Cortana: Difference between revisions
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
Cortana was created specifically for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] mission to capture a [[Covenant]] ship and kidnap a high-ranking member of the Covenant hierarchy. She was to serve as the Spartans' codebreaker, hacker and intelligence lead in the mission. As a result, an exceptionally intelligent human brain was needed to create the required AI construct. Dr. Catherine Halsey ultimately decided that she, herself, would be the best possible brain donor for the operation. Under normal circumstances, the brain donor for an AI construct must be deceased, as the organ itself is destroyed in the [[Cognitive Impression Modeling]] process. Halsey's ingenious (and highly illegal) solution was to have her brain [[Flash cloning|flash cloned]] for the procedure. Twenty brains were tank-grown in clone bodies with enhanced neural physiology but lacking most normal bodily functions, leaving them severely misshapen. Halsey then extracted the brains and incinerated the bodily shells they were grown in. Most of the cloned brains had imperfections and had to be discarded; only one specimen was sufficiently developed for AI creation. This brain, designated as H-1, was used to create Cortana. Halsey placed the three other remaining specimens, H-2, H-3 and H-4, into cryogenic suspension for potential future use.<ref name="ReachLE"/> | Cortana was created specifically for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] mission to capture a [[Covenant]] ship and kidnap a high-ranking member of the Covenant hierarchy. She was to serve as the Spartans' codebreaker, hacker and intelligence lead in the mission. As a result, an exceptionally intelligent human brain was needed to create the required AI construct. Dr. Catherine Halsey ultimately decided that she, herself, would be the best possible brain donor for the operation. Under normal circumstances, the brain donor for an AI construct must be deceased, as the organ itself is destroyed in the [[Cognitive Impression Modeling]] process. Halsey's ingenious (and highly illegal) solution was to have her brain [[Flash cloning|flash cloned]] for the procedure. Twenty brains were tank-grown in clone bodies with enhanced neural physiology but lacking most normal bodily functions, leaving them severely misshapen. Halsey then extracted the brains and incinerated the bodily shells they were grown in. Most of the cloned brains had imperfections and had to be discarded; only one specimen was sufficiently developed for AI creation. This brain, designated as H-1, was used to create Cortana. Halsey placed the three other remaining specimens, H-2, H-3 and H-4, into cryogenic suspension for potential future use.<ref name="ReachLE"/> | ||
Cortana's first words | Cortana's first words were the Italian phrase, "Quando il gioco è finito, il re e il pedone vanno nella stessa scatola ('When the game is over, the king and the pawn go in the same box')." This phrase was spoken by Halsey's mother after their first game of [[Toy|chess]].<ref name="ReachLE"/> The newborn AI chose the name "Cortana" herself, and although Halsey did not tell Cortana that she had planted a standard viral termination code in her software, Halsey speculated that Cortana had already isolated and bypassed the code without her knowing.<ref name="ReachLE"/> Cortana spent the first three years of her life residing in the computers of [[CASTLE Base]], often accompanying Dr. Halsey in her work. Halsey enjoyed Cortana's presence, both due to her useful skill and her personality. While smart AI are not carbon copies of their 'parents', Cortana chose a young representation of Halsey to act as her physical avatar, while also retaining some of Halsey's mannerisms. In Fall [[2552]], in preparation for RED FLAG, Cortana was asked by Dr. Halsey to pick a soldier that would act as her "carrier". Cortana chose John-117 for their neural compatibility, as well as his uncanny luck in battle. In her personal thoughts, Cortana considered him "attractive in a primitive animal sort of way".<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 236''</ref> | ||
===Fragmentation and fateful meeting=== | ===Fragmentation and fateful meeting=== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
On August 29, 2552, NOBLE Team arrived at Sword Base under pretense orders of a "torch-and-burn" operation to destroy SWORD Base, being informed only at the last minute that their real mission was to deliver an [[armored matrix]] containing Cortana's fragment and the artifact's data to the ''Pillar of Autumn'', which had docked at the [[Aszod ship breaking yards]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''' campaign level ''[[The Package]]''</ref> By this time, the decryption had been completed and responsibility of the Package was turned over to Noble Six. Although nearly every member of NOBLE tasked with the delivery was killed in the process, Cortana was successfully brought to the ship, with Captain Keyes collecting the Package personally. SPARTAN-B312 sacrificed refuge on the ''Autumn'' to cover the ship's escape and Cortana's two fragments were reunited once the ''Autumn'' took off.