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United Nations Space Command: Difference between revisions
I wonder why "Domus Diaspora" warrants italics. On a side note, Mythos is great for sourcing those things everyone kind of knows but which would otherwise require you to go through multiple sources.
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(I wonder why "Domus Diaspora" warrants italics. On a side note, Mythos is great for sourcing those things everyone kind of knows but which would otherwise require you to go through multiple sources.) |
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Prior to the [[Covenant]] [[First Battle of Harvest|attack]] on [[Harvest]] in [[2525]],<ref name="xbox"/> the UNSC was stretched across [[Human colonies|human space]]. The most urgent concern was to contain the spread of the [[Insurrectionist]]s, a violent resistance movement consisting of colonists who wanted independence from the Unified Earth Government. The UNSC fought constant battles in a loosely-defined civil war known as the [[Insurrection]]. In an attempt to help end the long-running war, the UEG commissioned the [[ORION Project]] and later the [[SPARTAN-II program]], which created elite supersoldiers to combat the Insurrectionists. When the [[Human-Covenant War]] began and the alien invaders began destroying the [[Outer Colonies]], these Spartans became humanity's best hope against the technological superiority of the hegemony. When the war began the UNSC, which had been mired in controversy, became humanity's greatest protector. This allowed the UNSC to override civilian rule and establish itself as humanity's primary government. Although the Unified Earth Government was more open to step down, the [[Colonial Administration Authority]], the arm of the UEG ruling over the colonies, resisted the UNSC's rise to power, and was stripped of its influence.<ref name="McLees"/> | Prior to the [[Covenant]] [[First Battle of Harvest|attack]] on [[Harvest]] in [[2525]],<ref name="xbox"/> the UNSC was stretched across [[Human colonies|human space]]. The most urgent concern was to contain the spread of the [[Insurrectionist]]s, a violent resistance movement consisting of colonists who wanted independence from the Unified Earth Government. The UNSC fought constant battles in a loosely-defined civil war known as the [[Insurrection]]. In an attempt to help end the long-running war, the UEG commissioned the [[ORION Project]] and later the [[SPARTAN-II program]], which created elite supersoldiers to combat the Insurrectionists. When the [[Human-Covenant War]] began and the alien invaders began destroying the [[Outer Colonies]], these Spartans became humanity's best hope against the technological superiority of the hegemony. When the war began the UNSC, which had been mired in controversy, became humanity's greatest protector. This allowed the UNSC to override civilian rule and establish itself as humanity's primary government. Although the Unified Earth Government was more open to step down, the [[Colonial Administration Authority]], the arm of the UEG ruling over the colonies, resisted the UNSC's rise to power, and was stripped of its influence.<ref name="McLees"/> | ||
Near the end of the year [[2552]], Earth was the last remaining major human bastion: it too fell under attack by the Covenant. Near-crippled in the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC dedicated most of its remaining assets to the defense of the Sol System. The Human-Covenant War finally came to an end after the UNSC and the [[Fleet of Retribution]] [[Battle of the Citadel|eliminated]] the Covenant [[Prophet of Truth|leadership]] and [[Raid on Installation 04B|destroyed]] the Flood threat. In its aftermath the UNSC has upheld its alliance with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and eventually ceded political power back to the UEG. The UNSC is now experiencing a resurgence as it rebuilds humanity's wartorn domain and moves to reestablish itself as a major power | Near the end of the year [[2552]], Earth was the last remaining major human bastion: it too fell under attack by the Covenant. Near-crippled in the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC dedicated most of its remaining assets to the defense of the Sol System. The Human-Covenant War finally came to an end after the UNSC and the [[Fleet of Retribution]] [[Battle of the Citadel|eliminated]] the Covenant [[Prophet of Truth|leadership]] and [[Raid on Installation 04B|destroyed]] the Flood threat. In its aftermath the UNSC has upheld its alliance with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and eventually ceded political power back to the UEG. The UNSC is now experiencing a resurgence as it rebuilds humanity's wartorn domain and moves to reestablish itself as a major power within the [[Orion Arm]]. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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One of these ideological resurgences centered around Russian-born revolutionary [[Vladimir Koslov]], who proceeded to form a [[Communism|neo-Communist]] guerrilla armed force named after himself; the [[Koslovics]]. The new group of communists aimed to dismantle capitalist systems and corporate power on Earth and in newly-occupied space territories, putting a particularly strong emphasis on liberating orbital installations and orchestrating so-called "workers' crusades," or armed campaigns against their foes on the opposite end of the political spectrum.