Editing List of inconsistencies in the Halo series
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Title|List of inconsistencies in the ''Halo'' series}} | |||
{{Title|List of inconsistencies in the ''Halo'' series}} | {{Quote|no=four|Science Team Leader|ONI Commander|Science Team Leader|ONI Commander|q1=Combined science team analysis gives us considerable conviction that the related events are credible.|q2=But they contradict everything we know about the Didact! [...] The terminal dialogs--|q3=The terminal dialogs may themselves be questionable, in light of this new testimony.|q4=I lodge my strong suspicion.|An in-universe acknowledgment of the conflicts between the [[Terminal/Halo 3|''Halo 3'' terminals]] and ''[[The Forerunner Saga]]''.}} | ||
This list is compiled to show the various discrepancies spotted in the ''Halo'' universe. Inconsistencies on the list are divided into two types: '''internal''' and '''external'''. Internal inconsistencies refer to discrepancies which occur within a single source, while external inconsistencies are conflicts between two or more sources. | |||
This list is compiled to show the various discrepancies spotted in the | |||
It is often difficult to decide which resource is "superior" to another, so conflicts are mostly listed in a chronological order. Likewise, it can rarely be conclusively determined whether a conflict is the result of an oversight on part of the author or editor(s) or an intentional [[Wikipedia:Retroactive continuity|retcon]], unless this is specifically confirmed by the developers of the ''Halo'' franchise; such cases are noted accordingly. | It is often difficult to decide which resource is "superior" to another, so conflicts are mostly listed in a chronological order. Likewise, it can rarely be conclusively determined whether a conflict is the result of an oversight on part of the author or editor(s) or an intentional [[Wikipedia:Retroactive continuity|retcon]], unless this is specifically confirmed by the developers of the ''Halo'' franchise; such cases are noted accordingly. Additionally, there have been a number of cases in which an apparent inconsistency arises within an individual piece of media, only to receive a canonical workaround in a separate document; ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' and the [[Data Drop]]s are an example of this. Many inconsistencies on this page are provided possible explanations, although it should be noted that these are only unofficial theories unless otherwise stated, and may not reflect the franchise developers' stance on the matters in question. For more information, see [[Halopedia:Canon Policy|here]]. | ||
If you think you can explain an inconsistency, do so [[Talk:List of Inconsistencies in Halo|here]], on this article's talk page. | |||
==Inconsistencies== | ==Inconsistencies== | ||
Line 16: | Line 14: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*The [[Eridanus II]] space dock is erroneously stated to be located in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] in the chapter heading for Chapter 10.<ref name="for81">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''page 81''</ref> Throughout the rest of the book, Eridanus II is correctly referenced as being located in the similarly named [[Eridanus system]].<ref name="fornumbers">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''pages 13, 21, 75''</ref> | *The [[Eridanus II]] space dock is erroneously stated to be located in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] in the chapter heading for Chapter 10.<ref name="for81">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''page 81''</ref> Throughout the rest of the book, Eridanus II is correctly referenced as being located in the similarly named, yet distinct, [[Eridanus system]].<ref name="fornumbers">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''pages 13, 21, 75''</ref> | ||
*When Dr. Halsey and the Spartans are on a Pelican leaving the Damascus Testing Facility, Halsey tries to adjust her glasses but can't due to her space helmet. Despite this she is | *When Dr. Halsey and the Spartans are on a Pelican leaving the Damascus Testing Facility, Halsey tries to adjust her glasses but can't due to her space helmet. Despite this, after hearing John-117's plan to board the Covenant ship, she is said to tap her lip in thought. | ||
*The time stamp for Chapter 23 is labeled "0500 hours, July 18, 2552",<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 211'' (2001); ''page 242'' (2010)</ref> even though the events portrayed take place after the preceding chapters which occurred over the evening of July 18; the previous chapter begins at 2010 hours that day.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 200'' (2001); ''page 230'' (2010)</ref> | *The time stamp for Chapter 23 is labeled "0500 hours, July 18, 2552",<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 211'' (2001); ''page 242'' (2010)</ref> even though the events portrayed take place after the preceding chapters which occurred over the evening of July 18; the previous chapter begins at 2010 hours that day.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 200'' (2001); ''page 230'' (2010)</ref> | ||
**It is possible that while Chapters 18-22 are labeled as occurring on July 18, they are supposed to take place on July 17. The time stamps suggest a day-long pause between Chapters 17 and 18,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 181'' (2010)</ref> and although this can be justified by [[Michael Stanforth|Admiral Stanforth]]'s [[Battle Group Leviathan]] taking more than several hours to reach the Sigma Octanus system, the description of the battle on the surface suggests the events occurred during the same day as the initial space battle. Alternatively, the date in Chapter 23's heading could simply be a mistake, with the intended date being July 19. This is corroborated by the second [[Data Drop]], in which Stanforth sends a message to [[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Parangosky]] in the immediate aftermath of the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] at 2300 hours on July 18, 2552. | **It is possible that while Chapters 18-22 are labeled as occurring on July 18, they are supposed to take place on July 17. The time stamps suggest a day-long pause between Chapters 17 and 18,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 181'' (2010)</ref> and although this can be justified by [[Michael Stanforth|Admiral Stanforth]]'s [[Battle Group Leviathan]] taking more than several hours to reach the Sigma Octanus system, the description of the battle on the surface suggests the events occurred during the same day as the initial space battle. Alternatively, the date in Chapter 23's heading could simply be a mistake, with the intended date being July 19. This is corroborated by the second [[Data Drop]], in which Stanforth sends a message to [[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Parangosky]] in the immediate aftermath of the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] at 2300 hours on July 18, 2552. | ||
*When John-117 reflects on his life in | *When John-117 reflects on his life in 2552 he notes that the SPARTAN-IIs were conscripted "twenty-five years ago".<ref name="tfor2502010">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 250'' (2010)</ref> The candidates were kidnapped in 2517, or nearly 35 years prior to August 2552. | ||
*John-117 internally notes that he had "overheard" Dr. Halsey mention Chief Mendez departed to train a new group of Spartans. | *John-117 internally notes that he had "overheard" Dr. Halsey mention Chief Mendez departed to train a new group of Spartans.<ref name="tfor2502010"/> Earlier in the novel, Halsey explicitly tells John and the other SPARTAN-IIs of Mendez's future role.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 121'' (2010)</ref> | ||
*On August 30, Cortana mentions that her test with John-117 and the Mark V MJOLNIR occurred "this morning",<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 304'' (2010)</ref> even though the test took place a day earlier.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 280'' (2010)</ref> | *On August 30, Cortana mentions that her test with John-117 and the Mark V MJOLNIR occurred "this morning",<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 304'' (2010)</ref> even though the test took place a day earlier.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 280'' (2010)</ref> | ||
Line 33: | Line 31: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*[[ | *Covenant [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistols]] are said to have barrels in one description,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 203'' (2001); ''page 233'' (2010)</ref> even though the weapons do not possess barrels of any sort as the plasma projectiles are generated between the pistol's two "claws". | ||
*It is stated that the [[Hunter]]s' [[assault cannon]]s ''"seemed almost as powerful as the stationary plasma cannons the Jackals used."''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 207'' (2001); ''page 237'' (2010)</ref> In the games, the Hunters' weapons are considerably more powerful than the Covenant's [[Shade|stationary turrets]], which are operated predominantly by Grunts and Elites. | *It is stated that the [[Hunter]]s' [[assault cannon]]s ''"seemed almost as powerful as the stationary plasma cannons the Jackals used."''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 207'' (2001); ''page 237'' (2010)</ref> In the games, the Hunters' weapons are considerably more powerful than the Covenant's [[Shade|stationary turrets]], which are operated predominantly by Grunts and Elites. | ||
*When the Master Chief kills Elites and Jackals aboard Gamma Station, the aliens are said to bleed blue and green [[blood]] | *When the Master Chief kills Elites and Jackals aboard Gamma Station, the aliens are said to bleed blue and green [[blood]]. Both species' blood is actually purple or purple-blue in the Sangheili's case.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 327'' (2001); ''page 367'' (2010)</ref> | ||
*The novel repeatedly describes [[slipspace]] ruptures as being green.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 145, 286'' (2001); ''pages 170, 322'' (2010)</ref> Although no slipspace phenomena had been shown in visual media at the time of the novel's writing, all subsequent media has depicted slipspace ruptures as blue; the effects associated with slipspace-based [[teleportation]] are most often depicted as yellow or orange. | *The novel repeatedly describes [[slipspace]] ruptures as being green.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 145, 286'' (2001); ''pages 170, 322'' (2010)</ref> Although no slipspace phenomena had been shown in visual media at the time of the novel's writing, all subsequent media has depicted slipspace ruptures as blue; the effects associated with slipspace-based [[teleportation]] are most often depicted as yellow or orange. | ||
Line 51: | Line 45: | ||
**This is likely a result of game engine limitations, or due to rotating shifts, Lovell was simply not present on the bridge at the time. | **This is likely a result of game engine limitations, or due to rotating shifts, Lovell was simply not present on the bridge at the time. | ||
*In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', the description of the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is considerably different from its ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' incarnation. The bridge is described as having a command chair and a curved viewport; in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', this chair is absent and the window consists of several flat sections. The novel also describes the bridge as being extremely cramped, with only a meter of space between the command chair and the other stations,<ref name="for277">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 277''</ref> while in the game, the bridge is clearly more spacious. According to the novel, there is also an elevator leading directly from the engine room to the bridge. | *In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', the description of the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is considerably different from its ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' incarnation. The bridge is described as having a command chair and a curved viewport; in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', this chair is absent and the window consists of several flat sections. The novel also describes the bridge as being extremely cramped, with only a meter of space between the command chair and the other stations,<ref name="for277">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 277''</ref> while in the game, the bridge is clearly more spacious. According to the novel, there is also an elevator leading directly from the engine room to the bridge.<ref name="for277"/> In the game, the engineering and the bridge are on the same level, and there are no doors which may belong to an elevator adjoining the bridge. In addition, the engine room is described as being "hexagonal", while in the game,<ref name="for274">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 274''</ref> it consists of two vaguely rectangular chambers with the engine core in the middle. In the ''Combat Evolved'' level ''The Maw'', it is stated that the ''Pillar of Autumn'' has four fusion reactors, each of which is destroyed by the player; in ''The Fall of Reach'', the ship is also said to have a single main reactor nestled within two smaller reactor rings.<ref name="for274"/> The ship is also described as having rotating centrifuges to generate [[artificial gravity]];<ref name="for274"/> no rotating sections are present in the game, unless they are located within the hull. | ||
*In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', when Captain Keyes awakens from cryo, Cortana informs him that the capacitors of the Pillar of Autumn's MAC gun are depolarized and the gun cannot fire,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 337''</ref> yet the gun is apparently used, and the loss of fire control is treated as a significant | *In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', when Captain Keyes awakens from cryo, Cortana informs him that the capacitors of the Pillar of Autumn's MAC gun are depolarized and the gun cannot fire,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 337''</ref> yet the gun is apparently used, and the loss of fire control is treated as a significant piece of dialogue in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'''s opening cutscene. | ||
**It is possible that the crew managed to get the gun working again before the battle. | **It is possible that the crew managed to get the gun working again before the battle. | ||
===''Halo: Combat Evolved''=== | ===''Halo: Combat Evolved''=== | ||
Line 66: | Line 54: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*The main view screen on the {{ | *The main view screen on the {{UNSCship|Pillar of Autumn}} labels the as-of-yet unidentified ring as "[[Installation 04|Halo]]". The name of the ring is not discovered until the level ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''. | ||
*Cortana says she cannot begin to calculate | *Cortana says she cannot begin to calculate the pulse range of Halo just after [[343 Guilty Spark]] finishes telling her it has a radius of exactly 25,000 light years. | ||
**This can be accounted for by Cortana's inherent distrust of Guilty Spark's motives. Additionally, since Cortana is an [[Smart AI|AI]] with an insatiable urge to know everything she can, she may have tried to calculate the range herself regardless of whatever 343 Guilty Spark had told her. | **This can be accounted for by Cortana's inherent distrust of Guilty Spark's motives. Additionally, since Cortana is an [[Smart AI|AI]] with an insatiable urge to know everything she can, she may have tried to calculate the range herself regardless of whatever 343 Guilty Spark had told her. | ||
*Almost every Pelican dropship bears the marking "[[Echo 419|E419]]", on its side, despite the fact that each Pelican has a different serial number. | *Almost every Pelican dropship bears the marking "[[Echo 419|E419]]", on its side, despite the fact that each Pelican has a different serial number. | ||
Line 73: | Line 61: | ||
*During the Warthog Run portion of ''The Maw'', the player has to travel a direct distance of over three kilometers atop the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to reach the [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighter, but the ''Autumn'' is only 1.17 kilometers long.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_poaconundrum/images/POA-Full-Int-Ext.jpg '''Halo.Bungie.org''': ''Pillar of Autumn'']</ref> The Longsword's launch bay is also at the end of the Warthog run. The front or rear of a ship is an unlikely place to store a launch bay, which implies that the Master Chief traveled from side to side, further straining the realism of the sequence. | *During the Warthog Run portion of ''The Maw'', the player has to travel a direct distance of over three kilometers atop the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to reach the [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighter, but the ''Autumn'' is only 1.17 kilometers long.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_poaconundrum/images/POA-Full-Int-Ext.jpg '''Halo.Bungie.org''': ''Pillar of Autumn'']</ref> The Longsword's launch bay is also at the end of the Warthog run. The front or rear of a ship is an unlikely place to store a launch bay, which implies that the Master Chief traveled from side to side, further straining the realism of the sequence. | ||
*During the level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'', [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson|Johnson]] can be seen with the Master Chief at the time he was really with [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] searching for the Covenant's [[Flood containment facility|"weapon cache"]]; even though the Captain has been out of reach since [[The Silent Cartographer]]. | *During the level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'', [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson|Johnson]] can be seen with the Master Chief at the time he was really with [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] searching for the Covenant's [[Flood containment facility|"weapon cache"]]; even though the Captain has been out of reach since [[The Silent Cartographer]]. | ||
**This is a result of [[Bungie]] reusing | **This is a result of [[Bungie]] reusing Johnson's model instead of creating another sergeant model. The same can be said for [[Marcus Stacker|Gunnery Sergeant Stacker]], who was treated as a generic NPC until ''Halo 4'', when he was finally explicitly identified in gameplay. | ||
*In ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' a body collapses on the Master Chief in the room where the [[Flood]] is introduced. It is unclear as to why this Marine was not infected when the Flood overran the personnel in the room. | *In ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]'' a body collapses on the Master Chief in the room where the [[Flood]] is introduced. It is unclear as to why this Marine was not infected when the Flood overran the personnel in the room. | ||
** | **This was likely done simply to add tension and suspense to the level, though it does seem rather unlikely from an in-universe perspective. | ||
===''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual=== | ===''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual=== | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*The ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' manual states that the [[Harvest]] [[First Battle of Harvest|incident]] took place in 2520 | *The ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' manual states that the [[Harvest]] [[First Battle of Harvest|incident]] took place in 2520,<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' manual, page 4</ref> while all other sources specify 2525.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', page 96</ref> | ||
*The manual states that [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] has served in the UNSC since 2526,<ref>''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual, page 8</ref> though ''The Fall of Reach'' clearly states that he | *The manual also states that [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]] has served in the UNSC since 2526,<ref>''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual, page 8</ref> though ''The Fall of Reach'' clearly states that he was fresh out of OCS in 2517.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', page 19</ref> | ||
*The Grunts are referred to as being five feet tall in the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual,<ref>''Halo: Combat Evolved'' manual, page 10</ref> but in ''The Fall of Reach'', they are referred to as being a meter tall (just over three feet). Although it could be that Grunts are "a meter tall" in a natural combat stance, while they are actually "five feet tall" if they stand up straight, without a methane tank attached to their backs.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 1''</ref> | |||
*According to the manual, the Covenant attacked Reach two days before the Spartans' [[Operation: RED FLAG|mission to capture a Prophet]] was to begin. This is contradicted in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', in both of which the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is already departing for the mission when the Covenant attack. | *According to the manual, the Covenant attacked Reach two days before the Spartans' [[Operation: RED FLAG|mission to capture a Prophet]] was to begin. This is contradicted in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', in both of which the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is already departing for the mission when the Covenant attack. | ||
*The manual refers to the {{UNSCShip|Meriwether Lewis}} as a colony ship. The ship is said to be a frigate in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 139''</ref> | *The manual refers to the {{UNSCShip|Meriwether Lewis}} as a colony ship. The ship is said to be a frigate in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 139''</ref> | ||
Line 90: | Line 79: | ||
*In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', [[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lieutenants]] [[Hall]] and [[Dominique]] are introduced as members of the command crew of the ''Pillar of Autumn'',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 300''</ref> but are absent in ''Halo: The Flood'' when the ship arrives at Installation 04.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood'''</ref> | *In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', [[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lieutenants]] [[Hall]] and [[Dominique]] are introduced as members of the command crew of the ''Pillar of Autumn'',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 300''</ref> but are absent in ''Halo: The Flood'' when the ship arrives at Installation 04.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood'''</ref> | ||
