Editing Anodyne Spirit

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}

{{disambig header|the Covenant-controlled keyship|the warship class|Forerunner dreadnought}}

|name=Forerunner Dreadnought

|manufacturer=

|class=[[Keyship]]

|role=Activating portals,<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[The Storm]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 3''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminals]]''</ref> carrying indexed lifeforms, [[flagship]]

|length={{Convert|11.41|km|mi}}

|width={{Convert|13.18|km|mi}}

|height={{Convert|14|km|mi}}

|engine=Capable of powering all of [[High Charity]] while not at full generating capacity

|slipspace drive=Equipped

|armament=Various weapons installed by the San'Shyuum (before demilitarization)<ref name="hbc weapons">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 12''</ref>

*[[Energy projector]]<ref name="hbc weapons"/>

|firstuse=[[Forerunner-Flood war]] {{C|at least [[100,000 BCE]]}}

|lastsight=[[2552#November|November 2552]]

|destroyed=[[Battle of Installation 00]]

|battles=[[Battle of Earth]]

|fleet=[[Truth's fleet]]

|captains=[[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]

{{Quote|My Dreadnought, the vessel that has so long been the focus of our worship, now rests on its [[The Portal|true pedestal]]. Even now, its engines spark greater ones below, relics long without power, yet ready to fulfill their divine purpose. Stand fast! Keep our enemies at bay! Soon, my brothers, we will all have our reward!|[[Prophet of Truth]] to his troops during the [[Battle of Earth]].<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref>}}

The '''Forerunner Dreadnought''', colloquially known as the '''Forerunner ship''', was the [[Covenant]] name for a [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]] originally discovered by the [[San'Shyuum]] on their homeworld, [[Janjur Qom]].<ref name="Halo3Six">'''Halo 3''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal Six]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal Four]]''</ref>  

The keyships were a large part of the Forerunner strategy against the [[Flood]], as they were the only vessels capable of activating [[slipspace portal]]s to reach [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. One of these keyships, later known as the Dreadnought to the Covenant, would later be found and used by the San'Shyuum, and would later become an integral part of the [[Covenant religion]], as well as power for the Covenant holy city, [[High Charity]]. Featuring a power generation capacity and shielding unparalleled by human or Covenant technology, the ship was used as the [[flagship]] of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] in the final battles of the [[Human-Covenant War]].

===Forerunner-Flood war===

During the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], keyships were used by the [[Librarian]] to index and catalog life in the galaxy and transport it to [[Installation 00]]. The Librarian, however, destroyed her keyships to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Flood, who with them, would be able to instantaneously travel to the Ark, rendering the [[Halo Array]] useless. Near the end of the war, the keyships were part of a strategy to hold off the [[Flood]] for nearly 79 years, although this advantage would be foiled by the massive computing power of the Flood.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal Five]]''</ref>

After the activation of the Array, several keyships automatically were sent out into the galaxy, containing numerous specimens of various alien races, to ensure that life would go on. One of these vessels re-seeded life to the [[San'Shyuum]] homeworld [[Janjur Qom]]. As the keyship departed for Janjur Qom, a fragment of [[Mendicant Bias]] escaped onto the keyship. After the keyship arrived at the planet and re-seeded the San'Shyuum, Mendicant Bias attempted to take control of the vessel and travel to [[Earth]] to make amends for the crimes it committed against the [[Forerunner]]s during the Forerunner-Flood war by aiding [[human]]ity. However, an unknown complication occurred and the keyship crashed onto the surface of Janjur Qom.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/mendicant-bias '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Mendicant Bias'']</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 27'' (2011 edition)</ref> After the [[Human-Covenant War]], ancient [[Covenant]] records which may contain information on this matter were researched jointly by human and [[Sangheili]] scholars on [[Sanghelios]].<ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (page 14)]</ref>

{{Main|San'Shyuum Schism}}

Over several millennia, the Forerunner Dreadnought became partially buried in rock and submerged below the [[Great Apothtea]], an immense sea off the coast of Janjur Qom's main continent. Early in the history of the San'Shyuum, before [[2200 BCE]], the species discovered and partially uncovered the Forerunner Dreadnought on their homeworld and began to worship it.<ref name="waypoint qom">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/janjur-qom '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Janjur Qom'']</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 86'' (Google Play edition)</ref> These early worshippers were split over the usage of the ship, as the [[Stoics]] refused to enter the vessel, while the radical [[Reformists]] wished to explore it. The division in San'Shyuum society led to the violent [[San'Shyuum Schism]]. During the climax of the civil war, around one thousand Reformists stormed the Dreadnought and barricaded themselves inside. The Reformists occasionally raided Stoic territory to collect and stock the ship with plants, wood, seeds, and other goods from the planet, and made preparations to depart Janjur Qom.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 57'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Eventually, the Reformists commandeered the keyship and left Janjur Qom, taking a gigantic piece of the planet with them.<ref name="ch262">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 262''</ref>

