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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Battle infobox
{{Quad battle infobox
|prev    = [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret]]
|prev    = [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere]]<small> (Forerunner-Flood War)<br/></small>[[Battle of the Threshold gas mine|Battle of the Gas Mine]] <small>(Human-Covenant War)</small>
|conc    =  
|conc    = [[Battle of Installation 05]]
|next    = [[Fall of High Charity]], [[Battle for the Control Room (Installation 05)|Battle for the Control Room]]
|next    = [[Fall of High Charity|Fall of High Charity]]
|name    = Battle of the Quarantine Zone
|name    = Battle of the Quarantine Zone
|image    = [[File:H2A - Library.jpg|375px]]
|image    = [[File:H2A - Library.jpg|375px]]
|conflict = Isolated/[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date    = c. [[97,227 BCE]]<ref>''Cold Storage'' transmissions</ref> - [[2552#November|November 2552]]
*[[Battle of Installation 05]]
|date    = c.[[2552#November|November 2552]]
|place    = [[Quarantine Zone]], [[Installation 05]]
|place    = [[Quarantine Zone]], [[Installation 05]]
|result  = '''Strategic Covenant victory'''
|result  = '''Strategic Covenant victory'''
*The [[Covenant]] successfully obtain the [[Activation Index|Index]] for Installation 05
*The [[Covenant]] successfully obtain the [[Activation Index|Index]] for Installation 05
*Many non-infected humans captured, including Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson<br/>
*Many non-infected humans captured, including Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson
*UNSC suffers heavy casualties, including the loss of the ''In Amber Clad''
*UNSC suffers total casualties, including the loss of the ''In Amber Clad''
*Tartarus' assassination attempt on Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee is unsuccessful.
'''Tactical Flood Victory'''
'''Tactical Flood Victory'''
*Quarantine Zone fails
*Quarantine Zone fails
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|commanders2    = *[[Commander|CDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
|commanders2    = *[[Commander|CDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery J. Johnson]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery J. Johnson]]
|commanders3    = *[[Monitor]] [[2401 Penitent Tangent]]
*[[Gunnery Sergeant|GYSGT]] [[Marcus Stacker]]
|commanders3    =
|commanders4    = *[[Gravemind]]
|commanders4    = *[[Gravemind]]
|forces1  = *[[Special Operations Sangheili]]
|forces1  = *[[Special Operations Sangheili]]
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|forces2  =  
|forces2  =  
*[[UNSC Navy]]
*[[UNSC Navy]]
**1 frigate: {{UNSCship|In Amber Clad}}
**1 [[Stalwart-class light frigate|light frigate]]
***{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[105th Shock Troops Division]]
**[[105th Shock Troops Division]]
Line 49: Line 50:
*Many Unggoy
*Many Unggoy
*Many Kig-yar
*Many Kig-yar
|casual2 = *Many ODSTs
|casual2 =
*Most Marines killed, captured, or infected
*40 [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref>
*Most crew members killed, captured, or infected
*150(+) [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref>
*250 [[UNSC Navy|Naval personnel]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref>
*8(+) Marines captured
*Most ground assets captured
*Most ground assets captured
*Many D77-TC Pelicans captured
*Many D77-TC Pelicans captured
Line 62: Line 65:
*Many carrier forms
*Many carrier forms
}}
}}
{{Quote|At the center of this zone, is a [[Activation index|Sacred Icon]] critical to the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. I must find it.|[[Thel 'Vadamee]] to [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee}}


{{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee}}
The '''Battle of the Quarantine Zone''' was a [[battle]] which took place on [[Installation 05]] in [[2552]], as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] and [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] fought through the [[Quarantine Zone]] in search of the [[Activation Index]], known to the Covenant as the Sacred Icon. The battle encompassed an extended conflict between [[Flood]] and [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]] that stretched back nearly 100,000 years.


The '''Battle of the Quarantine Zone''' was a [[battle]] which took place on [[Installation 05]] for a span of nearly 100,000 years. When the ring was later discovered in [[2552]], the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] and [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] fought through the [[Quarantine Zone]] in search of the [[Activation Index]], known to the Covenant as the Sacred Icon. Both parties had to battle their way through legions of [[The Flood|Flood]] and [[Forerunner]] machines designed to halt the parasitic outbreak.
==Background==
The establishment of the Quarantine Zone is rooted in ancient history - approximately 3,000 years after the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]], the Flood under containment on [[Installation 05]] were released. Under normal circumstances [[Sentinel]] guards would have been able to keep the parasite under control. Unfortunately, the Flood had access to [[Flood combat form|hosts]], and were able to hold off the constructs.
 
