Editing Offensive Bias

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{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{New Content}}
{{AI infobox
{{AI infobox
|name= 08-145 Offensive Bias
|name= Offensive Bias
|image=[[File:Enc22 OffensiveBias.jpg|300px]]
|image=[[File:Offensive Bias.svg|250px]]
|hidea=yes
|began=
|began=
|ended=
|ended=
|gender=  
|gender=  
|description=Represented by a large and highly complex holographic projection{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium33|Sil|Chapter=String 33}}
|description=
|color=A [[Metarch-class ancilla|metarch-class]] ancilla created to counter the defection of Mendicant Bias
|color=  
|color-title=Role
|affiliation= [[Forerunner]]
|affiliation= [[Forerunner]]
|function= *To command the remainder of the Forerunner military.
|function= To hold off Mendicant Bias long enough for the [[Halo Array]] to fire.
*Final instruction was to hold off Mendicant Bias long enough for the [[Halo Array]] to fire.
|battles= [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere]]
|battles= *[[Battle of the greater Ark]]
*[[Battle of the Maginot Sphere]]
}}
}}
 
'''Offensive Bias''' is a [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]]<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 189''</ref> [[Forerunner]] [[artificial intelligence]] that was created to stop the rampant AI [[Mendicant Bias]] from reaching [[Installation 00]] to stop the [[Halo Array]] from firing. Even though Mendicant Bias' [[fleet]] outnumbered Offensive Bias' by 2183:5, Offensive Bias was designed specifically to effectively counter and exploit Mendicant's [[Rampancy|rampant]] actions. During the [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere|battle]], the Array was fired which, aside from killing all sentient life in the galaxy, disabled the percentage of Mendicant's fleet which were biological. After the Halos fired, the advantage turned Offensive Bias's way, outnumbering Mendicant Bias's fleet 6:1. What happened to Offensive Bias after this success is not specified.
{{Quote|And so I watch, I wait. A keeper of kin, both foe and family. Sibling. Rival. Contender. I have celebrated both your containment and your contrition. And beyond, I remain vigilant. To safeguard both our past behind, and our path ahead.|Offensive Bias' thoughts.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}}}}
 
'''08-145{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=373}}{{Ref/Novel|Epi|5}} Offensive Bias''' is a [[Metarch-class ancilla|metarch-class]] [[Forerunner]] [[artificial intelligence]]. One of the few [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]] ancillas,{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=189}} it was created to counter the rampant AI [[Mendicant Bias]]. It commanded the last of the Forerunners' defenses at the [[greater Ark]] and at the [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere|final battle of the Forerunners]]. While seemingly less creative and independent than Mendicant Bias, Offensive Bias was still capable of coordinating inconceivable numbers of ships, [[sentinel]]s, personnel, as well as an [[Omega Halo|original Halo]] and the systems of the [[greater Ark]] simultaneously. More importantly, Offensive Bias was designed to be far more methodically lethal than Mendicant Bias.{{Ref/Game|Id=terminal|H3|Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal 6}}
 
==Biography==
===Fall of the Forerunners===
{{Quote|The metarch looms over us, a servant greater than its masters, and, I hope, untainted. Soon we will know.|The [[IsoDidact]] musing on Offensive Bias just before the [[Battle of the greater Ark]]{{Ref/Reuse|silentium33}}}}
In the twilight hours of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], Offensive Bias was given charge of the last of the uninfected Forerunner ships and fleets.{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium25|Sil|Chapter=String 25}} Shortly thereafter, Offensive Bias apparently took command of the defense of the [[greater Ark]], the last large refuge of the Forerunners and many of their client species.{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium27|Sil|Chapter=String 27}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22History|Enc22|Page=314-315}} It appears that the Forerunners accepted that only Offensive Bias was capable of matching Mendicant Bias's moves, as it were. As such, it was Offensive Bias who fired Omega Halo, by command of the [[Faber|Master Builder]] and then attempted to defend it against Mendicant Bias's Flood-crewed fleet, supported by [[star road]]s and other Precursor artifacts. It failed terribly, which may have fed into Mendicant Bias's disdain towards it, having previously referred to Offensive as an "inferior metarch".{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium24|Sil|Chapter=String 24}} Such an attitude however, would only play into Offensive Bias's strategy.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}}
 
