Editing Battle over Etalan

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Callsign}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Battle of Seoba]]
|conc=[[Battle of Biko]]
|next=[[Battle of Zhoist]]
|image=
|conflict=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Operation: SILENT STORM]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|date=[[2526#March|March 26, 2526]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|place= In orbit over [[Etalan]], [[Igdras system]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|result=
|side1=[[UNSC]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|side3=
|side4=
|commanders1=*[[Petty Officer First Class|PO1]] [[John-117]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1=*[[Task Force Yama]] detachment{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**{{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**2 [[prowler]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**At least 24 [[S-14 Baselard]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}
**5 captured {{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
*3 [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] teams
**[[Blue Team]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**[[Gold Team]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**[[Green Team]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|forces2=*[[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] logistics fleet{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**15 ships of the line{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
***3 [[bladder ship]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
***4 equipment [[freighter]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
***Several {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
***Several [[Hospital ship|medical vessel]]s{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS21|HSS|Chapter=21}}
**Several [[Seraph]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
**Several {{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}s{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}
|casual1=*At least 13 S-14 Baselards{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}
*All 5 captured Banshees{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}
|casual2=*3 bladder ships{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}
*4 equipment freighters{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}
*Several ''Elsedda''-pattern Banshees{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}
}}

The '''Battle over Etalan''' was an engagement in late [[2526#March|March 2526]] that took place over the former [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] of [[Etalan]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS19|HSS|Chapter=19}} During the battle, a small detachment of the [[UNSC]] [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]'s [[Task Force Yama]] attacked and crippled a [[Covenant]] logistics fleet serving the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS20|HSS|Chapter=20}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} which was busy [[glassing]] the nearby world of [[Biko]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}

==Background==
===Planning===
During [[Task Force Yama]]'s [[Battle of Seoba|previous engagement]] with the [[Covenant]] at [[Seoba]] on [[2526#March|March 19, 2526]], [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]] of the [[21st Space Assault Battalion]] had become suspicious of [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Hector Nyeto]]. He had seemingly stalled in providing [[John-117]] and his fellow [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] with air support during the battle, leading to Crowther to believe that Nyeto had it out for the young supersoldiers. When the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] [[Battle of Biko|arrived]] at [[Biko]] on [[2526#March|March 20]], Nyeto deployed Crowther's Black Daggers aboard the [[prowler]]s of Task Force Yama. Meanwhile, back on the {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}, the colonel had [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] inform the Spartans that he was deploying them to [[Etalan]] in the [[Igdras system]] where the Fleet of Inexorable's logistic fleet was stationed. The alien fleet had recently [[Attack on Etalan|destroyed]] the former [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] and left the logistics fleet there where it would be secure until Biko was similarly [[glassing|cleansed]]. This mission would keep the Spartans away from Nyeto and might also help to slow the Covenant's advance in this part of human space.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS17|HSS|Chapter=17}}

===On the prowl===
That same day, the Spartans, Avery Johnson, and [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] left the [[Kolaqoa system]] aboard the ''Vanishing Point'' with two prowlers serving as escort. Two days later, they dropped out of [[slipspace]] near Etalan and spent the next four days observing the logistics fleet's movements and trying to discern which vessels would be the best to target. By [[2526#March|March 26]], the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s analysts felt confident that four of the fleet's fifteen vessels were equipment [[freighter]]s carrying spare parts and other materials that would be used to keep the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience operational in the field. By this point, the logistics fleet was seemingly ready to break from orbit over Etalan, evidenced by the fact that they had begun syncing their orbits and bringing their [[fusion reactor]]s to full power.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}

==The battle==
===Opening actions===
With time running out, the Spartans enacted the plan that they had come up with over the previous few days. The ''Vanishing Point'' deployed a squadron of twenty [[S-14 Baselard]] [[Space fighter|fighter]]s, with four Baselards at the center of the formation carrying the eight Spartans of [[Green Team|Green]] and [[Gold Team]]s. Their goal was to punch through the logistics fleet's screen of [[Elsedda-pattern Banshee|Banshee]]s and [[Seraph]]s to reach the equipment freighters. Once they got close enough to the target vessels, the Spartans would eject from their Baselards and board the freighters so that they could be destroyed from the inside with [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s. To conceal their approach, their fighters were fitted with pods of chain-linked debris that might also catch some pursuing Banshees if they were lucky. Meanwhile, three of the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s Baselards attracted the attention of another swarm of enemy fighters, intending to lead them past the bow of the stealth cruiser. As they passed, [[Blue Team]] and Staff Sergeant Johnson would launch from the ''Vanishing Point'' aboard the five Banshees that they had captured during their [[Skirmish over Netherop|assault]] on the ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'' a few weeks earlier. The plan called for them to pilot the craft into the [[Hangar bay|hangar]]s of the [[bladder ship|munitions ship]]s currently gathering gas from the atmosphere of Etalan to create [[plasma]]. They would abandon the Banshees with HAVOKs planted within the fighter crafts' cockpits, then go [[Extra-vehicular activity|EV]] to be picked up by the nearby prowlers.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} In preparation for the mission, the five captured Banshees had been made to look heavily damaged, with cannon holes speckling their hulls, their canards and tails stabilizers partially missing, their identifying symbols smudged with soot and gouges, and the integrated antennas on their canopies painted with small impact craters and stress fractures. These damages would reduce any of the Covenant's suspicions of their origins and help explain why they were remaining silent when questioned. Despite their condition, each of the Banshees remained in working order and capable of hold their own in the a dogfight.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}