<ref name="xbox"/> | One of these ideological resurgences centered around Russian-born revolutionary [[Vladimir Koslov]], who proceeded to form a [[Communism|neo-Communist]] guerrilla armed force named after himself; the [[Koslovics]]. The new group of communists aimed to dismantle capitalist systems and corporate power on Earth and in newly-occupied space territories, putting a particularly strong emphasis on liberating orbital installations and orchestrating so-called "workers' crusades," or armed campaigns against their foes on the opposite end of the political spectrum.<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
The [[Frieden]] military movement, based in the Jovian Moons and sponsored by corporate powers in the [[Unified German Republic]], reacted once this upsurge of communism became obvious and Koslovic revolutionaries began attacking their infrastructure. | The [[Frieden]] military movement, based in the Jovian Moons and sponsored by corporate powers in the [[Unified German Republic]], reacted once this upsurge of communism became obvious and Koslovic revolutionaries began attacking their infrastructure. Considered a [[Fascism|Fascist]] movement, the Friedens' ardent anti-Koslovic sentiments convinced them to adopt revolutionary ideals as well. Among their primary objectives was gaining corporate independence by seceding from UN colonial administration and establishing a self-contained Jovian state. Frieden propaganda claimed that in order to reach a peaceful (as their [[German]] name suggests) and independent Jovian nation, the UN, an advocate of internationalism, was to be driven out of the Jovian Moons and destroyed around the Solar System, including on [[Earth|home ground]].<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
Earth's still-disparate, United Nations-aligned national militaries soon found themselves pinned from the extreme left-wing and extreme right-wing alike. These political tensions would soon lead to a final face-down between fascism, communism, and international representatives of democracy throughout various colonies, space environments, and national territories.<ref name="xbox"/> | Earth's still-disparate, United Nations-aligned national militaries soon found themselves pinned from the extreme left-wing and extreme right-wing alike. These political tensions would soon lead to a final face-down between fascism, communism, and international representatives of democracy throughout various colonies, space environments, and national territories.<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
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The brutal ten-year-long war put the spotlight on problems facing the overpopulated Earth, and the Rainforest Wars also exacerbated issues relating to food distribution; this, along with the UN overmilitarization that occurred during the war, presented immediate problems for the postwar United Nations Space Command. The ensuing famine and societal problems related to the postwar population boom provided the spark to change the political nature of governance on Earth and elsewhere, leading to widespread political reform.<ref name="xbox"/> | The brutal ten-year-long war put the spotlight on problems facing the overpopulated Earth, and the Rainforest Wars also exacerbated issues relating to food distribution; this, along with the UN overmilitarization that occurred during the war, presented immediate problems for the postwar United Nations Space Command. The ensuing famine and societal problems related to the postwar population boom provided the spark to change the political nature of governance on Earth and elsewhere, leading to widespread political reform.<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
=== | ===The Colonial Era=== | ||
{{Main|Domus Diaspora|Human colonies|Inner Colonies|Outer Colonies}} | {{Main|Domus Diaspora|Human colonies|Inner Colonies|Outer Colonies}} | ||
[[File: | [[File:HM-DomusD 1.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[colony ship]] readying for departure during the ''Domus Diaspora''.]] | ||
The pressures engendered by the Interplanetary War made space colonization seem more attractive in subsequent centuries, and the Unified Earth Government would sign off on the first large-scale interstellar colony ship program that was revealed in [[2310]] to ease the burden of an overpopulated Earth. This would not have been possible without the invention of the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] in [[2291]], which allowed the ships to travel vast distances within a reasonable time by opening portals into [[Slipstream space]].<ref name="xbox"/> At the same time, the UEG established a separate colonial governing body known as the [[Colonial Administration Authority]] as well as the [[Colonial Military Administration]], a dedicated military force to police the colonies.<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 228''</ref> | The pressures engendered by the Interplanetary War made space colonization seem more attractive in subsequent centuries, and the Unified Earth Government would sign off on the first large-scale interstellar colony ship program that was revealed in [[2310]] to ease the burden of an overpopulated Earth. This would not have been possible without the invention of the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] in [[2291]], which allowed the ships to travel vast distances within a reasonable time by opening portals into [[Slipstream space]].<ref name="xbox"/> At the same time, the UEG established a separate colonial governing body known as the [[Colonial Administration Authority]] as well as the [[Colonial Military Administration]], a dedicated military force to police the colonies.<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 228''</ref> | ||
