View source for Aftermath of the Fall of Reach

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:H2A - Fleet of Particular Justice.jpg|thumb|250px|Reach, near the end of the battle.]]
{{Series/Battle/Fall of Reach}}

The [[Template:Engagements in the Fall of Reach|engagements]] in the [[Fall of Reach]] resulted in an extensive '''aftermath''' for the overall war effort, for the units involved, and for the planet itself.

==Losses and retreats==
[[File:HM-PoA-escape.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'' escaping a glassed Reach, through a debris field of UNSC ships.]]
Numerous ships and units were destroyed or were irreparably damaged. The {{UNSCShip|Basra}}, one of the finest in service was damaged beyond repair. One of the most revered ships in the fleet{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=272}} and the [[Flagship]] of the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]],{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/reach|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Reach}} the {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}, was also destroyed.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Chapter=18}}

The Covenant ship ''[[Valorous Salvation]]'' escaped midway through the battle and ended up attacking the [[Human colonies|colony]] [[planet]] [[Beta Gabriel]]{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|Story=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss}}

Several [[UNSC starship]]s would escape the battle as well, such as the {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}}.{{Ref/Map|H3|Sandtrap}}

===Escape of the Pillar of Autumn and Installation 04===
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} would flee the battle, with the [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] commandeering it's escape destination to the previously undiscovered [[Installation 04|fourth]] [[Forerunner]] [[Halo Array|Halo]]. While the Battle of Installation 04 was tangential to the main front, the containment of the initial [[Flood]] outbreak - and the experience gained - was just as critical for the survival of humanity.{{Clear}}

==ONI artifact recovery, and assessment==
====Artifacts and other recovered items====
During and after the Fall of Reach, a number of artifacts were recovered. Prior to the completion of Operation: WHITE GLOVE, ONI recovered [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].{{Ref/Game|Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|[[:File:Journal Contents.jpg|Container manifest]]}} As well, a [[flag]] that was originally used by SPARTANs during training sessions of [[Capture the Flag]], was recovered and put on display at [[Outpost Discovery]].{{Ref/Game|Id=HOD|Halo: Outpost Discovery|Hall of History|Detail=Capture the Flag}}

====Investigations and analysis of the battle====
On September 4, 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence began investigating [[Joseph Poteet]] and [[Alasdair Schicker]], believing that they may have leaked classified information to the Covenant. Including the location of Reach.{{Ref/Novel|Id=entry19021024|TFoR|Chapter=Adjunct|Detail=Entry 19-021/024}} At the same time, Lieutenant [[Wagner]] who escaped the battle reported to the [[UNSC Security Council]] at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], Earth, detailing the glassing of the planet and the escape of the UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn''.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Chapter=11}}

An inquiry was held by [[ONI Retrieval and Acquisitions]] on September 26, 2552 which culminated in the creation of a [[target profile]] of [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee by [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jameson Locke]].{{Ref/Game|H2A|H2A:Terminals|Terminal - ONI File: Target Profile}} This report included information on Thel's actions at the Fall of Reach.{{Ref/Game|H2A|[[H2A:Terminals|Terminal - ONI File: Particular Justice]]}}

Just over a month after the battle on [[2552#October|October 8, 2552]], [[Admiral]] [[J. Garcia]] compiled 844 files into a report called "Preliminary Reports of Action - Defense of Reach". It detailed fleet actions in the Reach Defense Coordination Zone. This report along with several others would be assembled into another file in [[2554]] for [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]].{{Ref/Generic|Id=loot2|Heading=[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|Subheading=[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]}}

At some point after the battle, numerous reports were filed including [[Halo: A Fistful of Arrows|ITEM/466F41.LV]]. Some of these reports contradicted one another, especially in regards to [[Jun-A266]]'s actions following the [[SWORD Base]] portion of [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]].{{Ref/Site|Id=S2StoryHub|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo Infinite|Detail=Winter Update - Intel|D=22|M=11|Y=2022}}

==Earth and the Sol system==
The loss of Reach was announced on [[Earth]] over PA systems.{{Ref/Audio|Id=5Rani|ILB|Axon=5|Detail=Rani: "The Wedding"}} Weeks after the battle, rumors started circulating on Earth that people were still alive on Reach.{{Ref/Audio|Id=8Rani|ILB|Axon=8|Detail=Rani: "My Old Kentucky Home"}}

