Editing 2553

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Infobox/Timeline/CE

|caption=[[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadam]] and [[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Hood]] shake hands in the [[Voi Memorial]] ceremony

}}

'''2553''' was a year in the 2550s in the 26th century. It was the first year that saw relative peace for [[human]]ity as the [[Covenant]] ceased to exist following its collapse during the [[Great Schism]] and its [[Battle of the Citadel|defeat]] at the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/opWf5Sug2-Y?t=8m8s ''Halo Wars 2 GAMEPLAY - E3 2016 Interview (Interview with Kevin Grace)''] - ''"The Covenant are dead"''</ref> The end of the war was formalized with a ceremony in March 2553 with a prior [[Treaty of 2552|treaty]] agreed upon between the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] in February 2553. Despite the end of large-scale hostilities and the absence of humanity being threatened with extinction, new factions sprung up in the power vacuum left behind by the ancient empire and new battles followed. 2553 was a year that saw the [[United Nations Space Command]] make major advances in terms of its technological prowess and military capability, despite a lesser reach over the galaxy incurred by the loss of so many colonies and assets during the decades of war. Ex-Covenant societies were faced with the challenge of redefining their purpose in a galaxy that no longer provided them with the rigid structure the hegemony had. Some sought revenge on humans and some on others from the Covenant. Some sought to be left alone and others made grabs for power. And some, such as [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s Swords of Sanghelios, made in-roads with their former enemies for the mutual benefit of all parties.

*At some point before January 7, [[Jun-A266]] visits [[Sarah Palmer]] aboard [[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>

'''January 7'''

*The first class of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]], consisting of 145 volunteers, begin their augmentation procedures.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Spartans'']</ref>

'''January 8'''

*The [[Unified Earth Government]] formally regains its power back from the [[United Nations Space Command]].<ref name="CatalogUEG">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction (Query Answer: Human records indicate transition to noncombatant administrative control <nowiki>[ref: UEG] [January 8, 2553]. No notable adjustment in military [bureaucratic tactical]</nowiki> behavior and scope of authority.)'']</ref> The newly-elected [[President of the Unified Earth Government|president]], Dr. [[Ruth Charet]] gives her inaugural address.<ref>[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><ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/685549382628868096 '''Jessica Shea Twitter''' ''Today in Halo - 1/8/2553'']</ref>

*An [[ONI]] agent known as [[Oberon 5]] interrogates the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Alo Sebukah]], former [[Ministry of Abnegation|Vice Minister of Abnegation]] for the Covenant, at the [[Midnight Facility]].<ref name="lootcrate8">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #8]]''</ref>

'''January 26'''

*The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] black operations cell, [[Kilo-Five]], is formed by [[CINCONI]] [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]].  

'''January 27'''

*Kilo-Five departs [[Earth]] aboard the {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}}.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 79''</ref>

*The [[UNSC Security Council]] takes actions to address the state of [[human]] [[Human colonies|colonies]]. Lord [[Terrence Hood]] plans to journey on a diplomatic mission to surviving worlds in order to discuss plans for reconstruction. Kilo-Five supplies arms to the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] on [[New Llanelli]] in the [[Brunel system]]. The unit also retrieves an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] spy, [[Mike Spenser]], from a UNSC listening post on [[Reynes]]. [[Commander]] [[Musa Ghanem]] holds a meeting with several admirals at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] to discuss the recent creation of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] and the independent branch of the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces, [[Spartan Operations]].{{Ref/Reuse|hi3}}

'''January 31'''

*Dr. [[William Arthur Iqbal]] sends a message to his colleagues concerning the ongoing study of [[Forerunner]] artifacts and the [[Portal at Voi|Excession]] in particular.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref>

[[File:HM-Crew of Onyx.jpg|200px|thumb|'''February 2553''': The survivors of the [[Onyx Conflict]] within the shield world]]

*[[Jul 'Mdama]] joins [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] and the Servants of the Abiding Truth in their opposition to the [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/694237634420297729 '''Jessica Shea Twitter''' ''Today in Halo - 2/1/2553'']</ref>

*[[John-117]] had a psychological monitoring scheduled for this date.<ref name="Background">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBDfIX_Wik ''Youtube'', Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Wake Up, John]</ref>

*Terrence Hood arrives at [[Sanghelios]] to meet with [[Thel 'Vadam]] and to formalize a [[Treaty of 2552|treaty of peace]] between the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. Hood also invites Thel to attend a [[Voi Memorial|memorial ceremony]] on [[Earth]] dedicated to those who died during the war. [[Lucy-B091]] discovers a population of [[Huragok]] within [[Shield World 006]] and the human survivors within the [[shield world]] are able to establish communications with the [[ONI]] ships prowling the debris field of [[Onyx]]. The Huragok bring the shield world into normal space from the [[slipspace bubble]] it was residing in, allowing ONI to retrieve Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], SCPO [[Franklin Mendez]], and the [[Spartan-II]]s and [[SPARTAN-III]]s of [[Blue Team]]. 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 15'''

*Jun-A266  meets with [[Edward Buck]] on [[Sundown]], where the latter had travelled with [[Veronica Dare]] for a vacation while on shore leave. Jun offers Buck the opportunity to join the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]. To Jun's surprise, Buck declines the offer, feeling that accepting would mean abandoning his team and Dare.<ref name="nb49">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 49-55'' (Google Play edition)</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/699269947944382464 '''Twitter''': ''Today in Halo 2/15/2553'']</ref>

*Margaret Parangosky turns 92.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HGC13|Gla|Chapter=13}}

'''February 28'''

*The ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' is stationed at Earth.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'']</ref>

[[File:HM-BloodingYears.jpg|300px|thumb|'''March 2553''': The Servants of the Abiding Truth launch an attack on [[Kolaar Mountain]].]]

