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{{Era|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the battle|the novel or comic book adaptation|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: Fall of Reach}}
{{Disambig header|the battle|the novel or comic book adaptation|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: Fall of Reach}}
{{Battle
{{Battle infobox
|name=Fall of Reach
|name=Fall of Reach
|image=[[File:Fall_of_Reach_1.jpg|315px]]
|image=[[File:Fall of Reach compilation.png|300px]]<br>Clockwise from top left: The [[Devoted Sentries]] and [[NOBLE Team]] battle one another at [[Visegrád Relay]]; [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|dozens of UNSC deployments]] across the [[Viery Territory]]; [[UNSC Army]] personnel in [[M12 Warthog]]s engage {{Pattern|Is'belox|Banshee}}s; [[Jun-A266]] and [[Emile-A239]] at [[SWORD Base]] during [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]; Sgt. [[Avery Johnson]] fighting a [[Kig-Yar]] on [[Gamma Station]]; the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} escaping Reach.
|prev=[[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]
|prev=*[[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]
|conc=[[Battle of Tribute]]
*[[Battle of Beta Eridani]]
|conc=*[[Battle for Tribute]]
*[[Battle of Line Installation 1-4]]
*[[Raid on Mount Haven]]
*[[Battle of Beta Gabriel]]
|next=[[Battle of Installation 04]]
|next=[[Battle of Installation 04]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict=*[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=[[2552#July|July 25, 2552]] - [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]]<ref name="H3R">[[:File:ONI Plaque Right.jpg|''Halo 3: ODST'', Reference of Reach event]]</ref><ref group="note">While the time stamps in ''Halo Reach'' use Reach's local time, the dates given are based on the UNSC military calendar. This is supported by the entries in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].</ref> <br/>
**[[Siege of the Inner Colonies]]
*Isolated skirmishes on July 23 and 24; final skirmish on [[2552#September|September 7]]
|date=[[2552#July|July 25, 2552]] [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]]<ref name="H3R">[[:File:ONI Plaque Right.jpg|''Halo 3: ODST'', Reference of Reach event]]</ref>{{Ref/Note|While the time stamps in ''Halo Reach'' use Reach's local time, the dates given are based on the UNSC military calendar. This is supported by the entries in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].}} <br/>
|place=[[Epsilon Eridani system]], planet [[Reach]]  
*[[#Timeline|See below]]
|result=
|place=[[Reach]], [[Epsilon Eridani system]]
'''Major Tactical Covenant victory'''<br>
|result='''Covenant victory'''
*Reach [[Glassing|glassed]]
*Reach [[Glassing|glassed]]{{Ref/Reuse|h2aheretic}}{{Ref/Reuse|actual}}
*Heavy casualties incurred on both sides
*All major military sites and population centers destroyed{{Ref/Book|Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual|Page=94}}
'''Minor strategic UNSC victory'''
*[[Noble Team]] successfully delivered the fragment of [[Cortana]] to [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]], allowing the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to escape to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]].
|side1=
|side1=
*[[File:Halopedia Era UNSC.png|25px]] [[UNSC]]
*{{Icon|UNSC HCW}} [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]
**{{Icon|Navy}} [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]
**{{Icon|Army}} [[UNSC Army|Army]]
**{{Icon|Air Force}} [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]]
**{{Icon|Marine Corps}} [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]
*[[Reach militia]]
*[[Reach militia]]
|side2=
|side2=
*[[File:H5Covenant Logo2.png|25px]] [[Covenant]]
*{{Icon|Covenant FB}} [[Covenant]]
|commanders1=
|commanders1=
*[[Admiral|ADM]] [[Roland Freemont]]†
*[[Admiral|ADM]] [[Roland Freemont]]†
Line 28: Line 34:
*[[Colonel|COL]] [[Urban Holland]]
*[[Colonel|COL]] [[Urban Holland]]
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]]
*[[Captain|CAPT]] [[Jacob Keyes]]
*[[Commander|COMM]] [[Carter-A259]]†
|commanders2=
|commanders2=
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]†
*[[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]]†
*[[Unidentified Sangheili shipmaster|Unidentified Shipmaster]]
*Unidentified [[Sangheili Field Marshal]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]  
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Kantar 'Utaralee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Ardo 'Moretumee]]
|forces1=
|forces1=
See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]]
*385,421,100 available military manpower<ref name="factbook">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel ''Bungie.net'': CAA Factbook on Reach's military power]</ref>
*385,421,100 available military manpower<ref name="factbook">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=intel ''Bungie.net'': CAA Factbook on Reach's military power]</ref>
**[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]]
**[[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]]
***152 warships {{C|August 30}}<ref name="TFoR 343"/>
***152 [[warship]]s {{C|August 30}}{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}
****[[UNSC Trafalgar|One]] [[Punic-class supercarrier|supercarrier]]  
****[[UNSC Trafalgar|1]] [[Punic-class supercarrier|supercarrier]]  
****Several [[Marathon-class heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers]]
****Several [[Marathon-class heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers]]
****At least two [[Halcyon-class light cruiser|light cruisers]]
****2+ [[Halcyon-class light cruiser|light cruisers]]
****Several dozen [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]
****95+ [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] and [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]]{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Halo: The Fall of Reach|Chapter=33|Quote=Twenty thousand kilometers from the planet, a cluster of a hundred UNSC ships collected at rally point Zulu: destroyers, frigates, three cruisers, two carriers—and three refit and repair stations hovering over them. . . waiting to be used as sacrificial shields. “Fifty-two additional UNSC warships inbound to rally point Zulu,” Cortana reported.|Detail=Frigates and destroyers comprised 95% of the initial force (95/100).}}
****Numerous [[UNSC frigate|frigates]]
****Numerous [[UNSC corvette|corvettes]]<ref name="FS">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 207''</ref>
****Numerous [[UNSC corvette|corvettes]]
****18 [[refit station|refit and repair stations]]
****Twenty [[orbital defense platform]]s
**20 [[orbital defense platform]]s
****18 refit and repair stations
**58,485 land assets{{Ref/Reuse|factbook}}
**58,485 land assets<ref name="factbook"/>
***26 [[Spartan-IIs]]{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}}<ref name="Wars">[http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/Timeline.aspx ''Official Halo Wars Community Site'': Timeline] (defunct, [[Archive:Halowars.com/Timeline|Archived]])</ref><ref name="FS Adjunct">''Halo: First Strike'' (2010), Adjunct</ref><ref name="DttE">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7Q3fjIIwc ''Youtube'': Defiant to the End]</ref><ref name="Library">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Library (feature)|Library]] - Pelican</ref><!-- This figure includes the 25 NAVSPECWEAP Spartan-IIs recalled to Reach (as stated in the listed sources) as well as Jorge.-->
***26 [[Spartan-IIs]]<ref name="Drops"/><ref name="Wars">''[[Halo Wars]]'', [[Halowars.com/Timeline|Timeline]]</ref><ref name="FS Adjunct">''Halo: First Strike'' (2010), Adjunct</ref><ref name="DttE">[http://www.youtube.com/user/HaloWaypoint#p/a/DF8EE7CCE045CAA0/0/jh7Q3fjIIwc ''Halo Waypoint'' - Defiant to the End]</ref><ref name="Library">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', [[Library (feature)|Library]] - Pelican</ref><!-- This figure includes the 25 NAVSPECWEAP Spartan-IIs recalled to Reach (as stated in the listed sources) as well as Jorge.-->
***Numerous [[Spartan-III]]s
***[[File:Noblelogo.png|25px]] [[Noble Team]]
***Multiple [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]]
***[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**11,050 air assets{{Ref/Reuse|factbook}}
****[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
***[[File:UNSC-Army-logo1.png|25px]] [[UNSC Army]]
***[[UNSC Air Force]]
**11,050 air assets<ref name="factbook"/>
|forces2=
|forces2=
See [[Participants in the Fall of Reach|here for details on participating forces]]
*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]
*[[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]]
**[[Long Night of Solace|One]] {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}
**[[Long Night of Solace|1]] {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
**One {{Class|ORS|heavy cruiser}}
**3+ {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}s{{Ref/Game|Id=SC|Halo: Fleet Battles|Detail=Scenario Two to Eight campaigns}}
**Two {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
**11+ {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}
**At least 6 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s
**29+ {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|SC}}{{Ref/Reuse|sword}}{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
*[[Ministry of Resolution]]'s fleet
*[[Ministry of Resolution]]'s fleet
**At least 3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s<ref name="lnos"/>
**A large number of ships
**At least 10 {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s<ref name="lnos"/>
***At least 3 {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
**At least 4 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s<ref name="exodus"/>
***At least 10 {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}
*Around 315 ships {{C|August 30}}<ref name="TFoR 343">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', p. 343 (Definitive Edition): "I am presently tracking three hundred fourteen Covenant ships." Taking into account the carrier that the ''Pillar of Autumn'' had destroyed only moments before results in a count of 315 ships.</ref><ref name="tfor296">''Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001)'', p. 296</ref><ref group="note">During the opening cutscene of the '''[[Halo 2]]''' level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]'', [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] states that the fleet that destroyed Reach was "fifty times" larger than the fifteen ship fleet attacking Earth; taken at face value, it would seem that Hood is speaking in hyperbole. The 2010 reissue of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' took this statement literally and changed the number of ships at Reach from around 300 to "over 750"; however, this change was made in only one instance, with all other statements regarding the fleet's size remaining consistent with prior versions of the novel. While the 2011 ''Definitive Edition'' removed this change, it is repeated in the comic book adaption, ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''.</ref>
***At least 4 {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s{{Ref/Reuse|exodus}}
*Around 315 ships {{C|August 30}}{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}{{Ref/Note|In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the ''Pillar of Autumn'' moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315}}{{Ref/Note|During the opening cutscene of the '''[[Halo 2]]''' level ''[[Cairo Station]]'', [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] states that the fleet that destroyed Reach was "fifty times" larger than the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|fifteen ship fleet]] attacking Earth; taken at face value, it would seem that Hood is speaking in hyperbole. The 2010 reissue of ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' took this statement literally and changed the number of ships at Reach from around 300 to "over 750"; however, this change was made in only one instance, with all other statements regarding the fleet's size remaining consistent with prior versions of the novel. While the 2011 ''Definitive Edition'' removed this change, it is repeated in the comic book adaption, ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''.}}
**[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
**[[Fleet of Particular Justice]]
***''[[Seeker of Truth]]''
***''[[Seeker of Truth]]''
**[[Fleet of Holy Respite]]
**[[Fleet of Holy Respite]]
**[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]
**[[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]
**One [[Unidentified Covenant warship|"sniper" ship]]
**Multiple {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
**Multiple {{Class|DDS|carrier}}s{{fact}}
**Multiple {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
**Multiple {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s
**Multiple [[Covenant destroyer|destroyers]]
**Multiple [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]]
**Multiple [[Covenant battleship|battleships]]<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 32</ref>
**Multiple {{Class|CRS|light cruiser}}s<ref name="HFS18">''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 18, p. 167 -- "Two exceptions to this patrol pattern were a pair of light cruisers hovering over Menachite Mountain"</ref>
**Multiple {{Class|DAV|light corvette}}s
**Multiple {{Class|CAR|frigate}}s<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'', p. 274</ref>
*Numerous ground forces
*Numerous ground forces
|casual1=Catastrophic
|casual1=Catastrophic
*c. 700,000,000 military and civilian casualties
*650,000,000 - 1,000,000,000+ casualties{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=42-43}}
**Over 130 ships
**Over 130 [[UNSC starship|ships]]
**20 orbital defense platforms
**20 orbital defense platforms
**All refit and repair stations
**All refit and repair stations
**Majority of ground forces
**Majority of ground forces
***Unknown number of Spartan-IIs and at least seventeen [[SPARTAN-IIIs]]
***Unknown number of Spartan-IIs and at least seventeen [[Spartan-III]]s
|casual2=Massive
|casual2=Massive
*Heavy terrestrial and exoatmospheric losses
*Heavy terrestrial and exoatmospheric losses
*Over 210 ships<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', p. 358</ref>
*Over 145 [[Covenant starship|ships]]{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}{{Ref/Note|In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the ''Pillar of Autumn'' moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315. Then, it is stated that ''"the surviving Covenant vessels advanced in-system—a third of their number were left behind... burning radioactive hulks or utterly destroyed by the Super MAC rounds"''. One-third of 315 is 105. Following that, ''"sixteen Covenant ships were blasted into flame and glittering fragments"'', the orbital guns' super-heavy rounds ''"impacted eighteen incoming Covenant ships"'', and ''"six Covenant ships cleared the interfering cloud of vapor"'' before being destroyed. <nowiki>105+16+18+6=145</nowiki> total destroyed Covenant ships in this particular battle.}}
*Majority of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence
*Majority of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence
}}
}}
{{Series/Battle/Fall of Reach}}
{{Quote|We knew this day would come. They have found our fortress among the stars. The [[Covenant]] are on Reach. They will burn this planet, kill millions, and when Reach falls—and fall it will—there will be nothing left to stand between them - and [[Earth]].|[[Dr. Catherine Halsey]]<ref>[[Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise|''Halo: Reach'': "A Spartan Will Rise" ViDoc]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|We knew this day would come. They have found our fortress among the stars. The [[Covenant]] are on Reach. They will burn this planet, kill millions, and when Reach falls—and fall it will—there will be nothing left to stand between them - and [[Earth]].|[[Dr. Catherine Halsey]]<ref>[[Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise|''Halo: Reach'': "A Spartan Will Rise" ViDoc]]</ref>}}


The '''Fall of Reach''',<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'', p. 198</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/abouthalo/timeline ''Waypoint'': Halo Official Timeline]</ref> also known as the '''Battle of Reach''',<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30646 ''Bungie.net:'' Defiant Map Pack]</ref> was one of the largest and bloodiest engagements in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It was fought on and around the human colony world of [[Reach]] in the Epsilon Eridani system, between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] from [[2552|July 25 to August 30, 2552]].<ref name="H3R"/>
The '''Fall of Reach''',<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 198</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/abouthalo/timeline ''Waypoint'': Halo Official Timeline]</ref> also known as the '''Battle of Reach'''<ref name="BnetDefiant">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30646 ''Bungie.net:'' Defiant Map Pack]</ref> and '''Reach Campaign''',<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', [[Conversations from the Universe]] - Grunt Conversation</ref> was one of the largest and bloodiest [[battle|engagements]] in the [[Human-Covenant War|Human-Covenant]] [[War]]. It was fought on and around the [[human]] [[Human colonies|colony]] [[planet|world]] of [[Reach]] in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]], between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant]] from [[2552|July 25 to August 30, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3R}}


Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a small Covenant task force led by the [[CSO-class supercarrier|supercarrier]] ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' covertly established a foothold on Reach. The Covenant began to solidify their hold and began searching for Forerunner relics as the UNSC counter-attacked, attempting to drive the Covenant off the surface before reinforcements arrived. Ultimately, the UNSC was unsuccessful, and substantial Covenant reinforcements under Thel 'Vadamee arrived in the system. After hard fighting, the Covenant breached the orbital defense grid and overran the UNSC's planetside forces. After overwhelming the defenders, the Covenant [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet. Isolated skirmishes between UNSC remnants and the Covenant forces continued until their recovery by a small rescue party led by [[John-117]].
Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|small Covenant task force]] led by the {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' covertly established a foothold on Reach. The Covenant began to solidify their hold and began searching for Forerunner relics as the UNSC counter-attacked, attempting to drive the Covenant off the surface before reinforcements arrived. Ultimately, the UNSC was unsuccessful, and substantial Covenant reinforcements under [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee arrived in the system. After hard fighting, the Covenant breached the orbital defense grid and overran the UNSC's planetside forces. After overwhelming the defenders, the Covenant [[Glassing|glassed]] the planet. Isolated skirmishes between UNSC remnants and the Covenant forces continued until their recovery by a small rescue party led by [[John-117]].


Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, [[Noble Team]] preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], where they [[Battle of Installation 04|engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle]]. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the subsequent political schism within the Covenant, would be invaluable to the ultimate defeat of the Covenant.
Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, [[NOBLE Team]] preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], where they [[Battle of Installation 04|engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle]]. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the [[Great Schism|subsequent political schism]] within the Covenant while [[Battle for Earth|attacking]] [[Earth]], would be invaluable to the [[Battle of Installation 00|ultimate defeat]] of the Covenant.


==Prelude==
==Background==
At some point before July 19, 2552, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] ran a series of calculations that predicted the future movement of the Covenant force sweeping throughout [[Milky Way|the galaxy]]. Based on these calculations, ONI determined that there was an 87% probability that the Epsilon Eridani system would be discovered by the Covenant within five months. [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]], the head of ONI, debated with [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] about using Reach as the stage for the planned [[Operation: RED FLAG]]; the pair considered that the presence of large-scale [[Forerunner]] artifacts on the planet would be a source of Covenant interest in the planet. The rest of the UNSC, however, was given no warning of the predicted attack.<ref name="Drops">''[[Data Drop]]''</ref>
[[File:Reach "The Battle Begins"-Elite.png|thumb|left|250px|The communications cutoff between Reach and other UEG colonies was originally attributed to localized [[Insurrectionist]]s. However, upon investigating, NOBLE Team discovered that the Covenant's [[Devoted Sentries]] were responsible.]]
At some point before July 19, 2552, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] ran a series of calculations that predicted the future movement of the Covenant force sweeping throughout [[Milky Way|the galaxy]]. Based on these calculations, ONI determined that there was an 87% probability that the Epsilon Eridani system would be discovered by the Covenant within five months. [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]], the head of ONI, debated with [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] about using Reach as the stage for the planned [[Operation: RED FLAG]]; the pair considered that the presence of large-scale [[Forerunner]] artifacts on the planet would be a source of Covenant interest in the planet. The rest of the UNSC, however, was given no warning of the predicted attack.<ref name="drop4">''[[Data Drop]]s'', [[Data Drop/Four|Drop #4]]</ref>


ONI's prediction came true less than a month after Admiral Parangosky sent her message. Despite suffering a severe defeat at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], the Covenant managed to place a tracking device on the {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} with the intent of using it to find human colony worlds. When the ''Iroquois'' returned to [[Reach]], the human presence - and its extent - was revealed to the Covenant. However, the location of Reach itself was already known to the Covenant; a Forerunner artifact that the Covenant had recovered from [[Sigma Octanus IV]] indicated that Reach held another artifact, proving Parangosky's and Stanforth's suspicions correct.
ONI's prediction came true less than a week after Admiral Parangosky sent her message. Following his [[Battle of Beta Eridani|victory]] against the humans in the [[Beta Eridani system]], Supreme Commander [[Rho 'Barutamee]] of the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] was able to secure a [[Luminary]] that informed him of Reach's location. 'Barutamee cared little of the humans in the Epsilon Eridani system, and did not know the significance of Reach to the UNSC.<ref name="flight">''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'', [[Scenario One: Flight!]]</ref><ref name="contact">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Two: Contact]]</ref>


===Pre-invasion===
===Pre-invasion===
Before dispatching a full-scale force, the Covenant sent the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]], consisting of several {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}s and a {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', to Reach to serve as a pre-invasion force; after arriving at Reach, the fleet clandestinely deployed a large ground force to the [[Viery Territory]]. This invasion force was cloaked from UNSC sensors by sophisticated [[stealth pylon]]s deployed around it. The Covenant also sent a small [[Sangheili Zealot]] strike team led by a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]] to recover a Forerunner artifact from an excavation site near the [[Visegrád Relay|Visegrád communications outpost]].
By July 23, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence consisting of {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}s, {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s, {{Pattern|Varric|heavy cruiser}}s and a {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', arrived at Reach following the Luminary retrieved at Beta Eridani. The Luminary marked the presence of the Forerunner [[Rate]] of [[Builder]]s across the system.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} After arriving at Reach, the fleet clandestinely deployed a large ground force to the [[Viery Territory]]. This invasion force was cloaked from UNSC sensors by sophisticated [[stealth pylon]]s deployed around it. The Covenant also sent a small [[Sangheili Zealot]] strike team, of the [[Devoted Sentries]], led by a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]] to recover a Forerunner artifact from an excavation site near the [[Visegrád Relay|Visegrád communications outpost]].
{{Quote|ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One.|[[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]<ref name="actual">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Noble Actual]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One.|[[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]{{Ref/Level|Id=actual|Halo: Reach|[[Noble Actual]]}}}}


On the night of July 23, 2552, two days before the invasion began, the Covenant dispatched a small strike force, forces from the Fleet of Valiant Prudence disable the [[Visegrád Relay|communications array]] at [[Visegrád]], leaving Reach isolated from the rest of the UNSC.<ref>''[[Remember Reach]]'', [[Patrol]]</ref> This operation, however, went unnoticed by the UNSC and it was surmised by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] that the local [[insurrectionist]] organization, an ultra-radical cell of the [[People's Occupation]],<ref>[[Data Drop/DDR2]]</ref> was responsible for the loss of contact with the facility.<ref name="actual"/> In response, several [[UNSC Army|Army]] fireteams were sent to investigate the matter. Contact with these fireteams was lost shortly thereafter.<ref name="actual"/>
The strike force disabled the communications array at [[Visegrád]], cutting off communications from the northern parts of [[Alföld]] to the larger communications hubs further south, leaving a large portion of Reach isolated from the rest of the UNSC.<ref name="OverlookRadio">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]] - [[Overlook]]</ref> This operation, however, went unnoticed by the UNSC and it was surmised by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] that the local [[insurrectionist]] organization, an ultra-radical cell of the [[People's Occupation]],<ref name="drop2">''[[Data Drop]]'' [[Data Drop/Two|Drop #2]]</ref> was responsible for the loss of contact with the facility.{{Ref/Reuse|actual}}
 
In response, the [[UNSC Army|Army]] was deployed into [[Pálháza]],{{Ref/Reuse|OverlookRadio}} with several fireteams including [[3 Charlie]] sent to investigate the matter.<ref name="patrol">''[[Remember Reach]]'', [[Patrol]]</ref> Contact with these fireteams was lost shortly thereafter.{{Ref/Reuse|actual}}


===Winter Contingency===
===Winter Contingency===
{{Quote|Colonel, this is NOBLE One. There are no rebels. The Covenant are on Reach.|[[Carter-A259]]<ref name="winter">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Winter Contingency (level)|Winter Contingency]]</ref>}}
{{Main|Battle of Visegrád}}
{{Quote|Colonel, this is NOBLE One. There are no rebels. The Covenant are on Reach.|[[Carter-A259]]{{Ref/Level|Id=winter|Halo: Reach|[[Winter Contingency]]}}}}
 
The day after the [[Visegrád Relay]] was disabled, [[Spartan]] [[NOBLE Team]] was sent to investigate the disturbance in lieu of the missing Army fireteams.{{Ref/Reuse|actual}} The group had been conducting anti-insurrection operations in the region, and were thus on-hand to assist.{{Ref/Reuse|patrol}}<ref name="entry19021024">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', [[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]] - Entry 19-021/024</ref> Upon landing in Visegrád and scouting the surrounding countryside, NOBLE Team quickly discovered that insurrectionists were not responsible for the attack; a small Covenant advance force had found Reach and landed at Visegrád, with the intent of disabling Reach's communications with other UNSC colonies.{{Ref/Reuse|winter}} After wiping out the advance force, NOBLE Team proceeded to the relay station, where they were ambushed by a group of [[Sangheili Zealot]]s, a team sent to hunt down vital data on a [[Forerunner]] artifact. [[WINTER CONTINGENCY (protocol)|WINTER CONTINGENCY]] was then declared on Reach.<ref name="EDGE">[http://www.edge-online.com/ ''EDGE Magazine'', February 2010]</ref><ref name="GI">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx ''GameInformer'', February 2010]</ref>


The day after the Visegrád Relay was disabled, [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan]] [[NOBLE Team]] was sent to investigate the disturbance in lieu of the missing Army fireteams. Upon landing in Visegrád and scouting the surrounding countryside, NOBLE Team quickly discovered that insurrectionists were not responsible for the attack; a small Covenant advance force had found Reach and landed at Visegrád, with the intent of disabling Reach's communications with other UNSC colonies.<ref name="winter"/> After wiping out the advance force, NOBLE Team proceeded to the relay station, where they were ambushed by a group of [[Sangheili Zealot]]s, a team sent to hunt down vital data on a [[Forerunner]] artifact. [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] was then declared on Reach.<ref name="EDGE">[http://www.edge-online.com/ ''EDGE Magazine'', February 2010]</ref><ref name="GI">[http://gameinformer.com/mag/haloreach.aspx ''GameInformer'', February 2010]</ref>
Following the declaration of the WINTER CONTINGENCY, several ONI field agents were given [[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders|supplemental orders]] to secure or - if necessary - terminate UNSC astronavigation personnel to ensure their knowledge would not fall into the hands of the Covenant.<ref name="supplemental">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Adjunct, [[WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders]]</ref>


==The battle==
==Battle==
===Opening skirmishes===
===Opening skirmishes===
{{Quote|WINTER CONTINGENCY has been declared, all units mobilized and ready.|UNSC officer}}
{{Quote|WINTER CONTINGENCY has been declared, all units mobilized and ready.|UNSC officer}}
Operating using cloaking technology and stealth tactics, the Covenant had created a fortified landing zone on Reach, with anti-air guns around the perimeter of their staging area in the [[Viery Territory]] where they had covertly inserted a large amount of forces, including several corvettes.<ref name="hrnightfall">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Nightfall]]</ref>
Operating using cloaking technology and stealth tactics, the Covenant had created a fortified landing zone on Reach, with anti-air guns around the perimeter of their staging area in the [[Viery Territory]] where they had covertly inserted a large amount of forces, including several corvettes.{{Ref/Level|Id=hrnightfall|Halo: Reach|[[Nightfall]]}}


{{Main|First Battle of Sword Base}}
{{Main|Battle of Sword Base}}
[[File:Jorge n' Six.jpg|thumb|right|200px|SPARTAN-B312 and Jorge-052 watch a Covenant corvette sinking after being neutralized by an orbital strike.]]
Two days after the skirmish at Visegrád, the Covenant attacked [[SWORD Base]] in an attempt to overrun the ONI facility and access the [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|Forerunner structures]] there. However, these forces were repulsed after NOBLE Team reinforced the base and brought its [[M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun]]s and communications back online. The Covenant [[Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette|corvette]] attacking it was forced to retreat and was destroyed by an [[orbital defense platform]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]].<ref name="sword">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[ONI: Sword Base]]</ref>
Two days after the skirmish at Visegrád, the Covenant attacked [[SWORD Base]] in an attempt to overrun the ONI facility and access the [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|Forerunner structures]] there. However, these forces were repulsed after NOBLE Team reinforced the base and brought its [[M71 Anti-Aircraft Gun]]s and communications back online. The Covenant [[SDV-class heavy corvette|corvette]] attacking it was forced to retreat and was destroyed by an [[orbital defense platform]]'s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]].<ref name="sword">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[ONI: Sword Base]]</ref>


===UNSC counterattack===
===UNSC counterattack===
{{Main|Battle at Szurdok Ridge}}
[[File:UNSC Attack.jpg|thumb|left|250px|UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].{{Ref/Reuse|tots}}]]
{{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]<ref name="tots">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Tip of the Spear]]</ref>}}
{{Main|Mission to Szurdok Ridge|Battle at Szurdok Ridge|Order of battle (Viery, Reach)}}
{{Quote|We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front.|[[Auntie Dot]]{{Ref/Level|Id=tots|Game=Halo: Reach|Level=[[Tip of the Spear]]}}}}
Over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC [[Mission to Szurdok Ridge|sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory]] in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.{{Ref/Reuse|hrnightfall}} With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the [[UNSC Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|anti-air weapons]] to make way for [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', appeared over the area, attacking the UNSC frigates and reinforcing the Covenant troops.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} Meanwhile, Covenant forces made another strike on SWORD Base, this time with much greater success. Around this time, sixty percent of the Fleet was recalled to Reach from existing deployments; these reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by August 15.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}


[[File:UNSC Attack.jpg|200px|thumb|left|UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].]]
While the battle began on the ground, Rho's forces in space began to enagage UNSC Naval forces across the system, engaging light battlegroups composed mainly of {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s and a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} in space.{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} Following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach, the personnel of [[Teller Station]] - a research laboratory working at [[Site 17]] in the system's [[Oort cloud]] - prepared to evacuate after being ordered to condense their last dig into barely a fortnight. These activities awakened the senescent Forerunner systems there, alerting the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to the site. Rho deployed a "significant portion of his fleet"{{Ref/Reuse|run}} there consisting of ''SDV''-class corvettes and ''Ket''-pattern battlecruisers, only to be engaged by more frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral [[Michael Stanforth]].<ref name="evacuate">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Three: Evacuate]]</ref> The Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, though the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant into a trap near Reach itself.<ref name="run">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Four: Run!]]</ref> The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.<ref name="intothefire">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Five: Into the fire]]</ref>
Over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.<ref name="hrnightfall"/> With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the [[UNSC Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.<ref name="tots"/> The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant [[Type-38 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|anti-air weapons]] to make way for [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s and {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}s to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}, ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'', appeared over the area, attacking the UNSC frigates and reinforcing the Covenant troops.<ref name="tots"/> Meanwhile, Covenant forces made another strike on SWORD Base, this time with much greater success. Around this time, sixty percent of the Fleet was recalled to Reach from existing deployments; these reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by August 15.<ref name="lnos"/>


===The battle begins===
===The battle begins===
{{Main|Operation: UPPER CUT|Operation: LEFT JAB}}
{{Main|Operation: UPPER CUT|Operation: LEFT JAB}}
[[File:LNoS ends.jpg|right|thumb|''Long Night of Solace'' being destroyed.]]
[[File:LNoS ends.jpg|thumb|250px|''Long Night of Solace'' being destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}]]
{{Quote|no=five|Air Control (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|ATC 2 (COM)|Colonel Holland (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|q1=They're everywhere!|q2=Slipspace rupture detected.|q3=Oh no, this can't be happening!|q4=Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!|q5=Slipspace rupture detected.|The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives<ref name="lnos"/>}}
{{Quote|no=five|Air Control (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|ATC 2 (COM)|Colonel Holland (COM)|AI Auntie Dot (COM)|q1=They're everywhere!|q2=Slipspace rupture detected.|q3=Oh no, this can't be happening!|q4=Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!|q5=Slipspace rupture detected.|The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}}}
The arrival of the supercarrier led to [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], in which NOBLE Team used [[YSS-1000 Sabre]]s and the corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' to deliver an improvised [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine#Atypical uses|slipspace drive "bomb"]] to the supercarrier and destroy it.<ref name="lnos">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> [[SPARTAN-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]] pilots, with the aid of the frigate ''Savannah'', boarded the ''Ardent Prayer'' and took control of it.<ref name="lnos"/> Noble Five then sacrificed himself to destroy ''Long Night of Solace''. However, just as the supercarrier was destroyed, a fleet of Covenant warships exited slipspace in orbit over the planet.<ref name="lnos"/> Despite the mission's success, the destruction of the supercarrier was an inadvertent setback for [[Operation: RED FLAG]].<ref name="Drops"/>
The arrival of the supercarrier led to the UNSC concocting an audacious plan known as [[Operation: UPPER CUT]], in which NOBLE Team were to use [[FSS-1000 Sabre]] starfighters to capture the Covenant corvette ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' to deliver an improvised [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine#Atypical uses|slipspace drive "bomb"]] to the supercarrier and destroy it. The team were deployed to fend off an attack at the Sabre [[Sabre Program Launch/Research Range|research site]] at [[Farkas Lake]], before deploying to refit station [[Anchor 9]] in the fighters to prepare for the operation.<ref name="lnos">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> [[Spartan-B312]], [[Jorge-052]], and a team of [[UNSC Army|Army]] pilots, with the aid of the frigate ''Savannah'', boarded the ''Ardent Prayer'' and took control of it.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}<ref name="Warfleet76">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 76-77</ref>
 
