Phoenix Logs

In Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs are a collection of codex entries that provide background information on units, characters, and other events of the Halo universe. Much like its predecessor’s collectible Black Boxes, which unlocked Timeline entries in the game, the Phoenix Logs can be unlocked by both feats of completion as well as collection and be accessed from the game’s campaign menu.

The Ark
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Refugia

 * The Ark was originally created to build Halos, gigantic weapons that wipe out all
 * organic life in order to starve the parasitic Flood of life to infect. This desperate
 * measure conflicted with the Forerunners roles as custodians of the galaxy, and
 * so it was decided that the Ark would also preserve examples of doomed species
 * destroyed by the Halo so they could be reseeded once the Flood had been
 * eradicated.


 * The surface of the Ark was divided up into vast Refugia sections, twelve on the
 * Central Hub and twenty across the large, petal—like Spires that extend out from
 * the center. Each Refugia recreates the environments of common life—supporting
 * worlds and separated by huge walls monitored by Sentinels to protect one
 * ecosystem from polluting another. The Ark monitors and controls weather.
 * temperature and even natural food chains in order to maintain the habitat.

The Ark

 * A gigantic structure situated outside of any known star system, the Ark was
 * constructed by the Forerunners with two guiding principles. First, to fabricate,
 * repair and transport all components of the ringworld installations known
 * collectively as Halo, a weapon designed to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy
 * in a desperate attempt to stop the unstoppable parasitic Flood threat.
 * Secondly, it needed to be able to provide a safe and stable habitat for a vast
 * number of life forms collected from across the galaxy.


 * These two paradigms led to the unique, flower—like design, with immense arms
 * splayed around a central foundry. where the production of the Halo installations
 * occurs. The Ark's surface was covered by vast, world-sized paddocks called
 * Refugia, divided by massive walls and containment barriers to preserve the life
 * forms collected by The Librarian, to be reseeded after the Flood had been
 * starved out.

Henry Lamb Research Post

 * The Henry Lamb Research outpost was the base of a UNSC scientific research
 * expedition to learn about the Ark, both in the interest of scientific advancement
 * and self—preservation from future Halo threats.


 * The expedition was spurred on by the re—activation of the existing Halo array in
 * 2555 by the Ark's rampant Monitor, Tragic Solitude. A team travelled[sic] to the Ark
 * and stopped Tragic Solitude's plan to aggressively mine the Earth for materials
 * to rebuild the Ark, which had been damaged as a result of the battle that
 * ended the Human-Covenant War.


 * In 2557, a new team travelled[sic] through the portal in New Mombasa in their ship
 * Eden Rising to set up base and activate dormant Retriever Sentinels in order to
 * start repairing the Ark. In August of that year, the portal back to Earth
 * mysteriously closed and months later the base was razed by a heavy Banished
 * attack.

Forerunner Sentinels

 * Sentinels were created by Forerunners as automated worker and defense
 * drones to maintain and protect Forerunner installations from transgressors.
 * Although designed without the independent intelligence of Forerunner
 * Monitors, or the UNSC's smart Al, they remain highly adaptable and a
 * formidable foe to anything they recognize as a threat to the Ark.


 * The Foundry at the center of the Ark is populated by Retriever and Assembler
 * Sentinels, who extract resources and minerals from the small moon held there.
 * The mining capabilities of the ship—size Retriever Sentinels can be highly
 * destructive when used against trespassers, but it is the smaller Aggressor
 * Sentinels that are primarily used for enforcement.


 * When deployed in great numbers, these Sentinels will swoop in and attack as
 * one in a perfectly coordinated wave. swiftly removing any threats while leaving
 * the Ark undamaged.

The Cartographer

 * The Cartographer is one of many identically named map facilities on the Ark,
 * updated in real time with the latest dynamic cartographic and diagnostic
 * information. This includes security measures activated on the Ark, any required
 * maintenance of the various Refugias, the structural integrity of the Ark's
 * superstructure and its artificial sun, and the status of the Halo array and any
 * new installations being forged in the Foundry.


 * In the wrong hands the Cartographer is an incredibly dangerous source of
 * information, so it is hidden deep in a remote wasteland, heavily guarded by
 * Sentinels and protected by huge defensive barriers. The Sentinels guarding the
 * Cartographer are much more likely to attack interlopers on sight rather than
 * wait for provocation and only someone with the appropriate command I
 * clearance can access the Cartographer without a fight.

Amber Refugia

 * A translucent amber—like material covers much of the terrain in this unforgiving
 * Refugia. Petrified rivers and lakes form vast, planar surfaces which are only
 * broken by the angular, jutting rock formations that puncture the surface.


 * Fractures that have splintered into deep chasms reveal the complex Forerunner
 * infrastructure below, and geometrical veins from these underlying structures
 * can be seen striping the upper layers. In places the strong but brittle amber has
 * sheared and degraded into sand, which is then whipped up and sculpted by the
 * wind into dune seas where life struggles to take root.


 * What life can survive here is extremely alien; huge and bizarre flora spring up
 * through cracks in the rocks, swaying in the breeze and belching spores into the
 * atmosphere if disturbed.

The Control Room
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Forerunner
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Forerunner Power Node

 * Power resource point


 * The Forerunners built the Ark to be completely self—sustaining, and much of its
 * power lies in the vast subterranean web of power structures beneath its
 * surface. These external power nodes were designed to provide auxiliary power
 * during repairs or emergencies, giving those in control of them a steady flow of
 * power resources.


 * On this remote installation, light years from any support, both the UNSC and
 * the Banished have realized the strategic importance of Forerunner power
 * nodes. Eschewing the Covenant's reverence for Forerunner artifacts, Atriox has
 * no compunction of taking control of them for his own ends, and many a battle
 * involves a desperate scramble to capture power nodes before the enemy can.

Aggressor Sentinel

 * Forerunner sentinels that can be called in by Anders to cause area denial.


 * Though their primary purpose is to maintain, repair and protect the Ark, these
 * Forerunner Sentinels can be summoned by professor Anders, who has found a
 * way to deploy them in the service of the UNSC. Once called, the Sentinels
 * swarm into a targeted location and attack any hostiles in the area with lasers
 * beams, remaining and causing area denial for a duration before returning to
 * their jobs on the Ark. Any Sentinels that are destroyed emit an EMP blast,
 * crippling hostile vehicles temporarily.


 * The Sentinels are worker drones with basic AI, created by the Forerunners to
 * safeguard their stations as well as perform repairs and maintenance. There is a
 * large variety of Sentinels in both purpose, size and appearance. There are small
 * Constructor drones used to maintain Forerunner structures, huge Retrievers
 * used for mining and Aggressor drones for attacking any perceived threat. The
 * Sentinels will only attack if they perceive a present threat; otherwise they will
 * happily ignore strangers and carry on with their work.

Forerunner Control Tower

 * Multi—purpose control structures


 * As the Ark's name suggests, it was designed to play host to an incredible
 * variety of life collected from across the galaxy. This almost inconceivable volume
 * of biodiversity necessitated a flexible environmental system on the Ark as the
 * Forerunners prepared for the galactic reseeding of life after the Halo Array was
 * activated.


 * On a practical level this meant that all habitable surface area on the Ark could
 * be covered in an environment to match any life—sustaining planet in the galaxy.


 * Atmospheres, soil and vegetation makeups, bodies of water or other liquids,
 * and even gravitational conditions could be custom—set in areas as large or as
 * small as needed to sustain collected specimens from a particular planet.


 * These environmental settings were accomplished through a network of Control
 * Towers. These towers worked essentially like the output nodes of modern
 * mass-particle replicators or the archaic 3D printers of the 22nd century,
 * generating kilometers—deep environments around them through manipulation
 * of raw materials stored deep within the superstructure of the Ark. The base of
 * each tower then generated desired gravitational conditions.


 * When an environment was complete, only a small percentage of each Control
 * Tower remained visible above ground in order to minimize interference with the
 * new local wildlife while still allowing for data gathering on the surrounding area.


 * Today, these Control Towers lie mostly dormant. But with new visitors to the
 * Ark and the possibility of new uses for the Ark's scientific and military
 * capabilities, the towers offer literally world—building power to whoever controls
 * this ancient installation.

Retriever Sentinel
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Leaders
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Cutter

 * Captain of the Spirit of Fire.


 * Captain James Cutter is a leader steeped in military tradition and discipline, but
 * who balances that tradition with a genuine compassion and interest for those
 * who serve underneath him.


 * A true hero of the UNSC, Cutter's military career is long and distinguished and
 * he has sacrificed advancement up the ranks in order to remain with his crew
 * and ship. The crew on the Spirit of Fire are more than soldiers to the captain,
 * they are his extended family. Cutter's respect is reciprocated by his troops, who
 * place a great deal of faith in the captain and his decisions.

Anders

 * Brilliant and fearless scientist.


 * Professor Ellen Anders is one of the Spirit of Fire's most valuable weapons. a
 * brilliant scientist with expertise in fields as far ranging as theoretical xeno—
 * biopsychology and high—energy physics. She has also proven to have an
 * exceptional grasp of Forerunner technology and has displayed a command of
 * Forerunner control systems which impresses even Isabel.


 * Although her official designation remains 'civilian consultant', Professor Anders
 * has become the de—facto right hand and advisor of Captain Cutter on the Spirit
 * of Fire and has also earned the respect and trust of the troops she works with
 * in the field.


 * Anders is able to theorize the function and determine the use of almost any
 * alien technology. She has a displayed a particular affinity for controlling
 * Forerunner constructs, and can redirect the Ark's own drones for her own use
 * as well as manipulate their actions with specialized instruments of her own
 * design.

Isabel

 * Smart artificial intelligence.


 * Isabel is a smart Al originally assigned to the Henry Lamb Research Outpost to
 * guide the activation and direction of the installation's massive retriever
 * sentinels used to conduct repairs on the Ark.


 * Before long, those retrieval sentinels were able to work unsupervised and Isabel
 * and the team set to the immense task of researching and cataloging the Ark.
 * This work was tragically cut short by the unexpected closure of the portal to


 * Earth and the Banished's assault. Now she has been given a chance to strike
 * back at the Banished with the aid of the Spirit of Fire's factories.


 * Isabel's vast knowledge of technology and military science gives her an edge
 * when using and improving vehicles as well as making use of subterfuge and
 * disruption tactics on the battlefield.

Atriox

 * Vicious and cunning warmaster of the Banished.


 * Leader and creator of the Banished, Atriox is a fearsome warrior who rose to
 * power through his fierce tenacity and shrewd strategic planning honed during


 * the Human—Covenant conflict.
 * Atriox holds an extremely pragmatic View of warfare and understands the
 * importance of supporting infrastructures and how to build armies and


 * structures cheaply and efficiently.


 * His charisma and the fervor of his followers make it possible for Atriox to deploy


 * both savage Brutes and Elite mercenaries simultaneously, Whereas other
 * leaders would struggle to control such bitter rivals on the battlefield.

Decimus

 * Right hand of Atriox.


