Editing Onyx Conflict

{{Era|HCW}}
{{disambig header|the battle during the [[Human-Covenant war]]|the battle in 2558|Second Onyx conflict}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Battle of Mombasa]]
|conc=[[Battle for Earth]], [[Battle of Installation 05]]
|next=[[Battle of Mare Erythraeum]]
|name=Onyx Conflict
|image=[[File:Ghosts of Onyx Cover.jpg|310px]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Great Schism]]
|date=[[2552#October|October 31]]-[[2552#November|November 3]], [[2552]]
|place=[[Onyx]], [[Zeta Doradus system]]
|result='''Forerunner constructs victory''' 
*Some UNSC forces escape
*Onyx disintegrates into trillions of Sentinels
*All Covenant forces destroyed
*[[Sarcophagus]] [[shield world]] sealed with some survivors inside
|side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
|side2=*[[Covenant separatists]]
**[[Joyous Exultation Covenant]]
|side3=*{{Icon|Forerunner}} [[Sentinel|Forerunner constructs]]
|commanders1=*[[ADM]] [[Carl Patterson]]†
*[[LCDR]] [[Kurt Ambrose]]†
|commanders2=[[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]†
|commanders3=  Unknown
|forces1=Space
*[[Battle Group Omicron]]<ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 113''</ref>
**1 [[UNSC carrier|carrier]]
**1 {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}
**6 [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]
**1 [[UNSC prowler|prowler]]
*{{UNSCShip|Agincourt}}
Ground
*5 [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]]
*17 [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-IIIs]]
*Several ONI agents
|forces2=54 [[Covenant]] [[Covenant starship|warships]]
*[[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]]
**22 ships 
***1 [[ORS-class heavy cruiser|heavy cruiser]]
***1 [[Covenant carrier|carrier]]
***2 [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]]
***18 [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]]
*[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]
**32 ships
***Multiple [[Covenant carrier|carrier]]s
***Multiple [[Covenant cruiser|cruiser]]s
***Multiple [[Covenant destroyer|destroyer]]s
*Legions of Covenant warriors
**Six [[Mgalekgolo]]
**Over two hundred [[Sangheili]]
**Thousands of [[Unggoy]]
*[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]]
*[[Type-31 Seraph|Seraphs]]
|forces3=*Trillions of [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinel]]s
*[[Sentinel manufacturing facility]]
|casual1=*Battle Group Omicron save for {{UNSCShip|Dusk}}
*{{UNSCShip|Agincourt}}
*[[William-043|Will-043]]
*[[Kurt Ambrose]]
*[[Dante-G188]]
*[[Holly-G003]]
*[[Team Gladius]]
*An unknown number of [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] personnel
|casual2=*All Covenant ships
*All ground forces
*[[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]
|casual3=*Thousands of [[Sentinel]]s
*Sentinel manufacturing facility
}}

The '''Onyx Conflict'''<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/kelly-087 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Kelly-087'']</ref> was a military engagement between the [[Forerunner]] [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]] of the planet [[Onyx]], [[United Nations Space Command|United Nations Space Command (UNSC)]] and a [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|fledgling Covenant splinter group]]. The UNSC [[operation]] to reinforce the stranded UNSC forces on Onyx was codenamed '''Operation: CIRRUS'''.{{Ref/Game|Id=H5GLtd|Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers#Frederic-104|Dossier files]] - Frederic-104}}

==Battle==
===The Sentinel activation===
When [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]] was almost activated,{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Page=175|Quote=Halsey: That timing coincides with the activation of an alien weapon world - before John thankfully destroyed it. It is no coincidence that the Sentinels appeared then. It must be part of a larger Forerunner plan.}} it emitted a signal that placed all other [[Forerunner]] installations in standby mode, including the Sentinels guarding the [[Sarcophagus|shield world]] located within the artificial world of [[Onyx]]. The Sentinels themselves first appeared on the morning of [[2552#September|September 21, 2552]].{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Page=175}} On [[2552#October|October 31, 2552]], the first of these Sentinels to awaken suddenly began attacking [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces on and near [[Onyx]]. Coincidentally, [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]] was participating in the top honors exercise at the time.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 117-120''</ref>

