Editing 2552

{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
{{Infobox/Timeline/CE
|image=File:H3 CitadelBattle.jpg|300px
|caption=The Covenant's final stand during the [[Battle of the Citadel|last battle]] of the war.
|other=
}}
'''2552''' was a year in the 2550s in the 26th century. It was the ultimate year of the [[Human-Covenant War]], during which the [[human]]s of the [[United Nations Space Command]] nearly saw utter defeat and extinction, though the tide turned, and with significant help from the [[Sangheili]], they managed to win the war. The [[Covenant]] were at the peak of their power and reach in 2552, with [[Siege of the Inner Colonies|major assaults on the human]] [[Inner Colonies]] and an invasion followed by a [[Battle of Earth|prolonged engagement]] on their home [[planet]], [[Earth]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2CS|H2|H2:Cairo Station|Cairo Station}}{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Chapter=??}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H3TS|H3|H3:The Storm|The Storm}} During the [[Battle of Installation 04|battle]] at [[Installation 04]], the galaxy found its first large outbreak of the [[Flood]] threat in over a hundred thousand years.{{Ref/Level|Id=CE343GS|CE|CE:343 Guilty Spark|343 Guilty Spark}}{{Ref/Level|Id=CETL|CE|CE:The Library|The Library}} Over one month later, an even larger outbreak occurred at [[Installation 05]].{{Ref/Level|Id=H2SI|H2|H2:Sacred Icon|Sacred Icon}}

The war finally drew to a close at [[Installation 00]], known more commonly as the Ark, with the humans and Sangheili attempting to kill the High [[Prophet of Truth]], before he could activate the remaining Halo installations.{{Ref/Level|Id=H3TA|H3|H3:The Ark|The Ark}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H3TC|H3|H3:The Covenant|The Covenant}} The alliance was successful in their mission against the Covenant and ended the 27 year long war.

==Events==
===Before June===
*The [[Battle of Beta Eridani]] takes place when the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] invades the system. The UNSC is defeated and [[Rho 'Barutamee]] takes control of several Forerunner artifacts that lead him to [[Epsilon Eridani system|another system]].

===January===
'''January 8'''
*A team of [[ODST]]'s (Including [[Kojo Agu]] and [[Taylor H. Miles]]) descend onto [[Ariel]] (a small science colony) in response to a distress call on the planet in [[Operation: FIRESIDE]].{{Ref/Comic|HHj|Issue=1}}

===February===
'''February'''
*[[Insurrectionist]]s on [[Harmony]] disable the planet's primary [[communications relay]] and steal two drydocked [[freighter]]s.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRNAct|HR|Reach:Noble Actual|Noble Actual}}

===March===
'''March 9'''
*An entry is recorded in a UNSC Archive regarding a UNSC Excavation site headed by [[BXR Mining Corporation]] being bombarded by the Covenant. The miners managing to get the ore being mined to the surface before the mine totally collapsed.{{Ref/Marketing|Id=Lightbringers|HINF|Become|Lightbringers}}

===April===
'''April 22'''
*[[Battle of Fumirole]]: [[Noble Team]] member [[Thom-A293]] destroys a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} but kills himself in the process, and [[Catherine-B320]] loses her arm. She subsequently receives a [[artificial limb|robotic prosthetic]].{{Ref/Site|Id=bungie|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=personnel&cid=24525|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo: Reach - Intel - Kat-B320 Profile|D=13|M=10|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Noble Team performance reports}}
'''Unknown Date'''
*The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} finishes construction.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR16|TFoR|Chapter=16}}

===May===
'''May 10'''
*[[SPARTAN-B312]] takes part in a [[Mamore insurrections#2552|counter-insurgency operation]] on [[Mamore]]. The Spartan's skills as a [[FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] pilot are exhibited during the op, prompting [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] to have him transferred to Noble Team.{{Ref/Game|HR|Halo: Reach manual|Game manual}}

'''May 14 through May 19'''
*UNSC forces in the [[Earth Defense Coordination Zone]] are placed at maximum readiness levels and all warships with [[MAC|magnetic accelerator cannon]]s are self-deployed or towed to rally points. ''[[Cairo Station]]'' is established as flag headquarters.{{Ref/Reuse|lootcrate2}}

'''May 15'''
*[[Kalmiya]] informs Dr. Halsey about several documents she watched in Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth]]'s Beta-5 server which ranges from service order transfers of existing Spartan-IIs to highly classified non-Spartan-II detachments.{{Ref/Book|Id=DHD051552|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Section=May 15, 2552}}