 * Decimus is one of Atriox's most trusted chiefs, though he secretly continues to
 * harbor belief in the divinity of the Forerunners. A prime example of Brute power
 * and rage, Decimus' bloodlust whips troops under his command into a frenzied
 * rampage and his chieftain's hammer can be wielded to unleash a devastating


 * gravity vortex.


 * As befitting his rank, Decimus has his own personal Brute Warlord lieutenants
 * but he also relishes the chance to make a personal appearance on the field
 * against particularly stubborn enemies.

Shipmaster Let 'Volir

 * Loyal captain, mercenary raider.


 * Let 'Volir is the head of a mercenary Sangheili clan and shipmaster of the


 * assault carrier Enduring Conviction, the most powerful warship in the Banished
 * fleet.


 * Atriox engaged The Shipmaster's forces to bolster his Banished army and
 * provide the aerial advantage and firepower that the Banished were lacking; the
 * Enduring Conviction can be called upon to unleash orbital plasma


 * bombardments to support Banished ground troops or to destroy or damage
 * enemy structures.


 * His decision to bind his crew to the Banished has forever tarnished his name in
 * "proper" Elite culture, but the Shipmaster knows that in the current chaotic
 * state of the galaxy "proper" is a luxury not all can afford if they want to keep
 * their crew and their ship intact.

Sergeant Forge

 * UNSC sergeant back from the dead.


 * Sergeant John Forge is a veteran NCO with the UNSC Marine Corps. As a battle
 * commander, his strategy strongly favors vehicle—orientated battle and focuses


 * on slow—building strength, entrenchment and sustained growth.


 * Forge was a career soldier who served during the Human-Covenant War.
 * Although his tactical ability and combat prowess were undoubted, his tendency
 * towards insubordination prevented him from achieving a high rank. On the
 * Shield World 0459 he gave his life to save the Spirit of Fire when he stayed
 * behind to detonate the ship's translight engine to destroy a Covenant armada.
 * His body was never recovered.

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Banished Buildings
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Outpost

 * Extraction and domination.


 * Resource-gathering Outposts are deployed by Lich dropships. Once the
 * Outpost's structures are assembled basic vehicles and infantry can be
 * requisitioned. Four slots are available for building Turrets. Upgrading the
 * Outpost to a Stronghold allows basic infantry to be deployed, While the Citadel
 * and Fortress expansions make additional units available. Each upgrade opens
 * additional build locations for support structures.


 * The Banished have perfected their strip—mining and rapid assault and extraction
 * efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets. Each outpost is an
 * invasive engine of exploitation, controlled by rapacious overseers who seek to
 * siphon the riches of the Ark in pursuit of Atriox's grand plans for domination
 * and glory. Though they lack the military efficiency of their UNSC counterparts,
 * the Banished's outposts advance plans that extend far beyond the battlefield,
 * and even beyond the Ark itself.

Minibase

 * Expansion outposts.


 * Minibase outposts have an armory for equipping basic infantry, and slots for
 * one, two, or three additional support buildings.


 * Each Banished minibase is the shared command of two fallen Jiralhanae
 * warlords who have failed Atriox in some major — but redeemable — way. Each
 * competes to control the majority share of resources sent back to the Enduring
 * Conviction. When their tally of contributions is totaled by the overseer, only the
 * most competent is allowed to return to Atriox's Chieftain council, while the loser
 * is condemned to serve as a Grunt supervisor.

War Council

 * Requisition and tech upgrade structure.


 * With its construction of a War Council the Outpost overseer is authorized to
 * unlock structure. training time. and population capacity upgrades. It also allows
 * the requisition of Honor Guard or Warlords. The overseer is warned that
 * inefficiency is punishable by fates worse than death, and the War Council should
 * only be built once the Outpost's salvage and extraction operation is already in
 * place.


 * The War Council is a physical symbol of ascension in the twisted meritocracy of
 * the Banished. and overseers are constantly in competition to amass the
 * resources needed to create this structure and lure elite warriors into their
 * service. Successful completion of their assigned tasks is only the minimum
 * expected of Atriox's lieutenants, and the assistance of the Banished's elite are
 * necessary to accumulate victories and additional resources that will raise their
 * status even further.

Raid Camp

 * Infantry staging area.


 * Troops and their support equipment arrive in the Outpost at the Raid Camp.
 * where warriors can stoke their bloodlust before battle and thralls are penned
 * while they wait for a mission. The Raid Camp allows the requisition of infantry
 * and unlocks their upgrade options. Multiple Raid Camps in an Outpost reduces
 * infantry requisition time.


 * Raid Camps serve as a combination of briefing room, feasting hall, and place of
 * judgment, and only warriors are allowed full movement within. During battle
 * each one is a riot of activity, with battle roars and the cacophony of Brutes
 * jostling each other while they don battleplate and test the blades of their
 * weapons on the Grunts or each other.

Power Extractor

 * Power accumulation.


 * Massive channels for power criss-cross the Ark, and carefully sited facilities can
 * dig into these channels and safely siphon a tiny fraction of their potential. which
 * is accumulated as Power. The Augmented Extractor upgrade significantly
 * improves Power collection, which is of vital importance when threats to the
 * Banished and their mission begin to multiply.


 * The siphoning and filtering of energy from the Ark is not subtle, but it is
 * surprisingly efficient and causes only relatively small disturbances in the
 * installation's ambient security grid. Nevertheless, no power extraction facility
 * operates for long without attracting the attention of Aggressor Sentinels,
 * which begin to escalate the outpost's threat level to the Ark and the scale of
 * the reaction.

Harvester

 * Supply acquisition.


 * Harvesters are extraction sites that delve into the Ark's interior to tap raw
 * feedstock that is then converted into Supplies used by the Banished. To meet
 * ever-increasing production quotas. the Augmented Harvester upgrade is
 * needed, which accelerates Supply generation.


 * The Ark belongs to Atriox. all others in the Banished are entitled only to the
 * scraps he deems fit for their fit for their hands. under his control. The
 * Harvesters are but one link in a chain that ultimately extends from the Ark to
 * the Banished forces carrying out other phases of his plan in the Orion Arm of
 * the galaxy. Though important, ultimately every outpost is expendable, and
 * talented overseers can parlay even seeming defeat into praise and promotion if
 * they exceed Atriox’s estimates for harvested profit when they come under attack.

Apex

 * Strikecraft support.


 * Apex structures allow the requisition of Banshee. Shroud, and Blisterback flyers
 * and unlocks their upgrade options. Multiple Apexes in an Outpost reduces flying
 * vehicle requisition time.


 * The Banished are masters of taking control of the skies and seizing the
 * initiative to conduct their missions. These eyes and talons of the Banished
 * protect Atriox's extraction and control operations on the Ark from the
 * installation's aggressive Sentinels and the Spirit of Fire's UNSC forces. Most of
 * the Apex personnel are in the employ of the mercenary Shipmaster, though
 * they are utterly reliant on parts, vehicles, and armaments provided by their
 * Brute patrons.

Foundry

 * Vehicle fabrication.


 * The Garage and its kit assembly line allows the requisition of Ghost, Wraith, and
 * Locust vehicles and unlocks their upgrade options. The Foundry is critical to the
 * creation of combat and support vehicles that the Outpost overseer can use to
 * better exploit his surroundings and eliminate UNSC opposition to the Banished's
 * plans.


 * The Banished were raiders and reavers for years. until the breaking of the
 * Covenant allowed them to consolidate and build themselves into a true power
 * in their own right. Atriox's brilliant strategies are unconventional when
 * necessary and imitative when efficient — for he will adopt whatever techniques
 * and technologies he has to in order to guarantee victory. His use of Engineers
 * and compact assembly vats in forward bases would have been considered
 * unorthodox - even heretical - under the Covenant's traditional war creed, but
 * those days are past.

Shield Generator

 * Heavy energy shield.


 * The Shield Generator creates a heavy dissipative energy shield around the Outpost. Though expensive, the shield will automatically regenerate over time if it is damaged. Each Shield Generator occupies a Turret slot.


 * The shield generator systems used by the Banished are far more powerful than their crude appearance would suggest, for they are based on Forerunner technologies that had been locked behind walls of tradition and taboo in the Covenant's distant past. The Banished reject the idea of taboo and have been busy combing the black markets of Venezia and other outlaw rimworlds looking for further secrets of the ancients that can be exploited in the modern era.

Sensor Tower

 * Atriox's observation platforms.


 * The Sensor Tower is the physical embodiment of Atriox's watchful presence in every Outpost. It is through the Sensor Tower that the Banished assess the local battlefield and detect nearby cloaked units. Additional Sensor Towers extends the cloak detection range and view of the Outpost's surrounding area. Sensor Towers occupy a Turret slot.


 * Atriox's agents are ever—alert for schism and disloyalty, and his chosen keep watch on the Banished battlenet for discordant voices, but it is through the sensor tower network that the Banished maintain hyper—awareness of the battlefield.

Cloak Generator

 * Stealth and deception field.


 * Used by the Banished to hide from wrathful Covenant eyes in their early days, the Cloaking Generator is a reverse—engineered version of the stealth pylons used by the Covenant. When built, the Cloaking Generator disguises the presence of the outpost with a combination of active camouflage and distortion jammers. Even if the Outpost is detected it cannot be directly targeted without the aid of nearby scout units with hyper scanners.


 * The Banished are never subtle, but they appreciate the power of stealth and ambush. Long years of evading the Covenant's enforcers has made Atriox an adept master of stealth warfare when it serves his needs. Further improvements in Banished multi—modal stealth and jamming technology come from their use of the Engineers, who have been coerced into making modifications that suit the rather blunt ministrations of their Brute operators.

Turret

 * Defense emplacements.


 * Weapon towers around the Outpost deter attack from the UNSC. Sentinels,
 * and rival overseers who hope to capitalize on momentary weaknesses. Most
 * Outposts can fit up to four Turrets. Each Turret can be upgraded to be more
 * effective against aircraft, vehicles. and infantry. Unlike UNSC turrets, these
 * upgrades can be combined.


 * Banished turrets start as moderately effective defensive structures, but they
 * can be improved as time and resources allow. Canny overseers do not attempt
 * to upgrade every turret to its full potential all at once, instead taking advantage
 * of momentary surpluses and keen tactical analysis to upgrade based on current
 * threats. Fully upgraded Banished turrets are extremely deadly, and only the
 * most foolish UNSC commander would run directly at a fully upgraded defense
 * line. But do not assume the Banished will be content to wait behind their
 * turrets, Atriox commands that the best defense is always a good offense.

Strongholds
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UNSC Buildings
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Firebase

 * Forward operating base.


 * Lightweight firebase modules can be delivered directly to the battlefield by
 * Condor dropships. The modules then unpack and can assemble basic structures
 * and UNSC weapons systems, protected by up to four turret emplacements.
 * Upgrading the firebase to a combat station allows basic infantry to be
 * deployed. while the command center and headquarters expansions make
 * additional units available. Each upgrade also opens additional build locations for
 * support structures.


