Halo: Winter Contention

Winter Contention keyart.

Halo: Winter Contention (sometimes styled Winter Contention: A Halo Waypoint Chronicle) is a short story written by 343 Industries, released on February 8, 2023, to celebrate the Halo Infinite in-game Noble Intention event. The story follows the Spartan supersoldiers of Noble Team during the Defense of Concord seven months prior to the Fall of Reach, and features the first major appearance of Rosenda-A344 in Halo media and the first appearance of Thom-A293 since his debut and death in Deliver Hope. Accordingly, the story's cover artwork depicts a stylistic take on the original Halo: Reach Noble Team artwork recreated with Halo Infinite art assets, albeit with Rosenda and Thom replacing Emile-A239 and Noble Six, respectively.^[1]

As with the previous story in the Halo Waypoint Chronicle series, Halo: Vertical Umbrage, the story is available as an audiobook on YouTube narrated by Alex Wakeford.^[2]

Official synopsis

"December 2551. Though the Covenant invasion of Concord has seen a rare UNSC victory, the Spartans of Noble Team find themselves stranded in a remote hinterland town. Though the Covenant’s orbital presence has been neutralized, the remaining alien survivors have regrouped and prepare to make a devastating final stand.
With dwindling time and no reinforcements, Kat-B320 comes up with a daring plan to do what Spartans do best and turn the tide—and it’s up to Thom-A293 and Rosenda-A344 to make it happen.^[2]"

Summary

Two columns of smoke rise ominously over the horizon on Concord, marking the aftermath of battle. Concord’s rugged hinterlands, now covered in snow, are treacherous. The planet’s infrastructure has been bolstered by the Unified Earth Government due to the refugee influx, but the older colonists have chosen isolation in the wild terrain.

At 1405 hours on December 12, 2551, Noble Team, consisting of Spartans led by Carter-A259, is on-planet after a victory over Covenant space forces. The Covenant, furious and marooned, had redirected its efforts toward the less-defended hinterland towns. The team, stranded in the town of Skathi after a brutal snowstorm downed their Pelican, is preparing for an imminent Covenant assault. From his vantage point, Jun-A266, scanning the horizon with his sniper rifle, informs Carter of the approaching threat. Covenant forces, including the massive Zashk-pattern Draugr mobile fortress and an escort of Ghosts, Wraiths, and Banshees, are heading their way. With no air support, reinforcements hours away, and limited operational assets, Noble Team is backed into a wall.

Kat-B320 formulates a plan involving the team’s only functional M12 Warthog - an M862 Arctic Warthog. She, Rosenda-A344, and Thom-A293 will use the vehicle to engage the Draugr while the rest of the team remains to defend Skathi. As they drive the Warthog, Thom lightens the mood with confidence - "Three of us against a thousand of them?" - and a guessing game on their specific purple shade, but Kat reminds them of their mission as they approach the Covenant forces.

Rosenda expertly handles the first Ghost wave while Thom takes out an enemy pilot, commandeering one. The Draugr focuses its fire on Thom, but he evades the blasts. Kat and Rosenda manage to reach the Draugr’s rear, intending to take control of it from the inside. Jumping into and clearing the troop bay, Kat opens the forward loading ramp, allowing Thom to enter and join them. Together, they take control of the fortress, using its cannons to destroy the remaining Covenant forces outside. Kat’s vehicular genius turns the Draugr against its own allies, effectively neutralizing the alien threat; the trio eliminate what survivors remain.

Pelican dropships arrive at 2100 to deliver supplies to the town - in a celebratory yet busy mood - and offload UNSC Army Rangers to help, the Spartan trio helping. Noble Team gathers for a debriefing, including on the Draugr. Carter informs them of their redeployment - possibly to Fumirole due to surging Covenant activity in-system - but Rosenda is being reassigned, which she willfully accepts. The Spartans exchange brief heartfelt farewells before she departs. The remaining Noble members board their dropship, ready for their next mission, with the understanding of Concord's safety and Rosenda wondering if she'll see Noble again.

Sometime after the Human-Covenant War, Jun, now Chief of Staff of Spartan Operations and identified by service number, receives a transmission from Rosenda - "Rose." The message, addressed with a priority clearance, starts with an acknowledgement on Jun's overwatch and monitoring of her for an extended period. Rose expresses a mix of nostalgia and curiosity about what has he gotten on her reputation. She accepts an invitation he extended, with a lighthearted expectation of cake later on. The message concludes with her promising to see him soon.