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Catherine Halsey: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|no=three|q1=We screen these subjects for certain genetic markers. Strength, agility, even predispositions for aggression and intellect. But we couldn’t remote test for everything. We don’t test for luck.|Catherine Halsey|q2=Luck? You believe in luck, Doctor?|Jacob Keyes|q3=Of course not. But we have one hundred and fifty test subjects to consider, and facilities and funding for only half that number. It’s a simple mathematical elimination, Lieutenant. That child was one of the lucky ones—either that or he is extraordinarily fast. Either way, he’s in.|Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey defends her peculiar means of testing [[John-117|John]].}}<ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> | {{Quote|no=three|q1=We screen these subjects for certain genetic markers. Strength, agility, even predispositions for aggression and intellect. But we couldn’t remote test for everything. We don’t test for luck.|Catherine Halsey|q2=Luck? You believe in luck, Doctor?|Jacob Keyes|q3=Of course not. But we have one hundred and fifty test subjects to consider, and facilities and funding for only half that number. It’s a simple mathematical elimination, Lieutenant. That child was one of the lucky ones—either that or he is extraordinarily fast. Either way, he’s in.|Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey defends her peculiar means of testing [[John-117|John]].}}<ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> | ||
[[File:FORAS HalseyKeyesHan.png|350px|right|thumb|It only took one brief encounter between Halsey and Keyes as they both came out of cryostasis for her to crystallize their roles and the rules of conduct, making him understand she was in charge despite being a [[civilian]].<ref name="HTFOR1"/>]] | [[File:FORAS HalseyKeyesHan.png|350px|right|thumb|It only took one brief encounter between Halsey and Keyes as they both came out of cryostasis for her to crystallize their roles and the rules of conduct, making him understand she was in charge despite being a [[civilian]].<ref name="HTFOR1"/>]] | ||
By [[2517#July|July 21, 2517]], Halsey had been provided with her own team, to which she delegated much of the responsibly for screening Outer Colonies candidates for SPARTAN-II.<ref name="HJ72117">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 21, 2517''</ref> She did this so it might be completed within a reasonable time frame and so that she could personally focus on processing those from a single region of space: [[FLEETCOM Sector Four|Sector 4]].<ref name="HJ72117"/> The children from this [[sector]] which met the criteria Halsey had identified in her original study had files assembled personally by her.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> In total, one hundred and fifty subjects were to be considered. The Spartan-II program had only been granted facilities and funding for half that number, however, so only seventy-five would ultimately be selected.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> And even then, an ONI representative reminded Halsey that not all would make it through the [[Project ASTER|augmentation procedures]] when the time came for that.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> Vice Admiral Stanforth had agreed to lend Halsey a [[diplomatic shuttle]] called the ''Han'', provided that she agreed to at least one naval officer accompanying her.<ref name="HTFOR1"/> Halsey was given free reign to choose her attaché and after reading through the file of one [[Lieutenant (disambiguation)|Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], she requested him based on his demonstrated ability to keep a secret. Keyes was then, without any explanation provided to him as to why, assigned to pilot the ''Han'', protect the doctor, and otherwise stay out of her way.<ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref><ref name="HJ72117"/> On July 21 Halsey wrote in her journal that she was considering recommending him for permanent reassignment to her staff.<ref name="HJ72117"/> The ''Han'' also came with its own dedicated artificial intelligence by the name of [[Toran]].<ref name="HJ72117"/> | By [[2517#July|July 21, 2517]], Halsey had been provided with her own team, to which she delegated much of the responsibly for screening Outer Colonies candidates for SPARTAN-II.<ref name="HJ72117">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 21, 2517''</ref> She did this so it might be completed within a reasonable time frame and so that she could personally focus on processing those from a single region of space: [[FLEETCOM Sector Four|Sector 4]].<ref name="HJ72117"/> The children from this [[sector]] which met the criteria Halsey had identified in her original study had files assembled personally by her.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> In total, one hundred and fifty subjects were to be considered. The Spartan-II program, of which Halsey was the chief scientist and administrative overseer, had only been granted facilities and funding for half that number, however, so only seventy-five would ultimately be selected.