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Human-Covenant War: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Staff Sergeant Johnson leading Colonial Militia during the Covenant invasion of Harvest.|left]] | |||
===Isolated battles (2525)=== | ===Isolated battles (2525)=== | ||
{{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | {{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | ||
Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact on February 3, 2525, when a [[Kig-Yar]] [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovered [[Horn of Plenty|a human ship]] transitioning out of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] and subsequently raided the vessel.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 27</ref> The raid continued to [[This End Up|another]] unfortunate human ship.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 97-100</ref> Some time after, [[Sif]], Harvest shipping operations AI, investigated the raids and reported her findings to an undercover [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] agent, [[Jilan al-Cygni]], believing that the attacks were Insurrectionist activity. The ONI agent devised a trap for the raiding parties, which resulted in a [[Skirmish Over Harvest|minor skirmish]] between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson]], and the Kig-Yar privateers.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 128-134</ref> When the Covenant returned with [[Rapid Conversion|another ship]] and a contingent of [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Yanme'e]], the UNSC proposed a meeting (via pictogram) with the intention to make amends and to trade with the alien species.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 229</ref> The Covenant met the UNSC on Harvest, but were only interested in claiming the relics that the [[Luminary]] had detected on Harvest, completely oblivious that the humans were the "relics" in question. The meeting was botched after [[Osmo]], a member of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia]], was attacked by a nervous [[Unggoy]] who was part of a second Covenant force sent to look for the relics. As a result, a firefight erupted between the two groups and the Covenant promptly retreated back to their ship.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 213</ref> | Humanity and the Covenant first came into direct contact on February 3, 2525, when a [[Kig-Yar]] [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovered [[Horn of Plenty|a human ship]] transitioning out of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] and subsequently raided the vessel.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 27</ref> The raid continued to [[This End Up|another]] unfortunate human ship.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 97-100</ref> Some time after, [[Sif]], Harvest shipping operations AI, investigated the raids and reported her findings to an undercover [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] agent, [[Jilan al-Cygni]], believing that the attacks were Insurrectionist activity. The ONI agent devised a trap for the raiding parties, which resulted in a [[Skirmish Over Harvest|minor skirmish]] between [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson]], and the Kig-Yar privateers.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 128-134</ref> When the Covenant returned with [[Rapid Conversion|another ship]] and a contingent of [[Jiralhanae]] and [[Yanme'e]], the UNSC proposed a meeting (via pictogram) with the intention to make amends and to trade with the alien species.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 229</ref> The Covenant met the UNSC on Harvest, but were only interested in claiming the relics that the [[Luminary]] had detected on Harvest, completely oblivious that the humans were the "relics" in question. The meeting was botched after [[Osmo]], a member of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia]], was attacked by a nervous [[Unggoy]] who was part of a second Covenant force sent to look for the relics. As a result, a firefight erupted between the two groups and the Covenant promptly retreated back to their ship.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 213</ref> | ||
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===Open war (2525-2535)=== | ===Open war (2525-2535)=== | ||
[[File:Outcome of Second Battle of Harvest.png|thumb|250px|Cole's fleet destroys the Covenant ship in the Second Battle of Harvest.|left]] | |||
{{Main|Massacre of the Outer Colonies}} | {{Main|Massacre of the Outer Colonies}} | ||
Intending to keep the revelation about the humans a secret and prevent the Covenant from falling apart, the new Hierarchs declared that the humans destroyed the holy reliquary on Harvest, and ordered the entire race to be eradicated.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 384</ref> The first battle of the war was the extended, albeit one-sided, engagement which took place on Harvest where the UNSC managed to evacuate many of Harvest's civilians.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 352</ref> Eventually, the Covenant ship responsible for the attack [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet's surface.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 387</ref> | Intending to keep the revelation about the humans a secret and prevent the Covenant from falling apart, the new Hierarchs declared that the humans destroyed the holy reliquary on Harvest, and ordered the entire race to be eradicated.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 384</ref> The first battle of the war was the extended, albeit one-sided, engagement which took place on Harvest where the UNSC managed to evacuate many of Harvest's civilians.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 352</ref> Eventually, the Covenant ship responsible for the attack [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet's surface.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 387</ref> | ||