[[File:Reach AssaultCarriers.jpg|thumb|260px|left|A larger Covenant fleet sent by the [[Ministry of Resolution]] enters the system, escalating the siege of the planet.]]
By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the threat of the human presence on the surface and the importance of the planet he was attacking. If this wasn't enough, the [[Ministry of Resolution]] had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet, and his artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface. If the commander wasn't able to produce something of value soon, he might be forced to retreat or face the wrath of the [[Hierarch]]s for his ineptitude. Stanforth had managed to spread his fleet thin, probing his defences from all sides. The UNSC fleet at large initiated a massive attack known as [[Operation: LEFT JAB]] to distract the supercarrier,<ref name="leftjab">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Six: Left Jab]]</ref> allowing NOBLE Team's operation to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC [[task force]]s were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.<ref name="finishingblow">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow]]</ref>
 
Noble Five then sacrificed himself to destroy ''Long Night of Solace''. However, just as the supercarrier was destroyed, the Ministry of Resolution's massive fleet of warships exited slipspace in orbit over the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}} The supercarrier's wreckage landed near [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]], killing Barutamee in the process. Shipmaster [[Kantar 'Utaralee]] assumed command of what remained of the now-splintered Fleet of Valiant Prudence, leading them once again to recover the Site 17 artifact, now relocated to a station near [[Turul]].<ref name="zulu">''Halo: Fleet Battles'', [[Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu]]</ref>
 
Despite the mission's success, the destruction of the supercarrier was an inadvertent setback for [[Operation: RED FLAG]]. The Operation called for a "Class-Five" Covenant vessel such as a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} or a ''CSO''-class supercarrier to be boarded by the Spartan-IIs. Colonel Holland informed Admiral Stanforth of the destruction of the supercarrier around August 27, several days following its destruction. The Admiral expressed his frustrations regarding the "trigger happiness" of the [[Unified Special Warfare Command]], as the operation would now need to find a new target vessel.<ref name="drop5">''[[Data Drop]]s'', [[Data Drop/Five|Drop #5]]</ref>


===Further engagements===
===Further engagements===
[[File:Noble Six City.jpg|thumb|250px|Noble Six arrives at [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] as it is invaded by Covenant forces.{{Ref/Reuse|exodus}}]]
{{Main|Siege of New Alexandria}}
{{Main|Siege of New Alexandria}}
{{Quote|Your report will have to wait, Lieutenant. The Covenant are jamming all comms to Command. [[Kat-B320|Kat]] needs your help running a counter-op.|Commander [[Carter-A259]]<ref name="alexandria">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[New Alexandria (level)|New Alexandria]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|Your report will have to wait, Lieutenant. The Covenant are jamming all comms to Command. [[Catherine-B320|Kat]] needs your help running a counter-op.|Commander [[Carter-A259]]<ref name="alexandria">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[New Alexandria]]</ref>}}


Over the next week, Covenant ground forces landed on the planet and Covenant ships began [[glassing]] targeted areas. However, most of the planet's population, both civilian and military, (particularly those assigned to Operation: RED FLAG), were kept unaware of the invasion.<ref name="Drops"/><ref name="TFoR Adjunct">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Adjunct</ref> HIGHCOM withheld major counteroffensives on the far side of the planet in the hope that a Class-5 Covenant vessel, which was needed for the operation, would be drawn in and make itself vulnerable for capture. Millions perished as a result of this relative inaction.<ref name="Drops"/>  
Over the next week, Covenant ground forces landed on the planet and Covenant ships began [[glassing]] targeted areas. A major siege lasting between August 18–23 broke out in the [[city]] of [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]], with large numbers of civilian evacuation transports being shot down by Covenant air and ground forces.<ref name="exodus">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Exodus]]</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|alexandria}} Members of NOBLE Team assisted UNSC forces in clearing evacuation zones, succeeding in damaging a [[Covenant corvette]] in the process. Though the UNSCDF succeeded in clearing the city of Covenant troops, Covenant naval assets began to glass the city, and while retreating [[Catherine-B320]] of NOBLE Team was killed by sniper fire.{{Ref/Reuse|alexandria}} Elsewhere, the evacuation stations in [[Manassas]] and [[Esztergom]] were attacked and eventually stopped responding.<ref name="BeachheadRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]] - [[Beachhead]]</ref>


A battle broke out in the city of [[New Alexandria]], with large numbers of civilian evacuation transports being shot down by Covenant air and ground forces.<ref name="exodus">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Exodus]]</ref><ref name="alexandria"/> Members of NOBLE Team assisted UNSC forces in clearing evacuation zones, succeeding in damaging a [[Covenant corvette]] in the process. Though the UNSCDF succeeded in clearing the city of Covenant troops, Covenant naval assets began to glass the city, and while retreating [[Kat-B320]] of NOBLE Team was killed by sniper fire.<ref name="alexandria"/>
However, most of the planet's population, both civilian and military, (particularly those assigned to Operation: RED FLAG), were kept unaware of the invasion, as the Army repeatedly insisted they had the ground battle under control.{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}}{{Ref/Reuse|entry19021024}} HIGHCOM withheld major counteroffensives on the far side of the planet in the hope that a Class-5 Covenant vessel, which was needed for the operation, would be drawn in and make itself vulnerable for capture. Millions perished as a result of this relative inaction.{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}}


Redeployed, NOBLE Team and a small force of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] were ordered to destroy the Covenant-occupied SWORD Base in a "torch-and-burn" operation. Proceeding into the base, the team encountered [[Dr. Catherine Halsey]], who enlisted their help in defending her laboratory amid the ruins of a Forerunner [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|complex]] from advancing Covenant forces. Halsey ordered Noble Six, Carter, and Emile to transport a fragment of the AI [[Cortana]] to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, while [[Jun-A266]] escorted her to [[CASTLE Base]] elsewhere on Reach.<ref name="thepackage">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Package (level)|The Package]]</ref>
Due to his tendency to jump head-first into the action, Captain [[Jacob Keyes]] was left in the dark about the Covenant attack, as to ensure that he wouldn't engage before a target could make itself known.{{Ref/Reuse|drop5}} At some point following August 27, the Captain was informed of the ongoing battle, though under strict orders to keep the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s crew in the dark. Keyes felt these blackout orders to be ineffective due to the ability to look out of the window to see the battle raging on the surface, and wished to tell the crew to ensure they knew that Reach would likely no longer exist when their mission was complete.<ref name="34670J">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Adjunct - [[UNSC Transmission 34670J-17]]</ref> As the battle went on to August 30, the ship was stationed over [[Lábatlan]], with the [[R. Abiad]] noticing an explosion over [[Eposz]] and [[William Lovell]] noticing strange electromagnetic readings coming from Turul. ONI used the downed Visegrad relay as an excuse to keep the ''Pillar of Autumn'' parked on the side of the planet not currently hit by the Covenant.<ref name="drop6">''[[Data Drop]]s'', [[Data Drop/Six|Drop #6]]</ref>
 
As the situation on the ground deteriorated, NOBLE Team and a small force of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] were ordered to destroy the Covenant-occupied SWORD Base in a "torch-and-burn" operation known as [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]. Proceeding into the base, the team encountered [[Dr. Catherine Halsey]], who enlisted their help in defending her laboratory amid the ruins of a Forerunner [[Babd Catha Forerunner complex|complex]] from advancing Covenant forces. Halsey ordered Noble Six, Carter, and Emile to transport a fragment of the AI [[Cortana]] to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, while [[Jun-A266]] escorted her to [[CASTLE Base]] elsewhere on Reach.<ref name="thepackage">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Package]]</ref>


===Final space battle===
===Final space battle===
{{Quote|multi=more|q1=[[Gamma Station]], this is [[Fermion]] RSO. Unconfirmed reports of an in-system [[slipspace]] rupture.|Fermion Remote Sensing Outpost|q2=Impossible. Check your source.|Reach Station Gamma|q3=There's no mistake. It's them.|Fermion RSO|Conversation between Fermion and Gamma on the arrival of the Covenant armada}}
{{Main|Space engagements over Reach}}
As August 30 dawned, a massive Covenant combined fleet — headed by [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] and his [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] — was detected exiting [[slipspace]] on the edge of the system.<ref name="THC">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/the-halo-conflict-1/871ebdfd-0500-49e6-b1c3-137b909aac73 ''Halo Waypoint:'' The Halo Conflict, Part 1]</ref> The fleet was first detected in slipspace by [[remote scanning outpost]] ''[[Fermion]]''. The station's commander, [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[McRobb]], sent an emergency message to [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] and ordered self-destruct to prevent the station's data from falling into enemy hands. A few minutes later, 315 Covenant ships exited slipspace at the edge of the [[Epsilon Eridani system]].<ref name="TFoR 343"/> [[Admiral]] [[Roland Freemont]] issued [[UNSC Alpha Priority Transmission 04592Z-83]], ordering all ships in the Epsilon Eridani system<ref name="TFoR 343"/> to rendezvous at Reach in preparation for the coming assault. The Covenant moved in on the orbital defenses before the UNSC fleet fully consolidated. Fifty-three belated UNSC ships,<ref name="TFoR 343"/> including the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, ran a gauntlet of screening Covenant warships as they attempted to link up with the main fleet. At this time, only about a hundred UNSC ships were readily available to defend Reach.<ref name="TFoR 343"/>
{{Quote|multi=more|q1=[[Gamma Station]], this is [[Fermion]] RSO. Unconfirmed reports of an in-system [[slipspace]] rupture.|Fermion Remote Sensing Outpost|q2=Impossible. Check your source.|Reach Station Gamma|q3=There's no mistake. It's them.|Fermion RSO|Conversation between Fermion and Gamma on the arrival of the Covenant armada<ref name="announce">''[[Halo: Reach announcement trailer]]''</ref>}}
As August 30 dawned, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' began making its way out-system to begin RED FLAG{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Halo: The Fall of Reach|Chapter=30}} when a massive Covenant combined fleet — including [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] and his [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[The Heretic]]</ref> — was detected exiting [[slipspace]] on the edge of the system.<ref name="THC">''[[The Halo Conflict]]''</ref> The fleet was first detected in slipspace by [[remote scanning outpost]] ''[[Fermion]]'', who initially mistook the tightly knit formation as a large planetoid that had somehow entered slipspace. The station's commander, [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[McRobb]], sent an emergency message to [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] and ordered self-destruct to prevent the station's data from falling into enemy hands.{{Ref/Reuse|announce}}<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 31</ref> This fleet had been drawn to the system following a tracking device placed on the {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} during the earlier [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]] with the intent of using it to find human colony worlds. When the ''Iroquois'' returned to [[Reach]], the human presence - and its extent - was revealed to this new Covenant faction.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 23</ref>


[[File:FoR.png|thumb|left|The Epsilon Eridani Fleet engages the Covenant fleet in orbit over Reach.]]
[[File:FoR.png|thumb|left|250px|The outnumbered Epsilon Eridani Fleet engages the Covenant fleet in orbit over Reach.]]
The main Covenant force moved in on the orbital defenses. The initial salvo of [[plasma turret|plasma torpedoes]] was mostly absorbed by the sacrifice of three refit and repair stations, allowing the defenders to return fire.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach Definitive Edition'', p. 354</ref> The [[orbital defense platform]]s and four nuclear mines combined to take down a full third of the Covenant fleet. The vaporized [[Titanium-A armor]] of the refit stations also served to block incoming plasma torpedoes. However, the next Covenant salvo significantly damaged the UNSC fleet, as the Covenant maneuvered for clear shots around the titanium dust cloud and moved in for the kill. They destroyed five of the Super MAC platforms, further crippling the UNSC orbital perimeter, before retreating out of range. A [[Unidentified Covenant warship|previously unknown warship type]], armed with a powerful [[energy projector]], revealed itself and destroyed the {{UNSCShip|Minotaur}} and four other ships before withdrawing temporarily. The rest of the Covenant fleet withdrew to regroup after deploying hundreds of dropships to the surface. The remaining UNSC fleet of 20 ships pursued the Covenant dropships, destroying some, but many still made it through and landed on Reach's northern and southern poles.
A few minutes later, 315 Covenant ships exited slipspace at the edge of the [[Epsilon Eridani system]].<ref name="FOR33">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 33</ref> [[Admiral]] [[Roland Freemont]] issued [[UNSC Alpha Priority Transmission 04592Z-83]], ordering all ships in the Epsilon Eridani system to rendezvous at [[Rally Point Zulu]] near Reach in preparation for the coming assault.{{Ref/Reuse|zulu}} The Covenant moved in on the orbital defenses before the UNSC fleet fully consolidated. Fifty-three belated UNSC ships, including the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, ran a gauntlet of screening Covenant warships as they attempted to link up with the main fleet. At this time, only about a hundred UNSC ships were readily available to defend Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}} Spartan [[John-117]] recognised the battle as a potential opportunity to board a Covenant warship, and ordered the preparation of a Pelican dropship to potentially blast their way into a hull if needs be.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 32</ref> The ''Autumn'' was able to fend off the encroaching [[Seraph]]s with its point-defense guns, before managing to destroy a [[Covenant carrier]]. Meanwhile, a hundred ships were already gathered at Rally Point Zulu; [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]], [[UNSC frigate|frigates]], three [[cruiser]]s, two [[UNSC carrier|carrier]]s and three [[refit station]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}


As the surviving dropships disgorged thousands of troops, the Covenant fleet began another attack. Some ships made pinpoint slipspace jumps, putting them within the UNSC formation. This left them vulnerable for a short time but allowed them to strike the ODPs directly. Meanwhile, the Covenant vessel returned and destroyed the {{UNSCShip|Herodotus}} and {{UNSCShip|Musashi}} from beyond ODP range. The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} engaged the warship, launching a ''Shiva'' nuclear device timed to explode within its shields. The detonation reverberated off the shields and disintegrated the vessel.
The main Covenant force moved in on the orbital defenses. The initial salvo of [[plasma turret|plasma torpedoes]] was mostly absorbed by the sacrifice of three refit and repair stations, allowing the defenders to return fire. The [[orbital defense platform]]s and four nuclear mines combined to take down a full third of the Covenant fleet. The vaporized [[Titanium-A armor]] of the refit stations also served to block incoming plasma torpedoes. The UNSC force began to scatter, with fifty more ships falling to the trailing plasma torpedoes, while the MAC platforms were able to secure a further sixteen Covenant kills. The Covenant maneuvered for clear shots around the titanium dust cloud and moved in for the kill, with a further eighteen falling to the MAC guns, followed by yet another six. The final six were able to let loose a salvo of plasma rounds before their destruction, which were able to destroy five orbital guns. A [[Kewu-pattern battleship|previously unknown warship type]], armed with a powerful [[energy projector]], revealed itself and destroyed the {{UNSCShip|Minotaur}} and four other ships before withdrawing temporarily.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}
{{Clear}}
===Attack on the orbital defense generators===
[[File:Slip.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A ''CCS''-class battlecruiser initiates a pinpoint slipspace jump over Reach.]]
{{Quote|There are thousands of them. Grunts, Jackals and their warrior Elites. They have [[Type-26 Wraith|tanks]] and [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|fliers]]. Christ, they've breached the perimeter. Fall back! Fall back! If anyone can hear this: the Covenant is ground-side. Massing near the armory!|UNSC Marine<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', p. 300</ref>}}


