Editing Beowulf

{{Status|Canon}}
{{AI infobox
|name = Beowulf
|image = [[File:Beowulf.jpg|300px]]
|began = [[2525#November|November 2525]] or earlier{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFoR11|HTFoR|Chapter=11}}
|ended = 
|gender = Male programming{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}
|description = A man wearing a hooded cloak{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=FoRBC4|FoRBC|Issue=4}}
|color = Blue{{Ref/Reuse|FoRBC4}}
|affiliation = [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}
|function = Attaché to the Office of Naval Intelligence{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}
}}
'''Beowulf''' was a [[Dumb AI|"dumb" artificial intelligence]] of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFAmore|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Armory Amore|D=18|M=09|Y=2020}} In [[2525#November|November 2525]], Beowulf was attached is some capacity to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]], the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence's [[ONI Section Three|Section Three]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}{{Ref/Reuse|FoRBC4}} By late [[2552#August|August 2552]], he safeguarded the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s personnel and planning database on [[Reach]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFoR28|HTFoR|Chapter=28}}

==Biography==
===Discovery of the Covenant===
Beowulf was present during the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]]s' original briefing about the [[Covenant]] in the [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex]]'s secure briefing room on [[2525#November|November 2, 2525]]. Upon the instruction of [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]], Beowulf reluctantly presented the classified [[First Battle of Harvest|destruction]] of [[Harvest]] to the Spartans. He also broadcasted a message across the amphitheater from the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]], whom insisted that the destruction of [[human]]ity was the "will of the [[Forerunner|Gods]]." Afterwards, Beowulf left with Stanforth and [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}{{Ref/Reuse|FoRBC4}}

===Reassignment===
By late [[2552#August|August 2552]], Beowulf had been assigned to guard the UNSC's personnel and planning database on [[Reach]]. He knew [[Cortana]] well and knew that she was potentially dangerous. During Cortana's attempts to hack into the system, Beowulf managed to foil her efforts. However, Cortana quickly overcame his defenses and accessed [[John-117]]'s [[Career Service Vitae]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR28}}

===Fate===
Given his assignment to guard UNSC's personnel and planning database on Reach—a capacity in which he was serving as of [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]],{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR28}} it is likely that Beowulf was destroyed during the [[Fall of Reach]]. However, his fate ultimately remains unknown. 

==Description==
Beowulf's [[Holography|holographic]] [[avatar]] was blue and consisted of a man in a hooded cloak with no discernable hands.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}}{{Ref/Reuse|FoRBC4}} When manifesting his avatar, Beowulf was known to project a dust cloud which would coalesce into his hooded figure.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR11}} He was thought to be thorough, methodical, and paranoid.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFoR28}}

==Production Notes==
At one point during [[Development of Halo: Combat Evolved|production]] of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', Beowulf was going to have a notable presence in the game's story, serving as a secondary antagonist.{{Ref/Site|Id=DigsiteDeepDive|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/digsite-deep-dive|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Digsite Deep-Dive|Quote=What we do have are story documents and some script information for the early Halo story, including a very early Story Bible. [...] Beowulf had a big role as a secondary antagonist at one point.|Quotee=Kenneth Peters|D=20|M=06|Y=2024}}

Notably, in the [[Cortana Letters]] and related "[[Transmissions]]" logs, the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} is described to house a second AI only known as "BW," designated as a "Class III" AI. Within the transmissions texts, "BW" is only seen running processes on the ''Pillar of Autumn'' that receives Covenant transmissions, with little insight.{{Ref/Generic|Id=Transmissions|[[Transmissions]]}} In the Cortana letters, it was said that a process "BW" initiated was "unexpectedly terminated." Immediately thereafter, a new process was started, with its owner unable to be determined.{{Ref/Generic|Id=Letters|[[Cortana Letters]]}} It is likely that "BW" likely is intended to represent Beowulf.

==Trivia==
Beowulf is named after the [[Wikipedia:Beowulf (hero)|titular character]] of the poem ''[[Wikipedia:Beowulf|Beowulf]]'', the most famous piece of [[Wikipedia:Old English literature|Old English literature]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HFoR-stanforth.png|Beowulf alongside Vice Admiral Stanforth.
File:HTFoR AS - Stanforth & Beowulf.jpg|Concept art for ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]'' depicting Beowulf alongside Mendez, Halsey, and Stanforth.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]'' {{Mo}}

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

{{UNSC AI}}
[[Category:AI characters]]