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{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Military infobox
{{Military infobox
|name=21st Space Assault Battalion
|name=21st Space Assault Battalion
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*[[Operation: SILENT STORM]]
*[[Operation: SILENT STORM]]
**[[Battle of Seoba]]
**[[Battle of Seoba]]
**[[Battle of Zhoist]]
**[[Attack on Zhoist]]
|commanders= [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS4}}
|commanders= [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS4}}
}}
}}
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===Operation: SILENT STORM===
===Operation: SILENT STORM===
{{Main|Operation: SILENT STORM}}
{{Main|Operation: SILENT STORM}}
By [[2526#March|March 8, 2526]] they were assigned to [[Captain]] [[Halima Ascot]]'s [[Task Force Yama]] for the duration of [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], a mission with the goal of stealthily [[Naval boarding|boarding]] and destroying as many [[Covenant]] vessels as possible and buy time for [[Human|humanity]]. At this time, the battalion was led by [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]]. Although Captain Ascot had full authority over the task force, once the ODSTs and the complement of twelve [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] were deployed, command would transfer to Colonel Crowther. During the slipspace journey to [[Biko]], [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] began working with the Black Daggers as they trained against the Spartans. At first, the marines proved to be no match for the Spartans, but that all changed when Johnson introduced some new, unorthodox strategies. He began spending the "lives" of his men like coins, buying opportunities to deal hard blows to the Spartans. This was a tactic that no sane UNSC commander would utilize except in the most dire circumstances, but it was one that the Covenant was known to use often. While the Spartans continued to outclass the individual ODSTs, victory was no longer certain when facing large numbers who now knew how to coordinate an effective assault. Four days into the training, Colonel Crowther had the entire battalion of Black Daggers gather to be briefed on his plan to board and destroy Covenant vessels. The Spartans would be split up, with each of the twelve being assigned to a single platoon. They would be the ones carrying the nukes. However, [[John-117]] disagreed with this plan and Johnson backed him up. Ultimately the plan would change to one more suited to the Spartans' skills.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}
By [[2526#March|March 8, 2526]] they were assigned to [[Captain]] [[Halima Ascot]]'s [[Task Force Yama]] for the duration of [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], a mission with the goal of stealthily [[boarding]] and destroying as many [[Covenant]] vessels as possible and buy time for [[Human|humanity]]. At this time, the battalion was led by [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]]. Although Captain Ascot had full authority over the task force, once the ODSTs and the complement of twelve [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] were deployed, command would transfer to Colonel Crowther. During the slipspace journey to [[Biko]], [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] began working with the Black Daggers as they trained against the Spartans. At first, the marines proved to be no match for the Spartans, but that all changed when Johnson introduced some new, unorthodox strategies. He began spending the "lives" of his men like coins, buying opportunities to deal hard blows to the Spartans. This was a tactic that no sane UNSC commander would utilize except in the most dire circumstances, but it was one that the Covenant was known to use often. While the Spartans continued to outclass the individual ODSTs, victory was no longer certain when facing large numbers who now knew how to coordinate an effective assault. Four days into the training, Colonel Crowther had the entire battalion of Black Daggers gather to be briefed on his plan to board and destroy Covenant vessels. The Spartans would be split up, with each of the twelve being assigned to a single platoon. They would be the ones carrying the nukes. However, [[John-117]] disagreed with this plan and Johnson backed him up. Ultimately the plan would change to one more suited to the Spartans' skills.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}


