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[[File:Perfect White UNSC logo.png|thumb|150px|The emblem of the UNSC.]] | [[File:Perfect White UNSC logo.png|thumb|150px|The emblem of the UNSC.]] | ||
{{Main|United Nations Space Command}} | {{Main|United Nations Space Command}} | ||
In the 26th century, most of humanity is ruled by the [[ | In the 26th century, most of humanity is ruled by the [[Unified Earth Government]] (UEG). As most of the [[category:Canon|canon]] material from the ''Halo'' universe is from the ongoing war we see the future mainly through the eyes of the UEG's military arm, the [[United Nations Space Command]] (UNSC). During the events of ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', the UNSC [[Battle of Earth|fought]] the Covenant over [[Earth]] in a last-ditch attempt to protect the human race. The events of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' are fought defending the planet [[Reach]], the UNSC's former military headquarters. | ||
The UNSC was formed by the [[United Nations]] when overpopulation on [[Earth]] and conflict in the [[Sol System]] started becoming a severe problem in the early 22nd century. In the wake of the [[Interplanetary War]] in the 2160's, the UNSC became the military and space exploratory arm of the newly-established | The UNSC was formed by the [[United Nations]] when overpopulation on [[Earth]] and conflict in the [[Sol System]] started becoming a severe problem in the early 22nd century. In the wake of the [[Interplanetary War]] in the 2160's, the UNSC became the military and space exploratory arm of the newly-established Unified Earth Government. After the emergence of the Covenant threat, the UNSC was given power over the UEG and its colonial governing agency, [[Colonial Administration Authority]], although the civilian government was formally returned its power after the war. | ||
Run by [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]], the UNSC is Earth's premiere defense against external threats. The [[UNSC Navy]] houses the divisions of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] (including the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s), the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] (ONI), and the [[UNSC fleet|fleet]]. Originally designed to keep the peace between neighboring planets and star systems, when certain [[Insurrectionist|rebellious factions]] began to present a problem in the late 2490s, the UNSC was forced to police its colonies to keep privateers and [[Space piracy|pirates]] from raiding them. | Run by [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]], the UNSC is Earth's premiere defense against external threats. The [[UNSC Navy]] houses the divisions of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] (including the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s), the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] (ONI), and the [[UNSC fleet|fleet]]. Originally designed to keep the peace between neighboring planets and star systems, when certain [[Insurrectionist|rebellious factions]] began to present a problem in the late 2490s, the UNSC was forced to police its colonies to keep privateers and [[Space piracy|pirates]] from raiding them. | ||
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The Flood grow and reproduce via the assimilation of other beings, utilising corpses and acquiring any biomass (including both animal and plant) in order to spread. They are incapable of sexual reproduction, instead they fester inside a host until a certain time period, after which they explode and many new Flood are given off. Once a Gravemind is formed however, the Flood advance to a stage where they no longer require hosts for this, only biomass and calcium, which they require to feed on, and to build bodies with. Once they have advanced, they create hives which can produce thousands of Flood inside large pustules on walls and other surfaces, which act as incubators. During this stage, the Flood are able to build their own life forms using captured biomass and calcium deposits. The Flood continue in this fashion recurrently until either everything is devoured, or until they are stopped, the former usually occurring. | The Flood grow and reproduce via the assimilation of other beings, utilising corpses and acquiring any biomass (including both animal and plant) in order to spread. They are incapable of sexual reproduction, instead they fester inside a host until a certain time period, after which they explode and many new Flood are given off. Once a Gravemind is formed however, the Flood advance to a stage where they no longer require hosts for this, only biomass and calcium, which they require to feed on, and to build bodies with. Once they have advanced, they create hives which can produce thousands of Flood inside large pustules on walls and other surfaces, which act as incubators. During this stage, the Flood are able to build their own life forms using captured biomass and calcium deposits. The Flood continue in this fashion recurrently until either everything is devoured, or until they are stopped, the former usually occurring. | ||
In modern times, little is known about their origin, except that they arrived from another galaxy and fought both [[prehistoric human civilization|prehistoric humans]] and Forerunners, eventually defeating the latter. The Forerunners discovered and then fought them until they were overwhelmed after centuries of war. Faced with the Flood spreading throughout the galaxy and consuming every sentient being, the Forerunners created seven artificial rings called the [[Halo Array|Halos]], galactic superweapons in the shape of enormous rings, to contain and hopefully stop the Flood from ever spreading. The point of the rings was to wipe out all sentient life, thus starving the Flood of the sufficient biomass required for them to continue spreading. Through their own interpretation of Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant believed these rings were actually devices that allowed the Forerunner to transcend this plane of existence into godlike state, and thus they seek to do the same by activating them once more, not realizing they would inadvertently wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy if they were to be successful in doing so. | In modern times, little is known about their origin, except that they arrived from [[Large Magellanic Cloud|another galaxy]] and fought both [[prehistoric human civilization|prehistoric humans]] and Forerunners, eventually defeating the latter. The Forerunners discovered and then fought them until they were overwhelmed after centuries of war. Faced with the Flood spreading throughout the galaxy and consuming every sentient being, the Forerunners created seven artificial rings called the [[Halo Array|Halos]], galactic superweapons in the shape of enormous rings, to contain and hopefully stop the Flood from ever spreading. The point of the rings was to wipe out all sentient life, thus starving the Flood of the sufficient biomass required for them to continue spreading. Through their own interpretation of Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant believed these rings were actually devices that allowed the Forerunner to transcend this plane of existence into godlike state, and thus they seek to do the same by activating them once more, not realizing they would inadvertently wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy if they were to be successful in doing so. | ||
Although it seemed the plan had been successful at eliminating the Flood threat, samples of the organism kept on the rings for study were released on at least two of the installations through accidental means, putting the galaxy once again at risk of complete destruction by the parasite. | Although it seemed the plan had been successful at eliminating the Flood threat, samples of the organism kept on the rings for study were released on at least two of the installations through accidental means, putting the galaxy once again at risk of complete destruction by the parasite. | ||
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In the 2490's, with over 800 settled worlds across the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, humanity's "Golden Age" of expansion was coming to an end. Gradually, the Outer Colonies had became more isolated and unstable. Their populations had widely varying loyalties to Earth, and taxes and trade restrictions set up by the UEG's colonial governing agencies caused dissent against the Earth government. This eventually led to the [[Insurrection]], an undeclared civil war between the UNSC and the various [[Insurrectionist|rebel groups]] that rose up against it in the Outer Colonies. | In the 2490's, with over 800 settled worlds across the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, humanity's "Golden Age" of expansion was coming to an end. Gradually, the Outer Colonies had became more isolated and unstable. Their populations had widely varying loyalties to Earth, and taxes and trade restrictions set up by the UEG's colonial governing agencies caused dissent against the Earth government. This eventually led to the [[Insurrection]], an undeclared civil war between the UNSC and the various [[Insurrectionist|rebel groups]] that rose up against it in the Outer Colonies. | ||
[[File:Fall-o-reach.jpg|thumb|150px|The book, ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', details the origins of the SPARTAN-II | [[File:Fall-o-reach.jpg|thumb|150px|The book, ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', details the origins of the SPARTAN-II program and serves as a prequel to ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.]] | ||
===Insurrection and the SPARTAN-II project=== | ===Insurrection and the SPARTAN-II project=== | ||
{{Main|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Insurrection|SPARTAN programs}} | {{Main|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Insurrection|SPARTAN programs}} | ||
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''High Charity'' has fallen into chaos as a result of the Great Schism and an invasion by the Flood. The Prophet of Truth, intent on reaching Earth and the Ark, speeds toward the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] in the heart of the city. With Cortana staying behind to momentarily delay the Dreadnought's launch, the Master Chief boards the Forerunner ship as it launches from the Covenant holy city, headed for Earth. | ''High Charity'' has fallen into chaos as a result of the Great Schism and an invasion by the Flood. The Prophet of Truth, intent on reaching Earth and the Ark, speeds toward the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] in the heart of the city. With Cortana staying behind to momentarily delay the Dreadnought's launch, the Master Chief boards the Forerunner ship as it launches from the Covenant holy city, headed for Earth. | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
[[File:Onyx cover.jpg|thumb|150px|Set mainly on the mysterious world of [[Onyx]], ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' establishes the SPARTAN-III | [[File:Onyx cover.jpg|thumb|150px|Set mainly on the mysterious world of [[Onyx]], ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' establishes the SPARTAN-III program.]] | ||
===SPARTAN-III | ===SPARTAN-III program and Onyx=== | ||
{{Main|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|SPARTAN-III program|Battle of Onyx}} | {{Main|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|SPARTAN-III program|Battle of Onyx}} | ||
''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', which tells the story of the events that occurred on the planet [[Onyx]], begins in [[2545]], with the [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] of [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] [[Operation: TORPEDO|deploying]] to a Covenant fleet refueling depot on [[Pegasi Delta]]. They proceed to destroy the facility, but due to unexpectedly heavy Covenant resistance, all but two of the three-hundred-strong Spartan company is wiped out. The only survivors, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], are revealed to be only twelve years old, and Lucy is traumatized and [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation|rendered mute]]. | ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', which tells the story of the events that occurred on the planet [[Onyx]], begins in [[2545]], with the [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] of [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] [[Operation: TORPEDO|deploying]] to a Covenant fleet refueling depot on [[Pegasi Delta]]. They proceed to destroy the facility, but due to unexpectedly heavy Covenant resistance, all but two of the three-hundred-strong Spartan company is wiped out. The only survivors, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], are revealed to be only twelve years old, and Lucy is traumatized and [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation|rendered mute]]. | ||
