Post-Covenant War conflicts: Difference between revisions

{{quote|Time was your ally, but now it has abandoned you... The Forerunners have returned.|The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]<ref name="h4for">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref>}}

By [[2554]], [[Jul 'Mdama]] had already gathered formidable numbers of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|followers]] and a powerful fleet which discovered Requiem, but were unable to enter the thoroughly sealed shield world. In orbit above the planet, however, was the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, carrying the legendary [[John-117|Master Chief, SPARTAN John-117]], and his [[Rampancy|deteriorating]] [[smart AI|AI]] companion [[Cortana]], drifting in space since the end of the Covenant War in 2552. Upon discovering the derelict vessel in [[2557#July|July 2557]], 'Mdama's Covenant forces attacked the ''Dawn'' in hopes of deterring any potential efforts by the humans to access the shield world. During the ensuing skirmish, Requiem's automated systems pulled both the ''Dawn'' and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant force surrounding it through the world's outer shell and down to the planet's surface.<ref name="h4dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Dawn]]''</ref>

On Requiem, both John-117 and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant forces that hunted him were attacked by the mechanical [[Promethean]] forces that occupied the structure. In [[Core of Requiem|the core]] of the installation, the Master Chief accidentally released the [[Ur-Didact]] from his 100 millennia-long imprisonment. Bent on preventing mankind from attaining the [[Mantle]], the Didact departed the core and allied with 'Mdama's Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|h4for}} Meanwhile, UNSC ''Infinity'', lured to Requiem by ''Forward Unto Dawn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s distress signal, crash-landed inside the shield world. Making way for the crash site, the Master Chief reunited with the UNSC and aided in the defense of the stranded flagship from 'Mdama's Covenant and the Didact. However, due to a difference of opinion between ''Infinity'''s captain [[Andrew Del Rio|Del Rio]] and John-117, the latter was left facing the Didact alongside Cortana while ''Infinity'' returned to Earth.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref>

The Didact left Requiem on his flagship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', intent on acquiring the [[Composer]], a Forerunner device with the power to enslave all of humanity. With John-117 and Cortana in pursuit, the Didact attacked ''[[Ivanoff Station]]'', a UNSC research facility near [[Installation 03]] and the location of the Composer. Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact was able to acquire the Composer and used the device on the occupants of the station, but John-117 was saved by genetic enhancements provided by the [[Librarian]]'s [[mind transfer|personality construct]] back on Requiem.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>

The Didact then headed for Earth with the Master Chief racing across the hull of ''Mantle's Approach'' aboard an [[F-41 Broadsword]] fighter. With support from ''Infinity'' and the [[UNSC Home Fleet]], John-117 made his way inside ''Mantle's Approach'' and confronted the Didact, but not before the Forerunner used the Composer to digitize the population of [[New Phoenix]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]]. With the aid of a rampant Cortana, the Master Chief was able to send the Didact plummeting into a slipspace rupture, and destroy his ship with a [[HAVOK]] nuclear warhead. Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to [[Slipspace translocation|translocate]] John away from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> Left adrift in space, he was later recovered and brought aboard ''Infinity'' and debriefed by the [[UNSC Security Council]] shortly afterward.{{Ref/Reuse|HE8}}

After falling into the slipspace rupture, the Didact was teleported to the surface of Installation 03, where he quickly recovered and killed Spartan [[Black Team]] and a UNSC science team. Meeting with the [[monitor]] [[859 Static Carillon]], the Promethean commander then entered the [[Composer's Forge]] via a portal, intending to continue his crusade against humankind.<ref name="HE8">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Issue #8]]''</ref><ref name="HE9">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #9]]''</ref>

In late July 2557, [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|reformed Covenant]] invaded [[Gamma Halo]] in an attempt to use the Forerunner [[Conduit]] to open [[slipspace portal]]s throughout the installation in order to transport a massive Promethean force onto the ringworld, which would aid in their takeover of Installation 03. Other portals were also opened throughout the galaxy, including one in [[New Phoenix]]. Eventually, the attack was repelled due to the efforts of two [[Headhunters]] and the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] stationed on the installation.<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-striking-features '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Striking Features'']</ref> Meanwhile, researchers at the New Phoenix ONI facility were studying a Forerunner artifact. When the portal opened in the city, Jul's Covenant launched an assault on New Phoenix. [[Unidentified Headhunter|One of the Headhunters]] was tasked with rescuing ONI research team. Upon rescue, they decided that they needed to use the Conduit to close the portals in the city and end the invasion.<ref name="ss20">'''Halo: Spartan Strike''', campaign level, ''[[Mission 20: Serve and Protect|Serve and Protect]]''</ref> The Spartan aided researchers in their effort, fighting past Covenant and Promethean forces, and delivered the Conduit to the Forerunner artifact. The artifact released a charge which shut down all portals in the city. After this, he was extracted by another Spartan.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Strike''', campaign level, ''[[Mission 30: Hold the Line|Hold the Line]]''</ref>

After surviving another clash with the Didact on Installation 03, John-117 confronted the Didact in the [[Control Room (Installation 03)|control room]] while the rest of his team returned to their [[Longsword]] fighter. The Master Chief used the [[Activation Index]] to disable the Halo's safety protocols, allowing Static Carillon to eject the entire plate section housing the control room. The segment fell on the Composer's Forge, presumably destroying the Composers housed there. The resulting explosion reduced the Didact to ashes.<ref name="HE10">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]''</ref>

The campaign ultimately ended in Requiem's destruction when Jul 'Mdama set the [[shield world]] on a collision course with [[Epoloch system|the sun]]. Both sides evacuated the doomed system, each possessing their own half of the [[Janus Key]] though the ''Infinity'' was nearly destroyed due to 'Mdama [[interdiction web|anchoring]] the ship to Requiem using [[Requiem slipspace artifacts|a Forerunner artifact]]. After ONI's failed attempt on her life [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] was convinced that the UNSC was working against her and agreed to work with Jul 'Mdama to accomplish her personal goal of reuniting the halves of the Janus Key to unlock the [[Absolute Record]].<ref name="Spartan Ops">'''[[Spartan Ops]]'''</ref><ref name="esc13">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]</ref>