*On page 3 of ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Thom Shephard]] tells [[Sam Marcus]] that they are resuscitating [[John-117]] before the ''Pillar of Autumn'' exits | *On page 3 of ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Thom Shephard]] tells [[Sam Marcus]] that they are resuscitating [[John-117]] before the ''Pillar of Autumn'' exits Slipspace. However, in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', it is clearly shown that Captain Keyes orders that John-117 be taken out of cryo after the ''Autumn'' is seen drifting in space and is preparing to be overrun by the Covenant. | ||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', the presence of the Covenant at Installation 04 is regarded as being unrelated to the arrival of the ''Pillar of Autumn''; the Covenant are surprised by the arrival of the human ship and act as if it ended up in the system by either following one of their ships,<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 5''</ref> or by chance.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 6''</ref> However, ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'' and the Covenant broadcast log featured in the Adjunct section in the 2010 reissue on ''The Flood'', state that the Covenant found the ring specifically by following the ''Autumn'''s slipspace jump from Reach, and arrived at the system in advance, waiting for the ''Autumn'' on the far side of Threshold.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]'': (Thel 'Vadam: ''"It fled, as we set fire to their planet. But I followed with all the ships in my command"'')</ref> | |||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', | *In ''Halo: The Flood'', Captain Keyes comments that a single plasma torpedo is capable of destroying the ''Pillar of Autumn'', though in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' it is struck by several without losing structural integrity and breaking up. | ||
**This possibly relates to the Minor Prophet's order to not fire plasma torpedoes. Additionally, the Covenant ships may have chosen to fire undercharged shots to minimize damage to Halo caused by stray shots. | |||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', Cortana identifies [[Installation 04]] as "Halo" when escaping the ''Pillar of Autumn'',<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2003)''', ''page 38''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2010)''', ''page 50''</ref> but in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', it is not identified by this name until the level [[Truth and Reconciliation (level)|Truth and Reconciliation]], when Captain Keyes mentions overhearing the name from his Covenant captors. | *In ''Halo: The Flood'', Cortana identifies [[Installation 04]] as "Halo" in ''Halo: The Flood'' when escaping the ''Pillar of Autumn'',<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2003)''', ''page 38''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2010)''', ''page 50''</ref> but in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', it is not identified by this name until the level [[Truth and Reconciliation (level)|Truth and Reconciliation]], when Captain Keyes mentions overhearing the name from his Covenant captors. | ||
*According to ''Halo: The Flood'', there was an ocean at the bottom of the desert plateau the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' was holding position on.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 101''</ref> However, in both ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', there is only solid ground below the plateau. | *According to ''Halo: The Flood'', there was an ocean at the bottom of the desert plateau the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' was holding position on.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 101''</ref> However, in both ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', there is only solid ground below the plateau. | ||
Line 102: | Line 94: | ||
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Cortana accesses Installation 04's Control Center by having the Master Chief remove her memory chip from his helmet and place it in the console. In ''Halo: The Flood'', she broadcasts herself into the system using the suit's transmitter.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2003)''', ''page 192''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2010)''', ''page 209''</ref> | *In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Cortana accesses Installation 04's Control Center by having the Master Chief remove her memory chip from his helmet and place it in the console. In ''Halo: The Flood'', she broadcasts herself into the system using the suit's transmitter.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2003)''', ''page 192''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2010)''', ''page 209''</ref> | ||
*There are several differences between ''Halo: The Flood'' and the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level ''[[The Maw]]'' in the encounter at the final service elevator on the ''Pillar of Autumn''. In ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Zuka 'Zamamee]] confronts John-117 by using a [[ | *There are several differences between ''Halo: The Flood'' and the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level ''[[The Maw]]'' in the encounter at the final service elevator on the ''Pillar of Autumn''. In ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Zuka 'Zamamee]] confronts John-117 by using a [[Type-29 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun|Shade turret]], accompanied by several Grunts. Cortana takes control of the elevator and causes it to descend, allowing John-117 to drop in a pair of grenades and take out the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 334-335''</ref> In the game, there are two Special Operations Elites on the elevator and no Shade turret. In addition, Cortana does not move the elevator. | ||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', many of the Marines John-117 fought alongside were female, despite no female Marines being in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' at all | *In ''Halo: The Flood'', many of the Marines John-117 fought alongside were female, despite no female Marines being in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' at all. | ||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Stacker|Sergeant Stacker]] is not mentioned at any point, despite him being present on several occasions in the game. He is replaced during the raid on the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' by Sergeant Parker, and for the raid on the [[Silent Cartographer]] by Gunnery Sergeant [[Waller]]. One place where he might make an appearance is when the Chief rescued a crashed Marine squad with an unnamed Sergeant, where Stacker is normally found in the game. | *In ''Halo: The Flood'', [[Stacker|Sergeant Stacker]] is not mentioned at any point, despite him being present on several occasions in the game. He is replaced during the raid on the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' by Sergeant Parker, and for the raid on the [[Silent Cartographer]] by Gunnery Sergeant [[Waller]]. One place where he might make an appearance is when the Chief rescued a crashed Marine squad with an unnamed Sergeant, where Stacker is normally found in the game. | ||
Line 116: | Line 108: | ||
*As revealed in later sources, the Covenant has revered Forerunner AIs as "Oracles" for a long time,<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 272''</ref> but in ''Halo: The Flood'', 343 Guilty Spark was regarded as an enemy by the Sangheili.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 319''</ref> | *As revealed in later sources, the Covenant has revered Forerunner AIs as "Oracles" for a long time,<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 272''</ref> but in ''Halo: The Flood'', 343 Guilty Spark was regarded as an enemy by the Sangheili.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 319''</ref> | ||
**This is probably because the fiction regarding the Covenant's beliefs had not yet been cemented by the time ''The Flood'' was written. | **This is probably because the fiction regarding the Covenant's beliefs had not yet been cemented by the time ''The Flood'' was written. | ||
===''Halo: First Strike''=== | ===''Halo: First Strike''=== | ||
Line 126: | Line 116: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Master Chief throws Private Jenkins' recorder chip away, but he still has it in ''First Strike''. This could be explained by the Chief's suit automatically making a copy of Jenkins' recording as a possible means of gathering intelligence, although this is only a theory. | *In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Master Chief throws Private Jenkins' recorder chip away, but he still has it in ''First Strike''. This could be explained by the Chief's suit automatically making a copy of Jenkins' recording as a possible means of gathering intelligence, although this is only a theory. | ||
Line 137: | Line 121: | ||
*It is stated in ''Halo: First Strike'' that Dr. Halsey always referred to John by name, and never by rank or serial number.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 189'' (2003)</ref> However, in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', she called him "Master Chief" repeatedly.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 225, 247, 253, and others''</ref> | *It is stated in ''Halo: First Strike'' that Dr. Halsey always referred to John by name, and never by rank or serial number.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 189'' (2003)</ref> However, in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', she called him "Master Chief" repeatedly.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 225, 247, 253, and others''</ref> | ||
*[[ | *[[Fred-104]] fires three shots from a [[Wraith]]'s [[plasma mortar]] which are powerful enough to reduce at least two [[Scarab]]s as well as nearby Covenant mining equipment to "piles of half-melted junk".<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 143'' (2010)</ref> While the Scarabs were not named as such in the original edition, the 2010 reissue's identification of the vehicles raises an inconsistency regarding their durability; in the games, Scarabs require sustained and concentrated fire to their weak points to take down, making the Wraith's firepower seem disproportional. | ||
*The city of [[Côte d'Azur]] is repeatedly referenced as if it were a planet;<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 130, 131, 197, 238'' (2003)</ref> this mistake is repeated in ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 149''</ref> Although ''First Strike'' and ''Ghosts of Onyx'' clearly refer to the Côte d'Azur described in ''The Fall of Reach'', this confusion may have given rise to the introduction of the separate planet named [[Cote d'Azure]] in later media. | *The city of [[Côte d'Azur]] is repeatedly referenced as if it were a planet;<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 130, 131, 197, 238'' (2003)</ref> this mistake is repeated in ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 149''</ref> Although ''First Strike'' and ''Ghosts of Onyx'' clearly refer to the Côte d'Azur described in ''The Fall of Reach'', this confusion may have given rise to the introduction of the separate planet named [[Cote d'Azure]] in later media. | ||
Line 145: | Line 129: | ||
*The [[Prophet of Truth]]'s description differs considerably from his visual appearances, presumably because the Prophets' appearance had not yet been decided upon when the novel was written. While written from an ostensibly Covenant point of view, Truth is described as an "it" instead of a he. Truth is also said to have sensor and respiratory apparatus like insect antennae in his headpiece as well as protruding eyes and a snout, the rest of his face remaining obscured. Strangely, the description remains unaltered in the 2010 Definitive Edition.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 266'' (2003); ''page 406'' (2010)</ref> | *The [[Prophet of Truth]]'s description differs considerably from his visual appearances, presumably because the Prophets' appearance had not yet been decided upon when the novel was written. While written from an ostensibly Covenant point of view, Truth is described as an "it" instead of a he. Truth is also said to have sensor and respiratory apparatus like insect antennae in his headpiece as well as protruding eyes and a snout, the rest of his face remaining obscured. Strangely, the description remains unaltered in the 2010 Definitive Edition.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 266'' (2003); ''page 406'' (2010)</ref> | ||
===''Halo 2''=== | ===''Halo 2''=== | ||
Line 154: | Line 136: | ||
*In the cutscene ''[[Another Day at the Beach]]'', the UNSC forces that land near [[Hotel Zanzibar]] wear [[ODST armor]], reflecting the analogous scene from the [[Halo 2 E3 demo]]. When the Marines are encountered at the hotel during the level [[Outskirts]], they wear standard Marine BDUs. Also, the location of the crashed Pelican does not match its position in game. | *In the cutscene ''[[Another Day at the Beach]]'', the UNSC forces that land near [[Hotel Zanzibar]] wear [[ODST armor]], reflecting the analogous scene from the [[Halo 2 E3 demo]]. When the Marines are encountered at the hotel during the level [[Outskirts]], they wear standard Marine BDUs. Also, the location of the crashed Pelican does not match its position in game. | ||
**This is because ''Another Day at the Beach'' was cut from the game before release. The Marines from the crashed Pelican were likely switched to regular Marines later in the level's development. | **This is because ''Another Day at the Beach'' was cut from the game before release. The Marines from the crashed Pelican were likely switched to regular Marines later in the level's development. | ||
*In the level ''[[Delta Halo]]'', seven dead ODSTs are strewn about quite far from the landing zone. However, ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' dropped only eleven SOEIVs in the opening cinematic. The Master Chief, the three ODSTs who land near him, the three killed near the intended landing zone, and the seven ODSTs means that fourteen SOEIVs should have been deployed. This is probably a deliberate reference to the number | *In the level ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]'', seven dead ODSTs are strewn about quite far from the landing zone. However, ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' dropped only eleven SOEIVs in the opening cinematic. The Master Chief, the three ODSTs who land near him, the three killed near the intended landing zone, and the seven ODSTs means that fourteen SOEIVs should have been deployed. This is probably a deliberate [[List of "seven" references in the Halo series|reference to the number seven]]: 14=7x2. | ||
===''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''=== | ===''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''=== | ||
Line 160: | Line 142: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
[[Kurt Ambrose]]'s rank was apparently lieutenant commander in 2545, as said in the prologue.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 13''</ref> However, he was still referred to as a lieutenant by 2551 later in the story.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 103-105''</ref> | |||
;External | ;External | ||
*The [[UNSC frigate|frigate]] {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} is erroneously referred to as a [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 185''</ref> | *The [[UNSC frigate|frigate]] {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} is erroneously referred to as a [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 185''</ref> | ||
*In ''Halo: First Strike'', Dr. Halsey puts four [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|submachine guns]] in a bag.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', | *In ''Halo: First Strike'', Dr. Halsey puts four [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|submachine guns]] in a bag.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 273</ref> In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Kelly finds the same weapons, but they are four [[MA5B Assault Rifle]]s instead.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', page 161</ref> | ||
*In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Kurt Ambrose remarks that some of the Alpha Company candidates were orphaned at [[Jericho VII]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 70''</ref> His speech takes place on December 12, 2531, yet Jericho VII was not glassed until February 2535.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''Prologue''</ref> | *In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', [[Kurt Ambrose]] remarks that some of the Alpha Company candidates were orphaned at [[Jericho VII]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 70''</ref> His speech takes place on December 12, 2531, yet Jericho VII was not glassed until February 2535.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''Prologue''</ref> | ||
**While this is most likely to be a simple oversight, it is possible that the candidates from Jericho VII were orphaned in a yet-unseen engagement that preceded the Covenant attack of 2535, as the background of the Covenant invasion of Jericho VII is not elaborated upon in ''The Fall of Reach''. For example, the events that occurred may have been similar to how the Covenant initially [[Battle of Arcadia|invaded Arcadia]] in 2531 but only arrived to [[Fall of Arcadia|glass the planet]] eighteen years later. | **While this is most likely to be a simple oversight, it is possible that the candidates from Jericho VII were orphaned in a yet-unseen engagement that preceded the Covenant attack of 2535, as the background of the Covenant invasion of Jericho VII is not elaborated upon in ''The Fall of Reach''. For example, the events that occurred may have been similar to how the Covenant initially [[Battle of Arcadia|invaded Arcadia]] in [[2531]] but only arrived to [[Fall of Arcadia|glass the planet]] eighteen years later. | ||
*On page 129 of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', [[Franklin Mendez]] is mentioned to be "pushing sixty [years old]" in 2552, which implies that his birthdate is close to or after 2493; he is previously mentioned as having "aged well" in 2531. However, this would give him a maximum age of 24 when he started training the SPARTAN-IIs, which is unlikely given his description in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' as a grizzled veteran instructor who had seen much combat, as well as his high rank of [[Chief Petty Officer]], as of 2517.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 28-29'' (2001)</ref> Additionally, because combat-oriented UNSC military personnel typically spend significant spans of time in cryosleep Mendez's biological age would likely be even less than his nominal one. Regardless of this, in ''Halo: Glasslands'', Mendez is mentioned as being the same age as Dr. Halsey, who is sixty at the time.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 39''</ref> | |||
*On page 129 of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', [[Franklin Mendez]] is mentioned to be "pushing sixty [years old]" in 2552, which implies that his birthdate is close to or after 2493; he is previously mentioned as having "aged well" in 2531. However, this would give him a maximum age of 24 when he started training the | |||
===''Halo 3''=== | ===''Halo 3''=== | ||
Line 191: | Line 159: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*Every Longsword fighter bears the marking ''7-89'' on its side, despite each Longsword canonically having a different serial number. This is the result of reusing the same model for all Longswords in the game. | *Every Longsword fighter bears the marking ''7-89'' on its side, despite each Longsword canonically having a different serial number. This is the result of reusing the same model for all Longswords in the game. | ||
*In the ending cutscene of the level ''[[The Storm]]'', all three UNSC frigates have the same serial number and all are labeled "''Forward Unto Dawn''". This is also obviously the result of reusing the same model. | *In the ending cutscene of the level ''[[The Storm]]'', all three UNSC frigates have the same serial number and all are labeled "''Forward Unto Dawn''"; one of the others is the ''Aegis Fate''. This is also obviously the result of reusing the same model. | ||
*In the ending cutscene of the level [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|''Halo'']], the Arbiter is shown sitting at the bridge's helm after leaving the hangar. After the ''Dawn'' is cut in half by the portal, the Arbiter arrives on Earth in the front half of the ship, yet the bridge remains attached to the back half of the ship. Presumably the Arbiter moved toward the fore end just before the ship was bisected. However, the cutscene appears to occur in real time; thus, he would have had mere seconds to descend roughly two decks from the bridge to the main hull, after which he would have to move forward at least fifty meters to avoid being caught in the aft section. | *In the ending cutscene of the level [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|''Halo'']], the Arbiter is shown sitting at the bridge's helm after leaving the hangar. After the ''Dawn'' is cut in half by the portal, the Arbiter arrives on Earth in the front half of the ship, yet the bridge remains attached to the back half of the ship. Presumably the Arbiter moved toward the fore end just before the ship was bisected. However, the cutscene appears to occur in real time; thus, he would have had mere seconds to descend roughly two decks from the bridge to the main hull, after which he would have to move forward at least fifty meters to avoid being caught in the aft section. | ||
Line 200: | Line 168: | ||
*''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' states that Harvest has a population of three million. However, in ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', it is stated to have a little over 300,000. The figure presented in ''Contact Harvest'' has been ignored in later media, and the population is listed as three million in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'' and ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''. | *''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' states that Harvest has a population of three million. However, in ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', it is stated to have a little over 300,000. The figure presented in ''Contact Harvest'' has been ignored in later media, and the population is listed as three million in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'' and ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''. | ||
