Canon

Reach: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
Line 372: Line 372:
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Battle for the Blood-Moon]]'' {{Mo}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


Revision as of 16:07, November 27, 2023

This article is about the planet. For the game, see Halo: Reach.
Reach
HR-PlanetReach-Bnet.jpg
Astrographical

System:

Epsilon Eridani system[1]

Orbiting:

Epsilon Eridani[1]

Orbital position:

Second planet[1]

Moon(s):

Two; Csodaszarvas, Turul[1]

Physical

Diameter:

15,273 kilometers (9,490 mi)[2]

Gravity:

1.08 G[1]

Length of day:

27 hours[1]

Length of year:

390 days[1]

Atmosphere:

1 (O2, N2)[3]

Surface temperature:

-26°C to 42°C (-15°F to 108°F)[3]

Societal

Demonym:

Reavian[4]

Species:

Humans[1] (Non-native)

Population:

Colonized:

2362[3]

Government:

 

"...our fortress among the stars."
— Dr. Catherine Halsey[6]

Reach, also known as Epsilon Eridani II,[3][7][8] is a human colony world in the Epsilon Eridani system, located within the Inner Colonies and is the sister planet of Earth itself. At 10.5 light years from the Sol system, it is located at Earth's metaphorical doorstep. Reach is the fourth largest planet in the Epsilon Eridani system, and second closest to the star Epsilon Eridani.[1]

Once home to a Forerunner presence, Reach held considerable importance to the United Nations Space Command as the nexus of its military and the site of many military-industrial facilities such as shipyards. It was also significant for being one of the largest producers of titanium, which is plentiful on the planet. Though most commonly recognized for its status as a military world, Reach was also humanity's most populous colony world,[9] its civilian population living in its preplanned cities or defying the planet's harsh nature in sturdy pioneer settlements.[1] It was considered a center for civilian enterprise and logistical hub.[10]

Reach became the target of a Covenant invasion in 2552. Although the planet was defended by the UNSC for several weeks, Reach eventually fell to the Covenant, resulting in the planet's glassing in one of the most decisive defeats suffered by humanity over the course of the Human-Covenant War and the demise of the majority of its population.

Overview

Orbital characteristics

Reach has a strong aurora phenomenon, to the extent the planet is covered in an "aura" of aurorae.[11] Reach has two natural satellites; the large, ringed Csodaszarvas and the small, cratered Turul which was captured into Reach's orbit as recently as some 70-80 thousand years ago.[12] Reach's oceans also experience strong tidal phenomena.[13]

Orbital locations

A comparison of Earth's size to Reach's.[2]

Topography and ecology

For a young planet with an age of less than one billion years, compared to Earth's 4.6 billion year existence, Reach is remarkably geologically stable.[1] Reach is larger than Earth, having a diameter of 15,273 kilometers, compared to the 12,756 kilometers diameter of Earth.[2] Reach was originally inhospitable for human life, requiring some degree of terraforming before it could be colonized. Mostly a rugged and harsh wilderness filled with towering mountains, deserts and weather-beaten forests, Reach's surface is pockmarked with meteor impact craters, some of these forming large seas.[14]

Promotional image for an early build of Halo: Reach featuring the environment of Visegrád. Screenshot of the level Winter Contingency from the Halo: Reach press kit.
Landscape in Visegrád.[15]

Reach was home to numerous species of indigenous animals and vegetation, with some being imported by humans. The spadehorn is a herbivorous animal native it Reach's grasslands.[16] Moa are large, flightless birds, with reptilian features, that are often domesticated and consumed by humans.[17][18] The gúta is the largest terrestrial lifeform discovered on Reach and is very dangerous, albeit rarely aggressive.[19] A species of bird visually similar to birds from Earth, were also found on the planet. Wolves and owls, from Earth, inhabited the forests of Reach.[20][21] Koi were often found in decorative ponds and water gardens.[22] Rats were also common pests on the planet.[18] Cherots, gupers, and kropeys were native animals of Reach.[23]

Some of Reach's indigenous fauna are known to have survived the fall of the planet. Flocks of moa still survive on Reach in remote sectors that were not glassed by the Covenant, while some were transported to other worlds before Reach's glassing.[24]

The planet was home to hundreds of species of vegetation, including cedar trees from Earth.[25] It also contained deciduous forests.[26]

Locations

Note: For more information regarding the map of Reach and the locations of various sites encountered in media set on the planet, see this page.
Ground locations

Known residents

History

Ancient history

The Forerunners maintained a presence on Reach long before human colonization, creating a portal complex under Menachite Mountain.[38][39]

At some point, an unknown Forerunner starship crash landed into Reach leaving a debris field across Eposz. The vessel specifically landed at what would end up becoming SWORD Base at Babd Catha Ice Shelf.[40]

Rise of humanity

Main article: Project OUTBOUND
Artwork of the Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex.
The FLEETCOM Military Complex in Reach's Highland Mountains.

