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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|the final battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]|other battles on Installation 00|Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation)}}
{{disambig header|the final battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]|other battles on Installation 00|Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation)}}
{{Battle Infobox
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Battle of Earth]]
|prev=*[[Battle for Earth]]
|conc=*[[Operation: MARSH FLASH]]
**[[Operation: MARSH FLASH]]
*[[Battle of the Citadel]]
|conc=[[Operation: SUNSPEAR]]
|next=[[Raid on High Charity]]
|next=[[Raid on UNSC Infinity]]
|name=Battle of Installation 00
|name=Battle of Installation 00
|image=[[Image:H3 E3 Orbital Battle.jpg|440px]]
|image=[[File:H3 LesserArkConflict.png|400px]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]], [[Great Schism]]
|conflict=*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|date= [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]<ref name="Fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref>
*[[Great Schism]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|place= [[Installation 00]] (the "Ark")
|date= [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Fortitude|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/a/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Hero-Fortitude|D=9|M=5|Y=2012|local=Heroes Never Die#Hero-Fortitude}}
|place= [[Installation 00]], [[Intergalactic space]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|result= '''Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]/[[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] victory'''
|result= '''Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]/[[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] victory'''
*End of the Human-Covenant War
*End of the [[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*Death of the Prophet of Truth
*Death of the [[Prophet of Truth]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*All Covenant forces defeated 
*Overall collapse of the [[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*Overall collapse of the Covenant
*Truth prevented from firing the [[Halo Array]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*Truth prevented from firing the Halo Array
*Flood-infested ''High Charity'' and Gravemind physically destroyed{{Ref/Reuse|cortana}}
*Flood-infested High Charity destroyed
*Proceeded with the [[Raid on Installation 08]], leading to the destruction of [[Installation 08]], severe damage to the Ark, and containment of the [[Flood]]{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}
*Proceeded with the [[Raid on Installation 08]], leading to the destruction of Installation 08, severe damage to the Ark and total defeat of the Flood
|side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
|side1=*[[UNSC]]
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]]
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
*[[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]
**[[UNSC Air Force]]
|side2=*[[Covenant]]
*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant separatists]]
**[[Fleet of Retribution]]
*{{Icon|Forerunner}} [[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]
|side2=*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
|side3=*[[Flood]]
|side3=*[[Flood]]
|commanders1=*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]
|commanders1=
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Commander|CDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]†{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*[[Commander|CDR]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
*[[Fleetmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*[[Sergeant Major|SgtMaj]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]]
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*Master Chief Petty Officer [[John-117]]
*[[Sergeant Major|SGTMAJ]] [[Avery Johnson]]†{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*[[Cortana]]
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*[[Cortana]]{{Ref/Reuse|cortana}}
*[[000 Tragic Solitude]]
*[[000 Tragic Solitude]]
*[[343 Guilty Spark]]
*[[343 Guilty Spark]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|commanders2=*[[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]†
|commanders2=
*[[Cethegus]]†
*[[Hierarchs|High]] [[Prophet of Truth]]†
*[[Hekabe]]
*[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Cethegus]]†{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|commanders3=*[[Gravemind]]†
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Hekabe]]{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}
|forces1=*[[Fleet of Retribution]]/[[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]
|commanders3=[[Gravemind]]†
**''[[Shadow of Intent]]''
|forces1=[[Fleet of Retribution]]/[[Seventh Fleet]]
**9 [[CCS-class battlecruiser|CCS-class Battlecruisers]]
*At least 11 ships{{Ref/NoteReuse|fleetnumber}}
***''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''
**1 [[Sangheili]] [[battle group]]{{Ref/Note|Id=composition|See [[Fleet of Retribution#Notes|here]].}}
**{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
***1+ {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighters
***9+ {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]]s
**[[Battle Group Victory]]
**[[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantom]]s
***1+ {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}{{Ref/Note|Id=AegisFate|Text=The ''Charon''-class light cruiser {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}} can be seen in the skybox of the ''[[Halo 3]]'' map [[Sandtrap]], which is confirmed to be set on Installation 00 ([[Bungie]]'s [https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Sandtrap_Postmortem Sandtrap postmortem] states that the ''[[Sandtrap]]'' takes place on "Waypoint," which was the in-development name for Installation 00). However, it is unknown if the map is set during the Battle of Installation 00 or at some later date following the UNSC's [[Operation: FAR STORM|return]] to the installation in [[2555]]. As such, it cannot be stated with reasonable certainty that the ''Aegis Fate'' was present for the battle. Additionally, while it is possible that other ''Charon''-class light frigates from [[Battle Group Victory]] accompanied the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} to Installation 00, the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' is the only UNSC vessel depicted or described to have joined the Fleet of Retribution  for the journey and ensuing battle.}}
*Ground forces
*Many air vehicles
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**Numerous [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] fighters{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
***[[S4/BLCE/1/7]]
**Numerous [[D77-TC Pelican]]s
***[[S4/BRT/1/7]]
***[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
****[[Alpha Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Alpha Company]]
**Numerous [[AV-14 Hornet]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
****[[Charlie Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Charlie Company]]
**Many [[Seraph|T-31 Seraph]] fighters
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s
***{{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
****[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST|11th MFR/ODST]]
**Numerous [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom#Retribution Phantom|''Ru'swum''-pattern Phantoms]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Sangheili]]
**Numerous {{Pattern|Keljiric|Tarasque}}s
*Vehicles
*Many ground forces
**[[AV-14 Hornet]]s
**1 [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II supersoldier]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[M12 Warthog LRV]]s
**Numerous [[UNSC Marine Corps|marines]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]]s
**Numerous [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[M274 Mongoose]]s
**Numerous [[Sangheili]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[M808C Scorpion]]s
*Ground vehicles
**[[Type-52 Phantom]]s
**Several [[M12 Warthog]]s
**Numerous [[Sentinels]]
***[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|forces2=*[[Truth's fleet]]
***[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]]s{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
**[[M274 Mongoose]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**At least 1 {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}<ref name="HLC5">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''' #5</ref>
**[[M808 Scorpion]]s
**27 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
***[[M808C Scorpion]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**Many [[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraph]] fighters
*Numerous [[Sentinels]]
**Many [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantoms]]
**Numerous [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[Forerunner Dreadnought]]
**Numerous [[Constructor]]s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*Ground forces
**[[Forerunner automated turret|Automated turrets]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*[[Mendicant Bias]]
|forces2=[[Truth's fleet]]
*At least 30 [[Covenant starship|ships]]{{Ref/Note|Id=fleetnumber|Text=See [[Truth's fleet#Notes|Truth's fleet's Notes section]] regarding the size of Truth's fleet and the joint UNSC-Sangheili combined fleet.}}
**1 [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]]{{Ref/Note|Although present during the Battle of Installation 00, it did not participate in the [[space warfare|space battle]] over [[Installation 00]] as it landed in "[[Mahsko]]," a region of the Ark.}}
**2+ {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**1+ {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=loot5|Heading=[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|Subheading=[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #5]]|Detail=[[:File:LC 05 Doc1.jpg|Apollo Leader To CDR S. Palmer]]}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=envoy|Novel=Halo: Envoy}}
**24+ [[Covenant cruiser|Crusiers]]{{Ref/NoteReuse|fleetnumber}}
***Several {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**1+ [[Covenant frigate|frigate]]{{Ref/Reuse|loot5}}
**1+ [[freighter]]{{Ref/Map|HW2|Ashes}}{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Ashes}}
*Many air vehicles
**Many [[Seraph|T-31 Seraph]] fighters
***{{Pattern|Kai|Seraph}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**Many [[Type-26 Banshee|T-26 Banshees]]
***{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**Many {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*Many ground vehicles
**3+ [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|T-47B Scarabs]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Barukaza Workshop Chopper|T-25 Choppers]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|T-26 Wraiths]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
***[[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|T-52 AA Wraiths]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|T-32 Ghosts]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[Qavardu Workshop Prowler|T-52 Prowlers]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
*Numerous ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Kig-yar]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Yanme'e]]
**[[Yanme'e]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
*Vehicles
|forces3=*[[High Charity]]†{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**At least 3 [[Type-47B Scarab]]s
*Multiple [[Flood dispersal pod|dispersal pods]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Type-25 Chopper]]s
*Multiple [[Flood combat form|combat forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Type-26 Banshee]]s
*Multiple [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Type-26 Wraith]]s
*Multiple [[pod infector]]s{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Type-32 Ghost]]s
*Multiple [[Flood pure form|pure forms]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
**[[Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Wraith]]s
|casual1= Moderate
**[[Type-52 Prowler]]s
*[[Miranda Keyes]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
|forces3=*[[High Charity]]
*Unknown amount of Sangheili and human ships
*[[Flood combat form|Combat forms]]
*Numerous infantry losses
*[[Flood carrier form|Carrier forms]]
*[[Pod infector|Pod infectors]]
*[[Flood pure form|Pure forms]]
|casual1=
*Moderate amount of Sangheili and human ships
*Numerous infantry losses.
*Many Sentinels
*Many Sentinels
|casual2=
|casual2=Near total
*Most ships
*[[Prophet of Truth]]{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*Most ground forces
*Most ships, if not all{{Ref/Reuse|theark}} {{c|save for ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' and ''[[Gathering of Praise]]''}}
|casual3=
*Most ground forces{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
*All forces
|casual3=Near total
*High Charity}}
*''[[High Charity]]''{{Ref/Reuse|cortana}}
{{Quote|Our fight is through the Portal, with the Brutes and the bastard Truth!|[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>}}
*[[Gravemind]]{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}
The '''Battle of Installation 00''', also known as the '''Ark Conflict''',<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 48</ref> was a large battle between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]-[[Fleet of Retribution]] alliance, the [[Covenant]], the [[Flood]], and [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].<ref name="Fortitude"/><ref name="theark">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref><ref name="cov">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref><ref name="halo"/> It was the final battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]<ref name="epi">'''Halo 3''', ''Epilogue''</ref> and was the last stand of the Covenant, making it one of the few major engagements in the entire war in which the Covenant were on the defensive.
}}
{{Quote|Our fight is through the [[Portal at Voi|Portal]], with the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] and the bastard [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]]!|[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]{{Ref/Level|Id=floodgate|H3|Floodgate}}}}
The '''Battle of Installation 00''', also known as the '''Ark Conflict''',{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Warfleet|Page=48}} and designated by [[United Nations Space Command]] forces as '''Operation: BLIND FAITH''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=Blind Faith|Enc09|Page=57}}{{Ref/Novel|Enc11|Page=29}} was a large [[battle]] between the UNSC-[[Fleet of Retribution]] alliance, the [[Covenant]], the [[Flood]], and [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|Fortitude}}{{Ref/Level|Id=theark|H3|[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]}}{{Ref/Level|Id=cov|H3|[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|halo}} It was the final overarching battle of the [[Human-Covenant War]] and was the last stand of the Covenant,{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}{{Ref/Level|Id=epi|H3|Epilogue (Halo 3)|Epilogue}} making it one of the few major engagements in the entire war in which the Covenant were on the defensive.
 
After the [[Battle of the Citadel|collapse]] of the Covenant and the Battle of Installation 00, the [[Great Schism]] would continue as the [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war]] and still ongoing as of [[2559]], after the [[Created]] [[Created conflict|uprising]] in [[2558#October|late 2558]].{{Ref/Novel|Evo|Section=The Return}} In early 2559, the Ark would become the home of [[Second Ark Conflict|a new conflict]] as the [[Banished]] fought with the forces of the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} for control over the installation.{{Ref/Game|HW2}}


==Background==
==Background==
===Battle of Installation 04===
===Battle of Installation 04 and 05===
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04|Battle of Installation 05}}
During the [[Battle of Installation 04]], [[Cortana]] intercepted the [[Installation]]'s [[Activation Index|Index]] as it was being inserted by [[John-117|Spartan-117]]. She continued to hold on to it after she had been removed from the Installation's [[Control Room]]. She also had spent over twelve hours inside the Control Room's computer, gaining an incredible amount of information about the [[Halo Array|Halo]] installations, making her possibly the most knowledgeable regarding the operation of the Halo rings, the Forerunners and the Ark perhaps even more so than [[343 Guilty Spark]] who admitted he was quite ignorant of the [[Forerunner]] structures beyond Installation 04.
During the [[Battle of Installation 04]] in September 2552, the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] intercepted the [[Installation]]'s [[Activation index|Index]] as it was being inserted by [[John-117]] into [[the Core]] in the [[Control Room (Installation 04)|control room]]. Having prevented the activation of the ring, she kept the index even after she had been removed from the Installation's control room. She had also spent over twelve hours inside the control room's computer, gaining an incredible amount of information about the [[Halo Array|Halo]] installations,{{Ref/Level|CE|Assault on the Control Room}}{{Ref/Level|CE|Two Betrayals}} making her possibly the most knowledgeable regarding the operation of the Halo rings, the Forerunners, and the Ark - perhaps even more so than [[343 Guilty Spark]], who admitted he was quite ignorant of the [[Forerunner]] structures beyond Installation 04.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


===Battle of Installation 05===
In November 2552, another battle on the next discovered Halo ring, the [[Battle of Installation 05]], included many events that would become major factors in the Battle of Installation 00. Cortana remained aboard the Covenant holy city, ''[[High Charity]]'', as the Flood and its central consciousness, the [[Gravemind]], took control of it.{{Ref/Level|H2|[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]}} From there, the Gravemind interrogated her, and she willingly answered its questions.{{Ref/Novel|Evo|Section=[[Human Weakness]]}} Meanwhile, the Covenant civil war, termed the [[Great Schism]], begun in ''High Charity'' and the space around Installation 05.{{Ref/Level|H2|[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]}} The recently-appointed Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadam]] and his Sangheili allies, in an effort to prevent [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]] from activating the ring, formed an alliance with humans on the surface of Installation 05. With the help of Thel 'Vadam, [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] aborted the activation of Installation 05, but the installation's failsafe protocol had set all of the Halo rings to standby, where they could be activated from the central location of the Installation 00.{{Ref/Level|Id=TGJ|H2|[[The Great Journey (level)|The Great Journey]]}}
{{Main|Battle of Installation 05}}
The [[Battle of Installation 05]] included many events that would become major factors in the Battle of Installation 00.