*Throughout ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', the [[Eridanus system|Eridanus]] and [[Epsilon Eridani system|Epsilon Eridani]] star systems are referenced as being one system: "Epsilon Eridanus". It is implied that both [[Reach]] and [[Eridanus II]] are situated in this system.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 111''</ref> With two exceptions, (a chapter heading in the first printing of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' | *Throughout ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', the [[Eridanus system|Eridanus]] and [[Epsilon Eridani system|Epsilon Eridani]] star systems are referenced as being one system: "Epsilon Eridanus". It is implied that both [[Reach]] and [[Eridanus II]] are situated in this system.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 111''</ref> With two exceptions, (a chapter heading in the first printing of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''<ref name="for81"/> and the "Reclaimer" entry in the [[Bestiarum]]), the two systems are regarded as separate in all other fiction; in ''Halo: First Strike'', for instance, the main characters travel from Epsilon Eridani to Eridanus, a journey that would take days were it not for the [[Forerunner crystal]] from beneath [[CASTLE Base]].<ref name="fornumbers"/><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 242, 261''</ref> | ||
*The [[Insurrection]] is described as being largely confined to the aforementioned "Epsilon Eridanus" system, whereas outer systems are described as being more stable due to their more homogeneous populaces.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 61-62''</ref> In other media, the Insurrection is depicted as occurring almost exclusively in the Outer Colonies and spanning numerous star systems. Additionally, the highly varied populations of the Outer Colonies are cited as one of the reasons for their instability. Prior to ''Contact Harvest'', no mention was made of fighting breaking out in Epsilon Eridani; on the other hand, the conflict was described as being at its most active in the similarly named Eridanus system. This has been partly reconciled in later fiction, with the Insurrection being active in both systems, although the claim that the conflict at large was confined to Eridanus has been ignored. | *The [[Insurrection]] is described as being largely confined to the aforementioned "Epsilon Eridanus" system, whereas outer systems are described as being more stable due to their more homogeneous populaces.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 61-62''</ref> In other media, the Insurrection is depicted as occurring almost exclusively in the Outer Colonies and spanning numerous star systems. Additionally, the highly varied populations of the Outer Colonies are cited as one of the reasons for their instability. Prior to ''Contact Harvest'', no mention was made of fighting breaking out in Epsilon Eridani; on the other hand, the conflict was described as being at its most active in the similarly named Eridanus system. This has been partly reconciled in later fiction, with the Insurrection being active in both systems, although the claim that the conflict at large was confined to Eridanus has been ignored. | ||
*[[Operation: TREBUCHET]] is stated to be the name for the UNSC's entire ongoing campaign against the [[Insurrectionist]]s as of [[2524]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 11''</ref> This contradicts ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', which | *[[Operation: TREBUCHET]] is stated to be the name for the UNSC's entire ongoing campaign against the [[Insurrectionist]]s as of [[2524]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 11''</ref> This contradicts ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', which established TREBUCHET as a single counterinsurgency operation against the rebels in the Eridanus system in [[2513]], one that is treated as an event long past by 2525.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 75-76'' (2001)</ref> However, the [[Halo Wars Timeline Events|in-game timeline]] in ''[[Halo Wars]]'' refers to Operation: TREBUCHET as "upcoming" in an entry dated 2520;<ref name="hwtimeline">[[Halo Wars Timeline Events|'''Halo Wars''' — ''Timeline'']]</ref> furthermore, ''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' references TREBUCHET as the ''"last counterinsurgency operation against the colonies"'',<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 94''</ref> lending more credence to the version presented in ''Contact Harvest''. | ||
*In ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', humanity is said to have seventeen planetary colonies.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 74''</ref> In a [http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive28.pl?read=847733 forum post], [[Joseph Staten]] suggested that a large number of the colonies are smaller settlements or outposts; he admitted to being "intentionally vague" in order to leave room for possible future expansion. Later media have ignored Staten's claim, showing that the [[Unified Earth Government]] had at least several dozen developed colony planets and had some presence on over 800 worlds. | *In ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', humanity is said to have seventeen planetary colonies.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 74''</ref> In a [http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive28.pl?read=847733 forum post], [[Joseph Staten]] suggested that a large number of the colonies are smaller settlements or outposts; he admitted to being "intentionally vague" in order to leave room for possible future expansion. Later media, (as well as the pre-release ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' timeline), have ignored Staten's claim, showing that the [[Unified Earth Government]] had, at the very least, several dozen developed colony planets and had some presence on over 800 worlds. | ||
===''Halo: The Cole Protocol''=== | ===''Halo: The Cole Protocol''=== | ||
Line 215: | Line 183: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
* | *In ''Halo: The Flood'' it says Captain Keyes killed his first human with a pistol, which was specifically stated to have a barrel;<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 198''</ref> however, ''Halo: The Cole Protocol'' states he used a modified [[plasma rifle]], a weapon which lacks any form of barrel.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 129''</ref> | ||
*Thel 'Vadam reacts to [[Jai-006]]'s face-concealing | *Thel 'Vadam reacts to [[Jai-006]]'s face-concealing MJOLNIR helmet with extreme disgust, believing that only a "soulless and dead" being would hide his face.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 275''</ref> This is uncharacteristically hypocritical in light of the fact that many [[Sangheili combat harness]] variants have helmets that fully cover the wearer's face; it is unlikely Thel would so harshly condemn something that is a common practice among his own kind. | ||
*'' | *According to ''Halo: Contact Harvest'', [[Madrigal]] is the nearest human colony to [[Harvest]], the two being separated by a six weeks' slipspace jump.<ref name="ch32"/> However, ''The Cole Protocol'' establishes that Madrigal is located in the [[23 Librae]] system, which, at 83.7 light years, is significantly further from [[Sol system|Sol]] than Harvest's Epsilon Indi. This would also make the distance between Harvest and Madrigal much longer than that between Harvest and Earth, for example. However, it should also be noted that Harvest's placement in the Epsilon Indi system in ''Contact Harvest'' can be considered erroneous based on real-world astronomy, as this would make it one of humanity's closest colony worlds rather than the most distant. | ||
===''Halo Wars''=== | ===''Halo Wars''=== | ||
Line 225: | Line 193: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
In the level ''[[Dome of Light]]'', after requesting the first [[Rhino]] to be deployed, the radio operator on the {{ | In the level ''[[Dome of Light]]'', after requesting the first [[M-145D Rhino|Rhino]] to be deployed, the radio operator on the {{UNSCship|Spirit of Fire}} will identify the player as "Harvest Surface Command" even though the level takes place on [[Arcadia]]. | ||
*This | *This could be that the ''Spirit of Fire'' was still assigned to Harvest. | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*Although the Forerunner [[ | *Although the Forerunner [[relic]] on Harvest is discussed by Captain Cutter and Professor Anders at the end of ''Halo Wars: Genesis'', its discovery is treated as new information in the game's opening cinematic. The simplest explanation is that Forge's discovery of the relic in the cutscene takes place during the events of ''Genesis''. | ||
*In all renders and cutscenes, most notably "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-m8kJCUI4 She Is Not My Girlfriend]" at the beginning of the level ''[[Anders' Signal]]'', the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]] is shown with four barrels. It is likely that this is a variant of the M41 LAAG, similar in design to the [[M41 Extended Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]] mounted on the [[Open Frame 92/Extra-Vehicular Activity|OF-92 Booster Frame]]. | *In all renders and cutscenes, most notably "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-m8kJCUI4 She Is Not My Girlfriend]" at the beginning of the level ''[[Anders' Signal]]'', the [[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]] is shown with four barrels. It is likely that this is a variant of the M41 LAAG, similar in design to the [[M41 Extended Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]] mounted on the [[Open Frame 92/Extra-Vehicular Activity|OF-92 Booster Frame]]. | ||
Line 236: | Line 204: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*The depiction of the city of [[New Mombasa]] in ''Halo 3: ODST'' differs significantly from its ''Halo 2'' incarnation, the most prominent changes being the replacement of the [[Mombasa Tether]] to a separate island and a major restructuring of the island's general shape. As a result, the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s assault carrier ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' is also moved to a different location over the city than it | *The depiction of the city of [[New Mombasa]] in ''Halo 3: ODST'' differs significantly from its ''Halo 2'' incarnation, the most prominent changes being the replacement of the [[Mombasa Tether]] to a separate island and a major restructuring of the island's general shape. As a result, the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s assault carrier ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' is also moved to a different location over the city than it was in ''Halo 2''. | ||
*In ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Solemn Penance'' is stationary just | *In ''Halo 3: ODST'', the ''Solemn Penance'' is seen as being stationary just prior to it jumping into slipspace, yet in ''Halo 2'' during the closing cutscene of the level ''[[Metropolis (level)|Metropolis]]'', the assault carrier is moving forward. | ||
**During the same scene in ''Halo 3: ODST'', the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' is seen approaching the carrier in a straight line and is clearly separate when they jump, but in ''Halo 2'', the ''In Amber Clad'' flies in an arc to a position underneath the starboard side of the assault carrier. These changes were made for the sake of drama and to make the scene easier to witness from | **During the same scene in ''Halo 3: ODST'', the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' is seen approaching the carrier in a straight line and is clearly separate when they jump, but in ''Halo 2'', the ''In Amber Clad'' flies in an arc to a position underneath the starboard side of the assault carrier. These changes were made for the sake of drama and to make the scene easier to witness from [[the Rookie]]'s point of view. | ||
===''Halo: | *In the profiles for the members of [[Buck's squad]], it is shown that [[Kojo Agu]] enlisted in the UNSC when he was only 17 years old, after serving as a [[UNSC commercial fleet|merchant marine]].<ref name="squad">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODSTsquad '''Bungie.net''': ''Meet The Squad'']</ref> As shown in ''[[i love bees]]'' and later ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'',<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 109''</ref> the minimum age of enlistment for the UNSC is 18 years. | ||
**He may have been allowed to join with the consent of a parent or legal guardian, as is allowed in the modern United States military. | |||
*Some of the Sangheili corpses found around New Mombasa are wearing the [[Assault harness]], even though they were killed just before the [[Great Schism]] and the Assault harness was restricted from use until after the Sangheili seceded from the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo 3''', ''Assault Harness description''</ref> | |||
**The Assault harness' description merely notes that the armor set's use was restricted, not that it was completely forbidden. It can thus be inferred that the Assault harness saw limited use prior to the outbreak of the Schism. | |||
===''Halo Legends''=== | ===''Halo Legends''=== | ||
{{Main|Halo Legends}} | {{Main|Halo Legends}} | ||
====''The Babysitter''==== | ====''The Babysitter''==== | ||
Line 255: | Line 223: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', ONI's intelligence on the [[Prophet]]s as of the briefing for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] on August 27, 2552 was extremely scarce; their appearance was unknown and their existence was only inferred from Covenant communications.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 276-278'' (2010)</ref> Debriefings and [[helmet recorder]] data from the [[Raid on Heian|mission]] depicted in ''The Babysitter'' (which can be inferred to have occurred prior to November 2551 due to the [[MJOLNIR Mark IV]] armor still being in service) would no doubt have shed more light into the appearance and role of the Prophets, which would in all likelihood have been utilized in the Spartans' RED FLAG briefing due to the mission's critical nature. | According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', ONI's intelligence on the [[Prophet]]s as of the briefing for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] on August 27, 2552 was extremely scarce; their appearance was unknown and their existence was only inferred from Covenant communications.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 276-278'' (2010)</ref> Debriefings and [[helmet recorder]] data from the [[Raid on Heian|mission]] depicted in ''The Babysitter'' (which can be inferred to have occurred prior to November 2551 due to the [[MJOLNIR Mark IV]] armor still being in service) would no doubt have shed more light into the appearance and role of the Prophets, which would in all likelihood have been utilized in the Spartans' RED FLAG briefing due to the mission's critical nature. | ||
*This may be a retcon similar to later media ignoring the nature of the first human contacts with Sangheili, Jiralhanae and Mgalekgolo in ''The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', though the statements about the Prophets remain unchanged in the revised edition of ''The Fall of Reach''. | *This may be a retcon similar to later media ignoring the nature of the first human contacts with Sangheili, Jiralhanae and Mgalekgolo in ''The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', though the statements about the Prophets remain unchanged in the revised edition of ''The Fall of Reach''. | ||
===''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''=== | ===''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''=== | ||
Line 265: | Line 233: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
Jacob Keyes is shown to be aware of the reason behind [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]]'s mission to observe the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] candidates.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''"[[Pariah]]"'', ''page 16''</ref> However, ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and [[Halsey's journal]] clearly indicate that Keyes was unaware of the mission's true nature, and that Halsey had him reassigned before he could find out.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 28'' (2001 edition)</ref> | Jacob Keyes is shown to be aware of the reason behind [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]]'s mission to observe the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] candidates.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''"[[Pariah]]"'', ''page 16''</ref> However, ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and [[Halsey's journal]] clearly indicate that Keyes was unaware of the mission's true nature, and that Halsey had him reassigned before he could find out.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 28'' (2001 edition)</ref> | ||
====''The Mona Lisa''==== | ====''The Mona Lisa''==== | ||
Line 276: | Line 238: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
It is repeatedly stated that the UNSC | It is repeatedly stated that the UNSC had a "policy" not to take Covenant prisoners and the main characters are shown to be baffled about discovering Covenant prisoners aboard the prison vessel ''[[Mona Lisa]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''pages 262, 269''</ref> However, UNSC personnel are shown taking Covenant prisoners in ''Halo: The Flood'', ''Halo Wars: Genesis'', and several later sources. It is likely that the "policy" to which the characters refer is a guideline or standard operating procedure rather than a official, strictly enforced protocol. | ||
====''Palace Hotel''==== | ====''Palace Hotel''==== | ||
{{Main|Palace Hotel | {{Main|Palace Hotel}} | ||
;External | ;External | ||
The specifics of the events of the ground battle in [[New Mombasa]] differ significantly between the ''Halo 2'' level ''[[Metropolis]]'' and the ''Halo: Evolutions'' story ''[[Palace Hotel]]''. In addition to extensive changes in dialog, several events and locations are described differently. For example, the scene in the parking lot of the [[Kilindini Park Cultural Center]], featured in ''Palace Hotel'', is not present in the game. The ending of ''Palace Hotel'' is also different from ''Metropolis'', where John makes his way to a Marine outpost in a [[Mtangulizi Kampuni|corporate]] building instead of a [[Palace Hotel | The specifics of the events of the ground battle in [[New Mombasa]] differ significantly between the ''Halo 2'' level ''[[Metropolis]]'' and the ''Halo: Evolutions'' story ''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''. In addition to extensive changes in dialog, several events and locations are described differently. For example, the scene in the parking lot of the [[Kilindini Park Cultural Center]], featured in ''Palace Hotel'', is not present in the game. The ending of ''Palace Hotel'' is also different from ''Metropolis'', where John makes his way to a Marine outpost in a [[Mtangulizi Kampuni|corporate]] building instead of a [[Palace Hotel|hotel]]. In the game, it is mentioned that the Marines' lieutenant was killed as soon as they arrived and that [[Banks|Sergeant Banks]] is in charge at the time, while in ''Palace Hotel'', John meets the Marines' [[Parisa|lieutenant]] at the outpost. Overall, ''Palace Hotel'' could be regarded as an alternate-continuity take on the story as presented in ''Halo 2'', much as the ''Fall of Reach'' comic series is an alternate incarnation of the novel's story. | ||
====''Human Weakness''==== | ====''Human Weakness''==== | ||
Line 288: | Line 250: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
[[Cortana]] knows about the death of [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]] while being held captive by the [[Gravemind]] | [[Cortana]] knows about the death of [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]] while being held captive by the [[Gravemind]] in ''High Charity''.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "[[Human Weakness]]", ''page 387''</ref> There is no way she could possibly have been aware of the event at this point, as Ackerson was killed after the [[Battle of Cleveland]] sometime between November 8 and 17,<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', [[Halo: Uprising Issue 4|Issue #4]]''</ref> and the scene in High Charity takes place days prior. Even accounting for the possibility she may have somehow learned this immediately after Ackerson was executed, she refers to the event in a fashion as if she had been aware of it beforehand. | ||
====''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''==== | ====''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole''==== | ||
Line 294: | Line 256: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*[[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Vice Admiral Preston Cole]] | *It is clearly stated that [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Vice Admiral Preston Cole]] had 117 ships under his command during the [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]]. ''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'' states he had only 107 ships in the same battle. The revised number is an obvious reference to John-117, so it could be considered an Easter egg. | ||
*According to the story, two of Preston Cole's | *According to the story, two of Preston Cole's grandfathers served in the [[Rain Forest Wars]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"'', ''page 415''</ref> This seems unlikely, as the conflict took place over three centuries before Cole's birth. | ||
*There are multiple discrepancies involving [[Michael Stanforth|Admiral Stanforth]]'s name, age and rank; for a more detailed analysis, see [[Michael Stanforth#Discrepancies|here]]. | *There are multiple discrepancies involving [[Michael Stanforth|Admiral Stanforth]]'s name, age and rank; for a more detailed analysis, see [[Michael Stanforth#Discrepancies|here]]. | ||