The first planetary confirmations of Reach were made in the early 21st century.[1] Originally colonized during humanity's first wave of extrasolar colonization in 2362 by the Odyssey,[41] Reach was chosen to be the site of a colony due to its rich titanium deposits.[42]

Upon arriving, the Odyssey was deconstructed into terraforming installations and a research colony of 5,000 scientists and workers. Soon more people arrived. By 2390, the first wave of terraforming was done and a second major colonization effort began. The UNSC transitioned much of its administrative and technical infrastructure to the system, which was soon followed by corporate investments. This included the building of the planet's first space elevator at Veszprém. More space elevators would be built across Reach's equatorial band.[8]

BXR Mining Corporation had mined these titanium reserves since the early years of colonization, and set up facilities across the planet's super-continent.[43]

By 2490, Reach had become the UNSC's primary naval yard and training academy; producing warships and colony ships and training special forces.[44]

Insurrection

Main article: Insurrection

Despite its position as the UNSC's largest naval base, strategic headquarters, and second-largest population center,[9] the Epsilon Eridani system was wracked by Insurrectionist activity throughout the early 26th century. Reach's sister planet, Tribute, was one of the fronts for the UNSC's anti-terrorist campaign, Operation: TREBUCHET. In 2525, mere months before the outbreak of the Human-Covenant War, Reach was the site of a major terrorist bombing against the luxury liner National Holiday. Two orbital taxis filled with explosives were crashed into the liner, causing the liner to plummet into the atmosphere, incinerating everyone on board.[45]

The legendary SPARTAN-IIs were trained and housed on Reach, in the Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex in the Highland Mountains. Frederic-104 said Reach was their home and every SPARTAN-II would fight to the death to defend it.[46]

Human-Covenant war

Main article: Human-Covenant war

In 2525, the single surviving vessel of Battle Group 4, the CMA Heracles, returned to Reach recounting the First Battle of Harvest.[44]

In 2531, the operations of an insurrectionist saboteur cell on Reach were disrupted by a four-man team of Spartan-II supersoldiers known as Blue Team.[47] Circa the early 2530s, the mines under Menachite Mountain were active before being appropriated by ONI Section Three.[48] By 2535, a third of the planet's population was part of the military and the Epsilon Eridani system was seemingly on permanent warfooting.[8]

In 2547, plans were put in place to save machines, tools and personnel from an unknown ship manufacturer on the under attack colony of Skopje and move them to Reach to continue the war effort.[37]

Fall of Reach

Main articles: Fall of Reach, Reach Defense Coordination Zone
Reach after its glassing.[49]

Reach fell to the Covenant during the Human-Covenant War in 2552. An advance strike force first arrived at the planet in late July, taking out a major communications outpost and attacking several UNSC facilities over a span of several weeks. This force was effectively destroyed when the fleet's flagship, the Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace was destroyed during Operation: UPPER CUT. However, a significantly larger Covenant fleet sent by the Ministry of Resolution arrived on August 14 and began to lay siege to several cities on the planet shortly after the Long Night of Solace was destroyed. The final battle for the planet was fought when a massive combined Covenant invasion fleet over 300 ships strong led by the Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee and the Fleet of Particular Justice arrived in the morning of August 30.[3] Additionally, the other human colonies in the Epsilon Eridani system were attacked by the Covenant, including Tribute.[50]

The final attack halted Operation: RED FLAG, a plan devised by the UNSC to bring an end to the war, as the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, which was already on its way to the mission, was recalled to Reach to defend the planet against the massive Covenant attack. The majority of the SPARTAN-IIs aboard the ship were dispatched to the planet's surface to protect the generators for the orbital defense platforms,[51] while a small team led by John-117 boarded Reach Station Gamma to secure an unprotected NAV database aboard the ONI prowler Circumference.[52] Eventually, the Autumn was one of the few ships to escape the battle.[53]

