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{{Era|HW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{battle
{{Battle infobox
|prev=
|prev       = [[Battle of Harvest]]
|conc=
|conc       = [[Battle of Hat Yai]], [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]], [[Battle of XI Boötis A]], [[Battle of the Great Bear]], [[Battle of Circinius IV]]
|next=
|next       = [[Battle for Arcadia]]
|name=Third Battle of Harvest
|name       = Harvest campaign
|image=
|image       = [[File:HW Five Long Years.jpg|350px]]
|conflict=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|conflict   = [[Human-Covenant War]]
|date=January-February, 2531
|date       = [[2526]] to early [[2531]]
|place=[[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi System]]
|place       = [[Harvest]], [[Epsilon Indi system]]
|result=UNSC Victory
|result     = '''Pyrrhic UNSC victory'''
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
*Harvest severely glassed in all but its northern regions
|side2=[[Covenant]]
*[[Forerunner]] [[Relic (location)|relic]] recovered
|commanders1=Captain [[James Gregory Cutter]], [[Sergeant]] Forge, [[Serina]]
*Tactical control of Harvest gained
|commanders2=[[Ripa 'Moramee]], [[Prophet of Regret]] (via holo-projector)
*Heavy UNSC casualties
|forces1=
|side1       = [[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[UNSC Spirit of Fire]]
|side2       = [[Covenant]]
**[[Fire Team Echo]]
|commanders1 =*[[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]]
**[[Fire Team India]]
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]]
**[[Fire Team Lima]]
*[[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Orez]]
**[[Fire Team November]]
*[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]]
*[[UNSC Prophecy]]
|commanders2 =*[[Prophet of Regret]]
*ONI Prowler
*[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]
|forces2=
*[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]]
*Several Covenant Warships
*[[Thrallslayer]]
|casual1=
|forces1     =*[[Third Fleet]]
*UNSC Prophecy's Crew
**[[Battle Group D]]
|casual2=
***{{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}
*All Ships Destroyed
****[[Recon Team Echo]]
****[[Recon Team India]]
****[[Fire Team Lima]]
****[[Fire Team November]]
****[[Tango 14]]
****[[Tango 33]]
****''[[Bravo 029 (Pelican)|Bravo 029]]''
****Multiple [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]]
**{{UNSCShip|Prophecy}}
**Unidentified [[UNSC prowler|prowler]]
|forces2     =*[[Fleet of Glorious Interdiction]]
**Multiple {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}}s
*Land forces
**Thousands of ground troops
**Numerous ground and air vehicles
|casual1     =*Heavy casualties; over half of the UNSC Navy's fighting strength{{Ref/Book|Id=gc|Halo: Ground Command core rulebook|Page=7}}
*''UNSC Prophecy''
*At least one [[unidentified Spartan-II]]
*Unknown number of Marines
|casual2     =*Heavy casualties
*At least one {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}}<ref>'''Halo Wars''', ''Five Long Years'' cutscene</ref>
}}
}}
{{Quote|At first it was going well. Then setback after setback - loss after loss - made what was going to be a quick and decisive win into five years of hell.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]]}}


The '''Third Battle of Harvest''' was an engagement during the [[Human-Covenant War]] when the [[Covenant]] attacked [[Harvest]] again in the hope of securing a [[Forerunner]] artifact buried under the planet's north pole.
The '''Harvest campaign''',{{Ref/Game|H3ODST|[[Armor customization (Halo 3: ODST)|Armory]] description: [[Veronica Dare]]|Quote=Most of her dossier is classified, but Dare is a known Naval Academy Graduate amd former Intel Officer on the heavy frigate[sic] 'Say My Name', one of two ships from the Harvest campaign still in service. Dare is now assigned to ONI Section One.}} also known as the '''Liberation of Harvest'''{{Ref/Game|H3ODST|Armory description: Edward Buck|Quote=Counting time spent in cryo-sleep, Buck is a 25 year veteran of the war. He participated in the liberation of Harvest but also the fall of Reach. Watching so many Marines die has left Buck thick-skinned and short-fused. But this wasn't always so.}} or the '''Harvest Conflict''',<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''RG-63 Counter'' legs description</ref> was a five-year-long campaign to retake the devastated [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] colony world of [[Harvest]] from the [[Covenant]], beginning in [[2526]] and ending in early [[2531]].<ref name="wayP">'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''' - ''"The Secret Below Harvest" video''</ref>


