Fall of Reach: Difference between revisions
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Covenant PhD (talk | contribs) |
CMDR RileySV (talk | contribs) (Cleaned up infobox, touched up some citations. Made other consistency changes. Will eventually make a new page on the aftermath of the Fall of Reach.) |
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*[[#Timeline|See below]] | *[[#Timeline|See below]] | ||
|place=[[Epsilon Eridani system]], planet [[Reach]] | |place=[[Epsilon Eridani system]], planet [[Reach]] | ||
|result= | |result=Covenant victory | ||
*Reach [[Glassing|glassed]] | *Reach [[Glassing|glassed]] | ||
*Heavy casualties incurred on both sides | *Heavy casualties incurred on both sides | ||
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|side1= | |side1= | ||
*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] | *{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] | ||
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy]] | |||
**{{Icon|Army}} [[UNSC Army]] | |||
**[[UNSC Air Force]] | |||
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]] | |||
*[[Reach militia]] | *[[Reach militia]] | ||
|side2= | |side2= | ||
* | *{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]] | ||
|commanders1= | |commanders1= | ||
*[[Admiral|ADM]] [[Roland Freemont]]† | *[[Admiral|ADM]] [[Roland Freemont]]† | ||
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**58,485 land assets<ref name="factbook"/> | **58,485 land assets<ref name="factbook"/> | ||
***26 [[Spartan-IIs]]<ref name="drop5"/><ref name="Wars">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Timeline.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'': Timeline] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/Timeline|Archived]])</ref><ref name="FS Adjunct">''Halo: First Strike'' (2010), Adjunct</ref><ref name="DttE">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7Q3fjIIwc ''Youtube'': Defiant to the End]</ref><ref name="Library">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Library (feature)|Library]] - Pelican</ref><!-- This figure includes the 25 NAVSPECWEAP Spartan-IIs recalled to Reach (as stated in the listed sources) as well as Jorge.--> | ***26 [[Spartan-IIs]]<ref name="drop5"/><ref name="Wars">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Timeline.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'': Timeline] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/Timeline|Archived]])</ref><ref name="FS Adjunct">''Halo: First Strike'' (2010), Adjunct</ref><ref name="DttE">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7Q3fjIIwc ''Youtube'': Defiant to the End]</ref><ref name="Library">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Library (feature)|Library]] - Pelican</ref><!-- This figure includes the 25 NAVSPECWEAP Spartan-IIs recalled to Reach (as stated in the listed sources) as well as Jorge.--> | ||
***[[ | ***Numerous [[Spartan-III]]s | ||
****[[Noble Team]] | ****[[Noble Team]] | ||
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] | |||
**11,050 air assets<ref name="factbook"/> | **11,050 air assets<ref name="factbook"/> | ||
|forces2= | |forces2= | ||
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**[[Fleet of Holy Respite]] | **[[Fleet of Holy Respite]] | ||
**[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]] | **[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]] | ||
*Numerous ground forces | *Numerous ground forces | ||
|casual1=Catastrophic | |casual1=Catastrophic | ||
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===UNSC counterattack=== | ===UNSC counterattack=== | ||
[[File:UNSC Attack.jpg|thumb|left|UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].]] | [[File:UNSC Attack.jpg|thumb|left|UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].{{Ref/Reuse|tots}}]] | ||
{{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}} | {{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}} | ||
{{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}}} | {{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}}} | ||
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===The battle begins=== | ===The battle begins=== | ||
{{Main|Operation: UPPER CUT|Operation: LEFT JAB}} | {{Main|Operation: UPPER CUT|Operation: LEFT JAB}} | ||
[[File:LNoS ends.jpg|right|thumb|''Long Night of Solace'' being destroyed.]] | [[File:LNoS ends.jpg|right|thumb|''Long Night of Solace'' being destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}]] | ||
{{Quote|no=five|Air Control (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|ATC 2 (COM)|Colonel Holland (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|q1=They're everywhere!|q2=Slipspace rupture detected.|q3=Oh no, this can't be happening!|q4=Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!|q5=Slipspace rupture detected.|The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives<ref name="lnos"/>}} | {{Quote|no=five|Air Control (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|ATC 2 (COM)|Colonel Holland (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|q1=They're everywhere!|q2=Slipspace rupture detected.|q3=Oh no, this can't be happening!|q4=Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!|q5=Slipspace rupture detected.|The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives<ref name="lnos"/>}} | ||
