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Battle of Chi Ceti: Difference between revisions

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|date=November 27th, 2525  
|date=November 27th, 2525  
|place=In orbit above [[Chi Ceti IV]]
|place=In orbit above [[Chi Ceti IV]]
|result=[[UNSC]] Victory
|result=[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] Victory
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Project MJOLNIR]] retrieved and deployed by [[SPARTAN-II]]s
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Project MJOLNIR]] retrieved and deployed by [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]]  
*Covenant ship destroyed by 3 Spartan-II's
*Covenant ship destroyed by 3 Spartan-II's
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=[[Covenant|The Covenant]]
|side2=[[Covenant Empire|The Covenant]]
|commanders1=
|commanders1=
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]]
*[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]]
Line 20: Line 20:
|commanders2=Unknown
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1=
|forces1=
*1 [[UNSC Frigate]]
*1 [[UNSC frigate|UNSC Frigate]]
**{{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}
**{{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}
*1 [[Longsword]] starfighter Squadron
*1 [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] starfighter Squadron
*1 [[SPARTAN-II]] [[fire team]]
*1 [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-II]] [[fireteam|fire team]]
**[[John-117]]
**[[John-117]]
**[[Kelly-087]]
**[[Kelly-087]]
**[[Sam-034]]
**[[Samuel-034|Sam-034]]
|forces2=*1 Covenant vessel<!--Please do not state the class of warship that was used in this battle without actual citation - do not use guesswork!-->
|forces2=*1 Covenant vessel<!--Please do not state the class of warship that was used in this battle without actual citation - do not use guesswork!-->
**''[[Unrelenting]]''<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 286''</ref>
**''[[Unrelenting]]''<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 286''</ref>
|casual1=*1 Squadron of [[Longsword]] starfighters
|casual1=*1 Squadron of [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] starfighters
*1 [[Spartan II]]
*1 [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan II]]
**[[Sam-034]]
**[[Samuel-034|Sam-034]]
*Several Navy Personnel
*Several Navy Personnel
|casual2=''Unrelenting'' and its crew
|casual2=''Unrelenting'' and its crew
}}
}}
The '''Battle of Chi Ceti''' (later referred to as the '''Chi Ceti Incident''')<ref>"[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]"</ref> was fought between the [[UNSC]] and the [[Covenant]] early in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Though it was a small scale engagement it marked the culmination of the [[SPARTAN-II Program]] with the supersoldiers being united with the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]], and the combat debut of the potent combination.
The '''Battle of Chi Ceti''' (later referred to as the '''Chi Ceti Incident''')<ref>"[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]"</ref> was fought between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] early in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Though it was a small scale engagement it marked the culmination of the [[SPARTAN-II Program]] with the supersoldiers being united with the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]], and the combat debut of the potent combination.


==Background==
==Background==
:{{main|First Battle of Harvest}}
:{{main|First Battle of Harvest}}
The [[Covenant]] attack on Harvest, and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, instigated a UNSC-wide mobilization. The need to deploy Project MJOLNIR took on greater urgency. The SPARTAN-IIs were sent to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]] aboard the frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} to undergo final integration with the armor. Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] accompanied the supersoldiers to oversee the process.
The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] attack on Harvest, and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, instigated a UNSC-wide mobilization. The need to deploy Project MJOLNIR took on greater urgency. The SPARTAN-IIs were sent to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] on [[Chi Ceti IV]] aboard the frigate {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}} to undergo final integration with the armor. Doctor [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Catherine Halsey]] accompanied the supersoldiers to oversee the process.


==Battle==
==Battle==
===Interrupted delivery===
===Interrupted delivery===
The ''Commonwealth'' entered the system at 1750 hours, November 27, [[2525]]. The frigate detected the Covenant vessel ''[[Unrelenting]]'' as an intermittent sensor ghost at 80 million kilometers. This was far beyond the frigate's weapons range and [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]] saw no need for concern. However, Doctor Halsey warned of a possible enemy tactical Slipstream jump and the captain brought the ship to general quarters. The Spartans readied a [[Pelican]] and prepared to disembark.<ref name="FOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 102-119''</ref>
The ''Commonwealth'' entered the system at 1750 hours, November 27, [[2525]]. The frigate detected the Covenant vessel ''[[Unrelenting]]'' as an intermittent sensor ghost at 80 million kilometers. This was far beyond the frigate's weapons range and [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]] saw no need for concern. However, Doctor Halsey warned of a possible enemy tactical Slipstream jump and the captain brought the ship to general quarters. The Spartans readied a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] and prepared to disembark.<ref name="FOR">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 102-119''</ref>


