Composer: Difference between revisions
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===Overview=== | ===Overview=== | ||
[[File:Composer Face Melt.jpeg|left|thumb|150px|The effects of composition on [[Sandra Tillson|Dr. Sandra Tillson]].]] | [[File:Composer Face Melt.jpeg|left|thumb|150px|The effects of composition on [[Sandra Tillson|Dr. Sandra Tillson]].]] | ||
The Composers were originally designed as a means by which to extract the mental pattern (commonly known as an essence) of a biological being of sufficient neural complexity and converting it into data by broadcasting high-energy fields of entangled sympathies. The process, which was not fully understood by even its Forerunner creators, utilized [[neural physics]], a science mastered by the [[Precursor]]s — one of select few Forerunner technologies to do so. According to the original design, the Composer would allow old Forerunners to transfer their essences into younger bodies or directly into the [[Domain]]'s vast realms of information.<ref name="wp composer"/>{{Ref/Note|''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' and Halo Waypoint's Universe entry describe the Composer's original function as granting the Forerunners immortality by transferring old essences into youthful bodies, implying that Forerunner medical science had not overcome senescence. According to ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' (page 47) along with a number of other references throughout ''The Forerunner Saga'', the Forerunners were functionally immortal given regular access to [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]], could remain youthful indefinitely and died only by accident or in battle. However, it is known that Forerunners could age under certain circumstances, even if such aging was unlikely to result in death: after 1,200 years of self-neglectful isolation, the [[Confirmer]]'s skin became mottled with bulging veins, his fur fell out, and his teeth fused together. The issue of Forerunner mortality by old age is not addressed when the Composer's origins are described in ''[[Halo: Silentium]]''. In ''Halo 4'' the Librarian states that the Composer would have made the Forerunners immortal, although this may be interpreted as ''true'' immortality and invulnerability to the Flood, as opposed to the [[Wikipedia:Biological immortality|biological immortality]] the Forerunners already enjoyed thanks to their use of body-assist armor.}} The technology was worked on in obscurity for centuries. In the latter days of the [[human-Forerunner wars]], after the Forerunners' first contacts with the [[Flood]], [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] took note of the Composers and planned to use the devices to cure the parasite's victims.<ref name="wp composer"/> The plan was to save those afflicted by the Flood by scanning their patterns and removing any traces of the Flood from the digital essence, which would then be imprinted on a new, artificially constructed biological body devoid of Flood infection. However, the process was highly flawed. In addition to being extremely painful to the individuals undergoing the process, all attempts to restore the essences to biological form failed as the artificial bodies would quickly decay and inevitably die.<ref name="string3"/> For this reason the Forerunners quickly abandoned the Composers after the first experiments.<ref name="pri271">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 271-272''</ref> | The Composers were originally designed as a means by which to extract the mental pattern (commonly known as an essence) of a biological being of sufficient neural complexity and converting it into data by broadcasting high-energy fields of entangled sympathies. The process, which was not fully understood by even its Forerunner creators, utilized [[neural physics]], a science mastered by the [[Precursor]]s — one of select few Forerunner technologies to do so. According to the original design, the Composer would allow old Forerunners to transfer their essences into younger bodies or directly into the [[Domain]]'s vast realms of information.<ref name="wp composer"/>{{Ref/Note|''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' and Halo Waypoint's Universe entry describe the Composer's original function as granting the Forerunners immortality by transferring old essences into youthful bodies, implying that Forerunner medical science had not overcome senescence. According to ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' (page 47) along with a number of other references throughout ''The Forerunner Saga'', the Forerunners were functionally immortal given regular access to [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]], could remain youthful indefinitely and died only by accident or in battle. However, it is known that Forerunners could age under certain circumstances, even if such aging was unlikely to result in death: after 1,200 years of self-neglectful isolation, the [[Confirmer]]'s skin became mottled with bulging veins, his fur fell out, and his teeth fused together. The issue of Forerunner mortality by old age is not addressed when the Composer's origins are described in ''[[Halo: Silentium]]''. In ''Halo 4'' the Librarian states that the Composer would have made the Forerunners immortal, although this may be interpreted as ''true'' immortality and invulnerability to the Flood, as opposed to the [[Wikipedia:Biological immortality|biological immortality]] the Forerunners already enjoyed thanks to their use of body-assist armor.