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|image=[[File:Staging area.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:Staging area.png|300px]]
|formed=
|formed=
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
|branch=[[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]
|branch=[[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
|type=[[Covenant fleet]]
|type=[[Covenant fleet]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
|role=Relic retrieval/scout force
|role=Relic retrieval/scout force{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
|size=*At least 53 ships {{c|Pre-Reach}}
|size=*At least 53 ships {{c|Pre-Reach}}
**1 {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}
**1 {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
**3 {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}
**3 {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}{{Ref/Game|Id=SC|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Scenario campaigns}}
**13 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
**13 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}
**36 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s
**36 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}{{Ref/Reuse|sword}}{{Ref/Reuse|solace}}
|nicknames=
|nicknames=
|battles=*[[Battle of Beta Eridani]]
|battles=*[[Battle of Beta Eridani]]
Line 21: Line 21:
**[[Operation: LEFT JAB]]
**[[Operation: LEFT JAB]]
**[[Operation: UPPER CUT]]
**[[Operation: UPPER CUT]]
|commanders=*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]
|commanders=*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]{{Ref/Reuse|fb8}}
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}}
}}
}}
{{Quote|That's no strike force. It's an invading army!|[[Jun-A266]]<ref name= "nightfall">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', [[campaign]] level ''[[Nightfall]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|That's no strike force. It's an invading army!|[[Jun-A266]]{{Ref/Level|Id=nightfall|HR|Nightfall}}}}


The '''Fleet of Valiant Prudence''' was a [[Covenant]] [[Covenant fleet|fleet]] of the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]] that served as an archaeological research and retrieval group tasked by the [[Hierarchs]] with the security and stewardship of [[Forerunner]] artifacts.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 111''</ref><ref name="Ship happens">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-ship-happens '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Ship Happens'']</ref>
The '''Fleet of Valiant Prudence''' was a [[Covenant]] [[Covenant fleet|fleet]] of the [[Ministry of Fervent Intercession]] that served as an archaeological research and retrieval group tasked by the [[Hierarchs]] with the security and stewardship of [[Forerunner]] artifacts.{{Ref/Book|Id=HTEVGP111|EVG|Page=111|Detail=Long Night of Solace}}<ref name="Ship happens">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-ship-happens '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Ship Happens'']</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 36: Line 36:
Prior to the [[2552#July|July 24, 2552]], the [[fleet]]'s Luminary detected Forerunner relics located in a [[planet]] in the [[human]]-occupied [[Beta Eridani system]]. To collect the Forerunner artifacts, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence set course for the Beta Eridani system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}
Prior to the [[2552#July|July 24, 2552]], the [[fleet]]'s Luminary detected Forerunner relics located in a [[planet]] in the [[human]]-occupied [[Beta Eridani system]]. To collect the Forerunner artifacts, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence set course for the Beta Eridani system.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}


At least ten warships of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence arrived in [[Beta Eridani system|the system]]. As ten Covenant vessels approached quickly, the presence was quickly discovered by [[Lieutenant]] [[Robinson]]. As every [[UNSC starship|warship]]s of the [[UNSC Navy]] in the Beta Eridani system were crewed with cadets, Robinson ordered all forces in the system to flee as a portion of several Covenant warships pursued them in attempt to destroy the fleeing human forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb1|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario One: Flight!}} Over the course of the occupation of the system, a number of [[Forerunner]] artifacts were recovered and brought to Rho 'Barutamee aboard the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', and 'Barutamee had them studied personally and "processed" through the [[Luminary]] and discovered that the relics pointed to [[Epsilon Eridani system|another system]]. During the battle, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] had led at least a pair of [[battle group]]s against the [[Covenant fleet]].{{Ref/Level|Id=fb2|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Two: Contact}} To prevent the [[UNSC]] forces in the system from following him to his next mysterious destination, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of all remaining [[human]] forces in Beta Eridani, and at least one part of his forces engaged Stanforth's fleet.
At least ten warships of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence arrived in [[Beta Eridani system|the system]]. As ten Covenant vessels approached quickly, the presence was quickly discovered by [[Lieutenant]] [[Robinson]]. As every [[UNSC starship|warship]]s of the [[UNSC Navy]] in the Beta Eridani system were crewed with cadets, Robinson ordered all forces in the system to flee as a portion of several Covenant warships pursued them in attempt to destroy the fleeing human forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb1|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario One: Flight!}} Over the course of the occupation of the system, a number of [[Forerunner]] artifacts were recovered and brought to Rho 'Barutamee aboard the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', and 'Barutamee had them studied personally and "processed" through the [[Luminary]] and discovered that the relics pointed to [[Epsilon Eridani system|another system]]. During the battle, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] had led at least a pair of [[battle group]]s against the [[Covenant fleet]].{{Ref/Level|Id=fb2|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Two: Contact}} To prevent the [[UNSC]] forces in the system from following him to his next mysterious destination, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of all remaining [[human]] forces in Beta Eridani, and at least one part of his forces engaged Stanforth's fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|fb1}}


