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Human-Forerunner wars: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
===Origins=== | ===Origins=== | ||
Humanity held less power in the galaxy than the Forerunners, and held the Forerunners' interference in the affairs of other species with contempt. Looking to escape from the Forerunners' dominion, humanity expanded throughout the [[Orion Arm]] and eventually built an impressive empire consisting of at least 20,000 worlds in a thousand systems.{{Ref/Reuse|empire}} The Didact had considered humanity to be the second greatest military power in the galaxy and the latest rival to Forerunner influence before the Flood. In their early history, humanity had allied themselves with the | Humanity held less power in the galaxy than the Forerunners, and held the Forerunners' interference in the affairs of other species with contempt. Looking to escape from the Forerunners' dominion, humanity expanded throughout the [[Orion Arm]] and eventually built an impressive empire consisting of at least 20,000 worlds in a thousand systems.{{Ref/Reuse|empire}} The Didact had considered humanity to be the second greatest military power in the galaxy and the latest rival to Forerunner influence before the Flood. In their early history, humanity had allied themselves with the also technologically-sophisticated [[San'Shyuum]]; this alliance produced technology that easily rivaled that of the Forerunners. As they collected and studied [[Precursor]] technology at [[Charum Hakkor]], creating one of the largest collections of Precursor artifacts in the galaxy, humanity's rapid technological achievements made them increasingly arrogant and willing to challenge Forerunner dominance. This, coupled with their belief that they were the true inheritors of the [[Mantle]] from the Precursors rather than the Forerunners (which turned out to be true), made them ideological enemies with the Forerunners. The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], commander-in-chief of the Forerunner military, saw humanity as one of the most contentious, bigoted, and self-centered species in the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 112-113''</ref> | ||
During their colonization of other planets, humans discovered automated cargo ships of unknown origin, which had supposedly arrived from the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]], crashed on planets near the edge of the galaxy. The humans found no crew, with the ships appearing to be automated, but they did find millions of small transparent cylinders filled with an unknown powder. Initial testing was done in the strictest containment. These early tests showed the powder to be harmless and useless, being composed of lifeless short-chain organic molecules. Early experiments demonstrated psychotropic effects on some smaller domesticated animals, one of which being the [[Pheru]]. The powder tests on the Pheru proved to be initially harmless, and indeed appeared to encourage desirable traits to appear in their appearance and behavior. However, over time the powder began merging with and altering the genome of the Pheru in order to generate its own [[Flood Super Cell]]s. Soon, the infected Pheru began to infect others and even began showing some symptoms of the Flood mutation, such as fleshy tentacle-like rods. Close contact with the Pheru spread the infection to humanity. Some [[San'Shyuum]] were also infected as the Pheru were also kept as pets on the San'Shyuum worlds. Eventually the Flood began to spread, and the [[Feral Stage]] was initiated. | During their colonization of other planets, humans discovered automated cargo ships of unknown origin, which had supposedly arrived from the [[Large Magellanic Cloud]], crashed on planets near the edge of the galaxy. The humans found no crew, with the ships appearing to be automated, but they did find millions of small transparent cylinders filled with an unknown powder. Initial testing was done in the strictest containment. These early tests showed the powder to be harmless and useless, being composed of lifeless short-chain organic molecules. Early experiments demonstrated psychotropic effects on some smaller domesticated animals, one of which being the [[Pheru]]. The powder tests on the Pheru proved to be initially harmless, and indeed appeared to encourage desirable traits to appear in their appearance and behavior. However, over time the powder began merging with and altering the genome of the Pheru in order to generate its own [[Flood Super Cell]]s. Soon, the infected Pheru began to infect others and even began showing some symptoms of the Flood mutation, such as fleshy tentacle-like rods. Close contact with the Pheru spread the infection to humanity. Some [[San'Shyuum]] were also infected as the Pheru were also kept as pets on the San'Shyuum worlds. Eventually the Flood began to spread, and the [[Feral Stage]] was initiated. | ||
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By the time the human officials discovered what the powder had done, it was too late. Entire planets were infected, and the Flood began to aggressively expand. Humans, in desperation, began forcefully taking worlds from other species to make up for the ones they had lost. Humanity annihilated fifty defenseless systems in which the Forerunners had resettled other species. After the indigenous populations were eliminated, humanity replaced them with their own colonies to strengthen their hold over their new territories. Humanity looked to forcibly take new worlds anywhere, including those inhabited by Forerunners.<ref name="c270">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 270-272''</ref> However, not all of this seemingly irrational violence was driven by the will to expand; instead, human fleets under the command of [[Forthencho|Forthencho, Lord of Admirals]] were sterilizing planets with Flood infestations. When Forerunner worlds became infected, they were immediately targeted for [[orbital bombardment]], killing millions of Forerunners in the process. As the Forerunners apparently did not believe the Flood a credible threat to their [[ecumene]], these actions only fueled their hatred towards perceived human aggression against other species.