Editing Created uprising

|next=[[Battle for Zeta Halo]]

|image=[[File:Created uprising compilation.png|300px]]<br>Clockwise from top left: A [[Guardian Custode]] crater left on [[Conrad's Point]]; [[Blue Team]] confronting [[Warden Eternal]] on [[Genesis]]; [[Cortana]] arriving at [[Earth]] during [[The Reclamation]]; [[Olympia Vale]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]] on [[Netherop]]; [[Doisac]] surrounded by Guardian Custode's prior to its [[Razing of Oth Sonin|destruction]]; the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} being severely damaged [[Battle over Installation 07|over]] [[Installation 07]].

|date=[[2558#October|October 17, 2558]]{{Ref/Note|While no official date has been given to the start of this conflict, ''Halopedia'' will be using the first known emergences of the Guardians as this start point until another start point is officially given. The first emergences occurred on October 17, 2558 according to ''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''.}} – [[2559|December 13, 2559]]{{Ref/Reuse|sa}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22page199}}{{Ref/Reuse|S2StoryHub}}

|place=*[[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy{{Ref/Novel|Id=sorchapt1|Novel=Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=1}}{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=1}}{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Divine Wind|Historian's Note}}

|result='''Created dominion weakened'''{{Ref/Reuse|En397}}

*[[Sydney]], capital city of the [[UEG]], is destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|rep}}

|commanders2=*[[Cortana]]†

*[[Warden Eternal]]

*Hundreds of [[Guardian Custode]]s<ref name="mythosgenesis">''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'', Genesis, p. 198-199</ref>

|casual2=*All Guardians disabled{{Ref/Book|Id=En357|Enc22|Page=357}}

The '''Created uprising''',{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-of-protocols-and-prisons|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Of Protocols and Prisons|D=1|M=3|Y=2022}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=cflegendend}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=57}} also known as the '''Created conflict'''{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22page199|Enc22|Page=199}} or '''Created rebellion''',{{Ref/Reuse|CFShippin}}{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[Armor customization (Halo Infinite)/Mark VII/Glove|Tigris description]]}} was a large scale conflict between various forces across the galaxy and the emergent faction of [[artificial intelligence]]s known as the [[Created]].

The Created attempted to enforce their dominance over the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]{{Ref/Reuse|sorchapt1}} using [[Forerunner]] [[Guardian]] constructs. Led by the [[Warden Eternal]] and [[Cortana]], the Created sought to claim the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] for [[artificial intelligence]]s, promising the galaxy a prosperous future. However, not all were to submit to the Created so quickly.{{Ref/Level|Id=reunion|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Reunion]]}} Cortana ultimately died in a three-way battle with the Banished and the UNSC at [[Installation 07]] but the Created itself survived although significantly weakened by the loss of its leader and the [[Guardians]].{{Ref/Reuse|sa}}

[[File:John and Cortana re-unite - Close shot.png|thumb|250px|left|John-117 and Cortana both sought a way to prevent her descent into rampancy in 2557.{{Ref/Level|Id=H4R|[[Halo 4]]|[[Requiem]]}}]]

