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=

|side1= [[United Nations Space Command]]

|side2= [[Covenant]]

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

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

*[[M831 Warthog]]s

*[[M12 Warthog LRV]]s

*Orbital [[MAC]] platform (1)

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

**[[Type-48 Revenant]]s

**[[Type-32 Ghost]]s

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

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

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

***[[Type-26 Banshee]]s

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, a [[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 gun]] 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" />

After fighting through some Covenant troops, Kat and Six make it to the main atrium where they link up with [[Jun-A266]] and [[Jorge-052]] and several Army troopers. Six is ordered to go upstairs to aid [[Emile-A239]] with Jorge and several Army troopers joining to make sure he makes it with Carter warning that the base won't survive another salvo from the corvette. Together, the UNSC forces fight their way to the ruined top floor where Emile uses a [[M41 SPNKR|rocket launcher]] to fight off enemy Banshees and a Phantom which deploys several [[Stealth Sangheili]]. The Sangheili are quickly eliminated and Six uses a nearby rocket launcher to join Emile, destroying the Phantom and several Banshees. Finally, all of the nearby Covenant air forces are destroyed.<ref name="Sword Base" />

With the Covenant air forces eliminated, Sword Base is able to launch two [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] to attack the corvette directly. The corvette quickly attempts to make a retreat. As the corvette flies over a lake, an orbital Super [[MAC]] round is fired, punching a hole through the ship and sending it sinking in the lake, ending the Covenant attack.<ref name="Sword Base" />

Immediately after the corvette is destroyed, [[NOBLE Team]] is ordered to meet with Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] in the science wing. At Halsey's request, the Spartans provide her with a report on their previous engagement with the [[Covenant]] at [[Visegrád Relay]] and give her Professor [[Laszlo Sorvad]]'s [[data module]] which supposedly contains a "latchkey discovery" made by Sorvad prior to his death.<ref name="Sword Base" />

Despite the victory, [[Sword Base]] comes under attack by the Covenant again by [[2552#August|August 14]] when [[Operation: UPPER CUT]] takes place.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]''</ref> By August 23, the base is considered Covenant territory when NOBLE Team is ordered to return for a torch and burn operation to keep the base's excavation data out of Covenant hands,<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria (level)|New Alexandria]]''</ref> in reality a deception to task NOBLE Team with delivering [[Cortana|an important package]].<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[The Package (level)|The Package]]''</ref>

{{Reflist}}

{{Human-Covenant War}}