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''' campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref> | On August 29, 2552, NOBLE Team arrived at Sword Base under pretense orders of a "torch-and-burn" operation to destroy SWORD Base, being informed only at the last minute that their real mission was to deliver an [[armored matrix]] containing Cortana's fragment and the artifact's data to the ''Pillar of Autumn'', which had docked at the [[Aszod ship breaking yards]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''' campaign level ''[[The Package]]''</ref> By this time, the decryption had been completed and responsibility of the Package was turned over to Noble Six. Although nearly every member of NOBLE tasked with the delivery was killed in the process, Cortana was successfully brought to the ship, with Captain Keyes collecting the Package personally. SPARTAN-B312 sacrificed refuge on the ''Autumn'' to cover the ship's escape and Cortana's two fragments were reunited once the ''Autumn'' took off.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''' campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref> | ||
During the battle, Cortana excelled in her capabilities as an onboard AI, managing to maneuver the ''Autumn'' through an [[asteroid]] field upon the appearance of a [[Covenant carrier]], destroying the enemy vessel with little effort.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 328''</ref> Cortana also assisted Captain Keyes in destroying a dangerous, [[Unidentified Covenant warship|theretofore unknown Covenant warship]], which had | During the battle, Cortana excelled in her capabilities as an onboard AI, managing to maneuver the ''Autumn'' through an [[asteroid]] field upon the appearance of a [[Covenant carrier]], destroying the enemy vessel with little effort.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 328''</ref> Cortana also assisted Captain Keyes in destroying a dangerous, [[Unidentified Covenant warship|theretofore unknown Covenant warship]], which had wreaked havoc upon the defending UNSC [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|fleet]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 364''</ref> However, the Covenant destroyed Reach's [[orbital defense generator]]s, and began [[glassing]] the planet as they had done countless times before.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 372''</ref> The ''Autumn'' was eventually forced to flee the burning planet, jumping to a random location as per the [[Cole Protocol]]. However, Cortana secretly inserted coordinates translated from symbols on [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|a rock]] that [[Blue Team]] discovered on [[Sigma Octanus IV]], in addition to coordinates extracted from the [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|Forerunner installation]] at the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]] beneath [[SWORD Base]], believing them to be of great significance to the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 376''</ref> | ||
===Battle of Installation 04=== | ===Battle of Installation 04=== | ||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
[[File:TwoBetrayalsAnniversary.png|250px|thumb|Cortana in Halo's computer systems clashing with 343 Guilty Spark, with the Chief caught between them]] | [[File:TwoBetrayalsAnniversary.png|250px|thumb|Cortana in Halo's computer systems clashing with 343 Guilty Spark, with the Chief caught between them]] | ||
After the Chief encountered the parasitic [[Flood]] for the first time, he was convinced by the [[Forerunner]] [[monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] to activate the Halo. During this time, Cortana absorbed as much data as she could from Halo's control systems. When John returned to the control room accompanied by the Monitor on September 21, he had recovered Halo's [[activation index]], intent on using it to eliminate the Flood. John inserted the Index into the control systems, but was stopped by Cortana before it could trigger. Cortana absorbed all data | After the Chief encountered the parasitic [[Flood]] for the first time, he was convinced by the [[Forerunner]] [[monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] to activate the Halo. During this time, Cortana absorbed as much data as she could from Halo's control systems. When John returned to the control room accompanied by the Monitor on September 21, he had recovered Halo's [[activation index]], intent on using it to eliminate the Flood. John inserted the Index into the control systems, but was stopped by Cortana before it could trigger. Cortana absorbed all data from the Index, and explained to John the true purpose of Halo; to wipe the galaxy clean of sentient life as a final resort against the Flood. Guilty Spark confirmed this and summoned his [[Sentinel]]s, demanding that Cortana be handed over. When John refused, Spark left his Sentinels to eliminate them. The two escaped the control room as the Flood began to run rampant across the ring, infecting human and Covenant alike. Cortana suggested that they should overload Halo's three [[phase pulse generator]]s to slow the Monitor's activities. While the generators were disabled by John, Cortana discovered that the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was still structurally intact after its crash. She deduced that overloading its fusion reactors would have enough force to destroy Halo, however Captain Keyes' [[command neural interface|CNI]] transponders would be needed to do so. Cortana tapped into the Monitor's teleportation network and transported both herself and John to Keyes' last known position - the ''Truth and Reconciliation''.<ref name="betrayals">'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]''</ref> | ||