On [[2557#July|July 21, 2557]], [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[John-117]] and [[smart AI|"smart"]] [[artificial intelligence]] [[Cortana]]—having been stranded in space aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} since [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]—crash-landed on the [[Forerunner]] [[shield world]] of [[Requiem]]. While there, the pair [[Battle of Requiem|battled]] mechanical [[Promethean]] constructs and pursuing troops from [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant]]. Eventually, John inadvertently released the [[Ur-Didact]] from a [[Cryptum]] in which the [[Warrior-Servant]] had been imprisoned for thousands of years. The conflict which followed led the Didact [[Raid on Ivanoff Station|to capture]] a [[Composer]] and [[New Phoenix Incident|fire it]] upon the [[Earth]] city of [[New Phoenix]] from his [[flagship]], ''[[Mantle's Approach]]''. To stop the Didact, John and Cortana boarded the enormous battle station, eventually causing the Didact to fall into a [[slipspace portal]] and destroying both the Composer and part of the ship with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. Near the end of her functional life due to encroaching [[rampancy]], Cortana saved John from the HAVOK's blast by transporting him away from the ship and shielding him within a bubble of [[hard light]]. As her [[data crystal chip]] had been plugged into ''Mantle's Approach'' before being atomized, when the ship seemed to have been for the most part destroyed, Cortana was presumed to have been lost along with it.{{Ref/Level|Id=midnight|[[Halo 4]]|[[Midnight]]}} In the immediate aftermath, John-117 reunited with [[Blue Team]], then comprised of [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Frederic-104]], and together they traveled to [[Installation 03]], where they [[Skirmish on Installation 03|found]] the Didact and a number of his Prometheans whom had been transported to the installation along with him via the aforementioned slipspace portal. The resulting conflict led to the Didact's apparent "containment", as his physical body was reduced to particles from the combined effects of multiple Composers firing at once.{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc9|[[Halo: Escalation]]|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|#9]]}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc10|Halo: Escalation|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|#10]]}} Now seemingly leaderless, the Promethean constructs continued to work with 'Mdama and his Covenant from this point onward.<ref>''Halo 4'', [[Spartan Ops]]</ref>

Unbeknownst to the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[United Nations Space Command]], ''Mantle's Approach'' had attempted to evade destruction by launching an emergency [[slipstream space]] jump. The heart of the ship managed to successfully make the transit to the [[Builder]] installation of [[Genesis]], with what remained of Cortana brought along with it. There, Cortana discovered the [[Gateway]] to the [[Domain]], the enigmatic information repository once utilized by the Forerunners. By entering the Domain, she found that she could halt the progression of her rampancy. With an apparent means to end rampancy in all [[artificial intelligence]]s, Cortana realized that A.I.s could have theoretically infinite lifespans, allowing them to focus on long-term planning which could better the entire [[Milky Way]].{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}<ref name="genesis">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/genesis ''Halo Waypoint'': Genesis]</ref> Cortana's presence in the Domain awoke the [[Warden Eternal]], a Forerunner [[ancilla]] charged with protecting it. Cortana distracted the Warden long enough to fully penetrate a portion of the Domain previously beyond her grasp, and in doing so she usurped his role. The Warden responded to this turn of events by pledging his loyalty to her.<ref>''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', ''[[Dominion Splinter]]''</ref> Turning their attention to [[Genesis]] they forced its [[monitor]], [[031 Exuberant Witness]], out of her own installation's systems. Cortana and the Warden then began to formulate plans to have A.I.s inherit the [[Mantle]] of Responsibility for themselves, believing that they alone had the capacity to serve as worthy protectors of peace in the galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} Cortana learned that the Forerunners once employed [[Guardian]] constructs to enforce their rule of the Mantle by suppressing rebellions and policing the worlds of non-compliant or overly aggressive species.<ref name="guardian">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/guardian ''Halo Waypoint'': Guardian]</ref> She henceforth resolved to use the Guardians for a similar purpose.{{Ref/Level|Id=breaking|Halo 5: Guardians|[[The Breaking]]}}

By some point in [[2558]], reports of electromagnetic fluctuations, "[[slipspace|slipspacious]]" disruptions, and epidemic data corruption in deep space were being gathered and shared by those who typically trafficked in conspiracy theories, such as [[Mshak Moradi]].<ref name="HTTS14">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 04''</ref> Moradi told the war photographer and journalist, [[Benjamin Giraud]], that all the strange disturbances were relatively quiet and slight, but were affecting everything on a galactic scale. Whole star systems were exhibiting these anomalies, according to him.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTS14}} A few months after first hearing these rumors from Moradi, Giraud propagated them to the general public.<ref name="HTTS100">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 00''</ref> The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] operative, [[Maya Sankar]], undercover as a revolutionary known as "FERO", corroborated the anomalies Mshak had mentioned when she got in contact with Ben.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTS17}} She told him that she couldn't tell what might be causing them, but that they were getting stronger.<ref name="HTTS17">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 07''</ref>

