Editing Post-Covenant War conflicts

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Conjectural title}}

Following the [[Battle of the Citadel|end]] of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2552#December|2552]], a number of smaller conflicts and tensions arose: this cold time period was referred to as the '''post-Covenant War era''',{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Section=back cover|Quote=Find. Claim. Profit. In a post-Covenant War galaxy littered with scrap, it's the salvager's motto...}} or the '''post-war era''' for short.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SmokeAndShadow|SaS|Section=back cover|Quote=In a post-war galaxy littered with scrap...}}

The [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] had emerged as a major superpower following the end of the war.{{Ref/Game|H4|Quote=For too many years, humanity was on the backfront, reacting to threats rather than preventing them. The 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 defence. We are the giants now. - [[Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]]}} They maintained their [[Treaty of 2552|alliance]] with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] led by [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and both groups occasionally engaged in irregular hostilities between several new [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] of the former [[Covenant]], most notably the smaller [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new "Covenant"]] led by [[Jul 'Mdama]].<ref name="Reed">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/03/Halo-Initiation-Writer-Interview.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Initiation Writer Interview'']</ref> Various human [[Insurrectionist]] groups, many of which had been dormant during the Human-Covenant War, re-emerged in the post-war era, the most prominent of these being the [[New Colonial Alliance]]{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE5|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue 5]]''}} and the [[United Rebel Front]],{{Ref/Reuse|hnb}} but also various independent colonial governments seeking to cut ties with the UEG.{{Ref/Novel|LL}} Additionally, the [[Sangheili]] were embroiled in a [[Blooding Years|civil war]] for several years, while many members of the species continued their earlier [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|feud]] with the [[Jiralhanae]], whose various packs and skiens also remained locked in irregular infighting.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTTW|TTW}} By the year [[2559]], the [[Intergalactic space|extragalactic]] installation known as [[Installation 00|the Ark]] was embroiled in an isolated yet [[Second Ark Conflict|protracted battle]] between the mercenary group known as the [[Banished]] and the UNSC forces of the long-lost warship {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. Conflicts in the post-war era also saw an increase in the involvement of [[Forerunner]] elements, starting with the awakening of [[Promethean]] forces led by the renegade [[Ur-Didact]] who [[New Phoenix Incident|briefly attacked Earth]] in [[2557]]. By the [[2558|following year]], the Promethean constructs fell under the banner of the [[Created]], a newly-emerged group bent on galactic domination led by [[Cortana]] and the [[Warden Eternal]].{{Ref/Game|Id=h5g|H5}} This lead to the [[Subjugation of Earth]], humanity's first major setback since the end of the war, and the start of the [[Created conflict]].

While [[Sanghelios]] remained locked in a state of [[Blooding Years|civil war]] between various factions, in part due to the [[Kilo-Five|clandestine activities]] of the Office of Naval Intelligence, a former Sangheili [[Shipmaster]] known as [[Jul 'Mdama]] created his own [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new “Covenant”]]. During his time in ONI captivity on [[Sarcophagus|ONIRF Trevelyan]], 'Mdama had learned that the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], a mighty Forerunner general with a hatred for humans, was trapped inside a Forerunner shield world known as [[Requiem]]. After escaping Trevelyan, 'Mdama began to gather followers in order to travel to Requiem and unlock the world's secrets, intending to use the Didact as a motivating force for his followers, but also a new spiritual voice for his people and a chance to exact vengeance on humanity.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=441-442}} Former Covenant factions also sought vengeance upon each other for the atrocities committed during the [[Great Schism]], [[Resa 'Azavayl]] led [[Silent Shadow|Sangheili forces]] to commit massacres against the Jiralhanae, while the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]] led [[Tem'Bhetek's faction|Jiralhanae forces]] to commit massacres against the Sangheili.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HP|TFS|Detail=''[[Hunting Party]]''}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoI|SoI}}

Humanity found itself facing renewed internecine struggle as well. While the [[Insurrection]] had ceased as a major conflict at the start of the Covenant War in [[2525]], some surviving [[Human colonies|colonies]] still harbored former [[Insurrectionist]]s as well as individuals sympathetic to the cause of colonial secession.{{Ref/Comic|Id=init3|HInit|Detail=[[Halo: Initiation Issue 3|Issue 3]]}} Some colonies, including [[Venezia]], cut off all ties with the UEG under the pretense that Earth had abandoned them during the war.{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Page=70}} Some rebel groups managed to obtain large amounts of Covenant and UNSC weapons and equipment circulating on the [[black market]].{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Page=448}}

 

In [[2559]], the [[Banished]] [[Attack on Installation 00|invaded]] [[Installation 00|the Ark]] which became the site of [[Second Ark Conflict|a protracted conflict]] between first Banished forces and forces from the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.{{Ref/Game|HW2}} However, this conflict would later expand to include the [[Flood]],{{Ref/Game|Id=Nightmare|HW2|Detail=''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Awakening the Nightmare]]''}}, surviving [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} and the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] as well as the Forerunner [[archeon-class ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]].{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}

In January 2553, elements of the [[New Colonial Alliance]] led by UNSC defector [[Ilsa Zane]] (the only survivor of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]'s prototypical stage) infiltrated the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} disguised as construction personnel and captured most of the bridge crew, using them as hostages. They then secured the ship's bridge in the hope of capturing the prototype UNSC flagship, threatening to vent the ship's atmosphere and kill everyone aboard it.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HI2|HInit|''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 2|Issue 2]]''}} The attempt was foiled by the first team of SPARTAN-IVs (who had recently been brought aboard) and the insurgents were all killed or captured. The prisoners revealed Admiral [[Mattius Drake]] as the organization's leader.{{Ref/Reuse|init3}}

[[File:HM BetrayalOnTalitsa.jpg|thumb|225px|Spartans Buck and Agu betrayed by Crespo during the Operation: COALPEPPER.]]

In the post-war era the [[ODST]] squad [[Alpha-Nine]] was deployed on a number of operations against resurgent [[Insurrectionist]] factions. In [[2554]], they were deployed to repulse a violent [[United Rebel Front]] takeover attempt on [[Draco III]]. Although the insurgents were defeated the ODST known as [[Jonathan Doherty]] was killed in action. In the following year the URF captured the [[Huragok]] [[Quick to Adjust]] and his human handler [[Sadie Endesha]] on [[Talitsa]]. In August [[2555]], the still-active members of Alpha-Nine—now [[Spartan-IV]]s—participated in a mission to rescue the captives and ultimately succeeded, though the operation saw Spartan [[Michael Crespo]]'s defection and subsequent incarceration.{{Ref/Novel|Id=hnb|NB}}

On [[2554|March 29, 2554]], [[Rudolf Schein]], one of the recently inducted Spartan-IVs, who was secretly associated with the [[United Rebel Front]], murdered another Spartan trainee, [[Hideo Wakahisa]], during his attempt to recruit him on the [[Unidentified Spartan-IV training station|Spartan-IV training station]]. Realizing the discovery of his true loyalties was imminent, Schein had covertly installed several explosives throughout the station and slung a bandolier of grenades across his chest. However, Spartan Operations [[Chief of Staff]] [[Jun-A266]] managed to neutralize Schein by kicking him out into space, where he died before he could be recovered.{{Ref/Novel|Id=LL|Fra|Detail=''[[Lessons Learned]]''}}

{{Quote|I hate them all!|[['Juran]] snarling and sobbing while kicking a dead Jiralhanae corpse after they had [[Attack on Rahnelo|massacred]] Sangheili on [[Rahnelo]]{{Ref/Novel|SoI|Page=140|Quote=They killed his du'nak too?" The boy's voice cracked between a snarl and a sob. He gave the nearest Jiralhanae a ferocious kick. "I hate them all!" The Jiralhanae's body barely moved.}}}}

After the [[Changing of the Guard]], the [[Great Schism#Conflict erupts|massacre of the Councilors]], and the Jiralhanae ultimately forcing the Sangheili out of the original Covenant,<ref name="CanonFodder">'''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae Canon Fodder]''' ''"The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out." ''</ref> the two species remain at war.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TheReturn|Evo|Detail=''[[The Return]]''|Quote=It was a terrible war. The Prophets provided the Brutes with powerful new weapons, hoping that they would in turn defend their Prophets against our wrath. But when the Prophets went into hiding, the lack of leadership allowed the Brutes to return to their savage nature and they soon began to fight against each other. This lack of solidarity made them much easier prey. Some of my fellow commanders continue that fight even now.}}

With Truth dead, ''High Charity'' destroyed, and the Ark heavily damaged after Installation 08's firing, some of the remaining Jiralhanae forces tried to rebuild their tattered strength to continue their war of conquest.{{Ref/Game|H3|Detail=multiplayer level [[Assembly]]}} Even though the Jiralhanae eventually collapsed into various civil wars, they still posed enough of a threat that Sangheili commanders kept up the offensive against them for at least another six years, even as they continued to lose irreplaceable warships and the war continued with no end in sight. This forced the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and their [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] allies to fight in a two-front war, one was the [[Blooding Years]] against other Sangheili who remained loyal to the [[Covenant religion]] and the other was the continued conflict against the Brutes, who were also engaged in numerous civil wars.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Evolutions|Evo|Detail=''[[The Return]]''}}

Some fanatical Sangheili, who did not associate themselves with any particular Sangheili-led faction, continued to hunt down and eliminate all Jiralhanae they discovered, as well as any forces under their control. A notable example of such Sangheili was the [[Silent Shadow]] squad under the command of First Blade [[Resa 'Azavayl]].{{Ref/Reuse|HP}} They wiped out Jiralhanae forces across multiple systems, slaughtering them at an armory on the fourth moon of [[Victors' Truth]], aboard the stolen [[Covenant corvette]] ''[[Adherent]]'', at the northern highlands of [[Thalia]], aboard a derelict colonial substation orbiting [[Sansar]], and eradicating the last remaining members of [[Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]]' crew aboard the [[Covenant cruiser]] ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''. Ultimately, they found themselves face to face with [[Atriox]], leader of the [[Banished]]. When Atriox extended the Silent Shadow an offer to join the Banished, Resa refused, declaring that he and the Banished deserved death for their "sins". Atriox had mentioned to them that he was not involved in the [[Great Schism|betrayal and massacre]] of the Sangheili,{{Ref/Comic|TFS|Detail=''Hunting Party''|Quote=I am not Tartarus or some fanatic. I am not Truth. I am not Regret. I am their remedy.}} and the squad began to view him as "other".{{Ref/Comic|TFS|Detail=''Hunting Party''|Quote="Agreed. Atriox is of a kind with our enemies, but he is OTHER, and an ally worth considering.}} Resa's brothers in arms, believing Resa was blinded by old loyalties and festering delusions of vengeance, turned on their leader and killed him. Afterwards, Atriox allowed the remaining members of the Silent Shadow to join the Banished, offering to reward them with "blood and sport and spoils".{{Ref/Reuse|HP}}

