of WITH A FOREWORD BY ~

FRANK O’CONNOI
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 ONTENTS
_ oy NAVAL COMMAND |
FOREWORD ©
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE |
BY FRANK 0 CONNOR 6
COLONIAL MILITARY ADMINISTRA’
INTRODUCTION THE COLE PROTOCOL ~ ‘
UNSC PERSONNEL
THE HALOUNIVERSE 8
AIS AND CIVILIANS
MASTERCHIEF ==—ss> 12
THECOVENANT 14
THE FORERUNNERS, _—~S CHAPTER THREE: SPAR
THE FLOOD, AND THE HALO PRAY ig THE SPARTAN PROJECTS
THEARK ts Se 18 THE SPARTAN-II] PROGRAM
THE GRAVEMIND oe 20 SPARTAN-III
HIGH CHARITY <9 “oe PROJECT: MJOLNIR
MJOLNIR MARK VI ARMOR
SPARTAN ARMOR VARIANTS
CHAPTER ONE: TIMELINE
THE LIFE OF THE MASTER CHIEF~
THE FORERUNNERS AND SPARTAN-II PERSONNEL
THE HALO ARRAY : ‘glee
GALACTIC REBIRTH AND THE
COVENANT | oo 30
CHAPTER FOUR: THE cov
HUMAN EXPANSION AND | THE COVENANT
COLONIZATION
THE HISTORY OF THE COVENANT ©
eatele Mee
THE SAN ’SHYUUM (PROPHETS)
THE PROPHET TRIUMVIRATE
THE HURAGOK (ENGINEERS)
THE SANGHEILI (ELITES)
SANGHEILI RANKS
SANGHEILI SEPARATISTS.
42 ARBITERS |
44 THE JIRALHANAE (BRUTES)
46 JIRALHANAE RANKS
ormadi 48 _ THELEKGOLO(HUNTERS)
-UNSCINSIGNIA | 50 THE UNGGOY (GRUNTS)
’ UNIFIED GROUND COMMAND . 54 THE KIG-YAR (JACKALS)
“ORBITAL DROP SHOCK TROOPERS 56 THE YANME’E (DRONES) oy
ODST DEPLOYMENT ~ 58
- ODST PERSONNEL. i
 HAPTER FIVE: THE FLOOD ° CHAPTER NINE: TRANSPORT ne
152 UNSC VEHICLES
154 COVENANT VEHICLES
» UNSC SHIPS
FAMOUS UNSC SHIPS
COVENANT SHIPS
FAMOUS COVENANT SHIPS
RERUNNERS UNDER THREAT FORERUNNER SHIPS
NG THE FLOOD
TION TO THE HALO ARRAY CHAPTER TEN: LOCATIONS
HALO ARRAY UNSC BASES
THE SOL SYSTEM
OARD THE ARK EARTH
[HE LIBRARIAN AND THE DIDACT UNSC COLONIES
FORERUNNER MONITORS COVENANTBASES
FORERUNNER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCES COVENANT COLONIES: o

CHAPTER SEVEN: CHAPTER. ELEVEN:

THE HUMAN-COVENANT WAR WEAPONS ~
E PATH TO WAR 194 UNSC WEAPONRY
E WAR RAGES ON 198 _ UNSC WEAPONS
INFLICT REACHES EARTH 200 | COVENANT WEAPONS
204
ECLOSING DAYS OF THE WAR COVENANT GRENADES AND BOMBS
| COVENANT MELEE WEAPONS |
- CHAPTER EIGHT: | FORERUNNER DEFENSES
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY — BATTLEFIELD ore

MAN SPACE TRAVEL = 210

L GLOSSARY
IPSTREAM SPACE : 212 |
INDEX.
MAN CLONING 21420
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. E
CRYO-SLEEP 216
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 218
VENANT TECHNOLOGY 224 ‘DEAR HUMANITY. WE REGRET BEING
JRERUNNER TECHNOLOGY 226 ALIEN BASTARDS. WE REGRET COMING
TO EARTH. AND WE MOST DEFINITELY.
REGRET THAT THE CORPS JUST BLEW
UP OUR RAGGEDY-ASS FLEET.”
— SGT. MAJOR AVERY J. JOHNSON
FOREWORD

BY FRANK O'CONNOR
looked up into an alien sky, and while the rolling, grassy hills and
thundering waterfall beyond felt familiar, the curving horizon,
winnowing its way into the structure of the Halo itself was
| CAN STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME | REALLY EXPERIENCED something truly incredible. | looked at the distant bracelet of the
HALO. AND | THINK ITMIGHT BE ACOMMON EXPERIENCE. . structure | stood on and knew | could go there.
| also knew that someone or something had built this dizzying,
IT WASN’T THE battle through the chaos on the burning Pillar of impossible structure and that | was literally standing on the
Autumn, or the claustrophobic creeping through the service ducts, precipice of a mystery. What | didn’t realize then, as | reloaded my
trying to make it to the lifeboats. No. It was stepping out of the Assault Rifle and tried to fend off a Banshee sortie, was that one
crashed escape pod and into a world that would consume my day I’d have the incredible honor of helpingto solve and define the
professional and creative life for the next decade. details of that mystery.
Through the visor of a MJOLNIR Mark V powered combat suit, | Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios and now 343 Industries have
built something beautiful and resonant and deep. And here, in these from the most unexpected corners and where nothing is predictable.
pages, we can explore that depth and learn everything there is to It’s a place where Humanity finds itself dwarfed by challenge and
know about the heroes, the weapons, the conflicts, and the legends mystery—but also finds itself at the core of that enigma. It’s a world
that define that universe. and a journey that we're only just beginning to explore, but this very
Artists, writers, engineers, animators, designers, musicians, book is the perfect guide.
producers, and an army of talented individuals defined this place In the following pages, you'll find a great deal of depth and drama
and these eras. They did it so seamlessly and with such passion and data—some familiar, some new. It’s fiction, of course, but we
that they breathed life into it. They made it real. only ever want it to feel real. Because it’s real to us. These are places
It’s a universe of conflicts and characters and soaring, towering and times that we want to share with you.
achievement. It’s a place where the individual efforts of valiant There’s danger, of course. It’s a dark galaxy, vast and ancient and
soldiers can undo the scheming evil of powerful civilizations and filled with hazard, but it’s also filled with beauty and wonder. Let's
ferocious alien intellects. It’s a place where honor and justice come shine some light on it. Let’s go on a Great Journey.
INTRODUCTION
IT ISTHE 26TH CENTURY AND WE ARE AT WAR
Ithas been six centuries since Humans took their first steps into space. Over those long years our species
pushed further and further into space, following our instinctive thirst for exploration. Then Slipspace
travel was discovered, allowing Humans to travel between stars faster than light, and there was an
explosion in the colonization of distant worlds . But as on Earth, so in space: Humans were unable to live
in peace. Pirates cruised the uncharted regions, and colonists began to agitate for self-government. The
United Nations Space Command (UNSC) reliedon their advanced weapons and spaceship technology to
crush uprisings and protect citizens from space bandits, but it was a fragile peace.

COLONIZATION
With Slipspace travel, Humans made use offolds, orripples, in space to travel at faster-than-light
speeds. Very quickly, Human colonies started to spread across the Galaxy: Equally quickly,
some of them began to demand autonomy from the UNSC. At first, most of the trouble: came
from the more distant planets, and the UNSC found itself constantly stamping out rebellions.
But as soon as it crushed one rebellion, another sprang up somewhere else, hydra-like.

SNPS
To fight these uprisings, Dr. Catherine Halsey ofthe Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) devised
a secret project known as the SPARTAN-II Program. She abducted children she had identified as having
exceptional genetics. Their bodies were augmented to give them superhuman speed and strength, and
they were trained to become lethal fighting machines. These super-soldiers were known as Spartans,
and their exploits became the stuff of legend.

THE COVENANT
For a time, none could stand against the supreme strength of the Spartans. But then, from out of the
blue, came a devastating blow to Humanity. An alliance of alien species called the Covenant came
sweeping through space, destroying Human life wherever they found it. Technologically advanced and
with the single-mindedness of religious zealots, the Covenant allowed no Human to survive. Despite
fierce resistance, the UNSC and the Spartans in their newly designed MJOLNIR armor were no match
for the devastating power of the Covenant and colony after colony was annihilated, including the planet
Reach, the heart of UNSC military operations. Only a quarter-century after their first appearance, the
Covenant stood poised to overrun Earth itself.

There was one glimmer of hope for Humanity. The great Spartan-ll leader John-117, Master Chief,
managed to survive the horror on Reach, escaping with a handful of fellow survivors, aboard the
UNSC Afar ofAutumn.

THE DISCOVERY OF INSTALLATION 04

As the har ofAutumn sped away from Reach, its commander, Captain Jacob Keyes, took the
courageous but risky decision to lure Covenant forces away from the remaining Inner Colonies
and Earth. Pursued by the Covenant fleet, he steered the “/ar ofAutumn on a path that would
lead to the discovery of a giant ring-like world that the Covenant called “Halo.”
Halo was a gigantic structure built by the long-departed Forerunners. This advanced society had
left behind items of technology that were later discovered by the Covenant, who both worshipped them
and used them to overpower their enemies. The surface of Halo was eerily Earth-like, with plants, rocks,
and oceans, but its interior concealed mile upon mile of metallic catacombs filled with extraordinary
secrets of technology.

THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION 04

The Covenant finally caught up with “War ofAutumn in orbit around Halo. As Covenant forces streamed
aboard, the survivors, including Master Chief and Captain Keyes, evacuated the ship. They escaped into
the deserted Halo, where they prepared themselves for the coming Covenant onslaught.
The fighting was fierce. The Covenant threw all they had at the survivors, from tiny but deadly Grunts
to the giant living tanks that are Hunters, and from towering Elites to predatory Jackals. It seemed the
Covenant must triumph, but Master Chief hada secret weapon. An experimental network in his MJOLNIR
armor enabled an Artificial Intelligence (Al) named Cortana to link directly into Master Chief's brain,
. vastly increasing his physical and mental capabilities. Cortana had been designed to assist Master Chief
during a planned Spartan attack on Covenant space, but she now became his ally in defense. With her
help, Master Chief battled through wave after wave of Covenant forces. At last, gaining control of the
Halo’s network, Master Chief was able to upload Cortana to it.
During the battle, Captain Keyes and some ofhis soldiers had gone missing in the interior of Halo while
investigating a mysterious cache of “weapons” the Covenant had been searching for. Master Chief now
set offonarescue mission to find them.
 HALO ENCYCLOPEDIA

INTRODUCTION
As Master Chief searched for the missing men through the now silent halls and
passages of Halo, it became clear that something terrible had happened. Everywhere
he turned, he saw dead bodies. Finally he arrived at the point where Keyes had made
his last stand, and there he found a recording of the team’s final battle. The recording THE DESTRUCTION OF INSTALLATION 04
showed that Keyes and his men had not found the weapons cache they were looking Master Chief learned the truth about Installation 04 too late to halt the activation
for, but instead found that the Covenant had unleasheda parasitic alien race called the process. There was now only one way to save the Galaxy—destroy the Halo before
Flood. Freed at last after thousands of years of containment, the Flood immediately activation was complete. Returning to the Pillar of Autumn, he overloaded its reactor,
began infecting any sentient creature within reach, spreading out rapidly across the causing an explosion that left Halo Installation 04 utterly destroyed. Master Chief and
Halo Installation. i Cortana sped away on a Longsword Interceptor they had found while escaping the
destruction ofthe Pillar ofAutumn. En route to Earth, they picked up Set. Avery Johnson
THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THE HALO ARRAY and a scant few other survivors of the destruction of Halo Installation 04.
Although the Halo was destroyed, the battle to save Humankind was only just
Then 343 Guilty Spark revealed himself. This Forerunner Monitor had been left in order
beginning. The new threat of the Flood was now out there and the menacing presence
to maintain the Halo when his people departed. Guilty Spark wanted Master Chief to
of the Covenant had not gone away. In fact, they had become even more aggressive,
activate the Halo, but did not tell him what its true purpose was until he was forced to by
seeking not only to eliminate Humankind but also to punish those oftheir own kind who
Cortana. The Halo would destroy the Flood, but would do so by depriving it of its food—
had allowed the destruction of the Halo, whom they condemned as heretics.
all sentient life in the Galaxy.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF EARTH

The Covenant continued to scour the Galaxy in search of Forerunner relics. When one of
their expeditionary forces approached Earth the Covenant had no idea ofthe planet's
importance, but as soon asthey realized that they had stumbled upon the homeworld of

“WE DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO! FOR EARTH!

AN ENTIRE COVENANT ARMADA OBLITERATED, AND TH
FLOOD! WE HAD NO CHOICE. HALO...IT’S FINISHED.” ,

“NO. |THINK WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED

—Cortana and Master Chief

Humankind they immediately went on the attack. Led by the High Prophet of Regret, the
small Covenant fleet invaded Earth, seizing control of one of its most important cities—
the African city of New Mombasa. However, the Covenant’s control of the city was brief,
and after a fierce battle Regret blasted off through Slipspace, with Master Chief and
Miranda Keyes pursuing aboard the UNSC In Amber Clad. When they exited Slipspace
they found themselves at another Halo—the newly discovered Installation 05. Most of
New Mombasa was left in ruins, but Earth was safe for now. The next stage ofthe fight
would take place elsewhere.
COVENANT DOCTRINE UNDER THREAT
Following the First Battle of Earth, cracks in the unity of the Covenant began to appear. Some of the
Covenant began to suspect that they were not invincible. Worse, seeds of heresy had been sown among
the faithful. A few began to openly doubt the High Prophets, who had promised them that the Sacred
Rings would bring them to salvation—and the High Prophets knew they had to stamp out these Heretics
before their numbers grew. Their agent was to be the Arbiter, a soldier whose duty was to undertake
missions so dangerous that they would almost certainly result in his death.

THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION 05

On Halo Installation 05, Master Chief and Cortana were joined by Sgt. Avery Johnson and Miranda Keyes
whose Frigate, /7 Amber L/ad, had followed the Covenant fleet. With the help of “7 Amer Liad’s Marines,
they were able to trace the Prophet of Regret to a lakebound Forerunner temple deep in the jungles of the
Halo. Here, Master Chief killed Regret and his Elite bodyguards. When they saw what had happened, the
Covenant blasted the temple with Master Chief inside. Miraculously, the blast did not kill Master Chief,
however no sooner had he escaped the Covenant than he was captured by the Gravemind. This parasitic
collective consciousness ofthe Flood had been trapped on Installation 05 for many thousands ofyears,
and now it sensed an opportunity.

AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE
During his campaign against the Heretics, the Arbiter had witnessed events that made him question
whether the Prophets could be trusted. Now, sent to Installation 05, he too was captured by the
Gravemind. But when the Gravemind told Master Chief and the Arbiter that the High Prophets intended to
activate all the rings and destroy all life in the Galaxy, they formed a desperate alliance in orderto stop
the Prophets. Master Chief left to fight the Covenant on their capital city High Charity, but once there,
Chief realized that the Gravemind had used him and his ship as a way to get off the Halo, stowing away on
In Amber Clad and infecting its crew and now High Charity with the Flood. Meanwhile, on Installation 05,
the Arbiter and Sgt. Johnson killed the Brute Chieftain Tartarus just before he could fire the Halo.

CIVIL WAR AMONG THE COVENANT

When Master Chief arrived on High Charity, he found acity in crisis. The cracks that had begun to appear
with the Heretic movement had widened when the Brutes were suddenly elevated to top caste over the
Elites, and now the Covenant erupted into all-out war. With the Brutes and the Elites at each others’
throats, and now Master Chief and Cortana on the scene, the Gravemind saw its ideal moment to lose
the Flood among all the confusion. The High Prophet of Truth abandoned the High Prophet of Mercy to the
Flood and took the Forerunner Dreadnought ship that powered the city to make his escape. He headed for
Earth, where he thought he would find an artifact that would provide a link to the Forerunners, unaware
that Master Chief was on board, too. Cortana remained on High Charity ready to destroy it (and thereby
the Halo) in the event of the Halo being activated, not knowing that the Arbiter had already killed Tartarus.
Cortana soon fell victim to the Gravemind, who succeeded in wringing out ofher all the information about
the Forerunners that she had stored in her memory. The ancient Dreadnought, with the High Prophet of
Truth and Master Chief on board, continued its unstoppable approach to Earth.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF EARTH

After being forced to exit the Dreadnought while still in low Earth orbit, Master Chief was met by Set.
Johnson, the Arbiter, and Marines. Fighting hordes of Covenant Loyalists, the group tracked Truth to a
location outside the ruined city of New Mombasa where he had gone in search of the Forerunner artifact.
Master Chief arrived moments too late, just as Truth activated the relic. Master Chief saw an immense
Slipspace Portal open up, into which Truth and his forces disappeared. Without hesitation, Master Chief
and his team followed. They found themselves on a distant installation called Installation 00, also known
as the Ark—the only place in the Galaxy from which all the Halo rings could be activated.
 : : HALO ENCYCLOPEDIA

ee INTRODUCTION
On the Ark, battle raged. Master Chief and his team now fought alongside the Elites,
who had turned against the Covenant, and 343 Guilty Spark, who had survived the é
destruction of his Halo, but despite their newfound allies they faced an epic battle to

REPLACEMENT INSTALLATION 04 _
As he looked at High Charity lying broken on the surface ofthe Ark, Master Chief knew
“LAST TIME, YOU ASKED ME, IF IT WAS MY his only chance was to enter the remains of that crash and try to find Cortana. He

CHOICE, WOULD! DOIT ? Havinc HAD CONSIDERABLE had learned about a new, partially constructed Halo that was being made to replace
Installation 04. If he could activate just this one ring, it might be enough to destroy the
TIMETOPONDER YOUR QUERY, MY ANSWER HASNOT CHANGED. Flood but not the whole Galaxy. However, the only way to do this was to retrieve the

THERE IS NO CHOICE. WE MUST ACTIVATE THE RING.” activation codes hidden in Cortana’s memory. Plunging into High Charity, he located
Cortana and the two set off the activation countdown. Their escape from the Ark was
—343 Guilty Spark delayed when 343 Guilty Spark reappeared and engaged themin afierce battle inwhich
Sgt. Johnson was killed. After barely escaping to a waiting UNSC vessel, they were
whisked away from the Ark before the Halo fired, destroying it and all those remaining
confront the forces of the Prophet of Truth. Most of them, including Miranda Keyes, lost on it, including the Gravemind and the Flood. But their ship did not escape unscathed.
their lives in the fighting. Truth was on the point of activating the Halo Array when The huge explosion caused their Slipspace Portal to collapse, ripping the craft in half.
The front part, containing
the Arbiter, landed safely on Earth, but the rear Section, on
Master Chief and the Arbiter managedto kill him. Their triumph was brief, however, for as
soonas thethreat of the Halo Array being activated ended, the Gravemind and the Flood which Master Chief and Cortana were traveling, was lost somewhere in space.
resurged. The Gravemind had arrived when the remains of High Charity crashed on the
Ark, and now its infection rapidly infected the survivors ofthe battle.

The Covenant factions continue to fight amongst themselves, but for themoment they
have given up their mission to obliterate Humanity. The remaining Halo Installations are
stilla threat, but not an immediate one, and at last Humanity can breathe a sigh ofrelief
andstarttorebuild. MasterChief, presumedkilledin action,
was alreadyaheroandisnow
a figure oflegend. Some wonderwhowillsave themnexttime trouble flares up—because
there are already signs that it will. The trouble in the colonies have started up again, and
with the UNSC severely weakened in the wake of the Human-Covenant War, the future of
the Human planets is anything but certain.
 INTRODUCTION

MASTER CHIEF

a} MASTER CHIEF
JOHN-11?
THE PINNACLE OF THE SPARTAN’ PROGRAM,
JOHN-117 IS THE MOST CELEBRATED SUPER-SOLDIER
IN HISTORY.
A combination of superb genes, technology, and training has
made John-11? the epitome of Spartan excellence. Tough, loyal,
tireless, intelligent, and a natural leader, he is also blessed with
extraordinary good luck. John-11?’s early victories earned him
the rank of Master Chief, and he was more than a match for any
enemy...but that was before he encountered the Covenant.
THE COVENANT
MANY SPECIES MAKE UP THE COVENANT, BUT ALL SHARE
ONE RELIGION—AND ALL ARE FANATICAL ZEALOTS.
The species that make up the confederation known as the
Covenant come from all over the Galaxy and take all kinds of
physical forms. Organized into a caste system by their masters,
the High Prophets, the different species of the Covenant have
many divisions but there is one powerful force that unites them—
their blind faith in their worship of the ancient Forerunners. The
Covenant believe that their salvation lies in the Holy Rings left
by the Forerunners—the Halos. While that faith remains strong,
nothing can break the unity of the Covenant. But if anything
should shake ‘that faith, the inter-caste and inter-species
tensions will surely erupt into Galaxy-wide civil war.
advanced Fochnslogy, and configs were quickly resolved.
_ But then the parasitic Flood arrived in the Milky Way, spreading
from planet to planet like wildfire. In this desperate state of
emergency, the Forerunners made the decision to sacrifice all life
in the Galaxy in order to cut off the Flood’s food supply. Thus the
seven rings of the Halo Array were constructed and fired, after
which the Forerunners did what they could to reseed life across
the Galaxy and then mysteriously disappeared, leaving no trace of
where they had gone or whether they would ever return.

- ¥
THE ARK
AND THE RESEEDING
OF THE GALAXY
THE FORERUNNERS, HONORING THEIRROLEASCUSTODIANS,
PRESERVED THE SEEDS OF THEIR SUBJECT SPECIES BEFORE
FIRING THE HALOS AND WIPING ALL LIFE FROM THE GALAXY.
Mysterious and remote, the Ark occupied a position in space beyond
the reach ofthe Halos. At its heart, this secure installation held a
special secret. Samples of all the different species governed over
by the Forerunners were safely stored there, ready to repopulate
the Galaxy after the threat from the Flood had vanished.
 INTRODUCTION

i
.

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* °

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THE GRAVEMIND
THE FLOOD CONSUMES SPECIES AFTER SPECIES,
ABSORBING THE MINDS AND BODIES °OF ITS VICTIMS
INTO ACOMBINED iNTELLIGENCE THAT HAS TAKEN ON
A LIFE OF ITS OWN—THE GRAVEMIND.
The Flood is the ultimate parasite. It is able to use any sentient being
as food, and those infected by the Flood stand no chance. Infection
is a gradual process, whereby an Infection Form, grown from a tiny
spore, bonds the victim to the Flood’s central intelligence and slowly
consumes the contents of the host creature’s mind. When enough
sentient creatures are consumed and the Flood biomass reaches a
certain critical point, this central intelligence evolves into a physical
form. Known as the Gravemind, this tentacled monster has an
appearance almost as sinister as its malign purpose.
 TRODUCTI

THE GRAVEMIND
 %
aga hgh

X
mr :
Ai we

ba
 INTRODUCTION

HIGH CHARITY

HIGH CHARITY
BUILT AROUND A FORERUNNER SHIP, HIGH CHARITY
WAS THE COVENANT’S CAPITAL AND HOLY CITY.
Powered by the Dreadnought, an ancient Forerunner ship, High
Charity was the center of Covenant government and society.
Here dwelt the many lesser and three High Prophets, served by
their administrators and obeyed by teeming Covenant citizens
of many species.
 ue \
ay
_ TIMELINE: 150

I 150,000 BCE 130,000 BCE

> 100,300 BCE

_ The Forerunners rise the preeminent species in t The Flood arrives from beyond the Milky Way and begins to infect all |
sentient life it encounters. The Forerunners create the Maginot Sphere, a_,
defensive perimeter that protects their inner colonies from Ae of
Hundreds of millions of sentient creatures are assimilated an vdespite
opposition from the advanced armies ofthe Forerunners, the Mood thrives.
The Forerunners realize the only way to eradicate the Flood is to destroy its
food supply, i.e., sentient life. They create the Halo Installations and the A
as a means of saving selections of all the species of the Galaxy.
 TIMELINE

THE FORERUNNER
Bi

6100,043 BCE
The Erobaners create Mendicant Bias, an exceptionally strong combat AL
that is built to battle the FloodiGrayemind. Mendicant Bias is intended to lure ..
the Gravemind out of theNera Sphere long enough for the biomass of the
Flood to bi adestroyed. The Librarian, a female abe a! ‘Tesponsible jue
 100,000 BCE

100,000 BCE
The Forerunners activate the Halo Array. All sentient life in
the Milky Way Galaxy is exterminated except the sampling
_protected on Shield Worlds and the Ark. Once the Flood
threat is ended, the sample species are reseeded across
the Galaxy, including Humans on Earth, and they begin to
repopulate their homeworlds. The Forerunners leave the
Orion Arm ofthe Milky Way Galaxy.
> ALL SENTIENT LIFE WITHIN THREE RADII
OF THE GALACTIC CENTER DIES, AS PLANNED.
 Lape aad oe
Ce nS he

1000 BCE 500 BCE

Yo ewe SET emer ie | eer

yk @

COVENANT EXPANSION:The
__Lekgolojoin the alliance.

"STELLAR COLLAPSE DESTROYS THE

_ SAN’SHYUUM HOMEWORLD: High
Charity isthe new Covenant capital.

THE WRIT OF UNION: The Sangheili

surrender and Sign this treaty,
which becomes the basis for the
Covenant alliance. ;
 > DURING THE AGES OF a THE COVENANT
i. CONVERSION, MANY NEW |
> RACES ARE INCORPORATED |
INTO THE COVENANT,

1500 CE

480
THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE ON
NIOROONNOIE
RRR
1112
COVENANT EXPANSION: et
EARTH: Theheroicactionsof300 ENANT
Spartans against overwhelming odds _ Kig-Yarjoin
become cemented in Human history. CSREES
I DLL L OLED AEDOESN ELISEL SITILIA

THE AGES
OF THE COVENANT wwe Se
Covenant history is broken up into multiple occurrences of seven types of Age, each representing the TECHNOLOGY ISRESEARCHED
predominant theme that colored those periods of time. The Ages are Abandonment, Conflict, Discovery, ~~ TOINCREASE THE LIFESPAN
Reconciliation, Conversion, Doubt, and Reclamation. These Ages do not necessarily follow one anotherin ’ OFTHESAN’SHYUUM.
order, nor are they equal in quantity; for example, there were significantly more Ages of Conflict and
Doubt than Ages of Reclamation. Each Age is further broken into cycles. A cycle is one artificial day on
High Charity. It contains approximately 265 units, which are comparable to one Earth hour.
After the first Age of Abandonment, the Sangheili and San’Shyuum evolved into space-faring races. At
the root of the First Age of Conflict was the theological question of whether Forerunner technology
should be revered or exploited. This was followed by the First Age of Reconciliation. During the Ages of
Conversion, new races were incorporated into the Covenant. The Ages of Doubt were periods when no
great discoveries were made and the Covenant grappled with internecine conflict. In contrast, the Ages
of Reclamation were marked with finds of Forerunner relics, great change, and religious fervor.
 THEHUMANSPACEAGE »
BEGINS: People take their
2142
COVENANT EXPANSION: 2163.
first steps on Luna. MARS CAMPAIGN: Marks the first
C Marines.

Teeewensces:

‘| COLONIZATION: Humans settle

sae on Luna, Mars, the Jovian
Moons, and asteroids.

EVavom stal-Yo(-Jam(atcielaacvou
dle)a)ines)
battle the UNSC.
am

THE RAINFOREST WARS: Conflict in

South America between Koslovic,
Frieden, and UN forces.
 TIMELINE

> THE MILITARY ©

CLASSICASOLDIER'S
TALE: RAINFOREST WARS
BY JEREMIAH MENDEZ
PUBLISHES.

2200CE jae ae he die SAR rl ay ne ' is Pei

esa

CALLISTO TREATY: Koslovic es | ‘ « | ‘nU ANE ox: 4 Ps . | eae ‘

and Frieden Commanders ee Ra
arenweHd
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ee e? i to
leads eto
surrender to the UNSC.

~~
2291
INVENTION OF THE SHAW-FUJIKAWA EMPIRE: Over 800 Inner Colonies thrive,
- SLIPSPACE DRIVE: Humanity they are dependent on resources
achieves Slipspace travel. the Outer Colonies.
 - SPARTAN-I PROGRAM
siteflee.
—— thendeploy and
ISDEACTIVATED.
defeat the Rebels’ base. -

“THE PILLAR OFAUTUMN IS

~ CMAINVOLVEMENT: The Colonial” ~ CONSTRUCTED OVER MARS.
Mine Administration's AISI
INSEL IRA IT
involvement with Rebels goes public
and the organization’s power shifts
to NavCom/UniCom control.
 TIMELINE

CIVIL WAR

2510 CE 2515CE i a 2520 CE

faggsSAE 2513
OPERATION: TREBUCHET: UNSC
JOHN IS BORN: The future forces move in after Colonel Robert
Spartan-117 is born on Watts leads an uprising in the
Eridanus I]. FORERUNNER Eridanus System. The Rebels
RUINS DISCOVERED ON ONYX. withdraw to the asteroid field.

JeuWf
GEOLOGY: On Sigma Octanus IV,
possible Forerunner relics are
found in fragments of meteors
over 60,000 years old. toa warship, i then supports
Operation: TREBUCHET. 6
 2530CE 2535 CE

7D ( i The Covenant has destroyed

contactbetweenHumansandthe =| —|_—s UNSC colony Eric nearly all Outer Colony worlds.
The
CovenantendsinbloodshedonHarvest. | | | UNSCestablishes
the Cole Protocol.
FEBRUARY 23 larvest iSevacuated | FEBRUARY 12: Jericho-VIl falls
when a Covenant attack results in ' ; i to the Covenant.
23,000 Human casualties. ae 5
MARCH 9: Medical augmentation
of Spartan-ll soldiers begins.
APRIL 20: Contact with UNSCArgo is ; AdmiralCole pullsoffavictoryovera | : Cy 2 5 3 4
lost after its arrival at Harvest. dais, Covenant fleet at Harvest, but only ee E| x
Sin? - The battle ioofNewC
of New Constantinople.
OCTOBER?:UNSC warships, Arabia, | .becausehe outnumbers them Bes :
Heracles, and Vostok, arrive at Harvest _ three-to-one. Even then, he loses . | JULY 2?: Operation: PROMETHEUS
and make contact with a Covenant Ores ofhisfleet. Regardless, Pak OCTOBER 2: The investigation of
warship. Only the Heracles escapes. Soe vieton ts ienly publicized, the disappearance of Team X-Ray
NOVEMBER 1: UNSC goes on full alert and é ™ z SE Ba 7 | (BetaCompany Spartans) after
all combat forces are placed under 3 ak 8, Seabee |__-discovering'a
glowing sphere in-
NavCom/UniCom control. Ge oy heey fae ae Zone 67 yields no results.
 TIMELINE

"IN MEMORY OF THOSE FALLEN IN cine so Na

THE DEFENSE OF EARTH AND HER
COLONIES. MARCH 3, 2553.”
HILLSIDE MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION

1G Boa | Pecos
2545 CE

2 54 2 ONI’s Section Il makes the The Covenant attack Paris-lV.

UNSC abandons the colony world SPARTAN-II Program public to Sigma Octanus IV and score a victor
Emerald Cove to the Covenant. boost morale;theSPARTAN-III . but the Covenant discover the
Program remains top secret. - location of Reach.
AUGUST 30: The Fall of Reach.
Master Chief and the Pillarof
Autumn barely escape. |
SEPTEMBER 19: The battleof Halo
Installation 04 begins.
Operation: TORPEDO. OCTOBER 20: The first battle of Earth.
OCTOBER 21: The battle of Halo
Installation 05 begins.
NOVEMBER 4: The second battle
of Earth and the battle of Halo
ssecHicnemelen
"DO-YOU HAVE A PLAN?”
“YES. WHEN WE GET THERE, I’M GOING TO KILL
EVERY SINGLE COVENANT SOLDIER |CAN.FIND.”
—CORTANA AND MASTER CHIEF
aN
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xbi
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Dar a
Ra
 HUMAN COLONIZATION OF SPACE
EARTH’S SPACE AGE THE RAINFOREST WARS
In 1969 CE, when Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first Human to In 2162 CE, the battle came to Earth. Koslovic, Frieden, and UN forces clashed
orbit the Earth, mankind had no idea what expansive adventures awaited them in South America and initiated the epic Rainforest Wars. Other guerilla attacks
614
(47°69 in the depths of their galaxy. The dream oftraveling the stars, which had long took place on Earth and on military and non-military off-planet targets. The
eis
been a part of the species’ mythology, would still take centuries from its initial Rainforest Wars led to some of the most famous literature of the 2100s,
—
tentative beginning before it became a reality. The fear of the unknown— including the military classic, ASoldier’s Tale: Rainforest Wars, which remained
combined with an irregular cycle of technological advancements and an popular well into the 26th century.
inability to evolve beyond the barriers of self-imposed borders and cultural
differences—long prevented Humanity from achieving a truly productive and
universally beneficial exploration of their heavens.
THE MARS CAMPAIGN
Over the next century Human technology increased by leaps and bounds. The A year after the Rainforest Wars, came the Mars Campaign. Triggered by
creation of the Internet and an ever-increasing sophistication in networked attacks on Rebels at the Argyre Planitia shipbuilding plants on Mars, the
J)
v6rd intelligences and robotics led to the first basic Artificial Intelligences (Als). campaign was the first successful UN strike against Koslovic forces. These
These Intelligences paled in comparisonto the 26th century’s dumbestAls, but sorties marked the first extraterrestrial deployment of United Nations Space
they were advanced through technologies gleaned from the System Peril Command (UNSC) Marines. As a result of the success, actions that favored
Distributed Reflex (SPDR) program. This program was transported back in time large contingents of Marines for ground assaults and ship-boarding maneuvers
to 2004 CE during a temporal rift triggered by a Forerunner artifact found in became the standard strategy ofthe UN forces from that point onward.
deep space by a UNSC starship in the 2500s.

GALACTIC EXPANSION > AS HUMANITY EXPANDED OUTWARD, THE

Commercial interests propelled outward expansion into the Sol System far
more than the programs of Earth’s national governments. Free of the
INNER COLONIES BECAME THE POLITICAL AND
restrictions of international law as well as basic gravity, advancements in ECONOMIC CENTER OF HUMAN SPACE.
nanotechnology and biotechnologies exploded in the colonies on Mars. These
settlements soon became the hub of spaceship production and industrial
manufacturing. Robots, rather than Humans, efficiently performed the labor Basing its core ethos on a strategy that harkened backto the United States of
there. With colonies established on Luna, Mars, the asteroid belt, and the the first years of the 21st century, the UN used its increased power to
Jovian Moons, terraforming technologies began to create more biologically effectively take charge of the remaining national governments. The UNSC
sustainable habitats, so colonies were now possible on the planetary bodies became the single organizing independent force in control of the combined
within the Sol System that were only remotely capable ofsustaining life. military hierarchy of Humanity.
The UNSC defeated Koslovic and Frieden forces on Earth and then methodically
KOSLOVIC AND FRIEDEN MOVEMENTS eradicated their remnants on the off-world colonies until they both signed a
surrender agreement, the Callisto Treaty in 2170 CE.
In 2160 CE, overpopulation and political unrest on Earth led to the emergence
of and conflict between two powerful political movements—the Koslovics and
the Friedens. Koslovics, named after their founder Vladimir Koslovic,
nostalgically longed for the glory days of Soviet Communism, and romanticized
the notion of state control over industry. Operating mostly in orbital facilities
and outerworld colonies, they sought to eliminate corporate and capitalist
influence from societal structure.
The Friedens, their name ironically meaning “peace,” were neo-fascists. They
were backed by a group of corporate interests in the Unified German Republic
and were Created in reaction to the Koslovic force based in the Jovian colonies.
In their first act of rebellion, Frieden secessionists attacked the United Nations
Colonial Advisors on a Jovian Moon. This act triggered three months offighting
between the Earth's military and Frieden forces. It was the bloodiest conflict
that the Sol System had seen in decades and it served to strengthen anti-
governmental and anti-corporate sentiment growing among colonists, and
also to spur forward the militarization of the Earth-based governments.
Atthis time, national governments still sponsored their own military efforts within
the Sol System. The distributed nature of their forces led to disorder in the ranks of
the Earth forces, just as conflicts erupted across the off-world colonies.
 HUMANS

COLONIZATION —

SHAW-FUJIKAWA TRANSLIGHT ENGINE

The discovery that made further expansion of the Human race outside its During colonial expansion, Humankind made some discoveries that were
solar system possible came in 2291 CE, when Tobias Shaw and Wallace kept as closely guarded secrets by the UNSC’s Office of Naval Intelligence
Fujikawa published their findings on advancements in quantum mechanics. (ONI). For example, the planet Onyx was discovered in 2491 CE, and when
They had secretly constructed the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine (Shaw- ruins from an ancient and unknown species, the Forerunners, were
Fujikawa Slipspace Drive or SFTE), a means to propel spacecraft across vast uncovered, the UNSC declared the find top secret and removed the world
interstellar distances. from all maps.
By 2330 CE, Earth’s government unveiled its first colony ships. Rigorously Forerunner artifacts were also found beneath the surface of Reach and were
tested, highly qualified civilian colonists and military personnel were chosen covered up under the guise of a mining facility. Planet Coral also became the site
and sent to “nearby” worlds. That year, Humanity’s first interstellar craft, the of a Forerunner find. Prospectors building an automated mining colony were
Odyssey, launched to the Epsilon Eridani System, 10.5 light years from Earth. using explosives to evaporate the surface ofthe world to a depth ofthirty meters
when the tip ofaForerunner installation was uncovered. Archaeologists directed
THE INNER COLONIES by ONI dug out about eighty meters ofthe site, which seemed to be much bigger.
The complex had been described as made from a metallic crystal, symmetrical to
By 2390 CE, with the founding of twenty-one Human colony worlds, the a near-atomic scale, yet adorned with decorative artistic motifs.
Inner Colonies were formally established. Ranging from worlds with These varied discoveries led to some, but not many, technological
Human settlements to mining or industrial colonies with no Human advancements that Humanity could employ. However, people’s inability to
presence, these diverse colonies were governed by the Colonial decipher the glyphs in the limited time they had to study the artifacts before
Administration, a group that answered to the Unified Earth Government the Covenant War began in 2525 CE meant that those advancements were still
but had its own military fleet, though not a force as powerful or advanced highly classified and had not yet gained any mainstream application.
as the UNSC fleet.
The following century was a boom time for Humanity. The Inner Colonies
rapidly grew in population and importance. By 2490 CE, Human space
encompassed over eight-hundred planets, though only seventeen had The complete power that ONI exercised over the control of research and
Human settlements on them. They ranged from centers of industry and information flow from these various discoveries showed their growing
technology to pioneer settlements that could barely sustain ten-thousand power within the UNSC and the Government’s desire to maintain control
colonists. over the colonies. As Humanity expanded, the UNSC took every step
As Humanity expanded outward, the Inner Colonies became the political necessary to keep its grip on the Outer Colonies. The Inner Colonies
and economic center of Human space and began to rely heavily on the raw depended on the resources the Outer Colonies provided and the Outer
materials supplied by the Outer Colonies. The Epsilon Eridani System was Colonies depended on UNSC-maintained supply lines. By the 2400’s, Outer,
the jewel in the crown of the UNSC, and it became the foremost Naval yard, and even many Inner, Colonies soon began to question the often-draconian
a major producer of warships and colony vessels, and a training ground for interference of the UNSC in what was supposed to be a confederation of
covert operatives and Special Forces. independently governed worlds. The great dream that had swept Humanity
Highly populated, the planet Reach, at the heart of the Epsilon Eridani System, into new worlds had begun to sour in the minds of its colonies. This led to
was also a main commercial center for civilian enterprise. While Earth was still rebellion among the various worlds and to the inevitable outbreak of civil
Humanity’s spiritual home, Reach had become its logistical hub. Other Human war among Humans.
settlements in this system ranged from the magnificent High Courts and
Universities of Circumstance to the struggling industrial settlements of
Tribute. Overseeing this Empire, the UNSC became the organizing independent
hierarchy in control of all combined military forces of Humanity.
As the UNSC increasingly countermanded and complicated the functioning
governments of the Inner and Outer Colony worlds, unrest began to foment.
Complaints were generally ignored by the UNSC until finally rebellion began.
Minor uprisings were common throughout the settling of the UNSC colonies but
the superior forces of the UNSC had been able to put them down easily.

A
In 2321 CE, the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) created the ORION
Project, named after the Orion Arm ofthe Milky Way Galaxy. Its aim was to build
on bioengineering protocols developed during the Interplanetary Wars in order
to generate tougher, faster soldiers. A handful of military candidates were
“tested” and eventually seeded into the regular chain of command after the
project was declared ineffective.

In 2461 CE, a SWAT team member on the planet Harvest, named Major
Jerald Mulkey Ander, created the Secessionist Union, also known as the
People’s Occupation Government.

In 2491 CE, the Colonial Military Administration

{CMA} secretly relaunched the ORION Project
in response to the growing insurgent
attacks in the colonies. The project was
headquartered in one of the many orbital docks on Reach. This
iteration of the project used more advanced indoctrination and
biological augmentation techniques. After a grueling series of physical
and mental tests, the first batch of test subjects—165 in total—were
selected from the ranks ofSpecial Forces.

During the same year, the “Carver Findings” were published and presented to
the UNSC military command. Doctor Elias Carver, a political sociologist,
theorized that, “unless the political situation throughout the colonies is
stabilized (preferably by force}, the Government will collapse and civil war will
rip Human society apart.” Many scoffed at these theories, but they gained
purchase in the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Admiralty, informing their
strategies against the insurrectionists for decades to come.

In June of 2494 CE, armed Secessionists, equipped by traitors within the

CMA command structure, mobilized on Eridanus-!I under the leadership of
former UNSC Marine Colonel Robert Watts. They performed a well planned
and efficiently executed campaign of bombings, political assassinations,
and kidnappings that seriously impacted on shipping to and from the
planet. Most significantly, the insurgents were able to amass a small fleet
of spaceships through their CMA contacts.
The Eridanus Government officially called for aid in the chaotic situation in
December of 2494 CE, andin January of 2496 CE the UNSC launched Operation: -
CHARLEMAGNE, as alarge battlegroup engaged the Rebels and defeated them
at the cost of four destroyers.
As a result of this conflict, the UNSC regained control of the colony, but the
Rebels were able to retreat into a local asteroid field where they escaped
capture and continued to operate.
 HUMANS

CIVIL WAR

THE FIRST SPA | IK

Operation: CHARLEMAGNE marked the first deployment of the latest crop of Dr. Catherine
biologically enhanced soldiers codenamed SPARTAN-Is. They scored a decisive Halsey was given the green light to develop a SPARTAN-II Project. The top-
victory and emerged from the battle with only a single casualty. The insertion secret program was controversial and ethically questionable at best, but it
and extraction was completed without the Spartans being seen, thereby also produced results and ultimately the Spartan-Il soldiers proved to be the
fueling a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation. most effective weapon in the battle against insurgents. These elite soldiers
The legend of these super-soldiers continued to grow and proved very were genetically augmented and outfitted with the most advanced mechanized
helpful to ONI’s propaganda efforts in the upcoming decades. Though the armor in the entire UNSC arsenal.
Spartans were effective, their abilities fell short of the scientists’ hopes, In their first sortie in 2525 CE, the Spartan-lls, led by the Master Chief John-
and they cost fartoo much to develop and field. The Project was deactivated 117, infiltrated the Rebel base in the asteroid belt of the Eridanus System and
and the soldiers were reassigned to various special operations units. succeeded in destroying the base and capturing Colonel Robert Watts alive.
After his capture, ONI agents interrogated Watts. What happened to him after
this interrogation was classified top-secret and has never been revealed.
Though the insurgency’s head had been cut off, other rebellious factions
The connections to traitors in the CMA became public and the organization's remained strong enough to require continued Spartan-ll activity. The Spartan-
political opponents used the opportunity to shift power and resources from the lls performed their missions effectively and ruthlessly, killing off Rebel leaders
CMA to the UNSC. The CMA was eventually relegated to patrolling the most and continuing a seemingly endless series ofbattles in an ongoing war against
distant colonies and providing logistical support to remote stations. the interests of the UNSC.

OPERATION: TREBUCHET
With Colonel Robert Watts still at large, Rebel attacks cropped up on planets In 2525 CE, a threat emerged that was even more dangerous than the
throughout the colonies. The UNSC stepped up their counterinsurgent insurgency, with the arrival of an alien force, the Covenant. The threat
activities under the name Operation: TREBUCHET. posed by the Covenant eclipsed the activities of the Rebels, so forces were
The insurgents proved very difficult to rout and over the ensuing redeployed to stop the Covenant juggernaut and the Rebels were left to
decades, more organized factions grew in other areas ofthe colonies as their own devices. The insurrection did not end there. It continued to
quickly as operations could be launched against them. Bombings establish itself wherever it found ground to do so, even finding unlikely
continued despite the best efforts of military personnel, and civilians alliances with opportunistic Kig-Yar pirates.
were regularly caught in the crossfire. Casualties mounted, adding to a As the Human-Covenant War marched inexorably onwards and Humanity
simmering hatred towards the UNSC. suffered mounting defeats, many of these Rebel factions were consumed by the
overwhelming combat and simply wiped out ofexistence. Despite their demise,
the ideas and grievances that forged their genesis were never addressed. With
the end of the Human-Covenant War at hand, these questions have cropped up
In 2502 CE, Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE—part of the UNSC’s greater plan to again, ieading many to wonder whether, after decades of torturous strife and
pacify the entirety of Human-colonized space—was put into action. During this unity of cause, Humanity’s leaders have truly learned from their mistakes.
operation, Corporal Avery Johnson assassinated Jerald Mulkey Ander. With
r
Ander dead, the Rebels’ alliance fell into chaos and dissolved, but Ander Get aaa

became a martyrto the cause of Insurrectionists throughout the colonies.

LEADERS TRULY LEARI

 THE UNITED NATIONS Space Command (UNSC) is
the military arm of the Human governing system,
but during
theHuman-Covenant War, it operated in
many ways as the main governing body

Bes Ney
fo aEon
ae
 HIGH COMMAND
The UNSC’s High Command (HighCom) is a small group ofthe highest-
ranking officers. It is sometimes also called “the Admiralty,”
but this
is technically a misnomer, as HighCom includes both the ground and —
naval officers—admirals, fleet admirals, generals, and commanding
generals—who control Earth’s forces. There are fewer than twenty
members ofthe Admiralty, working in close concert to plan missions,
set objectives, and ensure that there are no “turf” wars over
resources and command hierarchy in the lower echelons. a

ie a ae

| Wn

| THE FORMATION OF THE UNSC

_The UNSC.was born out ofthe United Nations’ (UN’s) need
to militarily address a series of conflicts which plagued
the Sol System in the middle of the 22nd century.
_ &Asfriedens and Koslovics battled each other in a war
_ footed in ideology, the UNSC was able to successfully
quell the disparate forces.and end the bloodshed during
__ a series of conflicts called the Interplanetary War. By
_ the end ofthe 22nd century, the UNSC was the singular
military entity which governed the Sol System.
| Though large and often bureaucratically unwieldy, the
UNSC was. designed for cross-discipline cooperation
and it excels at joint operations. There Is a great deal of
verlap between operational. divisions, but given the
ature’ of the UNSC.High..Command, this creates
surprisingly few jurisdictional and protocol headaches.

he UNSC is divided into Ground (Unicom) and Naval

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SS
 When | die please bury me deep!
if

Place an MAS down by my feet!

Don't cry for me, don't shed no tear!
ust pack my box with PT gear!
Cuz one early morning ‘bout zero-five!
—=

The ground will rumble,

there'll be lightning in the sky!
Don't you worry, don't come undone!
It's justmy ghost on a PT run!”
—UNSC€ MARCHING SONG
 THE UNIFIED GROUND Command (UniCom) has control
of all UNSC ground-based operations and is loosely
modeled on the now-defunct United States Marine
Corps. UniCom’s role includes, but is not limited to,
_ disaster relief, infantry operations, search and
reconnaissance ops, and other “ground pounder”
duties. Naval special warfare troops are an exception
and are controlled by NavCom.

> THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE

UNSCISDIVIDED INTOTWOPARTS:
GROUND FORCES (CONTROLLED
BY UNICOM) AND NAVAL FORCES
(CONTROLLED BY NAVCOM).
 “HUMANS
UNICOM
UNICOM STRUCTURE
The basic unit of ground force operations is the squad,
idiers, or thereabouts. Ground—
eS further grouped into platoons, companies,
_ battalions, regiments, and divisions. The force
numbers given in the descriptions below are ideals,
_ rarely matched exactly in the field. At the higher levels,
these numbers include a significant amount of support
personnel such as logistics and administration.

UNSC UNITS

SQUAD
Twelve soldiers, led by a Corporal or Lance Corporal.

PLATOON
Three squads (thirty-sixmen) led bya Second Lieutenant, with
a “Platoon Sergeant,” usually a Sergeant or Staff Sergeant.

COMPANY
Four platoons, plus a group of personnel assigned as
“Company Headquarters Section” (164 men in total],
commanded by a First Lieutenant or Captain, with a
“Company Sergeant,” usually a Staff Sergeant or a Gunnery
Sergeant. The twelve companies of a regiment are named
phonetically “A” [Alpha] through “M” (Mike) with the
exclusion of ‘J.” First battalion consists of companies
A through D, second battalion is companies E through
H, and so forth. A typical infantry company would have
three infantry platoons and one heavy weapons platoon,
but these numbers are flexible depending on the unit
type and mission. T companies, for example, eschew this
model and mix their heavy weapons personnel into each
platoon, so all the platoons have one weapon squad.

BATTALION
Four companies, plus a group of personnel assigned as
“Battalion Headquarters Section” (eight hundred men in total],
commanded by a Major or Lieutenant Colonel, with a Battalion
First Sergeant,’ usually a Gunnery Sergeant or above.

REGIMENT
Three battalions, plus a group of personnel assigned as
“Regimental Headquarters Section,” {three thousand
men in total), commanded by a Colonel, or in some cases
a Brigadier General.

DIVISION
Three regiments, plus a group of personnel assigned as
“Division Headquarters Section” (fourteen thousand men
in total], commanded by a Brigadier General or Major
General. The extra personnel in the force number given
are support units, including medical, combat engineering,
maintenance, and military police.
 ORBITAL DROP SHOCK TROOPERS (ODST) are an
fit — elite unit of UNSC Marines. They are trained for
ODST Be Pa vi the most difficult kind of landing operation—a
OPERATIVE “= — <_< 9) terrifying ride through hellish conditions into
: the most difficult combat zones. Given this
extreme deployment, ODSTs are also known
as “Helljumpers” and early incarnations were
sometimes called “Drop Jet Platoons.” It is an
all-volunteer outfit, and it takes a special
breed of soldierto join up.

As well as using standard infantry

equipment, ODSTs use a specialized body suit
that is typically black but may also have urban
camouflage patterns covering certain armor
panels. Other features include a heating and
cooling system which can match the infrared
signature ofthe current weather, as well as an
air-tight seal and oxygen tank capable of
providing air forfifteen minutes.
105TH MEU (SOC)/ ODST 11TH MARINE FORCE
UNIT INSIGNIA: Gold Comet RECONNAISSANCE / ODST
NOM DE GUERRE: “Helljumpers” This was the ODST unit placed on FFG-107
TRADITIONAL TATTOOS: “Drop Jet Jumpers” or “Feet Forward Unto Dawn specifically to collect
First into Hell” tattooed over a skull or over the intelligence on Covenant and Forerunner forces
unit’s Gold Comet insignia. With the 105th, these and material during Operation: BLIND FAITH.
are just as likely to be brands as tattoos.

RANGED
CLOSE QUARTERS
oe | ~<a SOEIV PODS
- SINGLE EXOATMOSPHERE INSERTION . An SOEIV pod is a blunt carriage,
- Vehicles (SOEIVs) are a revolutionary : approximately eighteen feet (5.4 meters]
eans to. deploy ODST soldiers me . | tall, eight and a half feet (2.6 meters) wide,
and nine feet (2.7 meters) deep, which
through an atmosphere. Rather than has a single entry hatch on
ae ericonal Gropships, ODSIs C= er * cide inside i a cage ee
] : fd a harness, and several
Ta equipment — racks r
maneuverability FTale din Vee pee 7 ‘ = lockers. Much of the
interior is taken over by
lessofatarget fortheenemy. : ee
equipment so, in spite ofthep
size, there is not much room te move.
A long, narrow compar
ship (nicknamed “Hell's Waiting Room”)
lined by two rows of drop pods. Each SO!
bears the name of an individual troop
and is poised overatube that extends
through the ship’s bell
chambers are stacked on several decks to
Amajok advantages allow multiple SOEIVs to use the sai
SOEIVsovertraditional © «fOr egress in rapid succession.
dropships is that a
spacecraft can make
a fast pass over a
planet and deploy
hundreds of soldiers in
quick succession. This
means that the ship
can maintain evasive
maneuvers, limiting
vulnerability to attack. Fae
eal

SOEIV—SEALED AND IN FLIGHT

SOEIV—OPEN
 ~ SOEIV—DEPLOYING ©
ODST DEPLOYMENT
The trooper climbs in through the hatch and straps in, facing the
door directly in front of him. On the dooris a hardened and shielded
video-com unit clipped to the interior frame, which delivers
information and provides a link between the ODSI soldiers |
during the drop. Their integral helmet-com units will not :
function until after they've cleared the interference of the
upper atmosphere. -

The commander begins a thirty-second countd wn, after

which the SOEIVs quickly fire down through the ship’s belly.
Immediately, the pod is jolted hard by contact with the -
atmosphere. It is balanced to maintain f ght stabil ty in a fc down
position once it haspenetrated the atmosphere, b t ang the fon phase it
ey rollortumble. =—_

Oftentimes anti-aircraft fire willhit some ofthe pods during their

descent, but es they ae 8 Mo each hit aL

THE ROLE
OF OFFICERS
UNSC insertion protocols call for
the commanding officer's SOEIV to
accelerate after launch, placing it in the front
rank of the advance. There are several reasons for this
rule, the most prominent being the strongly held belief that
officers should lead rather than follow, should be willing to
do anything theirtroops are askedto do, and should expose
themselves to at least the same level of danger as their
subordinates.
 UNDER THE OPERATIONAL
authority of Naval Special
Weapons, ODSTs’ methods
_ of operation allow them to
conduct missions against
targets that conventional
forces cannot approach
undetected. ODSTs are
known for their specialist
and highly strategic
landing operations.

QDSTs are recruited from the Special

_ Operations Groups of all the nations of the
Unified Earth Government (UEG). Since the
first group of handpicked volunteers was
activated, ODSTs have been dropping feet
first into combat.

FULL NAME: Buck, Edward

HEIGHT: 6’2” (1.88 m) WEIGHT: 196 Ib (89 kg}
FULL NAME: Crespo, Michael * 3, | \ ; ere BSE ae Bole
HEIGHT: 6’(1.84 m) WEIGHT: 187 Ib (85 kg) oN \ é a CITIZENSHIP: Draconian OCCUPATION: Student
eH NN
GENDER: Male AGE: 22 years
Eddie Buck is a career Marine who has seen more than his fair
CITIZENSHIP: Lunar OCCUPATION: Student
share of this war. He has had the dubious honor of
Mickey loves being an ODST. More than he did being a pilot. participating in many of the wars’ most vicious battles,
More than he did being a crew chief on a Pelican Gunship. including both the liberation of Harvest and the Fall of Reach.
Heis no strangerto battle and has a fair number of notches That he has survived through it all speaks volumes. Truly, if
in his belt, but he is unique amongst his ODST brothers in he was any better, he'd be a Spartan. |
that he has never seen absolute ruination visited upon a
Human colony world by the Covenant.
FULL NAME: Classified
ROMEO
HEIGHT: 6'1” (1.86 m) WEIGHT: 194 Ib (88 kg) FULL NAME: Agu, Kojol
‘GENDER: Male AGE: Classified HEIGHT: 6'2” (1.9 WEIGHT: 200 Ib (91 kg)
CITIZENSHIP: Lunar OCCUPATION: Student GENDER: Male AGE: 28 years
SSS CITIZENSHIP: Madrigali OCCUPATION: Merchant Marine
FULL NAME: Miles, Taylor H. et
This Marine was recently transferred from the twenty- Romeo sees his true vocation as a ladies’ man. But just
HEIGHT: 6’ (1.84 m) WEIGHT:
200 Ib (91 kg)
sixth Marine Expeditionary Force, part of a Rapid because he’s a lover doesn’t mean he can’t be a fighter—
GENDER: Male AGE: 33 years
Offensive Picket that suffered near-annihilation at New and adamned fine one at that. He keeps his gear clean, his
CITIZENSHIP: Martian OCCUPATION: Road Train Driver
Jerusalem on Cygnus. Like most ODSTs, his actions suit looking sharp, and his body lean and strong. He may
fe --
speak louder than words. Dutch’s former life as a road train driver on Mars did well to not be a shining example of the UNSC off the battlefield,
prepare him for the arduous tasks of a heavy weapons but onit he is a consummate combatant.
specialist and driver with the ODSTs. Behind the death’s
head rictus, jolly roger, and layer upon layer of black and
gray armor is a man of deep spiritual convictions and
respect for those he serves alongside.
NAVAL COMMAND _
THE UNSC NAVAL COMMAND (NavCom) _
is made up of three main commands: - ,
Fleet Operations Command (Fleet
Com); Logistical Operations Command
(NavLogCom); and Naval Special
Weapons Operations (NavSpecWep).

FLEET COMMAND

FLEETCOM
The primary operational group of the UNSC
naval forces, FleetCom has oversight of
ship deployment, mission structures,
and space operations, including troop
transport and fighter operations.

> NAVCOM, THROUGH NAVSPECWEP, CAN CALL ON THE SERVICE

OF THE MOST LEGENDARY SUPER-SOLDIER: THE MASTER CHIEF,

and distribution of
ammunition, repla
 HUMANS

NAVCOM —
NAVAL SPECIAL WEAPONS

The Master Chief is attached to this

group, which has a great deal of
operational and command flexibility
This office technically answersto
both NavCom and UniCom, though in
practice, UniCom has primary
oversight of special warfare
troops in the field.
 OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
ISN”

aunlanuls

64 é
 HUMANS
THE OFFICE OF Naval Intelligence ONI
(ONI) isthe information gathering
and analysis arm of NavCom. In
reality, however, ONI’s operations
are far broader than simple code
breaking and intelligence.

ONI CHARTER
ONI is the home of the Navy’s most labyrinthine and impenetrable
security protocols to mask its covert operations. Though ONI is
technically part of the NavCom command structure, many of the
organization’s mandates and directives come directly from
HighCom or even higher. NavCom’s senior officers are often
blindsided by ONI activities, which has led to a borderline
adversarial relationship between the upper echelons of NavCom
and ONI. Projects ORION, SPARTAN-II, and MJOLNIR armor are all
programs originating from ONI’s research and development
operations.

CASTLE
CASTLE is the high-security headquarters for ONI, located deep beneath
the Highland Mountains on Reach in the Epsilon Eridani System.

BETA-5 DIVISION
Beta-5 is the research and development arm of ONI, and one of
the most closely guarded aspects of the organization. It
occupies one entire wing of CASTLE (in addition to many remote
laboratories and field testing facilities across UNSC space).

Bs
=

ONI SECTIONS
ONI is composed of multiple divisions, called Sections,
each with its own individual responsibilities:

SECTION ONE
The true nature and activities of Section Zero are highly classified ection One is the main branch of ONI and
and unknown outside ofthe hierarchy of ONI command (actually, e branch most utilized by the UNSC.
_ most of what people think of Section Zero is true of Section Three, “Information released by Section One includes
as well). Zero is, essentially, an internal investigations division evacuation notices for colony worlds and Covenant
that polices other ONI activities. _ forcedeployments.

SECTION TWO SECTION THREE

Section Three is the Special Projects Section
responsible for the various SPARTAN Programs,
the MJOLNIR Program, and many other
classified projects. It is essentially the
black-ops division. Secrets possessed by
ONI are key to the UNSC’s (and thus
Earth’s) continued survival. Within
the hierarchy of the military
command, Section Three’s
programs are generally well known
for their successes, such as the
SPARTAN-II Program.
AILITARY VBIVUINTSH
IS¢V00)) a
nul
THE COLONIAL MILITARY Administration was
=: created by the Unified Earth Government in
te a the early 2300s. Its original mission was
ae to serve as the controlling body for UNSC
____ Ships and ground forces reassigned to colonial
protective operations. However, over the years
it gradually became usurped by the UNSC.
 HUMANS
GINAL CHARTER CMA
tion, prnanly
andmarauders,
ind—the CMA—would suffice
oy activities. At thetime,

spent on
o activities withinthe Solan. As jhedehinies
and became more vital, NavCom and UniCom tried to
d the C d usurp its role on a number of occasions,
but the colonial nmand was adamant in protecting their turf.
‘Their charter {approved by the UNSC) left little room for external
maneuvering. Even so, by 2400 CE, NavCom and UniCom were
3around theInner pe alongside the CMA.

{ MA ANDTh
THE OUTER COLONIES
ponse
( to the encroaching NavCom and UniCom, the ©
cM made the Outer Colonies their province, and tended to
assign most of their forces to the periphery of the border
worlds. They drew. most of their recruits from the colonies THE DEMISE OF THE CMA
‘soldiers often thought of themselves as -
ersmen, more bold and adventurous than their UNSC In 2494 CE, Eridanus Secessionists began a campaign of
counterparts. As Humanity spread, the CMA was at the violence against their Earth-sponsored government,
forefront, helping colonists to tame worlds and protecting using equipment supplied by traitors within the military,
A Pee from lawlessness in pes populated areas. believed by many to be members of the CMA. The colony
petitioned the UNSC for aid, and HighCom dispatched a
battle group that crushed the rebellion, though not so
‘SPLITALLEGIANCES - conclusively as to avoid continued dissent.
n ite 2400s, as brushfire wars began to crop up This was considered the beginning of the end for the
across the various colonies, tensions began to develop in colonial military. Over the next few decades, citing
the iol ie lee The soldiers of the om tended to security concerns, the UNSC gradually shifted the
resources of the CMA to NavCom/UniCom control,
ondeUnicom held more sipsienc oe to relegating the CMAto patrolling the most distant colonies
ot caused no small degree of concern when the and providing logistical support to remote stations. The
CMA launched Project: ORION in 2491 CE, intent on Office of Naval Intelligence’s Beta-5 Division eagerly
. _ developing a tougher and more capable breed
absorbed the remnants of Project: ORION, though its
o of soldier, better able to handle the
lackluster results discouraged further development at
__ hardships ofcolonial duty.
that time.

NAVCOM/UNICOM CONTROL
After contact was lost with the distant colony of Harvest,
the CMA sent a ship, the Argo, to investigate. It was also
a CMA battle group that followed the Argo when that ship
failed to report back. However, once the Covenant
message was received, all CMA combat forces were
immediately placed under NavCom/UniCom control “for
the duration of the crisis. "This reassignment essentially
became permanent as the Covenant War dragged on,
and by 2552 CE, the Colonial Military Administration was
little more than fleet of nav gational buoy tenders and
remote fuel depots manned by wounded veterans and
those unfit for combat service. :

67
 dquartersaSsaland Earth itself.

UNITEDNATIONS SPACE COMMAND EMERGENCY ___ PRIORITY ORDER 09831A

ENCRYPTION CODE: RED —
‘PUBLIC KEY: FILE /FIRST LIGHT/
| FROM:UNSC/NAVCOM FLEETH.T. WARD
TO: ALL UNSC PERSONNEL ;
SUBJECT: GENERAL ORDER 098831A-1 (“THE COLE PROTOCOL”) |
CLASSIFICATION: RESTRICTED (BGX DIRECTIVE]

THECOLEPROTOCOL 3~—i _—
To safeguard the Inner Denes and Earth, all UNSC vessels or stations must nottbe e ee
captured with intact navigation databases that may lead Covenant oe to Human
civilian population centers.

iF ANY COVENANT FORCES ARE DETECTED:

© Activate selective puree ofdatabases on all ship-based and planetarypate”
networks. :
e Initiate triple-screen check:to insure all data has been erased and all backups :
_ neutralized. |
° Execute viral data scavengers: (Download from ee JPW COLEPROTOC L
Virtualscav/fbr.091)
° If retreating from Covenant forces, allships |must enter Siosueanspa
_ randomized vectors NOT directed toward bath,“ per Colonies, or
_ Human populationcenter.
__ elncaseofi imminent captureby
: destruct. | _
« Violation :thisdireetiy
_ UNSC Military Law article
puni: bey PyHeimpris
 HUMANS

B THE COLE PROTOCOL

 ERSONNEL
ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Sergeant Major PERSONALITY:
qON
su
Vv Grim, relentless, professional, a highly proficient soldier
NICKNAME: Jenkins ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human
RANK: Private First Class PERSONALITY: Caring, ambitious
From the early days of the Interplanetary Civil War to the final minutes of the battle on the replacement
—
Installation 04, Avery Johnson was in the thick ofthe action. He was the quintessential soldier. Originally, he
“enlisted in the UNSC to be a hero, to do the right thing, and to protect Humanity. Eventually, he learned that During the first battle of Harvest, Jenkins was the colonial

\OSNHOT
AYFAV warranting
all three of those goals were often in conflict with each other. Johnson excelled in the Marine Corps,
special training and special missions. Soon, his missions led him down a slippery slope away
militia’s sniper. During the conflict, he helped save
thousands of Harvest’s population despite losing his
from the heroic ideal and into the quagmire of a civil war where the lines between right and wrong had entire family to the Covenant. Shortly after the battle, he
irrevocably blurred. When the Covenant attacked, it was almost a saving enlisted in the UNSC Marine Corps and remained under the
grace for Johnson’s troubled soul. As the war with the Covenant command of Avery J. Johnson. He was aboardthe Pillarof. =
escalated, Johnson regained his sense of self and place. He Autumn when it arrived on Halo Installation 04 and was
valiantly led soldiers in defense of the Human race, redeeming present when the Flood was released from its
himself for the actions he had taken and the decisions he had containment facility. Jenkins quickly fell victim to the
made during the Insurrection. parasite’s attack, but remained conscious during this
Avery died ensuring the destruction of the Ark and the time and was able to overcome the infection long enough
Flood; he represented the nobility of man, and the choice to tip off UNSC forces about an imminent attack. He died
to defend Humanity at all costs. heroically but without formal honors.

ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Admiral

PERSONALITY: Strong, heroic, legendary, tactically
brilliant, instinctive
—
——_

The first legendary hero of the Human-Covenant War,

Admiral Preston Cole successfully retook the Harvest
System thanks to some last-minute tactical inspiration.
Despite the massive losses sustained in the campaign to
retake the completely destroyed planetary system, Cole
became a rallying point for all Humanity and proof that
the Covenant could be defeated. During the course of the
war, Cole became one ofthe most powerful generals, and
his tactics were often replicated and employed
throughout the fleet. He instituted the Cole Protocol—a
necessary order designed to keep the location of Earth
and the Inner Colonies protected from enemy hands.

