Editing Battle of the Citadel

{{era|HCW}}

|image = [[File:Citadel_battle.jpg|300px]]

|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]], [[Great Schism]]

*[[Battle of Installation 00]]

|place = [[Installation 00]], around [[Installation 00 Citadel|the Citadel]]

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

*[[Halo Array]] deactivated

*Ultimate collapse of the [[Covenant]]

*End of the [[Human-Covenant War]]

|side1 = *[[United Nations Space Command]]

*[[Covenant separatists]]

**[[Fleet of Retribution]]

|side3 = [[Flood]]{{Ref/Note|Allied with the [[UNSC]] briefly to fight against the [[Covenant]]}}

|commanders2 = *[[Hierarch|High Prophet]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]]†

|commanders3 = *[[Gravemind]]

|forces1 = *[[United Nations Space Command]]

***[[E2-BAG/1/7]]

***[[S4/BLCE/1/7]]

***[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]

****[[105th Shock Troops Division|105th Shock Division]]

*****[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]

****[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST|11th MFR/ODST]]

**[[UNSC Navy]]

***One [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]]

**[[M12 Warthog|Warthogs]]

***1 [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Chaingun Warthog]]

***[[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|Troop Transport Warthogs]]

***[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthogs]]

**2 [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]]

**1 [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpion]]

**[[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]]

**[[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelicans]]

*[[Fleet of Retribution]]

**1 [[CAS-class assault carrier]]

***''[[Shadow of Intent]]''

**[[Sangheili]]

**[[Type-52 Phantom#Fleet of Retribution/Swords of Sanghelios model|Phantoms]]

*[[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]

|forces2 = *[[Covenant military]]

**[[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]]

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

**[[Type-52 Phantom|Phantoms]]

**2 [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarabs]]

|forces3 = *[[High Charity]]

**[[Pod infector|Pod infectors]]

**[[Flood combat form|Combat forms]]

**[[Flood carrier form|Carrier forms]]

**[[Flood pure form|Pure forms]]

|casual1 = *Light-moderate casualties

*CDR Miranda Keyes

|casual2 = *Majority of forces, if not all.

*Prophet of Truth

|casual3 = *Majority of forces, if not all.

{{quote|Now, Prophet... your end has come.|[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]}}

The '''Battle of the Citadel''' was the final battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]] and a battle within the larger [[Battle of Installation 00|Ark Conflict]]. The battle was fought between the united forces of the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]] as well as local [[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]] against the remaining forces of the [[Covenant]], and the [[Flood]]. The battle resulted in the death of the [[High Prophet of Truth]], the final [[Hierarch]], and the dissolution of the Covenant Empire.<ref name="covenant">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>

On [[2552#November|November 3, 2552]], the [[High Prophet of Truth]], the final remaining [[Covenant]] [[Hierarch]], departed from [[High Charity]] on board the [[Anodyne Spirit]], as the holy city [[Fall of High Charity|fell]] to the [[Flood]] amidst the chaos of the [[Great Schism]]. Truth intended to take the Keyship to [[Earth]], where he would be able to activate the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] beneath the city of [[Mombasa]] that had been excavated by [[Truth's fleet|his fleet]] over the course of the previous two weeks.<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', campaign level, ''[[Coastal Highway]]''</ref> This would take him to [[Installation 00]], where he would be able to activate the [[Halo Array]] and begin the [[Covenant religion#The Great Journey|"Great Journey"]]. Unbeknownst to the Prophet, [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] had managed to make it onto the [[Keyship]] as it decoupled from High Charity's power grid by riding a [[High Charity conduit|power conduit]] connecting the ship to the city.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref> After arriving in the [[Sol system]] on November 8,<ref name="bnet">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 01/23/09 '']</ref>, John-117 [[Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought|attempted to kill]] the Prophet of Truth, but failed and was forced to escape from Covenant forces. The Spartan bailed from the Keyship as it entered Earth's atmosphere on November 17, landing in the jungles of [[Tanzania]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Arrival]]''</ref> The Keyship would ultimately land on top of the now-uncovered portal.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Tsavo Highway]]''</ref>