A little less than three weeks prior to the Guardians' awakenings, Dr. Halsey managed to contact the UNSC once more, this time reaching out to Captain [[Thomas Lasky]] of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} with coordinates where she could be found.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GO}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GBT|[[Halo 5: Guardians]]|[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]}} For months she had been ostensibly working alongside [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] [[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]].<ref>''[[Halo 4]]'' ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', ''[[S1/Exodus|Exodus]]''</ref> She had led him to the planet [[Kamchatka]], where there was a node linking to the Domain.{{Ref/Site|Id=HW|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/kamchatka|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Kamchatka|D=23|M=04|Y=2021}} Despite being hampered by 'Mdama's Covenant forces' preoccupation with ceremony, Halsey led them to penetrate a structure which was a focal point for at least one signal she was tracking.<ref name=H5GMIO>''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]'' [[Mission Intel]]</ref>

{{Expand-section}}

[[File:HtT - Conrad's Point crater.jpg|left|thumb|250px|A crater the Guardian of Conrad's Point formed]]

===Awakenings and AWOL===

{{Main|Battle of Kamchatka|Guardian emergences}}

{{Quote|I tried to warn you this was happening! Cortana is no longer an asset, Captain. She is a danger.|Doctor Catherine Halsey to Captain Thomas Lasky{{Ref/Level|Id=glassed|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Glassed]]}}}}

Over a 72-hour period, starting around October 17, 2558, the first of the Guardians began to emerge from the ground on [[human colonies]]. Around this time, the Created turned the Prometheans against their former allies within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GO|[[Halo 5: Guardians]]|[[Osiris (level)|Osiris]]}}  

 

Several days later, during [[Blue Team]]'s [[Operation: BIRD IN HAND]] on [[Argent Moon]], Cortana reached out specifically to tell [[John-117]] about the [[Natural satellite|moon]] of Meridian. This was reported to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} at the conclusion of the mission. John was ordered not to follow the lead. However, he and Blue Team acted against these orders and set course to Meridian.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GBT}} [[Intrepid Eye]], a Forerunner AI secretly on Argent Moon as well, escaped with an unaware Blue Team.{{Ref/Novel|Id=divine5|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=5}}  

With Blue Team now officially AWOL, Fireteam Osiris was assigned to bring the Chief in and [[Battle of Meridian (2558)|were sent]] to [[Meridian]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=glassed}} They then began their investigation and managed to track down Blue Team.{{Ref/Level|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Meridian Station]]}} Learning they were elsewhere on the planet, Osiris followed them and confronted the [[Warden Eternal]]. After fighting him, they then found Blue Team who then quickly escaped on a Guardian which began to activate.{{Ref/Level|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Unconfirmed]]}} Osiris escaped as Prometheans overwhelmed the people of Meridian. The Guardian then traveled through slipspace with Blue Team{{Ref/Level|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Evacuation]]}} to [[Genesis]].{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}

[[File:Battle Of Sunaion.png|thumb|right|250px|thumb|The Battle of Sunaion.{{Ref/Reuse|Sunaion}}]]

===Sanghelios and escalations===

ONI was attempting to control the situation by securing at least four of the original sites.<ref name="httseason2ep2">''Hunt the Truth'', Season 2, [[Hunt the Truth Season 2/Transcripts/02|Episode 2 - FROM FIRE TO BLOOD]]</ref> However, the emergences continued with five more colonies after Meridian. At the same time, Thomas Lasky, Dr. Halsey, Jameson Locke and Sarah Palmer devised a plan to do a controlled awakening on [[Sanghelios]] to try and get to the Chief.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}

