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.

Previous:	Battle of Galileo Base
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 te