Editing Meridian

{{Era|Forerunner|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

|image=[[File:Meridian 2558.png|300px]]

|star, position=[[Hestia system|Hestia]], [[Hestia V]]-7<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/meridian '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Meridian'']</ref>

|moon(s)=None

|diameter={{Convert|3073|km|mi|sp=us}}<ref name="universe"/>

|gravity=1.1 G<ref name="universe"/>

|atmosphere=1.2 ([[Wikipedia:Nitrogen|N₂]], [[oxygen|O₂]])<ref name="universe"/>

|temperature=-37°C to 43°C (-34.6°F to 109.4°F)<ref name="universe"/>

|species=[[Human]]

|population=

|date of foundation=[[2431]]<ref name="universe"/>

|government=*[[Stewards]]<ref name="unconfirmed intel">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Unconfirmed]]'' - [[Mission Intel]]</ref> {{C|formerly}}

*[[Unified Earth Government]] {{C|formerly}}

*[[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]]

|technology tier=Tier 3

{{Quote|The Covenant glassed this planet in '48. It was a UNSC colony then, but we never came back. Run by a private corp now, chipping away the glass, making her livable.|Spartan [[Holly Tanaka]]<ref name="glassed">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Glassed (level)|Glassed]]''</ref>}}

'''Meridian''' is a [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] and the seventh [[natural satellite]] of the gas giant [[Hestia V]] in the [[Hestia system]]. Despite being located on the edges of human space, Meridian was a vibrant and thriving colony with a robust economy and an impressive population; mining and military production for the [[United Nations Space Command]] were known industries on the colony.<ref name="universe"/> Once a green world, the moon held a temperate climate and fertile land.<ref name="canon fodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-know-for-an-answer '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Know for An Answer'']</ref>

The [[Covenant]] eventually attacked the world in [[2548]] and, after a long [[Battle of Meridian|battle]] that lasted for three years, Meridian was eventually [[Glassing|glassed]] by the Covenant in [[2551]]. Following the [[Human-Covenant War]], Meridian was resettled by the [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]]. Despite being a colony of the [[Unified Earth Government]], Meridian became an independent colony following the Covenant War.<ref name="evacuation intel">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''[[Evacuation]]'' - Mission Intel</ref>

===Colonization and early history===

{{Quote|Records indicate that 139 ships, carrying 70,003 souls arrived on this green ball in 2432. Since many of those settlers came from France, they named the first town Avignon, and established the colony of Meridian.|The History of Meridian, presented by [[Free Frontier Education]]<ref name="glassed intel">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''Glassed'' - Mission Intel</ref>}}

Meridian was colonized in [[2431]] by [[human]]ity,<ref name="universe"/> and settled in [[2432]]. One hundred and thirty-nine vessels carrying 70,003 colonists—most of which came from the country of [[Wikipedia:France|France]] on [[Earth]]—arrived on Meridian and established the town of [[Avignon]].<ref name="glassed intel"/> Aided by [[Star Charter-class colony support ship|colony support ships]],<ref name="m5a">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/meridian-5-alpha '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Meridian 5-Alpha'']</ref> Meridian colonists initially settled equatorial coastlands, before migrating to the moon's vast supercontinent, which would serve as the center of civilization for decades on Meridian.<ref name="universe"/> Early in the moon's history, there was a large debate over Meridian's future. While some of the world's population wished for Meridian's surface to remain untouched and largely undeveloped, others wanted to expand and build settlements across the world; the population divided themselves into two political parties known as the [[Stewards]] and the [[Prospector Party]].<ref name="glassed intel"/>

The debate between the two factions ended when rich mineral deposits were found in Meridian's [[Mathon Mountain Range]], causing a rush of new development as many worked to gain a profit from the deposits.<ref name="glassed intel"/> The discovery of the the mineral deposits led to early success for the Prospector Party, though the Stewards gained control of Meridian after a lengthy campaign referred to as the [[Free Patriot Movement]] in [[2457]]. After years of discord, the [[Colonial Administration Authority]] eventually recognized the Stewards.<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> Meridian also became a place of conflict during the [[Insurrection]] due to a number of antagonistic political ideologies, including the [[Sundered Legion]] of [[2495]].<ref name="universe"/> However, after five years of near-constant conflict on the world, [[insurrectionist]] forces were defeated by the [[United Nations Space Command]] at the [[Siege of Athea]].<ref name="evacuation intel"/> Afterwards, military production became Meridian's primary source of revenue;<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> notably, Meridian was the location of dozens of [[Chalybs Defense Solutions]]' facilities, including one in the city of [[Angoulême]].<ref name="enc97">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 97'' (2011)</ref> Accepting contracts for the manufacturing of military equipment for the UNSC ensured economic prosperity throughout the world.<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/>