In [[2362]], the first colony ship, the ''[[Odyssey]]'', was launched. This initial colonization effort was concentrated in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], which would later become one of the centers of humanity's interstellar empire.<ref name="enc43">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 43'' (2011)</ref> Vast numbers of citizens and soldiers elected to travel to these new colonies, stabilizing the overpopulation problem on Earth and giving the military new tasks to handle. As the first colonists are stringently selected, the Inner Colonies eventually formed an elite society of the best physical and mental human specimens. A core ring of 210 Inner Colonies were not fully developed until the end of the 24th century.<ref name="xbox"/> | In [[2362]], the first colony ship, the ''[[Odyssey]]'', was launched, beginning the period of human history later known as the ''[[Domus Diaspora]]''.<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 52''</ref> This initial colonization effort was concentrated in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], which would later become one of the centers of humanity's interstellar empire.<ref name="enc43">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 43'' (2011)</ref> Vast numbers of citizens and soldiers elected to travel to these new colonies, stabilizing the overpopulation problem on Earth and giving the military new tasks to handle. As the first colonists are stringently selected, the Inner Colonies eventually formed an elite society of the best physical and mental human specimens. A core ring of 210 Inner Colonies were not fully developed until the end of the 24th century.<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
The apex of this colonization movement would come in [[2492]] when more then 800 worlds were inside UNSC territory, many of them targeted for human habitation. These settlements ranged from fairly well-tamed planetary strongholds to tiny hinterland settlements. During this period, the planet [[Reach]] (orbiting Epsilon Eridani, right on Earth's metaphorical doorstep) became the UNSC's primary naval yard and training academy. Reach was a major producer of warships and colony vessels, as well as a training ground for covert operatives and [[UNSC Special Forces|Special Forces]].<ref name="xbox"/> | The apex of this colonization movement would come in [[2492]] when more then 800 worlds were inside UNSC territory, many of them targeted for human habitation. These settlements ranged from fairly well-tamed planetary strongholds to tiny hinterland settlements. During this period, the planet [[Reach]] (orbiting Epsilon Eridani, right on Earth's metaphorical doorstep) became the UNSC's primary naval yard and training academy. Reach was a major producer of warships and colony vessels, as well as a training ground for covert operatives and [[UNSC Special Forces|Special Forces]].<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
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{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
====Spartans==== | ====Spartans==== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|Spartan}} | ||
[[File:HW-Red Team.jpg|thumb|250px|Spartan-II [[Red Team]] in MJOLNIR armor.]] | [[File:HW-Red Team.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Spartan-II [[Red Team]] in MJOLNIR armor.]] | ||
Fearing the consequences of the possible breakup of their fledgling interstellar empire, while wishing to preserve as much infrastructure as possible, the Earth government would embark on a series of efforts to quickly and quietly deal with insurrections without incurring massive civilian casualties.<ref name="xbox"/> | Fearing the consequences of the possible breakup of their fledgling interstellar empire, while wishing to preserve as much infrastructure as possible, the Earth government would embark on a series of covert efforts to quickly and quietly deal with insurrections without incurring massive civilian casualties.<ref name="xbox"/> | ||
Before the UNSC expanded its | Before the UNSC expanded its forays into [[biological augmentation]] to create successful Special Forces programs in the 26th century, the [[Colonial Military Administration]] experimented with a prototype Special Forces project in the 24th century that tested the effects of bioaugmentations on [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel. The experiments proved ineffective and were formally canceled as a result, marking the first attempt to create a specialized force of covert-warfare operators in response to insurgent outbursts within the domain of the Unified Earth Government. | ||
