Spartan signals: Difference between revisions
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Decades of fighting against an increasingly adaptive enemy has forced the [[Spartans]] to develop shorthand communications system for use against the [[Covenant]]. Many of these ideas are known and understood by the Spartans only, even as well-guarded secrets. These also sometimes make normal conversations with the Spartans impossible, as they can do a great deal inside their [[MJOLNIR]] armor that is indistinguishable from the outside. | Decades of fighting against an increasingly adaptive enemy has forced the [[Spartans]] to develop shorthand communications system for use against the [[Covenant]]. Many of these ideas are known and understood by the Spartans only, even as well-guarded secrets. These also sometimes make normal conversations with the Spartans impossible, as they can do a great deal inside their [[MJOLNIR]] armor that is indistinguishable from the outside. | ||
==[[Spartan-II]] Terms== | ==[[Spartan-II]] Terms== | ||
===[[Oly Oly Oxen Free]]=== | ===[[Oly Oly Oxen Free]]=== | ||
''Oly Oly Oxen Free'' is the Spartans' best-kept secret. It is their all clear signal which virtually no non-Spartan knows; the only known surviving non-Spartans being Cortana (Master Chief's 'personal' AI) and Doctor Halsey ("programmed" the Spartans). [[Deja]] also knows it, as she taught this to them, though her fate is unknown as she was situated on the now conquered [[Reach]]. This allows them to use it with guarded impunity over the [[COM]] to make others aware of their presence, location, or as an all-clear signal. It is a simple seven note tune that can be whistled.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | ''Oly Oly Oxen Free'' is the Spartans' best-kept secret. It is their all clear signal which virtually no non-Spartan knows; the only known surviving non-Spartans being Cortana (Master Chief's 'personal' AI) and Doctor Halsey ("programmed" the Spartans). [[Deja]] also knows it, as she taught this to them, though her fate is unknown as she was situated on the now conquered [[Reach]]. This allows them to use it with guarded impunity over the [[COM]] to make others aware of their presence, location, or as an all-clear signal. It is a simple seven note tune that can be whistled.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 166</ref><ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref> | ||
It is this signal that Master Chief picks up on when he and his companions return to Reach after the events on Alpha Halo and discover that the Covenant didn't glass the entire planet.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]]</ref> | It is this signal that Master Chief picks up on when he and his companions return to Reach after the events on Alpha Halo and discover that the Covenant didn't [[Glassing|glass]] the entire planet.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]''</ref> | ||
===Spartan "Smile"=== | ===Spartan "Smile"=== | ||
Having grown up as soldiers, the Spartans kept their emotions to themselves, always controlling "bursts of emotion". The closest thing to an emotional symbol is the "Spartan smile," used in place of a smile. The Smile consists of a quick swipe of a smile across ones own faceplate or a teammates with one or two fingers. The former was usually used in place of the latter.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | Having grown up as soldiers, the Spartans kept their emotions to themselves, always controlling "bursts of emotion". The closest thing to an emotional symbol is the "Spartan smile," used in place of a smile. The Smile consists of a quick swipe of a smile across ones own faceplate or a teammates with one or two fingers. The former was usually used in place of the latter.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 268</ref> | ||
===Open COM=== | ===Open COM=== | ||
The Spartans signal to one another to open private COM frequencies by the flick of a finger. It is a move performed only in non combat situations, when the Spartans can pay attention to one another's movement. This way they can talk to one another without any external people hearing their conversation.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | The Spartans signal to one another to open private COM frequencies by the flick of a finger. It is a move performed only in non combat situations, when the Spartans can pay attention to one another's movement. This way they can talk to one another without any external people hearing their conversation.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' page 3</ref><ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 120</ref> | ||
==="Attention!"=== | ==="Attention!"=== | ||
The Spartans will click a COM channel twice to get the attention of their teammates if they need assistance. <ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | The Spartans will click a COM channel twice to get the attention of their teammates if they need assistance. <ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 16</ref>Recent improvements in Covenant sensor technology have made this gesture increasingly impractical, as Covenant will be made aware of a Spartan's location if that Spartan uses the COM in the presence of a Covenant Vehicle.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 314</ref> | ||
==="Relax"=== | ==="Relax"=== | ||
The Spartans sometimes console one another nonverbally with a simple bump or guesture of the shoulder. They have become used to their MJOLNIR armor, and so each move they make is deliberate. Hence, the gesture is easy to recognize and understand.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | The Spartans sometimes console one another nonverbally with a simple bump or guesture of the shoulder. They have become used to their MJOLNIR armor, and so each move they make is deliberate. Hence, the gesture is easy to recognize and understand.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 8</ref> | ||
==="Trouble Ahead..."=== | ==="Trouble Ahead..."=== | ||
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==="Inspect Armor"=== | ==="Inspect Armor"=== | ||
By making a circle in the air with one to two fingers to turn around, a Spartan signals that they want to visually inspect another Spartan's armor. Even if the computer diagnostics report everything as fine, Spartans don't take chances with their armor or any other machinery.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] | By making a circle in the air with one to two fingers to turn around, a Spartan signals that they want to visually inspect another Spartan's armor. Even if the computer diagnostics report everything as fine, Spartans don't take chances with their armor or any other machinery.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 299</ref> | ||
==="Come Forward"=== | ==="Come Forward"=== | ||
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==="Freeze"=== | ==="Freeze"=== | ||
Slowly making a fist signals to tell a [[Spartan]] team to freeze.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 206</ref> | Slowly making a fist signals to tell a [[Spartan]] team to freeze.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', page 206</ref> | ||
===The Finger=== | ===The Finger=== | ||
It has been noted in the book | It has been noted in the book ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' that Kelly makes "An ancient and arcane gesture with one finger" to the sentinels. This could possibly be the same as today's middle finger, since by [[2552]] standards it would be considered ancient. | ||
==[[Spartan-III]] terms== | ==[[Spartan-III]] terms== | ||