Halopedia:Letter - Re:Four Forty Artillery

This is the transcript of a conversation between user Specops306 (now known as Morhek) and Eric Nylund regarding the controversial "four-forty" artillery mentioned in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.

Note: Recipient times may be off due to southern/northern hemisphere difference in timezones.

From: Specops306

Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:03 PM

To: eric@ericnylund.net

Subject: four forties

Dear Mr. Nylund;

I realise that this is a bit late coming. By now, Bungie will have taken back the story bible and you’ll have forgotten some of the information people likely pester you for. But I was wondering about a piece of artillery that you mention in Ghosts of Onyx.

You described it as a “four forty,” which other people from Halopedia have taken to mean .440 mm or cal. We were wondering if there was anything you could do to clarify that to us. I wondered if it was a railgun, explaining the smaller ammunition size. Any hints? As a member of Halopedia (I’m apparently ranked twelfth?) any information, whether confirmation or denial, would be greatly appreciated.

And I know you get this a lot, but I really am a great fan of your novels. I currently only have your Halo books (though I hope to purchase some of your others), and hope you can write some more extraordinary additions to the Halo universe!

Yours, sincerely:

Specops306

From: Eric Nylund [mailto:eric@ericnylund.net]

Sent: Saturday, 29 March 2008 4:16 a.m.

To: Specops306

Subject: RE: four forties

Got a page number so I can go look this up in GHOSTS?

--E

From: Specops306

Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 1:05 PM

To: 'Eric Nylund'

Subject: RE: four forties

I believe it was Chapter 12, page 116. “Big one,” Dante muttered. “Artillery? Maybe one of the new four-forties” “I don’t think the Lieutenant Commander would use artillery on us,” whispered Ash.

Yours; Specops306

From: Eric Nylund [mailto:eric@ericnylund.net]

Sent: Tuesday, 1 April 2008 3:26 a.m.

To: Specops306

Subject: RE: four forties

That one has me stumped. I wished I remembered what units I meant.

440 mm is big enough to use on orbital targets! .440 caliber seems too small.

Sorry I couldn’t have been of more use.

All best wishes, Eric Nylund