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Template:Ratings Template:Battle The Battle of the Unnamed Star System was a skirmish between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant Empire that occurred in 2535^{[note 1]}. SPARTAN-II commandos engaged a Covenant fleet and recovered Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey from captivity.

Background

Dr. Halsey was captured by the Covenant while in cryo-sleep. The cryo pod was taken aboard an Assault Carrier. The Covenant recognized the prisoner's value and placed decoys on escorting CCS-class Battlecruisers to hamper any UNSC rescue attempts.

The UNSC was eager to recover Halsey. A Office of Naval Intelligence stealth ship, carrying John-117, Frederic-104, Kelly-087, Solomon-069 and Arthur-079, intercepted the enemy fleet while the latter traversed a stellar magnetic field. The field prevented Slipspace jumps. The Spartans would infiltrate the fleet on "booster frames" and effect a rescue. Intelligence did not believe the Covenant were aware of Halsey's significance. Nonetheless, if the five Spartans failed the UNSC was prepared to liquidate the doctor by attacking the enemy fleet.^[1]

The Battle

The Trap

"What we want is in the heart of this fleet - the flagship."

— John-117

John-117 leading other Spartans on booster frames.

The ONI ship briefly dropped its cloak to launch the booster frames. As the Spartans closed with the fleet the Covenant point defenses opened fire. The Spartans engaged and planted a scanning device on one of the ship's hull. The first scan detected a signal matching the cryo-pod's from a cruiser.

Solomon-069 and Kelly-087 immediately vectored toward the target. The pair arrived as the cruiser was launching fighters. Kelly-087 advised waiting for the other Spartans, but Solomon-069 sought to board the ship while the shields were down. Kelly-087 held the shuttle bay while Solomon-069 landed and proceeded on foot. Solomon-069 discovered the Antimatter Charge at the signal's location and was killed when it exploded. John-117 thought it suspicious the scan had returned a positive match so easily but arrived only in time to warn and save Kelly-087. The cruiser was gutted. With scans now returning multiple decoy signatures, John-117 deduced Halsey was on the fleet's flagship.

The Covenant Fleet Master initially believed all three Spartans, instead of one, had been killed by the trap and was confident the remainder would soon follow. Major Domo Thel 'Vadamee expressed the need for caution. The Fleet Master thought 'Vadamee's reputation tarnished by a previous inauspicious episode and was not receptive to the Major Domo's counsel. Contrary to the Fleet Master's optimism, 'Vadamee believed the Spartans would manage to board the flagship and prepared to face the enemy in close combat.^[1]

Boarding the Carrier

As the remaining four Spartans headed for the Assault Carrier they were intercepted by multiple Seraph squadrons. Kelly-087's craft was severely damaged; Arthur-079 pulled back to cover them but he scrapped hulls with two closely flying cruisers, lose control, and crashed. Kelly-087 abandoned her craft and took up the rear turret on Fred-104's booster frame.

The Assault Carrier's shields were penetrated by concentrating the fire of the booster frames' gauss cannon and missiles on the ship's port aft launch bay. The Spartans abandoned the booster frames, allowing the damaged craft to ram into the launch bay, and coasted in unpowered. Covenant troops were already mustered in strength to repel the boarders. A short lull occurred as the three remaining Spartans sheltered under a Bubble Shield and prepared to sprint for the target.^[1]

Getting to Halsey

"We' got three minutes."

— Kelly-087

"Let's sprint this, don't fall behind."

— John-117

"Copy that."

— Kelly-087 and Fred-104

John-117, Kelly-087 and Fred-104 boarding the Assault Carrier.

The relentlessness of the Spartans' attack shocked the Fleet Master. They broke out of the hanger and into the corridor beyond at speed, firing at anything in the way. Fred-104 destroyed sealed hatches and bulkheads with a Spartan Laser.

