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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{battle infobox
{{battle infobox
|name=Battle of the Containment Facility
|name=Outbreak at the Containment Facility
|prev=[[Assault on the Control Room]]
|prev=*[[Raid on the Truth and Reconciliation]]
|conc=[[Battle of Installation 04]]
|conc=*[[Battle of the Silent Cartographer]]
|next=[[Raids on the Truth and Reconciliation|Second raid on the ''Truth and Reconciliation'']]
*[[Raid on the Pillar of Autumn]]
|image=[[File:KeyesJohnsonCEA.png|300px]]
*[[Assault on the Control Room (conflict)|Assault on the Control Room]]
|next=*[[Raid on the Library]]
*[[Skirmish on Infinite Succor]]
|image=[[File:Anniversary, flood outbreak.jpg|300px]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=September 20 [[2552]]
*[[Battle of Installation 04]]
|date=[[2552#September|September 20, 2552]]<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/thats-so-raven ''Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - That's So Raven'']</ref>
|place=[[Installation 04]], around a [[Flood containment facility]]
|place=[[Installation 04]], around a [[Flood containment facility]]
|result= Flood victory:<br/>Parasite escapes
|result= *'''Flood victory'''
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]<br/>
**Flood escapes and spreads
*[[Forerunner]] constructs.
**Heavy losses of Covenant forces
**Heavy losses and [[Paranoid Marine|significant psychological trauma]] for UNSC Marines<ref>[[Halo: Combat Evolved]] [[343 Guilty Spark (level)]] "Stay back! Stay back, you're not turning me into one of those [[flood combat form|things]]!"</ref>
|side1=
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[Forerunner constructs]]
|side2=*[[Covenant]]
|side2=*[[Covenant]]
|side3=*Uncoordinated [[Flood]]
|side3=*[[Flood]] {{C|[[Feral Stage|Uncoordinated feral stage]]}}
|commanders1=
|commanders1=
* [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]]
* [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]]
Line 28: Line 35:
**Pelican [[Echo 419]]
**Pelican [[Echo 419]]
**[[Fire Team Charlie]]
**[[Fire Team Charlie]]
**[[second Squad (Installation 04)|2nd Squad]]
**[[Second squad (Pillar of Autumn)|Second squad]]
*'''Forerunner constructs'''
*'''Forerunner constructs'''
**[[Sentinel]]s
**[[Sentinel]]s
Line 41: Line 48:
*[[Pod infector|Infection Forms]]
*[[Pod infector|Infection Forms]]
*[[Flood combat form|Combat Forms]]
*[[Flood combat form|Combat Forms]]
|casual1= V933<br/>most Marines<br/>some Sentinels
|casual1= *Pelican [[Victor 933]]
*Captain Keyes captured and infected
*Most Marines
*Some Sentinels
|casual2= All forces
|casual2= All forces
|casual3= Many Flood
|casual3= Many Flood
}}
}}


Several '''battles in the Containment Facility''' were the turning point of the UNSC and Covenant's involvement in the [[Battle of Installation 04]], where the two sides proved unprepared for a third enemy: the Flood.<ref name="343GS">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]] campaign level,'' [[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]</ref>
A massive '''[[Flood outbreak|outbreak]] at a Flood Containment Facility''' was the turning point of the UNSC and Covenant's involvement in the [[Battle of Installation 04]], where the two sides proved unprepared for a third enemy: the Flood.<ref name="343GS">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]], campaign level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''</ref>


==Prelude==
==Prelude==
During the ongoing campaign for control of [[Installation 04]], the [[Covenant]] had gained control of the containment facility and accidentally released the [[The Flood|Flood]]. While the upper levels were cleared, the lower levels were infested and some Sangheili commanders were lost in the process.<ref>There are no Sangheili in the level 343 Guilty Spark that haven't been converted into combat form. Fireteam Charlie noted only Sangheili ''corpses'' in the facility.</ref>
Following the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]] at the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], the [[Forerunner]]s kept samples of the Flood contagion in [[Flood containment facility|Flood containment facilities]] spread across their installations for study. During the ongoing campaign for control of [[Installation 04]] in [[2552#September|September 2552]], the [[Prophet of Stewardship]] dispatched secondary and tertiary artifact hunting groups to what was believed to be a Forerunner weapons cache. These teams encountered the Flood and fell silent, eventually leading the Prophet to send a fourth before [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] reprimanded the Prophet for misallocation of military resources.<ref name="adjunct">''[[Halo: The Flood]] (2010): ''[[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]'' - [[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit]]''</ref>


