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[[File:Bungie Haloverse.jpg|300px|thumb|An image covering the Halo Universe as developed by [[Bungie Studios]].]]
[[File:Bungie Haloverse.jpg|300px|thumb|An image covering the Halo Universe as developed by [[Bungie Studios]].]]
{{Quote|Halo is an epic journey to save humanity from a terrible menace.|[[Chris Carney]] on [[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]]: [[List of "seven" references in Halo|7]] [[7 Steps to World Domination|Steps To World Domination]]}}
{{Quote|Halo is an epic journey to save humanity from a terrible menace.|[[Chris Carney]] on [[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]]: [[List of "seven" references in Halo|7]] [[7 Steps to World Domination|Steps To World Domination]]}}
The '''Halo universe''' is the sprawling fictional universe in which all [[Halo|''Halo'' media]] takes place. Encompassing hundreds of millennia, most of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s central events are set in the 26th century of the [[Wikipedia:Gregorian calendar|Gregorian calendar]], with [[human]]kind colonizing a small section of the [[milky Way|the galaxy]] only to stumble upon a hostile alliance of aliens known as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], who, motivated by the power of the [[Hierarchs|Prophets]] and the promises of [[Covenant religion|paradise after death]], are bent on humanity's destruction.
The '''Halo universe''' is the sprawling fictional universe in which all [[Halo|''Halo'' media]] takes place. Encompassing hundreds of millennia, most of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s central events are set in the 26th century of the [[Wikipedia:Gregorian calendar|Gregorian calendar]], with [[human]]kind colonizing hundreds of worlds across the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, only to stumble upon a hostile alliance of aliens known as the [[Covenant]], who, motivated by the power of the [[Hierarchs|Prophets]] and the promises of [[Covenant religion|paradise after death]], are bent on humanity's destruction. With the apocalyptic [[Human-Covenant War]] concluded, humanity has begun to rise to a major galactic power, destined to eventually reclaim their appointed place as the [[Reclaimer|heirs]] to the ancient race known as the [[Forerunner]]s.


It is this universe where the Halo video game series: ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', ''[[Halo Wars]]'', ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Halo 4]]'', and ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' take place. In addition to the games, a number of [[Halo novels]] and other media including [[:Category:Comics|comic books]], [[:Category:Cinematics|short films]] and an [[Halo Legends|anime collection]] have been released. The media beyond the game series expands into the Halo universe timeline before and after the events of the games, as well as running concurrently with the games' timeline.  
It is this universe where the Halo video game series: ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', ''[[Halo Wars]]'', ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Halo 4]]'', and ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' take place. In addition to the games, a number of [[Halo novels]] and other media including [[:Category:Comics|comic books]], [[:Category:Cinematics|short films]] and an [[Halo Legends|anime collection]] have been released. The media beyond the game series expands into the Halo universe timeline before and after the events of the games, as well as running concurrently with the games' timeline.  
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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 conflicts in the 2160's, the UNSC became the military and space exploratory arm of the newly-established [[Unified Earth Government]] (UEG). Due to the emergence of the Covenant threat, the UNSC has been given power over the UEG and its colonial governing agency, [[Colonial Administration Authority]].
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 conflicts in the 2160's, the UNSC became the military and space exploratory arm of the newly-established [[Unified Earth Government]] (UEG). Due to the emergence of the Covenant threat, the UNSC has been given power over the UEG and its colonial governing agency, [[Colonial Administration Authority]].


Run by [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]], the UNSC is Earth's premiere defense against the Covenant. The Navy houses the divisions of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] (including the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s), the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] (ONI), and the 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 Navy houses the divisions of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] (including the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s), the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] (ONI), and the 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.


