Battle for Earth: Difference between revisions

|casual1 = Numerous UNSC ground / air forces, Sangheili and civilian casualties due to orbital bombardment<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''' ''level {{Levelname|Crow's Nest}}''</ref>

In the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC began to pull its forces back to Earth, with most units assigned to defend Earth's [[Space Elevator|tether cities]]. The Marine unit [[E2-BAG/1/7]], among many others, was relocated from Reach to defend [[New Mombasa]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''' - ''[[Palace Hotel]]'', page 367</ref>

Regret's fleet was detected near [[Io]], [[Jupiter]], as a series of [[Slipspace]] "whispers".<ref name="H2CS">'''[[Halo 2]]''', ''{{Levelname|Cairo Station}}''</ref> Probes were sent to investigate, but shortly afterward the Covenant fleet reverted to realspace near Earth, just outside the killzone of the planet's [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s (ODPs). UNSC forces went to [[TACCON]] Alpha 2. [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Harper]] ordered his battle group to attack, but quickly received new orders from Fleet Admiral [[Terrence Hood]] to fall back and defend the ODPs. Having expected an overwhelming enemy offensive in the style of the [[Battle of Reach]], the relative weakness of the attack puzzled the defenders.

Regret's carrier came to stop over [[New Mombasa]] in the [[East African Protectorate]]<ref name="H2Out">'''Halo 2''', ''{{Levelname|Outskirts}}''</ref> and deployed troops into the city and the surrounding area. UNSC high command wished to discover why the Covenant were landing only in Mombasa, and [[John-117]] was ordered to capture Regret for interrogation. The Spartan deployed with marines and [[ODST]] in a trio of [[Pelican]]s from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} near the city. The dropships were shot down by a Covenant [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]] in [[Old Mombasa]]. John-117 and the survivors regrouped and pursued the walker to [[New Mombasa 105 East|NM 105E]], and across the bridge to New Mombasa [[New Mombasa Sector B|Sector B]]. The Scarab was eventually trapped and destroyed at the end of a canal. Covenant forces started to withdraw to the carrier for [[Slipstream Space|slipspace]] departure.<ref name="H2Metro">'''Halo 2''', ''{{Levelname|Metropolis}}''</ref>

In orbit the Home Fleet began deploying ODST to [[Mombasa]] in [[SOEIV]]s, intending to aid Master Chief in an assault on the carrier. One [[Dare's Shock Trooper Squad|squad]], deploying from the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} and led by Captain [[Veronica Dare]], was diverted by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] to secure the city's [[Superintendent (Construct)|infrastructure A.I]].<ref name="H3RDrop">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''{{Levelname|Prepare To Drop}}''</ref>

Immediately following the slipspace event, [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Jiralhanae]]-led reinforcements arrived.<ref name="H3RTayari">'''Halo 3: ODST''', ''{{Levelname|Tayari Plaza}}''</ref> The Jiralhanae absorbed the remainder of Regret's fleet and deployed more troops into New Mombasa. Sangheili crews and infantry were killed as part of Truth's plan to place the Jiralhanae as the Covenant's primary warrior race.<ref name="waypoint"/>

Surviving UNSC forces in the city, aided by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]], continued to resist, but were eventually overwhelmed. The Covenant began glassing [[Mombasa]] and the surrounding area, uncovering the [[Portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. Captain Dare and her [[Dare's Shock Trooper Squad|ODST squad]] managed to secure the city's [[Superintendent (Construct)|infrastructure A.I]] and escape before the city fell to the enemy.<ref name="H3RCoast">'''Halo 3: ODST''', ''{{Levelname|Coastal Highway}}''</ref>

The battle spread over the globe in the following weeks. The diminishing [[UNSC Home Fleet]] remained to contest Earth orbit, but the Covenant continued to raid the surface in search of [[Forerunner]] artifacts. Most Covenant forces were concentrated in East Africa.<ref name="H3CN">'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''{{Levelname|Crow's Nest}}''</ref>

