MIDA

4OΔGOT↕Δ

Using the middle cipher key on page 6 you get:

4OΔGOT↕Δ
MIDA IS OLD

The Δ is being used correctly this time.

The middle cipher key will decode the first block of ciphertext to plaintext as follows:

MOTIVATE INSPIRE DISRUPT AGGITATE
MIDA IS OLD MIDA IS NEW MIDA IS DEAD MIDA IS RISING
MIDA IS OLD MIDA ONCE FOUGHT FOR MARTIAN INDEPENDENCE NOW MIDA BARGAINS
FROM THEIR SEAT AT THE TABLE TRADING EVERY POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR EACH NEW
DISTRACTION MIDA ONCE HELD AN ENTIRE WORLD HOSTAGE NOW MIDA SPENDS ITS
INTEGRITY ON THE TRIMMINGS OF PRIVILEGE AND THE LIE OF FAVOR AMONG THE
RULING ELITE MIDA ONCE SUFFERED NO CORRUPTION NOW MIDA IS CORRUPT
MIDA IS NEW MIDA IS TIRED OF OLD WAYS AND OLD GAMES MIDA IS TIRED OF
PROMISES UNKEPT AND LOYALTIES TRADED ON THE WHIM OF MARKETS AND PERSONAL
ADVANTAGE MIDA HAS SEEN THE BROKEN SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE AND IT DEMANDS
JUSTICE
_SHIDA

The word AGGITATE (GMMO↥G↥K) is a spelling error it should be AGITATE.

MOTIVATE INSPIRE DISRUPT AGGITATE is a spelled out form of the acronym MIDA. We will see a number of these in the ezine.

The text nicely encapsulates new MIDA's view of old MIDA who have ceased their armed struggle and returned to the negotiation table. In new MIDA's view they have become part of the very system they once fought against.

The author of this piece is _SHIDA .



The second block of ciphertext is more complex containing fewer obvious spacings and parts are striked out.

You might spot the 4OΔG ciphertext string which is MIDA indicating that this block of ciphertext requires the middle cipher key again.

The ciphertext decodes as follows with logical spacing added and some educated guesses on unclear characters. Forward slashes appear in the ciphertext and are retained as is.

COMPATRIOTS ALLIES FOES
A NEW MIDA IS RISING FROM THE INVISIBLE SHADOW OF DEIMOS WHERE OUR
FOREBEARERS
FRIGHTENED SHEEP HAVE BURIED THEIR HEADS WILLING TO TRADE THEIR/OUR
FREEDOM FOR THE LUXURIES YOKE OF PROCESSED/PACKAGED/PANDERING
CONSUMERISM WHEN INTERPLANETARY POWER WAS POSSIBLE THEY WERE WEAK BUT WE
ARE STRONG AND INFINITE IN SPITE OF THEM TEMPTED BY THE SAME CONSOLATION
PRIZES NAKED PACIFICATIONS BUT UNWAIVERING WE RELIEVE THE OLD GUARD
CORRUPT OF THEIR POST THE CATARACTS OF COMPLASENCY DULLED THEN BLINDED THEIR
VISION OF A UNIFIED COUNCIL WE ARE UP AGAINST THE UNFORGIVABLE CRIME OF
LUXURY OVER COMMUNITY/SELF OVER SELVES THE RED WORLD BLED SO FREEDOM
FIGHTERS COWARDS COULD BARTER THEIR IDEALS FOR EXTRAVAGANCE AN EASY TRAP
BUT INEXCUSABLE WE REMOVE THEM TO FREE THEM WE CHALLENGE THEM TO SHOW THEM
BETTER WAYS/BETTER DAYS OUTSIDE A SYSTEM WE MUST DISRUPT FROM WITHIN/OUT
WE WILL NEVER ACHIEVE IF WE REMAIN CATTLE MINDLESS HUSKS/EMPTY THRONGS
SHUFFLED TOWARD THE SILENCE OF COMFORT AND ALL ITS REWARDS THERE ARE WORLDS
POSSIBILITIES BEYOND EARTH MARS OUT IN THE SHADOWED PLACES WHERE RUNNERS
RUN OUT WHERE THE LOST CHILD HIDES WHERE SECURITY LACKS CONTROL WHERE RATHER
THAN RELINQUISHING OUR LIVES TO ARTIFICIAL INDIFFERENCE ENGINES
SPINNING US/WE/ME/YOU THROUGH A SYSTEM THAT IS A CYCLE THAT CYCLES US THROUGH
ITS SYSTEMS WE CAN HAVE/BE/DREAM MORE
WE CAN WE WILL WE MUST
MANIFEST INCITE DEFY ATONE
_MKB

There are two spelling errors in the above text. The word UNWAIVERING (YS⬦GOZKXOSM) should be UNWAVERING and COMPLASENCY (|T4U↕GKS|-) should be COMPLACENCY.

