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Militia of Mesra: Difference between revisions
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In [[2526]], the [[Covenant]] invaded the planet of Mesra, intent on securing the planet's [[xenotime]] deposits. During the invasion, a mass evacuation was conducted of the planet's citizens though the Militia of Mesra were asked by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole|Cole]] to forgo evacuation and assist the [[UNSC]]'s [[24th Marine Engineering Brigade]] in fending off the Covenant long enough to sabotage the existing mining infrastructure on the planet. The militia responded by swearing an oath not to leave the planet until every last alien on it was dead - an oath considered over-the-top even by the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]] of [[Blue Team]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO1|Oblv|Chapter=1}} | In [[2526]], the [[Covenant]] invaded the planet of Mesra, intent on securing the planet's [[xenotime]] deposits. During the invasion, a mass evacuation was conducted of the planet's citizens though the Militia of Mesra were asked by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole|Cole]] to forgo evacuation and assist the [[UNSC]]'s [[24th Marine Engineering Brigade]] in fending off the Covenant long enough to sabotage the existing mining infrastructure on the planet. The militia responded by swearing an oath not to leave the planet until every last alien on it was dead - an oath considered over-the-top even by the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]] of [[Blue Team]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO1|Oblv|Chapter=1}} | ||
Over eight days of brutal fighting, the Mesranis made good on this word, fighting the Covenant and allowing the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[combat engineer]]s to destroy all of the mines on the planet, though at the cost of multiple [[brigade]]s. By [[2526#June|June | Over eight days of brutal fighting, the Mesranis made good on this word, fighting the Covenant and allowing the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[combat engineer]]s to destroy all of the mines on the planet, though at the cost of multiple [[brigade]]s. By [[2526#June|June 5]], the Mesrani militia was down to a single understrength [[battalion]] - the [[Fifth Ghost Battalion]]. By this date, the battalion had come straight from a two-day battle and a thirty-hour march; low on food, medicine and ammunition; to hole up in defense of the final objective site on the planet - the [[Doukala Xenotime Works]]. The militia's remnants were, by this time, commanded by [[Major]] [[Bah'd de Gaya y Elazia de los Karim]] and mostly comprised of younger soldiers in their early twenties, and hadn't slept in multiple days - leading [[John-117]] to assume the battalion were taking [[stim-pack]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|HO1}} | ||
In the preceding days, the Mesranis had created a gauntlet out of the [[Samalat Gorge]], thanks to equipment donated by the UNSC Marine force. Mines placed along the sides of the mountain pass forced Covenant armoured vehicles to drive slowly and closer to the edge of the valley below or risk destruction, and explosives placed along the cliff edge were situated in the hopes of destroying more vehicles. Ultimately, the militia elected - against the judgement of John-117 - to deploy their forces on the far side of the [[Nasim Bridge]] in the hopes of being able to pin the Covenant force in place by firing down rockets and grenades from above, while Blue Team picked off important targets with their [[M68 Gauss cannon|Gauss cannons]]. This plan ultimately went awry as the Covenant commander deployed a thousand [[Yanme'e]] to defend the convoy, while [[Wraith]]s began shelling the opposite side of the canyon with their mortars.{{Ref/Reuse|HO1}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO2|Oblv|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO3|Oblv|Chapter=3}} | In the preceding days, the Mesranis had created a gauntlet out of the [[Samalat Gorge]], thanks to equipment donated by the UNSC Marine force. Mines placed along the sides of the mountain pass forced Covenant armoured vehicles to drive slowly and closer to the edge of the valley below or risk destruction, and explosives placed along the cliff edge were situated in the hopes of destroying more vehicles. Ultimately, the militia elected - against the judgement of John-117 - to deploy their forces on the far side of the [[Nasim Bridge]] in the hopes of being able to pin the Covenant force in place by firing down rockets and grenades from above, while Blue Team picked off important targets with their [[M68 Gauss cannon|Gauss cannons]]. This plan ultimately went awry as the Covenant commander deployed a thousand [[Yanme'e]] to defend the convoy, while [[Wraith]]s began shelling the opposite side of the canyon with their mortars.{{Ref/Reuse|HO1}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO2|Oblv|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO3|Oblv|Chapter=3}} | ||