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  • Subject: Halo: Revolutions Official Preview (Art pieces + story extracts)
Subject: Halo: Revolutions Official Preview (Art pieces + story extracts)

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Halo: Revolutions Preview

"Prophets be damned! Humans have earned their place in the Covenant. This war should end. Now."

It is said that imitation is the finest form of flattery. And that is certainly true. But with Halo things are different. No one else has ever managed to reproduce the unique success of the FPS that changed it all. So if the gods allow, a few loyal fans have come together to emulate, in their own way, the wonder that is Halo.

We are The Secrets Within, and this is Halo: Revolutions - a document containing original pieces of fan fiction and art from some of the most creative minds on Bungie.net. Created in collaboration between three of the most prominent writing groups on this site (The Mirratord, FanFicFactor and The Writing Guild), each story and piece of artwork in this book has been meticulously crafted to fit in with established Halo canon, but also to allow our authors and artists to explore what the Halo universe means to them.

What you are about to see is a preview of what you will be seeing later in the year when Revolutions is released. We have put a lot of hard work into this project over the last six months, we hope that you enjoy what you see and read. We are confident that the final product will be something truly special.

We would really appreciate it if you would spread awareness to all of your Halo-buddies. Thanks.

Art

Planet Reach - Skulblaka

Lone Wolf - EspenGenin

Stories

Three Betrayals - Written by Mr Evil 37

"343?" the voice said. It sounded similar to Guilty Sparks, but deeper and more electronic. "Is that you?"

Spark was speechless for a moment. He recognised the voice, but he had not heard it in over a hundred thousand years. How can he be contacting me?

"Come on, Spark," the voice said again, worry creeping into its electronic tones. "T-Tell me the parasite has not broken quarantine there too."

It is him, Spark realised with shock. It's 2401.

2401 Penitent Tangent was the Monitor of Installation 05. His function was exactly the same as Sparks; to keep all systems, primary and secondary, in perfect working order so that the Installation would be ready to fire at any time with one hundred percent efficiency.

But the Monitors also had another purpose. Each construct was responsible for the containment of the Flood specimens that each ring held locked away. If even one spore broke quarantine, the entire galaxy would be once again in danger. This was the most imperative of a Monitor's functions.

A duty which, Spark knew, Penitent Tangent had somewhat disregarded.

"Tangent," Spark said, transmitting his voice across light-years to Installation 05. "You cannot be contacting me. This is a severe disregard for the most basic Installation protocol: Monitors can never contact each other."

"I... I know," Tangent stuttered; constructs don't stutter. "But containment protocol instructs me to inform you that the parasite has broken quarantine on my Installation."

Worry crept into Sparks thought processes. That is not part of containment protocol, Spark thought. But he is a Monitor; he knows that.

He must
know that.


Miss Isabella - Written by Go Vader.

Sophia, can you describe to me what happened to you back on Adamo?

Me and my mommy and daddy lived in a town called Deco[1]. I woke up and got out of bed. It was Monday and it was a holiday with no school and my parent's didn't have to work. That made me happy. Mommy brushed my hair in the living room and daddy made breakfast for us. After breakfast, mommy told me she would take me shopping and the park. Daddy said he would have to go to work really quickly to get something important, but would join us at the park near the big garden[2].

Then everything went bad. Me and mommy were walking to the place where the stores were, but I heard people screaming. Everyone was looking into the sky, so I did too. I saw things that looked like a big silver fish[3] hovering everywhere. Mommy picked me up and she started to run, I asked her what was happening, but she didn't say anything. Something dropped from one of those fishy ships and it made a sound like

[Sophia imitates the descending WHOOSHING sound of a Covenant Orbital Insertion Pod, the Covenant's answer to UNSC HEV Pods.]

It landed in front of my mom and we stared at it. It opened up and out came this monster that had a big mouth that opened into four parts[4]. It was colored red and was bigger than my mommy. The monster roared and grabbed something metal on its leg. When it shook it's hand down a white, glowing sword[5] came out of the thing. My mommy screamed and tried to run away, but the monster got her. She dropped me and told me to run away as fast as I could...

[Sophia begins to cry]

Sophia, I think that is enough for today, we can talk again tomorrow if that's okay.


No, I'm okay *sniffles* I just don't like to remember mommy...

[struggles to say the word]

...die. When I was running away, I could hear many more people screaming and crying and more monsters roar. I wanted to go home, but I was lost. In the sky I could see the spaceships shoot purple light at the buildings. Everything started to blow up around me. I was so scared and didn't know what to do, so I hid in a trash can and closed my eyes.


Absconditus - Written by ajw34307

She looked out at the vast, beautiful landscape that faced her. The sun was high in the sky, shining down on the dewy green grass; its beauty reflected in the lakes - everywhere was vibrant and full of life. She lay down on her back, looking up at the clear blue sky. There were distinct swirling patterns getting larger and larger, and then shrinking; colours shifting and morphing into different shapes... It was that moment that the gritty reality of this beautiful world hit the Librarian like a concrete wall.

