User:Imperial Misanthrope/Third Battle of Sanghelios

The Third Battle of Sanghelios was an extremely costly and desperate naval and planetary engagement between the ISE Vanguard Fleet, Fleet of the Arbiter’s Valour, and the Fleet of Benign Intent, against the Marionette Fleet of Truth and Judgment. The planetary battle also included the 54th ODST Regiment. The Battle took place in 2596CE during the 1st Age of Realization, just 4 years after the Second Battle of Sanghelios. The Battle was considered one of the major engagements of the Accidental War.

Battle Specifications


Date: 6th July, 2596CE

Area: Sanghelios, Urs System

Forces
ISE-Sangheili, Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, and the 54th ODST Regiment vs. Marionette Fleet of Truth and Judgment, and ground forces.


 * Sangheili
 * Vanguard Fleet
 * Fleet of the Arbiter’s Valour
 * Fleet of Benign Intent (Slipped in during the battle)
 * 130 Ground-to-Space Plasma Cannons


 * Human
 * 54th ODST Regiment


 * Marionette
 * Fleet of Truth and Judgment

Commanders
The Arbitrator, Imperial Admiral V’thi Raman

Field Captain Arthur Mont

Mind Elophia Riz

Outcome
Near Destruction of the Sanghelios Vanguard Fleet. Eventual Marionette tactical retreat.

Blow to the Sangheili Honour, makes the next seven years of war even more bloody

The Battle
The Battle began as strangely as it had for Earth. The Vanguard Fleet of Sanghelios is reported to have been on it routine patrol, its Plasma defence grid fashioned from the human concept, and adapted to Sangheili liking, was positioned over the on Sanghelios. Not as numerous as those over Earth, however the Vanguard Fleet was more numerous than the Earth Home Fleet.

At an unspecified time to the UNSC, a Marionette Fleet Slipped in over Sanghelios, ships of the Fleet appearing in and between the Vanguard Fleet without warning. Taken by surprise, the Vanguard Fleet hurried to form up around the invading Marionette vessels. The Marionette Fleet on the other hand, had already Slipped directly into formation, and had proceeded to land their armies onto Sanghelios, surrounding the Capital City, and taking out several of the Ground-to-Space Cannons.

Terrestrial defenders engaged Marionette armies in and around the city, Scarab Tanks waged titanic duels against the Marionette insect walkers, as Sangheili, Unggoy and Mgalekgolo lead concentrated efforts on exposed Marionette attackers. The terrain worked beautifully to the defenders advantage, Sanghelios being primarily a flat and desert-like planet, the Marionettes had no choice but to advance in plain sight, making them easy targets for Sangheili and human ODST snipers. The Walkers battle went somewhat differently. The Scarab tanks were not only outnumbered, but the Marionettes seemed to have them tactically outmaneuvered.

In space, the battle was becoming dire, the Vanguard Fleet was having vast trouble getting into formation, where as the Marionette Fleet had already been able to infiltrate and disable many of the surprised vessels.

Approximately 30 minutes into the battle, the Arbitrator’s personal Fleet, the Fleet of Benign Intent slipped in over Sanghelios. Utilizing a full frontal assault, the newly arrived Fleet unleashed a barrage of fire upon the undefended rear of the Marionette Fleet, causing it to momentarily break. Seizing the opportunity, the Vanguard Fleet formed a perimetre around the Marionette Fleet and began its own barrage, closing in upon the reforming enemy Fleet.

Down on the Planet, around 3 hours into battle, the newly arrived Fleet had been thus far unable to land any troops until two Assault Carriers, one carrying the Arbitrator himself, managed to penetrate passed the Marionette formation and encircle the Capital City.

Deploying surges of Phantoms, the Arbitrator and survivors of the High Council decided that the best option would be to extract as many ground forces as possible, and obliterate the entire area.

With a heavy heart, the Arbitrator gave the order, and within a minute of the Phantoms returning, the Capital City, and all of its surrounding attackers were crushed under the power of the two Assault Carrier’s Gravity Lifts. It was about this time that the Marionettes sent a transmission to the Imperial Admiral V’thi ‘Raman’s flagship:


 * You fight with fervor, and act with haste. You destroy your own city merely to rid yourself of us. You’re more like the Forerunner than like the Speakers

Moments later, the Marionette Fleet, suffering only 2-3 confirmed destroyed ships escaped into Slipspace, the Sangheili forces too battered to follow.

Suffering shattering losses to the Vanguard Fleet, and the loss of about 40% of the Capital City defenders, this was a bitter loss for the Sangheili, and the ODST’s. Vengeance would be sworn on this day.