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This topic has moved here: Subject: Enkidu - Cortana Letters Revisted?
  • Subject: Enkidu - Cortana Letters Revisted?
Subject: Enkidu - Cortana Letters Revisted?
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I believe the reason Cortana didn't go rampant is a feature of her design... not sure on the specifics (someone mentioned it earlier in the thread but I can't remember who)... I think large amounts of data affect all AI's but AI's like Cortana deal with it better. We know that Enkidu patched himself with Forerunner code, so in my opinion that rules out another AI in the current terminals...

Humans and Covenant have had many engagements... the Humans had 800+ colony worlds... and I think we've lost most of them to the Covies. The Covenant tend to kick our butts when it comes to space warfare, but on the ground humans have been much harder to beat (unless they decide to glass us). They are probably sending heaps of reinforcements because:
1) the Humans are holed up in a good defensive position
2) the Forerunner structure is very important to them
3) why send a small army when you have a huge one?

  • 05.09.2004 11:39 PM PDT
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Posted by: Noir
The thread, as I see it, is meant for theories regarding what the Enkidu reveals without directly revealing. So, since everyone is clamoring to be back on topic, let's get back to speculative theory, shall we?


I second that.

Who is John Doe? Obviously, the author left out chapter i (the first introduction) so that at the end they can reveal who we are watching this whole time. Some people have been worried that the Flood presence is a reason to think Bungie ran out of ideas, to these people I want to ask WHY AREN'T YOU EXAMINING OTHER FACETS OF THE STORY?! Not yelling, just emphasizing. So, we know that our enemies are Covenant and Flood, and potentially something else (the source of the cadavers, the mysterious quakes). But who are our allies? Obviously, we already have the Master Chief returning, Bungie has revealed the ODST, and of course we have the Marines. But why is John Doe so special? No other Spartans exist, theoretically, and all other allies are revealed by Bungie. John Doe, IMHO, is still worth investigating and may potentially be an ally of considerable value in Halo 2.

I concur. Question is, who is it? Apparently, if you look at the terminals closely, the writings hint at someone like a Spartan, but there is no definitive proof. In the last one, Capt. Mathers tells JD that he can take the transport to the surface IF he can avoid the freakish zombies (i.e. Flood).

As for other Spartans, some might think it's Kelly and Dr. Halsey, but truth be told, it can't be - from what I've picked up in the threads, these terminal events started BEFORE the fall of Reach, and right now, we're at a point in time AFTER the events in First Strike. So no Spartans, as they were all accounted for. And as for the 3 "unaccounted-for" Spartans that people keep referring to who were too far away to be recalled, they are dead. They are simply being listed as MIA as per ONI propaganda directives - remember, there are only thirty Spartans, and if someone could do a quick count of how many are left, including MC, Kelly, Linda, Sam, Fred, and others, I'm sure that we'll come up with 27. But then again, I could be wrong.

If the Forerunner AI can take over Enkidu, and we all know that 343 survived Halo, will Cortana be in jeopardy in Halo 2? Conversely, if Enkidu is going rampant by attempting to interface with Forerunner technology, and Cortana already interfaced with Forerunner tech, will Cortana become an enemy to us? The subtleties of the AI issue have not been examined but they should be.

True as well. An interesting thought I just had was that perhaps Enkidu's source code that was replaced was replaced with source that instilled in him a desire to keep his new "digs" clean and sanitary. If you look through all the terminals, and at how Enkidu talks to JD, Enkidu is acting more and more like a monitor - and why haven't we seen one like 343 GS yet? Not barring anything in the future coming ruining this idea, but maybe the code that was used to patch Enkidu (AI code) was code that the original monitor of the Frigid installation used to monitor and contain the Flood. Remember, they replaced protocols and subroutines in Enkidu.

What are you standing there for? Go on, try to be helpful for a change! Head over there and get your friends to leave me alone so I can clean this up. Just don't go and break something else.

Or you'll regret it.


Friends? From what we know, Enkidu is probably talking about the Covenant, as no one is available to help JD (as we learn in the next terminal) on his recon run.

Enkidu wants JD to distract the Covenant so that he can deal with the Flood. Doesn't this sound a bit like 343 GS? However, the difference here is that it isn't all pure Forerunner AI, but now a mixed hybrid, human style personality, attitude, and thinking, with Monitor-like priorities and goals. We know this because of previous terminals, and how Enkidu's behavior has changed over time.