==The Battle==
==Background==
On January 6th, 2531, Admiral [[Preston Cole]] received a message from [[Commander]] [[Orez]] of ONI. Orez informed Cole that the [[UNSC Destroyer|Destroyer]] {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} had repelled newly arrived [[Covenant]] warships in the [[Epsilon Indi System]].
===Contact with the Covenant===
{{Main|First Battle of Harvest}}
The UEG colony world of Harvest was founded in [[2468]] by colonists aboard the {{UNSCShip|Skidbladnir}}, and was one of the farthest colonies from [[Earth]]. By [[2525]], Harvest had become the major agricultural center of the UEG. However, during the same year, there were reports of an [[Minor Transgression|unidentified vessel]] near the planet, and all contact with Harvest ceased soon afterwards. Only several thousand [[civilian]]s of the planet's population of 300,000 were evacuated; they told their rescuers of a nearly unstoppable alien ship.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref>


The Spirit of Fire was chosen by Cole due to it's role as a "support ship" rather than a warship. The "SoF" arrived at the system three days after the Prophecy sent their message.
The [[Colonial Military Authority]] assembled a [[Battle Group 4|battle group]] comprised of two [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] and a [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] to investigate the disturbance. The battle group found most of the surface of Harvest [[glassing|reduced to molten glass]]. A large [[Rasus-pattern interdictor|alien warship]] was found in orbit over Harvest; its crew transmitted a message in flawless English, calling themselves "the Covenant" and vowing the destruction of humanity. The ship opened fire with advanced energy weaponry and destroyed the two frigates, leaving [[CMA Heracles|the destroyer]] to escape, albeit heavily damaged.<ref name="Gen">'''Halo Wars: Genesis'''</ref><ref name="Cole">'''Halo - Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"</ref>


Upon their arrival, [[Serina]] analyzed the Prophecy and reported that the ships nuclear reactor was damaged and was releasing harmful doses of radiation throughout the ship.
===UNSC counterattack===
{{Main|Battle of Harvest}}


Serina also guessed that the ONI Prowler that reported the battle to HQ was present at the time but did not make any attempt to stop it.
In response to the disaster that befell the scouting group, the UNSC went to full alert and began mobilizing the largest fleet in UNSC naval history. However, they needed an experienced commander to lead it. They turned to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston J. Cole]], a retired veteran of the [[Insurrection]] and a brilliant tactician. Cole reluctantly agreed and was promoted to full [[admiral]].{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}{{Ref/Reuse|Cole}}


The SoF attempted to draw the Covenant away from the Prophecy and the Spirits dropships by using it's [[MAC]] gun and [[HAVOK Nuclear Warhead]]s.
When Cole's fleet of forty ships arrived at Harvest, they found the same, colossal ship in orbit. The Covenant ship immediately opened fire and began picking off Cole's ships one by one. Neither [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]s nor {{Class|Shiva|nuclear missile}}s had any effect on the alien energy shields and the fleet began to lose integrity. Cole had a last-minute tactical inspiration: he ordered the fleet to fire all its weapons simultaneously. This ploy won the battle at the cost of thirteen UNSC vessels.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}{{Ref/Reuse|Cole}}


Fire Team Lima, commanded by [[Sergeant]] Forge, made it inside the ship. The team split up with Lima-One (Forge) heading for the NAV room and the rest of Lima searching for survivors. Serina noted to Forge through his visor that the ships AI "[[FitzGibbon]]" may have gone rampant.<ref>Halo Wars: Genesis "Also note the A.I. may act...'''peculiar''' due to elevated radiation levels.</ref>
==Retaking Harvest==
===Early victories===
[[File:Pelican on Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Pelican dropships deploying troops on Harvest.]]
Despite Cole's pyrrhic victory, the Covenant began swarming the [[Outer Colonies]] and were determined to retake control of Harvest. The [[Prophet of Regret]] personally assigned [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] and the [[Fleet of Glorious Interdiction]] for this task.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 10''</ref> The Covenant sent more ships to Harvest and engaged UNSC forces on the surface as well as in space. The Covenant were clearly looking for something on the planet and would stop at nothing to find it. The UNSC continued to retaliate, with many engagements occurring in the planet's ruined cities.{{Ref/Reuse|wayP}}<ref name="HW">'''Halo Wars''', campaign levels ''[[Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base]]'', ''[[Relic Approach]]'', and ''[[Relic Interior]]''</ref>


