Balaho: Difference between revisions

'''Balaho''', also known as '''Tala IV''', is the [[planet|homeworld]] of the [[Unggoy]] and the fourth planet orbiting the star [[Tala system|Tala]], a blue supergiant. Hosting an atmosphere featuring large quantities of [[methane]], Balaho is orbited by two [[natural satellite]]s; [[Buwan]] and [[Padpad]]. Balaho is a hostile and frigid world, home to brackish tidal flats and numerous swamps,{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}}<ref name="enc 308">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 308 (2011)</ref> growing less hospitable due to environmental degradation.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}

An unpredictable and dangerous world, Balaho is a mostly frozen planet with temperatures ranging from -33°C to 5°C (-27°F to 41°F).{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} It has two [[natural satellite]]s, [[Buwan]] and [[Padpad]], respectively the primary and secondary satellites.<ref>[http://majornelson.com/2011/08/26/news-from-halo-fest/ '''Xbox Live's Major Nelson''': ''News From Halo Fest'']</ref> With an atmosphere rating of 5.7, the terrestrial planet has significant amounts of [[methane]] in the atmosphere, in addition to [[carbon dioxide]] and [[helium]], necessitating that Unggoy wear [[methane tank]]s while off-world. This gas forms a largely opaque layer of clouds that prevents much of the world from being seen from orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}}{{Ref/Note|Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas (about 23 times stronger than carbon dioxide), making it very effective at insulating an atmosphere. As such, it is strange that Balaho is so cold when the planet's atmosphere is composed mainly of methane. The most likely explanation is that Balaho is much farther from Tala than most other habitable planets are from their stars and that is warm enough to support life because of its methane atmosphere. This also explains why the planet was not engulfed when Tala expanded into a blue supergiant.}}

The parts of the surface that are not covered by polar ice caps or fresh [[water]] are equatorial brackish tidal flats where naturally occurring pillars of fire exist when the planet's methane condenses. Most of the Unggoy live in this area where the cold season is not as harmful to them. The planet is also home to several swamps, dire marshes,{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc 308}} and shallow volcanic mountain ranges at the equator.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=209}} The world is still recovering from an environmental collapse caused by massive global over-industrialization prior to the activation of the [[Halo Array]].{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} Balaho continues to experience environmental degradation and has become increasingly less hospitable over the centuries. Balaho's severe exploitation by the [[Covenant]] has only caused the environment to suffer further.{{Ref/Reuse|warfleet}} Until the Covenant's arrival, the planet's population was threatened by two consecutive winter seasons, plagues, and a general lack of food.<ref name="enc151">''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'', p. 151</ref> [[Blue Death]] is a risk to all Unggoy that were exposed to Balaho's harsh climate.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', p. 237</ref>

The planet's hostile conditions and the methane atmosphere of Balaho sustains unusually hardy forms of life,{{Ref/Reuse|enc151}} most notably the Unggoy who are believed to have evolved from smaller amphibious primates. Balaho is home to many voracious predators, with the Unggoy evolving to have a rigid exoskeleton lined with spikes and barbs along their body to deter such threats.{{Ref/Reuse|unggoy waypoint}} The luminescent [[Zap-jelly|zap-jellies]] filled the brackish seas of Balaho,<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 186</ref> with [[mud wasp]]s and [[shade crab]]s being commonly [[Hunting rock|hunted]] for sport, particularly by Unggoy youth. Balaho is also home to [[scrub grub]]s, an arthropodic pest that feeds on machinery.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 90</ref> Some methane tanks used by Unggoy resemble the [[Balahoan octopoda]].{{Ref/Reuse|evg4}}

On [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]], [[Cortana]] claimed the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] and broadcast an offer of peace and prosperity to many species of the galaxy. The Unggoy on Balaho responded favorably to this proposition, and in response, they were granted nearly limitless resources by the [[Created]]. Crewless ships loaded with advanced technology arrived, along with agricultural support stations being installed in orbit, awaiting eager workers to feed the desperate masses below. Under the new management, stability and a semblance of order were restored to Balaho, along with a newfound purpose. The planet's previously abandoned factories were activated once again, and with their immediate requirements—food, shelter, medicine—met, the planet's Unggoy designers and crafters began to work tirelessly to construct new and old machines and weaponry based on knowledge the Unggoy had secretly learned over their centuries under the Covenant's rule.{{Ref/Reuse|driving}} Notably, the Balahoan factories have increased production of {{Pattern|Pnap|Goblin}} battlesuits.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-buzz-generating '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Buzz Generating'']</ref><ref name="glory">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/haze-of-glory '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Community Update - Haze of Glory'']</ref> Because the Unggoy on the planet agreed with Cortana's terms, no [[Guardian Custode|Guardian]] was send there to enforce her law.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt3}}

After the Unggoy allied themselves with Cortana, both [[Promethean]] and Unggoy forces destroyed the UNSC embassy, killing almost all the personnel on the embassy. Spartan [[Edward Buck]] and Captain [[Veronica Dare]] traveled to Balaho to recruit Spartan Agu and reform [[Alpha-Nine]]. Both managed to extract Romeo in a [[D81-LRT Condor]] but failed to rescue the embassy survivors, who were killed by [[Z-1800 Phaeton]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt3}}