Battle of Seoba: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Skirmish over Netherop]]
|prev=[[Skirmish over Netherop]]
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|conflict=*[[Insurrection]]
|conflict=*[[Insurrection]]
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=[[2526#March|March 18-19, 2526]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS6}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS15}}
|date=[[2526#March|March 18–19, 2526]]{{Ref/Reuse|HSS6}}{{Ref/Reuse|HSS15}}
|place=[[Seoba ice quarry|Ice quarry]], [[Seoba]], [[Biko]] planetary system, [[Kolaqoa system]]
|place=[[Seoba ice quarry|Ice quarry]], [[Seoba]], [[Biko]] planetary system, [[Kolaqoa system]]
|result=
|result=
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*[[Shipmaster]] [[Hulon 'Budyasee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Hulon 'Budyasee]]
|forces1=[[Task Force Yama]]
|forces1=[[Task Force Yama]]
*{{Class|Point Blank|stealth cruiser}}
*{{Class|Point Blank|prowler}}
*{{Class|Razor|prowler}}s
*{{Class|Razor|prowler}}s
*[[21st Space Assault Battalion]]
*[[21st Space Assault Battalion]]
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**''[[Sacred Whisper]]''
**''[[Sacred Whisper]]''
**''[[Worthy Silence]]''
**''[[Worthy Silence]]''
*Several [[Type-32 Ghost]]s
*Several {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s
*[[Bloodstars]]
*[[Bloodstars]]
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Jiralhanae]]
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Early in the war with the Covenant, UNSC leadership realized that they would not be able to match the Covenant one-for-one in space combat. Following successful SPARTAN-II boardings of the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' and ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'', Vice Admirals [[Preston Cole]] and [[Michael Stanforth]] decided that the Spartans would next be employed to take on a larger operation - boarding and destroying a Covenant fleet of warships, while [[Battle Group X-Ray]] provided a distraction.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}
Early in the war with the Covenant, UNSC leadership realized that they would not be able to match the Covenant one-for-one in space combat. Following successful SPARTAN-II boardings of the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' and ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'', Vice Admirals [[Preston Cole]] and [[Michael Stanforth]] decided that the Spartans would next be employed to take on a larger operation - boarding and destroying a Covenant fleet of warships, while [[Battle Group X-Ray]] provided a distraction.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS5}}


To assist the operation, [[Task Force Yama]] was assembled consisting of several {{Class|Razor|prowler}}s and the {{Class|Point Blank|stealth cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}. Twelve SPARTAN-II supersoldiers and the [[ODST]] [[21st Space Assault Battalion]] were assigned to the fleet, with Captain [[Halima Ascot]] in charge of the Prowler fleet and Colonel [[Marmon Crowther]] given operational command of ground forces. The planet [[Biko]], home to three resource-rich moons and a series of shipyards, was in the path of the Covenant conquest and thus selected as a staging ground for the operation. If the Covenant skipped attacking the planet, then the UNSC had a forward operations base in what would now be Covenant space; if the Covenant did attack the planet, Yama would be able to attack the Covenant while they were distracted.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}}
To assist the operation, [[Task Force Yama]] was assembled consisting of several {{Class|Razor|prowler}}s and the {{Class|Point Blank|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}. Twelve SPARTAN-II supersoldiers and the [[ODST]] [[21st Space Assault Battalion]] were assigned to the fleet, with Captain [[Halima Ascot]] in charge of the Prowler fleet and Colonel [[Marmon Crowther]] given operational command of ground forces. The planet [[Biko]], home to three resource-rich moons and a series of shipyards, was in the path of the Covenant conquest and thus selected as a staging ground for the operation. If the Covenant skipped attacking the planet, then the UNSC had a forward operations base in what would now be Covenant space; if the Covenant did attack the planet, Yama would be able to attack the Covenant while they were distracted.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}}


===Insurrectionist presence===
===Insurrectionist presence===
