View source for Battle for Earth

{{Era|HCW}}
{{disambig header|the battle at the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]]|the attack in [[2555]] or the [[Ur-Didact]]'s attack in [[2557]]|Invasion of Earth|New Phoenix Incident}}
{{Battle infobox
|name     = Battle for Earth
|image    = [[File:H2A-battleofearth.png|350px]]
|prev     = [[Battle of October 10]]
|conc     = [[Battle of Mombasa#First Battle of Mombasa|First Battle of Mombasa]], [[Battle of Installation 05]], [[Fall of High Charity]], [[Battle of Mombasa#Second Battle of Mombasa|Second Battle of Mombasa]], [[Battle of Onyx]], [[Battle of Mare Erythraeum]], [[Battle of Cleveland]], [[Battle of Havana]], [[Skirmish on Mona Lisa]], [[Battle of Voi|Third Battle of Mombasa]], [[URNA Southwest Campaign]], [[Operation: MARSH FLASH]]
|next     = [[Battle of Installation 00]]
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date     = [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]] - [[2552#December|December 3, 2552]]<ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>
|place    = [[Earth]], [[Sol system]]
|result   = Tactical [[UEG]]/[[Fleet of Retribution]] victory 
*The UEG successfully prevents the majority of [[Earth]] from being devastated.
*The [[UNSC Home Fleet]] suffers heavy casualties.
*A [[Huragok]], [[Quick to Adjust]], is captured and interrogated.
*The local [[Flood]] infestation is eliminated.
*The [[Covenant]] invaders are driven from Earth.
*The Covenant is prevented from using the [[Conduit]].
Strategic [[Covenant]] victory
*The Covenant severely damages much of the planet's infrastructure and causes widespread human death.
*The Covenant successfully manages to uncover the [[Excession at Voi|Excession]] and sends ships through the portal to [[Installation 00]].
|side1 = *[[Unified Earth Government]]
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[New Mombasa Police Department]]
**[[Civilians]]
*[[Fleet of Retribution]] {{C|from [[2552#November|November 3, 2552]] onwards}}
|side2 = [[Covenant|The Covenant]]
|commanders1 =
*[[Secretary of Defense]] [[Paul Huphy Russel]]
*[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] 
*Fleet Admiral [[Joseph Harper]]
*[[Major General]] [[Nicolas Strauss]]
*[[Admiral]] [[I. Zhou]]
*[[Say My Name Actual|Unidentified Admiral]]
*[[Vice Admiral]] [[K. Lanba]]
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] {{C|post-Great Schism}}
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] {{C|post-Great Schism}}
|commanders2 =
*The [[Hierarch|High Prophet]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]]
*The [[Hierarch|High Prophet]] of [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]]
*The [[Minister of Inquisition]]
*[[Chieftain]] [[Cethegus]]
*Shipmaster [[Lepidus]]
|forces1 =
*[[UNSC Air Force]]
*[[UNSC Army]] 
*[[UNSC Navy]]
*[[UNSC Home Fleet]]
*300 [[orbital defense platform]]s
*[[Battle Group Omicron]]
*1 [[UNSC carrier]]
*1 [[UNSC cruiser]]
*6 [[destroyer]]s
*1 [[UNSC prowler]]
*At least three [[UNSC frigate]]s 
*[[Second Fleet]]
*At least three [[UNSC frigate]]s 
*[[Third Fleet]]
*[[Fifth Fleet]]
*8 {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}s
*67 {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s
*[[Seventh Fleet]]
*[[Battle Group Victory]]<ref name="lootcrate2"/>
*[[Sixth Battle Group]]
*[[Sixteenth Fleet]]
*[[Sol Defense Group 3/A-5]]
*At least 1 [[UNSC cruiser]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]
*1 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}
*9 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
|forces2 = 
Hundreds of Covenant vessels
[[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]]
*2 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
*13 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
[[Fleet of Furious Redemption]]
The Prophet of [[Truth's fleet]]
*[[Forerunner Dreadnought]]
*At least 3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s and at least 27 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s 
|casual1 = Heavy UEG losses; moderate Fleet of Retribution casualties<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref>
*At least 2 [[Orbital defense platform]]s
*Majority of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]
*Civilian losses in the billions<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''chapter 6''</ref>
|casual2 = Very heavy losses
}}
{{Quote|We ran from them. They followed. We thought they'd never find us... we were wrong.|[[Cortana]]<ref>''[[Halo 2 commercial]]''</ref>}}

The '''Battle for Earth''', also referred to as the '''Earth Sustained Defense Campaign''',<ref name="lootcrate2"/> was one of the largest engagements fought between the [[Covenant]] and the forces of the [[Unified Earth Government]] (primarily those of the [[United Nations Space Command]]), at the end of the approximately twenty-seven year-long<ref group="note">The war was definitely concluded on December 11, 2552 when the Prophet of Truth was killed. However, an official cessation of hostilities did not come until March 3, 2553.</ref> [[Human-Covenant War]], which took place on and above the planet [[Earth]] from [[2552#October|October 20]] to [[2552#December|December 3, 2552]]. It was one of the most important battles of the war, as the fate of humanity depended on the survival of its homeworld and seat of its [[UEG|government]].<ref group="note">While not all of humanity believes itself to be subject to the UEG, the UEG claims authority over all of humanity.</ref>

Though the invasion took place on a global scale, the most significant conflicts occurred in the [[East African Protectorate]] in the form of three battles fought within and between the cities of [[Mombasa]] and [[Voi]], collectively referred to as the [[First Battle of Mombasa|first]], [[Second Battle of Mombasa|second]], and [[Battle of Voi|third]] battles of Mombasa.<ref name="HSA">'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', co-op introductory cutscene</ref> The conflict began when the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]], under the command of the [[Prophet of Regret]], arrived on October 20 with intentions of traveling through the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] that a [[luminary]] in its possession pointed to. This move was made without the consent of the other two [[Hierarchs]] and in ignorance regarding the status of this planet as humanity's homeworld. Faced with the full might of the UNSC Home Fleet, it was not long before Regret's flagship fled to [[Installation 05]]. Soon after this, the Prophet of Truth initiated his plans to replace [[Sangheili]] with [[Jiralhanae]] and assume control over the entirety of the hierarchal triumvirate. A second [[Truth's Fleet|fleet]], led by Jiralhanae, appeared in the system and quickly assumed control of all local Covenant forces by killing all Sangheili.

