Battle of Reach: Difference between revisions

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|image=[[Image:Battle of Reach.jpg|middle]]
|image=[[Image:Battle of Reach.jpg|middle]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=August 30, 2552 - September 23, 2552 (UNSC Forces Scattered)
|date=August 30, 2552 - September 23, 2552 (UNSC forces Scattered)
|place=[[Epsilon Eridani System]], above planet [[Reach]]
|place=[[Epsilon Eridani System]], above planet [[Reach]]
|result=Ended with Covenant victory; Reach was [[Glass|partially glassed]]
|result=Ended with Covenant victory; Reach [[Glass|partially glassed]]
|battles=
|battles=
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
Line 14: Line 14:
|commanders1=*[[Admiral Roland Freemont]]†
|commanders1=*[[Admiral Roland Freemont]]†
|commanders2=*[[Arbiter (character)|Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
|commanders2=*[[Arbiter (character)|Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
|forces1=*152 UNSC ships(approximately 2 fleets of Various Classes)
|forces1=*2 Fleets
**152 warships
***1 Supercarrier
****{{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}
***2 Carriers
***3 Cruisers
****{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}
***Several dozen Destroyers
***Frigates
***Corvettes
*20 Super [[MAC]] Cannons
*20 Super [[MAC]] Cannons
*Platoon of [[Spartans]]
*Platoon of [[Spartans]]
|forces2=*314 Covenant Ships
|forces2=*[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
**314 Covenant Ships<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 296</ref>
***1 [[Covenant Supercruiser]]
*Legions of ground troops
*Legions of ground troops
|casual1=*Over 130 vessels of varying classes
|casual1=*Over 130 ships
*20 Super MACs
*20 Super MACs
*Estimated 700,000 dead+1,500,000 wounded during Ground combat+another 5,000,000 dead during space bombardment. Estimated 1,000,000,000 Civilian casualties
*Ground forces (estimated):
* Estimated: Only 15,000,000 civilian survivors to the attack
**5.7 million dead (5 million due to ortillery)
|casual2=*~262 ships of varying classes
**1.5 million wounded
*3,350,000+dead, 1,700,000 wounded
*Civilian (estimated):
**1 billion total casualties (note only 15 million civilian survivors)
|casual2=*~262 ships
*3.35 million dead, 1.7 million wounded
}}
}}
== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Although defeated at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], the Covenant managed to place a stealthy tracking device on the {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}.  When the ''Iroquois'' returned to [[Reach]] the human presence, and its extent, on that world was revealed.  Ironically, the location of Reach was already known to the Covenant via a [[Forerunner]] artefact they had previously recovered which indicated that Reach was the location of yet another artefact.


By [[2552]], many of Humanity's Outer Colonies had been destroyed by the Covenant (although they were repulsed with significant losses at [[Sigma Octanus IV]]).  In a move of desperation, the UNSC ordered a secret plan to capture a Covenant ship using a SPARTAN task force and find the coordinates of their home planet, as well as capturing one of the Covenant's leaders.  A group of SPARTANs, led by the [[Master Chief]], were chosen for this mission, and were on board a specially outfitted ''Halcyon''-class cruiser, the ''Pillar of Autumn'', under the command of [[Captain Jacob Keyes]], as well as the [[MJOLNIR battle armor#MJOLNIR Mark V|MJOLNIR Mark V]] armor, completely integrated with an energy shielding system and AI interface. The Master Chief meets and is assigned to the [[AI]] [[Cortana]], who is to serve as his team's hacker and Covenant technology specialist. This plan, however, was interrupted when the [[Covenant]] launched a surprise attack on the world of [[Reach]], which they had deviously located via an automated probe attached to the hull of the [[UNSC destroyer]] ''[[Iroquois]]''.
Less than two months after the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV a large Covenant fleet converged on Reach to recover the artefact and cleanse the human presence.  With horrendous casualties sustained by both sides, the Covenant eventually routed the defenders and proceeded to [[glass]] the planet except for the [[Highland Mountains]] and [[CASTLE Base]], the location of the artefact.


