Halo universe: Difference between revisions

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(Ehhhh, I just don't like how that's phrased, also, this needs A lot of citations,)
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[[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 Empire}}
The two original species of the Covenant, the Prophets ([[San 'Shyuum]]) and the Elites ([[Sangheili]]), spent years locked in a bitter war over the control of the remains of an ancient race, the [[Forerunners]]. The Forerunners themselves were long vanished, but still large amounts of their technology existed. The Prophets wished to use the technology to search and explore the galaxy, but the Elites believed such usage to be a desecration of their holy artifacts. As the devastating war ravaged both species, the Elites saw that the only way for them to win was to do the exact thing they opposed; use their own [[Forerunner]] technology to adapt and befit their vessels. The English word "Covenant" means "Religious Alliance" or "Binding Agreement" (between two or more parties), usually used to describe an alliance between a faction of men and a God, or between two factions of men in holy goals. This name is well suited to the Covenant because of the "binding Covenant" formed between the two alien races, the Prophets and the Elites, when the latter promised to defend the Prophets as they searched for the Sacred Rings which are said to start the "[[Great Journey]]". The "Great Journey" is the 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|Covenant Civil War]], none of them were quite as important to the Prophets as the Elites.
Originally formed by as an alliance between the two species 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" which are said to start the "[[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.


At first, the Covenant were mostly held together by a need to survive, but as their society advanced, so did their technology, culture and religion. Now the polytheistic Covenant control a large part of the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy and their society is a complicated caste system, with the Prophets still on top, governing the Covenant along with the Elites. The Covenant is a theocracy, based on a prophecy about the Sacred Rings and the Great Journey. The actual context of this prophecy is unknown, but the Prophets' faith in it is the reason for their yearning desire to activate the [[Halo Array|Halos]], to ''"propel all who are worthy along the path to salvation!"''. A theory is that the promise of the journey goes like this: The Forerunners were so advanced, that they had found a way to propel themselves to god-like status using their technology. To oppose this, a race called the Flood attacked the Forerunners and attempted to stop the activation of this technology, for some unknown motive. Before the Flood could stop them, the Forerunners activated the Halo array, and ascended to Godlike status. The Covenant design is to find the Halo array, and use it to propel themselves to godliness as well.
At first, the Covenant were mostly held together by a need to survive, but as their society advanced, so did their technology, culture and religion. Now the polytheistic Covenant control a large part of the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy and their society is a complicated caste system, with the Prophets still on top, governing the Covenant along with the Elites. The Covenant is a theocracy, based on a prophecy about the Sacred Rings and the Great Journey. The actual context of this prophecy is based on the notion that the Forerunners were so advanced that they had found a way to propel themselves to godlike status using their technology. To oppose this, a parasitic race known as the Flood attacked the Forerunners and attempted to stop the activation of this technology. Before the Flood could stop them, the Forerunners activated the Halo array, and ascended to godhood. The Covenant design is to find the Halo array, and use it to propel themselves to godliness as well.


The three current leading Prophets, the Hierarchs of the Covenant, want to destroy Humanity due to the threat they pose to their religion: if Humankind really are the Forerunner's heirs, then all that the Covenant believe in is false. Not wanting the truth about humans to get out, the rest of the Covenant have been told that Humanity is a direct affront to the Forerunner, much like the Flood in goal, so must be exterminated if the Great Journey is to be completed.
The three leading Prophets, the Hierarchs of the Covenant, want to destroy humanity due to the threat they pose to their religion: if humankind really are the Forerunners' heirs, then all that the Covenant believe in is false. Not wanting the truth about humans to get out, the rest of the Covenant have been told that humanity is a direct affront to the Forerunner, much like the Flood in goal, so must be exterminated if the Great Journey is to be completed.