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At 14:33 hours, the attack had begun, with the ''Ghost Song'' dismounting First Platoon, including [[John-117]]. The first four troopers jumped out of the craft and were torn about by groundfire from one of the rebels' M41 Vulcans. The second four-man team suffered a similar fate before bullets began to ricochet around the drop bay, downing more troops inside the prowler. The ''Ghost Song'' began to accelerate out of Seoba's gravity well, leaving scatters of ODST bodies across all four designated landing zones. A number of survivors had successfully made ground, and were now taking heavy fire from three sides while trying to reach cover by the ice-coated docks. The insurrectionist bunkers were well-camouflaged, identifiable only by the muzzle flashes of the guns inside. John-117 took the initiative and jumped out of the Prowler followed by [[Blue Team]], using his thrusters to control his descent and land in the quarry. While he fell, he used an [[M41 SPNKR]] rocket launcher to eliminate two of the hidden bunkers, while the others were eliminated by the other Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}
At 14:33 hours, the attack had begun, with the ''Ghost Song'' dismounting First Platoon, including [[John-117]]. The first four troopers jumped out of the craft and were torn about by groundfire from one of the rebels' M41 Vulcans. The second four-man team suffered a similar fate before bullets began to ricochet around the drop bay, downing more troops inside the prowler. The ''Ghost Song'' began to accelerate out of Seoba's gravity well, leaving scatters of ODST bodies across all four designated landing zones. A number of survivors had successfully made ground, and were now taking heavy fire from three sides while trying to reach cover by the ice-coated docks. The insurrectionist bunkers were well-camouflaged, identifiable only by the muzzle flashes of the guns inside. John-117 took the initiative and jumped out of the Prowler followed by [[Blue Team]], using his thrusters to control his descent and land in the quarry. While he fell, he used an [[M41 SPNKR]] rocket launcher to eliminate two of the hidden bunkers, while the others were eliminated by the other Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}


The rebels began to filter infantry down into the quarry, while a convoy of [[Civet]]s began climbing the road towards the top of the mass driver and the communications outpost - within as little as half an hour, they'd be able to repair the array and potentially begin requesting help. By this time, Ghost Flight had turned around and began an attack run, using their 30mm cannons and [[M28 Shrieker missile]]s to bombard the rebel fortifications while they deposited the rest of Alpha Company to reinforce the six ODSTs who had survived the initial landing. Rebel return fire managed to take down {{UNSCShip|Ghost Star}}, resulting in Lt. Commander Nyeto ordering the remaining prowlers to back off their attack. Nonetheless, the prowler air strike had managed to take out half of the convoy's vehicles, leaving at least seven still operational.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}
The rebels began to filter infantry down into the quarry, while a convoy of [[Civet]]s began climbing the road towards the top of the mass driver and the communications outpost - within as little as half an hour, they'd be able to repair the array and potentially begin requesting help. By this time, Ghost Flight had turned around and began an attack run, using their 30mm cannons and [[Shrieker missile|M28 Shrieker missile]]s to bombard the rebel fortifications while they deposited the rest of Alpha Company to reinforce the six ODSTs who had survived the initial landing. Rebel return fire managed to take down {{UNSCShip|Ghost Star}}, resulting in Lt. Commander Nyeto ordering the remaining prowlers to back off their attack. Nonetheless, the prowler air strike had managed to take out half of the convoy's vehicles, leaving at least seven still operational.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}


Johnson, the rest of Blue Team and First Platoon leader Lieutenant [[Nelly Hamm]] joined John at the dock, wherein Hamm proceeded to argue with the Spartan over his taking of initiative. A trio of friendly troops began to make their way toward the group, prompting John and the Spartans to begin providing cover fire, picking off the irregular troops they were fighting. The fireteam used [[M301 grenade launcher]]s to fire on the rebels, with the ODST platoon proceeding to take out those who tried to run from the projectiles. The trio that had reached the main group including Company Captain Cuvier, who proceeded to form a plan with the Spartans on how to proceed. Hamm suggested sending the Spartans up the mass driver, as they were the fastest personnel the company had available. Cuvier agreed to the plan, providing Blue Team with [[NA4 flamethrower#M705 Incendiary Jet Tool|M705 incendiary jet tool]]s and [[C-7 foaming explosive]] to help clear ice blockages inside the structure.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}
Johnson, the rest of Blue Team and First Platoon leader Lieutenant [[Nelly Hamm]] joined John at the dock, wherein Hamm proceeded to argue with the Spartan over his taking of initiative. A trio of friendly troops began to make their way toward the group, prompting John and the Spartans to begin providing cover fire, picking off the irregular troops they were fighting. The fireteam used [[M301 grenade launcher]]s to fire on the rebels, with the ODST platoon proceeding to take out those who tried to run from the projectiles. The trio that had reached the main group including Company Captain Cuvier, who proceeded to form a plan with the Spartans on how to proceed. Hamm suggested sending the Spartans up the mass driver, as they were the fastest personnel the company had available. Cuvier agreed to the plan, providing Blue Team with [[NA4 flamethrower#M705 Incendiary Jet Tool|M705 incendiary jet tool]]s and [[C-7 foaming explosive]] to help clear ice blockages inside the structure.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS8}}