Forge was originally denied access to the NAV room by FitzGibbon due to misconduct in his service record. After Forge reminded him of the Covenant borders, FitzGibbon gladly allowed him entrance into the NAV room to purge the data. FitzGibbon then activated a three-minute self-destruct timer and informed Forge his team was in Bay 2.
Eventually, the UNSC gained the upper hand on the ground and began to slowly push the Covenant back. It was soon assumed that victory was inevitable, with UNSC forces taking back most of what was left of the planet. These victories, along with Cole's original victory, were being broadcast across the colonies, as a sign of hope to boost morale.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}{{Ref/Reuse|Cole}}


Upon his arrival at Bay 2, the team quickly evacuated with at least two of the UNSC Prophecy's crew. After arriving back on the Spirit, the survivors were taken to the Med. bay, where Serina informed Forge that the radiation inflicted onto the Prophecy's crew was too severe and that they would certainly die.
However, the Covenant still held a tremendous advantage in space and won numerous engagements against the few ships the UNSC could spare, as the majority of Cole's fleet was spread across the Outer Colonies.{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}


After the threat in space was destroyed, ONI kidnapped civilian scientist [[Ellen Anders]] shortly after a seminar on [[Forerunner|intelligent life]] that once existed on the planets [[Cote D'Azure]], [[Bliss]] and [[Onyx]]. ONI wanted her to decipher a Covenant message written in Forerunner symbols. Anders was then sent to the [[UNSC Spirit of Fire]] via the [[UNSC Last Gleaming]].
===The Covenant strike back===
[[File:Covenant Destroyers Glass Harvest.jpg|250px|thumb|Covenant [[Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyer|heavy destroyers]] glass Harvest.]]
Following the Covenant's victories in space, their vessels began to glass even more of Harvest, killing helpless UNSC forces on the surface. More Covenant ships began to arrive at Harvest and deployed additional troops on the ground, eradicating almost all human presence on the planet. UNSC forces were battered and forced to retreat across the planet, leaving the Covenant free to scour the planet for the [[Forerunner]] [[Relic (location)|artifact]] they sought.{{Ref/Reuse|wayP}}{{Ref/Reuse|HW}} At some point during the Harvest campaign, UNSC forces including [[Edward Buck]] carried out [[Operation: ASTUTE TIGER]], planting numerous area-denial munitions (ADMs) in Covenant landing zones, prior to UNSC evacuation.{{Ref/Game|Id=H5GLtd|Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers#Edward Buck|Dossier files]] - Edward Buck}}


Upon her investigation, she concluded that the message meant that "treasure" (Relics) were to be found, but hidden (from the Humans). Shorty thereafter, Anders scanned the northern polar region of Harvest, concluding that there was a structure under the ice.
After Covenant forces led by [[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]] discovered a Forerunner structure under the ice, the Prophet of Regret sent the Arbiter to lead an excavation operation and retrieve any significant artifacts.<ref name="IS">''Halo Wars Interactive Site''</ref>


==Ground Battle==
In a last ditch attempt to remove the Covenant, the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} was sent to Harvest. The ''Prophecy'' managed to destroy several enemy ships, and set up a small [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|forward outpost]] on the ground. However, the ship was critically damaged and became stranded, with its reactor leaking lethal radiation. An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] was present in-system to witness the battle, but in order to maintain stealth, made no attempt to evacuate any survivors from the ''Prophecy'' and jumped out of the system to inform [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] instead.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}
{{main|Battle of the Relic}}
Sergeant Forge was ordered by Cutter to report to Alpha Base and repair it. Upon Alpha Base's re-entering into service, the growing military presence made an assault on the Covenant defenders of the structure.


