Editing Battle of the Citadel

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev = [[Battle for the Cartographer (Installation 00)|Battle for the Cartographer]]
|conc = 
|next = [[Raid on High Charity]]
|name = Battle of the Citadel
|image = [[File:Citadel battle.jpg|350px]]
|conflict = *[[Human-Covenant War]], [[Great Schism]]
**[[Battle of Installation 00]]
|date = [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]
|place =  [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]], [[Installation 00]]
|result = '''Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]/[[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] victory'''{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}} 
*[[Halo Array]] deactivated.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*Ultimate collapse of the [[Covenant]].
**Death of the Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*End of the [[Human-Covenant War]].
|side1 = *{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command]]
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant separatists]]
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]
----
*{{Icon|Forerunner}} [[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]
|side2 = *{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
**{{Icon|Covenant HW}} [[Covenant military]]
|side3 = *[[Flood]]{{Ref/Note|Allied with the [[UNSC]] briefly to fight against the [[Covenant]]}}
|commanders1 = *[[Commander|CMR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]†{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*[[Sergeant Major|SGTMAJ]] [[Avery Johnson]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*[[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
----
*[[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|commanders2 = [[Hierarchs|High]] [[Prophet of Truth]]†{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|commanders3 = [[Gravemind]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|forces1 = 
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]/[[Seventh Fleet]]
**1 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Multiple [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom#Retribution Phantom|Phantoms]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Multiple [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelicans]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Numerous [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**1+ [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpion]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[M12 Warthog|Warthogs]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
***1+ [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Chaingun Warthog]]
***2+ [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|Troop Transport Warthogs]]
***1+ [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthog]]
**2+ [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*Numerous ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**1 [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]]
**Numerous [[UNSC Marine Corps|marines]]
**Multiple [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]]
**Multiple [[Sangheili]]
----
*[[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinels]]
|forces2 = 
*Numerous air vehicles
**Mutliple {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Type-26 Banshee|T-26 Banshee]]
***Numerous {{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}s{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*Multiple ground vehicles
**2 {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}s{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**3 [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|T-26 Wraiths]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
***4+ [[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|T-52 AA Wraiths]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Multiple [[Type-25 Chopper|T-25 Choppers]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Multiple [[Qavardu Workshop Prowler|T-52 Prowlers]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Numerous [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|T-32 Ghosts]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*Numerous ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
**[[Yanme'e]]
|forces3 = *[[High Charity]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**Thousands of [[Flood dispersal pod|dispersal pods]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Pod infector]]s{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Flood combat form|Combat forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Flood carrier form|Carrier forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
**[[Flood pure form|Pure forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|casual1 = Light-moderate casualties{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*CDR Miranda Keyes{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*1+ Pelican{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|casual2 = Total{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*Prophet of Truth{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
*All 2 Scarabs{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
|casual3 = Heavy{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
}}
{{Quote|Now, [[Prophet of Truth|Prophet]]... your end has come.|[[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] as he prepares to strike the Citadel.}}
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/Level|Id=covenant|H3|[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]}}

==Background==
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]]'' and took the bulk of remaining [[Covenant fleet]]s with him, as the holy city [[Fall of High Charity|fell]] to the [[Flood]] amidst the chaos of the [[Great Schism]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=hbc286|Novel=[[Halo: Broken Circle]] (Google Books)|Page=286|Quote=He has taken what is left of the Covenant fleets and is heading for the human world, Earth. He is seeking the Ark.|Quotee=[[G'torik 'Klemmee]]}} Truth intended to take the [[Keyship]], along with a very massive combined Covenant armada,{{Ref/Site|Id=dreadnought|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/dreadnought|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Dreadnought|D=25|M=07|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=hbc286}} 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 excavation fleet]] over the course of the previous two weeks.{{Ref/Level|Id=coastal|Game=ODST|Level=Coastal Highway}} This would take him to [[Installation 00]], where he would be able to activate the [[Halo Array]] and begin the [[Great Journey (religion)|"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/Level|Id=charity|Game=H2|Level=[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]}} After arriving in the [[Sol system]] on November 8,{{Ref/Site|Id=bnet|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Weekly Update: 01/23/09|D=25|M=09|Y=2014}} 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/Level|Id=arrival|Game=H3|Level=Arrival}} The Keyship would ultimately land on top of the now-uncovered portal, with the surviving Covenant warships clustering around the keyship.{{Ref/Level|Id=tsavo|Game=H3|Level=Tsavo Highway}}