 * The Spirit of Fire's expeditionary firebases trade a portion of the original Heron—
 * transported "pod" system's operational flexibility for substantial mass and
 * resource savings. Unlike the older pod firebases, additional pre—manufactured
 * base structures must be transported to the firebase rather than assembled on—
 * site, but this method saves irreplaceable strategic resources aboard the Spirit of
 * Fire. The older pod bases remain in reserve, with the Heron dropships used
 * exclusively for mass deployment of cargo and troops in secured rear areas.

Minibase

 * Expansion outposts.


 * Minibase outposts have an armory for equipping basic infantry, and slots for
 * one, two, or three additional support buildings.


 * Minibases are deployed from Condors to opportunistic locations in the
 * operations zone. Each minibase is built using stripped—down modules assembled
 * and packed aboard the Spirit of Fire before being loaded on the dropship for
 * deployment. Minibases that survive a battle become unmanned sensor and
 * communication relays in the ever—growing system of control nodes being
 * extended across the Ark by Isabel and Captain Cutter.

Supply Pad

 * Supply landing zones.


 * Supply Pads allow the firebase to receive a constant flow of Supplies from the
 * Spirit of Fire. These are vital logistical ports for UNSC combat operations. and
 * the force commander should carefully weigh the cost of delaying their
 * construction. To sustain high—tempo missions the Heavy Supply Pad upgrade is
 * needed, which accelerates Supply generation. Though important to the war
 * effort, too many Supply Pads can impede efficiency if they take the place of
 * unit—creating structures — you can't win a fight with just raw materials!


 * While some useful assets can be salvaged and tapped on the Ark's surface, the
 * bulk of the UNSC's supplies must still be delivered from the Spirit of Fire.
 * Sustaining combat operations on the Ark would be practically impossible
 * without the use of supply pads to quickly unload cargo from dropships and the
 * on—site direction of logisticians to efficiently redistribute the incoming food,
 * ammunition, spare parts, and power cells.

Generator

 * Power generators.


 * Each firebase has an integral power plant to meet immediate needs, but
 * additional Generators are needed for the accumulation of Power used for unit
 * assembly and purchase of upgrades. A Generator should be among the first
 * support structures added to a new firebase. The Advanced Generator upgrade
 * significantly improves Power output.


 * The older "pod" bases deployed by the Spirit of Fire used hydrogen—burning
 * reactors for power, which required expensive and bulky fuel storage and safety
 * systems. However, new firebase structures require far less power to function
 * compared to the legacy designs, allowing Isabel to adapt modern UNSC vertical
 * axis turbines as a more sustainable replacement.

Barracks

 * Infantry staging area.


 * Infantry shipped down from the Spirit of Fire muster in the firebase's Barracks.
 * The Barracks allows the requisition of Hellbringers, Cyclops, and Snipers and
 * unlocks their upgrade options. Multiple Barracks in a firebase reduces infantry
 * requisition time.


 * Army and Marine Corps troopers are detached ("chopped") from their parent unit
 * aboard the Spirit of Fire and deployed to reinforce key firebases on the Ark's
 * surface. replacing injured personnel who are then medevac‘d out of the combat
 * zone. While they await assignment to a fireteam, the "new blood" acclimate and
 * review tactical situation reports in the barracks, which doubles as a recreation
 * area and mess hall during lulls in battle.

Turret

 * Defense emplacements.


 * Automated weapon towers are installed around UNSC firebases to deter
 * attack. Most firebase facilities have power and control hookups prearranged for
 * up to four Turrets. Turrets can engage a variety of targets, but each can be
 * upgraded to specialize against one particular threat: aircraft. vehicle, or infantry.


 * The base towers used by the Spirit of Fire are relics of a defensive—in—depth
 * tactical doctrine the UNSC was eventually forced to abandon as the Covenant
 * War ground down Humanity's armies and industrial centers. Turrets are still
 * invaluable tools for the field commander's arsenal on the Ark, however, freeing
 * up troops and vehicles needed to find. fix, and destroy the Banished.

Armory

 * Requisition and tech upgrade structure.


 * Armory structures contain advanced manufacturing modules and electronic
 * support measures that unlock structure, training time, and population capacity
 * upgrades. Construction of an Armory allows the requisition of UNSC Spartans
 * and Operatives to the battlefield. as well as deployment of the Condor gunship.
 * These are key facilities for a UNSC field commander, though their full potential is
 * only unlocked once sufficient resources are available.


 * The Armory contains specialized machinery and robotic assemblers needed to
 * support the logistical upgrades Isabel has added to the Spirit of Fire, as well as
 * additional communication and sensor systems to expand the force
 * commander's option when assembling battle groups.

Garage

 * Vehicle factory.


 * The Garage and its kit assembly line allows the requisition of Warthog, Scorpion,
 * Wolverine, and Kodiak armored vehicles from the Spirit of Fire and unlocks their
 * upgrade options. This should be one of the first infrastructure upgrades made
 * to a new firebase, as the Garage constructs vehicles that will remain useful
 * throughout the mission. Multiple Garages in a firebase reduces armored vehicle
 * requisition time.


 * Pelicans and Darters are not rated for transatmospheric transport of most
 * UNSC combat vehicles, due to the potential for damage and loss of control
 * during reentry. While travel to and from the surface of the Ark is dramatically
 * simplified due to its artificial gravity, the Spirit of Fire is not currently configured
 * to make effective use of this deployment method. Instead, UNSC doctrine
 * states that when use of heavy lifters and surface staging areas is not available,
 * combat vehicles can be partially disassembled, "crated" for transport, and then
 * reassembled near the combat zone.

Airpad

 * Airpads are firebase support structures that allows the requisition of Hornet,
 * Nightingale. and Vulture flyers from the Spirit of Fire and unlocks their upgrade
 * options. Multiple Airpads in a firebase reduces flying vehicle requisition time.


 * Expeditionary airpads house the maintenance crews and equipment needed to
 * assemble, repair, refuel, and rearm UNSC aircraft. Airpads also support the force
 * commander with sensor feeds and intelligence uplinks which allow for proper
 * battlespace deconfliction, kill chain assignment, and other aerospace
 * management tasks.

Watchtower

 * Sensor tower.


 * The Watchtower is an elevated sensor platform that increase the firebase's line
 * of sight and can detect nearby cloaked units. Additional Watchtowers extends
 * the cloak detection range. Each Watchtower occupies a turret slot.


 * The multi—modal stealth and jamming systems employed by the Covenant and
 * Banished are a significant strategic challenge for the UNSC. Though
 * improvements have been made, there is still a significant capability gap in
 * detection range versus cloaking capabilities. Nevertheless, with microdrone
 * clouds and hyper scanner technology acquired from former Covenant sources,
 * UNSC firebases can deploy a short—range sensor network that will reliably reveal
 * enemies otherwise shrouded by cloaking generators and active camouflage.
 * Once detected, their location can be shared to all friendly units for targeting.

Siege Turret

 * Artillery turret.


 * Siege Turrets are long-range artillery systems built to counter enemy
 * bombardment platforms that would otherwise be out of range of standard Turrets.
 * These structures occupy a turret slot.


 * The UNSC learned the dangers of relying on fixed installations against enemies
 * with orbital fire support early in the war against the Covenant. The modular
 * firebase system was developed in response to pinpoint Covenant targeting of large
 * military command and control installations with orbital strikes. and the
 * inability of standard counter battery systems to detect, deflect, or defeat
 * plasma—based artillery bombardment. The siege turrets can do little against threats
 * in the orbital high ground, but they will deter enemy artillery systems by
 * matching or exceeding their range, making ad—hoc assaults on UNSC firebases a costly proposition.

Strongholds
}}

Banished Units
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Grunts

 * Expendable minions [and they know it].


 * Though derided as cannon fodder, there is no mistaking the military value of
 * having an almost endless supply of cheap infantry armed with plasma pistols to
 * hurl at a foe. Each Grunt squad is led by a Brute armed with a spike rifle who
 * can be upgraded to plant a cloaked proximity~fused shrapnel mine on the
 * battlefield. The Grunts can be upgraded to add a pack brother and lackeys.


 * Grunts may not be strong, brave, intelligent, hygienic, or particularly fearsome
 * warriors, but those forced to serve the Banished have a healthy enough fear of
 * their Brute leaders to stay on-task and motivated. Even if their fellows are used
 * as target practice by bored Brutes or disintegrated by Forerunner sentinels, the
 * survivors can at least look forward to a full food nipple and a brief nap in the
 * methane atmosphere they call home.

Warlord

 * Decimus' infantry champions.


 * Brute Warlords are among the most fearsome infantry in the Banished forces.
 * They are armed with devastating gravity hammers and have energy shields to
 * supplement their already-heavy armor and hides. Their gravity hammers emit a
 * massive shockwave which damages and stuns all nearby ground units.


 * Each Brute that holds the Warlord rank has been promoted by Decimus for
 * their raw strength, savage lust for battle, and the complete absence of mercy
 * on the battlefield. While the Brutes who make up Atriox's Chosen share their
 * leader's cunning, Decimus encourages more base traits in his warriors, chief
 * among which is an unquenchable thirst for blood.

Ghost

 * Fast scout armed with twin plasma cannons.


 * Exclusively used by the Shipmaster for their speed and firepower, Ghosts are
 * single-occupant anti-gray speeders armed with twin plasma cannons and the
 * ram ability to decimate enemy infantry squads. Ghosts can also negate control
 * over resource nodes. With the ghost shield upgrade the Ghost becomes a
 * significantly more durable and effective high-speed raider.


 * The Ghost is one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous vehicles on the
 * battlefield. It is less armored than its Brute counterpart, the Chopper, but this
 * sacrifice grants it nearly unmatched speed. This speed makes it useful for
 * harassing and hit-and-run tactics on the field.

Hunters

 * A bonded pair of walking tanks formed from colonies of worm—like aliens.


 * Hunters are super heavy infantry who fight in bonded pairs. Their massive
 * shields help protect them from all frontal attacks, and their assault cannons
 * deal heavy damage to any ground target and to vehicles in particular. Hunters
 * can be upgraded to equip beam cannons which fire a constant stream of energy
 * at a target.


 * Hunters are actually just one form taken by Lekgolo worm colonies, with other
 * notable examples including the musculature and control systems for the Scarab
 * and Locust. Always cryptic and undecipherable, Lekgolo in the service of the
 * Banished seem curiously aggressive and the Brutes take great care to separate
 * them from the general population of thralls and mercenaries under their banner
 * to avoid unnecessary carnage. It's possible the Hunters' service is not voluntary,
 * though only Atriox's inner circle knows the truth.

Chopper

 * Aggressive scout and anti-infantry vehicle.


 * The Brute counterpart to the Ghost, Choppers are durable raiding vehicles that
 * can deal out punishment with its twin spiker autocannons and ability to ram
 * enemy forces that approach too close. The spike cannons can be upgraded with
 * shrapnel rounds for additional explosive punch.


 * The Chopper gets its name from sharp rotary blades mounted at the front of
 * the chassis to ram enemy vehicles and shred ground troops, a savage tactic
 * reflective of Brute culture. Choppers are so popular among the Banished that
 * competition to become a driver in the outrider squadrons is a major source of
 * death and injury among Atriox's packs.

