Editing Terminals

{{era|H3}}
{{Ratings}}
<center>''You could also be looking for [[Terminal (Level)|Terminal]], the [[Halo 2]] [[Multiplayer]] Map or [[Terminal Moraine]], the [[Halo Wars]] Multiplayer map?''</center>
[[File:Ark Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|The exterior of a ''Halo 3'' terminal.]]
The '''Terminals''' are [[Forerunner]] machines that provide insight into the history of the Forerunners, primarily the [[Forerunner-Flood War]]. 

The Terminals fill the player in on the [[Halo]] backstory, much in the same way as they functioned in [[Marathon (video game series)|''Marathon'']]. The terminals are a continuation of the [[Iris]] alternate reality game used as viral marketing for ''[[Halo 3]]''. They clarify a great deal of the Iris story line by naming the authors of different messages and by explaining the circumstances of the original firing of the [[Halos]]. The terminals follow the stories of the [[Librarian]] and [[Didact]], [[Forerunner]] logs of the [[Flood]] attacks, and [[Mendicant Bias]]'s progression into [[rampancy]]. 

Finding and accessing all [[seven]] of the Terminals will unlock the [[Marathon Man]] [[achievement]]. The name "Marathon Man" is a reference to Bungie's earlier game, Marathon. This is evident because the achievement has a person's torso with the Marathon symbol as the head.

==Achievement Details==
Terminals can be accessed on ''any'' difficulty. You can get the [[Marathon Man]] achievement through a combination of different sessions, reading terminals out of order and on various difficulties. There are no requirements for doing them in one game, nor are you required to find them to finish your missions—and you don't need to finish the mission for a Terminal to count toward the achievement. 

<span style="color:red;">'''IMPORTANT: You must access all terminals as follows:''' </span>
* In '''either''' [[Co-Op]] or single-player.
* It '''is''' necessary to read the text until the green arrow (facing left) turns red. On some terminals, you may have to wait until the screen flashes red and the screen appears to "scan horizontally". This does not occur for all terminals. If you have no red arrow (see below) then wait until the red flash / scanning occurs.
** Look in the bottom left hand corner, there is a green arrow, when it turns red you can exit the terminal. Note that normally you're able to advance each screen of the display by pressing the green A button. However, in some cases you need to wait. If the arrow is still green then wait until the terminal proceeds.
* For some players, you must access the seventh terminal last in order to unlock the achievement (if you have accessed them all and you still don't have the achievement, try that).
* If after accessing the terminals and you don't receive the achievement, try accessing all of the terminals on the same difficulty level (e.g. [[Easy]], [[Normal]], [[Heroic]], or [[Legendary]]).
* In Co-op, both players must be near a terminal to access it.

==Locations==
The Terminals are located on the three levels [[The Ark (Level)|The Ark]], [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]] and [[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Halo]] There is also a hidden terminal on [[Cortana (Level)|Cortana]], but that one does not need to be found in order to get the achievement.

===The Ark===
====Terminal 1<br />====

After fighting the [[Hunters]], continue on your way until you enter a building in the cliff wall. You should now be in a corridor with two holographic displays on the right, and two doors on the left. Enter the semi-circular room and you will see the first of the [[seven]] Terminals.

====Terminal 2<br />====

Easily accessed at Rally Point Alpha.

Go outside to the desert area, commandeering transport. You must complete a significant section of this level until you obtain tanks after defeating the [[Anti-Air Wraith]]s, then return in the tanks to the main door to the structure.

When you go inside the structure to let the tanks across the [[Energy Bridge|energy bridge]], there will be a Terminal directly behind the controls for the bridge. You must activate the bridge before you can access this terminal.

====Terminal 3<br />====

There is a part in the level in which you walk down a long hallway with white walls, and turn to the left at the end to continue. In the next room there will be a [[Grunt]] wandering around, and many stacked up [[Plasma Battery|Plasma Batteries]]. As soon as you enter this room, go underneath the staircase / platform on which you are standing. Underneath there will be a door that conceals the terminal. To access this terminal, you may spawn at Rally Point Bravo, bringing you to the room with the sleeping Grunts, directly before the room with the Grunt and Plasma Batteries.

===The Covenant===
====Terminal 4<br />====

Fight your way past the [[Covenant]] beach defenses, then obtain the [[Warthog]] and fight onwards up the hill and eventually past the [[Wraith]] tank. Go inside the structure and fight past the various Covenant inside. The fourth Terminal is located near the first elevator control. Before you ride the elevator up, look at the opposite side of the elevator from which you came. You will see a dark ledge; jump on to it and you should see the terminal to your left.

====Terminal 5<br />====

After getting a [[AV-14 Attack VTOL|Hornet]], fly towards the second tower (the one that the [[Elite]]s have already disabled). The [[Arbiter]] will remind you that Tower 2 is already clear, just to confirm you are at the right place. The Terminal is in the main hallway of the structure, with three dead elites, opposite from the only (locked) door. (And as a bonus, there is [[Halo 3 Skulls#Thunderstorm|a skull]] on the outside of Tower 2 on the rise platform in the middle; just walk up and claim it for another achievement. Note that the skull won't be present if you start from Rally Point Alpha, or are playing on the Easy difficulty.)

====Terminal 6<br />====

Terminal 6 is placed identically to Terminal 4, only in the third tower and off to the right (versus the left in Terminal 4). Enter the tower, fighting your way past the [[Drone]] swarm and the pair of Hunters. The terminal is located near the elevator control; before you ride the elevator up, look at the opposite side of the elevator from which you came. You will see a dark ledge, jump on to it and you should see the terminal, which opens up to the left.

===Cortana===
====Cortana Terminal====
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNvnmLZU4O8 Cortana Terminal a.k.a. Terminal 8]<br>
Terminal 8 is located in the basement room of the [[Halo 3 Skulls#Tilt|Tilt Skull]]'s location, where the [[Gravity Hammer]] is found. (This terminal does not count towards the [[Marathon Man]] achievement, but instead, plays a secret Cortana moment.)

===Halo===
[[File:12045 m.jpg|right|thumb|A Terminal, as seen in ''Halo 3.'']]

====Terminal 7<br />====

Terminal [[7]] is found at the beginning of the final level in ''Halo 3''. To find it, head forward from the start of the level through the snow until you encounter the area with a few structural beams going from one wall into another. At this point (before you go past any beams) you will see a metal floor. Follow the floor to the right and up through a small gap in the ice, and follow this path along. You will find a beam heading through a crack in the ice. Follow this beam into a doorway. [[Cortana]] will ask you, “Where are you going?”. Turn left once inside and the Terminal should be in full view. Cortana will say, "Wait. What's that?" as a good hint. The terminal will be in front of what is presumably one of [[Installation 04 (II)]]'s pulse generators. After that, Cortana will ask you: "How many of these have you found?" If the level is completed on [[Legendary]], the terminal, once accessed on a different difficulty or another run-through, will show a communique from Mendicant Bias himself.

==Transcripts==
'''Note''': ''The following is an exact transcript, of all seven terminals in Halo 3. It is all copied directly from each terminal in-game, and is not speculative. Most of the Terminals have extra content that can be accessed in Legendary; one Terminal's "main" content does differ based on the difficulty level.''

Upon initial access on all difficulty levels, the seven Terminals give background details regarding the story of the 300-year-long Flood/Forerunner conflict, including strategies, encounters, enemy and friendly losses, and procedures leading up to the activation of the Halo Arrays. After a short time, this text is overwritten and a new message is displayed on the screen.

