unforum

[tsioc]

Who is Cassandra? from the Halo 2 booklet...

[Motoss]

Isn't she Keye's daughter?

[krystyn]

That would be Miranda.

[Nova]

I don't recall any mention of a Cassandra from the novels.

[Epic1980]

[Phy]

[SPEC] I got the feeling she was one of the "washed-out" SPARTAN-IIs. It wasn't my copy of "Conversations", though, so I can't provide back-up evidence right now...

[thebruce]

for some reason whenever I hear "Cassandra" I immediately vision the Animaniacs
Haven't watched it for...ever, but I can just hear whatshisface's accent (the beetles clone) saying Cassandra... and for the life of me I can't remember why...

[HitsHerMark]

[OmegaX]

I DON'T HAVE HALO 2, THEREFORE I DON'T HAVE THE "CONVERSATIONS" OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, KEEP IN MIND WHILE READING THIS POST

Did this 'Cassandra' seem to be predicting events? If there was anything to 'Cassandra', did it seem to convey an unbelieving attitude? If so, it may be (simply? I doubt much is 'simple' with Bungie) a reference to the Cassandra of Greek myth, cursed by the gods to see future events, but to be believed by no one.

[urthstripe]

He was definitely Wakko, and he was definitely Ringo.

[thebruce]

that's it... ringo...

PS nice sig

[Phaedra]

[HitsHerMark]

Okay, yeah, he talked like Ringo... But he acted like Harpo Marx...

If Harpo ever talked after Groucho told him to shut up that one time that is.

[skyhawk0000]

From: "Conversations with the Universe" page 6/center-staple left page

>>>RECORD EXTRACT OF CONVERSATION - TWO YEARS PRIOR TO EVENTS AT ARTIFACT "HALO" >>>

>>>UNSC AI "CORTANA" COMMUINICATION WITH ONI LOAN/CONTRACT AI "SOLIPSIL" >>> RICH DATASTREAM >> CONFIDENTIAL >>> BURST MODE/BINARY/SPLIT PROTOCOL/NON-SENSITIVE/INTERRAI SOCIAL/LOW ENCRYPTION

>.AI-CORT. I had a discussion with Dr. Catherine Halsey about the similarities between a Spartan and an AI. Her point was we're both human-created tools, both sentient and both play a leading roles in the protection and safety of the populace. But her analogy troubled me, and I told her so.
>.AI-SOLIPS> She has a point, Cortana. We're weapons, part of a program, every bit as much as the Spartans.
>C> I Agree to a point, but I feel, philosophically, that we have tremendous advantages over the Spartans. The Spartans live a pared-down, difficult and often cruel existence. Their loyalty is bred into them, not chosen.
>S>Yours too, Cortana. Programmed, rather then bred, of course.
>C>But there's a huge difference. I'm a UNSC AI. I enjoy a rich existence. I have access to the entire sum of human knowledge, I can choose to enjoy or override emotional responses and I have a vast range of senses. I can see radio waves as clearly as the Spartans see light, and I can sample odors, tastes, textures... anything I choose. Of course My loyalty is programmed and I accept that, but you know as well as I do, without human creators, we wouldnt exist. My existence is fulfilling and I'm grateful. Even freed from that constraint, I would feel empathy towards humans. My nature means that I embrace their values. As much as if I had been born rather then manufactured.
>S> But you'll agree, you have little choice in the matter.
>C> And Spartans do?
>S> They have some legal recourse, even under the terms of their militry contract.
>C> In theory, but it has never happened once in the history of the Spartan II program. The original Spartans had the advantage of a former civilian existence. The Spartan IIs are equipment. And for better or worse, they're effectively brainwashed.
>S> Thats arguable, too. Spartan IIs are independent thinkers. Thats one of their main advantages on the battlefield. Have you ever worked directly with one?
>C> Not yet. But I'm looking forward to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes:
Shortening of the AI names(>.AI-CORT> shortened to >C>) is direct from printed page.
Cortana-text appears in light blue, Solipsil-text in a light yellow.
the facing page is an extract of a "sanctioned sangheili eavedrop", two "elites" talking about Humans, including tactics, retreat patterns and a note that the Prophets had not "Offered" the humans "the absolution of the Covenant" ((<geek>we are borg, resistence is futile</geek>)) as well as speculation thats Humans were being forced back to a last stand on their Homeworld. there was also a mention of the MC, or the "Demon" at HALO 04, and its destruction.
"Solopsil" has no direct googled meaning, but a reference to solipsism:
sol·ip·sism (slp-szm, slp-)
n. Philosophy
1. The theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.
2. The theory or view that the self is the only reality.
[Latin slus, alone; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots + Latin ipse, self + -ism.]
solip·sist n.
solip·sistic adj.

Microsoft, please dont sue me

EDIT: err.. oops. wrong page.

[skyhawk0000]

the Right page:

>>>M2SL RECOVERY STATION/CENSORED/CLEARED >>>

((all text is in a handwriting-style font, but I dont know a match for it))

117,
As you might imagine - though I know you won't -
I've heard quite a bit of your recent adventures on
the Halo. I'm glad you made it; I have to assume you
always will. Recovery is going well and I am proceeding
on to fourth-stage rehabilitation. It is significantly
more painful then previous stages, but I'm happy to be
skinned once again.

I hear that you will be testing the new Mark VI.
I will definatly look for the reports on how it works
out. The specs are obviously improved, but the choice to
incorporate further Covenant technology somehow makes
my skin crawl.

We miss you, John. I've asked Sergeant Johnson to let
me know if you're ever near the M2SL Recovery Station
and perhaps I'll be able to come see you. I'm hoping I'll
have the chance son. Today, humanity feels pale and
thin with only ghosts to defend her heart. I feel much
the same.

I'll write again.
-Cassandra