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'''''Halo: The Fall of Reach''''' is the prequel to ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', and is also the first ''Halo'' novel to be published. It was written by [[Eric Nylund]], and published on October 30, 2001.<ref name=xbox.com2>[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/spotlight.htm '''Xbox.com''': ''Game Worlds in Written Words'']</ref> | '''''Halo: The Fall of Reach''''' is the prequel to ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', and is also the first ''Halo'' novel to be published. It was written by [[Eric Nylund]], and published on October 30, 2001.<ref name=xbox.com2>[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/spotlight.htm '''Xbox.com''': ''Game Worlds in Written Words'']</ref> | ||
The novel was reportedly finished in [[seven]] weeks<ref name="xbox.com2"/>, eventually becoming a ''Publisher's Weekly'' bestseller with nearly 200,000 copies sold in the United States and United Kingdom.<ref name=xbox.com3>[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo2/spotlight2.htm '''Xbox.com''': ''First Strike Author Eric Nylund Q&A'']</ref> | The novel was reportedly finished in [[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] weeks<ref name="xbox.com2"/>, eventually becoming a ''Publisher's Weekly'' bestseller with nearly 200,000 copies sold in the United States and United Kingdom.<ref name=xbox.com3>[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo2/spotlight2.htm '''Xbox.com''': ''First Strike Author Eric Nylund Q&A'']</ref> | ||
The novel was reissued in early August [[2010]] by [[Tor Books]], with the new reissued version including some content updates and additional content.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5543023/halo-novel-trilogy-to-be-republished-with-updates-new-content '''Kotaku''': ''Halo Novel Trilogy to be Republished with Updates, New Content'']</ref> In addition, a comic book adaptation series titled ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', comprising of three story arcs will be published by [[Marvel Comics]] and [[343 Industries]], starting with ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]'' on September 14, 2010.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/transmissions/article/2010-06-22--Marvel-Comics-to-Adapt-The-Fall-of-Reach-This-September '''Halo Waypoint''': Marvel Comics to Adapt ''The Fall of Reach'' this September]</ref> | The novel was reissued in early August [[2010]] by [[Tor Books]], with the new reissued version including some content updates and additional content.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5543023/halo-novel-trilogy-to-be-republished-with-updates-new-content '''Kotaku''': ''Halo Novel Trilogy to be Republished with Updates, New Content'']</ref> In addition, a comic book adaptation series titled ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', comprising of three story arcs will be published by [[Marvel Comics]] and [[343 Industries]], starting with ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]'' on September 14, 2010.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/transmissions/article/2010-06-22--Marvel-Comics-to-Adapt-The-Fall-of-Reach-This-September '''Halo Waypoint''': Marvel Comics to Adapt ''The Fall of Reach'' this September]</ref> | ||
==Story synopsis== | ==Story synopsis== | ||
The story begins on the planet [[Jericho VII]] on [[2535|February 12, 2535]], and reveals the Spartans as a whole, as well as their purpose. As the seemingly unstoppable Covenant war machine moves into place to [[glass]] Jericho VII, Spartan Red and Blue teams are sent to prevent the destruction of the planet. The Spartans manage to kill a thousand [[Unggoy|Grunts]] and even destroy a Covenant air strike with [[fougasse]]s. However, soon the situation in space deteriorates, and the Spartans are forced to retreat before the surface of Jericho VII is [[Glassing|glassed]]. | The story begins on the planet [[Jericho VII]] on [[2535|February 12, 2535]], and reveals the Spartans as a whole, as well as their purpose. As the seemingly unstoppable Covenant war machine moves into place to [[glassing|glass]] Jericho VII, Spartan Red and Blue teams are sent to prevent the destruction of the planet. The Spartans manage to kill a thousand [[Unggoy|Grunts]] and even destroy a Covenant air strike with [[fougasse]]s. However, soon the situation in space deteriorates, and the Spartans are forced to retreat before the surface of Jericho VII is [[Glassing|glassed]]. | ||