> “HELL, CHIEF, IT'LL 3

ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Lieutenant,
TAKE MORE THAN THAT Intelligence Officer PERSONALITY: Hesitant, insecure

» PACK OF WALKING ALIEN Stationed aboard the Pillar of Autumn,

——

Haverson
HORROR-SHOW FREAKS survived the Battle of Installation 04, eventually
meeting up with the Master Chief and returning to
TO TAKE OUT SERGEANT the planet Reach in the hybrid ship) Gettysburg-

A. J. JOHNSON.” Ascendant Justice. He then joined the mission

against the Unyjielding Hierophant, and
—SERGEANT JOHNSON sacrificed himself with Admiral
while drawing a Covenant armada
Whitcomb
into the
blast radius ofthe station.
 PROFESSOR ELLEN ANDERS
ALLIANCE: UNSC Species: Human RANK: Admiral ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human
PERSONALITY: Serious, courageous, a healer, an PERSONALITY: Intelligent, aggressive, clever
iconic leader
b 4
Ascientistto the core, Anders spent her life in the
The commander of the UNSC Hopeful, Admiral Jeromi has service of science and learning. When she was
earned something of a legendary reputation within the suddenly and unwelcomely attached to the
UNSC, having taken his unarmed vessel into battle to save UNSC Spirit of Fire, she had her first experience
thousands of injured troops. Escaping court-martial of combat, and the uncertainty of war made
on numerous occasions, Jeromi has won the Colonial Cross her extremely uneasy.
twice. Although he has participated in research for the Anders discovered an ancient relic on
SPARTAN-II Project, he was unaware of his role at the the planet Harvest, leading the Spirit of
time. Assisting his pupil, Dr. Catherine Halsey, with a Fire to a Shield World where the Covenant
hypothesis for her research, he unwittingly offered her intended to leverage a fleet of Forerunner
the information she needed to green-light the project. vessels against Humanity.To prevent the
Covenant from achieving this end,
the Humans destroyed the Shield
World using their FTL drive,
but in the process they
found themselves stranded
inuncharted space.
During the course ofthis :
ALLIANCE: UNSC Navy SPECIES: Human RANK: Petty
engagement, Anders oy ‘
Officer First Class PERSONALITY: Charming,
survived captivity under \ ip
outgoing, friendly
the Covenant longer than ,
jf
& any other Human had before.
Petty Officer First Class Healy was the medical officer The Spirit of Fire was officially
assigned to Harvest’s colonial militia. His comedic designated “lost with all hands” on
demeanor initially made him seem like a poor soldier to February 10, 2534 CE.
Avery J. Johnson, but during the evacuation of Harvest, he
proved himself to be a serious and capable soldier and
medic. He is directly responsible for saving many lives
among Harvest’s population.

ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK:

Fleet Admiral PERSONALITY: Proper, serious,

ALLIANCE: UNSC, ONI SPECIES: Human RANK: strong, rational

Lieutenant Commander PERSONALITY: Poised,
calculating, cool under pressure - Lord Terrence Hood is a member of the
F English nobility as well as the Commander
Jilan al-Cygni was the officer in command of the of the UNSC Home Fleet, making him the
investigation into what she discovered were the first most powerful man in the UNSC in 2552 CE.
human interactions with the Covenant near the planet He was responsible for the defense of
‘Harvest. With the help of the local colonial militia, she Earth against Covenant attack and later,
organized the first diplomatic contact between Humanity the diplomatic accords between Humans
and the aliens. Later, she assisted with the evacuation of and Covenant rebels.
Harvest when the Covenant began to attack. She is
believed to have survived the Covenant’s assault,
participatinginthe evacuation andis rumored to have had
an affair with Sergeant Avery Johnson.

ALLIANCE: UNSC, ON SPECIES: Human RANK: Colonel

ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Staff Sergeant PERSONALITY: Competitive, arrogant, ambitious, secretive
PERSONALITY: Gruff, honorable, tough F

Colonel James Ackerson was the mastermind behind the

Staff Sergeant Nolan Byrne was a soldier who led an SPARTAN-III Project, but even more secretly, he was responsible
elite squad of Marines against the Eridanus Rebels for for a number of research projects on the Forerunners and their ALLIANCE: UNSC, ONI SPECIES: Human RANK: Captain
-years until, on a mission with Avery J. Johnson, his interaction with the planet Reach. He was also Dr. Catherine PERSONALITY: Resilient, powerful, secretive

squad was lost in an insurgent blast. Byrne and Halsey's rival and was constantly spying on her projects and
_ Johnson were then assigned to train the colonial militia frustrating her attempts to find new funding. As a result of this,
the Al Cortana sought vengeance for his many trespasses and Field officer in charge of ONI Section Three’s Black Ops
on Harvest, where they shared a strained relationship
faked ordersto have him sent to the frontlines. Duringa battle at division, Gibson stopped being actively involved in
because Byrne blamed Johnson for the deaths of his
the fields of Mare Erythraeum on Mars, he was captured by missions when he became disabled after too much time in
‘Squad members. Together they performed covert
Brutes and tortured. Under torture, he exclaimed that the microgravity left him paralyzed from the waist down with
missions in the first sorties. This eventually led to the
Covenant would never find the Key of Osanalan, instigating the a condition called “space walk.” He gave the green-light to
_ first (and last) diplomatic meeting with the aliens. After
Covenant invasion of Cleveland, Ohio in search of it. The Key was the SPARTAN-III Program.
_ that meeting failed, he helped organize and execute the
- evacuation of Harvest. actuallyan imaginary item, made up by him and his brother,
Ruwan, when they played as children.
 ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Captain AGE: 50 years ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Senior Chief,
HEIGHT: 5’10” (177.80 cm) WEIGHT: 195 Ib (88.45 kg) Petty Officer PERSONALITY: Strong, parental, caring
but outwardly stoic
=

Cutter was an officer from the start. But his demeanor was never one
of a do-nothing officer like a number of his class. Many of the The Drill Sergeant in charge of the training of both the
young men had political aspirations far beyond their potential, — Spartan-ll and Spartan-lll Programs, Senior Chief Petty
but Cutter found it more interesting “talking-shop” in the Officer Mendez is a man who can keep a secret. His
soldier’s club with the non-officers. That’s not to say that extensive career has earned him a prolific amount of
Cutter disliked his fellow officers, it was just his approach honors and medals. After the Spartan-ll Program
to, “Get to know and respect your men, and they'll give you completed training, he requested reassignment to active
200 percent when the time comes.” duty where he continued to prove himself until he was
But this approach has its good and bad sides. Cutter has reassigned to the Spartan-lll Program. He survived the
served on seven ships, two of them as Captain, and has a battle of Onyx and made it into the Shield World with Dr.
SRS
record of service and bravery that were well known Catherine Halsey and the other surviving Spartans.
within the fleet. But it was his lack of political ambition,
his unwillingness to climb the ladder of the UNSC by
stepping over others, that had kept him from far more.
Saas ES LISA SCR OBIE
OT
He could very well have been a general, if he had ever
cared to be. ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Captain
Cutter was selected for the Spirit of Fire first, and was PERSONALITY: Devoted to Humanity, honorable,
the only man they wanted for the job. Where some would courageous, fatherly
have seen this as a very unprestigious job; being the supply
boat of the fleet, running a three-mile-long 11,000-person
juggernaut that always had an assignment with more missions Jacob Keyes was a decorated officer who was often
waiting in the wings, Cutter found that it was something that made responsible for covert and highly dangerous missions.
him smile behind his morning coffee. Froma brief stint as attaché to Dr. Catherine Halsey to the
Fall of Reach, Keyes led a handpicked crew of men and
women in and out of impossible situations, persevering
and surviving.
Of particular note was his execution of a daring combat
maneuver that came to be known as the “Keyes Loop” in
an engagement over Sigma Octanus IV. During that
battle, Keyes mixed complicated use of the planet’s
gravity well with daring near-collison piloting to survive
impossible odds. His tactics and focus under fire
became standard fare for all UNSC officer training.
ALLIANCE: UNSC Navy SPECIES: Human RANK: Keyes was Captain ofthe Pillar ofAutumn when it crash-
Rear Admiral landed on Halo Installation 04. He was captured and
rescued andledateam into the mawofthe Flood infection.
He was infected and mutated into a Proto-Gravemind. He
Stanforth was the head of FleetCom Section Ill was then killed by Master Chief.
during the Spartan-ll Program.A lover of whisky and
Sweet William cigars, he was a personal friend of
Jacob Keyes and a humanist at heart. He was in
command of many Spartan field missions, including
the battle of Sigma Octanus IV. He died in 2552 CE
during the Fall of Reach.

NICKNAME: Foehammer ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES:

Human RANK: Flight Officer Captain PERSONALITY:
Dependable, duty-bound, fearless

> "GET TO KNOW AND

RESPECT YOUR MEN, Stationed on the Pillar of Autumn, Foehammer
was the pilot of the Pelican Echo 419 and she and ALLIANCE: UNSC, ONI SPECIES: Human RANK: Vice Admiral

AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU 200 her ship transported Master Chief throughout the
battle of Installation 04. Having saved hundreds
PERSONALITY: Ambitious, rational, sharp, cold

4 4
PERCENT WHEN THE TIME COMES.” of soldiers and ensured the success of Master
Parangosky managed to achieve the highest rank in the
—CAPTAIN CUTTER Chief's mission, she was killed when Covenant
Banshees shot down her Pelican in the battle’s
UNSC by 2552 CE, when she was named the head of ONI.
From her base on the Point of No Return, she green-lit
final moments.
some of Humanity’s most questionable research and
development projects.
 HUMANS

UNSC PERSONNEL
ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Sergeant AGE: 40 years
HEIGHT: 6’ (190.50 cm) WEIGHT: 215 Ib (97.52kg)

Forge’s life has been the military. He entered boot camp at

the minimum age of sixteen. There was something unique and
special about him, at least that was what the officers had
told him. It wasn’t that he was as physically gifted as
some older cadets, though he was strong for his size
ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Human RANK: Corporal
and weight. It was the desire and toughness
PERSONALITY: Romantic, heroic, aggressive, vengeful
he displayed in the way that he did
just about everything. Also, the
fact that he was so incredibly A survivor of the battle of Installation 04, Corporal
competitive and driven to Locklear traveled with Master Chief, Avery J. Johnson,
succeed didn’t hurt either. and Petty Officer Sheila Polaski. He fell in love with
It was these qualities that Polaski during their travels to Reach and during the
made him a lifetime member mission to destroy the Unyielding Hierophant. When
of the corps. Forge was nowa Sheila Polaski was killed in action, Locklear was filled
warrior, but that was all he was. with anger and desire for revenge. He was convinced by
His training and discipline had left Dr. Catherine Halsey to destroy the Crystal of Reach,
him with a “unique” personality and method of getting taking his own life in the process, because of her
things done. conviction that it was too powerful and unpredictable to
Forge was a Sergeant but that was about as far up the fall into the hands of Humans or the Covenant.
ladder he was goingto go. He had been jailed at least twice
(by the official record) for directly disobeying orders and
disorderly conduct. What the record didn’t say was that he had saved the
lives offour of his squad and that he had defended his daughterin an officer's
bar. But these things weren't truly important to him.
Now forty, Forge is a grizzled, seasoned veteran who has seen and done
almost everything in a military sense. He is no-nonsense, tough,
unapologetic, always on his guard, and slightly pessimistic about the
universe in general.

Alliance: UNSC Navy SPECIES: Human RANK: Commander

PERSONALITY: Daring, courageous, determined

Miranda Keyes was the daughter of Captain Jacob

Keyes, and she followed in his footsteps, most likely in
the beginning to gain respect and affection from a
father who was often away at war. Keyes proved
herselfin battletobe as daring and courageous as her
father and led several ships against dizzying odds.
She supported Master Chief’s missions during the
first and second battles of Earth, and again later in
The battle of Installation 00. In order to prevent the
High Prophet of Truth from activating the Halo
Array, she crashed her Pelican into the control
room of the Ark and held off the Covenant long
enough for Master Chief to arrive and stop the
weapon's countdown. She died in the process,
shot by the Jiralhanae Honor Guard who was
protecting the High Prophet.
 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCES
IN ADDITION to Marines and Spartans,
the fighting force of the UNSC is
VNIY4s
reliant on many others such as
civilians like Dr. Catherine Halsey and
computer-based Artificial Intelligence
constructs like Serina.

SERINA
Serina is a visual representation ofone of the most sophisticated
Artificial Intelligence programs in the history of Humanity.
Although wholly a digital life form, Serina, like other Al programs,
has developed her own personality. That personality is one of a
supremely intelligent and bitingly sarcastic young woman. She
has long hair, as much as any hologram can have hair, a thin
figure, and a constant smirk.
Serina, and those constructs like her, are one of the most
important assets that the Human race has in their fight against
the Covenant. Her mental dexterity and intelligence, along with
her absolute candor and lack of complicated emotions such as
nervousness and hesitation, make her indispensable. Anyone
who doubts this need only remember that she controls every
system on the UNSC Spirit of Fire, including life support.

ALLIANCE: unsc PRIMARY FUNCTION: Shipboard Al of

the UNSC Spirit of Fire GENDER APPEARANCE: Female

DEJA ENDLESS SUMMER

Déja is the “dumb” Artificial Intelligence responsible for Endless Summer, was a “smart” Al who played a role in the excavations which occured
training the SPARTAN-II Program candidates within the Naval in Zone 6? on the planet Onyx. He replaced the Al known as Deep Winter, which had
Academy facilities on Reach. Her lessons increased the come to the end of its operational life span. In his visual manifestation, he took the
candidate’s strategic thinking and educated them in a form of a tall, CherokeeIndian Chief wielding a feathered spear.
variety of standard disciplines, but all with a slant towards a Unlike his precursors Deep Winter and Eternal Spring, Endless Summer was distant
military application. Although as a dumb Al she theoretically and barely tolerated those stationed on Onyx. When Delta Halo was placed in stand-
maintained a limitless lifespan, there is no evidence that by mode, the Spartan’s training camp came under attack by hostile Forerunner
she survived the Fall of Reach. Sentinels from Zone 6?. Shortly afterward, the planet Onyx disintegrated and the
operational status of Endless Summer has since remained unknown.

PRIMARY FUNCTION: Teacher and Assistant to the

SPARTAN-II Program GENDER APPEARANCE: Female PRIMARY FUNCTION: UNSC Excavation Team, Zone 67, Onyx GENDER
VISUAL PERSONALITY: Greek goddess APPEARANCE: Male VISUAL PERSONALITY: Cherokee Indian Chief
 KALMIYA MELISSA
Although it is against UNSC regulations for a "smart" Al Melissa was an Artificial Intelligence construct aboard the
ne 6? on the planet Onyx. He prototype to remain active after its software has been UNSC Apocalypso who was created from the brain of
ind logisticsofthe SPARTAN- brought into production, Dr. Halsey chose to allow Kalmiya Yasmine Zaman. During the early years of the SPARTAN-II
to do so. Being the precursorto the technology which would Project, Yasmine perished when the augmentation
eventually be used for Cortana, Kalmiya was created for a process was far too aggressive for her body. Her brain,
variety of software intrusion routines. Like all prototypes, still of significance to ONI, was then used to build Melissa.
t down as a resultofsending a secret Kalmiya had a failsafe system which, when activated, The Apocalypso was involved in intercepting enemy
)51 regarding the use of illegal drugs on would self-destruct the construct preventing it from transmissions during the conflicts with the Covenant. At
-soldiers. Unbeknownst to Deep Winter, causing any harm. When Halsey terminated the life of this time and unbeknownst to Melissa, a Covenant
y the officer who approved the use of separate artificial constructs in her presence, Kalmiya program referred to as the Seeker had infected her. After
“a risky, but well-intentioned, effort to wondered if she would fall prey to such an end. Shortly later returning back to Earth with a Forerunner artifact the
the battle effectiveness of the she did, under the name Operation: WHITE GLOVE, Kalmiya crew of the Apocalypso believed was of Covenant origin, a
was destroued after facilitating the escape of Halsey and Slipspace rupture in conjunction with the artifact sent
the remnants of the Spartan Red Team from deep within part of Melissa to Earth in the year 2552 CE and a part
Menachite Mountain's CASTLE base. back in time to the year 2004 CE.
BEF, While Melissa’s System Peril Distributed Reflex {or SPDR)
program, a process of self repair for artificial constructs,
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Prototype for counterinsurgency had attempted to fix her, the Seeker managed to trick
. PERSONALITY: dider man with an “icy blue” routines GENDER APPEARANCE: Female Melissa into believing that it was, in fact, the SPDR
, Wearing heavy winter garb. program. This confusion became particularly apparent on
MACK
ETERNAL SPRING
a website in the year 2004 CE called ilovebees.com.
Meanwhile, the part which arrived on Earth in 2552 CE
manifested on a computer owned by a young civilian with
Visually manifested as a 20th-century cowboy, Mack the name Jersey Morelli. Referringtothe troubled Melissa
th generation “smart” Artificial Intelligence, Eternal
was the Artificial Intelligence construct responsible for entity as “Durga,” Jersey became consumed with
1g was allocated to Onyx as part of ONI’s planetary
the vast agricultural and farming operations on the
ey team in the area of Zone 67.Although devoting only unraveling her story.
planet Harvest. In this function he worked alongside Sif, Across the ilovebees.com site, Melissa’s story began to
mere nine percent of his operational time to the
who maintained Harvest’s shipping enterprises and manifest from her fragmented and broken perspective,
tablishment of the SPARTAN-III Project, he was
operated within the Tiara space orbital high above which remained under constant duress from the Seeker.
‘operative with Kurt-051 and assisted in the training
Harvest’s surface. In a story book fashion, Melissa ascribed names to the
ess of the Alpha Company ofSpartan-lls.
During their time together they developed a close individual entities and players. The Seeker became “The
relationship, although Sif customarily rejected these Pious Flea,” the SPDR became “The Widow,” and her own
IMARY FUNCTION: ON! Survey of Zone 76, feelings as they were foreign and alien to her. Eventually, fragmented identities became “The Evil-Queen” and “The
TAN-IIl_ Project GENDER APPEARANCE: Mack revealed to Sif that his data center included two Sleeping Princess.” Her two identities represented her
Undetermined personalities and that the second one was that of Loki, the complex personalities, the Queen or “Operator” was an
Artificial Intelligence who assisted early settlers of the aggressive manifestation of the brutal training she
planet long ago aboard the UNSC Skidbladnir. The two
“JERROD
received in the SPARTAN-II Project while the Princess was
artificial constructs had used this process of shifting back the remnant of her youth, so was innocent and child-like.
and forth to leverage a longer, overall operational lifespan Having tricked Melissa into believing that it was her SPDR
Jerrod was created as an experiment by the UNSC at the than they would have had otherwise. program, the Seeker then begantosystematically destroy
Sydney Synthetic Intellect Institute. The first “micro” However, when Loki attempted to destroy Sif in an Melissa’s fragments. During the process, the Seeker was
Artificial Intelligence, Jerrod was much smaller than effort to prevent her from falling into Covenant hands, manipulated into combining her two fragments but did so
standard Als, appearing as just a spark oflight. Because of Mack aggressively stopped him, in what clearly became with unexpected results. When this happened, Melissa
this, Jerrod was highly mobile and rather than relying ona an open display of affection. Ultimately, Sif agreed with managed to recover her focus and recognize the Seeker's
larger operating system to function, Jerrod could be Loki, however, and using a mass driver, he destroyed her true identity. The Seeker fled, but the SPDR was able to
sourced from a laptop computer. data center aboard the Tiara. Her last message was one effectively destroy the Covenant program and end any
Dr. Catherine Halsey took Jerrod with her to Onyx to find of endearment toward Mack, admitting to Loki that she threat it posed. The SPDR then withdrew to the ilovebees.
the “smart” Al, Endless Summer. Jerrod’s current loved him. The last record of Mack’s was equally com server, laying in wait for October 9, 2552 CE, when it
‘ operational status has been unknown ever since the intriguing, as it was an enigmatic transmission stating, could finally send information it had gathered in the
destruction of Onyx, but he may have survived within the “Bury your strands so deep their fires can’t reach them process.
Shield World that Halsey escaped to. and glass them like the rest.” This type of statement, a It was at that same time that Jersey, compelled to
=
misquote of Shakespeare’s work, was common for Mack uncover the secrets of Durga’s past, began following a
and was ultimately one ofthe elements ofhis personality trail of evidence which resulted in Yasmine finally being
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Assistant to Dr. Halsey GENDER - that Sif enjoyed, despite openly stating otherwise. reunited with her brother Kamal Zaman. Melissa's
APPEARANCE: male VISUAL PERSONALITY: None; consciousness later discovered more information about
_ tiny spark of light with formal voice the origin of the ancient artifact as well as the imminent
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Maintaining nearly one million
semi-autonomous JOTUN machines that perform most Covenant invasion of Earth.

farming duties on Harvest GENDER APPEARANCE:

Male VISUAL PERSONALITY: American cowboy a la PRIMARY FUNCTION: Assigned to the ON! stealth
20th-century film representations ship, Apocalypso GENDER APPEARANCE: Female
VISUAL PERSONALITY: Unknown
 AIS AND CIVILIANS

G3
NVR
V

CORTANA
Cortana is an Artificial Intelligence designed from the cloned brain of Dr.
Catherine Halsey. While she is artificial, she is in many ways more human
than the Master Chief. She is emotional and intuitive and open with her
feelings, while the Master Chief, indoctrinated by combat since the earliest
age, is rarely able to express the same level of emotion. Ironically, Cortanais,
in many ways, his soul mate. As his commanding officer, Cortana allows the
Master Chief both an easy sublimation ofhis free will and a sense ofspirit and
independence he has never before experienced. Cortana is an interesting
contradiction, artificial and nearly omniscient but openly expressive with
clear feelings and reactions based on experience.
Cortana has survived the destruction ofthe Ark and is now adrift in space.
She now faces the very real threat of rampancy, as every moment lost in
space brings her closer to her seven-year lifespan—and this life-and-death
struggle represents a situation from which Master Chief cannot rescue her.

SPECIES: ai ALLIANCE: unsc GENDER APPEARANCE: Female

PERSONALITY: Passionate, highly intelligent, snarky, sarcastic, witty,
eminently capable

GOVERNOR NILSTHUNE SPDR

Present at the first diplomatic meeting SPDR or “System Peril Distributed Reflex” is an automated response program placed in almost all UNSC Al
between Humanity and the Covenant, the constructs. The program activates and repairs Als whenever they endure significant damage which prevents
Governor of Harvest was removed from them from operating ontheir own.
power during the planet's evacuation. It is One instance of this happened in 2552 CE, when a temporal rift sent an UNSC Al named Melissa into a server
presumed Governor Thune was evacuated in the year 2004 CE. Here, the SPDR program attampted to fix Melissa, but was challenged by a Covanant Al
from the planet and survived. knownas the Seeker. After Melissa underwent a considerable struggleto determine which entity was authentic,
' the SPDR managed to kill the Seeker and prepared the server to convey information it had gathered by the
SPECIES: Human ALLIANCE: unsc Covenant to the UNSC, five hundred years later.
RANK: Governor of Harvest
PERSONALITY: Boisterous, friendly, SPECIES: al PRIMARY FUNCTION: Automated internalAlrepair program
mildly impulsive, full of himself
 GOVERNOR
JACOB JILES
Wellsley is a Class-C Military Artificial Intelligence who Dr. Catherine Halsey is among the greatest minds Ascending to the leadership of the United Rebel Front after
assisted Major Antonio Silva and First Lieutenant Melissa produced by the Human race. She was the mother ofthe the capture ofColonel Robert Watts, Jiles was Governor of
McKay when they discovered Installation 04. Wellsley SPARTAN-II Program and, while party to many of the the colony of Rebels based in the asteroid belt in the
helped to prepare and operate the UNSC’s staging atrocities committed by ONI in the name of that super- Eridanus System. Jiles is most famous for providing a way
platform, Alpha Base. Interestingly, Wellsley chose to soldier project, she partly redeemed herself through her station for the Spartan’s Blue Team and the hybrid ship,
_ appear as a stern-looking man with longish hair, a large growing concern for her charges and by taking Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice, on their way to Earth. Heis
nose, and a collared coat. He was a “dumb” Al, created responsibility for her earlier actions. presumed dead following the Covenant attack that
specifically for the position of military assistant. Halsey was a proponent of human genetic advancement pursued the hybrid ship through Slipspace.
His name, appearance, and personality originated from regardless ofthe cost, andshewasinvolvedin kidnapping,
Arthur Wellsley, the Duke of Wellington, who won the genetic augmentation, animal cruelty, and psychological ALLIANCE: United Rebel Front (Eridanus Rebels
Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon. The Al Wellsley often manipulation. Her boundless ambitiontoadvance science
SPECIES: Human RANK: Governor PERSONALITY:
referred to victories that the actual Duke made as though created a churning maelstrom of moral challenges to her
Practical, reasonable, idealistic, responsible
he were the Duke and not an artificial recreation. He was emotions as she navigated her way towards her overriding
presumed destroyed when the Covenant vessel Truth and goaltosave Humanity.
Reconciliation crashed into the surface of Installation 04. Her actions were morally questionable but as her
charges, the Spartan-lls, matured, Halsey saw the
COLONEL ROBERT WATTS
SPECIES: al PRIMARY FUNCTION: Military incredible and terrifying results of her actions, and came
‘Leader of the United Rebel Front, Watts established the
to appreciate the value of human life in a way she never
assistant GENDER APPEARANCE: Male VISUAL Rebel colony in the asteroid belt of the Eridanus System and
had before. She then put her life at risk to save the few
PERSONALITY: Arthur Wellsley, Duke of Wellington used it as the staging point for the invasion of Eridanus IV.
remaining Spartan-lls and the Spartan-Ills, who had been
Watts was captured by the Spartan-lls, led by Master Chief,
created without her knowledge.
and taken to ONI for interrogation. His fate and current
She is currently missing in action on the Onyx Shield
LOKI World.
whereabouts are unknown.

Named after the trickster God of Mischief in Norse ALLIANCE: united Rebel Front SPECIES: Human RANK:
ALLIANCE: UNSC, ONI, SPARTAN-II Program SPECIES:
mythology, Loki was a Planetary Security Artificial Colonel PERSONALITY: Rebel leader, resourceful, skilled
Intelligence construct in service to the United Nations Human PERSONALITY: Brilliant, formerly cold, clinical
at evasion
and unemotional; after the SPARTAN-II Program is put into
Space Command. He was stationed aboard the Phoenix-
class Colony Ship, UNSC Skidbladnir until it landed on the field she realizes a maternal instinct to protect
Harvest. “her Spartans.” SIF
Loki was then assimilated by the Artificial Intelligence
named Mack. Loki and Mack had done this many times to Responsible for handling all of the shipping operations in the
prevent rampancy caused by old age. Loki waited in RUWAN ACKERSON space above Harvest, Sif was the Artificial Intelligence
assigned to the Tiara orbital station above the city of Utgard.
Mack’s processor for a time when he might be needed.
Loki is unlike any other Al in that he can trade places with She managed the ship traffic above the planet, in addition to
Working as a concierge in Cleveland, Ohio, when the
Mack. Displaying a few minor variations of the visual ferrying personnel and cargo via the orbital station's elevator.
Covenant attacked during the first battle of Earth, Ruwan
appearance of their common Al avatar, mainly the eye Her data center was in a room near the center of the Tiara
was captured by the Covenant. He was the only person
color, Loki’s avatar is “clean” whereas Mack is “dirty” from where her processor clusters and storage arrays were kept.
alive who knew that the Key of Osanalan was actually an
Her avatar took the form of a Nordic woman with long golden
“workingin the field.” item made up by him and his brother when they played as
When Harvest was attacked, Loki executed the escape hair, which may have been chosen because many of Harvest's
children. Together with the pop star Myras Tyla he tried to
plan, destroying the Tiara space station and killing the settlers were from Earth’s American heartland and could
escape the carnage of Covenant invasion. He dies
Artificial Intelligence known as Sif. trace their ancestry back to Scandinavian roots.
heroically when the UNSC uses him as a tracking beacon
Sif worked alongside another Artificial Intelligence by the
r 4
aboard a Covenant ship.
name of Mack, the construct reponsible for Harvest's
SPECIES: at PRIMARY FUNCTION: Planetary groundside operations. Oftentimes Mackwouldaffectionately
Security, stationed to the UNSC Skidbladnir GENDER SPECIES: Human PERSONALITY: Resourceful, flirt with Sif, and although she did not admit it and perhaps did
romantic
_ APPEARANCE: male not fully understand her reaction, she enjoyed his playful
“attantion. During the Covenant attack on Harvest, Sif was
destroyed, against Mack’s wishes, by the construct known as
MYRAS TYLA Loki. Interestingly, her consciousness was briefly revived by
the Covenant Huragok Lighter Than Some, and was given a
Among the first generation of Humans born on Harvest, Myras is a pop star who was in Cleveland, Ohio during the brief moment of rampancy and true freedom to reflect upon
Jerald Mulkey Ander was a Major in Harvest’s emergency invasion of the second battle of Earth. She acted her existence. Sif died after telling Mack that she loved him,
services. It is clear that he was ideologically driven and courageously when attempting to fight off the invading buttragically, itis unknown whether her message got through
acted on his belief that colony planets should have the Covenant forces, but was captured with Ruwan, with to him. When Loki shot a mass driver round into her data
right of self-determination. He led the Secessionist Union whom she shared an immediate romantic connection. center, it destroyed both Sif and the Tiara. She died content,
Harvest until Corporal Avery Johnson assassinated ultimately feeling as though she had lived a fuller life than her
SPECIES: Human PERSONALITY: Rock star, plays makers ever thought she would have.
4
the Styllight, resourceful, athletic
ANCE: Harvest Secessionist Union SPECIES: SPECIES: ai PRIMARY FUNCTION: Assigned to Tiara
n RANK: Major PERSONALITY: strong-willed, space station above Harvest; responsible for all agricultural
team member, leader, Rebel shipping operations GENDER APPEARANCE: Female
VISUAL PERSONALITY: Nordic royalty, long golden
hair, long gown
THE UNSC EXPERIMENTED with human eugenics
and augmentation in the attempt to create the
ultimate fighting machine. This work became
known as the SPARTAN Program and it has
created three generations of super-soldiers:
Spartan-ls, Spartan-lls, and Spartan-llls.

During the 24th century, the Colonial Military Administration (CMA), the organization
responsible for patrolling and protecting the Outer Colonies, and a force on a par with the
UNSC at that time, attempted to develop a bioengineering protocol in the hopes of
deploying tougher, faster soldiers. A handful of the candidates were ‘tested,’ but the
project was declared ineffective.
A century later, in 2491 CE, the UNSC embarked on the ORION Project, the first of many
super-soldier projects that would change the course of Human history. The UNSC’s Office
of Naval Intelligence (ONI) developed the project with the goal of augmenting the bodies
of elite volunteers to turn them into the perfect fighting soldiers. Though ultimately
unsuccessful because of the adult volunteers’ inability to withstand the augmentation
process of that time, the ORION Project did prove the potential rewards of creating
biologically enhanced soldiers.
Administratively, ORION was controlled by “Section Three,” the Special Projects section
of ONI’s Beta-5 Division. However, the Spartan soldiers are officially under the operational
authority of UNSC Naval Special Weapons (NavSpecWep). Spartan soldiers are members
of the UNSC Navy.

Men look up to Spartans as heroic

leaders who perform miracles in
combat and give them hope.
 “SPARTANS
SPARTAN PROJE(

During the civil wars that raged on in the Outer and Inner Colonies,
many of the CMA’s resources were taken over by the UNSC and ONI,
who decided to resurrect the ORION Project. In 2491 CE, this new
endeavor was dubbed the SPARTAN Program [later called the SPARTAN-I
Program] and a group of sixty-five initial volunteers, all elite UNSC
Marines, were subjected to physical and mental augmentation.
As part of the UNSC’s anti-insurgent Operation: TREBUCHET, Spartan-
Is were sent on several covert sorties, including Operation:
KALEIDOSCOPE and Operation: TANGLEWOOD.
With a maximum contingent of three hundred active Spartan-ls at
the height of the program, a full unit of Spartan-Is were only deployed
as a group once, during the Eridanus Uprising. There, they recovered
the sub-orbital transit station over
Eridanus-ll, while losing only one
soldier and without ever being
observed. Despite their obvious
effectiveness, the project scientists’
felt there were shortcomings in the
long-term abilities of the Spartan-ls
and the program proved far too
costly to maintain. The Spartan-l
project was deactivated in 2506 CE
and the surviving augmented
soldiers were reassigned to special
operations units in the field.
These soldiers often exhibited
Strange after effects from their
augmentations, which were masked
by officials by calling it “Boren’s ca aR
Little did ON! know how magnificent
Syndrome,” supposedly caused by their final specimens would be,
overexposure to radiation. especially when paired with the
revolutionary MJOLNIR technology.

Spearheaded by Dr. Catherine Halsey, the SPARTAN-II Program

combined the best aspects of the Spartan-ls with revolutionary
MJOLNIR armorto produce the most successful soldiers ever created.

The Spartan-lls proved themselves again and again, quickly and

quietly removing enemies of the UNSC and proving to be one of the
only effective weapons against the Covenant. As the Human-Covenant
War progressed and casualties mounted exponentially, ONI activated
another program that was again morally questionable: the SPARTAN-
Ill Project. Quicker to train, cheaper to manufacture, and with lower
life expectancies, Spartan-llls were intended for high-risk operations.
 AFTER THE MIXED success of the Spartan-ls, the
SPARTAN-II Program aimed to create a better
super-soldier, one capable of withstanding the
tremendous physical and mental strain of
the revolutionary MJOLNIR battle suit that was
in the early stages of development.

The SPARTAN-II protocols were designed by Dr. Catherine Halsey to complement

herworkon Project: MJOLNIR. Acertified genius, by 2517 CE, Halsey hadimmersed
herself in the Spartan agenda when she made huge contributions to ONI Section
III’s Special Projects division. Operating from CASTLE, an underground complex on
the planet Reach, Halsey reviewed the original ORION Project records and
determined that the Program had failed because the subjects were too old when
the augmentation process had been implemented. She identified six years as
being the optimal age.
Dr. Halsey was also a believer in the “Carver Findings,” a sociological study that
predicted a prolonged and bloody rebellion among Earth’s colonies within her
lifetime. Faced with the possibility of an interstellar civil war, she believed that a
group of soldiers with superhuman capabilities could act as a surgical strike tool
Unprecedented and unbeatable by Humans, Spartans were the heroes of their age.
and prevent untold millions—if not billions—of deaths. To this end, she was willing
The super-soldiers offered Humanity a new hope and took on a near-mythical status.
to make certain sacrifices.
‘$ualga10S-44dns

Before Dr. Halsey could start training Spartans, she needed recruits. She In 2525 CE, the Spartan-lls underwent advanced physical augmentations which Sate
personally handpicked seventy-five six-year-old children from planets across included grafting ceramics onto their skeletal structure in order to make their bones
civilized Human space who had shown exceptional genetic and psychological nearly unbreakable, muscular enhancement, accelerated growth spurts, catalytic
traits. The selected “candidates” were kidnapped from their parents and thyroid implants, occipital capillary reversal, and superconducting fabrication of
replaced with a quickly grown clone. These “flash clones” were prone to disease neural dendritesto increase their reflexes by over three hundred percent. Roughly half
and defective development, so “accidents” were staged both to facilitate the of the Spartan-lls “washed out” during these operations, unable to cope with the
switch and to explain a child’s sudden and tragic deterioration to their parents. drastic physical alterations they underwent. Thirty died and twelve were permanently
These unethical measures were initially considered by Halsey to be acceptable disabled. The disabled Spartans were placed in a permanent work detail with ONI, while
in the battle against the mounting insurgency and in the interest of the the thirty-three active-duty Spartan teams were immediately deployed into high-risk
advancement ofscience. combat missions.
Dr. Halsey met with the seventu-five kidnapped children on the first day oftheir
new lives at the training facility on Reach. Instead of coddling them, she told them
the truth: They could not return home. They were the best of the best, and they
were goingto become super-soldiers.

After a few months, the Spartan-lls were outfitted with another brainchild of Dr.
Halsey: the MJOLNIR armor. This advanced exoskeleton suit contained the processing
power of a starship and its physical enhancements allowed the wearerto lift two tons
From the moment of their kidnap, the children were given no chance to even and run at nearly twenty miles (thirty-two kilometers) per hour. Over the course of
consider their predicament. Immediately, they were forced into atraining regimen their deployment, the Spartans were outfitted with multiple iterations of MJOLNIR
that would fill every moment oftheir days with exhausting physical and mental technology, with ONI scientists delivering upgraded capabilities as quickly as
exercise. The ONI scientists, led by Halsey and drill instructor Chief Petty Officer resources would allow. The massive budgetary expenditure proved how effective and
Franklin Mendez, worked to forge the children into an almost-symbiotic squadron essential the Spartan-lls had become to the Human war effort against the insurgency
of soldiers, successfully transferring any lingering affection the candidates held and later, the greater threat of the Covenant, who appeared in 2525 CE.
for their parents or family to their fellow Spartans.
Over the following eight years of training, the Spartans were also fed a cocktail of
growth hormones that slowly prepared them for the advanced biological
augmentation they would undergo in 2525 CE. Throughout ‘heir training, they
were split into four- and five-person teams. Encouraged to strengthen their
personal bonds, the Spartan-lls became a family. Spartan-ll soldiers wear the standard uniforms of the UNSC Navy, with the appropriate
Dr. Halsey and Chief Petty Officer Mendez, along with the other trainers, were rank insignia and decorations suitable to their service history. The unit patch for the
careful to distance themselves from parental roles, preparing the trainees to SPARTAN-II Program is a golden eagle posed with its talons forward, ready to strike.
follow orders within a rigid command structure regardless of who their immediate The bird clutches a lightning bolt in one talon and three arrows inthe other. |
superiors were. Despite her best efforts to remain detached, Dr. Halsey developed In the field, Spartan-Il soldiers typically wear the latest incarnation of theMJOLNIR
strong maternal feelings for “her Spartans” and maintained a close watch over assault armor. The armor bears no service or rank insignia of any kind.
them after their deployment into the field.
 SPARTANS

SPARTAN-II PROGR

UPONTOSERVEYOU WILL BE TRAINED..AND YOU

The home facility for the Spartan-ll Program—where the Spartans

received their technical upgrades and where the lion’s share of the
research was done—was the Omega Wing of CASTLE, a secure ONI
facility located on Planet Reach in the Epsilon Eridani System, 6,562
feet (2,000 meters) below the granite-layered Highland mountains.

Only seventy-five recruits were selected from a list of a possible 150,

but the candidates kept their original numerical designations.
Therefore a Spartan like John, the 117th candidate on the list of 150
possible recruits, is Spartan-117, even though there are only seventy-
five Spartan-ll soldiers. Some ofthe original personnel were:

Adriana-111 Kurt-O054
Anton-044 Li-008
Cassandra-075 Linda-058
Fhajad-084* Malcolm-059
Fred-104 Maria-062
Grace-093 Mike-(Redacted]
Issac-039 Randall-(Redacted]
Jai-006 Rene-005*
James-(Redacted) Samuel-034
John-117 Sheila-(Redacted]
Joshua-029 Vinh-030
Kelly-087 William-043
Kirk-018* Yasmine Zaman-
(Redacted]*
*Indicates those candidates washed out with
deformities due to augmentation.

STYLIZED VARIANT OF THE SPARTAN-II UNIT PATCH

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MARK VI ARMOR

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 AS WELL AS the classic MJOLNIR armor, many
other suits have been designed for different a
situations. Most are MJOLNIR variations but ig nicknamed
the
one, the Hayabusa, was an alternative project. oe

A variant of the Mark VI armor, C Variant is designed

specifically for close combat by making joints more mobile and
including a combat knife. It was created and tested at the UNSC
Beweglichristungsysteme in Germany and in Songnam, Hanguk.

OTHER NAME: Close Quarters Battle Armor

Another variant of the Mark VI, this armor is designed for

situations involving explosive material, for example, defusing
bombs or removing land mines. The modifications to the armor
are designed to limit damage to the wearer in a blast: The shape of
the helmet better channels pressure waves, and the shoulder and
chest plates have fewer grabbing edges. .
it was developed and tested on Chi Ceti 4 at the UNSC Damascus
Materials Testing Facility.

OTHER NAME: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Armor

Developed at ONI’s Ordnance Testing Facility B5D in Australia,

Scout armor, like the R Variant, has advanced materials that give it
stealth capabilities.

OTHER NAME: Scout Armor Improved mobility

inzerogravity

When the Outer Colonies fell to the Covenant, the UNSC turned
to the private sectorto produce classified military hardware.
The Rogue variant was the first armor to be made by
private companies.

OTHER NAMES: Rogue Helmet, Rogue Armor

m vhis variant of the Mark V armor was created at the

Misriah Armory on Mars in 2543 CE, one year after
At
the Mark Vstarted production.

é; | : OTHER NAME: Security Armor

92
 SPARTANS
Recon helmet is
the smallest ofall Armor was developed in oS .b ARMOR VARIAN
the variations. 2536 CE, sixteen years
priortothe standard
Mark
V variant.

PROJECT: HAYABUSA
_ Designed separately from, but related to, the
-MJOLNIR Mark VI, the Hayabusa was designed for /
more heavy lifting and vacuum-based warfare
than its cousin. Except for its more Japanese-
Developed alongside the S Variant _ inspired visage and armor, the Hayabusa &
armor, Recon Armor is also designed for featuresallof the design capabilities of the Mark
stealth missions without losing endurance. Themain waysit achieves : VI, butis slightly slower and les dexterous due to
this are by reducing its infrared signature, reflective surfaces, and its design specifications. Despite that, it is more
Cherenkov electromagnetic emissions. than capable of powering an partan-ll to victory onthe battlefield.

OTHER NAME: Samurai Suit

93
 _ JOHN-117, MASTER CHIEF
B NAME: John-117 ALLIANCE: UNSC; Spartan-ll fie
B® SPECIES: Augmented Human RANK: Master Chief
i PERSONALITY: Stoic, taciturn, relentless, intelligent, loyal, lucky

VW
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THEESSENTIAL
40.4417

_ MASTER CHIEF
A SUPERB TACTICIAN accustomed to leading a team.
HOLDS HIGH REGARD FOR HIS BROTHERS AT ARMS,
and does not see himself as superior.
RESPECTS LIFE AND DOES NOT WASTE LIVES if he
can avoid it.

IS ALOOF FROM SOCIAL SITUATIONS; when not

_ actively fighting he is always preparing himself for
the next mission.

PROCESSES EMOTIONS TACTICALLY—if he does not

have time to think about it, he does not think about it.

TO OTHER SPARTANS HE IS A TRUSTED LEADER,

_always one step ahead ofthe pack, to be respected
and emulated.

TO OTHER UNSC SOLDIERS HE IS LIKE A VALKYRIE,

a mysterious and inspiring savior when death
seems Close,at hand.
TO CIVILIAN HUMANS HE IS LIKE A TITAN coming
to the rescue; he is going to save you from the
monsters but his power may destroy your
neighborhood in the process.
TO THE COVENANT, HE IS A DEMON capable of untold
horrors, but who also brought paradigm-shifting
knowledge that prevented their extinction.
 oe

> MASTER CHIEF'S EXPLOITS AGAINST

THE COVENANT MADE HIM A LEGEND
TO HIS ENEMIES, AMONG WHOM HE
EARNED THE MONIKER, “THE DEMON.”
T < Y — LidO-)— ae a LL.
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SPARTANS

MASTER CHIEF
 x | BELIEVE: THE JOHN-11? MONUMENT
| Years afterthe Great War, animmense monument
was built to remember those who fought and to
pay tribute to the hero who had brought
Humankind back from the brink. The monument
is situated at the Museum of Humanity. It is a - !
diorama built entirely by hand with painstaking
attention to detail and authenticity.

Nations have always built monuments to their heroes. Tributes

for the defense against or conquest of other nations. But the
monument here at the Museum of Humanity doesn’t favor one
nation over another. It is the first of its kind to commemorate
the enduring survival of a species. Our species.

On that day, half a century ago, our species was pushed to the
crumbling edge of extinction and as we teetered on that precipice,
staring down into the abyss, a hand reached out, pulled us back
from the brink, and gave us hope. The hand of a hero.
> THE MONUMENT COMMEMORATES THE MAN WHI
GAVE THE WORLD FAITH, WHO GAVE HUMANITY A
FUTURE, WHO MADE MANKIND BELIEVE AGAIN:
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JOHN-117.
 AT THE AGE of fourteen, Spartan-lls were deemed ready for the next
step in their preparation as super-soldiers: Advanced augmentation.
This test was one through which John-11? could not lead his soldiers.
The only way for the candidates to win this battle was to survive.

PHYSICAL AUGMENTATION
John- eas was ane to uae the extensive program of

thirty-two other
died during the

ere immediately

ST MISSION
Asmall team led by John- 117 was senttothe oe belt of the Eridanus System to
pture the insurgent leader Colonel Rob Watts. The SPARTAN Program was initially
created to combat civilresistance between the human colonies, andin this first mission,
_ the Blue Team of Spartans proved their effectiveness beyond a shadow of a doubt by
capturing their target and disabling the entire base of Rebel operations.
The Spartans’ indoctrination kept them from questioning their orders, or even
considering the possipility that Watts and his followers had a legitimate reason for their
rebellion. Questions of morality regarding using enhanced humans against other
humans quickly became academic when the Covenant, a hostile alien force, appeared
and began a campaign to eradicate the human race.

MASTER CHIEF’S MJOLNIR ARMOR

The Spartan tearns were quickly outfitted with the next step in
theirdevelopment, advanced MJOLNIR armor. The suits improved
their already incredible reflexes, strength, and speed, while also
utilizing reverse-engineered Covenant shielding technologies
provide by the Office of Naval Intelligence.

MASTER CHIEF IN
MJOLNIR MARKVI
ARMOR

MJOLNIR MARK VI
HELMET

APPROXIMATE HEAD
SIZE IN HELMET
 STER CHIEF| SPARTANS
Over the following years, John-117 took on the rank of MASTER CHIEF
Master Chief and led the Blue Team on many engagements
throughout Human space. John always succeeded in his
various missions and helped to win many battles, but
Humanity was steadily losing ground against the
advancing Covenant armadas.

THE BURDEN
OF COMMAND
Immediately after the Spartan-lls were outfitted with their new
armor, a Covenant ship chanced upon their location. The Spartan
Blue Team, led by the Master Chief, boarded and destroyed the
Covenant ship. In the process, the airtight seal in Samuel-034's
armor was ruptured, forcing him to stay behind to die as the ship
exploded. This was the first casualty in action that John-117 had
experienced, and it weighed heavily on him. He learned that he
might be responsible for the lives of the men and women he served
ith and he resolved he would not spend any oftheir lives in vain.

> > JOHN-117 WAS ABLE TO ENDURE CERAMIC BONE GRAFTS, ACCELERATED GROWTH
- SPURTS, MUSCULAR ENHANCEMENTS, CATALYTIC THYROID IMPLANTS, OCCIPITAL
CAPILLARY REVERSALS, AND SUPERCONDUCTIVE FABRICATION OF NEURAL DENDRITES.
 IN 254? CE, to improve Humanity’s morale, ONI took
the SPARTAN-II Program public, though the parallel
SPARTAN-III Program remained classified. The Master
Chief and the other Spartans quickly achieved near-
mythical status among the men and women of the
UNSC. While many soldiers didn’t believe that Spartans
existed until they saw one with their own eyes, a
Spartan’s presence never failed to inspire troops.

MASTER CHIEF AND CORTANA BATTLING FOR REACH

After intercepting a set of coordinates sent from a Forerunner Before their mission could commence, a Covenant armada
artifact on Sigma Octanus-lV, Dr. Halsey decided to move forward appeared enroute to Reach, the base of military operations
with a new step in Spartan evolution. Using a cloned copy of her for the UNSC. All Spartan-lls were recalled.to Reach except
own brain, she created Cortana, the most advanced Artificial for the Gray Team, which was too far away to return in time.
Intelligence construct ever designed. Cortana was assigned to a The Spartan-lls fought valiantly in space and on the ground,
covert mission to infiltrate Covenant space in the armor of a but Reach fell and all of the Spartans were presumed lost. By
Spartan. She was given her choice of Spartan-lls, and she chose a twist.of fate or dint of his consistentluck, the Master Chief
John-117, who had always been Dr. Halsey’s favorite—his luck and escaped the Fall of Reach on the Pillar of Autumn and arrived
ambition reminding her, in many ways, of herself. at the Halo construct, Installation 04,
INSTALLATION 04 SPARTANS
As usual, the Master Chief was forced into immediate action, making
it impossible for him to truly face the loss of his comrades on Reach. to.the discovered Installation 05. There, the Master Chief faced off against
He was given the assignment of protecting Cortana and keepingher . terofthe Covenant, as well as the Flood’s Gravemind. With the revelation of
knowledge of Earth’s location a secret. With Cortana installedinhis | t jorings’ purpose and the Prophets: deceit, the Arbiter and me Sangheili,
armor, he experienced a direct and unexpected intimacy with her. >
Cortana was an openly emotional construct and expressed herself in.of
ways that he could never have allowed himself to. Also, ashis superior
officer, Cortana enabled him to immediately followuponhunchesand _
instincts, giving him a sense of autonomy that he had never before. He
experienced. Together they were able toinfiltrate theHalolnstallation, |
which could destroy all life in the Galaxy, while also confronting the
greatest physical threat Humanity had ever faced—the Flood. ©
After destroying the Halo known as Installation 04, Master Chief |
managed to escape with a small group of survivors and the injured, Chur firing of the Halo Array—only to face the Gravemind after it crashed
cryogenically frozen Spartan, Linda-058. Eventually they were the infested High Charity onto the Ark. Master Chief fought his way into the belly of
reunited with the remaining members of Red Team who had survived the ship to rescue the captured Cortana. This impulsive act revealed his,
the groundside engagements of Reach. The Covenant had become _ commitmenttoher, and while theirreunion was tender, he used humorto mask his
more chaotic and reckless when Halo was destroyed, and after mane deeper emotions. With this facade, they fought their way out of the Ark together
years of searching, they had finally discovered the location a Earth. and discovered a partially built replacement for Halo Installation 04. During the
destruction of this new Installation and thereby Ark, the Slipspace portal created
by Chief's ship collapsed, severing the ship in two.

Master Chief and

Cortana formeda
bond that transcended
the battlefield.

“MISSING IN ACTION”
The fore half
ofthe ship, with the Arbiter, arrived back on Earth,
while the aft section, with Cortana and Master Chief, was sent
to parts unknown. They had survived the war only to be lost in
space, and Chief was placed into deep freeze to preserve his
lifespan, with Cortana watching over him.
On Earth and among the Covenant rebel fleets, John-11? is
eulogized as ahero. Monuments are erected in his honor and while
many believe him dead, others continue their search for him even
decades after his disappearance.

| ACCORDING TO LEGEND,
p SPARTANS NEVER DIE.
 Vie

LT. NIRAJ SHAH; UNSC (RET.]

ACTIVE DUTY: 2548-2573 CE
FORTHE FIRST TIMEIN 43 YEARS, LT. SHAH
RETURNS TO THE SITE OF THE BATTLE.

“WHATIS THAT?”
“A SHELL FROM A SNIPER RIFLE.”

“IT SAMAZING THERE’S STILL SO MANY REMNANTS

OUT HERE. WHERE’S MASTER CHIEF'S GRAVE?”
“| DON’T THINK ANYONE REALLY KNOWS. THERE WAS
A CEREMONY FIVE YEARS AGO. OVER THERE. JUST
AS ASYMBOLIC GESTURE. THE COFFIN WAS EMPTY. ”

“WHY WAS THE COFFIN EMPTY?”

“NO SPARTAN COULD BE LISTED AS KIA. THEY
COULD ONLY BE LISTED AS MIA. MISSING. SO IT
COULD BE SAID THAT NO SPARTAN WAS EVER
KILLED IN COMBAT. SO THE CEREMONY WAS A
TRIBUTE RATHER THAN A BURIAL.”

“IT DOESN'T LOOK MUCH?”

“CHIEF TOLD ME ONCE THAT NO SOLDIER SHOULD
BE HONORED FOR DOING WHAT’S EXPECTED.”

“DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?”

“| DID. AND | STILL DO.”
“CHIEF TOLD ME ONCE THAT NO
SOLDIER SHOULD BE HONORED
FOR DOING WHAT'S EXPECTED.”
—LT. NIRAJ SHAH
 loued in small teams: Blue.
Team, Gray Team, Green Tes m, and Red Team. The most
active, Blue Team, has consisted ofthe Master Chief,
Fred-104, Linda-058, Kelly-08?, Kurt-051, and Sam-034.
_SPARTAN-08?: KELLY
Notoriously fast even by Spartan standards, Kelly-087 is capable of running at
bursts of up to thirty-eight miles (sixty-two kilometers) per hour. Her reflexive
SPARTAN-104: FREDERIC. actions are even more instinctive and quicker than her fellow Spartans. A
consummate, if occasionally flamboyant, soldier, Kelly has demonstrated an
incredible tolerance for pain, having recovered fully from several grave injuries. Her
Fred-104 was a natural leader and a brilliant stratagist, repeatedly displaying those
cynical sense of humor and predisposition to joke during battle make her quite
characteristics throughout the war. Involved in a litany of battles as a Spartan, he is
different from the other Spartan-lls, much less any UNSC soldier.
perhaps best known for the ground operations Red Team conducted during the Fall of
After Kelly-087 was fatally injured during the Fall of Reach, she managed to slowly
Reach, when the Covenant assaulted the planet's surface in an effort to destroy
recover at the hands ofDr. Catherine Halsey. When her condition stabilized, she was
generators which powered the world's orbital defense platforms.
stolen away by the doctorto the planet world of Onyx. There, Halsey and Kelly-087
Forced to retreat with military leadership in hand, Fred-104 reunited with the
discovered a rift in the center of the planet which took her, Blue Team, and a squad of
Master Chief and Blue Team shortly after the planet fell. From there they launched a
Spartan-Ill super-soldiers to a Shield World.
strike against the Covenant’s Unyielding Hierophant and an enemy fleet headed to
-
Earth. After returning to the Human homeworld he once again separated from the
Master Chief, taking the point of Blue Team and leading them in several local UNSC NICKNAME: Rabbit ALLIANCE: SPARTAN-II Project; UNSC SPECIES:
operations. Augmented Human RANK: Petty Officer, Second Class PERSONALITY: Quick of
When adistress call came in from a remote part of UNSC-controlled space, Fred-104 reflex and wit, daring, adventurous, slightly reckless
led Blue Team to the planet of Onyx where they now find themselves trapped in a
Forerunner Shield World.
SPARTAN-051: KURT
ALLIANCE: SPARTAN-II Project; UNSC SPECIES: Augmented Human RANK:
Lieutenant, Junior Grade PERSONALITY: Exceptional leader, quick thinker, Kurt-051 was a unique Spartan. Unlike his brothers and sisters in arms, he retained
superb soldier a strong connection to people outside the SPARTAN-II Program; one that made him
uniquely suited to become the commanding officer of the SPARTAN-III Project. In the
field, his sixth sense for danger allowed Blue Team to escape from unseen traps on
SPARTAN-O058: LINDA many occasions. His empathy made him an especially good teacher and he was able
to maintain his emotional distance through discipline but still understand the need:
Linda-058 is best known for uncontested skill with the SRS99-S2 Sniper Rifle and her of his trainees. He gave his own life to set offapair of nuclear weapons at the core of
uncanny ability to remain calm and focused during combat. However, duringthe Fall Onyx, allowing the surviving Spartans to escape into the Shield World.
of Reach she was injured while helping Staff Sergeant Johnson’s squad hold off the
Covenant forces long enoughto escape. Her injuries were so grave she was presumed FULL NAME: Kurt Ambrose ALLIANCE: SPARTAN-II Project, SPARTAN-III
dead and placed into a cryopod aboard the Pillar of Autumn as it fled Reach’s Project, UNSC SPECIES: Augmented Human RANK: Lieutenant Commander
destruction.
PERSONALITY: An empathetic leader, nurturing, intuitive
When the Covenant forced the Autumn down to Halo’s surface, its cryopods were
ejected and remained there, in the space above the Installation, even after, the
Installation had been destroyed. The Master Chief and Cortana combed the debris
field for survivors, but were surprised to find her cryopod still intact and even more
SPARTAN-034: SAMUEL
shocked to discover that she was still alive.
Sam-034 was for his age the largest and strongest super-soldier created by the
Upon returningto Reach, the Master Chief managed to rescue Dr. Catherine Halsey.
SPARTAN-II Project. He acted as second-in-command tothe Master Chief and was one
Not long after they fled, Halsey was able to revive Linda-058 and bring her slowly
of his closest friends. During Blue Team's first sortie against the Covenant, Sam’s
back to health. Once she had fully recovered, she assisted with the attack on the
vacuum suit ruptured, making it impossible for him to escape a bomb they had
Covenant’s Unyielding Hierophant station and eventually the capture of the
armed within a Covenant Ship. He ruthlessly fought off the enemy forces, allowing
Covenant Destroyer, which Blue Team used to respond to a distress call originating
from the planet of Onyx. his team to escape. He was the first Spartan casualty to the Covenant; he was only
fourteen at the time.
It was there that Blue Team discovered the SPARTAN-III Project and became trapped
in a Forerunner Shield World buried in a Slipspace rift at the core ofthe planet.
Sia NICKNAME: Sam ALLIANCE: unsc SPECIES: Augmented Human RANK:
NICKNAME: Lone Wolf ALLIANCE: SPARTAN-II Project; UNSC SPECIES: Petty Officer Second Class PERSONALITY: The strongest Spartan-ll, the biggest
Spartan-ll, quiet, ruthless, careful listener, expert with explosives
Augmented Human RANK: Petty Officer, Second Class PERSONALITY: Ouiet,
unshakeable, persistent

SPARTAN-O62: MARIA
Maria-062 retired to Earth where she worked at the Mark VI testing facility in Korea.
A wife and mother, Maria is an anomaly, a Spartan who has been able to lead an
essentially normal Human life. 5

ALLIANCE: unsc SPECIES: Augmented Human RANK: Petty Officer Second

Class PERSONALITY: Hard-working, the only Spartan to retire from the Navy,
a mother
 1 ier ere |
esponsible for

C oni SP ECIES: Augmented

el
i i frees Oi A pee de i
em ee ee —— a names et a ak Gea ol i.
*

ee

GREEN TEAM
The only known member of Green Team is Kurt-051,
who took the lead in field exercises. They took part in
the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV and the Battle of Jericho
Vil, where they managed to stop a Covenant ground
advance.

MEMBERS: Kurt-051

RED TEAM
Distinct from the Red Team which defended
Reach during the final months of the war, the
three Spartans Douglas-042, Jerome-092, and
Alice-130 were involved in an earlier series of
conflicts. Attached to the Spirit of Fire, they
fought the Covenant onthe planet of Arcadia and
the surface of astrange Forerunner Shield World.
They are currently presumed MIA. Other
variations of Red Team have subsequently
appeared, as needed, across various thears 0
war.

ALLIANCE: UNSC SPECIES: Augmented Human

MEMBERS: Douglas, Jerome, Alice, Frederic,
Kelly, Joshua
THE COVENANT
_ THE COVENANT IS a collective of technologically
advanced alien races who have grown to dominate a
significant portion of the Galaxy. Originating as a
_ pair of different species intent on recovering the
artifacts of an ancient race, the Covenant have now
_ become a thriving composite of several cultures, all
‘of which now remain together due to acommonand
io
Wee es Wy A.
BB: N°?
Cree 5

COVENANT HIERARCHY COVENANT BELIEFS

The Covenant is a caste-based societal system The San ‘Shyuum managed to read some of the data
which has a strong theocratic underpinning. inside terminals aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought,
Currently, the religious caste is the dominant thanks to the Forerunners’ especially robust
political faction. There are three basic Covenant translation systems. However, they misunderstood
castes: The Religious caste, the San.’Shyuum the subtle meanings of Forerunner glyphs. Each glyph
for the “Prophets”}; the Military or Warrior ~ in the Forerunner language contained several layers
class, led by the Sangheili [or the “Elites”); and __ of meaning, whichle uum to incorrectly
the Worker class. interpret the activation of the Halo Array as a means
To the average Covenant citizen, the two ruling of transcending life, a process they came to call the
classes are the Prophets and the Elites, though Great Journey. They did not understand that this
the Prophets are generally believed to be “the activation had been designed to kill the Flood,
voice of the Gods.” In truth, the Prophets and the specifically by triggering a galactic holocaust. They —
Elites have an uneasy coexistence, and political simply thought that the Forerunners had disappeared
infighting is very common behind the scenes. and left the other species of the Galaxy to their fates.
 > COVENANT SOCIETY IS BASED ON
THE IDEA THAT THE PROPHETS WILL
LEAD EVERYONE TO TRANSCENDENCE.

In the centuries that followed, Ages came and

THE WRIT OF UNION
went as more Forerunner reliquaries were found The formal creation of the Covenant led to the First Age of Reconciliation and the Writ of
and studied. New. species were incorporated into Union in 852 BCE. This Union was the written treaty between the San ’Shyuum and the
the Covenant hegemony, located with ease by Sangheili which became the blueprint for all future relationships between the Covenant
using. the Luminaries, which were powerful and newly discovered species. The Covenant became a powerful and zealous force that
scanners they had found aboard Forerunner ships. Swept over many of the species ofthe Orion Arm ofthe Milky Way.
Once a species enteredan age of initial space
exploration, considered a Type-4 level of HIGH CHARITY—A NEW HOMEWORLD
technological advancement according to the In 648 BCE, the homeworld of the San ‘Shyuum was destroyed as a result of a‘natural
Forerunner standards, the species would eppearan stellar collapse. To replace their homeworld, the surviving San ’Shyuum used the
Forerunner Dreadnought as the centerpiece of an enormous new space station called
High Charity, which would serve as an artificial world for their race. High Charity
quickly became the political and spiritual capital of the Covenant and the central hub
iy from which the hegemony pursued its steady march to convert the species within its
the San roe and Sangheil Wa SOUR MEI quiring more objects of TEM sector of space. Ages of Doubt, Reconciliation, Conflict, and the very rare Ages of
BeeofConflict. ~ worship and technological advancement. fe, Reclamation passed as the Covenant spreadits tendrils further across the Orion Arm.
 THE HISTORY OF THE COVENANT
>

Cad 5&é
ae THE TERM “COVENANT” refers to the original iS
H&
E

= [BM pact between the warrior Sangheili and the &

5
&§

San ‘Shyuum, who formed an alliance after THE SANGHEILI

years ofreligious war. Over time, this alliance In 938 BCE, the San 'Shyuum encount
oO ; Sangheili (or the “Elites”). The two races face
: has expanded to include many other races. over the relic-rich world of Sangh
Sangheili believed, like the Stoic San ’
Lana that the Forerunner relics were sacr
should not be touched. They had mana:
’ develop into a space-faring race
ae) THE SAN SHYUUM violating any of their rich reliquaries.
=> After the reseeding of the Galaxy by the Forerunners, one The highly militarized and brutal
a species evolved at a faster rate than all of the others: The attacked the San ’Shyuum but despite
m : the San Shyuum’s knowledge, gleaned
San , ’Shyuum, later known as the Prophets. Their A oftravel, and the capabilidies of es
advancements were greatly enhanced by the abundant eventually proved overwhelming to the
presence of easily accessible Forerunner relics on the San forcing them into reluctantly surreni
’Shyuum homeworld. aE s rea: —
: . In their warrior culture, the Sangheili ha\
The most fantastic of these relics was a Forerunner respect for a worthy edversary @ |
Dreadnought, a “Keyship” loaded with functioning weaponry treaty was signed they gladly entered intc
and capable of opening Portals to the Forerunner Ark. The burgeoning Covenant of races. The Elites, mast
ae i Can Sh Becavcd that E tifaet hol of conquest, needed Forerunner weaponry
ewes an : yuum LENE tha hhh > —— Ng oo continue their wars, while the Prophets, unableto
and it was considered heresy to examine the relics in too fight well on their own, needed otherindividuals to obtain —
great a depth. Though they did carefully probe some of the the religiously significant Forerunner artifacts for them
mysteries of the Dreadnought, they did not unlock most of The Prophets study Forerunner techua
aay ge
: ; weapons for the Elites, while the Elites conque
: its secrets for centuries. territory and gain access to more Forerunne’
i artifacts for the Prophets.

Bh
Ae The status quo was kept until 2200 BCE, when a group of renegade San
te "Shyuum demanded to study the mysteries of the Dreadnought more

N?S4BCE |
closely. This led to an uprising that ended when the rebelling group, the
Reformers, entered the Dreadnought and uncovered the means of
activating the craft. They left the San ’Shyuum homeworld
forever, abandoning the more conservative Stoics to their
isolated and antiquated ways. THE MGALEKGOLO
During one of the first Ages of Conversion, the — |
Covenant forces discovered a rich Forerunner
A NEW START reliquary that had been spread across a ringof
The Reformers quickly recognized rubble surrounding a gas giant planet named =|
several significantproblems they would Te. This goldmine of Forerunner artifactswas |
destroyed by a race called the Lekgolo. The
face. In order to maintain a viable
species was composed of
population with such a small starting
group, they developed a strict breeding
=», colonies of worms that had |
‘literally devoured the giant —
program to more carefully manage the size
Forerunner _ installations.
and heartiness of their species.
These worm colonies proved |
This led to an especially rigid
difficult to defeat and incorporate ©
. anddraconian social structure.
into the hegemony because, when
« The Forerunner Dreadnought threatened, they combined into pairs of |
proved rich with technological extremely powerful warriors, the Mgalekgolo |
discoveries and the Reformers (or “Hunters”}.
were able to survive easily The Covenant’s researchers realized that |
during their travels. They _ some of the worm colonies could actually prove _|
searched the Galaxy for more useful—the ones that could eat everything except
Forerunner artifacts and for the precious relics. Allying with and taming the
after a time, began to discover helpful Lekgolo, the Covenant killed offtherelic-destroying
other species with very colonies and added the more compliant Lekgolo and
different perspectives and Mgalekgolo into the Writ of Union in 784 BCE. ;
their own holy Forerunner With the aid of the Lekgolo, the Covenant were able to
remnants. study the internal workings of Forerunner relics with an
intimacy they had never before dreamed. As a result, their
technological advancement increased by leaps and bounds. *

A TE TS EES PIE LI I ED LITEEE ISTO

114
 THE COVENANT

HISTORY

>|
wt2492 CE
THE JIRALHANAE
In 2463 CE, the 23rd Age of Doubt began and the Covenant returned
to its quest for Forerunner relics and outward expansion. 2492 CE
THE YANME’E saw the beginning of a new age when the Covenant stumbled upon
In 1112 CE, the Yanme’e {or “Drones”) were the Jiralhanae (or “Brutes”). The Brutes were a savage race that
incorporated into the Covenant. These hive-creatures had once achieved a space age, but their pack mentality and
| proved useful aboard starships as single-minded ritualistic, violent warrior culture had led to a war of attrition in
maintenance workers. They are not as technically which protracted and vicious societal wars pulled their species
skilled as the Huragok, but they can be tasked for back to a pre-industrial state.
simple repairs and efficient general maintenance. When the Covenant chanced upon their homeworld Doisac, the
Jiralhanae were just rediscovering technologies like the manipulation
of radio wavelengths. They were ill-prepared for the Covenant arrival
and were quickly forced into submission by the Covenant’s superior
forces. Once incorporated, the Brutes were given technologies to aid
their continued development, but the Sangheili recognized the Brute
race as one that could rival their own in battle and so imposed severe
restrictions on their place in the
Covenant fleet. Very few
Brutes were allowed to
command ships and when
they did, they were denied
the technologies that would
make them capable of
acting independent of
the larger fleets.

