Editing Eridanus Secundus

{{Status|Canon}}

|diameter={{Convert|2|km|mi|sp=us}} (approx.)<ref name="diameter">''Halo: First Strike'', page 302 (2010)</ref>

|gravity=0.75 G<ref name="fs304">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 304 (2010)</ref>

'''Eridanus Secundus''' is an [[asteroid]] in the [[Eridanus system]]'s asteroid belt and a major [[Insurrectionist]] base.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 280</ref> The asteroid facility was led by [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]], and, later, [[Jacob Jiles|Governor Jacob Jiles]].{{Ref/Reuse|fleet}}

It became the stronghold of the [[Insurrectionist|Eridanus rebels]] after their [[insurrection]] was put down during [[Operation: TREBUCHET]] in [[2513]]. After overthrowing the [[Eridanus Government]], [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]] was presumed killed in the UNSC's counterattack operation, but in fact he escaped to Eridanus Secundus in the system's asteroid belt with the rest of the rebels.<ref name="pg75">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', pages 75-76</ref> It was the center of all activity for the rebels in the system and many [[Piracy|pirates]] were operating from the asteroid.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', pages 17-18</ref>

After the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] discovered the asteroid base, [[Blue Team|a team]] of [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]] were sent to the asteroid to capture [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]], consisting of [[John-117]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Frederic-104]], [[Linda-058]], and [[Samuel-034]], on [[2525|September 14, 2525]].<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', page 102</ref> The Spartans hid in the reservoir storage tank of the ''[[Laden]]'', a [[freighter]] that transported supplies to the asteroid from [[Eridanus II]].<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', page 97</ref> When the freighter docked with Eridanus Secundus, the Spartans, disguised as construction workers for the asteroid, made their way to Watts' apartment.<ref name="Halo page 108">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', page 108</ref> The Spartans stormed Watts' apartment and killed his insurgent bodyguards with ease. Although John was injured during the firefight, he attacked Watts and choked the Insurrectionist leader into unconsciousness.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', page 112</ref> Blue Team put Watts in a crate and made their way back to Eridanus Secundus' docking bay. The Spartans left a [[Panic button|homing beacon]] on Eridanus Secundus so the UNSC could deal with the insurgents later. Sam put [[C-12 shaped charge|C-12 explosives]] on the asteroid's main bay doors and the Spartans fled in a stolen [[Pelican]] with Watts, as the doors blew and the hangar bay decompressed. As the Pelican left the asteroid, Eridanus Secundus began to vent atmosphere and rotate erratically.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', page 115</ref>

Overtime, the insurgents repaired Eridanus Secundus. Although the homing beacon was left on the asteroid, the UNSC never returned to it due to the outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]] shortly after the raid had occurred. When the [[Covenant]] arrived in the [[Eridanus system]] in [[2530]], the Eridanus rebels remained silent and hidden on the asteroid as the Covenant [[glassed]] Eridanus II.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', page 299</ref>

Following the [[Raid on Reach]] in [[2552|September 7, 2552]], the Spartans and [[Danforth Whitcomb|Admiral Danforth Whitcomb]] visited the facility aboard the ''[[UNSC Gettysburg|Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]]'' for repairs before returning to [[Earth]]. [[John-117]] was able to use his previous visit to the asteroid to guide the ship to it with the help of [[Cortana]]. Whitcomb contacted Eridanus Secundus' new leader, [[Jacob Jiles|Governor Jacob Jiles]], as the asteroid's small fleet surrounded the UNSC vessel.<ref name="fleet">''Halo: First Strike'', page 306</ref> Originally Jiles refused to cooperate, but when the UNSC destroyed an asteroid that was three kilometers in diameter with ease as a warning, Jiles reluctantly allowed them to dock.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 307</ref> The [[Covenant]] followed them to the [[Eridanus system]] and [[Massacre at Eridanus Secundus|began attacking the facility]]. When a [[Covenant cruiser]] arrived at the asteroid, the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice'' managed to destroy it, but the hybrid vessel was further damaged. Jiles had his fleet tow the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice'' back to Eridanus Secundus for repairs.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 320</ref> As the rebels repaired the vessel, [[Catherine Halsey|Doctor Catherine Halsey]] and the sedated [[Kelly-087]] left the system in Jiles' {{Class|Chiroptera|subprowler}}, ''[[Beatrice]]'', so she could complete her own mission to save her Spartans.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 334</ref>

Shortly after, a fleet of thirty Covenant vessels had entered the system. Whitcomb, feeling his duty was to Earth, not the rebels, ordered an immediate retreat to slipspace.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 338</ref> This asteroid, along with all the rebels, were presumed destroyed by the Covenant after the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice'' jumped out of the system. [[Tartarus]] later had a fleet search around Eridanus Secundus for remains of the [[Forerunner crystal]].<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 407</ref>

Eridanus Secundus was one of the larger [[asteroid]]s in the Eridanus asteroid belt, at approximately two kilometers in diameter.{{Ref/Reuse|diameter}} The asteroid's composition was mostly [[Wikipedia:ferric oxide|ferric oxide]] and it was outfitted with [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A battleplate]] and other alloys that would deflect both [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] radar and [[Covenant]] sensors.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 309 (2010)</ref> A [[Hangar bay|hangar]] on the asteroid contained Eridanus Secundus' fleet of fifty modified craft, including [[Pelican]]s with increased armor and chainguns, luxury vessels with missiles, single-manned engineering pods with arc cutters, and a {{Class|Chiroptera|subprowler}}. A hundred improvised civilian craft served to accommodate the navy surrounding the base.{{Ref/Reuse|fleet}} The asteroid rotated fast enough to generate a three-quarter gravity internal environment.{{Ref/Reuse|fs304}}

It was effectively a hollowed-out rock that was fitted on the inside with improvised corridors and facilities from salvaged vessels.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 310 (2010)</ref> In the center of the asteroid was a city, complete with skyscrapers and other large buildings with streets. There were apartments, factories, and even a hospital. The interior held many similarities to a large canyon. A [[tram]] system ran through the city. [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]] resided in a twelve-story apartment complex in the city.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo page 108}} The asteroid also had a hydroponics facility where the inhabitants grew their food.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 259 (2003)</ref> In addition, several decoy radiation emitters were in place around the asteroid that caused outsiders to believe the rebels had [[nuclear weapon]]s around the facility.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', page 315 (2010)</ref>

[[Wikipedia:Secundus|Secundus]] is [[Latin]] for "second," although it can also translate to "lucky" or "favorable."

File:TFoR AS - Asteroid interior.jpg|A hangar bay in the asteroid.

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}

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