Over the course of the same 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 Covenant [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|anti-aircraft battery]] emplacements in order to allow [[UNSC starship|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]] of the [[Seventh Fleet]] led by the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} 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/Level|Id=storm|Game=H3|Level=The Storm}} 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 a portion of the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]], who ended up [[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 battle group of Fleet of Retribution, along with a portion of the Seventh Fleet including the ''Dawn'', entered the portal in pursuit of Truth.{{Ref/Level|Id=floodgate|Game=H3|Level=Floodgate}}

[[File:H3 - Retribution Victory vs Truths Fleet.png|thumb|300px|left|Despite outnumbering the [[Seventh Fleet]] and the [[Fleet of Retribution]] 3 to 1 while confronting them above the Ark, the [[Truth's fleet|Covenant armada]] was decimated thanks to Sangheili's superior naval warfare knowledge.]]
Upon their arrival at [[Installation 00]], the allied fleet, only composed of several dozens of ships, 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 3-to-1 numerical superiority, [[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] confidently engaged the massive Covenant fleet with the help of the [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]], 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]] 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 [[Deutoros-pattern 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 save for at least [[Foebane|one escaping heavy cruiser]], with the ''Shadow of Intent'' now descending on the Ark to support UNSC ground forces on their way to the Cartographer. 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]].{{Ref/Level|Id=ark|H3|[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-brute-force|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Brute Force|D=05|M=02|Y=2016}}
{{clear|left}}

==Battle==
{{Quote|no=three|Commander Keyes (COM)|Sergeant Major Johnson (COM)|Hocus (COM)|q1=Good enough. Johnson, drop the Chief at the first generator, then head to the third. The Elites will punch right down the middle.|q2=Roger that!|q3=Charlie Foxtrot! Tower One approach has active Triple-A!|The beginning of the final battle.}}
===Landing===
[[File:Trident11.jpg|300px|thumb|left|UNSC and Sangheili dropships spearhead their assault on the barrier towers in order to disable the citadel's energy barrier and allow the [[Shadow of Intent|Sangheili flagship]] to orbitally bombard the facility.]]
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 [[Ogab'd-pattern 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]]es at the energy shield.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}

===First Tower===
The team proceeded towards the first tower, destroying several [[Karo'etba-pattern 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 [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]], multiple Ghosts, Shade turrets, a pair of [[Qavardu Workshop 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}} 

John made his way back to the lower level of the tower, assisting his team as they repelled a small group of Unggoy and [[Kig-Yar]] futilely attempting to reactivate the tower. They made their way back outside to their vehicles, and proceeded back to the beach. 
===Dogfights in the sky===
[[File:Banshee cov.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A massive air battle took place over the Citadel with the remaining Covenant air force engaging the UNSC-Sangheili air force.]]
At the beach, John took control of a [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]] in order to clear the airspace between his location and the third tower to allow several Pelicans and Sangheili Phantoms to land safely. John immediately proceeded forward towards the second tower, where the two Sangheili Phantoms were under heavy fire from a swarm of Banshees while a Covenant Phantom deployed an Anti-Aircraft Wraith on a nearby island. As the Chief along with several other Hornets engaged the Covenant forces, the separatist Phantoms engaged their [[Active camouflage|cloaking]] systems and escaped. After clearing the airspace of the second tower, the strike force continued to the third tower, which was heavily guarded by more Banshees, two Anti-Aircraft Wraiths, a regular Wraith, Shades and a massive pack of Jiralhanae led by a War Chieftain. After a lengthy engagement, the UNSC VTOLs successfully destroyed all of the Covenant aircraft and anti-air, allowing the Phantoms to arrive and deploy Thel 'Vadam and his soldiers to assault the tower from the ground. Between the Hornets and the Sangheili ground troops, the Covenant around the third tower were wiped out. John-117 then landed his Hornet at the tower and formed up with 'Vadam.

===Third Tower===
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 [[Pek-pattern 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}}  

===The Final Battle===
{{Quote|Citadel in sight! Brutes are mobilizing everything they've got.|A Pelican pilot informing ground forces over COMs.}}
[[File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Mobilizing all remaining ground and air assets they got while suffering heavy losses during previous battles across the Ark, the Covenant made their desperate final stand against the UNSC outside the citadel with a Scarab pair.]]
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 [[Pez'tk-pattern 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 {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}s 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/Novel|Id=HitD13|HITD|Chapter=13}}

===Truth's death and the end of the war===
{{Quote|no=two|[[Prophet of Truth]]|[[Thel 'Vadam]]|q1=I...am...Truth! The voice of the Covenant!|q2=And so… you must be silenced.|Thel 'Vadam, moments before killing the Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}}}
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/Anthology|Evo|Human Weakness}} 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 [[Paegaas Workshop 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]]ity 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}}

