Editing Fall of Reach

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the battle|other uses|Fall of Reach (disambiguation)}}
{{Battle infobox
|name=Fall of Reach
|image=[[File:Fall of Reach compilation.png|300px]]
|caption=Clockwise from top left: The [[Devoted Sentries]] and [[NOBLE Team]] battle one another at [[Visegrád Relay]]; [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|dozens of UNSC deployments]] across the [[Viery Territory]]; [[UNSC Army]] personnel in [[M12 Warthog]]s engage {{Pattern|Is'belox|Banshee}}s; [[Jun-A266]] and [[Emile-A239]] at [[SWORD Base]] during [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]; Sgt. [[Avery Johnson]] fighting a [[Kig-Yar]] on [[Gamma Station]]; the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} escaping Reach.
|prev=*[[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]
*[[Battle of Beta Eridani]]
|conc=*[[Battle for Tribute]]
*[[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]]
*[[Raid on Mount Haven]]
*[[Battle of Beta Gabriel]]
|next=[[Battle of Installation 04]]
|conflict=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]]
|date=[[2552#July|July 23, 2552]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=43}} – [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]]{{Ref/Game|Id=H3R|ODST|[[:File:ONI Plaque Right.jpg|Reference of Reach event]]}}{{Ref/Note|While the time stamps in ''Halo Reach'' use Reach's local time, the dates given are based on the UNSC military calendar. This is supported by the entries in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].}} <br>
*[[#Timeline|See below]]
|place=[[Reach]], [[Epsilon Eridani system]]
|result='''Covenant victory'''
*Reach [[Glassing|glassed]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2aheretic}}{{Ref/Reuse|actual}}
*All major military sites and population centers destroyed{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=94}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
|side1=
*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]
**{{Icon|Marine Corps}} [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]
**{{Icon|Army}} [[UNSC Army|Army]]
**{{Icon|Air Force}} [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]]
*[[Reach militia]]
|side2=
*{{Icon|Covenant H2}} [[Covenant]]
**[[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]
**[[Ministry of Resolution]]
|commanders1=
*[[Admiral|ADM]] [[Roland Freemont]]†
*[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Michael Stanforth]]†
*[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]]
*[[Colonel|COL]] [[Urban Holland]]
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]]
|commanders2=
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]†
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee
*[[Field Marshal]] [[Orsu Lar 'Ahtalee]]†
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]
|forces1=
See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]]
*385,421,100 available military manpower{{Ref/Site|Id=factbook|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel|Site=Bungie.net|Page=CAA Factbook on Reach's military power|D=7|M=3|Y=2013}}
**[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]]
***152 [[warship]]s {{C|August 30}}{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}
****[[UNSC Trafalgar|1]] [[Punic-class supercarrier|supercarrier]] 
****Several [[Marathon-class heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers]]
****2+ [[Halcyon-class light cruiser|light cruisers]]
****95+ [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] and [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Chapter=33|Quote=Twenty thousand kilometers from the planet, a cluster of a hundred UNSC ships collected at rally point Zulu: destroyers, frigates, three cruisers, two carriers—and three refit and repair stations hovering over them. . . waiting to be used as sacrificial shields. “Fifty-two additional UNSC warships inbound to rally point Zulu,” Cortana reported.|Detail=Frigates and destroyers comprised 95% of the initial force (95/100).}}
****Numerous [[UNSC corvette|corvettes]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS22|FS|Chapter=22}}
****18 [[refit station|refit and repair stations]]
**20 [[orbital defense platform]]s
**58,485 land assets{{Ref/Reuse|factbook}}
***26 [[Spartan-IIs]]{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Wars|URL=http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Timeline.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Timeline|D=17|M=1|Y=2008}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=FS Adjunct|FS|Chapter=Adjunct}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=DttE|jh7Q3fjIIwc|HALO|Defiant to the End|D=18|M=3|Y=2011}}{{Ref/Game|Id=Library|CEA|CEA:Library|Library|Detail=Pelican}}<!-- This figure includes the 25 NAVSPECWEAP Spartan-IIs recalled to Reach (as stated in the listed sources) as well as Jorge.-->
***Numerous [[Spartan-III]]s
***Multiple [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]]
**11,050 air assets{{Ref/Reuse|factbook}}
|forces2=
