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Threshold: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
(I'm betting the Kholo universe article is coming out next week, given Grim's tease. Also, is it possible to get a better image of Threshold in Halo 5?)
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{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Planet
{{Planet infobox
|hidec=yes
|name=Threshold
|image=[[File:Threshold.png|250px]]
|image=[[File:Threshold.png|300px]]
|star, position=[[Soell system|Soell]], VII<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 195''</ref>
|star, position=[[Soell system|Soell]], VII<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/threshold '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Threshold'']</ref><ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 195''</ref>
|moon(s)= 12; including [[Basis]]
|moon(s)=Twelve, including [[Basis]]<ref name="universe"/>
|gravity=  
|diameter={{Convert|214604|km|mi|sigfig=7|sp=us}}<ref name="universe"/>
|diameter=214,604 km (133,348 mi)
|gravity=
|daylength=
|daylength=
|yearlength=
|yearlength=
|atmosphere=[[Hydrogen]], [[helium]], [[methane]]<ref name="universe"/>
|composition=;Gases:
|composition=;Gases:
[[Hydrogen]], [[helium]], [[methane]]<ref name="vis"/>
Hydrogen, helium, methane<ref name="vis"/>
;Liquids:
;Liquids:
[[Ammonia]], [[water]],<ref name="vis"/> [[ammonium hydrosulfide]], [[phosphorus]] compounds<ref name="atmo">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', page 79</ref>
[[Ammonia]], [[water]],<ref name="vis"/> [[ammonium hydrosulfide]], [[phosphorus]] compounds<ref name="atmo">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', page 79</ref>
|temperature=
|temperature=
|demonym=Thresholdian<ref name="universe"/>
|species=
|population=
|population=
|species=
|date of foundation=
|government=
|government=*[[Ecumene]]<ref name="ENC310">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 310'' (2011)</ref> {{C|formerly}}
*[[Covenant]]<ref name="ENC310"/> {{C|briefly}}
|technology tier=
|technology tier=
}}
}}
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==History==
==History==
===Prehistory===
===Prehistory===
Over 100,000 years ago, Threshold was a part of the sizeable and extensive [[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]]. Wishing to harvest the gas giant's rare and valuable gases, the Forerunners used Threshold as a mining colony.<ref name="ENC310">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 310'' (2011 edition)</ref> They built numerous automated gas mining complexes in the upper atmosphere of the planet, tethered to several band orbitals, used for harvesting the [[hydrogen]], [[helium]], and [[methane]] gas of the planet.<ref name="gasmine">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/threshold-gas-mine '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Threshold Gas Mine'']</ref>
Over 100,000 years ago, Threshold was a part of the sizeable and extensive [[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]]. Wishing to harvest the gas giant's rare and valuable gases, the Forerunners used Threshold as a mining colony.<ref name="ENC310"/> They built numerous automated gas mining complexes in the upper atmosphere of the planet, tethered to several band orbitals, used for harvesting the [[hydrogen]], [[helium]], and [[methane]] gas of the planet.<ref name="gasmine">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/threshold-gas-mine '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Threshold Gas Mine'']</ref>