===Seoba===
===Seoba and Biko===
{{Main|Battle of Seoba}}
{{Main|Battle of Seoba|Battle of Biko}}
Upon arriving in the [[Kolaqoa system]] on [[2526#March|March 18]], Task Force Yama set course for [[Seoba]] and [[Seoba Ice Quarry|the abandoned ice quarry]] that had been selected to house their [[prowler]]s until the Covenant arrived. Eager to not waste time that could be used for training, Colonel Crowther decided that the Black Daggers and John-117's Spartans would practice a full-scale landing into the quarry, dubbed Operation: ICE DANCE. With the drop bays of the task force's {{Class|Razor|prowler}}s packed full with forty-two ODSTs each, it would take time for them all to be deployed into the moon's low gravity, which would have each platoon strewn across a thirty-kilometer area unless they slowed down. Because of the Spartans' seeming lack of experience, Crowther also had each of them at the back of the drop bays, making them the last to deploy and in the absolute worst position to provide support, according to John's assessment.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS7|HSS|Chapter=7}}
Upon arriving in the [[Kolaqoa system]] on [[2526#March|March 18]], Task Force Yama set course for [[Seoba]] and [[Seoba Ice Quarry|the abandoned ice quarry]] that had been selected to house their [[prowler]]s until the Covenant arrived. Eager to not waste time that could be used for training, Colonel Crowther decided that the Black Daggers and John-117's Spartans would practice a full-scale landing into the quarry, dubbed Operation: ICE DANCE. With the drop bays of the task force's {{Class|Razor|prowler}}s packed full with forty-two ODSTs each, it would take time for them all to be deployed into the moon's low gravity, which would have each platoon strewn across a thirty-kilometer area unless they slowed down. Because of the Spartans' seeming lack of experience, Crowther also had each of them at the back of the drop bays, making them the last to deploy and in the absolute worst position to provide support, according to John's assessment.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS7|HSS|Chapter=7}}


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Only minutes later, most of the battalion had boarded the prowlers of Task Force Yama and launched from Seoba. Captain Ascot's {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}} and the other vessels of [[Night Flight]] had just received the last company of Black Daggers when the Covenant flotilla began bombarding the quarry. Ascot ordered the prowlers to launch immediately, but the ''Starry Night'' was struck on takeoff, causing it to crash into the quarry wall.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS13|HSS|Chapter=13}} Only Staff Sergeant Johnson and four Black Daggers survived the crash, and they were unable to radio their status to the rest of the task force.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}} The ODSTs aboard the other prowlers of Night Flight were eager to search for survivors, but Colonel Crowther turned down their offer, not wanting to lose more men by sending them into the orbital bombardment. John-117 decided that he and his Spartans would check on the status of the ''Starry Night'' instead, once they finished their task of moving the prisoners.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS13}} The Spartans ventured out into the ice quarry and reached the prowler to find [[Worthy Silence|a single]] Covenant [[intrusion corvette]] securing it for recovery.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS14|HSS|Chapter=14}} Despite numerous setbacks, a team led by [[Frederic-104]] managed to board the ''Starry Night'', secure Johnson and the ODSTs, arm the vessel's [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon|nuke]], and flee with the survivors in an escape pod. The [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear]] explosion destroyed both the ''Starry Night'' and the looming corvette.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}}
Only minutes later, most of the battalion had boarded the prowlers of Task Force Yama and launched from Seoba. Captain Ascot's {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}} and the other vessels of [[Night Flight]] had just received the last company of Black Daggers when the Covenant flotilla began bombarding the quarry. Ascot ordered the prowlers to launch immediately, but the ''Starry Night'' was struck on takeoff, causing it to crash into the quarry wall.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS13|HSS|Chapter=13}} Only Staff Sergeant Johnson and four Black Daggers survived the crash, and they were unable to radio their status to the rest of the task force.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}} The ODSTs aboard the other prowlers of Night Flight were eager to search for survivors, but Colonel Crowther turned down their offer, not wanting to lose more men by sending them into the orbital bombardment. John-117 decided that he and his Spartans would check on the status of the ''Starry Night'' instead, once they finished their task of moving the prisoners.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS13}} The Spartans ventured out into the ice quarry and reached the prowler to find [[Worthy Silence|a single]] Covenant [[intrusion corvette]] securing it for recovery.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS14|HSS|Chapter=14}} Despite numerous setbacks, a team led by [[Frederic-104]] managed to board the ''Starry Night'', secure Johnson and the ODSTs, arm the vessel's [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon|nuke]], and flee with the survivors in an escape pod. The [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear]] explosion destroyed both the ''Starry Night'' and the looming corvette.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}}


