Installation 03
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Installation 03 | |
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| General overview | |
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Description: |
Deserts, jungles, and volcanic terrain[1] |
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Location: |
Khaphrae system,[1][2] Scutum-Centaurus Arm,[3] Milky Way (formerly) |
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Gravitational anchor: |
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| Operation overview | |
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Type: |
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Function: |
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Attached AI(s): |
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Date of construction: |
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Status: |
Deactivated from Installation 00[7]
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| Structural information | |
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Diameter: |
10,000 kilometers (6,200 mi)[8] |
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Surface width: |
318 kilometers (198 mi)[5] |
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Gravity: |
1.1 G[8] |
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Surface temperature: |
-21°C to 43°C (-6°F to 109°F)[8] |
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Atmospheric composition: |
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Installation 03, also known as Gamma Halo,[9][10] is one of the seven ring-shaped superweapons that comprise the Forerunners' Halo Array. Located in orbit of Doavyn in the Khaphrae system in the Scutum-Centaurus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy,[3][4] Installation 03's monitor is 049 Abject Testament.[6] The ring appears to have a red and cracked surface, indicating the presence of vast deserts and volcanic activity, but it also features jungles.[1]
Although Installation 03 was originally anchored in orbit around a gas giant for the firing of the Array, by the time of its discovery by humanity in the twenty-sixth century, it orbited a rocky planet, the face of which had been shattered as a result of a fairly recent impact event; the debris from the impact, still aglow as of 2557, has collected to form a dense asteroid field in orbit over the planet as well as the Halo.[11]
Overview[edit]
Ecology[edit]
As of July 26, 2557, Frederic-104 told Linda-058 that the Ivanoff Station files made no mention of wildlife on Installation 03.[12]
History[edit]
Construction and early history[edit]
The Forerunners had Installation 03 constructed by the Foundry of Installation 00[13] approximately around the same time as the rest of the Halo Array, circa 97,445 BCE during the Forerunner-Flood war.[5][14] The array was designed by the Forerunner Builders to combat the parasitic Flood by eradicating them and all sentient life in the Milky Way. After the rings were built, Installation 03 and its fellow Halos were distributed from Installation 00 to positions across the galaxy through slipstream space portals,[5][15] with Installation 03 itself being placed in orbit over Doavyn.[4] Afterwards, the Halo Array was fired and eradicated all sentient life from the galaxy. The Forerunners proceeded to reseed the galaxy with life from the species that were preserved on the Halo installations. Like its fellow installations, Installation 03 became home to dormant specimens of the Flood that were intended to be used to help find a cure to the parasite in the future. With the Flood defeated, the surviving Forerunners exiled themselves from the galaxy.[5]
Several centuries before its discovery by humanity, Doavyn experienced a mysterious cataclysmic event of unknown origin. This event resulted in the shattering of the planet, with large chunks of it exploding into space and becoming caught in orbit in the form of an asteroid field. During the cataclysm, Installation 03 suffered extraordinary damage and its monitor, 049 Abject Testament, went missing around the same time. Since the event, however, the Halo underwent significant repairs and had been returned to a habitable state.[4]
Human-Covenant War[edit]
- "Fail-safe protocol: In the event of unexpected shutdown, the entire system will move to standby status. All remaining platforms are now ready for remote activation."
- — 343 Guilty Spark, after the Halo Array is placed into standby mode[16]
During the Battle of Tribute in August 2552, the freighter Floral Express fled the planet while carrying colonial refugees. Following a random slipspace trajectory per the Cole Protocol, the ship arrived near Installation 03 on October 8. Upon returning to Earth, the crew was detained by the Office of Naval Intelligence for possible violations of the Cole Protocol. After examining Express's flight records, based on intelligence gleaned from the Battle of Installation 04, ONI contacted and redirected pioneer teams to the Khaphrae system.[10] Soon after confirming it was Installation 03, the teams attempted to find and secure the installation's Library to recover the activation index as part of neutralization protocols established by October 25. Since Earth was under attack at the time, the teams could not return home, and they did not have the force of arms to remain on the ring, the teams settled in for a long habitation in a makeshift orbital base which they named Ivanoff Station.[17]
On November 3, 2552, during the Battle of Installation 05, Chieftain Tartarus of the Covenant