Editing Second Ark Conflict

{{Era|Post}}
{{disambig header|the battle in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war]] era|other battles on Installation 00|Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation)}}
{{battle
|name=Second Ark Conflict
|image=[[File:HW2-Trailer-Banished vs UNSC.png|425px]]
|prev=*[[Attack on Installation 00]] <small>([[Banished]])</small>
*[[Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire]] <small>({{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}})</small>
|conc=[[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]], [[Created conflict]], [[Second Onyx conflict]]
|next= 
|conflict=[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]<ref name="The Signal">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Signal]]''</ref>
|date=[[2559#March|March 28, 2559]]–<ref name="Alice Report">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' – "Alice-130 Report #1"</ref>
|place=*[[Installation 00]]<ref name="The Signal" />
*[[Installation 09]]<ref name="The Halo">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Halo]]''</ref>
|result='''Ongoing'''<ref name="Beyond">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]'' – "Beyond the Edge"</ref>
*[[UNSC]] gains a significant foothold on the Ark.<ref name="Beyond" />
**[[Atriox]]'s right hand, [[Decimus]], is killed.<ref name="Lights Out">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Lights Out]]''</ref>
**[[Banished]] [[flagship]], ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', is destroyed.<ref name="Under The Dark">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Under The Dark]]''</ref>
**[[UNSC]] successfully plants a [[distress beacon]] on [[Installation 09]] but the ring is intercepted by a [[Guardian]] on its way to [[Installation 04]]'s site.
*The Flood are released onto the Ark but contained quickly by the [[Banished]].<ref name="Fighting">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[Fighting Retreat]]''</ref><ref name="Manifestation"/>
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]<ref name="The Signal" />
|side2=[[Banished]]<ref name="A New Enemy">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[A New Enemy]]''</ref>
|side3=[[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]<ref name="Ascension">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Ascension (Halo Wars 2 level)|Ascension]]''</ref>
|side4=[[Flood]]<ref name="Fighting"/>
|commanders1=*Captain [[James Cutter]]<ref name="The Signal" />
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Morgan Kinsano]]<ref name="PLK">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Kinsano"</ref>
*Major [[Vaughan]]<ref name="PLMV">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Major Vaugn"</ref>
*Commander [[Jerome-092]]<ref name="The Signal" />
|commanders2=*Atriox<ref name="The Signal" />
*Decimus†<ref name="A New Enemy" />
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Let 'Volir]]<ref name="PLL">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Shipmaster Let 'Volir"</ref>
*"[[Colony]]"<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
*[[Jiralhanae Warlord|Warlord]] [[Pavium]]<ref name="WCGW"/>
*[[Voridus]]<ref name="WCGW"/>
|commanders3=Unknown
|commanders4=[[Proto-Gravemind]]†<ref name="Manifestation"/>
|forces1=*{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}<ref name="The Signal" />
**At least 5,500 personnel<ref name="A New Enemy" />
**[[D81-LRT Condor]]s<ref name="A New Enemy" />
***At least 1 G81 Condor<ref name="Last Stand"/>
**[[AC-220 Vulture]]s<ref name="The Foundry" />
**[[D77-TC Pelican]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
***At least 4 G77S-S Pelican gunships<ref name="Last Stand"/>
**[[EV-44 Nightingale]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[AV-14B Hornet]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[M850 Grizzly|M850 Grizzlies]]<ref name="Last Stand"/>
**[[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (J) Colossus]]es<ref name="Not on My Watch"/>
**[[M808S Scorpion]]s<ref name="From the Deep" />
**[[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Mantis]]es<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
**[[M400 Kodiak]]s<ref name="A New Enemy" />
**[[M650 Mastodon]]s<ref name="PLM">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Mastodon"</ref>
**[[M9 Wolverine]]s<ref name="The Cartographer" />
**[[M12 Warthog]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[M121 Jackrabbit]]s<ref name="The Foundry" />
**[[HRUNTING Mark III Cyclops]]<ref name="Ascension" />
**[[Spartan-II]] [[Red Team]]<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]<ref name="The Signal" />
***[[Hellbringers]]<ref name="A New Enemy" />
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