Despite the devastating losses at the greater Ark, Offensive Bias was able to extricate a small number of warships from the destruction and make it to the [[Installation 00|lesser Ark]]. Before initializing the Halo's firing sequence with the [[IsoDidact]], Offensive Bias announced that Flood forces were approaching the [[Slipspace portal|portal]] that led to the lesser Ark; simultaneously, Mendicant Bias sent a coded message to Offensive stating that it would give no quarter and would destroy the Ark. Mendicant offered Offensive a chance to join it and survive; Offensive rejected the offer and informed the IsoDidact of it, to reassure him that it was still free from the [[logic plague]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium36|Sil|Chapter=String 36}} Sharing all of its processes with the Ark's [[Installation 00 Citadel|command Citadel]], Offensive Bias then assisted the IsoDidact in preparing the Ark and Halo Array. Once the IsoDidact gave the order and the Array started to prime, Offensive Bias's attention shifted as it took the final Forerunner fleets to the [[Maginot Line]] to confront Mendicant Bias and prevent it from gaining access to the lesser Ark, its sole objective to buy time.{{Ref/Novel|Id=silentium38|Sil|Chapter=String 38}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22History}}
 
[[File:Offensive Bias.png|200px|thumb|The sigil of Offensive Bias.]]
===Firing of the Array===
{{Main|Battle of the Maginot Sphere}}
Even though Mendicant Bias's [[fleet]] outnumbered Offensive Bias's by 436.6:1, Offensive Bias was designed specifically to effectively counter and exploit Mendicant's [[Rampancy|rampant]] actions. During the battle, Offensive Bias played for time, allowing Mendicant Bias's rage to cause him to act irrationally and take its time in destroying Offensive Bias's fleet. After about eight hours of combat, the Array was fired which, aside from killing all sentient life in the galaxy, disabled the majority of Mendicant's fleet which was crewed by the Flood and out of its direct control. After the Halos fired, the advantage turned towards Offensive Bias: it had planned for the Halo effect, while Mendicant Bias had not, and nearly all its vessels could be commanded by it directly, including ones previously captured by the Flood. Within two minutes, Mendicant Bias was outsmarted and defeated by Offensive Bias, who utilized the now-crewless ships with a ruthless, unconventional efficiency, revealing its capability for methodical lethality. Mendicant Bias's fleet was annihilated and the rogue ancilla itself captured and separated into its constituent minds, its primary core delivered to the lesser Ark by Offensive Bias.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
 
Offensive Bias was thereafter tasked with watching over Mendicant Bias' burial site on the Ark until such a time he was later recalled to fend off a new galactic threat.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Offensive Bias observed and celebrated both the ancilla's exile and his contrition. Offensive Bias remained vigilant to safeguard both the past behind and the path ahead.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi27}}
===Zeta Halo===
Around one century (77 years, in 97,368 BCE) after the firing of the Halo Array, and the subsequently mysterious survival of the [[Xalanyn]] after the event, the [[Grand Edict]] assigned Offensive Bias to [[Installation 07]] alongside [[117649 Despondent Pyre]] to guard the Xalanyn's prison.{{Ref/Game|Id=stinger|HINF|Legendary post-credits cinematic}}


==Terminal logs==
==Terminal logs==
What follows is a logged transcript of events that occurred during and amidst the battle, as logged by Offensive Bias itself.{{Ref/Reuse|terminal}}
What follows is a logged transcript of events that occurred during and amidst the battle, observed by Offensive Bias himself.


{|cellspacing="3"
{|cellspacing="3"
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''[12:H 20:M 00:S]''
''[12:H 20:M 00:S]''
''I begin this report with no illusions that it will ever be seen by its intended readers. In all likelihood they have already committed [species-wide suicide] with the goal of preserving biological diversity in this galaxy. I must ensure that this information reaches those who must come after. If I fail in this, how can they not regard my creators’ sacrifice as anything but [a crime without measure]?''
''I begin this report with no illusions that it will ever be seen by its intended readers. In all likelihood they have already committed [species-wide suicide] with the goal of preserving biological diversity in this galaxy. I must ensure that this information reaches those who must come after. If I fail in this, how can they not regard my creators’ sacrifice as anything but [a crime without measure]?''


''[12:H 19:M 59:S]''
''[12:H 19:M 59:S]''
''Contender AI 05-032<//>Mendicant Bias is returning and has the capacity to bring the enemy through the [Maginot] sphere. The crews of my task force are aware of the opposing fleet’s size; all data indicates that they have prepared themselves – but with biologicals anything is possible. I will make sure that [malfunctioning equipment] does no further damage. Perhaps its current failure will finally allow it to succeed at the task it was originally created for.''
''Contender AI 05-032<//>Mendicant Bias is returning and has the capacity to bring the enemy through the [Maginot] sphere. The crews of my task force are aware of the opposing fleet’s size; all data indicates that they have prepared themselves – but with biologicals anything is possible. I will make sure that [malfunctioning equipment] does no further damage. Perhaps its current failure will finally allow it to succeed at the task it was originally created for.''