Thousands of Covenant landed on Reach in an attempt to destroy the [[orbital defense generator]]s, and were intercepted by Marine forces who were able to defend against the first few waves of Covenant forces while sustaining heavy casualties. The remaining [[Spartan-II]]s who were not assigned to ''Reach Station Gamma'' were sent to [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331]] to assist in the defense of the station. Unfortunately, their Pelican transport, ''[[Bravo 001]]'', was shot down, resulting in the deaths of four Spartans (including [[Malcolm-059]]), and some others were wounded as well. Near their crash site, the surviving Spartans discovered the shell-shocked remnants of [[Charlie Company]].
[[File:Invasion - Covenant sniper warship.png|250px|thumb|The previously unknown Covenant "sniper" [[Kewu-pattern battleship|battleship]] that surprisely destroyed many UNSC vessels.]]
The rest of the Covenant fleet withdrew to regroup after deploying hundreds of dropships to the surface. The opening attack had shattered the UNSC defenders, taking almost a hundred ships out and leaving only twenty ships left. Despite their surprise retreat, Captain Keyes ordered scans of the planet, realising that the Covenant had instead deployed [[dropship]]s to Reach's poles to begin invading the planet. The Super MACs and remaining fleet split into two groups - one for each pole -and fired upon the smallcraft, each MAC shot managing to destroy dozens of transports. Hundreds of dropships were able to get through and disgorged thousands of troops. The [[Fleet Command Headquarters]] was quickly attacked and destroyed by the renewed ground attack, while the Covenant fleet began another assault.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}


[[File:Invasion - Red Team.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Spartans defend the generators from a swarm of Covenant.]]
Some ships made pinpoint slipspace jumps, putting them within the UNSC formation. This left them vulnerable for a short time but allowed them to strike the ODPs directly. Almost immediately following the departure of the Spartans aboard their Pelicans, a [[Covenant frigate]] jumped in behind the ''Pillar of Autumn'', prompting the cruiser to turn around to face the ship. Two more frigates exited slipspace to flank the first, before the first was taken out by a Super MAC round. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' then engaged the starboard vessel, while the other was taken down by a second Super MAC. The two frigates were able to loose a salvo of plasma bolts, taking down a further two platforms and reducing the total number of MACs to thirteen. The remaining [[Archer missile]]s were used to take out a number of boarding craft heading to stop John-117 on Gamma Station.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR36}}
Charlie Company had been assigned by [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] to find the prototype [[NOVA bomb]]s. They were forced to help defend the orbital defense facilities on their way to their objective. Unfortunately, as the Covenant neared the orbital defense generators, someone at [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]] panicked and ordered Longswords to bomb everything within 500 meters, resulting in the destruction of the Covenant ground forces in that location, but also catastrophic friendly fire: Charlie Company was reduced to four men, and its leaders: [[Lieutenant]]s [[Jake Chapman]] and [[Buckman]] were cut off from their subordinates.  


The Spartans, after being briefed on the situation by Charlie Company, responded to a distress call from Whitcomb, who requested immediate evacuation. [[Frederic-104]], commander of the Spartans, split the remains of [[Red Team]] into four groups: [[Team Alpha]] ([[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Joshua-029]]), which was tasked with eliminating an encampment of 10,000 Covenant and their hovering [[covenant cruiser|cruiser]] (without doing anything that could damage the orbital defense generators as the EMP from a nuclear weapon would render them inoperative and accomplish the Covenant's objective for them), [[Beta-Red|Team Beta]], tasked with defense of the orbital defense generators, [[Team Gamma]] ([[Li-008]], [[Anton-044]], and [[Grace-093]]), ordered to retrieve Whitcomb, and [[Team Delta]] (the [[Charlie Company]] Marines and  six wounded Spartans which included [[William-043]], [[Isaac-039]], and [[Vinh-030]]), ordered to secure the Spartans' fallback point at [[CASTLE Base]].
Meanwhile, the ''Kewu''-pattern battleship returned and destroyed the {{UNSCShip|Herodotus}} and {{UNSCShip|Musashi}} from beyond ODP range. The {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} engaged the warship, firing a salvo of missiles followed by MACs to impact at the same time and take down the vessel's shielding. The Covenant battleship fired back, hitting the Autumn and causing severe damage. The ''Autumn'' launched a ''Shiva'' nuclear device timed to explode on impact, and began to back away, with the nuclear weapon detonating inside the warship's now-recharged shielding and reverberating off the shields and disintegrating the vessel. The ''Pillar of Autumn'' withdrew to [[Beta Gabriel]] to slingshot back into the system while more Covenant ships exited slipspace. By this point, the orbital defense generators were being overrun.<ref name="FOR36">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 36</ref>


Team Alpha hijacked three Banshees and approached the Covenant encampment (they were ignored by the Grunt [[Zawaz]], who assumed they were Elites on a secret mission) and used [[Fury Tactical Nuclear Weapon]]s within the shields of the Covenant ship, destroying the encampment and negating the EMP effect that would have disabled the orbital defense generators. Joshua was killed in the process by mass light weapons salvos from the 10,000 Covenant ground forces encamped around the Cruiser. The remaining Spartans of Team Alpha then fell back to CASTLE Base, blasting their way through the remaining Covenant in the area with two commandeered [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]]. Team Gamma accomplished its mission and fell back to [[Camp Independence]] with Whitcomb, where they survived the partial [[glassing]] of the planet. Team Delta fell back to CASTLE Base, but in the process lost the remaining Charlie Company marines and every Spartan save for Vinh, Isaac, and William. When the remnants of Team Alpha and Team Delta arrived at CASTLE Base, they found [[Catherine Halsey]] there.
Following this engagement, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' managed to execute a [[Class-L flash-dock]] and land at the [[Asźod ship breaking yards]], the last-remaining off-world extraction point, as it awaited the arrival of NOBLE Team.{{Ref/Reuse|hrpoa}}


Team Beta was unable to stop the Covenant, who attacked in swarms of thousands. The orbital defense generators were compromised, and the Covenant, after eliminating the powerless, immobile ODPs in geosynchronous orbit around the planet, began the glassing of Reach. The planet, having been steadily weakened during the invasion throughout the prior weeks, had fallen with relative ease to the might of the Covenant invaders.<ref name="THC"/>
{{Clear}}


===Mission to ''Gamma Station''===
===Attack on the orbital defense generators===
[[File:Halo Legends - Reach Assault.jpg|right|thumb|The Covenant fleet bearing down on Reach.]]
[[File:Slip.jpg|200px|thumb|200px|A ''Ket''-pattern battlecruiser initiates a pinpoint slipspace jump over Reach.]]
{{Main|Mission to Gamma Station}}
{{Quote|There are thousands of them. Grunts, Jackals and their warrior Elites. They have [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|tanks]] and [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|fliers]]. Christ, they've breached the perimeter. Fall back! Fall back! If anyone can hear this: the Covenant is ground-side. Massing near the armory!|UNSC Marine{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}}}}
During the space battle, the [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Doppler]], controller of [[Gamma Station|Reach Station Gamma]], was unable to destroy the vital information onboard the {{UNSCShip|Circumference}}, an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]] involved in [[Operation: HYPODERMIC]]. As the Covenant deployed [[Ranger|troops]] to the station, Doppler reported this violation of the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] to the ''Pillar of Autumn'' before self-destructing himself to keep from further violation. In response, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] sent [[John-117]], [[James-005]], and [[Linda-058]] to the station. They accomplished their task and destroyed the NAV database onboard Reach Station Gamma, but at the cost of James and Linda. While onboard, they rescued some Marines onboard the station: [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]] and [[Private]]s [[Wallace A. Jenkins|Wallace Jenkins]], [[Bisenti]], and [[O'Brien (Marine)|O'Brien]]. They were then evacuated by Pelican back to the ''Pillar of Autumn''. Linda-058 was clinically dead, but there was still a chance of saving her, so she was placed in a [[cryo chamber]]. John-117 asked [[Lieutenant]] [[Hall]] to scan for James (who had been blown into space) but they were unable to find him.
 
===Battle at Asźod===
{{Main|Battle of Asźod}}
With the battle for Reach now nearing its conclusion, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' set down at the [[Asźod ship breaking yards]] for repairs as well as to receive the fragment of [[Cortana]] that Halsey had tasked [[NOBLE Team]] with delivering to Keyes. Covenant forces soon descended on the shipyards and began landing troops. Although the docked ''Autumn'' managed to hold off the Covenant attackers, most of the facility and the surrounding area was occupied.


The remnants of NOBLE Team, consisting of [[Carter-A259]], [[Emile-A239]], and [[SPARTAN-B312]], arrived on the outskirts of the facility. Carter sent Noble Six and Emile to deliver the package to Keyes. He then sacrificed himself to destroy a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]]. Six and Emile fought their way to the shipyards, where they linked up with some surviving UNSC ground troops. Keyes then contacted the Spartans and ordered them to clear Landing Platform Delta so that he could pick up the package. Upon arriving at the platform, Emile took charge of a [[Mark 2488 Onager|mass driver]] and used it to provide cover fire for the ''Autumn''. Six, meanwhile, cleared the platform of Covenant troops.
On the final day of the battle for Reach, thousands of Covenant ground forces landed on Reach in an attempt to destroy the [[orbital defense generator]]s, and were intercepted by Marine forces who were able to defend against the first few waves of Covenant forces while sustaining heavy casualties. While three Spartans (led by John-117) deployed to Gamma Station, the remaining supersoldiers were designated [[Red Team]], and deployed to [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331]] to assist in the defense of the station. Their Pelican transport, ''[[Bravo 001]]'', was escorted by several [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] strikecraft, with three of the four eventually peeling off to hold off some pursuing Seraphs.<ref name="FS1">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', Chapter 1</ref> The Pelican was advised by "[[Golden Arrow]]" to head for [[Mount Törött]], though the now badly-damaged Pelican was unlikely to be able to make its way back to the shipyard where the ''Autumn'' was docked. Bravo 001 had to explain that the Pelican was carrying Spartans, which consequently changed Golden Arrow's tone.<ref name="BreakpointRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Breakpoint]]</ref> The Pelican was eventually shot down, however, crash-landing in the [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] in the [[Highland Mountains]].{{Ref/Reuse|DttE}}{{Ref/Reuse|BnetDefiant}}{{Ref/Map|Game=Halo: Reach|Map=[[Highlands]]}} The Spartans were forced to jump out of the doomed Pelican,{{Ref/Reuse|DttE}}{{Ref/Reuse|FS1}} resulting in the deaths of four Spartans (including [[Malcolm-059]]), and some others were wounded as well. Due to their familiarity with the terrain, the Spartans were able to put up a meaningful resistance against the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|DttE}}{{Ref/Reuse|BnetDefiant}}


[[File:HaloReach - PoA.png|thumb|left|250px|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes.]]
[[File:Invasion - Red Team.jpg|thumb|left|280px|The Spartans defend the generators from a swarm of Covenant.]]
With the platform cleared, Captain Keyes arrived in a Pelican and personally took possession of the package from Noble Six. Just then a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} appeared and started heading toward the ''Autumn''. Keyes ordered Emile to take out the cruiser before it destroyed the ''Autumn.'' Emile, however, was attacked by a pair of [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]. The Spartan killed the Zealots but was also killed, leaving the mass driver cannon unmanned. With the cruiser closing in on the ''Autumn'', Noble Six volunteered to stay behind to take charge of the gun.<ref name="hrpoa">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]</ref>
Near their crash site, the surviving Spartans discovered the shell-shocked remnants of [[Charlie Company]]'s [[Gamma 1]]. Charlie Company had been assigned by [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] to recover prototype [[NOVA bomb]]s from a base in the region. They were forced to help defend the orbital defense facilities on their way to their objective with Gamma 1 at Generator A-331. Unfortunately, as the Covenant neared the orbital defense generators, someone at [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]] panicked and ordered Longswords to bomb everything within 500 meters, resulting in the destruction of the Covenant ground forces in that location, but also catastrophic friendly fire: Charlie Company was reduced to four men, and its leaders: [[Lieutenant]]s [[Jake Chapman]] and [[Buckman]] were cut off from their subordinates.


Keyes returned to the ''Autumn'' with the package and prepared the ship for take off. Meanwhile, Noble Six took control of the mass driver and destroyed several Phantoms and Banshees before the Covenant cruiser came within range. As the cruiser prepared to destroy the ''Autumn'' with its [[energy projector]], Six fired directly into the ship's exposed glassing port. The resulting explosion crippled the cruiser.<ref name="hrpoa"/>
The Spartans, after being briefed on the situation by Charlie Company, responded to a distress call from Whitcomb, who requested immediate evacuation. [[Frederic-104]], commander of the Spartans, split the remains of [[Red Team]] into four groups: [[Team Alpha]] ([[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Joshua-029]]), which was tasked with eliminating an encampment of 10,000 Covenant and their hovering [[Covenant cruiser at Longhorn Valley|cruiser]] (without doing anything that could damage the orbital defense generators as the EMP from a nuclear weapon would render them inoperative and accomplish the Covenant's objective for them), [[Beta-Red|Team Beta]], tasked with defense of the orbital defense generators, [[Team Gamma]] ([[Li-008]], [[Anton-044]], and [[Grace-093]]), ordered to retrieve Whitcomb, and [[Team Delta]] (the [[Charlie Company]] Marines and  six wounded Spartans which included [[William-043]], [[Isaac-039]], and [[Vinh-030]]), ordered to secure the Spartans' fallback point at [[CASTLE Base]].


With the skies cleared of hostiles, the ''Autumn'' took off and escaped Reach.<ref name="hrpoa"/> Once in space, it made a slipspace jump to [[Installation 04]] (secretly arranged by Cortana). A dozen Covenant ships pursued, while the remaining vessels stayed behind to finish glassing Reach. Back at the shipyards, the stranded Noble Six continued fighting against the Covenant invaders. Eventually, the lone Spartan was overwhelmed and killed by a swarm of Sangheili warriors.<ref name="lonewolf">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Lone Wolf]]</ref>
Team Alpha hijacked three Banshees and approached the Covenant encampment (they were ignored by the Grunt [[Zawaz]], who assumed they were Elites on a secret mission) and used [[Fury Tactical Nuclear Weapon]]s within the shields of the Covenant ship, destroying the encampment and negating the EMP effect that would have disabled the orbital defense generators. Joshua was killed in the process by mass light weapons salvos from the 10,000 Covenant ground forces encamped around the Cruiser. The remaining Spartans of Team Alpha then fell back to CASTLE Base, blasting their way through the remaining Covenant in the area with two commandeered [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraiths]]. Team Gamma accomplished its mission and fell back to [[Camp Independence]] with Whitcomb, where they survived the partial [[glassing]] of the planet.