Upon the discovery of the [[Flood]], the Forerunners refitted some of the gas mines to serve as a [[Flood research facility|Flood research facilities]]. These facilities proved only one thing: more extreme measures were needed to combat the Flood and to keep them from spreading. At the end of [[Forerunner-Flood war|their war]] against the Flood, the Forerunners chose Threshold as a staging point for one of the [[Halo Array|Halo]] superweapons: [[Installation 04]]. The Halo was placed on the L<sub>1</sub> [[Lagrange point]] between Threshold and [[Basis]] and was designed to destroy all [[sentience|sentient]] life in the galaxy, thereby halting the spread of the Flood, due to starvation.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref>
Upon the discovery of the [[Flood]], the Forerunners refitted some of the gas mines to serve as a [[Flood research facility|Flood research facilities]]. These facilities proved only one thing: more extreme measures were needed to combat the Flood and to keep them from spreading. At the end of [[Forerunner-Flood war|their war]] against the Flood, the Forerunners chose Threshold as a staging point for one of the [[Halo Array|Halo]] superweapons: [[Installation 04]]. The Halo was placed on the L<sub>1</sub> [[Lagrange point]] between Threshold and [[Basis]] and was designed to destroy all [[sentience|sentient]] life in the galaxy, thereby halting the spread of the Flood, due to starvation.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref>
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===Human-Covenant War===
===Human-Covenant War===
[[File:H2A Cutscene CovenantAtI04.png|thumb|250px|left|Threshold and Installation 04 are discovered by the [[Covenant]].]]
[[File:H2A Cutscene CovenantAtI04.png|thumb|250px|left|Threshold and Installation 04 are discovered by the [[Covenant]].]]
In [[2552]], the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] followed the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to Threshold, and, [[Battle of Installation 04|in a series of events]], Installation 04 was destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Maw]]''</ref> Many pieces of debris from Installation 04 were pulled into Threshold's gravity well, or its moon Basis, and destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Mona Lisa]]", ''page 232''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', multiplayer map ''[[Burial Mounds]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/halo-ring-fragment '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Alpha Shard'']</ref> In the [[skirmish over Threshold]] after the ring's destruction, [[Cortana]] was able to jump into [[slipspace]] with the Covenant {{Class|DDS|carrier}} ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' while in Threshold's atmosphere.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 114'' (2010 edition)</ref>
In [[2552]], the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] followed the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to Threshold, and, [[Battle of Installation 04|in a series of events]], Installation 04 was destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[The Maw]]''</ref> Many pieces of debris from Installation 04 were pulled into Threshold's gravity well, or its moon Basis, and destroyed.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Mona Lisa]]", ''page 232''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', multiplayer map ''[[Burial Mounds]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/halo-ring-fragment '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Alpha Shard'']</ref> In the [[skirmish over Threshold]] after the ring's destruction, [[Cortana]] was able to jump into [[slipspace]] with the Covenant {{Class|DDS|carrier}} ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' while in Threshold's atmosphere.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 114'' (2010)</ref>


During the battle, the Covenant dispatched an artifact retrieval group led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] to one of the gas mining platforms in Threshold's atmosphere.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 243''</ref> After Halo's destruction, the installation's monitor, [[343 Guilty Spark]], traveled to the gas mine and edified 'Refumee on the true nature of the Halos. Convinced that the [[Covenant religion]] was false, 'Refumee and his troops rebelled against the Prophets and were branded [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretics]] as a result.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 11]]''</ref> The newly-appointed [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, and a [[Covenant Special Operations]] contingent were dispatched to silence the heretics; at the conclusion of the [[Raid on the Threshold gas mine|resulting conflict]], the gas mine was dropped into Threshold's depths. ''[[High Charity]]'' and [[High Charity defense fleet|its fleet]] briefly visited Threshold as well, until they [[Slipstream space|jumped]] to [[Installation 05]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>
During the battle, the Covenant dispatched an artifact retrieval group led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] to one of the gas mining platforms in Threshold's atmosphere.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 243''</ref> After Halo's destruction, the installation's monitor, [[343 Guilty Spark]], traveled to the gas mine and edified 'Refumee on the true nature of the Halos. Convinced that the [[Covenant religion]] was false, 'Refumee and his troops rebelled against the Prophets and were branded [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretics]] as a result.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 11]]''</ref> The newly-appointed [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, and a [[Covenant Special Operations]] contingent were dispatched to silence the heretics; at the conclusion of the [[Raid on the Threshold gas mine|resulting conflict]], the gas mine was dropped into Threshold's depths. ''[[High Charity]]'' and [[High Charity defense fleet|its fleet]] briefly visited Threshold as well, until they [[Slipstream space|jumped]] to [[Installation 05]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>


At one point in October, the [[human]] [[prison ship]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' ended up picking up Covenant survivors over Threshold including one infected by the Flood. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] began experiments with the Flood on the ship before the Flood escaped and the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|nuclear missile]] fired by the {{UNSCShip|Red Horse}}. Also in the system at the time was a single Covenant ship apparently left behind to monitor or guard the Halo's remains.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Mona Lisa''</ref>
At one point in October, the [[human]] [[prison ship]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' ended up picking up Covenant survivors over Threshold including one infected by the Flood. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] began experiments with the Flood on the ship before the Flood escaped and the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|nuclear missile]] fired by {{UNSCShip|Red Horse}}. Also in the system at the time was a single Covenant ship apparently left behind to monitor or guard the Halo's remains.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Mona Lisa", ''page ???''</ref>


