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{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|HCW}}
{{Battle infobox
{{Battle infobox
|prev = [[Battle of Seoba]]
|prev = [[Battle of Seoba]]
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|image =  
|image =  
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date = [[2526#March|March 20–25, 2526]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS17|HSS|Chapter=17}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS21|HSS|Chapter=21}}
|date = [[2526#March|March 26–31, 2526]]{{Ref/Reuse|Silent Storm}}
|place = [[Biko]]
|place = [[Biko]]
|result = Covenant victory
|result = Covenant victory
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|commanders2 = [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]]
|commanders2 = [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]]
|forces1 = *Biko defense fleet (approximately 50 ships){{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
|forces1 = *Biko defense fleet (approximately 50 ships){{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
**Patrol frigates{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
**Patrol frigates<ref name="HSS17">'''Halo: Silent Storm''', ''Chapter 17''</ref>
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s
*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s
**{{UNSCShip|Dresden}}
**{{UNSCShip|Dresden}}
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**[[Ghost Flight]]
**[[Ghost Flight]]
**{{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
**{{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
|forces2 = [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] (100+ ships){{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
|forces2 = [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] (100+ ships)
*Multiple [[Covenant cruiser]]s
*Multiple [[Covenant cruiser]]s
*Multiple {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
*Multiple {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
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|casual1 = Heavy
|casual1 = Heavy
*Heavy [[21st Space Assault Battalion|Black Dagger]] losses
*Heavy [[21st Space Assault Battalion|Black Dagger]] losses
*Five [[prowler]]s
*Five [[Prowler]]s
*Heavy if not total Biko defense fleet losses
*Heavy if not total Biko defense fleet losses
|casual2 = Five cruisers{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}
|casual2 = Five cruisers
}}
}}


The '''Battle of Biko''' was a short engagement between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] in [[2526]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] at the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Biko]]. It occurred concurrently with [[Operation: SILENT STORM]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
The '''Battle of Biko''' was a short engagement between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] in [[2526]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] at the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Biko]]. It occurred concurrently with [[Operation: SILENT STORM]].


==Background==
==Background==
As the [[Outer Colonies]] began to [[Massacre of the Outer Colonies|fall one by one]], the [[UNSC]] decided to launch [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] to counterattack the Covenant and buy humanity some time to develop countermeasures against Covenant technology.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}} At the same time, [[Insurrectionist]]s desired to forge an alliance with the Covenant and to protect Biko. To this end, they plotted to overthrow [[Biko]]'s government while making a deal with the Covenant for the Covenant to help them take control of the planet.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS6|HSS|Chapter=6}} Their planned meeting on [[Seoba]] happened to take place at the same time as [[Task Force Yama]] was performing training exercises, leading to [[Operation: ICE DANCE]] which ended the Insurrectionist plot on Seoba, though the Insurrectionists managed to escape with the help of [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Hector Nyeto]] during the [[Battle of Seoba|skirmish]]. As part of his original message to the Covenant, General [[Harper Garvin]] warned that the Spartans were responsible for the destruction of the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' and the ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'', causing the Covenant to realize that the most likely explanation was a boarding action, and with Garvin's warning that the Spartans planned to do the same to the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]], they planned to prevent against such a thing from happening again.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS9|HSS|Chapter=9}}
As their human colonies fell, the [[UNSC]] decided to launch [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] to counterattack the Covenant and buy humanity some time to develop countermeasures against Covenant technology. At the same time, [[Insurrectionist]]s desired to forge an alliance with the Covenant and to protect Biko. To this end, they plotted to overthrow [[Biko]]'s government while making a deal with the Covenant for the Covenant to help them take control of the planet. Their planned meeting on [[Seoba]] happened to take place at the same time as [[Task Force Yama]] was performing training exercises, leading to [[Operation: ICE DANCE]] which ended the Insurrectionist plot on Seoba, though the Insurrectionists managed to escape with the help of [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Hector Nyeto]] during the [[Battle of Seoba]]. As part of his original message to the Covenant, General [[Harper Garvin]] warned that the Spartans were responsible for the destruction of the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' and the ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'', causing the Covenant to realize that the most likely explanation was a boarding action and with Garvin's warning that the Spartans planned to do the same to the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]], plan to prevent against such a thing happening again.<ref name="Silent Storm">'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'''</ref>


