Battle of Draetheus V: Difference between revisions

The mission's briefing refers to the personnel defending Faraday Base as Marines, yet they're clearly depicted as Army troopers in the image. I'm splitting the difference.
mNo edit summary
(The mission's briefing refers to the personnel defending Faraday Base as Marines, yet they're clearly depicted as Army troopers in the image. I'm splitting the difference.)
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*Draetheus V disintegrated and X50 sabotaged
*Draetheus V disintegrated and X50 sabotaged
|side1      = [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1      = [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2      = [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|Merg Vol's]] [[Covenant remnants|Covenant faction]]
|side2      = [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction]]
|commanders1 =[[Sarah Palmer|Commander Sarah Palmer]]<br>
|commanders1 =[[Sarah Palmer|Commander Sarah Palmer]]<br>
[[Edward Davis]]†
[[Edward Davis]]†
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[[Parg Vol]]
[[Parg Vol]]
|forces1    =
|forces1    =
*Two [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IV]]s
*Two [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]]s
*[[UNSC Army]]
*[[UNSC Army]]
**[[23rd Armored Cavalry]] (86 vehicles)
**[[23rd Armored Cavalry]] (86 vehicles)
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===Defense of Draetheus V===
===Defense of Draetheus V===
{{quote|As Spartan Davis continued fighting on the moon, Spartan Palmer and a handful of UNSC troops redeployed to the surface of Draetheus-V to fend off the invaders there.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation B: Tempered Shield]]''</ref>}}
{{quote|As Spartan Davis continued fighting on the moon, Spartan Palmer and a handful of UNSC troops redeployed to the surface of Draetheus V to fend off the invaders there.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation B: Tempered Shield]]''</ref>}}
Spartan Davis fought to hold the line on X50, while Sarah Palmer executed a plan to depart for Draetheus-V and warn them of the incoming Covenant invasion of the colony. Palmer ordered the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]]s in the area to fall back to the Hornet landing zones. Only six Marines made it there alive. They held out against an overwhelming Covenant force until Palmer managed to escape.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 5: The Last Stand|The Last Stand]]''</ref> Spartan Palmer was successful in warning Draetheus-V of the coming attack, which soon hit the colonies' defenses like a tidal wave. Draetheus-V's main outpost, [[Faraday Base]], was located on the border of an expanse of dense vegetation to the north and an enormous rock plateau to the south.  
Spartan Davis fought to hold the line on X50, while Sarah Palmer executed a plan to depart for Draetheus-V and warn them of the incoming Covenant invasion of the colony. Palmer ordered the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]]s in the area to fall back to the Hornet landing zones. Only six Marines made it there alive. They held out against an overwhelming Covenant force until Palmer managed to escape.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 5: The Last Stand|The Last Stand]]''</ref> Spartan Palmer was successful in warning Draetheus-V of the coming attack, which soon hit the colonies' defenses like a tidal wave. Draetheus-V's main outpost, [[Faraday Base]], was located on the border of an expanse of dense vegetation to the north and an enormous rock plateau to the south.  
[[File:Siege of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|left|Spartan Palmer defending Faraday Base.]]
[[File:Siege of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|left|Spartan Palmer defending Faraday Base]]
When the Covenant invasion force eventually arrived, the first defense lines surrounding Faraday were quickly breached before the base's sentry turrets were fully operational. Palmer took to the field and almost singlehandedly held off the waves of [[Unggoy]] [[Suicide attack|suicide units]] crashing down on the thick concrete wall behind the defense lines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Mission 6: Siege of Faraday|Siege of Faraday]]''</ref>
When the Covenant invasion force eventually arrived, the first defense lines surrounding Faraday were quickly breached before the base's sentry turrets were fully operational. Palmer took to the field and almost singlehandedly held off the waves of [[Unggoy]] [[Suicide attack|suicide units]] crashing down on the thick concrete wall behind the defense lines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Mission 6: Siege of Faraday|Siege of Faraday]]''</ref>