Having overborne multiple Jiralhanae, Kig-yar and Unggoy, the Spartans were ambushed by Thel 'Vadamee and two other Sangheili wielding energy swords. Kelly-087 sprint pass the Sangheili completely. Fred-104 stabbed one in the head with a combat knife and then grappled with 'Vadamee, allowing John-117 to disengage and catch up with Kelly-087. Fred-104 remained behind with knives to delay the two remaining Sangheili.

The Fleet Master became desperate and began detaching sections of the ship to stop the enemy advance. The Spartans scrambled through zero-g and vacuum to reach the closing airlock beyond the detaching block. At the last, Kelly-087 transferred her momentum to John-117; John-117 entered the airlock just before it closed and proceeded to the objective alone.^[1]

The Escape

Halsey and John face 'Vadamee on the Assault Carrier.

John-117 found Halsey's cryo-tube, and enjoyed a brief reunion after thawing her out. 'Vadamee intercepted the pair as they made to leave the ship. The Major Domo gave the Spartan an energy sword and they duelled, with the Sangheili disarmed his opponent. However, a the same time the fleet had cleared the stellar magnetic field and the Fleet Master was eager to jump immediately. The Fleet Master detached and set the self-destruct for the entire ventral aft section of the ship with John-117 and Halsey in it. An incensed 'Vadamee was involuntarily lifted to safety by gravity lift before he could press his advantage over the Spartan.

John-117 and Halsey abandoned ship in an escape pod. Seraphs appeared to pursue the slow and unarmed pod. Kelly-087 and Fred-104 escaped in commandeered Seraphs and covered the pod. The ONI stealth ship returned to drive off the remaining pursuers and recover Halsey and the Spartans.^[1]

Aftermath

John-117 lamented the loss of Solomon-069 and Arthur-079 and noted Thel 'Vadamee's abilities. Halsey agreed agreed improvement was necessary and predicted the war was far from over.^[1]

Thel 'Vadamee's career, defying the Fleet Master's expectations, did not come to a quick end. He was shortly thereafter promoted to Shipmaster and elected the Kaidon of his clan.^[2]

Notes

^ Thel became a Kaidon in 2535, and, during The Package, John is a Master Chief, a rank he was granted in 2535, at which time Thel was still a Major. By extrapolation, one can determine that The Package takes place sometime during 2535.

Sources

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Legends: The Package
^ Halo: The Cole Protocol, page 89

[1] Thel became a Kaidon in 2535, and, during The Package, John is a Master Chief, a rank he was granted in 2535, at which time Thel was still a Major. By extrapolation, one can determine that The Package takes place sometime during 2535.

[Pack-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Halo Legends: The Package

[3] Halo: The Cole Protocol, page 89

[note 1]

