Unveiling Onyx's Significance and Mysterious Link to the Forerunners in Halo Season 2

In "Aleria," the fifth episode of Halo season 2, viewers catch a glimpse of Onyx. This hint at the planet's significance leaves much to the imagination, as its secret connection to the Forerunners remains undisclosed. The majority of the episode unfolds on the titular planet, where Master Chief, Dr. Halsey, Riz-028, Kwan Ha, and other Reach survivors find themselves after landing on the outer colony. As the story progresses, Halo unveils the abduction of Kessler, the son of Laera and ex-Spartan Soren, prompting the series to shift its focus to Onyx.

Onyx Is Where Spartan-IIIs Are Trained In The Halo Series

In its final moments, episode 5 confirms where Kai was during the Fall of Reach: Kate Kennedy's Silver Team Spartan followed Halsey's replacement, James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan), when he fled Reach. Even before Silver Team's ill-fated expedition to the Visegrád comms relay, Ackerson was subtly manipulating Kai-125 in order to break the trust between her and John-117 (Schreiber). Seemingly Ackerson's right-hand Spartan, Kai looks out over a battalion of newly minted Spartan-IIIs lined up outside the UNSC base on Onyx. However, Onyx's importance doesn't just hinge on Ackerson's fresh batch of soldiers.

Kai (Kate Kennedy) looks out at Spartan-IIIs in Halo season 2, episode 5 - Onyx Is Where Spartan-IIIs Are Trained In The Halo Series

Onyx, also known as XF-063 by the UNSC, was considered a precious find due to its surface being suitable for humans to live on. It became the main base for Ackerson's Spartan-III program during the Human-Covenant War in the Halo universe. Even though the UNSC Engineering Corps found Onyx before the war started, it wasn't colonized on a large scale like other similar planets. The discovery of alien technology on Onyx led to ONI, the Office of Naval Intelligence, taking over control of the planet.

Halo's Onyx Is Actually A Forerunner Shield World

After removing Onyx from UNSC navigational databases, ONI kept the planet's location a closely-guarded secret. Just before the start of the Human-Covenant War, Onyx boasted a single ONI garrison overseen by A.I. constructs. During the war, Vice Admiral Parangosky (played in the show by Shabana Azmi) authorized Ackerson's request to construct a Spartan-III training base on Onyx. Dubbed Camp Currahee, the base was the secret home to Ackerson's brainchild — the successor and supplement to Halsey's Spartan-II Program. In the show, Onyx seems to serve the same purpose with regard to housing Ackerson's program.

Onyx planet from Halo series - Halo's Onyx Is Actually A Forerunner Shield World

Onyx was not just any ordinary planet where the UNSC and ONI found traces of alien technology. It was actually a massive Forerunner shield world designed to protect against the Flood, a dangerous parasite that threatened all life in the galaxy. While the Forerunners created the Halo array as a superweapon to destroy all life in the galaxy, shield worlds like Onyx were built as defensive strongholds and safe havens for their inhabitants. These shield worlds were essential in shielding their residents from the destructive pulses of the Halos.

Introducing a shield world before the discovery of Installation-04 would be a strategic move.

Onyx, also referred to as Shield World 006 or Sarcophagus, is just one of the shield worlds out there. The UNSC named this artificial planet Onyx, and it acts as a protective layer guarding the entrance to the actual shield world. Inside, there is a Dyson sphere, a massive habitat cradled within a slipspace bubble. Even though the Halo series alters some Forerunner-human history, it is still a good idea to introduce a shield world before stumbling upon Installation-04, the Sacred Ring from the first Halo game.

Onyx Is Important In The Wake Of Installation-04's Destruction

Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) wields a weapon in the woods in Halo season 2 - Onyx Is Important In The Wake Of Installation-04's Destruction

In Halo: Combat Evolved, Master Chief destroys Installation-04 after Cortana exposes the true purpose of the Sacred Rings: to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy. However, the failed attempt triggers the activation of the Forerunners' Onyx Sentinels, sparking the Onyx Conflict. The clash between the Forerunner Sentinels and the UNSC's Spartan-III soldiers finally unveils the true identity of the artificial planet. In the midst of the turmoil, both the UNSC and the Covenant send teams to salvage Forerunner technology from Onyx before it is lost forever. This sets the stage for a fierce three-way battle among the factions.

The season 2 finale of Halo is set to premiere on March 21, 2024.

Halo Season 2, Episode 6 Is Called "Onyx" For A Reason

Eventually, the Sentinels decimate Onyx's surface, destroying the remaining Covenant species and lingering human survivors. Later, concentric rings of debris orbit the place Onyx had once been, indicating that the slipspace bubble and Forerunner shield world that were hidden by Onyx's artificial surface survived the skirmish. ONI takes an interest in the late location of its Spartan-III training base and transforms the shield world into a research facility, which is later dubbed the Onyx United Research Project as an ode to the former artificial planet. That said, Onyx plays a huge role in introducing the concept of shield worlds.

Kai (Kate Kennedy) addresses Perez (Cristina Rodlo) and other UNSC soldiers in Halo season 2 - Halo Season 2, Episode 6 Is Called "Onyx" For A Reason

All episodes in Halo season 2 are named after important locations, such as "Visegrád" and "Reach." Episode 6 is titled "Onyx," showing a focus on the iconic franchise location. The introduction of Halo's "blessed ones," humans with genetics to activate Forerunner technology, has brought a new direction to the series. As the show blends new and familiar elements, the challenge lies in how it will tackle the shield world.

Paramount+'s Halo series is gearing up to incorporate key elements from the franchise, including a piece of the Halo array, a shield world, and the Flood. This strategic setup is sure to excite fans and bring some of the most beloved aspects of the Halo universe to life.

Halo season 2 introduces Onyx, setting the stage for what's to come in season 3. Director Kwan Ha's vision hints at the introduction of the Flood in the next season. Additionally, characters like Makee and The Arbiter are on a path leading them to Installation-04, adding further depth to the evolving storyline. Paramount+'s Halo series is making significant progress by incorporating these crucial elements, with Onyx being a significant step in the right direction.

Source: Halopedia

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the significance of Onyx in the Halo universe, particularly in season 2 of the Paramount+ series. It highlights Onyx's role as a training ground for Spartan-IIIs and its true nature as a Forerunner shield world. The introduction of Onyx in the series is intriguing, as it foreshadows the potential appearance of the Flood and other key elements from the Halo franchise. It also raises questions about how the show will handle the shield world concept and its impact on the ongoing storyline.

Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of Onyx's importance in the Halo series and its implications for the Paramount+ adaptation. It effectively captures the essence of the iconic location and sets the stage for future developments in the show's narrative.