Editing Onyx

'''Onyx''', officially known to the [[UNSC]] as "'''XF-063'''" or '''Zeta Doradus IV''',<ref name="mythos 136">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 136'' ("...Onyx's boundless interior surface...")</ref> was a planet-sized [[Forerunner]] megastructure located in the [[Zeta Doradus system]], and formerly the external component of the [[shield world|shield installation]] designated [[Trevelyan|Shield World 006]]. While it had a [[human]]-habitable surface and a seemingly terrestrial crust, Onyx was internally composed of trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel]]s.<ref name="disintegrate">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 377-378''</ref> The artificial planet's ultimate purpose was to guard the entrance to the shield world proper, a [[Dyson sphere]] held in a miniature [[slipspace bubble]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 120''</ref> During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Onyx served as the headquarters of the [[SPARTAN-III program]] and was the location of the massive, three-sided [[Onyx Conflict]] in late [[2552]]. At the conclusion of the battle, Onyx itself disintegrated, only leaving the Dyson sphere in its core intact. After the disintegration of the artificial planet, the name "Onyx" has often been applied to the Dyson shell that remains in its stead,{{Ref/Reuse|mythos 136}}<ref name="lessons">'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[Lessons Learned]]"</ref> and can be regarded as the overall name for the shield installation, comprising both the planetary shell and the Dyson sphere.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos 136}}<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 113'' ("Onyx was, in fact, a Forerunner shield world...")</ref>

Onyx, named by the [[UNSC Engineering Corps]] due to the unusually large [[Onyx (material)|onyx]] quarries found in the planet's crust, had an [[oxygen]]-[[Wikipedia:Nitrogen|nitrogen]] gas atmosphere, of suitable pressure for human life with a temperate weather cycle. It also had an unusually large number of indigenous species of flora and fauna, some of which were edible by humans and posed no threatening danger. The transplanting of [[Earth]] species was immediately possible.{{Ref/Reuse|goo123}}

Some notable anomalies were that it had no detectable tectonic activity, an unusually strong planetary magnetic field, and slightly higher than normal background radiation.{{Ref/Reuse|goo123}} All of this was explained when it was revealed that the planet's crust was composed of large numbers of dormant Sentinels.{{Ref/Reuse|disintegrate}}

===Structure===

Onyx's foundational structure was composed of trillions of Onyx Sentinels, arranged into a crystalline latticework in which the Sentinels' central spheres served as spherical joints, connected by rods which, in the Sentinel's normal arrangement, surrounded the central sphere.{{Ref/Reuse|disintegrate}}<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 303''</ref> The planet's Earth-like landmass was laid over this structure, which also contained a vast network of subterranean tunnels and installations, at least one massive Forerunner city,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 349''</ref> a [[Cartographer|map room]], and an immense [[Sentinel manufacturing facility#Onyx|Sentinel production facility]] under the northern polar region.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 313''</ref>

== History ==

[[File:Onyx Surface 01.png|thumb|left|250px|A UNSC complex on the surface of Onyx.]]

Onyx was discovered by the [[UNSC Engineering Corps]] sometime around May, [[2491]]. In [[ENGCORP Field Report A76344]], Captain [[D. F. Lambert]] stated "''XF-063 is a rare jewel of a find''" and recommended colonization. The [[The Assembly|Assembly]] quickly moved to keep colonization from occurring, as they had discovered the presence of Forerunner artifacts independently of the UNSC and feared that humanity would not be ready to learn about the existence of alien life.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 6]]''</ref>

In [[2511]], when archaeological expeditions uncovered massive subterranean Forerunner constructions in what would after be called [[Zone 67]], [[ONI]] immediately took control of the world, going so far as to remove Onyx from UNSC navigational databases and suspending any prospective colonization and [[terraforming]] attempts. However, further attempts to determine the purpose of the structures, or even to extract any usable technology, yielded no results. In [[2525]], with the coming of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the operation was scaled down and only a minimal ONI garrison and a single [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] remained. Three consecutive AIs served in this post, replacing one another once the former AI's lifespan ended; [[Eternal Spring]], [[Deep Winter]] and [[Endless Summer]]. Due to the site's importance, a secret [[Slipspace COM launcher]] was later constructed within Zone 67.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 176''</ref> The planet's location remained secret. Regular scans continued to yield little of value.

[[Vice Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]] authorized the construction of the Spartan-III training base on Onyx in [[2531]]. This base, designated [[Camp Currahee]], was constructed perilously close to Zone 67, which had been declared strictly off limits. However, during a routine exercise north of Currahee, Spartan [[Team X-ray]] trespassed into Zone 67, entered a Forerunner structure, and disappeared without trace. An ONI investigation into the matter was inconclusive, although the Spartans were rumored to have encountered a "glowing eye" which detonated upon discovery.

{{Main|Onyx Conflict}}

On [[2552#September|September 21, 2552]], Onyx's Sentinels were roused to action by the [[John-117]]'s aborted attempted firing of [[Installation 04]],{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Page=175|Quote=Halsey: That timing coincides with the activation of an alien weapon world - before John thankfully destroyed it. It is no coincidence that the Sentinels appeared then. It must be part of a larger Forerunner plan.}}, instigating the [[Onyx Conflict]] on [[2552#October|October 31]] and revealing Onyx's true nature. The AI Endless Summer took command of all military personnel on Onyx to immediately defend Zone 67 per [[General Order 98.93.120]], after Onyx's Sentinels first started to attack the Spartan-IIIs. Endless Summer sent [[Kurt-051|Kurt Ambrose]] a flash transmission of several classified files pertaining to Onyx, but was interrupted by an explosion. Soon after, the surviving UNSC forces on Onyx regrouped and declared [[Bloody Arrow]].

Months later, in [[2553#January|January 2553]], a series of concentric rings of debris radiated from where Onyx had once been.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 47-48''</ref> The slipspace bubble housing the shield world, however, had survived intact and the Dyson sphere was eventually transitioned into normal space. ONI soon converted the shield world into a research facility, named "Trevelyan" in reference to Kurt-051's original surname.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 397''</ref> By [[2554]], the shield world was under joint control by the UNSC and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], with the two factions conducting the [[Onyx United Research Project]] there.{{Ref/Reuse|lessons}}

==Trivia==