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[Lakitu]

1) What was your favourite level?

2) What do you believe The Ark is?

3) Once you enter the Quarantine Zone, did you notice that object in the sky? That was getting shot down, and eventually crashed (you go through it's ruins later in the level). I only noticed that in my third play through, I'm either blind or it's pretty subtle. Also, what the hell is it? It looks like some kind of ship, but it sure ain't Covenant, it must be Forerunner? Then what the hell was it doing up there anyway? It's just a bit confusing.

 

[Anyanka]

1. Don't have one.

2. Earth.

3. Wasn't it a Covenenat ship? I believe Cortana mentions that another Covenant ship shot it down when the war between Brutes and Elites starts.

 

[Sai]

3) Once you enter the Quarantine Zone, did you notice that object in the sky? That was getting shot down, and eventually crashed (you go through it's ruins later in the level). I only noticed that in my third play through, I'm either blind or it's pretty subtle. Also, what the hell is it? It looks like some kind of ship, but it sure ain't Covenant, it must be Forerunner? Then what the hell was it doing up there anyway? It's just a bit confusing.

You talking about the Pelican that Miranda and Sargeant Johnson were on?

 

[Lakitu]

Wasn't it a Covenenat ship? I believe Cortana mentions that another Covenant ship shot it down when the war between Brutes and Elites starts.

It could be a Covenant ship, you're right, but when I went through it's ruins, it didn't look anything like it and from afar, it looked nothing like a Covenant ship. I doubt it's human either, because the only ship there was In Amber Clad. Have a look for yourselves, once you enter the baron snowy area, then look up in the sky and it's there, then it gets shot down, later you travel forward and go through it. I'm sure loads have seen it though. Just trying to figure out what it is.

 

[Lakitu]

You talking about the Pelican that Miranda and Sargeant Johnson were on?

Nope, I saw that before seeing that. I saw the Pelican travelling over the horizon, what I saw, wasn't a Pelican. It's 100 times bigger.

 

[Mike Works]

1) The last level they decided not to include.

2) CLOSE YOUR EYES

3) Weather balloon.

 

[Ghost]

Wasnt it "In Amber clad"?

 

[GhaleonEB]

Nope, I saw that before seeing that. I saw the Pelican travelling over the horizon, what I saw, wasn't a Pelican. It's 100 times bigger.

In shape, it's similar to the Pillar of Autumn and so I had assumed it was a human ship.

 

[Lakitu]

Nope, it's not In Amber Clad, that ship (the only human ship that arrived to Delta Halo) crashed at High Charity.

I too thought it was a human ship, but it really can't be, since there was no other human ship, and closer inspection, it doesn't look human in the slightest (once through the ruins, I know it's burnt and such though)

 

[DrM]

3) Once you enter the Quarantine Zone, did you notice that object in the sky? That was getting shot down, and eventually crashed (you go through it's ruins later in the level). I only noticed that in my third play through, I'm either blind or it's pretty subtle. Also, what the hell is it? It looks like some kind of ship, but it sure ain't Covenant, it must be Forerunner? Then what the hell was it doing up there anyway? It's just a bit confusing.

subtitle for that part of level is 'A thousand year war' or something similar....
but it indeed look like human ship....

 

[Lakitu]

subtitle for that part of level is 'A thousand year war' or something similar....
but it indeed look like human ship....

Yep, the subtitle was similar to that. It does look like a human ship, but I'm not sure about the possibility that it is.

Maybe it's something to do with the Sentinels etc? Because once you enter the ruins, they're all over there (but so are the flood) and there seems to be an ongoing battle between the Covenant, Flood and Sentinels in that level, so that may have something to do with it aswell. I don't know if the humans were involved though.

 

[Solid]

1) What was your favourite level?

There were a lot of other fun levels too. Especially the last one, when the Hunters join you. Totally rawked!

2. Earth.

 

[Minotauro]

Man, I beat both Halo and Halo 2 and I have zero idea what anyone in this thread is talking about. I have a real difficult time following plots in games for some reason.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yep, the subtitle was similar to that. It does look like a human ship, but I'm not sure about the possibility that it is.

Maybe it's something to do with the Sentinels etc? Because once you enter the ruins, they're all over there (but so are the flood) and there seems to be an ongoing battle between the Covenant, Flood and Sentinels in that level, so that may have something to do with it aswell. I don't know if the humans were involved though.

The subtitle is "The 100,000 year war"

It reminded me of the X03 documentary that Bungie put out where the Art Director for Bungie said something along the lines of, "We really wanted it to feel like there was damage that existed from a battle 900,000 years ago," followed by a shot of concept art that looks like the later stages of the Quarantine Zone level.

The doc is here:

http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo2/page.aspx?section=AudioVideo&subsection=GameVideos&page=1

"Inside Halo 2 Documentary Video"

 

[Lakitu]

The subtitle is "The 100,000 year war"

It reminded me of the X03 documentary that Bungie put out where the Art Director for Bungie said something along the lines of, "We really wanted it to feel like there was damage that existed from a battle 900,000 years ago," followed by a shot of concept art that looks like the later stages of the Quarantine Zone level.