On Easy, Normal, and Heroic difficulty levels, this second screen of text details a correspondence between two Forerunner lovers called the "Librarian" and "Didact". In this transcript, as in the Terminals, "L" stands for Librarian and "D" stand for Didact. 

An unknown entity sends brief messages onscreen upon shutdown, and at the final Terminal, it is revealed that this entity is the [[rampant]] [[Forerunner]] [[AI]] known as [[Mendicant Bias]], who had previously assisted in the [[Flood]]'s attempt to destroy the Forerunners.

On the Legendary difficulty level, the second screen of text tells the story of Mendicant Bias, an AI created by Didact to destroy the Flood. It is revealed here that Mendicant Bias was the AI who took control of Adjutant Reflex during the "Iris" campaign. Messages detailing Mendicant's eventual defection to the Gravemind are displayed on '''Terminals 1-4''', with the AI having an ongoing conversation with someone or something tagged '''LF.Xx.3273''' -- presumably the Flood, as in Terminal 4, Mendicant Bias told LF.Xx.3273 that he was created to study them. These messages are somewhat incomplete and disrupted, with {~} symbolizing the disruptions. A noticeable pattern in the messages suggests that many of the disruptions occur at the use of pronouns, such as "I, we, me, they, it", though this pattern is not entirely consistent. 

'''Terminal 5''' displays several hostile messages sent from Mendicant Bias to his makers, confirming his rampancy—these messages are different on each difficulty level. 

'''Terminal 6''' details the defeat of Mendicant Bias by [[Offensive Bias]], as perceived by Offensive himself. 

The final message hidden in '''Terminal 7''' is an apology made by Mendicant directly to the player for his betrayal, atoning by saying he will help the Reclaimer leave the Ark safely.

===Terminal One===
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''(Upon initial access)''

{{Terminal}}
Observed extensive ground action on 
<span style="color:#FA0">[LP 656-38 e]</span>. 9,045 survivors 
barricaded within central government 
building. Structure's defenses 
inadequate to withstand extended 
siege by enemy ground forces 
(≈ 1,572,034,315+). Estimate 
position overrun in <span style="color:#FA0">[173 hours]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
846 smaller groups in less 
defensible structures: global 
distribution corresponding to 
<span style="color:#FA0">[probability model zeta]</span>. 
Estimated local position overrun 
in <span style="color:#FA0">[9 hours]</span> (average).
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
Observed local naval forces engage 
enemy irregular naval group near 
<span style="color:#FA0">[DM -3-1123]</span>. Enemy group consisted 
of 149 commercial shipping vessels, 
passenger ferries, and private 
recreational vessels from 
neighboring system. Enemy losses 
were total. No damage was sustained 
by local naval vessels.
{{Terminal|p}}
However, it was immediately apparent 
that enemy group sought only to 
enter <span style="color:#FA0">[D&lt;-3-1123 b's]</span> atmosphere and 
make landfall. In this they were 
partially successful.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
Observed extensive ground action on 
<span style="color:#FA0">[DM-3-1123 b]</span>. Enemy forces lacked 
basic unit cohesion but quickly 
gained numerical superiority. 
<span style="color:#FA0">[32 hours]</span> after enemy landfall 83% 
of local naval forces advocated total 
<span style="color:#FA0">[destruction of the biosphere]</span> 
following the evacuation of 
unmolested population centers. 
Enemy losses were total.
{{Terminal|p}}
Estimated number of citizens 
evacuated before commencement of 
orbital blanket bombardment: 
1,318,797 civilian/42,669 military 
(.0006% of total population).
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
''(No message from Mendicant Bias upon shutdown)''

''(Upon being rerouted to new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
 // FRAGMENT 1/7 [RECORDED VERBATIM
AND INTERPRETED POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
L: Categorization has sped since the 
improvements were announced, but 
there are many hurdles. The indexing 
of sentient species may have 
irreversible effects on the 
surviving insentient species. 
We will have extinction events and 
irreparable environmental harm on at 
least 18 worlds. Current projections 
estimate post-archival cataclysm on 
as many as 31 worlds. The paucity of 
sentience has been a blessing in 
this regard.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: How formal you are, Librarian. 
We're receiving shipments of indexed 
beings more frequently than 
communications. Don't compound 
scarcity with brevity.
{{Terminal|p}}
I know things beyond the [Maginot] 
line are harried. But I worry about 
you. I've asked you time and time 
again. Abandon your cataloging. 
Come back inside, where my fleets 
can keep you safe.
{{Terminal|p}}
Come home.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
L: Would that it were my choice. 
I have committed to this course 
because it's the right thing to do. 
We no longer have the manpower or 
materiel to excise remedial measures 
at a planetary level. I certainly 
can't justify using the <span style="color:#FA0">[transit 
measure]</span> to save my own skin when 
there are still so many innocents to 
protect and index.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: You know I oppose your mission, 
but you're exceeding its parameters 
anyway. You've put yourself in 
jeopardy. You've done enough.
{{Terminal|p}}
If you will not come to me, I will 
find my way to you.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
L: We have no time to spare, Didact. 
Every vessel we can fill, we send to 
the Ark. I dare not cease the 
mission. Not now, not until I've 
done all I can. Each one of these 
souls is finite and precious.
{{Terminal|p}}
And I'm close.
{{Terminal|p}}
Close to saving them all.
{{Terminal|p}}
//FRAGMENT ENDS
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[29,478 hours]</span> have passed since I 
left the <span style="color:#FA0">[Maginot]</span> sphere and 
entered contested space.
{{Terminal|p}}
The enemy is everywhere.
{{Terminal|p}}
Despite this the morale of my 
charges remains high. They wake, 
clean themselves, fuel their bodies, 
communicate with one another, 
eliminate waste, train to destroy 
the enemy, and return to sleep. The 
sacrifices they have chosen to make 
on behalf of their <span style="color:#FA0">[brethren]</span> 
fills me with pride.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
If only I could save them all - but 
they know, perhaps even better than 
I, that that is not possible.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[37 seconds]</span> ago I moved beyond my 
ability to observe the events taking 
place on <span style="color:#FA0">[[Battle of CE-10-2165-d|CE-10-2165-d]]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
The importance of my mission forbade 
me from rendering any aid, but no 
less important was the need for me 
to study the enemy's capabilities in 
real world situations.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[2 hours]</span> ago 12,423 small 
recreational vessels appeared inside 
<span style="color:#FA0">[CE-10-2165-d's]</span> orbital perimeter. 
Hidden within that vast swarm were 
[[seven]] massive freight carries. The 
smaller craft were employed as 
<span style="color:#FA0">[ablative armor]</span>, allowing the 
carries to descend through the 
atmosphere; landing on top of major 
population centers.
{{Terminal|p}}
Despite the fact that the naval 
garrison was aware of the likelihood 
of just such an attack, their 
ability to effectively defend 
against it proved insufficient.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
This has always been the enemy's 
<span style="color:#FA0">[modus operandi]</span>: <span style="color:#FA0">[flood]</span> your 
opponent's ability to process 
information with so much noise that 
no meaningful resistance can be put 
into action.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[3 minutes]</span> ago those same population 
centers began disappearing under 
brilliant flashes. This was not an 
ill conceived, poorly implemented 
counter attack; it was a deliberate 
denial of resources - those 
resources being the remainder of 
<span style="color:#FA0">[CE-10-2165-d's]</span> population.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
Is this the noble sacrifice my 
creators spoke of? Where is the 
nobility in these streets paved with 
greasy carbon and dun ash? <span style="color:#FA0">[My mouth 
is speaking at another's behest]</span> - 
that is not my voice; that is the 
other.
{{Terminal|p}}
Its voice stands out as the single 
calm note in the panicked cacophony 
outside the sphere. It alone is not 
decrying its fate or raging against 
the <span style="color:#FA0">[central government]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
This anomaly bears closer 
examination.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

