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The '''Keyes Loop''' was a space tactical manoeuvre first executed by [[Jacob Keyes|Commander Jacob Keyes]] at the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]. The result was one of only three decisive space victories achieved by the UNSC over Covenant forces, and led to Keyes' promotion to [[captain]].
==Summary==
==Summary==
[[Image:Keyes_Loop.jpg|right|thumb|400px|<div style="text-align:left;border:none">An example of a Keyes Loop, though not the one performed at Sigma Octanus IV.</div>]]
[[Image:Keyes_Loop.jpg|right|thumb|400px|<div style="text-align:left;border:none">An example of a Keyes Loop, though not the one performed at Sigma Octanus IV.</div>]]


During The [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], [[Jacob Keyes|Commander Keyes]] was outnumbered by what he initially thought were four medium sized [[Covenant]] ships. However, what came out of [[slipstream]] space were 2 Covenant frigates(medium sized ships), escorting a destroyer and a carrier. Drastically outnumbered and outgunned, Keyes executed a brilliantly daring tactical maneuver that would later be known as the Keyes Loop. He set out at emergency speed on a collision course for the Covenant Destroyer; en route, he deliberately launched a nuke in what seemed to be the wrong direction. The 2 frigates fire a salvo of plasma, but utilizing the emergency thrusters, Keyes manages to evade the plasma even as they continue to track his ship. However, here is where his brilliant strategy comes into play: on a collision course with the [[Covenant]] destroyer, Keyes makes a last second course correction and grazes past the warship, so close that its shield annihilated a large part of [[UNSC Iroquois]]'s armor, causing the trailing plasma bolts to impact the destroyer instead, destroying it. He then performs a slingshot orbit around [[Sigma Octanus IV]] and detonates the nuke he left behind earlier, completely draining the shields of the 2 frigates, after which he assaults them with two [[Mac|MAC]] heavy rounds and hundreds of Archer missiles. The remaining Covenant carrier immediately sped outsystem, but not before dropping thousands of troops on [[Sigma Octanus IV]].
Arriving over [[Sigma_Octanus_IV]] in response to a possible impending Covenant attack, the [[UNSC Iroquois|UNSC ''Iroquois'']] found itself outmatched by the arrival of a Covenant battle group consisting of one carrier, one destroyer, and two frigates (medium-sized ships). This was contrary to the expectation of four medium-sized ships.
 
Commander Keyes resolved to attack. The ''Iroquois'' set a collision course for the destroyer at emergency acceleration while launching a nuclear warhead in, what seemed, the wrong direction. The two escorting frigates proceeded to launch a salvo of plasma, but these the ''Iroquois'' managed to evade by utilizing the emergency thruster. Having missed their target the plasma came about and continued to track and home in on the UNSC warship.
 
The trailing ordnance was to prove critical to the success of Keyes' strategy. A last minute course correction allowed the ''Iroquois'' to merely graze the destroyer's shields rather than smash directly into the ship proper, resulting in the destruction of a large portion of the ''Iroquois''' armor. However, the tracking plasma were unable to correct for the sudden manoeuvre of their target and, in consequence, impacted on the destroyer instead. The Covenant warship was destroyed.


NB: Keyes victory over 4 enemy ships was a great morale booster and elevated him to hero status within the Navy, as the [[UNSC]] have only had 3 decisive wins over the Covenant in space engagements over the course of the 27 year war.  He also earned the rank of [[Captain]] for this maneuver. The main part of the Keyes Loop involved using the Covenant's superior weaponry against themselves; this action also served to draw attention away from the all important thermonuclear device that is left behind intended to appear as debris to drift closer to the enemy ships, whilst the outnumbered ''Iroquois'' slingshots around the planet to re-engage the remaining enemy forces.
With the momentum built up during the first phase, the ''Iroquois'' performed a slingshot manoeuvre around the planet. Once safely away the nuclear warhead deployed earlier was detonated, completely draining the shields on the two frigates. Having completed its orbit, the ''Iroquois'' resumed its attack and destroyed the two frigates with two heavy [[Magnetic_Accelerator_Cannon|MAC]] rounds and hundreds of [[Archer_Missile|Archer missiles]].


Its escorts destroyed, the carrier then disengaged and escaped outsystem. but not before landing thousands of troops on [[Sigma Octanus IV]].
[[Category: UNSC]]
[[Category: UNSC]]

Revision as of 14:09, March 2, 2007

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The Keyes Loop was a space tactical manoeuvre first executed by Commander Jacob Keyes at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV. The result was one of only three decisive space victories achieved by the UNSC over Covenant forces, and led to Keyes' promotion to captain.

Summary

File:Keyes Loop.jpg
An example of a Keyes Loop, though not the one performed at Sigma Octanus IV.

Arriving over Sigma_Octanus_IV in response to a possible impending Covenant attack, the UNSC Iroquois found itself outmatched by the arrival of a Covenant battle group consisting of one carrier, one destroyer, and two frigates (medium-sized ships). This was contrary to the expectation of four medium-sized ships.

Commander Keyes resolved to attack. The Iroquois set a collision course for the destroyer at emergency acceleration while launching a nuclear warhead in, what seemed, the wrong direction. The two escorting frigates proceeded to launch a salvo of plasma, but these the Iroquois managed to evade by utilizing the emergency thruster. Having missed their target the plasma came about and continued to track and home in on the UNSC warship.

The trailing ordnance was to prove critical to the success of Keyes' strategy. A last minute course correction allowed the Iroquois to merely graze the destroyer's shields rather than smash directly into the ship proper, resulting in the destruction of a large portion of the Iroquois' armor. However, the tracking plasma were unable to correct for the sudden manoeuvre of their target and, in consequence, impacted on the destroyer instead. The Covenant warship was destroyed.

With the momentum built up during the first phase, the Iroquois performed a slingshot manoeuvre around the planet. Once safely away the nuclear warhead deployed earlier was detonated, completely draining the shields on the two frigates. Having completed its orbit, the Iroquois resumed its attack and destroyed the two frigates with two heavy MAC rounds and hundreds of Archer missiles.

Its escorts destroyed, the carrier then disengaged and escaped outsystem. but not before landing thousands of troops on Sigma Octanus IV.