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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|HCF}} |
| {{Battle infobox | | {{Ratings}} |
| |prev = [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret]] | | {{Quad battle infobox |
| |conc = | | |prev = [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere]] (F-F war)<br/>[[Battle of the Gas Mine]] (H-C war) |
| |next = [[Fall of High Charity]], [[Battle for the Control Room (Installation 05)|Battle for the Control Room]] | | |conc = [[Battle of Installation 05]] |
| | |next = [[First Battle of High Charity]] |
| |name = Battle of the Quarantine Zone | | |name = Battle of the Quarantine Zone |
| |image = [[File:H2A - Library.jpg|375px]] | | |image = [[Image:Sacredicon1600.jpg|300px]] |
| |conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]] | | |conflict = [[Forerunner-Flood War]]/[[Human-Covenant War]] |
| *[[Battle of Installation 05]]
| | |date = c. [[97,227 B.C.E.]]<ref>Cold Storage Transmissions</ref> - [[2552|November 2552]] |
| |date = c.[[2552#November|November 2552]] | |
| |place = [[Quarantine Zone]], [[Installation 05]] | | |place = [[Quarantine Zone]], [[Installation 05]] |
| |result = '''Strategic Covenant victory''' | | |result = Strategic Covenant victory: |
| *The [[Covenant]] successfully obtain the [[Activation Index|Index]] for Installation 05 | | * The [[Covenant]] successfully obtain the [[Index]] |
| *Many non-infected humans captured, including Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson | | * Many non-infected humans captured<br/> |
| *UNSC suffers total casualties, including the loss of the ''In Amber Clad''
| | Tactical Flood Victory: |
| '''Tactical Flood Victory'''
| | *Flood infest large areas of Delta Halo and successfully escape the ring. |
| *Quarantine Zone fails
| | |side1 = [[Covenant Empire]] |
| *Flood infest large areas of Installation 05 and successfully escape the ring. | |
| |side1 = [[Covenant]] | |
| |side2 = [[United Nations Space Command]] | | |side2 = [[United Nations Space Command]] |
| |side3 = [[Sentinels|Forerunner constructs]] | | |side3 = [[Forerunner]] |
| |side4 = [[The Flood]] | | |side4 = [[Flood]] |
| |commanders1 = *[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee | | |commanders1 = *[[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] |
| *[[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee | | *[[Rtas 'Vadumee]] |
| *[[Tartarus]] | | *[[Tartarus]] |
| |commanders2 = *[[Commander|CDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]] | | |commanders2 = *[[Commander|CMDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]] |
| *[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery J. Johnson]] | | *[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery J. Johnson]] |
| *[[Gunnery Sergeant|GYSGT]] [[Marcus Stacker]] | | |commanders3 = *[[2401 Penitent Tangent]] - captured |
| |commanders3 =
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| |commanders4 = *[[Gravemind]] | | |commanders4 = *[[Gravemind]] |
| |forces1 = *[[Special Operations Sangheili]] | | |forces1 = *[[Special Operations Sangheili]] |
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| *[[Jiralhanae]] | | *[[Jiralhanae]] |
| |forces2 = | | |forces2 = |
| *[[UNSC Navy]] | | *United Nations Space Command Defense Force |
| **1 [[Stalwart-class light frigate|light frigate]] | | **Navy: |
| ***{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} | | ***1 Frigate: {{UNSCship|In Amber Clad}} |
| *[[UNSC Marine Corps]] | | **UNSC [[Marine Corps]] |
| **[[105th Shock Troops Division]] | | ***UNSC Marine Corps 101st ODST Division (7th Battalion) |
| ***[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]
| | **[[M808B Main Battle Tank]]s |
| |forces3 = *[[Aggressor Sentinel]]s | | **[[M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]s |
| *[[Sentinel Major]]s | | **[[Dropship 77-Troop Carrier]]s |
| *[[Enforcer]]s | | |forces3 = *[[Sentinel|Sentinel Minors]] |
| |forces4 = *[[Flood combat form|Combat forms]] | | *[[Sentinel Majors]] |
| *[[Pod infector|Infection forms]] | | *[[Enforcers]] |
| *[[Flood carrier form|Carrier forms]] | | |forces4 = *[[Combat Forms]] |
| |casual1 = *Many Jiralhanae | | *[[Infection Forms]] |
| *Many Sangheili | | *[[Carrier Forms]] |
| *Many Unggoy | | |casual1 = *Most Jiralhanae |
| *Many Kig-yar | | *Several Elites |
| |casual2 = | | *Many Grunts |
| *40 [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref> | | *Many Jackals. |
| *150(+) [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref> | | *One step closer to extinction (even if they did not know it) |
| *250 [[UNSC Navy|Naval personnel]] killed or infected<ref name="Halo: Warfleet, pg. 37">'''Halo: Warfleet''', ''pg. 37''</ref> | | |casual2 = *All ODSTs |
| *8(+) Marines captured
| | *All Marines dead or captured |
| *Most ground assets captured | | *All Crew members killed; captured or infected |
| *Many D77-TC Pelicans captured | | *All ground assets captured |
| | *All D77 Troop Carriers captured |
