unforum

[vortech]

[finite]

I think your definitions of a protectorate would fit better with the theory anyways, if East africat is under UNSC (or something similar) protection that could explain why the artifact may be there instead of in the US.

[princeofthesword]

First Strike info

[finite]

As far as I can see it there are a limited number of ways that the covenent can learn of earth.

1. A traitor tells ths covenent
2. A breach in the cole protocol
3. A covenent tracking device
4. Forrunner knowledge being either
a. They can home in on any forrunner artifact
b. A forrunner artifact they have found recently points to earth
5. Your idea- They knew it all along

1. Unlikely because we don't evern speak the same language, and there is no motivation to do so for anyone. It cannot be compared to historical examples because there was always a reson for the turnvoat to turn (money, power, etc.) none of those would appl to the human-covenent war.

2. I doubt it. The only breach of the cole protocol (Correct me if I'm wrong) is immediately after the fall of reach, by which time the covenent allready knew the location of earth. It is possible that they found out via the appocolypso, but since there were (presumably) no covenent in the area they found the artifact to follow them.

3. Possible, they used it to find Reach.

4. a. Again possible, bungie's covenent primer says many of the assimilated races were assimilted because of artifacts on their homeworlds. This may suggest that the covenent knows how to find the artifacts. Also, we know the prophets devote much of their efforts towards finding forrunner things, so you'd think they would be good at it.
b. A possibility- no specific evidence for or against

5. I don't think so- We know they didnt know the location of reach, and that wasn't as heavily guarded under the Cole protocol as Earth was. If thwy had to use a bug to find reach, and knew earth at the same time, I would think they would have attacked earth first since they knew where it was.

[m0tive]

[Platonix]

[finite]

OK, you win. (and yes I have read the books). My point is the amount of understanding between the coevenent and humans is very limited, and I don't think there are any *humans* that can speak covenent, they would need an AI to help them. But yes, there has been SOME interaction.

[jellyfish_green]

I also have to give some credit to the theory that the Covenant have known the location of Earth for a few months, but have fought their way forward only one world at a time to avoid getting attacked in the rear - like a modern army would, securing the supply lines. If the Cov jumped straight for Earth before the UNSC fleet was whittled down, the fight would go much harder for them.

Also note the timeline - if Reach only fell last month (September, our time), and the POA jumped for Halo, MC meets 343 and destroys Halo etc a week later, the Apocalypso crashed out of orbit before then - way back in August (our time), and the crew were retrieved alive for debriefing - we can only estimate the Artifact (picked up on the return journey, on the way to the crash) was floating in space before MC ever met 343. So Artifact isn't 343. Besides, 343 wouldn't have been able to shut up during the retrieval.

[princeofthesword]

Finite, I like your post. Good reasoning. I'm going to discuss it, with devil's advocate tones, so don't take this as a rebuke or whatnot, please

1. A traitor tells ths covenent
2. A breach in the cole protocol
3. A covenent tracking device
4. Forrunner knowledge being either
a. They can home in on any forrunner artifact
b. A forrunner artifact they have found recently points to earth
5. Your idea- They knew it all along

1: In Fall of Reach, Chief Mendez warns John of the possibility of surrender popping up in the minds of others. Since then, the plausibility of "traitors" in the midst, especially within ONI, seems more real.

2: It is pointed out in First Strike that ONI stealth ships regularly break Protocol. I don't have the book on me at this moment, or I'd give you a page number, but it's in there. Scary thought, that. The part I remember is an ONI officer *I think* and his ship jumped back to Earth to warn them that Reach had fallen, and got back before the slipstream transmissions themselves. Uh...subtle.

3: Well, heh, can't rule this one out. Seemed cheesey to me, how they tagged the Iroquois, but I'm picky.

4: Can't rule this one out either, though the Covenant seem to have to read hidden clues in Forerunner artifacts the same as the rest of us in order to find "Next Destination."
B: I like the thought that Earth was revealed to them already by a Forerunner artifact. Which brings us to...

5: They knew all along. Not a guarantee, just a thought. I think there's more going on than just "Covies see naked ape! Covies Kill!!" Obviously, you say.

Note, I'm absolutely not bashing your spec, I love it. Just looking at it from other angles too, and posting it so others can keep looking from even more angles. That's what I love about friendly spec. Keeps the ball rolling, and we come up with a lot.

Things discovered by Spec:
First day of ILB research- "Cover-Pleasure Yacht" meant ONI ship
Before Wide Awake- Troy occurred before Reach

There's much more, and some wasn't correct, but the point is if we keep specking with clear heads, we're bound to stumble onto something. So good spec everyone!

Oh, Halo 2 has gone gold http://bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=GoneGoldAnnouncer

Farewell.

[skyhawk0000]

[ot]
That bungie link, and linking from inside the bungie.net site are returning server errors. try This Link from GameSpot

29 days left 'till the end of the world

[Nova]

29 days to get to the bottom of ILB.

[princeofthesword]

Sigh, sorry about the link. Just try bungie.net itself, and look for the update. It's the new top story of course. There's a video in WMP format, a tour of Bungie and other stuff. The article is worth reading, not that I don't like Gamespot. HBO is working on a Quicktime format for the movie. Farewell.

[finite]

[princeofthesword]

*Grins* Thanks finite, everyone. Good angles on the spec, too. And I agree with you.

Hmm, well, the only thing that comes to mind is that this is so very reminiscent of an extermination rather than a war. That's my only "valid" reason for wanting to think that they know where Earth is, had for a while, etc. They might've started with the Outer Colonies and just worked their way in, step by step. From a war standpoint, you're right. A surgical strike against Earth early in the conflict would've made more tactical sense. *Scratches head*

So yeah, as of now, "I don't know what to do." -Cortana

The ball's in the air, till more comes to light. Great spec, and farewell.