Halo Lorebook

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1. #1Covenant

   Keys: Covenant Hegemony, Covenant, Covenant Empire

   The Covenant, also referred to as the Covenant Empire or Hegemony, is a massive religious hegemony of multiple alien species that completely controlled a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way Galaxy with the mobile holy city High Charity as their capital. Originally a mutual alliance between the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, the Covenant expanded to include six other species (Huragok, Mgalekgolo, Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Yanme'e, and Jiralhanae) united in the worship of the mythified Forerunners and the Halo Array. Ruled by the High Prophet of Truth along with High Prophets Mercy and Regret, the Covenant waged a genocidal campaign against humanity. Despite being one of the most powerful military forces in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, internal conflict combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. For the majority of its existence, the two ruling classes of the Covenant were the San'Shyuum and the Sangheili, though the former held greater sway over the Covenant due to their status as "the voice of the gods". The Covenant had ten echelons of government, the highest echelon being the High Council, which was responsible for making all important decisions. The High Council consisted of San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors, who were extremely important to the Covenant society. Covenant society had a distinct caste-based societal system with a strong theocratic underpinning. In the Covenant caste system, one's position in the hierarchy was dictated largely by their species. With the San'Shyuum and Sangheili leading the Covenant's religiopolitical and military affairs, most of the other species served either as warriors or manual labor. The Covenant's culture and religion was based solely on the worship and reverence of the Forerunners. Even then they were unable to fully comprehend the subtle meanings of many Forerunner glyphs. The San'Shyuum incorrectly interpreted the activation of the Halo Array as a means of transcending mortality, a process they came to call the "Great Journey". Because of this, the Covenant devoted itself to searching for and recovering of Forerunner artifacts. The Covenant uses commerce as a form of economy. As the Covenant's cohesion was grounded in its belief of working to obtain and sharing Forerunner technology, every member of the Covenant was given a form of employment or a service. The lesser species were treated as second-class citizens with little political or representative voice or power. Covenant technology are based largely on mimicry and reverse-engineering of the leftover Forerunner artifacts they have discovered. They use exceedingly accurate slipspace navigation, near-instantaneous interstellar communication, the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy from sublight travel, short-range translocation of matter, a great influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies, and man-portable application of energy manipulation. The Covenant culture has religious taboos that prevent them from fully exploring what the Forerunners employed to create that technology. Covenant predominantly use of plasma in their weapons or the Covenant's pinch fusion reactors. The Covenant never developed advanced AI technology due to their religious doctrine that a powerful AI had once betrayed the Forerunners, and as such they had a ban on actually sapient machine intelligences. Covenant vehicles use advanced anti-gravity technology for propulsion, and are armed with directed-energy weaponry of varying potency. The Covenant are known to also utilize pulse lasers, particle beam weapons, antimatter explosives and even chemical crystal-based weapons.

2. #2High Charity

   Keys: Holy City of the Covenant, Holy city of High Charity, High Charity

   High Charity, often referred to as the Holy City, is the Covenant's mobile capital city and center of government, effectively serving as the collective's united homeworld. It's a massive mushroom-shaped structure, roughly 348 kilometers in diameter, home to billions of individuals from each of the Covenant's member species. Home to the Hierarchs and the High Council, the city was full of San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors, who functioned as the centralized government of the entire alien hegemony. High Charity also housed the Covenant's many ministries in its Tower Districts, as well as their ministers. Because it served as the Covenant's most significant religious center and capital, High Charity was considered to be of utmost sanctity and importance to the Covenant, thus guarded by their central fleet: the High Charity defense fleet. It was widely believed that true adherents to the Covenant religion should visit it at least once in one's lifetime, although few of the Covenant could afford to do. Inside the hollow dome of High Charity is a massive multi-leveled city, and within the foundation rock, which served as a structural support, was a honeycomb structural pattern of hangar bays and weapons platforms. The dome itself was overlaid with a strident energy shield known as "Plaon's Gaze". The dome itself is called the Skin of the First Worlds and was made of dirt from the homeworld of every member species in the Covenant as a symbolic statement of unity and common purpose among the various Covenant members. An artificial star at the peak of the dome simulated natural sunlight within the city, and its glow would periodically dim and intensify to simulate day and night cycles. The station received the majority of its power from the Forerunner Dreadnought, the ship at the center of the city. The city was completely powered by the engines of the Forerunner vessel. High Charity also has a set of backup auxiliary reactors that were capable of generating enough power for slipspace travel. In the internal hub of High Charity lay an extremely large capital city with a population of just over 23,800,000 San'Shyuum citizens and 7.7 billion Covenant Menials, known as the Golden City. Many of these are permanent residents, with billions of individuals who were born here dying without setting foot on other worlds. At the center sat the Forerunner Dreadnought. The city itself contained many locations sacred to the Covenant such as the High Council Chamber, the Sanctum of the Hierarchs and the Mausoleum of the Arbiter. High Charity is capable of refitting and housing thousands of vessels ranging in size from personal fliers to cruisers on its umbilical docks and within its internal hangar bays. Hidden within the station's are carefully shielded weapons platforms and is equipped with 32 superheavy plasma lances, as well as 1900 plasma beam emitters.

3. #3Sanctum of the Hierarchs

   Keys: Sanctum of the Hierarchs, private quarters of the High Prophets

   The Sanctum of the Hierarchs is the name given to the private quarters of the High Prophets on High Charity. They were restricted to virtually all other creatures, except the Honor Guard, San'Shyuum and Sangheili Councilors and high-ranking Covenant officers, such as Special Operations Commanders, Arbiters and Chieftains of the Jiralhanae

4. #4Hierarchs

   Keys: Hierarch, Hierarchs, High Prophet, High Prophets

   The Hierarchs, also known as High Prophets, ruled the entire Covenant, serving as the highest theocratic leaders in the High Council. Hierarchs rule with near absolute power over the Covenant, and the other races obey their will without question. The true duty of the Hierarchs was to help guide the Covenant toward the Great Journey. The Hierarchs led the Covenant High Council. Hierarchs had complete control over the distribution of all Forerunner relics and technology and could distribute them however the Hierarch thought best benefited the Covenant. If an individual failed a "holy mission" assigned to them by a Hierarch, dire consequences would result and execution may occur. Among their powers are composition and reorganization of fleets within the Covenant naval branch, even without the approval of the High Council, and appointing an Arbiter from among the Sangheili to serve as the "Will of the Prophets". The Hierarchs also had the authority to create new Ministries within the Covenant. The Hierarchs often issued edicts ex cathedra; these edicts may have comprised general declarations, though they typically contained executive orders. As they were extensions of the Hierarchs' will, these edicts could not be refuted. The Hierarchs typically remained in the Covenant holy city of High Charity, although they would occasionally embark to lead a battle. The Hierarchs often occupied the High Council Chamber to lead High Council sessions or hold court trials, along with the High Councilors of the Covenant. The Hierarchs could also assign duties and tasks to other members of the Covenant in the Hall of Sacred Guidance. The Sanctum of the Hierarchs was the private quarters of the High Prophets that was only accessible to very high-ranking members of the Covenant. The Palace of the Hierarchs was the private reception chamber used by the Hierarchs. The Hierarchs followed the Book of Hierarchs, an official ruling book. Despite the Hierarchs' power and influence, they did not have right or power to stop the San'Shyuum that enforced the Roll of Celibates from completing their tasks. Each Hierarch was dressed in a loose-sleeved robe with different coloring. Hierarchs donned golden headdresses that displayed a blue holographic Halo installation on their forehead. Hierarchs sat upon a gravity throne, luxurious anti-gravity chairs with gold, collar-like plating and were equipped with energy shielding. The Hierarchs were always protected by the Covenant Honor Guard. The Hierarchs' gravity thrones were outfitted with a powerful gravity cannon that a Hierarch could use to annihilate any possible threat. In order to become a Hierarch, a San'Shyuum would have to receive the blessing of the Oracle of High Charity.

