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Operation: CHARLEMAGNE: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|UNSC}}
{{Era|UNSC}}
{{Battle
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Eridanus Rebels|Eridanus Rebellion]]
|prev=
|conc=
|conc=
|next=[[Skirmish at Theta Ursae Majoris]]
|next=
|name= Operation: CHARLEMAGNE
|name=Operation: CHARLEMAGNE
|image=
|image=
|conflict= [[Insurrection]]
|conflict=[[Insurrection]]<ref name="enc44">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''pages 44-45'' (2011)</ref>
|date= [[2496]]-[[2497]]<ref name="cobra">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 32''</ref>
|date=[[2496|January 12, 2496]]<ref name="spartans">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Spartans'']</ref>–[[2497]]<ref name="cobra">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 32''</ref>
|place= [[Eridanus II]]
|place=[[Eridanus II]], [[Eridanus system]]<ref name="enc44"/>
|result= UNSC victory
|result=Decisive [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] victory<ref name="enc44"/>
|side1= [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1=[[Unified Earth Government]]<ref name="enc44"/>
|side2= [[Eridanus rebels|Eridanus secessionists]]
|side2=[[Insurrectionist|Eridanus rebels]]<ref name="enc44"/>
|commanders1= [[Colonial Military Administration]]
|commanders1=Unknown
|commanders2=  
|commanders2=[[Robert Watts]]<ref name="watts">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/colonel-watts '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Robert Watts'']</ref>
|forces1= *One [[UNSC Navy]] [[battle group]]
|forces1=*One [[UNSC Navy]] [[battle group]]<ref name="enc44"/>
*[[ORION Project]] operators
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]<ref name="cobra"/>
*Unknown number of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]]<ref name="cobra"/>
*All [[ORION Project]] operators<ref name="enc44"/><ref name="spartans"/>
|forces2= CMA-equipped Insurrectionists
|forces2=*Insurgent forces<ref name="enc44"/>
|casual1= *One ORION operator
*Small [[fleet]] of ships<ref name="enc44"/>
*Four [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]
|casual1=*One ORION operator<ref name="spartans"/>
|casual2= Likely great number of rebels
*Four [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]<ref name="enc44"/>
|casual2=*Heavy losses<ref name="enc44"/>
*One [[military base]] destroyed<ref name="enc34">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 34'' (2011)</ref>
|civilian=
}}
}}


'''Operation: CHARLEMAGNE''' was the first major [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] counterattack against the [[Insurrectionist]]s on [[Eridanus II]] in the late 25th century, running from [[2496]] to [[2497]]. It marked the first tactical deployment conducted by the [[ORION Project]].<ref name="enc">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''Chapter 2'','' pages 44-45''</ref> It was also the only occasion where an entire unit of ORION operators was deployed together.<ref name="Page81">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 81''</ref>
'''Operation: CHARLEMAGNE''' was an [[operation]] of the [[United Nations Space Command]] during the [[Insurrection]], serving as a counter-attack against [[Insurrectionist|secessionist]] forces under the command of [[Colonel]] [[Robert Watts]]. The operation marked the first tactical deployment conducted by the [[ORION Project]], as well as the only occasion where an entire unit of ORION operators was deployed together.<ref name="enc44"/>


==Background==
==Prelude==
In [[2494|June 2494]], the turncoat Colonel [[Robert Watts]] rallied the secessionist movements on Eridanus II, equipped by traitors within the [[Colonial Military Administration]]'s command hierarchy. Watts orchestrated a methodical and thorough series of assaults involving terror bombings, political assassinations, and kidnappings in order to seize control of the planet from the [[Colonial Administration Authority|CAA]]-aligned [[Eridanus Government]]; the rebels were even able to gather a small fleet of warships through their CMA contacts. Watts' campaign had a significant impact on shipping to and from the planet, which prompted planetary officials to call for the UNSC's aid that December.<ref name="enc"/>
In [[2494|June 2494]], the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] turncoat [[Colonel]] [[Robert Watts]] rallied the [[insurrectionist]] movements on the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Eridanus II]], equipped by rebel sympathizers within the [[Colonial Military Administration]]'s command hierarchy. Watts orchestrated a methodical and thorough series of assaults involving [[Terrorism|terrorist]] bombings, political assassinations, and kidnappings that heavily impacted Eridanus II's shipping routes. With the aid of their CMA contracts, the insurgents were even able to amass a small [[fleet]] of ships.<ref name="enc44"/> The [[Eridanus Government]] officially requested aid from the [[Unified Earth Government]] in [[2494|December of 2494]] as chaos spread across the planet.<ref name="enc44"/> By [[2495|January of 2495]], Watts and his insurrectionists had effectively taken control of the colony.<ref name="watts"/>


