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Second Ark Conflict
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{{Status|Canon}} {{disambig header|the battle in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war]] era|other battles on Installation 00|Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation)}} {{Battle infobox |name=Second Ark Conflict |image=[[File:HW2-Trailer-Banished vs UNSC.png|475px]] |prev=*[[Attack on Installation 00]] {{c|[[Banished]]}} *[[Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire]] {{c|{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}}} |conc=*[[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]] *[[Created conflict]] |next= [[Battle for Zeta Halo]] |conflict=[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]{{Ref/Level|Id=The Signal|HW2|HW2:The Signal|The Signal}} |date=[[2559#March|March 28, 2559]]–{{Ref/Game|Id=Alice Report|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Alice-130 Report}} |place=*[[Installation 00]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[Installation 09]]{{Ref/Level|Id=The Halo|HW2|HW2:The Halo|The Halo}} |result='''Ongoing as of October 2559'''{{Ref/Reuse|DW}}{{Ref/Game|Id=Beyond|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Beyond the Edge}} *[[UNSC]] gains a significant foothold on the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|Beyond}} **[[Atriox]]'s right hand, [[Decimus]], is killed.{{Ref/Level|Id=Lights Out|HW2|HW2:Lights Out|Lights Out}} **[[Banished]] [[flagship]], ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', is destroyed.{{Ref/Level|Id=Under the Dark|HW2|HW2:Under the Dark|Under the Dark}} **[[UNSC]] successfully plants a [[distress beacon]] on [[Installation 09]] but the ring is intercepted by a [[Guardian]] on its way to [[Installation 04]]'s site.{{Ref/Reuse|Last Stand}} *The [[Flood]] are released onto the Ark but contained quickly by the [[Banished]] and then scoured from the rubble of High Charity.{{Ref/Level|Id=Fighting|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|SectionLinkText=Awakening the Nightmare|HW2:Fighting Retreat|Fighting Retreat}}{{Ref/Reuse|Manifestation}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|SoR|Section=Adjunct|Detail=[[Sacrifice]]}} **Discovery in the rubble of High Charity allows [[Atriox]] to flee from the Ark by portal and return to the Milky Way galaxy.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoR|SoR}} *Revelation of [[Dhas Bhasvod]]'s [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|Covenant]] who begin fighting both sides for their own gains.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} *Destruction of [[Intrepid Eye]], [[Epsilon Clarion]] and the Ark's ability to fire the Halo Array, and destruction of [[Castor]]'s detachment of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW|DW}} |side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} |side2=*{{Icon|Banished}} [[Banished]]{{Ref/Level|Id=A New Enemy|HW2|HW2:A New Enemy|A New Enemy}} |side3=*{{Icon|Forerunner}} [[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]{{Ref/Level|Id=Ascension|HW2|HW2:Ascension|Ascension}} ---- *{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} *[[Keepers of the One Freedom]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} |side4=*[[Flood]]{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} |commanders1=*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[James Cutter]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[Commander|CDR]] [[Barre]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW11|DW|Chapter=11}} *[[Lieutenant Colonel|LTCOL]] [[Morgan Kinsano]]{{Ref/Game|Id=PLK|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Kinsano}} *[[Major|MAJ]] [[Elijah Vaughan]]{{Ref/Game|Id=PLMV|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Major Vaughan}} *[[Commander|CDR]] [[Jerome-092]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[Artificial intelligence|Logistics AI]] [[Isabel]] *[[Lieutenant]] [[Veta Lopis]] {{Ref/Reuse|DW}} |commanders2=*[[Warmaster]] [[Atriox]] {{C|Pre-[[Operation: WOLFE|October 12]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[War Chief]] [[Decimus]]†{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} *[[Shipmaster]] [[Let 'Volir]]{{Ref/Game|Id=PLL|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Shipmaster Let 'Volir}} *"[[Colony]]"{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *[[Jiralhanae Warlord|Warlord]] [[Pavium]]{{Ref/Reuse|WCGW}} *[[Voridus]]{{Ref/Reuse|WCGW}} |commanders3=*[[Sentinel#Sentinel Defense Network|Sentinel Defense Network]] *[[Facilitator-class ancilla]] [[Epsilon Resource Facility submonitor]] *[[Facilitator-class ancilla]] [[Epsilon Clarion ancilla]] ---- *[[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] *[[Archeon-class ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]]†{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} *[[Dokab]] [[Castor]] |commanders4=*[[Proto-Gravemind]]†{{Ref/Reuse|Manifestation}} |forces1=*1 {{Class|Phoenix|colony ship|support