At this point, the fight for Earth began in earnest. Smaller battles were waged all across the world, from the UEG capital of [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], to [[Cleveland]], [[URNA]], to [[Havana]], Cuba, and to [[Mount Erebus]], [[Antarctica]] and multiple other locations. By November 17, most of the Home Fleet had been obliterated. It was on this date that the Prophet of Truth himself, aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought and with [[John-117|Spartan-117]] in tow, arrived and headed straight for the [[Portal at Voi|Excession]], by then fully excavated. Upon interfacing with the [[keyship]], the portal was activated and a large contingent of the Covenant fleet departed through the [[Portal at Voi|Portal]] with the intention of activating the [[Halo Array]] from [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. Almost immediately after this, the [[Flood]] arrived aboard a captured {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}, which crashed down in the town of [[Voi]]. The [[Fleet of Retribution]], allied with the UNSC against Truth, was permitted to [[glass]] a large portion of [[Africa]] to prevent the parasite's spread. With the threat from the Flood dealt with and the bulk of Covenant forces gone, a lone UNSC frigate accompanied the Fleet of Retribution in pursuit of Truth. The remainder of UNSC forces remained behind to defend Earth from an expected full-scale Flood invasion and also began a major counteroffensive to eliminate all Covenant that remained.<ref name="lootcrate2"/>

==Background==
The [[Human-Covenant War]] was a decades-long conflict wherein the Covenant hegemony was determined to exterminate all of humanity at the behest of its three [[Hierarchs]], who mistakenly believed humans' to represent the living embodiment, and thus discreditation, of their [[Covenant religion|religion]]'s [[Forerunners|gods]]. Also a goal of the empire, from long before first contact with humanity, was the location and activation of the [[Halo]] rings. In the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC began to pull the majority of its forces back to Earth, with most units assigned to defend Earth's six [[Space elevator|tether cities]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]", ''page 367''</ref> The Prophet of Regret learned "Erde-Tyrene" held a portal which led to the Ark and the Prophet of Truth simultaneously discovered the planet's location through other means.

===Formation of the Home Fleet===
From [[2552#May|May 14-19, 2552]], UNSC forces in the [[Earth Defense Coordination Zone]] were placed at maximum readiness levels and all warships with [[MAC|magnetic accelerator cannon]]s self-deployed or towed to rally points. [[Cairo Station]] was established as flag headquarters. On [[2552#September 5|September 5, 2552]], all remaining [[UNSC Navy|naval]] forces were consolidated into a single command grouping: the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]. Fleet Admiral [[Joseph Harper]] was appointed senior flag officer and given primary administrative and tasking authority over all assets in the [[Sol system]] under emergency directives authorized by [[UNSC High Command]] and approved by the [[UEG Security Council]]. Remaining expeditionary and defense fleets retained administrative control over their [[battle group]]s, though all type commands were dissolved.<ref name="lootcrate2"/>

===Earth compromised===
[[File:EarthLuminary.png|thumb|left|150px|Erde-Tyrene, as represented by the [[luminary]] discovered on Meridian.]]
{{main|Operation: FIRST STRIKE}}
The [[Prophet of Truth]] discovered the location of [[Earth]] after the [[Fall of Reach]], but withheld knowledge of this discovery from the rest of the Covenant leadership.<ref name="waypoint">'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''"Ten Twenty"''</ref> To attack the human homeworld, he ordered an [[Truth's fleet|assault fleet]] to secretly assemble at ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' station in the [[Tau Ceti system]]. The fleet would overwhelm Earth's defenses in a single decisive strike.<ref name="waypoint"/><ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page ??''</ref> The fleet was discovered by the UNSC [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] and preemptive strike was led by [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] and a [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]], strike team, which successfully destroyed ''Unyielding Hierophant'' and almost the entirety of the assembled fleet, some five hundred ships.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 333''</ref><ref name="waypoint"/> Earth was granted a small reprieve.

The [[Prophet of Regret]] also independently learned of the location of Earth as the location of a [[Forerunner]] artifact, [[Portal at Voi|the Portal]] leading to [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. This revelation came after long study by [[steward]]s of a Forerunner [[luminary]] taken from the moon, [[Meridian]], in [[2551]]. Not being privy to Truth's information, Regret set off to uncover the artifact without any knowledge  that Earth was the humans' homeworld. Regret unknowingly led his [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|small fleet]], a mere two [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]] and thirteen [[CCS-class battlecruiser|battlecruisers]], straight into Earth's formidable defenses.<ref name="waypoint"/> Truth belatedly learned of Regret's expedition to Earth, and dispatched a large [[Jiralhanae]]-led fleet to reinforce the attack. They arrived mere hours after Regret had fled.<ref name="waypoint"/>

==Battle==
===Regret's arrival===
{{Quote|Something's not right. The fleet that destroyed Reach was fifty times this size!|[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]]}}
Regret's fleet was detected near [[Jupiter]]'s moon [[Io]], as a series of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] "whispers".<ref name="H2CS">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> [[Slipstream space probe|Probes]] were sent to investigate, but shortly afterwards the Covenant fleet exited slipspace near Earth, just outside the killzone of the planet's [[orbital defense platform]]s. UNSC forces went to [[Tactical Condition|TACCON]] Alpha 2. [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Harper]] ordered his battle group to attack, but quickly received new orders from Fleet Admiral [[Terrence Hood]] to fall back and defend the ODPs. Having expected an overwhelming enemy offensive in the style of the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], the relative weakness of the attack puzzled the defenders.

