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“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Cortana has been programmed with every ONI computer insurgency routine,” Dr. Halsey told him.“And she has a talent for modifying them on the fly. She has our best Covenant-language-translationsoftware as well. Her primary purpose is to infiltrate their computer and communications systems. Shewill intercept and decode point-to-point Covenant transmissions and give you updated intelligence in thefield.”
Intel support in an operation where there had been no reconnaissance. The Master Chief liked that. Itwould level the playing field significantly.
“This AI is the computer specialist we’ll be taking onto the Covenant ship,” the Master Chief said.
“Yes . . . and more. Her presence will allow you to utilize the suit more effectively.”
John had a sudden flash—AIs handled a great deal of point defense during Naval operations. “Can shecontrol the MJOLNIR armor?” He wasn’t sure he liked that.
“No. Cortana resides in the interface between your mind and the suit, Master Chief. You will find yourreaction time greatly improved. She will be translating the impulses in your motor cortex directly intomotion—she can’t make you send those impulses.”
“This AI,” he said, “will beinside my mind?” That must have been what that “upgrade” to his standard-issue UNSC computer interface had been for.
“That is the question, isn’t it?” Halsey replied. “I can’t answer that, Master Chief. Not scientifically.”
“I’m not sure I understand, Doctor.”
“What is the mind, really? Intuition, reason, emotion—we acknowledge they exist, but we still don’t
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know what makes the human mindwork .” She paused, searching for the right words. “We model AIs onhuman neural networks—on electrical signals in the brain—because we just know that the human brainworks . . . but not how, or why. Cortana resides ‘between’ your mind and the suit, interpreting theelectrochemical messages in your brain and transferring them to the suit via your neural implant.
“So, for lack of a better term, yes, Cortana will be ‘inside’ your mind.”
“Ma’am, my priority will be to complete this mission. This AI—Cortana—may have conflictingdirectives.”
“There is no need to worry, Master Chief. Cortana has the same mission parameters as you do. She willdo anything necessary to make sure that your mission is accomplished. Even if that means sacrificingherself—or you—to accomplish it.”
The Master Chief exhaled, relieved.
“Now, please kneel down. It’s time to insert her memory-processor matrix into the socket at the base ofyour neck.”
The Master Chief knelt. There was a hissing noise, a pop, and then cold liquid poured into the MasterChief’s mind; a spike of pain jammed into his forehead, then faded.
“Not a lot of room in here,” a smooth female voice said. “Hello, Master Chief.”
Did this AI have a rank? Certainly, she was not a civilian—or a fellow soldier. Should he treat her likeany other piece of UNSC-issued equipment? Then again, he treated his equipment with the respect itdeserved. He made sure every gun and knife was cleaned and inspected after every mission.