Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
*Human and Sangheili forces reconcilliate | *Human and Sangheili forces reconcilliate | ||
|side1='''[[United Nations Space Command]]''' | |side1='''[[United Nations Space Command]]''' | ||
<br>[[Sangheilian | <br>[[Sangheilian armed forces]] | ||
<br>[[Forerunner]] constructs | <br>[[Forerunner]] constructs | ||
|side2=[[Covenant Empire]] | |side2=[[Covenant Empire]] | ||
| Line 122: | Line 122: | ||
The [[Fall of Reach]] that followed had staggering losses for both sides, but in the end the Covenant won a Pyrrhic victory. The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]'' was among the surviving UNSC ships which fled the battle, and made a somewhat blind jump, as described by Cortana saying that she realized that the symbols on the retrieved artifact from Sigma Octanus IV were in fact very old star charts and were coordinates to the Forerunner ring world of [[Halo Array|Halo]], being chased by a dozen Covenant warships. | The [[Fall of Reach]] that followed had staggering losses for both sides, but in the end the Covenant won a Pyrrhic victory. The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]'' was among the surviving UNSC ships which fled the battle, and made a somewhat blind jump, as described by Cortana saying that she realized that the symbols on the retrieved artifact from Sigma Octanus IV were in fact very old star charts and were coordinates to the Forerunner ring world of [[Halo Array|Halo]], being chased by a dozen Covenant warships. | ||
===The tide turns | ====The tide turns==== | ||
[[File:Battle of Reach.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']] pushes through the Covenant blockade and escapes [[Reach]].]] | [[File:Battle of Reach.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']] pushes through the Covenant blockade and escapes [[Reach]].]] | ||
| Line 137: | Line 137: | ||
A few weeks after this defeat, the [[Prophet of Regret]] discovered the location of a significant Forerunner artifact on his own. Without knowledge of the fact the planet housing this artifact was the human homeworld, Regret led a small fleet of fifteen ships to Earth, in order to locate [[The Artifact|a portal]] to an installation known as "[[Installation 00|the Ark]]".<ref name="tentwenty"/> Though hopelessly outgunned by the UNSC's new orbital defense grid of MAC guns, the Prophet of Regret's flagship managed to break through the human defenses to [[New Mombasa]]. The Covenant ground troops quickly spread through the city, destroying both military and civilian resistance, but a counter-attack by the [[Marines]] and John-117 drove them back. With his fleet destroyed in orbit when he landed, Regret was forced to retreat. His carrier jumped into slipspace from within the city, damaging it severely. Directly following Regret's jump, a reinforcement force sent by the Prophet of Truth arrived, resulting in a month-long constant engagement on Earth.<ref name="tentwenty"/> | A few weeks after this defeat, the [[Prophet of Regret]] discovered the location of a significant Forerunner artifact on his own. Without knowledge of the fact the planet housing this artifact was the human homeworld, Regret led a small fleet of fifteen ships to Earth, in order to locate [[The Artifact|a portal]] to an installation known as "[[Installation 00|the Ark]]".<ref name="tentwenty"/> Though hopelessly outgunned by the UNSC's new orbital defense grid of MAC guns, the Prophet of Regret's flagship managed to break through the human defenses to [[New Mombasa]]. The Covenant ground troops quickly spread through the city, destroying both military and civilian resistance, but a counter-attack by the [[Marines]] and John-117 drove them back. With his fleet destroyed in orbit when he landed, Regret was forced to retreat. His carrier jumped into slipspace from within the city, damaging it severely. Directly following Regret's jump, a reinforcement force sent by the Prophet of Truth arrived, resulting in a month-long constant engagement on Earth.<ref name="tentwenty"/> | ||
