Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War delivers a thrilling campaign filled with intrigue, and the optional side missions, including Operation Chaos, add layers of depth and engaging puzzles. Operation Chaos tasks you with hunting down the elusive Robert Aldrich, and to successfully navigate this mission, you’ll need to decipher a crucial floppy disk. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough on how to decrypt the floppy disk in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War‘s Operation Chaos, ensuring you’re well-equipped to uncover Aldrich’s secrets.
Before diving into the decryption process, it’s essential to gather all the necessary evidence. Operation Chaos requires you to collect three pieces of intel scattered throughout the campaign. These clues are vital for solving the floppy disk puzzle. While this guide focuses on decryption, remember that finding these evidence pieces is your first step.
Once you have secured the Coded Message To Qasim, the Numbers Station Broadcast, and the Frontpage of the Observer Newspaper, you’re ready to tackle the floppy disk decryption. Grab a pen and paper, as this step-by-step process will require some note-taking and logical deduction. Let’s break down how to use these clues to unlock the secrets hidden within the floppy disk.
Step 1: Unscrambling the Newspaper Headline for the City
Your decryption journey begins with the Frontpage of the Observer Newspaper. Examine this piece of evidence closely. Within the headline, you’ll notice certain letters highlighted in red. These red letters are the key to the first part of the puzzle.
Your task is to unscramble these red letters to form the name of a city. The specific letters and the city will vary for each player, adding a unique element to your playthrough. For example, in the image above, the red letters might unscramble to “DENVER.” Write down the city name you decipher; you’ll need it for the next step.
Step 2: Using the Numbers Station Broadcast to Find the Code
Next, access the Numbers Station Broadcast evidence. This document lists various cities alongside corresponding numbers. Locate the city you unscrambled from the newspaper headline in this list.
Once you find your city, note down the number associated with it. This number is your code for decrypting the floppy disk. In the example where the city is “DENVER,” the corresponding code might be “4299.” Keep this code handy as you proceed.
Step 3: Cracking the Coded Message to Qasim for the Passphrase
The final piece of evidence is the Coded Message To Qasim. This clue presents number sequences in different colors, most notably red and blue. Your objective here is to identify the pattern in each sequence and determine the missing number.
Focus on the red number sequence first. Analyze the numbers provided and figure out the increment or decrement pattern. In the example shown, the red numbers are 27, 32, 37, ?, 47. It’s clear that each subsequent number increases by five. Therefore, the missing red number is “42.”
Now, turn your attention to the blue number sequence. These may be slightly trickier as the pattern might not be as straightforward as simple addition. In the example, the blue numbers are 33, ?, 36, 39, 43. By examining the differences between consecutive numbers, you can deduce the pattern. Working backward, 43 is four more than 39, and 39 is three more than 36. Following this decreasing pattern, the missing blue number, which should be two more than the preceding number and one less than the succeeding number, is “34.”
Combine the red and blue numbers you’ve solved for. In our example, combining “42” (red) and “34” (blue) gives you “4234.” Now, refer back to the Numbers Station Broadcast evidence again. Look for this combined number in the list. The city associated with this number is your passphrase. In this example, “4234” corresponds to “Baltimore,” which becomes our passphrase.
Step 4: Decrypting the Floppy Disk
With both the code (from the Numbers Station Broadcast corresponding to the city in the newspaper) and the passphrase (the city from the Numbers Station Broadcast corresponding to the combined numbers from the Coded Message), you are finally ready to decrypt the floppy disk.
Navigate to the floppy disk decryption interface in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Enter the code you obtained and then type in the passphrase. If you’ve correctly solved all the steps, the floppy disk will decrypt, unlocking crucial information for Operation Chaos and allowing you to proceed with your mission to apprehend Robert Aldrich.
Successfully decrypting the floppy disk is a satisfying puzzle within Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. It not only enhances the narrative depth of Operation Chaos but also provides a rewarding break from the intense action sequences. By following these steps and carefully examining the evidence, you’ll be well on your way to completing this intriguing side mission and uncovering all the secrets it holds.