The [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Artificial intelligence|AI]], [[Cortana]], remained aboard the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] holy city, ''[[High Charity]]'' as the Flood and its central consciousness, the [[Gravemind]], took control of it. From there, the Gravemind interrogated her, and she willingly answered its questions.
===Battle for Earth===
{{Main|Battle for Earth}}
Shortly after escaping the Flood on ''High Charity'', the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] had arrived on [[Earth]], along with the rest of many [[High Charity defense fleet|Covenant loyalist ground and naval survivors]] from the Battle of Installation 05,{{Ref/Reuse|TGJ}}{{Ref/Level|Id=Truthfleet|H3|[[Crow's Nest]]|Quote=The Prophet of Truth's ships breached the Lunar perimeter. Smashed what was left of the Home Fleet.|Quotee=Miranda Keyes}} where the excavation of a [[Portal at Voi|Forerunner structure]] under the planet surface was almost completed by the Jiralhanae-led [[Truth's fleet|support and excavation fleet]] sent by Truth [[Battle of Mombasa|earlier]].{{Ref/Film|Id=waypoint|Film=Halo Waypoint|Story=Ten Twenty|StoryLinkText=Ten Twenty}} Eventually Truth's forces uncovered and activated the structure, opening a [[slipspace portal]] that would take them to Installation 00, the Forerunner structure from which Truth can fire all of the Halo installations at once. As he departed through the Portal, the Flood-captured ship ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'' arrived on Earth and crashed, though its arrival was followed by a portion of the Sangheili [[Fleet of Retribution]] of at least 16 [[Covenant starship|warships]], led by [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]].{{Ref/Level|Halo 3|[[The Storm]]}}{{Ref/Map|Id=heretic|H3|Heretic}} From it, John-117 was able to extract a message from [[Cortana]], alerting them that ''High Charity'' was heading for Earth and cryptically stating that [[Installation 08|the "solution" to the problem of the Flood]] lays beyond the portal.{{Ref/Reuse|floodgate}}


The aborted activation of Installation 05 had set all of the Halo rings to standby, where they could be activated from the central location of the [[Installation 00|Ark]].
While [[Terrence Hood|Lord Terrence Hood]] was suspicious of Cortana's warning and objected to going through the portal, Commander Keyes, John-117, and Rtas 'Vadum all indicated their wish to proceed through the Portal. Unwilling to leave Earth defenseless against the incoming Flood threat, Lord Hood remained on Earth. He gave Miranda Keyes command of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} for the human commitment to the mission and the fleet of ships chased after the High Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|floodgate}}


Finally, the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] civil war, termed the [[Great Schism]], and the [[human]]-Sangheili alliance began in the space around Installation 05.
==Battle==
===Space battle===
[[File:H3 - Retribution Victory vs Truths Fleet.png|thumb|300px|Truth's Jiralhanae fleet confronts the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution]]
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Brute ships. Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three-to-one!|Sangheili Major|q2=Then it is an even fight... All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!|Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas' Vadum and a [[Sangheili Major]] upon reaching the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}}}


===Battle of Earth===
The Fleet of Retribution exited slipspace in the vicinity of the Ark on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]], where they found [[Truth's fleet|the Prophet of Truth's fleet]] waiting for them. Despite being outnumbered three-to-one, Rtas 'Vadum declared that they were fairly matched, and the Sangheili ships and the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' promptly engaged Truth's fleet. In the ensuing [[space warfare|space battle]], the Jiralhanae and Sangheili cruisers blended into each other.{{Ref/Level|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark|Quote=Their cruisers mixed with ours! Watch your fire!|Quotee=Jiralhanae Commander}} 'Vadum and Keyes coordinated their attacks against the Covenant fleet; whereas the Sangheili ships and the ''Dawn'' focused their attacks on the Covenant cruisers,{{Ref/Level|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark|Quote=Let the Elites handle those cruisers!|Quotee=Miranda Keyes}} the ''Dawn''{{'}}s Longsword fighters engaged the Seraphs.{{Ref/Level|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark|Quote=Stay away from those cruisers!|Quotee=Rtas 'Vadum}}{{Ref/Level|H3|The Ark (level)|The Ark|Quote=Understood. Engage those Seraphs!|Quotee=Miranda Keyes}} However, the ''Dawn'' was ill-equipped to fight against large opponents like ''CAS''-class assault carriers and ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers. Thus, at the start of the battle, the ''Dawn'' deployed six [[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s to the surface to search for a landing zone for the ''Dawn'' and gather intelligence on Truth's location.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
{{Main|Battle of Earth}}
The [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] had arrived on [[Earth]] with the rest of his fleet, to complete the digging of a [[The Portal|Forerunner structure]] under the planet surface. Eventually they uncovered and activated it, opening a [[slipspace portal]] that would take them to the [[Installation 00|Ark]], a Forerunner structure from which Truth can fire all of the Halo installations at once. As he departed through the Portal, a [[The Flood|Flood]]-[[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|captured ship]] arrived on Earth and crashed. From it, John and the Arbiter were able to extract a message from [[Cortana]], alerting them that ''[[High Charity]]'' was heading for Earth and indicating that the solution to the problem of the Flood lay beyond the portal.


While [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] was suspicious of [[Cortana]]'s warning and objected to going through the portal, [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]], Spartan-117 and [[Shipmaster|Ship Master]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] all indicated their wish to proceed through the Portal. Lord Hood gave Miranda Keyes command of the ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'' for the human commitment to the mission and the fleet of ships chased after the High Prophet of Truth.
The Forerunner [[Keyship]], ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'', did not participate in the space battle.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}} Instead, it landed amidst a Forerunner city within a region of the Ark later referred to as [[Mahsko]] by the [[Banished]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Sacrifice}} A detachment of Covenant warriors were assigned to protect the vessel as Truth left to activate the [[Halo Array]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Sacrifice|SoR|Detail= Adjunct - [[Sacrifice]]}}


==Battle==
Although the space battle went on concurrently with the opening skirmishes on the surface of the Ark, the Sangheili fleet would make short work of the Covenant fleet due to the Jiralhanae being outmatched by the Sangheili in their knowledge of naval warfare.{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos122|Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo|Page=122}} At least two Sangheili ships would survive the battle: the flagship {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' and the {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Thursday War|Chapter=?}} On the Covenant side, the {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}} ''[[Foebane|Gathering of Praise]]'', led by [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]], abandoned the Covenant forces and landed on the installation surface in search of a device known as the ''[[vertex]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Brute ships. Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three-to-one!|Sangheili Major|q2=Then it is an even fight. All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!|Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas' Vadum and a Sangheili Major upon reaching the Ark<ref name="theark"/>}}
 
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===Search for the Cartographer===
{{Main|Battle for the Cartographer (Installation 00)}}
[[File:Ark Level Scorpion.jpg|thumb|left|300px|UNSC ground forces battling in the desert.]]
The Pelicans from the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' arrived on the surface of the Ark, where they deployed [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and UNSC vehicles to search for a landing zone for the ''Dawn''. ''[[Kilo 023]]'' and another Pelican deployed [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] John-117 and a squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] at a cliff edge, near a series of Forerunner structures built into the desert terrain. Nearby, a third Pelican, which carried a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]], two [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]], and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] including [[Chips Dubbo]], found a wide cliff which could serve as a landing zone for the ''Dawn'', but the Pelican was shot down by Covenant anti-air defenses.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


The [[Fleet of Retribution]] exited slipspace in the vicinity of the Ark on December 11, 2552, where they found the Prophet of Truth's [[Truth's fleet|fleet]] waiting for them. Despite being outnumbered three-to-one, Rtas 'Vadum declared that they were fairly matched and the Sangheili promptly engaged the enemy fleet while the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' deployed six [[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s to locate Truth. Truth presumably landed the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] on the Ark although it was never seen again and was specifically said not to take part in the battle above the Ark.<ref name="theark"/>
With support from his accompanying ODST squad and his [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle]], John-117 cleared out two Covenant camps of Jiralhanae, Unggoy, and Kig-Yar. At the second camp, they disrupted the Covenant's efforts to assemble a [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|Mantis]]. Emerging on the other side of the Forerunner structures, they linked up with Dubbo and other survivors seeking refuge from the downed Pelican, where a lance of Covenant searched for survivors. Dubbo informed John-117 of the potential landing zone for the ''Dawn''. Upon defeating the Covenant patrol at the Pelican, a pair of [[Qavardu Workshop Prowler|Prowlers]] arrived at the area, but their operators were eliminated by the UNSC. Salvaging both UNSC and Covenant vehicles, John-117 and his team advanced into the Covenant-occupied canyon. At this point, the Covenant have set up an attack force of infantry and {{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}}s at a nearby [[Forerunner]] wall, which was defended by [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s. John-117 and his team eliminated the Covenant attackers, and the Sentinels, recognizing the humans as [[Reclaimer]]s, withheld their attacks. [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]], onboard ''Kilo 023'', spotted a structure that was similar to the [[Cartographer]] of [[Installation 04]] on the other side of the wall, and Keyes set the structure as the objective.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


[[File:923831-Full.jpg|thumb|300px|Truth's Jiralhanae fleet confronts the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution]]
The landing zone was occupied by Ghosts, a [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]], several [[Covenant watchtower]]s, Jiralhanae and Unggoy infantries, and two [[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|Anti-Air Wraiths]] that were firing into an aerial battle between [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]]. John-117 and his team, having gathered more Marine survivors, cleared the landing zone, allowing the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' to disengage from the space battle and descend to the surface of the installation, landing safely. From the ''Dawn''{{'}}s hangar, the UNSC was reinforced with three [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpion]] tanks, a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] and a unit of Marines led by [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Marcus Stacker]]. With [[343 Guilty Spark]] having arrived to guide them, the mechanized force then fought their way back to the Forerunner wall, destroying numerous Covenant vehicles and ground troops. The Covenant had retaken the wall, bolstering their defenses with Wraiths, Choppers, and Shade turrets, but they failed to deter the UNSC's progress.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


===Operation: BLIND FAITH===
After entering the wall and emerging from the other side, the UNSC encountered a [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]]. Although the Scarab quickly left the area, the canyon leading from the wall to the Cartographer was defended by a battalion-sized force of Covenant heavy armor, including Choppers, Ghosts, Wraiths, and infantry with [[Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun|heavy weapons]], reinforced by a Phantom. Two of the three Warthogs, which emerged from the wall first, were quickly overwhelmed, and their operators were killed. A single [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]], taking a winding path to the side, was harassed by Ghosts and lost its gunner, though it regrouped with John-117, who had left the group earlier when they travel across the wall. The Spartan commandeered the vehicle and rejoined the Scorpion tanks. John-117 and Stacker then led the Scorpions against the Covenant armor. When the UNSC forces broke through the Covenant defenses, the Scarab returned to the area, with Choppers as its escorts. Stacker ordered Marines from Bravo unit to flank the Scarab to cover John-117's assault on the Scarab. They succeed, with John-117 personally taking down the Scarab. After the Scarab's destruction, the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' arrived at the Cartographer, and Rtas 'Vadum announced that his fleet had destroyed Truth's fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
Despite being harassed by Covenant [[Type-31 Seraph|Seraph]] fighters, five of the Pelicans deployed by the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' managed to made it to the Ark's surface. Two of the Pelicans traveled to a vast desert, where they deployed the [[John-117|Master Chief]] and four [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] onto a cliff edge. The team made it to a ledge overlooking a group of [[Jiralhanae]], [[Unggoy]], and [[Kig-Yar]] listening to a message from Truth. Waiting for the Spartan to take the first shot with his [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle|sniper rifle]], the team proceeded to engage the clustered Covenant force. As their numbers dwindled, more Jiralhanae and several [[Type-51 Carbine|Carbine]]-wielding Kig-Yar arrived to reinforce the Covenant but ultimately the humans were successful in eliminating the Covenant soldiers. The team than proceeded through another cave which emerged into a larger area where Covenant forces were assembling an [[Type-27 Mantis|Anti-Aircraft Cannon]]. Recognizing the grave threat that the gun would be to the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', the team promptly attacked the Covenant, forcing the [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] that was carrying components of the Anti-Aircraft Cannon to drop them and flee. As the team started to get an upper hand on the Covenant forces, another Phantom arrived on the battlefield, dropping a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair to engage the humans while the rest of the Covenant fell back to regroup. Despite the opposition, John-117 and the ODSTs managed to defeat the Mgalekgolo pair, before rooting out the surviving Covenant soldiers on the nearby rise. A final [[Jiralhanae Captain]] and a large group of Unggoy met the humans as they ascended the rocky pathway but they too failed to stop the team.


The team then entered a small cave, where the Chief first accessed the Forerunner [[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal]] network. On the other side of the cave they met a pair of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] survivors from a nearby shot down Pelican and witnessed a [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] fighter crashing. After being informed of a possible landing zone for the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', the humans ambushed the Jiralhanae and Unggoy searching the crashed Pelican. A pair of Jiralhanae [[Type-52 Prowler|Prowlers]] then entered the area, with one stopping to disgorge its occupants while the other one remained on the move, using its plasma cannon to strafe the humans. After a struggle, the team managed to kill all of the hostiles in the area. Finding that several [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]] had survived the Pelican crash, the humans mounted up on the vehicles. They then entered a much larger open area where the Longsword had crashed. A large Covenant force including [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] and [[Type-25 Chopper|Choppers]] occupied the area but the now-mobilized UNSC party was successful in wiping them out. Passing the crashed Longsword and a pair of [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIVs]] that had landed and had the ODSTs which had once occupied them killed once they left their pods, the team arrived at a crashed Phantom, where they promptly wiped out its surviving passengers. The team than located a large [[Forerunner]] wall where a group of Covenant were being engaged by the [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]] defenders. With the assistance from the Sentinels, all of the Covenant were eliminated. [[Avery Johnson]] descended in his Pelican, informing the Master Chief that he had spotted a structure that was similar to the [[Cartographer]] of [[Installation 04]] on the other side of the wall, and Keyes set it as their objective. The ''Dawn'' would need to land first however, in order to deploy a vehicular force that would be sufficient to punch through the Covenant forces in front of the Cartographer building. With the Sentinels providing aerial support, thhe team proceeded forward, destroying a pair of Ghosts before assisting a group of Marines being attacked by more Covenant. The vehicles led by the Chief then moved to the sighted Landing Zone, which was occupied by Ghosts, a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith]], several [[Deployable lookout tower|deployable lookout towers]] and a pair of Anti-Air Wraiths that were firing into an aerial battle between [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]]. Despite staunch opposition, the human force was able to clear the landing zone, allowing the ''Dawn'' to disengage from the space battle and descend to the surface of the installation, landing safely.<ref name="theark"/>
[[File:H3 TanksVsScarab.png|300px|thumb|Scorpion Tanks battle a Scarab in the desert.]]


