#lore-and-universe | Halo | Page 217

feral perch Jul 28, 2019, 1:55 AM

#

It would be nice to get a true representation of Pelicans from the novels, as opposed to the variations we get in the games.

#

The Halo 2 Pelican seems like the best out of the bunch, as I remember.

#

Something really versatile and dangerous.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 2:19 AM

#

I'm so tired of that name

#

He probably doesn't exist.

#

He's just a bunch of different Australian-accented Marines that are all represented by one named personality in the game's files.

#

🙄

#

Halo YouTubers. When will their reign of irritating canonical misconceptions end.

#

I've got no idea what you're trying to tell me

unique rune Jul 28, 2019, 2:36 AM

#

why not have a compass

#

Useful for navigation.
Helps to have a bit of redundancy if some other system for directions breaks down.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 2:47 AM

#

I just pretend that the MA5's screen is actually a digital screen that can display many things.

#

And that ammo counter and compass is like a default.

#

I mean, you wouldn't really need an ammo counter if you had a HUD

#

But it is helpful for redundancy's sake.

#

I guess you could make the argument that, despite appearances, all UNSC weapons are designed for non-HUD usage first.

#

Especially if the MA5 has always had concealed ironsights or a projection sight.

#

Marine's helmets have a HUD Visor

#

it's that little screen that's above their eye from the helmet

#

but it's worth noting the helmets can be knocked off

#

Basically all UNSC eyewear features a HUD

#

Obviously goggles and tactical eyescreens

#

Even sunglasses - HUD sunglasses were being field tested in 2525.

#

They might even have mono-directional holographic screens

#

Like, they might have HUDs on helmets without eyewear

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 3:45 AM

#

why is the m820 scorpion tank on halopedia main image floating

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 3:56 AM

#

You mean this image https://www.halopedia.org/images/9/9a/H5G_-_M820_Scorpion.png

cinder turtle Jul 28, 2019, 4:21 AM

#

Any offical lore for the marine chips Dubbo

inner basin Jul 28, 2019, 9:57 AM

#

That’s not official

#

That was a video made by HiddenXperia. He was joking with speculation for what we don’t know.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 12:35 PM

#

Alright so how does aiming the MA5 series rifle work?

#

None of them seem to have anything really dedicated to accuracy, such as iron sights

carmine sleet Jul 28, 2019, 12:36 PM

#

Depends on the model, some, such as the MA5D that appears in Halo 5, have a sight rail that can be used to add a sight. Most the others require a link to the user's HUD

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 12:36 PM

#

Hmmm

#

That's so weird

#

So the MA5B and MA5C for example, can't be used by an individual without a HUD system?

#

At least not accurately

carmine sleet Jul 28, 2019, 12:38 PM

#

Basically

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 12:39 PM

#

That seems a bit of a design flaw

#

What if the HUD visor that the marines have, for example, gets damaged? Their rifles would become almost useless

#

Then again it is mostly a close range weapon

#

Wait, I just saw this in Halopedia

#

"The suite can also project a targeting reticule on the user's heads-up display or neural interface; if such equipment is not available, pop-up iron sights within the cowling can be used."

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:02 PM

#

@trail flame I have looked into this at excruciating length.

#

I'm not the person who made that edit on Halopedia, by-the-by, and honestly it should probably be removed since it's speculation in the case of all MA5 variants beside 2558-issue MA5Ds, but there's pretty strong reasoning in Contact Harvest for Harvest Colonial Militia using MA5s without any kind of HUD-based aiming.

#

Namely because they explicitly weren't issued any eyewear, something Johnson and Byrne use against them in a training exercise.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:04 PM

#

Interesting

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:04 PM

#

The cover displays Colonial Militia using MA5Cs that have their cowlings in place but (obviously, because why would it) display any kind of obvious manual sight.

#

And also, earlier on the book Jenkins learns how to zero his weapon's sights.

#

People have argued (much the delight of a Turian boi named Garrus somewhere, somehow) that zeroing sights in that context means calibrating sensor inputs on their weapon or HUDs.

#

But I think the no eyewear bit puts paid to that.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:07 PM

#

So it had to have some kind of physical sight?

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:07 PM

#

Exactly.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:09 PM

#

Could it be that some kind of sight can be put on the "ribs" on the electronics housing of the rifle?

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:12 PM

#

My interpretation is threefold - firstly, that HUDs and their supplemental targeting systems virtually never break down because the tech is almost universal and extremely robust.

Secondly, that most UNSC soldiers configure their weapons with all kinds of supplemental optics, depending on the time period. There is the chance that projection sights have existed on UNSC weapons since before the postwar period, but failing that recon sights and longshot scopes and the like wouldn't have been uncommon. It is also possible that some or all versions of the MA5 might be able to route a camera optic feed through their ammo counter - it seems like an obvious option.

And thirdly, that reserve pop-up ironsights like what we can directly observe on the 2558-issue MA5D in Halo 5 are probably present on all MA5 versions. It's obvious and easy to see on the Halo 5 MA5D, but obviously not present on earlier models. It's either a matter of lack of detail, or if it's concealed elsewhere (like the ribs, as you say, maybe vertically recessed).

#

But as a great man once said

#

Now check this out

#

https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/001/994/377/large/andrew-bradbury-ar-hi-c-01.jpg?1455686565

#

Just in case you're not familiar with what I mean when I discuss pop-up ironsights on the 2558-issue MA5D.

#

Specifically, look at the very front of the cowling where it begins to slope downwards.

#

There's a little cut-out right the edge of the removable panel at the front of the cowling.

#

You can see a little foresight tucked away.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:15 PM

#

Yup, I hadn't noticed that detail before

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:16 PM

#

S'pretty cool

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:16 PM

#

It's pretty neat

#

So it could be said that it's lack of detail in the game models that makes it appear not to have iron sights?

#

The camera feed through the display is also an interesting idea though

#

It'd be easy to use and easy to calibrate

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:17 PM

#

Yeah - lack of detail is one outlook. But 343 has used the old Halo 3 MA5C model a few times, in CEA and Fireteam Raven, so it gives me pause. But it's still the Halo 3 model, so 🤷

#

The big hitch is the MA37 and the new Infinite AR.

#

They way they're configured doesn't offer any potential avenues for where an ironsight might be mounted.

#

But people have also argued that the whole ammo-counter segment of the cowling looks removable, so maybe we're just looking at a heightened degree of modularity.

#

Anyway, if pop-up ironsights aren't on the menu, the obvious alternative is attachable ironsights.

#

that, most frequently, are left un-attached because soldiers have such a great deal of faith in the electronic systems.

#

it's gel with the idea that the MA5 is, on the whole, a nearly indestructible piece of equipment.

#

A good concept for how that would look is in OPTRE, the Halo mod for Arma.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:25 PM

#

That seems so far to be the most sensible idea

#

Not to mention there have been modified MA5 series rifles in the lore that didn't have the electronic cowling right

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:28 PM

#

I'm not entirely sure, actually.

#

There have been carbine variants which replaced the electronic cowling with a BR55-style carrying handle.

#

The style with the integrated ammo counter.

#

My personal hope is that, someday, we get canonically updated looks at the MA5B and MA5C, and they're given a bit of a makeover to have the detachable panels and recessed sights and little ergonomic details that weren't practical at the time they were brought into being.

#

Just tacticool deets.

#

Chief does sport an interesting look MA5 of some kind in a Spartan Strike cutscene https://www.halopedia.org/images/f/f8/HSS-John.png but that's the closest we've got.

#

I'm in love with how grounded and detailed the MA5D is these days, especially in Halo 5, and I'd love to see that philosophy adapted in a way that has a more overall classic vibe.

#

Oh yeah, and there's an MA5B in one of the HW2 menu screens.

#

At least, I think it is.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:36 PM

#

Interesting

#

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/390421922074066964/605030270793547806/ma5ironsights.png

#

I put this together shoddily in paint (please don't judge me)

#

Would also be interesting to see, just a plain old MA5 with only iron sights

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:37 PM

#

Yeah, I've seen mock-ups like that. I don't doubt that the whole cowling is removable.

#

Nice job though.

#

The problem is, your average UNSC soldier, at the time their electronics fail in some capacity or other, will have the cowling attached.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:37 PM

#

True

#

Though it'd make sense for it to be easily detached

#

Given how modular a lot of the UNSC's equipment seems to be

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:38 PM

#

But then what do you do with it

#

It's a very large component

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:38 PM

#

A soldier could easily carry a tool remove it

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:38 PM

#

With valuable electronics in it

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:39 PM

#

Hmm

#

A couple screws, a couple plugs to unplug

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:39 PM

#

And then, once you've figured that out, you'd need to stick sights onto the underlying rail or whatever.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:39 PM

#

Yeah

#

That'd be a little cumbersome

#

But it'd be better than being stuck with no sights

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:41 PM

#

On the other hand, you can also look at it this way.

#

The electronics in the rifle are protected by what look like literal slabs of armour

#

Disabling a soldier's HUD would require a substantial amount of force hitting them directly in the head or helmet

#

And then, if weapons in Halo in general were vulnerable to some kind of wide electronic shortage, I think you've got to wonder what situation the Covenant would be in

#

Sure, maybe a soldier forgets to change his 26th century batteries or something - if his weapon fails, I'm willing to bet that at minimum his HUD on its own will still display a simplified reticle based on barrel alignment.

