Editing Battle of Trove

{{Era|HCW}}

{{Cleanup}}

{{quad battle infobox

|prev=[[Battle of Arcadia]]

|next=[[Raid on Camp New Hope]]

|name=Battle of Shield World 0459

|date=[[2531|February 23rd - 25th, 2531]]

|place=[[Shield World 0459]]

|result=Strategic UNSC victory

|side1=[[UNSC Defense Force]]

|side4=[[Forerunner]]

|forces1=

*{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}

*[[Red Team]]

*[[Recon Team Echo|Recon Teams Echo]] and [[Recon Team India|India]]

*[[Alpha Platoon]]

*[[Bravo Platoon]]

*[[Charlie Platoon]]

*[[M312 Heavy Recovery Vehicle]]s

*[[M808B Main Battle Tank]]s

*[[Grizzly|Grizzlies]]

*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle]]s

*[[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]]s

*[[M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tank]]s

*[[Cyclops|Cyclopes]]

*[[AC-220 Vulture]]s

*[[D77-TC Pelican]]s

*[[AV-14 Hornet]]s

*[[B-65 Shortsword]]s

**[[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Unidentified ''CPV''-class destroyer]]

*[[Kig-yar]]

*[[Mgalekgolo]]

|forces3=

*[[Flood thrasher form]]s

*[[Flood bomber form]]s

|forces4=*Minor [[Sentinel]]s

*[[Super Sentinel]]s

|casual1=*All infantry in Recon Teams Echo and India

|casual2=*Total destruction of nearly all forces, except the Prophet of Regret and his escort

|casual4=*Shield 0459

The '''Battle of Shield World 0459''' was an engagement fought between the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], [[the Flood]], and [[Forerunner]] forces on [[Shield World 0459]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] from [[2531|February 23 to 25, 2531]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 174''</ref><ref name="timeline">'''Halo Wars''' ''[[Halo Wars Timeline Events|Timeline Events]]''</ref><ref name="Assembly">'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|data pad 15]]''</ref>

Shield 0459 had been discovered by the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] during the [[Battle of Arcadia]], but despite their reverse-engineering attempts, they had not been able to activate its most prized artifact, [[The Apex|the Apex Site]], an installation which contained numerous [[Unidentified Forerunner starship|Forerunner warships]]. With the [[Human-Covenant War]] ongoing, the Covenant started their search for a key to activate the ships, in order to bring a swifter end to the [[Human|human race]]. After seeing [[Ellen Anders]] activate a [[Relic|Forerunner structure]] on [[Harvest]], the Covenant discovered that [[Reclaimer|they could use a human to activate]] the Apex installation.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96LZ6gGQS5Y&feature=player_embedded "Walk in The Park"]''</ref>

[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] captured Professor Anders after the [[Battle of Arcadia]], planning to use her to activate the ships' systems. The UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' pursued the Covenant to the [[Shield 0459|Shield World]] without reinforcements to rescue Anders.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAwbJN6DzL4&feature=player_embedded "She is Not My Girlfriend"]''</ref> Upon entering the system they followed Anders' transponder signal the best that they could. Captain Cutter launched several Marine teams, as well as [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] to begin surface operations to locate Professor Anders.<ref name="signal">'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''level, [[Anders' Signal]]''</ref>

Recon Teams [[Recon Team Echo|Echo]] and [[Recon Team India|India]] deployed on the planet's surface, along with a small force led by Forge. Using [[M312 Heavy Recovery Vehicle|Elephants]] and Marine infantry, together with [[carpet bombing|air support]] from [[B-65 Shortsword|Shortsword]] bombers and help from SPARTAN [[Red Team]], Forge's force cleared an area of [[Jiralhanae]] around a beacon, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements and the Recon Teams.<ref name="signal"/>

Shortly after this, however, the force received an ominous message from Echo Team, stating that they were under attack from "[[the Flood|things]]," before dropping out of contact. India Team sent a similar message before dropping out of contact.<ref name="signal"/>

Forge's team and the Spartans moved to investigate, encountering the Flood for the first time, including dozens of [[Flood infection form|infection forms]] that resulted in a large number of Marines being lost. However, they successfully recovered both teams' Elephants and retreated back to the [[Firebase]] being constructed at the beacon site.<ref name="signal"/> UNSC forces began to have problems with air transport, as the exterior surface's atmosphere was thick with dust, which caused the engines on [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropships]] to fail within three flights.<ref name="timeline"/>

Red Team discovered that a [[proto-Gravemind]] was coordinating the Flood forces and was also jamming Ander's transponder signal. However, before they could destroy the Gravemind, their [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] was overturned and they had to be rescued by Forge's Marines. After contending with [[Flood swarm|Flood Swarms]] and [[Flood thrasher form|Thrasher Forms]], the Marines were able to rescue the SPARTAN's and destroy the Proto Gravemind.<ref>'''''Halo Wars''''' level, ''[[The Flood (level)|The Flood]]''</ref>

