Halo Array: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|HCW|Post|FA}}

[[File:TerminalArkArray.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Array at [[Installation 00]], just before their departure to firing sites across the galaxy.]]

Though separated by thousands of light-years, the installations are networked together and capable of remote activation at [[Installation 00|the Ark]], their [[intergalactic space|extragalactic]] construction foundry. Each Halo installation has a maximum effective range of 25,000 light-years in every direction.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#Terminal 8|Terminal 8]]'' (''"25,000 light years. That is the effective range of this installation."'')</ref><ref name="radius">'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', level ''[[Two Betrayals]]'', 343 Guilty Spark: ''"Technically, this installation's pulse has a maximum effective radius of twenty-five thousand light years."''</ref> The method utilized by the array to conduct this "mass sterilization protocol"<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', level ''[[The Library]]'', 343 Guilty Spark: ''"Why the Flood is, naturally, simply too dangerous to release, and mass sterilization protocols may again need to be enacted."''</ref> involves the superluminal conveyance of a burst of cross-phased super-massive neutrinos, tuned to emit a harmonic frequency that destroys the nervous system of any life form within range. Simpler organisms lacking a neural system are unaffected, along with inanimate structures. [[Precursor]] technology, however, is extremely susceptible to damage from the Halo effect due to its quasi-living [[neural physics]] composition.{{Ref/Reuse|c274}}<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 132''</ref>

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/Reuse|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 08|replacement]] Halo for the destroyed Installation 04 was partially activated outside of the galaxy, but before it could fire the Halo ring shook itself to pieces with the resulting explosion destroying the ring, damaging the Ark, and heavily damaged the Flood back into a feral stage without a Gravemind.{{Ref/Level|Id=halo3halo|H3|Halo_(Halo_3_level)}}

The Array also encompasses [[Installation 00]], an extra-galactic construction facility that can create replacement installations in the event that one is destroyed. All Halos can also be remotely activated from the Ark without being subjected to their effects, as the megastructure is out of the Array's range.<ref name="thecovenant">'''Halo 3''', level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'', '''343 Guilty Spark''': ''"The Ark is out of range of all the active installations!"''</ref> The Forerunners also built [[shield world]]s as a means to escape the effect without having to leave the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page ??''</ref>

Twelve Halos, each 30,000 kilometers in diameter, were originally commissioned by Master Builder Faber and constructed by the [[guild]] of [[Bornstellar's father]] at the [[greater Ark]], the first Ark installation to be constructed. Only one of these original rings ultimately survived to be used in the Forerunners' final plan; this ring was designated [[Installation 07]]. Later on, an improved, separate array of six installations was constructed at the [[Installation 00|lesser Ark]],<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 329'' (''"Slowly it dawned on me that I was looking upon another array of installations: six rings, each rising from one of the petals of an enormous flower."'')</ref><ref name="s250">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 250-251''</ref> although the construction of the second Ark and its more powerful Halos was delayed by the Council for some time to prevent the Builders from becoming too powerful.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 45''</ref>

[[File:Array.png|thumb|right|300px|Installation 00 sending the Halo Array through a [[slipspace portal]] during the [[Forerunner-Flood war]].]]

The seven Halos then remained relatively dormant for approximately one hundred thousand years, though at least [[Installation 05]] experienced a major Flood outbreak, while [[Installation 04]] was visited briefly by other species,<ref>''"[[Conversations from the Universe]]"''</ref> including a [[unidentified alien vessel|major crash-landing]] in [[40,000 BCE]].<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals 5-6]]''</ref>

[[File:H2A-AlphaHaloDestruction.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The destruction of Installation 04.]]

[[File:HSS-Infinity-Halo.png|thumb|250px|{{UNSCShip|Infinity}} approaches a Halo installation.]]

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 due to the actions of [[343 Guilty Spark]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Primordium]]'''</ref>