After being informed by a captured Sangheili that the facility held weapons, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]], along with [[Second Squad (Installation 04)|2nd Squad]] deployed to investigate the structure, expecting to find a weapons caché that could be of some use against the Covenant. They landed on the [[D77-TC Pelican ]] dropship ''[[Victor 933]]'' and proceeded to infiltrate the structure. They later met up with [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]]'s "[[Fire Team Charlie|Fireteam Charlie]]", who followed behind in their own Pelican.<ref name="343GS"/>
While the upper levels were cleared, the lower levels were infested and some Sangheili commanders were lost in the process.<ref group="Note" name="Elites">There are no Sangheili in the level 343 Guilty Spark that haven't been converted into combat forms. Fireteam Charlie noted only Sangheili ''corpses'' in the facility.</ref> During this time, a Sangheili warrior named [['Qualomee]] purported to deliver a cache of weapons to the Covenant troops in this facility,<ref group="Note" name="intel">None of the UNSC personnel assigned to investigate the facility noted the presence of any Covenant weapons cache, making it likely that 'Qualomee was simply lying to either stop the interrogation or trick the UNSC forces into being attacked by the Flood.</ref> though he was eventually captured by UNSC forces and interrogated for hours in [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]].<ref name="flood6">''[[Halo: The Flood]], chapter six''</ref>
 
Despite the success of the [[Raid on the Pillar of Autumn|Raid on the ''Pillar of Autumn'']] conducted by Lieutenant [[Melissa McKay]] bringing much-needed supplies to fortify Alpha Base, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] decided to personally lead a small force of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to investigate the supposed weapons cache. The marines were inserted by [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropship into the swamps surrounding the facility, and proceeded to make their way inside on foot.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood6}}


==The raid==
==The raid==
While exploring the facility, Keyes' team eventually came across a sealed door which had been locked down by the Covenant to prevent the escape of the Flood. With increased curiosity, Keyes ordered that the door be opened. Finding nothing sinister about the room initially, some of the men become nervous when they head a strange hissing sound followed by Second Squad - who were exploring a lower level - reporting that something "not Covenant" was "tearing" through them. They would soon encounter what that something was, as a number of [[Pod infector]]s broke through their containment cells and began to attack the team, attempting to convert them. Private [[Wallace Jenkins]] was latched onto by one of the infectors, and rapidly succumbed to the infection. The now-[[combat form]] was fired at by Johnson, but ultimately succeeded in knocking him out of the room. Johnson then proceeded to run away from his now-infected comrades, being fired at by shotguns and assault rifles before managing to escape across an energy bridge, just as the bridge was deactivated by one of the combat forms. Johnson threw some grenades behind him to destroy the pursuers, before finally escaping up the primary elevator out of the facility.<ref name="GN">''[[Halo Graphic Novel]], [[Breaking Quarantine]]''</ref>
Pelican ''[[Victor 933]]'' was the first Pelican dropship to arrive in the area, though crash-landed in the swamps.<ref group="Note" name="Victor">''Victor 933'' can be seen already crashed as Fireteam Charlie disembark from their Pelican in the cutscene for the level 343 Guilty Spark. This is likely a result of development in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', as the cutscenes render in-engine on the existing level. Nonetheless, this article treats this element as canon.</ref> Fireteam Charlie, led by Staff Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]], followed in their own Pelican soon after. Charlie exited the Pelican into the water of the swamp, with [[Wallace Jenkins]] located towards the rear of the formation. Charlie met with Captain Keyes and [[Second squad (Pillar of Autumn)|second squad]], though the two groups later split up and made their way through the swamp independently.<ref group="Note" name="Keyes">The depiction of the Marine insertion into the swamps is inconsistent between sources. The original ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' level shows Fire Team Charlie insert into the swamp and make their way to the facility independently of Keyes and second squad, who join Charlie inside the structure later on. Chapter six of ''Halo: The Flood'', however, depicts Keyes in the swamps with Johnson's squad, but Jenkins is later ordered to wait for the Captain and his squad to arrive. This article uses the interpretation that Keyes met up with Fireteam Charlie in the swamps in the time skipped by the in-game cutscene, but the two groups later split up and regrouped.</ref> [[Wallace Jenkins|Jenkins]] and [[Manuel Mendoza|Mendoza]] were ordered to wait by the facility entrance for the captain to arrive while the rest of Charlie entered the structure.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood6}}
 
