Archive:Halo Waypoint/2014 to 2020/Universe/Locations

Sites

Alpha Shard

Fragment of Installation 04

Navigation Code: Location-6201

Anomaly Classification: Type-R3

Orbital Period: [REDACTED]

Day/Night Cycle: ACCELERATED

Maximum Surface Temperature: 900 degrees F

Overview

In 2552, the SPARTAN-II super soldier known as Master Chief John-117 successfully detonated the fusion reactors of the Halcyon-class cruiser UNSC Pillar of Autumn, destroying the alien artifact known as Installation 04 (Alpha Halo). Nearly all of the resulting debris was confirmed to have either fallen into the gravitational fields of the gas-giant Threshold or its moon, Basis. The remaining shards and pieces formed a debris field that remained in orbit. While various UNSC craft have surveyed and studied pieces of the broken ring - including the UNSC Red Horse in late 2552 – at least 30% of its mass and curvature remain unaccounted. The whereabouts of the missing material/objects are unknown, and no viable conjecture can be given at this time.

Discovery & Deployment

In late 2555, information was obtained from an Automated UNSC Scout Vehicle, Recon-14, which immediately piqued the interests of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). The signal emanated from an area deemed Location 6201 and was quickly analyzed by multiple ONI specialists analyzed. However, it was a scientist and ONI attaché for astrophysical phenomenon, Dr. Madeline Tress, who correctly surmised that the signal had indeed come from the missing fragment of Installation 04.

Recon-14 itself had been deployed from the UNSC Pillar of Autumn before the cruiser’s initial crash-landing on the Halo ring. The drone’s survival, paired with other evidence, strongly infers that at least part of the ring either instigated or was enveloped in a significant slipspace event – far in excess of both human and (known) Covenant technology. The common theory holds that Recon-14 became stranded when the Halo itself attempted to activate an emergency slipspace jump once the Autumn’s reactors went critical; perhaps as one of the installation’s many self-preservation protocols. The action would not be successful as the Autumn detonated before Alpha Halo could fully enact the procedure. As a result, only a [REDACTED]-size fragment of the Halo would make its escape. The subsequent jump however would send the fragment tumbling through space upon reentering normal space, where it was caught in the gravitational field of a nearby star.

Current Status

Currently, the fragment appears to be at least partially functioning, even to the point of attempting to continually reduce radiation levels. However, the fragment’s spin exposes it to the harsh radiation emanating from its anchoring star during the fragment’s “day” period, which lasts approximately every 16 hours.

Though ONI and the UNSC have attempted to learn all they can about the Halo Array, much of its secrets remain unexplained. Central to these mysteries is the nature of the Halo’s regenerative abilities and sustainability protocols. Despite the extreme damage and trauma inflicted on the installation, it still inexplicably retains certain functionality with regards to the preservation of its intended environmental conditions. This is including but not limited to gravitational field integrity, atmospheric composition, and even biodiversity levels. Further research on the extant ring material and systems prior to the quarantine strongly infers that the rings are made of multiple redundant systems, including slipspace engines, terraforming facilities, artificial gravity, and weather control. The true nature of how these areas are tended to, as well as a complete understanding as to the original intentions behind such designs, remains a mystery.

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Alpha Halo

Installation 04

Affiliation: Forerunner

Star System: Soell

Gravity Anchor: Threshold/Basis

Monitor: 343 Guilty Spark

Diameter: 6,214 miles (10,000km)

Atmosphere: 1 (N2, O2)

Surface Temperature: -9°F to 104°F (-23°C to 40°C)

Summary

Over one hundred millennia ago, the Forerunners developed a collection of ringworlds, collectively called the Halo Array, in hopes of stopping the advancement of the merciless parasite known as the Flood. The firing of the Halo Array was the final effort by the Forerunners to save all life in the galaxy – ironically by destroying it, as the Array was meant to deprive the Flood of its food source: intelligent life.

Discovery

On September 19, 2552, humanity stumbled upon Alpha Halo, and the UNSC Pillar of Autumn crash landed on its surface while trying to escape the pursuing Covenant. When the Covenant unwittingly released the Flood onto the ring, the Master Chief was forced to destroy it by detonating the UNSC Pillar of Autumn’s fusion reactors. The ring’s destruction triggered the Ark to forge a replacement, coined Installation 04b. Months later, the Chief destroyed this ring as well, but this time by firing the partially constructed weapon in an effort to permanently quell the Flood.

