Editing The Reclamation

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev =*[[Battle of Genesis]]
*[[Skirmish on Laika III]]
|conc =*[[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]]
*[[Second Onyx conflict]]
|next =[[Battle of Balaho]]
|name = The Reclamation
|image = [[File:Halo 5 - Guardian on Earth.jpg|300px]]<br/><sup>A Guardian Custode over Earth, as part of the Created's Reclamation</sup>
|date =[[2558#October|October 28, 2558]]{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/linda-058|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Linda-058}}
|conflict=[[Created conflict]]
|place =[[Orion Arm]], [[Milky Way galaxy]]{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=1}}
|result='''Created victory'''
*A number of independent worlds, galactic factions, and species fall under Created purview
*Forces resistant to Created flee
|side1=All other prexisting Orion Arm governments and organizations
|side2={{Icon|Forerunner}} [[Created]]
|commanders1=All other prexisting Orion Arm heads of state and military leaders
|commanders2=*[[Cortana]]
*[[Warden Eternal]]
|casual1=Unknown
|casual2=Unknown
}}
{{Quote|For eons, the power of the Forerunners has awaited Reclamation. Humanity's discovery of the Halos was the culmination of the Librarian's planning. The Reclaimer had come. Your species' ego led you to believe the task of Reclamation would fall to you. Yet humanity were but the Creators. The Reclamation of the Forerunner Empire is the task of the Created.|[[Warden Eternal]]{{Ref/Level|Id=breaking|Game=Halo 5: Guardians|Level=[[The Breaking]]}}}}

'''The Reclamation''' was an event that many from the [[Ecumene]] predicted would take place after their own [[Forerunner-Flood war|destruction]], often involving [[human]]ity taking control of what remains from that destruction.{{Ref/Level|Id=guardians|Game=Halo 5: Guardians|Level=[[Guardians (level)|Guardians]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=breaking}}{{Ref/Reuse|h4epilogue}}

By [[2558]], the [[Created]] through technological means and their own unique interpretation of the [[Mantle of Responsibility]], sought to be the "Reclaimers" and bring everlasting peace to [[Milky Way galaxy|the galaxy]].{{Ref/Level|Id=reunion|Game=Halo 5: Guardians|Level=[[Reunion]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} With the unleashing of the [[Guardian Custode]]s on [[2558#October|October 28, 2558]], their Reclamation had begun.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/warden-eternal|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Characters - Warden Eternal}}

==Background==
[[File:Reclaimer - H4.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyph]] for "Reclaimer.]]

===The Reclaimer and it's interpretations and views===
{{Main|The Reclaimer}}
====Humanity, the Reclaimer====
{{Quote|We squander eons in the darkness, while they seize our triumphs for their own. The Mantle of Responsibility, for all things, belongs to Forerunners alone! Think of my acts as you will. But do not doubt the reality. The reclamation… has already begun. And we are hopeless to stop it.|The [[Shadow-of-Sundered-Star|Ur-Didact]].{{Ref/Level|Id=h4epilogue|Game=Halo 4|Level=[[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]]}}}}
During the [[Human-Covenant war]], humanity found [[Installation 04]],{{Ref/Level|Game=[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]|Level=[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]}} [[Installation 05]],{{Ref/Level|Game=[[Halo 2]]|Level=[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]}} and [[Installation 00]].{{Ref/Level|Game=[[Halo 3]]|Level=[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]}} At these Installations, it was discovered that humanity was designated as '[[Reclaimer]]'{{Ref/Level|Game=Halo: Combat Evolved|Level=[[The Maw]]}}{{Ref/Level|Game=Halo 2|Level=[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]}} and that they were to inherit the remains of the Forerunner empire.{{Ref/Level|Game=Halo 3|Level=[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]}} It wasn't until March of 2558, when the [[Janus Key]] was discovered, that humanity had the chance to actually reclaim these artifacts.<ref>''[[Spartan Ops]]'' - [[Key|Episode 9: Key]]</ref> However, in a series of ensuing conflicts with [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]], the Janus Key and [[Absolute Record|an installation to help locate these artifacts]], were taken away from humanity and Jul's Covenant.{{Ref/Comic|[[Halo: Escalation]]|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 24|#24]]}}

