Ven III

Ven III is a planet located on the outskirts of the Joint Occupation Zone and the third planet in the Ven system.

History
During the Human-Covenant War, the planet was used on and off by the Covenant as a staging area for large offensives. At the conclusion of the war, Ven III was left unclaimed. One of the planet's many underground caverns became a hot spot for numerous Kig-Yar smugglers, black market arm dealers, and slavers. A nearby research laboratory was also occupied by Kig-Yar, although they were killed by a biological agent in early May 2558. A lone Sangheili survived and fled the laboratory carrying the bioweapon in a containment cylinder.

On May 8, 2558, a UNSC spy drone was scouting the surface of the planet when it discovered the deceased Kig-Yar. Admiral Serin Osman was alerted and tasked the with investigating the Covenant bioweapon research laboratory on Ven III. Warned to exercise extreme caution, Captain Thomas Lasky sent SPARTAN-IVs Naiya Ray and Gabriel Thorne to the planet. Deployed to Ven III by a prowler, the Spartans encountered several hostile Kig-Yar before entering a communication jamming field. Meanwhile, the lone Sangheili destroyed the UNSC drone on the planet. The Spartans soon found a Covenant structure, but they were attacked by the Sangheili and a contingent of Kig-Yar. During the skirmish, the Sangheili captured Thorne and escaped on a Type-32 Ghost. During her attempt to rescue Thorne, Spartan Ray discovered a massive Kig-Yar pirate stronghold deep below the surface of the planet. However, a Kig-Yar ambushed her and Ray's communications with Infinity ended.

Topography and ecology
Ven III is a small, barely inhabitable planet characterized by a maze-like environment with numerous caves and tunnels. Despite its barrenness, the planet is home to a small lizard-like creature which the Kig-Yar sometimes shoot for sport.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Escalation