*Admiral [[I. Zhou]] submits a full report of the [[URNA Southwest Campaign]], labeled Sequence Log 03-0997.<ref name="loot2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

*John-117 had a interlace synchronization test scheduled for this date.{{Ref/Reuse|Background}}

'''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 to remember those who gave their lives in it. After the ceremony, the ''Shadow of Intent'' departs for [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)#Eulogy|Halo]]''</ref>  

*Dr. Catherine Halsey is interrogated by Admiral Margaret Parangosky on [[Ivanoff Station]].

'''March 16'''

*[[Evan Phillips]] is assigned to an intelligence-gathering mission on Sanghelios.<ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/710159126056165376 '''Jessica Shea's Twitter''' - ''Today in Halo: 3/16/2553'']</ref>

*Kilo-Five travels to [[Venezia]] and meets with [[Mike Spenser]] once again.

*An insurgent attack by [[Jiralhanae]] servants results in the death of dozens of Sangheili in [[Ontom]] on [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 22-23''</ref> 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 arrives at Sanghelios to retrieve Phillips. Upon failing to find Phillips in Ontom, it tracks him to [[Nes'alun Keep]], under attack by forces from the nearby [[Lacalu Keep]]. Phillips is rescued but the Sangheili in the keep are killed by the invaders.

*The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} is launched after receiving its final upgrades with Forerunner technology.

*Forces loyal to the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] launch an assault on [[Vadam]], starting the [[Blooding Years]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 28''</ref> This attack is eventually repelled by the arrival of the UNSC ''Infinity''. During the battle, Jul 'Mdama's wife, [[Raia 'Mdama|Raia]], 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 uses the locals' religious devotion to his own advantage and the result is the start of a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new faction]] devoted to Covenant ideals.<ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/715956593452560385 '''Twitter''': ''Today in Halo 4/1/2553'']</ref>

*Kilo-Five returns to Venezia in order to track down the [[Kig-Yar]] pirate, [[Sav Fel]], and the insurrectionist, [[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.

*Sav Fel sells the {{Pattern|Ket|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]] many years earlier. Fel demonstrates the ship's capabilities by using its [[energy projector]] to glass Forerunner ruins on [[Shaps III]].<ref name="hll22">'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 22-23'' (Google Play edition)</ref> This causes [[Line Installation 444-447]] to send an automated distress signal to [[Covert Support Base 4276]], located on planet [[Gao]] in the nearby [[Cordoba system]]. The distress call awakens the support base's {{Class|archeon|ancilla}}, [[Intrepid Eye]], from stasis. After her requests for a status report, Intrepid Eye attempts to launch a reconnaissance drone, triggering a cave-in which cripples Support Base 4276 almost entirely.<ref name="hll36">'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 36-39'' (Google Play edition)</ref>  

*[[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 their cover story and has them detained and tortured. [[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]] tracks down and boards ''Pious Inquisitor'' with the intent of seizing the ship for itself. Kilo-Five boards ''Pious Inquisitor'' and a skirmish occurs between it 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 had managed to escape.

*Several tourists exploring Gao's [[Montero Cave System]] find themselves miraculously cured of various illnesses and the caves quickly see an influx of sick people hoping for similar miracle cures.<ref name="hll8">'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 8-10'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The cures are actually the work of the [[Lifeworker]] Huragok [[Roams Alone]], attached to Gao's Support Base 4276.{{Ref/Reuse|hll36}}

*Commander [[Murtag Nelson]], a field analyst at an ONI listening post, takes note of strange transmissions emanating from the [[Montero Cave System]] on Gao. Nelson correctly hypothesizes that a Forerunner [[ancilla]] is responding to the bombardment on Shaps III. Admiral Parangosky subsequently gives Nelson command of the [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion]] and tasks them with retrieving the Forerunner AI.{{Ref/Reuse|hll22}}

*[[ONI]]'s [[Materials Group]] forms the [[UNSC Ordnance Commission|Damascus Ordnance Commission]], headed by major defense companies and sponsored by ONI.<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 128''</ref> The commission places several conditions on the use of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] variants.<ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref>

