New Alexandria (location)

New Alexandria
Overview
Location:	Eposz, Reach
Notable structure(s):	Fleet Command Headquarters; Reach War Memorial (2600s);
Governed by:	New Alexandria City Council

"New Alexandria" redirects here. For other uses of New Alexandria, see New Alexandria (disambiguation).

"Look at this place. Used to be the crown jewel...not anymore."

— Jun-A266^[1]

New Alexandria was a metropolitan city located at Eposz on the human colony world of Reach.^[2]

History

Background

Unlike on Earth, where most cities have grown across the centuries and often feature a mix of architecture from different eras, New Alexandria and Reach's other cities were "planned communities"; the buildings and infrastructure were prefabricated units designed and built into a cohesive urban habitat from the start.^[3] The city's architecture and overall design reflected this; conventional streets were a rarity, and a large part of the city consisted of massive high rises of sleek, modular design. Many of the buildings were lined with multiple levels of walkways, terraces and plazas and connected by sky bridges.^[4]

In the city center, a central MagLev train line connected some of the buildings, terminating at the Nomolos Tower. Closer to the city's cargo port, numerous container transport tracks crisscrossed in the space between the lower levels of the buildings. Three space elevators as part of the Delphi Triple-Strand Network were located on the ocean some distance away from the city. Notably, the city was also the location of the UNSC's Fleet Command Headquarters and the ONI Olympic Tower.^[1] The city was governed by the New Alexandria City Council.^[4]

In 2522, Marcus Hudson was born in New Alexandria.^[5]

Human-Covenant War

Main article: Siege of New Alexandria

Throughout the war with the Covenant, the population of New Alexandria largely lived carefree under the assumption that the attacks occurring in the Outer Colonies would never happen to them.^[5] The city became the target of a Covenant attack during the Fall of Reach in 2552, which resulted in the five-day Siege of New Alexandria. Although several civilian transports successfully evacuated the city thanks to the efforts of Noble Six, the city was ultimately glassed by the Covenant.^[1]^[4]

Post War

At some point after the Human-Covenant War the city was reconstructed to some effort, and a statue to Noble Team was built at Hősök tere as a memorial.^[6]

Geography

Locations

A view of New Alexandria, showing the city's characteristic terraced architecture.

Gameplay

New Alexandria is the setting for two campaign missions in Halo: Reach: Exodus and New Alexandria. Both of which the city is depicted at different times in different weather conditions. New Alexandria is also the setting for two multiplayer maps, Boardwalk and Reflection as well as the Firefight map Beachhead.

Production notes

New Alexandria was apparently known as "Manassas" during the development of Halo: Reach.^[7]^[8] However, New Alexandria and Manassas were turned into separate locations.

Trivia

New Alexandria is most likely named after the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria, founded by and named for Alexander the Great. However, its name may also refer to the US city of Alexandria, Virginia.

Gallery

Concept art

Early concept art of New Alexandria's urban landscapes.
Early concept art of the city's glassing.
Reach-Concept-CCS-Glassing.jpg

Early concept art of CCS-class battlecruisers firing upon New Alexandria.
Concept art of the city under siege during the Fall of Reach.
Concept art of the ruined city at night.
Concept art of New Alexandria's skyscrapers.
Concept art of the city's interconnected buildings.
Concept art of a civilian concourse in New Alexandria.
A sketch of the city's buildings.
Concept art of the city and a hovercraft.

Images

An example of the city's multi-layered design.
The New Alexandria starport, with the city center in the background.
Noble Six arrives to the city under siege.
Four Covenant corvettes holding position over the city.
New Alexandria prior to the Covenant glassing.
A view of New Alexandria from the Concourse.
New Alexandria under siege.
Noble Six's UH-144 Falcon over the damaged city during the Fall of Reach.
Three space elevators near the city.
The Covenant glass New Alexandria.
Noble Team looking at the glassed city.
An overhead view of Caracalla Park, one of the city's public recreational areas.
Skyline of New Alexandria