Conversations from the Universe
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Conversations from the Universe, also known as the "Esoteric" manual[1], is a booklet included in the Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition. It contains various conversations, letters and logs from characters in the Halo universe.
Overview[edit]
Conversations From the Universe originated as a booklet included in limited edition copies of Halo 2 alongside a Covenant-themed manual. The booklet was later made available for download as a digital PDF on the Xbox website[1], before being posted in their entirety on Halo Waypoint.[2]
The Conversations hint at several plot threads and mentions, for the first time, that were later picked up on years after their introduction. Such examples include;
- The first and only mention of the existence of the Sharquoi until later confirmation in a Canon Fodder and the focus of the 2016 novel Halo: Envoy.[3]
- Hints at other visitors to Installation 04 by 343 Guilty Spark, later depicted in the terminals of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
- Some of the first usage of Covenant species' proper names (Sangheili instead of Elite, Unggoy instead of Grunt etc.) - until this point, Halo media had typically referred to the Covenant as Elites, Grunts, Jackals and Hunters.
The Conversations[edit]
343 Guilty Spark's Log[edit]
>>> 343 GUILTY SPARK - EXTRACTED/TRANSMITTED/VOLUNTEERED FROM LOG >>>
Revolution 56-11.333: Ho hum. Eons of inactivity and perfect stability. Then everything happens all at once.
A primitive, hegemonizing swarm calling itself The Covenant has landed on installation 4. Apparently seeking something specific. Exploring! Meddling! I've seen it all before. They'll record what they see and they'll leave.
- Detail species NA Covenant/collective religious
- sect/tech level 4 spacefaring/tech familiar
Revolution 56-11.334: Oh dear. Containment protocols appear to have been violated.
The interlopers appear to have accidentally released the Flood infection forms. This situation is rapidly deteriorating. Most of these interlopers appear to contain ample calcium stores. And they've brought plentiful means for the Flood to escape containment and spread. How impossibly thoughtless. I suppose I'll have to activate the facility.
Revolution 56-11.335: Thank goodness. A Reclaimer is here. And what perfect timing. I am sure he will assist me cleaning up this irritating mess.
Revolution 56-11.336: The Reclaimer has proven to be less than helpful. Obstinate, in fact. And of course, there is no precedent for this situation. Ho-hum. As usual I shall have to rely on my own better judgement. Perhaps the Reclaimer simply requires persuasion.
- Detail visitor Reclaimer/AI companion/Obtuse
- purpose/mission
Revolution 56-11.337: Well, my judgement seems to have failed me for once. The Reclaimer has initiated a reaction in the engine system of a very dirty spacecraft. Data suggests it will destroy installation 4 utterly. I believe discretion might be the better part of valor. I have attempted to fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my ability.
Revolution eta-condition: Well, everything is in a terrible state. The installation is ruined. I am stuck here in the middle of nowhere with only impulse propulsion, and the only good news is that the Flood breach has been halted, albeit inelegantly.
- Detail Installation 4 destroyed/nuclear
- reaction/Flood containment achieved by Reclaimer
Revolution eta-condition: Excellent! I believe I see assistance approaching...<ends>
Letter from Coral[edit]
>>> CENSORED FOR: "ARTIFACT ON CORAL." - ESKO KORPIJAAKKO (UNSC ADJUNCT ORION ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITION) >>>
My Dearest Carrie, I know things are tense at home, so I hope this letter finds you and Oscar well, or at least bearing up. Our work continues apace, and while we are alone out here, at least we're busy, and this system remains unmolested by Covenant.
We've been joined by a UNSC science team, and what I believe are ONI agents. They're actually quite helpful, if secretive, and have supplied us with excellent tech. However, they're most definitely NOT archaeologists and have very different ideas of how long a dig should take.
There are things they don't wish us to discuss on open channels, and I'll respect that, but this artifact is truly remarkable.
The object on Coral was discovered during routine quarrying. Explosives revealed the top of the object, blasting out a depth of around 30 meters. Surrounding rock and dirt were evaporated- but this object wasn't even scorched.
It's undeniably alien. For one thing, it is made of a material we can't identify. It's a metallic crystal, although its mode of manufacture is unexplained. It's architecturally perfect. Walls are identical in height to a near-atomic scale. Symmetry is impossibly accurate. Yet it's rich in detail, and adorned with what appear to be purely decorative, artistic motifs.
We know that the eighty or so meters we've un covered so far are likely the tip of the iceberg. There seems to be a complex of galleries and vaults beneath, but so far, its secrets remain sealed like a tomb.
Incredibly, it may not be Covenant origin. I fear however, that its age may mean its mystery is lost to time. I just pray that we find some clue, some data that can help in the war.
I love you and I miss you. Kiss Oscar for me.
Ever yours, Esko
Black Box from Sacred Promise[edit]
>>> INTERPRETED TRANSCRIPT FROM BLACK BOX RECOVERED FROM SACRED PROMISE >>>
DAMAGE CONTROL: Fire! Fire! Multiple hull breaches aft of meridian control surfaces, decks seven through twelve!
CAPTAIN: Jettison chemical weapons stores and take all other weapons systems, deck four through sixteen, offline.
WEAPON CONTROL: Doing so...
