phone number, list of confusing location (“The Suicide Room,” “The Sundial,” “The Old Incinerator,” etc), and a list of 10 coordinates. At 10pm player John Mohr called the number to discover that it connected him to Goucher’s game. The confusing locations were determined to be for locations at Goucher and so they were transmitted to them.
The coordinates were determined to be for locations around Kirksville. Five teams of ten were formed and dispatched to investigate two of the locations each in the pouring rain. Returning from across the city they brought back plastic containers that each contained puzzle pieces with something written on the back. Once the glow in the dark dinosaur puzzle was complete the message was clear:
Jenny, I got your number.
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Completion of Goucher’s end of the mission revealed the website op.rebuildourfuture.com Presented with a password field the players quickly realized that they needed to input 8675309 to gain access. Here they were introduced to the op with a warning: YOU FOUND ME.Listen to me if you want to live.Not everything is what it seems in City 17.Cpt Wayne is not dead.In City 17.Infected.Cured.Controlled.Reinhurst doesn’t know.Not good.I need your help.Will you follow me?op@rebuildourfuture.com
Player of note:
During this mission John Mohr took charge of the communication between Truman and Goucher – ensuring the smooth flow of information between the two schools. Because of this he managed to stay dry through the course of the mission. Kudos to you, sir.
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Player of note:
McKenna Peters was the first individual to make contact with the op through the listed email address. With the help of John Mohr they laid the inroads for much of the later communication with the op. Also, for the record, there appears to be no photos of McKenna playing HvZ on facebook and thus a generic picture shall be used!