Due to increasing risk of insurrectionist activity in the late 25th century, the UNSC's [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] conceived a project to train Special Forces soldiers in counter-insurgent and counter-revolutionary warfare. The ORION Project, retroactively termed as Spartan-I, was an [[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare]] program, overseen by the CMA, created to train special advanced warfare squads to combat the Insurrection. They became experts in counterinsurgency operations, assassinations, raids, and eliminating high value targets—all considered black operations.<ref name="HCH">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''Prologue''</ref> However, expectations for the new soldiers were not met, and the project was deactivated in 2506, and all members reassigned to other Special Operations units.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''Timeline''</ref> In the coming years, ORION's methodologies would be uses as basis for a reform in the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]],<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', [[Data pads#Data pad 11|''data pad 11'']]</ref> the most famed special operations force of the UNSC Marines. | Due to increasing risk of insurrectionist activity in the late 25th century, the UNSC's [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] conceived a project to train Special Forces soldiers in counter-insurgent and counter-revolutionary warfare. The ORION Project, retroactively termed as Spartan-I, was an [[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare]] program, overseen by the CMA, created to train special advanced warfare squads to combat the Insurrection. They became experts in counterinsurgency operations, assassinations, raids, and eliminating high value targets—all considered black operations.<ref name="HCH">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''Prologue''</ref> However, expectations for the new soldiers were not met, and the project was deactivated in 2506, and all members reassigned to other Special Operations units.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''Timeline''</ref> In the coming years, ORION's methodologies would be uses as basis for a reform in the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]],<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', [[Data pads#Data pad 11|''data pad 11'']]</ref> the most famed special operations force of the UNSC Marines. | ||
Several years later, ONI's alarming projections on colonial instability prompted them to initiate a second generation supersoldier project which would come to be known as the [[SPARTAN-II program]]. Partly informed by the pioneering efforts of ORION with new methodologies conceived by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], the new program introduced highly unethical aspects such as the covert conscription of mentally and physically gifted children who would be molded into the perfect instruments to quell insurgent leadership and thus prevent the predicted scenario of indefinite all-out war. [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|Physically augmented]] and equipped with state-of-the-art [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR powered armor]], the Spartan-IIs would prove to be the most effective soldiers fielded by the UNSC, although not in the role they were originally intended for; the attack of the genocidal [[Covenant]] quickly saw the Spartans reallocated to combat the new enemy.<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''</ref> | Several years later, ONI's alarming projections on colonial instability prompted them to initiate a second generation supersoldier project which would come to be known as the [[SPARTAN-II program]]. Partly informed by the pioneering efforts of ORION with new methodologies conceived by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], the new program introduced highly unethical aspects such as the covert conscription of mentally and physically gifted children who would be molded into the perfect instruments to quell insurgent leadership and thus prevent the predicted scenario of indefinite all-out war. [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|Physically augmented]] and equipped with state-of-the-art [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR powered armor]], the Spartan-IIs would prove to be the most effective soldiers fielded by the UNSC, although not in the role they were originally intended for; the attack of the genocidal [[Covenant]] quickly saw the Spartans reallocated to combat the new enemy.<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''</ref> | ||
