Analysis of Data Pad Content: Ideas, Theories, and Observations

[Phantasm 08]

You probably want to listen for yourself before reading.  It's hard to hear it fresh once you think you know what's being said.

Re: audio files, I believe it's "breach identified."  That would make sense in the context, which seems like a sequence of (flood?) containment procedures.

Welcome, scion.  (I think Apollo may be right=scion means descendant.)
Breach identified.
Corruption contained.
? confirmed.
Purge initiated.
Rogue confirmed.
Protocols reinstated.
Purge initiated.
Breach identified.
Corruption contained.

Perhaps it is the initiation sequence for a ring?  If so, lineage makes a lot of sense though it doesn't sound exactly like that.

I asked a couple other people to listen, and a lot of the results were the same.  I did this with the downloaded audio clips, to avoid any brainstorming that we've done near the posts that contain the clips. 

I think we should consider these in relation to the Data Pads themselves, since we got them from the pads to begin with.  "Rogue Confirmed" correlates with the author of the Page 1 anomalies, and to simplify things we could call page 1 of DP3 "Rogue 3" (to use as an example) and DP 19 Rogue Pad. 

"Breach Identified" would make sense if the Rogue downloaded the information onto them (ie, security breach), and downloading the information would spark a reaction from the AI, with them attempting to stop the breach, or to retain control of it by planting a fragment in it, unless I'm mistaken.  The AI fragment could be what is making the noise.

Ark, I don't think that it's the initiation sequence for a ring, because the data pads have pretty much established that they're of human origin.  Good theory, though.

[Imppa]

It seems I have fallen.
I've plunged into the gulf of spoils.
And, yet, all I learned was that THEY aren't any closer than we are.

I DID learn something more, actually. But I shall not simply give it away.

[EnigmaBiz]

? Do you want me to beat it out of you?

[Pulse Cloud]

I've read all of the Data Pads' transcriptions from Halo Reach Planet and I think you should do the same.
If you haven't: do it NOW.
We can hunt them later: if we want recognition, we must be the first group to understand what all of this means.
I've also done some research and believe I'm onto something big. Real big.

First, some small talk:
Having read the Data Pads, I believe what is going on is this:
Data Pads 1-18 start with a human saying something short (ex. from DP01: they are killing us and letting us die even though they know but they let us die why wh1 why?).
After that short message, it's all about a Committee of human-created AIs having a discussion (read it).
Data Pad 19 was all written by a human, ie, there is no AI story.

According to the Military Standard Time, those four-digit numbers can not be times (hours), because the MST is "a standardized 2400 hour system".
I believe the four-digit numbers are dates: years. This is totally possible because «the first generation "Smart" AIs were developed by humanity in the mid-21st century» (Halo: Contact Harvest, page 30).


Now the big stuff. Grab some spare pants:
The voice on the Data Pads says "lineage confirmed". I'm 100% sure. Why?
Bam!
Now listen to to this attachment from CG's post. It's the exact    same    source file. The voice actor is the same. The inflection in "confirmed" is the same.
Conclusion: the Data Pads and the Terminals are related.

Other lines said in the Terminals are "Archive Access", "Interruption", "Data Corruption" and "Welcome child" (YES! "Welcome child"!). Sound familiar? They should; if not, listen to the other attachments from CG.
Now, it is believed the one that says this is 05-032 Mendicant Bias, the Forerunner AI that betrayed the Forerunners and whose story is featured on the Terminals.
Here's some source material:
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Terminal (don't forget to also scroll down and read "Reversed messages")


Now, after knowing about (possible) Forerunner presence on the Data Pads, do I still think what I said on the "First, some small talk:" part about the AIs being human-created is entirely true? No. But canon-wise it's certainly possible.


I believe we should all reread all of the Terminals (link above) and then reread all of the Data Pads. This might be bigger than Reach.
Ark, grab your Sol - we need the light of your knowledge.