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===Post-war era=== | ===Post-war era=== | ||
{{Main|Kilo-Five Trilogy|Halo: Glasslands|Halo: The Thursday War|Halo: Mortal Dictata}} | {{Main|Kilo-Five Trilogy|Halo: Glasslands|Halo: The Thursday War|Halo: Mortal Dictata}} | ||
Following the end of the war, humanity begins to rebuild and achieves a number of technological breakthroughs with the aid of an increasing amount of discovered Forerunner artifacts. Despite the alliance with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], the political situation in the known galaxy remains volatile, with ONI concerned about reprisal on part of the now-divided Sangheili. A Sangheili group known as the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] push for an insurrection against the Arbiter and his forces, whom they consider to be blasphemous for colluding with humanity. In response to the growing strife among the Sangheili, ONI Commander in Chief [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]] assembles a black operations team known as [[Kilo-Five]], which is assigned on a covert mission to sow discord between disparate Sangheili factions by any means necessary, as well as to arrest [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] once she has been located. In a concurrent storyline which directly follows that of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Dr. Halsey, [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Franklin Mendez]], and a group of [[SPARTAN-II | Following the end of the war, humanity begins to rebuild and achieves a number of technological breakthroughs with the aid of an increasing amount of discovered Forerunner artifacts. Despite the alliance with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], the political situation in the known galaxy remains volatile, with ONI concerned about reprisal on part of the now-divided Sangheili. A Sangheili group known as the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] push for an insurrection against the Arbiter and his forces, whom they consider to be blasphemous for colluding with humanity. In response to the growing strife among the Sangheili, ONI Commander in Chief [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]] assembles a black operations team known as [[Kilo-Five]], which is assigned on a covert mission to sow discord between disparate Sangheili factions by any means necessary, as well as to arrest [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] once she has been located. In a concurrent storyline which directly follows that of ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', Dr. Halsey, [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Franklin Mendez]], and a group of [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] look for a means of escape from a [[Forerunner]] [[Trevelyan|shield world]] locked in a [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] bubble in the remnants [[Onyx]]. While they are eventually recovered and the shield world is claimed by the UNSC as a research facility christened [[Trevelyan]], Admiral Parangosky has Dr. Halsey arrested and imprisoned as personal retribution. | ||
With Halsey out of the picture, Kilo-Five has another growing priority in the rebel-leaning planet of [[Venezia]] which may present yet another threat to the UNSC. Meanwhile, the situation on Sanghelios escalates as [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] rallies the Servants of the Abiding Truth and their allies into an all-out war against the Arbiter. However, the insurgent forces are driven back as the UNSC's newest and most powerful warship, {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, arrives in the aid of the Arbiter. All the while this is taking place, [[Jul 'Mdama]], a member of the Abiding Truth imprisoned on Trevelyan, looks for a way to escape his confinement and soon learns of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], a mighty Forerunner commander who once held a hatred for humanity. Seeking to enlist the Didact's aid in his crusade against humanity, Jul manages to escape the shield world to the Sangheili colony of [[Hesduros]], where the locals agree to join forces with him in his search for the Didact, laying the foundations for a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|powerful new Covenant group]]. | With Halsey out of the picture, Kilo-Five has another growing priority in the rebel-leaning planet of [[Venezia]] which may present yet another threat to the UNSC. Meanwhile, the situation on Sanghelios escalates as [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] rallies the Servants of the Abiding Truth and their allies into an all-out war against the Arbiter. However, the insurgent forces are driven back as the UNSC's newest and most powerful warship, {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, arrives in the aid of the Arbiter. All the while this is taking place, [[Jul 'Mdama]], a member of the Abiding Truth imprisoned on Trevelyan, looks for a way to escape his confinement and soon learns of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], a mighty Forerunner commander who once held a hatred for humanity. Seeking to enlist the Didact's aid in his crusade against humanity, Jul manages to escape the shield world to the Sangheili colony of [[Hesduros]], where the locals agree to join forces with him in his search for the Didact, laying the foundations for a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|powerful new Covenant group]]. | ||
