Halo: Ghosts of Onyx: Difference between revisions
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In addition, the announcement of the title also included a confirmation that ''Ghosts of Onyx'' was not the last planned ''Halo'' book. Two more novels would be released as part of the same contract; ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', and ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''. Chronologically, ''Ghosts of Onyx'' is followed by ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', the first novel in a [[Untitled Halo novel series|new series]] set after the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="bulletin">[http://halo.bungie.org/halobulletins/3 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Halo Bulletin Archive - The Halo Bulletin: 6/22/11'']</ref> | In addition, the announcement of the title also included a confirmation that ''Ghosts of Onyx'' was not the last planned ''Halo'' book. Two more novels would be released as part of the same contract; ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', and ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''. Chronologically, ''Ghosts of Onyx'' is followed by ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', the first novel in a [[Untitled Halo novel series|new series]] set after the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="bulletin">[http://halo.bungie.org/halobulletins/3 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Halo Bulletin Archive - The Halo Bulletin: 6/22/11'']</ref> | ||
== | ==Official summary== | ||
The [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] program has gone public. Tales of super-soldiers fending off thousands of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] attacks has become the stuff of legend. | {{Article Quote|The [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] program has gone public. Tales of super-soldiers fending off thousands of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] attacks has become the stuff of legend.<br>But just how many Spartans are left?<br>While the Master Chief defends a besieged Earth, and the myriad factions of the Covenant continue their crusade to eliminate humanity, an ultra-secret cell of the Office of Naval Intelligence known as "Section Three" devises a plan to buy the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] vital time. They're going to need hundreds of willing soldiers, though...and one more Spartan to get the job done.<br>Planet [[Onyx]] is virtually abandoned and therefore the perfect place to set this new plan in motion. When the Master Chief destroys Halo, however, something is triggered deep within Onyx. Action begins to boil and the Ancient [[Forerunner]] technology stirs. Armadas of UNSC and Covenant race to claim the Forerunner secrets in order to change the course of the Human-Covenant war.<br><br>But this reawakened and ancient force may have plans of its own...}} | ||
But just how many Spartans are left? | |||
While the Master Chief defends a besieged Earth, and the myriad factions of the Covenant continue their crusade to eliminate humanity, an ultra-secret cell of the Office of Naval Intelligence known as "Section Three" devises a plan to buy the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] vital time. They're going to need hundreds of willing soldiers, though...and one more Spartan to get the job done. | |||
==Plot synopsis== | |||
== | |||
[[File:Notfinal Onyx back.jpg|left|thumb|Concept art of ''Onyx''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s back cover.]] | [[File:Notfinal Onyx back.jpg|left|thumb|Concept art of ''Onyx''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s back cover.]] | ||
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===Section 1: Ambrose=== | ===Section 1: Ambrose=== | ||
The narrative then moves back to [[2531]] to a [[Raid on Camp New Hope|raid]] by [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Blue Team]] against [[Insurrectionist]]s on planet [[Victoria]] to recover stolen [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s. Though the team is captured by [[General]] [[Howard Graves]] and the rebels, the timely intervention of [[Kurt-051]] allows the team to complete their mission without any other serious problems, but Graves is killed during the course of events, preventing the team from learning valuable secrets the General held about the rebels' command and intelligence structure. Five months later, [[James Ackerson|Colonel James Ackerson]] of Section Three of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], meets with three ONI officers: [[Ned Rich|Rear Admiral Rich]], [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Aaron G. Gibson|Gibson]] and [[Vice Admiral]] [[Margaret Orlenda Parangosky|Parangosky]]. During the meeting, Ackerson moves forward a proposal for a new SPARTAN program which retains most of the effectiveness of the Series II program without the high costs of the previous project. This becomes the SPARTAN-III program, a more streamlined, "disposable," as well as more numerous, company of | The narrative then moves back to [[2531]] to a [[Raid on Camp New Hope|raid]] by [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Blue Team]] against [[Insurrectionist]]s on planet [[Victoria]] to recover stolen [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s. Though the team is captured by [[General]] [[Howard Graves]] and the rebels, the timely intervention of [[Kurt-051]] allows the team to complete their mission without any other serious problems, but Graves is killed during the course of events, preventing the team from learning valuable secrets the General held about the rebels' command and intelligence structure. | ||