===Deployment of Blue Team===
As the ''Vanishing Point'' approached the designated drop-off point, Blue Team and Johnson boarded their Banshees while a remotely piloted S-14 Baselard powered up on the hangar deck ahead of them. Once they were ready, the hangar depressurized and its lighting dimmed as the other hatch opened. Five seconds before launch, a decoy flight of three Baselards streamed past the hangar aperture with a Banshee squadron on their tails. Meanwhile, the ''Vanishing Point'' cold-launched a salvo of pre-targeted [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missiles]], using compressed air to push them from their launch tubes. A moment later, the remotely piloted Baselard shot out of the hangar, immediately firing its two Archer missiles at the Banshee squadron as the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s missiles also ignited and flew after the Banshees as well. The alien fighters panicked and scattered, giving the three manned Baselards a chance to escape.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}

John gave Blue Team the order to launch and their five Banshees fell in behind the other Banshee squadron while the ''Vanishing Point'' evacuated its waste holds, dumping refuse intended to look like debris from destroyed fighters. Blue Team's five Banshees fired on the remote-controlled Baselard until it [[self-destruct]]ed into a large fireball intended to distract the Covenant forces as the ''Vanishing Point'' slipped away. [[Sangheili]] voices filled Blue Team's cockpits, no doubt questioning where they came from. When no one responded, a trio of Banshees broke from the main squadron to investigate the new arrivals visually. After about a minute of inspection followed by John wiggling his Banshee feign attempted communication, the lead Banshee wiggled back and led them back into the main squadron which was regrouping with the rest of the logistics fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}

By this time, twelve of the orignal twenty-strong Baselard contingent remained. John watched on as two of the Baselards carrying members of Gold or Green Team exploded, as planned. Shortly after this, two more detonated, meaning that all eight Spartans of those teams had successfully gone EV and were approaching the targeted equipment freighters. Moments later, the freighters began exploding while the Covenant fighters and [[Proselytization network|battlenet]] devolved into panic. The fourth and final nuclear explosion was so close to the Banshee squadron that they were all disabled by the [[electromagnetic pulse]]—both the aliens' and Blue Team's. Since the craft escorting them no longer had the capability to intercept any transmissions, [[Fred-104]] exclaimed his disgust at the Banshees' lack of radiation shielding over [[TEAMCOM]]. After some discussion, it was decided that Blue Team would go EV from their derelict Banshees and intercept the three [[bladder ship]]s as they passed by. John-117 would board the first vessel, [[Kelly-087]] the second, and Fred-104 the third while [[Linda-058]] and Johnson held back to cover them with their [[M99 Stanchion]]s. John ordered Linda and Johnson to focus on protecting Kelly and Fred, but they disagreed, with Linda ignoring John's order and instructing Johnson to cover him. As they left the squadron of adrift Banshees behind, Johnson's [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]—which he had left aboard his Banshee—detonated, killing any potential witnesses aboard the other craft and covering their approach.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}

Meanwhile, the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s two escort prowlers arrived to recover Gold and Green Teams. Assuming the two vessels were preparing another attack run on the logistics fleet, the Covenant attacked the two prowlers and the Baselards accompanying them. Nearing the lead bladder ship, John fired his [[thruster]]s to slow his approach, alerting the vessel's fighter screen to his presence. Eight Banshees began speeding toward him. Over fifty kilometers from the Banshees, Johnson scared one off with his Stanchion fire, but the rest continued on their course, starting to fire on John with their plasma cannons. When their shots were becoming a bit too accurate, John fired at them with the [[M301 grenade launcher|underbarrel grenade launcher]] on his [[MA5C assault rifle]]. It only halted their fire briefly, and they soon regained visual. Seeing that Johnson would not be able to take them all out at this range, John altered his flight path and accelerated toward the lead bladder ship. As he neared the vessel, he prepared his HAVOK with a timer and let it float next to him on the same trajectory. At seven kilometers above the ship, John activated his primary thruster, speeding away as fast as possible. The HAVOK detonated so close that it elevated his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR armor]]'s exterior temperature well above the danger level.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}} Ultimately, all three of the bladder ships were successfully destroyed and the Spartans of Blue Team were recovered after the mission.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}

==Aftermath==
With the equipment freighters and bladder ships decimated, all that remained of the logistics flotilla was its {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s and a couple of [[Hospital ship|medical vessel]]s. As a result, the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience began to run out of carrier gas for its plasma weaponry while [[glassing]] Biko. Wanting to minimize the resulting delay to his [[Massacre of the Outer Colonies|campaign]] through humanity's colonies, [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] decided to call forward a replacement supply convoy from [[Zhoist]]. After collecting the stranglers remaining at Etalan, the new flotilla would rendezvous with the main fleet at Biko. However, when informed by [[Sangheili First Blade officer|First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] that the humans had captured a ''[[kelguid]]'' from [[Worthy Silence|one]] of his [[intrusion corvette]]s that had been downed on Seoba, 'Kvarosee realized his mistake. If the humans were to observe the arrival of the new supply convoy at Etalan, they could use that information and the ''kelguid'' to discover the location of Zhoist, an important relic world and supply node for his campaign. Because of this, the fleetmaster decided that the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience would return to Zhoist to defend it from a potentially imminent counterattack.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS21}}

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

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

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Etalan]]
[[Category:UNSC victories|Etalan]]