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Omega Halo: Difference between revisions

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(Installation 07 is explicitly stated to be a different ring. After Omega Halo is destroyed and the six smaller Halos are stationed at the lesser Ark, the IsoDidact states that Installation 07 is already in position.)
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{{Era|Forerunner|HCW}}
{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{References}}
{{Megastructure infobox
{{Megastructure infobox
|image=[[File:H4 Terminals - Halo.png|350px|Omega Halo shown in Halo 4 terminals.]]
|image=[[File:H4 Terminals - Halo.png|350px]]
|description=
|description=
|location=Within the [[Milky Way]]
|location=Within the [[Milky Way]]
|anchor=
|anchor=
|type=[[Halo Array|Halo Installation]]
|type=[[Halo Array|Halo installation]]
|function=Galactic sterilization/Flood containment and research
|function=Flood containment and research; planetary/system-wide sterilization
|caretaker=
|caretaker=
|constructed=c. [[101,000 BCE]]-[[100,300 BCE]]
|constructed=c. [[101,000 BCE]]-[[100,300 BCE]]
|destroyed=[[100,000 BCE]]
|destroyed=c. [[100,000 BCE]]<ref name="Silentium"/>
|destroyed-title=Destroyed
|destroyed-title=Destroyed
|diameter= 30,000 kilometers
|diameter= 30,000 kilometers
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|hidec=yes
|hidec=yes
}}
}}
'''Omega Halo''' was one of the original main array of twelve 30,000-kilometer-wide Halos. <ref>'''[[Halo: Silentium]]''', ''String 27''</ref>
'''Omega Halo''' was an installation of the original twelve-strong [[Halo Array]]. It was the Halo to be built as part of the first array.<ref name="Silentium">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''Strings 27 - 31''</ref>{{Verify source}}


==Background==
==Background==
===Construction and commissioning===
Unlike the six rings of the final Halo Array, (and the reduced [[Installation 07]]), Omega Halo was manufactured at the [[greater Ark]] instead of [[Installation 00]]. Omega Halo was the last 30,000 kilometer Halo to built built. By the least year of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], all but one of its counterparts had been destroyed either during the [[Battle of the Capital|assault on the Capital world]] or by [[Flood]]/[[Precursor]] forces in the intervening years;<ref name="Silentium"/> Installation 07 had been severely damaged, reduced in size, and repurposed alongside the smaller, final Array.<ref>''[[Halo: Primordium]]''</ref>
Unlike the other six rings in the final Halo Array, Omega Halo was manufactured at the [[greater Ark]] instead of [[Installation 00]] or the "lesser Ark". As a result, it was originally three times the size of a normal Halo ring (30,000 kilometers in diameter). Like the other Halos, Omega Halo served a secondary purpose as a [[Lifeworker]] preserve for biological specimens from across the galaxy as part of the [[Conservation Measure]]. Omega Halo was primarily dedicated to [[human]]s, being home to various species and subspecies of the human genus, alongside numerous fauna and flora. The humans living on the installation identified themselves as [[Tudejsa]]. These humans were allowed to build their own societies and were mostly left undisturbed by the Forerunners. Some of the humans even managed to construct rudimentary cities.
 
