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First Battle of Harvest: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Era|HCW}}
{{battle
{{Battle
|prev=[[Skirmish on Minor Transgression|Skirmish on ''Minor Transgression'']]
|prev=[[Skirmish on Minor Transgression|Skirmish on ''Minor Transgression'']]
|conc=
|conc=
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|image=[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|325px]]
|image=[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|325px]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=February 3-October 7, [[2525]]  
|date=[[2525|February 3, 2525]] – [[2525|October 7, 2525]]  
|place=[[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi system]]
|place=[[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi system]]
|result= Decisive Covenant victory
|result=;Decisive Covenant victory
*Harvest partially glassed
*Harvest partially [[glassed]]
*Outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]]  
*Outbreak of the [[Human-Covenant War]]  
*All surviving civilians and Colonial Militia personnel forced to escape
*All surviving civilians and militia personnel forced to escape
|battles=
|battles=
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]] <br>
*[[Colonial Military Administration]]
[[Colonial Military Administration]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|commanders1=*[[Captain (ground forces)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]†  
|commanders1=
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Maribeau Veredi|Veredi]] (later)
[[Jilan al-Cygni|Lt. Commander Jilan al-Cygni]] <br>
*[[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]]
[[Ponder|Captain Ponder]]† <br>
[[Maribeau Veredi|Captain Maribeau Veredi]] {{C|later}}
|commanders2=
|commanders2=
*[[Maccabeus]]†, later [[Tartarus]]
[[Maccabeus]]† <br>
[[Tartarus]]
|forces1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
|forces1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
***[[Ponder]]
***[[Nolan Byrne]]
***[[Avery Junior Johnson]]
**[[Colonial Militia]]  
**[[Colonial Militia]]  
**[[UNSC Navy]]
**[[UNSC Navy]]
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*''[[Rapid Conversion]]''
*''[[Rapid Conversion]]''
*Another Covenant ship of unknown classification
*Another Covenant ship of unknown classification
|casual1=*[[Harvest militia|Harvest Militia]] suffers over 50% casualties
|casual1=*[[Harvest militia]] suffers over 50% casualties
**Captain [[Ponder]]
**Captain [[Ponder]]
**Private [[Osmo]]
**Private [[Osmo]]
*CMA ''Argo'', CMA ''Arabia'', CMA ''Vostok'' destroyed
*CMA ''Argo'', CMA ''Arabia'', CMA ''Vostok'' destroyed
*UNSC ''Heracles'' heavily damaged
*UNSC ''Heracles'' heavily damaged
*23,000 civilian casualties<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 36''</ref>
*23,000 civilian casualties<ref name="enc36">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 36''</ref>
|casual2=
|casual2=
*''Rapid Conversion''
*''Rapid Conversion''
*One Type-25 Spirit
*One Type-25 Spirit
*A few Jiralhanae]], many Unggoy, and many Yanme'e
*A few Jiralhanae, many Unggoy, and many Yanme'e
*Maccabeus
*Maccabeus
*[[Dadab]]
*[[Dadab]]
*[[Lighter Than Some]]
*[[Lighter Than Some]]
}}  
}}  
{{quote|Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument.|Covenant transmission to the UNSC during the Battle of Harvest<ref name ="FOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 96-98''</ref>}}
{{Quote|Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument.|Covenant transmission to the UNSC during the Battle of Harvest<ref name="FOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 96-98'' (2003 edition); ''pages 118-120'' (2010 edition)</ref>}}


The '''First Battle of Harvest''' was the first major engagement between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the [[Covenant]]. It marked the start of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref>
The '''First Battle of Harvest''' was the first major engagement between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]], taking place on [[Harvest]] in the [[Epsilon Indi system]]. It marked the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="enc36"/>


==Background==
==Prelude==
===Covenant religious crisis===
===Covenant religious crisis===
Covenant culture and society was founded on the belief that they were the chosen ones of the [[Forerunner]]s. Piety was partially demonstrated by the "Reclamation" of ancient, and supposedly holy, artifacts. In [[2525]], a query to an [[05-032 Mendicant Bias|ancient Forerunner AI]] concerning the large number of "relics" on a world as-yet unvisited by the Covenant revealed a critical flaw in Covenant belief; "Reclamation" was a mistranslation of "[[Reclaimer]]" in the Forerunner language, the "relics" on the world were human beings, and that ''humans'' were the Forerunners' chosen inheritors of the galaxy.
[[Covenant]] culture and society was founded on the belief that they were the chosen ones of the [[Forerunner]]s. Piety was partially demonstrated by the "Reclamation" of ancient, and supposedly holy, artifacts. In [[2525]], a query to an [[05-032 Mendicant Bias|ancient Forerunner AI]] concerning the large number of "relics" on a world as-yet unvisited by the Covenant revealed a critical flaw in Covenant belief; "Reclamation" was a mistranslation of "[[Reclaimer]]" in the Forerunner language, the "relics" on the world were human beings, and that ''humans'' were the Forerunners' chosen inheritors of the galaxy.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''pages 274-276''</ref>


This information was restricted to only a few in Covenant leadership. They realized the public knowledge would shake the foundations of the polity and potentially destroy it. Those privy to the information moved to prevent catastrophe. They seized control of the Covenant and used their new powers to declare a war of extermination on humanity. The first target was the world that the Forerunner AI had been consulted about: the UNSC colony world of [[Harvest]].
This information was restricted to only a few in Covenant leadership. They realized the public knowledge would shake the foundations of the polity and potentially destroy it. Those privy to the information moved to prevent catastrophe. They seized control of the Covenant and used their new powers to declare a war of extermination on humanity. The first target was the world that the Forerunner AI had been consulted about: the UNSC colony world of [[Harvest]].