[[File:KeyesJohnsonCEA.png|left|250px|thumb|Recovered footage from Jenkins' helmet cam, in the moment before the parasite attacked.]]
The captain would eventually arrive, with second squad - led by Corporal [[Lovik]] - ordered to guard by the entrance. Once inside, Keyes noted that the situation of the facility was entirely different from expected; where they had expected Covenant arms caches and guards was nothing. After exploring for ten minutes, Charlie would stumble across the body of a dead [[Special Operations Sangheili]], as well as many other dead Covenant troops. Unusually, the alien's chest cavity was ripped open in a manner not consistent with human weaponry. When Keyes arrived, Johnson would reaffirm that the dead aliens were not Fireteam Charlie's doing - they had been killed prior to the arrival of the UNSC. Another five minutes of exploring later, and the squad came across a large, locked metal door. Keyes ordered the door opened, despite [[Kappus]]' notation that the Covenant had worked "pretty hard" to lock down the door. Nonetheless, Kappus used a [[spoofer]] to override the door controls and allow the squad access to a large room.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood6}}
[[File:HTF_Logoless_CoverArt.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 fighting against a wave of pod infectors during the outbreak.]]
The team entered the room, and took up defensive positions to cover the captain. Discussion among the troops was interrupted by a transmission from second squad - the squad was being attacked by an unknown organism, not Covenant in origin. Johnson ordered Mendoza to head back to their position and investigate, but a door in the room was blown open before the marine could do so. From the opening came a swarm of Flood [[pod infector]]s, with the first one managing to strike Private [[Riley]] in the back, though the marine was able to grab hold of the creature and keep it at bay while Kappus assisted his friend. More and more Flood forms began pouring into the room, with the marines and captain beginning to fire at the horde. Jenkins, however, was unable to fire due to fear at seeing three or four creatures overwhelm a single human. Keyes was able to catch an infector that attempted to jump at his face, though was ultimately caught anyway by another form that managed to latch onto his shoulder. Jenkins turned to run at the sight of the captain being infected, but was caught by a pod infector in the back.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood6}}
 
The now-[[combat form]] was fired at by Johnson, but ultimately succeeded in knocking him out of the room. Johnson then proceeded to run away from his now-infected comrades, being fired at by shotguns and assault rifles before managing to escape across an energy bridge, just as the bridge was deactivated by one of the combat forms. Johnson threw some grenades behind him to destroy the pursuers, before finally escaping up the primary elevator out of the facility.<ref name="quarantine">''[[Halo Graphic Novel]], [[Breaking Quarantine]]''</ref>


Of the team, only three escaped conversion - Sergeant Johnson, who managed to leave the room in time; an [[Paranoid Marine|unnamed marine]] who "played dead", and Mendoza, whose corpse was abandoned by the parasite.
Of the team, only three escaped conversion - Sergeant Johnson, who managed to leave the room in time; an [[Paranoid Marine|unnamed marine]] who "played dead", and Mendoza, whose corpse was abandoned by the parasite.


Meanwhile, a crashed Spirit dropship in the swamps was commandeered by the Flood, who used it to escape the ringworld and attack the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]'s ships.
===Arrival of John-117===
[[File:HCEA-Concept-Chief-Flood.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John-117 investigates the facility.]]
Simultaneously to the raid, Spartan [[John-117]] had been fighting to gain a control of the ringworld's [[Control Room (Installation 04)|Control Room]]. Having accessed the facility with [[Cortana]], the AI warned John that Keyes' raid on the weapons cache was a mistake and urged the Spartan to find him before it was too late while she remained in the computer systems of the facility.<ref>''Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level [[Assault on the Control Room]]''</ref> The Spartan departed the Control Room alone, and was transported to the swamps of the containment facility by ''[[Echo 419]]'', landing near ''Victor 933''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crash site.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}
 
