Page "Halo (series)" Paragraph 5

Tens of thousands of years later, in the 26th century, humanity — under the auspices of the United Nations Space Command, or UNSC — colonize many worlds thanks to the development of faster-than-light " slipspace " travel.

Tensions escalate between the older and more stable " Inner Colonies " and the remote " Outer Colonies ", leading to civil war.

The UNSC creates an elite group of enhanced supersoldiers, known as Spartans, to suppress the rebellion covertly.

In the year 2525, the human colony of Harvest falls under attack by a theocratic alliance of alien races known as the Covenant.

The Covenant leadership declares humanity heretics and an affront to their gods — the Forerunners — and begins a holy war of genocide.

The Covenant's superior technology and numbers prove decisive advantages ; though effective, the Spartans are too few in number to turn the tide of battle in humanity's favor.