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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Stub}}
{{Battle infobox
{{battle
|name        = Fate of Maethrillian
|name        = Battle of the Capital
|image      =[[File:FoM.jpg|300px]]
|image      =
|prev        = Eventually the [[Battle of G617 g1]]
|prev        =  
|conc        =  
|conc        =  
|next        =  
|next        = [[Battle for Gyre 11]]
|conflict    = [[Forerunner-Flood War]]
|conflict    = [[Forerunner-Flood war]]
|date        = c. 100,000 B.C.E
|date        = Several years prior to [[97,445 BCE]]
|place      = The Capital
|place      = [[Maethrillian]]
|result      = Unknown
|result      = '''Decisive Flood victory'''
*One Halo installation destroyed, with another severely damaged
*10 Halo installations destroyed
*One Halo under Forerunner control escapes to [[Installation 00]]
*Forerunner leadership crippled
|side1      = [[Forerunner]] [[Ecumene]]
*Installation 07 successfully withdrawn by Mendicant Bias
|side2      = Rogue Forerunner constructs
*Omega Halo withdrawn to the [[Greater Ark]]
|commanders1 =*[[Didact]]
|side1      = *Forerunner [[ecumene]]
|side2      = *[[Flood]]
*[[Sentinel|Automated systems]] on the Halos
|commanders1 =*[[IsoDidact]]
*[[Ecumene Council]]
*[[Supreme Mantle Court]]
*[[Supreme Mantle Court]]
|commanders2 =[[05-032 Mendicant Bias]]
|commanders2 =*[[Primordial]]
*[[Mendicant Bias]]
|forces1    =*Capital defense fleet
|forces1    =*Capital defense fleet
*Unidentified fleet
*Reinforcement fleet
**3 fortress's
**3 [[Fortress-class vessel|fortresses]]
**5 cruisers
**5 [[Forerunner cruiser|cruisers]]
**Thousands of attack vessels
**Thousands of attack vessels
|forces2    =*5 Halo installations
|forces2    =*Five Halo installations
**Sentinels
**Sentinels
|casual1    = *Unknown number of ships
|casual1    = *Unknown number of ships
|casual2    = *1 Halo installation
|casual2    = *Ten Halo installations{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi4|Epi|4}}
*Unknown number of Sentinels
*Unknown number of [[Sentinel]]s
}}
}}


The '''Battle of the Capital''' was a major conflict that took place on and around the [[Forerunner]] [[Capital]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'''</ref>
The '''Fate of Maethrillian'''<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 28''</ref> was a major conflict fought in the final years of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] between the forces loyal to the [[Forerunner]]s' [[Ecumene Council]] and the [[Rampancy|rampant]] [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]] [[ancilla]] [[Mendicant Bias]], which had defected to the [[Flood]]. The conflict took place on and around the [[Capital]], the political center of the [[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]].
 
==Background==
Around [[97,495 BCE]], the {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}} [[Mendicant Bias]], in control of all Forerunner defenses including the twelve original [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], had been charged with conducting the first test of a Halo installation. The test was carried out using [[Installation 07]] in [[Charum Hakkor]]'s [[Charum Hakkor system|star system]]. Unexpectedly, the activation released the [[Primordial]], an archaic [[Gravemind]] left behind by the [[Precursor]]s. This creature was then taken on the ring for study; soon after, Mendicant Bias entered an extended discourse with the being by order of [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]]. After the test, Mendicant Bias and the ring disappeared and were not seen for decades.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 190-192''</ref>


==Battle==
==Battle==
At least 50 years prior to the battle, the [[Contender-class Artificial Intelligence]] [[Mendicant Bias]] had been assigned to a mission to locate and attack the [[Flood]] [[Gravemind]]. As part of this mission, he was given control of a Halo Installation and charged with conducting the first test of such a weapon. After the test, however, Bias disappeared with the ring and was not seen for decades.
Forty-three years later, Bias unexpectedly returned with the Halo to the Forerunner capital, having been [[Logic plague|subverted]] by the Gravemind and driven toward the destruction of the Forerunner race. He infiltrated the Capital's defense systems, deactivated all present [[ancilla]]s and security constructs, and held the [[Ecumene Council]] hostage by overriding their [[Forerunner personal armor|armor]] and rendering them immobile.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 300''</ref> Bias was temporarily deactivated by [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]], who was host to the memories of the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] and issued a verbal failsafe code. The Capital was released from Mendicant's control, and began activating its defensive systems.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 303''</ref>
 
Bias unexpectedly returned with the Halo to the Forerunner Capital after 43 years, turned rampant by the Gravemind and bent on the destruction of the Forerunner race. He infiltrated the Capital's defense systems, deactivated all Ancillas and security constructs, and held the Council hostage by overriding their armor and rendering them immobile.
 
Bias was temporarily deactivated by [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]], who was host to the memories of the [[Didact]] and issued a verbal failsafe code. The Capital was released from Mendicant's control, and began activating its defensive systems.