****[[9th Shock Troops Battalion]]<ref name="PLMV"/>
*****[[Boomerang Company]]<ref name="PLMV"/>
*[[Isabel]] [[Artificial intelligence|logistics AI]]<ref name="The Signal" />
|forces2=
*''Enduring Conviction''<ref name="PLL"/>
*At least 1 other starship capable of [[glassing]]<ref name="Not on My Watch"/>
*[[Type-56 Lich]]<ref name="WCGW"/>
*[[Type-25 Spirit]]s<ref name="The Halo" />
*[[Banished Phantom]]s<ref name="PLP">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Phantom"</ref>
*[[Shroud]]s<ref name="Under the Dark"/>
*[[Blisterback]]s<ref name="One Three Zero" />
*[[Type-26 Banshee]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
*[[Banished Scarab]]s<ref name="From the Deep" />
*[[Banished Locust]]s<ref name="From the Deep" />
*[[Banished Wraith]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[Wraith Invader]]s<ref name="PLWI">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' - "Wraith Invader"</ref>
*[[Methane Wagon]]s<ref name="PLMW">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Methane Wagon"</ref>
*[[Marauder]]s<ref name="One Three Zero" />
*[[Reaver]]s<ref name="Lights Out"/>
*[[Type-25 Chopper]]s<ref name="A New Enemy" />
*[[Banished Ghost]]s<ref name="The Signal" />
*[[Banished Goblin|Goblin]]s<ref name="PLGG">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Grunt Goblin"</ref>
*[[Skitterer]]s<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
*Ground forces
**[[Jiralhanae]]<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[Mgalekgolo]]<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[Sangheili]]<ref name="The Signal" />
**[[Huragok]]<ref name="One Three Zero" />
**[[Unggoy]]<ref name="The Signal" />
|forces3=*At least 4 [[Retriever]] Sentinels<ref name="The Halo" /><ref name="Manifestation">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[Manifestation]]''</ref><ref name="Gatecrashers">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gatecrashers]]''</ref><ref name="WCGW">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level ''[[What Could Go Wrong?]]''</ref>
*Several [[Controller Sentinel]]s<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
*Several [[Protector Sentinel (Installation 00)|Protector Sentinels]]<ref name="Ascension"/>
*Billions of [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s<ref name="Under The Dark" />
|forces4=*[[Abomination]]s<ref name="Light">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[Light the Fuse]]''</ref>
*Blisterbacks<ref name="Light"/>
*AV-14B Hornets<ref name="Manifestation"/>
*Type-26 Banshees<ref name="Light"/>
*M808S Scorpions<ref name="Light"/>
*Type-26 Wraiths<ref name="Light"/>
*M12 Warthog LRVs<ref name="Light"/>
*Marauders<ref name="Light"/>
*Type-25 Choppers<ref name="Fighting"/> 
*[[Flood spawner form]]s<ref name="Light"/>
*[[Seeder infector]]s<ref name="Light"/>
*[[Flood infester form]]s<ref name="Fighting"/> 
*[[Flood burster]]s<ref name="Fighting"/> 
*[[Flood combat form]]s<ref name="Fighting"/> 
*[[Pod infector]]s<ref name="Fighting"/> 
|casual1=*At least 1 G81 Condor<ref name="Watch">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[Not on My Watch]]''</ref>
*Several ground and air forces <ref name="The Signal" /><ref name="Lights Out"/><ref name="A New Enemy" /><ref name="WCGW"/><ref name="Under the Dark"/>
|casual2=*''Enduring Conviction''<ref name="Under the Dark"/>
*Overall suffers heavy losses
*At least 6 Banished Scarabs<ref name="Last Stand" /><ref name="The Foundry" /><ref name="From the Deep" />
*Decimus<ref name="Lights Out"/>
*Moderate losses of Voridus and Pavium's salvage teams<ref name="Light"/>
|casual3=*At least 3 Retriever Sentinels<ref name="Gatecrashers"/><ref name="WCGW"/>
*Several Controller Sentinels<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
*Several Protector Sentinels<ref name="Gatecrashers"/>
*Millions of Aggressor Sentinels <ref name="Under the Dark">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Under the Dark]]''</ref>
|casual4=*Proto-Gravemind<ref name="Manifestation"/>
*Seemingly most Flood<ref name="Manifestation"/>
}}
{{Quote|[[Captain Cutter|Captain]], your [[UNSC Spirit of Fire|troops]] fight with a tenacity that almost matches my [[Jiralhanae]] [[Atriox's Chosen|brothers]]. I'm impressed. You and I are [[Human-Covenant War|survivors]], and I respect that, so I offer you a boon. Take your troops, take your ship, leave now, and I will not hunt you down.|Atriox offering Captain Cutter and his crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' a chance to leave peacfully in the ongoing battle.<ref name= "The Halo"></ref>}}

