Editing Battle of Sword Base

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev= [[Battle of Visegrád]]
|conc= 
|next= [[Mission to Szurdok Ridge]]
|name= '''Battle of Sword Base'''
|image=[[File:HR-Corvette in-atmosphere.jpg|300px]]
|conflict= [[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Fall of Reach]]
|date= [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]]
|place= [[SWORD Base]], [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]]
|result=
'''Decisive UNSC victory'''
*[[SWORD Base]] successfully retaken
*All [[Covenant]] forces destroyed
|side1=[[File:Halopedia Era UNSC.png|25px]] [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=[[File:H5Covenant Logo2.png|25px]] [[Covenant]]
|commanders1=
*[[Urban Holland|COL Urban Holland]]
*[[Carter-A259|CDR Carter-A259]]
|commanders2=*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]
|forces1=
*[[UNSC Army]]
**[[3 Echo]]
**[[Special Warfare Group Three]]
***[[Noble Team]]
*[[UNSC Air Force]]
**[[UH-144 Falcon]]s
***''[[Kilo 33]]''
***''[[Kilo 34]]''
**[[D77-TC Pelican]]s
**[[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s (2)
*[[M831 Troop Transport Warthog]]s
*[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]s
*[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]] (1)
*[[Orbital defense platform]] (1)
|forces2=*[[Covenant military]]
**{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} (2)
**{{Pattern|Rizvum|Revenant}}s
**[[Type-32 Ghost]]s
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
***[[Skirmisher]]s
**[[Sangheili]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
**[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]
***{{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} (1)
***{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}s
***{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}s
***[[Type-26 Banshee]]s
|casual1=*[[3 Echo]]
*Unknown number of Army troopers
*Unknown number of vehicle losses
|casual2=*Total
}}
The '''Battle of Sword Base''' was an engagement between the forces of the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] at the [[ONI]] research facility known as [[SWORD Base]] occurring on [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]].

==Background==
On or prior to the night of [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]], the [[Covenant]] [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] arrived at the human [[Inner Colony]] of [[Reach]] undetected by its defending forces. A small strike, including artifact-hunting [[Sangheili Zealot]]s from the [[Devoted Sentries]], was dispatched to the [[Visegrád Relay]] in [[Visegrád]] to cut off communications between Reach and other [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] colonies. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assumed that the communications blackout was caused by local [[Insurrectionist]]s; in response, [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] dispatched several [[UNSC Army|Army]] fireteams to the relay. After losing contact with the troopers, [[SPARTAN Program|SPARTAN]] [[Noble Team]] was sent to investigate.{{Ref/Level|HR|Noble Actual}} The team [[Battle of Visegrád|discovered]] the Covenant presence on [[Reach]] and reported back to [[Central Command|CENTCOM]], killing two of the Zealots in the process. [[WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)|WINTER CONTINGENCY]] was declared on Reach while [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Catherine-B320]] retrieved a [[data module]] from the corpse of Doctor [[Laszlo Sorvad]].{{Ref/Level|HR|Winter Contingency}}

==Battle==
On [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] [[Sword Base]] came under siege by [[Covenant]] forces from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] led by a {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. Due to the sensitive nature of the facility, orbital [[MAC]] rounds are prohibited from being used to destroy the corvette. With current defensive forces insufficient to repel the attack, ONI requests the help of [[NOBLE Team]].{{Ref/Level|Id=osb|HR|ONI: Sword Base}}

===Clearing the main gate===
With their landing zone hot, [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Catherine-B320]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] are dropped into the Sword Base courtyard, immediately under fire from [[Covenant]] troops. Aided by [[UNSC Army]] troopers, the two Spartans clear the courtyard and are ordered by [[Sword Control]] to clear the main gate with a promise to be briefed as they go. The Spartans find a [[Target Locator]] and are promised that they will be provided with what limited artillery support is available.

As the soldiers emerge from the main gate, the corvette opens fire on Sword Base and a [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|M831 Troop Transport]] carrying [[3 Echo]] comes under attack from two {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}s which destroys the squad. Using the Target Locator, B312 destroys the Wraiths and the troops wipe out any remaining Covenant forces in the immediate area. A [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] then drops off a [[M12 Chaingun Warthog|Warthog]] for the use of Six and Kat.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

