Fall of Reach/Silver

This article is about the battle in the Silver Timeline. For other uses, see Fall of Reach (disambiguation).

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This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.

Previous:	Operation: SHEPHERD
Next:	Onyx Conflict
Fall of Reach
Conflict:	Human-Covenant War
Date:	April 6-7, 2553
Location:	Reach, Epsilon Eridani system
Outcome:	Covenant victory Reach is glassed and abandoned by the UNSC. Successful evacuation of some civilians Capture of Cortana by Covenant Recovery of Eridanus II Forerunner Keystone by Covenant
Details Belligerents UNSC Covenant Commanders ADM Jacob Keyes† MCPO John-117 Makee Arbiter Var 'Gatanai Strength Silver Team UNSC Marine Corps At least 1 Scorpion tank Covenant fleet Hundreds of Sangheili Hundreds of Kig-Yar At least one Jiralhanae Numerous Wraiths Casualties Heavy Danilo Louis-036 Jacob Keyes Vannak-134 John-117 (WIA) Riz-028 (WIA) Heavy

This article is part of a series on the
Fall of Reach

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Timeline
Engagements
Aftermath
Participants

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Silver

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To check out information for other Human-Covenant War battles, see here!

v • d • e

"I bring you blessings, people of Reach. Know that I've come without mercy. Without pity. Know that I am the instrument of your extinction. I bring this planet forth as a burnt offering. Upon this altar, I place the head of the Demon. May his blood mark the way to the Sacred Ring and consecrate the Great Journey of my people. Know that I am Var 'Gatanai. Know that I am... Death."

— Translation by Corporal Talia Perez of Var's prayer.

The Fall of Reach was a major Covenant invasion of the United Nations Space Command stronghold planet Reach after the Covenant attacked with the intention of wiping the planet out and the greater UNSC abandoned Reach to its fate in order to preserve its vital military assets.

Background

Human-Covenant War

Main article: Human-Covenant War/Silver

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Battle

SWORD Base

Main article: Raid on SWORD Base

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Visegrad

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Reach City

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Last stand at WHITE TOWER

Silver Team, Marines, and an M808 Scorpion positioned themselves on one of the bridges to WHITE TOWER. After illuminating said bridge with white phosphorous, they would engage waves of Sangheili. Meanwhile, a team of Jackals grappled up to a hangar on the building as civilians were being loaded on a shuttle to escape. The ship attempted to escape, but it's fuel lines were attached. Admiral Keyes sacrificed himself disconnecting them. The loose fuel resulted in a massive explosion. The Arbiter also managed to reach the same floor, battling remaining UNSC forces including Silver Team. In the ensuing fight, Vannak was killed in action and Riz was wounded. Riz, John, Soren, and Dr. Halsey all managed to escape Reach City as it was glassed.

Aftermath

Kai-125 and Talia Perez talking in front of a propaganda poster made after John-117's declared death.

When John-117 regained consciousness two days after the battle, Dr. Catherine Halsey told him that Reach had been destroyed and the civilian evacuation ships had scattered in the chaos. It was also unclear how many people had managed to escape from the Fall of Reach or if any other Spartans besides the remnants of Silver Team had gotten off of the planet either. Miranda Keyes later noted that Reach's survivors ended up scattered all over the galaxy.

While the Covenant succeeded in recovering one of the keystones, the other one remained in the UNSC's hands.

John was declared killed in action in the Fall of Reach to the rest of the UNSC with recruiting posters reading "You Are The Master Chief" against the backdrop of a burning Reach, "Finish His Fight," "For The Chief," "Don't Let It Be In Vain," "He Lives On In You," "Spartans Never Die," and "Heroes Live Forever."

John later convinced James Ackerson to reveal the truth about the UNSC - and specifically Admiral Maragaret Parangosky - abandoning Reach to be destroyed by the Covenant, donning his armor and showing the personnel at Camp Currahee that ONI had lied about the Master Chief's death. Ackerson predicted to Parangosky that when the story of what really happened on Reach got told, people would believe John about it.

Participants

• Catherine Halsey
• Cortana
• Danilo
• Jacob Keyes
• Jade
• John-117
• Louis-036
• Pavlenko
• Riz-028
• Soren-066
• Vannak-134
• Talia Perez
• Tyrell

Covenant

• Makee
• Var 'Gatanai

Gallery

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  Jackals attacking Reach City.

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  Var 'Gatanai leading the attack on Reach City.

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  Ships returning to Reach city for evacuations.

List of appearances

• Halo: The Television Series Season Two
  • Sword (First appearance)
  • Visegrád
  • Reach
  • Aleria
  • Onyx (Mentioned only)
  • Thermopylae (Mentioned only)