Unfortunately for Regret, four human ships, the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' among them, had followed them through their own slipspace rupture to [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]]. With the orders "Find out why he came to Earth; why he came here," the Master Chief was hard-dropped with a complement of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] to Delta Halo's surface. Led by the Chief, the humans forced their way through Regret's forces until they had reached the Prophet himself. At that moment, ''High Charity'', having learned of Delta Halo, arrived and launched multiple waves of [[Phantom]] dropships to aid Regret. However, they were withdrawn by the Prophet of Truth as part of the plan to remove the Sangheili from power in the Covenant. The Chief killed Regret. The Prophet of Truth then gave the order to glass the temple in which Regret was residing. It seemed as though Master Chief was eliminated. In fact the Chief narrowly avoided being glassed, only to be captured by the [[Gravemind]], who already had plans | Unfortunately for Regret, four human ships, the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' among them, had followed them through their own slipspace rupture to [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]]. With the orders "Find out why he came to Earth; why he came here," the Master Chief was hard-dropped with a complement of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] to Delta Halo's surface. Led by the Chief, the humans forced their way through Regret's forces until they had reached the Prophet himself. At that moment, ''High Charity'', having learned of Delta Halo, arrived and launched multiple waves of [[Phantom]] dropships to aid Regret. However, they were withdrawn by the Prophet of Truth as part of the plan to remove the Sangheili from power in the Covenant. The Chief killed Regret. The Prophet of Truth then gave the order to glass the temple in which Regret was residing. It seemed as though Master Chief was eliminated. In fact the Chief narrowly avoided being glassed, only to be captured by the [[Gravemind]], who already had plans on how to stop the Covenant. | ||
[[File:War.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Great Schism begins.]] | [[File:War.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Great Schism begins.]] | ||
| Line 143: | Line 143: | ||
Meanwhile, the majority of the human forces on ''In Amber Clad'' had traveled to Delta Halo's [[Library]] to obtain the [[Index]], which is the key to firing Halo. Originally, the Covenant had been unaware of the Index's importance, but luckily for them, Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee had obtained [[343 Guilty Spark]], the monitor of [[Installation 04]], while destroying the Heretic base. The monitor, known to the Covenant as an Oracle, told the Prophets of the Index and the Arbiter was sent to retrieve the "Sacred Icon". The mission was complicated though by the unexpected release of the Flood. Despite this, the Arbiter successfully reached the Library and prevented the humans from claiming the Index. Just as [[Miranda Keyes]] claimed the index, the Arbiter stole it from her, kidnapping her and [[Sgt. Johnson]]. However, then Index was stolen from the Arbiter by the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]], who was under the Prophets' orders to retrieve the Index and kill the Arbiter, whom Tartarus knocked down an apparently bottomless shaft. With the Index secure, the Prophets then ordered the Jiralhanae to begin eradicating the Sangheili, thus starting the [[Great Schism]]. Ultimately this led to the death of Tartarus at the hands of 'Vadamee and Johnson and an alliance between the Sangheili Separatists and the human forces. Delta Halo was prevented from firing by Miranda Keyes and the Flood killed the [[Prophet of Mercy]], leaving the Prophet of Truth firmly in control over the Covenant Empire. | Meanwhile, the majority of the human forces on ''In Amber Clad'' had traveled to Delta Halo's [[Library]] to obtain the [[Index]], which is the key to firing Halo. Originally, the Covenant had been unaware of the Index's importance, but luckily for them, Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee had obtained [[343 Guilty Spark]], the monitor of [[Installation 04]], while destroying the Heretic base. The monitor, known to the Covenant as an Oracle, told the Prophets of the Index and the Arbiter was sent to retrieve the "Sacred Icon". The mission was complicated though by the unexpected release of the Flood. Despite this, the Arbiter successfully reached the Library and prevented the humans from claiming the Index. Just as [[Miranda Keyes]] claimed the index, the Arbiter stole it from her, kidnapping her and [[Sgt. Johnson]]. However, then Index was stolen from the Arbiter by the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]], who was under the Prophets' orders to retrieve the Index and kill the Arbiter, whom Tartarus knocked down an apparently bottomless shaft. With the Index secure, the Prophets then ordered the Jiralhanae to begin eradicating the Sangheili, thus starting the [[Great Schism]]. Ultimately this led to the death of Tartarus at the hands of 'Vadamee and Johnson and an alliance between the Sangheili Separatists and the human forces. Delta Halo was prevented from firing by Miranda Keyes and the Flood killed the [[Prophet of Mercy]], leaving the Prophet of Truth firmly in control over the Covenant Empire. | ||