| *UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' captured | | *UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' captured |
| |casual3 = *Many Sentinels | | |casual3 = *Many Sentinels |
| *Many Enforcers | | *Many Enforcers |
| *1(+) [[Sentinel constructor factory]] | | *1(+) [[Sentinel Construction Factory]]. |
| |casual4 = *Many combat forms | | |casual4 = *Many Combat Forms |
| *Large number of infection forms | | *Large number of Infection Forms |
| *Many carrier forms | | *Many Carrier Forms. |
| | *One step closer to total Flood extinction. While at the same time many steps closer to galactic domination. |
| }} | | }} |
| {{Quote|At the center of this zone, is a [[Activation index|Sacred Icon]] critical to the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. I must find it.|[[Thel 'Vadamee]] to [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee}}
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| The '''Battle of the Quarantine Zone''' was a [[battle]] which took place on [[Installation 05]] in [[2552]], as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] and [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] fought through the [[Quarantine Zone]] in search of the [[Activation Index]], known to the Covenant as the Sacred Icon. The battle encompassed an extended conflict between [[Flood]] and [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinels]] that stretched back nearly 100,000 years.
| | {{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!|[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]}} |
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| ==Background==
| | One of the battles of the [[9th Age of Reclamation]], the '''Battle of the Quarantine Zone''' (also known as the "Race for the Index") was a rare battle in which all four of the main factions took part. The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] and [[UNSC]] fought through the [[Quarantine Zone]] in search of the [[Activation Index]], known to the Covenant as the Sacred Icon. Both parties had to battle their way through legions of [[Flood]] and [[Forerunner]] machines designed to halt the parasitic outbreak. |
| The establishment of the Quarantine Zone is rooted in ancient history - approximately 3,000 years after the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]], the Flood under containment on [[Installation 05]] were released. Under normal circumstances [[Sentinel]] guards would have been able to keep the parasite under control. Unfortunately, the Flood had access to [[Flood combat form|hosts]], and were able to hold off the constructs.
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| At some point, Installation 05's [[Monitor]] [[2401 Penitent Tangent]] was warned by [[Unidentified ancilla (Installation 05)|a Forerunner ancilla]] of a pending outbreak in one the installation's [[Flood]] [[Flood containment facility|containment facilities]]. The monitor continued to ignore this warning, and those that followed, for millennia. Within [[2552|99,779 years]], the containment facility had been overrun by the Flood, with lockdown protocols in effect within the Halo's [[teleportation grid]] to prevent further infestation.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Cold Storage]]'' [[Cold Storage Reports|transmissions]]</ref> Eventually, the full force of the installation's [[Sentinel]]s and [[Enforcer]]s was mobilized, and a [[Quarantine Zone]] was established, surrounded by an enormous [[Sentinel Wall|wall]] projecting a powerful [[Containment Shield]].<ref name="icon">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref><ref name="zone">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Quarantine Zone]]''</ref>
| | == The Battle == |
| | === Background === |
| | Not much is known of how the battle of the Quarantine Zone began, as it is rooted in ancient history. The Battle began after an unknown event, approximately 100,000 years ago, when the Flood under containment on [[Installation 05]] were released. Under normal circumstances [[Sentinel]] guards would have been able to keep the parasite under control. Unfortunately, the Flood had access to [[Combat Form|hosts]], and were able to hold off the constructs. |
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| The establishment of the Quarantine Zone was too late to prevent the formation of a [[Gravemind]]. Over the centuries, the Gravemind's reach spread throughout the installation,<ref name="ReferenceA">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]''</ref> eventually capturing the [[monitor]] of the installation, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], giving him access to the [[teleportation grid]] and causing the structures on the Installation to fall into disrepair.<ref name="gravemind">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>