[[Image:Ark Level Scorpion.jpg|thumb|left|300px|UNSC ground forces battling in the desert.]]
Encountering resistance from Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar on the way, John-117 climbed a series of ramps towards the entrance to the Cartographer. At the top, he met with [[Thel 'Vadam]], who dismounted from ''Kilo 023'' along with a pair of Marines. While Commander Keyes assembled an air support force to prevent Covenant reinforcements, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the sealed door at the entrance, allowing John-117 and Thel 'Vadam to advance inside. Their arrival caught most of its Covenant occupants off-guard, and they eventually arrived at an exterior platform hosting the Cartographer terminal. The Chief and 343 Guilty Spark accessed the terminal, learning the installation as the "Ark" and that Truth had already fortified himself at [[Installation 00 Citadel|the core of the Ark]], where he could remotely activate the entire Halo Array. Furthermore, Truth had activated a large barrier around the entire core to ward off the attacking forces.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


From the ''Dawn'''s hangar, the Master Chief was reinforced with three [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpion]] tanks, a [[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]] and more [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]]. A Pelican arrived to transport the surviving ODSTs away while the rest of the soldiers mounted up. With [[343 Guilty Spark]] having arrived to guide them, the mechanized force then fought their way back to the Forerunner wall, destroying untold numbers of Covenant vehicles and ground troops. Arriving at the wall, which the Covenant had now reinforced with a number of Wraiths, the UNSC troops were forced to clear out all of the defenders in order to make it to the wall. The Chief, along with Guilty Spark, went through the upper, smaller doorway while the rest of the UNSC force, now reinforced with two more Warthog's, one of which was a [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthog]], went through the larger, lower doorway. The Spartan arrived at a platform overlooking a deep chasm. Here, the Monitor guided John-117 to activate the light bridge that would allow the rest of the force to move onward. The Chief continued through the wall, emerging outside as a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]] passed over him. Far below, a Covenant armored force destroyed the Warthogs that had emerged from the wall first. The Gauss Warthog, harassed by Ghosts and losing its gunner, made its way up to the Chief, where the driver offered the vehicle to the Spartan. The Chief made his way down a winding path, his gunner destroying the Ghosts and a [[Type-52 plasma cannon|plasma cannon]] before regrouping with the force of Scorpion tanks. [[Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] and the Chief led the Scorpions against a battalion-sized force of Covenant heavy armor, including Choppers, Ghosts, Wraiths and infantry with [[Type-33 fuel rod gun|heavy weapons]], reinforced by a Phantom. The Scarab than returned to the area, but even with its presence, the humans were able to clear out all of the Covenant, with John-117 personally taking down the Scarab. As the Scarab went down, [[Rtas 'Vadum]] announced that his fleet had wiped out all of the Prophet of Truth's ships; despite being outnumbered three-to-one in space, the Sangheili fleet made short work of the Covenant space forces due to the Jiralhanae being outmatched by the Sangheili in their knowledge of naval warfare,<ref name="Mythos122">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 122''</ref> and the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' landed near the Cartographer.<ref name="theark"/>
After learning of Truth's location, they were attacked by a Phantom, one of the many aircrafts from the Covenant's aerial attack on the Cartographer. Thel 'Vadam drew the Phantom's fire, allowing the Chief to escort Spark clear. 'Vadam then hijacked a Banshee and joined Keyes' air support to repel the Covenant attack. Notified by Dubbo, John-117 was instructed to descend to a platform underneath the Cartographer for extraction. The Spartan fought his way down, defeating a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]], his [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard|Bodyguards]], and a group of [[Cloaking|camouflaged]] [[Jiralhanae Stalker]]s along the way.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}} At the platform underneath the Cartographer terminal, [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Cethegus]] regrouped with the [[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumpers]] from his pack. Cethegus and the members of his pack were charged with halting the UNSC-Sangheili progress. Believing he would ascend to the title of Chieftain of the Jiralhanae for killing the Spartan, the ambitious Chieftain challenged John-117 to a duel.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-brute-force|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Brute Force|D=11|M=10|Y=2021}} Despite being outnumbered, John-117 defeated Cethegus' pack as well as two Kig-Yar marksmen. Meanwhile, the Hornets under Keyes' command had destroyed the Banshee attack force, putting an end to the conflict at the Cartographer.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


The Chief and his forces dismounted from their vehicles, fighting their way up a series of ramps towards the entrance to the to the Cartographer building. At the top, they met with [[Thel 'Vadam]], who dismounted from a Pelican along with a pair of Marines to accompany the Chief inside. With the help of 343 Guilty Spark, who unlocked several locked doors, the team entered a room where a number of Unggoy were sleeping. The Arbiter advised the Chief to kill them while they slept. Killing all of the Unggoy and their Jiralhanae overseer, the team continued downward, eliminating more unaware Covenant in another room before a Jiralhanae soldier gave away their position in yet another room. Despite their presence now being know, the team were able to fight through to an exterior platform where the Cartographer terminal itself was. The Chief accessed the terminal, learning that Truth had already fortified himself in a [[Installation 00 Citadel|facility]] that would allow him to remotely activate the entire [[Halo Array]] in the core of the Ark and had activated a large barrier around the entire core to ward off the attacking forces. After discovering Truth's location, a Phantom swooped in to attack. Thel 'Vadam drew its fire, allowing the Chief to escort Spark clear. Johnson announced that there was a large force of Covenant aerial support heading towards their location, and led the air battle against them while 'Vadam stole a Banshee to assist him. The Chief met with one of the Marines, who informed him that the Pelicans would land a level down from their current position. Shortly after, a group of Unggoy threw [[Type-1 plasma grenade|plasma grenades]] that killed the other Marine who was guarding the entrance to the room. The Chief and the Marine killed the Unggoy as well as a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and his [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard|Bodyguards]]. They then moved downward, emerging onto the upper level of a seemingly-empty room aside from one occupant; Jiralhanae [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Cethegus]]. The Chieftain took a moment to taunt the Spartan, before leaving the room for the exterior platform. A group of [[Active camouflage|camouflaged]] [[Jiralhanae Stalker|Jiralhanae Stalkers]] then attacked the Chief.
''Kilo 023'' arrived to pick up John-117, but a massive swarm of Sentinels approached the Pelicans. Initially, the UNSC prepared to attack, but they stopped when 343 Guilty Spark asked them not to attack the Sentinels, stating that the Sentinels had a "priority task" of unknown nature. Instead of attacking, the Aggressors flew off into the distance, and the UNSC and Sangheili followed suit, making their way to the Installation 00 Citadel to stop the Prophet of Truth.{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}


Outside, Cethegus regrouped with the [[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumpers]] from his pack, and was addressed by a hologram of the Prophet of Truth nearby. Cethegus was to defeat the Spartan in single combat, his failure to do so bringing him a fate worse than death. By this point, John-117 had slain the Stalkers and made his way out on to the platform. The Jiralhanae Jumpers moved back, allowing Cethegus to challenge the human. The ambitious Chieftain charged at John-117. After a struggle, the Master Chief was able to best Cethegus. As the Chieftain fell, the rest of his pack sprung into action, hoping to avenge their fallen commander, but they were unsuccessful and the Spartan was soon the sole survivor of the encounter. Pelican [[Kilo 023]] arrived to pick the Spartan up. After some initial uncertainty regarding a huge flock of Sentinels that were heading elsewhere on the installation, the human-Sangheili alliance decided that until the Prophet of Truth was stopped, nothing else mattered, and they left the Cartographer.<ref name="theark"/>
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===Battle of the Citadel===
===Battle of the Citadel===
{{main|Battle of the Citadel}}
{{main|Battle of the Citadel}}
[[Image:Trident11.jpg|thumb|right|300px|UNSC and Sangheili forces begin their assault on Truth.]]
[[File:Trident11.jpg|thumb|left|300px|UNSC and Sangheili forces spearhead their final assault on the High Prophet of Truth.]]


The UNSC assault team, travelling in five Pelican dropships, along with a pair of Sangheili Phantoms began their attack on a trio of [[Barrier tower|towers]] that, once disabled, would drop a section of the barrier protecting the Citadel in which the Prophet of Truth was located. As the assault force closed in, they split up. Two Pelicans, including [[Kilo-023]] containing the Master Chief and a squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] would hit the first tower. The Phantoms, which carried [[Thel 'Vadam]] and his [[Sangheili]], would assault the second and the other Pelicans, ferrying Sergeant Johnson and his squad would disable the third tower. As Kilo-023 and her wingman approached the first tower, they started to take fire from an [[Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Wraith|Anti-Aircraft Wraith]] stationed on a beachhead near the tower. Kilo-023's wingman was struck in her right wing by AA fire, which rocketed her forward into Kilo-023, crushing the Warthog that was slung underneath before she spiraled into the ground. Kilo-23 was able to continue forward and landed on the beach nearby. John-117, carrying a [[M6 Spartan Laser|Spartan Laser]], lead the ODSTs against a large Covenant force that was protecting the AA Wraith. Fighting their way past the crashed Pelican, the team was able to take down a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and his entourage before the Master Chief neutralized the Wraith. With the beachhead secure, [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Keyes]] arrived in her Pelican to deliver a [[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]] and [[M274 Mongoose|Mongoose]] for the team to use in their assault on the tower. At the same time, the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' began a diversionary bombardment against the barrier, firing [[Plasma torpedo|plasma torpedoes]] at the barrier shield.
On the same day, December 11, 2552, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance arrived at vicinity of the core of Installation 00. AV-14 Hornets were sent in to contest for airspace around the barrier. An assault team, composed of five Pelican dropships and a pair of Sangheili Phantoms, began their attack on a trio of [[Barrier tower|towers]] that, once disabled, would deactivate the barrier protecting the Citadel in which the Prophet of Truth was located. Two Pelicans, including ''Kilo 023'' which carried John-117 and an ODST squad led by Gunnery Sergeant Stacker, would attack the Tower One. The Phantoms, which carried Thel 'Vadam and his Sangheili (including [[N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Usze 'Taham]]),{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Chapter=?}} would assault the middle tower. The other Pelicans, ferrying Sergeant Johnson and his squad, would disable the final tower. ''Kilo 023'' deployed John-117, along with Stacker and his ODSTs, at a distance from the first tower after an Anti-Aircraft Wraith shot down the second Pelican carrying Marines and a Warthog. After John-117 defeated the War Chieftain, his entourage, and the Anti-Air Wraith, Commander Keyes' Pelican deployed a new Warthog and a Mongoose at the beachhead for the team. Meanwhile, the ''Shadow of Intent'' began a diversionary bombardment against the barrier, firing [[plasma torpedo]]es at the barrier shield.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


The team soon arrived at the entrance to the first tower, finding it heavily defended with a [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraith]], a pair of [[Type-52 Prowler|Prowler]], numerous [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]], [[Type-26 Shade|Shade]] turrets and other infantry. As the battle around the tower raged, Keyes' Pelican returned to drop [[Ordnance pod|ordnance pods]] containing weapons for the team. Eventually clearing the area, the team proceeded inside, where they fought through more Covenant forces. Making their way to the the elevator that would lead to the tower controls, John-117 went alone while the rest of the team waited behind to watch for hostiles. Before he could deactivate the tower however, the Spartan had to contend with a [[Jiralhanae]] [[Pack|pack]] lead by a [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]]. Eventually clearing the room, John-117 located the controls and shut the tower down. At the same time, Thel 'Vadam and his Sangheili disabled theirs. Unfortunately, Sergeant Johnson and his team ran into heavy resistance at the third tower. Johnson managed to make a final transmission warning Keyes to keep her Pelican clear because of the number of hostiles before he was cut off. Commander Keyes then ordered the Chief to meet up with Thel 'Vadam and jointly assault the third tower. The Chief returned down to the lower level, where he helped his team fight off a small group of Covenant trying to reactivate the tower. They then returned to their vehicles and made their way back to the beachhead. There, a UNSC [[Pilot#UNSC|pilot]]offered his [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]] to the Chief. The Spartan, with the aid of several other Hornets and Pelicans, made their way to the airspace around the second tower where the Sangheili Phantoms were under heavy attack from a large number of [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and a Covenant Phantom. The UNSC air force promptly engaged the Covenant, allowing the Sangheili to engage their Phantom's [[Active camouflage|cloaking]] systems to escape. The UNSC were able to clear the vicinity of the second tower before making their way onward to the third. The third tower was heavily defended by a pair of AA Wraiths, Shades, another standard Wraith and a huge group of Jiralhanae lead by a [[Type-33 fuel rod gun|fuel rod gun]]-wielding War Chieftain. The Chief managed to knock out the anti-air, allowing the Sangheili Phantoms to return, where they disgorged Thel 'Vadam and his men to begin a ground-side push. Ultimately, the combined assault from the air and the ground managed to collapse the Covenant defenses.
While John-117 and his team traveled to the first tower, 'Vadam and Johnson, along with their teams, touched down at the second and third towers, respectively. Although John-117 and 'Vadam succeed in disabling two of the three towers, Johnson was ambushed by enemy reinforcements, and lost contact with the UNSC soon after. The Jiralhanae captured Johnson, and took him to the Citadel. The UNSC-Sangheili forces launched a second assault on the third tower, with John-117 escorting the dropships in an AV-14 Hornet. They first destroyed Covenant Banshees and a Phantom, securing air control outside the barrier. The third tower was heavily defended by a pair of AA Wraiths, Shades, another standard Wraith, and a huge group of Jiralhanae led by War Chieftain. Destroying the Brute defenders outside the third tower, John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a team of five Sangheili proceeded inside, where they discovered the corpses of Johnson's team, except for Johnson. After the defending forces of Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e and Jiralhanae were eliminated, John-117 disabled the barrier tower, finally deactivating the barrier. The ''Shadow of Intent'' advanced towards the Citadel, but 'Vadum's attack was interrupted by the arrival of the Flood-infested ''High Charity'', which arrived via slipspace. ''High Charity'' launched debris that crippled the carrier and its weapons systems, forcing the ''Shadow of Intent'' to retreat. It also launched [[Flood dispersal pod]]s and began spreading Flood across the Ark. Keyes insisted that the Flood's arrival would only pressure Truth into activating the rings, and ordered the remaining ground forces to attack the Citadel.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


[[File:Banshee cov.jpg|thumb|300px|Covenant air forces engaging UNSC/Sangheili forces.]]
[[File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|300px|thumb|The massive final battle of the Human-Covenant War at the front of the Citadel.]]  


