Editing Massacre of the Outer Colonies

Two years later in [[2530]], [[Eridanus II]] was glassed and the UNSC abandoned the planet.{{Ref/Novel|HFS|Page=240}} On December 24 of 2530, the UNSC and Covenant clashed at the [[Battle of the Great Bear]]. The battle would lead to the formation of the [[Cole Protocol]].{{Ref/Reuse|hwgenesis}}

===The Arbiter===

Despite their major numerical and technological advantages over humanity, by [[2531]], the Covenant High Prophets had realized that the task of destroying an entire sapient species had a logistical burden beyond anything that the [[Covenant military]] could muster without leaving Covenant space defenseless.{{Ref/Level|Id=HWscarab|HW|[[Scarab (Level)|Scarab]]}} Seeking a more efficient solution, the [[Prophet of Regret]] dispatched [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] to Harvest to claim a Forerunner [[Relic (location)|artifact]] buried under the north pole of Harvest.{{Ref/Level|HW|[[Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base]]}} After a heated fight on the surface, forces from the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' were able to examine the artifact, a star map, and realized that it had led the Covenant to another human colony: [[Arcadia]].<ref name="city">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref>

On the Shield World, the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' eventually discovered that the Covenant needed Professor Anders to activate [[the Apex]] and claim the huge fleet of [[Sojourner-class dreadnought|Forerunner dreadnoughts]] held there.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref> A group of Marines, together with SPARTAN-II [[Red Team]], rescued the researcher and destroyed the Shield World by initiating the collapse of the interior star. The Arbiter was also killed by [[John Forge]] during the battle though the Prophet of Regret escaped.{{Ref/Level|HW|[[Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape]]}}

===Further battles===

===Continuing losses in the Outer Colonies===

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