[[Installation 07]] was discovered in early [[2555]] due to records found on [[Sarcophagus]] by Dr. [[Luther Mann]] 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. As the stand-by failsafe protocol had never been deactivated, it was realized that the Ark was the only location where the Array could've been activated. With the help of [[Huragok]] [[Drifts Randomly]], the [[Portal at Voi]] was reactivated, but Earth came [[Invasion of Earth|under attack]] from [[Retriever Sentinel]]s from the Ark. A joint UNSC-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] [[Operation: FAR STORM|mission]] was launched to the Ark where it was discovered that the Ark's now-[[rampancy|rampant]] [[monitor]], [[000 Tragic Solitude]], had initiated the activation with the help of [[Bobby Kodiak]]. Having witnessed the destruction sentient life caused, particularly to Forerunner constructs, Tragic Solitude had activated the Array for a two-fold reason: to trick humanity into reactivating the portal so he could strip-mine Earth for materials to repair the Ark and eliminate the sentient species of the galaxy. Mann was able to deactivate the Array from the Ark and the team forced Tragic Solitude to end the Invasion of Earth. After Tragic Solitude attacked again, he was destroyed by Bobby Kodiak at the cost of his own life, ending the threat the rogue monitor posed to sentient life.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'''</ref> At some point following the loss of Installation 08, Installation 00 began to construct [[Installation 09|a new replacement]], one that would be maintained in the Ark's Foundry in a near-finished state for some time.<ref name="Hold the Line">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Hold the Line]]''</ref>

In [[2556#February|February 2556]], the [[Outer Colony]] world of [[Sedra]] suffered a deadly [[bioweapon]] [[Terrorist attack on Sedra City|attack]] by [[Unidentified Sangheili Zealot (Sedra)|a Sangheili terrorist]]. The bioweapon source was traced to a new element mined from [[Alpha Shard|a surviving fragment]] of [[Installation 04]], created by the [[supernova]]-level explosion that had destroyed the original installation. A joint [[ONI]]-[[Sedran Colonial Guard]] [[Mission to Alpha Shard|mission]] was launched to capture the human smugglers mining the element and to destroy the deposits to prevent future use of the bioweapon. Though most of the team was killed, ONI [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jameson Locke]] and Sedran Private [[Talitha Macer]] escaped in the smugglers' {{Class|Bactrian|freighter}} while [[Colonel]] [[Randall Aiken]] sacrificed himself to destroy the deposits and the fragment's resident [[Lekgolo]] population with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'''</ref>

By early [[2557]], humanity had returned to the Ark and set up the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]]. Under the guidance of the [[smart AI]] [[Isabel]], the researchers began directing Retriever Sentinels to strip-mine lifeless systems to repair the Ark. The reconstruction slowly reached full automation until the humans were no longer needed to nudge it along. Over time, the Ark was repaired with noticeable differences between one day and the next over only the course of three months.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''' - ''[[Phoenix Logs]]''</ref>

Later, the scientists studying Installation 03 located the [[Composer]] on the ring and accidentally activated it, causing them to [[mind transfer|become digitized]]. However, the sensor data left over from the incident led to the discovery of the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]]. Later, the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] traveled to Ivanoff Station near Installation 03 to retrieve the Composer and used the device to harvest the essences of the entire research staff before heading for Earth.<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref> Meanwhile, [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] and their [[Promethean]] allies attempted to take control of Installation 03 by using the [[Conduit]] to open [[slipspace portal]]s across the ring, but the attack was repelled by a [[Spartan]] [[Headhunter]].<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Strike''', ''[[Operation C: Valiant Hammer]]''</ref>

A day later, after the Didact's [[New Phoenix Incident|defeat at Earth]], the Forerunner and some of his Promethean forces fell on Installation 03 via a slipspace portal. SPARTAN-II [[Blue Team]] followed, resulting in a [[Skirmish on Installation 03|a skirmish]] fought on both Installation 03 and the [[Composer's Forge]]. The Forge's monitor, [[859 Static Carillon]], transported Installation 03 over the Forge for the Didact, who intended to use the ring to finally destroy humanity.<ref name="HE9">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #9]]''</ref> However, the monitor instead allied with the Spartans due to his disagreements with the Didact and helped them defeat the Forerunner. After John-117 disabled the Halo's failsafes, Static Carillon ejected the segment housing the [[Control Room (Installation 03)|control room]], causing it to fall upon the Composer's Forge. The monitor then stabilized the ring and took it to an unknown location for repairs.<ref name="HE10">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]''</ref>

In late [[2558]], Installation 00 became a battlefield once again as the mercenary organization known as the [[Banished]] arrived there following a sudden shutdown of the Earth portal. The Banished launched an assault on the UNSC bases on the Ark and soon gained control of the entire installation. In [[2559|May 2559]], the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, having drifted in space for 28 years, was mysteriously transported to Installation 00 by an agency evidently within the Ark.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Signal]]''</ref> During [[Second Ark Conflict|the ensuing conflict]] between the UNSC and the occupying Banished forces, Professor [[Ellen Anders]] learned of the contingency ring held within the Foundry and was able to launch the new Halo, with the intent of deploying it to Installation 04's former site in the [[Soell system]] where a [[distress beacon]] could be raised to the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|Hold the Line}} While the Halo was successfully sent through the portal, its firing mechanism disabled by Professor Anders, the ring was intercepted and forced out of slipspace on the way by a [[Guardian]].<ref name="Last Stand">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Last Stand (Halo Wars 2 level)|Last Stand]]''</ref>

[[File:LoreStream_Halo_Scale_Comparison.png|left|thumb|250px|A scale comparison of the UNSC ''Infinity'' Mt. Rainier and a Halo Ring.]]