The battle was a disaster for the numerically-inferior UNSC fleet, despite the orbital defense platforms. The Covenant glassed most of Reach with plasma bombardment. CASTLE base was destroyed after the planet's fall and the Covenant began searching for a Forerunner crystal.[54] The remaining UNSC forces finally abandoned the planet during a small raid a few days later. The raid turned into a rescue operation when it was determined that Spartans were still alive and on Reach, resulting in the destruction of over a dozen Covenant capital ships and many of their ground forces, at the cost of four Spartan-IIs and heavy damage to a UNSC-captured ship.[55] Glassing of the world ceased by September 27, 2552.[8]

Reach's surface received black rain for months after being glassed.[56]

Post-war

Main article: Eposz Reclamation Project
Artwork of a pioneer and two Spades on Reach after its glassing.
A pioneer alongside two Spades on Reach after its glassing.[57]

In November 2553, a pioneer group arrived on Reach for an initial search and preparation for the planet's reterraforming.[58] Due to its symbolic and strategic value, Reach was quickly selected for rehabilitation and full-scale recolonization by the Unified Earth Government,[5] classified as a priority redevelopment area.[4] This was against the wishes of some who wanted to prioritize the reconstruction of Sol.[8]

In 2554 and 2555, technical staff landed on the planet to fully assess the condition of the world, refit the original terraforming systems, and install new atmospheric scrubbers to prevent further damage to the biosphere.[8]

Although an ambitious and lengthy project, Reach's recolonization is aided by the planet's handful of surviving settlements and the remaining space elevators,[5] though hindered by the devastation to all major military sites and population centers during the Fall of Reach.[4] Aquarius Terraforming Solutions was a prime candidate over the Liang-Dortmund Corporation in the restoration project of Reach; especially as the latter would have required politically risky territorial and resources concessions.[59]

Operations conducted by the UNSC on Reach are under strict ONI security classification, classified to other UNSC personnel regardless of rank or position. Terrestrial and orbital operations were complicated by the presence of unaffiliated local civilians, contractors of the Unified Earth Government, and unlicensed Kig-Yar salvagers. While specific strategic objectives were classified, Spartans with experience and a background in combat engineering and covert action were asked to report to ONI for screening and assessment for a mission to Reach. It was rumored that ONI intended to dispatch Spartan-IVs to search CASTLE Base under Menachite Mountain for an unspecified object.[4]

Circa 2558, Reach has a population of 121,000;[5] UNSC presence was minimal.[4]

Created uprising

Main articles: Second Ark Conflict, Created uprising

On April 2, 2559, Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders attempted to send Installation 09 from Installation 00 to the former site of Installation 04 in the Soell system, where a distress beacon would be deployed. Their hope was that this would be within communication range of Reach, where someone might hear them and be able to send reinforcements. However, the Halo and Professor Anders would be intercepted by one of Cortana's Guardians before they reached their destination.[60][61] Prior to October 9, 2559, the Banished, Keepers of the One Freedom, Ravaged Tusks and the Legion of the Corpse-Moon began to occupy parts of the planet.[62]

A screenshot of the game's epilogue screen.
The surface of Reach, restored to a habitable state, in 2589.[63]

On October 9, Blue Team, was deployed to the planet in Operation: WOLFE as part of a covert attempt to retrieve assets that could help in the fight against the Created's occupation of the Orion Arm.[64] By the 12th, the UNSC Infinity was in orbit of the world along with a complement of Anlace-class light frigates and Longswords, destroying old satellites to stop any communication from going interstellar and alerting the Created.[65]

Distant future

By 2589, Reach was in a habitable state, and new human colonists were re-settling the planet.[63] The planet was still evidently littered with destroyed ship and debris from both the Covenant and UNSC, thirty-seven years after the fall of the planet. By 2610, at least two cities on the planet, New Alexandria and Esztergom, were reconstructed.[66]

Government and society

Reach was the most important headquarters for the United Nations Space Command outside of Earth and the main supplier of military and civilian spacecraft, and the location of the UNSC's largest and most active shipyard. High Command, Fleet Command and the Marine Corps maintained headquarters on Reach, as well as many primary Naval Intelligence bases, which included the highly classified CASTLE Base. It was also where the UNSC's most elite troops, including the ODSTs as well as the SPARTAN-IIs, were trained. Reach's purpose was not solely military, however, the surface of the planet also featured farmland and civilian towns and districts.[67] The largest cities on Reach were Manassas, Quezon, Esztergom and New Alexandria.[3]

The license plates for some land vehicles, such as the Spade, had Reach as an identifier on them.[68]

Defenses

Pre-fall

UNSC ships stationed above Reach prior to its destruction.