Upon capturing the structure, Anders opened up a holographic map of the nearby systems. Several [[Sangheili]] disengaged their [[Active Camouflage]] and attacked Forge's group. Two [[Grizzly|Grizzlies]] were dropped in to help Forge escape from the Spirit of Fire. Upon their safe return to the Spirit, the ship left the system to follow what Anders had discovered inside the forerunner station
==Final liberation of Harvest==
On January 3, 2531, while in a UNSC staging area in interstellar space, Admiral Cole received a message from [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Orez]] of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Orez informed Cole that the ''Prophecy'' had repelled newly arrived Covenant warships in the [[Epsilon Indi system]] and that there were survivors to be rescued. The {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} was chosen by Cole due to its role as a support ship rather than a warship. The ''Spirit of Fire'', along with a frigate, arrived at the system on February 4, three days after the ''Prophecy''{{'}}s crew sent their message.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}
 
===Space battle===
Upon their arrival, [[Serina]], ''Spirit of Fire''{{'}}s onboard [[artificial intelligence]], analyzed the ''Prophecy'' and reported that the ship's nuclear reactor was damaged and was releasing a harmful level of radiation throughout the ship. The ''Spirit of Fire'' attempted to draw the Covenant away from the ''Prophecy'' by using its MAC and [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuclear warheads]] upon enemy craft. A Covenant capital ship and several dropships were destroyed, though the rest gathered behind the ''Prophecy'' to avoid being fired upon.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}
 
[[File:HWG ProphecyPelican.png|thumb|250px|Fire Team Lima's Pelican heading toward the ''Prophecy''.]]
[[Fire Team Lima]], commanded by [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]], was transported to the ship, but their [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] was fired upon and made a crash landing on the ''Prophecy''. The landing resulted in the death of [[Chris (Marine)|one of the Marines]] and forced the survivors to use torches to cut their way into the ship. The team split up, with Forge heading for the navigation room and the rest of the fireteam searching for survivors. Serina noted to Forge that the ship's AI, [[FitzGibbon]], may act "peculiar" due to elevated radiation levels. Forge was initially denied access to the navigation room by FitzGibbon due to multiple counts of misconduct in the former's service record. After Forge reminded the AI of the Covenant boarders and stated that his actions were in compliance with the nascent [[Cole Protocol]], FitzGibbon allowed the sergeant entrance into the navigation room to purge the data. FitzGibbon then activated a three-minute self destruct timer and informed Forge that his team was in Bay 2. Upon his arrival at Bay 2, the team quickly evacuated with some of the ''Prophecy'''s crew. After arriving back on the ''Spirit of Fire'', the survivors were taken to the medical bay, where Serina informed Forge that the radiation poisoning that the crew sustained was too severe and that they would certainly die.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}
 
After the threat in space was destroyed, the Office of Naval Intelligence kidnapped a civilian scientist, Professor [[Ellen Anders]], the grudging protegé of Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]]. ONI wanted her to decipher a Covenant message written in [[Forerunner symbols|Forerunner glyphs]]. Anders was then sent to the ''Spirit of Fire'' via the prowler {{UNSCShip|Last Gleaming}}. Upon her investigation, she concluded that the message meant that "treasure"  was to be found, but was hidden. Shortly thereafter, Anders scanned the northern polar region of Harvest, concluding that there was [[Relic (location)|a structure]] under the ice.{{Ref/Reuse|Gen}}
 
===Ground battle===
[[File:HW Screenshots Screens 6.png|250px|thumb|Alpha Base under attack.]]
During the coming ground battle, [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|Alpha Base]] served as a staging point for Forge's reconnaissance patrol near the Forerunner structure in the northern polar region. In the combat's early stages, Anders redirected a squadron of [[AV-14 Hornet]]s on their way to [[Rally Point Baker]] near Alpha Base to investigate activity readings on [[Quadrant 4]], where they discovered a significant concentration of Covenant forces. Sergeant Forge was sent to investigate further, but the Covenant had already moved on. During this time, Alpha Base was destroyed and was occupied by the Covenant while the UNSC forces in the area were scattered.{{Ref/Reuse|IS}}
 