===Battle of the Capital===
===Battle of the Greater Ark===
During the [[Battle of the Capital]], Omega Halo was the only one of the seven rings under Forerunner control that successfully made it through a nearby [[slipspace portal]] and return to the greater Ark, but was severely damaged by the stress of the transition, with the other six breaking up in-slipspace.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 316''</ref> Because the damage the ring took after the battle, Omega Halo was not part of the Halo Array created by the [[Librarian]].
As the [[ecumene]]'s territory was driven back toward the heart of [[Forerunner]] civilization, the [[Capital]] world fell to the Flood. As such, the surviving members of the [[Ecumene Council|New Council]] moved the seat of government to the greater Ark, outside the galaxy. The tattered remnants of the Forerunner military gathered at the Ark in preparation for a final stand; Omega Halo was positioned near the Ark in case its use became necessary. Specimens from the [[Lifeworker]]s' [[Conservation Measure]] were moved to the Ark; many humans were soon moved to Omega Halo to prevent excessive crowding on the larger installation.<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
Shortly after the [[IsoDidact]], the [[Librarian]], and the [[Ur-Didact]] arrived at the staging ground, an enormous Flood fleet emerged from [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] only a few million kilometers away. Led by the rogue ancilla [[05-032 Mendicant Bias|Mendicant Bias]], the Flood-controlled fleet was merely a screen for a swarm of Precursor [[star road]]s, which could physically crush entire planets.<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
====The Ur-Didact's betrayal====
As the battle raged, the Ur-Didact took his [[Mantle's Approach|personal ship]] to the surface of Omega Halo. There, he used a [[Composer]] to convert the relocated human population, (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), into digital forms. He then returned to the [[Promethean]]s' primary [[shield world]], [[Requiem]], where he converted the digital essences into [[Promethean Knight]]s.<ref name="Terminal">'''Halo 4''', [[Terminal/Halo 4|''Terminal Six'']]</ref> The Librarian and [[Chakas]], a monitor and former companion of the Ur-Didact, were unable to stop this quasi-genocide; as however, they managed to recover a relative handful of live specimens and DNA samples, which were immediately transferred to the [[Installation 00|lesser Ark]].<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
====Activation and destruction====
As the Ur-Didact fled to Requiem and the Librarian made for Installation 00, the IsoDidact, [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]], and the [[Examiner]] traveled to Omega Halo's [[control room]]. Knowing that Precursor neural physics were extremely vulnerable to Halo radiation, they hoped to clear an egress route among the vast tangle of star roads. Soon after the trio's arrival, [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] entered the control center and vaingloriously insisted that he be the one to fire the installation's weapon. He managed to fire a single pulse toward [[Path Kethona]], disintegrating multiple star roads and opening a path away from the Ark. Unfortunately, the Forerunners' position was quickly overrun and some of the remaining star roads converged on the Halo. Enormous tidal and kinetic stress rent the installation asunder; the vast degree of friction caused parts of the Halo to superheat and melt.<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
The floor of the control center gave way, causing Bitterness, the Examiner, and the Master Builder to plummet to their deaths. The IsoDidact was unable to grab a salient as he fell, though the monitor Chakas fortuitously arrived and carried him to the lesser Ark to coordinate the final stages of the Halo Array's activation. As the pair escaped, the star roads crushed Omega Halo and the greater Ark. With the loss of Omega Halo, the Forerunners were forced to resort to the smaller, more powerful secondary array of 10,000 kilometer-wide Halos; these rings would, in the coming weeks, destroy all life in the galaxy.<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
==Production note==
Omega Halo first appeared in the sixth terminal in ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s campaign. The events depicted in this terminal were later adapted and expanded, (in a highly modified form), in ''Halo: Silentium''. The terminal depicts Omega Halo in orbit around a gas giant with several nearby moons; there are no signs of the battle described in the novel. Another key difference is that the Librarian and a team of Lifeworkers are shown investigating the attack on the human population shortly its occurrence; the Librarian confronts the Didact via a hologram and rebukes for refusing to speak to her in person.<ref name="Terminal"/> In the book, the Didact leaves as soon as the humans are composed, while the Librarian is focused on getting the remaining humans to the lesser Ark.<ref name="Silentium"/>
 
Fictionally, both ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s terminals and the novel's story are depicted as transmissions from within the [[Domain]]: the former comes from an unknown source, while the latter is presented as legal testimony from several individuals who were present during the battle, most importantly the Librarian. As the Domain is known to alter records with no apparent explanation, it is likely that ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s interpretation is a condensation or abstraction of the events that actually transpired.


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}} <small>(Not mentioned by name)</small>
*''[[Halo 4]]'' <small>([[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]])</small> {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' <small>([[Terminal/Halo 4|Terminals]])</small>
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''



Revision as of 00:25, March 27, 2013

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Omega Halo
H4 Terminals - Halo.png
General overview

Location:

Within the Milky Way

Operation overview

Type:

Halo installation

Function:

Flood containment and research; planetary/system-wide sterilization

Date of construction:

c. 101,000 BCE-100,300 BCE

Destroyed:

c. 100,000 BCE[1]

Structural information

Diameter:

30,000 kilometers

 

Omega Halo was an installation of the original twelve-strong Halo Array. It was the Halo to be built as part of the first array.[1][verification needed]