While Earth was rightly seen as the UNSC's commercial, political, and cultural center, Reach was undeniably the hub of its military power. The Epsilon Eridani Fleet was a full strength carrier group with the Punic-class supercarrier UNSC Trafalgar at its core.[1]

A semi-mobile array of twenty orbital defense platforms, equipped with heavy MAC guns also known as "big sticks," orbited around Reach. At least one Moncton-class orbital weapon platform was in place as early as 2527, with Erőd-class orbital weapon platforms requiring the usage of extensive ground-based orbital defense generator facilities entering service by 2552.[69] The "big sticks" were defended by multiple wings of single ships and tactical multi-role craft. In addition, there were also about 100 to 150 starships stationed in the Epsilon Eridani system at any time. Reach also had a network of 18 refit stations orbiting it.[70] The UNSC Army also maintained "wet navy" assets on Reach, specifically submarine arsenal ships.[71]

An ONI super-AI network used for high-level number crunching was also located on Reach.[72] REACH DOC NET was a computer network on or around Reach.[73] Reach also had a slipspace COM launcher.[74]

Defenses breakdown
  • Total available military manpower: 385,421,100[1]
  • Total land assets: 58,430[1]
  • Total naval assets: 1,209 (T); 75 (X)[1]
  • Total air assets: 11,050[1]
  • Serviceable airports: 1,246[1]
  • Defense budget: cR. 38,287,000,000 [as of 2548][1]

Post-fall

Main article: Viery Militia
Help.png This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Economy

Reach had nine space elevators,[3] three of which were located near the city of New Alexandria,[75] one located in the city of Manassas,[76] and another located in Veszprém.[8]

Reach was the largest non-automated exporter of titanium within the human colonies.[1] Deposits of the element could be found in abundance on the planet, sometimes breaking the surface in the form of large spires.[77] The planet had numerous industries including BXR and Kisvárda Metals invested in the mining of Titanium and other minerals such as Rhodium.[78] Before the Covenant invasion, Epsilon Eridani's superior interstellar jump point had been the most active Slipstream space transfer zone (arrivals and departures) for over thirty years, with the system's inferior IJP and Sol's superior IJP regularly trading second and third place spots.[1]

A public center in Quezon.[79]

Culture

Many of Reach's original settlers hailed from Europe, particularly Hungary, which is reflected in some of the place names on the planet. Many of the planet's inhabitants also spoke Hungarian as their first language.[15] Despite Reach's harsh nature, some settlers chose to live in small communities of homesteads, referred to as "kivas",[80] in the wilderness instead of the major cities. Rounded and enclosed, they were comfortable but practical, shuttered against Reach's forceful climate and bunkered into hillsides. It also related their independent nature; powered by wind turbines and hydroelectric plants, they were off the grid and self-sustaining.[81][82] Reach was also the host of sporting events such as the 2552 Reach Galactic Cup[18] and 24 Hours of Quezon.[83]

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances

Reach thumbnail from Dr. Catherine Halsey's Computer.
Reach in the Silver Timeline.

Silver Timeline

Main article: Reach/Silver

Reach in the Silver Timeline is an Inner Colony and the largest and most prominent human colony with a population of around 703,341,500. Most of this population is of Eastern European descent, predominately Hungarian and Romanian. Reach was a key mining world and has the most significant shipyards outside of Sol. It is defended by the Reach Military Complex.[84]

Reach was the first extrasolar world settled by humanity and would be important for further colonization due to its habitability and slipspace routes.[84]

Gameplay

Reach, in the midst of its glassing, briefly appears in The Heretic in Halo 2 and Halo 2: Anniversary.

Two levels of the Halo Interactive Strategy Game take place on Reach: Defense of Castle Base and The Hidden Artifact of Reach.

Every Campaign level of Halo: Reach takes place on Reach. Save for the map Installation 04, all of Halo: Reach's Firefight maps are set on Reach. Tempest, Forge World, and five of the Anniversary Map Pack multiplayer maps are not set on Reach; while High Noon and all other maps in the game do take place on or around Reach.

