If you like this kind of puzzle with a Sci-Fi theme then you might also like this:
http://www.boundvariable.org/task.shtml
It was the 2006 edition of the ICFP conference programming contest and it makes you write a small VM which given the provided binary blog leads you to multiple challenges/games.
I didnt know this one, awesome!!
I have 3 issues:
1. Sending GETSTATUS always causes the connection to drop.
2. Sending the first "correct" ROUTE packet causes the server to go down for a while.
3. Sending GETMAIL for the email after the hint email (4th one in my case) causes the connection to drop.
@richmans Happy to be playtesting your game, but I would be glad if you can reply to this comment so that I know this is being read.
Thanks for playtesting.
1. Not sure, i will look into it
2. Its not down, your message is traveling through space at the speed of light :-)
3. I think this is caused by my db issues, working on that currently
So, thanks for your patience and feedback. I did run a lot of tests before launching, but most of them did not use a real database… Learned a lot in the last few days!
No problem!
With regards to issue 2, I wasn't referring to the delay between between the route packet sent and the route packet received. It's when I finally send a packet with the right daily access code encrypted with the handshake key, I'm unable to continue playing for an hour or so, because the server stops sending anything (even the "hello" packet).
Hi, I’m having a lot of fun with this so far, this is a cool way to get comfortable with a new programming language. Two comments so far, first, the third email seems to be triggered by translating a certain word, but it can happen repeatedly. When tweaking my translation method I ended up getting multiple copies of the mail.
Second, after deriving what I presume is the correct access code, I am no longer authorized for transceiver usage. Is this an intended game mechanic? There doesn’t seem to be any indication of how to proceed if so.
Check your in-game mail - finding the correct access code should trigger another message.
Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I haven’t received any new mail, even after trying on another account.
Thanks a lot! I love programming games. I'm just writing a simple client in python, and when sending a HELP packet, I'm receiving a packet with byte 0x82 as the header, which if I'm not mistaken is packet type 0x10 (0x82 >> 3 = 0x10), rather than 2. Am I missing something?
Sending HELP packet (5 bytes):
OFFS DUMP ASCII
0000 00 58 52 32 4B .XR2K
Receiving response...
OFFS DUMP ASCII
0000 82 58 52 32 4B 96 23 53 - 50 41 43 45 20 54 45 52 .XR2K.#SPACE TER
...The bit fields are listed from Most Significant Bit to Least Significant Bit, so 0x82 is a type 0x02 packet with a two-byte length field.
omg... I feel like an idiot. Don't know why I didn't see that. Thanks a lot!
> This challenge was fully developed from an iPhone
Sounds exhausting.
Since the server is overloaded apparently and people can't see what this is without connecting:
Connection to clearsky.dev (155.133.22.147) 29438 port [tcp/*] succeeded!
AXR2KPxr2000.leo.spacenet:send a single 0 byte followed by 'XR2K' for documentation.
SPACE TERMINAL INTERFACE PROTOCOL
=================================
The XR-2000 space terminal is a communications satellite that is used to communicate with spacecraft.
This protocol allows a user to remotely use the XR-2000 space terminal to send messages to and receive messages from spcecraft using the global space communication network.
PACKET STRUCTURE
----------------
Packets are sent over a TCP connection that is established by the client to the terminal on port 29438.
packet header:
* 2 bits length field length (LFL).
- 0: packet has no payload.
- 1: 1 byte length field
- 2: 2 byte length field
- 3: 4 byte length field
\* 1 bit: request id field present
\* 5 bits packet type.
\* 1 byte request id (if present)
\* 4 bytes magic
\* 0, 1, 2 or 4 bytes payload length
\* 0..n bytes payload
all integers are little endian and unsigned unless indicated otherwise.
The request id field can be used by the client to correlate requests with their responses. The value may be chosen by the client. If the field is present in a request packet, it will be copied into the response by the terminal.
The magic bytes contain the ascii text: XR2K
PACKET TYPES
------------
The following packet types are defined:
\* 0x00 help client -> terminal
\* 0x01 hello terminal -> client
\* 0x02 documentation terminal -> client
\* 0x03 register client -> terminal
\* 0x04 registered terminal -> client
\* 0x05 login client -> terminal
\* 0x07 getstatus client -> terminal
\* 0x08 status terminal -> client
\* 0x09 getmail client -> terminal
\* 0x0a mail terminal -> client
\* 0x0b sendmail client -> terminal
\* 0x12 configure client -> terminal
\* 0x14 route both
\* 0x15 translate client -> terminal
\* 0x16 translation terminal -> client
\* 0x1f result terminal -> client
0x00 HELP PACKET
-------------------------
This packet is used by the client to request the protocol documentation. The terminal will respond with a DOCUMENTATION (0x02) packet.