There are several breakaway factions opposed to UNSC and the Colonial Administration Authority as well, collectively known as [[Insurrectionist]]s.
There are several breakaway factions opposed to UNSC and the Colonial Administration Authority as well, collectively known as [[Insurrectionist]]s.
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===The Covenant===
===The Covenant===
[[File:High Charity wallpaper.jpg|thumb|left|The Covenant fleet over the city, High Charity.]]
[[File:High Charity wallpaper.jpg|thumb|left|The Covenant fleet over the city, High Charity.]]
{{Main|Covenant Empire}}
{{Main|Covenant}}
Originally formed by as an alliance between two species; the Prophets ([[San 'Shyuum]]) and the Elites ([[Sangheili]]), the Covenant is a theocratic hegemony of multiple alien species. The name "Covenant" is based on the "binding Covenant" formed between the two races, when the Sangheili promised to defend the San 'Shyuum as they searched for the "Sacred Rings" ([[Halo Array]]) which are said to start the "[[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]", a term that the Prophets use to explain the disappearance of their Gods, the Forerunner race. The quest of the entire Covenant, the Great Journey is the basis of '''all''' of their worship. As the Covenant Empire grew over a millennium, more species were enslaved to their cause, although, up until the [[Great Schism]], none of them were quite as important to the Prophets as the Elites.
Originally formed by as an alliance between two species; the Prophets ([[San 'Shyuum]]) and the Elites ([[Sangheili]]), the Covenant is a theocratic hegemony of multiple alien species. The name "Covenant" is based on the "binding Covenant" formed between the two races, when the Sangheili promised to defend the San 'Shyuum as they searched for the "Sacred Rings" ([[Halo Array]]) which are said to start the "[[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]", a term that the Prophets use to explain the disappearance of their Gods, the Forerunner race. The quest of the entire Covenant, the Great Journey is the basis of '''all''' of their worship. As the Covenant Empire grew over a millennium, more species were enslaved to their cause, although, up until the [[Great Schism]], none of them were quite as important to the Prophets as the Elites.


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===The Flood===
===The Flood===
[[File:Floodambush.jpg|thumb|[[John-117|Master Chief]] encounters the [[The Flood|Flood]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'']]
[[File:Floodambush.jpg|thumb|[[John-117|Master Chief]] encounters the [[Flood]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'']]
{{Main|The Flood}}
{{Main|The Flood}}
'''The Flood''' (called '''The Parasite''' by the Covenant) is a species of virulent, parasitic organisms that thrive by consuming other sentient life of sufficient biomass, no matter where in the universe, thus leading Forerunners to the creation of the Halo Array. The Flood appears to be a hive or communal mind, existing in several stages that eventually lead into the creation of a central intelligence known as the [[Gravemind]].
'''The Flood''' (called '''The Parasite''' by the Covenant) is a species of virulent, parasitic organisms that thrive by consuming other sentient life of sufficient biomass, no matter where in the universe, thus leading Forerunners to the creation of the Halo Array. The Flood appears to be a hive or communal mind, existing in several stages that eventually lead into the creation of a central intelligence known as the [[Gravemind]].
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[[File:1206904788 Halo-Ring.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A Forerunner Installation.]]
[[File:1206904788 Halo-Ring.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A Forerunner Installation.]]
{{Main|Forerunners}}
{{Main|Forerunners}}
Once the dominant civilization in the [[Milky Way]], the Forerunners reached unparalleled technological advancement over 110,000 years before the Human-Covenant War. Apparently charged by the mysterious [[Precursor]]s with protecting less advanced civilizations in the galaxy, they stumbled upon the Flood and fought a [[Forerunner-Flood War|three-hundred-year long war]] to stop the genocidal parasitic species from overrunning the galaxy. When it looked as if they were going to fail at that task, they built and activated the Halo Array - sterilizing the entire galaxy of sentient life including themselves, starving the Flood into submission, and repopulating the galaxy again with those few species saved from extinction.<ref name="origins">'''Halo: Legends''', ''Origins''</ref>  
Once the dominant civilization in the [[Milky Way]], the Forerunners reached unparalleled technological advancement over 110,000 years before the Human-Covenant War. Believing to be charged by the mysterious [[Precursor]]s with protecting less advanced civilizations in the galaxy, they stumbled upon the Flood and fought a [[Forerunner-Flood War|three-hundred-year long war]] to stop the genocidal parasitic species from overrunning the galaxy. When it looked as if they were going to fail at that task, they built and activated the Halo Array - sterilizing the entire galaxy of sentient life including themselves, starving the Flood into submission, and repopulating the galaxy again with those few species saved from extinction.<ref name="origins">'''Halo: Legends''', ''Origins''</ref>  


