Space engagements over Reach

This article is based on canon information, but the article's title is conjectural and/or uses descriptions as the title, as there is currently no official name for the subject.

This article is a stub. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Previous:	Operation: WHITE GLOVE
Next:	Battle of Asźod
Space battle over Reach
Conflict:	Human-Covenant War Fall of Reach
Date:	August 14, 2552 (UPPER CUT and LEFT JAB) August 30, 2552 (Final space battle)
Location:	Reach orbit
Outcome:	Pyrrhic UNSC victory Data on Gamma Station destroyed Pillar of Autumn escapes Reach.
Details Belligerents United Nations Space Command Covenant Strength UNSC Marine Corps Avery Johnson Wallace Jenkins Bisenti O'Brien UNSC Navy James-005 Linda-058 John-117 UNSC starships UNSC Herodotus UNSC Musashi UNSC Minotaur Unidentified UNSC ship UNSC Pillar of Autumn Sangheili Rangers Kig-Yar Rangers Covenant starships Multiple Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyers Multiple Ket-pattern battlecruisers Unidentified ship Casualties Numerous starships UNSC Herodotus UNSC Musashi UNSC Minotaur Two thirds of the Covenant starships used

During the Fall of Reach, a series of battles in space over Reach took place. While smaller engagements took place earlier, a massive engagement August 30 encompassing a multitude of ships from both sides of the battle.

Background

HYPODERMIC

Main article: Operation: HYPODERMIC

The UNSC Circumference was a part of Operation: HYPODERMIC. Due to the secrecy of the operation, the Circumference was struck from the computers of Reach Gamma Station.

Fall of Reach

Main article: Fall of Reach

By August 30, the campaign on and around Reach had been ongoing for weeks, with engagements going on since July 23. The Covenant initially managed to avoid conflicts in space, using cloaking mechanisms, stealth pylons and deployment spires to cloak the presence of their army and a massive fleet of the Ministry of Fervent Intercession's ships. This fleet was led by Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee, aboard the Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace. On August 12, the full extent of this invasion was unveiled following the Battle at Szurdok Ridge, culminating with the destruction of UNSC Grafton by the supercarrier's energy projector.

With the UNSC's realisation at the extent of the Covenant invasion on Reach, the UNSC recalled sixty percent of all naval assets from existing deployments to help defend Reach from the Covenant, with the first reinforcements expected to arrive within 48 hours of August 13. Michael Stanforth led defensive efforts against the Covenant across the Epsilon Eridani system, with battles at Teller Station, the system's asteroid fields, and culminating in a series of clashes as the human fleet sought to evacuate an artifact from Site 17 while mitigating losses that may compromise the future defense of Reach. This artifact was intended as a lure to draw 'Barutamee's forces in, with the Covenant commander deploying a large portion of his fleet to Site 17, ultimately spreading his forces thin.

Engagements

UPPER CUT and LEFT JAB

Main articles: Operation: UPPER CUT, Operation: LEFT JAB

With 'Barutamee's forces spread across the system, the next stage of the UNSC's plan began, simultaneously launching Operations: UPPER CUT and LEFT JAB. For LEFT JAB, Stanforth began using his fleet to begin probing the Covenant lines for vulnerabilities, using his task forces to attack Covenant scouting fleets.