Editing Halo: Glasslands

{{Era|RW}}

|name=Halo: Glasslands

|image=[[File:Glasslands cover.jpg|200px]]

|publisher=[[Tor Books]]

|publication=October 25, 2011

|length=464 pages

|ISBN=[[Special:BookSources/0765323931|0765323931]], [[Special:BookSources/978-0765323934|978-0765323934]]

'''''Halo: Glasslands''''' is the first novel in the [[Kilo-Five Trilogy]] by [[Karen Traviss]].<ref name="release">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/headline/tor-books-reveals-title-cover-art-of-first-halo-novel-from-karen-traviss/86029 '''Halo Official Site''': ''Tor Books reveals title, cover art of first Halo novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss'']</ref> It was released on [[2011|October 25, 2011]] on hardcover, paperback and audiobook.<ref name = "Amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Glasslands-Karen-Traviss/dp/0765323931/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308338967&sr=8-1 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Glasslands (hardcover)'']</ref> A sequel, ''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'', will be released on [[2012|October 2, 2012]].<ref>[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/03/tor-books-announces-next-book-in-halo-series '''Tor Announces next book in ''Halo'' series''']</ref>

Set after the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2553]], ''Halo: Glasslands'' explores the volatile political situation in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]] following the end of the war.<ref name="release"/> The novel picks up directly where ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' left off, with [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]], [[Franklin Mendez|Chief Mendez]] along with a group of [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] stranded on a [[Forerunner]] [[ONI Research Facility Trevelyan|shield world]] locked in a [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] bubble in the remnants of the artificial planet [[Onyx]]. Meanwhile, [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] Director [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Orlenda Parangosky|Margaret Parangosky]] assembles a black ops team known as [[Kilo-Five]], which is assigned on a covert mission to sow discord between disparate [[Sangheili]] factions by any means necessary, as well as to arrest Dr. Halsey once she has been located.

Throughout the story, the moral implications of the SPARTAN-II program and those involved with it - particularly [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] - are explored. In addition, the societal and religious impact the sundering of the Covenant had on Sangheili culture is explored in detail. Threads of the story will also have connections to ''[[Halo 4]]''.<ref name="sparkast">[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_005.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''343 Sparkast 005'']</ref>

{{Article Quote|Though the Covenant has collapsed, humanity's war is far from over...

''"Secrets and tragedies from humanity's distant and recent past will return to haunt us, and familiar heroes will be lost and found. And out of the chaos could come a new hope for mankind: a weapon unlike anything the galaxy has ever seen... but only if Dr. Catherine Halsey and the secrets she vanished with still survive and can be brought back home."''<ref>''Halo: Glasslands'' back cover</ref>}}

{{Summarize|section}}

The prologue begins with a narration from [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Catherine Halsey]] regarding the current situation within the [[The Sharpened Shield|core]] of [[Onyx]]. Continuing from where they left off, Catherine Halsey, [[Franklin Mendez|Chief Mendez]], and the surviving Spartans continue to traverse the [[shield world]] as they search for a food source, a way to revive [[Team Katana]] and a means of escape. Eventually they split into teams in order to cover more ground. With a sense of regret Dr. Halsey begins to wonder about her mission to save the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and the whereabouts of [[John-117]], [[Cortana]], and [[Miranda Keyes]].

 

 

In [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], two [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]], [[Corporal]] [[Vasily Beloi|Vasily "Vaz" Beloi]] and [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Malcolm Geffen|Malcolm "Mal" Geffen]], make their way across the remains of the city in order to reach the [[ONI]] [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6|Facility Bravo-Six]] for a meeting they have been summoned to. Before heading there, they travel to the [[Parthenon]], a bar that was a favorite of their fallen [[Emanuel Barakat|comrade]], in order to fulfill a promise to have a toast in his memory.

At ONI Facility Bravo-6, Serin Osman is admitted to [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Orlenda Parangosky|Margaret Parangosky]]'s office by her flag lieutenant, [[Dorsey]]. Before reaching her office, Parangosky’s personal [[Artificial intelligence|AI]], [[Black-Box]], or “BB”, introduces himself to Osman. Parangosky and Osman then discuss information received about Onyx and how Dr. Halsey is still likely to be alive. Parangosky brings up the Onyx battle report from the {{UNSCShip|Dusk}}, detailing how Dr. Halsey committed many acts of war crime and how Halsey discarded Osman from her [[SPARTAN-II Program|program]]. Despite the Onyx situation, Parangosky states that the primary mission is to neutralize the Sangheili and that Osman only needs to divert to Onyx when anything is found by the {{UNSCShip|Glamorgan}}. Lastly Parangosky details the members her new team, [[Kilo-Five]], will consist of and hands control of BB over to Osman.

