Re: Level of Detail?

[ElevenMike@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-04-15 03:35:18 EDT, you write:

>> ....Radio codes and phrases on paper....
>
> Ugh! NEVER write those things down! Talk about asking for trouble. Unless
>you want the players to have those written down so the PD *can* cause
>trouble..... :)

Dave-

   Even the Army & Marines use code books made of paper.  These are called
CEOI, or Communications & Electronics Operating Instructions.  These booklets
are issued to Officers, Platoon Sergeants, and Squad Leaders.  Every fighting
vehicle has one.  These are indispensible.
   Each CEOI is divided into ten sections.  One for each day of a ten-day
period.  On day five you use section five.  And on day fifteen and day twenty
five.  Operationally, these are replace (in the Army) about monthly, or more
frequently as needed.  
   Each section is identical.  A page or two listing units and specific
individuals in them - not Capt. Jones, commanding "C" company, but "C" CO.
Commander.  A few more pages allow you to select (meaningless) five letter
groups that represent specific items or messages frequently referred to on
the radio, such as:

               NGTAF...........Wounded
               ZDLRP............Replacement Track for armored vehicle
               WMDIX............Ammunition
               QOVYN...........Hot Chow
   The list can go on.  Another part of each section is Authentication
Tables.  These allow one unit to challenge another's identity on the radio
before follwing orders just received.  A line of letters (alphabetical order)
goes along the top and down the left side of the page.  Inside these lines
are effectively random letters 26 characters acroos and 26 characters down.
 All of the CEOIs for a unit will have identical Aythentication Tables.
   The unit challenging picks one for each line and says, "Authenticate Hotel
Bravo."  The challenged unit crossreferences these letters (H & B) with H
across the top and B being along the side, and locates the letter in the grid
of letters found on the page.
   The Answer is transmitted back, "I authenticate Serria."  If this is what
is found at the junction of H & B, the second unit is friendly (or has
captured a friendly code book).  Many units use certain "Home-Made"
anti-capture methods, or duress codes.  (Duress codes are used when YOU have
been captured and have a gun to your head and are told, bring your friends
here.)  Morrow Commo at Prime requires that "Team-Specific Shack-ups for
keeping Authentication tables useful be easy to learn and on file before
freeze.  
   Often, users will specify while all in the same place, that the
authentication answer be below (or beside or above) the letter at the
Junction.  This MUST be the same for a long time to work.  And you can't
write down the secret, because if your CEOI gets captured, they'll know.
   Most soldiers issued a CEOI use OD Duct tape (without this, the Army would
never even deploy, let alone win) to put a loop of string on the booklet.
 This string allows the CEOI to be hung around the neck and under the shirt.
 Loosing a CEOI is VERY bad - even one designed for use in manuvers (VERY
different from go-to-war CEOIs).  A Lieutenant that leaves his TRAINING CEOI
laying around and gets caught by someone that reports it will never make
Lt.Col.  NEVER.

I hope that helps.
Scott Hann