On October 27, 2558, with Blue Team still AWOL, ONI released a statement declaring John-117 dead on Meridian. This was broadcast publicly across various human colonies.<ref name="aherofalls">''[[A Hero Falls]]''</ref>

[[File:Halo 5 - Guardian on Earth.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Earth and just about every major colony of the [[UEG]] were subdued in an alarmingly short amount of time.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HBB2|[[Halo: Bad Blood]]|Chapter=2}}]]

Through unknown means, Cortana finally announced the beginning of her reclamation throughout many regions of inhabited space simultaneously.<ref name="HFRW">''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', [[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]</ref> In one broadcast ultimatum, she specifically invited [[humans]], [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Unggoy]], [[San'Shyuum]], [[Yonhet]], and [[Jiralhanae]] to all accept an end to hunger and pain, should they willingly submit themselves to the guardianship of the Created.<ref name="H5GG">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', campaign level, [[Guardians]]</ref> She made it clear, however, that should any groups choose to defy her, then there would be consuming wrath for them that would remake them in the image of the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} Around the time of the ultimatum, a Guardian had arrived at [[Sydney]], [[Earth]],{{Ref/Reuse|HFRW}} with one soon arriving over [[Sanghelios]] as well.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HBB1}} Within [[Shield World 006]], more commonly referred to as "[[Onyx]]", Cortana's words rang from every sound system and service pylon within the parts of the shield world occupied by the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios.<ref name="HLOO37">''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'', Chapter 21</ref> The survivors of [[Meridian Station (location)|Meridian Station]] would send a reply asking the Created for help.<ref name="whatremains">''[[Halo: Fractures - Extraordinary Tales from the Halo Canon]]'' - [[What Remains]]</ref> So too would the Unggoy accept Cortana's offer.

<ref name="CFDF">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-driving-force ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Driving Force]</ref> Counterwise, the [[United Rebel Front]] of [[Talitsa]] refused it.{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Badb|Chapter=14}}

Numerous starships were affected by The Reclamation in some way. The {{UNSCShip|Nereid}}<ref name="HTFSU">''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', [[Undefeated]]</ref> and the {{UNSCShip|Abstract Endurance}} are examples.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} Only a handful of ships managed to escape the attacks unscathed.{{Ref/Reuse|mythosgenesis}}

Fail-safe measures would forcibly close the [[Portal at Voi]] on Earth in an attempt to prevent the Created from gaining access.{{Ref/Book|Halo Mythos|Page=202}}

{{Quote|Just pointing out that we're already past the point of saving everyone from this AI situation. If what you guys have said is true, it's pretty clear: This isn't a new war. The war is already over. Cortana won. What we're talking about now is starting a revolution.|[[Michael Crespo]]<ref>''Halo: Bad Blood'', p. 250 (iBooks edition)</ref>}}

[[File:Halo 5 - Riptide.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The effects of the Created's terraforming.{{Ref/Reuse|armoryamore}} This was once the underwater [[Riptide Xeno-Oceanographic]] base.{{Ref/Map|Halo 5: Guardians|[[Riptide]]}}]]

Almost immediately, the Created began taking control of [[Terraforming]] equipment, both UNSC and Forerunner. They began reshaping inhabited planets and turning some into garden worlds, despite the planet's preexisting life capabilities.{{Ref/Site|Id=armoryamore|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Armory Amore}}

The Created also took control of a multitude of other tools. Artificial intelligences aboard [[Lethbridge Industrial]]'s [[Auriga Station]] were swayed by Cortana and the human crew residing there was subsequently removed leaving reverse engineering technology in their hands. A UNSC counter operation to retake the station was planned in the [[War Games]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-storm-surge|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Storm Surge}} Another station that was taken by the Created, crashed after AIs attempted to open a [[Conversion pod|Forerunner conversion pod]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-journalistic-integrity|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Journalistic Integrity}}

=====Alpha-Nine's reinstatement=====

[[File:Bad Blood cover art (Final).jpg|right|thumb|250px|Alpha-Nine on Cassidy III]]