At some point, Installation 05's [[Monitor]] [[2401 Penitent Tangent]] was warned by [[Unidentified ancilla (Installation 05)|a Forerunner ancilla]] of a pending outbreak in one the installation's [[Flood]] [[Flood containment facility|containment facilities]]. The monitor continued to ignore this warning, and those that followed, for millennia. Within [[2552|99,779 years]], the containment facility had been overrun by the Flood, with lockdown protocols in effect within the Halo's [[teleportation grid]] to prevent further infestation.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Cold Storage]]'' [[Cold Storage Reports|transmissions]]</ref> Eventually, the full force of the installation's [[Sentinel]]s and [[Enforcer]]s was mobilized, and a [[Quarantine Zone]] was established, surrounded by an enormous [[Sentinel Wall|wall]] projecting a powerful [[Containment Shield]].<ref name="icon">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref><ref name="zone">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Quarantine Zone]]''</ref>
 
The establishment of the Quarantine Zone was too late to prevent the formation of a [[Gravemind]]. Over the centuries, the Gravemind's reach spread throughout the installation,<ref name="ReferenceA">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]''</ref> eventually capturing the [[monitor]] of the installation, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], giving him access to the [[teleportation grid]] and causing the structures on the Installation to fall into disrepair.<ref name="gravemind">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>
 
In [[2551]], a small [[Covenant]] team found a [[Luminary]] on [[Meridian]] after a [[Battle of Meridian|battle]] on the moon.This Luminary was delivered to the [[Prophet of Regret]], one of the three ruling [[Hierarchs]] of the Covenant. By late 2552, two [[Steward]]s assigned to decrypt the Luminary finally revealed its content to the Prophet of Regret: the locations of the Halo rings, including Installation 05. Hastily assembling a [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|fleet]] of fifteen warships, the Prophet made his way toward the [[Earth|planet]] that housed the [[Portal at Voi|gateway portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]], unaware that the planet was in fact [[human]]ity's heavily defended homeworld.<ref>'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal]] "Beholden"''</ref> After a failed [[Battle of Earth|invasion]] of Earth, [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] fled to Installation 05 aboard his [[flagship]] ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', pursued by the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref>


==The Battle==
==The Battle==
===Background===
===UNSC Incursion===
Not much is known of how the battle of the Quarantine Zone began, as it is rooted in ancient history. The battle began after an unknown event, approximately 3,000 years after the activation of the [[Halo Array]], when the Flood under containment on [[Installation 05]] were released. Under normal circumstances [[Sentinel]] guards would have been able to keep the parasite under control. Unfortunately, the Flood had access to [[Flood combat form|hosts]], and were able to hold off the constructs.
{{Quote|Proceed to the [[Index|objective]], we'll hold out as long as we can!|Gunnery Sergeant [[Marcus Stacker]], as the released flood overwhelm UNSC forces inside the Sentinel Wall.}}
 
After building enough biomass, a local [[proto-Gravemind]] reached critical mass, allowing the formation of a sentient, highly aware form of flood stage known as the [[Gravemind]]. Now coordinated, the Flood posed a serious threat. The battle soon spiraled out of control, and [[Sentinel constructor factory|Sentinel manufacturing facilities]] constructed more powerful constructs, such as [[Sentinel Major]]s and [[Enforcer]]s. An enormous [[Sentinel Wall|wall]] had been built around the Installation's [[Library]], which was housing the Gravemind.<ref name="GM">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> The area within the boundaries of the wall were starved of heat and light in order to inhibit Flood growth, thus establishing the [[Quarantine Zone]].


Over the centuries, the Gravemind's reach spread throughout the installation.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Regret (level)|Regret]]''</ref> The Monitor of the installation, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]] was captured by the Gravemind, giving him access to the [[teleportation grid]],<ref name="GM"/> and causing the structures on the Installation to fall into disrepair.
[[File:H2A-In Amber Clad Quarantine Zone.png|thumb|left|300px|The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} holds position near Delta Halo's library.]]


===The human mission===
Shortly after arriving in the [[Coelest system]] in pursuit of the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] of the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} demanded the AI [[Cortana]] provide her with all information from the [[Installation 04|installation]] her father had discovered a month prior.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> Keyes was able to locate [[Installation 05]]'s Library, and set out to reach it and secure it's [[Activation Index]] before the Covenant could do so. Marine forces lead by [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] were ordered to extract from their positions on the ring's surface and rendezvous with the ''In Amber Clad'' at the Library while [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] proceeded on his mission to [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|assassinate]] the Prophet of Regret.{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}}
Inadvertently arriving at Installation 05 after following a Covenant ship, one of Commander Miranda Keyes' primary goals was the capture of the Forerunner activation key: the Index. To know exactly what she was up against, she accessed all information (classified or not) to do with the rings from [[Cortana|AI Cortana]].


