The Meridian Protocol
An independent investigator is dispatched to Meridian Analytics Inc. following the discovery of a deceased employee. The initial audit of physical traces and preliminary testimonies yields baseline anomalies within the corporate environment.
Initial Crime Scene
The magnetic swipe-card reader on the server room wall emits a soft, rhythmic beep with each logged access. The air smells of ozone and chilled, recycled air. Your first visual sweep catches the flat, shadowless light from fluorescent tubes reflecting off polished floor tiles, the low-frequency drone of cooling fans thrumming through rows of monolithic server racks, and a network of thick, insulated cables running in precise lines along the ceiling.
Crime Scene Environment
The lighting profile is sterile and shadowless, emanating from overhead fluorescent panels. The humidity and temperature are controlled and chilled, indicative of a server environment. The acoustic density is dominated by a constant, low-frequency hum from cooling systems and spinning disk drives, creating an analogue drone.
Investigation Constraints
Late 1990s/Early 2000s corporate environment: Landline telephones with call logs, centralized mainframe servers with terminal access logs, physical keycard swipe systems, networked desktop computers with limited internal email (no cloud), paper-based memos, CCTV with videotape cassettes, basic encrypted floppy disks, fax machines, and external courier services. No smartphones, social media, or ubiquitous Wi-Fi.
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