The '''Second Ark Conflict'''<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 48</ref> was a large [[battle]] fought between the isolated [[United Nations Space Command]] [[UNSC Armed Forces|forces]] of the ''[[UNSC Spirit of Fire|Spirit of Fire]]'' and the [[Covenant remnants|Covenant splinter group]] known as the [[Banished]] in [[2559]], about six years after the [[Human-Covenant War]] [[Battle of Installation 00|ended]] on the same ancient [[Forerunner]] [[Astroengineering|installation]] known as [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. After mysteriously arriving at the Ark on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]], the long-lost crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' were awoken from [[Cryonics|cryosleep]] and soon came into hostile contact with the powerful mercenary organization. During the battle, the UNSC destroyed the Banished's flagship, the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', and initiated the deployment sequence of [[Installation 09|one]] of the Ark's [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], one of an array of massive ring-shaped superweapons capable of destroying all sentient life in [[Milky Way|the galaxy]], intending to use it to send a [[distress beacon]] to [[Human colonies|human space]].

==Prelude==
{{Main|Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire}}
{{Quote|Captain, wake up... Something has happened.|Serina's message for Captain Cutter.<ref name="The Signal" />}}
On [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]],<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Guardians (level)|Guardians]]''</ref> during the [[Created]]'s [[Subjugation of Earth|subjugation]] of [[Earth]], the [[Portal at Voi|portal to the]] immense, extra-[[Milky Way|galactic]]  [[Forerunner]]  [[Astroengineering|installation]]  known as [[Installation 00]], or "the Ark," shut down.<ref name="Mythos202">''Halo Mythos'', ''p. 202''</ref> One month later,<ref name="The Signal" /> on November 25,<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "The Graveyard"</ref> a powerful [[Covenant remnants|Covenant splinter group]], known as the [[Banished]], [[Attack on Installation 00|arrived and raided]] the [[United Nations Space Command]] research outposts on the surface.<ref name="The Signal" /> While there, the Banished set up bases and salvage operations across the Ark establishing significant control.<ref name="A New Enemy" />

[[File:Flood infector Spirit of Fire.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A surviving Pod infector starts an outbreak on the ''Spirit of Fire''.]]
Meanwhile, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} spent almost twenty-eight years drifting through space<ref name="The Signal" /> after their [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipsace drive]] was destroyed in the [[Battle of the Etran Harborage]].<ref name="Escape">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Escape]]''</ref> A surviving [[Pod infector]] on board the ship started an [[Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire|outbreak]], and a few crew members were infected. As the outbreak began to escalate, [[Smart AI]] [[Serina]] awoke [[Spartan-II]] [[Senior Chief Petty Officer]] [[Jerome-092]] and the two of them quickly quelled the outbreak and sterilized the local Flood infestation. In the aftermath of the outbreak, 7-year-old Serina prepared herself for final dispensation, as per protocol. Many years later, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} arrived mysteriously via [[slipspace]]  [[Slipspace portal|portal]] at Installation 00 on [[2559#March|March 28, 2559]].<ref name="The Signal" />

[[File:HW2-Anders&CutteraboveArk.png|thumb|left|250px|Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders examine the Ark.]]
Less than an hour after the ship's arrival, the crew was automatically awoken from [[Cryonics|cryosleep]] by the vessel's deceased AI Serina, who had left a message for the ship's [[UNSC rank structure|captain]], [[James Cutter]], informing him of the status of the ship, the crew, and herself. After arriving at the ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s observation deck, Cutter was briefed on the situation by Professor [[Ellen Anders]], who told him that the [[astronavigation]] system placed them outside the Milky Way. When Cutter discovered they had arrived via slipspace portal, Anders revealed to him that something on the surface of the Ark had opened the portal and pulled them in. Not a second later, Cutter was informed over [[COM|comms]] that a message was being transmitted from the surface through a [[UNSC]] frequency, however, its encryption was too advanced for the crew's outdated decryption techniques. Instead of spending time decoding it, Cutter asked Anders for the source of the transmission and ordered [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Red Team]]  to prepare a recon squad and find the source of the signal.<ref name="The Signal" />

With recon [[UNSC Armed Forces|forces]] having been sent in ahead, Red Team was dropped off in a [[Warthog]] on the Ark's south spire.<ref name="A New Enemy" /> Arriving at a hastily-created barrier, one of the soldiers of [[Recon One]] informed them that they had set charges and so [[Alice-130]] fired on it with the Warthog's [[M46 Vulcan|machine gun]], detonating the charges and destroying the barrier. After destroying another barrier, Red Team eventually encountered a recon team who had been attacked. Pressing on, the [[Spartan]]s arrived at a [[portal]] that had been discovered by the recon soldiers. While the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] stayed behind to guard the portal, Red Team ventured through and were teleported nearby. After passing a couple more portals, the Spartans found themselves at the [[Henry Lamb research outpost]].<ref name="The Signal" />

==The battle==
===Encounter with Atriox===
{{Quote|no=three|Isabel|Douglas-042|Isabel|q1=Oh no.|q2=What was that?|q3=It's him.|Isabel after realizing Atriox had found them<ref name="The Signal" />}}
Entering the desolate facility, the Spartans discovered a [[holotable]] which [[Jerome-092]] proceeded to activate. Appearing in front of them was the orange [[hologram]] of a smart [[AI]], who expressed her relief that Spartans had arrived. Ordered to identify herself, the AI told Jerome she was [[Isabel]], and that she was in UNSC logistics for the Ark research outpost. After being asked where the survivors are and what the strength of the [[Covenant]] force there was, Isabel displayed confusion and told the Spartans they needed to escape. Unbeknownst to them, their [[Human-Covenant War|war]] with the Covenant Empire had ended [[2553|six years ago]]. Suddenly, they heard a loud thumping sound coming from further within the facility. After [[Data crystal chip|retrieving]] Isabel, Jerome signaled for them to move up into another section of the outpost. 