Halsey's warning was prescient. ''Unrelenting'' suddenly appeared {{Convert|3000|km|mi}} from ''Commonwealth'' and opened fire with pulse lasers. The frigate's communications dish was destroyed and its [[AI]] disabled. ''Commonwealth'' returned fire with 180 [[Archer Missile]]s; the vessel evaded half and the remainder failed to penetrate the shields. ''Unrelenting'' destroyed the frigate's navigation dish and caused further damage with lasers. In turn, a heavy [[MAC]] round penetrated the vessel's shields and struck its hull directly. The round crumpled the nose of the ship and caused some internal fires.<ref name="FOR"/>
Halsey's warning was prescient. ''Unrelenting'' suddenly appeared {{Convert|3000|km|mi}} from ''Commonwealth'' and opened fire with pulse lasers. The frigate's communications dish was destroyed and its [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] disabled. ''Commonwealth'' returned fire with 180 [[Archer missile|Archer Missiles]]; the vessel evaded half and the remainder failed to penetrate the shields. ''Unrelenting'' destroyed the frigate's navigation dish and caused further damage with lasers. In turn, a heavy [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] round penetrated the vessel's shields and struck its hull directly. The round crumpled the nose of the ship and caused some internal fires.<ref name="FOR"/>


As ''Commonwealth'' prepared another heavy round, ''Unrelenting'' charged a [[Plasma Torpedo]]. Both fired nearly at once, and struck their targets. The frigate vented atmosphere to prevent the torpedo from causing catastrophic damage but the MAC gun was destroyed. The Covenant ship likewise survived the second MAC round but had a hole punched right through it.<ref name="FOR"/>
As ''Commonwealth'' prepared another heavy round, ''Unrelenting'' charged a [[Plasma turret|Plasma Torpedo]]. Both fired nearly at once, and struck their targets. The frigate vented atmosphere to prevent the torpedo from causing catastrophic damage but the MAC gun was destroyed. The Covenant ship likewise survived the second MAC round but had a hole punched right through it.<ref name="FOR"/>


''Commonwealth'''s remaining option were three [[Shiva-class Nuclear Missile]]s, however the range was too short for those to be used safely. John-117 assessed the enemy's psychology and concluded the Covenant ship was likely to stop and engage any challenge. Wallace ordered Longsword Squadron Delta to occupy the vessel and launched a Shiva. In the meantime the frigate came about and executed a burn away toward [[Chi Ceti IV]]. The nuclear warhead destroyed the Longswords and further damaged ''Unrelenting''. The vessel subsequently disengaged.<ref name="FOR"/>
''Commonwealth'''s remaining option were three [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shiva-class Nuclear Missiles]], however the range was too short for those to be used safely. John-117 assessed the enemy's psychology and concluded the Covenant ship was likely to stop and engage any challenge. Wallace ordered Longsword Squadron Delta to occupy the vessel and launched a Shiva. In the meantime the frigate came about and executed a burn away toward [[Chi Ceti IV]]. The nuclear warhead destroyed the Longswords and further damaged ''Unrelenting''. The vessel subsequently disengaged.<ref name="FOR"/>


''Commonwealth'' made a fly by of the planet. The Spartans and Dr. Halsey disembarked by Pelican and made for the Damascus Testing Facility. The frigate retreated to 20 million kilometers to effect repairs. Pursuant to his orders, Wallace was prepared to use his damaged ship to lure the enemy away from the facility.
''Commonwealth'' made a fly by of the planet. The Spartans and Dr. Halsey disembarked by Pelican and made for the Damascus Testing Facility. The frigate retreated to 20 million kilometers to effect repairs. Pursuant to his orders, Wallace was prepared to use his damaged ship to lure the enemy away from the facility.
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Although ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'' hoped to rendezvous in orbit with the SPARTAN-IIs no later than 1900 hours, the supersoldiers were just finishing the 15 minute elevator ride down top the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] at 1845 hours. Nonetheless, the Spartans were familiarized with and issued the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]] without incident; they prepared to return to the surface with Dr. Halsey and the facilities few remaining personnel for extraction.
Although ''[[UNSC Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]'' hoped to rendezvous in orbit with the SPARTAN-IIs no later than 1900 hours, the supersoldiers were just finishing the 15 minute elevator ride down top the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] at 1845 hours. Nonetheless, the Spartans were familiarized with and issued the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor]] without incident; they prepared to return to the surface with Dr. Halsey and the facilities few remaining personnel for extraction.