The story itself begins with [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and Lieutenant Junior Grade [[Jacob Keyes]] on board the ''[[Han]]'', a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[diplomatic shuttle]]. Their mission is to identify a potential candidate, [[John-117|John]], for Halsey's [[Spartan-II program]]. Dr. Halsey finds John in a school playground on [[Eridanus II]], where she tests if he is good enough to be a Spartan. Using [[Quarter|a coin]], she tests John's reflexes by flipping the coin in the air and having him identify the side it will land on. John catches it and correctly identifies the side: the eagle. During this time, Halsey gives John the coin, which is later taken from him. | The story itself begins with [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and Lieutenant Junior Grade [[Jacob Keyes]] on board the ''[[Han]]'', a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[diplomatic shuttle]]. Their mission is to identify a potential candidate, [[John-117|John]], for Halsey's [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan-II program]]. Dr. Halsey finds John in a school playground on [[Eridanus II]], where she tests if he is good enough to be a Spartan. Using [[Quarter|a coin]], she tests John's reflexes by flipping the coin in the air and having him identify the side it will land on. John catches it and correctly identifies the side: the eagle. During this time, Halsey gives John the coin, which is later taken from him. | ||
The plot then goes on to show in detail the brutal indoctrination and training regime that John and his fellow Spartans are put through. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]] trains the Spartan-IIs, showing them the many necessary virtues of a soldier (e.g. courage, teamwork, skill, etc.) while [[Déjà]] teaches them history, mathematics, and physics. After a daring training mission in the wilds of [[Reach]], where the young Spartans regroup and escape with pieces of a map that they all put together and steal a dropship back to base, where John-117 is made squad leader of the remaining Spartans. When the Spartans are fourteen, they undergo [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|intense biological enhancements]], such as effectively increasing their strength by three times, drastically decreasing reaction times, making their bones practically indestructible, increasing blood flow to the eyes so that they can almost see in the dark, and other various improvements. However, of the 75 Spartans, less than half emerge still fit for combat; the rest washed out (died during the operations) or were horribly injured by the augmentation progress. While recovering on the ''[[UNSC Atlas|Atlas]]'', John gets into a fight with a group of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s, killing two of them easily. The speedy arrival of Chief Mendez leads John to suspect that the incident may have been arranged. | The plot then goes on to show in detail the brutal indoctrination and training regime that John and his fellow Spartans are put through. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]] trains the Spartan-IIs, showing them the many necessary virtues of a soldier (e.g. courage, teamwork, skill, etc.) while [[Déjà]] teaches them history, mathematics, and physics. After a daring training mission in the wilds of [[Reach]], where the young Spartans regroup and escape with pieces of a map that they all put together and steal a dropship back to base, where John-117 is made squad leader of the remaining Spartans. When the Spartans are fourteen, they undergo [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|intense biological enhancements]], such as effectively increasing their strength by three times, drastically decreasing reaction times, making their bones practically indestructible, increasing blood flow to the eyes so that they can almost see in the dark, and other various improvements. However, of the 75 Spartans, less than half emerge still fit for combat; the rest washed out (died during the operations) or were horribly injured by the augmentation progress. While recovering on the ''[[UNSC Atlas|Atlas]]'', John gets into a fight with a group of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s, killing two of them easily. The speedy arrival of Chief Mendez leads John to suspect that the incident may have been arranged. | ||
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After returning to Reach, the Spartans quickly prove that the augmentations have surpassed all expectations, and their cohesion in battle is amazing. The Spartans are then issued orders to capture [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]], an [[Insurrectionist]] leader in the Eridanus asteroid belt. John leads [[Blue Team|a small team]] consisting of [[Samuel-034]], [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Frederic-104]], which manages to infiltrate the Insurrectionists [[Eridanus Secundus|asteroid base]] and capture Watts. John is wounded during this mission and is subsequently awarded a [[Purple Heart]]. | After returning to Reach, the Spartans quickly prove that the augmentations have surpassed all expectations, and their cohesion in battle is amazing. The Spartans are then issued orders to capture [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]], an [[Insurrectionist]] leader in the Eridanus asteroid belt. John leads [[Blue Team|a small team]] consisting of [[Samuel-034]], [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Frederic-104]], which manages to infiltrate the Insurrectionists [[Eridanus Secundus|asteroid base]] and capture Watts. John is wounded during this mission and is subsequently awarded a [[Purple Heart]]. | ||