*In ''Halo Wars: Genesis'', the ''Halo Wars'' in-game timeline, and the pre-release timeline for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Preston Cole is said to have been promoted to full admiral after his [[Second Battle of Harvest|victory at Harvest]]. In ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', no mention is made of his promotion and he is referred to as a vice admiral throughout the story, even as late as his final broadcast in the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in [[2543]]; ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' also refers to him as a vice admiral. It is possible his rank expired or he may have been demoted in an unseen event. | *In ''Halo Wars: Genesis'', the ''Halo Wars'' in-game timeline, and the pre-release timeline for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Preston Cole is said to have been promoted to full admiral after his [[Second Battle of Harvest|victory at Harvest]]. In ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', no mention is made of his promotion and he is referred to as a vice admiral throughout the story, even as late as his final broadcast in the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in [[2543]]; ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' also refers to him as a vice admiral. It is possible his rank expired or he may have been demoted in an unseen event. Nonetheless, the [[ONI memorial]] in ''Halo 3: ODST'' refers to him posthumously as a full admiral. | ||
* | *The ''CCS''-class battlecruiser is said to have first been encountered at the Battle of Psi Serpentis in 2543. This contradicts ''Halo Wars: Genesis'', which shows Cole's fleet engaging such vessels in [[2526]]; ''Halo Wars'', in which two ''CCS''-class ships are encountered and identified by class at Arcadia in 2531; [[Data pads|data pad 10]], which states that the [[Assembly]]'s findings about glassing were derived from observing the ''CCS'' class in 2526; and ''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'' and the ''Halo Encyclopedia'', which state that vessels of the class were encountered frequently throughout the war. | ||
*Admiral Cole states in reference to the [[Reach super-AI network]] that ''"They're the only ones in the Outer Colonies with the raw power to get the job done,"''<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''pages 475-476''</ref> despite Reach being part of the [[Inner Colonies]]. | |||
===''Halo: Blood Line''=== | ===''Halo: Blood Line''=== | ||
Line 317: | Line 272: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
The [[smart AI]] [[Iona]] interfaces with [[Victor-101]] through his [[neural interface]], even using the system to force some of his memories to resurface, indicating that he has received the [[Spartan neural interface]] upgrade allowing such connectivity. The comic series is set prior to the finale of the [[Fall of Reach]], indicating that Victor must have received the upgrade some time earlier. According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' | The [[smart AI]] [[Iona]] interfaces with [[Victor-101]] through his [[neural interface]], even using the system to force some of his memories to resurface, indicating that he has received the [[Spartan neural interface]] upgrade allowing such connectivity. The comic series is set prior to the finale of the [[Fall of Reach]], indicating that Victor must have received the upgrade some time earlier. According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', [[John-117]] was the first Spartan to receive the upgrade and neurally integrate with a smart AI on [[2552#August|August 29, 2552]]; this is later corroborated by the [[data pads]] of ''Halo: Reach'', in which the [[Assembly]] makes note of the melding of John's and Cortana's neural networks as a monumental achievement in their own goals. | ||
===''Halo: Reach''=== | ===''Halo: Reach''=== | ||
Line 323: | Line 278: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*During the level | *During the level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]'', [[Urban Holland|Colonel Holland]] once refers to the [[SDV-class heavy corvette|Covenant corvette]] ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' as a cruiser.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]'' (''"Find a way inside, and permanently disable the cruiser's communications."'')</ref> | ||
*In the game's introductory cinematic, the Covenant-conquered [[Reach]] is depicted as being [[:File:Reach Glassed.jpg|only partially glassed]]; the [[data pads]] in the game explain the impossibility of | *In the game's introductory cinematic, the Covenant-conquered [[Reach]] is depicted as being [[:File:Reach Glassed.jpg|only partially glassed]]; the [[data pads]] in the game went on to explain the Covenant's impossibility of fully glassing a planet's surface, supported by statements of a similar nature in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]; additionally, references to the complete glassing of Reach were modified in the 2010 reissue of ''[[Halo: First Strike]]''. However, in the skybox of the multiplayer map ''[[Condemned]]'', Reach's surface is depicted as being [[:File:Reachglassed.png|almost completely ablaze]], significantly different from the more subdued imagery in the game's introduction. This discrepancy may stem from the map having been created by a separate studio, [[Certain Affinity]], who may not have been properly informed of the wider retcon regarding the Covenant's glassing capabilities or the specific instance of Reach's glassing. | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' | *In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', as well as ''Halo: The Flood'', which take place directly after ''Halo: Reach'', the Marines on board the ''Pillar of Autumn'' are armed with MA5B assault rifles. However, in ''Reach'', the Marines assigned to the ''Pillar of Autumn'' are armed with MA37 assault rifles. | ||
**From a game design perspective, this is due to Bungie declining to spend resources to create a weapon that would already have its place in the "sandbox" filled, especially given the relatively brief appearance it would make. From a canon perspective, it has since been explained that Marines will utilize Army weaponry should the situation require, as occurs in ''Halo: Reach''.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/forums/games/f/5/p/7250/70316.aspx#70316 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''': ''The UNSC Army discrepancy in CE can be fixed]''</ref> | **From a game design perspective, this is due to Bungie declining to spend resources to create a weapon that would already have its place in the "sandbox" filled, especially given the relatively brief appearance it would make. From a canon perspective, it has since been explained that Marines will utilize Army weaponry should the situation require, as occurs in ''Halo: Reach''.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/forums/games/f/5/p/7250/70316.aspx#70316 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''': ''The UNSC Army discrepancy in CE can be fixed]''</ref> | ||
*According to an [[Intersystem News]] sheet that comes with the [[Halo: Reach Limited Edition|Limited]] and [[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|Legendary]] editions of the game, Jacob Keyes was already a captain in [[2550]]. However, according to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', he was not promoted to captain until after he performed the famous [[Keyes Loop]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 161'' (2001 edition)</ref> | *According to an [[Intersystem News]] sheet that comes with the [[Halo: Reach Limited Edition|Limited]] and [[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|Legendary]] editions of the game, Jacob Keyes was already a captain in [[2550]]. However, according to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', he was not promoted to captain until after he performed the famous [[Keyes Loop]] in [[2552#July|July 2552]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 161'' (2001 edition)</ref> | ||
* | *The game places the [[Olympic Tower]] in the city of [[New Alexandria]]. ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' states that the building was part of Reach's [[Fleet Command Headquarters]],<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 230'' (2001)</ref> which was implied by ''The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'' to be located within the [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex]] in the [[Highland Mountains]] as opposed to a civilian city. ''Halo: Reach'' also gives no indication that the Olympic Tower (referred to only as "ONI HQ" in in-game dialog) is part of a larger FLEETCOM complex. Additionally, the game depicts New Alexandria's conquest and glassing on August 23; the FLEETCOM HQ was still intact as of August 30 in ''The Fall of Reach'', as the book has the Covenant launch an overwhelming ground assault to take the HQ.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 300'' (2001)</ref> | ||
*The placement of the multiplayer map | *The placement of the multiplayer map ''[[Breakneck]]'' in New Mombasa is inconsistent with the city's ''Halo 3: ODST'' incarnation. Assuming the locations of the city's landmarks, such as the bridge of the [[Uplift Nature Reserve]], are consistent with ''ODST'', the map should be situated near the southernmost main section of the Reserve. No skyscrapers or streets are present in the area in ''ODST''.<ref>[[:File:Uplift rings.jpg]]</ref> In addition, according to the player's HUD compass, the city center and the Mombasa tether are situated to the south and southwest of the map, respectively. Based on the way the city is presented in ''ODST'', the aforementioned landmarks would be located to the north and northwest of the Uplift Reserve and thus the map's playable area. | ||
*While stated to be set on Installation 04,<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2011/11/09/The-Halo-Bulletin-11911-.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 11/9/11'']</ref> the skybox of the map | *While stated to be set on Installation 04,<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2011/11/09/The-Halo-Bulletin-11911-.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 11/9/11'']</ref> the skybox of the map ''[[Ridgeline]]'' features a prominent earthlike world with visible continents and oceans as opposed to the gas giant [[Threshold]]. | ||
===''Halo: Fall of Reach''=== | ===''Halo: Fall of Reach''=== | ||
Line 346: | Line 298: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
* When the Spartans are issued their | * When the Spartans are issued their MJOLNIR Mark IV armor, the armor is free of any insignia. After suiting up, the armor now has the Spartans' tags on the chest. | ||
* When Halsey puts on John's helmet for him, the helmet in her hands resembles the Mark VI's, with its raised brow, oval visor groove, and square mouth guard. In the next | * When Halsey puts on John's helmet for him, the helmet in her hands resembles the Mark VI's, with its raised brow, oval visor groove, and square mouth guard. In the next page as John wears the helmet, it is now the default Mark IV's, with its lowered brow, sleeker shape, and large breathing ports. | ||
** The bonus layout artwork for ''Covenant'' shows the Spartans wearing | ** The bonus layout artwork for ''Covenant'' shows the Spartans wearing ''The Package'' Mark VI-looking armor in the initial sketches, then being corrected to ''Halo Wars'' Mark IV armor before the inking and coloring. It may be that the Mark VI in Halsey's hands is likewise an error that was missed in the correcting. | ||
* During the skirmish between the ''Unrelenting'' and the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}, Captain Wallace orders for a Shiva nuke to be fired at the Covenant ship and for their MAC to be fired. Just as the nuke is launched, a bridge officer confirms the ''Commonwealth'' MAC has charged to 100%. The nuke impacts the ''Unrelenting'', dropping its shield and causing some damage near the bow, but the MAC is never seen being fired or impacting. | * During the skirmish between the ''Unrelenting'' and the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}, Captain Wallace orders for a Shiva nuke to be fired at the Covenant ship and for their MAC to be fired. Just as the nuke is launched, a bridge officer confirms the ''Commonwealth'' MAC has charged to 100%. The nuke impacts the ''Unrelenting'', dropping its shield and causing some damage near the bow, but the MAC is never seen being fired or impacting. | ||
* When Blue Team struggles with opening the door leading inside the ''Unrelenting'', they appear to still be in vacuum. However, a Jackal without any breathing gear fights them after the door opens. | * When Blue Team struggles with opening the door leading inside the ''Unrelenting'', they appear to still be in vacuum. However, a Jackal without any breathing gear fights them after the door opens. | ||
** In the book, the first door to the | ** In the book, the first door to the inside of ''Unrelenting'' opened automatically, then shut to restore the atmosphere, with the second one having to be manually opened. The comic appears to have skipped the previous door and a comment from Kelly about the size of the door implies it's the first one they encountered. | ||
* During the raid of the {{UNSCShip|Dartmouth}}, the captain tells her men to brace themselves before firing their guns in zero-g, as the equal and opposite reaction will push them backwards. The cover for Issue 2 of ''Covenant'' shows John standing on the outside of the ''Unrelenting'' firing in, and not having any trouble with his gun's recoil in zero-g. | |||
** The MJOLNIR Mark V was shown to have magnetic soles in ''Halo: First Strike'', so it is possible the Mark IV also had them and John was utilizing those. | |||
* When the Spartans are briefed about Operation: RED FLAG, Halsey reports ONI has just discovered a new Covenant species, the Prophets, and shows an image of the Prophet of Truth. Yet in an earlier issue, taking place in 2525, the Spartans, Halsey, and Vice Admiral Stanforth watch a broadcast from the Prophet of Regret himself, who displays his image quite visibly. | * When the Spartans are briefed about Operation: RED FLAG, Halsey reports ONI has just discovered a new Covenant species, the Prophets, and shows an image of the Prophet of Truth. Yet in an earlier issue, taking place in 2525, the Spartans, Halsey, and Vice Admiral Stanforth watch a broadcast from the Prophet of Regret himself, who displays his image quite visibly. | ||
;External | ;External | ||
''Halo: Fall of Reach'' departs from the source novel in numerous instances, with many liberties taken to better suit the comic medium. As it is not a particularly strict adaptation of the novel, one may regard it as an alternate interpretation of the original story, as opposed to an unintentionally contradictory narrative or a retcon. For a list of differences between the novel and the comic adaptation, see [[List of changes in Halo: | ''Halo: Fall of Reach'' departs from the source novel in numerous instances, with many liberties taken to better suit the comic medium. As it is not a particularly strict adaptation of the novel, one may regard it as an alternate interpretation of the original story, as opposed to an unintentionally contradictory narrative or a retcon. For a list of differences between the novel and the comic adaptation, see [[List of changes in Halo: Fall of Reach|list of changes in ''Halo: Fall of Reach'']]. | ||
===''Halo: Cryptum''=== | ===''Halo: Cryptum''=== | ||
Line 363: | Line 317: | ||
*[[Bornstellar]] concludes that the device used to camouflage the central island of [[Djamonkin Crater]] must be a [[baffler]] instead of a [[dazzler]] after witnessing its effects.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 43''</ref> However, he later refers to it as a dazzler.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 51, 53''</ref> | *[[Bornstellar]] concludes that the device used to camouflage the central island of [[Djamonkin Crater]] must be a [[baffler]] instead of a [[dazzler]] after witnessing its effects.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 43''</ref> However, he later refers to it as a dazzler.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 51, 53''</ref> | ||
*The [[Librarian]] is said to be older than the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] at "over eleven thousand years" of age,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 338''</ref> yet previously the Didact is mentioned to have served as [[protector of the ecumene]] for twelve thousand years.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 233''</ref> | *The [[Librarian]] is said to be older than the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] at her "over eleven thousand years" of age,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 338''</ref> yet previously the Didact is mentioned to have served as [[protector of the ecumene]] for twelve thousand years.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 233''</ref> | ||
;External | ;External | ||
There are several incongruities involved with the Ark described in the novel. Context provided by ''[[Halo: Primordium]]'' and ''[[Halo: Silentium]]'' indicates that the Ark featured in ''Cryptum'' is most likely to be the [[greater Ark]], although it is never specifically identified as such in the novel, instead being only referred to as "the Ark" or the "Beginning Place". The construct's description deviates considerably from that of [[Installation 00]]: it is described as having six arms as opposed to eight,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 329-330''</ref> and its lighting system is described as a series of plasma tubes rather than a single artificial star.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 336''</ref> ''Halo: Silentium'' further clarifies that the Librarian used the greater Ark as her base of operations before its destruction; because of its use as the Lifeshaper's main base, (combined with the secrecy of Installation 00), the greater Ark was almost universally referred to as "the Ark". Based on this information, it is assumed the Ark described in ''Cryptum'' is the greater Ark. | |||
However, this raises an apparent discrepancy regarding the lesser Ark and its secret array of six Halos. ''Halo: Cryptum'' describes a separate array of six Halo rings stationed over what is assumed to be the greater Ark for the aforementioned reasons.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 329'' (''"Slowly it dawned on me that I was looking upon another array of installations: six rings, each rising from one of the petals of an enormous flower."'')</ref> However, ''Halo: Silentium'' clarifies that the newer array of six Halos was manufactured by, and hidden at, the lesser Ark.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 237''</ref> This makes the rings' apparent presence at the greater Ark a contradiction, since there are no evident reasons for the six rings (the Forerunners' carefully-guarded last resort) being temporarily transported to the greater Ark. | |||
===''Halo: Glasslands''=== | ===''Halo: Glasslands''=== | ||
Line 372: | Line 328: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*At the conclusion of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Onyx dissolves into trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel | *At the conclusion of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Onyx dissolves into trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel]]s that vaporize any vessels nearby and remain to guard the slipspace rift to the [[Trevelyan|shield world]] formerly in the core of the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 378''</ref> These Sentinels are wholly absent in ''Glasslands'', in which UNSC vessels are capable of traversing the former site of [[Onyx]], now said to contain a debris field, without any sign of threat.<ref name="glass47">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 47-48''</ref> While the Onyx Sentinels are mentioned in passing when referencing past events,<ref name="glass285"/> their disappearance is neither noted nor explained. | ||
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kurt Ambrose]] is referred to as "Lieutenant" Ambrose. | *[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kurt Ambrose]] is referred to as "Lieutenant" Ambrose.<ref name="glass47"/> | ||
*[[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Parangosky]] states that [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] escaped with "billions of dollars' worth of UNSC resources".<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 49''</ref> The reference to dollars is out of place, as the [[credit]] is the standard currency within the UEG; previously, for example, a reference to "dollars" in a contemporary setting was retconned to "credits" in the 2010 reissue of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 232'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 264'' (2010 edition)</ref> | *[[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Parangosky]] states that [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] escaped with "billions of dollars' worth of UNSC resources".<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 49''</ref> The reference to dollars is out of place, as the [[credit]] is the standard currency within the UEG; previously, for example, a reference to "dollars" in a contemporary setting was retconned to "credits" in the 2010 reissue of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 232'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 264'' (2010 edition)</ref> | ||
*During one of her briefings to Kilo-Five, | *During one of her briefings to Kilo-Five, [[Serin Osman]] operates under the presumption that the existence of Onyx, as well as Parangosky's cover-up of the planet, would be common knowledge. Despite this, none of the members of Kilo-Five show any indication of not knowing about Onyx beforehand.<ref name="glass285">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 285''</ref> The planet was removed from all navigation charts and databases in 2511,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 124''</ref> before most members of Kilo-Five were born. As such, the rest of Kilo-Five, apart from Osman and Black-Box, would have no way of knowing that a planet called Onyx existed in the first place, much less that Parangosky had classified it. While it is possible that some information about the planet did leak out to the public (as suggested in ''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''), Osman's assumption that non-regular ONI personnel would be familiar with a single, obscure planet among humanity's hundreds of colonies is highly doubtful. | ||