Spirit

 * Versatile combat dropship.


 * The distinctive 'tuning—fork' shape of the Spirit comes from the twin carrier bays
 * that extend out from the pilot's compartment at the rear of the ship. The
 * Banished have reengineered the Spirit's contragravity system so that its
 * chassis can take the strain of transporting prefabricated buildings to forward
 * command centers.

Lich

 * Super Heavy deployment platform.


 * The Banished have appropriated Lich transports and repurposed them to
 * function as carriers for the central command structures of their raider bases.

Suicide Grunts

 * Grunts with explosive tempers.


 * Suicide Grunts are specially chosen infantry with exaggerated aggressive
 * tendencies. Each Grunt is fitted with an unstable plasma cell and detonator and
 * given only one order: rush the assigned target and violently explode. They can
 * be upgraded with new "recruits" and plasma lensing which increases their
 * damage against structures and vehicles.


 * Truly aggressive and violent Grunts are rare, but without Covenant oversight or
 * the environmental hazards of Balaho to cull them from the population, the
 * number of aberrants has increased dramatically in thrall colonies. The Banished
 * have adapted existing indoctrination protocols to turn the aggression and
 * natural cleverness of these Grunts to their own violent purposes.

Wraith

 * Heavy mortar tank.


 * The Wraith is a tank armed with a plasma mortar for long—range bombardment
 * and short-range plasma cannons for engaging ground and air units. Wraiths in
 * Banished service are fitted with energy shields. The Wraith's can be upgraded
 * to fire a scorch mortar; the impact of this system's unstable plasma shells
 * leaves a lingering pool of energy after impact.


 * Modified to fit the Brutes' warlike aesthetic, the Wraith serves the Banished as
 * both a mainline tank and artillery piece. Armed with its distinctive plasma
 * mortar the Wraith can shatter heavily reinforced defenses from long distances
 * or engage closer targets with devastating barrages. Despite the Wraith's large
 * size, its boosted gravity drive allows for impressive bursts of speed and
 * surprisingly agile maneuvers over most terrain.

Jump Pack Brutes

 * Fast-moving assault troops.


 * This Brute heavy infantry unit is equipped with jump packs and armed with

hammers. The Brutes can leap a great distance with the packs assistance, unleashing a crushing attack at their destination that deals area-of-effect damage. Jump Brutes in the service of Atriox also drop trip mines along their jump path to deter enemy pursuit. All dump Pack Brute squads can increase their unit size with the dark skies upgrade.


 * Favored by Atriox for their mobility and savagery, the Banished make extensive
 * use of Jump Pack Brutes for reconnaissance, hit-and-run harassment, and
 * devastating close-quarters assaults. Though the jump packs cannot provide full
 * flight capabilities and must cool down after each use, they allow the Brute
 * warriors to quickly smash into enemy lines, crushing all who stand against the
 * Banished.

Engineers

 * Enigmatic living machines with remarkable repair abilities.


 * The Engineers are non-combat infantry support units that can heal nearby

friendly units and structures with their reconstitution beams. They can float over cliffs and other impediments to escape danger, but have no offensive abilities. Engineers have an ability to create an overshield bubble to briefly protect itself and nearby allies.


 * Mysterious living machines created by the Forerunners to function as techno-
 * savants, Engineers have peerless knowledge of all types of technology and
 * seemingly inexhaustible wells of ingenuity in modifying and repairing machinery.


 * "Born" with an obsession to maintain and protect Forerunner artifacts,
 * Engineers in the service of the Banished exist in constant agony due to the
 * control yokes bonded to their flesh forcing them to ignore endless requests for
 * maintenance from the Ark as a result of Atriox's extraction and excavation
 * efforts.

Banshee

 * Multi-role attack aircraft.


 * The Banshee is a versatile attack aircraft armed with antiaircraft plasma
 * cannons and a ground attack fuel rod cannon. The fuel rod cannon can be
 * upgraded to fire a powerful tracking plasma torpedo that is surprisingly
 * effective against air units.


 * The earliest models of Banshees were modelled after the 'sKelln, a leathery
 * winged flying predator from the Sangheili homeworld, Sanghelios. The Banished
 * have twisted this ancient ancestry to make it look similar to an aerial predator
 * hailing from their own homeworld, Doisac.

Atriox's Chosen

 * Atriox's enforcers.


 * Only the most cunning and loyal Brutes are chosen as Atriox's personal
 * enforcers. Their unquestioning devotion to Atriox makes them a force to be
 * reckoned with on the battlefield and personal energy shields make them even
 * harder to kill. Each Chosen is armed with the explosive grenade launcher
 * commonly known as a Brute Shot, which can be upgraded to increase both
 * damage and range.


 * Favored Chieftains in Atriox's retinue may be promoted to Atriox's Chosen,
 * agents that intercede on his behalf to bring recalcitrant packs to heel and direct
 * critical Banished operations. Answerable only to Atriox, these warriors are
 * feared by lesser Brutes and hated by the Shipmaster’s troops, but none can
 * deny their loyalty or ability to detect and destroy weak links in Banished
 * operations. Many a prideful Chieftain who dared question Atriox's command
 * have ended up as a problem ‘fixed' by of one of Atriox's inner circle.

Marauder

 * Fast, medium tank.


 * The Marauder is an infantry-fighting vehicle armed with a heavy plasma turret.
 * Marauders can be upgraded with modular plates of thick hide to increase their
 * staying power in escalating battles, and those in the Shipmaster's service can
 * also be fitted with cloak systems.


 * Usually operating in close support of Banished infantry, the Marauder is a
 * Jiralhanae design that traces its origins to armored hovercraft that ranged on
 * the plains of Doisac during the world wars that eventually devastated their
 * civilization. The vehicle is also found the service of the mercenary Shipmaster as
 * a heavier support vehicle for his Ghost raiders.

Reaver

 * Anti-aircraft combat walker armed with rapid—fire missile launchers.


 * The Reaver is a walker unit unique to the Banished, built to act as a highly
 * mobile counter-air unit. It is armed with Thrasher missile pods that track on
 * enemy aircraft and a light spiker autocannon that can deter attack by infantry
 * and light armored vehicles. It can use its Predatory Leap ability to jump short
 * distances, useful for setting up ambushes or evading attack.


 * The Reaver is a relatively new addition to the Banished arsenal, and its
 * manufacturer is unknown-though it bears telltale marks of both workshop
 * and assembly vat construction. which hints at an origin on Doisac. They have
 * largely replaced the AA Wraith and anti-aerospace fortifications in the Banished
 * forces, and have quickly earned a dreaded reputation among the Spirit of Fire's
 * pilots.

Locust

 * Siege walker.


 * Locust walkers are siege vehicles armed with an unstable focus cannon that
 * deals continuous damage to buildings and vehicles. Locusts are fitted with
 * energy shields but are relatively fragile once those shields are depleted.


 * One of the many Covenant vehicles modified by the Banished to serve their

needs, the Locust is a walker unit originally built for mining and excavation purposes. The Covenant repurposed Locusts to demolish enemy buildings and outposts with sustained bombardment from their focus cannons, but the Banished have managed to make these vehicles even more dangerous than they were before.

Scarab

 * Superheavy assault walker with devastating excavation beam.


 * Few weapon platforms strike as much fear into an opponent as Scarabs.
 * Massive and armored with nearly impregnable battleplate, most battles end
 * soon after a Scarab appears. Banished Scarabs are armed with an unstable
 * plasma beam that deals incredible ground-target damage and Thrasher missiles
 * for air defense. The Scarab is slow but very mobile and can easily travel up cliffs
 * and across rough terrain.


 * Scarabs are highly prized excavation vehicles, though in Banished service they
 * are almost exclusively used as war machines. Heavily modified by the Banished
 * to maximize firepower, the unstable plasma generators used in these Scarabs
 * quickly kill the Lekgolo worms that form its control system. Atriox cares not for
 * this sacrifice as long as the Scarabs continue to bring him victories.

Elite Rangers

 * Anti-infantry marksman and skirmishers.


 * The Elite Rangers are specialist infantry units devoted to anti-personnel duties. They are armed with rapid-fire carbines with excellent range. They rely on their mobility to stay out of danger and can often severely diminish enemy forces before being with range of a counterattack.


 * Rangers serve as the skirmishers and snipers of the Shipmaster's mercenary group, tasked with eliminating high—value enemy leaders and scouting routes for his raiding squads. Rangers deploy in pairs that can operate for days, even weeks, away from the main Banished forces. All are hardened raiders and merciless killers who would [and did] sell their own clan if there was profit in it.

Honor Guard

 * Personal guard of Shipmaster Let 'Volir.


 * These mercenaries are the infantry bodyguard of Let 'Volir, armed with energy swords and equipped with active camouflage. The Honor Guard can cloak for a limited time, allowing them to close to melee range and engage with their swords.


 * Borrowing the ceremonial gear and matching the martial prowess of the old Covenant Honor Guard, these mercenary sword masters evoke the traditions and accomplishments of their forebears in the service of their Shipmaster and his unconventional arrangement with Atriox and the Banished. Though the Honor Guards' motives are not as pure as they once were, only a fool would dare risk their wrath by challenging their presumed honor and skill.

Blisterback

 * A heavy air unit that launches barrages of plasma missiles.


 * The tick—like Blisterback is a massive aerial siege vehicle developed and built by the Banished. It is designed to alternate between two modes: On the ground it deploys to fire Annihilator siege missiles. and While in the air it fires medium plasma cannons that can engage ground and air targets.


 * On the ground the Blisterback enters a lockdown mode, stabilizing itself before its carapace splits open, revealing a battery of long range rockets. It can then exit lockdown mode to become airborne, closing the rocket carapace and tucking its legs underneath its body to perform a vertical take—off and enabling the use of its medium range plasma cannon to bombard the enemy.

Shroud

 * Support vehicle with cloaking field and point defense system.


 * A war machine from the Covenant's past given new life in Banished service, the Shroud is a support air unit with two combat modes. When deployed. the Shroud activates a persistent cloaking field around the vehicle. When not cloaked, the Shroud engages a point defense system that attempts to shoot down incoming enemy projectiles. The Shroud has no offensive capabilities.


 * The Shroud is difficult to pilot, with complicated subsystems made even less reliable by Banished tinkering. but its utility in concealing and defending raiding parties means Atriox spares no expense in maintaining his stock of the vehicles.

}}

UNSC Units
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Grizzly

 * Superheavy assault tank.


 * Grizzly tanks are armed with dual high—velocity cannons that make quick work
 * of most armored vehicles and dual medium machine guns to suppress enemy
 * infantry. The missile barrage upgrade allows them to fire an area—of-effect
 * bombardment. The Grizzly's heavy armor is reflected in their slow speed and
 * cost, and they are vulnerable to enemy aircraft.


