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Halo: Contact Harvest: Difference between revisions

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(Most of the trivia repeated stuff from the synopsis and mentioned horribly outdated information and now-common knowledge. Fixed.)
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'''''Halo: Contact Harvest''''' is the title of a ''Halo'' book by [[Joseph Staten]].<ref>http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430</ref> Published by [[Tor]], it was released on October 30<sup>th</sup>, 2007. It is the fifth official book in the ''Halo'' series, and the second of three that were published by Tor.  
'''''Halo: Contact Harvest''''' is the title of a ''Halo'' book by [[Joseph Staten]].<ref>http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430</ref> Published by [[Tor]], it was released on October 30<sup>th</sup>, 2007. It is the fifth official book in the ''Halo'' series, and the second of three that were published by Tor.  


Though not intended as an exclusive prequel for ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the novel serves as a good explanation for the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]].
''Contact Harvest'' details many of the events leading to the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]].


==Summary==
==Summary==
On the [[UNSC]] colony [[Harvest]], there is only peace and prosperity. Watched by two [[A.I.]], [[Sif]] and [[Mack]], the colony produces much of Humanity's food. This peace is interrupted when a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] controlled vessel, ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovers a malfunctioning unmanned human cargo ship. The coordinates registered in the cargo ship's navigation computer lead the aliens to Harvest. A [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Unggoy]], [[Deacon]] [[Dadab]], is alarmed when the ship's [[Luminary]] seems to register thousands of [[Forerunner]] artifacts and an [[Oracle]] (Forerunner A.I.). The opportunistic Kig-Yar's plan to take some artifacts for themselves before reporting the discovery to the [[Hierarchs]], and begin surreptitiously raiding human freighters. Unfortunately for the Kig-Yar, [[ONI]] had recently organized a strike team to counteract what they believed to be a growing [[Insurrectionist]] group, including one [[Staff Sergeant Avery J. Johnson]]. They successfully deceived ''Minor Transgression'' into boarding a freighter where they were immediately attacked by Staff Sergeant Johnson and [[Staff Sergeant Byrne]]. Staff Sergeant Johnson received a cracked skull from their meeting and Staff Sergeant Byrne was stabbed in the leg with an energy cutlass. This raid marked the first meeting of the humans and Covenant forces, and makes the humans aware of a brand new threat they may be facing. Jilan destroys the vessel, with only the Deacon Dadab and his [[Huragok|Engineer]] friend [[Lighter Than Some]] escaping in an escape pod. While the UNSC prepares the [[Colonial Militia]] for a possible alien invasion, two ambitious [[San 'Shyuum]]s, the [[Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] learn of the large amount of "relics" found on Harvest and begin to plan a coup of the current Hierarchs using this as a fulcrum. To keep the [[Sangheili]] from using this discovery as a way to upset the balance of power, they utilize a Jiralhanae-controlled ship, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', captained by [[Maccabeus]], the [[Brute Chieftain]] at that time, and crewed by his pack of Jiralhanae (including a youthful [[Tartarus]]). The two began a secret attempt to seize the planet. This marks the beginning of the powerful alliance between the [[Jiralhanae]] and the San 'Shyuum, and the key to their eventual betrayal of the [[Sangheili]] leading to the [[Covenant Civil War]] later in the war.
On the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] colony [[Harvest]], there is only peace and prosperity. Watched by two [[Artificial Intelligence]]s, [[Sif]] and [[Mack]], the colony produces much of [[Human|Humanity's]] food. This peace is interrupted when a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] controlled vessel, ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovers a malfunctioning unmanned human cargo ship. The coordinates registered in the cargo ship's navigation computer lead the aliens to Harvest. A [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Unggoy]], [[Deacon]] [[Dadab]], is alarmed when the ship's [[Luminary]] seems to register thousands of [[Forerunner]] artifacts and an [[Oracle]] (Forerunner A.I.). The opportunistic Kig-Yar's plan to take some artifacts for themselves before reporting the discovery to the [[Hierarchs]], and begin surreptitiously raiding human freighters. Unfortunately for the Kig-Yar, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] had recently organized a strike team to counteract what they believed to be a growing [[Insurrectionist]] group, including one [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]]. They successfully deceived ''Minor Transgression'' into boarding a freighter where they were immediately attacked by Staff Sergeant Johnson and [[Staff Sergeant Byrne]]. Staff Sergeant Johnson received a cracked skull from their meeting and Staff Sergeant Byrne was stabbed in the leg with an energy cutlass. This raid marked the first meeting of the humans and Covenant forces, and makes the humans aware of a brand new threat they may be facing. Jilan destroys the vessel, with only the Deacon Dadab and his [[Huragok]] friend [[Lighter Than Some]] escaping in an escape pod. While the UNSC prepares the [[Harvest Colonial Militia]] for a possible alien invasion, two ambitious [[San 'Shyuum]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] learn of the large amount of "relics" found on Harvest and begin to plan a coup of the current Hierarchs using this as a fulcrum. To keep the [[Sangheili]] from using this discovery as a way to upset the balance of power, they utilize a Jiralhanae-controlled ship, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', captained by [[Maccabeus]], the [[Brute Chieftain]] at that time, and crewed by his pack of Jiralhanae (including a youthful [[Tartarus]]). The two began a secret attempt to seize the planet. This marks the beginning of the powerful alliance between the [[Jiralhanae]] and the San 'Shyuum, and the key to their eventual betrayal of the [[Sangheili]] leading to the [[Great Schism]] later in the war.


