Cryptographic Desequencer: write keycards and fix stalled progress

Where do you get the machine and cards?

After closing your shop, visit Dr. Jackson’s shop for the Cryptographic Desequencer, Blank keycards and access chips. The machine and chips can appear at random, so inspect the current goods before planning a batch. Choose the permission you need and buy its chip separately.

What does the Cryptographic Desequencer do?

If you are looking for a “decoder box,” compare the picture and official name below. You may mean the Cryptographic Desequencer. It writes access permissions to keycards. Use the finished card to open a compatible lock.

Cryptographic Desequencer

Open the machine to find Power Source, Modules, Chip Slot, Input, and Output. The access chip determines which keycard it produces.

How do you write a Security keycard?

Cryptographic Desequencer Chip (Security)

This chip goes in the Chip Slot. A chip for another department produces that department’s keycard.

Disposable Keycard (Blank) and Disposable Keycard (Security)

A Blank keycard accepts new permissions. The machine also accepts an existing access keycard and replaces it with the card specified by the chip.

1. Open the Desequencer and insert a charged energy cell into Power Source. The base machine uses 10 energy per working night.
2. Put a Cryptographic Desequencer Chip (Security) into Chip Slot. Access chips and ordinary upgrade modules have separate slots.
3. Put a Disposable Keycard (Blank) into Input and clear Output.
4. End the day and check progress the next morning. The base machine advances by 33 each working night. A Security chip needs 125, so it takes four powered nights with Output clear.
5. Keep enough energy available while it works. The input card becomes locked during processing and cannot be removed.
6. Collect the Disposable Keycard (Security) from Output. The machine consumes the input card and keeps the chip. Add another card to write the next one.

For empty cells, see energy cells and charging. Search “keycard” in the item catalogue and prices to compare base values.

How many nights does each chip take?

The equipment instructions in Demo 049-Rev5-L say “Overnight,” but processing can span several nights. These times use the unmodified speed of 33 progress per night. Nights without enough power or with an occupied Output slot do not advance the job.

Chip permissions	Progress target	Working nights at base speed
Service	75	3
Supply	75	3
Engineering	100	4
Medical	100	4
Security	125	4
Command	150	5

Performance affects processing speed. Efficiency affects energy use. Quality has no effect on this machine. See machine modules for installation and extraction.

Why is there no finished card?

Check Output first. An occupied slot prevents both a new job from starting and an existing job from advancing. Remove the previous card and check again after a night.

Then check the remaining energy. The base machine needs 10 energy for a working night; use the displayed power consumption after upgrades. Insufficient power pauses the job, which can continue after you restore power.

If processing has not started, confirm the access chip is in Chip Slot and the keycard is in Input. Both items must belong to you. An ordinary system module cannot replace the access chip.

If the status says “Desequencing,” read the current progress and target. A Security card at 33/125 after the first night is still processing. The finished card opens locks matching its permissions. Security cards open Security locks; the Command card’s description says it opens most locks requiring keycard access.

The machine and its chips have contraband levels. See crime and hiding goods for storage and inspections.

In-game manuals

• Confidential Codebook

For the shop entrance, other goods and stock conditions, see Dr. Jackson.