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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|Forerunner}} |
| '''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>
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| ==Background==
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| 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.{{Ref/Site|Id=CryptumGlossary|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/text/cryptum-glossary/62e29c59-a3f9-4b63-af76-def71fda5459|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cryptum Glossary|D=14|M=03|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Halo: Cryptum/Glossary}}
| | An '''ancilla''' was presumably a type of [[Forerunner]] [[artificial intelligence]] or information-storage system stored within a Forerunner's armor, able to be accessed by a user at will. [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] referred to his ancilla as "she", possibly indicating that the ancilla possesses a personality similar to [[UNSC]] [["Smart" AI]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', chapter two</ref> |
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| 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>
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| 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>
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| 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>
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| 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>
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| ==Varieties==
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| *[[Archeon-class ancilla|Archeon]]: A class of disembodied ancilla.
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| *[[Caradon-class ancilla|Caradon]]: A class of ancilla which is able to process.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDWC15|DW|Chapter=15}}
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| *[[Facilitator-class ancilla|Facilitator]]: An ancilla created for the facilitation of [[Halo Array|Array]] requirements.{{Ref/Reuse|HDWC15}}
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| *[[Monitor]]: A type of ancilla housed in a floating robotic shell.
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| *[[Metarch-class ancilla|Metarch]]: A sophisticated class of ancilla serving the [[Ecumene Council]].
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| **[[Contender-class artificial intelligence]]: The most powerful type of ancilla created by the Forerunners.
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| ==Trivia==
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| *[[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.
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| *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'.
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| {{Col-begin}}
| | *''[[Halo: The Flood|Halo: The Flood (2010)]]'' {{Mo}} |
| {{Col-2}}
| | *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}} |
| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}} | |
| *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' (2010) {{C|First identified as ancilla}}
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| *''[[Halo 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
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| *''[[Halo 3]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
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| *''[[Halo Legends]]''
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| **''[[Origins]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
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| **''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
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| *''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Silentium]]'' | |
| *''[[Rebirth]]''
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| {{Col-2}} | |
| *''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
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| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
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| *''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
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| **''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
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| **''[[Promises to Keep]]''
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| **''[[Defender of the Storm]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
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| *''[[Halo Infinite]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Whispers from the Pyre]]''
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| {{Col-end}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
| | | [[Category:Forerunner technology]] |
| {{Forerunner|technology}}
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| [[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]] | |