Five months later, [[James Ackerson|Colonel James Ackerson]] of Section Three of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], meets with three ONI officers: [[Ned Rich|Rear Admiral Rich]], [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Aaron G. Gibson|Gibson]] and [[Vice Admiral]] [[Margaret Orlenda Parangosky|Parangosky]]. During the meeting, Ackerson moves forward a proposal for a new SPARTAN program which retains most of the effectiveness of the Series II program without the high costs of the previous project. This becomes the SPARTAN-III program, a more streamlined, "disposable," as well as more numerous, company of Spartans that must be trained for high-risk operations. Ackerson is given the UNSC-controlled world Onyx with the purpose of training the SPARTAN-IIIs, and is promised one of the SPARTAN-II to train them. | |||
The next month, Kurt, Kelly and Fred are sent to investigate "suspicious activity" at [[Station Delphi]]. When Kurt approaches a ruptured [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] for closer inspection, his [[thruster pack]] malfunctions and sends him spinning away into deep space. Kurt awakes a month later and meets Ackerson, who informs him that the events as Station Delphi were staged in order to recruit him. Kurt is told of the SPARTAN-III project and is given orders to train the volunteers of the SPARTAN-III program. Ackerson promotes him to [[Lieutenant, Junior Grade]] and assigns him the surname Ambrose to hide his previous service as a Spartan. | |||
===Section 2: SPARTAN-III=== | ===Section 2: SPARTAN-III=== | ||
The section begins on Onyx, where Kurt reduces the four hundred ninety-seven volunteers for the [[SPARTAN-III Program | The section begins on Onyx, where Kurt reduces the four hundred ninety-seven volunteers for the [[SPARTAN-III Program]] to three hundred trainees by ordering a nighttime high-altitude aerial drop from Pelicans, in order to assess who among the volunteers "wants" to be a Spartan. One of the volunteers, [[Shane]], is frightened by the prospect of a drop and is taunted by another recruit, [[Robert]]. Upon reaching the ground, Shane attacks Robert for teasing him and the two are separated by Navy personnel. They comment on the aggressiveness of the two, hoping "the rest of them are like this." | ||
Several years later, Kurt returns to the {{UNSCShip|Point of No Return}} to be briefed on [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]]'s performance and to proceed with training for Beta Company, where he learns of the complete destruction of Alpha Company during [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]]. Devastated by the images of the battle and the loss of his soldiers, Kurt improves the training regime for [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]], and presses for upgrades to their [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor|SPI armor]] systems. Regardless, most are killed in action during [[Operation: TORPEDO]], with the exceptions of [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], who, through Kurt's efforts, are assigned to Onyx to assist Kurt in training [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]], despite Ackerson's protests. In a further effort to reduce casualties, Kurt then institutes an [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM|illegal procedure]] during [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]'s augmentations, designed to alter the Spartans' brain chemistry and make them resistant to pain and shock. The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Deep Winter]] notices this, but unaware of the perpetrator, tells Kurt, who takes it upon himself to ensure that the files regarding the augmentations are purged. | Several years later, Kurt returns to the {{UNSCShip|Point of No Return}} to be briefed on [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]]'s performance and to proceed with training for Beta Company, where he learns of the complete destruction of Alpha Company during [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]]. Devastated by the images of the battle and the loss of his soldiers, Kurt improves the training regime for [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]], and presses