The assault carriers converged on the battle cluster including ''[[Athens Station]]'', ''[[Cairo Station]]'' and ''[[Malta Station]]''.<ref name="H2CS"/> The ODPs opened fire as the enemy entered range. Covenant troops [[covenant boarding craft|boarded]] the stations, intending to demolish them with an [[antimatter charge]] each. As each bomb was planted the Covenant withdrew. ''Athens'' and ''Malta'' were demolished in quick succession. [[Cortana]], aboard ''Cairo'', deduced the nature of the threat and [[John-117]] was dispatched to prevent the same fate from befalling ''Cairo''.

Cortana directed the SPARTAN-II to the bomb's location in ''Cairo'''s fire control center. En route to the bomb, John-117 rescued Commander [[Miranda Keyes]] and allowed her to board {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}. The frigate departed ''Cairo'' to join the fray.

Meanwhile, Harper's Fifth Fleet continued to engage the Covenant task force in Earth orbit, sustaining huge losses in the wake of the Covenant's superior firepower but still prevailing through sheer numbers against the unusually small Covenant force. However, even as their escorts were effectively routed by the UNSC, the two assault carriers pushed onward, bypassing much of the already battered human fleet even as they too came under fire.

===Covenant breakthrough===
{{Quote|The carriers are breaking through sir, they're headed straight for the ''Cairo''!|Fleet Admiral Harper}}
The two assault carriers began to break through toward ''Cairo''. Cortana directed ''Cairo'''s MAC against the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', but the ship did not stop to engage and instead made directly for [[New Mombasa]] on the surface.<ref name="H2CS"/> Admiral Harper led the attack on the second carrier and depleted its shields. Keyes volunteered to attack the carrier immediately, but Hood was unwilling to pit a single frigate against so large a target.

The solution to the second carrier came from an unexpected angle. John-117 and Cortana managed to defuse and capture the Covenant antimatter bomb aboard ''Cairo'', and the Spartan volunteered to go [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]] and personally plant the bomb on the last carrier. With Lord Hood's approval, John-117 leapt out of an airlock with the bomb using only the initial explosive decompression for impulse. [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] interceptors opened a breach in the carrier's hull and allowed the Spartan to infiltrate and plant the bomb internally. The detonation destroyed the ship. John-117 escaped using the same means he had arrived and free fell to the UNSC ''In Amber Clad''.<ref name="H2CS"/>

===Regret flees===
{{Main|Battle of Mombasa}}
{{Quote|Dear humanity, we regret being alien bastards, we regret coming to Earth, and we most definitely regret the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!|Avery Johnson commenting on Regret's message}}

[[File:The Drop.png|thumb|right|250px|The {{UNSCship|Chioglossa}} destroyed during the opening stages of the battle passed by ODSTs being deployed into New Mombasa.]]
Regret's carrier came to stop over [[New Mombasa]] in the [[East African Protectorate]] and deployed troops into the city and the surrounding area.<ref name="H2Out">'''Halo 2''', ''[[Outskirts]]''</ref> UNSC high command wished to discover why the Covenant were landing only in Mombasa, and [[John-117]] was ordered to capture Regret for interrogation. The Spartan deployed with marines and [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]] in a trio of [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] from the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} near the city. The dropships were shot down by a Covenant [[Type-47 Scarab|Scarab]] in [[Old Mombasa]]. John-117 and the survivors regrouped and pursued the walker to [[New Mombasa 105 East|NM 105E]], and across the bridge to New Mombasa [[New Mombasa Sector B|Sector B]]. The Scarab was eventually trapped and destroyed at the end of a canal. Covenant forces started to withdraw to the carrier for [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] departure.<ref name="H2Metro">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref>

In orbit the Home Fleet began deploying ODST to [[Mombasa]] in [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIVs]], intending to aid Master Chief in an assault on the carrier. One [[unidentified Shock Trooper squad|squad]], deploying from the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} and led by Captain [[Veronica Dare]], was diverted by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] to secure the city's [[Superintendent|infrastructure AI]].<ref name="H3RDrop">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', campaign level, ''[[Prepare To Drop]]''</ref>

Regret's means of escape took the UNSC by surprise. The carrier initiated a slipspace jump while still over the city. The UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' quickly recovered John-117 and followed in the fleeing ship's [[slipstream space#Slipspace Wake|wake]]. The slipspace rupture severely damaged the city<ref name="H2Metro"/> and generated an [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]]. Many ODST had not yet landed when the carrier escaped and were caught in the EMP and blast. Drop pods were disabled in flight and plunged into uncontrolled freefall. They were scattered across the city.<ref name="H3RDrop"/>

===Truth's fleet arrives===
{{Quote|The Covenant have found Earth. They ''own'' New Mombasa. Anyone that could've driven them off is dead, or gone. I'd say that makes for desperate times.|Edward Buck}}

[[File:Portal odst.png|thumb|right|250px|The Covenant occupation fleet uncovering the Portal at [[New Mombasa]].]]
Immediately following the slipspace event, [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Jiralhanae]]-led reinforcements arrived.<ref name="H3RTayari">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level, ''[[Tayari Plaza (level)|Tayari Plaza]]''</ref> The Jiralhanae absorbed the remainder of Regret's fleet, which had been taken over by Regret's Jiralhanae, and deployed more troops into New Mombasa. Sangheili crews and infantry were killed as part of Truth's plan to place the Jiralhanae as the Covenant's primary warrior race.<ref name="waypoint"/>

Surviving UNSC forces in the city, aided by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]], continued to resist, but were eventually overwhelmed. The Covenant began glassing [[Mombasa]] and the surrounding area, uncovering [[the Portal]] to the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. Captain Dare and her [[Unidentified Shock Trooper squad|ODST squad]] managed to secure the city's [[Superintendent|infrastructure AI]] and escape before the city fell to the enemy.<ref name="H3RCoast">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level, ''[[Coastal Highway]]''</ref>

===Covenant occupation===
The battle spread over the globe in the following weeks. The diminishing [[UNSC Home Fleet]], in conjunction with the [[Second Fleet|Second]], [[Seventh Fleet|Seventh]], and [[Sixteenth Fleet]]s,<ref name="goo204">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 204-205''</ref> remained to contest Earth orbit, but the Covenant continued to raid the surface in search of [[Forerunner]] artifacts, mostly concentrating in east Africa.<ref name="H3CN">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref>