5. #5Oracle of High Charity

   Keys: Mendicant, Oracle of High Charity, Mendicant Bias

   Mendicant Bias was a Contender-class Forerunner ancilla. It was the most advanced Forerunner ancilla at the time of its creation, and was charged with organizing Forerunner defense against the Flood during the parasite's assault on the galaxy. However, it would later defect to the Gravemind, who ultimately caused it to become rampant and turn against its creators. A highly advanced and powerful ancilla capable of splintering itself into many independent instances, Mendicant Bias inhabited a number of different physical armatures. During its conversion by the Flood, Mendicant Bias was housed within a monitor-like, though more ornate, casing with three blue eyes that can turn orange and a glyph in the center.

6. #6Arbiter

   Keys: Arbiters, Arbiter

   Arbiter is a title of the highest possible honor bestowed upon a Sangheili. Appointed only by the Hierarchs of the Covenant. The title was originally the greatest religious, military, and political rank of the Sangheili. After they joined the Covenant, however, the role was downplayed in importance somewhat, with the Sangheili High Councilors ranking higher in political matters. This would eventually change again: approximately 400 years before the Human-Covenant war, an Arbiter declared he did not believe in the Great Journey and was stripped of his rank and killed. Thus the title became a brand of shame. Arbiters were sent on highly perilous and suicidal missions by the Hierarchs. On these missions, the Arbiter was expected to die and to become another great martyr of the Covenant on their path to the Great Journey. This was seen as a way to regain, in part, their honor. Depending on the nature of his assignment an Arbiter would have either acted alone as a singular combatant, with support by Covenant military forces, or they were tasked to lead large numbers of Covenant troops.

7. #7High Charity defense fleet

   Keys: High Charity fleet, High Charity defense fleet

   The High Charity defense fleet is a formation of multiple Covenant fleets defending the Covenant holy city of High Charity. The fleet had hundreds of ships protecting High Charity at any time, reflecting the holy city's importance. A ship approaching High Charity had a nanosecond to submit a security code, or it would be destroyed by the sheer might of the fleet and High Charity's defenses.

8. #8Forerunner

   Keys: Primoris prognatus, Forerunner, Forerunners

   The Forerunners were an ancient species of extremely technologically advanced beings whose empire, known as the Ecumene, encompassed three million worlds in the Milky Way Galaxy. The Forerunners reigned for millennia as the ascendant civilization in the galaxy until the activation of the Halo Array, their Pyrrhic solution to halt the Flood. The Forerunners took upon themselves the role of caretakers of the galaxy, and believed that this "Mantle" had been passed down to them by the Precursors. Before their disappearance from the galaxy, the Forerunners named humanity their successors, identifying them with the title "Reclaimer". The Forerunners were a bipedal species resembling humans in overall shape and larger in stature. Forerunners underwent a number of artificially-induced mutations, modifying their bodies to better suit the field of work. Specific aspects of their appearance varied with lineage, age and personal tastes. They relied heavily on personal body-assist armor which, protected and augmented their physiology and mental faculties. Their lifespans virtually indefinite. Usually Forerunners lacked pronounced noses or ears, having two slited nostrils and a set of bulbous protrusions. Their skin color ranged greatly, including gray, black, blue, pink, or a mixture thereof. Forerunners maintain a youthful appearance thanks to their advanced life-support and medical technology. Forerunners have highly advanced mental capabilities. Their personal armor is integrated with the wearer neurally and stored sensory information and memories, and allowed Forerunners direct information transfer to one another. The Forerunners largely secluded themselves above other species. They monitored the evolution of other sentient species throughout the galaxy, intervening in ways that ensured their civilizations would follow paths of peace, free of conflict, and also not to challenge Forerunners. They also enforced the Mantle by hindering the development of other species. The Forerunners themselves were a race almost entirely without conflict; although political disputes were not uncommon. The Warrior-Servants were often looked down upon. Forerunner culture was highly stagnant. The Forerunners had a rigid social structure mainly based around a particular occupation. Generally, Forerunner culture was full of formality and ritual. Forerunners placed a great deal of value on family lineage and tradition, and one's rate and social standing were largely hereditary. A central aspect of Forerunner culture was the Domain, a vast repository of information containing virtually all knowledge collated by the Forerunners. Forerunners did not eat meat, as the scripture surrounding the Mantle forbids it. Taking one's own life is gravely forbidden. Despite their conservative society, nudity or sexuality were not considered taboos in Forerunner culture. Some Forerunners rejected their advanced technology, including personal armor, and adopted a more austere and primitive lifestyle in seclusion from the rest of Forerunner society. The Forerunners' primary governing body was known as the Ecumene Council. Based in their capital of the Maethrillian. The ecumene's primary judicial institution is the Capital Court, which could be assembled into the Supreme Mantle Court in times of great crisis. Forerunners spoke a variety of languages, most commonly being the system of glyphs seems to be based on a series of circular, complex shapes. Forerunner names had concrete meanings, and commonly consisted of a combination of words expressing positive attributes in a grandiose manner. The Forerunners' technological achievements were almost without parallel. They managed to create solidified surfaces out of light by using technology known as hard light, use slipspace to teleport between locations almost instantaneously, and create numerous forms of advanced machinery. Forerunner technology is remarkably resilient. They employed a wide variety of artificial intelligence constructs, generally known to them as ancillas. The Forerunners had an unparalleled knowledge of quantum science, which enabled them much of their sophisticated technology. Virtually all Forerunner technology was powered by vacuum energy. Forerunner technology could also produce certain objects remarkably quickly without extensive production facilities. Forerunner architecture incorporates heavy use of geometric angles, usually at either extremely sharp degrees. Forerunner architecture is constructed with hardlight and special type of silver-gray metal that resists deterioration, bullets, plasma bolts and fire.

9. #9Vacuum energy

   Keys: Vacuum energies, Vacuum energy

   Vacuum energy is an underlying background energy that exists in space throughout the entire universe. Vacuum energy originates from the beginnings of infinite numbers of alternate realities. When harnessed for power supply, these fledgling universes are drained of energy in their infancy, resulting in their premature deaths. Virtually all Forerunner technology utilized the practically infinitely available vacuum energy as a power source, making possible their myriad of technological marvels. Forerunner reaction drives utilized vacuum energy to expel virtual neutrons from the rear of the vessel, giving it propulsion. The effects of malfunctioning vacuum energy extraction machinery can be disastrous.