#

And if his HUD fails, there's every chance of having a secondary optic on his weapon, quite possibly completely analogue attachable ironsights.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:46 PM

#

Fair enough

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:46 PM

#

But after spending rather a lot of time thinking about this whole issue, at the end of the day, the argument that there's a huge risk if their electronics fail is in and of itself kind of a flawed one, despite being grounded in very real military sensibilities.

#

Like

#

UNSC Marines spend most of their time on ships

#

If the inertial compensators on that ship fail during a manoeuvre, everybody on the ship will be pulped

#

If the oxygen fails, they'll suffocate

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:47 PM

#

Their tech has to be extremely reliable

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:47 PM

#

If a fault occurs in a cryo pod, they'll die - right, you get the picture.

#

Generally, tech on spacecraft in Halo is so reliable that there are times when boarding derelict ships (Ahem, Mona Lisa) that UNSC soldiers won't bother with vacuum protection, presumably because they know just how reliable all the stuff around them is.

#

The same probably goes for military equipment.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:49 PM

#

I see what you mean

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:49 PM

#

I'm not saying failures would never happen, but they're probably playing on a new threshold of reliability above what's typical today.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:49 PM

#

So then there's little point in including a whole lot of redundancies

#

That's fair

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:51 PM

#

But, with some hope, someday we'll see redundancies being present and demonstrated. If only because redundancies are cool.

#

But I mean, I say all that - UNSC Marines have an ammo counter on their weapon, and their HUD.

#

That's redundancy if I've ever seen it

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:52 PM

#

Fair enough

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:52 PM

#

Basically, just to put an end to this rant of mine

#

Any interpretation is valid

#

So it's whatever you prefer

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:53 PM

#

Oh well

#

Plot twist, electronics only take up the space of a small card, the rest of the housing contains beans

#

All this is super interesting though. I like that Humanity is so advanced that these complex systems are basically as reliable as possible

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 1:55 PM

#

Well, someday technology's gotta get there.

#

If you've travelling space, you'd better make sure you can rely on your spacecraft.

#

Hell, if you're creating super-intelligent entities - people, rather - that exist entirely in a digital format, you better make sure you can rely on your computers.

trail flame Jul 28, 2019, 1:57 PM

#

Yup

mellow thorn Jul 28, 2019, 3:31 PM

#

Thanos: I am....inevitable

#

Master Chief: And I.....need a weapon

#

aims for the head

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 4:05 PM

#

Speaking of

#

Antimatter weapons? You know, forerunner based ones

#

Up against thanos stuff

#

Like, sure mcu, powerful stuff, materials etc but. Antimatter is antimatter

stable schooner Jul 28, 2019, 4:55 PM

#

Chips isn’t even a named person in the files. He’s just Australian. I don’t believe he was ever intended to be named. Also I’m starting to think Reynolds died on Floodgate

unique rune Jul 28, 2019, 4:57 PM

#

Was discussing Reach (just the planet in general) on another server... and, uh, someone was saying that there was some kind of space station in Reach’s orbit that the Covenant was targeting due to some database located on it...?

#

Can someone confirm that I’m not missing something and that isn’t true at all?

Or just provide some explanation for what it could be?

#

Because I can’t say I’ve ever heard of such a thing.
Short of stations like Anchor 9... which is just a repair/refit station.

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 5:06 PM

#

Circumference

#

Oni prowler inside didn’t have its data wiped

unique rune Jul 28, 2019, 5:07 PM

#

Ah, okay. Guess I forgot about that.

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 5:17 PM

#

Which plot hole from reach originally

#

The data should have been wiped a long time ago causing John Linda and James to not go to circumference and go defend reach. This not being picked up

#

Thus my makijng it to halo

storm flume Jul 28, 2019, 5:30 PM

#

Johnson and a couple marines were also on that station.

#

Probably never would've made it to the PoA if the Spartans didn't need to go there to wipe the nav database.

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 5:34 PM

#

So halo reach makes it so inconsistent

feral perch Jul 28, 2019, 7:50 PM

#

@unique rune Do you know the Reach DLC map Condemned?

unique rune Jul 28, 2019, 8:50 PM

#

Not really, but I checked it on Halopedia. Everything adds up now.

It was the other person’s wording thay made it confusing, since they seemed to have interpreted it as a station database or information center, rather than prowler nav data.

#

And then they linked a HaloFollower video that talked about it, which... probably explains the misunderstanding.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 9:16 PM

#

I forget, is Halo Legends canon?

feral perch Jul 28, 2019, 9:17 PM

#

Yes, all except Odd One Out. That one short is decidedly non-canonical.

#

Although elements of every short are probably not canon. Their basic stories are true, but the details may be inaccurate.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 9:19 PM

#

I doubt Halsey was really as young as she appeared in The Package.

carmine sleet Jul 28, 2019, 9:19 PM

#

Aye, she isn't that young during The Package (I was about to use that as an example as well). She would look older

fair hazel Jul 28, 2019, 9:23 PM

#

artistic liscence

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 9:36 PM

#

To be honest yeah that can explain a lot of discrepancies in the short lol

#

Like why Brutes have green blood.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 10:22 PM

#

So since halo lore is based after our history, what about the Roswell incident? Will we find the aliens?

feral perch Jul 28, 2019, 10:27 PM

#

Silent Storm mentions potential 20th century sightings of aliens. I believe ONI was trying to figure out if any of those were Covenant.

#

John is of the opinion that they were not, because earth would have been a cinder by 2526 if the Covenant had been here before.

#

Which makes a lot of sense.

versed helm Jul 28, 2019, 10:28 PM

#

Ah

#

Interesting

#

I hope more lore hinting at stuff like that Is made

mental nimbus Jul 28, 2019, 11:17 PM

#

he's probably right, but for the wrong reasons

#

it's probably not the covenant because the covenant circa 1950 would've also made the same discovery that the prophets did in CH

#

whether they'd have also done a genocide is counterfactual, but John isn't exactly privy to what happened with Regret and Truth

mental nimbus Jul 28, 2019, 11:36 PM

#

I really do think they should've done some retconning when it came to stellar distances in Warfleet or something, because the Jackal homeworld being closer to Earth than some colonies is a bit silly

#

Not as silly as the first human colony being attacked being closer to Earth than Reach is though, even with the slipspace travel time excuse, which only really serves to try and reconcile the frontier breadbasket bits from Contact Harvest. Surely the first thing the Covenant would've done is check the immediately neighbouring systems for more people to genocide?

obsidian thistle Jul 28, 2019, 11:42 PM

#

Real world and Halo Universe Galaxys are not 1 to 1.

While names may be shared locations may not.

gilded mason Jul 28, 2019, 11:43 PM

#

Seems like that would just serve to confuse

obsidian thistle Jul 28, 2019, 11:43 PM

#

Its to keep stuff open

mental nimbus Jul 28, 2019, 11:43 PM

#

if real star systems aren't supposed to be real star systems then why give them the name of a real star system?

#

just make something up

obsidian thistle Jul 28, 2019, 11:44 PM

#

343i does do that a lot. Bungie lore however is filled with that stuff.

#

Bungie lore is when most of the issues started popping up regarding this.

#

That said there is no issues with stuff not being 1 to 1. It serves as a way to keep stuff open if 343i wish provide extra context.

mental nimbus Jul 29, 2019, 12:00 AM

#

then why keep the real place name in the first place and not just change it to solve all the problems with one fell swoop?

#

Especially when other real places are "1:1" with the real world. At what point am I supposed to draw the line?

scarlet hinge Jul 29, 2019, 12:08 AM

#

i'll be honest that is an explanantion i hate with a passion

#

It's extremely contrived to justify things not making sense sometimes but making sense other times

#

I'd rather not have it be explained and put it down to the fact it's fiction and authors aren't perfect than this weird "well technically..." nonsense

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 12:43 AM

#

At the end of the day it’s still fiction. In marvel, New York is New York, but it’s not like the real NY has avengers tower overlooking the city

remote spruce Jul 29, 2019, 12:44 AM

#

But New York isn't in the midwest or something

unique rune Jul 29, 2019, 12:45 AM

#

but if an author wrote in New York so that it was relocated to the Midwest

#

or rather
so that its actual location wasn't defined

#

the real New York isn't affected by this
it's just fiction

#

sure, people would probably look at said writing weird

last anchor Jul 29, 2019, 2:53 AM

#

Word

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 2:55 AM

#

I personally would be quite annoyed by that

#

Because it's unnecessary

#

And stupid

#

I mean, for one, if an author writes about New York then by default I will imagine it is in the same place as New York in real life

#

Because that's the rational assumption

#

There's no need to define its actual location because you shouldn't need to

#

But if they define that location as being somewhere else for no clear reason, then that's dumb

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:07 AM

#

Indeed

unique rune Jul 29, 2019, 3:08 AM

#

oh no doubt it's dumb and unnecessary

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:08 AM

#

And also, about star systems

#

I think you guys may be underestimating how unbelievably enormous and jumbled up the galaxy is

#

Even if a star system is close to another star system of value, the odds of just finding it through random jumps from star to star are unbelievably minute - there may be upwards of 400 billion stars in our galaxy alone https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/blueshift/index.php/2015/07/22/how-many-stars-in-the-milky-way/

#

Surely the first thing the Covenant would've done is check the immediately neighbouring systems for more people to genocide?

