7th Shock Troops Battalion | |
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Affiliation: |
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Branch: |
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Type: |
Shock infantry battalion |
Role: |
Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver |
Size: |
800 - 1,000 Marines |
Engagements: |
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Notable commanders: |
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The 7th Shock Troops Battalion is a formation of the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers that served during the closing stages of the Human-Covenant War.[1] It is subordinate to the 105th Shock Troops Division.[2]
History
Reach
The 7th Battalion served during the Fall of Reach in summer 2552. By August 12, the battalion operated as part of a large joint task force that countered Covenant deployments in the Viery Territory, where it served in the northern region.[2][3] Given the devastation caused during the invasion, the 7th Battalion likely sustained heavy losses of personnel and matériel.
Mombasa
On October 20, 2552, members of the 7th Battalion assigned to the frigate Template:UNSCship were deployed to the Kenyan city of Mombasa in an attempt to board the Solemn Penance. A D77-TC Pelican carrying part of this strike team was shot down by a Scarab assault platform in the city's older district, forcing the surviving occupants to take cover in the nearby Hotel Zanzibar. They were soon rescued by SPARTAN John-117 and assisted in the Spartan's destruction of the Scarab.[4][5][6]
Installation 05
On November 2, after In Amber Clad arrived at Halo Installation 05 in pursuit of Regret's flagship, members of First Platoon of an unidentified company were deployed to the surface of the installation to capture the Prophet. After securing a landing zone on a remote island, some of the remaining members of First Platoon escorted John-117 as the Spartan moved toward the Prophet's location. Though the Spartan successfully assassinated the Prophet of Regret, the ODSTs were killed en route to the target.
Over the next two days, most of In Amber Clad's 7th Battalion contingent were killed by either the Covenant or the Flood. However, it is possible that some escaped back to Earth with the assistance of their newfound Sangheili allies, as did Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson.[7]
Installation 00
During the Battle of Installation 00, troopers of the 7th Battalion were deployed to the surface of the Ark to destroy an array of Covenant anti-aircraft artillery platforms that were overlooking a desert sea. The destruction of these emplacements allowed the Forward Unto Dawn to land near the cartographer building.[8]
During the Battle of the Citadel - the final battle of the war - the 7th Battalion breached the Covenant's armor and artillery defenses. They assisted Spartan John-117 and Sergeant Major Johnson in shutting down the shield generator stations protecting the Citadel; meanwhile, the Sangheili assault carrier Shadow of Intent provided air cover and distracted enemy forces from the joint human-Sangheili offensive by firing on the shield with its plasma torpedoes. After their primary objective was complete, the allied forces entered the citadel canyon, defeating the remaining hostiles (including a pair of Type-47 Scarabs). This allowed the Spartan and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam to push inside and kill the Prophet of Truth, destroying the Covenant .[9]
Trivia
- The name of the battalion is an obvious reference to the number seven.
- The 7th Battalion's unit patch was intended to be used on the battle dress of the ODSTs on In Amber Clad, though this was not implemented in-game.[1] A faded version appears on the ODST NPC model in Halo 3.
Gallery
- 7th BN patch.png
The unit patch of the 7th Battalion on an ODST's shoulder pauldron
- 7thHelljumpers.jpg
ODSTs of the 7th Battalion during the Battle of Installation 00
List of appearances
- Halo 2 (First appearance)
- Halo 3
- Halo: Reach (Mentioned only)
Sources
- ^ a b Art of Halo, page 159
- ^ a b Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
- ^ Viery Territory force deployments
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
- ^ Halo 2, Another Day at the Beach
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis
- ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Great Journey
- ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
- ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Covenant