During the Covenant War, the success of the Spartan-IIs would convince the ONI leadership to use similar methodologies to create hundreds of supersoldiers in the [[SPARTAN-III program]]. Despite various refinements in their training and augmentation processes, most of the Spartan-IIIs would be less well-equipped than their predecessors for budgetary reasons, and the majority of them would ultimately perish on strategically important, high-risk deployments.<ref>'''Halo Mythos''', ''page 76''</ref> Following the end of the war, the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] marked a return to ORION's recruitment protocols, drawing candidates from the UNSC's extant military forces; additionally, technological advances and the relegation of equipment manufacturing to the private sector allowed each operator to be issued with the previously prohibitively expensive Mjolnir armor. With Spartans being created in increasing numbers, their presence across UNSC-controlled space would become far more established and publicized in the years that followed than ever before.<ref>'''Halo Mythos''', ''page 128''</ref> | |||
===Human-Covenant War=== | ===Human-Covenant War=== | ||
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====Final months==== | ====Final months==== | ||
{{Main|Battle of Earth|Battle of Installation 05|Battle of Installation 00}} | {{Main|Battle of Earth|Battle of Installation 05|Battle of Installation 00}} | ||
[[File:H2A - BattleofEarth.png|thumb|250px|The [[UNSC Home Fleet]] engages the Covenant over Earth.]] | [[File:H2A - BattleofEarth.png|thumb|left|250px|The [[UNSC Home Fleet]] engages the Covenant over Earth.]] | ||
By October of [[2552]], the Covenant haphazardly discovered the position of the human homeworld, Earth, and sent a [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|preliminary task force]] there, believing it to be the location of the [[Installation 00|Ark]], an ancient Forerunner relic. They encountered staunch resistance, and were initially fended off. Further complications arose from the political and religious crisis that emerged in the wake of a UNSC operation to assassinate the [[Prophet of Regret]], and the secession of the [[Sangheili]] from the hegemony, leading to the [[Great Schism]]. Overnight, the Covenant was thrown into chaos. Nevertheless, by November, the forces loyal to the [[Prophet of Truth]] had subjugated large parts of Africa and devastated much of the planet. Only the offensive led by [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] through the [[Portal at Voi|Forerunner portal]] uncovered in [[Africa]], and the arrival of the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution|fleet]] prevented the eventual destruction of the UNSC and Earth itself. | By October of [[2552]], the Covenant haphazardly discovered the position of the human homeworld, Earth, and sent a [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|preliminary task force]] there, believing it to be the location of the [[Installation 00|Ark]], an ancient Forerunner relic. They encountered staunch resistance, and were initially fended off. Further complications arose from the political and religious crisis that emerged in the wake of a UNSC operation to assassinate the [[Prophet of Regret]], and the secession of the [[Sangheili]] from the hegemony, leading to the [[Great Schism]]. Overnight, the Covenant was thrown into chaos. Nevertheless, by November, the forces loyal to the [[Prophet of Truth]] had subjugated large parts of Africa and devastated much of the planet. Only the offensive led by [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] through the [[Portal at Voi|Forerunner portal]] uncovered in [[Africa]], and the arrival of the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution|fleet]] prevented the eventual destruction of the UNSC and Earth itself. | ||
The UNSC and [[Fleet of Retribution|their Sangheili allies]] launched a joint operation to destroy the Covenant once and for all at the Ark. Fighting against 3:1 numerical superiority in space, and even greater forces garrisoned on the Ark, the allies were able to stop Truth from firing the Halo Array. In addition, the Sangheili known as [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] killed Truth, the Covenant's last remaining leader, while SPARTAN-117 led the ground effort to destroy the Covenant's remaining forces. On March 3, [[2553]], the Human-Covenant War officially ended in a victory for the UNSC and the Sangheili, but at a high price. Most major military outposts, along with countless colonies had been destroyed. Earth, despite the loss of billions to orbital bombardment, remained battered but standing. An estimated twenty-three billion civilians were killed between 2525 and 2553.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 358''</ref> | The UNSC and [[Fleet of Retribution|their Sangheili allies]] launched a joint operation to destroy the Covenant once and for all at the Ark. Fighting against 3:1 numerical superiority in space, and even greater forces garrisoned on the Ark, the allies were able to stop Truth from firing the Halo Array. In addition, the Sangheili known as [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] killed Truth, the Covenant's last remaining leader, while SPARTAN-117 led the ground effort to destroy the Covenant's remaining forces. On March 3, [[2553]], the Human-Covenant War officially ended in a victory for the UNSC and the Sangheili, but at a high price. Most major military outposts, along with countless colonies had been destroyed. Earth, despite the loss of billions to orbital bombardment, remained battered but standing. An estimated twenty-three billion civilians were killed between 2525 and 2553.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 358''</ref> | ||
