Onyx Conflict: Difference between revisions

{{Era|HCW}}

{{triple battle infobox

|conc=[[Battle of Earth]], [[Battle of Installation 05]]

|next=[[Battle of Voi]]

|name=Battle of Onyx

|image=[[File:Ghosts of Onyx Cover.jpg|310px]]

|place=[[Onyx]], [[Zeta Doradus system|Zeta Doradus System]]

|result=Forerunner constructs strategic victory  

*Onyx de-coalesces into trillions of Sentinels

*All Covenant separatist forces destroyed

|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]

|side2=[[Covenant separatists]]

|side3=[[Forerunner]] constructs

|commanders1=*[[Carl Patterson|Admiral Carl "Buster" Patterson]]†

*[[Kurt-051|Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose]]†

|commanders2=[[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]†

*[[Battlegroup Stalingrad|Battlegroup ''Stalingrad'']]

**1 {{Class|Marathon|cruiser}}

**1 [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]]

*5 [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan-IIs]]

**[[Blue Team]]

*17 [[SPARTAN-III Program|Spartan-IIIs]]

**[[Team Katana]]

|forces2=*54 [[Covenant]] warships

**[[Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity]]

***22 ships  

****[[Incorruptible]]

****1 [[DDS-class carrier]]

****2 [[Covenant cruiser]]s

****18 [[Covenant destroyer]]s

*****[[Far Sight Lost]]

**[[Combined Fleet of Righteous Purpose]]

***32 destroyers, carriers, and cruisers

**Six [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]

*[[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraphs]]

|forces3=*Trillions of [[Sentinel]]s

*[[Sentinel constructor factory|Sentinel Production Facility]]

|casual1=*[[Battlegroup Stalingrad|Battlegroup ''Stalingrad'']] save for {{UNSCShip|Dusk}}

*[[kurt-051| Kurt-051]]

|casual2=*All [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] ships

*[[voro Nar 'Mantakree| Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]

*[[Sentinel manufacturing facility]]

The '''Battle of Onyx''' was a very large and prolonged military engagement between the [[Forerunner]] [[Onyx Sentinel|Sentinels]] of the planet Onyx, [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant separatists]].

==Events==

When [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]] was destroyed, it emitted a signal that placed all other [[Forerunner]] installations in standby mode, including the Sentinels guarding the [[Trevelyan|shield world]] located within the artificial world of [[Onyx]]. On [[2552#October|October 31, 2552]], the first of these Sentinels to awaken suddenly began attacking [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] forces on and near [[Onyx]]. Coincidentally, [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]] was participating in the top honors exercise at the time.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 117-120''</ref>

Almost immediately, [[Team Gladius]] and the orbiting {{UNSCShip|Agincourt}} were destroyed and [[Team Katana]] lost after passing to Zone 67. The [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-III]] trainers, save for [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Mendez]] and [[Kurt-051]] were all killed as well. At this point, Zone 67's AI [[Endless Summer]] assumed complete command of all UNSC forces on Onyx.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 122''</ref> Shortly afterward, [[Team Saber]] regrouped with [[Kurt-051]], [[Tom-B292]], [[Lucy-B091]] and [[Franklin Mendez|SCPO Mendez]], although they had no means of summoning reinforcements from the rest of the UNSC. [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]] declared [[Bloody Arrow]] via UNSC E-Band.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 159''</ref>

On November 3, [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Jerrod]] arrived at Onyx aboard ''[[Beatrice]]''. Attacking Sentinels forced the ship to crash land on the planet, although all three passengers survived to link up with Kurt-051's group. Halsey proceeded to convince the resident [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] AI, [[Endless Summer]], to send a distress message to Earth using the [[Slipspace COM launcher]]. In the signal Halsey requested the deployment of [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] to Onyx.<ref name="goo182">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 182-184''</ref> The launcher was destroyed shortly after firing.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 313''</ref>