After destroying the Proto-Gravemind, the ''Spirit of Fire's'' AI [[Serina]] located Anders' signal, which was apparently in the middle of an ocean. While the ''Spirit'' was hovering over the sea, the doors of a huge submerged entry into the planet opened and several [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel]]s flew out. The ''Spirit of Fire'' became locked into a powerful docking mechanism and inevitably began a controlled 'fall' into the rift.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0dXxJaGbPM&feature=player_embedded "Open Sesame Part Two"]''</ref>

The remaining UNSC forces on the Shield World's surface had less than twenty minutes to fight their way past hundreds of Flood forms before being airlifted back to the ''Spirit of Fire''. [[Flood swarm]]s made air support almost useless, forcing the Marines to use large numbers of [[M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tank|Wolverines]] to clear the air before tanks and infantry could clear landing zones of Flood growths. They managed to slow down the ''Spirit of Fire's'' descent by disabling Forerunner pylon towers powering the docking system with [[Gremlin Combat Support Vehicle]]s, giving them a little longer. After evacuating [[Alpha Platoon]] and [[Bravo Platoon]], the team had to escort [[Charlie Platoon]] back to the firebase for extraction after their [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] was forced to abort its run. After extracting all UNSC forces, the firebase was abandoned to the Flood and the ''Spirit of Fire'' began her descent.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbH5aXZgbw&feature=player_embedded "Descent"]''</ref>

Fighting their way down through a service conduit inside the Shield World, the ''Spirit of Fire'' was attacked by even more Flood forms. Flood growths began to sprout on the ship's hull, and Marines and aircraft were forced to fight on the hull of the ship to remove the Flood forms. Furthermore, [[Sentinel]]s attacked the Flood, and while they initially provided some support to the UNSC, after passing through the first decontamination ring, the Sentinels identified them as possible infection vectors and relabeled them as targets. The UNSC forces managed to clear the hull of growths, removing the Flood and thus allowing the Sentinels to withdraw.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Cleansing]]''</ref> After this, the Spirit of Fire accelerated out of the tunnel, and emerged into the interior of the Shield World.<ref name="freefall">'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcczaSAH4lU&feature=player_embedded "Freefall"]''</ref>

In the inner [[Dyson sphere]] of the Shield World, the ''Spirit of Fire'' immediately entered a collision course with a [[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Covenant destroyer]]. Despite hard course corrections, the two ships impacted, with a large section of the ''Spirit'' being violently sheared off.<ref name="freefall"/> The collision also destroyed half of the ''Spirit'''s complement of [[Pod]]s. Dozens of Marines, vehicles, and aircraft were deployed onto the ''Spirit's'' hull to fend off boarding parties who were trying to prevent technicians in [[Cyclops]] exoskeletons from repairing the ship's power core, while at the same time the ship was raked by [[plasma]] fire. Escaping from the destroyer, the ''Spirit's'' AI, [[Serina]], detected Anders' signal.<ref>'''''Halo Wars''''' level ''[[Repairs]]''</ref> Sergeant Forge, along with other forces, were deployed to the signal's apparent source on the Shield World's inner surface.<ref name="judgement"/>

Imprisoned in the Apex, Anders was forced by the Arbiter to activate the ancient artifact, powering up a huge fleet of Forerunner ships. In their religious fervor, her guards were distracted and Anders used a [[teleporter]] to return to the surface, where she was rescued by Forge.<ref name="judgement"/> Anders was then evacuated back to the Spirit, while Sergeant Forge and the Spartan [[Red Team]] proceeded to lock the area down, for a safe place to the ''Spirit'' to put down. Anders theorized that they would have to capture four base sites to begin an effective resistance. Through the use of armor, air support, and a [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]] captured by a Spartan, the UNSC captured the bases and prepared to attack the Apex itself.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref>

On the ''Spirit of Fire'', Anders devised a plan to stop the Covenant from using the Forerunner ships. The UNSC forces would have to sacrifice the ''Spirit'''s [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] to create an explosion so powerful it would collapse the miniature [[Astroengineering#Stars|artificial star]] inside the Shield World, completely obliterating the installation, though it meant that they would have no way to return home.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GAyuG2g_Cg&feature=player_embedded "I doomed Humanity"]''</ref> To accomplish this, they would need to assault the Apex site and use an [[elevator]] on the main platform, to take the slipsace drive right into the star.<ref name="reactor">'''Halo Wars''', campaign ''level [[Reactor]]''</ref>

When the UNSC forces had secured the area, the ''Spirit'' put down close to the surface, to deliver Slipspace drive to the ground. It was attached to two [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]], which were to be used to transport it to the Apex main platform. On their way however, they were shot down, just under a a towering hill comprised of a series of ramps, on top of which there was a teleporter which led to the Apex's control center.<ref name="reactor"/>

After an attempt at airlifting the drive failed, the mission was changed into a ground operation, with the intent of using an [[M312 Heavy Recovery Vehicle|Elephant]] to tow the Reactor to the [[teleporter]] on the top of the hill, which was full of Covenant and Flood forces. The UNSC established a [[firebase]] on the bottom of the hill, and gradually ascended the towering hill up to the Apex Base Site, meeting determined resistance from the Covenant. They eventually reached a [[Slipspace translocation|teleporter]] that took [[John Forge|Sergeant John Forge]], a Marine lieutenant, and Red Team to the Apex's control center with the slipspace drive.<ref name="reactor"/>

[[File:Hw-prima-blog-04-01.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Red Team ready for combat at the Apex.]]

