Gestalt



Hope (also known as Epitadeus c) was a United Nations Space Command Γ-type terrestrial inner colony world in the Epitadeus system. It was considered one of humanities' most precious colonized worlds. It is the first of two planets located within the Epitadeus system's habitable zone, the other being the immense Epitadeus d. Epitadeus d is considered dangerously close to Epitadeus c. It can be figured, that if Epitadeus d actually had any mass, that Epitadeus c would surely be one of its natural satellites. Having an overall warm climate, compared to most other UNSC colonies, Hope has been nicknamed the "Planet of Eternal Summer". Its warm temperatures were a combination of the natural heat energy provided by Epitadeus I and Odin.

Hope boasts two of its own natural satellites, Odin and Norma, however none are thought have the requirements necessary to support life, nor to be colonized. Hope is also encircled by a handful of thin iron oxide rings, though they are often not visible to the naked eye from the surface or from space.

This planet is well known for having been the location of a battle between UNSC, Covenant, and Insurrectionist forces, which came to be known as the Loss of Hope. The engagement ultimately resulted in the planet's destruction.

== Geological and biological history==

Epitadeus c is believed to have formed a mere one-billion years ago, and life has began to appear within the first half-billion years of its existence. The physical properties of the Epitadeus c, as well as its geological history and orbit, have allowed life to persist up until modern times. Studies also suggest that Hope was once quite geologically active. This may have been the primary cause of it's isolated land masses, or "island" continents, similar to Earth's Australia. For the most part, each continent featured it's own diverse ecology, the result of each land mass having been separated for such a long time.

During the Loss of Hope, Covenant forces came to the conclusion that Hope was actually an ancient Forerunner Shield World, similar to Onyx, with the exception of Hope not having been composed entirely of Sentinels. Instead, only Hope's mid-mantle region was composed of a 800 mile-thick barrier of dormant Sentinels. At this discovery, the Prophet of Fortune had the planet declared a reliquary.

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