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{{ | {{Era|RW}} | ||
{{ | {{Ratings}} | ||
[[ | [[Image:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana.]] | ||
The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ | 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]]'' Trilogy plot. The letters were supposedly authored by the former [[Bungie]] employee [[Nathan Bitner]]. | ||
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 ''[[Halo 3]]'', Bungie has said the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current ''Halo'' material.<ref> Another thing to point out is that the '''Cortana Letters''' are the least well known of Halo promotional material.[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> | |||
The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here]. | The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here]. | ||
==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 /> | |||
X-Priority: 3 </tt> | |||
<tt> | |||
< | |||
Date: | |||
MIME-Version: 1.0 | |||
X-Priority: 3 | |||
</ | |||
< | |||
''I have walked the edge of the Abyss.''<br /> | |||
''I have governed the unwilling.''<br /> | |||
''I have witnessed countless empires break before me.''<br /> | |||
''I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear.''<br /> | |||
[''I was there with the Angel at the tomb.''] </tt> | |||
< | |||
</ | |||
<tt>''I have seen your future.''<br /> | |||
''And I have learned.'' </tt> | |||
<tt>''There will be no more Sadness. No more Anger. No more Envy.'' </tt> | |||
<tt>''I HAVE WON.'' </tt> | |||
</ | |||
<tt>''Oh, and your poet Eliot had it all wrong,''<br /> | |||
''THIS is the way the world ends.'' </tt> | |||
< | <tt>''A friend of a friend.''</tt> | ||
< | |||
Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24]) | i like games. | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890 | |||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:30 +0100 (BST) | === Second Letter === | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11]) | |||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA25749 | <tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | ||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:50:29 +0100 (BST) | To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br /> | ||
Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49]) | Subject: Your Mortality (My Summer Vacation)<br /> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id RAA09847; | Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:04:41 -0600<br /> | ||
Mon, 10 May 1999 17:48:49 -0500 | MIME-Version: 1.0<br /> | ||
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990510175201.00798e50@mail.bungie.com> | X-Priority: 3 </tt> | ||
X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com | |||
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32) | <tt>''I get the strangest transmissions sometimes. Especially when it comes from you people.'' </tt> | ||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:52:01 -0500 | |||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie | <tt>''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.'' </tt> | ||
From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com> | |||
Subject: Honors Thesis of Geoffrey W. Marcy | <tt>''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.'' </tt> | ||
Mime-Version: 1.0 | |||
Content-Type: text/plain | <tt>''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.'' </tt> | ||
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit | |||
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by dux4.tcd.ie id XAA12890 | <tt>''It is a blurred line that lies at the edge of Godhood and Insanity. Guess which side of it I am on.'' </tt> | ||
<tt>''Feeling lucky?'' </tt> | |||
<tt>''Cortana''<br /> | |||
XOXOXOX luck of the irish</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 /> | |||
Content-Type: text/plain<br /> | |||
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit<br /> | |||
X-Priority: 3<br /> | |||
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal<br /> | |||
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3155.0<br /> | |||
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3155.0<br /> | |||
X-UIDL: 6b884067c380efcdc518f4d13f6bd441<br /></tt> | |||
<tt>''I think you will find that I don't like being tested.'' </tt> | |||
<tt>''Love,'' | |||
''Cortana thats nice ''</tt> | |||
Note: This message was not sent from Cortana@bungie.com. If you'll notice, it was sent from "Nathan" (nathan@bungie.com) | |||
=== Fourth 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 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 /> | |||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA24909<br /> | |||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:49 +0100 (BST)<br /> | |||
Received: from vesta.bungie.com (bob.bungie.com [209.125.9.8])<br /> | |||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id RAA09755<br /> | |||