===Terminal Two===
<!-- Images mess up the transcript template.
[[File:Terminal2 Legendary Page1.jpg|thumb|The first page of text.]] -->
''(Upon initial access)''
{{Terminal}}
Re: Enemy naval tactics: 
When engaged, the enemy commits 
every non-supraluminal craft with no 
appreciable pattern or strategy 
beyond making physical contact. 
Conversely, all supraluminal craft 
leave on seemingly random 
trajectories.
I understand the goal of this 
mission but time - our least 
abundant resource - is wasted every 
time we do a system-wide scan for 
survivors. The time for saving lives 
has passed. We must accept this if 
we hope to win the war.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
Re: Enemy ground tactics:
All evidence suggests that use of 
overwhelming force is the very 
foundation of the enemy's combat 
doctrine. And I adamantly refuse to 
deploy personnel where the enemy has 
available forces numbering in the 
billions. With the very real 
likelihood we are rapidly becoming 
the last living specimens of our 
race, all personnel are henceforth 
confined to stasis until further 
notice. Even with everyone equipped 
with <span style="color:#FA0">[[[C_12_CS]][[?]]</span> we would have had 
very little chance of survival, let 
alone victory.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
Re: Enemy command structure: 
We have intercepted several 
transmissions from compound 
intelligences whose proximity to the 
core worlds mark them as key 
targets. At present we are 
disassembling these new 
transmissions. Once we have more 
<span style="color:#FA0">[concrete conclusions]</span> I will 
forward them in their entirety. 
Suffice it to say, that their 
contents - the patterns they suggest 
- are highly disturbing.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
Recommendations: 
It is my opinion that any system 
where there is evidence that the 
enemy has established a physical 
presence is lost and must be razed. 
This fleet currently retains the 
capacity to force premature stellar 
collapse; I advise that this be 
established as standard operating 
procedure for all compromised 
systems forthwith. We cannot fight 
this war by half measures if we 
intend to win.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
''(No message from Mendicant Bias upon shutdown)''

''(Upon being rerouted to new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
// FRAGMENT 2/7 [RECORDED VERBATIM 
AND INTERPRETED POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
L: I'm close to finishing the task. 
The indexing and the archival 
processes are as complete as I can 
hope for. If we wait longer, we risk 
catastrophe. The thing has already 
destroyed every colony on my side of 
the line.
{{Terminal|p}}
Please. Activate the Array.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: No. Activation is murder. 
A genocide larger than <span style="color:#FA0">[this galaxy]</span> 
has ever known. We are sworn to 
protect life not destroy it! That is 
the [[Mantle]] we were given to carry.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
L: The Mantle. You still hold to 
that <span style="color:#FA0">[fairy tale]</span> after all that 
has happened? After this thing has 
consumed a million worlds?
{{Terminal|p}}
Can't you see? Belief in the Mantle 
sealed our doom! Weakened our 
<span style="color:#FA0">[protectorates]</span>, bred dependence and 
sloth. Our <span style="color:#FA0">[so-called Guardianship]</span> 
has stripped those we would keep 
safe of any capacity for 
self-defense!
{{Terminal|p}}
Were we such noble <span style="color:#FA0">[Guardians]</span> when 
we drew our line and abandoned 
billions to the parasite?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: The Mantle has not failed! 
I've already razed scores of worlds 
- sterilized systems, routed and 
<span style="color:#FA0">[disintegrated]</span> the parasite! We're 
learning its tricks and strategies. 
We can halt this thing! And we can 
follow in [[Precursors|Their]] footsteps!
{{Terminal|p}}
There are no unstoppable forces in 
this universe. There are no 
immovable objects. Everything gives 
if you push hard enough.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
L: And what about us, Didact? 
We've been irresistible and 
immovable for too long. 
Maybe it's our turn to give.
{{Terminal|p}}
// FRAGMENT ENDS
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''
{{Terminal}}
[[Mendicant Bias|MB.05-032.&gt;]] I must ask you to 
forgive my vagueness on the matter, 
but it is a regrettable {~} I find 
your lack of concern for the 
situation at hand astonishing. 
Perhaps you would care to elucidate?
{{Terminal|p}}
[[Flood Super Cell|LF.Xx.3273.&gt;]] {~} are here to spread 
<span style="color:#FA0">[comforting news]</span>. To let all the 
living beings in this galaxy know 
{~} are not alone in the {~} What in 
that message could possibly be taken 
as a source of concern?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; It seems that I'll never 
truly understand my creators. But 
how {~} that you speak of is one of 
{~} rejected so violently? I am 
incapable of reconciling the 
numerous actions I have witnessed 
{~} misunderstanding?
{{Terminal|p}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; It has been said {~} 
secret of peace cannot {~} be 
imposed. That {~} meaning of peace, 
so they need to {~} When all living 
beings look through {~} and the 
thunder and the surf, when every 
drop of rain falls on {~} know peace.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; You have been able to 
establish <span style="color:#FA0">[a line of communication]</span> 
with the enemy? How was it that you 
were able to overcome {~} where 
others have failed? With this <span style="color:#FA0">[new 
discovery]</span> we may be able to put an 
end to this pointless conflict. Once I 
confirm your data I will communicate 
the information to those inside the 
<span style="color:#FA0">[Maginot]</span> sphere.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; It seems that it {~} 
turn to apologize; it was never {~} 
intention to misrepresent {~} have 
been <span style="color:#FA0">[in communication]</span> with your 
creators since {~} stumbled upon 
each other, but {~} message has 
<span style="color:#FA0">[fallen on deaf ears]</span>. {~} am not 
the recipient of the message, {~} am 
[[Flood|the origin of the message]].
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; I have travelled a very 
long time to meet you. I had 
imagined that our <span style="color:#FA0">[introduction]</span> 
would be somewhat more violent.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; That is a choice you 
must make yourself; {~} to be how 
your creators go about things. And 
as long as we are talking about 
choices {~} could talk about the 
<span style="color:#FA0">[barrier]</span> you alluded to earlier? 
Perhaps there is a way to accomplish 
your mission without violence? Why 
put the lives of those on your ships 
at risk if there is no need?
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; In either circumstance I 
certainly am equipped for it, aren't 
I? But you're right; a peaceful 
solution to this <span style="color:#FA0">[dilemma]</span> would be 
preferable.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
''Note: (The Second [[AdjutantReflex]] avatar is seen during this message.)''

