User:DirgeOfCerberus111/Sandbox

This where I draft upcoming articles.

Future Ideas in the Works

 * Toma(?) 'Sefum/Sol 'Sagon - A honest minded Sangheili Minor during the ending years of the war, atleast in time for Reach (bad day). Has a huge crisis of faith and somewhat warily joins Mdama's remnant for a sense of purpose, regrets it, and then buggers off to do something (maybe brief tour of information brooking? Maybe then a librarian and even archaeologist?)
 * Badab - Unggoy Ultra turned rebel leader. Lead the Thirteenth Unggoy Disobedience until his demise.
 * Eivard 'Yandamee - Elderly but beloved Fleet Master during the early years of the war. Veteran of many battles and wars; Unggoy Rebellion, Jiralhanae War of Conversion, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Unggoy Disobedience, and Heresy of Fell Glory. When the Prophets call for the extermination of the humans and NOT conversion to their faith, he becomes suspicious of their motives. Gets executed for showing mercy to humans. Death results in the rebellion on his fleet. Heresy of False Commitment.
 * GENOME Program - Plan to enhance regular soldiers by using gene therapy. Viral vectors replace parts of their genome with superior genes to create superior soldiers. It won't be anything near the Spartan programs but probably will make some badass ODSTs or something. Still deciding how much of an affect it will have, noticeable obviously but not much.
 * Ryan-A101- Former-Spartan-III Headhunter. Did a bunch of things and survived the war but not before losing his partner. Almost participated in Operation REAPER. Hated the Covenant with a passion and refused to ally with the Sangheili after the war, calling it a betrayal. Going renegade he formed his own militia called Ryan's Warhawks to continue the war against the Covenant species. Attacks a summit to kill Ragan 'Tagrah and disrupt the peace-talks, but is killed by Spartans of Firteam Raptor defending the summit.
 * Operation SUNSET- A stay-behind op concocted by ONI in the months between the Fall of Reach and the Battle of Earth. After the loss of RED FLAG, ONI decided on a new op. REAPER Team would infiltrate enemy territory and as the Psi Contingency is declared, they deploy the UNSC's remaining stockpile of NOVA Bombs and bombard major covenant worlds, hopefully forcing them to retreat. The Omega Contingency is that should the war be lost the guerilla group would sow despair and terror in atrocious ways, including the use of vile terror tactics and various NBC weapons to exact a measure of vengeance and cause as much suffering as possible. REAPER Team composing of various ruthless, psychotic, or unstable soldiers. Narrowly aborted.
 * Ryan's Warhawks- A pro-human anti-alien militia formed by renegade Spartan-III Ryan-A101. Composed of the former crew of the Charon-class UNSC Saber at Ready 700 former soldiers and civilian recruits who refused to accept the UNSC's alliance with the Sangheili and wanted to strike back at the Covenant. Renamed ship the Valkyrie.
 * Viral 'Tramamee - A rogue Fleet Master who during the Great Schism attempt to lead his fleet to attack human worlds. Disfigured by human chemical weapons deployed on Chi-Rho. Visits a military base and procures a deadly biological weapon he intends to use on human worlds. Ragan 'Tagrah refused to allow him continue with this and battles his forces and eventually kills him. Description is pale and thin, white armor.
 * Gun 'Durak - Mercenary Sangheili. Has a thing for particular human weapons.
 *  Inka 'Ikashardamee - Basic name is Inka 'Shardam. Once the personal aid to the Prophet of Piety, grew up in staunch religious zealotry. A religious fanatic who leads a violent and destructive doomsday cult of those who still worship the Forerunners but regard the San 'Shyuum as false prophets, the humans as unholy creatures, and Thel 'Vadam as the arch-heretic. Description is very tall, 8'5 but wiry.
 * Anico Szántó - Member of the Colonial Militia on Reach during the Fall. Closest thing to a real professional leader, responsible maintaining the militia as a cohesive force by organizing it and stealing several shipments of weapons and procuring others when the UNSC wouldn't provide. During the Fall of Reach she gathered 500 militiamen from surround areas and launches an effective but brief guerrilla campaign and then last stand. Survives and leads the remaining 200 men to New Alexandria.
 * Prophetess of Severity - Minister of Conservation and member of the High Council. Description: Beautiful, serene, elegant, subtle, and crafty. Called Severity but actually was known to be occasionally fairly lenient, depending on the situation, case-in-point being Oruna. Survives the Great Schism by not being on High Charity. On a different world. Escapes on private ship. Rescues other Prophets, 52. Flees Brutes and Sangheili to escape the war, requests UNSC for asylum in exchange for covenant secrets. Moved to the colony Elysium IX, guarded by Fireteam Mecca. Actually isn't evil and works to keep the Covenant at peace.
 * Oruna 'Soramee - Disgraced Ultra turned Honor Guard. Personal bodyguard of the Prophetess of Severity. Was originally a Ultra before being disgraced for retreating in battle and was stripped of his rank then imprison but did not commit suicide. Rather than be shamefully be executed, Severity made him her personal bodyguard. Eternally grateful and undyingly loyal. Has a very close connection to Severity.
 * Khul 'Warhakee - Field Master during the Trace Campaign. Black-skinned from being from a desert clan. Tough and mean, pretty violent for a commander. Artillery collapsed a building on him during a attack and he's killed when his own ship begins to glass the area.

