Post-Covenant War conflicts: Difference between revisions
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{{Main|Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor}} | {{Main|Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor}} | ||
After the Treaty of 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence, believed that keeping the Sangheili mired in internal dissent would leave them unable to threaten the weakened UNSC. This opinion contrasted with that of most of the Unified Earth Government, which believed a peace treaty was desirable. ONI took advantage of the Sangheili's unstable political situation, attempting to keep the Sangheili splintered and disorganized by inciting the Servants of the Abiding Truth to rebel against 'Vadam. ONI's aid allowed the Servants of the Abiding Truth to amass enough weapons to begin an all-out insurrection against 'Vadam and his allies in early 2553. When the fighting on Sanghelios started, ONI black ops unit [[Kilo-Five]] were ordered to keep the planet destabilized for fear that the Sangheili would oppose humanity if they were politically unified, and so they used their [[prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} to destroy some of 'Vadam's cruisers. This caused a temporary stalemate, but the battle continued until 'Vadam and his allies emerged victorious. The Servants retreated off-world to [[New Llanelli]] to recover from their losses, putting the war on hold. | After the Treaty of 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence, believed that keeping the Sangheili mired in internal dissent would leave them unable to threaten the weakened UNSC. This opinion contrasted with that of most of the Unified Earth Government, which believed a peace treaty was desirable. ONI took advantage of the Sangheili's unstable political situation, attempting to keep the Sangheili splintered and disorganized by inciting the Servants of the Abiding Truth to rebel against 'Vadam. ONI's aid allowed the Servants of the Abiding Truth to amass enough weapons to begin an all-out insurrection against 'Vadam and his allies in early 2553. When the fighting on Sanghelios started, ONI black ops unit [[Kilo-Five]] were ordered to keep the planet destabilized for fear that the Sangheili would oppose humanity if they were politically unified, and so they used their [[prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} to destroy some of 'Vadam's cruisers. This caused a temporary stalemate, but the battle continued until 'Vadam and his allies emerged victorious. The Servants retreated off-world to [[New Llanelli]] to recover from their losses, putting the war on hold.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTW}} | ||
In [[2553#March|March 2553]], [[Kig-Yar]] [[piracy|pirate]] [[Sav Fel]] stole a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}, the ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'', from the Servants of the Abiding Truth. | In [[2553#March|March 2553]], [[Kig-Yar]] [[piracy|pirate]] [[Sav Fel]] stole a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}, the ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'', from the Servants of the Abiding Truth.{{Ref/Novel|TTW|Page=329}} Fel retreated with the battlecruiser to his manor on [[Venezia]], where he sold it to [[Insurrectionist]] [[Staffan Sentzke]], a commander in the [[Venezian militia]], who intended to use it to threaten [[Earth]] to learn about [[Naomi-010|his daughter's]] fate.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=12}} The crew of ''[[Paragon]]''—led by [[Shipmaster|Shipmistress]] [[Chol Von]]—was hired by Avu Med 'Telcam to retrieve the vessel and arrived at the cruiser's [[Shaps system|location]] in April 2553, with Fel. While Von wish to capture ''Pious Inquisitor'' to use as a [[flagship]] in a united Kig-Yar navy,{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=139-140}} Kilo-Five intended to take control of the vessel and return it to Thel 'Vadam.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=436}} Ultimately, Kilo-Five—along with Staffan—and the crew of ''Paragon'' both attempted to seize the battlecruiser at the same time and a skirmish occurred on the ship. During the firefight, [[Sometimes Sinks]], the eccentric [[Huragok]] that served aboard ''Inquisitor'', transitioned the ship to a location designated by Staffan.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=336}} With eight of the Kig-Yar dead and Kilo-Five approaching the bridge, Von had her remaining crew detonate the ship's [[plasma turret|plasma torpedo]] reserves, choosing to destroy ''Pious Inquisitor'' over leaving it to the humans.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=442}} Von and her remaining crew managed to escape in time, along with Kilo-Five. While Staffan and Sinks escaped in the Spirit with the [[slipspace drive]] that Sinks had installed earlier,{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=457}} the UNSC presumed Staffan dead and thus believed that the Venezian threat was neutralized as they no longer had the power to glass planets.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|Page=458}} | ||
