Installation 00: Difference between revisions

|destroyed=[[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]<ref name="Fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref><ref name="Array">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/the-halo-array/7ec5ea56-3d8c-4644-a760-5baa8f35166c '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Array'']</ref><ref name="Brutes">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/theuniverse/characters/video/the-brutes/60f8041d-9d28-47bc-9447-65ba3d133abd?page=1 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Brutes'']</ref><ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 14''</ref> {{c|Fully repaired by [[2559#March|March 2559]]}}<ref name="HW2" />

|surface width=35.3 hours {{c|adjustable}}<ref name="mythos ark"/>

|gravity=1G<ref name="vis"/>

|surface temperature=-30°C to 50°C (-22°F to 122F°)<ref name="vis"/>

|atmosphere=1.0 ([[Wikipedia:Nitrogen|N₂]], [[Oxygen|O₂]], [[Argon|Ar]])<ref name="vis"/>

Truth led his fleet through the portal; after defeating a Flood invasion of the town of [[Voi]], a joint [[United Nations Space Command]] - [[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] strike force followed the Prophet's forces.<ref name="Floodgate">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref> Upon their arrival on [[2552#December|December 11]],<ref name="Fortitude"/> the latter force were attacked by the Covenant, which held a 3:1 numerical advantage.<ref name="The Ark"/> Despite this, the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]] crushed Truth's forces.

After engaging the Covenant across the installation, [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] entered [[Installation 00 Citadel|the citadel]], where they found Truth, who had become infected by the Flood and deactivated the array. Soon after 'Vadam killed the Prophet, effectively destroying the Covenant and ending the war, he, the Master Chief, and [[343 Guilty Spark]], the former [[monitor]] of [[Installation 04]], discovered that a [[Installation 08|replacement Installation 04]] was being constructed by the Ark's [[Foundry (location)|Foundry]].<ref name="Covenant"/> The Spartan and the Arbiter soon rescued the AI [[Cortana]], who held Installation 04's [[Activation Index]], from the Flood-infested Covenant capital city, [[High Charity]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref> They, with [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]], assaulted the Halo's [[Control Room]] to activate the ring, destroying both the Flood and the remaining Covenant forces. They succeeded, though Johnson was killed by the monitor. While Guilty Spark refused to allow ''his'' new Halo to be destroyed, he also implied that he was protecting the Ark. The partially constructed installation's activation tore the ring apart and severely damaged the Ark.<ref name="Array"/><ref name="Brutes"/><ref name="Halo"/>{{clear}}

The [[ UNSC Rubicon]] carried several [[remote contact team]]s, who landed on the damaged Ark and attempted to find the source of the mysterious signal. After about eight days, contact with all teams was lost; only one team, [[RCT-06]], returned, having sustained heavy casualties and carrying with them a device of unknown nature. The armature's origin was subjected to debate, but it was believed by the team to be the source of the beacon picked up by the initial investigative group.<ref name="EH"/> The device, actually a broken, barely active [[monitor]], began to relate its past life as a human: [[Chakas]]. Though the ship's ONI attaché initially doubted the veracity of the monitor's account, the science team leader pointed out that it was consistent with the "[[Halo: Cryptum|Bornstellar Relation]]" found on [[Onyx]].

Eventually, the monitor revealed that it was none other than [[343 Guilty Spark]] himself. Claiming that he knew the location of the [[Librarian]], whom he believed to be alive, Spark subsumed the ship's AI, knocked out the crew via the life support systems, and hijacked the ship.<ref>'''[[Halo: Primordium]]''', ''pages 377-379''</ref> Communications with the ''Rubicon'' halted within 48 hours of its last report. Search and rescue teams were then deployed to the site, but reported no findings.<ref name="EH"/>