Megalonus
"I will make this simple. I don't care much how you complete your tasks, only that you do. However I will not leave you totally in the dark, I will very clearly state my specifications. However, still fail me and I will make certain that you will never do so again."

- Special Operations Commander Megalonus to his subordinates.

Megalonus was a Chieftan of the Covenant Army and commander of the Covenant Special Operations. He served throughout the Human-Covenant in numerous battles, and eventually was elevated to the rank of Chieftain and after the, commanding the elite Covenant Special Operations.

Human-Covenant War

 * Promoted to Stalker, does well at it.
 * Implements terror tactics
 * Stole a Pelican and used to launch surprise attack.
 * Challenges Chieftain (Terrebus) to a duel, wins.

Fall of Reach

 * Siege of Alexandria
 * Called by the Prophet of Truth for "special assignment"

Changing of the Guard

 * Truth Promotes him to Special Operations Commander to replace Rtas 'Vadum.
 * Recruits only patient, calm, and deadly warriors. No glory hogs, probably psychopaths, including released prisoners.
 * Makes changes to Special Operations.
 * Terror tactics
 * Miscommunication, false signals.
 * Removes Unggoy from CSOP, uses Kig-Yar to a lesser degree.

Great Schism

 * Combats Sangheili on multiple fronts
 * Schemes to initiate a experimentation program on captured Sangheili to create biological weapons.

Post War

 * Holds on to forces. Becomes Warlord or Commander to another faction? Terror campaign; clandestine operations, bombings, and assassinations against sangheili, humans, other remnant factions.
 * Homebase <--?

Personality and Traits
Megalonus was very unusual for a Jiralhanae. Unlike many of this kind, he was patient, calm, cold, and ruthless. He is the collimation of brutal strength and precision gifted with a killing mind. Megalonus was a sociopath, often showed little emotions and complete lack of moral conscience. Interestingly he didn't seem to desire power or glory much, and simply accepted his new post as Special Oprations Commander.

A highly effective commander, he commanded his subordinates through fear and discipline. Megalonus was also a master of terror tactics, possessing a understanding of the inner workings of minds, specifically how to inspire fear.

Fireteam Matchlock
Fireteam Matchlock was a team of five SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity under the command of Spartan Alicia Valenza. One of the less experienced fireteams aboard the Infinity, they were originally formed as a light reconnaissance and scouting unit. Fireteam Matchlock served on several missions against the Insurrection before participating in the.

On Feburary 18th, 2559 Matchlock was ordered to track down the Covenant commander Ghota 'Maharm but instead were caught in a brutal ambush planned by 'Maharm and all members of Matchlock were killed in the attack.

