The Ark Structure in "Halo"
Bungie and 343 Industries' "Halo" series of video games for Microsoft's XBOX and XBOX 360 consoles are immensely popular. Since the first game in 2001, eight first-person shooter games have been produced with plans for at least three more as of November 2011. The Ark is a pivotal location and plot point in the "Halo" series.
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Backstory
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In the world of "Halo" games, the human race is at war with the Covenant, a religious alien race bent on destroying the Flood at any cost. According to their beliefs, an ancient civilization called the Forerunners were killed off by the Flood, parasitic aliens who are taking over all life in the universe. The Covenant are willing to do whatever it takes to purge the Flood from existence, including a method humans oppose: Halo.
Halo
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Halo ("the Array" when referred to as a whole and "Installation" as a singular Halo ring) is a series of mega-structures located on many planets and moons. Originally built by the Forerunners as installations to contain and study the Flood, they are now an integrated weapons system. The Covenant want to engage the Halo installations by accessing the Ark to eliminate the Flood by killing its food source, which is all sentient life. Humans are fighting to take over Halo from the Covenant to prevent mass extinction, while also trying to fight the Flood.
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The Ark Structure
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The central control station and manufacturing plant for the Halo rings is located just outside the Milky Way galaxy. Referred to by the Covenant as "Installation 00," the Ark structure is the primary Halo installation. It is also the key to preventing the Covenant from killing off all sentient life. It is in the form of a giant wheel, with eight arms, like an octopus. It's the second biggest construction built by the Forerunners, and around 60,000 miles across. The core, used to construct Halos, is made from a remnant of an asteroid. The surface is Earth-like and covered with forests, seas and a large desert.
Continuing Saga
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"Halo 4" was announced at E3 in June 2011 with a release date in late 2012. The new game is to launch a second Halo trilogy. As of November 2011, details on the plot are scarce, though Bungie has confirmed Master Chief will be the main protagonist once more — with "Halo 4" resuming where "Halo 3" left off.
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