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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|GOO}} |
| {{disambig header|the UNSC operation|the Covenant starship weapon|Plasma torpedo}} | | {{Ratings}} |
| {{Battle infobox | | {{battle |
| |prev=[[Battle of Actium]] | | |prev=[[Battle of Miridem]] |
| |conc= | | |conc= |
| |next=[[Battle of Skopje]] | | |next=[[Siege of Paris IV]], [[Second Battle of Arcadia]] |
| |name=Operation: TORPEDO | | |name=Battle of Pegasi Delta |
| |image= | | |image= |
| |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | | |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] |
| |date=[[2545|July 3, 2545]] | | |date=July 3, [[2545]] |
| |place=[[Target Area Apache]], [[Pegasi Delta]], [[51 Pegasi System]] | | |place=[[Target Area Apache]], [[Pegasi Delta]], [[51 Pegasi System]] |
| |result=UNSC strategic and Pyrrhic victory | | |result=UNSC strategic victory |
| *Covenant refinery destroyed
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| *SPARTAN-III Beta Company rendered combat-ineffective
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| |side1=[[United Nations Space Command]] | | |side1=[[United Nations Space Command]] |
| |side2=[[Covenant]] | | |side2=[[Covenant]] |
| |commanders1=Unknown | | |commanders1=Unknown |
| |commanders2=Unknown | | |commanders2=Unknown |
| |forces1=*One [[UNSC carrier]] | | |forces1=*1 [[UNSC Carrier]] |
| **{{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}} | | **{{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}} |
| | *[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] (300 [[SPARTAN-III]]s) |
| *8 {{Class|Black Cat|Subprowler}}s | | *8 {{Class|Black Cat|Subprowler}}s |
| *300 [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s | | *300 [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s |
| *[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company]] - 300 [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]]
| | |forces2=*7 [[Covenant Cruiser]]s |
| |forces2=*Seven large [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]] | |
| *Several squadrons of [[Seraph]]s | | *Several squadrons of [[Seraph]]s |
| | *Hundreds of soldiers |
| | **[[Elite]]s |
| | **[[Jackal]]s |
| | **[[Grunt]]s |
| | **Presumably [[Hunter]]s also |
| | |casual1=*[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] (298 [[SPARTAN-III]]s) |
| | *7 {{Class|Black Cat|Subprowler}}s unaccounted for |
| | *300 [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s destroyed during use |
| | |casual2=*Several squadrons of [[Seraph]]s |
| *Thousands of soldiers | | *Thousands of soldiers |
| **[[Sangheili]] | | **Many [[Elite]]s |
| **[[Kig-Yar]] | | **Many [[Jackal]]s |
| **[[Unggoy]] | | **Many [[Grunt]]s |
| |casual1=*298 SPARTAN-IIIs
| | **[[Hunter]]s |
| *Seven {{Class|Black Cat|subprowler}}s unaccounted for | | *7 [[Covenant Cruiser]]s |
| *300 [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s destroyed during use | |
| |casual2=*Several squadrons of Seraphs
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| *Thousands of soldiers
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| **Many Sangheili
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| **Many Unggoy
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| **Many Kig-Yar
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| *Seven Covenant cruisers
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| }} | | }} |
| {{Quote|How are you sure we're alive?|[[Lucy-B091]] after the battle<ref name=Onyx27 >'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 21''</ref>}}
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| '''Operation: TORPEDO''' was a [[UNSC]] [[operation]] to eliminate a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] refinery on the [[Moon|inhabited moon]] [[Pegasi Delta]], orbiting [[51 Pegasi B]], in the [[51 Pegasi System]]. The engagement took place on [[2545|July 3rd, 2545]]. The outcome was a UNSC victory, but at great cost. All participating SPARTAN-IIIs, with the exceptions of [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], were killed. However, all Covenant forces groundside, as well as several Covenant ships, were eliminated.
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| == Prelude ==
| | '''Operation: TORPEDO''' was an [[UNSC]] operation to eliminate a [[Covenant]] refinery on the [[:Category:Moons|inhabited moon]] [[Pegasi Delta]], orbiting [[51 Pegasi B]], in the [[51 Pegasi System]]. The engagement took place on July 3, [[2545]]. |
| The purpose of Operation: TORPEDO was to destroy a Covenant [[deuterium]]/[[tritium]] refinery, on the planet [[Pegasi Delta]]. These chemicals were used in the Covenant's [[Pinch fusion reactor|plasma reactors]], therefore making this refinery an excellent refueling plant for Covenant ships, right on the edge of UNSC space. The destruction of this supply point would triple the length of Covenant resupply and buy the UNSC valuable time to recover from the ravages of war. This time would be spent regrouping in the wake of numerous crushing defeats at the hands of the [[Covenant fleet]].
