Seaward

Seaward, formally designated G 617 g or G617 g1 by the Forerunners, was 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.

Background
It was capable of supporting life, but possessed no indigenous fauna. A Primary Pioneer Group was dispatched to investigate, making a post landfall report. For one reason or another however, it failed to make a follow up report. It appears that a medium intensity military expedition was sent in after 333 hours (or about 14 days).

Despite previous assumptions and conjectures, the world could support sentient life despite the lack of fauna, which they intended to review more closely. The protocol allows them to dispatch a secondary batch of researchers called the Advance Survey Team-Alpha. After a week of no communication, the Forerunners who were remotely monitoring this new discovery became worried.

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. No one knows why the Flood landed on G 617 g, but it is believed that they, due to their vastly different physiology, traveled to this galaxy from another.

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.

List of appearances

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