ship}} **{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ***5,500+ personnel{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} ***[[D81 Condor]]s{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} ****1+ [[G81 Condor]]{{Ref/Reuse|Last Stand}} ***[[B-65 Shortsword]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW1|DW|Chapter=1}} ***[[AC-220 Vulture|Vulture]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Foundry}} ***[[S-14 Baselard|Baselard]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} ***[[F-29 Nandao]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} ***[[D77 Pelican|Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ****4+ G77S-S Pelican gunships{{Ref/Reuse|Last Stand}} ***[[EV-44 Nightingale|Nightingale]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ***[[AV-22 Sparrowhawk|Sparrowhawk]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} ***[[AV-14B Hornet|Hornet]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ***[[M850 Grizzly|Grizzlies]]{{Ref/Reuse|Last Stand}} ***[[Mark II (J) Colossus|Colossus]]es{{Ref/Reuse|Watch}} ***[[M312 Elephant|Elephant]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW2|DW|Chapter=2}} ***[[M808S Scorpion|Scorpion]]s{{Ref/Level|Id=From the Deep|HW2|HW2:From the Deep|From the Deep}} ***[[Mark IX Mantis|Mantis]]es{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} ***[[M400 Kodiak|Kodiak]]s{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} ***[[M650 Mastodon|Mastodon]]s{{Ref/Game|Id=PLM|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Mastodon}} ***[[M9 Wolverine|Wolverine]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Cartographer}} ***[[XRP12 Gremlin|Gremlin]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} ***[[M12 Warthog|Warthog]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ***[[M121 Jackrabbit|Jackrabbit]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Foundry}} ***[[HRUNTING Mark III (B) Cyclops|Cyclops]]{{Ref/Reuse|Ascension}} ***[[Spartan-II]] [[Red Team]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ***[[UNSC Marine Corps]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} ****[[Hellbringers]]{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} ****[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *****[[9th Shock Troops Battalion]]{{Ref/Reuse|PLMV}} ******[[Boomerang Company]]{{Ref/Reuse|PLMV}} |forces2= *Banished fleet{{Ref/YouTube|Id=stream|fYaxRoAf96s|Channel=Halo|VidName=Halo Lore Stream: The Halo Array|Time=4251|Quote=There's some stuff in the secondary materials for Halo Wars 2, regarding the fleet that actually went to the Ark with the Enduring Conviction. […] some of those ships are out at other installations that are near the Ark. So there's the Ark, and there's facilities that are out near the Ark that we don't see - some of those ships are out there doing that. You could say it's a cost function of how many ships we could show in the cutscenes and stuff. Yeah, it [Enduring Conviction] wasn't the only ship that was there. |Quotee=Kenneth Peters|Detail=1:10:51}} *1 {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} **''[[Enduring Conviction]]''{{Ref/Reuse|PLL}} *1+ other starship capable of [[glassing]]{{Ref/Reuse|Watch}} *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]]es{{Ref/Game|HW2|Id=Awakening the Nightmare|Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Awakening the Nightmare}}{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} *[[Seraph]]s *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Spirit|Spirit]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Halo}} *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom|Phantom]]s{{Ref/Game|Id=PLP|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Phantom}} *[[Klavbrig Workshop Shroud]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Under the Dark}} *[[Gydrozka Workshop Blisterback]]s{{Ref/Reuse|One Three Zero}} *[['Ahtulai Workshop Banshee|Banshee]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[Barukaza Workshop Scarab|Scarab]]s{{Ref/Reuse|From the Deep}} *[[Barukaza Workshop Locust|Locust]]s{{Ref/Reuse|From the Deep}} *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith|Wraith]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} **[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith Invader|Wraith Invader]]s{{Ref/Game|Id=PLWI|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Wraith Invader}} *[[Methane Wagon]]s{{Ref/Game|Id=PLMW|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Methane Wagon}} *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Marauder]]s{{Ref/Reuse|One Three Zero}} *[[Reaver]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Lights Out}} *[[Barug'qel Workshop Chopper|Chopper]]s{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} *[[Zaagokelu Workshop Ghost|Ghost]]s{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} *[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Goblin|Goblin]]s{{Ref/Game|Id=PLGG|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Grunt Goblin}} *[[Klavrig Workshop Skitterer]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *Ground forces **[[Jiralhanae]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} **[[Mgalekgolo]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} **[[Sangheili]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} **[[Human]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW5|HDW|Chapter=5|Quote=Some of the Banished humans defected to the UNSC.