Editing Harvest campaign
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Era|HW|H3R|HE|LE}} | ||
{{ | {{Ratings}} | ||
{{ | |||
|prev = [[Battle of Harvest]] | {{battle | ||
|conc = [[Battle of Hat Yai]], [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]], [[Battle of XI Boötis A]], [[Battle of | |prev = [[Second Battle of Harvest]] | ||
|next = [[Battle | |conc = [[Battle of Hat Yai]], [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]], [[Battle of XI Boötis A]], [[Battle of Eridanus II]], [[Battle of the Great Bear]] | ||
|name = Harvest | |next = [[First Battle of Arcadia]] | ||
|image = [[File: | |name = Harvest Campaign | ||
|image = [[File:Harvest Marines.jpg|350px|]] | |||
|conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]] | |conflict = [[Human-Covenant War]] | ||
|date = [[2526]] to | |date = [[2526]] to February 5th, [[2531]] | ||
|place = [[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi | |place = [[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi System]] | ||
|result = | |result = UNSC Pyrrhic Victory | ||
*Harvest severely glassed in all but its | *Harvest severely glassed in all but its Northern regions. | ||
*[[Forerunner]] [[Relic ( | *[[Forerunner]] [[Relic (Structure)|Relic]] recovered. | ||
*Tactical control of Harvest gained | *Tactical control of Harvest gained. | ||
*Heavy UNSC casualties | *Heavy UNSC casualties. | ||
|side1 = [[United Nations Space Command]] | |side1 = [[United Nations Space Command]] | ||
|side2 = [[Covenant]] | |side2 = [[Covenant Empire]] | ||
|commanders1 =*[[ | |commanders1 = | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]] | *[[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter]] | |||
*[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] | |||
*[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Orez]] | *[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Orez]] | ||
|commanders2 = | |||
|commanders2 =*[[Prophet of Regret]] | *[[Prophet of Regret]] | ||
*[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] | *[[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] | ||
*[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] | *[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] | ||
|forces1 = | |||
|forces1 = | *Several UNSC Warships | ||
* | **{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} | ||
***[[Fire Team Echo]] | |||
***[[Fire Team India]] | |||
***[[Fire Team Lima]] | |||
***[[Fire Team November]] | |||
***[[Tango 14]] | |||
***[[Tango 33]] | |||
***[[Bravo 29]] | |||
*** | |||
**{{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} | **{{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} | ||
** | **[[UNSC Prowler|ONI Prowler]] | ||
|forces2 = | |forces2 = | ||
*Several Covenant Warships | |||
* | |casual1 = | ||
*Heavy casualties | |||
*UNSC Prophecy | |||
|casual1 =*Heavy casualties | |casual2 = | ||
* | *Heavy casualties | ||
|casual2 =*Heavy casualties | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|At first it was going well. Then setback after setback, and loss after loss, made what was going to be a quick and decisive win - into five years of hell.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter]]}} | |||
'''The Harvest Campaign''',<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''[[Veronica Dare]] in-game character profile''</ref> also known as the '''Liberation of Harvest''',<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''[[Edward Buck]] in-game character profile''</ref> was a five year long campaign to retake the devastated [[UNSC]] colony world of [[Harvest]] from the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], beginning in [[2526]] and ending on February 5th, [[2531]]. Similar in the manner of [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], the Harvest Campaign was a long, drawn out operation, rather than a single battle.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', ''[[Five Long Years Cinematic]]''</ref><ref name="wayP">'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''' - ''"The Secret Below Harvest" video''</ref> | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
===Contact | ===Contact With the Covenant=== | ||
{{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | {{Main|First Battle of Harvest}} | ||
The [[ | The UNSC colony world of Harvest was founded in [[2468]] by the {{UNSCShip|Skidbladnir}}, being one of the furthest colonies from [[Earth]]. By 2525, Harvest had become the major agricultural center of the UNSC. However, during the same year, there were reports of an unidentified vessel near the planet, and all contact with Harvest ceased soon afterward. Only several thousand [[civilian]]s had made it back to the UNSC, telling of a near unstoppable alien ship.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref> | ||