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===Evacuation of Draetheus V===
===Evacuation of Draetheus V===
{{quote|Draetheus V wasn't quite the safe and secure planet it used to be. Suddenly, Spartan Palmer wasn't just fighting off hordes of Covenant, she was heading an evacuation.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation D: Captured Chance]]''</ref>}}
{{quote|Draetheus V wasn't quite the safe and secure planet it used to be. Suddenly, Spartan Palmer wasn't just fighting off hordes of Covenant, she was heading an evacuation.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation D: Captured Chance]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Liberation of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|UNSC Marines fighting in the perimeter of Faraday Base.]]
[[File:Liberation of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|UNSC personnel fighting in the perimeter of Faraday Base]]
Across Draetheus-V, the effects of the activation of the moon's Forerunner structure were being felt. Enormous slabs of rock were slowly floating away from the planet's surface and both UNSC and Covenant troops were scrambling to get to safety. Spartan Palmer needed to get every last survivor off Dratheus-V as soon as possible. But as the planet started to disintegrate, a panic rippled through every infantry unit on the field. A coordinated retreat would be impossible. Fighting her way through hordes of fleeing Covenant in a rapidly disintegrating base, she managed to secure [[Series 12 Single Operator Lift Apparatus|jetpacks]] to get her to safer ground.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 16: Escape from the Southern Fields|Escape from the Southern Fields]]''</ref>
Across Draetheus-V, the effects of the activation of the moon's Forerunner structure were being felt. Enormous slabs of rock were slowly floating away from the planet's surface and both UNSC and Covenant troops were scrambling to get to safety. Spartan Palmer needed to get every last survivor off Dratheus-V as soon as possible. But as the planet started to disintegrate, a panic rippled through every infantry unit on the field. A coordinated retreat would be impossible. Fighting her way through hordes of fleeing Covenant in a rapidly disintegrating base, she managed to secure [[Series 12 Single Operator Lift Apparatus|jetpacks]] to get her to safer ground.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 16: Escape from the Southern Fields|Escape from the Southern Fields]]''</ref>


Despite the chaos, much of the Covenant force remained rooted in strategic locations within the area around Faraday Base. The few surviving Marines and base staff had set up defensive positions in the western sector of the facility, preparing for a last stand against the increasing influx of Covenant. Palmer arrived at the base's perimeter moments before the Marines would be overrun. Around the base, Palmer managed to secure several [[M312 Elephant]]s. She then needed to relieve the besieged Marines and get them out of their predicament. She was able to rescue several groups of Marines and escort them to the extraction zone.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 17: Liberation of Faraday|Liberation of Faraday]]''</ref>
Despite the chaos, much of the Covenant force remained rooted in strategic locations within the area around Faraday Base. The few surviving Marines and base staff had set up defensive positions in the western sector of the facility, preparing for a last stand against the increasing influx of Covenant. Palmer arrived at the base's perimeter moments before the Marines would be overrun. Around the base, Palmer managed to secure several [[M312 Elephant]]s. She then needed to relieve the besieged Marines and get them out of their predicament. She was able to rescue several groups of Marines and escort them to the extraction zone.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 17: Liberation of Faraday|Liberation of Faraday]]''</ref>
[[File:Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones.png|thumb|left|250px|Grizzly tanks during the assault on the Covenant landing zones.]]
[[File:Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones.png|thumb|left|250px|Grizzly tanks during the assault on the Covenant landing zones]]
Draetheus V was ill-prepared for a full evacuation. Many ships had been destroyed in the initial Covenant assault. UNSC command estimated that at best, 40 percent might reach safety while the rest would die. Spartan Palmer declared those odds unacceptable and hatched a plan to abuse the rapidly degrading Covenant morale to overrun their landing zones and confiscate their spacecraft. The Covenant forces stationed at the landing zones were completely surprised by the bold attack. Already displaying cracks in their morale due to earlier losses, the Covenant forces quickly gave up the landing zones.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 18: Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones|Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones]]''</ref>
Draetheus V was ill-prepared for a full evacuation. Many ships had been destroyed in the initial Covenant assault. UNSC command estimated that at best, 40 percent might reach safety while the rest would die. Spartan Palmer declared those odds unacceptable and hatched a plan to abuse the rapidly degrading Covenant morale to overrun their landing zones and confiscate their spacecraft. The Covenant forces stationed at the landing zones were completely surprised by the bold attack. Already displaying cracks in their morale due to earlier losses, the Covenant forces quickly gave up the landing zones.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 18: Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones|Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones]]''</ref>


