I'm a bit confused

Community Halo Universe
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At the end of Halo 2 on November 3rd John leaves Cortana on High Charity orbiting Delta Halo while H.C. is being overrun by the Flood, John boards the Forerunner Dreadnought to kill the Prophet of Truth and the Dreadnought enters slipspace and heads towards Earth. Cortana is left with only the Gravemind.

Now as you may remember from Halo 3 on November 17th UNSC and Sangheili leaders gather aboard the Sangheili carrier Shadow of Intent to hear Cortana’s message, which she says there is a way to stop the Flood on the other side of the Portal. UNSC forces including John, Miranda Keyes, Johnson and two frigates along with the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution enter the portal eventually arriving at the Ark on December 11th.

Now I have three issues here.

  1. How did Cortana know about the Portal on Earth and the Ark at all? How did she even get the message to Earth? It was found aboard a Flood infected Covenant ship which came from the fleet around Delta Halo and went to its last plotted destination, Earth where it crashed. How did Cortana get that message on that ship? How did she even know it would end up at Earth? HOW did it end up at Earth? And how did she know John and the Dreadnought were even going to Earth at all?

  2. So at the end of Halo 2 Truth gets on the Forerunner Dreadnought and heads to Earth. Why? Why did he decide to go to Earth? What was for him there? Sure he ended up activating the Portal but he didn’t know that would happen, what was his reasons for fleeing Delta Halo and heading back to Earth? After exiting Slipspace why did he stay back in the Sol system for 9 days before heading to Earth?

  3. What was Cortana’s “solution for the Flood”? Through the portal was the Ark and a partially constructed replacement for Alpha Halo. In the end John lights the ring which was still separated from the other rings so it did not light the whole array. Due to the ring being incomplete it ends up destroying itself and the Ark, killing what was let of Truths fleet(if any at that point were left) and the Flood including the Gravemind. Now was this Cortana’s plan all along? How could she know the Flood aboard High Charity would follow through the portal to the Ark too? How did she know about the incomplete ring? How did she know it would destroy the Flood? How did she know all this from a flood infected High Charity orbiting Delta Halo?(Or maybe in slipspace as H.C. races towards Earth to enter the portal)

Also how did the Gravemind who I assume led H.C. towards Earth and into the portal know about the portal opening and leading to the Ark?

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You pretty much put a question mark after every sentence lol. The short novel Human Weakness details how Cortana got the message out and i think it touches on how she found out how to stop the Flood as well. May be wrong though, will need to re read it.

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> 1. How did Cortana know about the Portal on Earth and the Ark at all? How did she even get the message to Earth? It was found aboard a Flood infected Covenant ship which came from the fleet around Delta Halo and went to its last plotted destination, Earth where it crashed. How did Cortana get that message on that ship? How did she even know it would end up at Earth? HOW did it end up at Earth? And how did she know John and the Dreadnought were even going to Earth at all?

Cortana was loaded with a lot of information from Alpha Halo, Delta Halo, as well as High Charity. One or more of these probably contained information about the Ark. Getting the message to Earth was really actually very simple. At that point she was linked to everything in High Charity and had access to any data on the station. Only thing she needed to was to put the message aboard Covenant ships with Earth’s coordinates in its log and rely on the Flood following the last recorded coordinates. Knowing about the Ark and its location as well as probably the activation method, she could know that Truth would be on his way to Earth.

> 2. So at the end of Halo 2 Truth gets on the Forerunner Dreadnought and heads to Earth. Why? Why did he decide to go to Earth? What was for him there? Sure he ended up activating the Portal but he didn’t know that would happen, what was his reasons for fleeing Delta Halo and heading back to Earth? After exiting Slipspace why did he stay back in the Sol system for 9 days before heading to Earth?

At the time Truth, too, was probably aware of the Ark and its activation method, probably the location, too. It’s very likely that the Dreadnought would have had the correct coordinates all along which were only recently discovered. Anyhow, the second to last question answers itself, he left Delta Halo to go activate the Ark, whose known location was Earth (because the actual coordinates were probably stored in the portal to protect the Ark).

> 3. What was Cortana’s “solution for the Flood”? Through the portal was the Ark and a partially constructed replacement for Alpha Halo. In the end John lights the ring which was still separated from the other rings so it did not light the whole array. Due to the ring being incomplete it ends up destroying itself and the Ark, killing what was let of Truths fleet(if any at that point were left) and the Flood including the Gravemind. Now was this Cortana’s plan all along? How could she know the Flood aboard High Charity would follow through the portal to the Ark too? How did she know about the incomplete ring? How did she know it would destroy the Flood? How did she know all this from a flood infected High Charity orbiting Delta Halo?(Or maybe in slipspace as H.C. races towards Earth to enter the portal)

I believe Cortana’s solution was half planning and half going by the gut feeling and planning as things go along. Assuming I have understood correctly, no one really knew that the Ark was a separate construct before the activation of the portal and discovering of the actual Ark. To understand the whole situation, you really need to understand who was doing what. Covenant, obviously, was on their way to activate the Ark to activate the rings and achieve the Great Journey. UNSC (and Cortana) were, of course, attempting to stop the Covenant from doing it. As for Gravemind and the Flood, it’s possible they were aware of the Covenant’s plan and would obviously want to stop them from activating the rings (to the extent of briefly allying with Master Chief and Arbiter). Regardless, the Flood was most likely at least aware of the fact that whatever the Covenant were planning, it couldn’t be good for them.