==Operation==
==The operation==
In response to the rebel attacks, the UNSC launched Operation: CHARLEMAGNE in January 2496. A large [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] [[battle group]] was sent in to crush the rebel forces, an attack which succeeded at the cost of four [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]. Meanwhile, the group of ORION Project operatives attacked the rebels in a swift and silent [[Special operations|special operation]] that resulted in only one casualty for the ORIONs and several crippling losses for the rebels.<ref name="enc"/> The ORIONs recovered a sub-orbital transit station over the planet without ever being observed.<ref name="Page81"/>
On [[2496|January 12, 2496]],<ref name="spartans"/> the Unified Earth Government finally responded to the Eridanus Government's request for aid. The [[United Nations Space Command]] launched Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, deploying a large [[battle group]] of the [[UNSC Navy]] to Eridanus II. The battle group engaged the insurgent forces over the planet, an attack which succeeded at the cost of four [[destroyer]]s.<ref name="enc44"/> A number of subsequent counter-operations against the rebel forces began to break Watts' hold on the planet and splintered allied secessionist factions by eliminating their leadership.<ref name="watts"/>


Operation: CHARLEMAGNE continued for over a year. It saw the first field use of the [[SP42 Cobra|SP42 "Cobra" MBT]] by the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] in 2497.<ref name="cobra"/>
Meanwhile, operatives of the recently resurrected [[ORION Project]] were deployed for the first time during Operation: CHARLEMAGNE. Inserted into the battle without being seen, the supersoldiers engaged the insurrectionists in a swift and silent attack that resulted in a decisive victory for the UNSC, with only one casualty among the ORION operatives and several crippling losses for the rebels;<ref name="enc44"/> the ORION Project operatives saw the destruction of an insurgent [[military base]] on Eridanus II.<ref name="enc34"/> The supersoldiers were promptly extracted from Eridanus II, again without being spotted.<ref name="enc44"/> The operation extended to [[2497]], during which Marine forces deployed the [[SP42 Cobra]] for the first time.<ref name="cobra"/>


==Aftermath and legacy==
==Aftermath==
While the rebellion was quelled, elements of the rebel forces escaped into the system's [[asteroid]] belt,<ref name="enc"/> remaining there for several decades. Under Watts' leadership, the Insurrectionists attempted to seize power again in [[2513]], leading to another clash between the UNSC and the secessionists in [[Operation: TREBUCHET]].  
As a result of Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, the Unified Earth Government succeeded in regaining control of Eridanus II. However, Watts and many of his insurrectionist forces were successful in escaping to the [[Eridanus system]]'s [[asteroid]] belt, where they escaped capture and continued to operate against the UNSC.<ref name="enc44"/><ref>'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''The Insurrection''</ref> Watts subsequently took control of the insurgent factions that lost their leadership during Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, unifying them under a single banner as the [[United Rebel Front]]. Watts and the URF would later regain enough strength to strike at Eridanus II and the planet's government again in [[2513]], leading to [[Operation: TREBUCHET]].<ref name="watts"/>


The ORION supersoldiers' success in the operation is believed to have positively marked the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s propaganda machine, having sparked various conspiracy theories with regard to the operation's perpetrators within civilian and rebel circles.
Meanwhile, the ORION Project, having completed both insertion and extraction during the operation without being seen by any survivors, fueled a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation. As the legend of these supersoldiers grew, it proved very helpful to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s propaganda efforts in the following decades.<ref name="enc44"/> The ORION operatives would go on to complete a number of successful operations, including [[Operation: VERITAS]], in which high-level Colonial Military Administration officers were revealed to have loyalties with the [[Secessionist Union]].<ref name="spartans"/> Furthermore, the reveal of the CMA's role in arming the Eridanus rebels would lead to the organization's downfall and merger into the UNSC.<ref name="enc44"/>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
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{{Insurrection}}
{{Insurrection}}
[[Category:Insurrection]]
 
