Orion complex: Difference between revisions

The '''Orion complex''' is a large nebular complex in the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]. The nebula was once the nexus of [[Forerunner]] activity as the core of their [[ecumene]]. It was home to the Forerunner homeworld [[Ghibalb]],<ref name="c222">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 222''</ref> located at the outer edges of the nebula, the triple star system housing [[Bornstellar's homeworld|the homeworld]] of [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] and his family,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 220''</ref> and the [[Capital]], the seat of the [[Ecumene Council]]. The cloud itself is situated between 1,500 and 1,600 light-years away from the [[Sol system]] and is hundreds of light-years across. The complex contains several smaller nebulae, and many protoplanetary discs and young stars.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Orion Molecular Cloud Complex|'''Orion Molecular Cloud Complex''' on Wikipedia]]</ref>

Early on in Forerunner history, their nascent civilization settled twelve systems within the complex. Due to a series of novas triggered by early Forerunner experiments with [[Astroengineering|stellar engineering]] near their homeworld, the entire Orion complex was brightened for the next fifty thousand years.<ref name="c222"/> The Forerunners relied on a defensive boundary known as the [[Maginot Line]] to keep the systems of the Orion complex safe from enemy assault.<ref name="sil104">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 104-105''</ref> During the [[human-Forerunner wars]], [[prehistoric human civilization|human forces]] never came closer than 15,000 lightyears of the Orion complex.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 311''</ref>