Halo 3: ODST Forum
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  • Subject: Plot Deduction from Reasoning
Subject: Plot Deduction from Reasoning

I want to make a crazy theory just like The Rainbow Theory when I grow up! So... I shall!!!

We all remember the SI, yes? There were seven account created with variation
between i's and l's up to 7 letters. lllllll. His Bnet title was the
superintendent and he had green text. When we got to see the ODST trailer we
noticed that the SI guiding our young Rookie. After evading those nasty brutes
(after a showing off of the new vision mode he has) Rook proceeds to a monitor
which tells him to proceed with caution and stay to the right. This is obviously
the SI at work, as his captions match with things the teaser said.

Now we need to be aware of what the SI is. The SI is an Artificial Intelligence,
much like Cortana. An important note is that Cortana is a so called 'Smart' AI.
She is very capable at performing a number of tasks. While 'Dumb' AIs are
specialized- they can only perform so many functions in a particular task. Those of you who have read ''Halo: The Flood' should remember the AI Wellsey. This AI was a dumb AI capable of
completing military related tasks. In the novel, it was mentioned more than once
how the responses (such as jokes or attempts to make the humans more comfortable) were done by programs and set routines. I believe this was to clearly
define differences between Wellsley, the program, and Cortana, a smart AI who
most people think of as having a quirky personality. Personality. We
think of Cortana as more of a human- though we obviously can tell she's an AI.
The thought processes are much more similar to a human's, so we can relate to it more.
She's also capable of processing data on a much wider scale.

Now with this knowledge, I want to draw your attention to Contact Harvest. In
Contact Harvest the AI there was a Smart AI (albeit in disguise) named Mack.
Mack was actually Loki's counterpart. Basically, Mack and Loki were two separate
AIs in one place- but only one of them could run at a time. Knowing this I want
to tie us back to the SI. The SI was the city's AI we have come to believe.
While we are not certain, it would seem like he is a human made AI and whose job
it was to run the day to day operations. This is a hypothesis. Assuming this, I
have come to believe that the SI is a Smart AI.

Mack was the AI who ran the planet Harvest's surface- which was mostly farming
and other agriculture. This was agriculture. Remember that Earth was humanity's
base. That was our pride and we had to protect it at all costs. Therefore I
believe the SI was assigned to the city, being a smart AI, in order to maintain
the city. In addition to this, SuperIntendent itself is the leader of a group- it performs as an executive or administrator.

Why does this matter? All of that just so we know he's a smart AI? I don't
get it!


Well sirs, that is not all. I call your attention now to the trailer released
yesterday. It seems the goal of the ODST's was to land on the Covenant ship. But
when one says they'll miss it, Dare claims that they're going exactly where she
wants us to.

What does that have to do with the SI?

If Dare was aware of a situation that her squad mates didn't know about, this
would imply that she had an external source of information outside of their
direct commander officer- the one who supposedly sent them down to New Mombasa. Therefore it may also be reasonable to assume that another agency contacted her. Now this could mean she was planted there by another branch (perhaps ONI) or she was chosen after she joined the ODST's.

We see Rook being led by the SI. Dare knew about something the others
didn't. The SI is a smart AI capable of multiple tasks and has a sort of free will of its own. Therefore I have concluded that Dare was in contact with this Smart AI. The AI was aware of the situation prior to their drop and decided to dedicate attention to the matter of the Covenant, which helped Dare's project. If the ODST's were meant to drop with Dare, they obviously would have had to eventually be made aware of what exactly they were trying to accomplish. So after the Slipspace jump in the city, the AI had to make a decision.

What should I do?

The SI decided to attempt and regroup the squad. If his mission was to protect the city or maintain Earth, then it is obvious that Dare's assignment had something of great value- in the eyes of a Smart AI as well, which makes it even more valuable. It would also mean that this is a large assignment she would not be capable of completing on her own (which is also why I hypothesize that the Rook isn't the only survivor since we obviously have to resolve some immediate threat in the game... in addition to finding our allies), else the squad would not have come with her and she would have done a solo operation (unless she planned on sacrificing the lives of her squad mates).

We also know that some time had passed before Rook gets out of his HEV (drop pod), as it's dark when he gets out yet the flashback showed was in the day. This would have given the Smart AI plenty of time to locate all the HEV's and guide them. For all we know the others have already regrouped (yet I doubt this as some probably were KIA and others I'm sure were injured gravely throughout their time on the planet's surface).