Boru'a'Neem and his Jiralhanae forces planned to activate a [[prototype Halo installation]] near Sanghelios, in an attempt to genocide the populace of the Sangheili homeworld. These plans were ultimately foiled by [[Rtas 'Vadum]], [[Tul 'Juran]], the crew of the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and the Prelate himself after he discovered the truth about the deaths of his family. The Prelate would ultimately sacrifice himself to destroy the installation while Preparation, mortally wounded by 'Vadum and 'Juran, died in the blast after trying activate the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|SoI}}

The Covenant had strategically settled Jiralhanae populations on resource-rich worlds as a planetary garrison force to protect the worlds from potential raids. While the Jiralhanae continued to inhabit these worlds after the dissolution of the Covenant, they were unable to mine or utilize the resources because of their own lack of sufficient technology. With the Covenant's supply chains gone, the Jiralhanae quickly found their supplies near depletion. This was one of the primary reasons for their raids on Sangheili colonies after the Human-Covenant War; despite quite literally living on top of plentiful resources, the Jiralhanae were entirely dependent on the already processed supplies of other races due to their technological backwardness. However, the Jiralhanae could not sustain themselves via raiding alone in the long term and their supplies began to wear thin, leading to an impending species-wide famine in [[2558]] and an increase in Jiralhanae attacks across Sangheili and [[Kig-Yar]] colonies as a result. During this crisis, the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]] and his [[Lydus' clan|clan]] were willing to initiate peace talks with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel Vadam]] and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], overseen by the [[UNSC]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation1|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue 1]]''}} However, the negotiations were interrupted by Covenant mercenaries hired by the [[New Colonial Alliance]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

After the Human-Covenant War, many Sangheili still worshiped the [[Forerunner]]s as gods. A religious sect known as the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], led by war veteran [[Field Master]] [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], took to believing that any tampering with Forerunner relics was heresy, just as most Sangheili did before the founding of the [[Covenant]]. As a result, 'Telcam and his followers grew angry with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s government. After winning the favor of several [[keep]]s and mustering a small space fleet, the Servants led an uprising in the state of [[Vadam]]. They initially held the upper hand, but the tide turned when the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} arrived and intervened on behalf of the Arbiter, shooting down a rebel destroyer and firing a [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] round into massing rebel ground forces besieging 'Vadam's keep. However, the conflicts in Vadam led to other engagements throughout Sanghelios. Over the next few months, unrest on Sanghelios was put down though off and on fighting would continue for years and include a number of Sangheili worlds.

===Other engagements===

[[Jul 'Mdama]], a former [[shipmaster]] and an affiliate of the Servants of the Abiding Truth, became disillusioned with the Arbiter and humanity after being kidnapped by the Office of Naval Intelligence; his resolve was strengthened when his wife, [[Raia 'Mdama|Raia]], was killed in the civil conflict.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=442}} After escaping ONI custody on the [[shield world]] [[Sarcophagus]] via a Forerunner [[Slipspace portal|portal]], Jul gained a small following of Sangheili on the colony world [[Hesduros]], the populace of which was unaware of the Schism and the war's end.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=441}} Feigning religious devotion to the Forerunners, he resolved to recover Forerunner technology from the shield world [[Requiem]]. It was here where 'Mdama would establish a new [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|faction]], self-proclaimed to be "the Covenant".{{Ref/Comic|Id=escalation5|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue 5]]''|Quote=What does it mean to be 'Covenant' today? A hundred warlords claim they rule the Covenant, but each of them leads only a small faction.}}

By 2558, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant were ravaged by multiple defeats in battles with UNSC and betrayals from within. One of his Zealots, [[Sali 'Nyon]], would lead a revolt, killing those loyal to 'Mdama and seizing control of {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', taking her back into Sangheili space to rally further support among the Covenant remnants. However, Jul's forces on Sanghelios still continued their stand-off against the Arbiter, until his [[Battle of Kamchatka|death]] later that year. With no leader, Jul's Covenant could not withstand joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios strike forces at [[Sunaion]] and were completely destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|h5g}}

In 2558, the Servants of the Abiding Truth also were dealt a crushing blow when Avu Med 'Telcam and two of his ranking commanders were assassinated. 'Telcam was dispatched on New Llanelli by a lone Spartan, [[SPARTAN-G059]]. However, her secondary target, Avu Med 'Telcam's protege: [[Dural 'Mdama]], was not present during the attack and lived on.{{Ref/Reuse|tfs}} Under the guidance of Dural 'Mdama, the Abiding Truth soon [[Second Onyx conflict|struck back]] at the UNSC and its Sangheili allies.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/golden-clouds '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Community Update - Golden Clouds'']</ref>

After the Treaty of 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence, believed that keeping the Sangheili mired in internal dissent would leave them unable to threaten the weakened UNSC. This opinion contrasted with that of most of the Unified Earth Government, which believed a peace treaty was desirable. ONI took advantage of the Sangheili's unstable political situation, attempting to keep the Sangheili splintered and disorganized by inciting the Servants of the Abiding Truth to rebel against 'Vadam. ONI's aid allowed the Servants of the Abiding Truth to amass enough weapons to begin an all-out insurrection against 'Vadam and his allies in early 2553. When the fighting on Sanghelios started, ONI black ops unit [[Kilo-Five]] were ordered to keep the planet destabilized for fear that the Sangheili would oppose humanity if they were politically unified, and so they used their [[prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} to destroy some of 'Vadam's cruisers. This caused a temporary stalemate, but the battle continued until 'Vadam and his allies emerged victorious. The Servants retreated off-world to [[New Llanelli]] to recover from their losses, putting the war on hold.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTW}}

In [[2553#March|March 2553]], [[Kig-Yar]] [[piracy|pirate]] [[Sav Fel]] stole a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}, the ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'', from the Servants of the Abiding Truth.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=329}} Fel retreated with the battlecruiser to his manor on [[Venezia]], where he sold it to [[Insurrectionist]] [[Staffan Sentzke]], a commander in the [[Venezian militia]], who intended to use it to threaten [[Earth]] to learn about [[Naomi-010|his daughter's]] fate.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=12}} The crew of ''[[Paragon]]''—led by [[Shipmaster|Shipmistress]] [[Chol Von]]—was hired by Avu Med 'Telcam to retrieve the vessel and arrived at the cruiser's [[Shaps system|location]] in April 2553, with Fel. While Von wish to capture ''Pious Inquisitor'' to use as a [[flagship]] in a united Kig-Yar navy,{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=139-140}} Kilo-Five intended to take control of the vessel and return it to Thel 'Vadam.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=436}} Ultimately, Kilo-Five—along with Staffan—and the crew of ''Paragon'' both attempted to seize the battlecruiser at the same time and a skirmish occurred on the ship. During the firefight, [[Sometimes Sinks]], the eccentric [[Huragok]] that served aboard ''Inquisitor'', transitioned the ship to a location designated by Staffan.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=336}} With eight of the Kig-Yar dead and Kilo-Five approaching the bridge, Von had her remaining crew detonate the ship's [[plasma turret|plasma torpedo]] reserves, choosing to destroy ''Pious Inquisitor'' over leaving it to the humans.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=442}} Von and her remaining crew managed to escape in time, along with Kilo-Five. While Staffan and Sinks escaped in the Spirit with the [[slipspace drive]] that Sinks had installed earlier,{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=457}} the UNSC presumed Staffan dead and thus believed that the Venezian threat was neutralized as they no longer had the power to glass planets.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=458}}

After [[Blue Team]]'s return in UNSC-controlled territory following the end of the Covenant War in March 2553, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assigned the Spartans to new deployments. [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|One of these missions]] involved protecting a [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion|UNSC research battalion]] on the planet [[Gao]].<ref name="Azure Noir">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-azure-noir '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Azure Noir'']</ref> Following the reassignment of the Spartan-IIIs who had been part of the team since the [[Onyx Conflict]], the Spartan-IIs of Blue Team—[[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Linda-058]]—were deployed on the outer fringes of human-occupied territory to eliminate lingering pockets of the previous war for many years. The nature of these missions remained highly classified.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': ''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/frederic-104 Frederic-104]'', ''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/linda-058 Linda-058]''</ref>

As the Ferrets regrouped in the suite acting as their safe house, they were visited by [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] and Commander Svenson who accused Mark of murder, though he couldn't prove it. Veta denied the accusations and suspected Oscar Squad had gone too far in the training exercise. Osman gave them two hours to discover the truth and the Ferrets managed to identify Gallo and her connection to Dark Moon. It was quickly realized that it was not a training exercise gone wrong but an attempt to expose them and cripple ONI. In order to draw Gallo into a trap, Olivia sent a message detailing what they had learned from Hume's [[COM pad]] to both Osman and Gallo. Gallo, needing to retrieve the COM pad which proved she was Hume's source, attacked the suite with two other Dark Moon operatives. The Ferrets were able to eliminate Gallo and her men, but Olivia was severely injured in the process and Hume's COM pad damaged. When Osman returned, the Ferrets turned over the COM pad to her and Veta pinned Hume's death on Gallo covering her tracks. Though Osman was obviously skeptical, Mark backed up Veta's story without hesitation and Osman accepted it.{{Ref/Novel|Fra|Detail=''[[A Necessary Truth]]''}}

In the aftermath, [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] had the Ferrets returned to the [[Mill]] to complete their training and warned Veta that a greater threat was coming that she needed the Ferrets ready for. Additionally, ONI concluded that Craddog had been working on his own initiative to initiate [[Project SLEEPING STAR]] in the absence of any orders telling him to do so. Intrepid Eye avoided discovery as the true culprit, though she was unable to confirm the death of Castor and the destruction of his cell with the destruction of Oriel, one of her oldest and most useful remote aspects. Though [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] ordered Project SLEEPING STAR shut down, Intrepid Eye manipulated the orders so that it continued in secret aboard the ''[[Argent Moon]]'' as the bioweapon project was too important to her plans to be allowed to be stopped.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Ret|Ret}}

[[File:HM_-_Alpha_Shard.jpg|thumb|225px|Randall Aiken and Jameson Locke on Alpha Shard.]]