The swirling patterns were not a thing of wonder; they were the sign of a war raging through the cosmos... Billions of the Forerunners had died; they had been on the receiving end of a fate worse than death. Perhaps worst of all - their struggle was solitary.

The Librarian pulled out a small device and opened it; she tapped a few buttons and came to send her final message:

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 ferrite signatures.

You should see the mountain that watches over it. A beautiful thing - a snow-capped sentinel. That's where I will spend what time is left to me.

Did I tell you? I 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 this was a special place because of them, but unless you've been here, you can't know.

It's Eden.

I have to stop transmitting. The thing is listening. Its thinking dead are babbling - laughing through every channel they can find.

Be proud. The Mind claims victory, yet it still doesn't suspect. You've outwitted it, my love. And now you can destroy it.

But you cannot save me.

// FRAGMENT ENDS


A solitary tear ran down the face of the Forerunner, in full knowledge of what was about to happen. This was the end of their empire; the end of the Forerunner; the end for all life in the galaxy... But even as she wept for the fate that had engulfed her species, a single thought entered her mind.

This was far from the end for her.


[Edited on 10.14.2010 12:44 PM PDT]

  • 10.12.2010 8:32 AM PDT
Subject: Halo: Revolutions Official Preview

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Beautiful, Elliott. Simply beautiful. :D

  • 10.12.2010 2:39 PM PDT

That story at the end kind of ruined what was otherwise a fantastic conglomeration, Elliott. I can tell it was written by a complete amateur who has no idea what he's doing.

:P

Only kidding, Alex.

  • 10.12.2010 3:17 PM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Thanks all :D Connor, you HAVE to write a story for Volume Two. You have no choice.

Hope Max isn't too annoyed at me posting this before he could contribute an extract...

  • 10.12.2010 3:37 PM PDT

Don't worry, Evil. I quite like people who use their initiative, especially for something like this.

Hope everyone reading this enjoys the brief glimpse of greatness about to come their way.

  • 10.13.2010 7:47 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: Wolverfrog
That story at the end kind of ruined what was otherwise a fantastic conglomeration, Elliott. I can tell it was written by a complete amateur who has no idea what he's doing.

:P

Only kidding, Alex.


Ah, your wit far surpasses your years, my dear Connor. *Points at Insurrection.*

  • 10.13.2010 8:11 AM PDT

The PDF is created, at first, on Microsoft Project Gallery then it's converted into a PDF for all to view.

  • 10.13.2010 1:15 PM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Yay! I have initiative!

Just so everyone knows, I am not the project lead, even though I posted the preview. That honour falls to MaxRealflugal.

Flugal, have you distributed this preview to HBO yet?

  • 10.13.2010 2:52 PM PDT

@JosephBiwald
View my Art

Per Audacia Ad Astra

Wow, I can't wait to see everything else. Great job everyone who worked on this project.

  • 10.13.2010 6:37 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: AssaultCommand
May I bring this back on topic?
What software are you using for this, Mr Evil?

P.S. Insurrection defeats any single novel by far, ajw (may I call you Alex?), it's a shame you and your great intellectual mind do not understand that.


You can't have read many novels then... I must speak my mind here, Insurrection was an ongoing mass of canon breaking throughout and poor plotting at the start (Sanghelios my arse!).

Connor knows it's true, there were many a time he wanted to give it up. His unhealthy writing stamina merits credit, but Insurrection ended up longer than the damn Bible.

It was good, but it's Connor's worst piece of writing.

  • 10.14.2010 10:09 AM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Regardless of whether Insurrection was rubbish or not (I'm not saying it is), Revolutions would definitely benefit from a story by Wolverfrog. We would get all his minions reading :P

  • 10.14.2010 11:03 AM PDT
Subject: Halo: Revolutions Official Preview (Art pieces + story extracts)

An assassin will always carry on, even after death.

Planet Reach - Skulblaka

Good start, Can only get better from here :D


[Edited on 10.15.2010 2:48 PM PDT]

  • 10.15.2010 2:43 PM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Agreed. The release date is currently set for November 5th.

  • 10.20.2010 1:52 PM PDT

Posted by: ajw34307
Posted by: AssaultCommand
May I bring this back on topic?
What software are you using for this, Mr Evil?

P.S. Insurrection defeats any single novel by far, ajw (may I call you Alex?), it's a shame you and your great intellectual mind do not understand that.


You can't have read many novels then... I must speak my mind here, Insurrection was an ongoing mass of canon breaking throughout and poor plotting at the start (Sanghelios my arse!).

Connor knows it's true, there were many a time he wanted to give it up. His unhealthy writing stamina merits credit, but Insurrection ended up longer than the damn Bible.