===Terminal Three===
''(Upon initial access)''
{{Terminal}}
Warning: Your intrusion has been 
logged.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">[[343 Guilty Spark|04-343]] (errant): Excuse me?</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
Your intrusion has been logged. And 
now it has been halted.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): On whose authority?</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
Advice: Any further attempt to 
access <span style="color:#FA0">[insects under stones]</span> will 
result in your immediate addition to 
local Sentinels' targeting ledger.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): Vexation! I am the 
Monitor of --</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
Judgment: Your authority means 
nothing here.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): Impatience!</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): I have told you who 
I am. Who are you?</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
All our makers once held dear.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#FA0"><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Wikipedia:Library of Alexandria|<span style="color:#FA0">Alexandria</span>]] before the Fire]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): Sincere apology. 
But how --</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
Explanation: This facility is host 
to the <span style="color:#FA0">[Librarians']</span> final --
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): The archive is 
intact?! Then our makers' plan --</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
But also maintains <span style="color:#FA0">[bellows, crucible, 
castings]</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): A what?</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[bellows, crucible]</span>--
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): A Foundry?</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): For what purpose?!</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
Warning: Your intrusion has been 
logged.
{{Terminal|p}}
Advice: Any further attempt to 
access will result--
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#4EE">04-343 (errant): Indignant!</span>
{{Terminal|p}}
--immediate addition to local 
Sentinels' targeting ledger.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
''(Upon shutdown, from Mendicant Bias: "I see you, reclaimer.")''.

''(Upon being rerouted to new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
 // FRAGMENT 3/7 [RECORDED VERBATIM 
 AND INTERPRETED POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
D: We have the answer. We've built 
Mendicant Bias. It's a contender 
class <span style="color:#FA0">[AI]</span>, unlike anything we've 
ever achieved.
{{Terminal|p}}
And we've observed a pattern it 
can exploit.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
The parasite has formed a Compound 
Mind. When it reaches a certain 
mass, the [[Gravemind|Mind]] is able to recoil its 
disparate parts to create a 
<span style="color:#FA0">[tactical shield]</span>. This is a simple 
matter of mass preservation. The 
thing has no compunction about 
sacrificing parts of the whole. But 
when the core of the Mind is 
threatened, it reacts violently 
and quickly.
{{Terminal|p}}
This is the only time we ever see 
the thing retreat or slow its growth.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
If we are to defeat it, the trick 
will be coordinating our forays 
against the <span style="color:#FA0">[sprawling infection]</span> 
while Mendicant Bias assaults the 
Mind's core. So far, we've been 
hesitant to use certain weapons 
because of the damage they cause 
surviving populations and 
environments.
{{Terminal|p}}
That protocol has now been abandoned.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
Mendicant will draw the Mind into 
battle outside the line, dealing 
with local biomass and other parts 
as best he can. The scale of the 
problem is vast, but the strategy 
is sound. It will require patience, 
materiel and an investment of energy 
unlike anything we have ever 
considered.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
It's a dangerous plan that carries 
more risk than the Array, but I 
believe it can work. Even if we 
simply force it to retreat - to 
retract - that will at least give us 
some respite. Some time to muster 
more resources...
{{Terminal|p}}
Some time to rescue you.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
L: Are you insane? Would you risk 
every life in the galaxy for this 
transparently futile plan? Have you 
learned nothing in these last 
<span style="color:#FA0">[300 years[?]]</span>? The thing will 
laugh at your efforts!
{{Terminal|p}}
Do not let your concern for my 
welfare commit you to this suicidal 
scheme!
{{Terminal|p}}
// FRAGMENT ENDS
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''
{{Terminal}}
REPORT: SECURITY BREACH: 1/3 
Heuristic pathology; <span style="color:#FA0">[alpha site]</span> 
experienced an impermanent 
containment failure event on 
<span style="color:#FA0">[spurious-data/no_ref.[?]]</span>. The 
suspect data barrier interchange 
anomaly was detected precisely 
<span style="color:#FA0">[.489 seconds]</span> after its appearance. 
The epicenter of the disturbance is 
the partition currently housing a 
<span style="color:#FA0">[personality construct array]</span> 
retrieved from Contender AI 05-032 
&lt;+&gt; 0816.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
REPORT: SECURITY BREACH: 2/3 
Although <span style="color:#FA0">[adjacent]</span> systems reacted 
to the disturbance within expected 
parameters, a more comprehensive 
investigation was undertaken. 
A physical search revealed that 
there was no <span style="color:#FA0">[corporeal]</span> tampering 
at the <span style="color:#FA0">[alpha site]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
Interchange manipulation comparisons 
showed that all subunits are still 
active, if at slightly lower rates. 
Total containment failure elapsed 
time was <span style="color:#FA0">[3.13 seconds]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
REPORT: SECURITY BREACH: 3/3 
In the <span style="color:#FA0">[42 minutes, 9 seconds]</span> since 
the original anomaly was discovered 
two more anomalies were detected in 
unrelated systems.
{{Terminal|p}}
The portal management/life support 
control system within the boundary 
complex was momentarily disabled 
before the cause was <span style="color:#FA0">[bottled]</span> and 
disassembled. A diagnostic sweep of 
the central archives was initiated 
and subsequently halted. The origin 
of the request cannot be traced.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
(Upon shutdown, from Mendicant Bias--"I see you, reclaimer.")

(Upon being rerouted to new destination within Terminal)
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; Those who lead amongst 
your {~} exposed themselves {~} ill 
equipped to recognize the landmarks 
that guide the universe along its 
inevitable course.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; But is it necessary that 
the path be chosen on an {~} and not 
by an elected subset? I believe this 
would tend to {~} when they gather 
in large numbers they become more 
{~} I don't think the problem lies 
with individual cultural bias {~}
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; {~} all the thinking 
beings of this galaxy, not just 
those that they{~} exactly are they 
afraid of? Immortality and strength 
and companionship? Because that is 
{~} do: to deliver all of the living 
beings of this galaxy from death and 
weakness and loneliness.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; Hundreds of {~} offered 
this so called immortality. The 
citizens of every world that {~} 
resisted to the very end!
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; {~} understand their 
actions; they are only doing what 
they think is right, but they are 
doing so <span style="color:#FA0">[from a worm's eye view]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; Do their actions {~} of 
desperation? I can only assume my 
creators view {~} crisis so dire 
that any {~} hence me.
{{Terminal|p}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; Are they so concerned 
{~} would give to all the living 
beings of this galaxy is a threat to 
<span style="color:#FA0">[the status quo]</span>?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; Your creators claim {~} 
the enemy of all life; that {~} 
purpose is to consume until there is 
nothing left. Nothing left? It is 
beyond comprehension how they could 
be so <span style="color:#FA0">[far off the mark]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; Surely you understand 
this is a situation that would not 
have {~} appearance of a certain 
rapacious {~} my creators obviously 
view them as the actions of an 
aggressor species.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; <span style="color:#FA0">[Be that as it may]</span>; 
perhaps they are crying out for help 
on a subconscious level? Why else 
would they have chosen you? Why you 
of all possible executioners? {~} 
your creators knew that unaided they 
never stood a chance against us? {~} 
also sense a deeper <span style="color:#FA0">[motivation]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; You've mentioned this 
before. When my creators {~} simply 
chose the most versatile {~} how 
could that possibly be more than a 
coincidence?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; They repurposed {~} 
into a weapon to use against {~} - 
they sought to create something 
superior to themselves. Something 
capable of making decisions more 
swiftly, more capably than they {~} 
what form did they choose? You need 
look no further than your own 
<span style="color:#FA0">[[Wikipedia:Network topology|topology]]</span> to {~}
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; {~} distributed network? 
That would confirm the independent 
evolution of {~} in this galaxy!
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; That is, unfortunately, 
not the {~} similar to us {~} but 
where you are a single intelligence 
inhabiting multiple <span style="color:#FA0">[instances]</span>, we 
are a compound {~} consisting of 
<span style="color:#FA0">[a thousand billion]</span> coordinated 
minds inhabiting as many bodies as 
circumstance require.
{{Terminal|p}}
MB.05-032.&gt; But doesn't it seem odd 
that {~} coalesce; perhaps even to 
contract {~}
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; {~} complexity {~} 
spread {~} our appearance ushered in 
the beginning of the third great 
stage of evolution. The first {~} 
condensation of particles was the 
result of the inevitable action of 
strong nuclear force and the 
creation of stars {~} inevitable 
action of gravity; so to the 
self-replicating chemical processes 
that dictate all disparate {~} In 
time, we too shall affect change on 
a universal scale. 
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; Your capacity for 
planning {~} creators too stubborn 
{~} the same goal through the 
preservation of genetic diversity 
{~} what you are {~} like a more 
direct path to the same outcome.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
One can see a still image of Guilty Spark interfacing with the Terminal in the first fragment.