Quarry Ambush
Returning from a extended recon-observation mission, on Feburary 18th 2559, Fireteam Matchlock were briefed by Commander Palmer on their next mission. The Infinity had intercepted a Covenant transmission mentioning of a hidden base in which they were moving troops through to attack UNSC positions from multiple sides, more still was that this base was under the command of the brutal Covenant commander, Ghota 'Maharm, who was responsible for heavy UNSC losses including the destruction of Faraday Base and the loss of Fireteam Apollo. Their orders were to locate 'Maharm and to track him back to his hidden pass so that the cavalry can sweep in as a surprise attack.

Matchlock was inserted under the cover of dark and successfully infiltrated Covenant lines. They located 'Maharm as he was transported down a canyon and Matchlock followed him. Spartan Elena Roswell stayed behind in sniping position as overwatch and to provide long range support if need. The rest of Matchlock moved in quietly. However 'Maharm had vanished. Spartan Valenza immediately knew something was wrong and tried raising the Infinity but found that their communications were being jammed.

She called in Spartan Roswell to report what she sees. Roswell reported motion all around them and warned them to get out of there before being killed by several beam rifle shots. Out of active camouflage Covenant troops attacked the rest of Matchlock from both sides catching them in a crossfire. Matchlock took cover and attempted to hold out until the Infinity came looking for them but they were not prepared for a close-up assault being only outfitted for a light reconnaissance mission.

Matchlock defended themselves the best they could from the hundreds of Covenant around them but Spartan Jasper was eventually shot and killed a well placed carbine shot to the neck. Enraged, Spartan McKinley attempted to retrieve her body but was driven back by the fusillade. The Covenant closed in on the last three Spartans, Valenza, Mckinely, and Southfield fought back-to-back firing in all directions against the advancing aliens, desperately calling for evac. They fought until a cloaked figured ran Valenza through the back with his energy sword. The figure de-cloaked and revealed himself to be Ghota 'Maharm. Mckinely rushed him but was stabbed in the head by his energy dagger.

Inquiry on Demonic Heresy
The Inquiry on Demonic Heresy was a secret Covenant military operation and research program. Covertly launched by the Prophet of Regret without the approval of the High Council or the other two hierarchs. It was headed by the then-Special Operations Commander of the Covenant, Sharos 'Imamee who conspired with Regret. It's purpose was the study and elimination of human Demons, also known as SPARTANs. The operation was a undertaking lasting more than eight years in which an elite division of Covenant Special Operations would work tirelessly to observe and analyze the Demons, developing counter-tactics and equipment in which to more effectively combat and slay their kind. One of their most ambitious sub-objectives would be the capture of a Demon, alive, for study and experimentation.

The Inquiry as it came to be called met with a great deal of success in some areas, they gathered a great deal of data on the Demons as well as succeeding in slaying several of their number, including the live capture of one, Mason-020. However their successes were at a steep cost, hundreds if not thousands of soldiers and assets were lost over the course of Inquiry on Demonic Heresy's duration. In 2542 the operation suffered staggering setbacks as the Demons counterattacked, starting first with the destruction of their forward bases, research facilities, and listening posts. They destroyed their primary research vessel and then finally assaulting the Inquiry Initiative's own headquarters on Shadowed Solace and in the process Special Operations Commander Sharos 'Imamee was killed. The Demons would succeed in rescuing their captive comrade though he would later die by _______(?)

With the operation effectively gutted, Inquiry on Demonic Heresy was shut down and it's remaining assets and facilities redistributed.

Prelude
The Inquiry on Demonic Heresy was the brainchild of the then-current Covenant SpecOps Commander Sharo 'Imamee, a cunning and secretive high ranking Sangheili who held much political influence in the Covenant Military. When the Human-Covenant War erupted he was tasked with overseeing covert operations pertaining to the persecution of the human race. During the early years of the war all kinds of rumors reached his ears. Of nigh-unkillable armored warriors who already were responsible for the deaths of thousands of their warriors. At first he dismissed these as mere rumors and tall-tales but it was not long until evidence could not be denied.

The first concrete evidence came after the loss of the over the world of Chi Ceti IV. Footage recorded on board the ship and by ground forces confirmed the existence of such warriors. 'Imamee had to acknowledge their existence now, but still that stories of them were over-blown hyperbole. Despite his doubts, 'Imamee began keeping tabs and tracking their movements.