| | After building enough biomass, a local [[Proto-Gravemind]] reached critical mass, allowing the formation of a sentient, highly aware form of flood stage known as the [[Gravemind]]. Now coordinated, the Flood posed a serious threat. The battle soon spiraled out of control, and [[Sentinel Constructor Factory|Sentinel Constructor Factories]] were built to construct more powerful constructs, such as [[Sentinel Major]]s and [[Enforcer]]s. An enormous [[Sentinel Wall|wall]] was built around the Installation's [[Library]], which was housing the Gravemind<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Gravemind (Level)]]''</ref>. The area within the boundaries of the wall were starved of heat and light in order to inhibit Flood growth, and thus the [[Quarantine Zone]] was established. |
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| In [[2551]], a small [[Covenant]] team found a [[Luminary]] on [[Meridian]] after a [[Battle of Meridian|battle]] on the moon.This Luminary was delivered to the [[Prophet of Regret]], one of the three ruling [[Hierarchs]] of the Covenant. By late 2552, two [[Steward]]s assigned to decrypt the Luminary finally revealed its content to the Prophet of Regret: the locations of the Halo rings, including Installation 05. Hastily assembling a [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|fleet]] of fifteen warships, the Prophet made his way toward the [[Earth|planet]] that housed the [[Portal at Voi|gateway portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]], unaware that the planet was in fact [[human]]ity's heavily defended homeworld.<ref>'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal]] "Beholden"''</ref> After a failed [[Battle of Earth|invasion]] of Earth, [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] fled to Installation 05 aboard his [[flagship]] ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', pursued by the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref>
| | Over the centuries, the Gravemind's reach spread throughout the Installation<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Regret (Level)]]''</ref>. The Monitor of the installation, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]] was captured by the Gravemind, giving him access to the [[Teleportation Grid]]<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Gravemind (Level)]]''</ref>, and causing the structures on the Installation to fall into disrepair. |
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| ==The Battle== | | ===The Human mission=== |
| ===UNSC Incursion===
| | Inadvertently arriving at Installation 05 after following a Covenant ship, one of Commander Miranda Keyes' primary goals was the capture of the Forerunner activation key; the Index. To know exactly what she was up against, she accessed all information (classified or not) to do with the rings from [[AI Cortana]]. |
| {{Quote|Proceed to the [[Index|objective]], we'll hold out as long as we can!|Gunnery Sergeant [[Marcus Stacker]], as the released flood overwhelm UNSC forces inside the Sentinel Wall.}}
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| [[File:H2A-In Amber Clad Quarantine Zone.png|thumb|left|300px|The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} holds position near Delta Halo's library.]] | | While [[SPARTAN-117]] was busy on a special mission to assassinate the [[High Prophet of Regret]], some of the In Amber Clad's Marine and ODST contingent; along with their Pelicans, were called back to take part in the mission. |
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| Shortly after arriving in the [[Coelest system]] in pursuit of the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] of the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} demanded the AI [[Cortana]] provide her with all information from the [[Installation 04|installation]] her father had discovered a month prior.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo]]''</ref> Keyes was able to locate [[Installation 05]]'s Library, and set out to reach it and secure it's [[Activation Index]] before the Covenant could do so. Marine forces lead by [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] were ordered to extract from their positions on the ring's surface and rendezvous with the ''In Amber Clad'' at the Library while [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] proceeded on his mission to [[Assassination of the Prophet of Regret|assassinate]] the Prophet of Regret.{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}}
| | Breaching the outer wall with ease, the 100+ Marines led by Keyes and Sergeant Major Johnson then entered the second wall. The shield down temporarily, the UNSC In Amber Clad was brought into the Quarantine Zone to provide support. |