While [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]] was busy on a special mission to assassinate the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]], some of the ''In Amber Clad'''s Marine and ODST contingent; along with their Pelicans, were called back to take part in the mission.
Upon arriving at the [[Sentinel Wall]] surrounding the Library and the [[Containment Shield]] it projected, the In Amber Clad searched for a way around the obstacle.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]''</ref> After failing to gain access to the Library, the frigate deployed a platoon-sized force of Marines to an entrance in the wall, led by Gunnery Sergeant [[Marcus Stacker]] and Staff Sergeant [[Banks]]. The Marines moved through the outer wall with ease, unmolested by local Sentinel defenses - possibly due to being recognized by the automated guardians as [[Reclaimers]]. As the Marines moved through the inner wall, the outer wall became besieged by [[Jiralhanae]]-led Covenant forces deployed from the recently arrived [[High Charity]]. Eventually, the Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadamee]] was able to deactivate the Containment Shield, and the inner wall quickly became overrun with [[Flood]] from the nearby [[quarantine zone]]. Spread throughout the wall in small [[fireteam]]s and completely unaware of the nature of enemy they were facing, most of the platoon was quickly assimilated by the parasite, proceeding to take up arms against their former comrades. Additionally, the local Sentinel forces became hostile to the surviving Marines, likely due to the immediate presence of the Flood. With his forces decimated, but the Containment Shield now disabled, Stacker radioed ''In Amber Clad'' suggesting Keyes proceed straight to the Library while his troops attempted to hold their position. A short time later, Stacker made contact with Keyes once again, confirming their engagement with non-Covenant hostile lifeforms, while Banks could be heard organizing other Marine survivors as they staged a desperate defense.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}


Breaching the outer wall with ease, the 100+ Marines led by Keyes and Sergeant Major Johnson then entered the second wall. The shield down temporarily, the UNSC In Amber Clad was brought into the Quarantine Zone to provide support. The UNSC was ill-prepared against the Flood, the Marines' numbers began to shrink, many of whom were not even briefed on their existence.
The ''In Amber Clad'' swiftly took advantage of the lowered Containment Shield, entering the Quarantine Zone as battle raged between hostile Sentinel forces and the Flood. The Frigate took position above the east-most of three large structures in the center of the zone, each containing a gondola leading to the Library. Multiple [[M808 Scorpion]]s and [[M12 Warthog]]s were deployed via [[D77-TC Pelican|dropship]], and the UNSC forces secured the east and central gondolas, and established several defensive positions throughout the central Quarantine Zone. UNSC superiority would be short-lived, as the Flood's acquisition of vehicles brought by the In Amber Clad and arriving Covenant forces swung the battle in their favor. With the subsequent destruction of a [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] reinforcing the Quarantine Zone, the Flood presence quickly became overwhelming. A sizable UNSC force made a final stand outside the western gondola structure, utilizing multiple stationary [[M247 machine gun]] turrets. Despite receiving reinforcements during the battle from a stray UNSC Pelican carrying a Scorpion, the position was overrun, the Pelican shot down and the Scorpion left abandoned. Meanwhile at the eastern structure, Commander Keyes lead Sergeant Johnson and a squad of Marines aboard the eastern Gondola. Moments later, [[Covenant Special Operations]] forces launched the western gondola, in close pursuit.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}


Escaping the wall defences, the remaining Marines were welcomed by the arrival of reinforcements of the vehicular kind. Although armed with the ''Clad'''s remaining supply of tanks and warthogs, UNSC superiority was short-lived. Reaching a large-sized [[anti-gravity gondola]] designed to take them to the Library interior, there were only a few Marines accompanying Keyes and Johnson.
As Johnson and Keyes arrived at the Library, four Marines were killed by a horde of Flood combat forms. After securing the facility, Johnson left Corporal [[Perez (Marine)|Perez]] and [[McKenzie (Marine)|McKenzie]] to guard the exit while he escorted Keyes to retrieve the Index, however the Marines would be killed by a swarm of [[Pod infector]]s. Johnson and Keyes thus had no warning as a cloaked Thel 'Vadamee ambushed them, and arriving Jiralhanae forces led by the Chieftain [[Tartarus]] subsequently captured the index, taking the unconscious Johnson and Keyes as prisoners.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}


By the time they began their journey, the Flood had not only captured Pelicans, but they had already begun their assault on the ''Clad''. While the ground troops fought in the structure, the ship was lost to the parasite. Now with an FTL-capable vessel in their hands, the Flood's hundred-thousand year battle was over.
With the majority of the ship's Marine complement killed in action, the ''In Amber Clad'' was eventually overrun by the surging Flood presence, and it's entire crew presumably killed. A number of Marine survivors from the battle were captured by Covenant forces,{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}} including Sergeants Banks and Stacker.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Great Journey (level)|The Great Journey]]''</ref>


===Covenant intervention===
===Covenant intervention===
Thel 'Vadamee, the Arbiter of the Covenant, was personally ordered by the Prophets to journey to the surface of the ring to retrieve the Index (or the Sacred Icon as the Covenant call it),  some time after the UNSC began their operation. Dropped directly into the outer wall by a [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantom]] transport, the Arbiter fought mostly alone, only aided by a small number of the original landing party (several Unggoy and Kig-yar), through numerous Forerunner constructs to reach the control center for the containment shields. By lowering these shields, the Covenant soldiers learned that human Marines had made it through the wall first, only to be swiftly infected by [[the Flood]]. By lowering the Containment shields, the Covenant allowed more free movement for the Flood. More Covenant warriors soon entered the Quarantine Zone along with their own vehicular support, unfortunately exacerbating the Flood outbreak.
{{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!| Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee after learning of the Arbiter's mission}}
[[File:H2A - Rtas rallying troops.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rtas rallying his troops]]
After numerous waves of [[Jiralhanae]]-led forces failed to breach the outer wall, Thel 'Vadamee, the Arbiter of the Covenant, was personally ordered by the Prophets to journey to the surface of the ring to retrieve the [[Sacred Icon]]. Dropped directly to the wall by a [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] transport, the Arbiter encountered a small number of surviving [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] from the earlier assault. After battling through numerous Forerunner constructs to reach the control center for the Containment Shield, the Arbiter deactivated the shield, proceeding to the inner wall. After his evac Phantom was driven off by a Sentinel Enforcer, 'Vadamee was forced to travel through the now-Flood infested inner-wall. He picked up multiple transmissions from the dwindling human forces that had made it through the wall first, observing two small fireteams of Marines being overwhelmed by Flood forms.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}