The doc is here:

http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo2/page.aspx?section=AudioVideo&subsection=GameVideos&page=1

"Inside Halo 2 Documentary Video"

Yeah, good observation, that does indeed look like the later stages of Quarantine Zone and that particular level has ruins of what appears to be a battle what happened ages ago. I wonder between who though.

I don't think there's any logical explanation about the ship I saw that crashed down though Very weird...

 

[Ironclad]

I think the Ark is the forerunner ship that was powering High Charity. The one that the Prophet of Truth gets on, and the one that MC boards. I could be wrong.

 

[pj]

The ship that crashes in quarantine zone is In Amber Clad. If you pay really close attention to the story you'll notice a few time jumps due to the Arbiter/MC switching. MC is on high charity while the arbiter is in the quarantine zone.

And no, the forerunner ship that truth gets on isn't the ark. If it was, why didn't the covenant activate it during the (probably really long) time they had it?

 

[Lakitu]

The ship that crashes in quarantine zone is In Amber Clad. If you pay really close attention to the story you'll notice a few time jumps due to the Arbiter/MC switching. MC is on high charity while the arbiter is in the quarantine zone.

But Master Chief doesn't go to High Charity until Gravemind tells both Arbiter and MC what to do. Plus, In Amber Clad crashes in High Charity, it can't crash twice... Man this is confusing the hell out of me. It's probably nothing though, just found a bit odd.

 

[GhaleonEB]

The ship that crashes in quarantine zone is In Amber Clad. If you pay really close attention to the story you'll notice a few time jumps due to the Arbiter/MC switching. MC is on high charity while the arbiter is in the quarantine zone.

And no, the forerunner ship that truth gets on isn't the ark. If it was, why didn't the covenant activate it during the (probably really long) time they had it?

Agreed on the last point - I thought it was pretty clear that Earth was the Ark.

1) The Covenant did not expect to find humans on Earth, and did not bring a full invasion force. If it were a full invasion force, the Hierarchs sure as hell would not have landed - they keep away from combat whenever possible.
2) Had they know Earth was the human homeworld they would have glassed it on sight.
3) They had questioned 343 Guilty Spark at lenghth, and that is who likely told them of Earth's location, but not as Earth: The ARK. That's why Truth went straight there.

That's my take on the whole thing, anyways.

 

[pj]

But Master Chief doesn't go to High Charity until Gravemind tells both Arbiter and MC what to do. Plus, In Amber Clad crashes in High Charity, it can't crash twice... Man this is confusing the hell out of me. It's probably nothing though, just found a bit odd.

I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention :lol

Man that's really sad.. I just beat quarantine zone for the THIRD TIME, YESTERDAY, and I can't really remember all of what happened.

 

[Lakitu]

Agreed on the last point - I thought it was pretty clear that Earth was the Ark.

1) The Covenant did not expect to find humans on Earth, and did not bring a full invasion force. If it were a full invasion force, the Hierarchs sure as hell would not have landed - they keep away from combat whenever possible.
2) Had they know Earth was the human homeworld they would have glassed it on sight.
3) They had questioned 343 Guilty Spark at lenghth, and that is who likely told them of Earth's location, but not as Earth: The ARK. That's why Truth went straight there.

That's my take on the whole thing, anyways.

Good points.

Does the ILoveBees story come into play though? Because I heard it was sort of a prelude. If I recall correctly, the humans found some sort of Forerunner artifact in space but took it to Earth, though due to they Covenant doing something to that A.I, the found out, and decided to go there. Though it really doesn't make sense...

 

[Lakitu]

I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention :lol

Man that's really sad.. I just beat quarantine zone for the THIRD TIME, YESTERDAY, and I can't really remember all of what happened.

Yeah, same here don't know why

Although one thing I noticed was, the Prophet of Regret's blood was red, exactly that of a human, I know it's not much but a coincidence nonetheless.

 

[pj]

Yeah, same here don't know why

Although one thing I noticed was, the Prophet of Regret's blood was red, exactly that of a human, I know it's not much but a coincidence nonetheless.

When does the ship actually crash? I just played quarantine zone until the crash site came into view, but I didn't see it coming down.

 

[Gorey]

1) I'd have to say the Earth levels, in the beginning.
2) Feels like the predominant theory at the moment is that

Spoiler

the "ark" is some kind of 'Forerunner noah's ark' device/ship/thing, and that Humans are the technological/genetic descendants of the forerunners. Correlating evidence; 343GS calls the Master Chief 'reclaimer' and references them 'doing this before' (halo 1). Possible connection in the Prophets' refusal to grant humans amnesty/membership in the covenant, which they usually do with other sufficiently beaten races.....

3) No idea specifically, but I was definately under the impression that much of the quarantine zone was remnants from Forerunner-Flood wars of the previous era. It ties into the overall theme/concept.

Edit: no question that the covenant did not expect to find humans on earth during the initial invasion. In the books, Reach is attacked by something like 300 ships; Lord Hood clearly states in Halo 2 that this is 'nothing like the fleet that attacked reach...'. Etc, etc.