===Toward Harvest===
===Toward Harvest===
{{main|Skirmish on Minor Transgression}}
{{Main|Skirmish on Minor Transgression}}
First contact between the Covenant and humanity involved a number of raids on UNSC ships in the [[Epsilon Indi system]] by a Covenant missionary ship, the ''[[Minor Transgression]]''. The raider made a scan of Harvest before being intercepted and destroyed.
First contact between the Covenant and humanity involved a number of raids on UNSC ships in the [[Epsilon Indi system]] by a Covenant [[missionary ship]], the ''[[Minor Transgression]]''. The raider made a scan of Harvest before being intercepted and destroyed.


Following quickly on ''Minor Transgression'''s heels was the Covenant cruiser, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''. The cruiser's commander, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and [[Shipmaster|Ship Master]] [[Maccabeus]], was ordered to [[Glassing|glass]] the colony. However, the pious Maccabeus opted to delay this in order to search for relics first. This put him in conflict with [[Tartarus]], his more zealous nephew.
Following quickly on ''Minor Transgression''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s heels was the Covenant cruiser, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]''. The cruiser's commander, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|War Chieftain]] and [[Shipmaster]] [[Maccabeus]], was ordered to [[Glassing|glass]] the colony. However, the pious Maccabeus opted to delay this in order to search for relics first. This put him in conflict with [[Tartarus]], his more zealous nephew.


==The battle==
==The battle==
===The Covenant's arrival===
===The Covenant's arrival===
On February 3rd, [[2525]], ''[[Tiara]]'', Harvest's orbital station, detected ''Rapid Conversion'' entering the system on long range sensors. The cruiser registered as an unknown object, but was determined as constructed of materials beyond human science.
On [[2525|February 3, 2525]], [[Tiara]], Harvest's orbital station, detected ''Rapid Conversion'' entering the system on long range sensors. The cruiser registered as an unknown object, but was determined as constructed of materials beyond human science. ''Rapid Conversion'' was sent pictures depicting humans giving Kig-Yar fruit as an offering and a peaceful meeting on the surface was arranged. However, the Jiralhanae were interest that the cruiser's [[Luminary]] claimed that there was thousands of "[[human|Oracles]]" on the planet's surface.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 234''</ref> On [[2525|February 11, 2525]], a Spirit holding Maccabeus, [[Vorenus]], and [[Licinus]] landed at the [[Harvest Botanical Gardens]] and met with human representatives, while a second Spirit hovered nearby and Tartarus led a small [[lance]] of Unggoy nearby to search for Oracles. The human representatives consisted of [[Governor]] [[Nils Thune]], [[Rol Pederson|Attorney General Rol Pederson]], [[Ponder|Captain Ponder]], [[Jilan al-Cygni|Lieutenant Commander Jilan al-Cygni]], and Staff Sergeants [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Johnson]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 245''</ref> Maccabeus arrived at the head of a group of Jiralhanae and [[Unggoy]]. The meeting went sour prematurely when an [[Yull|overeager Unggoy]] attacked and killed [[Osmo]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 257''</ref> Pederson was shot and killed with a [[Type-25 Spiker]] by Vorenus after the latter had heard Osmo firing his rifle. Several militia members were wounded in the engagement and the Licinus was heavily injured by Johnson and Byrne.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 254''</ref> With Licinus wounded, the Jiralhanae fell back and the Covenant retreated from the area.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 258''</ref> Due to the Unggoy's incompetence, [[Tartarus]] grabbed the wounded Yull, ripped off his mask, and threw him into the[[ Mimir River]]'s rapids that led to the waterfall.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 257''</ref>
 
The Covenant forces retreated to ''Rapid Conversion'' to await orders from ''[[High Charity]]'' after they sent a message to the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] to inform him of their discoveries. Upon discovering that their religion was a lie from the [[05-032 Mendicant Bias|Oracle]] in ''High Charity'', the Vice Minister ordered for Maccabeus to exterminate the human colonists at the [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]]'s suggestion.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 278''</ref> Meanwhile, Maccabeus had several Unggoy create outposts in the abaondoned Tiara, led by [[Deacon]] [[Dadab]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 304''</ref>
 