*Captain Osman claims that the UNSC had captured and defused a Huragok "a couple of years ago", and that ONI | *Captain Osman claims that the UNSC had captured and defused a Huragok "a couple of years ago", and that ONI made several technological developments by reverse-engineering the data it contained. She implies that the Engineer had died and states that ONI needs more than one Huragok so they can repair each other and reproduce.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 222''</ref> Strangely, she does not mention that several Huragok were rounded up aboard the {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}} when it returned to Earth,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 335'' (2003 edition)</ref> nor does she say that [[Quick to Adjust|one]] was rescued from New Mombasa and interrogated shortly thereafter.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Coastal Highway]]''</ref> It is possible that she refrained from telling the "whole truth" to motivate her team to board ''[[Piety]]'' and capture the Engineer onboard. | ||
* | *It is implied that Halsey threatened someone with her personal sidearm when hijacking the ''[[Beatrice]]''; CPO Mendez uses this as basis for confiscating her pistol. ''Halo: First Strike'' describes the event in question, and no threats are involved when Halsey boards the vessel (which is empty and unguarded) and leaves unopposed.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 276''</ref> Additionally, Mendez refers to the incident as if he had been present,<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 74, 386''</ref> even though he did not have first-hand knowledge that Halsey had stolen a ship; him knowing about the event would be based on Blue Team's, or Halsey's own, accounts. Furthermore, Mendez treats the incident as if Halsey had stolen a friendly vessel, though ''Beatrice'' was in fact the personal ship of Governor [[Jacob Jiles]], an Insurrectionist leader. Most damningly, Admiral Parangosky lists the theft of ''Beatrice'' as one of the warcrime charges brought against Dr. Halsey following the latter's arrest on [[Trevelyan]]. | ||
**Because Halsey had lied to Lord Hood and tricked him into deploying Blue Team to Onyx, in addition to kidnapping Kelly, Mendez may have been simply paranoid and refused to trust the doctor with her sidearm. | |||
*According to ''Halo: Glasslands'', Dr. Halsey did not have an AI to help her decipher Forerunner symbols while in the [[Trevelyan|shield world]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 264''</ref> However, she had the "micro" AI [[Jerrod]] in her laptop in ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', helping her translate Forerunner symbols while they traversed the interior of Onyx.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 353''</ref> No mention was made of Halsey losing Jerrod, and she still | *According to ''Halo: Glasslands'', Dr. Halsey did not have an AI to help her decipher Forerunner symbols while in the [[Trevelyan|shield world]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 264''</ref> However, she had the "micro" AI [[Jerrod]] in her laptop in ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', helping her translate Forerunner symbols while they traversed the interior of Onyx.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 353''</ref> No mention was made of Halsey losing Jerrod, and she still had her laptop after she and the other survivors had entered the shield world.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 380''</ref> | ||
*During an argument with Dr. Halsey, CPO Mendez claims the SPARTAN-III program lacked any form of genetic filtering.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 269-270''</ref> In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Mendez is present at a meeting where it is established that the SPARTAN-III program did indeed have a set of genetic qualifications, a necessity because the | *During an argument with Dr. Halsey, CPO Mendez claims that the SPARTAN-III program lacked any form of genetic filtering.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 269-270''</ref> In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Mendez is personally present at a meeting where it is established that the SPARTAN-III program did indeed have a set of genetic qualifications, a necessity because the biochemical augmentations at the time were only compatible with a particular series of genetic markers, and any deviations would carry a significantly increased risk of failure. For this reason, the initial pool of candidates for Beta Company had to be reduced from the original projection of nearly one thousand to 375.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 82-83''</ref> While he may have lied, this is suspect in light of his argument being based on the alleged lack of genetic screening making the SPARTAN-III project more morally sound than the previous program due to the latter's perceived elitist overtones because of its strict genetic criteria (disregarding that the screening was in place not only for the sake of the augmentations but also to ensure that the candidates would be fit both physically and psychologically to acclimatize to—and survive—the harsh military life imposed upon them). | ||
*[[Lucy-B091]] lashes out in a fit of rage and strikes Dr. Halsey in the face with strength enough to "send a shock wave right up her arm"<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 316-317''</ref> and leave her hand "throbbing"; based on the description of the incident, | *[[Lucy-B091]] lashes out in a fit of rage and strikes Dr. Halsey in the face with strength enough to "send a shock wave right up her arm"<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 316-317''</ref> and leave her hand "throbbing"; based on the description of the incident, it is apparent that there is no self-control involved on Lucy's part. Halsey quickly recovers and does not suffer more apparent injury than a slightly bleeding nose.<ref name="gl327">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 327-328''</ref> Based on prior evidence of the SPARTAN-IIIs' physical strength, combined with the [[SPI armor]]'s hardened gauntlet plating (as seen [[:File:SpartanIII.jpg|here]] and [[:File:Semi-Powered Infiltration.png|here]], the knuckles and fingers are reinforced with metallic armor), such a blow would have inevitably resulted in Halsey's death. SPARTAN-IIIs have been stated to possess the strength of "three normal soldiers",<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 99''</ref> and while Lucy is around twenty at the time, SPARTAN-IIIs have been described as being capable of matching Sangheili and other Covenant in close quarters at only twelve years of age, effortlessly snapping the aliens' necks and limbs,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 22''</ref> demonstrating strength that would certainly be lethal against a frail, aging human. Although ''Glasslands'' offers Lucy's small size as a justification for the meager force of her punch,<ref name="gl327"/> ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' gives no indication that her physical prowess is in any way anomalous among the SPARTAN-IIIs as she is able to keep up with the decidedly superhuman feats of the rest of [[Team Foxtrot|her fireteam]] and the rest of Beta Company during [[Operation: TORPEDO]] as well as later on. | ||
*In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', the omniscient narrator states that Lucy-B091 would remain mute for the rest of her life following Operation: TORPEDO.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 27'' (''Lucy's words asking if they were alive would be her last. "Posttraumatic vocal disarticulation," the experts would eventually declare. And although recertified for duty, she would remain | *In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', the omniscient narrator states that Lucy-B091 would remain mute for the rest of her life following [[Operation: TORPEDO]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 27'' (''Lucy's words asking if they were alive would be her last. "Posttraumatic vocal disarticulation," the experts would eventually declare. And although recertified for duty, she would remain silent—either unable, or unwilling, to speak the rest of her life.'')</ref> However, Lucy overcomes her [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation]] and regains the ability to speak in ''Halo: Glasslands''. | ||
* | *When the survivors in the shield world reestablish contact with the UNSC, [[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Parangosky]] tells Dr. Halsey that it has been "five months" since John-117 and Cortana went missing after stopping the Halo Array from firing.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 368''</ref> However, John and Cortana disappeared on December 11, 2552, with the UNSC receiving confirmation of this when [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] returned to Earth on December 23.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_postsm286574_Glasslands-complaints.aspx#post286574 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''Glasslands complaints...'' (post by Vociferous)]</ref> The scene with Parangosky informing Halsey about their disappearance occurs in February 2553, so less than three months had passed at that point. Even considering the possibility that Parangosky may have lied, she would have no reason to do so, as both she and Halsey were aware of a transmission sent by Cortana on November 3 - less than four months earlier - in which she announced that John was on his way to Earth.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 182-183''</ref> | ||
*''Glasslands'' | *''Glasslands'' maintains that Dr. Halsey attempted to hide the SPARTAN-II flash clone replacement operation from the upper echelons of ONI; Admiral Parangosky claims that she did not learn about the clones until years afterward.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 431''</ref> When referenced in previous fiction the flash cloning operation is never singled out as something separate or particularly secretive in comparison to all other aspects of the program; on the contrary, ONI is unanimously identified as the chiefly responsible party as opposed to Halsey alone. In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', John-117's classified file, accessed by Cortana, refers to the replacement operation as an "ONI black op".<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 270''</ref> In ''Halo: First Strike'', Halsey refers to the ''"old flash clone techniques that ONI had used to replace the originals"''.<ref name="fs129">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 129''</ref> In her journal, Halsey refers to the clones like any other part of the program, failing to mention any attempt to conceal it.<ref>'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', ''September 8, 2511''</ref> Furthermore, ''Halo: First Strike'' notes that Colonel James Ackerson had the clones monitored as they grew up and even had the bodies retrieved after they died, which calls into question Parangosky's statements of not learning about the cloning operation until years later.<ref name="fs129"/> It is also suspect that Halsey would see it necessary to conceal this particular aspect of the program from ONI, given their oft-demonstrated neglect for moral concerns, particularly where the secrecy of their operations is concerned. Had there been an attempt to withhold information, it would have been futile from the beginning; the dozens of ONI scientists and field agents that carried out the operation would have relayed the information to ONI's leadership in the unlikely event that the ONI surveillance of the program failed to do so. | ||
**Parangosky may have lied about Halsey's coverup of the flash-cloning operation, setting her up as ONI's scapegoat for the morally abhorrent actions of the SPARTAN-II program. Parangosky thus could have charged Halsey with the false coverup in addition to the genuine warcrimes for which she was arrested to settle the personal vendetta between them. However, the doctor makes no attempt to dismiss the admiral's claims as false. Indeed, both characters' internal monologues indicate (though not explicitly) that the coverup actually occurred. | |||
* | *The Sangheili repeatedly refer to [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] as "Shipmaster of Shipmasters".<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 258, 341, 343, 425''</ref> While not strictly a contradiction, it is somewhat out of character for the Sangheili to insist on using such an epithet. Hood's rank would draw more natural comparisons to the actual Sangheili ranks of [[Supreme Commander]] or [[Imperial Admiral]] rather than a neologism contrived from the lesser rank of Shipmaster. | ||
*''Glasslands'' | *In ''Glasslands'' and each of the subsequent novels of the ''Kilo-Five Trilogy'', Black-Box repeatedly references Dr. Halsey's termination of [[Araqiel]] as a cold-blooded murder.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 164''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 355''</ref><ref name="md363">'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 363'' (''"Yes. I do hate her, don't I? Gosh. Why does it feel so personal? I despise lots of humans. Oodles of them. None like Halsey, though. Is it because she terminated Ackerson's AI when it suited her? Killed him. Call it what it is. Well, why would a woman who thought it was acceptable losses to lose Spartan kids on the operating table think an AI was a living entity with rights? Silly me."'')</ref> It is strange that BB is aware of the incident in the first place, as [[CASTLE Base]] had been evacuated of personnel at the time<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 121'' (2003 edition)</ref> and any means of off-planet communication had been cut by the Covenant long before. BB also blatantly disregards the context of the incident as detailed in ''Halo: First Strike'': not only was Halsey acting in self-defense, with Araqiel threatening to kill her,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 127-128'' (2003 edition)</ref> but her actions were also in accordance with ONI's [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]], which entailed the destruction of any remaining AI in the facility to prevent their capture by the Covenant (although Halsey had not yet formally implemented the protocol at the time). WHITE GLOVE also forced Halsey to destroy [[Kalmiya]], one of her personal AIs,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 135'' (2003 edition)</ref> something Black-Box never mentions when referencing the incident. In spite of his personal dislike of Halsey, Black-Box (a high-level ONI AI) should be able to acknowledge that purging AI constructs was a relatively common practice throughout the war as part of WHITE GLOVE as well as the [[Cole Protocol]],<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 208'' (2003)</ref> yet he regards the incident as a unique act of cruelty without precedent.<ref name="md363"/> | ||
===''Halo: The Thursday War''=== | ===''Halo: The Thursday War''=== | ||
Line 411: | Line 362: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*The {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} carries a large arsenal of [[nuclear weapon]]s | *The {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} carries a large arsenal of [[nuclear weapon]]s onboard and is yet capable of remaining completely undetected over [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 320''</ref> According to ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', this would be impossible, as the [[plutonium]] in nuclear weapons negates any stealth measures upon slipspace transition by emitting an easily detectable [[Čerenkov radiation]] signature, forcing even stealth vessels to jettison any onboard nukes in order to perform a cloaked slipspace exit.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 187''</ref> | ||
**''Port Stanley'' had been heavily upgraded with Forerunner technology, so it is possible that this flaw had been alleviated (although no such upgrade is mentioned). | **''Port Stanley'' had been heavily upgraded with Forerunner technology, so it is possible that this flaw had been alleviated (although no such upgrade is mentioned). | ||
*[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] is portrayed as being entirely unfamiliar with the concept of a fourth-generation AI and appears to believe [[Black-Box]] when he falsely claims that fourth-generation AIs are created by other AIs | *[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] is portrayed as being entirely unfamiliar with the concept of a fourth-generation AI and appears to believe [[Black-Box]] when he falsely claims that fourth-generation AIs are created by other AIs.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 355''</ref> However, in ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Halsey demonstrates close familiarity with ''fifth-generation'' smart AIs and has an intimate understanding of their behavior; she is able use a [[Religion#Zen|Zen koan]] to attract the attention of [[Endless Summer]] and states that fifth-generation smart AIs like to "show off".<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 179''</ref> | ||
**It is possible that Halsey feigned ignorance out of unwillingness to help Admiral Parangosky's underlings, who were responsible for her arrest and regarded her with open contempt. However, Black-Box would most likely have known the full extent of her expertise given his unrestricted access to her and ONI's files, unless Halsey managed to hide this information from ONI at large. Regardless, he appears to regard Halsey's ignorance about the development of fourth-generation AIs such as himself as | **It is possible that Halsey feigned ignorance out of unwillingness to help Admiral Parangosky's underlings, who were responsible for her arrest and regarded her with open contempt. However, Black-Box would most likely have known the full extent of her expertise given his unrestricted access to her and ONI's files, unless Halsey managed to hide this information from ONI at large. Regardless, he appears to regard Halsey's ignorance about the development of fourth-generation AIs such as himself as a fact. | ||
*While on [[Trevelyan]], [[Jul 'Mdama]] is said to be able to determine the passage of time based on the "position of the sun".<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 346''</ref> Given the structure's nature as a full-size [[Dyson sphere|Dyson shell]], this would be impossible, as the sun would always be directly overhead | *While on [[Trevelyan]], [[Jul 'Mdama]] is said to be able to determine the passage of time based on the "position of the sun".<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 346''</ref> Given the structure's nature as a full-size [[Dyson sphere|Dyson shell]], this would be impossible, as the sun would always be directly overhead any point on the sphere's interior surface. | ||
* | *The Sangheili are revealed to have an insult for humans: "[[nishum]]", which roughly means "intestinal parasite".<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 79''</ref> The name is derived from the Sangheili mistaking armored humans for creatures with exoskeletons, then after examining dead human bodies concluding that they are parasites inside insectoid beasts. However, the Sangheili themselves wear body armor (which is often thicker and more carapace-like in design than standard human infantry armor), as do most of the Covenant species, so it seems suspect of them to not be able tell that humans wear artificial armor just like they do. | ||
*Dr. Halsey asks Black-Box ''"So which ship or Spartan are you assigned to?"'' upon encountering the AI.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 357''</ref> This question excludes a broad range of assignments in which AIs are commonly known to serve, while equating Spartans with ships as one of two noteworthy posts for AIs; Halsey would have no reason to presume that an AI would be assigned to a Spartan, given that Cortana's assignment to John-117 was a one-time exception and not a standard procedure among Spartans. | *Dr. Halsey asks Black-Box ''"So which ship or Spartan are you assigned to?"'' upon encountering the AI.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 357''</ref> This question is absurd in the given context, as it excludes a broad range of assignments in which AIs are commonly known to serve, while equating Spartans with ships as one of two noteworthy posts for AIs; Halsey would have no reason to presume that an AI would be assigned to a Spartan, given that Cortana's assignment to John-117 was a one-time exception and not a standard procedure among Spartans. | ||
*[[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] is suggested to be antagonistic toward Dr. Halsey; he assures Admiral Parangosky that [[Andrew Del Rio|Captain Del Rio]] is "Halsey-proof" and that the doctor will not be able to "manipulate" him.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 67''</ref> In previous fiction Hood | *[[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] is suggested to be antagonistic toward Dr. Halsey; he assures Admiral Parangosky that [[Andrew Del Rio|Captain Del Rio]] is "Halsey-proof" and that the doctor will not be able to "manipulate" him.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 67''</ref> In previous fiction, Hood has been established as one of Halsey's closest friends and allies within HIGHCOM, harshly censuring Colonel Ackerson for mocking the doctor and her SPARTAN-IIs and lamenting Halsey's supposed death on Reach.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 104'' (2003)</ref> | ||
* | *[[Evan Phillips]] mentions that it is common for Forerunner teleportation systems (referred to only as "portals") to displace individuals to different planets, even though there is no precedent for such technology in previous fiction nor an evident reason for Phillips being informed of how Forerunner portals operate (he is a xenoanthropologist specializing in Sangheili culture).<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 181-182''</ref> Additionally, a teleporter on Trevelyan propels Jul 'Mdama over a distance of many lightyears, all the way to the [[Sangheili]] colony of [[Hesduros]]. Individual translocation across interstellar distances — or the broader implications of such technology — are never acknowledged in any prior source.<ref group="note">Portals allowing the the transit of unshielded individuals across interstellar distances would logically render starships obsolete, at least in more trafficked routes where portals would be most likely established; yet individual portal transit is never mentioned in ''[[The Forerunner Saga]]'' which deals extensively with the Forerunners and their technologies and Forerunners must still use ships to traverse their portal network.</ref> Given that the [[teleportation grid]]s on the [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], for example, are exclusively local systems (the teleportation grid on Installation 04 does not extend even to the nearby [[Threshold]]),<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 7]]''</ref> logic would dictate that individual teleportation does not operate on an interstellar scale and that a starship is required to access the larger-scale [[slipspace portal]]s due to the dangers of long-term unshielded exposure to slipspace. Moreover, travel through a portal can still take days or even weeks (as with the [[Portal at Voi|Ark Portal]]), as opposed to the seemingly instant displacement Jul experiences when transitioning to Hesduros. | ||
