Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon
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Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon is the fifth entry in the Halo Waypoint Chronicle series of short stories published by 343 Industries, due to release on November 27, 2023.[1][2] It was initially announced at the Canon Fodder Live event at the Halo World Championships 2023 as one of four then-upcoming Waypoint Chronicle stories, teased only with the keyart for the Combined Arms in-game event in Halo Infinite.[3]
The story is set during the Banished battle for control of the kemuksuru mines of Suban, as depicted in the Halo Infinite Season 05 map Prism. The second intel drop of Season 05 was released as a tie-in to Battle for the Blood-Moon.[1]
Official synopsis
| “ | 2560. The Banished have come to Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, seeking to claim the unique natural resource within its vast mines: the beautiful but volatile Subanese crystals.
The Swords of Sanghelios and their Spartan allies face an overwhelming force on the ground, while a Sangheili shipmistress in the skies above seeks to find a weakness in the enemy’s armor that might turn the tide against these invaders.[2] |
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Summary
The story takes place during a period of intense conflict on Sanghelios. In many recent weeks, the planet has experienced unprecedented upheaval. Following Arbiter Thel 'Vadam's encounter with the Banished on the corpse-world of N'ba, the Created forces that had held Sanghelios in a tight grip suddenly withdrew, leaving a power vacuum. Many Sangheili keeps and kaidons continue to support the Arbiter's efforts to unify their people, but others seek to divide power differently. This created a volatile situation, which the Banished, eager to expand their influence, readily exploit by infiltrating the Urs system without resistance, as some Sangheili under their sway leave the door open for them.
The latest confrontation unfolds over the moon Suban, a crucial site due to its kemuksuru mines. These energized crystals power the needle-launcher weapons used by many former Covenant species, making Suban a highly valuable resource. The Banished established a rapid extraction site at one of the remote quarries, a move that requires a swift and decisive response from the Sangheili. However, Sangheili forces are struggling with coordination, prompting Fleetmaster Arkad Nar 'Kulul to initiate a combined-arms operation including four Spartans from Fireteam Jorogumo.
Shipmistress Mahkee 'Chava reviews the large tactical holograph of Suban in the bridge of her blockade runner Scorrin's Blade. The bridge, designed like other Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette, is filled with control consoles and is spacious, but Mahkee's current task is less dynamic than desired, being made to gather intel from a distance instead of engage Banished forces directly. Per its class, Scorrin's Blade is equipped with advanced stealth generators and a Forerunner-based hyperscanner. These systems are capable of providing detailed scans of enemy ships, but their use has been limited due to past restrictions. The Swords of Sanghelios, however, are more open to using artificial intelligence than the Covenant were, and Mahkee is determined to utilize these resources effectively.
Mahkee queries Dibdib, a diminutive Unggoy, about the latest updates; he reports that the data on the enemy dreadnought Ghost of Barolon is being sent to the main holograph. Mahkee instructs Xelq 'Tylk to pull the runner back to a safer distance. She reflects on the significance of Suban, her home and a place of historical and spiritual importance to her people. The Banished and their superior firepower are troubling, as the Scorrin's Blade is heavily outgunned. Despite the overwhelming odds, Mahkee recognizes the value of patience and the importance of gathering intelligence before launching an attack. She is confident in the capabilities of the joint operation on the ground, where Spartans and Swords forces are collaborating. Mahkee draws strength from her past experiences fighting alongside Spartans and remains determined to find a strategic advantage to defeat the Banished. She believes that the combined pocket ground efforts will turn the tide against scores of Banished troops - "sorrowful odds" for the enemy.
Evocati Fahl 'Nto, a seasoned warrior, leads the groundside mission and a scout team comprising two Spartans and Kig-Yar Dahks. Each Spartan has been given a Sangheili name to foster a sense of inclusion. Fahl observes Trell, one of the Spartans, as they survey the Banished's operations. Trell reports at least two docking platforms with a steady flow of fork-buckets - a colloquial term for the Banished's siege-haulers, which transport hundreds of needle-launcher-armed warriors. Dahks, an ex-Jha'kaar veteran and expert sniper, remarks on the vast resources visible even without a scope. Dahks has a particular affinity for human sniper rifles, often engaging in spirited discussions with Trell about their usage. Glyyss, the other Spartan, deploys a survey drone to get a closer look inside the quarry caves. Fahl, appreciating Glyyss' banter with Dahks, instructs Dahks to sync his optics with the drone and remain as overwatch, maintaining communication. Glyyss then checks if they are ready to signal the other Spartans Jaarov and Zhinn. Fahl confirms and orders them to inform Orim 'Kasaan, the SpecOps warrior leading the main force, that they will soon be in position. They must move quickly, as their window of opportunity is limited.