THE KIG-YAR
In 1342 CE, the Covenant encountered the Kig-Yar (or “Jackals”),a
mercantile race of pirates and cutthroats. Handy fighters,
the Kig-Yar
are extremely pragmatic and independent-minded. These reptilian
egg-layers have matriarchal lines that have controlled the skies of
their home system around Eayn for centuries. |
When confronted with the prospect of a superior force bearing
down upon them, the Kig-Yar chose to convert and profit from the RrcneconscsneoRen ESE» >

immediate expansion of trade, and therefore wealth, that the

Covenant could provide. The Kig-Yar soon became useful explorers
and traders (and often thieves and smugglers) in the Covenant fleets.

cee
ES
SS
A
i
STS
est

M142CE
THE UNGGOY
As the Unggoy (or“Grunts”) attained space-age technology for
the first time in 2142 CE, the Covenant arrived on the Grunt
homeworld of Balaho. Though a heavily populated race, the
Grunts surrendered almost immediately to the imposing
Sangheili. They became the lowest-ranking species in the
Covenant and served mostly as laborers and cannon fodder
until 2462 CE, the 39th Age of Conflict. In that year, the
steady accumulation of Unggoy grievances within the
hegemony against their species led to the Grunt Rebellion,
where the Grunts proved that they were not the cowards
they were perceived to be. Theyrose againsttheotherraces THE COVENANT AND HUMANS
of the Covenant and fought valiantly for their freedom ‘ In 2525 CE, the Covenant encountered Humans forthe first
or at least increased respect. The : F _ time. This inevitable meeting would eventually throw the
Sangheilimanagedthe rebellion entire foundation of the Covenant’s religion and tenuous
quickly but rewarded the — ; political alliances into a gradual state of disarray. For one
Grunts for their courage and of the fewtimes in their history, the Covenant would face a
warrior spirit by returning : foe not only willing to fight back to the brink of self- i
them to the ranks of the _ extinction, but an enemy whose very existence would call
Covenant, but this time as i into question their most basic religious tenets. ;
weapon-carrying infantry. : FREE OS Rn eee aeMAMORU ME NO Re LIC

cocouinenmeaaeoaacnse
Neat aaIN

115
"SOQ FULL OF HATE WERE OUR EYES
THAT NONE OF US COULD SEE.
QUR WAR WOULD YIELD COUNTLESS DEAD
BUT NEVER VICTORY.
SQ LET US CAST ARMS ASIDE
AND LIKE DISCARD OUR-WRATH.
THOU, IN FAITH, WILL:KEEP US*SAFE
WHILST WE FIND THE PATH.”
—COVENANT PRAYER
 IE SAN ’SHY¥UUM
i
SHYUUM, kno’ PROPHETS AND HUMANKIND
“Prophets » The Prophets are the architects of the Covenant Holy
pe ene War against the Human race, which began after a
Forerunner “Oracle” revealed an uncertain but powerful
connection between Humanity and the Forerunners.
Sensing that this revelation could threaten both the
existence of the Covenant as well as their own personal
power, the Prophet Hierarchs decided to conceal this
information and eliminate Humanity and the threat
they posed.

THE GREAT JOURNEY

The Covenant worship the Forerunners as gods and
hold them in high esteem. The basis of their worship
revolves around the concept of transcendence. As the
Covenant’s religious leaders, the Prophets’ primary
goal is to locate, study, and incorporate Forerunner
technology in order to more fully understand and
eventually initiate what they believe to be the Great
Journey of transcendence.

High-rankingSan_ |
"Shyuum sit on
ornate anti-
gravity thrones.

SAN 'SHYUUM

HEIGHT: Adult Male 7’3” (2.21 m) WEIGHT: Adult Male 200 Ib (91 kg)
 THE HIERARCHS
The Hierarchs are the three highest authorities among
the Prophets and are the ultimate political and
religious power in the Covenant. There are normally
three Hierarchs in each Age and in order to usher in a
new Age, a group of Prophets must get the blessing of
the Oracle of High Charity. This Oracle is a Forerunner
Artificial Intelligence found within the Dreadnought,
which sits at the center ofthe capital.
Prior to the Human-Covenant War, the Oracle had not
actually spoken for millennia, so the ascension ofthe
Hierarchs had been steeped in political machinations
and the bribery of the Oracle’s keeper.

NAMING CONVENTIONS
Prophets have both a given name and a family name.
Once they ascend to a certain level in the bureaucratic
hierarchy, they are referred to by their position, their
appellation being reflective of a quality they wish to
emulate (or profess to emulate), for example the
Prophet of Truth, the Minister of Fortitude, or the
Prophet of Regret.

SAN ’SHYUUM CULTURE

The San ’Shyuum homeworld was split by the civil war
between the Stoics (a faction opposed to any
manipulation or study of holy Forerunner relics) and
the Reformists (who felt that Forerunner relics were
joreo
meant to be transformed into usable technologies).
elig andat This internal strife led the Reformists to eventually
forces in the field.
leave their homeworld behind. In 648 BCE, the San
’‘Shyuum homeworld was destroyed when its orbital
star went supernova. At that point, High Charity
became the homeworld of the San ’Shyuum. Their
breeding and cultural interactions are controlled
carefully by a strict bureaucracy that ensures genetic
diversity is maintained.
 x
ea 3

a) HIGH PROPHET OF MERCY

EACH COVENANT AGE has _ The High Prophet of Mercy served as the Philogist before
its three Hierarchs—the = accepting the role of Hierarch. As Philogist, he attended
highest authorities in the to the “Oracle,” which was actually a fragment of the
Covenant. They aim to guide Forerunner Al Mendicant Bias trapped inside the
Forerunner Dreadnought. Mercy was present when the
the Covenant to the Great Oracle announced that the Forerunner glyphs found
Journey, and their word is covering the Human planet of Harvest were actually
law. Three notable Hierarchs signs of a connection between Humanity and the
have been the Prophets of Forerunners. It was Mercy’s promise to never share
Mercy Regret and Truth this news with the rest of the Covenant which
’ a bd
purchased him his ascension to High Prophet status.
MERCY’S DEATH
When the Prophet of Regret foolishly charged headlong into Humanity’s
homeworld, Mercy petitioned Truth to stay the hand ofjudgement. The three
Prophets had, after all, shared over a quarter of a century worth of utter
domination against Humanity. Shortly after arriving at Installation 05,
however, the Master Chief slew Regret and escaped Delta Halo to track down the
remaining Prophets in High Charity. Ironically, the Prophet of Truth did not
hesitate to leave Mercy to the Chief orto the ensuing Flood asthe parasite burrowed
its way into the city. His words echoed the profound sentiment of the Covenant: “The Great
Journey waits for no one.” Little did Truth know, that at that moment, the Great Journey
would not wait for him either.

THE HIGH PROPHET

Covenant San ’Shyuum High Prophet Passionate, lively OF MERCY

REGRET AND HUMANKIND

As the Vice Minister, Regret was the first to inform the future High HIGH PROPHET OF REGRET
| Prophet of Truth about the vast reliquary of Forerunner artifacts he The High Prophet of Regret had been
believed were on Harvest, After persuading truth to join oe ofa previously known as Vice Minister of
conspiracy to gain these artifacts for their own political
use, Regret helped Truth in his plans to usurp the High Tranquility, serving with the Elites in various
Prophet ofRestraint. Regret threatened to create missionary and expeditionary affairs. This
a scandal nvCHGE Restraints he did not operational commonality with the Elites
leave /his position as High Prophet.
Before taunching ¢helr plan’ thes provided him with an aggressive and brash x
sought the blessing ofthe Oracle, demeanor, something which was typically
and it was then that they learned not well-received by other Prophets.
that Humans represented the
lineage of the Forerunners and ee
that the basis of the Covenant's entire religion, and perhaps even the
Great Journey itseif, was a falsehood. The three agreed never to reveal
this to anyone.
Much like his role as a Vice Minister, Regret stayed at the front lines in the
war against Humanity. Then, a quarter of acentury after the revelation in the
Dreadnought, he stumbled upon the Human homeworld. Initially, he believed
this world, which housed the Portal to the Ark, would be empty, but it was not.
When the Human resistance proved difficult to maintain, Regret’s carrier jumped
into Slipspace with a small collection of UNSC forces in tow. When they exited Gauviny Seen
Slipspace, they had arrived at Delta Halo, or Installation 05. —VIEW FROM ABOVE
As his fleet’s military spread out across the surface of the ring, Regret took members
of the Elite High Council into a temple. Although he had significant forces guarding his
position, the Demon known as the Master Chief infiltrated their position and murdered
him. When the other Hierarchs had discovered this, they obliterated the temple in an
effort to destroy the Human, sending the bodies of both the Chief and the Prophet to the
bottom of the lake. It was there that the Prophet of Regret was assimilated into the
“Gravemind, later finding his fate when the Ark was destroyed.

THE HIGH PROPHET

OF REGRET
GRAVITY THRONE
—VIEW FROM BELOW a

Covenant San’Shyuum ‘High Prophet; formerly the Vice Minister of Tranquility Confrontational, argumentative, rash, ambitious, immature
 ALLIANCE | SPECIES a : Oa VARS tthe covenan
The Covenant San ’Shyuum x 5 DB \ i THE TRIUMVIRATE

RANK
Prophet of Truth; formerly the Minister of Fortitude

PERSONALITY
Calm and stoic, but impatient; manipulative and
ambitious

THE PROPHET OF TRUTH

The Prophet of Truth has always maintaine
a level of shrewdness far above mos:
others in his species. Once he gain
political sway within the Ministry
Concert, the Minister of Fortitude uncoveret
a conspiracy by a handful of Jackal s
captains to poison the recreatic
narcotics used by the Unggoy. The
would have sterilized the Grunts
their reproductive efforts. D
predictions regarding the ma
situation was never addressed,
eh eare fee ,

Rebellion.

THE PROPHET OF
TRUTH—REAR VIEW

Frequently. operating
without the knowledge of
Prior to his role as a High Prophet, Fortitude w. the erier High Prophets,
heavily involved in an effort to conceal evidence 4 ‘ Truth malvaulated even Woes
which supported Humanity as the rightful heirs to the oe : 201 closest to him. Regicts failure
Forerunners. In a brilliant and calculating move, Fortitude SS ee) aN F eventually led to the dismissal of the
used his threat ofthis information to leverage himself into a ‘ *. _ F "_ ~~ Elites; Mercy’s death delaure seiioud
place of authority within the Covenant, becoming the High : ‘ : F ay and the Master Chief, if briefly...
Prophet ofTruth. Bs a = 1 perhaps his power led him to errantly
Very aware of the lie that he lived, Truth used his own name to - 3 : believe that he would not succumb to
deflect the deceptive reality of his position. Though Mercy was : ae the same fate.
older, Truth retained leadership over the triumvirate because ofhis : : Se)
ne
te
et
i
Neane

constant scheming.
 THE HURAGOK (ENGINEERS}
THE HURAGOK ARE essentially self-aware, PHYSICAL
thinking machines. To cultures without the — CHARACTERISTICS
medical technology to determine
: :
otherwise,
;
The supe a eisnbi oxatay
the size of an average Human
the Huragok appearto be biological life forms. mmaleagabougn. (heirs wide mor
locomotion is vastly different.
Huragok float above the ground,
lifted by lighter-than-air gases
stored in bladders on their backs.
Huragok normally float a few feet above
the ground, although in special situations
they are able to rise much higher for short
periods of time. Although they possess
no true tissues or organs, the
nanochemical _ surrogates
closely mimic the Huragoks’
biological analogs.

ROLE IN THE COVENANT

The Prophets store and document the archived
religious texts and technology of the Forerunners, but it
is the Huragok who perform the actual physical labor of
excavating, transporting, and gathering data on Forerunner
artifacts. The Huragok are nevertheless fiercely protective of
Forerunner excavations and they will emit a high-pitched,
warbling cry if artifacts are endangered in any way.

LIGHTER THAN SOME

Lighter Than Some, a Huragok aboard the Minor Transgression
assisted with repairs on the vessel, as was the role of most
shipboard Huragok. Since they canonlycommunicateinaform
of sign language, they mostly keep to themselves, but
eer Lighter Than Some approached the Unggoy
called Dadab and repeated a gesture
greeting to the Unggoy until he understood. This began an odd sous
friendship. Lighter Than Some taught Dadab the Huragok
language, and to this date, Dadab is the only known Ung:
have understood it.
Prior to the Minor Transgression being destroyed by a handful
_)\~ humans, both Dadab and Lighter than Some managed toescap
‘e ___ Not long after, they were rescued by Rapid Conversion and
"Alsace ton into the largely Brute crew. It was then that the
_ participated in the first few encounters with Huma
under the Brute Chieftain Maccabeus. Seeking to right —
the wrongs of their first encounter, Lighter Than Some bui
_a plow out of parts from a damaged Spirit dropship. Ho\
~ this effort at redemption was quashed when Lighter thar
Some’s creation of peace was transformed by the Brutes iitt :
Chopper, a machine ofwar. Ms
DATA FILE HURAGOK CULTURE After witnessing the impressive work that Hone thanSi
The Huragok do not actually have a culture of could do, Maccabeus moved the ship's Drones away fi
engineering duties and into combat, a decision the Dro
HEIGHT: Adult: 62” (1.88 m} their own. Instead, they focus only on their despised. When afforded an opportunity, they attacked
WEIGHT: Adult: 125 Ib (57 kg) maintenance and technological roles in the Huragok. When Dadab witnessed this, he became furious ar
Covenant. Toa Huragok, duty is everything. slew the Broneewienad killed hisfriend.

ALLIANCE: Covenant SPECIES: ee

RANK: uae
 7.
uragok's
vor
methodo
mseee
| THECOVENANT
Tett tae Wy A
riOvesFIREE ot rai THE HURAGOK
the airisprovided by ee Nar sbereee sh)
sacs full of gas.

HURAGOK REPRODUCTION
If enough raw materials are available, a pair
of Huragokcan generate a unified replica
of themselves within forty-five
minutes. If another Huragok assists
(a maximum of three participants
can take part in the reproductive
event), the progeny is produced in
approximately thirty minutes and is
essentially an amalgamation of all
three parents. This latter method of
“reproduction” is preferred, since it
results in individuals who have a
broader range of experience.
As long as a Huragok has access to
raw materials, it can self-repair all but
the most catastrophic physical damage.
In the same manner, one Huragok can completely
recreate another as long as it has access to at
least ten percent of the damaged individual’s
mass. If a Huragok can avoid death by injury or
disease, its lifespan is effectively indefinite.

NAMING CONVENTIONS
When Huragok parents construct their offspring, there
is a careful process of balancing the air sacs of their
young. The name of a Huragok is related to its buoyancy
in this moment, such as “Lighter Than Some.”
=|
THE SANGHEILI ELITES)
~ MILITARY WARRIORS
The Elites are one of the two species that created the original THE SANGHEILI, ALSO known as . Elite
Covenant after the Sangheili and San ’Shyuum war. Their respect the primary warrior class 01 the Covenant. They
for the tactics and fortitude of their opponents is an important are tough, fearless, and relentless. -
reason why the Covenant has become a Strong alliance. Every
species they defeat who has shown valor against them is treated
tae fairly after their victory and is often incorporated into the ranks
beneath their command. P
While the San.’Shyuum control the political spheres, the ‘,
Sangheili control the armies of the Covenant and maintain their '
Strict hierarchies and cultural opinions in the structure of the
Covenant military. Currently, “promotion” (though the Covenant
do not think of it in those terms) is available only to a soldier
who has killed an opponent in legitimate combat—butchering
unarmed civilians does not count as legitimate combat.
Most Elites move in packs, but some hunt alone; such
Elites are the equivalent of Human special forces troops,
with a high level of independence. The officer corps of
the Covenant military is composed of “blooded”
(battle-tested) Elites.

HEIGHT: Adult male 7’4” (2.24 m)

WEIGHT: Adult male 318 lb (144 kg)

RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES

Elites consider
the other
Covenant client races (Jackals,
Grunts, Hunters, Engineers, and
Brutes) as beneath them in all
measurable standards. The Elites
are the only race—apart from the
Prophets—permitted to operate
military spacecraft outside of
their native system, though the
crews on Covenant spacecraft are
always composed of a mix ofraces.

SANGHEILI CULTURE
Inthe Elite culture, names are considered
a privilege. Elites consider Humans as
unworthy of names, except in very
rare cases. Sanghelios, the Sangheili
homeworld, is a harsh world, which lies
on the innermost edge of its system’s
habitable zone.
 THE COVENANT
NAMING CONVENTIONS THE SANGHEILI
Because names are important to
Elite society, each element of their
names has a meaning. Elite
names are constructed from a ELITE COMBAT HARNESS
series of parts.An example
is Ado ’Mortumee. The Elite Combat Harness is the standard
\ “Ado” is his given armor used by the Sangheili in all Covenant
name, and it was conflicts. Similar to the Spartans’ Mark VI in
his only name until that it boosts speed and strength while adding
he was considered an adult. Upon reaching a personal energy shield, the armoris actually
adulthood, he earned the right to carry the badge less advanced and can withstand less
name “’Mortumee.” This name is made up of three damage than a Spartan’s armor.
parts: MOR (an adjectival descriptor, such as Differences in the size, shape, and color
“strong” or “swift”), TUM (a family name to indicate denote status among the Sangheili. While all
his lineage), and EE (an honorific showing military warriors wear it, only the supreme _
service). Most Elites will have names with this kind of Zealots are gifted with the “ff
construction, though there are several exceptions. Bako gold color {and the added
‘Ikaporamee, whose basic name is composed of PO / RAM strength that this armor (
/ EE, received the additional honorific prefix name IKA, provides). The lowest
» which indicates his role as an aide to a Prophet). Sangheili make do with +}
This lengthened name gives him a higher status blue suits. 7
among Elites. AnotherisBero ’Kusovai (KU/SOV/
+
Al) whose honorific was bestowed upon him ina
ceremony after he choseto dedicate hislife
to the OTHER NAMES: Elite
perfection of his swordsmanship. There is also Armor, Elite Default
Parala ‘Ahrmonro, whose honorific RO indicates LENGTH: approx. 7’ 4” A
that he has held public office—in this case as (2.24 m} bs
council to the Prophet of Regret. USE: General combat

NAMING CONVENTIONS
(POST SCHISM)
Many Sangheili Rebels fighting in the
Covenant Civil War have chosen to drop the
honorific “EE” from their name. It is their
feeling that as an innately martial culture,
pointing out that one is a participant in the
military is an unnecessary tradition.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Elites, like the Jackals, utilize energy shielding,
which makes them a very Serious threat on the
battlefield. Unlike the Jackals, Elites possess
full-body energy shielding. Some
are equipped with “light-bending”
technology that acts as effective
camouflage. Elites have a distinctive
skull structure, with very pronounced teeth
and four-part jaws. The species has two
genders but Humans have seen no females.

> THE LEADING FORCE IN THE COVENANT

ARMY, THE SANGHEILI ARE PROUD
WARRIORS. THEIR SOCIETY AND BASIS OF
RESPECT ARE BUILT ON MILITARY HONOR.
1
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 WHILE THE CENTER of the Covenant Separatist
rebellion revolved around the Arbiter, other
key Elites rallied to defend their
species from the treachery of
the Prophets. Among
thoseheroeswere = : | RTAS
Rtas Vadumee and 7. : % 4 * VADUMEE
Usze Taham.

RTAS ‘VADUMEE
Present at the battle of Installation
04, Rtas ’Vadumee led troops on
several dangerous missions into
the Infinite Succor and onto the
Installation itself. He survived Halo’s
destruction but was detached from
fleet duty and reassigned to the
position of SpecOps Commander,
basing his operations outof High
Charity. 'Vadumee was also heavily
involved in engagements leading up to
the discovery of Installation 05. After
the Great Schism and the ascendanc
of the Jiralhanae, he led the Elite -
rebellion and was the Commander
of the Separatist Fleet,
negotiating their eventual
alliance with UNSC forces.

versions 0
used byt

IANCE SPECIES
PERSONALITY —
Quick, tactical, unparalleled swordsman, respectful, spends lives carefully oo 4

NG
Special Operations Commander, Fleet Master ee a P
 USZE ’TAHAM

USZE ’TAHAM
Although Usze ’Taham was born into a
respected merchant family, he was
fathered by Toha ’Sumai, one of the
preeminent sword-fighters in all of
Sanghelios. An honors graduate from
the top war college in the lruiru region
of Yermo, Usze took his first position
within the Covenant Navy. Displaying
such skill as to receive an offer to join the
High Prophets’ Honor Guard, Usze turned it
down because he wanted to experience
combat first hand, rather than participate
in what had become a fairly ceremonial
position. This decision brought the ire of
certain Covenant politicians, and he has
had to avert numerous punitive
actions and at least two
attempts on his life since
then. After the Great
Schism, the Ascetics made
Usze one of their liaisons
within their new UNSC allies.

ALLIANCE SPECIES RANK

pon “ole ‘ Sangheili Special Warfare Fleet Security

— PERSONALITY
Independent, resourceful, vigilant

VORO NAR ’MANTAKREE

After the Covenant Civil War and the battle of Installation Imperial Admiral Xytan Jar Wattinree was the
05, Voro Nar ’Mantakree proved himself by rallying the leader of the Sangheili forces and later, the leader
battling Covenant forces against a greater danger—the of the Covenant Separatists. He rallied the
escape ofthe Flood. Separatists around the planet Joyous Exultation.
His courage and level-headedness were lauded by the After sending his nearest rival on a mission to
Sangheili leader, Xytan Jar Wattinree, who sent him on a the planet Onyx, a Nova bomb picked up inHuman
mission to capture the planet Onyx. Narrowly avoiding the space was reactivated by a group of Huragok. The
blast that destroyed Joyous Exultation and most of the bomb exploded, taking out two-thirds of the
Sangheili fleet, ’Mantakree’s armada was assaulted by Sangheili fleet and more than half of the planet's
Onyx’s Sentinels. While he survived the orbital battle to surface. Wattinree was atomized in the blast.
lead an assault at the core ofthe planet, Mantakree and
his forces were destroyed by a nuclear blast set off
by Kurt-051.
ALLIANCE: Covenant Separatists
SPECIES: Sangheili RANK: Imperial Admiral
ALLIANCE: Covenant Separatists SPECIES: PERSONALITY: Suspicious, powerful, confident,
Sangheili RANK: Fleet Master PERSONALITY: an exceptional warrior
Careful, instinctive, ambitious
 ARBITERS
THE SANGHEILI HAVE an unflinching sense of honor and warrior dignity.
When dire circumstances threaten the Covenant or in times of
extraordinary crisis, the Prophets may choose to select an Arbiter—a
The deadly
rank of warrior who is sent on highly dangerous missions as a chance a era
to redeem himself. Arbiters rarely survive these missions, but they Denar
accept and even anticipate glorious death in service to the Prophets, : a
melee weapon
thereby regaining any honor they may have lost.

FROM SUPREME COMMANDER TO ARBITER

Thel’Vadam, now known to all humans as the Arbiter, is one of
the most powerful and prolific examples of the entire
Sangheili race. As Supreme Commander of the Fleet of 4 Ahi
Particular Justice, he led the Covenant forces to
victory at the First Battle of Reach. As the
engagement concluded, he ordered his ships to
pursue the fleeing Pillar of Autumn, which led to me
the discovery ofthe first Halo ring, Installation 4am
04. His inability to prevent the destruction of
the ring and the capture of the Ascendant
Justice by the Master Chief forced him to answer
for these failures before the High Council. During that
process, he was stripped of his rank, branded with the Mark of
Shame and sentenced to death. The Prophet Hierarchs Truth and
Mercy intervened and offered to commute this sentence if
he would become their new Arbiter. With the full
realization that accepting this offer was tantamount
to a death sentence, but also knowing it could be his
only opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of
his people, the Sangheili accepted the offer.

UNIQUE ARMOR
The ceremonial Arbiter armor, though not state-of-
the-art, is still practical and very functional. Because
Arbiters are mostly sent on suicidal missions and their
bodies are rarely recovered, they each receive their own
set of armor built to a traditional design. Unlike modern
Covenant Active Camouflage, which has virtually
unlimited duration, the Arbiter’s camouflage only lasts for
a few seconds. However, this is still enough to give
a tactical advantage over enemies.

ANeedler, withits lethal TH EL

crystalline projectiles A DA M
AY]

THEL ’VADAM
ALLIANCE: The Covenant GENDER: Male
SPECIES: Sangheili
HEIGHT: 7'10” (2.4 m)
WEIGHT: 322 Ib (146 kg)
In the Mausoleum ofthe Arbiters,
RANK: Arbiter; formerly the Supreme Commander
Thel’Vadam is made an Arbiter,
of the Fleet of Particular Justice
according
to the will of the Prophets.
 -TUU WILL Ulr, A> EACH ARBITER HAS BEFORE YOU. tecovean
YOU ARE THE ARBITER, THE WILL OF THE PROPHETS.’ | eee
Classical
helmet

KEY TOARBITER
ARMOR COMPONENTS
Main armor
Dark metal detailing *

Body suit |
Body suit straps eo
Skin

Teeth

Eyes
Shoulder flashlight

a
RIPA’MORAMEE—THE
SEVENTEENTH ARBITER
Ripa ’Moramee was another example of an Elite
accepting the role of Arbiter to redeem

Bo B.
themselves. After successfully suppressing
the Sixteenth Unggoy Disobedience, Moramee
attempted to overthrow the leadership of his
SIDEVIEW
own clan on the military world of Decided Heart.
However, the coup failed and ’Moramee was
sentenced to serving within the Weeping
Shadows of Sorrow Penitentiary. The Prophet
THE MASTER CHIEF
of Regret, recognizing his ruthlessness,
WITH THE ARBITER
intervened and appointed Ripa Arbiter. Known
for his intense rage, ’Moramee did not
discriminate whom he directed his anger at and
when he got into battle, he was normally the
only one left standing, having killed everyone
else. ’Moramee met his demise at the hands of
Sergeant John Forge, who killed him after he
kidnapped Ellen Anders on Arcadia.
THE ARBITER AND MASTER CHIEF
The Arbiter’s main Thel Vadam's first mission as Arbiter was to silence a FRONT VIEW
weapons are the
renegade Elite who had learned that the Covenant’s
Energy Sword, the
belief in the Great Journey would, in fact, spell their
Carbine, and the
' Plasma Rifle. doom. The Arbiter was then sent to retrieve
the “Sacred
Icon” from the Library on the newly discovered
Installation 05 in an effort to activate the ring and
bring about the Great Journey. Though the Arbiter
successfully retrieved the Icon, Tartarus, the Chieftain
of the Brutes, betrayed him. Tartarus told the Arbiter
that the Prophets had revealed that the Brute race
would replace the Elites at the Prophet's sides.
At first the Arbiter was assumed to be dead, but the REARVIEW
Gravemind rescued him and the Master Chief. While
trying to stop Tartarus and the Brutes, the Arbiter
formed an alliance with the Humans. This act was one
of several which helped initiate the civil war that
ALLIANCE: Covenant GENDER: Male rocked the foundations of the Covenant. His actions
SPECIES: Sangheili HEIGHT: 8'1” (2.46 also opened up the possibility of further alliances and
VIEW FROM
m) RANK: Arbiter reconciliations with Humanity and various races or BELOW
segments ofthe fractured Covenant hegemony.

431°
é iss
se
eebo a
ROS 2
 THE JIRALHANAE (BRUTES}
PROUD WARRIORS
THE JIRALHANAE, OR Brutes, are a physically Brutes are powerful, fierce, and
imposing client race of the Covenant. Discovered competitive. They travel in small packs
as a primitive species by the Prophets, they were often led by Chieftains and usually form
: . h int of ttacki
assimilated into the high-tech Covenant culture. Ae ne ee
3H1
N3A02 Covenant ground force. Their fighting style
is forceful, utilitarian, and pragmatic, so
while they can drive all vehicles and use
any weapon, they strongly prefer Brute
designs, which rely on blunt physical force.
In combat, they use battle armor for protection, in addition to
their natural resistance to damage. While wearing armor, they
are fearless. But without it, they go berserk and may respond
with a ferocious melee charge.
The Sangheili handicapped the space-faring capabilities
of the Jiralhanae, disallowing them from using certain
essential pieces of equipment on their starships. They
<a also limited the number of Jiralhanae starship commanders.
After the breaking of the Covenant, the Brutes were made

“Ta
the backbone of the Prophets’ armed forces. Brute Warlords
now command many self-sufficient fighting units, operating
with a total lack of respect for the lives of civilians or those
they consider the “lesser” races of the Covenant. Brutes
consider the Elite concept of honor to be foolish and
irrelevant, and are eager to prove their status as
superior warriors.

BRUTE ARMOR
A fight sometimes requires more protection
than just skin, skill, and muscle. Brute armor
does just that, providing light protection
through composite plating. It does not add
strength or speed to its wielder (unlike the
MJOLNIR systems or a Sangheili’s armor),
but seldom does a Jiralhanae need such
enhancement; they are speedy and
powerful enough to take out almost any
living creature
in a one-on-one fight. Agroup
of a dozen armored Jiralhanae can almost
break through mountains.

OTHER NAMES: Ape Armor, Brute Shield

BRUTE WEIGHT: At least half
aton (453.59 kg)
CH |EFTAI N , USE: General combat
 NAMING CONVENTIONS
Examples ofJiralhanae names include
Bracktanus, Tartarus, and Lepidus.

ans refused to surrender

Ihanae RANK: Chieftain,

i master PERSONALITY: Strong,
brutal, careful, Zealous, faithful,
ed to his pack

Tartarus became
the Chief of his
Jiralhanae — pack
after the battle of
Harvest and was
the right hand to
the Prophet of
La Jiralhanae influence increased
se of me secrets Tertalus shared

JIRALHANAE CULTURE
: Brute social structure is pack-oriented, led by an
ovenant Loyalist alpha male or alpha prime and all interactions
ralhanae RANK:Chieftain between Brutes are governed by personal status, which
they display through ornate armor and decoration. There is a
patriarchal scheme thatis followed loosely, depending on the
social, martial, and sexual success ofthe patriarch. Patricide
is a common method for rising within the packs. No females
have been observed in military roles. The Jiralhanae
homeworld, Doisac, is a rocky, heavily forested planet, which
also contains swaths ofdesert and a few seas.

The deadly Type-51

Covenant Carbine is one
of the weapons favored
by the Brute Ultras.

DATA FILE
HEIGHT: Adult male: 8’5” (2.59 m)
WEIGHT: Adult male: 1,500 Ib (680 kg)

RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES

After the fracturing of the Covenant, the Jiralhanae were
made the backbone of the remaining Covenant armed forces.
Theytreat allotherracesundertheircommandasexpendable
equipment. Subordinates that fail in any aspect of their duty
can expect swift and final punishment.
JIRALHANAE, OR BRUTE, BRUTE COMMANDERS
society has a pack
BRUTE CHIEFTAIN
mentality. A Brute’s ROLE: Pack Commanders WAR CHIEFTAIN
position is based on
di

Brute Chieftains are high-ranking Jiralhanae ROLE: Pack Commanders

their physical abilities pack commanders. They are easily identified
—

and number of by their striking red and black armor. War Chieftains are superior to the
Designed to allow them to use their Brute Chieftains, typically com an
kills. Various ranks exist phenomenal speed, strength, and agility to packs. Their bronze-colored armor cart ss)
and are identifiable by the fullest extent, the armor also offers a distinctive head crest on the helmet, whic
makes them easy to recognize in battle. We
different colored armor. considerable amount of protection.
Brute Chieftains make frequent use of Chieftains prefer to use theh ¢s
overcharged shielding technology to shrug weapons in battle, both to inflict ma
off attacks, and their preferred weapon is damage upon their enemies and to reinfo
the Gravity Hammer. their physical superiority to subservient
Brutes. oh ee

BRUTE CAPTAIN
ROLE: Leading Brute packs in battle

The lowest of the three Captain ranks, Brute

Captains are responsible for leading small groups
of standard Brutes into battle. Their violet armor is
more resistant to attack than the standard armor
worn by Brutes and they are typically more heavily
armed.
Although Brute Captains are experts in the use
of the Brute Shot, they also make use ofalmost all
other weapons within the Covenant’s arsenal.

BRUTE CAPTAIN ULTRA BRUTE CAPTAIN MAJOR

ROLE: Leading Brute packs in battle ROLE: Leading Brute pa
+
“ commanding lower-ranking Jacki
Captain Ultra is the highest of the three and Grunts
Brute Captain ranks and these beasts hea
are immensely strong and agile. They The second highest of th
wear cyan armor, which offers very high the Captain Majors are promote
resistance to most weapons. ability to rally and inspire (often th
physical threat) both Brute a no
- forces. Donning gold a

A stronger and
standard Brutes.
more
 BRUTE SPECIALISTS

BRUTE JUMP PACK BRUTE STALKER

ROLE: Airborne shock troops ROLE: Bodyguards, reconnaissance, espionage

Brute Jump Packs have enhanced mobility due to front-mounted Brute Stalkers are normally tasked to protect their Chieftains,
BRUTE BODYGUARD jump thrusters. These can propel them great distances; however but their role is in fact far more covert. In assaults they will
ROLE: Protection of Chieftain, enforcement oftribal law they are not capable oftrue flight. Brute Jump Packs are easily function as spies, and they do not refrain from using their
=|
recognized on the battlefield by their distinctive dark blue camouflage when attempting to ambush the enemy. Often,
Brute Bodyguards accompany their pack’s Chieftain armor. Although they have increased mobility, a stray bullet into Stalkers will use Radar Jammers to confuse their enemies and
wherever he goes, and are ready to step in whenever their thrusters’ fuel cell can create a spectacular explosion. then charge in with Maulers to finish them off.
danger threatens. They are similar in appearance to
Captains, but wear pale blue armor.

BRUTE HONOR GUARD

ROLE: Guards

Brute Honor Guards wear yellow-and

red-plated armor and carry a red flag
on their shoulderto indicate their rank
‘and position. Their role is largely
ceremonial unless the Prophet they
protect is being threatened.
Brute Honor Guards were first given
the privileged role of protecting the
Prophets following the murder of
the High Prophet of Regret. This role
had been traditionally served by the
Elites, and when it was taken away
from the Elites and given to the Brutes,
the resulting discontent led to the
Great Schism.

“BRUTE ULTRA
“J

BRUTE MAJOR BRUTE MINOR

ROLE: Infantry, Lance Leaders ROLE: Infantry, Lance Leaders ROLE: Commanding lesser troops
c al 4

Brute Majors are intermediate-ranking members ofthe Brute infantry, below The rank of Brute Minor is the lowest infantry rank amongst the The cyan-clad Brute Ultras occupy
the Ultras and above the Minors, commanding other Brutes and Grunts. The Brutes, making up the largest contingency of heavy ground forces the highest of the three Brute
blue armor worn by Brute Majors is basic and offers only limited protection, for the Covenant post-Schism. Minors’ strength is mainly in their infantry ranks. While they can lead
however it is better than that of Minors and has elaborations for various great numbers. They are relatively weak (for Brutes) and enjoy lesser troops, they usually join their
equipment and materiel. little protection, their armor consisting of only back and lesser-ranking brethren under the
Their weapons include Brute Spikers, Covenant Carbines, and Brute Shots. chest plates. orders of Captains or Chieftans.
 THE LEKGOLO (HUNTERS}
DEADLY WARRIORS
A Hunter's heavy armor and the =| FKGOLO DON BIPEDAL armor for combat, but they are
shield it carries into battle are as : ‘ ; . se
simple Jee eitareeeadly, but not a bipedal species. The figure seen wearing
inside that armor is a colony of the armor is actually composed of dozens
N4A0]
JH1 two-foot-long, wrist-thick worms
that work collectively to create
Of Orange eels that are each nearly five
feet (one and a half meters] long.
the body and brawn of a Hunter.
Conventional Human forces have
had little success combating seeacaea
Hunters. Usually moments before contact has f eeacitace Ghnarih wales
been lost, field reports from soldiers in combat
She a Nae
with Hunters (who always work in tandem
units, called “Bonded Pairs”) have referred to
them as “unstoppable.”
Hunters never act foolishly; they are tactically
brilliant, and utterly ruthless. Other Covenant
forces typically clear out of an area where
Hunters are being deployed, presumably
Assault cannons are fused
because Hunters do notrequire back-up ‘Waits a> 4 into the Hunters’ armor.
and consider all collateral damage, even Sn Fe . ;
iBat Me
Bers are the aes
strong enough to use these
fellow Covenant forces, as “acceptable losses.” i sam sp m3 heavyweight weapons.
The best method of killing Hunters is to shoot ; ie
their unprotected areas, where bullets actually
penetrate individual worms residing within
the gestalt. These shots ricochet off the
interior of the armor, penetrating and
wounding more individuals. The continued
ricochet of these projectiles within the armor
containment can eliminate enough individual
Lekgolo (individual worms) so as to disrupt the
Mgalekgolo (the combined form).

most capable and

of al the Covenant military
they are fearless and utterly
combat (even in the face of
J. Hunters live by a code of
or, duty, and a “life-oath”
‘obligation to the
more specifically,to
 Armor provides protection from
nearly every form of plasma-
based and ballistic weaponry.

DATAFILE — |
HEIGHT: Adult Eel-Type: 4’10” (1.47 m);
Armored Form: 12’ (3.66 m)
WEIGHT: Adult Eel-Type: 50 Ib (23 kg);
Armored Form: 10,500 Ib (4,763 kg)
KEY HUNTERS: Igido Nosa Hurru; Ogada Nosa Fasu;
Paruto Xida Konna; Waruna Xida Yotno

RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES

Hunters almost never associate, or even communicate,
with otherCovenant client races, except forthe Elites. They
are dismissive, scornful, and arrogant to the “lesser”
Covenant races and display utter contempt for their
foes. Hunters consider all other races beneath them,
even the Elites and the Prophets, though they do not
say so openly. This may be in part because they
are in a parallel evolutionary track from the
other species of the Covenant.

With one swipe

from its shield, a
Hunter can destroy
almost anything
that comes into
its path.

> HUNTERS NEVER ACT

FOOLISHLY; THEY ARE
TACTICALLY BRILLIANT, NAMING CONVENTIONS
Hunters have three names: A personal
AND UTTERLY RUTHLESS. name, a bond name, and aline name.
The personal name is given at “birth.”
OTHER COVENANT FORCES The bond name is taken between
bonded pairs, a relationship about
TYPICALLY CLEAR OUT OF which little is known. Bonded Hunters

AN AREA WHERE HUNTER

consider themselves family and are fiercely
protective of each other. The line name offers any

ARE BEING DEPLOYED. Lekgolo offspring instant recognition of their genetic heritage
and ancestry. It is essentially the personal name of the most
successful Hunter within their lineage, handed down through
generations until its status is surpassed by another. Examples
of Hunter names include lgido Nosa Hurru and Ogada Nosa Fasu.
 THE UNGGOY (GRUNTS)
— DATAFILE
THE UNGGOY, CALLED Grunts by Humans, were barely into their own
HEIGHT: Adult Male: 5’°6”(1.68 m)
lron Age when the Prophets discovered them (classed as “Tier 6” on WEIGHT: Adult Male: 260 Ib(118 kg]
the Forerunner charts}. At such a primitive point in their cultural
development, the Grunts had little choice but to accept entry into RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES
N3A02
3H1 the hegemony. Otherwise they risked extinction.
Grunts have no political power in the Covenant hegemony and so
obey the other races out of fear. Unsurprisingly, within Grunt —
Cee
circles, there is much hatred, resentment, and fear of the other —
a species that make up Covenant society, particularly the Jackals. a

ROLE OF THE UNGGOY

Grunts are generally considered to be dull-witted, thick-brained
creatures, but this is largely a result of the menial positions they
FIGHTING SKILLS
have been given within Covenant society. The Unggoy are The Unggoy have a natural tendency towards
essentially Covenant cannon fodder, indoctrinated to hurl cowardice, but they can be tenacious fighters
themselves at an enemy in numbers so vast as to deluge their foes when well led by Elites or Brutes and sometimes
they even use suicide tactics. Physically small,
in bodies and blood. Though not particularly effective on their own, their power liesin their numbers. Fae
Grunts can be a very deadly and effective fighting force when led
by skilled Elites. Almost all of the Unggoy present on Covenant
warships are tasked with the important duty of monitoring Human
communication. As a result, most Grunts have a better basic grasp
of English (and other Human languages) than others within the
Covenant. They also have a brisk black market trade in Human
transmissions like soap operas and sitcoms; Grunts are
attracted to and interested in Human culture.
The Unggoy earned their nickname of "Grunt
"

among Human soldiers for two reasons: They tend

to be used as cannon fodder by the Covenant
Elites, and they communicate with strange
guttural growls, high-pitched hoots, chirps,
and barks. Outside of shipboard areas fitted to
suit their environmental needs, Grunts wear
sealed environment suits that contain the
methane atmosphere they need to survive;
the suits also provide limited armor protection.

NAMING CONVENTIONS

Because of their low status, Grunts are not

allowed to have family-related names despite
Before the Grunt Rebellion of 2462 CE, Grunts did
having strong attachments to their children. not have the right to carry weaponry. Their main
Young Grunts are normally separated from choice of weapon nowis the Plasma Pistol or the
their parents soon after birth in order to Needler and they get good accuracy from these
fo, discourage family ties. Examples of Grunt weapons thanks to their good finger reflexes.
| names include Yayap, Linglin, and Gagaw.

. Grunts belong to one of five

ranks, which are identifiable
by the color oftheir armor:
Lilac, green, orange, black,
and crimson.

GRUNT ULTRA ~ HEAVY GRUNT GRUNT MINOR SPECIAL OPS GRUNT

{Lilac armor) (Green armor) (Orange armor) (Black armor)
142
 UNGGOY CULTURE
The Unggoy's culture has been largely erased by their incorporation
into the Covenant. They have been granted very few civil rights in
comparison to other members of the Covenant and on a good day they
\ The Bin U eee dneec Meanie are treated like second-class citizens. Despite the advances in civil
\ to breathean soih their
pode armor
icaiated 4 ; d : :
rights granted after the Grunt Rebellion, including the right to carry
. re-breather. weapons and hold places among infantry units, their representation on
the High Council is mostly powerless.
The negative aspects of their existence are offset by the irony of
hei contiaged survival due to their acceptance into the Covenant.
Their entire species is no longer at risk of being eradicated
by two consecutive horrible winter seasons, as they had
been on their homeworld of Balaho, a swampy planet
with a methane atmosphere. Infant mortality is now below
fifty percent. Average life expectancy has more than doubled (not
including combat personnel). Geronticide is no longer a necessity for
the survival of the tribe. Producing enough food to last through the
winter season and burning plague victims no longer rank as the top two
priorities on their daily chores.

LUMINOUS BLOOD
Grunt blood is thick and a bright luminous blue
color. Its unusual hue could be due to
methane-based binding proteins present in
the blood that evolved on the methane-heavy
environment oftheir homeworld, Balaho.

GRUNT MAJOR
(Crimson armor)

Although Grunts have

physical traits of both
reptiles and mammals,
they are in fact arthropods.

SECOND: CLASS CITIZENS BYTHEOTHER RACES.

“WHEN IN DOUBT, FL
—THE SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNGGOY
 THE KIG-YAR (JACKALS}
USED MAINLY FOR infiltration, KigSa eteiallly. hunt. in_ small
interdiction, andassassinations, _ packs, using their stealth skills
the Kig-Yar, known as Jackals by | and exceptional natural senses of
Humans, act as scouts and smell, sight, and hearing to stalk
snipers for the Covenant ranks. their prey. They are unpredictable in
combat, and utterly ferocious, though
they lack the physical toughness ofthe
Grunts and the daring and skill of the Elites.
Kig-Yar move with fluid, darting, birdlike motions and
are very agile. In battle, their speed is often partially
offset by the large portable Energy Shields that many
of them carry, though sniper units do not carry these
shields. These portable Energy Shields can absorb a
tremendous amount of punishment from small arms
JINVIT1¥
INVN4A09
3H1 fire. Veteran Kig-Yar can be identifed by their
BM unusually colored shields.
>

The Particle Beam

Rifle's stealth and
accuracy are a deadly
combination.

>

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The males of the Kig-Yar species have a spiny
plumage (which the female. Kig-Yar lack; they
have calloused plates at the forearms and rear of
the head), large pale eyes, and razor-sharp teeth.
Aside from the expected differences in
reproductive organs, the males and females of
the species are physically identical, with none of
the usual disparity in size or mass distribution.
KIG-YAR CULTURE
Sniper Jackals are easily identifiable
The Prophets once planned to have the Jackals by their face masks which have
fill the menial role now held by the Unggoy. built-in telescopic sights.
But while the Kig-Yar are ferocious and
numerous, they lack the zeal of the jf
converted that is so well developed and
manipulated in the Unggoy. The Kig-Yar
in the Covenant behave more like
mercenaries than religious zealots
and barely pay heed to the Covenant
faith. Joining the hegemony was
more a choice of racial self-
preservation than one of cultural
religious devotion.
The Kig-Yar who actively participate in the
Covenant have no real desire for upward
mobility within the hegemony (not that they
have much choice in the matter). The position they
occupy, side-by-side with the Unggoy, makes the Kig-
Yar practically invisible while supplying them with perfect
scapegoats should anythinggo wrong with an assignment. It is
an ideal situation for their ulterior purpose: Siphoning off
resources. The Kig-Yar are a piratical race at heart. KIG-YAR BLOOD
IS PURPLE
Every Kig-Yar chick wantsto be a pirate when he or she grows
up. All of the great heroes from their folklore are pirates and
they represent freedom to those Kig-Yar who are part of the
Covenant. There are many free-roaming Kig-Yar pirates who
are unaffiliated with the hegemony, and their brethren in the
Covenant contact them when opportunities to pilfer materials
arise. These stolen goods are cached for the pirates to
retrieve at a later date.
The homeworld of the Kig-Yar is Eayn, the primary
satellite of the planet Chu’ot, which lies in the inner NAMING CONVENTIONS
region of the Y’Deio system’s massive asteroid Jackals are not permitted by the
belt. Only about one-third of all Kig-Yar who still Elites to have more than one
reside in the system call Eayn their home. Since name, but do not particularly
their initial contact with the Covenant, many have care. In orderto keep themselves
chosen to live on the minor planets within the leeching off the Covenant, they
asteroid belt. go along with the edict, choosing
to only use their full names in
private. Examples of Jackal names
include
Yeg, Jak, Bok, and Chur Yar.

Unlike other types of

DATA FILE
Jackals, Sniper Jackals
do not use their HEIGHT: Adult Male: 6’8” (2.07 m)
portable Energy Shields WEIGHT: Adult Male: 195 Ib (88.5 kg)
because they obstruct
the Sniper's view. SN iPE R
RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES
JACKAL Technically, the Kig-Yar stand as equals with the
Unggoy in the Covenant hierarchy, but the reality is

SHIPMISTRESS CHUR’R-YAR
that they are in an elevated position over them.
While the other races consider the Unggoy largely
beneath notice, the Kig-Yar are often purposefully
cruel to them in orderto assure themselves oftheir
Chur’R-Yar was the Kig-Yar Shipmistress of the Covenant
own superiority.
vessel Minor Transgression. She discovered the planet
Although they occupy acaste near the very bottom
Harvest and found a rich lode of supposed Forerunner relics.
of the socioeconomic structure, the Kig-Yar more
She planned to keep a share of the claimed relics for herself,
closely resemble a separate entity existing
to better barter for the advancement of her race within the independently within the state. None of the client
Covenant, but also because she wanted her ship out of species has direct representation within the High
commission during the Kig-Yar mating season. In her effort at Council; rather, the Ministry of Concert vets their
hoarding a portion of the relics, Chur’R-Yar disabled the interests and concerns. While others have
Luminary and threatened Dadab, an Unggoy Deacon, to keep protested this inequity rather openly (but quite
quiet. She was severely wounded by the Human UNSC soldier unsuccessfully}, the Kig-Yar have chosen a more
Avery Johnson and died when she blew up a methane tank, pragmatic form of dissent: Siphoning off resources
attemptingto kill him, destroying the Minor Transgression in to their expatriate brothers. It is unknown if the
the process. Covenant powers have decided to turn a blind eye to
the Kig-Yar's larcenous activities or if those
escapades have been made invisible by the
ALLIANCE: Covenant SPECIES: Kig-Yar RANK: Shipmistress
labyrinth of bureaucracy. —
PERSONALITY: Greedy, conniving, untrustworthy,
distrustful
 resemble a
pair of eyes

THE INSECT-LIKE YANME’E, known as

“Drones” by Humans, use their flying
ability to carry out surprise attacks
on Covenant enemies.

INCORPORATION INTO THE COVENANT

When the Covenant was newly formed and first
expanding its search for Forerunner artifacts, it :
encountered a race of space-faring insects. The RIGHT-HAND VIEW FRONT VIEW
initial contact resulted in a massive loss of life on
both sides. Surprisingly, the Covenant suffered far
worse than the Yanme’e during this short conflict.
Once the Prophets discovered a reliable method to Without antigravity
communicate with the Yanme’e, hostilities ceased technology,
theHuman-
psterto ° 2 sized Yanme’e would not
and negotiations began to incorporate them into the be able to fly, given their
hegemony. Not surprisingly, the Yanme’e fared heaven.
worse than the Covenant at these proceedings.
They are now required by treaty to supply the
Covenant with soldiers and mechanics.

Two pairs of wings

are assisted by
antigravity generators.

YANME’E CULTURE
Culturally speaking, the Yanme’e are simply a
client race of the Covenant, like the Unggoy.
They do adhere to the Covenant’s religious
principles and obey their orders unquestioningly,
but they have no particular passion for Covenant
societal norms. They follow what they see as a
normal and linear power structure, with the
“Queens” ruling from on high.
Communication difficulties with other Covenant
species mean that the Yanme’e largely remain
among their own people, except in combat. The
Yanme’e are very single-minded and while they
excel at simple tasks, their lack of individual
initiative relegates them to the lower ranks of
the Covenant military structure. They are
also viciously territorial over tasks they see —
as their own. e.
 THE COVENANT
THE YANME'E
> COMMUNICATION

Yanme’e use their claws in vicious

attacks against enemies, although
they preferto stay at range.

DATA FILE
HEIGHT: Adult Male: 6’3” (1.90 m)
WEIGHT: Adult Male: 280 Ib (127 kg)

RELATIONS WITH OTHER CASTES

The average Yanme’e has very little contact with the
other races of the Covenant. They are suited for flight
and fighting, but they are not particularly well
adapted, physically or emotionally, for interspecies
social interaction. :
The Yanme’e communicate primarily through sonics,
though some basic linguistic substitutions for ideas
and concepts are still conveyed via pheromones.
Attachés are elected from each Yanme’e combat unit
to interface with the other species within the
Covenant in order to coordinate their troop
movements and attacks. These attachés still do not
socialize with the other races; they are merely Tough exoskeleton has
tasked with becoming familiar enough with their multiple grooves and
markings, but is not strong
allies’ modes of communication so that they can
enoughto withstand more
keep their unit-mates properly informed. than glancing weapon fire.
THE FLOOD GOES THROUGH FOUR DISTINCT EVOLUTIONARY STAGES:

e The FERAL STAGE is the lowest level of a symbiotic sustained form:

Communicating via pheromones and with the natural instinct to
harvest enough calcium to establish a viable Gravemind.
e The COORDINATED STAGE is when the Flood becomes truly dangerous;
it now takes orders from the Gravemind that was created in the first stage.
e The INTERSTELLAR STAGE allows the Flood to use hosts to take control
of technology and spread throughout the Galaxy to infect more hosts.
¢ The INTERGALACTIC STAGE is the last known stage the Flood enters,
during which it utilizes all captured technology to seek uninfected
Galaxies for new food supplies so it can further replicate. Itis unknown
whether the Flood that arrived in the Milky Way originated from an
Intergalactic level Flood.

installations, where the specimens were studied in continued

finding ¢aless cataclysmic method of‘counene the sae thre

two ae This released the Flood upon a Galaxy which had longagoforgotten
v4
| hey
how much destruction could come from even a single Flood spore.

7
 FLOOD FORMS
THE FLOOD INFECTS host organisms
with a predictable, if terrifying, set of
biological steps. This process creates a
growing, symbiotic community between
(O11L3494NI
the individual Flood parasites and the
organism under attack.

e
USINYVI
WHOd
WHOd

INFECTION FORM—SIDE VIEW \s Infection Forms

3 pierce the skin of
\a target hosts to
3 infect them.

INFECTION FORM
The Infection Form is the simplest Flood form and the smallest,
making it the easiest to defeat. In this state, the Flood infects and
assimilates other species, attacking a sentient life form in large
numbers. Each Infection Form is a spherical organism with a small,
sagging, brown lobe rising from the top of its back and tentacles )
projecting from its frontal surface.

VIEW FROM ABOVE

ae

154
 THE FLOOD

be of further Eginbat use: Three,can

smaller, weaker life forms who lack

inside them. In combat situations, once they are in

Close range to a potential host, or when their sacs
are perforated, Carrier Forms rapidly swell with gas
and then detonate, tearing themselves to
pieces and hurling countless Infection Forms
into the air.

HUMAN COMBAT FORM

CARRIER FORM

COMBAT FORM
When an infected host has sufficient biomass
for self-sustenance, it will mutate both ‘lood enters

neurologically and physiologically until

has “matured” into a Combat Form.
Combat Forms often retain the general
physical profile of the original host
organism, and often keep the
original clothing or armor they
were wearing before becoming
infected. Combat Forms can use
any weapon or vehicle that their
host body might once have used,
although they are less proficient
with most firearms and are clumsy Combat Forms possess
unnatural physical
with vehicular operation. They are strength, perhaps
aggressive and lack even rudimentary gained through the
mutation of the host’s
battlefield tactics, but their sheer musculoskeletal
numbers can force even powerful structures.

enemies to succumb. If the host body is

sufficiently damaged, then the Flood
cannot reuse that form and must seek
to infect another host.

ELITE COMBAT FORM BRUTE COMBAT FORM

 PURE FORM
The Pure Form of the Flood develops without a
host. Once sufficient hosts have been infected
and the Gravemind that sustains the Flood
infestation is developed, the Flood can reproduce
without infection. This form can mutate into
SIDE VIEW
various sub-forms, referred to as Stalker,
Ranged, or Tank, and can mutate between
the three depending on the
necessities of combat.

Tank Forms release

Infection Forms
from their bodies

When injured, Flood secrete a thick,

sickly mixture of mucus and blood. TP STERIL)
IH 2

~ Small arms fire is }

less effective :
against the larger
Flood Pure Forms.

156
 THE FLOOD

FLOOD FORMS

Prophet Forms are rare products of infestation. It seems that

the Prophet Form is directly infected and incorporated into one
of the many tentacles of a Gravemind, retaining the original
voice and full intelligence of the former Prophet.
As with the Combat Form, the Prophet Form shares many
physiological traits with the original organism before infection.
Prophet Forms can be identified as Prophets by their heads
FRONT VIEW
and, to a lesser extent, their chests. Details of this infestation
remain unclear as no Human or Covenant has witnessed a
Prophet being fully transformed into this state.

| BRAIN FORM/PROTO-GRAVEMIND
The Brain Form (also known as the Proto-Gravemind) is one of
the rarest types of Flood and is the beginning stage of a
Gravemind form. Bearing little resemblance to other Flood forms,
Like most Flood the Proto-Gravemind is entirely passive and lacks any sort of
forms, Ranged mobility or defense. It is thought that the Proto-Gravemind is the
Forms are able to product of the syntactical fusion of several Combat Forms,
cling to ceilings and merging all of its subordinate forms into a massive, bloated,
walk up walls. spherical organism with spindle-like outgrowths that adhere to
the surrounding environment. Proto-Graveminds are unique in
that the conscious ofthe original host organisms are still vaguely
RANGED FORM—SIDE VIEW maintained, allowing for limited mental resistance to Flood
assimilation. However, with highly intuitive perception, the Flood
is able to sift through the individual memories of the original
host, looking for those that are of importance to the overall Flood
species while removing memories that pose a threat. When a
useful memory is found, it is incorporated into the general
consciousness ofthe Flood.
 oe"

THE GRAVEMINDISTHE all-encompassingintelligence

_ of theFlood. It is assumed to be the highest state of
_transformation that a Flood form can achieve. It is
believed that once a “critical mass” of Flood forms
ave been fused together in both body and mind, a
_ Gravemind form is created.

The Gravemind assumes a centralized sentient

intelligence that is believed to lead the general
Flood species through symbiotic or telepathic
means. It is intent on propagating
the Flood species
through combat as well as delusion, coercion, and
ultimately betrayal. It also appears to hold all of
the Flood’s memories, even those of individual
organisms and of all previous Graveminds. It is
fully capable of directing the overall Flood species
and of manipulating others to do its bidding.
 | =aoy00) 0)

FLOOD FORMS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Physically, the Gravemind is a massive,
tentacled entity, somewhat resembling
an engorged Venus flytrap, with a gigantic
fleshy neck, an indistinct head, and a
prominent, massive mouth. It possesses
huge tentacles of extraordinary length
and strength, each of which is capable of
extending hundreds of kilometers.

The Gravemind's
tentacled body
produces billions
of Flood spores.

Theoretically, there can only be one

Gravemind at a time, so if one is killed
another may form shortly thereafter if the
Flood retains sufficient biomass. It appears
that one existed over one hundred thousand
years ago but was destroyed by the first firing
of the Halo Array. Another was recreated
afterwards in the depths of Installation 05.
Upon its release, it showed remarkable
understanding of Forerunner technology, even
going so far as to capture the resident Monitor,
2401 Penitent Tangent, manipulating the
installation’s _ teleportation system, and
understanding the purpose and intricacies of
the Halo Installations.
Sa
TS OF THOUSANDS!
SH AND MIND AND BONE!”
«| seasca : 7 et ~ Ge
 A
ths ale emerged from the greater reaches ofspace and, despite the
Forerunners’ profound wisdom, technology, and carefully laid plans, Ahk were
unable todale the Galaxy that depended on them.

ye aahtecen to evolve naturally led them to create an ethical code of conduct called —
the Mantle. Bridging the social strata between an interstellar Marshall Plan anda
religious, but benevolent, stewardship, the Forerunners took hepesoee: for th
protection and cultivation of the species and planetary syst
With this grand purpose, their social
minded populace. Their cen
were the religious -Delighes
‘throughout thei
weapons cache Pp
alien threat emerge:
| THE ARRIVAL OF THE FLOOD att
Anew threat, an alien parasite called the Flood arrived from outside the Milky Way, and it ,
| rapidly spread until it had overcome all sentient life in its immediate sector of space.
| Requiring “food’”—which for the Flood meant the absorption and domination of a sentient
| host—they sent out spores to find other life forms in other star systems. The simple,
parasitic nature of the Flood implies longevity for their race that is beyond Human
comprehension, and the virulence of the infection meant that once the Flood found a
planet it was just a short matter of time before it consumed all life on that
planet. The Forerunners tried to rally their partially disarmed forces, but
the Flood had already infected and assimilated entire systems in the
Orion Arm. The Forerunners carefully captured samples of the Flood
to study in quarantine, but could find no vaccine or treatment for
their infection. Military sorties against the Flood proved
alarmingly ineffective, as only a single surviving infection
was necessary in orderto infect an entire planet.

A power facility for

maintaining the
Forerunners’
complex networks.

THE MAGINOT SPHERE

The Forerunners’ vast fleets and advanced technology could
do little to slow the spread of the Flood. With every world that
fell, the enemies of the Forerunners grew, rapidly overwhelming
their ability to defend themselves against the onslaught. The
Forerunners fell back to their remaining defensible positions
and drew a line around them, named the Maginot Sphere, or
the Line. (It should be noted that records from the Forerunners
were discovered with translation software so advanced that it
incorporates idioms from the reader’s own experience. The
Maginot Line, being idiomatically similar to a World War II
creationin France, became the default usage found throughout
Forerunner terminals and transmissions that were read by
Humans.) It is unknown whether this Maginot Line was a
blockade of ships or a more highly advanced barrier, but the
defensive sphere proved effective in at least stalling the
Flood’s advance. The Forerunners still attacked the Flood
outside of the Line and may have proven effective enough to
draw the Flood’s attention away from it.
UN THE STRIP-MINING MOON OF THE ARK,
STRATO-SENTINELS HARVEST PRECIOUS
RAW CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
rai
ie
 THE FORERUNNERS UNDER THREAT
THE FORERUNNERS FIRST encountered the Flood on the planet G617g, where
it infected unarmed civilian assets and penetrated the Forerunners’
planetary defense groups. It went on to strike at the Forerunner-held planet
of LP 656-38e. The Flood managed to avoid the Forerunner orbital fleet,
infesting the planet below and DM-3-1123b. Although at first this new alien
creature lacked basic cohesion, numerically, it was superior. Billions of forms
were dedicated tothe assault with every member of the Forerunner population
considered a viable potential new Flood form. Even though the Forerunners
had highly powerful military assets, if even a single Flood infection form
made its way past their lines, entire battles were lost.

MILITARY DEFEAT
Ina desperate measure, the Forerunners’ armada was ordered to immediately
ONTGTING
AVUHV
FHL
O1VHbegin full planetary bombardment on infested worlds. Many Forerunners
were unable to be evacuated before the bombardment commenced. This
meant Purrhic victories for the Forerunner military, who were killing their
own people in order to save them. Where bombardment was unable to be
pndertanen by naval garrisons, Forerunner population centers activated
| Nass destruction, comming mass suicide.

ae
2
> THE FORERUNNERS FACED A CRUEL REALITY:
THEIR ONLY HOPE OF DEFEATING THE FLOOD
WAS TO ELIMINATE THE FLOOD’S FOOD
SOURCE, THAT IS, ALL SENTIENT LIFE
INTHE MILKY WAY.
THE GRAVEMIND
Despite these measures, the Flood continued to grow and spread
from system to system, on a mission to infect all Forerunners.
Eventually, it grew to such proportions that a Gravemind was
created, a creature embodying a collective sentient
intelligence for the Flood species, and one that could direct
the Flood swarms in attacks against the Forerunner
fleets. In an attempt to destroy the centralized
the Forerunners created the Contender-
Gravemind,
classification Artificial Intelligence, Mendicant
Bias, ultimately hoping to provoke chaos
among the Flood, but their plans backfired.

The final stage in the life cycle of the Flood is the

Gravemind, a massive creature, made up of
fallen Flood and other life forms. Its purpose is
to consume all sentient life in the Galaxy, doing
so through the control of the extant Flood.

See: Sees (SEAS

DRASTIC ACTION
It soon became clear to the Forerunners that ordinary
~ naval tactics would prove fruitless in stemming the
-_.. mounting infection. They decided their only hope of
defeating the parasitic swarm would be to create even
more lethal weaponry. At first, robotic drones were
sent to battle and contain the Flood onslaught using
surgical, localized tactics. Soon after, the Forerunner
and considered “premature stellar
which a supernova would be triggered by
‘groups, engulfing a planetary system and
iny possible risk of Flood infection.
 MANY EFFORTS WERE undertaken by the Forerunners in an
attempt to contain the Flood, but ultimately, they accepted
the inevitable. In order to save the future for all life in the
Galaxy, they would have to end all current life in it...for now.

THE HALO ARRAY

In orderto bring about this drastic measure
to wipe out the rampaging Flood, seven
ring-like Installations, known as Halos,
were built across the Galaxy. When
activated, they would wipe out all sentient —
life within three radii of the Milky Way
Galaxy’s center by sending out a harmonic
frequency, targeting certain cells in the
nervous systems of any significant
sentient organism.

The Infection Form is the first stage

of the Flood. It uses its tentacies ta
attack and infect organisms.
"ae its.
 THE FORERUNNERS:

BATTLING THE FL

Forerunners in 97,448 BCE, aierine darettic ion & icton:

After the starved Flood died off, the planets were reseeded with
the rescued life forms and the shattered remnants of the
Forerunner civilizaton decided to leave the Galaxy. Their final
destination and current status remain unknown. A few surviving
Flood specimens. were kept in state-of-the-art, high-security
Forerunner research facilities on the Halo Installations, where
ydbeen brought and studied, perhaps as part of a plan to
by any other means swayed all but the most hardened objectors. Known Halos tend to be
in close Be to dense ice wells, such as Gas Giants. It is unknown if pheisa |

MONITORS
The Halo Array was maintained by a set of Monitors and possibly other
Artificial Intelligences. They had specific protocols and only enough
knowledge to complete their missions; activating the Halo Array in the
case of a Flood outbreak. These limitations were in place so that if any Al
fell prey to the Gravemind, it could not surrender the locations of the
other installations. These Monitors have exhibited odd characteristics
including recognition of human beings and eccentricities that are-hard to
explain through normal “failures” such as degeneration or Rampancy.
THE FORERUNNERS

OPPOSITION
 > Milky
Way Galaxy | Ring world, desert-like surface, limited atmosphere ae

Installation 01 is a ring world, similar to all the other Halo Installations in its size and shape.
Perhaps because of its primary designation, however, the Forerunners designed this Halo with a
very basic environment in mind; that is, almost none at all. Instead of a healthy and verdant
landscape, 01 features tracks of endless desert. It is also possible that, being the first in
numerical order (and so, furthest in distance from the Ark), the upkeep for 01 was not properly
maintained, or it suffered some other incident in the long period since the original firing of the
: Halo Array. During the assault on Installation 05, the Master Chief saw that 05 had put 01 into
standby mode; Installation 01 was fully prepped and ready to fire on command. This never
occurred, much to the relief of all sentient life within 25,000 light years.
=

( nN.

co
—{-

> oe All known data suggests that the second Halo Installation is a water-based world, with rocky
2 outcroppings and even large ice floes scattered across its surface. Little else is known about 02,
= except that it is the second-most distant of the Halo rings. Like all of the other extant Halo
is Installations, 02 was putin standby mode by the Brute Chieftain known as Tartarus on Installation
i 05. And, like all of the others, the Master Chief was able to reverse this.

om

Milky Way Galaxy | Ring world, volcanic surface, desert atmosphere

a : Appearing volcanic in its surface topography, Installation 03 is the third most distant
Halo Installation from the Ark. After being engaged in standby mode it became primed
again during the Battle of Installation 00.

The ring-like
structure of
Installation 04 —
AUNSC PELICAN LANDING ON HALO INSTALLATION 04

174
 Ring world, Earth-like surface,
habitable atmosphere

THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION 04

The UNSC ship the Pillar ofAutumn crash-landing on the Halo Installation
began what became known as the battle of Installation 04. The Flood, which
had been caged onboard since the disappearance of the Forerunners, was
unleashed by the Covenant in their haste to learn the secrets of the
Forerunners. Due to its destructive nature, the Flood soon became the
number-one cause of battle and death for both UNSC and Covenant forces.

In an attempt to control these beings, the Master Chief teamed up with the
Forerunner construct known as 343 Guilty Spark to activate Installation
04 and eradicate the species. What Master Chief did not know was that
this would result in the firing of the ring in such a way as to destroy all
sentient life within the Galaxy. Luckily, Cortana
was able to warn the Master Chief and stop the
destruction just in time.

Now fighting against Guilty Spark (the

construct still wished to carry out its
mission), the Master Chief fought back to
the Pillar ofAutumn and caused the ship to
self-destruct, escaping just as the fusion
reactors went critical and destroyed
Installation O04. Some Marines, including
Sergeant Avery Johnson and the Al Guilty Spark,
survived the explosion.
The Monitor of Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark

THE DESTRUCTION OF HALO INSTALLATION 04

 The Foundryon | Copyoflnstallation04,never | The battle of
the Ark completed, destroyed | Installation 00

Whenever a Halo Installation is damaged or destroyed, the foundry at the heart

of Installation 00 goes to work. In a short time (cosmically speaking), a
replacement, or replacement parts, are fashioned and shipped out so that the
entire Halo Array can maintain full and synchronized functionality. This process
began when Master Chief destroyed Installation 04, and by the time he arrived
at the Ark he found the replacement Halo well underway. Although this new
installation, sometimes referred to as Installation 04b, was capable of charging
and firing its enormous pulse weapon, it was not able to control these energies.
Master Chief took advantage ofthis when he prematurely fired 04b and used the
resulting explosion to destroy the Flood threat once and for all.