|Quotee=Arcas}} **[[Huragok]]{{Ref/Reuse|One Three Zero}} **[[Unggoy]]{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} |forces3=*4+ [[Retriever]] Sentinels{{Ref/Reuse|The Halo}}{{Ref/Level|Id=Manifestation|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|SectionLinkText=Awakening the Nightmare|HW2:Manifestation|Manifestation}}{{Ref/Level|Id=Gatecrashers|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER|SectionLinkText=Operation: SPEARBREAKER|HW2:Gatecrashers|Gatecrashers}}{{Ref/Level|Id=WCGW|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|SectionLinkText=Awakening the Nightmare|HW2:What Could Go Wrong?|What Could Go Wrong?}} *Several [[Controller Sentinel]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *Several [[Protector Sentinel (Installation 00)|Protector Sentinels]]{{Ref/Reuse|Ascension}} *Extremely large numbers of [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Under the Dark}} *[[Armiger]] contingents{{Ref/Site|Id=CF100|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/sweet-centennial|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Sweet Centennial|D=24|M=09|Y=2021}} ---- *1 captured [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} *[[Morsam-pattern Seraph]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW4|DW|Chapter=4}} *[[Spirit]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} *[[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|T-52 Phantom]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDW7|DW|Chapter=7}} *[[Type-26 Banshee|T-26 Banshee]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} *[[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|T-26 Wraith]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} *[[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|T-32 Ghost]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HDW2}} *Ground forces **[[Jiralhanae]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} **[[Kig-Yar]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} **[[Unggoy]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} **[[Sangheili]]{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} **[[Human]]s{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} ***[[Ferret]]s {{c|Undercover}} |forces4=*[[Abomination]]s{{Ref/Level|Id=Light|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|SectionLinkText=Awakening the Nightmare|HW2:Light the Fuse|Light the Fuse}} *Blisterbacks{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *AV-14B Hornets{{Ref/Reuse|Manifestation}} *Banished Banshees{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *M808S Scorpions{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *Banished Wraiths{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *M12 Warthog LRVs{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *Marauders{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *Barug'qel Workshop Choppers{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} *[[Flood spawner form]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *[[Seeder infector]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *[[Flood infester form]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} *[[Flood burster]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} *[[Flood combat form]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} *[[Pod infector]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Fighting}} |casual1=*1+ G81 Condor{{Ref/Level|Id=Watch|HW2|Section=Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER|SectionLinkText=Operation: SPEARBREAKER|HW2:Not on My Watch|Not on My Watch}} *Several ground and air forces {{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}}{{Ref/Reuse|Lights Out}}{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}}{{Ref/Reuse|WCGW}}{{Ref/Reuse|Under the Dark}} |casual2=*''Enduring Conviction''{{Ref/Reuse|Under the Dark}} *Overall heavy losses *6+ Banished Scarabs{{Ref/Reuse|Last Stand}}{{Ref/Reuse|The Foundry}}{{Ref/Reuse|From the Deep}} *Moderate losses of Voridus and Pavium's salvage teams{{Ref/Reuse|Light}} *[[Clan of the Long Shields]]{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} |casual3=*3+ Retriever Sentinels{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}}{{Ref/Reuse|WCGW}} *Several Controller Sentinels{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *Several Protector Sentinels{{Ref/Reuse|Gatecrashers}} *Millions of Aggressor Sentinels{{Ref/Reuse|Under the Dark}} ---- *Heavy [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant]] losses **2 Phantoms **3 Seraphs **Heavy ground forces *[[Intrepid Eye]] *Destruction of Castor's small Keepers detachment |casual4=*Total{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} **[[Proto-Gravemind]]{{Ref/Reuse|Manifestation}} }} {{Quote|[[Captain Cutter|Captain]], your [[UNSC Spirit of Fire|troops]] fight with a tenacity that almost matches my [[Jiralhanae]] [[Atriox's Chosen|brothers]]. I'm impressed. You and I are survivors, and I respect that, so I offer you a boon. Take your troops, take your ship, leave now, and I will not hunt you down.