It was good, but it's Connor's worst piece of writing.


You know Alex, you're being a bit unfair lately. I've never once criticised your writing at the lengths you go to criticise mine, and so I'm not sure what it is that makes you do so. We're friends but all you're doing is insulting me and my writing lately. I don't know why.

Sure, Insurrection isn't perfect but I dedicated many, many hours to it and I don't enjoy seeing you insulting it so. Perhaps you don't fully understand the difficulty in tying so many sub-plots together, juggling the amount of characters I did or sustaining the story through its entirety. It wasn't easy, and sure there are a few rough spots, but I've only been writing for two years and I think you're being overly harsh upon me. Yes, Insurrection was popular and I'm thankful for that, but that doesn't mean I deserve that level of critical abuse. At the end of the day I'm just a young inexperienced writer who loves the Halo universe and wanted to tell a story set within it so that people could lose themselves in words I had woven for a few hours. Not the ego maniacal, pretentious bastard you seem to be intent on insulting for some petty reason.

Maybe you're forgetting that.

You're entitled to your opinion but can you please stop smashing me in the face with it wherever I go on this forum?

[Edited on 10.20.2010 4:43 PM PDT]

  • 10.20.2010 2:26 PM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

Posted by: AssaultCommand
This isn't official, is it?


Nope. Completely fan produced.

And for the record, I am not getting involved in thes whole thing between
Alex and Connor about Insurrection. I'm staying friends with both of you.

  • 10.20.2010 3:17 PM PDT

I'm not saying I don't like him, Elliott, far from it, but it'd be nice if he'd stop these constant jabs at something I cared about passionately enough to write 337 pages over one and a half years.

In other words, just be a little more respectful and less slanderous.

  • 10.20.2010 4:39 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

At any rate, heated discussions in The Gallery is against the rules. I'd advise you to stop before Foman whips out the bahammer. It's happened before. Take it to PM.

  • 10.20.2010 6:18 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: Wolverfrog
Posted by: ajw34307
Posted by: AssaultCommand
May I bring this back on topic?
What software are you using for this, Mr Evil?

P.S. Insurrection defeats any single novel by far, ajw (may I call you Alex?), it's a shame you and your great intellectual mind do not understand that.


You can't have read many novels then... I must speak my mind here, Insurrection was an ongoing mass of canon breaking throughout and poor plotting at the start (Sanghelios my arse!).

Connor knows it's true, there were many a time he wanted to give it up. His unhealthy writing stamina merits credit, but Insurrection ended up longer than the damn Bible.

It was good, but it's Connor's worst piece of writing.


You know Alex, you're being a bit unfair lately. I've never once criticised your writing at the lengths you go to criticise mine, and so I'm not sure what it is that makes you do so. We're friends but all you're doing is insulting me and my writing lately. I don't know why.

Sure, Insurrection isn't perfect but I dedicated many, many hours to it and I don't enjoy seeing you insulting it so. Perhaps you don't fully understand the difficulty in tying so many sub-plots together, juggling the amount of characters I did or sustaining the story through its entirety. It wasn't easy, and sure there are a few rough spots, but I've only been writing for two years and I think you're being overly harsh upon me. Yes, Insurrection was popular and I'm thankful for that, but that doesn't mean I deserve that level of critical abuse. At the end of the day I'm just a young inexperienced writer who loves the Halo universe and wanted to tell a story set within it so that people could lose themselves in words I had woven for a few hours. Not the ego maniacal, pretentious bastard you seem to be intent on insulting for some petty reason.

Maybe you're forgetting that.

You're entitled to your opinion but can you please stop smashing me in the face with it wherever I go on this forum?


Peace, Connor. I'm only joking around, I loved Insurrection for all it was and I can fully appreciate the struggle that you went through when writing it over the course of about 2 years. Are you forgetting how I praised you in the Mirratord's CF for it and your other work?

It's a joke that has gone too far now, I shall let it die.

  • 10.21.2010 8:30 AM PDT

I know, sorry for going a little over the top yesterday. It's all forgotten, anyway.

How long is Revolutions going to be, as a rough estimate?

  • 10.21.2010 8:41 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Well over 50 pages, I reckon.

  • 10.21.2010 8:42 AM PDT

The Razor.

For the honour of the Mirratord.

I'm thinking more like 100, when all of the artist/author bios, artist pages and forewords are taken into account. When Max showed us the document as it was a few weeks ago, it was 49 pages long, and that was roughly half finished.

  • 10.21.2010 9:16 AM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

Can you guys make sure any of the stories and credits given to Go Vader are changed to DecepticonCobra? Name change and all that.

Also, mind if I forward this stuff to a forum I frequent? More exposure.

  • 10.21.2010 10:51 PM PDT

Feel free.

I'll make sure the name change is carried out. No probs, Cobra.

  • 10.22.2010 1:50 AM PDT