Balaho

Balaho is the Unggoy homeworld and it is the fifth planet orbiting the star Tala. It is a mostly-frozen planet with temperatures ranging from -33°C (-27°F) to 40°C (104°F) and two moons, Buwan and Padpad. Being a terrestrial planet with significant amounts of methane in the atmosphere explains why Unggoy wear a methane tank while they are on other planets. This gas prevents much of the world from being seen from orbit. The parts of the surface that are not covered by polar ice caps or fresh water are brackish tidal flats where there exist naturally occurring pillars of fire. Most of the Unggoy live in this area where the cold season is not as harmful to them. The world is still recovering from post-activation environmental collapse caused by massive global over-industrialization. This world was almost glassed by orbital bombardment due to the Grunt Rebellion. It was this threat that made the Grunts surrender during the Grunt Rebellion. Before it was found by the Covenant, Balaho was mostly dominated by Unggoy tribes.

The planet was also the site of the Sixteenth Unggoy Disobedience. The Unggoy, once again disobeying the Covenant, were put down on Balaho during a battle in which the Covenant, commanded by an Arbiter, lead the Unggoy back to the order of the Covenant.

It is unknown which event happened first, as there are not any related sources.

Sentient

 * Unggoy

Semi/Non-sentient

 * Shade Crab
 * Zap-Jellie
 * Mud Wasp

Trivia

 * Balaho means 'name' in Tagalog, which is the language of the Philippines. Unggoy means 'Monkey' in the same language.
 * In Philippine history, the name of the planet "Balaho" could be related or from the word Balahok or simply "Huck's" or "Hook's" which is a name of a well armed, well organized and well known group of Philippine rebels during The 2nd World War.
 * Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, about 23 times stronger than CO2, which has reason to confuse why Balaho is so cold if the atmosphere is composed mainly of it.
 * The most likely explanation of the above is that Balaho is much further away from Tala then other habitable planets are from their suns and was only warm enough to support life because of its methane atmosphere. This also explains why it hadn't been engulfed by Tala when it expanded into a blue supergiant.