Now things are getting interesting. The Halo 3 web site has been updated and shows several links to five different servers. Only server one has been unlocked so far and when you go into the server, a what's to be believed as a Sentinel is rotating in a circle. The Sentinel has various clickable emblems on it and clicking on one of the symbols brings up the above video.
The video contains various images from the Halo universe and snippets of text from what is believed to be the ancient Forerunner race. From the clues gathered so far, I'm starting to believe this ARG is going to tell us some key information regarding the Forerunners and their horrible little science project, the Flood.
This video is just a dissected version of the first video. It slows down key parts to help reveal a better picture of what's going on.
The Hushed Casket has been doing a fantastic job staying up to date and finding out all the little bits and pieces. Other than the video, there are also a couple of pictures and text files the Hushed Casket was able to find. The first image is a close up of bacteria, possibly Flood. The second image shows the stars as well as the now famous glyph (I wonder how soon until someone gets a glyph tattoo). Here are the two text files:
Log5_Transcript:
THIS IS MY FINAL ENTRY, AND I AM LEFT WITH ONE HOPE THAT ONE DAY, SOMEONE, ANYONE IS AROUND TO WITNESS THIS WARNING {//} KNOW THAT A THOUSAND OTHER PLANS WERE TRIED AND FAILED {//} KNOW THAT ENERGETIC AND TENACIOUS AS LIFE IS IT HAS AN ANTITHESIS JUST AS POWERFUL IT IS THAT THING THAT WE MUST OBLITERATE
Array_Recorder_Date:
Halo array –System Data Recorder
[<array-sdr.> 3 minutes 5 seconds] {c-match-reconfirmed}. Sphere secure to .1889 of passing fleet. Offensive tactics confirmed. Feint tactics in limited push. <Array sync commence> Sys////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////{online} Index: {check} {D-com} There is no peace left. No place where the parasite cannot reach. You were right about it all. Let us hope the final measure is not too late.
[<array-sdr.> 60 seconds] Commence…_{check} Confrm: -00-00-00-59-0999- {c-match-line-hold} acceptable losses confirmed {D-com} It's done. By my hands. The pyrrhic solution is ignited. All I have left is the quiet of space to lull me to sleep. I will dream of you.
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Well, that long text file was obviously the recorded data from the initial firing of the 7 'Halo's. The array that is mentioned over and over is the set up of the 7 rings that do all the killing. :P They were activated way back in the day (it was a Thursday, probably) to stop the Flood a first time.
I'm really intrigued to know who that guy who set them off was. {D-com}? Also, the sphere mentionned (and seen in the video) is probably the fortress/shield world of Onyx from the recent Ghosts of Onyx novel.
As best as I can tell, the communications are either from a monitor (like Guilty Spark and Penitent Tangeant from Halo 1 and 2; possibly Adjutant Reflex) or a member of the Forerunner race. I'm leaning towards the latter. I'm betting that it's supposed to be someone who was on Earth many years ago. Maybe he once fired all teh Haloes from the Ark (which is, of course, on Earth), or something like that. Anyway, I'm starting to enjoy this ARG. I'm a big fan of the Halo mythos and look forward to seeing it get fleshed out more.
I appreciate any opportunity to indulge my nerd side.
Oh, and I wanted to mention the reference to a 'Pyrrhic solution'. It may have no bearing on the rest of the story, but I looked it up, and found that the word 'pyrrhic' refers to king Pyrrhus, who won a battle against the romans at a huge cost to his own troops, so much so that he had to halt his advance completely, even though he won. The 'pyrrhic solution' to the Flood would, of course, be the activation of the Halo array, wiping out all of your own race (and almost all life, as well).. just to beat your enemies.
Of course, now that I wrote this down, I have to wonder: If this was a Forerunner being back in the day (said day being supposedly before all human development), activating the Halos the first time, how the heck did he/she/it know earth historical references?! Either the writers messed up, or this recording has yet to be made or someone from the future went to the past and set off 'teh Haloz'. Back to the Future, Master Chief Marty McFly?? :P
i noticed after it says
KNOW THAT A THOUSAND OTHER PLANS
WERE TRIED AND FAILED
it says, for a fraction of a second,
MILLIONS OF BRAVE AND HEROIC SOULS
DIED TRYING TO AVERT THIS DESPERATE
TERRIBLE SOLUTION
because it was so fast, i couldn't pause on it to write it down, so i just clicked at the part before it pops up and as it flashed real quickly over and over, i wrote down word by word what it said.
Yo I got a screen shot of that Milions of brave and heroic souls died trying to aver this desperate terrible solution.
I uploaded it to photobucket.
http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/Scorp25/?action=view¤t=hiddenmessage.jpg
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Contest:
10:55 PM on 06.21.2007
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WE ALL GONNA BUY DA HALOS!
at least im gunna do it, and a 360 to play it :$
I'm really intrigued to know who that guy who set them off was. {D-com}? Also, the sphere mentionned (and seen in the video) is probably the fortress/shield world of Onyx from the recent Ghosts of Onyx novel.
I appreciate any opportunity to indulge my nerd side.
maybe the forerunners were EMO!!!!!
Of course, now that I wrote this down, I have to wonder: If this was a Forerunner being back in the day (said day being supposedly before all human development), activating the Halos the first time, how the heck did he/she/it know earth historical references?! Either the writers messed up, or this recording has yet to be made or someone from the future went to the past and set off 'teh Haloz'. Back to the Future, Master Chief Marty McFly?? :P
KNOW THAT A THOUSAND OTHER PLANS
WERE TRIED AND FAILED
it says, for a fraction of a second,
MILLIONS OF BRAVE AND HEROIC SOULS
DIED TRYING TO AVERT THIS DESPERATE
TERRIBLE SOLUTION
because it was so fast, i couldn't pause on it to write it down, so i just clicked at the part before it pops up and as it flashed real quickly over and over, i wrote down word by word what it said.
I uploaded it to photobucket.
http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/Scorp25/?action=view¤t=hiddenmessage.jpg