#halo protocol cole

[scififanpl-blog]

"Halo: The Cole Protocol" by Tobias S. Buckell

“Halo: The Cole Protocol” by Tobias S. Buckell

Halo: The Cole Protocol is a fast-paced and action-packed science fiction novel set in the beloved Halo universe. Written by Tobias S. Buckell, the book follows the story of a group of UNSC soldiers and their mission to protect humanity from the alien threat known as the Covenant. One of the standout features of this book is its well-developed characters. Buckell does an excellent job of…

[mlgssy]

(Jai and Adriana thoughts incoming)

So first, whenever a complication comes up during briefings, their eyes always meet first, then the two of them look at Mike at the same time. (Who always notices the little eye contact and he’s also shipping them)

Whenever Adriana has a bit of free time (and for this she makes some if she hasn’t) she manages to annoy him with a playful trick. Like hiding his socks in her own laundry (so he has to search it in her stinky one.)

Before Adriana would go undercover alone, Jai always put an arm on her shoulder as he winks at her as a sign of “Take care of yourself”.

Adriana always takes a bite from Jai’s food, because “my boyfriend’s food looks better than mine” (it’s an existing rule) even though they have the same ration.

They have their first time in EVERYTHING because they did everything together since they were little children, and they can’t imagine trying sushi alone or with anyone else (lol)

Jai was endlessly jealous of Delgado (even he didn’t have a reason)

[empresskadia]

ODSTs are seriously just cannon fodder in the fandom. They're supposed to be the best of the best, the status everyone wants to be, but they die left and right. The discrepancy between their 'elite status' and their high mortality rate is something. I feel like I have to do another deep dive into the ODSTs.

I have so many thoughts about this passage.

[bloodgulchblog]

i love that the arbiter used to be an asshole.

none of that father-to-his-men-but-terribly-mistaken stuff.

nah, he was as convinced of his own righteousness and full of violence as anybody.

[dougielombax]

I admire the Cole Protocol legislation.

Sure it worked.

But it makes it all the more funnier that the Covenant found earth by sheer accident.

[yanderes-galore]

I'd like to see a yandere concept of Reth from Halo: The Cole Protocol. Either romantic or platonic is fine.

Be patient with me here as I haven't read much about Cole Protocol in years so things may be a bit off! From what I remember Reth is a Jackal/Kig-Yar rebel that wants The Rubble for himself so I'm going to try my best :)

Yandere! Reth Concept

(HALO: The Cole Protocol)

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, OOC Reth most likely, Implied Human/Kig-Yar pairing but may also be Kig-Yar/Kig-Yar, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Protective behavior, Abduction, Dubious companionship, Scenting, Bird-like courting.

I actually have not written for the Kig-Yar species before, my usual content seems to have been either human or Sangheili.

However, this species is actually really cool to think about.

Kig-Yar loyalty can be bought with the right price.

Think of them like space pirates.

They are attracted to loot and often trade if it benefits them.

Reth is a good example of Kig-Yar behavior.

He trades with the humans of The Rubble not because he likes them, but because he can track where humans go to provide The Prophets with information.

They are a selfish species that tends to scavenge what they can get.

They are also bird/raptor-like in nature.

Reth may show a more platonic type of yandere towards a human and a romantic type of yandere towards another Kig-Yar.

After all, this time period is when The UNSC and The Covenant are fighting.

Species involved with The Covenant don't dare try anything romantic with a human.

Maybe after the war, but not now.

If Reth did have some strange form of romantic feelings towards a human it's hidden well.

If you're a human you are working on The Rubble to conduct trade between the two races.

If you are Kig-Yar you work closely with Reth on The Rubble.

Reth has proven to like power and hungers for respect.

He and his forces have managed to keep The Rubble hidden for quite awhile.

He also has managed to hide an entire Unggoy army he's been breeding.

He's smart, crafty, and has ways to manipulate the odds on his favor.

He's more accomplished than your typical Kig-Yar I feel.

