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Greater Ark: Difference between revisions

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(It's a nice image, but we have no idea if the greater Ark is just a scaled-up Installation 00.)
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{{Megastructure infobox
|image=
|description=Disk with a hollow core and six curved arms
|location=[[Intergalactic space]]
|anchor=
|type=
|function=Conservation facility, Lifeworker research station, Halo construction foundry
|caretaker=
|constructed=c. [[101,000 BCE]] <small>(Presumed)</small><ref group="note">The original Halo Array was created after the extreme faction of Builders won their political battle with the Prometheans and the Didact was forced into exile, in approximately 101,000 BCE. It is thus likely that the Arks were also created around this time.</ref>
|destroyed=
|diameter=
|surface width=
|gravity=
|surface temperature=
|atmosphere=
}}


The '''greater Ark''', also known as the '''Beginning Place''',<ref name="cryp317">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 317''</ref> was a [[Forerunner]] megastructure, and one of the two [[Ark]]s used to manufacture [[Halo Array|Halo rings]]. It was known to have produced the original Halo Array, comprised of rings 30,000 kilometers in diameter as opposed to the 10,000 kilometers of the final Array, which was produced by the smaller [[Installation 00]] instead.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 343''</ref> Like Installation 00, the greater Ark was located [[Intergalactic space|outside]] the [[Milky Way|Milky Way galaxy]].<ref name="prim371">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 371''</ref>
The '''greater Ark''', also referred to as '''the Ark''' or the '''Beginning Place''',<ref name="cryp317">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 317''</ref><ref group="note" name="cryptum">Though the Ark featured in ''Halo: Cryptum'' is never identified as the greater Ark and is only referred to as "the Ark" or the "Beginning Place", its description differs considerably from that of Installation 00. As such, it is assumed the Ark described in ''Cryptum'' is the greater Ark.</ref> was a [[Forerunner]] megastructure, and one of the two [[Ark]]s used to manufacture [[Halo Array|Halo rings]]. It was known to have produced the original Halo Array, comprised of rings 30,000 kilometers in diameter as opposed to the 10,000 kilometers of the final Array, which was produced by the smaller [[Installation 00]] instead.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 343''</ref> Like Installation 00, the greater Ark was located [[Intergalactic space|outside]] the [[Milky Way|Milky Way galaxy]].<ref name="prim371">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 371''</ref>


Though it shared Installation 00's flower-like shape, consisting of a series of curved arms extending from a circular central section,<ref name="prim371"/> the greater Ark differed from the lesser Ark in a number of respects;<ref group="note">Though the Ark featured in ''Halo: Cryptum'' is never identified as the greater Ark, its description differs considerably from that of Installation 00. As such, it is assumed the Ark described in ''Cryptum'' is the greater Ark.</ref> it only possessed six petals, as opposed to the eight arms of Installation 00.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 329-330''</ref> Instead of an artificial sun, the greater Ark was illuminated by six shafts of plasma, each suspended over one of the petals, emanating from a tower structure in the center.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 330''</ref> These plasma tubes would dim and brighten cyclically, approximating a day-night cycle.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 336''</ref> Each of the greater Ark's arms possessed at least one petal station, from which Forerunner [[Lifeworker]]s operated.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 332''</ref>
==Description==
Though it shared Installation 00's flower-like shape, consisting of a series of curved arms extending from a circular central section,<ref name="prim371"/> the greater Ark differed from the lesser Ark in a number of respects;<ref group="note" name="cryptum"/> it only possessed six petals, as opposed to the eight arms of Installation 00.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 329-330''</ref> Instead of an artificial sun, the greater Ark was illuminated by six shafts of plasma, each suspended over one of the petals, emanating from a tower structure in the center.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 330''</ref> These plasma tubes would dim and brighten cyclically, approximating a day-night cycle.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 336''</ref> Each of the greater Ark's arms possessed at least one petal station, from which Forerunner [[Lifeworker]]s operated.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 332''</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery widths="160">
Image:TheGreaterArk.jpg|An estimated size of the Greater Ark
File:TheGreaterArk.jpg|A fan-made estimation of the size of the greater Ark, based on the proportions and appearance of Installation 00. Note that since a visual depiction of the greater Ark is yet to appear in any media, the appearance of the structure as depicted here is purely conjectural.
</gallery>
</gallery>



Revision as of 04:49, April 23, 2012

Greater Ark
General overview

Description:

Disk with a hollow core and six curved arms

Location:

Intergalactic space

Operation overview

Function:

Conservation facility, Lifeworker research station, Halo construction foundry

Date of construction:

c. 101,000 BCE (Presumed)[note 1]

 

The greater Ark, also referred to as the Ark or the Beginning Place,[1][note 2] was a Forerunner megastructure, and one of the two Arks used to manufacture Halo rings. It was known to have produced the original Halo Array, comprised of rings 30,000 kilometers in diameter as opposed to the 10,000 kilometers of the final Array, which was produced by the smaller Installation 00 instead.[2] Like Installation 00, the greater Ark was located outside the Milky Way galaxy.[3]

Description

Though it shared Installation 00's flower-like shape, consisting of a series of curved arms extending from a circular central section,[3] the greater Ark differed from the lesser Ark in a number of respects;[note 2] it only possessed six petals, as opposed to the eight arms of Installation 00.[4] Instead of an artificial sun, the greater Ark was illuminated by six shafts of plasma, each suspended over one of the petals, emanating from a tower structure in the center.[5] These plasma tubes would dim and brighten cyclically, approximating a day-night cycle.[6] Each of the greater Ark's arms possessed at least one petal station, from which Forerunner Lifeworkers operated.[7]

Gallery

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ The original Halo Array was created after the extreme faction of Builders won their political battle with the Prometheans and the Didact was forced into exile, in approximately 101,000 BCE. It is thus likely that the Arks were also created around this time.
  2. ^ a b Though the Ark featured in Halo: Cryptum is never identified as the greater Ark and is only referred to as "the Ark" or the "Beginning Place", its description differs considerably from that of Installation 00. As such, it is assumed the Ark described in Cryptum is the greater Ark.

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 317
  2. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 343
  3. ^ a b Halo: Primordium, page 371
  4. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 329-330
  5. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 330
  6. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 336
  7. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 332