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Ark

Installation 00

Affiliation: Forerunner

Diameter: 79,243 Miles (127,530km)

Gravity: 1.0 G

Atmosphere: 1.0 (N2, O2, Ar)

Surface Temperature: -22°F To 122°F (-30°C To 50°C)

Summary

Far beyond the periphery of the Milky Way galaxy resides an ancient and massive foundry known as the Ark. Approximately one hundred thousand years before humanity fought the Covenant above the Ark, the Forerunners used this massive machine to build a number of ringworlds—the Halo Array. The Ark was also meant to be a refuge, giving selected species protection from the Flood and the Array itself in the event the rings were fired. At the end of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC followed their enemies to this remote construct, prevented them from firing Halo. They also used a newly formed ring – intended to be a replacement for Installation 04 - to obliterate the extant Flood population. The Ark was heavily damaged in the process.

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Corbulo Academy

CAMS

Faction: UNSC

Location: Circinius IV

Superintendent: General Daniel Black

Destroyed: April 26, 2526

Summary

Corbulo Academy of Military Science (CAMS) was a UNSC officer training school. Located on the Unified Earth Government colony of Circinius IV, the school was tasked with preparing cadets for military service against the Insurrection. This school was named after the Roman General, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, who, when ordered to fall on his sword in the name of Rome, obeyed without question, shouting “Axios”—“I am worthy.” General Daniel Black, the superintendent at the time of Circinius IV’s fall, often said that the school was named after the Roman General because he represented the “honor, valor, and allegiance” expected of cadets. A statue of General Corbulo holding an MA5 series assault rifle stood in the central courtyard.

On April 26, 2526, multiple Covenant heavy corvettes attacked Circinius IV. As it was among the first planets attacked by the Covenant, its population was unaware of the pending threat. Evacuations at Corbulo Academy itself were in progress when a Covenant corvette destroyed the campus’s space elevator. Only three students survived the assault, escaping the planet with Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.

Notable Staff

Colonel Kennedy Lynn Mehaffey – Professor

A hardened UNSC veteran of the Insurrection, Kennedy Lynn Mehaffey was raised on the outer colony of Desdoron. On her initial deployment as an ODST, a young Mehaffey was placed in a squad with a then-first-lieutenant Audrey Lasky. The two ascended the ranks together and both developed impressive reputations; Lasky for her encyclopedic intellect and Mehaffey for her relentlessness on the field. Her penchant for engaging rebels in close proximity, particularly in hand-to-hand combat with a blade—in addition to her often cold and calculated demeanor—earned her the handle "Icepick."

Eventually, Mehaffey would be transitioned from active duty into the role of Director at the Corbulo Academy of Military Science on Circinius IV. Reportedly, she was famously transferred “without a scratch,” which soon prompted the academy’s students to speculate about the origins of her scar. With each graduating class, the theories and rumors would become more involved, eventually evolving into a popular urban legend that upperclassmen would pass down to new recruits. In reality, no one ever really learned the truth. Despite her reputation, she was as respected as she was feared, and in her service at the academy was instrumental in turning out some of the UNSC’s best and brightest for nearly ten years.

Her contributions would come to a tragic end in 2526, when she was killed in action during the Covenant’s surprise assault on the Academy at the time of their invasion of Circinius IV.

General Daniel Black— Superintendent

A proud Marine officer, Daniel Black earned his stripes during his involvement in Operation: TREBUCHET. Throughout the course of the war he was awarded numerous decorations and achieved the rank of General. Black maintained an unwavering loyalty toward the UNSC and viewed their military governance over the colonies as both necessary and practical. In juxtaposition to this, he ardently believed the insurrectionists selfishly endangered lives and that it necessitated swift reciprocity by the UNSC in order to prevent further losses.

After witnessing an increase of outer colony youth joining the rebellion, Black adopted the philosophy that the key to winning this war would be in a profoundly regimented pro-UEG education during the formative years. To that end, Black took on the role of superintendent of the Corbulo Academy of Military Science. He proudly made it his mission to prepare the cadets for their future in the UNSC and was known to personally intervene when a squad underperformed.

In 2526, ONI’s Section Two division informed Black about the burgeoning Covenant threat. He responded by increasing Marine troops around the campus. He also authorized limited communications blackouts under the guise of routine maintenance procedures. When the Covenant attacked Circinius IV, Black issued evacuation orders before joining the battle. He died during the initial Covenant ground assault.

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