''Rapid Conversion'' arrives in the system to find the escape pod containing Dadab and the Huragok, Lighter Than Some, much to the devout Maccabeus' delight. The Jiralhanae use the Deacon as a way to motivate their own lackluster complement of Unggoys and Lighter than Some to repair their intentionally crippled ship. They all soon discover the planet's vast store of reclamations and a message of peace left by Sif and Mack in the form of a crude pictogram displaying a desire for peace. The Jiralhanae land two [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] dropships at a specified date, with only the desire to capture the entire planet at any cost. The attempt at peaceful contact falls apart after an errant Unggoy attacks Harvest Colonial Militiaman [[Osmo]], and the one-sided [[Battle of Harvest]] begins.
''Rapid Conversion'' arrives in the system to find the escape pod containing Dadab and the Huragok, Lighter Than Some, much to the devout Maccabeus' delight. The Jiralhanae use the Deacon as a way to motivate their own lackluster complement of Unggoys and Lighter than Some to repair their intentionally crippled ship. They all soon discover the planet's vast store of reclamations and a message of peace left by Sif and Mack in the form of a crude pictogram displaying a desire for peace. The Jiralhanae land two [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] dropships at a specified date, with only the desire to capture the entire planet at any cost. The attempt at peaceful contact falls apart after an errant Unggoy attacks Harvest Colonial Militiaman [[Osmo]], and the one-sided [[Battle of Harvest]] begins.


Meanwhile, the ambitious San 'Shyuums begin their mutiny of sorts by invoking the [[Prophet of Restraint]] in a conspiracy that will lead to his removal if revealed. They seek a blessing by the long silent Oracle present on the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. They visit an old, supposedly senile Philologist, for blessings and advice. When they input the discovery of Harvest and the Luminary's data, the Oracle, which is in fact a fragment of the Forerunner ''Contender''-class A.I. Mendicant Bias, a Forerunner construct, but more advanced than 343 Guilty Spark, suddenly awakens from eons of dormancy and reveals that they've been misinterpreting their findings. What the Kig-Yar thought were artifacts were actually registering the presence of the Humans on Harvest, which it claims are [[Reclaimers]], and refers to them as his makers, or living Forerunners. Realizing that the discovery of living [[Forerunners]] would tear the Covenant apart, the San 'Shyuums swear to secrecy, induct the Philologist into their conspiracy and accelerate their plans for takeover.
Meanwhile, the ambitious San 'Shyuum begin their mutiny of sorts by invoking the [[Prophet of Restraint]] in a conspiracy that will lead to his removal if revealed. They seek a blessing by the long silent Oracle present on the [[Keyship|Forerunner Dreadnought]]. They visit an old, supposedly senile Philologist, for blessings and advice. When they input the discovery of Harvest and the Luminary's data, the Oracle, which is in fact a fragment of the Forerunner ''Contender''-class A.I. [[032 Mendicant Bias]], a Forerunner construct, but more advanced than 343 Guilty Spark, suddenly awakens from eons of dormancy and reveals that they've been misinterpreting their findings. What the Kig-Yar thought were artifacts were actually registering the presence of the Humans on Harvest, which it claims are [[Reclaimers]], and refers to them as his makers, or living Forerunners. Realizing that the discovery of living Forerunners would tear the Covenant apart, the San 'Shyuums swear to secrecy, induct the Philologist into their conspiracy and accelerate their plans for takeover.


