Editing Battle of the Rubble

{{Era|HCW}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev     = [[Battle of Charybdis IX]]
|next     = [[Battle of Metisette]]
|name     = Battle of the Rubble
|image    = [[File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|400px]]
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]], [[Insurrection]]
|date     = [[2535]]
|place    = [[The Rubble]], [[23 Librae]] system.
|result   = UNSC/Insurrectionist victory
*Leads to the [[Battle of Metisette]]
*UNSC/Rubble forces cease-fire and prepare for the imminent Kig-Yar invasion
|side1    = *[[United Nations Space Command]] <br> 
*Sympathizing Rubble citizens
|side2    = *[[Covenant]]
**Under the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret's]] command
|side3    = *[[Covenant]]
**Under the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth's]] command
*Sympathizing Insurrectionists
|side4    = *[[Insurrectionist]]s<br> 
*Sympathizing Rubble citizens
|commanders1    = [[Lieutenant]] [[Jacob Keyes]]<br> 
[[Jai-006|Spartan Jai-006]]<br>  
[[Commander]] [[Dmitri Zheng|Zheng]]†<br> 
[[Major]] [[Faison]]†
|commanders2    = 
[[Zealot]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee
|commanders3    = 
[[Reth]]<br> 
[[Pellius]]<br>   
[[Peter Bonifacio]]<br> 
[[Shipmaster|Shipmistress]] [[Chur'R-Mut]]
|commanders4    = [[Rubble Security Council]]
*[[Diego Esquival]]† 
|forces1  = *[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s 
*UNSC Naval crew 
*[[UNSC Midsummer Night|One]] {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}
*[[Gray Team]] 
*2 civilian [[freighter]]s
**''[[Mighty Sparrow]]'' (captured late in battle) 
**''[[Petya]]''
*Rubble civilians
|forces2  =*[[Retribution's Thunder|One]] Covenant destroyer
*[[Infinite Spoils|One]] Kig-Yar ship 
*5 [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]
**Thel 'Vadamee 
**[[Zhar]] 
**[[Saal]] 
**[[Veer]] 
**[[Jora 'Konaree]]† 
*Unggoy  
|forces3  = *Hundreds of small [[Kig-Yar raider]]s  
*[[Jiralhanae]] 
*[[Kig-Yar]]
*[[Unggoy]]
*[[Rubble Defense Force]] guards
|forces4  = *Insurrectionists 
*Rubble Defense Force
*Insurrectionist sympathizers 
**Badia Campbell
|casual1  = *Several ODSTs 
**Major Faison
*Commander Zheng
|casual2  = *All crew on ''Retribution's Thunder'' save four zealots  
**Jora is euthanized<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 170''</ref>
|casual3  = *All Jiralhanae killed by Truth's orders.
*Many, if not all, hired Rubble Defense Force guards
|casual4  = *Diego Esquival 
*Badia Campbell
*Unknown number of Rubble civilians and Rubble Defense force
}}

The '''Battle of the Rubble''' was an [[Battle|engagement]] fought between various factions of [[Covenant]] and [[human]] forces mainly for [[astrogation|navigational]] data that led to [[Earth]] and other human population centers, as well as a large asteroid called [[Exodus Project|Exodus]]. It took place at some point in [[2535]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol'''</ref>

==Prelude==
After [[Madrigal]]'s [[glassing]], a [[Kig-Yar]] ship entered the [[23 Librae]] system and began scanning the [[Lagrangian point|Lagrangian]] [[asteroid]]s trailing the gas giant [[Hesiod]]. However, some of the asteroids had become a settlement known as [[the Rubble]] for [[insurrectionist]]s and Madrigal refugees. While the Rubble's inhabitants were deciding if they should attack or flee, smuggler [[Peter Bonifacio]] contacted the Kig-Yar ship and came into contact with [[Reth]]. Reth reported this to the [[Prophet of Truth]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 222''</ref>

While the [[Prophet of Regret]] was unable to find the [[Earth|human homeworld]], the Prophet of Truth devised a plan to have the Kig-Yar merchants, lead by Reth, ally themselves with humans in order to find its location. Originally, they pretended to be allies with the insurgents and [[Asylum seeker|refugee]] citizens, and even made a trade agreement with the insurrectionists that they would hand them Covenant weapons in exchange for [[slipspace drive]]s whilst waiting for the opportunity to capture navigational data that led to Earth. The Kig-Yar bided their time and waited for the right moment to strike.<ref name="cp236">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 236''</ref>

The weapons the insurrectionists were handed were modified and sent to other rebels across human space. When Regret found some of the weapons on sale on ''[[High Charity]]'', not knowing that they were part of Truth's plan, he sent some of the Covenant's top soldiers to silence the "rebels".<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 146''</ref> Meanwhile, the UNSC sent the stealth-equipped [[Stalwart-class light frigate|light frigate]] {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}} to investigate the source of the Covenant weapons. Earlier, the [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[Gray Team]] had been sent to the Rubble to eliminate all traces of navigational data with Earth's coordinates.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 137''</ref>

==Battle==
When Gray Team arrived at the Rubble, they immediately set about to prepare for a prolonged stay. They managed to steal a freighter, the ''[[Petya]]'', and fitted it with a military-grade [[slipspace drive]]. 

