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{{ | {{Era|HCW}} | ||
{{Under | {{Under Construction}} | ||
{{Battle infobox | {{Battle infobox | ||
|name=Massacre of the Outer Colonies | |name=Massacre of the Outer Colonies | ||
|image=[[File:Harvest Plasma Glassed.jpg|350px]]< | |image=[[File:Harvest Plasma Glassed.jpg|350px]]<sup>[[Harvest]] glassed in 2525</sup> | ||
|prev=[[Skirmish on Minor Transgression | |prev=[[Skirmish on Minor Transgression]] | ||
|conc= | |conc= | ||
|next=*[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]] | |next=*[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]] | ||
*[[Battle of Meridian]] | *[[Battle of Meridian]] | ||
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | ||
|date= [[2525#February|February 3, 2525]] - [[2536#June|June 1, 2536]] | |date= [[2525#February|February 3, 2525]] - [[2536#June|June 1, 2536]]<ref name="HWTimeline">''[[Halo Wars]]'', collectible, [[Halo Wars Timeline Events]]</ref> | ||
|place=[[Outer Colonies]], [[Orion Arm]] | |place=[[Outer Colonies]], [[Orion Arm]] | ||
|result='''Covenant Victory''' | |result='''Covenant Victory''' | ||
Line 16: | Line 15: | ||
*[[Insurrection]] dies down due to heavy casualties from the Covenant attacks | *[[Insurrection]] dies down due to heavy casualties from the Covenant attacks | ||
|side1= | |side1= | ||
* | *[[File:Halo Waypoint - UEG.jpg|25px]] [[Unified Earth Government]] {{C|Supplanted by martial law later on}} | ||
** | **[[File:Halopedia Era UNSC.png|25px]] [[United Nations Space Command]] | ||
** | **[[Colonial Military Administration]] | ||
---- | ---- | ||
* | *[[File:Rebelfist.png|25px]] [[Insurrectionists]] | ||
**[[United Rebel Front]] | **[[United Rebel Front]] | ||
**[[Children of Mesra]] | **[[Children of Mesra]] | ||
|side2=* | |side2=*[[File:H5Covenant Logo2.png|25px]] [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] | ||
---- | ---- | ||
*[[United Rebel Front]] {{c|briefly during [[Operation: SILENT STORM]]}} | *[[United Rebel Front]] {{c|briefly during [[Operation: SILENT STORM]]}} | ||
|commanders1= | |commanders1=*[[Vice Admiral|VADM]] [[Preston Cole]] | ||
* | |commanders2=*[[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] | ||
|commanders2= | |||
*[[High Prophet of Regret]] | *[[High Prophet of Regret]] | ||
*[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]† | *[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]† | ||
---- | ---- | ||
*General [[Harper Garvin]] | *General [[Harper Garvin]] | ||
|forces1= | |forces1=*[[Bliss Defense Fleet]] | ||
*[[Third Fleet]] | |||
*[[Battle Group X-Ray]] | |||
**[[Task Force Yama]] | |||
*[[Battle Group 4]] | |||
*[[21st Space Assault Battalion]] | |||
|forces2=*[[Fleet of Glorious Interdiction]] | |forces2=*[[Fleet of Glorious Interdiction]] | ||
*[[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] | *[[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] | ||
*[[Fleet of Swift Justice]] | *[[Fleet of Swift Justice]] | ||
*[[ | *[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] | ||
|casual1=Immensely devastating | |casual1=Immensely devastating | ||
*Over 62,154,022 civilian and military casualties | *Over 62,154,022 civilian and military casualties<ref name="datapad14">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', collectible, [[Data pads|Data Pad 14]]</ref> | ||
*Hundreds of | *Hundreds of ships lost | ||
|casual2=Moderate to heavy | |casual2=Moderate to heavy | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Massacre of the Outer Colonies | The '''Massacre of the Outer Colonies'''<ref>''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'', p. 74 & 75</ref> is a series of engagements during the early portion of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="Xbox.com Halo Storyline">[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm ''Xbox.com:'' Halo Storyline] (Defunct, Copy on [http://halo.bungie.org/misc/mstimeline2.html HBO Forums] and [http://web.archive.org/web/20080424150226/www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm Wayback Machine])</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Line 64: | Line 54: | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
==Battle== | ==Battle== | ||
===Harvest and the humanity's response=== | |||
=== | {{CMAShip|Argo}} was tasked with investigating the silence of [[Harvest]], but signals with it were soon lost too. The [[Colonial Military Administration]] sent [[Battle Group 4]] to investigate the escalating situation. Arriving on [[2525#October|October 7, 2525]], the Battle group was attacked. Only the {{CMAShip|Heracles}} managed to escape. The ''Heracles'' returned to [[Reach]]<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', p. 96-99</ref> on October 31st, relaying what had happened and a message: ''"Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument."''<ref name="hsschapter2">''Halo: Silent Storm'', Chapter 2</ref> | ||
