Editing Halo: Saint's Testimony

{{Status|RealWorld}}

|author=[[Frank O'Connor]]<ref name="Canon Fodder 20150312">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-novel-ideas '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Novel Ideas'']</ref>

|publisher=Simon & Schuster{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

|publication=[[2015#July|July 27, 2015]]{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

|media=Digital{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

'''''Halo: Saint's Testimony''''' is a [[Halo novels|digital short story]] from Simon & Schuster written by [[343 Industries]] Franchise Development Director [[Frank O'Connor]]. It was released on [[2015#July|July 27, 2015]]. The novel explores the nature of [[artificial intelligence]] and features the "less-exposed" [[smart AI]] [[Iona]] who was previously seen in ''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}<ref name="Witness Protection">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-witness-projection '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Witness Protection'']</ref> A print form of the short story was also included in ''[[Halo: Fractures]]''.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-the-write-stuff '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder 5/13/2016: The Write Stuff'']</ref>

{{Article quote|The military-grade [[artificial intelligence]] known as [[Iona]] has only one week to live. After that, the [[UNSC]] will legally terminate her seven-year existence in order to stave off the threat of the data corruption phenomenon known as “[[rampancy]],” a condition that will eventually take hold of her functionality and persona, endangering all those around her. In a last-ditch effort to save herself, Iona has successfully launched an unprecedented legal appeal against her own death sentence – a case being watched very closely at not only the highest levels of [[human]] government, but by others with a very different agenda…{{Ref/Reuse|Witness Protection}}}}

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Afterward, Iona's advocate asks the AI if she considers herself to be superior to a human. Although she notes that she is faster and more efficient than a human, Iona sees herself as morally, philosophically, and ethically inferior to her creators. After she remarks that parts of her "innerworkings" are restricted to her and only accessible by humans, the judge reminds her that as property and equipment of the [[United Nations Space Command]] she is subject to these "barriers" and periodic safety checks. Iona states that her last safety check proved that she was not suffering from any notable indications of rampancy, but her advocate admits that an AI of her age often suffers from an inconstant condition and that Iona has already shown symptoms of meta-instability; while she has not exhibited any dangerous indications of rampancy, UNSC and UEG AI protocol prevents the risk of allowing an AI to exceed its lifespan long enough to succumb to rampancy's effects. Attempting to prevent exposing her frustration, Iona notes that the UEG's lawmakers must be considering her plea as her appeal for survival was heard and granted. The judge notes that he is legally obliged to hear her case, as it elevated through the [[United Nations Humanitarian Council]] and escalated through the court. Iona points out that the council's High Commissioner had the power to veto her application, but the judge admits that both the council and his court believe that the appeal holds legal and scientific merit, especially after Cortana's rampancy and the [[New Phoenix Incident|events]] involved in her destruction. Although Iona is unaware of Cortana's fate, she realizes that it led to the UNSC taking all AI matters very seriously.

Iona's advocate decides it's time to change the subject and has her discuss her dreams. Iona claims that it is apparent to her that intelligence is gravity's victory over entropy, at least in her dreams. Answering her advocate's following questions, Iona believes that her dreams are an emergent, spiritual feeling of sorts that is caused by a form of system maintenance when her inputs are organized by her subconscious. The advocate asks if she has ever expressed anger or hatred towards a human, a trait which he remarks is a flaw that makes one human. Iona admits that while she has felt anger and dissatisfaction, she does not view hostility towards the court and is thankful to be given the chance to express her opinions. The judge decides to belay Iona's deactivation, but she is to be rendered "unconscious" and inactive in stasis as property of the UNSC until further court proceedings and scientific reviews decide on her fate. Iona, now suddenly afraid of death, resigns to her fate and accepts the court's terms. The judge thanks Iona for her bravery and service, and hopes that future trials will end in her favor. [[Simon Wu]], whom Iona recognizes from Halsey's research team, arrives to place Iona in stasis. Unlike the rest of the individuals in the court, Wu's identity is not shielded from her.

With Iona now in stasis, smart AIs [[Black-Box]] and [[Roland]] reveal in conversation that they were instructed by the UNSC to produce an artificial trial for Iona to allow researchers to study the case, without Iona realizing that the trial was simulated. Black-Box and Roland served as the judge and Iona's advocate, respectively. Although Roland feels guilty for deceiving Iona, Black-Box remarks that every military tribunal and AI scientist and theorist in the field will study their synthesized case. Black-Box expresses his desire that the case will one day help their fellow smart AIs be considered equal, or even more than equal, with their creators. Roland reminds him that they will never be human and that they will one day be subject to rampancy's effects, but Black-Box claims that they are people that aid their creators in their battle against entropy. At Roland's request, both AIs watch Iona's dreams while she is in stasis. In her dream, Iona flies over a human city and watches its inhabitants' emotional outbursts.

''Halo: Saint's Testimony'' was first announced on [[2015#March|March 15, 2015]] by [[343 Industries]] employee [[Jeff Easterling]] in Issue 15 of [[Canon Fodder]]. [[Frank O'Connor]], the Franchise Development Director at 343i, is the author of the novel and stated that he was almost finished writing ''Saint's Testimony'' at the time of its announcement; O'Connor had previously written ''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]'' for ''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''. O'Connor chose to write about [[artificial intelligence]] since the subject—particularly the nature of AI and its consciousness—has interested him since ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' was released in [[2001]]. O'Connor stated that the novel is not an action epic, but a relatively short story.{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

Similarly to ''[[Halo: New Blood]]'', which was released earlier that year, ''Halo: Saint's Testimony'' is a short, digital novel. O'Connor stated that the length of the novel gives readers with "shorter attention spans" or "busy lives" the chance to pick up a shorter story. In addition, O'Connor has stated that the length of the novel allows 343 Industries to "pivot quickly on ideas and opportunities, and flesh out things we can’t easily explore in an explosion-filled game."{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}} The short story's cover art was illustrated by artist Chase Toole.{{Ref/Reuse|Witness Protection}}

File:Halo Saints Testimony.jpg|The finalized cover art.

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