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This topic has moved here: Subject: The dome under the desert is a thruster, NOT the ark.
  • Subject: The dome under the desert is a thruster, NOT the ark.
Subject: The dome under the desert is a thruster, NOT the ark.

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Many have suggested that the dome is the Ark. I do not believe that this is the case.

The dome has fourteen plates covering it and is approximately three miles in diameter. If one looks at the main menu in the original Halo, when the camera passes over the ringworld's exterior we see domes in a geometric pattern, with very large ones in the center and pairs of smaller ones on either side.

In the books, we learn that Halo 04 is approximately 23 miles wide at any given point. Given the ratio of how large the smaller domes are compared to the width of the entire ring, that means the small domes are about 3 miles wide. Upon close inspection, one can see that they have 14 plates covering them, as opposed to twelve on the larger domes.

Now, what purpose could these domes possibly have?

Halo 04 was located at Lagrange point L1, directly between Threshold and Basis, in the only point of orbit where the gravity of both bodies is cancelled out by the other. This would require unthinkable precision to maintain such an orbit for thousands of years... without adjustment. I believe the domes are, in essence thrusters. In case the ring's orbit destabilized, one or more of the dozens of thrusters on its outside edge could be fired in order to correct the problem.

Even if the ring didn't destabilize, we can see that it does rotate in a way that gravity from Threshold would place enormous strain on its structure. The hologram in the control room depicts Halo 04's orbit, but if you go to Blood Gulch, say, the view of the planet and it's moon are wrong in the sky. Halo is not perpendicular to its orbit, therefore it is not in null gravity at the extreme points of the ring. Concievably, such gravitational force could pull it apart... unless the ring were being stabilized with the thrusters, firing at both ends to counteract both gravity from the planets and each other.

Why would the ring rotate at all?

Cortana said that the ring's creators perhaps wanted a natural weather cycle. Without rotating as it does, Halo would have days and nights reminiscient of Antarctica, rather than 18 hours of light and 8 of darkness at any given point. Rotating the ring would allow this. A perpendicular orbit would not.

I believe that the Covenant dug up one of these thrusters on Earth. Now, what you've got to ask yourself is this: what could have possibly altered Earth's orbit so it would be used? Or, will the Covenant's activation of it possibly alter Earth's orbit?

Your thoughts, please.

[Edited on 5/18/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 10:31 AM PDT
Subject: A new take on the dome under the desert...
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You thought alot about this, didn't you?

  • 05.17.2006 10:34 AM PDT

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Have you read how many theories there are on this subject? Some take three 10000 character posts to write down. It's nothing new.

  • 05.17.2006 10:35 AM PDT
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umm, I could be way off the mark, but it seems relatively obvious to me that the thing on Earth is the Ark. It's why they went to Earth in the first place and didn't expect to find humans there. Oh, and I think it's also obvious the Forerunners, are, in fact, humans.

  • 05.17.2006 10:36 AM PDT
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ive haeard about this dome theory, and nice job for explaing it well

  • 05.17.2006 10:38 AM PDT
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Its less of a theory and more of an idea but its a very good one and i like the idea. Well done!

  • 05.17.2006 10:39 AM PDT
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Posted by: F1TZ
umm, I could be way off the mark, but it seems relatively obvious to me that the thing on Earth is the Ark. It's why they went to Earth in the first place and didn't expect to find humans there. Oh, and I think it's also obvious the Forerunners, are, in fact, humans.


Maybe, but do you really think Bungie will ruin such a great story with an ending that everybody has been predicting for years now? Even if it was the original plan, they still might have changed it.
This truster theory on the other hand is very innovative. Good thinking!

  • 05.17.2006 10:40 AM PDT
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what els could it be? we know the Ark is on earth, not anything els...

  • 05.17.2006 10:41 AM PDT

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This idea seems very possible, im interested on hearing more about it

  • 05.17.2006 10:41 AM PDT
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the only downside to this theory is now i can imagine the earth being a massive spaceship which is so lamely wrong on so many levels lol

  • 05.17.2006 10:42 AM PDT
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Posted by: covenant slayer
what els could it be? we know the Ark is on earth, not anything els...


Where did you get that idea? From the theories that non-Bungie employees people wrote ?

  • 05.17.2006 10:44 AM PDT

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Would Ark theory supporters like to justify it? I've heard the theory that it's the ark many times, but it's all based on the Covenant's motivations rather than the actual structure.

By the way, in Marathon, Diemos was turned into a giant spaceship. Bungie could be building off of that.

