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Destiny

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Edited by Bolt: 7/28/2014 5:13:46 AM
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Bolt

Decrypting the Darkness

I was browsing though the Grimoires looking for some interesting flavor text, when I found one that had some pretty interesting terms in it which might, oh this is horrible, shed some light on "The Darkness." Here's the full text below if you don't have it yet: [spoiler]V113NNI070XMX001 SECRET HADAL INSTANT AI-COM/RSPN: SOLSECCENT//SxISR//DEEPSPACE CONTACT CONTACT CONTACT TRANSIENT. NULLSOURCE. NULLTYPE. This is a SKYSHOCK ALERT. Multiple distributed ISR assets report a TRANSIENT NEAR EXTRASOLAR EVENT. Event duration ZERO POINT THREE SECONDS. Event footprint includes sterile neutrino scattering and gravity waves. Omnibus analysis detects deep structure information content (nine sigma) and internal teleonomy. No hypothesis on event mechanism (FLAG ACAUSAL). Bootstrap simulation suggests event is DIRECTED and INIMICABLE (convergent q-Bayes/Monte Carlo probability approaches 1). No hypothesis on deep structure encoding (TCC/NP-HARD). Source blueshift suggests IMMINENT SOLAR ENTRY. Promote event to SKYSHOCK: OCP: EXTINCTION. Activate VOLUSPA. Activate YUGA. Cauterize public sources to SECURE ISIS and harden for defensive action. I am invoking CARRHAE WHITE and assuming control of solar defenses. STOP STOP STOP V113NNI070XMX091[/spoiler] Let's go over it bit by bit. Note: In looking for a previous analysis of this, I only found one on Neogaf, and it's analysis was somewhat lacking in my opinion. I'll indicate ideas that I found there. [quote] V113NNI070XMX001 SECRET HADAL INSTANT AI-COM/RSPN: SOLSECCENT//SxISR//DEEPSPACE CONTACT CONTACT CONTACT TRANSIENT. NULLSOURCE. NULLTYPE. [/quote] Not a lot in this bit besides indications that this event is happening at least somewhere beyond our solar system. "Hadal" (derived from Hades) is used to describe the deepest parts of the oceans on Earth, so it may be that this is at the edge of human-controlled space. The Neogaf analysis also offered that "RSPN" (which seems to be designated as an AI) may be the Warmind Rasputin we encountered in the beta. [quote]Multiple distributed ISR assets report a TRANSIENT NEAR EXTRASOLAR EVENT. Event duration ZERO POINT THREE SECONDS. Event footprint includes sterile neutrino scattering and gravity waves. Omnibus analysis detects deep structure information content (nine sigma) and internal teleonomy.[/quote] ISR can mean several things, but it most likely (given the rest of this section) means Initial and final state radiation, which basically means radiation before and after a particle collision that is not a result of any particle annihilation. This is not a section of physics I'm really familiar with, but it would seem to be a method of determining things about collision events without needing to observe the instantaneous event itself. Sterile neutrinos are a bit more interesting. At this point they're theoretical particles that don't interact with other particles or waves by any mechanism we're aware of. The fact that whoever was observing them was able to observe them (and that they scattered) indicates a level of scientific knowledge beyond our own. In addition, some have theorized that sterile neutrinos may be the source of Dark Matter. Dark Matter is another theoretical construct. It came about due to the fact that, based on how much mass galaxies appear to have, they should rip themselves apart due to how fast they're spinning (they don't seem to have enough mass). Thus some have suggested that a form of matter we can't observe must exist within these galaxies, thus adding the apparently missing mass. Gravity waves are again theoretical, but are ripples in space-time caused by massive gravitational events. In theory, the only way they would be observable naturally is if one was near a supernova event. The existence of gravity waves would confirm many of our theories about the nature of space-time. It is also worth noting from a Bungie-lore perspective that W'rkncacnter, an eldritch abomination responsible for destroying reality in the Marathon series, was said to make "waves" as it moved through space (this came from a terminal translated from a species that spoke in metaphor, so the exact nature of those waves was never clear). [quote]No hypothesis on event mechanism (FLAG ACAUSAL). Bootstrap simulation suggests event is DIRECTED and INIMICABLE (convergent q-Bayes/Monte Carlo probability approaches 1). No hypothesis on deep structure encoding (TCC/NP-HARD). Source blueshift suggests IMMINENT SOLAR ENTRY.[/quote] Acausal is a system that is, yet again, a theoretical concept in which a system's output in the present is dependent on inputs in the future. I can't really see why they flagged this event as such (given the information presented), but it continues the theme of reality bending. Inimical means hostile, and combined with "directed" it's clear those observing this consider it an attack. q-Bayes and Monte Carlo are both statistical analysis techniques, and I know from experience that Monte Carlo is frequently used in particle physics. TCC/NP looks similar to an acronym we use for web protocol, but I can't find anything that seems plausible. Blueshift is the photon equivalent of the Doppler Effect you're used to hearing as cars pass. It means the object is moving towards these observers. [quote]Promote event to SKYSHOCK: OCP: EXTINCTION. Activate VOLUSPA. Activate YUGA. Cauterize public sources to SECURE ISIS and harden for defensive action. I am invoking CARRHAE WHITE and assuming control of solar defenses. STOP STOP STOP V113NNI070XMX091[/quote] This section has a lot of literary references. Go look at the [url=http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=859234]neogaf[/url] review, as this isn't my area of expertise. The final Stops likely indicate the end of the transmission. So to put it altogether, The Darkness seems to either have a massive amount of energy at it's disposal (the gravity waves), or it's simply capable of bending reality (the hints at control of dark matter), or, really, both. It seems much more like a force than another species, or at least, if it is alive, it's significantly different from life we understand. This does raise questions about the other races attacking the Sol system. Could they simply be taking refuge? Have their systems all been consumed? Are they simply groups running away from this force that is following the traveler, and will we be like them if we lose this system? All in all, it does bring to mind the slow death the galaxy would have faced if the W'rkncacnter fully escaped in Marathon Infinity. An unknowable, impossible, un-combatable and reality-bending evil moving unthinkingly from system to system and tearing apart whatever it found. Fortunately, in Marathon, the W'rkncacnter was never released (or at least not in the final timeline; things get hard to describe when reality breaks down). Obviously we're past that option this time.

