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Halo: Outcasts

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Halo: Outcasts
Front cover of Halo: Outcasts.
Attribution information

Author(s):

Troy Denning[1]

Cover artist(s):

Isaac Hannaford[2]

Publication information

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster[1]

Publication date:

August 8, 2023[3][4][5]

Media type:

Print

Pages:

464 pages[5]

ISBN:

9781668003282

 

Halo: Outcasts is a print novel by Troy Denning that was released on August 8, 2023.[4][6] The novel was originally set to release on October 18, 2022, but was ultimately delayed to July 25th, 2023 due to Denning's own personal health complications.[1][7][8] In March 2023, the novel was delayed once more seemingly due to supply chain issues, this time to August 8, 2023.[4]

The novel follows Thel 'Vadam and Olympia Vale's efforts to recover a rumored artifact on Netherop that could stop Cortana, unaware that they're being manipulated by someone else. The novel's focus on Netherop follows on from the planet's establishment and heavy feature in previous Denning novels Silent Storm and Oblivion.[2] Several of the novel's Sangheili cast of characters follow on from the 2015 novel Halo: Hunters in the Dark and some of the other characters were ones introduced in Silent Storm and Oblivion.

Official summary

“ 2559. Formerly one of the Covenant's greatest and most fearsome warriors, Arbiter Thel 'Vadam is now allied with his former human enemies while deeply entrenched in leading the Sangheili people to a new era of unification. But his aspirations are under constant threat, whether by the dangerous, warring factions of rival Sangheili keeps, or the relentless shadow of oppression spread by the renegade artificial intelligence Cortana.

An opportunity to break Cortana's chains has suddenly presented itself through the rumored existence of an ancient artifact located on the hostile world of Netherop. Spartan Olympia Vale, trained with the skills to live and thrive among the Sangheili, also recognizes this alien prize as an essential means to aid humanity in reaching the same goal of freedom. But behind the scenes, both 'Vadam and Vale are being manipulated by a mysterious figure with their own agenda. And to make matters worse, all involved are unknowingly placing themselves at perilous odds with forces beyond their comprehension.[2]

”

Plot summary

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Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam meets with high kaidons representing several Sangheili colonies intending to unite his people against Cortana’s tyranny. The meeting ends with no results & ‘Vadam leaves frustrated due to the lack of progress. Returning to his keep, the Arbiter and his escorts are stopped by Forerunner Armigers, who are searching for those responsible for an incident at the tenement islands by the Kolaar Manufactorum. Upon arriving at Vadam Keep, the Arbiter is visited by Oath Warden Crei ‘Ayomuu, who informs him the one responsible for the incident at the tenement islands is a human xenoarchaeologist named Keely Iyuska. Iyuska discovered a potential weapon on the planet Netherop that could be used against the Created’s Guardians. Despite not knowing who hired ‘Ayomuu and Iyuska to investigate such findings, the Arbiter agrees to aid the Oath Warden in his quest intending to use the Guardian killer weapon for the Sangheili.

Iyuska, a former acquaintance of Olympia Vale, meets with the Spartan providing her the information of the Netherop weapon for humanity to use against the Created. Despite Vale being a representative for the alliance between the UNSC and Sangheili, the decision is made to operate independently & for humanity to seize the weapon for themselves. Vale and Iyuska head to the planet Gao to recruit Rosa Fuertes, who was once part of a group called the Castoffs, a group of humans exiled on Netherop descended from pirates, to be their guide. Rosa agrees to their request and a UNSC task force is formed to make way to Netherop.

The Arbiter’s forces are the first to arrive on the planet & encounter the remnants of UNSC forces led Lieutenant Commander Amalea Petrov, who have been marooned on Netherop since the early years of the Human-Covenant War. While dealing with the initial hostilities from Petrov’s group they witness the UNSC task force arrive on the planet. The dropships carrying an ODST battalion to support the UNSC expedition is suddenly obliterated along with Arbiter’s Phantoms on the surface leaving only the Owl insertion craft carrying Vale, Iyuska and Fuertes to survive. Petrov informs ‘Vadam that the remaining humans have waged a guerilla war with the Sangheili abandoned on Netherop and that they used the weapon they’ve been seeking against the UNSC task force attempting to land. The Arbiter eventually manages to gain Petrov’s cooperation & they make way to where Vale landed.

Vale, Iyuska, Fuertes & a platoon of ODST’s enter the facility occupied by the abandoned Sangheili who then ambush the humans. Fuertes goes missing during the fighting & Iyuska reveals to Vale the Sangheili were intentionally targeting herself and Rosa. Eventually the Arbiter & Petrov’s group arrives at Vale’s position where they update Petrov on the current state of the galaxy. Petrov manages to convince Vale & ‘Vadam to let the Sangheili enter first hoping for them to either convince their own kind to stand down or have them kill each other allowing the humans to seize the weapon.

‘Vadam’s group eventually reach the marooned Sangheili led by disgraced former former Fleetmaster Nizat ‘Kvarosee, his second Tam ‘Lakosee and Silent Shadow Blademaster Meduz ‘Ra’ashai & discovers them holding Fuertes hostage. The Arbiter informs them of the aftermath of the Human-Covenant & the galaxy currently being ruled by Cortana’s Created. Nizat, who has named himself Worldmaster of Netherop, refuses peace with the humans & to abandon his belief of worshipping the Forerunners. Having named the Precursor weapon The Divine Hand, ‘Kvarosee fervently believes in continuing his eternal crusade in the name of the old Covenant religion and attacks the Vadam’s group.

