Reach: Difference between revisions

Once home to a [[Forerunner]] presence, Reach held considerable importance to the [[United Nations Space Command]] as the nexus of its military and the site of many military-industrial facilities such as shipyards. It was also significant for being one of the largest producers of [[titanium]], which is plentiful on the planet. Though most commonly recognized for its status as a military world, Reach was also humanity's most populous colony world,{{Ref/Novel|Id=ch32|HCH|Chapter=1}} its [[civilian]] population living in its preplanned [[city|cities]] or defying the planet's harsh nature in sturdy [[Kiva|pioneer settlements]].{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} It was considered a center for civilian enterprise and logistical hub.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', Human Colonization of Space, p. 42-43 (2009 & 2011 edition)</ref>

[[File:Reachtoearth.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A comparison of Earth's size to Reach's.{{Ref/Reuse|comparison}}]]

For a young planet with an age of less than one billion years, compared to Earth's 4.6 billion year existence, Reach is remarkably geologically stable.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} Reach is larger than Earth, having a diameter of 15,273 kilometers, compared to the 12,756 kilometers diameter of Earth.<ref name="comparison">[https://twitter.com/Bungie/status/12053226321?s=19 ''Twitter'', Bungie] ([http://twitpic.com/1f46ee ''Twitpic'': Earth and Reach comparison])</ref> Reach was originally inhospitable for human life, requiring some degree of [[terraforming]] before it could be colonized. Mostly a rugged and harsh wilderness filled with towering mountains, deserts and weather-beaten forests, Reach's surface is pockmarked with meteor impact craters, some of these forming large seas.<ref name="gi">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx ''GameInformer'': February 2010]</ref> Reach has a strong [[Wikipedia:Aurora (astronomy)|aurora]] phenomenon, to the extent the planet is covered in an "aura" of aurorae.{{Ref/Level|HR|[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]}} Reach has two [[natural satellite]]s; the large, ringed [[Csodaszarvas]] and the small, cratered [[Turul]] which was captured into Reach's orbit as recently as some 70-80 thousand years ago.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1045222|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=I've got your answer, Levi...}} Reach's oceans also experience strong tidal phenomena.<ref>''Halo: Reach'', Limited Edition bonus content, map of Reach</ref>

Reach was home to numerous species of indigenous animals and vegetation, with some being imported by [[human]]s. The [[spadehorn]] is a herbivorous animal native it Reach's grasslands.{{Ref/Book|Halo: The Essential Visual Guide|Page=181}} [[Moa]] are large, flightless birds, with reptilian features, that are often domesticated and consumed by humans.<ref name="Update">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_073010 ''Bungie.net'': Bungie Weekly Update: 07.30.2010]</ref>{{Ref/Level|Id=exo|HR|[[Exodus]]}} The [[gúta]] is the largest terrestrial lifeform discovered on Reach and is very dangerous, albeit rarely aggressive.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=enemies&cid=28449 B.net classification]</ref> A [[List of animals|species of bird]] visually similar to birds from [[Earth]], were also found on the planet. Wolves and owls, from Earth, inhabited the forests of Reach.{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Page=63}}{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|Page=65}} Koi were often found in decorative ponds and water gardens.{{Ref/Map|HR|[[Reflection]]}} [[Rats]] were also common pests on the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|exo}} [[Cherot]]s, [[guper]]s, and [[kropey]]s were native animals of Reach.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=8}}

 

=====Ground locations=====

[[File:HTFoR AS - military complex.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|FLEETCOM Military Complex]] in Reach's [[Highland Mountains]].]]

[[BXR Mining Corporation]] had mined these titanium reserves since the early years of colonization, and set up facilities across the planet's super-continent.<ref>''[[Defiant to the End]]''</ref>

===Human-Covenant war===

{{Main|Human-Covenant war}}

In [[2531]], the operations of an insurrectionist saboteur cell on Reach were disrupted by a four-man team of Spartan-II supersoldiers known as [[Blue Team]].{{Ref/Novel|[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]|Page=36-37}} Circa the early 2530s, the mines under [[Menachite Mountain]] were active before being appropriated by [[ONI Section Three]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: First Strike|Chapter=12}} By [[2535]], a third of the planet's population was part of the military and the Epsilon Eridani system was seemingly on permanent warfooting.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

{{Main|Fall of Reach|Reach Defense Coordination Zone}}

===Post-war===

[[File:Spade NewFrontiers Art.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A pioneer alongside two [[Spade]]s on Reach after its glassing.{{Ref/Site|Id=BaconTweet|URL=https://twitter.com/_darrenbacon/status/1437522810906103810|Site=Twitter|Page=Darren Bacon - It was a piece done for the franchise team depicting a glassed section of Reach...|D=13|M=09|Y=2021}}]]

In [[2553#November|November 2553]], a pioneer group arrived on Reach for an initial search and preparation for the planet's reterraforming.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Catalog Interaction (Page 43)}} Due to its symbolic and strategic value, Reach was quickly selected for rehabilitation and full-scale recolonization by the [[Unified Earth Government]],{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} classified as a priority redevelopment area.{{Ref/Reuse|osfm94}} Although an ambitious and lengthy project, Reach's recolonization is aided by the planet's handful of surviving settlements and the remaining [[space elevator]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|wf}} though hindered by the devastation to all major military sites and population centers during the Fall of Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|osfm94}} [[Aquarius Terraforming Solutions]] was a prime candidate over the [[Liang-Dortmund Corporation]] in the restoration project of Reach; especially as the latter would have required politically risky territorial and resources concessions.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFoundations|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-foundations|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Foundations|D=12|M=01|Y=2022}}

{{Main|Created uprising}}

 

 

==Government and society==

====Post-fall====

{{Main|Viery Militia}}

Reach was the largest non-automated exporter of [[titanium]] within the human colonies.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}} Deposits of the element could be found in abundance on the planet, sometimes breaking the surface in the form of large spires.{{Ref/FFMap|HR|[[Unearthed]]}} The planet had numerous industries including [[BXR Mining Corporation|BXR]] and [[Kisvárda Metals]] invested in the mining of Titanium and other minerals such as [[wikipedia:Rhodium|Rhodium]].{{Ref/Novel|HSoR|Chapter=8}} Before the Covenant invasion, Epsilon Eridani's superior [[interstellar jump point]] had been the most active [[Slipstream space]] transfer zone (arrivals and departures) for over thirty years, with the system's inferior IJP and Sol's superior IJP regularly trading second and third place spots.{{Ref/Reuse|bnet}}