===Trouble on Gao=== | ===Trouble on Gao=== | ||
{{Main|Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE}} | {{Main|Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE}} | ||
[[File:HM-Gao.png|thumb|200px|Mark-G313, Fred-104 and Veta Lopis fighting off the Keepers of the One Freedom on Gao.]] | [[File:HM-Gao.png|thumb|200px|Mark-G313, Fred-104 and Veta Lopis fighting off the Keepers of the One Freedom on Gao.]] | ||
After [[Blue Team]] | After [[Blue Team]]'s return in UNSC-controlled territory following the end of the Covenant War in March 2553, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assigned the Spartans to new deployments. [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|One of these missions]] involved protecting a [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion|UNSC research battalion]] on the planet [[Gao]].<ref name="Azure Noir">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-azure-noir '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Azure Noir'']</ref> Following the reassignment of the Spartan-IIIs who had been part of the team since the [[Onyx Conflict]], the Spartan-IIs of Blue Team—[[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Linda-058]]—were deployed on the outer fringes of human-occupied territory to eliminate lingering pockets of the previous war for many years. The nature of these missions remained highly classified.<ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': ''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/frederic-104 Frederic-104]'', ''[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/linda-058 Linda-058]''</ref> | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
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During a [[Ferret]] team training exercise on [[Neos Atlantis]] on [[2553#October|October 14, 2553]], [[Dark Moon Enterprises]] attempted to publicly expose the secrets of the [[Spartan-III]] [[Gamma Company]] illegal augmentations, believed to be because such a revelation would cripple ONI and create a power vacuum that Dark Moon could then fill. To this end, former ONI [[Commander]] [[Ota Gallo]] helped reporter [[Spencer Hume]] drug [[Olivia-G291]] with [[nicothiotal]] so that Hume could question her and use the information to expose the illegal augmentations. However, team leader [[Veta Lopis]] quickly realized what was happening and had the rest of the Ferrets intervene, leading to an assassination attempt on [[Mark-G313]] in a service hallway by Gallo. The attempt failed, but Hume was accidentally killed by Mark in the process. Mark disposed of Hume's body out of an [[airlock]] with the help of [[Ash-G099]], but they were noticed by Commander [[Svenson]] of [[Oscar Squad]] who the training exercise was against. At the same time, Gallo erased all of the security footage of the incident in order to be able to avoid detection. | During a [[Ferret]] team training exercise on [[Neos Atlantis]] on [[2553#October|October 14, 2553]], [[Dark Moon Enterprises]] attempted to publicly expose the secrets of the [[Spartan-III]] [[Gamma Company]] illegal augmentations, believed to be because such a revelation would cripple ONI and create a power vacuum that Dark Moon could then fill. To this end, former ONI [[Commander]] [[Ota Gallo]] helped reporter [[Spencer Hume]] drug [[Olivia-G291]] with [[nicothiotal]] so that Hume could question her and use the information to expose the illegal augmentations. However, team leader [[Veta Lopis]] quickly realized what was happening and had the rest of the Ferrets intervene, leading to an assassination attempt on [[Mark-G313]] in a service hallway by Gallo. The attempt failed, but Hume was accidentally killed by Mark in the process. Mark disposed of Hume's body out of an [[airlock]] with the help of [[Ash-G099]], but they were noticed by Commander [[Svenson]] of [[Oscar Squad]] who the training exercise was against. At the same time, Gallo erased all of the security footage of the incident in order to be able to avoid detection. | ||
As the Ferrets regrouped in the suite acting as their safe house, they were visited by [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] and Commander Svenson who accused Mark of murder, though he couldn't prove it. Veta denied the accusations and suspected Oscar Squad had gone too far in the training exercise. Osman gave them two hours to discover the truth and the Ferrets managed to identify Gallo and her connection to Dark Moon. It was quickly realized that it was not a training exercise gone wrong but an attempt to expose them and cripple ONI. In order to draw Gallo into a trap, Olivia sent a message detailing what they had learned from Hume's [[COM pad]] to both Osman and Gallo. Gallo, needing to retrieve the COM pad which proved she was Hume's source, attacked the suite with two other Dark Moon operatives. The Ferrets were able to eliminate Gallo and her men, but Olivia was severely injured in the process and Hume's COM pad