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[[Great Schism]] | [[Great Schism]] | ||
|next=[[Sangheili civil war]]<br> | |next=[[Sangheili civil war]]<br> | ||
[[ | [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]] | ||
|image=[[File:Human-Covenant War composite.png|400px]]<sup>Clockwise from top left: the UNSC responds to a Covenant invasion of a UEG colony world | |image=[[File:Human-Covenant War composite.png|400px]]<sup>Clockwise from top left: the UNSC responds to a Covenant invasion of a UEG colony world; [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance|a Covenant fleet]] glasses [[Kholo]]; the UNSC, Covenant and the [[Flood]] battle on [[Installation 04]]; the [[Battle of Installation 00|war's final battle at the Ark]]; the [[Battle of Earth]]; and the ''Pillar of Autumn'' fleeing from the [[Fall of Reach]].</sup> | ||
|date=[[2525|February 11, 2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]]<ref name="Dr. Iqbal">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | |date=[[2525|February 11, 2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]]<ref name="Dr. Iqbal">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | ||
|place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref group="notes">The Human-Covenant War briefly extended outside the Milky Way galaxy for the [[Battle of Installation 00]]</ref> | |place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref group="notes">The Human-Covenant War briefly extended outside the Milky Way galaxy for the [[Battle of Installation 00]]</ref> | ||
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|side1='''[[Unified Earth Government]]''' | |side1='''[[Unified Earth Government]]''' | ||
*[[United Nations Space Command]] | *[[United Nations Space Command]] | ||
<br>[[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction]] | <br>'''[[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction]]''' | ||
<br>[[Forerunner]] constructs | <br>[[Forerunner]] constructs | ||
|side2=[[Covenant]] | |side2='''[[Covenant]]''' | ||
|side3=[[Flood]] | |side3='''[[Flood]]''' | ||
|commanders1= | |commanders1= | ||
[[UNSC High Command|High Command]] | [[UNSC High Command|High Command]] | ||
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*Destruction of the Covenant holy city, ''[[High Charity]]'' | *Destruction of the Covenant holy city, ''[[High Charity]]'' | ||
*Destruction of the Covenant battle station ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]''. | *Destruction of the Covenant battle station ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]''. | ||
*Devastation of | *Devastation of the Sangheili colony, [[Joyous Exultation]]. | ||
|casual3= | |casual3= | ||
;Extreme casualties for the Flood | ;Extreme casualties for the Flood | ||
*High Charity destroyed | *High Charity destroyed | ||
*Installation 05 sterilized | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|Your destruction is the will of the Gods... and we are their instrument.|The Covenant's declaration of war.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 98'' (2001)</ref>}} | {{Quote|Your destruction is the will of the Gods... and we are their instrument.|The Covenant's declaration of war.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 98'' (2001)</ref>}} | ||
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The conflict was also the cause of the [[Great Schism]] within the Covenant. Forced to fight a war on two fronts, the formerly monolithic empire was torn apart. While the [[Battle of Installation 00|deciding battle]] of the war was fought on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]],<ref name="fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> an informal ceasefire was not agreed upon until [[2553#February|February 2553]].<ref name="ceasefire">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 358-361''</ref> The official cessation of hostilities was declared on [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]].<ref name="Dr. Iqbal"/> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant individuals killed during the hostilities. An outbreak of the virulent parasite known as the Flood almost consumed both factions near the war's end. The conflict lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | The conflict was also the cause of the [[Great Schism]] within the Covenant. Forced to fight a war on two fronts, the formerly monolithic empire was torn apart. While the [[Battle of Installation 00|deciding battle]] of the war was fought on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]],<ref name="fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> an informal ceasefire was not agreed upon until [[2553#February|February 2553]].<ref name="ceasefire">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 358-361''</ref> The official cessation of hostilities was declared on [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]].<ref name="Dr. Iqbal"/> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant individuals killed during the hostilities. An outbreak of the virulent parasite known as the Flood almost consumed both factions near the war's end. The conflict lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | ||
After the ceasefire was declared, the Great Schism continued as late as [[2559]], albeit with a greatly diminished scope and scale.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Return''</ref> Concurrent to this, the Sangheili species fell into [[Sangheili civil war|civil war]], as did the Jiralhanae. [[ | After the ceasefire was declared, the Great Schism continued as late as [[2559]], albeit with a greatly diminished scope and scale.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Return''</ref> Concurrent to this, the Sangheili species fell into [[Sangheili civil war|civil war]], as did the Jiralhanae. In the wake of the Great Schism, the Covenant fragmented into many [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]]. Among the most notable of these groups was the religiously devout [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new Covenant]] formed in the disarray following the war by [[Shipmaster]] [[Jul 'Mdama]]. The UNSC was still locked in [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|conflict]] with this faction, along with several other Covenant groups, by [[2558]].<ref name="Reed">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/03/Halo-Initiation-Writer-Interview.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Initiation Writer Interview''] ''("Experience a new war with the Covenant ...")''</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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{{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | {{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | ||