Over the course of the next day, [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces spearheaded by the Master Chief and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] would launch an [[Battle of Voi|assault]] on Covenant forces within the nearby city of [[Voi]], with the objective of neutralizing a Covenant [[Type-27 Mantis|anti-aircraft battery]] in order to allow UNSC ships to attack the Keyship. While UNSC ground forces managed to destroy the emplacements, the subsequent assault on the Keyship by [[Battle Group Victory]] failed to destroy the Forerunner vessel. The portal then opened, and Truth fled through it with the Keyship, followed by the rest of his fleet.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Storm]]''</ref> The UNSC would be prevented from immediately following due to the arrival of the Flood-infested [[CCS-class battlecruiser|battlecruiser]] ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]''. Ultimately, the Flood [[Outbreak on Earth|outbreak]] would be contained due to the arrival of the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]], who ended up [[Glassing|glassing]] the city of Voi to prevent the parasite's spread. After a short meeting between UNSC and Sangheili leaders on board the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', the Fleet of Retribution, along with the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, entered the portal in pursuit of Truth.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>

[[File:H3 Truths fleet vs Fleet of Retribution.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Truth's fleet confronts the Fleet of Retribution above Installation 00.]]

Upon their arrival at [[Installation 00]], the Fleet of Retribution was immediately attacked by the Prophet of Truth's far larger fleet. Truth himself didn't partake in the battle, instead making his way to a [[Installation 00 Citadel|facility]] near the Ark's [[Foundry#Installation 00|core]] that would allow him to activate the Halo Array with the help of a [[Reclaimer|"Reclaimer"]]. Despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, [[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] confidently engaged the Covenant fleet, the Sangheili's superior knowledge of naval warfare tipping the battle in their favor. As the two fleets battled above the Ark, a [[Battle for the Cartographer (Installation 00)|mission]] to locate the Prophet of Truth was launched: Six [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelicans]] containing [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]] was launched by the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' towards the surface of the installation. Five of these would survive and deploy troops into the vast desert near one of the Ark's [[Cartographer#Installation 00|Cartographer]] buildings. A force of ODSTs led by John-117 managed to clear a [[Landing zone|landing zone]] allowing the ''Dawn'' to deploy armor for the ground forces. Now mobilized, the UNSC advanced on the Cartographer, destroying a battalion-sized force of Covenant protecting the building, including a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]], before the Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam, [[343 Guilty Spark]] and a team of Marines moved inside. Meanwhile, the Fleet of Retribution succeeded in completely destroying the Prophet of Truth's fleet, with at least the ''Shadow of Intent'' surviving. Fighting their way through the facility, John-117 accessed the Cartographer, ascertaining the Prophet of Truth's location and revealing that he had triggered a barrier around the Foundry to prevent a direct assault. Ultimately, the Chief left the Cartographer on board ''[[Kilo 023]]'' after defeating [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Cethegus]] and his [[Pack|pack]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-brute-force '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Brute Force'']</ref>

==The battle==

[[File:Trident11.jpg|300px|thumb|left|UNSC and Sangheili dropships spearhead their assault on the barrier towers.]]

Having secured the [[Cartographer]] and learned of the Prophet of Truth's location, the UNSC and Sangheili prepared to assault the communications array where Truth had taken refuge for the final battle. As the Citadel was protected by an energy barrier, they would need to assault several heavily-defended [[barrier tower]]s in order to deactivate a small section to allow the ''Shadow of Intent'' to target the Citadel. Many Hornets were sent to engage the Banshees surrounding the area before the main force's arrival. The main force composed of five Pelicans and two Phantoms containing the assault force split into three groups. A pair of Pelicans carrying the first group, consisting of John-117 and a team of ODSTs made for the first tower, which was further inland than the others. The two Phantoms containing Thel 'Vadam and his Sangheili approached the second tower and the final three Pelicans ferried [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] and a large squad of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to the third tower. As ''[[Kilo 023]]'' and her wingman approached the first tower, they came under bombardment from an [[Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Wraith|Anti-Aircraft Wraith]]. Kilo 023's wingman was struck in her right wing by a [[Fuel rod cannon|fuel rod]] and slammed into ''Kilo 023'', crushing the [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|Warthog]] slung beneath the Pelican before plummeting to the ground. Kilo 023 managed to make it through the bombardment and landed further up the beach, depositing John-117 and his team of ODSTs. Meanwhile, high above, a massive battle erupted between [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet VTOLs]] and [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]]. The Chief and his team were immediately attacked by a large force of [[Unggoy]] led by a [[Jiralhanae Captain]] while a pair of [[Type-26 Shade|Shade]] turrets opened fire from further down the beach. The Spartan and ODSTs managed to clear out the Covenant infantry and John, armed with a [[M6 Spartan Laser|Spartan Laser]], destroyed the two Shades. They fought their way up the small hill that the Anti-Aircraft Wraith was situated on, eliminating a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and his [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard|bodyguards]] before destroying the Wraith. With the beachhead secure, [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Keyes]] approached in her Pelican, depositing several Marines as well as a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] and [[M274 Mongoose|Mongoose]] for the team while ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' began a diversionary bombardment of the citadel, launching [[Plasma torpedo|plasma torpedoes]] at the energy shield.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}

