Editing Onyx

{{Center|''Were you looking for [[Onyx (material)|Onyx]], the material or [[Sarcophagus]], the [[Dyson sphere]] located at the former site of Onyx?''}}

{{Planet infobox

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|colonized=[[2491]]

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{{Quote|XF-063 is a rare jewel of a find.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[D. F. Lambert]]<ref name="goo123">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 123''</ref>}}

'''Onyx''', officially known to the [[UNSC]] as "'''XF-063'''" or '''Zeta Doradus IV''',<ref name="mythos 136">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 136'' ("...Onyx's boundless interior surface...")</ref> was a planet-sized [[Forerunner]] megastructure located in the [[Zeta Doradus system]], and formerly the external component of the [[shield world|shield installation]] designated [[Trevelyan|Shield World 006]]. While it had a [[human]]-habitable surface and a seemingly terrestrial crust, Onyx was internally composed of trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel]]s.<ref name="disintegrate">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 377-378''</ref> The artificial planet's ultimate purpose was to guard the entrance to the shield world proper, a [[Dyson sphere]] held in a miniature [[slipspace bubble]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 120''</ref> During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Onyx served as the headquarters of the [[SPARTAN-III program]] and was the location of the massive, three-sided [[Onyx Conflict]] in late [[2552]]. At the conclusion of the battle, Onyx itself disintegrated, only leaving the Dyson sphere in its core intact. After the disintegration of the artificial planet, the name "Onyx" has often been applied to the Dyson shell that remains in its stead,{{Ref/Reuse|mythos 136}}<ref name="lessons">'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[Lessons Learned]]"</ref> and can be regarded as the overall name for the shield installation, comprising both the planetary shell and the Dyson sphere.{{Ref/Reuse|mythos 136}}<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 113'' ("Onyx was, in fact, a Forerunner shield world...")</ref>

Onyx, named by the [[UNSC Engineering Corps]] due to the unusually large [[Onyx (material)|onyx]] quarries found in the planet's crust, had an [[oxygen]]-[[Wikipedia:Nitrogen|nitrogen]] gas atmosphere, of suitable pressure for human life with a temperate weather cycle. It also had an unusually large number of indigenous species of flora and fauna, some of which were edible by humans and posed no threatening danger. The transplanting of [[Earth]] species was immediately possible.{{Ref/Reuse|goo123}}

Some notable anomalies were that it had no detectable tectonic activity, an unusually strong planetary magnetic field, and slightly higher than normal background radiation.{{Ref/Reuse|goo123}} All of this was explained when it was revealed that the planet's crust was composed of large numbers of dormant Sentinels.{{Ref/Reuse|disintegrate}}

===Structure===

Onyx's foundational structure was composed of trillions of Onyx Sentinels, arranged into a crystalline latticework in which the Sentinels' central spheres served as spherical joints, connected by rods which, in the Sentinel's normal arrangement, surrounded the central sphere.{{Ref/Reuse|disintegrate}}<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 303''</ref> The planet's Earth-like landmass was laid over this structure, which also contained a vast network of subterranean tunnels and installations, at least one massive Forerunner city,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 349''</ref> a [[Cartographer|map room]], and an immense [[Sentinel manufacturing facility#Onyx|Sentinel production facility]] under the northern polar region.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 313''</ref>

== History ==

Onyx was discovered by the [[UNSC Engineering Corps]] sometime around May, [[2491]]. In [[ENGCORP Field Report A76344]], Captain [[D. F. Lambert]] stated "''XF-063 is a rare jewel of a find''" and recommended colonization. The [[The Assembly|Assembly]] quickly moved to keep colonization from occurring, as they had discovered the presence of Forerunner artifacts independently of the UNSC and feared that humanity would not be ready to learn about the existence of alien life.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 6]]''</ref>

On February 19, [[2492]], in [[ENGCORP Field Report A79052]] [[Lieutenant]] [[W. K. Davidson]] stated that [[Geological Expedition Four]] found an entire phylum of possible alien taxonomy and recommended a follow-up survey with specialists in paleobiology, [[xenobiology]], and biochemistry.

In [[2511]], when archaeological expeditions uncovered massive subterranean Forerunner constructions in what would after be called [[Zone 67]], [[ONI]] immediately took control of the world, going so far as to remove Onyx from UNSC navigational databases and suspending any prospective colonization and [[terraforming]] attempts. However, further attempts to determine the purpose of the structures, or even to extract any usable technology, yielded no results. In [[2525]], with the coming of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the operation was scaled down and only a minimal ONI garrison and a single [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] remained. Three consecutive AIs served in this post, replacing one another once the former AI's lifespan ended; [[Eternal Spring]], [[Deep Winter]] and [[Endless Summer]]. Due to the site's importance, a secret [[Slipspace COM launcher]] was later constructed within Zone 67.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 176''</ref> The planet's location remained secret. Regular scans continued to yield little of value.

[[Vice Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]] authorized the construction of the Spartan-III training base on Onyx in [[2531]]. This base, designated [[Camp Currahee]], was constructed perilously close to Zone 67, which had been declared strictly off limits. However, during a routine exercise north of Currahee, Spartan [[Team X-ray]] trespassed into Zone 67, entered a Forerunner structure, and disappeared without trace. An ONI investigation into the matter was inconclusive, although the Spartans were rumored to have encountered a "glowing eye" which detonated upon discovery.

{{Main|Onyx Conflict}}

Kurt, [[Franklin Mendez|CPO Mendez]] and the Spartan-IIIs were soon joined by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and later, [[Blue Team]], and they eventually made their way into an excavated Forerunner city in [[Zone 67]]. Meanwhile, both the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]] and the UNSC sent battle groups to retrieve Onyx's Forerunner technologies. The [[Patterson's battle group|UNSC battle group]] was destroyed in the ensuing battle.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 376''</ref> The humans, led by Kurt, fell back into the interior of Onyx and discovered its map room, where they were redirected by Endless Summer to destroy Onyx's Sentinel factory. Eventually, the survivors made a last stand against the Covenant in the core room antechamber, before retreating into the safety of the shield world. After the gateway into the shield world had closed, Kurt detonated two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead|nuclear warheads]], ensuring the Covenant did not follow his comrades. Immediately afterward, the Sentinels that had made up Onyx's foundational structure obliterated the terrestrial surface and decimated the Covenant fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|disintegrate}}

Months later, in [[2553#January|January 2553]], a series of concentric rings of debris radiated from where Onyx had once been.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 47-48''</ref> The slipspace bubble housing the shield world, however, had survived intact and the Dyson sphere was eventually transitioned into normal space. ONI soon converted the shield world into a research facility, named "Trevelyan" in reference to Kurt-051's original surname.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 397''</ref> By [[2554]], the shield world was under joint control by the UNSC and the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], with the two factions conducting the [[Onyx United Research Project]] there.{{Ref/Reuse|lessons}}

==Trivia==

==Gallery==

File:OnyxPelican.jpg|A Pelican leaving Onyx.

File:XF-063 04-02-2491 150x150 p1.png|A star chart depicting Onyx.

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