The Covenant also [[Battle of Cleveland|invaded the city]] of [[Cleveland]] on Earth, looking for an artifact known as the "[[Key of Osanalan]]". The Key turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by Colonel [[James Ackerson]]<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', ''Issue ??''</ref>

The [[Prophet of Truth]] departed [[High Charity]], near [[Installation 05]], in the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] on November 3, intending to arrive at Sol System on the 8th.<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising]]''', ''Issue ??''</ref> The prophet sought to activate the Ark, fire the [[Halo Array|Halo rings]], and begin what he thought would be the "[[Great Journey]]". Unbeknownst to the Covenant, [[John-117]] had stowed away aboard the ship.<ref name="H3CN"/>

The Forerunner Dreadnought arrived at Earth on November 17. John-117 left the ship by leaping off during re-entry and crashing into the [[East African Protectorate|East-African]] jungle.<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', ''Issue ??''</ref><ref name="H3S117">'''Halo 3''', ''[[Sierra 117]]''</ref> By this time the Covenant had set up heavy [[Anti-Aircraft Battery|AA Batteries]] near [[Voi]] and in the surrounding area to protect their work at the Portal. Also, the [[UNSC Home Fleet]] was all but destroyed. The Covenant bombardment had caused "extreme" casualties.<ref name="H3CN"/>

During Spartan-117's re-entry, a pair of ODSTs used a [[UNSC Laser Designator|laser designator]] during the [[Battle of Sector Six]] in [[Afghanistan]] to track the Spartan's fall.<ref>'''[[Halo: Landfall]]'''</ref> The data made it easier for Sergeant Johnson and Thel 'Vadam to locate the Spartan. They were extracted by [[dropship]], despite Covenant resistance, and taken to [[Crow's Nest (Base)|Crow's Nest]].<ref name="H3S117"/> The Covenant tracked them back to the base.<ref name="H3CN"/>

As the offensive got under way the Covenant attacked Crow's Nest. The UNSC evacuated and destroyed the base with a [[Crow's Nest Bomb|bomb]] as it fell to the enemy. John-117, having activated the bomb, barely managed to escape.<ref name="H3CN"/> The scattered UNSC forces regrouped along the [[Tsavo Highway]], engaging Covenant forces as they headed for Voi.<ref name="H3Tsavo">'''Halo 3''', ''{{Levelname|Tsavo Highway}}''</ref>

At Voi, the UNSC broke through Covenant defenses, and [[John-117]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]] disabled the AA battery. With the way cleared, Admiral Hood ordered three frigates and multiple [[Longsword]]s to attack the Forerunner Dreadnought. Despite [[MAC]] fire the enemy ship remained intact and was able to activate the Portal. The Dreadnought and many Covenant Loyalist ships departed through the resulting Slipspace portal.<ref name="H3Storm">'''Halo 3''', ''{{Levelname|The Storm}}''</ref>

While the battle for Earth raged, the Covenant had been attempting to maintain a quarantine of the [[Flood]]-infested ''[[High Charity (Structure)|High Charity]]'' and [[Installation 05]]. One Flood [[Unnamed Flood-Captured Battlecruiser|ship]] escaped and arrived at Earth as the Prophet of Truth departed through the Portal. The ship crashed in Voi and began infesting the area. John-117 and Thel 'Vadam quickly made for the crash site intending to overload the ship's reactor. The explosion would destroy the city but would hopefully stop the spreading infestation as well.<ref name="H3Flood">'''Halo 3''', ''{{Levelname|Floodgate}}''</ref>

*According to the [[Halo Encyclopedia]], "the entire population of Earth was cut in half as the First Battle of Earth began." It does not however specify whether it means half of Earth's population were killed, or if a significant number were evacuated, although the latter is more probable, as the Covenant did not commence planetary bombardment, and the statement is in regard of the situation at the beginning and not the end of the battle).<ref>Halo Encyclopedia page 282</ref>