Editing 2553

{{Era|HCW|Post}}{{Timeline|previous=2552|next=2554}}

{{New Content|[[Halo: Retribution]]}}

'''2553''' was the first year that the [[Covenant]] ceased to exist in a meaningful way following its collapse during the [[Great Schism]] at the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. The war formally came to an end in March of 2553 with a [[Treaty of 2552|treaty]] agreed upon between the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. 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.

*'''January 1''': After days of no indications that they were soon to be rescued following the destruction of [[Glyke]] and the {{UNSCship|Vacuna}}, [[Gray Team]] enters [[cryostasis]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Envoy]]''', ''Chapter 12''</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 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><ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/685549382628868096 '''Jessica Shea Twitter''' ''Today in Halo - 1/8/2553'']</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>

*'''January 27-31''': 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 [[UNSC Armed Forces]], [[Spartan Operations]].<ref name="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|right|'''February 2553''': The survivors of the [[Onyx Conflict]] within the shield world]]

*'''February 1''': [[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>

*'''February 1-15''': 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>

*'''February 19''': [[000 Tragic Solitude]] begins to research and catalog the myriad [[Flood]] forms and reflects on the uncomfortable truth the parasite exemplifies.<ref name="AUT">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] — An Uncomfortable Truth Part 1''</ref>

*'''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|right|'''March 2553''': The Servants of the Abiding Truth launch an attack on [[Kolaar Mountain]].]]

*[[Andrew Del Rio]] is chosen as the [[commanding officer]] of the {{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 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> 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>

*'''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>

*An insurgent attack by [[Jiralhanae]] servants results 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]].

*'''March 22''': The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} is launched after receiving its final upgrades with Forerunner technology.

*'''April 1''': 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>

*'''April 5''': 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.

*'''April 14''': Sav Fel sells the {{Class|CCS|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>  

*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 name="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 name="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>

*'''May 6''': ONI learns the [[Banished]] had raided an air base formerly belonging to the Covenant, 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 its fleet. The ''Conviction'' was hailed, warned, 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 7''': The research and development vessel ''[[Argent Moon]]'' is commissioned by ONI.<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/argent-moon '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Argent Moon'']</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 name="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 name="hll36"/>

[[File:HM-Gao.png|thumb|right|250px|'''July 4, 2553''': The Battle of Wendosa.]]

*'''July 2''': 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]].

*'''July 3''': Members of Blue Team accompany Lopis and her partner, [[Cirilo]] in a search for the missing Halal and Hayes. They arrive at their location and discover their corpses. Fred recovers the fragment of Wendell from Halal's damaged TACPAD and places him in his helmet's data chip. While investigating the scene, Cirilo finds a trail of blood from Roams Alone and the team resolves to follow it.  

*'''July 4''': Intrepid Eye directs Aggressor Sentinels to attack the humans and though they destroy the Sentinels, Cirilo is killed and Olivia-G291's legs are badly wounded. Veta Lopis learns of [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]'s [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM|unique augmentations]] and places them, [[Mark-G313]] in particular, at the top of her list of suspects for the murders. The humans are met by Roams Alone, who they agree to take with them back to the surface. The Keepers launch [[Battle of Wendosa|an attack]] on [[Wendosa]], believing that Intrepid Eye is in the town. The group also dispatches forces into the caverns which come into conflict with Veta and the Spartans.

*'''July 5''': Fred-104 captures Intrepid Eye with a [[scramble grenade]]. The ancilla escapes and is pursued by the UNSC and Keepers alike and is eventually recaptured by he, Olivia, and Ash. Fred boards a [[UH-144 Falcon]] with the ancilla but is shot down. Veta Lopis attacks [[Castor]] and wounds him before the [[Jiralhanae]] can harm Fred. The 717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion's Alpha Company arrives at their location to fend off the Keepers.

*'''July 6''': 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>

[[File:HM - SOI.jpg|thumb|right|200px|'''September 2553''': Tem'Bhetek engages Rtas 'Vadum and [[Tul 'Juran]] aboard the ''Shadow of Intent''.]]

*The official status of Ash-G099, Olivia-G291, and Mark-G313 is changed to [[killed in action]] during [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE]]<ref name="hll330"/> as part of the ONI cover-up of Gamma Company.<ref name="catalog"/>

*'''October 14''': 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>

*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 name="hitd c2"/>

*'''December 1''':

*'''December 6''': [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Graselyn Tuwa]] is discovered killed aboard the {{UNSCShip|Donoma}}, with her family having been abducted.  

*'''December 8''': The Office of Naval Intelligence sends Veta Lopis' Ferret Team to find her killer and rescue her family.

*'''December 12''': [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] operative [[Veta Lopis]] and her team of [[Spartan-III]] [[Ferret]]s are present at [[Trattoria Georgi]] in [[New Tyne]], [[Venezia]], as part of a mission.<ref>''[[Halo: Retribution]]'' ''Chapter 1''</ref>

*'''December 16''':

*'''December 21''': Two ONI agents, '[[D]]' and '[[S]]', speculate which are Atriox's motivations after the demise of the Covenant empire.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''' - ''Phoenix Logs: Rise of Atriox IV''</ref>

 

*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 name="hitd c2"/>

*At some point before the ship's official launch, a [[New Colonial Alliance]] strike force led by [[Ilsa Zane]] [[Raid on UNSC Infinity|infiltrates]] the {{UNSCship|Infinity}} and briefly commandeers the [[flagship]], but is defeated by the five [[Spartan-IV]]s aboard the vessel at the time.<ref name="hi3">'''Halo: Initiation''', ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

{{reflist|2}}