|Atriox offering Captain Cutter and his crew a chance to leave peacefully in the ongoing battle.{{Ref/Reuse|The Halo}}}} The '''Second Ark Conflict'''{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=48}} was a large [[battle]] fought between the isolated [[United Nations Space Command]] [[UNSC Armed Forces|forces]] of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} and the hostile mercenary organization known as the [[Banished]] in [[2559]], about six years after the [[Human-Covenant War]] [[Battle of Installation 00|ended]] on the same ancient [[Forerunner]] [[Astroengineering|installation]] known as [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. After mysteriously arriving at the Ark on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]], the long-lost crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' were awoken from [[Cryonics|cryosleep]] and soon came into hostile contact with the powerful mercenary organization. During the battle, the UNSC destroyed the Banished's flagship, the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', and initiated the deployment sequence of [[Installation 09|one]] of the Ark's [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], one of an array of massive ring-shaped superweapons capable of destroying all sentient life in [[Milky Way|the galaxy]], intending to use it to send a [[distress beacon]] to [[Human colonies|human space]]. A new threat emerged on the Ark when Banished salvage teams breached the ruins of ''[[High Charity]]'' and inadvertently [[Outbreak on Installation 00|unleashed]] the [[Flood]] on the Ark once more. The Banished and the Ark's defenses managed to stop the outbreak and contain the Flood once again before it could spread too far. In [[2559#October|October]], the Banished managed to open a portal between their forces on the Ark and their forces in the Milky Way on [[Reach]]. Atriox and some of his warriors took the portal to the Milky Way, while the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] took portal to the Ark in a plot to begin the [[Great Journey]].{{Ref/Reuse|SoR}} This was complicated by the return of the Forerunner {{Class|Archeon|ancilla}} [[Intrepid Eye]]{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} who had previously caused a great deal of chaos in the Milky Way.{{Ref/Novel|LL}}{{Ref/Novel|Ret}} Intrepid Eye and the citadel from which the Halo Array could be fired were both destroyed, along with the Keepers faction, its two survivors set themselves against all of the other factions on the Ark seeking vengeance.{{Ref/Reuse|DW}} ==Background== {{Main|Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire}} {{Quote|Captain, wake up… Something has happened.|Serina's message for Captain Cutter.{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}}}} On [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]],{{Ref/Level|H5G|H5G:Guardians|Guardians}} during the [[Created]]'s [[Subjugation of Earth|subjugation]] of [[Earth]], the [[Excession|portal to the]] immense, extra-[[Milky Way|galactic]] [[Forerunner]] [[Astroengineering|installation]] known as [[Installation 00]], or "the Ark," shut down.{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos202|HM|Page=202}} One month later on November 25,{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}}{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=The Graveyard}} a powerful [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]] mercenary group known as the [[Banished]] arrived at the Ark with a force comprised of [[Jiralhanae]], [[humans]], [[Sangheili]], [[Unggoy]], [[Mgalekgolo]], and [[Huragok]]. The Banished [[Attack on Installation 00|raided]] the [[United Nations Space Command]] research outposts on the surface.{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} While there, the Banished set up bases and salvage operations across the Ark establishing significant control.{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} [[File:Flood infector Spirit of Fire.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A surviving Pod infector starts an outbreak on the ''Spirit of Fire''.]] Meanwhile, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} spent almost twenty-eight years drifting through space{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} after their [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipsace drive]] was destroyed in the [[Battle of Trove]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Escape|HW|HW:Escape|Escape}} A surviving [[Pod infector]] on board the ship started an [[Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire|outbreak]], and a few crew members were infected. As the outbreak began to escalate, [[Smart AI]] [[Serina]] awoke [[Spartan-II]] [[Senior Chief Petty Officer]] [[Jerome-092]] and the two of them quickly quelled the outbreak and sterilized the local Flood infestation. In the aftermath of the outbreak, 7-year-old Serina prepared herself for final dispensation, as per protocol.