Most of the time he's very absorbed in his own plans.

An obsession would be secondary to him until he feels his plans are stable.

Kig-Yar have a tendency to group, like a pack/flock.

Reth may find himself naturally drift towards his obsession, with orders or deals.

He keeps conversation brief at first, but soon attempts to open up more in private.

I imagine Kig-Yar are possessive of those they deem as theirs.

Be it a group member or potential mate, I can see Reth snarling or growling at others who get too close.

While in Kig-Yar culture typically have the biggest shipmistress pick their mate, with Reth it's different as he's a powerful male Kig-Yar.

He's in charge and has gone against his shipmistress.

He doesn't really care about tradition until he gets to keep The Rubble.

I imagine Reth would be very bird-like when with his obsession.

He groups you into his fellow Kig-Yar even if you are human.

Reth would show you his nest sometime in his obsession, it would be quicker if you are a Kig-Yar.

We don't get much info on how Kig-Yar courting works based on what I've seen.

So I give you the HC of them courting like birds.

Shiny gifts, impressive displays of power and decorated nests, stuff like that.

Reth is not all that opposed to being close to a human but likes his own kind too.

Kig-Yar actually work with others well despite being seen as untrustworthy by many.

Reth would actually be really close with his darling, platonic or romantic.

He gives you weapons he feels fit your needs and treats you with respect on The Rubble.

Reth may be selfish like many Kig-Yar but he does try to keep you out of the way of danger.

Even when given the order to kill all humans on The Rubble, even if you are one he'll spare you.

No one has to know.

Reth would be possessive of his darling, probably even nipping at you/clawing at you to leave marks.

You may not choose him as a companion or mate yet Reth makes it happen.

I wouldn't be surprised it he kidnapped you to his nest, showing you his treasures and preventing you from leaving.

Reth doesn't show much care to anyone outside of his inner circle.

You're the only one he wants to push any further with.

So... just relax.

He'll scent you, he'll cover you in treasures, he'll be a good Kig-Yar companion to you.

Even if you tried to leave, he'll hunt you down.

Escape is futile since he has Unggoy and other Kig-Yar ships to track you.

Kig-Yar are good at tracking, too.

If he's attached to you and has already claimed you as his, he'll find you again.

Reth, like many Kig-Yar, is selfish...

He'll keep you with him on The Rubble even if it's the last thing he'll do.

[halopedia]

Spartan Saturday — Adriana-111

A member of Gray Team, Adriana-111 acts as both the team's muscle and their designated marksman. She notably served alongside her teammates Jai-006 and Michael-120 during the battles at the Rubble and Metisette in 2535.

She also served in Operation: SUNSPEAR, which had the team destroy the Sangheili world of Glyke. Following the Carrow Conflict in 2558, the team formed a strike force with the Swords of Sanghelios, now operating out of the prowler UNSC Perilous Contest.

[spartansagas]

Cover art for Halo: The Cole Protocol, released 2008 by Tobias Buckle.

[monitorchakas]

Please clap reblog the polls to spread the outreach numbers

[catgirlforeskin]

I hope one day we learn what happened with the Halo show. It got a lot of unfair criticism from people who didn’t watch it or wanted it to be a retread of the games (which would’ve been terrible).

The show clearly had people on board who had deep knowledge and respect for Halo and its themes, much more than many of the detractors who decried that the show “wasn’t Halo” because it had civilians and mister chief took off his helmet. One of the main characters of the show, Soren, was only ever mentioned in a single short story in an anthology book that’s not even popular among people who like the books. And I love that dude! I lost it when he showed up!

It focuses on Madrigal and the Rubble and the insurrectionist conflict there, something only brought up in a single book primarily about unimportant side characters, and yeah, it changed some details around (like making it a mostly Korean colony instead of Mexican, which I didn’t love) but like, if years ago you asked me what my ideal Halo show would be, I’d talk about the insurrectionist conflict, and the best I would realistically hope for is a “both sides bad” story, but we didn’t get that! We’re meant to root for the anarchist terrorist group!

