Halo: Broken Circle

Halo: Broken Circle is a Covenant-focused Halo novel written by John Shirley. It was released on November 4, 2014. The first half of the book takes place during the Covenant's infancy in 851 BCE. The latter half takes place during the Great Schism and is told from the perspective of a new character, the Prophet of Clarity.

An online excerpt of the novel's first chapter was released on the Simon & Schuster website on October 26, 2014. Later, an online excerpt of the novel's prologue was released on Gallery Books's Facebook on October 28, 2014.

Plot synopsis
In a skirmish on the Planet of Blue and Red during the War of Beginnings, High Lord Mken 'Scre'ah'ben commands San'Shyuum Reformist forces on the planet. San'Shyuum scientists desperately attempt to uncover Forerunner artifacts before Sangheili assault teams outnumber them. During the battle, Mken takes notice to Ussa 'Xellus, a Sangheili field commander. As the San'Shyuum are forced to attack the Sangheili through orbital bombardment with the Forerunner Dreadnought, Mken believes that he can use Ussa to create peace between the two species.

A Place of Refuge
Years later, shortly after the establishment of the Covenant during the Age of Reconciliation, three San'Shyuum—the Ministers of Relative Reconciliation and Kindly Subjection, and Mken who is now the Prophet of Inner Conviction and Minister of Relic Safety—meet in the Conference Deck of the Forerunner Dreadnought in the Chamber of Decision. They meet with the Sangheili Commissioners Viyo 'Griot and Loro 'Onkiyo. The five discuss an ongoing Sangheili rebellion that is now being led by Ussa 'Xellus. The Sangheili assure the San'Shyuum that they will eliminate the insurgency, but the Prophet of Inner Conviction remarks that even if 'Xellus and his clan are killed, the idea will live on to inspire others.

Meanwhile, on the Sangheili mining colony of Creck, Ussa 'Xellus and his mate, Sooln, are unsuccessful in their attempt to recruit new members into their rebellion against the Covenant. When the two return to their vessel—Clan’s Blade—at a spaceport to leave the planet, they encounter 'Crecka. 'Crecka reveals that he wishes to join their rebellion. Despite Ussa's initial reluctance to work with the elderly Sangheili, 'Crecka claims that years ago he had discovered a Forerunner world containing advanced technology that would be useful in Ussa's attempt at overthrowing the San'Shyuum. Eventually, the three Sangheili depart Creck and set course for the shield world. The Sangheili arrive at the shield world and enter its interior, where they encounter the monitor of the installation, Enduring Bias. The monitor allows them to remain on the shield world, but demands to know their intents. Meanwhile, in the Nwari region located on Sanghelios' southern pole, the rest of the Xellus clan and its allies await Ussa's return. Tersa 'Gunok recalls 'Xellus warning the state of Xellus' residents to not trust the San'Shyuum. Shortly after, Covenant fighters attacked the state and forced Ussa to lead the survivors to Nwari. Ussa 'Xellus returns to their hideout and speaks with Ernicka the Scar-Maker. After identifying a Covenant spy within his group, Ussa and his allies leave Sanghelios for the shield world before the Covenant discovers them. Afterwards, the San'Shyuum and Commissioners reconvene to discuss Ussa's escape.

Meanwhile, on the shield world, Ussa and Ernicka speak to Salus 'Crolon who questions the use of Forerunner artifacts, believing them to be a possible danger and an affront to the gods. As 'Crolon leaves, Ernicka expresses his fears that the Sangheili is treasonous. Back on High Charity, Qurlom informs Mken of a new Ministry created by the Hierarchs—the Ministry of Anticipatory Security. Qurlom tells Mken that the Ministry's Minister is R'Noh Custo, a political rival to Mken, and warns him that the Ministry was likely created by the High Prophet of Excellent Redolence to remove any individual that could present a threat to his title. Mken returns to his residence where he discovers that his spouse, Cresanda, is in a rare fertile cycle and the two mate.

