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| |place=[[Epsilon Eridani system]], planet [[Reach]] | | |place=[[Epsilon Eridani system]], planet [[Reach]] |
| |result=Covenant victory | | |result=Covenant victory |
| *Reach [[Glassing|glassed]] | | *Reach [[Glassing|glassed]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2aheretic}}{{Ref/Reuse|actual}} |
| *Heavy casualties incurred on both sides
| | *All major military sites and population centers destroyed{{Ref/Book|Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual|Page=94}} |
| *[[Noble Team]] successfully delivered the fragment of [[Cortana]] to [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]], allowing the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to escape to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]].
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| |side1= | | |side1= |
| *{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] | | *{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] |
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| *[[Colonel|COL]] [[Urban Holland]] | | *[[Colonel|COL]] [[Urban Holland]] |
| *[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]] | | *[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]] |
| *[[Commander|CMDR]] [[Carter-A259]]†
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| |commanders2= | | |commanders2= |
| *[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee | | *[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee |
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| *[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]† | | *[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]† |
| |forces1= | | |forces1= |
| | See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]] |
| *385,421,100 available military manpower<ref name="factbook">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel ''Bungie.net'': CAA Factbook on Reach's military power]</ref> | | *385,421,100 available military manpower<ref name="factbook">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel ''Bungie.net'': CAA Factbook on Reach's military power]</ref> |
| **[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] | | **[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]] |
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| **11,050 air assets<ref name="factbook"/> | | **11,050 air assets<ref name="factbook"/> |
| |forces2= | | |forces2= |
| | See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]] |
| *[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] | | *[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] |
| **[[Long Night of Solace|One]] {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}<ref name="lnos"/> | | **[[Long Night of Solace|One]] {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}<ref name="lnos"/> |
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| Keyes returned to the ''Autumn'' with the package and prepared the ship for take off. Meanwhile, Noble Six took control of the mass driver and destroyed several Phantoms and Banshees before the Covenant cruiser came within range. As the cruiser prepared to destroy the ''Autumn'' with its [[energy projector]], Six fired directly into the ship's exposed glassing port. The resulting explosion crippled the cruiser.<ref name="hrpoa"/> | | Keyes returned to the ''Autumn'' with the package and prepared the ship for take off. Meanwhile, Noble Six took control of the mass driver and destroyed several Phantoms and Banshees before the Covenant cruiser came within range. As the cruiser prepared to destroy the ''Autumn'' with its [[energy projector]], Six fired directly into the ship's exposed glassing port. The resulting explosion crippled the cruiser.<ref name="hrpoa"/> |
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| With the skies cleared of hostiles, the ''Autumn'' took off and escaped Reach.<ref name="hrpoa"/> Once in space, it made a slipspace jump to [[Installation 04]] (secretly arranged by Cortana). A dozen Covenant ships pursued, while the remaining vessels stayed behind to finish glassing Reach. Back at the shipyards, the stranded Noble Six continued fighting against the Covenant invaders. Eventually, the lone Spartan was overwhelmed and killed by a swarm of Sangheili warriors.<ref name="lonewolf">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Lone Wolf]]</ref>{{clear}} | | With the skies cleared of hostiles, the ''Autumn'' took off and escaped Reach.<ref name="hrpoa"/> Once in space, it made a slipspace jump away from the planet. A dozen Covenant ships pursued, while the remaining vessels stayed behind to finish glassing Reach. Back at the shipyards, the stranded Noble Six continued fighting against the Covenant invaders. Eventually, the lone Spartan was overwhelmed and killed by a swarm of Sangheili warriors.<ref name="lonewolf">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Lone Wolf]]</ref>{{clear}} |
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| ==Aftermath== | | ==Aftermath== |
| {{Main|Aftermath of the Fall of Reach}} | | {{Main|Aftermath of the Fall of Reach}} |
| [[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach after its glassing.{{Ref/Level|H2A|[[The Heretic]]}}]] | | [[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach after its glassing.{{Ref/Level|Id=h2aheretic|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/Novel|Halo: First Strike|Page=104-105}}}} |
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| The UNSC lost their second largest military-industrial complex, after the [[Sol system|Sol System]], and sustained crippling military losses at Reach, losing over a hundred ships, including irreplaceable vessels such as the {{UNSCShip|Basra}}, {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}, and the {{UNSCShip|Musashi}}, not to mention the large numbers of civilian and military personnel killed by the invading Covenant forces. | | The Fall of Reach was devastating for both sides as millions died and hundreds of starships were destroyed or rendered irreparably damaged. Many forces fled during the battle, ending up in various parts of space. |
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| At the same time, despite such a devastating defeat, the UNSC still fared better than in previous battles. Even against the militarily and technologically superior enemy, outnumbered 2:1, they still managed to inflict disproportionate losses to the Covenant, due largely to the twenty orbital defense platforms orbiting Reach. The ferocious defense was so effective that at least [[Valorous Salvation|one Covenant ship]] outright fled the battle.