A UNSC Battle group of two [[UNSC Frigate|frigates]] and a [[UNSC Destroyer|destroyer]] were sent to investigate, and found most of the surface of Harvest reduced to [[glassing|molten glass]]. A large [[Covenant Battleship|alien battleship]] was found in orbit over Harvest, and transmitted a message of perfect English, calling themselves "The Covenant" and vowing the destruction of Humanity. The ship opened fire with advanced [[plasma]] weaponry and destroyed the two frigates, leaving the destroyer to escape damaged.<ref name="Gen">'''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'''</ref><ref name="Cole">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''</ref> | |||
===UNSC | ===UNSC Counter-Attack=== | ||
{{Main|Battle of Harvest}} | {{Main|Second Battle of Harvest}} | ||
In response to | In response to this, the UNSC went to full red alert, and began mobilizing the largest fleet in UNSC history. However, they needed an experienced commander to lead it. They turned to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Jeremiah Cole]], a now retired veteran of the [[Insurrection]], and brilliant military tactician. Cole reluctantly agreed, and was promoted to full [[Admiral]].<ref name="Gen"/><ref name="Cole"/> | ||
When Cole's fleet of forty ships arrived at Harvest, they found the same, colossal ship in orbit. The Covenant ship immediately opened fire and began picking off Cole's ships one by one. | When Cole's fleet of forty ships arrived at Harvest, they found the same, colossal ship in orbit. The Covenant ship immediately opened fire, and began picking off Cole's ships one by one. Both [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s and [[Shiva-class Nuclear Missile]]s had no effect on the alien energy shields and the fleet was taking a tremendous beating. It was only a last minute tactical inspiration - firing everything they had all at once - that won the battle, and even then, Cole had lost thirteen ships.<ref name="Gen"/><ref name="Cole"/> | ||
==Retaking Harvest== | ==Retaking Harvest== | ||
===Early | ===Early Victories=== | ||
[[File:Pelican on Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb| | [[File:Pelican on Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Pelicans reinforcing troops on Harvest.]] | ||
Despite Cole's | Despite Cole's "victory", the Covenant began swarming the [[Outer Colonies]], and were determined to retake control of Harvest. They sent even more ships there, and engaged UNSC forces on the surface as well as in space. The Covenant were clearly looking for something on the planet, and would stop at nothing to find it. The UNSC however, continued to retaliate, with most engagements occurring in the ruined cities of Harvest.<ref name="HW">'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''levels [[Alpha Base (Level)]], [[Relic Approach (Level)]] and [[Relic Interior (Level)]]''</ref><ref name="Home">'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[Homecoming]]''</ref><ref name="wayP"/> | ||
Surprisingly, the UNSC was actually beginning to get the upper hand on the ground, and slowly began to push the Covenant back. It was soon assumed that victory was over the horizon, with UNSC forces taking back most of what was left of the planet. These victories, along with Cole's original victory, were being broadcast across the colonies, as a sign of hope to boost morale.<ref name="Gen"/><ref name="Cole"/> | |||
However, the Covenant still | However, the Covenant still had a superior advantage in space, and had won numerous engagements against the little ships the UNSC could spare, as Cole had the majority of the fleet spread out across the Outer Colonies.<ref name="HW"/> | ||
===The Covenant | ===The Covenant Strike Back=== | ||
[[File:Covenant Destroyers Glass Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb| | [[File:Covenant Destroyers Glass Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Covenant Destroyer]]s glass Harvest.]] | ||
Due to the Covenant victories in space, their ships began to glass even more of Harvest, killing helpless UNSC forces on the surface. More ships began to arrive at Harvest, and deployed many more troops on the ground, eradicating almost all human presence on the planet. UNSC forces were battered, and forced to retreat across the planet, leaving the Covenant free to scour the planet for the [[Forerunner]] [[Relic (Structure)|artifact]] they sought.<ref name="HW"/><ref name="wayP"/> One such instance of the new Covenant retaliation killed two [[SPARTAN-II]] Supersoldiers, [[Daisy-023]] and [[Ralph-303]], who were fighting on Harvest at the time.<ref name="Home"/> | |||
After Covenant forces led by [[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] discovered a Forerunner structure under the ice, the Prophet of Regret sent | After the Covenant forces on Harvest led by [[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] discovered a Forerunner structure under the ice, the [[Prophet of Regret]] sent [[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] to lead the excavation operation and retrieve any significant artifacts. | ||
