Jose was very clever when he altered the pogramming of the probes to accept input from "unknown sources" and the ability to respond to that input without the requirement of the command codes. As I see it there are two possibilities of how he did that:
1) he reprogrammed the probes to make the codes essentially optional.
2) the transmission software prepends the codes to all outgoing messages.
Personally, I like option 2. It is far more simple and elegant. It requires the least alteration to the probes (remote reprogramming is hard enough when you have the original source code to work with let alone...). It could also explain the situation we have with Daniel.
Consider this scenario: Jose knew he was being hounded. He knew he had to alter the access codes to prevent a total information shutdown. He could reach all of the probes and modify the command codes EXCEPT Daniel's. Daniel was not able to accept the modification and is still operating with the OLD CODES! If a message was sent to him that contained those old codes and instructions to switch to a backup transmission system, we might succeed in bringing him online too.
This theory came to me when I considered that he DID respond to a signal by transmitting an empty message. There is something active in him; something trying to communicate. The problem may be that Daniel's "Human Interraction Protocol" has not yet been satisfied.
Who knows the old codes? Who can try to awaken the sleeping Daniel? If I am right, it is IMPERATIVE we get to him before a hostile force discovers they can take over him and counter our every move. Whoever you are HURRY! We are all counting upon you.
Space Turtel, CS