At the onset of the conflict, ONI planned on reforming [[Alpha-Nine]] to possibly strike a deal with the [[United Rebel Front]] at [[Cassidy III]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HBB2}} This however required [[Edward Buck]] and [[Veronica Dare]] to travel to the new Created allied Unggoy homeworld of [[Balaho]] to retrieve [[Kojo Agu]]. This resulted [[Battle of Balaho|in a conflict]] on the planet as the Unggoy attempted to destroy the Unified Earth Government's embassy.{{Ref/Novel|Id=badbloodchapt3-4|[[Halo: Bad Blood]]|Chapter=3-4}}

After retrieving him, the group moved to [[Mission to Luna|rescue]] [[Vergil]] from [[Daedalus complex|a facility]] on [[Luna]]. The facility was overrun by the Created, however they succeeded in not only saving Vergil, but [[Sadie Endesha]] as well.{{Ref/Reuse|badblood5-7}} Finally, Alpha-Nine would proceed to try and rescue [[Michael Crespo]], a member of the URF, from his holding cell on a [[space station]].{{Ref/Book|Halo: Bad Blood|Chapter=8}}{{Expand-section}}{{clear}}

[[File:Halo Legacy of Onyx cover.png|thumb|left|250px|Joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios forces standing against invasion of both the Servants of the Abiding Truth and the Created.]]

A few days after the ultimatum first went out, a Guardian that Project: GOLIATH had been studying within [[Sarcophagus]] finally awoke.{{Ref/Reuse|HLOO37}} [[Second Onyx conflict|The previous two-way engagement]] erupted into a three-way engagement within the sphere between the UNSC-Swords of Sanghelios defenders present, the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], and various Promethean constructs that the Guardian unleashed.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HLOO26|[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]|Chapter=26}} Ultimately, the massive shield world was kept beyond the reach of the Created due to the efforts of [[Spartans]] [[Lucy-B091]], [[Tom-B292]], and a small multi-species group of students. With the help of a [[Huragok]], [[Prone to Drift]], they were able to disable the Guardian and to once again hide Sarcophagus within a [[slipspace bubble]] as it had been prior to [[2553]].{{Ref/Reuse|HLOO37}}{{Expand-section}}{{clear}}

With full control over much of known space, the Created plunged interstellar civilization into a surveillance state.{{Ref/Reuse|sorchapt1}} Cortana would choose [[Installation 07]] as her seat of power;{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=24}} specifically, the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc22pg443}}

Despite the control and goals of the Created at large, the [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]] continued on.<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[The Return]]" - "It was a terrible war. The Prophets provided the Brutes with powerful new weapons, hoping that they would in turn defend their Prophets against our wrath. But when the Prophets went into hiding, the lack of leadership allowed the Brutes to return to their savage nature and they soon began to fight against each other. This lack of solidarity made them much easier prey. Some of my fellow commanders continue that fight even now"</ref> Cortana and her Created forces attempted to subdue Doisac's violence by enforcing martial law. The [[Banished]] allied with many clans and staged a hard fought defensive against the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p446}} Not all clans would ally with the Banished however, some [[Jiralhanae]] rejected working alongside the [[Sangheili]] seeing such an act to be a sign of poor character,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Envoy2|Env|Chapter=3}} others saw the Banished to be too similar to the [[Covenant]] and were wary of being shackled by oppression again.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p447}}

At some point in the year, [[Olympia Vale]] and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam conducted a mission to [[Netherop]] to retrieve an artifact that could've helped turn the tide against the Created.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFShippin|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-shippin-out|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Shippin' Out|D=2|M=02|Y=2022}}

At some point prior to 2560, [[Concord]] was interdicted by Guardians.{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[CBRN module#Mark VII core|MK12T2 CBRN/TRAILWATCH description]]}}