But I say all this upfront because the show had so many baffling design choices, leaning in hard on chosen one prophecy junk with Forerunners, putting in Master Chief at all, having Master Chief have a straight sex scene. There’s a lot that wasn’t great, and I have to wonder, why?

People like to say it was just made by people who don’t care about halo but that clearly isn’t true. Was it just a case of having lots of writers on the team who all wanted different things, and thus the show came out as a patchwork of different aspects of halo poorly stitched together? Was it executives fighting with the writers and shoehorning in more easily marketable material like Master Chief and the sex scene and whatnot?

Was it a mix of a lot of factors? Probably! Will we ever really know? Probably not! But I can’t help but wonder at why this happened, and what else could’ve been

[doom-dreaming]

hell yeah

sitting with my face pressed against my window waiting for the mail to come

[halobirthdays]

BY THE RINGS, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN!!!

THEL 'VADAM'S BIRTHDAY IS ON DECEMBER 10!

In honor of our beloved, best boy's birthday, Halobirthdays is hosting another giveaway!

What does the winner get?

The winner will receive:

One (1) copy of Halo: The Cole Protocol, for a look at Thel before his rise to Supreme Commander.

One (1) copy of Halo: Outcasts, for the Arbiter we know and love (and also the most recent Halo publication).

One (1) color-changing desk light featuring everyone's favorite brothers-in-arms.

One (1) energy sword bookmark (for all the Halo reading you'll be doing).

One (1) Mark of Shame iron-on decal and;

One (1) high-quality print of the absolutely adorable commission by the talented @nagunkgunk.

The cost of shipping will be covered by Halobirthdays.

How do I enter?

I'm doing things a little differently this time.

You must be following Halobirthdays.

One (1) reblog per user will count. Likes do not count. If you would like to reblog to spread the word (which I appreciate) but do not want to enter, please let me know via message or in the tags.

You must have an address within the contiguous United States.

You must be eighteen years or older to enter.

When will a winner be selected?

This will run from the moment of this posting until 12:00AM EST on December 11, 2023. After that, the entries will be tallied and a winner will be randomly selected as soon as possible. Halobirthdays will contact the winner via Tumblr direct message. The winner has 24 hours to come forward and claim the prize. If they do not come forward, a new winner will be randomly selected.

Please make it clear that you are not a bot by tagging the post, and/or adding an icon and banner to your blog. It's not required, but reblogs and from suspected bot or giveaway accounts will be blocked.

Fine print below the cut:

This event is not affiliated with Tumblr.

This event will run until 12:00AM EST on December 11, 2023. One (1) winner will be randomly selected.

By participating, you affirm that you meet and agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

If a winner is selected but is found to not meet the eligibility criteria, they forfeit the prize and another winner will be selected.

Any issues regarding shipping once the prize has been mailed shall be settled between the winner and the carrier service. Halobirthdays will make a conscientious effort to ensure that the prize arrives undamaged. However, Halobirthdays shall be held blameless for any lost or stolen prizes, damage, and/or shipping delays during transit.

[holyshonks]

I finished my Great Journey!

With two Halo books coming down the pipeline, I decided it was finally safe to go ahead and finished reading everything I own (I was avoiding it because if I read everything, then there's no more Halo). With that done, I have official read every novel and comic! My brain is so saturated in Halo things.