(I'm finally done! Wow, this post took me almost 3 hours to write. Maybe I should do all the research BEFORE starting posting. Oh well...)
Here comes the shitstorm.

[Phantasm 08]

Nice, pulse.  I mentioned the H3 terminals to my mom while she was listening to the DP recordings. 

I just listened to the two recordings of "Lineage Confirmed".  Not only do they say the same thing, they are the same voice.  Do you know what this means?  Mendicant Bias is on the data pads.  Listen to the clips that coincide, and see what I mean.  Great find, pulse!!

I'm going to swallow my pride and read those transcripts, and I'm going to see if there's anything that may hint at how MB got on the DPs. 

[EnigmaBiz]

COOL STORY BRO.



...Are all the recordings the same?

Did D19 have a recording?

[Pulse Cloud]

COOL STORY BRO.



...Are all the recordings the same?

Did D19 have a recording?

According to some guy on Youtube, they're all the same.

I just listened to the two recordings of "Lineage Confirmed".  Not only do they say the same thing, they are the same voice.  Do you know what this means?  Mendicant Bias is on the data pads.  Listen to the clips that coincide, and see what I mean.  Great find, pulse!!

That's what I... said?

[Phantasm 08]

Well, pulse, I thought you meant the message. I didn't pick up that you meant the voice, too.

Don't ruin my moment. Make me feel like I actually had a brain wave

[Imppa]

My Brains have started to process this more deeply...
All I can say right now about Forerunners is this: If there were forerunner presence, why would they be "suprised" of finding Onyx?

[Imppa]

@Pulse: I posted your findings to Bnet in a thread discussing the contents of Datapads in Universe Forum. I gave you the credit, don't worry.

Now that we know there is a connection, I think the origin of the reversed messages should be examined: Is it originally from The Assembly, or The Commitee? Can it be Forerunner by any means, if it is in the datapads before there has been a solid connection between them trough the Terminals?

In Datapad 18, The Assembly discusses about the fact that for the first time in History, AI and Human are united as one, when Cortana accesses John-117's neural interface. The Assembly seemingly agrees to do the same, as it seems to be the "answer" they have been looking for all this time.

What I feel here is that the Assembly - in some way - hijacked the piece of Cortana which Noble Six escorts to the PoA, and so accesses the Terminals with John And Cortana, hence the messages (logic?). Though, now that I've typed it, I realise that John accessed most of the Terminals WITHOUT Cortana...Hm.

[Imppa]

Oh, and if you have free time in your hands: read this.
Rather interesting. I invited him to visit us. Hope you people are not mad (because, you know, it is SO unacceptable)
Theories may wait, sleep wont.

[nightcrafter27]

Oh, and if you have free time in your hands: read this.
Rather interesting. I invited him to visit us. Hope you people are not mad (because, you know, it is SO unacceptable)
Theories may wait, sleep wont.

Woah. Just, woah.

[turokman2000]

Hey, I've found my theory!

Reflecting back on it, I think the Ark/Mendicant Bias stuff was going way too far.

But the dates in the data pads and Halsey's journal line up, and Halsey's journal refers to stuff in-game, so I have to conclude the AIs were behind something to do with Dr. Sorvad.

I just don't know what or why.  I literally am totally lost as to the connection with the Covenant showing up right when Sorvad tries to send the message.  Or at least, when NOBLE team arrives.

I am left with the impression that someone has painted a picture, and not finished painting.  I have no idea where to look to complete the picture, but I'll be doing what I can to help find secrets!

[Imppa]

Sorry for not posting that link I promised turok...I am forgettfull at times, see.

Now that I've thought of it: Could Sorvad be The Narrator in the first pages of the datapads?

[turokman2000]

I thought it might be Sorvad, otherwise I have no idea who it is, but Halsey's journal mentions an assistent of Dr. (I forget name) who she had sent to Reach in order to hack Covenant systems and break Covenant codes.

The guy's name is Gillespie.  So that might be that data pad guy.