Arriving at Bravo-Six, Mal and Vaz proceed into a room where they meet [[Lian Devereaux]], an ODST from the same battalion. Soon after, [[Petty Officer]] [[Naomi-010]] introduces herself. Parangosky, Serin Osman, and Professor Evan Phillips then enter the room and Parangosky discloses the mission, explaining the objective to sow discontent and strife among the Sangheili and to keep them fighting amongst themselves. She further states that they will arm the Sangheili dissidents. Lastly the group is told they will be using the {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} for the mission and are introduced to AI Black-Box. Before ''Port Stanley'' heads out, the crew is notified that the {{UNSCShip|Ariadne}} was having technical problems. The ship requested help from [[Venezia]], but the colony refused to cooperate. It is revealed that Venezia had dropped out of contact years ago during the war and became a safe haven for terrorists.

In [[State of Mdama|Mdama]] on [[Sanghelios]], [[Jul ‘Mdama]], a former [[Shipmaster]], is having an argument with his wife [[Raia]]. Jul then heads out to see the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]], and his aide [[Gusay]] gives him a ride to [[Kaidon]] [[Levu 'Mdama]]'s [[keep]]. There, Thel 'Vadam expresses his desire for unity and independence, and argues that the [[Great Schism]] led to their current situation. Jul says they should finish off the humans. However, Thel ‘Vadam believes it is foolish and plans to reach a peace agreement with humans instead. Jul continues his opposition, prompting Thel to tell the audience if they disagree they have the right to attempt to assassinate him. Afterwards, Jul meets with Levu, who tells him that he does not disagree with the Arbiter’s intentions but that he won’t stop an assassination attempt against him. Jul then travels back to his keep, where their neighbor [[Relon]] demolishes a Forerunner monument in order to make space. The following morning, Relon's keep is attacked and Relon and [[Jalam|his brother]] are killed by Servants of the Abiding Truth. However, Jul contemplates the prospect of joining the Abiding Truth so he can bypass the Kaidon and assassinate the Arbiter.

Aboard ''Port Stanley'', Vaz hears a recording of a conversation between Elites and Evan Phillips reveals to him that he can understand [[Covenant languages|Sangheili language]]. Two hours later, the corvette exits slipspace near New Llanelli. Osman contacts [[Mike Spenser]], an agent working undercover on a listening station on [[Reynes]], and he informs her of the situation with the Abiding Truth. Osman notifies Spenser that she will extract him from Reynes and then arranges to meet with ‘Telcam on New Llanelli.

Inside the [[Forerunner]] [[Dyson sphere]], Dr. Halsey has a short discussion with Mendez about the [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] but it is cut short when a small gray cylinder takes a dive towards Halsey. [[Tom-B292]] covers Halsey for protection and [[Kelly-087]] attempts to grab the cylinder but it escapes. Later, the group comes across a Forerunner tower. Mendez decides to explore the structure and gestures for [[Lucy-B091]] to cover him. Lucy spots something moving away from them in the shadows and ignoring orders to stay put, decides to investigate. Searching a darkened room, she falls through a wall and finds herself in a Forerunner hangar. As she surveys the area, she accidentally attacks a [[Huragok]]. Realizing her mistake, Lucy tries in vain to comfort the Engineer but it dies and more of them approach.

Kilo-Five head towards the surface of New Llanelli in a dropship. BB notifies them that the ''Ariadne'' is still under repair and that the [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] ''[[UNSC Monte Cassino|Monte Cassino]]'' is headed for it. Kilo-Five lands on the surface and Mal gets into an over watch position while Osman, Phillips, and Vaz drive a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] hauling a trailer full of weapons over to ‘Telcam, who is accompanied by another Elite and several [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]]. ‘Telcam surveys the crates and proceeds to take them to his ship, oblivious to the UNSC tags embedded on the weapons. As Kilo-Five prepares to leave, Mal spots and subdues a man by the name of [[Tom Muir]], who reveals himself to be the only survivor left on the colony. Osman reluctantly agrees to take the man aboard the ship but has him quarantined.

