Editing Operation: LEFT JAB

{{Status|Canon}}

|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]

**[[Fall of Reach]]{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

|date=[[2552#August|August 14, 2552]]{{Ref/Level|Id=hr solace|HR|[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]}}

|result='''Strategic UNSC victory'''

|side1=

*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]

**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]]

|side2=

*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]

***[[Covenant fleet]]

|commanders1=[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Michael Stanforth]]

|commanders2=*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]†

|forces1=*[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]]{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

*[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] {{c|UPPER CUT}}{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

|forces2=*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}}{{Ref/Reuse|fb7}}{{Ref/Level|Id=fb8|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu}}

|casual1=Unknown

*{{UNSCShip|Savannah}}{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

|casual2=Likely heavy

*''[[Long Night of Solace]]''

'''Operation: LEFT JAB''' was an [[operation]] of the [[United Nations Space Command]] during the [[Fall of Reach|Fall]] of [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] on [[2552#August|August 14, 2552]]. Desperate to destroy the [[Covenant]] {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''—[[flagship]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]—in orbit over Reach, Operation: LEFT JAB distracted the [[Covenant fleet]] while the concurrent [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] destroyed the supercarrier.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb6|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Six: Left Jab}}

==Background==

During the [[Fall of Reach|Fall]] of [[Reach]] in the [[2552|summer of 2552]], [[Covenant]] {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]''—[[flagship]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]—was discovered in orbit over the planet during the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Battle]] at [[Szurdok Ridge]].{{Ref/Level|Id=hr spear|HR|Tip of the Spear}} In response, the [[United Nations Space Command]] concocted two [[operation]]s to destroy the supercarrier, allowing the UNSC to gain the upper hand in the ongoing battle for the planet. [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] would see the destruction of ''Long Night of Solace'', while Operation: LEFT JAB served as a supporting mission to distract the Fleet of Valiant Prudence over Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}}

Operation: UPPER CUT began on Reach, with [[SPARTAN-B312|two]] [[Jorge-052|members]] of [[NOBLE Team]] and [[UNSC Army]] personnel operating [[FSS-1000 Sabre]]s and rendezvousing with {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} at [[refit station]] ''[[Anchor 9]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}} Operation: LEFT JAB was coordinated with ''Savannah'' serving as the initial distraction in the operation. Meanwhile, [[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]] of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence was becoming increasing stressed upon learning that a massive fleet from the Covenant's [[Ministry of Resolution]] was en route to Reach and his lack of success in the battle would likely result in his interrogation by the [[Hierarchs]]. In addition, UNSC forces were probing his defenses, attempting to exploit the fleet's weaknesses.{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}} As Operation: LEFT JAB began, UNSC ''Savannah''{{'}}s [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] was removed and attached to a [[D77-TC Pelican]] [[dropship]] for transport—the UNSC intended to destroy ''Long Night of Solace'' by using the slipspace engine as a makeshift bomb.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

{{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' was then engaged by the Sabres and ''Savannah''. While the frigate distracted the corvette and jammed its communications, the Sabres destroyed ''Ardent Prayer''{{'}}s fighter escort. With the corvette's engines disabled by ''Savannah'', the Sabres boarded ''Ardent Prayer''.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}} Meanwhile, Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth]] ordered for the second half of the operation to begin: the [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] was ordered to directly engage the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. Operation: LEFT JAB stretched the Covenant fleet's forces thin and left ''Long Night of Solace'' and ''Ardent Prayer'' isolated from the rest of the fleet. As the UNSC moved in on the two ships to support Operation: UPPER CUT's task force, Rho 'Barutamee realized that his own forces were out of position and could not support him.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb7|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow}} Although ''Ardent Prayer'' was able to destroy ''Savannah'', the UNSC forces aboard the corvette was able to rig the slipspace drive to detonate and create a slipspace rupture that destroyed the corvette and ''Long Night of Solace''.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

With ''Long Night of Solace'' destroyed and Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee presumably dead, the Epsilon Eridani Fleet engaged the remnants of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. 'Barutamee's second-in-command, [[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]] assumed command of the splintered Covenant ships and attempted to lead the fleet against UNSC forces over Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|fb7}} Shortly after, the massive fleet from the Ministry of Resolution exited slipspace over the planet, continuing the battle for Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

 

! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->

| rowspan="2" | [[UNSC Navy]]

|[[Kristòf Jen]]{{Ref/Reuse|hr solace}}

 

{| class="wikitable sortable " style="width: 75%;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"

|''[[Ardent Prayer]]''{{Ref/Reuse|fb6}}

 

! Status<!--This refers to their status after the battle, not their overall status-->

The operation is mistakenly referred to as "Operation: LEFT HOOK" in [[Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow]] of ''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''.

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Operations]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:LEFT JAB}}