In [[2555]], the Ark was partially restored and Tragic Solitude enacted its plan. Using Kodiak to activate the process, Tragic Solitude initiated a countdown to the rings' firing in several weeks. This was so that someone within the Milky Way galaxy would open a portal to the Ark in an attempt to stop the countdown, allowing the monitor to dispatch its [[Retriever Sentinel]]s to kill all sentient species and mine their planets to repair the Ark. The countdown was discovered on the intact Halo rings soon after and a human-Sangheili joint task force departed to the Ark through the [[Portal at Voi]]. The expedition's ship was intercepted and brought down above the Ark by Tragic Solitude's Retrievers, but the crew survived and managed to reach the Array's control center and stop the countdown. However, the portal was still open and Tragic Solitude deployed a fleet of Retrievers to Earth in an attempt to mine the [[Sol system]]'s worlds, causing heavy damage to the region surrounding the portal as well as the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]. However, the UNSC-Sangheili crew managed to thwart the monitor's plan and the Retrievers were recalled, with the monitor ending up destroyed. UNSC reinforcements were deployed through the portal to the Ark soon after and rescued the expeditionary crew. With Solitude destroyed and the Retrievers now dormant, the UNSC began to establish research facilities on the Ark and study the Sentinels in hopes that they could be commanded to continue repairing the installation by strip-mining lifeless systems so that no one would be harmed in the process.<ref name="Hunters"/>

Following the [[Created conflict|Created takeover]] of human space on October 28, [[2558]] the Ark's failsafe measures prevented Cortana and her allies from being able to access the installation.<ref name="Mythos202" /> A month later, the [[Banished]], led by the Jiralhanae warlord, [[Atriox]], [[Attack on Installation 00|laid siege]] on the UNSC bases on Installation 00, among them the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]].<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-story-details-and-images-revealed/1100-6440811/ '''GameSpot''': ''Halo Wars 2 New Story Details and Images Revealed'']</ref> Shortly after the Banished's attack, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, drifting in space for 28 years, was abruptly transported to the Ark by a mysterious entity. Those on board the ''Spirit of Fire'' came into conflict with the forces of the Banished on the surface soon after. During the battle, it was discovered that the Ark had constructed a [[Installation 09|new replacement Halo]], which was launched by Professor [[Ellen Anders]] in an effort to deploy it to the [[Soell system]] and raise a [[distress beacon]] to the UNSC. However, the Halo was intercepted on the way to Soell by a [[Created]] [[Guardian]], while the forces of the ''Spirit of Fire'' and the Banished remained in conflict on Installation 00.<ref name="HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''</ref>

Installation 00 resembles a massive flattened dish with a series of eight curved arms, known as spires, four large and four small, arranged around its rim, similar to the petals of a flower. The entire upper surface is [[Terraforming|terraformed]], with oceans, forests and deserts.<ref name="The Ark"/><ref name="Covenant"/> Installation 00 is {{Convert|127530|km|mi|sigfig=5}} in diameter and thus one of the largest known Forerunner constructs.<ref name="vis"/> Spread throughout the installation are hundreds of refugia, artificial biomes designed to sustain diverse flora and fauna as part of the Conservation Measure. Each of these refugia are separated by massive quarantine walls.<ref name="mythos ark">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''pages 122-123''</ref> Twelve refugia are located on the central hub, while an additional twenty are located on the arms of the structure.<ref name="Refugia">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Refugia''</ref> The various refugia are intended to mimic common planetary environments - one such refugia known as the Halo Refugia<ref name="HaloRefugia">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Log]]'' - ''Halo Refugia''</ref> bore a notable similarity to Earth's climate, though much more extreme; mountains are higher, chasms are deeper and the sea and sky are a deeper blue.<ref name="HaloRefugia"/>

Like the [[shield world]]s, Installation 00 possesses an [[Astroengineering#Stars|artificial sun]].<ref name="The Ark"/><ref name="Covenant"/><ref name="Halo" />

Like the Halos, Installation 00 features multiple [[Cartographer]] facilities, map rooms that can pinpoint any location on the installation.<ref name="The Ark"/><ref name="The Cartographer">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Cartographer]]''</ref><ref name="Cartographer PL">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''The Cartographer''</ref> Similarly to the Halos, the Ark features a control room from which the array could be activated. This facility, known as [[Installation 00 Citadel|the citadel]], is protected by a system of [[Barrier tower|energy shield barriers]] that encircle the center of the disk. These barriers are controlled by towers that circumscribe the center of the installation.<ref name="Covenant"/>

[[File:FOR-ArkAI-logo2.png|thumb|left|240px|The avatar icon of [[000 Tragic Solitude]]<ref name="Terminals"/>]]