Within a few short years 'Imamee was forced to redact his previous opinion of them. First hand accounts from the battlefield and recordings from the human world of Arcadia and fourteen other battles showed their deadly battlefield prowess as well as their corrosive effect on troop morale. Stories were being spun as the legend of the "Demons" spread throughout the Covenant's ranks. In a short span of time the Demons had achieved a legendary infamy, one that cannot be ignored, the battles on Arcadia, Jericho VII, Metisette, and especially on K7-49 had proved that in full.

He presented his case to the High Council and the Hierarchs to devote resources to specifically hunt down the Demons before they did more damage. In his private audience with them he reported that the Demons appeared to be multiplying. He cited that at first appearing only in the handfuls but at K7-49 they attacked in the hundreds. The Hierarchs reaction however, was disappointing. Mercy was spiteful of this "lack of faith in the god's providence". Truth heard him out and assured him that they would consider this matter more thoughtfully later. Only Regret was silent on the matter. However despite the Truth's words, the SpecOps Commander knew that they would deny his request if they still had not done anything, they did not take the Demon threat seriously.

'Imamee decided to take matters into his own hands and began laying down the designs for a course of action to eliminate the Demons and began organizing a special covert unit taskforce in preparation. Everything almost came to an end when the Prophet of Regret himself made a surprise visit. 'Imamee were sure that he would come with a full Legion behind them to apprehend him, but surprisingly this did not happen. Regret appeared magnanimously and revealed that he knows what he was up to. But rather than arrest him, Regret "confided" that he was dismayed with his brother Hierarchs inaction, and commended the warrior's with his initiative and offered his patronage and blessings to the Commander. 'Imamee knew better than that this was pure charity and suspect that Regret was trying to get back at Truth for his humiliation at Metisette. Nevertheless, the two conspired and the plan was dubbed the Inquiry on Demonic Heresy.

Conception
With Regret's patronage, resources and funding began being secretly redirected towards their un-sanctioned operation. With their vast combined political power it was simple enough for them to keep their activities hidden from the High Council and the other Hierarchs and established their operation's headquarters on the fortress world of Shadowed Solace, a major hub for Covenant military activity. 'Imamee, as a SpecOps Commander, was used to operating covertly without outside scrutiny as so amassed a task force in which to operate with, composed of some his most brilliant and fierce soldiers some of whom had faced Demons before. An entire Field Group, enough for a demi-legion, of elite warriors was amassed, and each was blessed by the High Prophet who deemed the "Raging Shadows".

Something something and plot happens.

Mission on Sequestered Entreaty
...Sequestered Entreaty, also known as K6-18 to the humans.

Overview
The TYPHON Program was a illegal and unsanctioned program that covertly ran parallel to the SPARTAN-II Program. The project was secretly green-lighted by rogue operatives of Office of Naval Intelligence Section 0's top secret Theta-2 Cell in order to create SPARTAN-caliber hyper-lethal vectors on Section 0's leash to counter Section III's ever increasing number of SPARTAN commandos and they used extremely questionable and unethical means to create their product with the SPARTANs as a model. The TYPHONs were a different breed of supersoldiers but with capabilities and skills on par with that of the SPARTANs.

It was apparent from the start that the TYPHONs were dangerous and extremely unstable, lacking many characteristics that would identify them as human, including a natural birth. They displayed extreme signs of psychopathy, emotional instability and lability, hyper aggression, a need for adrenal stimulation, and complete lack of moral direction, and so were kept mostly in line by memory modification, drug dependency, and their own restraining armor. In spite of that they remained extremely effective assets for ONI. Rather than be sent out to fight the Covenant juggernaut like the SPARTAN-IIs, the TYPHONs operated off the records as the black hand of Sections 0 as part of it's directive to monitor internal affairs.

However they would be misused by Theta-2. The head of the project and original proponent of TYPHON, Dr. Jacob Wallvern(?), would twist the program into his own version of the SPARTAN-II Program, the one that was not realized because of the opinions of Catherine Halsey. The TYPHONs were sent unleashed against other elements of ONI and against the Insurrection and the Covenant as psychological weapons to further Theta-2's agenda.

