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== History == | == History == | ||
[[Image:Earthshot.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[UNSCDF]] [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s in [[geosynchronous]] orbit around Earth.]]The Earth first formed about 4.6 billion years ago, and gave rise to the first single-celled organisms about 3.9 billion years ago. About 200,000 years ago, the ancestors of modern humans, ''Homo Sapiens'', evolved in Africa. Indigenous to Eastern Africa, they gradually spread across the entire planet. The enigmatic race known as the [[Forerunners]] are believed to have come to Earth 100,000 years ago, making significant contributions to the human race, and are believed to have made a "Conservation Measure"<ref>http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/118020/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=12360308</ref> to conserve the human race from the threat of the [[Flood]], and they built an [[Artifact]] to generate a slipspace portal to the [[Ark]] in Africa, where the Forerunner intelligence of [[AdjutantReflex]] resided<ref>http://206.16.223.61/X84xE2/flash/web/index.html</ref>. The [[Forerunners]] were also seen constructing "machines" in [[Africa]]<ref>''[[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life]]''</ref>. | [[Image:Earthshot.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[UNSCDF]] [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s in [[geosynchronous]] orbit around Earth.]]The Earth first formed about 4.6 billion years ago, and gave rise to the first single-celled organisms about 3.9 billion years ago. About 200,000 years ago, the ancestors of modern humans, ''Homo Sapiens'', evolved in Africa. Indigenous to Eastern Africa, they gradually spread across the entire planet. The enigmatic race known as the [[Forerunners]] are believed to have come to Earth 100,000 years ago, making significant contributions to the human race, and are believed to have made a "Conservation Measure"<ref>http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/118020/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=12360308</ref> to conserve the human race from the threat of the [[Flood]], and they built an [[Artifact]] to generate a slipspace portal to the [[Ark]] in Africa, where the Forerunner intelligence of [[AdjutantReflex]] resided<ref>http://206.16.223.61/X84xE2/flash/web/index.html</ref>. The [[Forerunners]] were also seen constructing "machines" in [[Africa]]<ref>''[[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life]]''</ref>. | ||
Eventually, [[humans]], originally consisting of groups of hunter-gatherers, began to develop into [[wikipedia:civilization|civilizations]]. These civilizations gradually became more and more complex, with some becoming nation-states and empires. By the year 1914, much of the world was divided into two factions, the Triple Entente, or Allies: the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]], France, Russia, and later the [[United States of America]], and the Triple Alliance, or Central Powers: [[Germany]], Austria-Hungary, and other nations of similar ideals. The Central Powers were defeated at the end of World War I in 1918, resulting in a decade of prosperity for the Allies, followed by an economic depression and the rise of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism in many countries. In 1939, another [[World War II|World War]] erupted, between the Allies (Britain, the Soviet Union, later the United States, and many other nations) and the Axis (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan). In 1945, the Allies defeated the Axis. Later that year, the victorious nations, in an attempt to prevent more World Wars, founded the [[United Nations]], an international assembly of peaceful nations, whose goal was to settle international disputes peacefully, and was the predecessor to the UNSC. In 1957, Humanity finally made their way into space with unmanned probes and by 1961, Humans themselves had gone into space. In 1969, Humanity had finally stepped on an extraterrestrial surface-Earth's Moon. After [[World War II]], Humanity would lack war on that scale, although smaller wars and conflicts erupted, including the Korean War, Vietnam War, [[wikipedia:Cold War|Cold War]], and the Iraq War. In the early 21st century, terrorism became a potential thorn in the side for the nations on Earth and small wars broke out along with civil unrest in many countries. However, no full wars on the same scale as past World Wars erupted. | Eventually, [[humans]], originally consisting of groups of hunter-gatherers, began to develop into [[wikipedia:civilization|civilizations]]. These civilizations gradually became more and more complex, with some becoming nation-states and empires. By the year 1914, much of the world was divided into two factions, the Triple Entente, or Allies: the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]], France, Russia, and