===Siege on Gladsheim===
For a week after the meeting, ''Rapid Conversion'' remained still in high orbit with all of its crew aboard. Despite the warning to evacuate to Harvest's capital of [[Utgard]], a majority of [[Gladsheim]]'s residents remained in the town—believing that a remote town such as Gladsheim would not be attacked by the aliens.<ref name="ch289">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 289''</ref> However, on [[2525|February 22, 2525]], the vessel remained in orbit over Gladsheim with its heavy plasma weapons charging.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 279''</ref> Johnson and Byrne took several squads of militiamen to Gladsheim in an effort to evacuate the town's inhabitants. Maccabeus had the Jiralhanae crew of the ''Rapid Conversion'' scan the town's surrounding location in search for Harvest's alleged "Oracles". While Johnson and Byrne searched for the town's residents, ''Rapid Conversion'' used its ventral beam to destroy the outlying settlements around Gladsheim for over two hours. With the large alien warship in position over Gladsheim, two thousand refugees that had managed to escape the ship's initial attacks made their way to the town's [[MagLev train]] terminal. [[One-Alpha Squad]] and [[One-Bravo Squad|One-Bravo]] assisted with the evacuation. Unarmed [[Yanme'e]] scouts began to group at [[Gladsheim Main Street]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 286''</ref> As ''Rapid Conversion'' drifted over [[Dry Creek Road]], Johnson asked Harvest's [[AI]], [[Mack]], to block off the road to civilians.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 288''</ref>


The Covenant were not immediately hostile and a peaceful meeting on the surface was arranged. The humans were represented by Attorney General [[Rol Pedersen]] and members of the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia of Harvest]], including its commander, [[Captain (ground forces)|Captain]] [[Ponder]]. Maccabeus arrived at the head of a group of Jiralhanae and [[Unggoy]]. The meeting went sour prematurely when an [[Yull|overeager Unggoy]] attacked and killed Private [[Osmo]]. Pedersen was killed, while [[Staff Sergeant]]s [[Nolan Byrne]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson]] escaped with a severely wounded Ponder. Maccabeus was wounded by Johnson from a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]].
During the evacuation, Mack had discovered a convoy consisting of several civilian vehicles that attempted to escape the town through the nearby vineyards. At the same time, two Spirit dropships made their way to Gladsheim.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 292''</ref> Johnson and Byrne took a [[M12 Warthog LRV]] to aid the convoy but, as the two neared the vineyards, one of the Spirits lowered and began to fire at the convoy. Johnson discovered the remains of several empty civilian vehicles that had been abaondoned by their original occupants, only to be killed by the Spirit's powerful plasma turret. Maccabeus exited the Spirit and began to search through the corpses and their belongings. After spotting a survivor, the two attacked the Chieftain with their Warthog. As several Yanme'e attempted to come to Maccabeus' aid, Johnson managed to pin Maccabeus against one of the convoy's vehicles with the Warthog. Not wanting to risk wounding their leader, the Spirit refused to fire at the Warthog. The two Staff Sergeants succeeded in rescuing the survivor and immediately attempted to retreat to Utgard, closely followed by a Spirit and several Yanme'e, as they left the heavily wounded Maccabeus behind.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 294-297''</ref> To cover their escape, Mack rigged several [[JOTUN Heavy Industries|JOTUN cropdusters]] to launch at the Spirit, destroying the dropship and killing its [[Ritul|pilot]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 299''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 313''</ref> All surviving militia personnel evacuated to Utgard as Covenant personnel returned to their ship, as ''Rapid Conversion'' and the remaining Spirits began to destroy the remains of Gladsheim.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 301''</ref>


Tartarus used Maccabeus' refusal to glass the colony outright, and his shameful wounding at the hands of Johnson, as reason to challenge his superior's leadership. Tartarus killed Maccabeus in a duel and assumed command.
The news of Gladsheim's destruction travelled fast to the civilians in Utgard. It began to cause panic among survivors.<ref name="cp318">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 318''</ref>


===Evacuation===
===Evacuation===
Governor [[Nils Thune]] issued an order for all colonists to be assembled in [[Utgard]], the capital, for immediate evacuation. Many chose not to leave and were killed in the subsequent ground battle and glassing. A week after the evacuation order Covenant forces destroyed the outer city of [[Gladsheim]]. [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] assumed command of UNSC forces and the evacuation plan was finalized on February 23rd.
[[File:FoRBootCamp - Harvest remains.png|thumb|250px|Harvest's surface after the Covenant attack.]]
{{Quote|Someday we will win, no matter what it takes.|Ponder to Tartarus}}
Shortly after the Covenant had destroyed Gladsheim, al-Cygni assumed command of UNSC forces from Governor Thune and the evacuation plan was finalized on [[2525|February 23, 2525]].<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 325''</ref> Meanwhile, inside the Tiara, Covenant [[Huragok]] [[Lighter Than Some]] had discovered Harvest's [[Planetary Security Intelligence]] AI [[Loki]]. Wishing to end the conflict, the Huragok worked with the AI to stop the Covenant.<ref name="cp318"/> Captured intelligence revealed the Covenant's interest in artifacts and relics to the UNSC. A mortally wounded Ponder used a false Oracle to lure the Covenant cruiser into the sights of the colony's [[mass driver]]. A Spirit dropped off four newly-created [[Type-25 Chopper]]s—driven by Jiralhanae including Tartarus and Vorenus—inside the [[Utgard Mall]] at Ponder's location. The Jiralhanae approached Ponder and the dying captain handed them a holo-pad.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 346''</ref> With the aliens distracted, AI [[Loki]] fired the mass driver at ''Rapid Conversion''. Angered, Tartarus promptly killed Ponder. The ship was disabled after two rounds and crashed in Utgard. Tartarus ordered Vorenus to lead the other two Jiralhanae to Harvest's mass driver to disable it while Tartarus returned to the Spirit dropship to return to the Tiara. Three-hundred and sixty refugee-laden [[DCS light freighter|cargo freighters]] ascended the space elevators to the Tiara station.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 335-336''</ref>


