SWORD Base: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
(5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
|name=SWORD Base
|name=SWORD Base
|image=[[File:HR-ONI-Sword-Base.jpg|300px]]
|image=[[File:HR-ONI-Sword-Base.jpg|300px]]
|location=[[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]], [[Reach]]
|location=[[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]], [[Reach]]{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
|purpose=[[Office of Naval Intelligence]] base
|purpose=[[Office of Naval Intelligence]] base
|length=
|length=
Line 10: Line 10:
|height=
|height=
|surface=
|surface=
|armament=[[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]]
|armament=[[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]]{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
|complement=
|complement=
|built=
|built=
|destroyed=[[2552#August|August 29, 2552]]<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 192''</ref>
|destroyed=[[2552#August|August 29, 2552]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=192}}
|usage=2552: [[Fall of Reach]]
|usage=2552: [[Fall of Reach]]
|controlledby=Office of Naval Intelligence
|controlledby=Office of Naval Intelligence
Line 20: Line 20:
}}
}}


'''SWORD Base''',<ref name="Journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> sometimes parsed as '''Sword Base''',{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} was an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] facility located near the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]] on the colony of [[Reach]].<ref name="ONI: SB">'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref><ref name="BWU">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_040910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 04.09.10'']</ref> An [[Wikipedia:Pannonian Avars|Avar]] [[Wikipedia:Turko-Mongol sabers|saber]] was the emblem of SWORD Base.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=5}}
'''SWORD Base''',<ref name="Journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> sometimes parsed as '''Sword Base''',{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} was an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] facility located near the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]] on the colony of [[Reach]].{{Ref/Level|Id=ONI: SB|HR|[[ONI: Sword Base]]}}<ref name="BWU">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_040910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 04.09.10'']</ref> An [[Wikipedia:Pannonian Avars|Avar]] [[Wikipedia:Turko-Mongol sabers|saber]] was the emblem of SWORD Base.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=5}} In [[2552]], the base's head of security was [[Ádám Virág]]{{Ref/Reuse|Journal}} and its air controller was known by the call sign [[Sword Control]].{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}


==Description==
==Overview==
The base's interior consisted of a long and tall main atrium, with smaller rooms, walkways and staircases on both of its sides. The atrium had a ceiling of glass running along its length, which also extended down the wall on the other end of the atrium. Two specimens of [[Covenant]] [[technology]] recovered during [[Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE]] were on display in the main atrium. Outside the main complex lies a military airfield, and numerous [[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]]. A few smaller outposts, including [[Farragut Station]] and [[Airview Base]], were located near the facility. The base also has several maintenance hallways for the facility's engineers. In addition, a [[Forerunner]] [[Babd Catha Forerunner Complex|ship]] that had crashed in the area millennia earlier had become enveloped by the ice shelf deep below the facility.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013072843/https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14'']</ref> The crashed vessel contained numerous research stations, including one of [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey's]] labs. In [[2552]], the base's head of security was [[Ádám Virág]].{{Ref/Reuse|Journal}} Its air controller was known by the call sign [[Sword Control]].{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
===Location===
A few smaller outposts, including [[Farragut Station]] and [[Airview Base]], were located near the facility. The base also has several maintenance hallways for the facility's engineers. In addition, a [[Forerunner]] [[Babd Catha Forerunner Complex|ship]] that had crashed in the area millennia earlier had become enveloped by the ice shelf deep below the facility.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013072843/https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14'']</ref> The crashed vessel contained numerous research stations, including one of [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey's]] labs.
===Layout===
The base's interior consisted of a long and tall main atrium, with smaller rooms, walkways and staircases on both of its sides. The atrium had a ceiling of glass running along its length, which also extended down the wall on the other end of the atrium. Two specimens of [[Covenant]] [[technology]] recovered during [[Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE]] were on display in the main atrium.{{Ref/Map|HR|[[Sword Base]]}} Outside the main complex lies a military airfield, and numerous [[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]].{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}