The Halos encountered in the modern times are 10,000 kilometers in diameter; this size is roughly similar to that of [[Earth]], which is 12,756&nbsp;km in diameter. While the original twelve Halos had a diameter of 30,000 kilometers,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 310''</ref> concerns about their structural stability and transport led to the second series of rings being reduced in size.{{Ref/Reuse|maker}} The surface of each ring is 318 kilometers wide,<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 6''</ref> with a depth of 22.3 kilometers<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 339'' (2001)</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 13'' (2003)</ref> to 47 kilometers.{{Ref/Reuse|Lorestream}}{{Ref/Note|The depth laid out in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' lists the ring's thickness as 22.3km, while the Lore Stream conducted by 343 Industries lists a depth of 47km. It is possible this disrepancy comes from the inclusion (or lack thereof) of the outer walls keeping the atmosphere in.}} The overall circumference of the ring is 31,415&nbsp;km and the interior surface area is 9,985,200&nbsp;km² - roughly the size of Canada.{{Ref/Reuse|Lorestream}} The main structure of the ring is constructed of a superdense foundational material,<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 340''</ref> with elaborate scaffolding and cantilever structures laid over it to support the artificial landmasses and the myriad tunnel networks and caverns that riddle the installation's internal structure.{{Ref/Reuse|halo3halo}} Many of these tunnels are transit conduits meant for use by the ring's Sentinels, though some of them can be traversed by humanoid beings.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''</ref>

The Halo rings achieve their "gravity" through [[artificial gravity]] generators - despite their shape, the ring does not need to spin to create its gravitational pull, though they do spin for other reasons unrelated to gravity generation.{{Ref/Reuse|Lorestream}} Due to this, the various [[Refugia]] present on the installation's surface may have different surface gravity, terrain, lighting and atmospheric conditions.{{Ref/Reuse|Lorestream}} When the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} was detonated, it blasted a large mass from Installation 04; no longer a full loop, the centripetal force applied in much greater strength on the newly formed weak point, causing the ring to rip apart.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' campaign level, ''[[The Maw]]''</ref>

[[File:343.JPG|right|thumb|250px|343 Guilty Spark, monitor of Installation 04.]]

The installations are designed to be run by advanced artificial intelligence constructs specially assigned by the Forerunners. The highest intelligence on each installation is a single monitor.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''</ref> The monitor's task is to ensure that the installation's [[Sentinel]]s, which range from [[Constructor]]s to [[Sentinel Aggressor|Aggressors]] and [[Enforcer]]s, repair, maintain, and defend the ring from damage, contain Flood specimens, and ensure that their own installation is ready to fire on demand, including running activation simulations.{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}} Monitors also have access to their respective installation's defensive system.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''Terminal 1''</ref>

[[File:AnniversaryControlRoom.png|thumb|right|250px|The [[Control Room]] of Installation 04.]]

|[[Omega Halo]]

|Gyre 11

|Changed into [[Installation 07]]

|[[Orion Arm]]<ref name="WarfleetGalaxy">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 12-13</ref>

|[[001]]

|[[Norma Arm]]{{Ref/Reuse|WarfleetGalaxy}}

|[[Khaphrae system]], [[Scutum-Centaurus Arm]]{{Ref/Reuse|WarfleetGalaxy}} {{C|formerly}}

|[[Perseus Arm]]{{Ref/Reuse|WarfleetGalaxy}}

|[[16807]]

|[[Ephsu I]] orbit, [[Ephsu system]], [[Sagittarius Arm]]{{Ref/Reuse|WarfleetGalaxy}} {{C|formerly}}

|Destroyed Over Installation 00

*In a ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' [[Pre-Xbox Halo|prototype]], Installation 04 had a section that was only partially constructed. This feature was dropped from the final game, though it inspired the design of the second Installation 04.

== Gallery ==

File:H2A - ZenithRing.jpg|Installation 05 in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.

*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''

*''[[Halo 5: Guardians A Hero Falls trailer|A Hero Falls]]''

*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''