Sacrifice: Difference between revisions

'''''Sacrifice''''' (Sometimes titled '''''Halo: Sacrifice'''''{{Ref/Reuse|CFZeta}}) is a short story that is included as additional content in the novel ''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' in limited-edition exclusive copies sold by Wal-Mart, in stores or online.{{Ref/Site|Id=CF108|D=01|M=6|Y=2021|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/despite-distance|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Despite Distance}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFPUmbra|D=01|M=6|Y=2021|https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/pen-umbra|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Pen Umbra}} The short story is fully self-contained, though connected to the ''Shadows of Reach'' novel in a "unique way".{{Ref/Reuse|CFPUmbra}} The story is uncredited to a specific author, only credited within ''Shadows of Reach'' to [[343 Industries]].

The introduction of the [[Covenant loyalists]] also ties directly into the later novel ''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' where the loyalists reappear and ally themselves with the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]].

''Sacrifice'' takes place on [[Installation 00]], a few months before the [[Operation: WOLFE|events]] of ''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' and at some time following the end of the ''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Awakening the Nightmare]]'' expansion for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''. It follows [[Chieftain]] [[Minas]] of the [[Banished]], who had been sent by [[Atriox]] to lead [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|an operation]] into [[Anodyne Spirit|the abandoned]] [[Forerunner]] [[Keyship]]. His mission is to recover shards of a [[slipspace]] [[Menachite Forerunner crystal|crystal]] aboard the vessel in order to open a [[Slipspace portal|portal]] to [[Reach]]. Upon entering the Dreadnought, the Banished strike teams are ambushed by [[Covenant loyalists|surviving members]] of the [[Covenant]], who had remained there since the [[Battle of Installation 00|battle]] that had ravaged the installation nearly seven years prior. Despite the unexpected resistance, Minas and the [[Jiralhanae Captain|captain]] of his guard, [[Choros]], led the strike teams deeper into the Keyship. Eventually, they reached the Adytum, which contained the desired shards. However, overwhelming Covenant forces nearly prevented their escape, with roughly two thirds of the Banished force—including Choros—killed in battle.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|HSoR|Detail= Adjunct - Sacrifice}}

Three [[Banished Phantom|Phantom]]s approach [[Mahsko]], the name given to a costal region on the Ark. Chieftain Minas rode in one dropship with Choros and his third of the strike force while [[Blademaster]] [[Okro 'Vagaduun]] and [[Jiralhanae Captain|Captain]] [[Zeretus]] rode in the other two with their own teams. Upon a massive basalt column, the Keyship sits dwarfing the ancient structures surrounding it. Nearly seven years earlier, the [[Prophet of Truth]] had left the vessel to activate the [[Halo Array]]. As Minas considers the majesty of the Keyship, the dropships approach the vessel from three different angles. In the case that its powerful point defense weapons remain active, this would keep the Phantoms from all being destroyed in a single blast. After Minas becomes confident that the Keyship showed no notice of them, he orders each dropship to land at the massive crux wrapping around its central assembly. The Chieftain watches their approach through the Phantom's open troop bay doors while his right hand man, [[Choros]], stays in the cockpit. The pilot of Minas's Phantom, [[Bomarus]], lands the craft at the designated access port on the crux, dispensing its complement of warriors. The other two dropships follow suit.{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

**[[Covenant loyalists]] {{1st}}

**[[Banished Phantom]]

The short story was not written by [[Troy Denning]], but by the people at [[343 Industries]]. It was written when Troy Denning was revising ''Halo: Shadows of Reach'' as 343 Industries saw a chance to expand on a detail in the book to tie-in and prepare for something else.{{Ref/Site