The Covenant were not yet out of the fight. The UNSC frigate detected ''[[Unrelenting]]'' moving on an intercept course through normal space. ''Commonwealth'''s Slipspace drive and [[MAC]] were offline. The Covenant vessel was also damaged but still capable of twice the speed of its opponent.
The Covenant were not yet out of the fight. The UNSC frigate detected ''[[Unrelenting]]'' moving on an intercept course through normal space. ''Commonwealth'''s Slipspace drive and [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] were offline. The Covenant vessel was also damaged but still capable of twice the speed of its opponent.


UNSC forces resolved to fight rather than run. The Spartans and company departed in the Pelican for the frigate. En route, [[John-117]] learned the MJOLNIR armor was EVA-capable and proposed a boarding action. The Spartans would fly out from the Pelican with thruster packs and intercept ''Unrelenting'' as the ship moved to engage ''Commonwealth''. Once aboard they would demolish the enemy ship from within using warheads from the dropship's 32 [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]]s. Each Spartan received one warhead.
UNSC forces resolved to fight rather than run. The Spartans and company departed in the Pelican for the frigate. En route, [[John-117]] learned the MJOLNIR armor was EVA-capable and proposed a boarding action. The Spartans would fly out from the Pelican with thruster packs and intercept ''Unrelenting'' as the ship moved to engage ''Commonwealth''. Once aboard they would demolish the enemy ship from within using warheads from the dropship's 32 [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]]s. Each Spartan received one warhead.


''Commonwealth'' fired another salvo of [[Archer Missile]]s to draw attention and fire from the approaching Spartans. The firing of ''Unrelenting'''s pulse lasers briefly lowered a part of the ships shield and allowed John-117 to grab hold. Ultimately only three Spartans, John-117, [[Kelly-087]], and [[Samuel-034]], made it to the hull breach caused by the frigate's MAC fire.
''Commonwealth'' fired another salvo of [[Archer missile|Archer Missiles]] to draw attention and fire from the approaching Spartans. The firing of ''Unrelenting'''s pulse lasers briefly lowered a part of the ships shield and allowed John-117 to grab hold. Ultimately only three Spartans, John-117, [[Kelly-087]], and [[Samuel-034]], made it to the hull breach caused by the frigate's MAC fire.


===Hammerfall===
===Hammerfall===
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*This is the first conflict in which Spartan-IIs wore and used the MJOLNIR armor in battle.
*This is the first conflict in which Spartan-IIs wore and used the MJOLNIR armor in battle.
*In the game ''[[Halo Wars]]'', set in [[2531]], sometimes when a Spartan kills an enemy, they can be heard saying "For Samuel!," a direct reference to Sam's dying aboard the Covenant ship in this battle.
*In the game ''[[Halo Wars]]'', set in [[2531]], sometimes when a Spartan kills an enemy, they can be heard saying "For Samuel!," a direct reference to Sam's dying aboard the Covenant ship in this battle.
*The ''Commonwealth'''s success in inflicting damage in this battle inspired Admiral Cole to have his ships fire everything at once at the [[Covenant Battleship|lone Covenant ship]] in the [[Second Battle of Harvest]] a tactic that resulted in the enemy ship's destruction.
*The ''Commonwealth'''s success in inflicting damage in this battle inspired Admiral Cole to have his ships fire everything at once at the [[covenant battleship|lone Covenant ship]] in the [[Second Battle of Harvest]] a tactic that resulted in the enemy ship's destruction.


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

Revision as of 20:34, May 14, 2011

Template:Ratings Template:Battle The Battle of Chi Ceti (later referred to as the Chi Ceti Incident)[1] was fought between the UNSC and the Covenant early in the Human-Covenant War. Though it was a small scale engagement it marked the culmination of the SPARTAN-II Program with the supersoldiers being united with the MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor, and the combat debut of the potent combination.

Background

Main article: First Battle of Harvest

The Covenant attack on Harvest, and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, instigated a UNSC-wide mobilization. The need to deploy Project MJOLNIR took on greater urgency. The SPARTAN-IIs were sent to the Damascus Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV aboard the frigate UNSC Commonwealth to undergo final integration with the armor. Doctor Catherine Halsey accompanied the supersoldiers to oversee the process.