I'm not sure if the comics/art books count, but these are my final numbers:

Books:

The Fall of Reach

The Flood

First Strike

Ghosts of Onyx

Cryptum

Primordorium

Silentium

Glasslands

The Thursday War

Mortal Dictata

Contact Harvest (my personal fav)

The Cole Protocol

Envoy

Broken Circle

Hunter in The Dark

New Blood

Bad Blood

Last Light

Retribution

Divine Wind

Smoke and Shadow

Renegades

Point of Light

Silent Storm

Oblivion

Shadows of Reach

Legacy of Onyx

Battle Born

Meridian Divide

Outcasts

Epitaph

Evolution

Fractures

Comics/Graphic Novels

The Graphic Novel

Initiation

Halo Wars Genesis

Escalation

Bloodline

Uprising

Tales from Slipspace

Hell Jumper

Fall of Reach: Bootcamp

Fall of Reach: Covenant

Collateral Damage

Lone Wolf

Rise of Atriox

Art books/other

Halo Encyclopedia 2009 Edition

Halo Encyclopedia 2022 Edition

The Art of Halo 3

The Art of Halo 4

The Art of Building Worlds

Warfleet

The Saltiness Visual Guide

Halo 4 Essential Visual Guide

The Official Spartan Field Manual

Halsey's Journal

That's uhhhhh a lot of Halo. And now I'm ready for more in February!

[empresskadia]

*Rattling the iron bars of my cage, foaming at the mouth like a rabid animal.*

Grey team. Grey team. Grey team.

Really loving Melody's character, and I hope Adriana sweeps her off her feet-

Also also, Adriana-111 is a salty queen

[bloodgulchblog]

Hello, question! Are there specific stages to AI rampancy?

I think Halo doesn't actually break it down into specific stages anymore. There were some earlier references to Marathon's way of doing things, though. (In particular I remember the Rubble's AI in The Cole Protocol specifically being mentioned as in a grandiose stage.)

The Marathon stages for rampancy were melancholia (the depression of an AI dealing with the limitations placed on its existence), anger (during which they lash out), and jealousy (during which they pursue expansion and power) with a theoretical final stage being metastability where the AI settles down into a stable existence beyond rampancy (which only Durandal, iirc, reached in Marathon).

Here's an oldschool Halo description of rampancy from the 2009 Halo encyclopedia, showing they didn't talk about it in phases back then either:

I always thought the idea of the different emotional stages (like the way we talk about the stages of grief, almost) were cool though.

[stitchlingbelle]

Watching Halo, Episode 8

(From what I’ve picked up, this is the episode with the controversial sex scene in it, so… yeah. Let’s see how that goes.)

We open with John and Makee both staring into mirrors and either temporarily revisiting the ringworld vision or just remembering it, but their focus seems to be more on each other than the untold mysteries of an alien ringworld revealed to them by ancient mystical technology. Priorities! And then they go on a field trip.

Halsey, Adun her creepy assistant, and Cortana are discussing John and Makee and the whole situation while watching them. Parangosky and Keyes are also watching them, because again, authoritarian surveillance state. Although, I do have to give the actually-authorized people here a break; Makee is still being held under some pretext or other, and in fairness, she actually IS up to no good. But since Parangosky doesn’t know that, it’s a little appalling that she’s so eager for Master Chief to beat the shit out of what could be an innocent civilian. (And we, and John, know that there are in fact actual Covenant escapees, since we met Reth back on Rubble.)

YAY for another civilization worldbuilding scene! Parks! Food trucks! Pastels! The future is great! (What is with all the anoraks people wear in this show?) Happy children give Makee hope that maybe the book she and her childhood friend rescued from the trash might have been on to something. Maybe humans don’t suck, just the ones from Recycle Hell Planet. She mentions the book to John. They take refuge by some pretty, flowery trees and discuss the Halo and whether humanity’s worth saving. “Cleansed” she says fanatically, that’s what will become of humanity if the others ascend. (John, alongside your defense of humanity, you might have questioned whether people dead-set on committing genocide are worthy themselves… It’s not like she doesn’t know what the Covenant does, she just has protagonist-centered morality, here.) When Master Chief gets called away for a moment, Makee gets frightened by a dog, which I can’t help but think is supposed to be a parallel with John’s loving memories of his childhood dog. It’ll take more than one day in the park to rid Makee of her kneejerk assumptions…

