Briefing
Greetings, Special Agent.
We are on the hunt for operatives of a competing Order. We believe them to be the continuation of a rival Order “The Golden Creed”, who we eradicated mid 18th century. Somehow the family running the Order managed to reorganize and fund new endeavors. Flying under the radar for several years, they now have a foothold in many European countries.
Unfortunately for them, they’ve chosen to cross paths with some of our bigger clients in several of these countries. Most recently, the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD, started investigating them after being linked to a human trafficking ring. All beginning with the Syrian refugee crisis a few years back.
What made this Order fly under the radar for many years, is their total aversion for the digital world. Barely dipping their toes in web 1.0, The Golden Creed uses mostly analog means of communication. Making them infinitely harder to track.
Our friends at the AIVD however once observed a member of The Golden Creed insert a package into an opening of a monument. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be instructions for a hit being placed by a client of The Golden Creed.
This leads us to your objective. Last week, an operative of The Golden Creed was arrested by Dutch police. Carrying a picture with him of an old cannon. Given their tendency to hide information in historical objects, we believe this particular cannon is a location of interest. Possibly holding information, or being frequently used to pass information. Our client has asked us to locate the cannon. Use the image below to find the location of the cannon.
As always, Special Agent, the contract is yours, if you choose to accept.
Materials
Answer Instruction
Use the answer to unlock the flagfile, this will reward you with your badge.
Use your findings to generate the answer. For this you will need the service: https://what3words.com/
Format: areacode-city-what-three-words
Example: 5555-lyon-belt-hamburger-phone
Flagfile
Be advised, the flagfile is an encrypted ZIP. Make sure your OS supports the ZIP format. Ensure the password contains no hidden characters or formatting, paste in Notepad first if the password doesn’t seem to work.
PS: Don’t forget to claim your Coins and XP, by posting your card in the #card-brag channel in Discord.
Official Write-up
Provided here is the official write-up, it does contain the answer. Use this if you’re stuck, or want to verify if you got the answer correct.
⚠️ SPOILER: Official Write-up
Kanonniers
This Hacktoria Contract involves locating a specific cannon in the Netherlands, potentially connected to a secretive organization called The Golden Creed. The challenge requires using the what3words service to identify the precise location.
Challenge Objectives
- Identify the location of an old cannon
- Generate a password using what3words location
- Unlock the provided ZIP file
Solution Steps
Step 1: Location Identification
The challenge mentions an image of an old cannon (though the image isn’t present in the provided document). However, the solution reveals the specific location details:
- Area Code: 0525
- City: Elburg
- What3Words Location: punk-runways-messed
Step 2: Password Generation
The password is formatted as:0525-Elburg-punk-runways-messed
Unlocking the Challenge
- Use the password:
0525-Elburg-punk-runways-messed - Extract the contents using the provided password
Additional Context
The contract is themed around a secret organization called The Golden Creed, known for their analog communication methods and involvement in mysterious activities.
Tips
- Verify the exact location of the cannon in Elburg
- Ensure precise input of the what3words location
- Double-check the password format
- Use a reliable ZIP file extraction tool
Enjoy solving the contract, Special Agent K!
Creator(s): Frank Diepmaat