In a last ditch attempt to remove the Covenant, the | In a last ditch attempt to remove the Covenant, the [[Marathon-class Cruiser]], {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} was sent to Harvest. The ''Prophecy'' managed to destroy several enemy ships, and set up a small [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|military presence]] on the ground. However, the ship was critically damaged, and was stranded with its reactor leaking lethal radiation. An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[UNSC Prowler|Prowler]] was present in-system to witness the battle, but (in order to maintain stealth) made no attempt to evacuate any survivors from the ''Prophecy'' and jumped out of the system to inform Fleet command instead.<ref name="Gen"/> | ||
==Final | ==Final Liberation of Harvest== | ||
On January | On January 6th, 2531, while in a UNSC staging area in interstellar space, [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] received a message from [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Orez]] of the ONI. Orez informed Cole that the Prophecy had repelled newly arrived Covenant warships in the [[Epsilon Indi System]], and that there were survivors to be rescued. The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} was chosen by Cole due to it's role as a "support ship" rather than a warship. The ''Spirit of Fire'', along with a [[UNSC Frigate]] arrived at the system on 4th February 2531 three days after the ''Prophecy'' sent their message.<ref name="Gen"/> | ||
===Space | ===Space Battle=== | ||
Upon their arrival, [[Serina]], ''Spirit of Fire'' | Upon their arrival, [[Serina]], the ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Artificial Intelligence]], analyzed the ''Prophecy'' and reported that the ships nuclear reactor was damaged and was releasing harmful doses of radiation throughout the ship. The ''Spirit of Fire'' attempted to draw the Covenant away from the ''Prophecy'' by using its [[MAC]] gun and [[HAVOK Nuclear Warhead]]s upon enemy craft. While it destroyed a number of dropships, they destroyed only one Covenant warship, as the rest gathered behind the ''Prophecy'' to avoid being fired upon. | ||
[[File: | [[File:Phantom and Pelican.png|thumb|250px|Fire Team Lima's Pelican heading towards the ''Prophecy''.]] | ||
[[Fire Team Lima]], commanded by [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]], was transported to the ship, but their [[ | [[Fire Team Lima]], commanded by [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]], was transported to the ship, but their [[Dropship 77-Troop Carrier|Pelican]] was fired on and made a crash landing on the ''Prophecy''. The landing resulted in the death of [[Chris (Marine)|a Marine]] and forced the survivors to use torches to burn their way into the ''Prophecy''. The team split up with Lima-One (Forge) heading for the NAV room and the rest of Lima searching for survivors. Serina noted to Forge that the ships AI "[[FitzGibbon]]" may act "peculiar" due to elevated radiation levels. Forge was originally denied access to the NAV room by FitzGibbon due to misconduct in his service record. After Forge reminded him of the Covenant boarders, FitzGibbon gladly allowed him entrance into the NAV room to purge the data. FitzGibbon then activated a three-minute self-destruct timer and informed Forge his team was in Bay 2. Upon his arrival at Bay 2, the team quickly evacuated with some of the ''Prophecy'''s crew. After arriving back on the ''Spirit'', the survivors were taken to the Medical Bay, where Serina informed Forge that the radiation poisoning that the crew sustained was too severe and that they would certainly die. | ||
After the threat in space was destroyed, the | After the threat in space was destroyed, the ONI kidnapped a civilian scientist, [[Ellen Anders]]. ONI wanted her to decipher a Covenant message written in [[List of Forerunner Symbols|Forerunner symbols]]. Anders was then sent to the ''Spirit of Fire'' via the {{UNSCShip|Last Gleaming}}. Upon her investigation, she concluded that the message meant that "treasure" (Relics) were to be found, but hidden (from the Humans). Shortly thereafter, Anders scanned the northern polar region of Harvest, concluding that there was a structure under the ice.<ref name="Gen"/> | ||
===Ground | ===Ground Battle=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Siege of Alpha Base.png|250px|thumb|right|Alpha Base under attack.]] | ||
During the | During the battle, [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|Alpha Base]] on the northern polar region near the Forerunner structure served as a staging point for Forge's reconnaissance patrol. In the early stages of the ground battle, Anders redirected a squadron of [[AV-14 Attack VTOL|Hornets]] on their way to [[Rally Point Baker]] near Alpha Base to investigate activity readings on [[Quadrant 4]], where they discovered a significant concentration of Covenant forces. Sergeant Forge was sent to investigate further, but the Covenant had already moved on. During this time, Alpha Base was destroyed and occupied by the Covenant while the UNSC forces in the area were scattered. | ||
