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Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|HCW}} | {{Era|HCW}} | ||
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{{References}} | {{References}} | ||
{{Battle Infobox | {{Battle Infobox | ||
|name=Human-Covenant War | |name=Human-Covenant War | ||
|prev=[[ | |prev=[[Insurrection]] | ||
|conc=*[[Insurrection]] | |||
|next=[[Sangheili civil war]] | *[[Great Schism]] | ||
|next=*[[Sangheili civil war]] | |||
*[[Second Human-Covenant War]] | |||
|image=[[File:Human-Covenant War.png|400px]]<sup>Clockwise from top left: UNSC and Covenant infantry clash, the UNSC responds to a Covenant invasion of a UNSC colony world, a squad of SPARTANs engaging the [[Sangheili]] in the [[Fall of Reach]], the [[Battle_of_Earth#The_Flood_on_Earth|invasion of the]] [[Flood]] on [[Battle of Earth|Earth]], the [[Great Schism]] over ''[[High Charity]]'', the ''Pillar of Autumn'' fleeing from the Fall of Reach.</sup> | |image=[[File:Human-Covenant War.png|400px]]<sup>Clockwise from top left: UNSC and Covenant infantry clash, the UNSC responds to a Covenant invasion of a UNSC colony world, a squad of SPARTANs engaging the [[Sangheili]] in the [[Fall of Reach]], the [[Battle_of_Earth#The_Flood_on_Earth|invasion of the]] [[Flood]] on [[Battle of Earth|Earth]], the [[Great Schism]] over ''[[High Charity]]'', the ''Pillar of Autumn'' fleeing from the Fall of Reach.</sup> | ||
|date=February 11, [[2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – February 2553 <small>(informal ceasefire)</small><ref name="ceasefire">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 358-361''</ref> <br/> *[[2553#March|March 3, 2553]] <small>(official cessation of hostilities)</small><ref name="Dr. Iqbal">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | |date=February 11, [[2525]]<ref>[[First Battle of Harvest]]</ref> – February 2553 <small>(informal ceasefire)</small><ref name="ceasefire">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 358-361''</ref> <br/> *[[2553#March|March 3, 2553]] <small>(official cessation of hostilities)</small><ref name="Dr. Iqbal">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal]]''</ref> | ||
|place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref group="notes">The Human-Covenant War briefly extended outside the Milky Way galaxy for the [[Battle of Installation 00]]</ref> | |place=The [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref group="notes">The Human-Covenant War briefly extended outside the Milky Way galaxy for the [[Battle of Installation 00]]</ref> | ||
|result='''Pyrrhic human and | |result='''Pyrrhic human and Covenant separatist victory<ref>'''[[Believe]]''', ''[[Museum]]''</ref> | ||
*The Covenant Empire falls to the combined forces of the Covenant separatists and UNSC | *The Covenant Empire falls to the combined forces of the Covenant separatists and UNSC | ||
*Widespread [[ | *Widespread [[Flood]] infection of the galaxy averted | ||
*Human and Arbiter-loyal Sangheili forces reconcile | |||
*Human and Sangheili forces reconcile | |||
|side1='''[[Unified Earth Government]]''' | |side1='''[[Unified Earth Government]]''' | ||
*[[United Nations Space Command]] | *[[United Nations Space Command]] | ||
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;Human population reduced considerably | ;Human population reduced considerably | ||
*Approximately 23 billion civilian and military casualties by October 20, 2552;<ref name=HE:PH>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> billions more during invasion of Earth<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands'''. ''page ???''</ref> | *Approximately 23 billion civilian and military casualties by October 20, 2552;<ref name=HE:PH>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 351''</ref> billions more during invasion of Earth<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands'''. ''page ???''</ref> | ||
*Widespread infrastructure and structural | *Widespread infrastructure and structural damage to UEG colonies | ||
; | ;Presumably moderate separatist casualties | ||
|casual2= | |casual2= | ||
;Heavy casualties for all Covenant races | ;Heavy casualties for all Covenant races | ||
*Destruction of the Covenant | *Destruction of the Covenant holy city, ''[[High Charity]]'' | ||
*Destruction of the Covenant battle station | *Destruction of the Covenant battle station ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]''. | ||
*Devastation of a Sangheili colony, [[Joyous Exultation]]. | *Devastation of a Sangheili colony, [[Joyous Exultation]]. | ||
|casual3= | |casual3= | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
*High Charity destroyed | *High Charity destroyed | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Human-Covenant War''',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref> also known as the '''Covenant War'''<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''pages 19, 74, 75, 92, 95, 98, 105, 112, 113, 120''</ref><ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/headhunters-1/c3d2dcb3-ac3d-4771-a270-e55e33ae118b ''Headhunters'' Part 1], [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herocourage/c2ada678-e9ce-4db9-9ce9-1864070bd198 ''Hero - Courage'']</ref> and the '''Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''' (2010), ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant | The '''Human-Covenant War''',<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood (2001)''', ''back cover description''</ref> also known as the '''Covenant War'''<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''pages 19, 74, 75, 92, 95, 98, 105, 112, 113, 120''</ref><ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/headhunters-1/c3d2dcb3-ac3d-4771-a270-e55e33ae118b ''Headhunters'' Part 1], [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herocourage/c2ada678-e9ce-4db9-9ce9-1864070bd198 ''Hero - Courage'']</ref><ref name="title" group="notes">The name "Covenant War" is most often used by media from [[343 Industries]]. However, the less common "Human-Covenant War" is more descriptive and is therefore used by ''Halopedia''.</ref> and the '''Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''' (2010), ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict: the [[Flood]] and a small number of surviving [[Forerunner]] constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from Forerunner constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | ||