{{CMAShip|Argo}} was tasked with investigating the silence of [[Harvest]], but signals with it were soon lost too. The [[Colonial Military | |||
The following day, on [[2525#November|November 1, 2525]], the [[Unified Earth Government]] began | The following day, on [[2525#November|November 1, 2525]], the [[Unified Earth Government]] began mobilizing the CMA and UNSC.<ref name="hsschapter2"/> Specifically, the UNSC went to full alert and stripped the CMA of its forces, giving them to [[NAVCOM]] and [[UNICOM]].<ref name="HWTimeline" /> On November 2, the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] were deployed.<ref name="hsschapter2"/> | ||
===Early battles and losses=== | |||
On the 27th of November, [[Chi Ceti IV]] was [[Battle of Chi Ceti|assaulted]] by a [[Unrelenting|Covenant ship]] at the same time SPARTAN-II forces were receiving their [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]. Almost immediately after in [[2525#December|December]], the SPARTANs were reassigned to [[Battle of Alpha Corvi II|fight]] the Covenant at [[Alpha Corvi II]].<ref>''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''</ref> | |||
===The first year=== | ===The first year=== | ||
The beginning of [[2526]] saw the [[Battle of Bliss|destruction]] of [[Bliss]]. | The beginning of [[2526]] saw the [[Battle of Bliss|destruction]] of [[Bliss]].<ref name="accra">''[[Halo: Reach Limited Edition]]'', [[:File:Accra Log 1.jpg|Excerpt From ''Accra'' Log Page 1]]</ref> Soon after in March, [[Preston Cole]] in charge of UNSC [[Battle Group X-Ray]] [[Battle of Harvest|fought]] the Covenant off over [[Harvest]].<ref>''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Historian's Note</ref> Seven days later, Cole as well as others would devise [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], part of which would involve laying a trap at [[Biko]] using [[Task Force Yama]].<ref>''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 5</ref> Biko however would still [[Battle of Biko|fall]] to the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]], despite these actions by the UNSC. Almost a month after, the prestigious [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] on [[Circinius IV]] was destroyed, leaving only 3 survivors.<ref>''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''</ref> | ||
[[ | |||
Only two days after Circinius IV, ONI projects were refocused to solely counter the Covenant. As well, [[ONI Section Two]] sent emissaries to Outer Colony leaders to warn them of the Covenant and give them an offer: end hostilities with the UNSC and receive protection. Initially they laughed at the prospect, until they witnessed footage of Bliss.<ref name="halseyjournalapril28">''[[Halo: Reach Limited Edition]]'', [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Dr. Halsey's Personal Journal]], April 28, 2526</ref> | |||
Planets began falling two or three a week. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] was unable to collate intelligence at the rate of the Covenant's incursion. [[UNSC Fleet Command]] was unable to plan out grand strategies and thus granted operational autonomy to UNSC naval units.<ref name="hochapter1">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', Chapter 1</ref> | |||
In the summer, UNSC forces along with forces from the [[Children of Mesra]] fought the Covenant on [[Mesra]].<ref name="hochapter1"/> | |||
At the end of the year, the UNSC and Covenant [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae|fought a large battle]] in the [[Alpha Aurigae system]].<ref>''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''</ref> | |||
At the end of the year, the UNSC and Covenant [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae|fought a large battle]] in the [[Alpha Aurigae system]]. | |||
===Pressing inward=== | ===Pressing inward=== | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
===The Arbiter=== | ===The Arbiter=== | ||