10. #10Reaction drive

    Keys: Reaction drives, Reaction drive

    Reaction drives were a form of spacecraft propulsion used by the Forerunners. They use vacuum energy to expel virtual neutrons from the ship. During their momentary existence, the virtual particles give the ship propulsion, then disappear. They do require a form of on-board fuel and reaction mass to operate.

11. #11Slipspace translocation

    Keys: teleportation, Slipspace translocations, teleports, teleportations, Slipspace translocation, teleport

    Slipspace translocation, more commonly known as teleportation, is a method of travel that allows the user to travel nearly instantaneously between locations. This is achieved through the use of slipspace as a travel medium, without the use of a conventional slipspace drive. The Forerunners made extensive use of teleportation technology. Later on, this technology was reverse-engineered by the Covenant. There are several known variations of slipspace translocation technology. In its most commonly encountered form, slipspace translocation encases the user in a compressed slipstream field, transporting them from one position to another almost instantaneously.

12. #12Slipstream space

    Keys: , subspace, Slipstream, Slipstream space, slipspace, slipspace drive

    Slipstream space,[1] colloquially known as slipspace, or the Slipstream and subspace by the United Nations Space Command, is a dimensional subdomain of alternate spacetime consisting of eleven non-visible infinitesimal dimensions used for faster-than-light travel. Making a transition from one place to another via slipspace is known as a "slip", or "jump". A device which allows a spacecraft to perform slipspace transitions is generally referred to as a slipspace drive.

13. #13Slipspace drive

    Keys: slipspace drives, Translight Engines, jump drives, slipspace drive, jump drive, Translight Engine

    A slipspace drive is a spacecraft propulsion system capable of making transitions to and from slipstream space and by extension allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel. The device functions by creating ruptures between normal space and slipspace. The nonstandard physics of slipspace allow it to be used as a shortcut realm, facilitating interstellar travel between distant regions in reasonable time. Humans use the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine to “punch” a hole between realms using brute force and Covenant engines instead take a small rupture and delicately enlarge it with surgical precision. This allows the latter to execute far more accurate slips. Covenant slipspace drives are often referred to as "jump drives".

14. #14Repulsor engine

    Keys: repulsor drives, Repulsor engine, Repulsor engines, repulsor drive

    A repulsor engine, also referred to as a repulsor drive, is a diametric drive used by Covenant ships for sublight navigation, configured for swift and agile localized transit. Repulsor engines use stacked tidal gravity generators which create asymmetrical gravity fields that push and pull a ship through space in a desired vector, all without the need for reaction mass or conventional exhaust. A repulsor engine produces quantum fluctuations in its wake that are extremely hazardous to personnel and nearby vessels within its range.

15. #15Translight Engine

    Keys: FTL drive, FTL drives, SFTEs, SFTE, Translight Engines, Translight Engine

    The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine (SFTE), Shaw-Fujikawa drive and FTL drive, is a type of slipspace drive created by humans. It is a spacecraft propulsion system that is capable of making transitions to and from slipstream space, and by extension allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel. The Translight Engine functions by creating ruptures between normal space and an alternate plane known as slipspace. The engine creates ruptures by using high-power cyclic particle accelerators to generate microscopic black holes.

16. #16Hard light

    Keys: boson-photon field, boson-photon fields, Light bridges, hardlights, hard-lights, Hard light, hard-light, hardlight, Light bridge, Hard lights

    Hard light, alternatively spelled hard-light or hardlight and boson-photon field, is a Forerunner technology that allows light to be transformed into a solid state, capable of bearing weight and performing a variety of tasks. Hard light was used extensively by the Forerunners for a great variety of purposes, even as shields or blades. Forerunner control panels and interfaces are almost always made entirely of hard light, and can react to the touch of a Forerunner or human despite their utter lack of mechanical components. Light bridges are another basic application of hard light; these bridges are strong enough to bear the load of heavy objects and be switched on or off as easily. Hard light is also used in the locking mechanisms of Forerunner doors.

17. #17Forerunner symbols

    Keys: Forerunner glyph, glyph, glyphs, Forerunner glyphs, Forerunner symbols, Forerunner symbol

    The Forerunners used several forms of symbols and glyphs to convey a variety of meanings. These symbols can be found on Forerunner technology and within Forerunner installations, including the Halo Array. The Covenant later adopted these symbols for their writing system as well as religious imagery and as such, they are also commonly seen in Covenant technology and architecture.

18. #18Maethrillian

    Keys: Maethrillian, Forerunner Capital

    Maethrillian was the political center of the Forerunner ecumene. It housed the Ecumene Council, the main governing body of the ecumene, as well as the Capital Court. It was a massive structure, greatly exceeding the scale of even the Halo installations. Maethrillian was composed of a series of perfectly circular platforms arranged in a spiral along a central rod. These platforms decreased in size toward either end of the rod, with the widest central one being approximately 100,000 kilometers in diameter. Each platform was covered with a city of structures and buildings, whose gravity was controlled individually by buffer fields. Maethrillian was home to the Council amphitheater, where the Ecumene Council engaged in debate on important matters. The amphitheater was suspended in midair, attached to the rest of the capital by bridges, anti-gravity gondolas, and lift tubes for individual Councilors. During Council proceedings, the amphitheater would be decorated with display spheres showing representations of the twelve original systems, each carrying an epistle of the Mantle. The Crown was the top platform of Maethrillian and was used primarily for storage. In the event of a large-scale attack, the capital could rotate its sections to assume a spherical shape, protecting the structures atop each platform from damage. It also possessed powerful energy shields and a large defensive fleet.

19. #19Buffer field

    Keys: Buffer fields, Buffer field

    Buffer fields are energy fields which allow manipulation of gravity in a variety of ways. The Forerunners developed various applications for them, including keeping ships aloft in a planetary atmosphere, inertial dampening aboard starships, as well as generation of artificial gravity. The anti-gravity buffer fields generated a sensation of pressure in the air.

20. #20Anti-gravity gondola

    Keys: Anti-gravity gondolas, Anti-gravity gondola

    Anti-gravity gondolas are Forerunner devices used to ferry individuals or groups of people over long and extensive distances that are otherwise difficult to traverse.

21. #21Slipspace flake

    Keys: Slipspace flake, slipstream crystal, slipstream crystals, Slipspace flakes

    A slipspace flake or slipstream crystal is a central component of a Forerunner slipspace drive. They are quantum-engineered crystalline devices, and were used aboard Forerunner spacecraft to modulate the ship's passage through the higher dimensions, being a major contributor to their markedly stable slipspace transitions due to how they mediate temporal and spatial anomalies inherent to many slipspace interactions. This reduces travel times by orders of magnitude over the crude alternatives used by less advanced species. All slipspace flakes were chipped from a central "core" crystal, the location of which was known only to the Master Builder. The exotic composition and slipspace interactions of the crystal were incomprehensible to even the Forerunners, and never replicated.

