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On [[2557#July|July 21, 2557]], [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[John-117]] and [[smart AI|"smart"]] [[artificial intelligence]] [[Cortana]]—having been stranded in space aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} since [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]—crash-landed on the [[Forerunner]] [[shield world]] of [[Requiem]]. While there, the pair [[Battle of Requiem|battled]] mechanical [[Promethean]] constructs and pursuing troops from [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant]]. Eventually, John inadvertently released the [[Ur-Didact]] from a [[Cryptum]] in which the [[Warrior-Servant]] had been imprisoned for thousands of years. The conflict which followed led the Didact [[Raid on Ivanoff Station|to capture]] a [[Composer]] and [[New Phoenix Incident|fire it]] upon the [[Earth]] city of [[New Phoenix]] from his [[flagship]], ''[[Mantle's Approach]]''. To stop the Didact, John and Cortana boarded the enormous battle station, eventually causing the Didact to fall into a [[slipspace portal]] and destroying both the Composer and part of the ship with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. Near the end of her functional life due to encroaching [[rampancy]], Cortana saved John from the HAVOK's blast by transporting him away from the ship and shielding him within a bubble of [[hard light]]. As her [[data crystal chip]] had been plugged into ''Mantle's Approach'' before being atomized, when the ship seemed to have been for the most part destroyed, Cortana was presumed to have been lost along with it.{{Ref/Level|Id=midnight|H4|[[Midnight]]}} In the immediate aftermath, John-117 reunited with [[Blue Team]], then comprised of [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Frederic-104]], and together they traveled to [[Installation 03]], where they [[Skirmish on Installation 03|found]] the Didact and a number of his Prometheans who had been transported to the installation along with him via the aforementioned slipspace portal. The resulting conflict led to the Didact's apparent "containment", as his physical body was reduced to particles from the combined effects of multiple Composers firing at once.{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc9|[[Halo: Escalation]]|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|#9]]}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=esc10|Halo: Escalation|Issue=[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|#10]]}} Now seemingly leaderless, the Promethean constructs continued to work with 'Mdama and his Covenant from this point onward.{{Ref/Game|H4|[[Spartan Ops]]}}

Unbeknownst to the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[United Nations Space Command]], ''Mantle's Approach'' had attempted to evade destruction by launching an emergency [[slipstream space]] jump. The heart of the ship managed to successfully make the transit to the [[Builder]] installation of [[Genesis]], with what remained of Cortana brought along with it. There, Cortana discovered the [[Gateway]] to the [[Domain]], the enigmatic information repository once utilized by the Forerunners. By entering the Domain, she found that she could halt the progression of her rampancy. With an apparent means to end rampancy in all [[artificial intelligence]]s, Cortana realized that A.I.s could have theoretically infinite lifespans, allowing them to focus on long-term planning which could better the entire [[Milky Way]].{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}{{Ref/Site|Id=genesis|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/genesis|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Genesis|D=09|M=3|Y=2021}} Cortana's presence in the Domain awoke the [[Warden Eternal]], a Forerunner [[ancilla]] charged with protecting it. Cortana distracted the Warden long enough to fully penetrate a portion of the Domain previously beyond her grasp, and in doing so she usurped his role. The Warden responded to this turn of events by pledging his loyalty to her.{{Ref/Reuse|dominionsplinter}} Turning their attention to [[Genesis]] they forced its [[monitor]], [[031 Exuberant Witness]], out of her own installation's systems. Cortana and the Warden then began to formulate plans to have A.I.s inherit the [[Mantle]] of Responsibility for themselves, believing that they alone had the capacity to serve as worthy protectors of peace in the galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} Cortana learned that the Forerunners once employed [[Guardian]] constructs to enforce their rule of the Mantle by suppressing rebellions and policing the worlds of non-compliant or overly aggressive species.{{Ref/Site|Id=guardian|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/guardian|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Guardian}} She henceforth resolved to use the Guardians for a similar purpose.{{Ref/Level|Id=breaking|H5G|[[The Breaking]]}}

By some point in [[2558]], reports of electromagnetic fluctuations, "[[slipspace|slipspacious]]" disruptions, and epidemic data corruption in deep space were being gathered and shared by those who typically trafficked in conspiracy theories, such as [[Mshak Moradi]].<ref name="HTTS14">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 04''</ref> Moradi told the war photographer and journalist, [[Benjamin Giraud]], that all the strange disturbances were relatively quiet and slight, but were affecting everything on a galactic scale. Whole star systems were exhibiting these anomalies, according to him.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTS14}} A few months after first hearing these rumors from Moradi, Giraud propagated them to the general public.<ref name="HTTS100">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 00''</ref> The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] operative, [[Maya Sankar]], undercover as a revolutionary known as "FERO", corroborated the anomalies Mshak had mentioned when she got in contact with Ben.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTS17}} She told him that she couldn't tell what might be causing them, but that they were getting stronger.<ref name="HTTS17">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 07''</ref>