damaged. When Osman returned, the Ferrets turned over the COM pad to her and Veta pinned Hume's death on Gallo covering her tracks. Though Osman was obviously skeptical, Mark backed up Veta's story without hesitation and Osman accepted it. | As the Ferrets regrouped in the suite acting as their safe house, they were visited by [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] and Commander Svenson who accused Mark of murder, though he couldn't prove it. Veta denied the accusations and suspected Oscar Squad had gone too far in the training exercise. Osman gave them two hours to discover the truth and the Ferrets managed to identify Gallo and her connection to Dark Moon. It was quickly realized that it was not a training exercise gone wrong but an attempt to expose them and cripple ONI. In order to draw Gallo into a trap, Olivia sent a message detailing what they had learned from Hume's [[COM pad]] to both Osman and Gallo. Gallo, needing to retrieve the COM pad which proved she was Hume's source, attacked the suite with two other Dark Moon operatives. The Ferrets were able to eliminate Gallo and her men, but Olivia was severely injured in the process and Hume's COM pad damaged. When Osman returned, the Ferrets turned over the COM pad to her and Veta pinned Hume's death on Gallo covering her tracks. Though Osman was obviously skeptical, Mark backed up Veta's story without hesitation and Osman accepted it.{{Ref/Novel|Fra|Detail=''[[A Necessary Truth]]''}} | ||
===The archeon's plot=== | ===The archeon's plot=== | ||
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Shortly after the firefight, the Ferrets and Blue Team arrived to find the aftermath. Thinking that they were associated with Papa-10, Sloan explained that he had rented Dark Moon a hidden berth at their request and directed the teams to the location on Meridian where Papa-10 and Castor's forces had landed. Though suspicious of the circumstances, the Ferrets and Blue Team followed Papa-10's survivors into an abandoned mine where they helped to eliminate Castor's forces. However, Papa-10 attacked, seriously injuring [[Frederic-104]] and fleeing towards an extraction point suggested by Sloan. Both Castor and Veta managed to hang onto Papa-10's vehicle and Castor succeeded in eliminating two of the operatives, but was knocked off of the vehicle after Veta tried and failed to make an alliance with him against their common enemy. After placing [[C-12 shaped charge|C-12 explosive]] around the cryo-jars, Veta abandoned the vehicle and watched as it met up with a Pinnacle Station utility skiff piloted by Craddog. With the remaining Papa-10 operative pointing an assault rifle at her and unwilling to let them get away with the cryo-jars containing the Tuwa's organs, Veta detonated the explosives. The blast killed the last Papa-10 operative and Craddog and destroyed the cryo-jars, the utility skiff and Intrepid Eye's remote aspect Oriel, foiling the plot. | Shortly after the firefight, the Ferrets and Blue Team arrived to find the aftermath. Thinking that they were associated with Papa-10, Sloan explained that he had rented Dark Moon a hidden berth at their request and directed the teams to the location on Meridian where Papa-10 and Castor's forces had landed. Though suspicious of the circumstances, the Ferrets and Blue Team followed Papa-10's survivors into an abandoned mine where they helped to eliminate Castor's forces. However, Papa-10 attacked, seriously injuring [[Frederic-104]] and fleeing towards an extraction point suggested by Sloan. Both Castor and Veta managed to hang onto Papa-10's vehicle and Castor succeeded in eliminating two of the operatives, but was knocked off of the vehicle after Veta tried and failed to make an alliance with him against their common enemy. After placing [[C-12 shaped charge|C-12 explosive]] around the cryo-jars, Veta abandoned the vehicle and watched as it met up with a Pinnacle Station utility skiff piloted by Craddog. With the remaining Papa-10 operative pointing an assault rifle at her and unwilling to let them get away with the cryo-jars containing the Tuwa's organs, Veta detonated the explosives. The blast killed the last Papa-10 operative and Craddog and destroyed the cryo-jars, the utility skiff and Intrepid Eye's remote aspect Oriel, foiling the plot. | ||