[Edited on 5/17/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 10:47 AM PDT
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Posted by: F1TZ
umm, I could be way off the mark, but it seems relatively obvious to me that the thing on Earth is the Ark. It's why they went to Earth in the first place and didn't expect to find humans there. Oh, and I think it's also obvious the Forerunners, are, in fact, humans.


According to 343 the Ark is where all Halo's are remote actvated, this we know for sure. Regret landed in New Mombasa and probably found that dome, after that he left to Delta Halo with the purpose of activating it. Does nobody see what is wrong with this theory if the dome is the Ark??? Regret could have just start the Great Journey from there, he however did not. The dome is NOT the Ark.

  • 05.17.2006 10:50 AM PDT
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thankyou, im sick of people accepting the first answer that comes along

  • 05.17.2006 10:54 AM PDT
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Posted by: an REG Omega
Would Ark theory supporters like to justify it? I've heard the theory that it's the ark many times, but it's all based on the Covenant's motivations rather than the actual structure.


For example, in the Halo 2 limited edition DVD there is a picture on the whiteboard similar to the structure in the trailer. It says "The Ark" or something next to it. The Ark is commonly believed to be somewhere on Earth, since when the Monitor says "Well, the Ark of course" the camera switches to Earth. Etc. Etc. Etc.

  • 05.17.2006 10:55 AM PDT
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he didne=t find any but us then he ran like a little biaaaaaaaaaaatch

  • 05.17.2006 10:58 AM PDT
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Posted by: staphan
Posted by: an REG Omega
Would Ark theory supporters like to justify it? I've heard the theory that it's the ark many times, but it's all based on the Covenant's motivations rather than the actual structure.


For example, in the Halo 2 limited edition DVD there is a picture on the whiteboard similar to the structure in the trailer. It says "The Ark" or something next to it. The Ark is commonly believed to be somewhere on Earth, since when the Monitor says "Well, the Ark of course" the camera switches to Earth. Etc. Etc. Etc.


it switches to earth several times in the game, this doesnt mean much at all...

  • 05.17.2006 11:02 AM PDT
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Posted by: alexander2006
Posted by: staphan
Posted by: an REG Omega
Would Ark theory supporters like to justify it? I've heard the theory that it's the ark many times, but it's all based on the Covenant's motivations rather than the actual structure.


For example, in the Halo 2 limited edition DVD there is a picture on the whiteboard similar to the structure in the trailer. It says "The Ark" or something next to it. The Ark is commonly believed to be somewhere on Earth, since when the Monitor says "Well, the Ark of course" the camera switches to Earth. Etc. Etc. Etc.


it switches to earth several times in the game, this doesnt mean much at all...


Indeed, Bungie might as well have planned for the Ark to be completely somewhere else, but to keep it a surprise, they made people believe it is on Earth.

  • 05.17.2006 11:08 AM PDT
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Why would bungie make the focus of their announcement trailer a THRUSTER??

Your theory makes no sense at all and is pure speculation.

[Edited on 5/17/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 11:08 AM PDT

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Posted by: jjcorreia
Why would bungie make the focus of their announcement trailer a THRUSTER and not the ark??
Because it's something big that looks like it's blowing up.

Your theory makes no sense at all and is pure speculation.As do so many other theories posted here, some of which offer no evidence at all and all of which are speculation. Thank you for your time.

[Edited on 5/17/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 11:10 AM PDT
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Posted by: jjcorreia
Why would bungie make the focus of their announcement trailer a THRUSTER??

Your theory makes no sense at all and is pure speculation.


cause it looks cool

[Edited on 5/17/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 11:16 AM PDT
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i like this theory...in fact imo its the most likely one.


for all you retards saying "the ark is on earth" YOU DONT KNOW THAT,AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE ON THIS FORUM.

  • 05.17.2006 11:29 AM PDT
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that is a very good idea but i like the one about it being a key hole and it unlocks a way to get to the Ark or another ring that is burried in the earth.

  • 05.17.2006 11:32 AM PDT

Q. What do you get when you add 1 man, 1 car, and 1 rocket built for a jet?

A. A black smudge on the side of a cliff.

Well, this must have taken a long time. Not only that, but you though about and brought up something no one else has ever mentioned before. Yes It does make sence, but why would a giant thruster be stuck in to the earth? Are the covies going to try and drive the earth into the sun or something?

EDIT: OR, could the thruster be one for slipspace perhaps?

[Edited on 5/17/2006]

  • 05.17.2006 11:36 AM PDT
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i dont think you're getting the point lol

  • 05.17.2006 12:01 PM PDT