===The Battle of Onyx=== | ====The Battle of Onyx==== | ||
[[File:Ghosts of Onyx Cover.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[SPARTAN Program|SPARTANs]] at the [[Battle of Onyx]].]] | [[File:Ghosts of Onyx Cover.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[SPARTAN Program|SPARTANs]] at the [[Battle of Onyx]].]] | ||
Long before the events around Halo, the classified UNSC colony of [[Onyx]] had been designated the headquarters and training ground for the SPARTAN-III Program. However, the UNSC had no idea that the planet was in fact a huge [[Forerunner]] construct, integral to the [[Halo Array]], and containing trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]]. After John-117's destruction of Alpha Halo, the Sentinels were roused by the disruption of the Halo network and the portal leading into the [[Shield World]] at the planet's core began to close. At this time, a small group of SPARTAN-IIIs were training in a top honors exercise on the surface. After the humans failed to exchange the proper counter-responses, the Sentinels relabeled the "[[Reclaimer]]s" as aboriginal subspecies and began to exterminate them. Led by [[Kurt-051]], the SPARTAN-IIIs fought a guerrilla war against the Sentinels until Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] arrived on Onyx and explained the wider situation. Knowing that the Forerunner technology buried in Onyx's core could turn the tide of the war for humanity, Halsey used Forerunner technology to send a message to [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Sir Terrence Hood]], requesting reinforcements. Hood deployed [[Blue Team]] to Onyx, who stole [[Bloodied Spirit|a Covenant destroyer]] to reach the planet in time. | Long before the events around Halo, the classified UNSC colony of [[Onyx]] had been designated the headquarters and training ground for the SPARTAN-III Program. However, the UNSC had no idea that the planet was in fact a huge [[Forerunner]] construct, integral to the [[Halo Array]], and containing trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]]. After John-117's destruction of Alpha Halo, the Sentinels were roused by the disruption of the Halo network and the portal leading into the [[Shield World]] at the planet's core began to close. At this time, a small group of SPARTAN-IIIs were training in a top honors exercise on the surface. After the humans failed to exchange the proper counter-responses, the Sentinels relabeled the "[[Reclaimer]]s" as aboriginal subspecies and began to exterminate them. Led by [[Kurt-051]], the SPARTAN-IIIs fought a guerrilla war against the Sentinels until Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] arrived on Onyx and explained the wider situation. Knowing that the Forerunner technology buried in Onyx's core could turn the tide of the war for humanity, Halsey used Forerunner technology to send a message to [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Sir Terrence Hood]], requesting reinforcements. Hood deployed [[Blue Team]] to Onyx, who stole [[Bloodied Spirit|a Covenant destroyer]] to reach the planet in time. | ||
| Line 151: | Line 151: | ||
On the surface, the Spartans had discovered the [[Core Room Antechamber]] and were preparing to enter the Shield World. They managed to hold off hundreds of Covenant troops before being forced to retreat into the Core, while Kurt-051 sacrificed himself by detonating two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s, killing the entire Separatist force. Following the Core being sealed, Onyx broke up into trillions of Sentinels, guarding the construct. | On the surface, the Spartans had discovered the [[Core Room Antechamber]] and were preparing to enter the Shield World. They managed to hold off hundreds of Covenant troops before being forced to retreat into the Core, while Kurt-051 sacrificed himself by detonating two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s, killing the entire Separatist force. Following the Core being sealed, Onyx broke up into trillions of Sentinels, guarding the construct. | ||
===Arrival of the Flood and Sangheili/human victory | ====Arrival of the Flood and Sangheili/human victory==== | ||
[[File:humans_&_Sangheili_Shadow_of_Intent.jpg|thumb|left|The Sangheili and humans make ready to finish Truth and the Covenant at [[Installation 00]].]] | [[File:humans_&_Sangheili_Shadow_of_Intent.jpg|thumb|left|The Sangheili and humans make ready to finish Truth and the Covenant at [[Installation 00]].]] | ||
[[File:H3 E3 Orbital Battle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The battle between Covenant | [[File:H3 E3 Orbital Battle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The battle between Covenant separatists and loyalists, raging over Installation 00.]] | ||
