Editing 2553

{{Era|HCW}}
{{References}}
{{Timeline}}
'''2553''' was the first year that saw relative peace for [[human]]ity and the some of the disparate member species of the collapsed [[Covenant]] following the twenty-eight years of [[Human-Covenant War|interstellar war]].

==Events==
===January===
*Dr. [[Ruth Charet]] gives her inaugural address after her election as [[President of the Unified Earth Government]].<ref name>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/headline/the-halo-bulletin-101211-exclusive-book-excerpt-glasslands/280887 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Glasslands'' excerpt, Chapter 2]</ref>
*[[Jun-A266]] visits [[Sarah Palmer]] in the [[Lockhart medical station|''Lockhart'' medical station]] to recruit her into the nascent [[SPARTAN-IV program]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Initiation]]''', ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref>
*[[Edward Buck]] and [[Veronica Dare]] travel to [[Sundown]] for a vacation together while on shore leave. Near the end of their vacation, Jun-A266 met with Buck and offered him the opportunity to join the first class of the new SPARTAN-IV program. To Jun's surprise, Buck declined the offer, as he felt that he might have to abandon his team and Dare.<ref name="nb49">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 49-55'' (Google Play edition)</ref>
*'''January 7''': The first class of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]], consisting of 145 volunteers, is initiated.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Spartans'']</ref>
*A [[New Colonial Alliance]] strike force led by [[Ilsa Zane]] [[Raid on UNSC Infinity|infiltrates UNSC ''Infinity'']] and briefly commandeers the new UNSC flagship before the attack is driven back by the newly-created SPARTAN-IVs aboard the ship.<ref name="hi3">'''Halo: Initiation''', ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>
*'''January 26''': The black ops cell [[Kilo-Five]] is formed by CINCONI, Admiral [[Margaret Parangosky]]. Its members include [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Serin Osman]], [[Naomi-010]], and several [[ODST]]s. Because of Parangosky's distrust of the [[Sangheili]], she sends Kilo-Five on a mission to cause insurrection between the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] led by [[Thel 'Vadam]] and the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]].
*'''January 27''': Kilo-Five depart for their first mission aboard {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}}.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 79''</ref>
*The [[UNSC Security Council]] begins the reconstruction of the colonies. Lord Hood plans a diplomatic mission to surviving UEG colonies to discuss plans for reconstruction.
*Kilo-Five supplies arms to the Servants of Abiding Truth on [[New Llanelli]] in the [[Brunel system]].
*Kilo-Five retrieves ONI spy [[Mike Spenser]] from a UNSC listening post on [[Reynes]].
*[[Commander]] [[Musa-096]] holds a meeting of several admirals at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] to discuss the creation of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] and the [[Spartan (branch)|Spartans]] as their own military branch.<ref name="hi3"/>
*'''January 31''': Dr. [[William Arthur Iqbal]] sends a message to his colleagues concerning the ongoing study of [[Forerunner]] artifacts.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref>

===February===
*[[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] arrives at [[Sanghelios]] to meet with [[Thel 'Vadam]] to formalize a treaty of peace between the humans and the Sangheili. Hood also invites Thel to attend the memorial ceremony dedicated to those who died during the war.
*After [[Lucy-B091]] discovers a population of [[Huragok]] within [[Trevelyan|Shield World 006]], the Huragok assist the human survivors in establishing communications with the ONI ships prowling the debris field of [[Onyx]]. The Huragok soon bring the shield world into normal space from the slipspace bubble, thus allowing the ONI vessels to retrieve [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], SCPO [[Franklin Mendez]] and the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] of [[Blue Team]]. Per an order from Admiral Parangosky, Dr. Halsey is arrested by Captain Serin Osman.
*ONI dispatches science teams to recover Forerunner technologies from the shield world, designating the sphere as [[Trevelyan|ONI Research Facility Trevelyan]] at Dr. Halsey's request.
*[[Jul 'Mdama]] is captured by Kilo-Five and is transported to ONIRF Trevelyan.
*'''February 28''': ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' remains stationed on Earth for a diplomatic mission.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref>