This breach of containment led to the rapid growth in the Flood's numbers as they assimilated both humans from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} and Covenant warriors. With these new hosts, the Flood gained access to more sophisticated equipment, [[weapons]] and combat vehicles, magnifying the danger the outbreak presented immeasurably. The Flood showed a bit of a tactical genius by destroying one of the Forerunner [[Sentinel manufacturing facility|Sentinel manufacturing plants]], bringing it crashing down on the surface and stopping the production of Sentinels and Enforcers. This meant that while the Flood might not have to fight as many Forerunner machines, human and Covenant forces would possibly be able to get to the Index easier.
As the Arbiter moved through the Sentinel Wall, Covenant Special Operations forces were deployed to the Quarantine Zone, along with vehicular support, unfortunately exacerbating the Flood outbreak. The Flood's numbers swelled as they assimilated both humans from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} and Covenant warriors. With these new hosts, the Flood gained access to more sophisticated equipment, [[weapons]] and combat vehicles, magnifying the danger the outbreak presented immeasurably. The Flood used numerous [[Wraith]] tanks to destroy one of the Forerunner [[Sentinel manufacturing facility|Sentinel manufacturing plants]], bringing it crashing down on the surface and slowing the production of Sentinels and Enforcers, swinging the tide further in their favor.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}


Despite this new and surprising defense, Covenant and human forces were able to battle their way through the legions of Flood and Sentinel constructs. Elements of both parties eventually reached the gondola entrance points to the Library of Delta Halo. [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]], [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sgt. Johnson]] and a number of Marines entered the Library first. They were quickly followed by the Arbiter and a squad of [[Sangheili]] SpecOps troops. [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee stayed behind to defend the Gondola station.
The Arbiter exited the Sentinel Wall as [[Covenant drop pod|drop pods]] containing [[Special Operations Sangheili]] arrived in the quarantine zone. 'Vadamee moved to assist his brothers in repelling the local Flood forces in the valley. One of the Sangheili told 'Vadamee that they needed to rendezvous with their [[Special Operations Commander|commander]], [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee who had landed deeper into the zone. The group made their way through the valley, fighting off numerous Flood forms before locating 'Vadumee who, along with other Elites, was defending a small Covenant camp, repelling the Flood until more vehicles could be delivered. With the assistance of Thel 'Vadamee, the group was able to secure the camp and use it as a staging area for their push towards the installation's [[Library]]. The group traversed the war-torn wastes of the quarantine zone, facing massive numbers of Flood forms controlling both UNSC and Covenant vehicles as well as surviving Forerunner constructs before reaching the gondola entrance points to the Library of Delta Halo. After noticing human forces had already departed, 'Vadumee boarded a gondola alongside a squad of Special Operations troops while Rtas 'Vadumee stayed behind to defend the Gondola station.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}


===The Library===
Human forces had gained access to the Library first, but only by a matter of minutes. The Arbiter exited the Gondala while his fellow Sangheili warriors stayed aboard to guard it, as it was the only entrance/exit. Upon exploring the interior of the Library, it was clear that the humans had faced stiff opposition, all but two of their forces had died combating the Flood and Sentinels already within its walls. Thel 'Vadamee found Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] within the Index Chamber, having retrieved the Index seconds before his arrival. Sergeant Johnson was ready, armed with a [[BR55 Battle Rifle|Battle Rifle]], along with Miranda Keyes who was reaching for the Index holding on to a large wire from a downed enforcer. Miranda secured the Index and drew two [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMGs]]. Johnson called for his Marines, but received no answer and armed his weapon. An active-camouflaged Arbiter ambushed the pair, incapacitating both in a matter of moments. The arrival of [[Tartarus]] and his hostile Jiralhanae forces within the Chamber, after making their way through the Sangheili forces guarding the Gondala, signified the beginning of the [[Great Schism]]. Tartarus briefly told the Arbiter how the Sangheili had been expelled from the Covenant  under the orders of the High Prophet of Truth, and proceeded to attack the Arbiter, sending him plummeting to his doom deep within the Library, towards the [[Gravemind]].{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}
Human forces had gained access to the Library first, but only by a matter of minutes. Upon arrival within the Library it was clear that the humans had faced stiff opposition, all but two of their forces had died combating the Flood and Sentinels already within its walls.
 