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| Upon arriving at the [[Sentinel Wall]] surrounding the Library and the [[Containment Shield]] it projected, the In Amber Clad searched for a way around the obstacle.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]''</ref> After failing to gain access to the Library, the frigate deployed a platoon-sized force of Marines to an entrance in the wall, led by Gunnery Sergeant [[Marcus Stacker]] and Staff Sergeant [[Banks]]. The Marines moved through the outer wall with ease, unmolested by local Sentinel defenses - possibly due to being recognized by the automated guardians as [[Reclaimers]]. As the Marines moved through the inner wall, the outer wall became besieged by [[Jiralhanae]]-led Covenant forces deployed from the recently arrived [[High Charity]]. Eventually, the Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadamee]] was able to deactivate the Containment Shield, and the inner wall quickly became overrun with [[Flood]] from the nearby [[quarantine zone]]. Spread throughout the wall in small [[fireteam]]s and completely unaware of the nature of enemy they were facing, most of the platoon was quickly assimilated by the parasite, proceeding to take up arms against their former comrades. Additionally, the local Sentinel forces became hostile to the surviving Marines, likely due to the immediate presence of the Flood. With his forces decimated, but the Containment Shield now disabled, Stacker radioed ''In Amber Clad'' suggesting Keyes proceed straight to the Library while his troops attempted to hold their position. A short time later, Stacker made contact with Keyes once again, confirming their engagement with non-Covenant hostile lifeforms, while Banks could be heard organizing other Marine survivors as they staged a desperate defense.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}
| | The UNSC was ill prepared against the Flood,<ref group="notes">Evident by the presence of Magnum sidearms near corpses</ref> the Marine numbers began to shrink, many of whom were not even briefed on their existence.<ref group="notes">"Negative, Ma'am, they are ''not'' Covenant."</ref> |
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| The ''In Amber Clad'' swiftly took advantage of the lowered Containment Shield, entering the Quarantine Zone as battle raged between hostile Sentinel forces and the Flood. The Frigate took position above the east-most of three large structures in the center of the zone, each containing a gondola leading to the Library. Multiple [[M808 Scorpion]]s and [[M12 Warthog]]s were deployed via [[D77-TC Pelican|dropship]], and the UNSC forces secured the east and central gondolas, and established several defensive positions throughout the central Quarantine Zone. UNSC superiority would be short-lived, as the Flood's acquisition of vehicles brought by the In Amber Clad and arriving Covenant forces swung the battle in their favor. With the subsequent destruction of a [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] reinforcing the Quarantine Zone, the Flood presence quickly became overwhelming. A sizable UNSC force made a final stand outside the western gondola structure, utilizing multiple stationary [[M247 general purpose machine gun]] turrets. Despite receiving reinforcements during the battle from a stray UNSC Pelican carrying a Scorpion, the position was overrun, the Pelican shot down and the Scorpion left abandoned. Meanwhile at the eastern structure, Commander Keyes lead Sergeant Johnson and a squad of Marines aboard the eastern Gondola. Moments later, [[Covenant Special Operations]] forces launched the western gondola, in close pursuit.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}
| | Escaping the wall defences, the remaining Marines were welcomed by the arrival of reinforcements of the vehicular kind. Although armed with the ''Clad'''s remaining supply of tanks and warthogs, UNSC superiority was short-lived.<ref group="notes">Evident by the un-appearance of marine-controlled vehicles. By the time the Arbiter arrives, the flood have captured them.</ref> Reaching a large-sized gondola designed to take them to the Library interior, there were only a few Marines accompanying Keyes and Johnson. <ref group="notes">Although it is probable that some of them were left back at other spots to hold different positions, similar to what Rtas did.</ref> |
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| As Johnson and Keyes arrived at the Library, four Marines were killed by a horde of Flood combat forms. After securing the facility, Johnson left Corporal [[Perez (Marine)|Perez]] and [[McKenzie (Marine)|McKenzie]] to guard the exit while he escorted Keyes to retrieve the Index, however the Marines would be killed by a swarm of [[Pod infector]]s. Johnson and Keyes thus had no warning as a cloaked Thel 'Vadamee ambushed them, and arriving Jiralhanae forces led by the Chieftain [[Tartarus]] subsequently captured the index, taking the unconscious Johnson and Keyes as prisoners.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}
| | By the time they began their journey, the Flood had not only captured Pelicans, but they had already begun their assault on the ''Clad''. While the ground troops fought in the structure, the ship was lost to the parasite. Now with an FTL-capable vessel in their hands, the Flood's hundred-thousand year battle was over. |
