Canon

Operation: TORPEDO: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

No edit summary
 
(193 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Era|GOO}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{disambig header|the UNSC operation|the Covenant starship weapon|Plasma torpedo}}
 
{{Battle infobox
{{battle
|prev=[[Battle of Actium]]
|prev=[[Battle of K7-49]]
|conc=
|conc=
|next=[[Siege of Paris IV]]
|next=[[Battle of Skopje]]
|name=Battle of Pegasi Delta
|name=Operation: TORPEDO
|image=
|image=
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=July 3, [[2545]]
|date=[[2545|July 3, 2545]]
|place=[[Pegasi Delta]], [[51 Pegasi-B System]]
|place=[[Target Area Apache]], [[Pegasi Delta]], [[51 Pegasi System]]
|result=UNSC Victory
|result=UNSC strategic and Pyrrhic victory
*Covenant refinery destroyed
*SPARTAN-III Beta Company rendered combat-ineffective
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|side2=[[Covenant]]
|commanders1=Unknown
|commanders1=Unknown
|commanders2=Unknown
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1=*1 [[UNSC Carrier]]
|forces1=*One [[UNSC carrier]]
**{{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}}
**{{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}}
*[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] (300 [[SPARTAN-III]]s)
*8 {{Class|Black Cat|Subprowler}}s
*8 [[Black Cat-class Subprowler|''Black Cat''-class Subprowler]]s
*300 [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s
|forces2=*7 [[Covenant Cruiser]]s
*[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company]] - 300 [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]]
*Squadrons of [[Seraph]]s
|forces2=*Seven large [[Covenant cruiser|cruisers]]
*Several squadrons of [[Seraph]]s
*Thousands of soldiers
*Thousands of soldiers
**[[Elite]]s
**[[Sangheili]]
**[[Jackal]]s
**[[Kig-Yar]]
|casual1=*[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]] (298 [[SPARTAN-III]]s)
**[[Unggoy]]
*7 [[Black Cat-class Subprowler|''Black Cat''-class Subprowler]]s unacounted for
|casual1=*298 SPARTAN-IIIs
|casual2=*Squadrons of [[Seraph]]s
*Seven {{Class|Black Cat|subprowler}}s unaccounted for
*300 [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s destroyed during use
|casual2=*Several squadrons of Seraphs
*Thousands of soldiers
*Thousands of soldiers
**[[Elite]]s
**Many Sangheili
**[[Jackal]]s
**Many Unggoy
*7 Covenant Cruisers
**Many Kig-Yar
*Seven Covenant cruisers
}}
}}
{{Quote|How are you sure we're alive?|[[Lucy-B091]] after the battle<ref name=Onyx27 >'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 21''</ref>}}
'''Operation: TORPEDO''' was a [[UNSC]] [[operation]] to eliminate a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] refinery on the [[Moon|inhabited moon]] [[Pegasi Delta]], orbiting [[51 Pegasi B]], in the [[51 Pegasi System]]. The engagement took place on [[2545|July 3rd, 2545]]. The outcome was a UNSC victory, but at great cost. All participating SPARTAN-IIIs, with the exceptions of [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], were killed. However, all Covenant forces groundside, as well as several Covenant ships, were eliminated.
== Prelude ==
The purpose of Operation: TORPEDO was to destroy a Covenant [[deuterium]]/[[tritium]] refinery, on the planet [[Pegasi Delta]]. These chemicals were used in the Covenant's [[Pinch fusion reactor|plasma reactors]], therefore making this refinery an excellent refueling plant for Covenant ships, right on the edge of UNSC space. The destruction of this supply point would triple the length of Covenant resupply and buy the UNSC valuable time to recover from the ravages of war. This time would be spent regrouping in the wake of numerous crushing defeats at the hands of the [[Covenant fleet]].
Long-range [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear bombardments]] were met with failure as the Covenant ships shot the weapons out of the sky, and neither a regular invasion nor an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] insertion were considered worth the attempt. The operation was then assigned to the newly commissioned [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]], attached to the {{UNSCShip|All Under Heaven}}.


'''Operation: TORPEDO''' was a [[United Nations Space Command]] and [[Covenant]] ground engagement on the Covenant planet of [[Pegasi Delta]], [[51 Pegasi-B System]] that took place on July 3, [[2545]].  
==The battle==
At 1135, the 300 SPARTAN-IIIs of Beta Company landed on Pegasi Delta via [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s. Nine SPARTANs died immediately, either killed on impact or by Covenant forces. Initial resistance was light, as the Covenant had not yet realized how large the attacking force was. Soon, however, Covenant [[Seraph]]s began making strafing runs, prompting the hiding SPARTANs to abandon their stealth and rush to the factory for safety. As more Seraphs appeared, a few SPARTANs attempted to hold them back with [[M19-B Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher|missile launchers]], and succeeded in destroying two, forcing the remaining Seraphs to cancel their runs.


