Editing Halo: Hunters in the Dark

{{Status|RealWorld}}

|image=[[File:Halo-HuntersInTheDark-CoverArt.jpg|300px]]

|author=[[Peter David]]<ref name="Canon Fodder 20150312">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-novel-ideas '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Novel Ideas'']</ref>

|publisher=Simon & Schuster{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

|publication=[[2015|June 16, 2015]]{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

|media=Print{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

|length=368 pages<ref name="s&s">[http://books.simonandschuster.com/HALO-Hunters-in-the-Dark/Peter-David/9781476795874 '''Simons and Schuster''': ''Halo: Hunters in the Dark'']</ref>

|ISBN=[[Special:BookSources/9781476795874|9781476795874]]{{Ref/Reuse|s&s}}

'''''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''''' is a [[Halo novels|full-length print novel]] from Simon & Schuster written by ''New York Times'' bestselling author [[Wikipedia:Peter David|Peter David]]. It was released on June 16, 2015.{{Ref/Reuse|Canon Fodder 20150312}}

{{Article quote|It is [[2555]], more than two years after the [[John-117|Master Chief]] went missing-in-action following a [[Battle of Installation 00|decisive conflict]] on [[Installation 00]] — the massive, extragalactic [[Forerunner]] construct known as the Ark — as part of the final chapter in humanity’s bloody [[Human-Covenant War|thirty-year struggle]] against the overwhelming forces of the [[Covenant]]. Now, as a tenuous peace exists between the humans and the [[Sangheili|Elites]], a startling scientific discovery is made…and the riddle behind its Forerunner origins could very well seal the fate of the entire galaxy within a matter of weeks. In order to unravel these dangerous secrets, a heroic, hastily formed coalition of humans and Elites must attempt to overcome their differences as they embark on a [[Operation: FAR STORM|covert mission]] back to the Ark — an astonishing, enigmatic place beyond comprehension from which few have returned and where mortal danger awaits them all…{{Ref/Reuse|s&s}}}}

{{Spoiler/begin}}

The [[Swords of Sanghelios]] are informed of the activation of the Halo's firing sequence and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] sends [[N'tho 'Sraom]], [[Usze 'Taham]], and the [[Huragok]] [[Drifts Randomly]] to [[Earth]] aboard ''[[Mayhem]]'', where they meet with the UNSC at the deactivated [[Portal at Voi|slipspace portal]] that leads to the Ark at [[Voi]], [[Kenya]]. Osman places Richards in charge of representing the UNSC during the mission, with [[Spartan-IVs]] [[Frank Kodiak]] and [[Elias Holt]] serving as a security detail. Mann and Lamb are relocated to the portal's site, while Drifts works on activating the portal. [[Olympia Vale]], an expert in Sangheili culture and [[Sangheili (language)|language]], serves as a liaison between the two groups. Richards and Kodiak experience difficulty at suppressing their disdain for the Sangheili and the Spartan challenges N'tho to an alleged "friendly" duel—N'tho had cut off Kodiak's arm during the [[Human-Covenant War|Covenant War]]. The fight is interrupted when Drifts activates the portal and a [[Retriever]] promptly exits. The construct begins mining Earth for resources, but it is quickly defeated by {{UNSCShip|Endeavor}}. The team meets aboard ''Mayhem'' to discuss the next course of action; while Richards insists on waiting for ONI's permission before entering the portal, N'tho decides that they cannot waste time waiting for administrative consent and prepares to enter the portal. However, another Retriever exits the portal and attacks ''Mayhem''. After a brief engagement, the vessel defeats the construct and continues through the portal, much to Richards' and Kodiak's chagrin. ''Mayhem''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew is soon shocked to discover that the trip through the portal will only take a couple hours, rather than several weeks as they expected. As ''Mayhem'' exits [[slipspace]] over the Ark, the ship is attacked by a group of heavily armed Retrievers. ''Mayhem'' crash-lands on the Ark's surface, with the crew only suffering minor injuries. Soon, the mission's team—Mann, Lamb, Vale, Richards, Holt, Kodiak, ten UNSC [[Marines]], N'tho, Usze, [[Kola 'Baoth]], [[Zon 'Vadum]], and Drifts—leave ''Mayhem'' and begin venturing towards the Ark's [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]] to stop the Halo Array's activation sequence.