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===Securing the quarry===
===Securing the quarry===
Once the quarry was secure, the UNSC established their own staging area on the moon. At 0816 hours on March 19, the leaders of Task Force Yama gathered in [[Assembly Chamber 4L430]] to discuss what to do next - the Prowlers had been hidden in the quarry and the the remaining rebels had surrendered. The UNSC hung their flag in the assembly chamber. The meeting involved John-117 and now-Captain Hamm, reporting their conflict the previous day to Ascot and Crowther. [[Catherine Halsey]] and Avery Johnson were also present. The meeting resulted in Lieutenant Commander [[Hector Nyeto]] letting slip the true age of the SPARTAN-II soldiers, leading to Colonel Crowther refusing to put them on front line duty, due to their status as child soldiers at the age of fifteen. The meeting ended with the realisation that the Insurrectionists had been preparing to be attacked, but not by the UNSC - they had been anticipating the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS11|HSS|Chapter=11}}
Once the quarry was secure, the UNSC established their own staging area on the moon. At 0816 hours on March 19, the leaders of Task Force Yama gathered in [[Assembly Chamber 4L430]] to discuss what to do next - the Prowlers had been hidden in the quarry and the remaining rebels had surrendered. The UNSC hung their flag in the assembly chamber. The meeting involved John-117 and now-Captain Hamm, reporting their conflict the previous day to Ascot and Crowther. [[Catherine Halsey]] and Avery Johnson were also present. The meeting resulted in Lieutenant Commander [[Hector Nyeto]] letting slip the true age of the SPARTAN-II soldiers, leading to Colonel Crowther refusing to put them on front line duty, due to their status as child soldiers at the age of fifteen. The meeting ended with the realisation that the Insurrectionists had been preparing to be attacked, but not by the UNSC - they had been anticipating the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS11|HSS|Chapter=11}}


==Covenant arrival==
==Covenant arrival==
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The departure of the prowlers alerted [[Sangheili First Blade officer|First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] to the humans' stealth capabilities, and he resolved himself to capture one of these "shadow ships" to learn more about how they were able to avoid Covenant detection systems. The [[intrusion corvette]]s had a roughly 80% effective cloak system and had thus entered the system undetected with the orbital traffic around Biko continuing as usual. From aboard the ''[[Sacred Whisper]]'', the Sangheili ordered the [[Bloodstar Flotilla]] to open fire on the quarry, bombarding it from orbit in an attempt to shoot down any vessels that may try to escape.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS12|HSS|Chapter=12}} The [[Chancellor's Guards]] would notice this barrage and respond with force, with Nyeto estimating they would destroy the fleet within the hour.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS14}}
The departure of the prowlers alerted [[Sangheili First Blade officer|First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] to the humans' stealth capabilities, and he resolved himself to capture one of these "shadow ships" to learn more about how they were able to avoid Covenant detection systems. The [[intrusion corvette]]s had a roughly 80% effective cloak system and had thus entered the system undetected with the orbital traffic around Biko continuing as usual. From aboard the ''[[Sacred Whisper]]'', the Sangheili ordered the [[Bloodstar Flotilla]] to open fire on the quarry, bombarding it from orbit in an attempt to shoot down any vessels that may try to escape.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS12|HSS|Chapter=12}} The [[Chancellor's Guards]] would notice this barrage and respond with force, with Nyeto estimating they would destroy the fleet within the hour.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS14}}


The bombardment hit the {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}}, Ascot's prowler, and downed the ship. By this point, most of the 21/SAB had departed, with the final company in [[Night Flight]]. Crowther denied requests for the Prowlers to return to the ground to assist as he didn't want to lose any more ships. In response, John-117 ordered the insurrectionist prisoners into [[Subsurface Maintenance Grotto 6M430]] to begin boarding the ''Emmeline'', listening out in case the SPARTANs were given a new assignment. Eventually, he realized that his SPARTANs were the only ones left in a position to help the downed Prowler, and sealed the rebels inside the transport to ensure they couldn't escape. He proceeded to begin assisting, recognizing that if the aliens captured the ''Starry Night'', they could learn everything about humanity including the location of [[Earth]]. The ''Emmeline'' then departed Seoba.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS13|HSS|Chapter=13}}
