The Halo Array, Halos, alternatively known as the Sacred Rings by the
Covenant, Fortress Worlds by their creators, Installations by the A.I.
Monitors that run them, and the Great Wheels by prehistoric humans, are
seven (of an original twelve) massive ring-shaped installations
constructed by the Forerunners throughout the galaxy over one hundred
thousand years ago as a last resort when combating the parasite known as
the Flood. When nothing else could be done, they activated the rings
which killed all sentient life forms within three radii of the galactic
center. Not only are they weapons of last resort, but the Halo
installations are also research facilities, mainly for the study of the
Flood.
John-117, more commonly known as Master Chief, is a SPARTAN-II commando
of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. He is the protagonist and
main character in both the Halo trilogy and Reclaimer Saga. With over
thirty years of active duty service, he has become one of the most
decorated war veterans in the United Nations Space Command, earning
every known UNSC medal except the Prisoner of War Medallion.
Thel was born Thel 'Vadam to the Vadam family, rulers of the powerful
State of Vadam on Sanghelios. As a young Sangheili, Thel was trained in
the ways of the warrior by his relative Lak 'Vadamee. He joined the
Covenant military, earning him the right to use the "-ee" suffix, which
is added to a Sangheilian name upon joining the military. Thel fought
alongside the Covenant when they attacked Madrigal in 2528.
Cortana, UNSC Artificial intelligence , is a smart artificial intelligence
construct. She was one of the most important figures in the Human-Covenant
war, and was also John-117's partner in various combat missions as well as
serving as the AI for the Halcyon-class light cruiser - UNSC Pillar of
Autumn, Orbital Defense Platform - Cairo Station Charon-class light
frigate - UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, and Stalwart-class light frigate UNSC In
Amber Clad
Locke was born on March 15, 2529, on Jericho VII. When he was six years
old, Jericho VII fell to the Covenant Empire and Locke was evacuated. His
parents were killed during the assault.[1] Locke eventually joined the
UNSC and became an ONI Acquisitions Specialist, reaching the rank of
Lieutenant Commander.[1] On September 26, 2552, Locke compiled a target
profile report regarding Thel 'Vadam's personal history during the war,
including the Fall of Reach, the Battle of Installation 04, and the Great
Schism.
Johnson played a vital role during the course of the Great War and fought
at major battles such as Harvest, Reach, Earth, and the events at
Installation 04, 05, and at the Ark. He was key in forming an alliance
between the Humans and Sangheili following the Great Schism and the
outbreak of the Flood in November 2552. Ultimately, Johnson was killed in
an attempt to prematurely activate a replacement Halo by 343 Guilty Spark.
He was honored by Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood twice, first with the
Colonial Cross just prior to the invasion of Earth; then just months
later, alongside his fallen comrades, at the Hillside Memorial in Voi,
Kenya.
343 Guilty Spark was created when the human Chakas was mortally wounded
during Installation 07's maneuver to avoid an impending collision with the
"Wolf Planet" during 032 Mendicant Bias's occupation of the Halo. The
Iso-Didact transferred Chakas' consciousness and memories into a monitor
in an attempt to preserve Chakas' intellect and ancient memories caused by
his Geas.[3] He was left to watch over Installation 04 and its contents
when the Foreunners departed.
Captain Jacob Keyes (SN: 01928-19912-JK) was a legendary naval officer and
one of the most brilliant tacticians in the UNSC Navy. He commanded great
respect as a highly skilled strategist and inspirational leader to those
under his command. His many decorations, thirty-five years of combat
experience against the Covenant, and the ability to keep a secret made him
an almost natural choice to command the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and its most
secret cargo. He could often be seen chewing the tip of his grandfather's
pipe
The High Prophet of Truth, born Ord Casto,[1] and formerly known as the
Minister of Fortitude, was the leader of the three Prophet Hierarchs that
led the Covenant High Council during the Ninth Age of Reclamation, the
central antagonist in Halo 2 and 3, and one of the main instigators of the
war against humanity. In 2552, he plotted the ousting of the Sangheili
from the Covenant, and replaced them with the Jiralhanae after the death
of the High Prophet of Regret on Installation 05. After the demise of the
High Prophet of Mercy on High Charity, he became the de facto leader of
the Covenant, from which position he lead their forces to the Artifact in
Africa, and eventually to the Ark in an attempt to activate the Halo
Array, where he was later killed by Thel 'Vadam.
The United Nations Space Command, more commonly known as the UNSC, is the
military, exploratory, and scientific agency of the Unified Earth
Government.The UNSC was commissioned in 2163 as a military force primarily
composed of Naval and Marine forces. In July 2164, the UNSC partook in its
first battle.[2] From this point, the UNSC was used by the UN in
conflicts, including the Interplanetary War.
The Covenant Empire, also referred to simply as the Covenant, was a
theocratic hegemony made up of multiple alien species that maintained
control over a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way galaxy. The
Covenant was a political, military, and religious affiliation, originally
a mutual alliance between the San'Shyuum and Sangheili following a brutal
conflict between the two warring races. Its expansion to include at least
six other races united in the worship of the Forerunners and the Halo
Array soon began after the original formation.
Halo