The [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Blue Team]], consisting of [[Frederic-104]], [[Linda-058]], and [[William-043]], were constantly engaged for the first two weeks. They repelled enemy ships in orbit in numerous zero-gee operations whilst on the surface they neutralized Covenant excavations, first on [[Ross Island]] in [[Wikipedia:Antarctica|Antarctica]],<ref name="goo204"/> and then underwater off the [[Yucatan Peninsula]]. On [[2552 #November|November 3]], they were [[Battle of Havana|deployed to Havana, Cuba]], where they stole the enemy [[Covenant destroyer|destroyer]] ''[[Bloodied Spirit]]'', and destroyed another destroyer and the [[Centennial Orbital Elevator]]. They subsequently redeployed aboard the stolen ship to the Forerunner [[shield world]] [[Onyx]] to aid [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], the creator of the SPARTAN-II program.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 220''</ref>

[[File:Cleveland in 2552.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Covenant forces invade Cleveland.]]
The UNSC's loss of their garrison on [[Mars]] following the [[Battle of Mare Erythraeum]] led to a dramatic increase in Covenant force deployments on Earth.<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', ''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 3|Issue 3]]''</ref> Shortly after the loss of Mars, Covenant also [[Battle of Cleveland|invaded the city]] of [[Cleveland]] on Earth, looking for an artifact known as the "[[Key of Osanalan]]". The Key turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by Colonel [[James Ackerson]]; this attack was ultimately repelled due to the Colonel's act of self-sacrifice, and that of his civilian brother, [[Ruwan Ackerson|Ruwan]].<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', ''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 4|Issue 4]]''</ref>

[[Sydney]], [[Australia]] was one of the cities invaded by the Covenant during the engagement. Though the city suffered heavy damage by Covenant bombardment, the UNSC's [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] remained undamaged.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 26-33''</ref>

Near the conclusion of the [[Battle of Installation 05]], the [[Prophet of Truth]] departed ''[[High Charity]]'', near Halo [[Installation 05]], in the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] on November 3, arriving at the Sol system on the 8th.<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising]]''', "Issue ??"</ref> The prophet sought to activate the Ark, fire the [[Halo Array]], and begin what he thought would be the "[[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]". Unbeknownst to the Covenant, John-117 had stowed away aboard the ship.<ref name="H3CN"/>

Whilst on [[Installation 05]], [[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]], [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]], and [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] learned of the Prophet of Truth's intentions and departed the installation after the Dreadnought while [[Rtas 'Vadum]] and the Sangheili under his command stayed behind on Installation 05 in order to quarantine and glass the Halo ring as well as quarantine High Charity in order to stop the escape of [[the Flood]] and the Gravemind from both the Halo and the city. Upon arrival at Earth they took up station in an old military base, [[Crow's Nest]], near Voi, and waited for John-117 to arrive.<ref name="H3CN"/><ref group="note">The Sangheili vessel carrying the Arbiter and the survivors of ''In Amber Clad'' arrived at Earth hours (if not days) before Truth's Keyship, despite the latter leaving Delta Halo's orbit well ahead of the former. While this may appear strange given that Forerunner slipspace travel can vastly outpace that of the Covenant, the apparent discrepancy is explained by the Keyship exiting slipspace in the outer edges of the Sol system on November 8 and not landing on Earth until November 17. The reason behind this delay was that the Covenant soldiers inside the Keyship focused on killing John instead of proceeding, as they feared he would kill the Prophet of Truth.</ref>

===Truth's arrival===
{{Quote|no=two|1=Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood|q1=Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing on that ship?|2=Master Chief|q2=Sir, finishing this fight.|3=Admiral Terrence Hood and John-117, as the Keyship arrived at Earth.}}

The Forerunner Dreadnought arrived at Earth on November 17, spearheading the final contingent of Truth's forces. The Covenant fleet breached the Lunar perimeter, devastating the remnants of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]]. The subsequent bombardment caused "extreme" casualties.<ref name="H3CN"/> As the Dreadnought entered Earth's atmosphere, John-117 left the ship by leaping off during re-entry and crashing into the [[East African Protectorate|East-African]] jungle.<ref>'''Halo: Uprising''', "Issue ??"</ref><ref name="H3S117">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Sierra 117]]''</ref> By this time the Covenant had set up heavy [[Type-27 Mantis|AA batteries]] and other defenses near [[Voi]] and in the surrounding area to protect their work at the Portal.<ref name="H3CN"/>

During Spartan-117's re-entry, a pair of ODSTs used a [[laser designator]] during the [[Battle of Sector Six]] in Afghanistan to track the Spartan's fall.<ref>[[Halo: Landfall]]</ref> The data made it easier for Sergeant Johnson and Thel 'Vadam to locate the Spartan. After [[Raid on Kilimanjaro|making their way through the jungle]], they were extracted by a [[D77H-TCI Pelican|dropship]], despite Covenant resistance, and taken to [[Crow's Nest]].<ref name="H3S117"/> The Covenant tracked them back to the base, however, and launched an attack.<ref name="H3CN"/>

===UNSC counterattack===
{{Main|Battle of Voi}}
{{Quote|Marines, the Prophet of Truth doesn't know it yet, but he's about to get kicked right off his throne. You will take our city back. And drive our enemy into the grave they've been so happily digging. One final effort is all that remains.|Admiral Terrence Hood}}

Commander Keyes proposed to destroy the Covenant anti-air defenses at [[Voi]], allowing low flying [[Charon-class light frigate|frigates]] to strike the Forerunner Dreadnought now landed on the Portal. [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] had only a few frigates left, but was willing to commit to the risky plan with [[John-117]]'s recovery.<ref name="H3CN"/>

[[File:Storm3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The UNSC initiates an attack on the Forerunner Dreadnought.]]
Just before the UNSC offensive began, the Covenant attacked Crow's Nest. Miranda Keyes evacuated and destroyed the base with a [[Unidentified UNSC bomb|bomb]] before it could be occupied. John-117 barely managed to escape the destruction of the facility but met up with [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Reynolds]] and set out in [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthogs]] on [[Tsavo Highway]] to head for [[Voi]], as did scattered UNSC forces, engaging Covenant heavy vehicles along the way.<ref name="H3CN"/> <ref name="H3Tsavo">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref>