}} The technology was worked on in obscurity for centuries. In the latter days of the [[human-Forerunner wars]], after the Forerunners' first contacts with the [[Flood]], [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] took note of the Composers and planned to use the devices to cure the parasite's victims.<ref name="wp composer"/> The plan was to save those afflicted by the Flood by scanning their patterns and removing any traces of the Flood from the digital essence, which would then be imprinted on a new, artificially constructed biological body devoid of Flood infection. However, the process was highly flawed. In addition to being extremely painful to the individuals undergoing the process, all attempts to restore the essences to biological form failed as the artificial bodies would quickly decay and inevitably die.<ref name="string3"/> For this reason the Forerunners quickly abandoned the Composers after the first experiments.<ref name="pri271">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 271-272''</ref>{{Ref/Note|Id=whole|In ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9]]'', the monitor [[859 Static Carillon]] indicates that the human essences composed in New Phoenix are being "added to the whole" in accordance with the original design for the Composer, introducing fear, rage, and confusion. This implies that composed patterns are uploaded to a central intelligence, though whether this applies solely to the Promethean Knights or to all who undergo composition is unclear. Nonetheless, the notion of composed essences being incorporated into a gestalt mind is not mentioned in prior media.}} | ||
The physical effects of the Composer on its targets are also violent: the device projected a beam of orange light which completely reduces the targeted individuals to ash in a rather gruesome manner, flaying their skin, muscle, and bones in an agonizing sequence. This is seemingly a byproduct of the machine's original design as a means to combat the Flood, allowing the complete destruction of infected biomass in a manner similar to certain Forerunner weapons designed to completely atomize their targets. The beam possesses the capability to process hundreds of thousands of targets in mere moments across enormous distances,<ref name="omega">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 263''</ref> such as composing targets on a planet's surface from an orbiting ship,<ref name="midnight">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> or those on the surface of an entire [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Omega Halo|installation]] in an instant.<ref name="omega"/> [[Forthencho|Forthencho, Lord of Admirals]], the supreme commander of all human forces and one of the humans to have their minds harvested, described the effects of the Composer as "strange, ever-changing" and "multiformed", as it was operated in that instance via intermediary [[Lifeworker]] machinery.<ref name="p235">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 235''</ref> | The physical effects of the Composer on its targets are also violent: the device projected a beam of orange light which completely reduces the targeted individuals to ash in a rather gruesome manner, flaying their skin, muscle, and bones in an agonizing sequence. This is seemingly a byproduct of the machine's original design as a means to combat the Flood, allowing the complete destruction of infected biomass in a manner similar to certain Forerunner weapons designed to completely atomize their targets. The beam possesses the capability to process hundreds of thousands of targets in mere moments across enormous distances,<ref name="omega">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 263''</ref> such as composing targets on a planet's surface from an orbiting ship,<ref name="midnight">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> or those on the surface of an entire [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Omega Halo|installation]] in an instant.<ref name="omega"/> [[Forthencho|Forthencho, Lord of Admirals]], the supreme commander of all human forces and one of the humans to have their minds harvested, described the effects of the Composer as "strange, ever-changing" and "multiformed", as it was operated in that instance via intermediary [[Lifeworker]] machinery.<ref name="p235">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 235''</ref> | ||
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===Immunization=== | ===Immunization=== | ||
The Composer does not work on all organic beings; certain individuals can, through genetic manipulation, become immune to its effects. After undergoing an experimental [[Forerunner mutation|mutation]] in a failed attempt to gain immunity to the Flood, the Ur-Didact's physiology became incompatible with the Composer,<ref name="h4terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''</ref> but even with his incompatible physiology, the Ur-Didact was composed by the firing of several Composers at the same time.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue 10]]''</ref><ref name="wp didact">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/didact '''Halo Waypoint - Universe''': ''Didact'']</ref> | The Composer does not work on all organic beings; certain individuals can, through genetic manipulation, become immune to its effects. After undergoing an experimental [[Forerunner mutation|mutation]] in a failed attempt to gain immunity to the Flood, the Ur-Didact's physiology became incompatible with the Composer,<ref name="h4terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''</ref> but even with his incompatible physiology, the Ur-Didact was composed by the firing of several Composers at the same time.