==Aftermath==
Team [[Beta-Red]] were left to defend Generator A-331 alone, while [[Gamma 5]] were holed up at [[Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-412|Generator A-412]]. A-412 was attacked by two [[division]]s of Covenant, who eventually managed to destroy the facility leaving only fourteen survivors. The remnants of Gamma 5 proceeded to mount up in two Warthogs and a radio van to rendezvous with Gamma 1.<ref name="PowerhouseRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Powerhouse]]</ref> [[Recon 43]] provided scouting for Gamma 1, initially spotting three [[Ghost]]s and twenty-four infantry. They were warned not to engage, but did so anyway upon realising that the small Covenant force was merely the advance of a massive armour convoy.<ref name="SpireRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Spire (map)|(map)|Spire]]</ref>  
[[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|right|300px|Reach after its glassing.]]
[[File:HR SpaceDebris Concept.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Debris of human spacecraft in orbit above the planet.]]
{{Quote|We are not wasting a single UNSC ship to confirm what we have already seen a dozen times before: Reach is gone. Everything on it is blasted to bits, burned, glassed over, and vaporized. Everyone on Reach is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.|[[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]]<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 104-105</ref>}}


The UNSC lost their second largest military-industrial complex, after the [[Sol system|Sol System]], and sustained crippling military losses at Reach, losing over a hundred ships, including irreplaceable vessels such as the {{UNSCShip|Basra}}, {{UNSCShip|Trafalgar}}, and the {{UNSCShip|Musashi}}, not to mention the large numbers of civilian and military personnel killed by the invading Covenant forces. 
With a gargantuan ground force now closing on Facility A-331, [[Beta-Romeo Actual]] ordered her team and the remnants of Charlie Company to leave once the Covenant was distracted. The team set up automated turrets, while thirty-two [[Wraith]] tanks and six-hundred infantry began to close in. Gamma 5 observed the action through the lens of a drone as the fight started. The Spartans of Beta-Red went "hand to hand" with the enemy lines, and Team Delta and Charlie Company departed the site.<ref name="CountdownRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Countdown]]</ref>


At the same time, despite such a devastating defeat, the UNSC still fared better than in previous battles. Even against the militarily and technologically superior enemy, outnumbered 2:1, they still managed to inflict disproportionate losses to the Covenant, due largely to the twenty orbital defense platforms orbiting Reach. The ferocious defense was so effective that at least [[Valorous Salvation|one Covenant ship]] outright fled the battle.
With Team Delta retreating alongside the remnants of Charlie Company, they contacted an operator with callsign "[[Iron Fist]]". Iron First informed the group that they were en route the extract Beta-Red, even as three [[Covenant cruiser]]s dropped out of the sky and prepared to glass the area.<ref name="BoardwalkRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Boardwalk]]</ref> Team Beta was unable to stop the Covenant, who attacked in swarms of thousands. The orbital defense generators were compromised, and the Covenant, after eliminating the powerless, immobile ODPs in geosynchronous orbit around the planet, began the glassing of Reach. A member of Beta-Red was able to get off one last communication to Fred-104 that the generators were overrun.<ref name="FS4">''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 4</ref> Eventually, the destroyer {{UNSCShip|Majestic}} was brought in by [[Alpha 20]] and authorised to fire on the Covenant cruisers at Generator A-331, likely resulting in the deaths of Team Beta-Red.<ref name="ReflectionRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Reflection]]</ref><ref name="LNOSRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref> The blast of the orbital strike was felt by Charlie Company, who had narrowly managed to escape the blast.<ref name="BoneyardRadio">''Halo: Reach'', [[Halo: Reach radio conversations|Radio conversations]], [[Boneyard]]</ref> Team Delta fell back to CASTLE Base, but in the process lost the remaining Charlie Company marines and every Spartan save for Vinh, Isaac, and William. When the remnants of Team Alpha and Team Delta arrived at CASTLE Base, they found [[Catherine Halsey]] there.


Following the battle, ONI created a [[ONI memorial|memorial]] for fallen ONI personnel in the Fall of Reach.<ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', campaign level, [[ONI Alpha Site (level)|ONI Alpha Site]]</ref>
Elsewhere, the Covenant attacked a [[Unidentified BXR titanium mine|BXR titanium mine]].{{Ref/Reuse|BnetDefiant}}


===Epsilon Eridani===
The planet, having been steadily weakened during the invasion throughout the prior weeks, had fallen with relative ease to the might of the Covenant invaders.{{Ref/Reuse|THC}}
While Reach was the Covenant armada's main target, the other colonies in Epsilon Eridani would also come under attack. [[Tribute]] was [[Battle of Tribute|besieged]] by Covenant forces for several months, ending only when the [[Great Schism]] caused the Jiralhanae and Sangheili to turn on each other, ignoring the human defenders. The small colony on [[Beta Gabriel]] was [[Battle of Beta Gabriel|destroyed]] when ''Valorous Salvation'' deserted the Covenant fleet and fled there; ODSTs arrived shortly thereafter and killed all the Covenant deserters without incurring losses.


===The ''Pillar of Autumn''===
===Mission to ''Gamma Station''===
The [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] commandeered the fleeing {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} to the previously undiscovered [[Installation 04|fourth]] [[Forerunner]] [[Halo Array|Halo]]. While the [[Battle of Installation 04]] was tangential to the main front, the containment of the initial [[Flood]] outbreak - and the experience gained - was just as critical to the survival of the UNSC.
[[File:Halo Legends - Reach Assault.png|thumb|250px|The Covenant fleet bearing down on Reach.]]
{{Main|Mission to Gamma Station}}
During the space battle, the [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Doppler]], controller of [[Gamma Station|Reach Station Gamma]], was unable to destroy the vital information on board the {{UNSCShip|Circumference}}, an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|Prowler]] involved in [[Operation: HYPODERMIC]]. As the Covenant deployed [[Ranger|troops]] to the station, Doppler reported this violation of the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] to the ''Pillar of Autumn'' before self-destructing himself to keep from further violation. In response, [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] sent [[John-117]], [[James-005]], and [[Linda-058]] to the station. They accomplished their task and destroyed the NAV database on board Reach Station Gamma, but at the cost of James and Linda. While on board, they rescued some Marines on board the station: [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Junior Johnson]] and [[Private]]s [[Wallace A. Jenkins|Wallace Jenkins]], [[Bisenti]], and [[O'Brien (Marine)|O'Brien]]. They were then evacuated by Pelican back to the ''Pillar of Autumn''. Linda-058 was clinically dead, but there was still a chance of saving her, so she was placed in a [[cryo chamber]]. John-117 asked [[Lieutenant]] [[Hall]] to scan for James (who had been blown into space) but they were unable to find him.


===Investigations and analysis of the battle===
===Battle at Asźod===
On September 4, 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence began investigating [[Joseph Poteet]] and [[Alasdair Schicker]], believing that they may have leaked classified information to the Covenant. Including the location of Reach.<ref name="TFoR Adjunct"/> At the same time, Lieutenant [[Wagner]] who escaped the battle reported to the [[UNSC Security Council]] at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], Earth, detailing the glassing of the planet and the escape of the UNSC ''Pillar of Autumn''.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 100-106</ref>
[[File:HM-PoA-escape.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes as the Fleet of Particular Justice attempt to purse the ship.]]
{{Main|Battle of Asźod}}
With the battle for Reach now nearing its conclusion, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' set down at the [[Asźod ship breaking yards]] for repairs as well as to receive the fragment of [[Cortana]] that Halsey had tasked [[NOBLE Team]] with delivering to Keyes. Covenant forces soon descended on the shipyards and began landing troops. Although the docked ''Autumn'' managed to hold off the Covenant attackers, most of the facility and the surrounding area was occupied.


An inquiry was held by [[ONI Retrieval and Acquisitions]] on September 26, 2552 which culminated in the creation of a [[Target profile]] of [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee by [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Jameson Locke]].<ref>''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', [[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal - ONI File: Target Profile]]</ref> This report included information on Thel's actions at the Fall of Reach.<ref>''Halo 2: Anniversary'', [[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminal - ONI File: Particular Justice]]</ref>
The remnants of NOBLE Team, consisting of [[Carter-A259]], [[Emile-A239]], and [[Spartan-B312]], arrived on the outskirts of the facility. Carter sent Noble Six and Emile to deliver the package to Keyes. He then sacrificed himself to destroy a [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]]. Six and Emile fought their way to the shipyards, where they linked up with some surviving UNSC ground troops. Keyes then contacted the Spartans and ordered them to clear Landing Platform Delta so that he could pick up the package. Upon arriving at the platform, Emile took charge of a [[Mark 2488 Onager|mass driver]] and used it to provide cover fire for the ''Autumn''. Six, meanwhile, cleared the platform of Covenant troops.
With the platform cleared, Captain Keyes arrived in a Pelican and personally took possession of the package from Noble Six. Just then a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} appeared and started heading toward the ''Autumn''. Keyes ordered Emile to take out the cruiser before it destroyed the ''Autumn.'' Emile, however, was attacked by a pair of [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]]. The Spartan killed the Zealots but was also killed, leaving the mass driver cannon unmanned. With the cruiser closing in on the ''Autumn'', Noble Six volunteered to stay behind to take charge of the gun.<ref name="hrpoa">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]</ref>


Just over a month after the battle on [[2552#October|October 8, 2552]], [[Admiral]] [[J. Garcia]] compiled 844 files into a report called "Prelimenary Reports of Action - Defense of Reach". It detailed fleet actions in the Reach Defense Coordination Zone. This report along with several others would be assembled into another file in [[2554]] for [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]].<ref name="loot2"/>
Keyes returned to the ''Autumn'' with the package and prepared the ship for take off. Meanwhile, Noble Six took control of the mass driver and destroyed several Phantoms and Banshees before the Covenant cruiser came within range. As the cruiser prepared to destroy the ''Autumn'' with its [[energy projector]], Six fired directly into the ship's exposed glassing port. The resulting explosion crippled the cruiser.{{Ref/Reuse|hrpoa}}


===Artifacts and other recovered items===
With the skies cleared of hostiles, the ''Autumn'' took off and escaped Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|hrpoa}} Once in space, it made a slipspace jump away from the planet. A dozen Covenant ships pursued, while the remaining vessels stayed behind to finish glassing Reach. Back at the shipyards, the stranded Noble Six continued fighting against the Covenant invaders. Eventually, the lone Spartan was overwhelmed and killed by a swarm of Sangheili warriors.<ref name="lonewolf">''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Lone Wolf]]</ref>{{clear}}
During and after the Fall of Reach, a number of artifacts were recovered. Prior to the completion of Operation: WHITE GLOVE, ONI recovered [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]].<ref>''Halo: Reach Legendary Edition'', [[:File:Journal Contents.jpg|Container manifest]]</ref> As well, a [[flag]] that was originally used by SPARTANs during training sessions of [[Capture the Flag]], was recovered and put on display at [[Outpost Discovery]].<ref>''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]'' - [[Hall of History]], Capture the Flag</ref>


===Reach===
==Aftermath==
Weeks after the battle, rumors started circulating on Earth that people were still alive on Reach.<ref>''[[I love bees]]'', [[Axon Clips]], [[Axon Clips Chapter 8|Chapter 8]] - Rani: "My Old Kentucky Home"</ref> A number of [[moa]] also survived in isolated areas as well.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint:'' Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref> Reach would return to a green state by [[2589]].<ref name="lonewolf"/> By [[2610]], the city of New Alexandria was resettled with a few new areas including [[Hősök tere]], which held the [[Reach War Memorial]].<ref>''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition]]'', [[:File:Journal Package Letter.jpg|package contents letter]]</ref>
{{Main|Aftermath of the Fall of Reach}}
[[File:Glassed Reach.png|thumb|300px|Reach after its glassing.{{Ref/Level|Id=h2aheretic|H2A|[[The Heretic]]}}]]
{{Quote|We are not wasting a single UNSC ship to confirm what we have already seen a dozen times before: Reach is gone. Everything on it is blasted to bits, burned, glassed over, and vaporized. Everyone on Reach is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.|[[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]]{{Ref/Novel|Halo: First Strike|Page=104-105}}}}


===Earth and the Sol system===
The Fall of Reach was devastating for both sides as millions died and hundreds of starships were destroyed or rendered irreparably damaged. Many forces fled during the battle, ending up in various parts of space.
The loss of Reach was announced on [[Earth]] over PA systems.<ref>''[[I love bees]]'', [[Axon Clips]], [[Axon Clips Chapter 5|Chapter 5]] - Rani: "The Wedding"</ref> The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] knew of at least four Covenant battle groups centred around large assault carriers prowling the outer edges of UNSC-held space. The Navy believed that the location of Sol was compromised and began relocating heavy industry facilities and command centers out of the system in a long-planned exodus.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=6 ''Bungie.net'', Jason Jones Interviewed By You] ([[Archive:Bungie.net/News/Jason Jones Interviewed By You|Archive]])</ref> UNSC units were also posted in Earth's [[Space elevator|tether cities]] following the battle of Reach.<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Palace Hotel]]", p. 367</ref>


===Rescue operation===
While Reach was the Covenant armada's main target, the other colonies in [[Epsilon Eridani]] would also come under attack. [[Tribute]] was [[Battle of Tribute|besieged]] by Covenant forces for several months, ending only when the [[Great Schism]] caused the Jiralhanae and Sangheili to turn on each other. The small colony on [[Beta Gabriel]] was [[Battle of Beta Gabriel|destroyed]] when ''Valorous Salvation'' deserted the Covenant fleet at Reach and fled there; ODSTs arrived shortly thereafter and killed all the Covenant deserters without incurring losses.
{{Main|Raid on Reach}}
As the Covenant began glassing Reach, the surviving Spartans continued their fight. Team Gamma; a Red team splinter composed of Anton-044; Grace-093 and Li-008, had managed to survive and complete their mission to rescue Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb from HIGHCOM. Too late to reach CASTLE base, they hid in the mountains attacking Covenant units with the use of guerrilla tactics as opposed to a conventional assault. They programmed their MJOLNIR suits to transmit the "Oly Oly Oxen Free" secret code on E-Band radio, hoping that any surviving Spartans would discover it and help them.


Meanwhile underneath the ruins of CASTLE base, Dr. Halsey and five Spartans (Fred, Kelly, Will, Vinh, and Isaac) had spent five days combing the remains of a Forerunner structure and an additional five days trapped in a hallway inside the ruins by Covenant forces. They managed to retrieve a [[Forerunner crystal]] that the Covenant were seeking, but it emitted a burst of radiation which alerted the Covenant to their presence. Vinh and Isaac fell at the hands of overwhelming Covenant forces, and the others escaped by blowing the hallway down behind them.
As for Reach itself, the planet would be glassed heavily, to the point that the burning could be seen from orbit.{{Ref/Reuse|h2aheretic}}{{Ref/Map|HR|[[Condemned]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|actual}} After this burning ceased, several missions took place on the planet, including a pioneer mission in [[2553]]{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Catalog Interaction (Page 43)}} and [[Operation]]: [[Operation: WOLFE|WOLFE]] in [[2559]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=1}} However, the damage to the surface and atmosphere caused by the initial glassing would stay for nearly 30 years with the planet only really becoming green again in [[2589]].{{Ref/Reuse|lonewolf}}


After the survivors were recovered by ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'', a Covenant Flagship captured by [[John-117]] after the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the ship drew a group of Covenant vessels out of the system in pursuit to [[Eridanus Secundus]], leading to the [[Massacre at Eridanus Secundus|destruction of the asteroid colony]], and the destruction of the artifact and the recovery of only a small number of pieces by the Covenant. The ''Ascendant Justice'' also destroyed around sixteen Covenant warships during the escape in slipspace and at the rebel base.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 339</ref>
The ''Pillar of Autumn'' would actually arrive at [[Installation 04]], a [[Halo Array|Halo ring]]. The ''Autumn'' would also confront its pursuers, devolving into [[Battle of Installation 04|a protracted battle]] on and around the ring.{{Ref/Game|Halo: Combat Evolved|Detail=[[Campaign]]}} The survivors of the battle would eventually come back to Reach searching for survivors.{{Ref/Novel|FS}}


==Engagements==
==Engagements==
[[File:HR-TipOfTheSpear-Viery.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|order of battle]] following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY. The UNSC was required to engage the Covenant whereever they were.]]
[[File:HR-TipOfTheSpear-Viery.png|thumb|200px|The [[Order of battle (Viery, Reach)|order of battle]] following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY. The UNSC was required to engage the Covenant wherever they were.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}}]]
*[[First Battle of Sword Base]]
The UNSC engaged the Covenant across Reach over a long period of time. Battles were fought across the Vierry Territory.{{Ref/Reuse|tots}} Other engagements included fighting at [[Manassas]], [[Siófok]], and [[Quezon]].<ref>''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', [[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]</ref>
*[[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]]
{{Engagements in the Fall of Reach}}
*[[Operation: UPPER CUT]]
*[[Operation: LEFT JAB]]
*[[Siege of New Alexandria]]
*[[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]
*[[Mission to Gamma Station]]
*[[Battle of Aszod]]


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
{{Main|Timeline of the Fall of Reach}}
{{Main|Timeline of the Fall of Reach}}
Officially, the Fall of Reach took place between July 25th, 2552 and August 30th, 2552.<ref name="H3R"/> However, UNSC forces actually engaged Covenant forces as early as July 24th, with Noble Team's deployment to the Visegrad area.<ref name="winter"/> UNSC fleet actions in the [[Reach Defense Coordination Zone]] also ceased several days after August 30th, on September 5th.<ref name="loot2">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]</ref>  
Officially, the Fall of Reach took place between July 25 and August 30, 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|H3R}} However, UNSC forces actually engaged Covenant forces as early as July 24, with Noble Team's deployment to the Visegrad area.{{Ref/Reuse|winter}} UNSC fleet actions in the [[Reach Defense Coordination Zone]] also ceased several days after August 30, on September 5.<ref name="loot2">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]</ref> Covenant glassing operations ended on September 27.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}


==Participants==
==Participants==
{{Main|Participants in the Fall of Reach}}
{{Main|Participants in the Fall of Reach}}
The Fall of Reach had some of the largest deployments of personnel and materiel in the Human-Covenant war. By August 30th, there were 315 Covenant ships and 152 UNSC ships at Reach.<ref name="TFoR 343"/> Numerous SPARTANs of multiple generations, Marines, Army soldiers and Navy personnel also took part in the battle.
The Fall of Reach had some of the largest deployments of personnel and materiel in the Human-Covenant war. By August 30, there were 315 Covenant ships and 152 UNSC ships at Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR33}} Numerous Spartans of multiple generations, Marines, Army soldiers and Navy personnel also took part in the battle.