Landing his Hornet, the Chief, along with Thel 'Vadam and a unit of Sangheili made their way into the tower, engaging the surviving Jiralhanae from the battle outside the tower. Here they discovered the corpses of several of the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] from Johnson's group, but the Sergeant himself wasn't among them. Inside the tower, the team was confronted by a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair and a massive swarm of [[Yanme'e]] who descended from above. After a protracted battle, the team was able to wipe out the Mgalekgolo and most of the Yanme'e, the survivors retreating from the way they came. As they made their way up to the elevator, another pack of Jiralhanae as well as the surviving Yanme'e vainly tried to halt their progress but failed. Once more, the Chief proceeded to the tower controls by himself, wiping out a group of [[Jiralhanae Stalker|Stalkers]] and their War Chieftain commander. Once the Spartan activated the controls, the barrier dissipated immediately. The ''Shadow of Intent'' prepared to bombard the Citadel, but was prevented from doing so when the [[Flood]]-infested ''[[High Charity]]'' arrived, launched debris that crippled the Sangheili carrier and spread Flood across the Ark. Keyes insisted that this would only pressure Truth into activating the rings, and ordered her remaining forces to attack him directly.
During this time, the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] decided to use the distraction from the Flood arrival to locate the ''[[vertex]]'' hidden on the Ark. The control device for the [[Sharquoi]], the ''vertex'' would allow Hekabe to control the creatures. Though the Prophets had some Sharquoi themselves, they had lacked the ''vertex'' and so could not control them and never unleashed them. Hekabe intended to use the ''vertex'' and the Sharquoi to gain power for himself and so fled the Ark with his loyalists before the battle ended despite fighting on the side of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}


One of the pieces of debris from ''High Charity'' crashed through the window of the room John-117 was in. In moments, the Spartan was swarmed by Flood forms, with [[Pod infector|Pod infectors]] reanimating the fallen Jiralhanae into [[Flood combat form|combat forms]]. Fighting through the Flood, the Chief returned to the lower level where he found 'Vadam and his Sangheili engaging more Flood. Pushing through numerous Flood forces, the team made it outside where Pelicans were in the process of deploying armored vehicles for the push towards the Citadel. John-117 and [[Sergeant Stacker]] lead the assault force, which included a [[M808 Scorpion|Scorpion]] tank, a [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthog]] and a Mongoose. The assault force fought through the cliffs to the cliffside near the Citadel. Here, the Jiralhanae threw everything they had at them - Wraiths, Ghosts, Prowlers, Shade turrets and heavy weapon-wielding infantry attempted to counter the UNSC armored vehicles while Banshees and Phantoms fought against Hornets and Pelicans for superiority in the air. After a tough battle, the UNSC ground forces pushed through to a break in the cliffs that would allow them to make their way to the entrance to the Citadel. Sergeant Stacker called in more Hornets to land nearby for the Chief to use as a a pair of [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarabs]] arrived in front of the Citadel as the Covenant's last line of defense. After a lengthy battle, John-117 was able to take out one of the Scarab walkers. At this point, Commander Keyes ordered all forces to focus their fire on the second Scarab. Under the sustained assault, it didn't take long for the Scarab to buckle, before John-117 finished it off. With the Scarabs down, any remaining Covenant stragglers were soon moped up by the UNSC.<ref name="cov"/>
Fighting through the Flood to exit the third tower, John-117 and the Sangheili regrouped with Gunnery Sergeant Stacker's Marines, now supported by a Scorpion, a Gauss Warthog, and a Mongoose. The humans and Sangheili fought through the cliffs to the area outside the Citadel, where the Covenant had set up lookout towers, Shade turrets, and ground vehicles. The Covenant attempted to reinforce their troops by a large amount of Banshees and Phantoms, but the UNSC air forces counterattacked with Hornets and Pelican gunships. The ground forces led by John-117 punched through the remaining Covenant armor on the mountainside. With the UNSC's arrival imminent, the Covenant deployed two final Scarabs, each commanded by a Jiralhanae War Chieftain, at the entrance to the Citadel, further supported by Prowlers, Ghosts, and Banshees. However, their efforts were in vain, and, with the Scarabs destroyed by John-117, any remaining Covenant stragglers were soon moped up by the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}
[[File:Scarab explodes.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Covenant ground forces are defeated.]]


A Phantom dropped The 'Vadam and [[343 Guilty Spark]] in front of the Citadel, where they met up with John-117. Spark activated a light bridge and the Spartan and Sangheili entered the Citadel alone. As they made their way in, several viewscreens light up showing the Prophet of Truth giving a speech attempting to reassure his remaining followers to hold firm and also declaring that he was about the activate the [[Halo Array]]. Realizing that they had very little time left, Spartan-117 and Thel 'Vadam hastily made their way to the elevator that would carry them to Truth's level.  
While the Flood began climbing up the Citadel's far wall, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam led a small attack force, including N'tho 'Sraom, Usze 'Taham, as well as a few Marines and Sangheili, into the Citadel.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD252|HitD|Page=252}} Inside, the Prophet of Truth was giving a speech attempting to reassure his remaining followers, declaring that he was about to activate the Halo Array by forcing Johnson into interacting the control panel. Realizing that they had very little time left, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam hastily made their way to the elevator that would carry them to Truth's level, but the elevator's immense height meant that they would not be able to intervene in time.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


[[Sergeant Major]] Johnson, who had disappeared during the assault on the barrier towers, had in fact been captured by Truth's forces and was being tortured into pressing the switch to activate the Array; Truth needed a [[Reclaimer|"Reclaimer"]] to perform the action. Johnson attempted to goad the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] that was holding him into killing him to prevent this, but Truth realized this and stopped him. With Spartan-117 and the Arbiter too far away to stop the Prophet, Commander Keyes took her Pelican dropship and crashed it directly into the facility in an attempt to rescue Johnson. She attempted to hold off Truth's Jiralhanae [[Jiralhanae Bodyguard|Bodyguards]] with a [[M90 shotgun#M90A variant|shotgun]] and a [[M6G magnum#2552 model|magnum]], but it became apparent that she wouldn't be able to kill all of them, and Truth taunted that either her or Johnson would activate the Array. Realizing what needed to be done, she pointed her pistol at Johnson, who encouraged her to shoot him and then herself to deny Truth a means to activate the rings. Before she could however, Truth used a [[type-25 Carbine|Spiker]] to shoot Keyes in the back, killing her. Johnson, completely stuck by grief and shock, is easily made to press the panel, starting the activation sequence for the Halo Array. At this time, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam arrived on that level, where they were confronted by a pair of Flood [[Flood tank form|tank forms]]. Instead of attacking, the [[Gravemind]] spoke to the pair through the Flood forms, offering an alliance to stop their common foe, knowing that only the Chief would be able to stop the activation sequence. Unable to see another way, the two agreed and they began a combined assault on the last bastion of Covenant soldiers protecting the Prophet of Truth.
Johnson attempted to goad the Chieftain that was holding him into killing him, but Truth, realizing this, stopped the Chieftain. With John-117 and the Arbiter too far away to stop Truth, Commander Keyes took her Pelican dropship and crashed it directly into the facility in an attempt to rescue Johnson, but she was killed by Truth himself when she hesitated to kill Johnson and herself to deny Truth a means to activate the rings. Johnson, struck by grief and shock, was easily made to activate the Array. However, Keyes' actions delayed Truth long enough for John-117 and the Arbiter to stop him. The Gravemind dispatched a swarm of [[Pod infector]]s and [[Flood combat form]]s, led by two [[Flood tank form]]s, to assist the UNSC-Sangheili force in preventing the Halos' activation. They were met by the Jiralhanae Chieftain and his Unggoy, Kig-Yar and Jiralhanae.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


A large group of [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] lead by a [[Jiralhanae Captain]] guarded the first bridge. The two tank forms lumbered into their midst, the huge Flood forms easily crushing the smaller Covenant soldiers. With large numbers of Pod infectors along with the efforts of the Spartan and Sangheili, the forces on the first bridge soon crumbled. On the second bridge, a pack of Jiralhanae including a unit of [[Jiralhanae Jumper|Jumpers]] fought viciously to halt the process of John-117, Vadam and the Flood, but with each Jiralhanae that fell, a new Flood combat form was produced and as a result, the Covenant forces began to collapse. Even the Chieftain and a group of fuel rod gun-wielding Unggoy [[Unggoy Heavy|Heavies]] failed to stop the determined assault. The Covenant defenders on the third and final bridge were slaughtered by the Flood before the Chief and Thel even arrived. With that, all Covenant in the Citadel had been eliminated, and the way to Truth was clear. Crossing the light bridge to the Citadel controls, the Chief and 'Vadam passed by several Flood corpses and found Johnson cradling the dead body of Commander Miranda Keyes. He urged John-117 to stop the rings. Thel 'Vadam approached Truth, who was on the floor and had already been partially infected by the Flood. Declaring his intent to have his revenge against the Prophet as the infection began to ravage Truth's body, 'Vadam allowed the Prophet to live long enough to see the Chief deactivate the Halo Array. In a final defiant declaration, Truth announced himself as the voice of the Covenant, before being fatally stabbed in the back by Thel's [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]]. With Truth's death, the Covenant was brought to an end.<ref name="cov"/>
[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Arbiter killing the High Prophet of Truth.]]
The defending Covenant forces quickly collapsed under the combined assault from the humans, Sangheili, and the Flood. With all Covenant in the Citadel eliminated, John-117 and 'Vadam reached the final room where they found Johnson cradling the dead body of Commander Miranda Keyes. 'Vadam confronted the Prophet of Truth, who was already partially infected by the Flood. 'Vadam allowed the Prophet to live long enough to see John-117 deactivate the rings, and 'Vadam personally killed Truth. With the Halo threat eliminated, the Gravemind betrayed the humans and the Sangheili, sending a large group of Flood combat forms and carrier forms after John-117 and Thel 'Vadam. The two attempted to escape on Keyes' Pelican, now piloted by Johnson, but they were knocked off by one of Gravemind's tentacles. With Johnson's Pelican spiraling out of the control, Johnson instructed the two to return to the elevator.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Arbiter killing the Prophet of Truth.]]
With the assistance of Aggressor Sentinels, the pair fought their way back to the elevator, which had been disabled. Without another choice, the two dropped down a small shaft in the room. At the bottom, John-117 followed flickers of Cortana to a control panel, and, upon its activation, they found [[Installation 08]] departing from the Ark's [[Foundry (location)|Foundry]]. Realizing this was Cortana's "solution" for the Flood, John-117 decided he needed to activate the ring at the Ark's isolated location, where the pulse would not destroy the sentient life in the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. 343 Guilty Spark concurred, that a tactical pulse would eliminate the Flood infestation on the Ark, and made his way to the ring to oversee the final preparations. However, this new Halo lacked an activation index. The only way they could get another index was to rescue Cortana from ''High Charity'', since she still possessed the index from the original Installation 04.{{Ref/Reuse|cov}}


Almost immediately after the death of the Prophet of Truth, the Gravemind announced his sudden betrayal, his tentacles surrounding the platform. Johnson attempted to airlift John-117 and Thel away but one of the Gravemind's tentacles struck the Pelican, sending it spiraling out of control and knocking the pair to the ground near the platform. The two quickly got to their feet, standing back to back with their weapons ready as the Gravemind taunted them. Thel acknowledged that they had traded one villain for another. Suddenly, the Gravemind retracted his tentacles below the platform as a pair of combat forms clambered up to challenge the pair. Quickly slaying the combat forms, the Master Chief and Arbiter hastily made their way back towards the lift they had used to enter at Johnson's urging. As they went, myriad Flood forms attempted to stop their progress. On the second bridge, a squadron of [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinels]] arrived to assist the duo. With the assistance of the Forerunner constructs, John-117 and Thel soon made their way back to the lift. Discovering that the controls aren't working, they opt to use a shaft at the back of the lift. The Spartan enters first. A flickering image of [[Cortana]] leads him to a control panel. Upon activating it, [[Installation 08|an incomplete Halo ring]] rose out of the Ark's [[Foundry]]; it was suddenly clear what Cortana's "solution" to the Flood was. Realizing what needed to be done, John-117 announced his plan to fire the ring to 343 Guilty Spark. The Monitor agreed that a tactical pulse would eradicate the local Flood infestation and made his way to the ring for final preparations. The incomplete ring lacked an [[Activation Index]] however. The only way they could get another Index was to rescue Cortana from ''High Charity'' since she still possessed the Index from [[Installation 04]].<ref name="cov"/>
===Master Chief's raid on ''High Charity''===
{{Main|Raid on High Charity}}
While Johnson, 'Vadam, and 'Vadum rounded up the UNSC and Sangheili survivors from the battle, John-117 took a Banshee and [[Raid on High Charity|infiltrated]] the Flood-infested ''High Charity''. The Spartan fought through swarms of Flood and successfully recovered Cortana, who indeed still held the activation index from Installation 04. Under Cortana's guidance, John-117 sabotaged the city's reactors, causing a series of explosions that crippled the Gravemind and destroyed ''High Charity''. 'Vadam arrived shortly after, and the trio fled onboard a crashed Pelican.{{Ref/Level|Id=cortana|H3|[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]}}


Johnson picked up the Arbiter and the Chief while Guilty Spark went off to the new Installation. The party then headed to the Shadow of Intent, where Johnson, 'Vadam, and Ship Master 'Vadum rounded up the UNSC and Sangheili forces. Meanwhile, Master Chief [[Raid on High Charity|infiltrated]] ''High Charity'', successfully recovering Cortana and the Index and sabotaging the city's reactors. He escaped with the help of 'Vadam and fled onboard a crashed Pelican as the station exploded, ostensibly destroying the Gravemind.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref>
{{clear|left}}