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> And even then, an ONI representative reminded Halsey that not all would make it through the [[Project ASTER|augmentation procedures]] when the time came for that.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> Vice Admiral Stanforth had agreed to lend Halsey a [[diplomatic shuttle]] called the ''Han'', provided that she agreed to at least one naval officer accompanying her.<ref name="HTFOR1"/> Halsey was given free reign to choose her attaché and after reading through the file of one [[Lieutenant (disambiguation)|Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], she requested him based on his demonstrated ability to keep a secret. Keyes was then, without any explanation provided to him as to why, assigned to pilot the ''Han'', protect the doctor, and otherwise stay out of her way.<ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref><ref name="HJ72117"/> On July 21 Halsey wrote in her journal that she was considering recommending him for permanent reassignment to her staff.<ref name="HJ72117"/> The ''Han'' also came with its own dedicated artificial intelligence by the name of [[Toran]].<ref name="HJ72117"/> | ||
Halsey was awakened from [[cryostasis]] alongside Keyes shortly after 0430 hours on [[2517#August|August 17]] while the ''[[Han]]'' was still in slipspace but set to emerge soon in the [[Eridanus system]].<ref name="HTFOR1"/> Giving not so much as an acknowledgement that they were both naked, Halsey simply climbed out of her tube and told the lieutenant to get cleaned up and dressed as she headed for the showers herself, making it clear to Keyes that she was in charge. Halsey was already strapped into the navigator's couch and on the bridge and tapping in commands across four keypads when he joined her soon thereafter. The doctor welcomed him and asked that he be seated at the communication station to monitor channels when they reentered normal space. She then had [[Toran]] provide her with [[astronavigation]] maps of the system and asked if any planets between their current position and [[Eridanus II]] could be used to pick up a [[Wikipedia:Gravity assist|gravitational boost]] to let them arrive sooner. Additionally, in rapid succession she had the A.I. begin to play [[Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto Number Three]], begin a preburn warmup cycle for their [[fusion engine]]s, and halt the rotation of the shuttle's central carousel section to conserve power. Toran obliged with each request and informed her they they would exiting slipspace in about five minutes, give or take three minutes. From the way Keyes was glancing at her, Halsey could tell he was impressed at her ability to put Toran through his paces so rigorously, so she asked if he had a question for her. In response he composed himself before inquiring as to the exactly what they were doing. Halsey told him that they were on a reconnaissance mission of sorts, as they were heading to Eridanus II in order to observe [[John-117|a child]] whom she hoped would only be the first of many. She suggested the junior lieutenant should just think of it as a UNSC-funded psychological study and then sternly told him that was exactly what he was to say it was to anyone who asked. The ''Han'' soon decelerated as it dropped out of slipspace near a gas giant and then began a hard burn, accelerating for sixty-seven seconds before arcing away from the planet. As soon as the boost was complete Toran informed the two humans that their [[Wikipedia:Estimated time of arrival|ETA]] was forty-three minutes and three seconds. At this, Halsey unlocked her harness and floated free. Just before they had dropped into normal space, Keyes had started to ask her if she knew how dangerous the Eridanus system was then and now she finally answered him in the affirmative. After stretching and strapping herself back into her couch, she reminded her escort that he was supposed to be monitoring their comms for that very reason. Catherine spent the next thirty minutes with her back to Keyes while she read over reports on her navigation screens. The Keyes eventually spoke up to candidly ask why he was there, and Halsey told him the truth about why she had selected him for the job. She also assured him that though he may have rather been on the {{UNSCShip|Magellan}} then, which now-rescinded orders had previously had him rotating to, the child they were traveling to observe could make all the difference for the ongoing struggle against the [[Insurrection]]. Once Toran announced they were approaching Eridanus II Halsey had him plot an atmospheric vector for the [[Luxor]] [[Luxor Spaceport|spaceport]] and ordered Keyes to make ready to land.<ref name="HTFOR1"/> | Halsey was awakened from [[cryostasis]] alongside Keyes shortly after 0430 hours on [[2517#August|August 17]] while the ''[[Han]]'' was still in slipspace but set to emerge soon in the [[Eridanus system]].