for upgrades to their [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor|SPI armor]] systems. Regardless, most are killed in action during [[Operation: TORPEDO]], with the exceptions of [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], who, through Kurt's efforts, are assigned to Onyx to assist Kurt in training [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]], despite Ackerson's protests. In a further effort to reduce casualties, Kurt then institutes an [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM|illegal procedure]] during [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]'s augmentations, designed to alter the Spartans' brain chemistry and make them resistant to pain and shock. The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Deep Winter]] notices this, but unaware of the perpetrator, tells Kurt, who takes it upon himself to ensure that the files regarding the augmentations are purged. | ||
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===Section 6: The Ghosts of Onyx=== | ===Section 6: The Ghosts of Onyx=== | ||
Within this section, the story takes place on [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]], where the Covenant are in the midst of a [[Great Schism|civil war]]. The Elites intercept Halsey's message, learn of the existence of Onyx and its Forerunner artifacts then regroup at a Covenant world called [[Joyous Exultation]]. There, the Sangheili [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] rallies the Elites together and discuss the apparent treachery of the Brutes and Prophets, and how to go about handling the situation. Ship Master [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree|Voro 'Mantakree]] speaks to his fellow ship masters and suggests that they go to Onyx, as well as be vigilant of the [[The Flood|Flood]] threat. He is promoted to the rank of [[Fleet Master]] and is given command of a fleet of eighteen [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]], two cruisers, and one [[Covenant carrier|carrier]]. They then prepare to go to Onyx to retrieve the [[Forerunner]] technology. Meanwhile, on the [[CSO-class supercarrier|Covenant supercarrier]] called ''[[Sublime Transcendence]]'', a [[Unggoy|Grunt]] named [[Kwassass]] stumbles upon the [[Huragok]] who are busy examining what is revealed to be [[Danforth Whitcomb|Admiral Whitcomb]]'s [[NOVA bomb]]. The Huragok unknowingly arm it after Kwassass messes with the arming device. Shortly after the fleet departs for Onyx, the NOVA detonates, devastating the surface of the Covenant world, shattering its nearby moon, [[Malhiem]], into a billion fragments, and disintegrating the Covenant armada. | Within this section, the story takes place on [[Installation 05|Delta Halo]], where the Covenant are in the midst of a [[Great Schism|civil war]]. The Elites intercept Halsey's message, learn of the existence of Onyx and its Forerunner artifacts then regroup at a Covenant world called [[Joyous Exultation]]. There, the Sangheili [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] rallies the Elites together and discuss the apparent treachery of the Brutes and Prophets, and how to go about handling the situation. Ship Master [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree|Voro 'Mantakree]] speaks to his fellow ship masters and suggests that they go to Onyx, as well as be vigilant of the [[The Flood|Flood]] threat. He is promoted to the rank of [[Fleet Master]] and is given command of a fleet of eighteen [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]], two cruisers, and one [[Covenant carrier|carrier]]. They then prepare to go to Onyx to retrieve the [[Forerunner]] technology. | ||
Meanwhile, on the [[CSO-class supercarrier|Covenant supercarrier]] called ''[[Sublime Transcendence]]'', a [[Unggoy|Grunt]] named [[Kwassass]] stumbles upon the [[Huragok]] who are busy examining what is revealed to be [[Danforth Whitcomb|Admiral Whitcomb]]'s [[NOVA bomb]]. The Huragok unknowingly arm it after Kwassass messes with the arming device. Shortly after the fleet departs for Onyx, the NOVA detonates, devastating the surface of the Covenant world, shattering its nearby moon, [[Malhiem]], into a billion fragments, and disintegrating the Covenant armada. | |||
===Section 7: Reclaimers=== | ===Section 7: Reclaimers=== | ||
The Covenant fleet and [[Battlegroup Stalingrad|UNSC | The Covenant fleet and a [[Battlegroup Stalingrad|UNSC battle group]] arrive at Onyx, where they encounter one another and the Sentinel defenders, which attack anything approaching the system. In the ensuing battle, the entire UNSC fleet is destroyed except the [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] ''[[UNSC Dusk|Dusk]]'', which stays hidden and observes events unfolding. The humans on Onyx head for Zone 67, where they discover an ancient Forerunner city. Pursued by the Covenant, the humans head underground, where Dr. Halsey determines that the entire planet is actually an artificial construct concealing a Forerunner "[[Shield World]]", which was constructed by the Forerunners to protect themselves from the firing of the Halo Array, which are designed to eradicate all sentient life should [[the Flood]] escape. | ||
