Battle of Sigma Octanus IV

"We've come to take Sigma Octanus IV back from the Covenant. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them."

- John-117

July 17, 2552

 * 0000 Hours: UNSC Remote Scanning Outpost Archimedes detects a large silhouette in Slipspace heading for the system. It is suspected to be a group of Covenant ships but it could also be an asteroid. The station transmits its information to Sigma Octanus IV.
 * 0300 Hours: The UNSC Destroyer Iroquois arrives in system on patrol. The vessel's captain, Commander Jacob Keyes, receives the sensor information and realizes it is a Covenant threat. He contacts FLEETCOM and informs them of the situation.
 * 0320 Hours: 4 Covenant force consisting of 1 carrier, 1 destroyer, and 2 frigates arrive in the system. The UNSC Iroquois engages the enemy and requests reinforcements. The UNSC Gettysburg, UNSC Allegiance, and UNSC Alliance (NOTE: the Allegiance and Alliance maybe the same ship) respond and begin heading for Sigma Octanus.
 * 0330 Hours: The Iroquois destroys all Covenant vessels save for the carrier using a maneuver later known as the Keyes Loop. The carrier launches landing craft toward Sigma Octanus IV, then retreats into slipspace.
 * 0345 Hours: Covenant ground forces invade the city of Côte d'Azur on the planet.
 * 0500 Hours: 47 additional UNSC vessels arrive in the system. Admiral Michael Stanforth, aboard the UNSC Leviathan, takes command.
 * 0520 Hours: Marine forces begin landing around Cote d'Azur
 * 0600 Hours: Covenant forces ambush and obliterate all marine forces on the ground. of the 400 marines sent to the ground, 14 enlisted men have survived. Corporal Harland assumes tactical command of the remaining marines.
 * 0625 Hours: Covenant vessels begin appearing on the edge of the system.
 * 0650 Hours: SPARTAN-II's arrive on the surface to reinforce surviving marines.
 * 0900 Hours: Spartans assume tactical command on the ground.
 * 1800 Hours: Spartans and marine begin a counterattack on Cote d'Azur.
 * 2010 Hours: Spartans arm nuclear device below Cote d'Azur.
 * 2039 Hours: Nuclear warhead destroys all Covenant ground forces at Cote d'Azur.
 * 2120 Hours: General quarters is sounded aboard ships and the opposing fleets close to engage.
 * 2130 Hours: Repair station Cradle moves to protect UNSC fleet. First salvos are fired by Covenant vessels.
 * 0500 Hours:* All Covenant vessels either retreat or are destroyed. Battle concludes.

''* Note: There is an apparent time discrepancy in the continuity of the book as to the exact times. Chapter 19 begins at 600 hours while Chapter 20 begins at 1800, and it seems as though there is no significant lapse of time between them. Chapter 22 Begins at 2010 Hours and then Chapter 23 begins at 0500 hours, yet they all claim to have happened on July 17. This may have been a typo, with Chapter 23 meant to be on July 18 or a flashback of sorts.''

Ships

 * UNSC Iroquois
 * UNSC Leviathan
 * UNSC Gettysburg
 * UNSC Allegiance
 * UNSC Alliance
 * UNSC Lancelot
 * UNSC Cradle
 * Remote Scanning Outpost Archimedes
 * UNSC Fair Weather

Characters

 * Captain Jacob Keyes
 * Admiral Micheal Stanforth
 * General Kits
 * Lieutenant Dominique
 * Lieutenant Hall
 * Lieutenant Hikowa
 * Lieutenant Jaggers
 * Ensign William Lovell
 * Spartan-117
 * Spartan-104
 * Spartan-James
 * Spartan-087
 * Spartan-029
 * Spartan-058
 * Corporal Harland
 * Private Fincher
 * Private Walker
 * Private Cochran