<ref name="terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''</ref> | By the time the human officials discovered what the powder had done, it was too late. Entire planets were infected, and the Flood began to aggressively expand. Humans, in desperation, began forcefully taking worlds from other species to make up for the ones they had lost. Humanity annihilated fifty defenseless systems in which the Forerunners had resettled other species. After the indigenous populations were eliminated, humanity replaced them with their own colonies to strengthen their hold over their new territories. Humanity looked to forcibly take new worlds anywhere, including those inhabited by Forerunners.<ref name="c270">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 270-272''</ref> However, not all of this seemingly irrational violence was driven by the will to expand; instead, human fleets under the command of [[Forthencho|Forthencho, Lord of Admirals]] were sterilizing planets with Flood infestations. When Forerunner worlds became infected, they were immediately targeted for [[orbital bombardment]], killing millions of Forerunners in the process. As the Forerunners apparently did not believe the Flood a credible threat to their [[ecumene]], these actions only fueled their hatred towards perceived human aggression against other species.<ref name="terminals">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''</ref> | ||
[[Earth|Erda]], humanity's homeworld, was one of the earliest worlds lost to the Forerunners, a tremendous blow to humanity's morale.{{Ref/Reuse|pri238}} Over the course of the millennium-long conflict, humanity never came closer than 15,000 light years of the [[Orion complex]], the center of Forerunner power.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 311''</ref> The Didact came up with a "[[star-hopping]]" plan, wherein [[Forerunner fleet]]s would [[Slipstream space|jump]] to strategically important human worlds and simply skip other less important human star systems, allowing the Forerunners to conserve their resources and fight efficiently.<ref name="pri187">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 187-188''</ref> | [[Earth|Erda]], humanity's homeworld, was one of the earliest worlds lost to the Forerunners, a tremendous blow to humanity's morale.{{Ref/Reuse|pri238}} Over the course of the millennium-long conflict, humanity never came closer than 15,000 light-years of the [[Orion complex]], the center of Forerunner power.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 311''</ref> The Didact came up with a "[[star-hopping]]" plan, wherein [[Forerunner fleet]]s would [[Slipstream space|jump]] to strategically important human worlds and simply skip other less important human star systems, allowing the Forerunners to conserve their resources and fight efficiently.<ref name="pri187">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 187-188''</ref> | ||
[[106,538 BCE| | [[106,538 BCE|40 years before]] humanity's last conflict with the Forerunners, an ancient being known as the [[Primordial]] was discovered by a human science expedition.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 236-238''</ref> Human researchers brought the creature to Charum Hakkor and attempted to ask the creature about the Flood. They received answers so traumatizing many of them committed suicide rather than live with the knowledge.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 268-271''</ref> As a last desperate measure, humanity's leaders decided to take a third of their population and genetically altered them. They then took this third of the human population and allowed the Flood to consume them. The new genes, it was believed, aggressively killed off Flood biomatter and destroyed the Flood until the few that survived were forced to escape. They would not reappear for another 9,000 years. In truth, however, the Flood had not been defeated, and the genetic alterations had not been effective at combating the parasite. Rather, the Flood willingly retreated, though the reasons why they did so would not become apparent until thousands of years later.{{Ref/Reuse|c270}} | ||
[[File:H4-Terminal-PreHuman-Death.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A human warrior falls in battle.]] | [[File:H4-Terminal-PreHuman-Death.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A human warrior falls in battle.]] | ||
The conflict with the Flood destroyed countless human-populated systems and cost more than a third of humanity's population and significant military resources. Despite the disadvantage of fighting a massive two-front war, humanity managed to prevail over the Flood and still nearly prevailed over the Forerunners as well. However, the Flood had taken their toll and, in their defeat, sounded the death knell of early human civilization at the hands of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]. While human forces were capable of dealing with the Forerunners on equal footing, the total forces they could commit were never enough to ensure victory. After the Flood began to recede from the galaxy, humans could allocate more of their military strength against the Forerunners, but the Didact's Warriors had already gained the strategic upper hand while humanity battled the parasite.<ref name="s34">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 34-39''</ref> | The conflict with the Flood destroyed countless human-populated systems and cost more than a third of humanity's population and significant military resources. Despite the disadvantage of fighting a massive two-front war, humanity managed to prevail over the Flood and still nearly prevailed over the Forerunners as well. However, the Flood had taken their toll and, in their defeat, sounded the death knell of early human civilization at the hands of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]. While human forces were capable of dealing with the Forerunners on equal footing, the total forces they could commit were never enough to ensure victory. After the Flood began to recede from the galaxy, humans could allocate more of their military strength against the Forerunners, but the Didact's Warriors had already gained the strategic upper hand while humanity battled the parasite.<ref name="s34">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 34-39''</ref> | ||