===March===
*[[Andrew Del Rio]] is chosen as the [[commanding officer]] of the experimental vessel {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref name = "ThursdayWar">''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''</ref>
*'''March 3''': In a ceremony presided over by [[Lord Hood]], a [[Voi Memorial|monument]] is erected in the [[Kenya]]n savannah near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] to officially mark the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]], and in remembrance of those who gave their lives in the war, including [[John-117]], who is labeled [[MIA]] and is (presumably) posthumously promoted to [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]. A full military detail, led by [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] and including [[Private First Class|PFC]] [[Chips Dubbo]], deliver a [[Wikipedia:Three-volley salute|three volley salute]] to the fallen. All the remaining SPARTAN-II super-soldiers are present for the ceremony. After the ceremony, [[Thel 'Vadam]] and his comrades depart [[Earth]] for their homeworld, [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)#Eulogy|Halo]]''</ref>
*Dr. Catherine Halsey is interrogated by Admiral Margaret Parangosky at [[Ivanoff Station]].
*[[Evan Phillips]] is assigned on an intelligence-gathering mission on Sanghelios.
*Kilo-Five travel to the Insurrectionist-controlled colony [[Venezia]] and meet with the local ONI contact, [[Mike Spenser]].
*Insurgent attacks, carried out by [[Jiralhanae]] servants, result in the death of dozens of Sangheili in [[Ontom]] on [[Sanghelios]].<ref name = "ThursdayWar"/> During the attack, Evan Phillips and a fragment of [[Black-Box]] make their way into the [[Temple of the Abiding Truth]]. Eventually, Phillips activates a [[slipspace translocation|translocation portal]] within the structure and is transported to [[Acroli]].
*Kilo-Five arrive at Sanghelios to retrieve Phillips. Upon failing to find Phillips in Ontom, they track him down to Acroli, specifically the [[Nes'alun Keep]], under attack by forces from the nearby [[Lacalu Keep]]. Phillips is rescued while the Sangheili in the keep are killed by the invaders.
*{{UNSCShip|Infinity}} is installed further Forerunner upgrades, most notably the ship's slipspace drive, by Dr. Catherine Halsey and a number of Huragok recovered from ONIRF Trevelyan.
*Forces loyal to the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] launch an assault on [[Vadam]], starting the [[Sangheili civil war]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 28''</ref> This attack is eventually repelled by the arrival of UNSC ''Infinity''. During the orbital battle between 'Vadam's forces and the Sangheili insurgents, Jul 'Mdama's wife, [[Raia 'Mdama]], is killed.
*Jul 'Mdama escapes captivity on Trevelyan via a slipspace portal. He is transported to [[Hesduros]], where he is welcomed by the local Sangheili as a messenger of the gods. Jul plans to use the locals' religious devotion to his own advantage, banding them together to form a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|new splinter group]] of Covenant.
*Admiral Parangosky approves the deployment of an automated probe delivery craft to [[Installation 00]] using advanced slipspace technology.<ref name="hitd c2">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', Chapter 2</ref>

===April===
'''April 5'''
*Kilo-Five return to Venezia in order to continue their mission of tracking down the [[Kig-Yar]] pirate [[Sav Fel]] and the terrorist [[Staffan Sentzke]].
*Serin Osman is promoted to [[Rear admiral (lower half)|Rear Admiral]] and a small party is held aboard ''Port Stanley'' in her honor by Kilo-Five.
'''April 12-13'''
*Sav Fel sells the [[CCS-class battlecruiser|Covenant battlecruiser]] ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'' to Staffan Sentzke, who intends to use the ship to force UEG authorities to provide answers about the disappearance of [[Naomi-010|his daughter]].
*[[Vasily Beloi]] and [[Malcolm Geffen]] infiltrate the Venezian militia in order to gather information about Sentzke and ''Pious Inquisitor''. Following a series of suspicious incidents, Sentzke begins to doubt the ODSTs' cover story of deserters and has them captured and tortured. However, [[Naomi-010]] and [[Lian Devereaux]] eventually arrive and successfully extract Mal and Vaz. During the rescue, Sentzke is also taken captive aboard ''Port Stanley''.
*A [[Kig-Yar]] crew led by [[Shipmistress]] [[Chol Von]] track down and board ''Pious Inquisitor'' with the intent of seizing the ship for themselves.
*Kilo-Five board ''Pious Inquisitor'' and a skirmish occurs between them and the Kig-Yar. Chol Von eventually has her crew destroy the ship. Staffan Sentzke is presumed dead in the ensuing explosion, but he actually manages to escape without ONI's knowledge.

===May===
*The [[Ordnance Commission]], headed by the major defense companies and sponsored by ONI, establishes several conditions on the use of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] variants.<ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref>

===August===
*Spartans [[Lucy-B091]] and [[Tom-B292]] (serving under the Spartan branch) are assigned to a classified location.<ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2988772_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2988772 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 38'']</ref>

===September===
*The status of Spartans [[Ash-G099]], [[Olivia-G291]], and [[Mark-G313]] is changed from [[missing in action]] to [[killed in action]].<ref name="catalog"/>

===November===
*A pioneer group arrives at [[Reach]] to prepare for the planet's eventual reterraforming,<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218 ''Halo Waypoint'' - '''Catalog Interaction (Page 43)''']</ref> an undertaking that would be well underway by [[2589]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref>
*The ONI probe delivery drone dispatched in March arrives at Installation 00 and deploys its probes. After initial transmissions confirming the Ark's survival, all of the probes go offline.<ref name="hitd c2"/>

===December===
*The UNSC commissions the {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}}, a ship equipped with state-of-the-art Forerunner slipspace drive technology, remote contact teams and survey drones, for a manned mission to the Ark.<ref name="hitd c2"/>

===Unknown date===
*[[Gabriel Thorne]]'s grandfather dies.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''' - ''Issue #7''</ref>
*[[Big M Studio]], a company that deals with collectible items and replicas, is established.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition]]''' - ''Noble team Statue Instructions''</ref>

==Sources==
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