Orbiting SubstanceIV Ring world, jungle-like Part of the assaulton 2401 Penitent
surface, Flood-ridden Installation 05 Tangent
 THE FORERUNNERS

THE HALO ARRAY

Milky Way Galaxy Ring world, tundra surface,

Soe eee nele

2 installation 068appears tobe a ring word covered in dense forest or jungle, similar to
portions: f installations 04 and 05 However, no ore: pyits ees indicate any major
water sources, so| ow this is envir
gathered about 06 is entirely:
: the= ae ee

Ring world, unknown surface,

unknown atmosphere

sthing is known about its surface,

amples of the Flood. All that is clear
ng the assault on Installation 05 and
0 be overrun with clouds, much like
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 THE ARK, also known as Installation 00,
is a mysterious nexus of Forerunner
civilization. From deep within its structure,
all the Halo Installations could be
simultaneously detonated, rendering all
sentient life within the Milky Way extinct.

ees 2s Be B
Extragalactic space Enigmatically hidden, massive, The Cartographer, the Citadel, the
utside the Milky Way, | beyond comprehension Control Room, the Foundry
SANCTUARY
The Ark is not just about destruction. It has ho
many life forms and carried with it the knowled;
and equipment capable of reseeding the en
Galaxy. It is currently believed that this is how
Milky Wau’s life was reintegrated after

years ago. The UNSC was unable to confirm

automated systems which could generate such a
measure priorto the Installation’s destruction.
 PER
Pit

Upper surface of Map room, transportation The battle of

Halo Installations hub, directive seat |Installation 00

On every Halo Instal

Silent Cartographer. \

; | The Ark as its own Cartographer, but it differsA

- ways from its cousins. Firstly, the size of the Ark makes the
_ Cartographer much more important to biological beings.

security system is even more devious and i

without sufficient Kno of how to au

core of the Ark Supraliminal communications and Halo activation center | The battle of Installation |

Hanging over the Ark’s Foundry, the Citadel is the singular structure on the Ark from which
all Halo Installations could be simultaneously activated and fired. Standing at the very
edge of the Ark’s surface and protected by a massive energy barrier emitted from several
towers, the Citadel is an imposing sight. By the time that most UNSC forces arrived, the
Covenant had already captured Sergeant Johnson and were attempting to use him, as a
“Reclaimer”, to activate the Array.
Commander Miranda Keyes assaulted
the Citadel’s platform with a Pelican in
an effort to stop the Covenant and
retrieve Johnson, but she was swifth
murdered by the Prophet of Truth, ai
the 2 was Sua Fora

| hone were “able toyeton Tat and

. reverse the process. The Arbiter struck »

cOnclaciod.
CONTROL ROOM

inal communications The battle of Installation 00

Oactivationcenter —

The Control Room is a large and well-secured chambered structure found

on all Halo Installations, including the Ark. While the individualinstalations
have the ability to harmonically communicate with each other, syncing
the weapon network's pulse over a relatively short period of time, the
Ark’s Control Room has the power to fire all the rings simultaneously. It
was here that the High Prophet of Truth made his last stand in the hope
of initiating the Great Journey. And it was also here that the Master Chief
and the Arbiter stopped him.

THE FOUNDRY

The center of Installation 00 ction center The battle of Installation 00

Centered by a mineral and resource-heavy planet, the Foundry is a

production area located at the very heart of the Ark. The purpose of |
this Foundry is quite simple: It builds Halos. Whenever an Installation
~ becomes damaged or destroyed, the Foundry immediately goes into
production mode to send out replacement parts. Prior to the battle of
Installation 00, Cortanalearned that areplacement Halo for Installation
04 was in production at the Foundry. It is believed that she drew the
Master Chief to the Ark so that they could destroy the Gravemind and
its disparate Flood forms, without activatingthe entire Array. Moreover,
the Gravemind believed itselfto be safe from the Halo weapon because
of the Ark’s distance from the Milky Way. It made a calculated gamble
and moved its entirety to a perceived point of safety. While most ofthe
Ark’s functions are not well understood, the central significance of
creating Halo Installations is quite evident.
 THE DRAMATIC FINAL years of the Forerunner presence in the Milky Way
were uncovered in a series of terminals scattered throughout a series
of Forerunner installations. The terminals contain an account of the
tragedy ofthe Librarian and the Didact, lovers who were separated by
war and were eventually parted by death when the Halo Array fired.
ul

TRAGIC LOVE
THE LIBRARIAN AND the Didact’s conversations were He replied that her observation of the Flood armada confirmed the
archived in the Terminals aboard the Ark centuries ago information he'd been searching for—her location.
and reveal their tragic love. When the Librarian was on
Earth, the Didact pleaded with her to return to the
UNABLE TO REACH HER, AND SHE UNABLE TO ESCAPE, A FINAL MESSAGE WAS
safety of the Maginot Sphere, but she was devoted to
EXCHANGED FROM THE LIBRARIAN TO THE DIDACT:
her vocation and remained in harm’s way in order to
save more species, going far beyond the call of her
assignment. Eventually, the Librarian pleaded with the
Didact to activate the Array in orderto destroy the Flood.
(@) “My work is done. The portal is inactive, and I’ve begun the burial
measures. Soon there'll be nothing but sand and rock and normal
The Didact stalled the enemy Flood as long as he could
while seeking an alternative way of destroying it and signatures. You should see the mountain that watches over it.
rescuing his love. The Forerunners created an Al,
Mendicant Bias, who would engage with the Gravemind
A beautiful thing—a snowcapped sentinel.
and destroy it. The Librarian strongly objected to this
plan, calling it suicidal,and begged the Didactto ignore
That's where |will spend what time is left to me.
her welfarein favor of the greater good. She demanded
that he fire the Array but herpleas
Didact would not abandon her.
fell on deaf ears. The
Did |tell you? | built a garden. The earth is so rich. A seed falls and a
tree sprouts or a flower blooms. There’s so much potential. We knew
MENDICANT BIAS THEN APPROACHED THE
GRAVEMIND, BUT THE PLAN BACKFIRED. HE this was a special place because of them, but unless you've been here,
DEFECTED TO THE FLOOD AND LED AN
ATTACKON THE FORERUNNERS THAT BROKE
you can’t know. It’s [Eden].
THROUGH THE MAGINOT SPHERE.

The Librarian witnessed this attack from outside the

| have to stop transmitting. The thing is listening. Its [thinking dead]
kuars
In0
Maginot Sphere, effectively trapped beyond the
action. She desperately sent word to the Didact,
are babbling—laughing through every channel they can find.
warning her love of the Flood horde that was coming Be proud. The Mind claims victory, yet it still doesn’t suspect.
for him. The Librarian remotely destroyed all of the
portals and other installations that would lead to the You've outwitted it, my love. And now you can destroy it.
Ark so that it would not fall into the grasp of the Flood,
but this also made it impossible for her to escape. She
begged the Didact one final time to fire the Array. But you cannot save me.”

184
 THE FORERUNNERS

LIBRARIAN & DIDACT

(@) THE LIBRARIAN

SPECIES: Forerunner

The Librarian was a female Forerunner whose life purpose

was to document, index, and retrieve examples of every
species that populated her section of the Milky Way in order
to protect them from the plan to purge the Flood infestation
by activating the Halo Array. She sent all the chosen Tier-7
species to the shelter and aegis of the Ark (Installation 00)
and then deactivated and buried the portal leading to their
location on Earth. Stranded on Earth, a place she named
"Eden, she passed her final days on Mt. Kilimanjaro,
overlooking
the portal to the Ark.

The Librarian’s lover was the Didact, an important commander

of the Forerunner military, with whom she corresponded
frequently. It is possible that because ofthis love, the Didact
delayed in firing the Halo Array.
The final resting place of the Librarian was a small, nondescript
blue sphere called Earth. This planet was the location ofthe only
Portal that was spared the Librarian’s destruction. The
Forerunner’s affinity for the human race was finally explained as
the unlikely progeny ofthis love story:
SPECIES: Forerunner

“The anomalous world is in a perilous location beyond the line. The Didact was responsible for firing the Halo Array.
However, according to records in the Terminals, he evidently
The secrets it holds must be preserved, plans within plans within wholeheartedly believed in the “Mantle” of the Forerunners:

plans. The inhabitants; these unique denizens, must be researched. to protect life.

They may hold answers to our own mysteries. Impassioned, he constantly tried to convince the Librarian to
give up her mission of saving other species and return to him,
where she could be safe. His pleas, however, went unheeded,
and the Librarian, dedicated to her cause, sacrificed herself.
What irony that we discovered this treasure, only at the end ofthings.
But what fortune that we still had time to save them.
The thing we built on that world will vouchsafe their lives, but perhaps
one day it will be used for its intended purpose. If the plan succeeds,
and they are saved, it will be a good world.

Ifthe plan fails, and the adversary succeeds, it will remain an enigma
forever with no one left to reclaim it.”

| > THE LIBRARIAN HAD A DEEP RESPECT FOR HUMANITY, WHOM SHE VIEWED
AS “SPECIAL” AMONG ALL OF THE SENTIENT LIFE SHE HAD CATALOGUED AND
FELT IT WAS WELL WORTH THE SACRIFICE OF HER LIFE TO SAVE THEM.
£85
 RUNNER MONITOR
343 GUILTY SPARK AND 24014 Penitent Tangent were Forerunner
Monitors that guarded over Installation 04 and Installation 05
respectively. Guilty Spark played a significant role in the attempted
activation of and subsequent battles on the Installations.
:
GUILTY SPARK AND THE BATTLE OF |
When the Covenant arrived on Installation 04 and unwittingly freed the Flood, the Monitor Once the Index was retrieved, the Monitor asked the Master
343 Guilty Spark had already been present on the Halo ring for 101,21? “local years.” He
immediately put into effect a long dormant contingency measure, acting upon Installation
Chief tojoinitwith the Core andthereby activate the Installation,
04’s ancient defensive genocide protocols. explaining that only Reclaimers had permission to do this. The
Master Chief was about to comply when his Al, Cortana, who
Guilty Spark’s first act was to search for a Reclaimerto help activate the rings. He discovered
UNSC Staff Sergeant Marvin Mobuto, and teleported him to the Library on Installation 04 with was inside the Core, informed him that Guilty Spark had
instructions to recover the facility’s Index. However, Mobuto’s inadequate armor and lack of neglected to mention that activating the Halo would result in
experience led to his failure and death. The Monitor would have to find another Reclaimer.
the destruction of all sentient life in the Galaxy. ,
The Master Chief and the Marines were battling the Flood at the Flood Containment Facility
when 343 Guilty Spark and some Sentinels arrived and joined them in the battle. Afterwards, Guilty Spark followed the now uncooperative Master Chief and Cortana back to the UNSC
Master Chief agreed to help this strange new ally, and Guilty Spark recruited him as the next Pillar of Autumn, looking for another way to bring about the activation of the Halo.
Reclaimer. He teleported Master Chief to the Library and guided him to the Index, which Realizing he had found a vast repository of information about Humanity, he disabled the
Master Chief was successful in retrieving despite the odds being heavily against him. vessel's self-destruct system and began to download its databanks.

DESPITE THE MONITOR’S

EFFORTS TO SAVE THE SHIP,
THE MASTER CHIEF SUCCEEDED ~
IN DESTABILIZING ITS POWER
CORES, THUS DOOMING BOTHIT ~
AND THE HALO RING. MOMENTS
BEFORE THE RING WAS
DESTROYED, GUILTY SPARK
FLED AND WAS LEFT FLOATING
THROUGH SPACE.

HINTS OF GUILTY SPARK’S POSSIBLE RAMPANCY CAN BE

RED—RATHER THAN HIS USUAL BLUE—GLOW.

> FOR THE DELUSIONAL MONITOR, GUILTY SPARK,

PROTOCOL COMES BEFORE EVERYTHING—EVERYTHING
EXCEPT HIS OWN SENSE OF SELF-PRESERVATION,
186
 THE FORERUNNERS

MONITORS

343 GUILTY SPARK

GUILTY SPARK AND INSTALLATION 05 ALLIANCE: Forerunner
Soon after the battle for Installation 04, a group of Covenant Prophet of Truth, who was hiding behind an energy shield within SPECIES: Artificial Intelligence
soldiers found Guilty Spark, and called him “the Oracle.” the Ark’s Control Room. However, as UNSC and Separatist forces ROLE: Monitor of Installation 04
began to take down Truth’s protective shield barrier, they saw
GUILTY SPARK ATTEMPTED TO TEACH High Charity appearing from out of Slipspace. Guilty Spark A construct of the Forerunners,
disagreed with Keyes and the Separatist leaders about what to 343 Guilty Spark was left on
THE SOLDIERS ABOUT THE RINGS’ do next. The Monitor wanted to deal with the threat of Flood- Installation 04 when they departed
TRUE PURPOSE. THIS RESULTED IN THE infested High Charity first, but his allies decided that it centuries ago. His purpose was
eliminating the Prophet of Truth was the more urgent task and to maintain the structure ofthe Halo, protect its facilities,
CREATION OF SPLINTER HERETICS AND they managed to do this just in time to prevent Truth from monitor events, and contain any outbreaks by the Flood.
THE FRACTURING OF THE COVENANT. activating the Halo Array.
Guilty Spark appears to have a sense of humor, but he is
The Covenant sought to eliminate the Heretics and Guilty Spark Once the High Prophet of Truth was dead, utterly serious about rules. For him, protocol comes before
everything; emotions or feelings of empathy are seen as
was taken to High Charity. Under interrogation, he revealed the Guilty Spark disclosed to the Arbiter and the
true nature ofthe rings and how to activate them. Guilty Spark, inconveniences. However, when Guilty Spark becomes
Master Chief that a new Halo ring was being rampant, protocol can be overridden by self-preservation.
now freed from the protocols of Installation 04, did not wish the
other rings to be activated, but the deluded High Prophets still built by the Forerunner constructs as a
The Covenant know Guilty Spark as “The Oracle” whereas to
believed that the rings were the path to enlightenment. They replacement for Installation 04. Humans he is the “The Monitor.” He played a major role in
sent the Arbiterto retrieve Installation 05’s “Sacred Icon,’—the
containing the Flood and was responsible for initiating the
Index—and it was taken, with Guilty Spark, to the Control Room. The Master Chief, the Arbiter, and Johnson saved Cortana from
Heretic movement within the Covenant.
Miranda Keyes was abducted by the Covenant and was chesen the Flood-controlled High Charity and landed on the newly
to be the one who would ignite Installation 05. Realizing what constructed ring. Cortana still held the Activation Index to the The real irony of Guilty Spark is that after failingtosafeguard
activating the rings would mean, the Arbiter now allied himself first Halo ring, and Chief wasted no time in taking her to the new and fire Installation 04, he seeded the truth in a band of Elites
with the Covenant Separatists. He returned to Installation 05 ring’s firing chamber. Once inside the Control Room, the Humans aboveThreshold.
Those Elites, becoming Heretics, eventually
with UNSC Major Sergeant Avery Johnson. They removed the
informed Spark that they intended to fire the ring regardless of caused a chain reaction which threw the Covenant into
Index in time to stop the activation of Halo, but then Guilty
whetherit survived the blast in its newly-formed state. Furious disarray. With the alien collective reeling from their own civil
Spark announced that the shutdown process had put all the
with this decision, Guilty Spark’s Rampancy broke free. war, Humanity and the Elites were able to eliminate the
Halo rings on standby. They could now be activated from a
Prophet of Truth and stop the rings from being fired. By these
distant Forerunner stronghold known as the Ark.
Major Sergeant Johnson began to activate the partly- actions, 343 Guilty Spark ensured his own-demise at the
constructed ring, knowing that this would cause it to self- hands ofthe Master Chief and theArbiter.
When the Arbiter asked Guilty Spark about destruct. Determined to protect the Halo, 343 Guilty Spark
the location of the Ark, the Monitor gave him fired on Johnson, and on Master Chief and the Arbiter, who

Coordinates to the nearest Ark portal: Earth. were coming to his aid. Johnson was mortally wounded, but
continued to struggle to activate the ring.
2401 PENITENT TANGENT
~ Guilty Spark, Sergeant Johnson, the Arbiter, and a portion of the ALLIANCE: Forerunner
Covenant Separatists left for Earth. There, Guilty Spark was As Master Chief and the Monitor fought, Johnson cracked Guilty
SPECIES: Artificial Intelligence
reunited with Master Chief while he was searching a Covenant Spark’s protective casing with his Spartan Laser, exposing him
to fire. The dying Johnson gave his Spartan Laser to Master ROLE: Monitor of Installation 05
vessel which had arrived from High Charity—the last known
location of Cortana. Chiefto finish off the out-of-control Monitor.
2401 Penitent Tangent was the
Monitor stationed on Forerunner
Inside a Covenant storage device, they found a transmission SPARK BEGAN TO BEHAVE EVEN MORE Installation 05. Penitent Tangent
from Cortana explaining how to stop the Flood without
activatingthe Halo rings. Following her instructions, 343 Guilty
ERRATICALLY AND THE SPARTAN neglected to maintain his
Installation’s Flood Containment Facility adequately, which
Spark and his companions traveled through the Portal recently MANAGED TO DESTROY HIM WITH THE resulted in an outbreak. Whatever the cause ofthis outbreak,
opened by the Prophet of Truth.
WEAPON. HIS LAST COMMENTS the Flood emerged and slowly grew towards creating a new
_ They emerged beyond the rim ofthe Milky Way in front of the DEEPENED A MYSTERY OF THE GALAXY: Gravemind.
massive Installation known as the Ark. Spark used the
Installation’s Cartographer to pinpoint the location of the HE CALLED JOHN-11? “FORERUNNER.” For decades, this creature bided its time until the Master
Chief and the Arbiter fell to the depths of the ring. When
that occurred, the Gravemind once again seized its age-
old ways, manipulating the Spartan and the Elite to its own
ends. Eventually, even its deception could not stop the
will of the Master Chief and the Gravemind was destroyed
when the Ark was obliterated by the Chief's firing of the
replacement Halo ring.

&

\ND AVERY JOHNSON IN THE CONTROL

EPLACEMENT INSTALLATION 04, JUST
T MONITOR ATTACKS THE SOLDIER.

187
ARTIFIC I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E S
MENDICANT BIAS WAS the most advanced Forerunner Artificial Intelligence of his
time. Created to be the Forerunners’ premier weapon against the Gravemind and the
domination of the Flood. Underestimating the Gravemind, Mendicant Bias fell prey to
the creature’s cunning and forsook his masters. When Mendicant Bias betrayed the
Forerunners, a second Al—Offensive Bias—was created in order to destroy him.

DEFECTION TO THE FLOOD

The record of the dramatic final years of the Forerunner presence in the Milky Way Fatally, the Forerunners did not intervene at this point. They expected that
was uncovered in a series of terminals found scattered throughout various Mendicant Bias’ programming would ensure he pursued with the mission until given
Forerunner Installations. the order otherwise. This isolation from his creators seeded doubt in the mind of
Mendicant Bias, doubt which the Gravemind eventually exploited.
When the Didact delayed activating
the Halo Array while he looked for a way to save his
lover, the Librarian, the Forerunners were forced to find another way to eliminate the
Gravemind. They discovered that it was vulnerable at certain stages of expansion, and THE GRAVEMIND SLOWLY CONVINCED MENDICANT
at those moments it relied entirely upon the infected forms around it for self-defense. BIAS THAT HE WAS A SUPERIOR BEING, WHOSE DESTINY
WAS TO RISE ABOVE HIS PROGRAMMING, ASSERT HIS
IN ORDER TO STRIKE AT THE GRAVEMIND DURING THIS
OWN FREE WILL, AND ELIMINATE THE FORERUNNERS.
VULNERABLE TIME, THE FORERUNNERS CREATED
MENDICANT BIAS, ASENTIENTARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE
FREE OF THE SELF-CONTAINING PROTOCOLS THEY HAD THE ORDER TO ATTACK THE
IMPOSED ON THEIR OTHER Al CONSTRUCTS. GRAVEMIND NEVER CAME
Mendicant Bias was designed to destroy the Gravemind, but when the Gravemind offered
AND MENDICANT BIAS BECAME RAMPANT
to talk with Mendicant Bias, the Al saw an opportunity to learn more about his foe. Falling into rampancy when his original mission became suspect, Mendicant Bias,
driven by the Gravemind’s deception, attacked the Forerunners. He led the Gravemind

For forty-three years Mendicant Bias and the and nearly five million ships in a crashing assault on the Maginot Sphere, intent on
destroying the Halo Array.
Gravemind continued their dialogue, during which
time the Al sent transmissions of their
conversations to its Forerunner masters.
Ominously, the later transmissions revealed that
Mendicant Bias had begun to doubt whether the
Gravemind should be destroyed.

MENDICANT BIAS HAD

ANTICIPATED THAT THE
FORERUNNERS WOULD
FIRE THE HALO ARRAY, BUT
HE HAD NEVER EXPECTED
THAT THEY WOULD
SACRIFICE THEMSELVES TO
DEFEAT THE FLOOD.

188
 THE FORERUNNERS

AIS
)
© 05-032 MENDICANT BIAS (MB.05-032
MENDICANT BIAS
-_
Se
ee

ALLIANCE: Forerunner

VERSUS OFFENSIVE BIAS

SPECIES: Artificial Intelligence, Contender class
ROLE: studying
the Gravemind

When 05-032 Mendicant Bias was created as the preeminent

Artificial Intelligence, a self-aware construct with unlimited

After this betrayal, Offensive Bias, was created bythe Forerunners specifically to stop Mendicant Bias. With the Forerunner fleet resources and firepower, his mission was simple: Locate the
at his command, Offensive Bias allowed Mendicant Bias to commence his charge on the Ark. Gravemind and destroy it.

Upon encountering the Gravemind, he engaged in dialogue in

Just as Mendicant Bias’s victory seemed assured, the Didact finally fired order to root out the creature’s weaknesses. During the

the Array, instantly killing all sentient creatures in the armadas of the process, however, he opened up his own doubts about his
mission, making him vulnerable to manipulation.
Flood and Forerunners. The Gravemind told Mendicant Bias that the Forerunner’s
religious Mantle was not there to protect all species in the
The firing of the Halo Array changed the battle situation dramatically. Offensive Bias was no longer so incredibly outnumbered,
Galaxy, as they had claimed, but rather to condemn them to
and he outsmarted Mendicant Bias by utilizing some of his remaining ships as explosive triggers in the sea of now-crewless
floating hulks. Triggering engine overloads and uncontrolled Slipspace ruptures, Offensive Bias was able to crack Mendicant a biological dead end. Eventually, the Gravemind convinced
Bias’s fleet and defenses, and after all this destruction Mendicant Bias was finally captured and returned to his makers. Mendicant Bias that it was up to superior beings, like
themselves, to allow the biological pathway of evolution
Offensive Bias wanted to examine the defeated Mendicant Bias on the Ark, but ultimately decided it was safertodismantle the within the Galaxy to have its way.
Al first. Therefore, he broke Mendicant Bias up into component sections and spread them throughout
the few remaining ships of
Mendicant Bias began to despise his masters and became
his fleet for transport.
rampant, summoning all of his resources to lay siege to the
Maginot Sphere. His actions tore through the Maginot Sphere,
ONE FRAGMENT OF MENDICANT BIAS’S MIND FOUND ITS WAY TO THE COVENANT CAPITAL forcing the Forerunners to fire the Halo Array.

OF HIGH CHARITY, WHERE IT WAS INSTALLED AS AN “ORACLE.” ANOTHER POSSIBLE

FRAGMENT OF MENDICANT BIAS WAS PRESENT ON THE ARK AND COMMUNICATED
OBLIQUELY WITH MASTER CHIEF AS THE CHIEF FOUGHT HIS WAY THROUGH THE
COVENANT, FORERUNNER, AND FLOOD THREATS ACROSS THAT INSTALLATION. ALLIANCE: Forerunner
SPECIES: Artificial Intelligence, Contender class
In 2525 CE, the Prophet of Fortitude and the Vice Minister of Tranquility approached the Oracle, as was customary for a blessing, ROLE: To stop Mendicant Bias
about the artifacts or “Holy Relics,” which had been found on Harvest. Mendicant Bias revealed that the “Holy Relics” were not
artifacts, but Humans and that the entirety of the Covenant’s belief system was based on egregious mistranslation. Offensive Bias was designed as a Forerunner Artificial
Intelligence with one singular purpose—to stop the rampant

A Forerunner glyph had been mistaken as “reclamation” Mendicant Bias from accessing the Ark and halting the Halo
Array’s activation. Unlike Mendicant, Offensive was not
when its true meaning was “reclaimer.” This astonishing created to reason and create discourse, but rather to
specifically enact destruction or deactivation on his “older
revelation implied a direct link between Humans and the brother” in conjuction with the Halo Array. His fleet was
Forerunners and had the potential to shatterthe faith and greatly outnumbered by that of Mendicant’s, but this,
alongside Mendicant’s excessive arrogance brought on
unity of the Covenant. through rampancy, would ultimately be the Al’s undoing.
During the battle, Offensive allowed Mendicant’s lines to
cross over his own, yielding Forerunner-controlled vessels to
MENDICANT BIAS WANTED TO ATONE FOR HISACTIONS AGAINST the Flood. The act was sacrificial, as the Halo Array was fired
THE FORERUNNERS, INSISTING THAT HIS BETRAYAL WAS THE shortly thereafter. The fate ofthis Al is presently unkown.
RESULT OF A MISTAKE. HE REVEALED TO THE PROPHETS HIS
INTENTION TO BRING THE “RECLAIMERS” TO THE ARK.
In an attempt to escape from High Charity, Mendicant Bias launched the Dreadnought’s engines.
Within the ship, aportion of Lekgolo tasked with cleaning
the vessel shunted his ascent, disengaging
Mendicant. Later, the Oracle was formally disconnected by the Prophet of Truth. The Prophet's
intent, no doubt, was to reconnect the Oracle when the opportunity presented itself.
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EN ANT WAR
 THE PATH TO WAR
THE HUMAN RACE held a past that threatened
the entire theological base of the Covenant
and of the leaders’ power and control. Their first
WYWAH
3H contact with the Covenant in 2525 CE on the
planet Harvest quickly became a bloodbath. In an
act of self-preservation, the Covenant Hierarchs
then declared Humans as heretics who needed to
be eradicated.

HUMANS BRANDED HERETICS

_ The forces of the Covenant discovered Humanity during
their quest for “holy” Forerunner relics. Their ships’
_ Luminaries, Forerunner machines that scanned for other
oe Forerunner artifacts, had identified the Human race by the
most holy glyph in the Covenant’s religious canon:
- “Reclaimers.” The Covenant mistranslated this glyph to
4 ‘eclamation,” thinking that the Luminaries were showing
fiumerous artifacts with extreme intrinsic and spiritual
value, not realizing that the Luminaries were actually
‘identifying Humans. On their first encounter on Harvest,
A THREAT
:
TO COVENANT‘i DOCTRINE
.
Py ce, Humans ‘didn't hand over any artifacts (not When this newfound wealth of “Reclamation”
was brought before the
‘realizing, of course, that they themselves were the Oracle aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought at the center of the
“artifacts” in question), the Covenant forces shot Harvest'’s Covenant’s capital, the space station High Charity, the entire theology
Attorney General and engaged in battle. of the Covenant was turned on its head. The Oracle revealed that the
nolan symbol had been misinterpreted for the entire history of the
ie Covenant. The glyph did not mean Reclamation, but “Reclaimer.”

This revelation flew in the face of the Covenant’s cosmology. Their

spiritual and political glue was based on the idea that they were
following the path of the Forerunners into ascendance. Theimplication
of this new discovery meant that the Forerunners might never have
transcended their physical forms at all. What if this Human race was
somehow related to the Forerunner race? This proposition was simply
unacceptable to the leaders of the Covenant. It would mean the end
of their religion and, more importantly, their personal power.

At the time of the war’s inception, the Covenant was coming out of an
Age of Doubt, where commitment to religion and cohesion among the
client species were strained. The Hierarchs had attempted to
consolidate power, but many factions still pulled against the grain,
forcing the Covenant leadership to preach more zealously about faith
and the Great Journey.

Despite his conniving and Machiavellian nature, the Covenant’s High

Prophet of Truth began to believe his own testimony, becoming crazed
with power. He became completely obsessed with the desire to remove *
the “Human stain,” whose very existence could rip the Covenant asunder.
He knew that the only way to keep the Covenant from breaking apart was
to give them renewed vigor towards a common task: The eradication of
the Human heresy and the final push to activate the Holy Rings.
 THE HUMAN-COVENANT WA
BATTLE ON HARVEST THE ee ie WA
Having branded the Human race heretics, the OUTNUMBERED payee maaan
Covenant attacked the Human colony on Harvest. The UNSC began to gather a fleet to retake Harvest and over a
Only a fraction of the planet’s inhabitants escaped course of the next five years, Vice Admiral Preston Cole led the
_ before Covenant forces brutally glassed the surface UNSC forces that endured constant defeat throughout the_
with plasma bombardments from a comfortable Outer Colonies. Cole’s leadership and tactical prowess were
orbital position. magnificent, but the Humans were outnumbered and outgunned. Oe
The Covenant took down an average of four Human ships Hor)
When communications from Harvest suddenly every Covenant ship Cole could destroy. Outer Colony worl
_ Stopped, the UNSC sent a scout ship, the Argo, which such as Eridanus- Il fell to me Covenant’ s
ee armada. The ;
disappeared. They then dispatched a battle group
consisting of three ships. On October 7, 2525 CE, this
small fleet arrived at Harvest. The ship’s commander
reported that an alien warship with powerful
weaponry was present and had decimated the
planet and presumably devastated the Argo.

The battle group engaged the alien warship, and was

thoroughly routed. The Heracles—following the
destruction of the other two ships in the group—
barely jumped outof the system before suffering a
similar fate. despre mounting losses.

By November 1, 2525 CE, the entire UNSC military THE WAR DRAGS ON
had gone on full alert and placed all remaining
Colonial Military Administration (CMA) forces under
its command “for the duration ofthe crisis.”
isola battles, usually dudpaseautd engagements bu
at great, great cost. Also, the space superiority of the Covena
meant that as soon as their fleets gathered over a.
Humans’ ground victories were meaningless. One bs [
colonies fell. OANA Maes

OPERATION: PROMETHEUS ce
As the Covenant swarmed into the Inner Colonies, ; the UNS
utilized some of its new Spartan-llls. The: ‘soldiers of Alpha
Company crippled a Covenant shipyard just. beyond coloniz
Human space, thereby limiting the Covenant’s ability fe
supplement its forces. This single, daring raid prevented ‘the
deaths of countless Humans but every Spartan-lll of Al
Company was lost.

OPERATION: TORPEDO a
The Beta Company of Spartan-Ills was deployed
Operation: TORPEDO in 2545 CE. In an ultima’
successful assault to destroy a pivotal Coven
refinery on Pegasi Delta, 298 soldiers from
300-member company were killed. —
 E WILL OF THE G
E ARE THEIR INSTRUMENT.’
_ —MESSAGETOTHEHUMANRACEFROMTHECOVENANT
DURING BATTLE AT HARVEST.
By
ir
 THE WAR RAGES ON
THE FALL OF REACH THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION 04
During an engagement on Sigma Octanus, the Blue Team of Damaged by its Covenant pursuers, the Pillar of Autumn
Spartan-lls witnessed a pair of Hunters sending a signal crashed into the ring of Halo Installation 04. Many of its
a
3111V
46 with a Forerunner artifact. They intercepted the signal, inhabitants survived and were able to offer resistance against
which later revealed the coordinates to Halo Installation 04. the Covenant who were scouring the sacred ring for what they
Also during this encounter, the Covenant traced a departing believed was a weapons Cache.
UNSC ship. This gave them the coordinates of Reach, a planet
in the Epsilon Eridani system and Humanity’s greatest LANDING ON INSTALLATION 04
military stronghold.
Master Chief awoke from cryostasis and, tasked with
preventing Cortana’s capture by the Covenant, escaped with
AUGUST 30 her to the Halo. Captain Keyes and the others in his escape
Once the Covenant found out the location of Reach, twenty- pod were captured by the Covenant. Only Keyes escaped
five of the twenty-eight surviving Spartan-lls were recalled summary execution, and was taken to the CCS-class Cruiser,
oe
HIYAE
Jui
1ivd
40
FH1 to the planet to protect generators powering the defense Truth and Reconciliation.
NOILY11VISNI
pO against the Covenant armada. The remaining three The Master Chief led a Marine force to board Truth and
Spartans, including the Master Chief, were sent to guarantee Reconciliation. They recovered Keyes and escaped aboard a
the destruction of an unsecured navigational database Covenant Dropship. Keyes ordered Master Chief to find the _
inside a ship docked above Reach. Chief managed to destroy “Silent Cartographer,” a map room designed to reveal the
the navigational data, but not before losing James and location of the Control Room. Keyes left to lead an assault on
seeing Linda critically, if not mortally, wounded by Covenant a reported Covenant weapons cache. Having found the ma
plasma fire. The Spartans on the surface of Reach weathered room and the pertinent information, Cortana directed
similar losses as they fought heroically. However, ultimately Pelican ship to take them to the Control Room. Upon reachin
they were overwhelmed by the vast Covenant forces pitted the Control Room, Cortana transferred to the Control Room’s
against them. computer and directed Master Chief to stop Keyes fror
accessing the “weapons cache,” which she discovered wa
In the largest single-space engagement of the war, a
actually a Forerunner quarantine facility.
massive Covenant fleet defeated UNSC forces surrounding
the military’s base planet. The Covenant also engaged in
ground action in a search for Forerunner artifacts, and DISCOVERY OF THE FLOOD
eventually glassed much of the planet. Reach fell and the
Leaving Cortana behind, Master Chief entered the quarantini
UNSC fleet was decimated. A small group of Spartan-ll
facility. He was unable to locate Keyes but quickly discovere:
survivors succeeded in escaping down a secret mine into a
that the Covenant had inadvertently opened an undergrou
Forerunner reliquary, where they discovered a crystal that
containment laboratory, releasing the Flood, the virul
could bend the properties of Slipspace. Much later, this
parasite that ended ‘the age of the Forerunners. Forced
crystal allowed them to escape from Reach on board a
retreat, he linked up with and took command of the surviv
captured Covenant vessel.
members of Keyes’s team and they fought their way tot
The Pillar ofAutumn also escaped from Reach with Master extraction point.
Chief. In accordance with the Cole Protocol, the Pillar of
Separated from Cortana while she investigated the H
Autumn’s captain requested a random, long-distance jump,
computer systems, Master Chief was led by 343 Guilty Spark
hoping to lure the Covenant fleet away from the Human
the Forerunner Al in charge ofthe Halo, unwittingly into a p
homeworld, Earth. However, following a hunch, the Artificial
to activate the Installation and kill all sentient life in t
Intelligence called Cortana secretly guided the ship to the
Galaxy. 343 Guilty Spark teleported the Master Chief to t
coordinates broadcast from the Forerunner artifact on
ring’s “Library” to retrieve the “Index,” a device needed
Sigma Octanus IV. As they had hoped, the Covenant gave
activate the ring’s main weapon. After acquiring the Index,1
chase. Upon arriving at the coordinates, the damaged ship
Monitor teleported Master Chief back to the Control R
discovered something no Human being had seen in recorded
where an irate Cortana explained Guilty Spark’s true miss
history: Halo.
to Master Chief, confiscated the Index, and prevented the |
from firing. The Chief and Cortana fled the now-hostile 3
Guilty Spark and the robotic Sentinels under his comman
 THE HUMAN-COVENANT WA
To forestall the ring from being activated manually, Master Chief the ring aboard a Pelican. They jumped
disabled the ring’s three Pulse Generators. This bought time to
WAR RAGES ON
back to Reach, where they met the
destroy the ring by activating the auto-destruct system on the Spartan-lls who had survived the battle. They briefly took
Pillar of Autumn. Only Keyes’s neural interface could activate refuge from the Covenant fleet by hiding in the asteroid belt
the ship’s self-destruct, so Master Chief embarked once more to of the Eridanus System, which housed the last remaining
rescue the Captain. Cortana teleported Master Chief to where stronghold of Human insurgency. 343 Guilty Spark also
Keyes was being held; a Covenant Cruiser overrun by the Flood. survived the explosion and with knowledge gleaned from the
They arrived too late to save Keyes, who had been merged into a Pillar ofAutumn went to parts unknown.
Flood Proto-Gravemind. When the Master Chief retrieved the
neural interface, Cortana downloaded the necessary codes, and
THE ARBITER
the duo returned to the Pillar ofAutumn on a captured Banshee.
Still determined to activate the Halo Array, 343 Guilty Spark The Sangheili Fleet Master who lost the battle of Installation
overrode the auto-destruct codes, forcing Master Chief to 04 was branded a heretic and sentenced to death, but a last
manually destabilize the Pillar of Autumn's still-functioning minute reprieve made him an Arbiter, a holy warrior bound to
fusion cores. Master Chief and Cortana then escaped the take on suicidal missions to further the aims of the Prophets.
resulting explosion and the destruction of Installation 04. gw He was ordered to fight against the heretic factions of the
Sergeant Johnson, Lieutenant Haverson, Warrant Officer Covenant that had sprung up as a result of the war against
Polaski, and Corporal Locklear also escaped the destruction of the Humans.
 mat
or
Mm

Le
THE FIRST BATTLE OFEARTH
ees.) locations to search for Forerunner artifacts, including the Key of
ee) SEPTEMBER ? Osanalan. This was an imaginary artifact that Colonel Ackerson,
—
wo Beneath the surface of devastated planet Reach, Dr. Halsey who had been captured and tortured by Jiralhanae on Mars, had
=
of
and members of Red Team discovered an enigmatic shard in made up to divert the Covenant’s attention. He had told the
—_| a Forerunner structure below CASTLE Base. Eventually, they Covenant that the Key of Osanalan was in Cleveland, Ohio.
Rus
iT were besieged by Covenant forces that sought to possess
Master Chief foiled the Covenant’s attempt to demolish Cairo
team the artifact.Inspace, Master Chief and Cortanarendezvoused
Station, one of Earth’s defensive satellites, and commandeered
io with Johnson’s group in the debris field left by the destruction
a Covenant bomb in order to destroy a Covenant Assault Carrier.
fr of Installation 04. They also recovered a set of cryotubes,
> The High Prophet of Regret’s vessel broke through Earth's orbital
20 one that contained the seriously wounded Spartan Linda.
ooo defenses and initiated a ground assault on the city of New
The Master Chief, Cortana, and the other survivors managed
je Mombasa and the surrounding area. The Master Chief was
to capture the Covenant ship Ascendant Justice, fusing it
@ immediately deployed groundside in an effort to stop the
with the UNSC Gettysburg, and set a course for Reach, where
—| Prophet of Regret.
a they barely escaped the remaining Covenant ships after
a rescuing the remaining Spartans and Dr. Halsey. In New Mombasa, the High Prophet uncovered the location of
tw
=
Installation 05, also known as Delta Halo. He made a Slipspace
—y
SEPTEMBER 12 jump directly above the city, with In Amber Clad following close
_
hk behind with Master Chief aboard. The damage to New Mombasa
a a The Gettysburg/Ascendant Justice arrived for a refit and from such a close-range Slipspace jump was overwhelming, and
pm) provisioning in the Eridanus System where it met with the only a handful of brave ODSTs and Marines were left to clean up
ea
Rebels under Governor Jiles. the remaining Covenant forces.
Dr. Halsey sedated Spartan Kelly-087, and absconded
See)
with her on Governor Jiles’s personal ship, the Chiroptera-
0 ale
at class Beatrice. Before Dr. Halsey went, she gave the alien
: THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION os
re
artifact found on Reach to Corporal Locklear, with OCTOBER 21
o> instructions to destroy it so that it would never fall under The Master Chief, aided by ODSTs (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers,
ieeee
Covenant control. the UNSC’s most elite force after the Spartans) and Marines,
ae pursued the High Prophet to a Forerunner temple on Installation
©
‘On SEPTEMBER 13 © O05 and assassinated him. As High Charity’s escorting fleet
arrived to destroy the temple, the Master Chief was captured by
UNSC forces aboard the Gettysburg/Ascendant Justice
the Flood’s Gravemind, which had been growing in the depths of
won a crucial victory at the Unyjielding Hierophant, a
the Installation.
gigantic Covenant space station and gathering point for a
fleet set to invade Earth. During the battle and escape, The Arbiter was sent to Delta Halo to retrieve that Installation’s
however, Spartan Grace-093, Lieutenant Haverson ofONI, Index, the keyto activating
and firing the ring. Though successful,
and Vice Admiral Whitcomb were killed. The survivors, the Arbiter was betrayed by the Jiralhanae Chieftain, Tartarus,
now aboard the singular UNSC Gettysburg and with a who cast the Arbiter into the depths ofthe ring world. There, the
captured Covenant Slipspace drive, departed for Earth to Gravemind collected the Arbiter as well.
warn of the impending Covenant invasion.
- OCTOBER22
OCTOBER 19
The High Prophet of Regret took his private fleet to search MASTER CHIEF, THE ARBITER, ANDITHEGRAVEMIND =
for the other Halo rings. This course of action was taken JOINED IN AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE WITH THE COMMON |
without the approval of the other High Prophets. GOALOF PREVENTING INSTALLATION OS'SACTIVATION. —
After convincing the Arbiter that the Prophets’ plan to ignite the
OCTOBER 20 Holy Rings would kill every sentient creature in the Galaxy, the
Gravemind sent Master Chief and the Arbiterto secure the Index _
The High Prophet of eee ext rie at Shee not
and prevent the Installation from being activated. Master Chief
expecting any Human presence. They landed in multiple
was teleported to High Charity while the Arbiter was teleported
close to the Control Room. Both were aided by the chaos of the
Covenant civil war sparked by the Prophets’ treacherous
 _ elevation ofthe Brutes’ rank in the Covenant society. The Arbiter
reached the Control Room but was unable to prevent Tartarus
from activating the ring. With the help of humans and the
Sangheili, the Arbiter killed Tartarus. This action allowed
Commander Keyes to physically remove the Index from the Core,
temporarily interrupting its firing sequence. Installation 05 The combined forces of the Sangheili rebels amassed around the
automatically sent a signal to all other Forerunner Installations planet Joyous Exultation, to discuss the dissolution of the
in the Galaxy, activating and placing them on stand-by mode. Covenant. Xytan Jar Wattinree dispatched a small portion of his
fleet to investigate Onyx.
AS THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THE “HOLY RINGS” WAS Onboard the Sublime Transcendence, Covenant engineers
REVEALED
==] T0 HIM IN THE WAKE OF THE HIGH PROPHET accidentally activated a Nova Warhead, which had been picked
| OF REGRET’S DEATH, THE HIGH PROPHET OF TRUTH up from Reach previously. The explosion destroyed three-fifths
_ BECAME MORE AND MORE PARANOID, CONSOLIDATING of the Sangheili armada and fighting forces, which effectively
equalized the forces of the Covenant rebels with those of the
— HIS POWER ON HIGH CHARITY. Suddenly confronted with Loyalists. This event also forced the Sangheili to seek out new
the reality of the Halos and the Flood, Truth saw his only path as allies in their battle against the Loyalists. The small portion of
_ moving forward to activate the Halo Array, destroying the Flood the Sangheili fleet that remained functional dispatched
and all sentient life in the Galaxy with it. reinforcements to Onyx.
The Jiralhanae used the failure of the Sangheili during the battle Dr. Halsey and Spartan Kelly-O8?7 arrived on Onyx and were
of Installation 05 as a political tool to replace them as the trapped along with the rest of the human survivors. Halsey sent
guardians of the High Prophets. This action also displaced the a distress signal piggybacked on a previous message sent by
Sangheili as the military leaders of the Covenant and, combined Cortana. After Spartans Will-043, Linda-058, and Fred-104
with the Jiralhanae execution of high-ranking Sangheili prevented the Covenant from acquiring nuclear weapons on the
commanders, created cracks in the foundation of the Covenant Centennial Space Elevator on Cuba, they redeployed from Earth
and led the Sangheili to rebel against the San ’Shyuum and the to Onyx aboard a captured Covenant ship, eventually
| Jiralhanae. rendezvousing with Halsey. The UNSC survivors were forced to
a The San ’Shyuum’s numbers were nearly eradicated when the retreat underground as a newly arrived Covenant fleet began
landing troops.
Flood arrived on High Charity. IN ORDER TO ESCAPE THE
INFECTION, AND IN A LAST DESPERATE BID 10 A battle group led by the Stalingrad arrived to retrieve the
survivors on Onyx, but was unsuccessful due to the Covenant
MAINTAIN HIS POWER, THE HIGH PROPHET OF TRUTH presence. Despite superior tactical skill, the UNSC battle group
AWAKENED THE FORERUNNER DREADNOUGHT. was destroyed.
The ensuing blast-off led to the near total destruction of High
Halsey and the other survivors held off the pursuing Covenant
Charity, leaving the citizens of High Charity to the Flood. Truth
troops long enough to flee to the safety of the Shield World and
planned to travel to Earth and unearth the Portal that would lead
seal its entrance, but not without loss. Spartan Kurt-051
them to the Forerunner’s Ark, where he would be able to activate
sacrificed himself, destroying Onyx by detonating two FENRIS
the remaining Halos.
Warheads. The Sentinels annihilated the remaining Covenant
Master Chief was unable to prevent Truth from leaving aboard forces as the FENRIS explosions rocked Onyx.
High Charity, so on the advice of Cortana the Spartan stowed
away aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought that was carrying the NOVEMBER 1?
High Prophet to Earth. Cortana remained behind to start an
The Master Chief escaped the Forerunner Dreadnought as it
explosion which would, if necessary, destroy Installation 05 and
passed over Earth, crash landing in eastern Africa. The
orevent the ring’s activation.
Forerunner Dreadnought, with the High Prophet of Truth and
\Ithough Cortana managed to send a Slipspace message to seemingly the remainder of the Loyalist fleet, landed near Voi,
rth informing them that the Master Chief was en route, the Kenya. They immediately began looking
for the Portal to the Ark.
avemind from Delta Halo captured her when the Flood took

ESBS Reais,

e standby signal roused the Forerunner Sentinels of Onyx, > TRUTH SAW HISONLY WAYOUT
AS ACTIVATING THE HALO ARRAY.
10 began laying siege to its small population. Kurt-051,
sndez, and a group of Spartan-Ills battled to survive the
ntinels’ onslaught.
TESTIMONIAL OF MAJOR PAWEL CZERNEK UNSC (RET.]
ACTIVE DUTY: 2551-2581.
“CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE BATTLE?”
“WE'D BEEN FIGHTING FORA WHILE. ON THESEVENTH DAYWERANOUT
OF AMMO. WE HAD TO SCAVENGE ALL WE.COULD FROM THE WEAPONS =
THAT HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND. THE PISTOLS. SHOT-GUNROUNDS.
A HANDFUL OF GRENADES.”
“DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE?”
“WHEN MASTER CHIEF ARMED HIS GRENADE, |WAS IN THE
BACK OF AN OVERTURNED WARTHOG FIRING AN M41.”
“HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO KEEP IT TOGETHER?”
“WE KNEW MASTER CHIEF WAS STILL IN THE FIGHT.
HE GAVE US HOPE.’
THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE
However, when the Prophet of Truth was murdered by the Arbiter
THE SECOND BATTLE OF EARTH and the activation process halted, the Gravemind turned against
The second battle of Earth began as the High Prophet of its newfound allies, attacking them and forcing them into the
Truth searched for the Forerunner Portal buried beneath Citadel. As they moved through the structure’s interior they
Africa. Master Chief, presumed to be the only remaining witnessed something massive rising from the Core of the Ark—a
Spartan after the Fall of Reach and the events on the planet new Halo Installation.
Onyx {where the Blue Team was deployed], fought his way
through Africa. alongside UNSC forces to the Crow's Nest, The replacement of Installation 04, the original ring the Master
where he reconnoitered with Sergeant Johnson, Commander Chief destroyed, could still be fired if there was an Index to
Miranda Keyes, and other Marines. They, defended and activate it. With this in mind, the Spartan and the Arbiter
ultimately destroyed the base. The Master Chief then fought assaulted the Flood-infested remnants of High Charity,
his way to Voi, where he cleared Tsavo Highway, allowing retrieving Cortana and the original Halo’s Activation Index.
UNSC forces to retake the city. When the Covenant’s anti-
aircraft guns were destroyed, a collection of UNSC support
ships assaulted the Dreadnought, but ultimately they failed
to stop Truth from activating
the Portal. Truth, along with the
remainder of the Covenant loyalist military, fled through the
Portal to the Ark.

Almost immediately after the Portal opened, a ship

contaminated by the Flood crash-landed after emerging
from a Slipspace jump originating at Installation 05. The
vessel was followed by the Sangheili Fleet of Retribution.
The Flood was destroyed in joint efforts between Sangheili
and Human ships and the area was glassed, completely
cauterizing the region to prevent an increased Flood
infection on Earth.

A contingent of combined UNSC and Rebel Sangheili forces,

including the Master Chief, the Arbiter, Sergeant Johnson,
and Commander Keyes, followed the High Prophet of Truth
and the Forerunner Dreadnought through the Portal to the
Forerunner Ark, also known as Installation 00, to prevent
him from activating the Halo Array.

THE BATTLE OF INSTALLATION 00

During the assault, Sergeant Johnson was captured and
brought to the Ark’s Control Room, where Truth intended
to use him to activate the Halo Array. When Keyes
attempted to save Johnson, she was murdered and the
Prophet immediately initiated the activation process.

As the UNSC approached the Forerunner Citadel, which

houses the Control Room, High Charity emerged from
Slipspace high above the Ark, crashing into its surface The Master Chief, the Arbiter, and Sergeant Johnson fought thei
and releasing the Flood. Inside the Citadel, the Master way to the Control Room of the new and incomplete Halo.
Chief and the Arbiter were met by the Gravemind and premature firing would destroy the new installation and the
there, the two sides once again formed an uneasy alliance. 343 Guilty Spark objected to activating it. The Monitor k
Sergeant Johnson and in response, the Master Chief kille 34
Guilty Spark in self-defense. Chief activated the new installation
destroying the ring, and narrowly escaped with the Arbiterer and:
Cortana in the UNSC vessel Forward Unto Dawn.
 ee oe THE HUMAN-COVENANT
WAR
MISSINGIN ACTION ee | CLOSING DAYS
The ship's Slipspace portal collapsed as Forward Unto Dawn escaped the Ark’s
destruction, breaking the vessel in two. The front of the ship carrying the
Arbiter arrived on Earth. The rear half of the ship containing Master Chief and
Cortana was transported to a place unknown. Master Chief was placed in
cryostasis by Cortana, whom he told to wake him when he was
needed. The UNSC officially lists him as “Missing In Action.”

THE END?
With all three Prophets, the Loyalist leader, and most of the Galaxy's military forces
destroyed, the Covenant War was over. While the threat of the remaining Halo
Installations still looms, the Covenant have ended their crusade to destroy Humanity.
As time marches forward, Humanity must ask itself if the choices made in order to
survive have left them as a race worth being saved and, now that Master Chief has
gone...who will save them?

"WAKE ME WHEN YOU

—Master Chiefto Cortana
TESTIMONIAL OF LT. JOHN TIPPETT; UNSC (RET.
ACTIVE DUTY: 2551-2571 CE
“THIS IS IT. RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE SPOT. |BET |CAN REMEMBER EVERY
ONE OF THESE TREES.
“WE GOT WORD THE COVENANT WAS OUT HERE, HUNTING US AND THAT
MASTER CHIEF WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RENDEZVOUS UNTIL DAWN SO WE HAD
TO GO DARK: NO HELMET LIGHTS...NO READ OUTS...NOTHING THAT WOULD
GIVE AWAY OUR POSITIONS. LIKE RABBITS DOWN A HOLE. INVISIBLE.
"FOR SEVEN HOURS WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT BE STILL AND LISTEN TO
THEM HUNTING US. ALL WE COULD DO WAS SIT AND WAIT FOR MASTER CHIEF.”
ae
iipinisinicon

t Rays
Eros

SRE

oP

pases
agp

ees
Pi
i,
cll
|
__ HUMAN SPACE TRAVEL
HUMANITY HAS SPREAD to the stars and for
hundreds of years, a massive colonization of
this sector of the Galaxy has been in full swing.

SPACECRAFT
With the advent of the Human-Covenant War, most
Human space vehicles have been under military
authority. Though civilian volunteers often serve as
support crew, usually in medical and technical roles,
virtually every space-worthy ship has been refitted and
conscripted for combat or logistical duty.
Human spaceships are generally large, ranging from
four hundred metric tons for small “tugs” to as much as
ninety thousand metric tons for large troop carriers and
fighter-craft carriers. Typically, Human ships are crewed
by a minimum of fifty personnel, not including combat
troops who may be aboard as passengers. Larger capital
ships, such as Corvettes, Cruisers, and Frigates, can
carry crews of over three-and-a-half thousand.
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOG

ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY ‘HUMANS~

Human ships often possess rudimentary artificial gravity
systems, though it remains an inefficient technology that is
difficult to maintain for extended periods of time. Typically,
artificial gravity systems are found on older craft, because
newer craft rely on a more effective and, ironically, lower-tech
rotating carousel system for generating artificial gravity.
Artificial gravity systems consume power at a tremendous
rate and though most warships draw energy from massive
fusion reactors, the inefficient Human artificial gravity
projectors consume power so quickly that the fusion engines
cannot keep them running for more than a day and often far
less if the ship is in combat or expending energy on maneuvers.
As a result, during routine operations, rotating carousel
sections of Human vessels spin to generate gravity. In combat
or Crisis situations, the carousels are locked in place, and
artificial gravity systems are activated. Some Captains
eschew artificial gravity altogether.
The technology has some utility, such as enabling high-
gravity maneuvers that would otherwise put undue stress on
the crew. This allows combat teams to focus on the battle,
rather than uncomfortable conditions aboard ship. However,
many naval tacticians maintain that the technology wastes
too much energy in extended combat.
 a
SLIPSTREAM SPACE
w
=
se SLIPSTREAM SPACE, often referred to simply as
eo Slipspace, is the multidimensional domain that
=
(oo allows objects to travel acrossimmense distances
pal in space over a truncated period of time. With the
4 invention of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine,
Humanity could travel well beyond the Sol System.
i)
i
Wy)

Hy
at INVENTION
Inthe late 23rd century, Tobias Shaw andWallace Fujikawa
designed a machine that could generate temporal rifts by
O”?
means of a rapid acceleration of particles. These rifts
ice,
<
ra were essentially micro black holes, but they could be
manipulated to send massive starships across the large
aa, expanses ofspace to destinations many light years away.
>
Thus was born the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine.
oat
|
Slipspace jumps could take a matter of hours if done
e
M4N
“SAHILINNLUYOddO
NOILNGANI between planetary bodies within the same system or a
matter of months if done across a large expanse of space.

_ NEW OPPORTUNITIES
_
If it hadn’t been for the invention of the Translight Engine,
Humanity would still be tethered to its own sun and its
own handful of terrestrial worlds. The opening of such
amazing new horizons is likely why most historians
believe that this was the most significant technological
achievement in the history of mankind. With this
_ technology, Humanity has populated hundreds of worlds
and explored significantly more—pushing the boundaries
of what was once inconceivable.
The process that underpins Slipspace travel is incredibly
complex, so it is often explained through the analogue of
a piece of paper. When imagining the universe as a flat
sheet of paper it is difficult to understand the domain of
Slipspace, but as Shaw and Fujikawa discovered, this
convention was not wholly accurate. In Slipspace, the
universe is far more like a ball of tightly crumpled paper
with overlapping layers and wrinkles. Keeping this in
mind, it becomes easier to imagine a world where faster-
than-light speeds can be reached if a technology could be
developed to access that dimension in between layers.
The unfortunate reality, however, was that the same
element that made Slipspace travel possible also made it
ated gel] e)[Vii ayel¢-1e[loae-]o](8
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOG

HUMANS

ABNORMALITIES
For Humanity, Slipspace travel was a fledgling science by any account, and while it was
reasonably precise in theory, it was far more risky in application. Although Slipspace
jumps were common and effective, they sometimes resulted in unexpected anomalies
ranging from ships arriving at destinations far displaced from their intended vector, or
muchworse, accounts ofindividual space travellers simply disappearinginto nothingness
during the course of a jump.

THE COVENANT
The Covenant’s manipulation of Slipspace is © y@*.
significantly more advanced than Humanitu’s, but 6 @ a -
this isn’t necessarily due to their understanding ofthe °°” a4 “e
science as much as it is to their ability to dismantle ae’ ore.
and reassemble the technology they've gathered
from the Forerunners. Through the discovery of
ancient artifacts and relics, the Covenant have
managed to design machines ableto plot and generate
controlled Slipspace ruptures to exact vectors.
Other reports gathered from recovered Forerunner
technology indicate that their understanding of
Slipspace far outstripped even the Covenant’s
comparatively rudimentary application. Rumors
abound that the Forerunners had the ability to create
and manage sustainable Slipspace rifts that would
allow a body or other material to safely pass through,
moving into an environment outside space and time.
These reports have yet to be confirmed or validated.

213
 _ HUMAN CLONING
BY 2552 CE, human cloning had reached
a high level of utility for medical uses, but
it had not supplanted normal human
reproduction as a means of procreation.
Cloning is widely accepted but is limited in its
application for both ethical and practical
reasons. An advanced method, called Flash
Cloning, has not been perfected and remains
illegal for most uses.

—9NINO13
HS

> FLASH-GROWN CLONES SOON BEGIN TO

DEGENERATE FROM METABOLIC INSTABILITY
AND BECOME PRONE TO FATAL DISEASES.
214
 HUMANS

LIMITATIONS can be used to create a viable blended choices of style. In order to appear as the
Cloning cannot be used to create an exact DNA for a potential child. donor, a clone might require some plastic
duplicate of a living adult. Cloned embryos | surgery.
must grow normally to term in a human FLASH CLONING Even then, however, the clone has none of
mother or neonatal life support unit. Once As well as the official information listed, the donor’s memories, or the natural
born, clones grow at the normal rate, there is a covert method ofcreating a fully behavioral training most humans acquire
subject to the same_ environmental grown clone in a compressed time frame, observing people, and may even be unable to
influences as any other human. As adults, called flash cloning. This method is walk or speak. Flash-grown clones must learn
two clones are no more like each other, or typically used to create organs, skin, these things just as human babies do. They
their donor, than any natural identical blood, and other things that might be also suffer from DNA errors, which make them
twins. needed by a recipient in the shortest prone to many genetic maladies, suppress
Cells used for cloning must be taken from possible time. their immune system, and adversely affect
specific areas of the body during a medical The organ is programmed to grow at an their life expectancy.
procedure. It is not possible to clone an accelerated rate, and then to cease rapid Flash-grown clones can be trained with
individual from hair or skin cells, or other | development when transplanted into the intensive therapy, but after a month or two,
such random samples. person. Therefore, the organ grows they begin to degenerate from metabolic
quickly and functions properly and instability in a process called “Metabolic
USES efficiently. Since the organ contains the Cascade Failure.” These clones eventually die
Beyond full-form cloning, there exists the same person’s DNA, there is no threat of from various neurological and physiological
ability to create specific cloned cells that rejection by the body. When the goal is to diseases. Flash-growing a full human clone
can be controlled during growth. This allows clone an organ, the scope is limited has no legitimate medical use, and is banned.
for the medical practice of creating cloned enough that these problems can be dealt The Office of Naval Intelligence {ONI)
organs from the recipient’s own DNA, with. But this system breaks down when it developed a flash cloning program to assist
manufacturing human blood cells for use in is applied to a system as complex as a full in their cover for the SPARTAN-II Project
transfusions, or regrowing nerve cells to human being. kidnappings. When ONI replaced the
repair certain kinds of paralysis. In some A flash-grown clone is an imperfect copy. SPARTAN-II children with clones, their
cases, one parent may not be able to Even identical twins diverge somewhat in physical and mental deficiencies were
donate their own DNA to a child. In these appearance overtime, due to environment, explained through falsified accounts and
cases, cloning and genetic re-sequencing sun exposure, diet, accidents, and simple manufactured accidents.

215
 CRYO-SLEEP Ba
Sn
OS
ies
ae
os
ines
alae

IN SHIPBOARD CONDITIONS, UNSC standard

procedure calls for nonflight crew members
to be placed into cryogenic sleep for any
voyage longer than 120 hours. In situations
where energy and stores may have reached
a critical shortage, all crew, except the
damage control or repair teams, might be Systems. The Mark Vill replaced ‘the old Mark Vil Personal ae
placed in cryo. Unit, though many older craft still carry the Mark VII. The Mark-VIl was |
widely disliked by UNSC personnel because of its inferior mois
balancing, which resulted in dry, itchy skin for a day or more a
awakening, known as ‘“cryo--itch.” Those who have to use the cryo-uni
regularly have a long list of nicknames for them, including “Icebe
“Fridge,” “Tube,” “Box,” “Tray,” or more colorfully, “A Date with the Admira
Wife.” mn De ft
USE
The main goal of cryo-sleep is to retard the passage arm for
a subject. This has the advantage of reducing or eliminating
the need for air, food, and warmth. The metabolism ofthe body,
CYTOPRETHALINE :
including aging, is chemical in nature, and chemical reactions
Toaccount forthe problem oflowtemperatures,
a new drug was developed. Before entering | "
are dependent on temperature. Super-cold temperatures can
cryo-sleep, the sleeper must be injected with |
reduce metabolism to almost zero, but can also cause damage
to human tissue.
Cytoprethaline, a chemical that prevents.7
damage to cell membranes from iice crystal
The “put-down” cycle takes seven minutes. During the first
formation. ae
four minutes, anesthetic gas causes the subject to become
It is recommended that a doctor administer
drowsy. Then another gas reacts to form a surfactant when
inhaled, coating the passages of the lungs to help insure a
the drug, though that is almost never the case. »
ONITGAVUL
S39VSSVd
ISVA
HONOMHL
-3WIL
40 smooth wake cucle.
Most UNSC personnel get their shot from al
medic, and in many cases they just use a
premeasured self-injector.
Entering cryo-sleep without the benefit of

> THEORETICALLY, NO HARM Cytoprethaline is almost always fatal.

Approximately one person in five hundred
exhibits an allergic reaction to Cytoprethaline. =
WOULD COME TO ANY SUBJECTS These individuals are disqualified from UNSC
service, though they may still serve in civilian”
WhO WERE IN SUSPENSION FOR roles attached to UNSC operations. ai

HUNDREDS OF YEARS OR MORE. PROCESSES

}

Once the subject is prepped, the chamber automatically proceeds to

the freezing stage. The unit begins to rapidly cool the body, and
CLOTHING administers an electric current that precisely counters the normal
Under certain conditions, individuals in cryo-storage can be wave across the heart muscle, stopping its rhythm. The unit reaches
required to enter the cryo-pod without any clothing. Clothing optimal storage temperature in three minutes. While in cryogenic
tendsto bond tothe skin at extremely low temperatures. Because sleep, the rate of tissue degeneration is slowed to an infinitesimal rate.
it is not practical or possible to have segregated cryo-sleep Theoretically, no harm would come to subjects in suspension for
facilitieson mostspacecraft, it’s expected that military personnel hundreds of years or more, presuming no interruption occurred in the
will put aside notions of modesty and behave in a professional power supply to the chamber. Nobody has ever been subjected to such
manner during the process. Inside the cryo-chamber is a gel- atest, however, so this endurance factorissimply educated comecwig
filled mat that supports the sleeper during suspension. on the part of UNSC physicians.
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOG
PHYSICAL EFFECTS ) 3 LOL
PN bss
Because the body is physically suspended—for practical purposes, stopped in time—the
sleeper does not suffer from muscle atrophy or the degradation of memory, skills, or reflexes.
For the sleeper, the time that passes is negligible. Some subjects do report dreaming during
cryo-sleep, but scientists maintain that dreaming in this state is physically impossible due to
the cessation of all neurochemical processes in the brain during suspension. The likely
explanation lies in the burst of REM sleep that occurs in most subjects during the wake cucle.
_ They may experience dreams they erroneously attributetotheir cryo-sleep time. At the direction
_ of the designated Officer of the Watch or any senior officer of the vessel, the wake cycle may be.
initiated for any or all crew in suspension. In certain circumstances, the ship’s Al may awaken
_ crew at a predetermined time or under emergency conditions when the ship’s officers are
_ unable to do so. Once started, the wake cycle takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete.
The subject is warmed in a controlled manner and an electric current is applied to stimulate the
_ heart muscle. The lid of the chamber will open automatically when the cycle is completed, and
the interior lighting increases to full brightness. Most sleepers do not awaken until this time.

AWAKENING
There are emergency reawakening procedures, but captains will only
invoke them under dire circumstances. “Flash thawing” is dangerous,
and the mortality rate is high. Emergency heating coils—coupled with
a rapid infusion of stimulants, notably adrenaline—can bring a subject EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
out of cryo-sleep in less than five minutes. In such cases, the subject’s If a subject has failed to wake up, a medical resuscitation
effectiveness is reduced for several hours and he or she is often package is located at the end of each row of cryogenic
disoriented. chambers. All UNSC personnel are trained in the use of this
Spartan-Ils are augmented and specially trained to respond well to medical device, which includes a heart stimulator and
flash thawing, and as a result suffer almost no ill effects. breathing mask. If the subject cannot be revived, the lid of
When awakening, sleepers are required to sit erect in the chamber, the chamber should be closed, and the emergency freezing
take one deep breath, and cough. This first breath may be laborious to cycle activated by use ofthe panel at the base of the unit.
draw, but it is imperative to clear the lungs of fluid and surplus A physician should attend the subject prior to subsequent
surfactant immediately. Any surfactant that is expectorated may be reawakening. If time is not of the essence, personnel may
swallowed; the protein content ofthe fluid is beneficial. UNSC procedure utilize the showers usually located adjacent to the cryo-
calls for each subject to look to the left and right, visually confirming chamber deck. On military vessels, barracks and weapon
that the individuals to each side are sitting erect and have begun lockers are often located near the cryo-deck so waking
breathing normally. troops can be rapidly dressed and equipped for combat.

2ir
 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Al) constructs HISTORY » ae
UVNS are computer-based “beings” who can In the first few centuries oftheir existence, the speed and power.
eS
ay

aie

-
think, communicate, and choose their own of computers grew beyond the expectations of even the most fi
fe
actions. Rather than having been optimistic scientist. Artificial Intelligence advocates argued it Me.
2S programmed, their “brains” are based on was inevitable that these systems would someday begin to —
Te aie approximate human intelligence. However, “intelligence” proved a
the neural pathways of individual humans. tabe diffieulrie quantity, Be.
The precursor to the first fully operational Artificial Intelligence ;
pa (Al) seen on UNSC ships culminated in a joint collaboration” ;
w between the UNSC and the Office of Naval Intelligence. There was —
SCIENCE no definitive first Al, as the project generated a series of more ©
Creating an Artificial Intelligence is not a simple matter of and more successful (and longer lived) models, and there is still
”n just “programming” a computer. The process is far more some dissent over when the resulting programs became complex —
complex and involves recording electrical pulses as they enough to be called true Als. Additionally, it became evident very —
are sent through the neural pathways of a real human early on that there were problems with these sorts of systems.
brain. These imprinted pathways are then replicated and The template for third-generation Als was overseen by Dr.
distributed into a superconducting nano-assemblage. Catherine Halsey at a research facility on Reach.
However, this process destroys the tissue ofthe original
brain, so the necessary neural scan is only performed on
deceased hosts. ;
NIWOJLUOQHS
JIN4IIS
AYOLSIH
@e One (very illegal and dangerous) way around this is by
using flash-cloning technology. This method was used to > |N STEAD 0 F S| M PLY
create Cortana: A replication of Dr. Catherine Halsey’s —
: : fe 1]
een | usually create an individual PROGRAMMING AN Al, THE

Cn cariesponeteabe (seeker ea) ye nee Al MATRIX IS CREATED BY

combined with individual personality traits.
The Covenant also have Artificial Intelligence technology, SENDING ELECTRIC BURSTS
although surprisingly it is not as sophisticated as that

theCoverantnna ove cedLNGC RGM eneanlar THROUGH THE NEURAL

create their own Als, as their code structure is similar.
: PATHWAYS OF AHUMAN BRAIN.
ge

SHORTCOMINGS
Uncontrolled growth of the memory matrix eventually
interferes with normal Al function. This problem,
usually referred to as Rampancy, has still proven
impossible to solve. If the matrix could not grow
dynamically, it would not reach the highest level of
functioning, and thus would have limited utility. If the
matrix were allowed to work at full effectiveness, it
would eventually fail. This conundrum led to two
different varieties of Al: “Smart” Als and “Dumb” Als.

218
SMARTAl
“Smart Al” is the common term forArtificial Intelligence constructs that have no limitations
in their dynamic memory-processor matrix, meaning they can not only absorb and be
taught a nearly unlimited wealth of information, they can also learn and comprehend from
their surroundings and interactions. They also take on personality traits, initially based
on their original brain imprint, but then developed from their own experiences and
interactions.
However, this freedom of thinking makes Smart Als vulnerable. Because their memory
cannot be replaced, the more they fill it up with data, the less space there is for processing
thoughts. Eventually, this creates a degenerative cascade in their systems, known as
rampancy, whereby an Al can literally “think” itself to death. This flaw in their Syerems
means that Smart Als normally only function for about seven years.