later the [[United States of America]], and the Triple Alliance, or Central Powers: [[Germany]], Austria-Hungary, and other nations of similar ideals. The Central Powers were defeated at the end of World War I in 1918, resulting in a decade of prosperity for the Allies, followed by an economic depression and the rise of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism in many countries. In 1939, another [[World War II|World War]] erupted, between the Allies (Britain, the Soviet Union, later the United States, and many other nations) and the Axis (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan). In 1945, the Allies defeated the Axis. Later that year, the victorious nations, in an attempt to prevent more World Wars, founded the [[United Nations]], an international assembly of peaceful nations, whose goal was to settle international disputes peacefully, and was the predecessor to the UNSC. In 1957, Humanity finally made their way into space with unmanned probes and by 1961, Humans themselves had gone into space. In 1969, Humanity had finally stepped on an extraterrestrial surface-Earth's Moon. After [[World War II]], Humanity would lack war on that scale, although smaller wars and conflicts erupted, including the Korean War, Vietnam War, [[wikipedia:Cold War|Cold War]], and the Iraq War. In the early 21st century, terrorism became a potential thorn in the side for the nations on Earth and small wars broke out along with civil unrest in many countries. However, no full wars on the same scale as past World Wars erupted. | ||
[[Image:Cycle response.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Pangaea, the super-continent 250 million years ago that was the amalgamation of all current present-day [[:category:Continents|continents]].]] | [[Image:Cycle response.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Pangaea, the super-continent 250 million years ago that was the amalgamation of all current present-day [[:category:Continents|continents]].]] | ||
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It wasn't until [[2291]] that this problem was solved when researchers created the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] and gained access to [[Slipspace]]. In [[2310]] the UNSC unveiled their first line of colony ships and the best and brightest from both civilian walks of life and the military set out to form the Inner Colonies. This eased the overpopulation problem upon Earth which became the capital of the [[Unified Earth Government]], while the inner colony of [[Reach]] would later became the headquarters of the [[UNSC]]. | It wasn't until [[2291]] that this problem was solved when researchers created the [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] and gained access to [[Slipspace]]. In [[2310]] the UNSC unveiled their first line of colony ships and the best and brightest from both civilian walks of life and the military set out to form the Inner Colonies. This eased the overpopulation problem upon Earth which became the capital of the [[Unified Earth Government]], while the inner colony of [[Reach]] would later became the headquarters of the [[UNSC]]. | ||
[[File:Earth Orbit.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Earth seen from orbit.]]Humanity would enter a period of peaceful stability for the next two hundred years, until [[Insurrection|civil unrest began]] to spread in the Outer Colonies, with various groups seeking secession from Earth and the UEG. The scale of the unrest would steadily rise, eventually becoming a major threat by 2517 to the UEG's existence, and in response the UNSC began the [[SPARTAN-II Program]]. All this was suddenly and violently rendered a moot point when a single alien ship made an unprovoked attack on the colony of Harvest, humanity's first encounter with an alien civilization - [[Covenant Empire|the Covenant]]. Over the next [[Human-Covenant War|twenty seven years]], Humanity would wage a brutal war | |||
[[File:Earth Orbit.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Earth seen from orbit.]]Humanity would enter a period of peaceful stability for the next two hundred years, until [[Insurrection|civil unrest began]] to spread in the Outer Colonies, with various groups seeking secession from Earth and the UEG. The scale of the unrest would steadily rise, eventually becoming a major threat by 2517 to the UEG's existence, and in response the UNSC began the [[SPARTAN-II Program]]. All this was suddenly and violently rendered a moot point when a single alien ship made an unprovoked attack on the colony of Harvest, humanity's first encounter with an alien civilization - [[Covenant Empire|the Covenant]]. Over the next [[Human-Covenant War|twenty seven years]], Humanity would wage a brutal war for survival, losing hundreds of colonies, including all of the Outer Colonies in 2536; and on August 31st, 2552, the UNSC's largest military installation, the planet Reach, was discovered and invaded by the Covenant. During the entire course of the conflict, the UNSC followed the [[Cole Protocol]], which declared that no UNSC vessel targeted by the Covenant was to retreat to Earth, as a means of ensuring the security of the planet's location. Despite the effectiveness of this law, on October 20th, 2552, the Covenant launched their first attack upon Earth, initiating the final confrontation between UNSC forces and the Covenant.<ref>http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm</ref><ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''</ref><ref>''[[Halo 2]]''</ref> | |||