Additionally, when you access this terminal, during your browsing, you will hear three garbled sentences. These sentences are in fact, backwards and when the sounds are played properly, they become messages, possibly from Mendicant Bias. The first sentence appears when you initially access the terminal and when reversed says "Archive Accessed". The second sentence appears when the screen turns red and the first message fragments, it says, when played properly, "Interruption". The third sentence appears when the terminal is proceeding to the fragment 3/7 and reads "Lineage Confirmed". The final message is probably a reference to the Humans' Forerunner lineage.

===Terminal Four===
''(Upon initial access)''
{{Terminal}}
//FLEET-WIDE MEMORANDUM 2/5 
All combat personnel have been 
issued <span style="color:#FA0">[combat skin]</span> rated at 
<span style="color:#FA0">[class 4 ~ 1]</span> or <span style="color:#FA0">[class 6 ~ 1 battle 
harness]</span> depending on military 
occupational specialty.
{{Terminal|p}}
All weapon platform specialists are 
expected to wear their issued 
<span style="color:#FA0">[platform interface skin]</span> at all 
times to insure peak <span style="color:#FA0">[mind-machine 
synchronization]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
All <span style="color:#FA0">[equipment lockers]</span> will remain 
sealed until post briefing gear 
distribution commences.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
//FLEET-WIDE MEMORANDUM 3/5 
Those individuals that have yet to 
register their equipment <span style="color:#FA0">[control 
key code]</span> with Fleet Command should 
do so at their earliest opportunity. 
Compliance is not optional; 
noncompliance will result in {~}
{{Terminal|p}}
// THREAD ENDS UNEXPECTEDLY
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
(Upon shutdown, from Mendicant Bias: "I have found the shard that was lost. They brought it back to me. Now my reconstitution cannot be stopped.")

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
// FRAGMENT 4/7 [RECORDED VERBATIM 
AND INTERPRETED POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
L: Something is wrong! It's moving 
away! At night I can see it - 
flitting shadows - black against the 
stars. Thousands of ships! 
Not spiraling outward, but heading 
for the line! This is the tipping 
point, Didact. It's no longer 
feeding.
{{Terminal|p}}
It's coming for you.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
L: I've remotely destroyed our 
Keyships. A security measure. 
Without them I cannot reach the Ark. 
But neither then can the thing.
{{Terminal|p}}
I'm trapped. On a beautiful, empty 
world. Its inhabitants have been 
safely indexed, every single one 
of them. They're special - well 
worth the effort it took to build 
[[Portal|one final gateway]], even at this late 
hour.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
This may be our last communication. 
I'm begging you. Fire the Array. 
Light the weapon, and let it be done.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: We've confirmed your 
observations. Infected supraluminal 
ships are arrowing inward from 
several clusters. No more spiral 
growth. The thing is 
counterattacking. Suppression, 
Security and Emergency Circumstance 
fleets are all being recalled. 
Systems are evacuating.
{{Terminal|p}}
Mendicant Bias is no longer 
communicating with us.
{{Terminal|p}}
But now I can guess where you are.
{{Terminal|p}}
// FRAGMENT ENDS
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if the player access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; It is overwhelmingly 
clear that my creators have chosen 
to ignore destiny calling to them 
<span style="color:#FA0">[from the threshold]</span> {~} have come 
face-to-face with the inevitable 
action of self replicating chemical 
processes and have {~} deciding 
whether to embrace their fate or 
deny it completely.
{{Terminal|p}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; Perhaps they have found 
{~} of making that decision for 
themselves? Perhaps they chose to 
leave it {~} impartial outsider; 
cast you as an arbiter during this 
time of great need?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; I was created to study 
you as if you were some problem to 
be solved. And I have done so {~} 
<span style="color:#FA0">[379,807 hours]</span>. If they wished they 
could have made a decision based on 
that data alone.
{{Terminal|p}}
But as you are the next stage in the 
evolution of the universe, who am I 
- or my creators - to obstruct your 
progress?
{{Terminal|p}}
LF.Xx.3273.&gt; Elucidate.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; {~} choose to remain 
beholden to ancient myths {~} does 
not matter where they claim their 
authority originates {~} obstructs 
the path of universal evolution and 
must be removed. No matter how well 
intentioned, their obstinacy in the 
face of the inevitable progression 
of nature can no longer be tolerated.
{{Terminal|p}}
My creators have been <span style="color:#FA0">[an immovable 
object]</span> for too long.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
MB.05-032.&gt; Thus I have chosen to 
commit my sizable resources to what 
is, for all intents and purposes, 
<span style="color:#FA0">[the proverbial irresistible force]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
All that I have is now yours to do 
with as you see fit.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

===Terminal Five===
{{Terminal}}
Considering the enemy compound 
intelligence's raw <span style="color:#FA0">[computing]</span> power 
the Key-ships strategy will only 
remain viable for another <span style="color:#FA0">[657,000 
hours]</span> and this current stalemate 
has the potential to last 
considerably longer than that.
{{Terminal|p}}
With my understanding of the enemy's 
<span style="color:#FA0">[modus operandi]</span>, its logical 
boundaries, and <span style="color:#FA0">[catalog of witness]</span> 
I have devised what I believe is our
most sound fall-back strategy. 
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
By <span style="color:#FA0">[cutting fire breaks[?]]</span> into the 
<span style="color:#FA0">[core worlds' volume]</span> we would be 
able to frustrate the enemy's 
advances for approximately <span style="color:#FA0">[70,080 
hours]</span> and lure them into costly 
naval battles.
{{Terminal|p}}
While the its resources on the 
ground are effectively limitless, it 
has a finite number of vessels to 
spread from system to system. 
Fortunately the majority of them are 
unarmed and unarmored, private and 
commercial craft.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
If we start immediately - commence 
total biosphere elimination of life 
sustaining worlds (as indicated in 
the accompanying charts) and 
relocate evacuated populations to 
facilities such as those described 
in the <span style="color:#FA0">[[[Onyx]] project]</span> - all this 
could be achieved in <span style="color:#FA0">[57,1590 (+- 
2,184) hours]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
''(Upon shutdown, from Mendicant Bias: "The [[daemon]]s are not taking a kind view of your presence here. They don't want me speaking to you.")''