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While dying out, the Flood still maintained control over thousands of worlds across the galactic margin. The Forerunner Warrior-Servants under the Didact's leadership came into contact with the parasite at this time, resulting in the infection of hundreds of their battle fleets. However, once they understood the threat of the Flood posed, they adopted a policy of total extermination and were able to defeat the parasite via sheer firepower. From the few scattered specimens retained for analysis, the Forerunners first learned of the Flood's [[logic plague]], which had corrupted the onboard [[ancilla]]s on the infested fleets.{{Ref/Reuse|s34}} | While dying out, the Flood still maintained control over thousands of worlds across the galactic margin. The Forerunner Warrior-Servants under the Didact's leadership came into contact with the parasite at this time, resulting in the infection of hundreds of their battle fleets. However, once they understood the threat of the Flood posed, they adopted a policy of total extermination and were able to defeat the parasite via sheer firepower. From the few scattered specimens retained for analysis, the Forerunners first learned of the Flood's [[logic plague]], which had corrupted the onboard [[ancilla]]s on the infested fleets.{{Ref/Reuse|s34}} | ||
[[File:H4 - Charum Hakkor.jpg|thumb | [[File:H4 - Charum Hakkor.jpg|thumb|250px|Human ships destroyed above Charum Hakkor.]] | ||
Preceding the final conflict in the wars, humanity made great advances in military and science technology on par with those of the Forerunners, thanks to the efforts of humanity's Political and Morale Commander [[Yprin Yprikushma]], who encouraged humans to study Forerunner technologies from humanity's earlier conflicts with Forerunners.<ref name="pri238">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 237-238''</ref> At the same time, the Forerunner [[Builder]] rate engineered numerous new weapons and vessels for the war effort, increasing their wealth and power by a tremendous degree.{{Ref/Reuse|s34}} | Preceding the final conflict in the wars, humanity made great advances in military and science technology on par with those of the Forerunners, thanks to the efforts of humanity's Political and Morale Commander [[Yprin Yprikushma]], who encouraged humans to study Forerunner technologies from humanity's earlier conflicts with Forerunners.<ref name="pri238">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 237-238''</ref> At the same time, the Forerunner [[Builder]] rate engineered numerous new weapons and vessels for the war effort, increasing their wealth and power by a tremendous degree.{{Ref/Reuse|s34}} | ||
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The human military was eventually pushed back to Charum Hakkor and a few other core systems by the Didact's [[Warrior-Servant]]s. Human forces continually lost star system after system. Eventually, Charum Hakkor was cut off from the rest of the empire by the Didact's [[Forerunner fleet|naval fleets]]. The Forerunners took advantage of their mastery over Slipspace greatly and strategically by cutting off reinforcements and supplies as well as isolating the fortified systems of the human empire. On Charum Hakkor, humanity incorporated Precursor technology into their own designs, constructing formidable fortifications capable of standing up to even the strongest fleets. Among them were [[unbending filament]]s that linked their orbital platforms' defenses. Despite having the combined Forerunner military at his disposal, it took great effort from the Didact to defeat the human resistance and capture the capital. Among the Forerunner casualties were all the Didact's children.<ref name="c138">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 138''</ref> | The human military was eventually pushed back to Charum Hakkor and a few other core systems by the Didact's [[Warrior-Servant]]s. Human forces continually lost star system after system. Eventually, Charum Hakkor was cut off from the rest of the empire by the Didact's [[Forerunner fleet|naval fleets]]. The Forerunners took advantage of their mastery over Slipspace greatly and strategically by cutting off reinforcements and supplies as well as isolating the fortified systems of the human empire. On Charum Hakkor, humanity incorporated Precursor technology into their own designs, constructing formidable fortifications capable of standing up to even the strongest fleets. Among them were [[unbending filament]]s that linked their orbital platforms' defenses. Despite having the combined Forerunner military at his disposal, it took great effort from the Didact to defeat the human resistance and capture the capital. Among the Forerunner casualties were all the Didact's children.<ref name="c138">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 138''</ref> | ||
Although cut off and unable to receive reinforcements from neither the San'Shyuum nor other human systems, the humans held off continuous attacks for | Although cut off and unable to receive reinforcements from neither the San'Shyuum nor other human systems, the humans held off continuous attacks for 53 years. The San 'Shyuum leadership surrendered to the Forerunners at some point during this time, leaving their human allies and the remaining San'Shyuum on Charum Hakkor stranded. The Forerunners offered San 'Shyuum a secret deal to soften their punishment by stripping them of many technologies before reducing and quarantining the population of San 'Shyuum to their home system in exchange for the knowledge and access to the security of Charum Hakkor's defenses. This allowed the Forerunners to breach the impregnable security and land on the planet. The siege might have lasted far longer, even indefinitely, if not for the betrayal of San 'Shyuum. The ground war lasted three years. | ||
When the planet finally fell, a significant number of humans and San 'Shyuum committed suicide rather than being taken prisoner. With the planet's fall, whatever remained of the human empire eventually fell to the enemy forces in the coming years as an effortless mop up.{{Ref/Reuse|c138}} | When the planet finally fell, a significant number of humans and San 'Shyuum committed suicide rather than being taken prisoner. With the planet's fall, whatever remained of the human empire eventually fell to the enemy forces in the coming years as an effortless mop up.{{Ref/Reuse|c138}} | ||
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*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Im}} | *''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Im}} | ||
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||