Similar to most Forerunner installations, the Ark had its own [[monitor]], [[000 Tragic Solitude]], charged with the facility's defenses. For the most part, Solitude reacted little when humanity and the Covenant arrived at the Ark, though when 343 Guilty Spark attempted to access the Ark's systems during the Battle of Installation 00, Tragic Solitude threatened to add the monitor to the facility's targeting ledger if he persisted.<ref>'''Halo 3''', ''Terminal 3''</ref> After the Ark was severely damaged by the destruction of Installation 08, the latest on a line of destroyed Forerunner relics, Solitude grew bitter and viewed all sentients in the galaxy as incapable of being peaceful.<ref name="Hunters"/> The arrival of the Human-Covenant War to the installation additionally prompted the activation of [[Terminus]]', structures that are designed to perform tireless cataloging, recording of indexing of events in an attempt to prepare countermeasures and defences for future possible scenarios. These records are cross-references with existing records of historical events and battles to perform simulations and predictions of potential outcomes - losing a terminus would result in a massive loss of operational capability for the installation.<ref name="Terminus">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Terminus''</ref>

The Ark's small defenses were [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s created by numerous [[Sentinel manufacturing facility|Sentinel factories]] just like at the rings. The [[Retriever Sentinel]]s could also be used offensively, though they were not usually outfitted with weapons until Solitude began arming them. The Ark was also guarded by [[armigers]], humanoid defense droids that were capable of attacking with energy rifles and staves. Tragic Solitude could also take control of the Ark's wildlife and even people through manipulating their brain waves.<ref name="Hunters"/>

Another method of defense are [[particle cannon]]s upon the Ark's surface. After discovering the location of one through one of the Ark's Cartographers,<ref name="The Cartographer" /> the smart AI [[Isabel]] had Professor [[Ellen Anders]] use it to attack the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]''. The cannon alone wasn't powerful enough to destroy the ship, but after thirty minutes of sustained fire could take down its shields and leave the ship vulnerable to other methods of attack.<ref name="Hold the Line" /><ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Enduring Conviction Battle Reports''</ref>

The Ark also possesses a Sentinel defense network that coordinates Sentinels to assemble and attack anything deemed a threat to the Ark. [[Isabel]] utilized the network to destroy the ''Enduring Conviction'' by firing the assault carrier's [[energy projector]] at the Ark, alerting the Sentinels in the area.<ref name="Under the Dark">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Under The Dark]]''</ref> Prior to the launch of [[Installation 09]], the security protocols was heightened to finalize the preparation for the launch to its original site and as the part of protocol, the Sentinels release [[Retriever Sentinel]] to cleanse the Installation from the threat, including the UNSC and the Banished.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Halo]]''</ref> During [[Operation: SPEARBREAKER|an operation]] led by Major Vaughan, a Controller Sentinel attacked anyone it deemed a threat, even the UNSC, due to constant abuse of the teleportation network before the ''Spirit of Fire's'' arrival.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]''</ref> [[Voridus]] managed to shut down the Sentinel defense network around [[High Charity]]'s crash site, but at the price of the [[Flood]] being released from the ruined city after he breached the [[containment shield]] with a [[Banished Scarab]]. When the network was reactivated, the Sentinels resumed their duties and aided the Banished in defeating the Flood, enabling them to enact the containment protocol once again.<ref name="Awakening the Nightmare" />

The Ark has a habitable surface on each of its spokes and on the majority of the inner circle, apart from the foundry. This terrain was intended to support cataloged life forms prior to being reseeded throughout the galaxy.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', ''page 334-336''</ref> These landscapes and biomes are as diverse as those of Earth and of the Halos, including deserts,<ref name="The Ark"/> taiga,<ref name="Covenant"/> and deciduous forests.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', multiplayer level ''[[Isolation]]''</ref> Several bodies of water occur across the installation. As such, the Ark can sustain its own ecosystem, providing a variety of habitation for many kinds of life.

