35,266
edits
Sith Venator (talk | contribs) |
(Detailed summaries are what the sub-articles are for - this one should focus on the key points and impact of the events.) |
||
Line 106: | Line 106: | ||
Before the Forerunners first built the [[Halo Array]], the human race was a [[Prehistoric human civilization|great interstellar empire]]. During the course of their growth as a civilization, they [[Human-Flood war|encountered]] a terrifying threat: an extragalactic parasite known as the [[Flood]]. As the parasite ravaged their worlds and threatened to consume their entire species, humanity fled outwards from their home territory. As they did so, they attacked any Forerunner world where an infection had taken hold, neglecting to warn the Forerunners of the threat in favor of bombarding infected areas immediately. Ignoring their warnings about the dangers posed by the Flood, the Forerunners – led by the [[Ur-Didact]] and his [[Promethean]] [[Warrior-Servant]]s – defeated humanity and forcibly devolved their civilization. However, the Forerunners were left vulnerable by the long conflict: their military had been weakened, and all information regarding the mysterious threat that humanity had been fleeing was lost. After a period of calm, [[Forerunner-Flood war|the Flood returned]], and the Forerunners were ill-prepared to fight back.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum'''</ref> | Before the Forerunners first built the [[Halo Array]], the human race was a [[Prehistoric human civilization|great interstellar empire]]. During the course of their growth as a civilization, they [[Human-Flood war|encountered]] a terrifying threat: an extragalactic parasite known as the [[Flood]]. As the parasite ravaged their worlds and threatened to consume their entire species, humanity fled outwards from their home territory. As they did so, they attacked any Forerunner world where an infection had taken hold, neglecting to warn the Forerunners of the threat in favor of bombarding infected areas immediately. Ignoring their warnings about the dangers posed by the Flood, the Forerunners – led by the [[Ur-Didact]] and his [[Promethean]] [[Warrior-Servant]]s – defeated humanity and forcibly devolved their civilization. However, the Forerunners were left vulnerable by the long conflict: their military had been weakened, and all information regarding the mysterious threat that humanity had been fleeing was lost. After a period of calm, [[Forerunner-Flood war|the Flood returned]], and the Forerunners were ill-prepared to fight back.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum'''</ref> | ||
The Forerunner [[Builder]] [[rate]] had prepared for this eventuality, creating a number of ring-shaped superweapons known as the Halo Array. However, the Didact was reluctant to use these, and instead planned to use the [[Composer]], a device capable of transferring organic consciousness to software, as a means to save the galaxy's populace from Flood infection. But the process was flawed, and those who underwent the process were unable to be re-uploaded to an organic form. This, however, suited the Didact's purposes: he would use the Composer to convert his Prometheans into [[Promethean Knight|mechanical warriors]], later augmenting their numbers with converted humans to create a massive army to fight the Flood. In his view, this was both an elegant solution to the Flood problem and a means of neutralizing the human threat forever. However, his wife the Librarian was horrified by his actions, and sealed him inside the shield world Requiem, which was his base of operations. The converted Prometheans were left there to guard his [[Cryptum]], and Requiem remained quiet for millennia after the Forerunners were wiped out by the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref> | The Forerunner [[Builder]] [[rate]] had prepared for this eventuality, creating a number of ring-shaped superweapons known as the Halo Array. However, the Didact was reluctant to use these, and instead planned to use the [[Composer]], a device capable of [[Mind transfer|transferring]] organic consciousness to software, as a means to save the galaxy's populace from Flood infection. But the process was flawed, and those who underwent the process were unable to be re-uploaded to an organic form. This, however, suited the Didact's purposes: he would use the Composer to convert his Prometheans into [[Promethean Knight|mechanical warriors]], later augmenting their numbers with converted humans to create a massive army to fight the Flood. In his view, this was both an elegant solution to the Flood problem and a means of neutralizing the human threat forever. However, his wife the Librarian was horrified by his actions, and sealed him inside the shield world Requiem, which was his base of operations. The converted Prometheans were left there to guard his [[Cryptum]], and Requiem remained quiet for millennia after the Forerunners were wiped out by the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref> | ||