The war was instigated by the Covenant whose [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] made a discovery which led them to believe that humans were directly related to the Forerunners, contradicting their ancient religion. Seeking to keep various political and religious orders intact, a war of genocide was declared against the human race. Over the next few decades the Covenant with superior firepower, numbers and technology, would repeatedly overpower the UNSC across hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]]. Humanity would only | The war was instigated by the Covenant whose [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] made a discovery which led them to believe that humans were directly related to the Forerunners, contradicting their ancient religion. Seeking to keep various political and religious orders intact, a war of genocide was declared against the human race. Over the next few decades the Covenant with superior firepower, numbers and technology, would repeatedly overpower the UNSC across hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]] and even [[Earth]]. Humanity would win only scattered and costly victories. | ||
The conflict was also the cause of the [[Great Schism]] within the Covenant. Forced to fight a war on two fronts, the formerly monolithic empire was torn apart. While the [[Battle of Installation 00|deciding battle]] of the war was fought on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]],<ref name="fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> an informal ceasefire was not agreed upon until [[2553#February|February 2553]].<ref name="ceasefire"/> The official cessation of hostilities was declared on [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]].<ref name="Dr. Iqbal"/> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities. An outbreak of the virulent parasite known as the Flood almost consumed both factions near the war's end. The conflict lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | The conflict was also the cause of the [[Great Schism]] within the Covenant. Forced to fight a war on two fronts, the formerly monolithic empire was torn apart. While the [[Battle of Installation 00|deciding battle]] of the war was fought on [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]],<ref name="fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> an informal ceasefire was not agreed upon until [[2553#February|February 2553]].<ref name="ceasefire"/> The official cessation of hostilities was declared on [[2553#March|March 3, 2553]].<ref name="Dr. Iqbal"/> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities. An outbreak of the virulent parasite known as the Flood almost consumed both factions near the war's end. The conflict lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | ||
After the ceasefire was declared, the Great Schism continued as late as [[2559]], albeit with a greatly diminished scope and scale.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Return''</ref> Concurrent to this, the Sangheili species fell into [[Sangheili civil war|civil war]], as did the Jiralhanae. [[Shipmaster]] [[Jul 'Mdama]] manipulated the disarray following the war to [[Covenant remnant|reform the Covenant]] in 2553. This reborn Covenant would eventually spark a [[Second Human-Covenant War|new war with humanity]] that would be fought at least through [[2558|February 2558]].<ref name="Reed">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/03/Halo-Initiation-Writer-Interview.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Initiation Writer Interview''] ''("Experience a new war with the Covenant ...")''</ref> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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Despite their major numerical and technological advantages over humanity, by [[2531]], the Covenant High Prophets had realized that the task of destroying an entire sapient species had a logistical burden beyond anything that the [[Covenant military]] could muster without leaving Covenant space defenseless.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level ''[[Scarab (Level)|Scarab]]''</ref> In spite of the UNSC's inferiority in comparison to the Covenant, the Prophets apparently considered their armed forces to be powerful enough to pose a threat to the Covenant proper. Seeking a more efficient solution, the [[Prophet of Regret]] dispatched [[Ripa 'Moramee|an Arbiter]] to Harvest to claim a Forerunner [[Relic|artifact]] buried under the north pole of Harvest. | Despite their major numerical and technological advantages over humanity, by [[2531]], the Covenant High Prophets had realized that the task of destroying an entire sapient species had a logistical burden beyond anything that the [[Covenant military]] could muster without leaving Covenant space defenseless.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level ''[[Scarab (Level)|Scarab]]''</ref> In spite of the UNSC's inferiority in comparison to the Covenant, the Prophets apparently considered their armed forces to be powerful enough to pose a threat to the Covenant proper. Seeking a more efficient solution, the [[Prophet of Regret]] dispatched [[Ripa 'Moramee|an Arbiter]] to Harvest to claim a Forerunner [[Relic|artifact]] buried under the north pole of Harvest. | ||