<ref name="HTFOR1"/> Giving not so much as an acknowledgement that they were both naked, Halsey simply climbed out of her tube and told the lieutenant to get cleaned up and dressed as she headed for the showers herself, making it clear to Keyes that she was in charge. Halsey was already strapped into the navigator's couch and on the bridge and tapping in commands across four keypads when he joined her soon thereafter. The doctor welcomed him and asked that he be seated at the communication station to monitor channels when they reentered normal space. She then had [[Toran]] provide her with [[astronavigation]] maps of the system and asked if any planets between their current position and [[Eridanus II]] could be used to pick up a [[Wikipedia:Gravity assist|gravitational boost]] to let them arrive sooner. Additionally, in rapid succession she had the A.I. begin to play [[Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto Number Three]], begin a preburn warmup cycle for their [[fusion engine]]s, and halt the rotation of the shuttle's central carousel section to conserve power. Toran obliged with each request and informed her they they would exiting slipspace in about five minutes, give or take three minutes. From the way Keyes was glancing at her, Halsey could tell he was impressed at her ability to put Toran through his paces so rigorously, so she asked if he had a question for her. In response he composed himself before inquiring as to the exactly what they were doing. Halsey told him that they were on a reconnaissance mission of sorts, as they were heading to Eridanus II in order to observe [[John-117|a child]] whom she hoped would only be the first of many. She suggested the junior lieutenant should just think of it as a UNSC-funded psychological study and then sternly told him that was exactly what he was to say it was to anyone who asked. The ''Han'' soon decelerated as it dropped out of slipspace near a gas giant and then began a hard burn, accelerating for sixty-seven seconds before arcing away from the planet. As soon as the boost was complete Toran informed the two humans that their [[Wikipedia:Estimated time of arrival|ETA]] was forty-three minutes and three seconds. At this, Halsey unlocked her harness and floated free. Just before they had dropped into normal space, Keyes had started to ask her if she knew how dangerous the Eridanus system was then and now she finally answered him in the affirmative. After stretching and strapping herself back into her couch, she reminded her escort that he was supposed to be monitoring their comms for that very reason. Catherine spent the next thirty minutes with her back to Keyes while she read over reports on her navigation screens. The Keyes eventually spoke up to candidly ask why he was there, and Halsey told him the truth about why she had selected him for the job. She also assured him that though he may have rather been on the {{UNSCShip|Magellan}} then, which now-rescinded orders had previously had him rotating to, the child they were traveling to observe could make all the difference for the ongoing struggle against the [[Insurrection]]. Once Toran announced they were approaching Eridanus II Halsey had him plot an atmospheric vector for the [[Luxor]] [[Luxor Spaceport|spaceport]] and ordered Keyes to make ready to land.<ref name="HTFOR1"/> | ||
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Thirteen days later, on [[2526#April|April 28]], Halsey noted in her journal that Vice Admiral Stanforth had ordered she and others to repurpose everything to quell the [[Covenant]] threat and to refocus their research on wartime strategy.<ref name="HJ42826">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''April 28, 2526''</ref> She couldn't have agreed more, seeing as doing just that had been her idea to begin with, though she did sarcastically ask if the [[Insurrection]] would adhere to the policy as well. By this time Halsey had learned [[ONI]] [[ONI Section Two|Section Two]] had sent emissaries to leaders in the [[Outer Colonies]] to warn them of the Covenant and to make them offers of peace. Footage from the [[Battle of Bliss|glassing]] of [[Bliss]] generally convinced these leaders of the magnitude of the threat they all faced. In her journal Halsey wondered if the aliens might have solved their civil war—not a trade she would have made, but perhaps a small victory nonetheless.<ref name="HJ42826"/> On [[2526#May|May 3]] Catherine reviewed in her journal the distinctions between so-called "[[Smart AI|"smart"]] (volitional) and [[Dumb AI|"dumb"]] artificial intelligences and why the "smart" ones are susceptible to [[rampancy]].<ref name="HJ5326">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''May 3, 2526''</ref> She noted that she had devised new matrix strata with random-access optical couplers that could theoretically extend a volitional A.I.'s lifespan, though by exactly how much she was unsure. In simulations a randomly coupled matrix also boosted correlation effects such as accurate guessing. As volitional A.I.s were needed then more than ever to counter the Covenant threat, Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth|Stanforth]] had authorized a test run of Halsey's protocols. After leaving herself a reminder to investigate the polarization of topological [[Wikipedia:Soliton|soliton]] pulse transfers she concluded that day's writing by questioning whether she was playing the role of [[Wikipedia:God|God]] or mother in breeding life from non-life, or perhaps simply being beguiled by sentimental anthropomorphism.