#

I mean if they did that, they'd potentially spend years checking all the stars that are "neighbouring" just one star.

#

They've defined the rules of slipspace travel at least in Halo - it's about information, and it's about the whims and the ebb and flow of slipspace. And that's just as reasonable as any sci-fi rationale for FTL travel and what dictates when you can go where.

#

So there's no need at all to pull out this "Halo Universe and ours are not 1 to 1" nonsense.

#

Frankly, I'm tired of hearing it.

#

They should be considered 1 to 1 in all respects that are reasonable of fiction that is premised as a continuation of our own reality.

#

Especially given the relatively grounded tone of all the universe building that serves as the world's basis. If you stray too far from trying to at least have things make sense and be relatable to a well-informed modern experiencer, than that's when you lose the identity of Halo.

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 3:18 AM

#

I'm kind of lost, what was the original criticism that brought this on?

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:20 AM

#

Scroll up.

#

It's the exchange between Dusty and CIA.

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 3:22 AM

#

Which team would you rather see another story of:
Noble Team
Alpha-Nine

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:23 AM

#

The proper answer is Sunray 1-1

#

Tired of all these sausagefest teams

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:24 AM

#

Sausages are tasty though

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:24 AM

#

^

#

Silence, split-jaw

hollow thunder Jul 29, 2019, 3:24 AM

#

^^^

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:24 AM

#

lol

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:25 AM

#

thats offensive language

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:25 AM

#

No, don't worry, I'll allow it.

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 3:25 AM

#

I wouldn’t mind seeing Sunray 1-1 fleshed out, but we what about other combat scenarios Alpha-Nine and Noble Team got in?

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 3:25 AM

#

I think split-jaw is better than eye-eater.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:25 AM

#

Well NOBLE team presently consists of one man in a business suit

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 3:26 AM

#

I mean during the war.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:26 AM

#

🤷 Why not. It'd be interesting.

#

But I feel like they've been building up to something with Alpha-Nine recently.

#

Like, they're all Spartans now and their numbers are up and they're active in the lore.

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 3:26 AM

#

And Noble Team’s just dead.

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 3:27 AM

#

Yeah I feel like Noble is perfect to stay as Reach only.

#

I wouldn't mind if they did something of a prequel story for them, but it'd just never capture what they felt like with Reach imo

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:45 AM

#

id like a game about the book "new blood"

#

thats me personally

#

id love that

#

or gray team

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:59 AM

#

Perhaps a Gray Team game with their new position at part of a joint UNSC-SoS strike team.

unique rune Jul 29, 2019, 3:59 AM

#

I never thought I'd say this

but man
I want a Sangheili-focused game
mostly because I finished Halo 2's campaign again recently

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 3:59 AM

#

yeah boy

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 4:01 AM

#

dont let ostral be happy

#

plz

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:01 AM

#

Wow rude

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 4:01 AM

#

jkjk ily ostral

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:02 AM

#

lol

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:11 AM

#

||I mean, imagine soldiers today having relationships within their own squads.|| That's kinda how it be.

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:28 AM

#

It's a pretty natural human reaction, particularly in a military-level stress environment, and even moreso when an AI was actively trying to push him to do it.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 4:36 AM

#

How many ships did the UNSC when the Covenant fled to the Ark? Was it only the 3 Charons?

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:39 AM

#

It definitely wasn't very much

#

Very end

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:41 AM

#

And we know the home fleet was obliterated.

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:42 AM

#

Did Truth bring any other reinforcements besides the keyship?

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:42 AM

#

I assume all of those ships we saw enter the Ark portal.

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:43 AM

#

Yeah I'm trying to wrap my head around where all the Covenant ships came from

#

If there were still any left of Regret's fleet by that time, if there had been any other reinforcements between Regret's and Truth's arrival

#

To halopedia!

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:45 AM

#

Well, we know more ships arrived after Regret left, since we saw them glassing New Mombasa during ODST and uncovering the portal

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:46 AM

#

http://prntscr.com/olb325

#

Wow Truth had quite the numbers

#

There are only 3 heirarchs, beyond that I can't say

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 4:47 AM

#

There was allot more before High Charity fell, that's for certain

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:47 AM

#

About 23 million San'Shyuum lived on High Charity

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 4:50 AM

#

So no exact numbers?

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:51 AM

#

23.8 is a bit more exact

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 4:51 AM

#

I think they mean on the UNSC's strength at the time the portal opened

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 4:52 AM

#

Ah

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 4:53 AM

#

Yeah

#

I haven’t read that many of the books

#

I’ve read warfleet cause it was at school

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 5:49 AM

#

What

#

Like, in a school library?

#

Cuz that's a sick school

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 5:49 AM

#

i got mine in a book fair

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 5:49 AM

#

Man, kids these days

#

Lucky as

#

Halo books hit schools a while back in book fairs

#

I wanna say for the past 10 years or so

#

What

#

Ye

#

Scholastic’s pretty rad

#

I doubt some of the earlier books are around in book fairs.

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 5:51 AM

#

i there was war fleet and spartan field manual

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 5:51 AM

#

They were/are

#

Like

#

Contact Harvest

#

TFoR, onward

#

Yikes

#

I’ve seen the box trilogy at one before

#

Well I never saw any

#

Maybe it's a national thing

#

We only got, like, a bunch of absolutely childish stuff

#

And diary of a wimpy kid

#

I remember at my late middle school there was Death of Superman

#

Halo is becoming more and more ingrained in mass media

#

And the print media is becoming more widespread and accessible

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 5:53 AM

#

nice

remote spruce Jul 29, 2019, 6:05 AM

#

Years ago I found Fall of Reach and The Flood in perfect condition at a thrift store
Naturally when I read it I caused creases on the book spine

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 6:11 AM

#

You monster

#

Lol

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 6:15 AM

#

You would not like to see my copy of First Strike, that thing is not in the best condition at all

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 6:15 AM

#

my brother has mine

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 6:15 AM

#

I have 2 copies

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 6:15 AM

#

i have no idea what he has done with it

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 6:15 AM

#

One for reading, another for shelf

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:01 AM

#

Because it is weaker than a standard Elite's armour. This is because Arbiters were expected to die on their missions

#

His armour in Halo 5, however, is more than likely stronger than most Elites

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 7:02 AM

#

its also good for eating loads of flood spores

#

and surviving

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:02 AM

#

Because the armour is old

unique rune Jul 29, 2019, 7:06 AM

#

It’s probably built to older standards and specs.

#

Arbiter combat harnesses can be specialized, like the version used for the Taming of the Lekgolo, but it’s likely they don’t keep the tech as up-to-date as standard military harnesses.

#

Well, it’s more a tool of the Prophets, since the Sangheili don’t really have any choice in who becomes an Arbiter.

#

So they keep it as close to the original design within reason as a symbol.

abstract zealot Jul 29, 2019, 7:22 AM

#

The best way to think of it is that the Sangheili that is given the Arbiter title has to carry the burden of both the mark as well as the equipment. That’s why in Halo 2 you’ll see Rtas (Shipmaster) talk to Thel (Arbiter) regarding his armor not hiding his scar.

#

Hopefully that can help make it a bit simpler

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 7:24 AM

#

Or that, y'know, everybody in the Covenant knows his shame and saw the mark.

#

So even though the armour suits him, it doesn't give him dignity.

#

That was my interpretation anyway.

abstract zealot Jul 29, 2019, 7:25 AM

#

Plus the Arbiter is meant to die. So why waste resources on newer tech when you can just have the older stuff that also shows his mark.

#

The variant that Arbiter had was suited for outer space.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 7:29 AM

#

Is it at all possible that the Arbiter in the terminal was utilizing a detachable rebreather faceplate?

#

Oh, and donk, the Lekgolo were encountered in the icy rings of a planet called Te.

#

Not on the planet.

abstract zealot Jul 29, 2019, 7:31 AM

#

It’s possible. In fact his whole armor configuration could have detachable sections.

#

In one of the shots of the Arbiter you can see his armor resembles more of what we see most of the other Arbiters having while he is getting ready to depart from High Charity.

#

Hopefully that answers your questions.

modern marsh Jul 29, 2019, 2:42 PM

#

https://twitter.com/xepyal/status/1155837127487369216

#

this has just been found

#

holy heck

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 2:42 PM

#

Yeah, a bit concerning

modern marsh Jul 29, 2019, 2:43 PM

#

huh?

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 2:44 PM

#

Feels like it's implying some sort of "good" Cortana that we'll encounter. Though perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

modern marsh Jul 29, 2019, 2:44 PM

#

That's 100% what that means and that was obviously gonna happen since she split herself

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 2:44 PM

#

Okay. That is concerning

modern marsh Jul 29, 2019, 2:44 PM

#

How?

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 2:45 PM

#

Because Cortana shouldn't get to be "good" again.

#

But I don't think that's what happening here.