Fighting off determined Covenant pursuers, they press on into the heart of the planet to find its secrets, but not before the ONI [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Endless Summer]] communicates to Dr. Halsey the importance of shutting down a Forerunner [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] which is producing new Sentinels at a rapid rate. After disabling the factory, the group proceeds to the location of Team Katana. They find eight [[slipspace field pod]]s, five of which contain members of Katana, with the rest housing unidentified individuals. They then press on to Onyx's [[Core room antechamber|core]], where they discover a Slipspace rift supposedly leading into the "shield world". Will-043 and Holly-G003 fall fighting off the Covenant forces, Will-043 engaging several Hunters in hand to hand combat, before meeting his demise | Fighting off determined Covenant pursuers, they press on into the heart of the planet to find its secrets, but not before the ONI [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Endless Summer]] communicates to Dr. Halsey the importance of shutting down a Forerunner [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] which is producing new Sentinels at a rapid rate. After disabling the factory, the group proceeds to the location of [[Team Katana]]. They find eight [[slipspace field pod]]s, five of which contain members of Katana, with the rest housing unidentified individuals. They then press on to Onyx's [[Core room antechamber|core]], where they discover a Slipspace rift supposedly leading into the "shield world". Will-043 and Holly-G003 fall fighting off the Covenant forces, Will-043 engaging several Hunters in hand-to-hand combat, before meeting his demise. Halsey, Mendez, Tom, Lucy, and the other Spartans escape, while Kurt remains behind in order to stop the Covenant from following the humans into the slipspace rift. He waits for the portal to fully close and then he lists Kurt Ambrose as MIA under SPARTAN-051 along with the other Spartans, adhering to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence Directive 930|tradition]] of never listing a fallen Spartan as KIA. He ends his life responding to the Elite Fleet Master, "''Die? Didn't you know?... Spartans never die,''" he detonates the two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s that the team had taken with them. | ||
From outside Onyx, the surviving UNSC prowler ''Dusk'' watches on as the planet's surface rips apart, to reveal that the entire world is constructed of literally trillions of Sentinels, all connected together to provide an impenetrable defense around the shield world at the heart of the planet. The story is concluded on the other side of the slipspace rift, which is revealed to house an immense [[Dyson sphere]], which features terrain similar to that of Earth and is separated from normal space-time inside a compressed slipspace bubble. The survivors hold a memorial service to the fallen, and Fred-104 takes command of the remaining survivors, ordering them to move out and complete their mission of finding Forerunner artifacts and searching for a method of escape. Kelly then welcomes the new Spartan IIIs to the Blue Team, stating that they were "going to make a great team." | From outside Onyx, the surviving UNSC prowler ''Dusk'' watches on as the planet's surface rips apart, to reveal that the entire world is constructed of literally trillions of Sentinels, all connected together to provide an impenetrable defense around the shield world at the heart of the planet. The story is concluded on the other side of the slipspace rift, which is revealed to house an immense [[Dyson sphere]], which features terrain similar to that of Earth and is separated from normal space-time inside a compressed slipspace bubble. The survivors hold a memorial service to the fallen, and Fred-104 takes command of the remaining survivors, ordering them to move out and complete their mission of finding Forerunner artifacts and searching for a method of escape. Kelly then welcomes the new Spartan-IIIs to the Blue Team, stating that they were "going to make a great team." | ||
==Characters== | ==Characters== | ||
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*Petty Officer Second Class [[Min-B174]] | *Petty Officer Second Class [[Min-B174]] | ||
*Private [[Ash-G099]] | *Private [[Ash-G099]] | ||
*Petty Officer Third Class [[Holly-G003]]<ref>Halopedian | *Petty Officer Third Class [[Holly-G003]]<ref>Halopedian Strongbadrunner contacted Eric Nylund, and he said the notation of her as G122 was an error.</ref> | ||
*Petty Officer Third Class [[Olivia|Olivia-G]] | *Petty Officer Third Class [[Olivia|Olivia-G]] | ||
*Petty Officer Third Class [[Mark|Mark-G]] | *Petty Officer Third Class [[Mark|Mark-G]] | ||