===Post-war===
===Post-Covenant War===
After the Human-Covenant War, a 500 light-second exclusion zone was established around Threshold, with both [[Sangheili]] and human warships patrolling the region as part of the [[Treaty of 2552|post-war treaty]] between those species. Uncontrolled [[Sentinel]]s, volatile Halo fragments, micro-debris, malfunctioning Forerunner artifacts, and the ever-present danger of the Flood made even surreptitious exploration and scavenging too dangerous for most.<ref name="universe"/>
After the Human-Covenant War, a 500 light-second exclusion zone was established around Threshold, with both [[Sangheili]] and human warships patrolling the region as part of the [[Treaty of 2552|post-war treaty]] between those species. Uncontrolled [[Sentinel]]s, volatile Halo fragments, micro-debris, malfunctioning Forerunner artifacts, and the ever-present danger of the Flood made even surreptitious exploration and scavenging too dangerous for most. One of Threshold's gas mines is the location of a [[War Games]] [[Colossus|simulation]], a favorite among [[Spartan (branch)|Spartan]] fireteam leaders.<ref name="universe"/>


==Description==
==Description==
===Composition and atmosphere===
===Composition and atmosphere===
[[File:H2A - Threshold gas mine.jpg|thumb|250px|A raging storm near a gas mine in Threshold's upper atmosphere]]
[[File:H2A - Threshold gas mine.jpg|thumb|250px|A raging storm near a gas mine in Threshold's upper atmosphere]]
Threshold is an immense gas giant with a diameter of {{Convert|214604|km|mi}}, and twelve satellites, several of which are Forerunner installations. Threshold is the largest planet in the [[Soell system]], and the seventh planet in Soell's orbit.<ref name="vis"/> Threshold is purplish-orange in color,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 12'' (2010 edition)</ref> and contains many rare and valuable gases.<ref name="ENC310"/> Threshold's atmosphere is made up of white [[ammonia]] clouds, amber-colored [[ammonium hydrosulfide]] clouds, [[phosphorus]] compounds, ice crystals and other gases. The clouds are arranged in thin, tendril-like formations and resemble sinuous ribbons.<ref name="atmo"/> The planet's winds blow at hundreds of kilometers an hour. Threshold is known to have storms frequently rage in its atmosphere similar to the storms that occur on the planet [[Jupiter]].<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign levels ''[[The Arbiter]]'' and ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Mona Lisa", ''page 239''</ref> The planet has a core of liquid hydrogen.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]'' (343 Guilty Spark: ''"The Flood will not survive once this mine enters the planet's liquid hydrogen core. Then again, neither will we. What a pity..."'')</ref>
Threshold is an immense gas giant with a diameter of {{Convert|214604|km|mi}}, and twelve satellites, several of which are Forerunner installations. Threshold is the largest planet in the [[Soell system]], and the seventh planet in Soell's orbit.<ref name="vis"/> Threshold is purplish-orange in color,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 12'' (2010)</ref> and contains many rare and valuable gases.<ref name="ENC310"/> Threshold's atmosphere is made up of white [[ammonia]] clouds, amber-colored [[ammonium hydrosulfide]] clouds, [[phosphorus]] compounds, ice crystals and other gases. The clouds are arranged in thin, tendril-like formations and resemble sinuous ribbons.<ref name="atmo"/> The planet's winds blow at hundreds of kilometers an hour. Threshold is known to have storms frequently rage in its atmosphere similar to the storms that occur on the planet [[Jupiter]].<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign levels ''[[The Arbiter]]'' and ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Mona Lisa", ''page 239''</ref> The planet has a core of liquid hydrogen.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]'' (343 Guilty Spark: ''"The Flood will not survive once this mine enters the planet's liquid hydrogen core. Then again, neither will we. What a pity..."'')</ref>


The pressure inside the gas giant is extremely powerful, and effectively able to crush any object that delves too deep into the planet's atmosphere. Threshold has a powerful magnetosphere that is easily capable of disrupting the magnetic fields of [[plasma weaponry]] such as [[plasma torpedo]]es. The temperature of the outer atmosphere of Threshold is around three hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 101-102'' (2010 edition)</ref> Further down, in the planet's denser atmosphere, temperatures reach over seventeen hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 107'' (2010 edition)</ref>
The pressure inside the gas giant is extremely powerful, and effectively able to crush any object that delves too deep into the planet's atmosphere. Threshold has a powerful magnetosphere that is easily capable of disrupting the magnetic fields of [[plasma weaponry]] such as [[plasma torpedo]]es. The temperature of the outer atmosphere of Threshold is around three hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 101-102'' (2010)</ref> Further down, in the planet's denser atmosphere, temperatures reach over seventeen hundred degrees Celsius.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 107'' (2010)</ref>


