Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
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{{References}} | {{References}} | ||
{{Battle Infobox | {{Battle Infobox | ||
|name= | |name=Human-Covenant War | ||
|image=[[File: | |image=[[File:Human-Covenant War.png|400px]]Clockwise from top left: UNSC and Covenant infantry clash, the UNSC responds to a Covenant invasion of a UNSC colony world, a squad of SPARTANs engaging the [[Sangheili]] in the [[Battle of Reach]], the [[Battle_of_Earth#The_Flood_on_Earth|invasion of the]] [[Flood]] on [[Battle of Earth|Earth]], the [[Great Schism]] over ''[[High Charity]]'', the ''Pillar of Autumn'' fleeing from the Battle of Reach. | ||
|date=February 11, [[2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – March 3, [[2553]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | |date=February 11, [[2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – March 3, [[2553]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | ||
|place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]<ref group="notes">The | |place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]<ref group="notes">The Human-Covenant War briefly extended outside the Milky Way galaxy for the [[Battle of Installation 00]]</ref> | ||
|result= | |result= | ||
;[[UNSC]] pyrrhic victory, [[Covenant Separatist]] victory<ref>'''[[Believe]]''', ''[[Museum]]''</ref> | ;[[UNSC]] pyrrhic victory, [[Covenant Separatist]] victory<ref>'''[[Believe]]''', ''[[Museum]]''</ref> | ||
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|forces1=[[United Nations Space Command Defense Force]]<br>Covenant Separatists Armed Forces<br>[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s | |forces1=[[United Nations Space Command Defense Force]]<br>Covenant Separatists Armed Forces<br>[[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s | ||
|forces2=Covenant Armed Forces | |forces2=Covenant Armed Forces | ||
|forces3=The Flood | |forces3=The Flood | ||
|casual1= | |casual1= | ||
; | ;Human population reduced considerably | ||
*Approximately 23 billion civilian and military casualties.<ref name=HE:PH>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> | *Approximately 23 billion civilian and military casualties.<ref name=HE:PH>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> | ||
*Widespread infrastructure and structural damages to UEG colonies | *Widespread infrastructure and structural damages to UEG colonies | ||
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*High Charity destroyed | *High Charity destroyed | ||
}} | }} | ||
The ''' | The '''Human-Covenant War''',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref> also known as '''The Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe:''' ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant Empire]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict; them being the [[Flood]], and a small number of surviving Forerunner constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from [[Forerunner]] constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | ||
The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, numbers, tactics and technology, overpowered humanity on hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]]. The humans would only win scattered and costly victories. | The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, numbers, tactics and technology, overpowered humanity on hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]]. The humans would only win scattered and costly victories. | ||
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{{main|First Battle of Harvest}} | {{main|First Battle of Harvest}} | ||
[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|thumb|200px|Staff Sergeant Johnson leading Colonial Militia during the Covenant invasion of Harvest.]] | [[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|thumb|200px|Staff Sergeant Johnson leading Colonial Militia during the Covenant invasion of Harvest.]] | ||
Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact in February 3rd 2525, when a [[Kig-yar]] frigate, the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovered a human ship transitionining out of slipspace and subsequently raided the vessel. The raid continued to another unfortunate human ship. Some time after, [[Sif]], Harvest shipping operations AI, investigated the raids and reported her findings to an [[Jilan al-Cygni|undercover ONI agent]].<ref group="notes">Prior to the contact, the AI and an [[Jilan al-Cygni|undercover ONI agent]] was unaware of the alien parties responsible behind the raid, thinking that it was one of the many common Insurrectionist activities.</ref> The ONI agent devised a trap for the raiding parties, which resulted in a [[Skirmish Over Harvest|minor skirmish]] between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson|Avery Johnson,]] and the Kig-yar privateers. When the Covenant returned with another ship and a contingent of [[Jiralhanae]], the UNSC proposed a meeting (via pictogram) with the intention to make amends and to trade with the alien species. The Covenant met the UNSC on Harvest, but were only interested in claiming the relics that the [[Luminary]] had detected on Harvest, completely oblivious that the humans were the "relics" in question. The meeting was botched after [[Osmo]], a member of the [[Colonial Militia]], — was attacked by a nervous [[Unggoy]] — who was part of a second Covenant force sent to look for the relics. As a result, a firefight erupted between the two groups and the Covenant retreated back to their ship. | |||
The political ramifications of these relics were abundant, and two [[San 'Shyuum]] bureaucrats, the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]], were already scheming to use the supposed reliquary to inaugurate a new Age of Reclamation with themselves as the [[Hierarchs]] of the [[High Council]]. To do this, they needed the blessing of the Oracle of [[High Charity]]. When the two San 'Shyuum approached the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]] to affirm on their behalf, the data from the ''Rapid Conversion'' caused [[032 Mendicant Bias|the long dormant Oracle]] to reactivate. Mendicant declared that the Covenant had been misinterpreting Forerunner symbols: the "relics" in question were the humans, calling them [[Reclaimer]]s and his makers. This shocked the three San 'Shyuum, who concluded that the humans were actually living [[Forerunner]]s who had been left behind when the others transcended. Although they were able to prevent Mendicant from taking the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] to take the humans to deliver them to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], Fortitude concluded that if the masses learned that they might be left behind, they would rebel against the Prophets. Fortitude and Tranquility inducted the Philologist into their plan and ascended as the High Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy. They declared that the humans destroyed the reliquary on Harvest and ordered the entire race to be eradicated. | The political ramifications of these relics were abundant, and two [[San 'Shyuum]] bureaucrats, the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] and the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]], were already scheming to use the supposed reliquary to inaugurate a new Age of Reclamation