Installation 02 (The Sagemaster)

Installation 02, known as Epsilon Halo to the races of the Orion Arm, or Thialanaeldimer "The Great Wheel" to the lliaggale is a . Located within the Zhagolin System in the Norma Arm, Installation 02's surface is nearly entirely covered by water, with rocky outcroppings, ice floes, and strings of small island archipelago dotting its surface. 
Installation 02 was discovered by races of the Orion Arm when a Covenant splinter fleet, pursued by a human frigate, fled to the station. The brief struggle between the two factions would be the first interaction Installation 02 and the native residents, the lliaggalle, would have with outside forces.
==History==
===Construction and early history===
The Forerunners had Installation 02 constructed by the Foundry of Installation 00 approximately around the same time as the rest of the Halo Array, circa 97,445 BCE during the Forerunner-Flood war. The array was designed by the Forerunner Builders to combat the parasitic Flood by eradicating them and all sentient life in the Milky Way. After the rings were built, Installation 02 and its fellow Halos were distributed from Installation 00 to positions across the galaxy through slipstream space portals.
Afterwards, the Halo Array was fired and eradicated all sentient life from the galaxy. The Forerunners proceeded to reseed the galaxy with life from the species that were preserved on the Halo installations. Like its fellow installations, Installation 02 became home to dormant specimens of the Flood that were intended to be used to help find a cure to the parasite in the future. With the Flood defeated, the surviving Forerunners exiled themselves from the galaxy.
Following this, Installation 02 would remain operational. The aquatic species known as the lliaggale would be released onto the ring and make it their home, settling into various social groups and living a nomadic lifestyle by following oceanic currents.
=== Discovery ===
Installation 02 remained apart from the rest of the galaxy for over 100,000 years, with no interaction with any other sentient species, until 2558. In August of that year a small fleet of the Testament, a radical Covenant splinter faction, landed on the ring, and over the next few weeks began to establish a base on the ring. Led by Lork Tanu, the Testament attacked local lliaggale shoals, and began investigating the station to develop weapons to use against humanity. In particular, he sought to develop Flood-based bioweapons to infect and wipe out humankind.
The UNSC frigate Rage Against the Dying, pursuing the Testament, entered into the system weeks later, and after a clash with Testament forces was forced to crash-land onto Epsilon Halo. Over the next few days, human and Testament forces would engage in a short but high-staked conflict. Establishing a tenuous alliance, the local lliaggale, the human forces, in particular Guillemin Karly and Jay-G084 managed to attack and wipe out the Testament. 
After the defeat of the Testament, the remaining human survivors would be stuck on Installation 02 for over two months while repairing their ship. After the Rage Against the Dying was repaired, the humans left, but would return soon enough. Following the end of the Created Crisis, the UEG would establish a permanent research outpost on Installation 02, studying both the Forerunner structure and history, while also researching the lliaggale and developing strong relations with them.
==Geography==
===Surface Appearance===
Unlike most of the Halos, whose surfaces tends to be dominated by continental landmasses, Installation 02's surface is covered by a vast saline ocean which occupies almost 87% of the ring's total habitable area. Generally, this ocean is around 1.9 miles deep, with the native lliaggale inhabiting the shallows, typically 200 ft. deep and home to most of the flora and fauna of Installation 02.
Archipelagos of small islands, typically the peaks of seamounts, or artificially formed beaches are the final piece of the ring's surface. These regions can be incredibly diverse, but generally are very close to sea level and comparable to Pacific islands on Earth. Many of these islands feature large alcoves or beaches, are close to the shallow coral reefs. Traditionally, many lliaggale would swim onto these beaches to warm up or build small villages in protective caves. 
===Climate===
Installation 02 generally possess a tropical climate with, with temperatures regularly in the 70s-80s °F, and large amounts of precipitation. Storms and heavy rainclouds are common, with some tropical storms and hurricanes occurring yearly. However, due to the regulation by Installation 02's monitor, these storms are less frequent and less dangerous.
Some regions, however, differ climatically. The most notable are regions specifically designed to be colder, and resembling the North and South Poles of Earth. These regions have much colder water, icebergs and ice flows, and large sheets of frozen water.
===Biosphere===
====Fauna====
There exist a plethora of aquatic wildlife on Installation 02. Over 7,000 aquatic animal species have been recorded within the structure, many more being discovered. Over 73% of these match animals from Earth, but several prominent species belong to alien worlds or have never been seen before. These include new species of fish, aquatic mammals, and various plankton-like creatures.
====Flora====
Much of the flora on Installation 02 is similar to those found on Earth, with palm trees and coral reefs similar. However, various species of alien flora have also been recorded, most notably the exotic kingweeper, a type of underwater "tree" that produces a specific kind of nutritious fruit, frequently used as an anointment by the lliaggale.
==Locations==
=== Ground Locations ===
Due to its oceanic surface, Installation 02 possess few major and noteworthy above water locations, and most of those are Forerunner facilities.
Rage's Landing is the primary and first permanent settlement on Installation 02, named after the Rage Against the Dying located in the area that it had initially landed. Rage's Landing serves many functions, as a forward operating base for exploratory and research expeditions, laboratory and research station, and a temporary embassy of sorts for interactions between the UEG and the local lliaggale.
===Orbital Locations===
Installation 02 has, over the centuries, captured a pocket of small asteroids, but no other notable orbital structures. The UEG has established several mechanical satellites used for mapping and studying the installation.
Category:The Sagemaster
Category:Halo Installations
Category:Megastructures
Category:Canon Expansions
Category:Forerunner