===Satellites===
===Satellites===
[[File:Installation 04 Terminal.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The orbiting Installation 04 and asteroids]]
[[File:Installation 04 Terminal.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The orbiting Installation 04 and asteroids]]
Threshold is orbited by twelve satellites. Threshold's largest [[natural satellite]], [[Basis]], is in fact the size of a huge terrestrial planet. Basis' diameter, 23,848 kilometers, is nearly double that of [[Earth]];<ref>[http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_planetscale/ '''Halo.bungie.org''': ''Loftus Planet Scale'']</ref> the other satellites of Threshold are significantly smaller, but are nonetheless host to various [[Forerunner]] facilities.<ref name="vis"/> Although none of Threshold's satellites have been extensively surveyed, all but two of them appear to contain Forerunner installations or are entirely artificial. The outposts functions are unknown, but they were likely used to provide maintenance for [[Installation 04]].<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/threshold '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Threshold'']</ref> Several small [[asteroid]]s also orbit Threshold, near Installation 04.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 7]]''</ref>
Threshold is orbited by twelve satellites. Threshold's largest [[natural satellite]], [[Basis]], is in fact the size of a huge terrestrial planet. Basis' diameter, 23,848 kilometers, is nearly double that of [[Earth]];<ref>[http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_planetscale/ '''Halo.bungie.org''': ''Loftus Planet Scale'']</ref> the other satellites of Threshold are significantly smaller, but are nonetheless host to various [[Forerunner]] facilities.<ref name="vis"/> Although none of Threshold's satellites have been extensively surveyed, all but two of them appear to contain Forerunner installations or are entirely artificial. The outposts functions are unknown, but they were likely used to provide maintenance for [[Installation 04]].<ref name="universe"/> Several small [[asteroid]]s also orbit Threshold, near Installation 04.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''', ''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminal 7]]''</ref>


The most notable of Threshold's orbiting installations was Installation 04, situated at the L<sub>1</sub> [[Lagrange point]] between Threshold and Basis.<ref name="universe"/> Threshold's atmosphere is home to an extensive network of Forerunner [[Threshold gas mine|gas mining platforms]] and refinery stations, hanging from a band-like low-orbital suspension grid in the upper atmosphere.<ref name="vis"/><ref name="gasmine"/> Although, by the mid-26th century, only a handful of these mines and refineries remain operational.<ref name="universe"/> The Forerunner space station designated [[Deep-Space Anomaly 0198]] by the UNSC is also in high orbit over the gas giant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', multiplayer map ''[[Derelict]]''</ref>
The most notable of Threshold's orbiting installations was Installation 04, situated at the L<sub>1</sub> [[Lagrange point]] between Threshold and Basis.<ref name="universe"/> Threshold's atmosphere is home to an extensive network of Forerunner [[Threshold gas mine|gas mining platforms]] and refinery stations, hanging from a band-like low-orbital suspension grid in the upper atmosphere.<ref name="vis"/><ref name="gasmine"/> Although, by the mid-26th century, only a handful of these mines and refineries remain operational.<ref name="universe"/> The Forerunner space station designated [[Deep-Space Anomaly 0198]] by the UNSC is also in high orbit over the gas giant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', multiplayer map ''[[Derelict]]''</ref>

Revision as of 22:30, March 11, 2016

Threshold
Threshold.png
Astrographical

Moon(s):

Twelve, including Basis[1]

Physical

Diameter:

214,604 kilometers (133,348.7 mi)[1]

Atmosphere:

Hydrogen, helium, methane[1]

Societal

Demonym:

Thresholdian[1]

Government:

 

Threshold is a gas giant, and the seventh and largest planet in the Soell system.[3] It was the gravity anchor for Installation 04, which was situated at the L1 Lagrange point between Threshold and its largest natural satellite, Basis.[4]

Threshold was a neutral location during the Human-Covenant War. Its Earth Survey Catalog number is B1008-AG.[4]