As far as we can tell, the humans and the Covenant have only had limited engagements and how many humans had to be killed before landing on Frigid? Why do the Covenant keep sending reinforcements? Is there more Flood elsewhere destroying them? Are Enkidu's Sentinels that damned good all of a sudden? Or, are there more Forerunner weapons/defenses on Frigid that we haven't seen yet?

I think that, to fight the Covenant, Enkidu is using a defense that we have yet to learn about. As for the Flood, well, that's what the Sentinels are for. I'm guessing that the Covenant are sending more troops down because they know that, among other things, they can eventually wear down and, by sheer weight of numbers, eliminate all the humans in the tunnels - but at the same time, there is something else they have to deal with which they weren't expecting to.

Just more ideas...

  • 05.10.2004 2:44 AM PDT
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NEW TERMINAL

http://enkidu.bungie.org/enkidu_p.html

check it out...

  • 05.10.2004 4:07 AM PDT
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First indication of who JD is....

Capt. Mathers calls JD "sailor" in a sarcastic tone... Enkidu told him about JD's secret... JD deffinatley was undercover - and the only undercover guys I know of are ONI...

interesting META tags:
exfiltration, EVA, stealth, let bygones be bygones

the first three refer to JD going topside...

let bygones be bygones - this probably refers to JD being "forgiven" by the Captain

  • 05.10.2004 4:15 AM PDT
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Could JD be a spartan without mjolnir armour? I mean if she/he's be out in the sun and stuff he wouldn't be pale so he/she wouldn't be so easy to pick out.

Posted by: GOD Halo Fan
First indication of who JD is....

Capt. Mathers calls JD "sailor" in a sarcastic tone... Enkidu told him about JD's secret... JD deffinatley was undercover - and the only undercover guys I know of are ONI...

interesting META tags:
exfiltration, EVA, stealth, let bygones be bygones

the first three refer to JD going topside...

let bygones be bygones - this probably refers to JD being "forgiven" by the Captain

  • 05.10.2004 5:57 AM PDT
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definitely sounds right - especially since JD was in a cryo bay.

reminds me when the mark IVs were living among the humans in marathon and they turned back the invasion of tau ceti.

here is another thought - why the mention of salior? isnt a spartan a marine?

  • 05.10.2004 6:05 AM PDT
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Finally, someone else realizes...

I don't know if the Spartans look different to other people... what did the physical augmentations do to their apperance?

Things we do know about JD:

1) JD can handle himself/herself in a battle - using covenant weapons, surviving Flood attacks, and surviving alone...

2) JD is an officer of some sort aboard the UNSC Lebanon - has a "team"

3) JD has possible links to ONI which were unknown to everyone but Enkidu

  • 05.10.2004 6:11 AM PDT
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if i remember correctly there are 32 spartans not 30, but then again i dont know if the spartans could be refered to as 'sailors'

  • 05.10.2004 6:16 AM PDT
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here's a list of spartans we know of...
http://halosm.bungie.org/story/characters.html

I'm not convinced that it is a Spartan though

  • 05.10.2004 6:21 AM PDT
Subject: the Anti spam.
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OK, folks, here it goes: lets follow some sort of order here and not post if it doesn't have to do with the puzzle we have at hand. two or three morons come in here (you know who you are) and every bit of positive though goes out the door, and messes up us who are trying to solve this. If someone pisses you off, don't reply, you just make the problem worse. now, i know i am sounding preachy here, but all this spam and flaming is getting OLD, FAST. now, to follow my own rules, and to stop some of the dummies from asking questions already asked, here are some of the most frequently asked Question's answers:

Enkidu is NOT 343, Cortana or Durandal!

These Terminals happen BEFORE halo the game, so don't make dumb references.

We can assume for the time being that this is not a Fanfic, so don't give up on it.

We have already established the link between the AI Ekidnu and the Mythological Ekidnu.

Unless it is a really cool number, stop posting "W00t! I G0t The 1432.54235th Post!!!!!!!!"

The installations are not all rings (as far as i can tell).

JD (John Doe/ Jane Doe) is NOT the MC!

Nothing here pertains to the story of Halo the game, besides continuity, so don't assume that because you Played the game that your an expert on the subject.

A lot of the stuff that we are linking to (idea wise anyway) happens in the books....