DUMB AI
Systems that do not require the strongest decision-making capabilities are fielded with their
core matrix fixed and are unable to change. The lifespan of these computers is limited only
by their hardware’s endurance. They are saddled with the unflattering moniker of “Dumb Al.”
Dumb Als are still far more responsive and adaptable than normal computer systems, but
they lack the ability to synthesize information in the manner that a Smart Al does. In day-to-
day task-oriented operations, such as running a factory, there would be no discernible
difference between the capabilities of a Smart or a Dumb Al.
Dumb Als do not learn anything that is outside of the set limits of their dynamic memory-
processing matrix. The DumbAlis able torecognize newsituations and make pre-programmed
decisions to account for unexpected events. However, it lacks the creativity that a Smart Al
has, for example, it cannot comply with a request to “make up a story about a blue bear.”

219
 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Al HARDWARE
After being created, an Al can exist in any electronic
environment that will support its memory and processing
needs, which are considerable.Itcan move itself between
different systems, completely or in fractions of its
processing power.
An Al can be “killed” if the hardware it occupies is
destroyed, but it is possible for an Al to exist without
powerto its system for an unlimited time. Once powered
back on, the Al “wakes up” and can continue normally.
Technology has been developed that allows an Al to
copy itself, but the risks of doing this are considerable
because each copy degrades the code core of the Al
construct further, making reintegration of the copies
likely to result in fatal error.
In Human technology, Als are usually transferred by Al PSYCHOLOGY
using a physical code key, similar to the chip that was Al systems are not “copies” of the Human brains that spawn them
removed from the Pillar of Autumn and slotted into They do not have the memories of that individual, or necessarily th
Master Chief's MJOLNIR armor. The code key contains a same personality traits, though some do exhibit some traits of th
transfer authorization code, which prevents the Al from “donor.” The process might be crudely compared to an individual wit
wandering randomly to other systems. It is generally amnesia, who retains the same physical neural patterns they always ie
believed that Als cannot exist freely in the Human had, but nota higher-level memory. They might remember the sensation —
network, due to technical limitations, resource of brushing one’s hair, but not what the hairbrush looked like or where —
monitoring, and the need for the code key. it was kept.
However, at least one Al—Cortana—has managed to There does remain a correlation between personality tendencies of
circumvent this restriction through her own considerable the brain donor and the resulting Al. This is not a one hundred percent
codebreaking skills, as well as the tacit permission of her match any more than a child’s personality is a copy of the parent’s, but
creator/owner, Dr. Catherine Halsey. Given the existence profiling the donor may indicate the likelihood of certain personality
of covert groups such as the Office of Naval Intelligence, traits being present in the Al. The strongest proof of this effect is
it seems likely other Als exist that can freely navigate gender identity. Without exception, Al systems identify themselves as
the Human information net. male or female based on the gender of the brain donor, creating their
own voice and visual image in that role.
The image created by the Al to represent itself may or may not be
similar to the donor’s appearance, but it is always an “idealized”
projection. In most cases, the holographic image of an Al is very

>
_RAMPANCY
OCCURS WHEN
attractive, and its characteristics seem to be drawn from the emotive
responses at the base of Human behavior. An Al may appear scantily
dressed, or it may adopt an authoritative uniform or elaborate

THE Al BECOMES CONSUMED ceremonial garb. A few appear as silhouettes with perhaps one or two
key features, like a mouth or eyes.

BY ITS OWN INTERESTS AND

This self-image is generated very early in the system's birthing
process, and the Al cannot change it any more than a Human being
could simply choose to make his nose smaller. The reason that Al
FOCUSES ITS PROCESSING POWER systems choose these sorts of images and cannot change them is not
well understood; attempts to eliminate this behavior have sometimes

ENTIRELY ON ITSELF, LITERALLY resulted in catastrophic “crashes” of Al subjects.

The voice and speech patterns adopted by an Al also correlate closely

THINKING ITSELF 10 DEATH.

to the donor. Though an Al has access to a wider vocabulary and any
spoken language stored in a memory bank it can access, its speech
patterns may be strongly affected by the identity of the donor. Some Al
computers have even been known to possess accents or even drawls.

220
Al PERSONALITY
Although the creation of an Al is
incredibly complex and impossible to
truly direct, the process does occur in
a controlled environment. An Al must
be free to develop as the neural net
traces interact, but the patterns can
be constrained in some ways.
These constraints push the
developing Al toward certain
behaviors and away from others.
As a rule, Al systems have a
strong sense of loyalty, which
can be problematic if the Al is
forced to change locations or
owners during its lifespan.
When entrusted with a group’s
welfare, an Al easily falls into a
protective role, such as when
shipboard Als commonly refer
to the ship’s staff as “my RAMPANCY
crew.” Rampancy is a degrading condition for Artificial
Some Al systems were Intelligence constructs, occuring when an Al becomes
designed with anti- consumed byits owninterests and focuses its processing
violence parameters, but power entirely on itself. This introspection leads to the
they proved unsuitable shutdown of all the Al’s external systems. Usually the Al
for military service. simply no longer functions, though it has been theorized
Some civilian systems that an Al with sufficient access to outside processing
do use this restriction, sources might develop dangerous and harmful delusions
but there has never that would override its core logic.
been a case of a non- Rampancy is an irreversable process, so once it has
rampant Al causing deliberate harm taken hold of an Al, the only viable option is to destroy it
to a person, so it is not considered before it causes harm to itself or anyone else.
an essential feature. Because Smart Als have complete freedom ofthought, they are
prone to rampancy. It is normally considered inevitable that
they will succumb to the condition at some point, and on average
they function for seven years before their memory maps become
too interconnected and they develop fatal endless feedback
loops. However, under certain conditions, rampancy can strike
at any point in an Al’s life. Isolation or insufficient work tasks
resulting in boredom can lead to an Al thinking “too much” and
realizing fundamental truths: That their mind is limited, that life
is short, and that they will never actually be Human. These types
of thoughts, over a prolonged period, can lead to rampancy
corrupting an Al’s core logic.
The Flood parasite is also able to cause rampancy in Als, of
both Human and Covenant construct. How this takes place is not
fully understood but it is believed the parasite has developed a
way to infiltrate the core logic of an Al.

221
COVENANT TECHNOLOGY is, in most respects, ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY
far superior to Human technology. One of the Covenant technology often relies on gravity weapons and
main reasons for this is that the Covenant gravity fields. Covenant ships have adopted this
technology into their internal gravity systems. Each
salvaged a great deal of their knowledge from
Covenant ship larger than a Fighter possesses artificially
Forerunner ruins. generated gravity fields that respond to G-forces and
other variables quickly. Explosions do not buffet a ship’s
crewaround, andthestresses of evasion and maneuvering
are hardly noticeable while on board.
SHORTCOMINGS
While Humans are capable of learning and often improving PROPULSION SYSTEMS
on new technology, Covenant advances are significantly Covenant drive systems are a mystery to Humans. Their
slower. This is, perhaps, the Covenant’s most serious ships seem to be propelled by an unusual combination of
weakness. The Covenant are imitative, rather than gravity “waves” and some form of highly reactive plasma
innovative, and their technology is limited by this almost displacement, but the actual means and method of
parasitic reliance on reverse-engineered Forerunner propulsion is currently beyond Human science. In
machines. They also have religious taboos that prevent practical terms, Covenant sub-light drives are much more
them from fully exploring what the Forerunners employed efficient and reliable than their Human analogues.
to create that technology.

SPACE TRAVEL
Like Humans, Covenant ships can enter Slipstream space
and travel faster than light. However, the Covenant
equivalent of the Shaw-Fujikawa Engine is much more
efficient and reliable. Covenant vessels do not suffer the
“temporal fluidity” of the Slipstream to such a degree as
Human vessels. As a result, Covenant battle groups are
much more efficient when acting as a coordinated group,
and can strike more quickly and decisively.
 SLIPSPACE Bo
Covenant navigation of Slipspace is superior to t
of the UNSC. Their application of technology rever
engineered directly from Forerunner artifact:
—_ enables them to more accurately plot courses
and out of the Slipstream. This makes their entr
“ and exit from Slipspace far more precise and le
invasive to the dimensional boundaries required for _
faster-than-light travel. ee
%
*

_—*

ENERGY SHIELDS
Energy Shields provide the user with a layer of
protection against ballistic fire and plasma-

7 Thaler Shields are generally ver' - i ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

‘a eae oe Very little is known of the Covenant’s Artificial Intelligence constructs, though
oe P one was encountered on the Covenant Flagship, Ascendant Justice, by the
and if eomege ee tare ai UNSC Al Cortana, who had infiltrated the enemy ship.
leave the user vulnerable to further attacks.
The Covenant Al appeared to demonstrate “fractured” thinking, as if suffering
from errors caused by being copied extensively. Cortana also recognized its
algorithms, leading to the hypothesis that a UNSC-made Al had been captured
by the Covenant and replicated.
 SENTINELS
THE FORERUNNERS RACE was |
Built contemporaneously with the construction of the Halo Array, Sentinels were
supremely advanced
and utilized as all-purpose workers and guards on Forerunner stations. Following the
applied its technological know- construction ofthe Halo Installations, Sentinels were reconfigured to be the first line
how to defend against the Flood of defense against Flood outbreaks and other external intruders. Controlled by their
CE ae The Halos, the Ark, own basic Al functions, as well as their Installation’s Monitor, Sentinels patrol the Halo
NOILONGOUd planet Onyx are just 2
and the rings tirelessly and attack as their protocol derasnds. The primary weapon of the
Sentinels is a powerful beam projected from their undercarriage. These beams can be
few examples of Forerunner torn from destroyed Sentinels and wielded by both Human and Covenant soldiers.
creations, which showcase their Sentinels also possess energy shields similar to those used by the Covenant. They
scientific supremacy. explode violently and release powerful EMP blasts when destroyed. Sentinels can be
damaged by both Covenant and Human small arms.

Sees
ees
SuOryN
ik
e@
VNIWUAL

DESCRIPTION LOCATIONS
Grayish-white, two arm-like appendages and a central “head,” curved undercarriage containing offensive Present on all Halo Installations, other extant Forerunner
beam, form may differ depending on the situation oftheir Installation Installations, Shield Worlds, and the Ark

SENTINEL MAJORS a yh SENTINEL PRODUCTION FACILITY

Sentinel Majors are larger, more powerful Be i Sentinel Production Facilities create
Sentinel models used for heavy combat is . he. gi Sentinels at an incredibly fast rate when
situations. They provide backup for a a. a Flood outbreak or invasion decimate
Enforcers in the event of massive ‘ the pre-existing defenses of a Halo
outbreaks or attacks on the Halo a Installation. Believed to be massive
Installations. They are distinguished from get Meee assembly line factories, these facilities
normal Sentinels by their gold coloration, | float high above the surface of a Halo
slightly larger size, and blue beams. Sentinel Major's blue beams are very . : . . . P :
gntly larg } Tiecace inheavycombat andean | Installation, keeping it well supplied with een | eabalk
provide backup during attacks. | defenders from Flood attacks. Production Facility is activated

DESCRIPTION 7 | LOCATION - DESCRIPTION LOCATIONS

Similar in shape and construction to Sentinels, larger, gold | Halo Installation 05 Massive floating platforms All Halo Installations

ABILITIES ABILITIES
Powerful and accurate beam weapons, energy shields, limited flight, limited Al
h hae
Creates Sentinels, Sentinel Majors, and Enforcers at high speeds

226
 Ce

The Monitors are advanced constructs built by the Forerunners to

oversee the maintenance and protection ofthe Halo Installations. The
Monitors play important and varied roles in the events of the Human-
A powerful orange Covenant War. The two most notable Monitors encountered by Humans
(sometimes blue are 343 Guilty Spark of Halo Installation 04 and 2401 Penitent Tangent
and rarely the more of Halo Installation O05.
powerful red} The adjective/noun portion of the names ofthe two known Monitors
offensive beam. may potentially shed light on the disposition and sensibilities of their
creators. Both Guilty and Penitent are synonyms for remorseful. What
SENTINEL—FRONT
VIEW
is known for certain is that the Monitors were given almost complete
control over the various systems oftheir Halo Installations, as well as
the ability to command their Constructors, Sentinels, and Enforcers.
Each Monitor has complete knowledge of its own Halo Installation,
but appears to remain ignorant of the others, perhaps in case of
capture by the Flood. Monitors possess a powerful offensive laser
much stronger than those ofthe Sentinels, as well as access to local
teleportation grids.
Like UNSC Al constructs, Monitors are susceptible to rampancy, as
demonstrated by 343 Guilty Spark, who became unbalanced and
erratic when his Installation (or its replacement] was threatened.

HUMAN NAMES: Robots, Light Bulbs COVENANT NAME:

Oracles DESCRIPTION: Semi-spherical, concave on three sides,
SENTINEL—REAR VIEW approximately one foot (30.5 cm) in diameter, silver casing with a
glowing “eye” in the front center ABILITIES: Control all Sentinels and
most computer systems on their respective Halo Installations,
advanced intelligence, powerful offensive laser weapon similar to
Sentinel Beams, teleportation.

ENFORCER — a

Essentially heavy Sentinel robots, Enforcers are equipped with a variety

of offensive and defensive weaponry, including Heavy Needlers (most
likely reverse-engineered by the Covenant for their own Needlers},
Missile Projectiles, Sentinel Beams, and Dual Energy Shields covering
both their top and bottom halves. They also possess two large, arm-like
appendages strong enough to lift and destroy vehicles. Despite being
designed to subdue massive Flood outbreaks, Enforcers are also
capable of defending their Halo Installations from equally massive
external threats. Even accounting for their immense size and strength,
Enforcers are susceptible to attacks directed at their unshielded rear
segments and quickly lose interest in enemies who move out of their
Powerful offensive beam weapons and defensive energy shields, smaller lasers for self-repair and targeting systems. Those wishing to defeat them can combine these
repairing damaged Forerunner constructs, limited Al, limited flight two factors into an effective diversion or ambush tactic.

DESCRIPTION: Massive, gray, multiple glowing energy shields

protect front surfaces LOCATION: Halo Installation 05, near the
TERMINALS Library ABILITIES: utilize a variety of weapons to defend Halo
Installations, flight
The Terminals found on a variety of
Forerunner Installations have often
yielded pieces of the history of the
Forerunners. In particular, they have The Sentinel Wall is a massive barrier utilized as a final stopgap
measure against a Flood outbreak on Halo Installation 05. It is
revealed the story of the last days of honeycombed with tunnels, which allow Sentinels access to the
the Forerunners through the eyes of Quarantine Zone.
the Librarian and the Didact, thus The Wall is continually repaired by Sentinel Constructors. During the
battle of Installation 05, Covenant forces deactivated the force-field
giving new insight into the decision to protecting the Wall in order to access the Library—subsequently
create and fire the Halo Array. releasing the Flood into the entire Installation. It is unknown whether
all Halo Installations possess a Sentinel Wall.

DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION: A massive artificial wall LOCATION: Around
Communications panels aboard Forerunner Installations that contain information from past events the Quarantine Zone on Halo Installation 05 ABILITIES: Contains
the Flood
LOCATIONS ABILITIES
Various Forerunner locations Reveal information about past communications
 ¢
THE PORTAL
| Animmense Forerunner structure built and buried beneath the Voi river on Earth before
the first firing of the Halo Array, the Portal is one of many gateways constructed by the
| Forerunners throughout the Galaxy, all of which lead to the Ark.
Uncovered by the Covenant, who used their plasma weapons to burn away the river
and rock above it, the Portal was believed by some to be the Ark itself, until the High
Prophet of Truth activated it using the Dreadnought.
| The Portal itself was the site ofabattle between Covenant Loyalists and the combined
| forces of the UNSC and the Covenant Separatists, led by the Master Chief and the
Arbiter.
After the Slipspace rift was activated and the High Prophet of Truth passed through to
find the Ark for his final chance to ignite the Halo Array, a brave group of Humans and
Elites followed Truth to the Ark for the final battle of theHuman-Covenant War.

sen

ater-like, encircled by 14 Slipspace amplifiers, approximately 15 miles (25 kilometers) in diameter

CARTOGRAPHER
The Cartographers are
the highly secure map
rooms located on each of
the Halo Installations, as well as the Ark. Unsurprisingly,
savage fighting for their control occurred during the conflicts
on both Installations 04 and 05.
The security systems protecting the Cartographers are
most extensively shown during the battle of Installation 04.
The map rooms are protected by doors so durable that the
weapons on the Pillar ofAutumn could not penetrate them.
The access controls to the doors are located far from the map
room and once penetrated, give way to a confusing system of
tunnels that descend for miles underground before eventually
leading to the Cartographer. The Cartographer on the Ark was
opened for the Master Chief and the Arbiter by 343 Guilty
Spark. It featured similar defenses of impenetrable doors and
| winding tunnels.

COVENANT NAME HUMAN NAME

The Sacred Icon, the Key Activation Index

DESCRIPTION | LOCATION Far beneath the surface of each ofthe Halo Installations and the Ark

“T” shaped, black with glowing green or blue sides | The Library of each Halo (in the case of Installation 04, it was deep underground an island on
the surface ofthe ring)
ABILITIES
Activating and firing corresponding Halos
Allows users to locate an object on and navigate the Installation
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”

FORERUNNER ©

DEEP SPACE ARTIFACT THE CRYSTAL OF REACH

Discovered in late 2552 CE by the UNSC Apocalypso Discovered in 2552 CE in an underground Forerunner
while on reconnaissance patrol deep in Covenant- facility on the planet Reach by Dr. Catherine Halsey and
controlled space, the Deep Space Artifact bears her surviving Spartans, the crystal of Reach was a
Forerunner markings similar to the Sigma Octanus IV Forerunner artifact sought by the Covenant during the
Artifact. After its discovery, Captain Greene returned battle for the same planet. The crystal was eventually
the object to Earth. Upon exiting Slipspace in Earth's destroyed by the UNSC when Corporal Locklear shattered
orbit, the device released an EMP wave that caused the it with C-? explosives.

Apocalypso to crash, as well a7 . temporal een It is speculated that the Forerunners used the crystalto
that sent a fragment of the ships Al Melissa into wn travel from one end of the Galaxy to the other almost ji@
early 21st century. The object caused a conflict : : : ; Rooke
: : 3 ey instantaneously. When a ship carrying the crystal jumps
between ONI officer Major Standish and a vigilante group : : 2 Ae
into Slipspace, the crystal emits radiation and causes
led by a fragment of Melissa’s Al. It later released Sy ‘ : ; :
J gravitational distortions, allowing for a much shorter trip
another pulse that managed to rectify the temporal : ;
than would normally be possible, but also causing
discrepancy.
potentially deadly Slipspace side effects.

LOCATION: — Covenant-controlled deep space. +=» DESCRIPTION: Fist-sized, morphing shape LOCATION:An
ABILITIES: Releases an EMP large enough to knock out underground facility on Reach, now destroyed ABILITIES:
communications across an entire solar system for seven Distorts space, time, energy, and gravity
seconds
Lit ~—

WASTELAND, IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

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ie
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 - FORERUNNER TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY BRIDGES
_ Energy bridges are long shining causeways that span the
canyons of Forerunner Installations, allowing easier accessto
their various parts. They are normally constructed wholly or
partially from an unexplained “hard light” technology that can.
support the weight of a Scorpion tank but still be turned off by
waving a hand over the propercontrolpanel. = ;
It is hypothesized that the frequent use of such bridges was
designed as an easier way of managing the Flood, were the
parasite ever to escape. Since Flood Infection and Combat
Forms are limited normally to ground travel, every disabled
energy bridge would be an opportunity for an Installation’s
protectors to halt the Flood’s spread.

DESCRIPTION «86 sss LOCATION

Metal, glass, or energy, or acombination thereof All Forerunner Installations

* a
CONSTRUCTORS
Forerunner Constructors are small floating constructs that patrol Forerunner
AOUINE
SUPIINULSNOD
SII0IUE
©S installations and repair any damage found on the structures.
They utilize a small energy beam similar to those found on the Forerunner
Sentinels. Constructors will ignore anything that does not pertain to their
objective.
Although their beams can cause damage to anyone who gets in their way,
Constructors have no substantial defense against attackers and rely on the
assistance of Sentinels for protection.

DESCRIPTION LOCATION ABILITIES

Small, floating, two curved upper and lower | Forerunner Installations Utilizing small energy beams to repair and defend Halo Installations when :
parts connected by a small vertical bridge necessary, flight

x a

a .

GONDOLA SIGMA OCTANUS IV ARTIFACT

ee

SHIELD WORLD
Anti-gravity Gondolas, which serve as The Sigma Octanus IV artifact spent years in a museum in The hidden secret at the center ofthe planet Onyx, the Onyx Shield
transports to remote locations on the city of Cote d'Azur, where it was believed by the Humans World is one ofseveral similar structures built by the Forerunners
Forerunner Installations, come in two of Sigma Octanus IV to be a meteor that crashed onto the throughout the Galaxy. Their chief purpose is to provide a safe
known forms. One form is large and shaped planet. Covenant forces discovered it during their campaign -haven for resource caches orthose wishingto escape the firing of
like a triangle on a vertical axis, with thin on Sigma Octanus IV and were busy relaying the markings the Halo Array.
rails connecting the larger upper and lower on its surface to a ship in orbit, when the UNSC /roquois Some Shield Worlds are only accessible when the firing of a Halo is
sections. It uses energy tethers above and intercepted the transmission. The Spartan Blue Team, led imminent and others may be accessed without any correlation to
below it to guide it to and from its end by Master Chief, retrieved the object before destroying the the Array. The Forerunners were forced to abandon them as shelter
points. The second type is similar to city of Cote d'Azur with HAVOK nuclear weapons. Later, the when the renegade Forerunner Al named Mendicant Bias revealed
Forerunner Constructors. Both forms were artifact’s markings were compared to star charts by the Al their existence to the Flood. Dr. Catherine Halsey and several
seen on Halo Installation 05. Cortana, and those markings led the UNSC Pillar ofAutumn Spartans used the Shield World located in Onyx’s core to escape the
to Halo Installation 04. destruction of the planetin2552CE.
DESCRIPTION: often connected to
energy tethers, large, vaguely triangular DESCRIPTION: A micro Dyson Sphere surrounding a dwarf star
DESCRIPTION: Fist-sized piece of unknown mineral,
LOCATION: Outside the Library on several jewel-like facets LOCATION: A museum in the city held ina parallel dimensional space, hidden by an artificial planetary
Installation OS ABILITIES: Ferrying of Cote d'Azur on the planet Sigma Octanus IV body in normal space. LOCATION: Various, including the center of
passengers
to and from the Library the artificial planet Onyx ABILITIES: Protecting inhabitants from
232 the devastation of the Halo Array
 GAS MINE
Constructed by the Forerunners centuries before the Halo Array, the Gas Mine was
suspended in the atmosphere of the planet Threshold, where it tapped the vast
resources available in the planet’s atmosphere. After the discovery of the Flood, the
Gas Mine was retrofitted to study the Flood and uncover ways to destroy and contain
them. The Gas Mine was unaffected by the subsequent building and firing of the Halo
Array and remained functional for over 100,000 years with its Flood specimens intact
until its discovery by Human and Covenant forces in the year 2552 CE.
At this time, a Covenant reconnaissance patrol led by a Sangheili named Sesa ‘Refumee
arrived on the mine seeking Forerunner artifacts, only to find itself stranded there
following the destruction of the nearby
ae Halo Installation 04. The patrol met 343
Guilty Spark, who revealed to them the
truth behind the Halo Installations and the
“Great Journey” of the Forerunners. This
caused the Covenant group to denounce
the Covenant orthodoxy and form a
splinter group that became known as the
Heretics. Their actitivies soon drew the
attention of the High Prophets, who sent a
team led by the Arbiter to eliminate them.
In the resulting battle, the Gas Mine’s
contained Flood specimens were released
and overran the facility. After defeating
the Heretics, the Arbiter and his team
escaped with 343 Guilty Spark, just after
severing the the Gas Mine’s tether, causing
it to fall into Threshold’s inner atmosphere,
where it was presumed destroyed.

ye Pe thy
Acentral shaft surrounded by five curved modules for mining, research, and Flood containment

=. E 5 a ROE > _ i 4 = ¢ i!

The upper atmosphere ofthe gas planet Threshold Mining unknown forms of gas, studying the Flood

ONYX SENTINEL
The UNSC Engineering Corps discovered the artificial world of Onyx in 2491 CE, although Onyx Sentinels both guard and make up the Shield World of Onyx. Despite an appearance
ONI suppressed knowledge of its existence for decades while its unusual properties similar to other Sentinels, Onyx Sentinels are far more formidable opponents for a variety of
were studied. Archaeological expeditions unearthed a massive underground network of reasons. Their golden energy beams are many times more powerful, capable of vaporizing
Forerunner structures, but ONI was unable to discover the true purpose of Onyx and solid rock and, when linked with other Onyx Sentinels, destroying starships.
eventually used it as a remote training facility for the SPARTAN-III Project in 2534 CE. The These constructs have powerful shields, but they only activate when Sentinels detect fast
disappearance of a Spartan team near the mysterious Zone 67 in 2539 CE only further movement in close proximity, possibly due to the enormous amounts of energy they require to
heightened the sense of mystery surrounding the planet. function. Once activated, the shields are invulnerable to most projectiles and explosives.
The true nature of Onyx was not revealed until 2552 CE, when the standby signal caused Onyx Sentinels can also fly and participate in high-speed space conflicts. They share a hive
by the aborted firing of Installation 05 awoke the trillions of Onyx Sentinels that made up Artificial Intelligence, which constantly upgrades the collective fighting tactics of all the
the planet. Following the Sentinels’ conflict with a team of Spartan soldiers, a pair of Sentinels based on the experiences of each individual. Additionally, they are able to speak a
nuclear warheads detonated by Kurt-051 destroyed much of the planet, including the variety of languages, including some languages from Earth.
portal used by Dr. Catherine Halsey and the surviving Spartan warriors to escape to the Given the destruction of Onyx, it is likely that there are no Onyx Sentinels still in existence.
Shield World contained within the planet.

DESCRIPTION: Spherical central body, three metal booms extending equidistant from the
OTHER NAMES: xF-063 DESCRIPTION: Planet-sized Forerunner construct, center, central golden “eye” LOCATION: Onyx ABILITIES: Extremely powerful offensive beam
habitable surface, oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, composed of Onyx Sentinels weapon, powerful energy shields, extensive flight capabilities, shared Al
LOCATION: Zeta Doradus System ABILITIES: Acts as a fortress for its Shield World
 UNSC GROUND VEHICLES come in as many different shapes, ELEPHANT : oF
sizes, and designs as the battlefield demands. There are light cad AUD EAA tials vehicle as itis a
vehicles like the Mongoose for agile
:
transportati
:
on; ; medium mob pulli aCngCOC ee
cargo bay that can fit up to six Mongoose, or
: ‘
vehicles, such as the Wolverine, which mix speed and firepower; equivalent, stich as two Warthogs;-whilesatil
and heavy vehicles like the Grizzly, perfect for bombarding
the carrying up to sixteen additional personnel.
enemy or withstanding the inevitable return fire. Its crane can lift, recover, and refuel almost
any heavy-armor landcraft that the UNSC
deploys, while it also features an additional
Mongoose spirited. away in its lower bay for
quick reconnaissance.

The Elephant features advanced electronic systems that can

communicate in otherwise impossible conditions. It also has
weapons such as an M44 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun and two optional
Heavy Machine Guns, but its biggest weapon is its size—a good pilot
cancrush all manner of stationary enemy material
and even light fortifications beneath the
Elephant’s four massive treads. i
All of this makes the machine an
ideal mobile command post for
a commander who needs to

EE ee ae M3412 Heavy Recovery Vehicle, Behemoth-class Troop Transport —

20 (1 driver, 12-16 passengers, 2 gunners) | 84.3 ft,(25.2 m)

205 tons 466 miles (750km)

 TRANSPORT

The tundra proves a difficult terrain for infantry UNSC VEHICLES

mobility, and that’s where the Doozy comes in.
Little more than a modified snowmobile with a
chaingun on the back, this UNSC vehicle was
designed for quick movements over snowy ground,
particularly for medical transport, messaging, The Mongoose doesn't feature any weapons as it
was designed exclusively for speed. Because
diversionary tactics, and evacuation.
of this, the Mongoose is lightning fast and
There were several drawbacks to the Doozy
inexpensive, making it one of the first
which prevented it from seeing much action. To
transports available in any war zone.
man the chaingun,
one soldier
had to sit behind the
driver, facing backwards. At high speed, this
proved disorienting and a liability to a soldier who
needed calm nerves and a steady grip. The
“nausea Seat,” as it came to be known, proved to
be more hindrance than help.

CREW: 2 (1 driver, 1 passenger)

USE: Reconnaissance, tundra warfare

LO CEA,

" MONGOOSE
_ Although
the Warthog still reigns supreme when it comes to the
rapid assault of a base orfortified location, many brave Marines
will opt for a Mongoose for the simple ease of maneuverability
_ andits small size, which make it a difficult target.

M2?4 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle | 2 (1 driver, 1 passenger) | 896 lb (406 kg) Reconnaissance, infantry transport

The Mongoose was designed

by AMG Transport Dynamics,
the creators of the Warthog,
Capri, and many other
vehicles for both civilian and
military use.
 UNSC VEHICLES
SCORPION . |
The Scorpion is a nearly impregnable battle tank capable of
shrugging off ordinary ballistics and plasma weapons, while its
main gun can gut a Wraith in two or three shots. When speed is
required, its alignment on four separated tracks allows it to
navigate streams, boulders, and almost anything else that gets in
its way. Its main function remains anti-vehicular in nature, but its
size and strength mean that it serves as a transport at times. VIPs
and sensitive materials can be crammed into the main cabin while
up to four soldiers can clamber safely
onto the frame itself.

— wn
NINIFATOM
NOId4¥0IS
e "M808B Main Battle Tank, M808B MBT, 3(1 driver. 1 machine gunner, and 1 additional gunner if
the Tank, Flag Transport, Scorpie, Snow the other two don't have neural interfaces)
Bug (when camouflaged for snow)

33 ft (10 m) 466 miles (7?50km) | 90 mm High Velocity Gun

Ante veneuiae anti-“infantry,

anti-armor, heavy weaponry — tani ee » , ee

VARIANTS
M808Be2 SUN DEVIL: A modification with four 40 mm Auoeorene.
M808B3 TARANTULA: A variant with twin Scimitar 4x178 mm rocket pods. _
12-9FS: Painted brown, this version has a wider-set track and anvennanced -
undercarriage, and is designed forurban warfare.
957-A3: Painted gray, the 957-A3 has See electronics fora
accurate cannon shot.
UE8-14: Painted olive-green, this variant hasthinner a
and is designed for medium-armor warfare.e
TB-SB-1: Painted black, the TB-SB-1 has:
ee ae a at chassis

238 ) ; | ; ; 7" ep es ra
 WOLVERINE
As a powerful counter-air unit, the Wolverine is fast, maneuverable,
and bristling with two Argent V missile pods that can effectively
disable airborne enemies aswellas structural defenses. Wolverines
have been utilized in a number of ways within the UNSC, but their
primary and most conventional purpose in the Human-Covenant
War is to prevent air raids from Banshees and troop deployment by
way of Dropship, Their most significant drawback is their light
armor. Although it offers increased speed on the front end, the
vehicle is largely defenseless against heavy fire.

COBRA
At first glance, the Cobra appears to simpy be a
standard mobile artillery unit and although its primary
function is comparable to that mode, it is not entirely
accurate. The Cobra operates in two main capacities:
First, while deftly mobile, the vehicle has a pair of M66
Gauss Cannons which spin slugs with magnetic coils
at a rate fast enough to easily cut holes through
Covenant heavy armor. Its secondary method of
assault occurs when in “lockdown mode,” where the
vehicle stabilizes momentarily before issuing a shell
from its 150mm Rail Gun. Against enemy-fortified
positions and even energy-shielded Covenant bases,
The Cobra's 105mm Rail Gun is used when the
the vehicle performs impressively. Against standard vehicle is in a locked-down position. It can do a
vehicles, the Cobra’s weaponry is almost unstoppable. devastating amount of damage at a very long
range, taking down enemy vehicles with ease.

GREMLIN
The ‘Gremlin, unlike most: other
vehicles employed by the UNSC, has
only one combat application. These
vehicles can fire .a concentrated
beam of electromagnetic energy
which disables nearly every
Covenant vehicle. and computer
system within range of the pulse.
Because of their cost and their lack
of mobile defense, they are rarely
used in battle.
—

pee ee ee, a
WARTHOG
j liz round ‘ A light Anti-Aircraft
poe “abide o> UNS Bre Bo ‘ a ’ Gun is mounted on a 360-degree
forces like the M12 Warthog LRV. % . : ae hydraulic-powered swivel-mount.
With almost a dozen different : P . : zs It is capable of firing 40 to 550.50
i : “ ‘ > caliber rounds per minute.
versions (including one built for
civilian transport), it is as much a
part of the UNSC as boots, guns, WARTHOG
and tasteless coffee.

Four-wheel steering
aliows for greater
maneuverability

; Enhanced
#
SIDE VIEW suspension
/ makes fora
smooth ride
through even the
rockiest terrain.

ee
M412 Warthog LRV, M12, Hog E 3(1 driver, 1 passenger, 1 gunne ee 20ft (6m) y 3.25 tons
 TRANSPORT

UNSC VEHICLES:
GRIZZLY
The Grizzly is a Main Battle Tank variant with a deadly
econdary canister shot which can easily destroy
emy ground squads. Additional payload can include
Cannons, a heavy machine gun, and thick armor

The Uberchassis is a popular sports car on Earth and several of

the Inner Colonies. It is similar to the MLX in its capabilities,
although the manufacturers of the two cars would argue as to
which is faster. Like the MLX, it can be turned into a large
explosive with a dozen rounds or a well-placed grenade.

OTHER NAMES: uc CREW: 2 (1 driver, 1 passenger)

VARIANTS USE: Civilian luxury transport

M1261:
ALight Anti-Armor Vehicle
whose LAAG is replaced
The Dynamik, designed by Mainz Trager, is a transport vehicle
with a M68 Gauss Cannon.
used for both military and civilian purposes. Its design is very
similarto a Jeep. Jerald Mulkey Ander, the infamous Secessionist
leader on Harvest, was shot and killed in one by Sgt. Avery
Johnson during Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE.
he

OTHER NAMES: The Dynamik, the Dyna

CREW:4 (1 driver, 3 passengers) USE: Transport
M1i2A1:
A Light Anti-Armor Vehicle
whose LAAG is replaced with a
102 mm SC-HE Rocket Turret.
The MLXis nota military vehicle. It is asports car with a fantastic
top-speed and good suspension. Like most cars of its kind, it
features two doors, a small frame, and can be destroyed rather
M831 TT (TROOP TRANSPORT): NoLAAG or M68 Gauss impressively with one M? clip or a grenade blast.
Cannon. Its four extra seats allow for additional troop seating. + 4

M864 A: Camouflaged and outfitted especially for expeditions in

the Arctic.
OTHER NAMES: Car Grenade, Car Bomb CREW: 2

M868 T: Camouflaged and equipped especially for tropical (1 driver, 1 passenger) USE: Civilian luxury transport
expeditions.
M914 RV: A faster, stripped down version built for troop and
equipment recovery.
CIVILIAN VERSION (THE “HOG”): Astreamlined version The LTUV-M, manufactured by Sinoviet Heavy Machinery, is
built for civilian transport. It has an extra tire but no weapons. an SUV-Military Hybrid. Its use is generally limited to civilian
FLATBED WARTHOG: No LAAG, flatbed design with no seating or transport and it is favored by those people who are regularly
weaponry at the rear. shot at.
WARTHOG APC: Built as an Armored Personnel Carrier, containing a
heavily armored passenger section to carry troops and supplies. OTHER NAMES: ttuv-m, Ltuv CREW: 4 driver

USE: Heavy civilian transport

The “Forklift” is a short and stubby vehicle that can transport

heavy cargo. It has a cabin that can fit its driver and little else.
Its pallet can lift a weight complement of four fusion cores,
or equivalent.
-

OTHER NAMES: Forklift CREW: 4 driver

RGN MEW REAR VIEW. USE: Civilian cargo transport

Reconnaissance, anti-vehicular, anti-air, anti-infantry

 THE COVENANT’S collection of
ground vehicles is made up
of Light Combat Units, like the
Ghost; Armored Units, such as
the Prowler; and Walkers, like
the Locust and Scarab.

The most astonishing part ofthis

machine is its safety. The gunner
is positioned within the body of
the ship, as opposed to standing
outside. The craft has dampening
cushions to protect passengers
from fast accelerations and the
vehicle’s structure makes It
incredibly stable.
However, this stability
does come ata price—the *
Prowler cannotturn ona
dime. If one becomes flanked,
it must either retreat or
reconfigure its attack pattern.

BRUTE PROWLER—SIDE
VIEW

Ce J CREWS MAIN ARMAMENT | SECONDARY ARMAMENTS

‘Type-52 Infantry Support Vehicle, Prowler _ | 4(1 driver, 1 gunner, 2 passengers) 1 forward-mounted plasma turret Front spikes

VIEW FROM BELOW VIEW FROM ABOVE

BRUTE CHOPPER
Used by the Jiralhanae as a quick transport vehicle as
much as a combat machine, the Chopper gets its name
from the blades at the front of its chassis. These blades
offer a fiercer alternative to simply crushing the enemy.

FRONT VIEW REAR VIEW

Wheel blades shred

enemy combatants.

1.4 in (35 mm)

autocannons.
 Plasma turret

BRUTE PROWLER OCs

Most Jiralhanae inventions are known for their destructive Bimie chia
power; not so the Brute Prowler, technically known as the
Type-52 Infantry Support Vehicle. It does feature an overly
large plasma turret for a vehicle of its size, but its main
function is speed. Even Jiralhanae need scouts, after
all, and with the added armor and weaponry that the
ship features, it can also safely and speedily
evacuate troops or support larger vehicles.
REAR VIEW

Large sleds
widen from the
base to absorb
the shock of
landings that
would flip a
Banshee or
Warthog. FRONT VIEW

VIEW FROM BELOW VIEW FROM ABOVE

Exposed cockpit
offers little
protection A large double wheel
to the driver. powers the vehicle
and maintains its
stability.

These vehicles were originally engineered by Lighter Than Some, a Huragok who wished them to be a peace
offeringtothe Human population of Harvest after the disastrous first contact that occurred there. However,
they were instead modified to be used as weapons by Chieftain Maccabeus in his invasion of Harvest.
VIEW
BRUTE CHOPPER—SIDE

l41tons | 169 miles (271 km) 4x 1.4in (35 mm) autocannons Blade chassis 1 driver Rapid assault
 vy

mo SCARAB
>
0 The Scarab is five storeys high, weighs almost four thousand
tons, and has a modified Assault Cannon that can melt
oO through five feet (one and a half meters) of concrete.
i. Because ofits strength, itis used as a large-scale
troop transport
and mobile command center. One Scarab can take out a small REAR VIEW

Oe city, with its troops readyto mop up any survivors “lucky” enough
oe to make it out of the first bombardment.
©

YN,

Originally designed for

mining, the Scarab has been
repurposed for combat.

Articulated legs and

spiked feet allow the
Scarab to grip the
ground sturdily,
clamber over obstacles,
and even kneel down.

Type-4? Ultra Heavy Assault Platform, the Bug | 50 (1 officer, atleast 49 personnel) | 158 ft (48m) 3439 tons | ModifiedAssaultCannon | 2Anti-AircraftT
 TRANSPORT s

LOCUST The Locust’s central turret is

COVENANT VEHICLES
Nicknamed the “building killer,” the Locust is based on the design of a
Banshee cockpit.
smaller than the Scarab, and has only one turret
with a single large cannon. Its purple-pink plasma
beam is effective against ground and air targets,
and it only opens fire when stationary. The The Locust can be equipped with an overdrive,
a, which allows it to divert energy from its shield
Locust is designed as an offensive tool,
=~), generator to the main cannon, thereby increasing
since it is lightly armored and falls easily | its damage. A shield amplifier can also be used to
when under enemy fire. make the Locust’s shield regenerate at faster.

GHOST ae Covenant
use ofthe Ghost is
The Type-32 RAV has been nicknamed the Ghost by UNSC forces varied, from support for infantry
to scouting. Despite its apparent
for its fast-moving and meet sient ane ravicy approach, not Biipieltginduracé! the EROS
to mention the horror it inspires. Twin plasma cannons are requires a skilled rider to handle it
mounted on either side of the ship’s “wings,” while its single properly.
Even tiny shifts
interrain
can flip such a vehicle, while the
pilot rides behind the large console,
open cabin renders its pilot
controlling the ship as much unshielded from enemy attacks.
by weight distribution
as by steering.

A boost drive allows for swift and safe

VIEW FROM BELOW
movement between conflict zones
and helps the Ghost to avoid
fast-moving projectiles.

REAR VIEW

WEIGHT
| 1,234 tb(560 kg)
MAMENT

asma Cannons (100-250 kW range try support, reconnaissance

VARIANT: SCARAB (V.2)
_ Unlike the Scarab, the V.2 variation
=" hasonlyoneAnti-AircraftGun, but
' it does have 360-degree firing. |
' It also has three anti-infantry FRONT VIEW VIEW FROM BELOW

_ plasma cannons; is shorter, but i

__ wider; and has a more bulbous’!
main cannon. It is also controlled
byacolony of Lekgolo.

acl
 SHADOW
The Shadow is sometimes referred to as the
Covenant Bus because ofits large troop transport
capabilities. Armored by thick sheets of an
unknown metal and capable of a high top speed,
the Shadow is able to ship a Ghost or eight
passengers to zones where it would be unfeasible
for a Dropship to land. The Shadow is bulky, ugly,
and unstoppable—just the kind of transport that VIEW FROM ABOVE
the Covenant needs.

HLIVUM
REAR VIEW

e
t
The Shadow’s plasma turret is ’ n
primarily defensive as the vehicle f y ‘ i"
is intended for troop transport _
rather than combat. i. . of 'V
)

Relative size difference

between the Shadow
and the Ghost.
SHADOW—SIDE VIEW

_ Covenant Bus, the Bus 2 (4 driver, 1 gunner) Sft 69.75 tons 1 Plasma Turret
 TRANSPORT a
COVENANT VEHICLES
Ground Assault Vehicles are common in Covenant
ranks, and the Forerunner technology that these WRAITH : : :
machines are built from easily outmatches A massive tank that is also highly maneuverable, the Wraith can hover
anything from the UNSC. The Spectre, however, | on its anti-gravity cushion and absorb almost all of the recoil of its
Bia auirst glance Seem to he underpowered mammoth plasma mortar cannon, while its secondary plasma turret
next to its brothers, but on closer inspection its
supposed drawbacks are actually advantages.
can swivel and pick off smaller targets whilst the main gunner makes
Without a lot of armor, it can squeeze into tight ___ his very time-consuming reload.
spaces. Without a large weapon, it is lighter,
meaning it achieves high speeds. With a
reasonably sized plasma turret, it can maintain
near-constant streams of fire without draining
VIEW FROM ABOVE
power. And with its awkward “diamond” design, it -
can easily carry two extra troopers into or out of | | The armored shell of
combat zones. the Wraith is nearly
two feet (sixty-one
centimeters) thick and
CREW: 4 (1 driver, 1 gunner, 2 passengers) is made of a polymer
LENGTH: 21.3 ft (6.5 m) WEIGHT: 9 tons that Human physicists
MAIN ARMAMENT:
:
1 Plasma: Turret oeUSE: yee prewensty howe
impossible.
Troop transport, anti-personnel, light anti-air

VIEW FROM BELOW

WRAITH—SIDE VIEW

The fixed mounting of the

Wraith’s plasma emitter
VARIANT requires the vehicle to
TYPE-52 ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY face targets directly.

This anti-aircraft variant of the Wraith

is equipped with twin rapid-
fire Fuel Rod Cannons.

REAR VIEW

FRONT VIEW

247
THE UNSC’S SHIPS come in varying sizes,
depending on their role. One of the largest, most
powerful warships is the Carrier with its
complement of deadly Longsword and
Shortsword attack craft. The UNSC also utilizes
smaller ships, such as the Frigate, which are
cheaper to produce, but excel at high-speed
maneuvers and ship-to-ship combat.

UNSC DESTROYER HORNET <<

Able to carry a pilot and
Easily one of the fastest and most nimble classes of UNSC
two passengers atop the vehicle’s skids, the Hornet is a
vessels, Destroyers are typically used as escorts for larger
capital ships. Heavily armored and armed, a group of Destroyers vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or VTOL, used to transport
can give even the largest Covenant vessels
a run for their money. and support troops during terrestrial combat. Armed with dual missile
With dual MAC guns, three Shiva Missiles, over eight hundred launchers and heavy machine guns, the Hornet is highly effective in
Archer Missiles, and eight 50mm Point Defense Guns, Destroyers
countering Banshee squadrons and harassing Covenant ground forces.
are protected by two meters ofTitanium-A plate.
It has existed since at least 2424 CE, when it was used during the UNSC’s
campaign against the Insurrectionists, and was still in service nearly three
LENGTH: 1,590 ft (485 m) USE: Escort and defense of larger decades later, during the final days of the Human-Covenant War. _
vessels FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: UNSC Glasgow Kiss,
UNSC Brasidas, UNSC Heracles, UNSC Iroquois, UNSC Iwo Jima, UNSC
The Hornet is a valuable anti-infantry and anti-vehicle weapon, but its lack
Resolute, UNSC Tharsis of shielding makes it susceptible to anything larger than small-arms fire.

BLACK CAT-CLASS SUBPROWLER

AV-14 Attack VTOL Close air support, light troop transport, ship-to-ship combat
Black Cats operate in high-risk missions, which demand
subterfuge over armament. Like other ships within the Prowler
class, they often serve in a reconnaissance capacity, deploying
and collecting troops behind enemy lines. These vessels were
UNSC FRIGATE
effectively used during a highly covert Spartan-lll mission known One of the smallest UNSC starships, the Frigate’s weak armor and
as Operation: TORPEDO. armaments make it a poor choice against most Covenant vessels. They
are primarily used to ferry supplies and personnel. Their status as the
LENGTH: Over 164 ft (50 m) USE: Troop exfiltration, largest UNSC ship able to hover in an atmosphere makes them ideal for
reconnaissance air support in terrestrial warfare, as well as inserting and extracting
supplies and troops. Their armaments consist of a single MAC gun, one
CORVETTE to three Shiva Missiles, 480 Archer Missiles, and eight 50mm
Point Defense Guns. Combined with twenty-four inches
Within the UNSC, Corvettes come in two classes: Mako and
Prowler. The Mako-Class, although now decommissioned due to
(sixty centimeters) of Titanium-A plate, they fall far
maintenance issues, once found popularity thanks to its small short of Destroyers and Cruisers in their offensive
size. The Prowler-class, facilitated by a significant volume of and defensive capabilities.
monitoring software, can infiltrate enemy-controlled space
undetected and monitor enemy transmissions. One Prowler is
BP Insc ANORASTE
assigned to every UNSC battle group to gather intelligence and
perform stealth missions. Prowlers are normally equipped with
stealth nuclear mines, which have proven surprisingly effective
against unsuspecting Covenant vessels. Some have suggested
that such vessels in the Human-Covenant War serve little purpose
due to the heavy encoding of enemy transmissions and the
naturally existing communication gap between species, but the
Office of Naval Intelligence prefers to keep the ships in the field to
watch over both Covenant and Human forces. 1,568 ft (478 m) 499ft(152 m) Ferrying equipment and troops

LENGTH: 532 ft (162 m) USE: Intelligence gathering, mine- UNSC Commonwealth, UNSC Aegis Fate, UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, UNSC Arabia, UNSC Fair Weather, UNSC va :
laying FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: uNnsc Lark, UNSC
Tannenberg, UNSC Gettysburg, UNSC In Amber Clad, UNSC Midsummer Night, UNSC Redoubtable, UNSC 2
Dusk, UNSC Applebee, UNSC Razor’s Edge, UNSC Bum Rush,
UNSC Circumference, UNSC Apocalypso, UNSC Coral Sea, UNSC Vostok, UNSC Meriwether Lewis
Pony Express
 HAWK
The Sparrowhawk, more commonly known as the Hawk, is an
air-to-ground anti-tank aerodyne. Its speed and
maneuverability make it ideal for use in a support and anti-
armor role to eliminate tanks and heavy-armor advances.
Hawks employ wing-mounted GUA-23 Autocannons and a
variant of the M6 Nonlinear Rifle used by infantry. In wide Close air support, air escort
production during the first decade of the war, several
propulsion-related malfunctions limited the Hawk’s
deployment later in the war.

Used by ONI during the early years of the twenty-sixth century,

the Chiroptera-class Stealth Vessel was named after the
taxonomic order to which bats belong, because of the silent
nature and angular, black design of the ship. They carried
advanced counter-intrusion software and the smallest
Slipspace engines ever produced by the UNSC. Unfortunately,
without an onboard controlling Al, the sensitive components of
the ship were prone to failure and the entire class was
discontinued in 2512 CE. At least one, the Beatrice, still existed
during the Human-Covenant War. It belonged to an Eridanus
Rebel leader named Jacob Jiles and was appropriated by Dr.
Catherine Halsey and Kelly-058 for their mission to Onyx.

LENGTH:
164 ¢t(50m) USE: Infiltrationandreconnaissance
FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: Beatrice

The UNSC Carrier is a classification of UNSC warship. They

are armed with three hundred Archer Missiles, a pair of
Fusion Rockets, and a MAC Gun and can also deploy Lighting
and Longsword Fighters and Pelican Dropships. Their
standard crew complement is 2,100. Although they are
equipped with fourteen inches (thirty-six centimeters) of
The Albatross is a class of heavy-lift dropship that is used The Calypso has no armaments and only limited Titanium-A plating, Carriers are slow and must rely on
to transport cargo such as vehicles and weapons. It Slipspace capabilities. Although it operated similarly to Fighters and other support ships for defense.
possesses no offensive capabilities, but is sufficiently other covert exfiltration crafts, it was eventually
armored to serve as a makeshift base or command center. decommissioned when more effective vessels made the
c 4
Calypso obsolete. LENGTH: 1.8 miles (3 km) SPAN: 394 ft (120 m), USE:
Deployment of fighter ships and ground troops FAMOUS
LENGTH: 121 ft (37 m) USE: Heavy-lift dropship SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: UNSC Magellan, UNSC All Under
LENGTH: Over 164 ft (50 m) USE: Troop exfiltration Heaven, UNSC Musashi, UNSC Atlas, UNSC Stalingrad
 Ground attack, air attack

Directed-thrust
jets
on the underside
of the Vulture
enable it to hover.

VULTURE
One of the UNSC’s most powerful units, the Vulture is a
formidable vehicle in any battle. Itis the UNSC’s largest
aircraft, able to carry an impressive amount of
weapons. Armed with Argent V Missiles and GUA-23
Autocannons, the Vulture can fire off large barrages
of missiles, causing devaStation over a wide area.
Due to its weapon configuration, the ship can fight
against both air and ground units. The Vulture's large
size makes it slow, increasing its vulnerability to
attack, but it is resilient and so can withstand huge
amounts of damage before its destruction.
The Vulture requires highly trained UNSC pilots and
VULTURE—SIDE VIEW
gunners, which makes it very costly to use. This,
and the amount of time it takes to build one,
means that the Vulture is usually only
reserved for difficult and lengthy battles.
Impressive armaments include
massive autocannons for defense
against individual ground units.

CRADLE WELCOME WAGON = BUMBLEBEE

Simple in its construction, a Cradle is a A general name for cargo transports Able to transport eight passengers and a pilot, Bumblebees are
refitting station of Titanium-A capable of designed to traverse space elevator placed on Cruisers and other large ships to act as escape pods.
refitting and repairingupto six Destroyers strands, Welcome Wagons were used for They lack any substantial maneuverability and their thrusters are
in space, three on the upper surface, and the mass evacuation of civilians from not powerful enoughto escape a planet’s atmosphere. Additionally,
three more on the lower. Their finest hour Harvest after the planet fell to the they can only be used once, as their air brakes disengage upon
occurred in the Battles of Sigma Octanus Covenant. Of 237 Welcome Wagons used descent. Despite harnesses designed to stabilize passengers,
IV and Reach, when Cradles manned by to evacuate the planet, only one in Bumblebee landings are extremely dangerous and fatalities
skeleton crews were sacrificed in order to six survived. are common.
block orbital guns and other ships from r aad

Covenant plasma fire.

SHIP TYPE: Civilian transport LENGTH: 34.5 ft (10.5 m) SPAN: 17 ft (5.2 m); With air brakes
deployed: 30.5 ft (9.3 m) USE: Escape pod
USE: Refitting station
C709 LONGSWORD-CLASS INTERCEPTOR
The C?09 Longsword is the primary fighter craft of the UNSC
fleet. It fills numerous roles during battle, from defending its
UNSC CRUISER
parent ship to. bombing major Covenant vessels or engaging
Covenant Seraph Fighters. Cruisers are the backbone of the UNSC fleet. Eschewing
small fighters for heavy offensive weapons and thick
Despite filling a niche similar to 21st century fighter jets,
armor, Cruisers are equipped with five Fusion Rockets,
Longswords are actually similar in size and shape to twenty- 1,800 Archer Missiles, a pair of MAC Guns, 24 Longsword
first-century stealth bombers or passenger aircraft. They can Fighters,
and 75-inch (191-cm) Titanium-A plating. They
carry a crew of up to four, but generally fly with two, and can be carry a standard complement of one thousand and are
generally commanded by a Captain or a Rear Admiral.
piloted by an Al. Its stock armaments are 110mm rotary
Although cruisers are the largest and most formidable
cannons and 120mm ventral guns, but it can be outfitted ships in the UNSC fleet, they are dwarfed by their
with any number of larger weapons, including Scorpion Tan fasion reactor Covenant counterparts and suffered heavy losses
and ASGM-10 Missiles, Moray Mines, and even Shiva engines create during the Human-Covenant War. As a result, many
enough force to were pulled back to defend the Inner Colonies and Earth.
Warheads. Its versatile nature makes the Longsword a freschiditicecane
There are two classes of UNSC cruiser: The Halcyon-
valuable weapon against the Covenant during deep- velocitiesfor Earth class and the newer Marathon-class.
and Installation
04.
space battles.
LENGTH: Varies based on class SPAN: Varies based
onclass USE: Heavy offensive firepower
] Longsword aerodynamics
allow the craft to operate in
atmosphere as well as in the
vacuum ofspace. _ MARATHON-CLASS CRUISER
Replacing the Halcyon-class Cruisers some time priorto
the Human-Covenant War, the Marathon-class is twice
the size of UNSC Frigates and is known for its ability to
take and dish out massive amounts of damage. Due to
their durable and fierce nature, Marathon-class
Cruisers are often reserved for Admirals to use as
command ships. Despite their ability to withstand
numerous plasma blasts and their oversized weaponry,
all but several Marathon-class Cruisers were destroyed
during the early years of the Human-Covenant War. This
led to the surviving ships being pulled back and used as
a last line of defense for the Inner Colonies and Earth.
4

The Longsword-class LENGTH: 39,100 ft (1,190 m) USE: Capital

Interceptor is relatively engagements, planetary invasion FAMOUS SHIPS
inexpensive to produce and OF THIS TYPE: UNSC Leviathan, UNSC Hannibal
yet is one of the most versatile
UNSC crafts: It can be a fighter, HALCYON-CLASS CRUISER
a bomber, or an escort, all with
C709 LONGSWORD-CLASS INTERCEPTOR
—FRONT SIDE VIEW equal effectiveness. Designed in 2510 CE by Dr. Robert McLees, the
Halcyon only saw a brief era of service due to costly
construction and maintenance, a lack of speed, and
concerns regarding its tactical viability. Composed
of five hexagonal and octagonal sections fitted
together, the Halcyon is the smallest UNSC vessel to
be designated a Cruiser. Armed with a sole MAC Gun,
180 Archer Missiles, and four Shiva Missiles, the

ARGUS Drones are aerial drones used by the UNSC to Halcyon was outclassed in every way by the
remotely detect explosive devices commonly used Marathon-class Cruisers that replaced it.
by Insurrectionists. They are equipped with When the Human-Covenant War required every ship
targeting systems and single Lancet Micro-Missiles available to fight, many Halcyon-class ships were
for the neutralization of enemy targets. refitted with thousands of extra Archer Missiles and
Despite their widespread use, ARGUS Drones are a three hundred percent engine capacity increase.
not infallible, having wrongly identified explosives
on an innocent civilian on at least one occasion. OTHER NAME: Human Attack Ship class C-Il
They share a name with Argus Panoptes, the LENGTH: 3,840 ft (1,170 m) SPAN: 1,155 ft (352 m)
hundred-eyed giant of Greek mythology. USE: All-purpose attack and defense, troop and
REAR SIDE VIEW supply transport FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE:
SPAN: 3.3 ft (1 m) USE: Bomb detection UNSC Pillar
of Autumn, UNSC Dawn Under Heaven
destruction of small targets
The D?7H-TCI and D??-TC
variations both utilize heat
and radiation shielding for
the occupants’ protection.

PELICAN (D?7H-TCI)
Equal parts dropship and gunship, the
Dropship-7?? Heavy Troop Carrier/Infantry
Pelican (along with its predecessor, the D7?-TC)
is a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle used by the
UNSC in ground and near atmosphere engagements.
Used primarily for transport to and from the field of battle,
D?7H-TCI Pelicans are equipped to carry eighteen passengers
(including three crew members) as well as support items such as vehicles
and supplies, including Warthog LRVs, Scorpion Tanks, Resupply Cannisters,
and more. The D77H-TCI can also be fitted with additional troop-carrying
Capacity for more concentrated troop deployment.

100 ft (30.5m) | 77 ft(23.4m) | Inner-atmosphere

combat, air support for infantry

Bravo 001, Bravo 022, Charlie 217, Echo 051, Echo 136, Echo 206, Echo 419, Kilo 023, Oscar 5, Oscar 6, Oscar 8, Oscar 9, Victor 398, Victor 933

STEALTHCRUISER
Used mostly for commercial and civilian functions, the Equipped with advanced counterelectronic systems and
Parabola-class Freighter possesses a simple design, stealth coating, the Stealth Cruiser is radar invisible and
employing rotating sections for crop irrigation and large remains a ghost even within its own fleet.
bays for storing various types of cargo or even water. The only known ship ofthis class is the UNSC Point of Nao
This class of Freighter can carry more than enough Return, which acts as a mobile base of operations for ONI. It
supplies to support a small city, as proved by the UNSC is the largest Prowler-class vessel in the UNSC Fleet and is
Laden, which was used to supply a Dace of Eridanus almost completely undetectable by electronic devices.
Rebels living in an asteroid.

LENGTH: 160 ft (485 m) USE: ON! field command

USE: Interstellar shipping FAMOUS SHIPS OF
FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: UNSC Point of No Return
THIS TYPE: UNSC Laden

UNSC SUPERCARRIER
The UNSC Supercarrier is the largest UNSC ship type ever
A versatile anti-infantry and anti-vehicle fighter, the built. Designed specifically to confront Covenant capital
Skyhawk’s armament includes four 50mm cannons ships, its armor and armaments dwarf those of a
along with an anti-tank missile system, making it a standard carrier. Very few have ever been constructed
fearsome weapon against ground forces. Its ability to and as the UNSC Trafalgar found inthe skies above Reach,
execute precise turns at extremely high speeds makesit even those colossal vessels cannot withstand the fire of
equally dangerous against airborne combatants. an invading Covenant fleet.
ns

USE: Precision air support and atmospheric USE: Fighter deployment, ship-to-ship combat
interception FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: UNSC Trafalgar
 TRANSPORT
Pelicans are armed with heavy machine guns and small UNSC SHIPS -
missile pods, the configuration of which varies slightly
depending on the model. The newer model D77H-TCI is
slightly more angular, with its machine guns mounted on
its wings rather than its chin and a different seating
configuration for the pilot and co-pilot. The new model
also features external magnetic clamps on its rear,
allowingitto carry extra loads.

Prowlers are Corvette-class stealth ships equipped with active

camouflage, counter-electronic systems, and a minimal amount of
Weapons and armor. The ship's primary function is the undetected
gathering of intelligence. This limited mission scope generally only
| requires a crew of forty to ninety people. One Prowler is assigned to
every UNSC battle group. For combat purposes, Prowlers are equipped
with stealth-enabled Hornet mines, used to create undetectable
minefields in the hopes of destroying unsuspecting enemy vessels. It
is notable that Prowlers are also sometimes armed with pulse lasers,
though it is unknown whether these were reverse-engineered from
Covenant technology or whether they were created independently by
UNSE scientists.

LENGTH: 531 ft (162 m) USE: Intelligence gathering, mine-laying

“AMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: usc Apocalypso, UNSC Applebee,
Bum Rush, UNSC Circumference, UNSC Coral Sea, UNSC Dusk, UNSC
YACHT
rk, UN SC Point of.No Return, UNSC Pony Express, UNSC Razor's Edge Yachts are personal luxury spacecraft used for
vacationing and transport by wealthy civilians. Not
unlike their 21st-century ocean-going counterparts,
Yachts are often seen as status symbols. Several ONI
Prowlers, including the UNSC Apocalypso and the UNSC
y a military taxi, the Shuttlecraft is used to transport small
Circumference were outfitted to look like Yachts to avoid
s of personnel and supplies between larger craft.
suspicion while on classified missions.

USE: Civilian leisure vessel

 een oes

2 .
ne bere
ey ia
EACH INDIVIDUAL ship in the UNSC fleet, no
matter what type ofcraft itis, has its own name,
and many ofthese ships, crewed by exceptional
soldiers and Als, have gone down in history for
the role they played in the campaign against the
Covenant. Here are some ofthe most signigicant.

UNSC CIRCUMFERENCE HAN

The UNSC Circumference has had an interesting history. It A small Slipspace-capable diplomatic shuttle, the Han A Corvette that saw action at the second battle of
participated in the Spartan-ll deployment at Delphi Station transported Jacob Keyes and Catherine Halsey in 2517 Earth, the UNSC Chalons was used as a diversion,
and Operation: HYPODERMIC, but the moment the CE on their mission to investigate children for the allowing a team of Spartan-Ils to stop the Covenant
Circumference will most likely be remembered for was its Spartan-ll program. It was equipped with cryo tubes from stealing a cache of nuclear weapons.
security breach. and lacked artificial gravity on the bridge. It was 4

Docked in an orbiting station, high above the planet manned by an Al named Toran.
Reach, the Circumference posed a major security violation SHIP TYPE: Corvette FAMOUS EVENTS: The
second battle of Earth
because when it wasevacuated its NAV Computers had not
been wiped according to the Cole Protocol. Spartan-lls SHIP TYPE: Diplomatic shuttle
were able to assault the vessel and destroy its NAV data
UNSC ARGO
prior to the Covenant apprehending it, but the Spartans
and the UNSC Marines tasked with securing the ship ODYSSEY
The UNSC Argo was a scout ship dispatched to Harvest
suffered heavy casualties in the process.
The Odyssey was the first human ship to attempt not long after the UNSC lost contact with the colony.
to colonize territory outside the Sol System. It was After exiting Slipspace near Harvest, it encountered a
SHIP TYPE:Prowlere FAMOUS EVENTS: The launched on January 1, 2362 CE, a day which will Covenant cruiser, which was in the process of glassing
battle of Reach, Operation: HYPODERMIC forever be remembered as the moment Humanity the planet. Despite warnings from Mack, Harvest’s
took its first few steps into the unknown. agricultural Al, the scout ship strayed too close and was
destroyed by the Covenant cruiser.
UNSC MIDSUMMER NIGHT
SHIP TYPE: Colony Ship
Midsummer Night fought in the Rubble in the 23 Librae SHIP TYPE: Scout ship FAMOUS EVENTS: The
system. Its stealth ability allowed it to penetrate deep
into Covenant territory for special operations. Jacob UNSC APPLEBEE battle of Harvest

Keyes served aboard the UNSC Midsummer Night

UNSC GLASGOW KISS

before being transferred to the UNSC /roquois. The UNSC Applebee was an ONI Prowler docked above
Reach in August 2552 CE. Cortana broke into its
database and discovered that its true nature was a
SHIP TYPE: Frigate The UNSC Glasgow Kiss was part of the Battlegroup
stealth vessel. The Applebee was likely destroyed
during the battle of Reach. Stalingrad, sent to rescue Dr. Catherine Halsey and a
UNSC HANNIBAL team of Spartans from Onyx. During a battle with
Covenant forces, the Glasgow Kiss moved in front of
SHIP TYPE: Prowler FAMOUS EVENTS:
The UNSC Hannibal fought in the battle of Reach in its flagship to shield it from plasma fire. Although the
Operation: HYPODERMIC, the battle of Reach
2552 CE. Its MAC Gun was destroyed during the battle, Glasgow Kiss was destroyed in the process, most of
leavingthe ship helpless. Its final fate is unknown, butit the crew managed to escape.
was most likely destroyed. —

SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The

SHIP TYPE: Marathon-class cruiser FAMOUS
The UNSC Lark was an ONI Prowler, which was battle of Onyx
EVENTS:
The battle of Reach involved in Operation HYPODERMIC and the battle for

UNSC BUM RUSH

Reach. Its fate remains unknown.
“UNSC ALLEGIANCE
The UNSC Bum Rush participated in Operation: SHIP TYPE: Prowler FAMOUS EVENTS: During the battle of Sigma Octanus IV, the UNSC
TREBUCHET in 2524 CE, providing a tactical operations Operation: HYPODERMIC,
the battle of Reach
Allegiance responded to a signal sent from the UNSC
center for a battalion of Marines fighting on Harvest.
Iroquois and intercepted a retreating Covenant carrier.
4

SHIP TYPES: Corvette FAMOUS EVENTS: SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS:the
Operation: TREBUCHET battle of Onyx
rrr |LENGTH —_|COMMANDING OFFICER
Modified Phoenix-class Colony Ship 1.5 miles (2.5 km) Captain James Gregory Cutter

SPmit OF FRE
BERETOS A) COTA PR OCB UG

UNSC SPIRIT OF FIRE

The Spirit of Fire was originally commissioned as a colony
ship in 2473 CE. As Outer Colony tensions increased,
however, a Magnetic Accelerator Canon (MAC) was added,
capable of accelerating low-mass or depleted uranium slugs
to a fraction of light speed. When the Human-Covenant War
started, the Spirit of Fire was further repurposed. Vessel
bays that once housed prefabricated schools and
atmosphere processors now store mobile armories, self-
assembling fusion reactors, and other groundside facilities
that can be dropped into combat directly from orbit.
The Spirit of Fire and its crew are currently considered
Missing in Action, having dropped out of communication
after investigating Covenant activity on the planet Arcadia.