The Arbiter found [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] within the Index Chamber, having retrieved the Index seconds before his arrival. Sergeant Johnson was ready, armed with a [[BR55 Battle Rifle|Battle Rifle]], along with Miranda Keyes who was reaching for the Index holding on to one of the [[Gravemind]]'s tentacles. Miranda secured the Index and drew two [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMGs]]. Johnson called for his marines, but received no answer and armed his weapon. The Arbiter proved his worth as a warrior once again, incapacitating both Johnson and Keyes in a matter of moments. The arrival of [[Tartarus]] within the Chamber signified the beginning of the [[Great Schism]] as he attacked the Arbiter, sending him plummeting to his doom deep within the Library, towards the [[Gravemind]].


===Conclusion===
===Conclusion===
The battle itself was from a strategic stand point, a Covenant victory. They succeeded in not only obtaining the Index but captured all of the Marines that were not infected (the Covenant were well aware that to activate the rings a human hand was required). The Flood on the other hand, won a tactical victory, succeeding in not only escaping Installation 05 but gained the means to spread to other worlds through infesting all the nearby ships (i.e. ''In Amber Clad''). The UNSC forces, on the other hand, failed to recover the Index and were almost completely killed or captured by the Covenant or infected by the Flood and the Forerunner constructs, without the leadership of 2401 Penitent Tangent could not stop the Flood from escaping the ring.
The battle itself was a decisive Covenant victory. They succeeded in obtaining the Index, captured the UNSC leadership as well as all surviving Marines, providing them with the [[Reclaimers]] required to activate the Installation. The Flood also won a tactical victory, securing an immense number of hosts, weapons and vehicles, escaping the Quarantine Zone, and capturing a slipspace-capable starship in the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, which they would later use to begin their [[Fall of High Charity|infestation]] of [[High Charity]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref> UNSC forces failed to recover the Index, lost the ''In Amber Clad'' and it's crew to Flood, and suffered total casualties, aside from the small number of survivors captured by the Covenant from the Library and Sentinel Wall.
 
== Possible human-Sentinel alliance ==
{{Conjecturalization}}
There is supporting evidence to entail and suggest that the Marines were never attacked by Sentinels but were in fact ''assisted'' by them. This is not out of the question because, like on Installation 04, the Sentinels might have identified the Marines as Reclaimers, rather than how [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]] branded the humans as an "aboriginal subspecies" on [[Onyx]].


For starters, the Arbiter encounters an enormous and massive number of human combat forms inside the Sentinel Wall immediately after he deactivates the shield. This suggests that the humans had been deployed much earlier which should have been impossible. First of all, the marines should not have been able to deploy immediately after the barrier went down because ''In Amber Clad'' would've first had to slip past the Covenant forces that were moving in to secure the inner wall. However, if the Sentinels had chosen to assist the marines, they would've deactivated a small portion of the barrier to let them in. Also, in the area where the UNSC [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] flies over head, there are a number of Sentinels and even an [[Enforcer]] present. None of which seem to show any hostility towards the Pelican. Another factor is simply that considering how much trouble Covenant Elites had getting inside the Library, it doesn't seem likely that the marines would've been able to get past the Flood and the Sentinels. However, if the Sentinels had been helping them, then it is much more likely that they would have succeeded.
==Gallery==
{{Conjecturalization End}}{{Clear}}
<gallery>
File:H2A - Enforcer.jpg|An Enforcer Sentinel behind Thel 'Vadamee on the outer surface of the Sentinel wall.
File:HTMCC-H2A CoviesVsSentinel.png|Surviving Covenant troops fighting Aggressor Sentinels inside the outer wall.
File:HTMCC-H2A EnforcerOnGuard.png|An Enforcer Sentinel guarding the plug locks keeping the containment shield activated.
File:HTMCC-H2A CoviesVsHumanFlood.png|Covenant troops under attack by Flood attacker forms.
File:HTMCC-H2A MarinesVsFlood.png|Flood forms overwhelming UNSC Marines inside the Sentinel wall.
File:HTMCC-H2A PatrollingFlood.png|Flood attacker forms deep within the Sentinel wall.
File:HTMCC-H2A Sentinel Factory Explosion.jpg|A Sentinel manufacturing facility exploding above the quarantine zone.
File:HTMCC-H2A SpecOpsVsFlood.png|Special Operations Sangheili defending the camp from the Flood.
File:H2A ScorpionTB-SB-1InBattle.png|Flood-infested vehicles in combat with Sentinel forces.
File:HTMCC-H2A WraithsShootingFacility.png|Flood-controlled Wraiths bombarding the destroyed Sentinel manufacturing facility.
File:HTMCC-H2A SpecOpsEliteFiringCarbine.png|Special Operations Sangheili inside the destroyed Sentinel factory.
File:HTMCC-H2A EliminatorSentinelsBurningFlood.png|Eliminator Sentinels targeting Flood forms.  
File:HTMCC-H2A RtasDeploying.png|Rtas 'Vadumee redeploying into the quarantine zone.
File:HTMCC-H2A FloodGondolaStation.png|Flood forces defending the gondola station.
File:H2A-Miranda.jpg|Miranda Keyes reaching for the activation index.
File:H2A - Inevitable betrayal.jpg|Tartarus and his Jiralhanae betray Thel 'Vadamee.
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
Line 114: Line 134:


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Engagements in the Battle of Installation 05}}
[[Category:Covenant Victories|Quarantine Zone]]
[[Category:Covenant victories|Quarantine Zone]]

Latest revision as of 05:19, September 15, 2023

Previous:

Assassination of the Prophet of Regret

Next:

Fall of High Charity, Battle for the Control Room

Battle of the Quarantine Zone
H2A - Library.jpg

Conflict:

Human-Covenant War

Date:

c.November 2552

Location:

Quarantine Zone, Installation 05

Outcome:

Strategic Covenant victory

  • The Covenant successfully obtain the Index for Installation 05
  • Many non-infected humans captured, including Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson
  • UNSC suffers total casualties, including the loss of the In Amber Clad

Tactical Flood Victory

  • Quarantine Zone fails
  • Flood infest large areas of Installation 05 and successfully escape the ring.
Details
Belligerents

Covenant

United Nations Space Command

Forerunner constructs

The Flood

Commanders
Strength
Casualties
  • Many Jiralhanae
  • Many Sangheili
  • Many Unggoy
  • Many Kig-yar
  • 40 ODSTs killed or infected[1]
  • 150(+) Marines killed or infected[1]
  • 250 Naval personnel killed or infected[1]
  • 8(+) Marines captured
  • Most ground assets captured
  • Many D77-TC Pelicans captured
  • UNSC In Amber Clad captured
  • Many combat forms
  • Large number of infection forms
  • Many carrier forms
 

"At the center of this zone, is a Sacred Icon critical to the Great Journey. I must find it."
— Thel 'Vadamee to Rtas 'Vadumee

The Battle of the Quarantine Zone was a battle which took place on Installation 05 in 2552, as the Covenant and UNSC fought through the Quarantine Zone in search of the Activation Index, known to the Covenant as the Sacred Icon. The battle encompassed an extended conflict between Flood and Forerunner Sentinels that stretched back nearly 100,000 years.

Background[edit]

The establishment of the Quarantine Zone is rooted in ancient history - approximately 3,000 years after the activation of the Halo Array, the Flood under containment on Installation 05 were released. Under normal circumstances Sentinel guards would have been able to keep the parasite under control. Unfortunately, the Flood had access to hosts, and were able to hold off the constructs.

At some point, Installation 05's Monitor 2401 Penitent Tangent was warned by a Forerunner ancilla of a pending outbreak in one the installation's Flood containment facilities. The monitor continued to ignore this warning, and those that followed, for millennia. Within 99,779 years, the containment facility had been overrun by the Flood, with lockdown protocols in effect within the Halo's teleportation grid to prevent further infestation.[2] Eventually, the full force of the installation's Sentinels and Enforcers was mobilized, and a Quarantine Zone was established, surrounded by an enormous wall projecting a powerful Containment Shield.[3][4]

The establishment of the Quarantine Zone was too late to prevent the formation of a Gravemind. Over the centuries, the Gravemind's reach spread throughout the installation,[5] eventually capturing the monitor of the installation, 2401 Penitent Tangent, giving him access to the teleportation grid and causing the structures on the Installation to fall into disrepair.[6]

In 2551, a small Covenant team found a Luminary on Meridian after a battle on the moon.This Luminary was delivered to the Prophet of Regret, one of the three ruling Hierarchs of the Covenant. By late 2552, two Stewards assigned to decrypt the Luminary finally revealed its content to the Prophet of Regret: the locations of the Halo rings, including Installation 05. Hastily assembling a fleet of fifteen warships, the Prophet made his way toward the planet that housed the gateway portal to the Ark, unaware that the planet was in fact humanity's heavily defended homeworld.[7] After a failed invasion of Earth, Regret fled to Installation 05 aboard his flagship Solemn Penance, pursued by the UNSC In Amber Clad.[8]

The Battle[edit]

UNSC Incursion[edit]

"Proceed to the objective, we'll hold out as long as we can!"
— Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Stacker, as the released flood overwhelm UNSC forces inside the Sentinel Wall.
The UNSC In Amber Clad holds position near Delta Halo's library.

Shortly after arriving in the Coelest system in pursuit of the Solemn Penance, Commander Miranda Keyes of the UNSC In Amber Clad demanded the AI Cortana provide her with all information from the installation her father had discovered a month prior.[9] Keyes was able to locate Installation 05's Library, and set out to reach it and secure it's Activation Index before the Covenant could do so. Marine forces lead by Sergeant Major Avery Johnson were ordered to extract from their positions on the ring's surface and rendezvous with the In Amber Clad at the Library while Spartan John-117 proceeded on his mission to assassinate the Prophet of Regret.[5]