Captured intelligence revealed the Covenant's interest in artifacts and relics to the UNSC. A mortally wounded Ponder used a false Oracle to lure the Covenant cruiser into the sights of the colony's [[mass driver]]. The ship was disabled after two rounds and crashed. In the ensuing confusion and lifting of  Covenant air superiority, a militia strike team secured ''Tiara''. 360 refugee-laden [[DCS light freighter|cargo freighters]] ascended the space elevator to the station and fled into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], but only 215 freighters managed to escape.
Furious that the humans had disabled his ship, Maccabeus warned Dadab to ready his Unggoy warriors aboard the Tiara to protect Lighter Than Some from the humans making their way to the station. While Yanme'e attempted to repair the cruiser, Maccabeus was confronted by an angry Tartarus who believed his uncle was a fool for allowing the ship to become damaged and for listening to the "damaged" Luminary.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 344''</ref> Wishing to take control of the [[Maccabeus' clan|pack]], Tartarus challenged his uncle for dominance. Tartarus succeeded in defeating the already wounded Maccabeus and killed him by crushing his skull with the [[Fist of Rukt]]. Tartarus, now Chieftain and leader of the Covenant forces, had the Jiralhanae and Yanme'e aboard the ship prepare to fight the humans on the Tiara.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 346''</ref> Meanwhile, the space elevators continued to ascend to the Tiara, two of which held militia strike teams and refugees while the other five carried decoys rigged with claymores.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 351''</ref>
[[File:FoR RapidC.png|thumb|250px|left|''Rapid Conversion'' in orbit over Harvest.]]
At the [[Harvest reactor complex]], Byrne and twenty volunteers from [[Second Platoon]] were protecting the mass driver and Loki's data center. Vorenus and two other Jiralhanae soon arrived at the reactor complex and engaged the militia's forces.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 356''</ref> Vorenus chased after Byrne as he retreated inside the complex with several militiamen. The Jiralhanae rammed [[Vallen]] with his Chopper and chased the humans inside the complex towards Loki's data center. After killing [[Habel]] and [[Jepsen]], Vorenus was prevented access from Byrne and the data center after Loki locked the door between it and the rest of the complex.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 360''</ref> However, with the use of brute strength and [[Type-2 spike grenade]]s, Vorenus managed to destroy the safety doors and grabbed Byrne. As militiamen surrounded the two, a massive amount of JOTUN cropdusters controlled by Loki moved towards Vorenus, startling the Jiralhanae. With Vorenus distracted, the militiamen succeeded in killing the alien and releasing Byrne. Outside the complex, the militia had killed one of Vorenus' accompanying Jiralhanae riders while the second was destroyed by two JOTUN machines. However, Loki's data center was damaged during the attack.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 362''</ref>


During the following months, the ''Rapid Conversion'''s crew repaired the ship and steadily continued the glassing of Harvest, gradually destroying the JOTUN automatons in which the remnants of the AI Mack were housed.
===Battle in the Tiara===
At the Tiara, nearly thirty Unggoy were killed or wounded when the explosive containers reached the top. Dadab had ordered the survivors to fall back towards the center.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 364''</ref> During the massive firefight, [[Bapap]]—Dadab's friend—was mortally wounded and Dadab's [[methane tank]] was heavily damaged. As the two Unggoy lied dying amidst the battle, Tartarus' Jiralhanae and Yanme'e arrived. Dadab was saved by Tartarus and given a methane pack taken from a dead Unggoy. Tartarus had Dadab lead him to Lighter Than Some, after the Chieftain killed Bapap—shocking the Deacon.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 367''</ref> En route to the Huragok, they encountered Johnson and several militiamen. While Tartarus and the Yanme'e engaged the humans, three Yanme'e snuck into the Tiara's control room. Furious that Lighter Than Some had replaced their engineering duties and forced them into combat positions, the Yanme'e attacked and killed the Huragok. Angered by the loss of his only friends, Dadab decided to kill Tartarus in an effort to end the conflict.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 368-379''</ref>
 
While Johnson, [[Healy]], and al-Cygni led the militia in battle, twenty-thousand refugees were killed when one of the space elevators collapsed.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 371''</ref> While Johnson engaged the Yanme'e, Tartarus attacked him and prepared to execute him. However, Dadab appeared behind the Chieftain and fired an overcharged bolt from his [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistol]] into the Jiralhanae's chest and destroyed his [[energy shielding|energy shield]]s. Enraged, Tartarus killed the Unggoy Deacon with the Fist of Rukt, however Tartarus was forced to retreat. As the militia made their way to the freighters to leave the system with the refugees, they encountered the Yanme'e slaughtering the few surviving Unggoy.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 373-374''</ref> The militia were able to enter the freighters and escape the Tiara. Ultimately, the surviving freighters entered [[slipspace]] to return to human space.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 385''</ref>
 
