Cartographer: Difference between revisions

When activated, a Cartographer provides a real-time [[Holography|holographic]] map which can be used to navigate the massive expanse that is an installation, along with other relevant information such as pinpointing every room or location within the vast structure. The Cartographer facilities on the various Forerunner installations differ in layout and design, though the primary map rooms on the Halo installations are buried within large structures housing a network of compartments and rooms. Due to their significance, the Cartographers are protected by multiple security measures.<ref name="vis"/>

An [[artificial intelligence]] is able to interface with the Silent Cartographer and, for example, set [[navigation point]]s on the holographic projection.<ref name="vis"/> A [[Forerunner personal armor|Forerunner armor's]] personal [[ancilla]] was able to link with the Cartographer and provide packets of information on the installation's past activities directly into the wearer's brain.<ref name="sil243">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 243-244''</ref>

Like all installations involved with the Halos, the [[greater Ark]] possessed a Cartographer. During the final weeks of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], this facility was the site of an emergency meeting between the Forerunner military leaders before the imminent Flood [[Battle of the greater Ark|attack on the greater Ark]]. The commanders conferred in a circle within an enormous hologram of the Ark while updates on the installation's status were provided through their [[ancilla]]s.<ref name="sil243"/> [[Omega Halo]], the sole Halo ring present at the Ark at the time, was also projected in the hologram.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 248''</ref>

[[Installation 00]], the Ark, was home to several Cartographers.<ref name="log cartographer"/> One of the facilities was located on top of a massive spire structure, the map room itself lying in a wide open area giving a panoramic view over a massive waterfall and an ocean. Facing the desert on the other side, the Cartographer structure was protected by a large wall structure. Inside the wall was a deep chasm and an [[energy bridge]] allowing passage over it. A [[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal]] was located within the wall near the activation switch for the energy bridge. The interiors of this Cartographer shared many architectural similarities with [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]]'s Cartographer shaft, although the two are considerably different in general layout.<ref name="theark">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark]]''</ref>

Preceding the firing of the Halos in [[97,445 BCE]], the [[IsoDidact]] and [[343 Guilty Spark]] visited the Ark's Cartographer to review the preparations for the Halo Array's deployment.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 309''</ref> When the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and [[Sangheili]] forces landed on the Ark during the [[Battle of Installation 00]] in [[2552]], they were prevented access to the Cartographer by its exterior wall. After the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} landed nearby and deployed a convoy of multiple vehicles, [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Keyes]] suggested they go through the wall. The UNSC forces returned to the wall and with the assistance of [[343 Guilty Spark]], successfully passed through. The UNSC and the Sangheili breached the [[Covenant]]-held Cartographer with the aid of 343 Guilty Spark, and used the map facility to locate the [[Prophet of Truth]]. Though they were quickly driven off by attacking Covenant forces, the Cartographer revealed to Spark the existence of [[Installation 08]], a newly-constructed replacement for [[Installation 04|his own lost installation]].<ref name="theark"/>

Another one of the Ark's Cartographers, radically different in layout and design from the one encountered in 2552, was utilized by the [[Banished]] during their occupation of the Ark in [[2559]] to map out the megastructure and take control of its [[Teleportation grid|portal network]]. During the [[Second Ark Conflict]] between the Banished and the UNSC forces from the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, the latter assaulted and successfully took control of the Cartographer. From the Cartographer, Professor [[Ellen Anders]] learned of [[Atriox]]'s use of it to take control of the portal network,<ref name="The Cartographer">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Cartographer]]''</ref> leading to a successful mission to cripple Atriox's ability to use the network.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Lights Out]]''</ref> In addition, Anders learned about the Ark's weapons systems through the Cartographer.<ref name="The Cartographer" /> Isabel later used this information to have the ''Spirit of Fire's'' crew take over one of the Ark's [[particle cannon]]s to immobilize the Banished {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' and take down its shields as part of a plan to destroy the ship.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Hold the Line]]''</ref>

On [[2552#September|September 20, 2552]], [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and two squads of marines were ordered by [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] to secure the Cartographer so that they could locate Halo's control room. The soldiers landed on a Covenant-controlled beach, which they quickly captured. The Spartan soon entered the Cartographer facility, though it had been locked from within. After disabling the lock at a nearby security station, the Spartan accessed the Cartographer, learning the location of Installation 04's control room. The AI [[Cortana]] then requested that [[Carol Rawley|Flight Captain Carol "Foehammer" Rawley]] fly John-117 below ground to the control room, though they stopped at [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]].<ref name="HCE"/><ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page ???''</ref>