Despite losing control of the Capital, Bias could still control five of the twelve Halos in orbit around the capital. These rings immediatly began charging their main weapons and positioning themselves around the capital in preparation to attack.  
Despite losing control of the Capital, Mendicant Bias could still exert control over five of the twelve Halos in orbit around the megastructure, overriding its non-rampant fragments based on the rings. These installations immediately began charging their main weapons and positioning themselves around the Capital in preparation to attack.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 307'' </ref> Although any one of the five Halos could single-handedly have destroyed all Forerunner resistance, by charging all of them at once, Bias intended to ensure that at least one of the rings successfully fired if the rest were destroyed.


With the capital still recovering and the metarchy collapsed, Forerunner military responded to the threat with lethal force. All ships in the area began attack runs on the stolen Halos. The Monitors in charge of the Halo Installations, programmed to respond to any threat to their installations regardless of their source, engaged in a counter-attack. One of the Halos was destroyed due the heavy bombardment of the Forerunner fleet and the tidal forces of the Capital.
With the Capital still recovering and the Council [[metarchy]] collapsed, the Forerunner defense fleet responded to the threat with lethal force. All ships in the area began attack runs on the stolen Halos. The [[monitor]]s in charge of the Halo installations, programmed to respond to any threat to their installations regardless of their source, engaged in a counterattack by deploying the installations' [[sentinel]] contingents.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 313''</ref> Two of the Halos were destroyed due the heavy bombardment of the Forerunner fleet and the tidal forces of the Capital.


The seven Halos still under Forerunner control were ordered to travel through a nearby Slipspace portal and return to the Ark. One of them successfully made it through the portal intact, but was severely damaged by the stress of the transition. The second in line was destroyed upon the arrival of a third fortress ship, just as it began to enter the portal.  
The seven Halos still under Forerunner control were ordered to travel through a nearby [[slipspace portal]] and return to the [[greater Ark]]. One of them, [[Omega Halo]],<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 237''</ref> successfully made it through the portal intact, but was severely damaged by the stress of the transition.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 316''</ref> The second in line was destroyed upon the arrival of a third fortress ship, just as it began to enter the portal.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 320''</ref> Shortly after this, Installation 07 successfully fired, presumably wiping out all combatants in the area. Installation 07 subsequently transitioned out of the system.<ref name="fire">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 272''</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
The outcome of the battle is largely unknown, as little information exists on events following Bornstellar's escape. It is known that at least one of the five Halos under Mendicant Bias' control was destroyed, but it is unknown whether any of the remaining four were successfully fired. Of the seven Halos that attempted to escape, only one succesfully entered the portal. There it joined another array of installations under the control of the Librarian.
The outcome of the battle is largely unknown, as little information exists on events following Bornstellar's escape. It is known that at least one of the five Halos under Mendicant Bias' control was destroyed,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 314''</ref> and that at least one of the remaining rings—[[Installation 07]]—was fired. Of the seven Halos that attempted to escape, only one successfully entered the portal. There, it joined the newer array of six installations under the control of the [[Librarian]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 335''</ref>


First Councilor [[Splendid Dust of Ancient Suns]] was rescued from the Capital by [[Glory of a Far Dawn]], along with [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]]. Bornstellar, now in possession of the Didact's memories and personality, presumably went on to assume his role as the Forerunner military commander.
[[First Councilor]] and [[First Observer of the Court]] [[Splendid Dust of Ancient Suns]] was rescued from the capital by Warrior-Servant [[Glory of a Far Dawn]], along with Bornstellar.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 304'' </ref> Bornstellar, now in possession of the Didact's memories and personality, went on to assume his role as the supreme commander of the Forerunner military;<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 348''</ref> subsequently, he became known as the IsoDidact.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 20''</ref> Although Installation 07 managed to fire within range of the Capital,{{Ref/Reuse|fire}} the Council was reconstituted as the "New Council" shortly after the attack from survivors found deep within the Capital world, having survived the Halo's pulse there.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 18''</ref>


Mendicant Bias survived the battle intact, and would later launch an assault on the [[Maginot Sphere]].
The rampant Mendicant Bias survived the battle intact by retreating into a distant system aboard Installation 07. However, the Halo was later intercepted and seized by the IsoDidact's forces. The installation's Mendicant Bias fragment was captured and was subsequently forced to undergo a process to "correct" its rampancy.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 356''</ref> The AI was splintered into many of its components, which were then spread throughout the ecumene for study. However, this was not ultimately successful in stopping the rampant Mendicant Bias, as the Flood would soon overrun the sites where the scattered portions of the AI were being held and managed to rebuild and reactivate the AI.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 267-268''</ref>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' {{Mo}}


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


{{Forerunner-Flood War}}
{{Forerunner-Flood War}}
[[Category:Battle]]
[[Category:Battles]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maethrillian}}

Latest revision as of 02:50, February 28, 2024

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Fate of Maethrillian
An illustration of Maethrillian, the Halo Array, and a number of Aggressor Sentinels.