{{Ref/Comic|Id=SHH|TFS|Story=Something Has Happened}} Many years later, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} arrived mysteriously via [[slipspace]] [[Slipspace portal|portal]] at Installation 00 on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]].{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} [[File:HW2-Anders&CutteraboveArk.png|thumb|left|250px|Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders examine the Ark.]] Less than an hour after the ship's arrival, the crew was automatically awoken from [[Cryonics|cryosleep]] by the vessel's deceased AI Serina, who had left a message for the ship's [[UNSC rank structure|Captain]], [[James Cutter]], informing him of the status of the ship, the crew, and herself. After arriving at the ''Spirit of Fire's'' observation deck, Cutter was briefed on the situation by Professor [[Ellen Anders]], who told him that the [[astronavigation]] system placed them outside the Milky Way. When Cutter discovered they had arrived via slipspace portal, Anders revealed to him that something on the surface of the Ark had opened the portal and pulled them in. Not a second later, Cutter was informed over [[COM|comms]] that a message was being transmitted from the surface through a [[UNSC]] frequency, however, its encryption was too advanced for the crew's outdated decryption techniques. Instead of spending time decoding it, Cutter asked Anders for the source of the transmission and ordered [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Red Team]] to prepare a recon squad and find the source of the signal.{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} With recon [[UNSC Armed Forces|forces]] having been sent in ahead, Red Team was dropped off in a [[Warthog]] on the Ark's south spire.{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} Arriving at a hastily-created barrier, one of the soldiers of [[Recon One]] informed them that they had set charges and so [[Alice-130]] fired on it with the Warthog's [[M46 Vulcan|machine gun]], detonating the charges and destroying the barrier. After destroying another barrier, Red Team eventually encountered a recon team who had been attacked. Pressing on, the [[Spartan]]s arrived at a [[portal]] that had been discovered by the recon soldiers. While the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] stayed behind to guard the portal, Red Team ventured through and were teleported nearby. After passing a couple more portals, the Spartans found themselves at the [[Henry Lamb research outpost]].{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} {{clear|left}} ==Battle== ===Encounter with Atriox=== {{Quote|no=three|Isabel|Douglas-042|Isabel|q1=Oh no.|q2=What was that?|q3=It's him.|Isabel after realizing Atriox had found them{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}}}} Entering the desolate facility, the Spartans discovered a [[holotable]] which [[Jerome-092]] proceeded to activate. Appearing in front of them was the orange [[hologram]] of a smart [[AI]], who expressed her relief that Spartans had arrived. Ordered to identify herself, the AI told Jerome she was [[Isabel]], and that she was in UNSC logistics for the Ark research outpost. After being asked where the survivors are and what the strength of the [[Covenant]] force there was, Isabel displayed confusion and told the Spartans they needed to escape. Unbeknownst to them, their [[Human-Covenant War|war]] with the Covenant Empire had ended [[2553|six years ago]]. Suddenly, they heard a loud thumping sound coming from further within the facility. After [[Data crystal chip|retrieving]] Isabel, Jerome signaled for them to move up into another section of the outpost.{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} [[File:HW2-Chainbreakerslam.png|thumb|left|250px|Douglas and Jerome are forced into the air by Atriox's gravity mace.]] Out of the darkness, [[Atriox|a]] heavily armored [[Jiralhanae]] grabbed Alice by the neck and lifted her up before throwing her to the side. As the other two Spartans began firing on the massive Brute, he slammed [[Chainbreaker|his]] [[gravity mace]] into the ground, sending them into the air and allowing the Brute to strike Jerome, launching him to the side as well. Using his mace, the Jiralhanae pulled [[Douglas-042]] in and slammed the supersoldier into the ground behind him. Alice ran back up from behind the Brute, firing her [[M6C magnum|pistol]] at the same time, before being knocked to the side. Recovering, Douglas gripped his [[M90 shotgun|shotgun]] but was kicked away before he could use it. Armed with a [[combat knife]], Jerome approached the Brute, dodged one of his strikes, and stabbed him before once again being struck away. Again, Alice fired her pistol at the alien but