[[File:HW2-Chainbreakerslam.png|thumb|left|250px|Douglas and Jerome are forced into the air by Atriox's gravity mace.]]
Out of the darkness, [[Atriox|a]] heavily armored [[Jiralhanae]] grabbed Alice by the neck and lifted her up before throwing her to the side. As the other two Spartans began firing on the massive Brute, he slammed [[Chainbreaker|his]]  [[gravity mace]] into the ground, sending them into the air and allowing the Brute to strike Jerome, launching him to the side as well. Using his mace, the Jiralhanae pulled  [[Douglas-042]] in and slammed the supersoldier into the ground behind him. Alice ran back up from behind the Brute, firing her [[M6C magnum|pistol]] at the same time, before being knocked to the side. Recovering, Douglas gripped his [[M90 shotgun|shotgun]] but was kicked away before he could use it. Armed with a [[combat knife]], Jerome approached the Brute, dodged one of his strikes, and stabbed him before once again being struck away. Again, Alice fired her pistol at the alien but was deflected by the Brute's arm. Douglas picked up his shotgun again, but before he could fire it, the Jiralhanae knocked it out of his hand. Opting for his knife, Douglas managed to stab the Brute twice before having his shoulder crushed by the ursine's grip. As the Spartan screamed an agonizing cry and held his shoulder in pain, the Brute reactivated his gravity mace and, as Douglas started getting back up, struck him in the chest, launching him through the air and causing his helmet to come off. Removing the knife from his abdomen, the Jiralhanae picked up the helmet and crushed it, musing over the fact that his suspicion that Spartans were merely [[human]] was correct. As Alice and Jerome approached the severely wounded Douglas, Recon One reported that there were multiple hostiles approaching Red Team's location. With the pair deciding to leave, Alice began dragging Douglas, who soon fell unconscious. Exiting the research outpost, the pair were greeted by the sight of hundreds of warriors of various species surrounding them on the cliffs above. As Alice put Douglas in the Warthog and manned the gun, Jerome requested [[Archer missile]]s be launched on their position. As Jerome drove away from the facility, Alice fired at the pursuing Ghosts and the other ground forces teleporting around them. The Spartans soon reached a [[light bridge]], which Alice proceeded to activate. With enemy ground forces approaching, Alice volunteered to hold off them off while Jerome and Douglas crossed the bridge and were picked up by a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]].<ref name="The Signal" />

===Getting up to speed===
{{Quote|If we don't stop Atriox now, we leave the galaxy at the mercy of a monster. So no, Isabel, we won't be running anywhere today.|Captain James Cutter to Isabel<ref name="The Signal" />}}
After returning to the ''Spirit of Fire'', Jerome inserted Isabel's data chip into the [[bridge]] holotable and introduced her to Captain Cutter. The captain asked Isabel to report on what happened and what they're up against. Despite her apprehensiveness to talk, she told Cutter that the Brute the Spartans fought was called Atriox, the leader of the [[Banished]], a Covenant [[Covenant remnants|splinter group]] who fought the empire simultaneously with humanity. Isabel exclaimed that if the entire Covenant couldn't contain him, then the ''Spirit of Fire'' didn't stand a chance and that they needed to escape far away as quickly as possible. However, Cutter told her that while they did only have one ship, it was all they may have left and that he refused to leave the galaxy at the mercy of Atriox. As he put the vessel in combat-ready mode, the bridge crew ran back to their stations ready to fight and Jerome left to get prepared.<ref name="The Signal" />

===Assault on the salvage operation===
[[File:HW2 A New Enemy.jpg|thumb|250px|Jerome-092 leading the attack on Decimus' salvage operation.]]
{{Quote|no=two|Jerome-092|Isabel|q1=I'm guessing that's Decimus.|q2=He looks bigger than the last time I saw him.|Jerome-092 and Isabel during the former's encounter with Decimus<ref name="A New Enemy" />}}
After conferring with Isabel on the best option for attacking the Banished chain of command, the AI told Cutter of Lieutenant [[Decimus]], the overseer of a ship graveyard salvage operation near the Henry Lamb research outpost.<ref name="A New Enemy" />
Deciding that they should hit the Banished with a surprise attack and then establish a base of operations, Cutter deployed [[Strike One]], a unit of eight Marines led by Jerome, to the installation's surface. After fighting through Banished forces, the strike team arrived at a Forerunner tower giving off a massive power signature, which they proceeded to secure on Anders' recommendation. Pressing on, the Marines and Jerome made their way through the ship graveyard left behind from the [[Battle of Installation 00|final battle of the war]] before reaching a Banished base. Managing to overrun the base, UNSC forces eliminated the Banished forces and destroyed the base before preparing to set up their own in its place.<ref name="A New Enemy" />