On the shield world, 'Crolon and Tersa are working while 'Crolon expresses his doubts of Ussa. However, Tersa insists that they cannot return to Sanghelios and must stay committed to living on the shield world. 'Crolon attempts to continue to convince Tersa that Ussa may be misguided, but stops when Ernicka orders them back to work. While in his office on High Charity, Mken receives a transmission from R'Noh, the new Minister of Anticipatory Security. The Minister reveals that he is aware of Cresanda's pregnancy and threatens to use his new-found influence to place Mken on the Roll of Celibates if he does not lead a mission to Janjur Qom, the San'Shyuum homeworld, ordered by the Prophet of Excellent Redolence to retrieve San'Shyuum females that are willing to mate on High Charity and an alleged Luminary stated to be on the planet. However, Mken is not willing to go on the mission and schedules a meeting with the rest of the Hierarchs, hoping that the other two would persuade the Prophet of Excellent Redolence against the mission or choose another San'Shyuum to lead the mission. But only the Prophet of Excellent Redolence and R'Noh are present. After Excellent Redolence threatens to place Mken on the Roll of Celibates, with implied execution, Mken reluctantly accepts to lead the mission. On the shield world, Enduring Bias tells Sooln that the world has the capability to break itself apart and have its disparate parts still habitable, as a fail-safe setting and known as the "Disassembler" process. Sooln speaks to Ussa about this discovery and Enduring Bias confirms that while it is true, he is unsure of how reliable the fail-safe is. On High Charity, Mken prepares to leave for Janjur Qom aboard Vengeful Vitality, a stealth corvette. Other members of Mken's mission include the San'Shyuum Captain Vervum L'kosur, communications officer S'Prog, and weapons officer Mleer, the Sangheili Rangers Trok 'Tanghil, Vil 'Kthamee, Ziln 'Klel, and Loquen 'Nvong, and the Huragok Floats Near Ceiling. Upon arriving in the Janjur Qom system, Vervum begins to monitor the transmissions of the San'Shyuum Stoics on the planet and discovers that their technology is much more simple than the Covenant's. As a dropship carrying Mken, Vervum, Mleer, Trok, Vil, Loquen, Ziln, and Floats Near Ceiling heads towards the planet's surface, Mken decides that Vervum is very likely an agent for the Ministry of Anticipatory Security.

On the shield world, Tersa witnesses Enduring Bias watching a holographic demonstration of the Disassembler process. Bias' vague explanation causes Tersa to begin to doubt Ussa's intentions, as Enduring Bias unintentionally implied that Ussa wished to test the Disassembler process himself—even if it lead to the deaths of all Sangheili in the colony. As Tersa continues to work on the colony with 'Crolon and 'Drem, the two older Sangheili discuss their doubts in Ussa and the shield world. Bias informs the three that Sooln had helped reprogram some of his failing processes and that he was loyal to anyone that programmed him. After Bias learns that the San'Shyuum had connections to the Huragok from Sooln, Bias states that he would accept the presence of San'Shyuum on the world, as he believes that they would bring along Huragok to fully repair Bias. 'Crolon and 'Drem believe that Sooln and Ussa are actually conspiring with the San'Shyuum and began plotting against him. Later, while Tersa is eating, 'Crolon and 'Drem confront him and tell him that if he reports the two to Ussa for conspiracy, they will frame him as well. Meanwhile, Mken's dropship lands in the Reskolah region of Janjur Qom with the expedition members. Mleer, Trok, and Ziln wait at the dropship, while the rest of the team makes their way to the grotto of the Great Transition in search for the Luminary. After entering the grotto, the team discovers a Luminary and a device that holds a holographic projection of the Halo Array. However, a group of hostile Stoic warriors waits for the team outside the grotto. Suddenly, Vervum and Loquen betray Mken, Vil, and Floats Near Ceiling, and holds the three at gunpoint. Vervum demands that Mken hands over the Forerunner relics, but Vil wounds Loquen and the Huragok closes a door between them and the traitors. Before the door closes, Vil fires a shot into the distance to attract the attention of the Stoics. The Stoics attack Loquen and Vervum, and the latter is killed while Loquen is captured. After the Stoics leave, the survivors of the group return to the dropship and the rest of the team makes their way to the village of Crellum to retrieve the females.