On February 3, [[2525]], first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. On that day, [[Rapid Conversion|a single Covenant warship]] exterminates the entire surface population of the Outer Colony [[Harvest]]. Three UNSC warships, the destroyer ''[[ | On February 3, [[2525]], first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. On that day, [[Rapid Conversion|a single Covenant warship]] exterminates the entire surface population of the Outer Colony [[Harvest]]. Three UNSC warships, the destroyer ''[[CMA Heracles|Heracles]]'' and the frigates ''[[CMA Arabia|Arabia]]'' and the ''[[CMA Vostok|Vostok]]'', are sent to investigate this incident, initiate first engagement protocols, and attempted contact, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed. Only one, the ''[[CMA Heracles|Heracles]]'', manages to return to Reach, having been badly damaged. By December of the same year, the UNSC has mobilized a massive [[uNSC fleet|fleet]] under the command of famed war hero [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]], with orders to reclaim the Harvest colony and stop the Covenant advance. | ||
In response to the emergence of the Covenant, the Spartans graduation occurs earlier than anticipated, while Chief Mendez leaves to train the next class of Spartans, giving John some advice before and returning the coin Dr. Halsey gave him years earlier. Dr. Halsey takes the Spartans to [[Chi Ceti IV]] to begin Project: MJOLNIR. Upon arriving in the system, the ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'', the [[UNSC frigate|frigate]] carrying the Spartans, is attacked by [[Unrelenting|a Covenant ship]]. The ''Commonwealth'' engages the Covenant ship and is able to drive it off, but with significant damage. Heading to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]], Dr. Halsey introduces the Spartans to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mark IV power armor]], which enhances the Spartans already significant strength and speed even more. While returning to the ''Commonwealth'', John comes up with the idea to go EVA and board the Covenant vessel and destroy it using [[HAVOK]] nuclear weapons on the Pelican. Only three Spartans--John, Sam, and Kelly--manage to board the ship. They fight their way past the crew, a bird like race later dubbed [[Kig-yar|Jackals]], and are able to make their way to a reactor, but Sam's armor is penetrated, and he is forced to stay behind or die from upon exposure to vacuum. John and Kelly are able to escape as the Covenant ship is destroyed. | In response to the emergence of the Covenant, the Spartans graduation occurs earlier than anticipated, while Chief Mendez leaves to train the next class of Spartans, giving John some advice before and returning the coin Dr. Halsey gave him years earlier. Dr. Halsey takes the Spartans to [[Chi Ceti IV]] to begin Project: MJOLNIR. Upon arriving in the system, the ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'', the [[UNSC frigate|frigate]] carrying the Spartans, is attacked by [[Unrelenting|a Covenant ship]]. The ''Commonwealth'' engages the Covenant ship and is able to drive it off, but with significant damage. Heading to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]], Dr. Halsey introduces the Spartans to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mark IV power armor]], which enhances the Spartans already significant strength and speed even more. While returning to the ''Commonwealth'', John comes up with the idea to go EVA and board the Covenant vessel and destroy it using [[HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Weapon|HAVOK]] nuclear weapons on the Pelican. Only three Spartans--John, Sam, and Kelly--manage to board the ship. They fight their way past the crew, a bird like race later dubbed [[Kig-yar|Jackals]], and are able to make their way to a reactor, but Sam's armor is penetrated, and he is forced to stay behind or die from upon exposure to vacuum. John and Kelly are able to escape as the Covenant ship is destroyed. | ||
Cole's fleet manages a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships are destroyed. Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of human commanders, superior Covenant technology guarantees a three to one kill/loss ratio in most space battles. One by one, the Outer Colonies fall to the onslaught and, by 2536, all have been destroyed. | Cole's fleet manages a victory at Harvest, but at a high cost - two thirds of his ships are destroyed. Despite significant tactical brilliance on the part of human commanders, superior Covenant technology guarantees a three to one kill/loss ratio in most space battles. One by one, the Outer Colonies fall to the onslaught and, by 2536, all have been destroyed. | ||