[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|thumb|200px|Staff Sergeant Johnson leading Colonial Militia during the Covenant invasion of Harvest.]] | [[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|thumb|200px|Staff Sergeant Johnson leading Colonial Militia during the Covenant invasion of Harvest.]] | ||
Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact on February 3rd, 2525, when a [[Kig-Yar]] [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovered [[Horn of Plenty|a human ship]] transitioning out of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] and subsequently raided the vessel.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 27''</ref> The raid continued to [[This End Up|another]] unfortunate human ship.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 97-100''</ref> Some time after, [[Sif]], Harvest shipping operations AI, investigated the raids and reported her findings to an undercover [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] agent, [[Jilan al-Cygni]], believing that the attacks were Insurrectionist activity. The ONI agent devised a trap for the raiding parties, which resulted in a [[Skirmish Over Harvest|minor skirmish]] between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson|Avery Johnson]], and the Kig-Yar privateers.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 128-134''</ref> When the Covenant returned with [[Rapid Conversion|another ship]] and a contingent of [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Yanme'e]], the UNSC proposed a meeting (via pictogram) with the intention to make amends and to trade with the alien species.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 229''</ref> The Covenant met the UNSC on Harvest, but were only interested in claiming the relics that the [[Luminary]] had detected on Harvest, completely oblivious that the humans were the "relics" in question. The meeting was botched after [[Osmo]], a member of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia]], | Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact on February 3rd, 2525, when a [[Kig-Yar]] [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovered [[Horn of Plenty|a human ship]] transitioning out of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] and subsequently raided the vessel.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 27''</ref> The raid continued to [[This End Up|another]] unfortunate human ship.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 97-100''</ref> Some time after, [[Sif]], Harvest shipping operations AI, investigated the raids and reported her findings to an undercover [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] agent, [[Jilan al-Cygni]], believing that the attacks were Insurrectionist activity. The ONI agent devised a trap for the raiding parties, which resulted in a [[Skirmish Over Harvest|minor skirmish]] between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson|Avery Johnson]], and the Kig-Yar privateers.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 128-134''</ref> When the Covenant returned with [[Rapid Conversion|another ship]] and a contingent of [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Yanme'e]], the UNSC proposed a meeting (via pictogram) with the intention to make amends and to trade with the alien species.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 229''</ref> The Covenant met the UNSC on Harvest, but were only interested in claiming the relics that the [[Luminary]] had detected on Harvest, completely oblivious that the humans were the "relics" in question. The meeting was botched after [[Osmo]], a member of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia]], was attacked by a nervous [[Unggoy]] who was part of a second Covenant force sent to look for the relics. As a result, a firefight erupted between the two groups and the Covenant promptly retreated back to their ship.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 213''</ref> | ||
The political ramifications of these relics were abundant, and two [[San 'Shyuum]] bureaucrats, the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]], were already scheming to use the supposed reliquary to inaugurate a new [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]] with themselves as the [[Hierarchs]] of the [[High Council]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 271''</ref> To do this, they needed the blessing of the Oracle of [[High Charity]]. When the two San 'Shyuum approached the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]] to affirm on their behalf, the data from the ''Rapid Conversion'' caused [[032 Mendicant Bias|the long-dormant Oracle]] to reactivate. Mendicant declared that the Covenant had been misinterpreting Forerunner symbols: the "relics" in question were the humans, calling them [[Reclaimer]]s and his makers. This shocked the three San 'Shyuum, who falsely concluded that the humans were actually living [[Forerunner]]s who had been left behind when the others transcended.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', page 275 ("'The Forerunners,' the Minister whispered. 'Some were left behind.'")</ref> Although they were able to prevent Mendicant from taking the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] to take the humans to deliver them to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], Fortitude concluded that if the masses learned that they might be left behind, they would rebel against the Prophets. Fortitude and Tranquility inducted the Philologist into their plan and ascended as the High Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy. The hierarchy declared that the humans destroyed the holy reliquary on Harvest, and ordered the entire race to be eradicated.