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Siege of Aethia: Difference between revisions

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{{Battle infobox
|prev=[[Operation: VERITAS]]
|prev=[[Operation: VERITAS]]
|conc=
|conc=[[Operation: TREBUCHET]]
|next=[[Skirmish at Theta Ursae Majoris]]
|next=[[Skirmish at Theta Ursae Majoris]]
|image=
|image=
|conflict=[[Insurrection]]
|conflict=[[Insurrection]]
|date=[[2518]] - [[2521]]
|date=[[2518]] - [[2521]]{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
|place=[[Aethia]], [[Meridian]], [[Hestia system]]
|place=[[Aethia]], [[Meridian]], [[Hestia system]]{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
|result=[[UNSC]] victory
|result=[[UNSC]] victory{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
*Insurgent forces defeated on Meridian
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
|side1=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[Meridian Air Force]]{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
*[[Meridian Air Force]]
|side2=[[Sundered Legion]]{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
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The '''Siege of Aethia''', formally known by the UNSC as '''Operation: OPEN GRAVE''', was an engagement of the [[Insurrection]] that took place on the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Meridian]] for three years between [[2518]] and [[2521]].<ref name="evacuation intel">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Evacuation]]'' - [[Mission Intel]]</ref> After the [[Sundered Legion]] launched a campaign of antagonistic political ideologies throughout Meridian in [[2495]] that fueled several conflicts on the world, the [[United Nations Space Command]] intervened to prevent colonial destabilization.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/meridian '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Meridian'']</ref>
The '''Siege of Aethia''', formally known by the UNSC as '''Operation: OPEN GRAVE''', was a prolonged engagement conducted by joint [[United Nations Space Command]]-[[Meridian Air Force]] forces against the [[insurrectionist]]s of the [[Sundered Legion]]. The siege took place between [[2518]] and [[2521]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Adjunct|HBatB|Adjunct - [[Free Frontier Education: The Sundered Legion]]}}


After five years of near-constant conflict, the Sundered Legion was defeated by the UNSC at the Siege of Aethia. While rank and file members of the Sundered Legion were offered amnesty by the UNSC, the movement's leaders would stand trial in the courts of the [[Unified Earth Government]].{{Ref/Reuse|evacuation intel}}
==Prelude==
The Siege of Aethia's origins lie in the decades of fighting between UNSC and [[Colonial Military Authority]] forces against the [[Sundered Legion]], which emerged in [[2495]] - only a few years after the brutal conclusion of the [[Far Isle rebellion|rebellion]] on [[Far Isle]]. Between 2495 and [[2499]], the Sundered Legion (in cooperation with the [[Secessionist Union]]) maintained consistent brushfire conflicts across Meridian, escalating their actions once the CMA left the colony in 2499 due to the fallout of the [[Operation: VERITAS|VERITAS scandal]]. The departure of the CMA allowed the Sundered Legion to launch an attack on the city of [[Bretagne]], paving the way for further uprisings in the regions of [[Aagen]] and [[Sabudia]], cementing the Legion's foothold on the planet.{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
 
To counter the growing insurrectionist threat, the [[Unified Earth Government]] began to train up and provise for a local national military for the Meridian government, headed by the [[Prospector Party]] and its leader [[Charles Zdenek]]. With the CMA still undergoing its downfall and assimilation into the UNSC, redeploying the military directly was not an option; instead, ex-CMA [[pilot]]s were used to staff the [[Meridian Air Force]], and the colonial military as a whole was provided with top-tier equipment to continue the war against the Sundered Legion. This was taken as a provocation by the Legion, who in turn continued to stoke tensions amid the backdrop of the wider ongoing colonial insurrection throughout [[Human colonies|the colonies]]. Despite the moon's growing economy, the vast investment of UEG resources was seen by some as a way of ensuring stability and control over a strategic world - one with vital industry connections such as the manufacture of [[Chalybs Defense Solutions]]' [[M808 Scorpion]] tanks.{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
 
==The siege==
In [[2516]], tensions on Meridian boiled over and the Sundered Legion began attacks across the moon - even managing to steal a handful of Scorpion tanks for themselves. This action finally prompted the UNSC to respond with force in a mission dubbed '''Operation: OPEN GRAVE'''. In [[2518]], a joint force of the UNSC and the Meridian Air Force began a strike into the country of [[Aethia]] with the goal of swiftly destroying the organisation. The battle began with air strikes conducted by the Meridian Air Force, but the rebel forces held out against initial expectations. As such, what was initially intended to be a swift engagement turned into a brutal and bloody multi-year conflict across Aethia. A larger-scale UNSC intervention began in [[2521]] thanks to additional resources from the ongoing [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], resulting in the Sundered Legion's total defeat.{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}
 