As the UNSC were defeated after the battle, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence traveled to the system pinpointed by the Luminary: the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. Little known to 'Barutamee, the system was home to major UNSC strongholds, including [[Reach]].
As the UNSC were defeated after the battle, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence traveled to the system pinpointed by the Luminary: the [[Epsilon Eridani system]]. Little known to 'Barutamee, the system was home to major UNSC strongholds, including [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}}


===Fall of Reach===
===Fall of Reach===
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
On or shortly prior to the night of [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]], the fleet arrived on the planet Reach in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], undetected by the [[human]] defenses. Surprised to learn that the system swanked a significant human military presence in the form of a [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|massive UNSC defense fleet]], Rho 'Barutamee began preparing his fleet for the first assault on Reach, albeit had ulterior motives aside from [[glassing|destroying]] the planet as he had little interest in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. The [[Active camouflage|cloaked]] fleet dispatched a small strike force, including a [[Devoted Sentries|team]] of artifact-hunting [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]], to [[Visegrád Relay|one]] of the three [[communications relay]]s at [[Visegrád]] to cut off communications between Reach and other [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] colonies. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assumed that the communications blackout was caused by local [[Insurrectionist]]s; in response, [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] dispatched several [[UNSC Army|Army]] fireteams to the relay. After losing contact with the troopers, [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan]] [[NOBLE Team]] was sent to investigate.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Noble Actual]]''</ref> The team discovered the Covenant presence on [[Reach]] and reported back to [[Central Command|CENTCOM]].
On or shortly prior to the night of [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]], the fleet arrived on the planet Reach in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], undetected by the [[human]] defenses. Surprised to learn that the system swanked a significant human military presence in the form of a [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet|massive UNSC defense fleet]],{{Ref/Reuse|Rho}} Rho 'Barutamee began preparing his fleet for the first assault on Reach,{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVGP111}} albeit had ulterior motives aside from [[glassing|destroying]] the planet as he had little interest in the [[Human-Covenant War]], and focused on locating the Capital.{{Ref/Site|Id=Rho|D=08|M=11|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rho-barutamee|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Rho Barutamee}} The [[Active camouflage|cloaked]] fleet dispatched a small strike force, including a [[Devoted Sentries|team]] of artifact-hunting [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]], to [[Visegrád Relay|one]] of the three [[communications relay]]s at [[Visegrád]] to cut off communications between Reach and other [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] colonies. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assumed that the communications blackout was caused by local [[Insurrectionist]]s; in response, [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] dispatched several [[UNSC Army|Army]] fireteams to the relay. After losing contact with the troopers, [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan]] [[NOBLE Team]] was sent to investigate.{{Ref/Level|Id=noble|HR|Noble Actual}} The team discovered the Covenant presence on [[Reach]] and reported back to [[Central Command|CENTCOM]].{{Ref/Level|Id=winter|HR|Winter Contingency}}