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Merg Vol's base on the moon was surrounded by [[Type-38 Tyrant]]s. Hearing of Spartan Palmer's theft of Parg Vol's ship, Merg Vol ordered every flying craft to be shot down, the only exception being commanding officers' Phantoms. Having successfully piloted the Phantom through the Covenant fleet orbiting Draetheus V's moon, Palmer was able to land south of Merg Vol's camp, out of range of his turrets. Her Trojan Horse tactic had worked. Although she was closing in on Merg Vol, she still had to fight her way through a heavily fortified camp of his most seasoned soldiers. To ease her work, she entertained possibility of a plan to persuade them to leave the safety of their positions.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 23: Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base|Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base]]''</ref>
Merg Vol's base on the moon was surrounded by [[Type-38 Tyrant]]s. Hearing of Spartan Palmer's theft of Parg Vol's ship, Merg Vol ordered every flying craft to be shot down, the only exception being commanding officers' Phantoms. Having successfully piloted the Phantom through the Covenant fleet orbiting Draetheus V's moon, Palmer was able to land south of Merg Vol's camp, out of range of his turrets. Her Trojan Horse tactic had worked. Although she was closing in on Merg Vol, she still had to fight her way through a heavily fortified camp of his most seasoned soldiers. To ease her work, she entertained possibility of a plan to persuade them to leave the safety of their positions.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 23: Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base|Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base]]''</ref>
[[File:Battle for the Moon.png|thumb|250px|right|Sarah Palmer facing down Merg Vol.]]
[[File:Battle for the Moon.png|thumb|250px|right|Sarah Palmer facing down Merg Vol]]
In the hours since launching their attack, the Covenant cultists had established themselves in a long ice-covered gorge between Merg Vol's camp and the Forerunner structure, setting up an almost-impregnable position. With Merg Vol's camp neutralized, Spartan Palmer made her way to the Forerunner structure. The Covenant troops there were Merg Vol's most devout followers and threw themselves at her mercilessly. Palmer would have to battle her way through heavy opposition, and before she could confront Merg Vol himself, she first needed to deal with his lieutenants. After facing heavy resistance, Palmer was able to eliminate Merg Vol's lieutenants.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 24: Hunt for the Cult Leader|Hunt for the Cult Leader]]''</ref>
In the hours since launching their attack, the Covenant cultists had established themselves in a long ice-covered gorge between Merg Vol's camp and the Forerunner structure, setting up an almost-impregnable position. With Merg Vol's camp neutralized, Spartan Palmer made her way to the Forerunner structure. The Covenant troops there were Merg Vol's most devout followers and threw themselves at her mercilessly. Palmer would have to battle her way through heavy opposition, and before she could confront Merg Vol himself, she first needed to deal with his lieutenants. After facing heavy resistance, Palmer was able to eliminate Merg Vol's lieutenants.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 24: Hunt for the Cult Leader|Hunt for the Cult Leader]]''</ref>


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===Return to X50===
===Return to X50===
{{quote|So I killed Merg Vol and we all went home? Is that the official version these days?|Sarah Palmer<ref name="hydra"/>}}
{{quote|So I killed Merg Vol and we all went home? Is that the official version these days?|Sarah Palmer<ref name="hydra"/>}}
[[File:Breach of the Bulwark.png|thumb|250px|Pelican dropships during the second assault on X50.]]
[[File:Breach of the Bulwark.png|thumb|250px|Pelican dropships during the second assault on X50]]
With the Covenant defeated and most UNSC forces evacuated from Draetheus V and X50, the battle appeared to be over. However, the UNSC soon detected a looping transmission of low-frequency static, identified by UNSC analysts as a string of Forerunner code, emanating from X50. Spartan Palmer returned to X50 to discern the origin of this signal, only to discover that the Covenant had also returned.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]''</ref> The Covenant believed that one of their gods was speaking to them and were intent on preventing the humans from intercepting the message. Once Spartan Palmer secured a landing zone, a UNSC forces was re-deployed to X50's surface in a constant stream.<ref name="m27">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 27: Breach of the Bulwark|Breach of the Bulwark]]''</ref>
With the Covenant defeated and most UNSC forces evacuated from Draetheus V and X50, the battle appeared to be over. However, the UNSC soon detected a looping transmission of low-frequency static, identified by UNSC analysts as a string of Forerunner code, emanating from X50. Spartan Palmer returned to X50 to discern the origin of this signal, only to discover that the Covenant had also returned.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]''</ref> The Covenant believed that one of their gods was speaking to them and were intent on preventing the humans from intercepting the message. Once Spartan Palmer secured a landing zone, a UNSC forces was re-deployed to X50's surface in a constant stream.<ref name="m27">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 27: Breach of the Bulwark|Breach of the Bulwark]]''</ref>


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===Goodbye to a friend===
===Goodbye to a friend===
{{quote|The transmission was Davis's call for help, just before he died. That planet was made to build things out of galactic material. And it tried to build something out of was left of Davis. I shut it down.|Palmer mourning Davis' death<ref name="hydra"/>}}
{{quote|The transmission was Davis's call for help, just before he died. That planet was made to build things out of galactic material. And it tried to build something out of was left of Davis. I shut it down.|Palmer mourning Davis' death<ref name="hydra"/>}}
[[File:HSA Davis remains.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Davis' remains being absorbed.]]
[[File:HSA Davis remains.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Davis' remains being absorbed]]
After defeating the Covenant forces at the [[light bridge]] at the entrance to a series of caverns, Spartan Palmer entered a cave UNSC Command designated the Cistern. Palmer advanced forward, encountering and dispatching the large numbers of stealth Sangheili forces in the area. Deep within the Cistern she found the structure's entrance; large [[blast door]]s of Forerunner design, and from behind the doors, the origin of the signal. At this time, UNSC scientists decoded the first part of the Forerunner transmission, which was a single word: "Palmer." They warned the Spartan that the structure seemed to know her name.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 29: Infiltration of the Cistern|Infiltration of the Cistern]]''</ref>
After defeating the Covenant forces at the [[light bridge]] at the entrance to a series of caverns, Spartan Palmer entered a cave UNSC Command designated the Cistern. Palmer advanced forward, encountering and dispatching the large numbers of stealth Sangheili forces in the area. Deep within the Cistern she found the structure's entrance; large [[blast door]]s of Forerunner design, and from behind the doors, the origin of the signal. At this time, UNSC scientists decoded the first part of the Forerunner transmission, which was a single word: "Palmer." They warned the Spartan that the structure seemed to know her name.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 29: Infiltration of the Cistern|Infiltration of the Cistern]]''</ref>