22. #22Domain

    Keys: Forerunner Domain, Domain

    The Domain is an esoteric quantum information repository that was once used by the Forerunners to contain vast amounts of knowledge, most notably their cultural and ancestral records. The Domain was an immaterial reserve of knowledge and collective experience viewed by the Forerunners as the essence and living expression of their culture and history. In addition to the ancestral impressions and memories contained within, information could also be stored in and retrieved from the Domain for practical purposes. The Forerunners treated the Domain as something mystical and transcendent; it was regarded with reverence and connected to the Forerunners' religious beliefs. Forerunners used the Domain via various technological systems, most commonly their personal armor. Connecting to the Domain was possible for mature Forerunners anywhere within the Forerunners' sphere of influence, regardless of distance. This was typically accomplished via an intermediary, most commonly a personal ancilla. A Cryptum also acted as a mediator between a Forerunner and the Domain. The Domain was central in major Council proceedings, such as a political trial.

23. #23Cryptum

    Keys: Warrior Keeps, Cryptum, Cryptums

    A Cryptum was a stasis chamber used as a means of exile by the Forerunners. Cryptums were most prominently known for their use by the Prometheans, the Forerunners' highest class of Warrior-Servants, who also termed them as Warrior Keeps. A Cryptum is a sealed capsule where a high-ranking Forerunner would enter self-imposed exile, often as punishment for failure or dishonor; it was known to be used by those in power as a means with which to silence respected individuals whose punishment otherwise might prove problematic in the eyes of the public. However, some Forerunners occasionally entered a Cryptum voluntarily, in pursuit of a higher state of awareness. When in use, a Cryptum's occupant would enter a timeless state of meditative hibernation known as xankara. In this state, the Forerunner's mind would be wholly immersed in the Domain and they would be able to explore the immense stores of information contained therein. The Forerunner would become unaware of the physical world around them, and could remain in a state of suspended animation for thousands of years. In this state, the Forerunner's aging process would be slowed to a near halt, causing them to barely age even after a hundred thousand years in a Cryptum. Cryptums required an extraordinary amount of force to breach once sealed. They denied access to every species except Forerunners.

24. #24Forerunner mutation

    Keys: brevet mutation, Forerunner mutations, brevet mutations, Forerunner mutation

    Mutation was a Forerunner term referring to customized biological maturation to new forms or castes, entailing a carefully-adjusted combination of genetic engineering, gene therapy and biochemical manipulation. A Forerunner's mutation determined the individual's place within their family, Maniple, guild and society overall. The process was typically performed between two to five times over the course of a lifetime and was always patterned after the individual's mentor. The mutation ceremony itself was a highly ritualistic process. It had to be performed under the direct light of stars, or a close approximation. The individual undergoing the mutation, as well as their mentor, had to be completely naked during the process. A mutation is painful, but anyone present was not permitted to respond to anything else than requests for water to drink. First, a column with small spherules outlined and scanned the Forerunner being mutated, and was connected to the mentor during the process. The spherules contained the various chemicals involved in the mutation, and the mentor's genetic imprint was supplied through the connection. A specific ritual litany was recited by the mentor during the mutation. It was expected for one to be disoriented, hungry and thirsty following a mutation. With normal mutations, it would take several years for the changes to take effect, while in brevet mutations, they would appear within a matter of days. Brevet mutation is a risky, ad hoc mutations that carried higher risk of complication.

25. #25Mantle of Responsibility

    Keys: Mantle of Responsibility, Forerunner philosophy, Forerunners philosophy, Eld, Forerunner Mantle

    The Mantle of Responsibility, commonly referred to simply as the Mantle, is a philosophy originating with the Precursors and later associated with the Forerunners. Bridging the social strata between an interstellar Marshall Plan and a religious stewardship, the Mantle was the Forerunners' entitlement and responsibility for the protection and cultivation of the species and planetary systems within their ecumene. The core tenet of the Forerunners' belief in the Mantle was that the most developed species should hold stewardship over all other life. The Mantle allowed competition and conflict as long as this did not threaten biodiversity in the galaxy. The Forerunners' culture and their central government was entirely dictated by the Mantle, as were the religious beliefs of individual Forerunners, though the interpretations of the philosophy often varied between rates and individuals. The Mantle was based around the concept of Living Time; "the joy of life's interaction with the Cosmos". This was also the origin of all of the complex rules involved in the Mantle. The Forerunners' beliefs regarding the Mantle were largely fictitious, manufactured during eons long forgotten to justify their self-appointed position of superiority over other species. The Precursors had chosen humanity to carry the Mantle. Refusing to accept the Precursors' judgment, the Forerunners rebelled against their creators and drove them to extinction over ten million years ago.

26. #26Forerunner personal armor

    Keys: Forerunner armor, Forerunner combat skin, Forerunner combat skins, Forerunner personal armor, Forerunner armored suit, Forerunner armored suits, Forerunner suit, Forerunner suits, Forerunner body-assist armors, Forerunners personal armor, Forerunner body-assist armor

    Personal armor, often referred to as armor, was a Forerunner suit of body-assist armor designed to be worn by individuals throughout their lives. Fulfilling a broad variety of roles encompassing from a highly advanced protective suit and neurally-integrated computer system to an article of everyday clothing, personal armor was a central item of Forerunner culture. The armor protected its user both physically and medically, augmented their memory and perception and granted them immediate access to vast amounts of information. With its advanced medical conveniences, it was the primary reason for the Forerunners' virtually indefinite lifespans. The design and outward appearance of one's armor was a conspicuous indicator of their status in the exceedingly hierarchical Forerunner society. Armor suits specifically designed for combat were known as combat skins. A suit of personal armor typically had smoothly curved features, with sections of physical armor plating laid over an inner shell of hard light. The luminous hard light shell, visible through gaps between the armor plates, outlined the wearer in a series of trim-lines. Armor could also change its shape to an extent based on the occasion, be it everyday use, combat or defense, or ceremony. The armor also served as an outward reflection of a Forerunner's state of mind. The color of the hard light cocoon changed based on the wearer's mood; for example, a dark shade expressed displeasure. If the armor detected danger, it would automatically take on a defensive mode. If the wearer was excited or upset, the armor's inner glow would intensify and the armor might even visibly ripple and the plating would bulk up. Similarly, deep distress or anguish would cause an armor's outward posture to slouch. Forerunner armor was colored according to one's rate and position. Typically, their primary coloration varied from white or light gray to black, with the color of the trim-lines ranging from white to various colors. Forerunners wore personal armor almost invariably on everyday occasions.

27. #27Ancilla

    Keys: Forerunner AI construct, Ancilla, Ancillas, Forerunner AI

    Ancilla was a Forerunner term for an AI construct developed over many generations. They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities. Although the term was often used to refer to all Forerunner AI, ancillas and monitors were sometimes referenced as distinct categories, monitors being defined by their floating robotic shells whereas ancillas, in general, were disembodied. Ancillas were ubiquitous in Forerunner society, and were housed within personal shells, as well as personal armor, ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. Ancillas possessed varying personalities. They were categorized into various types, including a system of classes. Monitors were a common type of robotic ancilla. The most powerful ancillas, next to the Contender-class, were the metarch and sub-metarch varieties. Some ancillas designed to interface with Forerunners typically represented themselves via avatars. Not all ancillas assumed visible form. Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's personal armor and could be accessed by the user at will for information via a form of neural link. Most of these personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner, manifesting itself in the "back of the wearer's thoughts". An ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor. Personal ancillas were typically not named and were addressed only as "ancilla".