The TYPHONs would eventually be wiped out by attrition and the final two along with Dr.___ would be eliminated by vengeful SPARTANs of White Team. The rest of the rogue Theta-2 would be shut down by ONI forces for it's countless circumventions of the law and illegal projects.

History

 * Started by a crazy guy who once worked on the Spartan Program but was booted. Wants to create his own versions of the SPARTANs? Less humanity more killer in armor? Doesn't recruit, test tube babies and trains from birth, used highly unstable chemicals (high-risk high-reward mentality), memory modifications and neural reconstruction to encourage "favorable traits". Drug-slaved to ensure loyalty. Uses knowledge of SPARTAN-II augmentations to match SPARTAN abilities.
 * Used as psychological weapons? Against ONI elements, rebels, and Covenant?

Conception

 * Section 0 wanted it's own private reapers? Maybe in case Section III gets too powerful with all the Spartans running around?
 * Mad Scientist Mastermind sends TYPHONs to hunt a SPARTAN to test them. Roger-133 is killed. Sparks a war with White Team. White Team fights two TYPHONs, Wallvern activates self destruct to try to kill the Spartans, doesn't work of course.
 * White Team hunts down TYPHONs, with ONI's help. Destroys Theta-2 Cell.

Equipment

 * MORLOCK Armor = Lighter than MJOLNIR, and more agile. Not as powerful as MJOLNIR but Compensates by removing structural weaknesses (giant visors and soft armor). Infiltrator, Wetwork, Counter Intelligence capacity. Concealed knife carrier. Will have GUNGIR-style helmet.
 * Armor doubles as a restraining harness and a fail-safe. Can lock down or detonate by remote if the wearer gets out of hand.
 * Armor releases endorphins directly into the body as a reward-system. Slaved.
 * Armor has capacity for biological warfare.

Skirmish over New Tyre
The Skirmish over New Tyre, also called the Theft of the Illustrious, was a brief but fierce skirmish in orbit over New Tyre. The United Independence Front had successfully orchestrated the theft of an Marathon-class cruiser, renaming it the UIF Spartacus.

The UNSC response was swift and heavy and the resulting fight ended in several ships being damaged. Before the battle could continue a fleet of Covenant ships appeared within the system and the battle ceased. Shortly afterwards the two sides allied with each other to fight the Covenant in the Battle of New Tyre.

Prelude
Since 2515, the United Independence Front had been operating on the world of New Tyre with the aim of making it independent from the UNSC. For the past several years they had slowly been gaining momentum as popular support for their cause rose.

Encouraged by their recent success, including the capture of a frigate and a corvette, insurrectionist General Hale planned for their greatest move yet, the theft of a cruiser. With it, he intended to make savage strikes at the UNSC's military infrastructure, attacking shipyards, military bases, and logistics chains surrounding New Tyre without risking civilian or collateral damage. "throwing the UNSC a curveball" as Hale put it, and that was the inspiration of the operation's codename.

Operation: CURVEBALL
Hale's goal was the capture the UNSC Illustrious, a fairly new ship laid in New Tyre's shipyards for repairs after an engagement with an as-of-yet unknown enemy (Covenant). The plan called for several maneuvers to be pulled off. The UIF launched several decoy attacks on New Tyre around New Tyzena and Korae, including smaller but overt raids on UNSC bases. Trusting that this would keep the UNSC's eyes off the ship while the UIF made their move, Hale commenced Phase 2 of CURVEBALL.

Most of the crew were away while repairs were underway, leaving only a security detail and a minimal amount of crew to occupy it. Passing themselves off as part of the repair crew, a covert commando team slipped by security and infiltrated the ship before rushing the bridge and deactivating it's onboard AI and plugging in their own AI, Marco, and deactivating the ship's anti-air defenses. As the alarm sounded across the shipyards the rest Hale's handpicked assault group landed in the Illustrious' hangar bay from dropships.

In the confusion of several attacks the UNSC could not mount an effective response in time, and the UIF were able to take control of the ship and escaped with it into the out rim of the system. With a cruiser class vessel on the loose, the UNSC battlegroup with it's few frigates was scattered. The UIF made maximum use of this victory for propaganda and morale, leaking the act directly to the media and taking their own soldiers to tour the ship in a post-victory celebration. The theft made instant headlines; Rebels Steal Cruiser, Rebels on the Warpath, Cruiser Stolen, it all made for excellent propaganda.