==Battle==
==Battle==
On [[2526#March|March 20, 2526]], the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] arrived at [[Biko]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}} Directly before their assault on Biko, the Covenant transmitted a message to the human colonists on its surface that stated "Your world will burn until its surface is but glass".<ref name="pad">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad #10]]''</ref>
On March 26, [[2526]], the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] arrived at [[Biko]].{{Ref/Reuse|Silent Storm}} Directly before their assault on Biko, the Covenant transmitted a message to the human colonists on its surface that stated "Your world will burn until its surface is but glass".<ref name="pad">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad #10]]''</ref>


Taking heed of the warning given by General [[Harper Garvin]], the Covenant fleet kept their fighter screen in close to prevent the Spartans from boarding their ships and destroying them from the inside. Biko's small space navy, mostly about fifty patrol frigates designed to disable smuggling ships, gathered on the dark side of the planet and attacked the Covenant force. Watching the battle from the {{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}, [[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Linda-058]] and [[John-117]] were confused by the choice in tactics as the Covenant fleet accelerated towards the human fleet rather than trying to send their fighters to break up the human formation before it could swarm the capital ships. The Covenant fighters kept a tight but brittle defensive shell around the capital ships that even a couple of frigates could break. While the move could blow through the human defense, they would lose more than a few ships doing it despite mainly having [[Covenant cruiser]]s and {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s that could take a half-dozen salvos without their shields even flickering.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS17}}
Taking heed of the warning given by General [[Harper Garvin]], the Covenant fleet kept their fighter screen in close to prevent the Spartans from boarding their ships and destroying them from the inside. Biko's small space navy, mostly about fifty patrol frigates designed to disable smuggling ships, gathered on the dark side of the planet and attacked the Covenant force. Watching the battle from the {{Class|Point Blank|stealth cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}, [[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Linda-058]] and [[John-117]] were confused by the choice in tactics as the Covenant fleet accelerated towards the human fleet rather than trying to send their fighters to break up the human formation before it could swarm the capital ships. The Covenant fighters kept a tight but brittle defensive shell around the capital ships that even a couple of frigates could break. While the move could blow through the human defense, they would lose more than a few ships doing it despite mainly having [[Covenant cruiser]]s and {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s that could take a half-dozen salvos without their shields even flickering.


As the Spartans realized that the Covenant likely knew about the planned boarding action and were protecting against it, the two sides began exchanging fire with the capital ships continuing to cocoon themselves in a screen of their fighters. As the two fleets tore into each other, evacuation ships began to launch from Biko and the Covenant fleet made no move to intercept, possibly because they could only evacuate a small percentage of Biko's population. Even as the two fleets engaged in close combat, the Covenant struggled to keep their fighter screen in place, continuing to worry about potential boarders.<ref name="SSC17">'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 17''</ref>
As the Spartans realized that the Covenant likely knew about the planned boarding action and were protecting against it, the two sides began exchanging fire with the capital ships continuing to cocoon themselves in a screen of their fighters. As the two fleets tore into each other, evacuation ships began to launch from Biko and the Covenant fleet made no move to intercept, possibly because they could only evacuate a small percentage of Biko's population. Even as the two fleets engaged in close combat, the Covenant struggled to keep their fighter screen in place, continuing to worry about potential boarders.<ref name="SSC17">'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 17''</ref>