By the time John and Cortana arrived at the ''Truth and Reconciliation'' the vessel was under attack by the Flood, and was severely damaged. Immediately upon arrival, the pair | By the time John and Cortana arrived at the ''Truth and Reconciliation'' the vessel was under attack by the Flood, and was severely damaged. Immediately upon arrival, the pair was contacted by Keyes, who weakly ordered them to leave him. After intense fighting within the ship, Cortana observed that the Flood gathered bodies of the dead for use as biomass. As Covenant forces made an attempt to retake the ship the pair was again contacted by Keyes, who repeated his order to leave him behind. Cortana was desperate to rescue Keyes, stating that the Captain was delirious from pain. Finding the source of Keyes' transmissions on the ship's bridge, the two were met with a gruesome sight - Keyes had been infected and assimilated into a [[Proto-Gravemind]]. In order to complete their objective and spare the Captain needless pain, John retrieved Keyes' CNI transponders, killing him in the process. The pair escaped the ship in a Banshee, and headed towards the crashed ''Pillar of Autumn''.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' campaign level ''[[Keyes]]''</ref> | ||
[[File:CEAJC.jpg|250px|thumb|left|John and Cortana on the bridge of the wrecked ''Pillar of Autumn'']] | [[File:CEAJC.jpg|250px|thumb|left|John and Cortana on the bridge of the wrecked ''Pillar of Autumn'']] | ||
| Line 81: | Line 81: | ||
The ''Ascendant Justice'' was effectively fused with the {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}}. It was at this point that Cortana learned of a planned Covenant assault on Earth. The Master Chief, along with SPARTAN Blue Team and a patchwork software copy of Cortana, would later execute [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 287''</ref> | The ''Ascendant Justice'' was effectively fused with the {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}}. It was at this point that Cortana learned of a planned Covenant assault on Earth. The Master Chief, along with SPARTAN Blue Team and a patchwork software copy of Cortana, would later execute [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 287''</ref> | ||
Unfortunately, the Covenant AI that Cortana had decompiled had managed to, prior to its capture, send a message over [[Covenant battle network|battlenet]], warning the Covenant of its capture and sending the necessary calculations for a sub-atmospheric slipspace jump. This information was later used by the [[Prophet of Regret]] to enter | Unfortunately, the Covenant AI that Cortana had decompiled had managed to, prior to its capture, send a message over [[Covenant battle network|battlenet]], warning the Covenant of its capture and sending the necessary calculations for a sub-atmospheric slipspace jump. This information was later used by the [[Prophet of Regret]] to enter slipspace right above [[New Mombasa]] during the [[Battle of Mombasa]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 110''</ref> | ||
The Master Chief and Cortana would later return to Earth, at which point Cortana handed all of the sensitive data in her possession over to ONI. However, Cortana retained the Index and apparently still possessed some data on the Halo network, including critical information on the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. | The Master Chief and Cortana would later return to Earth, at which point Cortana handed all of the sensitive data in her possession over to ONI. However, Cortana retained the Index and apparently still possessed some data on the Halo network, including critical information on the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. | ||
| Line 166: | Line 166: | ||
Cortana's personal loyalty is regarded as unwavering, but as an AI construct she is subject to corruption and rampancy. Near the close of the Human-Covenant War, she was captured by the Flood Gravemind on High Charity, and was continually assaulted and interrogated by the Gravemind. Her stability was pushed to the brink as she eluded the Gravemind's attempts to capture and dissect her for information. Among the Gravemind's favorite tactics were exploiting Cortana's insatiable desire for knowledge, the nature of her artificial existence, and providing her glimpses of thoughts and feelings from humans absorbed into the Flood collective. In order to preserve herself from destruction and possibly gain information for the UNSC, she eventually consented to give up some pieces of information to the Gravemind. Her personal loyalty to and unwavering trust in John-117 helped anchor her and allow her to hold on to her sanity. She was instrumental in finally putting a stop to the Flood during the events that followed. | Cortana's personal loyalty is regarded as unwavering, but as an AI construct she is subject to corruption and rampancy. Near the close of the Human-Covenant War, she was captured by the Flood Gravemind on High Charity, and was continually assaulted and interrogated by the Gravemind. Her stability was pushed to the brink as she eluded the Gravemind's attempts to capture and dissect her for information. Among the Gravemind's favorite tactics were exploiting Cortana's insatiable desire for knowledge, the nature of her artificial existence, and providing her glimpses of thoughts and feelings from humans absorbed into the Flood collective. In order to preserve herself from destruction and possibly gain information for the UNSC, she eventually consented to give up some pieces of information to the Gravemind. Her personal loyalty to and unwavering trust in John-117 helped anchor her and allow her to hold on to her sanity. She was instrumental in finally putting a stop to the Flood during the events that followed. | ||