== Introduction ==
The Seraphs began bombing the SPARTANs, killing dozens of them. Thousands of [[Sangheili]] and [[Kig-Yar]] joined the defense. In response, the surviving SPARTANs charged, their speed and reflexes helping them kill hundreds of Covenant soldiers in a brief matter of time.


Operation: TORPEDO was necessary for the survival of the UNSC. This mission involved the second group of third generation Spartans, who are all sent to destroy the factory on Pegasi Delta. The goal of this mission was to destroy the station which was refueling the Covenant fleets and armadas from the planet's resources.
Suddenly, [[seven]] [[Covenant cruiser]]s were revealed, immediately deploying thousands of reinforcements. Half of the survivors of Beta Company turned to face the new threat in an attempt to buy time for their fellow soldiers. [[Team Foxtrot]] rushed to the factory. [[Adam-B004]] was mortally wounded, but stayed back to hold off the Covenant forces so his team could rush ahead. When the remaining members arrived, they immediately began to set explosive charges on the core. [[Min-B174]] was setting his timer when an electromagnetic field triggered his charge, vaporizing him.


'''Outcome:''' [[Beta Company]] succeeds, but at a great cost. All [[Spartans]], except [[Tom]] and [[Lucy]], who becomes mute, are killed. All Covenant forces ground side of the planet are eliminated.
The last two members of Team Foxtrot, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], then jumped off a cliff and into the ocean to escape from the explosion of the core. The two nearly drowned, but managed to swim ashore, where they found that everything else had been vaporized, including the cruisers. Eventually, they made it to a waiting ''Black Cat''-class sub-prowler, and were extracted from the planet.
 
==Aftermath==
Although the UNSC gained a strategic victory, it lost almost all of Beta Company. The Covenant suffered a heavy blow that would prevent them from refueling close to UNSC space.
 
Additionally, Lucy suffered from [[post-traumatic vocal disarticulation]], preventing her from speaking for many years.<ref name= "Onyx27" />


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
===July 3, 2545===
*0435 Hours: The three hundred SPARTAN-IIIs of Beta Company are dropped out of [[Slipstream Space|Slipspace]] by UNSC ''All Under Heaven'' in [[Long range stealth orbital drop pod]]s.


===July 3, 2545===
*Eight {{Class|Black Cat|subprowler}}s are landed in strategic locations around the target and one [[STARS]] drone is deployed in orbit around the planet.


*Around 0435 Hours 300 [[Spartan-III]]'s had been launched into Slipspace from the UNSC carrier [[UNSC All Under Heaven|All Under Heaven]].
*1135 Hours: 291 SPARTAN-IIIs land on the surface of [[Pegasi Delta]] within drop pods. Nine SPARTAN-IIIs are unaccounted for and are presumed dead.  


*Eight [[Black Cat]] subprowlers are sent and one [[STARS]] is sent to orbit the planet.
*The SPARTANs regroup into fireteams. Covenant Seraphs begin strafing runs, killing dozens.


*300 Spartan-III's land on the surface of Pegasi Delta via [[Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pod]]s. The last pod lands at 1135 Hours on July 3, 2545. Nine of the Spartans are killed on reentry, impact, or by the Covenant.
*As the Seraphs continue their strafing runs, the surviving SPARTAN-IIIs begin a frontal charge of the refinery.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 16''</ref>


*The Spartan's regroup into their fire teams just as [[Seraph]] fighters begin their attack runs.
*[[Kig-yar Sniper|Kig-yar snipers]] fire on the charging SPARTAN-IIIs. The attacking force is reduced to 200 active soldiers.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 17''</ref> Several SPARTANs with [[M19-B Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher]]s destroy multiple strafing Seraphs, discouraging the remaining fighters.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 20''</ref>


*All surviving Spartans begin a frontal charge of the facility while being strafed by waves of Seraph fighters.<ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 16</ref>
*Thousands of Sangheili and Kig-yar rush from cover within the factory to face the two hundred remaining SPARTANs.


*The Spartans are attacked by more waves of Seraph fighters along with [[Sniper Jackal]]s which, despite the Spartans' [[SPI Armor]], cut down over a hundred of the super-soldiers. <ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 17</ref> Several Spartan-IIIs with M19-B missile launchers destroy several of the strafing Seraphs with a Bravo maneuver. <ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 20</ref>
*The SPARTANs panic and declare code [[Omega Three]]. Seven Covenant cruisers descend from above the factory.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 22''</ref>


*Thousands of [[Jackals]] and [[Elites]] rush from their cover in the factory to face the two hundred spartans of Beta Company.
*The cruisers launch dropships and deliver troops to the surface via [[gravity lift]]s. The Covenant reinforcements engage the remaining SPARTAN-IIIs.