The arrival of the supercarrier led to the UNSC concocting an audacious plan known as [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], in which NOBLE Team were to use [[YSS-1000 Sabre]] starfighters and the corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' to deliver an improvised [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine#Atypical uses|slipspace drive "bomb"]] to the supercarrier and destroy it. The team were deployed to fend off an attack at the Sabre [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range|research site]] at [[Farkas Lake]], before deploying to refit station [[Anchor 9]] in the fighters to prepare for the operation.<ref name="lnos">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> [[SPARTAN-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of [[UNSC Army|Army]] pilots, with the aid of the frigate ''Savannah'', boarded the ''Ardent Prayer'' and took control of it.<ref name="lnos"/><ref name="Warfleet76">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 76-77</ref> | The arrival of the supercarrier led to the UNSC concocting an audacious plan known as [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], in which NOBLE Team were to use [[YSS-1000 Sabre]] starfighters and the corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' to deliver an improvised [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine#Atypical uses|slipspace drive "bomb"]] to the supercarrier and destroy it. The team were deployed to fend off an attack at the Sabre [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range|research site]] at [[Farkas Lake]], before deploying to refit station [[Anchor 9]] in the fighters to prepare for the operation.<ref name="lnos">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> [[SPARTAN-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of [[UNSC Army|Army]] pilots, with the aid of the frigate ''Savannah'', boarded the ''Ardent Prayer'' and took control of it.<ref name="lnos"/><ref name="Warfleet76">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 76-77</ref> | ||
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Over the next week, Covenant ground forces landed on the planet and Covenant ships began [[glassing]] targeted areas. A major siege lasting between August 18–23 broke out in the [[city]] of [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]], with large numbers of civilian evacuation transports being shot down by Covenant air and ground forces.<ref name="exodus">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Exodus]]</ref><ref name="alexandria"/> Members of NOBLE Team assisted UNSC forces in clearing evacuation zones, succeeding in damaging a [[Covenant corvette]] in the process. Though the UNSCDF succeeded in clearing the city of Covenant troops, Covenant naval assets began to glass the city, and while retreating [[Kat-B320]] of NOBLE Team was killed by sniper fire.<ref name="alexandria"/> Elsewhere, the evacuation stations in [[Manassas]] and [[Esztergom]] were attacked and eventually stopped responding.<ref name="BeachheadRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]] - [[Beachhead]]</ref> | Over the next week, Covenant ground forces landed on the planet and Covenant ships began [[glassing]] targeted areas. A major siege lasting between August 18–23 broke out in the [[city]] of [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]], with large numbers of civilian evacuation transports being shot down by Covenant air and ground forces.<ref name="exodus">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Exodus]]</ref><ref name="alexandria"/> Members of NOBLE Team assisted UNSC forces in clearing evacuation zones, succeeding in damaging a [[Covenant corvette]] in the process. Though the UNSCDF succeeded in clearing the city of Covenant troops, Covenant naval assets began to glass the city, and while retreating [[Kat-B320]] of NOBLE Team was killed by sniper fire.<ref name="alexandria"/> Elsewhere, the evacuation stations in [[Manassas]] and [[Esztergom]] were attacked and eventually stopped responding.<ref name="BeachheadRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]] - [[Beachhead]]</ref> | ||
[[File:Noble Six City.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Noble Six arrives at [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] as it is invaded by Covenant forces.{{Ref/Reuse|exodus}}]] | |||
However, most of the planet's population, both civilian and military, (particularly those assigned to Operation: RED FLAG), were kept unaware of the invasion, as the Army repeatedly insisted they had the ground battle under control.<ref name="drop5"/><ref name="entry19021024"/> HIGHCOM withheld major counteroffensives on the far side of the planet in the hope that a Class-5 Covenant vessel, which was needed for the operation, would be drawn in and make itself vulnerable for capture. Millions perished as a result of this relative inaction.<ref name="drop5"/> | However, most of the planet's population, both civilian and military, (particularly those assigned to Operation: RED FLAG), were kept unaware of the invasion, as the Army repeatedly insisted they had the ground battle under control.<ref name="drop5"/><ref name="entry19021024"/> HIGHCOM withheld major counteroffensives on the far side of the planet in the hope that a Class-5 Covenant vessel, which was needed for the operation, would be drawn in and make itself vulnerable for capture. Millions perished as a result of this relative inaction.<ref name="drop5"/> | ||