===Contemporary situation=== | ===Contemporary situation=== | ||
Line 124: | Line 124: | ||
===Sanghelios=== | ===Sanghelios=== | ||
{{Main|Sangheili civil war}} | {{Main|Sangheili civil war}} | ||
After the [[Human-Covenant war]], many Sangheili still worshipped the [[Forerunner]]s as gods. A religious sect known as the [[Servants of Abiding Truth]], led by a war veteran named [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], took to believing that any tampering with Forerunner relics was heresy, just as most Sangheili did before the founding of the [[ | After the [[Human-Covenant war]], many Sangheili still worshipped the [[Forerunner]]s as gods. A religious sect known as the [[Servants of Abiding Truth]], led by a war veteran named [[Avu Med 'Telcam]], took to believing that any tampering with Forerunner relics was heresy, just as most Sangheili did before the founding of the [[Covenant]]. As a result, 'Telcam and his followers grew angry with [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s government. After winning the favor of several [[keep]]s and mustering a small space fleet, the Servants led an uprising in the state of [[Vadam]]. They initially held the upper hand, but the tide turned when the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} arrived and intervened on behalf of the 'Vadam government, shooting down a rebel destroyer and firing a [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] round into massing rebel ground forces besieging 'Vadam's keep. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] subunit [[Kilo-Five]], however, hoped to keep the planet destabilized for fear that the Sangheili would oppose humanity if they were politically unified, and so they used their [[prowler]] ''[[UNSC Port Stanley|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. | ||
===Draetheus V=== | ===Draetheus V=== | ||
[[File:HSA Covenant remnant fleet in DraetheusV.jpg|thumb|250px|Merg Vol's Covenant fleet closes in on Draetheus V.]] | [[File:HSA Covenant remnant fleet in DraetheusV.jpg|thumb|250px|Merg Vol's Covenant fleet closes in on Draetheus V.]] | ||
{{Main|Battle of Draetheus V}} | {{Main|Battle of Draetheus V}} | ||
At one point after the war, a Covenant fleet led by [[Merg Vol]] invaded the UNSC research colony [[Draetheus V]] and its moon, [[X50]], in search of Forerunner relics, beginning a [[Battle of Draetheus V|major battle]] which marked one of the first missions of the UNSC's newest branch and home of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]], the [[Spartan (branch)|Spartan branch]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjakadAOic '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Spartan Assault - Debut Gameplay Reveal'']</ref> The battle saw significant losses on both sides and the planet Draetheus V itself nearly destroyed by Merg Vol's use of X50, which was in fact a Forerunner superweapon with the capability to destroy planets. The main hostilities concluded with Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]] killing Vol and sabotaging X50's main weapon, bringing the Covenant's quest to a halt. However, the Covenant returned when a looping Forerunner code began emanating from X50.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]''</ref> After arriving at the source of the signal, Spartan Palmer discovered that the source were the remains of Spartan [[Edward Davis]], who had died during the battle. The installation disintegrated Davis's corpse and encapsulated it in an unknown device, and with the help of a Pelican, Palmer took the remains of his comrade with her.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 30: The Source]]''</ref> | |||
==Requiem and the Didact== | ==Requiem and the Didact== | ||
Line 138: | Line 138: | ||
===Entering Requiem=== | ===Entering Requiem=== | ||
[[File:H4 John-117 Didact first encounter.jpg|thumb| | [[File:H4 John-117 Didact first encounter.jpg|thumb|left|250px|SPARTAN John-117 being immobilized by the Didact.]] | ||