General Hale was purported to have only partaken only briefly in the celebration before leaving to prepare for the expected UNSC counterattack.

UNSC Response and Skirmish
CENTCOM did not take this lying down and panicked over the prospect of a cruiser in rebel hands. The UNSC immediately organized it's ships to hunt down the Illustrious.

Battle of New Tyre
The Battle of New Tyre, also called the Fall of New Tyre, was a major engagement in the early years of the Human-Covenant War. For decades New Tyre had been a battleground between the UNSC and various rebel and secessionist forces attempting to break away from the Unified Earth Government. Host to almost a dozen disparate rebel groups, three of which had exo-assets, the planet had become a major hotspot for the Insurrection.

Shortly before the battle, conflict flared across the planet as the United Independence Front made their big gambit to capture the Illustrious, a Marathon-class cruiser, and use it against the UNSC. The ensuing skirmish left both sides bloodied but intact. But the situation completely changed as a Covenant Fleet entered the system.

The battle marked the first recorded incident of cooperation being the UNSC and the Insurrection against the Covenant as the UNSC and UIF allied to face the new threat. Through a great of delicate planning, fortune, and self-sacrifice, the combined human fleet was able to successfully hold off the Covenant and ensure the complete evacuation of New Tyre.

Initial Contact
At 8:13 on May 13th, without warning seventeen unidentified ships appeared at the edge of the system and their first act was the outright annihilation of the civilian space station Barbados soon followed by numerous outposts in under two hours. Civilian freighters and vessels were also chased down and destroyed without mercy. The situation between the UNSC and rebels quickly changed as a new force encroached further into the system, slowly and methodically destroying any human life along the way, station by station and ship by ship. What few picket ships that were out there tried vainly to stop the Covenant fleet before they were destroyed by powerful energy-based weapons.

The UNSC fleet under Rear Admiral Colt knew what they faced and what little time they had and immediately turned his attention away from the rebels. Colt contacted the planetary government and declared and ordered to begin the total evacuation of New Tyre effective immediately. The Admiral prepared to deploy his fleet against the Covenant, however with a mere twelve ships they were horribly outmatched and defeat was assured.

An Unlikely Alliance
"Admiral, you know just as well as I that your fleet doesn't stand a chance against these...things. This world is our home. If you fail then everyone on it, everyone we love and cherish...is forfeit. You need our help, Admiral. And I am willing to offer it, for the sake of our world."

- General Hale, leader of the United Independence Front to Admiral Colt

Colt would be surprised to be contacted by the insurrectionist leader, General Hale. Hale contacted the UNSC Admiral and demanded to meet with him and in a surprising move offered his assistance in repelling the alien invaders. Colt was of course skeptical and questioned why he should trust a rebel, let alone one he was only moments ago fighting. Hale retorted that the UNSC was completely outmatched anyway and reminded him that New Tyre was his home and that if they failed to protect that everyone will die. Colt contemplated this for a moment, his second in command, Captain Robert Gates, was skeptical that the rebels intentions were honest and suspected that they would turn on them the first chance they got. Colt considered this and made his decision, Colt reopened communications with Hale and accepted the rebel's offer.

Many of Hale's officers were outraged and railed against this calling it an act of betrayal to aid their long time enemy. Still Hale held a lot of support from his men, the more rational supported his decision, including his second in command, Lt. Golding. The dissidents, lead by Lieutenant Lancer Millers demanded that they use this opportunity to rally the people and overthrow the UNSC. UIF Command descended into fierce arguments of barely controlled aggression. Hale snapped at his men and silenced them. He ranted that they would achieve nothing and unless they, fellow humans, pulled together to stop the invaders, or else New Tyre would burn and everything they worked for would be for nothing. For now Lieutenant Millers backed off and seemed to accept this.

"I don't suppose you have another secret fleet lying around somewhere do you?"