‘Ra’ashai bargains with ‘Vadam intending to return to Sangheilios & reveals the Precursor facility they call The Sanctum of The Ancients, has been keeping the marooned Sangheili alive along with providing them an advanced armor called the Sanctum’s Hide. ‘Kvarosee uses the abilities of the Sanctum incapacitating & killing some of Arbiter’s forces.

Fuertes, who’s been ill with Prion’s disease prior to the expedition, is seemingly cured by The Sanctum and manages to find an ODST who was also lost in the facility. Vale, Iyuska & the remaining ODST’s venture further into the structure and are ambushed by the Defenders of the Sanctum. In the chaos Iyuska runs off away from the group. The Arbiter manages to reach Vale & discover’s Kvarosee to be mortally wounded and guarded by Tam. ‘Vadam convinces ‘Lakosee to stand down, but finds the Inner Sanctum locked off by Iyuska. The group leaders enter the room & ‘Lakosee teaches the Arbiter to use the Divine Hand. Banished forces arrive and begin attacking both UNSC & Sangheili ships, soon a Created Forerunner craft arrives which causes ‘Lakosee to attack and prevent ‘Vadam from using the weapon. The Arbiter manages to destroy the Banished & Created ships, but both UNSC and Sangheili forces suffer great casualties. Vadam manages to deduce that the Banished hired the Oath Warden & Iyuska to seek out the weapon for themselves.

Iyuska reveals the Divine Hand should not be used by either the UNSC or Sangheili as an extreme side effect of the weapon caused Netherop to be uninhabitable in the first place. ‘Kvarosee & ‘Lakosee are spared, but abandoned to die on Netherop due to them refusing to make peace with the end of the Covenant and an alliance with humanity. Fuertes and the missing ODST manage to finally exit the Sanctum & reunite with the Marines posted outside. Eventually Vale & ‘Vadam’s group reach the surface as the ODST’s prepare defenses against the Banished.

The Arbiter manages to parley with the Banished leader Atriox & deceive him into willingly using the Divine Hand against the Created hoping it would destroy them both. ‘Ayomuu is allowed a critical piece of the Sanctum to finish his contract with the Banished & for him to leave the situation unscathed. Both UNSC and Sangheili forces are allowed to leave on the remaining Condor’s allowing Petrov to finally go home with her people.

‘Kvarosee & ‘Lakosee are no longer protected by the Sanctum and a dying Nizat asks Tam to end his life with a mercy kill leaving ‘Lakosee to starve to death alone.

Appearances

Characters

Artificial intelligence
Forerunner
Human
Jiralhanae
San'Shyuum
Sangheili
Others

Species

Sapient
Non-sapient
Flora

Organizations

Locations

Events

Vehicles

Banished
Covenant
Forerunner
Human
Others

Weapons

Covenant
Forerunner
Human

Technology and equipment

Miscellaneous


Trivia

  • The novel's existence was first hinted at in an Easter Egg on the Halo Infinite multiplayer map Streets. Various books placed near the map's arcade room reference real Halo novels, with one particular title bearing the word "Outcast".
  • Rosa Fuertes' internal thoughts in chapter 16 were inspired by Denning's own dream-like experience during his recovery from a surgery he had undergone when he was penning Halo: Outcasts.[9]

Gallery

  • Full cover art without logos.

    Full cover art without logos.

  • A parody of the novel's cover art created by community writer Alex Wakeford.

    A parody of the novel's cover art created by community writer Alex Wakeford.

  • Another parody of the novel's cover art, with several Troy Dennings pointing relevant elements.

    Another parody of the novel's cover art, with several Troy Dennings pointing relevant elements.

  • An official illustration of the state of Vadam, done for the novel.

    An official illustration of the state of Vadam, done for the novel.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Shippin' Out (Retrieved on Feb 2, 2022) [archive]
  2. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Of Protocols and Prisons (Retrieved on Mar 7, 2022) [archive]
  3. ^ Amazon, Halo: Outcasts (Retrieved on Mar 25, 2023) [archive]
  4. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Echoes With-Dinh (Retrieved on Mar 25, 2023) [archive]
  5. ^ a b Simon & Schuster, Halo: Outcasts (Retrieved on Mar 25, 2023) [archive]
  6. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Lore of the Jungle (Retrieved on May 4, 2022) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Auditory Additions (Retrieved on Dec 15, 2022) [archive]
  8. ^ Twitter, Troy Denning (@TDenningauthor): "Some HALO: OUTCASTS news: As some of you may have noticed already, we're delaying my next Halo book. The reason is that a congenital heart defect (a bicuspid aortic valve) has started to act up earlier than expected, and I need to have open-heart surgery." (Retrieved on May 5, 2022) [archive]
  9. ^ Halo Waypoint, Halo: Outcasts | Spartan Chatter (Retrieved on Aug 12, 2023) [archive]

External links

Text previews
Audiobook previews

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