Conflict:

Forerunner-Flood war

Date:

Several years prior to 97,445 BCE

Location:

Maethrillian

Outcome:

Decisive Flood victory

  • 10 Halo installations destroyed
  • Forerunner leadership crippled
  • Installation 07 successfully withdrawn by Mendicant Bias
  • Omega Halo withdrawn to the Greater Ark
Details
Belligerents
Commanders
Strength
  • Capital defense fleet
  • Reinforcement fleet
  • Five Halo installations
    • Sentinels
Casualties
  • Unknown number of ships
 

The Fate of Maethrillian[2] was a major conflict fought in the final years of the Forerunner-Flood war between the forces loyal to the Forerunners' Ecumene Council and the rampant Contender-class ancilla Mendicant Bias, which had defected to the Flood. The conflict took place on and around the Capital, the political center of the Forerunner ecumene.

Background[edit]

Around 97,495 BCE, the Contender-class artificial intelligence Mendicant Bias, in control of all Forerunner defenses including the twelve original Halo rings, had been charged with conducting the first test of a Halo installation. The test was carried out using Installation 07 in Charum Hakkor's star system. Unexpectedly, the activation released the Primordial, an archaic Gravemind left behind by the Precursors. This creature was then taken on the ring for study; soon after, Mendicant Bias entered an extended discourse with the being by order of Master Builder Faber. After the test, Mendicant Bias and the ring disappeared and were not seen for decades.[3]

Battle[edit]

Forty-three years later, Bias unexpectedly returned with the Halo to the Forerunner capital, having been subverted by the Gravemind and driven toward the destruction of the Forerunner race. He infiltrated the Capital's defense systems, deactivated all present ancillas and security constructs, and held the Ecumene Council hostage by overriding their armor and rendering them immobile.[4] Bias was temporarily deactivated by Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting, who was host to the memories of the Didact and issued a verbal failsafe code. The Capital was released from Mendicant's control, and began activating its defensive systems.[5]

Despite losing control of the Capital, Mendicant Bias could still exert control over five of the twelve Halos in orbit around the megastructure, overriding its non-rampant fragments based on the rings. These installations immediately began charging their main weapons and positioning themselves around the Capital in preparation to attack.[6] Although any one of the five Halos could single-handedly have destroyed all Forerunner resistance, by charging all of them at once, Bias intended to ensure that at least one of the rings successfully fired if the rest were destroyed.

With the Capital still recovering and the Council metarchy collapsed, the Forerunner defense fleet responded to the threat with lethal force. All ships in the area began attack runs on the stolen Halos. The monitors in charge of the Halo installations, programmed to respond to any threat to their installations regardless of their source, engaged in a counterattack by deploying the installations' sentinel contingents.[7] Two of the Halos were destroyed due the heavy bombardment of the Forerunner fleet and the tidal forces of the Capital.

The seven Halos still under Forerunner control were ordered to travel through a nearby slipspace portal and return to the greater Ark. One of them, Omega Halo,[8] successfully made it through the portal intact, but was severely damaged by the stress of the transition.[9] The second in line was destroyed upon the arrival of a third fortress ship, just as it began to enter the portal.[10] Shortly after this, Installation 07 successfully fired, presumably wiping out all combatants in the area. Installation 07 subsequently transitioned out of the system.[11]

Aftermath[edit]

The outcome of the battle is largely unknown, as little information exists on events following Bornstellar's escape. It is known that at least one of the five Halos under Mendicant Bias' control was destroyed,[12] and that at least one of the remaining rings—Installation 07—was fired. Of the seven Halos that attempted to escape, only one successfully entered the portal. There, it joined the newer array of six installations under the control of the Librarian.[13]

First Councilor and First Observer of the Court Splendid Dust of Ancient Suns was rescued from the capital by Warrior-Servant Glory of a Far Dawn, along with Bornstellar.[14] Bornstellar, now in possession of the Didact's memories and personality, went on to assume his role as the supreme commander of the Forerunner military;[15] subsequently, he became known as the IsoDidact.[16] Although Installation 07 managed to fire within range of the Capital,[11] the Council was reconstituted as the "New Council" shortly after the attack from survivors found deep within the Capital world, having survived the Halo's pulse there.[17]

The rampant Mendicant Bias survived the battle intact by retreating into a distant system aboard Installation 07. However, the Halo was later intercepted and seized by the IsoDidact's forces. The installation's Mendicant Bias fragment was captured and was subsequently forced to undergo a process to "correct" its rampancy.[18] The AI was splintered into many of its components, which were then spread throughout the ecumene for study. However, this was not ultimately successful in stopping the rampant Mendicant Bias, as the Flood would soon overrun the sites where the scattered portions of the AI were being held and managed to rebuild and reactivate the AI.[19]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: Epitaph, chapter 4
  2. ^ Halo Mythos, page 28
  3. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 190-192
  4. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 300
  5. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 303
  6. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 307
  7. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 313
  8. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 237
  9. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 316
  10. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 320
  11. ^ a b Halo: Primordium, page 272
  12. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 314
  13. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 335
  14. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 304
  15. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 348
  16. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 20
  17. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 18
  18. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 356
  19. ^ Halo: Silentium, pages 267-268

v • d • e
 
Forerunner-Flood war ⇨
Battles
Major participants
Technology
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