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| {{Era|Forerunner}}
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| {{Megastructure infobox
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| |image=[[File:HM-GreaterArk.png|300px]]<br>The greater Ark being destroyed by star roads
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| |description=Disk with a hollow core and six curved arms
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| |location=[[Intergalactic space]]
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| |anchor=
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| |type=[[Ark|Ark Installation]]
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| |function=Conservation facility, Lifeworker research station, Halo constrution foundry
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| |caretaker=[[Offensive Bias]]<ref name="sil238">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 238''</ref>
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| |constructed=c. [[106,445 BCE]] <ref name="sil45"/>
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| |destroyed= c. [[97,445 BCE]]
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| |diameter=
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| |surface width=
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| |gravity=
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| |surface temperature=
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| |atmosphere=
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| }}
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| 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. ''Halo: Silentium'' further clarifies that the Librarian used the greater Ark as her base of operations before its destruction; because of its use as the Lifeshaper's main base, (combined with the secrecy of Installation 00), the greater Ark was almost universally referred to as "the Ark". As such, it is assumed the Ark described in ''Cryptum'' is the greater Ark.{{Clear}}
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| However, this also raises an apparent discrepancy regarding the lesser Ark and its secret array of six Halos. ''Halo: Cryptum'' describes a separate array of six Halo rings stationed over what is assumed to be the greater Ark for the aforementioned reasons. However, ''Halo: Silentium'' clarifies that the newer array of six Halos was manufactured by, and hidden at, the lesser Ark. This makes the rings' apparent presence at the greater Ark a contradiction, since there are no evident reasons for the six rings (the Forerunners' carefully-guarded last resort) being temporarily transported to the greater Ark.</ref> was a [[Forerunner]] megastructure, and the first of the two [[Ark]]s used to manufacture [[Halo Array|Halo rings]]. It 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> one-third of the way around the outer boundaries of the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 237'' (''"Unbeknownst to most, the lesser Ark, hidden a third of the way around the outer boundaries of the galaxy..."'')</ref>
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| ==Description== | | ==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 possessed only 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><ref group="note" name="cryptum"/> | | 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 possessed only 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><ref group="note" name="cryptum"/> |
