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List of unidentified species

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Revision as of 19:44, January 27, 2022 by TheArb1ter117 (talk | contribs)
A look at a crashed vessel from an unidentified species, responsible for landing on Installation 04.

During its history, the Milky Way galaxy has played host to many intelligent forms of alien life. While many can be grouped under the wider banners of the Forerunner Ecumene, the Covenant empire or the auspices of the Unified Earth Government for humanity, many alien encounters have been recorded with no currently-known species responsible.

Overview

Milky Way Galaxy

Forerunner indexing

According to a Catalog, before the firing of the Halo Array on 97,445 BCE, the Librarian studied and favored at least 123 species across three million worlds in regions the Forerunners explored in the Milky Way galaxy. The Catalog was uncertain however how many the Librarian aimed to preserve.[1] While many sentient species were ultimately indexed and reintroduced, many of them did not reach Tier 7 of the Technological Achievement Tiers after the firing of the Halo array, where only a handful were encountered by Humanity in the Orion Arm of the galaxy, and not every species that were in the Covenant were cataloged by the United Nations Space Command, with even the Covenant client species keeping few records of their affairs with them.[2]

Locations

Great dense cloud

Last communication

Following the firing of the Halo Array, a final communication was heard by 343 Guilty Spark at Installation 04 from a "great dense cloud". This was sent from a species that just managed to send out their first communications out from their home system. This species was not encountered by the Forerunners or Flood; and ultimately was not indexed by the Librarian for reintroduction. Guilty Spark did not understand their message, but presumed it was hopeful signals. After the Halo's pulse hit the cloud, the communication stopped.[3]

Installation 04 (Alpha Halo)

Over its operational lifespan, several unidentified visitors have found their way to Halo Installation 04.

Crashed ship

Main article: Unidentified alien vessel

Around 40,000 BCE[4] (50,000 years following the firing of the array), an Unidentified alien vessel crashed on the ring during an experiment 343 Guilty Spark conducted on the Halo.[5][6] None of the ship's occupants attempted to leave the vessel's crash site or attempt contact, leading Guilty Spark to build a sarcophagus around the vessel. Ultimately, the Monitor was hopeful for the next species to arrive on the ring.[4]

Visitors to the ring

During the Battle of Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark noted in logs made during the battle that the Covenant landing on the ring and seeking something was similar to another alien species who previously arrived at the ring, recorded what they saw and left.[7] These visits ultimately lead to 343 Guilty Spark changing his excitement at the prospect of meeting an alien species to defensive; threatening ships that trespassed near the ring including the UNSC Pillar of Autumn in 2552.[8]

Installation 05 (Delta Halo)

It is possible that unknown alien intervention has influenced the events which shaped the course of history for Installation 05.

Flood outbreak

It has been suggested that outside meddling may have caused the breach which lead to a Flood outbreak at the installation's containment facility, culminating in the outbreak and eventual formation of a Gravemind on Installation 05.[9]

System of Miasmic Giants

Below is evidence of alien species around the System of Miasmic Giants.

'Crecka's survival

Around 851 BCE, the Sangheili 'Crecka recalled a event that happened "many cycles ago" in the System of Miasmic Giants where a hostile species attacked a vessel he served on. During the attack, 'Crecka was the last survivor and managed to escape by piloting the ship randomly though slipspace. According to 'Crecka, the species did not speak a civilized tongue.[10]

Line Installation 9-12

Crashed ships

Among the debris found at Line Installation 9-12 includes a number of ships belonging to species not known to be Human or Covenant client species.[11]

Netherop

At some point in its distant past, the planet of Netherop hosted a civilisation and an intelligent species. The species was assumed extinct by John-117.[12]

  • In The Military Survey of Uninhabited Planets, the Office of Naval Intelligence had a classified addendum that said Netherop was possibly abandoned - implying that the original surveys of the planet may have found artificially constructed terrain features.[13]
  • Forgotten Highway: A stone highway that was not made by humanity was present on the planet.[13] It was cut into the cliff on what humanity called the Serpentine Canyon.[14]
  • Mountain runners: Oval-bodied[14], ten-legged spider-like machines made by an unidentified species were used by the Castoffs on the planet. These vehicles were not made with ferrous metal, meaning a leg could not be attached to Frederic-104s magnetic mount.[15] The machines had a driver and passenger compartment and control of the vehicle was done with a control orb. The machine was slightly bigger than an M12 Warthog.[14] The machines contained a coal-fired machine that charged batteries.[12]
  • Microwave-beam weapons: The Castoffs on Netherop made use of weapons that looked like a sickle-shaped dish antenna and fired a microwave burst.[14] These weapons were mounted on the mountain runners.[12]
  • Cave Cities: The unidentified species created cave cities, before Lena and her ancestors were marooned on Netherop. These were abandoned and had no food when investigated by the humans on Netherop, but they did contain water.[14]
  • Tools: Other examples of technology and tools created by this species were found on Netherop, though when investigated by the Castoffs were unable to be restored to working order.[14]

Unknown location

Solitary

On a world that was controlled by the Forerunners, numerous confinement platforms were constructed to keep threats contained. One of these platforms had a security breach leading to the inhabitant escaping.[16][17]

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Silentium
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint - News, Canon Fodder, Bulkhead Banter (Issue 66) (Retrieved on Jan 16, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  3. ^ Halo: Silentium
  4. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Terminals, Terminal 6
  5. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Terminals, Terminal 4
  6. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Terminals, Terminal 5
  7. ^ Halo 2: Limited Edition, Conversations from the Universe - 343 GUILTY SPARK – EXTRACTED/TRANSMITTED/ VOLUNTEERED FROM LOG
  8. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: Terminals, Terminal 1
  9. ^ Halo Waypoint - Universe, Locations, Delta Halo (Retrieved on Mar 5, 2021) [local archive] [external archive]
  10. ^ Halo: Broken Circle - Part One: A Place of Refuge, chapter 1
  11. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide - Locations, War Games, page 221 (Wreckage)
  12. ^ a b c Halo: Oblivion, chapter 12
  13. ^ a b Halo: Oblivion, chapter 8
  14. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Oblivion, chapter 10
  15. ^ Halo: Oblivion, chapter 9
  16. ^ Halo Waypoint - News, The Halo Bulletin: 11.9.11 (Retrieved on Apr 30, 2013) [archive]
  17. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Solitary