At Voi, the UNSC broke through Covenant defenses, as John-117 and [[Thel 'Vadam]] disabled a Covenant AA battery. With the path to the Portal cleared, Fleet Admiral Hood ordered three frigates and multiple [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] to attack the Forerunner Dreadnought. Despite [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] fire, the enemy ship remained intact and was able to activate the Portal. The Dreadnought and the remaining Covenant ships departed Earth through the resulting Slipspace portal.<ref name="H3Storm">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[The Storm]]''</ref>
{{Clear}}

===The Flood on Earth===
{{Quote|Quickly! Let us find their ship. Make short work of this abomination!|Thel 'Vadam}}

[[File:Voi 7.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Flood-infected battlecruiser arrives.]]
While the battle for Earth raged, the Covenant had been attempting to maintain a quarantine of the [[Flood]]-infested ''[[High Charity]]'' and [[Installation 05]]. The Flood-controlled ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'' escaped and arrived at Earth as the Prophet of Truth departed through the Portal. The ship crashed in Voi and began infesting the area. John-117 and Thel 'Vadam quickly made for the crash site intending to overload the ship's reactor. The explosion would destroy the city but would hopefully stop the spreading infestation as well.<ref name="H3Flood">'''Halo 3''', campaign level, ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>

[[Fleet of Retribution|Sangheili]] ships, led by [[Fleet Master]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] aboard the [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]] ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', arrived in pursuit of the Flood. The Sangheili believed [[Cortana]] was aboard the Flood ship; Rtas 'Vadum could give his own troops and the UNSC only a little time to recover the AI before Voi and the surrounding area were cleansed by [[glassing]]. John-117 found the small storage device containing the AI; he entrusted to [[343 Guilty Spark]] for repairs and they were extracted by [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantom]] to ''Shadow of Intent''.<ref name="H3Flood"/>

Thel 'Vadam convinced Rtas 'Vadum to exercise restraint when glassing. Thus, only an area of Africa was glassed instead of a much wider area.<ref name="H3Flood"/>

Shortly after the initial skirmishes with the Flood, the Flood-infested ''High Charity'' jumped out of slipspace further out in the Sol system. Shortly after discovering the presence of the Portal at Voi, the Gravemind conducted an arcane bridging maneuver allowing it to transport the former holy city to the Ark from the vicinity of [[Mars]] rather than physically accessing the portal on Earth; the human homeworld thus escaped further Flood contamination.<ref name="Bulletin924">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-9-24-14 '''Halo Waypoint''' - The Halo Bulletin: 9.24.14'']</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{Quote|no=two|1=Terrence Hood|q1=And you, Shipmaster, just glassed half a continent! Maybe the Flood isn't all I should be worried about.|2=Rtas 'Vadum|q2=One single Flood spore can destroy a species. Were it not for the Arbiter's counsel, I would have glassed your entire '''planet'''!|3=Admiral Terrence Hood and Rtas 'Vadum, after the Flood infection of Voi.}}

Admiral Hood and Commander Keyes joined John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and Rtas 'Vadum aboard ''Shadow of Intent'' where 343 Guilty Spark repaired Cortana's damaged storage device. The device contained only a message from the AI; it warned the Flood-infested ''High Charity'' was en route to Earth, but that beyond the Portal there was a solution to the Flood without firing the [[Halo Array]].<ref name="H3Flood"/>

[[File:Floodgate1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Fleet of Retribution leaves through the Portal.]]
Admiral Hood was determined to make his stand against the Flood on Earth. The Sangheili believed this to be foolish; there was little hope Earth could withstand a full Flood invasion, and they decided to place faith in Cortana and journey beyond the Portal. John-117 and Keyes convinced a weary Hood to allow them, and a UNSC task force to accompany the Sangheili.<ref name="H3Flood"/>

With the majority of Truth's forces now bound for the Ark, High Command initiated [[Operation: MARSH FLASH]] to eradicate the remaining Covenant forces on Earth. The majority of them retreated to North America, where they were finally defeated by the rallying UNSC forces. 

''High Charity'' and the Flood arrived in the Sol system shortly thereafter, but instead performed a slipspace jump from Mars orbit in join the battle of [[Installation 00]], an action that spared Earth from a second contamination. It was at the massive installation that the Flood and the remnants of the Covenant were defeated by the UNSC and Sangheili. Despite suffering enormous military and civilian losses, the UNSC retained control of Earth. The battle, and the Human-Covenant War, was over.

The Battle of Earth inflicted extensive infrastructural damage to the planet and Earth's population was reduced considerably. The UNSC Home Fleet was left in ruins and much of Earth's military might was destroyed. However, the defeat of the Covenant loyalists and the Flood at Installation 00 resulted in nothing less than the survival of the human species. The UNSC is currently undergoing an extensive rebuilding process.
{{Clear}}