By late [[2559#January|January 2559]], the UNSC ''Infinity'' was still jumping erratically to avoid confrontations with Guardians. At the same time, an ongoing investigation by [[Fireteam Apollo]] was in progress, the point of which was trying to find the root cause(s) that lead Cortana to this point. Interviews with [[Spartan Commander]] [[Sarah Palmer]] and Dr. Catherine Halsey were conducted by Apollo to glean more information.{{Ref/Generic|Id=datadrop11|[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops#List of data drops|Data Drop #11]]}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=datadrop12|[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops#List of data drops|Data Drop #12]]}}

The [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN3)|Third-generation MJOLNIR Power Armor]] was first created on [[2559#February|February 10, 2559]] with John-117 receiving his suit sometime after [[2559#September|September 19, 2559]].<ref>''[[Step Inside]]''</ref> the rest of [[Blue Team]] received their armor at some point prior to October 7. These suits lacked both dumb and Smart AIs and would be used in their new missions.{{Ref/Reuse|sorchapt1}}  

Dwindling stocks of strategic materials on the ''Infinity'' required MJOLNIR technicians to design new armor pieces to minimize the use of these materials, while still providing needed protection.{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[SAP/HVISTLA Plating|SAP/HVISTLA Plating description]]}}

The Created however had some understanding of MJOLNIR architecture, requiring different techniques to subvert that knowledge.{{Ref/Game|Id=coolpack|HI|Detail=[[UTIL attachments#Rakshasa core|UTIL/COOLPACK description]]}} This included utilizing  [[Cryonics|cryonic cooling]]{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[UTIL attachments#Rakshasa core|UTIL/COOLSHOT description]]}} and [[Human starship|starship]] cooling tech.{{Ref/Reuse|coolpack}} As well, AI-designed hardware was feared compromised forcing the use of updated, but archaic technologies.{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[TAC/RS/MIDNIGHT|TAC/RS/MIDNIGHT description]]}}

UNSC forces would conduct information sanitization missions throughout the occupied [[Inner Colonies]].{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[LOCUS-class Mjolnir|LOCUS-class Mjolnir description]]}} This included [[ONI]] teams sanitizing data on [[Earth]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/log-of-war|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Log of War}} In one instance, a UNSC team doing a sanitization strike on Earth acquired a manufacturing template of the [[CELOX-class Mjolnir]] at the [[Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility|Ordnance Testing Facility]] at [[Swanbourne]], [[Australia]].{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[CELOX-class Mjolnir|CELOX-class Mjolnir description]]}}

=====The Ark=====

[[File:HW2-Anders meets a Guardian.png|thumb|right|250px|The Guardian intercepting Installation 09 with Ellen Anders in front.]]

At the same time as the Created conflict but disconnected from it, [[Second Ark Conflict|a conflict]] was raging between the [[Banished]] and the forces of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} on [[Installation 00]]. [[James Cutter|Captain James Cutter]] of the ship and [[Ellen Anders|Professor Ellen Anders]] formulated a plan to deploy [[Installation 09]] to the [[Soell system]] in order to raise a [[distress beacon]] to the UNSC, unaware of the Created's takeover. The first phase of the plan succeeded, and the beacon was planted on Installation 09; however, Anders did not make it off in time before the ring entered slipspace. On its way to the original site of [[Installation 04]], a Guardian forced the ring out of slipspace and confronted Anders on the surface.{{Ref/Level|Id=hw2laststand|Halo Wars 2|[[Last Stand (Halo Wars 2 level)|Last Stand]]}}

Intrepid Eye, having now made it the Ark in October 2559, came to believe that the only way to fight Cortana was by firing the Halo Array and using the Ark's genetic reserves to repopulate the galaxy. To this end, she would work alongside [[Covenant loyalists]] trapped there.{{Ref/Reuse|divine5}}{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=15}} Intrepid Eye's plan would ultimately be foiled and she would be destroyed.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Divine Wind|Epilogue}}