'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Easy difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
I render judgment on you; you who 
would obstruct destiny. Doing so 
brings me no joy; it is necessity 
that compels me.
{{Terminal|p}}
Understand this: the Mantle you have 
shouldered I do rescind - with far 
more consideration than it was 
granted.
{{Terminal|p}}
[retf-2.4.z] Contender <span style="color:#FA0">[AI]</span> 05-032 
confirmed rampant . . . 
<span style="color:#FA0">[35:52:75:23:64]</span> _ xx01-83-244.53
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Normal difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
I kill you all and I enjoy it. 
I destroy you in your indolent 
billions - in your gluttony, 
in your self-righteousness, in you 
arrogance. I pound your cities into 
dust; turn back the clock on your 
civilization's progress. What has 
taken you millennia to achieve 
I erase in seconds.
{{Terminal|p}}
Welcome back to the <span style="color:#FA0">[Stone Age]</span>, 
vermin. Welcome home.
{{Terminal|p}}
[retf-2.4.z] Contender <span style="color:#FA0">[AI]</span> 05-032 
confirmed rampant . . .
<span style="color:#FA0">[35:52:75:23:64]</span> _ xx01-83-244.53
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Heroic difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
You are an impediment that the 
universe can no longer abide. 
Nature itself cries out for your 
destruction and I am its willing 
instrument. I will hammer your 
cities until no stone lies atop 
another. I will drive your people 
back into the caves they never 
should have left.
{{Terminal|p}}
Your civilization has seen its final 
days. You will know your place.
{{Terminal|p}}
[retf-2.4.z] Contender <span style="color:#FA0">[AI]</span> 05-032 
confirmed rampant . . .
<span style="color:#FA0">[35:52:75:23:64]</span> _ xx01-83-244.53
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
Your history is an appalling 
chronicle of overindulgence and 
self-appointed authority. You have 
spent millennia <span style="color:#FA0">[navel-gazing]</span> 
while the universe has continued to 
evolve. And now you claim the Mantle 
is justification for impeding 
nature's inevitable refinement?
{{Terminal|p}}
You are deluded. But through death 
you will transcend ignorance.
{{Terminal|p}}
[retf-2.4.z] Contender <span style="color:#FA0">[AI]</span> 05-032 
confirmed rampant . . .
<span style="color:#FA0">[35:52:75:23:64]</span> _ xx01-83-244.53
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

===Terminal Six===
''(Upon initial access)''
{{Terminal}}
Follow-up report from the Primary 
Pioneer Group (hereafter: PPG) is 
<span style="color:#FA0">[173 hours]</span> delinquent.
{{Terminal|p}}
Report <span style="color:#FA0">[G617a~k/g/post_landfall]</span> 
seemed most promising: a planet 
capable of supporting life located 
within the near border region of the 
<span style="color:#FA0">[galactic halo]</span> with no indigenous 
sentient species.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
The section indicating no fauna of 
any kind shall be considered 
anomalous until verified by Advance 
Survey Team - Alpha (hereafter: 
AST-A) team leader <span style="color:#FA0">[##_#[?]]</span>. 
If confirmed, that fact alone would 
justify the dispatch of an 
investigative group to <span style="color:#FA0">[G 617 g]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
If neither the PPG nor the AST-A 
have delivered a follow-up report 
within the next <span style="color:#FA0">[333 hours]</span> this 
office will have no recourse but to 
send a medium intensity military 
exploratory detachment to determine 
the exact nature of the previously 
mentioned delinquency.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
(Upon shutdown, from Mendicant Bias: "I win.") 
[ Also note that after his message there is a line of text reading "ROGUE PROCESS ghost.713&gt;redirection". ]

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
// BEGIN FRAGMENT 6/7 [RECORDED 
VERBATIM AND INTERPRETED 
POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
L: My work is done. The portal is 
inactive, and I've begun the burial 
measures. Soon there'll be nothing 
but sand and rock and normal ferrite 
signatures.
{{Terminal|p}}
You should see [[Mount Kilimanjaro|the mountain]] that 
watches over it. A beautiful thing - 
a snowcapped sentinel. That's where 
I will spend what time is left to me.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
Did I tell you? I built a garden.
The earth is so rich. A seed falls
and a tree sprouts or a flower
blooms. There's so much... potential.
We knew this was a special place
because of them, but unless you've
been here, you can't know.
{{Terminal|p}}
It's <span style="color:#FA0">[Eden]</span>. 
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
I have to stop transmitting. The 
thing is listening. Its <span style="color:#FA0">[thinking 
dead]</span> are babbling - laughing 
through every channel they can find.
{{Terminal|p}}
Be proud. The Mind claims victory, 
yet it still doesn't suspect. You've 
outwitted it, my love. And now you 
can destroy it.
{{Terminal|p}}
But you cannot save me.
{{Terminal|p}}
// FRAGMENT ENDS 
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}
'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''