Upon arriving at the Apex site's control center, the lieutenant, Forge and the Red Team proceeded with the mission. The lieutenant went to open the door of the elevator, Forge started to unload the reactor from its transport, while the Red Team guarded them. However, just as the lieutenant had opened the door, The Arbiter, who had previously been [[Active camouflage|cloaked]], appeared and killed the lieutenant. Simultaneously, multiple [[Sangheili]] warriors emerged from cloaking from the other end of the platform and charged the Spartans. Forge decided to take on the Arbiter himself, while the Red Team would hold off the Elites.<ref name="monsters">'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlNHT57SbkA&feature=player_embedded "Monsters"]''</ref>

Forge released the locks holding the FTL drive on to the truck, and ramped it at the Arbiter. The Spartans engaged the Honor Guards in frantic and acrobatic close combat, dispatching them with ease. Meanwhile, the Arbiter was gaining the upper hand in the duel with Forge. Eventually, he was wounded by Forge when he stuck a [[combat knife]] into his upper neck. Forge then killed the Arbiter when he took his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] and stabbed him in the torso with it.<ref name="monsters"/>

After the duel, the Arbiter's body was pushed off the platform, and the Reactor was loaded onto the elevator. It had already started overheating, possibly due to damage it had sustained during the fight, and couldn't be detonated remotely anymore, and it would need someone to overload it manually. [[Jerome-092]] offered to activate the reactor, sacrificing himself. Forge declined, saying that the UNSC would need every last Spartan left in the fight. Jerome agreed, commenting on the honor of serving with Forge. Forge began his ascent to the star, while the Red Team reported back to the ''Spirit of Fire''.<ref name="monsters"/>

Serina found that the exit portal had been sealed off. Red Team and groups of Marines had to deal with massive Covenant and [[The Flood|Flood]] resistance before they could disengage the door locks. Using tanks, [[AC-220 Vulture|Vultures]], [[carpet bombing]], [[cryo bomb]]s, and [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon#MAC Blast|orbital bombardment]] to destroy the Covenant and Flood bases, they successfully opened the doors.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Escape]]''</ref>

As the sun slowly went supernova, the ''Spirit of Fire'' was caught in its increasing [[gravity well]]. Slingshotting around the sun, the ''Spirit'' was able to break away from the gravity well and escape through the portal, and far enough from the Shield World not to be caught in the Supernova's blast radius.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw449I95UHY&feature=player_embedded "One Less Sun in The Universe"]''</ref>

With no ability to enter [[Slipstream space]], and the journey back to UNSC space likely to take years, if not decades, the ''Spirit of Fire's'' crew went into [[Cryo chamber|cryostasis]]. The UNSC [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] declared the ''Spirit'' and crew to be [[missing in action]]. In [[2534]], the ''Spirit of Fire'' was declared to be "lost with all hands" by the UNSC. The reason for this change was kept top secret. A memorial service was held for the people aboard the vessel, but many of the crew's family members chose not to attend, holding out hope that their loved ones are still alive.<ref name="timeline"/> Various theories circulated throughout the UNSC as to the ship's actual fate, ranging from being lost during a covert mission for ONI, destroyed in orbit over [[Arcadia]], defecting to [[Insurrectionist]] forces, or being stranded in space. When [[Mary Cutter]], wife of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter|James Cutter]], was asked about the defection theory, she physically assaulted the reporter.<ref>[http://www.graemedevine.com/graemedevine/Spirit_of_Fire/Entries/2009/3/14_The_Mystery_of_%E2%80%9CSpirit_of_Fire%E2%80%9D.html '''Graeme Devine''': ''Spirit of Fire'']</ref>

The [[Assembly]], having intercepted transmissions from the [[Covenant battle network|Covenant Battle Network]], noted the presence of the Flood as a "third variable". Due to the third participant being a terrifying opponent to the Covenant, the [[Assembly Minority]] suggested the possibility of forming an association - even a union - with it. However, due to the risks involved, the Assembly chose not to attempt contact with the Flood.<ref name="Assembly"/>

===Ships and Vehicles===

*[[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Unidentified ''CPV''-class heavy destroyer]]

<gallery widths="150">

File:Alice-130.png|Alice-130 fighting at the Apex.

File:Douglas-042.png|Douglas-042 fighting at the Apex.

*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{C|Indirect mention only}}

{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:UNSC Victories]]