2401 Penitent Tangent: Difference between revisions

2401 Penitent Tangent
Biographical information
Began service:	c. 97,445 BCE
Gender:	Male
Description:	Floating, round-edged cube, with one "eye" sign
Color(s):	Red illuminations with silver casing
Political and military information
Affiliation:	Forerunner ecumene
Functionality:	Monitor of Installation 05

Latest revision as of 00:17, November 6, 2023

"Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the monitor of Installation 05."

— 2401 Penitent Tangent introducing himself to John-117 and Thel 'Vadamee^[1]

05-2401 Penitent Tangent was the monitor of Halo Installation 05.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Biography[edit]

2401 Penitent Tangent, as well as the other six monitors, was present at the dispersion of the activation indexes prior to the firing of the Halo weapons near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war.^[4]

Penitent Tangent was charged with regularly scheduled communications with the other Halo array monitors for updates. Several millennia after the rings were fired, though, he ceased sending these messages. Penitent Tangent was the last monitor to send a message to 343 Guilty Spark on Installation 04, though Guilty Spark described his final messages as "incomplete and quite perplexing," and logged his concerns about Penitent Tangent's ability to perform his duties, believing he had not been functioning correctly for some time before his messages ceased.^[5] These reports were recieved by the Edom Terminal\Juridical on Mars, and later noted by Catalog around the 2558.^[6]

Flood outbreak[edit]

At some point, another artificial intelligence construct warned 2401 Penitent Tangent of a pending outbreak in one the installation's Flood containment facilities. The monitor continued to ignore this warning, and those that followed, for millennia. Within 99,779 years, the containment facility had been overrun by the Flood, with lockdown protocols in effect within the Halo's teleportation grid to prevent further infestation.^[7] By around the year 93 BC, the Edom Terminal\Juridical had received an incomplete report filed by an ancilla on Delta Halo (presumably the same as the aforementioned), and responded in kind by requesting that the Delta Halo ancillae continue the correspondence through properly-secured channels. These events were also noted by Catalog in 2558.^[6]

Eventually, the Quarantine Zone was established and the full force of the installation's Sentinels and Enforcers was mobilized.^[8]^[9]

Battle of Installation 05[edit]

Main article: Battle of Installation 05

"And you know nothing about containment! You have demonstrated a complete disregard for even the most basic protocols!"

— 2401 Penitent Tangent rebuking the Prophet of Regret

By November 2, 2552, 2401 Penitent Tangent had been captured by the Flood and was held captive by the Gravemind that had manifested on Installation 05. After the battle on the ring had raged for some time, the Gravemind absorbed and reanimated the Prophet of Regret, one of the Hierarchs of the Covenant. Later, Spartan John-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee were also captured by the Gravemind. Upon seeing John, a Reclaimer, the monitor urged the Spartan to activate the ring. This was immediately objected to by Regret, who insisted that nothing could be done until he had completed his sermon in preparation for the Great Journey. The monitor countered that the installation had a firing record of 1.2 trillion simulated, and one actual thus making the ring fully prepared to fire on demand. The Hierarch then retorted that the "Oracles" were the most worthless artifacts that had been left by the Forerunners, prompting the monitor to berate Regret for his lack of regard for protocol. Amid the argument, the Gravemind insisted that the four factions represented in the meeting shared a common goal: preventing the ring from being activated. Shortly thereafter, the Gravemind used the monitor's control of Installation 05's teleportation grid to send the Spartan to High Charity and 'Vadamee to Halo's control room, respectively, in an attempt to stop the activation of the Halo array.^[1] The current status of 2401 Penitent Tangent is unknown.^[3]

Trivia[edit]

2401 Penitent Tangent was voiced by John Michael Higgins.
Like all monitors, 2401 Penitent Tangent's numerical designation is derived from seven raised to one less than the number of his installation (7^n-1). This is one of Bungie's numerous references to the number seven in the Halo series.
"Penitent" means feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and [being] disposed to atonement and amendment" and is synonymous with "repentant".^[10] "Tangent" is part of the idiom "off on a tangent", which refers to digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another.^[11]
2401 Penitent Tangent appears in the Halo 2 multiplayer map Backwash. He hovers around the map and is invulnerable to damage.