*The attacked Spartans panic and declare code [[Omega Three]] as seven Covenant cruisers descended upon them. <ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 22</ref>
*Team Foxtrot arrives at the facility core. [[Adam-B004]] is shot while holding off pursuing Covenant forces and [[Min-B174]] is killed by a premature charge explosion. Last two remaining SPARTAN-IIIs, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], successfully overload the refinery's reactor core and escape over a cliff into the ocean.


*The cruisers launched many dropships and using their [[gravity lift]]s dropped [[Elite]]s, [[Jackal]]s, and [[Grunt]]s to face against the Spartans.
*The survivors of Beta Company are slaughtered. The facility explodes, destroying all Covenant forces within range, including the seven Covenant cruisers.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 25-26''</ref>


*Four Spartan-IIIs from [[Team Foxtrot]] make it to the facilities' core, but Adam was shot with a needler shard that punctured his lower spine and he told them that he would hold them off, he would have eventually died from either the blast or the amount of covenant troops. Three Spartans remaining made it to the reactor core to set charges, however a charge detonated prematurely and killed the spartan [[Min]]. The last two Spartans, [[Tom]] and [[Lucy]], successfully overload the core, then escape by jumping off a cliff into a deuterium ocean. They watch as the rest of the company is pinned and slaughtered by the Covenant forces just before the facility blows, destroying everything.<ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 25+26</ref>
*Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091 retreat aboard one of the pre-inserted ''Black Cat'' subprowlers and fall back to UNSC-controlled space.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 27''</ref>


*The two Spartan-IIIs retreat aboard one of the eight pre-inserted Black Cat subprowlers and fall back to UNSC space.<ref>[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] page 27</ref>
==Trivia==
*The date of the battle, July 3, is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Pickett's Charge|Pickett's Charge]], a Confederate infantry assault on the Union lines during the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, which occurred on July 3, 1863.
*In the [[Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer|''Halo: Reach'' VGA trailer]], [[SPARTAN-B312]] was said to have survived Operation: TORPEDO. However, the SPARTAN was actually taken out of Beta Company immediately before TORPEDO commenced. This line was removed from the final game.
*The presence of 300 SPARTANs in Operation: TORPEDO, along with [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]], is likely a reference to the historical [[Wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]].


==References==
==List of appearances==
<references/>
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}


==Links==
==Sources==
===Characters===
{{Ref/Sources}}
*[[Spartan-B004]]
*[[Spartan-B091]]
*[[Spartan-B174]]
*[[Spartan-B292]]


[[Category:UNSC|Torpedo]]
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:The Covenant|Torpedo]]
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|TORPEDO]]
[[Category:Human-Covenant War|Pegasi Delta, Battle of]]
[[Category:UNSC victories|TORPEDO]]
[[Category:UNSC Victories]]
[[Category:Operations|TORPEDO]]

Latest revision as of 00:56, March 8, 2024

This article is about the UNSC operation. For the Covenant starship weapon, see Plasma torpedo.

Previous:

Battle of Actium

Next:

Battle of Skopje

Operation: TORPEDO

Conflict:

Human-Covenant War

Date:

July 3, 2545

Location:

Target Area Apache, Pegasi Delta, 51 Pegasi System

Outcome:

UNSC strategic and Pyrrhic victory

  • Covenant refinery destroyed
  • SPARTAN-III Beta Company rendered combat-ineffective
Details
Belligerents

United Nations Space Command

Covenant

Commanders

Unknown

Unknown

Strength
Casualties
  • Several squadrons of Seraphs
  • Thousands of soldiers
    • Many Sangheili
    • Many Unggoy
    • Many Kig-Yar
  • Seven Covenant cruisers
 

"How are you sure we're alive?"
Lucy-B091 after the battle[1]

Operation: TORPEDO was a UNSC operation to eliminate a Covenant refinery on the inhabited moon Pegasi Delta, orbiting 51 Pegasi B, in the 51 Pegasi System. The engagement took place on July 3rd, 2545. The outcome was a UNSC victory, but at great cost. All participating SPARTAN-IIIs, with the exceptions of Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091, were killed. However, all Covenant forces groundside, as well as several Covenant ships, were eliminated.