During the following months, the ''Rapid Conversion'''s crew repaired the ship and steadily continued the glassing of Harvest, gradually destroying the JOTUN automatons in which the remnants of the AI Mack were housed.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 382''</ref>


===CMA investigation===
===CMA investigation===
[[File:ArabiaVostok.png|thumb|{{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}} hit by Covenant [[plasma turret|plasma torpedoes]].]]
[[File:ArabiaVostok.png|thumb|{{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}} hit by Covenant [[plasma turret|plasma torpedoes]].]]
The [[Colonial Administration Authority]] dispatched the {{CMA ship|Argo}} to investigate the cessation of communications from Harvest, and the scout ship arrived in system on April 20th, 2525. The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Mack]] unsuccessfully attempted to warn ''Argo'' of the enemy presence. The scout ship managed to send a single signal before being destroyed by the ''Rapid Conversion''. A single [[Covenant super-destroyer]] arrived some time later and remained in the system to face any future investigation parties sent in by the UNSC.
The [[Colonial Administration Authority]] dispatched the {{CMA ship|Argo}} to investigate the cessation of communications from Harvest, and the scout ship arrived in system on [[2525|April 20, 2525]].<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''Timeline''</ref> The [[artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Mack]] unsuccessfully attempted to warn ''Argo'' of the enemy presence. The scout ship managed to send a single signal before being destroyed by the ''Rapid Conversion''.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 393''</ref> A single [[Covenant super-destroyer]] arrived some time later and remained in the system to face any future investigation parties sent in by the UNSC.


''Argo'' was followed up by a [[Battlegroup 4|battlegroup]] consisting of the [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] {{CMA ship|Heracles}}, and the [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] {{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}}. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Maribeau Veredi]] of ''Heracles'' commanded the formation. The ships arrived in Epsilon Indi on October 7th and encountered the same Covenant ship. The Covenant ship responded to first contact protocols by broadcasting the message: ''Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument'', and then opened fire.
''Argo'' was followed up by a [[Battlegroup 4|battlegroup]] consisting of the [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] {{CMA ship|Heracles}}, and the {{Class|Charon|light frigate}} {{CMA ship|Arabia}} and {{CMA ship|Vostok}}. [[Maribeau Veredi|Captain Maribeau Veredi]] of ''Heracles'' commanded the formation. The ships arrived in Epsilon Indi on October 7 and encountered the Covenant destroyer. The Covenant ship responded to first contact protocols by broadcasting the message: ''Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument'', and then opened fire.<ref name="FOR"/>


The CMA battlegroup was soundly defeated in an engagement lasting fourteen seconds.<ref name="Halo E">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'''</ref> Covenant [[Pulse laser turret|Point Defense Lasers]] intercepted many [[Archer missile|Archer Missiles]] with the remainder being shrugged off by [[shield]]s. [[Plasma turret|Plasma torpedoes]] and lasers destroyed both frigates and heavily damaged the ''Heracles''; the destroyer managed to escape but it took several weeks to limp back to [[Reach]].<ref name="FOR" />
The CMA battlegroup was soundly defeated in an engagement lasting fourteen seconds.<ref name="Halo E">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'''</ref> Covenant [[pulse laser turret]]s intercepted many [[Archer missile|Archer Missiles]] with the remainder being shrugged off by [[shield]]s. [[Plasma turret|Plasma torpedoes]] and lasers destroyed both frigates and heavily damaged the ''Heracles''; the destroyer managed to escape but it took several weeks to limp back to [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]].<ref name="FOR"/>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
{{main|Second Battle of Harvest}}
{{Main|Second Battle of Harvest}}
With the failure of the initial counter-attack, the Covenant were left in control of Harvest. However, the UNSC was not content with this state of affairs and [[Second Battle of Harvest|returned with a larger fleet]] in [[2526]] to retake the devastated world, eventually reclaiming it over a five-year [[Harvest Campaign|campaign]].
With the failure of the initial counter-attack, the Covenant were left in control of Harvest. On [[2525|November 1, 2525]], the UNSC was ordered to full alert. The First Battle of Harvest was the first engagement in the [[Human-Covenant War]], a massive interplanetary war that would last for twenty-seven years. The [[SPARTAN-II training|training]] of the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] was accelerated and the SPARTANs were sent to [[Chi Ceti IV]] to receive their [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] to aid in combat against the Covenant. However, the UNSC was not content with this state of affairs and [[Second Battle of Harvest|returned with a larger fleet]] on [[2526|March 1, 2526]] to retake the devastated world, eventually reclaiming it over a five-year [[Harvest Campaign|campaign]].<ref name="Harvest">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''pages 463-465''</ref>
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:FoR Battlegroup 4.png|Battlegroup 4 arrives at Harvest.
File:UNSC Heracles.png|The ''Heracles'' arrives at Harvest.
File:FoR Battle group 4.png|The ''Heracles'' and [[Battlegroup 4]] orbit a glassed Harvest, shortly before the fleet's near-destruction.
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
Line 110: Line 130:
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]
**''[[Dirt]]'' {{mo}}
**''[[Dirt]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Indirect mention}}
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Im}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Reflist|2}}