===Finishing the fight===
===Finishing the fight===
{{Main|Raid on Installation 08}}
{{Main|Raid on Installation 08}}
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=We are aboard, humans...and Elites. Will you not come with us, brother?|Rtas 'Vadum|q2=No. This is our fight. And I ''will'' see it finished.|Thel 'Vadam|Thel 'Vadam wishing to finish the fight alongside John-117.<ref name="halo" />}}
[[File:Halo3Mythos.jpg|thumb|300px|John-117, Thel 'Vadam, Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, and 343 Guilty Spark on the surface of Installation 08.]]
With the Index secure, Thel 'Vadam ordered Rtas 'Vadum (who had safely evacuated humans and Sangheili back onboard the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'') to escape back through the slipspace portal to Earth while he, Spartan-117, and Sergeant Major Johnson moved in on the Control Room of the incomplete Halo. The ''Dawn'' was left behind for them to use to escape. The Gravemind, meanwhile, had begun to rebuild itself on the new ring, and sent [[Flood dispersal pod]]s to kill the three interlopers. The Chief, 'Vadum, and Johnson, with the assistance of local [[Sentinel]]s and 343 Guilty Spark, fought through the Flood and entered the Control Room. Spark explained that the new Halo would be ready to fire within days, to which the group, particularly Johnson, protested. When Guilty Spark informed the three that activating Halo now would destroy both the Ark and the installation, Johnson told him to "deal with it" and prepared to activate the ring.<ref name="halo"/>
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=We are aboard, humans...and Elites. Will you not come with us, brother?|Rtas 'Vadum|q2=No. This is our fight. And I ''will'' see it finished.|Thel 'Vadam|Thel 'Vadam wishing to finish the fight alongside John-117.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}}}
With the index secured, Thel 'Vadam ordered Rtas 'Vadum to take the human and Sangheili survivors to leave the Ark, using the slipspace portal to Earth. 'Vadam accompanied John-117 and Cortana to the incomplete Halo. Sergeant Major Johnson piloted the UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn'', which was left behind for their escape, to a safe location near the control room, then drove a Warthog to the control room. The Gravemind, meanwhile, had begun to rebuild itself on the new ring, and sent [[Flood dispersal pod]]s to stop the three interlopers. John-117, 'Vadam, and Johnson, with the assistance of local Sentinels, fought through the Flood and entered the Control Room. Inside, Spark explained that the new Halo would be ready to fire within days, to which the group, particularly Johnson, protested. When Guilty Spark informed the three that activating Halo now would destroy both the Ark and the installation, Johnson told him to "deal with it" and prepared to activate the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|halo}}
 
Unwilling to let "his" ring be destroyed again, 343 Guilty Spark attacked the trio. He mortally wounded Johnson, took down the Master Chief's shields, and blew 'Vadam out of the room. Spark cornered John-117, but with the help of Johnson and his [[M6 Spartan Laser|Spartan Laser]], John-117 defeated Guilty Spark and initiated the firing sequence of the new Halo. The incomplete Halo began ripping itself apart under the charging sequence. Fighting past the Flood and the Sentinels that have turned on them, John-117 and 'Vadam took Johnson's Warthog and rushed towards the ''Dawn'' as the incomplete Halo powered up and started breaking apart. The two drove their way through hordes of battling Flood and Sentinels. The two made it onto the ''Dawn''{{'}}s hangar bay, from where 'Vadam ran to the bridge while John-117 inserted Cortana into a holotank in the hangar bay, so she could activate the ''Dawn''{{'}}s engines. The ''Dawn'' left the ring just as it fired.{{Ref/Level|Id=halo|H3|[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]}} The firing sequence shook the ring into pieces and heavily damaged Installation 00. The Slipspace portal collapsed as the ''Dawn'' entered it, and while the forward half with 'Vadam made it to Earth, the rear half fell out of Slipspace at an unknown location, leaving John-117 and Cortana stranded in space.{{Ref/Reuse|epi}}
 
==Aftermath==
===The Flood===
[[File:H3 - I08 Detonates.png|300px|thumb|Installation 08 fires above the Ark, severely damaging everything on its surface.]]
On December 14, 2552, just three days after the battle and the ring's activation, 000 Tragic Solitude marshalled his Sentinels to construct a [[containment shield]] around the remains of ''High Charity's'' ruins, in fear that any few surviving Flood remnants would escape the crash site. Furthermore, he instructed his Sentinels to raze a perimeter, and the local [[refugia]] modified to ensure no nearby [[Sentience|sentient]] life survived, thus depriving the Flood of any host bodies in close proximity.{{Ref/Game|Id=idle hands ii|HW2|Phoenix Log#The Archive 2|Phoenix Log – "Idle Hands II"}} By [[2553#February|February 19, 2553]], the Flood remnants were contained within the rubble of ''High Charity'',{{Ref/Game|Id=uncomfortable i|HW2|Phoenix Log#Manifestation 2|Phoenix Log – "An Uncomfortable Truth I"}} with a [[battalion]] of Sentinels patrolling in the vicinity of the shield to prevent both the Flood from escaping and future "invaders" from releasing them.{{Ref/Reuse|idle hands ii}}


{{Quote|Send me out...with a bang.|[[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]]'s last words<ref name="halo"/>}}
However, their defenses were proven to be ineffective, with [[Banished]] forces, led by Jiralhanae [[Voridus]], [[Outbreak on Installation 00|releasing the Flood]] from the ruins of ''High Charity'' and providing them with hosts to infect during the [[Second Ark Conflict]] on [[2559#June|June 4, 2559]].{{Ref/Reuse|wrong}} This inadvertently caused a Flood outbreak onto the installation, leading to a desperate struggle between the Banished and the parasite. Ultimately, the Banished managed to destroy a [[Proto-Gravemind]] that was moments away from becoming a Gravemind and the Ark's Sentinels and the Banished managed to once again contain the Flood.{{Ref/Level|HW2|Manifestation}}


Unwilling to let "his" ring be destroyed again, 343 Guilty Spark went rampant, mortally wounded Johnson, took down Spartan-117's shields and blew the Arbiter out of the room. However, with the help of a dying Sergeant Johnson and his [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]], Spartan-117 managed to destroy Guilty Spark and start the firing sequence of the new Halo. He and the Arbiter then took Johnson's Warthog and rushed towards the ''Dawn'' as the incomplete Halo powered up and started breaking apart. The two drove their way through hordes of battling Flood and [[Sentinel]] drones, with the ring world literally falling to pieces around them. The two heroes made it onto the ''Dawn'', where the Arbiter was almost crushed by a Scorpion Tank due to the sudden acceleration of the ship. Agility and a pair of crates saved him. Spartan-117 then inserted Cortana into a holotank and she activated the ''Dawn's ''engines. The Arbiter made his way to the bridge of the ship and took her into Slipspace just as the new Halo fired, with Master Chief almost being crushed by the same tank which descended through the cargo hold and into space.<ref name="halo">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref> However, the Slipspace portal collapsed as the ''Dawn'' entered it, and while the forward half with the Arbiter made it to Earth, the rear half fell out of Slipspace at an unknown location, with Cortana and Spartan-117 floating into the dark abyss.
===The Covenant===
{{Main|Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|Covenant remnants}}
Despite the death of Truth and the vast majority of his forces, as well as the ravaging of the Ark, a [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|small sliver of the Jiralhanae loyalist forces]] remained inside the ''Anodyne Spirit'' which shielded them for the firing of [[Installation 08]]. The survivors guarded it for years using stocked supplies as well as Covenant-issued equipment{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Sacrifice}} and had access to numerous Covenant vehicles.{{Ref/Reuse|divinechapt2}}


The Battle of Installation 00 ended the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Months later, a monument was erected near the remains of [[Voi]] in remembrance of those who died in the line of duty, including Spartan-117 who was labeled [[Missing in action|MIA]]. The Arbiter, the Shipmaster and their brethren then departed Earth for [[Sanghelios]].<ref name="epi"/>
Although the Battle of Installation 00 marked the end of the Human-Covenant War, numerous new [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions from the Covenant]] were created in its wake. These factions ranged from pragmatic mercenaries to fanatical religious cultists.{{Ref/Comic|Halo: Escalation|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|5]]}} These factions would come into [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|conflict with each other]], with notable conflicts like [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|a war between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae]] following the Great Schism, and [[Blooding Years|numerous civil conflicts]] fought between the Swords of Sanghelios and various other Sangheili factions.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Locations - Sanghelios|D=20|M=10|Y=2021}}


==Aftermath==
===''UNSC Forward Unto Dawn''===
{{Quote|For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark, and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight, our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten.|[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] in the memorial ceremony<ref name="epi"/>}}
{{Main|Battle of Requiem}}
The Portal between Installation 00 and Earth collapsed while {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} was still inside it. As a result, the ship was cut in half; the front arriving at Earth and the back half being lost in space. Thel 'Vadam, sitting on the bridge at the time, was part of the front half but, without any engines, soon crashed into the ocean, from where he was rescued by UNSC forces on Earth. John-117 and Cortana were in the rear half, and though they survived the Portal’s collapse, they were stranded in space and declared MIA. John-117 went into cryo-sleep while Cortana activated a [[distress beacon]] indicating their status.{{Ref/Reuse|epi}} After drifting in an unknown region of space for over four years until [[2557#July|2557]],{{Ref/Level|H4|[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]}} the rear half of the ''Dawn'' was caught in the [[gravity well]] of a Forerunner [[shield world]] known as [[Requiem]],{{Ref/Level|Id=H4|H4|[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]}} where they would come into [[Battle of Requiem|conflict]] with [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]].{{Ref/Reuse|H4}}


===Installation 00 and the Flood===
==Legacy==
The firing of the Halo ring caused unprecedented damage to the Ark while sterilizing the installation of the Flood forces around and on it, including the Gravemind commanding the massing Flood amid the battle. Over two years later on [[2555|March 20, 2555]], during [[Operation: FAR STORM]], [[Luther Mann]] and [[N'tho 'Sraom]] arrived at the Citadel to stop the Halos from firing. Scattered around the basin were the remains of human and Covenant vehicles left over from the battle, including the empty husks of the two [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarabs]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 252''</ref>
===Voi Memorial===
{{Quote|For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark, and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight, our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten.|[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] in the memorial ceremony{{Ref/Reuse|epi}}}}
A [[Voi Memorial|monument]] was made near the town of Voi, not far from the portal structure. It read, "''In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her Colonies. [[2553|March 3, 2553]].''" On it were photos of UNSC personnel who went through the portal but did not return; John-117 was honored with an etching of the number "117". With the exception of Thel 'Vadam, the Sangheili were not present at the dedication service, instead remaining aboard ''Shadow of Intent''. After the ceremony, Lord Hood, despite being unable to forgive the Sangheili for what they did to humanity at the beginning of the war, shook 'Vadam's hand and thanked him for standing beside the Master Chief at the Ark. The Arbiter then joined [[Rtas 'Vadum]] on the bridge of ''Shadow of Intent'', both agreeing to return to [[Sanghelios]] to ensure its safety. Thel 'Vadam was given command of the carrier and all Sangheili onboard departed for their homeworld.{{Ref/Reuse|epi}}


===''Forward Unto Dawn''===
===Installation 00===
The Portal between [[Installation 00]] and Earth collapsed while {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} was still inside it. As a result, the ship was cut in half; the front arriving at Earth and the back half being lost in space. The Arbiter, sitting on the bridge at the time, was part of the front half but, without any engines, soon crashed into the ocean. However, John-117 and Cortana were in the rear half and were declared MIA by the UNSC. In reality, they had survived the Portal's collapse. John-117 went into cryo-sleep while Cortana activated an [[emergency locator beacon]] indicating their status.<ref name="epi"/> After drifting in an unknown region of space for over 4 years, the rear half of the ''Dawn'' was caught in the [[gravity well]] of a Forerunner [[shield world]] known as [[Requiem]].<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]''</ref>
{{Quote|no=three|1=Jerome-092|q1=Isabel, where did all this wreckage come from?|2=Isabel|q2=There was a battle here near the end of the war. The Master Chief saved us all.|3=Jerome-092|q3=It's good to know John's still out there.|4=[[Isabel]] and [[Jerome-092]] while fighting the [[Banished]] on Installation 00.{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}}}}
The wreckage from the Battle of Installation 00 remained on the surface of the Ark.{{Ref/Level|Id=HW2|HW2|A New Enemy}}{{Ref/Level|Id=wrong|HW2|What Could Go Wrong?}} Over two years later on [[2555|March 20, 2555]], during [[Operation: FAR STORM]], [[Luther Mann]] and [[N'tho 'Sraom]] arrived at the Citadel to stop the Halos from firing. Scattered around the basin were the remains of human and Covenant vehicles left over from the battle, including the empty husks of the two [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarabs]].{{Ref/Reuse|HitD252}} The firing of the Halo ring caused unprecedented damage to the Ark while sterilizing most of the Flood forces around and on the installation, including the Gravemind commanding the massing Flood amid the battle. Installation 00 was severely damaged,{{Ref/Reuse|epi}} and its monitor [[000 Tragic Solitude]], although inflicted with a state of [[rampancy]] from the ring's explosion, began repairing the installation.{{Ref/Book|Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo|Page=154-155}}


===Legacy===
In [[2555#March|March 2555]], [[000 Tragic Solitude]] sought revenge against humanity for damaging the Ark years prior. To do so, the ancilla placed the remaining Halos on a brief countdown to activation, prompting a joint UNSC-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] [[Operation: FAR STORM|mission]] to the installation to stop the rings from firing. After Solitude's plan was thwarted, the UNSC established research facilities on the Ark.{{Ref/Novel|HitD|Page=?}} The UNSC's research team was able to repair the Ark from the damage done in the battle by directing the Ark's [[Retriever Sentinel]]s to mine lifeless systems for the needed materials for repairs.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Log#The Signal 2|Phoenix Logs - "The Healing of Old Wounds"}}
{{Quote|no=three|1=Jerome-092|q1=Isabel, where did all this wreckage come from?|2=Isabel|q2=There was a battle here near the end of the war. The Master Chief saved us all.|3=Jerome-092|q3=It's good to know John's still out there.|4=[[Isabel]] and [[Jerome-092]] while fighting the [[Banished]] on Installation 00<ref name= "HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[A New Enemy]]''</ref>}}
A [[Voi Memorial|monument]] was made near the town of Voi, not far from the portal structure. It read, "''In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her Colonies. [[2553|March 3, 2553]].''" On it were photos of UNSC personnel who went through the portal but did not return; John-117 was honored with an etching of the number "117" and an erroneous [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]] badge taped next to the number. With the exception of Thel 'Vadam, the Sangheili were not present at the dedication service, instead remaining aboard ''Shadow of Intent''. After the ceremony, Lord Hood, despite being unable to forgive the Sangheili for what they did to humanity at the beginning of the war, shook 'Vadam's hand and thanked him for standing beside the Master Chief at the Ark. The Arbiter then departed to ''Shadow of Intent'', and joined [[Rtas 'Vadum]] on the bridge, both agreeing to return to [[Sanghelios]] to ensure its safety. Thel 'Vadam was given command of the carrier and all Sangheili onboard departed for their homeworld.<ref name="epi"/>


