Editing Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant

{{Title|''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant''}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Book Info
|image=[[File:Halo Covenant HC.jpg|200px]]
|author=*[[Brian Reed]] (writer)
*Felix Ruiz (pencils, inks)
*Val Staples (colors)
*Nate Piekos (letters)
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] and [[343 Industries]]
|publication=Issue #1: April 20, [[2011]]<ref>[http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/33866/halo_fall_of_reach_-_covenant_2010_1 '''Marvel.com''': ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant (2010) #1'']</ref><br>
Issue #2: July 13, 2011<ref>[http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/33840/halo_fall_of_reach_-_covenant_2010_2 '''Marvel.com''': ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant (2010) #2'']</ref><br>
Issue #3: September 7, 2011<ref>[http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/33836/halo_fall_of_reach_-_covenant_2010_3 '''Marvel.com''': ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant (2010) #3'']</ref><br>
Issue #4: October 19, 2011<ref>[http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/33825/halo_fall_of_reach_-_covenant_2010_4 '''Marvel.com''': ''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant (2010) #4'']</ref><br>
Hardcover collection: December 14, 2011<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Reach-Covenant-Brian-Reed/dp/0785151486/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315421065&sr=1-1 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Fall of Reach: Covenant (Hardcover)'']</ref>
|media=
|length=4 issues
|length-title=Length
|ISBN=
}}

'''''Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant''''' is the second story arc in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', a comic-book adaptation of the first ''[[Halo universe|Halo]]'' novel, ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' published by [[Marvel Comics]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/transmissions/article/2010-06-22--Marvel-Comics-to-Adapt-The-Fall-of-Reach-This-September '''Halo Waypoint''': Marvel Comics to Adapt ''The Fall of Reach'' this September]</ref> 

Consisting of four issues, ''Covenant'' chronicles the early days of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. 

''Covenant'' will be succeeded by one last story arc; ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''.<ref>[http://comics.ign.com/articles/111/1118824p1.html '''IGN''': ''Halo: Master Chief's Boot Camp'']</ref><ref>[http://comics.ign.com/articles/116/1164848p1.html '''IGN''': ''Halo: Orchestrating the Fall of Reach'']</ref>

==Plot synopsis==
The series follows the plot of the novel, though some events have been omitted.

==Issues==
===Issue 1===
[[File:FoR_-_Covenant_1_cover.jpg|100px|right]]
'''Official summary'''
{{Article Quote|FROM THE BESTSELLING PREQUEL HALO: FALL OF REACH! It is a question that man has long asked—are we alone in the universe? This February, the United Nations Space Command learns the answer to that question… and unfortunately, the answer is NO. Catch the beginning of the struggle between Man and Covenant in this epic series based on the novel by Eric Nylund, adapted by Brian Reed, and brought brilliantly to life by Felix Ruiz!}}

'''Synopsis'''<br>
The first issue begins with [[Wallace|Captain Wallace]], [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]], and the Spartans IIs on board the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} en route to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]] in 2525. The frigate is immediately attacked by a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Unrelenting|vessel]]. Dr. Halsey and the Spartans escape to the surface of the planet. Upon arriving at the facility, the Spartans are introduced and fitted with the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV armor]]. As the Covenant ship prepares to attack again, [[John-117|John]] recommends that they take MJOLNIR for a field test. John, [[Kelly-087|Kelly]], and [[Samuel-034|Sam]] board a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] and plan to attack the ship by detonating an [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile|ANVIL-II Missile]] inside the vessel. The issue ends as John, Kelly, and Sam leap out of their Pelican prepared to assault the Covenant vessel.