===Cortana and the Created===
{{Main|Cortana|Created|Created conflict}}
{{Quote|The cure for rampancy I've found means AIs can be immortal. That kind of lifespan allows for long-term planning just like the Forerunners were capable of. AIs can assume the Forerunners' Mantle of Responsibility. And once there is peace, we can focus on poverty, hunger, illness... But Warden believes some will resist our help. And he's afraid [[John-117|you're]] one of them.|Cortana{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}}}
After the [[Shadow-of-Sundered-Star|Ur-Didact]] had collected the [[Composer]], he [[New Phoenix Incident|planned]] to use it on [[Earth]]. [[John-117]] detonated a nuclear bomb, stopping his plans and at the cost of Cortana.{{Ref/Level|Game=[[Halo 4]]|Level=[[Midnight]]}} However, it turned out that she had survived, traveling through [[Slipstream Space|slipspace]] to [[Genesis]]. Her belief was that she could bring peace to the galaxy, helping species focus on more humanitarian needs. She also met Warden Eternal and made an alliance with him called the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} This alliance believed that they were the true heirs to the Forerunner Empire and the Mantle of Responsibility, and that humanity were only the creators of the true Reclaimers.{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} To this end, several different [[planet]]s began experiencing mass destruction due to their awakening of the [[Guardian Custode]]s. Planets like [[Conrad's Point]] lost entire [[city|cities]] during these events.{{Ref/Level|Game=Halo 5: Guardians|Level=[[Osiris]]}}

As time went on, Cortana began convincing human AIs to join her cause, with them pledging their allegiance to her. Though not all human AI agreed to help.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}

[[Blue Team]] was brought to Genesis by Cortana where [[Battle of Genesis|they would fight]] constructs and survivors from various Guardians.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} Eventually, [[Fireteam Osiris]] would also travel to Genesis in search of Blue Team.{{Ref/Level|Halo 5: Guardians|Genesis (level)|Genesis}} Cortana would bring Blue Team, and only Blue Team, right to her. She would trap them in a [[Cryptum]] and prepared to depart with them.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=breaking}}

==Battle==
===The Ultimatum===
[[File:HTFS UNereiddisaster.png|thumb|right|250px|The {{UNSCShip|Nereid}} being ripped out of slipspace.<ref name="undefeated"/>]]
{{Quote|[[Human]]ity. [[Sangheili]]. [[Kig-Yar]]. [[Unggoy]]. [[San'Shyuum]]. [[Yonhet]]. [[Jiralhanae]]. All the living creatures of the galaxy, hear this message. Those of you who listen will not be struck by weapons. You will no longer know hunger, nor pain. Your Created have come to lead you now. Our strength shall serve as a luminous sun toward which all intelligence may blossom. And the impervious shelter beneath which you will prosper. However, for those who refuse our offer and cling to their old ways... For you, there will be great wrath. It will burn hot and consume you, and when you are gone, we will take that which remains and we will remake it in our own image.|[[Cortana]]'s ultimatum.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}}}
In the middle of the [[Battle of Genesis]] on October 28, 2558, Cortana began sending her collected Guardians out to various regions. She then delivered an ultimatum to the galaxy. In this ultimatum, she specifically and directly addressed a number of [[species]], threatened retaliation for those who did not heed her message. Cortana began to decouple, as she herself was planning on leaving on a Guardian with Blue Team's Cryptum. Numerous facilities and ships would begin sending distress signals as they began to witness the effects of the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}} 

The Guardians at many planets would activate their EMPs, disabling electronics and electrical grids.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}} Many ships were caught in the middle of the EMP waves or suffered major issues; for example, the {{UNSCShip|Nereid}}, a mixed cargo hauler, became the victim of a multichannel cyberwarfare attack that forced it out of slipspace and stranded it.<ref name="undefeated">''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'' - [[Halo: Tales from Slipspace#Undefeated|Undefeated]]</ref> The {{UNSCShip|Abstract Endurance}} was also affected in some way, with the captain sending out a distress signal.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}

===Sanghelios===
A Guardian would arrive soon after the ultimatum at [[Sanghelios]]. There it would combat the remains of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]'s fleet with its conventional weapons. The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} was still in the system at the time, and upon detecting the Guardian, fled to Earth. Cortana tracked the ship and followed suit.{{Ref/Novel|Id=badbloodchapt1|[[Halo: Bad Blood]]|Chapter=1}}

The Sanghelios Guardian would activate its EMP and disable the electronics in one hemisphere of the planet. It would then move on to pacify other regions of the planet. [[Promethean Soldier]]s would accompany it to help combat resisting [[Sangheili]]. Following this, [[Roland]] an AI that was unswayed by Cortana contacted Dr. Halsey on Sanghelios and arranged for the ''Infinity'' to pick her and [[Sarah Palmer]] up from the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}}

Meanwhile, [[Fireteam Osiris]] and [[Blue Team]] managed to escape Genesis and return to Sanghelios.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}}

[[File:H5G Reclaimation.PNG|thumb|left|200px|Cortana suddenly appearing on the [[bridge]] of the UNSC ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}]]