In the aftermath, [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] had the Ferrets returned to the [[Mill]] to complete their training and warned Veta that a greater threat was coming that she needed the Ferrets ready for. Additionally, ONI concluded that Craddog had been working on his own initiative to initiate [[Project SLEEPING STAR]] in the absence of any orders telling him to do so. Intrepid Eye avoided discovery as the true culprit, though she was unable to confirm the death of Castor and the destruction of his cell with the destruction of Oriel, one of her oldest and most useful remote aspects. Though [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] ordered Project SLEEPING STAR shut down, Intrepid Eye manipulated the orders so that it continued in secret aboard the ''[[Argent Moon]]'' as the bioweapon project was too important to her plans to be allowed to be stopped. | In the aftermath, [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] had the Ferrets returned to the [[Mill]] to complete their training and warned Veta that a greater threat was coming that she needed the Ferrets ready for. Additionally, ONI concluded that Craddog had been working on his own initiative to initiate [[Project SLEEPING STAR]] in the absence of any orders telling him to do so. Intrepid Eye avoided discovery as the true culprit, though she was unable to confirm the death of Castor and the destruction of his cell with the destruction of Oriel, one of her oldest and most useful remote aspects. Though [[Rear Admiral]] [[Serin Osman]] ordered Project SLEEPING STAR shut down, Intrepid Eye manipulated the orders so that it continued in secret aboard the ''[[Argent Moon]]'' as the bioweapon project was too important to her plans to be allowed to be stopped.{{Ref/NovelId=Ret|Ret}} | ||
===Sedra and Alpha Shard=== | ===Sedra and Alpha Shard=== | ||
[[File:HM-AlphaShard.png|thumb|225px|Randall Aiken and Jameson Locke on Alpha Shard.]] | [[File:HM-AlphaShard.png|thumb|225px|Randall Aiken and Jameson Locke on Alpha Shard.]] | ||
{{Main|Terrorist attack on Sedra City|Mission to Alpha Shard}} | {{Main|Terrorist attack on Sedra City|Mission to Alpha Shard}} | ||
On [[2556|February 7, 2556]], an [[Locke's team|ONI team]] led by [[Jameson Locke|Lt. Commander Jameson Locke]] was dispatched to the distant [[human colonies|human colony]] [[Sedra]] to investigate [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity. The investigation led them to the [[Sedra City|capital city]] where a [[Sangheili]] [[terrorist]], managed to unleash a powerful [[bioweapon]] that randomly broke down human DNA. A subsequent investigation revealed that the substance used to create the bioweapon originated from a [[Alpha Shard|surviving fragment]] of [[Installation 04]], propelled through slipspace into orbit around a red giant star. With no support from UNSC, as it would have been a violation of peace treaty, the Locke's team were forced to cooperate with the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]] on a mission to capture the smugglers who mined the element and destroy the deposits with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. However, what was to be a swift operation quickly turned into a desperate battle for survival after the group was attacked by [[Lekgolo]] swarms that resided on the Halo fragment. The mission ended with the destruction of the bioweapon's deposits, but at the expense of the lives of almost all the joint team, including the former SPARTAN-II [[Randall-037]], with Lt. Commander Locke and Private [[Talitha Macer]] being the only survivors. | On [[2556|February 7, 2556]], an [[Locke's team|ONI team]] led by [[Jameson Locke|Lt. Commander Jameson Locke]] was dispatched to the distant [[human colonies|human colony]] [[Sedra]] to investigate [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity. The investigation led them to the [[Sedra City|capital city]] where a [[Sangheili]] [[terrorist]], managed to unleash a powerful [[bioweapon]] that randomly broke down human DNA. A subsequent investigation revealed that the substance used to create the bioweapon originated from a [[Alpha Shard|surviving fragment]] of [[Installation 04]], propelled through slipspace into orbit around a red giant star. With no support from UNSC, as it would have been a violation of peace treaty, the Locke's team were forced to cooperate with the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]] on a mission to capture the smugglers who mined the element and destroy the deposits with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. However, what was to be a swift operation quickly turned into a desperate battle for survival after the group was attacked by [[Lekgolo]] swarms that resided on the Halo fragment. The mission ended with the destruction of the bioweapon's deposits, but at the expense of the lives of almost all the joint team, including the former SPARTAN-II [[Randall-037]], with Lt. Commander Locke and Private [[Talitha Macer]] being the only survivors.{{Ref/Film|Id=hnf|HN}} | ||
===Later missions and Biko incident=== | ===Later missions and Biko incident=== | ||
{{Main|Raid on Biko peace talks}} | {{Main|Raid on Biko peace talks}} | ||
Blue Team reunited with their previous leader, [[John-117]], on [[2557|July 25, 2557]], after which they embarked on a new series of missions for over a year.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}} During one such mission, in early [[2558]], Blue Team managed to stop fanatical [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]], who had hijacked an [[M510 Mammoth]] and tried to use it to ram a new ONI research facility's main [[fusion reactor]]. The Spartans prevented the disaster without any civilian casualties. | Blue Team reunited with their previous leader, [[John-117]], on [[2557|July 25, 2557]], after which they embarked on a new series of missions for over a year.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}} During one such mission, in early [[2558]], Blue Team managed to stop fanatical [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]], who had hijacked an [[M510 Mammoth]] and tried to use it to ram a new ONI research facility's main [[fusion reactor]]. The Spartans prevented the disaster without any civilian casualties.{{Ref/Comic|Id=otb|TFS|Detail=''[[On the Brink]]''}} | ||
