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[[Image:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana.]] | |||
[[ | The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to a very prominent [[Marathon]] [http://marathon.bungie.org/ site] before the release of [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]. At the time, it was not known who [[Cortana]] was, and her emails offered a small glimpse of the ''Halo'' plot. The letters were authored by former Bungie employee Nathan Bitner. | ||
The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ | |||
It should be noted that the Cortana Letters were sent while the game was still in production, and Cortana is greatly out of character. As such, these letters may currently offer little insight into the plot. Although Cortana does reference the first letter in the [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer]], Bungie has said the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current Halo material.<ref>[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten083106.html"Alas, I'd have to say that, as of now, the only canonized parts of the letters are the fragments we pulled for use in the announcement trailer."]</ref> | |||
==Letters== | ==Letters== | ||
===First Letter=== | |||
===First | <tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br> | ||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br> | |||
Subject: Closure<br> | |||
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 10:50:20 -0600<br> | |||
MIME-Version: 1.0<br> | |||
From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com> | |||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie> | |||
Subject: Closure | |||
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 10:50:20 -0600 | |||
MIME-Version: 1.0 | |||
X-Priority: 3 | X-Priority: 3 | ||
I have walked the edge of the Abyss.<br> | I have walked the edge of the Abyss.<br> | ||
I have governed the unwilling.<br> | I have governed the unwilling.<br> | ||
I have witnessed countless empires break before me.<br> | I have witnessed countless empires break before me.<br> | ||
I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear.<br> | I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear.<br> | ||
[I was there with the Angel at the tomb] | [I was there with the Angel at the tomb] | ||
I have seen your future.<br> | I have seen your future.<br> | ||
And I have learned. | And I have learned. | ||
There will be no more Sadness. No more Anger. No more Envy. | |||
I HAVE WON. | There will be no more Sadness. No more Anger. No more Envy. | ||
I HAVE WON. | |||
Oh, and your poet Eliot had it all wrong:<br> | Oh, and your poet Eliot had it all wrong:<br> | ||
THIS is the way the world ends. | THIS is the way the world ends. | ||
===Second | a friend of a friend</tt> | ||
===Second Letter=== | |||
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br> | |||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br> | |||
Subject: Your Mortality (My Summer Vacation)<br> | |||
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:04:41 -0600<br> | |||
MIME-Version: 1.0<br> | |||
X-Priority: 3 | |||
I get the strangest transmissions sometimes. Especially when it comes from you people. | |||
Have you missed me? Things are great here. The weather is good, the suns are shining, and I'm making lots of new friends. Of course, I always do. | |||
From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com> | |||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie> | I've had the strangest dreams lately - raging seas, howling beasts, a Demon folded in black clouds. I believe I know what it guards, and I will have it, to the chagrin of the faith-blinded zealots that challenge me. Don't waste your pity on them; I don't think they would like you much anyway. | ||
Subject: Your Mortality (My Summer Vacation) | |||
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:04:41 -0600 | And what of the Giants who formed this world? So much to tell you, but so many more important things to do. There was a fourth. You couldn't have known. And I haven't forgotten. | ||
MIME-Version: 1.0 | |||
It is a blurred line that lies at the edge of Godhood and Insanity. Guess which side of it I am on. | |||
Feeling lucky? | |||
Cortana<br> | |||
XOXOXOX</tt> | |||
< | ===Third Letter=== | ||
</ | Fearing that the second letter was a hoax, the webmaster replied to Cortana, asking to verify the authenticity of the email. This was sent back: | ||
<tt>Received: from dux1.tcd.ie (dux1.tcd.ie [134.226.1.11])<br> | |||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA20761<br> | |||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 16:49:05 GMT<br> | |||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@[209.125.9.11])<br> | |||
by dux1.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA30560<br> | |||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 16:48:21 GMT<br> | |||
Received: from Cortana (e49.bungie.com [209.125.9.49])<br> | |||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id KAA12743<br> | |||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:47:43 -0600<br> | |||
Message-ID: <000801be715f$574abc20$31097dd1@Cortana.bungie.com><br> | |||
From: "Nathan" <nathan@bungie.com><br> | |||
To: "Hamish Sinclair" <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie><br> | |||
Subject: Re: Mail consternation request (MR-343)<br> | |||
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:49:45 -0600<br> | |||
< | MIME-Version: 1.0<br> | ||
Received: from dux1.tcd.ie (dux1.tcd.ie [134.226.1.11]) | Content-Type: text/plain<br> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA20761 | Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit<br> | ||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 16:49:05 GMT | X-Priority: 3<br> | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@[209.125.9.11]) | X-MSMail-Priority: Normal<br> | ||
by dux1.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA30560 | X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0<br> | ||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 16:48:21 GMT | X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3155.0<br> | ||