Several notable figures that participated include Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], Captain [[Jacob Keyes]], [[John-117]], [[Rho 'Barutamee]], and [[Thel 'Vadam]].
Several notable figures that participated include Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], Captain [[Jacob Keyes]], [[John-117]], [[Rho 'Barutamee]], and [[Thel 'Vadam]].


==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
[[File:HTV-S2ReachCityattacked.jpg|200px|thumb|Reach City being destroyed in the Silver Timeline.]]
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Fall of Reach/Silver}}
Reach was attacked by and fell to the Covenant in April of [[2553]].{{Ref/Film|Id=Aleria|TV|Episode=[[Aleria (TV Series)|Aleria]]}}
{{clear}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the Japanese [[Wikipedia:Attack on Pearl Harbor|surprise attack on Pearl Harbor]] in 1941. He noted that, like Reach, Pearl Harbor was once thought too strong to attack.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', p. 283</ref>
*[[McRobb|Chief Petty Officer McRobb]] compared the Fall of Reach to the [[Japan]]ese [[World War II|surprise attack]] on [[United States of America|Pearl Harbor]] in 1941. He noted that, like Reach, Pearl Harbor was once thought too strong to attack.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Page=283}}
*At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach.<ref name="lnos"/>
*At the time of the invasion, at least one hurricane was raging on the surface of Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|lnos}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HR SpaceDebris Concept.jpg|Debris of human spacecraft in orbit above the planet.
File:Winter Contingency.JPG|Noble Team on their way to investigate the communications disruption at [[Visegrád]].
File:Winter Contingency.JPG|Noble Team on their way to investigate the communications disruption at [[Visegrád]].
File:REACHcartercorvette.PNG|Carter watching a [[Covenant corvette]] from a [[UH-144 Falcon]].
File:REACHcartercorvette.PNG|Carter watching a [[Covenant corvette]] from a [[UH-144 Falcon]].
File:Fall of Reach Ground Battle.jpg|UNSC ground forces engage a Covenant Banshee formation.
File:Fall of Reach Ground Battle.jpg|UNSC ground forces engage a Covenant Banshee formation.
File:Reach 5016770 Full.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and UNSCShip|Saratoga}} engaging Covenant ground targets.
File:Reach 5016770 Full.jpg|The {{UNSCShip|Grafton}} and {{UNSCShip|Saratoga}} engaging Covenant ground targets.
File:Noble Team Reach.jpg|Jorge-052, Jun-A266, Emile-A239 and SPARTAN-B312 watch as Kat-320 formulates a plan.
File:Noble Team Reach.jpg|Jorge-052, Jun-A266, Emile-A239 and Spartan-B312 watch as Kat-320 formulates a plan.
File:Fall of Reach 2.jpg|A space battle over Reach during [[Operation: UPPER CUT]].
File:Fall of Reach 2.jpg|A space battle over Reach during [[Operation: UPPER CUT]].
File:Reach E310 Campaign10.jpg|A battle raging around Anchor 9.
File:Reach E310 Campaign10.jpg|A battle raging around Anchor 9.
File:Reach-UNSC Savannah.png|The {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} being escorted by a formation of [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabres]].
File:Reach-UNSC Savannah.png|The {{UNSCShip|Savannah}} being escorted by a formation of [[FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabres]].
File:HaloReach - Space Battle.jpg|The ''Savannah'' and a [[YSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] engage a [[Covenant corvette]] over Reach.
File:HaloReach - Space Battle.jpg|The ''Savannah'' and a [[FSS-1000 Sabre|Sabre]] engage a [[Covenant corvette]] over Reach.
File:Reach AssaultCarriers.jpg|A Covenant fleet entering the system just after the destruction of the ''Long Night of Solace'' and ''Ardent Prayer''.
File:HaloReach - FrigateWreck.png|A destroyed UNSC frigate above Reach.
File:HaloReach - FrigateWreck.png|A destroyed UNSC frigate above Reach.
File:Exodus Intro.jpg|Noble Six looks on as the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' burns.
File:Exodus Intro.jpg|Noble Six looks on as the ''[[Long Night of Solace]]'' burns.
File:Noble Six City.jpg|Noble Six arrives at [[New Alexandria]] as it is invaded by Covenant forces.
File:NA Glassed.jpg|The surviving members of Noble Team scan the glassed ruins of New Alexandria.  
File:NA Glassed.jpg|The surviving members of Noble Team scan the glassed ruins of New Alexandria.  
File:H2A Terminals - Human city.png|The Covenant fleet glasses a major city on Reach.  
File:H2A Terminals - Human city.png|The Covenant fleet glasses a major city on Reach.  
File:HR Highlands Glassing.png|The [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] is glassed.
File:HR Highlands Glassing.png|The [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] is glassed.
File:HaloReach - Package Intro.jpg|The ONI facilities at [[SWORD Base]] are destroyed.  
File:HaloReach - Package Intro.jpg|The ONI facilities at [[SWORD Base]] are destroyed.  
File:HaloReach - MACrusher.jpg|A planetary MAC cannon fires upon Covenant cruisers descending upon [[Asźod]] as surviving UNSC forces mount their escape.  
File:HaloReach - MACrusher.jpg|A [[Mark 2488 Onager]] fires upon a Covenant cruiser descending upon [[Asźod]] as surviving UNSC forces mount their escape.  
File:H2A - Autumn.jpg|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes as Reach is glassed.
File:H2A - Autumn.jpg|The ''Pillar of Autumn'' escapes as Reach is glassed.
File:UltraMythos.jpg|A [[Sangheili Ultra]] leading troops in the battle in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:UltraMythos.jpg|A [[Sangheili Ultra]] leading troops in the battle in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:HR CovenantArmy_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art for a Covenant armoured column.
File:HR CovenantArmy_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art for a Covenant armoured column.
File:TFoR-as-concept 5.jpg|The members of Blue Team meeting up in Reach's glasslands in 2558 to remember Sam's sacrifice.
File:Fall_of_Reach_1.jpg|A {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} and an {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} fighting over a glassed reach.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]'' {{Mo}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' {{C|Flashback}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' {{C|Flashback}}
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
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*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]'' {{Im}}
{{Col-2}}
{{Col-2}}
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-end}}
==Notes==
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Ref/Sources|2}}


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:Covenant Victories|Reach]]
[[Category:Engagements in the Fall of Reach| ]]
[[Category:Covenant victories]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reach}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reach}}

Latest revision as of 01:42, July 29, 2024

This article is about the battle. For the novel or comic book adaptation, see Halo: The Fall of Reach and Halo: Fall of Reach.

Previous:

Concurrent:

Next:

Battle of Installation 04

Fall of Reach
A multimedia collage of the Fall of Reach. Images used starting from top left going clockwise: File:Reach "The Battle Begins"-Elite.png, File:HR-TipOfTheSpear-Viery.png, File:Fall of Reach Ground Battle.jpg, File:HLC Reach.png, File:Invasion - Johnson.jpg (edited with help from User:Ostral), File:HM-PoA-escape.jpg
Clockwise from top left: The Devoted Sentries and NOBLE Team battle one another at Visegrád Relay; dozens of UNSC deployments across the Viery Territory; UNSC Army personnel in M12 Warthogs engage Is'belox-pattern Banshees; Jun-A266 and Emile-A239 at SWORD Base during Operation: WHITE GLOVE; Sgt. Avery Johnson fighting a Kig-Yar on Gamma Station; the UNSC Pillar of Autumn escaping Reach.

Conflict:

Date:

July 25, 2552August 30, 2552[1][Note 1]

Location:

Reach, Epsilon Eridani system

Outcome:

Covenant victory

  • Reach glassed[2][3]
  • All major military sites and population centers destroyed[4]
Details
Belligerents
Commanders
Strength

See here for details on participating forces

See here for details on participating forces

Casualties

Catastrophic

  • 650,000,000 - 1,000,000,000+ casualties[18]
    • Over 130 ships
    • 20 orbital defense platforms
    • All refit and repair stations
    • Majority of ground forces
      • Unknown number of Spartan-IIs and at least seventeen Spartan-IIIs

Massive

  • Heavy terrestrial and exoatmospheric losses
  • Over 145 ships[6][Note 4]
  • Majority of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence
 
Fall of Reach

This article is part of a series on the
Fall of Reach




To check out information for other Human-Covenant War battles, see here!
vde

"We knew this day would come. They have found our fortress among the stars. The Covenant are on Reach. They will burn this planet, kill millions, and when Reach falls—and fall it will—there will be nothing left to stand between them - and Earth."
Dr. Catherine Halsey[19]

The Fall of Reach,[20][21] also known as the Battle of Reach[22] and Reach Campaign,[23] was one of the largest and bloodiest engagements in the Human-Covenant War. It was fought on and around the human colony world of Reach in the Epsilon Eridani system, between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant from July 25 to August 30, 2552.[1]

Initial skirmishes began on July 23, 2552, when a small Covenant task force led by the Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier Long Night of Solace covertly established a foothold on Reach. The Covenant began to solidify their hold and began searching for Forerunner relics as the UNSC counter-attacked, attempting to drive the Covenant off the surface before reinforcements arrived. Ultimately, the UNSC was unsuccessful, and substantial Covenant reinforcements under Thel 'Vadamee arrived in the system. After hard fighting, the Covenant breached the orbital defense grid and overran the UNSC's planetside forces. After overwhelming the defenders, the Covenant glassed the planet. Isolated skirmishes between UNSC remnants and the Covenant forces continued until their recovery by a small rescue party led by John-117.

Though the battle was a clear defeat for the UNSC, NOBLE Team preventing the Cortana fragment from falling into enemy hands subsequently led the Pillar of Autumn to Halo Installation 04, where they engaged the Covenant in a decisive battle. The experience gleaned on Installation 04, and the subsequent political schism within the Covenant while attacking Earth, would be invaluable to the ultimate defeat of the Covenant.

Background[edit]

The communications cutoff between Reach and other UEG colonies was originally attributed to localized Insurrectionists. However, upon investigating, NOBLE Team discovered that the Covenant's Devoted Sentries were responsible.

At some point before July 19, 2552, the Office of Naval Intelligence ran a series of calculations that predicted the future movement of the Covenant force sweeping throughout the galaxy. Based on these calculations, ONI determined that there was an 87% probability that the Epsilon Eridani system would be discovered by the Covenant within five months. Admiral Margaret Parangosky, the head of ONI, debated with Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth about using Reach as the stage for the planned Operation: RED FLAG; the pair considered that the presence of large-scale Forerunner artifacts on the planet would be a source of Covenant interest in the planet. The rest of the UNSC, however, was given no warning of the predicted attack.[24]

ONI's prediction came true less than a week after Admiral Parangosky sent her message. Following his victory against the humans in the Beta Eridani system, Supreme Commander Rho 'Barutamee of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence was able to secure a Luminary that informed him of Reach's location. 'Barutamee cared little of the humans in the Epsilon Eridani system, and did not know the significance of Reach to the UNSC.[25][26]

Pre-invasion[edit]

By July 23, the Fleet of Valiant Prudence consisting of Ceudar-pattern heavy corvettes, Ket-pattern battlecruisers, Varric-pattern heavy cruisers and a Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier, Long Night of Solace, arrived at Reach following the Luminary retrieved at Beta Eridani. The Luminary marked the presence of the Forerunner Rate of Builders across the system.[26] After arriving at Reach, the fleet clandestinely deployed a large ground force to the Viery Territory. This invasion force was cloaked from UNSC sensors by sophisticated stealth pylons deployed around it. The Covenant also sent a small Sangheili Zealot strike team, of the Devoted Sentries, led by a Field Marshal to recover a Forerunner artifact from an excavation site near the Visegrád communications outpost.

"ONI thinks it might be the local Insurrection. Five months ago, they pulled a similar job on Harmony. Hit a relay to take out our eyes and ears, then stole two freighters from dry dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important. I want that relay back online, NOBLE One."
Colonel Urban Holland[3]

The strike force disabled the communications array at Visegrád, cutting off communications from the northern parts of Alföld to the larger communications hubs further south, leaving a large portion of Reach isolated from the rest of the UNSC.[27] This operation, however, went unnoticed by the UNSC and it was surmised by the Office of Naval Intelligence that the local insurrectionist organization, an ultra-radical cell of the People's Occupation,[28] was responsible for the loss of contact with the facility.[3]

In response, the Army was deployed into Pálháza,[27] with several fireteams including 3 Charlie sent to investigate the matter.[29] Contact with these fireteams was lost shortly thereafter.[3]

Winter Contingency[edit]

Main article: Battle of Visegrád

"Colonel, this is NOBLE One. There are no rebels. The Covenant are on Reach."
Carter-A259[30]

The day after the Visegrád Relay was disabled, Spartan NOBLE Team was sent to investigate the disturbance in lieu of the missing Army fireteams.[3] The group had been conducting anti-insurrection operations in the region, and were thus on-hand to assist.[29][31] Upon landing in Visegrád and scouting the surrounding countryside, NOBLE Team quickly discovered that insurrectionists were not responsible for the attack; a small Covenant advance force had found Reach and landed at Visegrád, with the intent of disabling Reach's communications with other UNSC colonies.[30] After wiping out the advance force, NOBLE Team proceeded to the relay station, where they were ambushed by a group of Sangheili Zealots, a team sent to hunt down vital data on a Forerunner artifact. WINTER CONTINGENCY was then declared on Reach.[32][33]

Following the declaration of the WINTER CONTINGENCY, several ONI field agents were given supplemental orders to secure or - if necessary - terminate UNSC astronavigation personnel to ensure their knowledge would not fall into the hands of the Covenant.[34]

Battle[edit]

Opening skirmishes[edit]

"WINTER CONTINGENCY has been declared, all units mobilized and ready."
— UNSC officer

Operating using cloaking technology and stealth tactics, the Covenant had created a fortified landing zone on Reach, with anti-air guns around the perimeter of their staging area in the Viery Territory where they had covertly inserted a large amount of forces, including several corvettes.[35]