with themselves as the [[Hierarchs]] of the [[High Council]]. To do this, they needed the blessing of the Oracle of [[High Charity]]. When the two San 'Shyuum approached the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]] to affirm on their behalf, the data from the ''Rapid Conversion'' caused [[032 Mendicant Bias|the long dormant Oracle]] to reactivate. Mendicant declared that the Covenant had been misinterpreting Forerunner symbols: the "relics" in question were the humans, calling them [[Reclaimer]]s and his makers. This shocked the three San 'Shyuum, who concluded that the humans were actually living [[Forerunner]]s who had been left behind when the others transcended. Although they were able to prevent Mendicant from taking the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] to take the humans to deliver them to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], Fortitude concluded that if the masses learned that they might be left behind, they would rebel against the Prophets. Fortitude and Tranquility inducted the Philologist into their plan and ascended as the High Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy. They declared that the humans destroyed the reliquary on Harvest and ordered the entire race to be eradicated. | ||
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===Continuing war (2536-2551)=== | ===Continuing war (2536-2551)=== | ||
[[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|right|225px| | [[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Humanity, heavily out-gunned, lost much ground to the Covenant.]] | ||
For fifteen years, the war continued in much the same way as before; costly victories on the ground for UNSC forces, but total Covenant space superiority. The UNSC managed to deal a heavy blow to the Covenant in 2537 with the destruction of the Covenant manufacturing plant [[K7-49]] in [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], and again during the [[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] in the same year. However, these victories were offset by the loss of [[New Constantinople]], the loss of its colonies at [[Leonis Minoris]], and the total destruction of the force of SPARTAN-IIIs sent to destroy the Covenant base. | For fifteen years, the war continued in much the same way as before; costly victories on the ground for UNSC forces, but total Covenant space superiority. The UNSC managed to deal a heavy blow to the Covenant in 2537 with the destruction of the Covenant manufacturing plant [[K7-49]] in [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], and again during the [[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] in the same year. However, these victories were offset by the loss of [[New Constantinople]], the loss of its colonies at [[Leonis Minoris]], and the total destruction of the force of SPARTAN-IIIs sent to destroy the Covenant base. | ||
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===2525=== | ===2525=== | ||
*The [[Skirmish Over Harvest|first battle]] between humanity and the Covenant takes place prior to the outbreak of the war. | *The [[Skirmish Over Harvest|first battle]] between humanity and the Covenant takes place prior to the outbreak of the war. Humanity attempts to gain a truce between the races through a pictogram of trade and peace between the Covenant and humanity, but to no avail. ''(Pre-War)'' | ||
*The Covenant launch a full-scale [[First Battle of Harvest|assault]] on Harvest, glassing the planet. Afterward, the Minister of Fortitude, Vice-Minister of Tranquility, and the Philologist become the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]], and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], and declare war on humanity. | *The Covenant launch a full-scale [[First Battle of Harvest|assault]] on Harvest, glassing the planet. Afterward, the Minister of Fortitude, Vice-Minister of Tranquility, and the Philologist become the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]], [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]], and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], and declare war on humanity. | ||
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*The final Covenant religious leader, the [[Prophet of Truth]], is executed by the Arbiter with help from the Flood. The Master Chief stops the Ark from firing the Halo Rings. | *The final Covenant religious leader, the [[Prophet of Truth]], is executed by the Arbiter with help from the Flood. The Master Chief stops the Ark from firing the Halo Rings. | ||
*''High Charity'' is destroyed by the Master Chief after he blasts the city's main reactors causing them to go critical. | *''High Charity'' is destroyed by the Master Chief after he blasts the city's main reactors causing them to go critical. | ||
*The Battle of [[Installation 04B]]. Thel 'Vadam, John-117 and Johnson battle to the control room that's on [[Installation 04B]]. Guilty Spark runs rampant, killing Johnson before being destroyed. [[Installation 04B]]’s Sentinels turned on John-117 and Thel 'Vadam. The unfinished Installation 04 is activated, damaging the Ark and destroying the entire Flood infestation including the [[Gravemind]]. These final events ended The | *The Battle of [[Installation 04B]]. Thel 'Vadam, John-117 and Johnson battle to the control room that's on [[Installation 04B]]. Guilty Spark runs rampant, killing Johnson before being destroyed. [[Installation 04B]]’s Sentinels turned on John-117 and Thel 'Vadam. The unfinished Installation 04 is activated, damaging the Ark and destroying the entire Flood infestation including the [[Gravemind]]. These final events ended The Human-Covenant War. However, the ''Dawn'' is torn in half while entering the portal home, sending 'Vadam to Earth, but leaving John and Cortana lost in space. | ||
===December=== | ===December=== | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*The very first Covenant species to encounter humanity were the [[Kig-yar]], the [[Unggoy]], the [[Huragok]], and the [[Jiralhanae]], - in that order - all prior to the inception of the war. | *The very first Covenant species to encounter humanity were the [[Kig-yar]], the [[Unggoy]], the [[Huragok]], and the [[Jiralhanae]], - in that order - all prior to the inception of the war. | ||
*Avery Johnson was the only human to witness both the beginning and end of the | *Avery Johnson was the only human to witness both the beginning and end of the Human-Covenant War, as he was present when [[Harvest]] was attacked and saw Truth killed, which signified the end of the war. He was also the first human to kill a Covenant member. | ||
==List of appearances== | ==List of appearances== | ||
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**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' | **''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' | ||
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]'' | **''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]'' | ||
**''[[ | **''[[Human Weakness]]'' | ||
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' | **''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' | ||
**''[[The Return]]'' | **''[[The Return]]'' | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
{{ | {{Human-Covenant War}} | ||
{{ | {{Humanwars}} | ||
{{Covenantwars}} | {{Covenantwars}} | ||
[[Category:human-Covenant War]] | [[Category:human-Covenant War]] | ||
