2554

• Jul 'Mdama and his followers find the shield world Requiem. They attempt to gain entrance to the shield world but are unsuccessful until 2557.

• Tedra Grant visits Earth for the first time.

• The Battle of Draetheus V takes place as Covenant forces under Merg Vol attack Draetheus V. The battle sees significant losses on both sides and Draetheus V itself is nearly destroyed when Merg Vol's activates X50. The main hostilities conclude with Spartan Sarah Palmer killing Vol and sabotaging X50's main weapon, bringing the Covenant's quest to a halt.

• Some time after the battle, the Covenant return when a looping Forerunner code begins emanating from X50. After arriving at the source of the signal, Spartan Palmer discovers that the source is the remains of Spartan Edward Davis.

• Insurrectionist forces of the United Rebel Front unsuccessfully attempt to invade and occupy Draco III's rebuilt capital of New Albany, resulting in a prolonged standoff between themselves and the UEG. Standoff results in the death of all insurgents but at least one UNSC soldier who was being held hostage was killed.

• The Alerian mining union Mols'Desias is dissolved. Silas Lota dies shortly after.

• Jordan Gaines is transferred to ONI Section One.

• April 22: The Shadow of Intent is rendered combat ineffective after a battle with Jul 'Mdama's forces.

• November 21: Indrid Lota dies on Aleria.

• December 15: Dr. Catherine Halsey, working on Ivanoff Station, files an audio log regarding the discovery of the Composer on the nearby Installation 03 and is fascinated by the similarities between the Forerunner device and the UNSC's AI matrix compiler.