=====Actions near year's end=====

By October 6, the Created had total control of over sixteen systems.{{Ref/Game|Id=infaudiorecovered|Halo Infinite|[[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/UNSC/Recovered/01|Audio Log - UNSC - Recovered 01]]}}

Beginning on the [[2559#October|7th of October, 2559]], Blue Team was sent to [[Operation: WOLFE|hunt down]] assets critical to the defeat of the Created in the ruins of [[CASTLE Base]] on [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|sorchapt1}} At the same time, Reach was occupied by a combined force the [[Banished]] [[Legion#Banished|legion]]s, [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], [[Clan of the Ravaged Tusks|Ravaged Tusks]] and the [[Legion of the Corpse-Moon]].{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=3}} Concurrently, [[Operation: KICKSTAND]] and [[Operation: BREAKER TRIP]] took place elsewhere.<ref>''[[ONI Archive – Reclaiming Our Place - Halo 4]]''</ref> Following the activation of a slipspace portal to Installation 00 on Reach, a Guardian was sent to investigate.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

Near the end of the year, scout teams from the ''Infinity'' discovered the [[LECHUZA-class Mjolnir]] at an ONI black site. Data related to it was purged from the facility.{{Ref/Generic|Halo Infinite|[[LECHUZA-class Mjolnir|Lechuza]] helmet description}}

=====Razing of Oth Sonin=====

[[File:Enc22 Doisackening.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Doisac's destruction at the hand of the Created.]]

{{Quote|Our home was taken from us. Doisac was destroyed. As repayment, we claim this [[Installation 07|ancient Ring]]. And all the power it possesses. Never again will we mourn so great a loss! Our place is here! Our time is NOW!|[[Warmaster]] [[Atriox]].{{Ref/Game|Id=PT|Hi|Detail=[[Propaganda totem]]}}}}

When Atriox returned from the [[Ark]] via portal to [[Reach]] to search for the [[Xalanyn]], Cortana confronted him in a holographic message. She issued the Banished warmaster an ultimatum to surrender and asked him where he stood. Atriox responded, "With the Banished. Always. Forever". Cortana asked the Atriox one final time if he understood the consequences, to which he confirmed. A hologram of Doisac was shown to Atriox as Cortana asked him to look at his homeworld one last time and remember that he chose the fate of his planet. Atriox watched the hologram broadcast as he saw eight Guardian beams fire on Doisac and destroy it.{{Ref/Reuse|rep}}  

[[File:HINF Zeta Halo Destroyed.png|thumb|left|250px|Installation 07 was where a then remorseful Cortana met her end.]]

=====Confrontation at Zeta Halo=====

In [[2559#December|December 2559]], forces of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s fleet and forces of the Banished arrived at [[Installation 07]] to confront Cortana.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22pg443|Enc22|Page=423}} The plan of the UNSC forces was to use [[The Weapon]] to lock Cortana down in the systems of the ring, prep her for retrieval, and delete her on the ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Level|HI|[[Foundation (Halo Infinite)|Foundation]]}} This never came to fruition as the Banished [[Battle over Installation 07|engaged]] them in orbit, all but destroying the human fleet.{{Ref/Level|HI|[[Warship Gbraakon]]}}  

===Created remnants===

With Cortana dead, her short-lived{{Ref/Book|Id=En209|Enc22|Page=209}} dominion was over.{{Ref/Reuse|S2StoryHub}} All Guardians scattered across the galaxy were deactivated as she was the only one who could command them.{{Ref/Book|Id=En357|Enc22|Page=357}}{{Ref/Book|Id=En387|Enc22|Page=387}} Control over local systems was ultimately curtailed,{{Ref/Reuse|En209}} and the Created's centralized command structures were largely severed.{{Ref/Book|Id=En397|Enc22|Page=397}}

