Spartan signals: Difference between revisions

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Over their years of training and decades of combat, the SPARTAN-IIs and SPARTAN-IIIs have developed intricate shorthand communications systems for use among themselves. Many of these ideas are known and understood by the Spartans only, even as well-guarded secrets. These also sometimes make normal conversations with the Spartans impossible, as they can do a great deal inside their MJOLNIR armor that is indistinguishable from the outside. These signals include slight movements, cryptic statements, and radio communications.

SPARTAN-II terms

Oly Oly Oxen Free

Oly Oly Oxen Free is a six-note, six-beat tone used as an all-clear code and the Spartan-IIs' best-kept secret. Virtually no non-Spartan knows it; the only known surviving non-Spartans being Cortana and Doctor Halsey, both close to the Spartans' "family". The Spartans learned it from their AI instructor Déjà on Reach when they were younger and have been using it ever since. This allows the Spartans to use it with guarded impunity over the COM to make others aware of their presence, location, or as an all-clear signal. Thus, the signal was extremely important to each Spartan; they would rather die than give up the significance of the tone, which could potentially be used to betray or endanger their teammates. Spartans would either just whistle the tone or would whistle it and shout "Oly Oly Oxen Free" after.^[1] The proper counter-response was "Oly Oly Oxen Free, All out in the free, We're all free."^[1] The phrase Oly Oly Oxen Free was once used by children playing hide-and-seek, which meant that the game was over and they could safely come out of hiding.

"Spartan smile"

Having grown up as soldiers, the Spartans kept their emotions to themselves, always controlling bursts of emotion. The closest thing to an emotional symbol is the "Spartan smile," used in place of a smile. The smile consists of a quick swipe across one's own faceplate or a teammates with two fingers.^[2] The former way was usually used in place of the latter.^[3]

Open COM

The Spartans signal to one another to open private COM frequencies by the flick of a finger. It is a move performed only in non-combat situations, when the Spartans can pay attention to each other's movement. This way they can communicate with one another without any unintended people hearing the conversation.^[4]^[5]

"Attention!"

The Spartans will click a COM channel twice to get the attention of their teammates if they need assistance.^[6] Recent improvements in Covenant sensor technology have made this gesture increasingly impractical, as Covenant will be made aware of a Spartan's location if that Spartan uses the COM in the presence of a Covenant vehicle.^[7]

"Relax"

The Spartans sometimes console one another non-verbally with a simple bump or gesture of the shoulder. They have become used to their MJOLNIR armor, so each move they make is deliberate. Hence, the gesture is easy to recognize and understand.^[8]

"Trouble ahead..."

A Spartan scout may signal that there is trouble ahead with a slight shake of the head from side to side.^[9]

"Stay cool"

A short lateral cut with the hand across the chest or mouth area signals to stay calm.^[10]

"Inspect armor"

By making a circle in the air with one to two fingers to turn around, a Spartan signals that they want to visually inspect another Spartans armor. Even if the computer diagnostics report everything as fine, Spartans don't take chances with their armor or any other machinery and still visually inspect each others' armor.^[11]

"Come forward"

In combat, Spartans motion one another forward by flashing an index finger twice, sometimes two fingers are used for this gesture.^[12]

"Wait"

Spartans tell one another to wait by flashing an amber acknowledgment light twice on their HUDs.^[13]

"Friendly approaching..."

On the battlefield, verbal communication could risk giving away one's position. Therefore, Spartans inform allied positions that they are approaching by winking their acknowledgment lights green twice.^[14]

"Freeze"

Slowly making a fist signals to tell a Spartan team to freeze.^[15]

"Unknown ahead"

Spartans on patrol who spot something ahead that is not immediately discernible as ally or enemy will signify it to their teammates by making a hand signal with a thumb pressing into the palm and the other fingers inwardly curled.^[12]

SPARTAN-III terms

"Welcome"

The Spartan-IIIs "welcome" one another by swiping two fingers over their faceplate. This is a smooth, silent way to say hello, and is a toned down version of the SPARTAN-II's "Spartan smile".^[16]

"Fall back"

Spartans signal one another to fall back immediately by winking three red acknowledgment lights on their HUDs.^[17]

"Heavy"

