The human-covenant war could have ended decades before it actually did, but that fact would not be known due to the disappearance of the UNSC Spirit of Fire.
The Battle
In the year 2531, the UNSC Spirit of Fire is tasked with investigating a Forerunner dig site that the Covenant is excavating on the planet Harvest, where the war began.
This investigation leads them to the planet Arcadia, where Professor Anders is abducted by the current Arbiter.
The last time the UNSC Spirit of Fire is heard of is when it was leaving Arcadia to chase after the kidnapped Professor.
The UNSC had assumed the Spirit of Fire was lost with all hands following the battle at Arcadia, and was unaware that the ship went to the shield world Trove, Shield 0459.
The Unknown Threat
The Covenant discovered a fleet of Forerunner ships on the shield world. These technologically advanced ships would provide them with immense combat power to swiftly destroy the human race. Mind you, the Covenant’s fleets were already wreaking havoc on humanity.
However, they needed the help of a Reclaimer, Human, to interact with the Forerunner interface that would enable them to activate these ships.
Key Characters
Captain Cutter- Captain of the UNSC Spirit of Fire. Professional.
Serina- Artificial Intelligence (AI) onboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire. Great sense of humor.
Professor Anders- The scientist on the UNSC Spirit of Fire, who followed a map found on the dig site on Harvest leading to Arcadia, was kidnapped by the Covenant and warned the Spirit of Fire of the impending doom of the Forerunner fleet.
Sergeant Forge- UNSC Spirit of Fire sergeant who led the ground team on Harvest, was with Anders when she was kidnapped, found her on the shield world, and gave his life to destroy it.
Red Team- Jerome, Douglas, and Alice were helped by the Spirit of Fire in evacuating civilians from Arcadia. They joined the crew and went with them after the kidnapped professor.
Prophet of Regret- The Prophet overseeing the shield world and the operation to activate the Forerunner ships.
The Arbiter- The right hand of the Prophet of Regret throughout this conflict. He was on Harvest at the dig site. It was he who kidnapped the Professor. He was killed by Sergeant Forge.
The Turning Point
The plan was to use the Spirit of Fire’s slipspace drive reactor to explode by the sun in the shield world, causing the whole world to be destroyed. The Arbiter tried to stop this from happening. While Red Team was occupied with a squad of elites, Sergeant Forge was engaged in 1-on-1 combat with the Arbiter. Forge won and killed the Arbiter, but the fight damaged the reactor, leaving Forge no choice but to stay and detonate it manually.
Outcome and Why it Mattered
If the Covenant had activated the Forerunner fleet, then the war was as good as lost for humanity.
The conclusion of this conflict brought the UNSC another twenty years.
The reason this battle is unknown is that, without slipspace capability, the Spirit of Fire is left traveling through space, waiting to be picked up by the UNSC if its transmission is ever received.
Closing Thoughts
I remember the first time I played this game. It was at my ninth birthday party. I wasn’t expecting it to be a strategy game. I did not like the game because of this, but I still played it because it was Halo (Microsoft), and now it is one of my favorite games.
Halo Wars (Microsoft) was developed by Bungie, Inc., Halo Studios, Ensemble Studios, Robot Entertainment, and Behavior Interactive, and was released in 2009.
I wish I were better at strategy games, but I am not. Back in the 360 days, one could report players for bad behavior. I may have a lot of Quit Early complaints from that time, lol.
Thank you for reading.
Which do you like better, Halo Wars or Halo Wars 2 (Microsoft)?
Do you think Halo Wars 2 did Halo Wars justice?
Stay tuned for
- Window of Escape by Gregory A. Miller (Thursday)
- Top 5 Worlds I’d Vacation in if I Could (Sunday)
Digital Archiver signing off.
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