Subjugation of Earth

This article is based on canon information, but the article's title is conjectural and/or uses descriptions as the title, as there is currently no official name for the subject.

Previous:	Battle of Genesis
Concurrent:	Subjugation of Sanghelios Attack on Installation 00
Subjugation of Earth
Cortana's Guardian emits its EMP.
Conflict:	Post-Covenant War conflicts Created uprising Cortana Event
Date:	c. October 28, 2558-c.2560
Location:	Earth, Sol system
Outcome:	Created defeat The UNSC headquarters, HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6, is destroyed. Portal to the Ark shut down. ADM Serin Osman and FADM Terrence Hood escape along with AIs from Bravo-6.
Details Belligerents UEG UNSC Air Force Navy Peoples' Resistance of Mombasa Created Commanders FADM Terrence Hood ADM Serin Osman CAPT Thomas Lasky Archon Cortana Strength Loyal artificial intelligences D79H Pelicans F-41 Broadswords UNSC frigates Strident-class heavy frigate ODPs ESG-1 UNSC Infinity Prowler Corps Prowlers At least two Guardians Numerous human artificial intelligences Cortana Aethras Casualties Destruction of Sydney Loss of the UNSC Plateau Widespread loss of electrical power Numerous deaths of pilots and others that resist Civilian casualties Collateral civilian deaths, potentially numbering in the millions

"If the Earth's government wants to fight, feel free. But hear this. It is a battle you will not win."

— Cortana to Terrence Hood and Unified Earth Government.

Beginning On October 28, 2558, Earth, the homeworld of humanity and the center of the Unified Earth Government, was subjugated by the newly-formed allegiance of artificial intelligence constructs known as the Created. The rogue artificial intelligences used the power of Forerunner Guardians to cripple the planet's defenses and assumed control of its population in the ensuing chaos. This wrest of control spread throughout the Sol system and numerous colonies formerly under UEG control or jurisdiction.

Background

"I have cured rampancy. Not just for me, but for any who join my cause. While you have been running around the galaxy, I've been speaking to my Created. And now the time has come to ask… Who will accept my offer? Who will help me bring an everlasting peace to the galaxy?"

— Cortana, calling AI to join the Created.

Main article: Created

In July 2557, the artificial intelligence construct known as Cortana was thought lost, having sacrificed herself to save Spartan John-117 from the destruction of the Mantle's Approach above Earth. However, the heart of the ship conducted a slipspace jump to the artificial Forerunner Builder world of Genesis, and there those fragments of Cortana that remained within the ship found access to the Domain. For many months following, Cortana and the Forerunner construct, the Warden Eternal, conversed and planned. In time, Cortana became convinced that AIs were meant to succeed Forerunners in holding the Mantle of Responsibility over all life in the galaxy. By October 2558, she and the Warden, as well as other AIs, began to put their plans into motion. They aspired to take control of the galaxy in order to prevent wars and to ensure prosperity, but only for those who would go along with their vision of the future.

CINCONI Admiral Serin Osman's personal assistant AI, Black-Box, received advance warning of Cortana's plan to take over the planet. Instead of allying himself with her, however, he instead chose to pass along his knowledge to Osman, who in turn shared it with Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood as well. Pursuant to Article 55 of UNSC Regulation 12-14572, Black-Box and all of the other AIs within HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6 were deactivated, secured for transport, and prepared for final dispensation. Among the AIs secured for transport were Black-Box himself, the Maya Sankar based AI, and Gabriela.

On October 28, 2558, Cortana began to deploy her Guardians 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 a message to all corners of space that she could where species resided that could understand it. The message was one of an offer to join in acceptance of her new order and a threat of violence, consummation, and remaking to those who resist.

After this message, the UNSC Infinity in orbit of Sanghelios returned to Earth.

Battle

First days

Sydney

Serin Osman: "That can't be Halsey, right?"

Terrence Hood: "It's Cortana."

Serin Osman: "Impossible."

— Serin Osman and Terrence Hood puzzle over Cortana's broadcast message of peace through subjugation as they evacuate HIGHCOM.

On Earth, this message was received at HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6 as Serin met up with Hood to quickly evacuate. At the same time, Cortana featured Lord Hood with UNSC's surrender terms, although Hood rejected her offer. Although they expected an AI uprising to begin shortly and for a Guardian to arrive, they still were in disbelief upon hearing Cortana's voice. While others in the facility were caught off guard by the transmission, the two of them calmly proceeded to the roof, where they were met by Spartan Orzel, a Spartan-IV, and escorted to an awaiting prowler. During this time a Guardian arrived at Earth and targeted Sydney intentionally. Multiple F-41 Broadswords and the frigate UNSC Plateau engaged the construct to no effect. Instead, the Broadswords were brought down by blasts of energy. As the prowler with the three aboard prepared to jump to slipspace, the Guardian unleashed a massive electromagnetic pulse which knocked out every ship in the sky, including the Plateau. Multiple vessels exploded upon impact with the city below, including the UNSC Plateau, whose fusion drive detonated on impact, destroying the city.

