Editing Attack on Etalan

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Battle of Bliss]]
|conc=[[Second Battle of Harvest]]<br>
[[Skirmish over Netherop]]<br>
[[Battle of Seoba]]
|next=[[Battle of Biko]]
|name=Attack on Etalan
|image=
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS9|HSS|Chapter=9}}
|date=[[2526#March|March 2526]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}}
|place=[[Etalan]], [[Igdras system]]
|result=;Covenant victory{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}
*Much of Etalan [[glassing|glassed]]
*Civilian population eradicated
|side1=[[Covenant]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}
|side2=[[Human]] [[civilian]]s
|commanders1=*[[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}
*[[Minor Minister of Artifact Survey]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1=[[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}
|forces2=Unknown
|casual1=Likely none
|casual2=Presumably the entire population of the planet
*Roughly ten million civilians{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}
}}

The '''Attack on Etalan''' was an engagement early in the [[Human-Covenant War]] where the [[Covenant]]'s [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]], led by [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]], assaulted the [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] of [[Etalan]]. It took place in [[2526#March|March 2526]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}

==Battle==
When the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] arrived in the [[Igdras system]] and set its sights on [[Etalan]], they faced little to no resistance. By [[2526#March|March 8, 2526]], [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] was already leading his fleet as they methodically [[glassing|glassed]] the world, taking care to destroy Etalan's sole [[spaceport]] before any civilians could evacuate.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}} Due to the fact that Etalan's population was thinly spread between one hundred thousand nomadic villages, the process of cleansing each settlement took a while to complete. Over a week later, only about half of these villages had been glassed.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}}

The [[Minor Minister of Artifact Survey]], who had been overseeing the planet's destruction from aboard the ''[[Pious Rampage]]'', began to tire of the slow pace required if all the human settlements were to be destroyed. To expedite the process, 'Kvarosee suggested that they target Etalan's enormous [[Wikipedia:Shield volcano|shield volcano]] that rested on the equator. Such an action could trigger an eruption large enough to fill the planet's skies with smoke and ash, slowing suffocating the remaining colonists. Liking this plan, the [[San'Shyuum]] gave the order and the volcano was bombarded.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS9}} The Fleet of Inexorable Obedience then moved to the nearby [[Kolaqoa system]], leaving its fifteen-vessel logistics fleet at Etalan where they would theoretically be safe. As had been intended, the [[plasma]] [[Orbital bombardment|bombardment]] caused the volcano to violently erupt and cover the planet in clouds of ash. By [[2526#March|March 26]], all that was left of the volcano was an immense lake of lava.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS20|HSS|Chapter=20}}

==Aftermath==
{{Main|Battle over Etalan}}
After Fleet of Inexorable Obedience arrived in the Kolaqoa system with its sights set on the human colony of [[Biko]], [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]] of the [[21st Space Assault Battalion]] got word that the logistics fleet was stationed at Etalan.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS17|HSS|Chapter=17}} Since destroying these vessels could slow the Covenant's advance through the Outer Colonies, the {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}} and two [[prowler]]s—along with the twelve Spartans of [[Blue Team|Blue]], [[Gold Team|Gold]], and [[Green Team]]s—were split off from [[Task Force Yama]] to target the logistics fleet.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS19|HSS|Chapter=19}}

On [[2526#March|March 22]], the three ships dropped out of slipspace close to Etalan, and the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s analysts spent the next four days observing the logistics fleet's movements, trying to discern which vessel served which purpose, and which would thus be prime targets. By [[2526#March|March 26]], they felt confident that four of the fleet's fifteen vessels were equipment [[freighter]]s that carried spare parts and other materials used to keep the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience operational in the field. At this point, the logistics fleet was seemingly preparing to break from orbit over Etalan, evidenced by the fact that they had begun syncing their orbits and bringing their [[fusion reactor]]s to full power. Since time was running out, Gold and Green Teams were deployed from the ''Vanishing Point'' in S-14 Baselards, with the intent to destroy the equipment freighters.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}

After Blue Team launched from the ''Vanishing Point'' in Banshees they had captured from [[Radiant Arrow|a Covenant frigate]] weeks prior, they managed to infiltrate a larger formation of Covenant fighters. The next phase of the mission began as Gold and Green Teams ejected from their Baselards. As planned, the eight Spartans boarded the four equipment freighters, planted their nukes, and abandoned ship before the nukes detonated. The fourth detonation [[Electromagnetic pulse|disabled]] the Banshee formation that Blue Team had infiltrated, forcing them to go EV. Afterwards, when the two escort prowlers moved to extract the Spartans of Gold and Green Teams from orbit, their retrieval caused an unintentional diversion that drew attention away from Blue Team as they destroyed the logistics fleet’s "[[Bladder ship|air-skimmers]]," which had been designated as key targets by Dr. Halsey.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS20|HSS|Chapter=20}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Etalan]]
[[Category:Covenant victories|Etalan]]