For an instant, Viperidae was a star.

Until only a cloud of glowing haze remained... and in the center, the dark cinder of Viperidae.

In response, the Covenant fleet also split to track each portion of the UNSC forces on either side of the Viperidae.

But the vast majority of the nuclear ordnance had not been aimed at the Covenant-rather ,theyfell deeper into the atmosphere of Viperidae.

Cole initiated a transition to slipstream space the instant before detonation of the Shiva nuclear ordnance and the triggering of the micronova of Viperidae.