Meanwhile, Vale regains full control of her body and she recalls previous events. However, the ground opens up beneath her and she falls into a series of [[elevator]]s and tubes that bring her to a room. There, Vale encounters a construct that transforms into a golden replication of herself and introduces itself as [[000 Tragic Solitude]], Installation 00's [[monitor]] and the voice that had spoken to her earlier. The monitor reveals how he lured Vale to his position and how he was responsible for activating the Halos' firing sequence to rid the [[Milky Way]] of "destructive species", such as the humans and Sangheili that had [[Battle of Installation 04|destroyed]] [[Installation 04]], [[Glassing|glassed]] Installation 05, and destroyed [[Installation 08|04's replacement]] which heavily damaged the Ark in the process. With the firing sequence set, Tragic Solitude correctly suspected that the humans would reopen the portal, allowing him to send an army of heavily armed Retrievers to Earth to mine the planet for the resources needed to repair the Ark. Having become [[Rampancy|rampant]] from the damage the Ark had sustained in [[2552]], Tragic Solitude refuses to reason with Vale. Meanwhile, Usze, Lamb, and Holt are attacked by a mobile, [[carnivorous plant]] and the group is forced to take shelter in a cave up on a cliffside. Feeling some sympathy for Vale, the monitor allows the two teams to communicate. Holt contacts Kodiak and reveals their current situation; Kodiak departs for the other team's location. Upon arriving, Kodiak and Usze manage to kill the plant. As both teams soon meet at the Citadel, they realize that they are likely being lead into a trap and presume the installation's ancilla intends to use Drifts Randomly to help repair the Ark. Regardless, the team continues into the Citadel, following behind the Huragok. Once inside the Citadel, Mann shuts down the firing sequence. However, the team is promptly attacked by hordes of armigers. Mann, Lamb, Drifts, Usze, and Kola retreat down an elevator shaft, while Holt, Kodiak, N'tho, and Zon escape through a portal created by an armiger. Meanwhile, Tragic Solitude reveals to Vale that he intends to spare only Drifts and herself, for reasons he currently refuses to discuss. Vale attempts to argue further with the monitor, but Tragic Solitude induces her to sleep.

Mann, Lamb, Usze, Kola, and Drifts find themselves within the Citadel's inner tunnels and discover the Citadel's damaged, central power station. While Drifts works on repairing the station, Lamb and Mann discover a damaged [[Sentinel]], which suddenly attacks Lamb. Usze quickly destroys the construct, but Lamb soon dies from blood loss. While Mann mourns the loss of his friend upon Usze's suggestion, Drifts manages to activate a map of the Ark's inner tunnels, including one that leads to the exit of the Citadel. The four come across a heavy, locked door blocking their path, with the [[Foundry (location)|Foundry]]'s control suite on the other side, followed by the Citadel's exit. Usze and Kola manage to lift the door, barely allowing Mann and Drifts to slide through. While the two Sangheili are ambushed by dozens of armigers, Drifts begins toying with the Foundry's controls and confirms Tragic Solitude's presence to Mann. At Mann's request, Drifts works to take control of the Ark's systems. Meanwhile, Holt, Kodiak, N'tho, and Zon find themselves within a dark chamber, with a large gap in the flooring blocking their path. While the Spartans use their thrusters within [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|their armor]] to aid them as they leap across the gap, [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s suddenly rise out of the gap just as N'tho attempts to jump the hole. Zon and the Spartans quickly destroy the Sentinels, while N'tho manages to grab onto the ledge on the other side of the gap. Once the Spartans pull N'tho up from the ledge, Zon leaps across as well and the group continues forward. N'tho detects the recently awakened Vale's voice and the group walks towards her direction. Tragic Solitude reveals to Vale that her friends have managed to deactivate the Halos' firing sequence, but informs her that he intends to force her to activate the firing sequence once again after he kills the remaining members of the team. He reveals that he had increased the portal's power, allowing the Retrievers to reach Earth in a matter of hours—which also allowed ''Mayhem'' to reach the Ark at a similar speed. The monitor decides to move his plans into motion and sends his army of Retrievers through the portal. As Drifts gains control of the Ark's systems and suppresses the monitor, he opens the door between them and the two Sangheili; Usze and Kola—having managed to defeat the armigers—hazily enter the Ark's control room, moderately wounded. Meanwhile, the Retrievers arrive at Earth and begin mining the planet, while others engage the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]. Establishing a communication link, Tragic Solitude orders Vale to tell Drifts to return full control of the Ark to him. However, Vale defies the monitor and encourages Drifts and Mann to purge the ancilla from the Ark's systems. Vale tells the monitor to kill her, as she does not wish to live as his captive. Instead, Tragic Solitude brings forth a human cyborg, whom the monitor reveals to be the human he had previously used to initiate the firing sequence as well as the lone survivor of the previous expedition to the Ark—Broadside One.