In [[2555#March|March 2555]], the Ark's monitor, [[000 Tragic Solitude]], sought revenge against humanity for damaging the Ark years prior. To do so, the ancilla placed the remaining Halos on a brief countdown to activation, prompting a joint UNSC-[[Swords of Sanghelios]] mission to the installation to stop the rings from firing. After Solitude's plan was thwarted, the UNSC established research facilities on the Ark.<ref name="HIND">'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page ???''</ref>
In [[2558#September|September 2558]], the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] attempted to unleash the [[Sharquoi]] on the planet [[Carrow]], having retrieved the Sharquoi control device, the ''[[vertex]]'', from the Ark during the Battle of Installation 00. Hekabe's plan was narrowly foiled by [[Gray Team]], [[Rojka 'Kasaan]] and elements of the [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]].{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}


The [[Banished]] arrived on the Ark in [[2558#November|November 2558]], killing UNSC personnel across the installation. In [[2559#March|March 2559]], the crew of the newly arrived {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} [[Second Ark Conflict|engaged]] the Banished with help from [[Isabel]], the logistics AI of [[Henry Lamb Research Facility|one of]] the UNSC research facilities.<ref name="HW2"/> Approximately six months after the initial hostilities with ''Spirit of Fire'', a force of Banished warriors lead by [[Decimus]] used a [[Banished Scarab|Scarab]] to blast a hole in the containment shield around ''High Charity'', as they sought to scavenge materials to aid their ongoing struggle against the UNSC. This inadvertently caused a Flood outbreak onto the installation, leading to a desperate struggle between the Banished and the parasite. After some time, the Banished managed to destroy a [[Proto-Gravemind]] that was moments away from becoming a Gravemind and the Ark's Sentinels once again quarantined the Flood.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', Awakening The Nightmare''</ref>
The [[Banished]] arrived on the fully-repaired Ark in [[2558#November|November 2558]], killing UNSC personnel across the installation. In [[2559#March|March 2559]], the crew of the newly arrived {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} [[Second Ark Conflict|engaged]] the Banished with help from [[Isabel]], the logistics AI of [[Henry Lamb Research Facility|one of the UNSC research facilities]].{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}} Over the course of the battle, they would engage not only the Banished, but the few [[Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant|surviving Covenant forces]] under the command of [[Prelate]] [[Dhas Bhasvod]] allied with forces from the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=divinechapt2|DW|Chapter=2}}


==Participants==
==Participants==
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Ships===
===UNSC===
'''UNSC'''
===Naval assets===
*{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Tactical grouping
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[Seventh Fleet]]
| rowspan="1" | {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
|{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
|Destroyed, split in half
|}


'''Sangheili'''
====Military personnel====
*''[[Shadow of Intent]]''
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
*''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[UNSC Navy]]
|[[Master Chief Petty Officer]]
|[[John-117]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived, listed as MIA
|-
|[[Commander]]
|[[Miranda Keyes]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|KIA
|-
|[[Lieutenant]]
|[[Hocus]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Unknown
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
|[[Sergeant Major]]
|[[Avery Johnson]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|KIA
|-
|[[Private First Class]]
|[[Chips Dubbo]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived
|-
|[[Gunnery Sergeant]]
|[[Marcus Stacker]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[UNSC Navy]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[S4/BLCE/1/7]]
**[[S4/BRT/1/7]]
***[[Alpha Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Alpha Company]]
***[[Charlie Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Charlie Company]]
**[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s
***[[105th Shock Troops Division|105th ODST Division]]
****[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
***[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST|11th MFR/ODST]]{{Ref/Reuse|Blind Faith}}
====Naval forces====
*[[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]
**[[Seventh Fleet]]
***[[Battle Group Victory]]


'''Covenant'''
===Artificial intelligence===
*''[[Twilight Compunction]]''
{{Main|Artificial intelligence}}
*''[[Foebane|Gathering of Praise]]''
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Cortana]]
|Survived, listed as MIA
|}


===Covenant separatists===
===Naval assets===
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Tactical grouping
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Fleet of Retribution]]
| {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}
|''[[Shadow of Intent]]''{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived
|-
| {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}
|''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''{{Ref/Novel|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=124}}
|Survived
|}
====Military personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="4" |Unknown
|[[Fleetmaster]]
|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived
|-
|[[Arbiter]]
|[[Thel 'Vadam]]{{Ref/Reuse|theark}}
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Special Operations Sangheili|Special Operations]]
|[[Usze 'Taham]]{{Ref/Site|Id=Coop|D=14|M=11|Y=2014|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack|Site=bungie.net|Page=The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3}}
|Survived
|-
|[[N'tho 'Sraom]]{{Ref/Reuse|Coop}}
|Survived
|}
===Units===
===Units===
'''UNSC'''
====Ground forces====
*[[UNSC Home Fleet]]
*[[Special Warfare Group|Fleet of Retribution Special Warfare Group]]
*[[105th Shock Troops Division|105th ODST Division]]
====Naval forces====
**[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]
*[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST]]
*[[S4/BLCE/1/7]]
*[[S4/BRT/1/7]]
**[[Alpha Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Alpha Company]]
**[[Charlie Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Charlie Company]]
 
'''Allied Sangheili'''
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]
 
**One [[battle group]]{{Ref/NoteReuse|composition}}
'''Covenant'''
*[[Truth's fleet]]
 
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


===Personnel===
===Covenant===
'''UNSC'''
===Naval assets===
*[[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
====Starships====
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]]
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
*[[Cortana]]
|-
*[[Lieutenant]] [[Hocus]]
! Tactical grouping
*[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]]
! Class
*[[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Reynolds]]
! Name
*[[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]]
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
*[[Private First Class]] [[Chips Dubbo]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Truth's fleet]]
| [[Forerunner]] [[keyship]]
|''[[Anodyne Spirit]]''
|Survived, assumed destroyed{{Ref/Reuse|Sacrifice}}
|-
| {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}
|''[[Foebane|Gathering of Praise]]''{{Ref/Reuse|loot5}}{{Ref/Reuse|envoy}}
|Escaped
|-
| [[Covenant frigate]]
|''[[Twilight Compunction]]''{{Ref/Reuse|loot5}}
|Destroyed
|}


'''Fleet of Retribution'''
====Military personnel====
*[[N'tho 'Sraom]]
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
|-
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]
! Branch
*[[Usze 'Taham]]
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="2" |Unknown
|[[Shipmaster]]
|[[Hekabe]]
|Escaped
|-
|[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]]
|[[Cethegus]]
|KIA
|}


'''Covenant'''
====Non-combatants====
*[[Prophet of Truth]]
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
*[[Cethegus]]
|-
*[[Hekabe]] and his family clan
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[High Council]]
|[[Hierarchs|Hierach]]
|[[Prophet of Truth]]
|KIA
|}


'''Forerunner'''
===Units===
*[[343 Guilty Spark]]
====Naval forces====
*[[Mendicant Bias]]
*[[Truth's fleet]]
*[[000 Tragic Solitude]]
**[[Voice of Maardoth]]


'''Flood'''
{{col-end}}
*[[Gravemind]]


{{col-end}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3 SpaceBattle Concept.jpg|Concept art of the [[space warfare|space battle]] above Installation 00.
File:H3 Ark SentinelsVsCovenant.png|Covenant infantry and Shade turrets attacking Aggressor Sentinels.
File:H3 CethegusCharging.png|John-117 fires at Cethegus at the Cartographer.
File:Cool odsts.jpg|ODSTs attacking a War Chieftain and an Anti-Air Wraith.
File:Anti-Anti-Air.jpg|An Anti-Air Wraith fires upon an AV-14 Hornet and a Pelican.
File:H3 Brute Pack.png|A War Chieftain leading his Jiralhanae pack in defense of a barrier tower.
File:H3 BarrierTowerBattle.png|John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and Sangheili fighting a Jiralhanae pack.
File:H3 TheCovenant CitadelDogfight.png|Hornets and Banshees fighting above the Citadel.
File:H3 Scorpion firing at a Scarab.jpg|A Scorpion charges at a Scarab at the Citadel.
File:H3-JohnFlamethrower.jpg|John-117 fighting a Flood combat form inside ''High Charity''.
File:3Way2-large.jpg|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam come across Sentinels fighting Flood combat forms on Installation 08.
File:H3 Installation 08 blowing up.jpg|John-117 and 'Vadam escape Installation 08 on a Warthog.
File:HaloLegends-Origins-ArkHalo.png|Installation 08 fires and crumbles over the Ark, severely damaging everything on its surface.
File:H3 - I08 Explodes.png|Installation 08 severely damaging the Ark.
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
Line 269: Line 461:
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{C|Flashback only}}
**''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Dominion Splinter]]'' {{C|Flashback only}}
**''[[Dominion Splinter]]'' {{C|Flashback only}}
Line 280: Line 473:
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Im}}
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Im}}
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Engagements in the Battle of Installation 00}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:UNSC Victories]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Installation 00}}
[[Category:UNSC victories]]
[[Category:Battle of Installation 00| ]]
[[Category:Engagements in the Battle of Installation 00| ]]

Latest revision as of 16:18, September 19, 2024

This article is about the final battle of the Human-Covenant War. For other battles on Installation 00, see Battle of Installation 00 (disambiguation).

Previous:

Concurrent:

Operation: SUNSPEAR

Next:

Raid on UNSC Infinity

Battle of Installation 00
D77H-TCI Pelicans descend from the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn as a large space battle over Installation 00 rages

Conflict:

Date:

December 11, 2552[2]

Location:

Installation 00, Intergalactic space[1]

Outcome:

Decisive UNSC/Sangheili victory

Details
Belligerents
Commanders

Gravemind

Strength

Fleet of Retribution/Seventh Fleet

Truth's fleet

Casualties

Moderate

  • Miranda Keyes[3]
  • Unknown amount of Sangheili and human ships
  • Numerous infantry losses
  • Many Sentinels

Near total

Near total

 

"Our fight is through the Portal, with the Brutes and the bastard Truth!"
Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum[10]

The Battle of Installation 00, also known as the Ark Conflict,[11] and designated by United Nations Space Command forces as Operation: BLIND FAITH,[12][13] was a large battle between the UNSC-Fleet of Retribution alliance, the Covenant, the Flood, and Forerunner Sentinels on December 11, 2552.[2][1][3][5] It was the final overarching battle of the Human-Covenant War and was the last stand of the Covenant,[5][14] making it one of the few major engagements in the entire war in which the Covenant were on the defensive.

After the collapse of the Covenant and the Battle of Installation 00, the Great Schism would continue as the Sangheili-Jiralhanae war and still ongoing as of 2559, after the Created uprising in late 2558.[15] In early 2559, the Ark would become the home of a new conflict as the Banished fought with the forces of the long-lost UNSC Spirit of Fire for control over the installation.[16]

Background[edit]

Battle of Installation 04 and 05[edit]

Main articles: Battle of Installation 04, Battle of Installation 05

During the Battle of Installation 04 in September 2552, the UNSC AI Cortana intercepted the Installation's Index as it was being inserted by John-117 into the Core in the control room. Having prevented the activation of the ring, she kept the index even after she had been removed from the Installation's control room. She had also spent over twelve hours inside the control room's computer, gaining an incredible amount of information about the Halo installations,[17][18] making her possibly the most knowledgeable regarding the operation of the Halo rings, the Forerunners, and the Ark - perhaps even more so than 343 Guilty Spark, who admitted he was quite ignorant of the Forerunner structures beyond Installation 04.[1]

In November 2552, another battle on the next discovered Halo ring, the Battle of Installation 05, included many events that would become major factors in the Battle of Installation 00. Cortana remained aboard the Covenant holy city, High Charity, as the Flood and its central consciousness, the Gravemind, took control of it.[19] From there, the Gravemind interrogated her, and she willingly answered its questions.[20] Meanwhile, the Covenant civil war, termed the Great Schism, begun in High Charity and the space around Installation 05.[21] The recently-appointed Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and his Sangheili allies, in an effort to prevent Chieftain of the Jiralhanae Tartarus from activating the ring, formed an alliance with humans on the surface of Installation 05. With the help of Thel 'Vadam, Commander Miranda Keyes aborted the activation of Installation 05, but the installation's failsafe protocol had set all of the Halo rings to standby, where they could be activated from the central location of the Installation 00.[22]

Battle for Earth[edit]

Main article: Battle for Earth

Shortly after escaping the Flood on High Charity, the High Prophet of Truth had arrived on Earth, along with the rest of many Covenant loyalist ground and naval survivors from the Battle of Installation 05,[22][23] where the excavation of a Forerunner structure under the planet surface was almost completed by the Jiralhanae-led support and excavation fleet sent by Truth earlier.[24] Eventually Truth's forces uncovered and activated the structure, opening a slipspace portal that would take them to Installation 00, the Forerunner structure from which Truth can fire all of the Halo installations at once. As he departed through the Portal, the Flood-captured ship Indulgence of Conviction arrived on Earth and crashed, though its arrival was followed by a portion of the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution of at least 16 warships, led by Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum.[25][26] From it, John-117 was able to extract a message from Cortana, alerting them that High Charity was heading for Earth and cryptically stating that the "solution" to the problem of the Flood lays beyond the portal.[10]

While Lord Terrence Hood was suspicious of Cortana's warning and objected to going through the portal, Commander Keyes, John-117, and Rtas 'Vadum all indicated their wish to proceed through the Portal. Unwilling to leave Earth defenseless against the incoming Flood threat, Lord Hood remained on Earth. He gave Miranda Keyes command of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn for the human commitment to the mission and the fleet of ships chased after the High Prophet of Truth.[10]

Battle[edit]

Space battle[edit]

The Sangheili Fleet of Retribution and the UNSC Battle Group Victory preparing to engage the Prophet of Truth's massive loyalist fleet as the enemy fleet move to attack the UNSC-Sangheili battle group.
Truth's Jiralhanae fleet confronts the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution

Sangheili Major: "Brute ships. Staggered line! Shipmaster, they outnumber us, three-to-one!"
Rtas 'Vadum: "Then it is an even fight... All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!"
— Rtas' Vadum and a Sangheili Major upon reaching the Ark.[1]

The Fleet of Retribution exited slipspace in the vicinity of the Ark on December 11, 2552, where they found the Prophet of Truth's fleet waiting for them. Despite being outnumbered three-to-one, Rtas 'Vadum declared that they were fairly matched, and the Sangheili ships and the Forward Unto Dawn promptly engaged Truth's fleet. In the ensuing space battle, the Jiralhanae and Sangheili cruisers blended into each other.[27] 'Vadum and Keyes coordinated their attacks against the Covenant fleet; whereas the Sangheili ships and the Dawn focused their attacks on the Covenant cruisers,[28] the Dawn's Longsword fighters engaged the Seraphs.[29][30] However, the Dawn was ill-equipped to fight against large opponents like CAS-class assault carriers and Ket-pattern battlecruisers. Thus, at the start of the battle, the Dawn deployed six D77H-TCI Pelicans to the surface to search for a landing zone for the Dawn and gather intelligence on Truth's location.[1]

The Forerunner Keyship, Anodyne Spirit, did not participate in the space battle.[1] Instead, it landed amidst a Forerunner city within a region of the Ark later referred to as Mahsko by the Banished.[31] A detachment of Covenant warriors were assigned to protect the vessel as Truth left to activate the Halo Array.[31]

Although the space battle went on concurrently with the opening skirmishes on the surface of the Ark, the Sangheili fleet would make short work of the Covenant fleet due to the Jiralhanae being outmatched by the Sangheili in their knowledge of naval warfare.[32] At least two Sangheili ships would survive the battle: the flagship CAS-class assault carrier Shadow of Intent and the Ket-pattern battlecruiser Pious Inquisitor.[1][33] On the Covenant side, the Varric-pattern heavy cruiser Gathering of Praise, led by Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe, abandoned the Covenant forces and landed on the installation surface in search of a device known as the vertex.[6]

Search for the Cartographer[edit]

Main article: Battle for the Cartographer (Installation 00)
A shot of a Scorpion on the Halo 3 level, The Ark.
UNSC ground forces battling in the desert.

