Battle at The Refuge

This article's title is a callsign, an alias, or a nickname, as no proper name for the subject has been revealed.

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Next:	Assault on Magma Base
Battle at The Refuge
Panom's Canticle hovering over The Refuge.
Conflict:	Post-Covenant War conflicts Requiem Campaign
Date:	February 14, 2558
Location:	"The Refuge", Requiem, Epoloch system
Outcome:	UNSC victory Promethean and Covenant attack repelled Panom's Canticle destroyed during Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE Portal device destroyed preventing Covenant use of portals in "the Refuge" area
Details Belligerents UEG UNSC Jul 'Mdama's Covenant Prometheans Commanders Spartan Jared Miller Shipmaster Ryn 'Alun Strength Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Spartan Operations SPARTAN-IVs Fireteam Crimson Fireteam Shadow Horatio Fry Nina Kovan Bonita Stone Jason Kidman UNSC Marine Corps Warbird Company PVT Aasif Olsen PVT Tucker Corleone PVT Gordon Smith Infinity Science Numerous Promethean Crawlers Several Promethean Watchers Several Promethean Knights Numerous Sangheili The Silent Blade Numerous Kig-Yar Numerous Unggoy 4 Mgalekgolo Several Phantoms 1 Zanar-pattern light cruiser Panom's Canticle Casualties Light Almost total Panom's Canticle An unknown number of troops

"Crimson, looks like the Covies are mad we broke their portal toy. Get ready to repel invaders."

— Jared Miller

During the Requiem Campaign, a battle took place at the location known as "the Refuge" between the UNSC and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and its Promethean allies. In response to the Covenant assault, the UNSC launched Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE, a boarding action by Fireteam Shadow to destroy the Covenant cruiser Panom's Canticle above the facility.

Prelude

Following some power fluctuations related to the slipspace teleportation grid to "the Gate," the Infinity Science Team there fled while Spartan Jared Miller, filling in for the busy Sarah Palmer, dispatched Fireteam Crimson to investigate. As Crimson reactivated science equipment so that the translocation system could be studied, they had to fight off a massive Promethean attack on "the Gate," eventually stopping their ability to translocate into the area by activating a piece of equipment held at "the Gate." After the Promethean attack was repelled, Doctor Leslie Boyd at "the Refuge" opened a portal for Crimson using the data that had been gathered thanks to Crimson's efforts.

Battle

Promethean attack

Shortly after Fireteam Crimson arrived at "the Refuge," Promethean Crawlers, Knights and Watchers began translocating in and attacking. With Sarah Palmer still out of contact, Spartan Jared Miller once again took charge of the situation. To Miller's relief, Doctor Leslie Boyd revealed that he had managed to escape into "the Refuge's" safe room when the attack started and so was alright. With three other scientists at the mercy of the Prometheans, Crimson fought to protect them from attack.

As Crimson continued to fight off the Prometheans, Boyd reported that Doctor Ruiz had identified the device that allowed portals to open and was going to shut it down but was interrupted by the attack beginning. Boyd was able to direct Crimson to the device which they accessed, but it failed to stop the Prometheans from translocating in. With Boyd unsure of how Ruiz planned to deactivate it, Miller ordered it destroyed instead. Despite heavy Promethean resistance, Crimson succeeded in destroying the device and shutting down all portals in the area. With the Prometheans unable to translocate in anymore, Crimson cleared out the stragglers and secured "the Refuge." Pleased, Miller dispatched reinforcements and ordered Crimson to remain on station until they were sure everything was secure.

Covenant attack and Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE

A cloaked member of the Silent Blade from Panom's Canticle surprises the marines.

As UNSC Marines from Warbird Company arrived, Jul 'Mdama's Covenant launched a retaliatory attack, angry at the loss of their ability to use portals in the area. As the attack began, Robert Dalton warned that the Covenant were sending in a Zanar-pattern light cruiser, Panom's Canticle, commanded by Shipmaster Ryn 'Alun, along with ground forces and Phantoms. Due to the cruiser, Dalton couldn't do much for backup against the invading force. Fighting off the Covenant, Crimson discovered the survivors from Warbird trapped behind a Covenant energy shield which boxed the Marines in.

With Palmer still out of contact, Miller contacted Fireteam Shadow, going over the head of their handler Spartan Carmichael. Shadow had been in the middle of an operation neutralizing a Covenant base, but at Miller's request, they stole a Phantom from the base's summit site to quickly redeploy. Miller tasked them with Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE—boarding the cruiser and destroying it by overloading the power core.

Back on the ground, Crimson managed to kill all of the Covenant in the area while Roland hacked the shield trapping Warbird, allowing Crimson to bring it down with gunfire. Roland then warned Crimson and the Marines about Shipmaster 'Alun's personal special unit, the Silent Blade, operating in the area. Despite the danger, Crimson and the Marines managed to wipe out the team while Shadow Leader informed Miller that they were ten minutes away from attacking the cruiser. Aboard the stolen Phantom, Fireteam Shadow took advantage of the surprise and rushed into the Panom's Canticle hangar before the crew activated the shields. Shipmaster 'Alun, certain that the intruders would attack the reactor core, led several Sangheili to the reactor room. Shadow made rapid progress through the ship, but met heavy resistance as they approached the core.

Meanwhile, Doctor Boyd contacted the Infinity and informed Miller that he was stuck in the safe room because the door wouldn't open. Miller dispatched Crimson to open the door, but moments later Covenant reinforcements began arriving via Phantoms and Gloto'kas-pattern Assault Carapaces, including two pairs of Hunters. As Crimson and Warbird fought off the Covenant, Horatio Fry contacted Miller to explain that they were experiencing heavy resistance aboard the cruiser and needed more time.

In the hallway leading to the Panom's Canticle main reactor, Fry, Kovan, and Kidman cleared the last Covenant troops, while Stone used her active camouflage to infiltrate the chamber ahead of them. When the rest of Shadow entered, they were faced with 'Alun and a dozen Silent Blade Sangheili. During the ensuing battle, Fry was pinned to the ground by 'Alun and nearly killed with an energy sword, but a camouflaged Stone intervened and threw the Shipmaster aside. Kovan then fired Selene's Lance—an enhanced variant of the M6/E Spartan Laser—into the core five times, overloading the reactor. 'Alun ordered his crew to abandon ship and managed to escape despite Stone's efforts. Kidman quickly located a drop pod bay, and led his squad mates to their means of egress before the cruiser's impending explosion. As Crimson finished off the last of the Covenant ground forces in "the Refuge," Fireteam Shadow's sabotage succeeded, completely destroying the cruiser.

Aftermath

With the attack repelled, Miller was pleased to learn that all members of Fireteam Shadow successfully escaped the destruction of Panom's Canticle via Gloto'kef-pattern assault carapaces, with the ruined ship crashing into the surrounding jungle. Shipmaster Ryn 'Alun also survived the wreckage, driven by a newfound desire for vengeance against the Spartans of Fireteam Shadow.

As Miller congratulated the Spartans, Roland brought word that Magma Base in "the Cauldron" was under attack and needed backup. As Crimson was closest, Miller redeployed them to help at "the Cauldron."

Gallery

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  Fireteam Crimson fighting Promethean forces.

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  The Silent Blade infiltrates the facility.

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  Marines fighting Covenant forces.

List of appearances

• Halo 4
• Spartan Ops (First appearance)
• Halo: Vertical Umbrage (Mentioned only)