Forum:Forward Unto Dawn Impressions

Part 1
Good start to the series in my opinion. Any guesses on what that was in the sky at the end of the episode? Col.  Snipes  4  50  11:31, 5 October 2012 (EDT)

-Maybe an Orbital insertion pod. If it's not that, I got nothing. User:Yoonhyuk-740


 * A Covenant intelligence-gathering ship, hinted by the hacking of the UNSC computer. — subtank   11:37, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Good start to the series. Can't wait for Part 2!-- Spartacus,   Halopedia Administrator  Talk 11:55, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * I haven't even watched it yet and I saw 4.5 million views w/ 44,000 likes/1,400 dislikes! Imagine the release of Halo 4. Forget $200 million in sales, more like $400 million...I'll give my opinion after I watch it.-- Killamint  [Comm |Files ] 12:25, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * My bad, I was looking at the wrong video.-- Killamint  [Comm |Files ] 12:38, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * It looks alright, much better than I expected. Its a shame poor Junjie was the victim of stereotypes. I got a couple of screenshots of the symbols, but I'm not sure about licensing to upload them. They don't match the halo2.com cipher anyways.. Still looking forward to part 2 though! :D --Tent acle Torn ado  14:36, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * I knew learning Mandarin/Chinese would be a bonus some point in my life! Junjie's father sounded like a Malaysian speaking Chinese though. — S331 Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 17:41, 5 October 2012 (EDT)

Finally saw it, looks great, definitely has that "movie" feel to it.-- Killamint  [Comm |Files ] 19:42, 5 October 2012 (EDT)

From a strictly story-based standpoint, whatever sort of ship that was would likely depend on how soon the pudu is scheduled to hit the fan... If the attack on the academy is slated to go down in the next couple days, it might be a Phantom. If it isn't supposed to happen for a couple of weeks, I'd say it was some sort of advance scout, like a modified Seraph. Both of these craft have the ability to avoid sensor detection... The Phantom would be my guess, as I could easily see a complement of 30 Sangheili laying waste to a school of unprepared cadets and their Marine security detail. The data tap could have been their way of verifying whether their approach had been detected. DJenser 12:59, 9 October 2012 (EDT)
 * I was thinking something much larger than a phantom or a seraph. Something along the lines of a stealth corvette. It would make more sense for a larger ship to arrive, as a phantom/seraph would have had to come from a larger ship anyway. The hacking would probably just be intelligence gathering, this is still very early in the war. I hope its a DAV-class anyway, it would look great! :D --Tent acle Torn <font color="#B8860B">ado  13:21, 9 October 2012 (EDT)
 * A ship of that size (over a quarter of a mile long) would leave a sizable ionization trail as it descended through the atmosphere, to say nothing of the contrail(s) that its trailing edges would create. Might as well draw a big fluffy white arrow made of water vapor, leading right to it. Let's meet in the middle and call it some sort of cloaked ship, parked in orbit (such as a DAV), which sent a smaller craft (such as a Seraph or a Phantom) down to investigate the scene below the cloud layer. DJenser 15:59, 9 October 2012 (EDT)

Cadmon Lasky
I have a theory about Mama Lasky's boys: Thomas is questioning the wisdom of the UNSC's stance on the Insurrectionists because his brother was killed by them on Jericho VII (possibly in some sort of ambush or as a result of faulty intel) I'm guessing that it happened in late-2525/early-2526 right around the time the SPARTAN 2s were sent in. I believe that, as a result of this incident, he blames the UNSC as much as the Insurrection for his brother's death. It makes sense because of the way he bristles at being called an "Innie Lover", yet makes no secret of his feelings regarding the UNSC's policies toward the Insurrectionists. According to Vickers, he was apparently a squad leader at one point, but had since fallen out of favor. The video has set out to show that he has a talent for strategy & tactics (he timed their rendezvous with the rest of the squad down to the second & he's apparently quite good at chess), so it makes sense that, if his brother had been killed, he would look beyond the obvious ("The Innies killed my brother, so it's all their fault") causes & look at the larger picture ("Why did Cadmon die on Jericho VII in the first place"?) It would definitely explain his motivations in questioning Vickers' orders during the training exercise. It would also explain why he was so paranoid about someone else seeing him watching the video mail from his brother. In fact, I am making a prediction: The Chief will mention to Tom that he met Cadmon on Jericho VII, and was impressed by his bravery/skill/ingenuity/etc. This exposition will occur at a dramatically appropriate point in the series & will provide the motivational spark that lights a fire under Tom to become the soldier he's meant to be. DJenser 14:58, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * From what I remember, ODSTs were deployed to the Academy to fight the Covenant. ODST? Cadmon Lasky? Deaths? Inspired? Thomas Lasky? — S331 Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 17:41, 5 October 2012 (EDT)


