During an assault in progress near the docks in Northside, Watson there is a shard in a suitcase that is encrypted. From all my research there has been no solution found for this so far.
There are two named NPCs: Nils Dahlberg and Dirk Brooks in the event. Each of them drop a shard also which may provide some hints.
Shard info
PATENT #444/3/45
DATA ENCRYPTED
ENTER KEY TO ACCESS
#^*$^&@***@^TDG&^G@^*&@^TEGD^@T^223^&&GVT&^&GBU)(*&^@T&#RVBF#)
(JB*#&GD**#&^^%#%DG^^66^&T&(@YE*@87&@E*&@E^*@68&*@ET&@*@GD*&@D
G&*@D*&@876268&@*&@^&*E^*@&^*8ggg78!^E*@%E*@E(01017W9791w7@@_)!#*)(#!
&&g7t*!^*(&)18639tg^&@8130g&yv&*^!#1
At some point the encrypted data was updated to add the string which indicates the data is a valid string and still needing to be decrypted
GD*&@DG&*@D*&@876268&@*&@^&*E^*@&^*8ggg78!
Dirk Shard
ARCHIVED CONVERSATION: DIRK AND TIM
DIRK: Tim, we got problems
DIRK: Nils took a few rounds in the back and I cant stop the bleeding
DIRK: we need evac now
TIM: see what I can do
DIRK: you'll see? just send a fucking car!
TIM: you have the docs?
DIRK: yes we have the fcking docs
TIM: Good. Make sure they're secure
DIRK: NILS IS DYING IN MY FUCKING ARMS ATM
TIM: yes, you said that already
TIM: hold on a little longer
TIM: working on it
Nils Shard
ACCESS CODE
TOP-SECRET DATA
TO BE READ IN CORP HQ UPON RECEIPT OF ONE TIME ACCESS CODE
IF THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN LOST, THE FINDER IS OBLIGATED TO DESTROY IT IMMEDIATELY OR FACE A MONETARY FINE AND/OR DEATH
The main hint I'm leaning towards is the name of the patent following a pattern common to Arasaka documents, but the main question I'm wondering about is who is Tim?
Could it possibly be Tim Ward of Ward Security? If so, is there a HQ in NC?
Did you offer him some Merlot?