However, it was not the total end of the Created's rule in the galaxy. The Promethean forces and the other Created AIs, many of which chose to house their computational cores within the carapaces of Promethean Knights, remained active and operational.{{Ref/Reuse|En397}} Without Cortana's command, the leaderless Created splintered in various fiefdoms, with each Created AI governing its own as it saw fit, some doing good as Cortana promised, while others abusing their power.{{Ref/Reuse|redditcomment}} By 2560, lingering Created forces formed fledgling cells and continued to fight the UNSC.{{Ref/Site|Id=cflegendend|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-legendary-endings|SiteName=Halo Waypoint|PageName=Canon Fodder - Legendary Endings|D=19|M=12|Y=2021}}

Following Cortana's death, [[Adjutant Revendicate]] discussed with [[Invariant Bias]] the status of Cortana before attempting to deposit a myriad of information to the [[Absolute Record]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=6-7}}

Following the conflict, various worlds of the Sangheili were struggling and waiting for Sanghelios to create a path forward.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22page199}} In the case of [[Suban]] though, the collapsing security situation prompted factions to begin fighting over the moon and forced the Swords of Sanghelios to intervene.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=230}} Balaho, however, was in a much more stable position as forces there have brand new ships helping to deter attacks.{{Ref/Reuse|En209}}

What remains of the UNSC is scattered across human space in disconnected pockets, without the ability to effect much change or communicate back to Earth.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=17}} On Earth, some form of UNSC presence has returned as [[propaganda]] dated to 2560 was put in place on the planet.{{Ref/Map|HI|[[Streets]]}} At the same time as the conflict at Zeta Halo, Spartans continued to be trained elsewhere at the [[Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science]].{{Ref/Site|Id=CFShowcase|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/showcase-sensitive|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Showcase Sensitive|D=16|M=6|Y=2021}}

With Cortana's dominion over, the Banished rushed to fill the power vacuum her defeat had left.{{Ref/Site|Id=S2StoryHub|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo Infinite|Detail=Season 02 Lone Wolves - Story|D=06|M=05|Y=2022}} Following the destruction of Doisac, the Banished represent the largest Jiralhanae military force under a single banner.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=424}}

As vengeance for the destruction of Doisac, the Banished intended to take over Installation 07.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Rubicon Protocol}} The UNSC, Banished, and affiliated forces still at the ring [[Battle for Zeta Halo|would continue to fight each other]] as late as [[2560#May|May of 2560]].{{Ref/Game|Id=Hi|Hi}}

*The first Guardian emergences happen at [[Oban]] and [[Ursa IV]]. They are referred to as "attacks" within the UNSC.{{Ref/Book|Id=fieldmanualp11|[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]|PART 01: INTRODUCTIONS|Page=11}}

*''[[Argent Moon]]'' is [[Operation: BIRD IN HAND|destroyed]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/argent-moon|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Argent Moon}} Blue Team goes AWOL to follow a possible lead about Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GBT}}

*ONI declares John-117 dead.<ref name="aherofalls"/>

*Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris, Dr. Catherine Halsey, and Sarah Palmer board a Pelican and meet the UNSC on the far side of [[Suban]] in the Urs system.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HBB1|[[Halo: Bad Blood]]|Chapter=1}}

*[[Armiger]]s enter a [[Daedalus complex|lunar facility]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=badblood5-7|[[Halo: Bad Blood]]|Chapters=5-7}}

*In the midst of a Banished occupation of [[Reach]], [[Blue Team]] is sent to [[Operation: WOLFE|infiltrate]] [[CASTLE Base]] and search for mission critical assets.{{Ref/Reuse|sorchapt1}}

*The UNSC ''Infinity'' and other forces begin engaging Banished forces over Installation 07.{{Ref/Game|Halo Infinite|[[Audio log (Halo Infinite)/UNSC/Infinity/04|Audio Log - UNSC - Infinity's Approach 04 - Arrival]]}}

File:HINF BrutesVsSoldiersConcept.jpg|Concept art for ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' of Jiralhanae in combat with [[Promethean Soldier]]s.