Editing Massacre at Eridanus Secundus

{{Era|HCW}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Raid of Reach]]
|conc=
|next=[[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]]
|name=Massacre at Eridanus Secundus
|image=
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=[[2552#September|September 12-13, 2552]]
|place=[[Eridanus Secundus]], [[Eridanus system]]
|result= Covenant victory:
* [[UNSC]] retreat
* Presumed destruction of the Eridanus rebels
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[Eridanus Rebels]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|commanders1=*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]]
*Governor [[Jacob Jiles]]
|commanders2=unknown
|forces1=
*[[Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]]
**Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb
**[[Lieutenant]] [[Haverson]]
**[[Dr. Halsey]]
**6 Spartans 
***[[John-117]]
***[[Kelly-087]]
***[[Frederic-104]]
***[[William-043]]
***[[Grace-093]]
***[[Linda-058]]
**[[Cortana]]
**[[Avery J. Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]]
**[[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]]
*Eridanus Rebel Fleet
**[[Jacob Jiles|Governor Jiles]]
|forces2=8 warships
|casual1=
*[[Corporal Locklear]]
*Governor [[Jacob Jiles]] (presumed)
*Rebels assumed to all be killed after the UNSC retreated
|casual2=*1 [[Covenant cruiser|cruiser]]
}}

The '''Massacre at Eridanus Secundus''' was a minor event in the [[Human-Covenant War]] that ultimately resulted in the destruction of the [[Insurrectionist|Eridanus rebels]]. It is most notable for the involvement of the [[Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]] and [[Dr. Halsey|Dr. Halsey's]] kidnapping of [[Kelly-087]].

== Background ==

=== Spartans and Colonel Watts ===
{{main|Assault on Eridanus Secundus}}
In [[2525]], the [[Spartan-II]] unit's first assignment was to infiltrate the [[Eridanus rebels]]' base, [[Eridanus Secundus]], and capture their leader, [[Robert Watts|Colonel Robert Watts]]. The extraction component of the mission did not go smoothly and the Spartans were forced to destroy the base's hangar, killing large numbers of both rebel combatants and non-combatants. Of the 5 members of the team that were involved in that mission, 4 participated in this battle including [[John-117]].<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page ??''; '''2010''', ''pages 302-303''</ref>

=== Raid of Reach and Earth ===
{{main|Raid of Reach|Earth}}
During the Raid of Reach, Cortana intercepted transmissions between Covenant forces that indicated that the Covenant were planning on attacking Earth. They intended to rendezvous at the [[Unyielding Hierophant]] before finally attacking the [[human]] homeworld.

However, the Raid of Reach and the subsequent battle in the slipspace anomaly took them well beyond UNSC controlled space and severely damaged the ''[[Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]]''.  Looking for a place to acquire repairs, [[John-117]] recalled his earlier mission to the rebel base and suggested it.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page ??''; '''2010''', ''page 291''</ref>

=== The crystal ===
The [[Forerunner crystal]] that was found on Reach and caused the [[slipspace anomaly]] posed a problem. While most slipspace movement could go undetected, the crystal sent out large doses of radiation that could be detected by the Covenant, effectively allowing them to track its movements. As such, the arrival of the ''[[Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]]'' in the outer reaches of the [[Eridanus System]] spelled the doom of the Eridanus rebel base.

== The battle ==

=== Scouting patrol ===
After negotiating a meeting, which involved Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb blowing up another asteroid that was similar to the rebel base to force Governor [[Jacob Jiles]] to allow him and his staff entry to the base, Whitcomb warned Jiles that the crystal meant that the Covenant would soon be arriving. Governor Jiles had just asked for proof of this claim when a [[Covenant cruiser]] emerged from slipspace.  After quickly assessing that both sides didn't have nearly the armed capabilities that they initially thought, Vice Admiral Whitcomb tried the only solution available to him - the firing of a [[plasma turret]]. However, the plasma cannon's magnetic coil failed, making the plasma blast shoot straight into the Gettysburg's hull rather than at the Covenant warship.

It was suggested by [[John-117|Spartan-117]] to try using the magnetic coil on the Gettysburg to direct plasma from the ''Ascendant Justice''. This worked and successfully destroyed the cruiser, but at the cost of destroying the turret that had fired the shot.

However, the scouting report proved that a Covenant fleet was coming and Governor Jiles agreed to help the UNSC forces. With the help of the rebels, they began repairs on the two warships.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page ??''; '''2010''', ''pages 315-321''</ref>

=== The commandeering ===

[[Dr. Halsey]], who had spent large portions of her career wrestling with her guilt, had decided to pursue her own agenda to try and save the [[Spartans]]. To this end, she sedated [[Kelly-087]] and gave the [[Forerunner crystal]] to [[Corporal]] [[Locklear]] with explicit instructions to destroy it.

With the Corporal's help, she was able to move the Spartan onto Governor Jiles' [[Chiroptera-class stealth vessel]], ''[[Beatrice]]'', which she then used to flee the system. This move frustrated both Governor Jiles, who felt it was a betrayal of trust, and Vice Admiral Whitcomb.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page ??''; '''2010''', ''pages 330-334''</ref>

=== The main force ===

However, neither were given much time to complain about the matter, as a large [[Covenant fleet]] arrived in system shortly after the Doctor's departure. Initially, 2 warships entered the system, prompting the coupled ''[[Gettysburg]]-[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to leave the rebel base, though without the evacuees on board.

By the time they were clear, a total of thirty Covenant warships had entered the system from three separate vectors. Whitcomb, feeling his duty was to Earth, not the rebels, ordered an immediate retreat to slipspace, leaving the helpless rebels to their doom.

Before departing, Corporal Locklear destroyed the Forerunner crystal, but underestimated the crystal's latent energy, and was killed in the process.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page ??''; '''2010''', ''pages 338-341''</ref>

== Aftermath ==

=== Rebels ===
It is assumed that the rebels were destroyed by the [[Covenant]] forces after the retreat of the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice''. No mention is ever made of any refugees on board the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice''.

===Operation: FIRST STRIKE===
{{Main|Operation: FIRST STRIKE}}
The ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice'' would take a detour to the Covenant rendezvous by ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' in Operation: FIRST STRIKE, eventually annihilating the vast majority of the fleet.

=== Dr. Halsey and Kelly-087 ===
{{Main|Onyx Conflict}}
The Doctor and Spartan would eventually wind up over the planet [[Onyx]] during the [[Onyx Conflict]], a battle they would play a major role in. They would eventually be joined by several other survivors from this battle.

=== ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice''===
It was shown that despite the rebels repairs, the ''Gettysburg-Ascendant Justice'' was in terrible shape from all the damage it had taken both during the battle over Reach and the following skirmishes. Thanks to the rebels repairs, the ''Ascendant Justice'' was able to put up a fight in [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]] and helped destroy a Covenant fleet. The ''Gettysburg'' was rendered habitable and was able to return to Earth after the battle.

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Im}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Insurrection}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Human-Covenant War|Eridanus Secundus]]
[[Category:Covenant victories|Eridanus Secundus]]