The Spartan proceeded to progress up the swamp, following the route earlier taken by Fireteam Charlie while being watched by the Flood, whose Marine IFF transponders flickered on and off the Spartan's radar. He found the wreckage of ''Victor 933'' and noted the craft had crashed during takeoff rather than landing, before later finding a similar wreck of a Covenant Spirit dropship.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood8}} The Spartan would shortly be attacked by the fleeing Spirit dropship ''[[Brilliant Gift]]'', who had been infected by the Flood.<ref name="succor">''Halo Graphic Novel, [[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref> The Spartan made his way up the swamp, finding only a handful of Kig-Yar and Unggoy and a [[Type-25 Shade|Shade]] turret. Encountering the entrance to the Forerunner structure, the Master Chief found some Covenant soldiers running away from human gunfire{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}} and several bodies gunned down by plasma fire.{{Ref/Reuse|flood8}} Entering the facility, the Spartan found many dead bodies and rooms of gore, but no life to speak of except one [[Paranoid Marine|Marine survivor]] armed with an [[M6D magnum]], who attempted to shoot John out of fear. The Spartan took the marine's weapon and attempted to calm him down, but the panick-stricken soldier was too far gone to be of any use.{{Ref/Reuse|flood8}}
 
Upon entering the containment room, John noticed the presence of ''thousands'' of empty shell casings on the floor, and [[Private]] [[Wallace A. Jenkins]]' helmet, which contained a built-in video camera. After seeing the gruesome events of the previous raid attempt through the eyes of Jenkins, the remaining Flood spewed out of nearby doors. The Spartan proceeded to retreat back through the facility, fighting off a tidal wave of flood forms including the now-infected Mendoza,{{Ref/Reuse|flood8}} but the Spartan was eventually able to make it out of the facility alive. As the elevator neared the surface, the Spartan once again came back into contact with ''Echo 419'', and several human survivors. John-117 proceeded with the surviving Marines, combating [[Pod infector|infection]] and [[Flood combat form|combat forms]] in the open, after being advised by [[Carol Rawley|Foe Hammer]] to take refuge at a tower out in the swamps.{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}
 
The survivors went through the swamp in search of a tower, which was their designated evac site for ''Echo 419''. After making it to the structure, the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] were aided by a mysterious ally - floating constructs known as [[Sentinel]]s. The Sentinels, commanded by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], defended the humans, eliminating any Flood in the vicinity - though all of Marines ultimately perished.{{Ref/Reuse|flood9}} The [[Monitor]] then teleported the Master Chief to it, referring to him as "[[Reclaimer]]", and then taking him away with him to the [[Library]].{{Ref/Reuse|343GS}}<ref name="flood9">''Halo: The Flood, chapter nine''</ref>
 
==Aftermath==
[[File:HCEA 343GulitySpark John117 Swamp.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 by the wreckage of ''Victor 933''.]]
During the initial raid on the facility, almost all of the UNSC and Covenant personnel involved were infected by the Flood. Captain Keyes was later taken to the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' to become a part of the growing [[Proto-Gravemind]] on the ship,<ref name="HCEKeyes">''Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level [[Keyes]]''</ref> where he was subject to intense mental interrogation by the Flood to mine him of all useful information.<ref name="flood8">''Halo: The Flood, chapter eight''</ref><ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]], [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]], Terminal Nine</ref> He was later finally killed by John-117.{{Ref/Reuse|HCEKeyes}} The infection form that controlled Wallace Jenkins, through a fluke of luck, was unable to convert the Marine fully, who was now forced to watch as his body was used to fight against his fellow humans in several battles before eventually being captured.
 