During this battle, most of [[Reach]] is overrun and [[glassed]], and the [[Human]] [[fleet]] is pretty much destroyed, as the humans were outgunned giving them almost no chance, even with orbital [[MAC]] emplacements. Worse still, the [[Master Chief]] discovers that most of the remaining [[SPARTAN-II]]s were most likely killed on the surface of the planet during its bombardment. The Master Chief, escapes with the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]''. In accordance with the [[Cole Protocol]], the ''Autumn'' follows a "randomized" ''slipspace'' vector which leads to the discovery of the Halo installation. This vector is later revealed to have been quickly generated from some [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner hieroglyphs]] by [[Cortana]].
The artefact itself, a crystal, would later escape Reach and be destroyed, with only a few fragments falling into Covenant hands.


== Military Forces ==
* ''See [[Halo: First Strike]] and [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]]''
'''UNSC'''
Commander: [[Admiral Roland Freemont]]
 
*152 UNSC ships
*''Stated Ships:''
**2 Carriers
**3 Cruisers
**Several dozen Destroyers
**Frigates
**Corvettes
**The [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]] and Supercarrier [[UNSC Trafalgar ]] were also present
 
20 Super [[MAC]] Cannons
 
Platoon of [[Spartans]]  
 
'''Covenant'''
Commander: [[The Arbiter (character)|The Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice]]
 
*314<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 296</ref> Covenant ships (Various Classes)
**1 [[Covenant Supercruiser]]


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
Line 62: Line 55:
*'''0447 Hours:''' The [[Remote Scanning Outpost]] [[Fermion]] detects incoming Covenant vessels. an emergency message is relayed to FLEETCOM.
*'''0447 Hours:''' The [[Remote Scanning Outpost]] [[Fermion]] detects incoming Covenant vessels. an emergency message is relayed to FLEETCOM.


*'''0500 Hours:''' A fleet of, according to Cortana, 314 Covenant vessels exits slipspace on the edge of the system.  
*'''0500 Hours:''' A fleet of, according to [[Cortana]], 314 Covenant vessels exits slipspace on the edge of the system.  


*'''0517 Hours:''' FLEETCOM [[Admiral Roland Freemont]] issues a general order to all vessels in the REACH, JERICHO, and TANTALUS systems. All vessels and stations initiate the [[Cole Protocol]] and rush to rally point ZULU.
*'''0517 Hours:''' FLEETCOM [[Admiral Roland Freemont]] issues a general order to all vessels in the REACH, JERICHO, and TANTALUS systems. All vessels and stations initiate the [[Cole Protocol]] and rush to rally point ZULU.


*'''0534 Hours:''' Covenant vessels make Pinpoint [[Slipspace]] jumps attempting to destroy any incoming or outgoing human vessels before they can regroup. One vessel, a [[Covenant Carrier]] targets the ''[[Pillar of Autumn|UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'' but is destroyed.  
*'''0534 Hours:''' Covenant vessels make Pinpoint [[Slipspace]] jumps attempting to destroy any incoming or outgoing human vessels before they can regroup. A [[Covenant Carrier]] targets the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} but is destroyed.  


*'''0545 Hours:''' The Covenant vessels begin a frontal assault. As the Covenant and Human fleet encounter above Reach, it seems to be a stalemate, as Covenant ships take out UNSC ships, while the UNSC ships and [[MAC|MAC cannons]] take out an equal number. The first salvo by the UNSC vessels destroys a third of the Covenant. A Covenant ship, which was deemed a [[Covenant Supercruiser|"sniper ship"]] by [[Captain Keyes]], enters the fray and snipes out several UNSC ships while outside weapons range.
*'''0545 Hours:''' The Covenant vessels begin a frontal assault. As the Covenant and Human fleet encounter above Reach, it seems to be a stalemate, as Covenant ships take out UNSC ships, while the UNSC ships and [[MAC]] cannon take out an equal number. The first salvo by the UNSC vessels destroys a third of the remaining Covenant fleet. A previously unknown Covenant warship, called a ''[[Covenant Supercruiser|Supercruiser]]'' by [[Captain Keyes]], arrives and destroys several UNSC ships while outside weapons range.