The Pelicans from the Forward Unto Dawn arrived on the surface of the Ark, where they deployed Marines and UNSC vehicles to search for a landing zone for the Dawn. Kilo 023 and another Pelican deployed Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and a squad of ODSTs at a cliff edge, near a series of Forerunner structures built into the desert terrain. Nearby, a third Pelican, which carried a Warthog, two Mongooses, and Marines including Chips Dubbo, found a wide cliff which could serve as a landing zone for the Dawn, but the Pelican was shot down by Covenant anti-air defenses.[1]

With support from his accompanying ODST squad and his SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle, John-117 cleared out two Covenant camps of Jiralhanae, Unggoy, and Kig-Yar. At the second camp, they disrupted the Covenant's efforts to assemble a Mantis. Emerging on the other side of the Forerunner structures, they linked up with Dubbo and other survivors seeking refuge from the downed Pelican, where a lance of Covenant searched for survivors. Dubbo informed John-117 of the potential landing zone for the Dawn. Upon defeating the Covenant patrol at the Pelican, a pair of Prowlers arrived at the area, but their operators were eliminated by the UNSC. Salvaging both UNSC and Covenant vehicles, John-117 and his team advanced into the Covenant-occupied canyon. At this point, the Covenant have set up an attack force of infantry and Rizsheda-pattern Shades at a nearby Forerunner wall, which was defended by Aggressor Sentinels. John-117 and his team eliminated the Covenant attackers, and the Sentinels, recognizing the humans as Reclaimers, withheld their attacks. Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, onboard Kilo 023, spotted a structure that was similar to the Cartographer of Installation 04 on the other side of the wall, and Keyes set the structure as the objective.[1]

The landing zone was occupied by Ghosts, a Wraith, several Covenant watchtowers, Jiralhanae and Unggoy infantries, and two Anti-Air Wraiths that were firing into an aerial battle between Banshees and Hornets. John-117 and his team, having gathered more Marine survivors, cleared the landing zone, allowing the Forward Unto Dawn to disengage from the space battle and descend to the surface of the installation, landing safely. From the Dawn's hangar, the UNSC was reinforced with three Scorpion tanks, a Warthog and a unit of Marines led by Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Stacker. With 343 Guilty Spark having arrived to guide them, the mechanized force then fought their way back to the Forerunner wall, destroying numerous Covenant vehicles and ground troops. The Covenant had retaken the wall, bolstering their defenses with Wraiths, Choppers, and Shade turrets, but they failed to deter the UNSC's progress.[1]

After entering the wall and emerging from the other side, the UNSC encountered a Scarab. Although the Scarab quickly left the area, the canyon leading from the wall to the Cartographer was defended by a battalion-sized force of Covenant heavy armor, including Choppers, Ghosts, Wraiths, and infantry with heavy weapons, reinforced by a Phantom. Two of the three Warthogs, which emerged from the wall first, were quickly overwhelmed, and their operators were killed. A single M12G1 Gauss Warthog, taking a winding path to the side, was harassed by Ghosts and lost its gunner, though it regrouped with John-117, who had left the group earlier when they travel across the wall. The Spartan commandeered the vehicle and rejoined the Scorpion tanks. John-117 and Stacker then led the Scorpions against the Covenant armor. When the UNSC forces broke through the Covenant defenses, the Scarab returned to the area, with Choppers as its escorts. Stacker ordered Marines from Bravo unit to flank the Scarab to cover John-117's assault on the Scarab. They succeed, with John-117 personally taking down the Scarab. After the Scarab's destruction, the Shadow of Intent arrived at the Cartographer, and Rtas 'Vadum announced that his fleet had destroyed Truth's fleet.[1]

Scorpion Tanks battle a Scarab in the desert.

Encountering resistance from Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar on the way, John-117 climbed a series of ramps towards the entrance to the Cartographer. At the top, he met with Thel 'Vadam, who dismounted from Kilo 023 along with a pair of Marines. While Commander Keyes assembled an air support force to prevent Covenant reinforcements, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the sealed door at the entrance, allowing John-117 and Thel 'Vadam to advance inside. Their arrival caught most of its Covenant occupants off-guard, and they eventually arrived at an exterior platform hosting the Cartographer terminal. The Chief and 343 Guilty Spark accessed the terminal, learning the installation as the "Ark" and that Truth had already fortified himself at the core of the Ark, where he could remotely activate the entire Halo Array. Furthermore, Truth had activated a large barrier around the entire core to ward off the attacking forces.[1]

After learning of Truth's location, they were attacked by a Phantom, one of the many aircrafts from the Covenant's aerial attack on the Cartographer. Thel 'Vadam drew the Phantom's fire, allowing the Chief to escort Spark clear. 'Vadam then hijacked a Banshee and joined Keyes' air support to repel the Covenant attack. Notified by Dubbo, John-117 was instructed to descend to a platform underneath the Cartographer for extraction. The Spartan fought his way down, defeating a War Chieftain, his Bodyguards, and a group of camouflaged Jiralhanae Stalkers along the way.[1] At the platform underneath the Cartographer terminal, Jiralhanae Chieftain Cethegus regrouped with the Jumpers from his pack. Cethegus and the members of his pack were charged with halting the UNSC-Sangheili progress. Believing he would ascend to the title of Chieftain of the Jiralhanae for killing the Spartan, the ambitious Chieftain challenged John-117 to a duel.[34] Despite being outnumbered, John-117 defeated Cethegus' pack as well as two Kig-Yar marksmen. Meanwhile, the Hornets under Keyes' command had destroyed the Banshee attack force, putting an end to the conflict at the Cartographer.[1]

Kilo 023 arrived to pick up John-117, but a massive swarm of Sentinels approached the Pelicans. Initially, the UNSC prepared to attack, but they stopped when 343 Guilty Spark asked them not to attack the Sentinels, stating that the Sentinels had a "priority task" of unknown nature. Instead of attacking, the Aggressors flew off into the distance, and the UNSC and Sangheili followed suit, making their way to the Installation 00 Citadel to stop the Prophet of Truth.[1]

Battle of the Citadel[edit]

Main article: Battle of the Citadel
A joint UNSC-separatist task force of D77H-TCI Pelicans and Ru'swum-pattern Phantoms prepare to attack at the opening of the level The Covenant.
UNSC and Sangheili forces spearhead their final assault on the High Prophet of Truth.

On the same day, December 11, 2552, the UNSC-Sangheili alliance arrived at vicinity of the core of Installation 00. AV-14 Hornets were sent in to contest for airspace around the barrier. An assault team, composed of five Pelican dropships and a pair of Sangheili Phantoms, began their attack on a trio of towers that, once disabled, would deactivate the barrier protecting the Citadel in which the Prophet of Truth was located. Two Pelicans, including Kilo 023 which carried John-117 and an ODST squad led by Gunnery Sergeant Stacker, would attack the Tower One. The Phantoms, which carried Thel 'Vadam and his Sangheili (including N'tho 'Sraom and Usze 'Taham),[35] would assault the middle tower. The other Pelicans, ferrying Sergeant Johnson and his squad, would disable the final tower. Kilo 023 deployed John-117, along with Stacker and his ODSTs, at a distance from the first tower after an Anti-Aircraft Wraith shot down the second Pelican carrying Marines and a Warthog. After John-117 defeated the War Chieftain, his entourage, and the Anti-Air Wraith, Commander Keyes' Pelican deployed a new Warthog and a Mongoose at the beachhead for the team. Meanwhile, the Shadow of Intent began a diversionary bombardment against the barrier, firing plasma torpedoes at the barrier shield.[3]

While John-117 and his team traveled to the first tower, 'Vadam and Johnson, along with their teams, touched down at the second and third towers, respectively. Although John-117 and 'Vadam succeed in disabling two of the three towers, Johnson was ambushed by enemy reinforcements, and lost contact with the UNSC soon after. The Jiralhanae captured Johnson, and took him to the Citadel. The UNSC-Sangheili forces launched a second assault on the third tower, with John-117 escorting the dropships in an AV-14 Hornet. They first destroyed Covenant Banshees and a Phantom, securing air control outside the barrier. The third tower was heavily defended by a pair of AA Wraiths, Shades, another standard Wraith, and a huge group of Jiralhanae led by War Chieftain. Destroying the Brute defenders outside the third tower, John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a team of five Sangheili proceeded inside, where they discovered the corpses of Johnson's team, except for Johnson. After the defending forces of Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e and Jiralhanae were eliminated, John-117 disabled the barrier tower, finally deactivating the barrier. The Shadow of Intent advanced towards the Citadel, but 'Vadum's attack was interrupted by the arrival of the Flood-infested High Charity, which arrived via slipspace. High Charity launched debris that crippled the carrier and its weapons systems, forcing the Shadow of Intent to retreat. It also launched Flood dispersal pods and began spreading Flood across the Ark. Keyes insisted that the Flood's arrival would only pressure Truth into activating the rings, and ordered the remaining ground forces to attack the Citadel.[3]

The massive final battle of the Human-Covenant War at the front of the Citadel.

During this time, the Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe decided to use the distraction from the Flood arrival to locate the vertex hidden on the Ark. The control device for the Sharquoi, the vertex would allow Hekabe to control the creatures. Though the Prophets had some Sharquoi themselves, they had lacked the vertex and so could not control them and never unleashed them. Hekabe intended to use the vertex and the Sharquoi to gain power for himself and so fled the Ark with his loyalists before the battle ended despite fighting on the side of the Covenant.[6]

Fighting through the Flood to exit the third tower, John-117 and the Sangheili regrouped with Gunnery Sergeant Stacker's Marines, now supported by a Scorpion, a Gauss Warthog, and a Mongoose. The humans and Sangheili fought through the cliffs to the area outside the Citadel, where the Covenant had set up lookout towers, Shade turrets, and ground vehicles. The Covenant attempted to reinforce their troops by a large amount of Banshees and Phantoms, but the UNSC air forces counterattacked with Hornets and Pelican gunships. The ground forces led by John-117 punched through the remaining Covenant armor on the mountainside. With the UNSC's arrival imminent, the Covenant deployed two final Scarabs, each commanded by a Jiralhanae War Chieftain, at the entrance to the Citadel, further supported by Prowlers, Ghosts, and Banshees. However, their efforts were in vain, and, with the Scarabs destroyed by John-117, any remaining Covenant stragglers were soon moped up by the UNSC.[3]

While the Flood began climbing up the Citadel's far wall, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam led a small attack force, including N'tho 'Sraom, Usze 'Taham, as well as a few Marines and Sangheili, into the Citadel.[36] Inside, the Prophet of Truth was giving a speech attempting to reassure his remaining followers, declaring that he was about to activate the Halo Array by forcing Johnson into interacting the control panel. Realizing that they had very little time left, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam hastily made their way to the elevator that would carry them to Truth's level, but the elevator's immense height meant that they would not be able to intervene in time.[3]

Johnson attempted to goad the Chieftain that was holding him into killing him, but Truth, realizing this, stopped the Chieftain. With John-117 and the Arbiter too far away to stop Truth, Commander Keyes took her Pelican dropship and crashed it directly into the facility in an attempt to rescue Johnson, but she was killed by Truth himself when she hesitated to kill Johnson and herself to deny Truth a means to activate the rings. Johnson, struck by grief and shock, was easily made to activate the Array. However, Keyes' actions delayed Truth long enough for John-117 and the Arbiter to stop him. The Gravemind dispatched a swarm of Pod infectors and Flood combat forms, led by two Flood tank forms, to assist the UNSC-Sangheili force in preventing the Halos' activation. They were met by the Jiralhanae Chieftain and his Unggoy, Kig-Yar and Jiralhanae.[3]

Arbiter killing the High Prophet of Truth.

The defending Covenant forces quickly collapsed under the combined assault from the humans, Sangheili, and the Flood. With all Covenant in the Citadel eliminated, John-117 and 'Vadam reached the final room where they found Johnson cradling the dead body of Commander Miranda Keyes. 'Vadam confronted the Prophet of Truth, who was already partially infected by the Flood. 'Vadam allowed the Prophet to live long enough to see John-117 deactivate the rings, and 'Vadam personally killed Truth. With the Halo threat eliminated, the Gravemind betrayed the humans and the Sangheili, sending a large group of Flood combat forms and carrier forms after John-117 and Thel 'Vadam. The two attempted to escape on Keyes' Pelican, now piloted by Johnson, but they were knocked off by one of Gravemind's tentacles. With Johnson's Pelican spiraling out of the control, Johnson instructed the two to return to the elevator.[3]

With the assistance of Aggressor Sentinels, the pair fought their way back to the elevator, which had been disabled. Without another choice, the two dropped down a small shaft in the room. At the bottom, John-117 followed flickers of Cortana to a control panel, and, upon its activation, they found Installation 08 departing from the Ark's Foundry. Realizing this was Cortana's "solution" for the Flood, John-117 decided he needed to activate the ring at the Ark's isolated location, where the pulse would not destroy the sentient life in the Milky Way galaxy. 343 Guilty Spark concurred, that a tactical pulse would eliminate the Flood infestation on the Ark, and made his way to the ring to oversee the final preparations. However, this new Halo lacked an activation index. The only way they could get another index was to rescue Cortana from High Charity, since she still possessed the index from the original Installation 04.[3]

Master Chief's raid on High Charity[edit]

Main article: Raid on High Charity

While Johnson, 'Vadam, and 'Vadum rounded up the UNSC and Sangheili survivors from the battle, John-117 took a Banshee and infiltrated the Flood-infested High Charity. The Spartan fought through swarms of Flood and successfully recovered Cortana, who indeed still held the activation index from Installation 04. Under Cortana's guidance, John-117 sabotaged the city's reactors, causing a series of explosions that crippled the Gravemind and destroyed High Charity. 'Vadam arrived shortly after, and the trio fled onboard a crashed Pelican.[4]

Finishing the fight[edit]

Main article: Raid on Installation 08
Thel 'Vadam, John-117, and Avery Johnson on Installation 08.
John-117, Thel 'Vadam, Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, and 343 Guilty Spark on the surface of Installation 08.

