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The Battle of Fumirole[3][4] was fought between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant in April 2552 on Fumirole.[5]
Prelude
As early as December 2551, UNSC intelligence was aware of Covenant activity near the Volanus system. As such, this led naval planners to believe that the hegemony was planning to attack the colony world of Fumirole relatively soon. With the conclusion of Operation: OFFSET EYE and the successful defense of Concord, NOBLE Team were recalled from Concord to Fumirole to assist in the planet's defence. However, only Carter-A259, Catherine-B320, Jun-A266, Thom-A293 and Jorge-052 were called upon, with Rosenda-A344 instead reassigned to other clandestine operations.[6][7] Rosenda's slot on NOBLE team as Noble 4 was instead filled by Emile-A239.[5]
The battle
During the Covenant invasion of Fumirole, the Ket-pattern battlecruiser Sanctity of Purification[8] was holding position over the colony's capital city.[9] Lieutenant Commander Catherine-B320 of Noble Team came up with an operation to assault and destroy the ship with a FURY model Medium Fusion Destructive Device.[1] Supported by the rest of Noble Team, UNSC Army infantry and air support by UH-144 Falcons, she undertook the task of delivering the nuclear device into the ship herself. However, she was wounded by a Is'belox-pattern Banshee's fuel rod cannon blast while on her way to the cruiser.[5] The blast also severely damaged her right arm, which was later replaced by a robotic prosthetic.
Thom-A293 was the first to arrive to her position. Seeing as there would be no time to wait for backup, he picked up the nuke and used a jetpack to fly into the cruiser through its gravity lift. Just before the nuke's countdown ran out, Thom managed to toss it into a hangar bay where numerous Unggoy were massing for deployment. Mere seconds later, the MFDD went off, destroying the cruiser and killing Thom.[5][10]
Despite the successful destruction of the battlecruiser, the battle was ultimately a loss for humanity - ending with Fumirole being glassed by the Covenant.[2]
Aftermath
Noble Team was successful in destroying its target.[5] However, Catherine-B320 and Carter-A259 both carried extraordinary guilt over Thom-A293's death, blaming themselves for the incident, despite the SPARTAN's own decision of self-sacrifice.[1][9] Thom would later be replaced by SPARTAN-B312.
The battle was discussed as part of ONI Section Two's File: CHELAN 201903012.[8]
Gallery
Concept art
Concept art of the battle.
Concept art of the battle.
Concept art of the battle visible from orbit.
One of a number of storyboards for Deliver Hope, showcasing a radically different battle.
Screenshots
The main objective.
Kat running with a MFDD.
Kat and the UNSC Army charge against the Covenant forces.
Thom-A293 flies into the battlecruiser.
Covenant forces in the cruiser's hangar.
Another look inside the cruiser.
The Ket-pattern battlecruiser being destroyed by the MFDD.
The battle rages across Fumirole's surface.
List of appearances
- Remember Reach
- Deliver Hope (First appearance)
- Halo: Winter Contention (Indirect mention)
Sources
- ^ a b c Bungie.net, Halo: Reach - Intel - Kat-B320 Profile (Retrieved on Oct 13, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 50
- ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 105
- ^ Halo Infinite, Thom-A293 Kit description
- ^ a b c d e Halo: Reach marketing, Remember Reach campaign, Deliver Hope
- ^ Halo: Winter Contention
- ^ Halo Infinite, Rosenda-A344 Kit description: "A vital part of Noble Team's earliest roster, Rosenda-A344 served on many operations, including DIRE MORNING, FANCY DRESS, and OFFSET EYE, before reassignment to more clandestine directives."
- ^ a b Halo: The Master Chief Collection marketing, ONI Archive campaign, Noble Endeavours
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Kat-B320 (Retrieved on Jul 28, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "CHARACTER DATABASE - THOM-A293
The former Noble Six, who sacrificed himself to destroy the Covenant battlecruiser Sanctity of Purification in April 2552. For his youthful exuberance and humor, we honor him as the stalwart heart of Noble Team. #FictionFriday" (Retrieved on Feb 11, 2023) [archive]