Attack on Installation 00
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Banished victory[1]
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- "That ship brought these monsters. Killed everyone I was supposed to protect."
- — Isabel on the arrival of the Enduring Conviction[2]
On November 25, 2558, a ex-Covenant mercenary organization known as the Banished launched an attack on the UNSC research outposts established on Forerunner Installation 00.[1] The assault followed the unexpected shutdown of the installation's portal to Earth during Cortana's takeover of Earth.[6]
Background
The extragalactic Installation 00 was first accessed by galactic forces in the closing weeks of the Human-Covenant War in 2552, accessed via a large portal located in Voi, Africa, on Earth. During the fighting, a joint forces of the United Nations Space Command and Covenant separatists fought against the predominantly Jiralhanae-led loyalist Covenant forces led by the Prophet of Truth. At the end of the conflict, the Covenant were defeated and a nascent Halo ring detonated over the Ark - causing immense damage to the installation.
The Ark was abandoned after that (save for a small contingent of Covenant remnants left hiding inside the Prophet of Truth's flagship), with only a minor expedition from the scout ship Rubicon in 2553. In 2555, the Ark's monitor 000 Tragic Solitude initiated a plan with the intent of repairing the installation, intending to reactivate the portal on Earth to use human colonies as resource bases through which it would restore the Ark to full operational status. This plan was ultimately foiled by a joint UNSC-Swords of Sanghelios team, after which the portal remained open and a large contingent established on the Ark to explore and study the installation. This contingent was centred on the Henry Lamb Research Outpost, itself named after a scientist who had died in the 2555 excursion onto the installation.
The Banished were formed at the tail end of the Human-Covenant War, initially as a Jiralhanae rebellion against the Covenant empire - before growing into a major splinter faction following the Covenant's collapse into civil war. During the post-war era, the Banished accrued power and prestige, culminating in Warmaster Atriox's interest in the Ark as a means of securing the Banished position in the galactic balance of power. Their first expeditionary group were deployed to the Ark aboard Enduring Conviction in 2558, beginning a long journey that culminated in Enduring Conviction's arrival in November of that year.[7]
Prelude
On October 28, 2558, the smart AI Cortana, leader of an AI conglomerate known as the Created, arrived at Earth with Forerunner Guardians. Firing an EMP blast at the planet, Cortana caused the shutdown of Earth's defenses.[6] In the wake of the attack the ancient extra-galactic Forerunner sanctuary known as Installation 00, or "the Ark", shutdown the Portal at Voi to prevent the Created from being able to access the installation.[8] With the slipspace portal gone the UNSC research teams on the installation's surface found themselves stranded.[4]
The attack
- "As we looked down at the horror below, we saw several hulking outlines move amongst the shadows. Jiralhanae, I think. Brutes. They were everywhere. The air was filled with the smell of burning ozone as a couple of bright, electric blue shapes arced their way toward us. We scattered as the plasma blast hit, vaporizing the trees nearby and showering us with ash and debris."
- — Nathaniel Palmer describing the attack in his diary[1]
On November 25, 2558,[1] almost one month after the portal's shutdown, the Banished arrived at the Ark in their flagship Enduring Conviction, leading a fleet comprised of their Jiralhanae, human, Sangheili, Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, and Huragok forces.[2] The Banished deployed Jiralhanae forces, Blisterback mobile missile platforms, Scarab assault platforms, Banshee aircraft, as well as other vehicles, and began raiding the UNSC research outposts on the surface. Though the UNSC inhabitants of the installation offered resistance against the invaders, they proved no match for the alien onslaught as they were mostly researchers and civilians.[1]
One such research outpost, the Henry Lamb Research Facility, was attacked by Banished forces led by Atriox's lieutenant, War Chief Decimus,[4] before being directly bombarded by the Enduring Conviction's energy projector. A group of fifteen of the outpost's personnel, including archaeologist Nathaniel Palmer and scientist Brewer, managed to barely escape the assault.[1] By January 17, 2559, the group had atrophied to eight.[9]
Aftermath
- Main article: Second Ark Conflict
The destruction of the UNSC presence on the Ark allowed the Banished to establish their forces and set up salvage operations[4] on the installation before the eventual arrival of the long-lost UNSC vessel, the UNSC Spirit of Fire,[3] on March 28, 2559.[10] This led to the beginning of a long war of resistance on the Ark as Spirit of Fire's forces struggled to kick the Banished off the installation.
Gallery
Full Phoenix Log banner artwork depicting the attack.
Full Phoenix Log banner artwork depicting the survivors.
List of appearances
- Halo Wars 2 (First appearance)
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: The Graveyard
- ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, campaign level Hold the Line
- ^ a b Halo Wars 2, campaign level The Signal
- ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, campaign level A New Enemy
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Mantis
- ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Guardians
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 423
- ^ Halo Mythos, page 202
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: The Turn of the Screw
- ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Alice-130 Report #1
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