Rhodes

"Rhodes. A quiet little outer colony with rich history. Rumors say that the planet is still in constant argument over the 1st Rhodian Revolution, which happened over two decades ago."--Passenger of the Rhodian Express.
Rhodes is a small outer colony that specializes in industrial productivity. Located in the Thurinus system, it is known for it's planetwide production of combat-related vehicles. Unfortunately, Rhodes has been struck with revolution that has threatening to end the production.
It is orbited by one natural satellite, Canis, which has also been colonized. Unlike Rhodes, it does not manufacture vehicles. Rather, serves as a tourist destination, housing the Locust Hotels and the small but rich city of Broker's Paradise.
Unlike most outer colonies, it did not have a large presence of insurrectionists. In 2500, a terrorist attack in the city of Centralia killed fourteen and wounded seventeen. This would be the beginning of the Rhodian Revolution, which would end within four months due to the small amount of support for the revolutionaries. Any attempt of assistance by insurrectionists was ended as soon as their ships entered the sight of the planet's MAC cannons.
Also unlike most colonies, Rhodes was left relatively unscathed at the end of the war. The only attempt by Covenant forces to attack the planet would go on to known as the Incursio Magna (translated from Latin: Large Invasion). Only fifteen lives were lost due to the arrival of the UNSC Tyrant's Demise, which prevented the Divine Accord from glassing Centralia.
== History ==
=== Forerunner Control ===
Rhodes was used as a weapon manufacturing facility by the Forerunners, mostly making disposable weapons. It would be one of the first to fall to the flood, causing the death of several thousand Warrior-Servants and Prometheans. During the later part of the war, a Forerunner only known as The Martyr took several of his followers to the planet to sacrifice them to his "god", the gravemind
In 97,445 BCE, the Halo Array was activated. The Forerunners had left behind an oracle known as 141 Overlooking Colossus to look over the abandoned main weapons facility that lied underneath the Pelagus Ocean.
=== Colonization ===
In 2198, the civilian ship known as the Athens had gone off course and had become lost in deep space during it's attempt to reach Gould Station. The captain of the Athens, John Cross, contacted the parent company of the ship, who then contacted the UNSC. When they sent the UNSC Darwinism to find the planet for research purposes, it could not be found. It is now known that John Cross accidentally gave the wrong coordinates of the planet, causing this to become a popular topic in the early to mid 23rd century.
In 2370, the planet was found once again by the UNSC Research and Development. Colonization began in a few months after it's second discovery. The planet's western hemisphere had to be heavily terraformed due to the heavy presence of an unknown poisonous element spewed from Mount Cross, which was later sealed. The oceans were also noted to consist of less salt than Earth's, with large pockets of water in the Pelagus Ocean being fresh.
In a few years, several cities and factories were constructed, causing millions to flock to the planet. The city of Kessinger was considered the planet's most populated area in 2389, having a total population of 63,187,015. It would also begin to produce vehicles for law enforcement and militia, causing the Rhodes Planetary Combat Vehicle Manufacturing Corporation to be founded in 2400.
In 2431, the abandoned Forerunner weapon facility was discovered by an amateur diver. Studies were conducted on the facility and attempts were made to raise it from it's resting place. After encountering 141 Overlooking Colossus, the operation was called off and the facility remains in the same spot that it was found in.
=== Insurrection ===
Rhodes never experienced heavy insurrectionist activity. Many attempts were made, but failed due to the Rhodes Intelligence Agency's intervention. The 1st Rhodian Revolution occurred during the height of the Insurrection, beginning with terrorist Jasir Kah's bombing of Centralia.
==== 1st Rhodian Revolution ====
Jasir Kah was a member of the People's Republic of Rhodes, a neo-communist terrorist group. During his bombing of Centralia fourteen were killed and seventeen were killed. The Rhodes Intelligence Agency then put Centralia under lockdown. The area around this city would become the main battlefield of the revolution, with hundreds of people dying each day.
In four months the RIA found the location of the leader of the PRR, Damon Cornwallis. He would be assassinated shortly after and a treaty would be signed in the Centralia capital building. Insurrectionists then attempted to enter the planet using pelicans and other airships, but were quickly shot down with MAC cannons.
Shortly after, the Rhodian Express was launched. It's purpose was to tour the war torn conflict before being decommissioned in 2525.
=== Human-Covenant War ===
Rhodes, unlike many Outer Colonies, was attacked very rarely by the Covenant. It's remote location made it almost impossible to locate, effectively making the planet a safe haven. Despite the lack of conflict, the 1st Rhodes Defense Brigade was established, replacing the Rhodes Defense Force. This period is when the planet made the most vehicles. Pelicans, Warthogs, MBTs, you name it, Rhodes manufactured it.