Mahkee seeks confirmation on a critical transmission's authenticity. 'Tylk verifies the signature of 'Kasaan aboard the vessel of origin. With confirmation at hand, Mahkee orders her crew to contact the summit-masters and ensure that Banshee talons are ready at the designated coordinates. Her thoughts quickly shift to how their ground ops could conclude and how they might influence broader strategies in their ongoing conflict. As she begins to calculate probability metrics, 'Tyik interrupts, announcing an incoming transmission from the Shipmaster of a Banished dreadnought. Bracing herself for what she anticipates will be an enlightening conversation, Mahkee orders the transmission to be put through, revealing a bulky hunched Sangheili in golden armor. Mahkee is momentarily surprised, having expected a Jiralhanae Shipmaster as dreadnoughts hold cultural significance for their species, especially after the Razing of Oth Sonin.
The Sangheili introduces himself as Orna 'Fulsam, High Warlord of the Banished, casually greeting Mahkee. Unmoved with his title, she tersely asks what he wants. Orna acknowledges the strength of their forces and suggests that conventional victory is impossible for Mahkee's fleet. Mahkee, holding his gaze, remarks that while his fleet has certain advantages, she hopes he did not interrupt her preparations just to boast. Orna then proposes avoiding unnecessary bloodshed among their kind by insinuating that Mahkee step aside and allow the Banished to take Suban. He further offers that if Mahkee pledges allegiance to the Banished, only the Demons desecrating Suban would need to perish. Intrigued but wary, Mahkee asks if he refers to the Spartans, to which Orna bitterly clarifies that he means the humans, whom he blames along with the Arbiter for the Blooding Years. The Shipmistress senses the madness in Orna's hatred. The Shipmaster, defiant and standing straighter, begins to deliver what seems to be a prepared speech, but Mahkee, resigned, prepares herself to endure it.
Back on the ground, the Shua'ree mission requires precise execution, so Dahks coordinates with Fahl, Glyyss, and Trell to eliminate the Banished's outer patrol at the mining site. Fahl silently kills a Sangheili mercenary while Glyyss neutralizes another target, clearing the way for the next phase. Fahl signals Scorrin's Blade, and Banshee attack flyers descend, targeting kemuksuru-loaded siege-haulers. The explosions throw the mine into chaos, further amplified by sniper fire from Dahks and Trell. Fahl gives 'Kasaan the greenlight, and a Phantom rises, releasing Sangheili warriors and Spartans Jaarov and Zhinn to engage the Banished. Despite being outnumbered, the Swords capitalize on the confusion, holding their ground. Amid the chaos, Koal 'Mal, a hulking Sangheili, fights with a fury fueled by his hatred for those who betrayed their kind by siding with the Banished. The battle intensifies when Fahl encounters Chieftain Ipso, a formidable Jiralhanae leader who taunts Fahl over the Sangheili's internal conflicts.
As the Chieftain's captains open fire, Fahl narrowly avoids the plasma blasts, then three allied Sangheili come for help and take down one of them. One of the allied is is crushed by Ipso's gravity hammer, and after several minutes of valiant combat, he is ultimately overpowered; a blow from the Chieftain's Ravager blade sends Fahl sprawling, and as he struggles to rise, Ipso prepares to deliver a killing strike. Just as Fahl resigns himself to his fate, Glyyss intervenes, taking the blow meant for him and is fatally wounded. The Swords Phantom arrives, providing suppressive fire, and Fahl's comrades Jaarov and Zhinn retrieve Glyyss' body. Despite the desperate situation, Koal 'Mal argues against retreat, fearing the loss of Shua'ree. Fahl, battered and bloodied, insists they must withdraw and return when the time is right, leaving the battlefield with the weight of their losses heavy upon them.
In the meantime, Orna's tirade continues, blaming humans for the Sangheili's failures and the destruction of Saepon'kal. He asserts that they are living in humanity's battle-song, with the Arbiter enabling their spread to ease his guilt. Mahkee recognizes some truths in Orna's words, acknowledging humanity's rapid rise from the Covenant's ashes with a newfound arrogance. She considers the dark rumors surrounding the Office of Naval Intelligence and its role in events like Jul 'Mdama's emergence. However, she knows the reality is more complex than Orna presents and does not justify his wholesale condemnation of the human species, thus counters by pointing out Orna's alliance with the Banished, who also collaborate with humans, instead of joining a Covenant remnant group. Orna dismisses this, arguing that humans, like vermin, are easily manipulated and turned against one another. Mahkee retorts that this might indicate they are not so different from the Sangheili. Orna concludes by leaving his offer open until their next battle and requests Mahkee deliver a message from Atriox to her Fleetmaster that "Let 'Volir sends his regards."
Appearances
Gallery
Combined Arms keyart used to tease the short story.
Artwork of the Mines of Shua'ree created for this story.
External links
- Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon - The official Waypoint post in which the short story was released for free.
- Official Battle for the Blood-Moon PDF - The PDF of the short story released on Halo Waypoint (Archived copy).
- Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon | Audiobook - The audiobook narrated by Alex Wakeford.
Sources
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Fly Me to the Blood-Moon (Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Combined Arms Operation Launch (Retrieved on Nov 14, 2023) [archive]
- ^ YouTube - Halo, HaloWC 2023 Community Stage – Day 1 (Forge, Steve Downes, Jen Taylor, Keith David, Lore, Digsite +): 7:38:02 (Retrieved on Oct 14, 2023)
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