Editing Operation: FAR STORM

{{Era|Post}}

{{New Content|[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]}}

|prev=[[Battle of Draetheus V]]

|date=[[2555|March 17-20, 2555]]<ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/710527812969435136 '''Twitter''': ''Today in Halo - 3/17/2555'']</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/711590383940075520 '''Today In Halo''' ''- 3/20/2555'']</ref>

|side2=[[Forerunner]] constructs

'''Operation: FAR STORM'''<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/olympia-vale '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Olympia Vale'']</ref> was a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] joint [[operation]] to [[Installation 00]].

At the climax of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the joint [[United Nations Space Command]]–[[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]] and a [[Covenant]] [[Truth's fleet|fleet]] under the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]'s command traveled to [[Installation 00]] through the [[Portal at Voi|slipspace portal]] at [[Voi]], [[Kenya]] on [[Earth]]. The ensuing [[Battle of Installation 00|battle]] led to the dissolution of the Covenant Empire, the [[Raid on Installation 04B|destruction]] of [[Installation 04]]'s [[Installation 04B|replacement]], and heavy damage to Installation 00 itself.

In [[2555]], renowned [[human]] scientist and historian Doctor [[Luther Mann]] discovered the location of [[Installation 07]] by cross-referencing [[Forerunner]] architecture on the [[shield world]] of [[Trevelyan]]. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] subsequently sent a research detachment of approximately three hundred scientists of multiple fields, including Mann and [[Henry Lamb]], to study Zeta Halo along with hundreds of automated probes to scan and map out the installation. While inspecting the ring's custodial systems, Mann and Lamb discovered a Forerunner timer that they concluded was counting down to the [[Halo Array|Halo Array's]] activation in five weeks.<ref name="hitd preview">[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476795851/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=desktop-1&amp;pf_rd_r=0ZDTBAZQPQQBZSSQ44VW&amp;pf_rd_t=36701&amp;pf_rd_p=2079475242&amp;pf_rd_i=desktop '''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''': ''Chapter 1'']</ref>

Following the discovery of a countdown on the Halo Array, both the [[UNSC]] and [[Swords of Sanghelios]] decided that the best course of action was to go to what remained of [[Installation 00]] to try and manually stop the timer. Members of the group came from both factions involved, including two [[Sangheili]] who had conducted operations on the installation; [[N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Usze 'Taham]], the former in command of the warship ''[[Mayhem]]''. The mission was put into action rather abruptly - and earlier than planned - when the [[Huragok]] [[Drifts Randomly]] activated the [[Portal at Voi]] for the first time since the [[Battle of Earth]] in [[2552]]. Almost immediately, a [[Retriever Sentinel]]  emerged through the portal and began strip-mining the area around the portal, forcing the {{UNSCShip|Endeavor}} and accompanying small craft to engage combat with it. After this event, the UNSC task force met aboard the ''Mayhem'' to discuss what to do next. The commander of the ship, [[N'tho 'Sraom]], proceeded to kidnap the UNSC troops, believing that the more time wasted talking would mean less time to stop the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. ''Mayhem'' proceeded to enter the portal to travel to the Ark.

The ''[[Mayhem]]'' arrived at [[Installation 00]] much earlier than expected; the previous voyage to the installation had taken weeks, whereas ''Mayhem'' arrived in a matter of mere hours. Upon exiting slipspace, the corvette was immediately engaged by more [[Retriever Sentinel|Retrievers]], and was heavily damaged in the process, crash-landing on the surface of the installation. Unable to continue by air, the group set out to go to the [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]] by foot. The group, consisting of several UNSC [[Marines]], two [[Spartan-IVs]], several [[Sangheili]] and one [[Huragok]], initially made slow progress over the blasted terrain, but eventually began to encounter some of the installation's ambient life in the form of [[Sky Leviathan|Sky Leviathans]]. Shortly after, the group would be attacked by [[Morolaath|blind wolves]] and [[Chaefka]], two predatory species 'native' to the installation. In the skirmish, [[Olympia Vale]] would injured and lured away from the battle by the [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]], using a friendly [[Chaefka]] to lead her to the monitor. When Vale's absence was noted, [[Usze 'Taham]], [[Elias Holt]] and [[Henry Lamb]] would be sent to track her down, while Captain [[Annabelle Richards]] would return to ''Mayhem'' after being injured, alongside her marines and those killed in the previous skirmish.  

