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Alpha Base (Installation 04): Difference between revisions
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<center>''For other uses of "Alpha Base", see [[Alpha Base (disambiguation)]].''</center> | <center>''For other uses of "Alpha Base", see [[Alpha Base (disambiguation)]].''</center> | ||
'''Alpha Base''' was the main tactical [[Military base|firebase]] used during the [[Battle of Installation 04|Battle of Alpha Halo]] by surviving [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces after landfall on [[Installation 04]]. It was located on a small [[Mesa|mesa]] several kilometers down-spin from the crash site of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. The mesa itself housed a collection of [[Forerunner]] structures as well as a system of caves stretching beneath the facility and linking with the larger subterranean system of the ring. | '''Alpha Base''' was the main tactical [[Military base|firebase]] used during the [[Battle of Installation 04|Battle of Alpha Halo]] by surviving [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces after landfall on [[Installation 04]]. It was located on a small [[Wikipedia:Mesa|mesa]] several kilometers down-spin from the crash site of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. The mesa itself housed a collection of [[Forerunner]] structures as well as a system of caves stretching beneath the facility and linking with the larger subterranean system of the ring. | ||
The [[human]]s set up camp around the base using the supplies they had scrounged from the ''Autumn'' and their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|Human Entry Vehicles]]. They lived in [[prefabricated memory plastic cubicle|cubicles]] and ate mostly [[Meal, Ready-to-Eat]] ration packs. A good deal of activity also took place in caverns underneath the facility in the Forerunner structures. It was abandoned by the humans shortly before the destruction of the ring, due to their taking of the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the growing Flood presence in the area. | The [[human]]s set up camp around the base using the supplies they had scrounged from the ''Autumn'' and their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|Human Entry Vehicles]]. They lived in [[prefabricated memory plastic cubicle|cubicles]] and ate mostly [[Meal, Ready-to-Eat]] ration packs. A good deal of activity also took place in caverns underneath the facility in the Forerunner structures. It was abandoned by the humans shortly before the destruction of the ring, due to their taking of the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' and the growing Flood presence in the area. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] occupied this mesa when they discovered the ring, using mostly a light complement of [[Unggoy]], [[Kig- | The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] occupied this mesa when they discovered the ring, using mostly a light complement of [[Unggoy]], [[Kig-Yar]], and [[Sangheili]], as well as several [[Banshee]]s to guard it. It provided a good view of the surrounding areas, and the steep embankments around it made it hard to reach from the ground. Strategically placed [[Shade]] turrets also made the mesa difficult to assault from the air. | ||
When the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was attacked above the Halo by opposing Covenant forces, the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]], under command of [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]], abandoned the ship aboard Human Entry Vehicles. As the ODSTs fell through the ring's atmosphere, the [[Artificial Intelligence]] [[Wellsley]] tagged the Covenant base as '''HS2604''',<ref name="flood48">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 48''</ref> suggesting that it would be ideal as a base for Silva's operations. Wellsley suggested the base be named 'Gawilghur',<ref name="flood48"/> after a fortress that Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, laid siege to in India. Major Silva shot down Wellsley's request and stated that most of the Marines would not be able to pronounce the name correctly. | When the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was attacked above the Halo by opposing Covenant forces, the [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]], under command of [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]], abandoned the ship aboard Human Entry Vehicles. As the ODSTs fell through the ring's atmosphere, the [[Artificial Intelligence]] [[Wellsley]] tagged the Covenant base as '''HS2604''',<ref name="flood48">'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 48''</ref> suggesting that it would be ideal as a base for Silva's operations. Wellsley suggested the base be named 'Gawilghur',<ref name="flood48"/> after a fortress that Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, laid siege to in India. Major Silva shot down Wellsley's request and stated that most of the Marines would not be able to pronounce the name correctly. | ||
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McKay, despite casualties, had made a good deal of progress moving up the butte. At last she made it to a "back door" into the butte. She fired an M19 missile into it, which struck an ammunition store and cleared the room of all hostiles. She and her company entered to find an elevator to the surface of the butte. As a result of the battle, the UNSC managed to gain a base of operations. It is unknown how much of a defense Silva put into guarding this back door, but apparently the Covenant were unable to use it to gain access to the base during later assaults. | McKay, despite casualties, had made a good deal of progress moving up the butte. At last she made it to a "back door" into the butte. She fired an M19 missile into it, which struck an ammunition store and cleared the room of all hostiles. She and her company entered to find an elevator to the surface of the butte. As a result of the battle, the UNSC managed to gain a base of operations. It is unknown how much of a defense Silva put into guarding this back door, but apparently the Covenant were unable to use it to gain access to the base during later assaults. | ||