After the discovery of a Covenant ship getting dangerously close to the planet in 2549, most cities were evacuated and civilians were brought to the nearly unpopulated Maclaren Islands. In four days, the Divine Accord arrived at Rhodes. The shipmaster, Rtan 'Vasanee was confused that the major cities were unpopulated. As they approached the Maclaren Islands the RDB's flagship, the UNSC Archangel, attempted to attack the Divine Accord. It was quickly shot down.
The Divine Accord, now knowing that there are humans on this planet, made it's way to Centralia. Even the Covenant knew of it's importance. Before it could reach the city, the UNSC Tyrant's Demise had arrived after being contacted by the Maclaren Islands to destroy the attacker. The Tyrant's Demise caught the Divine Accord off guard and destroyed it in a few hours.
The wreckage of the Divine Accord is now a planetary landmark, residing in the Gould Lake of Centralia and the Strand Mountains.
=== Post-War ===
Shortly after the end of the Human-Covenant War, in 2552, the first Rhodes election since the 1st Rhodian Revolution. Brandon Ismael was the Federal candidate and Adam Peters was the Independent candidate. For the first time in history, the Independent party had one. Following the election of Peters, he stated that he wanted the planet to be completely independent from UNSC control.
Act XV was put into order, threatening the UNSC with armed resistance if they decided not to withdrawal from the planet. In a few months, no UNSC personnel were on the planet. Unbeknownst to the government, ONI had been planning to take the planet back. In 2553, Operation Sparta was in effect.
==== Operation Sparta ====
The UNSC Tyrant's Demise, the same one that had saved Centralia in 2549, launched several inserted several ODSTs into the city of Pious. The city was quickly captured by the UNSC, followed by Aristotle City, and then Caput. The Rhodes Defense Brigade was no match for the war machine of the UNSC. Even with the powerhouses of Holt Vehicles and DuBois, their vehicles were little more than toys compared to the UNSC's.
Later that year, Centralia was captured and Adam Peters was forced to sign a peace treaty. The planet was then put under martial law and all attempts to revolt were quickly silenced. This event is also called the 2nd Rhodian Revolution
==== Created Conflict ====
Rhodes was and still is completely safe from the Created. All AI with high-ranking positions such as the Enforcer were terminated under Rhodes Act XVII. It's position was filled by John Guyer, a devout member of the Rhodes Coalition, a pro-UNSC organization.
The Rhodes Coalition have began Operation Preservation, in which volunteers have their brain placed inside of a robotic shell. The most notable of which is Damien Crowe, the former captain of the UNSC Solemnity. The purpose of this is to keep some of the best military leaders on Rhodes alive incase of an attack by Created. They will be able to operate other machinery on their own without the need of anybody else.
== Notable Natives of Rhodes ==
* Joseph Talbot: Commander-in-Chief of the Rhodes Coalition
* Michael Talbot: Brother of Joseph Talbot, known for his heroics during the Battle of Pious
* John Guyer: The last surviving descendant of the wealthy Guyer family, advisor of the Beckett Corporation headquarters in Centralia
* Oliver Whiteman: War hero known for saving Richard McCabe during the 1st Siege of the PRR, killed in action during the 2nd Siege of the PRR
* Christopher Dawes: Commander of all air forces on Rhodes
* Richard McCabe: Veteran and author, known for his "Rhodes Tragedy" novel series
* Anthony Rice: Famous Rhodes Football League player, killed during the 1st Rhodian Revolution
* Nguombi Akaerhe: Former pelican pilot, volunteer for Operation Preservation
* Damien Crowe: Former captain of the UNSC Solemnity, volunteer for Operation Preservation
* John Ross: Former governor of Pious, rendered braindead after the bombing of the city hall building
* Christopher Dawes: Father of Samuel and Samantha Dawes, volunteer for Operation Preservation
* Samuel Dawes: Son of Christopher Dawes, volunteer of Operation Preservation
* Samantha Dawes: Daughter of Christopher Dawes, lover of John Guyer
* Michael Walker: Captain of the UNSC Depth Protection
* Sarah Callahan: Lover of Michael Walker
== Companies ==
* Lunar (Type: Vehicles)
* Archimedes (Type: Vehicles)
* Plato (Type: Vehicles)
* Malcomi Motorsports (Vehicles)
* Central-Holic (Alcohol)
* Surplus! (Ammunition)
* Beckett Corporation (Artificial Intelligence research)
* Brady & Sons (Vehicles)