Main article: Battle of Sword Base

Two days after the skirmish at Visegrád, the Covenant attacked SWORD Base in an attempt to overrun the ONI facility and access the Forerunner structures there. However, these forces were repulsed after NOBLE Team reinforced the base and brought its M71 Anti-Aircraft Guns and communications back online. The Covenant corvette attacking it was forced to retreat and was destroyed by an orbital defense platform's Magnetic Accelerator Cannon.[16]

UNSC counterattack[edit]

UNSC ground forces charge a Covenant formation in the Battle at Szurdok Ridge.[36]
Main articles: Mission to Szurdok Ridge, Battle at Szurdok Ridge, Order of battle (Viery, Reach)

"We are now under attack across the Viery territory, including orbital defenses. As per the WINTER CONTINGENCY, we are countering on every front."
Auntie Dot[36]

Over two weeks after the defense of SWORD Base, the UNSC sent reconnaissance teams into Covenant-controlled territory in preparation for a counterattack and to investigate the enemy positions and forces they would be facing.[35] With a Covenant staging ground on Reach, the UNSC Army, Marine Corps, and Navy launched a joint offensive in an attempt to defeat the Covenant forces before reinforcements could arrive.[36] The assault was spearheaded by the Army and NOBLE Team, who attacked Covenant anti-air weapons to make way for GA-TL1 Longswords and Paris-class heavy frigates to make bombing runs. The attack, though initially successful, was thwarted when a cloaked Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier, Long Night of Solace, appeared over the area, attacking the UNSC frigates and reinforcing the Covenant troops.[36] Meanwhile, Covenant forces made another strike on SWORD Base, this time with much greater success. Around this time, sixty percent of the Fleet was recalled to Reach from existing deployments; these reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by August 15.[14]

While the battle began on the ground, Rho's forces in space began to enagage UNSC Naval forces across the system, engaging light battlegroups composed mainly of Paris-class heavy frigates and a Marathon-class heavy cruiser in space.[26] Following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY on Reach, the personnel of Teller Station - a research laboratory working at Site 17 in the system's Oort cloud - prepared to evacuate after being ordered to condense their last dig into barely a fortnight. These activities awakened the senescent Forerunner systems there, alerting the Fleet of Valiant Prudence to the site. Rho deployed a "significant portion of his fleet"[37] there consisting of SDV-class corvettes and Ket-pattern battlecruisers, only to be engaged by more frigates and heavy cruisers deployed by UNSC admiral Michael Stanforth.[38] The Covenant forces were able to overrun the defences there, though the humans were able to successfully extract Site 17's artifact. The Covenant attempted to board the human flagship to retrieve it, though Stanforth intended to use the artifact to lure the Covenant into a trap near Reach itself.[37] The battle group was able to fight free of their pursuers, and Stanforth was able to vector in reinforcements to stop the pursuing Covenant squadrons.[39]

The battle begins[edit]

Main articles: Operation: UPPER CUT, Operation: LEFT JAB
Long Night of Solace being destroyed.[14]

Air Control (COM): "They're everywhere!"
AI Auntie Dot (COM): "Slipspace rupture detected."
ATC 2 (COM): "Oh no, this can't be happening!"
Colonel Holland (COM): "Must be the whole damn Covenant fleet!"
AI Auntie Dot (COM): "Slipspace rupture detected."
— The UNSC panics in horror followed by screams on the communications channel as a massive combined Covenant fleet arrives[14]

The arrival of the supercarrier led to the UNSC concocting an audacious plan known as Operation: UPPER CUT, in which NOBLE Team were to use FSS-1000 Sabre starfighters to capture the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer to deliver an improvised slipspace drive "bomb" to the supercarrier and destroy it. The team were deployed to fend off an attack at the Sabre research site at Farkas Lake, before deploying to refit station Anchor 9 in the fighters to prepare for the operation.[14] Spartan-B312, Jorge-052, and a team of Army pilots, with the aid of the frigate Savannah, boarded the Ardent Prayer and took control of it.[14][40]

A larger Covenant fleet sent by the Ministry of Resolution enters the system, escalating the siege of the planet.

By this time, Supreme Commander 'Barutamee now realised the threat of the human presence on the surface and the importance of the planet he was attacking. If this wasn't enough, the Ministry of Resolution had deployed a much larger fleet to the planet, and his artefact-hunting teams were still bogged down on the surface. If the commander wasn't able to produce something of value soon, he might be forced to retreat or face the wrath of the Hierarchs for his ineptitude. Stanforth had managed to spread his fleet thin, probing his defences from all sides. The UNSC fleet at large initiated a massive attack known as Operation: LEFT JAB to distract the supercarrier,[41] allowing NOBLE Team's operation to go unnoticed following the jamming of their target corvette's communications.[14] With the Covenant fleet stretched thin, UNSC task forces were able to pounce on cut-off Covenant scout fleets.[42]

Noble Five then sacrificed himself to destroy Long Night of Solace. However, just as the supercarrier was destroyed, the Ministry of Resolution's massive fleet of warships exited slipspace in orbit over the planet.[14] The supercarrier's wreckage landed near New Alexandria, killing Barutamee in the process. Shipmaster Kantar 'Utaralee assumed command of what remained of the now-splintered Fleet of Valiant Prudence, leading them once again to recover the Site 17 artifact, now relocated to a station near Turul.[43]

Despite the mission's success, the destruction of the supercarrier was an inadvertent setback for Operation: RED FLAG. The Operation called for a "Class-Five" Covenant vessel such as a CAS-class assault carrier or a CSO-class supercarrier to be boarded by the Spartan-IIs. Colonel Holland informed Admiral Stanforth of the destruction of the supercarrier around August 27, several days following its destruction. The Admiral expressed his frustrations regarding the "trigger happiness" of the Unified Special Warfare Command, as the operation would now need to find a new target vessel.[9]

Further engagements[edit]

Noble Six arrives at New Alexandria as it is invaded by Covenant forces.[17]
Main article: Siege of New Alexandria

"Your report will have to wait, Lieutenant. The Covenant are jamming all comms to Command. Kat needs your help running a counter-op."
— Commander Carter-A259[44]

Over the next week, Covenant ground forces landed on the planet and Covenant ships began glassing targeted areas. A major siege lasting between August 18–23 broke out in the city of New Alexandria, with large numbers of civilian evacuation transports being shot down by Covenant air and ground forces.[17][44] Members of NOBLE Team assisted UNSC forces in clearing evacuation zones, succeeding in damaging a Covenant corvette in the process. Though the UNSCDF succeeded in clearing the city of Covenant troops, Covenant naval assets began to glass the city, and while retreating Catherine-B320 of NOBLE Team was killed by sniper fire.[44] Elsewhere, the evacuation stations in Manassas and Esztergom were attacked and eventually stopped responding.[45]

However, most of the planet's population, both civilian and military, (particularly those assigned to Operation: RED FLAG), were kept unaware of the invasion, as the Army repeatedly insisted they had the ground battle under control.[9][31] HIGHCOM withheld major counteroffensives on the far side of the planet in the hope that a Class-5 Covenant vessel, which was needed for the operation, would be drawn in and make itself vulnerable for capture. Millions perished as a result of this relative inaction.[9]

Due to his tendency to jump head-first into the action, Captain Jacob Keyes was left in the dark about the Covenant attack, as to ensure that he wouldn't engage before a target could make itself known.[9] At some point following August 27, the Captain was informed of the ongoing battle, though under strict orders to keep the UNSC Pillar of Autumn's crew in the dark. Keyes felt these blackout orders to be ineffective due to the ability to look out of the window to see the battle raging on the surface, and wished to tell the crew to ensure they knew that Reach would likely no longer exist when their mission was complete.[46] As the battle went on to August 30, the ship was stationed over Lábatlan, with the R. Abiad noticing an explosion over Eposz and William Lovell noticing strange electromagnetic readings coming from Turul. ONI used the downed Visegrad relay as an excuse to keep the Pillar of Autumn parked on the side of the planet not currently hit by the Covenant.[47]

As the situation on the ground deteriorated, NOBLE Team and a small force of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers were ordered to destroy the Covenant-occupied SWORD Base in a "torch-and-burn" operation known as Operation: WHITE GLOVE. Proceeding into the base, the team encountered Dr. Catherine Halsey, who enlisted their help in defending her laboratory amid the ruins of a Forerunner complex from advancing Covenant forces. Halsey ordered Noble Six, Carter, and Emile to transport a fragment of the AI Cortana to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, while Jun-A266 escorted her to CASTLE Base elsewhere on Reach.[48]

Final space battle[edit]

Main article: Space engagements over Reach

Fermion Remote Sensing Outpost: "Gamma Station, this is Fermion RSO. Unconfirmed reports of an in-system slipspace rupture."
Reach Station Gamma: "Impossible. Check your source."
Fermion RSO: "There's no mistake. It's them."
— Conversation between Fermion and Gamma on the arrival of the Covenant armada[49]

As August 30 dawned, the Pillar of Autumn began making its way out-system to begin RED FLAG[50] when a massive Covenant combined fleet — including Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee and his Fleet of Particular Justice[51] — was detected exiting slipspace on the edge of the system.[52] The fleet was first detected in slipspace by remote scanning outpost Fermion, who initially mistook the tightly knit formation as a large planetoid that had somehow entered slipspace. The station's commander, Chief Petty Officer McRobb, sent an emergency message to FLEETCOM and ordered self-destruct to prevent the station's data from falling into enemy hands.[49][53] This fleet had been drawn to the system following a tracking device placed on the UNSC Iroquois during the earlier Battle of Sigma Octanus IV with the intent of using it to find human colony worlds. When the Iroquois returned to Reach, the human presence - and its extent - was revealed to this new Covenant faction.[54]

The outnumbered Epsilon Eridani Fleet engages the Covenant fleet in orbit over Reach.

A few minutes later, 315 Covenant ships exited slipspace at the edge of the Epsilon Eridani system.[6] Admiral Roland Freemont issued UNSC Alpha Priority Transmission 04592Z-83, ordering all ships in the Epsilon Eridani system to rendezvous at Rally Point Zulu near Reach in preparation for the coming assault.[43] The Covenant moved in on the orbital defenses before the UNSC fleet fully consolidated. Fifty-three belated UNSC ships, including the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, ran a gauntlet of screening Covenant warships as they attempted to link up with the main fleet. At this time, only about a hundred UNSC ships were readily available to defend Reach.[6] Spartan John-117 recognised the battle as a potential opportunity to board a Covenant warship, and ordered the preparation of a Pelican dropship to potentially blast their way into a hull if needs be.[55] The Autumn was able to fend off the encroaching Seraphs with its point-defense guns, before managing to destroy a Covenant carrier. Meanwhile, a hundred ships were already gathered at Rally Point Zulu; destroyers, frigates, three cruisers, two carriers and three refit stations.[6]

The main Covenant force moved in on the orbital defenses. The initial salvo of plasma torpedoes was mostly absorbed by the sacrifice of three refit and repair stations, allowing the defenders to return fire. The orbital defense platforms and four nuclear mines combined to take down a full third of the Covenant fleet. The vaporized Titanium-A armor of the refit stations also served to block incoming plasma torpedoes. The UNSC force began to scatter, with fifty more ships falling to the trailing plasma torpedoes, while the MAC platforms were able to secure a further sixteen Covenant kills. The Covenant maneuvered for clear shots around the titanium dust cloud and moved in for the kill, with a further eighteen falling to the MAC guns, followed by yet another six. The final six were able to let loose a salvo of plasma rounds before their destruction, which were able to destroy five orbital guns. A previously unknown warship type, armed with a powerful energy projector, revealed itself and destroyed the UNSC Minotaur and four other ships before withdrawing temporarily.[6]

A Kewu-pattern battleship along with 3 CAS-class assault carriers during the Fall of Reach on morning of August 30, 2552.
The previously unknown Covenant "sniper" battleship that surprisely destroyed many UNSC vessels.

The rest of the Covenant fleet withdrew to regroup after deploying hundreds of dropships to the surface. The opening attack had shattered the UNSC defenders, taking almost a hundred ships out and leaving only twenty ships left. Despite their surprise retreat, Captain Keyes ordered scans of the planet, realising that the Covenant had instead deployed dropships to Reach's poles to begin invading the planet. The Super MACs and remaining fleet split into two groups - one for each pole -and fired upon the smallcraft, each MAC shot managing to destroy dozens of transports. Hundreds of dropships were able to get through and disgorged thousands of troops. The Fleet Command Headquarters was quickly attacked and destroyed by the renewed ground attack, while the Covenant fleet began another assault.[6]

Some ships made pinpoint slipspace jumps, putting them within the UNSC formation. This left them vulnerable for a short time but allowed them to strike the ODPs directly. Almost immediately following the departure of the Spartans aboard their Pelicans, a Covenant frigate jumped in behind the Pillar of Autumn, prompting the cruiser to turn around to face the ship. Two more frigates exited slipspace to flank the first, before the first was taken out by a Super MAC round. The Pillar of Autumn then engaged the starboard vessel, while the other was taken down by a second Super MAC. The two frigates were able to loose a salvo of plasma bolts, taking down a further two platforms and reducing the total number of MACs to thirteen. The remaining Archer missiles were used to take out a number of boarding craft heading to stop John-117 on Gamma Station.[56]

Meanwhile, the Kewu-pattern battleship returned and destroyed the UNSC Herodotus and UNSC Musashi from beyond ODP range. The UNSC Pillar of Autumn engaged the warship, firing a salvo of missiles followed by MACs to impact at the same time and take down the vessel's shielding. The Covenant battleship fired back, hitting the Autumn and causing severe damage. The Autumn launched a Shiva nuclear device timed to explode on impact, and began to back away, with the nuclear weapon detonating inside the warship's now-recharged shielding and reverberating off the shields and disintegrating the vessel. The Pillar of Autumn withdrew to Beta Gabriel to slingshot back into the system while more Covenant ships exited slipspace. By this point, the orbital defense generators were being overrun.[56]

Following this engagement, the Pillar of Autumn managed to execute a Class-L flash-dock and land at the Asźod ship breaking yards, the last-remaining off-world extraction point, as it awaited the arrival of NOBLE Team.[57]

Attack on the orbital defense generators[edit]

A Ket-pattern battlecruiser initiates a pinpoint slipspace jump over Reach.

"There are thousands of them. Grunts, Jackals and their warrior Elites. They have tanks and fliers. Christ, they've breached the perimeter. Fall back! Fall back! If anyone can hear this: the Covenant is ground-side. Massing near the armory!"
— UNSC Marine[6]

On the final day of the battle for Reach, thousands of Covenant ground forces landed on Reach in an attempt to destroy the orbital defense generators, and were intercepted by Marine forces who were able to defend against the first few waves of Covenant forces while sustaining heavy casualties. While three Spartans (led by John-117) deployed to Gamma Station, the remaining supersoldiers were designated Red Team, and deployed to Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331 to assist in the defense of the station. Their Pelican transport, Bravo 001, was escorted by several GA-TL1 Longsword strikecraft, with three of the four eventually peeling off to hold off some pursuing Seraphs.[58] The Pelican was advised by "Golden Arrow" to head for Mount Törött, though the now badly-damaged Pelican was unlikely to be able to make its way back to the shipyard where the Autumn was docked. Bravo 001 had to explain that the Pelican was carrying Spartans, which consequently changed Golden Arrow's tone.[59] The Pelican was eventually shot down, however, crash-landing in the Military Wilderness Training Preserve in the Highland Mountains.[12][22][60] The Spartans were forced to jump out of the doomed Pelican,[12][58] resulting in the deaths of four Spartans (including Malcolm-059), and some others were wounded as well. Due to their familiarity with the terrain, the Spartans were able to put up a meaningful resistance against the Covenant.[12][22]

Red Team during Fall of Reach from Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion.
The Spartans defend the generators from a swarm of Covenant.

