DarthOne
☦️
Figured that it was high time we had one of these.
Warhammer 40,000-Halo Merged setting
Instead of the typical 'faction A ends up in universe B' story that is far too common and that I tend to gravitate towards, I thought I'd try something different.
While this could work in ‘modern’ 40k, I think it would be easier to fit in with the somewhat early is days of the Great Crusade. As it allows semi-good-sized factions like the UNSC and Covenant to more easily fit into the setting without raising questions about why they haven’t been heard about ‘in canon’ or the like before. As in 30k the setting is still mostly unexplored both in and out of universe.
Plus, if I really want to be ambitious, I could have this encounter have all sorts of interesting knock-on-effects on 30k and the Horus Heresy…
That said, I’ll probably have the IoM forces (probably a single expeditionary fleet or so) for a majority of the story being stuck in UNSC space without access to reinforcements or communications to the wider galaxy. As this is the IoM early on when it wasn’t operating ass-backwards. And assuming that I want to keep the Covenant near their canon size, they would not stand much of a chance against the IoM in the longer term. Having one of the Primarchs show up would probably be overkill.
The UNSC and the IoM
Obviously, a great deal of thought will need to be put into how the two human factions will interact and how willing the UNSC will be when it comes to integrating into the IoM.
Spartans and Space Marines:
I see Spartans being faster and more agile than Space Marines but the Space Marines are more tankier. Which incidentally fits into what both were ‘designed’ to be. The Spartans were designed as Black Ops and strike teams against the Insurrectionists. Whereas the Space Marines were made more-or-less as super-soldiers to fight head-on against alien enemies on the battlefield.
Slipspace drive:
Probably be easier to have it function as some sort of variant of warp-travel, albeit one sort of like how the Tau’s work in 40k. It only ‘skims the surface’ of the Warp; so it doesn’t require astropaths, is safer but also somewhat slower when compared to ‘actual’ warp travel. Plus, remember that in 30k the warp is much calmer than it is in 40k; so I could probably get away with the idea that this form of FTL could be roughly equal to standard warp travel.
If I do use this idea, Covenant warp-drives function in a similar manner as UNSC ones, skimming the edge of the immaterium, making short hops from place to place and avoiding most of the danger. However, their drives recharge more rapidly than UNSC ones, allowing for a succession of quick hops across vast spans of lightyears.
The Forerunners and the Covenant religion:
The Forerunners could probably be modified to fit into Warhammer 40k as a setting by having them be Old Ones. Or alternatively, have them just be some other ancient civilization that, while not quite as Old as the Eldari, Olds Ones and Necrons, is still pretty high up there.
Regardless, I think I can get away with not having to modify too much of the Covenant backstory and religion from what we see in Halo. Though I’ll probably have to change or drop the Halo array, as it simply does not fit in 40k lore and trying to make it fit would be too much of a hassle in my opinion. I simply cannot think of a way to easily integrate them and the near-destruction of the Flood into the setting without it being convoluted or outright stupid.
The UNSC:
One of the many disparate ‘fragments of mankind’ that existed after Old Night; one which, while it did lose much of its technologies, still withstood it better than most did. So elements of it would be redesigned, mostly in aesthetics to make it closer to Warhammer, though I cannot stress enough that this would be slight changes at most to make the UNSC feel more compatible with the larger setting.
Possibly have something similar to the false ‘Imperium of Man’ encountered in the first Horus Heresy novel; aka the human empire that thought it was based on Earth, but wasn’t in reality. So maybe the UNSC thinks it really thinks it’s ‘Earth’ really is Earth, but it is not.
The Flood:
Assuming that I want to include them in the setting, they could have been some sort of bio-weapon that got out of hand. They might even be quasi-warp entities, like the so-called Enslavers in 40k canon that wound up in our reality somehow or other.
Or, if I want to go with ArchWarhammer’s fan-theory that the Tyranids were created by the Old Ones as a means of combating the Necrons and C’tan, perhaps the Flood were created by the Old Ones to be something similar.
Alternatively, they can just be some gribblies from beyond the Galaxy that were defeated by the Old Ones or the like centuries back.
Regarding UNSC AI’s:
I confess I probably need to do more research into the Ad-Mech’s views on AI’s and the like at that time and exactly what they think constitutes a ‘machine spirit’ verses an Abominable Intelligence. Given that USNC ‘smart’ AI’s are based on human brains, they might get a pass from the Ad-Mech. As I said, more research is required.
What Astartes Legion is being used?
While I’m tempted to use either the Salamanders or Blood Angels, I confess I have something of s soft spot for using the Luna Wolves or the Alpha Legion- if it’s the Alpha Legion, this would probably be before Alpharius and Omegon where found.
Warhammer 40,000-Halo Merged setting
Instead of the typical 'faction A ends up in universe B' story that is far too common and that I tend to gravitate towards, I thought I'd try something different.