Knowing all that, it was most likely rather easy for Cortana to predict how things would go. In other words, she knew that the Covenant would attempt to activate the Ark and the Flood would pursue them, getting the remnants of the Covenant empire as well as all the Flood to a single place. It’s either that she knew everything she needed about the Ark to plan everything or that she was planning as things progressed. Regardless, even if she didn’t know that the Ark was a separate location from Earth, after the revelation that it was well beyond the Milky Way, it was clear that destroying the Ark and everything on and near it would be the optimal solution.

As for the incomplete ring, as Guilty Spark tells in the final cutscene of The Covenant: “Just now - but…I had my hopes. What will you do?” (when they see the ring), no one was aware of the incomplete ring. However, it fit well into the plan to destroy the Ark and everything that was in the immediate vicinity. At which point the whole plan was pretty much clear.

> Also how did the Gravemind who I assume led H.C. towards Earth and into the portal know about the portal opening and leading to the Ark?

Gravemind had all the information the Flood has ever been exposed to. It’s very likely that in the Forerunner - Flood war, the Flood knew about the existence of the Ark. Gravemind was probably in the best position to predict what was coming.

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Also, didn’t the flood move to the Ark to not only try to stop Truth, but to be out of range of the Halo array incase they failed? The Ark is out of range, so it’d be logical to move the Flood force to the Ark in case the array was lit.

Unfortunately (well, fortunately) The Flood was wiped out due to the lighting of the 04 replacement.

Am I correct tsassi? Just sort of adding. Didn’t see anything about this in your post- which was a marvelous post.

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> Regardless, even if she didn’t know that the Ark was a separate location from Earth, after the revelation that it was well beyond the Milky Way, it was clear that destroying the Ark and everything on and near it would be the optimal solution.
>
> As for the incomplete ring, as Guilty Spark tells in the final cutscene of The Covenant: “Just now - but…I had my hopes. What will you do?” (when they see the ring), no one was aware of the incomplete ring. However, it fit well into the plan to destroy the Ark and everything that was in the immediate vicinity. At which point the whole plan was pretty much clear.

If Cortana’s plan was to destroy the Ark but she didn’t know about the incomplete ring then how did she expect the UNSC to destroy it?

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  1. Read the short story “Human Weakness” from Halo Evolutions. The Gravemind basically let her send the message, unaware of its contents. Cortana was also inside the Covenant Capital, I’m sure she was able to determine what the Prophets knew.

  2. He knew where the Ark was. He and Mercy spoke to Guilty Spark who filled them in on all kinds of things, although they’re quick excavation clearly indicates they knew a Forerunner structure was there before they captured Spark. Even if he didn’t know about the Ark was a Space Station, he would have at least known the structure was there and it was important.

  3. Unknown. This is actually brought up in the short story “Petra” where a investigative reporter listens to Cortana’s message in Halo 3 and wonders what exactly this “other solution” was. Cortana says they can beat the Flood without activating the Halo Rings yet in the game they activate a Halo Ring so what her other solution was could almost be anything. Petra then decides to investigate this matter further. What becomes of her and what she finds out is unknown.

  4. The Gravemind went to the Ark because it was outside the firing range of the Halo Rings. He’d be safe there. Then he would consume the Ring.

  5. NOVA Bombs. She recommended they NOVA Bomb Delta Halo as well so it would make sense they would use the same tactic on the Ark.

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Unfortunately I don’t own Halo:Evolutions. Is there a way I can read Human Weakness online?

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No way that I am currently aware of.

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There’s always your local library…

The Prophets knew that there was something to be found on Earth, but he probably wasn’t sure exactly what, which is why they showed up there at the beginning of Halo 2.

In Halo 3: ODST, we learn that they had been excavating and using Engineers to explore while the Halo 2 events were happening, so they probably learned even more that way.

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> > Regardless, even if she didn’t know that the Ark was a separate location from Earth, after the revelation that it was well beyond the Milky Way, it was clear that destroying the Ark and everything on and near it would be the optimal solution.
> >
> > As for the incomplete ring, as Guilty Spark tells in the final cutscene of The Covenant: “Just now - but…I had my hopes. What will you do?” (when they see the ring), no one was aware of the incomplete ring. However, it fit well into the plan to destroy the Ark and everything that was in the immediate vicinity. At which point the whole plan was pretty much clear.
>
> If Cortana’s plan was to destroy the Ark but she didn’t know about the incomplete ring then how did she expect the UNSC to destroy it?