'''May 24'''
*[[Smart AI]] [[Gabriela]] is activated.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P108|Enc22|Page=108}}

===July===
'''Unknown date'''
*The [[Battle of New Jerusalem]] takes place sometime this month or the [[2552#August|next]].{{Ref/Anthology|Id=Dirt|Evo|Story=Dirt}} The [[26th Marine Expeditionary Force]] is nearly wiped out, leaving [[Private First Class]] [[Jonathan Doherty]] as one of the few survivors.{{Ref/Site|Id=bungie.net|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 ODST : Field Guide|D=25|M=05|Y=2013|LocalArchive=Archive:Bungie.net/Halo 3: ODST: Field Guide#Personnel}}  

'''After July 5'''
*[[Gabriel Thorne]] single-handedly saves his entire platoon in the Battle of Criterion.{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=??}}

'''July 17'''
*The Slipspace monitoring probes from [[Remote scanning outpost|Remote Scanning Station]] ''[[Archimedes]]'' at the edge of the [[Sigma Octanus system]] encounter the [[Covenant]] ships sent to attack [[Sigma Octanus IV]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR15|TFoR|Chapter=15}}
*The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} is tasked with patrolling the Sigma Octanus star system.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR16}}
*The [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] begins.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR16}}

'''July 18'''
*The UNSC win a victory during the battle at Sigma Octanus IV. [[Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]], of the {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}, plays a critical role in this success when he devises the [[Keyes Loop]] maneuver.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR17|TFoR|Chapter=17}} Keyes is subsequently promoted to [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] by [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR18|TFoR|Chapter=18}} Unknown to the UNSC, the Covenant place a [[relay mite|tracker]] on the hull of the ''Iroquois''. The importance of [[Reach]] to the UNSC is revealed to the Covenant when the ''Iroquois'' returns to that world. {{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR23|TFoR|Chapter=23}}
*Vice Admiral Stanforth messages the director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, [[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Margaret Parangosky]], with information on the battle at Sigma Octanus IV, as well as the ongoing progress of [[Operation: BRAVADO]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com:80/en-us/news/headline/office-of-naval-intelligencesection-3-data-drop-two/240733|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Office of Naval Intelligence//Section 3 - Data Drop Two|D=16|M=09|Y=2011|LocalArchive=Data Drop}}

'''July 23'''
*The Covenant deploy the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] to sever Reach's out-system communications and search for Forerunner artifacts. This is the first stage of the Covenant's [[Fall of Reach|invasion of the planet]].{{Ref/Site|Id=Rho|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rho-barutamee|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Rho Barutamee|D=08|M=11|Y=2020}}
*Noble Team finds and stops a pair of Insurrectionist SCI combatants attempting to hijack a supply transport.{{Ref/Reuse|HRNAct}}
*Fireteam [[3 Charlie]], along with other special warfare fireteams under command of Colonel Holland, are sent to investigate the areas around [[Longhorn Valley]] and [[Visegrád]] after contact with the [[Visegrád Relay|comms relay]] in Visegrád is lost.{{Ref/Reuse|HRNAct}}{{Ref/Marketing|Id=patrol|HR|Remember Reach|Patrol}}

'''July 24'''
*Two months after the death of Thom-A293, SPARTAN-B312 joins Noble Team as Noble Six.
*Noble Team is sent by Colonel Holland on a mission to investigate the downed Visegrád Relay.{{Ref/Reuse|HRNAct}}
*Noble Team discovers the Covenant's presence on Reach for the first time at Visegrád Relay. Planetary directive [[WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)|WINTER CONTINGENCY]] is declared.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRWC|HR|Reach:Winter Contingency|Winter Contingency}}

'''July 26'''
*[[SWORD Base]], an ONI research facility on Reach, comes under attack by an {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. The [[UNSC Army]] with the help of Noble Team successfully repel the attack and the corvette is destroyed by orbital support.{{Ref/Level|Id=HROSB|HR|Reach:ONI Sword Base|ONI Sword Base}}

