Michelle, we need your help

I know this sounds completely crazy, but I need your help. Something terrible is going to happen, and I think you can help me stop it. It’s not going to happen for a while, 87 years to be exact. But there are only a few places in space-time when things can be broken. I think you’re in one of those places.

Messing with time is tricky.  I picked you because, well, you won’t be around to change things. I can’t say any more. But more importantly, you’re in one of those places – temporally and physically – to help make things better.

I should give you some more background.

My name is Alius Leviathan, and I’m the Agent in charge of this mission.

I can’t tell you much, but my team and I are part of a cutting edge investigative unit. Three years ago we began experimenting with temporal mechanics. We have some limited use which is how I’m contacting you today. Several of the scientists involved in the project stole some of the technology. One of them, who goes by the code name ML, founded a terrorist group dedicated to undermining our society. She is financing this group by stealing priceless works of art.

We’ve discovered that she is communicating with her group through a blog set up in your time. For some reason, she’s scattered clues to the passwords at your college.

We need your help. Over seventy years ago, there was a massive computer collapse and much information was lost. You’re on the ground, and we think you can help.

ML uses a complicated code system for the passwords. Each password starts as a seemingly non-sense string of letters. For each code, there is a key word. The key word tells you how far to shift the letters and numbers to find the correct password. The first letter always looks back and the second always advances, third looks back and so on. We uncovered one of the codes and keys so you can see how it works.

Here’s the clue we intercepted: Perkins’ and Dickinson’s alma _______. So the key word is mater.

The passcode was this:  Z N O I L U  P F T G X F

Here’s a table to show you our solution:

You can use this password to open the first page. ML never uses caps in the passwords.

I've included a letter wheel that should help you keep track of things.

Check back here tomorrow. I think we're expecting another riddle soon. One last thing. Temporal communications like this are hard to do. All I'll be able to do is send you the riddles. It's up to you to solve them.

I can't thank you enough for your help.

Agent Leviathan