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{{Era|RE}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Center|''Were you looking for [[ONI: Sword Base|the campaign level]] or [[Sword Base|the multiplayer level]]?''}}
{{Disambig header|the base|multiplayer map|Sword Base (level)}}
{{Base infobox
[[File:Halo Reach Sword Base.jpg|250px|thumb|The main atrium of the base.]]
|name=SWORD Base
'''Sword Base''' was an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] facility located near the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]] on the colony of [[Reach]].<ref name="BWU">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_040910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 04.09.10'']</ref>
|image=[[File:HR-ONI-Sword-Base.jpg|300px]]
|location=[[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]], [[Reach]]{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
|purpose=[[Office of Naval Intelligence]] base
|length=
|width=
|height=
|surface=
|armament=[[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]]{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
|complement=
|built=
|destroyed=[[2552#August|August 29, 2552]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=192}}
|usage=2552: [[Fall of Reach]]
|controlledby=Office of Naval Intelligence
|commander=[[Ádám Virág]]
|notable=
}}


==Description==
'''SWORD Base''',<ref name="Journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> sometimes parsed as '''Sword Base''',{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} was an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] facility located near the [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]], [[Eposz]] on the colony of [[Reach]].{{Ref/Level|Id=ONI: SB|HR|[[ONI: Sword Base]]}}<ref name="BWU">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_040910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 04.09.10'']</ref> An [[Wikipedia:Pannonian Avars|Avar]] [[Wikipedia:Turko-Mongol sabers|saber]] was the emblem of SWORD Base.{{Ref/Novel|SoR|Chapter=5}} In [[2552]], the base's head of security was [[Ádám Virág]]{{Ref/Reuse|Journal}} and its air controller was known by the call sign [[Sword Control]].{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
The base's interior consisted of a long and tall main atrium, with smaller rooms, walkways and staircases on its both sides. The atrium had a ceiling of glass running along its length, which also extended down the wall on the other end of the atrium. Two specimens of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[technology]] recovered during [[Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE]] were on display in the main atrium.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[Sword Base (level)|Sword Base]]''</ref> Outside the main complex lies a military airfield. The base also has several maintenance hallways for the facility's engineers. In addition, a [[Babd Catha Forerunner Complex|Forerunner ruin]] was located deep below the facility. The Forerunner ruin contained numerous research stations and also housed Dr. Halsey's lab.
 
==Overview==
===Location===
A few smaller outposts, including [[Farragut Station]] and [[Airview Base]], were located near the facility. The base also has several maintenance hallways for the facility's engineers. In addition, a [[Forerunner]] [[Babd Catha Forerunner Complex|ship]] that had crashed in the area millennia earlier had become enveloped by the ice shelf deep below the facility.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013072843/https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/the-halo-bulletin-4-16-14 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14'']</ref> The crashed vessel contained numerous research stations, including one of [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey's]] labs.
===Layout===
The base's interior consisted of a long and tall main atrium, with smaller rooms, walkways and staircases on both of its sides. The atrium had a ceiling of glass running along its length, which also extended down the wall on the other end of the atrium. Two specimens of [[Covenant]] [[technology]] recovered during [[Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE]] were on display in the main atrium.{{Ref/Map|HR|[[Sword Base]]}} Outside the main complex lies a military airfield, and numerous [[M71 Scythe|M71 "Scythe" AA guns]].{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}