In response, the ''Spirit of Fire'' sent reinforcements to retake the Alpha Base. Forge managed to rally survivors and recapture the area, destroying the Covenant presence with assistance from [[B-65 Shortsword]] bombers.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base]]''</ref> The Marines then reestablished the base, from which Forge led an assault to capture the Forerunner [[Relic (location)|relic]] which had been excavated by the Covenant.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Relic Approach]]''</ref> As the UNSC forces approached the structure, the [[Prophet of Regret]] ordered the Arbiter to destroy it in order to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. However, the UNSC managed to destroy the detonator in time, and push into the interior of the structure.<ref name="Interior">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Relic Interior]]''</ref>
 
Upon capturing the structure, Anders opened a [[Holography|holographic]] map of nearby star systems. Several [[Sangheili]] disengaged their [[active camouflage]] and attacked Forge's squad. When Forge and his men were pinned down, two [[M850 Main Battle Tank|Grizzly MBTs]] were deployed from the ''Spirit of Fire'' to help them escape. The Grizzly tanks cleared a path and led Forge and Professor Anders to waiting Pelican dropships to return to the ''Spirit of Fire'', while reinforcements from Alpha Base held off the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|Interior}}


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
The information gained by the Covenant from the Forerunner structure led them to the UNSC colony [[Arcadia]]. Anders was drawn to the same planet after examining the artifact. The Covenant [[Battle of Arcadia|attacked]] Arcadia on February 9th, 2531, and the ''Spirit of Fire'' followed.
[[File:HW Trailer Battle.jpg|250px|thumb|Marine forces battle the Covenant in the frozen remnants of the formerly-lush planet.]]
The information the Covenant gained from the Forerunner structure led them to the UEG colony on [[Arcadia]]. Anders was drawn to the same planet after examining the artifact. The Covenant [[Battle for Arcadia|attacked]] Arcadia on February 9, 2531, closely followed by ''Spirit of Fire''.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref>
 
Overall, the campaign was one of the UNSC's earliest and greatest victories. Despite sustaining heavy casualties, the UNSC had managed to retake Harvest, which, although devastated, held important strategic value. The victory boosted morale immensely across the colonies, proving that the Covenant were not invincible and could be beaten. However, as the Covenant began to destroy the Outer Colonies and move in on the [[Inner Colonies]], Harvest lost its strategic value, and the UNSC began pulling back to protect more important worlds such as [[Earth]] and [[Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|HW}}
 
Ultimately, the Covenant once again returned to Harvest in [[2534]], glassing the planetary surface for a second and decisively final time.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=51}} After this event, Harvest was effectively abandoned by humanity.
 
==Participants==
===Personnel===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''United Nations Space Command'''
*[[Admiral]] [[Preston J. Cole]]
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[James Cutter]]
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jenkins (Captain)|Jenkins]]
*[[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]]
*[[Chris (Marine)|Chris]]†
*[[Edward Buck]]
*[[Ellen Anders]]
*[[Serina]]
*[[FitzGibbon]]
*[[Keiichi-047]]
*[[Unidentified Spartan-II]]†
*[[Helena Roman]]†
{{col-2}}
'''Covenant'''
*[[Prophet of Regret]]
*[[Minister of Penance]]
*[[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]
*[[Field Master]] [[Re'gish Wamik]]
*[[Weapons Master]] [[Sanj'ik]]
*[[Je'ddak Zule]]
*[[Ustaf 'Nbekee]]
*[[Prisoner 0005849784A]]
{{col-end}}
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Dirt]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'' {{Im}}


==References==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Human-Covenant War}}
{{Human-Covenant War}}
[[Category:UNSC victories]]
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, August 8, 2024

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Previous:

Battle of Harvest

Concurrent:

Battle of Hat Yai, Battle of Alpha Aurigae, Battle of XI Boötis A, Battle of the Great Bear, Battle of Circinius IV

Next:

Battle for Arcadia

Harvest campaign
Screenshot of Marines fighting on Harvest from the opening cutscene of Halo Wars.

