Halo: The Fall of Reach: Difference between revisions
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==Plot synopsis== | ==Plot synopsis== | ||
{{Spoiler}} | {{Spoiler}} | ||
The prologue takes place on the planet [[Jericho VII]] on [[2535|February 12, 2535]], and introduces the Spartans and their purpose. As the seemingly unstoppable Covenant war machine moves into place to [[glassing|glass]] Jericho VII, Spartan [[Red Team|Red]] and [[Blue Team|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, | The prologue takes place on the planet [[Jericho VII]] on [[2535|February 12, 2535]], and introduces the Spartans and their purpose. As the seemingly unstoppable Covenant war machine moves into place to [[glassing|glass]] Jericho VII, Spartan [[Red Team|Red]] and [[Blue Team|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, the situation in space soon deteriorates, and the Spartans are forced to retreat before the surface of Jericho VII is glassed. | ||
===Section I: Reveille=== | ===Section I: Reveille=== | ||
The story itself begins with [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and Lieutenant, Junior Grade [[Jacob Keyes]] on board the ''[[Han]]'' | The story itself begins with [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and Lieutenant, Junior Grade [[Jacob Keyes]] on board the ''[[Han]]'': a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[diplomatic shuttle]]. Traveling to the colony world [[Eridanus II]], their mission is to identify a potential candidate, [[John-117|John]], for Halsey's [[SPARTAN-II program]]. Dr. Halsey finds John in a [[Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119|school]] playground in [[Elysium City]], where she determines his suitability for the program. 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. | ||
===Section II: Boot=== | ===Section II: Boot=== | ||
The plot then goes on to show in detail the brutal indoctrination and [[SPARTAN-II training|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 AI [[Déjà]] teaches them history, mathematics, and physics. After a daring training mission in [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve|the wilds]] of [[Reach]] | The plot then goes on to show, in detail, the brutal indoctrination and [[SPARTAN-II training|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 [[Dumb AI|AI]] [[Déjà]] teaches them history, mathematics, and physics. After a daring training mission in [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve|the wilds]] of [[Reach]] — where the young Spartans regroup, escape with pieces of a map that they all put together, and steal a dropship back to [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|base]] — John-117 is made squad leader of the Spartans. When the Spartans are fourteen, they undergo [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|intense biological enhancements]] that effectively increase their strength by three times, drastically decrease their reaction times, make their bones practically indestructible, and increase blood flow to their eyes so that they can almost see in the dark, among various other improvements. However, of the 75 Spartans, less than half emerge still fit for combat; the rest wash out and die during the operations or are horribly injured by the augmentation process. 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. | ||
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 | 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 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 [[2525#February|February 3, 2525]], first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as the [[Covenant]]. [[Rapid Conversion|A single Covenant warship]] exterminates the entire surface population of the [[Outer Colonies|Outer Colony]] [[Harvest]]. Three UNSC warships | On [[2525#February|February 3, 2525]], first contact is made with an alliance of alien races that refers to itself as the [[Covenant]]. [[Rapid Conversion|A single Covenant warship]] exterminates the entire surface population of the [[Outer Colonies|Outer Colony]] [[Harvest]]. Three UNSC warships — the destroyer ''[[CMA Heracles|Heracles]]'' and the frigates ''[[CMA Arabia|Arabia]]'' and ''[[CMA Vostok|Vostok]]'' — are sent to investigate this incident and initiate first engagement protocols. They attempt contact, engage the Covenant ship in battle, and are subsequently routed. Only the ''Heracles'' manages to return to Reach, having been badly damaged. By December of the same year, the UNSC has mobilized a [[Battle Group X-Ray|massive 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 | 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 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 power armor]], which further enhances the Spartans' already significant strength and speed. While returning to the ''Commonwealth'', John comes up with the idea to go [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]], [[Boarding|board]] the Covenant vessel, and destroy it using [[HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Weapon|HAVOK nuclear weapons]] on a [[Pelican]]. Only three Spartans — John, Sam, and Kelly — manage to board the ship. They fight their way past the crew, a birdlike 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 upon exposure to vacuum. John and Kelly are able to escape as the Covenant ship is destroyed. | ||
===Section III: Sigma Octanus=== | ===Section III: Sigma Octanus=== | ||
Admiral Cole's fleet manages a [[Second Battle of Harvest|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, the superior technology possessed by the Covenant gives the latter a crucial advantage in the war. One by one, the Outer Colonies fall to the onslaught and, by 2536, virtually all have been destroyed. | Admiral Cole's fleet manages a [[Second Battle of Harvest|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, the superior technology possessed by the Covenant gives the latter a crucial advantage in the war. One by one, the Outer Colonies fall to the onslaught and, by 2536, virtually all have been destroyed. | ||
To protect the location of [[Earth]], Vice Admiral Cole establishes the emergency order 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 | To protect the location of [[Earth]], Vice Admiral Cole establishes the emergency order 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 removed or destroyed. | ||
Due to the shortage of effective officers, Jacob Keyes is promoted to Commander and assumes command of the [[UNSC Iroquois|UNSC ''Iroquois'']]. In [[2552]], 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 {{Class|DDS|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 | Due to the shortage of effective officers, Jacob Keyes is promoted to Commander and assumes command of the [[UNSC Iroquois|UNSC ''Iroquois'']]. In [[2552]], he foresees a Covenant attack on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] thanks to a paper by Spartan washout [[Fhajad-084]]. His actions result in the destruction of a [[Covenant destroyer]] and two [[Covenant frigate|frigates]], as well as the routing of a {{Class|DDS|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 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, | On the ground, the Marine force is slaughtered save a small group of survivors, so Spartan Blue, 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 [[Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History|a museum]] and discover a new race called [[Huragok|Engineers]]. While Red and Green 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: [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]. The Hunters possess a [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|rock]] that is being scanned, the contents of which are transmitted to [[Covenant stealth ship|a stealth ship]] that Captain Keyes discovers and destroys. The Spartans are able to 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 [[Covenant spy probe|homing beacon]] attached to the ''Iroquois''. An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] committee debriefs him. There, 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. | ||