On Reynes, Kilo-Five meet up with Mike Spenser. Before they can leave, a group of [[Kig-Yar]] appear and begin to move in on them, demanding their material. This leads to a firefight which results in the death of all the Kig-Yar. Osman orders Mal and Vaz to bring back some of the bodies as she may have use for them. Six hours later, the [[UNSC corvette|corvette]] exits slipspace near Venezia in order to meet with the ''Monte Cassino'' to transfer Spenser and Muir. BB estimates that they can reach the ''Ariadne'' in two hours but the patrol ship explodes before they can.

Back in the shield world, Lucy encounters three more Engineers and puts away her weapon in a gesture of peace. She tries to communicate to them, attempting to speak but is [[Post-traumatic vocal disarticulation|unable to]]. An Engineer checks her over but upon failing to fix her, he gestures her to follow him. Meanwhile, the rest of the group search for Lucy. Suddenly, more gray cylinders appear and one of them stabs Halsey in the leg, prompting [[Linda-058|Linda]] to destroy it. Picking up the fragments, Halsey determines that it was a first-aid monitor. The group soon splits up in order to continue reconnaissance of the rest of the shield world while Dr. Halsey and Kelly stay behind in case Lucy returns. Eventually the recon team comes across a Forerunner city.

While conducting search and rescue for survivors near the debris field of the ''Ariadne'', the ''Monte Cassino'' is contacted by Venezia who warns them they are encroaching on their territory. However, they notify Venezia of their intentions but despite this Venezia fires at the ship with an [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|artillery cannon]]. The shot misses and the ''Monte Cassino'' fires back, destroying the cannon. ''Port Stanley'' finishes transferring Spenser and Muir to the ''Monte Cassino'', which then returns to Earth. Mal requests to do a reconnaissance mission on Venezia but Osman tells him they’ll return later.

Back on Sanghelios, Jul and fellow former shipmaster [[Forze]] travel to [[State of Ontom|Ontom]] in order to meet with the Abiding Truth. Upon landing, they find a temple which appears to be of Forerunner origins. Jul and Forze are greeted by ‘Telcam and Jul tells him that he wants to join their cause, and ‘Telcam accepts. Soon after, one of the shipmasters, [[Buran]], offers his warship, the ''[[Unflinching Resolve]]'', to the cause. However, they first have to seize it from the shipyard. They make it to the [[Aanrar Shipyard]], where Buran tricks [[Pidar|the guard]] into allowing his crew passage to the vessel. Buran is then given clearance by the dockmaster to take the ship, and flies it to Mdama.

In the shield world, the Huragok lead Lucy into a control room, where one of them communicates to her using a panel and introduces itself as [[Prone to Drift]]. Realizing Lucy is unable to use the panel, he enables the use of alphabetical letters using the text display from Lucy’s helmet. Prone asks her why the shield world was activated when the [[Halo Array]] wasn’t fired. Thus Lucy realizes that the Engineers have access to real-time information to the outside. Lucy begs for the Huragok to allow her to communicate with the outside but he refuses, instead he attempts to fix her voice but she explains that she doesn’t need to be fixed. Prone then tells Lucy that her friends are in the "citadel" and she sees them on a panel. Lucy asks him to take her to them and at first Prone is reluctant but she promises not to let them harm him.

Aboard ''Port Stanley'', Mal and Vaz watch on as Devereaux helps Naomi into her [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VII|Mjolnir armor]] when Osman enters the room and tells the group that BB detected a Jiralhanae [[Hudal-class auxiliary vessel|transport]] with a Huragok aboard headed for Sanghelios and desires to acquire the Huragok. Moments later, ''Port Stanley'' intercepts the auxiliary vessel ''[[Piety]]'' and a firefight ensues, resulting in all the Brutes being taken out. Kilo-Five search the ''Piety'' and find the Huragok, wearing a Covenant [[suicide attack|explosive harness]] which Naomi disarms. BB communicates to it and finds out its name is [[Requires Adjustment]]. Afterwards, BB finds a link to Venezia in the ''Piety’s'' comms log. Osman has the dead Kig-Yar with UNSC weapons placed in the ship with the dead Jiralhanae and sends it back towards Sangheili in order to fuel mistrust amongst the different parties. Later, Parangosky informs Osman that [[Terrence Hood|Hood]] is traveling to [[State of Vadam|Vadam]] to talk to the Arbiter about a [[Voi Memorial|memorial service]] being held at [[Voi]] and notifies her that they found an [[Slipspace anomaly|electromagnetic anomaly]] near Onyx. Afterwards, ‘Telcam contacts the ship, requesting more weapons.