As the Ark is located outside the galaxy, isolated in a black void of space, there are no nearby natural sources of light to power the installation and facilitate the survival of biological organisms on its surface. To counter this problem, the Ark is equipped with an artificial structure consisting of a bright, sun-like light, with several metal arms jutting from its center. The light source "scans" over certain areas to generate day/night cycles, further contributing to the growth of vegetation and controlling weather patterns.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=32604077&postRepeater1-p=1 '''Bungie.net''': ''What IS this thing?!'']</ref> A standard day on the Ark is 35.3 hours long, though this can be adjusted.<ref name="mythos ark"/>

The activation of [[Installation 08]] inflicted substantial damage to the Ark. While some life support units remain intermittently active, they were in severe disrepair. Combined with the artificial sun's weakened output, weather conditions on the surface have became highly volatile. Most indigenous fauna have perished, either from the Halo pulse itself or the extreme weather that came afterwards.<ref name="EH"/> However, some wildlife survived and were seen during [[Operation: FAR STORM]].<ref name="Hunters"/> After the destruction of [[000 Tragic Solitude]], [[Luther Mann]] stated a belief that it was in fact the rogue [[Monitor]] who was behind the weather conditions as part of his plan for revenge. Once Tragic Solitude was destroyed, the weather returned to temperate conditions.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''pages 345-346''</ref>

While under repair by [[Retriever Sentinel]]s, there would be a new shift in the Ark's surroundings as the Sentinels repaired and rebuilt the Ark. Dense forests sprang up from pit-black, barren terrain over the course of a week and a particularly virulent strain of weed was checked by the reintroduction of voracious, insectoid parasites before it could strangle the budding plants nearby.<ref name="Healing of Old Wounds II" /> The Ark showed itself to be remarkably adaptable to change, with giant tectonic plates rearranging, shifting and unfolding to form a new pathway across a chasm.<ref name="Healing of Old Wounds III" /> Having begun in [[2557]], the process was completed by the arrival of the ''Spirit of Fire'' in [[2559]], leaving the Ark fully repaired and habitable again, though wreckage from the [[Battle of Installation 00]] persisted across the Ark's surface.<ref name="HW2" />

In order to ensure the safety of [[human]]ity, the [[Librarian]] established a [[Portal at Voi|portal-generating structure]] near Mount Kilimanjaro on the human homeworld of Erde-Tyrene.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silentium]]'''</ref> During the [[Human-Covenant War]] on November 17, 2552, the Covenant forces under the command of the Prophet of Truth utilized this portal, sparking the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. The portal was damaged by the firing of [[Installation 08]] and shut down while the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} was still in transit.<ref name="The Ark"/><ref name="Floodgate"/> The portal was eventually repaired and used again in 2555 by Tragic Solitude, though he could not activate its doorway to Earth from the Ark's end due to the firing of Installation 08 severing his control over it. Tragic Solitude managed to increase the power to the portal exponentially, causing travel between Earth and the Ark to be almost instant.<ref name="Hunters"/> After the start of the [[Created conflict]], the Ark's failsafe measures closed it again to keep the Ark out of [[Cortana]]'s hands.<ref name="Mythos202" /> Professor [[Ellen Anders]] was unable to figure out how to reactivate it from the Ark, necessitating the launch of [[Installation 09]] in an effort to make contact with the UNSC.<ref name="Hold the Line">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Hold the Line]]''</ref> Following the departure of Anders and the Halo ring, Captain [[James Cutter]] felt that the portal should remain closed until the ''Spirit of Fire'' could fully evaluate the Banished threat to it. Cutter ordered [[Isabel]] to start investigating the portal's controls in case they needed to open or close it again.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''' - ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' - ''Beyond the Edge''</ref>

There is [[Menachite portal complex|another slipspace portal]] on [[Reach]] similar to the [[Portal at Voi]] that the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] and some of the Banished were able to access in [[2559#October|October 2559]] when combined with Atriox using the shards of the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal]] on the Ark's end.<ref name="Sacrifice" /> However, this portal only remained open as long as the local charge remained rather than remaining continuously open like the Portal at Voi. It closed within a fairly short period of time, but remained open long enough for a [[Banished Lich]] to make a two-way trip through the slipspace portal, making it to Reach and the Ark respectively.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 21|HSoR|Chapter=21}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epilogue|HSoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

*The Ark was known as "Waypoint" during the production of ''Halo 3''.<ref>[http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/01/rapid-environment-work-2-6-hours-piece.html '''Isaac Hannaford''': ''rapid environment work 2-6 hours a piece'']</ref><ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1047186 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Re: Halo Concept Art'']</ref> This name was later rendered canonical by the Halo Waypoint forum administrator {{Plain|[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_profile601146.aspx Catalog]}} (posing as the Forerunner entity of [[Catalog|the same name]]).<ref name="CatalogWaypoint"/>