The massive crater left behind on Janjur Qom was filled in by the Apothtea sea.<ref name="waypoint qom"/> The Stoics watched as the Dreadnought left them behind, but they were unwilling to fire upon the object of their reverence, and grudgingly allowed the Reformists to leave. Though, the Stoics did send them messages warning them that they would be damned by the "gods" for their theft of the vessel.<ref name="ch262"/> Utilizing some of the terminals located about the Dreadnought, the San'Shyuum solidified their [[Covenant religion|religion]] and realized the Path to the Great Journey. However, they had mistranslated the terminals and incorrectly believed that activating the Halo Array would initiate the Journey.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 118'' (2011 edition)</ref> With the help of the Forerunner technology from the Dreadnought, the Reformists were able to survive and travel the galaxy.<ref name="enc120">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 120'' (2011 edition)</ref>

===San'Shyuum-Sangheili War===

{{Main|San'Shyuum-Sangheili War}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - Ancient Arbiter 4.jpg|thumb|250px|An Arbiter overlooks the Forerunner Dreadnought on Ulgethon]]

The massive piece of rock taken from Janjur Qom was later refitted into the rocky dome of [[High Charity]], along with the Dreadnought atop it. The San'Shyuum eventually encountered the [[Sangheili]], who also had familiarity with Forerunner technology. The Dreadnought landed on the Sangheili [[Sangheili colonies|frontier colony]] of [[Ulgethon]], and San'Shyuum diplomats were sent to meet with the Sangheili, led by an [[Arbiter]]. The San'Shyuum believed that incorporating Forerunner technology was allowed by their religion. To the Sangheili, such a thing would have been unthinkable. The opposing beliefs led to [[San'Shyuum-Sangheili War|war]], and the Dreadnought left the world, after the San'Shyuum discovered that the Arbiter had killed the diplomats.<ref>'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal 6]]''</ref>

During the war, the Sangheili had an early advantage, with each warrior comparable in skill to ten San'Shyuum in battle. However, the San'Shyuum's technological superiority, and possession of the Forerunner Dreadnought, meant that they had the advantage in space.<ref name="ch145">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 145-148''</ref> The San'Shyuum installed a number of weapons on the keyship, powered by the ship's immense power generation capability.<ref name="hbc weapons"/> The San'Shyuum used the weaponized keyship to great effect in devastating hit-and-run strikes against the Sangheili fleets.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 30''</ref> During a [[Skirmish of the Planet of Blue and Red|skirmish]] at the [[Planet of Blue and Red]] in [[860 BCE]], the Dreadnought was used to eliminate Sangheili ground forces from orbit.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 9-13'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Eventually, the Sangheili were forced to amend their position of the treatment of Forerunner technologies and began incorporating elements into their own designs.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 151''</ref>

Additionally, the San'Shyuum were able to weaponize the Dreadnought's own contingent of [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s to serve them in combat. By the time the war ended, these Sentinels had been wiped out almost entirely, only a select few having been preserved aboard the keyship.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 189''</ref>

Eventually, in order to ensure the survival of both races, the two races merged to form the early Covenant with the San'Shyuum as the head religious leaders and the [[Sangheili]] as their protectors, and head of the military.<ref name="ch145"/>

[[File:H2A Terminals - High Charity construction.jpg|thumb|250px|left|High Charity under construction]]

The two races then penned the [[Writ of Union]], which formally established the Covenant, and decommissioned the Forerunner warship, removing all known weapons, and placing it within the partially completed High Charity. It was then used to power the city, with its engines at partial power.<ref name="ch145"/><ref name="h2high">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref> The Dreadnought then became the purview of the [[Asceticism|ascetic priests]], who studied the vessel's systems and tended to the Oracle, in fact a fragment of the [[Rampancy|rampant]] Forerunner [[ancilla]] 05-032 Mendicant Bias.<ref name="ch269">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 269-271''</ref>

After the [[Taming of the Lekgolo]], the Prophets used the newly incorporated [[Lekgolo]] to explore Forerunner relics, and after ages of experimenting on lesser relics, finally worked up the courage to explore the Dreadnought's pathways. At first, these explorations were slow and deliberate, as the priests feared damaging the Dreadnought or offending the Oracle. But with no response from the Oracle, the priests began to continue the explorations until the practice became common place, often with the aid of [[Huragok]].<ref name="ch269"/> Afterwards, at least twenty [[Mgalekgolo]] remained on guard around the Dreadnought.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 267''</ref>