===August===
'''Unknown date'''
*After discovering Reach, the Covenant move on to glass the other planets in the system, including [[Tribute]], resulting in the prolonged [[Battle for Tribute]].{{Ref/Game|Id=HOD|Halo: Outpost Discovery|Hall of History|Detail=MA5D assault rifle exhibit}}
*During the Battle of Tribute, [[SPARTAN-II]] [[Black Team]] is sent to [[Verge]] to destroy a Covenant [[Beacon]] supplying [[Helium|helium-3]] to the ships laying siege on Tribute. The team successfully destroys the beacon.{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|Story=Blunt Instruments}}
*After the mission on Verge, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Alexander Reaves]] assigns Black Team to [[Operation: BLOWBACK]], a covert mission in Covenant-occupied space. [[UNSC Long Time Coming|Their ship]], as well as a [[Clarity of Faith|Covenant carrier]], crash-land on an [[Unnamed Moon|unknown moon]], igniting the [[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HBL1|HBL|Issue=1}}
*[[Margaret-053]] is captured by [[Forerunner]] [[Gatherer]]s. Black Team and the Covenant forces on the moon enter into a reluctant alliance to rescue the Spartan.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HBL2|HBL|Issue=2}}
*Fireteam Black encounters the Forerunner monitor [[686 Ebullient Prism]] en route to rescuing Margaret-053. The monitor briefly causes rifts between the team to prevent them from rescuing their comrade. Margaret, however, escapes anyway, aided by [[Reff 'Talamee]], and the rest of Team Black stop fighting amongst themselves.{{Ref/Reuse|HBL2}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HBL3|HBL|Issue=3}}
*Black Team manages to enter the control room of Line Installation 1–4, eventually destroying 686 Ebullient Prism with the installation's main gun; they also succeed in destroying the entire Covenant fleet.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HBL5|HBL|Issue=5}}
*[[Beta Gabriel]] is captured by a pack of [[Jiralhanae]] under the command of [[Chieftain]] [[Parabum]]. A majority of the sparse human population is either taken prisoner or killed, including ONI agent [[Connor Brien]], who had been sent on a mission to study the Brutes. A recon force of [[ODST]]s are sent in to neutralize the Brutes, and are successful in doing so.{{Ref/Anthology|id=evo|Evo|Story=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss}}
*The [[Battle of New Jerusalem]] takes place sometime this month or the [[2552#July|previous]].{{Ref/Reuse|Dirt}} The [[26th Marine Expeditionary Force]] is nearly wiped out, leaving [[the Rookie]] as one of the few survivors.{{Ref/Reuse|bungie.net}}  
* The [[Raid on Mount Haven]] takes place.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rookie|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Rookie|D=25|M=4|Y=2021}} The {{UNSCShip|Chares}} deploys ODSTs in a snatch-and-grab mission to secure the transport of a Forerunner artifact, but after a chain of events involving a group of rogue ODSTs attempting to steal [[gold]] from a bank vault, [[Gage Yevgenny|a wounded ODST]] manages to halt their operations with a [[Shiva]] nuclear warhead. Eventually, the surviving civilians and UNSC forces fall back to Earth, having been informed Reach was just attacked.{{Ref/Reuse|Dirt}}

'''August 1'''
*'''0250 Hours:''' Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth and half of [[Battle Group Leviathan]] return to Epsilon Eridani system. In a message send to Parangosky, Stanforth expresses his concerns about sacrificing Reach for the sake of Operation: RED FLAG.{{Ref/Generic|Id=DD4|[[Data Drop]]|Subheading=[[Data Drop/DDR4|DDR4]]|Detail=[[:File:DDR-A340021-0250-08-01-52.pdf|DDR-A340021-0250-08-01-52.pdf]]}}

'''August 3'''
*Dr. Halsey decides to split Cortana in two halves, with her IEP translation routines analyzing the Forerunner structure under SWORD Base and the other half continuing with John and Blue Team in preparation for Operation: RED FLAG.{{Ref/Game|Id=journal|HR|Dr. Halsey's personal journal}}

'''August 5'''
*Cortana's split is a success.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

'''Early August (sometime from the 6th to the 12th)'''
*The {{UNSCShip|Apocalypso}} crashes in lunar orbit, a [[slipspace anomaly]] knocking out communications within the Solar System for [[seven]] seconds.

