Halo Array: Difference between revisions

The '''Halo Array''' is a system of colossal ring-shaped superweapons individually known as '''Halos''' or '''Halo rings''', constructed by the [[Forerunner]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''</ref> The Halos were referred to by the [[Covenant]] as the '''Sacred Rings''',<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', page 38</ref><ref name="gravemind">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> and labeled '''Fortress Worlds'''<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 193''</ref> and '''Installations''' by the Forerunners and their [[monitor]]s.

The first array of twelve Halos was constructed by order of [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] circa [[98,445 BCE]] with the intent of being an ultimate weapon, one that would secure the preeminence of the [[Builder]] [[rate]] in Forerunner society.<ref name="c274">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 274''</ref> Later, the weapons would be refined further and a new array of six smaller and significantly more lethal rings was constructed. Eventually, eleven were destroyed and/or lost while the remaining [[seven]] were used by the Forerunners as a last resort when combating the parasitic [[Flood]]. All [[sentience|sentient]] beings in the galaxy were killed, robbing the Flood of hosts and starving it to death.

The Halo Array in its entirety has been fired only once in known history, approximately 100,000 years ago, by the [[IsoDidact]] in order to stop the Flood from overwhelming the galaxy. All beings in the Array's effective range, including Forerunners themselves, were wiped out by the Array's pulse,<ref name="great journey"/> with the exception of those who took refuge on the [[shield world]]s. A number of Forerunners survived at the lesser Ark but chose to exile themselves from the galaxy.<ref name="rebirth">'''Halo: Rebirth'''</ref> The array has come close to activation four times since; Installation 04 was almost activated by the [[John-117|Master Chief]], Installation 05 was activated by Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] at the behest of the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae|Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]], [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] was forced by the [[Prophet of Truth]] to activate the Array from the Ark, and [[Bobby Kodiak]] was forced by [[000 Tragic Solitude]], the Monitor of the Ark, to activate the Halo Array from the Ark as a revenge. None of these attempts were successful; the first was stopped by Cortana, while the other three attempts were halted by UNSC and [[Swords of Sanghelios|Sangheili]] intervention. A [[Installation 04B|replacement]] Halo for the destroyed Installation 04 was successfully activated outside of the galaxy, eliminating the Flood massed at [[Installation 00]], but it was incomplete and thus not networked to the rest of the Array.<ref name="halo3halo">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref>

Each of the Halo installations in the final Array is given a designation number, from 01 to 07, and is overseen by a single [[monitor]]. The monitors are given control of the Installations' [[Sentinel]] automatons, from [[Sentinel Aggressor|Aggressors]] to [[Constructor]]s and [[Enforcer]]s, and are responsible for containing the Flood test subjects in their [[Flood research facility|research facilities]] and protecting the Halo from intruders.

[[File:Halo Firing.png|250px|left|thumb|The partially constructed Installation 04B hovering over the Ark.]]

Soon, 343 Guilty Spark, John-117, and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] discovered that the Ark had been constructing a [[Installation 04B|new Installation 04]], to replace the one which had previously been destroyed. This new installation was only days from being completed. The humans decided to activate the new ring to stop the Flood, resulting in the incomplete ring destroying itself,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 14''</ref>  severely damaging the Ark in the process.<ref name="hitd c2">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', Chapter 2</ref>

By [[2553#January|January 2553]], the UNSC had begun an active search for the remaining Halo installations, with the intent to decommission them.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 50''</ref> By at least [[2557|July 2557]], UNSC scientists were studying the Array for decommissioning, with facilities at Installations 03 and 05. Installation 00 was scouted by both automated probes and the ONI vessel {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}}, which was lost several days after its arrival. [[Installation 07]] was discovered in early [[2555]], with an ONI research group stationed on the ring immediately afterward. A crisis occurred when it was discovered that Installation 07—as well as the other Halos—were counting down to activation in five weeks from March 8, 2555. The activation countdown had been initiated by [[Bobby Kodiak|a human]] captured by [[000 Tragic Solitude]], the Ark's [[Rampancy|rampant]] [[monitor]]. In response to this threat, which was kept highly classified, a joint UNSC-[[Sangheili]] detachment embarked on a mission to the damaged Installation 00, as the Ark was believed to be the source of the countdown.<ref name="hitd c2"/> Ultimately, the team was able to avert the Halos' activation and the monitor was destroyed. Subsequently, the UNSC began to establish research facilities across the Ark.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'''</ref> At some point following the loss of Installation 04B, Installation 00 began to construct [[Installation 04C|a new replacement]], one that would be maintained in the Ark's Foundry in a near-finished state for some time.<ref name="From the Deep">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[From the Deep]]''</ref>

[[File:HW2 I04C.png|thumb|250px|left|The [[Installation 04C|second replacement Halo]] above the Ark in [[2559]].]]

[[File:HW2-Banished ejected.png|thumb|left|250px|A section of landmass being ejected from [[Installation 04C]].]]

[[File:HW2-Halo in slipspace.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Installation 04C exiting slipspace transit.]]

File:Halo 3 - Installation04B.jpg|Installation 04B in ''[[Halo 3]]''.