As I said, could be that she was just trusting finding a way to do it one way or the other. After all, the whole event of pursuing Truth through the portal to the Ark was merely an act of desperation from the UNSC. There really weren’t any other choices. I think you are looking at this too much like the destruction of the Ark was already decided from the moment the portal was found. However, in reality UNSC really didn’t have any other chance that to follow the Covenant through the portal and stop them. It could’ve very well been that they would’ve only managed to stop Truth from firing the rings, but not destroy the Flood or the Covenant. However, Bungie decided to end it there, and used the Alpha Halo replacement as a plot device. No one in the universe knew about it, and it was a matter of luck that it was there.

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> > > Regardless, even if she didn’t know that the Ark was a separate location from Earth, after the revelation that it was well beyond the Milky Way, it was clear that destroying the Ark and everything on and near it would be the optimal solution.
> > >
> > > As for the incomplete ring, as Guilty Spark tells in the final cutscene of The Covenant: “Just now - but…I had my hopes. What will you do?” (when they see the ring), no one was aware of the incomplete ring. However, it fit well into the plan to destroy the Ark and everything that was in the immediate vicinity. At which point the whole plan was pretty much clear.
> >
> > If Cortana’s plan was to destroy the Ark but she didn’t know about the incomplete ring then how did she expect the UNSC to destroy it?
>
> As I said, could be that she was just trusting finding a way to do it one way or the other. After all, the whole event of pursuing Truth through the portal to the Ark was merely an act of desperation from the UNSC. There really weren’t any other choices. I think you are looking at this too much like the destruction of the Ark was already decided from the moment the portal was found. However, in reality UNSC really didn’t have any other chance that to follow the Covenant through the portal and stop them. It could’ve very well been that they would’ve only managed to stop Truth from firing the rings, but not destroy the Flood or the Covenant. However, Bungie decided to end it there, and used the Alpha Halo replacement as a plot device. No one in the universe knew about it, and it was a matter of luck that it was there.

Except Cortana sent a message first hand telling she has a “solution”

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> > Regardless, even if she didn’t know that the Ark was a separate location from Earth, after the revelation that it was well beyond the Milky Way, it was clear that destroying the Ark and everything on and near it would be the optimal solution.
> >
> > As for the incomplete ring, as Guilty Spark tells in the final cutscene of The Covenant: “Just now - but…I had my hopes. What will you do?” (when they see the ring), no one was aware of the incomplete ring. However, it fit well into the plan to destroy the Ark and everything that was in the immediate vicinity. At which point the whole plan was pretty much clear.
>
> If Cortana’s plan was to destroy the Ark but she didn’t know about the incomplete ring then how did she expect the UNSC to destroy it?

the same way Master Chief usually blows stuff up, blow up a ship.

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> Except Cortana sent a message first hand telling she has a “solution”

I refreshed my memories a bit by reading the cutscene. Maybe it was, after all, that Cortana somehow knew about the ring. Alternatively, her plan could’ve involved something else and was changed after the discovery of the ring. Whatever it was, she knew there was a solution on the Ark.

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> 3. What was Cortana’s “solution for the Flood”? Through the portal was the Ark and a partially constructed replacement for Alpha Halo. In the end John lights the ring which was still separated from the other rings so it did not light the whole array. Due to the ring being incomplete it ends up destroying itself and the Ark, killing what was let of Truths fleet(if any at that point were left) and the Flood including the Gravemind. Now was this Cortana’s plan all along? How could she know the Flood aboard High Charity would follow through the portal to the Ark too? How did she know about the incomplete ring? How did she know it would destroy the Flood? How did she know all this from a flood infected High Charity orbiting Delta Halo?(Or maybe in slipspace as H.C. races towards Earth to enter the portal)
>
> Also how did the Gravemind who I assume led H.C. towards Earth and into the portal know about the portal opening and leading to the Ark?

If you read the Forerunner Saga it explains that Earth was and has always been home to the Humans even before the first lighting of the rings. It was called Erde Tyre or something like that. The Forerunners placed that stuff on Earth as a precautionary option I presume because back before the rings were lit to kill the flood, Forerunners waged war against the Humans while the Humans fought the Flood at the same time. Now the Humans defeated the Flood and still barely lost to the Forerunners. The Forerunners spent lots of time trying to extract the method Humans used to defeat the flood but never could. The Forerunners could not defeat the flood like the humans, therefore the rings were built. Also, the rings are always under surveillance and are constantly being repaired therefore after Halo 04 was destroyed the sentinels already began building a new one according to their programming.

As for the Cortana’s plan…she spoke with the Gravemind, at length and learned much from birth Forerunner technology and the age old Flood mastermind. Therefore she knew a little more than everyone else and could have formulated the plan based on that info. After the Gravemind figured out her plan sent to Earth he raced there to stop it but was wiped out all the same.