Loot Crate/Transcriptions/Arena

JANUARY 23, 2559 0852:45:20 // INFINITY

[65287-98303-SP] Yes, you have permission to record. But let's make this quick. I'd like to hit the combat deck before oh-nine-hundred.

[92738-61842-LC] Understood, Commander. I was given a priority number one directive by the Captain to analyze and assess key factors that contributed to the—

[65287-98303-SP] The Cortana situation? I'm privy to the directive, Apollo. I'm required to sign all of Lasky's Spartan asset reprioritizations. I know what he has you working on. What does it have to do with me?

[92738-61842-LC] I'm trying to track down a root cause for her current case.

[65287-98303-SP] So rampancy's not sufficient cause anymore for an AI to go crazy?

[92738-61842-LC] Her situation's complex, Commander.

[65287-98303-SP] I beg to differ, Detective. Seems straight forward to me. She's a volitional AI well past her expiration date. Except she has big Forerunner guns and now they're pointed at the head of the universe.

[92738-61842-LC] She isn't necessarily a typical AI. Would you agree?

[65287-98303-SP] You mean because of how she was made?

[92738-61842-LC] How she was made? No ma'am. I'm referring to an extremely atypical service cycle. She saturated her matrix with extensive data from two seperate Halo installations and a Covenant space station. Not to mention multiple personality splinters created to facilitate high-priority operations and circumvent Covenant detection, or her contact with hostile Covenant AI, or the Gravemind entity — should I continue?

[65287-98303-SP] No, I get it. My question again is: What does it have to do with me?

[92738-61842-LC] You were present on Infinity's bridge when she was brought on board two and a half years ago?

[65287-98303-SP] I was.

[92738-61842-LC] How would you desribe her condition?

[65287-98303-SP] Unstable.

[92738-61842-LC] Rampant?

[65287-98303-SP] No, she was unstable. She had days, maybe weeks left.

[92738-61842-LC] And I understand that Senator Andrew Del Rio, captain at that time, ordered that she be commited to final dispensation?

[65287-98303-SP] You understand correctly, Detective.

[92738-61842-LC] And the Master Chief refused this?

[65287-98303-SP] Correct, again. What is your point, Spartan?

[92738-61842-LC] My point is that this order would have violated Sections 394, 628, and 921 of the Colonial Safeguard Data Protection Act were it have occurred. Cortana had high value intel that needed to be extracted and analyzed. Loss of that intel could have led to court-martial or worse.

[65287-98303-SP] It didn't matter any way because the Chief took her and left the bridge.

[92738-61842-LC] Do you think she should have been committed to final dispensation, Commander?

[65287-98303-SP] It wasn't my call, Apollo. I was following orders.

[92738-61842-LC] I was asking for your opinion, ma'am. Do you personnaly think Cortana should have been commited to final dispensation?

[65287-98303-SP] No, I don't. Maybe stasis, maybe something else. Final dispensation was unnecessary at that time. But did it really matter in the end? Do I need to remind you that we're running from her and her Guardians as we speak?

[92738-61842-LC] No, ma'am. I'm well aware of our current situation. As you so clearly stated, I too am simply following orders. I'm confident that Captain Lasky is hoping something comes up that could help us get a step ahead, maybe turn the tide.

[65287-98303-SP] I'm sure he is. Good luck then, Apollo. If that's all, I'll be on my—

[92738-61842-LC] One last thing, Commander.

[65287-98303-SP] What's that?

[92738-61842-LC] You mentiond that how Cortana was made might have something to do with her being unique. Who would I talk to about that?