 * @S331: To paraphrase my theory: Thomas Lasky has (possibly had) a brother named Cadmon Lasky who had previously graduated the Corbulo Academy of Military Science. What we know at this point is that, upon graduation, he served in the UNSC Marines as an ODST and was deployed on Jericho VII for 131 days some time in, or before, 2526. My theory is that Cadmon (remember, that's Thomas's brother) was killed at some point during his deployment on Jericho VII. I believe this incident caused Thomas to question the UNSC's reason for perpetuating the war with the Insurrectionists when diplomacy might have been more effective.
 * So let's now recap and address your questions:
 * 1) Q:ODST? A: Stands for "Orbital Drop Shock Trooper"; Deployed to the academy (along with 3 SPARTANs) to assist with the defense & evacuation of the students & personnel in 2526. Some ODSTs graduated the academy prior to serving, which brings us to...
 * 2) Q:Cadmon Lasky? A: An ODST and graduate of the aforementioned academy, as well as the brother of Thomas Lasky (see question 5). He was deployed to Jericho VII at some point during Thomas' first year in the academy.
 * 3) Q:Deaths? A: A staple of storytelling, the death of one close to the Hero is often a motivator for or against a course of action. In this case, I believe that a death (the death of his brother Cadmon) has caused Thomas to question the UNSC's policy regarding the Insurrection in general, and, specifically, the part that he himself is to play in it.
 * 40 Q:Inspired? A: The synopsis for the Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn series states that the Master Chief inspired Thomas Lasky to become the soldier the UNSC needed him to be. My theory is that the Chief (at some point during the series) tells Thomas of how he had met Tom's brother on Jericho VII, and how that meeting had had some sort of a profound impact on the Chief. I believe that this will be the final bit of inspiration Thomas needs to become the hero he is meant to be.
 * 5) Q:Thomas Lasky? A: I don't know how to answer this one... If you don't know who that is, you really should watch the videos before asking these questions. Just sayin'...DJenser 13:30, 8 October 2012 (EDT)


 * I actually agree with your theory DJenser. However, I have a slight alternative theory; Cadmon isn't dead, and he's one of the ODSTs deployed to Circinius IV when the Covenant attack. During the attack, he dies and Thomas is distraught. And the Chief tells him how there are always casualties in war and how one can honor his/her dead loved ones by fighting harder AND tells him he met Cadmon on Jericho VIII and how he was impressed by his bravery/skill/ingenuity/etc. NOW Tom gets the motivation/inspiration he needed and fights back. Do you think this could happen as well? User:Yoonhyuk-740 8:52PM, October 8th, 2012 (Eastern)
 * That's the thing about theorizing potential plotlines early on in a series... They can (and often do) still go in any direction, and usually not the one you think. Yeah, it's a perfectly plausible alternative theory at this point. Another one could be that his brother's a quadroplegic or a vegetable in a UNSC hospital somewhere... Or that he fell in love with a nice Insurrectionist girl and deserted his post (of course, that one has already been done.). The field is still wide open at this point. DJenser 08:23, 9 October 2012 (EDT)


 * @DJenser: Words cannot describe how I'm feeling. But it's not your fault. I blame it on my communication skills. Those "questions" were rhetorical questions. What I meant was: " ODSTs were deployed to the academy. Since Cadmon Lasky was an ODST, he might have been part of the ODSTs deployed to the academy. Cadmon's possible Death may have inspired Thomas Lasky ." Basically, what I meant was what our good friend Yoonhyik-740 just posted. — S331  Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 08:44, 9 October 2012 (EDT)


 * @S331: That's my fault. I interpreted your reply as something else entirely. The impersonal nature of the internet makes it difficult to gauge one's intents, and all too often the anonymity it provides is used as a license to troll. I guess I mistook your brevity for sarcasm. No harm, no foul. When you explain it that way, it makes a lot more sense and, given that you're not the only one who foresaw that particular scenario, you might be on to something there. ...Which is the whole reason for my post... I wanted to spark a discussion about which directions people saw this series going, based upon what we've seen thus far. I find it fascinating how closely some people come to guessing what the writer(s) had in mind and, sometimes, the ideas that pop up during these discussions turn out to be even better ones than what ends up making it into the video.