The reawakened John and Cortana defeated the advanced scouting teams and reactivated the Dawn's weapon systems manually, destroying a [[CRS-class light cruiser]] in the process.<ref name="h4dawn"/> After scanning the vessel and detecting a Reclaimer, Requiem's automated systems pulled both the ''Dawn'' and the Covenant force surrounding it through the world's outer shell and down to the planet's surface. | The reawakened John and Cortana defeated the advanced scouting teams and reactivated the Dawn's weapon systems manually, destroying a [[CRS-class light cruiser]] in the process.<ref name="h4dawn"/> After scanning the vessel and detecting a Reclaimer, Requiem's automated systems pulled both the ''Dawn'' and the Covenant force surrounding it through the world's outer shell and down to the planet's surface. The Master Chief and Cortana vowed to make their way back to Earth in order to find a cure for Cortana's escalating [[rampancy]]. They set out to find a way to contact the UNSC, circumventing the powerful jamming field surrounding the world.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]''</ref> | ||
Fighting through numerous Covenant hunting parties, Master Chief was attacked by advanced Forerunner defense drones which Cortana identified as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching {{UNSCship|Infinity}} of the dangerous | Fighting through numerous Covenant hunting parties, Master Chief was attacked by advanced Forerunner defense drones which Cortana identified as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching {{UNSCship|Infinity}} of the dangerous gravity field that had disabled the ''Forward Unto Dawn''.<ref name="h4for"/> | ||
After disabling two control nodes in Requiem's core, it became clear that a great threat had been imprisoned within Requiem. The [[Ur-Didact]], the Forerunner's greatest warrior, remained in suspended animation within a [[Cryptum]]. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, he declared the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remained weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the Mantle, a view rejected by his lover, the [[Librarian]]. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods, the Covenant quickly swore alliance to the Didact and his armies. The Didact viewed the Covenant as mere primitives, but permitted them to serve his cause, to prevent the ascension of the human race to galactic prominence.<ref name="h4for"/> | |||
{{Clear}} | |||
===''Infinity'' arrives=== | ===''Infinity'' arrives=== | ||
[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-4.jpg|thumb|250px|UNSC ''Infinity'' crashing on Requiem.]] | [[File:H4-E3-Campaign-4.jpg|thumb|250px|UNSC ''Infinity'' crashing on Requiem.]] | ||
Narrowly escaping the collapsing core of Requiem, the Chief and Cortana returned to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the ''Infinity'' came too late. The massive warship crashed more than 70 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position.<ref name="h4inf">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''</ref> | Narrowly escaping the collapsing core of Requiem, the Chief and Cortana returned to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the ''Infinity'' came too late. The massive warship crashed more than 70 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position.<ref name="h4inf">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]''</ref> | ||
Evading capture, John was successful in regrouping with a group of [[SPARTAN-IV | Evading capture, John was successful in regrouping with a group of [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IVs]] led by [[Commander]] [[Thomas Lasky]]. John rallied a force of nearby Marines and regained control of the besieged ship's interior. After reinitializing the ship's secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turned in the UNSC's favor. Two CRS-class light cruisers and dozens of dropships were destroyed in the artillery barrage, while the Didact's Cryptum was forced to retreat.<ref name="h4inf"/> | ||
With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with [[Andrew Del Rio]], Captain of the ''Infinity''. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well preventing the ship from leaving. A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed with a Mammoth- | With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with [[Andrew Del Rio]], Captain of the ''Infinity''. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well generator preventing the ship from leaving. A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed with a [[Mammoth]] ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC was able to defeat a large armored strike force of Covenant and Prometheans and disabled the gravity beam. Upon reaching his objective, John was confronted with a vision from the [[Librarian]], who warned him of the Didact's true plans. After explaining their history to them, she provided John with a gift, a medical treatment to further augment his genome and a means to resist the Didact's plan to enslave the human race once again.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> | ||