Realizing the threat posed to humanity by the Covenant, the UNSC [[Colonial Military Authority]] gave [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] the command of the then-largest fleet in human history with orders to retake Harvest | Realizing the threat posed to humanity by the Covenant, the UNSC [[Colonial Military Authority]] gave [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] the command of the then-largest fleet in human history with orders to [[Second Battle of Harvest|retake Harvest]],<ref name="Genesis">'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''', pages 1-10</ref> which occurred in [[2526]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', pages 462-467</ref> H would then spend five years chasing the Covenant around the [[Outer Colonies]], fighting them and scoring victories at [[Alpha Aurigae System|Alpha Aurigae]], [[XI Boötis A System|XI Boötis A]], and [[Groombridge-1830]].{{Ref/Reuse|Genesis}}<ref name="battles">'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', page 470</ref> Meanwhile, the Covenant returned to Harvest, determined to recapture the planet. This led to a five-year long [[Harvest Campaign|series of engagements]] on Harvest between the Covenant and the UNSC.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 188''</ref> Because of the threat the Covenant posed, the UNSC began deploying the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]]s, super soldiers originally trained to fight the [[Insurrection]]. The Spartans became one of humanity's greatest — and most celebrated — defenders, demonstrating a remarkable ability to turn the tide of battle. Their prowess was not lost on the Covenant, who came to fear the Spartans as "[[demon]]s".<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 103''</ref> | ||
From that point on, the Covenant continued to attack and destroy the humans wherever they were found, using their [[Luminary|Luminaries]] to find human worlds. Though the UNSC forces fought bravely, their inferior technology and numbers meant that even a ''close'' victory was far from guaranteed. The Covenant, fighting a war of extermination, did not need to commit to full ground invasions except in special circumstances; their ships simply needed to destroy space-borne defenses and any other threats around the planet. They would then reduce the planet's surface to glass with orbital plasma bombardment.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Chapter 1, p. 33</ref> In general, human missiles and magnetic acceleration weapons were asymmetrically matched with Covenant energy shields and plasma weaponry. The few major victories achieved by the UNSC were usually due to tactical genius, extensive use of nuclear weapons, the rapid deployment of Spartan teams, or decisive ground engagements where UNSC technology and skill outmatched Covenant tactics. At the outset of the war, the UNSC employed a [[Wikipedia:defence in depth|defence in depth]] tactical doctrine, making extensive use of [[M5 Talos|automated turrets]] to delay Covenant forces.<ref name="PL Turret">''Halo Wars 2'', [[Phoenix Logs]] - Turret</ref> They were eventually forced to abandon this doctrine as the war continued to grind down human armies and industrial centres{{Ref/Reuse|PL Turret}}, learning the dangers of relying on fixed installations when employed against enemies with orbital fire support.<ref name="PL Siege">''Halo Wars 2'', [[Phoenix Logs]] - Siege Turret</ref> The UNSC began to develop a modular [[firebase]] system (based on pre-existing [[colony starter unit]]s used for colonization of planets<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/UNSC.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'': UNSC] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/UNSC|Archived]])</ref>) in response to pinpoint Covenant targeting of large military command and control installations with orbital strikes, and the inability of standard counter battery systems to detect, deflect, or defeat plasma-based artillery bombardment.<ref name="PL Siege"/> | From that point on, the Covenant continued to attack and destroy the humans wherever they were found, using their [[Luminary|Luminaries]] to find human worlds. Though the UNSC forces fought bravely, their inferior technology and numbers meant that even a ''close'' victory was far from guaranteed. The Covenant, fighting a war of extermination, did not need to commit to full ground invasions except in special circumstances; their ships simply needed to destroy space-borne defenses and any other threats around the planet. They would then reduce the planet's surface to glass with orbital plasma bombardment.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Chapter 1, p. 33</ref> In general, human missiles and magnetic acceleration weapons were asymmetrically matched with Covenant energy shields and plasma weaponry. The few major victories achieved by the UNSC were usually due to tactical genius, extensive use of nuclear weapons, the rapid deployment of Spartan teams, or decisive ground engagements where UNSC technology and skill outmatched Covenant tactics. At the outset of the war, the UNSC employed a [[Wikipedia:defence in depth|defence in depth]] tactical doctrine, making extensive use of [[M5 Talos|automated turrets]] to delay Covenant forces.<ref name="PL Turret">''Halo Wars 2'', [[Phoenix Logs]] - Turret</ref> They were eventually forced to abandon this doctrine as the war continued to grind down human armies and industrial centres{{Ref/Reuse|PL Turret}}, learning the dangers of relying on fixed installations when employed against enemies with orbital fire support.<ref name="PL Siege">''Halo Wars 2'', [[Phoenix Logs]] - Siege Turret</ref> The UNSC began to develop a modular [[firebase]] system (based on pre-existing [[colony starter unit]]s used for colonization of planets<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/UNSC.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'': UNSC] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/UNSC|Archived]])</ref>) in response to pinpoint Covenant targeting of large military command and control installations with orbital strikes, and the inability of standard counter battery systems to detect, deflect, or defeat plasma-based artillery bombardment.<ref name="PL Siege"/> | ||
