Editing Section 3 ARG

{{Title|''Section 3 ARG''}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{UC}}
[[File:Section_3_Glyph.png|thumb|250px|Section 3 ARG Logo.]]
{{Quote|STAY VIGILANT AND REMEMBER ALWAYS: SURFACE IS NOTHING, TRUE VALUE IS NOT EASILY WON, TRUST NO ONE... BUT LEARN WHEN TO TRUST|Motto of ''Section 3 TOTS''}}

The '''''Section 3 ARG''''' was an [[alternate reality game]] done by [[343 Industries]]. The ARG was a campaign that spread out through ''[[Halo 4]]'' and ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''. It was a forum-based campaign that also spread into chat groups, trailers, and even in ''Halo 4''.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/classified---hydrai-thread---glyph-codes/22f445b5-65c9-4843-9069-69b32cc4eeb0/posts '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''CLASSIFIED - HYDRAI THREAD - GLYPH CODES'']</ref>

==Campaign Summary==
The campaign started on October 12th 2012, with a symbol appearing in the [[Making Halo 4: Infinity Multiplayer]] trailer. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmOoGucyMNg '''Youtube''' ''Making Halo 4: Infinity Multiplayer'']</ref>

The campaign lasted for two years, giving fans a look into the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Three|Section Three]] and also insight into the experiments they did. Users found glyphs that led to codes being discovered for use on [[Halo Waypoint]] (now only on the [[Xbox 360]]). While the users found codes, an [[AI]] that was originally meant to help them turned against them, giving the puzzles for the ARG.

The campaign ended on November 11th 2014 after Sec3OP36516, the main handler at the time, stopped posting after having a mini-forum game with the players.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/84ad72a8b51847978545f685f651fc15/topics/second-chance-spartan-love---final-code/d7fb3a55-7b4d-430c-8dd5-34db27f73776/posts?page=12#post223 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''SECOND CHANCE SPARTAN LOVE - FINAL CODE'']</ref>

==Story overview==
===Prologue===
In [[2552]], during the [[Battle of Reach]], a Spartan team including Spartan Nola and Spartan NV66, was sent to protect Section 3 Intel, including highly valuable research specs for improving Mjolnir Armor. 

The team was declared MIA after fighting to repel Covenant forces, though before that they sent the intel as a data node to a remote archival station.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=41#post815'''Halo Waypoint''': ''DECRYPTING SECTION 3 (UPDATED 11.15) Page 41'']</ref>

===Year 1 Glyph Hunting===
*'''Real-life: October 12th - November 3rd 2012(This operation was more accurately ongoing throughout the entire ARG)'''
In [[2557]], several Forerunner glyph-encrypted data traffic started to happen. The data was detected by [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Three|Section Three]] personnel that formed codes. Section 3 also noted to its operatives about other terminals that suggested access to new domain data archives, though the data decryption could only be completed aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.

===Year 1 Time capsule===
*'''Real-life: November 4th - November 8th 2012'''
A Section 3 operative arrives called ''Sec3OP36516'', he scans the Waypoint forums for tags and find them.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=33#post649 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3'']</ref> He then tells the players about valuable Intel that was sent from Reach to a remote archival station, prior to the fall that a spartan team sent, and sends a coded message with a data node (Time capsule). He also suggests players to keep an eye out for transmissions in numerous places.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=40#post782 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 1'']</ref>

Starting to use the key to the Time capsule lead to a transmissions detailing it, saying how it was lost for almost 4 years, and that Section 3 operatives are now trying to access it. This lead to the players finding emblems.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=65#post1292 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 2'']</ref>

''SEC3OP1024350'' another Section 3 operative posted giving information, and urged the players to ignore the emblems they found stating they were fake and that the timeline did not match.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=66#post1319 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 3'']</ref> During this ''Sec3OP36516'' gave the players ONI journal extracts that gave them hints on what to do in the puzzles. One hint specifically went on how to avoid distractions which was relating to how ''SEC3OP1024350'' was trying to divert the players attentions.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=68#post1350 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time capsule 4'']</ref>

''Sec3OP36516'' then went over the events that spread over the past month. Giving the goal to the players that the mission was uncovering data from transmissions to obtain technical specs for both spartan armor and spartan insignia's.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=89#post1769 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 1st Month Overview'']</ref> Following this several sent PM's about the glyphs on [[Requiem]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=93#post1856 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Message 1'']</ref>

''SEC3OP1024350'' admitted its account was compromised and with the help of Section 1 it got control again. <ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=129#post2563 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 5'']</ref> ''Sec3OP36516'' then said to ignore him, as his account had previously been compromised.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=130#post2586 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 6'']</ref> Though ''SEC3OP1024350'' announced that the Spartan team who sent that transmitted the data had an infiltrator, he also sends a call-sign.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=137#post2736 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 7'']</ref> This call sign turns out to be valid.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=140#post2791 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 8'']</ref>

Players then created a chat page that is then used by the operatives.

