Halo: Broken Circle

"WE'VE GOT A NEW CONTACT, UNKNOWN CLASSIFICATION!" This article may contain information based upon upcoming, unreleased, or recently-released content, and may not be fully complete. Additionally, the information may be subject to change if it is based on pre-release material. Please update it as soon as any relevant and accurate material is available.

Halo: Broken Circle
Attribution information
Author(s):	John Shirley
Publication information
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	November 4, 2014
Media type:	Print (paperback)
Pages:	352 pages
ISBN:	1476783594, 978-1476783598

Halo: Broken Circle is a Covenant-focused Halo novel written by John Shirley. It was released on November 4, 2014. The first half of the book takes place during the Covenant's infancy in 851 BCE. The latter half takes place during the Great Schism and is told from the perspective of a new character.

An online excerpt of the novel's first chapter was released on the Simon & Schuster website on October 26, 2014. Later, an online excerpt of the novel's prologue was released on Gallery Books's Facebook on October 28, 2014.

Plot synopsis

In a skirmish on the Planet of Blue and Red during the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War, High Lord Mken 'Scre'ah'ben commands forces on the planet. San'Shyuum scientists desperately attempt to uncover Forerunner artifacts before Sangheili assault teams outnumber them. During the battle, Mken takes notice to Ussa 'Xellus, a Sangheili field commander. As the San'Shyuum are forced to attack the Sangheili through orbital bombardment, Mken believes that he can use Ussa to create peace between the two species. Years later, during the Age of Reconciliation, three San'Shyuum—the Ministers of Relative Reconciliation and Kindly Subjection, and Mken who is now the Prophet of Inner Conviction and Minister of Relic Safety—meet in the Conference Deck of the Forerunner Dreadnought in the Chamber of Decision. They meet with the Sangheili Covenant Commissioners Viyo 'Griot and Loro 'Onkiyo. The five discuss the rebellion that is now being led by Ussa 'Xellus. The Sangheili assure the San'Shyuum that they will eliminate the insurgency, but the Prophet of Inner Conviction remarks that even if 'Xellus and his clan are killed, the idea will live on to inspire others.

Meanwhile, on the Sangheili mining colony of Creck, Ussa 'Xellus and his mate, Sooln, to recruit new members into their rebellion. When the two return to their vessel—Clan’s Blade—at a spaceport to leave the planet, they encounter ‘Crecka. ‘Crecka reveals that he wishes to join their rebellion. Despite Ussa's initial reluctance to work with the elderly Sangheili, ‘Crecka claims that years ago he had discovered Shield World 0673, a Forerunner world containing advanced technology that would be useful in Ussa's attempt at overthrowing the San'Shyuum. Eventually, the three Sangheili depart Creck and set course the the shield world. The Sangheili arrive at the shield world and enter its interior. Amazed at the shield world's ecosystem, they encounter the monitor of the installation, Enduring Bias. The monitor allows them to remain on the shield world, but demands to know their intents. Meanwhile, in the Nwari region located on Sanghelios' southern pole, the rest of the Xellus clan and its allies await Ussa's return. Tersa 'Gunok recalls 'Xellus warning the state of Xellus' residents to not trust the San'Shyuum. Shortly after, Covenant fighters attacked the state and forced Ussa to lead the survivors to Nwari. Ussa 'Xellus returns to their hideout and speaks with Ernicka the Scar-Maker. After identifying a Covenant spy within his group, Ussa and his allies prepare to leave Sanghelios for the shield world before the Covenant discovers them.

Appearances

Characters San'Shyuum GuJo'n (First appearance) J’nellin (First mentioned) Kucknoi (First appearance) Lod Mron (Mentioned only) Mken 'Scre'ah'ben (First appearance) Prophet of Truth (Mentioned only) Qurlom (First appearance) Steward (First appearance) Lilumna (First appearance) Burenn (First appearance) Mleer (First appearance) R'Noh Custo (First appearance) Vervum (First appearance) Prophet of Excellent Redolence (First appearance) Prophet of the Glorious Journey (First appearance) Prophet of Unity (First appearance) Cresanda (First appearance) Sangheili 'Crecka (First appearance) Ernicka the Scar-Maker (First appearance) Loro 'Onkiyo (First appearance) Muskem (First mentioned) N'oraq (First appearance) Rtas 'Vadum (Mentioned only) Sooln (First appearance) Tersa 'Gunok (First appearance) Thel 'Vadam (Mentioned only) Ussa 'Xellus (First appearance) Vertikus (First appearance) Vil 'Kthamee (First appearance) Viyo 'Griot (First appearance) Loquen (First appearance) Trok 'Tanghil (First appearance) Ziln 'Klel (First appearance) Salus 'Crolon (First appearance) 'Drem (First appearance) Gmezza (First appearance) Scorinn (First appearance) Lnur (First appearance) 'Kwari (First appearance) 'Tslelk (First appearance) Huragok Floats Near Ceiling (First appearance) Forerunner Enduring Bias (First appearance) Librarian (Mentioned only) Human John-117 (Mentioned only) Jiralhanae Tartarus (Mentioned only) Ilpdor Erb (First appearance) Species Forerunner (Mentioned only) Human (Mentioned only) Huragok Jiralhanae (Mentioned only) Kig-Yar (Mentioned only) Lekgolo (Mentioned only) Quillick (First mentioned) Rakscraja (First mentioned) 'sKelln (First appearance) San'Shyuum Sangheili Garfren (First appearance) Ilpdor (First appearance) Folasteed (First appearance) Helioskrill (Mentioned only) Organizations Covenant High Council Covenant Honor Guard Ministry of Relic Safety (First appearance) Ministry of Relative Reconciliation (First appearance) Ministry of Kindly Subjection (First appearance) Ministry of Anticipatory Security (First appearance) Covenant fleet Covenant military Council of City States (First mentioned) Reformists (Mentioned only) Stoics Locations Baelion system (First appearance) Creck (First appearance) Installation 00 (Mentioned only) Installation 04 (Mentioned only) Installation 05 (Mentioned only) Harvest (Mentioned only) San'Shyuum home system Janjur Qom Crellum (First appearance) Grotto of the Great Transition (First appearance) Reskolah (First appearance) Planet of Blue and Red (First appearance) Urs system Sanghelios Xellus (First appearance) Xellus keep (First appearance) Tarjak (First mentioned) Nwari (First appearance) Suban Qikost System of Miasmic Giants (First mentioned) Shield World 0673 (First appearance)

Events Conservation Measure (Mentioned only) San'Shyuum Schism (Mentioned only) Clan Battles of Sanghelios (First mentioned) San'Shyuum-Sangheili War (First appearance) Skirmish of the Planet of Blue and Red (First appearance) Writ of Union Human-Covenant War Battle of Installation 00 (Mentioned only) Great Schism Weapons Burnblade (First appearance) Sentinel beam Type-52 plasma launcher Type-25 plasma rifle Type-25 plasma pistol Vehicles Clan’s Blade (First appearance) High Charity High Council Chamber Keyship Forerunner Dreadnought Pledge of Holiness (First appearance) Vengeful Vitality‎ (First appearance) Technology Anti-gravity chair Antigravity belt Halo Array (Mentioned only) Luminary Monitor Aggressor Sentinel Shield world

Production note

The novel's cover is illustrated by 343 Industries senior concept artist John Wallin Liberto, who previously created promotional and concept artwork for Halo 4 and Halo: Initiation.