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Battle of Sigma Octanus IV: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{Status|Canon}} | ||
{{Battle infobox | {{Battle infobox | ||
|prev=[[Massacre of Troy]] | |prev=[[Massacre of Troy]] | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | ||
*[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]] | *[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]] | ||
|date=[[2552#July|July | |date=[[2552#July|July 17–18, 2552]] | ||
|place=*[[Sigma Octanus system]] | |place=*[[Sigma Octanus system]] | ||
**[[Sigma Octanus IV]] | **[[Sigma Octanus IV]] | ||
| Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
**1 [[Covenant carrier|carrier]] | **1 [[Covenant carrier|carrier]] | ||
***1 [[covenant stealth ship|stealth ship]] {{c|deployed after the carrier retreated}} | ***1 [[covenant stealth ship|stealth ship]] {{c|deployed after the carrier retreated}} | ||
**1 {{ | **1 {{Pattern|Wik|light destroyer}} | ||
**2 [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] | **2 [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] | ||
*24 vessels {{c|after 0625 hours}} | *24 vessels {{c|after 0625 hours}} | ||
**2+ {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s | **2+ {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s | ||
**{{ | **{{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}}s | ||
**{{ | **{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s | ||
**{{ | **{{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s | ||
*Legions of ground troops | *Legions of ground troops | ||
**[[Huragok]] | **[[Huragok]] | ||
| Line 86: | Line 86: | ||
**19 ships destroyed | **19 ships destroyed | ||
***3+ ships of the 4-ships Covenant battlegroup, including later the internally docked stealth ship | ***3+ ships of the 4-ships Covenant battlegroup, including later the internally docked stealth ship | ||
***at least 2 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s{{Ref/Reuse|FoR226}} | |||
***at least 8 {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|FoR226}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|We've come to take [[Sigma Octanus IV]] back from the Covenant. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them.|[[John-117]] to [[Corporal]] [[Harland]] | {{Quote|We've come to take [[Sigma Octanus IV]] back from the Covenant. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them.|[[John-117]] to [[Corporal]] [[Harland]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Battle of Sigma Octanus IV''' was fought between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] in mid-[[2552]]. Despite taking heavy losses, the UNSC successfully repelled the Covenant force from the [[Sigma Octanus system]], gaining a victory. However, multiple Covenant objectives were achieved, as they succeeded in retrieving a [[Forerunner]] artifact leading them to [[Installation 04]], as well as finding out the location of the human stronghold planet [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|for376}} | The '''Battle of Sigma Octanus IV''' was an [[battle|engagement]] fought between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] in mid-[[2552]]. Despite taking heavy losses, the UNSC successfully repelled the Covenant force from the [[Sigma Octanus system]], gaining a victory. However, multiple Covenant objectives were achieved, as they succeeded in retrieving a [[Forerunner]] artifact leading them to [[Installation 04]], as well as finding out the location of the human stronghold planet [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|for376}} | ||
==The battle== | ==The battle== | ||
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On July 17, 2552, [[Ensign]] [[William Lovell]] logged a large gravitational anomaly inside [[Slipstream space]]. Deciding that it could not be any form of [[Covenant starship]] based on its immense size, Lovell passed it off as an asteroid, sent his hourly report, and thought nothing more of it.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 137-138''</ref> | On July 17, 2552, [[Ensign]] [[William Lovell]] logged a large gravitational anomaly inside [[Slipstream space]]. Deciding that it could not be any form of [[Covenant starship]] based on its immense size, Lovell passed it off as an asteroid, sent his hourly report, and thought nothing more of it.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 137-138''</ref> | ||
However, over [[Sigma Octanus IV]], [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]], commanding officer of the {{Class|Halberd|destroyer}} [[UNSC Iroquois|''Iroquois'']], realized that the large mass was in fact a [[battle group]] of Covenant ships after reading [[UNSC Astrophysics Journal 034-23-01|a report]] by [[Fhajad-084]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 141''</ref> The Covenant ships were flying in close formation; large masses bend slipspace more easily than in real space, creating the illusion of a single large mass when there are in fact several. Keyes concluded that the mass was comprised of four [[Covenant frigate|Covenant Frigates]]. However, when the Covenant battlegroup exited slipspace, the ''Iroquois'' found itself outmatched by the arrival of not four frigates but one [[Covenant carrier|carrier]], one {{ | However, over [[Sigma Octanus IV]], [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Jacob Keyes]], commanding officer of the {{Class|Halberd|light destroyer}} [[UNSC Iroquois|''Iroquois'']], realized that the large mass was in fact a [[battle group]] of Covenant ships after reading [[UNSC Astrophysics Journal 034-23-01|a report]] by [[Fhajad-084]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 141''</ref> The Covenant ships were flying in close formation; large masses bend slipspace more easily than in real space, creating the illusion of a single large mass when there are in fact several. Keyes concluded that the mass was comprised of four [[Covenant frigate|Covenant Frigates]]. However, when the Covenant battlegroup exited slipspace, the ''Iroquois'' found itself outmatched by the arrival of not four frigates but one [[Covenant carrier|carrier]], one {{Pattern|Wik|light destroyer}}, and two [[Covenant frigate|frigates]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 170''</ref> | ||