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With the Forerunner device sabotaged and Merg Vol dead, the Covenant were unable to achieve their goal. While numerous human lives were lost over the course of the battle, many more deaths were avoided thanks to the efforts of the Spartans.
With the Forerunner device sabotaged and Merg Vol dead, the Covenant were unable to achieve their goal. While numerous human lives were lost over the course of the battle, many more deaths were avoided thanks to the efforts of the Spartans.


Years later, the records of the Battle of Draetheus V became part of a [[UNSC Tactical Simulator|tactical simulator]] to enhance strategic skills of the SPARTAN-IVs.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''Introduction''</ref> However, the events after Palmer killing Merg Vol and sabotaging X50 were not included in the official record.<ref name="hydra"/>
Years later, the records of the Battle of Draetheus V became part of a [[UNSC Tactical Simulator|tactical simulator]] to enhance strategic skills of the SPARTAN-IVs.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''Introduction''</ref> However, the events after Palmer killing Merg Vol and sabotaging X50 were not included in the official record. Despite this, Palmer revealed the truth to a small number of Spartans aboard {{UNSCship|Infinity}}.<ref name="hydra"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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File:HSA-Cinematic-Horizon.jpg|[[Sarah Palmer|Spartan Palmer]] observes the [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|Covenant]] invasion forces.
File:HSA-Cinematic-Horizon.jpg|[[Sarah Palmer|Spartan Palmer]] observes the [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|Covenant]] invasion forces.
File:Spartan Assault cinematic.jpg|X50 is activated.
File:Spartan Assault cinematic.jpg|X50 is activated.
File:The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault.png|A Phantom escorted by Banshees over X50.
File:The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault.png|A Phantom escorted by Banshees over X50
File:Reinforcement of the Perch.png|A Banshee over the Glacial Perch.
File:Reinforcement of the Perch.png|A Banshee over the Glacial Perch
File:Live to Fight.png|Wraiths advancing on Research Facility Alpha.
File:Live to Fight.png|Wraiths advancing on Research Facility Alpha
File:Descend from the Perch.png|The 3rd Helljumper platoon deploying on X50.
File:Descend from the Perch.png|The Third Helljumper Platoon deploying on X50
File:Hunt for the Sangheli Command.png|An Unggoy-operated Shade turret on Draetheus V.
File:Hunt for the Sangheli Command.png|An Unggoy-operated Shade turret on Draetheus V
File:Battle for Epsilon Expanse.png|A Sangheili and a [[Mega Turret]] on Draetheus V.
File:Battle for Epsilon Expanse.png|A Sangheili and a [[Mega Turret]] on Draetheus V
File:Assault on the Supply Lines.png|An anti-air Wraith defending the Covenant supply lines.
File:Assault on the Supply Lines.png|An anti-air Wraith defending the Covenant supply lines
File:Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter.png|A UNSC sniper near the Forerunner artifact.
File:Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter.png|A UNSC sniper near the Forerunner artifact
File:Defense of the Enemies' Airbase.png|Spirits over Draetheus V.
File:Defense of the Enemies' Airbase.png|Spirits over Draetheus V
File:Hunt for the Phantom.png|UNSC Hornets taking off during the mission to capture Parg Vol's Phantom.
File:Hunt for the Phantom.png|UNSC Hornets taking off during the mission to capture Parg Vol's Phantom
File:Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base.png|Tyrant AA guns defending Merg Vol's base.
File:Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base.png|Tyrant AA guns defending Merg Vol's base
File:Battle at the Arid Sea.png|Palmer infiltrating a Covenant anti-air emplacement.
File:Battle at the Arid Sea.png|Palmer infiltrating a Covenant anti-air emplacement
File:Superstructure Assault.png|Kig-Yar defend the entrance to the Cistern.
File:Superstructure Assault.png|Kig-Yar defend the entrance to the Cistern
File:Infiltration of the Cistern.png|Yanme'e in the caverns within X50.
File:Infiltration of the Cistern.png|Yanme'e in the caverns within X50
</gallery>
</gallery>


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