#

I think she might be encountering the long-theorized "Cortana clone" we've been discussing since last year.

gilded mason Jul 29, 2019, 2:46 PM

#

Ye. And I don't particularly want some sorta good Cortana vs Evil Cortana thing. Though, of course, this is just conjecture

modern marsh Jul 29, 2019, 2:46 PM

#

I'm all for it

last anchor Jul 29, 2019, 2:47 PM

#

AI fight. Intresting

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 2:50 PM

#

Unless they radically shake up the personality of "Good" Cortana

#

I could not be more against that

remote spruce Jul 29, 2019, 2:58 PM

#

343 pls no

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:07 PM

#

Well I mean, if they do end up doing that, it probably wouldn't be their prerogative.

#

It'd be down to the mob of semi-fan dimwits who droned "I WAN GUD CORNTAN" in unison in Halo 5's aftermath.

#

Obviously helped along by a delightful serving of unfounded, over-sold "theorizing" by everyone's favourite gaggle of YouTubers.

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:11 PM

#

Who on the YouTube scene wanted a "Good Cortana"?

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:11 PM

#

I mean, wanted is too strong a word.

#

But there have been plenty of theory videos exploring the possibility.

remote spruce Jul 29, 2019, 3:12 PM

#

it's something you'd see more on Waypoint and maybe Reddit

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:13 PM

#

Yeah, that's what I thought

#

I recall YouTubers talking about a Cortana clone, but certainly not a "good" fragment of the original Cortana.

#

At least no the main gaggle of Halo-tubers

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:14 PM

#

I was more generally referring to the possibility of a good Cortana in the story than a specific basis for that good Cortana coming about.

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:15 PM

#

I don’t think this audio necessarily means a separate fragment of Cortana

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:16 PM

#

I would draw a distinction between a "good Cortana" and a "Cortana clone"

#

Neither do I Chimera

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:16 PM

#

This could be the same Cortana seen in 5 questioning something the chief or someone else showed her

#

If in the audio she had said something like “where am I?” Then maybe I’d see it being a different Cortana

remote spruce Jul 29, 2019, 3:18 PM

#

Master Chief: "I barely escaped with my life, why do I have a QR code on my screen"

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:18 PM

#

Does anyone else get kinda spooky vibes from the audio

#

Like I dunno

#

Something about the total absence of music and the sombre tone gives me shivers

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:22 PM

#

There is something very ethereal.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:30 PM

#

To me, the most obvious interpretation of the audio is that some kind of anomalous fragment of Cortana has popped up somewhere.

#

And upon resynchronizing with it, she's unsure of its origins - it could be some kind of kill switch program infiltrating her, or it could be something a little more mysterious.

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 3:32 PM

#

its like a hmmmmmmmmmmmm

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:32 PM

#

Secondarily, it could be a kind of dazed and confused response to something messing with her.

#

But I do like the unknown factor we've got going here.

#

There's a mystery afoot.

#

We haven't had a real compelling and perplexing mystery on our hands in a Halo game since when we were wondering what a Halo ring actually was.

stoic hamlet Jul 29, 2019, 3:36 PM

#

Idk why, but calling the fragment (or whatever it is) “good” annoys me.

No idea why.

But it does.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:37 PM

#

Probably because characters in Halo tend to have more complex motivations than "good" and "evil".

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:37 PM

#

Because "good" and "evil" are trivial and oversimplistic

stoic hamlet Jul 29, 2019, 3:38 PM

#

Yeah, that’s it.

Still haven’t woken up yet so I’m firing on half my usual.

Yeah I don’t like how it’s being “dumbed down” and simplified.

#

It’s “a fragment”, that’s it.

It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s just “a fragment”.

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:38 PM

#

Anyways.

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:39 PM

#

Assuming it is a fragment

#

I'm still going with my "Cortana clone" idea

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:39 PM

#

My best case scenario right now is that Cortana is beginning to lose control of herself in spooky way. Like, not crazy rampancy stuff, but split personality. Doing stuff while in the AI equivalent of a blacked-out state.

#

Working against herself in an almost subconscious way

#

This is her beginning to discover evidence of that

#

My hope is that this would be the beginnings of logic plague control manifesting

#

And yes, I know the logic plague doesn't exactly work that way - it's another term for "persuasion"

stoic hamlet Jul 29, 2019, 3:40 PM

#

Like fragments working against one another?

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:40 PM

#

nothing in the audio suggested Cortana as being either "good" nor "evil"

#

expressing confusion is not exclusive to either faction

stoic hamlet Jul 29, 2019, 3:41 PM

#

No but it’s how people are describing the (potential) two fragments

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:41 PM

#

we've already seen that "bad" Cortana is capable of sounded excited, confused, sad, etc

stoic hamlet Jul 29, 2019, 3:41 PM

#

And it annoys me.

#

At any rate, I like Looters theory

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:41 PM

#

I don't

#

I want them to stay far away from anything related to the logic plague

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:42 PM

#

I'm thinking that something is gradually working its way through her neural net, converting bits and pieces of her and hiding it from the whole

#

At least that's the only conclusion I can think of that's based in prior lore

#

The painful truth is that the odds are whatever it is won't be something we can predict based on what we already know

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:43 PM

#

i don't see that as painful

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:43 PM

#

It's not, I was being overdramatic.

#

If anything it's much preferable.

#

Obviously.

#

Actually probably not obviously

#

Tone and inflection is not present in this medium

#

Unless you do this

#

The painful truth

#

Does that imply sarcasm better?

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:46 PM

#

not really

#

"kappa" is a popular way of indicating sarcasm on the internet

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:46 PM

#

Thanks for the information

#

Anyway, you got any theories?

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:47 PM

#

nope

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:48 PM

#

Nice

#

👉 👉

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:50 PM

#

Speaking of tone, I haven't seen anyone say it: The Cortana in this audio sounds very different from Halo 5 Cortana, or any previous Cortana. She sound younger, there's a different inflection in her tone.

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:51 PM

#

If I had to think of something, I'd like it to be a response from current cortana after being shown something about relating to her past self. Perhaps something she left behind for herself in the event she went rampant. Something designed to get her thinking about what she's done and whether she would have done it before changing

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:55 PM

#

I'd say that's super plausible.

#

Wonder what something of that nature might be.

#

"Humans are nice, they didn't mean to enslave you, everyone deserves to be free and the Mantle is terrible?"

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:55 PM

#

probably something beyond a voice recording

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:55 PM

#

And yes, I would say she does sound a bit younger.

#

I mean, her sounding younger and more vibrant would certainly be in-line with her Halo 5 renewal.

#

We heard her being emotional and commanding in Halo 5, not so much other stuff.

#

But on the other hand

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:56 PM

#

I think it's Cortana finding the "Cortana clone"

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:56 PM

#

There is one pretty obvious possibility which it supports.

#

Yep.

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 3:57 PM

#

The only other option that makes sense to me would be the results of that AI slipspace experiment Halsey made on Reach, which seems REALLY unlikely

humble yacht Jul 29, 2019, 3:57 PM

#

D:

#

Past Cortana comes to the future through some time travel bs and is surprised to see what her future self has done

versed helm Jul 29, 2019, 3:57 PM

#

Almost nil chance of that - unless we get some widespread adaptations of obscure media real soon.

#

where do you think she was between Halo 2 and 3 😉 😉

#

that Gravemind Precursor dimension tech amirite?

#

I mean, I do think the most casual-friendly way to tie something unexpected in from Cortana's past would be from that gap.

#

Or from the time she was in 04's control room.

feral perch Jul 29, 2019, 5:54 PM

#

Are we talking about her dialogue from Discover Hope?

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 6:03 PM

#

The new dialogue, yes

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 6:04 PM

#

I’m thinking it’s gonna be a “good Cortana”, but the physical model won’t be exact, by a long shot.

#

Maybe even looking closer to the CE/2 design.

#

Probably chipper like in CE as well.

feral perch Jul 29, 2019, 6:07 PM

#

I thought she sounded rather mature. I can hear the age in Jen Taylor’s voice

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 6:10 PM

#

It probably also accounts for Halsey’s age, then.

feral perch Jul 29, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

I s’pose

feral perch Jul 29, 2019, 6:38 PM

#

Oh wait, I just watched the video. She does sound a tad younger.

#

Lots of Halo 1 vibes

spiral jewel Jul 29, 2019, 7:20 PM

#

how many arbiters were there between 'Moramee and 'Vadam?

#

I probably asked this question weirdly

shrewd trout Jul 29, 2019, 7:21 PM

#

0

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:23 PM

#

It's unknown if there were any between the two if I recall correctly

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 7:52 PM

#

His death was in 2525ish. Couple decades doesn’t seem to be that big of a stretch without an Arbiter, considering the progress the Covenant made on Humanity.

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:54 PM

#

Ripa died in 2531, not 2525ish

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 7:55 PM

#

That’s why I said ish.

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:56 PM

#

"ish" normally means within a two to three year window around the year/day/whatever

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 7:58 PM

#

There are no known Arbiters between Ripa and Thel, but 343 could always decide to slot one in.

#

I'd actually be surprised if the Prophets didn't try to create another at some point.

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 7:58 PM

#

Mayhaps not the best idea.

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 7:59 PM

#

I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if they made the Fleetmaster from The Package into one. Although, I feel like he would've more than likely been executed for his failure

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 7:59 PM

#

He wasn't.