was deflected by the Brute's arm. Douglas picked up his shotgun again, but before he could fire it, the Jiralhanae knocked it out of his hand. Opting for his knife, Douglas managed to stab the Brute twice before having his shoulder crushed by the ursine's grip. As the Spartan screamed an agonizing cry and held his shoulder in pain, the Brute reactivated his gravity mace and, as Douglas started getting back up, struck him in the chest, launching him through the air and causing his helmet to come off. Removing the knife from his abdomen, the Jiralhanae picked up the helmet and crushed it, musing over the fact that his suspicion that Spartans were merely [[human]] was correct. As Alice and Jerome approached the severely wounded Douglas, Recon One reported that there were multiple hostiles approaching Red Team's location. With the pair deciding to leave, Alice began dragging Douglas, who soon fell unconscious. Exiting the research outpost, the pair were greeted by the sight of hundreds of warriors of various species surrounding them on the cliffs above. As Alice put Douglas in the Warthog and manned the gun, Jerome requested [[Archer missile]]s be launched on their position. As Jerome drove away from the facility, Alice fired at the pursuing Ghosts and the other ground forces teleporting around them. The Spartans soon reached a [[light bridge]], which Alice proceeded to activate. With enemy ground forces approaching, Alice volunteered to hold off them off while Jerome and Douglas crossed the bridge and were picked up by a [[D77 Pelican|Pelican]].{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} {{clear|left}} ===Getting up to speed=== {{Quote|If we don't stop Atriox now, we leave the galaxy at the mercy of a monster. So no, Isabel, we won't be running anywhere today.|Captain James Cutter to Isabel{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}}}} [[File:PL history lesson.png|250px|thumb|The crew learns how the [[Human-Covenant War]] ended and the [[Treaty of 2552|Sangheili alliance]] from Isabel.]] After returning to the ''Spirit of Fire'', Jerome inserted Isabel's data chip into the [[bridge]] holotable and introduced her to Captain Cutter. The captain asked Isabel to report on what happened and what they're up against. Despite her apprehensiveness to talk, she told Cutter that the Brute the Spartans fought was called Atriox, the leader of the [[Banished]], a Covenant [[Covenant remnants|splinter group]] who fought the empire simultaneously with humanity. Isabel exclaimed that if the entire Covenant couldn't contain him, then the ''Spirit of Fire'' didn't stand a chance and that they needed to escape far away as quickly as possible. However, Cutter told her that while they did only have one ship, it was all they may have left and that he refused to leave the galaxy at the mercy of Atriox. As he put the vessel in combat-ready mode, the bridge crew ran back to their stations ready to fight and Jerome left to get prepared.{{Ref/Reuse|The Signal}} {{clear|left}} ===Assault on the salvage operation=== [[File:HW2 A New Enemy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Jerome-092 leading the attack on Decimus' salvage operation.]] {{Quote|no=two|Jerome-092|Isabel|q1=I'm guessing that's Decimus.|q2=He looks bigger than the last time I saw him.|Jerome-092 and Isabel during the former's encounter with Decimus{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}}}} After conferring with Isabel on the best option for attacking the Banished chain of command, the AI told Cutter of Lieutenant [[Decimus]], the overseer of a ship graveyard salvage operation near the Henry Lamb research outpost.{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} Deciding that they should hit the Banished with [[Attack on Decimus' Salvage Operation|a surprise attack]] and then establish a base of operations, Cutter deployed [[Strike One]], a unit of eight Marines led by Jerome, to the installation's surface. After fighting through Banished forces, the strike team arrived at a Forerunner tower giving off a massive power signature, which they proceeded to secure on Anders' recommendation. Pressing on, the Marines and Jerome made their way through the ship graveyard left behind from the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle of the war]] before reaching a Banished base. Managing to overrun the base, UNSC forces eliminated the Banished forces and destroyed the base before preparing to set up their own in its place.{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} After the Marines established the base, Isabel alerted them and Captain Cutter of a large energy build-up directly above. Despite being hit by the [[energy projector]] of the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', the Banished's {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, the base sustained only non-critical damage, allowing Strike One to continue north in the direction of the rest of Decimus' salvage operation.{{Ref/Reuse|A New Enemy}} While fighting their way through several canyons of Banished forces, Strik