*'''0558 Hours:''' Reach Dockmaster [[AI]] [[Doppler]] sends priority message to FLEETCOM. The [[ONI]] prowler ''[[Circumference]]'', aboard [[Reach Station Gamma]], has failed to delete its information logs, in direct violation of the [[Cole Protocol]]. Covenant intrusion software detects the information.  
*'''0558 Hours:''' Reach Dockmaster [[AI]] [[Doppler]] sends priority message to FLEETCOM. The [[ONI]] prowler {{UNSCShip|Circumference}}, aboard [[Reach Station Gamma]], has failed to delete its information logs, in direct violation of the [[Cole Protocol]]. Covenant intrusion software detects the information.  


*'''0616 Hours:''' The [[Spartan]] soldiers are dispatched from the ''[[Pillar of Autumn]]''. A team of three Spartans go aboard the Dock to destroy the ''Circumfrence'', and the rest of the Spartans go to the surface of the planet to defend the power generators for the MAC guns. The three Spartans are [[Spartan-117]], [[Spartan-058]], and [[Spartan-James]]. James is killed when a [[needler]] hits him and propels him into space during combat. The remaining two Spartans go through the station and along the way they rescue [[Sergeant]] [[Johnson]], [[Private]] [[O'Brien]], and [[Private Bisenti]] from many [[Jackal]]s and [[Elite]]s.
*'''0616 Hours:''' The [[Spartan]] soldiers are dispatched from the ''Pillar of Autumn''. A team of three Spartans go aboard the Dock to destroy the ''Circumference'', and the rest of the Spartans go to the surface of the planet to defend the power generators for the MAC guns. The three Spartans are [[SPARTAN-117]], [[SPARTAN-058]], and [[Spartan-James]]. James is killed when a [[needler]] hits him and propels him into space during combat. The remaining two Spartans go through the station and along the way they rescue [[Sergeant]] [[Johnson]], [[Private]] [[O'Brien]], and [[Private Bisenti]] from many [[Jackal]]s and [[Elite]]s.


*'''0620 Hours:''' The Covenant fleet retreats from the system. Hundreds of boarding craft land on Reach.  
*'''0620 Hours:''' The Covenant fleet retreats from the system. Hundreds of boarding craft land on Reach.  
Line 80: Line 73:
*'''0631 Hours:''' The Spartan team on the generator defense mission is shot down. They have no choice but to jump from the crashing [[Pelican]] and make a "hard landing" on the ground. 4 die, 6 are wounded badly.  
*'''0631 Hours:''' The Spartan team on the generator defense mission is shot down. They have no choice but to jump from the crashing [[Pelican]] and make a "hard landing" on the ground. 4 die, 6 are wounded badly.  


*'''0637 Hours:''' The Spartan team on the ''Circumference'' mission returns to the ''Pillar of Autumn''. Only [[Master Chief|SPARTAN-117]] and clinically dead [[Spartan-058|SPARTAN-058]] make it back, with [[Sergeant]] [[Johnson]], [[Private]] [[O'Brien]], and [[Private Bisenti]].
*'''0637 Hours:''' The Spartan team on the ''Circumference'' mission returns to the ''Pillar of Autumn''. Only [[SPARTAN-117]] and clinically dead [[SPARTAN-058]] make it back, with [[Sergeant]] [[Johnson]], [[Private]] [[O'Brien]], and [[Private Bisenti]].