Gallery[edit]

Penitent Tangent in Halo 2.
2401 Penitent Tangent in one of his garbled transmissions to 343 Guilty Spark.
2401 Penitent Tangent on Backwash.
A cutout of Penitent Tangent.
A render of Penitent Tangent.
2401 Penitent Tangent addresses John-117 in Halo 2.
2401 Penitent Tangent and John-117 in Halo 2: Anniversary.
2401 Penitent Tangent arguing with an infected Prophet of Regret.
Artwork of Penitent Tangent in the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition).

List of appearances[edit]

Halo 2 (First appearance)
Halo 3
- Bestiarum (Mentioned only)
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Terminals
Halo 2: Anniversary
Halo Mythos (Mentioned only)

Sources[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Halo 2, campaign level Gravemind
^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 136
^ ^a ^b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 371
^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminal 2
^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals, Terminal 4
^ ^a ^b Halo Waypoint Forums, Query: Catalog(old) (Retrieved on Dec 29, 2019) [local archive] [external archive]
^ Halo 3, multiplayer map Cold Storage: Cold Storage Reports
^ Halo 2, campaign level Sacred Icon
^ Halo 2, campaign level Quarantine Zone
^ Dictionary.com: penitent
^ Dictionary.com: tangent

[gra-1] Halo 2, campaign level Gravemind

[EVG-2] Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 136

[Enc22-3] Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 371

[4] Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminal 2

[5] Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals, Terminal 4

[Catalog-6] Halo Waypoint Forums, Query: Catalog(old) (Retrieved on Dec 29, 2019) [local archive] [external archive]

