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Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
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The '''Human-Covenant War''',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref> also known as the '''Covenant War'''<ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/headhunters-1/c3d2dcb3-ac3d-4771-a270-e55e33ae118b ''Headhunters'' Part 1], [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herocourage/c2ada678-e9ce-4db9-9ce9-1864070bd198 ''Hero - Courage'']</ref> and the '''Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''' (2010), ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant Empire]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict; them being the [[Flood]], and a small number of surviving Forerunner constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from [[Forerunner]] constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | The '''Human-Covenant War''',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref> also known as the '''Covenant War'''<ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/headhunters-1/c3d2dcb3-ac3d-4771-a270-e55e33ae118b ''Headhunters'' Part 1], [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herocourage/c2ada678-e9ce-4db9-9ce9-1864070bd198 ''Hero - Courage'']</ref> and the '''Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''' (2010), ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant Empire]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict; them being the [[Flood]], and a small number of surviving Forerunner constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from [[Forerunner]] constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | ||
The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, numbers, strategy and cleverer technology, | The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, numbers, strategy and cleverer technology, would repeatedly overpower humanity on hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]]. The humans would only win scattered and costly victories. | ||
The conflict was closely connected with, and the cause of, the [[Great Schism|Covenant Civil War]], both of which resulted in the final defeat of the Covenant Loyalists and [[Flood]]. The official cessation of hostilities occurred on March 3, 2553.<ref>[[Hillside Memorial]]</ref> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities and further heavy casualties during the Flood plague. The war ultimately lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | The conflict was closely connected with, and the cause of, the [[Great Schism|Covenant Civil War]], both of which resulted in the final defeat of the Covenant Loyalists and [[Flood]]. The official cessation of hostilities occurred on March 3, 2553.<ref>[[Hillside Memorial]]</ref> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities and further heavy casualties during the Flood plague. The war ultimately lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | ||
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===Continuing war (2536-2551)=== | ===Continuing war (2536-2551)=== | ||
[[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Humanity, heavily out-gunned, lost much ground to the Covenant.]] | [[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Humanity, heavily out-gunned, lost much ground to the Covenant.]] | ||
For fifteen years, the war continued in much the same way as before; costly victories on the ground for UNSC forces, but total Covenant space superiority. The UNSC managed to deal a heavy blow to the Covenant in 2537 with the destruction of the Covenant manufacturing plant [[K7-49]] in [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], and again during the [[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] in the same year. However, these victories were offset by the loss of [[New Constantinople]], the loss of its colonies at [[Leonis Minoris]], and the total destruction of the force of SPARTAN-IIIs sent to destroy the Covenant base. | For fifteen years, the war continued in much the same way as before; costly victories on the ground for UNSC forces (usually when Spartans were called in to help), but total Covenant space superiority. The UNSC managed to deal a heavy blow to the Covenant in 2537 with the destruction of the Covenant manufacturing plant [[K7-49]] in [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], and again during the [[Siege of the Atlas Moons]] in the same year. However, these victories were offset by the loss of [[New Constantinople]], the loss of its colonies at [[Leonis Minoris]], and the total destruction of the force of SPARTAN-IIIs sent to destroy the Covenant base. | ||
Throughout the 2540s, the UNSC was dealt ever greater blows with the death of the SPARTAN-II [[Sheila]] during the [[Battle of Miridem]] in 2544, followed by the [[Battle of Actium|defeat at Actium]] in [[2545]], defeat during the [[Second Battle of Arcadia]] and the [[Siege of Paris IV|loss of Paris IV]] in 2549. One of the UNSC's success was [[Operation: TORPEDO]] in 2545, and even then it was a Pyrrhic victory at best. | Throughout the 2540s, the UNSC was dealt ever greater blows with the death of the SPARTAN-II [[Sheila]] during the [[Battle of Miridem]] in 2544, followed by the [[Battle of Actium|defeat at Actium]] in [[2545]], defeat during the [[Second Battle of Arcadia]] and the [[Siege of Paris IV|loss of Paris IV]] in 2549. One of the UNSC's success was [[Operation: TORPEDO]] in 2545, and even then it was a Pyrrhic victory at best. | ||
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Of the few wins in the 2540's for the UNSC, one of the most significant and strategically advantageous was the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in 2543. This battle became colloquially known as Admiral Cole's last stand due to the presumed death of [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Admiral Preston J. Cole]]. In addition to the alleged death of Cole, over 300 [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] vessels, two fleets worth, were completely vaporized when [[UNSC]] [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear missiles]] detonated inside the atmosphere of [[Viperidae]], a super massive gas giant. This detonation spurred spontaneous fusion at the core of Viperidae, temporarily turning the super gas giant into a brown dwarf star. Cole's achievements in this battle alone were only rivaled by the [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE|destruction]] of the ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' and the actions of [[John-117|Spartan-117]] throughout the course of the war. A painting depicting the battle, titled "[[Admiral Cole's Last Stand]]" was created and by [[2552]], it hung on the wall of the [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] on [[Sydney]], Earth.