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The remnants of NOBLE Team, consisting of [[Carter-A259]], [[Emile-A239]], and [[SPARTAN-B312]], arrived on the outskirts of the facility. Carter sent Noble Six and Emile to deliver the package to Keyes. He then sacrificed himself to destroy a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]]. Six and Emile fought their way to the shipyards, where they linked up with some surviving UNSC ground troops. Keyes then contacted the Spartans and ordered them to clear Landing Platform Delta so that he could pick up the package. Upon arriving at the platform, Emile took charge of a [[Mark 2488 Onager|mass driver]] and used it to provide cover fire for the ''Autumn''. Six, meanwhile, cleared the platform of Covenant troops. | The remnants of NOBLE Team, consisting of [[Carter-A259]], [[Emile-A239]], and [[SPARTAN-B312]], arrived on the outskirts of the facility. Carter sent Noble Six and Emile to deliver the package to Keyes. He then sacrificed himself to destroy a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]]. Six and Emile fought their way to the shipyards, where they linked up with some surviving UNSC ground troops. Keyes then contacted the Spartans and ordered them to clear Landing Platform Delta so that he could pick up the package. Upon arriving at the platform, Emile took charge of a [[Mark 2488 Onager|mass driver]] and used it to provide cover fire for the ''Autumn''. Six, meanwhile, cleared the platform of Covenant troops. | ||
[[File:HaloReach - PoA.png|thumb|left|250px|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes.]] | [[File:HaloReach - PoA.png|thumb|left|250px|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes.{{Ref/Reuse|hrpoa}}]] | ||
With the platform cleared, Captain Keyes arrived in a Pelican and personally took possession of the package from Noble Six. Just then a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} appeared and started heading toward the ''Autumn''. Keyes ordered Emile to take out the cruiser before it destroyed the ''Autumn.'' Emile, however, was attacked by a pair of [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]. The Spartan killed the Zealots but was also killed, leaving the mass driver cannon unmanned. With the cruiser closing in on the ''Autumn'', Noble Six volunteered to stay behind to take charge of the gun.<ref name="hrpoa">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]</ref> | With the platform cleared, Captain Keyes arrived in a Pelican and personally took possession of the package from Noble Six. Just then a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} appeared and started heading toward the ''Autumn''. Keyes ordered Emile to take out the cruiser before it destroyed the ''Autumn.'' Emile, however, was attacked by a pair of [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]. The Spartan killed the Zealots but was also killed, leaving the mass driver cannon unmanned. With the cruiser closing in on the ''Autumn'', Noble Six volunteered to stay behind to take charge of the gun.<ref name="hrpoa">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]</ref> | ||
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==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
{{ | {{Main|Aftermath of the Fall of Reach}} | ||
[[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach after its glassing.]] | [[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach after its glassing.{{Ref/Level|H2A|[[The Heretic]]}}]] | ||
{{Quote|We are not wasting a single UNSC ship to confirm what we have already seen a dozen times before: Reach is gone. Everything on it is blasted to bits, burned, glassed over, and vaporized. Everyone on Reach is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.|[[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]]<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 104-105</ref>}} | {{Quote|We are not wasting a single UNSC ship to confirm what we have already seen a dozen times before: Reach is gone. Everything on it is blasted to bits, burned, glassed over, and vaporized. Everyone on Reach is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.|[[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]]<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 104-105</ref>}} | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the [[Japan|Japanese]] [[ | *[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the [[Japan|Japanese]] [[World War II|surprise attack]] on [[United States of America|Pearl Harbor]] in 1941. He noted that, like Reach, Pearl Harbor was once thought too strong to attack.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Page=283}} | ||
*At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach. | *At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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File:HaloReach - FrigateWreck.png|A destroyed UNSC frigate above Reach. | File:HaloReach - FrigateWreck.png|A destroyed UNSC frigate above Reach. | ||
File:Exodus Intro.jpg|Noble Six looks on as the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' burns. | File:Exodus Intro.jpg|Noble Six looks on as the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' burns. | ||
File:NA Glassed.jpg|The surviving members of Noble Team scan the glassed ruins of New Alexandria. | File:NA Glassed.jpg|The surviving members of Noble Team scan the glassed ruins of New Alexandria. | ||
File:H2A Terminals - Human city.png|The Covenant fleet glasses a major city on Reach. | File:H2A Terminals - Human city.png|The Covenant fleet glasses a major city on Reach. | ||
