Activation index: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

[[File:H2-ActivationIndex.png|thumb|The Activation Index of [[Installation 05]].]]

The '''Activation Index''', often simply referred to as the '''Index''' and known as the '''Sacred Icon''' by the [[Covenant]], is an object found in every [[Halo Array|Halo installation]]'s [[Library]]. The Activation Index is the key needed to activate the installation, triggering an energy pulse that will kill all [[Sentience|sentient]] life within the ring's effective range. Its secondary purpose is to simultaneously initiate the [[Conservation Measure]], the repopulation process of the worlds sterilized by the Halo's pulse.<ref name="library">'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''' - ''[[Library (feature)|Library]]'', ''"Activation Index"''</ref> An Index cannot be used to activate any Halo besides the one to which it is assigned.<ref name="h3h">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref>  

The Index is vaguely '''T'''-shaped, with a faint green or blue glow emanating from a stripe on each side. The object seems to be merely a digital storage device containing the software or access codes needed to activate the rings, as shown when Cortana extracted the Index's data and stored it within her memory, and when she activated the [[Installation 04B|second Installation 04]] with the stored Index.<ref name="twobetrayers">'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]''</ref><ref name="h3h"/> Each Index is stored safely within an [[Index chamber]], a large room that is located at the core of every [[Library]] on each Halo installation and guarded by waves of [[Sentinel]]s.<ref name="h1l">'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[The Library]]''</ref><ref name="quarantine">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Quarantine Zone (level)|Quarantine Zone]]''</ref>

According to [[containment protocol]]s followed by the [[monitor]]s of each Installation, only a [[Reclaimer]] is allowed to retrieve the Index from the Library. Immediately after this, however, the Index will be taken by the monitor for safekeeping to ensure it does not fall in the hands of the Flood in the event the Reclaimer is infected.<ref name="h1l"/> Once safely in the Installation's [[Control Room]], however, the monitor must hand the Index over to the Reclaimer, as monitors are not allowed to activate their Installations by themselves.<ref name="twobetrayers"/>

When inserted into [[the Core]] inside a Halo's Control Room, the Index immediately initiates the charging sequence of the ring's main weapon. The activation process may be aborted by physically removing the Index before the firing; however, doing so sends out a signal which places the entire Array into standby mode, ready for activation from [[Installation 00|the Ark]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref> An AI construct inside the Core is able to prevent the initiation of the ring's firing sequence even if the Index is inserted, as demonstrated when Cortana prevented [[John-117]] from activating Installation 04. While inside the Core, Cortana also had complete control over the Index itself, as she was able to remove the Index's data and store it within her system.<ref name="twobetrayers"/>

John-117 noted in his debriefing of the [[Battle of Installation 04|Halo event]] that, if not for Cortana's intervention, he would have accidentally activated the weapon and destroyed all life in the galaxy. Halo's main weapon exists primarily in case the [[Flood]] manage to escape containment and spread their infection to other planets. Only one firing of the rings occurred, at the close of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]. Immediately following the activation, the secondary purpose of the Index also came into play, triggering the re-seeding of life on the worlds whose sentient species were indexed in the records of each Installation's Library in addition to the archives on the Ark.<ref name="library"/>

*It is called "The Key" by the [[Gravemind]] in his lecture to the Chief and Thel 'Vadamee: "''There is still time to stop the Key from turning''", although with his manner of speech, it is not clear whether he was directly referring to the Index as "the Key", or just using a metaphor.<ref name="gra">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>

*The Index resembles common depictions of "[[Wikipedia:Mjölnir|Mjölnir]]", the hammer of the god [[Wikipedia:Thor|Thor]] in Norse mythology and the namesake of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]].

*On the level [[Composer (level)|Composer]] in ''Halo 4'', [[Installation 03]]'s Index can be seen within a display case in a [[Mgalekgolo|Hunter]]-occupied laboratory.

File:Chief Index.jpg|John-117 with an Index in his hand.

File:CortanaIndex-large.jpg|[[Cortana]] producing a [[Holography|hologram]] of the Index of [[Installation 04]] from her memory banks.

File:03Index.jpeg|The Activation Index of Installation 03 aboard [[Ivanoff Station]].

*''[[Halo: Silentium]]'' {{mo}}

<references/>

[[Category:Forerunner Artifacts]]