===The Flood===
===The Flood===
[[File:Floodambush.jpg|thumb|[[John-117|Master Chief]] encounters the [[Flood]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'']]
[[File:Floodambush.jpg|thumb|[[John-117|Master Chief]] encounters the [[Flood]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'']]
{{Main|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]]. Next to nothing is known about their origin, except that they arrived from another galaxy through unknown means, and settled upon a Forerunner world, where they were found and subsequently battled. It has been revealed that the Forerunners discovered and then fought them until they were overwhelmed after centuries of war. Faced with the Flood spreading throughout the galaxy and consuming every sentient being, the Forerunners created seven artificial Rings called the Halos, large Fortress worlds in the shape of rings, to contain and hopefully stop the Flood from ever spreading. The point of the Rings was to wipe out all sentient life, thus starving the Flood of calcium and biomass. Through their own interpretation of Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant believed these rings were actually devices that allowed the Forerunner to transcend this plane of existence into godlike state, and seek to do the same by activating them once more, though will inadvertently wipe out all sentient life if successful.
'''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]].
Although it seemed the plan had been successful at eliminating the Flood threat, samples of the organism kept on the rings for study were released on at least two of the installations through accidental means, putting the Galaxy once again at risk of complete destruction by the scourge. The outbreak on Installation 05, found second, probably occurred first, since a Gravemind had already formed, and the monitor of the Installation captured, though this is merely speculation.


The Flood grow and reproduce via the assimilation of other beings, using corpses and found biomass in order to spread. They are incapable of sexual reproduction, instead they fester inside a host until a certain time period, after which they explode and many new Flood are given off. Once a Gravemind is formed however, the Flood advance to a stage where they no longer require hosts for this, only biomass and calcium, which they require to feed on, and to build bodies with. Once they have advanced, they create hives which can produce thousands of Flood inside large pustules on walls and other surfaces, which act as incubators. During this stage, the Flood are able to build their own life forms using captured biomass and calcium deposits. The Flood continue in this fashion recurrently until either everything is devoured, or until they are stopped, the former usually occurring.
The Flood grow and reproduce via the assimilation of other beings, using corpses and found biomass in order to spread. They are incapable of sexual reproduction, instead they fester inside a host until a certain time period, after which they explode and many new Flood are given off. Once a Gravemind is formed however, the Flood advance to a stage where they no longer require hosts for this, only biomass and calcium, which they require to feed on, and to build bodies with. Once they have advanced, they create hives which can produce thousands of Flood inside large pustules on walls and other surfaces, which act as incubators. During this stage, the Flood are able to build their own life forms using captured biomass and calcium deposits. The Flood continue in this fashion recurrently until either everything is devoured, or until they are stopped, the former usually occurring.
Next to nothing is known about their origin, except that they arrived from another galaxy through unknown means, and fought both prehistoric humans and Forerunners, eventually defeating the latter. The Forerunners discovered and then fought them until they were overwhelmed after centuries of war. Faced with the Flood spreading throughout the galaxy and consuming every sentient being, the Forerunners created seven artificial rings called the Halos, large "fortress worlds" in the shape of rings, to contain and hopefully stop the Flood from ever spreading. The point of the rings was to wipe out all sentient life, thus starving the Flood of calcium and biomass. Through their own interpretation of Forerunner artifacts, the Covenant believed these rings were actually devices that allowed the Forerunner to transcend this plane of existence into godlike state, and seek to do the same by activating them once more, though will inadvertently wipe out all sentient life if successful.
Although it seemed the plan had been successful at eliminating the Flood threat, samples of the organism kept on the rings for study were released on at least two of the installations through accidental means, putting the Galaxy once again at risk of complete destruction by the scourge.


