Editing Halo: Winter Contention

{{Title|''Halo: Winter Contention''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Novel infobox
|name=''Halo: Winter Contention''
|variant=Anthology
|image=[[File:WinterContention Cover.jpg|300px]]
|author=
*[[Alex Wakeford]]
*[[Jeff Easterling]]
|cover artist=[[:Category:Images by William Cameron|William Cameron]]
|illustrator=
|editor=
|audio=[[Alex Wakeford]]
|publisher=[[343 Industries]]
|publication=[[2023#February|February 8, 2023]]
|media=Short story
|length=
|ISBN=
|series=[[Halo Waypoint Chronicle]]s
|preceded=''[[Halo: Vertical Umbrage]]''
|followed=''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]''
|multiseries=
|notable=
}}
'''''Halo: Winter Contention''''' (sometimes styled '''''Winter Contention: A Halo Waypoint Chronicle''''') is a short story written by [[343 Industries]], released online on [[Halo Waypoint]] on [[2023#February|February 8, 2023]], to celebrate the ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' in-game [[Noble Intention]] event. The story follows the [[Spartan Operations|Spartan]] supersoldiers of [[Noble Team]] during the [[Defense of Concord]] seven months prior to the [[Fall of Reach]], and features the first major appearance of [[Rosenda-A344]] in ''Halo'' media and the first appearance of [[Thom-A293]] since his debut and death in ''[[Deliver Hope]]''. Accordingly, the story's cover artwork depicts a stylistic take on the original ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' [[:File:HR Promo Noble Revealed 1920x1200.jpg|Noble Team artwork]] recreated with ''Halo Infinite'' art assets, albeit with Rosenda and Thom replacing [[Emile-A239]] and [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]], respectively.{{Ref/Site|Id=WC|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-winter-contention|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: Winter Contention|D=08|M=02|Y=2023}}

As with the previous story in the ''Halo Waypoint Chronicle'' series, ''[[Vertical Umbrage]]'', the story is available as an audiobook on YouTube narrated by [[Alex Wakeford]].{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Audiobook|z03t1RQVh_U|Halo|Halo: Winter Contention - Audiobook}}

''Winter Contention'' is set to be included in the [[2026]] print anthology collection ''[[Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One]]''.{{Ref/Site|Id=HWCCover|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-waypoint-chronicles-volume-one-cover-reveal|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One <nowiki>|</nowiki> Cover Reveal|D=03|M=07|Y=2025}}

==Official summary==
{{Quote|[[2551#December|December 2551]]. Though the [[Covenant]] [[Defense of Concord|invasion]] of [[Concord]] has seen a rare [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] victory, the Spartans of Noble Team find themselves stranded in a [[Skathi|remote hinterland town]]. Though the Covenant’s orbital presence has been neutralized, the remaining alien survivors have regrouped and prepare to make a devastating final stand. <br>With dwindling time and no reinforcements, Kat-B320 comes up with a daring plan to do what Spartans do best and turn the tide—and it’s up to [[Thom-A293]] and [[Rosenda-A344]] to make it happen.{{Ref/Reuse|Audiobook}}}}

==Plot synopsis==
{{Spoiler/begin}}
Two columns of smoke rise ominously over the horizon on Concord, marking the aftermath of battle. Concord’s rugged hinterlands, now covered in snow, are treacherous. The planet’s infrastructure has been bolstered by the [[Unified Earth Government]] due to the refugee influx, but the older colonists have chosen isolation in the wild terrain.

At 1405 hours on December 12, 2551, Noble Team, consisting of Spartans led by [[Carter-A259]], is on-planet after a victory over Covenant space forces. The Covenant, furious and marooned, had redirected its efforts toward the less-defended hinterland towns. The team, stranded in the town of [[Skathi]] after a brutal snowstorm downed their Pelican, is preparing for an imminent Covenant assault. From his vantage point, [[Jun-A266]], scanning the horizon with his sniper rifle, informs Carter of the approaching threat. Covenant forces, including the massive {{Pattern|Zashk|Draugr}} mobile fortress and an escort of [[Ghost]]s, [[Wraith]]s, and [[Banshee]]s, are heading their way. With no air support, reinforcements hours away, and limited operational assets, Noble Team is backed into a wall.

[[Catherine-B320|Kat-B320]] formulates a [[Operation: OFFSET EYE|plan]] involving the team’s only functional [[M12 Warthog]]—an [[M862 Arctic Warthog]]. She, Rosenda-A344, and Thom-A293 will use the vehicle to engage the Draugr while the rest of the team remains to defend Skathi. As they drive the Warthog, Thom lightens the mood with confidence—"Three of us against a thousand of them?"—and a guessing game on their specific purple shade, but Kat reminds them of their mission as they approach the Covenant forces.

Rosenda expertly handles the first Ghost wave while Thom takes out an enemy pilot, commandeering one. The Draugr focuses its fire on Thom, but he evades the blasts. Kat and Rosenda manage to reach the Draugr’s rear, intending to take control of it from the inside. Jumping into and clearing the troop bay, Kat opens the forward loading ramp, allowing Thom to enter and join them. Together, they take control of the fortress, using its cannons to destroy the remaining Covenant forces outside. Kat’s vehicular genius effectively neutralizes the alien threat; the trio eliminate what survivors remain.

