Scrap the Code!

[Conn Eremon]

At first, I felt that scrapcode was being overused too. It seemed like a perfect onetime doomsday device, kind of like how if the Greeks tried the Trojan Horse a second time.

 

But I started thinking, that analogy isn't quite accurate. It wasn't that they simply didn't know to defend against it, it was that they had absolutely no means to do so. I'm sure the Greeks would have used it a second time, if the Horse was indestructible, doubled as a bag of holding for Achilles-clones, and could be teleported directly into the enemy city. Nobody could defend against it, and nobody could stop it. And that is the Scrapcode, as a catchall phrase for Chaos-based cyber attacks. Nobody can even begin to defend against it yet, because the very concept of it is so alien to them. Imagine someone with no knowledge of the internet, using a computer this person has no idea is connected to the internet, trying to defend against Hollywood hackers, where unplugging the machine is the last, least desirable resort.

 

But, eventually I think they do. Like Kol said, they are ignorant, not stupid. Scrapcode is blindsiding them, hitting them where they didn't even know they were weakest. But Chaos isn't still using this 'I win' button in 40k, and I think the reason why is because the Mechanicum does eventually learn to defend itself from this kind of attack.

 

Hopefully in an ironic manner, like it requiring a more ritualized, religious approach than before, because it's Chaos, not science, that serves to push them further down the road to degradation and ruin.

[Captain Idaho]

Except Chaos still is using the Scrap Code plot in the 40K time line.

 

Regardless; I don't dispute it might be effective manner of warfare but it has two flaws that bore me to hell:

 

1) it seems only a single side is ever vulnerable and unprepared for online attack. The other side is always unleashing it like a secret weapon no one could ever forsee.

 

2) It's an overused plot device. Nuff said.

[Kol Saresk]

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

[daveNYC]

It's great for setting the mood, bad for driving the plot.

 

And Chaos laptops use base-4 'bits'?  That manages to be both silly and quite mundane at the same time.  Lo, the Dark Mechanicum has thrown off the shackles that the False Emperor placed on us in order to embrace the ultimate expression of power that is the combination of the Empyrean and Technology!  And what do they do?  Change all their computer systems to use base-four.

 

Good Gods, we've got q-bit based technology that's freakier than that right now.  Heck, Banks' Minds managed to have 90% of their CPU activity taking place in hyperspace.

[Kilofix]

Post-heresy Dark Mechanicum - On / Off in real space & On / Off in the Warp => base-4 digit => exponentially increasing computing power.

[Nemesor]

Scrapcode is an awesome idea, that can be used to lend a really sinister, creepy vibe to the appearance of Chaos. I remember first reading about it in Titanicus I think it was. So cool, though never really used as a plot device. I loved how it described the horrifying sound of the scrapcode blaring out of the Chaos titans as they approached. And how the scrapcode kept disrupting vox signals and such. Not completely overpowering mechanicus defences, but certainly having an impact on their morale and efficiency.

 

But yes, it has been used as a rather lame utility-belt plot device of late, and I do wish it would go back to just being creepy computer code for the most part, only being really threatening in certain situations. Or at least give the Imperium a defence against it. especially by 40k, where they've been dealing with the stuff for 10,000 years. They should have come up with rituals or something that can defend against it.

[Kol Saresk]

Immunity through tolerance certainly seems to be one way. That Forgeworld in Titanicus, Orestes IIRC? The first time we see it is way back in the beginning of the Gaunt's Ghosts series when they're retaking it from the forces of Chaos. So I'd imagine the inhabitants would have been alive long enough to figure it out versus the usual "It's new and shocking and no survivors are left behind!" Approach.

[Kilofix]

I think the other thing to remember is that it probably isn't 'easy' for Chaos to just effect scrap code.

 

A ton of Cultist had to be infiltrated in then sacrificed on Calth to get that scrap code going in Know No Fear.

 

I view it like a Daemon Portal. It is a 'device' that is used over and over and over again throughout 40K. And its like the flu, there isn't a 100% preventive method to stop it. But, it does take Chaos some doing to put one up. At which point, you just have to fight it.

[daveNYC]

The scrapcode in KNF was far better done than that in Mechanicus.

 

As a side note, it'd be nice to know what was in the Vault of Whosits in Mechanicus.  It better be more interesting than just some Chaosified tech, I can't see the Emperor showing up on Mars, seeing some of that and then thinking, "Hey, crazy Chaos corrupted stuff, I'll just lock this in the basement and tell them never to open the door, that should work out fine."

 

“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.”