Near their crash site, the surviving Spartans discovered the shell-shocked remnants of Charlie Company's Gamma 1. Charlie Company had been assigned by Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb to recover prototype NOVA bombs from a base in the region. They were forced to help defend the orbital defense facilities on their way to their objective with Gamma 1 at Generator A-331. Unfortunately, as the Covenant neared the orbital defense generators, someone at HIGHCOM panicked and ordered Longswords to bomb everything within 500 meters, resulting in the destruction of the Covenant ground forces in that location, but also catastrophic friendly fire: Charlie Company was reduced to four men, and its leaders: Lieutenants Jake Chapman and Buckman were cut off from their subordinates.

The Spartans, after being briefed on the situation by Charlie Company, responded to a distress call from Whitcomb, who requested immediate evacuation. Frederic-104, commander of the Spartans, split the remains of Red Team into four groups: Team Alpha (Frederic-104, Kelly-087, and Joshua-029), which was tasked with eliminating an encampment of 10,000 Covenant and their hovering cruiser (without doing anything that could damage the orbital defense generators as the EMP from a nuclear weapon would render them inoperative and accomplish the Covenant's objective for them), Team Beta, tasked with defense of the orbital defense generators, Team Gamma (Li-008, Anton-044, and Grace-093), ordered to retrieve Whitcomb, and Team Delta (the Charlie Company Marines and six wounded Spartans which included William-043, Isaac-039, and Vinh-030), ordered to secure the Spartans' fallback point at CASTLE Base.

Team Alpha hijacked three Banshees and approached the Covenant encampment (they were ignored by the Grunt Zawaz, who assumed they were Elites on a secret mission) and used Fury Tactical Nuclear Weapons within the shields of the Covenant ship, destroying the encampment and negating the EMP effect that would have disabled the orbital defense generators. Joshua was killed in the process by mass light weapons salvos from the 10,000 Covenant ground forces encamped around the Cruiser. The remaining Spartans of Team Alpha then fell back to CASTLE Base, blasting their way through the remaining Covenant in the area with two commandeered Wraiths. Team Gamma accomplished its mission and fell back to Camp Independence with Whitcomb, where they survived the partial glassing of the planet.

Team Beta-Red were left to defend Generator A-331 alone, while Gamma 5 were holed up at Generator A-412. A-412 was attacked by two divisions of Covenant, who eventually managed to destroy the facility leaving only fourteen survivors. The remnants of Gamma 5 proceeded to mount up in two Warthogs and a radio van to rendezvous with Gamma 1.[61] Recon 43 provided scouting for Gamma 1, initially spotting three Ghosts and twenty-four infantry. They were warned not to engage, but did so anyway upon realising that the small Covenant force was merely the advance of a massive armour convoy.[62]

With a gargantuan ground force now closing on Facility A-331, Beta-Romeo Actual ordered her team and the remnants of Charlie Company to leave once the Covenant was distracted. The team set up automated turrets, while thirty-two Wraith tanks and six-hundred infantry began to close in. Gamma 5 observed the action through the lens of a drone as the fight started. The Spartans of Beta-Red went "hand to hand" with the enemy lines, and Team Delta and Charlie Company departed the site.[63]

With Team Delta retreating alongside the remnants of Charlie Company, they contacted an operator with callsign "Iron Fist". Iron First informed the group that they were en route the extract Beta-Red, even as three Covenant cruisers dropped out of the sky and prepared to glass the area.[64] Team Beta was unable to stop the Covenant, who attacked in swarms of thousands. The orbital defense generators were compromised, and the Covenant, after eliminating the powerless, immobile ODPs in geosynchronous orbit around the planet, began the glassing of Reach. A member of Beta-Red was able to get off one last communication to Fred-104 that the generators were overrun.[65] Eventually, the destroyer UNSC Majestic was brought in by Alpha 20 and authorised to fire on the Covenant cruisers at Generator A-331, likely resulting in the deaths of Team Beta-Red.[66][67] The blast of the orbital strike was felt by Charlie Company, who had narrowly managed to escape the blast.[68] Team Delta fell back to CASTLE Base, but in the process lost the remaining Charlie Company marines and every Spartan save for Vinh, Isaac, and William. When the remnants of Team Alpha and Team Delta arrived at CASTLE Base, they found Catherine Halsey there.

Elsewhere, the Covenant attacked a BXR titanium mine.[22]

The planet, having been steadily weakened during the invasion throughout the prior weeks, had fallen with relative ease to the might of the Covenant invaders.[52]

Mission to Gamma Station[edit]

Battlecruisers bearing down on a human world.
The Covenant fleet bearing down on Reach.
Main article: Mission to Gamma Station

During the space battle, the AI Doppler, controller of Reach Station Gamma, was unable to destroy the vital information on board the UNSC Circumference, an ONI Prowler involved in Operation: HYPODERMIC. As the Covenant deployed troops to the station, Doppler reported this violation of the Cole Protocol to the Pillar of Autumn before self-destructing himself to keep from further violation. In response, Captain Jacob Keyes sent John-117, James-005, and Linda-058 to the station. They accomplished their task and destroyed the NAV database on board Reach Station Gamma, but at the cost of James and Linda. While on board, they rescued some Marines on board the station: Staff Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson and Privates Wallace Jenkins, Bisenti, and O'Brien. They were then evacuated by Pelican back to the Pillar of Autumn. Linda-058 was clinically dead, but there was still a chance of saving her, so she was placed in a cryo chamber. John-117 asked Lieutenant Hall to scan for James (who had been blown into space) but they were unable to find him.

Battle at Asźod[edit]

Escaping Reach.
The Pillar of Autumn escapes as the Fleet of Particular Justice attempt to purse the ship.
Main article: Battle of Asźod

With the battle for Reach now nearing its conclusion, the Pillar of Autumn set down at the Asźod ship breaking yards for repairs as well as to receive the fragment of Cortana that Halsey had tasked NOBLE Team with delivering to Keyes. Covenant forces soon descended on the shipyards and began landing troops. Although the docked Autumn managed to hold off the Covenant attackers, most of the facility and the surrounding area was occupied.

The remnants of NOBLE Team, consisting of Carter-A259, Emile-A239, and Spartan-B312, arrived on the outskirts of the facility. Carter sent Noble Six and Emile to deliver the package to Keyes. He then sacrificed himself to destroy a Scarab. Six and Emile fought their way to the shipyards, where they linked up with some surviving UNSC ground troops. Keyes then contacted the Spartans and ordered them to clear Landing Platform Delta so that he could pick up the package. Upon arriving at the platform, Emile took charge of a mass driver and used it to provide cover fire for the Autumn. Six, meanwhile, cleared the platform of Covenant troops. With the platform cleared, Captain Keyes arrived in a Pelican and personally took possession of the package from Noble Six. Just then a Ket-pattern battlecruiser appeared and started heading toward the Autumn. Keyes ordered Emile to take out the cruiser before it destroyed the Autumn. Emile, however, was attacked by a pair of Sangheili Zealots. The Spartan killed the Zealots but was also killed, leaving the mass driver cannon unmanned. With the cruiser closing in on the Autumn, Noble Six volunteered to stay behind to take charge of the gun.[57]

Keyes returned to the Autumn with the package and prepared the ship for take off. Meanwhile, Noble Six took control of the mass driver and destroyed several Phantoms and Banshees before the Covenant cruiser came within range. As the cruiser prepared to destroy the Autumn with its energy projector, Six fired directly into the ship's exposed glassing port. The resulting explosion crippled the cruiser.[57]

With the skies cleared of hostiles, the Autumn took off and escaped Reach.[57] Once in space, it made a slipspace jump away from the planet. A dozen Covenant ships pursued, while the remaining vessels stayed behind to finish glassing Reach. Back at the shipyards, the stranded Noble Six continued fighting against the Covenant invaders. Eventually, the lone Spartan was overwhelmed and killed by a swarm of Sangheili warriors.[69]

Aftermath[edit]

Main article: Aftermath of the Fall of Reach
Reach after its glassing.[2]

"We are not wasting a single UNSC ship to confirm what we have already seen a dozen times before: Reach is gone. Everything on it is blasted to bits, burned, glassed over, and vaporized. Everyone on Reach is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead."
Colonel James Ackerson[70]

The Fall of Reach was devastating for both sides as millions died and hundreds of starships were destroyed or rendered irreparably damaged. Many forces fled during the battle, ending up in various parts of space.

While Reach was the Covenant armada's main target, the other colonies in Epsilon Eridani would also come under attack. Tribute was besieged by Covenant forces for several months, ending only when the Great Schism caused the Jiralhanae and Sangheili to turn on each other. The small colony on Beta Gabriel was destroyed when Valorous Salvation deserted the Covenant fleet at Reach and fled there; ODSTs arrived shortly thereafter and killed all the Covenant deserters without incurring losses.

As for Reach itself, the planet would be glassed heavily, to the point that the burning could be seen from orbit.[2][71][3] After this burning ceased, several missions took place on the planet, including a pioneer mission in 2553[72] and Operation: WOLFE in 2559.[73] However, the damage to the surface and atmosphere caused by the initial glassing would stay for nearly 30 years with the planet only really becoming green again in 2589.[69]

The Pillar of Autumn would actually arrive at Installation 04, a Halo ring. The Autumn would also confront its pursuers, devolving into a protracted battle on and around the ring.[74] The survivors of the battle would eventually come back to Reach searching for survivors.[75]

Engagements[edit]

Sat image of Viery Territory from ToTS.
The order of battle following the declaration of WINTER CONTINGENCY. The UNSC was required to engage the Covenant wherever they were.[36]

The UNSC engaged the Covenant across Reach over a long period of time. Battles were fought across the Vierry Territory.[36] Other engagements included fighting at Manassas, Siófok, and Quezon.[76]

Timeline[edit]

Main article: Timeline of the Fall of Reach

Officially, the Fall of Reach took place between July 25 and August 30, 2552.[1] However, UNSC forces actually engaged Covenant forces as early as July 24, with Noble Team's deployment to the Visegrad area.[30] UNSC fleet actions in the Reach Defense Coordination Zone also ceased several days after August 30, on September 5.[77] Covenant glassing operations ended on September 27.[18]

Participants[edit]

Main article: Participants in the Fall of Reach

The Fall of Reach had some of the largest deployments of personnel and materiel in the Human-Covenant war. By August 30, there were 315 Covenant ships and 152 UNSC ships at Reach.[6] Numerous Spartans of multiple generations, Marines, Army soldiers and Navy personnel also took part in the battle.

Several notable figures that participated include Dr. Catherine Halsey, Captain Jacob Keyes, John-117, Rho 'Barutamee, and Thel 'Vadam.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Reach City under Covenant attack.
Reach City being destroyed in the Silver Timeline.

Silver Timeline[edit]

Main article: Fall of Reach/Silver

Reach was attacked by and fell to the Covenant in April of 2553.[78]

Trivia[edit]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ While the time stamps in Halo Reach use Reach's local time, the dates given are based on the UNSC military calendar. This is supported by the entries in Dr. Halsey's personal journal.
  2. ^ In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the Pillar of Autumn moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315
  3. ^ During the opening cutscene of the Halo 2 level Cairo Station, Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood states that the fleet that destroyed Reach was "fifty times" larger than the fifteen ship fleet attacking Earth; taken at face value, it would seem that Hood is speaking in hyperbole. The 2010 reissue of Halo: The Fall of Reach took this statement literally and changed the number of ships at Reach from around 300 to "over 750"; however, this change was made in only one instance, with all other statements regarding the fleet's size remaining consistent with prior versions of the novel. While the 2011 Definitive Edition removed this change, it is repeated in the comic book adaption, Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion.
  4. ^ In Chapter 33, it is stated that 314 Covenant ships are in the system. Given the Pillar of Autumn moments earlier had destroyed one, this brings a total of 315. Then, it is stated that "the surviving Covenant vessels advanced in-system—a third of their number were left behind... burning radioactive hulks or utterly destroyed by the Super MAC rounds". One-third of 315 is 105. Following that, "sixteen Covenant ships were blasted into flame and glittering fragments", the orbital guns' super-heavy rounds "impacted eighteen incoming Covenant ships", and "six Covenant ships cleared the interfering cloud of vapor" before being destroyed. 105+16+18+6=145 total destroyed Covenant ships in this particular battle.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo 3: ODST, Reference of Reach event
  2. ^ a b c Halo 2: Anniversary, campaign level The Heretic
  3. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Reach, campaign level Noble Actual
  4. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 94
  5. ^ a b c Bungie.net: CAA Factbook on Reach's military power
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 33
  7. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 33: Frigates and destroyers comprised 95% of the initial force (95/100). "Twenty thousand kilometers from the planet, a cluster of a hundred UNSC ships collected at rally point Zulu: destroyers, frigates, three cruisers, two carriers—and three refit and repair stations hovering over them. . . waiting to be used as sacrificial shields. “Fifty-two additional UNSC warships inbound to rally point Zulu,” Cortana reported."
  8. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 207
  9. ^ a b c d e Data Drops, Drop #5
  10. ^ Official Halo Wars Community Site: Timeline (defunct, Archived)
  11. ^ Halo: First Strike (2010), Adjunct
  12. ^ a b c d Youtube: Defiant to the End
  13. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library - Pelican
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo: Reach, campaign level, Long Night of Solace
  15. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles: Scenario Two to Eight campaigns
  16. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level, ONI: Sword Base
  17. ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level, Exodus
  18. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 42-43
  19. ^ Halo: Reach: "A Spartan Will Rise" ViDoc
  20. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), p. 198
  21. ^ Waypoint: Halo Official Timeline
  22. ^ a b c d Bungie.net: Defiant Map Pack
  23. ^ Halo 2, Conversations from the Universe - Grunt Conversation
  24. ^ Data Drops, Drop #4
  25. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario One: Flight!
  26. ^ a b c Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Two: Contact
  27. ^ a b Halo: Reach, Radio conversations - Overlook
  28. ^ Data Drop Drop #2
  29. ^ a b Remember Reach, Patrol
  30. ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level Winter Contingency
  31. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct - Entry 19-021/024
  32. ^ EDGE Magazine, February 2010
  33. ^ GameInformer, February 2010
  34. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct, WINTER CONTINGENCY Declaration Supplemental Orders
  35. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Nightfall
  36. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
  37. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Four: Run!
  38. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Three: Evacuate
  39. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Five: Into the fire
  40. ^ Halo: Warfleet, p. 76-77
  41. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Six: Left Jab
  42. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Seven: Finishing Blow
  43. ^ a b Halo: Fleet Battles, Scenario Eight: Rally Point Zulu
  44. ^ a b c Halo: Reach, campaign level, New Alexandria
  45. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations - Beachhead
  46. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Adjunct - UNSC Transmission 34670J-17
  47. ^ Data Drops, Drop #6
  48. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level, The Package
  49. ^ a b Halo: Reach announcement trailer
  50. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 30
  51. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Heretic
  52. ^ a b The Halo Conflict
  53. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 31
  54. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 23
  55. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 32
  56. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 36
  57. ^ a b c d Halo: Reach, campaign level, The Pillar of Autumn
  58. ^ a b Halo: First Strike, Chapter 1
  59. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Breakpoint
  60. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Highlands
  61. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Powerhouse
  62. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, (map)|Spire
  63. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Countdown
  64. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Boardwalk
  65. ^ Halo: First Strike, Chapter 4
  66. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Reflection
  67. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Long Night of Solace
  68. ^ Halo: Reach, Radio conversations, Boneyard
  69. ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level, Lone Wolf
  70. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 104-105
  71. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Condemned
  72. ^ Halo Waypoint, Catalog Interaction (Page 43) (Retrieved on Jun 1, 2020) [archive]
  73. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 1
  74. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved: Campaign
  75. ^ Halo: First Strike
  76. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach, Invasion
  77. ^ Halo Legendary Crate, Data Drop #2
  78. ^ Halo: The Television Series, episode Aleria
  79. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 283