Deep-space artifact: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:34, March 18, 2022

The deep-space artifact is a Forerunner artifact that was discovered by the Prowler UNSC Apocalypso in late 2552, while the vessel was on patrol deep in Covenant space.^[1]

Physical description[edit]

The artifact is a squat cylinder that is roughly the size of a tire or suitcase. It has Braille-like triangles, lines, and dots set in the metal in an ordered, non-repeating pattern running around the rim like a tire tread. On the top center is a raised square approximately the size of a human palm. Some of the artifact is made of osmium while the rest of the material was unidentifiable by the crew of Apocalypso but it is known to be denser than Osmium.^[2]

Prior to its activation, it was letting off very faint, but complex, magnetic fields.^[2] After its activation, it let out one massive electromagnetic pulse that was strong enough to temporarily knock out all the communications equipment within the Solar System for seven seconds before changing into a series of oscillating pulses that grew steadily weaker.

Use[edit]

The object is activated by touching all the triangles, then all the lines, and then the dots, in that particular sequence.^[3] Its deactivation sequence is the exact opposite: dots, lines, triangles.^[4]

History[edit]

After a brief study of the artifact, Captain Greene feared that the Covenant had done something to their artificial intelligence construct, Melissa, and the ship headed back to Earth. Melissa was indeed affected by a hostile Covenant AI called the Seeker which desired any and all Forerunner-related data. The foreign AI used Melissa to influence a crew member named MacKaskill to fiddle with the artifact. When they exited Slipspace, the artifact let out an enormous electromagnetic pulse that neutralized all communications in the Solar system for seven seconds, caused the ship to crash in Lunar orbit, and fragmented Melissa. One piece of the AI landed in Jersey Morelli's home computer, and the other was also thrown back in time to the year 2004.

The artifact was taken to Chawla Base in Boston, Massachusetts for study. An ambitious Major Standish believed it to be Covenant technology and decided to take the glory and had the surviving crew hunted down and killed. This was noticed by one of Melissa's fragments, now named Durga, who was looking in on the Apocalypso's destruction. Durga led a vigilante group that broke into Chawla Base and turned off the artifact, using information acquired by her other fragment. The artifact let out another massive pulse, which closed the temporal anomaly and reunited the fragments.

Trivia[edit]

The artifact seems to resemble the weapons used by the Pfhor in the Marathon trilogy, which have a squat, cylindrical shape. In addition, Pfhor technology includes sets of triangles made with dots, which can be interpreted as Braille-like in shape and texture.
The name of the ship that discovered the artifact, Apocalypso, is most likely a foreshadowing or comedic name, considering what catastrophe was almost caused by this device.
Melissa speculated that the artifact may have been a remote control used to activate the Halo Array. Whether this is true or not is unknown.

List of appearances[edit]

i love bees (First appearance)

Sources[edit]