Rtas 'Vadum: "We are aboard, humans...and Elites. Will you not come with us, brother?"
Thel 'Vadam: "No. This is our fight. And I will see it finished."
— Thel 'Vadam wishing to finish the fight alongside John-117.[5]

With the index secured, Thel 'Vadam ordered Rtas 'Vadum to take the human and Sangheili survivors to leave the Ark, using the slipspace portal to Earth. 'Vadam accompanied John-117 and Cortana to the incomplete Halo. Sergeant Major Johnson piloted the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, which was left behind for their escape, to a safe location near the control room, then drove a Warthog to the control room. The Gravemind, meanwhile, had begun to rebuild itself on the new ring, and sent Flood dispersal pods to stop the three interlopers. John-117, 'Vadam, and Johnson, with the assistance of local Sentinels, fought through the Flood and entered the Control Room. Inside, Spark explained that the new Halo would be ready to fire within days, to which the group, particularly Johnson, protested. When Guilty Spark informed the three that activating Halo now would destroy both the Ark and the installation, Johnson told him to "deal with it" and prepared to activate the ring.[5]

Unwilling to let "his" ring be destroyed again, 343 Guilty Spark attacked the trio. He mortally wounded Johnson, took down the Master Chief's shields, and blew 'Vadam out of the room. Spark cornered John-117, but with the help of Johnson and his Spartan Laser, John-117 defeated Guilty Spark and initiated the firing sequence of the new Halo. The incomplete Halo began ripping itself apart under the charging sequence. Fighting past the Flood and the Sentinels that have turned on them, John-117 and 'Vadam took Johnson's Warthog and rushed towards the Dawn as the incomplete Halo powered up and started breaking apart. The two drove their way through hordes of battling Flood and Sentinels. The two made it onto the Dawn's hangar bay, from where 'Vadam ran to the bridge while John-117 inserted Cortana into a holotank in the hangar bay, so she could activate the Dawn's engines. The Dawn left the ring just as it fired.[5] The firing sequence shook the ring into pieces and heavily damaged Installation 00. The Slipspace portal collapsed as the Dawn entered it, and while the forward half with 'Vadam made it to Earth, the rear half fell out of Slipspace at an unknown location, leaving John-117 and Cortana stranded in space.[14]

Aftermath[edit]

The Flood[edit]

Installation 08 activates above the Ark
Installation 08 fires above the Ark, severely damaging everything on its surface.

On December 14, 2552, just three days after the battle and the ring's activation, 000 Tragic Solitude marshalled his Sentinels to construct a containment shield around the remains of High Charity's ruins, in fear that any few surviving Flood remnants would escape the crash site. Furthermore, he instructed his Sentinels to raze a perimeter, and the local refugia modified to ensure no nearby sentient life survived, thus depriving the Flood of any host bodies in close proximity.[37] By February 19, 2553, the Flood remnants were contained within the rubble of High Charity,[38] with a battalion of Sentinels patrolling in the vicinity of the shield to prevent both the Flood from escaping and future "invaders" from releasing them.[37]

However, their defenses were proven to be ineffective, with Banished forces, led by Jiralhanae Voridus, releasing the Flood from the ruins of High Charity and providing them with hosts to infect during the Second Ark Conflict on June 4, 2559.[39] This inadvertently caused a Flood outbreak onto the installation, leading to a desperate struggle between the Banished and the parasite. Ultimately, the Banished managed to destroy a Proto-Gravemind that was moments away from becoming a Gravemind and the Ark's Sentinels and the Banished managed to once again contain the Flood.[40]

The Covenant[edit]

Main articles: Dhas Bhasvod's Covenant, Covenant remnants

Despite the death of Truth and the vast majority of his forces, as well as the ravaging of the Ark, a small sliver of the Jiralhanae loyalist forces remained inside the Anodyne Spirit which shielded them for the firing of Installation 08. The survivors guarded it for years using stocked supplies as well as Covenant-issued equipment[31] and had access to numerous Covenant vehicles.[41]

Although the Battle of Installation 00 marked the end of the Human-Covenant War, numerous new splinter factions from the Covenant were created in its wake. These factions ranged from pragmatic mercenaries to fanatical religious cultists.[42] These factions would come into conflict with each other, with notable conflicts like a war between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae following the Great Schism, and numerous civil conflicts fought between the Swords of Sanghelios and various other Sangheili factions.[43]

UNSC Forward Unto Dawn[edit]

Main article: Battle of Requiem

The Portal between Installation 00 and Earth collapsed while UNSC Forward Unto Dawn was still inside it. As a result, the ship was cut in half; the front arriving at Earth and the back half being lost in space. Thel 'Vadam, sitting on the bridge at the time, was part of the front half but, without any engines, soon crashed into the ocean, from where he was rescued by UNSC forces on Earth. John-117 and Cortana were in the rear half, and though they survived the Portal’s collapse, they were stranded in space and declared MIA. John-117 went into cryo-sleep while Cortana activated a distress beacon indicating their status.[14] After drifting in an unknown region of space for over four years until 2557,[44] the rear half of the Dawn was caught in the gravity well of a Forerunner shield world known as Requiem,[45] where they would come into conflict with Jul 'Mdama's Covenant.[45]

Legacy[edit]

Voi Memorial[edit]

"For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark, and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight, our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten."
Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood in the memorial ceremony[14]

A monument was made near the town of Voi, not far from the portal structure. It read, "In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her Colonies. March 3, 2553." On it were photos of UNSC personnel who went through the portal but did not return; John-117 was honored with an etching of the number "117". With the exception of Thel 'Vadam, the Sangheili were not present at the dedication service, instead remaining aboard Shadow of Intent. After the ceremony, Lord Hood, despite being unable to forgive the Sangheili for what they did to humanity at the beginning of the war, shook 'Vadam's hand and thanked him for standing beside the Master Chief at the Ark. The Arbiter then joined Rtas 'Vadum on the bridge of Shadow of Intent, both agreeing to return to Sanghelios to ensure its safety. Thel 'Vadam was given command of the carrier and all Sangheili onboard departed for their homeworld.[14]

Installation 00[edit]

Jerome-092: "Isabel, where did all this wreckage come from?"
Isabel: "There was a battle here near the end of the war. The Master Chief saved us all."
Jerome-092: "It's good to know John's still out there."
Isabel and Jerome-092 while fighting the Banished on Installation 00.[46]

The wreckage from the Battle of Installation 00 remained on the surface of the Ark.[46][39] Over two years later on March 20, 2555, during Operation: FAR STORM, Luther Mann and N'tho 'Sraom arrived at the Citadel to stop the Halos from firing. Scattered around the basin were the remains of human and Covenant vehicles left over from the battle, including the empty husks of the two Scarabs.[36] The firing of the Halo ring caused unprecedented damage to the Ark while sterilizing most of the Flood forces around and on the installation, including the Gravemind commanding the massing Flood amid the battle. Installation 00 was severely damaged,[14] and its monitor 000 Tragic Solitude, although inflicted with a state of rampancy from the ring's explosion, began repairing the installation.[47]

In March 2555, 000 Tragic Solitude sought revenge against humanity for damaging the Ark years prior. To do so, the ancilla placed the remaining Halos on a brief countdown to activation, prompting a joint UNSC-Swords of Sanghelios mission to the installation to stop the rings from firing. After Solitude's plan was thwarted, the UNSC established research facilities on the Ark.[48] The UNSC's research team was able to repair the Ark from the damage done in the battle by directing the Ark's Retriever Sentinels to mine lifeless systems for the needed materials for repairs.[49]

In September 2558, the Jiralhanae Chieftain Hekabe attempted to unleash the Sharquoi on the planet Carrow, having retrieved the Sharquoi control device, the vertex, from the Ark during the Battle of Installation 00. Hekabe's plan was narrowly foiled by Gray Team, Rojka 'Kasaan and elements of the Surakan Militia Volunteers.[6]

The Banished arrived on the fully-repaired Ark in November 2558, killing UNSC personnel across the installation. In March 2559, the crew of the newly arrived UNSC Spirit of Fire engaged the Banished with help from Isabel, the logistics AI of one of the UNSC research facilities.[46] Over the course of the battle, they would engage not only the Banished, but the few surviving Covenant forces under the command of Prelate Dhas Bhasvod allied with forces from the Keepers of the One Freedom.[41]

Participants[edit]

UNSC[edit]

Naval assets[edit]

Starships[edit]

Tactical grouping Class Name Status
Seventh Fleet Charon-class light frigate UNSC Forward Unto Dawn Destroyed, split in half

Military personnel[edit]

Branch Rank Name Status
UNSC Navy Master Chief Petty Officer John-117[1] Survived, listed as MIA
Commander Miranda Keyes[1] KIA
Lieutenant Hocus[1] Unknown
UNSC Marine Corps Sergeant Major Avery Johnson[1] KIA
Private First Class Chips Dubbo[1] Survived
Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Stacker[1] Survived

Units[edit]

Ground forces[edit]

Naval forces[edit]

Artificial intelligence[edit]

Main article: Artificial intelligence
Name Status
Cortana Survived, listed as MIA

Covenant separatists[edit]

Naval assets[edit]

Starships[edit]

Tactical grouping Class Name Status
Fleet of Retribution CAS-class assault carrier Shadow of Intent[1] Survived
Ket-pattern battlecruiser Pious Inquisitor[50] Survived

Military personnel[edit]

Branch Rank Name Status
Unknown Fleetmaster Rtas 'Vadum[1] Survived
Arbiter Thel 'Vadam[1] Survived
Special Operations Usze 'Taham[51] Survived
N'tho 'Sraom[51] Survived

Units[edit]

Ground forces[edit]

Naval forces[edit]

Covenant[edit]

Naval assets[edit]

Starships[edit]

Tactical grouping Class Name Status
Truth's fleet Forerunner keyship Anodyne Spirit Survived, assumed destroyed[31]
Varric-pattern heavy cruiser Gathering of Praise[7][6] Escaped
Covenant frigate Twilight Compunction[7] Destroyed

Military personnel[edit]

Branch Rank Name Status
Unknown Shipmaster Hekabe Escaped
Chieftain Cethegus KIA

Non-combatants[edit]

Branch Rank Name Status
High Council Hierach Prophet of Truth KIA

Units[edit]

Naval forces[edit]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c See Truth's fleet's Notes section regarding the size of Truth's fleet and the joint UNSC-Sangheili combined fleet.
  2. ^ a b See here.
  3. ^ The Charon-class light cruiser UNSC Aegis Fate can be seen in the skybox of the Halo 3 map Sandtrap, which is confirmed to be set on Installation 00 (Bungie's Sandtrap postmortem states that the Sandtrap takes place on "Waypoint," which was the in-development name for Installation 00). However, it is unknown if the map is set during the Battle of Installation 00 or at some later date following the UNSC's return to the installation in 2555. As such, it cannot be stated with reasonable certainty that the Aegis Fate was present for the battle. Additionally, while it is possible that other Charon-class light frigates from Battle Group Victory accompanied the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn to Installation 00, the Forward Unto Dawn is the only UNSC vessel depicted or described to have joined the Fleet of Retribution for the journey and ensuing battle.
  4. ^ Although present during the Battle of Installation 00, it did not participate in the space battle over Installation 00 as it landed in "Mahsko," a region of the Ark.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  2. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Hero-Fortitude (Retrieved on May 9, 2012) [archive]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Halo 3, campaign level The Covenant
  4. ^ a b c d Halo 3, campaign level Cortana
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Halo 3, campaign level Halo
  6. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Envoy
  7. ^ a b c d Halo Legendary Crate - Data Drop #5: Apollo Leader To CDR S. Palmer
  8. ^ Halo Wars 2, multiplayer map Ashes
  9. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs: Ashes
  10. ^ a b c Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  11. ^ Halo: Warfleet, page 48
  12. ^ a b Enc09, page 57
  13. ^ Enc11, page 29
  14. ^ a b c d e f Halo 3, campaign level Epilogue
  15. ^ Halo: Evolutions - The Return
  16. ^ Halo Wars 2
  17. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Assault on the Control Room
  18. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Two Betrayals
  19. ^ Halo 2, campaign level High Charity
  20. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Human Weakness
  21. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Gravemind
  22. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level The Great Journey
  23. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest: "The Prophet of Truth's ships breached the Lunar perimeter. Smashed what was left of the Home Fleet." - Miranda Keyes
  24. ^ Halo Waypoint - Ten Twenty
  25. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Storm
  26. ^ Halo 3, multiplayer map Heretic
  27. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark: "Their cruisers mixed with ours! Watch your fire!" - Jiralhanae Commander
  28. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark: "Let the Elites handle those cruisers!" - Miranda Keyes
  29. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark: "Stay away from those cruisers!" - Rtas 'Vadum
  30. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark: "Understood. Engage those Seraphs!" - Miranda Keyes
  31. ^ a b c d Halo: Shadows of Reach: Adjunct - Sacrifice
  32. ^ Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo, page 122
  33. ^ Halo: The Thursday War, ?
  34. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Brute Force (Retrieved on Oct 11, 2021) [archive]
  35. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, ?
  36. ^ a b Halo: Hunters in the Dark, page 252
  37. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Log – "Idle Hands II"
  38. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Log – "An Uncomfortable Truth I"
  39. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, campaign level What Could Go Wrong?
  40. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Manifestation
  41. ^ a b Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 2
  42. ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 5
  43. ^ Halo Waypoint, Universe - Locations - Sanghelios (Retrieved on Oct 20, 2021) [archive]
  44. ^ Halo 4, campaign level Dawn
  45. ^ a b Halo 4, campaign level Requiem
  46. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2, campaign level A New Enemy
  47. ^ Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo, page 154-155
  48. ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, page ?
  49. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - "The Healing of Old Wounds"
  50. ^ EVG, page 124
  51. ^ a b bungie.net, The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3 (Retrieved on Nov 14, 2014) [archive]