A little less than three weeks prior to the Guardians' awakenings, Dr. Halsey managed to contact the UNSC once more, this time reaching out to Captain [[Thomas Lasky]] of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} with coordinates where she could be found.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GO}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GBT|H5G|[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]}} For months she had been ostensibly working alongside [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] [[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]].{{Ref/SpOps|[[Spartan Ops]]|[[S1/Exodus|Exodus]]}} She had led him to the planet [[Kamchatka]], where there was a node linking to the Domain.{{Ref/Site|Id=HW|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/kamchatka|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Kamchatka|D=23|M=04|Y=2021}} Despite being hampered by 'Mdama's Covenant forces' preoccupation with ceremony, Halsey led them to penetrate a structure which was a focal point for at least one signal she was tracking.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[Mission Intel#Osiris|Mission Intel - Osiris - Halsey Research Notes 2/4]]}} Halsey hesitated to call the signals messages, as they were more akin to echolocation.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[Mission Intel#Osiris|Mission Intel - Osiris - Halsey Research Notes 1/4]]}} She had some difficulty determining whether [[Cortana]] was bouncing signals off of the Kamchatka node and other related sites or trying to access them directly.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[Mission Intel#Osiris|Mission Intel - Osiris - Halsey Research Notes 4/4]]}} Some time later at the focal point on Kamchatka, Dr. Halsey discovered the glyph that meant "Guardian", unbeknownst to her at the time.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[Mission Intel#Osiris|Mission Intel - Osiris - Halsey Research Notes 3/4]]}} Halsey eventually figured out how to disable Kamchatka's native defenses, but in doing so triggered an alert that summoned hostile Promethean forces within the hour.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[Mission Intel#Osiris|Mission Intel - Osiris - Jul 'Mdama's Log]]}}

ONI was attempting to control the situation by securing at least four of the original sites.<ref name="httseason2ep2">''Hunt the Truth'', Season 2, [[Hunt the Truth Season 2/Transcripts/02|Episode 2 - FROM FIRE TO BLOOD]]</ref> However, the emergences continued with five more colonies after Meridian. At the same time, Thomas Lasky, Dr. Halsey, Jameson Locke and Sarah Palmer devised a plan to do a controlled awakening on [[Sanghelios]] to try and get to the Chief.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}

On October 27, 2558, with Blue Team still AWOL, ONI released a statement declaring John-117 dead on Meridian. This was broadcast publicly across various human colonies.<ref name="aherofalls">''[[A Hero Falls]]''</ref>

Through unknown means, Cortana finally announced the beginning of her reclamation throughout many regions of inhabited space simultaneously.<ref name="HFRW">''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', [[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]</ref> In one broadcast ultimatum, she specifically invited [[humans]], [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Unggoy]], [[San'Shyuum]], [[Yonhet]], and [[Jiralhanae]] to all accept an end to hunger and pain, should they willingly submit themselves to the guardianship of the Created.{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GG|H5G|[[Guardians]]}} She made it clear, however, that should any groups choose to defy her, then there would be consuming wrath for them that would remake them in the image of the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} Around the time of the ultimatum, a Guardian had arrived at [[Sydney]], [[Earth]],{{Ref/Reuse|HFRW}} with one soon arriving over [[Sanghelios]] as well.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HBB1}} Within [[Shield World 006]], more commonly referred to as "[[Onyx]]", Cortana's words rang from every sound system and service pylon within the parts of the shield world occupied by the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HLOO37|HLOO|Chapter=21}} The survivors of [[Meridian Station (location)|Meridian Station]] would send a reply asking the Created for help.<ref name="whatremains">''[[Halo: Fractures - Extraordinary Tales from the Halo Canon]]'' - [[What Remains]]</ref> So too would the Unggoy accept Cortana's offer.

<ref name="CFDF">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-driving-force ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Driving Force]</ref> Counterwise, the [[United Rebel Front]] of [[Talitsa]] refused it.{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Badb|Chapter=14}}

Almost immediately, the Created began taking control of [[Terraforming]] equipment, both UNSC and Forerunner. They began reshaping inhabited planets and turning some into garden worlds, despite the planet's preexisting life capabilities.{{Ref/Site|Id=armoryamore|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-armory-amore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Armory Amore}}

The Created also took control of a multitude of other tools. Artificial intelligences aboard [[Lethbridge Industrial]]'s [[Auriga Station]] were swayed by Cortana and the human crew residing there was subsequently removed leaving reverse engineering technology in their hands. A UNSC counter operation to retake the station was planned in the [[War Games]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-storm-surge|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Storm Surge}} Another station that was taken by the Created, crashed after AIs attempted to open a [[Conversion pod|Forerunner conversion pod]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-journalistic-integrity|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Journalistic Integrity}}

UNSC infrastructure across many colonies were cut off as the Created's occupation grew.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFNY|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-new-year-new-lore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - New Year, New Lore|D=23|M=01|Y=2023}} This resulted in the UNSC being reduced to mere resistance forces.{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[UTIL/Teccniqe IOTA-12|UTIL/Teccniqe IOTA-12 description]]}} Some forces would conduct information sanitization missions throughout the occupied [[Inner Colonies]].{{Ref/Game|Id=locusarmor|HI|Detail=[[LOCUS-class Mjolnir|LOCUS-class Mjolnir description]]}} This included [[ONI]] teams sanitizing data on [[Earth]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/log-of-war|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Log of War}} In one instance, a UNSC team doing a sanitization strike on Earth acquired a manufacturing template of the [[CELOX-class Mjolnir]] at the [[Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility|Ordnance Testing Facility]] at [[Swanbourne]], [[Australia]].{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[CELOX-class Mjolnir|CELOX-class Mjolnir description]]}} These sanitization teams on Earth have access to cutting edge stealth and cyberware suites, including a [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] compatible variant of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR GEN1]] [[RECON-class Mjolnir]] helmet.{{Ref/Game|H5G|Detail=[[RECON-class Mjolnir#Halo 5: Guardians - Upgraded GEN1 and GEN2|RECON GEN1 helmet description]]}} As well, the Created hunted down and eliminated [[Beta-5 Division|Beta-5]] personnel testing [[STREET VIPER-class Mjolnir]], and then wiped records of the armor.{{Ref/Game|HI|Detail=[[STREET VIPER-class Mjolnir|STREET VIPER-class Mjolnir description]]}} The Office of Naval Intelligence also designated locating and studying the [[Conduit]] a priorty, viewing it as a way to level the playing field against the Created.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFStrike|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-ship-strike|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Ship Strike|D=20|M=04|Y=2023}}