===Section IV: MJOLNIR=== | ===Section IV: MJOLNIR=== | ||
By | By 2552, the Covenant have destroyed many of humanity's [[Inner Colonies]]. In a move of desperation, ONI [[ONI Section Three|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. | ||
To aid the Spartans in this mission, an AI, [[Cortana]], | To aid the Spartans in this mission, an AI, [[Cortana]], from Dr. Halsey's previously cloned brain is used. 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 ODSTs, pick his way through a minefield, destroy automated chain guns, and even evade an airstrike 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 [[UNSC Special Forces|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 for his reassignment to front line duty. | ||
Every available Spartan-II 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. | Every available Spartan-II 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. | ||
===Section V: Reach=== | ===Section V: Reach=== | ||
''Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s mission is interrupted when a [[Fleet of Particular Justice|massive fleet]] of 315 Covenant 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. [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|Reach's fleet]] | ''Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s mission is interrupted when a [[Fleet of Particular Justice|massive fleet]] of 315 Covenant 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. [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|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 [[Orbital defense generator|generators]] for the Super MACs | The Covenant return and land troops on Reach with the objective of destroying the [[Orbital defense generator|generators]] for the Super MACs: the only things that are stopping the Covenant. At the same time, the UNSC realizes that the ''[[UNSC Circumference|Circumference]]'', a [[ONI 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' power generators. | ||
John's team crash-land their | John's team crash-land their Pelican on [[Gamma Station]], on which the ''Circumference'' is docked, 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 Needler|Needler]] shard and explodes, sending James flying uncontrollably into space. 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 later be resuscitated. | ||
The surface of Reach is also overrun. The Spartans who John sent to the surface are presumed by the ''Autumn'' crew to be overrun and | The surface of Reach is also overrun. The Spartans who John sent to the surface are all presumed by the ''Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew to be overrun and 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 plots 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 lead 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. | ||
{{Spoiler/end}} | {{Spoiler/end}} | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
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===Polish 2012 edition=== | ===Polish 2012 edition=== | ||
On May 30, 2012 ISA publishing house published a Polish version of the book named "Halo: Upadek Reach".<ref>[https://isa.pl/p4107-HALO-Upadek-Reach-01BHALOUREN01.html ''ISA.PL'', Halo: Upadek Reach (01BHALO01)]</ref> This version was translated by "Marta Koniarek". This version is unique in that it had a vastly unique cover compared to every other region which received minor edits. | On May 30, 2012, ISA publishing house published a Polish version of the book named "Halo: Upadek Reach".<ref>[https://isa.pl/p4107-HALO-Upadek-Reach-01BHALOUREN01.html ''ISA.PL'', Halo: Upadek Reach (01BHALO01)]</ref> This version was translated by "Marta Koniarek". This version is unique in that it had a vastly unique cover compared to every other region which received minor edits. | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
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*The first section of this book is titled "Reveille" and involves characters emerging from cryo-sleep. The first section from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' is also appropriately titled "Reveille", and also involves someone waking from cryo-sleep. Reveille is a traditional bugle call of the U.S. Military, which is sounded at the start of each day on military installations, to wake up the troops. "Reveille" is French for "to awaken." | *The first section of this book is titled "Reveille" and involves characters emerging from cryo-sleep. The first section from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' is also appropriately titled "Reveille", and also involves someone waking from cryo-sleep. Reveille is a traditional bugle call of the U.S. Military, which is sounded at the start of each day on military installations, to wake up the troops. "Reveille" is French for "to awaken." | ||
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', Cortana states several of Dr. Halsey's quotes from this book during Cortana moments, such as: "Can I speak with you please? What's your name? It's very nice to meet you. You like games? So do I.", "You have been called upon to serve, you will be trained...and you will become the best we can make you. You will be the Protectors of Earth and all her Colonies.", and "Could you sacrifice yourself to complete your mission? Could you watch him die?" In the game, "yourself" and "him" are changed to "me", referring to Cortana. This may be because Cortana was [[Rampancy|going rampant]]; as she was created from Dr. Halsey's mind, she would view herself as Halsey when reviewing the memories. | *In ''[[Halo 3]]'', Cortana states several of Dr. Halsey's quotes from this book during Cortana moments, such as: "Can I speak with you please? What's your name? It's very nice to meet you. You like games? So do I.", "You have been called upon to serve, you will be trained...and you will become the best we can make you. You will be the Protectors of Earth and all her Colonies.", and "Could you sacrifice yourself to complete your mission? Could you watch him die?" In the game, "yourself" and "him" are changed to "me", referring to Cortana. This may be because Cortana was [[Rampancy|going rampant]]; as she was created from Dr. Halsey's mind, she would view herself as Halsey when reviewing the memories. | ||
*Bungie considered | *Bungie considered canceling the book to allow players to see the Master Chief as a blank slate, and because of concerns that the book would not sell enough units to be worth the effort. Nylund's editor, [[Eric S. Trautmann]] convinced Bungie to approve the book, and it carried a dedication to him until it was reissued in 2010 by a different publisher.<ref>[http://scifishow.libsyn.com/005-dc-reboot-trautmann-interview-round-2-of-our-quiz '''The Sci Fi Show''': ''Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann'']</ref><ref>[http://ericnylund.com/?p=1256 '''Eric Nylund''': ''Unsung Hero of the HALO Franchise'']</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