After the Marines established the base, Isabel alerted them and Captain Cutter of a large energy build-up directly above. Hit by the [[energy projector]] of the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', the Banished's {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, the base sustained only non-critical damage, allowing Strike One to continue north in the direction of the rest of Decimus' salvage operation.<ref name="A New Enemy" />

While fighting their way through several canyons of Banished forces, Strike One suffered a few more [[plasma]] bombardments before reaching a portal from which Decimus himself appeared. Managing to hold off the attacking Marines, Decimus proceeded to order a plasma bombardment on his own position while he was protected by an [[energy shield]]. As his reinforcements arrived, Decimus retreated back through the teleporter and ordered another strike, killing his own men as well as most of the UNSC forces. Realizing the Jiralhanae lieutenant must be trying to hide something, Cutter ordered the surviving members of Strike One to retrieve anything of value. Shortly after, Jerome found an encrypted piece of data which he promptly sent to Isabel. Expressing concern, Isabel stated the information points to [[Cartographer#Installation 00|the Ark's Cartographer]] and that she would explain what it is back on the ''Spirit of Fire''.<ref name="A New Enemy" />

===Activating the elevator===
[[File:HW2-Jerome vs Wraith.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Jerome-092 engaging a Banished Wraith.]]
{{Quote|The Cartographer's defenses make it almost impenetrable; the only way up to it is by a Forerunner elevator. If you can get access to the local Forerunner Control Towers, I can take control of the elevator and take us up. It's our only chance of getting inside.|Ellen Anders to James Cutter<ref name="Ascension" />}}
On the ship, Isabel and Anders went over the data from Decimus' base and found a way into the Cartographer, a repository of information on the Ark's schematics and systems. Reporting to Cutter, Isabel explained the purpose of the Cartographer while Anders explained how to activate the [[elevator]] in order to gain access to it.<ref name="Ascension" />

Sending a small, experienced unit of Marines led by Jerome, Cutter gave them orders to capture and access Forerunner [[Control Tower]]s so that Anders could activate the Cartographer's elevator. Moving up from the beach, the unit found destroyed Banished mining equipment, suggesting [[Sentinel|a third party]] was involved in the battle. Moving further up, the Marines soon discovered what had done the destruction: the Ark's [[Aggressor Sentinel|sentinels]]. Moving on, the Marines encountered the first Control Tower and eliminated the Banished forces protecting it. After doing the same with the rest of the Control Towers, Anders was able to gain access to the elevator and transport the Marines up to the Cartographer.<ref name="Ascension" />

===Marine rescue===
[[File:HW2-Alice leading Marines.jpg|thumb|250px|Alice-130 escorting a group of rescued Marines.]]
{{Quote|no=three|Alice-130|James Cutter|Alice-130|q1=Spirit of Fire Actual, this is Alice One-Three-Zero reporting in.|q2=Good to hear from you Alice. How did you make it out?|q3=Commandeered an enemy vehicle, sir. I've rescued some of our troops and we're ready to get back in the fight.|Alice-130 coming back into contact with the ''Spirit of Fire''<ref name="One Three Zero">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[One Three Zero]]''</ref>}}
After escaping the research outpost, Alice began tracking an enemy convoy to one of their compounds. Discovering they had imprisoned some of the ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Marines, the Spartan infiltrated the base and freed the prisoners. After arriving at another research outpost, Alice sent an encrypted message to Captain Cutter, who informed her that Pelicans were on the way but so were Banished forces. Managing to hold off the advancing units long enough for the Pelicans to arrive, Alice and a few of the Marines managed to get aboard and escape. Shortly afterward, Cutter ordered Alice to take command of the rescued Marines and perform hit-and-run operations against the Banished, while Isabel prepared a briefing package to get her back up to speed with the situation.<ref name="One Three Zero" />

===Infiltrating the Map Room===
{{Quote|Isabel gave me everything the UNSC already knows about the area and it looks like we'll need to reach the Map Room.|Ellen Anders to James Cutter<ref name="The Cartographer">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Cartographer]]''</ref>}}
After reaching the Cartographer via the elevator, the UNSC forces discovered an energy shield was preventing them from accessing the central chamber and the Map Room. Moving up, Jerome and the Marines encountered a conduit and proceeded to fire on it in an attempt to take down the shield. Before they could, however, the Ark's self-preservation protocol sent sentinels to the location, forcing the Marines to retreat. Fortunately for the UNSC soldiers, Isabel and Anders' project, an [[EMP]] weapon, was ready to deploy. The EMP devices were launched down from the ''Spirit of Fire'' onto the sentinels, successfully neutralizing them and allowing Jerome and the Marines to disable the conduit. With the conduit disabled, the energy shield protecting the central chamber was deactivated and Anders proceeded in. Activating a Forerunner interface, Anders learned that the Marines would have to disable three more conduits in order for the Map Room's shield to go down. After repeating the process for the next three conduits, the energy shield finally dissipated, and after one more strike with the EMP missiles on the sentinels, Anders was able to access the Map Room. Accessing the Cartographer's data, Anders discovered that the Banished were using the Ark's network of thousands of portals to move around and reported her findings to Captain Cutter.<ref name="The Cartographer" />