[1] ILB_Artifact.ogg

[phase-2] Phase 3 Memories

[3] ILB_The_truth.ogg

[4] ILB_Lockdown_lab.ogg

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{era|ILB}}
+{{Status|Canon}}
-{{cleanup}}
+The '''deep-space artifact''' is a [[Forerunner]] artifact that was discovered by the [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Apocalypso}} in late [[2552]], while the vessel was on patrol deep in [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] space.<ref>[[Media:ILB_Artifact.ogg|ILB_Artifact.ogg]]</ref>
-== Summary ==
+==Physical description==
+The artifact is a squat cylinder that is roughly the size of a tire or suitcase. It has Braille-like triangles, lines, and dots set in the metal in an ordered, non-repeating pattern running around the rim like a tire tread. On the top center is a raised square approximately the size of a [[human]] palm. Some of the artifact is made of [[Wikipedia:Osmium|osmium]] while the rest of the material was unidentifiable by the crew of ''Apocalypso'' but it is known to be denser than Osmium.<ref name="phase">[[Phase 3 Memories]]</ref>
-Some kind of artifact was discovered by the [[UNSC Apocalypso]] in late [[2552]]. It was on patrol deep in [[Covenant]] space.
+Prior to its activation, it was letting off very faint, but complex, magnetic fields.{{Ref/Reuse|phase}} After its activation, it let out one massive [[electromagnetic pulse]] that was strong enough to temporarily knock out all the communications equipment within the [[Sol system|Solar System]] for [[seven]] seconds before changing into a series of oscillating pulses that grew steadily weaker.
-The ship then headed back to [[Earth]] when [[Captain Greene]] feared that the Covenant had done something to their [[AI]], [[Melissa]]. When they exited [[Slipspace]] the artifact shattered their AI into fragments and sent them through Slipspace channels. One piece of the AI landed in Jersey Morelli's chatter, and the other was thrown back in time to the early 21st century.
+==Use==
-The artifact was taken to Chawla bade in Boston, MA, where it was discovered to be some kind of "magnetic field decay timer", like a countdown. So far, [[ONI]] thought it was a Covenant artifact, but it was later revealed to be [[Forerunner]] in origin.
+The object is activated by touching all the triangles, then all the lines, and then the dots, in that particular sequence.<ref>[[Media:ILB_The truth.ogg|ILB_The_truth.ogg]]</ref> Its deactivation sequence is the exact opposite: dots, lines, triangles.<ref>[[Media:ILB_Lockdown lab.ogg|ILB_Lockdown_lab.ogg]]</ref>
-In the story of [[I Love Bees]], the artifact is a cylinder roughly the size of a tire, with triangles, lines and dots running around the rim like a tire tread. It was discovered by the UNSC Apocalypso in late 2552, while on patrol deep in Covenant space.
+==History==
+After a brief study of the artifact, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Greene]] feared that the Covenant had done something to their [[artificial intelligence]] construct, [[Melissa (AI)|Melissa]], and the ship headed back to [[Earth]]. Melissa was indeed affected by a hostile Covenant AI called the [[Seeker (AI)|Seeker]] which desired any and all Forerunner-related data. The foreign AI used Melissa to influence a crew member named [[McKaskill|MacKaskill]] to fiddle with the artifact. When they exited [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]], the artifact let out an enormous electromagnetic pulse that neutralized all communications in the Solar system for [[seven]] seconds, caused the ship to crash in [[Luna]]r orbit, and fragmented Melissa. One piece of the AI landed in [[Jersey Morelli]]'s home computer, and the other was also thrown back in time to the year [[2004]].
-A crewman was influenced by Melissa to touch all the triangles, then all the lines, and then the dots, activating the artifact. The artifact sent out an enormous electromagnetic pulse that blew the ship out of Slipspace, caused it to crash in Lunar orbit and shut down all communications in the [[Solar System]] for roughly seven seconds.
+The artifact was taken to [[Chawla Base]] in [[Boston]], [[Wikipedia:Massachusetts|Massachusetts]] for study. An ambitious [[Major]] [[Standish]] believed it to be Covenant technology and decided to take the glory and had the surviving crew hunted down and killed. This was noticed by one of Melissa's fragments, now named [[Durga]], who was looking in on the ''Apocalypso''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s destruction. Durga led a [[Team Jersey|vigilante group]] that broke into Chawla Base and turned off the artifact, using information acquired by her [[Operator|other fragment]]. The artifact let out another massive pulse, which closed the temporal anomaly and reunited the fragments.
-The artifact was taken to Chawla Base in Boston, MA for study. It was discovered to be sending out an oscillating pulse that grew steadily weaker; it was decided to be a countdown. So far, ONI thought it was a Covenant artifact but after the report from the [[Pillar of Autumn]] came, it was revealed to be Forerunner in origin.
-A vigilante group led by Melissa broke into Chawla Base and turned off the artifact by touching the symbols in the reverse order. The artifact sent out another massive pulse, and turned off. Unfortunately, this attracted the Covenant's attention.
+==Trivia==
+*The artifact seems to resemble the weapons used by the [[marathongame:Pfhor (Race)|Pfhor]] in the ''[[Marathon|Marathon trilogy]]'', which have a squat, cylindrical shape. In addition, Pfhor technology includes sets of triangles made with dots, which can be interpreted as Braille-like in shape and texture.
+*The name of the ship that discovered the artifact, ''Apocalypso'', is most likely a foreshadowing or comedic name, considering what catastrophe was almost caused by this device.
+*Melissa speculated that the artifact may have been a remote control used to activate the Halo Array. Whether this is true or not is unknown.
-The artifact is likely 4orty 2wo's interpretation of [[The Ark]], but others theorize that it is a long-term energy collector.
+==List of appearances==
+*''[[i love bees]]'' {{1st}}
+==Sources==
+{{Ref/Sources}}
+{{Forerunner|artifacts}}
 [[Category:I Love Bees]]
-[[Category:The Forerunner]]
+[[Category:Forerunner artifacts]]
-[[Category:Forerunner Artifacts]]