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Covenant Victories]]
[[Category:Covenant Victories]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvest}}

Revision as of 22:45, September 9, 2014

Template:Battle

"Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument."
— Covenant transmission to the UNSC during the Battle of Harvest[1]

The First Battle of Harvest was the first major engagement between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant, taking place on Harvest in the Epsilon Indi system. It marked the beginning of the Human-Covenant War.[2]

Prelude

Covenant religious crisis

Covenant culture and society was founded on the belief that they were the chosen ones of the Forerunners. Piety was partially demonstrated by the "Reclamation" of ancient, and supposedly holy, artifacts. In 2525, a query to an ancient Forerunner AI concerning the large number of "relics" on a world as-yet unvisited by the Covenant revealed a critical flaw in Covenant belief; "Reclamation" was a mistranslation of "Reclaimer" in the Forerunner language, the "relics" on the world were human beings, and that humans were the Forerunners' chosen inheritors of the galaxy.[3]

This information was restricted to only a few in Covenant leadership. They realized the public knowledge would shake the foundations of the polity and potentially destroy it. Those privy to the information moved to prevent catastrophe. They seized control of the Covenant and used their new powers to declare a war of extermination on humanity. The first target was the world that the Forerunner AI had been consulted about: the UNSC colony world of Harvest.

Toward Harvest

Main article: Skirmish on Minor Transgression

First contact between the Covenant and humanity involved a number of raids on UNSC ships in the Epsilon Indi system by a Covenant missionary ship, the Minor Transgression. The raider made a scan of Harvest before being intercepted and destroyed.

Following quickly on Minor Transgression's heels was the Covenant cruiser, Rapid Conversion. The cruiser's commander, the Jiralhanae War Chieftain and Shipmaster Maccabeus, was ordered to glass the colony. However, the pious Maccabeus opted to delay this in order to search for relics first. This put him in conflict with Tartarus, his more zealous nephew.

The battle

The Covenant's arrival

On February 3, 2525, Tiara, Harvest's orbital station, detected Rapid Conversion entering the system on long range sensors. The cruiser registered as an unknown object, but was determined as constructed of materials beyond human science. Rapid Conversion was sent pictures depicting humans giving Kig-Yar fruit as an offering and a peaceful meeting on the surface was arranged. However, the Jiralhanae were interest that the cruiser's Luminary claimed that there was thousands of "Oracles" on the planet's surface.[4] On February 11, 2525, a Spirit holding Maccabeus, Vorenus, and Licinus landed at the Harvest Botanical Gardens and met with human representatives, while a second Spirit hovered nearby and Tartarus led a small lance of Unggoy nearby to search for Oracles. The human representatives consisted of Governor Nils Thune, Attorney General Rol Pederson, Captain Ponder, Lieutenant Commander Jilan al-Cygni, and Staff Sergeants Nolan Byrne and Avery Johnson.[5] Maccabeus arrived at the head of a group of Jiralhanae and Unggoy. The meeting went sour prematurely when an overeager Unggoy attacked and killed Osmo.[6] Pederson was shot and killed with a Type-25 Spiker by Vorenus after the latter had heard Osmo firing his rifle. Several militia members were wounded in the engagement and the Licinus was heavily injured by Johnson and Byrne.[7] With Licinus wounded, the Jiralhanae fell back and the Covenant retreated from the area.[8] Due to the Unggoy's incompetence, Tartarus grabbed the wounded Yull, ripped off his mask, and threw him into theMimir River's rapids that led to the waterfall.[9]

The Covenant forces retreated to Rapid Conversion to await orders from High Charity after they sent a message to the Vice Minister of Tranquility to inform him of their discoveries. Upon discovering that their religion was a lie from the Oracle in High Charity, the Vice Minister ordered for Maccabeus to exterminate the human colonists at the Minister of Fortitude's suggestion.[10] Meanwhile, Maccabeus had several Unggoy create outposts in the abaondoned Tiara, led by Deacon Dadab.[11]

Siege on Gladsheim

For a week after the meeting, Rapid Conversion remained still in high orbit with all of its crew aboard. Despite the warning to evacuate to Harvest's capital of Utgard, a majority of Gladsheim's residents remained in the town—believing that a remote town such as Gladsheim would not be attacked by the aliens.[12] However, on February 22, 2525, the vessel remained in orbit over Gladsheim with its heavy plasma weapons charging.[13] Johnson and Byrne took several squads of militiamen to Gladsheim in an effort to evacuate the town's inhabitants. Maccabeus had the Jiralhanae crew of the Rapid Conversion scan the town's surrounding location in search for Harvest's alleged "Oracles". While Johnson and Byrne searched for the town's residents, Rapid Conversion used its ventral beam to destroy the outlying settlements around Gladsheim for over two hours. With the large alien warship in position over Gladsheim, two thousand refugees that had managed to escape the ship's initial attacks made their way to the town's MagLev train terminal. One-Alpha Squad and One-Bravo assisted with the evacuation. Unarmed Yanme'e scouts began to group at Gladsheim Main Street.[14] As Rapid Conversion drifted over Dry Creek Road, Johnson asked Harvest's AI, Mack, to block off the road to civilians.[15]

