Editing Battle of Metisette

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev        = [[Battle of the Rubble]]
|next        = [[Battle of New Harmony]]
|name        = Battle of Metisette
|image       = 
|conflict    = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date        = 2535
|place       = [[Metisette]], [[23 Librae]] system
|result      = UNSC/Rubble victory 
*Redoubt destroyed 
*All [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] on Metisette killed 
*All Rubble citizens successfully evacuated in the Exodus habitat
|side1       = [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] <br>
[[Insurrectionist]]s 
|side2       = [[Covenant]] (Unggoy/Kig-Yar) <br> 
Covenant-sympathizing rebels
|side3       = Covenant ([[Sangheili]])
|commanders1 = [[Lieutenant]] [[Jacob Keyes]] <br>
[[Rubble Security Council]] <br> 
AI [[Juliana]]†
|commanders2 = 
[[Reth]]† <br> 
[[Peter Bonifacio]]†
|commanders3 = 
[[Thel 'Vadam]]ee
|forces1     = *[[Petya|One]] civilian freighter 
*[[UNSC Midsummer Night|One]] {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} 
*[[Gray Team]]  
*[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODST]]s
*[[Rubble Defense Force]] 
|forces2     =*Kig-Yar ground forces
*Small Kig-Yar fleet
*Hundreds of thousands of Unggoy 
|forces3     = *Four Sangheili 
*[[Infinite Spoils|One]] Kig-Yar ship 
*Dozens of Unggoy
|casual1     = *10+ ODSTs
*Rubble destroyed
*Juliana 
*''Petya'' discarded
|casual2     =  
*Many Kig-Yar and Unggoy
**Reth
|casual3     = *All Unggoy killed
}}

The '''Battle of Metisette''', also known as the '''Metisette Conflict''',<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Thel 'Vadam'']</ref> was an engagement that took place between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], the [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] under orders from the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]] and the Covenant [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] under orders from the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]. It took place in [[2535]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]].

==Prelude==
After the [[Battle of the Rubble]], the [[UNSC]] and the [[Rubble Security Council]] were ready to work together against what they considered the common enemy: the [[Kig-Yar]] and the [[Unggoy]] on [[Metisette]], a [[natural satellite]] of the local gas giant, [[Hesiod]]. However, time was running out for the combined human forces. Kig-Yar forces were ready to roll out and attack the Rubble with their fleet and Unggoy ground forces.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 236''</ref> 

To make matters worse, [[Reth]] and the Kig-Yar were expecting high leaders in the Covenant hierarchy, and a probable Covenant fleet escort, to arrive imminently in the undetermined future. With the clock ticking to assault [[the Redoubt]], the [[AI]] [[Juliana]] decided to commence the emergency evacuation of the citizens of the Rubble on the [[Habitat Exodus|Exodus]], an [[asteroid]] six miles long and capable of holding all the Rubble citizens as well as transition into [[slipspace]]. Meanwhile, [[Ignatio Delgado]] and the UNSC forces piled on the {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}} to fly to Metisette while the [[Rubble Defense Force]] would organize a fleet to protect the Rubble while it was evacuated.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 298''</ref>  

==The battle==
The battle began with the ''[[Infinite Spoils]]'', a [[Kig-Yar raider]] commanded by four [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|zealots]], attacking [[the Rubble]]. [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee hoped to destroy the Rubble in order to complete his mission and regain the honor he lost when he was captured by the [[Kig-Yar]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 188''</ref> He had the ship attack the local [[mass driver]]s, recognizing them as important weapons. While the ''Infinite Spoils'' attacked, the first ships of the Kig-Yar fleet arrived and began attacking the Rubble themselves. As Kig-Yar ships closed in on the mass drivers, Rubble ships flew in and fired missiles to prevent the destruction of the mass drivers. Meanwhile, more and more asteroids emptied as the thousands of citizens of the Rubble evacuated. Although the [[AI]] [[Juliana]] lost some asteroids to both the Sangheili and Kig-Yar, she managed to move several more asteroids to meet with the UNSC forces moving in on Metisette.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 308''</ref>

As it closed down on the moon, the {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}} performed a high-speed [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV]] deployment, down to [[the Redoubt]] on the surface of Metisette. The ''Midsummer Night'' came under fire from Kig-Yar [[Covenant anti-aircraft battery|anti-aircraft guns]], and slowed down, to allow the pods to drop, before speeding off out the atmosphere again.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 312''</ref> The pods landed in the Redoubt's plaza, where [[Unggoy]] were waiting in buildings. There were two main forces of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] that landed; one with [[Jai-006]], and one with [[Adriana-111]]. 

