Editing Battle of Chi Ceti

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|name=Battle of Chi Ceti
|image=[[File:TFoR AS - Battle of Chi Ceti.jpg|300px]]
|prev=[[First Battle of Harvest]]
|conc=
|next=[[Battle of Alpha Corvi II]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=November 27, [[2525]] 
|place=In orbit above [[Chi Ceti IV]], [[Chi Ceti system]]
|result=[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] victory
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Project MJOLNIR]] retrieved and deployed by [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] 
*Covenant ship destroyed by 3 Spartan-IIs
|side1=*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
|commanders1=
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]]
*[[Petty Officer, First Class]] [[John-117]]
|commanders2=Unknown Covenant Shipmaster 
|forces1=*Whole [[SPARTAN-II]] company
*1 [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] squadron
**[[Longsword Squadron Delta]]
*1 {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}
**{{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}
|forces2=
*1 {{Class|CRS|light cruiser}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=Loftus|[[Stephen Loftus]] on [[Talk:Unrelenting|''Unrelenting''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s talk page]]}}
**''[[Unrelenting]]''<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 286''</ref>
***[[Kig-Yar]]{{Ref/Note|In the ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]'', ''Unrelenting'' is crewed by [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]], and [[Unggoy]] while in the ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'' comic adaptation and the novel, the ship is only crewed by [[Kig-Yar]].}}
|casual1=*Longsword Squadron Delta
*1 SPARTAN-II
**Samuel-034
*Several Navy personnel
|casual2=''Unrelenting'' and its crew
}}
The '''Battle of Chi Ceti''' (later referred to as the '''Chi Ceti Incident''')<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"</ref> was fought between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] early in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Though it was a small scale engagement, it marked the culmination of the [[SPARTAN-II program]] with the supersoldiers being united with the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]] and the combat debut of the potent combination.

==Background==
{{main|First Battle of Harvest}}
The [[Covenant]] attack on Harvest, and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, instigated a UNSC-wide mobilization. The need to deploy Project MJOLNIR took on greater urgency. The SPARTAN-IIs were sent to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]] aboard the frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} to undergo final integration with the armor. Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] accompanied the supersoldiers to oversee the process.

==Battle==
===Interrupted delivery===
The ''Commonwealth'' entered the system at 1750 hours, November 27, [[2525]]. The frigate detected the {{Class|CRS|light cruiser}} ''[[Unrelenting]]'' as an intermittent sensor ghost at 80 million kilometers. This was far beyond the frigate's weapons range and [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]] saw no need for concern. However, Doctor Halsey warned of a possible enemy tactical Slipstream jump and the captain brought the ship to general quarters. The Spartans readied a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] and prepared to disembark.<ref name="FOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 102-119''</ref>

Halsey's warning was prescient. ''Unrelenting'' suddenly appeared {{Convert|3000|km|mi}} from ''Commonwealth'' and opened fire with pulse lasers. The frigate's communications dish was destroyed and its [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] disabled. ''Commonwealth'' returned fire with 180 [[Archer missile]]s; the vessel evaded half and the remainder failed to penetrate the shields. ''Unrelenting'' destroyed the frigate's navigation dish and caused further damage with lasers. In turn, a heavy [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] round penetrated the vessel's shields and struck its hull directly. The round crumpled the nose of the ship and caused some internal fires.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR}}

As ''Commonwealth'' prepared another heavy round, ''Unrelenting'' charged a [[Plasma turret|plasma torpedo]]. Both fired nearly at once, and struck their targets. The frigate vented atmosphere to prevent the torpedo from causing catastrophic damage but the MAC gun was destroyed. The Covenant ship likewise survived the second MAC round but had a hole punched right through it.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR}}
[[File:Commonwealth launches Shiva.png|left|250px|thumb|Longsword interceptors distract the ''Unrelenting'' while a Shiva warhead is launched from the ''Commonwealth''.]]
''Commonwealth'''s remaining option were three [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s, however the range was too short for those to be used safely. John-117 assessed the enemy's psychology and concluded the Covenant ship was likely to stop and engage any challenge. Wallace ordered Longsword Squadron Delta to occupy the vessel and launched a Shiva. In the meantime the frigate came about and executed a burn away toward [[Chi Ceti IV]]. The nuclear warhead destroyed the Longswords and further damaged ''Unrelenting''. The vessel subsequently disengaged.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR}}

''Commonwealth'' made a fly by of the planet. The Spartans and Dr. Halsey disembarked by Pelican and made for the Damascus Testing Facility. The frigate retreated to 20 million kilometers to effect repairs. Pursuant to his orders, Wallace was prepared to use his damaged ship to lure the enemy away from the facility.