To protect the location of [[Earth]], Vice Admiral Cole establishes the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1]], more commonly known as the "Cole Protocol". If any Covenant forces are present, selective purges of databases on all ship based and planetary data networks are to be activated. When human forces are forced into retreat, they must not execute a [[Slipspace]] jump in the direction of Earth, or any major population center, even if this forces them to jump without the necessary navigational calculations (a "blind jump"). If such a jump is not possible, and if capture is imminent, the commanding officer must order a self-destruct. The on-board ship [[artificial intelligence]] construct, normally imperative to navigation and tactical decisions, must either be destroyed or removed. | To protect the location of [[Earth]], Vice Admiral Cole establishes the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1]], more commonly known as the "Cole Protocol". If any Covenant forces are present, selective purges of databases on all ship based and planetary data networks are to be activated. When human forces are forced into retreat, they must not execute a [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] jump in the direction of Earth, or any major population center, even if this forces them to jump without the necessary navigational calculations (a "blind jump"). If such a jump is not possible, and if capture is imminent, the commanding officer must order a self-destruct. The on-board ship [[artificial intelligence]] construct, normally imperative to navigation and tactical decisions, must either be destroyed or removed. | ||
Due to the shortage of effective officers, Keyes is promoted to Commander and assumes command of the [[UNSC Iroquois|UNSC ''Iroquois'']]. Shortly thereafter, he foresees a Covenant attack on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] thanks to a paper by Spartan [[Fhajad-084]]. His actions result in the destruction of a [[Covenant destroyer]] and two [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] as well as the routing of a [[Covenant carrier]] with a daring maneuver dubbed the "[[Keyes Loop]]". This unprecedented victory against a Covenant force earns him a promotion to Captain and helps him to become recognized by the entire UNSC. Keyes and the ''Iroquois'' remain in the Sigma Octanus system to partake in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]. | Due to the shortage of effective officers, Keyes is promoted to Commander and assumes command of the [[UNSC Iroquois|UNSC ''Iroquois'']]. Shortly thereafter, he foresees a Covenant attack on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] thanks to a paper by Spartan [[Fhajad-084]]. His actions result in the destruction of a [[Covenant destroyer]] and two [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] as well as the routing of a [[Covenant carrier]] with a daring maneuver dubbed the "[[Keyes Loop]]". This unprecedented victory against a Covenant force earns him a promotion to Captain and helps him to become recognized by the entire UNSC. Keyes and the ''Iroquois'' remain in the Sigma Octanus system to partake in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]. | ||
On the ground, the Marine force is slaughtered save a small group of survivors, so Spartan Blue, [[Red Team|Red]], and [[Green Team]]s are sent to destroy a Covenant occupation force in the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] with a nuclear bomb. In the city, they find the Covenant has occupied the museum and discover a new race called [[Huragok|Engineers]]. While Green and Red Teams escort a group of civilian survivors to the landing zone, Blue Team--John, Kelly, Fred, and [[James-005]]--enter the museum and discover two massive aliens later designated [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]. They have a [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|rock]] which is being scanned, the contents of the scan transmitted to a stealth ship discovered and destroyed by Captain Keyes. The Spartans are able neutralize the Hunters, acquire the rock, and escape to the landing zone, where they detonate the bomb and eliminate the Covenant presence. Keyes later returns to Reach, inadvertently disclosing the location of the planet to the Covenant via a homing beacon attached to the ''Iroquois''. He is debriefed by an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] committee. Here he meets John-117 once again. Scans of the rock produce a set of [[ | On the ground, the Marine force is slaughtered save a small group of survivors, so Spartan Blue, [[Red Team|Red]], and [[Green Team]]s are sent to destroy a Covenant occupation force in the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] with a nuclear bomb. In the city, they find the Covenant has occupied the museum and discover a new race called [[Huragok|Engineers]]. While Green and Red Teams escort a group of civilian survivors to the