Editing Secessionist Union

|formed=c. [[2487]]{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}}

|dissolved=c. [[2502]]: Assassination of leader Jerald Ander{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}}

The '''Secessionist Union''' was an alliance of [[human]] [[insurrectionist]]s that desired freedom from the [[Unified Earth Government]].<ref name="hgn">''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', [[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|p. 122]]</ref> The Secessionist Union played a large part early in the [[Insurrection]], having infiltrated the UEG's [[Colonial Military Authority]] and having taken over [[Eridanus II]] from [[Eridanus Government|its government]], leading to the [[United Nations Space Command]] launching [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]].<ref name="mythos55">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', p. 55</ref>

Having been recently established in [[2487]], the Secessionist Union and the [[People's Occupation]] submitted formal requests on the behalf of a dozen worlds, demanding sovereignty from the [[Unified Earth Government]]. The UEG denied both groups' requests, leading to rising tensions and increased violence among the [[Outer Colonies]].{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}}

[[File:HM-RobertWatts.png|thumb|200px|Former [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] Robert Watts served in a leadership role in the Secessionist Union prior to the founding of the United Rebel Front.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}}]]

 

At the dawn of the Insurrection, the guerrilla cells of the Secessionist Union assaulted colonial embassies and government buildings.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}} In [[2494|June 2494]], supplied by sympathizers within the [[Colonial Military Authority]]'s command hierarchy,<ref name="enc44">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 44-45 (2011)</ref> Colonel [[Robert Watts]] led [[Eridanus secessionists|forces of the Secessionist Union]] on the Outer Colony of [[Eridanus II]] in an effort to overthrow the UEG and the [[Eridanus Government]]. With Watts orchestrating a series of military operations and [[Terrorism|terrorist]] attacks, local authorities on Eridanus II had been overrun by the Secessionist Union before the CMA or the [[United Nations Space Command]] could respond. By [[2495|January 2495]], Eridanus II was effectively under the control of the Secessionist Union. On [[2496|January 12, 2496]], the UNSC would respond with [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]], an operation which resulted in Eridanus II returning to UEG control, with the remnants of the rebel forces being driven to the [[Eridanus system]]'s [[asteroid]] belt.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}}

By [[2496]], a number of Secessionist Union agents were working undercover in various high-level positions within the Colonial Military Administration. However, [[ORION Project]] operators managed to secure the [[Wikipedia:Non-official cover|non-official cover]] list of these operatives during [[Operation: VERITAS]]. In response, the UNSC immediately moved to shut down the CMA, marking the beginning the downfall of the organization.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans ''Halo Waypoint'': Spartans]</ref> The Secessionist Union's leader, [[Jerald Ander]], was assassinated on [[Harvest]] in [[2502]] by [[Corporal]] [[Avery Johnson]] during [[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]], a UNSC operation designed to eliminate rebel leaders.{{Ref/Reuse|hgn}} Without their leader, the Secessionist Union fell into chaos and much of the faction would ultimately dissolve, though Ander became a martyr to various rebel cells throughout the colonies.{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}}

===Legacy===

By [[2509]], numerous rebel cells combined under the leadership of Watts, forming the [[United Rebel Front]].{{Ref/Reuse|mythos55}} As of [[2526#March|March 2526]], some vestiges of the Secessionist Union still remained as [[Nanci Ander]] represented them while attending a conference hosted by Captain [[Lyrenne Castilla]] aboard the ''[[Bellicose]]''. At the meeting, envoys from various prominent Insurrectionist faction discussed their next moves with the appearance of both the [[Covenant]] and the [[SPARTAN-II program]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS6|HSS|Chapter=6}}

 

==Production notes==

According to the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', the Secessionist Union and the [[People's Occupation Government]] are synonymous.<ref>''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 44 (2011)</ref> Both organizations are originally mentioned on [[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]] of the ''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', in the profile of Jerald Mulkey Ander; Ander is noted as being the "Section Head" of the Secessionist Union, with ties to the People's Occupation Government and [[Harvest for Harvesters]]. Before the release of the ''Encyclopedia'', Halopedia had mistakenly regarded the two organizations as synonymous; while this mistake was later corrected, the error was repeated in the ''Encyclopedia'' as much of the book's content is obviously [[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)#Reception and errors|based upon]] that of Halopedia. As the ''Encyclopedia''{{'}}s claim is based on a fan mistake, Halopedia regards the two groups as separate as is implied in the original source.

*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''

**''[[Free Frontier Education: The Sundered Legion]]'' {{Mo}}

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