- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Here's the Cliff Notes version of the whole Halo story (CAUTION: game and book spoilers ahead):
- (The book "The Fall of Reach" begins.)
- SPARTAN project, led by Dr. Halsey, is started to develop super soldiers for clandestine squad-scale special operations against rogue human factions.
- Starting with very promising children, kidnapped from across the settled galaxy, training begins around age 7, on Reach (a major inner planet and space fleet headquarters for the human race).
- SPARTANs grow skilled in personal and squad warfare far beyond their years and far beyond any known benchmark.
- Experimental drugs and augmentation surgery turn the polished trainees (those who survive intact) into physical super soldiers.
- Development of MJOLNIR (sp?) armor, in addition to protection, highly augments the SPARTAN's already superhuman strength, equips the wearer with proximity detection, and provides for direct integration of A.I. into the battle suit. The suit is upgraded over the years.
- Covenant and humans meet at the fringe of human-settled space. The mere existence of Humans is a blight on Covenant religious beliefs; so the Covenant begin wiping out human-settled outer planets.
- Unable to match human ground warfare, spearheaded by the SPARTANS, the Covenant turn to the tactic of simply outgunning the inferior human space forces; then, after chasing human space forces away, glassing the entire surface of each planet with space-based weapons.
- MC, is introduced to Dr. Halsey's assistant A.I. construct ("Cortana"); and, with her help, succeeds, against grueling odds, at demonstrating that the SPARTAN project is a superior candidate to another competing project for funding for ground-based warfare.
- Most outer planets fall. Discovery of an inner planet seems inevitable.
- PoA is readies for secret mission: Take a Covenant Prophet hostage.
- PoA; with its team of about 10 SPARTANs, a very large contingent of marines, extra ship weapons, and Cortana; is led by Capt. Keyes, the architect of Earth's sole space-based victory against the Covenant.
- Reach (an inner planet) is attacked just as PoA is leaving.
- PoA tries to help; but even augmented by Reach's considerable planet-based defenses, the Covenant fleet is superior in numbers and technology.
- MC splits his team for 2 critical missions: one planet-side and one above Reach.
- MC's space team succeeds, but all SPARTANs except MC are lost.
- As Covenant start glassing Reach, PoA flees the helpless situation with only one of its original 10 SPARTANs (MC) to carry out its secret mission.
- Planet-side SPARTAN team is presumed to have succeeded, but is also presumed KIA.
- (This is where the book "The Fall of Reach" ends and the book "The Flood" begins.)
- Searching for a Prophet to kidnap, Cortana guides PoA to coordinates intercepted from a Covenant transmission.
- PoA discovers Halo and surprises a Covenant research detachment.
- PoA initially has the upper hand, but more Covenant soon arrive.
- (This is where the game "Halo" begins.)
- The Covenant do not want to risk damaging Halo in a space action against PoA; so Cortana inflicts severe punishment on the overwhelmingly superior Covie fleet, while they mount a boarding attack. Finally, Keyes orders abandon ship; and, much to the Convenant's horror and dismay, ditches the PoA on Halo.
- In addition to MC, most marines survive; and their organization remains intact. Taking the offensive, the marines are able to capture and fortify a huge installation on Halo and use it for a base of operations.
- The Covenant initially believe Halo is a weapon that they can use.
- Humans find out the Covenant intent, and the Covie/Human contest is on: Keep the other race from controlling Halo.
- Soon it is discovered that Halo is a quarantined laboratory and that the Flood are its inmates / lab rats. In their mad dash to understand/control Halo, the Covenant inadvertantly release the Flood.
- Cortana and MC also discover that Halo is just one of a network of many such rings. If any Flood escape from any ring, the network blasts the entire galaxy clean of life.
- Cortana and MC destroy Halo, before 343 Guilty Spark can trigger it, by blowing the PoA's reactors. MC and Cortana escape; but all other Covenant, Flood and Humans present appear to be destroyed.
- (This is where the book "The Flood" and the game "Halo" end; and the book "First Strike" begins.)
- MC and Cortana return to Reach where they find that It has not been totally glassed.
- Covenant are searching Reach for something; and the planetside SPARTAN team is still alive!
- On Reach (and elsewhere), MC and the SPARTANS, along with others, discover amazing technology and clues to the Forerunners, battle the Covenant in space and on the ground, and (temporarily) thwart a massive Covenant assault on Earth.
- (This is where the book "First Strike" ends.)
Did you find the answer to your question(s) in there?
[Edited on 8/12/2004 10:27:34 AM]