[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|right|300px|After all remaining Covenant forces were eliminated, Thel 'Vadam has sought his revenge and killed the Prophet of Truth, ending both the Covenant empire and the Human-Covenant War.]]
A large group of [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] lead by a [[Jiralhanae Captain]] guarded the first bridge making their last stand for the Covenant Empire. The two Flood tank forms lumbered into the midst of the gathered Covenant forces, crushing the smaller soldiers with their massive arms as swarms of [[Pod infector]]s swarmed ahead. The Master Chief and Arbiter 'Vadam followed closely behind their newfound Flood allies. In the face of this determined assault, the Covenant resistance on the first bridge soon crumbled and the allies proceeded through a small room where a holographic projection of Truth cursed the Flood as a final act of treachery by the Sangheili. On the second bridge, a large pack of Jiralhanae containing a unit of [[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumpers]] fought to stop the team and their Flood allies. It was a losing battle for the Covenant, as every Jiralhanae slain resulted in a new Flood combat form. Even the chieftain and a group of fuel rod gun-wielding [[Unggoy Heavy|Heavies]] failed to stop the determined assault. The Flood pressed relentlessly ahead, slaughtering the final group of Covenant defenders on the third bridge before the Human and Sangheili even arrived. A final projection of Truth defiantly claimed that even the Flood would not stop the Covenant from commencing the "Great Journey". Finally reaching the light bridge to the control platform, John and Thel proceeded across, passing several Flood corpses. As Johnson closed Miranda Keyes' eyes, he told the Chief to stop the activation sequence. Meanwhile, Thel approached the downed High Prophet of Truth, who had become partially infected by the Flood. He seized the Prophet by the neck even as the frail San'Shyuum claimed that the Sangheili had never truly believed in the promise of the Great Journey. Thel activated his [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] as the Prophet begun to cough up Flood [[Flood spore|spores]] and sprout tentacles. The Arbiter angrily stated that he would have his revenge on Truth before he was consumed by the Flood. As the Gravemind taunted Truth, telling him that he would only serve as food for the Flood, Thel held the Prophet up so he could see the Master Chief deactivate the Halo Array. With his life's work destroyed, Truth gave one final defiant declaration, announcing himself as the voice of the Covenant before being fatally stabbed by Thel 'Vadam. The final [[Hierarch]] of the Covenant was dead, and what remained of the empire would [[Covenant remnants|crumble away]] soon after. As Thel gave a victorious roar and deactivate his sword, John gave him a nod of acknowledgement. The two watched as Johnson carried the lifeless corpse of Miranda Keyes into her Pelican.

===Discovering the solution===
[[File:HighCharityView.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Master Chief and Arbiter discover the [[Installation 08|replacement]] for the [[Battle of Installation 04|destroyed]] [[Installation 04]], which was Cortana's solution against the Flood and would led the end of the fight.]]   
As the Master Chief and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam watched Sergeant Johnson enter the Pelican, the Gravemind's tentacles suddenly erupted around the platform without warning, the Flood's central consciousness' rumbling laughter filling the chamber. Johnson quickly took control of the Pelican and took off, attempting to airlift the Spartan and Sangheili out through the broken window but the dropship was stuck by one of Gravemind's tentacles, knocking the two back onto the platform and sending the Pelican spiraling out of control. The two took up a defensive position, going back to back as the Gravemind taunted them, Thel grimly stating that they had traded one villain for another. Suddenly, the Gravemind retracted his tentacles and several combat forms climbed onto the platform to confront them.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}

As the two fought their way back across the bridges, now swarming with Flood forms, Johnson radioed the Spartan, telling him that he wouldn't be able to return to extract them and to make his way back to the elevator they had used to access the top level of the citadel. On the second bridge, a flock of [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinels]] arrived to help the duo combat the Flood. As he passed through the small room to the first bridge, another hallucination of Cortana appeared, subtly hinting that she still possessed the [[Activation index]] for [[Installation 04]]. The pair fought their way through a myriad of Flood until they reached the elevator. Realizing that it's controls were non-funtional, they opted to use a chute in the back of the room. The Spartan dropped down first, and he immediately spotted a ghostly image of Cortana moving down a nearby hallway. Perplexed, the Chief followed, with Thel in tow. The image led them to a control panel which John activated, retracting a view screen and revealing the incomplete [[Installation 08|replacement]] for the destroyed [[Installation 04]] rising out of the Ark's [[Foundry (location)|Foundry]]. Hearing 343 Guilty Spark approaching, John questioned the monitor on how long he had known about it, to which he replied that he had only learned of it at that moment. John declared his intent to activate the incomplete ring at the Ark to stop the local Flood infestation, of which Spark happily agreed with. Knowing that Cortana had the Index for the original Installation 04, and she was located in the ruined husk of High Charity, John resolved to venture into the Flood [[Flood hive|hive]] to retrieve her.{{Ref/Reuse|covenant}}
{{clear|left}}

