Delta Halo (H2): The Critical Campaign Mission That Started the Schism

Halo 2 Delta Halo Cutscene

Halo 2 Delta Halo Cutscene

Among the many Halo games, Halo 2 is often regarded as one of the most important in terms of deepening the lore. What it did was provide a deep insight into not just humanity's efforts, but also that of their greatest enemy, the Covenant.

The game did an excellent job of providing more information on the alien empire, from the races that are a part of it to why it's so intent on firing the rings. Halo 2 also contains important events involving the Covenant, which made the franchise's lore more fascinating to learn, and one in particular stood out among the others: The Great Schism.

It is regarded as the civil war that saw the Elites go against those they thought were their allies, leading to them eventually siding with humanity in a fight for galactic survival. Given its importance, fans of Halo who wish to understand its lore must learn what caused the Great Schism to start.

While some would say that the branding of Thel 'Vadamee, who would eventually become the Arbiter, by the hands of Brute chieftain Tartarus is the earliest sign of the civil war starting, its true beginning was actually during Halo 2's eighth mission: Delta Halo.

Halo 2 Delta Halo
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Credit: Microsoft Studios

Upon playing it, a cutscene shows the UNSC discovering a new Halo ring after following a slipspace rupture on New Mombasa, which was caused by the Prophet of Regret's assault carrier. Knowing that the Covenant's religious leader would be on the ring, Officer Miranda Keyes ordered the Master Chief to pursue and eliminate him.

Delta Halo is the mission leading up to the assassination of the Prophet of Regret, teaching players how important it was to stop him, given that he was trying to activate the Halo ring prematurely. The event sets the stage for the beginning of The Great Schism, as the death of the Prophet results in a move that sets a particular dubious plan in motion.

After finishing Delta Halo and the succeeding mission, aptly titled "Regret", the Prophet of Truth blamed the Elites for the death of his brethren, as they are always expected to be the honored protectors of the Covenant's leaders. By failing to do their duty to a catastrophic degree, it became the perfect excuse to replace the race with the Brutes as the main military backbone of the alien empire.

This is something that the Prophets have been aiming to do since they discovered that humans were the true successors of the Forerunners. Such a secret would undoubtedly destroy the Covenant order, and the Elites would be the first to assume control from the religious leaders, given their physical prowess and higher degree of intelligence over the other races.

Halo 2 Great Schism
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Credit: Microsoft Studios

The Brutes, on the other hand, were fiercely loyal and blindly obedient to the Prophets, making them the perfect replacement as the protectors of the religious figures and their secret. While the death of Regret is unfortunate, it guaranteed a safety net for the remaining Prophets, providing an excuse to slowly but surely remove their competition from the Covenant.

Given that Delta Halo is responsible for setting all that up, one should now understand how the mission plays a huge role in starting The Great Schism and deepening the franchise's lore. We have it to thank for sowing the seeds for humanity's eventual victory, as the Elites switching sides played a pivotal role in helping achieve it.

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