During the evacuation, Mack had discovered a convoy consisting of several civilian vehicles that attempted to escape the town through the nearby vineyards. At the same time, two Spirit dropships made their way to Gladsheim.[16] Johnson and Byrne took a M12 Warthog LRV to aid the convoy but, as the two neared the vineyards, one of the Spirits lowered and began to fire at the convoy. Johnson discovered the remains of several empty civilian vehicles that had been abaondoned by their original occupants, only to be killed by the Spirit's powerful plasma turret. Maccabeus exited the Spirit and began to search through the corpses and their belongings. After spotting a survivor, the two attacked the Chieftain with their Warthog. As several Yanme'e attempted to come to Maccabeus' aid, Johnson managed to pin Maccabeus against one of the convoy's vehicles with the Warthog. Not wanting to risk wounding their leader, the Spirit refused to fire at the Warthog. The two Staff Sergeants succeeded in rescuing the survivor and immediately attempted to retreat to Utgard, closely followed by a Spirit and several Yanme'e, as they left the heavily wounded Maccabeus behind.[17] To cover their escape, Mack rigged several JOTUN cropdusters to launch at the Spirit, destroying the dropship and killing its pilot.[18][19] All surviving militia personnel evacuated to Utgard as Covenant personnel returned to their ship, as Rapid Conversion and the remaining Spirits began to destroy the remains of Gladsheim.[20]

The news of Gladsheim's destruction travelled fast to the civilians in Utgard. It began to cause panic among survivors.[21]

Evacuation

Harvest's surface after the Covenant attack.

"Someday we will win, no matter what it takes."
— Ponder to Tartarus

Shortly after the Covenant had destroyed Gladsheim, al-Cygni assumed command of UNSC forces from Governor Thune and the evacuation plan was finalized on February 23, 2525.[22] Meanwhile, inside the Tiara, Covenant Huragok Lighter Than Some had discovered Harvest's Planetary Security Intelligence AI Loki. Wishing to end the conflict, the Huragok worked with the AI to stop the Covenant.[21] Captured intelligence revealed the Covenant's interest in artifacts and relics to the UNSC. A mortally wounded Ponder used a false Oracle to lure the Covenant cruiser into the sights of the colony's mass driver. A Spirit dropped off four newly-created Type-25 Choppers—driven by Jiralhanae including Tartarus and Vorenus—inside the Utgard Mall at Ponder's location. The Jiralhanae approached Ponder and the dying captain handed them a holo-pad.[23] With the aliens distracted, AI Loki fired the mass driver at Rapid Conversion. Angered, Tartarus promptly killed Ponder. The ship was disabled after two rounds and crashed in Utgard. Tartarus ordered Vorenus to lead the other two Jiralhanae to Harvest's mass driver to disable it while Tartarus returned to the Spirit dropship to return to the Tiara. Three-hundred and sixty refugee-laden cargo freighters ascended the space elevators to the Tiara station.[24]

Furious that the humans had disabled his ship, Maccabeus warned Dadab to ready his Unggoy warriors aboard the Tiara to protect Lighter Than Some from the humans making their way to the station. While Yanme'e attempted to repair the cruiser, Maccabeus was confronted by an angry Tartarus who believed his uncle was a fool for allowing the ship to become damaged and for listening to the "damaged" Luminary.[25] Wishing to take control of the pack, Tartarus challenged his uncle for dominance. Tartarus succeeded in defeating the already wounded Maccabeus and killed him by crushing his skull with the Fist of Rukt. Tartarus, now Chieftain and leader of the Covenant forces, had the Jiralhanae and Yanme'e aboard the ship prepare to fight the humans on the Tiara.[26] Meanwhile, the space elevators continued to ascend to the Tiara, two of which held militia strike teams and refugees while the other five carried decoys rigged with claymores.[27]

Rapid Conversion in orbit over Harvest.

At the Harvest reactor complex, Byrne and twenty volunteers from Second Platoon were protecting the mass driver and Loki's data center. Vorenus and two other Jiralhanae soon arrived at the reactor complex and engaged the militia's forces.[28] Vorenus chased after Byrne as he retreated inside the complex with several militiamen. The Jiralhanae rammed Vallen with his Chopper and chased the humans inside the complex towards Loki's data center. After killing Habel and Jepsen, Vorenus was prevented access from Byrne and the data center after Loki locked the door between it and the rest of the complex.[29] However, with the use of brute strength and Type-2 spike grenades, Vorenus managed to destroy the safety doors and grabbed Byrne. As militiamen surrounded the two, a massive amount of JOTUN cropdusters controlled by Loki moved towards Vorenus, startling the Jiralhanae. With Vorenus distracted, the militiamen succeeded in killing the alien and releasing Byrne. Outside the complex, the militia had killed one of Vorenus' accompanying Jiralhanae riders while the second was destroyed by two JOTUN machines. However, Loki's data center was damaged during the attack.[30]