**Individuals traveling interstellar distances via portals are later featured in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ''"The Next 72 Hours"'' story arc, suggesting that this may represent a universal retcon regarding the Forerunners' translocation capabilities. Alternatively, it is possible that interstellar teleportation was possible only to a limited extent or under specific circumstances, but not regularly practiced due to possible issues with safety or reliability. Notably, the sending nodes in both known instances of interstellar individual translocation have been located at significant Forerunner installations: the first, Shield World 006, is the most important known shield world with the possible exception of Requiem; the second is the [[Composer's Abyss]] on Halo [[Installation 03]], a key component of the Ur-Didact's crusade against humanity. Though Hesduros' significance to the Forerunners is never elaborated upon, the portal in the Composer's Abyss is shown to be a service portal leading to the [[Composer's Forge]], where the Composers were built; the portal link between the two sites is supposedly maintained due to their connection to the Composer. | |||
===''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''=== | ===''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''=== | ||
{{Main|Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn}} | {{Main|Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn}} | ||
;External | ;External | ||
* In ''Halo 4'', it is implied that coordinate data from an incident with | *[[Cygnus]], [[Chyler Silva]]'s birthplace, is described as a center of violent [[Insurrection]] activity. According to ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', the [[Cygnus system]] had not been involved in the [[Insurrection]] as of [[2524]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 61''</ref> | ||
** ''Forward Unto Dawn'' also depicts a considerably different interpretation of Cortana's introduction as depicted in the game. In the game her avatar simply winks into existence when intruders are detected aboard the ship; she then calmly (though hesitantly) revives John with the words, "Wake up, Chief. I need you." In the | * In ''Halo 4'', it is implied that coordinate data from an incident with a [[Composer|Forerunner artifact]] at [[Installation 03]] led the UNSC ''Infinity'' to Requiem. No mention is made of the ''Infinity'' picking up Cortana's distress call which results in the ship and its battle group making a slipspace jump toward Requiem in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''. Although the ''Infinity'' receives the distress call in ''Halo 4'', this appears to be after the ship is already near Requiem; in ''Forward Unto Dawn'', the signal is picked up while the ''Infinity'' is still light-years away, as evidenced by the crew having to enter cryo-sleep for the journey. | ||
** ''Forward Unto Dawn'' also depicts a considerably different interpretation of Cortana's introduction as depicted in the game. In the game her avatar simply winks into existence when intruders are detected aboard the ship; she then calmly (though hesitantly) revives John with the words, "Wake up, Chief. I need you." In the webseries, however, Cortana experiences a series of violent personality shifts (at one point vowing to let John die with her) until the ''Dawn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sensors detect Requiem.<ref>Cortana:"It appears to be an alien construct. The data confirms it was not built by the Covenant. No need for more analyzing."</ref> Cortana's avatar then dramatically fades from a large sphere to a much smaller point, from which she then appears. She then wordlessly begins thawing the Master Chief's cryo chamber without using the holographic terminal seen in the game. In the level ''Dawn'' Cortana claims to be unaware of the ship's proximity to Requiem; however, she should have been able to see it through her neural link with John, so she was likely either joking or experiencing the effects of rampancy.<ref>Cortana: "Uh, I'm sorry - did I miss us orbiting a Forerunner planet at some point?"</ref> | |||
*''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'' depicts a fleet of more than two dozen cruisers and frigates accompanying ''Infinity'' to Requiem. ''[[The Commissioning]]'' shows only two {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s by the time ''Infinity'' has reached Requiem, though the camera angle obscures any other ships that may be present. Regardless, this escort fleet is never mentioned in the game. | *''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'' depicts a fleet of more than two dozen cruisers and frigates accompanying ''Infinity'' to Requiem. ''[[The Commissioning]]'' shows only two {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s by the time ''Infinity'' has reached Requiem, though the camera angle obscures any other ships that may be present. Regardless, this escort fleet is never mentioned in the game. | ||
** The fleet may have been sent to deal with the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant]] ships still in orbit above Requiem. However, the fleet is never mentioned during the level | ** The fleet may have been sent to deal with the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant]] ships still in orbit above Requiem. However, the fleet is never mentioned during the level ''[[Shutdown]]'', when it could have been used to intercept ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' before the Didact could escape Requiem. | ||
** At the end of the | ** At the end of the webseries, most ships in the fleet are shown entering slipspace under their own power. However, some of the vessels hold formation [[:File:FUD-Infinity-Fleet.jpg|so closely to ''Infinity'']] that they may have entered its slipspace rupture and followed its wake; the two closest frigates maintain the same formation as those seen in ''The Commissioning''. It is possible that these ships arrived alongside ''Infinity'' while the rest of the ships were outpaced due to their slower engines, thus explaining the frigates seen in the trailer. They may have been destroyed when Requiem began pulling the flagship inside, explaining the high volume of debris seen cascading toward the shield world. | ||
===''Scanned''=== | ===''Scanned''=== | ||
Line 448: | Line 394: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
[[Linda-058]] and two other female Spartans are portrayed with long hair during the | [[Linda-058]] and two other female Spartans are portrayed with long hair during the [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|augmentation procedures]]. According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', all of the Spartans had their heads shaved in preparation for the procedure.<ref name="tfor78">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 78-79'' (2001 edition)</ref> | ||
===''Halo 4''=== | ===''Halo 4''=== | ||
Line 454: | Line 400: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
John-117's size varies from cutscene to cutscene. John is five inches taller than [[Sarah Palmer]]; they are 7' 2" and 6' 9", respectively. However, in the level ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]'' he is only minutely taller than her while in the ''[[Epilogue]]'' he towers over her by about two feet. In the middle cutscene from ''Infinity'', she even jokingly tells the Master Chief, ''"I thought you'd be taller."'' | |||
;External | ;External | ||
* | *Many inconsistencies are shown in the ''[[Prologue]]'' cutscene, though it is implied that Dr. Halsey is imagining most of the cinematic's visuals. | ||
**The SPARTAN-IIs in the introduction wear John-117's uniquely upgraded armor. [[Josh Holmes]] has stated that this was due to [[343 Industries]] having insufficient time to create separate CGI models for the cinematic<ref name="notIV">[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/474224115608731650 '''Twitter'''] ('''Josh Holmes''': ''We didn't have time to build S-II armor just for intro so we used the S-IV armor in its place. Canonically incorrect I know. :('')</ref> and that the armor's appearance in the cutscene is not intended to be canon.<ref>[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/475323428430696449 '''Twitter'''] ('''Josh Holmes''': ''the story is canon, the specific armor representing that story is not. Does that make sense?'')</ref> However, ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' establishes that John's suit's superficial upgrades are based on a variant of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV]], retroactively indicating that the suits seen in the ''Prologue'' are in fact this particular variant.<ref name="H4VG">[http://www.dk.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781409334828,00.html '''DK Publising''' - ''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'' '''Preview''']</ref> The suits are nonetheless depicted with energy shields, though MJOLNIR energy shield tests had begun as early as [[2531]].<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 119'': ''"Energy shielding was a key feature of Mark V, although other Spartan squads had field-tested prototypes of this technology as early as 2531."''</ref> | |||
* | *In John-117's accessible service record in the level ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]'', the ''Pillar of Autumn'' is misidentified as a frigate. | ||
* | *Although Cortana used [[Nanotechnology|nanomachines]] to heavily overhaul John's armor while he was in cryo,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjswoU39AOY ''The Science Behind The Halo Series'']</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4/en-US#!halo-evolved/gameplay/31afe32b-0e07-45c0-9424-3adc6e1eadca '''Halo 4 Official Site''' - ''GAMEPLAY'']</ref><ref name="H4VG">[http://www.dk.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781409334828,00.html '''DK Publising''' - ''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'' '''Preview''']</ref> the suit retains a gash on its right side received from John's freefall drop in ''Halo 3''. | ||
**Since John's full armor is never seen until the opening cutscene of the level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]'', it is possible that the gash was indeed repaired only for the suit to be damaged again after John fell into the shield world. | |||
* Despite maintaining a [[:File:Infinity_fud_scale.jpg|generally similar profile]], ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s incarnation of ''Forward Unto Dawn'' is noticeably different from its appearance in ''Halo 3''. The ship appears much larger, with more of the forward half remaining intact, though the ship is still canonically 490 meters long. The number of engines has been reduced; rather than having two primaries on the main hull and two secondaries on the "wings", there are only two primary engines. The port and starboard hangar bays have been reduced from five small bays on either side to one much larger bay on either side; they are moved much farther back, remaining with the aft section. The enlarged cargo bay, a defining feature of the ''Charon'' class, is conspicuously absent or is at least moved inside the hull; either way, this creates an inconsistency with the final cutscene of the level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''. The point defense guns have been retconned into two separate models, increased in number, and moved to different areas on the hull. The ship's cryo tubes have also been remodeled and the cryo bay has been rearranged. | |||
**From a production standpoint, the ship was enlarged to create a more dynamic and exciting playspace; the original model would have been very small and cramped, limiting the [[Dawn (level)|first level's]] gameplay potential. The more superficial changes, such as those made to the cryo tubes and the point defense guns, are intended to reflect ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s revamped art style. The introduction of the superficially identical {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} in ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' and the inclusion of an original-style ''Charon'' class in ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' suggests that the ''Forward Unto Dawn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s redesign in the campaign was merely for gameplay purposes and that the appearance of the entire ''Charon'' class has not been retconned. | |||
*The [[Cryptum]] that preserved the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] on Erde-Tyrene in ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' left him very weak, and he had to be reinvigorated through a nutrient bath to regain his strength, a process that took several days. In ''Halo 4'', the Didact's Cryptum has preserved him perfectly for over a hundred millennia and he has not suffered any kind of muscle loss. | *The [[Cryptum]] that preserved the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] on Erde-Tyrene in ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' left him very weak, and he had to be reinvigorated through a nutrient bath to regain his strength, a process that took several days. In ''Halo 4'', the Didact's Cryptum has preserved him perfectly for over a hundred millennia and he has not suffered any kind of muscle loss. | ||
**According to ''Halo: Silentium'', the Cryptum the Librarian imprisoned the Didact in is a "combat Cryptum", though the nature of this variant is never elaborated upon.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 292''</ref> | **According to ''Halo: Silentium'', the Cryptum the Librarian imprisoned the Didact in is a "combat Cryptum", though the nature of this variant is never elaborated upon.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 292''</ref> | ||
*The Didact, in both his forms, is depicted with thick, spike-like protrusions in the place of hair; he is described as having a patch of pale, bluish white fur as in ''The Forerunner Saga''.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 179''</ref> | *The Didact, in both his forms, is depicted with thick, spike-like protrusions in the place of hair; he is described as having a patch of pale, bluish white fur as in ''The Forerunner Saga''.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 179''</ref> | ||
* Slipspace is described as an entirely featureless, pitch-black void in written media, a direct result of its inherently "nonvisible" nature.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 15'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 288''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 85''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 385''</ref> In the level [[Midnight]], though, slipspace resembles a bluish expanse with white streaks of stars being flown past. Likewise in the opening cutscene of [[S1/Departure|Departure]] slipspace appears as a kaleidoscope of colors. This may be from both ships using Forerunner slipspace engines, which have been observed [[Forerunner crystal|to create differing environments]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 211-212'' (2003 edition)</ref> | * Slipspace is described as an entirely featureless, pitch-black void in written media, a direct result of its inherently "nonvisible" nature.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 15'' (2001 edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 288''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 85''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 385''</ref> In the level [[Midnight]], though, slipspace resembles a bluish expanse with white streaks of stars being flown past. Likewise in the opening cutscene of [[S1/Departure|Departure]] slipspace appears as a kaleidoscope of colors. This may be from both ships using Forerunner slipspace engines, which have been observed [[Forerunner crystal|to create differing environments]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 211-212'' (2003 edition)</ref> | ||
*In his journal entry in the ''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]'', [[Gabriel Thorne]] | *In his journal entry in the ''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]'', [[Gabriel Thorne]] indicates he is unfamiliar with the concept of a dedicated military branch named "Air Force", even though the UNSC maintains a [[UNSC Air Force|branch of the same name]]. In addition, his apparent uncertainty about whether the Master Chief was the only Spartan-II is strange in light of the fact the Spartan-IIs and their exploits were highly publicized by ONI Section Two and widely known among both the military and the general populace throughout the final years of the Covenant War, with rumors of them having circulated for years prior. | ||
*The [[Terminal | *The [[Terminal/Halo 4|terminals]] introduce [[Terminal/Halo 4#Relation to ''The Forerunner Saga''|many incongruities]] with ''[[The Forerunner Saga]]''. However, 343 Industries have clarified that the terminals are a condensed version of the more complex story in the novels and should not be taken as a literal account; in-universe, this is explained with the unreliability of the [[Domain]], through which the terminal records are presented.<ref>[http://waypointassets.blob.core.windows.net/mobilecontent/legacysupport/content/assets/en-us/podcast/343Sparkast_017.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''343 Sparkast 017'']</ref> | ||
===''Halo: Silentium''=== | ===''Halo: Silentium''=== | ||
Line 475: | Line 421: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*It is established that [[Path Kethona]] is the Forerunners' name for the [[Wikipedia:Large Magellanic Cloud|Large Magellanic Cloud]],<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 35''</ref> which is correctly stated to be 160,000 | *It is established that [[Path Kethona]] is the Forerunners' name for the [[Wikipedia:Large Magellanic Cloud|Large Magellanic Cloud]],<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 35''</ref> which is correctly stated to be 160,000 lightyears from the Milky Way.<ref name="s60"/> Later, when ''[[Audacity]]'' completes its second jump toward Path Kethona, the middle distance from the [[Orion complex]] is stated to be 87 million lightyears, or 60 million lightyears from the galactic border.<ref name="s60">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 60-61''</ref> | ||
**The reference to millions of | **The reference to millions of lightyears instead of thousands is likely a typographical error. | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*The timescales of the histories of the Forerunners and their contemporaries appear to have been extended considerably from those discussed in ''Halo: Cryptum''. In ''Silentium'', events hundreds of thousands of years past are discussed routinely, whereas in ''Cryptum'', it is mentioned that the Forerunners had little records from only fifty thousand years earlier. For example, in ''Cryptum'' it is stated that [[Prehistoric human civilization|early humanity]] began expanding their civilization outward to the galactic margins around 150,000 BCE;<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 20''</ref> in ''Silentium'', [[Boundless]] is noted to have been studying humanity's expansion to the same regions a million years earlier.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 68''</ref> | |||
*In ''Halo: Cryptum'', the Didact states that he told the Librarian what the [[Primordial]] had said to him at Charum Hakkor and that her research had changed drastically as a result.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 327''</ref> In ''Halo: Silentium'', the Librarian claims that while the Didact told her about the Primordial, he did not reveal what it had said to him, and the Librarian would not find out herself until thousands of years later when she journeyed to Path Kethona.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 33''</ref> | *In ''Halo: Cryptum'', the Didact states that he told the Librarian what the [[Primordial]] had said to him at Charum Hakkor and that her research had changed drastically as a result.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 327''</ref> In ''Halo: Silentium'', the Librarian claims that while the Didact told her about the Primordial, he did not reveal what it had said to him, and the Librarian would not find out herself until thousands of years later when she journeyed to Path Kethona.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 33''</ref> | ||
===''Halo: Initiation''=== | ===''Halo: Initiation''=== | ||
Line 488: | Line 433: | ||
;External | ;External | ||
The first issue of ''Halo: Initiation'' references [[Sarah Palmer]] as a lance corporal, and later corporal, during her ODST career immediately prior to her recruitment into the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]; this is corroborated by {{Plain|[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 a statement]}} by [[Catalog#Trivia|Catalog]]. According to Palmer's biography on the now-defunct official ''Halo 4'' website, she spent much of her Marine career as a lieutenant.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/inteldetail/802c2079-395f-47a2-bab8-ca2edf879e5b/commander-palmer?category=story '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 - Commander Palmer'']</ref> [[Andrew Del Rio|Captain Del Rio]] calls Palmer a lieutenant when ordering her to apprehend John-117 in the ''Halo 4'' level [[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]], although the context of this line has since been changed with the reworking of the rank structure of | The first issue of ''Halo: Initiation'' references [[Sarah Palmer]] as a lance corporal, and later corporal, during her ODST career immediately prior to her recruitment into the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]; this is corroborated by {{Plain|[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 a statement]}} by [[Catalog#Trivia|Catalog]]. According to Palmer's biography on the now-defunct official ''Halo 4'' website, she spent much of her Marine career as a lieutenant.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/inteldetail/802c2079-395f-47a2-bab8-ca2edf879e5b/commander-palmer?category=story '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 - Commander Palmer'']</ref> [[Andrew Del Rio|Captain Del Rio]] calls Palmer a lieutenant when ordering her to apprehend John-117 in the ''Halo 4'' level [[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]], although the context of this line has since been changed with the reworking of the rank structure of the Spartan branch; Del Rio is now canonically addressing an off-screen Navy lieutenant.<ref>[https://twitter.com/schlerf/status/432284571351404544 '''Twitter''': ''Chris Schlerf on Palmer's rank'']</ref> ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' states that Palmer's leadership skill was the primary reason for her selection as a Spartan; assuming Palmer was a lance corporal, it is unlikely that such qualities could even be ascertained in practice, as a lance corporal would have virtually no command experience. While it is possible the she may have been demoted prior to the events of ''Initiation'', this is not indicated in the comic; Jun-A266 congratulates her for her promotion to corporal, and no previous demotion is mentioned at any point. Thus, it is likely that her background as a lieutenant has simply been ignored. | ||