Take all the Theories as the truth until debunked (just a suggestion, just don't flame them into next Tuesday)

and, as i cant say this enough, Read the posts before this in their entirety. it took me an hour when i started, but it makes MUCH more sense when it is read.

Sorry if i came off as a jerk, i was just getting sick of the flaming and spam and the people too lazy to read.. Truce folks? If i missed anything, or got something wrong, feel free to tell me, just don't death-flame me.

  • 05.10.2004 6:27 AM PDT
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the sailor bit might be in refrence to ONI, which stands for Office of NAVAL Intelegence, as is my understanding. perhaps ONI conscripted him to keep track of things on the Lebanon?

  • 05.10.2004 6:28 AM PDT
Subject: the subject.
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JD was a sailor aboard the UNSC Lebanon because he/she was part of the crew...

I believe Capt. Mathers calls JD a "sailor" emphising the fact that JD was actually under someone else's command the whole time...

  • 05.10.2004 6:53 AM PDT
Subject: Enkidu - Cortana Letters Revisted?
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Posted by: Bobtomatoe
here is another thought - why the mention of salior? isnt a spartan a marine?


The Spartan II program I believe is part of one of ONI's section II secret projects. This means that all Spartan II's are part of the Navy not the Marine Corps. After all, a Masterchief is an enlisted man in the Navy. There do seem to be hints in First Strike at a connection between Col. Ackerson, Chief Petty Officer Mendez and an apparant Spartan III program. Assuming that this John/Jane Doe is a Spartan to begin with then it could be a sailor(if it is a Spartan II we don't know anything about) or a marine(if it is a Spartan III). I haven't read the books in a while so let me know it I got something wrong or forgot something.

  • 05.10.2004 7:05 AM PDT
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Man this is a long thread, I would love to know what you guys are talking about, but that means throwing my life away.

  • 05.10.2004 7:07 AM PDT
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CORTANA:

This is it. Halo's control center.

(The Master Chief walks through the door and to a control panel at the center of a circular glass walkway projecting into the middle of a massive open chamber. A holographic map of Halo surrounds a smaller holographic map of the system, which shows Basis and Threshold, and Halo itself between them)

"...a massive open chamber"
Hmmmmmmm.... sound like anything we are starting to hear about? Maybe INSIDE frigid is a map room of ALL the Forerunner installations. A map to every Halo installation!

My guess is that the people on Frigid survive long enough to transmit a message to Earth that there is a map of all the Forerunner installations... and guess what?... Master Chief has to leave Earth, go to Frigid and get the map, then onto- wherever! All in Halo 2!

Man I am ready for E3 to come!

  • 05.10.2004 7:09 AM PDT
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New update..
Seems JD is a SPARTAN because of the reference "Enkidu told me about you..."
As well as still lots of covenant activity...

  • 05.10.2004 7:10 AM PDT
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Posted by: Bobtomatoe

here is another thought - why the mention of salior? isnt a spartan a marine?


Nope, they were part of the space fleet (aka Navy) program The Marines ala Ackerson were trying to steal the secrets to make their own Spartans.

  • 05.10.2004 7:13 AM PDT
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I find it funny how the navy and marines STILL cant get along, even this far ahead in time... just kidding guys.

  • 05.10.2004 7:15 AM PDT
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January 30, 2004 (Warthog's Day)
The Master Chief emerged from his code. After seeing his dynamically lit realtime shadow, he went back for 9 more months of development.


Behold the power of the Originals, the Gods Axeone-Neurone.

Posted by: GOD Halo Fan
I'm not convinced that it is a Spartan though


Currently I agree. Since he obviously good with weapons, maybe he is ONI special forces like Sam Fisher from splinter cell. Navy Seal (or the 2552 equivalent) thats my guess.

  • 05.10.2004 7:36 AM PDT
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Frigid is a dyson sphere!
A dyson sphere is a planet turned inside out. Like halo had its surface on the inside of the ring, Frigid has its surface on the inside of a sphere. The tunnels they are in must be the maintenance tunnels for the whole sphere. Capt. Mathers goes on about the void inside the sphere, so its hollow. And we know the Forerunner can control weather and atmosphere so they could live inside the sphere. I think it all fits together.

Thoughts?

  • 05.10.2004 8:08 AM PDT
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Posted by: Xraf
CORTANA:

This is it. Halo's control center.

