Editing Halo: The Machine Breaks

{{Title|''Halo: The Machine Breaks''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[File:TheMachineBreaks_Cover.jpg|thumb|300px|Cover art for the story.]]
'''''Halo: The Machine Breaks''''' is a short story in the [[Halo Waypoint Chronicle]] series, released on [[2024#September|September 5, 2024]]. The story focuses on a malfunctioning [[Promethean Knight]] rediscovering its [[human]]ity.

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|[[2558]]. As [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] grows stronger through acquisition of powerful [[Forerunner]] technology, one malfunctioning [[Promethean Knight]] discovers the last vestiges of its humanity.}}

==Plot summary==
The Third Dignitary Schema (TDS) descends upon the [[Human colonies|Human colony]] world [[Oban]], designated CE-174-6 c, and sends dozens of Promethean forces from [[twelfth-order escort]] craft. The [[Promethean Knight]]s and [[Promethean Crawler|Crawler]]s, concealed by thick clouds, begin their [[Battle of Oban|assault]] on the rocky mountainous world. Oban's vast rolling hills and untouched lowlands, dotted with early Human colonies, offer little defense against their precision and strength. A nexus of Human prefabricated strongholds, research facilities, and power plants stands isolated among the highland crags.

TDS-009 lands on soft grassy terrain, its anterior shield distributors flaring momentarily. Advancing through the aftermath of the rain season, a two-month engineered weather period designed to make invasion difficult, the Knight moves unhindered. Its [[Z-250 lightrifle]] bursts hardlight rounds, easily penetrating Human armor and flesh, recalling the [[Human-Forerunner wars|ancient wars]] between the [[Promethean]]s and Humanity over 100 millennia ago. These primitive Human forces are no match for the combat-wisdom of the Strategos, which directs all Promethean units through the battlenet. Without a [[Composer]] device, capturing and converting Humans is impossible, forcing TDS-009 to eliminate them instead.

As the last Human in a grey-green structure is blown apart by a nearby detonation, TDS-009's combat performance is recognized by the Strategos, promoting it to [[Knight Commander]]. Its new authority subsumes other local Promethean units, including a dozen Crawlers, and grants it deeper access to the battlenet, enhancing its autonomy. The unit's new status is visually marked by hardlight patterns on its helmet and carapace. With its forces reinforced, the TDS marches toward the next objective: A dull rectangular industrial building labeled "UNSC," featuring a large communications dish on its roof.

Six Crawlers flank the building, leaping onto the walls, while another six charge the barricaded entrance, breaking through to attack the Human guards. Some Humans are dragged outside while others scatter, but the chaos is intentional. The Strategos knows fear can be a powerful weapon, using it to distract and create openings. TDS-009 takes aim at one of the Humans being dragged by two Crawlers, prepared to fire, but suddenly pauses.

A new figure appears on the battlefield. It seems to be a small Humanoid child, but closer inspection reveals it is no child. Its face is featureless, its body clothed only in flesh, a being that fills TDS-009 with emotions it should not experience: Revulsion, dread, and fear. The remaining Human soldiers continue to fire in a panicked retreat, but the being stands unmoving seemingly oblivious to the carnage around it. TDS-009 scans it, awaiting a directive from the Strategos regarding this strange entity.

No directive comes.

The Strategos instead commands other Knight units to continue the attack, with the newly designated [[Alpha Crawler]] assuming a more lethal role. As the last (male) Human is torn apart screaming by the Crawlers, the Strategos orders the bodies to be left behind, a departure from the usual practice of disintegration. TDS-009, confused by this order, looks back for the strange being, wondering why the Strategos provided no directive for it, only to find that the creature has vanished.

Twelfth-order escorts descend as all Promethean units aboard the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] [[assault carrier]] ''[[Song of Retribution]]'' are recalled. Despite having privileged access to the battlenet, TDS-009 receives no information about the outcome of the battle on Oban—whether it was a victory, defeat, or if the fight even concluded. The Prometheans leave Oban's rocky surface, abandoning the Humans bodies behind.