==History==
==History==
[[File:HaloReach - Package Intro.jpg|thumb|left|250px|SPARTAN-B312 returns to SWORD Base, reduced to flaming ruins by the Covenant glassing.]]
===Human-Covenant war===
===Human-Covenant war===
[[File:HR SwordBaseGlassing Concept.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Covenant occupy a ravaged SWORD Base.]]
During the [[Fall of Reach]] on [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], Sword Base became the target of [[Battle of Sword Base|an attack]] by a single {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. As the Covenant launched their assault on the base and the surrounding outposts, the base was defended by [[UNSC Army]] forces that were in the area. Soon, [[NOBLE Team]] was called in to assist the defensive forces, and ultimately managed to fend off the assault force. After the defensive, two [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] were called in to push the corvette away from the base, and as the vessel began to depart, one of Reach's [[orbital defense platform]]s destroyed it from above.{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
During the [[Fall of Reach]] on [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], Sword Base became the target of [[Battle of Sword Base|an attack]] by a single {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. As the Covenant launched their assault on the base and the surrounding outposts, the base was defended by [[UNSC Army]] forces that were in the area. Soon, [[NOBLE Team]] was called in to assist the defensive forces, and ultimately managed to fend off the assault force. After the defensive, two [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] were called in to push the corvette away from the base, and as the vessel began to depart, one of Reach's [[orbital defense platform]]s destroyed it from above.{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}


Line 33: Line 36:


Some time prior to Sword Base's demolition, a small team of Office of Naval Intelligence operatives covertly entered the facility with the mission to ensure the destruction of sensitive information as part of [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]. Discovering Dr. Halsey was still alive, they planned to kill her and destroy her remains to avoid having to evacuate her.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Halo: Reach radio conversations#Glacier|Glacier radio conversation]]''</ref> ONI also acquired [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]] from her laboratory, cased in a [[600 series ONI security container]].{{Ref/Reuse|Legendary}}
Some time prior to Sword Base's demolition, a small team of Office of Naval Intelligence operatives covertly entered the facility with the mission to ensure the destruction of sensitive information as part of [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]. Discovering Dr. Halsey was still alive, they planned to kill her and destroy her remains to avoid having to evacuate her.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Halo: Reach radio conversations#Glacier|Glacier radio conversation]]''</ref> ONI also acquired [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]] from her laboratory, cased in a [[600 series ONI security container]].{{Ref/Reuse|Legendary}}
Despite all the efforts of the UNSC, Covenant [[plasma]] bombardment made it difficult to successfully confirm whether both the ship and the base were properly demolished.{{Ref/Reuse|sor1}}


===Postwar===
===Postwar===
By [[2559#October|October 2559]], the [[Banished]] occupied the ruins of Sword Base and had set up an airfield there. When [[Blue Team]] returned to Reach on [[Operation: WOLFE]], the Banished launched an intercept flight from the ruins of Sword Base.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=1}}
By [[2559#October|October 2559]], the [[Banished]] occupied the Sword Base area. When [[Blue Team]] returned to Reach on [[Operation: WOLFE]], the Banished launched an intercept flight from the coordinates of Sword Base.{{Ref/Novel|Id=sor1|SoR|Chapter=1}}
{{Clear}}
 
==Gameplay==
The ''Halo: Reach'' [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Sword Base]]'' takes place inside the facility. The [[Firefight]] map ''[[Courtyard]]'' takes place in the main courtyard outside the entrance to Sword Base.
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
The Covenant conducted a [[Raid on SWORD Base|raid]] on on SWORD Base.{{Ref/Film|Id=Sword|TV|Episode=[[Sword (TV Series)|Sword]]}}


