Venezia, referred to by the Sangheili as Sqala,[1] is a human Outer Colony[2] located in the Qab system, formerly governed by the Unified Earth Government and now under the control of a centralized Insurrectionist leadership. Most of the planet is unexplored; New Tyne is essentially the only settlement on the planet,[3] other than scattered farms and factories located ten to fifteen kilometers away from the city.[4] Many small animals lurked around the edges of these settlements.[5]
History
Sometime prior to 2543, the planet cut off communications with the UNSC and declared independence. At the time, it was a known haven for terrorists and outlaws.[6] At some point during the Insurrection, they destroyed the local CAA bureau.[7] The citizens of Venezia were defended by a local militia headed by Peter Moritz.[8]
During the Human-Covenant War, Venezia became a sanctuary for war deserters from both the UNSC and Covenant sides. Venezia's human population co-inhabited the city of New Tyne with numerous Kig-Yar, Unggoy and Jiralhanae, living together in peace without hostilities.
In January 2553, the UNSC Ariadne experienced reactor malfunctions and was forced to exit slipspace over the planet. As Venezia refused to allow the ship's crew to evacuate planetside, believing it was a ploy to insert UNSC personnel on the planet,[9] and the UNSC Monte Cassino arrived late at the scene, the Adriadne's reactor exploded and the ship was lost with all hands. As the Monte Cassino was conducting search-and-rescue operations, Venezian ground forces fired upon the ship with a Covenant T-38 "Tyrant" cannon, despite the Monte Cassino informing Venezia traffic control of its intended movement.[10] The ship evaded fire and easily destroyed the cannon with missiles.[11]
On March 2553, ODSTs Malcolm Geffen and Vasily Beloi, along with undercover ONI operative Mike Spenser, infiltrated New Tyne disguised as civilians. Once there, they discovered that one of Venezia's high-ranking Insurrectionist leaders was Staffan Sentzke, Naomi-010's father. After participating in an operation on Sanghelios, Kilo-Five returned to the colony to find Sentzke. They discovered Sentzke was with a T'vaoan shipmaster named Sav Fel, the pirate who had taken the CCS-class battlecruiser Pious Inquisitor, the ship the UNSC had been looking for due to it posing a major threat.[12] Kilo-Five prioritized the acquisition of the battlecruiser, believing Sentzke was beginning preparation for an attack on the UEG capital, Earth.[13]
Ultimately, the Pious Inquisitor was destroyed[14] and Staffan agreed to stop campaigning against Earth and its colonies. Staffan promised to get Moritz to make "peace" with the UNSC if they left the world alone, but he knew the ceasefire would be fragile and uneasy.[15]
Between 2553 and 2557, the UEG sent a diplomatic team escorted by the Spartan-II Linda-058 to Venezia, eliminating a Kig-Yar raiding party in the process, on an operation codenamed BRONZE COBRA.[16] Before October 2558, the Dianthus VISR was discovered by ONI operatives in the arms markets of the planet, but they were unable to discover who manufactured the VISR sensor elements or how widespread the VISR was.[17]
Locations
Government and society
Venezia was formerly governed by the Unified Earth Government until the world cut off communications with the UNSC and became lawless prior to 2543.[6] During the war, some members of the Covenant settled on the planet and made peace with the human colonists. The Venezian Militia was formed to protect the planet's citizens and served as the closest thing Venezia had to a legitimate government.[9] Venezia was lawless, but had basic rules that all of the planet's citizens were expected to follow. As long as an individual followed these rules, they could rely on them for protection from others.[18] Minor disagreements were expected to be settled peacefully between individuals and the rules of the road were still followed.[19] The planet had a small defensive fleet consisting of armored freighters in addition to obsolete frigates and patrol craft.[20] The militia had additionally gathered large amounts of air vehicles of both human and Kig-Yar origin.[21]
The planet was not an anarchy, but an organized society of exiles, criminals, insurgents, and pirates.[22] Venezia was considered a desired destination for anyone looking to flee their government's authorities.[23] The majority of the planet was populated by humans and Kig-Yar, with some Unggoy and Jiralhanae. The four species would trade and work together, following the basic "rules of decent society". Although, occasionally some would break these rules and try to steal from others. This would result in the thief being killed by the Venezian Militia. Some buildings, such as the Grexco tantalum extraction plant, were designed to prevent break-ins.[24] Venezia did not follow the traditional banking system used in the rest of the human colonies, instead using old colonial credit bank notes, flex cards,[25] or bartering for goods.[26]
Venezia is apparently rich in tantalum, as much of the planet's economy was built on mining the element.[27]
Known residents
Trivia
Venezia is Italian for Venice.
List of appearances
- Halo: Glasslands (First appearance)
- Halo: The Thursday War
- Halo: Mortal Dictata
- Halo: Last Light (Mentioned only)
- Halo 5: Guardians (Mentioned only)
- Limited Edition (Mentioned only)
Sources
- ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 262
- ^ Halo: Last Light, page 62 (Google Play edition)
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 226
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 97
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 179
- ^ a b Halo: Glasslands, page 86
- ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 179
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 54
- ^ a b Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 159
- ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 183
- ^ Halo: Glasslands, page 184
- ^ Halo: The Thursday War, pages 430-431
- ^ Amazon.com — Halo: Glasslands product description
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 485
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 404
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition, Spartan Locke's Classified Orders
- ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Legendary visor description
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 235
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 65
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 103
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 184
- ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page ???
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 49
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 318
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 94
- ^ Halo: The Thursday War, page ???
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 148