Editing Operation: RED FLAG
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{{ | {{Era|HCW}} | ||
{{ | {{Ratings}} | ||
{{Event | |||
|image=[[File:PoA Reach.jpg|300px]] | |||
<br>The ''Pillar of Autumn'' | |||
|image=[[File: | |name=Operation: RED FLAG | ||
| | |timeframe= | ||
| | |conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]] | ||
| | |date=Summer to Fall 2552 | ||
| | |place=[[Milky Way galaxy]] | ||
| | |outcome=Mission canceled, objectives achieved through [[Great Schism|other events]]. | ||
| | |key=[[United Nations Space Command]] | ||
| | *[[UNSC Navy]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Office of Naval Intelligence]] | ||
*[[ | |participants= *[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] | ||
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer | *[[SPARTAN-II]]s | ||
**[[John-117|Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy SPARTAN John-117]] | |||
*Crew and Marines of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} | |||
**[[Jacob Keyes|Captain Jacob Keyes]] | |||
| | **Antonio Silva | ||
* | |||
*[[ | |||
* | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|Assembled here tonight are all surviving Spartans save three, who are otherwise engaged on fields of combat too distant to be easily recalled. In the last decade of combat there have only been three KIAs and one Spartan too wounded to continue active duty. You are to be commended for having the best operational record of any unit in the fleet. It is very good to see you all again.|Dr. Halsey beginning her briefing.}} | {{Quote|Assembled here tonight are all surviving Spartans save three, who are otherwise engaged on fields of combat too distant to be easily recalled. In the last decade of combat there have only been three KIAs and one Spartan too wounded to continue active duty. You are to be commended for having the best operational record of any unit in the fleet. It is very good to see you all again.|Dr. Halsey beginning her briefing.}} | ||
'''Operation: RED FLAG''' was a planned [[United Nations Space Command]] operation designed to put an end to the 27-year struggle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It was initiated by [[ | '''Operation: RED FLAG''' was a planned [[United Nations Space Command]] operation designed to put an end to the 27-year struggle of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It was initiated by [[ONI|Naval Intelligence]] [[Section III|Section Three]] in mid-[[2552]] as a desperate attempt to avert humanity's imminent defeat at the hands of the [[Covenant Empire]]; however, the operation was never carried out due to the [[Fall of Reach]] and the UNSC's subsequent retreat to [[Earth]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> | ||
==Operation== | ==Operation== | ||
The operation was to be executed in four phases | The operation was to be executed in four phases.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 240-245''</ref> | ||
*'''Phase One''' — The first objective of the operation consisted of the disabling and capture of a Covenant | *'''Phase One''' — The first objective of the operation consisted of the disabling and capture of a Covenant vessel. For the first phase, [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] selected [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] for his exemplary performance during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], and his newly fitted cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. | ||
*'''Phase Two''' — Involving the boarding of the captured Covenant vessel by a group of [[ | *'''Phase Two''' — Involving the boarding of the captured Covenant vessel by a group of [[SPARTAN-II]]s, and an army of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], they would then neutralize the onboard defenses and take control of the ship. They, with help from a then-unidentified [[Cortana|mission specialist]], would then crack the navigation database of the ship and discover the location of the Covenant [[High Charity|home world]]. | ||
*'''Phase Three''' — With the help of | *'''Phase Three''' — With the help of Cortana, the Spartans and the ODSTs would then pilot the captured Covenant vessel to the Covenant homeworld. | ||
*'''Phase Four''' — The final phase of the operation involved the infiltration of | *'''Phase Four''' — The final phase of the operation involved the infiltration of the Covenant home world and the capture of a Covenant [[San 'Shyuum|Prophet]] for negotiating purposes. The UNSC hoped that by capturing a Prophet and holding it hostage, they could force the Covenant into agreeing to a truce, thereby ending a war that the UNSC would most certainly have lost. | ||
==Results== | ==Results== | ||
Though the operation was never completed, it did introduce two pieces of technology: the [[AI]] Cortana and the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|MJOLNIR Mark V]]. These two items, used later by the Spartans, would be instrumental in the outcome of the war. | |||
Despite the Fall of Reach, the loss of most of the SPARTAN-II and Orbital Drop Shock Trooper force assigned to the operation, the death of all the crew not including Cortana, and the [[Battle of Installation 04]], [[John-117]] had every intention of continuing Operation: RED FLAG, despite arguments against it by [[Elias Haverson|Lieutenant Elias Haverson]] and Cortana. The seasoned Master Chief only agreed to not continue the mission once proper instructions were given by the [[UNSC High Command|Admiralty]] on Earth if RED FLAG was still an active endeavor by the UNSC.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''pages 90-93''</ref> | |||
===Alternative=== | ===Alternative=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Regret.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Death of the Prophet of Regret.]] | ||
Ultimately, the plans would be canceled by a lack of resources and manpower. The [[Battle | Ultimately, the plans would be canceled by a lack of resources and manpower. The [[Battle of Earth|Invasion of Earth]] began shortly after the remains of RED FLAG arrived back at the homeworld, effectively scrubbing any chances of a high-risk offensive by special warfare units accompanied by fleet support.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', level [[Cairo Station (level)|''Cairo Station'']]</ref> However, events initiated within the ranks of the [[Hierarchs]] and [[High Council]] would provide a similar outcome to that envisioned by High Command and Naval Intelligence just months before. An ongoing feud between the increasing [[Jiralhanae]] threat encroaching on [[Sangheili]] commanders throughout the military planned by the Hierachs would ultimately culminate in it's fall, the [[Great Schism]] tore a rift between these two castes, with the former of the two species becoming the favored guardians of the [[Great Journey]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', level [[Tayari Plaza (level)|''Tayari Plaza'']]</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', level [[Gravemind (level)|''Gravemind'']]</ref> Taking advantage of these brewing events, on November 2nd, 2552, the former Spartan leader of RED FLAG managed to infiltrate a heavily-occupied area on [[Installation 05]] (Delta Halo), defeat a detachment of [[Honor Guard of the Covenant|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]], and assassinate the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]].<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', level [[Regret (level)|''Regret'']]</ref> Just days after during a [[Flood]] assault on ''[[High Charity]]'', the [[Prophet of Mercy|High Prophet of Mercy]] was killed by the spreading infection in front of John-117. | ||
A month later, a joint Human-Sangheili force of the [[Fleet of Retribution]] led by [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]] began an [[Battle of the Citadel|operation]] to destroy the remaining command elements of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] and his fleet at the [[ | A month later, a joint Human-Sangheili force of the [[Fleet of Retribution]] led by [[Miranda Keyes|Lieutenant Commander Miranda Keyes]] began an [[Battle of the Citadel|operation]] to destroy the remaining command elements of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] and his fleet at the [[Citadel (Forerunner)|Citadel]]. This joint force destroyed a handful of Covenant infantry forces, in addition to their armor and aerial assets. The push to the Citadel ultimately led to end of the Human-Covenant War with the assassination of the Prophet of Truth by [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadam]], with John-117 as witness.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', level [[The Covenant (level)|''The Covenant'']]</ref>. | ||
Though currently unknown, while the assassination of the three Hierarchs did result in the end of politically-organized major combat operations by the Covenant Empire, it's unknown if the military leaders of the Covenant's vast armies and fleets either surrendered or took part in a galactic-wide cease fire. However, pockets of Jiralhanae resistance did continue small-scale skirmishes against the Sangheili until the end of the decade.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[The Return]]''</ref> | |||
==List of appearances== | ==List of appearances== | ||
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}} | *''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}} | ||
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Mo}} | **''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Operations]] | |||
[[Category:Operations |