===Issue 2===
[[File:Covenant - 2.jpg|100px|right]]
'''Official Summary'''
{{Article Quote|After being nearly destroyed in an attack by a Covenant craft, the UNSC frigate Commonwealth is in bad shape. Before the Covenant ship can return for a second attack, the Spartans set out to overtake it. And, with the new Mjolnir armor - the single most cutting-edge piece of technology developed since the Spartans themselves - they're a force to be reckoned with. But the Covenant is still an unknown quantity, and it may take more than the Spartans' new armor to stop them.}}

'''Synopsis'''<br>
The second issue follows John, Kelly, and Sam as they infiltrate the Covenant vessel. As they explore the ship, Sam is struck by an overcharged bolt from a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] wielded by a [[Kig-yar|Jackal]] while trying to protect John. They manage to make it to the ship's reactor room and plant the ANVIL-II missile. As they prepare to leave the ship, Sam must remain behind as the vacuum seal in his armor has been compromised. Rather than die in the vacuum of space, Sam volunteers to hold off Covenant forces and allow the missile to explode, destroying the entire ship. The narrative then jumps twenty seven years forward, as the Covenant lay siege to the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] in 2552.

===Issue 3===
[[File:Covenant - 3.jpg|100px|right]]
'''Official summary'''
{{Article Quote|The Covenant have invaded a human colony -- but what are they searching for? Master Chief and his Spartans must discover the truth behind the Covenant's actions before the planet and everyone on it is turned to glass! The HALO saga continues as Brian Reed (SPIDER-MAN: AMERICAN SON) & Felix Ruiz (MARVEL BOY: THE URANIAN) continue to adapt the best selling novel HALO: THE FALL OF REACH by Eric Nylund.}}

'''Synopsis'''<br>
The third issue begins with [[Harland|Corporal Harland]]'s squad arriving at the destroyed [[Alpha Headquarters|Alpha HQ]]. He assumes tactical command but is quickly relieved by a team of Spartan-IIs led by John, now a [[Master Chief Petty Officer]]. John splits the Spartans into separate teams and plans to wipe out nearby Covenant forces by detonating a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]  in the city. Meanwhile, as the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] continues in orbit. The {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} led by Commander [[Jacob Keyes]] rams a [[DAV-class light corvette|Covenant corvette]], stopping ground forces from transmitting data. The narrative then returns to [[Blue Team]] as they investigate Covenant activity at the [[Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History]]. They discover that the Covenant are scanning a granite [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|artifact]], and sending the information to a ship in orbit. The issue ends with Blue Team suddenly coming into contact with a pair of [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]].

===Issue 4===
[[File:Covenant-4.jpg|100px|right]]
'''Official summary'''
{{Article Quote|The Covenant have invaded a human colony -- but what are they searching for? Master Chief and his Spartans must discover the truth behind the Covenant's actions before the planet and everyone on it is turned to glass! The HALO saga continues as Brian Reed (SPIDER-MAN: AMERICAN SON) & Felix Ruiz (MARVEL BOY: THE URANIAN) continue to adapt the best selling novel HALO: THE FALL OF REACH by Eric Nylund.}}

'''Synopsis'''<br>
The fourth issue opens with the crew of the UNSC Iroquois intercepting the Covenant transmission from the Museum of Natural History in Côte d'Azur. Meanwhile inside the Museum, Blue Team engages in a massive firefight with the two Hunters. The Spartans are victorious and manage to retrieve the artifact. With the artifact secured and remaining civilians rescued from the city, everyone at Alpha HQ is evacuated. Once in orbit, the HAVOK nuke is detonated underneath the city streets. With the Covenant wiped out and defeated, all remaining UNSC ships plot a course back to [[Reach]]. The story arc ends with the UNSC ''Iroquois'' entering [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], unwittingly bringing a Covenant [[spy probe]] along with it that will inevitably lead the Covenant to Reach.

==Appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Characters===
*[[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Catherine Halsey]]
*[[Wallace|Captain Wallace]]
*[[Franklin Mendez]] {{C|Flashback only}}
*[[John-117]]
*[[Kelly-087]]
*[[Samuel-034]]
*[[Frederic-104]]
*[[Linda-058]]
*[[Joshua-029]]
*[[James-005]]
*[[Harland|Corporal Harland]]
*[[Fincher|Private Fincher]]
*[[Walker|Private Walker]]
*[[Jacob Keyes]]
*[[William Lovell|Ensign William Lovell]]
*[[Aki Hikowa|Lieutenant Aki Hikowa]]
*[[Dominique|Lieutenant Dominique]]
*[[Hall|Lieutenant Hall]]

===Species===
*[[Human]]
*[[Kig-yar]]
*[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Unggoy]]

===Locations===
*[[Chi Ceti System|Chi Ceti System]]
**[[Chi Ceti IV ]]
***[[Damascus Testing Facility]]
*[[Sigma Octanus system]]
**[[Sigma Octanus IV]]
***[[Alpha Headquarters| UNSC HQ – Camp Alpha]]
***[[Côte d'Azur]]
****[[Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History]]
*[[Reach]] {{Mo}}

===Events===
*[[Battle of Chi Ceti IV]]
*[[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]

===Organizations===
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC Navy]]
***[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]]
****[[SPARTAN-II Program]]
*****[[Blue Team]]
*****[[Green Team]]
*****[[Red Team]]
***[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*[[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]
**[[Covenant Navy]]
{{col-2}}

===Vehicles===
*[[Covenant destroyer]]
*[[Unrelenting|Covenant vessel]]
*[[DAV-class light corvette]]
*[[D77-TC Pelican]]
*[[GA-TL1 Longsword]]
*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle]]
**[[M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]
*{{Class|Marathon|cruiser}}
**{{UNSCShip|Leviathan}}
*[[Refit station]]
**[[UNSC Cradle]]
*[[UNSC destroyer]]
**{{UNSCShip|Iroquois}}
*[[UNSC frigate]]
**{{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} 
*[[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage]] {{Mo}}
*[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft]]

===Weapons===
*[[Assault cannon]]
*[[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile|ANVIL-II Missile]]
*[[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] 
*[[MA2B Individual Combat Weapon System|MA2B Assault Rifle]]
*[[MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5B Assault Rifle]]
*[[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]
*[[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon]]
*[[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenade|Fragmentation Grenade]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]]

===Technology===
*[[Black body suit]]
*[[Door]]
*[[Holography]]
**[[Holotank]]
*[[Kig-yar point defense gauntlet]]
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV]]
*[[Spy probe]]
*[[Unggoy combat harness]]
*[[UNSC Marine Corps Battle Dress Uniform]]
{{col-end}}

==Differences to the novel==
{{Expand-section}}
*During the Battle of Chi Ceti IV, the Spartans board ''[[Unrelenting]]'' with nuclear missiles, perhaps [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shivas]]. In the book, they use [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]]s, which have conventional warheads. As seen in [[:File:Anvil II wing.JPG|this image]], the missiles used in the comic are far too large to be ANVIL-IIs.
*Inside the Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History, the Spartans kill the Hunter pair by toppling a stone pillar with grenades, crushing the Hunters. In the novel, the Spartans dispatch the Hunters by creating an opening on the floor below them with grenades, causing them to fall into the basement. In the adaptation, the Spartans are pursued inside the by a large group of Grunts, who are killed by a falling elephant skeleton; in the novel, the Spartans remain undetected during their escape.

==Differences to other media==
*During the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, the SPARTAN-IIs are depicted wearing the Mark IV MJOLNIR armor even though the Mark V had already been issued in [[2551#November|November 2551]]. Furthermore, the Spartans wear second-generation Mark IV armor, (the version seen in ''[[Halo Wars]]''), which had been replaced by at least one [[:File:CP armor.png|subsequent version]] before the introduction of the Mark V. This is because, according to the novel, the Mark V was not issued until August 29, 2552; later media have retconned the Mark V's date of issue to November 24, 2551.

==Sources==
<references/>
{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''|title=[[Halo: Fall of Reach]] comic series|years='''''Covenant'''''|after=''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''}}
{{Comics}}
[[Category:Comics|Fall of Reach - Covenant]]
[[Category:Canon]]