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| Long-range [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear bombardments]] were met with failure as the Covenant ships shot the weapons out of the sky, and neither a regular invasion nor an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] insertion were considered worth the attempt. The operation was then assigned to the newly commissioned [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]], attached to the {{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}}.
| | == Introduction == |
| | The aim of Operation: TORPEDO was to destroy a Covenant deuterium/tritium refinery. These chemicals were used in the Covenant's [[plasma]] reactors, therefore making this refinery an excellent refueling plant for Covenant ships, right on the edge of [[UNSC]] space. The destruction of this supply point would triple the length of Covenant resupply and buy the UNSC valuable time to recover from the ravages of war. This time would be spent regrouping in the wake of numerous crushing defeats at the hands of the [[Covenant Navy]]. |
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| ==The battle==
| | Long range nuclear bombardments were met with failure as the Covenant ships shot the weapons out of the sky. The operation was then assigned to the newly commissioned [[Spartan-III]] [[Beta Company]], attached to the {{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}}. |
| At 1135, the 300 SPARTAN-IIIs of Beta Company landed on Pegasi Delta via [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s. Nine SPARTANs died immediately, either killed on impact or by Covenant forces. Initial resistance was light, as the Covenant had not yet realized how large the attacking force was. Soon, however, Covenant [[Seraph]]s began making strafing runs, prompting the hiding SPARTANs to abandon their stealth and rush to the factory for safety. As more Seraphs appeared, a few SPARTANs attempted to hold them back with [[M19-B Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher|missile launchers]], and succeeded in destroying two, forcing the remaining Seraphs to cancel their runs.
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| The Seraphs began bombing the SPARTANs, killing dozens of them. Thousands of [[Sangheili]] and [[Kig-Yar]] joined the defense. In response, the surviving SPARTANs charged, their speed and reflexes helping them kill hundreds of Covenant soldiers in a brief matter of time. | | The outcome was a Beta Company victory, but at great cost. All [[Spartan III]]s, with the exception [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]] were killed. However, all Covenant forces groundside as well as several Covenant ships were also eliminated. |
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| Suddenly, [[seven]] [[Covenant cruiser]]s were revealed, immediately deploying thousands of reinforcements. Half of the survivors of Beta Company turned to face the new threat in an attempt to buy time for their fellow soldiers. [[Team Foxtrot]] rushed to the factory. [[Adam-B004]] was mortally wounded, but stayed back to hold off the Covenant forces so his team could rush ahead. When the remaining members arrived, they immediately began to set explosive charges on the core. [[Min-B174]] was setting his timer when an electromagnetic field triggered his charge, vaporizing him.
| | This battle bears a great resemblance to the Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans stood against thousands of enemies, with next to no survivors. |
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| The last two members of Team Foxtrot, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], then jumped off a cliff and into the ocean to escape from the explosion of the core. The two nearly drowned, but managed to swim ashore, where they found that everything else had been vaporized, including the cruisers. Eventually, they made it to a waiting ''Black Cat''-class sub-prowler, and were extracted from the planet.
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| ==Aftermath==
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| Although the UNSC gained a strategic victory, it lost almost all of Beta Company. The Covenant suffered a heavy blow that would prevent them from refueling close to UNSC space.