- Jeriah Colt to Hale on their situation

As a sign of good faith, Hale took a Pelican to the UNSC flagship, Terra Firma, to discuss battle plans with Colt. With Covenant forces mere hours away the two discussed strategy. Even with there forces combined their prospects looked grim. Colt did his best to bring Hale and the UIF up to speed with the capabilities of the Covenant, their strengths, religious nature, and technological capabilities. He revealed that Battle Group Terra Firma was originally on it's way to confront the Covenant before they were pulled aside due to the UIF's theft of the Illustrious. He half seriously inquired if Hale "had anymore secret fleets lying around" which Hale admitted he did not.

Colt then made it clear that they did not have the strength to fight the Covenant head on, and that their only chance was to draw out the fight as only long as they can for evacuations to complete, and if the Covenant decide to ignore or bypass them then they stood no chance. The insurrectionist General deferred command of their naval actions to Colt but also stressed that Colt should head any his recommendation if the battle takes to the ground. After finalizing the last details of the plan, General Hale returned to the Spartacus and issued orders to not engage the UNSC and to prepare for "foreign" attack. Battle Group Terra Firma deployed the 20th Marine Division, 11th Shock Troops Battalion, and 3rd Air Wing to reinforce and dig in with the ragged and undermanned 16th and 62nd Infantry Regiments below.

First Volley
With virtually every last outpost in the system destroyed the Covenant fleet converged on the planet itself. The combined UNSC-UIF fleet, a total of twenty ships, lay waiting in orbit. Colt had their fleet array itself in a checkerboard style formation in order to bring all their MAC cannons to bear on the incoming enemy. The Covenant moved as single mass, their escorts orbiting their single massive Assault Carrier at the center of their formation.

The UNSC-UIF fleet did not wait for them to enter New Tyre's orbit or allow them to make the first. As soon as they entered targeting range the fleet fired staggered volleys of magnetic-accelerated rounds at the Covenant fleet. MAC rounds slammed into ten of their ships, most rounds were absorbed by their shields but one frigate was destroyed and another was crippled. The Covenant took the bait and rather than deploy to the surface moved into attack speed straight at them.

Even before the first shots struck the UNSC-UIF fleet was already turning to retreat. Colt knew that they wouldn't be able deal enough damage even if they concentrated their fire more efficiently, but his goal was to entice them. Having the escorts target the Covenant frigates while their capital ships blunted the shields of the cruisers was only to get their attention, an all out fight would simply mean their own swift destruction.

The human fleet accelerated away from the pursuing Covenant and kept the planet's curvature between them and the Covenant. Colt kept their ships just barely within firing range of the Covenant, not moving at full power as to let them underestimate their full capabilities, and keeping their attention on them. For the next twenty-six hours Colt led the Covenant all around the planet. Periodically the human fleet would briefly turn to form up and fire another volley at the Covenant from extreme range while their fighters duked it out. Each brief clash led the Covenant along further, but the cost was bloody.

Over the course of seven clashes, more than a half of their fleet was lost. The UNSC lost four of their frigates, the Magdalene sacrificed itself to intercept a plasma torpedo meant for the Terra Firma. Two of their precious cruisers, the Falkland and the Sedan, were also destroyed. Meanwhile the UIF fair little better, having lost four of their five armed freighters in the first two engagements and the Vercingetorix was nearly cut in half by a pulse laser. So far the other cruisers in the combined UNSC-UIF fleet only escaped long range fire by the Covenant by desperately using premature archer missile detonations inspired by the. At this point they had managed to destroy a further two cruisers and damaging a third.

This run-and-gun battle continued for another grueling ten hours, then the Covenant caught on. Their Fleet Master had thought they could simply destroy the fleet before deploying to the surface but that was taking too long. At noon of the second day of the battle, the Covenant fleet split in two. Four cruisers and four corvettes broke off from the main fleet and headed straight for New Tyre's main continent. And they were not alone. The rest of the fleet, including the massive Assault Carrier, deployed hundreds of dropships and fighters with the breakoff group as an escort. With the gig up the UNSC-UIF fleet fired a salvo of archer missiles at the descending invasion force but ironically their carefully maintained distanced prevented that.