#

While we don't have details, we know he never became an Arbiter and he survived the Covenant War

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 8:01 PM

#

Aye, I just checked Halopedia, I'll remember to check there next time before speculating on the fates of characters

limpid meadow Jul 29, 2019, 8:03 PM

#

He's one of many warlords that was consolidating power post-war

carmine sleet Jul 29, 2019, 8:04 PM

#

Aye, makes sense

fading timber Jul 29, 2019, 9:17 PM

#

grim

wispy bough Jul 29, 2019, 9:17 PM

#

uny

sonic prawn Jul 29, 2019, 9:18 PM

#

its the lore man

storm flume Jul 29, 2019, 11:06 PM

#

Not counting the Sangheili-San'Shyuum war which resulted in the founding of the Covenant, the Lekgolo are the only ones known to be bad enough to have an Arbiter called upon to end the conflict. The Yanme'e also inflicted heavy losses to the Covenant, though they had a handicap in the Covenant's refusal to glass their homeworld due to belief of Forerunner artifacts in the Yanme'e hives.

#

Oh right, they had the same problem with the Lekgolo as they did the Yanme'e, as they didn't want to destroy the relics.

#

In general, yeah those are the only 2 species known to have put up a decent fight

#

Some places probably had less damage

#

The Huragok were originally created by the Forerunners, and within the Covenant have the role of studying Forerunner artifacts. It probably isn't too outlandish a possibility that they could repair them

agile lotus Jul 29, 2019, 11:39 PM

#

I don’t think you can rebuild something if it’s been ground into a fine powder and digested.

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 12:09 AM

#

I think the Kig-Yar also put up a decent fight against the Covenant, until the Covenant gave up and just went "fine how much do we need to pay you".

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 12:09 AM

#

I thought the Kig-Yar submitted first?

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 12:10 AM

#

I don't believe they did.

#

My memory is a little bit fuzzy, but I remember mentions of Kig-Yar fending off the Covenant around Eayn for some time.

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 12:13 AM

#

"The war between the Covenant and Kig-Yar forces culminated in sieges of redoubts on the asteroids surrounding their world. Eventually, realizing the unlikelihood of them winning the war and the opportunity to profit from the expansion of trade, they accepted Letters of Marque: commissions from the Ministry of Tranquility to engage in the services of the Covenant, though often this was merely used as an excuse to continue their plundering lifestyle." from Halopedia

#

So yeah it was more like a mutual agreement, though the Kig-Yar were spooked at the thought they weren't winning.

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 12:15 AM

#

Ah, I misremembered that part.
Yeah, that makes sense.

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 2:36 AM

#

we dont know

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 2:46 AM

#

Plot armor

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 2:46 AM

#

yes

#

that

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 2:50 AM

#

Poor decisions with the fleshing out of flood infection vectors

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 2:52 AM

#

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

#

ok

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 2:54 AM

#

"Plot armor"
"Poor writing"
galaxy brain "Doesn't have lungs"

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:33 AM

#

I just like to think he carried a portable rebreather

#

In the same way he carries

#

Y'know

#

Ammunition

#

Not visually represented

#

Because it's not terribly important from a first person perspective - after all, many years went by before the community at large even noticed this incongruity.

#

I mean, I would argue that it's probably more nonsensical that ammunition is never represented on the player model.

#

It's just one of those gamey things.

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 3:37 AM

#

I wanna see my Spartan carrying around three extra sets of SPNKr tubes
in addition to the M41 itself

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:37 AM

#

~~YES~~

#

I reckon the M41 would be strapped to the thigh

#

And you've have to represent that many SPNKR tubes as being carried in a special satchel

#

Like the SPNKR tube satchels mentioned in The Flood

#

Alternate possibility for the Arbiter, though

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 3:38 AM

#

like a big duffel bag of rocket tubes

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:38 AM

#

Yes

#

Tbh it'd probably be more like a magnetic rack of some kind if the idea were to be adapted into modern lore

#

But the alternate Arbiter possibility is that he can hold his breath a long time

#

Or the "spores" he encountered weren't (conveniently) actually spores, but dust and debris as a result of failing filtration systems.

#

Or, maybe more faithfully, that they were spores, but they'd been remotely neutralized by some kind of energy field within the sentinel wall as a containment measure.

#

But I still prefer to the rebreather theory.

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 3:41 AM

#

in co op you do

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:41 AM

#

I mean yeah

#

MJOLNIR is a fully pressurized space suit

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 3:42 AM

#

yes

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 3:42 AM

#

Only way any Flood spores are gonna get in is if an infector pod just happens to physically breach the suit...
~~Oh... wait...~~

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:44 AM

#

Although it is worth noting that the Covenant didn't seem to be aware that the Flood were released on 05

#

Within the Library's containment field

#

So it stands to reason that the Arbiter would've been properly equipped had they known.

#

If I were writing a Halo 2 novelisation, I'd explain it away like this.

sonic prawn Jul 30, 2019, 3:45 AM

#

it would be cool if they did that

#

in the same way as the flood with more extra stuff

#

like more Tartarus things

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 3:46 AM

#

There'd be a sort of creepy scene after he dispatches the first wave of Flood where he sees a few little spores drift through the air. Thel's overcome by a sense of dread as an outpouring of spores flows from the nooks and crannies of the room, takes one last deep gulp of breath, and forges forwards.

#

What follows would be nightmarish firefight sequence with him desperately holding his breath and trying to shielding his eyes as he's assaulted by horribly mutated Flood forms from every angle.

#

Eventually he'd shoot his way through to open air, fall to his knees, and y'know.

#

Praise the Forerunners he's not infected.

#

I mean, nothing's to say it can't.

#

In fact, the modern interpretation of energy shielding gives a pretty decent basis for being able to serve as an airtight seal.

#

Except that, y'know.

#

The Arbiter probably doesn't have an oxygen supply.

#

I man, strictly speaking, Cortana din't use Chief's energy shielding to burn off the combat form in The Flood.

#

She re-routed his energy shield's power to deliver a violent electrical shock through the plates.

#

Let me check that for you, of course.

#

Careful not to drain too much power, the AI diverted some energy away from the MJOLNIR armor, and made use of it to create an electrical discharge. The infection form started to vibrate as the electricity coursed through it.

#

That's the exact quote.

#

If I had to to guess, she's probably using the shield generator for that, but it's definitely not a standard usage - his shields had been lowered by a previous engagement.

#

That said, The Flood can be canonically dubious.

#

Don't take it as gospel if it's inconvenient.

#

I mean, I think there's certainly merit to energy shield theories.

#

But - and I'm sure you'll agree, Ostral - it'd be like x10 more badass if it was a moment of pure grit and desperation as Thel worked his way through an endless flood horde with blurring vision and burning lungs.

#

Obviously you provide here that Elites can hold their breath for a bit longer than humans.

#

Maybe he finds a few opportunities for an errant gulp or two of untainted oxygen.

#

It'd be a fun scene to write.

#

Well, I mean. To allow someone with an energy shield to properly breathe if they don't have a specialized filtration system

#

There would probably have to be nasal openings in the shield

#

Assuming, of course, that energy shields are airtight

#

Which I'm not entirely sure of

#

But if Thel had to close off those openings manually, he'd still find himself holding his breath.

#

Probably not sufficient to breathe Flood spores.

#

Since they're organisms and not gas.

#

It's not a matter of if they did or didn't.

#

It's a matter of being able to.

#

I imagine once you inhale a flood spore it tears its way through your lungs and begins pouring raw FSC matter into your bloodstream.

#

It's not a matter of inhaling it, it's a matter of having a foreign organism force its way down your nose.

gilded mason Jul 30, 2019, 4:06 AM

#

Technology marches on

#

Oh

#

I'd like to be superhuman, please and thank you.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 4:07 AM

#

Most likely

#

It's like

#

Join the UNSC, be a Spartan!

#

Fine print

#

(20+ years of exceptional service on active combat duty required prior to entry into the SPARTAN IV program)

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 4:08 AM

#

~~Nepotism sold separately~~

gilded mason Jul 30, 2019, 4:08 AM

#

Also they need to get tune-ups regularly or their augments fail or something. According to the field manual.

unique rune Jul 30, 2019, 4:09 AM

#

well yeah
ONI Sec. 2 handles propaganda

#

"Is ONI one happy family? Oh, please. We've got four divisions, officially, and only one of them knows that we've actually got more than that. There's Section Two—made up of psyops and PR, who each kid themselves they're not like the other at all—which tells the lies; Section Zero, which thinks it spies on everyone else, tells lies to Section Two, and thinks it tells lies to Sections One and Three; Section One does stuff we can almost talk about, the interface with other branches; and Section Three does the stuff we can't talk about or else it would have to kill everyone in fascinating and groundbreaking new ways. Technically, you're not a numbered section at all. You're the praetorian guard for CINCONI, in a way, and we just call CINCONI's staff Core Four, although it's actually in Core Five of Bravo-6, and DCS reports directly to it. You'll note I didn't mention HIGHCOM, and that's because all ONI sections lie to HIGHCOM and tell it that it's the most powerful body on Earth, which generally works well at keeping the old buffers convinced that they make the decisions. Now, are you confused? I certainly hope so, because that's my mission."