 

[Lakitu]

When you first arrive to the baron snowy area where your fellow Elites are, look up into the sky then you'll see it. Get a better view if you zoom in if. I recall it being before the actual start of the "Quarantine Zone" level, so the level before in the very later stages.

 

[StoOgE]

Yeah, Humans = Forerunners, if you will recall they needed Miranda Keyes to start Halo Delta, cheif had to start the first Halo... the ark is probably a ship that was sent to Earth to start life back once the Halos were set off during the war between the flood and forerunners.

Also, I thought the human ship crashed twice.. once in the battle to get the artifact, the second time after the flood had taken it over and took it to high charity.

and yeah, the old war would have to have been forerunners vs. flood.

 

[GhaleonEB]

When you first arrive to the baron snowy area where your fellow Elites are, look up into the sky then you'll see it. Get a better view if you zoom in if. I recall it being before the actual start of the "Quarantine Zone" level, so the level before in the very later stages.

Yup, you have to look up a bit. I didn't notice it my first time through, but playing a few days ago I was taking in the sights and watched it go down. It's actally pretty spectacular.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah, Humans = Forerunners, if you will recall they needed Miranda Keyes to start Halo Delta, cheif had to start the first Halo...

Whoa - never thought of that. Hm.

 

[pj]

That bitch looks forerunner to me

Does the shield that the arbiter lowered cover just the library, or was it the entire quarantine zone? If it covered the quarantine zone, maybe the flood jacked some vehicles and shot down that ship right after the shield was lowered.

 

[GhaleonEB]

That bitch looks forerunner to me

Does the shield that the arbiter lowered cover just the library, or was it the entire quarantine zone? If it covered the quarantine zone, maybe the flood jacked some vehicles and shot down that ship right after the shield was lowered.

Yup, that's not a human ship. Good job with the pics.

 

[Lakitu]

That bitch looks forerunner to me

Does the shield that the arbiter lowered cover just the library, or was it the entire quarantine zone? If it covered the quarantine zone, maybe the flood jacked some vehicles and shot down that ship right after the shield was lowered.

Thanks for the pics, and yes it does indeed look Forerunner, pretty awesome. I went through it's ruins today, and it was very un-human like and neither Covenant. It may be something pretty obvious though but I'm not noticing it

P.S- Some pretty cool theories in this thread.

 

[Kobold]

Hope they release a novel with the Halo 2 storyline, becuase this one totally eluded me in my first play through.

I guess someone was right when they said, there is so much action in Halo 2 it sorta supresses the storyline. I must agree. Too much action, too little time to appreciate the story. I'd love to read it, and all it's subtile nuances in a novel.

The novel 'the flood' was a chore to read, becuase you already knew most of it by heart, but this Halo 2 novel should be good stuff.

 

[Vormund]

I agree. Halo 2's story flew right past me. Halo I didn't have a problem with.

Maybe it's all the speeding through a hospital zone with flaming ninja's...too fast for me.

 

[Gorey]

The novel 'the flood' was a chore to read

If you haven't, read the first and third Halo books- the ones by Eric Nylund. They certainly ain't gonna win any prizes for English Lit, but they fill in backstory details very nicely. Granted, much of it isn't referenced directly in the games, but there are bits.


As far as the whole 'the covenant didn't expect humans on earth' stuff.....In the third Halo book, there is a final chapter wherein the Prophet of Truth tells Tartarus the 'great journey will soon begin'. He mentions not really needing any further artifacts- there is a strong thread running throughout the first and third novels about the covenant hunting for forerunner artifacts and tracking down specific coordinates. The Covenant then assemble this huge-ass fleet, and Cortana identifies their target vector as Earth. The assumption among the characters is that the covies have 'found earth', but I'd postulate that even then the Covenant had simply found 'the forerunner coordinates for the Ark' and had assembled a huge fleet to secure the last bit of stuff needed for their glorious religious...whatever the heck they think will happen. Anyway, you gotta take the books with a grain of salt, but it's interesting evidence.

Edit: 'cause ghaleon has a good point

 

[GhaleonEB]

If you haven't, read the first and third Halo books- the ones by Eric Nylund. They certainly ain't gonna win any prizes for English Lit, but they fill in backstory details very nicely. Granted, much of it isn't referenced directly in the games, but there are bits.


As far as the whole 'the covenant didn't expect humans on earth' stuff.....In the third Halo book, there is a final chapter wherein

Spoiler

The Prophet of Truth tells Tartarus the 'great journey will soon begin'. He mentions not really needing any further artifacts- there is a strong thread running throughout the first and third novels about the covenant hunting for forerunner artifacts and tracking down specific coordinates. The Covenant then assemble this huge-ass fleet, and Cortana identifies their target vector as Earth. The assumption among the characters is that the covies have 'found earth', but I'd postulate that even then the Covenant had simply found 'the forerunner coordinates for the Ark' and had assembled a huge fleet to secure the last bit of stuff needed for their glorious religious...whatever the heck they think will happen. Anyway, you gotta take the books with a grain of salt, but it's interesting evidence.

I agree with that...but why are you using spoiler tags? This entire thread is a spoiler! :lol