28. #28Ecumene

    Keys: Forerunner empire, Forerunners' empire, Ecumene

    The ecumene is the translated name for the Forerunner empire which existed over 100,000 years ago. It stretched across the galaxy and consisted of three million habitable worlds at its peak. The political center of this empire was known as the Maethrillian, a massive planetoid structure containing multiple cities. Maethrillian itself was located in the Orion complex, which was considered to be the center of the ecumene. A majority of the ecumene's military consisted of the members of the Warrior-Servant caste, traditionally tasked with defense and warfare in the Forerunner ecumene. The Warrior-Servants stood second-lowest in the hierarchy of castes, only higher than the Engineers. Additionally, the Builder rate had their own private military under the influence of Master Builder Faber, known as Builder Security.

29. #29Halo Array

    Keys: Halo, Sacred Ring, Halos, Halo rings, Halo installations, Halo Array, Sacred Rings, Halo installation, Halo Arrays, Halo ring

    The Halo Array, known as Halo or the Array, is a network of twelve but only seven remaining, colossal ring-shaped superweapons individually known as Halos or Halo rings, constructed by the Forerunners. The Halos were also referred to by the Covenant as the Sacred Rings, and labeled as Installations or infrequently referred to as Fortress Worlds by the Forerunners and their monitors. The first array of twelve Halos was constructed by order of Master Builder with the intent of being an ultimate weapon, one that would secure the preeminence of the Builder caste in Forerunner society. Eventually they were used by the Forerunners as a last resort when combating the parasitic Flood. All sentient beings in the galaxy were killed, robbing the Flood of hosts and starving it to death. Halo installations are also research facilities dedicated to containing and studying many different kinds of life forms. The life forms that were hand-selected by the Forerunner Librarian included marine life, fauna, and land vertebrates. With the Master Builder's permission, the Forerunner Librarian would research each animal to detect if their bodies reacted to Flood infection. The research on the animals would be more deeply analyzed if they did become infected. The Librarian's studies also helped determine if the rings could be used to repopulate the galaxy as part of the Conservation Measure. The Halos are 10,000 kilometers in diameter. The surface of each ring is 318 kilometers wide, with a depth of 47 kilometers. The main structure of the ring is constructed of a superdense foundational material, with elaborate scaffolding and cantilever structures laid over it to support the artificial landmasses and the myriad tunnel networks and caverns that riddle the installation's internal structure. Many of these tunnels are transit conduits meant for use by the ring's Forerunner Sentinels, though some of them can be traversed by humanoid beings. The Halo rings achieve their "gravity" through artificial gravity generators. The Halos are capable of repairing themselves to some degree, replacing damaged plates of foundation material and restoring biological sections. Halos also possess hard light reinforcement to stabilize and protect them against tidal and gravitational forces from other objects. The installations are designed to be run by advanced artificial intelligence constructs specially assigned by the Forerunners. The highest intelligence on each installation is a single monitor. The monitor's task is to ensure that the installation's Sentinels, which range from Constructors to Aggressors and Enforcers, repair, maintain, and defend the ring from damage.

30. #30Forerunner Caste

    Keys: Warrior-Servants, Forerunner Engineers, Forerunner Engineer, Forerunner Interpreters, Forerunner Interpreter, Forerunner Warrior-Servant, Forerunner Rate, Forerunner Theoretical, Forerunner Lifeworker, Forerunner Historians, Forerunner Builder, Warrior-Servant, Forerunner Speaker, Forerunner Miners, Forerunner Miner, Forerunner Historian, Forerunner Builders, Forerunner Theoreticals, Forerunner Juridicals, Forerunner Juridical, Forerunner Warrior-Servants, Forerunner Warriors, Forerunner Caste, Forerunner Warrior, Forerunner Rates, Forerunner Castes, Forerunner Speakers, Forerunner Lifeworkers

    Rates were a set of formally defined caste-like social strata in Forerunner society, further determined by physical alteration carried out on individuals to suit their societal role. Each rate specialized in a particular field of work, and had varying societal function and cultural importance. Rates were divided into several tiers, including forms, guilds and Maniples. Adolescent Forerunners, known as Manipulars, were not associated with any particular rate. However, upon maturing, each individual Forerunner would be assigned to a rate, mostly in accordance with the rate of their parents. The rates were arranged in a certain hierarchy. Each rate had their own ceremonial headgear, worn only on special occasions.

31. #31Forerunner spacecraft

    Keys: Forerunner spacecraft, Forerunner vessels, Forerunner Armada, Forerunner Fleets, Forerunner vessel, Forerunner spacecrafts, Forerunner ship, Forerunner Fleet, Forerunner ships

    The Forerunner ecumene operated a vast fleet of starships responsible for space warfare. Most Forerunner fleets were historically operated by the Warrior-Servants, until their diminishing by the Builders, which saw many of their fleets transferred under Builder Security. The ecumene's collective naval force was led by Forerunner Fleet Command. Forerunner spacecraft used special crystals embedded in their slipspace drives to travel through slipspace. In order to move through ordinary space, they utilized reaction drives. In addition, the Forerunners created a network of slipspace portals for high-traffic slipspace transit across the galaxy. Aboard starships, limited inertial dampening was achieved through the use of buffer fields, but during extreme acceleration, the occupants' armors had to be locked to the deck. Forerunner warships could be enormous in scale. The interiors of all Forerunner ships were not entirely composed of matter, with one third being fuel and reaction mass and the rest being comprised of hard light, allowing the captain to configure the ship's internal layout and decoration at will. At least some types of Forerunner craft can alter their geometry to better suit their current situation; for example, making the ship more aerodynamic in preparation for surface landing. Forerunner sensors were capable of instantaneous scanning and detection across interstellar distances. Ship designs were dynamic for the Forerunners. As such, classifications weren't based on incorporated systems or role, but rather on its formative nature it was constructed. The Forerunners grouped warships into orders of battle based on defensive and offensive capabilities. The Warrior-Servants operated the Forerunners' most prominent battle fleets, comprising warships such as Fortress-class vessels, dreadnoughts, planet-breakers, and picket cruisers. Forerunner vessels were extremely powerful and well protected. Forerunner vessels ran the gamut from small and maneuverable to enormous.

32. #32Forerunnner Army

    Keys: Forerunners arsenal, Forerunners weaponry, Forerunners weapons, Forerunners weapon

    The Forerunners used a broad variety of weapons, from various forms of directed energy weaponry, electronic warfare and offensive technologies based upon energy fields. Forerunner infantry weapons utilize various forms of ammunition, including hard light, accelerated beams of ionized particles, antimatter, or combinations thereof. Forerunner ground forces use pulse grenades. In most contexts these weapons are operated by dedicated automatons, one example of which are the bipedal armiger constructs.[166] When participating in combat operations, the biological Forerunners themselves used advanced exoskeletons called combat skins which ranged greatly in size and capability from more conventional, ground-based battle suits to much larger infantry armatures that were capable of spaceflight, such as war sphinxes and seekers.

