Malta Station

"Malta what is your status, over?"

- Cortana

"I don't believe it! They're retreating, we've won!"

- Unknown UNSC member aboard the Malta Station, moments before the station's violent destruction.

Malta Station, Hull Classification Symbol ODP-143, was a UNSC Orbital Defense Platform in Earth orbit. It was so named because it held station above the island of Malta. It was in the same battle cluster as Athens Station and Cairo Station.

During the Battle of Earth, the station was destroyed by a antimatter charge placed by Covenant boarders. Unaware of the invader's true intent, the withdrawal of the boarders was misinterpreted by some of the station's crew members as a full retreat by the Covenant.

The destruction of Malta occurred shortly before that of Athens, allowing the Solemn Penance to break through the orbital defenses to the surface of Earth. It is assumed that all hands on board were lost when the bomb exploded, destroying the pressurized environment.

The wreckage of the Malta formed a debris field, which was shattered when the Prophet of Regret's assault carrier flew through it.