 * Approaching the upper limit of mass and volume that can be dropship-
 * transported, the Grizzly is a superheavy tank unit deployed as a siegebreaker by
 * specialized UNSC armored groups. The Spirit of Fire has an unusually large
 * complement of the vehicles due to the machinations of Sergeant John Forge,
 * though the secrets and convoluted story of their acquisition went with him to
 * the grave.

Warthog

 * Utility light attack vehicle.


 * The most versatile vehicle in the UNSC inventory, the Warthog is armed with
 * a light machine gun which can handle all but the most heavily armored vehicles. In
 * a pinch the vehicle can be used to ram a target, directing the driver to careen
 * into [and ideally over] enemy infantry. The autocannon can be upgraded to a
 * gauss cannon, which substantially increases the Warthog's anti-armor
 * capabilities.


 * The M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, more commonly known as the
 * Warthog, is a quintessentially tough and durable UNSC vehicle, manufactured in
 * one variant or another for centuries. The towing winch system at the front of
 * the vehicle resembles a warthog’s tusks, giving it its name, and it has enhanced
 * suspension and four-wheel steering for a smooth ride over any battlefield.
 * Highly configurable and adaptable, dozens of specialized Warthog loadouts are
 * loaded into the Spirit of Fire's datastores, awaiting use.

Jerome-092

 * Spartan
 * Genetically augmented humans wearing MJOLNIR armor, the ultimate super
 * soldier.


 * Spartans are the crack infantry unit of the UNSC — tough, fast moving and
 * equipped with a rapidly recharging energy shield when not in combat. Their
 * enhanced agility and strength enables them to leap high into the air before
 * slamming into the ground, either to take out an enemy, place an explosive
 * device on an enemy structure or even hijack a vehicle.


 * Though every Spartan has a instinctive mastery over all weapons, each of the
 * Spirit of Fire's Red Team can be upgraded with their favored weapon. In
 * Jerome's case this is a Spartan laser which is highly accurate and powerful, but
 * has a slow reload rate.


 * Senior chief petty officer Jerome—092 was born into poverty in the infamous
 * Palaikos borderlands on the colony world of Minister. a tough world that forced
 * him into an early childhood of crime where he also realized his capacity for
 * violence. He was abducted and indoctrinated into the SPARTAN—ll program,
 * where, after many initial escape attempts, he was transformed from a self—
 * centered survivalist to a leader, honing the speed and agility that kept him alive
 * back home.

Alice-130

 * Spartan
 * Genetically augmented humans wearing MJOLNIR armor, the ultimate super
 * soldier.


 * Spartans are the crack infantry unit of the UNSC — tough, fast moving and
 * equipped with a rapidly recharging energy shield when not in combat. Their
 * enhanced agility and strength enables them to leap high into the air before
 * slamming into the ground, either to take out an enemy, place an explosive
 * device on an enemy structure or even hijack a vehicle.


 * Spartans Alice-130 can be upgraded to heft a medium range, rapid—firing heavy
 * machine gun.


 * Alice-130 grew up on the way station colony of Passage, where she amazed
 * her family by quickly learning rudimentary engineering at an early age. This
 * exceptional aptitude marked her out from the rest of the children and she was
 * flagged up as a potential candidate for the SPARTAN-ll program.


 * Like all the candidates, she was abducted from her family for secret training,
 * but she was one of the few children who weren't traumatized during the
 * process. In fact, Alice actually relished and thrived on the challenge, a natural
 * Spartan if there ever was one. Despite eagerly embracing her destiny, Alice's
 * body initially rejected the augmentation process and she had to be retrained
 * separately, where she met similar 'wash outs' Douglas—042 and Jerome—092,
 * her future partners in Red Team. Alice lives for combat and challenge and can
 * often appear reckless. but this is in actuality an utmost belief in her abilities.

Douglas-042

 * Spartan
 * Genetically augmented humans wearing MJOLNIR armor, the ultimate super
 * soldier.


 * Spartans are the crack infantry unit of the UNSC — tough, fast moving and
 * equipped with a rapidly recharging energy shield when not in combat. Their
 * enhanced agility and strength enables them to leap high into the air before
 * slamming into the ground, either to take out an enemy, place an explosive
 * device on an enemy structure or even hijack a vehicle.


 * Douglas-042 can be upgraded with his specialist weapon, which is a long range, slow firing rocket launcher.


 * Douglas-042 had a tough time adjusting to the SPARTAN-ll program as he had
 * originally come from an affluent family in Khetleya on the Asphodel colony.
 * He found the sudden culture shock difficult to adjust to, but soon focused that
 * anger into a quiet confidence in his physical ability-even among the other
 * Spartans Douglas is considered something of a giant, and he started to believe
 * that he had a purpose in life.


 * This faith in destiny has given Douglas more of an optimistic outlook in life than
 * the guarded cynicism common among other Spartans, and it is this hopefulness
 * that helps lift their spirits in hard times.

Marines

 * Basic infantry units who can take—and—hold fortifications or activate Forerunner
 * artifacts.


 * UNSC Marine infantry are armed with assault rifles that are effective against
 * infantry but deal little damage against ground vehicles. They can receive
 * additional reinforcements and supplies in the field, including the ability to throw
 * grenades or assigning a combat mechanic to the squad. The mechanic will
 * automatically repair nearby damaged vehicles and is armed with an anti—tank
 * rocket launcher.


 * Marines are the UNSC's expeditionary force—in—readiness, and after decades in
 * cryo-sleep they are old school both figuratively and literally. The Spirit of Fire's
 * veteran Marines are experienced at fighting in exotic environments and have
 * received training by Anders to operate Forerunner systems well enough to
 * avoid triggering defense wards and immolating themselves [most of the time].

Hellbringers

 * Anti-infantry Marines armed with flamethrowers.


 * Each Hellbringer carries a heavy flamethrower which deals area of effect damage
 * against close range targets. The flamethrower is very effective against
 * infantry — even those garrisoned in structures — but is of limited use against
 * armored vehicles. The flamethrower can be upgraded with dispersion nozzles
 * that increase damage and size of the flame sheets.


 * Marines willing to strap a tank of volatile chemicals to their back to fire a jet of
 * superheated flame at enemies are braver [and crazier] than most. Though the
 * UNSC adopted thermobaric munitions for deploying most incendiaries, the liquid
 * projector flamethrower proved its worth to the Spirit of Fire's combat teams by
 * burning out dug-in Covenant infantry, sterilizing Flood infestations, and heating
 * up decades-old MREs.

Darter

 * Utility cargo dropship.


 * Darters are cargo dropships that form the backbone of the Spirit of Fire's
 * logistical system. Darters are loaded with carefully packaged cargo pallets and
 * passengers aboard the Spirit of Fire. They are then launched to firebases in the
 * combat zone, dropping off vital supplies and returning with injured personnel
 * and strategic resources. A steady stream of Darters is vital for the just-in-time
 * warfighting strategy of UNSC expeditionary operations on hostile worlds.

Pelican

 * Military transport dropship.


 * A workhorse of the UNSC, Pelican dropships are used by military and civilian
 * agencies throughout human space. Produced in bewildering numbers with
 * dozens of major variants they form the backbone of all medium-lift operations
 * made by the Spirit of Fire. Though they can be used to hot-drop troops and
 * vehicles to a combat zone, the ever—present threat of Banished anti-aerospace
 * cannons deployed near conflict areas means Captain Cutter has strictly limited
 * their tactical utilization.

Condor Dropship

 * Slipspace-capable cargo dropship.


 * The Condor is long—range transport vessel used by the UNSC and many civilian
 * agencies, and those that survived the Banished attack at the Ark were
 * redeployed to the Spirit of Fire to deploy prefabricated base modules in lieu of
 * the ship's original complement of Heron dropships. These are valuable vessels,
 * for they possess slipspace drive cores, although the Ark's extreme distance from
 * UNSC space mean they can only be used to explore outlying Forerunner
 * installations and conduct long—range reconnaissance rather than make trips
 * back to Earth.

Hornet

 * Fast. nimble, multi—role attack VTOL.


 * Hornets are fast-attack aerial gunships used for combat reconnaissance and
 * lightning strikes against high—priority targets. They are armed with rotary
 * autocannons that are effective against all targets and can be upgraded with
 * Marine Wingmen carrying rocket launchers.


 * Air operation directors from the Spirit of Fire are fond of the AV—14B Hornet's
 * firepower, but they are also very much aware of the vehicle's relative fragility.
 * Marine pilots often mitigate this issue by operating in Hornet "wolfpack" kill
 * teams to overwhelm air defenses and destroy their targets before retaliatory
 * fire can do much damage. Commanders are advised to wait for the SPNKR-

armed wingmen and personally direct the assault when using Hornet swarms
 * against heavily defended facilities.

Cyclops

 * Anti-tank combat walker.


 * Cyclops suits are armored infantry exoskeletons armed with an anti-vehicle
 * autocannon effective against most ground units. The autocannon can be
 * upgraded to fire shock rounds with non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse
 * warheads that slow the movement of target vehicles. Cyclops suits benefit
 * from infantry upgrades but are as durable as most light vehicles.


 * Radically redesigned by Serina using design files from Lethbridge Industrial that
 * she inadvertently "found" during operations on Arcadia, the HRUNTING Mk.III
 * Cyclops suits produced aboard the Spirit of Fire now use a refactored
 * exoskeleton and completely original control software. Though this combat
 * walker variant does not have the raw strength of the original engineering
 * vehicle, it is faster and far easier to operate even with its new weaponry and
 * armor. Isabel continues to improve on the design with modern UNSC cyberlink
 * protocols and module concepts.

Wolverine

 * Specialized anti-aircraft vehicle.


 * The Wolverine is a tactical air defense vehicle. fitted with an advanced Multiple
 * Launch Rocket System [MLRS]. A secondary grenade launcher is fitted to
 * engage ground targets, but it is recommended that the Wolverine avoid
 * engaging armored vehicles.


 * The Wolverine was reintroduced in the latter years of the insurrection, but it
 * also proved highly effective in countering the Covenant's Banshee and Seraph
 * fighters. Wolverines aboard the Spirit of Fire are relatively unsophisticated
 * compared to contemporary variants, but Isabel is making great strides in
 * adapting modern UNSC targeting software to the older hardware.

ODSTs

 * Elite rapid-deployment infantry.


 * Orbital Drop Shock Troopers [ODSTs] are elite infantry that make quick work of
 * any nearby enemy troops with their silenced SMGs. ODST's can place a
 * proximity-fused demolition charge and deploy from orbit anywhere in explored
 * territory using the ODST drop leader power. Other units in the drop zone may
 * take damage from the ODSTs' meteoric arrival.


 * A special forces raiding unit of the Marines, ODSTs are deployed from the Spirit
 * of Fire to turn the tide of battles, raid enemy bases. and assassinate high-value
 * targets. A normal UDST day entails a hair-raising drop from orbit While encased
 * in an armored drop pod. The ODST's enter the atmosphere at high speed and
 * brake just short of impact. Because of the speed with which they enter the
 * atmosphere, the pods get extraordinarily hot, giving ODSTs the nickname
 * 'Helljumpers' and their slogan "Feet first into Hell!"