See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]]
*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]
**[[Long Night of Solace|1]] {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
**3+ {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}s{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=SC|FB| Two to Eight campaigns}}
**11+ {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}
**29+ {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}{{Ref/Reuse|sword}}{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
*[[Ministry of Resolution]]'s fleet
**A large number of ships
***At least 3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
***At least 10 {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
***At least 4 {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|exodus}}
*Around 315 ships {{C|August 30}}{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}{{Ref/Note|In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the ''Pillar of Autumn'' moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315}}{{Ref/Note|During the opening cutscene of the '''[[Halo 2]]''' level ''[[H2:Cairo Station|Cairo Station]]'', [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] states that the fleet that destroyed Reach was "fifty times" larger than the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|fifteen ship fleet]] attacking Earth; taken at face value, it would seem that Hood is speaking in hyperbole. The 2010 reissue of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' took this statement literally and changed the number of ships at Reach from around 300 to "over 750"; however, this change was made in only one instance, with all other statements regarding the fleet's size remaining consistent with prior versions of the novel. While the 2011 ''Definitive Edition'' removed this change, it is repeated in the comic book adaption, ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''.}}
**[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=GOO27|GoO|Chapter=27}}
**[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]{{Ref/Level|Id=Heretic|H2|H2:The Heretic|The Heretic}}
**[[Fleet of Holy Respite]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=Priority|HTF|Adjunct|Detail=[[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit]]}}
**[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]{{Ref/Anthology|Id=Return|Evo|The Return}}
*Numerous ground forces
|casual1=Catastrophic
*650,000,000 - 1,000,000,000+ casualties{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
**Over 130 [[UNSC starship|ships]]
**20 orbital defense platforms
**All refit and repair stations
**Majority of ground forces
***Eight Spartan-IIs and at least seventeen Spartan-IIIs{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFeetFall|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-feet-first-into-fall|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Feet First Into Fall|D=29|M=09|Y=2025}}
|casual2=Massive
*Heavy terrestrial and exoatmospheric losses
*Over 145 [[Covenant starship|ships]]{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}{{Ref/Note|In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the ''Pillar of Autumn'' moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315. Then, it is stated that ''"the surviving Covenant vessels advanced in-system—a third of their number were left behind... burning radioactive hulks or utterly destroyed by the Super MAC rounds"''. One-third of 315 is 105. Following that, ''"sixteen Covenant ships were blasted into flame and glittering fragments"'', the orbital guns' super-heavy rounds ''"impacted eighteen incoming Covenant ships"'', and ''"six Covenant ships cleared the interfering cloud of vapor"'' before being destroyed. <nowiki>105+16+18+6=145</nowiki> total destroyed Covenant ships in this particular battle.}}
*Majority of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence
}}
{{Series/Battle/Fall of Reach}}
{{Quote|We knew this day would come. They have found our fortress among the stars. The [[Covenant]] are on Reach. They will burn this planet, kill millions, and when Reach falls—and fall it will—there will be nothing left to stand between them - and [[Earth]].|[[Dr. Catherine Halsey]]{{Ref/Marketing|HR|Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise}}}}