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 *Heavy Assault Carrier crew casualties
 }}
+The '''Battle of the Unnamed Star System''' was a skirmish between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant Empire]] that occurred in [[2535]]<ref group="note">Thel became a Kaidon in 2535, and, during The Package, John is a Master Chief, a rank he was granted in 2535, at which time Thel was still a Major. By extrapolation, one can determine that The Package takes place sometime during 2535.</ref>. [[SPARTAN-II]] commandos engaged a [[Covenant Fleet|Covenant fleet]] and recovered Dr. [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]] from captivity.
-The '''Battle of the Unnamed Star System''' was a skirmish within an unnamed region of [[Milky Way Galaxy|space]] between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Covenant Empire]], which took place in the year [[2535]].<ref group="note">Thel became a Kaidon in 2535, and, during The Package, John is a Master Chief, a rank he was granted in 2535, at which time Thel was still a Major. By extrapolation, one can determine that The Package takes place sometime during 2535.</ref>
 ==Background==
-By unknown means, a [[Covenant Fleet|Covenant fleet]] had managed to capture Dr. [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]] while she was in [[Cryonics|cryo-sleep]]. The fleet escaped with her aboard its flagship, with the UNSC in pursuit. The Covenant fleet however, became trapped in a stellar magnetic field that prevented them from jumping to [[Slipstream Space|Slipspace]]. The UNSC used this to their advantage, and organized an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]-led operation to rescue Halsey, who was an invaluable asset to the UNSC, and sent an ONI [[Unnamed Stealth Spacecraft|stealth ship]], commanded by an [[Unnamed ONI Commander]], to intercept the Covenant fleet. On board was a team of [[SPARTAN-II]] supersoldiers consisting of [[John-117]], [[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Solomon-069]] and [[Arthur-079]]. Knowing Halsey's value to both the UNSC and the Covenant, the Covenant [[Unnamed Fleet Master (The Package)|Fleet Master]] planted decoys in several CCS-class Battlecruisers.<ref name="Pack">'''[[Halo Legends]]''': ''[[The Package]]''</ref>
+Dr. Halsey was captured by the Covenant while in [[Cryonics|cryo-sleep]]. The [[Cryo-chamber|cryo pod]] was taken aboard an [[Assault Carrier]]. The Covenant recognized the prisoner's value and placed decoys on escorting {{class|CCS|Battlecruiser}}s to hamper any UNSC rescue attempts.
-==Space Battle==
+The UNSC was eager to recover Halsey. A [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] [[Unnamed Stealth Spacecraft|stealth ship]], carrying [[John-117]], [[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Solomon-069]] and [[Arthur-079]], intercepted the enemy fleet while the latter traversed a stellar magnetic field. The field prevented [[Slipstream Space|Slipspace]] jumps. The Spartans would infiltrate the fleet on "[[Open Frame 92/Extra-Vehicular Activity|booster frames]]" and effect a rescue. Intelligence did not believe the Covenant were aware of Halsey's significance. Nonetheless, if the five Spartans failed the UNSC was prepared to liquidate the doctor by attacking the enemy fleet.<ref name="Pack">'''[[Halo Legends]]''': ''[[The Package]]''</ref>
+==The Battle==
+===The Trap===
 {{Quote|What we want is in the heart of this fleet - the flagship.|[[John-117]]}}
+[[File:John 2.jpg|thumb|left|John-117 leading other Spartans on booster frames.]]
+The ONI ship briefly dropped its cloak to launch the booster frames. As the Spartans closed with the fleet the Covenant point defenses opened fire. The Spartans engaged and planted a scanning device on one of the ship's hull. The first scan detected a signal matching the cryo-pod's from a cruiser.
+Solomon-069 and Kelly-087 immediately vectored toward the target. The pair arrived as the cruiser was launching [[Seraph-class Starfighter|fighters]]. Kelly-087 advised waiting for the other Spartans, but Solomon-069 sought to board the ship while the shields were down. Kelly-087 held the shuttle bay while Solomon-069 landed and proceeded on foot. Solomon-069 discovered the [[Antimatter Charge]] at the signal's location and was killed when it exploded. John-117 thought it suspicious the scan had returned a positive match so easily but arrived only in time to warn and save Kelly-087. The cruiser was gutted. With scans now returning multiple decoy signatures, John-117 deduced Halsey was on the fleet's flagship.
