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Fall of Reach: Difference between revisions
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See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]] | See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]] | ||
*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] | *[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] | ||
**[[Long Night of Solace|1]] {{ | **[[Long Night of Solace|1]] {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} | ||
**3+ {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}s{{Ref/Game|Id=SC|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Scenario Two to Eight campaigns}} | **3+ {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}s{{Ref/Game|Id=SC|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Scenario Two to Eight campaigns}} | ||
**11+ {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}} | **11+ {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}} | ||
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The '''Fall of Reach''',<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 198</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/abouthalo/timeline ''Waypoint'': Halo Official Timeline]</ref> also known as the '''Battle of Reach'''<ref name="BnetDefiant">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30646 ''Bungie.net:'' Defiant Map Pack]</ref> and '''Reach Campaign''',<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[Conversations from the Universe]] - Grunt Conversation</ref> was one of the largest and bloodiest engagements in the [[Human-Covenant War|Human-Covenant]] [[War]]. It was fought on and around the [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] [[planet|world]] of [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] from [[2552|July 25 to August 30, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3R}} | The '''Fall of Reach''',<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 198</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/abouthalo/timeline ''Waypoint'': Halo Official Timeline]</ref> also known as the '''Battle of Reach'''<ref name="BnetDefiant">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30646 ''Bungie.net:'' Defiant Map Pack]</ref> and '''Reach Campaign''',<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[Conversations from the Universe]] - Grunt Conversation</ref> was one of the largest and bloodiest engagements in the [[Human-Covenant War|Human-Covenant]] [[War]]. It was fought on and around the [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] [[planet|world]] of [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] from [[2552|July 25 to August 30, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3R}} | ||
Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|small Covenant task force]] led by the {{ | Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|small Covenant task force]] led by the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' covertly established a foothold on Reach. The Covenant began to solidify their hold and began searching for Forerunner relics as the UNSC counter-attacked, attempting to drive the Covenant off the surface before reinforcements arrived. Ultimately, the UNSC was unsuccessful, and substantial Covenant reinforcements under [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee arrived in the system. After hard fighting, the Covenant breached the orbital defense grid and overran the UNSC's planetside forces. After overwhelming the defenders, the Covenant [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet. Isolated skirmishes between UNSC remnants and the Covenant forces continued until their recovery by a small rescue party led by [[John-117]]. | ||
Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, [[Noble Team]] preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], where they [[Battle of Installation 04|engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle]]. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the [[Great Schism|subsequent political schism]] within the Covenant while [[Battle for Earth|attacking]] [[Earth]], would be invaluable to the [[Battle of Installation 00|ultimate defeat]] of the Covenant. | Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, [[Noble Team]] preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], where they [[Battle of Installation 04|engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle]]. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the [[Great Schism|subsequent political schism]] within the Covenant while [[Battle for Earth|attacking]] [[Earth]], would be invaluable to the [[Battle of Installation 00|ultimate defeat]] of the Covenant. | ||
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===Pre-invasion=== | ===Pre-invasion=== | ||
By July 23, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence consisting of {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s, {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}s and a {{ | By July 23, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence consisting of {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s, {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}s and a {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', arrived at Reach following the Luminary retrieved at Beta Eridani. The Luminary marked the presence of the Forerunner [[Rate]] of [[Builder]]s across the system.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} After arriving at Reach, the fleet clandestinely deployed a large ground force to the [[Viery Territory]]. This invasion force was cloaked from UNSC sensors by sophisticated [[stealth pylon]]s deployed around it. The Covenant also sent a small [[Sangheili Zealot]] strike team, of the [[Devoted Sentries]], led by a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]] to recover a Forerunner artifact from an excavation site near the [[Visegrád Relay|Visegrád communications outpost]]. | ||
{{Quote|ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One.|[[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]<ref name="actual">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Noble Actual]]</ref>}} | {{Quote|ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One.|[[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]<ref name="actual">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Noble Actual]]</ref>}} | ||
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{{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}} | {{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}} | ||
{{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}}} | {{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}}} | ||
Over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC [[Mission to Szurdok Ridge|sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory]] in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.{{Ref/Reuse|hrnightfall}} With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the [[UNSC Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-air weapons]] to make way for [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked {{ | Over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC [[Mission to Szurdok Ridge|sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory]] in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.{{Ref/Reuse|hrnightfall}} With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the [[UNSC Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-air weapons]] to make way for [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', appeared over the area, attacking the UNSC frigates and reinforcing the Covenant troops.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} Meanwhile, Covenant forces made another strike on SWORD Base, this time with much greater success. Around this time, sixty percent of the Fleet was recalled to Reach from existing deployments; these reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by August 15.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} | ||
