ARTEMIS — Field Reference Cards

ARTEMIS Field Reference

Code Book · Operator Quick-Cards

The Code BookThis month's shared key

A single string of random characters that the whole net holds an identical copy of. It seeds the cipher for every message.

Any holder of the book reads all traffic; anyone without it sees noise. The book is the only secret. It fits on one datapad (≤1000 characters).

DistributionGenerate once → Copy Book → paste onto a datapad → every ally loads it.

IndicatorPer-message seed, sent in clear

A short random tag the terminal puts in front of every message. It steers the cipher to a unique keystream for that one message.

This is why many allies can transmit at once and never collide. It is not secret — always send it with the message; without the book it reveals nothing.

Transmit stringK7Q9M2P4 6B/WY 3MUM) 5B.'2 — decode reads the tag first.

FingerprintThe match check

The BOOK code in the status bar (e.g. 7F3A) is a short signature of the loaded book.

Before any traffic, every ally confirms the same fingerprint. Same code = same book = you can talk. Different code = someone's on the wrong or old book.

Pre-flightCompare BOOK xxxx across all stations before sending.

Transmit / ReceiveEncode vs decode

TRANSMIT (amber) — type plaintext, it outputs the indicator + ciphertext as one transmit string. Copy and send.

RECEIVE (cyan) — paste the whole received transmission (indicator and all); it returns the plaintext.

MnemonicAmber = out. Cyan = in.

Monthly RotationFresh book on the 1st

Issue a new code book each month. Generate it, distribute to the net, everyone reloads, old book retired.

Limits the damage of a leak: a captured book only exposes that one month, not your whole history.

Cadence1st of the month → New Book → re-issue → confirm fingerprints.

The NetOne book, many allies

Everyone on the same book is one net — they all read each other's traffic. That's the codebook feature, not a flaw.

Traffic is unlimited: no group budget, no station split, no collisions. Keep groups that shouldn't read each other on separate books.

RuleOne book = one net. Different nets get different books.

Golden RulesHold the line on these

Match fingerprints first. No traffic until every station shows the same BOOK code.
Guard the book, not the method. The enemy can know how ARTEMIS works — only the book protects you.
Rotate monthly. Fresh book on the 1st; retire the old one immediately.
Always send the indicator. It rides in the clear at the head of every message — never strip it.
One book per net. Separate alliances that shouldn't read each other get separate books.
Treat capture as compromise. If a book is taken, that month is burned — rotate early.