Editing Battle of Installation 00

{{disambig header|the final battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]|other battles on Installation 00|Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation)}}

{{Battle infobox

|conc=[[Operation: SUNSPEAR]]

|name=Battle of Installation 00

|image=[[File:H3 LesserArkConflict.png|400px]]

|date= [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Fortitude|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/a/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Hero-Fortitude|D=9|M=5|Y=2012|local=Heroes Never Die#Hero-Fortitude}}

|result= '''Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]/[[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] victory'''

*End of the [[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}

|commanders3=[[Gravemind]]†

|forces1=[[Fleet of Retribution]]/[[Seventh Fleet]]

**1 [[Sangheili]] [[battle group]]{{Ref/Note|Id=composition|See [[Fleet of Retribution#Notes|here]].}}

***1+ {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**[[Battle Group Victory]]

*Many air vehicles

**Numerous [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] fighters{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

***[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**Numerous [[AV-14 Hornet]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**Many [[Seraph|T-31 Seraph]] fighters

***{{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

*Many ground forces

**1 [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II supersoldier]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**[[Forerunner automated turret|Automated turrets]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

*[[Mendicant Bias]]

**1+ [[Covenant frigate|frigate]]{{Ref/Reuse|loot5}}

*Many air vehicles

**Many [[Seraph|T-31 Seraph]] fighters

***{{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**Many [[Type-26 Banshee|T-26 Banshees]]

*Many ground vehicles

*Numerous ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

**[[Jiralhanae]]

*[[Prophet of Truth]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}

*Most ships, if not all{{Ref/Reuse|theark}} {{c|save for ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' and ''[[Gathering of Praise]]''}}

|casual3=Near total

*''[[High Charity]]''{{Ref/Reuse|cortana}}

The '''Battle of Installation 00''', also known as the '''Ark Conflict''',{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Warfleet|Page=48}} and designated by [[United Nations Space Command]] forces as '''Operation: BLIND FAITH''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=Blind Faith|Enc09|Page=57}}{{Ref/Novel|Enc11|Page=29}} was a large [[battle]] between the UNSC-[[Fleet of Retribution]] alliance, the [[Covenant]], the [[Flood]], and [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|Fortitude}}{{Ref/Level|Id=theark|H3|[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]}}{{Ref/Level|Id=cov|H3|[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} It was the final overarching battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]] and was the last stand of the Covenant,{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}{{Ref/Level|Id=epi|H3|Epilogue (Halo 3)|Epilogue}} making it one of the few major engagements in the entire war in which the Covenant were on the defensive.

==Background==

{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Brute ships. Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three-to-one!|Sangheili Major|q2=Then it is an even fight... All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!|Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas' Vadum and a [[Sangheili Major]] upon reaching the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}}}

The Forerunner [[Keyship]], ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'', did not participate in the space battle.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}} Instead, it landed amidst a Forerunner city within a region of the Ark later referred to as [[Mahsko]] by the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Sacrifice}} A detachment of Covenant warriors were assigned to protect the vessel as Truth left to activate the [[Halo Array]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|SoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}}

{{clear|left}}

The Pelicans from the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' arrived on the surface of the Ark, where they deployed [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and UNSC vehicles to search for a landing zone for the ''Dawn''. ''[[Kilo 023]]'' and another Pelican deployed [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] John-117 and a squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] at a cliff edge, near a series of Forerunner structures built into the desert terrain. Nearby, a third Pelican, which carried a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]], two [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]], and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] including [[Chips Dubbo]], found a wide cliff which could serve as a landing zone for the ''Dawn'', but the Pelican was shot down by Covenant anti-air defenses.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

Encountering resistance from Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar on the way, John-117 climbed a series of ramps towards the entrance to the Cartographer. At the top, he met with [[Thel 'Vadam]], who dismounted from ''Kilo 023'' along with a pair of Marines. While Commander Keyes assembled an air support force to prevent Covenant reinforcements, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the sealed door at the entrance, allowing John-117 and Thel 'Vadam to advance inside. Their arrival caught most of its Covenant occupants off-guard, and they eventually arrived at an exterior platform hosting the Cartographer terminal. The Chief and 343 Guilty Spark accessed the terminal, learning the installation as the "Ark" and that Truth had already fortified himself at [[Installation 00 Citadel|the core of the Ark]], where he could remotely activate the entire Halo Array. Furthermore, Truth had activated a large barrier around the entire core to ward off the attacking forces.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

''Kilo 023'' arrived to pick up John-117, but a massive swarm of Sentinels approached the Pelicans. Initially, the UNSC prepared to attack, but they stopped when 343 Guilty Spark asked them not to attack the Sentinels, stating that the Sentinels had a "priority task" of unknown nature. Instead of attacking, the Aggressors flew off into the distance, and the UNSC and Sangheili followed suit, making their way to the Installation 00 Citadel to stop the Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}