==History==
==History==
At some point during the [[Fall of Reach]] in [[2552#August|August 2552]], Sword Base became the target of a Covenant attack. As the facility became compromised, "Condition Alpha" was declared and the base was defended by [[Noble Team]] and the [[UNSC Army]]. Shortly after the Covenant launched a full invasion on Reach, Sword Base was ultimately invaded resulting in the deaths of most its ONI personnel. The Covenant forces at the facility soon realized that the base was built on top of a Forerunner site. The Covenant reinforced the ruined facility with numerous ground forces and two Anti-Air Cannons. Noble Team was dispatched to destroy the site and prevent any of the facility's secrets from falling into the Covenant's hands. Noble Team was soon contacted by Dr. Halsey who asked them to take a package from her to the Pillar of Autumn. During the package's recovery, the Covenant discovered the Forerunner ruin was actually reachable through the frozen lake near the Sword Base and began sending numerous Phantoms and Banshees to secure the site. Both Sword Base and the Forerunner ruin are ultimately destroyed by an explosive charge in order to ensure the Covenant don't capture it.
[[File:HaloReach - Package Intro.jpg|thumb|left|250px|SPARTAN-B312 returns to SWORD Base, reduced to flaming ruins by the Covenant glassing.]]
===Human-Covenant war===
During the [[Fall of Reach]] on [[2552#July|July 26, 2552]], Sword Base became the target of [[Battle of Sword Base|an attack]] by a single {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. As the Covenant launched their assault on the base and the surrounding outposts, the base was defended by [[UNSC Army]] forces that were in the area. Soon, [[NOBLE Team]] was called in to assist the defensive forces, and ultimately managed to fend off the assault force. After the defensive, two [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longswords]] were called in to push the corvette away from the base, and as the vessel began to depart, one of Reach's [[orbital defense platform]]s destroyed it from above.{{Ref/Reuse|ONI: SB}}
 
Shortly after, the Covenant launched a full invasion of Reach and Sword Base was invaded, resulting in the deaths of most its ONI personnel; the airfield was reduced to magma and Farragut Station was flooded by the melting ice floes nearby. The Covenant forces at the facility soon realized that the base was built on top of a Forerunner site. The Covenant reinforced the ruined facility with numerous ground forces and two [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|anti-air cannons]]. NOBLE Team was dispatched to destroy the site and prevent any of the facility's secrets from falling into the Covenant's hands in accordance with [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]].<ref name="Legendary">''[[Halo: Reach Legendary Edition]]'' [[:File:Journal Contents.jpg|container manifest]]</ref> NOBLE Team was soon contacted by Dr. Halsey, who asked them to take a fragment of the AI [[Cortana]] to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. While Carter-A259 insisted that the base be destroyed, Halsey countered that others would perform the demolition. During the package's recovery, the Covenant discovered the Forerunner ship was reachable through the frozen lake near the Sword Base and began sending numerous Phantoms and Banshees to secure the site. Halsey destroyed the ship and the base with explosive charges to prevent them from falling into Covenant hands.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
 
Some time prior to Sword Base's demolition, a small team of Office of Naval Intelligence operatives covertly entered the facility with the mission to ensure the destruction of sensitive information as part of [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]]. Discovering Dr. Halsey was still alive, they planned to kill her and destroy her remains to avoid having to evacuate her.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Halo: Reach radio conversations#Glacier|Glacier radio conversation]]''</ref> ONI also acquired [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]] from her laboratory, cased in a [[600 series ONI security container]].{{Ref/Reuse|Legendary}}
 
Despite all the efforts of the UNSC, Covenant [[plasma]] bombardment made it difficult to successfully confirm whether both the ship and the base were properly demolished.{{Ref/Reuse|sor1}}
 
===Postwar===
By [[2559#October|October 2559]], the [[Banished]] occupied the Sword Base area. When [[Blue Team]] returned to Reach on [[Operation: WOLFE]], the Banished launched an intercept flight from the coordinates of Sword Base.{{Ref/Novel|Id=sor1|SoR|Chapter=1}}
 
==Gameplay==
The ''Halo: Reach'' [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Sword Base]]'' takes place inside the facility. The [[Firefight]] map ''[[Courtyard]]'' takes place in the main courtyard outside the entrance to Sword Base.
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
The Covenant conducted a [[Raid on SWORD Base|raid]] on on SWORD Base.{{Ref/Film|Id=Sword|TV|Episode=[[Sword (TV Series)|Sword]]}}