Using Cortana's distress signal from Installation 05 as a "carrier wave",<ref name="goo182"/> the message succeeded in reaching a [[Battle of Earth|besieged Earth]] in mere hours and diverting [[Blue Team]] to [[Onyx]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 211-213''</ref> However, en route the message had been intercepted by the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. The newly promoted [[Fleet Master]] [[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]] of the [[Second Fleet of Homogeneous Clarity]] was deployed to Onyx under orders to destroy all UNSC forces and recover any Forerunner artifacts, as the Sangheili had not yet made a formal alliance with the UNSC.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 243''</ref>

 

At the same time, 'Mantakree's forces formed around the flagship ''[[Incorruptible]]'' and began nearing Onyx. The destroyer ''[[Far Sight Lost]]'' was sent ahead to scout the environs but was quickly engaged and destroyed by Sentinels. Another scout, ''[[Absolution]]'', was ordered to perform a precision [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] jump to the northern polar areas of Onyx, but the Sentinels followed it through Slipspace and the ''Absolution'' was destroyed upon exiting Slipspace.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 280-283''</ref> However, sufficient information had been gathered and 'Mantakree ordered his ground troops, including [[Sangheili|Elites]] from the [[E'Toro Warrior Crèche|E’Toro]], [[R'Lan Warrior Crèche|R’Lan]] and [[N'Noro Warrior Crèche|N’Nono]] warrior crèches, to converge on Zone 67.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 350''</ref>

The intervention of the Sentinels allowed the UNSC ships time to regroup around Onyx's moon. There ''Dusk'' laid a minefield of 14 [[HORNET Mine|HORNETs]], each rating at thirty-megatons with vacuum-enhanced loads. The UNSC warships then opened fire from behind the moon, hitting some of the enemy but causing negligible damage, but drawing the Covenant's attention. As the Covenant closed to engage and entered the field the HORNETs were detonated, destroying all but four of the remaining Covenant warships. Two of these were immediately set upon by the UNSC and destroyed. The remaining two whipped around the moon and as battle was about to be joined again, a [[Covenant fleet]] of 32 ships arrived from slipspace. Battlegroup Stalingrad was completely destroyed, except for ''Dusk'', in the one-sided engagement that followed. Battlegroup Stalingrad amazingly destroyed a total of 20 Covenant separatist ships throughout the battle before being totally annihilated by the arrival of the new Covenant separatist fleet.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 332-333''</ref>

While the UNSC and Covenant fleets traded space-borne crossfire whilst in orbit, in the Forerunner city [[Kurt-051]]'s group of survivors was engaged by Covenant troops led personally by Voro Nar 'Mantakree. The Spartans (both II's and III's) held off the enemy advance while Halsey, aided by [[Kelly-087]] and [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]], configured Onyx's [[teleportation grid]], their means of escape. [[Dante-G188]] was killed rescuing [[Frederic-104|Fred-104]] from plasma and Needler fire. Once the teleportation grid was functioning, the humans moved to the [[Sentinel manufacturing facility]] near the north pole in the aim of destroying it. At the advice of AI [[Endless Summer]], this would save Battlegroup Stalingrad. Halsey identified three key structures in the facility and they were destroyed by tricking Sentinels into firing on them.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 313-324''</ref> Moving on, Kurt-051's group came upon [[Team Katana]] trapped in [[slipspace field pod]]s. Unable to free the prisoners, the [[human]]s were forced to bring the sarcophagi with them as they traveled to the [[core room antechamber]] where they prepared a stand against pursuing Covenant troops.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 346-348''</ref>

While two [[legion]]s of [[Unggoy]] attacked [[Lieutenant Commander]] Kurt-051 and his forces atop the stepped structure, the remainder of the attackers set up [[stationary shield generator]]s and placed three groups of thirty Elites and one [[Mgalekgolo]] pair behind each shield. From this jump-off point, the Elites formed a wall using [[Kig-yar point defense gauntlet]]s and began to advance through grenade and sniper fire. When the Covenant reached the first step, redeployed [[Lotus Anti-Tank Mine|Lotus mines]] killed several Elites and dazed Hunters. One Hunter was dispatched by Kurt-051 before they could recover. Kelly-087 engaged and killed three [[type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|sword]]-wielding Elites and was then flanked by two more Hunters but was saved by [[Holly-G003]], who was killed in the effort.<ref name="goo360">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 360-362''</ref>