So the conclusion:
- The SI is a smart AI
- Dare is not exclusively an ODST, but has an external contact from the direct chain of command.
- The SI is aware of every event occurring in the city despite any damage done to monitors or systems (its observation tools are functioning else he would not be able to guide Rook).
- The SI is aware of Dare's project, else it would be doubtful he'd spend processing time on a single ODST from what I can see.
- This task has something to do with the immediate threat- perhaps something to do with the portal's excavation, but more likely a new issue.

Another possibility, however likely, is that the SI is like Mac and also has two matrix's. The SI could also be an ONI AI sent in to take over and monitor the mission, perhaps subduing the other AI. Dare may have also planted the SI when she landed, assuming they went where needed.

To be honest I have many more possibilities semi related to what I've already said, but I'd like this post to remain on fewer subjects. So I'll just leave you with 6,500 characters and leave it at that.

Thanks.

Edit: The theory about the SI being a Smart AI has been disproved as shown by Bungie updating their project page. The SI is now known to be a second generation dumb AI.

[Edited on 06.02.2009 2:40 PM PDT]

  • 06.02.2009 10:00 AM PDT

tonight, we're gunna rock civilization.

but what if the super-intendent is a human using the alleged AI to guide them...or seperate them even more

  • 06.02.2009 10:13 AM PDT

I doubt SI is a smart AI, as could be seen in the Dutch part of the trailer, he was incredibly slow, taking a long time before deciding to open up to power terminal, even though this was logical decision seeing as how if the bridge hadn't been destroyed Covenant would have flooded SI's data banks.

  • 06.02.2009 10:18 AM PDT

The AIs are copied from the Human Brain. That's how they're modeled. Smart AIs are modeled after the brain of a certain individual. Scientists don't have too high of an understanding of how the AI works I'd say based off of that. Not to mention no human could out think a smart AI like that- you couldn't hack it because it'd always be 20 steps ahead I'd say.

  • 06.02.2009 10:18 AM PDT

On Waypoint I'm rocketFox;
http://halo.xbox.com/forums/members/rocketfox/default.aspx

Old GTs; RebelRobot, Flamedude

Dare's drop pod also might have a 4th generation dumb AI on board too. Not sure how it ties in but I wouldn't be surprised if another AI turns up in the mix.

  • 06.02.2009 10:19 AM PDT

Flamedude: If Dare actually did not have the SI with her during the drop, then it is logical she would have another SI provided by whatever service she's actually with.

Wolf: Could you point out which part of the trailer this slowness was in? And if it was indeed slow, are you sure that's not a limitation of the technology instead of the SI's processing speed?
And if he did wait, it could even be that he wanted more covenant actually on the bridge at the time. There are many possibilities, but I don't remember your reference so I can't say for certain.

But nonetheless, I don't think the SI could have blown the bridge himself- that's why you had to activate the detonators.

  • 06.02.2009 10:25 AM PDT
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  • Fabled Mythic Member

R.I.P. DeathPimp. Never Ending Respect.

"Posted by: Kickimanjaro
I'm trying to become an '04, but it's not working too well."

Wonderful write-up :)

Toll accepted ;)

  • 06.02.2009 10:35 AM PDT

I don't pay tolls. I break through them and get the cops chasing me so they read what I write too.
:)

Anywho, runne: We know that you fight with Marines outside of your squad as evidenced by the E3 video in the flashback. So either one is a possibility.

  • 06.02.2009 10:42 AM PDT

Yes, I'm a furry. And yes, I like men. So what?

Nice, solid theory, burrito.

  • 06.02.2009 10:52 AM PDT

Heh, only solid til we find out more information. I can always make adjustments.
One reason we can speculate on this and even Reach so much is because really we know very little.

  • 06.02.2009 12:50 PM PDT

28, Architect ll Deviantart ll TWP(Formerly Halo 3 in the WorkPLace) - Assistant Director ll SIP ll OTK ll DMH

A two matrix AI like Loki and Mack? Brilliant, so who do we see in the game? The SI or the military sub-routine? Great theory BS!