<ref name="HJ5326"/> | Thirteen days later, on [[2526#April|April 28]], Halsey noted in her journal that Vice Admiral Stanforth had ordered she and others to repurpose everything to quell the [[Covenant]] threat and to refocus their research on wartime strategy.<ref name="HJ42826">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''April 28, 2526''</ref> She couldn't have agreed more, seeing as doing just that had been her idea to begin with, though she did sarcastically ask if the [[Insurrection]] would adhere to the policy as well. By this time Halsey had learned [[ONI]] [[ONI Section Two|Section Two]] had sent emissaries to leaders in the [[Outer Colonies]] to warn them of the Covenant and to make them offers of peace. Footage from the [[Battle of Bliss|glassing]] of [[Bliss]] generally convinced these leaders of the magnitude of the threat they all faced. In her journal Halsey wondered if the aliens might have solved their civil war—not a trade she would have made, but perhaps a small victory nonetheless.<ref name="HJ42826"/> On [[2526#May|May 3]] Catherine reviewed in her journal the distinctions between so-called "[[Smart AI|"smart"]] (volitional) and [[Dumb AI|"dumb"]] artificial intelligences and why the "smart" ones are susceptible to [[rampancy]].<ref name="HJ5326">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''May 3, 2526''</ref> She noted that she had devised new matrix strata with random-access optical couplers that could theoretically extend a volitional A.I.'s lifespan, though by exactly how much she was unsure. In simulations a randomly coupled matrix also boosted correlation effects such as accurate guessing. As volitional A.I.s were needed then more than ever to counter the Covenant threat, Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth|Stanforth]] had authorized a test run of Halsey's protocols. After leaving herself a reminder to investigate the polarization of topological [[Wikipedia:Soliton|soliton]] pulse transfers she concluded that day's writing by questioning whether she was playing the role of [[Wikipedia:God|God]] or mother in breeding life from non-life, or perhaps simply being beguiled by sentimental anthropomorphism.<ref name="HJ5326"/> | ||
Near the start of May [[John-117]] told Halsey he suspected the Covenant had created a special Spartan-hunting unit based on encounters he'd had with [[Bloodstars|well-trained warriors]] in distinctive armor during Operation: SILENT STORM.<ref name="HO4">'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''Chapter 4''</ref> In response the doctor immediately distributed a list of precautions and procedures she wanted implemented whenever her Spartans were in a combat theater.<ref name="HO4"/> | Near the start of May [[John-117]] told Halsey he suspected the Covenant had created a special Spartan-hunting unit based on encounters he'd had with [[Bloodstars|well-trained warriors]] in distinctive armor during Operation: SILENT STORM.<ref name="HO4">'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''Chapter 4''</ref> In response the doctor immediately distributed a list of precautions and procedures she wanted implemented whenever her Spartans were in a combat theater. On [[2526#June|June 3]] [[Task Force Pantea]], a wolf pack of [[Battle Group X-Ray]], managed to knock out the shields and primary weapons of [[Steadfast Strike|a]] [[Covenant frigate]] and seemingly ground it on [[Netherop]]. At least a day later, it was determined that [[Blue Team]] would be deployed to the planet to aid an [[ONI]] salvage ship, the {{UNSCShip|Phyllis Wheatley}}, in an attempt to capture the enemy vessel. Halsey recorded a message for John-117 in which she acknowledged the entire situation was likely a trap but stated she wanted the Spartans to secure the alien ship anyway. A fully functional Covenant vessel could give the UNSC the knowledge needed to develop effective countermeasures. The doctor reminded him how important the [[kelguid|starholo]] recovered on [[Seoba]] had been to SILENT STORM and emphatically made clear that the downed frigate, dubbed the "''[[Steadfast Strike|Lucky Break]]''", was a thousand times more important before wishing him safe travels.<ref name="HO4"/> | ||
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On [[2526#June|June 12, 2526]], Halsey took part in a Court of Inquiry for the Master Chief following the events of the [[Battle of Netherop]]. Halsey disagreed with Admiral Cole's initial assessment of the operation, pointing out that it was clearly a trap likely meant to capture a Spartan, though they were able to get their hands on a personal shield generator of a type they'd never even seen before. When the [[Castoffs]] requested to go to [[Gao]], Halsey was so shocked she went so far as to slap a hand to her brow. However, after the two gave their word to the Master Chief, Admiral Cole agreed to the deal and the Court was dismissed.<ref name="Oblivion">'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''Epilogue''</ref> | |||
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