==Timeline==
'''October 20, 2552'''
*'''1248 hours''': [[Io Station]] station pings the encroaching [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] and relays this data to flag headquarters on [[Cairo Station]].
*At flag headquarters, [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] awards [[John-117|SPARTAN-117]], Staff Sergeant [[Avery Junior Johnson]] and [[Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] medals for their efforts during the [[Battle of Installation 04]] and [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE|subsequent actions]], in the case of John-117 and Johnson, now a Sergeant Major. [[Miranda Keyes]] received her late father's medal posthumously.
*'''1412 hours''': The Covenant Fleet, consisting of 2 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s and 13 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s exits slipspace just beyond the effective range of Earth's [[orbital defense platform]]s Fleet Admiral [[Joseph Harper]] prepares all available vessels to engage the Covenant. This order is overruled by Lord Hood, who instead orders the fleet to form a defensive perimeter around the ODP clusters. 
*'''1421 hours''': The Fleet of Sacred Consecration launches [[Type-28 Tick]] boarding crafts toward the orbital defense stations to plant [[antimatter charge]]s. Two are destroyed in the process: [[Athens Station|Athens]] and [[Malta Station]]s. Cairo Station is save from the same fate by the efforts of [[John-117]]. The fleet subsequently clears the defensive grid and sends a first wave toward the planet's surface. 
*'''1450 hours''': John-117 uses the antimatter charge brought aboard Cairo to destroy a the ''[[Day of Jubilation]]'', one of the two [[CAS-class assault carrier]]s in the Covenant Fleet.
*'''1459 hours''': The ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', the other assault carrier the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s flagship, blows through the Malta's debris field and heads straight for [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] and deploys ground forces. The [[Battle of Mombasa#First Battle of Mombasa|First Battle of Mombasa]] begins.
*'''1512 hours''': A number of [[Huragok]] deployed to New Mombasa are designated tier-one assets by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] and judged to be exposed to capture or kill. One of these, [[Quick to Adjust|Asset RD-9743-X]], would successfully be acquired by ONI in the hours to come. 
*'''1557 hours''': A squad of [[ODST]]s, [[Alpha-Five]], confirms the successful procurement of the [[Conduit]], a Forerunner device, from the Covenant pursuant to [[Operation: WINDOW PANE]].
*'''1602 hours''': [[Operation: BUMRUSH]] is greenlit and ODSTS of the [[65th Shock Troops Division]] are launched from the {{UNSCship|Say My Name}} with the goal of breaching the ''Solemn Penance''.
*'''1603 hours''': ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' makes a sudden slipspace jump only hundreds of meters above the city. The assault carrier is pursued by the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, which is in turn followed by two [[UNSC corvette]]s and two other [[UNSC frigate|frigate]]s. This atmospheric slipspace jump creates a massive overpressure wave and [[electromagnetic pulse]]. The ODSTs' [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|drop pods]] are scattered throughout the city. With Regret gone, Jiralhanae elements in the fleet suddenly turn on their [[Sangheili]] compatriots, heralding the [[Great Schism]] soon to come. 
*'''1606 hours''': Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck exits his [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|drop pod]] and moves toward [[Tayari Plaza]], the location of Captain Veronica Dare's.
*'''1624 hours''': All members of [[Alpha-Five]] are designated KIA and the Conduit is determined to be lost.
*'''1636 hours''': UNSC Marines launch an attack on Covenant occupiers in [[Uplift Nature Reserve]].
*'''1649 hours''': The [[Mombasa Tether]] collapses. 38% of New Mombasa is occupied and controlled by the Covenant forces, now without Sangheili, at this time.
*'''1736 hours''': Fierce fighting is waged along [[Kizingo Boulevard]].
*'''1810 hours''': In cooperation with the [[NMPD]], ODSTs from Alpha-Nine set demolition charges on a bridge leading to [[ONI Alpha Site]], in order to destroy it and slow the Covenant advance in reaching the site.
*'''1852 hours''': [[ONI Alpha Site]], the Office of Naval Intelligence's headquarters in the [[EAP]], is destroyed by the UNSC and [[New Mombasa Police Department]] in order to deny intelligence to the enemy.
*'''1914 hours''': Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal [[Kojo Agu]] make their way to the [[NMPD Headquarters]] for pickup by an [[NMPD Pelican]]. The pelican is shot down before it can reach them and a skirmish breaks out between Alpha-Nine and Covenant air units.
*'''2141 hours''': Remaining {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s from the Fleet of Sacred Consecration coalesce over New Mombasa. 
*'''2101 hours''': Alpha-Nine moves toward [[Kikowani Station]], intending to escape the city through the [[MagLev train]] tunnels leading to [[Old Mombasa]].
*'''2206 hours''': Lance Corporal [[Rookie|J.D.]], an ODST from [[Alpha-Nine]], awakens after being knocked out after his [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]] was thrust off-course in the wake of the assault carrier's slipspace jump to careen into the side of a building. He begins to search the city for others from Alpha-Nine.
*'''2215 hours''': The [[glassing|excavation]] of the [[Portal at Voi|Excession]] begins. 
*'''2227 hours''': The Covenant controls 78% of New Mombasa.
*'''2319 hours''': [[Quick to Adjust|Asset RD-9743-X]] is sighted and reported by Captain [[Veronica Dare]] beneath New Mombasa in its [[New Mombasa Data Center|data center]].
*'''2324 hours''': 94% of New Mombasa is lost to the Covenant.
*'''2359 hours''': Gunnery Sergeant [[Edward Buck]] rendezvouses with Veronica Dare and Lance Corporal [[Rookie|J.D.]] The Huragok, [[Quick to Adjust|Asset RD-9743-X]], is reported as secured.

'''October 21, 2552'''
*[[Truth's Fleet|Another Covenant fleet]] arrives at Earth.
*New Mombasa is fully occupied by the Covenant and it and its surroundings are [[Glassing|glassed]] in efforts to uncover [[The Portal|the portal]]. Alpha-Nine extracts [[Quick to Adjust|Asset RD-9743-X]] from the city safely. 

'''October 20 through November 3, 2552'''
*[[Spartan-II]] [[Blue Team]], composed of [[Fred-104]], [[Linda-058]], and [[Will-043]], is deployed on numerous zero-gee operations to repel Covenant warships over Earth. They team also participates in numerous combat missions around the world, including the [[Battle of Ross Island]] in [[Wikipedia:Antarctica|Antarctica]] and an engagement with Covenant forces on the sea floor off of the Yucatan Peninsula.

'''November 3, 2552'''
*'''1420 hours''': Blue Team is deployed to Cuba, where the [[Battle of Havana]] is underway. 
*'''1550 hours''': The [[Centennial Orbital Elevator]] is recaptured from the Covenant but destroyed by the intentional detonation of nuclear devices in close proximity to its upper reaches. Shortly thereafter, the team uses a [[Bloodied Spirit|captured Covenant Destroyer]] to depart for [[Onyx]]. 

'''November 10, 2552'''
* The [[Covenant]] begins to excavate and occupy built-up positions centered at [[Free-fire Area OZONE]] in Arizona, [[United Republic of North America]], while also attempting to activate an artifact there.