==Trivia==
==Production notes==
*A [[multiplayer]] map of the [[Sword Base (Level)|same name]] in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' takes place in the facility.
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*The [[Firefight]] map [[Courtyard]] takes place outside of Sword Base.
According to concept artist [[Isaac Hannaford]], the designers of Sword Base were given considerable creative leeway due to time constraints. As a result, the design of the base drew on inspirations from a stealth fighter for the outside and a hospital for the inside to give it a very "cold and impersonal" feel.<ref name="hannaford">[http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/02/onis-sword-base-and-katherine-halseys.html '''Blog of Isaac Hannaford''': ''ONI's Sword Base and Katherine Halsey's Reach hide out'']</ref> Hannaford wanted the outside to look "top secret".{{Ref/Twitter|Isaac_Hannaford|1375499036518612996|Isaac Hannaford|Quote=Shape exploration for Sword Base.  I wanted the outside to say top secret which is where the stealth fighter aesthetic developed.|D=27|M=3|Y=2021}} Additionally, due to the base's ONI setting, it was imagined that the base's defenses were not part of the base itself, and instead brought in by the [[UNSC Army]] during the base's defense.{{Ref/Reuse|hannaford}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="160">
===Concept art===
<gallery>
File:HR_SwordBase_Defenses_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the base's defenses and general architecture.
File:HR_SwordBase_Garage_Concept.jpg|A concept art image of the garage of SWORD Base.
File:HR_SwordBase_Interior_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the base.
File:HR SwordBase Interior Concept 2.jpg|Concept art for the interior of the base.
File:HR SwordBase Atrium Concept.jpg|Concept art for the base's atrium.
File:HR_SwordBase_Hallway_Concept.jpg|Early concept art of a hallway inside the base.
File:HR LabAirlockConcept.jpg|Concept art of the base's lab airlock.
File:HR LabAirlockConcept2.jpg|Concept art of the base's lab airlock.
File:HR SwordBase Silhouette Concepts 1.jpg|Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.
File:HR SwordBase Silhouette Concepts 2.jpg|Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.
File:HTMCC HR Achievement StillSharp.png|Concept art for the base.
File:HR SwordBaseGlassing Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Covenant occupying a ravaged SWORD Base.
</gallery>
 
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
File:Halo Reach Sword Base.jpg|The main atrium of the base.
File:Swordbase schematic.jpg|A schematic of the base's level one.
File:Swordbase schematic.jpg|A schematic of the base's level one.
File:Sword Base Overhead.jpg|An overhead view of the main atrium.
File:Sword Base Overhead.jpg|An overhead view of the main atrium.
Line 22: Line 78:
File:Sword Base Panorama.jpg|A view outside the base.
File:Sword Base Panorama.jpg|A view outside the base.
File:Reach FF Courtyard01.jpg|The outside of Sword Base.
File:Reach FF Courtyard01.jpg|The outside of Sword Base.
File:Comparison - SwordBase.jpg|The condition of Sword Base, before and after the Covenant invasion.
File:Halo_Reach - Sword Base 01.jpg|The damaged base from another angle.
File:Halo Reach - Sword Base 02.jpg|View of the Sword Base building.
File:SwordBattle.jpg|The rest of the complex following the Covenant attack.
File:HR GuardianLance Plaque.png|A plaque commemorating Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE in the atrium of SWORD Base.
File:HR GuardianLance GravityLift.png|A Covenant [[Gravity lift]] recovered in the operation.
File:HR GuardianLance Artifact.png|A Covenant artifact recovered in the operation.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]''
**''[[Sword (TV Series)|Sword]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
[[Category:UNSC Buildings]]
 
[[Category:Military Bases]]
[[Category:ONI bases]]
[[Category:Reach locations]]
[[Category:Reach locations]]
[[Category:Office of Naval Intelligence]]