The Covenant [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] dropship ''[[Brilliant Gift]]'' left the site and crash-landed in the hangar bay of the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'', prompting a special operations group of Sangheili led by [[Rtas 'Vadumee]] to [[Skirmish on Infinite Succor|board the vessel]] to eradicate the infestation there.{{Ref/Reuse|succor}}
 
The results of the Flood outbreak in the facility would lead to the parasite manifesting itself across Installation 04, attacking UNSC forces at Alpha Base and the Covenant in space and around the ''Truth and Reconciliation''. The Sangheili [[Soha 'Rolamee]] was tasked with containing the parasite, but was ultimately executed by the Minor Prophet of Stewardship for his failure. Supreme Commander 'Vadamee would later order all ships to undergo an emergency quarantine response and return biometric scans of the crew, or face being fired upon by sterile warships.{{Ref/Reuse|adjunct}}


===Arrival of John-117===
==Participants==
[[File:HCEA-Concept-Chief-Flood.jpg|thumb|left|200px|John-117 in the facility.]]
===UNSC===
Simultaneously to the raid, Spartan [[John-117]] had been fighting to gain a control of the ringworld's [[Control Room (Installation 04)|Control Room]]. Having accessed the facility with [[Cortana]], the AI warned John that Keyes' raid on the weapons cache was a mistake and urged the Spartan to find him before it was too late while she remained in the computer systems of the facility.<ref>''Halo: Combat Evolved campaign level,'' [[Assault on the Control Room]]</ref> The Spartan departed the Control Room alone, and was transported to the swamps of the containment facility by ''[[Echo 419]]'', landing near ''Victor 933''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crash site.<ref name="343GS"/>
*[[UNSC Navy]]
**Captain [[Jacob Keyes]] {{C|Infected}}
**Master Chief Petty Officer [[John-117]] {{C|Survived}}
**''[[Victor 933]]'' {{C|Destroyed}}
**Unnamed Pelican dropship {{C|Unknown, presumed survived}}
**''[[Echo 419]]'' {{C|Survived}}
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[Second squad (Pillar of Autumn)|second squad]]
***Corporal [[Lovik]] {{C|KIA}}
***Private First Class [[Chips Dubbo]] {{C|Unknown}}<ref group="Note" name="dubbo">Chips Dubbo's canonical status is dubious, and as such his death or survival is of canonical uncertainty. See the page [[Chips Dubbo]] for more details.</ref>
**[[Fire Team Charlie]]
***Staff Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]] {{C|Survived}}
***Private [[Bisenti]] {{C|Infected}}
***Private [[Manuel Mendoza]] {{C|KIA}}
***Private [[Kappus]]{{C|Infected}}
***Private [[Riley]]{{C|Infected}}
***"[[Paranoid Marine]]" {{C|Unknown, presumed KIA or infected}}


The Spartan proceeded to progress up the swamp, following the route earlier taken by Fireteam Charlie while being watched by the Flood, whose Marine IFF transponders flickered on and off the Spartan's radar. Entering the facility, the Spartan found many dead bodies and rooms of gore, but no life to speak of except one Marine survivor armed with an [[M6D magnum]], who attempted to shoot John out of fear. After entering the containment room, he found [[Private]] [[Wallace A. Jenkins]]' helmet, which contained a built-in video camera. After seeing the gruesome events through the eyes of Jenkins, the remaining Flood spewed out of nearby doors. John-117 proceeded with the remainder of Second Squad, combating [[Pod infector|infection]] and [[Flood combat form|combat forms]] in the open, after being advised by [[Carol Rawley|Foe Hammer]] to take refuge at a tower out in the swamps.<ref name="343GS"/>
===Covenant===
*''[[Brilliant Gift]]'' {{C|Infected}}


The survivors went through the swamp in search of a tower, which was their designated evac site for ''Echo 419''. After making it to the structure, the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] were aided by a mysterious ally - floating constructs known as [[Sentinel]]s. The Sentinels, commanded by the [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], defended the humans, eliminating any Flood in the vicinity. The [[Monitor]] then teleported the Master Chief to it, referring to him as "[[Reclaimer]]", and then taking him away with him to the [[Library]].
===Forerunner===
*[[343 Guilty Spark]] {{C|Survived}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HCE_343GuiltySpark_SecondSquad.jpg|John-117 leads the Marine survivors to escape the Flood-infested swamp.
File:P12.jpg|Marine forces are overrun by the Flood.
File:P12.jpg|Marine forces are overrun by the Flood.
File:FloodJenkins2.png|Jenkins is reanimated by the Flood.
File:FloodJenkins2.png|Jenkins is reanimated by the Flood.
File:Hgn-johnson.jpg|Johnson fires his pistol at the infected Jenkins.
File:Hgn-johnson.jpg|Johnson fires his pistol at the infected Jenkins.
 
