Battle of Trove: Difference between revisions

**[[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Unidentified ''CPV''-class destroyer]]

*Sergeant John Forge

*Unidentified lieutenant

|casual4=*Shield 0459

*All constructs

The '''Battle of Shield 0459''' was an engagement fought between the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]], [[the Flood]], and [[Forerunner]] forces on [[Shield 0459]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] from [[2531|February 23 to 25, 2531]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 174''</ref><ref name="timeline">'''Halo Wars''' ''[[Halo Wars Timeline Events|Timeline Events]]''</ref><ref name="Assembly">'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|data pad 15]]''</ref>

[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] captured Professor Anders after the [[Battle of Arcadia]], planning to use her to activate the ships' systems. The UNSC ''Spirit of Fir''e pursued the Covenant to the [[Shield 0459|Shield World]] without reinforcements to rescue Anders.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAwbJN6DzL4&feature=player_embedded "She is Not My Girlfriend"]''</ref> Upon entering the system they followed Anders' transponder signal the best that they could. Captain Cutter launched several Marine teams, as well as [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] to begin surface operations to locate Professor Anders.<ref name="signal">'''[[Halo Wars]]''' ''level, [[Anders' Signal]]''</ref>

Forge's team and the Spartans moved to investigate, encountering the Flood for the first time, including dozens of [[Flood infection form|infection forms]] that resulted in a large number of Marines being lost. However, they successfully recovered both teams' Elephants and retreated back to the [[Firebase]] being constructed at the beacon site.<ref name="signal"/> UNSC forces began to have problems with air transport, as the exterior surface's atmosphere was thick with dust, which caused the engines on [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropships]] to fail within three flights.<ref name="timeline"/>

Red Team discovered that a [[proto-Gravemind]] was coordinating the Flood forces and was also jamming Ander's transponder signal. However, before they could destroy the Gravemind, their [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] was overturned and they had to be rescued by Forge's Marines. After contending with [[Flood swarm|Flood Swarms]] and [[Flood thrasher form|Thrasher Forms]], the Marines were able to rescue the SPARTAN's and destroy the Proto Gravemind.<ref>'''''Halo Wars''''' level, ''[[The Flood (level)|The Flood]]''</ref>

The remaining UNSC forces on the Shield World's surface had less than twenty minutes to fight their way past hundreds of Flood forms before being airlifted back to the ''Spirit of Fire''. [[Flood swarm]]s made air support almost useless, forcing the Marines to use large numbers of [[M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tank|Wolverines]] to clear the air before tanks and infantry could clear landing zones of Flood growths. They managed to slow down the ''Spirit of Fire's'' descent by disabling Forerunner pylon towers powering the docking system with [[Gremlin Combat Support Vehicle]]s, giving them a little longer. After evacuating [[Alpha Platoon]] and [[Bravo Platoon]], the team had to escort [[Charlie Platoon]] back to the firebase for extraction after their [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] was forced to abort its run. After extracting all UNSC forces, the firebase was abandoned to the Flood and the ''Spirit of Fire'' began her descent.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbH5aXZgbw&feature=player_embedded "Descent"]''</ref>

In the inner [[Dyson sphere]] of the Shield World, the ''Spirit of Fire'' immediately entered a collision course with a [[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Covenant destroyer]]. Despite hard course corrections, the two ships impacted, with a large section of the ''Spirit'' being violently sheared off.<ref name="freefall"/> Dozens of Marines, vehicles, and aircraft were deployed onto the ''Spirit's'' hull to fend off boarding parties who were trying to prevent technicians in [[Cyclops]] exoskeletons from repairing the ship's power core, while at the same time the ship was raked by [[plasma]] fire. Escaping from the destroyer, the ''Spirit's'' AI, [[Serina]], detected Anders' signal.<ref>'''''Halo Wars''''' level ''[[Repairs]]''</ref> Sergeant Forge, along with other forces, were deployed to the signal's apparent source on the Shield World's inner surface.<ref name="judgement"/>

Imprisoned in the Apex, Anders was forced by the Arbiter to activate the ancient artifact, powering up a huge fleet of Forerunner ships. In their religious fervor, her guards were distracted and Anders used a [[teleporter]] to return to the surface, where she was rescued by Forge.<ref name="judgement"/> Anders was then evacuated back to the Spirit, while Sergeant Forge and the Spartan [[Red Team]] proceeded to lock the area down, for a safe place to the ''Spirit'' to put down. Anders theorized that they would have to capture four base sites to begin an effective resistance. Through the use of armor, air support, and a [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]] captured by a Spartan, the UNSC captured the bases and prepared to attack the Apex itself.<ref>'''Halo Wars''' ''level, [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref>

With no ability to enter [[Slipstream space]], and the journey back to UNSC space likely to take years, if not decades, the ''Spirit of Fire's'' crew went into [[Cryo chamber|cryostasis]]. The UNSC [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] declared the ''Spirit'' and crew to be [[missing in action]]. In [[2534]], the ''Spirit of Fire'' was declared to be "lost with all hands" by the UNSC. The reason for this change was kept top secret. A memorial service was held for the people aboard the vessel, but many of the crew's family members chose not to attend, holding out hope that their loved ones are still alive.<ref name="timeline"/> Various theories circulated throughout the UNSC as to the ship's actual fate, ranging from being lost during a covert mission for ONI, destroyed in orbit over [[Arcadia]], defecting to [[Insurrectionist]] forces, or being stranded in space. When [[Mary Cutter]], wife of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Gregory Cutter|James Cutter]], was asked about the defection theory, she physically assaulted the reporter.<ref>[http://www.graemedevine.com/graemedevine/Spirit_of_Fire/Entries/2009/3/14_The_Mystery_of_%E2%80%9CSpirit_of_Fire%E2%80%9D.html '''Graeme Devine''': ''Spirit of Fire'']</ref>

*[[Unidentified CPV-class heavy destroyer|Unidentified ''CPV''-class heavy destroyer]]

*[[Unidentified lieutenant (The Apex)|Unidentified lieutenant]]