The team proceeded towards the first tower, destroying several [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] as well as a pair of Banshees that attempted to strafe them. A small Covenant position with another Shade soon fell to the UNSC assault and they proceeded up the hill towards the first tower. The team was forced to contend with heavy Covenant defenses in front of the tower's entrance, including a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith]], multiple Ghosts, Shade turrets, a pair of [[Type-52 Prowler|Prowlers]] and a large group on infantry within the tower entrance itself. Once the Covenant forces outside the tower were whittled down, Miranda Keyes' Pelican returned, depositing several [[Ordnance pod|resupply canisters]] for the UNSC ground forces. After re-arming, John and the ODSTs proceeded into the tower. After clearing both floors of Covenant troops, the Spartan proceeded onto the elevator leading to the tower controls alone while the ODSTs held the lower level. Arriving on the upper level as a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] finished his sermon to his pack, John managed to fight his way through the Jiralhanae and deactivated the tower. At the same time, Thel 'Vadam and his forces were successful in neutralizing the second tower however Sergeant Johnson and his team had come under heavy attack from Covenant reinforcements and were becoming overwhelmed. Keyes told him she would make her way to him but he warned her off due to the heavy Covenant presence before getting cut off. Ultimately, Johnson's entire team would be killed at the third tower save for the sergeant himself, who was [[Prisoner of war|captured]] by the Covenant and taken to the citadel.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}  

[[File:Banshee cov.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Covenant air force engages the UNSC air force.]]

As the Spartan and Sangheili pressed inward, wiping out several Jiralhanae stragglers, the Pelicans moved in to land armor and reinforcements outside the tower. In the lower level of the tower, a swarm of [[Yanme'e]] and a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair emerged to stop the assault but the group managed to bring down the gestalts and deplete the Drone's numbers, forcing the survivors to flee up the elevator shaft. Proceeding to the upper level of the tower, John and the Sangheili fought through another pack of Jiralhanae as well as the surviving Yanme'e. The Master Chief took the elevator to the upper level, meeting a [[Type-52 plasma cannon|plasma cannon]]-wielding War Chieftain and a group of [[Jiralhanae Stalker]]s. Eventually besting the cloaked Brutes and their commander, John deactivated the tower. With all three barrier towers deactivated, the shield dissipated allowing the ''Shadow of Intent'' to approach the citadel. As [[Rtas 'Vadum]] prepared to level the facility, the Covenant holy city [[High Charity]], now heavily infested by the [[Flood]], exited [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] over the installation. As the former Covenant capital plummeted towards the surface of the Ark, it showered debris and Flood matter across the installation. A large chunk of this debris impacted the ''Shadow of Intent'', crippling the assault carrier and forcing it to veer off course. Another chunk flew through the window of the third tower's upper level, delivering Flood forms into the tower. John was forced to fight his way through the parasitic creatures back to the elevator while Thel and his men were attacked by more Flood below. After reuniting with the team of Sangheili, the group made their way outside where they assisted the newly-landed UNSC reinforcements in wiping out the Flood threat. [[343 Guilty Spark]] expressed his desire to observe the crash site of High Charity, to which Thel agreed to but refused to get any closer than the top of the nearby hills. As the two departed in a Phantom, the UNSC-Sangheili task force, now supported by heavy armor and [[Scorpion Tank]]s, began a direct offensive on the citadel.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}   

[[File:H3_CitadelBattle.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Covenant's final stand outside the citadel.]]

As the group advanced through the nearby cave towards the citadel, lush greenery gave way to snow and ice as the group came upon a small group of Covenant commanded by a War Chieftain. After easily destroying the threat, the unit moved on, eventually emerging onto the outer rim of the massive basin that the citadel was situated in. In the airspace above the citadel, UNSC Hornets and Banshees continued to engage in heavy combat. Here, the UNSC and Sangheili were forced to deal with heavy Covenant opposition including Ghosts, Prowlers, Shade turrets and several [[deployable lookout tower]]s with [[Type-33 fuel rod gun|fuel rod gun]]-armed Jiralhanae. After neutralizing a final Wraith and lookout tower, [[Marcus Stacker|Sergeant Stacker]] informed John-117 that several Hornets were inbound. The Spartan piloted one of the VTOLs just as a pair of Covenant [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarabs]] deployed in front of the citadel as a last-ditch attempt to halt their progress. A massive battle erupted as [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthogs]] clashed with Ghosts and Prowlers around the basin while Hornets and Pelican dropships traded fire with a unit of Banshees and the Scarabs targeted both ground and aerial UNSC forces. Eventually John-117 managed to neutralize one of the Scarabs. The destruction of one of the walkers prompted Commander Keyes to order all of her forces to focus their fire on the second Scarab. With all of the UNSC's firepower on it, it didn't take long for the second Scarab to buckle. With the loss of the two Scarabs, the Covenant lost their hold on the valley and the stragglers were mopped up in short order. With the basin now clear, Thel and 343 Guilty Spark arrived, landing on the ramp leading to the citadel's entrance. John left his vehicle and regrouped with the two. Spark activated an [[light bridge]] that allowed direct access to the citadel. With little time to waste, John, Thel and a team of Sangheili made their way into the interior of the citadel.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''Chapter 13''</ref>