On Harvest, the humans begin to resist the assault by the Jiralhanae ship on select towns on the planet by shuttling as many civilians as possible to the town's capital. The planet's A.I., Mack, normally responsible for the agricultural [[JOTUN]]s, hands over his vast network to his previously concealed doppelganger, [[Loki]], a ship A.I. now implemented as a defense mechanism. The [[Colonial Militia]] manages to ferry most of the surviving population to [[Utgard]], the capital, and then begin their plan to send these people to safety aboard the Freighters on top of the seven Space elevators present on Harvest, the [[Tiara]]. The Jiralhanae, having stationed their Unggoy forces in the Tiara, unwittingly allow the Huragok Lighter Than Some to come into contact with Loki and the now nearly destroyed A.I. Sif. The Huragok, disgusted by the killing and wishing to end it, shows the A.I. how to duplicate the Forerunner symbol for [[Oracle]] and helps lure the Covenant ship in range of the colony's sole mass driver and cripple it. While Johnson leads a small force up the space elevator to clear the Unggoys on board, Tartarus challenges Maccabeus, kills him and takes control of his Pack and counterattacks. During the assault, a jealous group of Yanme'e kills Lighter Than Some. A devastated Dadab slaughters them with his [[plasma pistol]], accidentally irreparably damaging Sif's arrays, and then uses the pistol's last shot to wound Tartarus. Tartarus, who was about to engage Jenkins, loses his energy shields and retreats, but not before obliterating Dadab with the [[Fist of Rukt]].
On Harvest, the humans begin to resist the assault by the Jiralhanae ship on select towns on the planet by shuttling as many civilians as possible to the town's capital. The planet's A.I., Mack, normally responsible for the agricultural [[JOTUN]]s, hands over his vast network to his previously concealed doppelganger, [[Loki]], a ship A.I. now implemented as a defense mechanism. The Colonial Militia manages to ferry most of the surviving population to [[Utgard]], the capital, and then begin their plan to send these people to safety aboard the Freighters on top of the seven Space elevators present on Harvest, the [[Tiara]]. The Jiralhanae, having stationed their Unggoy forces in the Tiara, unwittingly allow the Huragok Lighter Than Some to come into contact with Loki and the now nearly destroyed A.I. Sif. The Huragok, disgusted by the killing and wishing to end it, shows the A.I. how to duplicate the Forerunner symbol for [[Oracle]] and helps lure the Covenant ship in range of the colony's sole mass driver and cripple it. While Johnson leads a small force up the space elevator to clear the Unggoys on board, Tartarus challenges Maccabeus, kills him and takes control of his Pack and counterattacks. During the assault, a jealous group of Yanme'e kills Lighter Than Some. A devastated Dadab slaughters them with his [[plasma pistol]], accidentally irreparably damaging Sif's arrays, and then uses the pistol's last shot to wound Tartarus. Tartarus, who was about to engage Jenkins, loses his energy shields and retreats, but not before obliterating Dadab with the [[Fist of Rukt]].


The Jiralhanae glass Harvest while the refugees flee. The scheming San Shyuums usurp the Hierarchs and become the High Prophets of Truth, Regret and Mercy, and finally declare holy war on the humans, to prevent any of the Covenant from ever discovering their true place as the Forerunner's heirs. The last we hear of Avery is him in the cockpit having sex with Jilan, while [[Sif]] and [[Mack]] communicate about what remains of Harvest. The newly established High Prophets, [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], recommission the [[Luminary]] as a means to locate human planets, and thus begins the [[Human-Covenant War]].
The Jiralhanae glass Harvest while the refugees flee. The scheming San Shyuums usurp the Hierarchs and become the High Prophets of Truth, Regret and Mercy, and finally declare holy war on the humans, to prevent any of the Covenant from ever discovering their true place as the Forerunner's heirs. The last we hear of Avery is him in the cockpit having sex with Jilan, while Sif and Mack communicate about what remains of Harvest. The newly established High Prophets, [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], recommission the [[Luminary]] as a means to locate human planets, and thus begins the [[Human-Covenant War]].