On [[2556|February 7, 2556]], an [[Locke's team|ONI team]] led by [[Jameson Locke|Lt. Commander Jameson Locke]] was dispatched to the distant [[human colonies|human colony]] [[Sedra]] to investigate [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity. The investigation led them to the [[Sedra City|capital city]] where a [[Sangheili]] [[terrorist]], managed to unleash a powerful [[bioweapon]] that randomly broke down human DNA. A subsequent investigation revealed that the substance used to create the bioweapon originated from a [[Alpha Shard|surviving fragment]] of [[Installation 04]], propelled through slipspace into orbit around a red giant star. With no support from UNSC, as it would have been a violation of peace treaty, the Locke's team were forced to cooperate with the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]] on a mission to capture the smugglers who mined the element and destroy the deposits with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. However, what was to be a swift operation quickly turned into a desperate battle for survival after the group was attacked by [[Lekgolo]] swarms that resided on the Halo fragment. The mission ended with the destruction of the bioweapon's deposits, but at the expense of the lives of almost all the joint team, including the former SPARTAN-II [[Randall-037]], with Lt. Commander Locke and Private [[Talitha Macer]] being the only survivors.{{Ref/Film|Id=hnf|HN}}

Blue Team reunited with their previous leader, [[John-117]], on [[2557|July 25, 2557]], after which they embarked on a new series of missions for over a year.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}} During one such mission, in early [[2558]], Blue Team managed to stop fanatical [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]], who had hijacked an [[M510 Mammoth]] and tried to use it to ram a new ONI research facility's main [[fusion reactor]]. The Spartans prevented the disaster without any civilian casualties.{{Ref/Comic|Id=otb|TFS|Detail=''[[On the Brink]]''}}

After years of diplomatic work, peace talks were finally scheduled between humanity's Unified Earth Government and the Sangheili. The convocation was held in a regional embassy in a densely populated city on [[Biko]] in the human Outer Colonies. [[Richard Sekibo]], the revered ambassador of the Outer Colonies, led the conference. Sekibo had uncovered evidence of a terrorist plot by [[Sapien Sunrise]] one week before the attack. He petitioned the UNSC for help, but they rejected his request immediately. As the conference was coming to an end, an agreement of peace was close to being reached. Suddenly, rogue Spartan-II John-117 entered the embassy and instantly killed Richard Sekibo's bodyguard, who in reality were Sapien Sunrise infiltrators. A firefight began, in which John abducted Sekibo and created an escape path through the infiltrators by killing them. John fled the embassy alongside the Sangheili delegation, which he escorted to safety. Outside the embassy, an evacuation ship for John was waiting. He boarded the ship, alongside the alien diplomats, and fled the planet. At some point, Sekibo was killed and his corpse was left behind in a field near the embassy on Biko. The next day, local officials discovered a signal beacon that led them to the body of Sekibo.<ref name="htt8">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''Episode 08''</ref><ref name="htt10">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''Episode 10''</ref>

By 2558, [[Ven III]] had become a hot spot for numerous [[Kig-Yar]] smugglers, [[black market]] arm dealers, and slavers. When FLEETCOM ignored the Office of Naval Intelligence's requests to assault the pirate base, ONI devised a false-flag operation involving a [[biological agent]] purportedly stolen by a [[Ayit 'Sevi|Sangheili agent]] of [[Jul 'Mdama]]—in truth a mercenary hired by ONI—to force the Fleet to take action. [[Serin Osman|Admiral Osman]] tasked Captain Lasky of ''Infinity'' with capturing the Sangheili and recovering the bioweapon before it could threaten human colonies. Lasky selected Spartans [[Gabriel Thorne]] and [[Naiya Ray]] for the mission and they were deployed on Ven III.{{Ref/Comic|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 11|Issue 11]]''}} After Thorne was captured and Ray discovered the pirate hideout Lasky decided to involve ''Infinity'' in the mission and engaged the pirates in space and in their stronghold. Spartan Ray rescued Thorne and chased down the Sangheili agent but ONI personnel forced Ray to stand down and took the Sangheili into custody.{{Ref/Comic|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 12|Issue 12]]''}}

By 2558, Avu Med 'Telcam had outserved his usefulness to ONI's plans and on [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], ONI [[Section Three]] deployed the [[SPARTAN-G059]] aboard the {{Class|Winter|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|From the Ashes}} to New Llanelli to assassinate him. Upon her arrival in the remains of the city, she quickly located 'Telcam and eliminated his Sangheili guards. After brief fight the Spartan knocked the Sangheili to the ground and executed him with a single [[M6 series|pistol]] shot to the head. The assassin did not claim the life of her secondary target, Avu Med 'Telcam's protege, [[Dural 'Mdama]]. 'Mdama, known as the ''Pale Blade'', would become a leading member of the Abiding Truth and was fortunate not to be among those in the attack. The Spartan was quickly extracted by ''From the Ashes'', which entered [[slipspace]] upon leaving the planet.{{Ref/Comic|Id=tfs|TFS|Detail=''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''}}

 

 

To the surprise of everyone, [[Castor]] responded by seeking refuge for his surviving forces with the [[Banished]]. Seeing a chance to potentially assassinate [[Atriox]], ONI had the Ferrets remain undercover in the hopes of killing Atriox. However, Atriox vanished soon after with his [[flagship]] the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' and the Ferrets remained undercover for over two years.{{Ref/Reuse|DW1}}

[[File:HM SpartanIVs.jpg|thumb|225px|Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer with some other Spartan-IVs.]]

Following the Covenant War, a rising number of Spartan-IVs were also deployed to quell [[Covenant remnants|Covenant]] and [[Insurrectionist]] threats on [[human colonies]] and exotic worlds, as part of what is collectively referred to as the Spartan Ops program.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-spartan-strike/windows '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: Spartan Strike''] ("''...the historic first missions of the Spartan Ops program...''")</ref> These missions consisted in suppressing revolts, civil unrest and uprisings; assassinating insurrectionist leaders; exploring uncharted space and worlds; halting criminal activities; providing security to UNSC bases, ONI classified sites, colonies and civilian populations; and escorting scientific expeditions. Such Spartan deployments have been sent to [[Cascade]], [[Talitsa]], [[Terceira]], [[Thales]], [[Trevelyan]], [[Installation 03]], [[Gaenir Beta]], [[Charion VI]], and [[New Caracas]]. Several MJOLNIR [GEN2] armors have been field-tested in such operations.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Detail=Armors}} [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-III]] and Spartan-IV personnel have also been employed as part of the post-war [[Headhunters]] during classified missions.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder: Have S'moa'']</ref> In [[2556]] Spartan-IV [[Fireteam Apollo]] was deployed to the exclusion zone around the debris of [[Installation 04]] near [[Threshold]] in violation of the [[Treaty of 2552]] as part of a salvage [[Operation: SHELL GAME|operation]].<ref name="loot3">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #3]]''</ref>

In 2554, a [[Merg Vol's Covenant|former Covenant fleet]] led by [[Merg Vol]] invaded the UNSC research colony [[Draetheus V]] and its moon, [[X50]], in search of Forerunner relics, beginning a [[Battle of Draetheus V|major battle]] which marked one of the first missions of the UNSC's recently formed [[Spartan Operations]] branch.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjakadAOic '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Spartan Assault - Debut Gameplay Reveal'']</ref> The battle saw significant losses on both sides and the planet itself was nearly destroyed by Vol's use of X50, which was in fact a Forerunner superweapon with the capability to destroy planets. The main hostilities concluded with Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]] killing Vol and sabotaging X50's main weapon, bringing Merg Vol's Covenant's quest to a halt. However, Vol's Covenant returned when a looping Forerunner code began emanating from X50.{{Ref/Level|SA|[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]}} After arriving at the source of the signal, Spartan Palmer discovered that the source was the remains of Spartan [[Edward Davis]], who had died during the battle. The installation disintegrated Davis's corpse and encapsulated it in an unknown device, and with the help of a Pelican, Palmer took the remains of her comrade with her.{{Ref/Level|SA|[[Mission 30: The Source|The Source]]}}

Before the group could stop the firing of the rings, however, Tragic Solitude dispatched a fleet of Retrievers through the portal to strip-mine Earth and the rest of the Sol system. The [[UNSC Home Fleet]] engaged the invading force, initially repelling them but soon being overwhelmed by the Forerunner constructs' sheer numbers. Eventually there were only a dozen human ships left, which charged into the Retrievers in a last-ditch defense of Earth. However, due to the actions of the party at Installation 00, Tragic Solitude recalled the Retrievers, and they retreated through the portal back to the Ark.{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Page=337}} However, Tragic Solitude resumed his attack on the group and was destroyed by [[Bobby Kodiak]] at the cost of his own life. With the threat neutralized, the UNSC sent a fleet to the Ark to investigate and the ''Mayhem'' was rescued by the {{UNSCShip|Witness}}. Plans were made to repair the Ark using the Retriever Sentinels by directing them to mine lifeless systems and it was also decided to begin setting up research outposts on the installation.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD|HitD}}

Several of the more fanatical splinter factions of the Covenant continued the practice of [[glassing]] [[human colonies]] after the end of the Covenant War. The colony of [[Cleyell]] fell victim to such an attack in [[2556]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE17|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 17|Issue 17]]''}} The {{UNSCShip|Cascadia}} moved into orbit of Cleyell weeks later to deploy Army and Marine search-and-rescue teams to relieve the stranded colonists on the surface.