Almost immediately, [[Team Gladius]] and the orbiting {{UNSCShip|Agincourt}} were destroyed and [[Team Katana]] lost after passing to Zone 67. The [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] trainers, save for [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Mendez]] and [[Kurt Ambrose]] were all killed as well. In accordance with emergency protocols, Zone 67's AI [[Endless Summer]] assumed complete command of all UNSC forces on Onyx.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 122''</ref> Shortly afterward, [[Team Saber]] regrouped with Kurt-051, [[Tom-B292]], [[Lucy-B091]] and [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Mendez]], although they had no means of summoning reinforcements from the rest of the UNSC. [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]] declared [[Bloody Arrow]] via UNSC E-Band.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 159''</ref>

On November 3, [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Jerrod]] arrived at Onyx aboard ''[[Beatrice]]''. Attacking Sentinels forced the ship to crash land on the planet, although all three passengers survived to link up with Kurt-051's group. Halsey proceeded to convince the resident [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] AI, Endless Summer, to send a distress message to Earth using the [[Slipspace COM launcher]]. In the signal Halsey requested the deployment of [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] to Onyx.<ref name="goo182">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 182-184''</ref> The launcher was destroyed shortly after firing.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 313''</ref>

Using Cortana's distress signal from Installation 05 as a "carrier wave",{{Ref/Reuse|goo182}} the message succeeded in reaching a [[Battle of Earth|besieged Earth]] in mere hours and diverting [[Blue Team]] to [[Onyx]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 211-213''</ref> However, en route the message had been intercepted by the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]]. The newly promoted [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]] of the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]] was deployed to Onyx under orders to destroy all UNSC forces and recover any Forerunner artifacts, as the Sangheili had not yet made a formal alliance with the UNSC.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 243''</ref>

===Blue Team and the Covenant arrive===
Blue Team, composed of [[William-043]], [[Linda-058]], and [[Frederic-104]], arrived at Onyx aboard the commandeered ''[[Bloodied Spirit]]'', but were forced to make their way down to the surface in a [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] when their ship was attacked by Sentinels. Linking up with [[Kurt-051]]'s group they planned to attack [[Zone 67]]. Using the Spirit, they flew into a crater and discovered a Forerunner city.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 267-274''</ref>

At the same time, 'Mantakree's forces formed around the flagship ''[[Incorruptible]]'' and began nearing Onyx. The destroyer ''[[Far Sight Lost]]'' was sent ahead to scout the environs but was quickly engaged and destroyed by Sentinels. Another scout, ''[[Absolution]]'', was ordered to perform a precision [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] jump to the northern polar areas of Onyx, but the Sentinels followed it through Slipspace and the ''Absolution'' was destroyed upon exiting Slipspace.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 280-283''</ref> However, sufficient information had been gathered and 'Mantakree ordered his ground troops, including [[Sangheili]] from the [[E'Toro Warrior Crèche|E’Toro]], [[R'Lan Warrior Crèche|R’Lan]] and [[N'Noro Warrior Crèche|N’Nono]] warrior crèches, to converge on Zone 67.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 350''</ref>

===Patterson's battlegroup arrives===
Shortly after 'Mantakree had engaged the Sentinels, the {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} arrived by Slipspace from [[Earth]], having utilized the ''Bloodied Spirit''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Slipstream space#Slipspace wake|slipspace wake]]. The prowler provided advanced intelligence for a [[Patterson's battle group|battlegroup]] under the command of [[Admiral]] [[Carl Patterson]] that arrived shortly thereafter. Intending to catch the enemy off guard, the UNSC force homed in on a group of Covenant destroyers and destroyed all but one destroyer. The {{UNSCShip|Glasgow Kiss}} was sacrificed to preserve the {{UNSCShip|Stalingrad}} from plasma fire from the lone destroyer. The ''Glasgow Kiss'' intercepted three of the four lances of fire and launched 12 escape pods before it was destroyed.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 294''</ref>

Despite taking multiple hits, the Covenant destroyer fled to the other side of Onyx, leading the UNSC force into a trap of twenty additional Covenant warships. Several more Covenant destroyers were eliminated, but the launch of a massive plasma volley forced the UNSC ships to accelerate into the attack and close the distance to forestall a second volley. Only five UNSC ships survived the charge, of which one, the {{UNSCShip|Iwo Jima}}, was destroyed when she detonated a [[nuclear weapon]] and her [[Fusion drive|engine]], destroying a further two Covenant warships and damaging six more in the ensuing explosion.<ref name="g298">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 298''</ref>