The bombardment hit the {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}}, Ascot's prowler, and downed the ship. By this point, most of the 21/SAB had departed, with the final company in [[Night Flight]]. Crowther denied requests for the Prowlers to return to the ground to assist as he didn't want to lose any more ships. In response, John-117 ordered the insurrectionist prisoners into [[Subsurface Maintenance Grotto 6M430]] to begin boarding the ''Emmeline'', listening out in case the SPARTANs were given a new assignment. Eventually, he realized that his SPARTANs were the only ones left in a position to help the downed Prowler, and sealed the rebels inside the transport to ensure they couldn't escape. He proceeded to begin assisting, recognizing that if the aliens captured the ''Starry Night'', they could learn everything about humanity including the location of [[Earth]]. The ''Emmeline'' then departed from the quarry.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS13|HSS|Chapter=13}}


The squad set out without authorization from Crowther, but were soon given authorization once they explained the risks involved with leaving the ''Starry Night''. Due to the sublimation fog in the quarry, a remnant of the earlier battle, it was impossible to see and so the SPARTANs maintained a spacing of ten meters to ensure their search pattern worked. The squad found the ''Starry Night'' impacted into the quarry wall, with [[Worthy Silence|an intrusion corvette]] lowering itself into the quarry to begin salvaging the ship. The mission changed from recovery to asset denial, with the SPARTANs aiming to detonate the [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon]] in the ship's engineering compartment. The Covenant deployed several [[Type-32 Ghost]]s  manned by [[Jiralhanae]] to engage the SPARTANs, while the supersoldiers prepared to use their [[M301 grenade launcher]]s to fire on the Prowler and cause an avalanche. The Covenant ship continued to drop several [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]]-equipped Sangheili, Jiralhanae and [[Kig-Yar]], while Nyeto began using the remaining Prowlers to try and take out the Covenant from the air. The SPARTANs were able to combine fire on the area below the Prowler impact site, and the avalanche dropped the prowler onto the quarry floor - encasing the SPARTANs in ice.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS14|HSS|Chapter=14}}
The squad set out without authorization from Crowther, but were soon given authorization once they explained the risks involved with leaving the ''Starry Night''. Due to the sublimation fog in the quarry, a remnant of the earlier battle, it was impossible to see and so the SPARTANs maintained a spacing of ten meters to ensure their search pattern worked. The squad found the ''Starry Night'' impacted into the quarry wall, with [[Worthy Silence|an intrusion corvette]] lowering itself into the quarry to begin salvaging the ship. The mission changed from recovery to asset denial, with the SPARTANs aiming to detonate the [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon]] in the ship's engineering compartment. The Covenant deployed several {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s  manned by [[Jiralhanae]] to engage the SPARTANs, while the supersoldiers prepared to use their [[M301 grenade launcher]]s to fire on the Prowler and cause an avalanche. The Covenant ship continued to drop several [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]]-equipped Sangheili, Jiralhanae and [[Kig-Yar]], while Nyeto began using the remaining Prowlers to try and take out the Covenant from the air. The SPARTANs were able to combine fire on the area below the Prowler impact site, and the avalanche dropped the prowler onto the quarry floor - encasing the SPARTANs in ice.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS14|HSS|Chapter=14}}


The SPARTANs freed themselves from the ice and began to engage the Covenant infantry who were crawling all over the ship, preparing to board. Several more Ghosts maintained position on the quarry floor, supported by three more Covenant recovery ships. By this time, Blue Team had made their way inside the ''Starry Night'' and were beginning to arm the nuke, as well as recovering four ODST survivors and Avery Johnson. The team intended to use the ship's escape pods to launch out of Seoba's low gravity to escape the nuclear blast. Nyeto's bombing run only served to hurry the aliens, as they began to prepare a recovery device to lift the Prowler off Seoba. John began to attack the aliens on the outside of ''Starry Night'', killing several Sangheili [[Silent Shadow]] and Kig-Yar. The nuke armed with a thirty-second timer and the UNSC forces inside the ship jettisoned the escape pod, leaving the remaining SPARTANs on the ground sprinting away from the downed Prowler. Due to MJOLNIR's EMP shielding and Seoba's thin atmosphere, the nuke's area of effect was minimal and the SPARTANs were able to narrowly outrun the blast radius before the nuke went off. Crowther then returned to pick up the survivors.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}}