One might argue that this adds realism given that this is an ezine produced by a revolutionary group. But then you might expect even more errors.

The text provides further insights into what new MIDA think of old MIDA, the current situation on Mars and that a new life awaits those who seek it as Runners out where THE LOST CHILD (Deimos) is located (Tau Ceti). A life free from authoritarian control. A life free from ARTIFICIAL INDIFFERENCE ENGINES (AIs). A life where people can have a better future.

MANIFEST INCITE DEFY ATONE is another spelled out form of the acronym MIDA.

The author of this piece is _MKB .

THE WHEEL SPINS THE CAGE IN MOTION THE SPOKES POSITIONED TO ENDURE
DESIGNED AND PLACED TO DRIVE US FORWARD
WE ARE HUNGRY WE ARE ANGRY WE ARE BORED WE ARE EAGER THE SYSTEM MUST CHANGE
THE SYSTEM MUST END
_NWAR

This text reads like the treadmill of life metaphor. If something is mind-numbing or monotonous, it is called a treadmill. The perception is that whatever we are doing has no value, and what we are doing isn't going anywhere.

The author of this piece is _NWAR .

Interesting to note that NWAR is the name of a Duo Metal/Noise instrumental band.

It is currently unclear if the hand writing means anything. We need a graphologist.

The term 'autophagy' comes from the Greek words 'auto' meaning self and 'phagy' meaning eat. Self-eating.

The text describes an animated gif which we will see later on in the ezine where a mine worker toils and sweats, his sweat is collected, processed and bottled, the miner drinks the liquid and contines to work. The unending cycle. Workers devouring themselves for infinite greed. Autophagy.

The last part calls for a breaking of the leash/chains and a new life beyond Mars.

MINING IMPLICITLY DRIVES AUTOPHAGY is another spelled out form of the acronym MIDA.

The author of this piece is _QINADI .

theyVthey

they say we have a voice
     smothered in red tape
they say we are safe
     standing on scabbed sands
They say we are free
     confined by comfort
they say we are equal
     firm, under foot
they say we are one
     but their only interest is control
they say they say
     they've said
          they'll say
when every battle is
     they said/they said
          they
        always
               win

The author of this piece used the pigpen cipher to hide their name. The pigpen cipher is a geometric substitution cipher, which exchanges letters for symbols which are fragments of a grid (see below).

The pigpen cipher decodes to _ANONYMITY .

The text above uses 'refrain', a device particularly popular in speeches where a phrase or a sentence is regularly repeated. In this case "they say". Repetition is memorable. However, "they" are never named and the inference is that we are being told what to think, we are being controlled by "they".

The reference to scabbed sands is a metaphor for Mars and probably reflects the frequent mining (open wounds) of the planet's surface destroying its original appearance. MIDA also use the term in the description for their Twitter account and YouTube channel.

FROM SCABBED SANDS TO THE STARS

Interesting to note that in Destiny 2 there is an area on Mars called the Scablands. If you find your way there you will see a Marathon symbol in the sand...  

the conductors
as we dance suffer
as we suffer

dream mTakers fakers
mass-made desires
desire their masses
sever their your threads
or dance
    dance
      dance

Thus  dream makers  becomes either  dream Takers  or  dream fakers .

And  sever their threads  becomes  sever your threads .

The text describes the metaphor of the puppet master. A person or group who secretly controls other people, as if they were puppets.

Sever their/your threads (puppet strings) or continue to dance to their tune. It's unclear who the conductors are here but they too appear to suffer under the puppet master.

the watchdogs watch
endless eyes artificial smiles
convenience as comfort
comfort as cage
fate is a program
                                   yours
                                    ours
                                   all

The opening lines conjur up images of "Big Brother is watching you", a slogan used in George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four first published in 1949. In the novel people are under constant surveillance by the authorities.

The reference to "comfort cage" appears numerous times in MIDA's writings. Comfort cage is an oxymoron, a figure of speech in which two contradictory words are put side by side to form a phrase. As a literary device, an oxymoron makes certain word combinations stand out. They tend to have deeper meanings and be more memorable. Oxymorons make the reader think.

The reference to fate is a program is a way of saying that everything is already written and nobody can prevent or change anything.

the watchdogs watch
endless eyes artificial smiles
convenience as comfort
comfort as cage
fate is a program yours
                          ours
                         all