- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Time for my quiet comments...
I noticed that the entire image is blue (I'm not nitpicking, just making notes) so if this were a distorted transmission, it may have blueshifted, a process by which a light ray is bent and distorted as it is affected by the presence of abnormal gravity. A redshift is actually more common, but it doesn't fit our circumstance. Therefore, since that is feasible the color of the image may be irrelevant.
John 117, in particular, was abducted when he was six, according to the novels. The Master Chief we know is actually a flash-grown clone of the original John. What became of the original John is never fully discussed, but hinted at as something gruesome. The Master Chief, is physically identical to his fourteen year old form, which is superior to most twenty year olds. Correction, all twenty year olds. However, Dr. Halsey is older than Captain Keyes (corncob pipe not Miranda), but not by much. She is described in even the latest references in the book as a striking woman, however. Captain Keyes was described as prematurely grey, most likely thank in part to the invasion of the Covenant and his helping hannd in the Spartan II Project.
AI's are capable of changing their appearance. Cortana is described in the books as resembling a young Dr. Halsey. I believe the term resembled was used, specifically, though I would have to check, which I will once I finish this post. The brain through which Cortana was programmed was removed from a clone of Dr. Halsey, and somehow imprinted with many of Dr. Halsey's memories and experiences. This had the effect of imparting Cortana with a level of creativity, a sense of morality, and a disregard for authority very similar to Dr. Halsey. It also gave Cortana some sort of attraction to John 117. This is all according to the books mind you.
The process involved in creating Cortana was described as unique. Perhaps this also left some sort of residual self image for Cortana, that compelled her to choose a form that resembled the good Doctor. The lines of code that run along Cortana's virtual curves pay tribute to the fact that Cortana was designed as a code-breaker.
My point is that Dr. Halsey may look like Cortana, or more accurately Cortana looks like Dr. Halsey. The appearnace of the image in the Halo 3 trailer alone is not enough to confirm one way or the other. I must admit that the image being Cortana is far more likely, and far less confusing.
Dr. Halsey is a major character in the books, but so is Captain Keyes (corncob pipe not Miranda). Her appearance would not be easily explained in a mere cutscene, but Captain Keyes wasn't either. It could be argued that she is to important to only appear in a single game, but Bungie pulled it off with Captain Keyes.
Have I missed anything? (That's an honest question not elitist sarcasm.)