 

-T. Pratchett

[Kol Saresk]

Question, how many appearances of scrap code are there? I can only think of four, maybe five with those being KNF, Mechanicus, Blood Reaver, Titanticus and maybe Salamander.

[Urauloth]

It's fantastic in Know No Fear, where it's well set up and its impact makes sense. On the other hand, don't the Iron Warriors basically just fart it out onto a space fort in Endeavour of Will? 10,000 years later? I mean they specially prepared it and brought a daemon along with them but even so...

 

(then again, that novella seems to have been de-canonized by the 7E rulebook so who knows)

[Captain Idaho]

The Chapter's Due.

[Kol Saresk]

It's fantastic in Know No Fear, where it's well set up and its impact makes sense. On the other hand, don't the Iron Warriors basically just fart it out onto a space fort in Endeavour of Will? 10,000 years later? I mean they specially prepared it and brought a daemon along with them but even so...

 

(then again, that novella seems to have been de-canonized by the 7E rulebook so who knows)

That's the thing, as far as I can tell, its a catch-all for anything that isn't "Mechanicus binary". Dark Mech binary, random bits of code that serve no purpose, degraded programming, trojan horses, worms and worse. All of it is scrap code.

 

So on one hand, the phrase itself is way over used as only the description shows what type of scrapcode it is, but as a doomsday weapon, that makes, five uses with Titanicus(the sixth use in the list) being communications use.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

 

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

[Kol Saresk]

 

 

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

I think this was my first introduction to it, but Imm not sure. But I thought of it as being similar to the dark tongues used by the more mortal Chaos forces where it can serve as both speaking tongue and "words of power". But that may have just been me and I can certainly understand how eighteen hundred Death Stars can get annoying after number 8.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

 

 

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

I think this was my first introduction to it, but Imm not sure. But I thought of it as being similar to the dark tongues used by the more mortal Chaos forces where it can serve as both speaking tongue and "words of power". But that may have just been me and I can certainly understand how eighteen hundred Death Stars can get annoying after number 8.

 

 

I don't even think it's the repetition, it's more that some of the time said repetition smacks of lazy writing as if they're really saying "Why? Because.... Scrapcode! Yes. Scrapcode is why."

 

I'd like to think of scrapcode as a communication too where heretics hear the message but all a loaylist hears is "harmless" scrapcode. Whereas there should be a distinct version where the code has power, like malwar - as you or someone mentioned.

 

But why? Because.... Scrapcode!

[Gripharius]

... Endeavour of Will...

 

...that novella seems to have been de-canonized by the 7E rulebook ...

 

Can you elaborate, please? 

[Kol Saresk]

 

 

 

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

 

I think this was my first introduction to it, but Imm not sure. But I thought of it as being similar to the dark tongues used by the more mortal Chaos forces where it can serve as both speaking tongue and "words of power". But that may have just been me and I can certainly understand how eighteen hundred Death Stars can get annoying after number 8.

 

 

I don't even think it's the repetition, it's more that some of the time said repetition smacks of lazy writing as if they're really saying "Why? Because.... Scrapcode! Yes. Scrapcode is why."

 

I'd like to think of scrapcode as a communication too where heretics hear the message but all a loaylist hears is "harmless" scrapcode. Whereas there should be a distinct version where the code has power, like malwar - as you or someone mentioned.

 

But why? Because.... Scrapcode!

 

One thing I was thinking of toying with was that since scrapcode is supposed to be invasive, or at least corrosive to Imperial technology was have it as a plot device that hacks into a planetary vox network. From there, it just transmits a song. But the insidious part is the song, which would actually be a warp emanation that basically causes most of the population to just..... "forget". Forget to man the guns, keep the ship engines from overheating, to fight off the invaders, and some cases to forget breathing. And some others, to forget "being human". But if there is this much concern over it being a lazy thing, I'm not sure if I should.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

 

 

 

 

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

 

I think this was my first introduction to it, but Imm not sure. But I thought of it as being similar to the dark tongues used by the more mortal Chaos forces where it can serve as both speaking tongue and "words of power". But that may have just been me and I can certainly understand how eighteen hundred Death Stars can get annoying after number 8.

 

 

I don't even think it's the repetition, it's more that some of the time said repetition smacks of lazy writing as if they're really saying "Why? Because.... Scrapcode! Yes. Scrapcode is why."

 

I'd like to think of scrapcode as a communication too where heretics hear the message but all a loaylist hears is "harmless" scrapcode. Whereas there should be a distinct version where the code has power, like malwar - as you or someone mentioned.

 

But why? Because.... Scrapcode!