While this could work in ‘modern’ 40k, I think it would be easier to fit in with the somewhat early is days of the Great Crusade. As it allows semi-good-sized factions like the UNSC and Covenant to more easily fit into the setting without raising questions about why they haven’t been heard about ‘in canon’ or the like before. As in 30k the setting is still mostly unexplored both in and out of universe.
Plus, if I really want to be ambitious, I could have this encounter have all sorts of interesting knock-on-effects on 30k and the Horus Heresy…
- Another idea: set this in the fan-made Roboute heresy timeline?
- I’ll probably buff/tweek the firepower calculations on both sides somewhat for the sake of keeping the story interesting. As IMO, a good story trumps weapons calculations.
That said, I’ll probably have the IoM forces (probably a single expeditionary fleet or so) for a majority of the story being stuck in UNSC space without access to reinforcements or communications to the wider galaxy. As this is the IoM early on when it wasn’t operating ass-backwards. And assuming that I want to keep the Covenant near their canon size, they would not stand much of a chance against the IoM in the longer term. Having one of the Primarchs show up would probably be overkill.
- The Covenant occupies a large portion of the Orion wing in Halo canon. How many planets they have is anyone's guess. The UNSC originally had 800 planets, 600 outer colonies, and 200 inner colonies. The 600 outer colonies are all gassed, and several dozens of the inner colonies are destroyed by the war’s end in canon.
The UNSC and the IoM
Obviously, a great deal of thought will need to be put into how the two human factions will interact and how willing the UNSC will be when it comes to integrating into the IoM.
Spartans and Space Marines:
I see Spartans being faster and more agile than Space Marines but the Space Marines are more tankier. Which incidentally fits into what both were ‘designed’ to be. The Spartans were designed as Black Ops and strike teams against the Insurrectionists. Whereas the Space Marines were made more-or-less as super-soldiers to fight head-on against alien enemies on the battlefield.
Slipspace drive:
Probably be easier to have it function as some sort of variant of warp-travel, albeit one sort of like how the Tau’s work in 40k. It only ‘skims the surface’ of the Warp; so it doesn’t require astropaths, is safer but also somewhat slower when compared to ‘actual’ warp travel. Plus, remember that in 30k the warp is much calmer than it is in 40k; so I could probably get away with the idea that this form of FTL could be roughly equal to standard warp travel.
If I do use this idea, Covenant warp-drives function in a similar manner as UNSC ones, skimming the edge of the immaterium, making short hops from place to place and avoiding most of the danger. However, their drives recharge more rapidly than UNSC ones, allowing for a succession of quick hops across vast spans of lightyears.
The Forerunners and the Covenant religion:
The Forerunners could probably be modified to fit into Warhammer 40k as a setting by having them be Old Ones. Or alternatively, have them just be some other ancient civilization that, while not quite as Old as the Eldari, Olds Ones and Necrons, is still pretty high up there.
Regardless, I think I can get away with not having to modify too much of the Covenant backstory and religion from what we see in Halo. Though I’ll probably have to change or drop the Halo array, as it simply does not fit in 40k lore and trying to make it fit would be too much of a hassle in my opinion. I simply cannot think of a way to easily integrate them and the near-destruction of the Flood into the setting without it being convoluted or outright stupid.
The UNSC:
One of the many disparate ‘fragments of mankind’ that existed after Old Night; one which, while it did lose much of its technologies, still withstood it better than most did. So elements of it would be redesigned, mostly in aesthetics to make it closer to Warhammer, though I cannot stress enough that this would be slight changes at most to make the UNSC feel more compatible with the larger setting.
Possibly have something similar to the false ‘Imperium of Man’ encountered in the first Horus Heresy novel; aka the human empire that thought it was based on Earth, but wasn’t in reality. So maybe the UNSC thinks it really thinks it’s ‘Earth’ really is Earth, but it is not.
The Flood:
Assuming that I want to include them in the setting, they could have been some sort of bio-weapon that got out of hand. They might even be quasi-warp entities, like the so-called Enslavers in 40k canon that wound up in our reality somehow or other.
Or, if I want to go with ArchWarhammer’s fan-theory that the Tyranids were created by the Old Ones as a means of combating the Necrons and C’tan, perhaps the Flood were created by the Old Ones to be something similar.
Alternatively, they can just be some gribblies from beyond the Galaxy that were defeated by the Old Ones or the like centuries back.
Regarding UNSC AI’s:
I confess I probably need to do more research into the Ad-Mech’s views on AI’s and the like at that time and exactly what they think constitutes a ‘machine spirit’ verses an Abominable Intelligence. Given that USNC ‘smart’ AI’s are based on human brains, they might get a pass from the Ad-Mech. As I said, more research is required.
What Astartes Legion is being used?
While I’m tempted to use either the Salamanders or Blood Angels, I confess I have something of s soft spot for using the Luna Wolves or the Alpha Legion- if it’s the Alpha Legion, this would probably be before Alpharius and Omegon where found.