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
According to concept artist [[Isaac Hannaford]], the designers of Sword Base were given considerable creative leeway due to time constraints. As a result, the design of the base drew on inspirations from a stealth fighter for the outside and a hospital for the inside to give it a very "cold and impersonal" feel.<ref name="hannaford">[http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/02/onis-sword-base-and-katherine-halseys.html '''Blog of Isaac Hannaford''': ''ONI's Sword Base and Katherine Halsey's Reach hide out'']</ref> Hannaford wanted the outside to look "top secret".{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1375499036518612996|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=Shape exploration for Sword Base.  I wanted the outside to say top secret which is where the stealth fighter aesthetic developed.|D=27|M=3|Y=2021}} Additionally, due to the base's ONI setting, it was imagined that the base's defenses were not part of the base itself, and instead brought in by the [[UNSC Army]] during the base's defense.{{Ref/Reuse|hannaford}}
According to concept artist [[Isaac Hannaford]], the designers of Sword Base were given considerable creative leeway due to time constraints. As a result, the design of the base drew on inspirations from a stealth fighter for the outside and a hospital for the inside to give it a very "cold and impersonal" feel.<ref name="hannaford">[http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/02/onis-sword-base-and-katherine-halseys.html '''Blog of Isaac Hannaford''': ''ONI's Sword Base and Katherine Halsey's Reach hide out'']</ref> Hannaford wanted the outside to look "top secret".{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1375499036518612996|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=Shape exploration for Sword Base.  I wanted the outside to say top secret which is where the stealth fighter aesthetic developed.|D=27|M=3|Y=2021}} Additionally, due to the base's ONI setting, it was imagined that the base's defenses were not part of the base itself, and instead brought in by the [[UNSC Army]] during the base's defense.{{Ref/Reuse|hannaford}}
==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*A [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Sword Base]]'' takes place inside the facility. The [[Firefight]] map ''[[Courtyard]]'' takes place in the main courtyard outside the entrance to Sword Base.
*The inner courtyard of Sword Base resembled the inside courtyard of [[Wikipedia:The Pentagon|the Pentagon]], the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense.
*The cavern where Halsey's lab was located was designated Sublevel 9. A sublevel of the same name was a central location in the [[New Mombasa Data Center]] in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.
*The atrium of Sword Base resembles the main atrium of Third Echelon HQ from ''[[Wikipedia:Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction|Splinter Cell: Conviction]]''. Similarly, both are owned and operated by secret agencies, and both suffer self-detonation.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 52: Line 57:
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HR_SwordBase_Defenses_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the base's defenses and general architecture.
File:HR_SwordBase_Defenses_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the base's defenses and general architecture.
File:HR SwordBaseDoors Concept.jpg|Concept art for the base's doors.
File:HR_OniDoors Concept.png|Concept art for the base's doors.
File:HR_SwordBase_Garage_Concept.jpg|A concept art image of the garage of SWORD Base.
File:HR_SwordBase_Garage_Concept.jpg|A concept art image of the garage of SWORD Base.
File:HR_SwordBase_Interior_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the base.
File:HR_SwordBase_Interior_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the base.
Line 62: Line 69:
File:HR SwordBase Silhouette Concepts 2.jpg|Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.
File:HR SwordBase Silhouette Concepts 2.jpg|Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.
File:HTMCC HR Achievement StillSharp.png|Concept art for the base.
File:HTMCC HR Achievement StillSharp.png|Concept art for the base.
File:HR SwordBaseGlassing Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Covenant occupying a ravaged SWORD Base.
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 76: Line 84:
File:Halo Reach - Sword Base 02.jpg|View of the Sword Base building.
File:Halo Reach - Sword Base 02.jpg|View of the Sword Base building.
File:SwordBattle.jpg|The rest of the complex following the Covenant attack.
File:SwordBattle.jpg|The rest of the complex following the Covenant attack.
File:HaloReach - Package Intro.jpg|SPARTAN-B312 returns to SWORD Base, reduced to flaming ruins by the Covenant glassing.
File:HR GuardianLance Plaque.png|A plaque commemorating Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE in the atrium of SWORD Base.
File:HR GuardianLance Plaque.png|A plaque commemorating Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE in the atrium of SWORD Base.
File:HR GuardianLance GravityLift.png|A Covenant [[Gravity lift]] recovered in the operation.
File:HR GuardianLance GravityLift.png|A Covenant [[Gravity lift]] recovered in the operation.
Line 87: Line 94:
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]''
**''[[Sword (TV Series)|Sword]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Ref/Sources}}


[[Category:UNSC military bases]]
[[Category:ONI bases]]
[[Category:Reach locations]]
[[Category:Reach locations]]
[[Category:Office of Naval Intelligence]]