All that remains now of the Forerunners are the ruins of their ancient temples and cities, a few scattered pieces of functional technology, and their automated combat and maintenance constructs. Their technological brilliance, combined with a garbled version of the Halo activation, led to the Covenant's religion revering the Forerunners as deities, and that this state could be achieved again by activating the Halo's. In turn, these attempts led to the Human-Covenant War, and the eventual secession of the Sangheili and their alliance with humanity to stop the Covenant.{{clear}}
All that remains now of the Forerunners are the ruins of their ancient temples and cities, a few scattered pieces of functional technology, and their automated combat and maintenance constructs. Their technological brilliance, combined with a garbled version of the Halo activation, led to the Covenant's religion revering the Forerunners as deities, and that this state could be achieved again by activating the Halos. In turn, these attempts led to the Human-Covenant War, and the eventual secession of the Sangheili and their alliance with humanity to stop the Covenant.{{clear}}


==Technology==
==Technology==
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===Prehistory===
===Prehistory===
{{Main|The Forerunner Saga|Halo: Cryptum|Halo: Primordium}}
{{Main|The Forerunner Saga|Halo: Cryptum|Halo: Primordium}}
Millions of years before the rise of the Forerunners, an advanced civilization known as the Precursors controlled the galaxy. Having reached the pinnacle of technological advancement, they were believed to have affected the evolution of life in the galaxy, even created the species known as Forerunners, but later they would be [[forerunner-Precursor war|wiped out by the Forerunners]] millions of years before the emergence of the Flood.<ref name="cryptum">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'''</ref>
Millions of years before the rise of the Forerunners, an advanced civilization known as the Precursors controlled the galaxy. Having reached the pinnacle of technological advancement, they were believed to have affected the evolution of life in the galaxy, even created the species known as Forerunners, but later they would be [[forerunner-Precursor war|wiped out by the Forerunners]] millions of years before the emergence of the Flood. The Forerunners would rise to become the dominant civilization in the galaxy, directing the evolution and development of other species as they saw fit.<ref name="cryptum">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'''</ref>


Approximately [[150,000 BCE]], having mastered interstellar travel, humanity, still composed of many species, arose from their homeworld Earth, known as "Erde-Tyrene" at the time. They began to move [[Prehistoric human civilization|their civilization]] along the [[Orion Arm]] of the Milky Way galaxy, to escape Forerunner control. They [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allied]] with the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, forming a prosperous interstellar empire based on the planet [[Charum Hakkor]]. Later, the humans stumbled upon starships of unknown origin near the edge of the galaxy. These vessels contained fine powder that proved to have supposedly beneficial psychotropic effects on animals, such as the [[Pheru]], favored by humans as pets. However, over the following centuries, the use of the powder began to mutate the Pheru, spawning irregular protrusions and growths and eventually altering their behavior.<ref name="cryptum"/>
Approximately [[150,000 BCE]], humanity first arose on their homeworld Earth, then known as "Erde-Tyrene" and mastered interstellar travel, eventually becoming a [[Prehistoric human civilization|prosperous interstellar empire]] based on the planet [[Charum Hakkor]]. They also [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allied]] with the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, who would become the ruling caste of the Covenant thousands of years later. Around [[110,000 BCE]], however, humanity stumbled upon the parasite known as the [[Flood]] near the galaxy's edges. Hundreds of systems were lost to the parasite in [[Human-Flood war|a conflict]] between the humans and the Flood. Meanwhile, humanity's aggressive expansion and the perceived violations of the [[Mantle]] prompted the Forerunners to take action and [[human-Forerunner wars|go to war]] against humanity. Despite being forced to fight a two-front war against the Flood and the Forerunners, humanity evidently drove the Flood out of the galaxy. However, the Forerunners eventually emerged victorious over humanity after defeating their last stronghold on Charum Hakkor.<ref name="cryptum"/>