Continuing on, the weather would become increasingly cold and arctic as temperatures dropped and snow began to form. Eventually, the first group - [[Frank Kodiak|Kodiak]], [[Luther Mann]] and [[N'tho 'Sraom]], encountered a [[mammoth]]-like creature. The mammoth escorted the group across the now-frozen sea towards the island containing the citadel. Meanwhile, the second group would find the tracks of Vale and the chaefka, and used them to track for a time, before the snowfall becomes too heavy. Instead, they decide to continue on to the citadel, hoping to find an alternate route to the main party. They begin noticing an increase of temperature as they near the Ark's core  and pass the ruins of ''[[High Charity]]'', before eventually being set upon by [[armiger]] constructs. The group defends itself and destroys several as more continue to appear via [[slipspace]] portal. Vale, eventually arriving at her destination, would regain full control of herself as she encountered the installation monitor [[000 Tragic Solitude]], who would take on a form reminiscent of Vale, albeit golden. Here, Solitude would talk with Vale, and explain to her the purpose of the activation of the array and the portal; to rid the galaxy of 'destructive species' like [[Humanity]] and [[Sangheili]] and other alien species responsible for destroying Forerunner constructs, and then use the materials from their worlds to rebuild the Ark and repair it. Upon hearing this, Vale would attempt to reason with the monitor, but to no avail.  

 

After escaping the ambush, the task force soon found itself in the bowels of the citadel. While trying to open a door, the group would be attacked by an [[Aggressor Sentinel]], killing [[Henry Lamb]] in the process. The group would press on after the Huragok opened the door and pulled up a map, eventually beginning to hear voices in the distance. Tragic Solitude explained to Olympia how the activation of the rings had been halted, forcing the [[ancilla]] to put it's plan into motion early; unleashing hordes of retrievers upon Earth. On the other side of the galaxy, the [[UNSC]] [[Home Fleet]] would engage the invading force, initially repelling but soon being overhelmed by sheer numbers. As the group continued, they would soon discover Vale and Solitude, with Solitude ordering for Drifts to return control of the installation to him. When the request was refused, Solitude would unleash a human cyborg - the remains of [[Bobby Kodiak]] - to kill Vale. Vale would hold up in single combat, but the cyborg and retriever army would be recalled when Drifts Randomly would begin datamining the monitor. After being allowed into the chamber, [[Frank Kodiak]] would recognise his brother before the monitor once again tried to attack the group, this ending when Bobby destroyed the monitor's casing  - killing himself in the process.

As the Sangheili, humans, and Drifts set to work to repair the damaged ''Mayhem'', {{UNSCShip|Witness}} and a fleet of other UNSC ships arrives on the other side of the portal to investigate the source of the Retrievers' attack and retreat. ''Witness'' lifted ''Mayhem'' inside of it and all ships and personnel returned to Earth. Research teams were deployed to the Ark through the portal afterward, with hope that the UNSC would now use the deactivated Retrievers to finish 000 Tragic Solitude's work and repair the Ark.  

The communication skills and combat prowess displayed by Vale throughout Operation: FAR STORM did not go unnoticed by the upper echelons of ONI. After the mission, perhaps at Spartan Frank Kodiak's suggestion, Vale considered joining the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]. After her experience at Installation 00, Vale found difficulty in returning to her former, often bureaucratic, routine. Seeking new challenges, she entered the UNSC's [[War Games]], an inter-service event for UNSC Armed Forces personnel to practice on combat decks similar to those used for training by Spartans. Her combat training was minimal compared to most competitors, however, Vale managed to place in the top five percent through a combination of innate physical talent and quick-thinking. As a result of this performance, as well as recommendations from the highest levels of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Vale was approached by the Spartan branch seeking to cultivate warriors highly attuned to the complexities of a post-war threat environment.

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]'' {{Mo}}

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