Conflict:

Human-Covenant War

Date:

2526 to early 2531

Location:

Harvest, Epsilon Indi system

Outcome:

Pyrrhic UNSC victory

  • Harvest severely glassed in all but its northern regions
  • Forerunner relic recovered
  • Tactical control of Harvest gained
  • Heavy UNSC casualties
Details
Belligerents

United Nations Space Command

Covenant

Commanders
Strength
Casualties
  • Heavy casualties; over half of the UNSC Navy's fighting strength[1]
  • UNSC Prophecy
  • At least one unidentified Spartan-II
  • Unknown number of Marines
 

"At first it was going well. Then setback after setback - loss after loss - made what was going to be a quick and decisive win into five years of hell."
— Captain James Cutter

The Harvest campaign,[3] also known as the Liberation of Harvest[4] or the Harvest Conflict,[5] was a five-year-long campaign to retake the devastated UEG colony world of Harvest from the Covenant, beginning in 2526 and ending in early 2531.[6]

Background[edit]

Contact with the Covenant[edit]

Main article: First Battle of Harvest

The UEG colony world of Harvest was founded in 2468 by colonists aboard the UNSC Skidbladnir, and was one of the farthest colonies from Earth. By 2525, Harvest had become the major agricultural center of the UEG. However, during the same year, there were reports of an unidentified vessel near the planet, and all contact with Harvest ceased soon afterwards. Only several thousand civilians of the planet's population of 300,000 were evacuated; they told their rescuers of a nearly unstoppable alien ship.[7]

The Colonial Military Authority assembled a battle group comprised of two frigates and a destroyer to investigate the disturbance. The battle group found most of the surface of Harvest reduced to molten glass. A large alien warship was found in orbit over Harvest; its crew transmitted a message in flawless English, calling themselves "the Covenant" and vowing the destruction of humanity. The ship opened fire with advanced energy weaponry and destroyed the two frigates, leaving the destroyer to escape, albeit heavily damaged.[8][9]

UNSC counterattack[edit]

Main article: Battle of Harvest

In response to the disaster that befell the scouting group, the UNSC went to full alert and began mobilizing the largest fleet in UNSC naval history. However, they needed an experienced commander to lead it. They turned to Vice Admiral Preston J. Cole, a retired veteran of the Insurrection and a brilliant tactician. Cole reluctantly agreed and was promoted to full admiral.[8][9]

When Cole's fleet of forty ships arrived at Harvest, they found the same, colossal ship in orbit. The Covenant ship immediately opened fire and began picking off Cole's ships one by one. Neither Magnetic Accelerator Cannons nor Shiva-class nuclear missiles had any effect on the alien energy shields and the fleet began to lose integrity. Cole had a last-minute tactical inspiration: he ordered the fleet to fire all its weapons simultaneously. This ploy won the battle at the cost of thirteen UNSC vessels.[8][9]

Retaking Harvest[edit]

Early victories[edit]

Screenshot of D77-TC Pelicans landing on Harvest from the opening cutscene of Halo Wars.
Pelican dropships deploying troops on Harvest.

Despite Cole's pyrrhic victory, the Covenant began swarming the Outer Colonies and were determined to retake control of Harvest. The Prophet of Regret personally assigned Arbiter Ripa 'Moramee and the Fleet of Glorious Interdiction for this task.[10] The Covenant sent more ships to Harvest and engaged UNSC forces on the surface as well as in space. The Covenant were clearly looking for something on the planet and would stop at nothing to find it. The UNSC continued to retaliate, with many engagements occurring in the planet's ruined cities.[6][11]

Eventually, the UNSC gained the upper hand on the ground and began to slowly push the Covenant back. It was soon assumed that victory was inevitable, with UNSC forces taking back most of what was left of the planet. These victories, along with Cole's original victory, were being broadcast across the colonies, as a sign of hope to boost morale.[8][9]

However, the Covenant still held a tremendous advantage in space and won numerous engagements against the few ships the UNSC could spare, as the majority of Cole's fleet was spread across the Outer Colonies.[11]

The Covenant strike back[edit]

Covenant heavy destroyers glass Harvest.