landing zone, Blue Team--John, Kelly, Fred, and [[James-005]]--enter the museum and discover two massive aliens later designated [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]. They have a [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|rock]] which is being scanned, the contents of the scan transmitted to a stealth ship discovered and destroyed by Captain Keyes. The Spartans are able neutralize the Hunters, acquire the rock, and escape to the landing zone, where they detonate the bomb and eliminate the Covenant presence. Keyes later returns to Reach, inadvertently disclosing the location of the planet to the Covenant via a homing beacon attached to the ''Iroquois''. He is debriefed by an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] committee. Here he meets John-117 once again. Scans of the rock produce a set of [[forerunner symbols|alien symbols]] that do not match any Covenant dialect. Dr. Halsey concludes that the artifact is from a [[Forerunner|separate race]] from the Covenant. | ||
By [[2552]], many of Humanity's [[Inner Colonies]] have been destroyed by the Covenant. In a move of desperation, ONI Section 3 orders the execution of [[Operation: RED FLAG|a secret plan]] to capture a Covenant ship using the Spartans. The ship would be taken to the Covenant [[High Charity|home world]] in order to capture a [[San 'Shyuum|Prophet]], one of the aliens' religious leaders, and then use the Prophet as a bargaining chip to negotiate a truce. | By [[2552]], many of Humanity's [[Inner Colonies]] have been destroyed by the Covenant. In a move of desperation, ONI Section 3 orders the execution of [[Operation: RED FLAG|a secret plan]] to capture a Covenant ship using the Spartans. The ship would be taken to the Covenant [[High Charity|home world]] in order to capture a [[San 'Shyuum|Prophet]], one of the aliens' religious leaders, and then use the Prophet as a bargaining chip to negotiate a truce. | ||
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To aid the Spartans in this mission, an AI, [[Cortana]], is created based on a younger Doctor Halsey. John is introduced to Cortana during a live-fire mission to test their capabilities working together, and they perform spectacularly. With Cortana's aid, John manages to overpower a full squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s, pick his way through a minefield, destroy automated chain guns, and even evade an air strike from a [[SkyHawk|SkyHawk fighter]], all of which are using live rounds. These were authorized by [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]], Dr. Halsey's main rival for NAVSPECWEP funding. In a move of revenge, Cortana arranges for a substantial amount of the Colonel's private funds to be sent to a brothel and forges a request to be reassigned to front line duty. | To aid the Spartans in this mission, an AI, [[Cortana]], is created based on a younger Doctor Halsey. John is introduced to Cortana during a live-fire mission to test their capabilities working together, and they perform spectacularly. With Cortana's aid, John manages to overpower a full squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s, pick his way through a minefield, destroy automated chain guns, and even evade an air strike from a [[SkyHawk|SkyHawk fighter]], all of which are using live rounds. These were authorized by [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]], Dr. Halsey's main rival for NAVSPECWEP funding. In a move of revenge, Cortana arranges for a substantial amount of the Colonel's private funds to be sent to a brothel and forges a request to be reassigned to front line duty. | ||
Every remaining Spartan-II - with the exceptions of [[Gray Team]], [[Kurt-051]], [[Jorge-052]], [[Maria-062]], the original Red Team, and [[Team Black|Black Team]] - boards a specially outfitted [[ | Every remaining Spartan-II - with the exceptions of [[Gray Team]], [[Kurt-051]], [[Jorge-052]], [[Maria-062]], the original Red Team, and [[Team Black|Black Team]] - boards a specially outfitted [[halcyon-class cruiser|''Halcyon''-class cruiser]] known as the [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|''Pillar of Autumn'']], which is under the command of Captain Jacob Keyes. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' moves out towards the edges of the system to make a Slipspace jump to begin the mission. | ||
This plan, however, is interrupted when a [[Fleet of Particular Justice|massive Covenant fleet]] of over 300 ships enters the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. Captain Keyes orders the ''Pillar of Autumn'' back towards Reach, but the Master Chief convinces him to allow the Spartans to continue their mission by finding a damaged Covenant ship to capture and take to Covenant space. Reach's fleet, with about a hundred ships and twenty [[orbital defense platform]]s on hand, engages the Covenant fleet, but takes massive losses. However, the Super MAC platforms manage to repulse the initial Covenant assault. | This plan, however, is interrupted when a [[Fleet of Particular Justice|massive Covenant fleet]] of over 300 ships enters the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. Captain Keyes orders the ''Pillar of Autumn'' back towards Reach, but the Master Chief convinces him to allow the Spartans to continue their mission by finding a damaged Covenant ship to capture and take to Covenant space. Reach's fleet, with about a hundred ships and twenty [[orbital defense platform]]s on hand, engages the Covenant fleet, but takes massive losses. However, the Super MAC platforms manage to repulse the initial Covenant assault. | ||