=== Pre-Battle of Earth === | === Pre-Battle of Earth === | ||
Prior to the first attempt to invade Earth there had been a suppressed influx of information by [[ONI]], resulting in people going about their normal lives even up until the attack. The forces stationed at Earth were heavy, with the [[Second Fleet]], [[Seventh Fleet]], the [[Sixteenth Fleet]] and the 6th Battle Group along with large amounts of Marines and [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper| | Prior to the first attempt to invade Earth there had been a suppressed influx of information by [[ONI]], resulting in people going about their normal lives even up until the attack. The forces stationed at Earth were heavy, with the [[Second Fleet]], [[Seventh Fleet]], the [[Sixteenth Fleet]] and the 6th Battle Group along with large amounts of Marines and [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] present, four [[SPARTAN-II]]s, [[Admiral Hood]] and Earth's most prominent means of defense, three hundred [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s, each sporting a Mk. V "Super" [[MAC]]. Also, there were numerous human colonies on various moons, a large naval shipyard and factories at [[Mars]], and a listening post at [[Io]]. | ||
=== Battle of Earth === | === Battle of Earth === | ||
[[Image:H2_UNSCDF_Earth.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The [[UNSCDF]] streams towards the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] attack fleet during the [[Battle of Earth]] (The Black Sea can be seen in the background).]] | [[Image:H2_UNSCDF_Earth.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The [[UNSCDF]] streams towards the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] attack fleet during the [[Battle of Earth]] (The Black Sea can be seen in the background).]] | ||
{{Main|Battle of Earth}} | {{Main|Battle of Earth}} | ||
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Marines from [["A" Company]] of the [[405th]] counter-attacked from [[Diego Garcia]] and succeeded in gaining and holding bridgeheads in the city despite suffering heavy casualties. They were reinforced by [[SPARTAN-117]], [[Sergeant Avery Johnson]], and elements of the [[7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion]] deploying from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}. The Covenant were subsequently dislodged from [[Old Mombasa]] and, following the destruction of a [[Scarab]], from New Mombasa as well. The Prophet of Regret ordered a general retreat and the Prophet's carrier initiated a slipspace jump while still over the city. The UNSC Frigate ''In Amber Clad'' followed in the carrier's wake, but the city itself was severely damaged. Even the space elevator was weakened and later destroyed and the remains were scattered all over east [[Africa]]. The Prophet's Assault Carrier was one of only two known Covenant vessels to survive from the initial Covenant fleet. | Marines from [["A" Company]] of the [[405th]] counter-attacked from [[Diego Garcia]] and succeeded in gaining and holding bridgeheads in the city despite suffering heavy casualties. They were reinforced by [[SPARTAN-117]], [[Sergeant Avery Johnson]], and elements of the [[7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion]] deploying from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}. The Covenant were subsequently dislodged from [[Old Mombasa]] and, following the destruction of a [[Scarab]], from New Mombasa as well. The Prophet of Regret ordered a general retreat and the Prophet's carrier initiated a slipspace jump while still over the city. The UNSC Frigate ''In Amber Clad'' followed in the carrier's wake, but the city itself was severely damaged. Even the space elevator was weakened and later destroyed and the remains were scattered all over east [[Africa]]. The Prophet's Assault Carrier was one of only two known Covenant vessels to survive from the initial Covenant fleet. | ||
[[Image:H3_TheArk_Opening.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The [[Forerunner]] [[Artifact]] under what was once New Mombasa, built to protect humanity, unveils itself in [[2552]] during the Battle of Earth.]] | [[Image:H3_TheArk_Opening.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The [[Forerunner]] [[Artifact]] under what was once New Mombasa, built to protect humanity, unveils itself in [[2552]] during the Battle of Earth.]] | ||