  • 06.02.2009 12:54 PM PDT

On Waypoint I'm rocketFox;
http://halo.xbox.com/forums/members/rocketfox/default.aspx

Old GTs; RebelRobot, Flamedude

Have you guys read the ascendant justice writeup??

It's a good read, I never noticed the building.

  • 06.02.2009 12:57 PM PDT

28, Architect ll Deviantart ll TWP(Formerly Halo 3 in the WorkPLace) - Assistant Director ll SIP ll OTK ll DMH

Posted by: flamedude
Have you guys read the ascendant justice writeup??

It's a good read, I never noticed the building.
I was waiting on their writeup, I noticed the building right away. I even made a thread on it.

  • 06.02.2009 1:00 PM PDT
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“To say more would spoil be it’s overall its a game that needs to be played.” - Aristotle

You fail at being as random as me, burrito. Or at making ridiculously illogical conclusions that turn out to be logical.

To be honest, I think that it's more likely that the SI is a "dumb" AI. He's very centralized on the city, and it takes him some time to run any processing task or to make decisions. It's more likely that he ran the automated works in New Mombasa while the Orbital Elevator's AI (likely the AI referenced in the teaser trailer) is the actual "Smart" AI.

  • 06.02.2009 1:11 PM PDT

I'm thinking it's the main AI Max. If this really is important my my theory is to be believed to an extent, the AI would make sure he has more than enough processing going into this task given its priority.
And I just read the ascendant justice article. Kinda looks like mine some- but it has pictures to back it up.

Snakie: Part of the point is that we don't know if he's just centralized in the city I'm thinking. After reading that ascendant article and noticing the ONI sign, I'm thinking more and more to myself that I could be close to something. Perhaps the center of the AI is there. I don't know.

But why do you say it takes him time to make decisions or run processing tasks? And if it really does... well, he is damaged a little I'm sure. I believe all his observational devices are working (or enough of them at least), but it's possible some of him shut down I suppose to preserve it or something. And wait, when was another AI referenced? I musta missed that.

  • 06.02.2009 1:28 PM PDT

28, Architect ll Deviantart ll TWP(Formerly Halo 3 in the WorkPLace) - Assistant Director ll SIP ll OTK ll DMH

Self-preservation from an AI? I fear rampancy...

  • 06.02.2009 1:45 PM PDT
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NO GROUP INVITES!!!

Hey, look at the member titles.. only "blues" are interested o.O

Very interesting reading... i didn't think SI had much other role than being a helper. But after this? Maybe it's more than it seems.

Mombasa's quite close to the Portal. Few kilometers, less than hundred though right?
Could the ODST plot also include Forerunners? Mainly a Forerunner AI. Of course ODST is about "normal" humans but still..

  • 06.02.2009 1:54 PM PDT

On Waypoint I'm rocketFox;
http://halo.xbox.com/forums/members/rocketfox/default.aspx

Old GTs; RebelRobot, Flamedude

I honestly think SI is just a dumb AI starting to understand that it's existence and its city (and charges) are at risk. Maybe it fears for its own survival to ensure it can keep trying to regain control of its city and responsibilities, perhaps something more.

  • 06.02.2009 1:56 PM PDT

I doubt Forerunners will be included in this. This is more of a send back to Halo: CE in my eyes- shows the Human Covenant battle.

I doubt the SI fears for its survival- I do. The AI was programmed for the city (this we now know, thanks to the E3 video a few minutes ago). But to handle such an industrialized city... seems like it'd have to be a smart AI. I'm sure it wants nothing more than to regain control of the city and all its power. But it will act in the best interest of humanity as a whole I'd assume, seeing how every AI (especially smart ones) is made aware of all protocols and all.

  • 06.02.2009 2:09 PM PDT
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“To say more would spoil be it’s overall its a game that needs to be played.” - Aristotle

Heh, I was right burrito. Or, at least about the SuperIntendent I was. He's a generation-2 "dumb" AI, according to the new info just released.

  • 06.02.2009 5:01 PM PDT

Posted by: Lord Snakie
Heh, I was right burrito. Or, at least about the SuperIntendent I was. He's a generation-2 "dumb" AI, according to the new info just released.

If you'll note, I added that a while ago in the first post.
:)

But that doesn't necessarily mean the rest of the theory is void.

  • 06.02.2009 7:57 PM PDT