*'''0640 Hours:''' 20 new Covenant cruisers emerge from slipspace. The Covenant begin [[glassing]] Reach starting from the poles.
*'''0640 Hours:''' 20 new Covenant cruisers emerge from slipspace. The Covenant begin [[glassing]] Reach starting from the poles.
Line 88: Line 81:
*'''0649 Hours:''' Spartans on the ground set up defenses around [[ODG Facility A-331]].  
*'''0649 Hours:''' Spartans on the ground set up defenses around [[ODG Facility A-331]].  


*'''0711 Hours:''' [[Spartan-104|SPARTAN-104]], [[Spartan-029|SPARTAN-029]], and [[Spartan-087|SPARTAN-087]] drop a nuclear warhead on a landing Covenant cruiser, losing [[Spartan-029|SPARTAN-029]] in the process.
*'''0711 Hours:''' [[SPARTAN-104]], [[SPARTAN-029]], and [[SPARTAN-087]] drop a nuclear warhead on a landing Covenant cruiser, losing [[SPARTAN-029]] in the process.


*'''0720 Hours:''' The Covenant destroy ODG Facility A-331, by aerial bombardment, apparently killing all Spartans there. The surviving MAC guns are now offline. Remaining UNSC vessels have no choice but to retreat.
*'''0720 Hours:''' The Covenant destroy ODG Facility A-331, by aerial bombardment, apparently killing all Spartans there. The surviving MAC guns are now offline. Remaining UNSC vessels have no choice but to retreat.


==Losses==
==Losses==
*Over 130 UNSC ships and all [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|Super-MACs]] were destroyed, in addition to the military installation itself. Covenant losses include the following:
*Over 130 UNSC ships and all Super MAC platforms were destroyed, in addition to the military installation itself. Covenant losses include the following:


1 Carrier and her fighter compliment destroyed by the Pillar of Autumn upon entering the system.
1 Carrier and her fighter compliment destroyed by the Pillar of Autumn upon entering the system.
Approximately 104 ships destroyed by Reach's minefield and the opening U.N.S.C. Fleet and Super-MAC barrage.
Approximately 104 ships destroyed by Reach's minefield and the opening U.N.S.C. Fleet and Super-MAC barrage.
30 more ships destroyed by continuing Super-MAC fire.
30 more ships destroyed by continuing Super-MAC fire.
Approximately 24-36 dropships shattered by Super-MAC shockwaves.
Approximately 24-36 dropships shattered by Super MAC shockwaves.
3 additional suicidal Covenant frigates.
3 additional suicidal Covenant frigates.
100 additional dropships destroyed by re-tasked Archer missile fire from the Pillar of Autumn.
100 additional dropships destroyed by re-tasked Archer missile fire from the Pillar of Autumn.
Line 110: Line 103:
===Ships===
===Ships===
====UNSC====
====UNSC====
*''[[UNSC Trafalgar]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Basra}}
*''[[UNSC Hannibal]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Circumference}}
*''[[UNSC Gettysburg]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Dawn Under Heaven}}
*''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Euphrates}}
*''[[UNSC Dawn Under Heaven]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}}
*''[[UNSC Iroquois]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Hannibal}}
*''[[UNSC Euphrates]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Herodotus}}
*''[[UNSC Lancelot]]
*{{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}
*''[[UNSC Basra]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Lancelot}}
*''[[UNSC Musashi]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Minotaur}}
*''[[UNSC Tharsis]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Musashi}}
*''[[UNSC Minotaur]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}
*''[[UNSC Herodotus]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Tharsis}}
*''[[Circumference]]
*{{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}
*[[Fermion|Remote Sensing Station ''Fermion'']]
*[[Fermion|Remote Sensing Station ''Fermion'']]


Revision as of 06:57, June 16, 2007

Template:Battle

Summary

Although defeated at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, the Covenant managed to place a stealthy tracking device on the UNSC Iroquois. When the Iroquois returned to Reach the human presence, and its extent, on that world was revealed. Ironically, the location of Reach was already known to the Covenant via a Forerunner artefact they had previously recovered which indicated that Reach was the location of yet another artefact.