'''November 15, 2552'''
*'''1725 hours''': [[Avery Johnson]] interrogates [[Quick to Adjust]], the Huragok recovered from New Mombasa, at the terminus of the [[Quito space tether]].

'''November 17, 2552'''
*The Forerunner Dreadnought arrives at Earth. Spartan 117 bails from the ship, landing in a Kenyan jungle. He is recovered by a group of Marines led by [[Avery Johnson]]. 
*The Marines, with Spartan-117, make their way to Crow's Nest, where a plan for a counterattack is devised. The base is invaded by the Covenant, and eventually destroyed by the UNSC.
*The UNSC forces regroup along Tsavo Highway, eventually assaulting the Covenant-held town of Voi.
*UNSC Forces neutralize Covenant anti-air defenses in Voi. A [[Battle Group Victory|battle group]] from the UNSC Home Fleet initiate the assault on the Forerunner Dreadnought, with no effect. The Portal is activated. Covenant Loyalist forces flee to Installation 00 through the Portal.
*Immediately thereafter, a Flood-controlled ship emerges from Slipspace over Voi, crashing to the town. Flood infestation starts spreading around the region. The Sangheili Fleet of Retribution, having given chase, arrives at Earth and glasses Voi as well as its surroundings.
*A transmission from the UNSC AI Cortana is retrieved from the Flood ship. The Sangheili fleet, along with the remnants of the UNSC Home Fleet, go through the Portal to the Ark.
*UNSC forces launch a counteroffensive against the Covenant at free-fire area OZONE.

'''November 19, 2552'''
*'''0630 hours''': UNSC flagword [[LUX]] is declared and and UEG emergency broadcast is initiated.
*'''0700 hours''': A tactical nuclear deployment is carried out against multiple shielded Covenant positions.

'''December 3, 2552'''
*[[Operation: MARSH FLASH]] sees clusters of Jiralhanae leadership eliminated.

==Participants==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Ships===
====UNSC====
*[[Malta Station|OWP-143 ''Malta Station'']]
*[[Cairo Station|OWP-142 ''Cairo Station'']]
*[[Athens Station|OWP-144 ''Athens Station'']]
*''[[Nassau Station]]''
*{{UNSCShip|Dusk}}
*{{UNSCShip|Coral Sea}}
*{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}
*{{UNSCShip|Paris}}
*{{UNSCShip|Redoubtable}}
*{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
*{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}}
*{{UNSCShip|Tokyo Rules}}
*{{UNSCShip|Pony Express}}
*{{UNSCShip|Chalons}}
*{{UNSCShip|Onan}}
*{{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}}
*{{UNSCShip|Brasidas}}
*{{UNSCShip|Chioglossa}}
*{{UNSCShip|Feeling Lucky}}

====Covenant====
*[[Forerunner Dreadnought]]
*''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'' (pre-Great Schism)
*''[[Solemn Penance]]''
*''[[Day of Jubilation]]''
*''[[Harbinger of Piety]]''
*''[[Triumphant Declaration]]''

===Units===
====UNSC====
=====UNSC Marine Corps=====
*[[2nd Shock Troops Battalion]] (unknown regiment)
*[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]] (unknown regiment)
**1st Platoon (unknown company and regiment)
*[[3/1 Bravo]]
*[[A Company]]
*[[77th Marine Regiment]]
*[[E2-BAG/1/7]]
*[[S4/BLCE/1/7]]
*[[S4/BRT/1/7]]
**[[Alpha Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Alpha Company]]
**[[Charlie Company, S4/BRT/1/7|Charlie Company]]
*[[Alpha-Five]]
*[[Alpha-Nine]]

=====UNSC Navy=====
*[[UNSC Home Fleet]]
*[[Second Fleet]]
*[[Fifth Fleet]]
*[[Seventh Fleet]]
*[[Sixteenth Fleet]]

====Covenant====
*[[Fleet of Furious Redemption]]
*[[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]]
*[[Truth's fleet]]

====Sangheili (post-Schism)====
*[[Fleet of Retribution]]

{{col-2}}
===Personnel===
====UNSC====
*[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Sir Terrence Hood]]
*Fleet Admiral [[Harper]]
*[[Say My Name Actual|Unidentified Admiral]]
*Admiral [[I. Zhou]]
*[[Cortana]]
*[[Unidentified Navy captain (Seongnam)|Unidentified Navy captain]]
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Veronica Dare]]
*[[Commander]] [[Richard Lash]]
*[[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Julian Waters]]
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Xaing Cho]]
*[[Lieutenant]] [[Bethany Durruno]]
*Lieutenant [[Joe Yang]]
*Lieutenant [[Niraj Shah]]
*Lieutenant [[Parisa]]
*[[Lieutenant, Junior Grade|Lieutenant Junior Grade]] SPARTAN [[Frederic-104]]
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] SPARTAN [[John-117]]
*[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]]
*[[Petty Officer Second Class]] SPARTAN [[Linda-058]]
*Petty Officer Second Class SPARTAN [[William-043]]
*[[Unidentified Marine officer (Mombasa)|Unidentified Marine officer]]
*[[Major (UNSC)|Major]] [[Pawel Czernek]]
*Major [[Roland Huffman]]
*[[Master Gunnery Sergeant (Armory)|Master Gunnery Sergeant "Gunns"]]
*[[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]]
*Gunnery Sergeant [[Reynolds]]
*Gunnery Sergeant [[Stacker]]
*[[Staff Sergeant]] [[Banks]]
*[[Sergeant]] [[Thomas Chang]]
*Sergeant [[Twyker]]
*[[Corporal]] [[James Dessen]]
*Corporal [[Taylor H. Miles]]
*Corporal [[Palmer (Marine)|Palmer]]
*Corporal [[Perez]]
*Corporal [[T. Rymann]]
*[[Lance Corporal]] [[Kojo Agu]]
*Lance Corporal "[[The Rookie]]"
*Lance Corporal [[Morton]]
*Lance Corporal [[Pineada]]
*Lance Corporal [[T. B. Williams]]
*[[Private First Class]] [[Michael Crespo]]
*Private First Class [[Caio Zanato]]
*Private First Class [[Chips Dubbo]]
*Private First Class [[Locke (Mombasa)|Locke]]
*Private First Class [[Galliard]]
*Private First Class [[Sullivan]]
*[[Private]] [[McKenzie]]
*Private [[Emerson]]
*Private [[Jemison]]
*Private [[Scottlee]]
*Private [[S. Hartley]]
*[[Hospital Corpsman|Corpsman]] [[R. Coney]]
*[[Unidentified Corpsman]]

