Editing Raid on the Truth and Reconciliation

{{Era|HCW}}

|conc    = [[Battle of Installation 04]]

|date    = [[2552#september|September 19 - 22, 2552]]

|result  = UNSC tactical victories

|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]

|side2=[[Covenant]]

|commanders1=

**[[Captain (Navy)|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]]†

**[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]

**[[Cortana]]

|commanders2= [[Lat 'Ravamee]]†  

|forces1 =

**[[D77-TC Pelican]]

***Pelican [[Echo 419]]

**ODSTs

**1 SPARTAN-II

**Rescued Marines and crewmen(late in battle)

**[[Sangheili]]

**[[Unggoy]]

**[[Kig-Yar]]

**[[Mgalekgolo]]

*[[Type-25 Spirit]]s

*[[Type-29 Shade]]s

|casual1=*First raid

**All ODSTs killed

|casual2=*First Raid

**Large number of infantry killed

**[[Shipmaster]] [[Lat 'Ravamee]]

}}

 

During the ongoing [[Battle of Installation 04|campaign]] on [[Installation 04]], UNSC Marines led by Spartan [[John-117]] launched a '''raid on the ''Truth and Reconciliation''''' to free the captured bridge crew of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, including the ship's Captain [[Jacob Keyes]].

On September 19, 2552, the {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} ''Pillar of Autumn'' exited [[slipspace]] above Installation 04, having escaped the [[Fall of Reach]]. The cruiser was quickly engaged by the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], including four battlegroups of three {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s. During the fighting, one Covenant vessel, the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'', was heavily damaged and forced to land on the surface upspin of the UNSC's operations at [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]] to conduct maintenance.<ref>''[[The Halo Conflict]]'', The Truth and Reconciliation</ref> The vessel was brought to rest one hundred units above a dry desert plateau, and became the center of activities for Covenant units assigned to "harvest" technology from the ringworld. Because of this, the corridors were thick with high-ranking personnel and even [[Huragok|engineers]].<ref name="flood3">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 3</ref>

Following the [[Landing on Installation 04|evacuation]] of the ''Autumn'', Captain Jacob Keyes was captured by Covenant personnel and brought to the ''Truth and Reconciliation''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s brig for interrogation. UNSC forces were able to recon out the ship and confirm the captain was held there, and [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] John-117 was briefed by Major [[Antonio Silva]] on his mission - to lead a strike force into the ship and rescue the captain.<ref name="flood3"/> The recon flights had also confirmed a blind spot in the cruiser's sensor grid, and the AI [[Wellsley]] had created an array of signals designed to trick technicians into believing an approaching [[D77-TC Pelican]] dropship was one of the Covenant's own. Seventeen hours and eleven minutes after landing on the ring, ''[[Echo 419]]'' deployed the Master Chief and several [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] onto the plateau for a boarding action.<ref name="flood4">''Halo: The Flood'', Chapter 4</ref><ref name="CETAR">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', campaign level ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''</ref>

[[File:HCEA_TruthAndReconciliation_Marines_1.png|thumb|left|300px|Marines on the plateau.]]

The plan for the raid was fairly simple; ''Echo 419'' would deploy a team of marines to secure the [[gravity lift]] at the base of the ship, at which point a second team of marines would be dropped off to reinforce the first in the boarding action. The Spartan would go ahead with an [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]] to clear the way for the team of [[ODST]]s led by Sergeant [[Parker]]. The first group of Covenant consisted of several [[Unggoy|grunts]], [[Kig-Yar|jackals]] and [[Type-29 Shade|Shade turrets]], who were eliminated by the sniper rifle. With the element of surprise lost, the group proceeded to push forward, losing one marine to a lucky grunt in the process, until they reached the gravity lift. The area was ringed with more Shade guns, but the Spartan was able to eliminate the nearest gunner and take control of the emplacement, using it to take out the other turrets. A [[Type-25 Spirit|Spirit]] dropship arrived to deploy troops into the area, but John's Shade was able to cut those troops down swiftly. A wave of troops supported by [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]] came down the gravity lift from the interior of the cruiser, but the strike team was able to pour fire on them until eventually the Covenant troops were dead. ''Echo 419'' then reappeared with a fresh wave of reinforcements, and the force made their way up the gravity lift into the ship.<ref name="flood4"/><ref name="CETAR"/>