As the battle continued to rage, [[First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] met with the [[Insurrectionist]]s on the {{Class|Banta|transport}} ''[[Emmeline]]'' where Commandant [[Erland Booth]] attempted to threaten him into calling off the attack with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. 'Szatulai killed Booth instead and the Insurrectionists attempted to negotiate with him for the Covenant's help in taking Biko, offering the HAVOK and the plans to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Spartans' armor]]. 'Szatulai decided to pretend to agree, in reality using the rebels to gain more intelligence upon the Spartans in order to be able to destroy them.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS18|HSS|Chapter=18}} During the battle, Task Force Yama also lost five [[prowler]]s and the [[21st Space Assault Battalion|Black Daggers]] suffered heavy losses as well.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''pages 301-302''</ref>{{Ref/Note|On page 301 of ''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', its stated that [[Task Force Yama]] lost seven [[Prowler]]s and over four hundred Black Daggers at the battles of [[Seoba]] and Biko. Only the {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}} and {{UNSCShip|Ghost Star}} were lost at Seoba in terms of ships and one hundred and twenty seven Black Daggers were lost at Seoba, but an exact figure for the losses at Biko is not given, just that cumulatively it was over four hundred Black Daggers.}} The [[ODST]]s attempted to board and destroy the ''[[Purifying Flame]]'', though the attempt was foiled. The ODSTs that survived the boarding action were captured and later [[Tossers|tortured]] by [[Castor]] and [[Orsun]], two [[Jiralhanae]] [[Bloodstars]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}
As the battle continued to rage, [[First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] met with the [[Insurrectionist]]s on the {{Class|Banta|transport}} ''[[Emmeline]]'' where Commandant [[Erland Booth]] attempted to threaten him into calling off the attack with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. 'Szatulai killed Booth instead and the Insurrectionists attempted to negotiate with him for the Covenant's help in taking Biko, offering the HAVOK and the plans to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Spartans' armor]]. 'Szatulai decided to pretend to agree, in reality using the rebels to gain more intelligence upon the Spartans in order to be able to destroy them.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 18''</ref>


After five days of battle, the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience defeated Biko's defenders, but lost five cruisers in the process. In addition, Biko's defenders destroyed the planet's orbital shipbuilding stations that [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] had hoped to take control of for his own fleet's usage. With Biko's defenses gone, the Covenant turned to [[glassing]] the planet. After 'Kvarosee ordered mass plasma strikes on Biko's capital city, the planet's atmosphere combusted, resulting in a blanket of flame that spread across the entire world.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}
After five days of battle, the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience defeated Biko's defenders, but lost five cruisers in the process. In addition, Biko's defenders destroyed the planet's orbital shipbuilding stations that [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] had hoped to take control of for his own fleet's usage. With Biko's defenses gone, the Covenant turned to [[glassing]] the planet.<ref name="SSC21">'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 21''</ref> During this battle, [[Task Force Yama]] also lost five [[Prowler]]s and the [[21st Space Assault Battalion|Black Daggers]] suffered heavy losses as well.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''pages 301-302''</ref>{{Ref/Note|On page 301 of ''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', its stated that [[Task Force Yama]] lost seven [[Prowler]]s and over four hundred Black Daggers at the battles of [[Seoba]] and Biko. Only the {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}} and {{UNSCShip|Ghost Star}} were lost at Seoba in terms of ships and one hundred and twenty seven Black Daggers were lost at Seoba, but an exact figure for the losses at Biko is not given, just that cumulatively it was over four hundred Black Daggers.}} The ODSTs attempted to board and destroy the ''[[Purifying Flame]]'', though the attempt was foiled - the ODSTs captured and later [[Tossers|tortured]].