===''Halo: Mortal Dictata''=== | ===''Halo: Mortal Dictata''=== | ||
{{Main|Halo: Mortal Dictata}} | {{Main|Halo: Mortal Dictata}} | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*According to a video clip of the early days of | *According to a video clip of the early days of [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] indoctrination shown to [[Naomi-010]] by [[Black-Box]], Dr. Halsey lied to Naomi that [[Staffan Sentzke|her father]] had approved of her conscription and was not expecting her to return home.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 385''</ref> In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Halsey specifically states, contrary to [[Déjà]]'s recommendations, that they will not attempt to lie to the children about their parents to motivate them out of risk that the Spartans may go rogue if they ever learned the truth.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 29'' (2001) (''"The truth has risks," Déjà cautioned. "So do lies," Dr. Halsey replied. "Any story fabricated to motivate the children—claiming their parents were taken and killed by pirates, or by a plague that devastated their planet—if they learned the truth later, they would turn against us."'')</ref> Halsey's notes in her [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|her journal]] correlate with the version given in ''The Fall of Reach'', noting that ''"They deserve as much truth as we can stomach to tell them."''<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''September 23, 2517''</ref><br>ONI recordings described in ''Mortal Dictata'' also show the SPARTAN-II children exhibiting more extreme reactions to their abduction than Dr. Halsey's observations in her journal let on.<ref name="md384">'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 384-385''</ref> However, descriptions in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' are more in line with the journal's suggestion of the children being mostly calm and compliant, as it is established that their ability to cope with the intense psychological strain involved with the program was one of the criteria for their selection.<ref name="tfor46">'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 46-47'' (2010)</ref> The comic adaptation ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'' corroborates this in an added scene in which Halsey and Déjà observe that none of the children are crying during their first days in the program.<br>''Mortal Dictata'' also claims that the Spartan children were based deep underground in [[CASTLE Base]] in the first three days of the program, even though ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' describes them being relocated to a barracks on the planet surface in the [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex]] immediately after their induction (though they did train at CASTLE later on in their training).<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 181'' (2003)</ref> As stated in ''The Fall of Reach'', the first days' extreme physical training and education sessions were arranged specifically to prevent the children from having time to think about their predicament,<ref name="tfor46"/> yet the nature of the sessions described in ''Mortal Dictata'' allows the latter scenario to occur. The three days in CASTLE base could also not have occurred prior to Halsey's introduction to the program, as the children had only recently been awakened from cryo-sleep at the time and were only informed of their new purpose during Halsey's induction session. The military-oriented focus, intense pace and ruthlessness of the initial training are also nowhere to be seen in ''Mortal Dictata''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s descriptions, which suggest a comparatively leisurely acclimation period.<ref name="md384"/> | ||
**In light of these contradictions, it is not out of the question that ONI tampered with the records or simply forged footage to make Halsey's part in the program look more morally reprehensible as part of their campaign to smear her reputation; or, more specifically, to manipulate Naomi in particular. Indeed, while the aforementioned footage is said to be from official recordings Naomi is watching on a data pad, it is ambiguous how much of the sequence described in the book is factual as Black-Box is directly interfacing with Naomi's mind through her neural implant to trigger her childhood memories and repeatedly points out the fallibility of human memory prior to the session.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 375-376''</ref> | **In light of these contradictions, it is not out of the question that ONI tampered with the records or simply forged false footage to make Halsey's part in the program look more morally reprehensible as part of their campaign to smear her reputation; or, more specifically, to manipulate Naomi in particular. Indeed, while the aforementioned footage is said to be from official recordings Naomi is watching on a data pad, it is ambiguous how much of the sequence described in the book is factual as Black-Box is directly interfacing with Naomi's mind through her neural implant to trigger her childhood memories and repeatedly points out the fallibility of human memory prior to the session.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 375-376''</ref> | ||
*The SPARTAN-II candidate abduction process is depicted with several incongruities. [[Retrieval team Theta 2]] is shown to first kidnap Naomi and transfer her clothes to the flash clone, which is only then | *The SPARTAN-II candidate abduction process is depicted with several incongruities. [[Retrieval team Theta 2]] is shown to first kidnap Naomi-010 and transfer her clothes to the flash clone, which is only then released—several kilometers distant from the spot where she was originally taken—but not before Naomi temporarily escapes, leading to the whole replacement operation lasting several hours.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 380''</ref> This drives her family to panic about her disappearance and an extensive search operation is organized before she is "found". The need for the clothing transfer procedure is questionable, given that ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'' and ''[[Scanned]]'' depict the clones wearing duplicate clothing, enabling ONI to switch the children on site and thus removing the need for a potentially suspicious disappearance before the clone is returned.<ref>'''[[Scanned]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'''</ref> | ||
*Staffan Sentzke matter-of-factly references the Flood's arrival on Earth during the [[Battle of Voi]], yet Staff Sergeant Geffen gives no indication that a civilian should not be aware of this occurrence.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 192''</ref> ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' states that glassing of the [[Tsavo]] region (in reality meant to cauterize the infestation) was officially declared a Covenant sneak attack to prevent knowledge of the Flood from leaking to the public.<ref>''Halo: Spartan Assault'', ''Flood Mission'' introductory cutscene</ref> | *Staffan Sentzke matter-of-factly references the Flood's arrival on Earth during the [[Battle of Voi]], yet Staff Sergeant Geffen gives no indication that a civilian (let alone an insurgent) should not be aware of this occurrence.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 192''</ref> ''Halo: Spartan Assault'' states that glassing of the [[Tsavo]] region (in reality meant to cauterize the infestation) was officially declared a Covenant sneak attack to prevent knowledge of the Flood from leaking to the public.<ref>''Halo: Spartan Assault'', ''Flood Mission'' introductory cutscene</ref> | ||
* | *[[Plasma turret|Plasma torpedoes]] aboard ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'' are referenced as physical munitions stored in a dedicated "torpedo bay".<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 439, 443, 445, 446''</ref> In previous fiction, plasma torpedoes have been established as shaped agglomerations of electromagnetically-guided plasma, not unlike the bolts fired by handheld plasma weapons. The "torpedoes" are brought into existence at the time the weapon fires and do not exist in any meaningful capacity aboard the vessel.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 171''</ref> | ||
**The references to "plasma torpedoes" can be interpreted as referring to the ship's supply of superheated plasma used to generate the torpedoes, although the wording used suggests that the torpedoes themselves are stored onboard the ship. | |||
**The references to "plasma torpedoes" can be interpreted as referring to the ship's supply of superheated plasma used to generate the torpedoes, although the wording used suggests that the torpedoes themselves are stored | |||
===''Halo: Escalation''=== | ===''Halo: Escalation''=== | ||
{{Main|Halo: Escalation}} | {{Main|Halo: Escalation}} | ||
*''Halo: Escalation'' introduces a number of incongruities and mistakes which are further detailed in the dedicated articles of each issue: | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1#Trivia|Issue 1]] | |||
* | **[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2#Trivia|Issue 2]] | ||
* | **[[Halo: Escalation Issue 4#Mistakes|Issue 4]] | ||
* | **[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5#Production notes|Issue 5]] | ||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 6#Production notes|Issue 6]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7#Trivia|Issue 7]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 8#Production notes|Issue 8]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10#Mistakes|Issue 10]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 11#Mistakes|Issue 11]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 12#Mistakes|Issue 12]] | |||
**[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13#Mistakes|Issue 13]] | |||
;External | ;External | ||
*[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #9]] reveals the Ur-Didact's plan to use a Halo against Earth, killing all life on the planet shortly after his [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on New Phoenix]]. However, the Didact's opposition to using the Halos is presented as one of his core values in earlier fiction, serving as the impetus for his first exile in ''Halo: Cryptum''. ''Halo: Silentium'' shows that he continued to abhor the thought of activating the Array even after his mental torment by the [[Gravemind]] which drove him to enact his crusade against humanity.<ref>''Halo: Silentium'', String 26: "The Halos? Violating the Mantle all over again, with even greater destruction! Wiping out all intelligent life across this galaxy!... If we fire Halo, we lose everything."</ref> | |||
*[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #9]] reveals the Ur-Didact's plan to use a Halo against Earth, killing all life on the planet shortly after his [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on New Phoenix]]. However, the Didact's opposition to using the Halos is presented as one of his core values in earlier fiction, serving as the impetus for his first exile in ''Halo: Cryptum''. ''Halo: Silentium'' shows that he continued to abhor the thought of activating the Array even after his mental torment by the [[Gravemind]] drove him to enact his crusade against humanity.<ref>''Halo: Silentium'', String 26: "The Halos? Violating the Mantle all over again, with even greater destruction! Wiping out all intelligent life across this galaxy!... If we fire Halo, we lose everything."</ref> | **The Didact's willingness to use a Halo likely stems from his second, 100,000-year exile on Requiem, during which he was isolated from the [[Domain]] and most other external stimuli. This solitude led him to dwell on his hatred of humanity for millennia,<ref>'''Spartan Ops''': ''[[Key]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 37''</ref> possibly culminating is his inclination to forsake one of his most sacred principles and commit genocide. The Didact may regard his actions in a similar manner to the Conservation Measure: though the majority of humans (at least those on Earth) would perish, the millions composed in New Phoenix would live on in digital form. | ||
**The Didact's willingness to use a Halo likely stems from his second, 100,000-year exile on Requiem, during which he was isolated from the [[Domain]] and most other external stimuli. This solitude led him to dwell on his hatred of humanity for millennia,<ref>'''Spartan Ops''': ''[[Key]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 37''</ref> culminating | |||
===''Halo: Broken Circle''=== | ===''Halo: Broken Circle''=== | ||
Line 530: | Line 472: | ||
;Internal | ;Internal | ||
*In Chapter 14, the narrator mistakenly refers to [[Trok 'Tanghil]] as [[Ernicka the Scar-Maker]].<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 200''</ref> | *In Chapter 14, the narrator mistakenly refers to [[Trok 'Tanghil]] as [[Ernicka the Scar-Maker]] even though Ernicka was a rebel to the Covenant and a good friend of [[Ussa 'Xellus]].<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 200''</ref> | ||
*The [[Jiralhanae]] homeworld is erroneously called [[Oth Sonin]] in one reference.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 221''</ref> The novel previously identifies the planet correctly as [[Doisac]];<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 211''</ref> Oth Sonin is the name of Doisac's | *The [[Jiralhanae]] homeworld is erroneously called [[Oth Sonin]] in one reference.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 221''</ref> The novel previously identifies the planet correctly as [[Doisac]];<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 211''</ref> Oth Sonin is the name of Doisac's system. | ||
*It is stated that [[Bal'Tol 'Xellus]]' "heart sank at the sight".<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 310''</ref> This idiom is out of place as the Sangheili have two hearts, something that is acknowledged several times in the novel. | *It is stated that [[Bal'Tol 'Xellus]]' "heart sank at the sight".<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 310''</ref> This idiom is out of place as the Sangheili have two hearts, something that is acknowledged several times in the novel. | ||
*[[ | *[[Shield World 0673]] is described inconsistently; in the first description, the eco level's "ceiling" is said to be convex<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 35''</ref> and then concave in all subsequent descriptions.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 51, 75, 139''</ref> | ||
;External | ;External | ||
*Throughout the novel, the Ages of the [[History of the Covenant|Covenant's history]] are referenced as if each | *Throughout the novel, the Ages of the [[History of the Covenant|Covenant's history]] are referenced as if each named age were a singular and unique span of time, ignoring the system of numbered—and often non-sequential—Ages used in previous fiction. For example, the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] is only referred to as the "Age of Reclamation" and there is implied to have been only a single "Age of Conversion" during which species were incorporated into the Covenant instead of [[Ages of Conversion|multiple numbered ages]] with that name.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 209-210''</ref> | ||
*One description suggests [[High Charity]] still maintains a translucent atmospheric shield in lieu of its solid dome as of [[2552]], giving individuals in the city a view of the space outside | *One description suggests ''[[High Charity]]'' still maintains a translucent atmospheric shield in lieu of its solid dome as of [[2552]], giving individuals in the city a view of the space outside.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 236''</ref> All visual depictions of the city-station show the city's dome as being entirely opaque with no view to the exterior. | ||
===''Halo: | ===Ancillary material=== | ||
*According to complementary fiction released in the ''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]'', the Covenant had discovered [[Shield World 0459]] prior to the events of ''Halo Wars''.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''pages 50-51''</ref> The ''Halo Waypoint'' video series ''"The Halo Wars Story Retold"'' negates this, establishing that the Covenant discovered the shield world from data gathered at the [[Arcadia Forerunner ruins|Forerunner ruins on Arcadia]]. The version given in the game guide (ostensibly written by the game's writers as background fiction to flesh out the characters) is seemingly supported by the in-game story: the first scene showing the Covenant on the shield world does not give any indication that the shield world is an immediately recent discovery, only serving as the backdrop for the Prophet of Regret and the Arbiter's conversation about the recent events on Harvest and Arcadia.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]'' (opening cinematic, ''"Walk in the Park"'')</ref> | |||
*In ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', [[Frederic-104]] is not promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade until the end of the [[Battle of Onyx]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 367''</ref> However, the interrogation transcript featured in the Adjunct section of the 2010 edition of ''Halo: First Strike'' continuously refers to him as a lieutenant by the start of the [[Battle of Earth]]. | |||
*[[ | |||
*[[ | *The [[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings]] log included in the Adjunct section of the 2010 edition of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' refers to Preston Cole as a fleet admiral. Though there is a conflict over Cole's rank between ''Halo Wars: Genesis'' and ''The Impossible Life and Death of Preston J. Cole'' (see [[List of inconsistencies in the Halo series#The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole|here]]), no other source has referred to him as a fleet admiral. | ||
* | *In the ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' chapter [[Didact's Hand]], [[Gabriel Thorne]] claims to have joined the Spartans because he felt he could have saved his family and friends' lives in the [[New Phoenix Incident]] had he been a Spartan. However, ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' explicitly states that Thorne had already joined the Spartans prior to the attack. Indeed, the book notes that Thorne was not in the city at the time because he was away on deployment with the Spartans.<ref>''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'', page 20 - [[:File:MajesticBio-Thorne.png|Gabriel Thorne biography]]</ref> It can thus be inferred that (through a minor retcon) Thorne actually means he had been in the Army until he joined the Spartans a year before the incident. | ||
**The latter story is corroborated by ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'': While visiting Thorne's childhood home in [[New Phoenix]], [[Tedra Grant|Spartan Grant]] finds a Master Chief action figure. Thorne tells Grant his grandmother bought the figure after he was recruited into the SPARTAN-IV program. This would be impossible if Thorne joined the Spartans because of his grandmother's death.<ref>''Halo: Escalation'', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue 7]]''</ref> | |||
*In the second [[Data Drop]], [[Michael Stanforth|Admiral Stanforth]] states that several cities on [[Sigma Octanus IV]]—[[Caracas]], [[Huiren]], [[Côte d'Azur]], [[Silma]] and [[Enfield]]—were destroyed during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|battle for the planet]]. ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' explicitly states that most of the planet was spared with fighting only in and around Côte d'Azur.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page '' (2001) ''page 243'' (2011)</ref> | |||
===Multiple sources=== | |||
''Conflicts which involve more than two sources are listed here.'' | |||
===''Halo: | *All pertinent media released since 2009 state that 25 of the 28 active SPARTAN-IIs were summoned to Reach for [[Operation: RED FLAG]].<ref group="note">These media include the ''Halo Wars'' timeline, the revised versions of ''The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', (including Fred-104's psychological evaluation in the Adjunct), the {{Plain|[http://youtu.be/jh7Q3fjIIwc ''Defiant to the End'' trailer]}}, the [[Data Drop]], and the ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' [[Library (feature)|Library]].</ref> All sources agree that 33 SPARTAN-IIs successfully adapted to the [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|augmentations]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 60''</ref> Three Spartans were killed in action and one was too wounded to continue active duty in the decade between [[2542]] and [[2552#August|August 29, 2552]].<!-- Halsey states that these casualties occurred during the last ten years of the Spartans' service, not throughout their entire careers.--><ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 240''</ref><ref group="note">This count presumably includes Sheila, Solomon, and Arthur, all of whom were killed in 2544, the first during the [[Battle of Miridem]] and the latter two [[Operation: WARM BLANKET|shortly thereafter]].</ref> [[Kurt-051]] and [[Randall-037]] were listed as missing in [[2531]]; the former was kidnapped by ONI to lead the [[SPARTAN-III program]], while the latter fell out of contact and eventually left the UNSC, though Dr. Halsey was not aware of this and considered him to be truly MIA. During the same year, [[Douglas-042]], [[Jerome-092]], and [[Alice-130]] became stranded outside UEG space, unable to contact allied forces, and were declared MIA in [[2534]].<ref name="hwtimeline"/><ref>During an interview with Geoff Keighley on ''Game Trailers TV'', Frank O'Connor stated that ''[[UNSC Spirit of Fire|Spirit of Fire's]]'' survivors never interacted with other UNSC forces after being stranded in space.</ref> [[Jai-006]], [[Adriana-111]], and [[Mike-120]] had been missing since [[2551]]. SPARTAN-IIs confirmed KIA prior to the Fall of Reach include [[Samuel-034]], [[Daisy-023]],<ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''[[Homecoming]]''</ref> [[Sheila-065]], [[Solomon-069]], and [[Arthur-079]];<ref>''[[The Package]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page ???''</ref> Cal-141 is obviously meant to have died in ''The Babysitter'', though her death contradicts the statement that only three SPARTAN-IIs were killed between 2542 and 2552.<ref group="note">''The Babysitter'' clearly indicates that Cal was killed during the [[Raid on Heian#Note|2542-2552 timeframe]]. However, the last shot of the episode shows that Cal's body was extracted, unlike Sheila, Solomon, and Arthur, whose bodies could not be recovered. From this, one may infer that Cal is the wounded Spartan in question.</ref> [[Jorge-052]] fought during the Fall of Reach, though he served with [[Special Warfare Command|Army SPECWAR's]] [[NOBLE Team]] rather than being recalled for Operation: RED FLAG. The ''[[Kilo-Five Trilogy]]'' makes no mention of [[Naomi-010]]'s participation (or lack thereof) during the invasion of Reach; if she did fight on Reach the means for her survival are unclear (although the circumstances of many of the supposed SPARTAN-II fatalities on Reach are relatively vague and at least [[Jun-A266]] is known to have escaped the planet independently of the party in ''Halo: First Strike''). By this count, no more than 18 SPARTAN-IIs could have been present for Operation: RED FLAG, with Naomi's potential absence reducing the number to 17.<ref group="note">This count does not include the four-member Team Black, whose survival is kept secret from their peers, as they operate within the Office of Naval Intelligence rather than Naval Special Weapons. During the early stages of the invasion of the Epsilon Eridani system, Team Black participated in the [[Battle of Verge]]. Days or weeks later, they participated in the failed [[Operation: BLOWBACK]], which led to the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]].</ref> | ||