Once the initial defenses outside the ship had been cleared, a second team commanded by Lieutenant [[Dalu]] inserted with ''Echo 419'' to begin scavenging arms and equipment for use by the Marine forces of Alpha Base. These arms included [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistols]], [[Type-25 plasma rifle|plasma rifles]], [[Type-33 needler|needlers]], power packs, food supplies and hand tools and communications equipment. As well, the raid was able to scavenge at least three operational Shade turrets to be manned as part of Alpha Base's air defense system.<ref name="flood4"/>

[[File:Keyes Needler.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Captain Keyes arms himself with a Needler and prepares to fight his way out of the ''Truth and Reconciliation''.]]

Inside the ship, the gravity lift deposited the strike force roughly three feet above the deck, and almost immediately the team were beset upon by Covenant security forces. The team fought through several corridors, led by the Master Chief, until they eventually came into a large shuttle bay. Fire began to rain down from the central "pier" structure and Covenant troops poured in from all sides, with the Spartan focusing his attention on eliminating the [[Sangheili]] troops due to his [[energy shielding]] advantage. Two Hunters entered the bay, and Sergeant Parker was injured, but eventually Parker was able to bring one of them down, and the other was eliminated. The failed Covenant assault left the inbound troops in disarray as the team began to fight through another mazelike series of corridors, with John eventually ordering Pakrer and his men to stay put while he went ahead, as they were slowing the Spartan down.<ref name="flood4"/> Eventually, the Spartan would enter the ship's bridge and encounter the [[shipmaster]] [[Lat 'Ravamee]], clad in golden [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]-class armor. The ship master would ultimately be cut down by the Master Chief along with his [[Special Operations Sangheili|camoflaged]] security detail.<ref name="CETAR"/><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/nevermore ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Nevermore]</ref>

Eventually, the Spartan would find his way into the brig, and several more camoflaged Sangheili fired upon him. The elites were soon dispatched, and the captain freed.<ref name="flood4"/> Keyes proceeded to explain what he had overheard during his imprisonment; the structure they were on was called "Halo", and the Covenant believed it to be a great weapon - and they were looking for its [[Control Room (Installation 04)|control room]]. The team began to make their way back to the hangar, able to follow the bodies and carnage left by John's previous rampage and having a noticeably easier time due to the now-disarrayed Covenant security. Unfortunately, Keyes was weakened by his interrogation and captivity, but was able to keep up with the rest of the group. Eventually, the group would make their way back to the bridge, at which point they would call for evacuation. ''Echo 419'' had been sighted by a flock of [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshees]] and wouldn't be able to pick up the troops from the cruiser's shuttle bay. Luckily, the captain was proficient in flying the Covenant's Spirit dropships, and the team was able to begin making their way back to the hangar bay. Once at the dropship, they began loading into the shuttle as two hunters made their way into the hangar. Keyes crushed the two aliens with the twin prows of the Spirit before leaving the hangar and making their way back to Alpha Base.<Ref name="flood4"/><ref name="CETAR"/>

The raid on ''Truth and Reconciliation'' proved to be a valuable distraction for the Covenant, as simultaneously another [[Raid on the Pillar of Autumn|raid]] was launched by Lieutenant [[Melissa McKay|McKay]]'s company of ODSTs to recover supplies from the downed cruiser. The distracted Covenant forces would allow the Pelicans an easier time inserting troops onto the desert surrounding the ship.<ref name="flood4"/>

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