==Main Characters==
==Main Characters==
Line 39: Line 39:




*[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]]
*[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]]
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]]  
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]]  
*[[Captain (Marine Corps)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]
*[[Captain (Marine Corps)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]
Line 65: Line 65:
*[[Strab]]
*[[Strab]]
*[[Vorenus]]
*[[Vorenus]]
*[[Licinus|Licinus]]
*[[Licinus]]
*[[Ritul|Ritul]]
*[[Ritul]]
====Huragok====
====Huragok====
*[[Lighter Than Some]]
*[[Lighter Than Some]]
Line 80: Line 80:
*[[Yull]]
*[[Yull]]
====San 'Shyuum====
====San 'Shyuum====
*[[Minister of Fortitude aka (Prophet of Truth)|Minister of Fortitude (aka Prophet of Truth)]]
*[[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude (later Prophet of Truth)]]
*[[Vice Minister of Tranquility aka (Prophet of Regret)|Vice Minister of Tranquility (aka Prophet of Regret)]]
*[[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility (later Prophet of Regret)]]
*[[Philologist| Philologist (aka Prophet of Mercy]])
*[[Prophet of Mercy|The Philologist (later Prophet of Mercy]])


===Other===
===Other===
*[[Dr. Catherine Halsey]]<ref name="charlie hotel">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', page 391</ref>
*[[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]<ref name="charlie hotel">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', page 391</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Line 96: Line 96:


*''Contact Harvest'' was the first book written by Joseph Staten.
*''Contact Harvest'' was the first book written by Joseph Staten.
*Covenant species are referred to throughout the book by their native names (e.g. Huragok, Unggoy, Jiralhanae, etc.) rather than by the nicknames designated in the game series.
*Covenant species are referred to throughout the book by their native names, (e.g. Huragok, Unggoy, Jiralhanae, etc.), rather than by their human-given nicknames.
*Starting in this book and onward to ''[[The Cole Protocol]]'', the author does not refer to weapons' specific models when they are mentioned, but rather to their series, such as the MA5.
*In ''Contact Harvest'' and ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol|The Cole Protocol]]'', the authors do not refer to weapons' specific models when they are mentioned, but rather to their series, such as the MA5.
*The novel depicts the first human death ([[Henry Gibson]]) at the hands of the Covenant, which is inflicted by the Huragok (Engineer) [[Lighter Than Some]].
*Prior to the release of the novel, which takes place in the year 2525, confusion arose over the appearance of the anachronous [[BR55 Battle Rifle]] in the cover art. In Bungie Podcast III, Joseph Staten hinted as to why the BR55 would appear in ''Contact Harvest'', and it was confirmed that the BR55 had been in use by ONI as a [[XBR55 Battle Rifle|prototype weapon]] since [[2524]]
*Prior to the release of the novel, which takes place in the year 2525, confusion arose over the appearance of the anachronous [[battle rifle]] in the cover art. In Bungie Podcast III, Joseph Staten hinted as to why the BR-55 would appear in ''Contact Harvest'', and it was confirmed that the [[BR-55]] had been in use as a prototype [[ONI]] weapon since [[2524]].
*One of the [[Unggoy]] of ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' makes reference to his cousin [[Yayap]], a soldier under the [[Sangheili]]. This is a reference to the same character featured in ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', who serves as [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]'s assistant.
*Battle rifles in general were still being field tested during the [[Battle of Reach]], thirty years later.&nbsp; Such extensive testing of future weapons is highly improbable and the prototype explanation is probably just an excuse to cover up a chronological mistake.
*As with all the ''Halo'' novels, the ''[[Marathon (Video Game Series)|Marathon]]'' symbol appears between the "A" and "L" of the cover's ''Halo'' logo.
*In an excerpt found in OXM, it was revealed that the [[Hornet]] aircraft would appear in the novel in the context of having been in service since [[2524]] at the latest. An explanation has not been offered as to why Hornets were not deployed in conflicts such as the the events on Installation 04 and the [[Battle of Earth]], although in the former case the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'' may simply not have been carrying them for the reason that its original mission did not involve planetside operations.
*The Huragok Lighter Than Some is revealed to have been the creator of the [[Brute Chopper]], originally intending them as a peace offering modeled after [[human]] farming plows.
*One of the [[Unggoy]] of ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' makes reference to a cousin [[Yayap]], a soldier under the [[Elites]]. This is thought to be the same character featured in ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' who serves as [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]'s assistant.
*The [[Brutes]] are described to be wearing [[Power Armor (Jiralhanae)|power armor]] in accordance with their depiction in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
*Interestingly, Brutes wear power armor in ''Halo: Contact Harvest'' and ''Halo Wars'' but not in ''Halo 2''. Tartarus is mentioned in the novel to possess power armor, which he does not wear in ''Halo 2''. This is speculated by some to be punishment from the Prophets until [[Truth]] reinstated them as a main fighting force.
*As with all the ''Halo'' novels, the ''[[Marathon]]'' symbol appears between the "A" and "L" of the cover's ''Halo'' logo.
*[[Catherine Halsey]] makes a very brief "appearance" in the post-epilogue conversation between Mack and Sif under the pseudonym "Charlie Hotel".
*[[Catherine Halsey]] makes a very brief "appearance" in the post-epilogue conversation between Mack and Sif under the pseudonym "Charlie Hotel".
*On page 189, [[Dadab]] describes how the [[Prophets]] knew how [[Mendicant Bias]] betrayed the [[Forerunners]] to the [[Flood]].
*The [[The Seropian|Seropian Center for Active Retirement]] is named for [[Bungie]] Co-Founder [[Alexander Seropian]].
*The book explains that the [[Jiralhanae]] were assimilated into the Covenant a relatively short time before the events of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and that they were initially excluded from major Covenant affairs as a result of interspecies political tensions with the Sangheili.
*This is currently the only ''Halo'' book not to feature [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]], although it does perhaps reference the [[ORION Project]] which resulted in the SPARTAN-Is.
*The [[The Seropian|Seropian Center for Active Retirement]] is named for [[Bungie]] Co-Founder Alexander Seropian.
*This is the first novel to feature female members of the Covenant.
*This is currently the only ''Halo'' book not to feature [[SPARTAN-II]]s, although it does perhaps reference the [[Spartan-I]]s with the [[ORION Project]].
*This is also the first novel to introduce female members of the Covenant.
*Joseph Staten received advice from Eric Nylund, the author of previous ''Halo'' books, while writing the first chapter of ''Halo: Contact Harvest''.
*Joseph Staten received advice from Eric Nylund, the author of previous ''Halo'' books, while writing the first chapter of ''Halo: Contact Harvest''.
*At the beginning of Chapter Five, the date is incorrectly labeled as "December 21, 2525" instead of "December 21, 2524".
*At the beginning of Chapter Five, the date is incorrectly labeled as "December 21, 2525" instead of "December 21, 2524".
*The cover artwork incorrectly shows Johnson wielding a BR55 HB SR when it should show a BR55, as the BR55 HB SR is not introduced until ''Halo 3''.
*A sentence onpage 47, line 9 says, "The Lieutenant straightened his soldiers." The correct word is shoulders, not soldiers.
*There is a mistake in the book, on page 47 line 9. The sentence says, "The Lieutenant straightened his soldiers." However, the correct word is shoulders, not soldiers.


==Sources==
==Sources==

Revision as of 20:24, June 26, 2010

Template:Ratings

Template:Book Info

Halo: Contact Harvest is the title of a Halo book by Joseph Staten.[1] Published by Tor, it was released on October 30th, 2007. It is the fifth official book in the Halo series, and the second of three that were published by Tor.

Contact Harvest details many of the events leading to the beginning of the Human-Covenant War.