 

One thing I was thinking of toying with was that since scrapcode is supposed to be invasive, or at least corrosive to Imperial technology was have it as a plot device that hacks into a planetary vox network. From there, it just transmits a song. But the insidious part is the song, which would actually be a warp emanation that basically causes most of the population to just..... "forget". Forget to man the guns, keep the ship engines from overheating, to fight off the invaders, and some cases to forget breathing. And some others, to forget "being human". But if there is this much concern over it being a lazy thing, I'm not sure if I should.

 

 

That serves as a decent plot device and with the explanation it's more than just "because..." but then again the lazy-writing bit is only my own perception of something being used over and over.

 

To me, it's either a superweapon as dangerous to the user as the enemy or it's just another bolter, in that sometimes it works and someone dies and sometimes it doesn't.

[Kilofix]

 

 

 

 

It worked decent enough in Titanicus where it did nothing more than serve as a communication device for the Dark Mech forces.

Probably my favourite version of it in literature.

 

I think this was my first introduction to it, but Imm not sure. But I thought of it as being similar to the dark tongues used by the more mortal Chaos forces where it can serve as both speaking tongue and "words of power". But that may have just been me and I can certainly understand how eighteen hundred Death Stars can get annoying after number 8.

 

 

I don't even think it's the repetition, it's more that some of the time said repetition smacks of lazy writing as if they're really saying "Why? Because.... Scrapcode! Yes. Scrapcode is why."

 

I'd like to think of scrapcode as a communication too where heretics hear the message but all a loaylist hears is "harmless" scrapcode. Whereas there should be a distinct version where the code has power, like malwar - as you or someone mentioned.

 

But why? Because.... Scrapcode!

 

One thing I was thinking of toying with was that since scrapcode is supposed to be invasive, or at least corrosive to Imperial technology was have it as a plot device that hacks into a planetary vox network. From there, it just transmits a song. But the insidious part is the song, which would actually be a warp emanation that basically causes most of the population to just..... "forget". Forget to man the guns, keep the ship engines from overheating, to fight off the invaders, and some cases to forget breathing. And some others, to forget "being human". But if there is this much concern over it being a lazy thing, I'm not sure if I should.

 

 

Btw this was done in the short:

The Carrion Anthem by David Annandale

 

But the source wasn't scrap code.

[Kol Saresk]

The Carrion Anthem was a song used to act as a virus to turn the population into plague zombies. And serves as one of my inspirations. And my source isn't scrapcode either. Scrapcode is just the carrier that puts it where it can be heard. The source is a daemonic choir that serves the Bloody Hymn, led by Choirmaster Tzarkanis, who so happens to be my ETL and Daemonpact vow. Other inspirations come from the Crimson Slaughter's "ghostly miasma" and the Discordants from Anthoney Reynolds' Word Bearers series that spat out propaganda in the Dark tongues that served to twist the minds of the slaves who listened to it. Most notably the Arbites judge who featured in the first novel.

[Kilofix]

The Carrion Anthem was a song used to act as a virus to turn the population into plague zombies. And serves as one of my inspirations. And my source isn't scrapcode either. Scrapcode is just the carrier that puts it where it can be heard. The source is a daemonic choir that serves the Bloody Hymn, led by Choirmaster Tzarkanis, who so happens to be my ETL and Daemonpact vow. Other inspirations come from the Crimson Slaughter's "ghostly miasma" and the Discordants from Anthoney Reynolds' Word Bearers series that spat out propaganda in the Dark tongues that served to twist the minds of the slaves who listened to it. Most notably the Arbites judge who featured in the first novel.

 

I love the portrayal of those WB Dischords. I scratch built one from a Tyranid Spore + a Dirge Caster to serve as my Sorc's familiar, lol.

[Frosco Toppings]

So, when I get all that nasty malware after visiting porn sites, is it Chaos doing that? Have the Dark Mechanicum found me?

[Kilofix]

So, when I get all that nasty malware after visiting porn sites, is it Chaos doing that? Have the Dark Mechanicum found me?

 

The Dark Prince Slaanesh has found you.

[Urauloth]

 

... Endeavour of Will...

 

...that novella seems to have been de-canonized by the 7E rulebook ...

 

Can you elaborate, please? 

 

Dark Millennium, rather than The Rules, I mean. The battle for the Endeavour is in the events timeline but apparently the Imperial Fists won it with centurion devastators, which I definitely don't remember happening in the novella.

It might not be a huge canon conflict after all, it's been a while since I read it and the centurion thing might just be a "this also happened" retcon to a part of the battle that wasn't described, I'd have to re-read it to be sure. It's definitely odd, though.