Requiem

This article is about the Forerunner Shield world. For other uses, see Requiem (disambiguation).

The aft half of the Forward Unto Dawn approaches Requiem.

Requiem is a Forerunner conservation sphere-type shield world^[1] located in the Milky Way galaxy.^[2] In summer 2557, the severed aft section of the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn, containing John-117 and Cortana, drifted near Requiem and were forcibly pulled inside an automated entrance portal on its surface, along with a number of ships from a Covenant fleet and later, the prototype starship UNSC Infinity.^[3] Inside, they encountered hostile Promethean forces that occupied the structure.^[4]

History

Requiem was once held by the Warrior-Servants, and a critical site during the Forerunner-Flood war. It once served as the home to the Warrior-Servants’ Promethean class, and a central hub for all Forerunner forces and war efforts. For reasons unknown, it was sealed during the Forerunner war with the Flood.^[5]

Background

A lush jungle inside Requiem.

Requiem has an external surface composed of layers of overlapping machinery, which can be seen externally by the number of lights on its surface. Some of these formations take on geometric patterns, such as circular orientations or arrays of lines. Amongst its complement of luminous formations are two massive symbols; the circular symbol for Reclaimers, and an unspecified symbol composed of irregular vertical shapes in a circular formation. This particular symbol has been seen on numerous Forerunner installations, such as the Halo Array and the lesser Ark, Installation 00.

A readily seen feature of this construct is that it harbors one large circular entrance portal, with an iris-type opening mechanism. When opened, a vibrant, blue-white light can be seen emanating from the interior. Though the full extent of the technology of the mechanical exterior shell has yet to be documented, it is known that as a type of Shield World, it is capable of protecting its interior from the effects of the activation of the Halo Array.

Though not witnessed by external observers, the interior of the facility is unique relative to the other known Shield Worlds; rather than housing an artificial star at its center, surrounded by a habitable inner surface, the exterior shell houses a planet. Another important feature is that immediately above the cloud layer of the protected planet, the interior surface of the protective shell is visible. This is demonstrated by the sky being dominated by the machinery above it, with large, vertical structures reaching down to the surface below.^[1]

Another distinguishing feature from other Forerunner artificial worlds is that Requiem's artificial star is located in the machinery above the interior planet. Because the facility has not yet been explored, it is unknown how day and night cycles are implemented, specifically relative to the significant number of structures anchored to the planet's surface. The next known aspect of this facility is that the protected planet itself possesses fully active and functioning technology, unlike other Forerunner sites, which have largely been abandoned and dormant,^[6] with the exception of the Sharpened Shield. It also seems that this conservation sphere is occupied by Promethean forces and a Cryptum belonging to the Didact.^[4]^[7]

Trivia

A requiem is a church mass celebrated for the repose of the soul(s) of one or more deceased persons. This may be a reference to the Forerunners' mass extermination following the firing of the Halo Array, or to the fact that John-117 has been presumed dead by the UNSC.
Prior to Halo 4, Requiem was known among fans as the Legendary Planet. This is a reference to the planet's first appearance in an exclusive ending in Halo 3, which is viewable only by completing the last level of the game on Legendary difficulty. In the ending, the aft section of the Forward Unto Dawn is seen drifting toward the planet; seconds later, a light shines across the surface of the planet, as the Forward Unto Dawn is caught by the planet's gravity. Requiem also appears in a small image in the Halo Encyclopedia, where it is shown to have a reddish-orange color on a small illuminated section.^[8] The planet appears again in the Halo 4 announcement trailer, where the aft half of the Forward Unto Dawn is seen being pulled into a massive, iris-like opening on its surface.^[9]^[10] The planet was finally identified as "Requiem" in the May 2012 issue of the GameInformer magazine.^[1]
An image of the planet is present in the bulletin board of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, in a poster for a fictional film titled Dark Planetoid Rising.
On the surface of the planet, as seen in the Legendary ending for Halo 3, a third symbol can be seen alongside the Reclaimer and unspecified Forerunner symbol; The 7-spoke insignia of the Bungie fan community known as Seventh Column. The symbol for Reclaimer is also the insignia for Marathon, a game trilogy made in the years before Halo: Combat Evolved was developed.^[11]
According to Brian Reed, the lead writer of Halo 4, Requiem is the largest Forerunner construct in history.^[12] Unless he was speaking hyperbolically, this would mean that Requiem is even larger than Shield World 006, which is two astronomical units in diameter. If he meant that Requiem is merely the largest construct featured in the games, it would be larger than the 100,000 kilometer lesser Ark.

Gallery

Exterior

An enhanced view of the surface of Requiem in Halo 3.
A view of Requiem in Halo 3 with added illumination.
The Forward Unto Dawn being pulled into Requiem in the Halo 4 announcement trailer.
Captain Andrew Del Rio observes Requiem from the bridge of the UNSC Infinity.
The Forward Unto Dawn approaching Requiem in a teaser image for Halo 4.
Halo4conceptart2.jpg

Halo 4 concept art featuring the Forward Unto Dawn entering Requiem's interior.
Halo4conceptart16.jpg

Another piece of concept art for Halo 4, featuring an opening on Requiem's surface and the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn.