35,264
edits
Reach: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|daylength = 27 hours<ref name="bnet"/> | |daylength = 27 hours<ref name="bnet"/> | ||
|yearlength = 390 days (local)<ref name="bnet"/> | |yearlength = 390 days (local)<ref name="bnet"/> | ||
|atmosphere = | |atmosphere = 1 ([[oxygen]]-[[nitrogen]])<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 151''</ref> | ||
| | |temperature = -26°C to 42°C (-15°F to 108°F)<ref name="vis"/> | ||
|population = 703,341,500<ref name="bnet"/> | |population = 703,341,500<ref name="bnet"/> | ||
|species = [[Human]] (non-native), [[moa]], [[gúta]] | |species = [[Human]] (non-native), [[moa]], [[gúta]] | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
For a young planet with an age of less than one billion years, compared to Earth's 4.6 billion year existence, Reach is remarkably geologically stable.<ref name="bnet"/> Reach is larger than Earth, having a diameter of 15,273 kilometers, compared to the 12,756 kilometers diameter of Earth.<ref name="comparison">[http://twitpic.com/1f46ee '''Twitpic''': ''Earth and Reach comparison'']</ref> Reach was originally inhospitable for human life, requiring some degree of [[terraforming]] before it could be colonized. Mostly a rugged and harsh wilderness filled with towering mountains, deserts and weather-beaten forests, Reach's surface is pockmarked with meteor impact craters, some of these forming large seas.<ref name="gi">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx '''GameInformer''': February Edition]</ref> It is also located near a small nebula, which has a visible effect on the planet and its moons, casting an "aura" similar to the Aurora Borealis, though this could be caused by a stronger magnetic field.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''' level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> | For a young planet with an age of less than one billion years, compared to Earth's 4.6 billion year existence, Reach is remarkably geologically stable.<ref name="bnet"/> Reach is larger than Earth, having a diameter of 15,273 kilometers, compared to the 12,756 kilometers diameter of Earth.<ref name="comparison">[http://twitpic.com/1f46ee '''Twitpic''': ''Earth and Reach comparison'']</ref> Reach was originally inhospitable for human life, requiring some degree of [[terraforming]] before it could be colonized. Mostly a rugged and harsh wilderness filled with towering mountains, deserts and weather-beaten forests, Reach's surface is pockmarked with meteor impact craters, some of these forming large seas.<ref name="gi">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx '''GameInformer''': February Edition]</ref> It is also located near a small nebula, which has a visible effect on the planet and its moons, casting an "aura" similar to the Aurora Borealis, though this could be caused by a stronger magnetic field.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''' level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> | ||
Many of the original settlers hailed from [[Europe|Eastern Europe]], particularly [[Wikipedia:Hungary|Hungary]], which is reflected in some of the place names on the planet. Many of the planet's inhabitants also spoke [[Hungarian]] as their first language.<ref> | Many of the original settlers hailed from [[Europe|Eastern Europe]], particularly [[Wikipedia:Hungary|Hungary]], which is reflected in some of the place names on the planet. Many of the planet's inhabitants also spoke [[Hungarian]] as their first language.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''' level ''[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]''</ref> Despite Reach's harsh nature, some settlers chose to live in small communities of homesteads, referred to as "[[kiva]]s",<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''', ''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|Legendary Edition]] Developer Commentary''</ref> in the wilderness instead of the major cities. Rounded and enclosed, they were comfortable but practical, shuttered against Reach's forceful climate and bunkered into hillsides. It also related their independent nature; powered by [[wind turbine]]s and hydroelectric plants, they were off the grid and self-sustaining.<ref name="EDGE">'''[http://www.edge-online.com/ EDGE Magazine, February 2010]'''</ref><ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''' level ''[[Powerhouse]]''</ref> | ||
Reach was the most important headquarters for the [[United Nations Space Command]] outside of Earth and the main supplier of military and civilian spacecraft, and the location of the UNSC's largest and most active shipyard. [[UNSC High Command|High Command]], [[FLEETCOM|Fleet Command]] and the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] maintained headquarters on Reach, as well as many primary [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] bases, which included the highly classified [[CASTLE Base]]. It was also where the UNSC's most elite troops, including the [[ODST]]s as well as the SPARTAN-IIs, were trained. Reach's purpose was not solely military however; the surface of the planet also featured farmland and civilian towns and districts.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''''', ''page 52''</ref> The largest cities on Reach were [[Manassas]], [[Quezon]] and [[ | Reach was the most important headquarters for the [[United Nations Space Command]] outside of Earth and the main supplier of military and civilian spacecraft, and the location of the UNSC's largest and most active shipyard. [[UNSC High Command|High Command]], [[FLEETCOM|Fleet Command]] and the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] maintained headquarters on Reach, as well as many primary [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] bases, which included the highly classified [[CASTLE Base]]. It was also where the UNSC's most elite troops, including the [[ODST]]s as well as the SPARTAN-IIs, were trained. Reach's purpose was not solely military however; the surface of the planet also featured farmland and civilian towns and districts.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''''', ''page 52''</ref> The largest cities on Reach were [[Manassas]], [[Quezon]], [[Ezhtergom]] and [[New Alexandria]].<ref name="vis"/> Reach had nine [[space elevator]]s,<ref name="vis"/> three of which were located near the city of [[New Alexandria]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria (level)|New Alexandria]]''</ref> | ||
Reach was the largest non-automated exporter of [[titanium]] within the human colonies.<ref name="bnet"/> Deposits of the element could be found in abundance on the planet, sometimes breaking the surface in the form of large spires. | Reach was the largest non-automated exporter of [[titanium]] within the human colonies.<ref name="bnet"/> Deposits of the element could be found in abundance on the planet, sometimes breaking the surface in the form of large spires.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', firefight map ''[[Unearthed]]''</ref> | ||
Before the Covenant invasion, Epsilon Eridani's superior [[interstellar jump point]] had been the most active [[Slipstream Space]] transfer zone (arrivals and departures) for over thirty years, with the system's inferior IJP and Sol's superior IJP regularly trading second and third place spots.<ref name="bnet"/> | Before the Covenant invasion, Epsilon Eridani's superior [[interstellar jump point]] had been the most active [[Slipstream Space]] transfer zone (arrivals and departures) for over thirty years, with the system's inferior IJP and Sol's superior IJP regularly trading second and third place spots.<ref name="bnet"/> | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===The Forerunners=== | ===The Forerunners=== | ||
The [[Forerunner]]s maintained a presence on Reach long before [[ | The [[Forerunner]]s maintained a presence on Reach long before [[human]] colonization. They built at least two complices; [[Menachite Forerunner complex|one]] beneath [[Menachite Mountain]], and [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|another]] beneath the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]]. Both of these were later discovered by the UNSC. | ||
===UNSC powerhouse=== | ===UNSC powerhouse=== | ||
[[File:BootCamp - Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach was one of many UNSC powerhouses.]] | [[File:BootCamp - Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach was one of many UNSC powerhouses.]] | ||
First planetary confirmations of Reach were in early 21st century.<ref name="bnet"/> Originally colonized in | First planetary confirmations of Reach were in early 21st century.<ref name="bnet"/> Originally colonized during humanity's first wave of extrasolar colonization in [[2362]]<ref name="vis"/> for its rich [[titanium]] deposits, Reach exported more of it than any other non-automated human world<ref name="bnet"/> and had mines throughout it running thousands of meters deep. ONI's secret [[CASTLE Base]] was located in one of these mines underneath [[Menachite Mountain]]. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] commandeered the mine after it breached a [[Menachite Forerunner Complex|secret complex]] beneath Reach's surface containing a [[Forerunner]] [[Forerunner Crystal|artifact]] that was highly desired by the Covenant. The fact that this artifact was so valuable to them is perhaps the main reason anyone survived the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]] at all, as the Covenant were afraid of destroying it. This facility was also the birthplace of the legendary [[SPARTAN-II Program]]. | ||
The SPARTAN-IIs were trained and housed on Reach. Fred-104 said Reach was their home and every SPARTAN-II would fight to the death to defend it.<ref>'''''[[Halo: First Strike]]''''', ''page ??''</ref> Reach may be more important to the SPARTANs than Earth, the home world of humanity. | The SPARTAN-IIs were trained and housed on Reach. Fred-104 said Reach was their home and every SPARTAN-II would fight to the death to defend it.<ref>'''''[[Halo: First Strike]]''''', ''page ??''</ref> Reach may be more important to the SPARTANs than Earth, the home world of humanity. | ||
Despite its position as the UNSC's largest naval base, strategic headquarters, and second-largest population center, the Epsilon Eridani system was wracked by [[Insurrectionist]] activity throughout the early 26th | Despite its position as the UNSC's largest naval base, strategic headquarters, and second-largest population center, the Epsilon Eridani system was wracked by [[Insurrectionist]] activity throughout the early 26th century. Reach's sister planet, [[Tribute]], was one of the fronts for the UNSC's anti-terrorist campaign, [[Operation: TREBUCHET]]. In [[2525]], mere months before the outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]], Reach was the site of a major terrorist bombing against the luxury liner ''[[National Holiday]]''. Two taxi-shuttles filled with explosives were crashed into the liner, causing the liner to plummet into the atmosphere, incinerating everyone on board.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''''', ''page 127''</ref> | ||
===The Fall of Reach=== | ===The Fall of Reach=== | ||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
{{main|Fall of Reach}} | {{main|Fall of Reach}} | ||
Reach fell during the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2552]]. | Reach fell to the Covenant during the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2552]]. An [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|advance strike force]] first arrived at the planet in late [[2552#July|July]], taking out a major [[Visegrád Relay|communications outpost]] and attacking several UNSC facilities over a span of several weeks. A significantly larger Covenant fleet arrived on [[2552#August|August 14]] and began to lay siege on several cities on the planet. The final battle for the planet was fought when a massive Covenant invasion fleet over 300 ships strong arrived in the morning of August 30.<ref name="vis"/> | ||
Meanwhile, the UNSC had a plan to end the war. A platoon of [[SPARTAN-II]]s would hijack a Covenant ship, head to the Covenant [[High Charity|home planet]], kidnap the [[Hierarchs|Covenant leadership]], and use them to broker a truce with the Covenant. The SPARTANs, aboard the {{UNSCship|Pillar of Autumn}} with Captain Keyes and his crew, were just about to leave for their mission on August 30 when the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was recalled to Reach to defend the planet against the massive Covenant attack. [[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]] ordered the majority of the Spartans to the planet's surface to protect the [[Orbital defense generator|generators]] for the [[orbital defense platform]]s while he and two other Spartans boarded [[Reach Station Gamma]] to secure an unprotected NAV database aboard the [[ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] ''[[UNSC Circumference|Circumference]]''. | |||
The battle was a disaster for the numerically-inferior UNSC fleet, despite the | The battle was a disaster for the numerically-inferior UNSC fleet, despite the orbital defense platforms. The Covenant glassed most of Reach with [[glassing|plasma bombardment]]. CASTLE base was destroyed after the planet's fall and the Covenant began searching for a [[Forerunner crystal]]. UNSC forces finally abandoned the planet during a [[Raid on Reach|small raid]] a few days later. | ||
===Revival and re- | ===Revival and re-terraforming=== | ||
By [[2589]], Reach had been terraformed and restored to a habitable state, and new human colonists were re-settling the planet.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''', campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref> | By [[2589]], Reach had been terraformed and restored to a habitable state, and new human colonists were re-settling the planet.<ref>'''''[[Halo: Reach]]''''', campaign level ''[[Lone Wolf]]''</ref> | ||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
[[File:Reach E310 Campaign10.jpg|thumb|A battle raging around ''Anchor 9'' and Reach's orbital shipyards.]] | [[File:Reach E310 Campaign10.jpg|thumb|A battle raging around ''Anchor 9'' and Reach's orbital shipyards.]] | ||
While Earth was rightly seen as the UNSC's commercial, political, and cultural center; Reach was undeniably the hub of its military power. The [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] was a full strength | While Earth was rightly seen as the UNSC's commercial, political, and cultural center; Reach was undeniably the hub of its military power. The [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] was a full strength [[battle group|carrier group]] with the [[UNSC supercarrier|supercarrier]] {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}} at its core.<ref name="bnet"/> | ||
A semi-mobile array of twenty orbital defense platforms (ODP), equipped with heavy [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC | A semi-mobile array of twenty orbital defense platforms (ODP), equipped with heavy [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC guns]] also known as "big sticks," orbit around Reach, some of which were in place as early as [[2527]]. The "big sticks" were defended by multiple wings of single ships and tactical multi-role craft. In addition, there were also about 100 to 150 warships stationed in the Epsilon Eridani system at any time. Reach also had a network of 18 [[refit station]]s orbiting it.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=29866 '''Bungie.net''': ''Noble Map Pack Quick Looks'']</ref> The ODPs were destroyed during the invasion of Reach, or were disabled by ground troops by destroying their power source. Despite their huge numbers, the [[fleet]] of warships was destroyed by a massive combined Covenant fleet. | ||
*Total Available Military Manpower: 385,421,100 | *Total Available Military Manpower: 385,421,100 | ||