Seaward

Seaward, formally designated G 617 g, is a planet in the G617 system situated within the near border region of the galactic halo. The planet was the site for the first contact between Forerunner and Flood forces.

Description
Seaward was a large planet at the edge of the Milky Way, secret to all save a small number of Forerunner individuals. It was capable of supporting sentient life, but possessed no indigenous fauna. The planet had a unique optical effect caused by its two suns, called Twofire. As the suns fell below the horizon, their combined light would be reflected in multiple colors in the clouds above.

The planet was officially designated an uninhabitable world to allow a small community of wealthy Forerunners to use it as a "private, expensive sanctuary". Supplies were regularly delivered to the settlement via transorbital balloon; the colony's inhabitants exported artwork and energy supplies in return. Aside from these transactions, the planet was largely left alone and ignored. The planet's inhabitants had given up most of the Forerunners' advanced technology, including personal armor, in favor of a more primitive lifestyle. Most of the Forerunners in the settlement did this out of a desire to live close to nature, and to eventually age naturally and die.

Although the planet already possessed a secret community of wealthy Forerunners, it appears that the majority of the Forerunner empire was oblivious to the planet's existence. After the planet was publicly "discovered", a Primary Pioneer Group was dispatched to investigate and made a post landfall report. For one reason or another, however, it failed to make a follow up report.

In their response to the initial testimony and report, those monitoring it advised that they would send a military detachment to the site shortly to uncover why their two exploratory teams have halted communication. That would be the last time the Forerunners had any contact with G617g, and it was the beginning of the largest war their galaxy would ever see, lasting about 300 years.

Locations

 * Wharftown

Trivia

 * There are references to 7 in "G 617 g". "g" is the seventh letter of the alphabet and as such, 6+1+7=14=7+7. There is also a reference in 333 hours, approximately 14 days. 7x2=14
 * The name of the planet contains a Biblical reference. It is presumably named after Genesis 6:17, which says: And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
 * As the nature of the pioneer group is unclear in the Terminals, it is entirely possible that the community of Forerunners living on Seaward (G617 g) were, in fact, the primary pioneer group or a group of Forerunners associated with it.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Soma the Painter