United Nations Space Command: Difference between revisions

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On October 7, a scout ship, ''Argo'', was sent to investigate the cessation of communications between Harvest and the rest of the UNSC. The scout ship was also lost. It discovered that everything on the planet had been completely incinerated, and the surface had been melted down to glass. In orbit around the remains of the colony world was a single alien ship which proceeded to attack the battle group, destroying all the ships except one. Intercepted communications identify the enemy as [[The Covenant]], a caste-driven, theological organization made up of several alien species. The message ''"Your destruction is the will of the gods... and we are their instrument"'' was broadcast in perfect English.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 96-98</ref>.  
On October 7, a scout ship, ''Argo'', was sent to investigate the cessation of communications between Harvest and the rest of the UNSC. The scout ship was also lost. It discovered that everything on the planet had been completely incinerated, and the surface had been melted down to glass. In orbit around the remains of the colony world was a single alien ship which proceeded to attack the battle group, destroying all the ships except one. Intercepted communications identify the enemy as [[The Covenant]], a caste-driven, theological organization made up of several alien species. The message ''"Your destruction is the will of the gods... and we are their instrument"'' was broadcast in perfect English.<ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], page 96-98</ref>.  


Since the later [[Battle of Harvest]] in [[2531]], which retook the planet in a symbolic "victory" for humanity, the humans' grip on their territories declined significantly in the course of their struggle. Of the more than 800 colony worlds, the Covenant has managed to capture and glass nearly every, if not all [[Outer Colonies|Outer Colonies]] and a significant number of the [[Inner Colonies]]. The UNSC Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Militias, outnumbered and outgunned, have managed to slow down the Covenants inexorably progress through former human space, but the situation is drastic. In desperation, [[HIGHCOM]] orders a high-risk Op, sending the [[Spartan-II]] super soldiers, the best soldiers ever fielded by humanity, to insert into Covenant space, capture a high-ranking [[Prophet]], and return to UNSC space in an attempt to ransom for a truce. Before the operation begins, the Covenant find and destroy the planet that would have served as its launching pad, [[Reach]], killing most of the Spartans and a large portion of the UNSCDF.
Since the later [[Battle of Harvest]] in [[2531]] where a huge human fleet led by Admiral Cole barely won against a smaller covenant fleet in a symbolic "victory" for humanity, the humans' grip on their territories declined significantly in the course of their struggle. Of the more than 800 colony worlds, the Covenant has managed to capture and glass nearly every, if not all [[Outer Colonies|Outer Colonies]] and a significant number of the [[Inner Colonies]]. The UNSC Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Militias, outnumbered and outgunned, have managed to slow down the Covenants inexorably progress through former human space, but the situation is drastic. In desperation, [[HIGHCOM]] orders a high-risk Op, sending the [[Spartan-II]] super soldiers, the best soldiers ever fielded by humanity, to insert into Covenant space, capture a high-ranking [[Prophet]], and return to UNSC space in an attempt to ransom for a truce. Before the operation begins, the Covenant find and destroy the planet that would have served as its launching pad, [[Reach]], killing most of the Spartans and a large portion of the UNSCDF.


By October of 2552, the Covenant have haphazardly discovered the position of the human homeworld, [[Earth]], and send a preliminary task force there, believing it to be the location of the [[Installation 00|Ark]], an ancient [[Forerunner]] relic. They encountered staunch resistance, and are initially fended off. Further complications arise from the political and religious crisis that emerges in the wake of a UNSC operation to assassinate a [[Prophet of Regret|Prophet]], and the secession of the [[Elite]]s from the hegemony, leading to the [[Great Schism|Covenant Civil War]], further throwing the Covenant into chaos. nevertheless, by November what is left of the [[Covenant Loyalists]] have subjugated large parts of [[Earth]], devastating much of the planet. Only its retreat through a Forerunner portal in Africa, and the arrival of the Elites' Fleet, stop the utter destruction of the UNSC and Earth itself.
By October of 2552, the Covenant have haphazardly discovered the position of the human homeworld, [[Earth]], and send a preliminary task force there, believing it to be the location of the [[Installation 00|Ark]], an ancient [[Forerunner]] relic. They encountered staunch resistance, and are initially fended off. Further complications arise from the political and religious crisis that emerges in the wake of a UNSC operation to assassinate a [[Prophet of Regret|Prophet]], and the secession of the [[Elite]]s from the hegemony, leading to the [[Great Schism|Covenant Civil War]], further throwing the Covenant into chaos. nevertheless, by November what is left of the [[Covenant Loyalists]] have subjugated large parts of [[Earth]], devastating much of the planet. Only its retreat through a Forerunner portal in Africa, and the arrival of the Elites' Fleet, stop the utter destruction of the UNSC and Earth itself.
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