[7] Halo 3, multiplayer map Cold Storage: Cold Storage Reports

[8] Halo 2, campaign level Sacred Icon

[9] Halo 2, campaign level Quarantine Zone

[10] Dictionary.com: penitent

[11] Dictionary.com: tangent

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}
+{{Status|Canon}}
-{{ratings}}
 {{AI infobox
 |name=2401 Penitent Tangent
-|image=[[File:PenitentTangent01.jpg|250px]]
+|image=[[File:HTMCC-H2A 2401PenitentTangent.png|300px]]
-|began=More than 100,000 years ago
+|began= c. [[97,445 BCE]]
-|ended=N/A
+|ended=
-|gender=N/A (Male characteristics)
+|gender= Male
-|description=A Monitor. Currently glows red. Has a deeper voice than [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]]
+|description=Floating, round-edged cube, with one "eye" sign
-|color=Likely Blue, only seen in game as combat state of red
+|color= Red illuminations with silver casing
-|affiliation=[[Forerunner]]
+|affiliation=[[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]]
-|function=[[Monitor]] of [[The Halos|Halo]] [[Installation 05]]
+|function=[[Monitor]] of [[Installation 05]]
-|battles=*[[Forerunner-Flood War]]
 }}
+{{Quote|Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the monitor of Installation 05.|2401 Penitent Tangent introducing himself to [[John-117]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee{{Ref/Level|Id=gra|H2|Gravemind (level)|Gravemind}}}}
-{{Quote|And you know nothing about containment! You have demonstrated a complete disregard for even the most basic protocols!| 2401 Penitent Tangent rebuking the [[Prophet of Regret]]}}
+'''05-2401 Penitent Tangent''' was the [[monitor]] of [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]].{{Ref/Reuse|gra}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=136}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=371}}
-'''2401 Penitent Tangent''' is the [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 05]].<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'' level [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]. "Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the Monitor of Installation 05."</ref>
+==Biography==
+Penitent Tangent, as well as the other six monitors, was present at the dispersion of the [[activation index|activation indexes]] prior to the firing of the [[Halo Array|Halo weapons]] near the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]].{{Ref/Game|HCEA|Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 2}}
-== Summary ==
+Penitent Tangent was charged with regularly scheduled communications with the other Halo array monitors for updates. Several millennia after the rings were fired, though, he ceased sending these messages. Penitent Tangent was the last monitor to send a message to [[343 Guilty Spark]] on [[Installation 04]], though Guilty Spark described his final messages as "incomplete and quite perplexing," and logged his concerns about Penitent Tangent's ability to perform his duties, believing he had not been functioning correctly for some time before his messages ceased.<ref>[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals]], Terminal 4</ref> These reports were recieved by the [[Edom Terminal\Juridical]] on [[Mars]], and later noted by [[Catalog]] around the [[2558]].{{Ref/Site|Id=Catalog|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/query-catalog-old/7fbf60e8-92f7-4826-ac2a-ab1b5e4e3603/posts?page=5|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Query: Catalog(old)|D=29|M=12|Y=2019|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Query: Catalog(old)}}
-Although only shown briefly during the encounter with the [[Gravemind]] deep in the bowels of Installation 05's Library, 2401 Penitent Tangent is obviously almost identical to its brother monitor, [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]], with the exceptions that its voice is deeper than Guilty Spark's and its "eye" glows red instead of blue (although this could be because of [[Rampancy]] from interference by the gravemind). The holes on the side of 2401 Penitent Tangent are rectangular instead of round. He behaves much like 343 Guilty Spark does in his non-rampant state, and still shows regard for protocol.
-According to a [[Forerunner]] artificial intelligence, Tangent neglected repairs of his Installation's [[Flood Containment Facility]], resulting in several breaches by the xenoform and possibly the catastrophic outbreak that resulted in the organism's possession of the area around Installation 05's [[Library]]. There is a high chance that this Monitor was captured by the [[Gravemind]] while in combat as it is still in "combat mode" and glows dimly with its outer casing appearing to be damaged.
+===Flood outbreak===
+At some point, [[Unidentified ancilla (Installation 05)|another artificial intelligence construct]] warned 2401 Penitent Tangent of a pending outbreak in one the installation's [[Flood]] [[Flood containment facility|containment facilities]]. The monitor continued to ignore this warning, and those that followed, for millennia. Within [[2552|99,779 years]], the containment facility had been overrun by the Flood, with lockdown protocols in effect within the Halo's [[teleportation grid]] to prevent further infestation.{{Ref/Map|H3|Cold Storage|Detail=[[Cold Storage Reports]]}} By around the year [[93 BC]], the Edom Terminal\Juridical had received an incomplete [[Cold Storage Reports|report]] filed by an ancilla on Delta Halo (presumably the same as the aforementioned), and responded in kind by requesting that the Delta Halo ancillae continue the correspondence through properly-secured channels. These events were also noted by Catalog in 2558.{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}}
-He is not encountered again after [[Master Chief]] meets him beneath the Library of [[Installation 05]] (when he was captured is still uncertain), and he is not seen when Gravemind occupies ''[[High Charity]]''. His fate following the Battle of Installation 05 is uncertain.
