Haldean Fissure

The Haldean Fissure is an slipspace anomaly located in the Lumoria and Tangaroa Sectors in the Sagittarius-Cygnus Supersector.

Characteristics
The Haldean Fissure shares a number of qualities with other slipspace anomalies found throughout the Human Sphere, including slow transit times and navigational difficulties. Starships traveling through the region report that there is a substantial, sometimes dangerous drift between their reported position and their actual position, as their sensor visibility range is unusually short and the randomly-shifting currents. These currents are able to sweep away slipspace buoys used for navigation, so even those that could be found may be lightyears away from their initial position - something which stopped buoy-laying companies from operating in the Fissure.

However, one of the most peculiar properties of the Haldean Fissure is its interior veil. While starlight from behind and around the anomaly is only slightly refracted as it passes through, the stars contained within this are completely obscured from prying eyes. It is not completely obscured, as there are a number of holes in the shroud that allow glimpses of its interiors to outsiders. This was one of the first clues to the Fissure's existence to astronomers, as they noticed stars periodically appeared and disappeared at various intervals. Charting missions have been badly affected by this for two reasons. Firstly, it is not known where the veil begins and ends, as it can deviate significantly from where the slipspace anomalies begin. Secondly, when passing through this, a starship suffers from total sensor and communication blackouts, with many survey ships disappearing not long after entering it.

There are also reports of 'ghost ships' that have been sighted within the Fissure. A small handful of captains swear that they have seen ships passing over their bows, with no sensor readings being recorded. UNSC officers suspect these are pirate or rebel ships that have taken refuge within the Fissure and the nearby Torkel Horn dark nebula. In the post-war era, these reports have only increased.

Origin
It is not known what originally created the Haldean Fissure, although modern scientists agree that it is an artificial construct. Many believe that it was established by the Forerunners in their long war against the Flood, where Forerunner fleets would have used it as a staging area before they are sent out into. This would lend more credibility to the ghost ships, which could be generated through holograms. However, a small number of archaeologists have been arguing that the Fissure actually predated the Forerunners; as of yet, no Forerunner artifacts have so far been discovered.

Known locations

 * Wealth