Editing Battle of Sword Base

{{Era|HCW}}

{{Battle

|prev= [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]

|conc= [[Fall of Reach]]

|next= [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]]

|name= '''First Battle of Sword Base'''

|image=

'''Decisive UNSC tactical victory'''

*[[SWORD Base]] retaken

|side1= [[United Nations Space Command]]

|side2= [[Covenant]]

*[[Urban Holland|Col. Urban Holland]]

*[[UNSC Navy]]

**[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare]]

*[[M831 Warthog]]s

*[[M12 Warthog LRV]]s

*Orbital [[MAC]] platform (1)

**[[Type-26 Wraith]] (2)

**[[Type-48 Revenant]]

***{{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}} (1)

***[[Type-52 Phantom]]s

***[[Type-25 Spirit]]s

|casual1=

|casual2=*Heavy

The '''First Battle of Sword Base''' was an engagement between the forces of the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] at the [[ONI]] research facility known as [[SWORD Base]] occurring on [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]].

On or prior to the night of [[2552#July|July 23, 2552]], the human [[Inner Colony]] of [[Reach]] the [[Covenant]] [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] arrived at the [[Inner Colony]] of [[Reach]] undetected by its defending forces. A small strike, including artifact-hunting [[Sangheili Zealot]]s was dispatched to the [[Visegrád Relay]] in [[Visegrád]] to cut off communications between Reach and other [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] colonies. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] assumed that the communications blackout was caused by local [[Insurrectionist]]s; in response, [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]] dispatched several [[UNSC Army|Army]] fireteams to the relay. After losing contact with the troopers, [[SPARTAN Program|SPARTAN]] [[Noble Team]] was sent to investigate.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Noble Actual]]''</ref> The team discovered the Covenant presence on [[Reach]] and reported back to [[Central Command|CENTCOM]], killing two of the Zealots in the process. [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] was declared on Reach while [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kat-B320]] retrieved a [[data module]] from the corpse of Doctor [[Laszlo Sorvad]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]''</ref>

==The battle==

On [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] [[Sword Base]] came under siege by [[Covenant]] forces from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] led by a {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}. Due to the sensitive nature of the facility, orbital [[MAC]] rounds are prohibited from being used to destroy the corvette. With current defensive forces insufficient to repel the attack, ONI requests the help of [[NOBLE Team]].<ref name="Sword Base">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref>

With their landing zone hot, [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kat-B320]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[SPARTAN-B312|Noble Six]] are dropped into the Sword Base courtyard and immediately attacked by [[Covenant]] troops. Aided by [[UNSC Army]] troopers, the two Spartans clear the courtyard and are ordered by [[Sword Control]] to clear the main gate with a promise to be briefed as they go. The Spartans find a [[Target Locator]] and are promised that they will be provided with what limited artillery support is available.

As the soldiers emerge from the main gate, the corvette opens fire on Sword Base and a [[M831 Warthog|M831 Troop Transport]] carrying [[3 Echo]] comes under attack from two [[Type-26 Wraith]]s which destroys the squad. Using the Target Locator, B312 destroys the Wraiths and the troops wipe out any remaining Covenant forces in the immediate area. A [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] then drops off a [[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]] for the use of Six and Kat.<ref name="Sword Base" />

In order to get back online with Command, Kat, Six and an Army trooper head east to the old [[Farragut Station]] which has its own comms array. At the station, the two Spartans discover it protected by multiple Covenant forces, including a [[Type-48 Revenant|Revenant]]. Together, the three manage to eliminate the Covenant forces in the area and activate the station's generator. Once the generator is online, [[Type-25 Spirit|Spirit dropship]] arrives to deploy [[Unggoy]] and [[Skirmisher]]s to prevent the comms array, located on a nearby rooftop, from being activated. After eliminating the reinforcements, Six activates the array. A second Warthog is then delivered via Pelican to reach [[Airview Base]] and the AA gun located there.<ref name="Sword Base" />

On the way to Airview Base, the Spartans come under attack by two [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghosts]] and a lance of Covenant dropped by another Spirit, but they are quickly eliminated. At Airview Base, it is discovered to be under the control of more Covenant forces, including a [[Sangheili Ultra]]. The Covenant forces are quickly eliminated and Six activates the base's [[M71 Scythe|anti-aircraft turret]] which opens fire on a [[Type-52 Phantom|Phantom]] that drops off two more Ghosts and then on the [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and Covenant dropships around the corvette, helping to clear the way for UNSC dropships to bring reinforcements.<ref name="Sword Base" />