*ONI learns the [[Banished]] had raided an air base formerly belonging to the Covenant on [[Kostroda]], and that its leader, [[Atriox]], had been captured and taken aboard the assault carrier ''[[Enduring Conviction]]''. Twelve hours later, the ''Enduring Conviction'' broke formation and contact with the rest of the [[Fleet of Recalcitrant Ire]]. The ''Conviction'' was hailed and warned by the [[Fleetmaster]] [[Arkad Nar 'Kulul]], and then fired upon when it ignored orders. The ship performed evasive maneuvers, returned fire and escaped. Shortly after this, the ship and its crew, led by [[Let 'Volir]], swore fealty to the Banished.<ref name="RoA3">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] — Rise of Atriox III''</ref>

'''May 14 ''(approximately)'''''

*A UNSC [[task force]] enters the [[Cordoba system]] and requests permission to conduct research in Gao's Montero Cave System. While [[Gao Republic|Gao's planetary government]] initially denies the requests, [[Tejo Aponte|President Aponte]] eventually allows a small research team to land. The UNSC subsequently deploys the 717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion, along with the attached [[Blue Team]], to the [[Montero]] region and declares the caverns off-limits to anyone else.{{Ref/Reuse|hll8}}

*After the UNSC battalion's arrival, several people are found brutally murdered in the Montero Cave System. The murders are the work of the Forerunner ancilla Intrepid Eye, who seeks to generate conflict among the humans in order to force the UNSC to cease its efforts to capture her.{{Ref/Reuse|hll36}}

*A man named [[W. B. Eton]] becomes the handler of [[Catherine Halsey]]'s personal journal and later sends it to someone who was involved in [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]].

*The [[Gao Ministry of Protection]]'s [[Special Inspector]] [[Veta Lopis]] and her team investigates the recent murders in the Montero Cave System.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 5-6'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The Huragok, [[Roams Alone]], is spotted and attacked by the UNSC marine, Private [[Hayes]]. [[Intrepid Eye]] kills he and Major [[Ira Halal]] and discovers a fragment of [[Wendell]], an AI created specifically for [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE]]. Veta Lopis learns that the UNSC's investigation on the planet concerns a [[Forerunner]] [[ancilla]]. [[Gao]] [[Minister of Protection]] [[Arlo Casille]] meets with the [[dokab]] [[Castor]] of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] and [[Reza Linberk]] of the [[Venezian militia]] to plan a coup against [[President of the Gao Republic|President]] [[Tejo Aponte]].

*Blue Team destroys [[Covert Support Base 4276]] with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]], having successfully captured the Forerunner ancilla [[Intrepid Eye]]. With the UNSC forces withdrawing and the majority of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] task force killed, the [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|situation on Gao]] is stabilized; however, the colony is left under a staunchly anti-UEG administration headed by President [[Arlo Casille]].<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', Chapter 28</ref> Spartans [[Ash-G099]], [[Olivia-G291]], and [[Mark-G313]] are reassigned to an ONI [[Ferret]] unit led by Veta Lopis, Admiral Parangosky having deemed public knowledge of [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]'s [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM|brain mutations]] too dangerous.<ref name="hll330">'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', Chapter 28, ''pages 330-331'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

*Spartans [[Lucy-B091]] and [[Tom-B292]] are assigned to [[Spartan Operations]].<ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2988772_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2988772 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 38'']</ref>

*The official status of Ash-G099, Olivia-G291, and Mark-G313 is changed to [[killed in action]] during [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE]]{{Ref/Reuse|hll330}} as part of the ONI cover-up of Gamma Company.{{Ref/Reuse|catalog}}

*The [[San'Shyuum]] [[prelates|prelate]], [[Tem'Bhetek]], and the [[Ministry of Preparation|Minister of Preparation]], [[Boru'a'Neem]], seek revenge against the [[Sangheili]] for the losses they incurred during the [[Great Schism]]. They hatch a plot to use a [[prototype Halo installation]] to commit genocide on [[Sanghelios]]. Blaming Rtas 'Vadum personally for the loss of his wife, the prelate attempts to draw him in so he can capture his ship by attacking two Sangheili colonies, [[Rahnelo]] and [[Duraan]]. The efforts of the San'shyuum are thwarted by 'Vadum and the crew of the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and Tem realizes that he has been lied to and used by the Minister of Preparation. He ultimately gives his life to destroy the Halo ring.<ref name="SoI79">'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''pages 79-80'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

*Veta Lopis and her Ferret Team are stationed at [[UNSC Recreational Facility 6055-NA-A]] on [[Neos Atlantis]] to participate in a training exercise that turns into a fight for their lives as they fall under attack by [[Dark Moon Enterprises]]. However, with [[Spencer Hume]] and [[Ota Gallo]] dead, ONI is able to avert a crippling public relations crisis.<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[A Necessary Truth]]"</ref>

*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>

*The ONI probe delivery drone dispatched in March arrives at [[Installation 00]] and deploys its probes. After initial transmissions confirm the Ark's survival, all of the probes go offline.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd c2}}

*The UNSC commissions the {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}}, a ship equipped with state-of-the-art Forerunner slipspace drive technology, [[remote contact team]]s and survey drones, for a manned mission to the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|hitd c2}}

{{Ref/Sources|2}}