===Honoring the dead===
On [[2526#March|March 20]], the cremated remains of the Black Daggers and prowler crews that had been killed during the events of the previous two days were placed into two-hundred-and-three gray interment capsules and taken to the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s command [[Hangar bay|hangar]]. With an honor company of one-hundred-and-one officers and one-hundred-and-one enlisted personnel—including a number of Black Daggers and six Spartans—in attendance, [[Ojombo|a chaplain]] led a funeral service in honor of the fallen. After she gave an emotional speech about the honor of service and sacrifice, the chaplain stepped aside for Lieutenant Commander Nyeto—now the de facto commander of Task Force Yama after Ascot's death—to deliver his Committal speech. Nyeto had Staff Sergeant Johnson ceremoniously call the honor company to attention, order the [[AlON pressure barrier|pressure barrier]] be raised, and direct the hangar's exterior to hatch be opened, thus allowing the interment capsules to be swept out into deep space. As this occurred, Nyeto recited his speech, having Johnson order the hatch closed and dismiss the company afterward. Only a handful of senior officers and the Spartans stayed behind after the service to hear what their new commander had planned as their next move. Nyeto approached John-117, complementing him on what he and his compatriots had accomplished the day prior. When John asked if he would reconsider sidelining them due to their age, Nyeto promised that they would be seeing all the action that they could handle for the rest of the operation. Hearing this, Colonel Crowther strode forward and told him that that decision was not his to make as the Spartans still reported to him. However, Nyeto reminded the colonel that he now reported to ''him'', and that they needed the obvious talents of the Spartans. This argument continued until Crowther threatened him with a report to a UNSC board of inquiry. At that, Nyeto relented and promised to run their next ambush by the book, with only the Black Daggers participating in the mission.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}
On [[2526#March|March 20]], the cremated remains of the Black Daggers and prowler crews that had been killed during the events of the previous two days were placed into two-hundred-and-three gray interment capsules and taken to the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s command [[Hangar bay|hangar]]. With an honor company of one-hundred-and-one officers and one-hundred-and-one enlisted personnel—including a number of Black Daggers and six Spartans—in attendance, [[Ojombo|a chaplain]] led a funeral service in honor of the fallen. After she gave an emotional speech about the honor of service and sacrifice, the chaplain stepped aside for Lieutenant Commander Nyeto—now the de facto commander of Task Force Yama after Ascot's death—to deliver his Committal speech. Nyeto had Staff Sergeant Johnson ceremoniously call the honor company to attention, order the [[AlON pressure barrier|pressure barrier]] be raised, and direct the hangar's exterior to hatch be opened, thus allowing the interment capsules to be swept out into deep space. As this occurred, Nyeto recited his speech, having Johnson order the hatch closed and dismiss the company afterward. Only a handful of senior officers and the Spartans stayed behind after the service to hear what their new commander had planned as their next move. Nyeto approached John-117, complementing him on what he and his compatriots had accomplished the day prior. When John asked if he would reconsider sidelining them due to their age, Nyeto promised that they would be seeing all the action that they could handle for the rest of the operation. Hearing this, Colonel Crowther strode forward and told him that that decision was not his to make as the Spartans still reported to him. However, Nyeto reminded the colonel that he now reported to ''him'', and that they needed the obvious talents of the Spartans. This argument continued until Crowther threatened him with a report to a UNSC board of inquiry. At that, Nyeto relented and promised to run their next ambush by the book, with only the Black Daggers participating in the mission.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}