Battle in the Tiara

At the Tiara, nearly thirty Unggoy were killed or wounded when the explosive containers reached the top. Dadab had ordered the survivors to fall back towards the center.[31] During the massive firefight, Bapap—Dadab's friend—was mortally wounded and Dadab's methane tank was heavily damaged. As the two Unggoy lied dying amidst the battle, Tartarus' Jiralhanae and Yanme'e arrived. Dadab was saved by Tartarus and given a methane pack taken from a dead Unggoy. Tartarus had Dadab lead him to Lighter Than Some, after the Chieftain killed Bapap—shocking the Deacon.[32] En route to the Huragok, they encountered Johnson and several militiamen. While Tartarus and the Yanme'e engaged the humans, three Yanme'e snuck into the Tiara's control room. Furious that Lighter Than Some had replaced their engineering duties and forced them into combat positions, the Yanme'e attacked and killed the Huragok. Angered by the loss of his only friends, Dadab decided to kill Tartarus in an effort to end the conflict.[33]

While Johnson, Healy, and al-Cygni led the militia in battle, twenty-thousand refugees were killed when one of the space elevators collapsed.[34] While Johnson engaged the Yanme'e, Tartarus attacked him and prepared to execute him. However, Dadab appeared behind the Chieftain and fired an overcharged bolt from his plasma pistol into the Jiralhanae's chest and destroyed his energy shields. Enraged, Tartarus killed the Unggoy Deacon with the Fist of Rukt, however Tartarus was forced to retreat. As the militia made their way to the freighters to leave the system with the refugees, they encountered the Yanme'e slaughtering the few surviving Unggoy.[35] The militia were able to enter the freighters and escape the Tiara. Ultimately, the surviving freighters entered slipspace to return to human space.[36]

During the following months, the Rapid Conversion's crew repaired the ship and steadily continued the glassing of Harvest, gradually destroying the JOTUN automatons in which the remnants of the AI Mack were housed.[37]

CMA investigation

File:ArabiaVostok.png
Template:CMA ship and Template:CMA ship hit by Covenant plasma torpedoes.

The Colonial Administration Authority dispatched the Template:CMA ship to investigate the cessation of communications from Harvest, and the scout ship arrived in system on April 20, 2525.[38] The AI Mack unsuccessfully attempted to warn Argo of the enemy presence. The scout ship managed to send a single signal before being destroyed by the Rapid Conversion.[39] A single Covenant super-destroyer arrived some time later and remained in the system to face any future investigation parties sent in by the UNSC.

Argo was followed up by a battlegroup consisting of the destroyer Template:CMA ship, and the Charon-class light frigate Template:CMA ship and Template:CMA ship. Captain Maribeau Veredi of Heracles commanded the formation. The ships arrived in Epsilon Indi on October 7 and encountered the Covenant destroyer. The Covenant ship responded to first contact protocols by broadcasting the message: Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instrument, and then opened fire.[1]

The CMA battlegroup was soundly defeated in an engagement lasting fourteen seconds.[40] Covenant pulse laser turrets intercepted many Archer Missiles with the remainder being shrugged off by shields. Plasma torpedoes and lasers destroyed both frigates and heavily damaged the Heracles; the destroyer managed to escape but it took several weeks to limp back to Reach in the Epsilon Eridani system.[1]

Aftermath

Main article: Second Battle of Harvest

With the failure of the initial counter-attack, the Covenant were left in control of Harvest. On November 1, 2525, the UNSC was ordered to full alert. The First Battle of Harvest was the first engagement in the Human-Covenant War, a massive interplanetary war that would last for twenty-seven years. The training of the SPARTAN-IIs was accelerated and the SPARTANs were sent to Chi Ceti IV to receive their MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor to aid in combat against the Covenant. However, the UNSC was not content with this state of affairs and returned with a larger fleet on March 1, 2526 to retake the devastated world, eventually reclaiming it over a five-year campaign.[41]

Gallery

  • Battlegroup 4 arrives at Harvest.

    Battlegroup 4 arrives at Harvest.

  • UNSC Heracles.png

    The Heracles arrives at Harvest.

  • The Heracles and Battlegroup 4 orbit a glassed Harvest, shortly before the fleet's near-destruction.

    The Heracles and Battlegroup 4 orbit a glassed Harvest, shortly before the fleet's near-destruction.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c Halo: The Fall of Reach, pages 96-98 (2003 edition); pages 118-120 (2010 edition)
  2. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named enc36
  3. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 274-276
  4. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 234
  5. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 245
  6. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 257
  7. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 254
  8. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 258
  9. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 257
  10. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 278
  11. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 304
  12. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 289
  13. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 279
  14. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 286
  15. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 288
  16. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 292
  17. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 294-297
  18. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 299
  19. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 313
  20. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 301
  21. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, page 318
  22. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 325
  23. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 346
  24. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 335-336
  25. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 344
  26. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 346
  27. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 351
  28. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 356
  29. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 360
  30. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 362
  31. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 364
  32. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 367
  33. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 368-379
  34. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 371
  35. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, pages 373-374
  36. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 385
  37. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 382
  38. ^ Halo Wars Timeline
  39. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 393
  40. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
  41. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", pages 463-465

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⇦ Battles of the Human-Covenant War ⇨
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Alpha Cephei (pre-2541) • HEMORRHAGE (pre-2552) • Odenli'sh (pre-2552) • DIRE MORNING • FANCY DRESS
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