As the group made their way through the citadel's foyer towards the elevator that would take them to the upper level, John was confronted by [[Character interludes|a vision]] of [[Cortana]] indicating her ongoing torture by the [[Gravemind]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[Human Weakness]]''</ref> Truth then sent out a message to his remaining forces: he was about to activate the Halo Array. As the group neared the elevator, Commander Keyes asked the Spartan how close he was to Truth, to which John replied that they weren't close enough to stop the Prophet in time. Meanwhile, Sergeant Johnson, who had been captured by the Covenant during the battle, was being tortured by a Jiralhanae chieftain. Johnson attempted to goad the Brute into killing him in order to deny the Prophet of a way to activate the installation but Truth knew what he was doing and ordered the chieftain to stop. As Johnson taunted the Prophet's inability to activate the Ark himself, Truth confessed that he needed the human's help. Before he could continue, Keyes flew her Pelican through the window of the room and onto the platform, crushing one of the Jiralhanae bodyguards. As the Covenant soldiers picked themselves up off the floor, Keyes emerged with a [[M90 shotgun|shotgun]] and promptly shot one of the Brutes, ordering Johnson to reveal himself. The battered sergeant told her to leave him and escape, which she refused to do, shooting an approaching Jiralhanae but only causing its [[Energy shielding#Personal shielding|energy shields]] to flare. Truth remarked that she wouldn't be able to kill all of them even as she pointed her shotgun and a [[M6G magnum|magnum]] at the Brutes around her. Keyes reluctantly conceded his point, aiming her sidearm at Johnson. Knowing it was the only way to deny the Prophet a means to activate the Ark, Johnson told her to shoot him. As she hesitated, the Prophet of Truth took the opportunity to shoot her in the back with a [[Type-25 Spiker|Spiker]]. Commander Keyes was killed instantly, her body falling to the ground even as Johnson attempted to run to her aid before being restrained by a Jiralhanae bodyguard. Dropping the Spiker, Truth told Johnson that the [[Forerunners]] had left [[Human|humanity]] behind because they were weak, whereas gods needed to be strong. He then took Johnson's hand and forced it onto the control panel, beginning the activation sequence of the [[Halo Array]]; Johnson, struck with grief and shock, didn't resist. As the Prophet raised his arms in victory, the elevator carrying John and his team made it to the upper level. Before they could advance, a pair of [[Flood tank form]]s dropped in front of them. Instead of attacking, the Gravemind spoke to the pair, proposing a truce to stop their common foe, as only the Master Chief could stop the activation sequence. Reluctant, but with no other choice, the group and their unlikely allies began an assault on the final bastion of Covenant soldiers guarding the Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}

