: Out of curiousity did you choose that inscription or did Greg Bear write it
: unprovoked?

I chose the inscription. It didn't mean anything to Greg Bear at first, but he loved it when I explained the story behind it. He also, and I forgot about this until recently, hinted that he had a few small things going with 343i. I wish I could remember exactly what he said, because it might put to rest those rumors that he wrote the ending vignette in Halo: Fractures.

Also: Welcome to the forum! Don't miss my account of meeting Greg Bear at last year's Worldcon.