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Portal at Voi: Difference between revisions
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The '''Portal at Voi''',<ref name="evg">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 146''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "Human Weakness", ''pages 382, 395''</ref> known to the scientific community as the '''Excession at Voi''' or simply '''the Excession'''<ref name="evo">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> and sometimes referred to as '''the Artifact''',<ref>[http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/701137/Reaction-Time-Bungie-Reflects-on-Halo-3-ODST.html G4TV Bungie Interview, December 8, 2009]</ref> is a massive [[Forerunner]] construction in [[Kenya]], [[Africa]] on [[Earth]]. Designed to generate a [[slipspace portal]] to [[Installation 00]], it was built across and eventually buried beneath an area that would come to encompass the town of [[Voi]] and the city of [[Mombasa]], and it was uncovered by the [[Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] in late [[2552]]. It can be activated by a specific [[keyship]], that being the Covenant's "[[Forerunner Dreadnought]]", and was so activated upon its unearthing. It was reactivated once more in March of [[2555]] with the help of [[Drifts Randomly]], a Huragok that had worked on the [[keyship|Dreadnought]]. | The '''Portal at Voi''',<ref name="evg">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 146''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "Human Weakness", ''pages 382, 395''</ref> known to the scientific community as the '''Excession at Voi''' or simply '''the Excession'''<ref name="evo">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> and sometimes referred to as '''the Artifact''',<ref>[http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/701137/Reaction-Time-Bungie-Reflects-on-Halo-3-ODST.html G4TV Bungie Interview, December 8, 2009]</ref> is a massive [[Forerunner]] construction in [[Kenya]], [[Africa]] on [[Earth]]. Designed to generate a [[slipspace portal]] to [[Installation 00]], it was built across and eventually buried beneath an area that would come to encompass the town of [[Voi]] and the city of [[Mombasa]], and it was uncovered by the [[Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] in late [[2552]]. It can be activated by a specific [[keyship]], that being the Covenant's "[[Forerunner Dreadnought]]", and was so activated upon its unearthing. It was reactivated once more in March of [[2555]] with the help of [[Drifts Randomly]], a Huragok that had worked on the [[keyship|Dreadnought]]. | ||
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=== Post-War period === | === Post-War period === | ||
{{Quote|There are more secrets locked under our feet than we dare speculate on.|Doctor [[William Iqbal]] in a letter from the Department of Xenoarchaeological Studies at [[Edinburgh University]] to security-cleared faculty and onsite graduate students. | {{Quote|There are more secrets locked under our feet than we dare speculate on.|Doctor [[William Iqbal]] in a letter from the Department of Xenoarchaeological Studies at [[Edinburgh University]] to security-cleared faculty and onsite graduate students.{{Ref/Reuse|evo}}}} | ||
[[File:PortalOrbit.png|thumb|left|250px|The portal as seen from orbit immediately after it collapsed following damage done to the Ark.]] | [[File:PortalOrbit.png|thumb|left|250px|The portal as seen from orbit immediately after it collapsed following damage done to the Ark.]] | ||
When [[Installation 08]] was prematurely fired on December 11, 2552, it tore itself to pieces, doing an enormous amount of damage to the Ark. This sudden destruction caused the portal to collapse while the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' was still traveling through it back to Earth. The ship was torn in to two large pieces at this time and only the fore half made it back to Earth, crashing into the Indian Ocean. The ''Dawn'' did not exit at the point in Earth's atmosphere where it would have had the portal remained wholly intact, but instead emerged from [[slipspace]] in Earth's orbit, just narrowly allowing [[Thel 'Vadam]] a destination to land. From that point onward, the portal remained inert and inaccessible. In March of [[2553]], following a ceremony honoring the fallen of the [[Covenant War]] held near the site, the Excession was isolated from the rest of the [[East African Protectorate]] and heavily guarded. Civilian [[Xenoarchaeology|xenoarchaeologists]] were hired by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] to study the artifact. While closed, it was still drawing power from an unknown source and the majority of the passageways below it were still unexplored. | When [[Installation 08]] was prematurely fired on December 11, 2552, it tore itself to pieces, doing an enormous amount of damage to the Ark. This sudden destruction caused the portal to collapse while the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' was still traveling through it back to Earth. The ship was torn in to two large pieces at this time and only the fore half made it back to Earth, crashing into the