Latest revision as of 13:38, April 14, 2024

Were you looking for the campaign level or the multiplayer level?
SWORD Base
HR-ONI-Sword-Base.jpg
Facility information

Location:

Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Eposz, Reach[1]

Purpose:

Office of Naval Intelligence base

Armament:

M71 "Scythe" AA guns[1]

Historical information

In use:

2552: Fall of Reach

Destroyed:

August 29, 2552[2]

Controlled by:

Office of Naval Intelligence

Known commander(s):

Ádám Virág

 

SWORD Base,[3] sometimes parsed as Sword Base,[2] was an Office of Naval Intelligence facility located near the Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Eposz on the colony of Reach.[1][4] An Avar saber was the emblem of SWORD Base.[5] In 2552, the base's head of security was Ádám Virág[3] and its air controller was known by the call sign Sword Control.[1]

Overview[edit]

Location[edit]

A few smaller outposts, including Farragut Station and Airview Base, were located near the facility. The base also has several maintenance hallways for the facility's engineers. In addition, a Forerunner ship that had crashed in the area millennia earlier had become enveloped by the ice shelf deep below the facility.[6] The crashed vessel contained numerous research stations, including one of Dr. Catherine Halsey's labs.

Layout[edit]

The base's interior consisted of a long and tall main atrium, with smaller rooms, walkways and staircases on both of its sides. The atrium had a ceiling of glass running along its length, which also extended down the wall on the other end of the atrium. Two specimens of Covenant technology recovered during Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE were on display in the main atrium.[7] Outside the main complex lies a military airfield, and numerous M71 "Scythe" AA guns.[1]

History[edit]

SPARTAN-B312 returns to SWORD Base, reduced to flaming ruins by the Covenant glassing.

Human-Covenant war[edit]

During the Fall of Reach on July 26, 2552, Sword Base became the target of an attack by a single Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette. As the Covenant launched their assault on the base and the surrounding outposts, the base was defended by UNSC Army forces that were in the area. Soon, NOBLE Team was called in to assist the defensive forces, and ultimately managed to fend off the assault force. After the defensive, two Longswords were called in to push the corvette away from the base, and as the vessel began to depart, one of Reach's orbital defense platforms destroyed it from above.[1]

Shortly after, the Covenant launched a full invasion of Reach and Sword Base was invaded, resulting in the deaths of most its ONI personnel; the airfield was reduced to magma and Farragut Station was flooded by the melting ice floes nearby. The Covenant forces at the facility soon realized that the base was built on top of a Forerunner site. The Covenant reinforced the ruined facility with numerous ground forces and two anti-air cannons. NOBLE Team was dispatched to destroy the site and prevent any of the facility's secrets from falling into the Covenant's hands in accordance with Operation: WHITE GLOVE.[8] NOBLE Team was soon contacted by Dr. Halsey, who asked them to take a fragment of the AI Cortana to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn. While Carter-A259 insisted that the base be destroyed, Halsey countered that others would perform the demolition. During the package's recovery, the Covenant discovered the Forerunner ship was reachable through the frozen lake near the Sword Base and began sending numerous Phantoms and Banshees to secure the site. Halsey destroyed the ship and the base with explosive charges to prevent them from falling into Covenant hands.[2]

Some time prior to Sword Base's demolition, a small team of Office of Naval Intelligence operatives covertly entered the facility with the mission to ensure the destruction of sensitive information as part of Operation: WHITE GLOVE. Discovering Dr. Halsey was still alive, they planned to kill her and destroy her remains to avoid having to evacuate her.[9] ONI also acquired Dr. Halsey's personal journal from her laboratory, cased in a 600 series ONI security container.[8]

Despite all the efforts of the UNSC, Covenant plasma bombardment made it difficult to successfully confirm whether both the ship and the base were properly demolished.[10]

Postwar[edit]

By October 2559, the Banished occupied the Sword Base area. When Blue Team returned to Reach on Operation: WOLFE, the Banished launched an intercept flight from the coordinates of Sword Base.[10]

Gameplay[edit]

The Halo: Reach multiplayer map Sword Base takes place inside the facility. The Firefight map Courtyard takes place in the main courtyard outside the entrance to Sword Base.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

HTV-SilverTeam logo.png
 This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.