The Covenant return and land troops on Reach with the objective of destroying the generators for the Super MACs, the only things which are stopping the Covenant. At the same time, the UNSC realizes that the ''[[UNSC Circumference|Circumference]]'', a [[UNSC | The Covenant return and land troops on Reach with the objective of destroying the generators for the Super MACs, the only things which are stopping the Covenant. At the same time, the UNSC realizes that the ''[[UNSC Circumference|Circumference]]'', a [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]], is still docked at a station orbiting the planet of Reach just before its fall and has not initiated the Cole Protocol. John takes [[Linda-058]] and [[James-005]] to deal with the ''Circumference'', while the rest of the Spartans are sent down under Fred to the planet to defend the MACs' [[orbital defense generator|power generators]]. | ||
[[File:Battle_of_Reach.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'']] flees from [[Reach]].]] | [[File:Battle_of_Reach.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn'']] flees from [[Reach]].]] | ||
John's team crash-land their [[Pelican]] on the station which the ''Circumference'' is docked on and move towards the NAV data. Among the Covenant attack force are the [[Sangheili|Elites]], the leaders of the Covenant military. However, James' thruster pack is hit by a [[needler]] shard and explodes, sending James flying uncontrollably into space, where he presumably dies. John and Linda proceed to the ''Circumference'', where they find [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] and his Marines, including [[Wallace A. Jenkins|Jenkins]] and [[Bisenti]], also fighting to wipe the data. With John's help, the Marines are successful, but Linda is shot by five separate plasma blasts. The humans fall back to the ''Autumn''; Linda is clinically dead because of the extensive wounds she receives, but is placed in a cryotube in the hope that she can be resuscitated. | John's team crash-land their [[Pelican]] on the station which the ''Circumference'' is docked on and move towards the NAV data. Among the Covenant attack force are the [[Sangheili|Elites]], the leaders of the Covenant military. However, James' thruster pack is hit by a [[type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|needler]] shard and explodes, sending James flying uncontrollably into space, where he presumably dies. John and Linda proceed to the ''Circumference'', where they find [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] and his Marines, including [[Wallace A. Jenkins|Jenkins]] and [[Bisenti]], also fighting to wipe the data. With John's help, the Marines are successful, but Linda is shot by five separate plasma blasts. The humans fall back to the ''Autumn''; Linda is clinically dead because of the extensive wounds she receives, but is placed in a cryotube in the hope that she can be resuscitated. | ||
The surface of Reach is also overrun. The Spartans who John sent to the surface are presumably overrun and all slaughtered. Without the generators, the Super MACs fall silent and are destroyed by the Covenant, who soon begin glassing the planet. The remaining UNSC ships are all destroyed, except for the ''Pillar of Autumn'', as Cortana plotted an exit vector in compliance with the Cole Protocol, though not completely at random. A comment by the Master Chief leads Cortana to reinterpret the alien symbols from the artifact as star charts. The NAV coordinates led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to what the Covenant had been searching for: [[Installation_04|Halo]], an extremely sacred artifact to the Covenant. The book ends with Captain Keyes looking through view screens at the ring, asking Cortana to identify the object. | The surface of Reach is also overrun. The Spartans who John sent to the surface are presumably overrun and all slaughtered. Without the generators, the Super MACs fall silent and are destroyed by the Covenant, who soon begin glassing the planet. The remaining UNSC ships are all destroyed, except for the ''Pillar of Autumn'', as Cortana plotted an exit vector in compliance with the Cole Protocol, though not completely at random. A comment by the Master Chief leads Cortana to reinterpret the alien symbols from the artifact as star charts. The NAV coordinates led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to what the Covenant had been searching for: [[Installation_04|Halo]], an extremely sacred artifact to the Covenant. The book ends with Captain Keyes looking through view screens at the ring, asking Cortana to identify the object. | ||