=== | ===Guerrilla war=== | ||
Despite now having this strategic foothold, Silva still had a great deal of problems. The ODSTs were equipped with enough food and supplies to last 2 weeks. However, that was not the case with the 63 crewmen that the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] had been able to rescue. Also, the dropships were running low on fuel and the base was not adequately prepared for a Covenant counter-attack. Silva therefore ordered McKay to go to the downed ''Pillar of Autumn'' and recover whatever supplies that she could find. The raid was a success with only a minimum of UNSC casualties, while several enemy Ghosts and a [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] dropship were destroyed. The Marines and ODSTs were able to secure a sufficient amount of fuel, food and ammunition. Two 50mm autocannons were also recovered, a contingent of [[M12 Warthog Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]s, and four [[M808B Main Battle Tank|M808B Scorpion]] tanks. Unfortunately, no ammunition could be found for the Pelicans, limiting their usage to transport only. Some of the supplies, LRVs, and Marines were lost in the return trip due to Covenant resistance. | Despite now having this strategic foothold, Silva still had a great deal of problems. The ODSTs were equipped with enough food and supplies to last 2 weeks. However, that was not the case with the 63 crewmen that the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] had been able to rescue. Also, the dropships were running low on fuel and the base was not adequately prepared for a Covenant counter-attack. Silva therefore ordered McKay to go to the downed ''Pillar of Autumn'' and recover whatever supplies that she could find. The raid was a success with only a minimum of UNSC casualties, while several enemy Ghosts and a [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]] dropship were destroyed. The Marines and ODSTs were able to secure a sufficient amount of fuel, food and ammunition. Two 50mm autocannons were also recovered, a contingent of [[M12 Warthog Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]s, and four [[M808B Main Battle Tank|M808B Scorpion]] tanks. Unfortunately, no ammunition could be found for the Pelicans, limiting their usage to transport only. Some of the supplies, LRVs, and Marines were lost in the return trip due to Covenant resistance. | ||
===Second attack on Alpha Base=== | ===Second attack on Alpha Base=== | ||
{{Main|Battle of Alpha Base}} | {{Main|Battle of Alpha Base}} | ||
The second battle was [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]'s attempt to get into the base and kill the Master Chief. Approximately | The second battle was [[Zuka 'Zamamee]]'s attempt to get into the base and kill the Master Chief. Approximately six [[Type-28 Troop Carrier|Spirit dropships]] full of Covenant and the captured [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] ''[[Charlie 217]]'' full of cloaked commando [[Sangheili|Elites]] participated in the attack. The Pelican managed to touch down and release the Elites before its landing pad was doused in fuel and lit. However, Zuka 'Zamamee and several Elites had already fled and began in search of the Chief. Before being killed by the [[Stealth Sangheili|Stealth Elites]] led by Zamamee, a valiant crewman, [[Xaing Cho|Cho]], gave the AI Wellsley control of the 50mm autocannons, with which he was able to eliminate 1 [[Type-28 Troop Carrier|Spirit dropship]]. The remaining dropships released their troops further away from the base and attempted to assault it thus. Snipers expertly inflicted heavy casualties on the disembarking troops. Two of the recovered [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion Tanks]] had been entrenched and were able to cut down much of the onslaught, including the [[Field Master|Field Commander]]. With their leader dead, lesser Elites attempted to assume command with little success. In the end, all remaining Covenant were either captured, killed, or forced to retreat. [[Yayap]] and [[Zuka 'Zamamee|Zamamee]] were able to survive by stealing one of the [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]] that the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] had been able to salvage. | ||
It was later discovered that the [[ | |||
It was later discovered that the [[Flood]] had been attempting to break into the base and were only impeded by a single metal grate, (Which they had already used hundreds of Plasma Weapons on), leading to an unnoticed group of caverns. The entrances to these caverns were successfully sealed, and the Flood were delayed from overtaking the base. By the time they managed to break through, the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces had abandoned the base in hopes of leaving the installation aboard the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. | |||
The base was destroyed, along with Installation 04, when SPARTAN-117 overloaded the ''Pillar of Autumn's'' reactor. | The base was destroyed, along with Installation 04, when SPARTAN-117 overloaded the ''Pillar of Autumn's'' reactor. | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
One of the four [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]] tanks recovered from the ''Autumn'' is presumed to be the one encountered on [[Assault on the Control Room]]. | |||
==List of appearances== | ==List of appearances== | ||