Editing Raid on Verge

{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev        = [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]
|conc        = [[Battle of Tribute]], [[Fall of Reach]]
|next        = [[Operation: BLOWBACK]]
|name        = Raid on Verge
|image       = [[File:Bloodline Verge.png|300px]]
|caption     = Black-Two rescuing Black-Three on Verge
|conflict    = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date        = Between [[2552#July|July 24]] and late [[2552#August|August, 2552]]{{Ref/Note|While ''Blunt Instruments'' never gives an accurate date for the raid, it can be determined by the fact that the [[Battle of Tribute]] takes place concurrently. The Covenant arrived in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] (home to Tribute) on July 24, 2552. [[News:Archive/21 May 2009/Fred Van Lente and Spartan Black|According to Fred van Lente]], the events of ''Halo: Blood Line'' (which occur after ''Blunt Instruments'') take place before the eventual fall of the planet Reach on August 30; the short story therefore must take place at least several days prior to end of the month.}}
|place       = [[Ciudad de Arias]], [[Verge]]
|result      = UNSC victory
*Beacon destroyed
|side1       = [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2       = [[Covenant]]
|side3       = Covenant [[convicts]]
|commanders1 = *[[Margaret-053]]
|commanders2 = *Unknown
|commanders3 = *None
|forces1     = *[[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Black Team]]
**Margaret-053
**[[Roma-143]]
**[[Otto-031]]
**[[Victor-101]]
|forces2     =*Several [[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Kig-Yar]] guards
|forces3     = *[[Yanme'e]] [[Unmutuals]]
**[[Hopalong]]
|casual1     =*None
|casual2     =*All prison guards
|casual3     =*Almost all prisoners
}}

The '''Raid on Verge''' was an engagement that took place on the human colony world of [[Verge]] between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] in mid-2552.<ref name="evo">'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''Blunt Instruments''</ref>

==Background==
The UNSC colony of Verge had been invaded by the Covenant some months prior, and the rich [[Helium|helium-3]] deposits in its mantle were now being strip-mined by a Covenant [[Beacon]], a mobile mining and refinery facility. The Beacon converted the helium into energy and sent it to a network of orbiting satellites, which then transmitted the energy to Covenant ships [[Battle of Tribute|assaulting]] the colony of [[Tribute]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. The Beacon was operated by a [[Unmutuals|penal colony]] of [[Yanme'e]] workers, excluded from their hives due to their various personality disorders, overseen by [[Kig-Yar]] and [[Mgalekgolo]] guards.

The UNSC managed to locate the source of the energy and sent [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Black Team]] to destroy the Beacon in order to disrupt the Covenant's supply of fuel.

==The raid==
After Black Team made planetfall, they made their way past ten square kilometers of heavily fortified anti-aircraft emplacements around the ruined city of [[Ciudad de Arias]], where the Beacon was currently situated. After making their way to one of the skyscrapers, they assessed the enemy defenses around the Beacon. [[Roma-143]] ("Black-Two") then found an injured, apparently non-hostile Yanme'e. The Drone, which she nicknamed "[[Hopalong]]", told them of an alternate, hidden route to the Beacon. While the rest of the team were suspicious, they decided to trust the Yanme'e due to the opportunity to catch the enemy by surprise.

In the next morning, after getting some sleep, the team moved to the Beacon through the tunnels, led by Hopalong. After reaching the main cavern close to the Beacon, each Spartan would go separate ways and plant [[C-12 shaped charge]]s on the Beacon's four [[Anti-gravity technology|anti-gravity pylons]]. After a ten-minute countdown, the team engaged the guards near the pylons and planted the charges.

However, Hopalong had obtained a device from one of the guards that allowed him to free the entire penal colony of their shackles. The Yanme'e then started attacking their guards, as well as the Spartans. [[Margaret-053]] ("Black-One") ordered the team to return to the [[rally point]] at the tunnel entrance, but Roma discovered a better means of escape: an intact underground train. However, as the team proceeded to move out to the train, [[Otto-031]] ("Black-Three") was not responding. Against Margaret's orders, Roma decided to rescue Otto, who was wounded. After finding Otto, Roma threw him over her shoulder and they escaped past swarms of Yanme'e. While on their way to the train, Roma blew the charges on the Beacon's pylon, bringing the machine crashing down. Everyone managed to get onboard and they escaped the city as the tunnels caved in under the collapsing Beacon, and headed to a [[D77 Pelican|Pelican dropship]] for exfiltration.

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'' {{C|Flashback}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:UNSC victories|Verge]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verge}}