Eventually, humans and San 'Shyuum became infected by the disease, actually an early stage of [[The Flood|Flood]] infestation. Hundreds of systems were lost to the parasite in [[Human-Flood war|a conflict]] between the humans and the Flood. Meanwhile, humanity's aggressive expansion and the perceived violations of the [[Mantle]] prompted the Forerunners to take action and begin [[human-Forerunner wars|a war]] against humanity. Despite being forced to fight a two-front war against the Flood and the Forerunners, humanity eventually drove the Flood out of the galaxy. However, the Forerunners eventually emerged victorious over humanity after defeating their last stronghold on Charum Hakkor.<ref name="cryptum"/>
Following the war in approximately [[109,000 BCE]], the Forerunners dismantled humanity's civilization, regressing them into a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 7]] species. The remaining humans exiled to their homeworld Earth, where the supreme Forerunner [[Lifeshaper]], known as the [[Librarian]], tended to them and slowly guided them toward developing a primitive civilization; unlike most Forerunners, the Librarian saw potential in humanity to eventually become the Forerunners' successors.<ref name="cryptum"/>


Following the war in approximately [[109,000 BCE]], the Forerunners dismantled humanity's civilization, regressing them into a Tier 7 species. The remaining humans exiled to their homeworld Earth, where a Forerunner [[Lifeshaper]], the [[The Librarian|Librarian]] established a research station. In the following millennia, the Librarian would tend to the humans, eventually allowing their civilization to begin developing anew.<ref name="cryptum"/>
Circa [[100,300 BCE]], the Flood resurfaced to challenge the Forerunners. For three hundred years, the parasite claimed numerous Forerunner planets across the galaxy. As a final resort, the Forerunners fired the Halo Array, a network of superweapons which eradicated all neurologically complex life in the galaxy and subsequently caused most Flood to die out. While life was [[Conservation Measure|re-seeded]] into the galaxy by Forerunner automatons, the Forerunners themselves would not return, passing their "mantle" to humanity.<ref name="origins"/>
 
Circa [[100,300 BCE]], the Flood would resurface on worlds resettled by the Forerunners after the human-Forerunner wars. For three hundred years, the parasite would claim Forerunner planets across the galaxy. As a final resort, the Forerunners fired the Halo Array, a superweapon which eradicated all neurologically complex life in the galaxy and subsequently caused most Flood to die out. While life was [[Library Project|re-seeded]] into the galaxy by Forerunner automatons, the Forerunners themselves would not return, passing their "mantle" to humanity.<ref name="origins"/>


===Rise of the Covenant===
===Rise of the Covenant===
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Half of the ''Dawn'', as well as the Arbiter, crashes back on Earth, and a memorial service is held for those who perished in the Covenant/Human war, ending on the note of the Master Chief's death.
Half of the ''Dawn'', as well as the Arbiter, crashes back on Earth, and a memorial service is held for those who perished in the Covenant/Human war, ending on the note of the Master Chief's death.


At the end of the credits, a last cut scene shows that the Master Chief survived, and put himself into cryosleep, as Cortana activates a [[Emergency locator beacon|distress beacon]]. The rear half of the ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'' is seen hurtling through space toward [[Requiem]].
At the end of the credits, a last cut scene shows that the Master Chief survived, and put himself into cryosleep, as Cortana activates a [[Emergency locator beacon|distress beacon]]. The rear half of the ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'' is seen hurtling through space toward a mysterious Forerunner planet, later to be known as [[Requiem]].


==In our universe==
==In our universe==
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