'''August 11'''
*SPARTAN-B312 and Jun-A266 engage in a recon mission on Covenant forces in the colloquially named "Dark Zone", a Covenant-occupied region in the Viery Territory. The two Spartans discover a Covenant invasion force and a landing zone. Kat-B320 receives the visual and tells them to retreat so they will be prepared for the next day.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRN|HR|Reach:Nightfall|Nightfall}}

'''August 12'''
*Battle Group Leviathan and the ''Iroquois'' arrives at Reach for emergency refit and repairs.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}} While the battle group was being repaired, Stanforth and Keyes arrived at [[Camp Hathcock]] in the [[Highland Mountains]] on Reach for debriefing. Shortly after, they returned to their respective vessels within the battle group.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR24|TFoR|Chapter=24}}
*Around this time, Stanforth engages a small group from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] dispatched to retrieve a [[Site 17 artifact|Forerunner artifact]] from ONI's [[Teller Station]] in the Epsilon Eridani [[Oort cloud]]; though he sends reinforcements to successfully cover the station's evacuation, he loses irreplaceable personnel and ships in the process.{{Ref/Tabletop|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Four: Run!}}{{Ref/Tabletop|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Five: Into The Fire}}
*Halsey reviews the upgrades to the new MJOLNIR Mark V.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}
*[[John-117]] and [[Harland|Corporal Harland]] are debriefed by [[ONI]] at [[Camp Hathcock]], Reach, on the events on [[Côte d'Azur]] during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR24}}
*[[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]]: UNSC forces assault an amassing Covenant invasion force in the [[Viery Territory]] on Reach, managing to destroy two [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|AA plasma cannons]] and a [[Spire One|Covenant spire]]. However, the cloaked [[Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier|supercarrier]] ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' reveals itself and destroys the frigate {{UNSCShip|Grafton}}, which had been providing air support.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRTOTS|HR|Reach:Tip of the Spear|Tip of the Spear}}

'''August 13'''
*60% of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] is recalled to Reach, destined to arrive within the next 48 hours.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRLNOS|HR|Reach:Long Night of Solace|Long Night of Solace}}

'''August 14'''
*[[Operation: UPPER CUT]] and [[Operation: LEFT JAB]] are initiated, as Noble Team retakes the [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range]] at [[Farkas Lake]] and joins the battle in orbit, eventually capturing the Covenant corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' and using it to deliver the {{UNSCShip|Savannah}}'s [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], used as a makeshift bomb, to the ''Long Night of Solace'' . The ''Solace ''is destroyed at the cost of [[Jorge-052]], who sacrifices himself to detonate the drive manually. Moments after the carrier's destruction, a large Covenant fleet sent by the [[Ministry of Resolution]] enters in-system.{{Ref/Reuse|HRLNOS}}
*Following the destruction of the ''Solace'', [[Kantar 'Utaralee]], now acting [[fleetmaster]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]], leads what little ships he has left in a last-ditch effort to recover Teller Station's [[Site 17 artifact|artifact]], now residing in a UNSC [[space station]] orbiting the [[moon]] of [[Turul]].{{Ref/Tabletop|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu}}

'''August 17'''
*[[Smart AI]] [[Black-Box]] is created from [[Graham Alban|a human brain]] donor to be the personal AI companion for Admiral Margaret Parangosky and activated on [[Mars]].{{Ref/Site|Id=HWPBB|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/blackbox|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Black-Box|D=27|M=10|Y=2015}}
{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P109|Enc22|Page=109}}

'''August 18'''
*The [[Siege of New Alexandria]] begins as the Covenant lay siege to the [[city]] of [[New Alexandria]].{{Ref/Level|Id=HRE|HR|Reach:Exodus|Exodus}}

'''August 23'''
*Noble Six arrives in New Alexandria and helps evacuate civilians from the city. He also manages to severely damage one of the corvettes laying siege to the city by use of an AA missile battery. Noble Six eventually meets up with the rest of Noble Team, and the Covenant begin glassing the city. As Noble Team is on their way to a fallout shelter under the [[Olympic Tower]], Kat-B320 is killed by sniper fire.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRNA|HR|Reach:New Alexandria|New Alexandria}}

'''August 24'''
*Dr. Halsey examines the rock recovered by Blue Team during Operation: OCEAN BREAKER on Sigma Octanus IV.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

'''August 25'''
*Dr. Halsey and [[Cortana]] choose the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, with Jacob Keyes as its commander, for a secret mission Halsey is planning.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR25|TFoR|Chapter=25}}

'''August 26'''
*The remainder of Noble Team is evacuated from the destroyed New Alexandria via a Pelican.{{Ref/Reuse|HRNA}}

'''August 27'''
*All available SPARTAN-IIs gather at the [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|FLEETCOM Military Complex]] on Reach, where they learn of their [[Operation: RED FLAG|next mission]]: to acquire a Covenant vessel, navigate to the Covenant home world, and return with captured Covenant [[Hierarchs|leadership]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR26|TFoR|Chapter=26}}