UNSC CORAL SEA UNSC MAGELLAN

The UNSC Coral Sea was involved in the conflicts The UNSC Minotaur fought in the battle of Reach, where Jacob Keyes was assigned to the UNSC Magellan in
above Earth when the High Prophet of Regret's fleet it was completely destroyed when a Covenant Flagship 251? CE, upon his graduation from Luna OCS Academy.
first arrived. It is believed that the Coral Sea scored a direct hit on its reactor. This ship shares a These orders were rescinded when he was ordered to
followed In Amber Clad as it entered Slipspace name with a monster from Greek myth. assist Dr. Catherine Halsey with her search for
behind the Prophet's carrier, but there is no record watts candidates for the SPARTAN Project.
of it afterward.
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The
battle of Reach
SHIP TYPE: Carrier
SHIP TYPE: Corvette FAMOUS EVENTS: The
first battle of Earth, the first battle of Mombasa
UNSC AGINCOURT UNSC MUSASHI
UNSC BASRA The UNSC Agincourt was
offloading supplies at
a transport vessel tasked with
Camp Currahee on the planet
The UNSC Musashi fought alongside many other vessels
during the Covenant’s assault on Reach, where it was
The UNSC Basra was severely damaged during the Onyx in October 2552 CE. The ship was most likely destroyed by a Covenant Assault Carrier.
conflicts which took place above the planet Reach. After named after the famous battle that occurred during the
the battle, it was moved by the Covenant into an Hundred Years’ War. Two hundred newly awakened Onyx
enormous ship graveyard over Reach’s northern pole. Sentinels subsequently destroyed the Agincourt. SHIP TYPE: Carrier

FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of Reach

FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of Reach SHIP TYPE: Frigate
_ FAMOUS UNSC SHIPS
a
>
=
(a0)
= UNSC COMMONWEALTH UNSC BUNKER HILL CONSTRUCTION PLATFO
wn
In 2525 CE, the UNSC Commonwealth was used to The UNSC Destroyer Bunker Hill served as a staging Construction Platform 966A, also known as
oo transport Dr. Catherine Halsey and the Spartan-lls to area for the Spartan-Il team led by John-117, which Station Delphi, was a deep space shipyard and
= the Damascus Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV. Upon attacked a Rebel base called Camp New Hope on construction platform located in a remote sector
9) arriving, the ship engaged a Covenant Light Cruiser Victoria in the 111 Tauri System. of space. It was comonly used to refit UNSC ships.
on, and was able to destroy the ship with the assistance The platform was equipped with cranes and
of the Spartan-lls. Despite nearly being crippled docking pods, but was later decommissioned. The
n during the engagement, the Commonwealth survived platform was later used by ONI when they staged
rsos and was able to return to Reach for repairs. SHIP TYPE: Destroyer an operation in which Spartan-051 was captured
for the SPARTAN-III Program.

+ —————

SHIP TYPE: Frigate KNOWN COMMANDERS: UNSC MERIWETHER LEWIS OTHER NAME: Station Delphi SHIP TYPE:
Captain Wallace FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of Construction platform
Jacob Keyes received a Medal of Honor for his
Chi Ceti
exploits on the UNSC Meriwether Lewis, where he
defended the vessel against an overwhelming

UNSC LANCELOT
Covenant boarding party. UNSC ATHENS
i
Stationed in the Epsilon Eridani System in 2525 CE, the
One of the many vessels which responded to the SHIP TYPE: Frigate UNSC Athens was tasked with alerting the UNSC Pioneer
distress call from Sigma Octanus IV, the UNSC Lancelot should anything go wrong with the Spartan-IIs on their
was last seen by Jacob Keyes as it charged straight mission to capture the leader of aRebel base.
into the Covenant fleet.
It was most likely destroyed, although no physical
_UNSC GORGON
evidence ofthis has ever been recovered.
Ensign William Lovell served aboard the UNSC Gorgon SHIP TYPE: Prowler
before he was assigned to the Sigma Octanus
monitoring post. The ship was previously part of Vice
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS
battle of Sigma Octanus IV
EVENTS: The Admiral Preston Cole’s fleet in 2525 CE. BEATRICE
The Beatrice was an ONI Chiroptera-class Prowler
SHIPTYPE:FrigateFAMOUS PERSONALITIES: that was decommissioned in 2512 CE and later
UNSC ALL UNDER HEAVEN Ensign William Lovell became the personal flagship of the Insurrectionist
leader Governor Jacob Jiles.
In 2545 CE, the UNSC All Under Heaven was assigned to The Beatrice was later stolen by Dr. Catherine
the 51 Pegasi-B System as the staging ground for UNSC LEVIATHAN Halsey and taken to Onyx, where it crash-landed
Operation: TORPEDO. While still in Slipspace, the ship after being attacked by Onyx Sentinels.
launched three hundred Spartan-lills via Long Range The UNSC Leviathan took part in the battle of Sigma
Stealth Orbit Insertion Pods. Octanus IV. It was damaged in that engagement and
was destroyed later at the battle of Reach.
SHIP TYPE: Chiroptera-class Prowler KNOWN
SHIP TYPE: Carrier FAMOUS EVENTS: COMMANDERS: Governor Jacob Jiles FAMOUS
Operation: TORPEDO
EVENTS: The battle
of Onyx
SHIP TYPE: Marathon-class Cruiser KNOWN
COMMANDERS: Michael Stanforth FAMOUS
UNSC BRASIDAS EVENTS: The battle of Sigma Octanus IV, the Battle of
Reach
UNSC HERACLES
The UNSC Brasidas was part of the battle group
Stalingrad, which was sent to retrieve Dr. Catherine
In October 2525 CE, the UNSC Heracles arrived in the
Halsey and the Spartan team trapped on Onyx. It was
damaged extensively by Covenant fire during the initial
UNSC HERODOTUS Harvest system with the remainder of battle group 4 to
investigate why contact had been lost with the colony.
skirmish. It managed to transfer its load of Hornet
The UNSC Herodotus is notable for being the first Human After a brief battle with Covenant forces stationed
mines to the Prowler Dusk, before being destroyed by
vessel destroyed by a Covenant energy projector. The there, every UNSC ship except the Heracles was
Covenant reinforcements.
use of this weapon at the battle of Sigma Octanus IV destroyed, forcing it to retreat to Reach.
marked the first time it was seen by UNSC forces.
4

SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The
battle of Onyx SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The first battle of Harvest KNOWN COMMANDERS:
battle of Sigma Octanus IV Captain Veredi
 TRANSPORT
UNSC SHIPS

. =f ‘
blanc Nasal
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UNSC APOCALYPSO
An ONI Prowler, the UNSC Apocalypso intercepted
Covenant transmissions discussing the attacks on the
colonies of Troy and Harmony. The Covenant detected
the intrusion and infected the Apocalypso with a
malicious Al that began corrupting their own shipboard
Al, Melissa. Captain Greene attempted to make a
Slipspace jump back to Earth, after locating and
recovering a strange artifact in space.
Just as the Covenant Seeker Al attempted to tell its
masters about the Forerunner artifact, the artifact was
activated, creating an enormous explosion in Slipspace
that destroyed the Apocalypso.

SHIP TYPE: Prowler COMMANDING OFFICER:

Captain Greene FAMOUS PERSONALITIES:
Melissa (Al), First Lieutenant Rolf Sorenson, MacKaskill
 FAMOUS UNSC SHIPS
UNSC PILLAR OF AUTUMN
The Pillar ofAutumn was scheduled to be scrapped along with
the other Halcyon-class Cruisers, but was refitted for a special
mission during the final days of the Human-Covenant War. It was
placed under the command of Captain Jacob Keyes, who, along
with Master Chief, his Spartans, and Cortana, was ordered to
capture a Covenant Prophet. This mission was waylaid, however,
by the UNSC defeat at the Battle of Reach. The Pillar ofAutumn
escaped the carnage when Cortana initiated a Slipspace jump
using coordinates gleaned from the Sigma Octanus IV Artifact. The Pillar ofAutumn
was equipped with
The Autumn exited Slipspace near the gas giant Threshold and numerous weapon
YVI1Id
NWALAY
40 discovered Installation 04 (also known as Alpha Halo}, a and power upgrades,
like a nuclear fusion
mysterious ring-world that would alter the course of the Human- engine, which could

Covenant War and threaten the entire Galaxy with destruction. boost its power.

The Autumn, the POA Captain Jacob Keyes The Battle of Reach, the battle of Installation 04 VIEW FROM BELOW

UNSCRAZOR'SEDGE
The Wholesale Price was a Freighter used by the The UNSC Razor's Edge is a Prowler that fought in the battle of The UNSC Trafalgar was one of the most revered ships in the
Al constructs Sif and Mack to send New Harmony in 253? CE. During that conflict, the Razor's UNSC fleet. At the Battle of Reach in 2552 CE, the first
transmissions from Harvest to Reach. Edge was able to secure a telemetry probe to the hull of a Covenant Flagship ever seen by Humanity destroyed the
fleeing Covenant Frigate. The probe led to the discovery of K?- Trafalgar.
49, a Covenant shipyard that was subsequently destroyed by This ship shared a name with the Battle of Trafalgar,
SHIP TYPE: Freighter Spartan-lll soldiers during Operation: PROMETHEUS. a decisive naval engagement during the Napoleonic Wars.

SHIP TYPE: Prowler SHIP TYPE: Supercarrier

FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of New Harmony FAMOUS EVENTS: The Battle of Reach
The Vostok was one of three ships that made
up UNSC battle group 4, led by Captain
Maribeau Veredi aboard the UNSC Destroyer UNSC REDOUBTABLE ©
Heracles, and was tasked with investigating
the loss of communications with Harvest in The UNSC Redoubtable participated in the first battle of The UNSC Walk of Shame was an ONI Sloop used by Jilan al-
2525 CE. The Vostok was destroyed on arrival Earth, as well as the first battle of New Mombasa. It was one Cygni when investigating the initial Covenant presence near
at Harvest by the Covenant. of the few ships quick enough to follow the UNSC /n Amber Harvest. It had a delta-wing-shaped hull and was equipped
Clad into Slipspace in pursuit of the High Prophet of Regret’s with stealth technology and a single Archer ship-to-ship
SHIP TYPE: Frigate Assault Cruiser. Its fate following the discovery of Halo missile. Al-Cygni sent the ship to Reach bearing initial
Installation 05 is unknown. information on the first contact with the Covenant.

SHIP TYPE: Frigate FAMOUS EVENTS: The first SHIP TYPE: Sloop KNOWN COMMANDERS:
The UNSC Tharsis sustained significant damage during the battle of Earth, the first battle of New Mombasa Jilan al-Cygni
Battle of Reach. Covenant forces established a scrapyard of
damaged and destroyed ships over Reach’s northern pole,
placing the remains ofthe Tharsis among the debris. Cortana
AINSCSILBERG =
considered fusing the crippled Tharsis to the Ascendant During the Battle of Reach, the UNSC Silberg was off-world The UNSC Witch Bucket is an ONI ship used to take
Justice, but chose the UNSC Gettysburg, due to its better conducting a deep space reconnaissance mission. The surveillance imagery of Corporal Avery Johnson's
overall condition and functioning MAC Gun. Silberg is astealth craft, though its make, model, and mission assassination of the Secessionist Union leader Jerald
are classified. : Mulkey Ander on Harvest.
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer
FAMOUS EVENTS: The Battle of Reach SHIP TYPE: Stealth

The UNSC Pioneer acted as a staging vessel for the launch of The Two Drink Minimum is a Human luxury liner that served a This End Up, piloted by Henry “Hank” Gibson, was a Freighter —
a covert mission against Rebel forces in the Eridanus non-stop route from Earth to Arcadia for many years. Henry traveling from Harvest when it came in contact with the —
System. In this mission, a team of Spartan-ll soldiers led by “Hank” Gibson, the first Human to come in contact with a Covenant vessel Minor Transgression, making Hank Gibson
Master Chief infiltrated a Rebel base and captured Rebel member of the Covenant, served on the Two Drink Minimum for the first Human to encounter the Covenant, as well as the *
leader Colonel Robert Watts. over fifteen years, including five years as the ship's first mate. first fatality in what would become the Human-Covenat War.
Lanterns 4 —

SHIP TYPE: Destroyer SHIP TYPE: Luxury Liner SHIP TYPE: Civilian Freighter
FAMOUS PERSONALITIES: Henry Gibson KNOWN COMMANDERS: Henry Gibson
 TRANSPORT

UNSC SHIPS

FRONT VIEW REAR VIEW

After a frenzied naval engagement with a dozen Covenant ships, the crippled Pillar ofAutumn made a crash landing
on Installation 04. Most of its crew were able to survive and utilize the ship as a headquarters for a guerilla war
against against landing Covenant troops. The ship was eventually overrun by the Covenant and later, the Flood, at
which point Master Chief detonated the ship’s fusion cores, destroying the ship and Installation 04 along with it.

UNSC PILLAR OF AUTUMN

The UNSC Skidbladnir was used to transport colonists to The UNSC Onan is a symmetrical cargo ship with limited
the planet Harvest. It was equipped with an Al called Loki, Slipspace capabilities. During the events ofthe first battle of
who, once Harvest had been colonized, used the Earth it assisted the war effort by ferrying supplies to
Skidbladnir to assist in the construction of the orbiting military and civilian installations around the globe. Its
space station, the Tiara. Following that, the ship landed on current status is unknown.
the planet’s surface and was scrapped for materials such
The UNSC Stalingrad served as the flagship for a small battle as its power plant, which was used to power the capital
group tasked with rescuing Dr. Catherine Halsey and the few city of Utgard. The ship shared its name with a ship built SHIP TYPE: Freighter
surviving Spartans from Onyx in 2552 CE. During this rescue for the god Loki, from Norse mythology, FAMOUS EVENTS: The first battle of Earth
attempt, overwhelming Covenant forces destroyed the
Stalingrad.
This ship shares its name with the Battle ofStalingrad, one
SHIP TYPE: Phoenix-class Colony Ship
of the bloodiest battles of Earth’s Second World War.
USE: Civilian/Cargo transport
The URF Origami was a ship belonging to the United Rebel
+ aa

SHIP TYPE: Carrier KNOWN COMMANDERS: Front. A team of Spartans destroyed the ship in early
Admiral Carl “Buster” Patterson Zoot CE.
FAMOUS EVENTS: the battle of Onyx
The UNSC Tannenberg assisted the ONI Prowler SHIP TYPE: Destroyer
Circumference inthe unsuccessful search for Spartan-051
near the Groombridge 34 System in 2531 CE. It was called
away shortly afterward in response to nearby Covenant
The Pony Express, a Corvette-class UNSC vessel, was
activity.
originally selected to carry a team ofSpartan-ll soldiers to
Onyx following Lord Hood’s reception of an urgent The UNSC Two For Flinching is a fast-attack Corvette. In
communiqué from Dr. Catherine Halsey. The Spartans late 2524 CE it served as a transport for Staff Sgt. Avery
eventually hijacked a faster Covenant Destroyer to reach SHIP TYPE: Frigate
Johnson and Petty Officer First Class Healy on their
their destination. journey from Earth to Harvest.

SHIP TYPE: Mako-class Corvette

SHIP TYPE: Corvette
ae EVENTS: The second battle of Earth
One of the most advanced ships ever built by the UNSC,
the Point of No Return acts as a field command ship for
ONI. Oversized for a Prowler, the Point of No Return is
equipped with Stealth Ablative Coating, advanced The UNSC Resolute was serving in the Lambda Serpentis
- The UNSC Paris participated in the first battle of Earth,
counter-electronics, and a Faraday Cage, which System at the time of the Spartan-ll victory on Jericho VIl. The
including the conflict in New Mombasa. It was one of the
protects the occupants of its conference room, code ship retrieved the Spartan team following the battle but was
- few ships able to follow the UNSC In Amber Clad into
named “Qdin’s Eye.” It was inside this room that the forced to retreat when the Covenant fleet glassed the planet.
_ Slipspace in pursuit of the High Prophet of Regret’s Assault SPARTAN-III Project was approved in 2531 CE. The ship
es Cruiser. Its fate following the discovery of Halo Installation
as a whole is highly classified and ONI and the UNSC
05 is unknown. deny its existence entirely. SHIP TYPE: Destroyer
+
KNOWN COMMANDER: Capt. De Blanc
“SHIP TYPE: Frigate FAMOUS EVENTS: the SHIP TYPE: Prowler/Stealth Cruiser FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of Jericho Vil
first battle of Earth, the first battle of Mombasa
 ON THE GROUND, THE SPARTANS ALWAYS
_ WON. THE PROBLEM WAS, THEY COULDN'T
~ TAKE THEIR SUCCESSES INTO SPACE.
 —
COVENANT SHIPS
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COVENANT SHIPS are hugely versatile. Larger
a} fleet Flagships and are heavil COVENANT ASSAULT CARRIER
=e) a cena i. k : - eae th ts The main flagships of the Covenant fleet, Assault
om gee laa sath ae ae tO Ale ea Carriers are designed for planetary attacks,
also used to dispatch troops. Smaller ships, like the utilizing their extensive weaponry to break through
m2)
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Cruiser, are used to support and defend larger ships. orbital defenses before deploying a wide array of
ground troops and artillery. Equally deadly during
ship-to-ship encounters, the Assault Carrier's
bed combat versatility is the main reason it was chosen
to lead Covenant fleets into battle.
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Larger than most ships within the j re : :

Covenant armada, Assault Carriers are ake — LENGTH
armed with a bevy of plasma- and energy- 17 540 ft (5 346 m) Oicro BOR (862 m)
based weaponry, allowing them to dispatch of ssa eee eae : s oe ee
most enemy targets easily. Additionally, they carry
large complements of both infantry and vehicles,
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FAMOUS SHIPS OF THISTY
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' Troop transport, naval engagements Shadow of Intent
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Were My

FLAGSHIP REVERENCE-CLASS CRUISER COVENANT BATTLESHIP

“Flagship” is not a class of ship, but rather a title Nearly two miles from stern to stern, the Reverence- Covenant Battleships are equipped
with a dozen energy
designated to the commanding vessel in a given fleet. class Cruiser is a massive vessel capable of bringing projectors, making them among the best-armed ships
In the Covenant fleet, they tend to be Supercarriers, large amounts of infantry for planetary deployment. in the Covenant fleet. They are capable of decimating
Assault Carriers, or Reverence-class Cruisers. Only one of these ships is said to have survived the entire UNSC fleets fromlongrange. Themassiveamount ~~~
Covenant Civil War, but it was destroyed soon after ina of firepower they possess also makes them ideal for =
: conflict that erupted near the world of Onyx. defending key locations and ships. =
FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: incorruptible 1

Seeker of Truth, Shadow of Intent, Sublime

Wanscendence FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: Incorruptible LENGTH: 656 ft (200 m) USE: Naval engagements
 TRANSPORT

COVENANT SHIPS

CCS-CLASS BATTLECRUISER
COVENANT LIGHT CRUISER—SIDE VIEW The CCS-class Battlecruiser is the Covenant ship best
known to UNSC forces, due to the extensive amount of
time spent aboard the Truth and Reconciliation by
Master Chief and numerous Marines during the battle of
Alpha Halo.

COVENANT LIGHT CRUISER They are a mid-sized capital ship in the Covenant Fleet,
and their offensive and defensive abilities, combined
The Light Cruiser is a smaller version of with a large personnel and equipment capacity, make
the Covenant Cruiser. Utilized during the them ideal for troop and vehicle deployment during
occupation of Reach, Light Cruisers COVENANT CRUISER ground engagements, as well as participating in ship-

have been described by UNSC forces as Cruisers are mid-sized ships that pack plenty of to-ship naval combat.
The CCS is shaped to allow for mobility in atmosphere
looking like “luminous manta rays.” offensive punch by way of their impressive
during the deployment of infantry, as well as for a
plasma torpedo array. They often serve in a significant level of agility when battling in space. The
supporting role for Covenant flagships. interior is well documented by UNSC forces and its
various features include a network of service corridors,
centrally located CIC (Combat Information Center) and
bridge, a single gravity lift, and an extensive hanger
bay. This information has given significant insight into
the interiors of other Covenant vessels.

LENGTH: 5,847 ft (1,282 m) SPAN: 2,827 ft (862

m) USE: Troop transport, ground support FAMOUS
SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: Purity of Spirit, Sacred
Promise, Triumphant Declaration, Truth and
Reconciliation,

COVENANT SUPERCARRIER
One of the largest known vessels in the Covenant fleet,
only a few Supercarriers have ever been observed by
UNSC forces. Extremely large and extremely powerful,
Supercarriers are often used as flagships for Covenant
fleets, such as the Second Fleet of Homogeneous
COVENANT CRUISER—SIDE VIEW Clarity, which defends the Covenant Holy City of High
Charity, and the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose.
The Prophets also use them as their personal flagships.

LENGTH: 17,552 (5,354 m) USE: Defense of

BANSHEE
strategic locations, naval engagements FAMOUS
A single-man vehicle, the Banshee is mainly used by the
SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: Sublime Transcendence
Covenant as an aerial assault craft during ground
- engagements. Resembling a tiny jet, the Banshee pilot
lays prone to access the vehicles control panels and is COVENANT CARRIER
protected by a bulbous nose section, which angles
upward and back. Capable of reaching speeds of over Despite being heavy warships in their own right, the
primary role of the Covenant Carrier
is to launch fighters
sixty-two miles (one hundred kilometers) per hour gps during naval engagements. It boasts thirteen launch
it is extremely maneuverable, performing loops = bays containing a total of three hundred Seraph
and barrel rolls with ease. Fighters, two hundred Banshees, and_ thirty-four
The Banshee’s canards Dropships. It is crewed by upwards of four thousand
are equipped with elegant Covenant troops. Additionally, it is armed with multiple
Heavy weapons and explosives are propulsion technology. plasma torpedo launchers and pulse laser turrets. The
Carrier is a less common and more powerful ship than
required to destroy the Banshee BANSHEE—SIDE VIEW

the Covenant Cruiser and is most likely meant to act as

despite its lack of shielding. Small arms a command ship and a source offighter support.
fire is only useful for dispatching the LENGTH
pilot. One of the most effective tactics
LENGTH: 4,790 ft (1,455 m) USE: Troop and single-
for countering a Banshee is to stick it pilot fighter transport, firing support FAMOUS
with a Plasma Grenade as it passes. SHIPS OF THIS TYPE: Lawgiver
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 COVENANT SHIPS

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PHANTOM DROPSHIP Se eer KE, ee

The Covenant equivalent of the BAe 8 oF 7 — |
Pelican, the Phantom is used Soe oe
primarily to deliver troops into ee ‘ y = Ca
‘ground combat and provide aerial = —S Se
support. It is faster and more powerful than a
the Pelican. The crew consists of a pilot, =
co-pilot, navigator, and operations officer.

Type-52 TroopCarrier | 106ft(32.5m) | 67 ft (20.5 m)

COVENANT FRIGATE
Dropship, aerial support
Among the smallest ships in the Covenant fleet, Frigates are often
seen in the thick of ship-to-ship battles, equipped with pulse laser
turrets, plasma torpedo launchers, and a variety of tertiary weapons
systems depending on the commanding officer and crew. During the
opening conflicts of the Covenant’s civil war over High Charity,
Brutes primarily used Frigates against the outlying Elite forces.

LENGTH: 3,280 ft (1,000 m) USE: Support and escort FAMOUS SHIPS OF

THIS TYPE: Revenant, Tenebrous, Twilight Compunction
 TRANSPORT

COVENANT SHIPS

The Phantom
is armed with either
three rotational plasma cannons
or a single chin-mounted plasma
cannon, and Grunt-manned stationary
plasma turrets, depending on the model.
It can carry up to sixteen standard Covenant Despite its heavy firepower and
infantry, as well as two Ghosts or a single Wraith tank. invincibility to small-arms fire, the
Troops are typically deployed from large side doors, Phantom can be easily damaged or
destroyed by explosives. Heretic or
with the exception of Hunters, who deploy via a grav-lift. Separatist Phantoms are similar in
function and appearance, but feature a
different coloration—iridescent green
rather than the usual purple.

COVENANT STEALTH CORVETTE AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT SHIP

The Covenant equivalent of the UNSC Prowler, Corvettes Often accompanying Covenant fleets, Agricultural
are intelligence-gathering ships that use stealth Support ships are not designed for combat, but for
technology to disguise themselves during combat. They feeding Covenant soldiers. They contain large hunting
also possess complex fire-control jamming systems that preserves, populated with animals to be hunted and
can disrupt Archer Missile targeting. The UNSC /roquois butchered. They are primarily crewed by Grunts and
destroyed a Stealth Corvette during the battle of Sigma Engineers, with minimal support from Elites and Minor
Octanus IV. Prophets.

LENGTH: 1,590 ft (485 m) USE: intelligence USE: Supply transport FAMOUS SHIPS OF THIS
gathering, electronic warfare TYPE: Infinite Succor
 COVENANT SHIPS
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m DX-class Dropship 91 ft (28 m) 59 ft (18 m)
m3) The Spirit is armed with
>
a singular rotating plasma
Aas)
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SPIRIT cannon just below the
Shaped like a tuning fork, the cockpit. Despite appearing
Spirit Dropship features two cumbersome in battle, the
parallel troop bays extending Spirit is a fast vessel,
forward from a rear cockpit, each capable of reaching speeds
able to hold fifteen Covenant in excess of 680 miles (1,094
warriors. Its lack of substantial
kilometers) per hour.
offensive or defensive weapons
suggests that it was intended for
supply transport rather than
troop transport.

COMBINED FLEET OF
RIGHTEOUS PURPOSE FLEET OF PARTICULAR JUSTICE COVENANT BOARDING CRAFT
A massive Covenant fleet consisting of a composite of Prior to its destruction, the Fleet of Particular Justice Despite greatly outclassing the UNSC in naval
other fleets, Righteous Purpose was designated as was led by Supreme Commander Thel ’Vadam. After engagements, the Covenant has shown a desire to
vanguard for Covenant-occupied regions. Imperial destroying the planet of Reach, the fleet gave chase to capture Human ships and technology. This behaviour
Admiral Xytan Jar Wattinree led Righteous Purpose and the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, eventually arriving at may stem from the Covenant’s longstanding approach
its collection of over two hundred vessels. At the start of Installation 04.There, the vast majority ofthe fleet was to technological advancement through the replication
the civil war between members ofthe Covenant, Brutes destroyed when the UNSC warship’s fusion reactors of captured Forerunner artifacts. Two models of
had intended on laying siege to the fleet’s anchor went critical and set off achain reaction that destroyed boarding craft have been observed, one carrying less
outpost, a planet called Joyous Exultation, but by the the Autumn, the Installation, and most of the than a dozen troops, the other carrying approximately
time they arrived, the world had been obliterated by a surrounding Covenant ships. seventy-five.
UNSC NOVA bomb. oe 4

NOTABLE SHIPS: Ascendant Justice, Infinite LENGTH: 204ft(62 m) SPAN: 16ft (35 m)
NOTABLE SHIPS: Sublime Transcendence, Far Succor, Seeker of Truth, Truth and Reconciliation USE: Boarding
Sight Lost, Absolution
 TRANSPORT

SERAPH FIGHTER LENGTH COVENANT SHIPS”

91ft(28 m)
The Covenant equivalent of the Longsword Fighter, Seraphs
are teardrop-shaped single-man ships, piloted by either Elites
or Brutes. Armed with Heavy Plasma Cannons,
Attacking
in formations often and patrollingin pairs, Seraphs Pulse Lasers, and Plasma Charges,
are used for everything from dogfighting to bombing runs. Seraphs are more than a match for even
Despite their speed and power in space, they are awkward the most hardened Longsword pilots.
and sluggish in atmospheric conditions They are also equipped with
due to their odd shape. standard energy shields.

VAMPIRE
The sleek and swift Vampire is an impressive anti-air support vessel.
This may be in part due to its maneuverability and speed, but more
importantly is due to its ability to generate a power-draining field.
Although not nearly as powerful as the Covenant’s other air support, the
Vampire is extremely effective at its particular role in combat. Not only
does it carry a forward-facing Heavy Needler, but it also has a field generator
that emits an EMP-like energy field around its target, forcing nearby vessels
into a state of immobility or, in many cases with airborne units, straight into
the ground. It is not ideal for application in heavily congested combat areas
where collateral damage might be high, but when the opportunity to ambush
a large number of enemy vehicles presents itself, the Vampire is the likely
choice of a competent Covenant commander.
 FAMOUS COVENANT
COVENANT SHIPS TYPICALLY carry a bevy of TRUTH AND RECONCILIATH
both offensive and defensive weapons, in As a part of the Fleet of Particular Jus
addition to the expected amounts of infantry, and Reconciliation was one of the
equipment, vehicles, and other Covenant vessels that participated
material. These are named Reach. It is a CCS-class Battlecruiser.
Covenant ships that have
played significant roles in
the Covenant’scampaigns.

NOILVITIJNOI3Y
HIN¥L
ONY

SHIP TYPE FAMOUS PERSONALITIES

CCS-class Battlecruiser | Zuka ‘Zamamee, Bako ‘Ikaporamee (Elites)

FAMOUS EVENTS
The Battle of Reach, the battle of Installation 04

ASCENDANT JUSTICE INFINITE SUCCOR

Though it is believed that the Ascendant Justice was a leading ship within the Fleet of Attached to the Fleet of Particular Justice, the Infinite Succor was
Particular Justice, no hard evidence apart from its appearance in the debris field of responsible for providing the fleet with food via its massive hunting
Installation 04 substantiates this. preserve. Following the battle of Installation 04, the Flood-infected
When the ship did arrive in this sector, a band of Human survivors, including the Master Spirit Dropship Brilliant Gift was able to dock on the Infinite Succor.
Chief, boarded the vessel and killed the rather shallow number of Covenant forces aboard. Crewed only by Grunts and Engineers, the Infinite Succor was
Using the alien ship, they returned to Reach and were able to exfiltrate with the remnants of powerless to halt the infestation.
Spartan Red Team and Dr. Catherine Halsey, among others. A strike team, led by Rtas ’Vadumee, was dispatched to rescue a
Using the UNSC Gettysburg to generate more power, Ascendant Justice eventually minor Prophet aboard the /nfinite Succor and destroy the Flood
carried the Spartans to the Unyielding Hierophant (a Covenant battle station) where, after infestation. Finding the Prophet and the entire crew infected, Rtas
a strategic ground operation, the ship was used to draw a majority of the local Covenant ’‘Vadumee managed to set the Infinite Succor on a Slipspace vector
forces in before its reactors overloaded and destroyed everything within range. The for the nearest star. Although he managed to survive, the remainder
Spartans managed to narrowly escape aboard the UNSC Gettysburg. of his team was lost with the ship.

SHIP TYPE: Flagship (unconfirmed) FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of Delta Halo SHIP TYPE: Agricultural Support Ship

REVERENCE BRILLIANT GIFT COMMITMENT

AND PATIENCE
The Reverence was a CPV- The Brilliant Gift was a Covenant Spirit Dropship that crash-landed in a swamp on Little is known of Commitment and Patience or the
class Destroyer that took Halo Installation 04. Master Chief battled with its crew during the battle of vessels Sacred Promise and Devotion, which were in its
uncharacteristic opportunity Installation 04. Later, the ship was repaired by Flood Combat Forms, which used company during their fateful engagement with UNSC
to communicate with the crew it to escape the destruction ofthe Installation. The Brilliant Gift later boarded the forces. A black box recovered by ONI from Sacred
of the UNSC Pillar ofAutumn. Infinite Succor, which was also infected by the Flood. When a team of Covenant Promises’ wreckage, however, has opened a brief
Elites destroyed the Infinite Succor, the Brilliant Gift was presumed destroyed. window into the stratagem of Covenant warfare.
SHIP TYPE:
CPV-class Destroyer
SHIP TYPE: Spirit Dropship SHIP TYPE: (Redacted)

272
 TRANSPORT

; COVENANT SHIPS
ag %

_TENEBROUS RAPTUROUS ARC SHADOW OF INTENT

Attached to the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity, Attached to the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity, During the events following the Covenant civil
war high
the Brute-controlled Tenebrous assisted the Twilight the Rapturous Arc arrived at Halo Installation 05 as one above High Charity and Delta Halo, Shadow of Intent
Compunction in attacking the Elite-controlled of the vanguard ships of High Charity. During the battle and its corresponding Fleet of Retribution gave chase
Incorruptible. The Tenebrous was destroyed by an of Delta Halo, it was one of the four Destroyers that to a single Covenant cruiser entering Slipspace, a
attack from the /ncorruptible’s energy projector. attempted to destroy all Flood-infected vessels cruiser infected by the Flood.
escaping from the Halo. The Rapturous Arc was Upon exiting, they realized they had reached the Sol
eventually overtaken by the Flood and crashed into System and the planet Earth. It was here that the
SHIP TYPE: Missionary ship KNOWN another ship in an attempt to spread the infection. Arbiter led Shipmaster Rtas ’Vadum into an uneasy
COMMANDERS: Chur’R-Yar (Jackal) alliance with the UNSC, an alliance which ultimately
won the war.
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer Following the Covenant to the Ark, the Shadow of
Intent directed Elite and UNSC forces, resulting in the
obliteration of the local Covenant contingency and the
assassination of the Prophet ofTruth.

SHIP TYPE: Assault Carrier KNOWN

COMMANDERS: Rtas ’Vadumee, the Arbiter
FAMOUS EVENTS:
The battle of Delta Halo, the
second battle of Earth, the battle of
Installation00

When the Pillar ofAutumn escaped into

Slipspace, Truth and Reconciliation led the
pursuit party. After the Pillar of Autumn
crashed on Installation 04, the Truth and
Reconciliation became the Covenant command center
during the ensuing battle. Despite being unable to destroy the
Pillar ofAutumn for fear of damaging the Halo, the ship was
eventually able to capture Captain Jacob Keyes. AUNSC force
led by the Master Chief, which managed to eliminate most of
the Covenant forces aboard and take the ship, retrieved
Keyes from the Truth and Reconciliation.
When Major Antonio Silva was left in command ofthe vessel
it was decided to take the ship back to Earth. First Lieutenant
Melissa McKay realized that the potential for Flood infection
of Earth made this a dangerous gamble and she destroyed the
navigation controls on the ship, causing it to crash into the
surface of Halo Installation 04.
 FAMOUS COVENANT SHIPS

ABSOLUTION RAPID CONVERSION SACRED PROMISE

A vessel in the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose, Considered unfit for Sangheili use, the Rapid Heavily damaged during a battle with UNSC forces,
the Absolution found itself ambushed by Onyx’s Conversion was relegated to the Jiralhanae, who the Sacred Promise had originally requested
expansive network of Sentinels during a brief skirmish made do with its numerous disabled mechanical support from the Devotion and the Commitment and
near the planet. Attempting to gain a strategic systems and generally poor condition. Led by Patience. Its engine control disabled by a heavy
advantage, the Absolution was destroyed by Sentinels. Chieftain Maccabeus, the ship was crewed by a pack UNSC weapon, the vessel began accelerating
of ten Jiralhanae and also consisted of approximately uncontrollably toward a nearby moon. The crew
sixty Grunts and a hive of Drones. After rescuing abandoned ship and the Sacred Promise was
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The Dadab and Lighter Than Some following the presumably destroyed upon impact.
battle of Onyx
destruction of Minor Transgression, the Rapid + a

Conversion became the first Covenant warship to

SHIP TYPE: ccs-class Battlecruiser
SdIHS
LNVNAZAOD
SNOWVG directly assault a Human world when initial contact

CONTRITION with the colony of Harvest went horribly awry.

Little is known about the Covenant frigate Contrition

SHIP TYPE: Cruiser KNOWN COMMANDERS:
SUBLIME TRAN
apart from its crew’s attempts at psychological
warfare during space combat, most notably with the Maccabeus (Brute) FAMOUS PERSONALITIES: As the Flagship of the Fleet of Righteous Purpose, the
UNSC Hermes II. Tartarus, Vorenus, Grattius, Licinus, Strab, Ritul, Druss Sublime Transcendence retrieved a NOVA bomb from
Reach for further examination. Several months later,
the ship had returned to the world of Joyous Exultation,
SHIP TYPE: cAR-class Frigate
FAR SIGHT LOST its crew discussing the ramifications of the Covenant
Civil War. However, the ship, its fleet, and the planet
were all destroyed when Engineers accidentally
A part of the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose,
BLOODIED SPIRIT the Far Sight Lost journeyed to Onyx as a member of
activated the NOVA bomb.

the /ncorruptible’s battle group. Upon arrival, the Far

Part of Regret’s original invasion fleet, Bloodied Sight Lost was sent ahead to make contact with the SHIPTYPE:Supercarrier
KNOWN COMMANDERS:
Spirit’s crew was intent on securing a portion of the Onyx Sentinels, believing them to be emissaries of
Imperial Admiral Xytan Jar Wattinree (Elite)
UNSC’s nuclear arsenal. When a team of Spartans the Forerunners. The Sentinels quickly destroyed
covertly stormed their vessel, the Covenant aboard the ship during this attempt.

REVENANT
were quickly killed.
Under new orders, the Spartans then used the ship
to travel to Onyx, where they were forced to escape SHIP TYPE: Destroyer FAMOUS EVENTS: The
before the vessel was destroyed by the planet’s battle of Onyx KNOWN COMMANDERS: Qunu (Elite) Attached to the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity,
hostile Sentinels. the Revenant was a Brute-controlled vessel that was
heavily engaged with Elite ships during the battle of
Delta Halo. It assisted the Twilight Compunction in
SHIP TYPE: Destroyer REVERENCE tracking the /ncorruptible, but was destroyed by an
energy projector in the confusion following the arrival
Lost in a series of transmissions captured during of the Human-controlled Bloodied Spirit.
battle, the Reverence was one of a group of ships 4

that threatened the Pillar of Autumn during a space

engagement. SHIP TYPE: Frigate FAMOUS EVENTS: The
battle of Delta Halo

SHIP TYPE: cPv-class Destroyer

 TRANSPORT

COVENANT SHIPS

TWILIGHT COMPUNCTION PURITY OF SPIRIT LAWGIVER

The Twilight Compunction was a Frigate within the Second The Purity of Spirit was involved in an engagement Attached to the Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity,
Fleet of Homogenous Clarity which was seized by the with UNSC’s forces near Reach, where it taunted the the Lawgiver found itself embroiled in a battle between
Brutes at the start of the Covenant Civil War. Heavily Pillar ofAutumn, among other ships. Elite- and Brute-controlled ships when war broke out
damaged during an engagement with the Elite-occupied near High Charity and Delta Halo. The Lawgiver was
Lawgiver, the vessel joined with Revenant, another Brute- crewed by Elites and rushed to defend the /ncorruptible,
controlled Frigate, to attack the Separatist Cruiser SHIP TYPE: ccS-class Battlecruiser which was being attacked by the Brute-controlled
Incorruptible. They would have seen success, had it not Twilight Compunction.

STEEM
been for the Bloodied Spirit, which emerged from The Lawgiver damaged Twilight Compunction while
Slipspace during the battle, effectively blocking their simultaneously taking several missiles meant for the
pursuit. Twilight Compunction turned its attantion to this Incorruptible. Its final fate is not known.
new Covenant ship, which, to its crew’s surprise, was
The Esteem was one of several Covenant vessels
being operated by Humans.
which engaged in psychological warfare when SHIP TYPE: Carrier
— 4
battling with UNSC forces near the planet of Reach.
SHIP TYPE: Frigate FAMOUS EVENTS: The battle of
Delta Halo
SHIP TYPE: CPV-class Destroyer PENANCE
RIUMPHANT DECLARATION The Penance was part of a contingency of Covenant

A part of the Fleet of Furious Redemption, the INCORRUPTIBLE ships engaged near Reach. These ships were best
known for their taunting transmissions to the UNSC
Triumphant Declaration captured Colonel James outposts and vessels during battle.
Ackerson during the second battle of Earth. After his During the battles which broke out near High Charity
interrogation, the ship led an attack on the city of and Delta Halo, the Cruiser known as /ncorruptible

Cleveland in an attempt to locate the Key of Osanalan. was almost destroyed by its own commander when SHIP TYPE: CAR-class
Tano ‘Inararee, belonging to the Governors of
Contrition who believed the Flood to be part of the
SHIP TYPE: cCS-class Battlecruiser FAMOUS
EVENTS: The second battle of Earth
COMMANDERS: Lepidus (Brute)
KNOWN
Forerunners’ divinity, moved the vessel toward the
parasite’s exposure on Installation 05. MINOR TRANSGRESSION
When Voro ’Mantakree led a mutiny against his
Operating for the Ministry of Tranquility, Minor
IQUISITOR
Shipmaster, they averted this fate and after a series
of engagements with Brute-controlled ships, Transgression was a missionary vessel which made
returned back to the outpost world of Joyous first contact with Humanity when stumbling upon a
Considered one ofthe fastest ships at the Covenant’s Exaltation. There, the crew received a new mission to UNSC Freighter. Under the impression that the vessel
disposal, the Pious Inquisitor saw action at the first the planet of Onyx in search of Forerunner artifacts. housed Forerunner artifacts, the Jackal crew saw
battle of Earth when the High Prophet of Regret After reaching the Human world, the /ncorruptible this as a financial opportunity and continued to raid
assaulted the city of New Mombasa. It later returned met its fate when it collided with UNSC Hornet mines Human ships in search of valuable relics. They
for the second battle of Earth and as part ofthe Fleet during a brief battle above the planet’s surface. eventually ran afoul of a trap set by the UNSC, who
of Retribution, operated by Covenant Separatists who initially believed Transgression to be a ship of Human
were pursuing a Flood-controlled Cruiser to Earth. Insurrectionist pirates. When it looked as though the
Given the luxurious nature of its interior, it is SHIP TYPE: Reverence-class Cruiser FAMOUS UNSC would take the ship, the commander of the
speculated that it may have been the flagship of the EVENTS: The battle of Onyx; also involved in battles Minor Transgression destroyed it.
High Prophet of Regret. over High Charity and Delta Halo COMMANDERS:
Tano’Inanraree, Voro Nar’Mantakree (Elites)
FAMOUS EVENTS: The first battle of Earth, the SHIP TYPE: Missionary ship KNOWN
second battle of Earth COMMANDERS: Chur’R-Yar (Jackal)
 / WITH ITS DISTINCTIVE geometric and angular appearance,
the Forerunner Dreadnought was an important vessel used in
the Forerunner-Flood war. As the only ship able to activate
the portal that allowed access to the Ark, the Forerunner
Dreadnought was also a vital part of the Forerunner strategy
against the Flood. It was thought that all the Forerunner
Dreadnought ships had been destroyed during the battle of
2
m the Maginot Sphere, however the San ‘Shyuum discovered
one ship that had survived the destruction. This ship, which
oa was simply known as the Dreadnought, was worshipped by
the San ’Shyuum who used it to explore the Galaxy.
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THE LAST FORERUNNER SHIP :

When the San ‘Shyuum discovered the last surviving Forerunner Dreadnought they used it in a
_ devastating war against Sanghelli. After the two races signed the Writ of Union—the treaty that
b lead to the creation of the Covenant—the Dreadnought was decommissioned, stripped of its
| weapons and used to power the city of High Charity, which was built around it.
___ Later, just prior to the Human-Covenant War, the dormant Oracle inhabiting the Dreadnought
_ awoke and informed several Prophets that the Humans, not the Covenant, were the chosen race of
_ the Forerunners. The Prophets subverted this information, thus setting the stage for the Human-
Covenant War.
Several decades later, following the battle of Installation 05, the Flood attacked High Charity and
the High Prophet of Truth escaped by detaching the Dreadnought from the city and jumping into
Slipspace. Master Chief managed to stow away aboard the ship and escaped before the High Prophet
crashed the ship into the African jungle, activating the Portal to the Ark. UNSC forces then assaulted
the ship, but they were unable to prevent the opening of the Portal, which transported the ship to
the Ark. The Dreadnought was most likely inoperable by the time it arrived on the Ark, and was
presumably destroyed along with it.
 _ TRANSPORT

Sharing a similar design to other Forerunner

structures, the Dreadnought’s architecture is a
flawless mixture of their unique cultural aesthetic
and perfected technology. The muted tones of its
hull and the precise geometric angles are
unquestionably a work of both art and science.

Although unquestionably destructive in combat, the true irony of the

Dreadnought is that it also ferried millions of sentient beings from their
own homeworlds to the Ark, ultimately saving not only their individual
; lives but their entire species.

OTHER NAMES FAMOUS EVENTS

Forerunner ship, Keyship Forerunner-Flood War, Sangheili-San Shyuum War, the battle of High Charity, the second battle of Earth
 yw
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UNSC bases can be dropped from orbit
into hostile territory. They can comprise
a command center, barracks, production
armed with Flame Mortars, Rail Guns, and a
facilities, and tactical communications Missile Launchers.
all in one compact outpost.

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 LOCATIONS

UNSC BASES

VEHICLE DEPOT
The vehicle depot is the center of vehicle
production on UNSC bases. Facilitated by
heavy equipment and hydraulic cranes,
specially trained troops assemble and
repair Scorpions, Cobras, and Wolverines
from kits transported in via supply pads.

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THE SOL SYSTEM
LOCATED IN ORION’S ARM, the Sol System is the heart of the UNSC. Its third planet, Earth, orbit. During an operation involving Sparta
Station Wayward Rest was destroyed alo
is the birthplace of Humanity and remains one of its largest production areas. When COE when the super-soldiers vaporize:
Humankind encountered the Covenant, the UNSC developed the Cole Protcol to keep the Covenant vessel by arming and detonatir
Sol System hidden, but the Covenant did eventually find Earth. Two major battles were nuclear warheads within it.
fought there, and now that the conflict is essentially over, rebuilding must begin.
MARS
LOCATION: Fourth planet of the Sol system vos
DESCRIPTION: Iron-rich, NS on stHu
EARTH asteroid collisions. Now, thanks. to advances
technology, Luna is home to several stations and
in
colonized planet
LOCATION: Third planetof the Sol System MAJOR LOCATIONS: New Manila, New Leg
domes, most notably the Luna OCS Academy. Large-
DESCRIPTION: Mostly water, Humanity’s home planet, Testing Station, Chiron TL-34, Misriah Armory, Re
scale terraforming has not taken place there, largely
polluted, overcrowded McLees Shipyards, Argyre Planitia, Mare
due to the moon’s low gravity.
Home. No matter how far away a Marine may go, his Phobos Penal Colony
heart always returns to Earth. It is haven, mother,
father, and everything every Human is fighting for. CAIRO STATION
Billions still live there despite the ongoing colonization LOCATION: Orbiting Earth first planet that the UNSC colonized. After cen
ofthestars, andforgood aay Despite its sometimes Cairo Station is one of many. Orbital Defense terraforming, the “Red” planet is now as green
polluted shores, it is where Humanity was born and Platforms (ODPs) in geosynchronous orbit above as Earth, but with less population. Its fea
where it will eventually die. The Covenant, of course, Earth. Like other platforms, Cairo belongs to a battle seem bizarre to those who have never ventured iy
d to speed up that process and spent many, many cluster and its primary function is the maintenance beyond Humanity’s homeworld, but to those who pl |
1d much of their efforts trying to locate this and use of its massive MAC Gun. It is named for the there, it is nothing
but their home. G
planet. To prevent this, the UNSC developed the Cole Egyptian city of Cairo, which it orbits above. The This world also has the dubious distinction of being J
Protocol, which called for the dumping of any legendary Master Chief was aboard Cairo Station the first planet to rebel from UNSC control. In the_
information prior to a Covenant capture, and forced during the first battle of Earth. There, he staved off events leading up to the Interplanetary War, Mars
ips to jump to random points away from Earth. Covenant invaders intent. on bombing the station harbored many activists and Rebels who would late
tually however, Humanity’s enemy did find the and punching a hole through its battle cluster. take part in the conflict. When the first s
Sol System. For over a hundred thousand years, Although other platforms fell, Cairo remained intact. fired, many Martians joined the neo-coms
Humans had been the dominant species, but within a Fleet Admiral Hood commanded Earth’s defensive Koslovics. These revolutionaries were ev: tually
matter of hours, the entire population of Earth was cut systems from the station as well. When it became down in the harsh blitzes that eventually pur
in halfas the first battle of Earth began. clear that the battle was shifting from orbital Sol System of such idealists.
defense to a ground battle, he ordered Master Chief
UNSC forces did manage to fight back, thanks in part After many centuries of tranquillity
and Avery Johnson to fight the Covenant Loyalists
to the efforts of Master Chief, but the Covenant later again saw war when the Covenant’s fleets
on the surface of Earth.
returned to lead the second battle of Earth. Even with the Sol System. Colonel James Ackerson
all of the bases, forces, and defenses ofthe planet, the Participated in the engagements on the su
UNSC could only hold out for so long. The Covenant was ATHENSAND MALTA STATIONS Mars but was captured in the fields ¢
on a religious quest, not simply the cause of LOCATION: Orbiting Earth Erythraeum. These actions ultimately as:
extermination. Of the same type and construction as Cairo Station, UNSC in delaying the Covenant foyy
Deep below the surface of the planet fay the Athens and Malta Stations were defensive command protracted assault on Earth.
Forerunner Portal. For an unknown reason, the posts for Earth, but they were destroyed nearly
ForerunnershadplacedthatlinktotheirArk Installation simultaneously by a pair of Covenant bombs. Prior to
on Earth. Is this linked to why the Forerunner language its destruction, Athens held in geosynchronous orbit MERCURY
refers to Humans as “Reclaimers?” What will become over the city of the same name. LOCATION: First planet of the Sol System -
of Earth—and Humanity—now that the Human- The destruction of Athens Station, combined with DESCRIPTION: Tiny, barren, atmospherically
Covenant War has ended? that of Malta Station, allowed the High Prophet of Mercury is the planet closest to Sol
Regret’s Assault Carrier to slip into Earth's atmosphere its small size have contributed to its atme
there ever was one) being boiled from the sur
LUNA and assault Africa in the city of New Mombasa.
pa
ey Because of this harsh nature, it is of
LOCATION: Orbiting Earth
UNSC forces. j
DESCRIPTION: Barren surface, tidal influencer, STATION WAYWARD REST
atmospherically devoid LOCATION: Orbiting Earth
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Luna OCS Academy Station Wayward Rest served as the terminus
Earth's moon: and closest neighbor has inspired facility of the Centennial Orbital Elevator which was LOCATION: Fifth planet of the Sol Systen
Humanity since the dawn oftime. It has no atmosphere tethered to the city of Havana as animmense structure DESCRIPTION: Gas giant, several hal
to speak of, while its surface is covered by pockmarked that ferried large loads of materials from Earth into radiation- emitter
 As Humanity does not yet have the technology to mine
on gas giants, Jupiter remains in its original capacity—a
EUROPA URANUS
LOCATION: Orbiting Jupiter LOCATION: Seventh planet of the Sol System
scientific curiosity. Its swirling winds give information on
DESCRIPTION: Terraformed, atmospherically frosty, DESCRIPTION: Gas giant, anomalous, mostly unexplored,
the formation of storms, while many other features [its
militaristically uninteresting unpopulated
intense radiation, ring system, and orbital path) also allow
Europa was once thought to be the location with the Named for the mythical creator of the universe, Uranus
scientists to analyze mysteries of the universe.
highest likelihood of life within the Sol System—other is an oddity among planets for several reasons. First and
Mainly, however, Jupiter is the planet around which
than Earth. Its icy surface hid an ocean deep beneath, foremost, its axial tilt has its poles turned past a ninety-
many habitable moons have been colonized. Humans
where scientists theorized ocean vents could create degree angle. Secondly, while still freezing and unmapped,
have been there since the first days of colonization and
amino acids and the building blocks oflife. it features a number of alarming radiation spikes that
Jupiter was the starting point of the Interplanetary War
When the first interstellar Colonists landed there, have yet to be addressed.
when the Colonists bucked against the control of Earth.
pee
however, they discovered that this was not the case. Much like Saturn, Uranus is much further out from the

CALLISTO Colonization occurred without the discovery of any

new life forms and culminated in a thriving outpost that
sun than would be cost-effectiveto investigate. Its moons
are also less understood than Jupiter’s, while its
LOCATION: Orbiting Jupiter survives to this day. anomalies are worrying.
DESCRIPTION: Rock and ice ball, atmospherically devoid, For all of its qualities, Europa does not figure much
UNSC-controlled, minimally colonized
Discovered by Galileo, Callisto has long been a source of
militarily. The Spartans completed a mission there
before the Fall of Reach, but that was the liveliest
NEPTUNE
LOCATION: Eighth planet of the Sol System
fascination for Humans. Even colonized, it remains a incursion since the Jovian Moons Campaign. Even
DESCRIPTION: Gas giant, most distant planetin system,
source of mystery. Why, even though it is ninety-nine when the Covenant attacked the Sol System, Europa
mostly unexplored
percent the size of Mercury, does it have a third less of the went unmolested.
Neptune lay undiscovered by Humanity until well
mass? How did ice manage to form there without the aid of into the second millennium, and only revealed its
an atmosphere? Is there an ocean beneath the surface of GANYMEDE position with the coming of sophisticated telescopes
the moon? LOCATION: Orbiting Jupiter Its gaseous form shows off as a brilliant blue, so it was
These questions are now secondary to Callisto’s actual DESCRIPTION: Partially terraformed, well populated named for the Roman God ofthe Sea. Like its brothers
purpose, whichis primarily militaristic in nature. The UNSC Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter and is Uranus and Saturn, Neptune has been overlooked in
has several bases there, all of which are capable of controlled by the UNSC. It has been terraformed, favor of the much larger Jupiter. Unlike those other
launching their units and ships within an hour’s notice. though it supposedly retains a harsh climate. The planets, however, Neptune is in a unique position to
country of Aigburth is located on Ganymede. Aigburth slingshot ships coming in from Pluto deep into the
lO is home to the Low/Zero Gravity Testing Facility, where system with its gravity well. This only works when the
LOCATION: Orbiting Jupiter the EVA Armor was developed. two planets are relatively aligned (and when Slipspace
DESCRIPTION: Massively volcanic, atmospherically travel would be deemed unreasonable], so it is still a
volatile, unstable, populated SATURN rather rare occurrence.
wastes
But compared to the barren
that are its closest two planets, Neptune is
lo is a volcanic moon of Jupiter that, while volatile, LOCATION: Sixth planet of the Sol System
nonetheless supports a large colony of Humans. It was one relatively bustling.
DESCRIPTION: Gas giant, massive rings, former tourist
of the first planets settled by Humanity during the infancy destination
of interstellar travel. The planet Saturn is the third largest body in the Sol PLUTO
When Jovian Secessionists attacked the United Nations System (behind Sol and Jupiter), but is one of the most LOCATION: Kuiper Belt
Colonial Advisors on lo, it led to three months of bloodshed visually arresting due to its system of rings. Unlike the DESCRIPTION: Diminutive planetoid, atmospherically void
between Earth's military and the localized forces. This other gas giants in that system [all of which feature pale Pluto was once classified as a planet, having been
initial conflict sparked a series of battles which came to hoops ofstardust), Saturn's rings are astonishingly bright discovered in the early 20th century and thought to be
collectively be known as the Interplanetary War. and large. It was because of this that Saturn became a the reason for anomalies in Neptune’s orbit. In fact,
The UNSC base on lo later discovered the Slipspace tourist destination of sorts, although its practical Pluto was much too small to create these disturbances
wake of a massive Covenant force as it traveled to Earth. applications have always been limited. Saturn’s moons and was later downgraded to a dwarf planet. Its gravity
_ This was the fleet that led the first battle of Earth. lo’s are less explored than Jupiter's,
the planetismuch further makes it too non-robust to maintain an atmosphere of
reconnaissance allowed Earth's forces to deploy in time to from the sun, and Jupiter is already well established. any kind, but it does have several stations orbiting it
| confront the Covenant fleet. Thus, Saturn remains a curiosity and little else. for scientific and militaristic purposes.

> JUPITER'S MOONS WERE THE LOCATION OF

SOMEOFHUMANITY’S EARLIEST COLONIES AND
CONFLICTS INSPACE.
 EVEN AS HUMANITY spread throughout the Milky Way colonizing new planets, Earth remained its
spiritual home and the center of the UNSC, the administrators of the Galaxy. “Planetside” Earth
still encompasses seven continents, but geopolitically it has changed significantly since the
beginning of the 21st century. “Orbital Earth” includes stations built to defend Earth.

AFRICA UNITED REPUBLIC CHINA

DESCRIPTION: Verdant and desert, war-torn OF TANZANIA LOCATION: East Asia, Earth
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Cairo, New Mombasa, Arab Republic LOCATION: Africa, Earth DESCRIPTION: Overcrowded, ancient foundations,
of Egypt, Republic of Kenya, Voi, the Forerunner Portal, DESCRIPTION: Industrialized, UNSC-controlled international superpower
United Republic of Tanzania, Arusha MAJOR LOCATIONS: Zanzibar Islands, Wind Power China is one of Earth’s oldest civilizations, dating back
MAJOR EVENTS: The first battle of Earth, the battle of Station 7, Arusha thousands of years before Humanity broke the bonds of
New Mombasa The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in Earth and began to colonize the stars. When that
Africa is the second-largest continent on Earth. East Africa where the UNSC has established many colonization began, China was one of the most
Taking up almost twenty percent of the planet’s land bases throughout its history. Tanzania is bordered enthusiastic and effective colonizing forces and many of
area, it features a multitude of cultures, peoples, and by Kenya and is connected to that country by way the vital resource colonies that supplied the UNSC war
languages. Due to its wealth, it has also been the of the Tsavo Highway, which links Arusha in effort were initiated by Chinese efforts.
center of innumerable wars since the dawn of time. Tanzania and Voi in Kenya. Inamuch smaller-scale note, in 2004 CE, DanaAwbreuy,
Most recently, Africa took center stage during the creator of the website ilovebees.com, fled to China after
Covenant’s invasion of Earth. During the first battle of anAlcalledthe Operator attempted to kill her. The Operator
Earth, most ofthe fighting took placein Cairo and New THE EUROPEAN UNION was actually a damaged fragment of the Al known as
Mombasa, while later, in the events of the second LOCATION: Earth Melissa, thrown back in time from the 26th century.
battle of Earth, the Sangheili glassed part of the MAJOR LOCATIONS: London, Edinburgh, Paris,
southern region to prevent the newly-invaded Flood Barcelona, Madrid, Brussels, Berlin, Florence,
from spreading. Rome, Essen DIEGO GARCIA
\iatied A democratic confederation of nations on a LOCATION: Indian Ocean, Earth
subcontinent of Eurasia, the EU is economically DESCRIPTION: UNSC military base
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT and politically powerful and proudly multicultural. MAJOR LOCATIONS: Diego Garcia UNSC Base
LOCATION: Africa, Earth Diego Garcia is the largest known atoll on Earth and is
DESCRIPTION: Desert/tropical, bisected by Nile River found within the Indian Ocean. Because of its proximity
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Cairo
The Arab Republic of Egypt is a technological,
BEWEGLICHR to India, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Africa, the British

economic, and military dynamo. Sitting on the Nile, it STUNGSYSTEME TESTING installed a military base there for both training and
refueling. It has been used as such ever since. During the
has capitalized on this strategic location for over six FACILITY first battle of Earth, the UNSC staged its first
thousand years, which is why it is so integral to UNSC LOCATION: Essen, Germany counterattacks from Diego Garcia. These proved to be
defenses of Earth. Its capital is Cairo. A UNSC research and development facility that pivotal, and later, as the second battle of Earth unfolded,
has created mobile armament and MJOLNIR Mark the Covenant sent in a capital ship to destroy it.
Vl Armor systems.
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
LOCATION: Africa, Earth JAPAN
DESCRIPTION: Industrialized, war-torn ASIA LOCATION: Pacific Ocean, Earth
MAJOR LOCATIONS: New Mombasa, Old Mombasa, the LOCATION: Earth DESCRIPTION: Crowded, technologically advanced,
New Mombasa Orbital Elevator, Voi DESCRIPTION: Largest continent, but also the economically volatile
The Republic of Kenya is a country in Eastern most-populated and most-polluted Japanis anisland-nation
in the Pacific Ocean,
off the
Africa. After the events of 2552 CE, Kenya became Asia is the largest and most populous of Earth’s coast of mainland Asia. It remained in political and
most renowned for the historic standoff between seven traditional continents. The UNSC has long cultural isolation for several centuries, but in the
UNSC forces and the Covenant in the city of New taken an interest in Asia, forno better reason than 1800’s the nation underwent a massive renewal of
Mombasa,
as well as the unearthing
of the Forerunner its vast size. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, technology and economic activity. Now, seven

v
machine buried below the town of Voi. It was there and Pakistani interests have long held sway over hundred years later, Japan is as well endowed with
that Humanity finally defeated the Covenant, Humanity’s decision-making processes, and yet scientists, economists, and global culturalism as any
bringing an end to over a quarter of a century ofwar. now, with the UNSC in control, itis no different. other nation on Earth.

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KOREA REPUBLIC OF CUBA technological and militaristic locations. Because of
LOCATION: Korean Peninsula, Asia, Earth MAJOR LOCATIONS: Havana, Centennial Orbital Elevator this, it was heavily bombarded by the Covenant during
DESCRIPTION: Formerly divided (now unified), technological Its equatorial proximity made the Republic of Cuba the Human-Covenant War.
powerhouse ideal for the Orbital Space Elevator of “Tallo Negro de
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Kyonggi Province, Songnam, Special Maiz.” Its ability to ferry cargo to orbit made Cuba a
Warfare Center powerful and prosperous nation in a way never before HIGHCOM FACILITY BRAVO-6
Korea, as a nation, has only existed in its unified form seen in its history. It is, however, a small island, and LOCATION: Sydney, Australia, Earth
for a few hundred uears priortothe events of the Human- with a brisk tourist trade has become a partner with DESCRIPTION: UNSC High Command, High Security Area,
Covenant War. Before then, it had been separated into two all countries of Earth. High Risk Strike Area
countries; North and South. After the long-anticipated MAJOR LOCATIONS: The Hive
treaty which united Korea and due to its strong emphasis After the Fall of Reach, the UNSC High Command
on education, Korea has become a_ technological ANTARCTICA relocated to its next-most secured position: The
powerhouse. For this reason, the UNSC has established LOCATION: Earth HighCom Facility in Sydney. Actually, the facility is
many bases—military and otherwise—there for officer DESCRIPTION: Polar, tundra and desert, ice-ridden located below Sydney, as such a significant target
training and weapons testing. The best known of these MAJOR LOCATIONS: Mount Erebus, Ross Island needs to be protected from possible orbital
bases is the Special Warfare Center, where the MJOLNIR Antarctica sits on the southern pole of Earth. It is bombardment. All major UNSC decisions must pass
almost entirely covered in ice, and was the last through these walls at some point, particularly
Mark-VI armor was tested.
continent to be fully explored. Other than a few bases experimental or high-cost projects.
and points of interest—most notably Ross Island’s Even farther beneath Bravo-6 is another location,
PAKISTAN Mount Erebus—it is uninhabited by Humans. During known as the Hive. It is here that many ONI projects
LOCATION: Middle East/South Asia, Earth the second battle of Earth, Covenant forces tried to began. So many secrets and scandals of the UNSC are
DESCRIPTION: Islamic Republic, overcrowded excavate a Forerunner artifact they believed to be located here that only those members with the highest
Pakistan is one ofthe last Islamic Republics remaining below Mount Erebus, but were stopped by Spartan possible security clearance are allowed past the first
on Earth in the 26th century. It has radically modernized Blue Team. security checkpoint.
itself, however, and is not as harsh a region as it once was.
During the second battle of Earth, the UNSC managed to
defeat alarge force of Covenant Loyalists at the Pakistani- COMMONWEALTH SYDNEY SYNTHETIC
Afghani border. OF AUSTRALIA INTELLECT INSTITUTE
LOCATION: Pacific and Indian Oceans, Earth LOCATION: Sydney, Commonwealth of Australia, Earth
DESCRIPTION: Tropical to desert environment,
UNITED REPUBLIC OF densely populated
DESCRIPTION: Advanced Al-Development
Classified Military Applications
Laboratory,

NORTH AMERICA (URNA) MAJOR LOCATIONS: Sydney, Perth, HIGHCOM Facility Almost all major Artificial Intelligence advances in the
LOCATION: Earth Bravo-6, Sydney Synthetic Intellect Institute last half-century have occurred at Double Si: The
DESCRIPTION: Desert to tundra, verdant The Commonwealth of Australia has long been an differentiation between “smart” and “dumb” Als,
MAJOR LOCATIONS: United States, Cleveland, Commonwealth economic powerhouse. Situated in the Southern calculation refinement, and (among much else for the
of Kentucky, Mexico, Canada, UNSC Supreme Headquarters, Hemisphere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, it military) ‘marrying Al components to Naval
Greater Chicago Industrial Zone, Fueder Construction is a country of many divergences: Deserts next to Computational Navigation Software.
Headquarters, Base Segundo Terra paradise, beauty mixed with danger, kindness mixed It was here that the first micro Al, Jerrod, became
The United Republic of North America is a loose with cruelty. It is a place of paradoxes and mystery, operational. Jerrod was only supposed to have survived
association of the nations of Canada and Mexico and the and remains so through the 26th century. Australia, for a few days, but he surpassed all expectations and
political remnants ofthe United States. The UNSC has many due to its stability, became the seat of many eventually became quite close with Dr. Halsey.
military bases and other facilities spread across the URNA,
as the association with the former United Nations and its
headquarters in New York City still ties the organization
closely to this part of the world.