After decontamination sweeps and sensor scans eliminate any alien bacteria, Promethean units are sent for repair in an assembler. This device, crudely grafted into ''Song of Retribution'' from [[Requiem|Shield World 0001]], features a recessed nanofabrication chamber where templates from their design seeds are forged. Despite its inelegance, many [[Sangheili]] aboard the ship pause their duties to observe the process, uttering prayers for the wellbeing of these “warrior-angels.” TDS-009 is scanned for damage in its smartmatter machine-cell alloy, with its lightrifle detached and disassembled to extract combat data.

A field of orange light initiates a deep scan of TDS-009, and the voice of the Strategos resonates as it accesses the Knight's memories from the battle on Oban. It sees the TDS launching from their escort craft and Crawlers routing the Humans from their bunker, dragging them out and pinning them to the ground. TDS-009 expects the appearance of the strange Humanoid, but sees nothing. Once repairs are completed, TDS-009 is directed to its crèche for hibernation as ''Song of Retribution'' departs. Yet a thought lingers in TDS-009's mind—a query it chooses not to ask the Strategos.

The ship reaches [[Aktis IV]]—designation F309-R 2—an oceanic world covered by an opaque foamy substance that prevents sensors from scanning through it. The Strategos informs TDS-009 of a [[Battle of Aktis IV|battle]] between allied Covenant forces and a [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|rogue Sangheili group]] attempting to usurp [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s command. [[United Nations Space Command]] forces are also present. Jul 'Mdama orders his forces to round up traitors loyal to rival [[Sali 'Nyon]]. Some beg for mercy while others are dragged down by Crawler units.

As Jul 'Mdama listens to a message from Sali calling for rebellion against him, he bristles with anger; their plan to secure the UNSC's half of the galactic cartographer [[Janus Key]] has been impeded. He agrees to return to ''Song of Retribution'' and leaves command to his red-armored [[Zealot]] escort, tasking them to eliminate all Humans except [[Henry Glassman]]. TDS-009 and [[TDS-002]] follow their respective Zealots, but soon after, a [[OPERATOR-class Mjolnir|blue-armored]] [[Spartan]] bursts through the trees, engaging the Zealot in combat. The Sangheili activates its energy sword, attacking swiftly, but the [[Carlo Hoya|Spartan]] evades.

In the chaos, a strange being reappears, now in the form of a young Human girl in a messy blonde bun. She stands unarmed and unbothered by the plasma fire around her. TDS-009, momentarily unsure, hesitates instead of firing at the Spartan. As the Zealot prepares to strike the downed Spartan, TDS-009 reacts, launching itself at the Zealot and striking it in the chest.

The Spartan rolls away confused, but seizing the moment to flee. The Zealot, enraged and bewildered, turns to TDS-009, questioning this interference. The Knight screeches, revealing its fiery Humanoid skull and engages the Zealot in combat. In the ensuing struggle, the zealot deflects TDS-009's [[lightblade]] and, with a powerful slash, impales the Knight. As TDS-009's armor cracks and disintegrates, its gaze locks onto the girl. She is screaming too, her body disintegrating layer by layer until she vanishes into dust.

In a personal journal interlude, Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] reflects on the success of the Covenant's latest operation; after attracting the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s attention with an attack on Oban and leading them to Aktis IV, she and her allies obtained both parts of the [[Librarian]]'s key. With this, she believes she is closer to unlocking a deeper mystery. Meanwhile, Jul 'Mdama, her collaborator, is occupied with resolving internal dissent among his forces. Once Jul finishes, they will begin the search for the [[Absolute Record]]'s location.

During this time, a subordinate of Jul presents Halsey with an intriguing anomaly: A malfunctioning Promethean Knight that turned against its commander. Jul, frustrated that a supposed "warrior of the gods" would attack his own forces, fears this could trigger more discord among his ranks. Halsey muses on Jul's precarious leadership, suggesting that even he might be starting to believe in the facade he has maintained for so long.

Halsey reviews the history of the Promethean Knights, noting that they were originally created by the [[Ur-Didact]] using the Composer, which converted his commanders into digital forms to battle the [[Flood]]. Later, the Composer was turned on [[Ancestors|ancient Humans]] to increase his army. Halsey recalls studying a Promethean mind that displayed memories of [[New Phoenix]], a city [[New Phoenix Incident|attacked]] by the Didact [[2557#July|a year ago]].

