| Long Night of Solace | |
|---|---|
| File:HReach-CovenantSupercarrier-LNoS-transparent.png | |
| Production information | |
|
Class: |
CSO-class supercarrier |
|
Role: |
Assault flagship |
| Specifications | |
|
Length: |
28,960 metres (95,014 ft)[1] |
|
Engine: |
|
|
Slipspace drive: |
Yes |
| Service information | |
|
Last sighted: |
Fall of Reach |
|
Destroyed: |
August 14, 2552 |
|
Fleet: |
|
|
Known commanders: |
|
|
Affiliation: |
|
Long Night of Solace was a Covenant CSO-class supercarrier and the flagship of the Fleet of Valiant Prudence, which served as an advance invasion force on the planet Reach during the Fall of Reach in summer 2552.[2] It was destroyed by UNSC personnel during Operation: UPPER CUT.[3] Its Shipmaster was Rho 'Barutumee.[1]
Operational history
On or prior to July 23, 2552,[1] Long Night of Solace entered the atmosphere of Reach and was cloaked by a network of stealth pylons and Spires. The supercarrier was then able to covertly land troops on the surface of the planet, starting the advance invasion of Reach. It served as the flagship for the advance force, which was comprised of the supercarrier and at least three corvettes.
On August 12, the UNSC launched an attack on the Covenant base in Viery. After Spire One was destroyed, the Solace de-cloaked and engaged the UNSC. After its position was compromised, Long Night of Solace proceeded to destroy the UNSC Grafton and lay waste to several other UNSC deployments. It then retreated to Covenant-held space in orbit above the planet.[4]
During Operation: UPPER CUT, an operation designed to destroy the ship, UNSC EVA teams boarded the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer, which was on a refueling run with the supercarrier, and transported a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine onto the corvette. During the battle aboard the ship, the detonation controls of the improvised bomb were damaged, forcing SPARTAN Jorge-052 to sacrifice himself by activating the drive manually. The unrestricted slipspace rift teleported the middle half of the supercarrier's hull into slipspace, destroying Long Night of Solace. The remains of Long Night of Solace then crashed into a mountain range on the surface of Reach as a larger Covenant fleet jumped out of slipspace over the planet.[3][5]
On August 27, Vice Admiral Hieronymus Stanforth stated that Long Night of Solace would have been a prime candidate for use in Operation: RED FLAG. However, with the vessel destroyed, the Navy was forced to wait to enact the operation until the Covenant arrived in force days later.[6]
Trivia
In early development phases, the Long Night of Solace was simply known as the "Black Ship".[7]
Gallery
The Long Night of Solace in Reach orbit.
The decloaked Long Night of Solace.
A visual and size comparison between Long Night of Solace and a CAS-class assault carrier.<ref> HBO Forum Analysis
The remains of the Solace on a Reach mountain range.
- Solace Destroyed.jpg
Concept art of the Solace's destruction.
Size comparison between a UNSC frigate and the Solace.
List of appearances
- Halo: Reach (First appearance)
Sources
- ^ a b c d e Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 111
- ^ Halo: Reach Legendary Edition commentary
- ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Long Night of Solace
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
- ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
- ^ Halo Waypoint - Data Drop 5
- ^ Halo: The Great Journey: The Art of Building Worlds, page 68