{{Quote|Almost immediately after Meridian was recaptured by the UEG, the Covenant arrived. Captain [[Edmund Persie]] of the [[UNSC Sevenfold Gates]] fought to the last, but was forced to order what few ships remained to fall back to the edge of the Hestia system. Within five hours of Captain Persie's retreat, Meridian was glassed, and all life there was eradicated.|The History of Meridian, presented by Free Frontier Education<ref name="evacuation intel"/>}}

[[File:H2A Terminals - BattleofMeridian.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A Covenant fleet over Meridian in 2551]]

During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Meridian was invaded by the [[Covenant]] in [[2548]].<ref name="glassed"/> The Covenant, aware of Meridian's value to the UNSC, wished to cut off the world's supply lines that it provided to the rest of the UNSC. However, the UNSC resisted the attack with the aid of Meridian's impressive [[UNSC Air Force]] garrison and extensive orbital defensive grid. With conflict occurring for three years,<ref name="universe"/> the Covenant forces were eventually repelled.<ref name="Journal"/>

However, shortly after the [[Unified Earth Government]] reclaimed the moon, the Covenant attacked the colony again in [[2551]].<ref name="h2a">'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', ''Terminal 14''</ref> During the invasion, Chalybs Defense Solutions' facilities were abandoned, with many being destroyed.<ref name="h4evg">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 172''</ref> After the long [[Battle of Meridian]], [[UNSC Navy]] forces at the world were forced to retreat to the edge of the system while a [[Covenant fleet]] began [[glassing]] the moon's surface.<ref name="evacuation intel"/> Towards the end of the battle, a small Covenant team discovered a massive [[Forerunner]] structure under Meridian's surface. In the structure, they discovered a [[Luminary]], which they delivered to the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]. The Luminary would later reveal the locations of the [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], [[Installation 00|the Ark]], and a [[Portal at Voi|slipspace portal]] to the Ark found on [[Earth]].<ref name="h2a"/> While the glassing resulted in the evaporation of oceans and the loss of most life of Meridian, the atmosphere remained somewhat breathable.<ref name="ms intel">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''[[Meridian Station (level)|Meridian Station]]'' - Mission Intel</ref>

===Post-Covenant War===

{{Quote|Meridian didn't get it too bad. They hit the human settlement hard, sure, and the plasma bombardment boiled some of the oceans off, but there was enough atmosphere to hold some steam in. Covies did a rush job, and the planet survived.|[[William Khaleed]]<ref name="ms intel"/>}}

Following the Covenant War's end, Meridian was recolonized by the [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]], though the world remained independent from the Unified Earth Government. Using the colony support ships abandoned during the Covenant War to facilitate their work,<ref name="m5a"/> Liang-Dortmund established a [[space elevator]]—[[Pinnacle Station]]—on the colony and hired workers to help resettle the moon and aid in the "deglassing" efforts; the settlers were comprised mainly of former Meridian residents wishing to rebuild their home or opportunists seeking profit.<ref name="glassed intel"/> [[Smart AI]] [[Governor Sloan]] served as Liang-Dortmund's administrator and as the colony's [[governor]], having been elected to the position by Meridian for two four-year terms.<ref name="sloan">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/governor-sloan '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Governor Sloan'']</ref> Settlers believed that it would take approximately twenty years to completely deglass the moon.<ref name="ms intel"/> Five days into the recolonization efforts, the colonists began digging through the glass to create a road from the space elevator to a newly created settlement—[[Meridian Station]],<ref name="glassed intel"/> with [[Apogee Station]] being established shortly after. At some point, a group of settlers discovered the extensive Forerunner structure under Meridian's surface near Apogee Station while attempting to deglass the land above it and began working to uncover it.<ref name="ms intel"/>

[[File:Halo 5 - Meridian Guardian.jpg|thumb|250px|A Guardian preparing to leave Meridian]]

In [[2558]], while on [[Raid on Argent Moon|a mission]] to secure [[ONI]] research vessel ''[[Argent Moon]]'', [[Cortana]]—a smart AI believed to have been destroyed in [[2557]]—contacted [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[John-117]] of [[Blue Team]] through the [[Domain]] and directed him to Meridian.<ref name="blue team">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]''</ref> Going absent-without-leave to find Cortana, Blue Team was pursued by [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]] [[Fireteam Osiris]] sent by the [[UNSC Security Council]]. On [[2558|October 27, 2558]], Blue Team had arrived at Meridian and landed at Apogee Station, where they discovered the world's Forerunner structure after entering nearby mines.<ref name="unconfirmed">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''Unconfirmed''</ref> Cortana led them deep into the structure, where a [[Guardian]] was located. Osiris followed and discovered that Meridian was under attack from [[Promethean]] forces led by the [[Warden Eternal]], Cortana's ally.<ref name="glassed"/> After defeating the Warden, Osiris confronted Blue Team, though the Spartan-IIs entered the Guardian and Cortana had it rise above Meridian's surface.<ref name="unconfirmed"/> As Osiris returned to the surface, the Guardian entered [[slipstream space]] en route for [[Genesis]], while the Spartan-IVs left Meridian to determine Cortana's [[Created|plans]] and Blue Team's location.<ref>'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''Evacuation''</ref> After the event, the UNSC had apparently secured the world.<ref>'''[[Hunt the Truth Season 2]]''', ''Episode 1: CUBE B-349''</ref>