While John-117 and his team traveled to the first tower, 'Vadam and Johnson, along with their teams, touched down at the second and third towers, respectively. Although John-117 and 'Vadam succeed in disabling two of the three towers, Johnson was ambushed by enemy reinforcements, and lost contact with the UNSC soon after. The Jiralhanae captured Johnson, and took him to the Citadel. The UNSC-Sangheili forces launched a second assault on the third tower, with John-117 escorting the dropships in an AV-14 Hornet. They first destroyed Covenant Banshees and a Phantom, securing air control outside the barrier. The third tower was heavily defended by a pair of AA Wraiths, Shades, another standard Wraith, and a huge group of Jiralhanae led by War Chieftain. Destroying the Brute defenders outside the third tower, John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a team of five Sangheili proceeded inside, where they discovered the corpses of Johnson's team, except for Johnson. After the defending forces of Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e and Jiralhanae were eliminated, John-117 disabled the barrier tower, finally deactivating the barrier. The ''Shadow of Intent'' advanced towards the Citadel, but 'Vadum's attack was interrupted by the arrival of the Flood-infested ''High Charity'', which arrived via slipspace. ''High Charity'' launched debris that crippled the carrier and its weapons systems, forcing the ''Shadow of Intent'' to retreat. It also launched [[Flood dispersal pod]]s and began spreading Flood across the Ark. Keyes insisted that the Flood's arrival would only pressure Truth into activating the rings, and ordered the remaining ground forces to attack the Citadel.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}

During this time, the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] decided to use the distraction from the Flood arrival to locate the ''[[vertex]]'' hidden on the Ark. The control device for the [[Sharquoi]], the ''vertex'' would allow Hekabe to control the creatures. Though the Prophets had some Sharquoi themselves, they had lacked the ''vertex'' and so could not control them and never unleashed them. Hekabe intended to use the ''vertex'' and the Sharquoi to gain power for himself and so fled the Ark with his loyalists before the battle ended despite fighting on the side of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}

While the Flood began climbing up the Citadel's far wall, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam led a small attack force, including N'tho 'Sraom, Usze 'Taham, as well as a few Marines and Sangheili, into the Citadel.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD252|HitD|Page=252}} Inside, the Prophet of Truth was giving a speech attempting to reassure his remaining followers, declaring that he was about to activate the Halo Array by forcing Johnson into interacting the control panel. Realizing that they had very little time left, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam hastily made their way to the elevator that would carry them to Truth's level, but the elevator's immense height meant that they would not be able to intervene in time.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}

==Aftermath==

===The Flood===

However, their defenses were proven to be ineffective, with [[Banished]] forces, led by Jiralhanae [[Voridus]], [[Outbreak on Installation 00|releasing the Flood]] from the ruins of ''High Charity'' and providing them with hosts to infect during the [[Second Ark Conflict]] on [[2559#June|June 4, 2559]].{{Ref/Reuse|wrong}} This inadvertently caused a Flood outbreak onto the installation, leading to a desperate struggle between the Banished and the parasite. Ultimately, the Banished managed to destroy a [[Proto-Gravemind]] that was moments away from becoming a Gravemind and the Ark's Sentinels and the Banished managed to once again contain the Flood.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Manifestation}}

===The Covenant===

===''UNSC Forward Unto Dawn''===

===Installation 00===

{{Quote|no=three|1=Jerome-092|q1=Isabel, where did all this wreckage come from?|2=Isabel|q2=There was a battle here near the end of the war. The Master Chief saved us all.|3=Jerome-092|q3=It's good to know John's still out there.|4=[[Isabel]] and [[Jerome-092]] while fighting the [[Banished]] on Installation 00.{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}}}}

In [[2555#March|March 2555]], [[000 Tragic Solitude]] sought revenge against humanity for damaging the Ark years prior. To do so, the ancilla placed the remaining Halos on a brief countdown to activation, prompting a joint UNSC-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] [[Operation: FAR STORM|mission]] to the installation to stop the rings from firing. After Solitude's plan was thwarted, the UNSC established research facilities on the Ark.{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Page=?}} The UNSC's research team was able to repair the Ark from the damage done in the battle by directing the Ark's [[Retriever Sentinel]]s to mine lifeless systems for the needed materials for repairs.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Log#The Signal 2|Phoenix Logs - "The Healing of Old Wounds"}}

In [[2558#September|September 2558]], the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] attempted to unleash the [[Sharquoi]] on the planet [[Carrow]], having retrieved the Sharquoi control device, the ''[[vertex]]'', from the Ark during the Battle of Installation 00. Hekabe's plan was narrowly foiled by [[Gray Team]], [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] and elements of the [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]].{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}

==Participants==

! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->

|-

|{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}

|Destroyed, split in half

|}

|Survived

|-

|''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''{{Ref/Novel|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=124}}

|Survived

|Survived, assumed destroyed{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}

|-

|''[[Foebane|Gathering of Praise]]''{{Ref/Reuse|loot5}}{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}

|Escaped

====Naval forces====

*[[Truth's fleet]]†

{{col-end}}

File:3Way2-large.jpg|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam come across Sentinels fighting Flood combat forms on Installation 08.

File:H3 Installation 08 blowing up.jpg|John-117 and 'Vadam escape Installation 08 on a Warthog.

</gallery>

*''[[Halo Legends]]''

**''[[Origins]]''

**''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}

*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Im}}

==Notes==