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
During the battle, part of Task Force Yama split off a detached that was sent to destroy the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]]'s logistics fleet at [[Etalan]].{{Ref/Reuse|SSC17}} As a result of the successful destruction of most of the logistics fleet, the Covenant fleet was left low on carrier gas for their plasma without the ability to resupply, leaving the fleet vulnerable. To counter this, [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] called forth a new logistics fleet from the planet [[Zhoist]] while continuing the [[glassing]] to keep up the appearance that the fleet was unhindered.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}} However, Nizat summoning the second logistics fleet along with the ''[[kelguid]]'' recovered from the wreckage of the [[intrusion corvette]] ''[[Worthy Silence]]'' allowed Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] to determine the location of Zhoist for Task Force Yama to attack.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 22''</ref> Realizing this, [[First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] urged Nizat to take the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience to Zhoist to help defend the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}
During the battle, part of [[Task Force Yama]] split off to destroy the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]]'s logistics fleet at [[Etalan]].{{Ref/Reuse|SSC17}} As a result of the successful destruction of most of the logistics fleet, the Covenant fleet was left low on carrier gas for their plasma without the ability to resupply, leaving the fleet vulnerable. To counter this, [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] called forth a new logistics fleet from the planet [[Zhoist]] while continuing the [[glassing]] to keep up the appearance that the fleet was unhindered.{{Ref/Reuse|SSC21}} However, Nizat summoning the second logistics fleet along with the ''[[kelguid]]'' recovered from the wreckage of the [[Intrusion corvette]] ''[[Worthy Silence]]'' allowed Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] to determine the location of Zhoist for Task Force Yama to attack.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 22''</ref> Realizing this, [[First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] successfully urged Nizat to take the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience to Zhoist to help defend the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|SSC21}}


After the battle over Biko, the debris field of human vessels was pushed over Biko's northern pole by the Covenant to allow their fleet to proceed [[glassing]] the planet unobstructed. Following the Human-Covenant War, a [[Fetching|fetcher]], [[Oliver Birch]] visited the debris field over Biko, to retrieve a [[saddle box|"saddle box" slipspace engine]] from the {{UNSCShip|Dresden}}, one of the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s that had participated in the engagement years prior.<ref name="tug">'''[[Halo: First Strike|Halo First Strike (2010)]]''', ''[[Tug o' War]]''</ref>
After the battle over the planet, the debris field of human vessels was pushed over Biko's northern pole by the Covenant to allow their fleet to proceed [[glassing]] the planet unobstructed. Following the Human-Covenant War, a [[Fetching|fetcher]], [[Oliver Birch]] visited the debris field over Biko, to retrieve a [[saddle box|"saddle box" slipspace engine]] from the {{UNSCShip|Dresden}}, one of the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s that had participated in the engagement years prior.<ref name="tug">'''[[Halo: First Strike|Halo First Strike (2010)]]''', ''[[Tug o' War]]''</ref>


Sometime later, the AI collective known as the [[The Assembly|Assembly]] conducted an analysis of the Covenant's capability to glass a planet. While they concluded that the aliens could not possess firepower to literally melt the entirety of a planet's surface based on the firepower their warships demonstrated in [[Space warfare|space engagements]], they believed that introducing the term "glassing" to common parlance would more effectively stress the severity of the Covenant threat.{{Ref/Reuse|pad}} The planet was later [[Terraforming|reterraformed]] by the [[Unified Earth Government]] and was habitable by [[2558]].<ref name="HTT">'''Hunt the Truth''', ''Episode 08''</ref>
After the battle, the AI collective known as the [[The Assembly|Assembly]] conducted an analysis of the Covenant's capability to glass a planet. While they concluded that the aliens could not possess firepower to literally melt the entirety of a planet's surface based on the firepower their warships demonstrated in [[Space warfare|space engagements]], they believed that introducing the term "glassing" to common parlance would more effectively stress the severity of the Covenant threat.{{Ref/Reuse|pad}} The planet was later [[Terraforming|reterraformed]] by the [[Unified Earth Government]] by [[2558]].<ref name="HTT">'''Hunt the Truth''', ''Episode 08''</ref>
 
Some of the future [[SPARTAN-III]]s of [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]], including [[Carter-A259]], were orphaned in the battle.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 70''</ref>
 
==Trivia==
*If it hadn't been for the [[Insurrectionist]] warning about [[Task Force Yama]]'s boarding strategy, the battle could've gone far worse for the Covenant. Because of the warning, the Covenant were able to adjust their tactics to compensate. While contemplating the battle and arguing with the [[Minor Minister of Artifact Survey]], [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] reflected that the warning may have saved the entire fleet from destruction while also arguing to the minor minister that they could've lost fifty ships instead of five.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''pages 279-280''</ref> As a result, if the Insurrectionists hadn't warned the Covenant, the UNSC might've been able to win the battle and save [[Biko]].


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==

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