Scorpion

 * Main battle tank.


 * The Scorpion is armed with a high velocity cannon for anti—tank work and a
 * medium machine gun for engaging enemy infantry. Scorpions in the field can be
 * upgraded with submunition canister shells that deal heavy damage in a blast
 * radius around their target.


 * The Spirit of Fire carries a large complement of M808S Scorpion tanks modified
 * by Serina during the years in which the ship drifted in space. Her improvements
 * include a more efficient armor arrangement. better situational awareness for
 * the operator, and upgrades to the main cannon. Isabel has found little room for
 * improvement on this blueprint, but she sees possibilities for specialized variants
 * that leverage the chassis for other roles.

Nightingale

 * Medical and maintenance support aircraft.


 * Nightingales support UNSC forces on the ground with their complement of
 * multi—purpose restoration drones. which automatically deploy to heal and repair
 * nearby allied units. Nightingales can also deploy multi—spectrum defensive
 * smoke as an ability, which blocks enemy line of sight. The Nightingale is
 * unarmed, and should never be deployed Without an escort.


 * The Nightingale EV—44 Support VTOL is one of the newest UNSC support
 * aircraft used by Air Force rescue squadrons and Marine combat logistic teams,
 * and its relatively simple construction [aside from the drone systems] made the
 * design blueprint easy to adapt to the Spirit of Fire's older factory modules. As
 * the ship's complement of troops cannot be replenished, vehicles such as the
 * Nightingale are essential for keeping as many bodies in the fight as possible.

Jackrabbit

 * Fast reconnaissance trike.


 * The Jackrabbit, or M121 Light Strike Vehicle, is a very fast scout vehicle that can detect cloaked enemy units and rapidly gather resources. It can be upgraded with a mini—frag launcher for some offensive punch, but is frequently used for exploration and liberating resource nodes from opponents.


 * Cheap and easy to manufacture, the Jackrabbit's design blueprint was one of the first to be integrated by the Spirit of Fire after Isabel's rescue. At first glance it looks like a lightly armored bike with a compact cockpit for the rider, but when decelerating the front splits into two separate wheels to form a tripod and retain stability. When bursts of speed are required, the two wheels pinion together automatically.

Kodiak

 * Self-propelled artillery gun.


 * Kodiak artillery systems are armed with long-range siege cannons, though the vehicle must deploy before it can fire. Deployed Kodiaks cannot move, which means that they are best paired with other units to act as spotters. Professor Anders can fit the Kodiak with beacon warheads that act as Sentinel lures, attracting and antagonizing the Ark's defense constructs.


 * A modern UNSC vehicle introduced to the Spirit of Fire by Isabel, the Kodiak M400 Artillery System has quickly become a favorite of the ship's crew on account of the Kodiak's spectacular firepower. When the Kodiak enters lockdown mode, the articulated ‘feet' from the side of the vehicle fold down to anchor the vehicle to the ground to provide stability and counter the recoil of the siege cannon. The cannon's shells are massive and take some time to reload between firing, but the devastation they cause is well worth the wait.

Snipers

 * Stealthy reconnaissance and marksman unit.


 * Snipers are specialized infantry units armed with a sniper rifle and accompanied
 * by a spotter drone. Snipers are equipped with cloaking tech. which they can use
 * to camouflage themselves as they scout out enemy targets. The base rifle is
 * only effective against infantry, but the Stanchion upgrade arms the Sniper
 * with a portable railgun that deals heavier damage against ground troops.


 * Drawn from experienced Marine force reconnaissance and Army cavalry scouts,
 * the Spirit of Fire's sniper teams have traditionally operated in the background as
 * unsung heroes of many skirmishes and aerial strikes. Equipped with
 * photoreactive cloaks and deceptive jammers, Snipers are extremely difficult to
 * detect until they prepare to strike. After a sniper engages, a canny commander
 * should redeploy them to another vantage point to avoid retaliatory fire.

Condor Gunship

 * Slow-moving but heavily armed and armored gunship.


 * The Condor is a slow-moving but powerful gunship variant of the civilian dropship armed with multiple pulse laser turrets and a ballista mini—Magnetic Accelerator Cannon [MAC], all of which can independently target enemy units. The pulse lasers fire quickly, making them effective against massed units, and the MAC is unmatched in hard target elimination. It can be upgraded with a heavy gauss barrage, which fires three quick MAC blasts at enemy targets.


 * Condor gunships produced on the Spirit of Fire lack a slipspace drive, however. with those systems replaced by older, bulkier. capacitors Isabel used to power the pulse lasers and magnetic accelerator cannon.


 * The C81 Heavy Gunship, Isabel's reconfiguration of the Condor transport. breaks a large number of UNSC weapons platform and other safety regulations, but she's pretty sure Captain Cutter will have her back if they survive the war on the Ark.

Vulture

 * Ground-attack gunship with tactical missile payload.


 * A0220 Vulture gunships engage ground vehicles with twin medium autocannons. air vehicles with anti—air missile pods, and enemy bases and staging areas with Phoenix tactical missiles.


 * The Vulture is the largest combat aerodyne in UNSC service and is essentially a flying tank. The size and cost of deploying such a unit limits its use by the Spirit of Fire, though Isabel's upgrades and logistical expertise has dramatically simplified Vulture production and maintenance.

Forge’s Warthog

 * Warthog driven by [the late] Sergeant Forge


 * Sergeant Forge has spent long hours in the Spirit of Fire's hangar customizing
 * this Warthog with turbochargers. roll bars and hundreds more tweaks, but has
 * no compunction to let it sit idle. Forge's Warthog is a Hero unit unique to Forge,
 * kept out of the motor pool circulation and the hands of other Marines.


 * Always wanting to be in the thick of action. Forge has outfitted his vehicle with
 * a defensive aura of nanobots to repair the Warthog in the midst of battle.
 * Forge uses his Warthog for fast harassment of enemy units and has made
 * some modifications to the autocannon so that, when upgraded to a gauss
 * cannon. it can fire highly damaging Anvil Rounds. The Gauss can then be further
 * upgraded to a Gauss Overcharge, making the cannon's shots even more
 * powerful.

}}

The Healing of Old Wounds I

 * Journal of Nathaniel J. Palmer, Archaeologist, Henry Lamb Research Outpost.
 * Personal Diary Date: 03/16/2558


 * The will and resilience of life never ceases to amaze me. Infinite permutations of
 * bacteria, animals, and plants all exist as a direct result of the endless struggle
 * and adaptation against a hostile universe. This installation, light years from the
 * galactic center, is a paragon of that fact. When we first arrived here, the Ark
 * had suffered great wounds from our war against the Covenant, and so we
 * activated dormant retriever sentinels and deployed them to strip-mine lifeless
 * planets for the materials needed to repair the installation. Like watching a
 * sleeping giant nudged into wakefulness, the reconstruction slowly reached full
 * automation until we were no longer needed to guide the sentinels and could
 * simply sit back and record the wonder of a world being reborn. [1/3]

The Healing of Old Wounds II

 * It has been three months now since we established the outpost, and each day
 * we wake up to some new, shift in our surroundings as its Sentinels repair and
 * rebuild the Ark around us. I have witnessed dense forests spring up from pit-
 * black, barren terrain over the span of a week and monitored a particularly
 * virulent strain of weed checked by the reintroduction of voracious, insectoid
 * parasites before it could strangle the budding plants nearby. [2/3]

The Healing of Old Wounds III

 * My role as an archaeologist has been inverted. Instead of peeling back the layers
 * of the past to reveal hidden truths, I watch and document those layers being
 * placed and marvel at the subtle ambiguities. More than anything, I want to tell
 * my family back home about the wonders I've seen, but for now I have to be
 * content with news from home until the confidentiality contract is lifted. So
 * much to talk about - we could learn so much here! [3/3]

A New Bridge to Cross I

 * Journal of Nathaniel J. Palmer, Archaeologist, Henry Lamb Research Outpost.
 * Personal Diary Date: 04/02/2558


 * Isabel, our new smart AI, has embraced our new home with a wonder and
 * enthusiasm that matches our own. She is a young AI and this is her first
 * assignment but even so, her excitement for discovery and investigation is
 * infectious among the team. I even caught Brewer, the most jaded of the
 * scientists here, swapping jokes with her while they worked. Although we are
 * hesitant - and too worldly - about admitting it openly, it feels like we are on the
 * cusp of a new era. [1/3]

A New Bridge to Cross II

 * The Human-Covenant War often felt impossible to win, or at least,
 * would be so prolonged that as a race we would end it exhausted and broken,
 * retreating back to our own galaxy, cowed by the power of a greater enemy.
 * Instead, it proved that there was always hope, and that even enemies can
 * become allies.


 * Now the war is over and events have brought us to the Ark. Peace reigns, and
 * we have the time and resources to unlock some of the mysteries of the
 * Forerunners. We've been mired in war for so long -perhaps now mankind can
 * focus on development, on self-enrichment, for a change. [2/3]

A New Bridge to Cross III

 * As I have cataloged the marvels of the Ark, I've come to realize it is not simply
 * repairing itself from the ravages of the war, but remains remarkably adaptable
 * to change. Only this morning, I watched in awe as giant tectonic plates
 * rearranged, shifted and unfolded to form a new pathway across a chasm.


 * My amazement at the size of these things was only matched by the
 * naturalness of the movements, as graceful as a flower opening in time-lapse. If
 * eon's-old technology can move with the present, if it can adapt and change to
 * work in harmony with the universe, then perhaps we can learn to evolve as
 * well. [3/3]

The Graveyard

 * Palmer, Nathaniel J. Archaeologist, Lamb Research Center.
 * Personal Diary Date: 10/26/2558


 * Fifteen of us managed to escape the attack. I still don't know if anyone else
 * made it out.


 * We were returning from a survey expedition when we heard the first
 * explosions.


 * I ran back, following the plumes of black smoke rising into the evening sky from
 * just over the bluff. Sounds of UNSC gunfire were soon drowned out by the too-
 * familiar whine of plasma weapons, confirming our worst fears.


 * As we looked down at the horror below, we saw several hulking outlines move
 * amongst the shadows. Jiralhanae, I think. Brutes. They were everywhere. The
 * air was filled with the smell of burning ozone as a couple of bright, electric blue
 * shapes arced their way toward us. We scattered as the plasma blast hit,
 * vaporizing the trees nearby and showering us with ash and debris.


 * We instinctively turned and ran. My ears were ringing and the ground shook,
 * but we somehow managed to stay together. I yelled at everyone to keep
 * moving, to not look back no matter what. But when the firing stopped I
 * couldn't help myself, I turned around and witnessed the orbital plasma
 * bombardment of our home firsthand. It didn't last long. I didn't need to. But
 * the finality of it will be forever seared into my memory.


 * We've been on the run for three days now. The grime and smoke and ash clings
 * to our clothes, our hair. We sleep in shifts, but not for very long. Every sound
 * wakes us with a start and we expect to see the enemy bearing down on us.


 * We don't know where we're going but we've found some temporary shelter
 * amongst some old wreckage from the last time humanity was here - skeletons
 * of the past.