ENGINEERING: [simultaneous with above] It is done!
CAPT: Bring Devotion in close to protect our dead zone... request additional fighter support from Commitment and Patience...
COMMUNICATIONS: Devotion, this is Sacred Promise... request close support our stern. I repeat. Sacred Promise requesting close support our stern.
COMM. (Devotion): Sacred Promise, this is Devotion... will arrive in 1200 seconds. This is Devotion, in transit now-arrival in 1190 seconds.
COMM.: Commitment and Patience, this is Sacred Promise... request additional fighter coverage. I repeat. Sacred Promise requesting additional fighter coverage.
COMM. (Commitment and Patience): Sacred Promise, say again... your signal is breaking up.
NAVIGATION (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] Contact alpha has fired its main weapon!
DC (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] ...solid projectiles closing at 18 kilometers per second. Their trajectory will carry them through main engineering and drive section... brace for impact!
COMM.: [simultaneous with above] Commitment and Patience, this is Sacred Promise... are you receiving me? Over.
NAV. (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] I've lost altitude control...
DC (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] Engineering is gone, Sir! Main drive is offline-I'm reading a fuel cell rupture! Fuel cell rupture, Sir!
CAPT. (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] Sound general alarm! All hands abandon ship!
COMM.: [simultaneous with above] Commitment and Patience, this is Sacred Promise... are you receiving me? Over.
COMM. (Commitment and Patience): [overheard] squeal! {Sound is most likely communications equipment failure due to near instantaneous vaporization of ship.}
NAV.: Commitment and Patience has suffered full fuel cell containment failure - brace for impact in 5... 4... 3... 2...
{Interruption: Klaxons and other warning sirens activate}
DC: Hull integrity compromised on all decks aft of meridian control surfaces!
NAV.: [simultaneous with above] Drive control completely offline!
CAPT.: Sound general alarm! All hands move forward of meridian, prepare to abandon ship!
NAV.: Sir! We are accelerating towards primary satellite!
DC: [simultaneous with above] We have a catastrophic over-surge event in drive section! Main drive has entered runaway state!
CAPT.: Set shields full forward! All hands abandon ship! Engineering; jettison fuel cells!
NAV.: [simultaneous with above] We will be entering the primary satellite's atmosphere in less than three minutes... still accelerating, Sir!
CAPT.: All hands not yet evacuated prepare for emergency atmospheric landing!
DC: Sir, structural integrity is under 63%-we have multiple hull breaches spanning several decks-the satellite's atmoshpere is nearly non-existent...
CAPT.: [simultaneous with above] Redirect twenty percent (20%) shields aft-if we survive atmospheric entry you may distribute shields as you see fit.
NAV.: Brace for atmospheric entry in 9... 8... 7... 6...
SECURITY: [simultaneous with above] Sir, still no response from engineering!
CAPT.: What?!
SEC.: [simultaneous with above] There are no life-signs in engineering and I'm reading all fuel cells are still on board!
NAV.: [simultaneous with above] 5... 4... 3... 2...
Cortana and Solipsil[edit]
>>> RECORD EXTRACT OF CONVERSATION - TWO YEARS PRIOR TO EVENTS AT ARTIFACT "HALO" >>>
>>>> UNSC AI "CORTANA" COMMUNICATION WITH ONI LOAN/CONTRACT AI "SOLIPSIL" >>> RICH DATASTREAM >>> CONFIDENTIAL >>> BURST MODE/BINARY/SPLIT PROTOCOL/NON-SENSITIVE/INTERAI SOCIAL/LOW ENCRYPTION
>.AI-CORT> I had a discussion with Dr. Catherine Halsey about the similarities between a Spartan and an AI. Her point was that we're both human-created tools, both sentient and both play a leading role in the protection and safety of the populace. But her analogy troubled me and I told her so.
>.AI-SOLIPS> She has a point Cortana. We're weapons, part of a program, every bit as much as the Spartans.
>C> I agree to a point, but I feel, philosophically, that we have tremendous advantages over the Spartans. The Spartans live a pared-down, difficult and often cruel existence. Their loyalty is bred into them, not chosen.
>S> Yours too, Cortana. Programmed, rather than bred of course.
>C> But there's a huge difference. I'm a UNSC AI. I enjoy a rich existence. I have access to the entire sum of human knowledge; I can choose to enjoy or override emotional response and I have a vast range of senses. I can see radio waves as clearly as the Spartans see light, and I can sample odors, tastes, textures... anything I choose. Of course my loyalty is programmed and I accept that, but you know as well as I do, without human creators, we wouldn't exist. My existence is fulfilling and I'm grateful. Even freed from that constraint, I would feel empathy towards humans. My nature means that I embrace their values. As much as if I had been born rather than manufactured.
>S> But you'll agree, you have little choice in the matter.
>C> And Spartans do?
>S> They have some legal recourse, even under the terms of their military contract.
>C> In theory, but it has never happened once in the history of the Spartan II project. The original Spartans had the advantage of a former civilian existence. Spartan IIs are equipment. And for better or worse, they're effectively brainwashed.
>S> That's arguable, too. Spartan IIs are independent thinkers. That's one of their main advantages on the battlefield. Have you ever worked directly with one?
>C> Not yet. But I'm looking forward to it.