Meanwhile, Tersa becomes infatuated with Lnur 'Mol, a female Sangheili who is very combat competent. However, 'Crolon continues to insult Tersa and Tersa challenges him to a fight. However, Ernicka intervenes and orders the two back to work. Later, as Tersa and Lnur walk through the gardens on the shield world, they overhear 'Crolon and 'Drem attempting to convince Gmezza and Scorinn to rebel against Ussa with them. Tersa and Lnur are spotted by the group and 'Crolon and 'Drem give chase as the two young Sangheili attempt to run back to Ussa. After a brief fight with 'Drem, the two manage to escape. Later, Tersa, Lnur, 'Crolon, and 'Drem are on trial before Ussa. Enduring Bias plays holographic footage that shows 'Crolon and 'Drem conspiring against Ussa. 'Drem is killed and 'Crolon is arrested for his crimes.

At Crellum on Janjur Qom, the dropship lands just outside the village and the group ventures in to locate the females. Soon, they meet Lilumna, the "leader" of the female San'Shyuum that wished to go to High Charity. The rest of the females arrive on top of a tamed ilpdor named Erb. The group attempts to return to the dropship, but they are attacked by Stoic forces and their folasteed mounts. The folasteed tear apart the captured Loquen in front of them. Erb charges at the Stoics and kills the rest of the warriors, but the animal itself is killed in the process. Eventually, the survivors and the females return to the dropship and leave to the orbiting Vengeful Vitality. As the corvette attempts to leave the system, the Stoics damage it with a missile. Parts of the ship begin breaking off and Mken chooses to save one of the female San'Shyuum, rather than the Luminary which burns up in orbit.

Before Ussa can publicly execute him, 'Crolon escapes aboard Clan's Blade and is captured by Covenant ships once he leaves the system. Meanwhile, Mken returns to High Charity with the females. He is brought before the Hierarchs, and with the help of Qurlom, he convinces them that he is not responsible for the destruction of the Luminary. Instead, R'Noh is demoted and his Ministry is dissolved. Qurlom also reveals that the interrogation of 'Crolon revealed the location of Ussa's new world. Commanding a fleet from the carrier Pledge of Holiness, Mken makes his way to the shield world. Mken communicates with Ussa and gives him an offer: if Ussa and Sooln turn themselves in, the rest of his allies will be free to go. Ussa declines the offer, knowing that his people would still likely be killed. Instead, Ussa warns Mken to extract his warriors off the world. Ussa has Enduring Bias activate the Disassembler process and the shield world is seemingly destroyed. Mken notices odd movements in the debris field, but chooses to ignore it, hoping that Ussa survived. As the fleet departs from the system, it is revealed that the Sangheili insurgents survived and they resettle in the former shield world's fragmented habitats. Ussa continues to lead the colony and hopes that his descendants will one day retake Sanghelios.

An Invitation to the Dance of Chaos
Over 3400 years later, at the end of the 9th Age of Reclamation, Zo Resken, the Prophet of Clarity, compiles a record of the history of the Covenant. Zo is fascinated by ancient history and the writings of his ancestor, the Prophet of Inner Conviction. He is also unusual among the San'Shyuum in his good relations with a number of high-ranked Sangheili, including Torg 'Gransamee and G'torik 'Klemmee. The three of them meet in the Hanging Gardens on High Charity to discuss the destruction of Alpha Halo and the recent assassination of the Prophet of Regret. They are suspicious as to why the Prophet of Truth withdrew troops heading to protect Regret. Zo privately worries about Truth’s ruthlessness and the fact that the prophet has been meeting secretly with high-ranking Jiralhanae. Before they can speak further on the matter, Zo receives a summons from Truth, and Zo suspects Tartarus is about to arrive. Recently appointed as Secondary Administrator—essentially an assistant—to Truth, Zo tells Torg and G’torik he will let them know what he learns.

As he awaits Truth in the Palace of the Hierarchs, Zo muses about the High Prophet's motivations and intentions. Feeling a particular resentment of his new role as assistant, and looking for information to advance his own agenda, Zo had secretly implanted a share-input directive into Truth's gravity throne that transmits all of Truth's conversations directly to Zo. Truth arrives and reminds Zo that no record is to be made of this meeting with Tartarus. He also, to Zo's dismay, transfers Zo's services to the Prophet of Exquisite Devotion. Tartarus and Exquisite Devotion arrive shortly after and Truth dismisses Zo. Using the device in Truth's chair to eavesdrop on their meeting, Zo is shocked to learn that there is a scheme in the works to demote the Sangheili and replace the Honor Guard and all military leadership positions with Jiralhanae.