 * I can't help but think of the people we left behind. Will the Ark simply clean
 * them away as it repairs itself? As if they never existed, layering fresh grass
 * and fauna over their graves until the scars are no longer visible? They should not be
 * forgotten. I think of you and I pray we are not at war again.

Rise of Atriox I

 * ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications
 * between subjects 'D' and 'S', 02.15.2550 0313 hrs//Full transcript available on
 * request//


 * ['D'] Whatever it is you woke me for it had better be good. I have a 0600 with
 * Zero and I'm going to need my full four hours to keep ahead of them.


 * ['S'] Yes, sir. It's one of the Unggoy we captured. It's offering information in
 * exchange for a deal.


 * ['D'] A grunt? Why are you wasting my time? Those things don't know HOW to
 * tell the truth. Besides, something that far down the chain won't have access to
 * plans. Not beyond kitchen duty anyway.


 * ['S'] You're right, sir. But it's not about the Covenant. The Unggoy says he was
 * snatched from the Covenant. You remember the attack on Carter Guard Armory
 * six weeks ago?


 * ['D'] I'm still trying to make up the losses from the fallout. They took everything
 * we had and left no survivors. I've never seen the Covenant take our gear like
 * that before. Are you telling me we have a splinter group to contend with now?


 * ['S'] Maybe. Whether they're our problem too is another matter. I started doing
 * some digging and the group's targets seem to be chiefly Covenant. I guess hit
 * what you know, eh? Anyway, I pulled the security vids of the raid to get the
 * Unggoy to identify the leader.


 * ['D'] And did the grunt ID? Do we have a visual?


 * ['S'] Pulling it up now. It's a little blurry, but what you're about to see is the
 * leader, a Jiralhanae, fighting a squad of ODSTs. There's a lot of blood, sir. It's not
 * an easy watch.


 * ['D'] Good lord. Is he beating that ODST With...? Do we have a name?


 * ['S'] We do, sir. From the Unggoy. Says his name is Atriox.


 * ['D'] Make sure no one else talks to that grunt. I want this compartmentalized.
 * Some at ONI will see this as a problem to be fixed, not an opportunity. Find out
 * all you can on this Atriox and keep me informed.

The Turn of the Screw

 * Palmer, Nathaniel J. Archaeologist, Lamb Research Center. Date: 01/17/2559


 * It has been two months since the attack and our group has atrophied to eight.
 * Four disappeared one night while the rest of us slept. Each of them had argued
 * with us that week about returning to the base to see if they could reopen the
 * portal, so I can only hope they left in the night to go back without us. Three we
 * lost to thirst, hunger and the elements. I am ashamed to notice that our
 * smaller group is now more manageable - finding food and water is easier with
 * fewer mouths to feed.


 * During this time, the invaders have not been idle. Yesterday we stumbled upon
 * what seems to be some kind of transport route, moving resources they're
 * mining to supply their forces. The lanes sprawl out across the land like a spider
 * web, with all the grace and aesthetics of Forerunner design.


 * We rested and argued for a while about which direction to head in. There was a
 * real danger we could accidentally stumble upon an enemy base, but that could
 * also lead to supplies, perhaps even a vehicle we could steal.


 * We are hungry and exhausted and cannot last much longer in the wild. One of
 * us, Brewer, said as much and not for the first time raved about surrendering.
 * We thought we had talked him out of it but the next morning he had gone. If
 * he had successfully surrendered he could have given away our position, so we
 * had no choice but to start moving immediately.


 * We look for cover but avoid the trees because I have seen strange shimmers
 * and movement amongst them. I am scared and tired and want to give up. But
 * that won't get me back to you.

Rise of Atriox II

 * ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications between
 * subjects 'D' and 'S'. 11.17.2550 1453 hrs//Full transcript available on request//


 * ['S'] Sir. did you receive the report on Codename: Slow Dive? I thought you
 * should see it.


 * ['D'] I did. although I'm not sure why I'm looking at it. Hit and run, neutralize
 * Covenant forward outpost...break it down for me, what am I missing? Why is
 * this an ONI concern? Did we lose anything vital?


 * ['S'] No sir - in fact we suffered no casualties at all. When the team arrived at
 * the outpost it had already been wiped out. Every Covenant dead, every weapon
 * and vehicle gone. The only vehicles left look to have been sabotaged.


 * ['D'] Crossed lines happen all the time. I take it you've already had a discrete poke
 * around the other departments. Did we have a Spartan black ops mission there?


 * ['S'] No one's heard a peep, sir and l was very thorough. I've annotated the
 * report for you. The ballistics report confirms the majority of the damage came
 * from spikers, brute weapons. Remember our discussion about Atriox?


 * ['D'] Ah. You think this could be his work. What did that Grunt call them, 'The
 * Banished'? Still out there, are they?


 * ['S'] Once I saw the ballistics report I requested the last six months of mission
 * reports — under a proxy of course — and I believe I've found other similar
 * incidents; five months ago a rookie marine trips an alarm during a mission
 * against a Covenant training camp. The team dig in, fearing the worst but no
 * Covenant troops respond. The team sweep the camp only to find a few dead
 * Sangheili in a warehouse. Everything else is gone, vehicles, weapons, even the
 * rest of the Covenant that were stationed there. Once I started looking I found
 * five other similar cases, all against Covenant targets.


 * ['D'] So he's not just stealing armaments, he's recruiting. At the moment he's still
 * using guerrilla tactics, which means he's still small time. Still, I'm impressed he's
 * still alive. If he's got a grudge against the Covenant we may be able to use his
 * attacks to our advantage, coordinate our operations with his raids. See if you
 * can find a pattern, I want us to follow him more closely. Who knows, we may be
 * able to come to some kind of agreement.

Alice-130 Report #1

 * Spartan Alice-130, Spirit of Fire Red Team. Date: 05/15/2559


 * This is senior chief petty officer Alice-130, recording status report. Operating comms silent.


 * I managed to hold them off as long as I could while the Pelicans carried out
 * Jerome and Douglas, and once they we clear I spotted a Ghost,
 * commandeered it and made for the nearest portal. There was a brute coming
 * through from the other side, and I have to admit, his surprised expression as he
 * bounced off the front of my Ghost was very satisfying.


 * The Portal transported me a couple of clicks away from the main force, so I
 * stashed the Ghost in a nearby cave and took up a watch. After a couple of
 * hours perched in a small indent of a cliff face, the hostiles had moved on. A
 * caravan detachment had captured some of our troop from back at the
 * outpost and were taking off in another direction of the main forces, so I've been
 * tracking them, maintaining comms silence until it's safe to contact the Spirit of :Fire.


 * One more thing - although the hostile forces consisted of both Unggoy and
 * Jiralhanae soldiers they're not kitted out like any I've seen before, and the taking
 * of prisoners is unusual behavior tor the Covenant. It's unclear yet whether this
 * is some kind of subfaction or new enemy force. I will continue to make and log
 * these reports until contact is reestablished. Alice-130, signing off.

The Blinded

 * From the journal of Orda Val 'Saham, Sangheili Guard 03/04/2559


 * How my ancestors would envy me. I have walked within the cavernous corridors
 * of one of the fabled cartographers on the Ark, a place long considered only in
 * legends. I still feel strong emotions here, for so much of the history of our race
 * is intrinsically bound up in it. But those emotions are not those of my ancestors.


 * No longer do I feel the religious reverence or feel humbled in the presence of the
 * ancient's structures and monuments. Gone is the comforting certainty of a
 * shared destiny and the peace and connection between brothers that comes
 * with it. Instead, when I close my eyes and breathe in the air around me, I smell
 * only machines. I remember how many hundreds of thousands of our warriors
 * fell — how many were sacrificed for a journey that never existed. I feel anger and
 * a deep sorrow for a race that has lost its way.


 * Even now, long after the Prophets' lies have been revealed, the ripples of that
 * revelation continue. I have become estranged from my family, who even after
 * the truth has come to light, refuse to fully renounce the ancient doctrines I
 * have brought shame upon our name by offering up my blade alongside my
 * brothers...for hire.


 * Battle and conflict is in our blood, our very way of life, and that is the only truth
 * I can now find. I cannot wait for another holy war, not will I be duped again.
 * With Atriox there are no lies; he speaks like a warrior. He wished to break free
 * from the yoke of the Prophets, so he did. Would that we had joined him earlier.
 * Now he offers us a way to keep our ship and our crew together and I can think
 * of nothing more truthful to fight for right now. The Shipmaster brought us
 * through the war and to this place alive where so many others have perished.
 * He asked us to follow him once more, and I will.

The Telegony

 * Professor Ellen Anders, Civilian Consultant 500493, Spirit of Fire. Date:
 * 05/16/2559


 * As we continue our campaign against Atriox and the Banished, I continue to
 * discover more about the Forerunner's history and the Ark. Ever since Red Team
 * rescued Isabel, I've been pouring over her notes, trying to catch up on as much
 * history as possible. There are so many intertwining stories and revelations that
 * each new piece only throws up more questions, sending me darting down
 * another branch of investigation.


 * I am trying my best to remain focused, but it's hard not to wander occasionally
 * when something intrigues. However, my passion is tempered with my
 * responsibilities to the rest of the crew.


 * Although I am still a civilian here, I've been through too much with these people
 * to not consider the Spirit of Fire home and its crew family. Now I can help them
 * by beating Atriox in the race for knowledge. It's the only way to keep them...and :me...alive.

A Split Heart is Easily Conquered

 * From the journal of Orda Val 'Saham, Sangheili Guard 05/17/2559


 * This may be my last entry. The humans reached the Cartographer and by now
 * have no doubt discovered the location of Atriox's reinforcement portals. I admire
 * the humans' courage and skill as warriors; they are just one ship, but fight as
 * fiercely as an entire fleet! If their leader is as shrewd as he has appeared so far,
 * then he will understand the value of the portals and they must be the human's
 * next target. They're like|y already striking out to destroy them.


 * I have been ordered to defend the portals and must report to Decimus. This
 * gives me grave concern. When we first arrived at the Cartographer, I was
 * among the Sangheili who were to sweep the area for hostile elements and as
 * such I was privy to Decimus' movements.


 * He is Atriox's right—hand and pledges loyalty to the Banished, but as I watched
 * him walk among the ancient's halls I recognized the awe and reverence in his
 * eyes that I once saw among my own clan. I saw that fatal longing, that tragic
 * need to be once more struck dumb and blind by the promise of a wondrous
 * destiny. If we are to succeed, Decimus must purge these old conflicts from his
 * thoughts. A warrior's heart must be certain if he is to survive, as doubt is a
 * surer killer than the sharpest blade.

Rise of Atriox III

 * ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications
 * between subjects 'D' and 'S', 05.06.2553 1702 hrs//Full transcript available on
 * request//


 * ['D']...what's the name of the ship? Something pronounceable, I hope.


 * ['S'] 'The Enduring Conviction', sir. A CAS-class assault carrier. The Conviction and
 * its Sangheili commander have been known to us for some time, we've lost quite
 * a few ships to it over the last four years. According to our intel it's the largest
 * ship Atriox controls now.