Corbulo Academy
Does anyone else find it ironic that this story takes place at an academy named after a general who unquestioningly committed suicide on the orders of emperor Nero, who is widely considered to be one of the most tyrannical rulers in the history of the Roman Empire? DJenser 15:49, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * The whole "most tyrannical ruler" thing is something of a myth.--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 16:52, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Not so much a myth as a divergence of theories based upon the opinions of those that were either in support of, or opposed to, the policies of Emperor Nero, both during and in the years after his reign. Dissenting viewpoints notwithstanding, the general consensus of those theories indicates that he was a tyrant, particularly to the upper echelons of Roman society, whom he saw as a threat to his power. This is the same Nero that had his own mother executed, then publicly ruled it a suicide, something which is not a myth, but a matter of historic record set down in the Annals. In addition to this, Corbulo was ordered by a paranoid Nero to fall on his sword due to circumstantial evidence stemming from a failed coup attempt in which a member of the general's extended family had taken part, with no real evidence implicating Corbulo himself. I think that, myth or not, you will agree that the analogy (and it's resultant irony) still holds true given that H4:FUD's story takes place in an academy for the children of the upper echelons of the UNSC's military elite... An environment in which the protagonist, Thomas Lasky, is expected to blindly follow orders, to his own detriment. DJenser 15:22, 8 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Nice one. Didn't think of that.--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 11:15, 9 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Yeah, the writers who came up with the name of the academy have a pretty twisted sense of humor. DJenser 11:34, 9 October 2012 (EDT)

Overuse of "Insurrectionist"
I understand that they have a canon "umbrella" name for these groups, like modern day "Insurgents", but I don't think anyone would have minded if, after the first use of the word "Insurrectionist" they switched to shorter phrases like Tangos, Rebels/Rebs, or the canonical abbreviation Innies. We use nicknames for a reason, and referring to them constantly by a five-syllable name hardly rolls off the tongue. It wasn't a huge thing, but it did bug me. --  Qura 'Morhek   The Autocrat     of Morheka   17:40, 5 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Oh, that really got on my nerves, almost as much as the stereotypes and constant 'defocusing' cameras. Like you said, there have been many a time when other names were used. Plus this would be the prime time to let loose the elusive "URF". --<font color="#2E8B57">Tent <font color="#3CB371">acle <font color="#DAA520">Torn <font color="#B8860B">ado  13:44, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

Which year
Ok i may sound retarded but after watching the whole episode and by doing some research for a while i still try to guess in with years the first episode take place i mean on corbulo page it said that cadet are from different class. Does that mean that the episode that place after 2529? or the year is 2525? <font color="LimeGreen">C <font color="RoyalBlue">F <font color="Salmon">0 <font color="Gold">0 <font color="GreenYellow">1 17:41, 8 October 2012 (EDT)
 * The series is set in 2526. The cadets belong to the class of 2529 because that's when they're supposed to graduate. --Courage never dies. 17:44, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

Thank but i find strange that nobody care about the H-C war? They are only talking about insurrectionists. <font color="LimeGreen">C <font color="RoyalBlue">F <font color="Salmon">0 <font color="Gold">0 <font color="GreenYellow">1 17:50, 8 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Communication is pretty slow, considering that it took until September 2525 for the UNSC to learn the fate of Harvest, even though it had been glassed between February and March.-- Spartacus,   Halopedia Administrator  <font color="Black">Talk 17:53, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

I'd guess that information on the Covenant was probably still classified or at the very least simply not publicized very widely. I don't really know this so if anyone can confirm it that would be awesome. Weeping Angel 17:57, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

I believe First Contact occurred in 2525. DJenser 18:53, 8 October 2012 (EDT)
 * According to Halo: Contact Harvest, Our very first contact with the Covenant came in the form of a long-range scan on 02/03/2525. Actual formal contact came 8 days later on 02/11/2525. 11 days after that, the War officially began as the Colonial Militia evacuated Harvest while the Covenant glassed it, making it the first casualty in the war. The UNSC officially went on alert in November of that year. On March 1st, 2526, Adm. Cole's fleet returned to Harvest. The WINTER CONTINGENCY protocol was first enacted on 03/10/2526. If we use the date on the newsfeed Chyler Silva was reading as a reference(04/02/2526), this would put the events in H4:FUD about a month or so after the UNSC began enacting emergency measures under WINTER CONTINGENCY, which would fit in line with that brief scene (11:05) where Gen. Black was deploying marines to various parts of the campus. DJenser 09:24, 9 October 2012 (EDT)