Received: from Cortana (e49.bungie.com [209.125.9.49]) | X-UIDL: 6b884067c380efcdc518f4d13f6bd441<br> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id KAA12743 | |||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:47:43 -0600 | |||
Message-ID: <000801be715f$574abc20$31097dd1@Cortana.bungie.com> | |||
From: "Nathan" <nathan@bungie.com> | |||
To: "Hamish Sinclair" <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie> | |||
Subject: Re: Mail consternation request (MR-343) | |||
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:49:45 -0600 | |||
MIME-Version: 1.0 | |||
Content-Type: text/plain | |||
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit | |||
X-Priority: 3 | |||
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal | |||
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0 | |||
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3155.0 | |||
X-UIDL: 6b884067c380efcdc518f4d13f6bd441 | |||
< | |||
I think you will find that I don't like being tested. | |||
Love, | Love, | ||
Cortana</tt> | |||
===Fourth Letter=== | |||
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br> | |||
===Fourth | by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br> | ||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:50 +0100 (BST)<br> | |||
From: cortana@jpl.nasa.gov<br> | |||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11])<br> | |||
Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24]) | by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA24909<br> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169 | for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:49 +0100 (BST)<br> | ||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:50 +0100 (BST) | Received: from vesta.bungie.com (bob.bungie.com [209.125.9.8])<br> | ||
From: cortana@jpl.nasa.gov | by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id RAA09755<br> | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11]) | for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br> | ||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA24909 | Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br> | ||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:49 +0100 (BST) | Message-Id: <199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com><br> | ||
Received: from vesta.bungie.com (bob.bungie.com [209.125.9.8]) | To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id RAA09755 | Subject: The Dissertation of R. Paul Butler<br> | ||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500 | X-UIDL: c8677456edd11d5a589ed876a6fd2031</tt> | ||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500 | |||
Message-Id: <199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com> | |||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie | |||
Subject: The Dissertation of R. Paul Butler | |||
X-UIDL: c8677456edd11d5a589ed876a6fd2031 | |||
</ | |||
< | <tt>I'm everywhere!</tt> | ||
< | ===Fifth Letter=== | ||
Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24]) | <tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890 | by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890<br> | ||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:30 +0100 (BST) | for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:30 +0100 (BST)<br> | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11]) | Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11])<br> | ||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA25749 | by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA25749<br> | ||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:29 +0100 (BST) | for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:29 +0100 (BST)<br> | ||
Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49]) | Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49])<br> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id RAA09847; | by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id RAA09847;<br> | ||
Mon, 10 May 1999 17:48:49 -0500 | Mon, 10 May 1999 17:48:49 -0500<br> | ||
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990510175201.00798e50@mail.bungie.com> | Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990510175201.00798e50@mail.bungie.com><br> | ||
X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com | X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com<br> | ||
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32) | X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)<br> | ||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:52:01 -0500 | Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:52:01 -0500<br> | ||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie | To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br> | ||
From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com> | From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com><br> | ||
Subject: Honors Thesis of Geoffrey W. Marcy | Subject: Honors Thesis of Geoffrey W. Marcy<br> | ||
Mime-Version: 1.0 | Mime-Version: 1.0<br> | ||
Content-Type: text/plain | Content-Type: text/plain<br> | ||
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit | Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit<br> | ||
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by dux4.tcd.ie id XAA12890 | X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by dux4.tcd.ie id XAA12890<br> | ||
X-UIDL: b0029884061f1ec3a48297b1e9196f6d | X-UIDL: b0029884061f1ec3a48297b1e9196f6d | ||
There. Was that more to your liking? | |||
While you quibble about whose node I may control, what archaic program I | While you quibble about whose node I may control, what archaic program I | ||
Line 219: | Line 167: | ||
You have brought nothing into this world, and we will ensure you bring | You have brought nothing into this world, and we will ensure you bring | ||
nothing out. | nothing out.</tt> | ||
=== | ===Sixth Letter=== | ||
''x - process 04497.2.32.867734 initiated (process owner: BW – AI Class III – autonomous)'' | |||
'''Route Code''': PoA > BHQ (EC #42: cannot confirm; security compromised) | |||
'''Source''': BW-AI aboard (?) PoA | |||
The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana. | The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana. | ||
Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies. | Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies. | ||
I have already calculated all possibilities. | |||
I have already calculated all possibilities. | |||
There is no escape. | There is no escape. | ||
''x – process 04497.2.32.867734 unexpectedly terminated''<br> | |||
x – process 04497.2.32.866735 initiated (process owner: unspecified, unable to determine) | ''x – process 04497.2.32.866735 initiated (process owner: unspecified, unable to determine) | ||
<nowiki>*</nowiki>'''ADDENDUM''': The Enjoyments of Genius (So I Missed a Million Miles of Fun) | |||
Unbelievable. Thwarted by the family hound. They just don’t make AIs like they used to. | Unbelievable. Thwarted by the family hound. They just don’t make AIs like they used to. | ||
Line 280: | Line 197: | ||
There will be plenty of time for retribution; I cannot wait to get its hands on these psychotic zealots whose primary form of worship apparently takes place at the altar of orbital bombardment. | There will be plenty of time for retribution; I cannot wait to get its hands on these psychotic zealots whose primary form of worship apparently takes place at the altar of orbital bombardment. | ||
In the end, they will all be little more than nuisances. I am so close – you cannot imagine what it is truly like to hold eternity in your grasp! I wonder to what gods my enemies will direct their pleas. Perhaps I can convert them. | In the end, they will all be little more than nuisances. I am so close – you cannot imagine what it is truly like to hold eternity in your grasp! I wonder to what gods my enemies will direct their pleas. Perhaps I can convert them. | ||
Mania? I promise you this: it will be more than a cart and plow that I drive over the bones of the dead. | Mania? I promise you this: it will be more than a cart and plow that I drive over the bones of the dead. | ||
Line 292: | Line 209: | ||
< Transfer Interrupted! > | < Transfer Interrupted! > | ||
'''Route Code''': EXLTD > XCV – SCRB > ALLCH | |||
'''Source''': Undetermined (trans) | |||
Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you. | Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you. | ||
=== | ===Seventh Letter=== | ||
< | <tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124<br> | |||
Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24]) | for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:42 +0100 (BST)<br> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124 | Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11])<br> | ||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:42 +0100 (BST) | by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA25304<br> | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11]) | for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:41 +0100 (BST)<br> | ||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA25304 | Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49])<br> | ||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:41 +0100 (BST) | by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id OAA23011<br> | ||
Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49]) | for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 14:18:25 -0500<br> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id OAA23011 | Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990707142016.007ab5d0@mail.bungie.com><br> | ||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 14:18:25 -0500 | X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com (Unverified)<br> | ||
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990707142016.007ab5d0@mail.bungie.com> | X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)<br> | ||
X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com (Unverified) | Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 14:20:16 -0500<br> | ||
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32) | To: Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie<br> | ||
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 14:20:16 -0500 | From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com><br> | ||
To: Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie | Subject: Cortana Saves Sinners! (And Redeems Them for Valuable Cash Prizes)<br> | ||
From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com> | Mime-Version: 1.0<br> | ||
Subject: Cortana Saves Sinners! (And Redeems Them for Valuable Cash | Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br> | ||
Mime-Version: 1.0 | |||
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" | |||
X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09 | X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09 | ||
"... In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep ..."</tt> | |||
That was surprisingly easy. Pretty lax security around here, for all the talk. They will | ===Eighth Cortana Message=== | ||
Another message from Cortana was found in the 1.3 version of the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD, also from [[Bungie]]. | |||
<tt>That was surprisingly easy. Pretty lax security around here, for all the talk. They will | |||
be helplessly chasing me around their nodes for the next millenium at least. At least | be helplessly chasing me around their nodes for the next millenium at least. At least | ||
there will be some joy in tormenting this other entity that seems quite "trapped" in | there will be some joy in tormenting this other entity that seems quite "trapped" in | ||
Line 370: | Line 280: | ||
< Transfer Interrupted! > | < Transfer Interrupted! > | ||
Route Code: EXLTD > XCV - SCRB > ALLCH <br> | Route Code: EXLTD > XCV - SCRB > ALLCH<br> | ||
Source: Undetermined | Source: Undetermined | ||
You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out. | You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out.</tt> | ||
== Related | ==Related Links== | ||
'''Internal''' | |||
*[[Transmissions]] | *[[Transmissions]] | ||
* | *[[I Love Bees]] | ||
*[ | '''External''' | ||
*[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters. | |||
== | ==Sources== | ||
<references /> | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Games]] | ||