History

Prehistory

Over 100,000 years ago, Threshold was a part of the sizeable and extensive Forerunner ecumene. Wishing to harvest the gas giant's rare and valuable gases, the Forerunners used Threshold as a mining colony.[2] They built numerous automated gas mining complexes in the upper atmosphere of the planet, tethered to several band orbitals, used for harvesting the hydrogen, helium, and methane gas of the planet.[5]

Upon the discovery of the Flood, the Forerunners refitted some of the gas mines to serve as a Flood research facilities. These facilities proved only one thing: more extreme measures were needed to combat the Flood and to keep them from spreading. At the end of their war against the Flood, the Forerunners chose Threshold as a staging point for one of the Halo superweapons: Installation 04. The Halo was placed on the L1 Lagrange point between Threshold and Basis and was designed to destroy all sentient life in the galaxy, thereby halting the spread of the Flood, due to starvation.[6]

Human-Covenant War

Threshold and Installation 04 are discovered by the Covenant.

In 2552, the Fleet of Particular Justice followed the UNSC Pillar of Autumn to Threshold, and, in a series of events, Installation 04 was destroyed.[7] Many pieces of debris from Installation 04 were pulled into Threshold's gravity well, or its moon Basis, and destroyed.[8][9][10] In the skirmish over Threshold after the ring's destruction, Cortana was able to jump into slipspace with the Covenant DDS-class carrier Ascendant Justice while in Threshold's atmosphere.[11]

During the battle, the Covenant dispatched an artifact retrieval group led by Sesa 'Refumee to one of the gas mining platforms in Threshold's atmosphere.[12] After Halo's destruction, the installation's monitor, 343 Guilty Spark, traveled to the gas mine and edified 'Refumee on the true nature of the Halos. Convinced that the Covenant religion was false, 'Refumee and his troops rebelled against the Prophets and were branded heretics as a result.[13] The newly-appointed Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee, and a Covenant Special Operations contingent were dispatched to silence the heretics; at the conclusion of the resulting conflict, the gas mine was dropped into Threshold's depths. High Charity and its fleet briefly visited Threshold as well, until they jumped to Installation 05.[14]

At one point in October, the human prison ship Mona Lisa ended up picking up Covenant survivors over Threshold including one infected by the Flood. The Office of Naval Intelligence began experiments with the Flood on the ship before the Flood escaped and the Mona Lisa was destroyed by a nuclear missile fired by UNSC Red Horse. Also in the system at the time was a single Covenant ship apparently left behind to monitor or guard the Halo's remains.[15]

Post-Covenant War

After the Human-Covenant War, a 500 light-second exclusion zone was established around Threshold, with both Sangheili and human warships patrolling the region as part of the post-war treaty between those species. Uncontrolled Sentinels, volatile Halo fragments, micro-debris, malfunctioning Forerunner artifacts, and the ever-present danger of the Flood made even surreptitious exploration and scavenging too dangerous for most. One of Threshold's gas mines is the location of a War Games simulation, a favorite among Spartan fireteam leaders.[1]

Description

Composition and atmosphere

A raging storm near a gas mine in Threshold's upper atmosphere

Threshold is an immense gas giant with a diameter of 214,604 kilometres (133,349 mi), and twelve satellites, several of which are Forerunner installations. Threshold is the largest planet in the Soell system, and the seventh planet in Soell's orbit.[3] Threshold is purplish-orange in color,[16] and contains many rare and valuable gases.[2] Threshold's atmosphere is made up of white ammonia clouds, amber-colored ammonium hydrosulfide clouds, phosphorus compounds, ice crystals and other gases. The clouds are arranged in thin, tendril-like formations and resemble sinuous ribbons.[17] The planet's winds blow at hundreds of kilometers an hour. Threshold is known to have storms frequently rage in its atmosphere similar to the storms that occur on the planet Jupiter.[18][19] The planet has a core of liquid hydrogen.[20]

The pressure inside the gas giant is extremely powerful, and effectively able to crush any object that delves too deep into the planet's atmosphere. Threshold has a powerful magnetosphere that is easily capable of disrupting the magnetic fields of plasma weaponry such as plasma torpedoes. The temperature of the outer atmosphere of Threshold is around three hundred degrees Celsius.[21] Further down, in the planet's denser atmosphere, temperatures reach over seventeen hundred degrees Celsius.[22]