Following the Covenant's victories in space, their vessels began to glass even more of Harvest, killing helpless UNSC forces on the surface. More Covenant ships began to arrive at Harvest and deployed additional troops on the ground, eradicating almost all human presence on the planet. UNSC forces were battered and forced to retreat across the planet, leaving the Covenant free to scour the planet for the Forerunner artifact they sought.[6][11] At some point during the Harvest campaign, UNSC forces including Edward Buck carried out Operation: ASTUTE TIGER, planting numerous area-denial munitions (ADMs) in Covenant landing zones, prior to UNSC evacuation.[12]

After Covenant forces led by Field Master Re'gish Wamik discovered a Forerunner structure under the ice, the Prophet of Regret sent the Arbiter to lead an excavation operation and retrieve any significant artifacts.[13]

In a last ditch attempt to remove the Covenant, the Marathon-class heavy cruiser UNSC Prophecy was sent to Harvest. The Prophecy managed to destroy several enemy ships, and set up a small forward outpost on the ground. However, the ship was critically damaged and became stranded, with its reactor leaking lethal radiation. An ONI prowler was present in-system to witness the battle, but in order to maintain stealth, made no attempt to evacuate any survivors from the Prophecy and jumped out of the system to inform FLEETCOM instead.[8]

Final liberation of Harvest[edit]

On January 3, 2531, while in a UNSC staging area in interstellar space, Admiral Cole received a message from Commander Orez of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Orez informed Cole that the Prophecy had repelled newly arrived Covenant warships in the Epsilon Indi system and that there were survivors to be rescued. The UNSC Spirit of Fire was chosen by Cole due to its role as a support ship rather than a warship. The Spirit of Fire, along with a frigate, arrived at the system on February 4, three days after the Prophecy's crew sent their message.[8]

Space battle[edit]

Upon their arrival, Serina, Spirit of Fire's onboard artificial intelligence, analyzed the Prophecy and reported that the ship's nuclear reactor was damaged and was releasing a harmful level of radiation throughout the ship. The Spirit of Fire attempted to draw the Covenant away from the Prophecy by using its MAC and HAVOK nuclear warheads upon enemy craft. A Covenant capital ship and several dropships were destroyed, though the rest gathered behind the Prophecy to avoid being fired upon.[8]

A camouflaged D77-TC Pelican en route to board UNSC Prophecy.
Fire Team Lima's Pelican heading toward the Prophecy.

Fire Team Lima, commanded by Sergeant John Forge, was transported to the ship, but their Pelican was fired upon and made a crash landing on the Prophecy. The landing resulted in the death of one of the Marines and forced the survivors to use torches to cut their way into the ship. The team split up, with Forge heading for the navigation room and the rest of the fireteam searching for survivors. Serina noted to Forge that the ship's AI, FitzGibbon, may act "peculiar" due to elevated radiation levels. Forge was initially denied access to the navigation room by FitzGibbon due to multiple counts of misconduct in the former's service record. After Forge reminded the AI of the Covenant boarders and stated that his actions were in compliance with the nascent Cole Protocol, FitzGibbon allowed the sergeant entrance into the navigation room to purge the data. FitzGibbon then activated a three-minute self destruct timer and informed Forge that his team was in Bay 2. Upon his arrival at Bay 2, the team quickly evacuated with some of the Prophecy's crew. After arriving back on the Spirit of Fire, the survivors were taken to the medical bay, where Serina informed Forge that the radiation poisoning that the crew sustained was too severe and that they would certainly die.[8]

After the threat in space was destroyed, the Office of Naval Intelligence kidnapped a civilian scientist, Professor Ellen Anders, the grudging protegé of Dr. Catherine Halsey. ONI wanted her to decipher a Covenant message written in Forerunner glyphs. Anders was then sent to the Spirit of Fire via the prowler UNSC Last Gleaming. Upon her investigation, she concluded that the message meant that "treasure" was to be found, but was hidden. Shortly thereafter, Anders scanned the northern polar region of Harvest, concluding that there was a structure under the ice.[8]

Ground battle[edit]

A screenshot of an early build of Halo Wars, depicting a Taaku Xur-pattern Spirit dropship flying away from Alpha Base in the eponymous level.
Alpha Base under attack.