| | While Reach was the Covenant armada's main target, the other colonies in [[Epsilon Eridani]] would also come under attack. [[Tribute]] was [[Battle of Tribute|besieged]] by Covenant forces for several months, ending only when the [[Great Schism]] caused the Jiralhanae and Sangheili to turn on each other. The small colony on [[Beta Gabriel]] was [[Battle of Beta Gabriel|destroyed]] when ''Valorous Salvation'' deserted the Covenant fleet at Reach and fled there; ODSTs arrived shortly thereafter and killed all the Covenant deserters without incurring losses. |
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| While Reach was the Covenant armada's main target, the other colonies in [[Epsilon Eridani]] would also come under attack. [[Tribute]] was [[Battle of Tribute|besieged]] by Covenant forces for several months, ending only when the [[Great Schism]] caused the Jiralhanae and Sangheili to turn on each other, ignoring the human defenders. The small colony on [[Beta Gabriel]] was [[Battle of Beta Gabriel|destroyed]] when ''Valorous Salvation'' deserted the Covenant fleet and fled there; ODSTs arrived shortly thereafter and killed all the Covenant deserters without incurring losses.
| | As for Reach itself, the planet would be glassed heavily, to the point that the burning could be seen from orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|h2aheretic}}{{Ref/Map|HR|[[Condemned]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|actual}} After this burning ceased, several missions took place on the planet, including a pioneer mission in [[2553]]{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218|SiteName=Halo Waypoint|PageName=Catalog Interaction (Page 43)}} and [[Operation]]: [[Operation: WOLFE|WOLFE]] in [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=1}} However, the damage to the surface and atmosphere caused by the initial glassing would stay for nearly 30 years with the planet only really becoming green again in [[2589]].{{Ref/Reuse|lonewolf}} |
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| ===Battle of Installation 04===
| | The ''Pillar of Autumn'' would actually arrive at [[Installation 04]], a [[Halo Array|Halo ring]]. The ''Autumn'' would also confront its pursuers, devolving into [[Battle of Installation 04|a protracted battle]] on and around the ring.{{Ref/Game|Halo: Combat Evolved|Detail=[[Campaign]]}} The survivors of the battle would eventually come back to Reach searching for survivors.{{Ref/Novel|FS}} |
| {{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
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| The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] commandeered the fleeing {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to the previously undiscovered [[Installation 04|fourth]] [[Forerunner]] [[Halo Array|Halo]]. While the Battle of Installation 04 was tangential to the main front, the containment of the initial [[Flood]] outbreak - and the experience gained - was just as critical for the survival of humanity. | |
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| ===ONI artifact recovery and assessment===
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| =====Artifacts and other recovered items=====
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| During and after the Fall of Reach, a number of artifacts were recovered. Prior to the completion of Operation: WHITE GLOVE, ONI recovered [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].<ref>''Halo: Reach Legendary Edition'', [[:File:Journal Contents.jpg|Container manifest]]</ref> As well, a [[flag]] that was originally used by SPARTANs during training sessions of [[Capture the Flag]], was recovered and put on display at [[Outpost Discovery]].<ref>''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]'' - [[Hall of History]], Capture the Flag</ref>
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| =====Investigations and analysis of the battle=====
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| On September 4, 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence began investigating [[Joseph Poteet]] and [[Alasdair Schicker]], believing that they may have leaked classified information to the Covenant. Including the location of Reach.<ref name="entry19021024"/> At the same time, Lieutenant [[Wagner]] who escaped the battle reported to the [[UNSC Security Council]] at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], Earth, detailing the glassing of the planet and the escape of the UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn''.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 100-106</ref>
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| An inquiry was held by [[ONI Retrieval and Acquisitions]] on September 26, 2552 which culminated in the creation of a [[target profile]] of [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee by [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jameson Locke]].<ref>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal - ONI File: Target Profile]]</ref> This report included information on Thel's actions at the Fall of Reach.<ref>''Halo 2: Anniversary'', [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal - ONI File: Particular Justice]]</ref>
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| Just over a month after the battle on [[2552#October|October 8, 2552]], [[Admiral]] [[J. Garcia]] compiled 844 files into a report called "Prelimenary Reports of Action - Defense of Reach". It detailed fleet actions in the Reach Defense Coordination Zone. This report along with several others would be assembled into another file in [[2554]] for [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]].<ref name="loot2"/>
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| ===Earth and the Sol system===
