Editing Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion

{{Status|RealWorld}}

'''''Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion''''' (formerly '''''Halo: Fall of Reach - Pillar of Autumn''''') is the third and final story arc in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', a comic-book adaptation of the first ''[[Halo universe|Halo]]'' novel, ''[[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> The series follows the general plot of the novel with a number of alterations in details. For a full list of the differences, see [[List of changes in Halo: Fall of Reach|list of changes in ''Halo: Fall of Reach'']].

{{Article quote|The relentless covenant has begun the invasion of the planet Reach! As their forces begin to overwhelm the UNSC, it becomes apparent that it is not a question of if the covenant will destroy reach... but when? Brian Reed and Felix Ruiz begin the final chapter of the Halo: Fall of Reach comic series!}}

The first issue begins following the weeks after the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]. Captain [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]] is debriefed at [[Camp Hathcock]] about the intercepted Covenant transmission and is assigned command of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. [[John-117|John]] receives upgrades to his [[Spartan neural interface|neural interface]] and is introduced to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|MJOLNIR Mark V armor]] and the suit's [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] companion, [[Cortana]]. Together, they partake in a field test to [[Ring the Bell|ring a bell]] by going through an obstacle course involving [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], a minefield with [[Lotus anti-tank mine]]s, automated chain guns, and an unexpected [[SkyHawk]]. Meanwhile, out on the edge of the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], [[Remote Scanning Outpost]] ''[[Fermion]]'' receives data from one of its returning [[Slipstream space probe]]s indicating that a [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]] of Covenant ships have arrived in system. Unable to erase vital information, the ''Fermion'' self-destructs in accordance with [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]].

[[File:FoR - Invasion 2.jpg|100px|right]]

{{Article quote|Testing the new Mjolnir Mark V armor, the Master Chief and his AI companion Cortana face off against an [sic] UNSC SkyHawk. The unexpected has happened: the Covenant have found the planet Reach. Brian Reed and Felix Ruiz continue the final chapter of the Halo: Fall of Reach comic series!}}

The second issue follows John and Cortana as they successfully pass [[James Ackerson|Colonel Ackerson's]] field test. As an act of revenge for having tried to kill her and John, Cortana has Ackerson transferred to the front lines. All focus is then switched to [[Operation: RED FLAG]], a secret mission that involves the Spartan-IIs seizing a Covenant vessel in hopes of capturing a Covenant [[Hierarchs|Hierarch]]. However, the mission is interrupted when the Covenant fleet begins attacking [[Reach]]. The Covenant land troops on Reach with the objective of destroying the generators for the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|Super MACs]]. At the same time, Cortana reveals that the [[UNSC prowler]] ''[[UNSC Circumference|Circumference]]'',  is still docked in [[Gamma Station|Reach Station Gamma]] and has not initiated the Cole Protocol. John takes [[Linda-058]] and [[James-005]] to deal with the ''Circumference'', while the rest of the Spartans led by [[Frederic-104]] are sent down to the planet to defend the MACs' [[orbital defense generator|power generators]].

[[File:FoR - Invasion 3.jpg|100px|right]]

{{Article quote|The Pillar Of Autumn And The UNSC Face Off Against A Massive Covenant Force. The Master Chief And His Fellow Spartans Defend The Planet Reach. Brian Reed And Felix Ruiz Continue The Final Chapter Of The Halo: Fall Of Reach Comic Series!}}

The third issue begins with Fred and the rest of [[Red Team]] heading down to the surface of Reach to assist in defending [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331]]. During the descent, their [[Pelican]] is damaged and forced to crash-land near the generator station. Meanwhile, John's [[Blue Team|team]] arrive at Gamma station. As the Battle of Reach continues in orbit, many UNSC ships including the ''[[UNSC Musashi|Musashi]]'' and the ''[[UNSC Herodotus|Herodotus]]'' are destroyed by a [[Kewu-pattern battleship|massive Covenant warship]]. Under Keyes' command the ''Pillar of Autumn'' uses its MAC and over 500 Archer missiles to drop the ship's shields and obliterate it. Back on Gamma station, James is lost in the vacuum of space after being struck by a plasma bolt just as they blow an entrance inside the facility. The issue ends with John and Linda going to destroy the ''Circumference's'' NAV data and finding the station overrun with Covenant troops.

[[File:FoR - Invasion 4.jpg|100px|right]]

{{Article quote|The Covenant Continues Its Invasion Of The—Planet Reach, Pushing The UNSC To Its Breaking Point. Master Chief And Cortana Struggle To Save The Planet And The Fleet. The Final Chapter in The Halo: Fall Of Reach Saga By Brian Reed And Felix Ruiz!}}

*[[Frederic-104]]

*[[Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|Covenant SDV-class heavy corvette]]

*[[CAS-class assault carrier|Covenant CAS-class assault carrier]]

*[[Covenant cruiser]]

*{{Pattern|Kewu|battleship}}

**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]

*{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}

*{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}

*{{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}

*{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}}

*{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}

*[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]

{{Ref/Sources}}