[[File:H2A - Lower districts.jpg|thumb|250px|The keyship gave power to the whole Covenant holy city]]

When the [[Flood]] attacked High Charity at the end of the [[Battle of Installation 05]], [[John-117]] was on his way to stop the High Prophet of Truth from escaping. He was able to board the ship as Truth uncoupled it from the city's power grid by narrowly making it through a conduit and into the opening it connected to. The Forerunner Dreadnought lifted off, and jumped into slipspace in the midst of a large battle between the Jiralhanae-led Covenant, [[Swords of Sanghelios|Sangheili-led Covenant]], and the Flood.<ref name="h2high"/>

===Battle of Earth===

Five days after leaving High Charity (infected by the [[Flood]]), the Dreadnought arrived in [[Sol system]].<ref name="bnet">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 01/23/09 '']</ref> While the Dreadnought was passing [[Jupiter]], [[John-117]], onboard the ship, was contacted by [[Io Station|a station]] on [[Io]], but after going into radio silence, he killed four [[Unggoy]], a pair of [[Kig-Yar]] and then another group of four Unggoy. It is unknown what happened immediately afterward, but soon, the Spartan was found unconscious by a group of [[Jiralhanae]]. The Jiralhanae interrogated him, asking him where the [[Key of Osanalan]] was, but the Spartan managed to escape by sticking his captor with a plasma grenade.

Now aware of the immediate threat within his ship, Truth ordered a jump deeper in the system, straight to Earth, where the battle was still raging between the battered remains of the UNSC fleet and Truth's forces.<ref>'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''The Long Road Home''</ref> As the Dreadnought transitioned from Slipspace, now in range of Earth's [[orbital defense platform]]s, [[Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Hood]] was about to give the order to attack the ship. He only stopped because he found out that the Master Chief was aboard. The Keyship, leading the [[Truth's fleet|Covenant loyalist fleet]], eventually broke through Earth's already-weakened defenses, and headed for Earth.

Nine days after the ship's arrival in the system,<ref name="bnet"/> the Dreadnought entered Earth's atmosphere. John-117 jumped from the ship as it continued descending, using a hatch as a heat shield, and falling two kilometers into the African jungle near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]]. The Dreadnought continued its descent and landed on the [[Portal at Voi|Portal]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], which the Covenant fleet was excavating.

After activating the portal, the Dreadnought entered it and landed on the Ark. It did not take part in the [[Battle of Installation 00|battle]], instead flying to the Ark of its own accord.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref> Truth was untroubled by this automated action, but unbeknownst to him the Keyship was reuniting the last fragment of Mendicant Bias' compound mind to the rest of itself kept on the Ark. Mendicant Bias managed to successfully contact John-117 through a series of [[Terminal/Halo 3|terminals]], seeking atonement for the Forerunners. The Dreadnought was destroyed when the Master Chief prematurely activated [[Installation 04B]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 50'' (''"Unfortunately for the Covenant, the Ark and the Dreadnought were both subsequently destroyed by the Master Chief."'')</ref>

{{clear}}

==Trivia==

*In the ''[[Halo: Uprising|Halo Uprising]]'' comic series, almost every background on the Dreadnought was modeled after a location in ''Halo 2''. For example, the Dreadnought's hangar bay looks identical to the [[Threshold]] [[Threshold gas mine|gas mine]] hangar bay in ''[[Halo 2]]'', including a docked [[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraph]]. In addition, areas identical to the [[Valleys of Tears]] as well as the [[High Council Chamber]] in High Charity can be seen. This may be a case of artistic interpretation by the artist to capture the look of Forerunner and Covenant architectures.

*Originally, a level referred to as [[forerunnership]]<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=25650 '''Bungie.net''': ''One Final Effort'']</ref> was supposed to take place on the vessel right after defeating [[Tartarus]] in the level [[The Great Journey]] in ''[[Halo 2]]''. The level was cut due to time constraints.<ref>'''[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]]''', ''Essentials Disc Two, Halo 2 Cutscene Commentary''</ref>

File:H2-ForerunnerDreadnoughtKeyship.png|The Keyship as it appears in ''Halo 2''.

File:H3-DreadnoughtKeyship-02.png|The Keyship viewed from another angle in ''Halo 3''.

File:Dreadnought Interior.jpg|The interior of the ship.

File:H2A Terminals - Sangheili before Prophets.png|The Dreadnought as seen in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' terminals.

File:H5G-Dreadnought worship mural.png|A mural inside the [[Elder Council Chamber]] on [[Sanghelios]] representing Covenant worship of the Dreadnought.

File:H5G-Dreadnoght mural 2.png|Another mural featuring the Dreadnought.  

**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''

*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''

{{Reflist|2}}