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First Battle of Harvest: Difference between revisions
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|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | ||
|date=February 3-October 7, [[2525]] | |date=February 3-October 7, [[2525]] | ||
|place=[[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi System]] | |place=[[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi system|Epsilon Indi System]] | ||
|result= Decisive Covenant victory | |result= Decisive Covenant victory | ||
*Harvest partially glassed | *Harvest partially glassed | ||
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*[[Colonial Military Administration]] | *[[Colonial Military Administration]] | ||
|side2=[[Covenant Empire]] | |side2=[[Covenant Empire]] | ||
|commanders1=*[[Captain ( | |commanders1=*[[Captain (Ground forces)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]† | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Veredi]] (later) | *[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Maribeau Veredi|Veredi]] (later) | ||
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] | *[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] | ||
|commanders2= | |commanders2= | ||
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*One [[Huragok]] | *One [[Huragok]] | ||
*Another Covenant ship of unknown classification | *Another Covenant ship of unknown classification | ||
|casual1=*[[Harvest Militia]] suffers over 50% casualties | |casual1=*[[Harvest militia|Harvest Militia]] suffers over 50% casualties | ||
**Captain [[Ponder]] | **Captain [[Ponder]] | ||
**Private [[Osmo]] | **Private [[Osmo]] | ||
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|casual2= | |casual2= | ||
*''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' | *''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' | ||
*One [[Spirit]] | *One [[Type-28 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] | ||
*A few [[Jiralhanae]], many [[Unggoy]], and many [[Yanme'e]] | *A few [[Jiralhanae]], many [[Unggoy]], and many [[Yanme'e]] | ||
*[[Maccabeus]] | *[[Maccabeus]] | ||
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
===Covenant religious crisis=== | ===Covenant religious crisis=== | ||
Covenant culture and society was founded on the belief that they were the chosen of the [[Forerunner]]s. Piety was partially demonstrated by the "Reclamation" of ancient, and supposedly holy, artifacts. In [[2525]], a query to an [[032 Mendicant Bias|ancient Forerunner AI]] concerning the large number of "relics" on a world as-yet unvisited by the Covenant revealed a critical flaw in Covenant belief; "Reclamation" was a mistranslation of "[[Reclaimer]]", the "relics" on the world were humans, and that ''humans'' were the Forerunner's chosen inheritors. | Covenant culture and society was founded on the belief that they were the chosen of the [[Forerunner]]s. Piety was partially demonstrated by the "Reclamation" of ancient, and supposedly holy, artifacts. In [[2525]], a query to an [[05-032 Mendicant Bias|ancient Forerunner AI]] concerning the large number of "relics" on a world as-yet unvisited by the Covenant revealed a critical flaw in Covenant belief; "Reclamation" was a mistranslation of "[[Reclaimer]]", the "relics" on the world were humans, and that ''humans'' were the Forerunner's chosen inheritors. | ||
This information was restricted to only a few in Covenant leadership. They realized the public knowledge would shake the foundations of the polity and potentially destroy it. Those privy to the information moved to prevent catastrophe. They seized control of the Covenant and used their new powers to declare a war of extermination on humanity. The first target was the world that the Forerunner AI had been consulted about: the UNSC colony world of [[Harvest]]. | This information was restricted to only a few in Covenant leadership. They realized the public knowledge would shake the foundations of the polity and potentially destroy it. Those privy to the information moved to prevent catastrophe. They seized control of the Covenant and used their new powers to declare a war of extermination on humanity. The first target was the world that the Forerunner AI had been consulted about: the UNSC colony world of [[Harvest]]. | ||
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First contact between the Covenant and humanity involved a number of raids on UNSC ships in the [[Epsilon Indi]] system by a Covenant missionary ship, the ''[[Minor Transgression]]''. The raider made a scan of Harvest before being intercepted and destroyed. | First contact between the Covenant and humanity involved a number of raids on UNSC ships in the [[Epsilon Indi]] system by a Covenant missionary ship, the ''[[Minor Transgression]]''. The raider made a scan of Harvest before being intercepted and destroyed. | ||
Following quickly on ''Minor Transgression'''s heels was the Covenant cruiser, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''. The cruiser's commander, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[War Chieftain]] and [[Ship Master]] [[Maccabeus]], was ordered to [[Glassing|glass]] the colony. However, the pious Maccabeus opted to delay this in order to search for relics first. This put him in conflict with [[Tartarus]], his more zealous nephew. | Following quickly on ''Minor Transgression'''s heels was the Covenant cruiser, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''. The cruiser's commander, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and [[Shipmaster|Ship Master]] [[Maccabeus]], was ordered to [[Glassing|glass]] the colony. However, the pious Maccabeus opted to delay this in order to search for relics first. This put him in conflict with [[Tartarus]], his more zealous nephew. | ||
==The battle== | ==The battle== | ||
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On February 3rd, [[2525]], ''[[Tiara]]'', Harvest's orbital station, detected ''Rapid Conversion'' entering the system on long range sensors; the cruiser registered as an unknown object but determined the ship was constructed of materials beyond human science. | On February 3rd, [[2525]], ''[[Tiara]]'', Harvest's orbital station, detected ''Rapid Conversion'' entering the system on long range sensors; the cruiser registered as an unknown object but determined the ship was constructed of materials beyond human science. | ||