[[File:HM SigmaOctanus.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The ''Iroqouis'' prepares to engage the inbound Covenant fleet.]] | [[File:HM SigmaOctanus.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The ''Iroqouis'' prepares to engage the inbound Covenant fleet.]] | ||
Despite the hopeless tactical situation, Commander Keyes resolved to attack. The ''Iroquois'' set a collision course for the destroyer at emergency acceleration while launching a nuclear warhead in what seemed to be the wrong direction. The two escorting frigates proceeded to launch a salvo of [[plasma]], but the ''Iroquois'' managed to evade by utilizing the emergency thruster. Having missed their target, the plasma came about and continued to track and home in on the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] warship.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 174''</ref> | Despite the hopeless tactical situation, Commander Keyes resolved to attack. The ''Iroquois'' set a collision course for the destroyer at emergency acceleration while launching a nuclear warhead in what seemed to be the wrong direction. The two escorting frigates proceeded to launch a salvo of [[plasma]], but the ''Iroquois'' managed to evade by utilizing the emergency thruster. Having missed their target, the plasma came about and continued to track and home in on the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] warship.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 174''</ref> | ||
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===Second space battle=== | ===Second space battle=== | ||
[[File:Battle of Sigma Octanus 4.jpeg|thumb | [[File:Battle of Sigma Octanus 4.jpeg|thumb|200px|The UNSC fleet engaging the opposing Covenant fleet over Sigma Octanus IV.]] | ||
With the ground battle continuing, more UNSC ships arrived in orbit over Sigma Octanus IV. At 0625 hours, a [[Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|fleet]] of Covenant vessels were detected on the edge of the system. The 48 available UNSC warships, including the ''Iroquois ''and Stanforth's flagship, the ''Marathon''-class cruiser ''Leviathan'', formed a tight "checkerboard" formation that allowed for them to fire all their [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] guns simultaneously at the Covenant fleet with a single massive volley. However, this restricted the mobility of the UNSC fleet, and left them unable to evade the extremely accurate Covenant plasma torpedoes. When the battle commenced, the Covenant fleet took a severe beating from the UNSC's opening MAC salvo, but promptly returned fire with a salvo of plasma torpedoes. The repair station ''[[UNSC Cradle|Cradle]]'' moved in front of the UNSC formation, acting as a sacrificial shield, and absorbed the Covenant fleet's first salvo, at the cost of the station and its entire crew. This allowed the UNSC ships to dedicate all the power from their reactors to recharging their MAC guns, and the UNSC ships were thus quickly able to fire a second salvo after the destroyed ''Cradle'' drifted away.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 222''</ref> | With the ground battle continuing, more UNSC ships arrived in orbit over Sigma Octanus IV. At 0625 hours, a [[Second Fleet of Solemn Accord|fleet]] of Covenant vessels were detected on the edge of the system. The 48 available UNSC warships, including the ''Iroquois ''and Stanforth's flagship, the ''Marathon''-class cruiser ''Leviathan'', formed a tight "checkerboard" formation that allowed for them to fire all their [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] guns simultaneously at the Covenant fleet with a single massive volley. However, this restricted the mobility of the UNSC fleet, and left them unable to evade the extremely accurate Covenant plasma torpedoes. When the battle commenced, the Covenant fleet took a severe beating from the UNSC's opening MAC salvo, but promptly returned fire with a salvo of plasma torpedoes. The repair station ''[[UNSC Cradle|Cradle]]'' moved in front of the UNSC formation, acting as a sacrificial shield, and absorbed the Covenant fleet's first salvo, at the cost of the station and its entire crew. This allowed the UNSC ships to dedicate all the power from their reactors to recharging their MAC guns, and the UNSC ships were thus quickly able to fire a second salvo after the destroyed ''Cradle'' drifted away.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 222''</ref> | ||
After this salvo, only eight Covenant vessels remained: cruisers and destroyers. The UNSC fleet then scattered and proceeded to engage the Covenant fleet, which responded by releasing its [[Seraph]] fighters and opening heavy fire on the UNSC ships. The ''Iroquois'' spotted a small Covenant [[Covenant stealth ship|stealth craft]] in orbit above the planet and attempted to destroy it with a barrage of Archer missiles, but the attack was foiled when the stealth ship jammed the missiles' guidance locks, causing them to miss. In response, ''Iroquois ''simply rammed the ship, stopping the Covenant from gaining planetside data. The remaining Covenant vessels soon fled the system. | After this salvo, only eight Covenant vessels remained: cruisers and destroyers. The UNSC fleet then scattered and proceeded to engage the Covenant fleet, which responded by releasing its [[Seraph]] fighters and opening heavy fire on the UNSC ships. The ''Iroquois'' spotted a small Covenant [[Covenant stealth ship|stealth craft]] in orbit above the planet and attempted to destroy it with a barrage of Archer missiles, but the attack was foiled when the stealth ship jammed the missiles' guidance locks, causing them to miss. In response, ''Iroquois ''simply rammed the ship, stopping the Covenant from gaining planetside data. The remaining Covenant vessels soon fled the system.{{Ref/Comic|Id=FoR226|'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', page 226}} | ||