'''August 29'''
*John-117 receives a [[SPARTAN neural interface|neural interface]] upgrade, the second generation of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|MJOLNIR Mark V armor]], and is introduced to Cortana.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR27|TFoR|Chapter=27}}
*Noble Team is ordered to destroy Sword Base in a torch-and-burn op. During the operation, Noble Team makes their way inside Sword Base where they encounter Dr. Halsey, who asks them to protect her lab. Noble Team is then given direct orders to escort a fragment of Cortana holding crucial data from the [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex]] to the ''Pillar of Autumn''.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRTP|HR|Reach:The Package|The Package}} Halsey is then escorted back to CASTLE base by [[Jun-A266]].{{Ref/Level|Id=HRTPOA|HR|Reach:The Pillar of Autumn|The Pillar of Autumn}}

'''August 30'''
[[File:Fall of Reach 1.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Fall of Reach|Reach falls]] to the Covenant.]]
*Cortana has ONI [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]] illicitly transferred to the front. This is her revenge for his attempts to eliminate both her and John-117.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR28|TFoR|Chapter=28}}
*Most of [[Charlie Company]] is killed during the Fall of Reach.
*The Covenant, despite sustaining heavy losses, wins a crushing victory at the Fall of Reach. Many of the remaining SPARTAN-IIs are either killed or stranded with no escape.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR34|TFoR|Chapter=34}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR35|TFoR|Chapter=35}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR36|TFoR|Chapter=36}}
*The surviving [[SPARTAN-IIs]] on Reach are separated into two groups. One recovers [[Danforth Whitcomb|Vice Admiral Whitcomb]] and goes into hiding at [[Camp Independence]]. The others are admitted into [[CASTLE Base]] by Dr. Halsey and receive parts of the [[MJOLNIR]] Mark V upgrade and new weapons.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS12|FS|Chapter=12}}
*Dr. Halsey learns of [[Colonel Ackerson]]'s [[SPARTAN-III program|mysterious plans]] that seem to involve "her" [[Spartans]].
*The three surviving members of [[Noble Team]] arrive at Asźod; [[Carter-A259]]'s Pelican becomes too badly damaged to continue carrying them all, so Noble Six and [[Emile-A239]] deploy to the ground.{{Ref/Reuse|HRTPOA}}
*[[Battle of Asźod]]: The Covenant forces throughout [[Asźod]] attempt to stop Noble Six and Emile from reaching the ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]'', going so far as to deploy [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarabs]] against them. Carter sacrifices himself when he steers his damaged Pelican into a Scarab, destroying it. Emile and Six proceed to push towards the [[Asźod ship breaking yards|ship breaking yards]] and rendezvous with the scant UNSC forces still attempting to defend the facility. After clearing most of the facility, Six, Emile, and several Trooper squads meet up with Captain Jacob Keyes, successfully delivering the fragment of Cortana. However, Emile is killed by a [[Sangheili Zealot]].{{Ref/Reuse|HRTPOA}}
*SPARTAN-B312 destroys a ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser with a [[15cm Mark/2488 1.1GJ MAC|mass driver]] to allow the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to escape Reach. The Spartan is killed by Sangheili soon after. The ''Autumn'' jumps away from the system, with Cortana using Forerunner navigation data from the [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact]] as well as the Babd Catha Forerunner complex.{{Ref/Reuse|HRTPOA}} He then begins his last stand, before dying on Reach.{{Ref/Level|Id=HRLW|HR|Reach:Lone Wolf|Lone Wolf}}

===September===
'''Unknown date'''
*The planet [[Coral]] is reported glassed by the Covenant.{{Ref/Audio|Id=8Kamal|ILB|Axon=8|Detail=Kamal: "Coral is Gone"}}

'''September 4'''
*[[Lieutenant Wagner]] returns to Earth and reports on the evident destruction of Reach to the [[UNSC Security Council]] ([[Colonel James Ackerson]], [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]], and [[Major General]] [[Nicolas Strauss]]) at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] in Sydney, [[Australia]].  Hood determines that the location of Earth is compromised and decides that all [[ONI]] theatres of operation must be relocated. The Security Council also begins planning for the final defense of Earth.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS11|FS|Chapter=11}}
*ONI launches an investigation of a [[SecNet]] conversation between [[Sergeant]]s [[Joseph M. Poteet]] (Username: TRIGTECH) and [[Alasdair R. Schicker]] (Username: GLancer) to discover whether they might have accidentally leaked the location of Reach to the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFORA|TFoR|Chapter=Adjunct}}