This packet has no contents, which means the Length-Field-Length is 0. The request id field can also be disabled. So the client only needs to send a single 0-byte to obtain the documentation.
0x01 HELLO PACKET
-----------------
This packet is sent by the terminal inmediately after a new TCP connection has been established.
Packet payload:
\* 1 byte: protocol version. The only defined version is 1
\* 1 byte: terminal hostname length
\* 0..255 bytes: terminal hostname
\* 1 byte: documentation instruction length
\* 0..255 bytes: documentation instructions
0x02 DOCUMENTATION PACKET
-------------------------
This packet is sent by the terminal to provide the this document, the protocol spec, to the client.
The contents of this packet is the protocol spec.
0x03 REGISTER PACKET
--------------------
This packet is sent by the client to create a new user account. This packet is only valid if the user is not yet authenticated.
This packet has no payload.
If registration succeeds, the terminal will respond with an REGISTERED (0x04) packet, which contains the username and password of the created user. The client should then save these values so that it can LOGIN later.
If registration fails, the terminal will respond with an RESULT (0x1f) packet.
Possible errors:
\* 0x11 registration rate limiting: too many accounts were registered from this IP.
\* 0x1 already authenticated
0x04 REGISTERED
---------------
This packet is sent by the terminal to the client to provide the credentials to the newly created account.
Packet contents:
\* 1 byte: username length
\* 0..255 bytes: username
\* 1 byte: password length
\* 0..255: password length
0x05 LOGIN PACKET
-----------------
This packet is sent by the client to authenticate using credentials that have been prevuously obtained from the REGISTERED message. This packet is only valid if the user is not yet authenticated.
Packet contents:
\* 1 byte: username length
\* 0..255 bytes: username
\* 1 byte: password length
\* 0..255: password length
If authentication succeeds, the terminal will respond with a RESULT (0x1f) packet with error type 0. Additionally, a STATUS (0x08) packet will be sent to reflect the authenticated status.
If authentication fails, the terminal will send a RESULT (0x1f) message with the appropriate error type.
Possible errors:
\* 0x1 already authenticated
\* 0x3 invalid credentials
0x07 GETSTATUS PACKET
---------------------
This packet is used by the client to request a STATUS (0x08) packet.
This packet has no payload.
This request will always succeed, no errors are defined.
0x08 STATUS PACKET
------------------
This packet is sent by the terminal either as a response to a GETSTATUS (0x08) packet or because of a specific event such as logging in or a new mail message arriving.
If the user is not authenticated, the number of emails field will be -1 (0xffffffff)
Packet contents:
\* 4 bytes: number of mails
\* 4 bytes: connection time (in seconds)
\* 1 bit: authenticated
\* 1 bit: authorized for tranceiver usage
\* 1 bit: tranceiver configured
\* 5 bits: undefined
0x09 GETMAIL PACKET
-------------------
This packet is used by the client to request the contents of a mail. The XR-2000 mail system is very simple. Each user has a mailbox. Incoming emails receive an id starting with 1. Mails can not be editted or deleted. Sent emails are not stored in the sender's mailbox. The mail system is only internal and not connected to the internet email system.
This request is only valid when the user is authenticated.
If the referenced mail is found, the terminal will respond with a MAIL (0x0a) packet. If not, the terminal will send a RESULT (0x1f) packet indicating the appropriate error type.
Packet contents:
\* 4 bytes: mail id
Possible errors:
\* 0x02 not authenticated
\* 0x40 mail not found
0x0a MAIL PACKET
----------------
This packet is the response to a GETMAIL (0x09) packet and contains an email metadata and full contents.
Packet contents
\* 4 bytes: mail id
\* 4 bytes: timestamp (unix)
\* 1 byte: sender length
\* 0..255 bytes: sender username
\* 4 bytes: content length
\* 0..n bytes: contents
0x0b SENDMAIL PACKET
--------------------
This packet is used by the client to send a mail to another user.
If the mail is sent successfully, the termimal will respond with a RESULT (0x1f) packet with error type 0. If an error occurred, the error type will be set to the appropriate value.