==Aftermath==
The Siege of Aethia was a pivotal event for Meridian; the defeat of the Sundered Legion on the world proved to be the definitive end of any organised attempts at insurrection on Meridian, something which would ensure the world's stability as a strategic hub well into the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Despite this, some rebel holdouts did remain, though these were never able to achieve the same numbers as the Legion at its height; this is due to the generous terms offered by the UEG for rank-and-file members of the Legion. While the military leadership of the Sundered Legion were tried in UEG courts, all ground-level members of the organisation were offered amnesty.{{Ref/Reuse|Adjunct}}{{Ref/Game|Id=evacuation intel|H5G|Mission Intel|Detail=The History of Meridian 5/6}}
 
The buildup of Meridian's colonial military ultimately ensured that the planet was able to hold out for three years against a [[Battle of Meridian|brutal siege]] conducted by the [[Covenant]] later in the Human-Covenant War.{{Ref/Novel|HBatB|Chapter=11}}{{Ref/Novel|HBatB|Chapter=12}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==

Revision as of 08:33, December 16, 2024

Previous:

Operation: VERITAS

Concurrent:

Operation: TREBUCHET

Next:

Skirmish at Theta Ursae Majoris

Siege of Aethia

Conflict:

Insurrection

Date:

2518 - 2521[1]

Location:

Aethia, Meridian, Hestia system[1]

Outcome:

UNSC victory[1]

Details
Belligerents

Sundered Legion[1]

 

The Siege of Aethia, formally known by the UNSC as Operation: OPEN GRAVE, was a prolonged engagement conducted by joint United Nations Space Command-Meridian Air Force forces against the insurrectionists of the Sundered Legion. The siege took place between 2518 and 2521.[1]

Prelude

The Siege of Aethia's origins lie in the decades of fighting between UNSC and Colonial Military Authority forces against the Sundered Legion, which emerged in 2495 - only a few years after the brutal conclusion of the rebellion on Far Isle. Between 2495 and 2499, the Sundered Legion (in cooperation with the Secessionist Union) maintained consistent brushfire conflicts across Meridian, escalating their actions once the CMA left the colony in 2499 due to the fallout of the VERITAS scandal. The departure of the CMA allowed the Sundered Legion to launch an attack on the city of Bretagne, paving the way for further uprisings in the regions of Aagen and Sabudia, cementing the Legion's foothold on the planet.[1]

To counter the growing insurrectionist threat, the Unified Earth Government began to train up and provise for a local national military for the Meridian government, headed by the Prospector Party and its leader Charles Zdenek. With the CMA still undergoing its downfall and assimilation into the UNSC, redeploying the military directly was not an option; instead, ex-CMA pilots were used to staff the Meridian Air Force, and the colonial military as a whole was provided with top-tier equipment to continue the war against the Sundered Legion. This was taken as a provocation by the Legion, who in turn continued to stoke tensions amid the backdrop of the wider ongoing colonial insurrection throughout the colonies. Despite the moon's growing economy, the vast investment of UEG resources was seen by some as a way of ensuring stability and control over a strategic world - one with vital industry connections such as the manufacture of Chalybs Defense Solutions' M808 Scorpion tanks.[1]

The siege

In 2516, tensions on Meridian boiled over and the Sundered Legion began attacks across the moon - even managing to steal a handful of Scorpion tanks for themselves. This action finally prompted the UNSC to respond with force in a mission dubbed Operation: OPEN GRAVE. In 2518, a joint force of the UNSC and the Meridian Air Force began a strike into the country of Aethia with the goal of swiftly destroying the organisation. The battle began with air strikes conducted by the Meridian Air Force, but the rebel forces held out against initial expectations. As such, what was initially intended to be a swift engagement turned into a brutal and bloody multi-year conflict across Aethia. A larger-scale UNSC intervention began in 2521 thanks to additional resources from the ongoing Operation: TREBUCHET, resulting in the Sundered Legion's total defeat.[1]

Aftermath

The Siege of Aethia was a pivotal event for Meridian; the defeat of the Sundered Legion on the world proved to be the definitive end of any organised attempts at insurrection on Meridian, something which would ensure the world's stability as a strategic hub well into the Human-Covenant War. Despite this, some rebel holdouts did remain, though these were never able to achieve the same numbers as the Legion at its height; this is due to the generous terms offered by the UEG for rank-and-file members of the Legion. While the military leadership of the Sundered Legion were tried in UEG courts, all ground-level members of the organisation were offered amnesty.[1][2]

The buildup of Meridian's colonial military ultimately ensured that the planet was able to hold out for three years against a brutal siege conducted by the Covenant later in the Human-Covenant War.[3][4]

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Halo: Battle Born, Adjunct - Free Frontier Education: The Sundered Legion
  2. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, Mission Intel: The History of Meridian 5/6
  3. ^ Halo: Battle Born, chapter 11
  4. ^ Halo: Battle Born, chapter 12

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