{{Quote|In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her | {{Quote|In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her colonies. March 3, 2553.|[[Hillside memorial]]}} | ||
Following the Flood infestation of ''High Charity'', the | Following the Flood infestation of ''High Charity'', the High Prophet of Truth led the remaining loyalist fleet to Earth to complete what his occupation forces on Earth had started. Little did he know that a SPARTAN-II had stowed away with him on board his Dreadnought. By the time Truth arrived at Earth, a full-scale battle in space and on the ground was underway between UNSC and [[Covenant fleet]]s. | ||
After much fighting, the human forces on Earth on the naval side had taken heavy casualties. However, the Covenant fleet was also vastly reduced and focused on securing an enormous unearthed Forerunner structure near the ruins of New Mombasa. With the arrival of John-117, the remaining UNSC forces launched an assault on the area, sweeping aside all Covenant resistance and finally launching an all-out attack on the Prophet of Truth's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] which spectacularly failed, as Truth quickly activated | After much fighting, the human forces on Earth on the naval side had taken heavy casualties. However, the Covenant fleet was also vastly reduced and focused on securing an enormous unearthed Forerunner structure near the ruins of New Mombasa. With the arrival of John-117, the remaining UNSC forces launched an assault on the area, sweeping aside all Covenant resistance and finally launching an all-out attack on the Prophet of Truth's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] which spectacularly failed, as Truth quickly activated [[The Artifact|the Ark portal]] and escaped. Events were further complicated by an unexpected attack by the Flood. Thanks to the timely arrival of the Sangheili, the Flood force was vanquished but not before Master Chief recovered a recording from Cortana, who had stayed behind on ''High Charity''. Cortana's message told of a means to stop the Flood on the other end of the portal. | ||
The final battle of the war was fought in [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].<ref name="fortitude"/> A small fleet of human and Sangheili forces was sent through the portal, leading them to the Ark, just outside the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]. As they arrived, the Covenant fleet above the Ark immediately attacked. Though the joint human-Sangheili fleet was outnumbered 3-1, the battle ended in defeat for the Covenant loyalist fleet. Simultaneous to the the space battle between Jiralhanae and Sangheili ships, UNSC forces were deployed to the surface of the Ark in order to stop Truth, who was attempting to activate the Halo Array from the Ark's [[Forerunner Citadel|Citadel]]. | |||
[[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The ceremony held to honor the fallen.]] | [[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The ceremony held to honor the fallen.]] | ||
Led by the Master Chief, the human forces smashed through the remaining Covenant resistance on the ground. The battle was complicated by the arrival of ''High Charity''. As the Flood began to spread, the Chief and the [[Thel 'Vadamee|Arbiter]] went on to thwart Truth, who died in mid-Flood-infection at the Arbiter's hand with the Flood helping to reach him. John-117 deactivated the Halo Array and brought an end to that threat as well. With the Covenant forces completely shattered, Truth's death marked the effective end to the war. The Flood still remained a threat, but were destroyed by John-117, the Arbiter, Cortana and Sergeant Johnson by firing the Halo over the Ark, destroying both, but John-117 was presumed dead afterwards as he never made it back to Earth. | |||
Some months later, in [[2553|March 3 of 2553]], a [[Hillside memorial|monument was erected on a hillside]] near the Portal to the Ark to commemorate the billions of men and women killed during the war, and [[John-117|Spartan-117]]'s name was included as he was presumed MIA by the UNSC, as no Spartan could be declared dead. Lord Hood shook hands with the Arbiter to signify an end to hostilities. Both sides then started rebuilding all the damage the war had cost. | Some months later, in [[2553|March 3 of 2553]], a [[Hillside memorial|monument was erected on a hillside]] near the Portal to the Ark to commemorate the billions of men and women killed during the war, and [[John-117|Spartan-117]]'s name was included as he was presumed MIA by the UNSC, as no Spartan could be declared dead. Lord Hood shook hands with the Arbiter to signify an end to hostilities. Both sides then started rebuilding all the damage the war had cost. | ||