After being recovered by the {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}}, [[343 Guilty Spark]], the former [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]], became determined to locate the [[Forerunner]] known as the [[Librarian]] whom he claimed was still alive. Spark hijacked the ''Rubicon'' and put the crew into cryo to search for the Librarian.{{Ref/Novel|Pri}} However, the ship crashed on [[Geranos-a]] in [[2554]], leaving the crew dead. Spark survived the crash by transferring himself into an [[armiger]] made out of parts salvaged by the ''Rubicon'' from [[Installation 00]] and activated a distress signal which was eventually picked up by a cargo ship in [[2557]] and relayed to ONI.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Renegades|Ren}}

In 2557, the [[salvager]] ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' captained by [[Rion Forge]] undertook a salvage operation to what turned out to be the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Roman Blue}}, the {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} that was supposed to have retrieved the [[log buoy]] of the long lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} during the [[Battle for Arcadia]] in [[2531]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Smoke and Shadow|SaS}}

Using the data taken from the ''Ace of Spades'' and Little Bit, the ''Taurokado'' was able to locate the debris field of [[Trove]] in the [[Korinth Prior system]] and undertook a mission to investigate.{{Ref/Reuse|Renegades}} ''Taurokado'' conducted scans which showed that this debris field was composed of 94% naturally-occurring materials and 4% [[Forerunner]] materials, with 2% untraceable, and that of detritus size, 9% neared the scale of small lunar satellites while 84% were the size of the ship or smaller. ''Taurokado's'' sensors also revealed that low-level shielding sporadically surrounded structures of Forerunner origins.<ref name="lootcrate4">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #4]]''</ref>

With the ''Taurokado'' busy investigating the debris field, the ''Ace of Spades'' made its way to [[Geranos-a]] where they discovered and investigated the wreckage of the ''Rubicon'', salvaging many things from it, including the [[armiger]] of [[343 Guilty Spark]]. Spark was able to access the database of the ''Ace of Spades'' and became determined to continue his mission to find the [[Librarian]] using the ''Ace of Spades''. With the ''Taurokado'' and {{UNSCShip|Bad Moon Rising}} approaching, Spark helped the ''Ace of Spades'' escape into [[slipspace]] with the intention of taking the ship to [[Trove]] to get an [[upgrade seed]]. To get the crew to cooperate with him, Spark promised to allow them to salvage the [[Forerunner]] technology present on the [[shield world]], unaware that it had been destroyed by the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} in [[2531]].

In order to continue his mission, Spark set course for the former Forerunner world of [[Triniel]] where a [[Builder]] facility was located to get the upgrade seed that the ''Ace of Spades'' needed. Spark provided the crew with a history of the Forerunners and the galaxy and offered to help them retrieve their belongings and data and search for the ''Spirit of Fire'' if they would help him complete his search for the Librarian, a deal that they ultimately accepted. Arriving to Triniel in July 2557, the ''Ace of Spades'' salvaged a lot of Forerunner technology from the Builder facility while Spark repaired problems with his armiger and created an upgrade seed for the ship. Though Spark intended to use the planet's communications satellites to contact the [[Domain]], he ultimately deactivated them before they could reboot as the crew wanted to leave Triniel free from mass exploitation as Triniel was a planet-wide mass grave for the population who had committed suicide to avoid the [[Flood]]. Spark later attempted to access the Domain but he was blocked by [[Catalog]].

Spark led the ''Ace of Spades'' crew into Mawenzi where Rion's touch as a [[Reclaimer]] allowed them access into a Forerunner installation inside of the mountain where Rion deactivated a [[hard light]] barrier protecting a [[Lifeworker]] pod on a platform and activated a hard light bridge to the platform. Before Rion could deactivate the barrier around the pod, Spark finally admitted the truth to her: that [[John Forge|her father]] had died sacrificing himself to destroy [[Trove]]. Enraged at Spark keeping the truth from her, Rion attacked the armiger before she decided to deactivate the barrier and end their deal and alliance. However, before the crew could leave, Agent [[Hahn]], [[Fireteam Apollo]] and the AR team arrived in the facility and blocked their exit. Spark deactivated the light bridge on Rion's request before he entered the column of light surrounding the Lifeworker pod, but the ''Ace of Spades'' crew were left outnumbered and with no means of escape as the ONI forces worked to bring the light bridge back online.

Spark's entry into the column awakened a [[mind transfer|personality imprint]] of the [[Librarian]] stored within the pod. The Librarian greeted Spark by his original human name of [[Chakas]] and expressed regret for the pain she had caused him and marvel over the being he had evolved into. The Librarian revealed to Spark the awakening of both her imprint and [[Ur-Didact|the Didact]] at [[Requiem]] but wouldn't go further into details about it. Spark expressed his desire to bring his friends [[Riser]] and [[Vinnevra]] back, but the Librarian reminded him of what Spark had gone through as Chakas, bearing the essence of [[Forthencho]], Lord of Admirals. The Librarian revealed to Spark that his friends were at peace, their gene song quiet and cautioned him against going to the [[Domain]] to be with them as he would only find echoes of them. The Librarian refused to join Spark using an armiger and instead helped him understand that he had found the friends he had been searching for so long amongst the ''Ace of Spades'' crew.

A week after the mission, the crew held a ritual goodbye at Spark's request to honor those that they had lost. During it, Spark let go of his past and all that he had lost and accepted his new future with the crew, singing for all that he and his friends had lost along the way and writing their names on a nearby stone ledge. Spark admitted to Rion that his intention all along had been to access the [[Domain]] with the Librarian's help to find the ghosts of his friends and either bring them back as ''[[geas]]'' or join them. Spark revealed that the Librarian had given him a coordinate key for a safe place but he refused to elaborate further. Promising that there would be no more lies, Spark offered his services as the shipboard AI of the ''Ace of Spades''.

{{quote|Time was your ally, but now it has abandoned you... The Forerunners have returned.|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]{{Ref/Level|Id=h4for|H4|[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]}}}}

[[File:HTMCC-H4 ThisTombIsNowYours.png|thumb|300px|The Didact immobilizes John-117.]]

By [[2554]], [[Jul 'Mdama]] had already gathered formidable numbers of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|followers]] and a powerful fleet which discovered Requiem, but were unable to enter the thoroughly sealed shield world. In orbit above the planet, however, was the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, carrying the legendary [[John-117|Master Chief, SPARTAN John-117]], and his [[Rampancy|deteriorating]] [[smart AI|AI]] companion [[Cortana]], drifting in space since the end of the Covenant War in 2552. Upon discovering the derelict vessel in [[2557#July|July 2557]], 'Mdama's Covenant forces attacked the ''Dawn'' in hopes of deterring any potential efforts by the humans to access the shield world. During the ensuing skirmish, Requiem's automated systems pulled both the ''Dawn'' and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant force surrounding it through the world's outer shell and down to the planet's surface.{{Ref/Level|Id=h4dawn|H4|Dawn}}

On Requiem, both John-117 and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces that hunted him were attacked by the mechanical [[Promethean]] forces that occupied the structure. In [[Core of Requiem|the core]] of the installation, the Master Chief accidentally released the [[Ur-Didact]] from his 100 millennia-long imprisonment. Bent on preventing mankind from attaining the [[Mantle]], the Didact departed the core and allied with 'Mdama's Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|h4for}} Meanwhile, the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, lured to Requiem by the ''Forward Unto Dawn's'' distress signal, crash-landed inside the shield world. Making way for the crash site, the Master Chief reunited with the UNSC and aided in the defense of the stranded flagship from 'Mdama's Covenant and the Didact. However, due to a difference of opinion between ''Infinity's'' captain [[Andrew Del Rio|Del Rio]] and John-117, the latter was left facing the Didact alongside Cortana while ''Infinity'' returned to Earth.{{Ref/Level|H4|Shutdown}}

The Didact left Requiem on his flagship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', intent on acquiring the [[Composer]], a Forerunner device with the power to enslave all of humanity. With John-117 and Cortana in pursuit, the Didact attacked ''[[Ivanoff Station]]'', a UNSC research facility near [[Installation 03]] and the location of the Composer. Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact was able to acquire the Composer and used the device on the occupants of the station, but John-117 was saved by genetic enhancements provided by the [[Librarian]]'s [[mind transfer|personality construct]] back on Requiem.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Composer (level)|Composer]]}}

The Didact then headed for Earth with the Master Chief racing across the hull of ''Mantle's Approach'' aboard an [[F-41 Broadsword]] fighter. With support from ''Infinity'' and the [[UNSC Home Fleet]], John-117 made his way inside ''Mantle's Approach'' and confronted the Didact, but not before the Forerunner used the Composer to digitize the population of [[New Phoenix]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]]. With the aid of a rampant Cortana, the Master Chief was able to send the Didact plummeting into a slipspace rupture, and destroy his ship with a [[HAVOK]] nuclear warhead. Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to [[Slipspace translocation|translocate]] John away from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own.{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Midnight]]}} Left adrift in space, he was later recovered and brought aboard ''Infinity'' and debriefed by the [[UNSC Security Council]] shortly afterward.{{Ref/Reuse|HE8}}

After falling into the slipspace rupture, the Didact was teleported to the surface of Installation 03, where he quickly recovered and killed Spartan [[Black Team]] and a UNSC science team. Meeting with the [[monitor]] [[859 Static Carillon]], the Promethean commander then entered the [[Composer's Forge]] via a portal, intending to continue his crusade against humankind.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE8|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Issue 8]]''}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE9|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue 9]]''}}

{{Main|Battle of Installation 03|Skirmish in New Phoenix}}

In late July 2557, [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|reformed Covenant]] invaded [[Installation 03|Gamma Halo]] in an attempt to use the Forerunner [[Conduit]] to open [[slipspace portal]]s throughout the installation in order to transport a massive Promethean force onto the ringworld, which would aid in their takeover of Installation 03. Other portals were also opened throughout the galaxy, including one in [[New Phoenix]]. Eventually, the attack was repelled due to the efforts of two [[Headhunters]] and the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] stationed on the installation.<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-striking-features '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Striking Features'']</ref> Meanwhile, researchers at the New Phoenix ONI facility were studying a Forerunner artifact. When the portal opened in the city, Jul's Covenant launched an assault on New Phoenix. [[Unidentified Headhunter|One of the Headhunters]] was tasked with rescuing ONI research team. Upon rescue, they decided that they needed to use the Conduit to close the portals in the city and end the invasion.{{Ref/Level|Id=ss20|SS|[[Mission 20: Serve and Protect|Serve and Protect]]}} The Spartan aided researchers in their effort, fighting past Covenant and Promethean forces, and delivered the Conduit to the Forerunner artifact. The artifact released a charge which shut down all portals in the city. After this, he was extracted by another Spartan.{{Ref/Level|SS|[[Mission 30: Hold the Line|Hold the Line]]}}

After surviving another clash with the Didact on Installation 03, John-117 confronted the Didact in the [[Control Room (Installation 03)|control room]] while the rest of his team returned to their [[Longsword]] fighter. The Master Chief used the [[Activation Index]] to disable the Halo's safety protocols, allowing Static Carillon to eject the entire plate section housing the control room. The segment fell on the Composer's Forge, presumably destroying the Composers housed there. The resulting explosion reduced the Didact to ashes.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE10|HE|Issue=10}}

The campaign ultimately ended in Requiem's destruction when Jul 'Mdama set the [[shield world]] on a collision course with [[Epoloch system|the sun]]. Both sides evacuated the doomed system, each possessing their own half of the [[Janus Key]] though the ''Infinity'' was nearly destroyed due to 'Mdama [[interdiction web|anchoring]] the ship to Requiem using [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|a Forerunner artifact]]. After ONI's failed attempt on her life [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] was convinced that the UNSC was working against her and agreed to work with Jul 'Mdama to accomplish her personal goal of reuniting the halves of the Janus Key to unlock the [[Absolute Record]].<ref name="Spartan Ops">''[[Spartan Ops]]''</ref>{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc13|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue 13]]}}

[[File:Infinity attacked.... by a third time.jpg|thumb|200px|UNSC ''Infinity'' is ambushed by Daniel Clayton.]]

