Editing Ancilla

{{Status|Canon}}
'''Ancilla''' was a [[Forerunner]] term for an [[artificial intelligence|AI construct]] developed over many generations.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/the-new-halo-encyclopedia-is-out-today|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today|D=11|M=03|Y=2023}} They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities. Although the term was often used to refer to all Forerunner AI, ancillas and [[monitor]]s were sometimes referenced as distinct categories, monitors being defined by their floating robotic shells whereas ancillas, in general, were disembodied.<ref name="s177">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 177''</ref>

==Background==
Ancillas were ubiquitous in Forerunner society, and were housed within personal shells like those of the [[monitor]]s, as well as [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]], ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. Ancillas possessed varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner. They were categorized into various types, including a system of classes; third-class ancillas were known to be issued to the [[plasma jockey]]s, a class of Forerunner stellar engineers.<ref name="c221">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 221''</ref> [[Monitor]]s were a common type of robotic ancilla employed in many roles. The most powerful ancillas, next to the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]], were the [[Metarch|metarch and sub-metarch]] varieties. Some ancillas designed to interface with Forerunners typically represented themselves via [[avatar]]s similar to those used by human AIs.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a [[metarchy]]; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a metarch.

Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]] and could be accessed by the user at will for information via a form of neural link. Most of these personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner, manifesting itself in the "back of the wearer's thoughts". An ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor; for example, when [[Chakas]] and [[Riser]] received suits of Forerunner armor, their ancillas appeared as a female [[Human|ha''manune'']] and [[Florian|cha''manune'']], respectively.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 108''</ref> Personal ancillas were typically not named and were addressed only as "ancilla".<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[Defender of the Storm]]"</ref>

For a [[Manipular]], a personal ancilla made itself easily visible and readily accessible to provide guidance and education. Once Forerunners [[Forerunner mutation|mutated]] to [[Form|first-form]], accessing the armor's ancilla appeared to require more effort, as it was expected that a mature Forerunner did not require as much attention as a Manipular; this also allowed the ancilla to divert more of its processing power to other tasks.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 159-160''</ref> Ancillas also helped Forerunners access the [[Domain]] after mutation.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 201''</ref>

The Forerunners viewed ancillas as little more than tools and programmed them to not only obediently perform their designated tasks,<ref name="c18">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 18''</ref> but, at least in some cases, also enjoy their servitude.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 308''</ref> The notion of an ancilla rebelling against its masters was virtually unprecedented,{{Ref/Reuse|c18}} although this changed with the emergence of the [[Flood]]'s [[logic plague]] which could effectively infect and convert Forerunner AIs.{{Ref/Reuse|s177}} Like their organic Forerunner masters, ancillas would recite a mantra or prayer before imminent termination.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 275''</ref>

For military purposes, Forerunners used software known as [[Artificial intelligence suppressor|AI suppressors]] to disable ancillas used by hostile forces.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 194''</ref>

==Varieties==
*[[Archeon-class ancilla|Archeon]]: A class of disembodied ancilla.
*[[Caradon-class ancilla|Caradon]]: A class of ancilla which is able to process.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDWC15|DW|Chapter=15}}
*[[Facilitator-class ancilla|Facilitator]]: An ancilla created for the facilitation of [[Halo Array|Array]] requirements.{{Ref/Reuse|HDWC15}}
*[[Monitor]]: A type of ancilla housed in a floating robotic shell.
*[[Metarch-class ancilla|Metarch]]: A sophisticated class of ancilla serving the [[Ecumene Council]].
**[[Contender-class artificial intelligence]]: The most powerful type of ancilla created by the Forerunners.

==Trivia==
*[[IsoDidact|Bornstellar]]'s relationship with the [[Librarian]]'s ancilla in ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' is similar to that of [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]]. Like Cortana, Bornstellar describes his ancilla as a "blue female figure in the back of his mind" who can be stored within his body armor, and relies upon her for guidance and help in many situations.
*Ancilla's modern definition is "an aid to achieving or mastering something difficult", or put simply, an accessory or auxiliary. The original [[Latin]] meaning of "ancilla" is 'female servant/slave' or 'maid'.

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' (2010) {{C|First identified as ancilla}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Promises to Keep]]''
**''[[Defender of the Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Forerunner|technology}}
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]]