Covenant Landfall
The Covenant army landed in overwhelming strength. They assaulted six of New Tyre's seven most major population centers and center-points of evacuations. The cities of New Tyzena, Azores, Korae, Aegea, Verde, and New Nassau all came under attack. Two cruisers lead the attack on New Tyzena while the other two cruisers attacked Korae and New Nassau respectively, meanwhile the four corvettes broke up in to two groups, one assaulting Aegea and the other Verde.

The two cruisers attacking New Tyzena, dubbed CCS-U166 and CCS-U167 respectively, began low-level plasma bombardment of the city and it's outskirts, demolishing whole city blocks and suburban sections were annihilated within minutes. The UNSC sent in a strikeforce of eight Longsword fighter wings and Shortsword bomber squadrons outfitted with GBU-2494/T MSNOs (Massive Shaped-charge Non-nuclear Ordnance) in an attempt to destroy the two cruisers. Despite a valiant effort, the strikeforce fails to destroy either of the cruisers, their non-nuclear shaped warheads proving ineffective at piercing their shields and is devastated as a result with the surviving 14% returning to base. However, the force of the bombardment succeeded in forcing the two cruisers to retreat several kilometers out. Despite the cruiser's momentary retreat, the ground battle was not averted. Thousands of Covenant warriors were still mustering at their landing zones and within hours would lay siege to New Tyzena.

On the others fronts a similar situations was playing out as Covenant vessels on the surface began low level bombardments of their targets.

As night fell of the second day of the battle the ground campaign began in earnest.


 * UNSC-UIF hold the line in several cities. Stretched evenly but thinly. Trying to hold back for evacuations to complete.
 * UIF lead UNSC troops through secret tunnels and passages. Snipers, explosives, collapse buildings.

Fight for Ticonderoga

 * Tunnel fighting and evacuation

Coup D'etat

 * URF take the moment to overthrow UEG-government. Take over something city, engage UNSC-UIF forces.
 * Lt. Millers defects and leads defectors on the Spartacus to try and assassinate "Hale's traitors" in a coup.

The Axe Falls

 * Last stand in orbit
 * Blackjack deploys TARATANULA stealth mines.
 * Assault Carrier devastating them. Key to winning is to destroy it. Hale wants to "break it's stupid neck" and inspiration. Rams the Spartacus from above onto Carrier's neck, decapitation.

Space assest
Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Prowler
 * UNSC Terra Firma, super-heavy cruiser
 * UNSC Verdun, Marathon-class heavy cruiser
 * UNSC Sedan, Marathon-class heavy cruiser
 * UNSC Falkland, Marathon-class heavy cruiser
 * UNSC Neptune, Marathon-class heavy cruiser
 * UNSC Havoc
 * UNSC Dusk and Dawn
 * UNSC Magdalene
 * UNSC Hornet
 * UNSC Arcadia
 * UNSC Lapis Lazoli
 * UNCS Blackjack

Ground forces

 * 11th Marine Expeditionary Force
 * 11th Shock Troops Battalion
 * Echo Company
 * Kilo Company
 * 16th Infantry Regiment
 * 62nd Infantry Regiment
 * New Tyrian Police Forces

Personnel

 * Admiral Jeriah Colt
 * Captain Robert Gates

Space assets

 * UIF Spartacus, Marathon-class heavy cruiser
 * UIF Vercingetorix, Paris-class heavy frigate
 * UIF Guevara, Mako-class corvette
 * UIF William Wallace, armed freighter
 * UIF Boudicca, armed freighter
 * UIF Washington, armed freighter
 * UIF Joan d'Arc, armed freighter
 * UIF Fawkes, armed freighter

Ground forces

 * UIF 1st Revolutionary Brigade
 * UIF Commandos

Personnel

 * General Nathaniel Hale
 * Lieutenant Naston Golding
 * Lieutenant Lance Millers

Space assets

 * URF Lafayette, modified Gorgon-class Heavy Destroyer
 * URF-aligned Freighters

Ground forces

 * URF 24th Volunteer Battalion
 * URF Commandos
 * UIF defectors

Personnel

 * Colonel Jacobs Keller
 * Captain Julia Myers
 * Lieutenant Lance Millers (post-defection)