Unfortunately, Adriana landed among a large group of Unggoy. She fought them off with her [[battle rifle]] and an [[M41 rocket launcher]], until she ran out of ammo. Then she used a [[Mongoose]] to physically beat the Unggoy to death.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 320''</ref> Eventually, she regrouped with her squad of ODSTs, only to discover that only six of the original sixteen had survived; the others killed by the Kig-Yar. They were however successful in destroying the anti-aircraft guns. Jai's men landed with the [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|''Shiva''-class nuclear missile]],<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 315''</ref> and planted it in the sensor hub and set a 2-hour timer.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 317''</ref>  

The ''Midsummer Night'' then launched five [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropships]] to pick up the survivors. They returned to ''Midsummer Night'', and watched as the ''Shiva'' detonated, badly damaging the Redoubt and knocking out the Redoubt's sensors. [[Reth]] was poisoned by the radiation, and tried to escape in a [[Kig-Yar shuttle|shuttle]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 327''</ref> However, [[the Rubble]] had been fractured by [[Juliana]] and the habitat's asteroids were moved into a position to collide with Metisette. The Redoubt was then obliterated by the improvised [[orbital bombardment]]. Reth's shuttle took a direct hit from one of the asteroids, finally killing him.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 328''</ref> Thel 'Vadamee then launched the remaining Kig-Yar ships against the [[Exodus Project|Exodus asteroid]].

==Aftermath==
With [[the Redoubt]] destroyed, [[Reth]] killed, and hundreds of thousands of [[Unggoy]] dead, the ''Midsummer Night'' joined with the Exodus habitat and escorted it as it flew away. Although chased by a few Kig-Yar fighter ships, the habitat remained safe as all the Unggoy that managed to infiltrate the habitat were dealt with by the [[Rubble Defense Force]] inside.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 334''</ref> Meanwhile, [[Michael-120]] brought a chip containing navigation data and downloaded the data on the habitat's computers. 

Unfortunately, the [[Rubble Security Council]] and the engineers on the habitat encountered a problem: the Exodus could not make the planned trip out to uncontrolled space where they would remain safe and alone. Several slipspace drives remained inactive, which prevented the habitat from traveling long distances in one shot. The alternative was to make small, little jumps, which would literally take centuries.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 335''</ref> 

Lieutenant Keyes decided to convince the Council to travel to an [[Inner Colony]], which was still possible at the time. After a short speech to the Council members reminding them of their duty to protect all the Rubble's citizens and the duty to fight back against the Covenant who took their homes, the Council decided to travel to [[Falaknuma]], an Inner Colony in the [[18 Scorpii system]]. Using navigation data that Mike-120 brought to them as well, the ''Midsummer Night'' escorted the Exodus habitat to Falaknuma.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 343''</ref> 

At Falaknuma, the UNSC forces were shocked by the asteroid's entrance, but quickly worked to rescue the people aboard. Although all the citizens were evacuated and brought down to the planet, the asteroid broke up due to resonances in slipspace, causing large chunks of the habitat to orbit around the planet. Although bigger chunks could be dealt with MAC rounds, the resulting debris would impede travel for decades to come.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 352''</ref> 

Lieutenant Keyes was brought down and debriefed by ONI [[Commander]] [[Hadley]] and [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] himself. After the session, Cole congratulated Keyes for his commendable bravery and work and promoted him to Commander.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 352''</ref> Meanwhile, Delgado decided to enlist in the Navy. The recruiting session though went terribly and he was about to be drafted into the Marines before Commander Hadley intervened and put Delgado into the Navy as a pilot.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 355''</ref> After this, Commander Hadley and Admiral Cole met up with Gray Team, giving them a new mission, this time deeper in enemy territory.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 354''</ref>

Back on the ''[[Infinite Sacrifice]]'', the Prophets of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] met with Thel 'Vadamee personally. After some discussion on the very lives of the crew under Thel's control, Zhar entered the room, armed with his inactivated [[energy sword]]. Zhar charged at the Prophets but 'Vadamee killed his old friend with his own energy sword.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 341''</ref> For this action, 'Vadamee was allowed to live and given his own ship in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 349''</ref> Although Regret was displeased that it did not produce anything except human-sympathizing Kig-Yar and Unggoy, the Prophet of Truth seemed rather satisfied by the discovery of two new human worlds to attack. The Prophet of Regret resolved to follow Truth's plans for the time being.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 347''</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

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