===== | Despite the well-publicized victory at Harvest, the UNSC was already on the way to losing the war. A number of colonies had already been glassed by the Covenant or abandoned, including [[Eridanus II]], [[Dwarka]], [[Bliss]], [[Madrigal]], [[Asmara]] and [[Biko]]. | ||
Despite their major numerical and technological advantages over humanity, by [[2531]], the Covenant High Prophets had realized that the task of destroying an entire sapient species had a logistical burden beyond anything that the [[Covenant military]] could muster without leaving Covenant space defenseless.<ref name="HWscarab">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level ''[[Scarab (Level)|Scarab]]''</ref> Seeking a more efficient solution, the [[Prophet of Regret]] dispatched [[Ripa 'Moramee | |||
=====Trove and SPARTAN-III (2531)===== | |||
Despite their major numerical and technological advantages over humanity, by [[2531]], the Covenant High Prophets had realized that the task of destroying an entire sapient species had a logistical burden beyond anything that the [[Covenant military]] could muster without leaving Covenant space defenseless.<ref name="HWscarab">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level ''[[Scarab (Level)|Scarab]]''</ref> Seeking a more efficient solution, the [[Prophet of Regret]] dispatched [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] to Harvest to claim a Forerunner [[Relic (location)|artifact]] buried under the north pole of Harvest.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base]]''</ref> After a heated fight on the surface, forces from the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' were able to examine the artifact, a star map, and realized that it had led the Covenant to another human colony: [[Arcadia]].<ref name="city">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref> | |||
[[File:ApexBattleImage.png|thumb|200px|The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} engages the {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} ''[[Proclamation's Tithe]]'' in [[Trove]].]] | [[File:ApexBattleImage.png|thumb|200px|The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} engages the {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} ''[[Proclamation's Tithe]]'' in [[Trove]].]] | ||
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On the Shield World, the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' eventually discovered that the Covenant needed Professor Anders to activate [[the Apex]] and claim the huge fleet of [[Sojourner-class dreadnought|Forerunner dreadnoughts]] held there.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref> A group of Marines, together with SPARTAN-II [[Red Team]], rescued the researcher and destroyed the Shield World by initiating the collapse of the interior star. The Arbiter was also killed by [[John Forge]] during the battle though the Prophet of Regret escaped.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape]]''</ref> | On the Shield World, the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' eventually discovered that the Covenant needed Professor Anders to activate [[the Apex]] and claim the huge fleet of [[Sojourner-class dreadnought|Forerunner dreadnoughts]] held there.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref> A group of Marines, together with SPARTAN-II [[Red Team]], rescued the researcher and destroyed the Shield World by initiating the collapse of the interior star. The Arbiter was also killed by [[John Forge]] during the battle though the Prophet of Regret escaped.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape]]''</ref> | ||
The UNSC's sole hope apparently lay with the SPARTAN-II Program. However, there were never enough Spartans to decisively turn the tide of the war in favor of humanity. Recognizing this, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] authorized the creation of the [[SPARTAN-III Program]]. The brainchild of [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]], these Spartans would be trained with a greater emphasis on stealth and teamwork, and would be sent on missions against high-priority targets that would be impossible even for elite units.<ref>''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'', p. 43-46</ref> | |||
=====Crisis (2532-2535)===== | =====Crisis (2532-2535)===== | ||
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By the time of the [[Battle of Jericho VII]] in 2535, most of the Outer Colonies were either destroyed, or cut communications with the UNSC. | By the time of the [[Battle of Jericho VII]] in 2535, most of the Outer Colonies were either destroyed, or cut communications with the UNSC. | ||
=== | ===Inner Colony push (2536-2551)=== | ||
{{Main|Siege of the Inner Colonies}} | {{Main|Siege of the Inner Colonies}} | ||
[[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|225px|Humanity, heavily out-gunned, lost much ground to the Covenant.]] | [[File:Origins ii Human-CovenantWar.jpg|thumb|225px|Humanity, heavily out-gunned, lost much ground to the Covenant.]] | ||