Upon arriving at the Sentinel Wall surrounding the Library and the Containment Shield it projected, the In Amber Clad searched for a way around the obstacle.[10] After failing to gain access to the Library, the frigate deployed a platoon-sized force of Marines to an entrance in the wall, led by Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Stacker and Staff Sergeant Banks. The Marines moved through the outer wall with ease, unmolested by local Sentinel defenses - possibly due to being recognized by the automated guardians as Reclaimers. As the Marines moved through the inner wall, the outer wall became besieged by Jiralhanae-led Covenant forces deployed from the recently arrived High Charity. Eventually, the Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee was able to deactivate the Containment Shield, and the inner wall quickly became overrun with Flood from the nearby quarantine zone. Spread throughout the wall in small fireteams and completely unaware of the nature of enemy they were facing, most of the platoon was quickly assimilated by the parasite, proceeding to take up arms against their former comrades. Additionally, the local Sentinel forces became hostile to the surviving Marines, likely due to the immediate presence of the Flood. With his forces decimated, but the Containment Shield now disabled, Stacker radioed In Amber Clad suggesting Keyes proceed straight to the Library while his troops attempted to hold their position. A short time later, Stacker made contact with Keyes once again, confirming their engagement with non-Covenant hostile lifeforms, while Banks could be heard organizing other Marine survivors as they staged a desperate defense.[3]

The In Amber Clad swiftly took advantage of the lowered Containment Shield, entering the Quarantine Zone as battle raged between hostile Sentinel forces and the Flood. The Frigate took position above the east-most of three large structures in the center of the zone, each containing a gondola leading to the Library. Multiple M808 Scorpions and M12 Warthogs were deployed via dropship, and the UNSC forces secured the east and central gondolas, and established several defensive positions throughout the central Quarantine Zone. UNSC superiority would be short-lived, as the Flood's acquisition of vehicles brought by the In Amber Clad and arriving Covenant forces swung the battle in their favor. With the subsequent destruction of a Sentinel manufacturing facility reinforcing the Quarantine Zone, the Flood presence quickly became overwhelming. A sizable UNSC force made a final stand outside the western gondola structure, utilizing multiple stationary M247 machine gun turrets. Despite receiving reinforcements during the battle from a stray UNSC Pelican carrying a Scorpion, the position was overrun, the Pelican shot down and the Scorpion left abandoned. Meanwhile at the eastern structure, Commander Keyes lead Sergeant Johnson and a squad of Marines aboard the eastern Gondola. Moments later, Covenant Special Operations forces launched the western gondola, in close pursuit.[4]

As Johnson and Keyes arrived at the Library, four Marines were killed by a horde of Flood combat forms. After securing the facility, Johnson left Corporal Perez and McKenzie to guard the exit while he escorted Keyes to retrieve the Index, however the Marines would be killed by a swarm of Pod infectors. Johnson and Keyes thus had no warning as a cloaked Thel 'Vadamee ambushed them, and arriving Jiralhanae forces led by the Chieftain Tartarus subsequently captured the index, taking the unconscious Johnson and Keyes as prisoners.[4]

With the majority of the ship's Marine complement killed in action, the In Amber Clad was eventually overrun by the surging Flood presence, and it's entire crew presumably killed. A number of Marine survivors from the battle were captured by Covenant forces,[6] including Sergeants Banks and Stacker.[11]

Covenant intervention[edit]

"We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!"
— Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee after learning of the Arbiter's mission
Rtas rallying his troops

After numerous waves of Jiralhanae-led forces failed to breach the outer wall, Thel 'Vadamee, the Arbiter of the Covenant, was personally ordered by the Prophets to journey to the surface of the ring to retrieve the Sacred Icon. Dropped directly to the wall by a Phantom transport, the Arbiter encountered a small number of surviving Unggoy and Kig-Yar from the earlier assault. After battling through numerous Forerunner constructs to reach the control center for the Containment Shield, the Arbiter deactivated the shield, proceeding to the inner wall. After his evac Phantom was driven off by a Sentinel Enforcer, 'Vadamee was forced to travel through the now-Flood infested inner-wall. He picked up multiple transmissions from the dwindling human forces that had made it through the wall first, observing two small fireteams of Marines being overwhelmed by Flood forms.[3]

As the Arbiter moved through the Sentinel Wall, Covenant Special Operations forces were deployed to the Quarantine Zone, along with vehicular support, unfortunately exacerbating the Flood outbreak. The Flood's numbers swelled as they assimilated both humans from the UNSC In Amber Clad and Covenant warriors. With these new hosts, the Flood gained access to more sophisticated equipment, weapons and combat vehicles, magnifying the danger the outbreak presented immeasurably. The Flood used numerous Wraith tanks to destroy one of the Forerunner Sentinel manufacturing plants, bringing it crashing down on the surface and slowing the production of Sentinels and Enforcers, swinging the tide further in their favor.[3]