Cortana seems to share some of her creator's memories, thoughts, opinions. When she was asked by Dr. Halsey to pick a "carrier", Cortana chose John-117 for their neural compatibility. She is not only a facsimile of Dr. Halsey's mind, but her avatar is also a replica of her physical form, albeit at a younger age. However, Cortana was torn over the morality of the SPARTAN-II project, vowing to protect John-117 from any future threats. This was decisively demonstrated when Cortana set out to ruin the career and reputation of Colonel James Ackerson for his attempted killing of John during a training exercise. | Cortana seems to share some of her creator's memories, thoughts, and opinions. When she was asked by Dr. Halsey to pick a "carrier", Cortana chose John-117 for their neural compatibility. She is not only a facsimile of Dr. Halsey's mind, but her avatar is also a replica of her physical form, albeit at a younger age. However, Cortana was torn over the morality of the SPARTAN-II project, vowing to protect John-117 from any future threats. This was decisively demonstrated when Cortana set out to ruin the career and reputation of Colonel James Ackerson for his attempted killing of John during a training exercise. | ||
===Relationship with John-117=== | ===Relationship with John-117=== | ||
| Line 201: | Line 201: | ||
One of Cortana's most unique abilities is her ability to create "clones" of herself, which she learned from a Covenant AI she captured and dissected. She can create multiple runtimes of herself to carry out different tasks simultaneously, and can control the level of intelligence and the number of abilities of each clone. Cortana once created a clone of herself that contained copies of her decryption and translation software, and set it to interface with a Forerunner data terminal on Reach. Later, she was reunited with this copy, and assimilated the information that it had gathered. She and Halsey were able to achieve a similar feat through a "Solomonic solution", which instead divided her into individual copies, rather than cloning. Cortana was able to create a clone to help with [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]], this clone ultimately made more clones that multiplied into numbers in the hundreds. Cortana later created clones made out of her rampant parts to overwhelm the system of ''[[Mantle's Approach]].'' This seemed to relieve her rampancy a bit, but she was clearly in pain afterwards. | One of Cortana's most unique abilities is her ability to create "clones" of herself, which she learned from a Covenant AI she captured and dissected. She can create multiple runtimes of herself to carry out different tasks simultaneously, and can control the level of intelligence and the number of abilities of each clone. Cortana once created a clone of herself that contained copies of her decryption and translation software, and set it to interface with a Forerunner data terminal on Reach. Later, she was reunited with this copy, and assimilated the information that it had gathered. She and Halsey were able to achieve a similar feat through a "Solomonic solution", which instead divided her into individual copies, rather than cloning. Cortana was able to create a clone to help with [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]], this clone ultimately made more clones that multiplied into numbers in the hundreds. Cortana later created clones made out of her rampant parts to overwhelm the system of ''[[Mantle's Approach]].'' This seemed to relieve her rampancy a bit, but she was clearly in pain afterwards. | ||
Cortana is capable of linking her consciousness with a SPARTAN-II through the Spartan's armor and neural interface, allowing her to enhance the performance of the armor and communicate directly to the Spartan's mind. Doing so is described as "cold mercury" seeping through the Spartan's brain, and brings their reaction time to near-instanteous limits, though she | Cortana is capable of linking her consciousness with a SPARTAN-II through the Spartan's armor and neural interface, allowing her to enhance the performance of the armor and communicate directly to the Spartan's mind. Doing so is described as "cold mercury" seeping through the Spartan's brain, and brings their reaction time to near-instanteous limits, though she cannot block thoughts or force control of the Spartan's body. She has displayed this capability extensively during her time serving with John-117. Although this is not necessarily an ability exclusive to Cortana, her neural link with John-117 marked the first time that a "Smart" AI had joined minds with a human (as noted by the [[Assembly]] in 2552). | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