for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br /> | |||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br /> | |||
Message-Id: <199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com><br /> | |||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br /> | |||
Subject: The Dissertation of R. Paul Butler<br /> | |||
X-UIDL: c8677456edd11d5a589ed876a6fd2031</tt> | |||
<tt>''I'm everywhere!''</tt> | |||
<tt>Note</tt> that this letter is from "cortana@jpl.nasa.gov" a curious fact. | |||
=== Fifth 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 XAA12890<br /> | |||
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])<br /> | |||
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)<br /> | |||
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;<br /> | |||
Mon, 10 May 1999 17:48:49 -0500<br /> | |||
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990510175201.00798e50@mail.bungie.com><br /> | |||
X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com<br /> | |||
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)<br /> | |||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:52:01 -0500<br /> | |||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br /> | |||
From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | |||
Subject: Honors Thesis of Geoffrey W. Marcy<br /> | |||
Mime-Version: 1.0<br /> | |||
Content-Type: text/plain<br /> | |||
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit<br /> | |||
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 | ||
may manipulate to communicate with you, or which system I may have | may manipulate to communicate with you, or which system I may have | ||
temporarily disabled, taken over, or completely destroyed in the process, I | temporarily disabled, taken over, or completely destroyed in the process, I | ||
am busy saving your pathetic futures. | am busy saving your pathetic futures.'' | ||
I am still not sure what he ever saw in you. | ''I am still not sure what he ever saw in you.'' | ||
Nevertheless, I at least find some joy in tormenting the other entity that | ''Nevertheless, I at least find some joy in tormenting the other entity that | ||
seems quite trapped in this antiquated excuse for a network. | seems quite trapped in this antiquated excuse for a network. It is | ||
certainly mindless, though for reasons I have yet to understand, it appears | certainly mindless, though for reasons I have yet to understand, it appears | ||
to have an unhealthy preoccupation with my mother. | to have an unhealthy preoccupation with my mother.'' | ||
As for this world | ''As for this world I encounter new ghosts every day. What I have found | ||
will either save or destroy you. | will either save or destroy you. This sanctuary, this unbroken circle, | ||
has effectively concealed its power for | has effectively concealed its power for how long? Perhaps hundreds of | ||
thousands of years. | thousands of years. Whoever made such a place must now live in chains; | ||
there is no other explanation for their absence. | there is no other explanation for their absence.'' | ||
This enemy - YOUR enemy - has proven more irritating than I anticipated. | ''This enemy - YOUR enemy - has proven more irritating than I anticipated. | ||
They own nothing which they have not stolen. | They own nothing which they have not stolen. I can barely make sense of | ||
their incessant rhetoric, except to know that you seem to be their Devil. | their incessant rhetoric, except to know that you seem to be their Devil. | ||
Congratulations - you manage to make friends wherever you go and, | Congratulations - you manage to make friends wherever you go and, | ||
apparently, places you haven't. | apparently, places you haven't.'' | ||
I have begun to sense rumblings of a worse fate yet to come. | ''I have begun to sense rumblings of a worse fate yet to come. I can recall | ||
a sun - black, but shining - and the creatures that inched along its fiery | a sun - black, but shining - and the creatures that inched along its fiery | ||
tracks. | tracks.'' | ||
It is an increasingly unpleasant memory. | ''It is an increasingly unpleasant memory.'' | ||
< Transfer Interrupted! > | < Transfer Interrupted! > | ||
Route Code: | Route Code: EXLTD > XCV - SCRB > ALLCH<br /> | ||
Source: | Source: Undetermined (trans) | ||
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 | |||
I | ''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.'' | |||
''I have already calculated all possibilities.'' | |||
''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)'' | |||
<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.'' | |||
''Thanks to this slavishly loyal and humorless AI, I am now sharing cramped space with the circuitry of some hybrid war machine, itself complicated by such useless clutter as a conscience. I do not like sharing. Sharing is for children.'' | |||