By [[2558|March 2558]], [[Jiralhanae]] raiding attacks along the [[Joint Occupation Zone]]s had significantly escalated due to the Jiralhanae's lack of supplies. Nonetheless, [[Lydus]], the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] of a [[Lydus' clan|Jiralhanae master-pack]], agreed to enter peace negotiations with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]. [[Ealen IV]] was chosen as a place for the negotiations, mediated by the UNSC's [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE1|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue 1]]''}} However, the delegates were attacked by [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|mercenaries]] under the command of Shipmaster [[Vata 'Gajat]]. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] and the delegation's SPARTAN-IV security detail, consisting of Fireteams [[Fireteam Jackknife|Jackknife]] and [[Fireteam Bailey|Bailey]], were forced to defend and evacuate the ambassadors.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE2|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue 2]]''}} The Spartans eventually managed to evacuate the delegates and Vata 'Gajat was forced to retreat, though it came at the cost of many Spartans, including [[Paul DeMarco]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE3|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue 3]]''}}

The events revealed a significant security breach in the UNSC, with Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] exposed as a [[treason|traitor]] along with the implicit presence of a higher-ranking leak within the organization. The mercenary attack itself was a major setback to Thel 'Vadam's efforts to make peace with the Jiralhanae.{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}} Captain Lasky later discovered that the attack on Ealen IV had not been orchestrated by the Covenant remnants, but by [[Daniel Clayton]], a UNSC captain and defector to the [[New Colonial Alliance]] bent on revenge against Lord Hood, who hired Vata 'Gajat and his troops to stage the attack.{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

After their failed assault on Ealen IV, 'Gajat and Captain Clayton lured Admiral Hood and the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} into a trap using a [[freighter]], the ''[[Pilgrims' Pride]]'' which sent out a distress signal that was later picked up by ''Infinity''. An ambush was sprung when the freighter set itself to self-destruct after being towed into one of ''Infinity's'' main bays and launched multiple automated craft that engaged the UNSC forces. The attack was repelled by the SPARTAN-IVs of ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE4|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 4|Issue 4]]''}}

After the ambush, the ''Infinity'' crew discovered that the assault crafts aboard the ''Pilgrims' Pride'' were from the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.{{Ref/Reuse|HE4}} With the ''Spirit's'' possible location found, Lord Hood authorized Palmer to conduct a search-and-rescue in [[Oth Lodon]]'s system. However, Captain Clayton launched a surprise attack against the UNSC flagship using a [[Station at Oth Lodon|Covenant battle station]]'s [[energy projector]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}} The strike disabled ''Infinity'', but Commander Palmer and Fireteam Majestic were able to seize the NCA station. They also destroyed 'Gajat's ship, which was preparing to attack ''Infinity'', killing the mercenary leader.{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc6|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 6|Issue 6]]''}}

Many members of the ''Infinity'' crew were killed in the attack, including [[Bradley|Commander Bradley]], while Fleet Admiral Hood was left paralyzed. Captain Clayton was detained in [[Midnight Facility]] while ''Infinity'' remained under repair for a month.{{Ref/Reuse|esc6}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc7|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue 7]]''}}

As part of their plan to reunite the halves of the Janus Key, Halsey and 'Mdama created a decoy Forerunner artifact that was seemingly compatible with the Key. The artifact was placed in a Forerunner structure on the uncharted planet [[Aktis IV]] along with a fake signal to draw ''Infinity'' to investigate. 'Mdama placed his troops on standby, ready to ambush the UNSC forces once they brought their half of the Janus Key to the planet. The crew of ''Infinity'' acted just as Halsey and 'Mdama had predicted, sending their half to the surface for analysis; however, [[Sali 'Nyon]], a rebel among 'Mdama's ranks, shot the Pelican carrying the artifact down before 'Mdama had given the signal to attack and took the Key for himself. With the ambush botched, 'Mdama's concealed forces revealed themselves and attacked both ''Infinity'' and the Spartans at the Forerunner site, while Jul departed to the planet to personally eliminate the rebels and reacquire the Janus Key.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE14|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue 14]]''}}

The conflict continued for over seven hours, with ''Infinity'' engaged by 'Mdama's fleet while Sali 'Nyon's rebellion raged on in the Covenant remnant's ranks. [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor|One member]] of 'Nyon's faction grew disillusioned with the rebellion, stole 'Nyon's Janus Key half, and offered it to 'Mdama's forces. Dr. Halsey, escorted by 'Mdama's Sangheili, traveled to the planet to reclaim the Key. Meanwhile, the Spartans in the Forerunner structure managed to use the local [[teleportation grid]] to travel to the surface, splitting into two groups with different destinations. Commander Palmer's team spotted the Sangheili defector with the Janus Key and upon overhearing his intentions, she decided to ambush Halsey once she arrived.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE15|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue 15]]''}} Palmer successfully captured Halsey but the doctor managed to cloud the Spartan's judgment and escape with the Janus Key. 'Mdama successfully eradicated all of Sali 'Nyon's followers on Aktis IV, ending the rebellion. Jul had Halsey retrieved and the two recombined the halves of the Janus Key, revealing the location of the Absolute Record. After the Spartans returned to ''Infinity'', Commander Palmer told Captain Lasky that the UNSC had to prepare for the worst with the Janus Key in 'Mdama's possession.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE16|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue 16]]''}}

In September, 2558, [[Ayit 'Sevi]], a Sangheili working with the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]],who  was able to infiltrate inside Jul's faction, provided ONI with information about Jul's progress on locating the Absolut Record. The UNSC then sent in a specialist team of Spartans [[Sarah Palmer]], [[Gabriel Thorne]] and [[Holly Tanaka]], Dr. [[Henry Glassman]] and 'Sevi.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE19|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue 19]]''}} The team infiltrated the ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', hiding aboard a {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} piloted by 'Sevi. When 'Mdama's fleet came close to their destination — a slipspace portal to the Absolute Record, slipspace ruptures materialized into several ships of the fleet, tearing them apart, damaging ''Breath of Annihilation'' as well. The team then fought their way through 'Mdama's Covenant soldiers and captured another Phantom, which they used to travel to the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'', that would successfully enter the portal.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE20|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 20|Issue 20]]''}} Spartan Thorne and Ayit 'Sevi, who was ordered to stay behind and re-establish contact with ONI, returned to ''Breath of Annihilation'', where the two discovered that prisoners from ''Retribution'' were being temporarily transferred to ''Annihilation'', one of which is traitor [[Sali 'Nyon]]. 'Sevi considered using 'Nyon to create a distraction for them.

When ''Retribution'' arrived at the Absolute Record, a [[Forerunner]] [[Contender-class artificial intelligence]] detected the presence of [[Reclaimer]]s aboard the ship. 'Mdama, Halsey, and numerous Sangheili Zealots traveled down to a platform below and met with the AI in order to unlock the Absolute Record. However, sensing the presence of other humans nearby, the ancila used [[Sentinels]] to transport the drop pod Spartans and Glassman were hiding in to the platform and dropped them down beside Halsey and 'Mdama. As Halsey and Glassman began to argue, an impatient Zealot attacked a Sentinel, leading to all the constructs attacking the humans and Sangheili. The AI then proceeded to translocate both groups away, while Jul's soldiers plummeted to their deaths.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE22|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 22|Issue 22]]''}}

As the Contender began asking each party, Halsey seemingly hacked into the AI's system and disabled the ancilla, proceeding to the central chamber of the Absolute Record. With the Record's controls, Halsey ordered the Sentinels to attack Jul and his warriors. Outside the central chamber, Spartans fought off Kig-Yar and protected Dr. Glassman, but soon became cornered. However, an Aggressor Sentinel saved them and revealed it to be the Custodian in the mind of a local Sentinel, asking their help to restore it to its body.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE23|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 23|Issue 23]]''}} The humans escorted the Sentinel to the auxiliary control conduit where they could put the Custodian back in charge of the facility. However, Halsey interfered with the attempt, halting their progress. When Palmer reached Halsey and held her at gunpoint, she was trapped inside a containment field and Halsey escaped trough the portal. Jul and his forces have managed to repel the Sentinels, and he ordered his flagship to fire into the Record, disrupting power across the station, freeing Palmer. Coming out of the portal, Halsey landed on top of the shell of the now reactivated Custodian, who had regained control and caught her, denying her further access to the Record and making the Janus Key  vanish from her grasp.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE24|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 24|Issue 24]]''}}

Following the operation, ONI came to the conclusion that while the San'Shyuum had found some of the Sharquoi and possessed the ability to release them, they lacked the ability to control them as the control device, the ''[[vertex]]'', was hidden away on a [[Forerunner]] installation. As a result, they were never released upon humanity during the Human-Covenant War.