[[File:Master Chief leaks.jpg|thumb|225px|left|John-117 during the Raid on Biko.]] | [[File:Master Chief leaks.jpg|thumb|225px|left|John-117 during the Raid on Biko.]] | ||
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[[File:HE Covie Group.jpg|thumb|225px|A pirate force on Ven III.]] | [[File:HE Covie Group.jpg|thumb|225px|A pirate force on Ven III.]] | ||
{{Main|Operation: WHISTLE STOP}} | {{Main|Operation: WHISTLE STOP}} | ||
By 2558, [[Ven III]] had become a hot spot for numerous [[Kig-Yar]] smugglers, [[black market]] arm dealers, and slavers. When FLEETCOM ignored the Office of Naval Intelligence's requests to assault the pirate base, ONI devised a false-flag operation involving a [[biological agent]] purportedly stolen by a [[Ayit 'Sevi|Sangheili agent]] of [[Jul 'Mdama]]—in truth a mercenary hired by ONI—to force the Fleet to take action. [[Serin Osman|Admiral Osman]] tasked Captain Lasky of ''Infinity'' with capturing the Sangheili and recovering the bioweapon before it could threaten human colonies. Lasky selected Spartans [[Gabriel Thorne]] and [[Naiya Ray]] for the mission and they were deployed on Ven III. | By 2558, [[Ven III]] had become a hot spot for numerous [[Kig-Yar]] smugglers, [[black market]] arm dealers, and slavers. When FLEETCOM ignored the Office of Naval Intelligence's requests to assault the pirate base, ONI devised a false-flag operation involving a [[biological agent]] purportedly stolen by a [[Ayit 'Sevi|Sangheili agent]] of [[Jul 'Mdama]]—in truth a mercenary hired by ONI—to force the Fleet to take action. [[Serin Osman|Admiral Osman]] tasked Captain Lasky of ''Infinity'' with capturing the Sangheili and recovering the bioweapon before it could threaten human colonies. Lasky selected Spartans [[Gabriel Thorne]] and [[Naiya Ray]] for the mission and they were deployed on Ven III.{{Ref/Comic|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 11|Issue 11]]''}} After Thorne was captured and Ray discovered the pirate hideout Lasky decided to involve ''Infinity'' in the mission and engaged the pirates in space and in their stronghold. Spartan Ray rescued Thorne and chased down the Sangheili agent but ONI personnel forced Ray to stand down and took the Sangheili into custody.{{Ref/Comic|HE|Detail=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 12|Issue 12]]''}} | ||
===Cutting ties=== | ===Cutting ties=== | ||
{{Main|Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam}} | {{Main|Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam}} | ||
By 2558, Avu Med 'Telcam had outserved his usefulness to ONI's plans and on [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], ONI [[Section Three]] deployed the [[SPARTAN-G059]] aboard the {{Class|Winter|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|From the Ashes}} to New Llanelli to assassinate him. Upon her arrival in the remains of the city, she quickly located 'Telcam and eliminated his Sangheili guards. After brief fight the Spartan knocked the Sangheili to the ground and executed him with a single [[M6 series|pistol]] shot to the head. The assassin did not claim the life of her secondary target, Avu Med 'Telcam's protege, [[Dural 'Mdama]]. 'Mdama, known as the ''Pale Blade'', would become a leading member of the Abiding Truth and was fortunate not to be among those in the attack. The Spartan was quickly extracted by ''From the Ashes'', which entered [[slipspace]] upon leaving the planet. | By 2558, Avu Med 'Telcam had outserved his usefulness to ONI's plans and on [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], ONI [[Section Three]] deployed the [[SPARTAN-G059]] aboard the {{Class|Winter|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|From the Ashes}} to New Llanelli to assassinate him. Upon her arrival in the remains of the city, she quickly located 'Telcam and eliminated his Sangheili guards. After brief fight the Spartan knocked the Sangheili to the ground and executed him with a single [[M6 series|pistol]] shot to the head. The assassin did not claim the life of her secondary target, Avu Med 'Telcam's protege, [[Dural 'Mdama]]. 'Mdama, known as the ''Pale Blade'', would become a leading member of the Abiding Truth and was fortunate not to be among those in the attack. The Spartan was quickly extracted by ''From the Ashes'', which entered [[slipspace]] upon leaving the planet.{{Ref/Comic|Id=tfs|TFS|Detail={{Ref/Comic|HE|Detail=''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''}} | ||
===Keepers Eradication Campaign=== | ===Keepers Eradication Campaign=== | ||