33. #33Keyship

    Keys: Keyship, Forerunner Dreadnoughts, Keyships, Forerunner Dreadnought

    Keyship is a classification of superluminal Forerunner vessel in use both during and after the Forerunner-Flood war. Keyships are capable of activating strategically-placed slipspace portals hidden across the Milky Way, including those leading to and from Installation 00. Though many keyships once existed, the majority of the vessels were destroyed by the Librarian to prevent the Flood from reaching the Ark. Despite multiple classes of keyship existing, their sole mission of preservation resulted in little change between them. Keyships have a fixed tetrahedral shape consisting of three relatively narrow struts extending from its massive, elongated prow. While each keyship incorporates a full suite of defensive countermeasures and powerful shielding, their primary defense lies in its combination of speed and agility. Supernal Spiral-class keyship is one the variants.

34. #34Supernal Spiral-class keyship

    Keys: Supernal Spiral-class keyship, Supernal Spiral-class keyships

    The Supernal Spiral-class keyship is the most common classification of Forerunner keyship. Vessels of this class were used during and after the Forerunner-Flood war to collect specimens from various planets, safely transport them to Installation 00, and then return to those same worlds to reseed them with life following the activation of the Halo Array. These ships can act as keys to activate slipspace portals place in strategic locations throughout the Milky Way. The most notable of the Supernal Spiral-class keyships is Anodyne Spirit, or "Forerunner Dreadnought" as it was known by the Covenant. Originally assisting with the Conservation Measure, Anodyne Spirit crashed on the San'Shyuum homeworld of Janjur Qom where it became the focal point of their religion, ultimately kickstarting the formation of the Covenant and later becoming the centerpiece of their holy city of High Charity. Supernal Spiral-class keyships are geometric and angular, having a tetrahedral shape consisting of a forward triangular prow with three similarly-shaped struts jutting out from its Primal Crux. Their hulls are gray and silver in color. While most Forerunner vessels crafted by the Builders could reform themselves into different geometries, the form of the Supernal Spiral-class keyship was fixed, maximizing strength and unity of purpose at the cost of flexibility. When resting on its landing struts, the Supernal Spiral-class keyship has a height of 13,120 meters, a width of 12,441 meters, and a length of 10,774 meters. The interior of Supernal Spiral-class consist of numerous rooms, many of which are docking bays and control rooms, including command chambers that are many stories high. A series of lifts allow access to many levels of the interior of the ship. The three landing struts store the ship's cylix specimen receptacles within large, cavernous rooms. A location of note within the vessel is the Adytum, where the slipspace flake used to open slipspace portals is stored. Supernal Spiral-class keyships are equipped with powerful weapon systems including a single light mass fusillade cannon and three anti-ship artillery systems. They are fitted with an extensive suite of defensive countermeasures including a powerful prime dispersal field generator. They have the ability to remotely detonate the ship to prevent its capture by the Flood.

35. #35Installation 00

    Keys: Installation 00, the Ark, Oth Liqattu, neoteric Ark

    Installation 00, also known as the Ark, the neoteric Ark, the Great Foundry by the Covenant, is a Forerunner installation from which the entirety of the Halo Array can be activated. Installation 00 also functions as a potential safe haven from the Halo Array's strategic pulse, and as a facility to construct replacement Halos if necessary. The Ark is situated outside the galaxy, about 262 light years from the galactic center. In addition to serving as the firing control center for the Halo array, Installation 00 functioned as an automated factory to construct Halo installations, thereby ensuring that the Halo Array was always ready to fire. The Ark resembles a massive flattened dish with a series of eight curved arms, known as spires, four large and four small, arranged around its rim, similar to the petals of a flower. The entire upper surface is terraformed. The Ark is 127,530 kilometres in diameter. Spread throughout the installation are hundreds of refugia, artificial biomes. Each of these refugia are separated by massive quarantine walls. Twelve refugia are located on the central hub, while an additional twenty are located on the arms of the structure. Apart from the foundry. These landscapes and biomes include deserts, taiga, and deciduous forests. Several bodies of water occur across the installation. The Ark can sustain its own ecosystem, providing a variety of habitation for many kinds of life. At the center of the installation is the Foundry, an enormous circular facility used to construct Halos. The core of the 10,000-kilometer-wide Foundry is a hollow space. When active, the Foundry generates so much heat that the Ark requires multiple cooling stations. Like the Halos, Installation 00 features multiple Cartographer facilities, map rooms that can pinpoint any location on the installation. The Ark features a control room from which the array could be activated. This facility, known as the citadel, is protected by a system of energy shield barriers that encircle the center of the disk. The megastructure is also surrounded by numerous other secondary installations, which are used for various support functions. The Ark had its own monitor, 000 Tragic Solitude, charged with the facility's defenses. The Ark's small defenses were Aggressor Sentinels, and Retriever Sentinels could also be used offensively. The Ark was also guarded by armigers. Another method of defense are particle cannons upon the Ark's surface. The Ark also possesses a Sentinel defense network that coordinates Sentinels to assemble and attack anything deemed a threat to the Ark. A major aspect of Installation 00 was its ability to send and receive objects via slipspace portals.

36. #36Slipspace portal

    Keys: Slipspace portals, Slipspace portal

    Slipspace portals are a method of slipstream space transit developed by the Forerunners. Essentially a large-scale application of slipspace translocation, slipspace portals are designed to transport enormous amounts of mass between two fixed points on a continuing basis. Although distinct from fixed-point portal transit, the slipspace ruptures opened by a starship's slipspace drive are also sometimes termed as "portals". Large constructs, such as the Halo installations, could be transported across interstellar distances through the use of portals.

37. #37Armiger

    Keys: Armigers, Promethean Soldier, Promethean Soldiers, Armiger

    Armigers are a sub-classification of Sentinel designed and employed by the Forerunners for use in planetary warfare. Unlike typical Sentinel designs, primarily renowned for their use of flight, armigers are bipedal combat platforms specialising in tactical infantry engagements within enemy constructs and on planetary surfaces. Armiger units may be colloquially referred to as "Promethean Soldiers" or similar, and not as an indication that they are of a similar origin to the Composed essences of the Promethean Knights. Similarly, the Soldier is simply one variant of armiger, albeit the most common. Inversely, Knights consist of Composed essences driving an armiger body. Armigers are primarily constructed by the Ferrarius Assembler Vats, and average a total height of around 2.5 metres. They are primarily constructed of an alloy composed of various metals and machine-cells. The design of the armigers is of angles, angular apertures, and floating items of dress. Though their bodies are thin and lithe, the armigers are heavily armored across their entire body. The face of an armiger is composed of symmetrical plates and noticeable "eyes" that glow the same color as other lights found in breaches in and around their armor. They are capable of communicating, and can let out a variety of calls and sounds, such as roars, hisses, and ear-splitting death cries. Armigers are armed with an assortment of weapons. Some use energy staves that have a geometrical blade of hard light at the end. These staves are capable of blocking projectile fire from weapons. While some arm themselves with fully automatic Forerunner energy weapons.

