Site Novem: Difference between revisions

[[File:HINF Site Novem.png|300px|thumb|Site Novem from a distance]]

'''Site Novem''' was a [[Banished]]-controlled dig site established on the fragmented section of [[Zeta Halo]] during the [[Installation 07 conflict]].{{Ref/Game|Id=Secrets Below|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Outpost Intel 4|Banished Audio log|Detail=Outpost Intel #06 - Secrets Below}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-of-protocols-and-prisons|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Of Protocols and Prisons|D=7|M=3|Y=2022}} The site's main purpose was to pierce the Ring's superstructure and give the Banished access to the [[Conservatory (location)|Conservatory]]. The [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Bassus]] oversaw security of the operation until his death at the hands of [[Master Chief Petty Officer|Master Chief]] [[John-117]] on [[2560#May|May 28]], [[2560]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Excavation Site|HI|[[Excavation Site]]}}

The site's main feature was a giant mining laser, called a [[Flame-bore|flame-bore]] by the Banished,{{Ref/Reuse|Secrets Below}} which had been modified by the Harbinger. The laser was mounted atop a large central structure, surrounded by armories, troop barracks, guard towers and other smaller support buildings. Inside the central structure, Banished personnel operated and monitored the laser from behind an [[energy barrier]]. The structure was accessible via a pair of [[gravity lift]]s, one on either side. The back of the structure could also lower itself to form a ramp.{{Ref/Reuse|Excavation Site}}  

The laser required two external power regulators to prevent overheating. Each power regulator was itself regulated by a pair of cooling pylons. These pylons were normally concealed underground to protect them from attack, but could be raised using nearby manual controls.{{Ref/Reuse|Excavation Site}}

Although the Banished primarily used the flame-bore to pierce the Halo's surface at Site Novem, they utilized other excavation machines as well. The Banished also harvested natural resources from the area around Site Novem to fuel the site's operations. By the time the Master Chief arrived at Site Novem, the Banished had turned the surrounding area into a desolate wasteland, much to the distress of [[The Weapon|the Weapon]].{{Ref/Reuse|Excavation Site}}

{{Main|Installation 07 conflict}}

Following the apparent demise of [[Atriox]] when [[Cortana]] sacrificed herself to destroy the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] and disable [[Installation 07|the Ring]], his second-in-command and old mentor, [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]], assumed his place as leader of the [[Banished]] and set out to fulfill Atriox's goal of seizing control of the Ring. To this end, Escharum ordered his troops to set up multiple excavation sites around the Ring in order to uncover Zeta Halo's secrets.{{Ref/Game|Id=Whispers|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Outpost Intel 4|Banished Audio log|Detail=Outpost Intel #12 - Whispers from the Past}} The Banished established Site Novem prior to January 30, 2560{{Ref/Site|Id=Waypoint|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-of-protocols-and-prisons|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cannon Fodder: Of Protocols and Prisons|D=20|M=3|Y=2022}}{{Ref/Note|According to Halo Waypoint's Cannon Fodder for March 2022, Spartan Griffin was tortured for four months at the Tower, meaning he was captured shortly after sending his last transmission to the ''Reverie'' on January 30, 2560. Since he learned about Site Novem and the Conservatory shortly before being captured,{{Ref/Level|Id=The Tower|HI|[[The Tower]]}} Site Novem must have been established prior to that point.}} for the purpose of circumventing the [[Conservatory (location)|Conservatory]]'s main entrance and breaching the facility from underground.{{Ref/Note|Though not explicitly stated, it can be presumed that the Banished were unable to enter the Conservatory through the main entrance, thus necessitating the establishment of Site Novem.}}

After the Banished drove the UNSC survivors from the crash site of the ''[[UNSC Mortal Reverie|Reverie]]'' and established [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|their own base]] at the site, Chieftain [[Tremonius]]'s forces excavated the area underneath the outpost and recovered the [[Harbinger]]'s [[Cylix]]. Inspired by what he and Atriox had learned on [[Installation 00|the Ark]], Escharum forced a human [[Prisoner of war|POW]], [[Lucas Browning]], to free the Harbinger from her Cylix.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Escharum's Testimony 2|Banished Audio log|Detail=Escharum's Testimony #02 - Cylix}}{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Escharum's Testimony 2|Banished Audio log|Detail=Escharum's Testimony #03 - Harbinger}} Once freed, the Harbinger agreed to help the Banished take control of the Ring in exchange for their help in locating and freeing the rest of her species, the [[Xalanyn]], who had been imprisoned by the remaining [[Forerunners]] after the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] due to the Xalanyn having inexplicably survived [[Firing of the Halos|the Halo array's firing]].{{Ref/Quest|HINF|Graveyard|Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Quote=When the Endless are found. And when you have your Ring. Then you will never question my worth and I will never question your judgment.|Quotee=The Harbinger}}{{Ref/Quest|HINF|Endless|Silent Auditorium|Quote=If Halo cannot end them, it must imprison them.|Quotee=Grand Edict, Legendary ending post-credits}} In order to achieve both objectives, the Silent Auditorium had to be repaired first - a process known as the [[Reformation]]. The Forerunner routines needed to initiate the Reformation were stored in the [[encephalon]] of [[Despondent Pyre]], the [[Monitor]] of Zeta Halo, who resided in the Conservatory. Escharum soon began focusing his attention entirely on the operation at Site Novem.{{Ref/Game|Id=The Prize|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Scattered 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Scattered #04 - The Prize}}

[[File:HINF Banished Mining Laser.png|thumb|John-117 sees the mining laser about to fire.]]

Acting on the information provided by the late Spartan Griffin, John-117 traveled to Site Novem, intent on discovering what the Banished wanted with the Conservatory. Before he could enter the Conservatory, the Banished reactivated their mining laser and blocked the entrance tunnel. The Chief, however, destroyed the mining laser's power regulators and then entered the central structure that controlled the laser. Inside, he fought and defeated Bassus, after which his [[Smart AI]] companion, a copy of Cortana known as [[The Weapon]], hacked the controls and caused the laser to overload. With the laser destroyed, the Chief entered the Conservatory.{{Ref/Reuse|Excavation Site}} Despite the Chief's arrival, however, the Harbinger managed to capture Despondent Pyre. She subsequently extracted the Monitor's encephalon, which she would later use to start the Reformation.{{Ref/Level|Id=Conservatory|HI|Conservatory}}

File:HINF Site Novem Power Regulator.png|One of the mining laser's two power regulators, seen in the background.

File:HINF Site Novem Laser Controls.png|The control console for the mining laser.

File:HINF Site Novem Back Ramp.png|A ramp at the back of the central structure lowered.