During the coming ground battle, Alpha Base served as a staging point for Forge's reconnaissance patrol near the Forerunner structure in the northern polar region. In the combat's early stages, Anders redirected a squadron of AV-14 Hornets on their way to Rally Point Baker near Alpha Base to investigate activity readings on Quadrant 4, where they discovered a significant concentration of Covenant forces. Sergeant Forge was sent to investigate further, but the Covenant had already moved on. During this time, Alpha Base was destroyed and was occupied by the Covenant while the UNSC forces in the area were scattered.[13]

In response, the Spirit of Fire sent reinforcements to retake the Alpha Base. Forge managed to rally survivors and recapture the area, destroying the Covenant presence with assistance from B-65 Shortsword bombers.[14] The Marines then reestablished the base, from which Forge led an assault to capture the Forerunner relic which had been excavated by the Covenant.[15] As the UNSC forces approached the structure, the Prophet of Regret ordered the Arbiter to destroy it in order to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. However, the UNSC managed to destroy the detonator in time, and push into the interior of the structure.[16]

Upon capturing the structure, Anders opened a holographic map of nearby star systems. Several Sangheili disengaged their active camouflage and attacked Forge's squad. When Forge and his men were pinned down, two Grizzly MBTs were deployed from the Spirit of Fire to help them escape. The Grizzly tanks cleared a path and led Forge and Professor Anders to waiting Pelican dropships to return to the Spirit of Fire, while reinforcements from Alpha Base held off the Covenant.[16]

Aftermath[edit]

Marine forces battle the Covenant in the frozen remnants of the formerly-lush planet.

The information the Covenant gained from the Forerunner structure led them to the UEG colony on Arcadia. Anders was drawn to the same planet after examining the artifact. The Covenant attacked Arcadia on February 9, 2531, closely followed by Spirit of Fire.[17]

Overall, the campaign was one of the UNSC's earliest and greatest victories. Despite sustaining heavy casualties, the UNSC had managed to retake Harvest, which, although devastated, held important strategic value. The victory boosted morale immensely across the colonies, proving that the Covenant were not invincible and could be beaten. However, as the Covenant began to destroy the Outer Colonies and move in on the Inner Colonies, Harvest lost its strategic value, and the UNSC began pulling back to protect more important worlds such as Earth and Reach.[11]

Ultimately, the Covenant once again returned to Harvest in 2534, glassing the planetary surface for a second and decisively final time.[18] After this event, Harvest was effectively abandoned by humanity.

Participants[edit]

Personnel[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: Ground Command core rulebook, page 7
  2. ^ Halo Wars, Five Long Years cutscene
  3. ^ Halo 3: ODST, Armory description: Veronica Dare: "Most of her dossier is classified, but Dare is a known Naval Academy Graduate amd former Intel Officer on the heavy frigate[sic] 'Say My Name', one of two ships from the Harvest campaign still in service. Dare is now assigned to ONI Section One."
  4. ^ Halo 3: ODST, Armory description: Edward Buck: "Counting time spent in cryo-sleep, Buck is a 25 year veteran of the war. He participated in the liberation of Harvest but also the fall of Reach. Watching so many Marines die has left Buck thick-skinned and short-fused. But this wasn't always so."
  5. ^ Halo 4, RG-63 Counter legs description
  6. ^ a b c Halo Waypoint - "The Secret Below Harvest" video
  7. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo Wars: Genesis
  9. ^ a b c d Halo - Evolutions, "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"
  10. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 10
  11. ^ a b c d Halo Wars, campaign levels Alpha Base, Relic Approach, and Relic Interior
  12. ^ Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition, Dossier files - Edward Buck
  13. ^ a b Halo Wars Interactive Site
  14. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Alpha Base
  15. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Relic Approach
  16. ^ a b Halo Wars, campaign level Relic Interior
  17. ^ Halo Wars, campaign level Arcadia City
  18. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 51

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⇦ Battles of the Human-Covenant War ⇨
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Alpha Cephei (pre-2541) • HEMORRHAGE (pre-2552) • Odenli'sh (pre-2552) • DIRE MORNING • FANCY DRESS
Overarching campaigns
Outer Colonies (2525-2536) • Inner Colonies (2536-2552)
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