Over the next few weeks, the fleet continuously sent ground and air forces to attack the planet and gain intelligence. One of the corvettes in the fleet was sent to [[Battle of Sword Base|assault]] ONI's [[Sword Base]], but was destroyed by an [[orbital defense platform]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] after the assault failed. The ground forces also focused on defending their fleet's [[landing zone]] at [[Szurdok Ridge]], deploying [[Type-38 Tyrant|anti-aircraft cannons]] and outposts around [[Szurdok Ridge]]; this effort, however, resulted in failure when SPARTAN [[Recon Team Bravo]] discovered the landing zone on the night of [[2552#August|August 11]].{{Ref/Reuse|nightfall}}
Over the next few weeks, the fleet continuously sent ground and air forces to attack the planet and gain intelligence. One of the corvettes in the fleet was sent to [[Battle of Sword Base|assault]] ONI's [[Sword Base]], but was destroyed by an [[orbital defense platform]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] after the assault failed.{{Ref/Level|Id=sword|HR|ONI: Sword Base}} The ground forces also focused on defending their fleet's [[landing zone]] at [[Szurdok Ridge]], deploying [[Type-38 Tyrant|anti-aircraft cannons]] and outposts around [[Szurdok Ridge]]; this effort, however, resulted in failure when SPARTAN [[Recon Team Bravo]] discovered the landing zone on the night of [[2552#August|August 11]].{{Ref/Reuse|nightfall}}


As the battle began on the ground, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence in space began to enagage UNSC naval forces across the system, such as light battlegroups. The declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach forced the ONI research team at [[Teller Station]] to abandon their efforts at uncovering a [[Site 17|Forerunner installation]] beneath the surface of a planetoid in Epsilon Eridani's [[Oort cloud]] although their frantic efforts awoke senescent Forerunner systems, betraying the site's location to the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. As human scientists managed to recover a artifact from within the installation and departed the Oort cloud, Rho 'Barutamee, enraged by human's insult to the Forerunner reliquary, deployed a "significant portion of his fleet" to recover Site 17, consisting of {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s and {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, only to be engaged by frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral Michael Stanforth. Though the Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic and into a trap near Reach itself. The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.
As the battle began on the ground, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence in space began to enagage UNSC naval forces across the system, such as light battlegroups. The declaration of [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] on Reach forced the ONI research team at [[Teller Station]] to abandon their efforts at uncovering a [[Site 17|Forerunner installation]] beneath the surface of a planetoid in Epsilon Eridani's [[Oort cloud]] although their frantic efforts awoke senescent Forerunner systems, betraying the site's location to the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. As human scientists managed to recover a artifact from within the installation and departed the Oort cloud, Rho 'Barutamee, enraged by human's insult to the Forerunner reliquary, deployed a "significant portion of his fleet" to recover Site 17, consisting of 13 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s and 6 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, only to be engaged by frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral Michael Stanforth. Though the Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic and into a trap near Reach itself.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb4|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Four: Run!}} The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb5|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Five: Into the fire}}


On August 12, 2552, the UNSC [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|attacked]] the Covenant landing zone, destroying [[Spire One|a]] [[Covenant spire]] in the progress. Subsequently, the UNSC strike force was forced to retreat when the fleet's flagship, the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}} ''Long Night of Solace'', was revealed to be holding position over the planet, having been cloaked by the Spires.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the [[UNSC Army]] garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} The UNSC on Reach, with little help until the arrival of reinforcements of sixty percent of the fleet from elsewhere in the Epsilon Eridani system, derived two operations to destroy the supercarrier: [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] created by [[Catherine-B320]], and [[Operation: LEFT JAB]] to distract the Covenant fleet, were initiated on August 14, 2552, in an effort to destroy the supercarrier.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb6|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Six: Left Jab}} The NOBLE Team were deployed to repel a Covenant assault at the [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] research site at [[Farkas Lake]], prior to [[SPARTAN-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of Army pilots deploying to [[refit station]] ''[[Anchor 9]]'' aboard the fighters rendezvousing with the frigate {{UNSCShip|Savannah}}, to prepare for Operation: UPPER CUT.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the the human treat presence on the surface and the importance of Reach, and the [[Ministry of Resolution]] had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet if this wasn't enough, and 'Barutamee's artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface and pinned by UNSC forces. A portion of Epsilon Eridani Fleet at Reach led by Stanforth engaged the Fleet of Valiant Prudence and had managed to spread the Covenant flotilla thin—probing the fleet's defences from all sides and leaving 'Barutamee's flagship open for a direct attack. With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC task forces were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb7|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow}}
On August 12, 2552, the UNSC [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|attacked]] the Covenant landing zone, destroying [[Spire One|a]] [[Covenant spire]] in the progress. Subsequently, the UNSC strike force was forced to retreat when the fleet's flagship, the {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}} ''Long Night of Solace'', was revealed to be holding position over the planet, having been cloaked by the Spires.{{Ref/Level|Id=spear|HR|Tip of the Spear}} 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the [[UNSC Army]] garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} The UNSC on Reach, with little help until the arrival of reinforcements of sixty percent of the fleet from elsewhere in the Epsilon Eridani system, derived two operations to destroy the supercarrier: [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] created by [[Catherine-B320]], and [[Operation: LEFT JAB]] to distract the Covenant fleet, were initiated on August 14, 2552, in an effort to destroy the supercarrier.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb6|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Six: Left Jab}} The NOBLE Team were deployed to repel a Covenant assault at the [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] research site at [[Farkas Lake]], prior to [[SPARTAN-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of Army pilots deploying to [[refit station]] ''[[Anchor 9]]'' aboard the fighters rendezvousing with the frigate {{UNSCShip|Savannah}}, to prepare for Operation: UPPER CUT.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the the human treat presence on the surface and the importance of Reach, and the [[Ministry of Resolution]] had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet if this wasn't enough, and 'Barutamee's artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface and pinned by UNSC forces. A portion of Epsilon Eridani Fleet at Reach led by Stanforth engaged the Fleet of Valiant Prudence and had managed to spread the Covenant flotilla thin—probing the fleet's defences from all sides and leaving 'Barutamee's flagship open for a direct attack. With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC task forces were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.{{Ref/Level|Id=fb7|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow}}