Prelude[edit]

The purpose of Operation: TORPEDO was to destroy a Covenant deuterium/tritium refinery, on the planet Pegasi Delta. These chemicals were used in the Covenant's plasma reactors, therefore making this refinery an excellent refueling plant for Covenant ships, right on the edge of UNSC space. The destruction of this supply point would triple the length of Covenant resupply and buy the UNSC valuable time to recover from the ravages of war. This time would be spent regrouping in the wake of numerous crushing defeats at the hands of the Covenant fleet.

Long-range nuclear bombardments were met with failure as the Covenant ships shot the weapons out of the sky, and neither a regular invasion nor an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper insertion were considered worth the attempt. The operation was then assigned to the newly commissioned SPARTAN-III Beta Company, attached to the UNSC All Under Heaven.

The battle[edit]

At 1135, the 300 SPARTAN-IIIs of Beta Company landed on Pegasi Delta via Long range stealth orbital drop pods. Nine SPARTANs died immediately, either killed on impact or by Covenant forces. Initial resistance was light, as the Covenant had not yet realized how large the attacking force was. Soon, however, Covenant Seraphs began making strafing runs, prompting the hiding SPARTANs to abandon their stealth and rush to the factory for safety. As more Seraphs appeared, a few SPARTANs attempted to hold them back with missile launchers, and succeeded in destroying two, forcing the remaining Seraphs to cancel their runs.

The Seraphs began bombing the SPARTANs, killing dozens of them. Thousands of Sangheili and Kig-Yar joined the defense. In response, the surviving SPARTANs charged, their speed and reflexes helping them kill hundreds of Covenant soldiers in a brief matter of time.

Suddenly, seven Covenant cruisers were revealed, immediately deploying thousands of reinforcements. Half of the survivors of Beta Company turned to face the new threat in an attempt to buy time for their fellow soldiers. Team Foxtrot rushed to the factory. Adam-B004 was mortally wounded, but stayed back to hold off the Covenant forces so his team could rush ahead. When the remaining members arrived, they immediately began to set explosive charges on the core. Min-B174 was setting his timer when an electromagnetic field triggered his charge, vaporizing him.

The last two members of Team Foxtrot, Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091, then jumped off a cliff and into the ocean to escape from the explosion of the core. The two nearly drowned, but managed to swim ashore, where they found that everything else had been vaporized, including the cruisers. Eventually, they made it to a waiting Black Cat-class sub-prowler, and were extracted from the planet.

Aftermath[edit]

Although the UNSC gained a strategic victory, it lost almost all of Beta Company. The Covenant suffered a heavy blow that would prevent them from refueling close to UNSC space.

Additionally, Lucy suffered from post-traumatic vocal disarticulation, preventing her from speaking for many years.[1]

Timeline[edit]

July 3, 2545[edit]

  • 1135 Hours: 291 SPARTAN-IIIs land on the surface of Pegasi Delta within drop pods. Nine SPARTAN-IIIs are unaccounted for and are presumed dead.
  • The SPARTANs regroup into fireteams. Covenant Seraphs begin strafing runs, killing dozens.
  • As the Seraphs continue their strafing runs, the surviving SPARTAN-IIIs begin a frontal charge of the refinery.[2]
  • Thousands of Sangheili and Kig-yar rush from cover within the factory to face the two hundred remaining SPARTANs.
  • The SPARTANs panic and declare code Omega Three. Seven Covenant cruisers descend from above the factory.[5]
  • The cruisers launch dropships and deliver troops to the surface via gravity lifts. The Covenant reinforcements engage the remaining SPARTAN-IIIs.
  • Team Foxtrot arrives at the facility core. Adam-B004 is shot while holding off pursuing Covenant forces and Min-B174 is killed by a premature charge explosion. Last two remaining SPARTAN-IIIs, Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091, successfully overload the refinery's reactor core and escape over a cliff into the ocean.
  • The survivors of Beta Company are slaughtered. The facility explodes, destroying all Covenant forces within range, including the seven Covenant cruisers.[6]
  • Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091 retreat aboard one of the pre-inserted Black Cat subprowlers and fall back to UNSC-controlled space.[7]

Trivia[edit]

  • The date of the battle, July 3, is possibly a reference to Pickett's Charge, a Confederate infantry assault on the Union lines during the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, which occurred on July 3, 1863.
  • In the Halo: Reach VGA trailer, SPARTAN-B312 was said to have survived Operation: TORPEDO. However, the SPARTAN was actually taken out of Beta Company immediately before TORPEDO commenced. This line was removed from the final game.
  • The presence of 300 SPARTANs in Operation: TORPEDO, along with Operation: PROMETHEUS, is likely a reference to the historical Battle of Thermopylae.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 21
  2. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 16
  3. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 17
  4. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 20
  5. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 22
  6. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 25-26
  7. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 27