===The battle resumes===
Although ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'' hoped to rendezvous in orbit with the SPARTAN-IIs no later than 1900 hours, the supersoldiers were just finishing the 15 minute elevator ride down to the [[Damascus Materials Testing Facility]] at 1845 hours. Nonetheless, the Spartans were familiarized with and issued the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]] without incident; they prepared to return to the surface with Dr. Halsey and the facilities few remaining personnel for extraction.

The Covenant were not yet out of the fight. The UNSC frigate detected ''[[Unrelenting]]'' moving on an intercept course through normal space. ''Commonwealth'''s slipspace drive and [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] were offline. The Covenant vessel was also damaged but still capable of twice the speed of its opponent.
[[File:Blue Team - Commonwealth 1.png|right|240px|thumb|Spartan-IIs depart to infiltrate the ''Unrelenting''.]]
UNSC forces resolved to fight rather than run. The Spartans and company departed in the Pelican for the frigate. En route, [[John-117]] learned the MJOLNIR armor was EVA-capable and proposed a boarding action. The Spartans would fly out from the Pelican with thruster packs and intercept ''Unrelenting'' as the ship moved to engage ''Commonwealth''. Once aboard they would demolish the enemy ship from within using warheads from the dropship's 32 [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]]s. Each Spartan received one warhead.

''Commonwealth'' fired another salvo of [[Archer missile]]s to draw attention and fire from the approaching Spartans. The firing of ''Unrelenting'''s pulse lasers briefly lowered a part of the ships shield and allowed John-117 to grab hold. Ultimately only three Spartans, John-117, [[Kelly-087]], and [[Samuel-034]], made it to the hull breach caused by the frigate's MAC fire.

===Hammerfall===
The Spartan trio passed through pressure doors into still-habitable sections of the ship. They fought two [[Kig-Yar]] as they homed in on a radiation source. Sam-034's armor was breached by [[plasma]] fire and was no longer EVA-capable. The radiation source was from a large chamber; a cylinder with a red pulsing light along its length ran the length of the chamber. The Spartans planted their warheads by the chamber with a three minute countdown. Unable to reenter vacuum, Sam-034 remained behind and guard the warheads; he was the first Spartan to die in combat. John-117 and Kelly-087's escape was delayed as they waited for a pulse laser to fire and create an opening in the shield; they barely escaped ''Unrelenting'''s destruction.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 127-130''</ref>

==Aftermath==
Chi Ceti IV and its facilities were successfully defended, but with considerable losses to the UNSC. However, the success of the battle ensured the continued survival of Chi Ceti IV and the Damascus Testing Facility, both of which are still intact and remain in operation in the postwar era.

The {{UNSCShip|Persian Gate}} rendezvoused with the ''Commonwealth'' following the battle, and on December 1, a funeral service for Sam was held aboard the ship. An empty casket was ejected in orbit around the planet to commemorate his sacrifice. Sam's death would have a profound effect on his Spartan teammates for the rest of the war, and his command passed on to other Spartans in the ranks.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:FoR - Commonwealth.jpg|The ''Unrelenting'' arrives at Chi Ceti with the ''Commonwealth'' in its sights.
File:FoR - Archer missiles.jpg|''Commonwealth'' fires upon ''Unrelenting''
File:Unrelenting engaged by Longswords.png|The Longswords lay down suppressive fire upon the Covenant vessel.
File:Unrelenting and Commonwealth damaged.png|The damaged ''Unrelenting'' pursues the ''Commonwealth''.
File:TFoR-as-concept 4.jpg|Blue Team using thrusters to board the ''Unrelenting''.
File:Halo Fall of Reach TPB cover.png|John-117 descends upon the ''Unrelenting''.
File:Blue Team - Commonwealth 2.png|Blue Team advances through to the enemy vessel's reactor.
File:Sam nuke.jpg|Samuel-034 stays behind to detonate the nuke while his fellow Spartans flee the ''Unrelenting''. 
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{Mo}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

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

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:UNSC Victories|Chi Ceti]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chi Ceti}}