Oly Oly Oxen Free

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Oly Oly Oxen Free is a six note, seven beat tone used as an all clear code by the Spartan-IIs. They learned it from Deja on Reach when they were younger and have used it ever since.

[edit] Psychology

Oly Oly Oxen Free was a secret amongst the Spartans; none but they and a select few outsiders knew it. Those outsiders were close to the Spartan's family; such as Dr. Catherine Halsey, Cortana, Sergeant Johnson and Chief Petty Officer Mendez. Thus, the signal was extremely important to each Spartan; they would rather die than give up the significance of the tone, which could potentially be used to betray or endanger their teammates.

[edit] Uses

The term Oly Oly Oxen Free was used on numerous occasions throughout Halo: The Fall of Reach and Halo: First Strike. Some of the times it was used are as follows:

• After the Spartan Team had beaten Tango Company, and John-117 had checked to make sure their evacuation point was all clear.
• After the Battle of Reach, Anton-044 used it as an S.O.S. signal over the E-Band.
• For the Spartans to enter CASTLE Base, Kelly-087 used it to let Dr. Halsey know it was them.
• During Operation: FIRST STRIKE, Linda-058 used it to let John know where she was so he could pick her up.
• At the end of Operation: FIRST STRIKE, Sergeant Johnson used it to let Blue team know where the Gettysburg was holding station behind a nearby moon.
• When the rest of Blue team, minus John-117 arrives on Onyx, Kelly whispers it over the COM, except she whispers "Olly Olly Oxen Free" with two L's

[edit] Non-Canon

Marines use it on the level "The Ark" when firing on the first Covenant encampment, but only if the IWHBYD Skull is activated.

[edit] Trivia

• Dana Awbrey alludes to this phrase by titling a blog post "Olly Olly Axon Free".
• Oly Oly Oxen Free was originally used to tell players in a game of hide and seek that the game was over and they could come out of hiding.
• Sometimes in Tom Clancys Splinter Cell, if you shoot and enemy and then hide, they will say "Oly oly oxen free! Come out, come out wherever you are!".

[edit] Related Links

• Spartan Language