Editing The Forerunner

[[Image:BigForerunner Hand.jpg|thumb|265px|The supposed [[Forerunner Hand]] ]]
== Summary ==

The "'''Forerunner'''(s)" is the translated [[Covenant]] name for the race that built [[Halo|the Halos]]. It is theorized that this same race is responsible for the artifact that was found on [[Reach]], and on [[Sigma Octanus IV]]. 
[[Image:CFsymbols.jpg|thumb|left|Forerunner symbols or possibly their language]]
The artifacts appear to have originated on different worlds, but have somehow made it onto these other planets. These artifacts are our only means of finding information about the Forerunner.

It is argued that the Forerunner may be connected with the [[Marathon#The_Jjaro|Jjaro]] from [[Bungie]]'s previous games. The similarities are apparent.

== Known History ==

Almost nothing is known about the history of the Forerunners, save that they were an extremely advanced civilization that inhabited the galaxy many thousands of years in the past, although it is unknown when they spread around the galaxy. They achieved an extremely high level of technological advancement, and the evidence of this can be seen scattered throughout the games. The fact that the Halos are stationed all round the galaxy could be seen as evidence that their empire covered the entire galaxy.

At some point, the Forerunners came into contact with [[the Flood]]. Seeing the danger they posed to all life in the galaxy, the Forerunners attempted to contain them. They were able to study them in labs such as the one found in the gas mine on [[Threshold]]. Several hundred years after discovering the Flood, they created the Halos as weapons to be used as a last resort against the Flood, wiping out all sentient life with enough biomass to sustain them, killing the Flood through starvation. Another purpose of the Halos was to contain the Flood so the Forerunners could study them (as explained by [[343 Guilty Spark]] in [[Halo 1]]. They also assigned [[Monitor]]s to each ring with the tasks of maintaining them so that they could be used again in case of future outbreaks.

In the second game, [[Halo 2]], [[343 Guilty Spark]] explains that after exhausting every other strategic option in their struggle against [[The Flood]], the Forerunners activated the Halos, destroying themselves along with all other sentient life of sufficient biomass to sustain the Flood within three radii of the galactic center. However, some speculate that the Forerunners might be alive in another galaxy.

== Forerunners and humans? ==
Both the games and novels contain content that has led to speculation that the Forerunner species is somehow linked to homo sapiens sapiens of the 26th century. This section will synopsize the material in question.

Monitor 343 Guilty Spark says to the [[Master Chief]] in [[Halo 1]], "The installation was specifically built to study and contain the Flood. Their survival as a race was dependent upon it. I am grateful to see that some of them survived to reproduce." Later, when 343 talks about activating the installation, he says, "Last time, you asked me, if it was my choice, would I do it? Having considerable time to ponder your query, my answer has not changed." The Halo installations seen in the games and novels also appear to have the same gravity and atmosphere as Earth; it would make sense that the Forerunner would attempt to make the Halos similar to their homeworld.

Late in the first Halo game, during a cutscene in the level, "[[The Maw]]", 343 is shown pulling data out of the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]'s'' data core while saying, "Amazing! A record of all our lost time. Oh I shall enjoy every moment of its categorization...." Clearly another link between humans and Forerunners. Another link is that only humans can activate the rings, and only humans are Reclaimers. At the end of Halo 2, as the remaining rings are left perilously in standby after their firings are averted, Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] asks 343 Guilty Spark where one (i.e. the [[High Prophet of Truth]]) would go to remotely fire all the Halo rings. His response, full of surprise at the query, is "[[The Ark]]". The [[Arbiter (character)|Arbiter]] then approaches from behind and asks "And where, Oracle, is that?". Before 343 answers his question, the cutscene transitions to show Truth's ship arriving outside Earth's orbit. 

The novels also appear to offer hints about the link between humans and Forerunners. Several [[Spartans]] recognize Forerunner symbols but they can't quite place them, which suggests that they are most likely deep in the subconscious. In [[Halo: The Flood]], the Master Chief just 'knows' how to activate the lightbridge, for some strange reason; the same appears true when he activates the Silent Cartographer. In Halo: First Strike, the Spartans just "know" how to operate the Wraith tanks. If the Covenant did indeed salvage technology from the Forerunners, then that might explain it. 

