Beta Gabriel

Beta Gabriel
Astrographical
System:	Epsilon Eridani system
Orbiting:	Epsilon Eridani
Societal
Species:	Human (non-Native) Paelosur Qothal
Population:	500+ (pre-Fall of Reach)
Government:	Unified Earth Government

Beta Gabriel is a planet in the Epsilon Eridani system. A watery planet, Beta Gabriel is home to species resembling the whales and eels of Earth. Beta Gabriel is the location of UNSC Fathom, an Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) underwater facility.

Overview

Topography

Beta Gabriel is a watery world whose oceans are teeming with life. The giant, whale-like Paelosurs roam the seas, using echolocation to hunt for massive schools of krill-like creatures. Qothal "nightmare eels" spend most of their lives scouring the ocean floor and underwater caverns in search of crustaceans. Both of these sea creatures can also be found in the waters of Alluvion, having been seeded on these planets as part of the Conservation Measure after the firing of the Halo Array.

Locations

• Cortez Ocean
  • Aleutian Rim
    • Fathom Station

History

Human-Covenant war

Main article: Human-Covenant war

The planet's sparse population made it an easy target for a Jiralhanae pack with the ship Valorous Salvation when the Covenant attacked the planets in the Epsilon Eridani system, fleeing from a defeat at Reach. Ostensibly, Chieftain Parabum had his pack occupy the planet so that they could make sport of the captured humans, as well as their own Unggoy crew, hunting and eating them for entertainment; in reality, however, Parabum feared the wrath of his superiors and punishment for his failure and cowardice.

Learning of the Jiralhanae invasion of Beta Gabriel, UNSC linguistic expert Connor Brien was granted permission to land on the planet and study their behavior. He was caught by a group of Brute hunters while he observed from a tree, and was brought back to their encampment around the Valorous Salvation. While there he witnessed the slow breakdown of the pack's unity. He also noted that though the UNSC had estimated there were only five hundred people on the planet, the amount of carnage suggested there had been many more.

A coup orchestrated by Ceretus proved an ideal distraction for the humans, and they managed to benefit from the chaos. Albeit briefly, and two survivors fled - Dasc and Brien. Brien was killed by Dasc to prevent his followers from knowing he was still alive so that they could keep their hope. Eventually, a UNSC Marine strike force wiped out the remnants of the Jiralhanae, though they were too late to save the humans. It is likely that Kojo Agu was part of this strike force.

In August 2552, during the Fall of Reach, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn destroyed an unidentified Covenant warship approximately 14 million kilometers away from Beta Gabriel. After the Autumn had exhausted its energy reserves in the battle, Captain Jacob Keyes ordered Ensign William Lovell to plot a slingshot orbit around Beta Gabriel to take the ship back into the system, towards the battle at Reach.

A view of the damaged portion of the station.

At some point during the invasion of the Epsilon Eridani system, UNSC Of Uncommon Courage and Splendid Intention were downed in the southern waters of the planet. Beta Gabriel apparently survived the war.

Post-war

In 2554, the Office of Naval Intelligence had Fathom Station built in the Aleutian Rim of the Cortez Ocean in an effort recover weapon plans from the downed Covenant carrier. Operations went unhindered until 2556, when the Splendid Intention suddenly shifted from its resting place and slid down into a nearby trench. Debris collided with the station's northern terminal, resulting in the deaths of sixty-four researchers and explorers. All research efforts at the station were halted indefinitely.

Government and society

The planet was sparsely populated, with a total population of barely five hundred, none of whom were official colonists; rather, the planet was made into a little-known "outdoors getaway" by human entrepreneurs, supporting little infrastructure beyond a few supply shops, a basic landing port, a few rustic cabins, and a community lodge, where wealthy people could hunt, hike, go on "spirit quests", and other activities. It was also the self-imposed place of exile of Dasc Gevadim, a human spiritualist and founder of Triad, who disappeared from the public eye to give the impression that he had achieved transcendence.

Gameplay

The seas of Beta Gabriel serve as the setting for Fathom, a Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer map.

Gallery

• 

  A view of Fathom Station with a Qothal (left) and a Paelosur (right).

List of appearances

• Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
• Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation (Mentioned only)
• Halo Evolutions
  • Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss
• Halo 5: Guardians