At the [[Bekan Keep]] on Sanghelios, Jul and ‘Telcam await the ''Piety’s'' return. ‘Telcam explains Jul that he lost contact with his Jiralhanae contact named [[Manus]] and that he was bringing a Huragok he recovered from ''[[Serene Certainty]]''. The ''Piety'' finally arrives, and the Sangheili find Manus and the rest of the Jiralhanae dead, along with dead Kig-Yar clutching human rifles, and the Huragok missing. ‘Telcam checks the communication logs and finds that the Kig-Yar had radio contact with Venezia. Later, ‘Telcam arrives in a [[Contrition-class transport|shuttle]] with a new shipment and tells the group that he will be heading out for another shipment. Jul suggests that they should move the ''Unflinching Resolve'' to the planet where ‘Telcam receives his weapon shipments, but ‘Telcam refuses to reveal its name or location. Jul requests to accompany him but ‘Telcam insists that he can bring no one else. ‘Telcam leaves but Jul follows him to New Llanelli, where he discovers that ‘Telcam is receiving weapons from humans. Suddenly Jul is ambushed and captured by Naomi.

While everyone is continuing their search for Lucy, she finally emerges from the citadel with Prone to Drift. Dr. Halsey checks Lucy over for any injuries, and Prone modifies Halsey's datapad, enabling him to communicate with the group. Prone asks the group about [[the Flood]] and shows them the Forerunner hangar that Lucy previously fell in. Prone to Drift also tells her that Team Katana were placed in [[Slipspace field pod|slipspace pods]] because they were too damaged for them to repair. He also reveals that the shield world’s time is moving slower than normal space and that there are sensors that can view normal space events. Mendez requests to signal their ships but Prone states they must remain concealed until a presence near them is identified as not being a threat. As Prone insists on maintaining silence, Dr. Halsey grows frustrated and eventually threatens Prone with her sidearm, prompting Lucy into punching Halsey and forcing her to the ground. Losing all control, Lucy repeatedly screams out “No!” overcoming her post-traumatic vocal disarticulation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

==Characters==

{{Scroll box

|1 = ===Human===

*[[Akeyo Oduya]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Andrew Del Rio]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]]

*[[Cortana]] {{mo}}

*[[Damien Hogarth]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Emanuel Barakat]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Fred-104]]

*[[John-117]] {{mo}}

*[[Kurt-051]] {{mo}}

*[[Margaret Orlenda Parangosky]]

*[[Mark]]

*[[Miranda Keyes]] {{mo}}

*[[Olivia]]

*[[Pasquale]]

*[[Ruth Charet]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Saeed Shafiq]] {{First mentioned}}

*[[Staffan Sentzke]] {{First mentioned}}

 

===AI===

 

===Sangheili===

*[[Jul ‘Mdama]] {{1st}}

*[[Forze]] {{1st}}

*[[Raia]] {{1st}}

 

===Huragok===

 

===Jiralhanae===

 

===San 'Shyuum===

*[[Prophet of Truth]] {{mo}}

*The cover of the novel was illustrated by former [[Bungie]] concept artist [[Eddie Smith]].<ref name="frankie">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1083553 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Re: Might be my favorite cover.'']</ref>

*''Halo: Glasslands'' features Easter eggs that reference ''[[Red vs Blue]]'', as Karen Traviss is an avid fan of the machinima series.<ref name="sparkast"/><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/IGNentertainment?blend=2&ob=5#p/u/17/V-rOfu75p1c '''IGN''', ''Halo Universe Fiction - Halofest'']</ref>

**These include Black-Box saying "Yoink", one of the ODSTs commenting on thinking a Sangheili said "Blarg.", and a Sangheili mispronouncing the name "Phillips" as "Phyllis", which is the phonetic pronunciation of the AI F.I.L.L.S from Red vs. Blue.  

*An excerpt of the novel's first chapter was released in the September 2011 issue of ''Official Xbox Magazine''. The excerpt was then republished on [[Tor]]'s official website.<ref>[http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/10/halo-glasslands-excerpt '''Tor.com''' - ''Halo: Glasslands'' excerpt, Chapter 1]</ref> An excerpt of the novel's second chapter was released on October 12th's Halo Bulletin on ''Halo Waypoint''.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/headline/the-halo-bulletin-101211-exclusive-book-excerpt-glasslands/280887 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo: Glasslands'' excerpt, Chapter 2]</ref>

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