While the Guardian's activation heavily damaged Liang-Dortmund's local headquarters at Meridian Station and resulted in the destruction of [[Pinnacle Station]], the corporation's regional directors implemented contingency plans to mitigate the economic impact and reconstitute operations on Meridian. Relocating to the surviving [[Darkstar Station]], Liang-Dortmund continued to work to extract Meridian's resources, despite the uncertain astro-political climate that resulted from Cortana's efforts. However, several Forerunner artifacts within Meridian's mantle have since been reactivated, drawing the attention of the UNSC.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-glassed-ceiling '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Glassed Ceiling'']</ref>

{{Quote|The so-called glass is a mineral called lechatelierite. It is a result of the Covenant lances striking the surface of the planet with plasma, converting the topsoil to glass. Any attempt to make a glassed planet habitable would mean cutting the surface down to below the topsoil.|An observer commenting on Meridian's surface<ref name="evacuation intel"/>}}

[[File:Halo Waypoint - Meridian surface.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The glassed surface of Meridian in 2558]]

A small world with a diameter of 3,073 kilometers (1,909 miles), Meridian was once a green world with impressive, [[Earth]]-like features, which made the [[moon]] a prime target for [[human]] colonization. The world is home to a vast supercontinent, with verdant equatorial coastlands.<ref name="universe"/> Meridian residents enjoyed the world's temperate climate and fertile soil. Meridian was home to rich mineral deposits<ref name="canon fodder"/>—particularly in the [[Mathon Mountain Range]]<ref name="glassed intel"/>—that helped fuel the world's economy. However, after the [[Covenant]] [[Glassing|glassed]] the world in [[2551]], Meridian's topsoil had been reduced to molten slag and soil covered by [[Wikipedia:Lechatelierite|lechatelierite]].<ref name="universe"/><ref name="evacuation intel"/> The Covenant's glassing of Meridian had been been rushed; though the world's oceans had evaporated due to the heat of the [[Orbital bombardment|plasma bombardment]], Meridian's [[oxygen]]-[[Wikipedia:Nitrogen|nitrogen]] atmosphere remained relatively intact. Some lifeforms, such as small plants and arthropods, still thrived in caverns on the world.<ref name="ms intel"/> However, Meridian was now subject to extreme conditions and temperatures,<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> with the surface temperature varying from -37°C to 43°C (-34.6°F to 109.4°F).<ref name="universe"/> Settlements on Meridian were forced to be outfitted with air filters, as much of the world's air was filled with tiny glass particles that proved dangerous to human lungs if enough were inhaled.<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/>

A high concentration of [[Forerunner]] artifacts exists on Meridian; their presence is known to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].<ref>'''[[Data Drop]]''', ''[[:File:93893-PRELIM.pdf|93893-PRELIM]]''</ref> Beneath Meridian's surface, there was at least two vast Forerunner structures built into natural cave formations, though both structures were possibly connected. One structure contained a [[Luminary]] that had the location of the [[Halo Array]], which was collected by the Covenant during their attack on the world in 2551.<ref name="h2a"/> The second one was home to a Forerunner [[Guardian]], as well as numerous host bodies of the [[Warden Eternal]].<ref name="unconfirmed"/>

*[[Angoulême]]

*[[Apogee Station]]

*[[Avignon]]

*[[Darkstar Station]]

*[[Mathon Mountain Range]]

*[[McCord River]]

*[[McCord River bridge]]

*[[Meridian Station]]

*[[Pinnacle Station]]

{{Quote|Grew up on an indie colony like Meridian. Folks out here don't take kindly to the UNSC landing in the middle of town. Tend to see it as an act of aggression.|Spartan Holly Tanaka, commenting on Meridian's relationship with the UNSC in 2558<ref name="glassed"/>}}