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  • bumped because sign-out crashed literally seconds after I posted this.

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  • My brain hurts

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    • Maybe the Darkness is looking for resources? I always thought the Traveler was a Servitor secretly luring everyone into a cataclysmic catastrophe.

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    • This is incredibly intriguing. I'm a bit lost on what the "marathon" stuff you're referring to is though. What is it?

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      • Wtf did I just try to read

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      • I feel like this is just another instance of jibberish trolling. "Let's put this word salad of mumbo jumbo and throw in literary references and physics words and make it all cryptic. The forums will go crazy trying to figure this one out!"

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        • Brilliant analysis.

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        • It shouldn't really be surprising that the Darkness can potentially bend reality; look at what it's "ancient enemy" the Traveler can do. The other races make me curious though. My theory is that the Fallen survived an encounter with the Darkness and now chase it across the stars to scavenge the civilizations it destroys. The Cabal aren't connected to at the Darkness all; they're just expansionist Space Romans who see Sol as their next conquest. The Hive are clearly creations/worshipers of the Darkness, and the only enemy race with an obvious direct connection. The Vex are still wrapped in mystery.

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          • really interesting. I just realized were were just thrown into the fray with this this beta with little to no background of the universe, but I could still feel immersed in the setting. Gotta love the good story telling. It seems like they're going for a Dark souls style of story telling to me. Your character doesn't know shit about his surroundings and just follows orders to stay alive.

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            • Bumping

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            • If you look in the Travelers room with the spinning globe thing, there are these little pedestals that show the solar system. If you look closer you can see that all the planets are in perfect orbit... except Pluto haha. It kind of just zooms around wherever it wants. Thought this was good to share because the Medieval Classifications of planets included Greek gods - Hades being Pluto. Maybe what you speculated has something to do with why Pluto is moving around so randomly and how it relates to the darkness.

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              • "Multiple distributed ISR assets report....." ISR means intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from a military stand point. Which this messages seems to be in nature. ISR asset in space = satellite/probe?

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                • Very good analysis of the text and very detailed. I like it. Also it felt like I was in a science class haha.