The '''Fall of Reach''' was one of the largest and bloodiest [[battle|engagements]] in the [[Human-Covenant War|Human-Covenant]] [[War]]. It was fought on and around the [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] [[planet|world]] of [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] from [[2552|July 25 to August 30, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3R}}

Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|small Covenant task force]] led by the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' covertly established a foothold on Reach. The Covenant began to solidify their hold and began searching for Forerunner relics as the UNSC counter-attacked, attempting to drive the Covenant off the surface before reinforcements arrived. Ultimately, the UNSC was unsuccessful, and substantial Covenant reinforcements under [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee arrived in the system. After hard fighting, the Covenant breached the orbital defense grid and overran the UNSC's planetside forces. After overwhelming the defenders, the Covenant [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet. Isolated skirmishes between UNSC remnants and the Covenant forces continued until their recovery by a small rescue party led by [[John-117]].

Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, [[NOBLE Team]] preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], where they [[Battle of Installation 04|engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle]]. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the [[Great Schism|subsequent political schism]] within the Covenant while [[Battle for Earth|attacking]] [[Earth]], would be invaluable to the [[Battle of Installation 00|ultimate defeat]] of the Covenant.

==Nomenclature==
The battle for the planet Reach is most frequently named the '''Fall of Reach''',{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=198}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/abouthalo/timeline|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo Official Timeline|D=26|M=9|Y=2009}} but it also has been known as the '''Battle of Reach'''{{Ref/Site|Id=BnetDefiant|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30646|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Defiant Map Pack|D=2|M=8|Y=2014}} and the '''Reach Campaign'''.{{Ref/Game|H2|Conversations from the Universe|Detail=Grunt Conversation}} Officially, the UNSC refers to the battle as the '''Defense of Reach'''.{{Ref/Generic|Id=lootcrate2|Heading=[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|Subheading=[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]}}

==Background==
[[File:Reach "The Battle Begins"-Elite.png|thumb|left|250px|The communications cutoff between Reach and other UEG colonies was originally attributed to localized [[Insurrectionist]]s. However, upon investigating, NOBLE Team discovered that the Covenant's [[Devoted Sentries]] were responsible.]]
At some point before July 19, 2552, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] ran a series of calculations that predicted the future movement of the Covenant force sweeping throughout [[Milky Way|the galaxy]]. Based on these calculations, ONI determined that there was an 87.2% probability that the Epsilon Eridani system would be discovered by the Covenant within five months. [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]], the [[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence|head of ONI]], debated with [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] about using Reach as the stage for the planned [[Operation: RED FLAG]]; the pair considered that the presence of large-scale [[Forerunner]] artifacts on the planet would be a source of Covenant interest in the planet. The rest of the UNSC, however, was given no warning of the predicted attack.{{Ref/Generic|Id=drop4|Data Drops|Detail=Data Drop #4}} Other worlds considered to be used as bait for RED FLAG included [[Arcadia]], [[Harvest]], and [[Meridian]].{{Ref/Generic|Id=drop5|[[Data Drop]]s|Detail=Data Drop #5}} The goal of RED FLAG would be to use Reach as bait to draw in a "Class-5" [[Covenant carrier]] with which a team of [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] supersoldiers could capture it and then proceed to capture a Covenant [[Hierarchs|High Prophet]], and try to negotiate an end to the ongoing war.{{Ref/Reuse|drop4}} 

ONI's prediction came true less than a week after Admiral Parangosky sent her message. Following a [[Battle of Beta Eridani|victory]] against the humans in the [[Beta Eridani system]], Supreme Commander [[Rho 'Barutamee]] of the Covenant's [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] was able to secure a [[Luminary]] that informed him of Reach's location. 'Barutamee cared little of the humans in the Epsilon Eridani system, and did not know the significance of Reach to the UNSC.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=flight|HFB|Scenario One: Flight!}}{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=contact|HFB|Scenario Two: Contact}} On July 23, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence arrived at Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The recovered Luminary marked the presence of the Forerunner [[Rate]] of [[Builder]]s across the system.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} After arriving at Reach, the fleet clandestinely deployed a large ground force to the [[Viery Territory]]. This invasion force was cloaked from UNSC sensors by sophisticated [[stealth pylon]]s deployed around it. The Covenant also sent a small [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] strike team, the [[Devoted Sentries]], to disable vital communications infrastructure in [[Visegrád Relay]]. The strike force disabled the communications array at [[Visegrád]], cutting off communications from the northern parts of [[Alföld]] to the larger communications hubs further south, leaving a large portion of Reach isolated from the rest of the UNSC.{{Ref/Game|Id=OverlookRadio|HR|Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations|Detail=Overlook}}

ONI informants on [[Verge]] led to the belief that this may be [[Insurrectionist]] activity from a local cell of the [[People's Occupation]], though Admiral Parangosky suspected it may be the start of their long-awaited Covenant attack. As such, she recalled [[Battle Group Leviathan]], under Vice Admiral Stanforth, from [[Sigma Octanus IV]].{{Ref/Generic|Id=drop3|[[Data Drop]]s|Detail=Data Drop #3}} ONI relayed this information to [[Unified Special Warfare Command]], who in turn deployed [[Special Warfare Group Three]] into the [[Visegrád]] region to conduct general counterinsurgency operations.{{Ref/Novel|Id=entry19021024|HTFoR|Adjunct|Detail=Entry 19-021/024}} In response, the [[UNSC Army|Army]] was deployed into [[Pálháza]],{{Ref/Reuse|OverlookRadio}} with several fireteams including [[3 Charlie]] sent to investigate the matter.{{Ref/Marketing|Id=patrol|HR|Remember Reach|Patrol}} Contact with these fireteams was lost shortly thereafter.{{Ref/Reuse|actual}}