As everyone departed from the hangar in a shocked silence, Crowther sought out Johnson and walked with him back to the Black Daggers' quarters. The staff sergeant warned Crowther that his disagreement with Nyeto was not a "pissing match" he was going to win. It had been decided far above the colonel's pay grade that the Spartans were ''not'' children and that they were the right fit for the mission. Crowther actually agreed with this sentiment, saying that the Spartans had saved them at Seoba and that they were ready for battle. Still, he revealed to Johnson that he was suspicious of Nyeto and his strange attitude toward the Spartans. It had seemed like Nyeto purposefully stalled in supporting them during the previous day's battle. As such, Crowther wanted to keep the Spartans away from Nyeto until he figured out what was going on. To this end, he informed Johnson that he was sending him and the Spartans on [[Battle over Etalan|a mission]] to sabotage the Covenant's supply chain at Etalan while most of the task force and the Black Daggers stayed at Biko.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}
As everyone departed from the hangar in a shocked silence, Crowther sought out Johnson and walked with him back to the Black Daggers' quarters. The staff sergeant warned Crowther that his disagreement with Nyeto was not a "pissing match" he was going to win. It had been decided far above the colonel's pay grade that the Spartans were ''not'' children and that they were the right fit for the mission. Crowther actually agreed with this sentiment, saying that the Spartans had saved them at Seoba and that they were ready for battle. Still, he revealed to Johnson that he was suspicious of Nyeto and his strange attitude toward the Spartans. It had seemed like Nyeto purposefully stalled in supporting them during the previous day's battle. As such, Crowther wanted to keep the Spartans away from Nyeto until he figured out what was going on. To this end, he informed Johnson that he was sending him and the Spartans on [[Battle over Etalan|a mission]] to sabotage the Covenant's supply chain at Etalan while most of the task force and the Black Daggers stayed at Biko.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}
===Biko===
{{Main|Battle of Biko}}
Later that day, the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience|expected Covenant fleet]] of about one hundred warships arrived at Biko and prepared to assault the planet. As planned, Task Force Yama deployed with the Black Daggers in tow, hoping to insert the ODSTs onto as many vessels as possible. However, the Covenant had learned of their plan, and expected the Spartans to board their warships, as they [[Battle of Chi Ceti|had]] [[Skirmish over Netherop|done]] with the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' and ''[[Radiant Arrow]]''. To try to prevent this, they kept a tight fighter screen around their capital ships so that no prowlers could easily slip past. This forced Colonel Crowther to delay all boarding actions until an opportunity presented itself. Meanwhile, the Covenant fleet accelerated toward Biko's meager navy, showing no signs of slowing down.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS17|HSS|Chapter=17}}
The space battle over Biko lasted for five days, and during that time, Task Force Yama attempted to deliver members of the Black Daggers to at least one vessel of the Covenant fleet. When a detachment of Black Daggers attempted to board the ''[[Purifying Flame]]'', they were captured before they could destroy the warship. [[Mind melter]]s were ordered to interrogate the ODSTs, though they saw little success. Their extreme resistance to interrogation lead to them being handed over to [[Castor|two]] [[Orsun|particular]] [[Jiralhanae]] to get information out of them their way. The Jiralhanae played a "game" they called "[[tossers]]" with the ODSTs; this involved tearing the limbs off of some of the captives in such a way that it would not kill them immediately, requiring their companions to help them eat, drink, and eliminate. However, before they ran out of prisoners, all the Jiralhanae could get out of them was the names of the twelve Spartans attached to their battle group, the name of the battle group, as well as the name of the battalion in which the ODSTs serve.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS21|HSS|Chapter=21}}


===Zhoist===
===Zhoist===
{{Main|Battle of Zhoist}}
{{Main|Attack on Zhoist}}
{{Expand-section}}
{{Expand-section}}


===Dispersal===
===Dispersal===
After Operation: SILENT STORM, the remaining members of the battalion were dispersed to train other units. As a result, during the [[Battle of Netherop (2526)|Battle of Netherop]], Admiral Cole didn't have anyone available to send with [[Blue Team]] and instead had to rely on regular infantry Marines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''page 64''</ref>
After Operation: SILENT STORM, the remaining members of the battalion were dispersed to train other units. As a result, during [[Operation: OBLIVION]], Admiral Cole didn't have anyone available to send with [[Blue Team]] and instead had to rely on regular infantry Marines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''page 64''</ref>


{{Expand-section}}
{{Expand-section}}
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*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}


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