====Covenant====
*[[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]
*[[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]
*[[Minister of Inquisition]]
*[[Lepidus]]
*[[Quick to Adjust]]

====Sangheili (post-Schism)====
*[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]
*[[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Usze 'Taham]]
*[[N'tho 'Sraom]]

====Forerunner constructs====
*[[343 Guilty Spark]]

===Vehicles===
====UNSC====
*[[12-9F5]]
*[[957-A3]]
*[[Echo 051]]
*[[Kilo 023]]
*[[Oscar 6]]

{{col-end}}

==Trivia==
Many fans, as well as ''Halopedia'', used to regard the Battle of Earth as two separate battles. Namely, the "First" was believed to comprise the events of ''[[Halo 2]]'' and the "Second" was thought to cover the events of John-117's return at the beginning of ''[[Halo 3]]''. Later sources have established that Truth's reinforcements arrived just hours after Regret fled, indicating that the "two" battles were one and the same. However, the ''Halo Encyclopedia'' (even the 2011 revised edition) lists them as two separate battles; this is one of several elements of the ''Encyclopedia'' that is seemingly lifted from this wiki.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2A-pavel-belov-cairo-external.jpg|Concept art of the space battle taking place around ''Cairo Station'' for ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A Terminals - Fleet at Io.jpg|The [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] arrives in the Sol System near ''[[Io Station]]''.
File:H2A-fleet readout.jpg|Lord Hood views a readout of the opposing fleets as they prepare to engage.
File:HomeFleetH2A.png|The UNSC Home Fleet prior to the arrival of the Covenant.
File:H2A - Battle of Earth from Cairo.jpg|The space battle as viewed from ''Cairo Station'' as the Home Fleet holds its ground against the Covenant assault. 
File:UNSC Fleet.jpg|The Home Fleet engages the Covenant fleet above Earth in full force.
File:H2A-Battlecruisers Battle of Earth.png|{{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s engaging the UNSC Home Fleet above Earth.
File:H2AMinors.jpg|The Master Chief battles Covenant boarding parties on ''Cairo Station''. 
File:Athensstation.jpg|Several ODPs were destroyed through the course of the battle in space.
File:Master Chief Collection - Chief with bomb.png|The Master Chief prepares to descend into Earth orbit with the Covenant bomb in hand as the space battle rages.
File:Master Chief Collection - Cruiser destroyed.png|A {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} is destroyed in Earth orbit by plasma fire from a Covenant [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]].
File:H2A - Marathon dies.jpg|The Chief glides past the UNSC cruiser as it explodes. 
File:H2A - Carrier destroyed.jpg|The second assault carrier explodes as the Master Chief escapes in free fall. 
File:H2A - InAmberCladEarth.png|The ''UNSC In Amber Clad'' descends towards Africa to aid in the ground battle unfolding. 
File:H2A - Carrier over Mombasa.jpg|The Prophet of Regret's flagship holds position over New Mombasa as the battle for the city rages.
File:H2A - Pelicans.jpg|UNSC forces of the ''UNSC In Amber Clad'' approaching New Mombasa during the early stages of the Battle of Earth.
File:H2A - Warthogs.jpg|A convoy of Warthogs race through the streets of Mombasa to reinforce the UNSC forces moving against the Covenant occupational forces. 
File:H2A-ScarabIncoming.jpg|The UNSC reinforcements are engaged by the Covenant Scarab as it lays waste to the cityscape of Old Mombasa.
File:Pelican and warthog.jpg|UNSC forces approaching New Mombasa during the early stages of the Battle of Earth in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2A - Scarab destroyed.jpg|The Scarab is destroyed by the Master Chief, stalling the Covenant assault. 
File:H2A - Solemn Penance jumping.jpg|''[[Solemn Penance]]'' prepares to jump into slipspace above New Mombasa.
File:H2SSRupture.jpg|Regret's jump into slipspace initiates a massive shockwave of energy that consumes New Mombasa, causing widespread damage.
File:H2A - Mombasa consumed.jpg|The slipspace rupture consumes all of Mombasa.
File:Fleetwatch.jpg|Covenant warships swarm into New Mombasa to resume excavation of the Forerunner artifact. 
File:H2A - Earth and Dreadnought.jpg|The Forerunner Dreadnought ferrying Truth jumps into Earth Orbit where the space battle continues to rage. 
File:Excessionsatellite.png|Surveillance footage captures the Covenant glassing of New Mombasa, revealing the Portal and laying waste to the African landmass. 
File:ODST Fast roping.png|ODSTs deploy into Cleveland to rescue the city's enslaved population.
File:Battle_of_Earth_Main.jpg|The UNSC Home Fleet engages newly-arrived Covenant forces led by the Prophet of Truth.
File:S117returnstoEarth2552.jpg|John-117 and the Dreadnought entering Earth's atmosphere.
File:UNSC_screens.jpg|Screens showing force deployments late in the battle.
File:Mac.jpg|[[UNSC frigate]]s fire their MACs on the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]].
File:Voi assault 4.png|The Portal begins to activate after the UNSC's failed assault on the Dreadnought.
File:Halo3 E3 TRAILER 2007 720p30 ST 6300Kbps 002 0001.jpg|The Fleet of Retribution ships glass Voi and its surroundings to contain the Flood threat.
File:Final meeting 7.png|UNSC and Sangheili leaders hold their meeting aboard the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' after the battle.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
**''[[Halo: First Strike#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
**''[[Sadie's Story]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

==Sources==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:UNSC Victories]]
[[Category:Covenant Victories]]