''[11:H 15:M 48:S]''
''[11:H 15:M 48:S]''
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''Even though 05-032’s declaration of hostilities simplified strategic preparations; I do not expect an easy fight – just one I cannot lose.''
''Even though 05-032’s declaration of hostilities simplified strategic preparations; I do not expect an easy fight – just one I cannot lose.''


''[11:H 12:M 09:S]''
''[11:H 12:M 09:S]''
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''As Mendicant stated in its report [58.078:H 48:M 12:S ago]: half measures will not suffice.''
''As Mendicant stated in its report [58.078:H 48:M 12:S ago]: half measures will not suffice.''


''[09:H 45:M 18:S]''
''[09:H 45:M 18:S]''
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''Such a press of arms invites many opportunities for unintentional fratricide.''
''Such a press of arms invites many opportunities for unintentional fratricide.''


''[07:H 36:M 41:S]''
''[07:H 36:M 41:S]''
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''It is a mathematical certainty that some of them will get through and attempt to board. There isn’t a single warship with this first wave. It seems my opponent’s rage has left no room for respect.''
''It is a mathematical certainty that some of them will get through and attempt to board. There isn’t a single warship with this first wave. It seems my opponent’s rage has left no room for respect.''


''[04:H 01:M 55:S]''
''[04:H 01:M 55:S]''
''I could have countered its move if I had released my fighters. They are ready but idle; making their base vessels more attractive prizes than targets. Now the first of many waves of commercial vessels mixed with single ships and assault craft surge forward. The first ship from my fleet to be boarded breaks formation and races into the oncoming vessels – striking one amidships. The cargo vessel’s hull split open and out of it explodes not the expected consumer goods but 31,860 dying warriors.''
''I could have countered its move if I had released my fighters. They are ready but idle; making their base vessels more attractive prizes than targets. Now the first of many waves of commercial vessels mixed with single ships and assault craft surge forward. The first ship from my fleet to be boarded breaks formation and races into the oncoming vessels – striking one amidships. The cargo vessel’s hull split open and out of it explodes not the expected consumer goods but 31,860 dying warriors.''


''[00:H 19:M 02:S]''
''[00:H 19:M 02:S]''
''The seventh and final wave of container ships, barges, tankers, and military vessels engage my fleet; another 214,320 ships, many in excess of [50,000 tonnes], engage my seemingly disrupted vanguard. I continue to fight just well enough to seem lucky.''
''The seventh and final wave of container ships, barges, tankers, and military vessels engage my fleet; another 214,320 ships, many in excess of [50,000 tonnes], engage my seemingly disrupted vanguard. I continue to fight just well enough to seem lucky.''


''Mendicant, or the enemy, has been sending a small percentage of its fleet elsewhere. Good. Let them believe they can seize a foothold somewhere inside the sphere.''
''Mendicant, or the enemy, has been sending a small percentage of its fleet elsewhere. Good. Let them believe they can seize a foothold somewhere inside the sphere.''


''[00:H 00:M 11:S]''
''[00:H 00:M 11:S]''
Line 82: Line 71:


''My auxiliaries lay in tatters – more than half of them are now part of the enemy fleet. But just as I had predicted, 05-032 concentrated them like they were the sole key to victory. Its desire to punish our creators blinded it to the true purpose of my [feints]. I have reduced the combat effectiveness of its core fleet to 79.96 percent. Surely now it must realize that something is amiss.''
''My auxiliaries lay in tatters – more than half of them are now part of the enemy fleet. But just as I had predicted, 05-032 concentrated them like they were the sole key to victory. Its desire to punish our creators blinded it to the true purpose of my [feints]. I have reduced the combat effectiveness of its core fleet to 79.96 percent. Surely now it must realize that something is amiss.''


''[00:H 00:M 00:S]''
''[00:H 00:M 00:S]''
Line 87: Line 77:


''I can trade Mendicant ship for ship now and still prevail.''
''I can trade Mendicant ship for ship now and still prevail.''


''[00:H 00:M 01:S]''
''[00:H 00:M 01:S]''
Line 92: Line 83:


''It is best that our crews perished now; because the battle that is about to ensue would have driven them mad.''
''It is best that our crews perished now; because the battle that is about to ensue would have driven them mad.''


''[00:H 00:M 02:S]''
''[00:H 00:M 02:S]''
Line 97: Line 89:


''For now all my concentration is focused on inertial control and navigation. Targeting isn’t even a consideration – I will be engaging my enemy at arm’s length.''
''For now all my concentration is focused on inertial control and navigation. Targeting isn’t even a consideration – I will be engaging my enemy at arm’s length.''