While the battle began on the ground, Rho's forces in space began to enagage UNSC Naval forces across the system, engaging light battlegroups composed mainly of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s and a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} in space.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} Following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach, the personnel of [[Teller Station]] - a research laboratory working at [[Site 17]] in the system's [[Oort cloud]] - prepared to evacuate after being ordered to condense their last dig into barely a fortnight. These activities awakened the senescent Forerunner systems there, alerting the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to the site. Rho deployed a "significant portion of his fleet"{{Ref/Reuse|run}} there consisting of ''SDV''-class corvettes and ''CCS''-class battlecruisers, only to be engaged by more frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral [[Michael Stanforth]].<ref name="evacuate">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Three: Evacuate]]</ref> The Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, though the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant into a trap near Reach itself.<ref name="run">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Four: Run!]]</ref> The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.<ref name="intothefire">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Five: Into the fire]]</ref> | While the battle began on the ground, Rho's forces in space began to enagage UNSC Naval forces across the system, engaging light battlegroups composed mainly of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s and a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} in space.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} Following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach, the personnel of [[Teller Station]] - a research laboratory working at [[Site 17]] in the system's [[Oort cloud]] - prepared to evacuate after being ordered to condense their last dig into barely a fortnight. These activities awakened the senescent Forerunner systems there, alerting the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to the site. Rho deployed a "significant portion of his fleet"{{Ref/Reuse|run}} there consisting of ''SDV''-class corvettes and ''CCS''-class battlecruisers, only to be engaged by more frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral [[Michael Stanforth]].<ref name="evacuate">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Three: Evacuate]]</ref> The Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, though the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant into a trap near Reach itself.<ref name="run">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Four: Run!]]</ref> The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.<ref name="intothefire">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Five: Into the fire]]</ref> | ||
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Team Alpha hijacked three Banshees and approached the Covenant encampment (they were ignored by the Grunt [[Zawaz]], who assumed they were Elites on a secret mission) and used [[Fury Tactical Nuclear Weapon]]s within the shields of the Covenant ship, destroying the encampment and negating the EMP effect that would have disabled the orbital defense generators. Joshua was killed in the process by mass light weapons salvos from the 10,000 Covenant ground forces encamped around the Cruiser. The remaining Spartans of Team Alpha then fell back to CASTLE Base, blasting their way through the remaining Covenant in the area with two commandeered [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]]. Team Gamma accomplished its mission and fell back to [[Camp Independence]] with Whitcomb, where they survived the partial [[glassing]] of the planet. | Team Alpha hijacked three Banshees and approached the Covenant encampment (they were ignored by the Grunt [[Zawaz]], who assumed they were Elites on a secret mission) and used [[Fury Tactical Nuclear Weapon]]s within the shields of the Covenant ship, destroying the encampment and negating the EMP effect that would have disabled the orbital defense generators. Joshua was killed in the process by mass light weapons salvos from the 10,000 Covenant ground forces encamped around the Cruiser. The remaining Spartans of Team Alpha then fell back to CASTLE Base, blasting their way through the remaining Covenant in the area with two commandeered [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]]. Team Gamma accomplished its mission and fell back to [[Camp Independence]] with Whitcomb, where they survived the partial [[glassing]] of the planet. | ||
Team [[Beta-Red]] were left to defend Generator A-331 alone, while [[Gamma 5]] were holed up at [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-412|Generator A-412]]. A-412 was attacked by two [[division]]s of Covenant, who eventually managed to destroy the facility leaving only fourteen survivors. The remnants of Gamma 5 proceeded to mount up in two Warthogs and a radio van to rendezvous with Gamma 1.<ref name="PowerhouseRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Powerhouse]]</ref> [[Recon 43]] provided scouting for Gamma 1, initially spotting three [[Ghost]]s and twenty-four infantry. They were warned not to engage, but did so anyway upon realising that the small Covenant force was merely the advance of a massive armour convoy.<ref name="SpireRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Spire (map)| (map)|Spire]]</ref> | Team [[Beta-Red]] were left to defend Generator A-331 alone, while [[Gamma 5]] were holed up at [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-412|Generator A-412]]. A-412 was attacked by two [[division]]s of Covenant, who eventually managed to destroy the facility leaving only fourteen survivors. The remnants of Gamma 5 proceeded to mount up in two Warthogs and a radio van to rendezvous with Gamma 1.<ref name="PowerhouseRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Powerhouse]]</ref> [[Recon 43]] provided scouting for Gamma 1, initially spotting three [[Ghost]]s and twenty-four infantry. They were warned not to engage, but did so anyway upon realising that the small Covenant force was merely the advance of a massive armour convoy.<ref name="SpireRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Spire (map)|(map)|Spire]]</ref> | ||
With a gargantuan ground force now closing on Facility A-331, [[Beta-Romeo Actual]] ordered her team and the remnants of Charlie Company to leave once the Covenant was distracted. The team set up automated turrets, while thirty-two [[Wraith]] tanks and six-hundred infantry began to close in. Gamma 5 observed the action through the lens of a drone as the fight started. The Spartans of Beta-Red went "hand to hand" with the enemy lines, and Team Delta and Charlie Company departed the site.<ref name="CountdownRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Countdown]]</ref> | With a gargantuan ground force now closing on Facility A-331, [[Beta-Romeo Actual]] ordered her team and the remnants of Charlie Company to leave once the Covenant was distracted. The team set up automated turrets, while thirty-two [[Wraith]] tanks and six-hundred infantry began to close in. Gamma 5 observed the action through the lens of a drone as the fight started. The Spartans of Beta-Red went "hand to hand" with the enemy lines, and Team Delta and Charlie Company departed the site.<ref name="CountdownRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Countdown]]</ref> | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the [[Japan | *[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the [[Japan]]ese [[World War II|surprise attack]] on [[United States of America|Pearl Harbor]] in 1941. He noted that, like Reach, Pearl Harbor was once thought too strong to attack.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Page=283}} | ||
*At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} | *At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} | ||