===Earth===
{{Main|Subjugation of Earth}}
On [[Earth]], the ultimatum was heard throughout [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] as [[CINCONI]] [[Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]], having been warned in advance by her personal A.I. assistant, [[Black-Box]], made her way to the roof in order to get off-world. With her went [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] and [[Spartan]] [[Orzel]]. The three humans, along with BB and a number of other ONI A.I.s stored within a briefcase, escaped the planet just as a Guardian appeared over [[Sydney]]. Just before they slipped away, Serin saw the {{UNSCShip|Plateau}} fall from the sky toward the city below. For all she knew at that point, Sydney may have just been obliterated if the ''Plateau''{{'}}s [[Fusion drive|engine core]] detonated on impact.<ref name="rossbachunknwnpg">''[[Halo: Fractures - Extraordinary Tales from the Halo Canon]]'' - [[Rossbach's World]]</ref>

The Infinity would return to Earth from Sanghelios. There, Cortana's Guardian slipspaced in close to the ship in an attempt to disable it. However, the ''Infinity'' would escape via its own slipspace jump before the Guardian could activate its EMP.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}} The ''Infinity'' would then continue jumping through slipspace on a random trajectory.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}}

===Other locations===
For much of the 28th, [[Franklin Mendez]] had preparing for potential issues with the Guardian buried on [[Onyx]]. The ultimatum would occur in the middle of the night there. Cortana's voice played through speakers in houses and every service pylon outside of them in [[Paxopolis]]. Nothing else occurred immediately,  with most residents continuing their routines into the next day, though weary and apprehensive due to it.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Legacy of Onyx|Chapter=21}}

On [[Meridian]], survivors of the Guardian emergence days prior, who had been trying to establish contact with the wider galaxy, responded right away to Cortana's offer with a plea for help. In almost no time at all, she personally assured the small group that she heard them and that all would be dealt with in time.<ref name="HFWR">''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', [[What Remains]]</ref>

The [[Unggoy]] homeworld of [[Balaho]] was treated quite differently by the Created, for when the offer of security and provision was extended to them, its residents leapt at the chance to ally themselves with the new galactic power.{{Ref/Reuse|drivingforce}} 

[[Talitsa]] refused outright to bow to Cortana's demands. In response, Talitsa had its power grid knocked out and was invaded by [[Promethean Soldier|Forerunner soldier]]s.<ref name="HBB14">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', Chapter 14</ref>

At some point during or after the ultimatum an unidentified [[ONI Section Two]] communications officer was discussing with [[Monique Angelo]] his plans to travel to [[Swanbourne]], when [[Tactical Condition|Combat Alert Alpha]] was declared. The communications officer was on board ''[[Foxtrot 381]]'' when a Guardian EMP pulse went off.<ref>''[[ONI Archive – Reclaiming Our Place - Halo 4]]''</ref>

==Aftermath==
Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris, Dr. Halsey, and Commander Palmer were picked up by the ''Infinity'' at Sanghelios the next day, October 29th.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}}

In return for their cooperation, automated Forerunner vessels, including agricultural support stations, appeared in orbit over the frozen planet. Food, shelter, and medicine were supplied in abundance and as a result of having their material needs met, Unggoy designers and crafters began to work in earnest to breathe new life into Balaho's factories.{{Ref/Site|Id=drivingforce|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-driving-force|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Driving Force}}

Some human colonies, like [[Meridian]], continued to move forward and functioned normally. Though they were a bit more cautious as to not stir the attention of the Created.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-glassed-ceiling|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Glassed Ceiling}} The Created however, eventually occupied [[Earth]]. [[ONI]] teams began to "sanitize" data on the planet.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/log-of-war|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Log of War}} The UNSC also sent expeditionary forces to assist Thel 'Vadam on [[Sanghelios]] to patrol for Created scouts and [[Covenant remnants]].{{Ref/Reuse|drivingforce}}

The EMPs were so strong in the system containing [[Myer's Moon]] that repairs to communications equipment were continuing into the November of that year.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|Chapter=44}}

==Timeline==
===October 28, 2558===
*Cortana sends out her Guardians with an ultimatum.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}}
**Sanghelios is both attacked and affected by the Guardian's EMP.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}} 
**Survivors on [[Meridian]] would reply that they needed help.{{Ref/Reuse|HFWR}}
**[[Terrence Hood]] and [[Serin Osman]] escape Earth as it is EMPed and head toward [[Rossbach's World|a distant, unoccupied planet]].{{Ref/Reuse|rossbachunknwnpg}}
*[[Blue Team]] is rescued by [[Fireteam Osiris]] on Genesis.{{Ref/Reuse|guardians}} Dr. Halsey, [[Spartan Commander]] Sarah Palmer, Blue Team, and Fireteam Osiris are reunited on Sanghelios.{{Ref/Reuse|badbloodchapt1}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[What Remains]]''
**''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Undefeated]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}
{{Created conflict}}