New Mombasa
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New Mombasa was a major port city and industrial center on Mombasa Island in south Kenya, in the East African Protectorate on Earth. A dominant feature of the city skyline was the Mombasa Tether, located on the mouth of the river north of the island. Old Mombasa surrounded the metropolis on all sides on the mainland. Like Earth's other tether cities, New Mombasa's infrastructure was managed with the help of a second generation "dumb" AI, the Superintendent.[1][2]
It was the main target of the initial Covenant attack during the Battle for Earth.[3] The city was invaded, occupied, and destroyed in the course of the conflict.
History[edit]
Mombasa[edit]
Mombasa has long been a key port along the Indian Ocean trade routes and was seized and reclaimed numerous times by various powers, including Portugal, the United Kingdom, and different Arab forces. This turbulent past earned it the Swahili nickname "Kisiwa Cha Mvita," meaning "Island of War." In the 20th century, the city became part of the independent nation of Kenya. During this time, Mombasa developed into a popular tourist destination, known for its many resorts and pristine white beaches. It also remained a vital port, linking East Africa to the Indian Ocean.
Formation of New Mombasa[edit]
In 2302,[2] due to its economic stability and prominent location, New Mombasa—at that time the world's busiest sea port—was chosen to be Earth's first space elevator city. The elevator transformed the city; New Mombasa became one of the most important cities on Earth.[4]
Over the next eleven years the city experienced explosive growth, but nothing compared to what followed. The city grew out as well as up, its urban sprawl unequaled throughout the continent.[2]
By 2430, New Mombasa had absorbed the entire island and many of the surrounding towns, which became overrun by residents of Mombasa. The switch of name was never official, and though many of the neighborhoods within direct line of sight to the Mombasa Tether still distributed newspapers and chatter directories under their previous names, all municipalities within a 74-kilometer radius of the island became referred to as "Old Mombasa".[2]
Battle of Mombasa[edit]
- "This is the only place on Earth the Covenant decided to land. That Prophet is going to tell us why."
- — Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood[3]
- Main article: Battle of Mombasa
On October 20th, 2552, a small fleet of Covenant capital ships exited slipspace just off of Earth's defensive network. During the ensuing battle, a Covenant CAS-class assault carrier, Solemn Penance breached the orbital fortifications and jumped in slipspace to the surface.[5] The ship, which carried the Covenant Hierarch known as the High Prophet of Regret, took position over the Uplift Nature Reserve.[6] In Old Mombasa, announcements in Swahili were broadcast over a public address system. These propagandist announcements encouraged New Mombasa's citizens to fight against the invading "alien zealots"; even though there was very little truth to these announcements as they were only intended to increase the morale of the population.[7]
Later that day, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 was deployed into Old Mombasa to assist UNSC forces to liberate the city from the Covenant. After fighting through the maze-like streets of the mainland, the Master Chief crossed the empty beach below the seawall and then entered the highway system and the bridge to New Mombasa. After a series of quick battles in a public park and the city streets, the Chief boarded and destroyed a Covenant Scarab as it passed through the city's artificial canals. After destroying the Scarab, the Chief returned to the UNSC In Amber Clad. At this point, the Covenant troops were retreating back into the Solemn Penance, which was preparing to leave.[8]
Meanwhile, in orbit, an ODST task force was preparing to hot-drop onto the carrier. While the ODSTs were on their way down, Solemn Penance jumped into slipspace, with the In Amber Clad and 4 other ships in pursuit.[9] The ensuing shockwave and EMP engulfed the whole city, causing heavy damage to its digital infrastructure, and scattering the ODSTs' drop pods around the city; at least the six members of Alpha-Nine survived landing. Although the whole of Mombasa Island was consumed by the explosion, only some buildings close to the slipspace vortex were sucked through.[10] The slipspace rupture also created a large crater to the mainland, north of Mombasa Island. This was where the Covenant would eventually begin their excavation for the Forerunner structure under the region.[9]
- "Before 2552, there was no way anything like that could happen on Earth. On one of those distant planets in the outer colonies, maybe. But an attack on Earth? Couldn't happen. Until it did. It's called glassing. Covenant warships rain plasma down on a planet until everything and everyone on the surface melts. Usually, it's complete world destruction. Earth only got a taste. The prolonged orbital bombardment destroyed East Africa, killing millions before it ended. None of us were safe anymore."
- — Benjamin Giraud