38. #38Aggressor Sentinel

    Keys: Aggressor Sentinels, Forerunner Sentinel, Forerunner Sentinels, Aggressor Sentinel

    Aggressor Sentinels are Forerunner automatons programmed to act as security and maintenance drones, suppress small-scale Flood outbreaks, and protect Forerunner installations. As the basic type of the fairly inclusive Sentinel class, Aggressors are generally referred to simply as Sentinels. Aggressor Sentinels have two arm-like appendages, with two fine manipulators at the end of each arm. Their central head rests above a curved undercarriage generally housing an offensive sterilization beam. Aggressor Sentinels are also equipped with a small reconstitution emitter, which uses lasers to repair damaged Forerunner constructs in conjunction with Constructors and for self-repair should the Aggressors be damaged in combat. Aggressors are propelled by both an anti-gravity unit located on the undercarriage and small, exotic form of impulse drive which enables them to travel at high speeds. They are also capable of tapping into their installation's teleportation grid. Aggressors are created at specialized manufacturing facilities located on every Halo installation and on other key Forerunner installations. Each Forerunner installation has its own design of the Aggressor Sentinel, but they all share the same basic structure and purpose. When not in combat, Aggressors serve as basic repair, maintenance, and security drones. Aggressor Sentinels are the first automated defense systems to assist a in a given situation and generate a proper response protocol.

39. #39Enforcer Sentinel

    Keys: Enforcer Sentinel, Enforcer Sentinels

    Enforcer Sentinels are variant of large combat Sentinel designed by the Forerunners. They are primarily tasked with key defensive missions and may coordinate local Sentinel activity around security breaches. Enforcers are a specialized Sentinel variant equipped with energy shields and an array of powerful weapons. While deployed, they may serve as local command-and-control for lesser Sentinel forces in the field. Due to their primarily defensive focus, Enforcers only have limited utility in noncombat functions. Enforcers can be manufactured on-site by a hovering Sentinel manufacturing facility. Enforcers have three energy shields; the larger two are split in half (for their shard cannons to fire through), and the small upper shield protects the 'eye' of the Enforcer. The shields only protect the front of the machine. Enforcers are armed with shard cannons and missiles. They are also equipped with large claw-like arms which are able to pick up and rip apart most vehicles.

40. #40Constructor Sentinel

    Keys: Constructor Sentinels, Constructor Sentinel

    Constructor Sentinels are a specialized variant of Sentinel whose primary function is to repair damaged Forerunner structures. Constructor Sentinels have tall and narrow chassis, relative to their overall smaller size compared to most Sentinels. They feature two primary housings, with one located directly above the other, often joined by a connecting arm. Atop their upper housing is a pair of ear-like appendages. Perhaps the most integral feature of Constructor Sentinels are their small reconstitution emitters. Each Constructor Sentinel also features a tiny smartmatter loom and a low-tier ultrascanner, as well as an impulse drive for locomotion. These small utility drones operate in coordinated groups to diagnose basic faults, weave minor repairs into existing Forerunner structures, and retune hard light structural elements. Vast numbers of Constructor Sentinels may cooperate with Strato-Sentinels to complete large-scale repair operations. For the purpose of repair, the Constructor's primary tool is its small reconstitution emitter. The beams fired from the reconstitution emitters can also be used to interact with Forerunner technology. Although low in power output, one of these beams can cause harm if an organism if its crosses the beam's path.

41. #41Retriever Sentinel

    Keys: Retriever Sentinels, Retriever Sentinel

    The Retriever Sentinel, is a variant of Strato-Sentinel drones employed by the Forerunners. Considered to be one of the more powerful variants of the Sentinel, Retrievers are massive, ship-sized drones that were utilized to construct installations of the Halo Array from Installation 00, as well as to provide maintenance to the Ark itself. A Retriever is capable of producing an artificial gravitic force that allows it to remove materials from a world's surface. Once in position above an acceptable place to harvest, the Retriever deploys its blue, gravitic beam towards the world's surface and begins hauling chunks of land caught in the beam into its underbelly. The mining process utilized by a Retriever is noted to create a tornado-like effect as the ground is pulled into the Sentinel's hold. Retriever is capable of connecting and merging with another Retriever and forming a single unit. With no apparent drawbacks, a combined Retriever seems to take on the benefits of both Retrievers' speed and weaponry. When a Retriever is threatened or attacked, these Sentinels may use their gravitic beam as a dangerous and highly destructive weapon. Retrievers have little to no shielding. The Retrievers are among the most powerful of the Sentinels employed by the Forerunners, with their primary purpose being the mining, gathering, and transporting of minerals and other natural resources from a world. A Retriever is programmed to complete its tasks with no deviations or hesitations.

42. #42Assembler Sentinel

    Keys: Assembler Sentinel, Assembler Sentinels

    Assembler Sentinels are a type of Strato-Sentinel employed by the Forerunners. Like the similarly-named Constructors, Assemblers are used to build Forerunner installations and their components. The Assembler Sentinel consists of a vaguely disc-shaped, ovoid body with three central luminous ocular sensor "eyes." Some Assembler Sentinels incorporate tower-like protrusions at the edges of its upper surface, while others do not. Beneath the Assembler's large body hangs several gravitic grappler appendages. Alongside these grapplers, Assemblers also feature integrated energy shielding and warship-grade directed-energy projectors for defense. Assembler Sentinels are predominantly designed and employed for the construction, maintenance, fabrication, transportation, and reconditioning of large superstructures. They typically work alongside Retriever Sentinels. Assemblers may also be utilised to conduct finishing work on structures emerging from large construction looms.

43. #43Warrior-Servant

    Keys: Warrior-Servants, Forerunner Soldier, Forerunner Soldiers, Warrior-Servant Corp, Forerunner ground forces, Forerunner ground force, Forerunnner Army, Prometheans, Promethean, Forerunner Warrior, Forerunner Warriors, Warrior-Servant Corps, Warrior-Servant, Forerunnner Armies, Forerunner Infantries, Forerunner Infantry

    Warrior-Servants or Warriors were the Forerunner caste traditionally tasked with defense and warfare in the Forerunner ecumene. In formal proceedings, the caste was also referred to as the Warrior-Servant Corps. They stood second-lowest in the hierarchy of rates during the last millennia of Forerunner rule. The highest and most respected class of Warrior-Servants were known as the Prometheans. The rank of protector of the ecumene, commander of the Forerunner military, was historically held by a high-ranked Warrior-Servant. While the Forerunners preferred to see themselves as peaceful by nature, Warrior-Servants were ruthless in executing warfare against enemies of the ecumene, as they believed that defying the Forerunners was to show contempt toward the Mantle itself. Although their services were vital, most Forerunners viewed their purpose and practices as contradictory to the principles of the Mantle. Other castes looked down on the Warrior-Servants, who tended to keep to themselves. In battle, Warrior-Servants wore varying types of fighting suits, combat skins, the war sphinx being an example of a medium-sized suit. Warrior armour was designed to optimise itself to counter enemy weaponry, making their armour virtually invulnerable. The Warrior-Servants operated the Forerunners' most prominent battle fleets. Warriors employed extensive drone support from monitors and sentinels, in addition to the ancillas of their battle armor and ships. In fleet engagements, individual Warriors could be assigned control of over a million automated weapon-ships. Warrior forces were organized into large-scale legions. Warriors have remarkable physical strength. The augmented mental capacity of Warrior commanders allowed them to perceive reality in many separate reference frames while sharing sensory input with their compatriots. In the event of death, Warrior fighting suits were programmed to retain their wearer's last personality impressions for future study.