Speaking of the Covenant’s genocidal tendencies, a colony world has just been attacked—glassed, a term I’ve heard and imagined to be a bit more literal (anybody else read the Axiom books by Tim Pratt?)—in fact, a city of 11 million people has been melted into a roiling hellscape of lava. The voiceover of the reporter or officer, along with the reactions of the people in the command center, really sells it. Keyes and Parangosky argue over aid, with Keyes invoking the “Cole Protocol”. A recap I found online informs me that it’s meant to keep the Covenant from finding the other human planets (presumably by following the aid fleet home? Idk). I guess this means the Covenant is like humanity in its knowledge of the wider galaxy—no in-depth surveys, just telescope data beyond their own frontiers. Interesting. (I’ve got some thoughts about the respective tech levels here but I think I’ll hold it for the finale.)

Master Chief walks in and hears the tail end of the argument, that “we can’t sit here and wait for them to find us” and the conversation turns from aid to an offensive strike against the Covenant. He’s convinced Makee will help, which I have serious doubts about, especially this early in her deprogramming. (Again, 9-episode season!) But the whole debate does give him a chance to stand up for himself against two of the people he doesn’t realize are also responsible for the crimes against him. When Keyes growls, “People don’t just manually override decades of indoctrination,” John looks him dead in the eye and says, “I did.”

OH SNAP.

We get a look at how the other Spartans are doing. Riz and Vannak are examining some alien tech and debating Kai’s fitness for duty… and we slam right into Kai partying it up with a ton of normal soldiers, using her superstrength to lift incredibly heavy objects while they cheer wildly, rooting for her and placing bets. It’s an absolutely adorable scene of my exuberant girl getting joy out of her abilities, instead of the horrific purposes they were given to her for. It’s also a great scene of human connection, as Kai, so far the most outgoing Spartan, gets to be a part of the life of the base for the first time. (Master Chief might stay grim, the untouchable, perfect Spartan that all the grunts look up to, but I think Kai might become their beloved mascot. If the show lets her.) (God, I can’t wait to see what Riz and Vannak are like as people.)

Miranda’s back at her new lab, which apparently still doesn’t have the funding for chairs. Her dad, who she still believes in, drops by and it’s painful to watch her enthusiasm as she goes over her progress with the only person she looks up to who listens to her. It’s going to break her heart when she learns the truth, and on some level her dad knows that reckoning is coming. She’s clearly on the verge of figuring out Makee is the voice in her recording…

John goes to see Makee, dismissing her guards (not suspicious at all!), to give her a book. (He says it’s not the same one from her childhood, so maybe it’s the same author? Yes, this is a weird detail to care about.) For a second I couldn’t tell if the gesture was incredibly sweet or calculated to make her trust him/ humanity more, buuuut they almost immediately start making out, so calculated probably wasn’t it. I’ll be honest, as someone who is deeply religious both by upbringing and by choice, as well as being somewhat on the demi side of things, I am the wrong person to comment on whether this scene was too soon or earned or whatever. It would take two years and a ring to get me to this point, but some people have one-night stands! Maybe this is normal! I dunno. (I bet it was awkward as hell, though. Two virgins who probably never got sex ed? Yikes. This is Hollywood, though, so the implication is always that it was effortlessly great.) Aaaaand Cortana is watching/ experiencing/ monitoring vital signs intrusively? Yikes.

…and then he sleeps over? And this does not set off any alarms with anyone, including the guards? What about the shift change? Asking the real questions here, people! Makee has a moment of Decision, looking at him and her best chance to literally remove his head as she boasted. Instead, she gets up, and in the WORST SCENE EVER wrenches the hidden energy blade out from under her fingernail. Give the actress and the fx department Emmys, that looked SO. PAINFUL. (Girl, you could have left it in and just committed to not stabbing people!) And John slept through the whole thing. (?!) (...what about Cortana?)