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*[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]] | *[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]] | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] | *[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] | ||
*[[Spartan-II]] [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] | *[[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan-II]] [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] | ||
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Fhajad-084]] | *[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Fhajad-084]] | ||
*[[Petty Officer Second Class]] [[Linda-058]] | *[[Petty Officer Second Class]] [[Linda-058]] | ||
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
*Petty Officer Second Class [[Kelly-087]] | *Petty Officer Second Class [[Kelly-087]] | ||
*[[Hieronymus Michael Stanforth]] | *[[Hieronymus Michael Stanforth]] | ||
*[[AI]] [[Cortana]] | *[[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] | ||
*[[Déjà]] | *[[Déjà]] | ||
*[[Toran|AI Toran]] | *[[Toran|AI Toran]] | ||
| Line 99: | Line 99: | ||
==2010 bonus content== | ==2010 bonus content== | ||
The Tor Books edition of ''The Fall of Reach'' features a new "Adjunct" section at the end, which features several pieces of short fiction: | The Tor Books edition of ''The Fall of Reach'' features a new "Adjunct" section at the end, which features several pieces of short fiction: | ||
*[[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings]] - a series of excerpts from the interrogation of [[Subject 386]] by [[Preston Cole|Admiral Cole]] after the [[Battle of the Great Bear]] in [[2530]]. | *[[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings]] - a series of excerpts from the interrogation of [[Subject 386]] by [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Admiral Cole]] after the [[Battle of the Great Bear]] in [[2530]]. | ||
*Word from the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]] - a message sent by [[Supreme Commander]] [[Luro 'Taralumee]] to the [[Vice Cleric of Zeal]], after the [[Battle of Miridem]]. | *Word from the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]] - a message sent by [[Supreme Commander]] [[Luro 'Taralumee]] to the [[Vice Cleric of Zeal]], after the [[Battle of Miridem]]. | ||
*A transmission from [[Vice Admiral]] [[Berlin M. Tursk]] to [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Lucius R. Jiron]], concerning the capture of [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] during the [[Battle of Miridem]] and [[Raid on the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence|the UNSC response]]. | *A transmission from [[Vice Admiral]] [[Berlin M. Tursk]] to [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Lucius R. Jiron]], concerning the capture of [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] during the [[Battle of Miridem]] and [[Raid on the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence|the UNSC response]]. | ||
*A message from [[Mike (civilian)|Mike]] to [[Agnes]], regarding [[Ralph-303]]'s upbringing and reintegration into society. | *A message from [[Mike (civilian)|Mike]] to [[Agnes]], regarding [[Ralph-303]]'s upbringing and reintegration into society. | ||
*[[United Nations Space Command Transmission 34670J-17]] - A transmission sent by [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] of {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Kopano N'Singile]] of [[Reach]] [[Central Command]] in [[2552]]. | *[[United Nations Space Command Transmission 34670J-17]] - A transmission sent by [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] of {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Kopano N'Singile]] of [[Reach]] [[Central Command]] in [[2552]]. | ||
*An ONI post-incident investigation report on a possible security breach that may have contributed to the Covenant's discovery of Reach. It involves a transcript of a [[SecNet]] conversation between Sergeants [[Joseph M. Poteet]] and [[Alasdair R. Schicker]]. | *An ONI post-incident investigation report on a possible security breach that may have contributed to the Covenant's discovery of Reach. It involves a transcript of a [[Secure Network|SecNet]] conversation between Sergeants [[Joseph M. Poteet]] and [[Alasdair R. Schicker]]. | ||
*[[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders]], an ONI directive containing orders for field agents on Reach in the event of a [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] declaration. | *[[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders]], an ONI directive containing orders for field agents on Reach in the event of a [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] declaration. | ||