+Eventually, the [[Quarantine Zone]] was established and the full force of the installation's [[Sentinel]]s and [[Enforcer]]s was mobilized.{{Ref/Level|H2|Sacred Icon}}{{Ref/Level|H2|Quarantine Zone}}
-It is also possible that his default color is red, as he is seen humming to himself in a calm
+===Battle of Installation 05===
-state on the [[Halo 2]] map [[Backwash]], yet he is still red.
+{{Main|Battle of Installation 05}}
+{{Quote|And you know nothing about containment! You have demonstrated a complete disregard for even the most basic protocols!|2401 Penitent Tangent rebuking the [[Prophet of Regret]]}}
+By [[2552#November|November 2, 2552]], 2401 Penitent Tangent had been captured by the Flood and was held captive by the [[Gravemind]] that had manifested on Installation 05. After the battle on the ring had raged for some time, the Gravemind absorbed and reanimated the [[Prophet of Regret]], one of the [[Hierarchs]] of the [[Covenant]]. Later, [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee were also captured by the Gravemind. Upon seeing John, a [[Reclaimer]], the monitor urged the Spartan to activate the ring. This was immediately objected to by Regret, who insisted that nothing could be done until he had completed his sermon in preparation for the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. The monitor countered that the installation had a firing record of 1.2 trillion simulated, and one actual thus making the ring fully prepared to fire on demand. The Hierarch then retorted that the "Oracles" were the most worthless artifacts that had been left by the Forerunners, prompting the monitor to berate Regret for his lack of regard for protocol. Amid the argument, the Gravemind insisted that the four factions represented in the meeting shared a common goal: preventing the ring from being activated. Shortly thereafter, the Gravemind used the monitor's control of Installation 05's [[teleportation grid]] to send the Spartan to ''[[High Charity]]'' and 'Vadamee to  Halo's [[Control Room (Installation 05)|control room]], respectively, in an attempt to stop the activation of the Halo array.{{Ref/Reuse|gra}} The current status of 2401 Penitent Tangent is unknown.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
-==[[Cold Storage (Level)|<font color="black">Cold Storage</font>]] Transmission==
+== Trivia ==
+{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
-{{scroll box
+*2401 Penitent Tangent was voiced by [[John Michael Higgins]].
-|content=
+*Like all monitors, 2401 Penitent Tangent's numerical designation is derived from seven raised to one less than the number of his installation (7<sup>n-1</sup>). This is one of [[Bungie]]'s numerous references to the number [[seven]] in the ''Halo'' series.
-REPORT: CONTAINMENT FAILURE
+*"Penitent" means ''feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and [being] disposed to atonement and amendment''" and is synonymous with "repentant".<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/penitent '''Dictionary.com:''' penitent]</ref> "Tangent" is part of the idiom "off on a tangent", which refers to ''digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another''.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tangent '''Dictionary.com:''' tangent]</ref>
+*2401 Penitent Tangent appears in the ''Halo 2'' multiplayer map ''[[Backwash]]''. He hovers around the map and is invulnerable to damage.
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility; [delta site] has experienced catastrophic specimen containment failure. All apertures into facility will be locked until further notice. Atmosphere evacuation and [reduction of ambient temperature] protocols have already been enacted. Request maintenance and security detail [at earliest opportunity]. [8 minutes] elapsed since initial containment failure.
-REPORT: CONTAINMENT FAILURE
-Waiting for maintenance and security detail. [32 minutes, 9 seconds] elapsed since request.
-REPORT: CONTAINMENT FAILURE
-Still waiting for maintenance and security detail. [24 hours] elapsed since request.
-REPORT: SECURITY BREACH
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility; [delta site] has experienced a security breach via emergency [slip stream space] transportation conduits. Emergency [slip stream space] transportation conduits have been placed in recursive mode to contain unauthorized hostile life forms. Request emergency security detail. Still waiting for primary maintenance and security detail. [2512332 hours, 14 minutes, 6 seconds]elapsed since initial request.
-REPORT: DERELICTION OF DUTY
-[PENITENT TANGENT] has been lax in the areas of maintenance and security.
-LOG: QUERIED ADJACENT FACILITIES
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility [alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon, zeta, and kappa sites] have all replied [systems normal] within expected constraints. This would tend to signify that the containment failure was purely mechanical in nature; perhaps a manufacturing flaw. As no [outside agent] has accessed [delta site] in the past [874068942 hours, 4 minutes, 46 seconds]—[allowing for a 61360 hour, 54, minute, 2 second margin of error]—sabotage would seem unlikely.
-LOG: REQUEST UNANSWERED
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility; [delta site] is currently being held at [.01 atm] / [184K]. Local maintenance and security hubs have failed to reply within expected constraints. [Bumping maintenance and security request up] to [quadrant oversight].
-LOG: REQUEST UNANSWERED
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility; [delta site] is currently being held at [1 atm] / [278K] as atmospheric seals were showing signs of stress. [Quadrant oversight] has failed to reply within expected constraints. [Bumping maintenance and security request all the way up] to 2401 [PENITENT TANGENT].
-LOG: UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO FACILITIES
-LF.Xx.3273 research and containment facility; [delta site] emergency [slip stream space] transportation conduits have been accessed by unauthorized parties.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+File:PT2401.JPG|Penitent Tangent in ''Halo 2''.