Meridian was an [[Outer Colony]] under the administration of the [[Unified Earth Government]]. Due to Meridian's importance to the UEG, the world had a strong [[United Nations Space Command]] presence, with a large [[UNSC Air Force]] garrison and an extensive orbital defense grid.<ref name="universe"/> Early in Meridian's history, two political parties—the [[Stewards]] and the [[Prospector Party]]—debated over whether Meridian's surface should be left largely untouched or developed, respectively. Though the Prospector Party saw initial political success after the discovery of rich mineral deposits on Meridian,<ref name="glassed intel"/> the Stewards eventually gained control of the world after their lengthy [[Free Patriot Movement]] campaign in [[2457]].<ref name="universe"/> The Stewards were later officially recognized by the [[Colonial Administration Authority]].<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> Despite the UNSC's strong presence on the moon, the [[Insurrection]] had some level of prominence on Meridian prior to the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="universe"/> The [[UNSC Navy]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] also had several facilities on the world.<ref name="Journal"/>

After Meridian's [[glassing]] during the [[Battle of Meridian]] in [[2551]], the UNSC did not return to the world for the rest of the Covenant War. Meridian was eventually reclaimed by the [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]], who sought to resettle the world and make the moon habitable again.<ref name="glassed"/> However, the UNSC believed the corporation was intent on claiming the entire world for themselves once it was recolonized.<ref name="unconfirmed"/> Despite Meridian's former loyalties with the UEG and UNSC, the world had become an independent colony that viewed the UNSC with antipathy and now saw a UNSC presence as an act of aggression.<ref name="glassed"/> The colony's Liang-Dortmund overseer and leader was [[Governor Sloan]], a [[smart AI]] that is suffering from onset [[rampancy]] as of [[2558]].<ref name="ms">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level, ''Meridian Station''</ref> Sloan was [[Democracy|democratically]] elected as [[governor]] of the colony by the citizens of [[Meridian Station]] for two consecutive four-year terms.<ref name="sloan"/> The corporation also provides Meridian with private security and is outfitted with a variety of UNSC military-grade equipment.<ref name="glassed"/>

{{Quote|Military production served as the colony's primary source of revenue, and the contract for the Scorpion MBT ensured Meridian's bright future.|The History of Meridian, presented by Free Frontier Education<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/>}}

Relatively unusual for an [[Outer Colony]] on the edge of [[human]] space, Meridian was once home to a powerful and robust economy, that was initially fueled by many outsiders attracted by the world's rich culture and [[Earth]]-like features. Prior to the world's [[Battle of Meridian|fall]] in [[2551]], Meridian was one of the most vibrant and fastest-growing [[Human colonies|colonies]] throughout all of human space.<ref name="universe"/> Military production for the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] served as the colony's primary source of revenue.<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> Several military contractors took residence on Meridian; most notably, [[Chalybs Defense Solutions]] in [[2479]].<ref name="universe"/> CSD's contract for [[M808 Scorpion]] production ensured economic success across Meridian.<ref name="unconfirmed intel"/> CSD had several facilities across Meridian's surface, including in the city of [[Angoulême]],<ref name="enc97"/> though all facilities were either abandoned or destroyed by 2551.<ref name="h4evg"/> Meridian also had a powerful mining industry that began after rich mineral deposits were found in the [[Mathon Mountain Range]], shortly after the world's colonization.<ref name="glassed intel"/> During the [[Human-Covenant War]], supply lines originating from Meridian provided the UNSC with equipment at other fronts in the war.<ref name="universe"/>

After Meridian's recolonization, a relatively small group of [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]] contractors and resettlers attempted to rebuild the world's once prosperous economy. The corporation based their operations at the base of Meridian's sole remaining [[space elevator]], [[Pinnacle Station]], and established makeshift settlements such as [[Meridian Station]]. Liang-Dortmund has since established several mining platforms throughout Meridian, scouring for remaining rare metal and mineral deposits across the world's surface.<ref name="universe"/> By [[2558]], Meridian was regarded as a backwater world on the frontier.<ref name="blue team"/>

Despite being consistently depicted as a moon in all of its visual appearances, Meridian is often mistakenly referred to as a planet throughout ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' as well as other sources.

File:H2A Terminals - Meridian.jpg|Meridian undergoes glassing in 2551

File:H2A - Landfall on Meridian.jpg|Covenant forces hunt for relics on Meridian

File:H2A Terminals - Meridian Relic.jpg|A Forerunner relic on Meridian

File:H5-TheHuntBegins-LindaKellyFred.png|Blue Team dashing through the rubble of a city on Meridian, passing nearby civilians

File:Guardian destruction.png|The same city on Meridian being destroyed by a [[Guardian]]

File:Meridian forces.png|Mass evacuation across Meridian takes place

File:H5G Liang Dortmund banner.png|A layout of Meridian's surface on a banner

==List of appearances==  

**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]'' {{1st}}

{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Meridian locations| ]]