''[00:H 01:M 14:S]''
''[00:H 01:M 14:S]''
''05-032 abandoned the tactic of using derelict ships as cover after [72:S] – It seems that 52 core vessels lost to the ruptured fuel cells of derelict ships was lesson enough. Add another 608 lost to collision, point fire, structural failure due to inertial manipulation, and [slipstream space] induced dis-coherence and I now outnumber Mendicant [6:1].''
''05-032 abandoned the tactic of using derelict ships as cover after [72:S] – It seems that 52 core vessels lost to the ruptured fuel cells of derelict ships was lesson enough. Add another 608 lost to collision, point fire, structural failure due to inertial manipulation, and [slipstream space] induced dis-coherence and I now outnumber Mendicant [6:1].''


''[00:H 03:M 00:S]''
''[00:H 03:M 00:S]''
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''But I doubt it would have extended the same courtesy to me.''
''But I doubt it would have extended the same courtesy to me.''
|}
|}
==Production notes==
Offensive Bias was first visually-depicted in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', in an illustration created by artist [[:Category:Images by Levi Hoffmeier|Levi Hoffmeier]] - more well-known as the artist for the fanwork ''[[Halo: A Fistful of Arrows]]''. In the book, Offensive Bias is canonised as using the visual appearance of the [[Guardian Sentinel]] enemies trialled and [[Cut Halo 3 enemies|cut from]] ''[[Halo 3]]'' - with the Guardian hologram on the multiplayer map [[Epitaph]] directly called out as Offensive Bias.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
While designing the illustration for the book, Hoffmeier played with the idea that a standard Contender-class AI shell may be able to dock with a Guardian Sentinel's eye socket, allowing the two designs to coexist alongside one another. In this depiction, Offensive Bias' core shell would be similar to those of Mendicant Bias and [[Invariant Bias]], simply housed in a Guardian Sentinel for combat operations.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Levi1|LeviWasTaken|1656715330247606272|Levi Hoffmeier|Quote=I had been playing with the idea that the Bias ancillas could operate any kind of shell or sentinel it wanted to, and perhaps Mendicant's smaller, Contender-class shell could actually dock in the eye area of Offensive Bias's larger Guardian Sentinel shell:|D=13|M=06|Y=2023}} When mocking-up the image, he additionally did a scale image using the ''Halo 3'' Ark skybox to depict the size of Offensive Bias and how he may be scaled if encountered up-close, using the aforementioned Contender shell in the eye (albeit flipped upside down).{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Levi2|LeviWasTaken|1656713845178798080|Levi Hoffmeier|Quote=This is something I mocked up for myself when I worked on the #Halo Encyclopedia (using the Halo 3 skybox as a background), to help me imagine the scale of both Offensive Bias and Mendicant Bias, and what meeting them in-game as the Master Chief might have been like:|D=13|M=06|Y=2023}}
==Trivia==
*In ''[[Halo 4]]'', Offensive Bias' sigil appears on the "Refractive" [[Weapon skins (Halo 4)|weapon skin]] for the [[Z-130 Suppressor]], alongside the sigils of the  Didact and [[Librarian]].
*In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians|Halo 5]]'' [[Infection]] games, if [[031 Exuberant Witness|Exuberant Witness]] is selected as one's multiplayer announcer, she will declare the player as "Offensive Bias" if they earn a [[Medals#Halo 5: Guardians|Zombicide medal]].
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Refractive_skin_2.jpg|Offensive Bias's sigil on the Z-130 Suppressor
File:H3 Epitaph Hologram.png|A hologram of Offensive Bias on the ''Halo 3'' map [[Epitaph]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
File:HINF Offensive Bias hologram.png|A hologram of Offensive Bias close to the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] on [[Installation 07]].
File:Enc22 Concept ChakasAndFriends.jpg|An early sketch of Offensive Bias (back-right) for the ''Halo Encyclopedia''.
File:Enc22 ModularOffensiveBias.jpg|An early, unused, idea for Offensive Bias' ''Halo Encyclopedia'' illustration, depicting a Contender-class AI shell housed within the eye.{{Ref/Reuse|Levi1}}
File:Enc22 LargeOffensiveBias.jpg|An early, unused, exploratory painting for Offensive Bias' scale in the ''Halo Encyclopedia''.{{Ref/Reuse|Levi2}}
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}} {{C|Hologram only}}
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{C|Sigil only}}
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{C|Hologram only}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
<references/>


{{Forerunner AI}}
{{Forerunner AI}}
{{Forerunner-Flood War}}
{{Forerunner-Flood War}}
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.]]
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.]]
[[Category:AI characters]]

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