Defeated once more, the remaining Covenant ships withdrew again to the opposite side of the planet but were there attacked by Sentinels who used plasma capture to destroy yet another three destroyers. Realizing their peril, the Covenant ships began to withdraw from Onyx's gravity well. Two ships were used as a rearguard and one was destroyed. 16 ships escaped in all.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 299-300''</ref>

The intervention of the Sentinels allowed the UNSC ships time to regroup around Onyx's [[XF-063 IV-1|moon]]. There ''Dusk'' laid a minefield of 14 [[HORNET Mine|HORNETs]], each rating at thirty-megatons with vacuum-enhanced loads. The UNSC warships then opened fire from behind the moon, hitting some of the enemy but causing negligible damage, but drawing the Covenant's attention. As the Covenant closed to engage and entered the field the HORNETs were detonated, destroying all but four of the remaining Covenant warships. Two of these were immediately set upon by the UNSC and destroyed. The remaining two whipped around the moon and as battle was about to be joined again, a [[Covenant fleet]] of 32 ships arrived from slipspace. Patterson's battle group was completely destroyed, except for ''Dusk'', in the one-sided engagement that followed. The UNSC battle group amazingly destroyed a total of 20 Covenant ships throughout the battle before being totally annihilated by the arrival of the new Covenant fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 332-333''</ref>

===Retreat to the shield world===
While the UNSC and Covenant fleets traded space-borne crossfire whilst in orbit, in the Forerunner city [[Kurt-051]]'s group of survivors was engaged by Covenant troops led personally by Voro Nar 'Mantakree. The SPARTAN-IIs and IIIs held off the enemy advance while Halsey, aided by [[Kelly-087]] and [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]], configured Onyx's [[teleportation grid]], their means of escape. [[Dante-G188]] was killed rescuing [[Frederic-104]] from plasma and [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] fire. Once the teleportation grid was functioning, the humans moved to the [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] near the north pole in the aim of destroying it. At the advice of AI [[Endless Summer]], this would save Admiral Patterson's battle group. Halsey identified three key structures in the facility and they were destroyed by tricking Sentinels into firing on them.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 313-324''</ref> Moving on, Kurt-051's group came upon [[Team Katana]] trapped in [[slipspace field pod]]s. Unable to free the prisoners, the [[human]]s were forced to bring the sarcophagi with them as they traveled to the [[core room antechamber]] where they prepared a stand against pursuing Covenant troops.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 346-348''</ref>

While two [[legion]]s of [[Unggoy]] attacked [[Lieutenant Commander]] Kurt-051 and his forces atop the stepped structure, the remainder of the attackers set up [[stationary shield generator]]s and placed three groups of thirty Sangheili and one [[Mgalekgolo]] pair behind each shield. From this jump-off point, the Sangheili formed a wall using [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet]]s and began to advance through grenade and sniper fire. When the Covenant reached the first step, redeployed [[Lotus Anti-Tank Mine|Lotus mines]] killed several Sangheili and dazed Mgalekgolo. One Mgalekgolo was dispatched by Kurt-051 before they could recover. Kelly-087 engaged and killed three [[type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]]-wielding Sangheili and was then flanked by two more Mgalekgolo but was saved by [[Holly-G003]], who was killed in the effort.<ref name="goo360">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 360-362''</ref>

The Spartans piled onto the two Mgalekgolo. Kurt-051 was wounded. Will-043 killed one Mgalekgolo, that had been shot by Linda-058, in hand-to-hand combat but was in turn shot and killed by the second. The last Mgalekgolo was killed by Fred-104 with a [[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|Jackhammer]] missile mainly for efficiency reasons, as it could take down a Mgalekgolo with one hit.{{Ref/Reuse|goo360}}

[[File:HM-Onyx.png|150px|right|thumb|Onyx disintegrating into trillions of sentinels.]]
However, the main Covenant assault with hundreds of Sangheili, [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]] and Unggoy, was yet to come. Realizing it was futile for his diminished force to resist further, Kurt-051 ordered the survivors into the shield world while opting to remain behind to prevent the Covenant from reopening the portal. 'Mantakree ordered his troops to not fire upon the center of the chamber, while sending in Huragok with [[slipspace field shunt]]s to reopen the portal. With 'Mantakree approaching to finish off the wounded Spartan personally, Kurt-051 detonated two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead|FENRIS warheads]], killing himself and the entire enemy force in the antechamber as well as triggering the Sentinels of Onyx to "erupt" through the surface of the planet. With the portal closed, his comrades who had escaped into shield world were trapped, but unharmed.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 372''</ref>

===Destruction of Onyx===
With the shield world closed and gated, Onyx disintegrated into its trillions of component Forerunner Sentinels. The Covenant fleet, so recently victorious against the humans, were finally obliterated by the swarm of vigilant constructs. Only the {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} managed to escape alive and intact.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 48''</ref>

==Aftermath==
===Legacy===
{{Main|Onyx United Research Project|Second Onyx conflict}}

{{Expand-section}}

==Participants==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===UNSC===
===Naval assets===
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Tactical grouping
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Battle Group Omicron]]
|{{Class|Sahara|heavy prowler}}
|{{UNSCShip|Dusk}}
|Survived
|-
|[[UNSC carrier]]
|{{UNSCShip|Stalingrad}}
|Destroyed
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[UNSC destroyer]]
|{{UNSCShip|Brasidas}}
|Destroyed
|-
|{{UNSCShip|Glasgow Kiss}}
|Destroyed
|-
|{{UNSCShip|Iwo Jima}}
|Destroyed
|-
| rowspan="3" |Unknown
|[[UNSC frigate]]
|{{UNSCShip|Agincourt}}
|Destroyed
|-
|{{Class|CPV|heavy destroyer}}
|''[[Bloodied Spirit]]''
|Destroyed
|-
|Other
|[[Beatrice]]
|Crash landed
|}

====Personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="19" |[[UNSC Navy]]
|[[Admiral]]
|[[Carl Patterson]]
|KIA
|-
|[[Commander]]
|[[Richard Lash]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Lieutenant Commander]]
|[[Julian Waters]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Xaing Cho]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Kurt-051]]
|KIA, likely listed MIA
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Lieutenant]]
|[[Bethany Durruno]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Joe Yang]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Petty Officer Second Class]]
|[[William-043]]
|KIA, likely listed MIA
|-
|[[Linda-058]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Kelly-087]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Lucy-B091]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Tom-B292]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Senior Chief Petty Officer]]
|[[Frederic-104]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Franklin Mendez]]
|Survived
|-
| rowspan="5" |Unknown
|[[Holly-G003]]
|KIA, likely listed MIA
|-
|[[Ash-G099]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Dante-G188]]
|KIA, likely listed MIA
|-
|[[Olivia-G291]]
|Survived
|-
|[[Mark-G313]]
|Survived
|}
===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[UNSC Navy]]
**[[Blue Team]]
**[[Team Saber]]
**[[Team Gladius]]
**[[Team Katana]]
====Naval forces====
*[[Battle Group Omicron]]
===Artificial intelligence===
{{Main|Artificial intelligence}}
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Endless Summer]]
|Unknown
|-
|[[Jerrod]]
|Survived
|}

===Civilians===
====People====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]]
|Survived
|}
{{col-2}}

===Joyous Exultation Covenant===
===Naval assets===
====Starships====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Tactical grouping
! Class
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
|[[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]]
|{{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}
|''[[Incorruptible]]''
|Destroyed
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Covenant Destroyer]]
|''[[Absolution]]''
|Destroyed
|-
|''[[Far Sight Lost]]''
|Destroyed
|}

====Personnel====
{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
! Branch
! Rank
! Name
! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->
|-
| rowspan="7" |Unknown
|[[Fleetmaster]]
|[[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]
|KIA
|-
|[[Shipmaster]]
|[[Qunu]]
|KIA
|-
| rowspan="5" |Unknown
|[[Uruo 'Losonaee]]
|Unknown
|-
|[[Zasses 'Jeqkogoee]]
|Unknown
|-
|[[Y'gar 'Pewtrunoee]]
|Unknown
|-
|[[Paruto Xida Konna]]
|KIA
|-
|[[Waruna Xida Yotno]]
|KIA
|}

===Units===
====Ground forces====
*[[E'Toro Warrior Crèche]]
*[[R'Lan Warrior Crèche]]
*[[N'Nono Warrior Crèche]]
====Naval forces====
*[[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]]
*[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]

{{col-end}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Onyx]]
[[Category:Onyx|Conflict]]