Regrouping aboard the ''Infinity'', Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the ''Infinity''. Armed with a Pelican gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shield and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref> | Regrouping aboard the ''Infinity'', Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the ''Infinity''. Armed with a Pelican gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shield and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref> | ||
Line 157: | Line 157: | ||
===The Composer=== | ===The Composer=== | ||
{{Main|Raid on Ivanoff Station}} | {{Main|Raid on Ivanoff Station}} | ||
This attempt ultimately proved unsuccessful, as the Didact left Requiem aboard his flagship, the ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a [[Lich]], the Chief followed the Forerunner to [[Ivanoff Station]], a UNSC research base orbiting [[Installation 03]], the Composer's resting place. [[Sandra Tillson]], a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite the Spartan reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer, tearing it out of the station's hull with a gravity beam. Testing the weapon, the Composer burned the crew of the station to ash, assimilating their minds to create even more Prometheans. The | This attempt ultimately proved unsuccessful, as the Didact left Requiem aboard his flagship, the ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a [[Lich]], the Chief followed the Forerunner to [[Ivanoff Station]], a UNSC research base orbiting [[Installation 03]], the Composer's resting place. [[Sandra Tillson]], a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite the Spartan reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer, tearing it out of the station's hull with a gravity beam. Testing the weapon, the Composer burned the crew of the station to ash, assimilating their minds to create even more Prometheans. The Librarian's genetic enhancements rendered the Master Chief immune to the device's effects. | ||
===Battle of Earth=== | ===Battle of Earth=== | ||
[[File:H4-ComposerFiringOnPhoenix.jpg|thumb|250px|The Composer firing on New Phoenix.]] | [[File:H4-ComposerFiringOnPhoenix.jpg|thumb|250px|The Composer firing on New Phoenix.]] | ||
{{Main|Battle of Earth (2557)}} | {{Main|Battle of Earth (2557)}} | ||
With the Composer in the Didact's possession, the Forerunner was poised to deal a deathblow to Earth, and by extension humanity. Racing across the ''Mantle'''s hull aboard an [[F-41 Broadsword]] fighter, the Master Chief was surprised to find the ''Infinity'', now under the command of Commander Lasky, and the rest of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] ready and waiting for the Didact. John was able to | With the Composer in the Didact's possession, the Forerunner was poised to deal a deathblow to Earth, and by extension humanity. Racing across the ''Mantle'''s hull aboard an [[F-41 Broadsword]] fighter, the Master Chief was surprised to find the ''Infinity'', now under the command of Commander Lasky, and the rest of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] ready and waiting for the Didact. With aid from the UNSC fleet, John was able to enter the Forerunner flagship and fight his way to the Didact's location. | ||
Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact began to fire on Earth with the Composer, annihilating the population of [[New Phoenix|New Phoenix, Arizona]]. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK warhead]], John confronted the Didact for the second time. | Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact began to fire on Earth with the Composer, annihilating the population of [[New Phoenix|New Phoenix, Arizona]]. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK warhead]], John confronted the Didact for the second time. With the rampant Cortana's help, the Master Chief used a [[pulse grenade]] to destroy the Forerunner's armor, sending him down into a slipspace rupture beneath the Composer. With time having already ran out, the Spartan detonated the nuclear bomb manually as a desperate last resort. The Composer and ''Mantle's Approach'' were destroyed, saving Earth. | ||
Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to [[Slipspace translocation|translocate]] John away from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own. Left adrift in space, he was later recovered | Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to [[Slipspace translocation|translocate]] John away from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own. Left adrift in space, he was later recovered and brought aboard ''Infinity'', where he rejoined Palmer and the SPARTAN-IVs, preparing for the inevitable battles ahead. | ||
===Return to Requiem=== | ===Return to Requiem=== | ||