{{Article quote|ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One.{{Ref/Level|Id=actual|HR|Reach:Noble Actual|Noble Actual}}}}

===Winter Contingency===
{{Main|Battle of Visegrád}}
{{Quote|Colonel, this is NOBLE One. There are no rebels. The Covenant are on Reach.|[[Carter-A259]]{{Ref/Level|Id=winter|HR|Reach:Winter Contingency|Winter Contingency}}}}

On July 24, the day after the [[Visegrád Relay]] was disabled, [[Spartan]] [[NOBLE Team]] was sent to investigate the disturbance in lieu of the missing Army fireteams.{{Ref/Reuse|actual}} The group had been conducting anti-insurrection operations in the region in conjunction with SpecWar Three, and were thus on-hand to assist.{{Ref/Reuse|patrol}}{{Ref/Reuse|entry19021024}} Upon landing in Visegrád and scouting the surrounding countryside, NOBLE Team quickly discovered that insurrectionists were not responsible for the attack; a small Covenant advance force had found Reach and landed at Visegrád, with the intent of disabling Reach's communications with other UNSC colonies. After wiping out the advance force, NOBLE Team proceeded to the relay station, where they were ambushed by the Devoted Sentries. [[WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)|WINTER CONTINGENCY]] was then declared on Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|winter}}{{Ref/Mag|Id=EDGE|EDGE Magazine|Y=2010|M=2|Issue=211|Title=Halo: Reach}}{{Ref/Mag|Id=GI512|Game Informer|Y=2010|M=2|Issue=210|Title=Halo: Reach}}

Following the declaration of the WINTER CONTINGENCY, several ONI field agents were given [[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders|supplemental orders]] to secure or - if necessary - terminate UNSC astronavigation personnel to ensure their knowledge would not fall into the hands of the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|Id=supplemental|TFoR|Adjunct|Detail=[[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders]]}}

==Battle==
===Opening battles===
{{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|HR|Reach:Tip of the Spear|Tip of the Spear}}}}
Operating using cloaking technology and stealth tactics, the Covenant had created a fortified landing zone on Reach, with anti-air guns around the perimeter of their staging area in the [[Viery Territory]] where they had covertly inserted a large amount of forces, including several stealth-capable {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s.{{Ref/Level|Id=hrnightfall|HR|Reach:Nightfall|Nightfall}} On July 26, two days after the skirmish at Visegrád, the Covenant [[Battle of Sword Base|launched an attack]] on [[SWORD Base]] in an attempt to overrun the ONI facility and access the [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|Forerunner structures]] there. However, these forces were repulsed after NOBLE Team reinforced the base and brought its [[M71 Scythe|air defences]] and communications back online. The Covenant corvette attacking it was forced to retreat and was destroyed by an [[orbital defense platform]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]].{{Ref/Level|Id=sword|HR|Reach:ONI: Sword Base|ONI: Sword Base}}

On August 1, half of Vice Admiral Stanforth's Battle Group Leviathan arrived in the Epsilon Eridani system, the other half having been left at Sigma Octanus to defend it in case of a potential followup Covenant attack there.{{Ref/Reuse|drop4}} Over the next two weeks Leviathan began to engage the Fleet of Valiant Prudence in space across the system. While the battle began on the ground, Rho's forces in space began to enagage UNSC Naval forces across the system, engaging light battlegroups composed mainly of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s and a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} in space.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} Following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach, the personnel of [[Teller Station]] - a research laboratory working at [[Site 17]] in the system's [[Oort cloud]] - prepared to evacuate after being ordered to condense their last dig into barely a fortnight. These activities awakened the senescent Forerunner systems there, alerting the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to the site. Rho deployed a "significant portion of his fleet"{{Ref/Reuse|run}} there consisting of 4 ''Ceudar''-pattern corvettes and 2 ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers, only to be engaged by Battle Group Leviathan.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=evacuate|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Three: Evacuate}} The Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, though the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}} leading the battle group to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant into a trap near Reach itself{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=run|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Four: Run!}} - likely an attempt to draw in ''Long Night of Solace'' for RED FLAG. The battle group fought off their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements from Reach itself to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=intothefire|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Five: Into the fire}}