The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] knew of at least four Covenant battle groups centred around large assault carriers prowling the outer edges of UNSC-held space. The Navy believed that the location of Sol was compromised and began relocating heavy industry facilities and command centers out of the system in a long-planned exodus.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=6|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Jason Jones Interviewed By You|LocalArchive=Archive:Bungie.net/News/Jason Jones Interviewed By You|D=18|M=12|Y=2001}} UNSC units were also posted in Earth's [[Space elevator|tether cities]] following the battle of Reach.{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|Story=Palace Hotel}} Some graffiti on Earth used the slogan "Remember Reach".{{Ref/Level|ODST|Mombasa Streets}}

Following the battle, a [[ONI memorial|memorial]] was created for fallen ONI personnel in the Fall of Reach at [[H3ODST:ONI Alpha Site|ONI Alpha Site]] on Earth.{{Ref/Level|ODST|ONI Alpha Site}} The fall of the planet would also mean that [[Mars]] would once again become the largest industrial center in [[human colonies|human space]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=40}}

==Post-fall missions and activities on Reach==
====Rescue operation====
{{Main|Raid on Reach}}
As the Covenant began glassing Reach, the surviving Spartans continued their fight. Team Gamma; a Red team splinter composed of Anton-044; Grace-093 and Li-008, had managed to survive and complete their mission to rescue Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb from HIGHCOM. Too late to reach CASTLE base, they hid in the mountains attacking Covenant units with the use of guerrilla tactics as opposed to a conventional assault. They programmed their MJOLNIR suits to transmit the "Oly Oly Oxen Free" secret code on E-Band radio, hoping that any surviving Spartans would discover it and help them.

Meanwhile underneath the ruins of CASTLE base, Dr. Halsey and five Spartans (Fred, Kelly, Will, Vinh, and Isaac) had spent five days combing the remains of a Forerunner structure and an additional five days trapped in a hallway inside the ruins by Covenant forces. They managed to retrieve a [[Forerunner crystal]] that the Covenant were seeking, but it emitted a burst of radiation which alerted the Covenant to their presence. Vinh and Isaac fell at the hands of overwhelming Covenant forces, and the others escaped by blowing the hallway down behind them.

After the survivors were recovered by ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', a Covenant Flagship captured by [[John-117]] after the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the ship drew a group of Covenant vessels out of the system in pursuit to [[Eridanus Secundus]], leading to the [[Massacre at Eridanus Secundus|destruction of the asteroid colony]], and the destruction of the artifact and the recovery of only a small number of pieces by the Covenant. The ''Ascendant Justice'' also destroyed around sixteen Covenant warships during the escape in slipspace and at the rebel base.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Chapter=30}}

====Post-war====
[[File:TFoR-as-concept 5.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The members of Blue Team meeting up in Reach's glasslands in 2558 to remember Sam's sacrifice.]]
The earliest known return mission to Reach would be in [[2553]] when a pioneer group came to the planet to scout and prepare for the planet's reterraforming.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Catalog Interaction (Page 43)}}

Surviving members of [[Blue Team]] would return to a glassed Reach in [[2558]], honoring [[Samuel-034]]'s sacrifice at the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]].{{Ref/Film|TFoRAS}}

They would again come back to a desolate Reach in [[2559]] during [[Operation: WOLFE]] and the [[Created uprising]]. This time they would attempt to dig into the ruins of CASTLE Base.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=1}}
{{Clear}}

==Environment, livability, and future of Reach==
[[File:HR Screenshot Epilogue-After.jpg|200px|thumb|Reach restored to a green state in 2589.]]
A number of [[moa]] survived in isolated areas of Reach.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Have S'moa}}

Reach would return to a green state by [[2589]] and with [[Unidentified colony ship|at least one]] [[colony ship]] coming to settle on the planet.{{Ref/Level|Id=lonewolf|HR|Reach:Lone Wolf|Lone Wolf}} By [[2610]], the city of New Alexandria was resettled with a few new areas including [[Hősök tere]], which held the [[Reach War Memorial]].{{Ref/Game|Halo: Reach Legendary Edition|[[:File:Journal Package Letter.jpg|package contents letter]]}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Fall of Reach]]