44. #44Forerunner Combat skin

    Keys: Forerunner armor, Warrior combat skins, Forerunner fighting suit, Forerunner battle armor, Forerunner armors, Forerunner battle armors, Combat skins, Warrior combat skin, Combat skin, Forerunner fighting suits

    Combat skins, also known as fighting suits or battle armor, are a type of body armor used by Forerunner combat personnel. The Forerunners had a classification system for combat skins, running from the lowest Class 1 to the highest Class 18. Combat skins ranged in shape and design from suits that mostly followed the wearer's figure, to much bulkier and more powerful variations that were closer to vehicles than suits of armor. A combat skin could be laid directly over a Forerunner's personal armor, worn on everyday occasions; Forerunner warships stored such "combat wraps" in condensed form, allowing fighters to convert their armor into a heavier combat skin should the need arise. Combat skin has the ability to attune itself to best counter different forms of attack. Warrior combat skin was also equipped with several offensive and defensive systems, including the ability to generate and manipulate various forms of constraint fields at will. Combat skins were typically worn by Warrior-Servants, but could be used by other castes as well.

45. #45Unified Earth Government

    Keys: , Earth Government, UEG, Unified Earth Government

    The Unified Earth Government (UEG) is the central civilian government that administrates over Earth and its colonies throughout a portion of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. It encompasses the Colonial Administration Authority (CAA), the United Nations (UN), and the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). The Unified Earth Government functions as a representative democracy. The UEG is headed by a President. The government maintains executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The Unified Earth Government Senate serves as the legislative branch of the government. The UEG also maintains the Cartographic Corps, for the purpose of mapping the stars. While the UEG is formally a confederation of independently governed worlds, Earth is in a privileged position over the colonies in the election process, which has been a source of discord with some colonials. Some colonies are managed by planetary governors that lead a world's parliamentary government. The Colonial Administration Authority is the government branch that administers the various colonies that belong to the UEG. It keeps extensive files on every colony world and city under the UEG, available to UNSC members for planning missions. The UEG uses the United Nations Credit (cR) monetary unit to organize its economic stability. The United Nations Space Command is the UEG's primary military, exploratory, and scientific arm. The UNSC is intended to protect colonists and colony worlds from attack. It includes various special forces, and militia organizations but is composed primarily of five branches: the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Army the Air Force, and the Spartans. The UNSC also maintains a number of scientific organizations, among them UNSC Astrophysics, while the UNSC Engineering Corps is devoted to surveying viable planets for colonization or terraforming.

46. #46Colonial Administration Authority

    Keys: CAA, Colonial Authority, Colonial Administration Authority, Colonial Administration

    The Colonial Administration Authority (CAA), also known as the Colonial Administration or Colonial Authority, is an organization under the ultimate control of the Unified Earth Government. The CAA acted as a secondary governing body that helped the UEG regulate the various colony worlds of humanity. The seal of the Colonial Authority is described as a looming profile of an iconic eagle in a circle of seventeen bright stars. The CAA governed the colonies in the UEG's name, its bureaucrats aiding in the management of population and employment, providing power for new colonies, and ensuring the quality of colonial infrastructure. Colonies maintained sovereignty to some degree, as mandated by the Colonial Authority's own charter. The CAA kept extensive files on every colony, world, and city under its care. The CAA oversaw the Outer Colony vaccination program which held the largest DNA database of the human population. The Colonial Military Authority served as the military and policing arm of the CAA, until it was folded into the United Nations Space Command in 2497.

47. #47United Nations Space Command

    Keys: UNSC, United Nations Space Command

    The United Nations Space Command (UNSC) is the military, exploratory, and scientific agency of the Unified Earth Government. The UNSC's function is summarized in two points. Uphold and advance the policies of the Unified Earth Government. Ensure the safety and security of Unified Earth Government territories, possessions, and areas vital to its interests. Ultimate authority of the UNSC lies in the office of the President of the UEG. The Security Council acts as the principal staff element of the UNSC and is responsible for policy development, strategic planning, resource management and fiscal evaluations. The Security Council is staffed by the highest-ranking officers from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Office of Naval Intelligence. Below the UNSC Security Council is the UNSC High Command, or HIGHCOM. HIGHCOM controls a wide range of sensitive and strategically vital officers and boards. HIGHCOM also serves to advise UEG civilian leadership on issues relating to defense. Other organizations included within HIGHCOM are a number of administrative commands, including UNSC Personnel Command (PERSCOM), the Medical Corps, the Engineering Corps, Human Resources, and Astrophysics. The UNSC's armed forces are comprised of six major military departments; Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Spartan Operations division. The Office of Naval Intelligence is a unique case; an organization that is bureaucratically a subordinate service of the Navy, but has enjoyed de facto autonomy from the Navy for nearly a century. These six organizations are all on occasion informally referred to as the six branches of the UNSC

48. #48Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)

    Keys: Office of Naval Intelligence, ONIs, CINCONI, ONI

    The Office of Naval Intelligence, or ONI, is the intelligence service of the UNSC Navy. ONI has become known for their preeminent role in the acquisition and leveraging of military intelligence. The agency is widely known for using subterfuge, deception, and manipulation in defense of humanity in order to accomplish its goals. ONI employs numerous special projects, such as the SPARTAN programs, Project: MJOLNIR, and the investigation of Forerunner sites. The leading flag officer of the ONI is the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, or CINCONI. ONI is responsible for signals intelligence, human intelligence, counter-espionage, propaganda, and top-secret research and development programs. The agency mostly operates independently of other UNSC branches. ONI employs members of other military branches, and civilians, to complete it's shadowy work. ONI is technically subordinate to the UNSC Naval Command. In practice, ONI's activities extend far beyond intelligence gathering, and often receives mandates and directives from HIGHCOM. It's common for ONI to operate without HIGHCOM's knowledge or authorization, CINCONI often holds significant power within the UNSC and even the UEG as a whole. ONI has an unusually large amount of military equipment for an intelligence service, and has a strong fleet presence. ONI has a stealth cruisers which are used as a command vessels and a secure conference location. ONI exerts virtually complete control over the flow of information across the territories under UEG control. ONI Section Divisions are from Zero to Four. Many ONI agents enjoy significant latitude in the discharge of their duties, often violating legal and moral boundaries or acquiring vast amounts of UNSC resources to achieve their ends. Agents operate under heavy scrutiny, with mistakes often leading to demotion or termination of employment.

49. #49ONI Section Zero

    Keys: Section Zero, Internal Affairs department · Secondary: Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI

    Section Zero is ONI's Internal Affairs department, charged with rooting out and eliminating illegal programs. Section Zero is very discreet in its work; the true nature and activities of the division are highly classified and unknown outside the ONI command hierarchy. However, it appears that the other sections of ONI know Section Zero exists and while they are successful at deceiving Section Two, Sections One and Three are not as easily lied to and all three other sections are not easily spied on.

50. #50ONI Section One

    Keys: ONI Section One, intelligence-gathering, intelligencegathering · Secondary: Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI

    Section One is the proper intelligence-gathering branch of ONI. As such, the section's services are most often utilized by UNSC forces. Its responsibilities include information gathering and codebreaking through military espionage. Information released by Section One includes evacuation notices for colony worlds and Covenant force deployments. Section One is responsible for covering up all information on locations ONI wishes to keep hidden from the public eye, such as Onyx.

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