The Covenant were not immediately hostile and a peaceful meeting on the surface was arranged. The humans were represented by Attorney General [[Rol Pedersen]] and members of the [[Colonial Militia of Harvest]], including its commander, [[Captain ( | The Covenant were not immediately hostile and a peaceful meeting on the surface was arranged. The humans were represented by Attorney General [[Rol Pedersen]] and members of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia of Harvest]], including its commander, [[Captain (Ground forces)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]. Maccabeus arrived at the head of a group of [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Unggoy]]. The meeting went sour prematurely when an overeager Unggoy attacked and killed Private [[Osmo]]. Pedersen was killed, while [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson]] escaped with a severely wounded Ponder. Maccabeus was wounded by Johnson from a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]]. | ||
Tartarus used Maccabeus' refusal to glass the colony outright, and his shameful wounding at the hands of Johnson, as reason to challenge his superior's leadership. Tartarus killed Maccabeus in a duel and assumed command. | Tartarus used Maccabeus' refusal to glass the colony outright, and his shameful wounding at the hands of Johnson, as reason to challenge his superior's leadership. Tartarus killed Maccabeus in a duel and assumed command. | ||
===Evacuation=== | ===Evacuation=== | ||
Governor [[Nils Thune]] issued an order for all colonists to be assembled in [[Utgard]], the capital, for immediate evacuation. Many chose not to leave and were killed in the subsequent ground battle and glassing. A week after the evacuation order Covenant forces destroyed the outer city of [[Gladsheim]]. [[ONI]] [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] assumed command of UNSC forces and the evacuation plan was finalized on February 23rd. | Governor [[Nils Thune]] issued an order for all colonists to be assembled in [[Utgard]], the capital, for immediate evacuation. Many chose not to leave and were killed in the subsequent ground battle and glassing. A week after the evacuation order Covenant forces destroyed the outer city of [[Gladsheim]]. [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] assumed command of UNSC forces and the evacuation plan was finalized on February 23rd. | ||
Captured intelligence revealed the Covenant's interest in artifacts and relics to the UNSC. A mortally wounded Ponder used a false Oracle to lure the Covenant cruiser into the sights of the colony's [[Mass Driver]]. The ship was disabled after two rounds and crashed. In the ensuing confusion and lifting of Covenant air superiority, a militia strike team secured ''Tiara''. 360 refugee-laden cargo freighters ascended the space elevator to the station and fled into [[Slipspace]], but only 215 freighters managed to escape. | Captured intelligence revealed the Covenant's interest in artifacts and relics to the UNSC. A mortally wounded Ponder used a false Oracle to lure the Covenant cruiser into the sights of the colony's [[Mass driver|Mass Driver]]. The ship was disabled after two rounds and crashed. In the ensuing confusion and lifting of Covenant air superiority, a militia strike team secured ''Tiara''. 360 refugee-laden cargo freighters ascended the space elevator to the station and fled into [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]], but only 215 freighters managed to escape. | ||
During the following months, the ''Rapid Conversion'''s crew repaired the ship and steadily continued the glassing of Harvest, gradually destroying the JOTUN automatons in which the remnants of the AI Mack were housed. | During the following months, the ''Rapid Conversion'''s crew repaired the ship and steadily continued the glassing of Harvest, gradually destroying the JOTUN automatons in which the remnants of the AI Mack were housed. | ||
===CMA investigation=== | ===CMA investigation=== | ||
[[File:ArabiaVostok.png|thumb|{{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}} hit by Covenant [[plasma | [[File:ArabiaVostok.png|thumb|{{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}} hit by Covenant [[plasma turret|plasma torpedoes]].]] | ||
The [[Colonial Administration Authority]] dispatched {{UNSCShip|Argo}} to investigate the cessation of communications from Harvest, and the scout ship arrived in system on April 20th, [[2525]]. The [[AI]] [[Mack]] unsuccessfully attempted to warn ''Argo'' of the enemy presence. The scout ship managed to send a single signal before being destroyed by the ''Rapid Conversion''. A single [[Covenant super-destroyer]] arrived some time later and remained in the system to face any future investigation parties sent in by the UNSC. | The [[Colonial Administration Authority]] dispatched {{UNSCShip|Argo}} to investigate the cessation of communications from Harvest, and the scout ship arrived in system on April 20th, [[2525]]. The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Mack]] unsuccessfully attempted to warn ''Argo'' of the enemy presence. The scout ship managed to send a single signal before being destroyed by the ''Rapid Conversion''. A single [[Covenant super-destroyer]] arrived some time later and remained in the system to face any future investigation parties sent in by the UNSC. | ||
''Argo'' was followed up by a battlegroup consisting of the [[ | ''Argo'' was followed up by a battlegroup consisting of the [[uNSC destroyer|destroyer]] {{CMA ship|Heracles}}, and the [[uNSC frigate|frigates]] {{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}}. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Maribeau Veredi]] of ''Heracles'' commanded the formation. The ships arrived in Epsilon Indi on October 7th and encountered the same Covenant ship. The Covenant ship responded to first contact protocols by broadcasting the message: ''Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument'', and then opened fire. | ||
The CMA battlegroup was soundly defeated in an engagement lasting fourteen seconds.<ref name="Halo E">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'''</ref> Covenant [[Point Defense | The CMA battlegroup was soundly defeated in an engagement lasting fourteen seconds.<ref name="Halo E">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'''</ref> Covenant [[Pulse laser turret|Point Defense Lasers]] intercepted many [[Archer missile|Archer Missiles]] with the remainder being shrugged off by [[shield]]s. [[Plasma turret|Plasma torpedoes]] and lasers destroyed both frigates and heavily damaged the ''Heracles''; the destroyer managed to escape but took several weeks to limp back to [[Reach]].<ref name="FOR" /> | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||