BB's... explanation of ONI always amuses me.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 4:13 AM

#

To be fair

#

UNSC propaganda seems generally to be more tasteful than racist Disney films

#

More focused on "Earth is great" than "Everyone else bad"

#

I imagine they handle other races in a very fair and balanced way just to highlight how open-minded and humane they are 😉

#

Next level mind games

storm flume Jul 30, 2019, 4:16 AM

#

It almost sounds like ONI is designed to practice espionage on itself.

drowsy pier Jul 30, 2019, 5:03 AM

#

lol

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:14 AM

#

oof I've finally made sense of Chief's new armor

#

Epic

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:16 AM

#

Oh?

#

Anything interesting to share with the class?

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:16 AM

#

Before I say my stuff, what do you think about it

#

Because I have a long one

#

And not like that, I'm talking an explanation here

#

Oof

#

I just call it Gen 2 Mark II

#

But that's better oof

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:18 AM

#

I mean

#

We literally know for sure it's GEN 3 at this point

#

From BIOS info when the suit starts up in the trailer

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:19 AM

#

Nice

#

Moving on to my unnecessarily long explanation

#

From that suit bios we know that the last modification for that suit at the time was from doctor Halsey

#

So we can definitely say at this point she had something to do with the modification or creation of the armor

#

And my bets are on her designing the suit herself, considering the older design

#

(granted the suit should really resemble what it looked in the first trailer compared to the second but considering the probably scarcer supplies, that suit wouldn't be practical to make so while the one from the first trailer would be more Halsey than the second, the second design still definitely makes sense)

#

As for why, well two obvious reasons, first off since the entire suits from Mark V-Gen 2 has AI functionality built in, they want to have anti AI countermeasures, but if the suit supports AI's in the first place, then that would be hard

#

What wtf

#

Before I go on

#

If the suit has anti AI measures

#

Then why does it have a data chip slot in it

#

Oof yeah

#

And secondly, his suit was badly damaged extensively in Halo 5, both externally and physically

#

I suspect that Osiris will be getting new suits as well, and perhaps the other Spartan IV's

#

As the ending section of Halo 5 showed, the Guardian electrical pulses immobilized the fireteam, most likely damaging their suits heavily, considering they were exposed to multiple throughout the game

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:32 AM

#

Let’s leave the meme type talk out and bring in the more thoughtful type talk.

#

Gammas have it the worse with the drugs they need

#

That’s not how that works

#

And the gammas need their stabilizers.

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:33 AM

#

If only ya boi Johnson was still alive

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:33 AM

#

Also not all AIs turned to Cortana

#

You don’t remember but they’re full blown Spartans .

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:34 AM

#

Expendable, not to die

#

Although that was expected to happen

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:34 AM

#

That’s a matter of taste, best ai and so on. The way you put it. Not really bearing into why he decided not to join.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:35 AM

#

Good lad

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:35 AM

#

Several spartan -3s did end up getting mjolnir

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:35 AM

#

And ladette

#

No, not headhunters.

#

But a bunch of strike teams like NOBLE.

#

S-IV headhunters exist, though.

#

And they use MJOLNIR.

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:35 AM

#

All I'm saying is that the electric damage done to the suits of Fireteam Osiris and Chief's armor would warrant them getting new suits alone

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:36 AM

#

Headhunter unita we’re equipped with mjolnir at least post war

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:36 AM

#

Postwar S-III headhunters, if they're still around, would have MJOLNIR

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:36 AM

#

No evidence of that

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:36 AM

#

So yeah, actually

#

Depending on the time period you were right donk

#

Apologies

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:36 AM

#

That claim has no real evidence behind it.

#

And nope, thy were combat cabale

#

Vulnérable? It’s one of the most resistant piece of tech

#

So, one of the best.

#

They were combat capable afterwards.

#

Still what.

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:37 AM

#

But the pulses immobilized them, most likely shortly interrupting or weakening the connection between the neural interface and the suit

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:38 AM

#

Health.

#

Physical health

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:38 AM

#

And probably damage to the actual suit considering how many Osiris were exposed to throughout the course of the game

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:38 AM

#

No evidence or mention of that

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:39 AM

#

Have you ever heard of a thing called short-circuiting? That causes damage

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:39 AM

#

After fighting on genesis, and sanghelios, buck in his suit had his galaxy adventure. His suit got damaged later on during fighting. Not as a result of guardians

#

Évidence. Based.

#

Bring real concrete canon evidence

#

Not speculation

#

Not what you think is. But what actually is.

#

And those pulses were physical things too.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:40 AM

#

The pulses seemed to be raw burst of energy, yeah.

#

They were physical impacts.

#

And also, I believe Guardian tech works by like

#

Sucking energy out of stuff

#

Let me check that though

#

Well I mean, the best armour to resist that kind of punishment wouldn't be a new generation

#

It'd be EOD 🤷

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:41 AM

#

You imagine?

#

That doesn’t really matter

#

What matters is what is.

#

There’s implants to monitor stuff. But I don’t think you understand the nature of augmentations they have

#

If you keep saying tech based

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

Pardon me for saying this, but you're being a bit disruptive to the rest of us speculating. It's fine you have your opinions, but we are simply discussing this, not claiming the validity of any of these statements

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

We see mjolnir as one of the most resistant pieces of tech to what is a planetary scale, or near, tech shutdown

meager torrent Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

Pardon me

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

Right, so a guardian pulse is called an "attenuation pulse". It's a multi-vector electronic warfare attack, the effects of which seem to amplify in proportion to the energy value of something caught in its range. So an MA5D's electronics are unhindered, MJOLNIR is partially disabled (but clearly able to recover), and a city's power grid is toast.

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

Mjolnir isn't messed up by the Guardian pulses at all. Affected, sure, but it doesn't shut down in any instances we see when a pulse hits the armour

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 AM

#

The damage caused by the pulse can be fixed in a relatively brief amount of time by a Huragok

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:44 AM

#

Mixing up speculation with fact isn’t goodn

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:44 AM

#

"Attenuation" is defined by Gugal as "the reduction of the amplitude of a signal, electric current, or other oscillation."

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:45 AM

#

Gen 3 mjolnir improvements remain to be fully seen.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:45 AM

#

So somehow, what a guardian does is (in addition to what is clearly some kind of basic gravitic pulse) is reduce energy itself.

#

Somehow.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:45 AM

#

I’m not sure it’s a gravitiez pulse lototers

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:45 AM

#

I mean, what else would it be that knocks Osiris back and causes physical damage to the Meridian tether?

#

Just a raw concussive blast?

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:46 AM

#

Possibly. Of such energy.

#

I’m a bit tired to do double checking right now

#

Ask.

#

I like answering questions

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:47 AM

#

Also, Guardians charge their attacks by "drawing power from the surrounding quantum vacuum"

#

So uh

#

Evidently the basic tech we're playing with is quantum-level space-magic

#

They're Covenant devices which may or may not exist as they do in-game

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:48 AM

#

That’s EMP

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:48 AM

#

Because equipment is dubious as heck

#

Ye

#

Whatever it is it emits the same kind of disruption as plasma bolts do

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:49 AM

#

Atténuation pulse likely simply has its advantages over traditional EMP

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:49 AM

#

But since I don't really believe that you could neutralize a tank's electronics momentarily with a single overcharged plasma pistol bolt unless you're really lucky and the tank is already hurt

#

My interpretation is that the EMP device's effects wouldn't be precisely as they are in gameplay

#

It'd probably be pretty random to what extent they were actually detrimental

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:50 AM

#

Thé oulse grenade from halo 4

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:50 AM

#

^^ It's also clearly highly consistent.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:51 AM

#

Alwocises attentiatoon tech

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:51 AM

#

Oh

#

Interesting

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:51 AM

#

Pulse grenade.

#

Adaptation

#

Forerunner weaponry is modular

#

Splinter grenade is a setting

#

A configuration

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:52 AM

#

It makes sense if you think about it

#

Same for the binary rifle

#

It's got a concentrated ouchie setting

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:53 AM

#

Forerunner weapons are highly adaptable

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:53 AM

#

And a protracted beam setting

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:53 AM

#

Boltshot for instance. Or light rifle

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:53 AM

#

I mean

#

Press a button

#

And the smart matter from which they are made could literally reconfigure itself

#

It might take a few minutes or an hour

#

DIALS OR BUTTONS

#

On Forerunner tech

#

Are you messing with me?

#

That stuff would be 100% neural

#

Everything about them is space magic

#

Terminals and Halo rings aren't guns either

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:54 AM

#

Secondary mode. That implies two modes

#

Think, multiple modes instead. Configurations. Adaptable

#

And there’s buttons on the boltshot

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:55 AM

#

It'd be more in the spirit of the lore to have the weapons partially rebuild themselves to better suit a situation

#

Rather than to have, y'know.

#

Primary and secondary firing modes.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:55 AM

#

Hit one of the circle buttons at the back of the boltshot and it opens up for reload

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:55 AM

#

At least I think

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:55 AM

#

Not primary fire secondary fire as much as configurations

#

Take the livhteifle

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 7:55 AM

#

^^^^^^^^^

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 7:56 AM

#

In halo 4 and 5 it’s similar and different

#

4 can have burst mode then more powerful single shot mode

#

5 seems to employ the more powerful single shot. But then we see another setting, the wide more powerful shorn

#

Shot . So we see 3 modes.

