Operation: PROMETHEUS
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Summary
DATE: July 27, 2537 - August 2, 2537
LOCATION: Unknown system, above the asteroid K7-49.
Involved: UNSC, Spartan-III's, and Covenant forces.
Synopsis: This battle was a suicide mission ordered by the ONI Brass, however, it was not in vain, because it was necessary for the survival of the UNSC. It took place on K7-49, a volcanic asteroid which also served as a Covenant shipyard. The mission was to destroy its plasma reactors to disable the shipyard, halting Covenant assaults. The success of the mission would save countless lives.
Outcome: Alpha Company succeeds, but at a great cost. All but two of the Spartan-III's died in the battle.
Military Forces
UNSC
300 Spartans-III from Alpha Company
Covenant
Force strength unknown. Number above 1000 ground troops and 10 Covenant cruisers most being Frigates and Fighters.
Timeline
July 27, 2537:
- 300 Spartan-IIIs of Alpha Company landed on K7-49 at 0700.
July 28, 2537:
- The Spartan-III's manage to disable 7 of the reactors on the surface.
- The Covenant responds with the first heavy wave of troops. The first wave contains legions of Jackals.
July 31, 2537:
- The Spartan-III's have disabled 20 of the 30 reactors.
August 2, 2537:
- 27 of the 30 reactors are disabled. The Spartan-IIIs have fulfilled their mission.
- A third heavy wave of Covenant troops arrive, containing elites and hunters.
- The Spartan-III's are cut off from their Calypso-class Exfiltration Craft. The remaining Spartans are eventually overrun and killed.
- Two of 300 Spartans make it to the Craft.
Losses
All Spartan-III's from Alpha Company are killed. An unknown number of Covenant troops and vessels are destroyed. [1]
Historical Significance
This is most likely an allusion to the Battle of Thermopylae. There were 300 Spartans at both battles, both were a suicide mission, both were fought in order to slow the enemy down enough for their sides to prepare and survive longer, and in both all the Spartans died.
Trivia
- According to Ghosts of Onyx, Hunters were first seen by humans during this operation, although all of the participating Spartan-IIIs were killed. However, Hunters are prominently featured in Halo Wars, which takes place in 2531, six years prior.
Links
References
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pages 81-88