'''September 5'''
*[[UNSC]] fleet actions in the [[Reach Defense Coordination Zone]] conclude.{{Ref/Reuse|lootcrate2}}
*All remaining [[UNSC Navy|naval]] forces are consolidated into a single command grouping: the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]. 
*Fleet Admiral [[Joseph Harper]] of the [[Fifth Fleet]] is appointed senior flag officer of the Home Fleet and given primary administrative and tasking authority over all assets in the [[Sol system]] under emergency directives authorized by [[UNSC High Command]] and approved by the [[UEG Security Council]].{{Ref/Reuse|lootcrate2}}

'''September 14'''
*A new set of [[orbital defense platform]]s over Earth are scheduled to come online.{{Ref/Reuse|HFS11}}

'''September 18'''
*'''Around 2200 hours ship time''': Captain Keyes and other key crew wake up on the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, and check the status of the ship.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFORE|TFoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

'''September 19'''
*Captain Keyes and crew make it to the bridge of the ''Pillar of Autumn'' and ask Cortana to shut down all systems before returning to normal space. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' then leaves slipspace, and glides around [[Basis]] into [[Threshold]]'s orbit, at which point Cortana detects a radio echo in the shadow of Threshold.{{Ref/Reuse|CEPOA}}
*'''0103 hours ship time''': The ''Pillar of Autumn'' cryo team prepare to wake John-117 under orders from Captain Keyes. Meanwhile, the Covenant [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] prepare to attack the ''Pillar of Autumn''.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFP|TF|Chapter=Prologue}}
*The [[Battle of Installation 04]] begins.
*'''0120 hours ship time''': Keyes learns of the Covenant presence in the system and decides to wake the whole crew out of cryo.{{Ref/Level|Id=CEPOA|CE|CE:The Pillar of Autumn|The Pillar of Autumn}}
*'''0127 hours ship time''': The Fleet of Particular Justice finally strike the ''Pillar of Autumn''. John-117 is also woken from cryo sleep around this time and tasked with preventing Cortana's capture by the Covenant. John-117 and Cortana escape the ''Pillar of Autumn'' aboard a [[Class-3 Enclosed Heavy Lifeboat, Controlled|Bumblebee escape pod]], which later crashes on the ring.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF1|TF|Chapter=1}}
*The Pillar of Autumn is forced to crash land on the ring. A significant portion of its crew survives to continue the fight on the ground.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF2|TF|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF3|TF|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Level|Id=CEH|CE|CE:Halo|Halo}}
*Captain Keyes and the others in his escape pod are captured by the Covenant. Only Keyes escapes summary execution, and is taken to the {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' for interrogation.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}}
*A large group of ODSTs and survivors, under the command of [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]], (who assumed command of ''Autumn'' 's surviving crew after Captain Keyes' capture by the Covenant) establish [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]], which serves as the main tactical firebase for the survivors and as a staging point for any future Covenant attacks.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF2}}
[[File:HCE-MasterChief-Wallpaper.jpg|200px|thumb|John-117 leading Marines on Installation 04.]]
*John-117 leads a [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] force to board the ''Truth and Reconciliation''. They recover Keyes and escape aboard a [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Covenant dropship]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF4|TF|Chapter=4}}{{Ref/Level|Id=CETNR|CE|CE:The Truth and Reconciliation|The Truth and Reconciliation}}

'''September 20'''
*Keyes orders John-117 to find the "[[Silent Cartographer]]", a map room that will reveal the location of the [[Control Room]], which he locates with the help of Cortana.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF5|TF|Chapter=5}}{{Ref/Level|Id=CESC|CE|CE:The Silent Cartographer|The Silent Cartographer}}
*Keyes and a contingent of marines attempt to raid a 'weapons cache' in a [[Forerunner]] facility, but quickly learn that it is a [[Flood containment facility]], and are attacked by individuals of the parasite that have [[Outbreak at the Containment Facility|escaped containment]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF7|TF|Chapter=7}}
*Having found the map room and the pertinent information, Cortana directs a [[Echo 419|Pelican]] to take them to the area where the ring's Control Room is.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF6|TF|Chapter=6}}{{Ref/Level|Id=HCEAOTCR|CE|CE:Assault on the Control Room|Assault on the Control Room}} Upon reaching the Control Room, Cortana transfers to the Control Room's computer and directs John-117 to stop Keyes from accessing the 'weapons cache'.{{Ref/Reuse|HTF7}}
*Before transporting the Chief