===The Forerunners===
===The Forerunners===
[[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 the pinnacle of technological advancement over 100,300 years before the Human-Covenant War. Apparently charged by the mysterious [[Precursors]] 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>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. Apparently charged by the mysterious [[Precursors]] 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>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 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}}
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==History==
==History==
===Prehistory===
===Prehistory===
Millions of years before the rise of the Forerunners, the Precursors controlled the galaxy. They created the species known as Forerunners, but later they would be nearly defeated by the Forerunners in [[Forerunner-Precursor War|a war]] millions of years before the Forerunner-Flood War.
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 nearly defeated by the Forerunners in [[Forerunner-Precursor War|a war]] millions of years before the Forerunner-Flood War.


Approximately [[150,000 BCE]], having mastered interstellar travel, humanity, still composed of many species, begun to move [[Prehistoric human civilization|their civilization]] along the [[Orion Arm]] of the Milky Way galaxy, to escape Forerunner control. They [[Human-San 'Shyuum war|fought a war]] against the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, but later ended up [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allying]] with them, 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 power began to mutate the Pheru, spawning irregular protrusions and growths and eventually altering their behavior.
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 begun to move [[Prehistoric human civilization|their civilization]] along the [[Orion Arm]] of the Milky Way galaxy, to escape Forerunner control. They [[Human-San 'Shyuum war|fought a war]] against the [[San 'Shyuum]] species, but later ended up [[Human-San 'Shyuum alliance|allying]] with them, 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 power began to mutate the Pheru, spawning irregular protrusions and growths and eventually altering their behavior.


Eventually, humans and San 'Shyuum became infected by the disease, actually an early stage of [[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 War|a war]] against humanity. Despite being forced to fight a two-front war against the Flod and the Forerunners, humanity eventually drove the Flood off the galaxy. However, the Forerunners eventually emerged victorious over humanity after defeating their last stronghold on Charum Hakkor.
Eventually, humans and San 'Shyuum became infected by the disease, actually an early stage of [[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 War|a war]] against humanity. Despite being forced to fight a two-front war against the Flod and the Forerunners, humanity eventually drove the Flood off the galaxy. However, the Forerunners eventually emerged victorious over humanity after defeating their last stronghold on Charum Hakkor.


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 [[Librarian]] established a research station. In the following millennia, the Librarian would tend to the humans, eventually allowing their civilization to begin developing anew.
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 [[Librarian]] established a research station. In the following millennia, the Librarian would tend to the humans, eventually allowing their civilization to begin developing anew.
{{Expand-Section}}


Circa [[100,300 BCE]], the Flood would resurface anew 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.
===Rise of the Covenant===
Dozens of millennia after the disappearance of the Forerunners, two original species of the Covenant, the San 'Shyuum and the Sangheili, spent years locked in a bitter war over the control of the remains of the Forerunners. The Prophets wished to use the technology to search and explore the galaxy, but the Elites believed such usage to be a desecration of their holy artifacts. As the devastating war ravaged both species, the Elites saw that the only way for them to win was to do the exact thing they opposed; use their own Forerunner technology to adapt and befit their vessels.
{{Expand-section}}
===Origin of the UNSC===
===Origin of the UNSC===
In the years [[2160-2200]], various governments and factions fought for control of Earth and its first Colonies. As overpopulation and unrest on Earth mounted, new political movements formed including the Jovian [[Frieden]] and [[Koslovics]] led by [[Vladimir Koslov]], resurgences of Fascism and Neo-Communism which waged the [[Interplanetary War|Interplanetary]], [[Rain Forest Wars]] and [[Mars]] clashes and were defeated by the victorious United Nations Space Command who emerged as the rulers of most of humanity.
In the years [[2160-2200]], various governments and factions fought for control of Earth and its first Colonies. As overpopulation and unrest on Earth mounted, new political movements formed including the Jovian [[Frieden]] and [[Koslovics]] led by [[Vladimir Koslov]], resurgences of Fascism and Neo-Communism which waged the [[Interplanetary War|Interplanetary]], [[Rain Forest Wars]] and [[Mars]] clashes and were defeated by the victorious United Nations Space Command who emerged as the rulers of most of humanity.
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