{{clear|right}} | {{clear|right}} | ||
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==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
{{Main|Operation: BRAVADO}} | {{Main|Operation: BRAVADO}} | ||
The battle was one of the few major victories that the UNSC had in space (despite major losses; less than ten ships remained intact after the battle) since [[Harvest]] was retaken, and the first time since [[2530]] that two were won within a single system.<ref name="DHPJ">'''[[Doctor Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''July 18 2552''</ref> Admiral Stanforth had especially planned this battle to be a much needed victory and morale boost for humanity.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 160''</ref> It introduced the tactic of using a refit station to protect UNSC ships. The Covenant, however, had only come for the data retrieved from the Forerunner [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|crystal]] transmitted from the planet, which revealed to them the location of [[Installation 04]].{{Ref/Reuse|for376}} | The battle was one of the few major victories that the UNSC had in space (despite major losses; less than ten ships remained intact after the battle) since [[Harvest]] was retaken, and the first time since [[2530]] that two were won within a single system.<ref name="DHPJ">'''[[Doctor Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''July 18, 2552''</ref> Admiral Stanforth had especially planned this battle to be a much needed victory and morale boost for humanity.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 160''</ref> It introduced the tactic of using a refit station to protect UNSC ships. The Covenant, however, had only come for the data retrieved from the Forerunner [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|crystal]] transmitted from the planet, which revealed to them the location of [[Installation 04]].{{Ref/Reuse|for376}} | ||
A spy probe attached to the destroyer ''Iroquois'' led the Covenant to [[Reach]], which they attacked a few days later.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 247''</ref> It later transpired that the Covenant had learned the location of one of the Halos from the transmission, which they planned to activate to begin the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]].{{citation needed}} | A spy probe attached to the destroyer ''Iroquois'' led the Covenant to [[Reach]], which they attacked a few days later.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 247''</ref> It later transpired that the Covenant had learned the location of one of the Halos from the transmission, which they planned to activate to begin the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]].{{citation needed}} | ||
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*'''0000 Hours:''' [[William Lovell|Ensign William Lovell]], aboard the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Remote scanning outpost|Remote Scanning Outpost]] ''[[Archimedes]]'', reports to Sigma Octanus IV concerning a large silhouette in [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] heading for the system. It is suspected to be a group of Covenant ships but it could also be an asteroid. | *'''0000 Hours:''' [[William Lovell|Ensign William Lovell]], aboard the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Remote scanning outpost|Remote Scanning Outpost]] ''[[Archimedes]]'', reports to Sigma Octanus IV concerning a large silhouette in [[Slipstream space|Slipspace]] heading for the system. It is suspected to be a group of Covenant ships but it could also be an asteroid. | ||
*'''0300 Hours:''' The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} arrives in system on patrol. The vessel's Commanding Officer, [[Jacob Keyes|Commander Jacob Keyes]], receives the sensor information and realizes it is a Covenant threat. He contacts [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] and informs them of the situation. | *'''0300 Hours:''' The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} arrives in system on patrol. The vessel's Commanding Officer, [[Jacob Keyes|Commander Jacob Keyes]], receives the sensor information and realizes it is a Covenant threat. He contacts [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] and informs them of the situation. | ||
*'''0320 Hours:''' 4 Covenant ships consisting of 1 [[Covenant carrier|carrier]], 1 [[ | *'''0320 Hours:''' 4 Covenant ships consisting of 1 [[Covenant carrier|carrier]], 1 [[Wik-pattern light destroyer|destroyer]] and 2 [[Covenant frigate|frigates]] arrive in the system. The UNSC ''Iroquois'' engages the enemy and requests reinforcements. The {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}} and {{UNSCShip|Allegiance}} respond and begin heading for Sigma Octanus. | ||
*'''0330 Hours:''' The ''Iroquois'' destroys all Covenant vessels save for the carrier using a maneuver later known as the [[Keyes Loop]]. The carrier launches landing craft toward Sigma Octanus IV, then retreats into slipspace. | *'''0330 Hours:''' The ''Iroquois'' destroys all Covenant vessels save for the carrier using a maneuver later known as the [[Keyes Loop]]. The carrier launches landing craft toward Sigma Octanus IV, then retreats into slipspace. | ||
*'''0345 Hours:''' Covenant ground forces invade the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] on the planet. | *'''0345 Hours:''' Covenant ground forces invade the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] on the planet. | ||
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{{Human-Covenant War}} | {{Human-Covenant War}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sigma Octanus IV}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Sigma Octanus IV}} | ||
[[Category:UNSC | [[Category:UNSC victories]] | ||