Line 187: | Line 187: | ||
The events revealed a significant security breach in the UNSC, with Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] exposed as a traitor along with the implicit presence of a higher-ranking leak within the organization. The Covenant's attack itself was a major setback to Thel 'Vadam's efforts to make peace with the Jiralhanae.<ref name="HE3">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #3''</ref> Captain Lasky later discovered that the attack on Ealen IV had not been orchestrated by the Covenant remnants, but by [[Daniel Clayton]], a UNSC captain and defector to the [[New Colonial Alliance]] bent on revenge against Lord Hood, who hired Vata 'Gajat and his troops to stage the attack.<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #5''</ref> | The events revealed a significant security breach in the UNSC, with Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] exposed as a traitor along with the implicit presence of a higher-ranking leak within the organization. The Covenant's attack itself was a major setback to Thel 'Vadam's efforts to make peace with the Jiralhanae.<ref name="HE3">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #3''</ref> Captain Lasky later discovered that the attack on Ealen IV had not been orchestrated by the Covenant remnants, but by [[Daniel Clayton]], a UNSC captain and defector to the [[New Colonial Alliance]] bent on revenge against Lord Hood, who hired Vata 'Gajat and his troops to stage the attack.<ref name="HE5">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #5''</ref> | ||
=== | ===''Infinity'' ambushed=== | ||
[[File:Infinity attacked.... by a third time.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Covenant station attacking the UNSC ''Infinity''.]] | [[File:Infinity attacked.... by a third time.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Covenant station attacking the UNSC ''Infinity''.]] | ||
{{Main|Ambush at Oth Lodon}} | {{Main|Ambush at Oth Lodon}} | ||
After their failed assault on Ealen IV, 'Gajat and Captain Clayton lured Admiral Hood and the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} into a trap. They launched a [[freighter]], the ''[[Pilgrims Pride]]'' which sent out a distress signal that was later picked up by ''Infinity''. When ''Infinity'' arrived in the [[Artesia-702 system]], it found the damaged freighter and tugged the ship into one of its deployment bays. An ambush was sprung within the bay when the freighter set itself to self-destruct and multiple UNSC aircraft exited its cargo bay. The attack was repelled by Fireteams Majestic, [[Fireteam Colossus|Colossus]], and [[Fireteam Fenrir|Fenrir]].<ref name="HE4">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #4''</ref> | |||
After running an ID check on the [[Vulture]]s and [[Sparrowhawk]]s used in the ambush, the ''Infinity'' crew discovered that the assault crafts used were from the long-lost {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.<ref name="HE4"/> With the ''Spirit'''s possible location found, Lord Hood authorized Palmer to conduct a search-and-rescue mission without being detected. Equipped with [[OF92 Booster Frame]]s, Palmer and Fireteam Majestic scouted [[Oth Lodon]]'s system. Exploring an asteroid field, the Spartans came across not the ''Spirit of Fire'' but instead an {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}} docked at a [[Oth Lodon station|Covenant station]].<ref name="HE5"/> | |||
After ''Infinity'' jumped to the vicinity of the station, Captain Clayton announced his vengeance against Admiral Hood and launched a surprise attack against ''Infinity'' with the station's powerful [[energy projector|glassing cannon]], completely disabling the ship.<ref name="HE5"/> However, Commander Palmer and Fireteam Majestic were able to board the NCA station and seize the command center. They also destroyed 'Gajat's ship, which was preparing to attack ''Infinity'', killing the mercenary leader.<ref name="esc6">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #6''</ref> | |||
A significant portion of the ''Infinity'' crew were killed in the attack, including [[Bradley|Commander Bradley]], while Fleet Admiral Hood was left paralyzed. Three days later, the UNSC dispatched a task force to repair ''Infinity'' and monitor the station.<ref name="esc6"/> With Daniel Clayton captured, Hood visited the turncoat captain in his cell, querying Clayton about the intentions of the NCA's leader, [[Mattius Drake|Admiral Drake]]. Clayton only told Hood the NCA was stronger than before and had agents on every colony, even Earth, before being shipped to [[Midnight Facility]] on Hood's orders.<ref name="esc6"/> | |||
==List of appearances== | ==List of appearances== |