Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in the country of Australia on Earth. The city serves as the capital of the Unified Earth Government. Notably, Sydney is host to the UNSC's headquarters, a massive base called HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6. The base, nicknamed "the Hive", stretches three kilometers underneath the surface. It is where members of the UNSC Security Council discuss matters concerning the safety of the UNSC, Earth, and its colonies.

Sydney is also the location of the Sydney Synthetic Intellect Institute, or "Double S.I.". SSII worked on the creation of AI constructs, theorizing new approaches and calculating the details necessary for the creation of the AI. It was also home to an AMG Transport Dynamics facility.

History
Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast and is the state capital of New South Wales; it was also the site of the first European colony in Australia, established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, leader of the First Fleet from Britain. The city is built around Port Jackson, which includes Sydney Harbour, hence the nickname, "the Harbour City". It is Australia's largest financial center and the economic capital. Sydney is a major international tourist destination, often referred to as the international gateway of Australia. The metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and contains many bays, rivers and inlets. By the 26th century, Sydney's distinctive landmark, the Sydney Opera House, still stands in the Sydney Harbour.

During the Battle of Earth in 2552, Sydney was devastated by Covenant forces due to its importance to the UNSC war effort. By January 26, 2553—Australia Day—only one flagpole remained standing in Sydney Harbor. However, Facility Bravo-6 survived the battle undamaged.

Much of the city was rebuilt by 2558, the Sydney skyline now often populated by civilian transports ferrying goods from ships in orbit and F-41 Broadsword patrols, with the frigate standing guard in the lower atmosphere above Sydney. In October 2558, the Created sent a Guardian to neutralize forces opposing the newly established empire's rule. When the Guardian arrived over Sydney, Plateau and the patrolling Broadswords engaged the massive construct, though the fighters were easily destroyed and the frigate's armaments proved ineffective. The Guardian proceeded to release an electromagnetic pulse across the city, disabling Plateau and sending the frigate falling towards Sydney. The city's fate is unknown; if Plateau's engine core detonated upon impact, Sydney would have been destroyed. Only a handful of individuals, including Terrence Hood and Serin Osman, escaped Sydney.

Locations

 * UNSC HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6
 * Sydney Synthetic Intellect Institute
 * Sydney Central Bank
 * Wheatley University
 * The Parthenon

List of appearances

 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark
 * Halo: Fractures
 * Rossbach's World
 * Halo: Smoke and Shadow