Halsey observes that the earliest Promethean Knights, composed of willing Forerunner volunteers, retained some individuality. In contrast, those formed from ancient Humans, who were less intelligent, behaved in a more feral manner. The latest generation of Prometheans, however, were created from modern Humans—some of the most advanced minds in Human history. She speculates that the forced sublimation of these complex minds may lead to issues, such as hallucinations and echoes of their previous existence. This reminds her of the difficulties encountered during the [[SPARTAN-II program]], where the adaptability of children's minds and bodies made them more accepting of the enhancements.

Halsey theorizes that an unwilling mind will inevitably rebel, perhaps explaining the rogue Promethean Knight. After returning the malfunctioning Knight's brain to its storage unit, she hopes that other Knights will exhibit similar failures. She concludes that the effectiveness of Prometheans created from modern Human essences is limited and Jul's control over them is waning. As her plan nears completion, Halsey considers ending her alliance with Jul sooner than expected.

Afterwards, TDS-009 has achieved satisfactory results, meeting all completion parameters. However, an outlier note indicates actions taken outside expected behavioral patterns, observed and flagged by thrall units during the deployment. A review of executable data reveals 67 deviant processes across both operations, exceeding the acceptable range for this deployment type. It is conjectured that TDS-009 is likely experiencing a 89% chance of catastrophic failure in its [[durance]] membrane, leading to unacceptable personality dissonance.

Because of this, TDS-009 will undergo immediate remote severance for extended isolation and quarantine. Further observation and a recomposition evaluation will be considered upon reacquisition of the unit frame. Additionally, the frequency of these deviant behaviors over the past solar year suggests they are not linked to the rogue [[Artificial intelligence|ancilla]] process detected within the command mesh. This warrants further investigation, with a preliminary recommendation to enact more remote severance measures if the rogue ancilla process gains network control.

TDS-009 awakens unexpectedly and attempts to connect to the Strategos command pattern, seeking directives and a network connection with the TDS. However, it cannot detect the pattern, and its connection to the network fails. As its visual sensors activate, it observes that it is no longer on Aktis IV or aboard the ''Song of Retribution'' crèche. Instead, TDS-009 finds itself in a [[Genesis|Forerunner holding facility]], with curved grey walls and a blue hardlight barrier covering the entrance.

TDS-009 tries to query its situation but realizes it is uncertain who or what it was trying to ask; without access to the Strategos, it is completely isolated. No backup protocols or commands remain in its archives. It has no enemy to engage, no directives to follow, leaving it without function or purpose. So, the Knight scans its surroundings, finding itself in a small six-meter-squared room. It doesn't know how it arrived there, and in the corner of the room stands a Human girl, now older, dressed in grey overalls with a white-blue coat. She remains calm and unmoving, just as she had each time TDS-009 had encountered her before.

TDS-009 attempts to reconnect to the Promethean network, failing each time. Over the span of 37 attempts, the result remains unchanged, and the girl continues to watch from the shadows. Unable to handle the isolation, the Knight tries to shut down its optical sensors and enter hibernation, hoping that it will be detected by the Strategos and reconnected later, anything to avoid looking at the girl.

A phantom sensation sweeps over TDS-009, as if a hand is gently lowering its primary weapon arm and guiding its head. Its gaze is drawn back to the girl, and suddenly, old data floods its mind. While the combat directives and strategies had been expunged, suppressed memories begin to surface, overwhelming the Knight as it recognizes the girl's face and name.

A [[031 Exuberant Witness|jovial voice]] outside the cell interrupts the Knight's chaotic thoughts and comments on a collection of specimens brought to Genesis by the [[Guardian Custode|Guardian]]s. A [[Fireteam Osiris|group of Spartans]] outside the cell pause to observe TDS-009 as it violently batters its head with its micro-driver arms, trying to escape what feels like a nightmare. It slams itself against the wall, desperate to break free. [[Edward Buck|One Spartan]] comments on feeling pity for the Knight, while [[Olympia Vale|another]] dismisses its frantic behavior before the group moves on, leaving TDS-009 alone again.