> THE UNSC ESTABLISHED MANY BASES IN TANZANIA

THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. TO CAPITALIZE ON ITS
EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES, MANY BASES
WERE BUILT INTO THE SLOPES OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO.
 ~HUMAN COLONIES
3
1H
THE UNITED NATIONS Space Command had acquired many
controlling the whole complex, sat a crystalline stone
colonies by the end of the 24th century. The Inner Colonies that the Forerunners had left behind when they
were the first to be terraformed. The Outer Colonies are vanished. Its radiation signature had drawn Covenant
d3 rilad
“NU
TIS those farthest from Earth and Reach. Many were forces there and saved that part of Reach from being
glassed, though that also meant that the Spartans
eventually overrun and glassed by the Covenant. were able to find and retrieve it too. The stone’s exact
properties and uses are unknown, but it allowed
advanced (although more dangerous) Slipspace travel
aos dt
from Reach when Dr. Halsey and the Spartans escaped
from the planet.
CHI CETI SYSTEM Mountain,
Independence,
CASTLE Base, Camp Hathcock,
Reach Naval Academy, ON! Medical
Camp

DESCRIPTION: White Giant star, 77 light years from

Earth
Facility,
Gamma
Orbital Defense Platforms, Reach Station
CASTLE BASE
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Chi Ceti IV LOCATION: Menachite Mountain, Reach
Aside from Earth, there is—or rather, there was—no
Other than the UNSC training and production facility SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani
planet more important to the UNSC than Reach. The
on Chi Ceti IV, there was little of note in the Chi Ceti MAJOR LOCATIONS: Level Aqua, Level Scarlet, Level
Covenant glassed it in the battle now known as the Fall
System, located inthe outer bands of human-populated Lavender
of Reach. Before that, however, Reach was the site of
systems. Its distance made transport there Deep within Menachite Mountain, protected by a
many military projects. Rich in minerals and metals
prohibitively difficult. When the Covenant vessel structure that could withstand an eighty-megaton
(particularly titanium), the planet soon became a
Unrelenting arrived, it quickly engaged the nearby blast, lies CASTLE Base, ONI’s biggest secret on Reach.
major production and testing facility. ONI forces had a
Pee
sc
4 UNSC Commonwealth. During the skirmish, three
Spartans boarded the Covenant ship and detonated an
major base there, while Marines prepared many
operations on its forested surface. Even the Spartan-
It was here that many of the details of the SPARTAN-I
Program were hammered out, including specifications
ASM near its reactor, ultimately destroying the ship. for MJOLNIR, the energy shields stolen from the
lls trained here; Master Chief admitted that, with no
This operation claimed the life of the Spartan Covenant, and refinements of every kind of weapon
memories of his real homeworld, Reach was the closest
Samuel-034 and left an indelible memory with the
team leader, Master Chief.
he would get. Unknown to the UNSC, however, there
was a large Forerunner installation buried beneath the
xng Mew

bea
that the UNSC employed. CASTLE Base fell with the rest
of Reach after the Covenant attacked. However, Dr.
Halsey—who had managed to survive by hiding deep
Highland Mountains. Perhaps it was this that drew the
within the bowels of the base—initiated Operation:
CHI CETIIV Covenant here in such large numbers, bypassing many
WHITE GLOVE, which wiped out all of the sensitive
SYSTEM: Chi Ceti Outer Colonies. In any case, the Covenant attacked in
material (including the base’s Al), thus preventing the
DESCRIPTION: Underpopulated numbers previously unseen. The Orbital Defense
Covenant from learning any Human secrets.
Chi Ceti lV sits on the outskirts of the Outer Colonies. Platforms, state-of-the-art and ready-made to destroy
A top-secret installation, the Damascus Testing Covenant ships, fell swiftly. On the ground, Human
Facility, is situated on its surface and is where the forces were soon wiped out, despite some heroics ARCADIA
Spartan-lls were upgraded with their refined MJOLNIR staged by a group of Spartan-lls. In the end, the LOCATION: Inner Colonies
Mark IV armor during the battle of Chi Ceti. This facility Covenant glassed almost the entire surface of the SYSTEM: Procyon System
was abandoned and, because it was the only known planet, save for the Highland Mountains. They DESCRIPTION: Tourist drawing, atmospherically
human installation on the planet, was most likely attempted to retrieve an artifact beneath it, but Dr. tropical
destroyed by the Covenant. Above this planet lies the Catherine Halsey, aided by a recently returned Master MAJOR LOCATIONS: Deep Space Research Array
location of Samuel-034's death. He died after his suit Chief and several other Spartans, took the objects with Described as a “tropical paradise,” Arcadia is a
ruptured while inside a Covenant ship, thus forcing him them and out into the “safety” of Slipspace. popular destination for tourists, famed for its safaris,
to stay behind and defend his fleeing comrades while Reach is a cautionary tale for all UNSC brass. Much and cruise ships are in constant transit between it and
they escaped the Covenant ship’s destruction. like the “unsinkable” Titanic, the planet fell despite its Earth. It was once a heavily populated Forerunt
defenses and distance from the front lines. Earth and world. Today, the Forerunner ruins are now (
the rest of the Inner Colonies beefed up their defenses
EPSILON ERIDANI SYSTEM in response, which may have saved them when the
destroyed by erosion or are hidden deep bene
surface of the planet. Limited settlement
LOCATION: 10.5 light years from Sol Covenant invaded again only a few months afterwards. _ exploration of the planet’s surface beyond thet
DESCRIPTION: Sol-Proximate, high traffic, formerly UNSC “
zones prevented the discovery of local Forerunne
center of production
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Reach, Beta Gabriel, Circumstance, ) TITANIUM MINES remnants for a surprisingly long time.
The location of Arcadia makes it a perfect spot for
Tantalus, Tribute 2 LOCATION: Menachite Mountain, Reach
the Deep Space Research Array, which orbits the plane
This system is most notable as being the home of SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani
searching for heavy gravity events in the universe. _
the planet Reach. It was one of the first systems DESCRIPTION: Abandoned, partially explored,
explored and then later colonized by Humans. This is Forerunner-Proximate
due to its proximity to Earth; at just over 10.5 light Deep beneath the hills of Reach there lay thick veins BETA GABRIEL
years away, it Is a relatively quick jaunt home. It was of elements that, when properly smelted, created DESCRIPTION: Uninhabite
also one of the most important systems in all of the titanium.Itwas this source that originally made Reach SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani
UNSC until it fell to the Covenant in 2552 CE. such a valuable asset for the UNSC. Though many of the With no permanent Hur
original mines dried out over the centuries, some of Reach, Beta Gabriel mo
~_ continued until the planet fell. One such mine housed
REACH "part of ONI’s CASTLE Base, deep
hands—if it was not
planet Reach itself.
SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani Mountain. When Dr. Halsey and t
DESCRIPTION: Earthlike, forested, temperate were forced to flee the base,
atmosphere, mineral-rich these abandoned
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Highland Mountains, Menachite themselves in the “
 LOCATIONS

HUMAN COLONIES

DESCRIPTION: Center ofjustice and education became synonymous with backwater productivity. DESCRIPTION: Devoid of natural life, asteroid shards in
Circumstance was formerly a UNSC colony world in the Harvest, being on the fringe of the Outer Colonies, had make-up
Epsilon Eridani System, along with Tribute, Beta Gabriel, little hope of receiving reinforcements or a major MAJOR LOCATIONS: Eridanus Secundus
Arcadia, and Reach. It was apparently famous for its evacuation. Even though citizens outnumbered Covenant The Eridanus Asteroid Belt—primarily the asteroid
universities and courts of justice. Although the planet's soldiers one hundred to one, the scope of the Covenant Eridanus Secundus—has long been a hideout for pirates
Status is unknown, contact with the Epsilon Eridani weaponry made much of the planet a charred wasteland and Rebels. Even when the UNSC was free of external
system was lost after the Fall of Reach so it is thought within days ofthe first firefight. It might have been worse conflict, these brigands were hard to locate. Master Chief
unlikely that Circumstance survived the inevitable were it not for Avery Johnson and his militia. Stationed on andthe Spartans managed to infiltrate Eridanus Secundus
~ onslaught. Harvest after going AWOL on Earth, Johnson thought it to and extract Colonel Robert Watts, but that was an
be the perfect place to clear his head from the horrors of exception. Even after the Covenant entered the system
TANTALUS his past. Instead, the Covenant attacked, and he had to
lead the farm boys under his command into battle.
and glassed Eridanus Il, the Rebels kept quiet and
remained hidden. It was not until the Ascendant Justice-
(aaa
SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani
There was no hope of victory, but aided by the Als Sif Gettysburg, under the control of Admiral Whitcomb and
Tantalus is yet another UNSC colony world located in
and Mack (known as Loki in his more destructive form], Cortana, entered the system on their way back to Earth jae
the system of Epsilon Eridani. It had a small contingent of
Johnson and his crew were able to evacuate many of that the Rebels finally gave up. Master Chieft eae ae
UNSC ships orbiting overhead, all of which were called into
Harvest’s citizens before major Covenant forces united refitting at the asteroid hideout, which
service by Admiral Roland Freemont during the Fall of overhead and glassed the planet. In fighting the Covenant,
Reach. was destroyed during his first mission, bu eons itstill
Johnson found his purpose in life and he saved thousands quite active, albeit running silent. In exchange for parduns,
—
ofcivilians, but the first shot in the Human-Covenant War the leader of the Rebels, Governor Jacob Jiles, allawed the
TRIBUTE had been fired.
ship to dock for repairs. Covenant forces were nat far
SYSTEM: Epsilon Eridani Harvestlatersawthe largest UNSC fleet everassembled
behind, however. The Rebels made a Valiant effort to stop
Tribute was once a major UNSC Colony, though it paled investigate the planet's demise and try to win it back at all
their advance, but were eventually allkille
in comparison to the nearby Reach. Still, it had a good costs. It was eventually retaken, but two-thirds ofall UNSC
allowed Master Chief and the Ascen
population, centered in the city of Casbah, as well as a ships in the fleet were destroyed in the battle.
perasborg toescapeoncemore.
strong economy and thriving spaceport traffic.
Unfortunately, with all of the ships coming and going, c

Insurrectionists soon left their mark. Many people on ERIDANUS SYSTEM MINISTER
Tribute bristled at tight UNSC control already, being so DESCRIPTION: Pirate-ridden, Insurrectionist base LOCATION: Inner Colonies

close to Reach. When riots broke out, the UNSC enacted MAJOR LOCATIONS: Eridanus ll, Eridanus Asteroid Belt DESCRIPTION: UNSC colony world
elements of Operation: TREBUCHET to subdue the Rebellions and insurrections have plagued the UNSC Minister remains one of the fewU
Insurrectionists. The Covenant took control of the Epsilon from its foundation. The Eridanus System has been a to the Covenant. Its obscurit
Eridani System soon after the Fall of Reach. With a sizable particular thorn in its side, due to the well-orgenized Rebel seems to have Saved it.
colonist population, it is unlikely that Tribute survived. base on the asteroid Eridanus Secundus. Eridanus Il was
one of the major population centers of the system before
the Covenant glassed many of the planets there in 2530
EPSILON INDI SYSTEM CE. Much more importantly, at least from the perspective
LOCATION: 11.83 light years from Sol of hindsight, is the fact that one of the children plucked
DESCRIPTION: Lightly trafficked, tranquil, life-producing from its folds in the early part of the 26th century grew up
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Harvest to become the hero known as Master Chief.
The Epsilon Indi System (centered around the star of
the same name) was relatively quiet under the UNSC for
some time. Aside from its hub on the planet of Harvest,
ee very little of the system was actively explored. In the
depths of this poe however, came fires conta

culminating i
 MAJOR LOCATIONS: Gilgamesh Brothel arrival at the human homeworld. Along with Harmony,
BALLAST Gilgamesh is a relatively obscure planet due to its its imminent destruction was discovered through the

0103
YANNI
LOCATION:
Inner Colonies mob connections. However, it does have one feature code-breaking procedures headed by Colonel Herzog
Bea:
DESCRIPTION: UNSC colony world that most UNSC Marines know of: A large, refined, and at ONI. However, to ensure that the Covenant did not
MAJOR EVENTS: The battle of Ballast famous brothel. Cortana used this brothel in a scheme realize that their code had been breached, ON! allowed
Located within the Inner Colonies, Ballast became both planets to be glassed.
to repay Colonel James Ackerson for his attempts at
infamous as one of the first worlds in that zone to come destroying her, the Master Chief, and the MJOLNIR
under Covenant attack. Rumor holds that the UNSC project. Laundering money through several locations,
Defense Force stopped that invasion, but it isunknown she made it seem as if Ackerson had spent a large HYDRA SYSTEM
whether this is the truth or propaganda spread by ONI amount of money at the brothel, which proved to be LOCATION: UNSC-controlled space
forces to combat low morale. awkward when Ackerson’s wife received the DESCRIPTION: Frequently attacked, piratical,
confirmation for the “purchase.” rebellious
CHARYBDIS IX Located within the constellation Hydra, this system
SYSTEM: Charybdis System GROOMBRIDGE 34 SYSTEM of the same name is mostly known for the series of
massacres that have occurred periodically throughout
DESCRIPTION: UNSC colony world, insurrectionist planet LOCATION: Inner Colonies the history of the UNSC. With pirates and
MAJOR EVENTS: Insurrectionist riots DESCRIPTION: Binary star system, cold, prohibitively
Insurrectionists being common in this near-lawless
Charybdis IX was a promising colony world until uninhabitable system, military forces occasionally descend and
Insurrectionists caused mass unrest in its populace. In 2531 CE, when a group of Spartans was sent to the
mete out justice with the long arm of nuclear missiles.
Large riots ensued, during which Jacob Keyes was Groombridge 34 System to investigate reports of 4
forced to kill in self-defense. Keyes used this memory insurrectionist operations, Kurt-051 went missing
to stall the mind that infected him when he became near a decommissioned construction platform. Unlike SIGMA OCTANUS SYSTEM
host to a Flood intelligence on Halo Installation 04. most Spartans who had perished but were reported as LOCATION: FLEETCOM Sector Three
Charybdis IX was later glassed by the Covenant. MIA, Kurt-051 was, in fact, still alive, operating as a DESCRIPTION: UNSC victory site, sparsely populated,
training officer for the classified SPARTAN-III Project. UNSC-controlled
DRACO Ill MAJOR LOCATIONS: Sigma Octanus IV
Many things have occurred within the Sigma
DESCRIPTION: UNSC colony world, now uninhabited HAWKING SYSTEM Octanus system, but none of them is so famous as the
MAJOR EVENTS: Invasion ofDraco Ill The Hawking System, though within UNSC space,
battle of Sigma Octanus IV. During this battle, a large
Draco IIl had been a standard colony world for some has never been fully explored and so is technically a
group of UNSC warships defeated a smaller but much
time when the Covenant invaded it. The Spartan-lls “neutral” system. In 2552 CE, three dozen Covenant
more heavily armored Covenant armada, thanks in
were sent to rescue the few Humans who survived the Carriers gathered in the Hawking System to transfer
part to the quick thinking of Captain Jacob Keyes.
initial attack, but the Covenant left no prisoners. Seraph Fighters in preparation for their attack
Keyes employed what came to be known asthe “Keyes
Instead, they left the survivors to suffer ravenous of Earth.
Loop” during his assault on a Covenant ship. This broke
Unggoy and Kig-Yar. The Spartans watched this via
the lines of the Covenant and allowed the UNSC to
satellite link-up; the images spurred them to kill every
Covenant soldier on the planet. The planet remains in
HELLESPONT SYSTEM destroy or drive off the rest ofthe fleet.
LOCATION: Inner Colonies The battle was a pyrrhic victory at best, as every
UNSC control, but is now uninhabited.
DESCRIPTION: Earth-Proximate, loosely controlled, surviving UNSC ship needed at least some major
evacuated repairs, while most were destroyed. The boost in
FAR ISLE MAJOR LOCATIONS: Troy morale cannot be quantified, though, as this was the
DESCRIPTION: Former UNSC colony world, nuked surface The UNSC once controlled the system known as largest UNSC victory since the beginning ofthe war.
Far Isle was a Human colony world and the site of one Hellespont, principally for its colony world, Troy.
of the major atrocities committed by the UNSC. A
rebellion broke out on the planet and, unable to contain
Shortly before the battle of Earth, however, Troy was
glassed by the Covenant but not before part of its
SIGMA OCTANUS IV
LOCATION: UNSC-controlled space
the populace,
the UNSC declared a Code: BANDERSNATCH population managed to escape.
SYSTEM: Sigma Octanus
and nuked the entire colony. None survived, while the
DESCRIPTION: Archipelagic
memory of this planet later led to larger rebellions,
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Cote d'Azur
including, possibly, the Insurrectionist Movement.
SYSTEM: Hellespont Sigma Octanus IV was known for its white-sand

GILGAMESH
DESCRIPTION: Former UNSC colony world, now glassed beaches, small continents, and lush landscapes, as
Once a neighbor to Earth, the colonial world of Troy | well as its fishing and great beauty. Its capital, Céte
DESCRIPTION: Mob-controlled, colony world was glassed by the Covenant shortly before their d'Azur, functioned as the base of UNSC activity for
 LOCATIONS

HUMAN COLONIES”
} *
oe *

much of the system. Because of this, Sigma Octanus IV DESCRIPTION: Forested, briefly Rebel-controlled manpowerto help unwrap some ofthe mysteries.
was chosen as a major offensive site by the Covenant. Victoria was a sparsely populated forest world on the After|Installation 05 went active, however,
the Sentinels
They arrived without warning and immediately began edge of UNSC-controlled space. It fell to the revolutionary hidden within the construct’s walls awoke and began the
bombardment. Sigma Octanus IV might have suffered the group, the United Rebel Front, under the command of battle of Onyx, the first Forerunner-Human battle. During
same fate as Troy, Eridanus Il, or any other glassed planet General Howard Graves. Five Spartan-lls, including John- this conflict, the Sentinels attacked all UNSC forces and
had the Spartan-lls and Captain Keyes not intervened. It 11? and Kurt-051, were assigned to take down Graves and eventually caused a meltdown of the planet’s surface,
was a battle on two fronts, with the Spartans on the his camp at New Hope. Contact with the system was lost though saving the Forerunner artifacts hidden within.
ground and a collection of UNSC vessels in space. The soon afterwards. Its fate is unknown. Endless Summer, the UNSC’s Al, helped Kurt-051 and
Spartans won by obliterating Cote d'Azur with a nuclear Colonel Mendez evacuate the surviving personnel, but at
weapon, while Keyes performed what became known as
the “Keyes Loop,” returning Covenant fire back on itself.
ZETA DORADUS SYSTEM the cost of many lives and ships that have been put to use
in the Human-Covenant War.
LOCATION: Dorado Constellation
It was a pyrrhic victory, but a major morale coup.
DESCRIPTION: Limited habitability, relatively unknown
Though Cote d'Azur and much of the UNSC fleet had been
destroyed, the Covenant had been defeated. Sigma
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Onyx THE SHARPENED SHIELD
The Zeta Doradus system is hometo several icy planets LOCATION: Beneath the surface of Onyx, Slipspace
Octanus IV, though absent of any Human population,
and gas giants. Its “goldilocks” zone of habitability is very SYSTEM: Zeta Doradus
remains an inhabitable world.
small, and thus, only its planet Onyx was colonized by the DESCRIPTION: Shield-shaped, Forerunner-constructed,

NEW JERUSALEM UNSC, although “colonized” would not be the correct word.
It was chosen as a secret military base, perfect for use far
located in Slipspace
Although the entranceway to the Sharpened Shield
SYSTEM: Cygnus from the prying eyes ofthe population. could be found in the Core Room in the Forerunner
DESCRIPTION: Colony world Installation on Onyx, the structure itself actually existed
New Jerusalem is a major UNSC colony planet in the
Cygnus System. Although it has never been confirmed,
ONYX in Slipspace. Dr. Halsey theorized that it was constructed
by the Forerunners to hide and ride out the destruction
LOCATION: UNSC-controlled space
ONI operative Lieutenant Commander Jilan al-Cygni is brought upon by the activation of the Halos. This would
SYSTEM: Zeta Doradus
said to have been born there. seem plausible, in that the structure could only be entered
DESCRIPTION: Atmospherically habitable, formerly
when Installation 04 went active. Within the structure
Forerunner-controlled, construct
PARIS IV MAJOR LOCATIONS: The Sharpened Shield, Spartan-lll
were many habitats suitable for sentient life from around
SYSTEM: Paris the Galaxy. Halsey and the others who fled into the shield
Training Facility, Forerunner Ruins, Zone 67
DESCRIPTION: Colony world, battle site during the battle of Onyx found it deserted.
When Onyx was discovered in 2491 CE, it was thought
The fourth world in the Paris System, this planet was to be an unusual but habitable planet. It featured a
the site and namesake of the Siege of Paris IV. A major nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, alarmingly prolific flora 23 LIBRAE
conflict in the Human-Covenant War, it was here that and fauna, and a temperate atmosphere, despite being in LOCATION: Outer Colonies
Sergeant Avery Johnson received the major dose of a system otherwise known for its lifelessness. CONSTELLATION: Libra
radiation that led to his case of Boren’s Syndrome. It was only later, after the discovery of a massive MAJOR LOCATIONS: Madrigal, Hesiod, the Rubble
Forerunner site that the truth came out: Onyx was not a 23 Librae’s lone planet of Madrigal was destroyed by
111 TAURI planet
at all, butan enormous construct,
left over from the
Forerunners’ exodus one hundred thousand years earlier.
the Covenant in 2528 CE. Those who escaped joined
Insurrectionists in the “Rubble,” a band of asteroids near
LOCATION: UNSC-controlled space
SYSTEM: Taurus The SPARTAN-II| Program continued on with this the gas giant, Hesiod. When it surfaced that Kig-Yar were
DESCRIPTION: Serene setting, contact inhibited, Rebel knowledge, even as more antiquities popped up and operating a black-market weapon ring with Humans, the
presence teams went missing. The UNSC even added extra Insurrectionists engaged with the UNSC and the Covenant.
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Victoria
Located within the Taurus System, 111 Tauri is known
primarily for its colony world, Victoria, which fell to the
| revolutionary group, the United Rebel Front, under the
command of General Howard Graves. Contact with the
system was lost soon afterwards. Its fate is unknown.

VICTORIA
LOCATION: 114 Tauri
SYSTEM: Taurus
 a

HE COVENANT FORCES THEN

ATTACKED AND DESTROYED THE
MAN COLONY ON HARVEST.
 COVENANT BASES
THERE ARE THREE main types of Covenant
advance bases: Keeps, which have acommand
center, room for five combat support
structures, and four turret foundations;
Outposts, which have a command center,
three building sites, and no turret foundations; Be
and Citadels, as seen here. 7

-CITADELS
The largest type of Covenant advance
base, Citadels contain a command center,
up to seven troop/armory/worship
[4S
AMOLIV4
TIVH
2© structures, four turret foundations,
and a gravity lift to transport
resources.
These kinds of forward outposts
are used by the Covenant as
AIAIHS
HOLVYANAID
S14A0V11I9
e moveable sites from which to
command invasions and defensive
operations, assemble vehicles and
aircraft, and train and house troops.

SHIELD GENERATOR
Similar in function to other Covenant
energy shielding technology but on
a much larger scale, this generator
protects all buildings on the base.
Multiple shields can be used at
once to protect from sustained
bombardment. > hy

292
 LOCATIONS

COVENANT BASES

structure. Covenant naming for

base facilities appears to vary
depending on each installation’s
commander. This is the site where
Covenant vehicles are
assembled and unleashed.

Adepotfor storing and processing resources, warehouses

are vital for keeping a base functioning. Resources are
transported down from orbit using gravity lifts and then
brought to the warehouse before being distributed to the
various support structures.

TEMPLE
The spiritual, cultural, and scientific focus of a base, the
templeis where the Prophets form their strategies,
study
Forerunner technology, and meditate. The temple also
houses Covenant field leadership such as Arbiters and
Brute Army Commanders.

SUMMIT
Aircraft, such as the
Banshee and the Vampire,
| HALL are constructed in summits.

The hall is the heart

of the deployment of
the Grunt, Jackal, and
Hunter infantry units.

293
‘OVENANTCO Nias
: THE COVENANT’S HOMEWORLDS are numerous and varied
_ because of the different species that make up the alliance. For
along time, the common base of the Covenant was High Charity.

OTHER NAM ES: The Prophet’s Holy City, The Holy City of the Covenant
SIZE: 216 miles (348 km) in diameter
LOCATION: Mobile (destroyed)
DESCRIPTION: Holiest Covenant location, mobile space station, Forerunner-
technology reliant, San ’Shyuum homeworld (after destruction of original homeworld)

High Charity was capable of Slipspace jumps and possessed its own artificial
star, which regulates a typical solar night and day. A giant dome-shaped
as the space station known as High structure, High Charity featured typical Covenant architecture, with
_ Charity. An immense mobile planetoid, numerous towers floating above a methane-rich field inhabited by the
Grunts. An immense combined fleet of ships protected
the city.
_ High Charity was _ constructed
_ following the Sangheili-San ‘Shyuum
_ War as a physical representation of
_ the Covenant itself and to act as the
Deep within its recesses, the High Prophets governed these
functions of the station (and the Covenant as a whole) from their ime> ATOR PST

ultimate command center, a central chambers, the Sanctum of the Hierarchs, and many other places
_ city, and a place of spiritual and both secret and sacred. Such a powerful statement did not go oo
_ cultural unification. Created at the unnoticed by enemy forces, however, and though the station had Zz
culmination of the War, it marked the seen its fair share of battles, it was not infallible. The soldier known ? wae
_ beginning of what later became as the Master Chief infiltrated the station as it became overrun See
known as the Covenant. Atop it sat with the Flood. He followed the High Prophet of Truth as he launched Ps
the Forerunner Dreadnought, the ever- the Dreadnought from its resting place, leaving millions
_ lasting symbol of the gods of the of Covenant citizens and soldiers to their fates. The
_ Covenant, and below it teemed millions Gravemind then took over High Charity and piloted it to
_ of different alien species. High Charity the Ark. It hoped to spread the Flood’s influence across
was, in essence, a microcosm of the the entire Galaxy, but it was not to be. The Master Chief
Covenant itself. once again took it upon himself to wrest control of the
space station from the Flood’s grasp. He overloaded the
Sstation’s reactor core, causing its destruction—along
High Charity was more than just a center with its many relics and the Gravemind.
of pilgrimage. It could refit and house It is appropriate in a literary sense that the station was destroyed;
thousands of warships, from personal
fliers to Cruisers. The station also
the Covenant splintered soon afterward, with the Humans suing
boasted firepower unknown to even the for peace from Sangheili forces. Nothing is left of what was once
largest Covenant battleship. the Covenant’s cultural and political center, save for the traditions
and memories it left.
 LOCATIONS

COVENANT COLONIES
| | The High Charity Defense Fleet was an enormous fleet
_ _of ships that protected the Covenant city of High
_ Charity. The Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity was
_ either a part of this fleet or a synonym for it.

One of many fleets which were tasked with the

responsibility of High Charity’s safety, the Second Fleet of
Homogeneous Clarity took part in the civil war. As the
Covenant shattered into pieces, the solidarity ofthe fleet
splintered apart and ships battled each other along the
lines of Brute or Elite control.

NOTABLE SHIPS: twilight Compunction, g i n. _ Sergeant Avery Johnson once described the Unyielding
Lawgiver, Incorruptible, Revenant, Tenebrous, a j & ee Hierophant’s design as akin to a pair of squids kissing.
Rapturous Arc oe Bee Although he was likely being facetious, his description
was not far from accurate. Similar to the architecture
of High Charity, the Unyielding Hierophant consists of
a pair of elongated, tear-drop structures with a narrow
port and docks extending from each end. The interior
was constructed to resemble a terrestrial setting,
complete with animals, foliage, and slender corridors
for internal transportation. At over eleven miles
(eighteen kilometers) in length, it could field more
than five hundred Covenant ships, hundreds of
thousands of troops, and enough firepowerto destroy
any ship within the UNSC.
It could not, however, stop the Spartan-lls. Led by
Master Chief, these warriors assaulted the Unuielding
Hierophant using a Covenant Dropship. The Spartans
soon learned that the Covenant intended to invade
Earth and would be using this fleet to do so.
Using a ruse to draw the outlying Covenant vessels
toward the center of the station, the Spartans
overloaded Unyielding Hierophant’s reactor. Although
they suffered losses during the operation, the
Spartans managed to escape the destruction of the
Station and nearly all five hundred surrounding ships.
The remaining ships were used by the Prophet of
Regretto stage the eventual invasion of Earth.

LOCATION: Mobile, Tau Ceti (when destroyed)

LENGTH: 11 miles (18km) DESCRIPTION:Massive
construct, engineering marvel, Covenant-built space
station MAJOR EVENTS: The battle of Unyjielding
Hierophant

Chu'ot is the only Covenant planet of which Humans were

aware prior to first contact. Even though its presence was
only known through radio waves, much that was inferred
from these transmissions turned out to be correct. The
planetis a gas giant, cold, and about the size of Neptune. It
is also completely devoid of life. That being said, its moon,
Eayn, is of particular note. It is, after all, the Kig-Yar
world. Chu’ot thus..has..a-religious significance..to
of the old-time religions of the Kig-Yar. Since the
ing of the Covenant, it is just another gas planet that
 COVENANT COLONIES
BALAHO
The Unggoy are known as unpredictable but tenacious
creatures, willing to live with thousands of their kind
packed tightly together in inhospitable conditions that
would kill most other species. The Covenant uses Unggoy
as cannon fodder, relying on their sheer numbers to make
up for the forces that are routinely lost during the natural
course of battle. Yet, the Unggoy persist and endure.
Why? Because their world, Balaho, is perhaps worse than
anything the Covenant can throw upon these diminutive
creatures.
Forthe most part, Balaho is toxic, frozen, and dangerous.
Ice covers much of the surface, while a methane
atmosphere sustains unusually hardy forms of life. Its
chilling temperatures, ranging from forty-one degrees
Fahrenheit (five degrees Centigrade) at its balmiest, and
far down into the negative degrees, allow brackish flats to
exist only at the most equatorial latitudes. There, large
pillars of fire erupt when the methane condenses, making
even those relatively temperate regions exceedingly
dangerous.
So, when the Covenant landed on Balaho, most Unggoy
leapt at the chance to join them. Much later,
a revolution of
these creatures (known today as the Grunt Rebellion)
nearly forced the Covenant to glass the entire planet. The
Grunts cared little for their planet, but the prospect of
losing so many breeding partners (the key to their
rebellion’s success] forced their capitulation.
Today, Balahois a backwater
in the Covenant’s empire. It
is avoided by most shipping routes, while enough Unggoy
breed on other planets so as to make its population
unnecessary. Still, each Unggoy thinks fondly of its
homeworld. It may be ugly, foul, and frozen, but it’s home.

SYSTEM: Tala DESCRIPTION: Frozen, methane

atmosphere, backwater location, Unggoy homeworld
MAJOR EVENTS: The Grunt Rebellion

EMERALD COVE
Emerald Cove was known through the UNSC as a colony
world of sublime beauty. Thousands of miles of white
sands, azure oceans, and beautiful colonists made any
trip there a happy one. Even the Spartans enjoyed their
time there during a training mission; after CPO Mendez
sabotaged half of their air-tanks, the Spartans stole his
and hid out on a deserted island. There, they spent a week
Not much is known about this planet, save tha
with nothing but bonfires, baked clams, surfing, and
hundred thousand years ago, this is where
relaxation.
Forerunners came into contact
with the beings tha wo
Emerald Cove was abandoned by the UNSC in 2542 CE
later be known as the Flood. It was therefore able
because of the danger of nearby Covenant forces. Its
sustain some kind of population. ~ j
current status—glassed? unharmed? invaded?—
remains unknown.
c LOCATION: Forerunner-controlled space, be
Halo Installation 04 SYSTEM: G617
LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space DESCRIPTION:
FormerUNSC colony world, archipelagic environment, tourist DESCRIPTION: Life-sustainable MAJOR EVENT
and military destination ; Forerunner-Flood first contact =a]

296
 LOCATIONS

DOISAC
Doisac is the Jiralhanae homeworld. The Jiralhanae
had just begun to expand into their local system when
the Covenant first made contact. Soon, many
Jiralhanae left Doisac in favor of the stars, but over
twelve-billion remain at home in their close-knit
packs, so it is difficult to measure the success of
their conversion.
Doisacis aslightly more tropicalworld than Earth, but
is also wracked by volcanic activity. At least half the
surface is covered in rain forests, while the other half
consists of molten rock, lava, and volcanoes. |:
harsh environment, but one that the remaining
Jiralhanae would not trade for anything.

SYSTEM: oth Sonin DESCRIPTION: Jungle-covered

and volcanic, high gravity, tropical atmosphere

mdered how such a race as the

ith their hard carapaces,
ol, and super strength all
mpact form. Most of the
derstood, however, if one
Massive but stable, the
vice that of Earth’s. Hard
ompact forms to reduce
trength do not seem so
ontext.

: Massive form,
 COVENANT COLONIES
THRESHOLD SAN 'SHYUUM HOMEWORLD
Gas giants contain a wealth of rare and valuable Not muchis known about the San’Shyuum homeworld because the Prophets are secretive when discussing matters
gases, and Threshold is no different. The Forerunners of their race with other cultures. It has to have been a Forerunner colony in the distant past, as it is well-known that
established one of many mines there, which may the San ’Shyuum developed their culture alongside ancient Forerunner relics.
have been later refitted to study the Flood as a However, other vital information, such as the planet’s size and location, remains hidden. What is known is that
relatively safe gravity well. some thirty-two centuries before the Human-Covenant War, the San ’Shyuum split into two factions: The Stoics and
However, Threshold is important for several other the Reformers. The Stoics were the hardliners oftheir Forerunner-worshipping religion and did not wish to enter the
reasons, chief among them is Installation 04. It was Forerunner Dreadnought that sat on their homeworld, for fear of offending their gods. The Reformers, meanwhile,
there that the Master Chief struck the first major blow were technologically obsessed and hoped to learn more about the universe through their investigations ofit.
to the Covenant’s forces by destroying the Halo and From this schism, a civil war erupted. The Reformers locked themselves away within the Dreadnought and launched
obliterating a Covenant armada in the process. it into space, leaving their world forever. The Stoics dared not destroy such a sacred vessel, and so they let the
After the destruction of Installation 04, Elites were Reformers go but banished them from ever returning.
stranded at the gas mine and there discovered the Whether or not the San ’Shyuum physically returned to their orginal homeworld is unknown, but it is clear that they
truth about Halo. Whenthis message was broadcasted recognized that their planet faced obliteration when the star it orbited collapsed on itself. It was around this time
at large, the Prophet of Truth sent an Arbiter there to that those same Reformers used the Forerunner Dreadnought to build the homeworld and vast structure they would
eliminate the now heretical Elites. He was successful call High Charity.
and the gas mine was sent plummeting into the
depths of Threshold.
DESCRIPTION: Low gravity, former Forerunner
LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space
colony MAJOR EVENTS: theSan’Shyuum Schism _
DESCRIPTION: Gas giant, mining colony
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Halo Installation 04
(was in orbit of the Halo prior its to destruction)
MAJOR EVENTS: The battle of the Gas Mine,
the battle of Installation 04

MADRIGAL
en
Rae A UNSC colony world, Madrigal sat the closest of any
UNSC world to Harvest. It is unlikely that it survived
the
early days ofthe war, and no transmissions have been
received from the planet.

LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space

DESCRIPTION: Former UNSC colony
world, probably glassed

SUBSTANCE
Substance is a gas giant which provides the orbital
home to Delta Halo (Installation 05), and may define a
“safety” pattern of locating Halo facilities near dense
gas giants. During a series of conflicts on its surface,
the ring world was subsumed by the Flood parasite
along with High Charity and large portions of the
Covenant’s local fleet. Several Elite-controlled fleets
destroyed a significant portion of the Flood threat as
well as cauterizing the Installation’s surface, but they
were unable to address the sudden departure of High
Charity or determine its level of infection.

LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space

DESCRIPTION: Gas giant
MAJOR LOCATIONS: Halo Installation 05 (orbiting)
MAJOR EVENTS: The assault of Installation 05

298
HARMONY — : _.. : LOCATIONS |
Harmony is yet another UNSC colony world that is now in
- : | COVENANT COLONIES
| Covenant-controlled space, having been glassed and
forgotten. Along with the planet Troy, its imminent
|. destruction was revealed through the code-breaking
procedures headed by Colonel Herzog at ONI. However, to
|_ ensure that the Covenant didn’t realize that their code had
been breached, ONI allowed both planets to be glassed. A
terrible but necessary sacrifice.

| LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space

' DESCRIPTION: Former UNSC Colony World, glassed
| MAJOR EVENTS:
The battle of Harmony

K?-49
K?-49 was a Covenant shipyard located within an asteroid
field extremely close to UNSC-controlled space. It was
also the site of one ofthe largest battles ever fought by
the Spartan-llls. After its discovery by a telemetry probe,
ONI learned that a major Covenant shipyard had been built
On the asteroid. Three hundred Spartans were sent to
disable the shipyard as part of Operation: PROMETHEUS.
They succeeded, but all died in the process.

LOCATION: Covenant-controlled space

DESCRIPTION: Asteroid-based shipyard, production
zone MAJOR EVENTS: Operation: PROMETHEUS SANGHELIOS
_ Sanghelios—orbiting the triple su
| Joori—is the homeworld of the
billion of them now inhabitthe v
and most will never venture
Sanghelios is very similar to Earth in many respects. it _ show promise—either phy
features a saline ocean and multiple continents, and ies join the forces of the Coven:
shares a similar size, gravity, atmosphere, as well as a and tai th
wide variation in temperature and vegetation. If one were bee oe ae
to step out onto the surface, the only thing that would be
immediately different would be the sky: it varies in hue,
from bright yellowto blood red, due to the large amounts of E} ( im the planet, including
suspended particles in the upper atmosphere. : : nt
Possibly due to the harsh and capricious environmental
conditions created by its three suns, Sanghelios has : ‘
always been a breeding ground for martial societies. The SYSTEM: Urs-Fied-Joori System
Elites are the very pinnacle of that forced evolution. MAJOR EVENTS: Sangheili-San’Shyuum War

TE
Beneath the clouds of this seemingly gaseous planet lies a population of nearly two trillion Lekgolo. One-
hundred thousand years ago, these worm-like creatures were ignored by the Forerunners who controlled Te,
but when those ancient beings disappeared, the Lekgolo evolved into consciousness. They ate the remains of
the Forerunners’ technology, forming the rings that surrounded the planet and emitting the gas that would
later cover it. When the Sangheili eventually discovered Te, they thought the worms to be an abomination for
this act. Starting the war that came to be known as “the Taming ofthe Hunters,” the Sangheili found their
match in the Lekgolo. The Covenant, newly formed, was handed its first defeat, and the Sangheili
were forced to resort to diplomatic methods of control, namely, the threat of the nuclear
destruction ofthe planet. The Lekgolo surrendered and joined the Covenant cause.
Now, so many years later, the Lekgolo continue to live on Te, fed by metals sent to them
by the Hierarchs of the Covenant. Few other members ofthe Covenant journey toTe; the
planet’s atmosphere and gravity are dangerous to most non-native creatures, while
almost all of the Forerunner artifacts that survived have since been removed. The
planet continues to revolve without much care from outside forces. The
Lekgolo eat, breed, and continue on in their existence, with only
those large colonies known as the Mgalekgolo being
pressed into military service.

SYSTEM: Svir
DESCRIPTION: Homeworld
of the Lekgolo, massive, ringed, mineral-rich
MAJOR LOCATIONS: untua, Rantu (moons)
MAJOR EVENTS: The Tamingof the Hunters
299
 Si

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> HUMAN WEAPONS—FOR SPACE, AIR, AND GROUND

FORCES—ARE MOSTLY BASED ON BALLISTIC
CAPABILITIESANDEXPLOSIVE MUNITIONS, WHEREAS
THE COVENANT USES ENERGY-BASED WEAPONS.
 WEAPONS

UNSC

ARMORED SHIPS
MASS WEAPONS All Human ships under military control are equipped
he equivalent of modern-day artillery, mass weapons fire super-dense projectiles, typically with armor and weapons. Fighters and capital ships
epleted uranium or other heavy metals, at extremely high velocity. Larger mass weapons use are kitted with fusion rockets, mass weapons,
Ee -magnetic rail gunsystemsto propel projectiles at a target. In the event of shipboard power loss, such
weapons can use a vehicle's own inertia to launch munitions. Smaller mass weapons are little more missiles, and Titanium-A armor plating.
than high-powered computer assisted Magnetic Linear Accelerators (MLA), autocannons and
_ miniguns, which can fire thousands of rounds a minute.

_ MISSILES:
Missiles are composed of guided munitions of varying sizes and payloads. Most are computer
controlled andcanlock onto energy sources, suchas an enemy vessel's weapons emplacements
or engines, heat signatures, or targets marked by laser designators.
Missile payloads range from massive chemical explosives to low-yield nuclear warheads.
Tactical missiles are also common, including decoys, which broadcast a false radar image of a
ship to lure away pursuit. Communication jamming equipment and sensor scramblers are also
part of the Human missile arsenal.

ARMOR
Ships of the line are plated with heavy Titanium-A armor, a form of Titanium that has been
specially strengthened on a molecular level. As much as one-third of a standard military ship’s
mass is armor. In general, the armor limits conventional damage, but Covenant weaponry has
proven quite capable of boiling through even meters-thick plates of armor.

ROP ORGIES
 UNSC WEAPONS Scope attachment |
provides 2x
magnification.

THE UNSC’s arsenal is extensive but VARIANTS

primarily contains projectile-based rot
. : A 60-round variant. This
weaponry, both hand-held Tale vehicle- version was the prototype, which was
mounted. Each weapon has strengths later remodeled to suppress “walking.”
and weaknesses and comes into its BRESHE deeceneteate
own in different situations. also known as the “Mammoth
Stopper.”

USSY
J1itH
41live
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SYN

MAS ASSAULT RIFLE

The inaccuracy of the Assault Rifle has rendered it obsolete on
most battlefields, and its weakened attack against energy
shields makes it a liability against the Covenant. However, due to
its large clip and high rate offire, the MAS is ideal for expeditionary REAR SIDE VIEW

forces, where accuracy is often secondary to firepower.

MAS AMMO CLIP

SIDE VIEW

Spartan-lls regularly
used the MA5B in the
Human-Covenant war.

VARIANTS | i™
i:
MASB: Thisversion of the MAS ioe reliablythrougt
the majoritycof the Human Covenant War.- Itssixty-rounc ;
‘lpprevitedmegane Cie gr the.—.
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304
 WEAPONS
BR55 BATTLE RIFLE UNSC
When nothing else gets the job done, the
BR55 Battle Rifle will do. As the standard gun
for all UNSC forces, the BR55 is the easiest
gun to pick up and use. Almost all soldiers
have trained with it, making its slight defects
less noticeable, while accentuating its high REAR SIDE VIEW

rate of fire and accuracy. With both semi- Primarily mounted onto the backs of
automatic and burst-fire modes, the BR55 is Warthogs, the Vulcan is capable of
releasing up to550 rounds per minute ina
the backbone of the UNSC armed forces.
frenzy of not-so-accurate firepower.
Combined with the natural protection of
its vehicle’s frame, a soldier holding “Old
Fires three- Faithful” can feel fairly intimidating and
round bursts, fed
invincible, especially because of the
from a thirty-six-
round magazine. armor-piercing strength ofthe gun’s kick.
REAR VIEW i &

OTHER NAMES: M41 Vulcan Light Anti-

Aircraft Gun, M41, Buggy Gun, Old Faithful,
Widow Maker, Old Reliable, the Big’un, the
Mule LENGTH: 34.6 in (88.14 cm)
BRSS—SIDE VIEW
WEIGHT: 1609 tb (72.98 kg}
CARTRIDGE: 0.5 in (12.7 mm) x 99
FMJ/L (Full Metal Jacket/linkless]
RANGE: 328 ft (100 m) USE: Mounted,
crowd clearing, light anti-aircraft.
FRONT VIEW

Monkey Wrench, BR, the Big Boy

Generally seen mounted on the Warthog,
the 102mm SC-HE Rocket Turret, more
commonly known as the Hog Rocket, is
36 rounds
essentially a triple-barreled rocket
launcher that provides more anti-armor
i capacity than the traditional mounted
machine gun. With a relatively short
reload time of four seconds, a Rocket
Turret’s strength and speed is limited
only by the Warthog it is mounted on.
r a

OTHER NAMES: 102mm SC-HE Rocket

Turret CARTRIDGE: 4-in (102-mm)
HEAT rockets MAGAZINE CAPACITY:
3 rockets USE: Anti-vehicle

Display shows
how many rounds
are left inthe
magazines.

VIEW FROM BELOW

REAR VIEW

VIEW FROM ABOVE

 N=
UNSC WEAPONS
.™ M? SUBMACHINE GUN
La eaoe) The M? is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, noisy, and jam-prone automatic submachine gun. Despite
rc its many failings, the control and recoil features are second-to-none on automatic weapons. This,
2S
added to its psychological effect on combatants, makes it good for close combat and suppressing
is fire tactics, meaning that not a lot of skill is needed for it to be deadly. Submachine guns, while not
co.
accurate over long distances, are particularly effective in close quarters.
ceo The M? is primarily issued to vehicle crews and is also a favorite of
= commando teams in its sound suppressed version—the MPS.

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M? SUBMACHINE GUN-SIDE VIEW

SMG, Bullet Hose, Black Box, Chum, Popcorn, Jumper, Submash

Stock extended: 24.68 in (62.69 cm); stock retracted: 18.66 in (47.39 cm) | 2.86 lb (1.29 kg)

0.2 in (5 mm) x 23 cased/caseless 60 rounds

Max. effective: 164 ft (50 m) Suppression fire, crowd control, shoot-and-cover tactics

The 110mm Rotary Cannon is a ship-to-ship Mounted onto the noses of Pelicans, the 70m
projectile weapon mounted on Longswords. Its Gun can lay down a blanket of fire to prot
shells are made of depleted uranium, but Pelican and the troopsit carries. Itis a powerf
compared to the weaponry of a Covenant Seraph, but not very accurate, relying on its fully
the Rotary Cannon is hopelessly archaic. firing to make cover; in outer space
significant distances, a Pelican must rely
OTHER NAMES: The Rotary and maneuverability rather than the noseg
USE: Spaceship warfare
OTHER NAMES: Pelican Gun, Nose
CARTRIDGE: 7omm rounds USE: Ant
suppression fire, infantry support
 WEAPONS
M6 MAGNUM SIDEARM _ UNSC
The M6 Personal Defense Weapon System is the standard sidearm family of the UNSC,
designed primarily for ruggedness and reliability. Certain models have been modified for
use by a Spartan wearing MJOLNIR armor. Even though the Spartan-issue pistols are VARIANTS
significantly larger than the standard-issue variants, they can still share magazines.
MGA: Standard issue with black polymer finish.

M6B: “Officer's model” with a smart-linked

scope [KFA-2] and hard chrome finish.

REAR VIEW M6C: “Up-sized” standard issue with black

polymer finish.

M6C/SOCOM: Accurized, with a smart-linked

scope [VnSLS/V 6E] and black polymer finish.

MB6D: “Up-sized,” “Officer's model,” with a hard

chrome finish and a smart-linked scope [KFA-2].

M6E: Standardissuewith electroless nickel finish.

MEF: “Officer's model” with electroless nickel

finish and a smart-linked scope [KFA-2].

M6G: “Up-sized” standard issue with

M6 MAGNUM SIDEARM electroless nickel finish.
—FRONT VIEW

M6H: “Up-sized,” “Officer's model” with a smart-

linked scope [KFA-2] and electroless nickel finish.

The M6 series guns are recoil-operated and magazine-fed. They fire 12.?mm x 30 MGI- “Sclevetire |Variant. with detachable
semi-armor-piercing high-explosive ammunition (standard issue). M6 series shoulder-stock
and black polymer finish.
handguns are issued in three different finishes: Hard chrome, black polymer, and
electroless nickel. Though not as powerful as most other weapons issued by the MG 1/C- carbine variant wake <35iinbarcel
armed forces, the M6 makes up for thatin its weight, size, and power-to-effectiveness Behan Ehouiderctock. and ie Aire
ratio, making it a well-loved addition to any soldier’s arsenal. nickel finish ‘

M6K: Police “undercover” variant with a six-

round magazine capacity and black polymer finish

0.5 in)
Se a

M6C/SOCOM

The Gauss Cannon

is a powerful M68 GAUSS CANNON
anti-vehicle addition to the rhe ee ‘
back of a Warthog. Similar to (but distinct from) the M41 Vulcan in that both are mounted on
oe, Warthogs and other vehicles, the M68 is, due to its size and capabilities, gig ie ei eh Te Re
more of an anti-vehicle gun than an anti-personnel weapon. Powered by
asynchronous LIMs (Linear Induction Motors), the Cannon is able to shoot
its projectiles at hypersonic speeds, tearing almost any armor to shreds.
Unprotected infantry within sixty-six feet (twenty meters) of the muzzle
may suffer permanent hearing damage or loss when the weapon is fired. MBC GAUSS CANNON
—SIDE VIEW

P|
 M90A Shotgun

| Bear |

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Spartan Laser
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UNSC WEAPONS
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SHOTGUN (M90 CLOSE ASSAULT WEAPON SYSTEM)

The M90 CAWS (Close Assault Weapon System) shotgun is a devastating
close-quarters weapon. While heavy and featuring tremendous recoil, the
M90’s stopping power at close-range is second-to-none, making it a favorite
amongst seasoned UNSC troopers. Compatible with dozens of ammunition
types (flechette, rifled slugs, incendiary, etc.), the M90 makes up for its few
minor setbacks with unparalleled firepower.
REAR VIEW FRONT VIEW

SHOTGUN—SIDE VIEW

A corpse found without burns, powder residue, or entry wounds is becoming an all- Using the same technology as MAC Guns but on a smaller scale, the M99 Special Application Scoped
too-common sight on planets with significant mob ties, thanks to the Hard Sound Rifle, otherwise known as the Stanchion, is the most powerful sniper rifle ever developed by Human
Rifle, also known as the Buzzer. Developed by the Navy as a nearly silent weapon forces. Using linear magnets, the M99 can launch its undersized rounds at up to 49,212 ft (15,000
for political assassinations, it has been (illegally) co-opted by criminal forces, due m) per second, ripping through anything not as strong as a foot (thirty centimeters) of titanium. Its
to the lack of evidence associated with the gun’s blast. Using compressed sound recoil and size means a trained sniper must handle it.
waves, the HSR delivers a resonance cascade that can cause acerebral hemorrhage
with a well-placed shot. UNSC forces are hard at work trying to control the flow of oe

these weapons in non-military hands, but with the Covenant threat, it is slow going. :
OTHER NAMES: mg39 Special Application Scoped Rifle, M99 Stanchion Gauss Rifle, the M99,.99
+ 4
LENGTH: 67 in (170 cm) WEIGHT: 44 tb (20 kg) CARTRIDGE: .21 caliber rounds MAGAZINE a :
OTHER NAMES: Hard Sound Rifle, the Skull-Splitter, Soundwave RANGE: 3,000 ft CAPACITY: 10 rounds RANGE: 4.66 miles (7,500 m) USE: Sniping
(915 m) USE: Sniping, espionage, political assassination ;
-

n
E
 WEAPONS
SNIPER RIFLE (SRS 99D-S2 AM) UNSC
The standard long-range gun of the UNSC, the S2AM is a
powerful sniping tool, effective at almost a mile (1.6 km) in
range, and capable of eliminating targets with a single shot.
Recoil is a non-issue and its high rate of fire and reload
speed counter the limited (four rounds) ammo clip.
VIEW FROM ABOVE

Tees — —CO§ MteNctH—— il Welc

99D- Se sie) Rifle,Flagpole, Eyeo
of God, cenPicker, Mister,Trunk 66.38 in (168.60 cm) 44 \b (19.96kg)

a
. RANGE | USE ARAN

14. 5x 114mm APFSDS fener: Ree an.-stabilizedRye earaine:‘sabot) 4 rounds 4,920ft(1,5

500 take “Long- range sniping

FLAMETHROWER
Meant for non-combat use, the M705? Defoliant
Projector’s use by the UNSC is tactical; the
psychological aspect of a wall of fire is a strong
deterrent to many of the Covenant. Despite being
practically obsolete; its weight and difficulty in
use are nothing compared to the emotional impact
FLAMETHROWER—SIDE VIEW
it can have on both allies and enemies.

M?05? Defoliant Projector, DP, Toaster, Dragon, Torch, Flamer 46 in (112 cm) 87 Ib (39.5 kg)

N/A (Pyroxene-V semi-liquid fuel) |9 x 3 second bursts 44 ft (13.4 m) Special ops, jungle and urban warfare

rifle, the HMG-38, or Heavy Machine This small handgun was developed by ONI to have the
originally used by UNSC Marines before ability to shoot a large selection of ammunition despite its FRONT SIDE VIEW
ed in 2525 CE by a newer class of rifle. size. Jilan al-Cygni incapacitated the governor ofHarvest,
dered obsolete by the UNSC, the HMG- the Honorable Nils Thune, with TTR (Tactical Training
ed the black market weapons trade, Rounds) when Thune refused to step down during the
mon amongst the Eridanus Rebels. crisis that occurred there.

ES: Heavy Machine Gun-38, the 38 USE: Stealth, assassination

caliber cartridges USE: Anti-
Wis eee

VIEW FROM ABOVE

“IT TAKES A REAL LUNATIC
USE A FLAMETHROWER...”
—UNSC E2-BAG/1/? SERVICEMAN
 M19 SSM ROCKET LAUNCHER
The shoulder-mounted, computer-guided M19 is capable of anti-
personnel destruction, demolitions, and many other uses besides
its primary function as an anti-vehicular rocket launcher. When
detonated, the M19’s munitions create a large, but concentrated,
spread of damage, though its slow velocity over large distances
can allow for alert targets to move out of its range before impact.

13ax¥30u4
MV/AYW
7
2 rockets Anti-vehicle, ant rmor, demolitions

M41 SSR MAV/AW ROCKET LAUNCHER

With the M41, the UNSC standard rocket launcher has morphed
from its previous role in anti-vehicular warfare to an all-around
anti-personnel weapon. Most targets cannot withstand a direct
hit, while the fifteen-foot (four-and-a-half-meter) blast radius
can also clear the area of additional targets.

YAHIN
NV¥IUVdS
e YAHINNAVI
USS
L4NIOYU
TVW
WSS
GIN
e | Care must be taken in loading,
unloading, and firing the M41; an
unsteady hand can mean death not
just for the person firing it but also for
any nearby comrades.

M41 SSR MAV/AW—SIDE VIEW

Spanker, Jackhammer, Pain, Launcher, Breath of God, Can Opener

53.5 in (136 cm) 33.9 Ib (15.38 kg) 102mm High-Explosive Shaped-Cha

102MM HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ANTI-TANK (HEAT) MISSILE

2 rockets 1,300 ft (400 m) Anti-armor, anti-aircraft,demolitions

.308 CALIBER MACHINE GUN

The .308 Caliber Machine Gun (known more grotesquely, but A non-lethal sidearm, the Narq-dart Pistol can stop a Paint pellet guns are used by UNSC forces training to
commonly as the Confetti Maker) is an outdated machine gun from rhino at sixty feet (eighteen meters) and is deployed mark targets without the risks associated with live-
a bygone era, as evidenced by the Spartan-ll’s attack on the during training exercises. The Spartan-lls practiced with fire ammunition. They were commonly used by CPO
United Rebel Front’s encampment Camp New Hope, on the planet this ammunition during their time on Reach. The rounds Mendez and his drill instructors in the SPARTAN-II
Victoria. There, the Rebels who used the gun found that it proved have been known to be lethal when they impact an eye training program to introduce the trainees to the
ineffective against a well-trainedfoe who recognizedthe weapon’s or the temple of a target's head, so although they are unpredictability of front-line combat zones.
limited range, and quickly neutralized the Rebel forces to used in training exercises, a significant level of safety ree
accomplish their mission. Due to its low cost and acceptable must be maintained.
effectiveness at close-range, the Confetti Maker remains a a
OTHER NAMES: Painter, Graffiti Gun, Gumball Gun,
popular choice for various revolutionary and criminal forces.
OTHER NAMES: Nargs, Nyquil, or Nygs, Reds Gummer LENGTH: 24.45 in (62.10 cm) WEIGHT: 8
LENGTH: 10 in (25.40 cm) WEIGHT: 5 ib (2.27 kg) lb (3.63 kg) CARTRIDGE: .68 caliber paint pellet
OTHER NAME: Confetti Maker LENGTH: approx. 30 in (76.cm) loaded CARTRIDGE: Narg-tipped 5mm handgun MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 60 rounds RANGE
WEIGHT: approx. 12 Ib (5.44 kg) CARTRIDGE: 0.308 in (2.6 mm) ammo MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 12 rounds 98.43 ft (30 m) USE: Training
RANGE: 98.4 ft (30 m) USE: Close-quarters combat, guard duty RANGE: 65.62 ft (20 m) USE: Training
 WEAPONS
Two rockets can
be fired in quick UNSC
succession before
launcher has to be
reloaded.

M19 SSM—SIDE VIEW

FRONT VIEW FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

FRONT VIEW

SPARTAN LASER—SIDE VIEW

VIEW FROM ABOVE

Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle, the Grindel | 38.9 in (98.81 cm) Due to its size and SPARTAN LASER
recoil, the Spartan The Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6
pains
designed to be
Grindell/Galileian iNonlinear Rifle, or
42 |b(19kg) | Redchemicallaser | 100battery units (five shots) |Heavy anti-personnel, anti-armor
shoulder-fired. Spartan Laser as it is more commonly
known, is the only UNSC laser-powered
weapon, making it the most powerful
tool of destruction used by ground
_ ICBMs have not changed much since their invention during the Cold War. troops. While it shares several notable
ore accurate than their primitive ancestors, the 26th-century version
disadvantages with other heavy
(the 11-B1) was thought to be obsolete, thanks to relative stability within
ie UNSC [that is, to say, no inter-state warfare) and the large-scale weapons, such as a delayed charge
struction and radiation that follow a blast. Those thoughts were cycle between shots, a limited power
scarded with the arrival of the Covenant. Now, ICBMs are used as a last-
cell that allows only five discharges
ort weapon against enemy forces who have dodged planetary MAC Gun
ses. With their megatons of nuclear damage, ICBMs are a per fully charged battery, and its
Catastrophic but effective means of slowing down or stopping invaders... cumbersome size, its brute
e cost offallout later. But when the choices are a damaged ecosphere
strength more than makes up
ssed planet, the decision becomes simple.
for any ungainliness—even a
Wraith cannot withstand a
ER NAMES: IcBMs, Yardsticks, Bulldogs RANGE: 3,500 miles fully charged shot.
2 km) USE: Nuclear warfare
 OTHERNAMES —s| CARTRIDGE
The Noisemaker fe es Heat-seeking armor-piercing missiles

MAGAZINECAPACITY| USE.
8 missiles Anti-aircraft, anti-vehicle, anti-armor

AAVGAH
NIHIVW

LAU-65D/SGM-151/ ~. 4 h _ ji
MISSILE POD
JZIISSIW
OS9-NV1
00d
eo } a. : 4
Mounted upon defensive walls,
emplacements, or vehicles, the LAU-
65D is a missile launcher capable of
bringing a load of destruction down
on any unsuspecting target.
Although the Missile Pod is
massive and cumbersome, it
can nevertheless be wielded

oNING;
JVdd
FUVNAUD by Spartans and particularly
strong Sangheili.
JVW
NNO
JIV
e
Marines have reported that the Master
Chief wielded this weapon while defending
987 Voi during the Covenant’s invasion of Earth.

MISSILE POD—FRONT SIDE VIEW

MAC GUN
The Magnetic Accelerator Cannon (MAC) Gun is one of the
largest (and best) weapons that the UNSC has in its fleet.
Utilizing thousands of magnetic relays, it can ram a 600-ton
TheMACGun Projectile at nearly forty percent the speed of light. Able to
ismounted pulverize most Covenant ships in one to three blasts, these
ae Fa
spaceships |Weapons are mounted don ona all UNSC spaceships
hips |large enough ht to
largeenough hold them. Unfortunately, MACs are slow to fire and, due to
to hold it. Pe es : : ; : :
their size, require the entire ship on which they are built to
maneuver in order to align fire. In the Fall of Reach, MAC Gun
barrages were able to destroy whole swaths of Covenant
os ae Destroyers, but in the time it took for them to reload, faster
EE alien ships had already penetrated the Human defenses. Work
is constantly underway in hopes of upgrading these weapons
into faster, stronger, and more maneuverable models.
Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, the Big Stick 1,200 ft (366 m)

VARIANTS I
Variable by ship 600-ton Ferric-Tungsten slugs
STABILIZED VARIANT: The “Super” Mac or “Big” Mac is five-hundred =;
percent larger than the ship-based original and is capable of firinga _!
10,000 miles (16,093 km) Ship-to-ship warfare, defense, anti-siege warfare
3,000-ton slug at nearly half the speed of light. Due to its size,a Super
MAC can only be stationed on planets or orbital weapons platforms.
 eed8)\bs)

UNSC

AIE-486H HEAVY MACHINE GUN

The HMG's large capacity, fast rate, and quick reloading
time do not deviate from the usual pattern of typical
stationary guns, but its strength definitely sets it
apart. Coupled with armor-piercing rounds, the HMG
can take down even the toughest Sangheili with only a
few rounds. When used by a Spartan, it can even be
carried into battle like any other heavy weapon.

Heavy Machine Gun Turret, HMG, the Yeller

0.38x2 in (7.62x 54 mm) Armor-piercing rounds ~ rounds —

The M202 XP Machine Gun is a type of The M24? Machine Gun can punch through almost anything, living or inanimate. Mounted
automated stationary gun turret. It was no onits stationary base, it functions superbly as both an offensive and defensive support
longer in use as of 2541 CE. It fires stun weapon, mowing down crowds of enemy combatants and giving friendlies time to move.
rounds for training and can fire bullets if :
needed. The gun has a minimum angle offire;
OTHER NAMES: m247 GPMGT, Meat Chopper, Chainsaw, MG, Butcher, (incorrectly but
a person can stay out of the cone of fire to
avoid getting shot. colloquially) Uzi, the Pig, Pork, Porky LENGTH: 59 in (149.86 cm) WEIGHT: 23 |b
~ (10.43); With tripod: 42.5 Ib (19.28 kg) CARTRIDGE: 0.3 in (7.62 mm) x 51 Full Metal
OTHER NAMES: The Trainer, theSimpleton _Jacket [linkless} MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 100 rounds RANGE: 1,203 yards (1,100
USE: Training m) USE: Support (offensive and defensive} VARIANTS: M247 GPMG, M247T

GRENADES
FRAG GRENADE
Grenades have been used since the invention of
gunpowder as an all-around crowd clearer, powered by
nothing more than the Human arm and a fuse. The
Frag—capable of bouncing, rolling, and ricocheting
several times before detonation—is a more powerful
version of those ancient weapons, but still remarkably
FRAG GRENADE—SIDE VIEWS
simple. Pull the pin, toss, and duck.

M9 HE-DP, Damage, Firecracker, Pineapple, Blast Beetle, opper, Croaker

3.7in (93.98 mm) - 14 0z (397 g) 50 ft (15 m)

 Full Metal
Armor-piercing
Jacket (FMJ)
fin-stabilized =
discarding-sabot
Semi-armor piercing
high-explosive

M41 LIGHT ; M? SUBMACHINE GUN

j M68 GAUSSCANNON ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN SRS99QCS2 AM RIFLE Sima
23 mm FMS M90 SHOTGUN BRSS RIFLE MASB RIFLE M6 PISTOL
25x 130mm 12.2x99mm 14.5x 114mm CASELESS 8-GAUGE SHELL 9.5x40mm 7.62
x 51mm FMJ 12.7x40mm
 > “| NEED A WEAPON.”
—MASTER CHIEF TO SGT. MAJOR AVERY JOHNSON

102mm HIGH EXPLOSIVE ANTI TANK 102mm high-explosive

(HEAT) ROCKET
shaped charge
 COVENANT WEAPONS
MOST OF THE Covenant’s arsenal
is plasma-based, so is effective
BACK VIEW
against energy shielding and
body armor and fires a high
number of shots. However, the
UNSC has not discovered how
to recharge Covenant weapons.
Once the plasma reserves are
used up, the weapon is useless,
except as a melee weapon.
Firing rate allows
for quick, precise
shots.

6
10PSitd
J1Se
VNSV
1d

OTHER NAMES ~
‘Type-50 Sniper RifleSystem, Bez
PARTICLE BEAM RIFLE — SIDE VIEW

Master Chief used this pistol to his advantage throughout his mission on Installation 04, taking down
Sangheili shields and then mopping up soldiers his discretion. However, the inability to charge it (like
all plasma-based weapons) has generally limited the use ofthe Plasma Pistol by other UNSC forces.
VIEW FROM ABOVE

Fires bolts
of plasma—

IL
superheated
ionized gas.
—

PLASMA PISTOL
- The Plasma Pistol is one
of the most popular and versatile
weapons for Covenant forces, although smaller units (Unggoy
and Kig-Yar, specifically) tend to wield it most often. While not
overwhelmingly powerful, a super-charged shot from the pistol FRONT VIEW

is able to drain the whole of an energy shield’s power source. PLASMA PISTOL—SIDE VIEW

The Little C, Green, Greenboy

320
,
WV Ved 8)\bs}

PARTICLE BEAM RIFLE COVENANT

The Particle Beam Rifle is capable of causing the instantaneous
When battling Tartarus, the
death of almost any being unlucky enough to be hit by its blast.
last appointed Chieftan of
the Jiralhanae, Sergeant The weapon is very much a counterpart to a UNSC sniper rifle; it
| Avery Johnson used a Beam is heavy, bulky, and not suited for close-range combat. However, Firesa
| Rifletolower his shield. at a distance, marksmen can even any odds by picking through pumipleFangy
—___—
Tartarus was then able to
be killed by the Arbiter.
troops like they were ducks on a range.

Particle Beam Rifles fire

accelerated particle beams at
speeds approaching Mach 2.
FRONT VIEW

VIEW FROM ABOVE

[CARTRIDGE | MAGAZINECAPACITY = [RANGE ~=—=| USE

__ | Accelerated particle beams |100 battery units (18-20 shots] | 4,900 t(1,500m) —_|Sniping

PLASMA RIFLE
The Type-25 Plasma Rifle is the go-to gun for
Sangheili forces in the Covenant. For the UNSC,
its strength is somewhat limited by the inability
to recharge the weapon, but a good soldier can
: The PI
counter that by keeping bursts short and on target. ee
Rifle has a
tendency to
overheat.
oe We,

cere my

BACK VIEW FRONT VIEW

Fires 360 to
540 rounds
per minute.
+

VARIANTS
BRUTE PLASMA RIFLE:
A faster, red version.
PLASMA RIFLE—SIDE VIEW

MAGAZINE CAPACITY RANGE USE

| Gener luse, energy-shield depletion

321
 CARBINE RIFLE
The Type-51 Carbine Rifle
can be used in a multitude
of ways. Kig-Yarmarksmen
ANIGY¥VI
are known to pick off
unsuspecting officers with CARBINE RIFLE—SIDE VIEW
the weapon’s__ long-range
capabilities, while Sangheili and
Jiralhanae sometimes carry it into (ite “es ’
battle as a mid-range weapon. BB
VIEW FROM ABOVE

OTHER NAMES LENGTH WEIGHT The Carbine marks itself as

Type-51 Carbine,CR,CC | 48.3in (122.8 cm) Unloaded: 15.5 lb (7 kg); Loaded: 19.5 Ib (8.8 kg) different by its ammunition.
; Ratherthanuse
plasma bursts
CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE CAPACITY |RANGE USE (which are inaceuraea eam
8mm x 60 caseless radioactive projectiles 18 rounds 1,968 ft (600 m) Sniping, general combat ' and slow at long range), this

«ei70dih
1141 weapon utilizes caseless
radioactive projectiles, shot
out at supersonic speeds. It is
unknown how or when the
Covenant developed this
weapon, but itis theorized
that
it was based on technology
similar to the larger fuel rod
weapons.
 WEAPONS

COVENANT

NEEDLER
The Needler, is a unique weapon utilized by Covenant forces. Using
charged slender energy shards, called needles, as ammunition, the
barrel propels homing, but relatively slow-moving, projectiles at
enemies. The rounds themselves bounce off oblique angles and bury
into flesh, exploding after a time-delay.

Several needles are usually more than

enough to take out any normal-sized
combatant, but the small clip and slow rate of
fire (along with the explosion time-delay) — ' /
makes this an ineffective weapon against
properly trained forces.

Razor-sharp
needles protrude
from top of gun.

NEEDLER—SIDE VIEW

NEEDLES
The needle is a crystalline latticework of unknown origin. When placed into a Needler,
however, its full purpose can be readily seen. The weapon breaks and fires off pieces
of the ammunition, which can home in on targets, digging into flesh or bouncing off
hard surfaces. These shots are slow-moving but are more dangerous than they
appear; the combined explosion from multiple simultaneous needles is more than
enough to kill any Marine, while a single needle at a bad angle can disable a soldier.

OTHER NAMES: Pinkies, Crystal Shards WEIGHT: Varies

ASSAULT CANNON
Similar to the Fuel Rod Gun used by
Covenant ground forces, the Assault
Cannon is a larger, heavier version that
can only be carried by Mgalekgolo. It is
capable of firing large bursts or ina
continuous stream, and while its
blasts are slow and easily dodged, the
blast radius from the weapon's impact
can knock over objects as large as
a Warthog from up to thirty feet
(nine meters) away.

OTHER NAMES: hunter Fuel Rod

CARTRIDGE: Incendiary Gel Tubes
(Fuel Rod Cells) USE: Heavy weaponry,
troop support
CARTRIDGE
PaiGee (pending negotiations with bed Sangheili)

19rounds: ces 210 ft (64 m) | Close-“quarters combat, s

squad- based attacks |
FRONT VIEW

323
 COVENANT WEAPONS

Yainvw"
G0e
Nf]
tala
es
MAULER—SIDE VIEW

MAULER
The Type-52 Pistol, more commonly known
as the Mauler, combines the dexterity of a
revolver with the power of a shotgun and
can do a surprising amount of damage
with its five rounds despite its
limited range andweight drawbacks.
Jiralhanae primarily use it as a
close-quarters sidearm to
support their more traditional
Spikers or Plasma Rifles.

VIEW FROM ABOVE

YI VIEW FROM BELOW

Type-52 Pistol Gas-operated 5 rounds

Low to medium _ | Unknown (short range) Anti-personnel

 WEAPONS

COVENANT

FUEL ROD GUN While the specifications

Heavy and powerful, the Fuel Rod Gun can be handled and technology behind the
Fuel Rod Gun remain unknown,
by any Covenant soldier, but due to the weapon’s the power of the weapon is
instability, it is almost always carried by the Unggouy. enough to make any Marine forget
It is in this use that the “Thud Gun” has entered into the beast that is usually attached to
the nightmares of the UNSC: A dim outline of green in it—almost. This is because, even if a
Marine manages to kill the Covenant soldier
the night, a sudden blast, and death for anything
who carries it, the weapon’s “Dead Man's
within a ten-foot (three-meter) radius. Switch” can cause it to overload and explode
with enough force to kill anyone near it.

