Talk:Mantle

The Mantle was not a government - it was "awarded" to them by someone else, hinted to be the Precursors, and handed down to humans, who became as a consequence Reclaimers. I'm pretty sure the full name was the Mantle of Guardianship. Honour Light Your Way - File:HalfJaw03.jpg Kora ‘Morhek The Battle-Net My Conquests. 04:18, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I agree with your concept of the "Mantle of Guardianship".

The "handing down" of the mantle could come from another species, or perhaps more of a religeous notion, if the Forerunners worshipped the Precursors. However, it could also be part of an appointation of position, given by Forerunner government leadership, like a religeous 'oath" given to superiors, or something along those lines. I suggest this because it appears that in Terminal 7, the rampant AI makes a point of saying they had "rescinded" the mantle. It should also be noted that the AI's continuing statement was that it was "with far more consideration than it was granted". This is reminiscent of people making vows and oaths without bothering to understand the full ramifications of the decision to do so. It also points out that their decision to abandon it was not a lightly determined course of action; it was taken very seriously and with good cause.

It's interesting to note that the Rampant AI was essentially doing to the Forerunners what the Heretic Elite was doing to the Covenant in Halo 2. It sounds as though the Rampant AI was convinced in the superiority of the Flood as a species, and therefore felt it invalidated the oaths of the Mantle.

The mantle appears to be a "prime directive" statement of authority and guardianship over other species/races. Those that "wear" the mantle are those that are required to act as guardians over all other forms of life. This also includes things like cataloging species, and doing what's necessary to ensure the survival of these species. To 'protect all life" appears to be the basic foundation of it's principles. This would include acting as a protector of genetic diversity to strengthen species. This must have caused some issues with regards to determining whether to protect or destroy the flood species when it proved to be so volitile.

The rampant AI takes a very cynical view of this (Terminal 5 on legendary): "Your history is an appalling chronicle of overindulgence and self-appointed authority. You have spent millennia [navel-gazing] while the universe has continued to evolve. And now you claim the Mantle is justification for impeding nature's inevitable refinement?"

This is similar to arguments agains Historical preservation societies that attempt to mandate that older ways of doing things must be protected, even if it means limiting the ability to advance. Almost as though the rampant AI had said, 'preservation is justification for impeding progress?

It would appear that the Rampant AI noted by the terminal has given up the "mantle's" concepts of diversity and species protection in-favor of the flood's concept of unifying the galaxy through it's infestation. Offering eternal life, eternal companionship, etc. in a compound intelligence setting.

As a side note.. this article should be linked from the occurances of the word "mantle" in the terminal transcriptions (maybe as a footnote?). I'd do it, but I'm very new and don't know how. -Deadguy71 24.73.77.230 21:13, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

In the trivia section, this following item is a baseless suggestion, isn't it??

• It could also refer to the planet like object in the legendary ending of Halo 3.

Using that logic, and precedent, Masterchief's helmet could be named Mantle too, and that trivial fact should be posted. I'd remove it, but as noted above.. I'm new and don't want to mess everything up. 24.73.77.230 21:25, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

Assured Failure

So the Forerunner saw themselves as guardians of biological diversity and life in the galaxy, and then activate a mechanism that not only wipes it out, but even when it is reseeded, the very thing that would threaten it is allowed to live?

What hypocrisy. First off, that title is a duty that is actually quite futile. While the Halos were a last resort plans, it undermines the Mantle's pledge, because even though life is restored after the firing, the very reason that biodiversity is threatened is being preserved by the Rings after firing. If the natural cycle of life is meant to last, there should be no Flood whatsoever in the galaxy.

Another factor that seems to be overlooked is that species come and go constantly from evolutionary processes and different cataclysms: planets are routinely sterilized via impacts, flares, failing tectonics, vanishing atmospheres, consumption via home stars, gravity slingshotting, supernovas, radiation, etc.

So in many ways, its a position that is doomed to failure, and besides, the galaxy was overrun with the Forerunner themselves anway, probably to the point of an infestation in its own right.

So what is the point of following such an idea if it guarantees your own meaningless destruction?

The Forerunner should have focused on self-preservation, and kill all non-Forerunner life immediately, and even actively exterminate their own kind who were either to slow or too stupid to evacuate. Perhaps a program of life extermination instead of life preservation would have been more successful.