Tragic Solitude commands both humans to fight to the death; despite Vale's reluctance, the cyborg eagerly charges at her. Meanwhile, the Spartans, N'tho, and Zon locate Vale, but are obstructed by an [[energy barrier]]. Kodiak recognizes the cyborg as his brother, Bobby Kodiak; Spartan Kodiak had thought Bobby had gone [[MIA]] on an ONI operation, which was in fact the original expedition to the Ark. Kodiak manages to communicate to Vale that the cyborg is his brother, and Vale is able to calm Bobby down by using his name and reminding him of his own brother. However, as the cyborg begins attacking her again, the Spartans, N'tho, and Zon discover the monitor's data stores and begin firing into them. To get them to stop, Tragic Solitude recalls the Retrievers and the cyborg collapses to the ground. With the energy barrier down, Kodiak tends to his brother, but the monitor suddenly attacks the group. Bobby charges at the monitor and plunges one of his bladed forearms into the Tragic Solitude's interior housing, destroying both of them. Both groups meet up and exit the Citadel. As the team walks back towards ''Mayhem'', Vale comforts Kodiak on the loss of his brother, who in turn suggests for Vale to consider joining the [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]]. As the team takes notice of the now-temperate weather and encounters the previously hostile chaefka now eating vegetation, they determine that Tragic Solitude had controlled both the weather and the animals in an attempt to kill all members of the team, except for Vale. The trip back to ''Mayhem'' proves to be relatively peaceful, except for a single encounter with a pack of hostile blind wolves which are easily killed. Upon arriving at the damaged ship, the team's injuries are treated.

*[[117649 Despondent Pyre]] {{Mo}}

*[[Olfmeri]] {{1st}}

***[[Spartan Operations|Spartan]]

****[[London]] {{Mo}}

**[[Foundry (location)|Foundry]]

*[[Installation 08]] {{Mo}}

***[[Raid on Installation 08]] {{Mo}}

*[[Blooding Years]]

 

*[[Hard light stave]] {{1st}}

*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}} {{Mo}}

**{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} {{Mo}}

*[[D81-LRT Condor]]

**''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' {{Mo}}

*{{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}

*{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}

*{{UNSCShip|Redoubtable}} {{Mo}}

*[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]

**Peter David has stated, perhaps jokingly, that because of the prominence of the Ark in the story he desperately wished to title it ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'', but was prevented by his publisher for [[Wikipedia:Raiders of the Lost Ark|obvious reasons]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-jurassic-ark '''Halo Waypoint''' ''Canon Fodder - Jurassic Ark'']</ref>

*The novel's cover depicts [[Blind wolf|blind wolves]], creatures that were originally planned to be featured in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' as ambient wildlife. The cover was designed by Kory Hubbell.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-nine-lives '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Nine Lives'']</ref>

File:Halo-HuntersInTheDark-CoverArt.jpg|2015 edition.

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