In the following years, a number of [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] of the former Covenant continue to spring up, with numerous independent warlords laying claim to the Covenant's legacy in spite of the Arbiter's efforts of building peace between the fragmented Covenant and the UNSC. In response to these splinter groups as well as the budding resurgence of the colonial insurrection, the UNSC creates a new generation of [[Human augmentation|augmented]] supersoldiers in the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]; these events are detailed in the comic series ''[[Halo: Initiation]]''. In the game ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'', players take control of SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers in [[Battle of Draetheus V|a battle]] against a [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|rogue Covenant faction]]. | In the following years, a number of [[Covenant remnants|remnant factions]] of the former Covenant continue to spring up, with numerous independent warlords laying claim to the Covenant's legacy in spite of the Arbiter's efforts of building peace between the fragmented Covenant and the UNSC. In response to these splinter groups as well as the budding resurgence of the colonial insurrection, the UNSC creates a new generation of [[Human augmentation|augmented]] supersoldiers in the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]; these events are detailed in the comic series ''[[Halo: Initiation]]''. In the game ''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'', players take control of SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers in [[Battle of Draetheus V|a battle]] against a [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|rogue Covenant faction]]; one of many [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|disparate conflicts]] in the years following the Covenant War. | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
===Requiem and the Didact=== | ===Requiem and the Didact=== | ||
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John-117 pursues the Promethean and his Covenant allies to ''[[Ivanoff Station]]'', where the Didact plans to acquire the Composer. Despite the efforts of the Master Chief, the Didact eventually uses the Composer to [[Mind transfer|digitize]] the occupants of ''Ivanoff'', save for John-117 who is saved by the Librarian's enhancements. The Didact subsequently plans to use the Composer to attack Earth; the Master Chief follows him in close pursuit aboard a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] space fighter. When the Didact reaches Earth, the ''Infinity'' and [[Battlegroup Dakota]] engage [[Mantle's Approach|his ship]] immediately. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuke]], John-117 makes his way into the ship and confronts the Didact, but not before the Promethean general uses the Composer to digitize the population of [[New Phoenix]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]]. With the Chief incapacitated by the Didact, Cortana, nearing the end of her life, immobilizes the Didact with [[hard light]] bindings. With the last of his strength, John disables the Didact with a [[Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator/Localized|pulse grenade]], sending him falling to a slipspace rupture beneath the Composer, and detonates the nuclear bomb manually. Using the last of her power, Cortana saves the Master Chief from the blast and the two meet for one last time before Cortana fades away. Left floating in the debris field, John-117 is recovered and taken aboard the ''Infinity''. | John-117 pursues the Promethean and his Covenant allies to ''[[Ivanoff Station]]'', where the Didact plans to acquire the Composer. Despite the efforts of the Master Chief, the Didact eventually uses the Composer to [[Mind transfer|digitize]] the occupants of ''Ivanoff'', save for John-117 who is saved by the Librarian's enhancements. The Didact subsequently plans to use the Composer to attack Earth; the Master Chief follows him in close pursuit aboard a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] space fighter. When the Didact reaches Earth, the ''Infinity'' and [[Battlegroup Dakota]] engage [[Mantle's Approach|his ship]] immediately. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuke]], John-117 makes his way into the ship and confronts the Didact, but not before the Promethean general uses the Composer to digitize the population of [[New Phoenix]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]]. With the Chief incapacitated by the Didact, Cortana, nearing the end of her life, immobilizes the Didact with [[hard light]] bindings. With the last of his strength, John disables the Didact with a [[Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator/Localized|pulse grenade]], sending him falling to a slipspace rupture beneath the Composer, and detonates the nuclear bomb manually. Using the last of her power, Cortana saves the Master Chief from the blast and the two meet for one last time before Cortana fades away. Left floating in the debris field, John-117 is recovered and taken aboard the ''Infinity''. | ||
====The Next 72 Hours==== | |||
{{Main|Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Halo: Escalation Issue 10}} | |||
In ''The Next 72 Hours'', an arc of the comic series ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', it is revealed that the Didact survived his defeat aboard ''Mantle's Approach''. After falling through the Composer's slipspace portal, he finds himself on [[Installation 03]] and encounters the [[monitor]] [[859 Static Carillon]]. John-117, reunited with his SPARTAN-II compatriots of [[Blue Team]] — [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Fred-104]] — after several years, confronts the Didact and eventually defeats him by crashing a portion of Installation 03 into the [[Composer's Forge]], seemingly disintegrating the Didact in the explosion. Static Carillon takes Installation 03 for safekeeping while the Spartans return to Earth. After being debriefed, the Master Chief returns to his team and they depart for new battles — without the knowledge or authorization of [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]]. | |||
===Return to Requiem=== | ===Return to Requiem=== | ||