The Great War



"I've seen the status reports from the War. The list of casualties. I can read between the lines. We're losing, aren't we?"

- Washington to The Counselor in Washed Hands.

The Great War was an intergalactic conflict between the UNSC and an unknown faction of aliens that included the Sangheili. The war began at least 23 years before the events of Blood Gulch and ended sometime around the Reds and Blues reassignments at Rats Nest. Throughout the course of war, the UNSC attempted to find alternative ways to gain the upper hand. One of these attempts was Project Freelancer, a program run by Dr. Leonard Church with the intent of creating super soldiers.The victor of the war is unknown, but humans and aliens have been seen working together since then.

Combatants
Several known characters took part in the war. Almost all UNSC personnel were involved in some capacity, including the simulation troopers before they were given to Project Freelancer for the simulation outposts.
 * Felix & Locus: Before they found themselves in the employ of Malcolm Hargrove, and before they had even become mercenaries, Felix and Locus were a part of the same squad in the UNSC during the war. Their squad had seen some of the worst fighting and the two banded together to survive.
 * Reds and Blues: All of the simulation troopers of Blood Gulch were first members of the UNSC before they were deemed unfit and were given to Project Freelancer.
 * 1) Lavernius Tucker: During his time in the UNSC, he impersonated a military physician named Dr. Cloitus and was caught.
 * 2) Washington: Before joining Project Freelancer, David was stationed in the Leonis Minoris system, where he assaulted a commanding officer because he disagreed with an order that would get everyone killed.
 * 3) Michael J. Caboose: Prior to being sent to the Blue Team, Caboose was stationed on a remote moon. He recieved multiple demerits because of his misunderstanding on how oxygen works in space.
 * 4) Sarge: During his time in the UNSC, Sarge jumped from high orbit in a branch known as the ODSTs. He was removed, however, after causing extensive damage to his unit's ship.
 * 5) Dick Simmons: Several of Simmons' officers in the UNSC complained that his constant need for attention and approval was disruptive, so he was transferred.
 * 6) Dexter Grif: Grif was stationed on a doomed colony that was wiped out in a battle during the Great War. Grif survived it because he had fallen asleep at his post. He was transferred to Project Freelancer soon after.
 * 7) Franklin Delano Donut: Donut violated strict UNSC laws and had cheese and wine hours in the middle of field exercies.
 * Allison Church: After marrying Leonard and giving birth to Carolina, Allison Church was killed in battle.
 * Dylan Andrews: While not an active combatant during the war, Dylan Andrews of Interstellar Daily reported from the frontlines and witnessed the fighting firsthand.
 * Malcolm Hargrove: Not an active combatant either, Hargrove's political position and influence within the UNSC allowed to him to achieve the rank of Oversight Sub-Committe Chairman, as well as remaining the CEO of Charon Industries.

Trivia

 * While not confirmed, the Sangheili were most likely the only aliens the UNSC fought during the war. Because of Junior's heritage, he was chosen by Wyoming, Gamma, and Omega to become an integral part of their plan to stop the war by taking control of the Sangheili and ending the war.
 * The Sangheili's home planet was mentioned in the Ultimate Fan Guide on page 181, where it was confirmed that Tucker and Junior reunited and visited the planet.
 * The planet of Chorus was inhabited by the UNSC during the war, but after the war was finished they abandoned it and left the people behind.
 * Also not confirmed, it is possible that Cherry and the aliens onboard the ship that crashed next to Team FH57 were a part of the war.