(The Master Chief walks through the door and to a control panel at the center of a circular glass walkway projecting into the middle of a massive open chamber. A holographic map of Halo surrounds a smaller holographic map of the system, which shows Basis and Threshold, and Halo itself between them)

"...a massive open chamber"
Hmmmmmmm.... sound like anything we are starting to hear about? Maybe INSIDE frigid is a map room of ALL the Forerunner installations. A map to every Halo installation!

My guess is that the people on Frigid survive long enough to transmit a message to Earth that there is a map of all the Forerunner installations... and guess what?... Master Chief has to leave Earth, go to Frigid and get the map, then onto- wherever! All in Halo 2!


No.

This is not likely the case, simply because your idea is speculation based with no hard evidence, and moreover, why would Cortana and MC need to go to Frigid for a "map" or something like that when Cortana already has the Index. True, we don't know what the Index has on it, data-wise, but judging from the name of the thing, an index, it has listings of things... probably lots of things... like planets, the other minimum 3 installations, and a whole host of stuff - the only reason why we don't know is because Cortana hasn't had time to process any of it.

  • 05.10.2004 8:10 AM PDT
Subject: Read winter interlude
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Now it is oviously excuse misspelling a spartan i.e. sailor the spartans are in the navy who happen to be with marines. I believe we have the missing spartan the hasley took.

  • 05.10.2004 8:12 AM PDT
Subject: Credo In Un Dio Crudel
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Posted by: Zk315
It's been done. Halo started on Sptember 19th. This is Spetember 13th. Halo hasn't even begun yet.




Hold on in the books they mentioned that they had tried with Spartans before but that it was a horrible failure, or at least that is what I think it said. I will go read all three again maybe I can get the page and phrase that hints to this.

  • 05.10.2004 8:19 AM PDT
Subject: Enkidu - Cortana Letters Revisted?
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Posted by: Hedwig
Posted by: GOD Halo Fan
I'm not convinced that it is a Spartan though


Currently I agree. Since he obviously good with weapons, maybe he is ONI special forces like Sam Fisher from splinter cell. Navy Seal (or the 2552 equivalent) thats my guess.


I have an idea along similar lines - he's obviously not a sailor, meaning not in the navy, but was posing as one. Enkidu revealed his identity, and let's not forget, one of the very first terminals was JD "reading" other people's mail - something that Enkidu chastised him about.

Here's my idea - simply put, JD is someone who, at one time, was a military badass. Best of the best, somewhere between ODST and Spartan. A sort of special forces type that had all sorts of time and attention given to him/her for training and whatnot.

If anyone here has read any Tom Clancy novels, then you'll know about Mr. Clark. He was an ex-green beret, did some kick-ass stuff in 'Nam, and then eventually was recruited by the CIA. So now, while still former special forces, his job is to gather intel and perform other "tasks" that might be too dangerous for someone without his training to accomplish. So while now he's primarily an intelligence gathering agent work for the CIA (ONI is the equivalent in the Halo world), it doesn't mean he can't handle himself in a firefight, either.

This is what I think JD is - he was obviously working undercover, in a high position, either to "watch" Capt. Mathers, or to gather intel. However, from what we can see, he's either incredibly lucky or got some bad-ass training under his belt.

I don't think he is a Spartan because, quite simply, Spartans, while having been trained for stealth on a mission, are too valuable to ONI and the human race in general to use for such a simple (as they thought at the time) mission as to gather intelligence on someone or something. Also, they are very cut and dry, and not trained in the subtleties that ONI spooks would be of being undercover.

Am I crazy? Or not? Let's talk...

  • 05.10.2004 8:22 AM PDT
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The Spartan theory is still valid: of the 3 Spartans too far away to have been retrofitted with the latest Mjolnir armor - the type that holds an AI interface - one could definately been on Frigid. Who better than a Spartan to conduct very important reconaissance on the Covenant, seeing as how they can "go to ground" better than anyone else? When Mathers refers to him as sailor, it's irony, because the Spartans are from the office of NavSpecWeap, Navy Special Weapons, so technicallly they are "sailors", but since they are in space, they no longer sail anything. While the Dyson sphere is a cool idea, I think it's simply a hollowed out cavern, Forerunner style, just on a scale that Mathers can't believe, much like the new m.p. level in HALO 2 that that preview in Gamer Mag. showed. There's obviously some sort of structure in the middle.

  • 05.10.2004 8:36 AM PDT