[[File:UNSC Attack.jpg|thumb|left|250px|UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].{{Ref/Reuse|tots}}]]
{{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}}
On August 12, over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC [[Mission to Szurdok Ridge|sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory]] in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.{{Ref/Reuse|hrnightfall}} With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the [[UNSC Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|anti-air weapons]] to make way for [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', appeared over the area, attacking the UNSC frigates and reinforcing the Covenant troops.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} Meanwhile, Covenant forces made another strike on SWORD Base, this time with much greater success. Around this time, sixty percent of the Fleet was recalled to Reach from existing deployments; these reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by August 15.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} The same day as the battles at Szurdok Ridge, {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} and presumably the rest of Battle Group Leviathan returned from Sigma Octanus IV.{{Ref/Book|Id=leviathan12|Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Page=August 12, 2552}}{{Ref/Novel|HTFoR|Chapter=24}} Unbeknownst to the UNSC, ''Iroquios'' was carrying a [[Relay mite]] that had been discretely attached to the ship during the previous battle at Sigma Octanus IV. This probe communicated back to the Covenant at large outside of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence, alerting them to the location of Reach.{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR23|HTFoR|Chapter=23}}

===The battle begins===
{{Main|Operation: UPPER CUT|Operation: LEFT JAB}}
[[File:LNoS ends.jpg|thumb|250px|''Long Night of Solace'' being destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}]]
{{Quote|no=five|Air Control (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|ATC 2 (COM)|Colonel Holland (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|q1=They're everywhere!|q2=Slipspace rupture detected.|q3=Oh no, this can't be happening!|q4=Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!|q5=Slipspace rupture detected.|The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}}}
The reveal of the supercarrier led to the UNSC devising a plan to destroy it, involving two simultaneous operations by [[UNSC Naval Command|NAVCOM]] in space and [[Unified Ground Command|UNICOM]] on the ground. The former, [[Operation: LEFT JAB]], involved harassing and stretching the Fleet of Valiant Prudence's escort as much as possible in order to leave ''Long Night of Solace'' in a vulnerable position.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=leftjab|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Six: Left Jab}} Stanforth hoped to use ''Long Night of Solace'' as a target for capture as per Operation: RED FLAG.{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}} However, the UNICOM operation, [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], was set on destroying the carrier. UPPER CUT was designed to use experimental [[FSS-1000 Sabre|YSS-1000 Sabre]] starfighters to capture the Covenant corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' and deliver an improvised [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine#Atypical uses|slipspace drive "bomb"]] to the supercarrier and destroy it. NOBLE Team were deployed to fend off an attack at the Sabre [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range|research site]] at [[Farkas Lake]], before deploying to refit station [[Anchor 9]] in the fighters to prepare for the operation.{{Ref/Level|Id=lnos|HR|Reach:Long Night of Solace|Long Night of Solace}} [[Spartan-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of [[UNSC Army|Army]] pilots, with the aid of the frigate ''Savannah'', boarded the ''Ardent Prayer'' and took control of it.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet76|HWF|Page=76-77}}

[[File:Reach AssaultCarriers.jpg|thumb|260px|left|A larger Covenant fleet sent by the [[Ministry of Resolution]] enters the system, escalating the siege of the planet.]]
By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the threat of the human presence on the surface and the importance of the planet he was attacking. If this wasn't enough, the [[Ministry of Resolution]] had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet (presumably alerted by the Relay mite attached to ''Iroquois''), and his artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface. If the commander wasn't able to produce something of value soon, he might be forced to retreat or face the wrath of the [[Hierarch]]s for his ineptitude. Stanforth had managed to spread his fleet thin, probing his defences from all sides. The UNSC fleet at large initiated a massive attack known as [[Operation: LEFT JAB]] to distract the supercarrier,{{Ref/Reuse|leftjab}} allowing NOBLE Team's operation to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC [[task force]]s were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=finishingblow|HFB|Scenario=Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow}}

Noble Five then sacrificed himself to destroy ''Long Night of Solace''. However, just as the supercarrier was destroyed, the Ministry of Resolution's massive fleet of warships exited slipspace in orbit over the planet, consisting of at least [[Unidentified Covenant assault carrier class|3 assault carriers]], 10 battlecruisers, and a number of heavy corvettes.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} The supercarrier's wreckage landed near [[New Alexandria]], killing Barutamee in the process. Shipmaster [[Kantar 'Utaralee]] assumed command of what remained of the now-splintered Fleet of Valiant Prudence, leading them once again to recover the Site 17 artifact, now relocated to a station near [[Turul]].{{Ref/Tabletop|Id=zulu|HFB|