The Arbiter exited the Sentinel Wall as drop pods containing Special Operations Sangheili arrived in the quarantine zone. 'Vadamee moved to assist his brothers in repelling the local Flood forces in the valley. One of the Sangheili told 'Vadamee that they needed to rendezvous with their commander, Rtas 'Vadumee who had landed deeper into the zone. The group made their way through the valley, fighting off numerous Flood forms before locating 'Vadumee who, along with other Elites, was defending a small Covenant camp, repelling the Flood until more vehicles could be delivered. With the assistance of Thel 'Vadamee, the group was able to secure the camp and use it as a staging area for their push towards the installation's Library. The group traversed the war-torn wastes of the quarantine zone, facing massive numbers of Flood forms controlling both UNSC and Covenant vehicles as well as surviving Forerunner constructs before reaching the gondola entrance points to the Library of Delta Halo. After noticing human forces had already departed, 'Vadumee boarded a gondola alongside a squad of Special Operations troops while Rtas 'Vadumee stayed behind to defend the Gondola station.[4]

Human forces had gained access to the Library first, but only by a matter of minutes. The Arbiter exited the Gondala while his fellow Sangheili warriors stayed aboard to guard it, as it was the only entrance/exit. Upon exploring the interior of the Library, it was clear that the humans had faced stiff opposition, all but two of their forces had died combating the Flood and Sentinels already within its walls. Thel 'Vadamee found Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson within the Index Chamber, having retrieved the Index seconds before his arrival. Sergeant Johnson was ready, armed with a Battle Rifle, along with Miranda Keyes who was reaching for the Index holding on to a large wire from a downed enforcer. Miranda secured the Index and drew two SMGs. Johnson called for his Marines, but received no answer and armed his weapon. An active-camouflaged Arbiter ambushed the pair, incapacitating both in a matter of moments. The arrival of Tartarus and his hostile Jiralhanae forces within the Chamber, after making their way through the Sangheili forces guarding the Gondala, signified the beginning of the Great Schism. Tartarus briefly told the Arbiter how the Sangheili had been expelled from the Covenant under the orders of the High Prophet of Truth, and proceeded to attack the Arbiter, sending him plummeting to his doom deep within the Library, towards the Gravemind.[4]

Conclusion[edit]

The battle itself was a decisive Covenant victory. They succeeded in obtaining the Index, captured the UNSC leadership as well as all surviving Marines, providing them with the Reclaimers required to activate the Installation. The Flood also won a tactical victory, securing an immense number of hosts, weapons and vehicles, escaping the Quarantine Zone, and capturing a slipspace-capable starship in the UNSC In Amber Clad, which they would later use to begin their infestation of High Charity.[12] UNSC forces failed to recover the Index, lost the In Amber Clad and it's crew to Flood, and suffered total casualties, aside from the small number of survivors captured by the Covenant from the Library and Sentinel Wall.

Gallery[edit]

  • An Enforcer Sentinel behind Thel 'Vadamee on the outer surface of the Sentinel wall.

    An Enforcer Sentinel behind Thel 'Vadamee on the outer surface of the Sentinel wall.

  • Surviving Covenant troops fighting Aggressor Sentinels inside the outer wall.

    Surviving Covenant troops fighting Aggressor Sentinels inside the outer wall.

  • An Enforcer Sentinel guarding the plug locks keeping the containment shield activated.

    An Enforcer Sentinel guarding the plug locks keeping the containment shield activated.

  • Covenant troops under attack by Flood attacker forms.

    Covenant troops under attack by Flood attacker forms.

  • Flood forms overwhelming UNSC Marines inside the Sentinel wall.

    Flood forms overwhelming UNSC Marines inside the Sentinel wall.

  • Flood attacker forms deep within the Sentinel wall.

    Flood attacker forms deep within the Sentinel wall.

  • A Sentinel manufacturing facility exploding above the quarantine zone.

    A Sentinel manufacturing facility exploding above the quarantine zone.

  • Special Operations Sangheili defending the camp from the Flood.

    Special Operations Sangheili defending the camp from the Flood.

  • Flood-infested vehicles in combat with Sentinel forces.

    Flood-infested vehicles in combat with Sentinel forces.

  • Flood-controlled Wraiths bombarding the destroyed Sentinel manufacturing facility.

    Flood-controlled Wraiths bombarding the destroyed Sentinel manufacturing facility.

  • Special Operations Sangheili inside the destroyed Sentinel factory.

    Special Operations Sangheili inside the destroyed Sentinel factory.

  • Eliminator Sentinels targeting Flood forms.

    Eliminator Sentinels targeting Flood forms.

  • Rtas 'Vadumee redeploying into the quarantine zone.

    Rtas 'Vadumee redeploying into the quarantine zone.

  • Flood forces defending the gondola station.

    Flood forces defending the gondola station.

  • Miranda Keyes reaching for the activation index.

    Miranda Keyes reaching for the activation index.

  • Tartarus and his Jiralhanae betray Thel 'Vadamee.

    Tartarus and his Jiralhanae betray Thel 'Vadamee.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37
  2. ^ Halo 3, multiplayer map Cold Storage transmissions
  3. ^ a b c d Halo 2, campaign level, Sacred Icon
  4. ^ a b c d e Halo 2, campaign level, Quarantine Zone
  5. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Regret
  6. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level, Gravemind
  7. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary - Terminal "Beholden"
  8. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Metropolis
  9. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Delta Halo
  10. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Regret
  11. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, The Great Journey
  12. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, High Charity

v • d • e
 
⇦ Engagements in the Battle of Installation 05 ⇨
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