The NOBLE Team and Army pilots boarded the ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' and hijacked the heavy corvette at the cost of ''Savannah'' being destroyed by the Covenant ship, allowing NOBLE Team's Operation: UPPER CUT to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} After the capture of ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'', a makeshift [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|"slipspace bomb"]] was activated, destroying ''Long Night of Solace''.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} Though the fleet's flagship had been destroyed, the immediate arrival of another, larger Covenant fleet from the [[Ministry of Resolution]] arrived in the system to engage UNSC forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=solace|HR|[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]}} As engagements continued in orbit over Reach with the Fleet of Valiant Prudence decimated, [[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]] assumed command of the splintered fleet, comprising one {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}} as the flagship, a pair of {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, and eight {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s, and attempted to lead them in a final effort to recover a [[Forerunner]] artifact that 'Barutamee had attempted to claim for himself. 'Utaralee's forces moved to engage a small UNSC picket fleet of one {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}, two pairs of {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s and ten {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s, that was defending the artifact's location, a [[space station]] near the [[Natural satellite|moon]] of [[Turul]].{{Ref/Level|Id=fb8|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu}}
The NOBLE Team and Army pilots boarded the ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' and hijacked the heavy corvette at the cost of ''Savannah'' being destroyed by the Covenant ship, allowing NOBLE Team's Operation: UPPER CUT to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} After the capture of ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'', a makeshift [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|"slipspace bomb"]] was activated, destroying ''Long Night of Solace''.{{Ref/Reuse|solace}} Though the fleet's flagship had been destroyed, the immediate arrival of another, larger Covenant fleet from the [[Ministry of Resolution]] arrived in the system to engage UNSC forces.{{Ref/Level|Id=solace|HR|[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]}} As engagements continued in orbit over Reach with the Fleet of Valiant Prudence decimated, [[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]] assumed command of the splintered fleet, comprising one {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}} as the flagship, a pair of {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s, and eight {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s, and attempted to lead them in a final effort to recover a [[Forerunner]] artifact that 'Barutamee had attempted to claim for himself. 'Utaralee's forces moved to engage a small UNSC picket fleet of one {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}}, two pairs of {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s and ten {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s, that was defending the artifact's location, a [[space station]] near the [[Natural satellite|moon]] of [[Turul]].{{Ref/Level|Id=fb8|Halo: Fleet Battles|Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu}}

Revision as of 18:29, February 1, 2022

Fleet of Valiant Prudence
Staging area.png

Affiliation:

Covenant[1]

Group:

Ministry of Fervent Intercession[1]

Type:

Covenant fleet[1]

Role:

Relic retrieval/scout force[1]

Size:

Engagements:

Commanders:

 

"That's no strike force. It's an invading army!"
— Jun-A266[6]

The Fleet of Valiant Prudence was a Covenant fleet of the Ministry of Fervent Intercession that served as an archaeological research and retrieval group tasked by the Hierarchs with the security and stewardship of Forerunner artifacts.[1][7]

History

After being selected by the Ministry of Fervent Intercession from among Zealots and ascended to the title of the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence, Rho 'Barutamee was charged with locating Forerunner artifacts for the Covenant Ministry of Fervent Intercession. To assist in his duties, Covenant leadership granted 'Barutamee the use of a powerful Luminary to aid in his searches.[8] Vowing himself to locate the Captital of the Forerunner ecumene, Maethrillian, 'Barutamee secretly amassed a collection of powerful Forerunner artifacts that helped point him in the right direction to the Capital.

Battle of Beta Eridani

Main article: Battle of Beta Eridani

Prior to the July 24, 2552, the fleet's Luminary detected Forerunner relics located in a planet in the human-occupied Beta Eridani system. To collect the Forerunner artifacts, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence set course for the Beta Eridani system.[9]

At least ten warships of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence arrived in the system. As ten Covenant vessels approached quickly, the presence was quickly discovered by Lieutenant Robinson. As every warships of the UNSC Navy in the Beta Eridani system were crewed with cadets, Robinson ordered all forces in the system to flee as a portion of several Covenant warships pursued them in attempt to destroy the fleeing human forces.[9] Over the course of the occupation of the system, a number of Forerunner artifacts were recovered and brought to Rho 'Barutamee aboard the Long Night of Solace, and 'Barutamee had them studied personally and "processed" through the Luminary and discovered that the relics pointed to another system. During the battle, Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth had led at least a pair of battle groups against the Covenant fleet.[10] To prevent the UNSC forces in the system from following him to his next mysterious destination, 'Barutamee ordered the destruction of all remaining human forces in Beta Eridani, and at least one part of his forces engaged Stanforth's fleet.[9]

As the UNSC were defeated after the battle, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence traveled to the system pinpointed by the Luminary: the Epsilon Eridani system. Little known to 'Barutamee, the system was home to major UNSC strongholds, including Reach.[11]

Fall of Reach

Main article: Fall of Reach

On or shortly prior to the night of July 23, 2552, the fleet arrived on the planet Reach in the Epsilon Eridani system, undetected by the human defenses. Surprised to learn that the system swanked a significant human military presence in the form of a massive UNSC defense fleet,[11] Rho 'Barutamee began preparing his fleet for the first assault on Reach,[1] albeit had ulterior motives aside from destroying the planet as he had little interest in the Human-Covenant War, and focused on locating the Capital.[11] The cloaked fleet dispatched a small strike force, including a team of artifact-hunting Zealots, to one of the three communications relays at Visegrád to cut off communications between Reach and other UEG colonies. The Office of Naval Intelligence assumed that the communications blackout was caused by local Insurrectionists; in response, Colonel Urban Holland dispatched several Army fireteams to the relay. After losing contact with the troopers, Spartan NOBLE Team was sent to investigate.[12] The team discovered the Covenant presence on Reach and reported back to CENTCOM.[13]

Over the next few weeks, the fleet continuously sent ground and air forces to attack the planet and gain intelligence. One of the corvettes in the fleet was sent to assault ONI's Sword Base, but was destroyed by an orbital defense platform's Magnetic Accelerator Cannon after the assault failed.[3] The ground forces also focused on defending their fleet's landing zone at Szurdok Ridge, deploying anti-aircraft cannons and outposts around Szurdok Ridge; this effort, however, resulted in failure when SPARTAN Recon Team Bravo discovered the landing zone on the night of August 11.[6]