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| The loss of Reach was announced on [[Earth]] over PA systems.<ref>''[[I love bees]]'', [[Axon Clips]], [[Axon Clips Chapter 5|Chapter 5]] - Rani: "The Wedding"</ref> Weeks after the battle, rumors started circulating on Earth that people were still alive on Reach.<ref>''[[I love bees]]'', [[Axon Clips]], [[Axon Clips Chapter 8|Chapter 8]] - Rani: "My Old Kentucky Home"</ref> | |
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| The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] knew of at least four Covenant battle groups centred around large assault carriers prowling the outer edges of UNSC-held space. The Navy believed that the location of Sol was compromised and began relocating heavy industry facilities and command centers out of the system in a long-planned exodus.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=6 ''Bungie.net'', Jason Jones Interviewed By You] ([[Archive:Bungie.net/News/Jason Jones Interviewed By You|Archive]])</ref> UNSC units were also posted in Earth's [[Space elevator|tether cities]] following the battle of Reach.<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Palace Hotel]]", p. 367</ref> Some graffiti on Earth used the slogan "Remember Reach".{{Ref/Level|Game=[[Halo 3: ODST]]|Level=[[Mombasa Streets]]}}
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| Following the battle, a [[ONI memorial|memorial]] was created for fallen ONI personnel in the Fall of Reach at [[ONI Alpha Site]] on Earth.{{Ref/Level|[[Halo 3: ODST]]|[[ONI Alpha Site]]}}
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| ===Post-fall missions and activities on Reach===
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| =====Rescue operation=====
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| {{Main|Raid on Reach}}
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| As the Covenant began glassing Reach, the surviving Spartans continued their fight. Team Gamma; a Red team splinter composed of Anton-044; Grace-093 and Li-008, had managed to survive and complete their mission to rescue Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb from HIGHCOM. Too late to reach CASTLE base, they hid in the mountains attacking Covenant units with the use of guerrilla tactics as opposed to a conventional assault. They programmed their MJOLNIR suits to transmit the "Oly Oly Oxen Free" secret code on E-Band radio, hoping that any surviving Spartans would discover it and help them.
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| Meanwhile underneath the ruins of CASTLE base, Dr. Halsey and five Spartans (Fred, Kelly, Will, Vinh, and Isaac) had spent five days combing the remains of a Forerunner structure and an additional five days trapped in a hallway inside the ruins by Covenant forces. They managed to retrieve a [[Forerunner crystal]] that the Covenant were seeking, but it emitted a burst of radiation which alerted the Covenant to their presence. Vinh and Isaac fell at the hands of overwhelming Covenant forces, and the others escaped by blowing the hallway down behind them.
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| After the survivors were recovered by ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', a Covenant Flagship captured by [[John-117]] after the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the ship drew a group of Covenant vessels out of the system in pursuit to [[Eridanus Secundus]], leading to the [[Massacre at Eridanus Secundus|destruction of the asteroid colony]], and the destruction of the artifact and the recovery of only a small number of pieces by the Covenant. The ''Ascendant Justice'' also destroyed around sixteen Covenant warships during the escape in slipspace and at the rebel base.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: First Strike|Page=339}}
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| =====Post-war=====
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| [[File:TFoR-as-concept 5.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The members of Blue Team meeting up in Reach's glasslands in 2558 to remember Sam's sacrifice.]] | |
| The earliest known return mission to Reach would be in [[2553]] when a pioneer group came to the planet to scout and prepare for the planet's reterraforming.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218|SiteName=Halo Waypoint|PageName=Catalog Interaction (Page 43)}}
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| Surviving members of [[Blue Team]] would return to a glassed Reach in [[2558]], honoring [[Samuel-034]]'s sacrifice at the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]].<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''</ref>
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| They would again comeback to a desolate Reach in [[2559]] during [[Operation: WOLFE]] and the [[Created conflict]]. This time they would attempt to dig into the ruins of CASTLE Base.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=1}}{{clear}}
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| ===Environment, livability and future of Reach===
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| [[File:HR Screenshot Epilogue-After.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Reach restored to a green state in 2589.]]
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| A number of [[moa]] survived in isolated areas of Reach.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|SiteName=Halo Waypoint|PageName=Canon Fodder - Have S'moa}}
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| Reach would return to a green state by [[2589]] and with [[Unidentified colony ship|at least one]] [[colony ship]] coming to settle on the planet.<ref name="lonewolf"/> By [[2610]], the city of New Alexandria was resettled with a few new areas including [[Hősök tere]], which held the [[Reach War Memorial]].<ref>''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition]]'', [[:File:Journal Package Letter.jpg|package contents letter]]</ref>{{clear}}
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| ==Engagements== | | ==Engagements== |