Cortana and Halsey discuss the evening, and Cortana looks a lot more content with the situation than she did, uh, earlier. Halsey distinctly less so when Cortana comments that John’s not alone in the universe anymore. “He was never alone, he had me,” snaps the woman who abducted, tortured, and brainwashed him. “…Of course,” answers Cortana, who looks like she regrets her life choices even though she’s only like a week old.

Keyes drops by and treats us to a handy demonstration of him and Halsey as the toxic couple of the decade. He can’t break free of her emotionally, if only because then he’d have to face his guilt and culpability alone. So he’s pulling strings and probably fucking everyone else over to… what? What’s important about her ship, instead of the one Parangosky would no doubt put her on? (C’mon, Cortana, time to make a stand!)

Whatever her inevitable escape plans, for now, Halsey is ruining John’s attempts to bring Makee over by creepily contacting her on the sly and feeding her all that bs about humanity’s evil nature. (Including a disturbing line about her relationship with John being “wonderful to watch”.) (This right after claiming John doesn’t exist, only The Master Chief, a contradiction Makee doesn’t notice.) Makee is disturbed and pushes back to a limited extent, but it’s clear that another human validating her fears about humanity and then parroting the same line about the Halo’s power to help a species ascend “like gods” is hitting her where she lives. (She also doesn’t think to quiz Halsey on exactly why other humans can’t be trusted, but she can.)

Halsey then reflects on the “flaw” of humanity that is attachment. (What exactly does she think humanity is, then? If it's so awful, why is she working to save it?) Anyway, whether this is commentary on Keyes’ mistaken loyalty to her, viewing her own previous attachments as setbacks, the ease she’s had in manipulating Makee, the Spartans, and others, or just foreshadowing, it’s game time now.

She contacts the Spartans, invoking “Zed Protocol” and claiming the entire high command, including Master Chief, have been compromised by the alien artifact. She orders them to bring John, Makee, and the artifact to her, letting nothing stand in their way. No one asks the obvious question: if the artifact is compromising people, why the heck should they bring it CLOSER to someone so far unaffected? Isn’t it more likely the person asking them to break protocol for the artifact is being affected? Kai is the only one who doubts, and Halsey immediately has Riz and Vannak take her out. (Causing me to yell NOT MY BABY at the screen.)

Cortana asks what Halsey has planned for John. Turns out he’s disposable once they have Makee, and Halsey plans to let Cortana take over his body after all. (So much for John’s test. And for John’s specialness in Halsey’s eyes—if he was so unique, you wouldn’t want to overwrite him!) Cortana is Not Enthused, but Halsey doesn’t see that for as much of a danger sign as I do.

Everyone’s on their way to watch Makee use the artifact. Makee, deeply upset by Halsey, asks John what his plan for the artifact and the future are. The Master Chief, with no idea what the thing actually does AND being emotionally two weeks old AND raised to be mission-focused, has no answer beyond “kill the people who rescued you”. (Not even a “we’ll figure it out together”, John? Really?)

What follows, once everyone is in place, is a combination of action scene and classic tragedy of mistimed revelation—once Cortana makes her choice and alerts Master Chief to the ambush waiting for him, he sends Makee looking for safety. Instead, in the terrified moments when listening to her could have saved John a beating and changed Makee’s mind about humanity, Miranda discovers that Makee was behind the massacre of the Gladius. This ill-timed truth results in Makee being viciously tased as she was as a child, confirming all her fears…

Meanwhile, Master Chief out of armor is going hand-to-hand with Riz and Vannak, both suited up. Cortana’s assistance keeps them from wiping the floor with him. That, and the fact that his skull must be heavily reinforced, one punch from an armored Spartan should be more than enough to crush a human skull. And then MY GIRL KAI breaks out, orders Halsey’s ship detained, and joins the fight, resulting in a standoff…

…which is broken only by Makee reverting to her upbringing, lunging for the artifact and using it to get away. The shockwave smashes through the base. John flashes to the Halo dimension, where Makee just says goodbye and disappears. Well, crap.