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'', ''pages 472-485''</ref> | Of the few wins in the 2540's for the UNSC, one of the most significant and strategically advantageous was the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]] in 2543. This battle became colloquially known as Admiral Cole's last stand due to the presumed death of [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Admiral Preston J. Cole]]. In addition to the alleged death of Cole, over 300 [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] vessels, two fleets worth, were completely vaporized when [[UNSC]] [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear missiles]] detonated inside the atmosphere of [[Viperidae]], a super massive gas giant. This detonation spurred spontaneous fusion at the core of Viperidae, temporarily turning the super gas giant into a brown dwarf star. Cole's achievements in this battle alone were only rivaled by the [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE|destruction]] of the ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' and the actions of [[John-117|Spartan-117]] throughout the course of the war. A painting depicting the battle, titled "[[Admiral Cole's Last Stand]]" was created and by [[2552]], it hung on the wall of the [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] on [[Sydney]], Earth.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'', ''pages 472-485''</ref> | ||
But while the Covenant were winning the war, there was growing tension between the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Sangheili]]. At first, the Sangheili had followed the Prophets command to destroy the humans without question. But after more than twenty five years of war, humanity's continued resistance in the face of certain death had deeply impressed the martial Sangheili. There was a growing consensus among the Sangheili that the humans had earned the right to be offered membership in the Covenant, which the Prophets continued to reject. At the same time, the [[Jiralhanae]], the one race which could challenge the Sangheili's dominance of the Covenant military, were rapidly earning favor with the Prophets, as they were less-inclined to question orders.<ref>'''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'''</ref> | But while the Covenant were winning the war, there was growing tension between the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Sangheili]]. At first, the Sangheili had followed the Prophets command to destroy the humans without question. But after more than twenty five years of war, humanity's continued resistance in the face of certain death had deeply impressed the martial Sangheili. There was a growing consensus among the Sangheili that the humans had earned the right to be offered membership in the Covenant, which the Prophets continued to reject. At the same time, the [[Jiralhanae]], the one race which could challenge the Sangheili's dominance of the Covenant military, were rapidly earning favor with the Prophets, as they were less-inclined to question orders and just get on with whatever the Prophets told them to do.<ref>'''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'''</ref> | ||
Towards what appeared to be the obvious end of the war by 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence was resigned to the fact that humanity may only have months left before the Covenant destroyed the remaining Inner Colonies and moved on against Earth. To try and buy time, HIGHCOM ordered all available SPARTAN-IIs to return to Reach and leave on [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a mission to locate the Covenant homeworld and capture a Prophet to force the Covenant into a cease-fire.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> | Towards what appeared to be the obvious end of the war by 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence was resigned to the fact that humanity may only have months left before the Covenant destroyed the remaining Inner Colonies and moved on against Earth. To try and buy time, HIGHCOM ordered all available SPARTAN-IIs to return to Reach and leave on [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a mission to locate the Covenant homeworld and capture a Prophet to force the Covenant into a cease-fire.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page ??''</ref> | ||
===The final year (2552)=== | ===The final year (2552)=== | ||
The last year of the war saw humanity's largest defeat since the war's beginning, but also saw several of their greatest victories, coupled with the destruction of the Covenant as a galactic power. On [[Sigma Octanus IV]], the Covenant were [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|defeated]]. On the ground, the SPARTAN-IIs secured a Forerunner [[Sigma Octanus IV Artifact|artifact]] covered in symbols that the Covenant tried to transport out of [[Cote d'Azur | The last year of the war saw humanity's largest defeat since the war's beginning, but also saw several of their greatest victories, coupled with the destruction of the Covenant as a galactic power. On [[Sigma Octanus IV]], the Covenant were [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|defeated]], though at the cost of not only heavy UNSC casualties but also the Covenant attaching a spy probe to the destroyer Iroquois leading the Covenant to Reach, which they attacked a few days later. On the ground, the SPARTAN-IIs secured a Forerunner [[Sigma Octanus IV Artifact|artifact]] covered in symbols that the Covenant tried to transport out of [[Cote d'Azur]]. | ||
The [[Fall of Reach]] that followed had staggering losses for both sides, but | The [[Fall of Reach]] that followed had staggering losses for both sides, but in the end the Covenant won a pyrrhic victory. The ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]'' was among the surviving UNSC ships which fled the battle, and made a somewhat blind jump, as described by Cortana saying that she realized that the symbols on the retrieved artifact from Sigma Octanus IV were in fact very old star charts and were coordinates to the Forerunner ring world of [[Halo Array|Halo]], being chased by a dozen Covenant warships. | ||
===The tide turns (2552-2553)=== | ===The tide turns (2552-2553)=== | ||