Editing Cortana Letters

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{{Status|Apocrypha}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Semi-canon}}
[[Image:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana]]
[[File:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana]]
The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ marathon.bungie.org], the most prominent ''[[Marathon]]'' fan website, before the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. At the time, it was not known who [[Cortana]] was, and her emails offered a small glimpse of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plot. The letters were supposedly authored by the former [[Bungie]] employee [[Nathan Bitner]].{{Citation needed}}
The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ marathon.bungie.org], the most prominent ''[[Marathon]]'' fan website, before the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. At the time, it was not known who [[Cortana]] was, and her emails offered a small glimpse of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plot. The letters were supposedly authored by the former [[Bungie]] employee [[Nathan Bitner]].{{Citation needed}}


Because the Cortana Letters were sent while the game was still in production, Cortana is depicted greatly out of character, instead more closely resembling [[marathongame:Durandal (AI)|Durandal]] from Bungie's ''[[Marathon]]'' trilogy. Although Cortana does reference the first letter in ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', and ''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' (as well as [[Halo Legendary Crate]] [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop 12]] through [[Catherine Halsey|her creator]]), the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current ''Halo'' material.<ref>[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten083106.html"''Alas, I'd have to say that, as of now, the only canonized parts of the letters are the fragments we pulled for use in the announcement trailer.''"] - [[Joseph Staten]]</ref>
Because the Cortana Letters were sent while the game was still in production, Cortana is depicted greatly out of character. Although Cortana does reference the first letter in ''[[Halo 3]]'', the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current ''Halo'' material.<ref>[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten083106.html"''Alas, I'd have to say that, as of now, the only canonized parts of the letters are the fragments we pulled for use in the announcement trailer.''"] - [[Joseph Staten]]</ref>


The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here].
The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here].


==Letters==
== Letters ==
===First letter===
=== First letter ===
 
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br />
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br />
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br />
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br />
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MIME-Version: 1.0<br />
MIME-Version: 1.0<br />
X-Priority: 3
X-Priority: 3


''I have walked the edge of the Abyss.''<br />
''I have walked the edge of the Abyss.''<br />
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''A friend of a friend.''</tt>
''A friend of a friend.''</tt>


===Second letter===
=== Second letter ===
 
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br />
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br />
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br />
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br />
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XOXOXOX</tt>
XOXOXOX</tt>


===Third letter===
=== Third letter ===
 
Fearing that the second letter was a hoax, the webmaster replied to Cortana, asking to verify the authenticity of the email. This was sent back:
Fearing that the second letter was a hoax, the webmaster replied to Cortana, asking to verify the authenticity of the email. This was sent back:


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''Cortana''</tt>
''Cortana''</tt>


===Fourth letter===
Note: This message was not sent from Cortana@bungie.com. If you'll notice, it was sent from "Nathan" (nathan@bungie.com)
 
=== Fourth letter ===
 
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br />
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<tt>''I'm everywhere!''</tt>
<tt>''I'm everywhere!''</tt>


===Fifth letter===
<tt>Note</tt> that this letter is from "cortana@jpl.nasa.gov" a curious fact.
 
=== Fifth letter ===
 
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890<br />
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nothing out.''</tt>
nothing out.''</tt>


===Sixth letter===
=== Sixth letter ===
 
''x - process 04497.2.32.867734 initiated (process owner: BW – AI Class III – autonomous)''
''x - process 04497.2.32.867734 initiated (process owner: BW – AI Class III – autonomous)''


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'''Source''': BW-AI aboard (?) PoA
'''Source''': BW-AI aboard (?) PoA


''The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana.''  
''The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana.''  


''Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies.''
''Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies.''


''I have already calculated all possibilities.''  
''I have already calculated all possibilities.''  
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''Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you.''
''Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you.''


===Seventh letter===
=== Seventh Letter ===
 
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124<br />
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br />
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br />
X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09
X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09


"''...In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep...''"</tt>
"''...In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep...''"</tt>


===Eighth message===
=== Eighth message ===
 
Another message from Cortana was found in the 1.3 version of the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD, also from [[Bungie]].
Another message from Cortana was found in the 1.3 version of the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD, also from [[Bungie]].


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''Cortana''  
''Cortana''  


''Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these
''Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these
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''You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out.''</tt>
''You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out.''</tt>


==Sources==
== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}
<references/>


== Related topics ==
== Related Links ==
=== Internal ===
=== Internal ===
*[[Transmissions]]
*[[Transmissions]]
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[I love bees|I Love Bees]]''
*[[Forerunner email]]
*[[Forerunner email|Forerunner Email]]


=== External ===
=== External ===
*[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters.
*[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters.


[[Category:Promotional material]]
[[Category:Promotional Material]]
[[Category:Canon]]

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