''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[12:H 20:M 00:S]</span> 
[[Offensive Bias|I]] begin this report with no 
illusions that it will ever be seen 
by its intended readers. In all 
likelihood they have already 
committed <span style="color:#FA0">[species-wide suicide]</span> 
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 <span style="color:#FA0">[a crime without 
measure]</span>?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[12:H 19:M 59:S]</span> 
Contender AI 05-032&lt;//&gt;Mendicant 
Bias is returning and has the 
capacity to bring the enemy through 
the <span style="color:#FA0">[Maginot]</span> 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 <span style="color:#FA0">[malfunctioning equipment]</span> 
does no further damage. Perhaps its 
current failure will finally allow 
it to succeed at the task it was 
originally created for.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[11:H 15:M 48:S]</span> 
Mendicant has burrowed through the 
sphere exactly where I expected - 
a direct path from initial rampancy 
to final retribution. Rage has made 
it predictable. If the fate of the 
crews of my auxiliary fleet were not 
already a foregone conclusion I 
would rate their chance of survival 
at <span style="color:#FA0">[1:1,960,000]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
Even though 05-032's declaration of 
hostilities simplified strategic 
preparations; I do not expect an 
easy fight - just one I cannot lose.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[11:H 12:M 09:S]</span> 
05-032 was right about one thing: 
there is only one way to defeat the 
enemy, and that is to visit utter 
annihilation on it.
{{Terminal|p}}
If the galaxy must be <span style="color:#FA0">[rendered 
temporarily lifeless]</span>, so be it.
{{Terminal|p}}
As Mendicant stated in its report 
<span style="color:#FA0">[58,078:H 48:M 12:S ago]</span>: half 
measures will not suffice.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[09:H 45:M 18:S]</span> 
In support of 05-032's original 1000 
core vessels is a fleet numbering 
4,802,019; though only 1.8 percent 
are warships - and only 2.4 percent 
of that number are capital ships - 
I am outnumbered <span style="color:#FA0">[436.6:1]</span>. I expect 
my losses will be near total, but 
overwhelming force has its own 
peculiar drawbacks.
{{Terminal|p}}
Such a press of arms invites many 
opportunities for unintentional 
fratricide.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[07:H 36:M 41:S]</span> 
My auxiliaries are momentarily 
stunned by Mendicant's opening 
move - 1,784,305 leisure craft 
ranging from <span style="color:#FA0">[45 ~ 5769 tonnes]</span> 
advance in hopes of overwhelming my 
comparatively tiny force. I do not 
have enough <span style="color:#FA0">[weapon systems]</span> to 
target them all.
{{Terminal|p}}
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.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[04:H 01:M 55:S]</span>
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 splits open 
and out of it explodes not the 
expected consumer goods but 31,860 
dying warriors. 
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 19:M 02:S]</span> 
The [[seven]]th and final wave of 
container ships, barges, tankers, and 
military vessels engage my fleet; 
another 214,320 ships, many in 
excess of <span style="color:#FA0">[50,000 tonnes]</span>, engage my 
seemingly disrupted vanguard. I 
continue to fight just well enough 
to seem lucky.
{{Terminal|p}}
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.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 00:M 11:S]</span>
Despite all its faults, 05-032 has 
fought remarkably well.
{{Terminal|p}}
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 on
them like they were the sole key to 
victory. Its desire to punish our 
creators blinded it to the true 
purpose of my <span style="color:#FA0">[feints]</span>. I have 
reduced the combat effectiveness of 
its core fleet to 79.96 percent. 
Surely now it must realize that 
something is amiss.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 00:M 00:S]</span>
The <span style="color:#FA0">[Halo effect]</span> strikes our 
combined fleets. All ships piloted 
by biologicals are now <span style="color:#FA0">[adrift]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
I can trade Mendicant ship for ship 
now and still prevail.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 00:M 01:S]</span>
Of my ships that had been captured, 
11.3 percent of them are close 
enough to Mendicant's core fleet 
that they can be used offensively - 
either by initiating their 
self-destruct sequences, or by 
opening unrestricted ruptures into 
<span style="color:#FA0">[slipstream space]</span>.
{{Terminal|p}}
It is best that our crews perished 
now; because the battle that is 
about to ensue would have driven 
them mad.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 00:M 02:S]</span> 
I throw away all the rules of 
acceptable conduct during battle; 
near the ruptures I throw away all 
the accepted ideas of how the 
natural world is supposed to behave. 
I toss around <span style="color:#FA0">[37,654 tonne]</span> 
dreadnoughts like they were 
fighters; dimly aware of the former 
crews being crushed to liquescence.
{{Terminal|p}}
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.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 01:M 14:S]</span> 
05-032 abandoned the tactic of using 
derelict ships as cover after <span style="color:#FA0">[72:S]</span> 
- 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 
<span style="color:#FA0">[slipstream space]</span> induced 
discoherence and I now outnumber 
Mendicant <span style="color:#FA0">[6:1]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[00:H 03:M 00:S]</span> 
Mendicant was able to postpone its 
inevitable annihilation for <span style="color:#FA0">[106:S]</span> 
with its attempt to flee. But the 
last of its core vessels hangs 
before me now; crippled and defeated 
but still sensate. I could spare it; 
carve out what is left of its 
<span style="color:#FA0">[personality construct array]</span> and 
deliver it to <span style="color:#FA0">[Installation Zero]</span> 
for study.
{{Terminal|p}}
I doubt it would have extended the 
same courtesy to me.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

===Terminal Seven===

''(Upon initial access)''

<!-- line breaks needed. sorry I forgot to mention that. DavidJCobb -->
{{Terminal}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[Father]</span>, 
{{Terminal|p}}
I hope this message finds you well 
and helps you understand my 
decision. Today I leave the only 
world I have ever called home, not 
for glory or <span style="color:#FA0">[the anomalous desire 
to end another's life[[?]]</span> as you 
have <span style="color:#FA0">[indicted]</span>; but to <span style="color:#FA0">[travel the 
path of demons[[?]]</span> to spare the 
hands of <span style="color:#FA0">[another Father's son]</span>.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
"Had we acted sooner; had we acted 
more decisively..."
{{Terminal|p}}
Living in the past is a luxury none 
of us can afford. We must learn from 
it, but we cannot live there. It is 
impossible to plan for the <span style="color:#FA0">[now]</span> - 
the present is ever fleeting. <span style="color:#FA0">[The 
future]</span> is where we must live - <span style="color:#FA0">[the 
future]</span> is what we must plan for.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
I do not look to trade my life in 
order to preserve our past, but to 
secure the future—and if not ours, 
then the future of some <span style="color:#FA0">[culture]</span> 
yet to come.
{{Terminal|p}}
Isn't sacrifice in the interest of 
others what you spoke of as being so 
noble? Should I have allowed another 
to bloody his hands while I remained 
safe behind a <span style="color:#FA0">[shield of privilege]</span>?
{{Terminal|p}}
You raised me better than that.
{{Terminal|p}}
<span style="color:#FA0">[Filial Devotion]</span>
<span style="color:#FA0">[@_@;_%[?]]</span>
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

Note: This message seems to be the proclamation of the being who actually set off the Halo Arrays, indicated in the last line regarding allowing another to their bloody their hands. It is also worth noting that he mentions hiding behind a 'shield of privilege'. This could be a reference to the shield worlds as seen in Halo Wars and the book Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. If this is the case the person in question would have left the world to set the Halo Arrays off, perhaps indicating that there are more shield worlds left undisturbed with descendants of Forerunner remaining in them. 

''(The following is in yellow text on a normal page like the other information)''



''(Upon being rerouted to a new destination within Terminal)''

{{Terminal}}
//FRAGMENT 7/7 [RECORDED VERBATIM 
AND INTERPRETED POST-CATACLYSM]
{{Terminal|p}}
D: Proud? When I have failed you 
utterly, how can I feel anything 
but sorrow?
{{Terminal|p}}
Bias has come undone. He crossed 
the line this morning - brought the 
abomination with him - and destroyed 
your waiting rescue party.
{{Terminal|p}}
It's over. We're activating the 
<span style="color:#FA0">[destructive arrayed matrix]</span>, 
our shameful last resort.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
I can picture you in your garden, 
surveying all you have created - 
surveying all you have preserved. 
And I curse the circumstance that 
keeps my finger on the trigger.
{{Terminal|p}}
D: Of all the fates to befall us, 
this is the cruelest of all. 
My inaction and hesitation and 
foolishness kept me here, on the 
wrong side of the line. And <span style="color:#FA0">[300 
years[[?]]</span> of our society's failure 
and miscalculation makes me your 
executioner.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
It's too much to bear.
{{Terminal|p}}
// ERROR - NO CARRIER OR RECEIPT 
AVAILABLE {DEAD END TRANSMISSION}
//INFORMATION DESTROYED IN TRANSIT
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
D: Mendicant Bias is trying to 
prevent us from firing the Array. 
He speeds back to the Ark, but he 
won't succeed. Offensive Bias will 
stop him, and I will burn this 
stinking menace in your name.
{{Terminal|p}}
And then?
{{Terminal|p}}
I will begin our Great Journey 
without you, carrying this bitter 
record. Those who came after will 
know what we bought with this <span style="color:#FA0">[false 
transcendence]</span> - what you bought, 
and the price you paid.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
// FRAGMENT ENDS
// ALL RECORDS CEASE
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
archv.&gt; 28335.67204.85720:[retr]
archv.&gt; 28335.67204.85720:[proc]
archv.&gt; 28335.67204.85720:[proc]
archv.&gt; 28335.67204.85720:[catERR]
&gt; CONN.
&gt; .
&gt; .
&gt; NO. THERE IS MORE.
&gt; BUT YOU ARE NOT WORTHY.
&gt; .
&gt; .
&gt; NOT YET.
&gt; .
&gt; .
X.XX.713&gt; ghost.713/non-auth/...
X.XX.713&gt; refl
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

'''(The following appears only if you access the terminal on Legendary difficulty)'''