Production notes

Concept of an ONI base on near Mount Törött.

Halo Online

In the pre-alpha of Halo Online, the JUGGERNAUT-class armor states that its design was found on Reach in 2553 and all new sets of it are flecked in Reach's dirt.

Halo Infinite

At one point, concept art for Halo Infinite was created of settings on a post-glassed Reach, likely indicating that at one point in development, Reach was to be a visited location in the game.

Gallery

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ The planetary map of Reach that comes with the Limited and Legendary Editions has "CAS" marked in the central mountain range of the Viery Territory. Judging by how Sword Base's location is marked by a similar callout, "SWO", this places the Highland Mountains, CASTLE Base, and all nearby locations in the Viery Territory.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Bungie.net, Halo: Reach Project Page (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  2. ^ a b c Twitter, Bungie (Twitpic: Earth and Reach comparison)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 151
  4. ^ a b c d e Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 94
  5. ^ a b c d Halo: Warfleet, page 23
  6. ^ Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise
  7. ^ Halo Channel, Halo Channel, Encyclopedia
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 42-43
  9. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 1
  10. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), Human Colonization of Space, p. 42-43 (2009 & 2011 edition)
  11. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
  12. ^ halo.bungie.org, I've got your answer, Levi... (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  13. ^ Halo: Reach, Limited Edition bonus content, map of Reach
  14. ^ GameInformer: February 2010
  15. ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level Winter Contingency
  16. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 181
  17. ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 07.30.2010
  18. ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
  19. ^ B.net classification
  20. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 63
  21. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 65
  22. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Reflection
  23. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 8
  24. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder: Have S'moa (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  25. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 48
  26. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Pariah
  27. ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint, 2011 website background
  28. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 43
  29. ^ Halo Wars: Genesis
  30. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 103
  31. ^ Data Drop: HEMLEY & AUBOURN BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
  32. ^ Halo: Fireteam Raven
  33. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
  34. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Pen Umbra (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  35. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 147
  36. ^ Remember Reach, Spaceport
  37. ^ a b Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe - Dirt
  38. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Point Taken (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  39. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, ??
  40. ^ Halo Waypoint, The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14 (Retrieved on Oct 10, 2014) [archive]
  41. ^ Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo - Rise of Humanity, page 54
  42. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 8
  43. ^ Defiant to the End
  44. ^ a b Xbox.com, Halo Storyline: (Additional copy on HBO Forums) (Retrieved on Apr 24, 2008) [local archive] [external archive]
  45. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 127
  46. ^ Halo: First Strike
  47. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 36-37
  48. ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 12
  49. ^ Halo 2: Anniversary, campaign level The Heretic
  50. ^ Halo 3: ODST, "Dutch" Firefight Character Profile
  51. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 22
  52. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 308
  53. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
  54. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 145-146
  55. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 171-186
  56. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 18
  57. ^ Twitter, Darren Bacon - It was a piece done for the franchise team depicting a glassed section of Reach... (Retrieved on Sep 13, 2021) [archive]
  58. ^ Halo Waypoint, Catalog Interaction (Page 43) (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  59. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Foundations (Retrieved on Jan 12, 2022) [archive]
  60. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Hold the Line
  61. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Last Stand
  62. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 3
  63. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Lone Wolf
  64. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 1
  65. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 13
  66. ^ Halo: Reach Legendary Edition: Journal Package Letter
  67. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, p. 52
  68. ^ Halo: Reach: Spade model
  69. ^ HFB
  70. ^ Bungie.net, Noble Map Pack Quick Looks (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  71. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 61
  72. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", p. 475-476, 484
  73. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 302
  74. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 176
  75. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
  76. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach
  77. ^ Halo: Reach, Firefight map Unearthed
  78. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 8
  79. ^ Remember Reach, Day Before
  80. ^ Halo: Reach, Legendary Edition Developer Commentary
  81. ^ EDGE Magazine, February 2010
  82. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Powerhouse
  83. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Needle Me This (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  84. ^ a b Halo: The Series, Dr. Catherine Halsey's Computer (Retrieved on Mar 25, 2022) [local archive] [external archive]

v • d • e
 
Epsilon Eridani system
Astronomical objects
Stations and other facilities
Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=Reach&oldid=1603184"