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| With the majority of the ship's Marine complement killed in action, the ''In Amber Clad'' was eventually overrun by the surging Flood presence, and it's entire crew presumably killed. A number of Marine survivors from the battle were captured by Covenant forces,{{Ref/Reuse|gravemind}} including Sergeants Banks and Stacker.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Great Journey (level)|The Great Journey]]''</ref>
| | === Covenant Intervention === |
| | Thel 'Vadamee, the Arbiter of the Covenant, was personally ordered by the prophets to journey to the surface of the ring to retrieve the index (or the Sacred Icon as the Covenant call it), some time after the UNSC began their operation. Dropped directly into the outer wall by a [[Phantom]] transport, the Arbiter fought mostly alone, only aided by a small number of the original landing party (several Unggoy and Kig-yar), through numerous Forerunner constructs to reach the control center for the containment shields. By lowering these shields, the Covenant soldiers learned that Human Marines had made it through the wall first, only to be swiftly infected by the [[Flood]]. By lowering the Containment shields, the Covenant allowed more free movement for the Flood. More Covenant warriors soon entered the Quarantine Zone along with their own vehicular support, unfortunately exacerbating the Flood outbreak. |
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| ===Covenant intervention===
| | This breach of containment led to the rapid growth in the Flood's numbers as they assimilated both humans from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} and Covenant warriors. With these new hosts, the Flood gained access to more sophisticated equipment, [[weapons]] and combat vehicles, magnifying the danger the outbreak presented immeasurably. The Flood showed a bit of a tactical genius by destroying one of the Forerunner Sentinel Constructor ships. It ceased to float above the Quarantine Zone and produce countless Sentinels and Enforcers. This meant that while the Flood might not have to fight as many Forerunner machines, Human and Covenant forces would possibly be able to get to the Index easier. |
| {{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!| Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee after learning of the Arbiter's mission}}
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| [[File:H2A - Rtas rallying troops.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rtas rallying his troops]]
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| After numerous waves of [[Jiralhanae]]-led forces failed to breach the outer wall, Thel 'Vadamee, the Arbiter of the Covenant, was personally ordered by the Prophets to journey to the surface of the ring to retrieve the [[Sacred Icon]]. Dropped directly to the wall by a [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] transport, the Arbiter encountered a small number of surviving [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] from the earlier assault. After battling through numerous Forerunner constructs to reach the control center for the Containment Shield, the Arbiter deactivated the shield, proceeding to the inner wall. After his evac Phantom was driven off by a Sentinel Enforcer, 'Vadamee was forced to travel through the now-Flood infested inner-wall. He picked up multiple transmissions from the dwindling human forces that had made it through the wall first, observing two small fireteams of Marines being overwhelmed by Flood forms.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}
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| As the Arbiter moved through the Sentinel Wall, Covenant Special Operations forces were deployed to the Quarantine Zone, along with vehicular support, unfortunately exacerbating the Flood outbreak. The Flood's numbers swelled as they assimilated both humans from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} and Covenant warriors. With these new hosts, the Flood gained access to more sophisticated equipment, [[weapons]] and combat vehicles, magnifying the danger the outbreak presented immeasurably. The Flood used numerous [[Wraith]] tanks to destroy one of the Forerunner [[Sentinel manufacturing facility|Sentinel manufacturing plants]], bringing it crashing down on the surface and slowing the production of Sentinels and Enforcers, swinging the tide further in their favor.{{Ref/Reuse|icon}}
| | Despite this new and surprising defense, [[Covenant]] and [[Human]] forces were able to battle their way through the legions of Flood and [[Sentinel]] constructs. Elements of both parties eventually reached the [[Gondola]] entrance points to the [[Library]] of Delta Halo. [[Commander Miranda Keyes]], [[Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson|Sgt. Johnson]] and a number of [[Marines]] entered the Library first. They were quickly followed by the Arbiter and a squad of [[Sangheili]] SpecOps troops. [[Rtas 'Vadumee]] stayed behind to defend the Gondola station. |