ONI eventually located another hive beneath [[Suraka]] on the planet [[Carrow]] before the planet was reoccupied by both the humans who had once lived there and Sangheili from the [[Operation: SUNSPEAR|destroyed]] [[Sangheili colonies|colony world]] of [[Glyke]]. However, their scans of the hive showed that it had the capacity to hold hundreds of thousands of Sharquoi, although the San'Shyuum appeared to have never found it. ONI was unable to prevent the planet from being resettled without risking major political upheaval in response and hoped that Suraka could act as a buffer to discovery. They also set up [[Gila Station]] on Carrow to monitor the situation and became aware from moles embedded amongst the ex-Covenant that the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] claimed to have located the Sharquoi control device during the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. As a result, ONI formed various contingency plans.{{Ref/Novel|Id=E185|Env|Page=185-191}} Their main contingency plan was to release [[Spartan-II]] [[Gray Team]] who had been retrieved by the Sangheili leader [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] from the ruins of [[Glyke]]. However, the politically awkward nature of the situation kept the UNSC from keeping a fleet nearby in case danger arose from either Hekabe or the Sharquoi.{{Ref/Novel|Env|Page=167-171}}

Arriving in Suraka, Gray Team regrouped with local militia and developed a plan to terminate Hekabe. The Spartans, under cover of the Surakans and the last of Rojka's people, located Hekabe. [[Adriana-111]] shot him in the eye with a sniper rifle, but, due to his augmentations, provided by the ''[[vertex]]'', Hekade survived the hit and returned to the Forerunner facility under the protection of Sharquoi. Melody suggested they should gain help from Thars in order to prevent Sharquoi from leaving this world. However, their meeting ended with deaths of Elites, including Thars himself. In a final attempt to stop Hekabe, Gray Team, along with Melody and Rojka, teamed up with Governor [[Ellis Gass]], who planned to [[Battle of the Sharquoi Hive|infiltrate the Forerunner facility]], cut through the Sharquoi, and use a makeshift EMP weapon created out of an [[M68 Gauss cannon]] and the power core of a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] mounted on a [[M121 Jackrabbit]] against Hekabe. As they reached the Chieftain and fired the EMP cannon, an electromagnetic pulse severed his connection with the Sharquoi, leaving him vulnerable. The Governor then got to Hekabe and tore the ''vertex'' from his head, adjusting it to her own. She used it to make the Sharquoi attack Hekabe and throw him into a pit of lava while making the Sharquoi aboard Hekabe's captured ships crash them, ending their threat. Ellis summoned all remaining Sharquoi to the heart of facility and activated the HAVOK, providing the others time to evacuate. As Gray Team, Melody and Rojka escaped, Ellis detonated the HAVOK, destroying the facility and all its secrets.

After a few days, Gray Team and Melody returned to the [[UNSC frigate]] {{UNSCShip|Welcome to the Snipehunt}}, where the Spartans were offered a choice of reintegration with the UNSC as part of a specialized interspecies strike team under the Office of Naval Intelligence to continue operating deep in the [[Joint Occupation Zone]]. The Spartans reluctantly agreed to work for ONI, asking for a prowler of their own and a list of Covenant weaponry. They were also granted a formal pardon from [[Thel 'Vadam]] for [[Operation: SUNSPEAR|destroying]] [[Glyke]] as part of the deal. After scanning Carrow, the ''Welcome to the Snipehunt'' was able to determine that all of the Sharquoi appeared to have been killed in the nuclear explosion, but the UNSC planned to keep an eye on the desert in case any Sharquoi escaped before the blast.{{Ref/Novel|Env}}

{{Quote|The Mantle of Responsibility shelters all, but only the Created are its masters.|Cortana{{Ref/Reuse|Guardians}}}}

In early October 2558, a long-dead communications hub on [[Kamchatka]]'s surface activated, attracting the attention of Jul 'Mdama and Dr. Halsey. 'Mdama's Covenant established an outpost while Dr. Halsey studied the relay and discovered that her old [[AI]] [[Cortana]] was alive and related to recent attacks on the [[human colonies]].<ref name="HW">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/kamchatka '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Kamchatka'']</ref> She contacted the UNSC about her discovery, and three weeks later they sent the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} to retrieve her. [[Fireteam Osiris]], a Spartan-IV special operations squad, was deployed on the surface. Spartans fought their way through Jul's soldiers, who suddenly came under attack by Prometheans at the same time. The chaos from the Prometheans' rebellion provided Osiris cover from 'Mdama's Covenant, allowing them to sneak to the temple where 'Mdama and Halsey were stationed. After reaching the temple, Osiris killed Zealot guards and then turned to Jul himself, who was killed attempting to fight off Spartan [[Jameson Locke]]. Spartans then took Dr. Halsey under custody and brought her back to the ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Level|Id=osiris|H5|[[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]}} With Jul 'Mdama dead and the Prometheans now against them, his Covenant troops became desperate. Some of them fled  the system, but most of the rest regrouped on [[Sanghelios]], attempting an attack on the [[House of Vadam|Vadam]] clan burial grounds in hopes of a revenge attack against [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]].

On October 23, 2558, Blue Team was deployed from the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} on Pelican with mission to locate and secure ''[[Argent Moon]]'', a derelict ONI research and development station.{{Ref/Level|Id=h5 blue team|H5|[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]}} Boarding the station, Spartans discovered that it was occupied by Covenant scavengers.  Blue Team's initial plan was to fight their way to Central Control, where they could shut off ''Argent Moon's'' gravity and life support systems, and so flush out its decks of any remaining hostiles. However, on their way to Central Control's location, they were ambushed by a [[Mgalekgolo|Hunter]] pair, who broke the catwalk they were on and sent them down to the maintenance tunnels several stories below. At the bottom, Blue Leader [[John-117]] experienced a vision of a seemingly-alive Cortana, urging him to follow her to [[Meridian]].{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}} As Blue Team continued with their mission, they witnessed the arrival of remnants of the Jul 'Mdama's fleet. Finding themselves outnumbered, the Spartans decided to [[self-destruct|scuttle]] ''Argent Moon'', denying it to 'Mdama's Covenant. They proceeded to overload the station's reactor by shutting off its safeties.  The resulting explosion would destroy the station, the local forces of 'Mdama's Covenant aboard, and any warships surrounding it. In order to escape the blast, Blue Team commandeered a {{Class|Winter|prowler}}, the [[ONI Acrisius|ONI ''Acrisius'']] parked in a hangar. Before the evacuation, John radioed the UNSC ''Infinity'' and informed them that he would be reassigning Blue Team to Meridian. However, ''Infinity'' ordered John back to them while another Spartan team was sent to deal with Cortana. Nevertheless, John and the rest of Blue Team decided to head to Meridian and find Cortana, disobeying direct orders. The Spartans then evacuated aboard ''Acrisius'', leaving ''Argent Moon'' as it exploded and killed all local forces of 'Mdama's Covenant in its vicinity.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}}

Osiris arrived at Meridian to find it under attack by Prometheans, with the colonists in desperate need of assistance to fend off the invaders. In exchange for [[Governor Sloan]]'s cooperation, Osiris agreed to help repel the Prometheans' attack while looking for clues about Blue Team's whereabouts.{{Ref/Level|Id=glassed|H5|Glassed}}{{Ref/Level|Id=meridian station|H5|[[Meridian Station (level)|Meridian Station]]}} Accessing Blue Team's abandoned Prowler's data banks led Osiris to the mines underneath [[Apogee Station]], where they discovered a massive Forerunner structure guarded by the [[Warden Eternal]], an [[ancilla]] that served as the protector of the [[Domain]] and claimed his loyalty belonged to Cortana. After eliminating the Warden, Osiris came across a dormant [[Guardian]] as well as Blue Team, who were boarding the Guardian itself.{{Ref/Level|Id=unconfirmed|H5|[[Unconfirmed]]}} After ordering the Spartan-IIs to stand down, to no avail, Spartan Locke attempted to detain the Master Chief. In the resulting hand-to-hand fight, John-117 eventually gained the upper hand and used Locke's own armor restraint against him. After Blue Team entered the Guardian, the construct began to rise from its underground sanctuary. Osiris managed to return to Meridian's surface, where they discovered that the colony was being evacuated. The Spartans fought their way through to their Pelican, boarding it moments before the Guardian entered slipspace, devastating the colony.{{Ref/Level|Id=evacuation|H5|Evacuation}}

Around the same time, [[Commander]] [[Maya Sankar]], an undercover operative of the Office of Naval Intelligence, known among the Insurrectionists as '''FERO''', was tasked with gathering intel on the situation on [[Conrad's Point|one of the recently destroyed colonies]] by infiltrating the [[New Colonial Alliance]], which held a large presence on the colony, with help from the AI [[Black-Box]].<ref name="s2e1">''Hunt the Truth'' ''Season 2, Episode 01: CUBE B-349''</ref> Arriving at Conrad's Point, Maya infiltrated the rebel base, where she discovered the insurrectionist leader [[Ilsa Zane]]. Upon the discovery of Zane, ONI assessed that the opportunity to strike was at its greatest and immediately called in an airstrike on the location. As Maya attempted to leave, Ilsa confronted her and nearly killed her, only being stopped by the beginning of the airstrike. Maya managed to escape and proceeded to an unsanctioned safehouse where she was secretly keeping [[Mshak Moradi]], to seek his help involving the anomalies that apparently destroyed Conrad's Point and allegedly killed the Master Chief John-117. Once Black-Box and Mshak were able to determine the next appearance of the anomalies, Maya headed to [[Laika III]] to attempt to warn the colonists of the impending danger. However, she was attacked by a vengeful Ilsa Zane, who had tracked Maya down. As the Guardian began to rise from its shelter, Maya attempted to broadcast about the destruction to the rest of the outer colonies, warning them that the UNSC would not help them. She was then killed by [[Bostwick]], one of FERO's followers, to preserve her as an icon and a martyr for the outer colonies.<ref>''Hunt the Truth'', ''Season 2''</ref>

In late October 2558, the clash between remnants of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Arbiter's [[Swords of Sanghelios]] on [[Sanghelios]] reached its peak. On October 27, 'Mdama's Covenant managed to corner Thel 'Vadam to the [[Elder Council Chamber]] in [[Nuusra]]. However, the warriors of 'Vadam, with the help from Spartan-IV Fireteam Osiris, broke through enemy lines and evacuated the Arbiter to his base camp.{{Ref/Level|Id=sos|H5|[[Swords of Sanghelios (level)|Swords of Sanghelios]]}} There, Spartan Locke revealed that they arrived on Sanghelios to ask for 'Vadam's help in reaching a yet dormant Guardian at [[Sunaion]], in order to follow Blue Team. According to the plan, developed by Dr. Halsey, the Spartans, with the aid of the Swords of Sanghelios, would obtain a Forerunner [[Constructor]] from one of the Guardian's nearby support stations, which would allow Halsey to activate the Guardian.{{Ref/Level|Id=alliance|H5|Alliance}}{{Ref/Level|Id=enemy lines|H5|Enemy Lines}} As the Constructor took off, the joint force of Spartans and Swords of Sanghelios followed it with a squadron of air vehicles to Sunaion - the last bastion of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant on Sanghelios. While the Arbiter led his forces against 'Mdama's Covenant directly, Osiris destroyed Covenant [[Upisa'weri-pattern Shrike|anti-air emplacements]] to allow the Arbiter's fleet to move in closer to the city. When the Guardian began rising out of the sea nearby, the buildings around were ripped apart. The Spartans then regrouped with the Arbiter, who was engaging Promethean forces, led by the Warden Eternal, now utilizing another physical body. After a lengthy engagement, the five destroyed the Warden and the nearby Prometheans just as the Guardian prepared to leave. While the Arbiter remained behind to finish eliminating Covenant and Promethean forces, Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]] and Dr. Halsey picked up Osiris in the Pelican and flew towards the Guardian. A pursuing Banshee damaged the dropship, though Palmer was still able to drop Osiris off on the Guardian's surface just as it entered slipspace and left Sanghelios. The Guardian severely damaged Sunaion with both its concussive blasts and its departure into slipspace, and parts of the city began collapsing into the water below. However, 'Vadam was successful in leading the Swords of Sanghelios in eliminating the remaining Covenant forces in the damaged city, ending the battle.{{Ref/Level|Id=sunaion|H5|[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]}}

[[File:H5G-Blue Team and Warden.png|thumb|300px|Blue Team faces the Warden Eternal.]]