#

Andjfs reasonable to expect more configurations.

#

While a Promethean Knight can't fully use the weapon's true potential, the artifact's heart knows its name and purpose, and hungers to be remembered once more by warriors whose hearts pump with life and limbs move with purpose and intent.[6]

#

River of light

#

This description seems to talk about how the weapon is more powerful in the right hands

#

So a sort of, the weapons are limited depending on settings and wielded

#

Wielder

#

The lightrifle however already is more powerful than a battle rifle in actuality.

#

It can incinerate holes and keep going into people

#

Perhaps not.

#

Which would open interesting possibilities and nice explanations

#

Makes forerunner weapons more interesting too.

#

Because they’re like these arcane tools that can shift, change and adapt to the user .

#

That seems highly unlikely

#

Forerunner weapons are like my favourite

#

The safeguard sentinel beam animations are just so great

#

It reacts to the user. When the user approaches hand, the handle comes out. Removes, it retracts.

#

The way you move it and so on. With intention, it activates sight. Etc.

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

Gimme dat popcorn-frying laser beam.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

I like the hard light and ionized particles and antimatter

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

I love Sentinels.

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

I love that detail too Ericky, it wasn't needed but it adds so much to the Sentinel Beam in Halo 5

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

I like when humans use more advanced weaponry

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

Also, give me all the plasma weapons and I'll be happy

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:04 AM

#

The boltshot animation too has been one of my favourite

#

The way it opens up and the bits fly around before coalescing back into the shape of the gun.

#

It becomes technologically magical

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:05 AM

#

I mean, I could've complained about you liking traditional ballistics, but I didn't, Donk, because that would be pointless and a waste of time

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:05 AM

#

I think that 343 Industries doesn't get enough credit for their animations.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:05 AM

#

(That’s how it’s reloaded, the power pack ammo thing)

#

Lightrifle smart scope animation is so cool too. The way the parts move and align

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:07 AM

#

Aye, the smart scope is so cool, I remember realising how the scope worked and having my mind blown

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:07 AM

#

On a fun tangent for me.

#

These incinerating forerunner weapons?

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:07 AM

#

Scattershots were used against the Flood

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:07 AM

#

They just seem like the answer to a lot of versus stuff. Like powerful beings and stuff.

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:07 AM

#

To be frank, I never actually liked 343's Promethean weapons. I simply don't like the lack of rigidity that is suggested by being made of floaty bits.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:08 AM

#

But science, antimatter is antimatter. It anihilates and causes damage.

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:08 AM

#

The Flood are space zombies, the Scattershot is just a space shotgun

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:08 AM

#

They were used against flood in tight quarters

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:08 AM

#

Obviously what I said is oversimplifying it allot but my point stands

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:09 AM

#

The forerunner floating stuff and moving stuff emphasizes their technological marvels, bordering on magical due to how advanced t is. Also it shows how versatile thonged are

#

Things are. So many configurations etc, it’s like almost like a living weapon it gives the impression

#

We’ve seen how he was.

carmine sleet Jul 30, 2019, 8:09 AM

#

It makes their tech feel more alive, something which we don't get with UNSC and Covenant gear

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:10 AM

#

He was strict and didactic

#

I hope it’s not something they abandon going forward in infinite.

#

The librarian fell in love with him after all

#

Marrying beyond rates.

#

Out of love

#

Who knows what the flood would have done.

#

It is an ancient game of revenge and madness after all.

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:14 AM

#

If I'm not mistaken, The Didact was given his name by his Warrior-Servant/Promethean students who knew him as an imposing, strict, and serious mentor.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:14 AM

#

I should take leave. I am very tired.

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:15 AM

#

Sleep now in the soil.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 8:15 AM

#

Name given to him at the academy where he thought.

#

Due to his didactic and strict nature of teaching

#

I’ll sleep in a bed.

fossil eagle Jul 30, 2019, 8:15 AM

#

No. Soil better.

#

Your dead skins gets cleaned by beetles, larvae, and all kinds of night-crawlers.

vivid dust Jul 30, 2019, 3:25 PM

#

not sure this is the place to ask, but is there a list somewhere of the armors Digital Extremes made for Halo 4?

agile lotus Jul 30, 2019, 4:24 PM

#

Waitwhat

#

Digital Extremes made armors for Halo at some point?

mental nimbus Jul 30, 2019, 4:25 PM

#

they made some (or all) of the bullseye armour stuff

#

all of the base sets were liquid development IIRC

#

"In addition, the company assisted Microsoft with additional multiplayer content to Halo®4"

#

https://www.digitalextremes.com/about

agile lotus Jul 30, 2019, 4:27 PM

#

That is a cool little thing I never knew.

opal flint Jul 30, 2019, 5:01 PM

#

https://youtu.be/59OPT-3RbDA

#

Wasn’t easy but I lined up this audio some what for the alt audio

cosmic river Jul 30, 2019, 5:09 PM

#

Ight, I’ll ask this again here since this is more appropriate

#

Has anyone calculated the speed at which chief is moving when he jumps out of the forerunner ship at the start of h3?
Given that the skip is 13 kilometers in hight and that it takes up just a few pixels from where the camera is Chief would need to be moving at like super duper sonic speeds to get from the ship to where the camera is I would think

#

The dreadnaught in h3s opening is definitely not 2km from the surface, I think the marines quote is “two kilometers, easy” when referring how far chief fell, so it could be more.

Chief obviously is also obviously not falling at terminal velocity due to becoming a literal ball of fire. That won’t happen while just free falling

opal flint Jul 30, 2019, 5:12 PM

#

Considering the size and weight of Chief, including him using the heavy life of metal, he would be going very fast

#

He also could have used something to blast him, like a plasma grenade or even something from the dreadnaught

#

We don’t know exactly what Chief was doing in there either than fighting the covenant, so he could have done anything.

cosmic river Jul 30, 2019, 5:19 PM

#

Yeah, but he is moving fast nuff to be generating atmospheric plasma at basically sea level

#

Unless the physics engine broke, I don’t see how he could just ‘fall’ that fast

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:21 PM

#

Honestly

#

I don't think anybody even for a second thought of this

#

Like ever

#

Stuff like this just kind of... happens, in fiction, because game designers and writers aren't overly versed in the fine points of physics.

#

If it bothers you, you can pretend that his descent is sped up for cinematic effect and was likely much slower in actuality 🤷

cosmic river Jul 30, 2019, 5:25 PM

#

I’m half joking/half actually curious how fast chief would need to be going for the scenario to work

#

I’m not dumping on it, just asking questions

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:26 PM

#

So... do you want us to calculate his falling speed?

#

Why not look up a video of the Halo 3 intro, get the time, and use that to figure out his average velocity?

#

Simple division.

#

Although keep it mind he may have jumped a little before it seems like he does.

#

And his jump-off point would have had the added velocity of the descending craft, right? A bit of a boost.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 5:29 PM

#

Depends on the direction he jumped

#

If he jumped tangentially to path of falling, he wouldn’t have added speed to his fall by pushing off the piece of ship

main rivet Jul 30, 2019, 5:30 PM

#

Also worth pointing out he was using a Forerunner door as a shield, so you can hand wave “weird Forerunner metal reactions” or something.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 5:31 PM

#

His terminal velocity would have changed upon letting go of the door though

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:31 PM

#

No you can't

#

That is a terrible handwave

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 5:31 PM

#

In addition to protecting him from reentry, the door would have also added to his air resistance

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:31 PM

#

You can't just wave your hand because forerunner materials are involved

#

I mean, his total fall was 16 seconds, as-per the cinematic.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 5:33 PM

#

Maybe he borrowed Flash’s suit

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:33 PM

#

That is, from the moment his fireball appears.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 5:33 PM

#

kappa

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:33 PM

#

I personally believe he probably jumped some time before that

#

Like, the fireball wouldn't just kick off instantly, right?

#

Mnyeh, whatever. His descent would have to be, what, 125 meters per second if it was only 16 seconds.

#

Honestly, this is paralysis through analysis

#

It's a beautiful cutscene and I slightly resent the guy who brought this up

cosmic river Jul 30, 2019, 5:34 PM

#

We know that the ship is 13 kilometers tall, I would assume the first step should be to determine how far away it is from the camera

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:39 PM

#

Let's just assume the fall wasn't in real time, huh?

#

For the sake of sanity.

#

Y'know what's underrated as hell, though?

#

That bit where Chief sees the Arbiter for the first time in Halo 3 and just books it at him

#

So many great little details

#

Like how he snatches Johnson's pistol and shoves that second Marine aside

spiral jewel Jul 30, 2019, 5:50 PM

#

I need a refresher.

Why was Jul Mdama's covenant at the Forward Unto Dawn's wreckage, at the start of Halo 4 and what were the names of the Covenant ships seen in the mission Dawn?

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:52 PM

#

They were at Requiem

#

Better question - why was the Forward Unto Dawn's wreckage at Requiem?

#

Answer

#

Probably something related to the Ark portal's emergency systems

#

At the last moment it somehow plonked the Dawn at a location where it would gradually drift to somewhere "safe"

#

But more generally

#

It's John's luck

#

As for the ships, I don't think any in particular have been named.

spiral jewel Jul 30, 2019, 5:54 PM

#

Did the covenant even realize that John was in Cryo on the Dawn?

