Cryptic messages and the PoA (long)

Cryptic messages and the PoA (long) Posted By: Cannibal Harry =PN= <cannibalharry@paxnimbus.com> Date: 15 January 2000, 3:18 a.m. I posted this at the core a few hours ago, and forgot to post it here. Go nuts. Hmmm, maybe this can even go in the theories section... So I was looking at the Hamish's labor of love, more specifically, the Halo transmissions section. I hit the pipe, and the juices started flowing... Now, Joe said that before each human colony/outpost was destroyed, it recieved a cryptic transmission from the covenant. At the big final battle, the Pillar of Autumn escapes and the entire Cov fleet follows it. The following is my take on how the transmissions on the original Halo site tie into this story. I also offer that the PoA was at the battle preceeding the final battle also, and has gone out of its way to piss of the Covs to ensure they follow it. Anyway, the way I see it is this: The Transmissions started with this one • CAR Contrition (DE H c-5) o SCS Hermes II RECEIVED (trans) 04.14.6.1835 via x-process 375.2.686.0632091 (process owner GA - AI - Class II) Through war we will teach your heresy. Through battle we will teach your frailty. Through death we will teach your fate. After this, I assume the Hermes II was probably detroyed. The date and time this transmission was received (by my crack-addled reckoning, anyway) was 1635 hours on June 14th, 2804. (still putting it squarely in the 17 year range between M and MII) • CAR Penance (DE H c-4: OB) o ESP 8 Reach RECEIVED 04.15.6.1428 via p-process 34022.1.8.230390 (process owner Pr Govern via Reach PSN node 21) You live without discipline and will die without honor. Could ESP Reach be the name of a colony or outpost rather than a ship? Reach seems a little to simple to be a ship name to me, especially if they're following the Culture tradition Also note that the process owner is not tagged as an AI (neither will Cortana be, but I'll get to that later) I go on. Four minutes later, this transmission was received: • CCS Purity of Spirit (DE H c-2: OB) o ESP 8 Reach RECEIVED 04.15.6.1432 via p-process 34022.1.8.240601 (process owner - &X2^%xxx*) It is said remorse is the pain of sin. We feel no remorse. This time the process owner is garbaged, perhaps as a result of the relay of the transmission being terminated at the source? The next transmission is received by the PoA. • CPV Reverence (DE H c-7) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.1.7.0317 via x-process 02775.2.32.939444 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) You slave, toil, bleed and sweat for your food. And we shall eat it. By my reckoning, this transmission is received a full two weeks after the first three transmissions. (The time it took to search for another colony? Or was the PoA dispatched to investigate the disappearance of the Hermes II and the loss of contact with Reach only to find the galactic Holsteins laying in wait? I think the PoA destroyed the Reverence at this point, as no further transmissions come from it. *Takes another hit from da pipe* A day later, the PoA gets this: • CPV Esteem (DE H c-10) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.2.7.1139 via x-process 02988.2.32.738288 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) You will not know where we have struck until you have fallen. The Covs have dispatched a ship because they lost contact with the Reverence. It locates the PoA, still in the vicinity. (Conjecture, CPV = Covenant Patrol Vehicle/Vessel?) The PoA, still not greatly challenged, takes out the Esteem also. After losing two small ships, the Covs send out a big one. Five days later, this ship makes an appearance. • CCS Truth and Reconciliation (DE H c-1) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.7.7.1640 via x-process 04019.2.32.273390 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) What you have begun in anger you shall end in shame. (Conjecture: CCS= Covenant Capitol Ship?) The PoA holds its ground and fights the good fight, the battle ends about two-and-a-half hours later in a stalemate. The Covs send this: • CCS Truth and Reconciliation (DE H c-1) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.7.7.1907 via x-process 04022.2.32.872499 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) None will exist to say whether you were defeated by valor or cruelty. The Covs are still talking trash, meaning they've got backup. A day later, The Sacred Promise shows up and opens up on the PoA, potentially giving rise to Cortana's rampancy • CCS Sacred Promise (DE H c-3) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.8.7.0232 via x-process modified (WARNING) (REDIRECTED) Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you. Note that the process has been modified and redirected. Realizing the situation's gotten much worse, the captain of the PoA decides discretion is the better part of valor and gets the hell out of dodge. The Covs, of course, pursue. The next day, the PoA starts talking back, maybe. • SCS Pillar of Autumn (?) o CCS Sacred Promise (DE H c-3) SENT 04.9.7.0600 via x-process 04087.2.32.742573 (process owner Cortana) "... He says I came not to send Peace but a Sword ..." I came not to send Peace but a Sword is definitely a Cortana reference. Note that the sender is Cortana. This transmission angers the Covs, up till now they've been doing all the talking. The PoA continues to run. • CCS Truth and Reconciliation (DE H c-1) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.11.7.0000 via x-process 04118.2.32.465603 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) You have brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out. The Covs are pissed. I think this is the date of the big battle, as the next transmissions take place over a week later, after the PoA has jumped and led the Covs on a not-so-merry chase. I believe The "You have brought nothing to this world" references the colony world the battle is fought around. The PoA jumps into the Threshhold/Basis system and prepares to dig in on the newly found Halo. This internal transmission is meant to fire up the troops: • SCS Pillar of Autumn (n13a) o SCS Pillar of Autumn (n1) SENT 04.20.7.1412 x-process 04494.2.32.143320 (process owner unspecified) "These are the tygers of wrath." We're not going down without a fight. • CCS Purity of Spirit (DE H c-2) o SCS Pillar of Autumn RECEIVED (trans) 04.21.7.0800 via x-process 04498.2.32.200932 (process owner BW - AI - Class III) This world will be ruled in blood. You've got a fight, a big one. A minute later, the Covs make their intentions clear. • CCS Truth and Reconciliation (DE H c-1) o ALLCH (SC) RECEIVED (trans) 04.21.7.0801 via x-process MODIFIED (process owner EXALTED (?)) When no single human brick lies atop another, then will we be satisfied with your destruction. The PoA goes down, Halo begins. The only piece that doesn't fit neatly here is this one: • SCS Pillar of Autumn (?) o undetermined SENT xx.15.2.1049 via u-process 011366.x.xx.895999 (process owner Cortana) I have governed the unwilling. I have walked the edge of the Abyss. Who or what is Cortana sending this message to, and when? We know February 15th, but The year is blocked. Is she talking to Durandal? The Covs? who? Since I first posted this Tsao mentioned that The first Cortana letter was received by Hamish on February 15th. Curiouser and curiouser *CH puts down the pipe* Rip it to shreds, boys and girls. CH "I am Jack's tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing..."

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