Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: ONI Alpha Site
  • Subject: ONI Alpha Site
Subject: ONI Alpha Site

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

ONI seems to play a central role in Halo 3: ODST and we get these clues from the recent trailer and last year's trailer, both subtle and obvious.

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Last year, Sept. 22 2008, we were given a few clues as to ONI's involvement in this game, in this conversation between DARE and the Admiral aboard Say My Name.

- Admiral: "I will deploy per my orders from Fleet HQ!"
- Dare: "Sir. I don't report to Fleet."
This is the first clue as to ONI's involvement, she reports to ONI and we'll see why later on.

- Admiral: "Didn't think you S1 types ever left your cave."
- Dare: "Desperate times..."
S1 refers to Section One of ONI which was the main-intelligence gathering section. (Read more info here)

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Image Analysis
- We can now say that in this image we see our squad of ODST's heading to a seperate location from the carrier.

- Joseph Staten gives us an obvious clue at E3 - Dutch - ONI Alpha Site: 2 hours after drop

- In this image you can see the ONI seal on the entrance of the building.

- In this image you can see the overall layout and architecture of the facility.

- A closer view of the front of the facility.

- This image is vital to determine the location of the ONI Alpha Site. We can see the Mombasa Orbital Elevator at it's 10 o'clock.

- So by seeing the overall layout and architecture of the site and the proximity to the orbital elevator, we can determine that this image shows the ONI facility. (A few things to note about the architecture: it is designed like a castle, it's a peninsula making it a strategic base, only one means of entrance, and it's proximity to the orbital elevator for a possible escape route.)

- We can see an overhead view in this image of the ONI Alpha Base and we learn that the ODST's are off course, but are quickly reassured when DARE states that they are purposely off course.

- Very early on in the game we find out that the ONI Alpha Base was essentially destroyed.

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Speculation
So, why was the Covenant throwing a lot of troops and vehicles at the facility? Well, from the novels we know that when a Forerunner artifact is found ONI is usually the first to acquire it then cover their tracks. My question to you is what sort of artifact or important information is being held here that ODST's were specially assigned to defend it and the Covenant were hard pressed to obtain it? I feel that something of value related to the Ark is hidden here and we find out what essentially tying into Halo 3.

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Threads and Articles of Interest
Plot Deduction from Reasoning by burritosenior - Is the SI an ONI AI? Does it have two matrices like Loki and Mack?

Best Laid Plans by Cocopjojo at Ascendant Justice

[Edited on 06.02.2009 1:10 PM PDT]

  • 06.02.2009 12:07 PM PDT

Nice find.
EDIT: Maybe Regret known about the portal to the Ark, maybe he was scouting to make sure that it was clear. Sense Regret left the city, the remainder of his fleet was still looking; so they went to the ONI Base to see if they have any information about it. Sense the Base is destroyed by the Covenant; they probably got the information and told Truth. This could be how Truth knew where to go when he landed on Earth.

[Edited on 06.02.2009 12:19 PM PDT]

  • 06.02.2009 12:09 PM PDT

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

Well, Regret knew there was something Forerunner related on Earth, he just didn't know that it was also the human homeworld.

  • 06.02.2009 12:22 PM PDT

i thought he knew it was the human homeworld, that's why he went there, well i guess for two reasons, one to finish off the humans, and two to find the forerunner technology

  • 06.02.2009 12:35 PM PDT

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

From Halo 2

Cortana: "I've been analyzing the Covenant tactical chatter. They're surprised, confused... I don't think they expected us to be here. Not... you and me...all of us... humanity, on Earth. Odd, I know, but it does help explain why they came here with such a small fleet."

  • 06.02.2009 12:40 PM PDT

Mike Lowery: [singing] Bad boys, bad boys what ya gonna do? What ya gonna do when we come for you?
[Marcus starts ad-libbing the first verse]
Mike Lowery: Dude, you gotta learn the words.
Marcus Burnett: We usually only do the chorus

S1 could also stand for spartan 1

  • 06.02.2009 12:41 PM PDT

DaWhistlesGoWoo - HR Pirate, The WorkPLace

Awesome write up Max! Hopefully ONI plays a much larger role in this game, it would be interesting to learn more about ONI since we just get a small taste of it in the books.

  • 06.02.2009 12:42 PM PDT
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The tool that the covenent use to find forrunner artifacts also sees humans as artifacts.

  • 06.02.2009 12:43 PM PDT

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

Posted by: snaky jones
S1 could also stand for spartan 1
That was everyone's assumption when the conversation was released, but the evidence proves more towards ONI especially now that there are more clues to ONI's involvement.


Posted by: Eaglesofdc
Awesome write up Max! Hopefully ONI plays a much larger role in this game, it would be interesting to learn more about ONI since we just get a small taste of it in the books.
Thanks Whistles! I'm also anxious to see how much more Bungie will develop in regards to ONI. ONI is much more involved than everyone thinks.


Posted by: Bamein
The tool that the covenent use to find forrunner artifacts also sees humans as artifacts.
Yes, that is correct.

  • 06.02.2009 12:47 PM PDT

We're building a better world...all of them, better worlds.

Thanks a lot, Max. Thread saved. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

  • 06.02.2009 1:07 PM PDT

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

I just updated the OP with Ascendant Justice's article. A great read as always.

  • 06.02.2009 1:11 PM PDT

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

I've been thinking about some of the theories being thrown around about the SI being housed at the ONI building and wondered why people would assume this. From the beginning we see that the building is destroyed, but the SI is still operational throughout the city, so why wouldn't the SI be disabled if it's "core" has been destroyed? As I previously theorized, that building is holding something of importance that could be Forerunner in nature. It could be an artifact, contain a chamber or entrance, but who knows, I'm just speculating here.

  • 06.04.2009 7:07 AM PDT