War of Beginnings: Difference between revisions

*San'Shyuum-Sangheli alliance declared{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

*Dozens of [[Boarding|ship-boring]] craft{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}}

The '''War of Beginnings''',<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sanghelios'']</ref> also known as the '''San'Shyuum-Sangheili War'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 1''</ref> and the '''First Age of Conflict''', was an interstellar war set between the [[Sangheili]] species and the [[Reformist]] [[San'Shyuum]], over religious and technological differences. At the conclusion of the war, the [[Writ of Union]] was penned and initiated, and the [[Covenant]] was kindled.<ref name="Harvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 147''</ref>

[[File:H2A Terminals - Ancient Arbiter 4.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The San'Shyuum land on Ulgethon.]]

On the ground, the Sangheili had an early advantage, with each warrior comparable in skill to several San'Shyuum in battle. However, the San'Shyuum's technological superiority, and possession of the Forerunner Dreadnought, meant that they had the advantage in space battles, using the Dreadnought to great effect in devastating hit-and-run strikes against the Sangheili war fleets.{{Ref/Reuse|Encyclopedia}} The San'Shyuum were successful in driving the Sangheili away from their [[Sangheili colonies|interstellar colonies]], while obliterating many Sangheili by appropriating Forerunner relics. The Sangheili were devastated by the lack of honor that the war brought; they were forced to continuously retreat as the San'Shyuum came closer and closer to [[Sanghelios]].<ref name="bc57">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 57-58''</ref> During the war, the Sangheili made use of the [[fire-wand launcher]],{{Ref/Reuse|bcpreview}} a type of handheld flak cannon that is part of the design lineage of the [[fuel rod cannon]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P298|Enc22|Page=298}} The {{Pattern|Hekar Taa|blockade runner}} also first saw combat during the conflict, boasting impressive speed and power.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P271|Enc22|Page=271}}

Eventually, the Sangheili came up with a plan to defeat the vessel. They would sacrifice their colony of [[Codisfold]], hiding dozens of [[Boarding|ship-boring]] machines in the rings around the planet, hoping that they could board the Dreadnought. When the San'Shyuum arrived to destroy Codisfold, the ship-boring machines launched, carrying several skilled Sangheili infiltration teams.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P258|Enc22|Page=258}} The teams secretly stole onto the Dreadnought, damaging several of the Dreadnought's key systems and slaughtering thousands of San'Shyuum. While they were taken by surprise, the San'Shyuum counterattacked and managed to kill all of the Sangheili intruders.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}} Following this raid, the San'Shyuum attacked Codisfold, killing millions of Sangheili residents.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}} This event proved that the San'Shyuum and their keyship were not invulnerable,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}} and began to sway the opinions of the surviving San'Shyuum. Their leader, [[Pervading Stone]], demanded that they continue their campaign against the Sangheili. Other key figures, such as [[Breaking Shadow]] and [[Ushering Dusk]], opposed this and instead proposed a truce.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}} Shortly following this event, Stone secretly ordered the assassination of Dusk, removing him as an obstacle.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}}

Meanwhile, the current [[First Kaidon]] of Sanghelios, [[Mhelaat 'Orlam]], suggested that the Sangheili respectfully make use of their own Forerunner artifacts—many of which were known to be powerful weapons—to stave off certain annihilation at the hands of the San'Shyuum. As they Sangheili believed the manipulation of their gods' technology to be heresy, this proposition was resisted for a time, and 'Orlam was assassinated as a result.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} However, an underground movement of Sangheili scientists began covertly studying their relics and incorporating elements into their warship, weapon, and armor designs.{{Ref/Reuse|Encyclopedia}} Soon, the group of underground scientists emerged and declared their sins,{{Ref/Reuse|bc57}} and in [[876 BCE]], 'Orlam's son, [[Pelahsar the Strident]], lead the Sangheili to amend their beliefs on the treatment of Forerunner technologies in order to survive.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The scientists were allowed to live and their discoveries were put to use in the creation of new weapons and fleets of ships. Chief of these new creations was the {{Pattern|R'sikosh|man o' war}} by the name of ''[[Reckless Pursuit]]'', armed with Forerunner weaponry.

With the signing of the Writ, the [[Sangheili treaty commission]] was formed.{{Ref/Novel|BC|Page=18}} As well, the [[Ministry of Relative Reconciliation]] was also created, with [[Qurlom]] at its head.{{Ref/Novel|BC|Page=18-23}}

The Dreadnought was decommissioned and made the center point and power source of ''[[High Charity]]'', a mobile planetoid that would serve as the capital of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Harvest}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

While most Sangheili willingly—or begrudgingly—joined the new Covenant, there were those who resented what they viewed as submission to the San'Shyuum. The Covenant sought to make an example of these dissenters, silencing those who rejected the new union with overwhelming force. An incarnation of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] formed at this time to bring the holdouts to the Writ of Union to heel.