File:HGN_LastVoyage_BrilliantGift_Swamp.jpg|The ''Brilliant Gift'' escapes the swamps, firing at John-117.
File:ChiefHGN.jpg|John-117 in the swamps.
File:343GS lvl 02.jpg|John-117 exploring the facility.
File:HCEA-terminal-flood escape.jpg|Fireteam Charlie attempts to escape the Flood.
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 80: Line 137:
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
==Notes==
<references group="Note"/>


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


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Engagements in the Battle of Installation 04}}
[[Category:Engagements in the Battle of Installation 04]]
[[Category:Flood outbreaks]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, April 27, 2023

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Outbreak at the Containment Facility
A matte painting from the terminals depicting the Outbreak at the Containment Facility.

Conflict:

Human-Covenant War

Date:

September 20, 2552[1]

Location:

Installation 04, around a Flood containment facility

Outcome:

Details
Belligerents
Commanders

Unknown

None

Strength

Covenant

Flood

Casualties
  • Pelican Victor 933
  • Captain Keyes captured and infected
  • Most Marines
  • Some Sentinels

All forces

Many Flood

 

A massive outbreak at a Flood Containment Facility was the turning point of the UNSC and Covenant's involvement in the Battle of Installation 04, where the two sides proved unprepared for a third enemy: the Flood.[3]

Prelude[edit]

Following the activation of the Halo Array at the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, the Forerunners kept samples of the Flood contagion in Flood containment facilities spread across their installations for study. During the ongoing campaign for control of Installation 04 in September 2552, the Prophet of Stewardship dispatched secondary and tertiary artifact hunting groups to what was believed to be a Forerunner weapons cache. These teams encountered the Flood and fell silent, eventually leading the Prophet to send a fourth before Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee reprimanded the Prophet for misallocation of military resources.[4]

While the upper levels were cleared, the lower levels were infested and some Sangheili commanders were lost in the process.[Note 1] During this time, a Sangheili warrior named 'Qualomee purported to deliver a cache of weapons to the Covenant troops in this facility,[Note 2] though he was eventually captured by UNSC forces and interrogated for hours in Alpha Base.[5]

Despite the success of the Raid on the Pillar of Autumn conducted by Lieutenant Melissa McKay bringing much-needed supplies to fortify Alpha Base, Captain Jacob Keyes decided to personally lead a small force of Marines to investigate the supposed weapons cache. The marines were inserted by Pelican dropship into the swamps surrounding the facility, and proceeded to make their way inside on foot.[3][5]

The raid[edit]

Pelican Victor 933 was the first Pelican dropship to arrive in the area, though crash-landed in the swamps.[Note 3] Fireteam Charlie, led by Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson, followed in their own Pelican soon after. Charlie exited the Pelican into the water of the swamp, with Wallace Jenkins located towards the rear of the formation. Charlie met with Captain Keyes and second squad, though the two groups later split up and made their way through the swamp independently.[Note 4] Jenkins and Mendoza were ordered to wait by the facility entrance for the captain to arrive while the rest of Charlie entered the structure.[3][5]

Recovered footage from Jenkins' helmet cam, in the moment before the parasite attacked.

The captain would eventually arrive, with second squad - led by Corporal Lovik - ordered to guard by the entrance. Once inside, Keyes noted that the situation of the facility was entirely different from expected; where they had expected Covenant arms caches and guards was nothing. After exploring for ten minutes, Charlie would stumble across the body of a dead Special Operations Sangheili, as well as many other dead Covenant troops. Unusually, the alien's chest cavity was ripped open in a manner not consistent with human weaponry. When Keyes arrived, Johnson would reaffirm that the dead aliens were not Fireteam Charlie's doing - they had been killed prior to the arrival of the UNSC. Another five minutes of exploring later, and the squad came across a large, locked metal door. Keyes ordered the door opened, despite Kappus' notation that the Covenant had worked "pretty hard" to lock down the door. Nonetheless, Kappus used a spoofer to override the door controls and allow the squad access to a large room.[3][5]

Full cover art for the book.
John-117 fighting against a wave of pod infectors during the outbreak.