Indian Ocean. The ''Dawn'' did not exit at the point in Earth's atmosphere where it would have had the portal remained wholly intact, but instead emerged from [[slipspace]] in Earth's orbit, just narrowly allowing [[Thel 'Vadam]] a destination to land. From that point onward, the portal remained inert and inaccessible. In March of [[2553]], following a ceremony honoring the fallen of the [[Covenant War]] held near the site, the Excession was isolated from the rest of the [[East African Protectorate]] and heavily guarded. Civilian [[Xenoarchaeology|xenoarchaeologists]] were hired by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] to study the artifact. While closed, it was still drawing power from an unknown source and the majority of the passageways below it were still unexplored.{{Ref/Reuse|evo}} It was suspected that the portal had additional as-of-yet undiscovered functions besides simply creating a gateway between Earth and the Ark.{{Ref/Reuse|evo}} | ||
In [[2555]], scientists exploring [[Installation 07]] discovered a countdown sequence and it was determined that it was originating from the Ark. It suddenly became of paramount importance that the portal be reactivated. The UNSC reached out to the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and a Huragok named [[Drifts Randomly]] that had worked onboard the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] was brought to Earth. After a few days, it was able to open the portal using data from the keyship it had internalized. A joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team was sent through the portal to [[Operation: FAR STORM|prevent]] the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. The countdown was part of a ploy by the Ark's monitor, [[000 Tragic Solitude]], to make the humans on Earth reactivate the portal so that he could send [[Retriever Sentinel]]s to mine the [[Sol system]] for materials to repair damage done to his installation. Tragic Solitude explained to [[Olympia Vale]] that the firing of [[Installation 08]] damaged the portal and severed his ability to control it from the Ark. Though Tragic Solitude repaired the portal on the Ark end, it required activation on the Earth end to return to its previous state.<ref name="HITD266">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 266''</ref> He also increased the portal's power and astrogation systems to send and receive objects much faster despite the fact that doing so was an extraordinary exertion of power and information and could well compromise many of his systems.<ref name="HITD305">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 305''</ref> As a result travel through the portal was far faster than before. | In [[2555]], scientists exploring [[Installation 07]] discovered a countdown sequence and it was determined that it was originating from the Ark. It suddenly became of paramount importance that the portal be reactivated. The UNSC reached out to the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and a Huragok named [[Drifts Randomly]] that had worked onboard the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] was brought to Earth. After a few days, it was able to open the portal using data from the keyship it had internalized. A joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team was sent through the portal to [[Operation: FAR STORM|prevent]] the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. The countdown was part of a ploy by the Ark's monitor, [[000 Tragic Solitude]], to make the humans on Earth reactivate the portal so that he could send [[Retriever Sentinel]]s to mine the [[Sol system]] for materials to repair damage done to his installation. Tragic Solitude explained to [[Olympia Vale]] that the firing of [[Installation 08]] damaged the portal and severed his ability to control it from the Ark. Though Tragic Solitude repaired the portal on the Ark end, it required activation on the Earth end to return to its previous state.<ref name="HITD266">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 266''</ref> He also increased the portal's power and astrogation systems to send and receive objects much faster despite the fact that doing so was an extraordinary exertion of power and information and could well compromise many of his systems.<ref name="HITD305">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 305''</ref> As a result travel through the portal was far faster than before.{{Ref/Reuse|HITD}} | ||
