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Spartan signals: Difference between revisions
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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 | ==SPARTAN-II terms== | ||
===Oly Oly Oxen Free=== | ===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. | ''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"=== | ==="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=== | ===Open COM=== | ||
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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> | 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 | ==="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 | ==="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> | 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 | ==="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> | 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 | ==="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> | ||
===" | ==="Friendly approaching..."=== | ||
Spartans | 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> | ||
===" | ==="Freeze"=== | ||
Slowly making a fist signals to tell a Spartan team to freeze.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 206''</ref> | |||
===" | ==="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.<ref name="goo164"/> | |||
==SPARTAN-III terms== | ==SPARTAN-III terms== | ||
==="Welcome"=== | ==="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> | ||
===" | ==="Fall back"=== | ||
Spartans on | 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"=== | ==="Heavy"=== | ||
This sign was only used once by [[Lucy-B091]]. This was signaled by holding up both palms, and making a down- | 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== | ==List of appearances== | ||