Background

Unlike the six rings of the final Halo Array, (and the reduced Installation 07), Omega Halo was manufactured at the greater Ark instead of Installation 00. Omega Halo was the last 30,000 kilometer Halo to built built. By the least year of the Forerunner-Flood war, all but one of its counterparts had been destroyed either during the assault on the Capital world or by Flood/Precursor forces in the intervening years;[1] Installation 07 had been severely damaged, reduced in size, and repurposed alongside the smaller, final Array.[2]

Battle of the Greater Ark

As the ecumene's territory was driven back toward the heart of Forerunner civilization, the Capital world fell to the Flood. As such, the surviving members of the New Council moved the seat of government to the greater Ark, outside the galaxy. The tattered remnants of the Forerunner military gathered at the Ark in preparation for a final stand; Omega Halo was positioned near the Ark in case its use became necessary. Specimens from the Lifeworkers' Conservation Measure were moved to the Ark; many humans were soon moved to Omega Halo to prevent excessive crowding on the larger installation.[1]

Shortly after the IsoDidact, the Librarian, and the Ur-Didact arrived at the staging ground, an enormous Flood fleet emerged from slipspace only a few million kilometers away. Led by the rogue ancilla Mendicant Bias, the Flood-controlled fleet was merely a screen for a swarm of Precursor star roads, which could physically crush entire planets.[1]

The Ur-Didact's betrayal

As the battle raged, the Ur-Didact took his personal ship to the surface of Omega Halo. There, he used a Composer to convert the relocated human population, (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), into digital forms. He then returned to the Prometheans' primary shield world, Requiem, where he converted the digital essences into Promethean Knights.[3] The Librarian and Chakas, a monitor and former companion of the Ur-Didact, were unable to stop this quasi-genocide; as however, they managed to recover a relative handful of live specimens and DNA samples, which were immediately transferred to the lesser Ark.[1]

Activation and destruction

As the Ur-Didact fled to Requiem and the Librarian made for Installation 00, the IsoDidact, Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished, and the Examiner traveled to Omega Halo's control room. Knowing that Precursor neural physics were extremely vulnerable to Halo radiation, they hoped to clear an egress route among the vast tangle of star roads. Soon after the trio's arrival, Master Builder Faber entered the control center and vaingloriously insisted that he be the one to fire the installation's weapon. He managed to fire a single pulse toward Path Kethona, disintegrating multiple star roads and opening a path away from the Ark. Unfortunately, the Forerunners' position was quickly overrun and some of the remaining star roads converged on the Halo. Enormous tidal and kinetic stress rent the installation asunder; the vast degree of friction caused parts of the Halo to superheat and melt.[1]

The floor of the control center gave way, causing Bitterness, the Examiner, and the Master Builder to plummet to their deaths. The IsoDidact was unable to grab a salient as he fell, though the monitor Chakas fortuitously arrived and carried him to the lesser Ark to coordinate the final stages of the Halo Array's activation. As the pair escaped, the star roads crushed Omega Halo and the greater Ark. With the loss of Omega Halo, the Forerunners were forced to resort to the smaller, more powerful secondary array of 10,000 kilometer-wide Halos; these rings would, in the coming weeks, destroy all life in the galaxy.[1]

Production note

Omega Halo first appeared in the sixth terminal in Halo 4's campaign. The events depicted in this terminal were later adapted and expanded, (in a highly modified form), in Halo: Silentium. The terminal depicts Omega Halo in orbit around a gas giant with several nearby moons; there are no signs of the battle described in the novel. Another key difference is that the Librarian and a team of Lifeworkers are shown investigating the attack on the human population shortly its occurrence; the Librarian confronts the Didact via a hologram and rebukes for refusing to speak to her in person.[3] In the book, the Didact leaves as soon as the humans are composed, while the Librarian is focused on getting the remaining humans to the lesser Ark.[1]

Fictionally, both Halo 4's terminals and the novel's story are depicted as transmissions from within the Domain: the former comes from an unknown source, while the latter is presented as legal testimony from several individuals who were present during the battle, most importantly the Librarian. As the Domain is known to alter records with no apparent explanation, it is likely that Halo 4's interpretation is a condensation or abstraction of the events that actually transpired.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo: Silentium, Strings 27 - 31
  2. ^ Halo: Primordium
  3. ^ a b Halo 4, Terminal Six