+The Covenant [[Unnamed Fleet Master (The Package)|Fleet Master]] initially believed all three Spartans, instead of one, had been killed by the trap and  was confident the remainder would soon follow. [[Major Domo Sangheili|Major Domo]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] expressed the need for caution. The Fleet Master thought 'Vadamee's reputation tarnished by a previous inauspicious episode and was not receptive to the Major Domo's counsel. Contrary to the Fleet Master's optimism, 'Vadamee believed the Spartans would manage to board the flagship and prepared to face the enemy in close combat.<ref name="Pack"/>
-After coming in range of the Covenant fleet, the ONI stealth craft deployed the Spartan team, who were utilizing [[Open Frame 92/Extra-Vehicular Activity]]s, or "Booster Frames". Several CCS-class Battlecruisers immediately engaged the Spartans
+===Boarding the Carrier===
-with [[Pulse Laser Turret]]s, and a large inter-fleet skirmish began. On the first scan, Solomon-069 found the signal matching Halsey's [[Cryo-chamber|cryo pod]] coming from a cruiser, and moved in on it, despite a warning from Kelly. As John showed concern about the instant positive reading, Solomon entered the ship through the hangar bay, and made his way through the ship's corridors. Upon arrival of the target however, Solomon was met with one of the decoys, which turned out to be an [[Antimatter Charge]]. The charge detonated, and Solomon was instantly vaporized, along the entire cruiser. John managed to warn Kelly clear of the explosion just in time, and they regrouped with Fred and Arthur. Monitoring the situation from the bridge of the flagship, [[Thel 'Vadamee]] expressed concern that they were underestimating the Spartans. The Fleet Master did not agree, as Thel had let his battalion perish in a recent battle, making him appear dishonorable in the Fleet Master's eyes. Meanwhile, upon the discovery of multiple positive readings, John deduced that the real signal must be coming from the flagship.
+As the remaining four Spartans headed for the Assault Carrier they were intercepted by multiple Seraph squadrons. Kelly-087's craft was severely damaged; Arthur-079 pulled back to cover them but he scrapped hulls with two closely flying cruisers, lose control, and crashed. Kelly-087 abandoned her craft and took up the rear turret on Fred-104's booster frame.
-[[File:John 2.jpg|200px|thumb|left|John-117 flying his Booster Frame, leading the other Spartans.]]
+The Assault Carrier's shields were penetrated by concentrating the fire of the booster frames' [[gauss]] cannon and missiles on the ship's port aft launch bay. The Spartans abandoned the booster frames, allowing the damaged craft to ram into the launch bay, and coasted in unpowered. Covenant troops were already mustered in strength to repel the boarders. A short lull occurred as the three remaining Spartans sheltered under a [[Bubble Shield]] and prepared to sprint for the target.<ref name="Pack"/>
-At that point, multiple Seraph squadrons were launched, and the Spartans took cover within a cluster of closely grouped cruisers. The Seraphs followed, and flanked them, striking a hit on Kelly's Booster Frame. Arthur pulled back to cover Kelly, only to be crushed between two closely flying cruisers. Kelly was forced to eject from her damaged Booster Frame, and boarded Fred's, operating the turret on the rear. As the Spartans closed in on the Assault Carrier that was the flagship, John and Fred began to charge the powerful [[Gauss]] cannons on their Booster Frames, which were slow to charge. Kelly managed to hold off the Seraphs and cover John and Fred long enough for them to fire everything they had at the Assault Carrier's hull, penetrating it, and entering on foot, ditching their damaged Booster Frames. At this point, 'Vadamee makes the decision to intercept the Spartans.<ref name="Pack"></ref>
-==Raid==
+===Getting to Halsey===
 {{Quote|We' got three minutes.|Kelly-087}}
 {{Quote|Let's sprint this, don't fall behind.|John-117}}
 {{Quote|Copy that.|Kelly-087 and Fred-104}}
+[[File:Corridor Attack.jpg|thumb|John-117, Kelly-087 and Fred-104 boarding the Assault Carrier.]]
+The relentlessness of the Spartans' attack shocked the Fleet Master. They broke out of the hanger and into the corridor beyond at speed, firing at anything in the way. Fred-104 destroyed sealed hatches and bulkheads with a [[Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]].
+Having overborne multiple [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-yar]] and [[Unggoy]], the Spartans were ambushed by Thel 'Vadamee and two other [[Sangheili]] wielding [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy swords]]. Kelly-087 sprint pass the Sangheili completely. Fred-104 stabbed one in the head with a [[combat knife]] and then grappled with 'Vadamee, allowing John-117 to disengage and catch up with Kelly-087. Fred-104 remained behind with knives to delay the two remaining Sangheili.
-[[File:Corridor Attack.jpg|200px|thumb|left|John-117, Kelly-087 and Fred-104 in combat on the Assault Carrier.]]
