No Warning is an ongoing Science Fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 drama concerning the struggle of the Nexus, humanity's last hope, against the ancient Fraternity of the Eternal Brotherhood, who are beginning to emerge after a long period in hiding. The series, composed of short films and additional interactive material, is distributed online. The first short film premiered in March 2008, and at the time of writing there are six episodes. It is planned to produce new episodes on a regular basis.

The series is written and directed by Northern Irish film-maker Bill Taylor, and is an independent production. No Warning is located and shot in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

, and utilises the rich vein of local talent available there. The drama uses several innovative techniques to help unfold the storyline, including the use of graphical and textual codes. The puzzles are relayed to the audience via an internet forum, and community participation is encouraged in their solving. No Warning belongs to the expanding genre of Internet Television Series

Web series

A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode .While the popularity of web series is continuing to rise, the concept...

, and enjoys a growing audience on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

 and the No Warning website.

The Episodes

At the time of writing this article, there are seven video episodes:

Episode Number	Episode Name
1	Webcams in Northern Ireland
2	Gabriel Introduction
3	Gabriel's Second Broadcast
4	Prisoner
5	Propaganda Rising
6	Statement Under Duress
7	Not Careful Enough

Webcams in Northern Ireland - Synopsis

The first episode depicts footage recovered from a damaged NexCorp satellite. John (MasterBlaster), Nicola (ElvenEnchantress), Bob (ArtfulDodger) and Duncan (Dunc_the_Skunk) are four gamer friends connected to the internet using the neXmessenger chat client. They discuss a marriage proposal and a cycling marathon, but the chat moves on to a mysterious incident at Portrush

Portrush

Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....

 (a seaside town in Northern Ireland). At this point, John goes off-line to attend to a computer problem, and the others make some remarks about John's computer skills and the reliability of NexCorp's servers. Suddenly, starting with Duncan, the remaining friends disappear from the screen in mysterious circumstances. A radio report is heard about strange lights in the Northern Ireland skyline. At the end of the episode, we learn that the four have not been seen again. We are told to be vigilant...

Gabriel Introduction - Synopsis

We are introduced to Gabriel, the Emissary Designate of the Nexus. He is relaying a message from what appears to be a computer server room. He tells us that the Fraternity have been on Earth for centuries, but that they are now "on the move". They are not to be trusted. He explains that the network he is using is not secure, but that he will find a way to get a message out. He reminds us to be vigilant, and to spread the message - that our future depends on it. The feed breaks off and we are treated to a communication from the Fraternity of the Eternal Brotherhood, who claim that Gabriel's message is a hoax to discredit them. We are told to ignore the Nexus "fools", that the Fraternity protects...

Gabriel's Second Broadcast - Synopsis

Gabriel is on the move, travelling in a car. He explains that communication in the future will be difficult, as the previous location was compromised. Gabriel managed to escape but several of his men were "captured" and in grave danger. He tells us that the NexCorp website has been compromised by him, and a secret forum has been set up there to aid communication by the Nexus. At the end of the episode, he is seen to be fleeing from his enemies.

Prisoner - Synopsis

Gabriel is walking through a deserted building, having a telephone conversation with the Nexus Custodian. We learn that he is now at odds with the Nexus High Command and that he is injured in some way. The scene cuts several times to a closed door; there are groans coming from behind the door.
We learn that Gabriel has a captive, important to the Nexus and to "the survival of the planet". Gabriel opens the door, and we see the hooded captive. He closes the door behind him, and are left in no doubt as to Gabriel's methods.

Propaganda Rising - Synopsis

A propaganda film from the Fraternity. They tell us that devotees have been injured, and that an Acolyte has been captured. They express disgust at the attack on them, and address Gabriel by name telling him that there will be a price to pay. They demand the Acolyte's release immediately, denounce the Nexus but welcome others to join their "path to enlightenment". The Fraternity protects!