Packet contents
\* 1 byte: recipient length
\* 0..255 bytes: recipient username
\* 4 bytes: content length
\* 0..n bytes: contents
Possible errors:
\* 0x02 not authenticated
\* 0x41 recipient username not found
0x12 CONFIGURE PACKET
---------------------
This packet is used by the client to configure the XR2000 tranceiver. This packet is only valid of the user is authenticated.
Packet contents:
\* 4 bytes: frequency (in kHz)
\* 4 bytes: baudrate (in bps)
\* 1 byte: modulation (see below)
Modulation types:
\* 0x00 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
\* 0x01 Frequency Modulation (FM)
\* 0x02 Phase Modulation (PM)
\* 0x03 Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK)
If configuration succeeds, the terminal will respond with a RESULT (0x1f) packet with error type 0.
If configuration fails, the terminal will send a RESULT (0x1f) message with the appropriate error type.
Possible errors:
\* 0x02 not authenticated
\* 0x04 not authorized for tranceiver usage
\* 0x20 tranceiver malfunction
\* 0x21 invalid config parameter
0x14 ROUTE PACKET
-----------------
This packet is used by both sides to transport data to and from the spacecraft. It is only valid when the user is authenticated and the tranceiver is configured.
If the terminal can send the packet out to the tranceiver, Route packets have no response, there is no guarantee that the data is received by the spacecraft.
The packet contents are the bytes that are sent to or from the spacecraft without any additional headers.
Possible errors:
\* 0x02 not authenticated
\* 0x04 not authorized for tranceiver usage
\* 0x24 tranceiver not configured
\* 0x25 tranceiver malfunction
0x15 TRANSLATE PACKET
---------------------
This packet is used by the client to use the Rasvakian dictionary built into the XR-2000.
If translation of the requested word is available, the terminal will respond with a TRANSLATION (0x16) packet. Otherwise, an RESULT (0x1f) packet will be sent.
The contents of the packet is the word that needs to be translated.
Possible errors:
\* 0x12 translation limiting: send max 1 translate request per second.
\* 0x50 translation not found
0x16 TRANSLATION PACKET
-----------------------
This packet is sent by the terminal to provide a response to a TRANSLATE (0x20) packet.
The contents of the packet is the Atlantian translation of the requested word.
0x1f RESULT PACKET
-----------------
This packet is sent from the terminal to the client to indicate an error processing the last packet sent to the terminal.
Some request types also have a RESULT packet as a response to indicate success. In this case the error type field value will be 0OK, so the tcp connection to clearsky.dev port 29438 succeeded, but right now nothing happens after you connect. Is this part of the puzzle?
Looks like HN is breaking my server a bit… it should print a helpful text when you connect
I want to play!
But..
localhost:~# echo -e "\x00XR2K" | nc clearsky.dev 29438 AXR2KPxr2000.leo.spacenet:send a single 0 byte followed by 'XR2K' for documentation
printf has the same problem. Is it me?
That should work fine! I had some db issues on my end. Should work now!
It's working.
It eventually printed
>send a single 0 byte followed by 'XR2K' for documentation.
But so far doing that hasn't led to anything :)
That's instructions. Basically, try again, but send a zero byte character with netcat.
Same here... :-/
Let me start you off! echo -e "\x00XR2K" | nc clearsky.dev 29438
There was a problem in the second email: the handshake key was incorrect. I updated it!
Hey, the server seems to go down when I send the correct route packet.
By the way, do you have a contact method other than comments on HN?
It's interesting how much this game changes when you use an llm to help you.
How so? I’m interested in peoples experiences trying to use ai to solve this.
type 14 len bytes 1 payload len 6 payload YEEHAW
Pretty sure I don't understand the crypto instructions - this is all I can get out of the spacecraft.
Bleah... the next clue was time-gated. Not my favorite game mechanic.
It was actually a manual intervention. Working on automating that now :-)
While you're looking at that - my user user-81574ce4 appears to have another e-mail now but the system drops connection when I try to retrieve it.
Should be fixed
Invalid Invite: This invite may be expired, or you might not have permission to join.
Doesn't seem to be. Trying to read mail number 4 causes the same issue for me.
Now also read mail 5 :-)
Cool... but the discord invite is invalid. :(
Pff every step of the way… alright i updated the link to a neverending one
super curious if Colonel Arhci will get back to me over atlantiamail
He will, but he cannot help you. You’ll need to figure out the next step with the info you have. #notaspoiler