+The Fleet Master became desperate and began [[Modular Dispersal Technology|detaching]] sections of the ship to stop the enemy advance. The Spartans scrambled through zero-g and vacuum to reach the closing airlock beyond the detaching block. At the last, Kelly-087 transferred her momentum to John-117; John-117 entered the airlock just before it closed and proceeded to the objective alone.<ref name="Pack"/>
-Upon boarding the Assault Carrier, the Spartans activated a [[Bubble Shield]], and decided to sprint the rest of the way, despite the large number of Covenant troops in the way. The shield deactivated, and the Spartans sped through the mass of [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-yar]] and [[Unggoy]] in the hangar bay and killed dozens of them in seconds. Fred blew open the hanger door with his [[Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]] and the Spartans sprinted down the service corridors, frantically firing at anything in their way. The Fleet Master was shocked at the speed that the Spartans were attacking with, and the destruction they were leaving in their wake. It was then that 'Vadamee ambushed the Spartans with two other [[Sangheili]], attempting to kill John with his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy Swords]]. Fred pulled out his [[combat knife|combat knives]], killed the other Elite, and held 'Vadamee off while John and Kelly continued toward Halsey.
+===The Escape===
 [[File:Halsey n' John.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Halsey and John face 'Vadamee on the Assault Carrier.]]
-The Fleetmaster became desperate, and began to [[Modular Dispersal Technology|detach]] sections of the ship in an attempt to hinder the Spartans. After the entire corridor block had been detached, John and Kelly were left stranded in vacuum. Kelly used her weight to thrust John towards the ship, propelling herself out into space as a result. John landed in the ship just as the airlock closed, and assumed the worse for Kelly. John made his way through the ship and found Halsey's cryotube. He thawed Halsey out, and after a brief reunion, the two made their way to leave the ship. It was then that the two were confronted by 'Vadamee, who threw John one of his Energy Swords, challenging him to a duel. The two sparred off, only for 'Vadamee to get the upper hand. As 'Vadamee moved in for the kill, the fleet got clear of the magnetic interference, and prepared to jump into Slipspace. The Fleet Master assumed 'Vadamee had failed his task, and detached the entire lower lower half of the ship, returning 'Vadamee to the main section via [[gravity lift]]. 'Vadamee cursed the Fleet Master as he was unwillingly taken from his prey.
+John-117 found Halsey's cryo-tube, and enjoyed a brief reunion after thawing her out. 'Vadamee intercepted the pair as they made to leave the ship. The Major Domo gave the Spartan an energy sword and they duelled, with the Sangheili disarmed his opponent. However, a the same time the fleet had cleared the stellar magnetic field and the Fleet Master was eager to jump immediately. The Fleet Master detached and set the self-destruct for the entire ventral aft section of the ship with John-117 and Halsey in it. An incensed 'Vadamee was involuntarily lifted to safety by [[gravity lift]] before he could press his advantage over the Spartan.
+John-117 and Halsey abandoned ship in an [[Covenant Escape Pod|escape pod]]. Seraphs appeared to pursue the slow and unarmed pod. Kelly-087 and Fred-104 escaped in commandeered Seraphs and covered the pod. The ONI stealth ship returned to drive off the remaining pursuers and recover Halsey and the Spartans.<ref name="Pack"/>
+==Aftermath==
+John-117 lamented the loss of Solomon-069 and Arthur-079 and noted Thel 'Vadamee's abilities. Halsey agreed agreed improvement was necessary and predicted the war was far from over.<ref name="Pack"/>
-Alarms indicating the impending self destruction sounded, and John and Halsey ran to the nearest shuttle bay. Halsey managed to activate a [[Covenant Escape Pod]], and the two fled the remains of the ship as it detonated, only to be pursued by more Seraphs. Halsey was visibly irritated at the pod's slow speed, and went as far as angrily asking if John could destroy the Seraphs. They were rescued by Fred and Kelly however, who had managed to secure a Seraph of their own, and they returned to the stealth craft that deployed them. Back on the ship, John swore not to lose another Spartan as Halsey agreed that the war was far from over. The ship re-cloaked, and left the system.<ref name="Pack"></ref>
+Thel 'Vadamee's career, defying the Fleet Master's expectations, did not come to a quick end. He was shortly thereafter promoted to [[Shipmaster]] and elected the [[Kaidon]] of his clan.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 89''</ref>
 ==Notes==