==Aftermath==
{{Main|Raid on High Charity|Raid on Installation 08}}
[[File:FUD Escaping The Ark.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The ''Forward Unto Dawn'' escaping from Installation 08 as the unfinished ring activates.]] 
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/Level|Id=cortana|H3|[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]}} 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/Level|Id=halo|H3|[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]}} John would not return to UNSC-controlled space until [[2557#July|July, 2557]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc|HE|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|#8]]}}

===Treaty of 2552===
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/Novel|Halo: Glasslands|Chapter=2}} 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 27, 2558]]{{Ref/Game|Id=h4|H4|Detail=campaign gameplay}}{{Ref/Level|H5|[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]}} Despite the [[Sangheili]] suffering from [[Blooding Years|internal conflict]],{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Sanghelios|D=27|M=11|Y=2015}} they would continue to wage [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|war]] against the [[Jiralhanae]] 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.{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|The Return}} The Jiralhanae homeworld, [[Doisac]], would be later [[Razing of Oth Sonin|destroyed]] by Cortana using her [[Guardian Custode|Guardians]] during the [[Created]] [[Created conflict|reign]], scattering the Jiralhanae survivors.{{Ref/Quest|Id=repository|HI|Reckoning|[[Repository (Halo Infinite level)|Repository]]}}

===Citadel===
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/Novel|Id=HitD19|HITD|Chapter=19}}

==Participants==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===UNSC===
===Naval assets===
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[UNSC Navy]]
|[[Master Chief Petty Officer]]
|[[John-117]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Commander]]
|[[Miranda Keyes]]
|KIA
|-
|[[Lieutenant]]
|[[Hocus]]
|Unknown
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
|[[Sergeant Major]]
|[[Avery Johnson]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Gunnery Sergeant]]
|[[Marcus Stacker]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Reynolds]]
|Survived
|-
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[UNSC Navy]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[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]]

===Artificial intelligence===
{{Main|Artificial intelligence}}
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Cortana]]
|Survived
|}

===Covenant separatists===
===Naval assets===
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Tactical grouping
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Fleet of Retribution]]
| {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}
|''[[Shadow of Intent]]''
|Survived {{c|heavily damaged}}
|-
|}
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="4" |Unknown
|[[Fleetmaster]]
|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Arbiter]]
|[[Thel 'Vadam]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Special Operations Sangheili|Special Operations]]
|[[Usze 'Taham]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Coop|D=14|M=11|Y=2014|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack|Site=bungie.net|Page=The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3}}
|Survived
|-
|[[N'tho 'Sraom]]{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}}
|Survived
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[Special Warfare Group|Fleet of Retribution Special Warfare Group]]
====Naval forces====
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]
**''[[Shadow of Intent]]''{{'}}s [[battle group]]
{{col-2}}

===Covenant===
===Naval assets===
====Non-combatants====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[High Council]]
|[[Hierarchs|Hierach]]
|[[Prophet of Truth]]
|KIA
|}

{{col-end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HLC The Great Journey.png|John-117 and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam on the Ark.
File:H3 Ark Warthog Concept.jpg|Warthogs on the Ark.
File:Hog in the canyon.jpg|John-117 and his team race through the canyon to get to the first barrier tower.
File:Barrier Covenant Battle.jpg|The Phantoms carrying the Sangheili forces outside the second barrier tower.
File:ArbiterRoar-large.jpg|Arbiter Thel 'Vadam roars in victory after stabbing the Prophet of Truth.
File:H3 Installation08 Reveal Concept.jpg|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam observing the new Halo replacement after the battle's closure.
File:H3 TheCovenant CitadelDogfight.png|The aerial engagement above the citadel.
File:John 117 Master Chief Petty Officer.jpg|The Master Chief and two ODSTs engaging Covenant forces in a Warthog on approach to the first tower.
File:Truth and Johnson.png|Truth forcing Johnson to activate Installation 00.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{C|Flashback only}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'' {{Mo}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Engagements in the Battle of Installation 00}}
[[Category:UNSC victories]]