The SPARTANs freed themselves from the ice and began to engage the Covenant infantry who were crawling all over the ship, preparing to board. Several more Ghosts maintained position on the quarry floor, supported by three more Covenant recovery ships. By this time, Blue Team had made their way inside the ''Starry Night'' and were beginning to arm the nuke, as well as recovering four ODST survivors and Avery Johnson. The team intended to use the ship's escape pods to launch out of Seoba's low gravity to escape the nuclear blast. Nyeto's bombing run only served to hurry the aliens, as they began to prepare a recovery device to lift the Prowler off Seoba. John began to attack the aliens on the outside of ''Starry Night'', killing several Sangheili [[Silent Shadow]] and Kig-Yar. The nuke armed with a thirty-second timer and the UNSC forces inside the ship jettisoned the escape pod, leaving the remaining SPARTANs on the ground sprinting away from the downed Prowler. Due to MJOLNIR's EMP shielding and Seoba's thin atmosphere, the nuke's area of effect was minimal and the SPARTANs were able to narrowly outrun the blast radius before the nuke went off. Crowther then returned to pick up the survivors.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}}
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===Casualties===
===Casualties===
During the initial assault on the rebel coalition base, the Black Daggers took 127 casualties.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}} Alpha Company lost fifty-two ODSTs including the loss of Captain [[Zelos Cuvier]] and his staff. Alpha Company suffered a 32% casualty rate, while the rest of the 21/SAB took only 6% without losing any of their Captains. Due to this, Lieutenant Nelly Hamm was promoted to Captain of Alpha Company.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS11}} The initial attack was responsible for the destruction of UNSC ''Ghost Star'' and 22 crew members,{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}} while the later Covenant attack was able to destroy the UNSC ''Starry Night''. The ''Starry Night'' was the leader of [[Night Flight]] and Captain Ascot's ship - in the ship's destruction, Ascot was killed alongside fifty-three other crewmembers and ODSTs aboard the ship. The Battle of Seoba in total cost 203 human lives, who were commemorated aboard the UNSC ''Vanishing Point'' in a funeral ceremony the next day. Due to the loss of Captain Ascot, Lt. Commander Hector Nyeto became the de-facto commander of Task Force Yama.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}
During the initial assault on the rebel coalition base, the Black Daggers took 127 casualties.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}} Alpha Company lost fifty-two ODSTs including the loss of Captain [[Zelos Cuvier]] and his staff. Alpha Company suffered a 32% casualty rate, while the rest of the 21/SAB took only 6% without losing any of their Captains. Due to this, Lieutenant Nelly Hamm was promoted to Captain of Alpha Company.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS11}} The initial attack was responsible for the destruction of UNSC ''Ghost Star'' and 22 crew members,{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}} while the later Covenant attack was able to destroy the UNSC ''Starry Night''. The ''Starry Night'' was the leader of [[Night Flight]] and Captain Ascot's ship - in the ship's destruction, Ascot was killed alongside fifty-three other crewmembers and ODSTs aboard the ship. The Battle of Seoba in total cost 203 human lives, who were commemorated aboard the UNSC ''Vanishing Point'' in a funeral ceremony the next day. Due to the loss of Captain Ascot, Lt. Commander Hector Nyeto became the de-facto commander of Task Force Yama.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}
===''Emmeline''===
By the time the Covenant's [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] had arrived and begun its [[Battle of Biko|assault]] on Biko, the ''Emmeline'' had yet to leave Seoba. As 'Szatulai had the ''Sacred Whisper'' and his other remaining stealth corvette retreat to regroup with the rest of the fleet, the transport's secretly Insurrectionist flight crew had the ship break orbit and follow the alien vessel. When 'Szatulai noticed, he realized the intent of those aboard the ''Emmeline'' and docked with the transport. After neutralizing [[Erland Booth|a jumpy insurgent]] who threatened to detonate a nuclear device unless 'Szatulai called off the attack on Biko, he and General Garvin met and came to an agreement. The Insurrectionists would continue to collect and provide information on the Spartans if the Covenant would give them control on Biko following the battle.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS18|HSS|Chapter=18}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==