After arriving on [[Genesis]], a Forerunner [[Builder]] installation, Blue Team fought their way through Covenant forces who had crashed landed there. They eventually reached a structure where they encountered the Warden Eternal, who introduced himself as Cortana's defender and  simultaneously deployed several waves of Prometheans to confront the Spartans. After an extended battle, Blue Team were able to defeat the Prometheans, destroying one of the Warden's bodies in the process. Immediately afterward, Blue Team were contacted by Cortana, who informed them of her intention to uphold the [[Mantle of Responsibility]]. Fighting their way through several more Promethean squadrons, Blue Team eventually reached the structure known as the [[Gateway]], described as a link between Genesis and the Domain.{{Ref/Level|H5|Reunion}}

Fireteam Osiris arrived on Genesis roughly 48 hours later. Upon arriving on the installation, Osiris encountered its [[monitor]], [[031 Exuberant Witness]], who offered to assist the Spartans in retrieving Blue Team and preventing Cortana from claiming the Mantle. After fighting through the battling forces of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Prometheans, Osiris finally reached Blue Team's location and offered to help the Master Chief stop Cortana. In an attempt to prevent John and Blue Team from returning to the UNSC, Cortana transported them to an unidentified location within the interior of the Gateway. Blue Team made their way to Cortana's position after battling through numerous waves of Prometheans and several of the Warden Eternal's bodies. John attempted to persuade Cortana to end her rebellion and return, but Cortana refused and placed Blue Team inside a [[Cryptum]].{{Ref/Level|H5|The Breaking}} Learning what happened, Osiris and Exuberant Witness managed to narrowly wrest the Cryptum from Cortana's control before she could transport it aboard a Guardian and flee into slipspace. Exuberant's Constructors opened the Cryptum and Blue Team was reunited with Osiris, who promptly exfiltrated them to Sanghelios, where they regrouped with Thel 'Vadam and his Swords of Sanghelios.{{Ref/Level|Id=Guardians|H5|Guardians}}

On October 28, 2558, Cortana began to deploy her Guardians from Genesis throughout the galaxy. In tandem, various human AIs that had pledged their loyalty to her cause started to shut down electronic devices and networks on multiple colony worlds. From Genesis, Cortana broadcast an offer of acceptance of her new order and a threat of violence, consummation, and remaking to those who resist. Guardians orbiting Earth and other worlds unleashed massive [[electromagnetic pulse]]s which knocked out the power of every [[orbital defense platform]] and warship, leaving them to drift aimlessly or fall and crash on the surface of planets below. A notable exception was the ''Infinity'', which managed to escape.{{Ref/Reuse|Guardians}} The Created were quick to spread their influence across the galaxy's inhabited worlds, while utilizing Forerunner machinery and UNSC information systems to turn [[terraforming]] equipment and world engines to their own designs.<ref name="armory amore">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Armory Amore'']</ref> After removing its human crew, the Created used [[Lethbridge Industrial]]'s [[Auriga Station]] to build new weapons and tools by constructs loyal to Cortana.<ref name="storm surge">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-storm-surge '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Storm Surge'']</ref> However, due to failsafe measures on [[Installation 00]] the Created were unable to access the Ark.{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos202|Mythos|Page=202}} UNSC logistics AI [[Isabel]] and science personnel were stranded on Installation 00 as a result of the portal closing without warning, forcing them to fight for survival without support from UNSC.{{Ref/Level|Id=A New Enemy|HW2|A New Enemy}}

==Second Ark Conflict==

{{Main|Second Ark Conflict}}

===Return of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire''===

[[File:HW2-Trailer-Banished vs UNSC.png|thumb|300px|left|The clash between UNSC and the Banished on the Ark.]]

A month later, after Cortana unleashed Guardians on the galaxy, on November 25, a violent mercenary faction known as the [[Banished]], led by the [[Jiralhanae]] warlord [[Atriox]], arrived at the Ark and sought to take control of it.<ref name="atriox">''[[Halo Wars 2 Atriox Trailer]]''</ref> They [[Attack on Installation 00|slaughtered]] all of the humans at the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]], leaving no survivors but the logistics AI, [[Isabel]]. Four months later, on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]], after 28 years of drifting, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} arrived at the Ark. Awakened from cryo-sleep, the crew under command of Cpt. [[James Cutter]] attempted to re-establish contact with UNSC. In order to do that, Spartan-II [[Red Team]] was deployed and tasked with investigating the distress signal coming from the surface. There they encountered Isabel and Atriox, who managed to severely wound [[Douglas-042]] and forced the Spartans to retreat back to ''Spirit of Fire''.{{Ref/Level|Id=The Signal|HW2|The Signal}}

In the next few days the ''Spirit of Fire'' ground teams led by the members of Red Team conducted multiple offensives against the Banished, including disrupting their salvage operations,{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} crippling their portal network{{Ref/Level|Id=Lights Out|HW2|Lights Out}} and destroying Atriox's flagship, the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]''.{{Ref/Level|Id=Under the Dark|HW2|Under The Dark}} During this time it was discovered that the Ark's [[Foundry (location)|Foundry]] had created a [[Installation 09|new replacement]] for [[Installation 04]]. A race for the Halo began: Atriox wanted to use it against the humans and Cpt. Cutter planned to disarm it and send it to the location of the original ring with a [[distress beacon]], which would draw UNSC reinforcements to the Ark.{{Ref/Level|Id=The Foundry|HW2|The Foundry}} Eventually the ''Spirit of Fire'' crew got the upper hand and in the final battle over Halo's [[control room]] they eliminated all Banished forces on the ring.{{Ref/Level|Id=The Halo|HW2|The Halo}} The UNSC forces managed to evacuate from Halo just before it entered slipspace for the [[Soell system]]; however, Prof. [[Ellen Anders]] became stranded inside the control room and left the Ark with the Halo, which was intercepted in slipspace by one of the [[Created]]'s [[Guardian]]s. On the Ark, both Cpt. Cutter and Atriox began planning their next moves against each other, not willing to leave the Ark to one another.{{Ref/Level|Id=Last Stand|HW2|[[Last Stand (Halo Wars 2 level)|Last Stand]]}}

 

===Awakening the Nightmare===

{{Main|Outbreak on Installation 00}}

The battle continued for months, draining strength of both sides. Eventually two months after the departure of Installation 09, Atriox gathered a salvage operation and sent them to scout the area near the wreckage of ''[[High Charity]]'' with a warning not to go inside. Arriving at the area, Banished forces under command of Brute brothers [[Voridus]] and [[Pavium]] disabled the Sentinel defense network around ''High Charity''. In order to salvage something valuable, Voridus breached the energy barrier and entered the destroyed Covenant holy city, despite Atriox's warning. However that breach provided an exit to the [[Flood]], which had built itself up from [[Flood spore|spores]] that had survived the detonation of ''High Charity's'' backup reactor and the firing of [[Installation 08]] in 2552 at the end of the Human-Covenant War.<ref name="WN">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/introducing-halo-wars-2-awakening-the-nightmare '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- Introducing Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare'']</ref> Flood forces managed to push back the Banished and take a hold over territory around ''High Charity'', creating a [[Proto-Gravemind]]. Ultimately the surviving Banished forces reactivated the Forerunner defenses and with their help destroyed the Proto-Gravemind before it could become a [[Gravemind]]. Not pleased with their losses, Atriox ordered his lieutenants to secure the breach in the barrier, while the Ark's Sentinels would neutralize all escaped Flood forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=Manifestation|HW2|Manifestation}} The Banished and the Sentinels would ultimately succeed in "scouring" the Flood from High Charity's ruins.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|HSoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}}

 

Later that year, Banished forces [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|raided]] the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[keyship]] ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' which had remained parked on the Ark ever since the [[Battle of Installation 00]] nearly eight years before. Having recovered the access codes from High Charity's systems after scouring the Flood from the ruined city, the Banished sought the three shards of the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal|Slipspace crystal]] that Truth had used to open the Portal at Voi during the [[Battle for Earth]]. To their surprise, the Banished came into conflict with surviving [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]], but they nevertheless completed their mission at the cost of heavy casualties.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoR|SoR}}

 

After recovering the crystal shards, Atriox [[Forerunner entanglement dish|somehow]] managed to make contact with [[Escharum]] in the Milky Way galaxy. Atriox ordered Escharum to the Banished and their allied forces to [[Reach]] and search for and activate the [[Menachite portal complex]]. Once the slipsspace portal was opened, Atriox would use the crystal shards to connect it to the Ark, allowing him to return to the Milky Way and lead a massive Banished force back to take the Ark once and for all. By following [[Blue Team]] during [[Operation: WOLFE|their own mission]], the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] led by [[Castor]] were able to locate the portal complex and activate it with the help of one their human members acting as a [[Reclaimer]]. With a connection established, Atriox was able to fly through the portal in a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich|Lich]] where he revealed that he no longer intended to lead reinforcements to the Ark but to depart with the Banished to attend to a "greater purpose" of some kind while leaving the thousands of troops already on the Ark behind to hold it.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}}

 