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| The Arbiter exited the Sentinel Wall as [[Udka-pattern Assault Carapace|drop pods]] containing [[Special Operations Sangheili]] arrived in the quarantine zone. 'Vadamee moved to assist his brothers in repelling the local Flood forces in the valley. One of the Sangheili told 'Vadamee that they needed to rendezvous with their [[Special Operations Commander|commander]], [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee who had landed deeper into the zone. The group made their way through the valley, fighting off numerous Flood forms before locating 'Vadumee who, along with other Elites, was defending a small Covenant camp, repelling the Flood until more vehicles could be delivered. With the assistance of Thel 'Vadamee, the group was able to secure the camp and use it as a staging area for their push towards the installation's [[Library]]. The group traversed the war-torn wastes of the quarantine zone, facing massive numbers of Flood forms controlling both UNSC and Covenant vehicles as well as surviving Forerunner constructs before reaching the gondola entrance points to the Library of Delta Halo. After noticing human forces had already departed, 'Vadumee boarded a gondola alongside a squad of Special Operations troops while Rtas 'Vadumee stayed behind to defend the Gondola station.{{Ref/Reuse|zone}} | | === The Library === |
| | Human forces had gained access to the Library first, but only by a matter of minutes. Upon arrival within the Library it was clear that the humans had faced stiff opposition, all but two of their forces had died combating the Flood and Sentinels already within its walls.<ref group="notes">Evident by the non-appearance of other Marines in the Quarantine Zone ending cutscene, and the presence of four Marine corpses nearby.</ref> |
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| Human forces had gained access to the Library first, but only by a matter of minutes. The Arbiter exited the Gondala while his fellow Sangheili warriors stayed aboard to guard it, as it was the only entrance/exit. Upon exploring the interior of the Library, it was clear that the humans had faced stiff opposition, all but two of their forces had died combating the Flood and Sentinels already within its walls. Thel 'Vadamee found Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] within the Index Chamber, having retrieved the Index seconds before his arrival. Sergeant Johnson was ready, armed with a [[BR55 Battle Rifle|Battle Rifle]], along with Miranda Keyes who was reaching for the Index holding on to a large wire from a downed enforcer. Miranda secured the Index and drew two [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun|SMGs]]. Johnson called for his Marines, but received no answer and armed his weapon. An active-camouflaged Arbiter ambushed the pair, incapacitating both in a matter of moments. The arrival of [[Tartarus]] and his hostile Jiralhanae forces within the Chamber, after making their way through the Sangheili forces guarding the Gondala, signified the beginning of the [[Great Schism]]. Tartarus briefly told the Arbiter how the Sangheili had been expelled from the Covenant under the orders of the High Prophet of Truth, and proceeded to attack the Arbiter, sending him plummeting to his doom deep within the Library, towards the [[Gravemind]].{{Ref/Reuse|zone}}
| | The Arbiter found [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Sergeant Johnson]] within the Index Chamber, having retrieved the Index seconds before his arrival. Sergeant Johnson was ready, armed with a [[BR55 Battle Rifle|Battle Rifle]], along with Miranda Keyes who was reaching for the Index holding on to one of the [[Gravemind]]'s tentacles. Miranda secured the Index and drew two [[M7 Caseless Submachine Gun|SMGs]]. Johnson called for his marines, but received no answer and armed his weapon. The Arbiter proved his worth as a warrior once again, incapacitating both Johnson and Keyes in a matter of moments. The arrival of [[Tartarus]] within the Chamber signified the beginning of the [[Civil War of the Covenant]] as he attacked the Arbiter, sending him plummeting to his doom deep within the Library, towards the [[Gravemind]]. |
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| ===Conclusion=== | | === Conclusion === |
| The battle itself was a decisive Covenant victory. They succeeded in obtaining the Index, captured the UNSC leadership as well as all surviving Marines, providing them with the [[Reclaimers]] required to activate the Installation. The Flood also won a tactical victory, securing an immense number of hosts, weapons and vehicles, escaping the Quarantine Zone, and capturing a slipspace-capable starship in the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, which they would later use to begin their [[Fall of High Charity|infestation]] of [[High Charity]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref> UNSC forces failed to recover the Index, lost the ''In Amber Clad'' and it's crew to Flood, and suffered total casualties, aside from the small number of survivors captured by the Covenant from the Library and Sentinel Wall.