The team entered the room, and took up defensive positions to cover the captain. Discussion among the troops was interrupted by a transmission from second squad - the squad was being attacked by an unknown organism, not Covenant in origin. Johnson ordered Mendoza to head back to their position and investigate, but a door in the room was blown open before the marine could do so. From the opening came a swarm of Flood pod infectors, with the first one managing to strike Private Riley in the back, though the marine was able to grab hold of the creature and keep it at bay while Kappus assisted his friend. More and more Flood forms began pouring into the room, with the marines and captain beginning to fire at the horde. Jenkins, however, was unable to fire due to fear at seeing three or four creatures overwhelm a single human. Keyes was able to catch an infector that attempted to jump at his face, though was ultimately caught anyway by another form that managed to latch onto his shoulder. Jenkins turned to run at the sight of the captain being infected, but was caught by a pod infector in the back.[3][5]

The now-combat form was fired at by Johnson, but ultimately succeeded in knocking him out of the room. Johnson then proceeded to run away from his now-infected comrades, being fired at by shotguns and assault rifles before managing to escape across an energy bridge, just as the bridge was deactivated by one of the combat forms. Johnson threw some grenades behind him to destroy the pursuers, before finally escaping up the primary elevator out of the facility.[6]

Of the team, only three escaped conversion - Sergeant Johnson, who managed to leave the room in time; an unnamed marine who "played dead", and Mendoza, whose corpse was abandoned by the parasite.

Arrival of John-117[edit]

4K CEA artwork. Original png image at linked source. Original piece "Enter With Caution" found on Artstation.
John-117 investigates the facility.

Simultaneously to the raid, Spartan John-117 had been fighting to gain a control of the ringworld's Control Room. Having accessed the facility with Cortana, the AI warned John that Keyes' raid on the weapons cache was a mistake and urged the Spartan to find him before it was too late while she remained in the computer systems of the facility.[7] The Spartan departed the Control Room alone, and was transported to the swamps of the containment facility by Echo 419, landing near Victor 933's crash site.[3]

The Spartan proceeded to progress up the swamp, following the route earlier taken by Fireteam Charlie while being watched by the Flood, whose Marine IFF transponders flickered on and off the Spartan's radar. He found the wreckage of Victor 933 and noted the craft had crashed during takeoff rather than landing, before later finding a similar wreck of a Covenant Spirit dropship.[3][8] The Spartan would shortly be attacked by the fleeing Spirit dropship Brilliant Gift, who had been infected by the Flood.[9] The Spartan made his way up the swamp, finding only a handful of Kig-Yar and Unggoy and a Shade turret. Encountering the entrance to the Forerunner structure, the Master Chief found some Covenant soldiers running away from human gunfire[3] and several bodies gunned down by plasma fire.[8] Entering the facility, the Spartan found many dead bodies and rooms of gore, but no life to speak of except one Marine survivor armed with an M6D magnum, who attempted to shoot John out of fear. The Spartan took the marine's weapon and attempted to calm him down, but the panick-stricken soldier was too far gone to be of any use.[8]

Upon entering the containment room, John noticed the presence of thousands of empty shell casings on the floor, and Private Wallace A. Jenkins' helmet, which contained a built-in video camera. After seeing the gruesome events of the previous raid attempt through the eyes of Jenkins, the remaining Flood spewed out of nearby doors. The Spartan proceeded to retreat back through the facility, fighting off a tidal wave of flood forms including the now-infected Mendoza,[8] but the Spartan was eventually able to make it out of the facility alive. As the elevator neared the surface, the Spartan once again came back into contact with Echo 419, and several human survivors. John-117 proceeded with the surviving Marines, combating infection and combat forms in the open, after being advised by Foe Hammer to take refuge at a tower out in the swamps.[3]

The survivors went through the swamp in search of a tower, which was their designated evac site for Echo 419. After making it to the structure, the Marines were aided by a mysterious ally - floating constructs known as Sentinels. The Sentinels, commanded by the Monitor 343 Guilty Spark, defended the humans, eliminating any Flood in the vicinity - though all of Marines ultimately perished.[10] The Monitor then teleported the Master Chief to it, referring to him as "Reclaimer", and then taking him away with him to the Library.[3][10]

Aftermath[edit]

John 117 by the wreck of Victor 933 in the level 343 Guilty Spark.
John-117 by the wreckage of Victor 933.