[[Category:Operations]]
[[Category:Insurrection|CHARLEMAGNE]]
[[Category:Operations|CHARLEMAGNE]]

Revision as of 16:03, September 6, 2016

Operation: CHARLEMAGNE

Conflict:

Insurrection[1]

Date:

January 12, 2496[2]2497[3]

Location:

Eridanus II, Eridanus system[1]

Outcome:

Decisive UNSC victory[1]

Details
Belligerents

Unified Earth Government[1]

Eridanus rebels[1]

Commanders

Unknown

Robert Watts[4]

Strength
Casualties
 

Operation: CHARLEMAGNE was an operation of the United Nations Space Command during the Insurrection, serving as a counter-attack against secessionist forces under the command of Colonel Robert Watts. The operation marked the first tactical deployment conducted by the ORION Project, as well as the only occasion where an entire unit of ORION operators was deployed together.[1]

Prelude

In June 2494, the UNSC Marine Corps turncoat Colonel Robert Watts rallied the insurrectionist movements on the human Outer Colony of Eridanus II, equipped by rebel sympathizers within the Colonial Military Administration's command hierarchy. Watts orchestrated a methodical and thorough series of assaults involving terrorist bombings, political assassinations, and kidnappings that heavily impacted Eridanus II's shipping routes. With the aid of their CMA contracts, the insurgents were even able to amass a small fleet of ships.[1] The Eridanus Government officially requested aid from the Unified Earth Government in December of 2494 as chaos spread across the planet.[1] By January of 2495, Watts and his insurrectionists had effectively taken control of the colony.[4]

The operation

On January 12, 2496,[2] the Unified Earth Government finally responded to the Eridanus Government's request for aid. The United Nations Space Command launched Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, deploying a large battle group of the UNSC Navy to Eridanus II. The battle group engaged the insurgent forces over the planet, an attack which succeeded at the cost of four destroyers.[1] A number of subsequent counter-operations against the rebel forces began to break Watts' hold on the planet and splintered allied secessionist factions by eliminating their leadership.[4]

Meanwhile, operatives of the recently resurrected ORION Project were deployed for the first time during Operation: CHARLEMAGNE. Inserted into the battle without being seen, the supersoldiers engaged the insurrectionists in a swift and silent attack that resulted in a decisive victory for the UNSC, with only one casualty among the ORION operatives and several crippling losses for the rebels;[1] the ORION Project operatives saw the destruction of an insurgent military base on Eridanus II.[5] The supersoldiers were promptly extracted from Eridanus II, again without being spotted.[1] The operation extended to 2497, during which Marine forces deployed the SP42 Cobra for the first time.[3]

Aftermath

As a result of Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, the Unified Earth Government succeeded in regaining control of Eridanus II. However, Watts and many of his insurrectionist forces were successful in escaping to the Eridanus system's asteroid belt, where they escaped capture and continued to operate against the UNSC.[1][6] Watts subsequently took control of the insurgent factions that lost their leadership during Operation: CHARLEMAGNE, unifying them under a single banner as the United Rebel Front. Watts and the URF would later regain enough strength to strike at Eridanus II and the planet's government again in 2513, leading to Operation: TREBUCHET.[4]

Meanwhile, the ORION Project, having completed both insertion and extraction during the operation without being seen by any survivors, fueled a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation. As the legend of these supersoldiers grew, it proved very helpful to the Office of Naval Intelligence's propaganda efforts in the following decades.[1] The ORION operatives would go on to complete a number of successful operations, including Operation: VERITAS, in which high-level Colonial Military Administration officers were revealed to have loyalties with the Secessionist Union.[2] Furthermore, the reveal of the CMA's role in arming the Eridanus rebels would lead to the organization's downfall and merger into the UNSC.[1]

Trivia

The operation was named after Charlemagne, a Frankish king who changed the political face of Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries CE.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Halo Encyclopedia, pages 44-45 (2011)
  2. ^ a b c d e Halo Waypoint: Spartans
  3. ^ a b c Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 32
  4. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint: Robert Watts
  5. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia, page 34 (2011)
  6. ^ Halo Mythos, The Insurrection