This sign was only used once by Lucy-B091. This was signaled by holding up both palms, and making a down-up-down motion. However, this is the actual sign for heavy in the American Sign Language. Due to the post-traumatic vocal disarticulation Lucy-B091 suffers from the battle at Pegasi Delta, she uses some form of ASL to communicate.^[18]

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
Halo: The Flood
Halo: First Strike
Halo: Ghosts of Onyx

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo: First Strike, page 166
^ Halo: First Strike, page 217 (2010 edition)
^ Halo: First Strike, page 268
^ Halo: First Strike, page 3
^ Halo: First Strike, page 120
^ Halo: First Strike, page 16
^ Halo: First Strike, page 314
^ Halo: First Strike, page 8
^ Halo: First Strike, page 167 (2010 edition)
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 205
^ Halo: First Strike, page 299
^ ^a ^b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 164
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 166
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 258
^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 206
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 366
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 248
^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 140

[tango-1] Halo: First Strike, page 166

[2] Halo: First Strike, page 217 (2010 edition)

[3] Halo: First Strike, page 268

[4] Halo: First Strike, page 3

[5] Halo: First Strike, page 120

[6] Halo: First Strike, page 16

[7] Halo: First Strike, page 314

[8] Halo: First Strike, page 8

[9] Halo: First Strike, page 167 (2010 edition)