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                • This is a really well made up thread, in contrary to the opinions that others might have. I saw that grimoire card too and I actually read through it thinking 'wow, I haven't heard half of those words'. Thanks for clearing up at least some of the abbreviations and physics references! I really like your post and the way you put all this into simpler terms.

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                • luckily i watch alot of discovery shows so most of that was not lost on me. Really well put together. was really intrigued by all of it.

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                • I thought ISR was the name for the golden age NASA

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                  • Very good insight and thought put into this post. Disproves my wife's opinion that video games are pointless and uneducational. My sons even got some history/geography test questions right from playing COD. Take it where you can get it. Look forward to future thoughts and observation, we all have 45 days or so to kill.

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                  • Edited by grumpymoose: 7/28/2014 4:52:52 PM
                    Cauterize public sources to Secure Isis? Hhmmm . . .

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                    • Edited by Ripley: 7/28/2014 5:19:28 PM
                      I think TheCommando is correct. Pretty sure I've seen ISR on some walls in the Cosmodrome, especially the mural of the people and ships lined up. ISR assets are probably the outer reach ships, stations, or satellites spotting trouble coming. This message is likely from the end of the golden age, right before the war started.

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                      • I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post, I'm not much of a scientist but I love reading about the concepts of particle physics, so thank you

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                      • Edited by DJenser: 7/30/2014 8:41:06 PM
                        "TRANSIENT. NULLSOURCE. NULLTYPE." indicates an event of brief duration (in this case 0.3 seconds) of unknown composition from an unknown source. "Deep Structure" is a linguistic term used to define and unite one or more linguistic/syntactic structures. NP-Hard means "Non-deterministic Polynomial-time hard". The term comes from theoretical computer science's theory of computational complexity. The underlying basis is that any computational problem is one that can be analyzed and solved by a computer or otherwise by mechanical implementation of computational steps, such as an algorithm. A problem that is "NP-Hard" is at least as difficult as the hardest problem in Non-deterministic Polynomial time. "TCC" could indicate a certain complexity class for the Event. In its simplest terms, "Acausal" indicates that there are no known underlying phenomena in the vicinity, natural or otherwise, that could account for the "Event". All of this, coupled with the "Inimicable" and "Directed" nature of the "Event" indicates that something suddenly appeared in deep space, outside the bounds of our solar system, accompanied by an extremely brief, powerful and complex energy signature of unknown composition. It was determined that this "Event" was deliberately directed toward us with hostile intent. "SOLSECCENT" Is likely an title acronym for the AI in charge of the SECurity forces for the CENTral SOLar System, in much the same way that COMSUBPAC stands for COMmander of SUBmarine fleet: PACific, etc. "OCP" comes from the "Culture" series by Iain Banks. It stands for "Outside Context Problem", which means a problem that is not (indeed cannot be) considered until it occurs. It is the kind of problem "most civilizations would encounter just once, and which they tended to encounter rather in the same way a sentence encountered a full stop." This scenario led Rasputin to initiate emergency protocols "VOLUSPA" (The Völuspá is the Norse Poetic Edda that deals with the creation of the world, as well as Ragnarök) and YUGA (Derived from the Hindu concept of 4 Ages ranging from the Golden Age to the Dark Age or Age of Strife). The Battle of Carrhae was one of the most humiliating defeats suffered by the Romans, in which a full 7 legions of Roman troops (nearly 50,000 in number) lost 3/4 of their number against a much smaller force of 11,000 Parthians.

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                        • Man, where were you during the 2013 Alpha Lupi Campaign?

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                        • Bungie is always extremely clever with their references and how the names and wording found in their games tie to things in the real world. I've been very interested in that last paragraph in particular for a few days. I would almost think the Voluspa, Yuga, Isis references could be other AI's like Rasputin that we may encounter in Destiny. If they were constructed to fight the Darkness, which brings the end of the world basically, the associated names fit fairly well to AI's.

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                        • good work guardian

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                        • 1000/10 for this post. It's a refreshing change from the daily nonsense that I read here, especially because you provide some scientific insight. It's nice to know that Bungie is keeping it's content high grade. If I'm not mistaken, I've heard a while back that NASA and JPL folks come down to visit once in a while. Terrific stuff!! Cheers!

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                        • Very nice read.

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