Meanwhile, the descendants of the Ussans continue to inhabit the fragments of the Refuge, which are now in varying states of decay. The isolated colony's culture has changed significantly over this time and the key figures of Ussa 'Xellus' time have become legendary. Enduring Bias has been long inactive due to damage it sustained during the Disassembly process millennia earlier and a comet strike on the Primary Section. The colony's integrity is threatened by a disease known as the Blood Sickness as well as the 'Greftus Faction, a rebel group that declares the Ussans should abandon the decaying Refuge and seek out the now-mythical Sanghelios. Kaidon Bal'Tol 'Xellus meets with his assistant C'tenz, who informs him that a 'Greftus Faction group led by a Sangheili named 'Kinsa has been confirmed, and that some of the rebels are in the late stage of the Blood Sickness, exhibiting hallucinations and paranoia. They discuss methods to quell the rebellion; Bal'Tol wishes to isolate the Blood Sick and continue searching for a cure, though C'tenz is skeptical and suggests they be put to death. Bal'Tol knows many residents of the Refuge are concerned about the colony's slow breakdown and sympathize with the 'Greftus Faction, and he does not wish to murder 'Kinsa and provoke an uprising.

On High Charity, the Prophet of Exquisite Devotion informs Zo that Tartarus will soon be made military chief of the Covenant and that the Sangheili in the Honor Guard will be replaced by Jiralhanae. Wishing to warn his Sangheili friends, Zo meets with G'torik and tells him about the conspiracy. G'torik is shocked by the news but tells Zo that he and the other Sangheili will be on alert. After the Changing of the Guard, Torg and G'torik lead a group of Sangheili to the control room of Delta Halo in order to make preparations for the activation of the ring. As they await the San'Shyuum, Tartarus's lieutenant Melchus arrives with a large contingent of heavily armed Jiralhanae and suddenly attack the Sangheili. The Sangheili try to defend themselves but are outnumbered and unprepared, their weapons ineffective against the Jiralhanae's thick armor. Torg and numerous High Councilors and former Honor Guards are killed in the violent skirmish. G'torik battles Melchus alone, dealing several minor injuries to the Jiralhanae, but Melchus uses his gravity hammer's shock wave to knock G'torik off a bridge, rendering him unconscious. Back on High Charity, Truth makes a public announcement that the Jiralhanae now command all Covenant fleets. Zo knows there have been skirmishes on High Charity and on the ring, and he realizes the rebellion has begun. As he ponders what to do, a Jiralhanae messenger tells him that Exquisite Devotion has summoned him.

Meanwhile, on the Refuge, Bal'Tol and a group of patrollers search for the 'Greftus leader 'Kinsa. They find him speaking to his followers rebelling against the kaidon. Bal'Tol notices that 'Kinsa displays symptoms of the Blood Sickness and offers him a place of isolation until a cure can be found, but 'Kinsa refuses and one of his followers, Norzessa, jumps to his defense. Suddenly, Bal'Tol and his patrollers are ambushed by fifteen rebel troops. A firefight breaks out and Bal'Tol calls for reinforcements. He and C'tenz manage to bring Norzessa down. As more patrollers arrive, 'Kinsa and the Blood Sick survivors flee from the battle.