[10] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 205

[11] Halo: First Strike, page 299

[goo164-12] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 164

[13] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 166

[14] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 258

[15] Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 206

[16] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 366

[17] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 248

[18] Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 140

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Era|UNSC|HCW}}
 {{Cleanup}}
-{{References}}
+Over their years of [[SPARTAN-II training|training]] and decades of combat, the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] have developed intricate '''shorthand communications systems''' for use among themselves. Many of these ideas are known and understood by the Spartans only, even as well-guarded secrets. These also sometimes make normal conversations with the Spartans impossible, as they can do a great deal inside their [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] armor that is indistinguishable from the outside. These signals include slight movements, cryptic statements, and radio communications.
-Over their years of training and decades of combat, the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] have developed intricate shorthand communications systems for use among themselves. Many of these ideas are known and understood by the Spartans only, even as well-guarded secrets. These also sometimes make normal conversations with the Spartans impossible, as they can do a great deal inside their [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] armor that is indistinguishable from the outside. These signals include slight movements, cryptic statements, and radio communications.
-==SPARTAN-II Terms==
+==SPARTAN-II terms==
 ===Oly Oly Oxen Free===
 ''Oly Oly Oxen Free'' is a six-note, six-beat tone used as an all-clear code and the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]]s' best-kept secret. Virtually no non-Spartan knows it; the only known surviving non-Spartans being [[Cortana]] and [[Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey]], both close to the Spartans' "family". The Spartans learned it from their AI instructor [[Déjà]] on [[Reach]] when they were younger and have been using it ever since. This allows the Spartans to use it with guarded impunity over the [[COM]] to make others aware of their presence, location, or as an all-clear signal. Thus, the signal was extremely important to each Spartan; they would rather die than give up the significance of the tone, which could potentially be used to betray or endanger their teammates. Spartans would either just whistle the tone or would whistle it and shout ''"Oly Oly Oxen Free"'' after.<ref name="tango">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 166''</ref> The proper counter-response was ''"Oly Oly Oxen Free, All out in the free, We're all free."''<ref name="tango"/> The phrase ''[[Wikipedia:Olly olly oxen free|Oly Oly Oxen Free]]'' was once used by children playing hide-and-seek, which meant that the game was over and they could safely come out of hiding.
 ==="Spartan smile"===
-Having grown up as soldiers, the Spartans kept their emotions to themselves, always controlling bursts of emotion. The closest thing to an emotional symbol is the "Spartan smile," used in place of a smile. The smile consists of a quick swipe across one's own faceplate or a teammates with two fingers. The former way was usually used in place of the latter.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 268''</ref>
+Having grown up as soldiers, the Spartans kept their emotions to themselves, always controlling bursts of emotion. The closest thing to an emotional symbol is the "Spartan smile," used in place of a smile. The smile consists of a quick swipe across one's own faceplate or a teammates with two fingers.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 217'' (2010 edition)</ref> The former way was usually used in place of the latter.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 268''</ref>
 ===Open COM===
@@ Line 20: / Line 19: @@
 The Spartans sometimes console one another non-verbally with a simple bump or gesture of the shoulder. They have become used to their MJOLNIR armor, so each move they make is deliberate. Hence, the gesture is easy to recognize and understand.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 8''</ref>
-==="Trouble Ahead..."===
+==="Trouble ahead..."===
-A Spartan scout may signal that there is trouble ahead with a slight shake of the head from side to side.
+A Spartan scout may signal that there is trouble ahead with a slight shake of the head from side to side.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 167'' (2010 edition)</ref>
-==="Stay Cool"===
+==="Stay cool"===
 A short lateral cut with the hand across the chest or mouth area signals to stay calm.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 205''</ref>
-==="Inspect Armor"===
+==="Inspect armor"===
 By making a circle in the air with one to two fingers to turn around, a Spartan signals that they want to visually inspect another Spartans armor. Even if the computer diagnostics report everything as fine, Spartans don't take chances with their armor or any other machinery and still visually inspect each others' armor.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 299''</ref>
-==="Come Forward"===
+==="Come forward"===
-In combat, Spartans motion one another forward by flashing an index finger twice, sometimes two fingers are used for this gesture.
+In combat, Spartans motion one another forward by flashing an index finger twice, sometimes two fingers are used for this gesture.<ref name="goo164">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 164''</ref>
-==="Wait..."===
+==="Wait"===
-Spartans tell one another to wait by flashing an amber acknowledgment light twice on their [[Heads-up display|HUDs]].
+Spartans tell one another to wait by flashing an amber acknowledgment light twice on their [[Heads-up display|HUDs]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 166''</ref>
-==="Fall back, Fall back!"===
+==="Friendly approaching..."===
-Spartans signal one another to fall back immediately by winking three red acknowledgment lights on their HUDs.
+On the battlefield, verbal communication could risk giving away one's position. Therefore, Spartans inform allied positions that they are approaching by winking their acknowledgment lights green twice.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 258''</ref>
-==="Friendly Approaching..."===
+==="Freeze"===
-On the battlefield, verbal communication could risk giving away one's position. Therefore, Spartans inform allied positions that they are approaching by winking their acknowledgment lights green twice.
+Slowly making a fist signals to tell a Spartan team to freeze.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 206''</ref>
-==="Freeze"===
+==="Unknown ahead"===
-Slowly making a fist signals to tell a Spartan team to freeze.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 206''</ref>
+Spartans on patrol who spot something ahead that is not immediately discernible as ally or enemy will signify it to their teammates by making a hand signal with a thumb pressing into the palm and the other fingers inwardly curled.<ref name="goo164"/>
 ==SPARTAN-III terms==
 ==="Welcome"===
-The Spartan-IIIs "welcome" one another by swiping two fingers over their faceplate. This is a smooth, silent way to say hello, and is a toned down version of the SPARTAN-II's "Spartan smile."
+The Spartan-IIIs "welcome" one another by swiping two fingers over their faceplate. This is a smooth, silent way to say hello, and is a toned down version of the SPARTAN-II's "Spartan smile".<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 366''</ref>
-==="Unknown Ahead"===
+==="Fall back"===
-Spartans on patrol who spot something ahead that is not immediately discernible as ally or enemy will signify it to their teammates by making a hand signal with a thumb pressing into the palm and the other fingers inwardly curled.
+Spartans signal one another to fall back immediately by winking three red acknowledgment lights on their HUDs.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 248''</ref>
 ==="Heavy"===
-This sign was only used once by [[Lucy-B091]]. This was signaled by holding up both palms, and making a down-and-up motion. However, this is the actual sign for heavy in the American Sign Language. Due to the [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation]] Lucy-B091 suffers from the battle at [[Pegasi Delta]], she uses some form of ASL to communicate.
+This sign was only used once by [[Lucy-B091]]. This was signaled by holding up both palms, and making a down-up-down motion. However, this is the actual sign for heavy in the American Sign Language. Due to the [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation]] Lucy-B091 suffers from the battle at [[Pegasi Delta]], she uses some form of ASL to communicate.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 140''</ref>
 ==List of appearances==