Battle

Interrupted delivery

The Commonwealth entered the system at 1750 hours, November 27, 2525. The frigate detected the Covenant vessel Unrelenting as an intermittent sensor ghost at 80 million kilometers. This was far beyond the frigate's weapons range and Captain Wallace saw no need for concern. However, Doctor Halsey warned of a possible enemy tactical Slipstream jump and the captain brought the ship to general quarters. The Spartans readied a Pelican and prepared to disembark.[2]

Halsey's warning was prescient. Unrelenting suddenly appeared 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) from Commonwealth and opened fire with pulse lasers. The frigate's communications dish was destroyed and its AI disabled. Commonwealth returned fire with 180 Archer Missiles; the vessel evaded half and the remainder failed to penetrate the shields. Unrelenting destroyed the frigate's navigation dish and caused further damage with lasers. In turn, a heavy MAC round penetrated the vessel's shields and struck its hull directly. The round crumpled the nose of the ship and caused some internal fires.[2]

As Commonwealth prepared another heavy round, Unrelenting charged a Plasma Torpedo. Both fired nearly at once, and struck their targets. The frigate vented atmosphere to prevent the torpedo from causing catastrophic damage but the MAC gun was destroyed. The Covenant ship likewise survived the second MAC round but had a hole punched right through it.[2]

Commonwealth's remaining option were three Shiva-class Nuclear Missiles, however the range was too short for those to be used safely. John-117 assessed the enemy's psychology and concluded the Covenant ship was likely to stop and engage any challenge. Wallace ordered Longsword Squadron Delta to occupy the vessel and launched a Shiva. In the meantime the frigate came about and executed a burn away toward Chi Ceti IV. The nuclear warhead destroyed the Longswords and further damaged Unrelenting. The vessel subsequently disengaged.[2]

Commonwealth made a fly by of the planet. The Spartans and Dr. Halsey disembarked by Pelican and made for the Damascus Testing Facility. The frigate retreated to 20 million kilometers to effect repairs. Pursuant to his orders, Wallace was prepared to use his damaged ship to lure the enemy away from the facility.

The battle resumes

Although Commonwealth hoped to rendezvous in orbit with the SPARTAN-IIs no later than 1900 hours, the supersoldiers were just finishing the 15 minute elevator ride down top the Damascus Testing Facility at 1845 hours. Nonetheless, the Spartans were familiarized with and issued the MJOLNIR Mk. IV Powered Assault Armor without incident; they prepared to return to the surface with Dr. Halsey and the facilities few remaining personnel for extraction.

The Covenant were not yet out of the fight. The UNSC frigate detected Unrelenting moving on an intercept course through normal space. Commonwealth's Slipspace drive and MAC were offline. The Covenant vessel was also damaged but still capable of twice the speed of its opponent.

UNSC forces resolved to fight rather than run. The Spartans and company departed in the Pelican for the frigate. En route, John-117 learned the MJOLNIR armor was EVA-capable and proposed a boarding action. The Spartans would fly out from the Pelican with thruster packs and intercept Unrelenting as the ship moved to engage Commonwealth. Once aboard they would demolish the enemy ship from within using warheads from the dropship's 32 ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missiles. Each Spartan received one warhead.

Commonwealth fired another salvo of Archer Missiles to draw attention and fire from the approaching Spartans. The firing of Unrelenting's pulse lasers briefly lowered a part of the ships shield and allowed John-117 to grab hold. Ultimately only three Spartans, John-117, Kelly-087, and Samuel-034, made it to the hull breach caused by the frigate's MAC fire.

Hammerfall

The Spartan trio passed through pressure doors into still-habitable sections of the ship. They fought two Kig-yar as they homed in on a radiation source. Sam-034's armor was breached by plasma fire and was no longer EVA-capable. The radiation source was from a large chamber; a cylinder with a red pulsing light along its length ran the length of the chamber. The Spartans planted their warheads by the chamber with a three minute countdown. Unable to reenter vacuum, Sam-034 remained behind and guard the warheads; he was the first Spartan to die in combat. John-117 and Kelly-087's escape was delayed as they waited for a pulse laser to fire and create an opening in the shield; they barely escaped Unrelenting's destruction.[3]

Trivia

  • This is the first conflict in which Spartan-IIs wore and used the MJOLNIR armor in battle.
  • In the game Halo Wars, set in 2531, sometimes when a Spartan kills an enemy, they can be heard saying "For Samuel!," a direct reference to Sam's dying aboard the Covenant ship in this battle.
  • The Commonwealth's success in inflicting damage in this battle inspired Admiral Cole to have his ships fire everything at once at the lone Covenant ship in the Second Battle of Harvest a tactic that resulted in the enemy ship's destruction.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole"
  2. ^ a b c d Halo: The Fall of Reach, pages 102-119
  3. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, pages 127-130