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue 10]]''</ref><ref name="wp didact">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/didact '''Halo Waypoint - Universe''': ''Didact'']</ref>{{Ref/Note|In ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Terminal Five, the Didact claims the Composer would not work on his new form, and in the level [[Midnight]] is seen levitating himself within the Composer's active beam. It is possible that the Didact was merely resistant to the effects of the Composer, rather than completely immune, as the energy released by the overlapping pulses of five Composers would be orders of magnitude greater than the energy released by a single pulse. In the Library Edition of ''Halo: Escalation'', however, it's stated by Brian Reed that the Ur-Didact wasn't composed but the explosion did do something to him.}} Similarly, the ''[[geas]]'' the Librarian placed on humanity allowed [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] to develop a resistance to the Composer; this ability had to be activated and thus it does not automatically protect all humans from the device.<ref name="reclaimer">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
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[[File:Escalation - Composer's Forge Battle.png|thumb|250px|[[Blue Team]] and [[Promethean]]s battle in the [[Composer's Forge]].]] | [[File:Escalation - Composer's Forge Battle.png|thumb|250px|[[Blue Team]] and [[Promethean]]s battle in the [[Composer's Forge]].]] | ||
{{Main|Skirmish on Installation 03}} | {{Main|Skirmish on Installation 03}} | ||
Following the [[New Phoenix Incident]] the Didact was plunged to [[Installation 03]] through the Composer's slipspace portal. After killing a team of human scientists and their [[Black Team|Spartan escorts]], the Didact wished to seek revenge on Earth. Soon he encountered [[monitor]] [[859 Static Carillon]] at the [[Composer's Abyss]]. Recognizing the monitor as the keeper of the Composers, the Didact had Static Carillon show him [[slipspace portal|the entrance]] to the [[Composer's Forge]], where the Composers were constructed and maintained. Shortly after, [[Blue Team]] discovered the slipspace portal that led to the Forge. Upon entering the Spartans were shocked to discover six more Composers located inside the Forge. The Spartans were confronted by the Didact and a large firefight ensued, with numerous [[Promethean]] constructs backing up the Didact. | Following the [[New Phoenix Incident]] the Didact was plunged to [[Installation 03]] through the Composer's slipspace portal. After killing a team of human scientists and their [[Black Team|Spartan escorts]], the Didact wished to seek revenge on Earth. Soon he encountered [[monitor]] [[859 Static Carillon]] at the [[Composer's Abyss]]. Recognizing the monitor as the keeper of the Composers, the Didact had Static Carillon show him [[slipspace portal|the entrance]] to the [[Composer's Forge]], where the Composers were constructed and maintained. Shortly after, [[Blue Team]] discovered the slipspace portal that led to the Forge. Upon entering the Spartans were shocked to discover six more Composers located inside the Forge. The Spartans were confronted by the Didact and a large firefight ensued, with numerous [[Promethean]] constructs backing up the Didact.{{Ref/NoteReuse|whole}} Static Carillon had Gamma Halo appear over the Composer's Forge per his agreement with the Didact, who then took one of the six Composers and departed the Forge for the Halo. However, the monitor, feeling betrayed by the Didact because he broke his side of their bargain by creating more Prometheans, revealed to the Spartans that the Didact intended to use the Composer and the Halo to destroy humanity, starting with Earth. With Static Carillon's help Blue Team escaped the Composer's Forge and returned to Installation 03 through the Composer's Abyss.<ref name="HE9"/> | ||
Upon exiting the Abyss Blue Team witnessed the Didact positioning the Composer over the Halo. Intending to remove Blue Team as a threat the Didact attacked the Spartans.<ref name="HE9"/> While the Didact nearly defeated Blue Team, 859 Static Carillon ambushed him and teleported him away into the Halo's [[control room]], followed shortly by John who enabled the monitor to detach the segment of the Halo housing the control room, causing it to fall toward the Composer's Forge. The fragment impacted the Forge, destroying the five remaining Composers held there, but not before the Didact was subjected to their combined effects.<ref name="wp didact"/> While the Spartans returned to Earth Static Carillon took the now-incomplete Gamma Halo (and, evidently, the sole Composer still housed there) for repairs and safekeeping in an undisclosed location.<ref name="HE10">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #10]]''</ref> | Upon exiting the Abyss Blue Team witnessed the Didact positioning the Composer over the Halo. Intending to remove Blue Team as a threat the Didact attacked the Spartans.<ref name="HE9"/> While the Didact nearly defeated Blue Team, 859 Static Carillon ambushed him and teleported him away into the Halo's [[control room]], followed shortly by John who enabled the monitor to detach the segment of the Halo housing the control room, causing it to fall toward the Composer's Forge. The fragment impacted the Forge, destroying the five remaining Composers held there, but not before the Didact was subjected to their combined effects.<ref name="wp didact"/> While the Spartans returned to Earth Static Carillon took the now-incomplete Gamma Halo (and, evidently, the sole Composer still housed there) for repairs and safekeeping in an undisclosed location.<ref name="HE10">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #10]]''</ref> | ||