The time capsule datanode is then cracked leading to the [[RAIDER-class Mjolnir]] being finished.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/decrypting-section-3-updated-11-15/ac259b2e-f8d7-4e14-a85f-8c4f3493bcdf/posts?page=164#post3269 '''Halo Waypoint forums''' ''- DECRYPTING SECTION 3 Time Capsule 9'']</ref> This also causes operation codename 'FA15E' to activate.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PhylGodce/status/266770740903305216 '''Twitter''' ''-Phyl Godce account'']</ref>

===Year 1 enter hydrAi===
*'''Real-life: November 9th 2012 - November 11 2012'''
An AI called ''hydrAi'' appeared asking for a number, giving curious responses every time one was given. During this time it was stated that ''Sec3OP36516's'' account was hijacked by a virus in ''hydrAi'', but after the correct number was given to ''hydrAi'', it freed the virus from it and also allowed ''Sec3OP36516'' access to his account again.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/classified---hydrai-thread---glyph-codes/22f445b5-65c9-4843-9069-69b32cc4eeb0/posts?page=42#post826 '''Halo Waypoint forums'' ''- CLASSIFIED - HYDRAI THREAD - GLYPH CODES enter hydrAi'']</ref> 

After this, operatives were then tasked by ''hydrAi'' to complete 1,000,000 [[War Games]] simulations, the reason for this steep number was for required field and simulation data for upcoming decryption algorithms.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/d76f090378914a9bb85312f87cf09b99/topics/classified---hydrai-thread---glyph-codes/22f445b5-65c9-4843-9069-69b32cc4eeb0/posts?page=43#post858 '''Halo Waypoint forums'' ''- CLASSIFIED - HYDRAI THREAD - GLYPH CODES enter hydrAi 2'']</ref> 

===Year 2 (2013)===
During the obtaining and decoding of the data, HydrAi and other character fought to hide or reveal the details.

===Year 3 (2014)===
At the end, Section 3 Operatives were successful and the data was recovered, enhancing the armor. This data also helped enhance [[War Games]] Simulations.

==Items of note==
===Characters===
*'''Sec3OP36516''': Also known as BC, was the Section 3 "TOTS" Commander, their messages were often in Red.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/sec3op36516 '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- Sec3OP36516 Profile'']</ref>

*'''SEC3OP1024350''': Rouge operative, who assisted in creation of FA15E.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/SEC3OP1024350 '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- SEC3OP1024350 Profile'']</ref>

*'''SEC0OP4243''': Section 0 operative, who often messaged in Blue, that handles internal affairs.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/SEC0OP4243 '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- SEC0OP4243 Profile'']</ref> 

*'''ViolentORKid''': Section 3 Operative who was captured and rescued.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/SViolentORKid '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- ViolentORKid Profile'']</ref>
**'''emergent/interference''': Two entities that appeared as the product of  'robotic cells' meshing with ViolentORKid's consciousness.

*'''hydrAi''': An AI brought to help the players in the ARG, who eventually went Rogue.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/hydrAi '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- hydrAi Profile'']</ref>
**'''radialsim''': A peripheral defense branch of hydrAi that was deleted by fa15e.
**'''AquAia''': Remnant fragment of hydrAi when it went against the players.
**'''fa15e''': A failsafe virus that corrupted hydrAi.

*'''tetraRai''': A dumb AI brought in to help Section 3 operatives before it was destroyed during the assult on hydrAi.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/players/SEC0OP4243 '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- tetraRai Profile'']</ref>

*'''Spartan NOLA''': A Spartan who became MIA on Reach in 2552.
*'''Spartan NV66''': A Spartan who became MIA on Reach in 2552.

===Misc===
*'''UNSC BULLETIN''': This was the in-universe name for the [[Halo Bulletin]].
*'''GLOBAL SOCIAL NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS''': This was the in-universe name for social media.
*'''UNDERGROUND ONI FORUM OF CLASSIFIED DISCUSSION''': This was the in-universe name for the thread "Decrypting Section 3".
*'''[[Tip of the Shadow|Section 3 Tip of the Shadow(TOTS)]]''': Tip of the Shadow is a subsection of Section 3 dedicated with the recovery, analyzing, and decoding, of data that Section 3 is stuck with. Its Commander is Sec3OP36516.
*'''Yanumas''': Yanumas is a holiday celebrated on November 15th with the first one celebrated in 2557. Usually mentioned that in some galactic timezones, it is already Yanumas. It is often referenced by the cast of characters in the ARG. <ref name=misc1>[http://onisection3.enjin.com/forum/page/9/m/9298795/viewthread/4839253-irc-chatlog-feel-free-to-update-periodically/filter/most-views '''Section 3 Old Chat Record''' ''Page 99'']</ref>
*'''AC-54''': The [[Hull classification symbol]] of a frigate used by ''ViolentORKid'' returning from a "bad" date on November 15th 2557.<ref name=misc1/>

==Post-game==
Unofficially some of the handlers came back after they left 343i, this led to some of the players opening some of the cookies that were missed during the original run of the ARG.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/1ff61771b8f64a9a9e18b900039843cb/topics/dcd6d5dgebdaedeed3daedd6ebeibjedd6ejdidc/65ccdd13-22df-4cf2-b971-9caeecb604b7/posts?page=1 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''DCD6D5DGEBDAEDEED3DAEDD6EBEIBJEDD6EJDIDC'']</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Section3ARGRed.png|October 25th 2012: First transmission.
File:Second Transmission.jpg|November 2nd 2012: Second transmission.
File:Section 3 transmission3.jpg|November 5th 2012: Third transmission.
File:HydrAi hologram.png|hydrAi's symbol.
File:Original Classfied medal.png|The original Halo Waypoint Medal players got for taking part of the ARG.
File:Sectionn_3_TOTS_classified_medal.png|Halo Waypoint Medal player got for taking part of the ARG.
File:Section 3 ARG Logo.png|Fan-made Section 3 ARG logo that was adapted into a puzzle.
</gallery>

==Sources==
<references/>

==External links==
Link to a lot of available sources
*[http://www.haloarchive.com/forum/topic/287-onis-section-3-tots/?do=findComment&comment=157994 List of Sources]

[[Category:Promotional Material]]
[[Category:Section 3 ARG| ]]
[[Category:Canon]]