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 384''</ref> | The political ramifications of these relics were abundant, and two [[San 'Shyuum]] bureaucrats, the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]], were already scheming to use the supposed reliquary to inaugurate a new [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]] with themselves as the [[Hierarchs]] of the [[High Council]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 271''</ref> To do this, they needed the blessing of the Oracle of [[High Charity]]. When the two San 'Shyuum approached the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]] to affirm on their behalf, the data from the ''Rapid Conversion'' caused [[032 Mendicant Bias|the long-dormant Oracle]] to reactivate. Mendicant declared that the Covenant had been misinterpreting Forerunner symbols: the "relics" in question were the humans, calling them [[Reclaimer]]s and his makers. This shocked the three San 'Shyuum, who falsely concluded that the humans were actually living [[Forerunner]]s who had been left behind when the others transcended.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', page 275 ("'The Forerunners,' the Minister whispered. 'Some were left behind.'")</ref> Although they were able to prevent Mendicant from taking the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] to take the humans to deliver them to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], Fortitude concluded that if the masses learned that they might be left behind, they would rebel against the Prophets. Fortitude and Tranquility inducted the Philologist into their plan and ascended as the High Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy. The hierarchy declared that the humans destroyed the holy reliquary on Harvest, and ordered the entire race to be eradicated.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 384''</ref> | ||
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After the war, [[Codename: SURGEON]] authored [[Eleventh Hour reports|a series of reports]] detailing the impact of the Covenant War and the postwar status quo. In light of predicted resurgences of the Covenant and the Insurrection, as well as new discoveries regarding the Forerunners and their complex relationship with humanity, SURGEON hoped that future historians would view the war as an experience which served to strengthen the resolve of humanity as a whole and prepared them for even worse struggles yet to come.<ref name="EH"/> This view echoes SURGEON's own conclusions regarding the Insurrection's impact on humanity's survival in the Covenant War in ''[[Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.]]''<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''' - ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', ''page 457''</ref> | After the war, [[Codename: SURGEON]] authored [[Eleventh Hour reports|a series of reports]] detailing the impact of the Covenant War and the postwar status quo. In light of predicted resurgences of the Covenant and the Insurrection, as well as new discoveries regarding the Forerunners and their complex relationship with humanity, SURGEON hoped that future historians would view the war as an experience which served to strengthen the resolve of humanity as a whole and prepared them for even worse struggles yet to come.<ref name="EH"/> This view echoes SURGEON's own conclusions regarding the Insurrection's impact on humanity's survival in the Covenant War in ''[[Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.]]''<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''' - ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', ''page 457''</ref> | ||
The end of the war only provided a short period of calm for humanity and the former-Covenant species, before new | The end of the war only provided a short period of calm for humanity and the former-Covenant species, before threats both new and old began to emerge. The end of the war had had a profound effect on Thel 'Vadam, whose human-sympathetic policies were ultimately a factor in the beginning of the Sangheili civil war and the rise of the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]. [[Shipmaster]] [[Jul 'Mdama]] eventually reunited some of the [[Covenant remnants|disparate factions]] which had surfaced in the wake of the Great Schism and formed a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new Covenant faction]] with the goal of eradicating humanity. This faction was one of the most prominent players in the [[post-Covenant War conflicts]], which later saw the involvement of reawakened [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]]s led by the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]. This conflict would be fought as late as [[2558|mid-2558]].<ref name="Reed"/><ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]] official summary''</ref> | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
In addition to these new threats, the ongoing [[Insurrection]] that had stalemated as a result of the prolonged struggle for survival against the Covenant onslaught began to resurface as humanity's fractured and decimated domain across the galaxy struggled to unify under the resurgent Unified Earth Government. In spite of the diplomatic efforts of [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] to rebuild and unite Earth's remaining colonies, many such worlds in the far reaches of space have pledged their loyalty to various Insurrectionist factions in their disillusionment of the UNSC, accusing it of having abandoned them in the War. Some movements such as the highly militant [[New Colonial Alliance]] have collaborated with various Covenant remnants in weapons smuggling and terrorist attacks against the UNSC, necessitating a heightened military response against against this new Insurrection as various Covenant factions continue to bolster their ranks. | |||
