Battle of Cleveland

The Battle of Cleveland was an engagement between the UNSC Defense Force and the Covenant Military that took place in Cleveland, Ohio on Earth during the Battle of Earth.

Covenant Assault
The Covenant quickly assaulted Cleveland, taking light casualties as they battled Colonial Militia, Marines, and armed civilians. However, during the battle, the Covenant did not make any attempt to destroy the city or kill any civilians. After securing most of the city, the Covenant instead captured many civilians and brought them to a stadium in order to question them about the Key of Osanalan, a Forerunner artifact revealed by Colonel James Ackerson during his interrogation, after his capture at the Battle of Mare Erythraeum.

Ackerson said it was a necessary component for the firing sequence of the Halo array, in order properly initiate it. However, such a key did not exist. Ackerson simply told the Covenant about it in order to save his brother. The Covenant would not destroy the city before getting the Key, and Ruwan's knowledge of the Key would help him escape, as the Key was actually an object they made up when they were children.

Just as the civilians arrived, ODSTs attacked the stadium and swiftly killed most of the Covenant forces. They then evacuated the civilians. Ruwan stated that he knew what the Covenant were looking for, and he and Tyla were brought to a secret UNSC base in the sewers of Cleveland to meet with the leader of the remaining UNSC forces in the area, Sergeant Twyker.

Destruction of the Harbinger of Piety
Although originally hostile at first, Twyker and Intel Operations Manager Wesley realized the importance of the Key. They contacted the Covenant to inform them that they had the key and to meet them for it. Ruwan volunteered to partake in their new mission and was injected with an organic tracking material.

He then was taken to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where a Brute Chieftain demanded he give them the key. Ruwan told them that he was the key. Confused, the Brutes brought him aboard the Harbinger of Piety before the Minister of Inquisition, who questioned him of Halo but the civilian was confused. Inquisition then revealed he knew about the tracking material inside him and presumed that it was a homing beacon for rescue. Ruwan corrected him, stating it was a targeting vector for the MAC Platform Nassau to fire on the ship. Nassau Station then fired its cannon, destroying the ship and killing everyone aboard.

Ackerson's Death
After hearing of the destruction of the Covenant ship, Ackerson proceeded to openly mock the Covenant, saying their pompous arrogance would cost them the war, before being beheaded by the Brute Ship Master, Lepidus.

Aftermath
Because of their gullibility, the Covenant lost many soldiers and ships looking for a non-existent Key of Osanalon. However, the UNSC also lost a high-ranking commander in the battle, Colonel James Ackerson, and many civilians. Additionally, many buildings were damaged as a result from the fighting but the city was not destroyed.

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 * Earth
 * United States of America
 * Battle of Earth