As a response, the ''Spirit of Fire'' sent UNSC reinforcements to retake the Alpha Base. Forge managed to collect survivors, and recaptured the area, destroying the Covenant presence with assistance from [[Shortsword-class Bomber|Shortsword]] bombers, and reestablishing the base, from which he lead an assault to capture [[Relic (Structure)|a Forerunner relic]] uncovered by the Covenant. As the UNSC forces approached the Forerunner relic, the Prophet of Regret ordered the Arbiter to destroy the structure in order to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. However, the UNSC managed to destroy the detonator in time, and push into the interior of the structure. | |||
Upon capturing the structure, Anders opened a [[Holography|holographic]] map of nearby star systems. Several [[Sangheili]] disengaged their [[ | Upon capturing the structure, Anders opened up a [[Holography|holographic]] map of nearby star systems. Several [[Sangheili]] disengaged their [[Active Camouflage]] and attacked Forge's group. When he and his Marines were pinned down, two [[Grizzly|Grizzlies]] were dropped in from the ''Spirit of Fire'' to help Forge escape. The Grizzlies arrived in time to save Forge and his men, along with the professor. The Grizzly tanks cleared a path and led Forge and Professor Anders to waiting Pelican dropships to return to the Spirit of Fire, while the Alpha Base reinforcements Marines held off the Covenant.<ref name="HW"/> | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
The information gained by the Covenant from the Forerunner structure led them to the UNSC colony [[Arcadia (Planet)|Arcadia]]. Anders was drawn to the same planet after examining the artifact. The Covenant [[First Battle of Arcadia|attacked]] Arcadia on February 9th, 2531, closely followed by the ''Spirit of Fire''. | |||
The information the Covenant | |||
Overall, however, the entire campaign was one of the greatest and earliest UNSC victories. Despite the heavy casualties, the UNSC had managed to retake Harvest, which although devastated, had important strategic value. The victory also boosted morale immensely across the colonies, proving that at least the Covenant were not invincible, and could be beaten. However, as the Covenant began to destroy the Outer Colonies and move in on the [[Inner Colonies]], Harvest lost its strategic value, and the UNSC began pulling back to protect more important worlds such as [[Reach]] and [[Earth]].<ref name="HW"/> | |||
==Participants== | ==Participants== | ||
Line 117: | Line 113: | ||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
'''United Nations Space Command''' | '''United Nations Space Command''' | ||
*[[Admiral]] [[Preston | *[[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]] | *[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter]] | ||
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jenkins (Captain)|Jenkins]] | *[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jenkins (Captain)|Jenkins]] | ||
*[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] | *[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] | ||
*[[Chris (Marine)|Chris]] | *[[Sergeant]] [[Hauser]] | ||
*[[Chris (Marine)|Chris]] | |||
*[[Edward Buck]] | *[[Edward Buck]] | ||
*[[Ellen Anders]] | *[[Ellen Anders]] | ||
*[[Serina]] | *[[Serina]] | ||
*[[FitzGibbon]] | *[[FitzGibbon]] | ||
*[[Daisy-023]] | |||
*[[Keiichi-047]] | *[[Keiichi-047]] | ||
*[[ | *[[John-117]]<ref>''Halo Legends'': Homecoming developer commentary - Frank O'Connor confirms that John appears at the end of the episode.</ref> | ||
*[[Helena Roman]] | *[[Ralph-303]] | ||
*[[Unnamed Spartan (Harvest)|Unnamed Spartan]] | |||
*[[Helena Roman]] | |||
*[[Mac (Homecoming)|Mac]] | |||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
'''Covenant''' | '''Covenant Empire''' | ||
*[[Prophet of Regret]] | *[[Prophet of Regret]] | ||
*[[Minister of Penance]] | *[[Minister of Penance]] | ||
*[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] | *[[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] | ||
*[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] | *[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] | ||
*[[Weapons Master]] [[Sanj'ik]] | *[[Weapons Master]] [[Sanj'ik]] | ||
*[['Crolunee]] | |||
*[[Je'ddak Zule]] | *[[Je'ddak Zule]] | ||
*[[Ustaf 'Nbekee]] | *[[Ustaf 'Nbekee]] | ||
*[[Prisoner 0005849784A]] | *[[Prisoner 0005849784A]] | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | |||
{{Human-Covenant War}} | {{Human-Covenant War}} | ||
[[Category:UNSC | [[Category:UNSC Victories]] | ||
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War]] | [[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War]] |