Pelican dropships arrive at 2100 to deliver supplies to the town—in a celebratory yet busy mood—and offload [[UNSC Army Rangers]] to help, the Spartan trio helping. Noble Team gathers for a debriefing, including on the Draugr. Carter informs them of their redeployment—possibly to [[Fumirole]] due to [[Battle of Fumirole|surging Covenant activity]] in-[[Volanus system|system]]—but Rosenda is being reassigned, which she willfully accepts. The Spartans exchange brief heartfelt farewells before she departs. The remaining Noble members board their dropship, ready for their next mission, with the understanding of Concord's safety and Rosenda wondering if she'll see Noble again.

Sometime after the [[Human-Covenant War]], Jun, now [[Chief of Staff of Spartan Operations]] and identified by service number, receives a transmission from Rosenda—"Rose." The message, addressed with a priority clearance, starts with an acknowledgement of Jun monitoring of her for an extended period. Rose expresses a mix of nostalgia and curiosity about what has he gotten on her reputation. She accepts an invitation he extended, with a lighthearted expectation of cake later on. The message concludes with her promising to see him soon.
{{Spoiler/end}}

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
|title-1=Characters|
;Human
*[[Carter-A259]]
*[[Catherine-B320]]
*[[Emile-A239]] {{Im}}
*[[Jorge-052]]
*[[Jun-A266]]
*[[Rosenda-A344]]
*[[Thom-A293]]
*[[Urban Holland]] {{Mo}}

|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]
*[[Unggoy]]
*[[Kig-Yar]]

|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant]]
*[[Unified Earth Government]] {{Mo}}
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[SPARTAN-II program]]
****[[SPARTAN-III program]]
***[[Unified Ground Command]]
****[[UNSC Army]]
*****[[UNSC Army Rangers]]
*****[[Special Warfare Group Three]]
******[[NOBLE Team]]
*[[Concordian militia]] {{1st}}

|title-4=Locations|
*[[Alabaster system]]
**[[Concord]]
***[[Hinterlands region]] {{1st}}
****[[Ploh]] {{Fm}}
****[[Skathi]] {{1st}}
****[[New Ugga]] {{Fm}}
*[[Volanus system]]
**[[Fumirole]] {{Mo}}

|title-5=Events|
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Defense of Concord]]
***[[Operation: OFFSET EYE]] {{1st}}
**[[Battle of Fumirole]] {{Im}}

|title-6=Weapons|
;Human
*[[Combat knife]]
*[[CQS48 Bulldog]]
*[[M247H machine gun]]
**''[[Etilka]]''
*[[M9 fragmentation grenade]]
*[[MA40 assault rifle]]
*[[Mk50 Sidekick]]
*[[SRS99-AM sniper rifle]]

;Covenant
*[[Focus cannon]]
*[[Plasma cannon]]
*[[Plasma mortar]]

|title-7=Vehicles|
;Human
*[[Warthog]]
**[[M12 Warthog]] {{Mo}}
**[[M862 Arctic Warthog]]
*[[M9 Wolverine]] {{Mo}}
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} {{Mo}}
**[[C-322]] {{Im}}
*[[Pelican]]
*[[S-14 Baselard]] {{Mo}}
*{{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} {{Mo}}
**[[FFG-427]] {{Im}}
**[[FFG-502]] {{Im}}

;Covenant
*[[Banshee]]
*{{Pattern|Bkowe'nei|Vampire}} {{Mo}}
*{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}
*[[Wraith]]
*{{Pattern|Zashk|Draugr}} {{1st}}

|title-8=Technology and equipment|
*[[Anti-gravity technology]]
*[[Energy shielding]]
*[[Mass driver]] {{Mo}}
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V]]
***[[AIR ASSAULT-class Mjolnir]]
***[[B-class Mjolnir]]
***[[COMMANDO-class Mjolnir]]
***[[CQC-class Mjolnir]]
***[[GRENADIER-class Mjolnir]]
***[[SCOUT-class Mjolnir]]
*[[Oracle scope|Oracle N-variant scope]]
*[[TEAMCOM]]
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HINF - NobleIntention Header.jpg|Thom and Rosenda in the story.
File:WinterContention_ConcordPelican.jpg|A Pelican dropship en route to Concord.
File:WinterContention BansheeScout.jpg|A Banshee scout on Concord during the battle.
</gallery>

==External links==
*[https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-winter-contention Halo: Winter Contention] - The official Waypoint post in which the short story was released for free.
<!--*[[Archive:Winter Contention]] - Halopedia's own archived backup of the short story.-->
*[https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/HaloInfinite/winter-contention-pdf-6712d290d1fc410d8ba20c7e314761fe.pdf Official ''Winter Contention'' PDF] - The PDF of the short story released on Halo Waypoint ({{file link|Winter Contention.pdf|Archived copy}}).
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z03t1RQVh_U Halo: Winter Contention | Audiobook] - The audiobook narrated by Alex Wakeford.

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Waypoint Chronicles}}
[[Category:Halo Waypoint Chronicles|Winter Contention]]
[[Category:Canon]]