+File:PenitentTangentCEA.jpg|2401 Penitent Tangent in one of his garbled transmissions to [[343 Guilty Spark]].
+File:H2_Backwash_2401PT.jpg|2401 Penitent Tangent on [[Backwash]].
+File:H2-2401PenitentTangent.png|A cutout of Penitent Tangent.
+File:2401 Penitent Tangent Render.png|A render of Penitent Tangent.
+File:H2-2401PT-J117.jpg|2401 Penitent Tangent addresses John-117 in ''Halo 2''.
+File:H2AChief&2401.png|2401 Penitent Tangent and John-117 in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
+File:H2A2401&Regret.png|2401 Penitent Tangent arguing with an infected Prophet of Regret.
+File:Enc22 PenitentTangent.png|Artwork of Penitent Tangent in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
+</gallery>
-LOG: FILED COMPLAINT TO INSTALLATION 00
+==List of appearances==
-[PENITENT TANGENT], monitor of Installation 05, has been lax in the areas of maintenance and security. Requests for aid in said areas have gone unanswered by both 2401 and [subservient] systems well beyond expected constraints.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=14034 Bungie.net Weekly Update] (2008-06-06) Archived on 2009-03-19 at [http://www.webcitation.org/5fP4PTGw7 WebCite]</ref>
+*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
-}}
+*''[[Halo 3]]''
+**''[[Bestiarum]]'' {{Mo}}
-== Dialogue ==
+*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
-[[File:Tanget.JPG|thumb|right|2401 Penitent Tangent in the clutches of the [[Gravemind]].]]
+**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
-(At the beginning the level Gravemind, 2401 Penitent Tangent is involved in a brief conversation with the [[Prophet of Regret]].)
+*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
+*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
-{Gravemind raises two tentacles, one wrapped around a red Monitor, the other merged with a half-Flood Prophet of Regret}
-Monitor: ''"Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the Monitor of Installation 05."''
-Prophet of Regret: {Regret's voice is hoarse and he seems to have difficulty speaking} ''"And I am the Prophet of Regret, Councilor most high, Hierarch of the Covenant!"''
-{2401 Penitent Tangent sees the Master Chief.}
-Penitent Tangent: ''"A Reclaimer? Here? At last! We have much to do. This facility must be activated if we are to control this outbreak."''
-Prophet of Regret: ''"Stay where you are! Nothing can be done until my sermon is complete!"''
-Penitent Tangent: ''"Not true. This installation has a successful utilization record of 1.2 trillion simulated and one actual. It is ready to fire on demand."''
-Prophet of Regret: (To the Arbiter) ''"Of all the objects our Lords left behind, there are none so worthless as these Oracles! They know nothing of the Great Journey!"''
-Penitent Tangent: ''"And you know nothing about containment! You have demonstrated a complete disregard to even the most basic protocols!"''
-Gravemind: ''"This one's containment ... "'' {gives a disgusted huff} ''"And this one's 'Great Journey' ... "'' {He lowers his tentacles, Regret shrieks in fear} ''"Are the same."'' ''"Your Prophets have promised you freedom from a doomed existence, but you will find no salvation on this ring. Those who built this place knew what they wrought. Do not mistake their intent, or all will perish as they did before ... "''
-== Appearances ==
-*[[Halo 2]]
-**[[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]]
-**[[Backwash]]
-== Trivia ==
-{{monitors}}
-*Penitent Tangent seems to be in a combat state while in the midst of the [[Gravemind]] (signaled by the red glow).
-*It is unknown why Penitent Tangent did/could not escape [[Gravemind]], as [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Spark]] was shown to use a sort of force field to push objects and people away. Why Tangent did not use this is a mystery, though it is possible he was too damaged to use that function.
-*Some interesting facts are that 2401 Penitent Tangent's number is 343 Guilty Spark's number multiplied by [[7]], Bungie's famed favorite number. Also, 2401 is 7<sup>4</sup>, or seven to the fourth power, and 2+4+0+1=[[7]].
-* He is only seen briefly in a [[Halo 2]] Campaign level [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]] cutscene. He is also seen in the downloadable Halo 2 [[Multiplayer]] level [[Backwash]].
-*The Gravemind may have only manipulated it just as [[032 Mendicant Bias]] had been by the original Gravemind, because he still had intentions to activate [[Installation 05]].
-*The Generator object on the [[Halo 3]] map [[Orbital (Level)|Orbital]] has the number 2401 on it.
-* 2401 Penitent Tangent was voiced by [[John Michael Higgins]] in Halo 2.
-*The amount of time passed in hours in the Cold Storage Transmission translates to:
-**Security Breach: 2512332 hours = approx. 286.6 years
-**Dereliction of Duty: 874068942 hours = approx. 99711.3 years with a margin of error of 61360 hours = approx. [[7]] years
-*"Penitent" refers to ''feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and [being] disposed to atonement and amendment''" and is synonymous with "repentant"<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/penitent '''Dictionary.com:''' penitent]</ref>, and "tangent" is part of the idiom "off on a tangent", which refers to ''digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another''.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tangent '''Dictionary.com:''' tangent]</ref> This name may reflect the Monitor's current actions; it could be described as sorrowfully digressing from one course of action (neglecting its Installation) and turning to another (wishing to activate the Halo). This is interesting, as Penitent is a synonym for Guilty, and Tangent is similar to Spark. It has been theorized that all Monitors were named following this pattern.
-== Sources ==
+==Sources==
-<references/>
+{{Ref/Sources}}
 {{Forerunner AI}}
 [[Category:Forerunner A.I.]]
+[[Category:AI characters]]