[[Halo 3]] may also offer more clues or explanations. In the game's E3 announcement trailer, the vast Forerunner object the Master Chief observes resembles an earlier sketch that says "Ark" and Dervish, the early name for the Arbiter.

==Forerunner Weaponry==
Forerunner constructs use a wide variety of weapons. The [[Sentinels]] wield energy beams, used mainly for fighting the Flood. [[Sentinel Major]]s have a more powerful and accurate version of the beam. Meanwhile, [[Enforcers]] are equipped with explosives launched over the top of their shield as well as weapons similar to Needlers, which fire smaller red crystals at a faster rate, used mainly against infantry at close range.

==Forerunner Art and Architecture==
Forerunner architecture is noted mainly for its geometric style and vast scale. It tends to be very elaborate, with numerous extrapolations of the basic design of a structure, all purely decorative. They use complex geometric shapes and hardly ever use anything but straight lines in their design.

The Forerunners tend to decorate the interiors of their structures with a complex web of engraved straight lines.

The fact that the Forerunners were able to build such giant structures as the [[Control Room]]s, [[Library|Libraries]],the [[The_Temple|Temple]], the [[Sentinel Wall]] shows that they likely had a very sophisticated methods of building.

==Fortress Worlds==
'''[[Installation 04]]'''
*[[Control Room]]
*[[The Silent Cartographer]]
*[[Alpha Base]]
*[[Library|The Library]]
*[[Flood Containment Facilities]]

'''[[Installation 05]]'''
*[[Control Room]]
*[[Library|The Library]]
*[[Quarantine Zone]]
*[[Sentinel Wall]]
*[[The Temple]]
*[[Flood Research Facilities]]
*[[Relay Station]]
*[[Sentinel Production Facility]]
<!-- ****** TABLE CODE ******* -->
<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 12em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
<!-- start of floated right section -->
<div style="border: 1px solid #ccd2d9;text-align: left; background: #f0f6fa; padding: 0.5em 1em;">
<!-- start of slate grey box -->
{|border=0px, style="background: transparent;"
|-
!Installation
!Monitor
|-
!01
|1
|-
!02
|7
|-
!03
|49
|-
!04
|'''[[343 Guilty Spark|343]]'''
|-
!05
|'''[[2401 Penitent Tangent|2401]]'''
|-
!06
|16807
|-
!07
|117649
|}
</div><!-- end of slate grey box -->
</div><!-- end of floated right section; article starts here -->
<!-- ****** TABLE CODE STOP ******* -->
Installation 04, and 05 are the only two Fortress World's yet discovered in the Halo Universe but when we look at the [[Monitor]] naming scheme, they offer a clue as to the existance of other Halo's.

Looking at the number in [[343 Guilty Spark]], 343 is seven to the third power. [[List of "Seven" references in Halo|Seven]] being a number seen frequently in [[Bungie]] games and mythology. The number "2401", from [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], is seven to the fourth power.

When the numbers of each Monitor are examined, a pattern emerges: each seems to be seven raised to the power of the installation number minus one; therefore this table to the right can be established.

Note that the first three digits of the monitor of Installation 07 is 117, [[Master Chief]]'s service number.

==Forerunner Installations==

*[[The Ark]]

*[[Gas Mine]] 

*[[Coral|Coral Facility ]]

*[[CASTLE Base|Reach Facility ]]

==Forerunner Constructs==
*[[Monitor|Monitors]] - Floating AIs responsible for maintainance of [[Halo]] worlds.

*[[Sentinels]]

*[[Sentinel Major|Sentinel Majors]]

*[[Enforcer|Enforcers]]

*[[Constructors|Constructors]]

==Forerunner Artifacts and Technology==
''See also [[Technology]]''

*[[Forerunner Ship|The Ship]] 
*[[Forerunner Crystal|The Crystal]]
*[[Deep-Space Artifact]]
*[[Forerunner Hand]]
*[[Combat Skin|Forerunner Body Armor]]

==Related Links==
'''Internal'''
*[[Reclaimer]]

'''External'''
*[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/forerunner/jsymbols.html ForeRunner Symbology] - An article on Forerunner symbols.

[[Category:The Forerunner| ]]
[[Category:Factions|Forerunner]]