unforum

[nil]

[Nova]

[nil]

thinking about this further, if the Flea DIDNT imersonate the SP (or her communication method), isn't that a precedent for it NOT impersonating SPDR's communication method?

/me should really register an account here

[GunsmithCat]

[krystyn]

SPDR was helping to repair the Queen. The coordinates may be locations of further resources to that end. Fireflies for her lantern.

[Knight Hawk]

This Spec is definitely on a very close track. But I think for us to fully understand the SPDR, like someone spec'ed before me, is to think of what the SPDR is.

Initial spec has guessed that the SPDR is the repair mechanism, that is made to repair the AI if it happens to be damaged. Someone in this thread is spec'ing that the SPDR is a tool responsible for enacting the Cole Protocol. I think that is more accurate than spec in previous threads. Melissa keeps remarking on how she cannot recall certain things or events, if the SPDR was repairing those memories, that may be vital to earth's protection, then the SPDR is probably made more to destroy Melissa's memories of earth's location more than it is made to repair her. I think we need to spec more on what System Peril Distribution Reflex means by simple analysis of diction.

I think that the SPDR is not just an anagram made so that the spider reference can be used, I think the names meaning is full out explaining what the SPDR is respsonsible for. When the System (Melissa) is in Peril (the covenant threat that was responsible for Melissa's ship crashing in the first place) the Reflex of the SPDR is to Distribute data where the System who is in danger of being captured cannot find it. Or to re-distribute the data to the viruses that are to infect the System in Peril of being captured to erase all data without the possibility of recovery. The SPDR might be a Cole Protocol virus. Sorry for the length of this post, don't have time to pay much attention to the boards since I am currently on vacation. But spec on my fellow gamers.

[krystyn]

So, it would follow that the coordinates are somehow part of the distribution?

[Nova]

[Astald]

I thought the SPDR already set of an alarm. Melissa spoke of it in her monologue:

[wargod22]

But if the SPDR is trying to enact the Cole Protocole, then why would it be trying to repair Melissa? Wouldn't SPDR want to erase and destroy Melissa instead in order so that the Covenent wouldnt' be able to cature and use her?

Is does the Cole Protocole only erase Earth's coordinates, or all information? Melissa seems to indicate that SDPR was repairing her, at the cost of her memories. I'm not sure that we know specifically what SDPR is exactly suppose to do.

[JimmyJames]

Going back to the subject of a virus, could it be that a virus was contained in the package that delivered the rest of the cast? If so, the virus program was most likely already intertwined in the code upon corruption. The SPDR, not being intelligent enough to discern the virus from the rest of the code, repaired it as well (at least mostly repaired it). The Virus then hijacked/infected the "dumbest" program avaialable, the Flea, as it was unable to identify the virus as a threat.

This would explain the information regarding the virus, the sudden increase in the Flea's abilities, and the Flea's contempt for the SPDR (as the SPDR would have identified the viral corruption of the Flea's programming as well as any attempts it makes to infect other programs).

If the virus is a Covenant, or "dumb", AI, it might/should have the ability to repair itself and/or increase it's knowledge base once it has reached a certain level of wholeness/consciousness.

Also, I had initially thought the Flea was a Trojan, but now I am thinking it may just be a shell, which contained all the support and data for the Melissa program.

However, while this may explain some of the backstory, it doesn't touch on the intent of the malevolent force at work here, which is really the big puzzle.

[GunsmithCat]

[Dorkmaster]

First consistently good thread I've seen in a while. Yes, we're being quite specific, but at least it's in a logical way! Yay!

Ok. I think Shad0 said it well, that the PMs want us to solve these puzzles, so they wouldn't necessarily make a decision only to confuse us. If the flea has used white-on-white text even when emulating SPDR's function, then we would hope that the PMs were not malevolent themselves (Microsoft? Malevolent? ... ... -Nah!) and would not intentionally confuse us with characters changing their "voices". It's possible, don't get me wrong, but not as likely, IMO. We may continually differ in that regard, however, and that's fine. I'm sure next update it will be sparkling clear anyway...

But I also see your point, GunsmithCat, that we have no proof that the flea cannot imitate SPDR's voice. So it's a coin flip.

However, I will spec on this: (and I will preface by saying I haven't been able to check the Wiki yet today, so forgive me if this is spec'd to all getout already)

I think prevailing theory is that the flea would make a lot of sense as Covenant tech. I also agree that the flea is not probably a smart, fully formed AI. It's definitely an autonomous program of some sort, but it's not an AI, since we have had no evidence that it's done anything but really mimic (no real original monologues or anything), and it's been described by the Princess as not able to read a book. So, let's assume it's some sort of Covenant (or otherwise malevolent) program? What is it trying to reveal? What is it trying to find about the Truth? Are we supposed to see Truth as a ship/vessel? Anyway, I know all of these theories are around, but what can we do with them together?

Anyway, my focus today will be remaining on the GPS puzzle... I think that's key to the next step, and I don't think we need to wait to figure out what that's about. I think we need to come together to figure it out... maybe ...

[GunsmithCat]