User:Saberstorm/AlterHalo



AlterHalo is another name for the Alter, a massive, ring-like Forerunner Installation not unlike the rings that made up the Halo Array, but it is far larger and more powerful than the Array itself. It's primary function was an alternative solution to the Flood during the Forerunner/Flood War, acting as a 'Lens' of sorts to alter the Array's blast to target Flood biomass when activated using a program/artifact called the Grail. To do so, it was also designed to work as a secondary to the Ark in activating the entire Array remotely. When the AlterHalo was compromised by the Flood and the Grail lost, the countermeasure was abandoned and eventually forgotten.

Desription
Though similar in design to Halo, AlterHalo has a diamater of about 1 x 10^8 miles (about 9 light minutes) and encompases a small, artifical blue-white star, rather than orbiting a nearby gas giant. The star itself is also part of the Installation, being both the focal point for altering the Array's power as well as preventing the Control Room from being compromised by the Flood.

After discovery by the UNSC, it was revealed that while AlterHalo Sentinals were deactivated and it had no way of producing a blast similar to an Array Installation, AlterHalo did have one unique defence against the Flood. Gates similar to what was inside the Shield World found by the Spirit of Fire contantly circle and encompas the ring, rotating completely once every three Earth years. While there were originally 7 'Cleansing Gates', the Flood attack during the Forerunner/Flood War had damaged some of them. By the time the UNSC found the Installation, only three Gates remained operational enough to form barriers that the Flood could no longer cross, albiet no longer rotating.

AlterHalo is also located within the effective radius of the Halo Array. It does not possess any defence agains the Array, nor does it have any means of constructing replacement Installations. When the Array was fired by the Forerunners, the Flood that had infested AlterHalo went into hibernation just like on the Halo Installations. Due to AlterHalo's defences, no Gravemind or Pure Forms ever developed on the ring.

Discovery by the Covenant
During the Human-Covenant War, the Lesser Prophet of Hagiography mostly ignored the Covenant offencive and dedicated himself to studying the ancient Forerunner texts. Though he believed in the Great Journey, he felt that Truth, Mercy, and Regret were too hasty, and feared that the Gods would destroy them if they missed any cruicial peices. Parinoid almost to a fault, Hagiography eventually began to piece together several sections of passages reffering to the AlterHalo. Taking a large fleet with him, he left to see if he could find more evidence to back up his claims about the same time that Regret appeared over New Mombasa. Even though he was not present during the Covenant Civil War, no Sangheili were assigned to his fleet, as the majority of Higher Prophets felt his views to be boarderline herasy. Instead, the newer Jiralhanae made up the majority of his crew.

Hagiography discovered the AlterHalo shortly after the battle of Installation 00, and was enraged when he heard of the death of the Hierarchs, especially since he had found the "Lens" that he had dedicated his life on finding. Collecting Flood Infection forms from the surface of AlterHalo by freezing them, he returned to gather the reminants of the Covenant in a second offensive, using the Flood he had collected as a bioweapon against Human and Elite worlds. This second offensive would allow him the ability to continue his research without interfearance as the Humans and Elites fought off the Flood, granting him the ability to search for the Grail in secret.

Notes made by Hagiography

 * There is a passage which most translate as: "Without the Key to All, the Divine Wind shall never achieve our Destiny". I have looked closer, and I belive that the passage may actually read: "Without the Key to the Altar, the Divine Wind shall never achieve our Destiny". Further research is nessesary.
 * Many times I have seen a brief mention of a "Lens" through which the Great Journey may become more clear. Though I need more evidence to support my claims, I have reason to believe that this "Lens" is something of great importance to ensure our success.
 * Oddly, the passage: "Within the Grail is our last Testement and dreams of the Divine Wind" seems to stand out to me. With the recent failure of the Heratic in defending Halo, I wonder if the lack of this "Grail" will simply cause the same senario should we find another ring.
 * What if the "Grail" is the "Key" and the "Lens" is the "Alter"? If this is true, than many insignificant verses suddenly hold more importance, and we a preparing for our doom by failing to account for all the requirements put before us by our Gods! I must take this to the Hierarchs! Even if they do not share my views, surely they will understand the significance of my studies!
 * Regret has left, but I do not care. I prepare for an expidition of my own. The Hierarchs and the Council have been clear: the Great Journey waits for no one! I must find this "Lens", this "Alter" before my own incompitance denies us the right to partake of the God's divinity!