Meanwhile, [[Ignatio Delgado]] was assigned by the [[Rubble Security Council]] to protect a data chip that contained the coordinates to [[Earth]]. However, he and his copilot, [[Melko Hollister]], were attacked by some Kig-Yar who wished to steal the data. Delgado managed to distract the Kig-Yar long enough for Hollister to escape and board their ship, ''[[Distancia]]''. Delgado however was wounded and was about to be killed when he was rescued by one of the Spartans of Gray Team, [[Adriana-111]]. She asked for the data in exchange for helping him. Delgado refused however.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 15''</ref> She performed first-aid on Delgado and gave him an emergency contact beacon, telling him that if the data chip was attacked again, he should activate the beacon. Unfortunately for Delgado, Hollister had died while escaping with the data, putting the skirmish at a pyrrhic victory for the Rubble.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 17''</ref> 

Meanwhile, the Rubble's [[AI]] [[Juliana]] noticed Gray Team's movements and disabled the ''Petya''. She gave them a compromise: she'll give them the location of any navigation data in the Rubble in exchange for helping her protect the Rubble from the Kig-Yar.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 87''</ref>

Later the Covenant [[Covenant destroyer|destroyer]] ''[[Retribution's Thunder]]'' and the [[Kig-Yar raider|raider]] ''[[A Psalm Every Day]]'' arrived in the 23 Librae system to search for the Kig-Yar "rebels". Two two vessels soon discovered the Rubble, but ''A Psalm Every Day'' attacked and disabled ''Retribution's Thunder'' so that they could claim sole credit for the discovery.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 161''</ref> Thel 'Vadamee and his crew were taken captive and stored within one of the habitats. The ''Midsummer Night'' arrived shortly after while stalking the ''[[Kestrel (freighter)|Kestrel]]'' but was taken out with a [[mass driver]] round and missile fire from the [[Rubble Defense Force]]. [[Commander]] [[Dmitri Zheng]] was shot by rebel-sympathizer [[Lieutenant]] [[Badia Campbell]] but pushed himself to lock the arm codes for the [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s on board and fired them away to dispose of them.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 176''</ref> As Zheng died, Keyes was forced to take command of the ship. Lieutenant [[Jacob Keyes]] surrendered the ship to save the crew, resulting in them being imprisoned on the Rubble as well. 

Unbeknownst to the others, [[Reth]] and the Kig-Yar were intending to use the Rubble for breeding grounds.<ref name="cp236"/> To take over the Rubble, Reth had created [[The Redoubt|a sanctuary]] on [[Metisette]], a [[moon]] of Hesiod, for the [[Unggoy]]. He intended to have the Unggoy mass breed so he could have a personal army.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 197''</ref> 

The Shiva missiles caused an EMP effect which shut down the lights and the anti-gravity generators inside the habitat where Thel 'Vadamee and the rest of his crew were imprisoned.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 188''</ref> This allowed the Sangheili to proceed with an escape plan. Using an improvised spear made out of a broken leg of a cot and tied to several coils of sheets, they managed to spear the Unggoy guard and steal his [[plasma rifle]]. Saal used the rifle to destroy the lock and open the door, which allowed the Sangheili to escape. They managed to board a [[Kig-Yar shuttle]] and eventually take over a [[Kig-Yar troop carrier]], which contained a large crew of Unggoy. The Sangheili then used the ship and information gathered from the Unggoy to launch a raid on Metisette and capture Reth.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 196''</ref> After a lengthy interrogation and torture session, Reth revealed to the Sangheili that he is following orders sent from the Prophet of Truth. This confuses the Sangheili, especially [[Zhar (Sangheili)|Zhar]], since they are following conflicting orders from the Prophet of Regret. Reth managed to escape while unattended and arrived back at Metisette. He decided to begin the invasion of the Rubble to show that he was loyal to the Covenant.<ref name="cp236"/>  