{{ | **In [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|her journal]], Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] expressed her hope that [[Kirk-018]] and [[René-081]], two of the twelve crippled "washouts", could be rehabilitated and returned to active duty; she further noted that experimental rehabilitation protocols were in development for 80% of the washouts and that AIs predicted a total survival rate as high as 50%.<ref>'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', June 27, 2525''</ref> [[Soren-066]] escaped the program in 2526, having unwittingly joined the [[Insurrectionist]] cause; Halsey refused to bring him back into the fold against his will and he presumably died afterward. [[Ralph-103]] was discharged due to psychological problems and his augmentations were curtailed; he later joined the Marine Corps and was killed in 2531. The wheelchair-bound [[Fhajad-084]] became an ONI data analyst. [[Maria-062]] became the only Spartan to retire after washing out of the program,<ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 367''</ref> though she was still capable of wearing MJOLNIR armor as of October 2552.<ref>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[Armor Testing]]''</ref> [[Cassandra-075]] was still undergoing skin grafts as of October 2552. [[Musa-096]] also became wheelchair-bound and was responsible for developing the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] by January 2553. Including Kirk and René, this leaves six washouts who were potentially rehabilitated and returned to active duty, which could increase the number of Spartans at Reach to as many as 23. | ||
**Dr. Halsey refused to allow invasive autopsies on the deceased Spartan candidates' bodies and arranged a closed-casket funeral; the coffins were empty and the bodies were actually placed in cryonic storage. She feared what ONI would do with the candidates' cadavers, suspecting that they would form their own, secret Spartan unit; indeed, this is presumably how the four-member [[Black Team]] came under ONI's command. Given that Halsey resurrected Linda-058 from clinical death with the rather limited facilities aboard the {{UNSCship|Gettysburg}}, it is possible, though very unlikely, that the SPARTAN-IIs' numbers were bolstered by some of their once-clinically deceased comrades. | |||
***[[Serin Osman|Serin-019]] was officially listed as deceased, though in reality she survived in spite of rejecting most of the augmentations.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 82''</ref> She was withdrawn from the program before the washouts' closed-casket funeral and was later reassigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence as CINCONI [[Margaret Parangosky]]'s personal attache. It is possible that other Spartans (such as the aforementioned Black Team) were likewise falsely reported as dead, which in practice would produce the same results as the previous theory. | |||
**Yasmine Zaman was conscripted as part of the second class of the SPARTAN-II program. Although Yasmine died, Nicole-458 was successfully augmented and it is possible others were and bolstered the ranks of the depleted SPARTAN-IIs. | |||
*In ''Halo: The Flood'', the [[D77-TC Pelican]]'s operational capacity is said to support a pilot, a copilot, a crew chief, and twelve passengers in the troop bay.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', page 76</ref> According to the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' strategy guide, the Pelican can operate with three crew members, ten seated passengers, and five standing passengers.<ref>Sybex PC Guide, page 66</ref> In ''Halo: The Flood'', Pelican ''[[Charlie 217]]'' carries thirty Sangheili in the troop bay in addition to the [[Rick Hale|human pilot]] and [[Zuka 'Zamamee|another Sangheili]] in the cockpit.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 211''</ref> In ''Halo: First Strike'', Pelican ''[[Bravo 001]]'' carries twenty-two Spartans, though the Spartans had removed all unnecessary equipment from the troop bay, including the seats, and were packed nearly shoulder-to-shoulder in the troop bay; ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]'', which rather loosely adapts the story of Red Team's insertion from ''First Strike'', shows that the Pelican had an expanded bay and far more massive overall than normal Pelicans. Pelicans seen in-game feature ten seats and could easily accommodate around ten more standing passengers.<ref>[[:File:Troopers in Pelican.jpg|Army Troopers aboard a Pelican in ''Halo: Reach''.]]</ref> | |||
* | |||
*The | *According to ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'', the SPARTAN-IIs wore identical MJOLNIR armor which lacked any identifying features, making it nearly impossible for an outsider to tell them apart; Dr. Halsey distinguished the Spartans only by the subtleties of their movement.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 120-121''</ref> However, in later visual media they are shown displaying their numeric tags on their armor and wearing specialized MJOLNIR variants. At least five SPARTAN-IIs (Jerome, Douglas, Alice, Cal, and Kelly) even had pinup art painted on their Mark IV suits. | ||
**This is a twofold retcon with both artistic and canonical merit. Such distinction is all but necessary in a visual medium, as depicting the Spartans as identical to one another could confuse the audience. While the Spartans could distinguish one another by body language, having their tags displayed could benefit any non-Spartan personnel they served alongside. The reason behind the Spartans' use of armor variants is more obvious: forgoing their use would be out of character, particularly for specialists who could make use of [[Wikipedia:Military Occupational Specialty|MOS]]-intended models. Indeed, ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' unambiguously states that some MJOLNIR variants saw particularly widespread use among the SPARTAN-IIs. From a production standpoint, this is because ''The Fall of Reach'' and ''First Strike'' were released before ''Halo 3'' introduced the concept of purpose-built armor permutations. | |||
*In [[Eric Nylund]]'s books Halsey is often said to wear glasses, habitually pushing them up her nose. In each of her visual appearances (with the exception of ''Homecoming'') Halsey does not wear glasses, while the ''Kilo-Five Trilogy'' simply makes no mention of them. The novels also frequently describe Halsey as frequently having her hair tied to a bun,<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 15'' (2001)</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 119'' (2003)</ref> which is never portrayed in visual media; she is instead most often depicted as sporting a hairstyle roughly similar to that of Cortana's post-''Halo: Combat Evolved'' appearances. | |||
*[[ | |||
===''Halo | ==Resolved inconsistencies== | ||
This is a list of discrepancies that have been retconned out of existence in later releases or in supplementary material. For a list of the changes (including a number of rectified inconsistencies) in the re-releases of the first three ''Halo'' novels, see [[List of changes in Halo novel reprints|here]]. | |||
===''Halo: The Fall of Reach''=== | |||
*[[ | *In ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', the dropship used to transport the 75 SPARTAN-II children to the [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] was originally identified as a Pelican, whose troop bay would ostensibly be too small for 75 people. However, this was rectified in the 2010 reissue, in which the dropship is changed into a larger [[D96-TCE Albatross|Albatross]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 53'' (2001); ''page 71'' (2010)</ref> | ||
*On page 46 of the original edition, [[Kelly]] handed out parts of a map to the seventy-five [[SPARTAN-II]] trainees. Then on page 48, when [[John-117|John]] checked to make sure the children arrived at the lake, he counted only sixty-seven...which seemed to be all of them. In the re-release, "sixty-seven" is changed to seventy-four.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 46, 48'' (2001); ''pages 62, 65'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*In Chapter 22, [[James-005]]'s left arm is burnt off by an [[assault cannon]]. In the original edition, it is said a few pages later that he saluted with his left hand—while it was still missing. In the 2010 re-release, he salutes with his right hand.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 208, 210'' (2001); ''page 241'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*Captain Keyes refers to Ensign Lovell as "Michael" instead of "William". This has been fixed in the 2010 edition.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 188'' (2001); ''page 216'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
; | *In the original, a UNSC frigate was referred to as the ''Alliance'', and then shortly thereafter as the ''[[UNSC Allegiance|Allegiance]]''. In the 2010 edition, the ship is referred to as the ''Allegiance'' in both instances.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 145, 154'' (2001); ''page 170, 180'' (2010)</ref> | ||
*In the original edition, the ship {{UNSCShip|Leviathan}} was referred to as a cruiser and then later as a carrier. In the 2010 edition, the ship is referred to as a cruiser in both cases.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 162, 212'' (2001); ''pages 188, 243'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*On page 19, Michael Stanforth was said to be a Vice Admiral, and on page 95, it said he was a Rear Admiral. In the 2010 edition, he is referred to as a Vice Admiral in both instances.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 19, 95'' (2001); ''pages 33, 117'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]'' was said to be missing its port-side emergency thrusters, but later used them twice. In the 2010 edition, the mention of the thrusters being missing has been removed.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 271, 292, 320'' (2001); ''page 307'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*During Blue Team's mission to [[Reach Station Gamma]], the original edition states that ''Kelly'' shouted "All secure!" while the Spartans' Pelican prepares for maneuvering, even though she is not aboard the Pelican. "Kelly" has been corrected to "Linda" in the reissue.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 306'' (2001); ''page 344'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*[[ | |||
*In the original edition, the first time John-117 encounters [[Sangheili]] warriors in the battlefield is on [[Gamma Station]] during the [[Fall of Reach]]. In addition, the UNSC is depicted as not having any first-hand intelligence on the species prior to the battle; Dr. Halsey only speculates their existence.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''page 242, 309''</ref> This has been largely ignored in later material, and Sangheili have been depicted as being present in battles throughout the war numerous times. References to the Sangheili as being a never-before-seen species were altered to be more in line with the revised canon in the 2010 re-edition.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 242, 309'' (2001); ''pages 275, 347'' (2010)</ref> | |||
===''Halo: The Flood''=== | |||
*The cutscene in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' at the end of the level The ''Pillar of Autumn'' clearly shows the ''Autumn'' being fired upon with plasma. However, in ''Halo: The Flood'', the [[Prophet of Stewardship|Prophet]] assigned to [[Fleet of Particular Justice|the fleet]] forbids the Covenant ships to fire, lest they strike the "sacred relic".<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 6'' (2003)</ref> However, this is remedied in [[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit|the fleet broadcast log]] in the ancillary content of the reissue of ''Halo: The Flood'', where it is revealed that the order was ignored by the fleet's [[Thel 'Vadam|Supreme Commander]]. | |||
*The original edition describes how a group of entrenched Marines could not be hit by Ghosts' plasma fire, as the vehicles' plasma cannons were fixed and the marines were on a hill. In the games, the Ghost's plasma cannons can easily increase or decrease their angle. In the 2010 edition, the line is made more vague, stating the "Covenant vehicles couldn't get a fix on the Marines' position".<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 65'' (2003); ''page 80'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*The original edition of the book consistently mistakes the 8-gauge [[M90 Shotgun]] as 12-gauge. This is corrected in the 2010 edition.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 202, 224'' (2003); ''pages 220, 243'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*In the original edition, [[Parker|Sergeant Parker]] is consistently referred to as a he,<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 100, 107, 112'' (2003)</ref> and then a she.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 113'' (2003)</ref> He is consistently referred to with the male pronoun in the new version.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 128'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*In Chapter 9, the Second Squad was implied to have been ''completely'' consumed by the Flood, specifically saying that their numbers dwindled until two [[PFC]]s remained, before the last of the Marines fell. A page later, however, it is stated that there was little for Foehammer could do "except pick up the Marines, and hope for the best." In the 2010 edition, the part about picking up the Marines has been removed.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 232, 233'' (2003); ''page 252'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*In Chapter 10 of the original version, it says that three weapons would be unwieldy for the Chief, not to mention "damned heavy." It then says he chose a shotgun and sniper rifle. During the ensuing engagement, it is then stated the Chief "switched to the pistol", despite the fact it was established he was only carrying a shotgun and a sniper rifle at the time. In the 2010 edition, "pistol" is changed to "shotgun".<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 281, 283'' (2003); ''page 303'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*In the original edition, [[Melissa McKay|First Lieutenant Melissa McKay]]'s mission clock, seen in chapter headings, is prefixed by an extra 1, creating an inconsistency with the Master Chief's mission clock.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2003)''', ''pages 127, 148''</ref> This has been fixed in the 2010 edition.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2010)''', ''pages 143, 164''</ref> | |||
===''Halo: First Strike''=== | |||
* | *Similar to the inconsistency of the Spartans' first encounter with Sangheili, in ''Halo: First Strike'', the Spartans did not have any prior knowledge of the [[Jiralhanae]] until their encounter with them on the [[Unyielding Hierophant]] during [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]]. This has also been contradicted in multiple later works which show Brutes as being well known to UNSC forces throughout the war. Like the Sangheili encounter inconsistency in ''The Fall of Reach'', in the re-release of ''First Strike'', references to the Jiralhanae have been altered so that the Spartans are now familiar with them.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 310'' (2003); ''page 372'' (2010)</ref> | ||
*The [[Longsword]] used by the Master Chief and the other survivors from Installation 04 to land in the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' was repeatedly referred to as a Pelican in the original edition. The ship is consistently referenced as a Longsword in the reprint.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 75, 93, 95, and others'' (2003); ''pages 97, 118, 120, and others'' (2010)</ref> | |||
*In the original edition, [[Wagner|Lieutenant Wagner]] states that Reach was the closest thing he had to a home in the [[Outer Colonies]],<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 102'' (2003)</ref> despite Reach being part of the [[Inner Colonies]]. "Outer Colonies" is replaced with "colonies" in the 2010 edition.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 128'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
*Vinh is referred to as "SPARTAN 029" twice in the original edition, even though the tag 029 is assigned to [[Joshua-029|Joshua]] throughout the rest of the book. In the 2010 edition, Vinh is correctly referenced as "SPARTAN 030" in both instances.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 121, 148'' (2003); ''pages 149, 180'' (2010)</ref> | |||
* | |||
===''Halo: | ===''Halo: Contact Harvest''=== | ||
*The novel establishes [[Harvest]] as humanity's most distant [[human colonies|colony world]], further stating that the planet is six weeks away from the nearest colony, [[Madrigal]], and two months from [[Reach]].<ref name="ch32">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 32''</ref> It is stated that Harvest is situated in the [[Epsilon Indi system]], which is only 12 lightyears from Earth. This would place Harvest only 1.5 lightyears further from Earth than [[Epsilon Eridani]], the heart of the [[Inner Colonies]], and significantly closer than many other colony systems which have not been specifically mentioned as being particularly distant (e.g. [[111 Tauri]], [[Lambda Serpentis system|Lambda Serpentis]], and [[Zeta Doradus system|Zeta Doradus]]). | |||
**According to [[Catalog#Trivia|Catalog]], this discrepancy is the result of both the fundamentally different geometry of slipstream space (resulting in a longer ''de facto'' distance), as well as propaganda during humanity's colonial expansion period supposedly labeling Harvest as the most distant colony even if this was not strictly true.<ref name="catalog14"/> | |||
===''Halo: Silentium''=== | |||
*The journey of 160,000 lightyears to Path Kethona is described as being an unprecedented and exceedingly challenging undertaking to the Forerunners, in particular due to the [[Slipstream space#Reconciliation|reconciliation debt]] involved with the long distance. Even with a state-of-the-art ship specifically designed for the voyage, the trip is noted as potentially accumulating catastrophic causal strain.<ref name="s60"/><ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 62-63''</ref> Strangely, no such difficulties are mentioned in reference to the trips to [[Installation 00]] or its older counterpart, the [[greater Ark]], particularly where the construction of the two [[intergalactic space|extragalactic]] installations is concerned. Installation 00, at 262,144 lightyears from the galactic center, is roughly 100,000 lightyears more distant than Path Kethona;<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]'' (343 Guilty Spark: "2<sup>18</sup> lightyears from galactic center, to be precise.")</ref> in ''Silentium'', upon arrival at the greater Ark, it is mentioned that the lesser Ark is ''"hidden a third of the way around the outer boundaries of the galaxy"''.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 237''</ref> This would suggest that the greater Ark is situated well over 700,000 lightyears away, placing the apparent difficulty of reaching Path Kethona in a rather absurd light. While the comparative ease of voyages following the collapse of the ecumene at the end of ''Halo: Silentium'' and in ''Halo 3'' can be justified by the galaxy-wide cessation of Forerunner slipspace travel, the construction and subsequent consistent traffic between the galaxy and the Arks for over a thousand years is more difficult to explain. When constructing the Arks, the Builders would have moved resources amounting to untold times the mass of ''Audacity'' over a far greater distance, yet the Arks' construction — which had already occurred at [[100,950 BCE|the time]] — goes unmentioned as an incident comparable to the Path Kethona expedition when it seemingly exceeds ''Audacity'''s voyage as a technological feat.<ref name="s60"/> | |||
**Although it is specifically stated in ''Halo: Silentium'' the Halo installations' mass (or size) is a major factor in the generation of space-time debt,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 91''</ref> according to [[Catalog]], reconciliation is mainly determined in a nonlinear fashion by discrepancies in information transfer between locations and considerations involving tension on the space-time brane.<ref name="catalog14">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Catalog Interaction'' (page 14)]</ref> | |||
===''Halo: | |||
* | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references group="note"/> | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{ | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[Category:Lists]] | |||
[[Category:Lists |