{{Clear}} | |||
===Reconstruction and new conflicts=== | ===Reconstruction and new conflicts=== | ||
{{Main|Post-Covenant War conflicts}} | {{Main|Post-Covenant War conflicts}} | ||
{{Quote|For too many years, humanity was on the backfoot. Reacting to threats, rather than preventing them. Rest of the galaxy was bigger than us. Stronger than us. We were mice, hiding in the shadows, hoping the giants would not see us. No more. Humanity is no longer on the defense. ''We'' are the giants now.|[[Captain (Navy)| Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]]<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Infinity (mode)|Infinity]]'' introductory cinematic</ref>}} | {{Quote|For too many years, humanity was on the backfoot. Reacting to threats, rather than preventing them. Rest of the galaxy was bigger than us. Stronger than us. We were mice, hiding in the shadows, hoping the giants would not see us. No more. Humanity is no longer on the defense. ''We'' are the giants now.|[[Captain (Navy)| Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]]<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Infinity (mode)|Infinity]]'' introductory cinematic</ref>}} | ||
[[File: | [[File:Commissioning-1.jpg|thumb|250px|The commissioning of {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.]] | ||
The UNSC transferred its emergency governing functions back to the UEG on [[2553|January 8, 2553]], although this formal shift of power did not significantly diminish the UNSC's practical authority.<ref name="CatalogUEG">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction (Query Answer: Human records indicate transition to noncombatant administrative control <nowiki>[ref: UEG] [January 8, 2553]. No notable adjustment in military [bureaucratic tactical]</nowiki> behavior and scope of authority.)'']</ref> | The UNSC transferred its emergency governing functions back to the UEG on [[2553|January 8, 2553]], although this formal shift of power did not significantly diminish the UNSC's practical authority.<ref name="CatalogUEG">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction (Query Answer: Human records indicate transition to noncombatant administrative control <nowiki>[ref: UEG] [January 8, 2553]. No notable adjustment in military [bureaucratic tactical]</nowiki> behavior and scope of authority.)'']</ref> | ||
Since 2553, the UNSC has engaged in an extensive period of reconstruction in order to restore stability to the shattered remnants of its territory. The UNSC has moved to reclaim those worlds that were not completely destroyed during the Human-Covenant War. Former colonies such as [[Eridanus II]]<ref>'''Halo 4''', multiplayer map, ''[[Skyline]]''</ref> and [[Draco III]] were resettled and became strategic staging points for humanity's efforts to reunite its reach across space.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 17-18'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The UNSC also aimed to salvage any recoverable military assets lost during the war; paying companies such as [[Warner & Ives]] to recover slipspace drives from derelict vessels, and buying scrap from clearing house auctions, such as those in [[New Tyne]] on the planet [[Venezia]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', ''[[Into the Fire]], page 301''</ref> The UNSC also maintains its earlier truce with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] under the leadership of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]. However, tensions remain as insurrectionist movement have grown in strength, with worlds like [[Venezia]] | Since 2553, the UNSC has engaged in an extensive period of reconstruction in order to restore stability to the shattered remnants of its territory. The UNSC has moved to reclaim those worlds that were not completely destroyed during the Human-Covenant War. Former colonies such as [[Eridanus II]]<ref>'''Halo 4''', multiplayer map, ''[[Skyline]]''</ref> and [[Draco III]] were resettled and became strategic staging points for humanity's efforts to reunite its reach across space.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 17-18'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The UNSC also aimed to [[Salvaging|salvage]] any recoverable military assets lost during the war; paying companies such as [[Warner & Ives]] to [[Fetching|recover]] slipspace drives from derelict vessels, and buying scrap from clearing house auctions, such as those in [[New Tyne]] on the planet [[Venezia]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', ''[[Into the Fire]], page 301''</ref> The UNSC also maintains its earlier truce with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] under the leadership of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]. However, tensions remain as insurrectionist movement have grown in strength, with worlds like [[Venezia]] and [[Gao]] effectively having seceded from the UEG as recently as 2553.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]'''</ref> In early 2553, the Office of Naval Intelligence began authorizing operations to sow dissent among the Sangheili, disregarding the alliance in the hopes of rendering them unable to fight should they become a threat again. These actions culminated in a [[Blooding Years|civil war]] between the Arbiter's forces and those who opposed the alliance with humanity.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War'''</ref> | ||