===Crippling the portal network===
[[File:HW2-Portal attack.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] moving in to attack the Banished portals.]]
{{Quote|He's spread his troops far and wide by abusing the Ark's network of portals. That's his biggest mistake... Some of Atriox's troops will be stranded and the rest won't be able to redeploy as easily. It'll give us a fighting chance.|James Cutter on destroying the portal network's hub<ref name="Lights Out" />}}
Intending to cripple the Banished's portal network and strand most of their forces, Cutter deployed Jerome, a recovered Douglas, and the Marines near the network's control hub with orders to destroy it. As they advanced on the hub, the Marines destroyed portals along the way to prevent being overrun. After fighting through more Banished reinforcements, the Marines encountered a chasm which they crossed using a portal. Nearing the control hub, the UNSC forces neutralized the last of the Banished forces and destroyed the device, shutting down the portal network. Enraged, a heavily armored Decimus descended on them but was unable to prevail against the human forces. After reporting on the Brute's defeat, the unit was informed that the ''Spirit of Fire'' was under attack and that they had to return to the ship immediately.<ref name="Lights Out" />

===Dealing with the carrier===
{{Quote|That ship brought these monsters. Killed everyone I was supposed to protect. Now it wants to do the same to you. I won't let that happen. It's time to show them what power really means around here.|Isabel on dealing with the ''Enduring Conviction''<ref name="From the Deep">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[From the Deep]]''</ref>}}
[[File:HW2-Defending the particle cannon.jpg|thumb|250px|Alice directing UNSC forces as they defend the particle cannon.]]
While Alice fended off Banished troops on the surface, more and more of the ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s turrets were being destroyed by the Banished's relentless [[Banshee]] runs. Having found a way to create a portal away from the Ark, Anders proceeded to the bridge and informed Cutter and Isabel of her plan to deploy [[Installation 09|a pre-constructed Halo ring]] maintained in the Ark's [[Foundry]] through slipspace. Cutter suggested that if it was deployed to replace the one the [[John-117|Master Chief]] [[Battle of Installation 04|destroyed]], it would be near enough to [[Reach]] for the UNSC to pick up a [[Superluminal communications|distress call]]. However, their impending destruction by the ''Enduring Conviction'' meant that it would have to be dealt with first. Forming a plan, Isabel requested ground forces be split up in order to buy time.<ref name="From the Deep" />

Accessing a Forerunner [[particle cannon]] on the Ark's surface, the UNSC targeted the ''Enduring Conviction'', immobilizing it and causing its shields to drain. The importance of the assault carrier prompted the Banished to assault the cannon with all available local forces, drawing troops away from the Banished base underneath the carrier where Jerome and Isabel were approaching the vessel's [[grav lift]].<ref name="Hold the Line">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Hold the Line]]''</ref>

As Jerome and Isabel, with support from a unit led by Alice, neared the platform, their Pelicans were shot down by Banished turrets guarding the lift. The Spartans managed to survive the crash and reunite with a unit of UNSC [[sniper]]s. Needing a clear path to the grav lift, Jerome requested Alice take care of the anti-air turrets surrounding the grav-lift. Deciding to utilize the [[Kodiak]]s, Alice positioned the vehicles on the edge of the cliff near the platform and ordered them to fire on the Banished ordnance.<ref name="Under The Dark" />

[[File:HW2-Sentinel bombardment.png|thumb|left|250px|The Ark's Sentinels bombarding the ''Enduring Conviction''.]]
With the particle cannon finally having managed to break through the ''Enduring Conviction''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s shields, Jerome was notified that he was clear to board and all remaining UNSC personnel underneath the carrier were extracted immediately.<ref name="Hold the Line" />

Arriving inside the carrier, Jerome made quick work of the [[Sangheili]] in the area before inserting Isabel into a nearby [[holotank]]. Accessing the vessel's firing systems, Isabel managed to fire its underside energy projector. As the plasma beam penetrated the surface of the Ark's salvage moon, the installation's sentinels, in a desperate attempt to stop the destruction, launched themselves at the weakest part of the carrier. As the sentinels cut away at the vessel, Jerome held off Jiralhanae reinforcements. With the sentinels having done enough destruction to the carrier, the energy projector shut down and the front section of the vessel began to separate. Retrieving Isabel from the holotank, Jerome proceeded to jump out of the newly-formed opening, dodging debris as he descended to the Ark's surface.<ref name="Under The Dark" />