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| ==Gallery==
| | The battle itself was particularly from a religious point of view, a strategic victory that the Covenant. Due to the fact that they succeeded in obtaining the Index and captured many of the Marines (that were uninfected), although a tactical victory was achieved by the Flood at the same time. The Flood succeeded in not only escaping Installation 05 but gained the means to spread to other worlds through infesting all nearby ships (ie In Amber Clad). The UNSC forces, on the other hand, failed to recover the Index and were almost completely killed or captured by the Covenant or infected by the Flood. |
| <gallery>
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| File:H2A - Enforcer.jpg|An Enforcer Sentinel behind Thel 'Vadamee on the outer surface of the Sentinel wall.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A CoviesVsSentinel.png|Surviving Covenant troops fighting Aggressor Sentinels inside the outer wall.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A EnforcerOnGuard.png|An Enforcer Sentinel guarding the plug locks keeping the containment shield activated.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A CoviesVsHumanFlood.png|Covenant troops under attack by Flood attacker forms.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A MarinesVsFlood.png|Flood forms overwhelming UNSC Marines inside the Sentinel wall.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A PatrollingFlood.png|Flood attacker forms deep within the Sentinel wall.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A Sentinel Factory Explosion.jpg|A Sentinel manufacturing facility exploding above the quarantine zone.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A SpecOpsVsFlood.png|Special Operations Sangheili defending the camp from the Flood.
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| File:H2A ScorpionTB-SB-1InBattle.png|Flood-infested vehicles in combat with Sentinel forces.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A WraithsShootingFacility.png|Flood-controlled Wraiths bombarding the destroyed Sentinel manufacturing facility.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A SpecOpsEliteFiringCarbine.png|Special Operations Sangheili inside the destroyed Sentinel factory.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A EliminatorSentinelsBurningFlood.png|Eliminator Sentinels targeting Flood forms.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A RtasDeploying.png|Rtas 'Vadumee redeploying into the quarantine zone.
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| File:HTMCC-H2A FloodGondolaStation.png|Flood forces defending the gondola station.
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| File:H2A-Miranda.jpg|Miranda Keyes reaching for the activation index.
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| File:H2A - Inevitable betrayal.jpg|Tartarus and his Jiralhanae betray Thel 'Vadamee.
| |
| </gallery>
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|
| ==List of appearances== | | == Possible Human/Sentinel Alliance == |
| *''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
| | There is supporting evidence to entail and suggest that the Marines were never attacked by Sentinels but were in fact ''assisted'' by them. This is not out of the question because, like on Installation 04, the Sentinels might have identified the Marines as Reclaimers, rather than how Sentinels branded the Humans as an "Aboriginal Subspecies" on [[Onyx]]. This would also explain their open hostility to the Covenant who were enemies of the Humans. |
| *''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}
| | |
| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
| | For starters, the Arbiter encounters an enormous and massive number of Human Combat Forms inside the Sentinel Wall immediately after he deactivates the shield. This suggests that the humans had been deployed much earlier which should have been impossible. First of all, the marines should not have been able to deploy immediately after the barrier went down because [[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]] would've first had to slip past the Covenant forces that were moving in to secure the inner wall. However, if the Sentinels had chosen to assist the marines, they would've deactivated a small portion of the barrier to let them in. Also, in the area where the UNSC [[D77-TC Pelican Dropship|Pelican]] flies over head, there are a number of Sentinels and even an [[Enforcer]] present. None of which seem to show any hostility towards the Pelican. Another factor is simply that considering how much trouble Covenant Elites had getting inside the Library, it doesn't seem likely that the marines would've been able to get past the Flood and the Sentinels. However, if the Sentinels had been helping them, then it's much more likely that they would've succeeded. |
| | |
| | ==Notes== |
| | <references group="notes"/> |
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| {{Engagements in the Battle of Installation 05}} | | {{Human-Covenant War}} |
| [[Category:Covenant victories|Quarantine Zone]] | | [[Category:Battle|Quarantine Zone]] |
| | [[Category:Covenant Victories|Quarantine Zone]] |
