Operation: SMOKING ACES

The Raid on Camp New Hope was an action which took place on May 1, 2531, during which a five SPARTAN-II supersoldiers, known as Blue Team, infiltrated the United Rebel Front Camp New Hope on the UNSC colony world of Victoria, in the 111 Tauri System. It was a UNSC victory as the Spartans recovered three nuclear weapons, neutralized numerous rebel personnel and escaped without a single casualty.

Background
By 2531 United Rebel Front had repeatedly had its operations disrupted by a four-man team of Spartan-II supersoldiers known as Blue Team. The team disrupted URF operations including Station Jefferson, the destroyer URF Origami and a saboteur cell on Reach, as well as an incident in Micronesia, and a high-explosives manufacturing facility at an unspecified location. In response the rebels gathered together three stolen FENRIS Nuclear Warheads at Camp New Hope in a way so sloppy that the Office of Naval Intelligence could not help but notice, then contacted the UNSC and offered to trade the nukes in exchange for medicines for their people suffering from Boren's Syndrome. They then set a trap for Blue Team, whom they anticipated would be sent to recover the nukes. The UNSC needed the weapons, as its stockpiles had been depleted by its war with the Covenant.

The Raid
Camp New Hope had an extensive defense system, even by Spartan-II standards, featuring motion and seismic detectors, a triple layering of guards, Warthog APCs, trained dogs, and MAKO Drones. Despite this Blue Team was able to neutralize numerous guards and infiltrate a warehouse at the center of the base. There the rebels successfully ambushed John-117, Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058 using an Antigravity Plate, giving them the bends, and fitted them with Neural-Inhibitor Collars so that they could be interrogated by rebel leader General Howard Graves. The rebels were unaware however of the presence of a fifth Spartan and new addition to the team, Kurt-051, who had avoided the trap. Kurt was able to free the other members of Blue Team using a modified Warthog and several Asteroidea Anti-Personnel Mines. General Howard Graves was killed in the process. The freed Spartans loaded the three warheads into the Warthog and retreated from the base before the rebels could organize a proper counterattack. They were then picked up by a Pelican dropship and left the system aboard the.