The Covenant conducted a raid on on SWORD Base.[11]

Production notes[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

According to concept artist Isaac Hannaford, the designers of Sword Base were given considerable creative leeway due to time constraints. As a result, the design of the base drew on inspirations from a stealth fighter for the outside and a hospital for the inside to give it a very "cold and impersonal" feel.[12] Hannaford wanted the outside to look "top secret".[13] Additionally, due to the base's ONI setting, it was imagined that the base's defenses were not part of the base itself, and instead brought in by the UNSC Army during the base's defense.[12]

Gallery[edit]

Concept art[edit]

  • Concept art of the base's defenses and general architecture.

    Concept art of the base's defenses and general architecture.

  • A concept art image of the garage of SWORD Base.

    A concept art image of the garage of SWORD Base.

  • Concept art of the interior of the base.

    Concept art of the interior of the base.

  • Concept art for the interior of the base.

    Concept art for the interior of the base.

  • Concept art for the base's atrium.

    Concept art for the base's atrium.

  • Early concept art of a hallway inside the base.

    Early concept art of a hallway inside the base.

  • Concept art of the base's lab airlock.

    Concept art of the base's lab airlock.

  • Concept art of the base's lab airlock.

    Concept art of the base's lab airlock.

  • Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.

    Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.

  • Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.

    Concept exploration for the base's silhouette.

  • Concept art for the base.

    Concept art for the base.

  • Concept art of the Covenant occupying a ravaged SWORD Base.

    Concept art of the Covenant occupying a ravaged SWORD Base.

Screenshots[edit]

  • The main atrium of the base.

    The main atrium of the base.

  • A schematic of the base's level one.

    A schematic of the base's level one.

  • An overhead view of the main atrium.

    An overhead view of the main atrium.

  • A room in the base.

    A room in the base.

  • A view outside the base.

    A view outside the base.

  • The outside of Sword Base.

    The outside of Sword Base.

  • The condition of Sword Base, before and after the Covenant invasion.

    The condition of Sword Base, before and after the Covenant invasion.

  • The damaged base from another angle.

    The damaged base from another angle.

  • View of the Sword Base building.

    View of the Sword Base building.

  • The rest of the complex following the Covenant attack.

    The rest of the complex following the Covenant attack.

  • A plaque commemorating Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE in the atrium of SWORD Base.

    A plaque commemorating Operation: GUARDIAN LANCE in the atrium of SWORD Base.

  • A Covenant Gravity lift recovered in the operation.

    A Covenant Gravity lift recovered in the operation.

  • A Covenant artifact recovered in the operation.

    A Covenant artifact recovered in the operation.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Reach, campaign level ONI: Sword Base
  2. ^ a b c Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 192
  3. ^ a b Halo: Reach, Dr. Halsey's personal journal
  4. ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 04.09.10
  5. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 5
  6. ^ Halo Waypoint: The Halo Bulletin: 4.16.14
  7. ^ Halo: Reach, multiplayer map Sword Base
  8. ^ a b Halo: Reach Legendary Edition container manifest
  9. ^ Halo: Reach, Glacier radio conversation
  10. ^ a b Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 1
  11. ^ Halo: The Television Series, episode Sword
  12. ^ a b Blog of Isaac Hannaford: ONI's Sword Base and Katherine Halsey's Reach hide out
  13. ^ Twitter, Isaac Hannaford (@Isaac_Hannaford): "Shape exploration for Sword Base. I wanted the outside to say top secret which is where the stealth fighter aesthetic developed." (Retrieved on Mar 27, 2021) [archive]
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