 * Reason why everyone in Corbulo was talking about innies and not Covenant was because the Covenant's existence was still classified. Sully is on the verge on finding out. — S331 Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 09:43, 9 October 2012 (EDT)


 * Further research indicates that the Battle of Chi Ceti took place on 11/27/2525, though it was a very small engagement consisting of 3 SPARTANs in brand-new Mark IV armor infiltrating and destroying a single Covenant vessel, so it was probably covered up quite effectively. On 02/13/2526, the Battle of Bliss took place. Interestingly enough, an ISN news printout (I think it's from Halsey's journal) was supposedly posted on 04/06/2526 (4 days after the newsfeed that Chyler was scanning), reporting on the aftermath of this battle. It mentioned the first Harvest campaign as well, which would seem to indicate that the war should have been public knowledge by this point... My guess is that any and all information coming into the academy is heavily filtered before being posted, which would make sense in an environment like that. Though, as S331 pointed out, not filtered well enough to keep Sully from piecing the clues together from the redacted feeds... DJenser 09:53, 9 October 2012 (EDT)

Part 2
Fight scene, revealing Cadmon's dead, Thomas rises to a leadership role, and Frank O'Connor in a cameo. It was a good episode in my opinion. Col.  Snipes  4  50  10:09, 12 October 2012 (EDT)
 * The beginning scene had Cortana said all she did was "wait". I thought she had some fun modifying Chief's armor. *Shrugs* — S331 Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 10:48, 12 October 2012 (EDT)
 * So was Frankie the janitor in the mess hall during the fight scene?-- 11:09, 12 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Oh, yeah! "Beamish", they could have made it a little more subtle, instead of focusing on him directly. --<font color="#2E8B57">Tent <font color="#3CB371">acle <font color="#DAA520">Torn <font color="#B8860B">ado  11:47, 13 October 2012 (EDT)
 * I love that straight and emotionless face. I like how someone modified that scene. — S331 Bubbleshieldhud.svg(COM • Mission Log • Profile) 11:58, 13 October 2012 (EDT)


 * Well, I guess that explains the whole "space mop" running gag that BSAngel & Frankie were throwing around in the previous Halo Bulletins.DJenser 00:23, 14 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Oh, and Cadmon's death? I TOTALLY called it!!! (Sorry to sound so obnoxious, but it's not often I get it so completely right, so I have to enjoy it while it lasts.) DJenser 00:31, 14 October 2012 (EDT)

Part 3
Best one yet. Live-action Covenant forces definitely my favorite part. Col.  Snipes  4  50  09:43, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

I think I saw Dimah again at 15:58... All kidding aside, I'm glad to see that the Sangheili CGI looks legit. I was worried that it would be clunky like the Terminal/Halo 4 prologue, but Mr. Hendler, the esteemed director, appears to have spent his money wisely during post production DJenser 10:16, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

Enhance that image and you can see an obscure image of something. If only the power wasn't cut off, I'm sure he'll enhance the image further. :P — subtank   10:26, 19 October 2012 (EDT)
 * Can't see her, but I suppose the implication is there. That's what happens when you say "screw the rules! I have connections!"--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 10:32, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

I know what you mean DJenser, I know the Sangheilli are taller than humans, but playing from the perspective of John-117, looking them in the eye, you don't really get a feel for it. When we see the Sangheili from the cadets point of view, a towering alien species, then you can get a feel for how tall they really are. Col.  Snipes  4  50  10:44, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

Characters like Dimah are destined to die... I really look forward to the next episode; can't wait until Lasky and the Chief meet. —  SPARTAN 331  10:54, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

@The All-knowing Sith'ari: Dimah is proof positive that all the connections in the world don't mean squat when you're stuck on the business end of a plasma turret... @Spartan331: I suspect he'll make his debut at the end of the next episode... Seems like an ideal place for a cliffhanger-worthy entrance. DJenser 13:24, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

Anyone who can get it, a good-quality shot of Lasky's medical discharge form would be nice. I have a feeling we could learn a lot from it.--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 17:11, 19 October 2012 (EDT)


 * I got a good look, not much we can see just where he's from- Tricode Village, Mare Erythraeum, there is something about a commanding officer but the name wasn't visible. Colonel Grade One.png Col.  Snipes  4  50 Colonel Grade One.png 17:19, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