Satellites

The orbiting Installation 04 and asteroids

Threshold is orbited by twelve satellites. Threshold's largest natural satellite, Basis, is in fact the size of a huge terrestrial planet. Basis' diameter, 23,848 kilometers, is nearly double that of Earth;[23] the other satellites of Threshold are significantly smaller, but are nonetheless host to various Forerunner facilities.[3] Although none of Threshold's satellites have been extensively surveyed, all but two of them appear to contain Forerunner installations or are entirely artificial. The outposts functions are unknown, but they were likely used to provide maintenance for Installation 04.[1] Several small asteroids also orbit Threshold, near Installation 04.[24]

The most notable of Threshold's orbiting installations was Installation 04, situated at the L1 Lagrange point between Threshold and Basis.[1] Threshold's atmosphere is home to an extensive network of Forerunner gas mining platforms and refinery stations, hanging from a band-like low-orbital suspension grid in the upper atmosphere.[3][5] Although, by the mid-26th century, only a handful of these mines and refineries remain operational.[1] The Forerunner space station designated Deep-Space Anomaly 0198 by the UNSC is also in high orbit over the gas giant.[25]

Trivia

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.
  • Threshold is described as purple in the book, Halo: The Flood, though throughout Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, it is only shown as orange. Also, the planet is depicted as being light blue in the motion comic adaptation of The Mona Lisa.[26] This may be caused by the position of the system's sun at different times or the proximity to the gas giant, or may simply be an oversight.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and most other visual media, Threshold's surface texture resembles that of a terrestrial world more than a conventional gas giant. The planet's appearance is revised in Halo 2: Anniversary to more accurately reflect its nature, with its face now covered in latitudinal cloud bands characteristic of gas giants.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, the assault rifle's compass arrow points at the gas giant. This suggests that Threshold's atmosphere contains a large amount of iron particles, or that the assault rifles use a digital compass and that the Alpha Halo happens to be situated so that Threshold is aligned with the rifle's north during the events of the game.
  • Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system is codenamed Threshold, after the planet in the Halo franchise.[27] Threshold joins Project Spartan and Cortana as references to the Halo franchise in the Windows 10 release.

Gallery

  • Alternate view of the gas giant Threshold.

    Alternate view of the gas giant Threshold.

  • Full view of the gas giant Threshold.

    Full view of the gas giant Threshold.

  • The planet Threshold.

    The planet Threshold.

  • A storm near the gas mine of Threshold.

    A storm near the gas mine of Threshold.

  • Threshold at night.

    Threshold at night.

  • Threshold with Installation 04 and John-117's lifepod in the foreground as it descends to the ring; the Milky Way galaxy can be seen in the distance.

    Threshold with Installation 04 and John-117's lifepod in the foreground as it descends to the ring; the Milky Way galaxy can be seen in the distance.

  • The Covenant discover Threshold and Installation 04.

    The Covenant discover Threshold and Installation 04.

  • Threshold as seen on the Halo PC loading screen.

    Threshold as seen on the Halo PC loading screen.

  • A size comparison between Threshold and several other celestial objects.

    A size comparison between Threshold and several other celestial objects.

  • Threshold with the remnants of the destroyed Installation 04 and the Covenant fleet in orbit.

    Threshold with the remnants of the destroyed Installation 04 and the Covenant fleet in orbit.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named universe
  2. ^ a b c d Halo Encyclopedia, page 310 (2011)
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named vis
  4. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets, page 63
  5. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Threshold Gas Mine
  6. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Oracle
  7. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Maw
  8. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Mona Lisa", page 232
  9. ^ Halo 2, multiplayer map Burial Mounds
  10. ^ Halo Waypoint: Alpha Shard
  11. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 114 (2010)
  12. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 243
  13. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminal 11
  14. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Arbiter
  15. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Mona Lisa", page ???
  16. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 12 (2010)
  17. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named atmo
  18. ^ Halo 2, campaign levels The Arbiter and The Oracle
  19. ^ Halo: Evolutions, "The Mona Lisa", page 239
  20. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Oracle (343 Guilty Spark: "The Flood will not survive once this mine enters the planet's liquid hydrogen core. Then again, neither will we. What a pity...")
  21. ^ Halo: First Strike, pages 101-102 (2010)
  22. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 107 (2010)
  23. ^ Halo.bungie.org: Loftus Planet Scale
  24. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminal 7
  25. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, multiplayer map Derelict
  26. ^ YouTube: SDCC: Halo Universe Panel (Part 5)
  27. ^ ZDNet: Microsoft codename Threshold: The next major Windows wave takes shape
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