I wanted to put my thoughts about Spartan Ops to writing, so after going back and watching each of the CGI scenes again (I don’t have an entire day to devote to playing through each chapter again, admittedly), I decided that I’m going to make this thread.
First of all: the “artifact”. What is this device? What is its function and purpose? How did Jul 'Mdama ensure its capture by the UNSC Infinity? We know it is capable of hacking into the UNSC Infinity’s systems (as seen in the second CGI episode, and most of the gameplay chapters in Episode 7). We know it is capable of “hijacking” UNSC communication links (as seen in quite a few of the CGI episodes - most notably the most recent one, “Invasion”). We know it is capable of “digitizing” people (I wouldn’t call it teleporting - it seems more similar to the Composer to me) and then rebuilding them at a specific location. We also know that it’s absolutely integral to Jul 'Mdama’s plans on Requiem. He got that device onto the UNSC Infinity very specifically to communicate with Dr. Halsey (or whoever the UNSC was going to have studying the artifact).
So quite a few questions stand regarding this artifact. Where did Jul 'Mdama acquire it? How did he learn how to operate it? We know what Jul 'Mdama is using it for, but the device is clearly Forerunner - not Covenant - in design, so what is its original purpose? And finally, what is its significance? What will happen with this artifact in the future of Spartan Ops?
The artifact is mostly a mystery right now, but it’s definitely a very interesting tool. Before the “Invasion” CGI episode, I didn’t realize that Jul 'Mdama was using it to manipulate Halsey. I know he was using it to communicate with her, but the episode held some interesting (if subtle) revelations.
Dr. Halsey: “Who but the Didact’s Hand could offer me a Promethean soul?”
In the “Memento Mori” CGI scene, we saw Fireteam Majestic escorting the Didact’s Gift artifact out of Galileo Base, with moderate Covenant resistance. On a cliff overlooking the scene of Spartan-IVs slaughtering Covenant, Jul 'Mdama and Gek stand and observe. Gek is fired up about the Spartans getting away with the Didact’s Gift, but Jul suggests he stands down and lets them - “And we have made enough of a display trying to retrieve it.” On my first few views of this, I didn’t understand why Jul was suddenly giving up the Promethean soul.
With Halsey’s quote from “Invasion” and the previous CGI scene “Didact’s Hand”, however, it becomes quite clear the Jul was making a point and trying to galvanize Dr. Halsey. In “Didact’s Hand”, Jul is communicating with Dr. Halsey via her data pad. He says: “Doctor Halsey, we have much to discuss. You need to know the truth about a great many things.” Later in this conversation, Jul makes a point of asking Dr. Halsey what she knows about the Prometheans. At this point, she asks Thorne about them.
Dr. Halsey doesn’t get the answers she wants from Thorne or anybody aboard the UNSC Infinity. She likely communicated this to Jul 'Mdama. The result is what we see in “Memento Mori” - Jul lets the Spartans capture the Didact’s Gift, as he wants Dr. Halsey to know exactly what the Prometheans are - digitized humans from New Phoenix. His talk of “making enough of a display trying to retrieve it” is simply because he didn’t want the UNSC to think it was a trap. He had to be subtle in trying to hand that over to Dr. Halsey, and he did it perfectly.
Dr. Halsey got her Promethean soul, and soon found that Prometheans are recycled humans from New Phoenix. She questions Captain Lasky, who denies every accusation she levels. That’s the reaction she expected - she knew he was lying, and so now she’s not going to be so cooperative. Jul has proven to be a better source of information, so she’s going to keep playing his game.
Dr. Halsey: “Promethean sample. I found exactly what you said I would.”
So why did Jul 'Mdama go to all this trouble? I suspect it’s very simple. He got a stroke of luck with Dr. Halsey being the one he was communicating with. She’s very curious from a scientific standpoint as to what the Prometheans are, and she wants to question the Librarian about it. This makes her interests align with Jul’s, and he showed her that in such a way that she can not refuse to work with him.
Here’s what I’m wondering now
-Did Jul 'Mdama launch the attack on the UNSC Infinity? And was it in an attempt to capture Dr. Halsey?
-Where did Jul get the Promethean soul? Who is supplying him?
-What does Jul plan to do with the Librarian? He has proven to be highly manipulative and I simply doubt that what he told his Elites was actually true.
-Master Chief’s survival has been revealed to Dr. Halsey, and will obviously be a large factor in her actions from now on. How will Master Chief play into Spartan Ops from here on out?
-Will Captain Lasky and all the Spartans continue to be pawns in Jul’s/Halsey’s game? Or will they finally get some clarity of reasoning and see through it?
I also want to note: people who say the new Covenant aren’t organized or clever are simply foolish at this point. The campaign certainly doesn’t depict them well, but Spartan Ops has certainly depicted Jul 'Mdama as a calculating, relentless leader who is able to accomplish most of what he sets out to do. He’s clearly something of a mastermind, and I don’t think Sangheili have been depicted as being as clever or resourceful as he is in Halo fiction before.