Corbulo: A damning insight into the UNSC
Is no one else slightly disturbed by what Corbulo implies? The Academy works on the highly cronyist and nepotistic idea of training the children of high-ranking officials within the government and military to become commissioned officers of the colonies. In other words, the boys and girls of the top brass and politicians get the best training, irrespective of actual competence. There seems to be very little in the way of discipline: The repeatedly insubordinate and Leeroy Jenkins'ing Lasky is subjected to no more than an inspiring talk from Mehaffey, despite doing things that would endanger the lives of his squadmates in a real situation; Sullivan is somehow able to hack into ultra-secure ONI files in his bedroom and it isn't picked up until he's managed to access the juiciest information; Tchakova marches around flaunting her parents's status in everyone's face; and Lasky and Vickers get away with starting a brawl in the mess hall, which is pretty much grounds for dishonourable discharge in a modern military. There's no sign of any punishment runs or the "drop and give me twenty, maggot!" so beloved of military fiction writers. And yet the cadets at Corbulo are considered to be the cream of the crop of the UNSC's officer corps and government personnel. Anyone who has Corbulo on his CV is probably sent right to the top of the promotions list. It seems to me that Corbulo was intended by leadership of the UNSC and UEG to "keep it in the family" and ensure their continued control of the government and military. It sounds awfully like the era of aristocratic dominance in European militaries and governments. Maybe Lasky's sympathies with the Insurrectionists aren't entirely misplaced...--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 11:46, 19 October 2012 (EDT)


 * This was the first thing that came into my mind after the first episode. Having a pro-UNSC poem above you while you sleep, propaganda posters everywhere, "From Earth, For Earth". Like you say, it does not do the UNSC any favours. The insurrectionists (apart from detonating nuclear devices in atmosphere) don't seem as bad as they did. But I guess this was what Admiral Cole wanted to end, in Impossible Life and Possible Death. --<font color="#2E8B57">Tent <font color="#3CB371">acle <font color="#DAA520">Torn <font color="#B8860B">ado  14:57, 19 October 2012 (EDT)


 * In the words of Roger Daltrey: "Meet the New Boss... Same as the Old Boss...". It's perhaps a lot less surprising when you look at it from the perspective that the UNSC sees itself as being largely responsible for Humanity getting as far into space as it has. They are the largest, most organized human presence in space by the 25th Century, and on into the 26th. As far as they're concerned, Humanity would still be stuck in its own solar system if not for them. For nearly 400 years, they've represented the presence of the Unified Earth Government throughout all of known space. In fact, after the war, they largely replaced the CAA's oversight of the Colonies (what few remained by that point anyway). From that perspective, it's not hard to see how an organization like that might not begin to resemble some other form(s) of past governments whose influence and structure was largely defined by their militaries. While it's not quite as bloodthirsty and jingoistic as, Heinlein's Terran Federation, the UEG (and, by extension, the UNSC) does seem to be built along a more militaristic style of government such as, say, that of the Roman Republic. The Republic lasted nearly 500 years (about a century longer than the UEG has been in existence by 2557) and had a long history of leaders whose political accomplishments were matched only by their military ones....Which makes the "Corbulo" reference that much more ironic (see my Topic above), given that Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo lived and died during the time of the Roman Empire, which came after, when the old-school views of patrician superiority were being eroded (if not crushed outright) and a new aristocracy was steadily rising up from out of the plebian classes. Indeed, Corbulo died as a direct result of Nero's "private" war against the patrician-controlled Senate, whom he saw as the most direct threat to his power. The UNSC chose Corbulo as their supposed role model of "Honor, Valor and Allegiance" for it's future military elite, because he unhesitatingly fell on his own sword when ordered to do so. The irony was that it was an emperor that gave the order. An emperor who was working to crush the established political/military upper-class that stubbornly clung to the power it had from the days of the Republic. The same sort of military upper class that the UNSC was trying to groom and develop at CAMS. Of course, if the UEG & UNSC were to acknowledge, or even perceive, any sort of similarity at all to previous forms of government, they would likely do so from the viewpoint that they were avoiding the mistakes of the past, rather than repeating them. DJenser 15:32, 19 October 2012 (EDT)
 * One imagines that the military and government have become so intertwined because of places like Corbulo that the two are virtually indistinguishable. Heinlein's Terran Federation was not as jingoistic and bloodthirsty as you suggest, DJenser, but the UNSC/UEG seems to be a civilisation designed along those lines taken to its logical extreme: Only those who "serve" or have served hold power. Perhaps it worked on Earth, where to quote Starship Troopers, "personal freedom for all is [the] greatest in history, laws are few, taxes are low, living standards are as high as productivity permits, crime is at its lowest ebb", but it most certainly did not work on the colonies.--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 17:11, 19 October 2012 (EDT)