Preston Cole | Preston Cole counterattacked by leading a fleet composed of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} and the {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} back to Harvest after receiving a message from an [[ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|prowler]]. The battle was a victory, despite major casualties. Upon discovering that the Covenant, under the command of 'Moramee, had excavated Forerunner artifacts in the northern polar region, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]] deployed ground forces to remove the Covenant occupation. After a heated fight on the surface, the UNSC forces were able to examine the artifact, a star map, and realized the information within had led the Covenant to another human colony: [[Arcadia]]. | ||
[[File:ApexBattleImage.png|thumb|250px||right|The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} engages a Covenant [[Covenant Destroyer|destroyer]] in Shield 0459.]] | [[File:ApexBattleImage.png|thumb|250px||right|The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} engages a Covenant [[Covenant Destroyer|destroyer]] in Shield 0459.]] | ||
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Following the Flood infestation of ''High Charity'', the High Prophet of Truth led the remaining loyalist fleet to Earth to complete what his occupation forces on Earth had started. Little did he realize that a SPARTAN-II had stowed away with him on board his Dreadnought. By the time Truth arrived at Earth, a full-scale battle in space and on the ground was underway between UNSC and [[Covenant fleet]]s. | Following the Flood infestation of ''High Charity'', the High Prophet of Truth led the remaining loyalist fleet to Earth to complete what his occupation forces on Earth had started. Little did he realize that a SPARTAN-II had stowed away with him on board his Dreadnought. By the time Truth arrived at Earth, a full-scale battle in space and on the ground was underway between UNSC and [[Covenant fleet]]s. | ||
After | After several weeks of combat, the UNSC Home Fleet was nearly wiped out. However, the attacking Covenant armada was also vastly reduced, and focused on securing an enormous unearthed Forerunner structure near the ruins of New Mombasa. With the arrival of John-117, the remaining UNSC forces launched an assault on the area, sweeping aside all Covenant resistance and finally launching an all-out attack on the Prophet of Truth's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. Unfortunately, even in-atmosphere MAC strikes proved ineffective against the ancient ship's hull, as Truth quickly activated [[the Portal]] and escaped. Events were further complicated by an unexpected attack by the Flood. Thanks to the timely arrival of the Sangheili, the Flood force was vanquished but not before Master Chief recovered a recording from Cortana, who had stayed behind on ''High Charity''. Cortana's message told of a means to stop the Flood on the other end of the portal. | ||
The final battle of the war was fought in [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].<ref name="fortitude"/> A small fleet of human and Sangheili forces was sent through the portal, leading them to the Ark, just outside the [[Milky Way | The final battle of the war was fought in [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]].<ref name="fortitude"/> A small fleet of human and Sangheili forces was sent through the portal, leading them to the Ark, just outside the [[Milky Way]]. As they arrived, the Covenant fleet above the Ark immediately attacked. Though the joint human-Sangheili fleet was outnumbered 3-1, the battle ended in defeat for the Covenant loyalist fleet. At the same time, UNSC forces were deployed to the surface of the Ark in order to stop Truth, who was attempting to activate the Halo Array from the Ark's [[Forerunner Citadel|Citadel]]. | ||
[[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The ceremony held to honor the fallen.]] | [[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|right|200px|The ceremony held to honor the fallen.]] | ||
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The Great Schism would continue for at least another six years between Elite and Brute factions, further depleting their now crumbling infrastructure. Their blind reliance upon the sciences and technology of the Forerunners, while neglecting their own, proved a fatal weakness. The fate of the Prophets proved especially ironic, as the infestation of High Charity resulted in the near-extinction of their race, while the survivors fled to unknown space. The most destructive conflict in human history had ended in victory, but at a staggering cost. Both the UNSC and the former members of the now-broken Covenant then turned to the enormous task of rebuilding their once great societies. | The Great Schism would continue for at least another six years between Elite and Brute factions, further depleting their now crumbling infrastructure. Their blind reliance upon the sciences and technology of the Forerunners, while neglecting their own, proved a fatal weakness. The fate of the Prophets proved especially ironic, as the infestation of High Charity resulted in the near-extinction of their race, while the survivors fled to unknown space. The most destructive conflict in human history had ended in victory, but at a staggering cost. Both the UNSC and the former members of the now-broken Covenant then turned to the enormous task of rebuilding their once great societies. | ||
[[Shipmaster]] [[Jul 'Mdama]] eventually reunited some of these disparate factions and [[Covenant remnant|reform the Covenant]]. At some point after 2553, this new Covenant started a [[Second Human-Covenant War|second war with humanity]]. This war would be fought as late as [[2558|February 2558]].<ref name="Reed"/><ref>'''Halo 4'',' ''Spartan Ops''</ref> | |||
==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||