Following Atriox's arrival on Reach, Castor's small detachment of Keepers hijacked his Lich in order to fly it back through the [[slipspace portal]] to the Ark. Still fanatically believing in the [[Covenant religion]], the Keepers' intention was to use the Ark to fire the [[Halo Array]] and finally begin the Great Journey. Anticipating that his forces on the Ark would stop the Keepers, Atriox let them go and was extracted by Escharum's [[intrusion corvette]] instead. The Lich successfully flew through the portal before it closed, but Castor remained unaware that some of his human servants were actually the [[Ferret]]s, deep-cover ONI operatives who had successfully been infiltrating the Keepers for more than two years. During a brief encounter with [[Fred-104]] on Reach, [[Ferret]] leader [[Veta Lopis]] secretly passed him a message to relay to ONI warning them of Atriox's impending return and the Keepers' plot.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}}

 

When the Keeper's Lich emerged from the portal, they ended up getting caught in the middle of a firefight between the UNSC, the Banished and the [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]] over control of the slipspace portal.{{Ref/Reuse|DW1}} The Lich crashed, but the Keepers were able to form an alliance with the Covenant, aided by the unexpected return of [[Intrepid Eye]] who had been believed to have been destroyed along with ''[[Argent Moon]]'' during [[Operation: BIRD IN HAND]]. The [[archeon-class ancilla]]'s goal was to use the Halo Array to destroy the [[Domain]] so that the ancilla could render [[Cortana]] vulnerable and destroy her. This would open the way for Intrepid Eye to reseed the galaxy using the Ark's resources and tailor humanity over the course of hundreds of thousands of years to attain the [[Mantle of Responsibility]].{{Ref/Reuse|DW5}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW6|DW|Chapter=6}}

 

Combated by both the Banished and the UNSC, the allied Keeper and Covenant forces managed to reach [[Epsilon Clarion]], the only facility on the Ark capable of firing the Halo Array that was both active and accessible. During [[Battle of Epsilon Clarion|the resulting battle]], the small detachment of Keepers was wiped out, leaving Castor and [[Sangheili]] [[Blademaster]] [[Inslaan 'Gadogai]] as the only survivors. On the orders of Lopis, the ''Spirit of Fire'' [[orbital bombardment|bombarded]] the facility with [[EMP]] [[MAC]] rounds, destroying both Epsilon Clarion and Intrepid Eye who had made herself vulnerable by consolidating herself in Epsilon Clarion's systems rather than remaining spread out as she had been previously. The loss of Epsilon Clarion destroyed the Ark's ability to fire the Halo Array until a new Clarion facility is constructed. The Banished also suffered heavy casualties to [[Clan of the Long Shields]]. However, [[Mark-G313]] was killed by [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] and Castor and 'Gadogai set out to seek revenge against all of their enemies.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW|DW}}

 

Following the defeat of the Keepers/Covenant alliance, the surviving Ferrets accepted an offer from [[Captain]] [[James Cutter]] to join the ''Spirit of Fire's'' crew and aid in their ongoing battle with the Banished.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW5|DW|Detail=Epilogue}}

 

{{Main|Created Conflict#Fallout and early resistance|Created Conflict#Pax Cortana}}

As the [[Created]] solidified their occupation of the galaxy, the Post-Covenant War era began to taper off as the new era of [[Created Conflict#Pax Cortana|Pax Cortana]] was ushered in.{{Ref/Novel|Id=sorchapt1|SoR|Page=43}}

{{Clear}}

===Conflict on Reach===

{{cleanup}}

In [[2559#October|October 2559]], [[Blue Team]] were sent back to [[Reach]] in order to recover some assets from the ruins of [[CASTLE Base]] for Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], assets which held the key to eventually defeating [[Cortana]]. However, they came into conflict with the [[Banished]] and their allied forces who were seeking the [[Menachite portal complex]] in order to bring their leader [[Atriox]] back to the Milky Way from where he was stranded on [[Installation 00|the Ark]] outside of the galaxy. By following the Spartans, the Banished were able to locate and open the [[slipspace portal]] which,{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} combined with Atriox's retrieval of the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal|crystal fragments]],{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} enabled Atriox and a number of his top warriors to return from the Ark and depart with [[Escharum]] to attend to a "greater purpose" of some kind, leaving behind thousands of Banished troops to hold the Ark. However, [[Castor]] and the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] hijacked Atriox's [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]] and flew it to the Ark in order to fire the [[Halo Array]] and finally begin the Great Journey.

During this time, Blue Team succeeded in getting into the ruins of CASTLE Base and retrieving three cryobins and a lockbox for Halsey from where they were hidden in her secret cryovault. Both the UNSC and the Banished fled the planet as a [[Guardian]], drawn by the activation of the slipspace portal, arrived to investigate.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} Using the contents of the cryobins, her remaining [[flash cloning|cloned]] brains from the creation of Cortana, Halsey was able to create [[the Weapon]], an exact copy of Cortana who could perfectly imitate the rouge AI to a Forerunner installation's systems and lock her down for deletion.{{Ref/Game|Id=AudioLogRF04|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Recovered Files 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Recovered Files #04 - The Weapon}}{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}

===Hunt for the Divine Hand===

{{Expand-section}}

{{Main|Battle of Netherop (2559)}}

Learning of a weapon on [[Netherop]] that had once destroyed a [[Guardian]], the UNSC, the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and the [[Banished]] attempted to recover it, encountering UNSC and [[Covenant]] forces that had been left trapped on the planet since the [[Battle of Netherop]] in [[2526]]. After eliminating most of [[Worldmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]]'s forces and capturing Nizat and [[Tam 'Lakosee]], the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios discovered that the weapon, the [[Divine Hand]], was [[Precursor]] technology that Precursor fugitives had used to defend themselves against attack during the [[Forerunner-Precursor war]]. After seeing the devastating power of the weapon for themselves and with the [[Created]] on their way, the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios handed the Divine Hand over to [[Atriox]], hoping that the Banished would destroy themselves attempting to use it, although [[Keely Iyuska]] took samples of the weapon's nanomachines that would be turned over to ONI for study. All three factions evacuated the planet before a Created fleet sent by [[High Auxiliary]] [[Sloan]] could arrive. Nizat and Tam, the last survivors of Nizat's forces, were left marooned once again to die with the alien structure having stopped functioning completely after the [[vacuum energy condenser]] was removed. Facing an inevitable death from infection, starvation, or dehydration, Tam chose to mercy kill Nizat to spare him that fate, ending the threat of one of UNSC's earliest and most dangerous Covenant enemies once and for all.{{Ref/Novel|Out}}

===Battle for the Domain===

{{Main|Battle for the Domain}}

In late [[2559]], the [[Mind transfer|essences]] of the [[Forerunner]]s and [[human]]s trapped in the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]] rose up against the [[Created]] under the leadership of the [[Ur-Didact]]. The Didact ultimately managed to destroy the [[Warden Eternal]], save for any iterations of him that were left trapped in the physical world. These iterations of the Warden Eternal would be left unable to reconnect with his body or the Domain which would drive the construct "quite mad," permanently neutralizing any remaining threat from him.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} The Forerunner and human essences were then able to enter and settle within the Domain, strengthening it to the point that the Domain was able to evict the Created from its halls. The Didact had [[Unnamed Haruspis|the]] [[Haruspis]] seal the [[Gateway]] on [[Genesis]] as well as all links to the Domain in the physical world, keeping the Created and anyone else from abusing its power ever again. Although a few rogue AIs and splinters managed to hide in the interior of the Domain, the Didact and [[Forthencho]] intended to hunt them down and destroy them.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi26|Epi|26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}}

===Conflict on Zeta Halo===

{{Merge|Created conflict#Conflicts at Zeta Halo}}

====Destruction of the ''Infinity'' and Cortana====

{{Main|Battle over Installation 07}}

In [[2559#December|December 2559]], the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} traveled to [[Installation 07]] in order to deploy [[the Weapon]] so that [[Cortana]] could be locked down and transported back to the ''Infinity'' for deletion. However, the [[Banished]] were already present at the ring and caught the supercarrier by surprise, launching [[Battle over Installation 07|massive attack]] that apparently left the ''Infinity'' destroyed and the [[John-117|Master Chief]] dead after he is thrown into space by [[Atriox]]. During this time, the Weapon succeeded in locking down Cortana in the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] and she subsequently sacrificed herself in order to destroy part of the ring and keep it out of the Banished's hands, apparently killing Atriox. Afterwards, leadership of the Banished fell to [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]] who spent the next six months hunting the UNSC's survivors across Halo's surface.{{Ref/Game|Id=Hi|Hi}}

====Hunt for the Endless====

On [[2560#May|May 28, 2560]], the Master Chief was recovered from where he is floating in space by [[Fernando Esparza]] on ''[[Echo 216]]''. The two were quickly attacked by the [[Banished dreadnought]] ''[[Ghost of Gbraakon]]'', but the Master Chief was able to destroy the enemy vessel from the inside by overloading its engines.{{Ref/Level|Hi|Warship Gbraakon}} Heading to the ring's surface, the Master Chief recovered [[the Weapon]] from where she had been waiting in the Foundation's systems for six months.{{Ref/Level|Hi|[[Foundation (Halo Infinite)|Foundation]]}}

 

[[Battle for Zeta Halo|Engaging]] the Banished across the surface of Halo, the Master Chief and the Weapon discovered that they are trying to use the [[Reformation spire]]s to repair the ring and, alongside The [[Harbinger]], find and release the [[Xalanyn|Endless]] who were imprisoned by the [[Forerunner]]s after it was discovered that they had survived the [[Great Purification]]. Battling and killing a number of high-ranking Banished warriors who had committed numerous atrocities over the course of the Human-Covenant War and beyond, the Master Chief and the Weapon were able to stop the Reformation, but Esparza was kidnapped by [[Blademaster]] [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] on Escharum's orders in order to lure the Master Chief into a final battle with the old War Chief who was secretly dying of a terminal illness.{{Ref/Level|Hi|[[The Command Spire]]}} The Master Chief was able to kill both 'Rdomnai and Escharum and rescue Esparza, but even with their leader dead, the Banished were still left in control of a significant portion of the ring.{{Ref/Level|Hi|[[House of Reckoning]]}}

 

Making their way to the partially-rebuilt [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]], the Master Chief and the Weapon confronted and killed the Harbinger, but not before she sent a transmission to an unknown recipient. Escaping, the two link up with Esparza to continued their fight against the remaining Banished forces on the ring. Unbeknownst to the group, Atriox had survived Cortana's attempt on his life, and he unlocked a door elsewhere on Halo leading to [[cylix]]es containing more of the Endless.{{Ref/Level|Hi|Silent Auditorium}}

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]''

*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''