Many Retrievers poured through the portal and the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] [[Invasion of Earth|engaged them in battle]]. However, the team on the Ark was able to force Tragic Solitude to recall the Retrievers and the rogue monitor was destroyed by [[Bobby Kodiak]]. Around a day later, a UNSC fleet traveled through the portal to the Ark to investigate the aftermath of Operation: FAR STORM and rescued the survivors.<ref name="HITD">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'''</ref> Afterwards, the UNSC used the now-active portal to send researchers to the Ark by [[2557]] where they were able to effect repairs by directing the Retrievers to strip-mine lifeless systems.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]''</ref> | Many Retrievers poured through the portal and the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] [[Invasion of Earth|engaged them in battle]]. However, the team on the Ark was able to force Tragic Solitude to recall the Retrievers and the rogue monitor was destroyed by [[Bobby Kodiak]]. Around a day later, a UNSC fleet traveled through the portal to the Ark to investigate the aftermath of Operation: FAR STORM and rescued the survivors.<ref name="HITD">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'''</ref> Afterwards, the UNSC used the now-active portal to send researchers to the Ark by [[2557]] where they were able to effect repairs by directing the Retrievers to strip-mine lifeless systems.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]]''</ref> | ||
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The portal can only be opened in response to a specific set of data. This data was carried by [[Anodyne Spirit|the specific]] [[keyship]], which the Covenant called the Forerunner Dreadnought, that was designed to interface with the portal structure. Even without the actual keyship itself, however, the portal can be activated by a [[Huragok]] named [[Drifts Randomly]], because it has internalized the necessary information from the keyship. Before the portal fully opens, there is a not-yet-understood process which builds up to the final opening. During this process, a great [[portal storm|electrical storm]] is generated above it due to the creation of such a vast, stable slipspace rupture in atmospheric conditions. Gusts of wind inside such a storm can exceed two-hundred miles per hour. When the time finally comes for the portal to open, the fourteen pylons will rise and the center of the disc will sink further into the ground. A giant beam of energy will shoot up from the center of this disc. The portal itself, taking the shape of a sphere, will be supported by beams emitted from each of the raised pylons. It takes approximately 24 days for any ship entering the portal to arrive at the Ark. Surprisingly, Thel' Vadam aboard the front half of Forward Unto Dawn, was able to reach earth in 12 days after the firing of [[Installation 08]], half than approximate days. | The portal can only be opened in response to a specific set of data. This data was carried by [[Anodyne Spirit|the specific]] [[keyship]], which the Covenant called the Forerunner Dreadnought, that was designed to interface with the portal structure. Even without the actual keyship itself, however, the portal can be activated by a [[Huragok]] named [[Drifts Randomly]], because it has internalized the necessary information from the keyship. Before the portal fully opens, there is a not-yet-understood process which builds up to the final opening. During this process, a great [[portal storm|electrical storm]] is generated above it due to the creation of such a vast, stable slipspace rupture in atmospheric conditions. Gusts of wind inside such a storm can exceed two-hundred miles per hour. When the time finally comes for the portal to open, the fourteen pylons will rise and the center of the disc will sink further into the ground. A giant beam of energy will shoot up from the center of this disc. The portal itself, taking the shape of a sphere, will be supported by beams emitted from each of the raised pylons. It takes approximately 24 days for any ship entering the portal to arrive at the Ark. Surprisingly, Thel' Vadam aboard the front half of Forward Unto Dawn, was able to reach earth in 12 days after the firing of [[Installation 08]], half than approximate days. | ||
After the firing of [[Installation 08]], the portal was damaged on the Ark end which caused its collapse. Though [[000 Tragic Solitude]] repaired the damage to the portal on the Ark, it also severed his control of the portal, requiring its activation on the Earth end to return to its previous state. | After the firing of [[Installation 08]], the portal was damaged on the Ark end which caused its collapse. Though [[000 Tragic Solitude]] repaired the damage to the portal on the Ark, it also severed his control of the portal, requiring its activation on the Earth end to return to its previous state.{{Ref/Reuse|HITD266}} Tragic Solitude also increased the portal's power and astrogation systems to send and receive objects much faster despite the fact that doing so was an extraordinary exertion of power and information and could well compromise many of his systems.{{Ref/Reuse|HITD305}} [[Luther Mann]] subsequently expressed worry about how long the portal would be sustainable in such a state as the pylons on the Ark end were under tremendous stress, effectively compressing real space into an almost unimaginably small frame of slipspace by way of crystal-mediation, which alongside several astrogation shortcuts, made the effective travel distance between the Ark and Earth unimaginably short. However, it was something that not ever the Forerunners were comfortable doing and Luther suspected it was only conceived of being used in extreme circumstances.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 347''</ref> | ||
== UNSC additions == | == UNSC additions == | ||