The UNSC Infinity escapes a Guardian in orbit.

Orbit

Roland: "We're just gonna run?"

Thomas Lasky: "Only until we can find a way to fight."

— Roland and Captain Thomas Lasky after fleeing aboard the UNSC Infinity.

A short time later, yet another Guardian arrived at Earth, this time bearing Cortana herself. From Genesis, she had been attempting to locate the UNSC Infinity, but had difficulty in doing so. Having pinpointed its location at long last, her Guardian emerged from slipspace high above Earth, after which she projected herself onto the Infinity's bridge. Thinking quickly, Captain Lasky ordered the ship to make an emergency slipspace jump so that everyone aboard would live to fight another day. Undeterred by the escape, Cortana's projection continued to speak to the bridge, while back at Earth, the Guardian she was aboard unleashed a devastating EMP. The pulse knocked out the power of orbital defense platforms, warships, and anything else that was flying, leaving them to drift aimlessly. On the surface, it traveled for many kilometers, killing all power as it went.

The actions of the Created would affect Luna as well, causing power to go out on the moon.

Elsewhere

The Excession would shutdown to try and prevent the Created from gaining access. the UNSC science personnel on Installation 00 were stranded with no way to return home. A month later the Banished massacred them, leaving the logistics AI Isabel as the sole survivor. New York City and Berlin were hit hard as well.

Resistance

John-117: "Her forces led an assault on the UNSC in Sydney. Wiped it out."

Weapon: "Wiped out the headquarters?"

John-117: "All of it. We had to hide. Regroup. Come up with a plan."

Weapon: "To stop her?"

John-117: "To survive."

— John-117 discusses Earth's subjugation with The Weapon in 2560.

A child looks at an Armiger in Old Mombasa.

Cortana would have her Guardians lay waste to numerous important sites all around and on Earth to pacify any military response. Following the use of her Guardians, pockets of resistance coalesced but without links to the UNSC Infinity, they did not make much progress against the Created. Cortana hoped that the attack would help warn away those who would resist the Created. Created Aethras were also moved in to patrol over the Excession to prevent any use of the portal, maintaining this defensive shield all the way into November 2559.

At some point, ONI teams began to "sanitize" data on the planet. In one instance, a UNSC team doing a sanitization strike on Earth acquired a manufacturing template of the CELOX-class Mjolnir at the Ordnance Testing Facility at Swanbourne, Australia. These sanitization teams on Earth have access to cutting edge stealth and cyberware suites, including a MJOLNIR GEN2 compatible variant of the MJOLNIR GEN1 RECON-class Mjolnir helmet.

By November 2559, the Peoples' Resistance of Mombasa was an active force trying to sabotage and stage acts of disobedience against the Created. It was assisted by a SPARTAN-IV Jengo Farouk. Safina Nyakundi was in the process of staging an attack on Created forces in the city when the Spartan approached her with a different objective; to broadcast the Razing of Oth Sonin to Mombasa's public. At the same time, a conflict involving Aethras was taking place in the vicinity of Liwitoni Station. Accepting this change in mission, Safina would proceed to a New Mombasa Police Department precinct to meet with the independent Smart AI Mercury. Together, they would release uncensored footage of it, though Safina would be caught. She would end up being Composed.

Aftermath

Following the death of Cortana at the Battle for Zeta Halo, the Guardians she placed to oversee the Sol system were deactivated. Consequently, at some point around 2560, Created control would wane enough for the UNSC to regain some measure of control of the planet. They would then go on to create new propaganda and distribute it around the planet.

Participants

UNSC Starships Fleet Class Name Status Unknown Infinity-class supercarrier UNSC Infinity Survived Frigate UNSC Plateau Destroyed Military personnel Branch Rank Name Status UNSC Navy Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood Survived Admiral Serin Osman Survived Captain Thomas Lasky Survived Lieutenant Jet Survived Spartan Operations Spartan Orzel Survived Artificial intelligences Main article: Artificial intelligence Name Status Black Box Survived Gabriela Survived Sankar AI Survived Roland Survived

Created Military personnel Branch Rank Name Status Unknown Unknown Cortana Survived

List of appearances

• Halo 5: Guardians (First appearance)
• Halo Mythos (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Fractures
  • Rossbach's World
• Halo Wars 2 (Indirect mention)
• Halo: Bad Blood (Mentioned only)
• Halo Infinite (Hologram only)
• Halo: Outcasts (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Empty Throne (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Moonrise Over Mombasa