For the third time, the plot will not trigger

[archmedic]

Well, this is the third time I've played Uplink (v1.31) to the point where the plot will not trigger with ARC. I received agent Shiny's mail regarding the revelation program. I spent a few days afterwards earning enough cash to buy firewall and proxy bypass 5.0. It was April 20th when I hacked the ARC mainframe. I checked out the file server and there was nothing useful in there (no revelation files). Just pure data/prg files. I downloaded one PRG file just for fun.
Logs showed Revelation-related activity. But was there anything I could do with those logs?
Log deleted everything relating to my hack, and quickly exited (the sys admin had begun a trace).

Now, I waited for 2 days afterwards and got NO reply from ARC regarding hiring me. What the hell is going on?

I understand that I missed the plot the first 2 times I did this because I waited until April 27th, and the revelation project was already listed on the internal services machine. But this time I'm WAY ahead of time, as far as I know.

After paying an arm and a leg for this game to be shipped from the UK, I'm a little more than PO'd that I can't even enjoy it. >:(

Any suggestions would be helpful and/or appreciated.
much thanks,
'Med

[Stewsburntmonkey]

If you waited 6 days you are likely too late again.  You need to have all the equipment ready before you get the email, though the trigger for the plot is using the dead agents username and pass on the ARC system (not actually hacking it).  You might trace those logs you found and see where they lead.  Also International Shipping is included in the price of Uplink when you buy it, so one would wonder what the arm and a leg business is about.  :)

[archmedic]

Damn! I seriously can't imagine being ready-to-go when the e-mail arrives. Am I a lame hacker? I hacked at least 15 machines before the e-mail arrived, and I still can't afford Firewall/Proxy 5.0. This is even after 'fronting' money from 5 employers before a mission starts.

I will check the date on the logs, and see what the latest date I can hack the ARC server is (before revelation is deleted).

As far as shipping - yes, international shipping is included, but (a) border fees, (b) brokerage fees, (c) federal taxes are brutal. Probably cost me what half of the game cost me.

Thanks much for the help. I'll check it out.

[Stewsburntmonkey]

You're not one of those Canadians are you?
 
You should have plenty of time before the email comes as long as you don't fast forward too much.  You can generally have 15 servers in the first day (game day) if you know what you're doing.  Much of the fun of the game is getting good enough to be able to do the plot, so enjoy the journey, the plot is not the best part of the game.  :)

[archmedic]

Yes, fortunately I am

I'm honestly not sure what I'm doing wrong then. I can manage maybe 5-8 in the first day. Will go at this again til I get something workable. Thanks again.

[Stewsburntmonkey]

Canada is cool, but the customs are rather ridiculous.  :)