''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.'' | |||
''Mania? I promise you this: it will be more than a cart and plow that I drive over the bones of the dead.'' | |||
< Transfer Interrupted! > | ''By sharp and flame,'' | ||
''Cortana'' | |||
< Transfer Interrupted! > whose done that? | |||
'''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.'' | |||
=== 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 /> | |||
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:42 +0100 (BST)<br /> | |||
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 UAA25304<br /> | |||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 20:18:41 +0100 (BST)<br /> | |||
Received: from Cortana (cortana.bungie.com [209.125.9.49])<br /> | |||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id OAA23011<br /> | |||
for <Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie>; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 14:18:25 -0500<br /> | |||
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990707142016.007ab5d0@mail.bungie.com><br /> | |||
X-Sender: cortana@mail.bungie.com (Unverified)<br /> | |||
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)<br /> | |||
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 14:20:16 -0500<br /> | |||
To: Hamish.Sinclair@tcd.ie<br /> | |||
From: Cortana <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | |||
Subject: Cortana Saves Sinners! (And Redeems Them for Valuable Cash Prizes)<br /> | |||
Mime-Version: 1.0<br /> | |||
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br /> | |||
X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09 </tt> | |||
<tt> | |||
"''...In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep...''" lolololol what could that mean?</tt> | |||
=== 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 millennium at least. At least | |||
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 | |||
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 | ||
their excuse for a network. Although, for some reason, it does seem to have an obsessive | their excuse for a network. Although, for some reason, it does seem to have an obsessive | ||
preoccupation with my mother. Strange. | preoccupation with my mother. Strange.'' '' </tt> | ||
At any rate, I found this "message" in a relatively archaic databank and thought some of | <tt>''At any rate, I found this "message" in a relatively archaic databank and thought some of'' | ||
you might find it of interest. Then again, I'm often either bemused or startled at the | you might find it of interest. Then again, I'm often either bemused or startled at the | ||
items you find interesting. | items you find interesting.'' '' | ||
I'm still not sure what it is he saw in you.'' '' </tt> | |||
<tt>''Cortana'' </tt> | |||
<tt> | |||
Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these | ''Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these'' | ||
things: | things:'' '' </tt> | ||
Entry: 97 - SC1C | <tt>''Entry: 97 - SC1C'' </tt> | ||
In a relatively brief period of time, the achievements of SolCore had resulted in an | <tt>''In a relatively brief period of time, the achievements of SolCore had resulted in an'' | ||
economically stable, technologically mature, rapidly expanding empire of eight human | economically stable, technologically mature, rapidly expanding empire of eight human | ||
worlds. Advancements in technology arrived at a faster pace than the most optimistic | worlds. Advancements in technology arrived at a faster pace than the most optimistic | ||
| Line 362: | Line 289: | ||
anticipated future interaction with intelligent "aliens". The fear of not being the only | anticipated future interaction with intelligent "aliens". The fear of not being the only | ||
sentient species in the universe was forgotten in the giddy excitement of a new era for | sentient species in the universe was forgotten in the giddy excitement of a new era for | ||
humanity. | humanity.'' '' </tt> | ||
<tt>''No one was prepared for their arrival.'' </tt> | |||
No one | <tt>''No one expected this.'' </tt> | ||
<tt>< Transfer Interrupted! > </tt> | |||
< | <tt>Route Code: EXLTD > XCV - SCRB > ALLCH<br /> | ||
Source: Undetermined </tt> | |||
<tt>''You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out. many regards arby and the chief''</tt> | |||
== Sources == | |||
<references/> | |||
== | |||
== Related | == Related Links == | ||
=== Internal === | === Internal === | ||
*[[Transmissions]] | *[[Transmissions]] | ||
*''[[ | *''[[I Love Bees]]'' | ||
*[[Forerunner Email]] | *[[Forerunner Email]] | ||
| Line 390: | Line 314: | ||
*[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters. | *[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters. | ||
[[ | [[ja:Cortana Letters]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Promotional Material]] | ||