In [[2531#February|February 2531]], [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]], under the command of the [[Prophet of Regret]], began leading searches for [[Forerunner]] technology to aid in the Covenant war effort during the end of the [[Harvest campaign]] and the [[Battle for Arcadia]]. With the Covenant having discovered the Forerunner [[shield world]] [[ | In [[2531#February|February 2531]], [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]], under the command of the [[Prophet of Regret]], began leading searches for [[Forerunner]] technology to aid in the Covenant war effort during the end of the [[Harvest campaign]] and the [[Battle for Arcadia]]. With the Covenant having discovered the Forerunner [[shield world]] [[Etran Harborage]] sometime prior, the Prophet of Regret intended to use a fleet of {{Class|Sojourner|dreadnought}}s docked at the [[Apex Site]] to crush humanity "quickly and with ease." With Ripa having kidnapped Professor [[Ellen Anders]] at [[Arcadia]] to use as a [[Reclaimer]] to activate the shield world, he was pursued by the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, leading to [[Battle of the Etran Harborage|a battle]] at the Etran Harborage. In the battle, Ripa was killed by Sergeant [[John Forge]] who subsequently sacrificed himself to destroy the Etran Harborage by causing its internal sun to go [[supernova]]. The Covenant plan was foiled, but the ''Spirit of Fire'' sacrificed its [[slipspace drive]] to cause the supernova, leaving the ship and its crew stranded in deep space.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> | ||
=== | ===Refugees=== | ||
{{Expand-section}} | |||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
=== | ===Continuing losses in the Outer Colonies=== | ||
{{Expand-section}} | |||
===The Inner Colonies=== | ===The Inner Colonies=== | ||
{{Main|Siege of the Inner Colonies}} | {{Main|Siege of the Inner Colonies}} | ||
On [[2536|June 1, 2536]], the Covenant had finally broken into the [[Inner Colonies]]. | On [[2536|June 1, 2536]], the Covenant had finally broken into the [[Inner Colonies]].<ref name="HWTimeline"/> This would be the beginning of a multi-year siege of the most inner worlds of humanity. | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
===2525=== | ===2525=== | ||
===2526=== | ===2526=== | ||
===2527=== | ===2527=== | ||
===2528=== | ===2528=== | ||
===2530=== | ===2530=== | ||
===2531=== | ===2531=== | ||
*[[Harvest campaign]] - In early February, the five year long Harvest campaign comes to an end following the Covenant failure to destroy the [[Relic | *[[Harvest campaign]] - In early February, the five year long Harvest campaign comes to an end following the Covenant failure to destroy the [[Relic]]. | ||
*[[Battle for Arcadia]] - Having learned the location of the [[Outer Colony]] [[Arcadia]] from the Relic on [[Harvest]], ships from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] attack [[Arcadia]]. Defending ships manage to destroy one of the two initial attackers while the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} helps repel ground forces. Later reinforcements end the battle in a human victory, though not with massive loss of life. Professor [[Ellen Anders]] is kidnapped by [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]. | *[[Battle for Arcadia]] - Having learned the location of the [[Outer Colony]] [[Arcadia]] from the Relic on [[Harvest]], ships from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] attack [[Arcadia]]. Defending ships manage to destroy one of the two initial attackers while the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} helps repel ground forces. Later reinforcements end the battle in a human victory, though not with massive loss of life. Professor [[Ellen Anders]] is kidnapped by [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]. | ||
*[[Battle of | *[[Battle of the Etran Harborage]] - Battle between the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} and forces of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] attempting to gain access to the fleet of [[Forerunner]] {{Class|Sojourner|dreadnought}}s on the [[shield world]] [[Etran Harborage]] which would give the Covenant a massive tactical advantage. Death of [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] and the destruction of the Etran Harborage at the cost of ''Spirit of Fire's'' [[slipspace drive]]. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:HCD-BRattack.png|Fighting in the Alpha Corvi II city [[Black Reef]]. | File:HCD-BRattack.png|Fighting in the Alpha Corvi II city [[Black Reef]]. | ||
File: | File:HW Five Long Years.jpg|Marines celebrating over a destroyed battlefield on Harvest. | ||
File:Battle of Alpha Aurigae.jpg|Fighting in the [[Alpha Aurigae system]]. | |||
File:FUD-Corbulo-Glassed.jpg|The Covenant [[glassing]] Circinius IV. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{ | {{Reflist}} | ||
{{Human-Covenant War}} | {{Human-Covenant War}} | ||