Less than two months after the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV a large Covenant fleet converged on Reach to recover the artefact and cleanse the human presence. With horrendous casualties sustained by both sides, the Covenant eventually routed the defenders and proceeded to glass the planet except for the Highland Mountains and CASTLE Base, the location of the artefact.

The artefact itself, a crystal, would later escape Reach and be destroyed, with only a few fragments falling into Covenant hands.

Timeline

August 30, 2552:

  • 0500 Hours: A fleet of, according to Cortana, 314 Covenant vessels exits slipspace on the edge of the system.
  • 0517 Hours: FLEETCOM Admiral Roland Freemont issues a general order to all vessels in the REACH, JERICHO, and TANTALUS systems. All vessels and stations initiate the Cole Protocol and rush to rally point ZULU.
  • 0545 Hours: The Covenant vessels begin a frontal assault. As the Covenant and Human fleet encounter above Reach, it seems to be a stalemate, as Covenant ships take out UNSC ships, while the UNSC ships and MAC cannon take out an equal number. The first salvo by the UNSC vessels destroys a third of the remaining Covenant fleet. A previously unknown Covenant warship, called a Supercruiser by Captain Keyes, arrives and destroys several UNSC ships while outside weapons range.
  • 0616 Hours: The Spartan soldiers are dispatched from the Pillar of Autumn. A team of three Spartans go aboard the Dock to destroy the Circumference, and the rest of the Spartans go to the surface of the planet to defend the power generators for the MAC guns. The three Spartans are SPARTAN-117, SPARTAN-058, and Spartan-James. James is killed when a needler hits him and propels him into space during combat. The remaining two Spartans go through the station and along the way they rescue Sergeant Johnson, Private O'Brien, and Private Bisenti from many Jackals and Elites.
  • 0620 Hours: The Covenant fleet retreats from the system. Hundreds of boarding craft land on Reach.
  • 0621 Hours: The boarding craft are discovered. the Covenant fleet returns to the system. Then the Covenant split their 150+ remaining forces. One fleet attacks the UNSC, while another takes out the MAC cannons and send in troops to land on Reach. The UNSC try to split their 50+ remaining forces to engage the Covenant, but there are too many things to cover and too many casualties. The sniper ship continues to destroy UNSC ships and MAC cannons.
  • 0631 Hours: The Spartan team on the generator defense mission is shot down. They have no choice but to jump from the crashing Pelican and make a "hard landing" on the ground. 4 die, 6 are wounded badly.
  • 0640 Hours: 20 new Covenant cruisers emerge from slipspace. The Covenant begin glassing Reach starting from the poles.
  • 0647 Hours: The Pillar of Autumn, pursued by a dozen Covenant vessels, retreats from the system, arriving at Installation 04.
  • 0720 Hours: The Covenant destroy ODG Facility A-331, by aerial bombardment, apparently killing all Spartans there. The surviving MAC guns are now offline. Remaining UNSC vessels have no choice but to retreat.

Losses

  • Over 130 UNSC ships and all Super MAC platforms were destroyed, in addition to the military installation itself. Covenant losses include the following:

1 Carrier and her fighter compliment destroyed by the Pillar of Autumn upon entering the system. Approximately 104 ships destroyed by Reach's minefield and the opening U.N.S.C. Fleet and Super-MAC barrage. 30 more ships destroyed by continuing Super-MAC fire. Approximately 24-36 dropships shattered by Super MAC shockwaves. 3 additional suicidal Covenant frigates. 100 additional dropships destroyed by re-tasked Archer missile fire from the Pillar of Autumn. 1 Covenant Flagship destroyed by remote detonated nuclear warhead from the Pillar of Autumn. 1 Covenant Cruiser destroyed by Spartan-087 including its 10,000 landing troops. Numerous other losses inflicted by other USCM and Spartan units groundside and on Reach Station Gamma.

In total, approximately 262 Covenant capital ships were lost at Reach in addition to well over a hundred troop transports.

Links

Ships

UNSC

Characters

UNSC

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