Important Events
Evo-014's Summary 2540 - 2552 CE
In the final years of the war, the Covenant intensified their assault on human-occupied space, driven by their relentless quest for dominance. Their renewed push unleashed unprecedented destruction and devastation, as they sought to eradicate humanity from the galaxy. Meanwhile, humanity made astonishing discoveries amidst the chaos, unearthing ancient Forerunner constructs that held unimaginable power and secrets. These enigmatic remnants of a lost civilization became a focal point in the conflict, offering glimpses into the mysteries of the universe.
In this tumultuous era, the fate of civilizations hung in the balance. The relentless struggle against the Covenant, intertwined with the discoveries of Forerunner artifacts and the emergence of the Flood, shaped the galaxy's destiny. Through unwavering resilience and sacrifices, humanity overcame overwhelming odds, marking the triumph of hope and determination in the face of relentless adversity.
A New Hope
In the early years of the war, the Covenant unleashed a devastating onslaught, obliterating numerous outer colonies in their path of destruction. The UNSC valiantly fought back, marshaling their limited resources to confront the technologically superior alien armada. Despite their unwavering determination, the odds were stacked against them.
Amidst the chaos and despair, one figure emerged as a symbol of hope. The legendary Admiral Preston Cole, known for his strategic brilliance, achieved remarkable victories against the Covenant. His tactical prowess momentarily stemmed the relentless tide of the alien forces, offering a glimmer of respite to humanity. However, even his exceptional leadership could only slow the Covenant's inexorable push into human-occupied space.
Losses Mounting
Confronted with the imminent threat of annihilation, the UNSC made a decisive move by implementing the Cole Protocol. This strategic order aimed to safeguard the location of other human colonies from falling into Covenant hands through the capture of UNSC ships and AIs. Although effective, the unfortunate reality was that it took the UNSC a decade to enact this protocol, allowing the majority of outer colonies to succumb to the Covenant's relentless onslaught.
This delay in action fueled resentment among colonists who believed that the UNSC had sacrificed the Insurrection-friendly outer colonies to the Covenant's wrath. The bitter aftermath of this perceived betrayal tarnished the reputation of the UNSC in the eyes of many. However, despite these setbacks, the subsequent decade witnessed a notable deceleration in the Covenant's advance.
Nevertheless, humanity continued to suffer devastating losses as world after world fell to the Covenant forces. In the face of mounting adversity, only Earth, the inner colonies, and a dwindling handful of outer colonies remained under human control, serving as the last bastions of hope in the raging storm of war.
The Empire Strikes Back
By 2550, the human death toll in the war had reached staggering billions. The UNSC, through the mass construction of powerful warships and the implementation of superior tactics, managed to assemble a formidable defense at the remaining colony worlds. In an impressive display of strength, a defense force comprising nearly fifty warships successfully fended off a Covenant assault of twenty-four ships at Sigma Octanus IV, overcoming odds of two-to-one. The fleet commanders were rightfully hailed for their remarkable achievement.
However, the Covenant's relentless advance continued, and merely a month later, they discovered and invaded Reach, the largest inner colony world. The UNSC mobilized all available military assets to defend Reach, but despite the heroic efforts of its personnel, the overwhelming Covenant force, consisting of over 300 warships and countless ground troops, ultimately overpowered the colony. The devastating battle resulted in the loss of more than 130 UNSC warships and approximately 700 million lives, along with the relinquishment of one of humanity's key military strongholds.
Return of the Demon
In the aftermath of the Fall of Reach, the majority of remaining UNSC forces were called back to Earth's defense. Nevertheless, when the Covenant finally arrived in the Sol system on October 20th, 2552, the UNSC struggled to mount a formidable defense. Thanks to the efforts of Spartan John-117, humanity managed to sustain the fight for several weeks, despite extensive damage and destruction across large portions of the planet. Billions of residents were forced to evacuate off-world in a desperate bid to survive humanity's last stand.
On November 3rd, 2552, the tide of battle took an unexpected turn when the Prophet of Truth, one of the Covenant leaders, executed his plan to replace the Sangheili with the Jiralhanae as the military commanders. This act ignited the Great Schism, a civil war between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae within the Covenant ranks. With Covenant forces turning their weapons against each other, humanity seized the opportunity to regain the upper hand and push the Covenant off-planet.
In a desperate final gambit, the Prophet of Truth attempted to activate the Halo Array through the Portal at Voi, intending to wipe out all sentient life across the galaxy. However, Spartan John-117, alongside Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, Commander Miranda Keyes, and Sergeant Avery Johnson, pursued the remaining Covenant forces, successfully stopping the Prophet and eliminating him in the process. The fighting finally ceased, and while humanity's victory was more a result of the Covenant's defeat, the war had come to an end.