===Farragut Station===
In order to get back online with Command, Kat, Six and an Army trooper head east to the old [[Farragut Station]] which has its own comms array. At the station, the two Spartans discover it protected by multiple Covenant forces, including a [[Rizvum-pattern Revenant|Revenant]]. Together, the three manage to eliminate the Covenant forces in the area and activate the station's generator. Once the generator is online, a [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit dropship]] arrives to deploy [[Unggoy]] and [[Skirmisher]]s to prevent the comms array, located on a nearby rooftop, from being activated. After eliminating the reinforcements, Six activates the array. A second Warthog is then delivered via Pelican to reach [[Airview Base]] and the AA gun located there.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

===Airview Base===
On the way to Airview Base, the Spartans come under attack by two [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] and a lance of Covenant dropped by another Spirit, but they are quickly eliminated. At Airview Base, it is discovered to be under the control of more Covenant forces, including a [[Sangheili Ultra]]. The Covenant forces are quickly eliminated and Six activates the base's [[M71 Scythe|anti-aircraft gun]] which opens fire on a [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] that drops off two more Ghosts and then on the [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and Covenant dropships around the corvette, helping to clear the way for UNSC dropships to bring reinforcements.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

===Retaking Sword Base===
After the comms are restored and the anti-aircraft gun is activated, the corvette draws closer to Sword Base, firing its [[plasma turrets]] at it. Kat and Six are ordered back to Sword Base which they are informed that the rest of [[NOBLE Team]] is inbound to. The Spartans are provided with a [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthog]] to aid them in reaching the base easier. [[Carter-A259]] warns Kat and Six that the corvette is moving into position and they are needed at the base ASAP. Outside of the main gate, the two Spartans discover it under attack by Revenants, Ghosts and Covenant infantry which are quickly eliminated. Heading through the main gate, the two discover that Covenant forces once more occupy the courtyard and take them out, learning that the rest of the team is stalled in the tower atrium. The Spartans eliminate Covenant forces in the base garage, including a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair and enter an elevator to the security office as the corvette pounds the base hard.

After fighting through some Covenant troops, Kat and Six make it to the main atrium where they link up with [[Jun-A266]] and [[Jorge-052]] and several Army troopers. Six is ordered to go upstairs to aid [[Emile-A239]] with Jorge and several Army troopers joining to make sure he makes it with Carter warning that the base won't survive another salvo from the corvette. Together, the UNSC forces fight their way to the ruined top floor where Emile uses a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]] to fight off enemy Banshees and a Phantom which deploys several [[Stealth Sangheili]]. The Sangheili are quickly eliminated and Six uses a nearby rocket launcher to join Emile, destroying the Phantom and several Banshees. Finally, all of the nearby Covenant air forces are destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

===Orbital strike===
[[File:Corvette destroyed.png|250px|thumb|right|The Corvette, mid-MAC impact.]]
With the Covenant air forces eliminated, Sword Base is able to launch two [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] to attack the corvette directly. The corvette quickly attempted to make a retreat. As the corvette flies over the water, a Super [[MAC]] round is fired from an [[orbital defense platform]], punching a hole through the ship and sending it plummeting to the surface, ending the Covenant attack.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

==Aftermath==
Immediately after the corvette is destroyed, [[NOBLE Team]] is ordered to meet with Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] in the science wing. At Halsey's request, the Spartans provide her with a report on their previous engagement with the [[Covenant]] at [[Visegrád Relay]] and give her Professor [[Laszlo Sorvad]]'s [[data module]] which supposedly contains a "latchkey discovery" made by Sorvad prior to his death.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=osb}}

Despite the victory, [[Sword Base]] comes under attack by the Covenant again by [[2552#August|August 14]] when [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] takes place.{{Ref/Level|HR|Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace}} By August 23, the base is considered Covenant territory when NOBLE Team is ordered to return for [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE|a torch and burn operation]] to keep the base's excavation data out of Covenant hands,{{Ref/Level|HR|New Alexandria}} in reality a deception to task NOBLE Team with delivering [[Cortana|an important package]].{{Ref/Level|HR|The Package}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HR FarragutBattle.jpg|Noble Strike's Warthog fighting Covenant at Farragut Station.
File:HR AirviewBattle.jpg|Sangheili Rangers firing at Noble Strike's Warthog at Airview Base.
File:HR GaussHog&Revenants.jpg|Noble Strike's Gauss Warthog returning to SWORD Base.
File:HR JorgeJackalsAtriumBattle.jpg|Jorge-052 firing his machine gun at Kig-Yar in the main atrium.
File:HR NobleAtrium.jpg|Noble Strike joins Jorge-052 and Jun-A266 inside the main atrium.
File:HR FireteamAtrium.jpg|Noble Six leading UNSC army troopers to the top floor.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{1st}}

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

{{Engagements in the Fall of Reach}}