During the initial raid on the facility, almost all of the UNSC and Covenant personnel involved were infected by the Flood. Captain Keyes was later taken to the Truth and Reconciliation to become a part of the growing Proto-Gravemind on the ship,[11] where he was subject to intense mental interrogation by the Flood to mine him of all useful information.[8][12] He was later finally killed by John-117.[11] The infection form that controlled Wallace Jenkins, through a fluke of luck, was unable to convert the Marine fully, who was now forced to watch as his body was used to fight against his fellow humans in several battles before eventually being captured.

The Covenant Spirit dropship Brilliant Gift left the site and crash-landed in the hangar bay of the Infinite Succor, prompting a special operations group of Sangheili led by Rtas 'Vadumee to board the vessel to eradicate the infestation there.[9]

The results of the Flood outbreak in the facility would lead to the parasite manifesting itself across Installation 04, attacking UNSC forces at Alpha Base and the Covenant in space and around the Truth and Reconciliation. The Sangheili Soha 'Rolamee was tasked with containing the parasite, but was ultimately executed by the Minor Prophet of Stewardship for his failure. Supreme Commander 'Vadamee would later order all ships to undergo an emergency quarantine response and return biometric scans of the crew, or face being fired upon by sterile warships.[4]

Participants[edit]

UNSC[edit]

Covenant[edit]

Forerunner[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • John-117 leads the Marine survivors to escape the Flood-infested swamp.

    John-117 leads the Marine survivors to escape the Flood-infested swamp.

  • Marine forces are overrun by the Flood.

    Marine forces are overrun by the Flood.

  • Jenkins is reanimated by the Flood.

    Jenkins is reanimated by the Flood.

  • Johnson fires his pistol at the infected Jenkins.

    Johnson fires his pistol at the infected Jenkins.

  • The Brilliant Gift escapes the swamps, firing at John-117.

    The Brilliant Gift escapes the swamps, firing at John-117.

  • John-117 in the swamps.

    John-117 in the swamps.

  • John-117 exploring the facility.

    John-117 exploring the facility.

  • Fireteam Charlie attempts to escape the Flood.

    Fireteam Charlie attempts to escape the Flood.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ There are no Sangheili in the level 343 Guilty Spark that haven't been converted into combat forms. Fireteam Charlie noted only Sangheili corpses in the facility.
  2. ^ None of the UNSC personnel assigned to investigate the facility noted the presence of any Covenant weapons cache, making it likely that 'Qualomee was simply lying to either stop the interrogation or trick the UNSC forces into being attacked by the Flood.
  3. ^ Victor 933 can be seen already crashed as Fireteam Charlie disembark from their Pelican in the cutscene for the level 343 Guilty Spark. This is likely a result of development in Halo: Combat Evolved, as the cutscenes render in-engine on the existing level. Nonetheless, this article treats this element as canon.
  4. ^ The depiction of the Marine insertion into the swamps is inconsistent between sources. The original Halo: Combat Evolved level shows Fire Team Charlie insert into the swamp and make their way to the facility independently of Keyes and second squad, who join Charlie inside the structure later on. Chapter six of Halo: The Flood, however, depicts Keyes in the swamps with Johnson's squad, but Jenkins is later ordered to wait for the Captain and his squad to arrive. This article uses the interpretation that Keyes met up with Fireteam Charlie in the swamps in the time skipped by the in-game cutscene, but the two groups later split up and regrouped.
  5. ^ Chips Dubbo's canonical status is dubious, and as such his death or survival is of canonical uncertainty. See the page Chips Dubbo for more details.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - That's So Raven
  2. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved 343 Guilty Spark (level) "Stay back! Stay back, you're not turning me into one of those things!"
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level 343 Guilty Spark
  4. ^ a b Halo: The Flood (2010): Adjunct - Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit
  5. ^ a b c d e Halo: The Flood, chapter six
  6. ^ Halo Graphic Novel, Breaking Quarantine
  7. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Assault on the Control Room
  8. ^ a b c d e Halo: The Flood, chapter eight
  9. ^ a b Halo Graphic Novel, The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
  10. ^ a b Halo: The Flood, chapter nine
  11. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level Keyes
  12. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminals, Terminal Nine

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