===Stopping Banished reinforcements===
[[File:HW2-Access point assault.jpg|thumb|250px|Marines and [[Cyclops]]es battling Banished forces on their way to the access point.]] 
{{Quote|When a new ring is launched, the Ark activates access points so sentinels can finalize preparations. Atriox must be using these points to send his troops up.|Ellen Anders to James Cutter<ref name="The Foundry">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Foundry]]''</ref>}}
With Anders having initiated the Halo ring's deployment sequence, the ''Spirit of Fire'' sent forces to the superweapon's surface in order to find the [[Control Room]]. However, using one of the Ark's [[access point]]s, the Banished were able to instantaneously send troops to the ring, slowly overwhelming the UNSC forces there.<ref name="The Foundry" />

When a unit of Marines arrived at the access point's location, they found that the Banished vehicle barricade was too strong to push through. However, the UNSC forces soon managed to locate a [[Banished Scarab|Scarab]] under repair, whose [[focus cannon]] was strong enough to destroy the enemy blockade. With the ''Spirit of Fire'' having launched Archer missiles at the Banished troops surrounding the surviving Marines, Douglas and Alice were dropped off to reinforce their assault on the Scarab. After fighting through Banished forces preparing to transit to the ring, the unit approached the damaged Scarab and encountered its commander, [[Orda Val 'Saham]], who they soon neutralized. With Douglas in control of the Scarab, he and the Marines were soon able to rid the area of Banished forces. Reaching the access point, Alice and Douglas received orders from Captain Cutter to proceed through the portal and destroy it behind them, then move on to assist with fighting the Banished forces on the ring in order to reach the Control Room.<ref name="The Foundry" />

===Skirmish on Installation 09===
{{Quote|We've got to get to that Control Room so I can deactivate the Halo's firing systems and plant our signal beacon. If I can't do that, we won't be sending an SOS back home, we'll be sending a very large and very live bomb.|Ellen Anders to James Cutter<ref name="The Halo" />}}
After reuniting with Jerome on the Halo, Red Team led Marine forces to [[Alpha Base (Installation 09)|Alpha Base]] and defeated the Banished forces there. However, the Banished had already set up a shield sealing off the ring's Control Room, where Anders was to disable the firing systems and plant the comms beacon. Suddenly, a [[Retriever]] sentinel appeared, wreaking havoc on the UNSC forces before the Marines could send it into retreat. Realizing the sentinel could be used to their advantage, Anders told Red Team that if they could secure three Control Towers, she would be able to take control of the Retriever. Making their way to the towers, the Marines defeated the surrounding Banished forces and secured them, allowing Anders to take control of the massive sentinel. Using the machine's main weapon, Anders destroyed the [[shield generator]] in one blast, allowing her to access the Control Room. As the professor descended, the Spartans and Marines stayed behind to defend the structure.<ref name="The Halo" />

[[File:HW2-Banished ejected.png|thumb|left|250px|The Banished forces on the Halo ring are ejected into space.]]
While Anders worked on accessing the ring's firing systems, the Marines set up turret emplacements and defended against incoming Banished forces. With support from the ''Spirit of Fire'' and Marine reinforcements, the UNSC held back heavy Banished reinforcements long enough for Anders to access the weapons systems and plant the distress beacon. However, Anders reminded Cutter that the Banished still needed to be removed from the ring but that she found a way to speed that up. Telling Cutter to clear UNSC forces from the immediate area, Anders proceeded to manipulate the Halo's [[gravity anchor]]s, creating an energy shield around the remaining Banished forces before ejecting the land they were standing on into space.<ref name="Last Stand">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Last Stand]]''</ref>

[[File:HW2-Anders meets a Guardian.png|thumb|250px|Anders looking up at the newly-arrived Guardian.]]
With the Banished forces on the ring dealt with, Red Team and the Marines evacuated to the ''Spirit of Fire'' immediately. However, Anders realized she didn't have enough time to reach them before the ring transitioned into slipspace. With Anders out of reach, Cutter got to work planning their next offensive against the remaining Banished forces,<ref name="Beyond" /> while Atriox prepared his army for their inevitable next battle.

The ''Spirit of Fire'' crew's attempt to deploy the new Halo to the Soell system was unsuccessful. The ring was forcibly pulled out of slipspace on its way by a [[Guardian]], which Anders encountered upon returning to the surface.<ref name="Last Stand" />

===Operation: SPEARBREAKER===
{{Main|Operation: SPEARBREAKER}}
{{Expand-section}}
A month after the departure of the Halo, the ''Spirit of Fire'' picked up a cloaked area. O'Sullivan, the Supervisor of the scout drones, informed the captain, and Sunray 1-1 along with India Company was deployed to the battlefield to discover what the Banished were up to. Reaching their destination, they found a Forerunner [[Despair-class fighter]] docked inside one of the Installation's hangars, and the Banished attempting to launch it to destroy ''Spirit of Fire''. Colony made an attempt to stop them by deploying multiple Goliaths and a Hunter Captain, but their efforts were thwarted by Sunray 1-1.<ref name="Gatecrashers"/><ref name="Not on My Watch">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level ''[[Not on My Watch]]''</ref>