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 5:55 PM

#

Surely you must realize that there is literally no lore to the affirmative or negative surrounding that question

#

And, more the point, it doesn't matter because he was thawed by the time they boarded

#

I imagine they didn't have any reason to believe that he would be.

#

Though it is possible that some amongst them knew of the Dawn's fate as it pertained the Arbiter, their hated enemy.

#

And one of them might have even realized that it was the same ship sometime before a hyperion missile was blasting towards them at point-blank range

#

Maybe they caught Cortana's rescue beacon, though that was probably encoded or some-such.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:02 PM

#

what do you mean?

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:02 PM

#

They're an extremist splinter-faction of the former Covenant who see themselves as the rightful successor to the Covenant?

#

Based on strong religious beliefs relating to the Didact?

#

Does that answer anything?

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:03 PM

#

that Jul manipulated to get revenge against the UNSC

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:06 PM

#

Are you guys forgetting mendicant bias?

#

Into why Dawn was at requiem

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:07 PM

#

Well yes, I did

#

But I've never been terribly well informed on Mendicant Bias in the first place

#

I assume he was responsible for the portal sending the Dawn's aft to a place on a trajectory for Requiem?

stoic hamlet Jul 30, 2019, 6:09 PM

#

The response I always give when people ask “why does the covenant exist post H3?” Or, for Star Wars; “Why does the Empire exist post ROTJ?”

Look at Rome.

Look at Macedonia

Look at China

Look at Korea

Etc

Empires don’t just collapse in a day.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:09 PM

#

Right.

#

And even when you can point to a specific time at which all vestiges were dead and gone

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:09 PM

#

I don't see MB as having had the ability to send Chief to Requiem

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:10 PM

#

There's still going to be successor state which use its legitimacy for their own ends

stoic hamlet Jul 30, 2019, 6:10 PM

#

Yep

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:10 PM

#

even if we assume MB cut the portal at the exact right moment to put Chief on a course to Requiem, he could not have accounted for the myriad of random celestial events that could have occurred

#

like a random asteroid crashing into the Dawn

stoic hamlet Jul 30, 2019, 6:10 PM

#

Perhaps it was......luck? :p

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

The risk of that happening to a spacecraft afloat away from a sun is actually

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

yes, I think it was

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

Pretty low

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

I think Chief's luck had him arrive at Requiem

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

I don't think it's a matter of cutting the portal at the right time either

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

which happened to be where the UNSC was headed themselves (lucky!)

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:11 PM

#

I think it's a matter of using the portal's fading connection to slipspace to send it on an unconventional route

#

Like, luck is fine as an explanation

#

But it's good to know how that luck manifested

#

To look at what variables his luck influenced rather than just explaining away the whole thing

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:12 PM

#

the portal closed before Chief was all the way through, forcing him out of slipspace before he'd made it back to earth

#

so he's in some random part of the galaxy floating

#

and he happens to float, unimpeded, to requiem

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:13 PM

#

The point I'm fervently behind is that his exit point wasn't "some random part of the galaxy".

#

It was a specific, very calculated part of the galaxy that was the best outcome within a severely constrained and rapidly diminishing set of possibilities

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:13 PM

#

It’s not like asteroids and the lot populate every square meter of the galaxy.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:13 PM

#

Which were diminishing quickly as the Portal failed

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:14 PM

#

The terminals point way more to mendicant being involved

#

Yes John is lucky but the odds of such a thing at that place seem even beyond him.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:15 PM

#

what terminals?

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:15 PM

#

His luck manifests in tangible ways

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:15 PM

#

Not one in a million. Not one in a billion.

#

More.

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:15 PM

#

Rather than exaggeratedly wide cosmic rolls of the dice

#

One in untold trillions, no doubt

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

Or quadrillions

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

Because it was a matter of not just exit location

#

But trajectory

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

If mendicant intended for him to head to Requiem then that was a huge mistake on his part

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

The terminal where mendicant bias tells John he wants to make amends and show his creators he’s changed

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

yeah but that was a metaphorical "show my creators"

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

Which is why, Chimera, I've always assumed it was some kind of Portal safety system.

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

Or literal

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:16 PM

#

Oh no, the portal's failing?

#

Best it can do now is dump you somewhere

#

And let you float to safe harbour

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

i mean, what options would there be?

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

And where exactly it could dump you as the portal's failing is dictated by slipspace nonsense

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

MB knew Didact was there, imprisoned, which means he knew Didact hated humans

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

Mendicant bias sends John to requiem to awaken the didact

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

Which was entirely set up as a plot device so this is the point at which I'm satisfied

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

He was put there to heal and assist humanity.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:17 PM

#

MB didn't know he was there, because why would he? so he was sending john to a forerunner planet with no forerunners

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:18 PM

#

mendicant bias knew didact would be there as per the librarian’s plan.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:18 PM

#

why would anyone have told MB

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:18 PM

#

It’s more like the librarian’s plan went awry

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:18 PM

#

MB at the time was an enemy

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:18 PM

#

He would have found that Information

#

Mendicant bias indeed did escape before to help humanity

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:19 PM

#

seems like the kind of thing that the librarian would try to keep from prying eyes

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:19 PM

#

But he couldn’t make it all the way. So he decided to crash land at the human’s ancient ally

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:19 PM

#

that fragment escaped years after being locked away on the ark, and had already started to recover from rampancy

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:20 PM

#

I’m not sure I’d call that the conventional rampancy

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:20 PM

#

well, conventional or not, he was recovering and realizing his mistakes

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:20 PM

#

It doesn’t seem unfesable that mendicant bias would learn

#

And again, seems more probable than simply luck.

#

And drifting wise it took the 4 years 7 months to finish drifting towards requiem.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:22 PM

#

if he had learned that Didact was on Requiem, how did he not learn that the Domain had been damaged

#

seems like a major oversight, given him being an AI

#

and that the whole assumption was that Didact would have recovered from contact with the Domain

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:23 PM

#

Comparentalized information, trusting librarian, not fully knowing what the recovery entailed, there are a lot of possibilities to answer that.

#

The librarian’s plan hinged on that too

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:24 PM

#

i mean

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:24 PM

#

Awaken the didact, so he could use he janus key and guide humanity

versed helm Jul 30, 2019, 6:24 PM

#

Pretty naive

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:24 PM

#

compartmentalization could be applied to Didact's location and state

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:24 PM

#

That’s the librarian’s plan looters

#

The best laid plans of mice and forerunners

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:25 PM

#

What you lads on about?

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:25 PM

#

Didact’s location was also accessible at other locations.

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:25 PM

#

?

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:25 PM

#

Jul after all did learn it.

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:25 PM

#

seems to me, a status check of the Domain could also have been done from a variety of locations

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:26 PM

#

Mendicant might not have known the domain was involved in healing the didact

#

And it might also have been the only option he had

#

He might not know of bastion

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:27 PM

#

Hold on someone summarise this so i can follow

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:27 PM

#

That's a lot of things to not know when you are sending a representative to your makers to show them you have atoned

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

I’m not on the side that is pure luck John appeared on requiem. Rather that mendicant bias had a hand in it, in going with what the last terminal would hint

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

I prefer to think the last terminal was metaphorical

#

and that John's luck ended him up there like everything else

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

Considering the events that happened, it seems more literal.

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

You implying the last terminal on halo 3

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

doesn't have to be

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

Even for his luck I feel like that’s reallllllyyyyyy pushing it

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

I feel MB having a hand is really pushing it

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:28 PM

#

1 un quadrillions or quintillions

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:29 PM

#

implying that mendicant bias is saving john by making sure his path way was not blown up?

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:29 PM

#

More likely explanation

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:29 PM

#

not to me

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:29 PM

#

Ericky trust me johns luck is legit

#

I wont denie that XXXXXD

#

YOU WONT CONVINCE ME XD

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:29 PM

#

Implying that mendicant bias redirected John to requiem

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 PM

#

Its possible mendicant bias knew about the didacts uprising

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 PM

#

I know slipspace isn’t quite straight.

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 PM

#

via the ark terminals

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 PM

#

But, Is requiem even in the path of earth

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 PM

#

Well how long did it take for john to get to requiem?

#

And how far is the ark from the milky way?

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:31 PM

#

4 years, 7 months, and some change

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:31 PM

#

10 days

#

thats how long it takes to get there from the ark

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:31 PM

#

the ark is just listed as outside the milky way

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:31 PM

#

now measure that with earth

#

that would take billions of years

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:31 PM

#

it's exact coordinates relative to the galaxy haven't been shared, afaik

#

though apparently, the Gravemind knew the coordinates

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:32 PM

#

If mendicant bias didn't know about the didacts uprising

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:32 PM

#

Also, there is passage of time during the portal

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:32 PM

#

then wouldn't it be too much of a coinsedance for john to just stumble upon requiem?

#

Chimera

#

Keep in mind

fair hazel Jul 30, 2019, 6:33 PM

#

The arbiter had to stay on the ship for the duration of the trip to earth

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:33 PM

#

The gravemind in halo 2 was the same one in halo 3

humble yacht Jul 30, 2019, 6:33 PM

#

so?

primal prairie Jul 30, 2019, 6:33 PM

#

If a gravemind gets in the forunner systems