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Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
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The '''Human-Covenant War''', also known as '''The Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe:''' ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant Empire]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict; them being the [[Flood]], and a small number of surviving Forerunner constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from [[Forerunner]] constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | The '''Human-Covenant War''', also known as '''The Great War''',<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe:''' ''[[Petra]]''</ref> was a major interstellar conflict pitting the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]] against the [[Covenant Empire]] during the mid-26<sup>th</sup> century between [[2525#February|February 11, 2525]] and [[2553|March 3, 2553]]. There were two additional factions sporadically involved in the conflict; them being the [[Flood]], and a small number of surviving Forerunner constructs. Both factions proved to be invaluable to the efforts of humanity, as the information taken from [[Forerunner]] constructs and the Flood invasion of ''[[High Charity]]'' were helpful in [[Great Schism|splitting the Covenant apart]] in November 2552. | ||
The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, | The war was instigated by the Covenant, whose [[High Prophet]]s discovered that humans were directly related to the [[Forerunner]]s. In order to keep the Covenant intact, war was declared against humanity. Over the next few decades, the Covenant, with superior firepower, numbers and technology, overpowered humanity on hundreds of worlds, including heavily defended strongholds such as [[Reach]]. The Humans would only win scattered and costly victories. | ||
The conflict was closely connected with, and the cause of, the [[Covenant Civil War]], both of which resulted in the final defeat of the Covenant Loyalists and [[Flood]]. The official cessation of hostilities occurred on March 3, 2553.<ref>[[Hillside Memorial]]</ref> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities and further heavy casualties during the Flood plague. The war ultimately lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | The conflict was closely connected with, and the cause of, the [[Covenant Civil War]], both of which resulted in the final defeat of the Covenant Loyalists and [[Flood]]. The official cessation of hostilities occurred on March 3, 2553.<ref>[[Hillside Memorial]]</ref> The war was incredibly costly to both sides, with over twenty-three billion humans and billions of Covenant killed during the hostilities and further heavy casualties during the Flood plague. The war ultimately lasted for a total of twenty-eight years. | ||
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===Open war (2525-2552)=== | ===Open war (2525-2552)=== | ||
[[File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png|thumb|200px|Cole's fleet destroys the Covenant ship in the Second Battle of Harvest.]] | [[File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png|thumb|200px|Cole's fleet destroys the Covenant ship in the Second Battle of Harvest.]] | ||
From that point on, the Covenant continued to attack and destroy the Humans where ever they were found, using their [[Luminary|Luminaries]] to find Human worlds. Though the UNSC forces fought bravely, their inferior technology and numbers meant that even a close victory was far from guaranteed. The Covenant also had an advantage in that they didn't need to fight planet-side to destroy the enemy; their ships simply needed to destroy the Humans' space-borne defenses and any other threats around the planet, and then reduce the planet's surface to glass with orbital plasma bombardments. The few victories achieved by the UNSC were due to special tactical maneuvers | From that point on, the Covenant continued to attack and destroy the Humans where ever they were found, using their [[Luminary|Luminaries]] to find Human worlds. Though the UNSC forces fought bravely, their inferior technology and numbers meant that even a close victory was far from guaranteed. The Covenant also had an advantage in that they didn't need to fight planet-side to destroy the enemy; their ships simply needed to destroy the Humans' space-borne defenses and any other threats around the planet, and then reduce the planet's surface to glass with orbital plasma bombardments. The few victories achieved by the UNSC were due to special tactical maneuvers, as human missiles and magnetic acceleration weapons were unable to compete with Covenant energy shields and plasma torpedoes. Over twenty-seven years, the Covenant whittled down the UNSC planet by planet. | ||
Realizing the threat posed to humanity by the Covenant, the UNSC [[Colonial Military Administration]] gave [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] the command of the then-largest fleet in human history with orders to retake Harvest. Cole [[Second Battle of Harvest|retook Harvest]] in [[2526]], and then spent five years chasing the Covenant around the [[Outer Colonies]], fighting them and scoring victories at [[Alpha Aurigae System|Alpha Aurigae]], [[XI Boötis A System|XI Boötis A]], and [[Groombridge-1830]]. Meanwhile, the Covenant returned to Harvest, determined to recapture the planet. This led to a five-year long [[Harvest Campaign|series of engagements]] on Harvest between the Covenant and the UNSC. Because of the threat the Covenant posed, the UNSC began deploying the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]]s, super soldiers originally trained to fight the [[Insurrection]]. The SPARTANs became one of humanity's greatest — and most celebrated — defenders, showing an ability to turn the tide of battle. Their prowess was not lost on the Covenant, who came to fear the SPARTANs as [[demon]]s. | Realizing the threat posed to humanity by the Covenant, the UNSC [[Colonial Military Administration]] gave [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] the command of the then-largest fleet in human history with orders to retake Harvest. Cole [[Second Battle of Harvest|retook Harvest]] in [[2526]], and then spent five years chasing the Covenant around the [[Outer Colonies]], fighting them and scoring victories at [[Alpha Aurigae System|Alpha Aurigae]], [[XI Boötis A System|XI Boötis A]], and [[Groombridge-1830]]. Meanwhile, the Covenant returned to Harvest, determined to recapture the planet. This led to a five-year long [[Harvest Campaign|series of engagements]] on Harvest between the Covenant and the UNSC. Because of the threat the Covenant posed, the UNSC began deploying the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]]s, super soldiers originally trained to fight the [[Insurrection]]. The SPARTANs became one of humanity's greatest — and most celebrated — defenders, showing an ability to turn the tide of battle. Their prowess was not lost on the Covenant, who came to fear the SPARTANs as [[demon]]s. | ||