Statement Under Duress - Synopsis

Gabriel is at a busy road junction. He implores those who disagree with his methods to "watch and learn". He uses a remote control device to relay a feed through a massive video screen in the city square. A hood is removed from the Acolyte Robert Shepherd (Bob), Gabriel's captive. We can clearly see that the Fraternity's propaganda piece is being played to him, and that he is in some discomfort. He tells us that the Nexus has set him free, and apologises for his crimes. He explains that he is to renounce his former life and study under Gabriel to become an instrument of the Nexus. The viewpoint returns to Gabriel, who tells us that in spite of his renegade status he has obtained a victory over the Fraternity. We can see that a price has been paid, though: Gabriel appears to be extremely ill.

Not Careful Enough - Synopsis

We are introduced to Isobel "Izzy" Montgomery, a 24-year-old Media student with aspirations to be a reporter. Izzy plays for us an edited version of a show reel she made in order to further her career. At the end of the video, an unknown assailant barges into her and runs off. Izzy gives chase, but is knocked to the ground and accused of membership of the Fraternity. The assailant makes off, leaving Izzy bruised and confused. Izzy vows to investigate FOTEB, and promises to exact some revenge for the attack.

The Puzzles

The Nexus internet forum is a mechanism employed to reveal further plot details to audience members who can solve the codes and puzzles presented there. The codes have also been used to reveal the location of information. Thus far, the series has employed ShotCode

ShotCode

ShotCode is a circular barcode created by High Energy Magic of Cambridge University. It uses a dartboard-like circle, with a bullseye in the centre and datacircles surrounding it...

, QR Code

QR Code

A QR code is a type of matrix barcode first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white...

 and Substitution Ciphers

Substitution cipher

In cryptography, a substitution cipher is a method of encryption by which units of plaintext are replaced with ciphertext according to a regular system; the "units" may be single letters , pairs of letters, triplets of letters, mixtures of the above, and so forth...

to perplex and enlighten participants.

The Characters

Character	Played by	Summary
John	James Tumilty	One of the gamers from Episode 1. Goes offline to sort out a network problem, never to be seen again. Whereabouts unknown at present.
Nicola	Lesa Gillespie	A gamer from Episode 1. Engaged to Bob. A shadow falls across her webcam, as she screams in horror. Again, whereabouts unknown.
Duncan	Peter Irvine	A gamer, Episode 1. An approaching white light fills the room, he is heard to utter a short prayer, and he is lost. Whereabouts unknown.
Robert (Bob) Shepherd	Brian Mulholland	A gamer, Episode 1. Engaged to Nicola. Disappears in similar circumstances to Duncan, but returns to the drama in Prisoner (although we don't see his face) and Statement Under Duress as Gabriel's captive. He is known to have been an Acolyte, but has vowed to 'reform' as an instrument of the Nexus.
Gabriel	Michael Smyth	The focus of the series, and Emissary of the Nexus. His mission to spread the Nexus gospel, but disenchanted by the lack of direct action, he comes into direct conflict with Nexus High Command and the Custodian. After a skirmish with elements of the Fraternity, he captures the Acolyte Robert Shepherd and deprogrammes him. He is infected with an unknown agent during the skirmish, and becomes increasingly ill.
Isobel (Izzy) Montgomery	TBC	Media student and wannabe reporter, Izzy is drawn into the murky world of the Fraternity after a chance encounter with an agitated individual in a Belfast alleyway. Accused of being a member of FOTEB, Izzy vows to investigate.
The Custodian	TBC	An agent of the Nexus, introduced in Prisoner. The Custodian is known to adhere to the orders of the High Command, and has attempted to reform Gabriel - without success.
The Voice of the Fraternity	TBC	Encountered at the end of Episode 1, and in Propaganda Rising, the Voice of the Fraternity is a disembodied, alien monotone. Thus far, the Voice has emerged only to counteract actions of the Nexus. The Voice is multi-faceted, and appears to belong to more than one individual. Does each Voice represent a different personality archetype?

External links

• No Warning on the web.
• The episodes
• The puzzles