===Yapyap's rebellion===
Sometime during the battle [[Yapyap]] the Destroyer abandoned the Banished with forces under his command in favor of locating the fabled Golden Methane Hydrate Mines of Sabator.<ref name="PLY">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Yapyap The Destroyer"</ref> His Throne of Woe somehow enabled him to receive Unggoy reinforcements.<ref name="PLCF">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "Cannon Fodder"</ref>

===Awakening a nightmare===
{{Quote|I told you not to go inside. For good reason!|Atriox to Voridus<ref name="Manifestation"/>}}
{{Expand-section}}
Two months after the departure of Installation 09, Atriox sent two Warlords, [[Voridus]] and [[Pavium]] to salvage starships near the ruins of High Charity and scout the dome surrounding it. During the salvaging operation, Voridus disabled the Sentinel defense network around High Charity having his forces fight against many sentinels and a few scattered UNSC forces.<ref name="WCGW"/> Piercing a hole through the shield surrounding High Charity with a Scarab, Voridus hoped to salvage equipment from the destroyed Covenant holy city. However, he and his forces inadvertently released the [[Flood]] that managed to survive [[Installation 08]]'s firing.<ref name="Fighting"/> Following several retreats, Pavium and his forces were able to hold off the Flood long enough for Voridus and his strike team to reactivate the sentinels.<ref name="Archive">'''Halo Wars 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Archive]]''</ref> Using [[mega turret]]s and eventually a Retriever, Pavium and Voridus were able to destroy a [[Proto-Gravemind]] near High Charity moments before turning into a [[Gravemind]]. 

Some UNSC Marines and vehicles from the ''Spirit of Fire'''s crew fell to Flood infection and were assimilated.<ref name="Fighting"/>

With the sentinels reactivated and the Proto-Gravemind destroyed, the Flood were seemingly once again contained.<ref name="Manifestation"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HW2_Campaign_Loadscreen.jpg|UNSC forces fight a Scarab.
File:HW2C-Battle.png|Concept art of the battle for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
File:HW2-Banished.png|The Banished make their presence known.
File:HW2-Hardlightbridge.jpg|UNSC forces cross a light bridge.
File:HW2-Kodiak&Chill.jpg|UNSC forces move across the Ark.
File:HW2-Rollout.jpg|UNSC forces head towards Decimus' salvage operation.
File:HW2-Littlebattle.jpg|UNSC forces attack Decimus' salvage operation.
File:HW2-BigBattle.jpg|UNSC and Banished forces clash.
File:HW2-Jerome-04.jpg|Jerome-092 infiltrates the ''Enduring Conviction''.
File:HW2-Conviction-01.jpg|''Enduring Conviction'' is bisected.
File:HW2-Conviction-02.jpg|Atriox and Let 'Volir at the crash site of the ''Enduring Conviction''
File:HW2-Banished-03.jpg|Banished forces fight for control of the Halo.
File:HW2 - Spartan and Marines.jpg|UNSC forces evacuate to ''Spirit of Fire''.
File:HW2-Banished-02.jpg|Atriox stands before his army in the aftermath of the battle on the Halo.
File:HW2-Odsts-1.jpg|Sunray 1-1 in combat.
File:HW2 Not on My Watch.jpg|Sunray 1-1 during OPERATION: SPEARBREAKER.
File:HW2_Spearbreaker_Loadscreen.jpg|UNSC forces fighting Sentinels.
File:HW2-What Could Go Wrong.jpg|Voridus' Volatile Scarab heads for High Charity.
File:HW2-ScarabvsRetrievers.jpg|Forces under the command of Voridus engage Retriever Sentinels.
File:HW2-Scarabbeatsshield.png|Voridus' Volatile Scarab pierces through High Charity's containment shield.
File:HW2-Banishedtrio.png|A trio of Banished Jiralhanae prepare to engage the Flood.
File:HW2-Unleashed.png|The Flood escape from High Charity.
File:HW2-Gravhammerimpact.png|The Banished fight the Flood.
File:HW2-VoridusvsFlood.png|Voridus kills a Flood form with his gauntlet.
File:HW2-Fighting Retreat.jpg|Pavium's forces hold the line before retreating.
File:HW2-Light the Fuse.jpg|Pavium and Unggoy attack the Flood.
File:HW2-The Archive.jpg|Voridus and two Jiralhanae Jumpers go to reactivate the Sentinels.
File:HW2-Manifestation.png|Pavium, Voridus, and some Unggoy stand before one of the Proto-Gravemind's tentacles.
File:HW2-Victoryscreech.png|Pavium and Voridus roar in victory after killing the Proto-Gravemind.
File:HW2-Squish.gif|Atriox crushes an infection form.
File:HW2-Cleanup.png|Aggressor Sentinels begin to contain the Flood once again.
File:HLC Flood Warning.png|Pavium fighting Flood.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''

==Sources==
{{Reflist}}

{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}