Cogs.Ink/Gopher Protocol

During the v1.3.0 ARG, it was discovered that the cogs.ink website could be accessed through an old browser called "Gopher". Gopher is recognized by port 70, the standard port for an old file-reading protocol known the "Gopher protocol". The Gopher protocol is a communication protocol designed for distributing, searching, and retrieving documents in Internet Protocol networks. The design of the Gopher protocol and user interface is menu-driven, and presented an alternative to the World Wide Web in its early stages, but ultimately fell into disfavor, yielding to HTTP. Gopher Protocol was supported by Netscape Navigator which is the name "Suitscape Navigator" was likely inspired by. Accessing cogs.ink through this web browser reveals an older, if not the first, web page for C.O.G.S. Inc.

## C.O.G.S, Inc.

When first loading the page for cogs.ink the user is presented with ASCII art of the words "C.O.G.S. Inc". ASCII art is commonly used on web pages using Gopher. The page layout is very simple and uses no CSS/styling. The page informs the user that the Employee Information Portal has been transferred to a more up-to-date Employee Information System based on HTTP. This is referring to the current cogs.ink. Below the introduction is a section for "Company Information" and "Useful Pages".

## Company Information

Under Company Information on the homepage there is a folder icon and a link to "Senior Management Team". At the top of the page is a note warning that the page is being migrated and some information may not be accurate. Below are listed members of the management team. Each name has a folder icon and an attached link, however, clicking the link only sends the user to an automatic option to email the employee.

## Useful Pages

Under Useful Pages there are three options.

### Current Time

Opening the Current Time page will show that the current time is "NULL" and a message of the day. The message is a blurb of characters that are to be deciphered and used for the picross puzzle of the v1.3.0 ARG.

### Commodities Indexes

This page states that it is day 459. Further, it shows the day and values for coal, oil, and gas. There is also a verification key at the bottom made of 1's and 0's which is meant to be deciphered and used for the picross puzzle of the v1.3.0 ARG. At the very bottom of the page it asks to send any inquiries to Mr. Chris P. Dolair.

**Coal (per Tonne)**

 455
 456
 457
 458
 459

**Oil (crude, per Barrel)**

 455
 456
 457
 458
 459

**Gas (per Gallon)**

 455
 456
 457
 458
 459

### Sustenance Choices

This page lists a variety of meals that are available in The Vault of Cashbot HQ and The Oilcan Refinery in Bossbot HQ (behind Courtyard). At the end of the page is has ASCII art of the word "Enjoy" and another verification key. This verification key is a series of letters and numbers to de deciphered as part of the v1.3.0 ARG.

### The Oilcan Refinery

Note: Due to a gas leak, The Oilcan Refinery is closed until further notice.

## Trivia

* The C.O.G.S. Inc. webpage on Gopher only has 4 pages while the current cogs.ink webpage has 8 (not counting the Chairman's mixtapes and the Under Construction page).

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher\_(protocol)