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| Additionally, Lucy suffered from [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation]], preventing her from speaking for many years.<ref name= "Onyx27" />
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| ==Timeline== | | ==Timeline== |
| ===July 3, 2545=== | | ===July 3, [[2545]]=== |
| *0435 Hours: The three hundred SPARTAN-IIIs of Beta Company are dropped out of [[Slipstream Space|Slipspace]] by UNSC ''All Under Heaven'' in [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s. | | *0435 Hours, the three hundred Spartan-III's of Beta Company are dropped out of [[Slipspace]] by the ''All Under Heaven'' in [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s. |
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| *Eight {{Class|Black Cat|subprowler}}s are landed in strategic locations around the target and one [[STARS]] drone is deployed in orbit around the planet. | | *Eight {{Class|Black Cat|Subprowler}}s are landed in strategic locations around the target and one [[STARS]] is dropped to orbit the planet. |
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| *1135 Hours: 291 SPARTAN-IIIs land on the surface of [[Pegasi Delta]] within drop pods. Nine SPARTAN-IIIs are unaccounted for and are presumed dead. | | *1135 Hours, 291 Spartan-III's land on the surface of [[Pegasi Delta]] within drop pods. 9 Spartan-III's unaccounted for and are presumed dead. |
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| *The SPARTANs regroup into fireteams. Covenant Seraphs begin strafing runs, killing dozens. | | *[[Spartan-III]]'s regroup into fireteams. Covenant [[Seraph]] fighters begin strafing runs. |
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| *As the Seraphs continue their strafing runs, the surviving SPARTAN-IIIs begin a frontal charge of the refinery.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 16''</ref> | | *Surviving Spartan-III's begin frontal charge of refinery-city. Strafing continues.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 16</ref> |
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| *[[Kig-yar Sniper|Kig-yar snipers]] fire on the charging SPARTAN-IIIs. The attacking force is reduced to 200 active soldiers.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 17''</ref> Several SPARTANs with [[M19-B Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher]]s destroy multiple strafing Seraphs, discouraging the remaining fighters.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 20''</ref> | | *[[Sniper Jackal]]s fire on charging Spartan-III's. Spartan-III's reduced to 200 active soldiers.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 17</ref> Several Spartan-IIIs with M19-B missile launchers destroy multiple strafing Seraphs with a Bravo maneuver, discouraging remaining fighters. <ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 20</ref> |
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| *Thousands of Sangheili and Kig-yar rush from cover within the factory to face the two hundred remaining SPARTANs. | | *Thousands of [[Jackals]] and [[Elites]] rush from cover within the factory to face the two hundred remaining Spartan-III's. |
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| *The SPARTANs panic and declare code [[Omega Three]]. Seven Covenant cruisers descend from above the factory.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 22''</ref> | | *The attacked Spartans panic and declare code [[Omega Three]]. Seven [[Covenant Cruiser]]s descend from above the factory. <ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 22</ref> |
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| *The cruisers launch dropships and deliver troops to the surface via [[gravity lift]]s. The Covenant reinforcements engage the remaining SPARTAN-IIIs. | | *[[Covenant]] Cruisers launch dropships and deliver troops to the surface via [[gravity lift]]s. Forces engage remaining Spartan-III's. |
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| *Team Foxtrot arrives at the facility core. [[Adam-B004]] is shot while holding off pursuing Covenant forces and [[Min-B174]] is killed by a premature charge explosion. Last two remaining SPARTAN-IIIs, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], successfully overload the refinery's reactor core and escape over a cliff into the ocean. | | *[[Team Foxtrot]] arrives at the facility core. [[Adam-B004]] is shot while holding off pursuing Covenant forces and [[Min-B174]] is killed by a premature charge explosion. Last two remaining Spartan-III's, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], successfully overload the core and escape over a cliff into the ocean. |
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| *The survivors of Beta Company are slaughtered. The facility explodes, destroying all Covenant forces within range, including the seven Covenant cruisers.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 25-26''</ref> | | *Leftovers of [[Beta Company]] are slaughtered. Facility explodes, destroying all [[Covenant]] forces within range, including the seven [[Covenant Cruiser]]s.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 25-26</ref> |
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| *Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091 retreat aboard one of the pre-inserted ''Black Cat'' subprowlers and fall back to UNSC-controlled space.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 27''</ref> | | *[[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]] retreat aboard one of the pre-inserted ''Black Cat'' subprowlers and fall back to [[UNSC]] controlled space.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 27</ref> |
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| ==Trivia== | | ==Trivia== |
| *The date of the battle, July 3, is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Pickett's Charge|Pickett's Charge]], a Confederate infantry assault on the Union lines during the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, which occurred on July 3, 1863. | | *The date, July 3, is possibly a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickett%27s_charge Pickett's Charge], a Confederate infantry assault on the Union lines that occured on July 3, 1863 and was the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. |
| *In the [[Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer|''Halo: Reach'' VGA trailer]], [[SPARTAN-B312]] was said to have survived Operation: TORPEDO. However, the SPARTAN was actually taken out of Beta Company immediately before TORPEDO commenced. This line was removed from the final game.
| | The circumstances of this battle may be a reference to the Battle of Thermopylae, in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought a force of thousands of Persian. |
| *The presence of 300 SPARTANs in Operation: TORPEDO, along with [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], is likely a reference to the historical [[Wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]].
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| ==List of appearances==
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| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{1st}}
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| *''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo Fractures]]''
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| **''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==References== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| {{Human-Covenant War}} | | {{Human-Covenant War}} |
| [[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|TORPEDO]] | | [[Category:Human-Covenant War|Pegasi Delta]] |
| [[Category:UNSC victories|TORPEDO]] | | [[Category:UNSC Victories]] |
| [[Category:Operations|TORPEDO]]
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