In spite of the catastrophic damage UNSC's infrastructure and personnel suffered during the Covenant War, various secret projects initiated in the final years of the conflict enabled the UNSC to regain some degree of military power in the months after the cessation of hostilities.<ref>'''Halo Mythos''', ''page 125''</ref> To symbolize their newly regained strength, the UNSC adopted a revised version of its original emblem shortly after the war.<ref name="new symbol">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/07/25/The-Halo-Bulletin-72512.aspx ''The Halo Bulletin - 7.25.12'']</ref> The UNSC's rebuilding efforts were spearheaded by the symbolic commissioning of the UNSC's most powerful warship, the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, in February 2557. While the reconstruction of humanity's territories continued for many years after the end of the Covenant War, various [[Covenant remnants]], most prominently [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|a group led by Jul 'Mdama]], defied the truce that ended the previous war and arose to threaten humanity once again. In July [[2557]], the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|ongoing conflict]] against the new Covenant was joined by the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] and his [[Promethean]] constructs due to [[Battle of Requiem|an encounter]] on the shield world [[Requiem]].<ref name="h4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> Following October 28, [[2558]] the UNSC was largely immobilized by the [[Created]] when Cortana and her [[Guardian]]s took over Earth and most human colonies.<ref name="H5G">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref> UNSC expeditionary forces that managed to avoid the Created's Guardians were able to regroup with the Swords of Sanghelios on Sanghelios.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-driving-force'''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: Driving Force'']</ref> | |||
By [[2589]], the former UNSC stronghold of [[Reach]] had been re-terraformed and resettled.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref> | By [[2589]], the former UNSC stronghold of [[Reach]] had been re-terraformed and resettled.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref> | ||
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== Organization == | == Organization == | ||
{{Main|List of UNSC Military Units|UNSC military organization}} | {{Main|List of UNSC Military Units|UNSC military organization}} | ||
[[File:H4Epilogue - Hazteam.jpg|thumb|250px|A UNSC military [[HAZMAT]] team investigates [[New Phoenix]] in the aftermath of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[New Phoenix Incident|attack]].]] | |||
The United Nations Space Command is subordinate to the [[Unified Earth Government]]. The professional, controlling body of the UNSC is the [[UNSC High Command]] (HIGHCOM), headed by the [[UNSC Security Council]] which convenes in [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], the UNSC's headquarters in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike'''</ref> Within HIGHCOM are a number of administrative commands, including [[UNSC Personnel Command|PERSCOM]], the [[UNSC Medical Corps|Medical Corps]], the [[UNSC Engineering Corps|Engineering Corps]], [[UNSC Human Resources|Human Resources]], and [[UNSC Astrophysics|Astrophysics]]. Legal matters such as the issuing and enforcement of [[:Category:UNSC Protocols|protocols]] are handled by the [[UNSC Judge Advocate General's Corps]]. Research designed to improve the UNSC's operations is carried out by the [[UNSC Internal Audit|Internal Audit]] office.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 138''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 123''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 254''</ref> | The United Nations Space Command is subordinate to the [[Unified Earth Government]]. The professional, controlling body of the UNSC is the [[UNSC High Command]] (HIGHCOM), headed by the [[UNSC Security Council]] which convenes in [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], the UNSC's headquarters in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike'''</ref> Within HIGHCOM are a number of administrative commands, including [[UNSC Personnel Command|PERSCOM]], the [[UNSC Medical Corps|Medical Corps]], the [[UNSC Engineering Corps|Engineering Corps]], [[UNSC Human Resources|Human Resources]], and [[UNSC Astrophysics|Astrophysics]]. Legal matters such as the issuing and enforcement of [[:Category:UNSC Protocols|protocols]] are handled by the [[UNSC Judge Advocate General's Corps]]. Research designed to improve the UNSC's operations is carried out by the [[UNSC Internal Audit|Internal Audit]] office.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 138''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 123''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 254''</ref> | ||