The Spartans piled onto the two Hunters. Kurt-051 was wounded. Will-043 killed one Hunter, that had been shot by Linda-058, in hand-to-hand combat but was in turn shot and killed by the second. The last Hunter was killed by Fred-104 with a [[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|Jackhammer]] missile mainly for efficiency reasons, as it could take down a Hunter with one hit.<ref name="goo360"/>

However, the main Covenant assault with hundreds of Elites, [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]] and Grunts, was yet to come. Realizing it was futile for his diminished force to resist further, Kurt-051 ordered the survivors into the shield world while opting to remain behind to prevent the Covenant from reopening the portal. With 'Mantakree approaching to finish off the wounded Spartan personally, Kurt-051 detonated two [[FENRIS nuclear warhead|FENRIS warheads]], killing himself and the entire enemy force in the antechamber as well as triggering the Sentinels of Onyx to "erupt" through the surface of the planet. With the portal closed, his comrades who had escaped into shield world were trapped, but unharmed.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 372''</ref>

With the shield world closed and gated, Onyx 'disintegrated' into its trillions of component Forerunner Sentinels. The Covenant separatist fleet, so recently victorious against the humans, were finally obliterated by the swarm of vigilant constructs. Only the {{UNSCShip|Dusk}} managed to escape alive and intact.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 48''</ref>

===Space===

**[[Admiral]] [[Carl Patterson|Carl "Buster" Patterson]]

**[[Commander]] [[Richard Lash]]

**[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Xaing Cho]]

**[[Frederic-104|Lieutenant Junior Grade Fred SPARTAN-104]]

**[[William-043|Petty Officer Second Class Will SPARTAN-043]]

**[[Linda-058|Petty Officer Second Class Linda SPARTAN-058]]

**[[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]

**[[Uruo 'Losonaee]]

**[[Zasses 'Jeqkogoee]]

**[[Y'gar 'Pewtrunoee]]

**[[Qunu|Ship Master Qunu]]

=== Ground ===

*UNSC

**[[Kurt-051|Lieutenant Commander Ambrose / Kurt SPARTAN-051]]

**[[Frederic-104|Lieutenant Junior Grade Fred SPARTAN-104]]

**[[Senior Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]]

**[[William-043|Petty Officer Second Class Will SPARTAN-043]]

**[[Linda-058|Petty Officer Second Class Linda SPARTAN-058]]

**[[Kelly-087|Petty Officer Second Class Kelly SPARTAN-087]]

**[[Lucy-B091|Petty Officer Second Class Lucy SPARTAN-B091]]

**[[Tom-B292|Petty Officer Second Class Tom SPARTAN-B292]]

**[[Holly-G003|Petty Officer Second Class Holly SPARTAN-G003]]

**[[Ash-G099|Private Ash SPARTAN-G099]]

**[[Dante-G188|Petty Officer Second Class Dante SPARTAN-G188]]

**[[Olivia|Petty Officer Second Class Olivia SPARTAN-G???]]

**[[Mark|Petty Officer Second Class Mark SPARTAN-G???]]

**[[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]]

**[[Endless Summer|Endless Summer AI#4279]]

**[[Jerrod|Jerrod "Micro AI"]]

*Covenant separatists

**[[Voro Nar 'Mantakree]]

**[[Paruto Xida Konna]]

**[[Waruna Xida Yotno]]

==Ships==

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-2}}

===UNSC===

*[[Patterson's battle group]]

**{{UNSCShip|Stalingrad}}, [[UNSC carrier|Carrier]]

**{{UNSCShip|Brasidas}}, [[UNSC destroyer|Destroyer]]

**{{UNSCShip|Glasgow Kiss}}, Destroyer

**{{UNSCShip|Iwo Jima}}, Destroyer

**{{UNSCShip|Dusk}}, [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]]

*{{UNSCShip|Agincourt}}

*''[[Beatrice]]'', modified {{Class|Chiroptera|stealth vessel}}

{{Col-2-of-2}}

*''[[Incorruptible]]'', {{Class|Reverence|cruiser}}

{{Col-end}}

<references/>

[[Category:Onyx]]