Meanwhile, Delgado was imprisoned by one of the Rubble Security Council members, Peter Bonifacio, on the charges of failing to protect the navigation data.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 120''</ref> Fortunately, the Security Council pardoned him in exchange for giving back the data to them to move it to [[Habitat Exodus]], an emergency evacuation habitat for the Rubble. Peter Bonifacio and [[Diego Esquival]], another Council member and long time friend of Delgado, accompanied Delgado to his ship, the ''Distancia''. However, when Delgado handed the chip to Esquival, Bonifacio quickly held the two at gunpoint and demanded that Diego handed the data to him. Diego refused and was shot. Bonifacio took the data and retreated while Delgado returned fire from his own pistol. He grabbed Diego and re-entered the airlock.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 234''</ref> However, Bonifacio shut down the airlock and disabled the communications. He quickly undocked and flew away, leaving Delgado and Diego to die. Delgado, knowing he had no other option, activated the emergency beacon Adriana gave him.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 238''</ref>   

Bonifacio contacted Reth, who he was working with, and informed him of the capture of the navigation data. Reth immediately began the preparations of the invasion of the Rubble while Bonifacio continued on his own route. Meanwhile, Gray Team pinpointed Delgado's position and quickly rescued him. Although Delgado survived, Diego did not and was put into cryogenic suspension in the ship.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 239''</ref>   

The Rubble's resident AI construct, [[Juliana]], discovered the movement of the Kig-Yar vessels and prepared the proper forces to defend the Rubble from the Kig-Yar assault. She collaborated with Gray Team and had [[Jai-006]] rescue Keyes and his imprisoned crewmates while Adriana-111 and [[Michael-120]] disabled the ''Distancia'' to retrieve the navigation data from Bonifacio.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 243''</ref> Although Adriana successfully entered the ship and dealt with the bodyguards, Bonifacio quickly fled in an escape pod. She interrogated a surviving guard and contacted Bonifacio, who gave her the location of the data in exchange for letting him free. Adriana reluctantly accepted his proposal and, with the navigation data, the two Spartans quickly moved out to help the others.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 260''</ref> Meanwhile, Jai, Keyes, and Juliana decided to take over a Kig-Yar raider, ''[[Infinite Spoils]]'', in order to confirm the possibility of a Kig-Yar attack. The ''[[Mighty Sparrow]]'', filled with ODSTs, latched onto the ''Infinite Spoils'', allowing them to plug Juliana into the Kig-Yar battle network, while another group of ODSTs assaulted the airlock outside the ship. This allowed them to gain data on the upcoming invasion by [[Reth]] from [[Metisette]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 267''</ref> 

During the infiltration, the [[Sangheili]] under Thel's command attacked the ''Mighty Sparrow'' which was docked with the Kig-Yar raider. Delgado and the remaining [[ODST]]s, including [[Major]] [[Faison]], quickly escaped and boarded the ''Infinite Spoils''. While Faison and Delgado navigated through the ship, Faison took fire from a surviving Kig-Yar. The shot hit a blood vessel, causing Faison to loss blood quickly. Delgado was forced to abandon him but called for backup to recover Faison. Aboard ''Infinite Spoils'', Zhar and Thel followed the same path as the humans took. Zhar ran into Faison and took fire before killing him with his plasma rifle. While Zhar became curious and remained shaken, they encountered Jai-006 and Thel engaged in hand to hand combat with him, declaring him a [[demon]] in the struggle. The Spartan took a look at Faison and retreated back into the habitat. Thel and Zhar decided to abstain from the battle and took the ship for themselves.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 275''</ref>

Meanwhile, ODSTs and Kig-Yar were fighting a hard battle in the Rubble. After some hesitation, Delgado handed Jai-006 the AI chip containing Juliana in order to depressurize the habitat and kill the Kig-Yar who were not in a sealed suit. The resulting loss of atmosphere killed off a majority of the front line Kig-Yar, allowing the ODSTs to kill the [[Kig-Yar sniper|snipers]] and push back to the ''Petya'' to begin preparations for the Kig-Yar naval assault.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 289''</ref>

==Aftermath==
With the Kig-Yar ready to invade the Rubble, UNSC forces, AI Juliana, and Ignatio Delgado prepared to launch a counter-attack to destroy the Covenant forces first in the [[Battle of Metisette]]. 

However, the Rubble Security Council was unwilling to fight against the Kig-Yar. Delgado decided to meet up with [[Maria Esquival]], Diego Esquival's brother, in order to help convince the Council that the Covenant was their enemy and they needed to fight against them.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 291''</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}} 

{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Insurrection}}
[[Category:UNSC Victories]]