===Escape===

John-117 would successfully infiltrate the crashed High Charity, fighting his way through hordes of Flood until he found Cortana, who had been tortured by the Gravemind for the last thirty-eight days. Despite the torment inflicted on her, Cortana managed to hide her possession of Installation 04's Activation Index from the Gravemind. The Spartan managed to retrieve Cortana and destroy High Charity's reactors, narrowly escaping with the aid of Thel 'Vadam as the former Covenant holy city was destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref> While [[Rtas 'Vadum]] coordinated the withdrawal of UNSC and Sangheili forces from the Ark, the Master Chief and Arbiter took a damaged Pelican from High Charity to Installation 08's [[Control Room#Installation 08|control room]] while Sergeant Johnson landed the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} near the facility. Crash landing a short distance from the control room, John and Thel were forced to contend with waves of Flood arriving via [[Flood dispersal pod|dispersal pods]], the Gravemind having managed to survive High Charity's destruction and attempting to rebuild itself on the installation. Fighting their way up the ramps to the top of the control room and aided by Sergeant Johnson from a nearby cliff, the group repelled waves of Flood until 343 Guilty Spark could open the doors. Inside the control center, Johnson intended to fire the unstable installation immediately. Fearing that this would destroy both the Ark as well as the newly-constructed Installation 08, 343 Guilty Spark snapped, fatally wounding Johnson with his energy beam. John was forced to battle the monitor, destroying him with several shots from Johnson's [[M6 Spartan Laser|Spartan Laser]]. While the Sergeant succumbed to his wounds, John, with the aid of Cortana managed to activate the installation. John and Thel raced to escape as Installation 08 begun to shake itself apart. Fighting through waves of Flood and hostile [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]] constructs, the two made it to Johnson's [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]]. The sped their way towards the parked ''Forward Unto Dawn'' as the structure of the ring collapsed around them. Narrowly making it onto the frigate, the Arbiter raced for the bridge, taking the ship into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] as the ring activated. Unfortunately, the ''Dawn'' was sheared in half, the forward half containing the Arbiter made it back to Earth while the rear half with the Master Chief and Cortana falling out of slipspace in an unknown location. With no other options, John entered cryo-sleep, telling Cortana to wake him if she needed him.<ref name="halo">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref> John would not return to UNSC-controlled space until [[2557#July|July, 2557]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Issue #8]]''</ref> 

[[File:FUD Escaping The Ark.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The ''Forward Unto Dawn'' escaping from Installation 08 as the unfinished ring activates.]]

With the death of the Prophet of Truth, the Covenant finally shattered. A [[Treaty of 2552|peace treaty]] between the [[Unified Earth Government]] and Thel 'Vadam's [[Swords of Sanghelios]] was ratified in [[2553#February|February, 2553]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''Chapter 2''</ref> and the [[Human-Covenant War]] was officially declared over on March 5. A ceremony presided over by [[Terrence Hood|Admiral Hood]] was held on March 5, where a [[Voi Memorial|monument]] was erected near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] to mark the end of the war and to honor the sacrifices of everybody who gave their lives in it. Thel 'Vadam attended the ceremony, personally meeting with Lord Hood after his speech. The Admiral, while unable to forgive Thel for the actions he had committed against humanity during the war, thanked him for standing by the Master Chief at the end and expressing his sadness over the Spartan's presumed death. The Arbiter than departed for [[Sanghelios]] on board the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}  

Despite the dissolution of the Covenant, numerous newly formed [[Covenant remnants]] would emerge over the coming months and years, many of them still hostile to humanity. The most notable of these factions would be the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|group]] formed by [[Jul 'Mdama]], who would continue to engage in hostilities with humanity and the Swords of Sanghelios until their [[Battle of Sunaion|defeat]] in [[2558#October|October, 2558]]<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref> The [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] would continue to wage [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|war]] against each other until at least [[2559]], when the Sangheili began to gain the upper hand in the conflict as the Jiralhanae began to turn on each other, despite the Sangheili also suffering from [[Blooding Years|internal conflict]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[The Return]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sanghelios'']</ref>

The citadel itself would remain intact, only suffering light charring and damage from the firing of Installation 08. The debris from UNSC and Covenant vehicles, including the two Scarab platforms was still present at least [[2555|two years later]]. In March 2555, Installation 00's monitor, [[000 Tragic Solitude]], seeking revenge on humanity for their role in damaging the Ark, used a [[Bobby Kodiak|captured human]] to activate the [[Halo Array]] in order to eradicate all life in the galaxy. This countdown was discovered by [[Luther Mann|Doctor Luther Mann]] and [[Henry Lamb]] on [[Installation 07]]. In response, a joint [[UNSC]]-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] task force was [[Operation: FAR STORM|sent]] to the installation to stop the activation. After battling several [[Morolaath|native]] [[Chaefka|creatures]] under the control of Solitude and searching for the missing [[Olympia Vale]], the task force regrouped at the ramp leading to the citadel's entrance. As they pondered a way to activate the now non-functional [[light bridge]], the bridge suddenly activated by itself. After proceeding to the control panel, Doctor Mann deactivated the installation, moments before the group were attacked by two dozen [[Forerunner]] [[armiger]]s. The group would ultimately survive the ambush and go on to complete their mission, rescuing Olympia Vale while 000 Tragic Solitude was destroyed by the cyborg Bobby Kodiak, who was killed in the process. With the threat of the Halo Array's activation once again neutralized, the UNSC-Sangheili task force departed from the Ark.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'''</ref>

File:HLC The Great Journey.png|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam on the Ark.

File:Citadel dogfight.png|The aerial engagement above the citadel.

*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}

[[Category:UNSC Victories]]