Editing Ark

{{Era|Forerunner|HCW}}
'''Ark''' is a name given to two massive [[Forerunner]] installations, both designed with the primary purpose of manufacturing [[Halo Array|Halo rings]].<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''' ''page 343'' (''"...one of the two Arks that had created them in the first place."'')</ref><ref>'''Halo: Primordium''' ''page 375'' (''"...neither of the Arks were manufacturing Halos..."'')</ref> Situated [[Intergalactic space|outside]] the [[Milky Way|Milky Way galaxy]], they also served as [[Lifeworker]] research facilities, as well as conservational preserves for the numerous species of the galaxy, indexed by the Forerunners during the [[Conservation Measure]].<ref name="c273">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 273-275''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 372-373''</ref> The Arks were shaped like massive flowers, consisting of several curved arms, similar to the petals of a flower, surrounding a circular [[Foundry|Halo construction foundry]] in the center.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 371''</ref>

Two Arks existed during the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]; the [[greater Ark]], which produced the original array of Halos 30,000 kilometers in diameter, and [[Installation 00]] or the lesser Ark, which produced a newer series of rings each 10,000 kilometers in diameter. Both of these constructs are known to have been distinctly referred to as "the Ark"; originally, the term was more commonly applied to the greater Ark, whereas the lesser Ark and its newer, more efficient array of Halos was kept a well-guarded secret among Forerunners. With the greater Ark [[Battle of the greater Ark|destroyed]] in the final days of the Flood war,<ref>'''Halo Silentium'''</ref> the lesser Ark remained as the only Ark installation and is as such commonly known as "the Ark".<ref>'''Halo 3'''</ref>

==History==
[[File:H3_Installation00_Full.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Installation 00]], the lesser Ark.]]
{{Main|Halo Array#History|l1=History of the Halo Array}}

The greater Ark was created some time following the end of the [[human-Forerunner wars]], when an extreme faction of [[Builders]], led by [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]], began working on the first Halo rings as their solution to the [[Flood]] threat. However, due to opposition by the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] and the rest of the [[Promethean]]s, the construction of the Halos was delayed for thousands of years. After the Master Builder successfully eliminated his opposition and work on the Halos commenced, the [[Librarian]] went before the [[Ecumene Council]] and invoked the [[Mantle]], stating that a contingency plan was needed for galactic life in the event the Halo installations were ever used. This plan, known as the [[Conservation Measure]], entailed the incorporation of extensive biological preserves on the facilities of the Array, including the Halos and the Arks.<ref name="c273"/> The Builders saw this as an agreeable compromise as the inclusion of Lifeworker conservation preserves mitigated the otherwise destructive purpose of the Halos in the eyes of the Council and allowed them to compete with the Didact's [[shield world]]s.<ref name="s44">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 44-45''</ref>

The first Ark ultimately constructed twelve Halo rings, each 30,000 kilometers in diameter, designed by the [[guild]] of [[Bornstellar's father]].<ref name="c273"/> However, the deficiencies with the greater Ark and its Halos were soon noted among the Builders, one of the most major being the excessive size of the original rings which made them unwieldy to transport and prone to instability. While plans were made for smaller, more efficient Halos, the greater Ark's Foundry was found to be incapable of producing installations of a different size. The Master Builder was reluctant to admit the shortcomings of the greater Ark and even had its critics persecuted, but eventually yielded and commissioned the creation of a second Ark and with it smaller but more powerful Halos; this construct was known as the lesser Ark, or Installation 00. While plans for the second Ark were created fairly early on, its construction was delayed for some time by the Council out of fear of making the Builders too powerful to be controlled.<ref name="s44"/> Despite the in many ways more impressive technology incorporated to the lesser Ark,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 311-312''</ref> Faber would always regard the original Ark and its Halos as his prize project.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 270''</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
**''[[Petra]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' 
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''

==See also==
* [[List of references to religion in the Halo series]]
==Sources==
<references/>

{{Forerunner|array}}
[[Category:Forerunner installations]]