The girl is gone, now just a fading shadow in the corner. TDS-009 is left to sift through its memories, piecing together fragments of a past life: Memories of [[Coral]], a young girl digging for fossils in her garden, and a bright future as a student of archaeology. She was 19 when Humanity made [[First Battle of Harvest|first contact]], a student at the [[Pegasi Institute]], then...fire and destruction, plasma strikes burning her home, her family gone, the remnants of her life to be unearthed like fossils one day. She was evacuated to [[Lodestone]], offered a new job, a fresh start far from home.

The memories flood in: The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], [[Installation 03|Gamma Halo]], [[Ivanoff Station]], Service Number CC-728304. All these details coalesce until they collide with her old identity: [[Sandra Tillson|Sandra Katherine Tillson]], a Doctor of Xenoarchaeology.

But now, she is no more. She is TDS-009, the Third Dignitary Schema.

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
|title-1=Characters|
;Artificial intelligence
*[[031 Exuberant Witness]]
*[[TDS-002]]
;Forerunner
*[[Ur-Didact]] {{Mo}}
;Human
*[[Carlo Hoya]]
*[[Catherine Halsey]]
*[[Edward Buck]]
*[[Henry Glassman]] {{Mo}}
*[[Sandra Tillson]]
*[[Olympia Vale]]
;Sangheili
*[[Jul 'Mdama]]
*[[Sali 'Nyon]] {{Mo}}
|title-2=Species|
*[[Forerunner]] {{C|Technology only}}
**[[Promethean]]
***[[Promethean Crawler]]
****[[Alpha Crawler]]
***[[Promethean Knight]]
*[[Human]]
*[[Sangheili]]
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant remnants]]
**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]
***[[Zealot]]
**[[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant]] {{Mo}}
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[Spartan Operations]]
***[[SPARTAN-IV program]]
****[[Fireteam Majestic]]
****[[Fireteam Osiris]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[Office of Naval Intelligence]] {{Mo}}
****[[SPARTAN-II program]] {{Mo}}
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Absolute Record]] {{Mo}}
*[[Aktis system]]
**[[Aktis IV]]
*[[Epoloch system]]
**[[Requiem]] {{Mo}}
*[[Heshdod system]]
**[[Lodestone]] {{Mo}}
*[[Khaphrae system]]
**[[Installation 03]] {{Mo}}
**[[Ivanoff Station]] {{Mo}}
*[[Nomos system]]
**[[Genesis]]
*[[Sol system]]
**[[Earth]]
***[[United Republic of North America]]
****[[New Phoenix]] {{Mo}}
*[[Visper system]]
**[[Oban]]
*[[Wolf 1473 system]]
**[[Coral]] {{Mo}}
***[[Pegasi Institute]] {{Mo}}
|title-5=Events|
*[[Human-Forerunner wars]] {{Mo}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
**[[Battle of Aktis IV]]
**[[Battle of Oban]]
**[[New Phoenix Incident]] {{Mo}}
**[[Raid on Ivanoff Station]] {{Mo}}
|title-6=Weapons|
*{{Pattern|Domotos|energy sword}}
*[[Lightblade]]
*[[M395 DMR]]
*[[Z-180 Scattershot]] {{Mo}}
*[[Z-250 lightrifle]]
|title-7=Vehicles|
*{{Class|Infinity|supercarrier}}
**{{UNSCShip|Infinity}} {{Mo}}
*{{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}
**''[[Song of Retribution]]''
*[[Twelfth-order escort]]
*{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}
|title-8=Technology and equipment|
*[[Composer]] {{Mo}}
*[[Durance]]
*[[Janus Key]]
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR [GEN2]]]
***[[OPERATOR-class Mjolnir]]
*[[Promethean Knight]]
**[[Knight Battlewagon]]
**[[Knight Commander]]
*[[Sangheili harness]]
}}
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==External links==
*[https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-the-machine-breaks Halo: The Machine Breaks]- The official Waypoint post in which the short story was released for free.
*[https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/themachinebreaks_pdf-9d1129e19cef48689cad1dc53cc26cdb.pdf Official ''Halo: The Machine Breaks'' PDF] - The PDF of the short story released on Halo Waypoint ({{file link|The Machine Breaks.pdf|Archived copy}}).
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRf5MJzcwqs Halo: The Machine Breaks | Audiobook] - The audiobook narrated by Alex Wakeford.

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[[Category:Short stories]]
[[Category:Canon]]