This is probably the third time I'm writing this foreword, and it's getting pretty old, and my browser keeps crashing. So forgive my curtness.
I'm attempting a new style of story - a standard Halo Action Adventure, imitation Eric Nylund, Havoc-Leigonnaire, Wolverfrog49, and Katsuhiro. So essentially all the heroes of the Halo Universe.
Please give me a shot and R&R.
Synopsis:
The prophets correctly understood Mendicant Bias's message - the Humans were the Reclaimers.
But instead of exterminating them, why not adopt them? As the children of the Forerunners, priests of the gods, vanguard of the Great Journey?
However, compromising their faith was one thing. But compromising their power, the prophets could never do.
Look up the Halo Galactic Map by Halcylon, it will help a lot.
17th January 2525 – First contact with Covenant over Harvest.
11th February 2525 – Battle of Harvest begins
23rd February 2525 – Evacuation of Harvest
9th March 2525 – SPARTAN-II augmentation process
5th August 2525 – First attempts at peaceful contact by Covenant forces.
2526 – Covenant-Human negotiations. Peace treaty signed.
2528 – Covenant-Human negotiations broken down by humans. Treaty is broken.
August 2529 – Bliss is glassed.
November 2529 – Humanity initiates negotiation.
June 2530 – Humanity joins the covenant.
September 2530 - Covenant Hierarchs recognize Humanity as the descendants and reclaimers of the Forerunners. Humans are named 'Guardians' and given a warrior-scientist role in the Covenant
2532 – First human revolts on Biko, Draco III, and Joyous Exultation
2533 – Insurrection takes Chi Ceti IV, Dwarka, Atlas, and New Constantinople.
2535 – Right Arm Outer colonies of Ariel, Cote d'Azure, New Jerusalem, Miridem, and Yeren defect to Insurrection. Covenant officially declare war on Human Insurrection. Thel 'Vadamee promoted to Supreme Commander and assigned to the Fleet of Particular Justice. Fleet of Particular Justice commissioned against Human Insurrection.
2537 - Covenant leadership take jurisdiction over SPARTAN-II program from ONI. SPARTAN-IIs deployed against Human Insurrection. John-117 and the Blue Team are assigned to Marathon Class Cruiser UNSC Prophecy. UNSC Prophecy joins the Fleet of Particular Justice. Fleet of Particular Justice assigned to the Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose.
2538 - John-117 meets Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee.
2540 - UNSC inner colonies Coral, Gilgamesh, Halcylon, and Far Isle defect and are captured by the Insurrection. Combined Fleet of Righteous purpose assigned to take back the inner colonies
2541 - Battle of Coral and Gilgamesh. Decisive Covenant Victory
2543 - Battles of Far Isle, Halcylon, and Second Battle of Gilgamesh. Insurrectionist Pyrrhic Victory.
2545 - Insurrectionist Inner Colonies Captured and glassed. Human Insurrectionist revolts spring up in Left Arm outer colonies of Green Hills, Biko, Arcadia, Draco II and Second Base.
2547 - First Jiralhanae command assigned to Left Arm Outer colonies. Beginning of Sanghelli and Jiralhanae rivalries.
2548 - Decisive Covenant Victory. All Left Arm Colonies glassed and all colonists killed. Insurrection movement goes underground. Beginning of friction between Human-Jiralhanae relationships.
2550 - Cote d'Azur taken evacuated of all human presence. Covenant begin studying Forerunner Relics on Cote d'Azur. Covenant request occupation of Reach.
2551 - UNSC give Reach to the covenant in exchange for Joyous Exultation. Unofficial conflicts arise on Joyous Exultation between Jiralhanae and humans.
2552 - Crystal on Reach uncovered. Installation-04 discovered.
Edit 28th November 2015:
I've removed the prologue in favour of a shorter, more succinct opening, because I think the prologue was driving people off.