Summary

On the UNSC colony Harvest, there is only peace and prosperity. Watched by two Artificial Intelligences, Sif and Mack, the colony produces much of Humanity's food. This peace is interrupted when a Covenant controlled vessel, Minor Transgression, discovers a malfunctioning unmanned human cargo ship. The coordinates registered in the cargo ship's navigation computer lead the aliens to Harvest. A Covenant Unggoy, Deacon Dadab, is alarmed when the ship's Luminary seems to register thousands of Forerunner artifacts and an Oracle (Forerunner A.I.). The opportunistic Kig-Yar's plan to take some artifacts for themselves before reporting the discovery to the Hierarchs, and begin surreptitiously raiding human freighters. Unfortunately for the Kig-Yar, the Office of Naval Intelligence had recently organized a strike team to counteract what they believed to be a growing Insurrectionist group, including one Staff Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson. They successfully deceived Minor Transgression into boarding a freighter where they were immediately attacked by Staff Sergeant Johnson and Staff Sergeant Byrne. Staff Sergeant Johnson received a cracked skull from their meeting and Staff Sergeant Byrne was stabbed in the leg with an energy cutlass. This raid marked the first meeting of the humans and Covenant forces, and makes the humans aware of a brand new threat they may be facing. Jilan destroys the vessel, with only the Deacon Dadab and his Huragok friend Lighter Than Some escaping in an escape pod. While the UNSC prepares the Harvest Colonial Militia for a possible alien invasion, two ambitious San 'Shyuum, the Minister of Fortitude and the Vice Minister of Tranquility learn of the large amount of "relics" found on Harvest and begin to plan a coup of the current Hierarchs using this as a fulcrum. To keep the Sangheili from using this discovery as a way to upset the balance of power, they utilize a Jiralhanae-controlled ship, Rapid Conversion, captained by Maccabeus, the Brute Chieftain at that time, and crewed by his pack of Jiralhanae (including a youthful Tartarus). The two began a secret attempt to seize the planet. This marks the beginning of the powerful alliance between the Jiralhanae and the San 'Shyuum, and the key to their eventual betrayal of the Sangheili leading to the Great Schism later in the war.

Rapid Conversion arrives in the system to find the escape pod containing Dadab and the Huragok, Lighter Than Some, much to the devout Maccabeus' delight. The Jiralhanae use the Deacon as a way to motivate their own lackluster complement of Unggoys and Lighter than Some to repair their intentionally crippled ship. They all soon discover the planet's vast store of reclamations and a message of peace left by Sif and Mack in the form of a crude pictogram displaying a desire for peace. The Jiralhanae land two Spirit dropships at a specified date, with only the desire to capture the entire planet at any cost. The attempt at peaceful contact falls apart after an errant Unggoy attacks Harvest Colonial Militiaman Osmo, and the one-sided Battle of Harvest begins.

Meanwhile, the ambitious San 'Shyuum begin their mutiny of sorts by invoking the Prophet of Restraint in a conspiracy that will lead to his removal if revealed. They seek a blessing by the long silent Oracle present on the Forerunner Dreadnought. They visit an old, supposedly senile Philologist, for blessings and advice. When they input the discovery of Harvest and the Luminary's data, the Oracle, which is in fact a fragment of the Forerunner Contender-class A.I. 032 Mendicant Bias, a Forerunner construct, but more advanced than 343 Guilty Spark, suddenly awakens from eons of dormancy and reveals that they've been misinterpreting their findings. What the Kig-Yar thought were artifacts were actually registering the presence of the Humans on Harvest, which it claims are Reclaimers, and refers to them as his makers, or living Forerunners. Realizing that the discovery of living Forerunners would tear the Covenant apart, the San 'Shyuums swear to secrecy, induct the Philologist into their conspiracy and accelerate their plans for takeover.

