[b]Edit: I've made some corrections and clarifications. More detail at the end of the post.[/b] In a recent discussion on the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/190675733/0/0/1]status of the Traveler[/url], it was discussed whether the Traveler is [b]dead[/b], or whether its in some state we observe as "dead" and referenced as "dead" by the Ghosts, or perhaps some state that satisfies both cases without precluding a possible return to activity... Basically, is he dead? While researching Rasputin, I found some thing very interesting reading Ghost Fragment: Rasputin 5. The following is lifted directly from my original post. [quote]If available ISR and WARWATCH indicates imminent [O] departure >then [O] departure compromises human/neohuman survival and epoch strategy ... Activate LOKI CROWN Perform deniable authorization: full caedometric and noetic release Prevent [O] departure by any means available[/quote] So LOKI CROWN was an operation by Rasputin to prevent the departure of the Traveler ("[i][O][/i]"). What's interesting is that, the actions taken include a Caedometric release, and a Noetic release. What we know of a Caedometric release is nothing. If we want to speculate, we can break the word down: Caedo- and -metric. Caedo- can be taken to mean something pertinent to cutting or hewing. -metric can be taken to mean relating to measurements of some sort. If we allow a bit of interpretive leeway, a "measure" could mean "actions or procedures intended as a means to an end." So we could say that a Caedometric release is simply a powerful cutting or separation process that achieves a particular objective. Which holds true when we consider the Dakaua Ministry of War approved a Caedometric release when attempting to fight the Hive. They identified Auryx and her sisters as the head of the Hive and intended to collapse the Hive by hewing the heads. As for the term "Noetic," this word has actual meaning: of or relating to the mind or intelligence. With this having been said, I have two theories: 1) LOKI CROWN prevented the escape of the Traveler by cutting its mind from its body; 1a) It should be noted that Cayde-6 is a pretty prolific Hunter. Many assume he is, in part or whole, Rasputin. But what if Cayde was one of many slices of the Traveler? What if his name is specifically chosen to indicate a "slice" ([i]Caed[/i]ometric... [i]Cayde[/i]...) [u]1[/u] 1b) It is known that Cayde-6 has a memory that isn't his. This memory could be interpreted as either the Traveler or Rasputin, but I rather think it's the Traveler. This knowledge comes from Cayde's journal where he describes a memory, but knows it isn't his, but that it's his most important. 2) LOKI CROWN prevented the escape of the Traveler by "cutting off" his escape route, the price of which was Rasputin's Noetic release, however, Rasputin was able to capture his detached intelligence in the bodies of (4?) Exos (of which Cayde is one?). One other thing to note, the desired outcome of LOKI CROWN was to "coerce a pseudoaltruistic [O] defensive action..." which is likely the reason why, after being prevented from escaping, the Traveler released the Ghosts. It was an action that seems altruistic, but in reality is simply just a self-defense mechanism. [spoiler]A thought occurs: what if the Ghosts are a type of anti-body released by the Traveler to protect itself. The Ghosts then re-animate Earthlings to fight against the Darkness. After all, the Guardians must have in them an innate drive to fight the Darkness, which would explain the uncontrollable popularity of the Concordat, and the Tower's continued war.[/spoiler] Further to the Cayde-Rasputin theory, in the Rasputin entry of the Grimoire, it says: [quote]But Rasputin has proven recalcitrant and high-handed, unresponsive to the City's outreach. ...Perhaps what remains is only an autonomic shell, defending itself by reflex.[/quote] Continuance: [quote]Or perhaps Rasputin's objectives have changed, transformed by some vital information it obtained during those dark days.[/quote] It's my belief that the continuance of the quote, that portion is a red herring for the true reality of Rasputin. To give a bit of meta reasoning, the mystery and conjecture elicit an immediate reaction, overwhelming the previous point which seems like a mundane dead end. More toward the quote, however, what if Rasputin's Noetic release purged its higher functionality and it is now simply a shell reacting on, perhaps, pre-designed reflex while preparing for Rasputin's, eventual, re-integration? To borrow from [url=http://www.destinypedia.com/Rasputin]Destinypedia[/url]: [quote]MIDNIGHT EXIGENT - A long-term counterattack protocol and moral structure change. All Warminds enter a period of extended deactivation in an effort to survive and later devise a countermeasure for an overwhelming threat. As of the Taken War, MIDNIGHT EXIGENT is still in-progress.[/quote] MIDNIGHT EXIGENT seems to indicate that Rasputin is actually responding in an autonomic fashion. Given that his systems are all still deactivated since we know, from in-game context, MIDNIGHT EXIGENT is still in effect. My closing statement: I'm of the opinion that Rasputin tried to combat the Darkness but failed, as specified in Ghost Fragment: Rasputin 3. It then activates MIDNIGHT EXIGENT which places it in an extended hold until reactivated, presumably when the strategic forecast has improved. This final step satisfied the internal conditions seen in Ghost Fragment: Rasputin 5, where its tactical morality is MIDNIGHT. At some point, an ISR and/or WARWATCH satellite detected the Traveler's imminent departure. This activated the automated LOKI CROWN process which releases Caedometric and Noetic attacks on the Traveler, effectively preventing the Traveler's escape. As a defensive measure, likely an automatically triggered response, the Traveler begins to release Ghosts which have the ability to create an army of Light powered warriors that is presumably working to eliminate the Darkness while, simultaneously, attempting to undo the damage caused by Rasputin's Caedometric attack. It could very well be possible that the Speaker is actually a portion of the Traveler's intelligence captured in the body of an Exo. And perhaps Cayde-6 is another fraction of the Traveler, which accounts for his prolific reputation, and perhaps the reason why Andal Brask would joke that Cayde was Rasputin (Ghost Fragment: Rasputin). [u]1[/u] Original Text: actually meant "Sixth Slice?" ([i]Caed[/i]ometric... Cayde...) Reason for change: 6 indicates the number of memory wipes.