POTENTIAL SPOILERS in this thread from Halo: Shadows of Reach.
What was the “asset” Blue team retrieved? Theories? Related speculations?
Speculations:
Halsey makes it very clear that this is humanities "only" chance, that puts a hell of a weight on this asset.
It is probably related to the empty chip which Chief has in the “Discover Hope” Trailer.
It is probably related to Cortanas audio: "this is me, I don’t know why, I don’t know how, But it is me"
Is it a mechanic to pull out the rest of the “Cortana fragments” from the Domain?
Is it just straight up a new Cortana model?
Or is it a “trap chip” to lure Cortana in a destroy her? Or even have halsey work on her?
Share your ideas!
It’s one of or all three of the cytogenetically frozen cloned brains Halsey made of herself during Cortana’s creation. She had four but one was used to make Cortana. Halsey saved the others for future use but never got around to using them prior to Reach’s fall.
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> It’s one of or all three of the cytogenetically frozen cloned brains Halsey made of herself during Cortana’s creation. She had four but one was used to make Cortana. Halsey saved the others for future use but never got around to using them prior to Reach’s fall.
You should have written that in first person.
Was that confirmed?(in which case I’m confused how I missed) or do you just feel very sure of it?
This sounds very likely tbh. But I don’t know if I like the idea of a new Cortana 
I reckon it’s a new Cortana model, or the technology to create a new one, like she predicted in Halo 4 (“They’ll pair you with another AI. Maybe even a new Cortana model if Halsey lets them.”).
> 2533274809226598;4:
> I reckon it’s a new Cortana model, or the technology to create a new one, like she predicted in Halo 4 (“They’ll pair you with another AI. Maybe even a new Cortana model if Halsey lets them.”).
Chief: ”*Thats NOT going to happen.”*
Very likely it is though.
Followup question. If it’s a new Cortana model, any ideas why the chip is empty at the start of the game?
> 2533274947805189;5:
> > 2533274809226598;4:
> > I reckon it’s a new Cortana model, or the technology to create a new one, like she predicted in Halo 4 (“They’ll pair you with another AI. Maybe even a new Cortana model if Halsey lets them.”).
>
> Chief: ”*Thats NOT going to happen.”*
> Very likely it is though.
>
> Followup question. If it’s a new Cortana model, any ideas why the chip is empty at the start of the game?
If it is a new Cortana model then it could be that the Chief doesn’t have her at the beginning. He could be paired with her halfway through.
> 2533274947805189;3:
> > 2533274812652989;2:
> > It’s one of or all three of the cytogenetically frozen cloned brains Halsey made of herself during Cortana’s creation. She had four but one was used to make Cortana. Halsey saved the others for future use but never got around to using them prior to Reach’s fall.
>
> You should have written that in first person.
> Was that confirmed?(in which case I’m confused how I missed) or do you just feel very sure of it?
>
> This sounds very likely tbh. But I don’t know if I like the idea of a new Cortana
It isn’t outright said, but Halsey’s journal talks about how she put the brains on ice and SoR says the assets are biological and cryogenically frozen. Just connecting the dots.
I think it will be a way to bring Cortana back as a protagonist in the story, maybe by repairing what remains of her from Halo 4. I guess time will tell.
> 2533274866906624;8:
> I think it will be a way to bring Cortana back as a protagonist in the story, maybe by repairing what remains of her from Halo 4. I guess time will tell.
You could fix her, but the story wouldn’t make any sense if she instantly became a protagonist again. NOBODY is going to trust her after her little fling with totalitarianism. NOBODY should trust her.
> 2533274812652989;9:
> > 2533274866906624;8:
> > I think it will be a way to bring Cortana back as a protagonist in the story, maybe by repairing what remains of her from Halo 4. I guess time will tell.
>
> You could fix her, but the story wouldn’t make any sense if she instantly became a protagonist again. NOBODY is going to trust her after her little fling with totalitarianism. NOBODY should trust her.
If the UNSC is stepping away from using Smart AIs, do you think they know what Halsey’s cooking up? Or is this another covert, hush hush?
> 2533274812652989;7:
> > 2533274947805189;3:
> > > 2533274812652989;2:
> > > It’s one of or all three of the cytogenetically frozen cloned brains Halsey made of herself during Cortana’s creation. She had four but one was used to make Cortana. Halsey saved the others for future use but never got around to using them prior to Reach’s fall.
> >
> > You should have written that in first person.
> > Was that confirmed?(in which case I’m confused how I missed) or do you just feel very sure of it?
> >
> > This sounds very likely tbh. But I don’t know if I like the idea of a new Cortana
>
> It isn’t outright said, but Halsey’s journal talks about how she put the brains on ice and SoR says the assets are biological and cryogenically frozen. Just connecting the dots.
Damn, you’re probably right
> 2533274866906624;8:
> I think it will be a way to bring Cortana back as a protagonist in the story, maybe by repairing what remains of her from Halo 4. I guess time will tell.
This is honestly the solution I am hoping for. It’s the only way to have the “real” Cortana back as a protagonist. But it’s still not “evil Cortana” switching sides and everyone just forgiving her, that would make no sense. If they explain that the h5 Cortana was just a part of the many splits from h4.
It’s not a great solution, but to be honest there is no good solution to Halo 5’s story, this is the one I find best. Don’t abandon those plot points from Halo 4, I’ve been waiting for them to be relevant again.
But I don’t think that is what they will actually do.
> 2533274947805189;12:
> > 2533274866906624;8:
> > I think it will be a way to bring Cortana back as a protagonist in the story, maybe by repairing what remains of her from Halo 4. I guess time will tell.
>
> This is honestly the solution I am hoping for. It’s the only way to have the “real” Cortana back as a protagonist. But it’s still not “evil Cortana” switching sides and everyone just forgiving her, that would make no sense. If they explain that the h5 Cortana was just a part of the many splits from h4.
> It’s not a great solution, but to be honest there is no good solution to Halo 5’s story, this is the one I find best. Don’t abandon those plot points from Halo 4, I’ve been waiting for them to be relevant again.
>
> But I don’t think that is what they will actually do.
True, I have a feeling that the H5 Cortana was a little off, definitely out of character. Either she has been corrupted, or she is being controlled be the Didact. Maybe some other possibilities, but that would be my guess.
It has to be the basis for chiefs new ai surely