On Harvest, the humans begin to resist the assault by the Jiralhanae ship on select towns on the planet by shuttling as many civilians as possible to the town's capital. The planet's A.I., Mack, normally responsible for the agricultural JOTUNs, hands over his vast network to his previously concealed doppelganger, Loki, a ship A.I. now implemented as a defense mechanism. The Colonial Militia manages to ferry most of the surviving population to Utgard, the capital, and then begin their plan to send these people to safety aboard the Freighters on top of the seven Space elevators present on Harvest, the Tiara. The Jiralhanae, having stationed their Unggoy forces in the Tiara, unwittingly allow the Huragok Lighter Than Some to come into contact with Loki and the now nearly destroyed A.I. Sif. The Huragok, disgusted by the killing and wishing to end it, shows the A.I. how to duplicate the Forerunner symbol for Oracle and helps lure the Covenant ship in range of the colony's sole mass driver and cripple it. While Johnson leads a small force up the space elevator to clear the Unggoys on board, Tartarus challenges Maccabeus, kills him and takes control of his Pack and counterattacks. During the assault, a jealous group of Yanme'e kills Lighter Than Some. A devastated Dadab slaughters them with his plasma pistol, accidentally irreparably damaging Sif's arrays, and then uses the pistol's last shot to wound Tartarus. Tartarus, who was about to engage Jenkins, loses his energy shields and retreats, but not before obliterating Dadab with the Fist of Rukt.

The Jiralhanae glass Harvest while the refugees flee. The scheming San Shyuums usurp the Hierarchs and become the High Prophets of Truth, Regret and Mercy, and finally declare holy war on the humans, to prevent any of the Covenant from ever discovering their true place as the Forerunner's heirs. The last we hear of Avery is him in the cockpit having sex with Jilan, while Sif and Mack communicate about what remains of Harvest. The newly established High Prophets, Truth, Regret and Mercy, recommission the Luminary as a means to locate human planets, and thus begins the Human-Covenant War.

Main Characters

United Nations Space Command

Covenant

Jiralhanae

Huragok

Kig-Yar

Unggoy

San 'Shyuum

Other

Reception

Critical reception to Halo: Contact Harvest was mostly positive, but with a few complaints that the book was "overly descriptive" and used too much military slang.[3] However, many reviewers stated that, despite being a new writer, Staten was on the same level as Eric Nylund and William Dietz. [4]

Trivia

File:Contact Harvest by Nameless Designer.jpg
A fan's depiction of Harvest being invaded by the Rapid Conversion.
  • Contact Harvest was the first book written by Joseph Staten.
  • Covenant species are referred to throughout the book by their native names, (e.g. Huragok, Unggoy, Jiralhanae, etc.), rather than by their human-given nicknames.
  • In Contact Harvest and The Cole Protocol, the authors do not refer to weapons' specific models when they are mentioned, but rather to their series, such as the MA5.
  • Prior to the release of the novel, which takes place in the year 2525, confusion arose over the appearance of the anachronous BR55 Battle Rifle in the cover art. In Bungie Podcast III, Joseph Staten hinted as to why the BR55 would appear in Contact Harvest, and it was confirmed that the BR55 had been in use by ONI as a prototype weapon since 2524
  • One of the Unggoy of Rapid Conversion makes reference to his cousin Yayap, a soldier under the Sangheili. This is a reference to the same character featured in Halo: The Flood, who serves as Zuka 'Zamamee's assistant.
  • As with all the Halo novels, the Marathon symbol appears between the "A" and "L" of the cover's Halo logo.
  • Catherine Halsey makes a very brief "appearance" in the post-epilogue conversation between Mack and Sif under the pseudonym "Charlie Hotel".
  • The Seropian Center for Active Retirement is named for Bungie Co-Founder Alexander Seropian.
  • This is currently the only Halo book not to feature SPARTAN-IIs, although it does perhaps reference the ORION Project which resulted in the SPARTAN-Is.
  • This is the first novel to feature female members of the Covenant.
  • Joseph Staten received advice from Eric Nylund, the author of previous Halo books, while writing the first chapter of Halo: Contact Harvest.
  • At the beginning of Chapter Five, the date is incorrectly labeled as "December 21, 2525" instead of "December 21, 2524".
  • A sentence onpage 47, line 9 says, "The Lieutenant straightened his soldiers." The correct word is shoulders, not soldiers.

Sources

  1. ^ http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12430
  2. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 391
  3. ^ http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/02/try_a_halo_novel_before_you_buy_or_dont-2/
  4. ^ http://www.planetxbox360.com/article_3147/Book_Review_Contact_Harvest




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