Breaking Strain

"I've been following the odyssey of the Master Chief since the very first Halo, which hooked me in with its epic scope and rich game world. I'm thrilled that I finally get to tell a story in a universe that has given me so much fun as a gamer - it was great to revisit the end of the Covenant War in my tale Breaking Strain, a human drama about the fears that can divide us and the hopes that can unite us."

- James Swallow

Breaking Strain is one of several short stories in Halo: Fractures: Extraordinary Tales from the Halo Canon. Written by James Swallow, it takes place during the final days and aftermath of the Human-Covenant War in 2553.

Appearances
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters|
 * Aoife Larsson {{1st}}
 * Channell {{Fm}}
 * Chong {{Fm}}
 * Darren Leone {{1st}}
 * Denton {{1st}}
 * Douglas {{1st}}
 * Farrant {{Fm}}
 * John-117 {{Mo}}
 * Kevin-A282 {{1st}}
 * Kyle Stallock {{1st}}
 * Maher {{1st}}
 * Robertson {{1st}}
 * Rosarita {{Fm}}
 * Ryan Larsson {{1st}}
 * Slight List {{1st}}
 * Wild {{1st}}
 * Yar 'Dosaan {{1st}}


 * title-2=Species|
 * Human
 * Huragok
 * Jiralhanae {{Mo}}
 * Kig-Yar {{Mo}}
 * Mgalekgolo {{Mo}}
 * Sangheili
 * Unggoy {{Mo}}


 * title-3=Organizations|
 * Covenant {{Mo}}
 * Swords of Sanghelios
 * Unified Earth Government
 * United Nations Space Command
 * UNSC Navy
 * Office of Naval Intelligence {{Mo}}
 * SPARTAN-III program
 * Alpha Company
 * Officer Candidate School {{Mo}}


 * title-4=Locations|
 * Earth {{Mo}}
 * Ixion {{Fm}}
 * Kholo {{Mo}}
 * Losing Hand {{1st}}
 * Meridian {{Mo}}
 * Nouveau Montreal {{Fm}}
 * Reach {{Mo}}
 * Sigma Octanus IV {{Mo}}


 * title-5=Events|
 * Great Schism {{Mo}}
 * Human-Covenant War {{Mo}}
 * Battle of Kholo {{Mo}}
 * Battle of Meridian {{Mo}}
 * Battle of Sigma Octanus IV {{Mo}}
 * Fall of Reach {{Mo}}


 * title-6=Weapons|
 * M6 magnum
 * MA5 assault rifle
 * Point-defense gun
 * SRS99 sniper rifle
 * Type-1 energy sword
 * Type-25 plasma pistol


 * title-7=Vehicles|
 * {{Class|DAV|light corvette}} {{1st}}
 * The Lookout {{1st}}
 * M12 Warthog
 * M274 Mongoose
 * Pelican {{Mo}}
 * Phantom {{Mo}}
 * {{UNSCShip|Dark Was the Night}} {{1st}}


 * title-8=Technology and equipment|
 * Artificial intelligence
 * Data pad
 * MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor
 * Waypoint {{Mo}}