FUEL ROD GUN—SIDE VIEW

OTHER NAMES
Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon, Farg, the Thud Gun, the Shine Box

LENGTH WEIGHT
51.26 in (103.2cm) | Unloaded: 46 Ib (20.8 kg); Loaded: 52 Ib (23.3 kg)

CARTRIDGE RANGE USE

VIEW FROM ABOVE
A lethal ballistic projectile 0.32 in (8.2mm) 541 ft (165 m) Anti-armor, anti-personnel
explodes on impact with targets.

The Fuel Rod Cannonis a powerful anti-vehicle (ground and air) weapon utilized
S -P2 ROJECTILE.
Class-2 Projectiles are emitted from a modified version
by Covenant forces, most notably on Banshees, anti-aircraft Wraiths, and of the Fuel Rod Gun and are mounted onto certain
some types of defensive turret. When triggered, the cannon will fire an intense classes of Banshee and other Covenant aircraft.
burst of green plasma that is marginally weaker than a plasma mortar but Although not as powerful as the Mgalekgolo’s weapons,
much faster and more accurate. the Class-2 Projectiles recharge somewhat faster.
——— Little else is known about their ballistics, save for their
impressive destructive power.
OTHER NAMES: Big Green Death, Green Death LENGTH: 51.26 in (130 cm) ——

WEIGHT: 51 Ib (23 kg) CARTRIDGE: 1.5-in (3.8-cm) Fuel Rods RANGE: sso ft USE: Infantry support, anti-vehicle, anti-armor,
REAR VIEW FRONT VIEW

(168 m) USE: Anti-vehicle, anti-aircraft, anti-personnel, anti-armor suppression fire, ship-to-ship combat
325
 COVENANT WEAPONS

BRUTE SHOT
The Jiralhanae are not
known for their subtlety, but
what they lack in grace they
make up for in sheer power. Take
the Brute Shot: It can launch up to
six grenades in a time span ofthree
seconds, taking out large groups of
BRUTE SHOT—SIDE VIEW
opposing infantry and knocking out
«©
“Q0VHS
10HS
HialdS
ainve
© most vehicles. When the dust
settles, Covenant ground forces can
go in and mop up the survivors [if
Naess
OTHER NAMES
ETE nas EE
aire:
there are any). And, like most
Type-25 Grenade Launcher, Brute Gun, Grenade Launcher, Gerbil Shooter, Gerbil Launcher
Jiralhanae-devised weaponry, the
Brute Shot carries a large bayonet ‘CARTRIDGE. | MAGAZINECAPACITY ;. | USE.) a
Grenades 4 or 6 grenades ; Infantry support, suppressive fire hee
for close-quarters combat.

VIEW FROM BELOW

Fires super-hot,
razor-sharp metal spikes

7 (5 Oh: 3
f i e | — Tt
that are one foot (thirty
VIEW FROM ABOVE centimeters) long.

SPIKER ia ‘4
The Spiker was first seen during the battle of
Harvest, but did not come into widespread use
until the waning days of the Human-Covenant
conflict. It is an automatic weapon, firing
superheated metal spikes at a rate of eight
rounds per second. These projectiles cut
through flesh and armor like butter, and, like the
bayonet pair on the end of this weapon, they 7 “x sf x < %

should not be dealt with lightly.

OTHER NAMES ‘LENGTH =——_| WEIGHT SPIKER—FRONT SIDE VIEW

Type-25 Carbine, Spike Rifle 32.17 in (81.7 cm) Unloaded: 14.2 |b (6.44 kg); Loaded: 15.5 Ib (7.03 kg)

CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE CAPACITY | RANGE USE

Superheated metal spikes ‘A0spikes =——-—S*«&«A 34.(40.m) _| Close-combat,melee
combat, generaluse

326
 WEAPONS

SIDE VIEW

] Fired beams
flash a brilliant
purple-white.

SHADE
Covenant ground forces often employ stationary %
energy turrets to strengthen defensive positions. / ae -
Shades are made of three primary components: ~
The energy emitter (the “gun barrel”), the gunnery
Anti-gravity cushion
seat, and the mounting base unit. Shades fire supports guns
a series of rapid-fire plasma “pulses” from the
energy emitter, which inflict tremendous
damage. The gunnersits in the “ball” section,
directly behind the energy emitter.
The “ball” in turn floats on an anti-grav
cushion located in the wide, claw-footed
mounting structure. The turret rotates
a full 360 degrees, and can
be employed against aerial and
ground targets.

“Type-26 ASG 4.25ft(1.30m) | 67 Ib (30.39kg)

520 ft (158.5 m) Defensive positioning, anti-siege warfare, squad support

SHADE—FRONT SIDE VIEW
TESTIMONIAL: MAJOR ROLAND HUFFMAN;
UNSC (RET.) ACTIVE DUTY 2548-2573 CE
“CAN YOU TELL USABIT ABOUT THIS ONE?”
“WE SAW A LOT OF THESE. THIS IS AN OLD COVENANT
WEAPON. IT’S A SPIKE RIFLE, WE CALLED IT A SPIKER.”

“WELL, THE BRUTES MOSTLY.”

‘AND CAN YOU SHOW US HOW IT WORKED?”
“SURE. THEY USED IT AS A HAND-HELD. THAT’S HEAVY.
HOLDING AN ENEMY WEAPON LIKE THIS...IS...ER...FEELS...
| DON'T LIKE IT. IF YOU'D HAVE TOLD ME A FEW YEARS AGO
THAT WE'D BE HERE IN, IN THIS PLACE LIKE THIS, TALKING
ABOUT THIS, I'D HAVE SAID ‘NO WAY. IT’S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN.’ IF THERE’S ONE REASON WHY WE’RE HERE,
|WOULD SAY, IT’S BECAUSE-OF-THE CHIEF.”
 ; ] Plasma Cannons
en are wielded on bases
by Gunner Grunts, who
are recognizable by
their green armor.

NONNVI)
VWSY1d PLASMA CANNON WITH
ANTI-GRAVITY BASE

Without an anti-gravity
base, the hand-held
Plasma Cannonis
limited to two hundred
units of power.

Motion trackers
detect approaching
enemies.

P7eun!
GFLVWOLNV
VNSV1d
e PLASMA CANNON
Covenant ground forces often
employ stationary energy
weapon turrets to strengthen
defensive positions. Plasma
Turrets are carried, deployed,
and crewed by Grunts, in addition
to being wielded portably by some
Brute Chieftains. Plasma Cannons fire
bolts of energy similar to those of the
Plasma Rifle, with a rate of fire of just over
three-hundred rounds per minute.
A battery or plasma core is built
into the stationary base of
the weapon, which offers the
weapon unlimited fire power
when it remains attached. When
removed from the base, however, the gun
can only use the firepower remaining within
the weapon.

AUTOMATED PLASMA
TURRET—SIDE VIEW
 WEAPONS

COVENANT
Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon 51.85in(131.7?cm) | 67 Ib (30.39 kg)
o.
e
N/A (200 shot charge when dismounted) 520 ft (158.5 m) Defensive positioning, anti-siege warfare, squad support

PLASMA CANNON—SIDE VIEW

~~
CLASS-2 ENERGY GUN | PULSE LASER TURRET
Class-2 Energy Guns are a newer plasma-based projectile The Pulse Laser Turret (PLT) is a light ship-to-ship weapon used on smaller Covenant
weapon mounted onto small Covenant craft, most notably the vessels as a primary weapon and on larger ships as a secondary weapon. It is able to
Banshee and Dropships. From just a small power source, these gut most UNSC fighters with one direct burst. Captured weapons of this sort have
weapons are able to produce considerable firepower, bringing allowed ONI to develop their own version, which has been deployed on Prowlers.
down Marines in a few well-placed shots. 4

OTHER NAMES. PLT, Pulser, Heartbeat CARTRIDGE: Concentrated plasma USE:

CARTRIDGE: Concentrated plasma USE: Infantry support, Ship-to-ship combat
anti-vehicle, anti-armor, suppressive fire, ship-to-ship combat

SCARAB GUN
VIEW FROM ABOVE

Able to destroy a bunker in one blast (not to mention infantry and most vehicles), this
gun makes any Scarab more than capable of decimating an entire city by itself. The
Scarab Gun can also be fired on its own ina portable form when removed.
AUTOMATED PLASMA TURRET
The APT is a seventy-eight-inch (two-
OTHER NAMES: Beetle Gun USE: Anti-personnel, anti-armor, anti-vehicle, anti-
meter) high, motion-tracking turret used
fortification
to watch over perimeters and bases. It is
found only in places where other forms
of protection would lack sufficient
\UTOCANNON -
lethality. It is one of the few weapons The Covenant Loyalists, led by Jiralhanae on the ground, required a weapon that
that can fire through Bubble Shields, would equal those developed (and retained) by the Sangheili. So they took existing
Jiralhanae technology and constructed a variant for their newly-developed Chopper
Invincibility, and Overshields. VIEW FROM ABOVE vehicle. The cannons are similartothe Spiker weapon, although they fire more slowly
and require more overall control.
OTHERNAMES | CARTRIDGE
Plasma Wall, APT Unknown [pending treaty negotiations with the Sangheili) OTHER NAMES: KongCannon, Bike Cannon, Bike Blaster CARTRIDGE: Superheated
USE metal spikes USE: Anti-vehicle, anti-personnel
Defensive positioning, anti-siege warfare
 COVENANT GRENADES AND BOMBS
COVENANT GRENADES and bombs, like
SPIKE GRENADE
A Jiralhanae invention, the Spike Grenade works
other Covenant weaponry, utilize on roughly the same principles as the Plasma
batteries rather than ballistics, and so Grenade: Lob, stick, and duck. The difference is
while they are very effective, once the that the Spike Grenade attaches itselfto objects
plasma reserves are depleted, they via its spikes, rather than bonding with the
contacted surface. When the fuse
become largely useless.
detonates, the super-heated shrapnel
extrudes violently away from the
initial point of impact, in a
similar way to a claymore
Shrapnel from the
mine.
JOVNIYNOD
AYVIGNIINI Spike Grenade reaches
a temperature of about
270-315 degrees
Centigrade (518-599
degrees Fahrenheit).

©
Se
A0VNGHD
VWSV1d
JOYNGU9
ayids The Plasma Grenade
emits a blue plasma
gas when activated.

PLASMA GRENADE

PLASMA GRENADE
The Type-i Antipersonnel Grenade, more commonly known as a Plasma Grenade or Sticky
Grenade, is a dangerous hand-thrown grenade utilized by Covenant forces, typically Unggoy.
Using technology that is barely understood, even by the Covenant, a primed Plasma Grenade
will “bond” with any organic material it touches, making removal impossible. The resulting
explosion will most certainly kill the target and wreak havoc up to forty feet (twelve meters)
away. One frightening tactic which has been seen on the battlefield is one in which mortally
wounded or psychologically unstable Unggoy attach primed grenades to their bodies before
hurling themselves at their enemies.

Scientists theorize that prolonged exposure to the radiation

emitted by Plasma Grenades can cause a deviation in the neural
pathways of the user, a rare disorder called Boren’s Syndrome.
Currently, Sergeant Avery Johnson ofthe UNSC is the only known
Human to have suffered from this disease and survived.

OTHER NAMES oo ao
Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade, Stickies, Demon Flare, Blue Ball

DIAMETER WEIGHT |DAMAGERADIUS = ==—sS*dS USE

5.75
in(14.6 cm) 2 Ib (907 g) Kill radius:
13ft(3.96 m); Damage radius:
40 ft(12.19m) | Generaluse

332
ANTIMATTER CHARGE
While Humans use nuclear power (fission and fusion), antimatter is the energy of choice
for the Covenant. In lay terms, antimatter is the “opposite” of normal matter, and when
the two collide, they produce an amount of energy that shames even the largest UNSC
reactors—for example, an H-Bomb only utilizes seven percent of its total potential
energy, while all antimatter explosions utilize one hundred percent. Through this, the
Covenant has developed engines that “never” need recharging and weapons that can
glass entire planets. Humanity, meanwhile, can only produce less than a gram of
antimatter a year, even in its most advanced laboratories.

No-matter, Zero-stuff Nuclear warfare, energy

Upon impact,
the outer casing
converts into
While troopers have been liquid form.
known to capture these
Lethal spikes <—_______———

can stick to weapons from fallen

almost anything Jiralhanae, they are loath to
use it; the sight of so many
charred skeletons has put a
dark cloud over them.

SIDE VIEW

INCENDIARY GRENADE
Developed by the Covenant forits psychological
aspect as much as for its damage potential,
the “Firebomb,” as it is commonly known, is a
little bit of hell wrapped in a package the size of
a football. When detonated, the incendiary gel
within the grenade can burn at up to 2200 = INCENDIARY GRENADE
degrees Centigrade (3992 degrees Fahrenheit)
for four and a half seconds, gutting metal and
vaporizing all flesh within its explosive range.

OTHER NAMES oo A ene

Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimateriel Incendiary Grenade, Firebomb, Flame Grenade 12 in (30.48 cm)

WEIGHT =| CARTRIDGE |BLASTRADIUS USE

8 Ib (3.63 kg) Incendiary gel 42 ft (3.66 m) Anti-personnel

PLASMA MORTAR
Built as the main ammunition for Covenant Wraith tanks, the Plasma Mortar (PM) is the most
powerful ground-based application of Covenant energy weapon technology. The barrel of the
Wraith hurls a voluminous charge of plasma through the air, much like a Human artillery shell.
This packet detonates upon impact, creating a burst of heavy damage on targets within its
blast radius. Unlike Human mortar, however, the Plasma Mortar is fairly effective at close
range, though its main use remains in shelling and vehicle warfare.

OTHER NAMES: pM, Comet, Brimstone DIAMETER: 3 ft (0.91 m) WEIGHT: Unknown

(pending treaty negotiations with the Sangheili) DAMAGE RADIUS: Kill radius: 20 ft (6.09
m); Damage radius: 50 ft (15.24) USE: Anti-vehicle, anti-personnel, shelling

SPIKE GRENADE—
FRONT VIEW FROM ABOVE

Type-2 Antipersonnel Fragmentation Grenade, Key 36 in (91.44 cm) 4.2 Ib (1.9 kg)

Kill radius: 10 ft (3.05 m); Casualty radius: 36 ft (10.97 m) Anti-personnel, demolitions

 IN ADDITION TO their impressive arsenal of
guns, the Covenant also has a variety
GRAVITY HAMMER of terrifying melee weapons to draw on.
The Gravity Hammer causes These deadly arms harness power from both
intense crushing damage gravitational energy and plasma energy.
WVH
ALIAVUS through direct strikes or area-
of-effect shockwaves, aided by
a gravitational energy drive.
This drive allows the wielder to
displace objects of much greater
weight or power than a normal
blow might do. This includes
rockets, as seen in the battle of The energy blade
Harvest when Maccabeus and coalesces when
the handlebar
Tartarus each deflected blasts that is activated.
should have killed them.

The Hammer is the Covenant’s

most devastating close-
quarters weapon.
}

AQNANG
GNOMS
Designed by the Jiralhanae, the Gravity Hammer is a
powerful weapon, taking on an almost religious
significance with those beings. While it is too heavy to be
lifted by normal troops, Spartans have been known to
commandeer these weapons after taking down the
Chieftains who normally carry them.

Although primarily a
Jiralhanae weapon, the
Hammer is sometimes
wielded by other species. —

OTHER NAMES LENGTH To

WEIGHT
52 in (1.32 m)
GRAVITY HAMMER
—SIDE VIEWS Katana, Kill Beam 5.2 Ib (2.36 kg)
| USE
Melee combat, assassination

OTHER NAMES LENGTH

The Hammer, the Club 6.6 ft (2 m)

MAGAZINE CAPACITY USE

100 battery units Melee combat

334
 WEAPONS

COVENANT

ENERGY CUTLASS
The Energy Cutlass is a Kig-Yar weapon, designed for light
fighting in close quarters. As the Kig-Yar remain a largely
piratical species, these blades serve them well in the confines
of their victims’ ships.
Composed of a complex lattice of chemicals, plasma, and
alloys, the Cutlass can be made to shatter in a low-level
explosion when embedded in soft flesh, like a Needier round.

LENGTH: 2 ft (61 cm)

USE: Close-quarters combat

ENERGY GARROTE
When a mission requires a quick and quiet kill, a handful of
Covenant SpecOps Elites have been known to bring an Energy
Garrote. The weapon itself is simple. It is comprised of a split
cylinder with focused plasma at the center. This plasma, while
not powerful enough to cut through flesh, can choke and burn
an enemy from behind, ending his or her life silently and in a
matter of seconds.

USE: Stealth, assassination

ENERGY STAVE
Nothing so seemingly ordinary could be as honorific as an
Energy Stave. These staves, wielded by Honor Guards and the
Light of Sanghelios, are not actual weapons but more symbols
of office. In actual combat, an Honor Guard is more likely to use
an Energy Sword. However, the Stave is not without its uses; it
can eviscerate a stray Unggoy or Kig-Yar if they wander too
close to—or too impertinently near—a High Prophet.

OTHER NAMES: Honor Guard Pike LENGTH: 14.03 ft (4.28 m)

USE: Symbolic, close combat, melee combat

ENERGY SWORD
An Energy Sword on an approaching Sangheili warrior is
enough to make any Human flee in terror. That is because
the plasma sheet that makes up the blade of the weapon
does not hack or carve, but boils away anything it comes
into contact with. Anyone unlucky enough to be in the
path of its slice is assured a most painful and messy
death. The only saving grace (for Human attackers,
at least) is that any Sangheili brave enough to wield
such a weapon will be temporarily helpless
against long-range attacks.
THE GRAVITY HAMMER EMITS DEADLY
GRAVITY SHOCKWAVES UPON IMPACT, BUT
THOSE IT STRIKES DIRECTLY ARE USUALLY
TQQ BUSY BEING CRUSHED TO NOTICE.
RR
 MOST OF THE defensive weaponry Nenreehereesnie
constructed by the Forerunners consisted ree ran a tee
of high-powered energy beams, but they
also used some plasma-based weaponry.
Both forms are effective at containment,
but their use is limited.
14NILNGS
WV4G SIDE VIEW

“LauuNl
GALVWOLNY
e

SENTINEL BEAM—FRONT SIDE VIEW

SENTINEL BEAM
Constructed by the Forerunners toward the end oftheir era, Sentinels
are able to produce a directed energy beam that has the ability to
slice through flesh, bone, and even metal. While the technology was
reworked into some Covenant weapons, even the Prophets
themselves are not entirely certain how the weapon works. Except
for the artificial constructs which inhabit the Halo Installations, no
one has much information regarding
the weapon’s operational details.

Slicer, Beam, Laser Gun, Phaser, Ray Gun 100 battery units

300 ft (91 m) Protection against the Flood

 WEAPONS

FORERUNNER
Fires a deadly

—
blue beam

COMBATSKIN
Not much is known about Combat Skin, the referenced armor
worn by the Forerunners. While dealing with the Flood on
Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark admonishes Master Chief for
wearing whatis, in essence, “Class 2 Combat Skin.” With arange
of Skins going up to Class 18, and possibly beyond, it can be
assumed that, like the rest of Forerunner technology, this
armor is beyond the capacity of understanding for any of the
extant contemporary cultures.
AUTOMATED TURRETS—OPEN - 4

USE: Armor, protection against the Flood

Utilized by Forerunner Enforcers, Pulse Beams fire fast-moving

projectiles capable of devastating a target by inflicting
maximum damage in a short period oftime.
be —

OTHER NAMES: Red Death, the Reds RANGE: 150 ft

(45.72 m) USE: Protection against the Flood

AUTOMATED TURRET
The Automated Turret is a Forerunner stationary
weapon, similar in construction to a Sentinel, or
more precisely, a Sentinel Beam. When deployed, it
automatically tracks and fires upon any enemy
combatant who comes within range of its sensors.
The plasma-based projectiles that it fires are hot
enough to melt steel.

AUTOMATED TURRET—CLOSED

Re

Turret Defense

339
 After about
twenty seconds
the anti-projectile
dome collapses
and the generator
0 explodes.
[ e
= = ALTHOUGH WEAPONS AND vehicles play
6 - an extensive role within combat, arole
ar ah of almost equal importance is filled by BUBBLE SHIELD
tis Wn battlefield equipment. When activated, the Bubble Shield’s generator creates
oo an anti-projectile dome around the focal point, up to
co twenty feet (six meters) in diameter. This only lasts for
bay : : é ; P fate
oe a brief period of time, during which a unit is nearly
oO Invisibilty lasts invulnerable, albeit with limited mobility.
© for only a short
© period of time

a OTHER NAMES USE

ae fi The BS, the Bull Suit, the Golf Ball Defense
aH i
m—
<=
em

09
Ne
im ©) cK BUBBLE SHIELD—UNACTIVATED

pnp =|
(am Faore
San wen —
> ‘. ~ Sanaa

eh Se ACTIVE CAMOUFLAGE
ee “i ACTIVE CAMOUFLAGE

Reverse-engineered by the Huragok from

ad Forerunner technology, Active Camouflage is the
= ultimate stealth weapon, rendering anyone that
. touches it temporarily invisible. Although the
aes) With Invincibility ae specifics are not well understood, what the device BUBBLE SHIELD
shielding, any does is refract light around a target, blending —ACTIVATED

ie Resse > | effectively into the background as long as the

ten-second tower bh wearer limits his or her movement.
of terror.
Bright bands
protect the user
Invisibility, Active Camo, Camo Stealth for ten seconds

iL =
LU i

| Shock tactics”

INVINCIBILTY—CLOSED

INVINCIBILITY
Invincibility equipment is unique and was developed by the Covenant
for its obvious battleground potential. It is carried by Brutes and
when utilized allows the wielder invincibility for a total of ten
seconds. |
Although the UNSC has determined that the source of protection
stems from a latent energy field, their ability to reverse-engineer
the Pe ccisniny
‘4 technology has led to largely inconclusive results. | = —ACTIVATED
 WEAPONS

EQUIPMENT

CLOAKING
Much like Active Camouflage, the Cloaking
device is a single-use piece of equipment with
a limited power supply. Developed by the
BEAGMEY FM Jiralhanae to aid in their battles against the
FLARE UNSC and heretic factions within the
Covenant, when activated, the device renders
The Flare is a piece of equipment used to blind opponents its user nearly invisible for twelve seconds by
temporarily. Similarto a Stun or Flash Grenade, the Flare is bending light rays around his or her position.
a non-lethal combat tool used for distraction and
misdirection, before moving in to eliminate an enemy OTHER NAMES: invisibility Cloak
target. Developed by the Jiralhanae, the Flare appears to be USE. siesith, reconnalcéance, aescccinadion,
based on the same technology as the Radar Jammer and general use
Power Drainer.
ae WEIGHT
6.82 lb (3 kg)
USE
Infantry support
OVERSHIELD
The Overshield is a Covenant invention that
renders an extra layer of shielding to its
wielder. When worn, the Overshield can
The shield turns a withstand blasts from even heavy weaponry.

OTHER NAMES: Extra Energy, Shield

USE: General use, melee combat

OTHERNAMES
DEPLOYABLE COVER Ae REI ;
DC, One-Way Wall, One-Way Mirror, One-Way Sign, Walking Shield

Much like the Stationary Shield Generators (SSG) developed by 30.8 Ib (14 kg) |) fatanind susport. shack tnetics
the Covenant, the Deployable Cover (DC) is a near-perfect
shield that can withstand all projectile weaponry and has a
limited ability to absorb plasma-based explosives. The main
advantage of the Deployable Cover is its portability, which
allows for an as-needed combat defense system. Though only
large enough to offer protection from one angle, even this
shortcoming has its advantages as it allows its user the option DEPLOYABLE COVER—UNDER SIDE

to strategically return fire, unlike the Bubble Shield. DEPLOYABLE COVER—TOP SIDE
341
 BATTLEFIELD EQUIPMENT
ee
>
=<
E<
m
Po) PORTABLE GRAVITY LIFT
=
) The Portable Gravity Lift, or Grav Lift, is a personal
elevation device that emits a concentrated gravity beam
m capable of lifting objects up to several tons in weight,
making it a useful combat tool for both battlefield
ma maneuvering and defensive purposes. Ideal for scaling
om large obstacles with ease and speed, the Grav Lift can
ta: change the momentum of a firefight or aid troopers in
need of a tactical retreat.
‘on,
oe

oat
e
Be
oO Jumper, Grav Lift, Booster 43.2 |b (19.6 kg) 33 ft (10 m) GRAVITY LIFT—OPEN

=
m
9)

Oo
= 9]
> SIDE VIEW—DORMANT

tages

)
Ry ia8

SIDE VIEW—ACTIVATED

di¥leldilt
3J19V1lu0d
UVOVYeININ
ALIAVUD TRIP MINE—DORMANT

TRIP MINE Trip Mine emits

Trip Mines are used mainly in the a high-pitched
defense of perimeters or along _—PeePingnoise
when activated.
enemy paths. Trip wires or beams
are used to trigger the detonator
whenever something large enough
comes within range.
Though deadly to anyone close to
the explosion, the mine’s damage
rapidly decreases outward. Trip
Mines are designed to serve more
as warning devices with an extra
punch than as actual weapons.

TR/9 Antipersonnel Mine, Tripper, Skippy, Automatic Guard, Invisible Fence, Mine

1.3 ft (40 cm) cube |21.7 1b (9.8kg) | Kill radius: 10 ft (3 m); Casualty radius: 20 ft (6

Defense, siege warfare, guerilla tactics

TRIP MINE—ACTIVATED

342
 WEAPONS

EQUIPMENT

POINT DEFENSE GAUNTLET

The Point Defense Gauntlet (PDG) is a purely defensive device
carried only by Kig-Yar during battle. Developed by the
Covenant from Forerunner technology, the shield is activated
ACTIVATED
by a gauntlet worn on the user’s wrist. Once activated, a four-
foot (1.2-meter) wide shield blinks into existence. It is able to
withstand most projectile-based attacks, including those of a
needle-shot, and though plasma-based weapons can take a
PDG down, the shields are regenerative.
r —

OTHER NAMES: Lizard Shield, Lizard Screen, Chicken Screen

LENGTH: 4 ft (1.22 m) diameter USE: Personal defense

” Once activated
DORMANT the top ofthe
Regenerator spins
RADAR JAMMER—ACTIVATED around 360 degrees

OTHER NAMES WEIGHT ; ta

Scrambler, Jammer 20.5 Ib (9.3 kg) e aa
REGENERATOR
Much like the Bubble Shield, the
USE Regenerator “protects” shielded
Infantry support combatants within its range ofeffect
for a short period of time, typically
RADAR JAMMER around fifteen seconds. It does this by
The Radar Jammer is a simple device, used recharging energy shields, even if they
by Covenant Forces to confuse an enemu’s belong to an enemy combatant. Users
radar screens. When activated, the Jammer should not grow over-reliant on this piece of
emits radio waves that trick nearby equipment, as it takes some time for the
that there are many more combatants than REGENERATOR—ACTIVATED recharged after use.
there actually are. These phantoms show
up as false dots on the screen, covering an Bee
escape or shielding real soldiers as they 44.3 lbs (20.09 kg) 20 ft (6.10 m) Infantry support
move in for the kill.

OTHER NAMES | WEIGHT USE

“Draino, Drainer ;: 11.2 Ib(5.08 kg) "| Infantry support \

DORMANT SEMI-ACTIVATED :

i ih
POWER DRAINER uf
The Power Drainer is a short-range <
energy-disrupter device used by the
Covenant to lower the electrical
systems of any combatant within range. A REGENERATOR—DORMANT

By emitting a short-range EMP, it short- sags a

circuits all electronics within its The Electromagnetic Pulse
5 : ¢ ; emitted by the Power
emission radius, effectively lowering Diaidien Jebts for about alx
personal energy shields and _ halting POWER DRAINER—ACTIVATED -and-a-half'seconds.
vehicles in their tracks.

343
6L SARY
ADMIRALTY, THE see HIGHCOM ALPHA PRIME CARVER FINDINGS
The leader of aclan of Brutes. __A theory published by Human political sociologist
AGES Dr. Elias Carver in 2491 CE. It argued that the rebellions
The cycles of time into which the Covenant divide their ARK, THE in the Colonies must be crushed, otherwise civil war
history and define their present. There are seven Ages, A secure installation outside the range of the Halo would be inevitable.
but more than one of each and they do not necessarily Array, created by the Forerunners. On it, they stored
follow in the same order. They are the Ages of samples of all sentient races of the Milky Way before CALLISTO TREATY
Abandonment, Conflict, Discovery, Reconciliation, they activated the Halo rings and wiped all life from the The treaty by which the Koslovic and Friedan forces
Conversion, Doubt, and Reclamation. Galaxy. It is also known as Halo Installation 00. surrendered to the UNSC in 2170 CE.

Al (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) ARBITER, THE CASTLE BASE

An intelligence created by replicating the neural ACovenant commander who has been responsible fora A high-security underground complex in the planet
pathways of aHuman brain that has been subjected to defeat is sometimes given a chance to regain his honor Reach from which Dr. Catherine Halsey operated.
bursts ofelectricalenergy. Als may be either “dumb” or by becoming the Arbiter. In this role, he will be sent on
“smart.” Dumb Als can only function within their a suicidal mission and thus die as a Covenant. martyr. CHIEFTAN
original programming, whereas Smart Als are able to The highest military rank in the Brute hierarehly
learn new information but they are susceptible to ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY
rampancy. Asystem to create gravity in a place where it would not CLONE
normally exist, such as a space craft. It can make The scientific product of replication of cells donated by
conditions aboard much easier, but consumes large a living subject, with the aim of creating new tissue,
amounts of energy. functioning organs, or even entire beings. See FLASH

AUGMENTATION
CLONING
The process ofadding artificial enhancements
to Spartan soldiers. These included ceramic
COLE PROTOCOL
Aruling by the UNSC that Human craft, when retreating,
bone grafts, catalytic thyroid implants,
must use random coordinates and must not move ona
occipital capillary reversals, superconductive
path toward Earth or any other Human planet because
fabrication of neural dendrites, and certain
of the risk of giving away its location to the Covenant.
muscular enhancements.
If capture is inevitable, they should destroy their
navigational data and self destruct.
AVATAR
The unigue appearance taken on by an Al. Most Als
choose their own avatar, usually in line with
COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY
A group that once governed the Colonies. It had its own
whatever function they perform.
separate military fleet, but ultimately was absorbed
by the UEG.
BANSHEE
A Covenant vehicle used for recon and
making attacks from the air during ground
COLONIES ys
Permanent Human settlements on worlds other
combat. A small, single-pilot craft with
than Earth. Those closer to the home planet are
stubby wings, it is highly maneuverable
known as the Inner Colonies, while thos
and can reach speeds of 62 mph (100 kph}.
more remote.areas of space are known as
Outer Colonies.
BATTALION
p=
Within the UNSC, four companies along
with another group known as
COMPANY
Within the UNSC, four platoons along with anoth
fi “Battalion Headquarters Section,”
group known as a “Company Headquarters Section.”
totalling 800 men.
Each company in a battalion is named alphabetically
Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and so on.
BETA-5 DIVISION
The arm of ONI responsible for
research and development.
CONFEDERATION
A league, alliance, or union.
BLOODING COVENANT, THE |
A term used by the Elites, A confederation of various alien races who all
meaning to’ gain first
one religion. Its central belief is that through th
experience ofbattle.
Rings (the Halos) they will transcend the wor
reach a higher plane of existence.
BONDED PAIR
Two Hunters who have formeda permanent
tandem battle unit. Hunters always operate
COVENANT CIVIL WAR see GREAT SCHISM
as bonded pairs. COVENANT WAR .
A major series of conflicts between Humans and the
BRAIN FORM see PROTO- Covenant, beginning in 2525 CE. —
GRAVEMIND
CRYO-SLEEP
BRUTES A sleep state induced by placing the subject in
A violent, savage species whose temperature conditions in order jto lowe
homeworld is Doisac. They are about 8 ft 5 metabolic rate. The UNSC uses cryonic sleep, 0
in (2.59 m) tall, bulky, and covered in sleep, to reduce the demend on resources on
shaggy fur. The Brutes joined the Covenant flights. oe
in 2492 CE. The Elites have always
considered the Brutes dangerous and kept CRYO- ITCH
them under tight control. Dry, chy skinaffecting those whopave
woken from cryo-sleep. FRIEDEN MOVEMENT
A neo-fascist political movement arising on Earth in
CYTOPRETHALINE 2160 CE. It began as a reaction to the Koslovic
A chemical that protects cell membranes against ice movement.
damage during cryo-sleep.
FSC (FLOOD SUPER CELL)
DIDACT, THE The cell type which forms the biomass of the Flood
A Forerunner military commander responsible for alien race. FSCs are similar to neurons, and can be
firing the Halo Array. He was the lover ofthe Librarian. arranged to mimic bodily organs.

DIVISION GALAXY
Within the UNSC, three regiments along with a group A large group of stars, gases, and dust.
nown as “Division Headquarters Section.” It totals
4,000 men. GLASSING
When Covenant ships bombard the surface of aHuman
DREADNOUGHT planet with powerful plasma weapons, the surface of
A type of warship used by the Forerunners in their the planet often vitrifies. The glass-like appearance of
conflict with the Flood. The only surviving Dreadnought such devastated worlds gave rise to the UNSC slang
is the Keyship around which High Charity was built and term "glassing.”
which opened Earth's Portal to the Ark.
GLYPHS
DRONES The “letters” that make up the written Forerunner
An alien species with a practical nature and a hive language.
mentality. They joined the Covenant in 1112 CE, and
their role is to perform maintenance and simple GRAVEMIND
combat roles. Drones are insect-like in appearance The collective consciousness of the Flood, which
and their home system is Balaho. became powerful enough to take on a physical form.

ELITES GRAY TEAM SPARTANS

The first race to join with the San ’Shyuum (Prophets) A squad of Spartan-lls specially trained to perform
to form the,Govenant. For a long time the Elites were covert espionage.
the second highest caste, with only the Prophets
above them. Elites are about 7 ft 4 in (2.25 m) tall with GREAT JOURNEY
an appearance Mat is partly reptilian, partly Aterm used by the Covenant to describe the process of
mammalian. transformation into godlike beings that they believe HIGH COUNCIL
will be set in motion when they find and activate all the
ENGINEERS — Holy Rings (the Halos).
The highest echelon of the
Covenant, who are responsible for
Engineers are thinking machines rather than true life
making all important decisions. It is made up of
ir duties are excavating and gathering GREAT SCHISM about 200 Prophets and Elites. The High Council
er artifacts. Engineers are purplish-pink in The conflict between Covenant Loyalists and is headed by the three High Prophets.
move about, by floating on lighter-than-air Separatists, who split apart in 2552 CE. It is also
known asthe Covenant Civil War. HIGH PROPHETS
The three highest leaders of the
EPSILON ERIDANI GRUNTS Covenant, also known as_ the
Astar system that contains the planet Reach. Itis 10.5 A small, squat species from the world of Balaho. They Hierarchs. The most recent High
light years from the Sol System. joined the Covenant in 2142 CE. At first they were used Prophets are the High Prophet of
as lowly laborers, but after a rebellion in 2462 CE they Mercy, the High Prophet of Truth,
FDS (FUSION DRIVE SYSTEM) were given an increase in status to infantry.
A system that uses fusion'reactors to generate power. and the High Prophet of Regret.
The power provides thrust for Human vessels. A scaled HALO ARRAY
down version provides thrust for fusion rockets HOLY RINGS
Seven ring Installations that, when fired in unison, Covenant term for the Halo
bring about the destruction of all sentient life in the rings, which they believe have
FLASH CLONING Galaxy.
A method of creating a clone at a vastly accelerated deep religious significance.
speed. Flash-grown clones have many weaknesses HARVEST
and the procedure is officially banned. HUMAN-COVENANT WAR
A planet in the Epsilon Indi system, once an important see COVENANT WAR
producer of food crops for Humanity. It was the first
FLASH THAWING Human planet to be attacked by the Covenant, who
- Awaking subjects from cryo-sleep in a very short time HUNTERS
“glassed” it. Gigantic warriors formed by colonies of Lekgolo worms
rame. It has a twenty percent mortality rate and is
inly done in emergency situations. operating as one.Each colony shapes itself into a
HERETICS single entity with the appearance of a giant bipedal
A splinter group formed by members of the Covenant.
FLEETCOM (UNSC FLEET COMMAND) Heretics believed that the High Prophets had lied to
armored figure.
The main operational group of the UNSC Naval Forces.
their people about the Halo rings being instruments of HURAGOK see ENGINEERS
ols all naval vessels in the UNSC.
salvation. The High Prophets attempted to stamp
them out. INSURRECTIONISTS
Humans who seek to break away from the UNSC and
HIERARCHS
see HIGH PROPHETS the United Earth Government and form their own
governments.
HIGH CHARITY
The capital and holy city of the Covenant. It is built INTERPLANETARY WAR
around a Forerunner Dreadnought, and is the place of Series of conflicts between the UNSC, the Koslovics,
residence of the three High Prophets. and the Friedans beginning in 2164 CE and ending in

HIGHGOM (HIGH COMMAND) 2170CE.

The highest echelon of theUNSC. Composed of fewer than

twenty ofthe highlest-ranking officers, HighCom controls
ining,personnel,
p resources,.and plement, Itis also
JACKALS MANTLE, THE ONI (OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE)
A spiny, sharp-toothed species who are part of the An ethical code followed by the Forerunners, under The arm of NavCom that is responsible for gathering
Covenant. Jackals demonstrate less religious which all species in their domain were protected and and analyzing information. Many ofthe organization’s
conviction than other members and view their allowed to evolve without interference. orders are taken directly from HighCom.
membership as an opportunity to siphon off resources.
Their rank is just above the Grunts.They were accepted MARK OF SHAME ORACLE OF HIGH CHARITY, THE
into the Covenant in 1342 CE. A brand applied to the chest of those who are An Al left by the Forerunners on the Dreadnought in the
considered to have betrayed or brought shame upon center of High Charity. See MENDICANT BIAS
JIRALHANAE see BRUTES the Covenant.
ORACLES
see MONITORS
KEYSHIP MASS WEAPONS
A Forerunner spacecraft with the ability to open Weapons that fire super-dense projectiles at high ORION ARM
portals to the Ark. Keyships are the only ships-able velocity. A part of the Milky Way Galaxy.
to do this.
MENDICANT BIAS ORION PROJECT
KIG-YAR see JACKALS The Al on the Forerunner Dreadnought of High Charity. A project created by the ONI to produce improved
Long before this, it had defected to the Gravemind, soldiers by means of bioengineering. It was later
KOSLOVIC MOVEMENT becoming rampant and turning against the resurrected as the SPARTAN-! program.
A political movement arising on Earth in 2160 CE which Forerunners.
held as its ideal the Soviet Communist. system of the 20th PARASITE
century. It was strongest in the Outer Colonies. METABOLIC CASCADE FAILURE Alife form that draws nourishment from another organism.
Sudden physical degeneration of flash-grown clones,
LEKGOLO due to.metabolic instability. PATH, THE
A race of worms who became part of the Covenant in A term used by the Covenant to describe the struggle
784 BCE. The Covenant first destroyed those Lekgolo MGALEKGOLOseeHUNTERS toward salvation from which no member must waver.
who were capable of harming Forerunner artifacts.
Some Lekgolo form themselves into pairs of Hunters, MILKY WAY PELICAN
the Mgalekgolo. The Galaxy that contains Earth and the Sol System. The D7?-TC Pelican is a combined dropship and gunship
used by the UNSC in operations at ground and near-
LIBRARIAN, THE MJOLNIR ARMOR atmosphere levels. It is also ca \é ftaking off and
A Forerunner responsible for gathering samples of Advanced armor worn by Spartan-lls in battle. In landing vertically. Armed
the Galaxy’s species before the firing of the Halo differing models and generations, it incorporated a missiles, it is capable of carrying Scorpion and V\
Array. These samples were later used for reseeding fusion-powered exoskeleton, reverse-engineered
the Galaxy. Covenant energy shields, Al-interface, vacuum-
capable coating, and automatic medications. MJOLNIR
“LIFE-OATH” armor is sometimes referred to as “the Skin” or “the
The pledge by a Hunter to commit itselfto the causes Shell.”
of the Covenant.
MONITORS
LINE, THE see MAGINOT SPHERE Constructs left by the Forerunners on Halo
Installations to log daily events and ensure the Flood
LONGSWORD INTERCEPTORS remained in containment. There is one Monitor for
UNSC fighter craft used to take out Covenant each Halo. The Covenant call them Oracles.
vessels traveling to or from their main ships, and devastation over an area afug 401
also as an escort for larger UNSC ships such as NAVCOM (NAVIGATION COMMAND) They are a Covenant weapon.
Cruisers and Frigates. The UNSC organization responsible for Human vessels
in space. It is made up of Fleetcom (Fleet Operations PLASMA PISTOL
LOYALISTS Command}, NavLogCom (Logistical Operations A favorite weapon of the Covenai
Those Covenant members who remain faithful to their Command}, and NavSpecWep (Naval Special Weapons fires ionized gas bolts th
Prophets and fight against the Heretics. Operations). draining an energy shield

LUMINARIES NAVSPECWEP_ (UNSC NAVAL SPECIAL PLATOON

Scanners used by the Covenant to locate other WEAPONS OPERATIONS) Within the UNSC, three sat
species. The Covenant scavenged them from The branch of the UNSC with operational authority by asecond lieutenant. —
Forerunner ships. over the Spartans.
PORTABLE GRAVITY
Mi2 WARTHOG LRV NEEDLER A device that acts lik an elev
UNSC ground vehicle that has been through more than A Covenant weapon frequently used in the Human- drop things at the sami
ten incarnations. Speedy and highly maneuverable, it Covenant war. It fires pink shards of crystal that home and discreet way oftransfi
is often used to clear the way before advancing in on an enemy.and bury themselves in their
Scorpion tanks. flesh, ae after a time delay. PORTAL, THE
A collection of energy ge
M808B SCORPION MAIN BATTLE TANK OFFENSIVE BIAS . artifact buried in Africa. When excavated, the machine
The standard battle tank of the UNSC. It is virtually A ForerunnerAl created to defend against therampant opened up a Slipspace gateway to the Ark.
impervious to missiles and bullets and is able Mendicant Bias. Ultimately defeated Mei
to negotiate almost any kind of terrain. There after the firing of the Halo se PROPHETS
have been more than six different versions of the | The ruling caste of the Covenant, Prophets have
Scorpion Tank. ODST (ORBITAL DROP SH absolute control in government and religious affairs.
UNSC troops who make their combat landings In appearance, Prophets are somewhat humanoid.
MAGINOT SPHERE individually rather than by _— To do this they Although more than ? feet (2 meters) tall, physically
A defensive sphere of unknown construction that the y are relatively frail. Their skin is a grayish-pink color.
Forerunners drew around themselves to prevent Insertion Vehicles (SOEIVs
infection by the Flood. The 105th ODSTs are also k
PROTO-GRAVEMIND SLIPSPACE
A Flood Form that results from a merging-together of An intertwiningof several layers of dimensional space,
many other forms. It is created when the Flood wants giving the effect of a folded, scrunched, or rippled
to combine the knowledge from many hosts into one area. Slipspace can be traveled through at speeds Spartan-lls “washed out,” and most ofthese died.
individual. A Proto-Gravemind eventually evolves into faster than light, although at some significant risk.
a Gravemind. WRIT OF UNION
SLIPSPACE PORTALS The treaty by which a species formally joined the
RAINFOREST WARS Ruptures in space that allow faster-than-light travel Covenant. The original Writ of Union
was made between
Aseries of conflicts between UN, Koslovic, and Frieden between stars. the San’Shyuum and the Sangheili in 852 BCE.
forces taking place in South America in the 2100s CE.
SOL SYSTEM YANME’E see DRONES
RAMPANCY The home planetary system of Humankind, made up of
A state of information overload that may affect an Al Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
and cause it to “think itself to death.” A rampant Al and Neptune.
goes unstable, which may resultin madness, delusions
of great power, and turning against its creators. SPARTAN PROGRAMS
Rampancy is dangerous and cannot be reversed, Three projects run by the UNSC with the aim of creating
therefore any affected Al must be destroyed. super-soldiers. SPARTAN-| was based on mental and
physical augmentation of adult volunteers. In
REACH SPARTAN-II, genetically gifted children underwent
The second most populated planet in the UNSC, years of intense training before being augmented with
including several important military headquarters. It advanced technology. SPARTAN-III removed the
was also the UNSC’s main.naval base and home to emphasis on technology and concentrated on
many ONI bases, including CASTLE base. producing cheaper, expendable super-soldiers in
greater numbers.
“RECLAIMERS”
The real meaning of a sacred Forerunner glyph that _ SQUAD
described Humans, It was mistranslated as Within the UNSC, a group of 12 soldiers led bya corporal
“reclamation” by the Covenant, who thought it meant or lance corporal.
Humans were artifacts to be collected. :
STOICS
REFLECTIVE ENERGY SHIELD The group of San ‘Shyuum who refused to enter the
An invisible protective barrier around a vessel that Dreadnought, believing it too holy to set foot in. They
repels most attacks by explosive, mass, and energy were left behind on their homeworld by the
weapons. Reformers, who departed on the ship after learning
how to activate it.
REFORMERS
group of San ‘Shyuum who defied their people’s TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION CODE
n that it was heresy to enter the Dreadnought. Acode contained within a physical key (such as a chip)
ng so, they were able to activate the craft and that enables an Al to move from one electronic system
to another.

UEG (UNIFIED EARTH GOVERNMENT)

The global civilian government of Earth andits Colonies
that grew out of the UN at the conclusion of the
Interplanetary War.

UNGGOY
see GRUNTS

UNICOM (UNIFIED GROUND COMMAND)

The organization in control of Human ground-based
operations, such as infantry and recon operations.

UNSC (UNITED NATIONS SPACE COMMAND)

The organization in control of the combined
military forces of the UEG in space.

UNSC CRUISER
The largest and most imposing
Be oNist UNION ships in the UNSC fleet, Cruisers
ebel organization formed in 2461 CE by members of are thickly armored and equipped
the Colonies who wanted to break away from the UNSC. with a heavy arsenal of weapons. They
It was also known as the People’s Occupation also carry twenty-four Longsword
Government. Interceptors.

SHIELD WORLD UNYIELDING HIEROPHANT

An artificial planet with a Slipspace rift at its center. An immense, 11-mile- (18-km) long
Within it, living beings could access a micro Dyson Covenant space station, It could carry
Sphere shelter while the Halo Array was fired. more than 500 ships and hundreds of
thousands of troops. The Unuielding
SILENT CARTOGRAPHER Hierophant was preparingto attack Earth when it was
A map room on a Halo Installation that shows the destroyed by Master Chief and his team.
location ofall its rooms, chambers, and passageways.
WARTHOG see M12 WARTHOG LRV
SOEIV (SINGLE OCCUPANT
EXOATMOSPHERIC INSERTION VEHICLE) “WASH QUT”
The pod used by an ODST to make landings. It is about A hazard of the Spartan-ll Program involving the
18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and over 8 feet (2.4 meters} physical breakdown of a soldier during the
i ut most ofthis space is taken up by equipment. augmentation process. Nearly fifty percent of
 Cryogenics 108, 198, 216—217

A
Bridges 232
Brilliant Gift 2¢2 CrystalofReach 73, 229
Brutes 115, 134-135, 242, 243, 271, 29¢, 324, 326, 334, C709 Longsword-Class Interceptor 9, 251
340; ranks 135, 136-137 Cutter, Captain 72, 257
Absolution 274 Cytoprethaline 216
Brute Chopper 331, 242
Ackerson, Colonel James 71, 84
Brute Prowler 243
Ackerson, Ruwan 7?
Brute Shot 136, 137, 326

D
Active Camouflage 130, 137, 340
Bubble Shield 136, 331, 340,343
Admiralty 44, 46 also see HighCom
Buck 60
Adriatic (UNSC) 257
Bumblebee 250
Ages (of Covenant) 30, 31, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 194
Bum Rush (UNSC) 256 Dadab 122, 14?, 274, 275
Agincourt (UNSC) 257 Damascus Materials Testing Facility 89, 258, 286
Bunker Hill (UNSC) 258
Agricultural Support Ship 269
Buzzer 310 Deep-Space Artifact 75, 229, 259
AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun 308, 317
Byrne, Sergeant Nolan 35, 71, 287, 310 Deep Winter 75
Air Pad 280
Déja 74, 75
Albatross 249
Delta Company 85

5
Al-Cygni, Jilan 71; Pocket Pistol 311
Deployable Cover 341
Allegiance (UNSC) 256
Destroyer: Covenant, 270, 316; UNSC, 248
Alliance (UNSC) 258
Didact, the 184—185, 188, 189, 227
All Under Heaven (UNSC) 258
Doisac 114, 135, 297
Alpha Company 85 Cairo Station 282
Doozy 237
Ammunition (UNSC) 318-319 Callisto 283
Draco Ill 288
Ander, Major Jerald Mulkey 44, 45, ?¢, 241, 260 Callisto Treaty 33,42
Dreadnought 23, 27, 114, 276-277
Anders, Professor..?4 Calypso-Class Exfiltration Craft 249
Drones 115, 122, 148-149, 297
Anti-Aircraft gun 240 Capri 237
Dutch 61
Antigravity.technology 148, 327 Carbine 131, 135, 137
Apocalypso (UNSC) 75, 229, 253, 259 Carrier: Covenant, 265; UNSC, 249

E
Applebee (UNSC) 256 Cartographer 204, 228. See also Silent Cartographer
Arbiter, the 105, 199, 130, 131, 200, 204 Carver Findings 44, 82
Arbiters 130-131, 293 CASTLE Base 65, 71, 75, 82, 83, 198, 200, 286
Arcadia 43, 286 Centennial Space Elevator 201, 282
Argo (UNSC) 36, 6?, 195, 256 Chalons (UNSC) 256 Earth 282, 284—285; first battle of, 9, 37, 77, 200, 257;
Argus Drone 251 Charybdis IX 288 second battle of, 10, 37, 77, 108, 204
Ark, the 18, 26, 27, 28, 171, 180-183, 204, 228 Chi Ceti lV 258, 286 Eayn 115, 14? 295
Armor: Brute 134, 136, 137; Spartan 88-93. See also Chi Ceti System 286 Elephant 236
MJOLNIR armor Chiroptera-Class Stealth Vessel 249 Elites 30,31, 112, 114, 115, 124-125, 126, 130, 131, 134,
Armored Ships 303 Chu’ot 295 201, 299; ranks, 126-127; Separatists, 128-129.
Artificial Gravity 211, 224 Circumference (UNSC) 253, 256, 261 Emerald Cove 37, 296
Artifical Intelligences (Al) 74-75, 91, 104, 172, Circumstance 286 Endless Summer 74, 289
188-189, 218-221, 225; and civilians 76-77 Citadel, the 182 Energy Cutlass 335
Assault Cannon 244, 323 Citadels 292 Energy Garotte 335
Ascendant Justice 272 Class-2 Energy Gun 331 Energy Shields 89, 90, 125, 147, 225, 343
Assault Carrier (Covenant) 264 Class-2 Projectile 325 Energy Stave 335
Asteroid Belts 77, 102 Cloaking 137, 341 Energy Sword 131, 309, 335
Athens (UNSC) 258 Clones 82, 214-215 Enforcers 227
Athens Station 282 CMA (Colonial Military Administration) 34, 44, 45, Engineers 122-123, 124, 340
Atlas (UNSC) 259 66-67, 80 Epsilon Eridani System 65, 286
Automated Plasma Turret 331 Cobra 239, 281 Epsilon Indi System 287
Automated Turret 339 Cole, Vice Admiral Preston 36, 68, 70 Eridanus Asteroid Belt 287
Cole Protocol 36, 68—69, 70, 198, 282, 287 Eridanus System 34, 36, 287
Colonies: Covenant, 294-299; Human, 8, 33, 36, Eridanus II 35, 81, 98, 287

B 42-43, 44, 67, 80, 81, 195, 286-289

Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose 270, 274
Commitment and Patience 272, 274
Esteem..275
Eternal Spring 75
Europa 283
Balaho 115, 143, 296 Commonwealth (UNSC) 258
Ballast 288 Construction Platform 966A 258
Banshee 265, 293, 325, 334 Constructors 232
Base Turrets 280 Contrition 274,259 -:
Basra (UNSC) 252 Control Room 183, 187, 198, 199, 200, 204
Battlefield Equipment 340-343 Coral Sea (UNSC) 257 Factory 293
Battleship (Covenant) 264 Cortana 76, 104, 105, 228 Far Isle 288
Beatrice 200, 249; 258 Corvette 248 Far Sight Lost. 274
Beta Company 36, 85, 195, 258 Covenant, the, 8, 10, 11, 14, 35, 36, 37, 45, 112-115, Field Armory 280
Beta-5 Division 65, 62, 80 120, 194, 195, 200, 201; ages, 30, 31, 113; bases, Field Master 126
Beta Gabriel 286 292-293; Civil War, 10, 129, 270, 274, 275, 294; Flagship 264
Black Cat-Class Subprowler 248 colonies, 294—299; grenades and bombs, 332-333; Flamethrower 311
Bloodied Spirit 274 technology, 224-225; weapons, 320-336 ‘Flare 341
Blue Team Spartans 108 Covenant Blades 334—335 FleetCom [Fleet Operations Command) 62
Boarding Craft (Covenant) 270 Covenant Carbine 322 Fleet of Particular Justice 130, 270, 272
Brasidas (UNSC) 258 Cradle 250 Flood, the 9, 16, 20, 26, 27, 129,
BR55 Battle Rifle 304-305, 309 Cruiser: Covenant, 265; UNSC, 251 152-153, 165, 168, 169, 170, 171, 188,
 189, 198; Flood forms, 20, 120, 154-159, HighCom (High Command) 46, 65, 67, 285
170, 272; Flood Super Cell (FSC) 152 High Council 130, 143, 147
Forerunners 16, 26, 27, 28, 114, 153, 164—169, 170, 171, High Prophets 14, 120-121; of Mercy, 120;
172, 188, 189, 340; artifacts, 114, 120, 121, 122, 148, of Regret, 120; of Truth, 10, 11, 121, 187, 190-191
194, 198, 200, 289; ships 276-277; technology 43,
226-233; weapons, 338-339
Forge, Sergeant John 73, 131
HMG-38 Rifle 311
Hog Rocket 305
Hood, Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence 71, 282
K
Foundry, the 183 Hornet 248, 271 Kalmiya ?5
Fred-104 83, 99, 108, 201, 257 Human-Covenant War 46, 194-206 Kelly-08? 83, 99, 108, 200, 201
Friedans 32, 33, 42, 283 Hunters 30, 114, 140-141, 189, 245, 299. Key of Osanalan 71, 7?, 200, 275
Frigate: Covenant 268; UNSC 248 Huragok see Engineers Keyes, Captain Jacob 8, 9, 72
Fuel Rod Cannon 325 Hydra System 288 Keyes, Miranda 9, 73,
Fuel Rod Gun 323, 325 Kig-yar see Jackals
Fusion Rockets 303 Kosloviks 32, 33, 42
K?-49 299
Kurt-051 83, 108, 109

G In Amber Clad (UNSC) 9, 10, 260

Incendiary Grenades 136, 137, 333
Gamma Company 85 Incorruptible 275
Ganymede 283 Index 183, 186, 198, 199, 200, 201, 204, 228
Gas Mine 233, 298 Infinite Succor 272
Gettysburg 108, 200, 260, 272 Installation 00 10, 171, 180; battle of, 11,
Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice 70, 7?, 200, 287 37, 73, 204. See also
Ghost 242, 245, 269 Ark, the
Gibson, Captain Henry 71, 122, 260 Installation 01 174
Gilgamesh 288 Installation 02 174
Glasgow Kiss (UNSC) 257 Installation 03 174
Glyphs 112, 113, 189, 194 Installation 04 8, 9,
Gondolas 232 105, 175, 200; battle
G 167G 296 of, 37, 72, 73, 128, 129,
Gorgon (UNSC) 259 175, 186, 198, 265
Gravemind, the 20, 27, 157, 158-159, Installation 04B 11, 176,
169, 184, 188 187
Gravity Cannon 324 Installation 05 105, 176, 186,
Gravity Hammer 130, 136, 334, 336 187, 200; battle of, 37, 128,
Gravity Thrones 118, 120, 128 129, 200
Gray Team Spartans 109 Installation 06 177
Great Journey 112, 118 Installation O07 177
Great Schism 128, 129, 137 Intercontinental
Green Team Spartans 109 Ballistic
Gremlin 239 Missile 315
Grenades 317, 332, 333
Grizzly 236, 241
_ Groombridge-34 288 — fay
~ Grunts 32, 115, 121, 140 141,142-143, “<_sestessveeseressvsscssccsccnee “HEED ;
147, 296, 325, 332
oe Grunt Rebellion 115, 121, 142, 143, 296
Guns; UNSC, 304—31?; Covenant 320-331

Interplanetary
War 32,4?
Interstellar Marshall Plan 164
Invincibility equipment 331, 340
~ Halcyon-class Cruiser 251
lo 283
‘Halo Array 9, 11, 16, 27, 76, 105, 153, 170, 174, 172,
74-177, 184, 185, 188, 189, 201, 204, 228

J
‘Halsey, Dr. Catherine 8, 77, 82
Han 256
Hannibal (UNSC) 256
Harmony 299
Jackals 31, 115, 124, 146-142, 322, 335, 343
Harvest 35, 36, 195, 287
Jenkins, Private Wallace A. 70
Haverson, Lieutenant Elias 70, 199, 200, 272
Jeromi, Admiral Ysionris 74
Hawk 249
Jerrod 75, 285
Hawking System 288
Jiles, Governer Jacob ??, 200, 249, 258, 287
Heads-Up Display (HUD) 49, 57, 90
Jiralhanae see Brutes
Healy, Petty Officer First Class 71, 261
John-117 8, 13, 35, 45, 94, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102,
Hellespont System 288
103. See also Master Chief
Heracles (UNSC) 36, 195, 248, 258, 260
Johnson, Sergeant Avery 35, 70
Heretics 10, 187, 233, 270, 299 Jovian Moons Campaign 32, 283
HermesIl 259, 274 Joyous Exultation 129, 201, 270, 274, 275
Herodotus (UNSC) 258 Jupiter 283
Hierarchs 119, 120, 131, 194
High Charity 23, 113, 276, 294; Oracle of, 119, 194
High Charity Defense Fleet 295
INDEX
L M N
Lancelot (UNSC) 258 M6 Magnum Sidearm 30?, 308 »Narq-Dart Pistol 314
Lark (UNSC) 256 M? Submachine Gun 306, 309 N ional Holiday (UNSC). 256
LAU-65D/SGM-151/Missile Pod 316 M19 SSM Rocket Launcher 314-315
Lawgiver 275 ) Rocket Launcher 314
0
Lekgolo see Hunters
Leviathan (UNSC) 258
Librarian, the 27, 184-185, 188, 227
Light Cruiser (Covenant) 265
Lighter Than Some 122, 123, 243
Linda-058 83,99, 105, 108, 201, 314
Locklear, Corporal 73, 199, 200, 229
Locust 242, 245
Logistical Operations Command see NavLogCom
Loki 75, 72, 261 Madrigal 298
Longsword see C709 Longsword-Class Interceptor Magellan (UNSC) 257
Loyalists (Covenant) 105, 180, 282, 284, 299, 331 Maginot Sphere, the 26, 27, 16
Luminaries 113, 147, 194 Magnetic Accelerator Cannons 35,
Luna 42, 282 Malta Station 282
Mantle, the 26, 164, 172, 185
Marathon-class Cruiser 248, 251
Maria-O062 83, 89, 108
Mars 32, 34, 42, 71, 200, 282
Mars Campaign 32, 42 3,256
Mass Weapons 303 27, 188, 189
Master Chief 8, 9, 13, 37, 45, 62, 63, 70, 73, 76, 94, Onan (UNSC) 261
98-105, 108, 120, 129, 131. See also John-117 ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence) 37, 43, 44, 64 65, 62, 77,

Mauler 324 80, 84, 102, 104, 215, 299; sections, 65

Melissa 75, 76, 229, 259 Onyx 35, 85, 232, 233 ;
Mendez, Chief Petty Officer Franklin 72, 75, 82, 201, 314
Operation: CHARLEMAGNE 34, 44, 45

Mendicant Bias 27, 181, 188, 189, 232, 295 Operation: HYPODERMIC 256
Mercury 283 Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE 45, 81, 241
Operation: PROMETHEUS 36, 85, 195, 299
Meriweather Lewis (UNSC) 258
Mgalekgolo 114, 140, 323, 325 Operation: TANGLEWOOD 81
Mickey 60 Operation: TORPEDO 37, 85, 195, 258
Midsummer Night (UNSC) 256 Operation: TREBUCHET 35, 45, 81, 287 \
Origami (URF) 261 x
Milky Way 16, 26, 28, 112, 153, 164, 185, 188, 284
Minister 119, 287 Orion Arm (of Milky Way) 28, 44, 112, 113, 164, 165, 28
Minor Transgression 121, 14?, 275 ORION Project 33, 44, 45, 65, 67, 80, 81, 82
Minotaur (UNSC) 257 Overshield 331, 341
Miridem 287
MJOLNIR armor 65, 75, 81, 82, 88, 89,
102, 134, 220, 286, 288, 307; Mark VI P
armor 90-91, 125, 285, 286
MLX 241
Mongoose 237 Paint Pellet Gun 314
Monitors 186-187, 227 Palamok 297
Musashi (UNSC) 257 Parabola-class Freighter 252
Parangosky, Margaret 0. 72
Particle Beam Rifle 146, 320-321
Paris (UNSC) 261
Paris-lV 37, 289
Pelican 252, 306
Penance 275
Phantom Dropship 264, 268, 269, 270
Pillar ofAutumn (UNSC) 8, 9, 34, 37, 260, 273
Pioneer (UNSC) 258, 260
Pious Inquisitor 275
Plasma Cannons 136, 245, 330
Plasma Grenade 265, 332
Plasma Mortar 333
Plasma Pistol 320
Plasma Rifle 131, 137, 321, 324, 330
Plasma Turret 243, 246, 265, 330
Pluto 283
Point Defense Gauntlet 343
Point of No Return (UNSC) 252, 258, 261
.308 Caliber Machine Gun 314
 Pony Express (UNSC) 261 ai Ships: Covenant 264-275; Forerunner 276-277; é
Portable Gravity Lift 342 UNSC 248-261
Portal to the Ark 10, 180, 228, 276, 282, 284 Sif 75, 77, 260
Power Drainer 341, 343 oe Sigma Octanus System 35, 198, 288; Sigma 0: t Two Drink Minimum 260
Project: MJOLNIR 88-89 . 37, 104, 198, 258, 288, gma Octanus IVA ct “Two For Flinching (UNSC) 264
Prophets 2?, 31, 112, 114, 118-119, 122, 124, 130, 134; 232, 260 2401 Penitent Tangent 159, 176, 186, 187, 227
Civil War 30, 113; homeworld 298. Silberg (UNSC)
Proto-Gravemind 157, 158, 199 Silent Cartogr
Prowler 242, 243, 248, 253, 331 SOEIVs (Single
Pulse Beams 339
Pulse Laser Turret 268, 270, 331
Purity of Spirit 2?5
Uberchassis 241
204,

|e
Unggoy see Grunts %
UniCom (Unified Ground Comma nd}
34, 36, 47, 54-55, 63,
67 J ™
Unified
Earth Government 43,60,66 *
Poe oumers 137, 341, 343
United Rebel Front 289, 314 a 2
nfo Est Wars 32,42
UNSC (United States Space Command) 8, 36, 32,46-
42,
ses 280-281; personnel 48, 70-73;
TAN-I, 34, 45, 81;

SPDR (seeee Peril Distribut

Spectre 247
Spike Grenade 332
Spiker 136, 137, 324, 326, 331
Spirit Dropship 270, 272
Spirit of Fire (UNSC) 35, 72, 257
Reseeding 1 Stalingrad (UNSC) 258, 261
Resolute (UNSC Stanchion 310
Revenant 274 Stanforth, Admiral Michael 72, 258
Reverence 272 Station Wayward Rest 282
Reverence-cla Stealth Corvette 269
Ripa ’Moramee Stealth Cruiser 252
Stoics 30, 113, 114, 119, 298
: S-2 Traxus Cargo Transporter 241
Rtas ’Vai Sublime Transcendence 201, 274
; Summit 293
Substance 298
Supply Pad 281
Supercarrier (Covenant) 265
Supercarrier (UNSC) 252
Sydney Synthetic Intellect Institute 285

San "Shyu e Prophe

Scarabs 136, 242, 244
Scarab Gun 331
Scooter 239
Scorpion 238, 252, 280
Secessionist Union 44, 77
Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity 265, 273, 274, 295 en 20 : tae
Seeker, the 75, 76, 259 Tenebrus 273 Wraith,
‘Seeker
of Truth 272 Termina esr oie ‘ jp Writ of
Sentinels 85, 100, 176, 186, 199, 201, 226, 227, is (UNSC) 5 ; i
232, 338, 339; Onyx Sentinels, 233, 289; Sentinel
Majors, 226
Sentinel Beam 324, 338, 338
Separatists (Covenant) 128-129, 187, 273 _
Seraph Starfighters 251, 264, 265 inree 129, 270
Serena 74 Thune, Nils 76, 341
70mm Chain Gun 306 Tiara, the 75, 77, 122
Shade 327 Titanium Mines 286
Shadow 246
Shadowof Intent 273
Sharpened Shield, the
Shaw-Fujikawa Slips,
 .

LONDON, NEW YORK,

MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DK would like to thank Alicia Brattin, Frank O’Connor, Kevin Grace, Jonathan Goff, Jeremy
Patenaude, Rick Achberger, and Alicia Hatch at Microsoft. DK would also like to thank Tobias
Buckell for his Halo insight, Craig Mullins for his artwork, and his agent Melody Meisel Klein.
Thanks also to Sarah Phillips and Patricia Hallam/for editorial assistance and to James
Stevenson for his gaming expertise. Lastly, thanks to Halo fans everywhere for helping to fill
this universe with your own stories, battles, and triumphs.

The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind
permission to reproduce their photographs:

(Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; I-left; r-right; t-top)

Corbis: E. M. Pasieka / Science Photo Library214-215; Corbis: Bettmann

284-285; William Radcliffe /Science Faction 282-283, 283br;
Stocktrek Images 288-289; STScl /NASA/
ESA/J.Hester (ASU) / Hubble 286-287, 28?br.
feet oN nn ne ne a nen ne fener nn enna en
aman: a nannenenrnsemamaanrel

PROJECT EDITOR ELIZABETH DOWSETT

ADDITIONAL EDITORS:
JO CASEY, LUCY DOWLING, LAURA GILBERT, JULIA MARCH,
HEATHER SCOTT, VICK! TAYLOR
SENIOR DESIGNER LYNNE MOULDING
ADDITIONAL DESIGNERS:
OWEN BENNETT, DAN BUNYAN, JON HALL, GUY HARVEY, NATHAN MARTIN,
JOHNNY PAU, MARK RICHARDS, LISASODEAU, JULIE THOMPSON

ART DIRECTOR LISA LANZARINI

MANAGING EDITOR CATHERINE SAUNDERS

PUBLISHING MANAGER SIMON BEECROFT
CATEGORY PUBLISHER ALEX ALLAN

PRODUCTION EDITOR SEAN DALY

PRODUCTION CONTROLLER NORMA WEIR

JACKET ILLUSTRATION BY CRAIG MULLINS

FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2009 BY DK PUBLISHING
375 HUDSON STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014
0910111213 10987654321
HD182—07/09

© 2009 MICROSOFT CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MICROSOFT, HALO, THE HALO LOGO, XBOX, THE XBOX LOGO, AND 343 INDUSTRIES ARE TRADEMARKS OF
THE MICROSOFT GROUP OF COMPANIES.

PAGE DESIGN COPYRIGHT © 2009 DORLING KINDERSLEY LIMITED

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNDER INTERNATIONAL AND.PAN-AMERICAN COPYRIGHT CONVENTIONS. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION
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