 * ['D'] He's amassing quite a fleet. This must be the ninth raid in as many months.
 * Still, he's never gone for something this large before. How did he raise enough
 * troops to capture and then crew a CAS—class carrier?


 * ['S'] We're piecing together what we can, sir. From what we understand, Atriox
 * and a small group of his warlords were captured during a raid on a former
 * Covenant air base and taken aboard the Enduring Conviction. Twelve hours
 * later. Enduring Conviction broke formation and contact with the rest of the
 * fleet it travelled with. The Conviction was hailed, warned, and then fired upon
 * when it ignored orders. The Conviction performed evasive maneuvers, returned
 * fire and escaped. It was an impressive move...and it's one we've seen before
 * during a battle with the Conviction two years ago.


 * ['D'] Are you implying the commander was still in control?


 * ['S'] It's possible, sir. It's unclear who's giving orders to these Sangheili ships now
 * and his crew was fiercely loyal. If we knew that, then Atriox would have. What if
 * Atriox planned to be captured by the Conviction so he could get close to the
 * commander and get him to defect? It may have even already been planned and

this was just a cover.


 * ['D'] An assault carrier and its crew. Atriox has just painted a very large target
 * on his back, he's going to want to lay low for a while. Keep track of known
 * Sangheili, let's see if this snowball turns into an avalanche.

A Warning

 * Balkarus, Brute captain. Transcription Date: 05/16/2559


 * Attention all Unggoy!


 * As captain of this pitiless rabble I have the displeasure of having quarters close
 * to you whelps, and so my ears are tainted with every cowardly whisper and
 * idiotic rumor that is spread among your number! Recently. a poisonous tale has
 * become popular among you little ones, a tale that has resulted in two — TWO—
 * attempted desertions! This threatens to undermine my authority and is an
 * insult to the name of the Banished and Atriox himself. i am here to crush that
 * rumor before it results in any more disobedience.


 * The rumor is of an enemy warrior, so called 'The [UNKNOWN TRANSLATION]'. It
 * has been said that this '[UNKNOWN TRANSLATION is responsible for the
 * deaths of our comrades at the ancients water treatment structure and the
 * loss of several captives. According to you superstitious fools, the '[UNKNOWN
 * TRANSLATION]' single—handedly fought our bravest Jiralhanae before freeing
 * the human captives and then led a path of destruction leaving not one of our
 * warriors standing! The worst versions have the [UNKNOWN TRANSLATION]
 * being unstoppable, a ghost or even the same Demon that defeated the
 * Covenant curs!

Chrysalis
Professor Ellen Anders, Civilian Consultant 500493, Spirit of Fire. Date: 05/17/2559

I've been examining data pulled from the amber lake and cross—referencing it against Isabel's information banks on the Forerunners. I couldn't help but draw a parallel with the amber that fossilized long dead species on Earth. Except on Earth, those biological relics were preserved where they fell. Here, despite all appearances, everything has been constructed and planned. The Ark is part of a larger plan spun by the Librarian, and the UNSC archives say this was a plan for humanity.

New Mombasa was the first city to have an orbital elevator, but also the site of the portal that first led to the Ark. Was this all part of the Librarian's plans? Could she have manipulated our evolution just so we would discover the portal?

If we are to be these ‘Reclaimers’ as so often claimed, does that mean we are predestined to follow a set path or are we merely being guided to assume a greater role in the universe? On the one hand, it is thrilling that we may be finally uncovering the great questions as to why we are here, but it also scares me. It feels like we're preserved specimens under the surface of the amber lake, observed by some great, unknown eye. I need to get back to work, but I have to come back to this when we have time. If we have time. Back to it, Ellen.

A Small Sacrifice
Teranus. Jiralhanae guard. Transcription of audio report. Enduring Conviction. Date: 12/07/2558

Captain, how much longer must we put up with these Sangheili mercenaries? They are as haughty as their kind ever was during the Covenant. Despite how they have debased themselves for Atriox.

True, their ship is impressive; when I think of the punishment we dealt to the humans pitiful outpost great peals of laughter burst from my lips. How they ran like tiny insects, hopelessly lost and panicked as if we had poured boiling water into their dirty little nest! Yes, we burned that place. Of course, many of the Unggoy under our command were obliterated as well, but you cannot have a feast without breaking bones! Our soldiers knew the risks and were willing to die for our goal and the Unggoy — well, they are merely fodder, willing to hurl themselves to their deaths as long as there is someone to command them to do so!

Not so with these POMPOUS Sangheili! They declined our invitations to celebrate the destruction of the human's outpost. It is untrustworthy to have mercenaries be so squeamish! War is not about honor, but about who climbs out of the pit alive at the end! The end of the Covenant has freed our race, but it seems to have imprisoned theirs. That is all, my shift is over and I must go now to find some Unggoys to beat for sport.

Rise of Atriox V
ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications between subjects 'D' and 'S'. [35.06.2555 1702 hrs//Full transcript available on request// [D] Play it back to me, let me hear what we got. "You wish to know about Atriox and his Banished? The Covenant's dirty little secret. The Jiralhanae they could not control. When I joined the Covenant I was young and easily led. Even back then he had already passed into legends and whispers. A monstrous savage who railed against those who would show us the way to the Great Journey. What a fool I was.I was there when they tried to execute him. Many have said the same but I speak the truth. His crime was to question the Great Journey. To question the Prophets as they sent wave after wave of his kind to die. With each battle he became harder, his dissent louder until the Covenant had to silence him.

He was to be executed for heresy; for bringing shame upon the Covenant and doubt to weak willed minds. I was working some menial task nearby when they brought him in. bloodied and fresh from the fight. He showed no fear — it was as if there was too much rage inside him for any other emotion. As the executor brought down his blade, Atriox rose, killing his would be killer. The other Brutes fell upon the rest of the guards — such savagery. Vears later I heard Atriox had engaged the services of the Enduring Conviction.

I wonder, would the war have ended sooner had he led the Covenant? Or would it still be raging? I say this — do not underestimate him. I know you humans. There is honor in you, but there is equally deceit and I know how you nurture your plots. If you try and harness his power. he will burn you. Atriox works for no one. He may not be the Covenant, but he is not your tool."

['S'] That was all we could get out of the Sangheili, sir. He wouldn't say any more without us answering some uncomfortable questions so we let him go.

Enduring Conviction Battle Reports
Various Battle Reports, Banished station Delta. Incoming: R~5557~44522 We have spotted a small human vehicle force on the southern spire near the ruined human settlement. No sign of a larger strike force, but all Banished forces in the area should be ready to mobilize in the event of a larger human assault. Incoming: R-6001-4452: Humans routed from the area, many dead. One of their demons immobilized, the other missing, presumed dead. We have secured prisoners for interrogation and sport. incoming: R-6029-4452: The humans launched a surprise assault against Decimus' salvage operation. Superior numbers forced Decimus to return to base. Decimus has been ordered to report to Atriox immediately. All Banished outposts to be on the alert for further human assaults. Incoming: R-6042-4452: Supply deliveries along the southern Spire supply-line have slowed significantly. Rumors delivery outposts have been lost to human forces. Temporary reroute of emergency supplies underway. We also have reports of several communication blackouts at one of our settlements, seems to be a small second force operating independently of the main enemy force. Reinforcements sent down to bolster our bases there and eradicate this problem. incoming: R-6066-5012: Cartographer lost to the enemy. It is believed humans managed to recover information from Decimus' base and location of portals controls now compromised. Decimus reassigned to protect likely portal targets. Incoming: R-688-5014—EBB-SUlA: Loss of captives to the guerrilla force. No survivors, but garbled reports from the Unggoy forces of a '[UNKNOWN TRANSLATION]’. Rumors of this '[UNKNOWN TRANSLATION]’ are unsettling the Unggoy forces and there have been several desertions. Suggest deserters are executed as an example and anyone spreading rumors of the [UNKNOWN TRANSLATION] are punished. Incoming: R-7012-5093: Reinforcement of outer portals underway. Enduring Conviction has finally been ordered to engage the human ship directly — although Enduring Convictions shield is under assault from an enemy ground cannon. All local Banished forces to mobilize and neutralize enemy threat immediately. The Huragok onboard assure us that the cannon is little threat to the hull of the Enduring Conviction, but losing our shield could leave us open to other attacks. Incoming: R-7013-5093: Mercenary Ship has lost all shields. All available Huragok to be assigned to repair duty immediately. No sign of orbital counter-attack, assault against Spirit of Fire continues. Incoming: R-7016-5093: Alert! We have been... [REPORTS END]

Rise of Atriox VI
ONI Section Zero Board//Surveillance transcription of internal communications between subjects ‘S' and 'D', 03.15.2558 1702 hrsl/Full transcript available on request//

['S'] Sir. it's me. We've lost him. He's completely disappeared.

['D'] You can drop the ‘sir', I'm not your boss anymore. remember? I take it I know which 'him' we're talking about?

['S'] Every one of my sources say the trail has gone cold. those that are still answering my calls anyway. Without ONI channels at my disposal the only people talking are those who owe me favors.

['D'] They don't need us now their war's over. Forget about it.

['S'] Forget it? Atriox has assembled an army somewhere out there and we still don't know what he's after. I've got connections on Doisac and he's become a symbol to the Jiralhanae. a new leader to rally around. While we've been fighting the Covenant he's been growing and gathering his forces. The last time we heard from him he had captured a whole host of Hugarok. Forerunner engineers. You know what those things can do?

['D'] Listen, I stopped caring when they cut me out. They pull me up on a few shady deals after what they did with the Spartan Ils? Hypocrites. They ask you to get your hands dirty and then they're too good to shake your hand. The only reason I'm not in some detention station is the stuff I have on them. So let them find out about Atriox in their own time. Don't call here again, we're done.

Beyond the Edge
Captain James Cutter, SN: 01730-58392-JC] Spirit of Fire, Date: 05/19/2559

Once again, I say goodbye to a colleague and friend. The new Halo installation has disappeared through the slipspace portal. far out of reach of Atriox's hands. but it took Professor Anders with it. I know the Professor will be okay, her intelligence and resourcefulness will see her safely back to her lab in no time, but I will miss her and our family is a little smaller without her.

But there is plenty to keep us occupied here. The portal to Earth is still closed, and as far as I'm concerned it should remain so until we fully evaluate the threat the Banished pose to it. However, I have ordered Isabel to start investigating the portals controls in the event that we need to open — or close — it again in the future. The Ark is our new home for now and the Banished threat is too great to leave it unguarded until we establish contact with the UNSC forces back home.

For now, Atriox seems to be licking his wounds, but we know he still has forces active in the darkest corners of the Ark and it won't be long before he mobilizes them once again. This time we'll be ready for him.

Yes, I have said goodbye to another friend and we are again cut off from the rest of humanity, but this time it's different. We know that the Covenant war has been won and a new future awaits us back home — perhaps our families as well. For now, we have a new purpose, something to fight for. And we'll do it together on our new home.