==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
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===2530=== | ===2530=== | ||
*The Covenant glasses the UNSC colony world of [[Eridanus II]] | *The Covenant glasses the UNSC colony world of [[Eridanus II]] | ||
*[[Battle of Groombridge-1830]], 11 UNSC Destroyers are lost in attempt to defeat a Covenant fleet of 3 warships | *[[Battle of Groombridge-1830]], 11 UNSC Destroyers are lost in attempt to defeat a Covenant fleet of 3 warships; the battle ends in a costly victory in which the UNSC learns from the interrogation of a Covenant prisoner of the reason for their intended extermination | ||
===2531=== | ===2531=== | ||
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===2537=== | ===2537=== | ||
*Discovery of Covenant Manufacturing Plant [[K7-49]] at the [[Battle of New Harmony]]. | *Discovery of Covenant Manufacturing Plant [[K7-49]] at the [[Battle of New Harmony]]. | ||
*[[Battle of New Constantinople]], | *[[Battle of New Constantinople]], [[UNSC]] victory.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 179''</ref> | ||
*[[Battle of Leonis Minoris]], Covenant | *[[Battle of Leonis Minoris]], Covenant destroys two of the three colonies in the [[Leonis Minoris system]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Impossible Life and The Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 470''</ref> | ||
*[[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] was a rare victory for the | *[[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] was a rare victory for the UNSC, as victories in space-based fighting were uncommon for the UNSC Fleet. | ||
*[[Operation: PROMETHEUS]]: UNSC | *[[Operation: PROMETHEUS]]: UNSC victory. [[SPARTAN-III]] [[Alpha Company]] is killed by Covenant forces. | ||
===2539=== | ===2539=== | ||
*[[Battle of Kholo]], Covenant forces glass the colony of [[Kholo]]. | *[[Battle of Kholo]], Covenant forces glass the colony of [[Kholo]]. | ||
===2542 or 2543=== | |||
*[[Battle of Alluvion]], Covenant victory, [[Alluvion]] is glassed. | |||
===2543=== | ===2543=== | ||
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===2552=== | ===2552=== | ||
====April==== | ====April==== | ||
*[[Battle of Fumirole]]. [[Thom- | *[[Battle of Fumirole]]. [[Thom-A293]] is killed and [[Catherine-B320]] loses her arm. | ||
====July==== | ====July==== | ||
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*[[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]]. A UNSC ship on a covert mission, as well as a Covenant Assault Carrier, crash on a remote moon with a [[Line Installation 1-4|Forerunner relic]]. In the ensuing engagement, the surviving UNSC forces side with the Covenant against the installation's defense systems. | *[[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]]. A UNSC ship on a covert mission, as well as a Covenant Assault Carrier, crash on a remote moon with a [[Line Installation 1-4|Forerunner relic]]. In the ensuing engagement, the surviving UNSC forces side with the Covenant against the installation's defense systems. | ||
*The Fall of Reach ends. On August 30th, 314 Covenant ships destroy over 130 UNSC ships and 20 [[ODP]]s for the loss of at least two-thirds of their fleet. It is a major Covenant victory: Reach is the last major stronghold before [[Sol]]. The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'' escapes. | *The Fall of Reach ends. On August 30th, 314 Covenant ships destroy over 130 UNSC ships and 20 [[ODP]]s for the loss of at least two-thirds of their fleet. It is a major Covenant victory: Reach is the last major stronghold before [[Sol system|Sol]]. The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'' escapes. | ||
====September==== | ====September==== | ||
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====November==== | ====November==== | ||
*[[Battle of Installation 05]]. The ''Solemn Penance'' arrives at [[Installation 05]], being pursued by four small UNSC warships. Only one, the {{ | *[[Battle of Installation 05]]. The ''Solemn Penance'' arrives at [[Installation 05]], being pursued by four small UNSC warships. Only one, the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, arrives in time to participate in the battle. | ||
*The Prophet of Regret is assassinated by John-117. | *The Prophet of Regret is assassinated by John-117. | ||
*The [[Great Schism]] begins. Covenant forces are thoroughly divided between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae. Every race in the Covenant takes sides. | *The [[Great Schism]] begins. Covenant forces are thoroughly divided between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae. Every race in the Covenant takes sides. | ||
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**''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' | **''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' | ||
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' | *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' | ||
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' | *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' | ||
**''[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' | **''[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' | ||
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**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]'' | **''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]'' | ||
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{mo}} | *''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' | |||
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]'' | |||
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{mo}} | *''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'' | *''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'' | ||
| Line 407: | Line 413: | ||
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]'' | *''[[Halo: Initiation]]'' | ||
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]'' | |||
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'' | |||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||