As the battle began on the ground, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence in space began to enagage UNSC naval forces across the system, such as light battlegroups. The declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach forced the ONI research team at Teller Station to abandon their efforts at uncovering a Forerunner installation beneath the surface of a planetoid in Epsilon Eridani's Oort cloud although their frantic efforts awoke senescent Forerunner systems, betraying the site's location to the Fleet of Valiant Prudence. As human scientists managed to recover a artifact from within the installation and departed the Oort cloud, Rho 'Barutamee, enraged by human's insult to the Forerunner reliquary, deployed a "significant portion of his fleet" to recover Site 17, consisting of 13 SDV-class heavy corvettes and 6 CCS-class battlecruisers, only to be engaged by frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral Michael Stanforth. Though the Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic lure the Covenant fleet away from the relic and into a trap near Reach itself.[14] The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.[15]

On August 12, 2552, the UNSC attacked the Covenant landing zone, destroying a Covenant spire in the progress. Subsequently, the UNSC strike force was forced to retreat when the fleet's flagship, the CSO-class supercarrier Long Night of Solace, was revealed to be holding position over the planet, having been cloaked by the Spires.[16] 'Barutamee's vessels smashed the UNSC Army garrisons below before retreating to Reach's orbit.[4] The UNSC on Reach, with little help until the arrival of reinforcements of sixty percent of the fleet from elsewhere in the Epsilon Eridani system, derived two operations to destroy the supercarrier: Operation: UPPER CUT created by Catherine-B320, and Operation: LEFT JAB to distract the Covenant fleet, were initiated on August 14, 2552, in an effort to destroy the supercarrier.[17] The NOBLE Team were deployed to repel a Covenant assault at the Sabre research site at Farkas Lake, prior to SPARTAN-B312, Jorge-052, and a team of Army pilots deploying to refit station Anchor 9 aboard the fighters rendezvousing with the frigate UNSC Savannah, to prepare for Operation: UPPER CUT.[4] By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the the human treat presence on the surface and the importance of Reach, and the Ministry of Resolution had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet if this wasn't enough, and 'Barutamee's artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface and pinned by UNSC forces. A portion of Epsilon Eridani Fleet at Reach led by Stanforth engaged the Fleet of Valiant Prudence and had managed to spread the Covenant flotilla thin—probing the fleet's defences from all sides and leaving 'Barutamee's flagship open for a direct attack. With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC task forces were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.[18]

The NOBLE Team and Army pilots boarded the Ardent Prayer and hijacked the heavy corvette at the cost of Savannah being destroyed by the Covenant ship, allowing NOBLE Team's Operation: UPPER CUT to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.[4] After the capture of Ardent Prayer, a makeshift "slipspace bomb" was activated, destroying Long Night of Solace.[4] Though the fleet's flagship had been destroyed, the immediate arrival of another, larger Covenant fleet from the Ministry of Resolution arrived in the system to engage UNSC forces.[4] As engagements continued in orbit over Reach with the Fleet of Valiant Prudence decimated, Shipmaster Kantar 'Utaralee assumed command of the splintered fleet, comprising one ORS-class heavy cruiser as the flagship, a pair of CCS-class battlecruisers, and eight SDV-class heavy corvettes, and attempted to lead them in a final effort to recover a Forerunner artifact that 'Barutamee had attempted to claim for himself. 'Utaralee's forces moved to engage a small UNSC picket fleet of one Epoch-class heavy carrier, two pairs of Marathon-class heavy cruisers and ten Paris-class heavy frigates, that was defending the artifact's location, a space station near the moon of Turul.[5]

Composition

CSO-class supercarrier

SDV-class heavy corvettes

Gallery

  • Concept art of a massive Covenant army deployed by the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.

    Concept art of a massive Covenant army deployed by the Fleet of Valiant Prudence.

  • A portion of the fleet in Spartan Games' Halo tabletop miniature game.

    A portion of the fleet in Spartan Games' Halo tabletop miniature game.

List of appearance

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 111: Long Night of Solace
  2. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles: Scenario campaigns
  3. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
  4. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
  5. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu
  6. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall
  7. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Ship Happens
  8. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles: Luminaries
  9. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario One: Flight!
  10. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Two: Contact
  11. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint, Rho Barutamee (Retrieved on Nov 8, 2020) [archive]
  12. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Noble Actual
  13. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Winter Contingency
  14. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Four: Run!
  15. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Five: Into the fire
  16. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
  17. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Six: Left Jab
  18. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, campaign level Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow

v • d • e
 
Fleets of the Covenant and its remnants
Fleets
Flotillas
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