Neglected Bookshelf

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Encounter Conditions

• Must NOT be etheric.

Initial Text

Nestled in a corner of the lab, you find a neglected bookshelf. It's obviously been ages since any of these books were current, but who knows what might come in handy.

The top shelf is entirely covered in dust, but the middle one appears to be journals and the bottom one looks like old class projects.

Summary of Choices

1. Check the top shelf - Learn electronics recipe for memory stick, processor chip, safety loop, signal analysis circuit or capacitor array, picked at random. The next attempt teaches you to "extract memories from cooperative or disabled drones." with "the right tools". Subsequent attempts give 2-3 XP in Will.
2. Examine the middle shelf - If you have Simple Coding, learn (unknown) coding recipe for Optimizing Code, Security Updater, Software Firewall, Vulnerability Tester, or Vulnerability Database. After learning all of the available codes, you gain 20 energy of Ancient Code.
3. Browse the bottom shelf - Gain code on paper
4. Leave it be - Nothing

Choice Text and Results

Check the top shelf

You scan through the books on the top row. They're covered with a thin layer of dust and it doesn't take long to understand why.

They all date back to when folks built their own computer components. If computers are like anything else, these old homemade components probably work better than the stuff Corps foist off on you.

You've learned a new circuit recipe: Signal Analysis Circuit - Reconstruct four circuit fragments into a simple circuit.
or
You've learned a new circuit recipe: Processor Chip - Cobble a chip together from four Circuit Fragments and a Polysteel base.
or
You've learned a new circuit recipe: Memory Stick - Piece a usable stick together from six Circuit Fragments
or
You've learned a new circuit recipe: Capacitor Array - Set up four microcapicitors to hold far more charge.
or
You've learned a new circuit recipe: Safety Loop - Set a Signal Analysis Circuit to watch the signals on a Frayed Cable
or
You've learned a new device recipe: Juryrigged Antenna - Wire a Signal Analysis Circuit into Thick Cabling

then, once you know all the above:
It seems like there should be something about lasers in here, but all you find is an ancient book called "History of Optics." On the bright side, you're pretty sure nobody will miss it.

You found: History of Optics

then, once you know all the above:
You find an old engineering journal with a few articles on drone engineering and integrated memory systems. With the right tools, you could probably extract memories from cooperative or disabled drones.

That might come in handy.

then, once you know all the above:
You polish up a bit, but don't find anything new in the books.

You've earned 2-3 XP in Will

Examine the middle shelf

You take a look through the middle shelf. Most of the books appear to be journals and society proceedings.

On the bright side, they seem more up to date than the books above them and mostly have good indexes. You head through them, trying to find anything interesting.

Unfortunately, you don't know enough about coding to make heads or tails of these books.

or, with Simple Coding:

You've learned a new coding recipe: Network Defender - Complete a Filtering Script with Networking Functions

or

You've learned a new coding recipe: Remote Command Script - Implement a Command Script with Networking Functions

or

You've learned a new coding recipe: Remote Crash Script - Extend a Crash Script with Networking Functions

or

You've learned a new coding recipe: Remote Indexer - Run a Search Script through Networking Functions

or

You've already absorbed all the information in these books. You take a few minutes to reflect on what you've learned.

You've gained 20 energy of Ancient Code.

Browse the bottom shelf

You browse around the bottom shelf. There's a lot of old projects down there and a ton of loose sheets of paper.

You grab one packet of loose paper in case it comes in handy later.

You found: code on paper

Leave it be

You turn away from the bookshelf and head back into the lab. No reason to waste your time reading in a place like this, after all.

See Walk Away

History

Before April 14, 2013, the recipes it gave:

You've learned a new coding recipe: Software Firewall - Implement some Security Patches with Networking Code
or
You've learned a new coding recipe: Vulnerability Database - Correlate the data from two sets of Security Patches
or
You've learned a new coding recipe: Optimizing Code - Supplement an Automation Routine with a Math Subroutine
or
You've learned a new coding recipe: Vulnerability Tester - Implement your Vulnerability Database with some Networking Code