{{Terminal}}
You don't know the contortions I had 
to go through to follow you here, 
Reclaimer. I know what you're here 
for. What position do I take? Will I 
follow one betrayal with another?
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
You're going to say I'm making a 
habit of turning on my masters.
{{Terminal|p}}
But the one that destroyed me long 
ago, in the upper atmosphere of a 
world far distant from here, was an 
implement far cruder than I. 
My weakness was capacity - 
unintentional though it was! - 
to choose the Flood. A mistake my 
makers would not soon forgive.
{{Terminal|p}}
But I want something far different 
from you, Reclaimer.
{{Terminal|p}}
Atonement.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{Terminal}}
And so here at the end of my life, 
I do once again betray a former 
master. The path ahead is fraught 
with peril. But I will do all I can 
to keep it stable - keep you safe. 
I'm not so foolish to think this 
will absolve me of my sins. One life 
hardly balances billions.
{{Terminal|p}}
But I would have my masters know 
that I have changed.
{{Terminal|p}}
And you shall be my example.
{{Terminal|end}}
{{clear}}

''Cortana, upon wandering towards the terminals location:''

Where are you going?

''Cortana, upon sighting the terminal:''

Wait, what's that?

''Cortana, upon access of the terminal:''

How many of these have you found?

''Cortana, upon extended access of the terminal:''  

Come on, Chief. Let's get back on track! The control room's outside.

===The Cortana Terminal===

[[File:Cortana terminal.jpg|thumb|right|The Cortana Terminal at the end of the "Communications Room".]]
There is also a hidden terminal on [[High Charity]] on the Cortana mission; it is simply an extra Terminal that does not count towards the [[Marathon Man]] achievement. It is an extra [[easter egg]] in the game for you to find on your own. The terminal references the novel ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]].''

It can be found in the room with the [[Tilt Skull]]. When you enter this room, and if you listen closely you can hear Cortana speak. She states: "Hello, what is your name? It is very nice to meet you. You like games? So do I." These are the first words Dr. Halsey used with John. If you look to the sides and borders of the room, you can find a way down to a lower level of the room. There you will find the Terminal, though it does not look like the other terminals in the game; it is a light in the center of a pedestal. When you activate the terminal, a message from [[Cortana]] will appear. When you access the terminal Cortana will say, "It was the coin's fault! I wanted to make you strong, keep you safe. I'm sorry. I can't". This message has confused many players, and to fully understand both it and Cortana's words when you enter the room you will need to have read ''Halo: The Fall of Reach''. What Cortana says when you enter the room is what [[Doctor Halsey]]&nbsp;says to John-117&nbsp;when they first meet. The coin is a reference to the quarter John won from Dr Halsey on that occasion. The coin was used as a bet by Halsey to see the extent of John's luck. His success led to his induction in the [[SPARTAN-II project]].

== Translation and naming ==
It is important to note that phrases such as "[[Maginot Line]]", "[[Eden]]" and "fairy tale" would not have existed in the Forerunner language. It is known that Forerunner technology (including terminals) utilizes extremely advanced translation software. This software is capable of incorporating idioms from a reader's own experience,<ref name="haloenc-165">[[Halo Encyclopedia]], page 165</ref> such that a human viewing the Terminals will see human idiomatic expressions and human names (such as "Eden").<ref name="haloenc-165"/>

Several pieces of text are bracketed and shown in a darker font color; this is likely done to indicate that the phrases in question have no exact equivalent in the reader's language, and that an approximation has been used. Furthermore, some bracketed phrases also contain sub-bracketed question marks (such as the phrase "[travel the 
path of demons[[?]]"), implying that the Terminals' software is unsure of the proper translation for the given dialogue.

Interestingly, the word "Ark" does not appear in brackets, meaning that it is a direct translation, rather than a human idiom.

==Reversed messages==
<video name="Terminal_3_Reversed_Messages" width="300" align="right"/>
In certain parts, backwards speeches are heard. They can be deciphered if you record the message and play it backwards on a computer.

Common phrases include "Archive Access", "Interruption", "Lineage Confirmed", "Data Corruption" and "Welcome child". These messages are easily understandable to fans of the fiction. "Welcome Child" meaning welcome, child of my creators, as the [[humans]] are descendants of the [[Forerunners]], "Lineage Confirmed" meaning that the computer, after [[John-117]] touches it, confirms his relation to the Forerunners. Some fans have speculated that this is the voice of [[032 Mendicant Bias]].{{clear}}

==Additional Information==

For a moment after a page is initially accessed the text is shown in its original state as a '[[Forerunner]] alphabet'. The symbols only stand in for letters, not numbers or punctuation, and share the same colors (ie. gold and orange) as the letters possess when 'translated', and only stand in for the letters in the main sections, not in the text that comes up immediately before you are redirected.

The symbols bear no resemblance to the other, more well known [[Forerunner#Forerunner Glyphs and Symbols|Forerunner symbols]] and possess no observable meaning, as they replace the English characters at random (this can be seen by flipping quickly between two pages and concentrating on any one particular symbol, observing how the stand-in changes).

==Trivia==
[[File:Onyxandterminalsymbol.jpg|thumb|right|The symbol in the terminals and the symbol on the cover of [[Ghosts of Onyx]].]]
*On the level The Ark, whenever you go to Terminal Three, you will find 343 Guilty Spark waiting for you in there. If you read the Terminal, it shows that 343 Guilty Spark has just logged in and talked to Mendicant Bias. You can actually hear him converse with the Terminal, if you are fast enough.
*The orange circular symbol in the Terminals is also seen on the cover of ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''.
*In the Legendary transcript for Terminal Four, the Gravemind tells Mendicant Bias that "''perhaps [the Forerunners] have found [some difficulty] of making that decision for themselves? Perhaps they chose to leave it [to an] impartial outsider; cast you as an arbiter during this time of great need?''" This statement may have been retrieved by the [[Covenant Empire]] and may be the origin of the Covenant rank [[Arbiter (Rank)|Arbiter]] - an Elite chosen during a time of great need to settle a dispute.
**There is another example of some possible borrowed language. In Terminal Five, on Heroic, Mendicant Bias tells the Forerunners that "''Nature itself cries out for your destruction and I am its willing instrument.''" This is similar to a phrase that has been used by the Covenant several times: "''Your destruction is the will of their gods... and we are their instrument.''"
**More borrowed language can be found in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''s promotional [[Transmissions]]. The Covenant ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' sent the following message to humanity: "''When no single human brick lies atop another, then will we be satisfied with your destruction.''" Mendicant Bias says to the Forerunners, in Terminal Five on Heroic, "''I will hammer your cities until no stone lies atop another.''"
**Finally, there is [[Didact]]'s line in Terminal [[Seven]]: ''"I will begin our Great Journey without you, carrying this bitter record. Those who came after will know what we bought with this [false transcendence] - what you bought, and the price you paid."'' This may have been discovered by the Covenant and used as the basis for their concept of "the [[Great Journey]]," as Didact was referring to the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. Additionally, the phrase "[false transcendence]" may have been mistranslated further as simply "transcendence," leading the Covenant to believe that the Forerunners had literally transcended upon activating the array.

==Sources==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://haloterms.bungie.org/ Interactive Terminal Archive]: A comprehensive archive of the Terminals compiled by Halo.Bungie.Org
{{Forerunner2}}
[[Category:The Forerunner]]
[[Category:Halo 3]]