Exquisite Devotion brings Zo to a weapons-testing facility, where he has gathered several Sangheili High Councilors in the Gravitational Refinement chamber. He informs Zo that Torg and his Councilors have been executed on the ring for opposing the replacement of the Honor Guard, and he questions Zo's allegiance with these Sangheili and believes him to be a traitor to the Covenant. He also believes that Zo knows the whereabouts of the Arbiter, and to force Zo to confess, he tortures a Sangheili High Councilor by using localized gravitation to slowly crush his body. Though Zo insists he knows nothing of the Arbiter, Exquisite Devotion continues to torture the High Councilor, eventually crushing him to death. Exquisite Devotion orders Zo to prove his loyalty to the Covenant by executing the other Councilors in the same manner. Zo refuses, and Exquisite Devotion orders him to death. As two Jiralhanae guards lead Zo away, G'torik and two other Sangheili suddenly emerge through an energy conduit access door and kill the Jiralhanae. They escape with Zo through the energy conduit chamber as Exquisite Devotion and two Hunters pursue them. The Sangheili fire upon several transmutation cubes that detonate and kill the Hunters and throw Exquisite Devotion from his gravity throne. G’torik charges the prophet and kills him with his energy sword. A Huragok, Sluggish Drifter, helps the group escape into the corridor moments before the destabilized energy conduit room explodes. They escape High Charity on a maintenance vessel and make their way to the supply ship Journey’s Sustenance. They jump via slipspace away from High Charity to the Ussan system, chosen because it is forbidden in Covenant systems. Zo Resken recognizes the system from the Prophet of Inner Conviction's writings as the site of the standoff between Ussa 'Xellus and Mken—and the Ussans' subsequent act of supposed mass suicide. Zo says they should stay and explore the system in search of remnants of the Refuge colony.

Months later, skirmishes between the Ussans and the Blood Sick rebels flare across the colony. The physical integrity of the colony continues to degrade; repellent fields around the outer hulls begin to fail, putting the colony at risk of meteor strikes. Bal'Tol and C'tenz discuss a plan to raid Section Two, currently occupied by 'Kinsa's forces, for the generator parts needed to repair the repellent fields. Meanwhile, Zo and the crew of the Journey’s Sustenance search the system for any sign of the lost Sangheili colony, while reports arrive of the developing situation with the Great Schism and the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam's newfound role as the leader of the Sangheili. The crew finally detect the colony within the asteroid belt and make plans to approach.

Bal’Tol oversees the mission to raid Section Two, watching from monitors on the Primary Refuge as C'tenz and two other Sangheili, Torren and V'ornik, cut through the section's hull. However, 'Kinsa's troops had become aware of the intrusion and are waiting on the other side. A firefight breaks out, and Torren is killed while C'tenz is captured. V'ornik escapes in a maintenance vehicle, but the enemy damages the engines and the vehicle spins into the void of space. 'Kinsa uses the C'tenz's helmet to transmit a message to Bal'Tol, demanding that he surrender or C'tenz will be killed. Bal'Tol instead challenges him to a floatfight to determine which faction would control the Refuge. 'Kinsa reluctantly agrees.

Zo and his crew observe the skirmish from the Journey’s Sustenance. They recover the maintenance vehicle with V'ornik, who confirms this is the Ussan colony. Zo hopes V'ornik can help him make contact with the Ussans and explains how Sluggish Drifter can make any needed repairs on the colony. V'ornik is able to make contact with Xelq 'Tylk, who allows them access. In the Combat Section, Bal'Tol and his patrollers battle 'Kinsa's followers in the floatfight. Bal’Tol is nearly killed in the fight but is saved by Enduring Bias, who has been repaired by Sluggish Drifter. 'Kinsa tries to destroy Enduring Bias with a mec-missiler, but the AI deflects the blast and kills 'Kinsa with a pulse beam. He then brings Bal’Tol and C’tenz in for medical attention.

After Enduring Bias sides with the kaidon, most of the rebels lay down their arms and order is restored to the colony after the rest are suppressed. Bal'Tol delivers a speech to the colony, announcing the dissolution of the Covenant and his intention to reunite the colony with Sanghelios, giving his people the option to return to their homeworld or remain on the Refuge. He also announces that Enduring Bias has discovered the cause of the Blood Sickness, the malfunctioning protein synthesizer, and that with Sluggish Drifter's help they have formulated a cure and have repaired the synthesizer. Later, Enduring Bias reassembles the disparate sections of the Refuge into a circular structure resembling a small Halo ring, facilitating easier travel within the colony. Bal'Tol decides to remain in the Refuge as kaidon. Zo also plans to stay and dedicate the rest of his life to studying the plentiful Forerunner artifacts and the Ussans' unique culture. In the epilogue, several of the Ussan Sangheili look upon the state of Zolam on Sanghelios, having returned to their ancestors' home at last.

Trivia
The title Broken Circle refers to the Refuge when in its disassembled state.

Production note
The novel's cover is illustrated by 343 Industries senior concept artist John Wallin Liberto, who previously created promotional and concept artwork for Halo 4 and Halo: Initiation.