UNSC Cradle

The Cradle was a UNSC Refit Station capable of intersystem travel.

Background
The Cradle was essentially a large square plate of Titanium-A armor, a kilometer to a side, capable of refitting six destroyers, three from her upper surface, and three from her lower surface, in a matter of hours or days. It was crewed by only 30 people (in addition to the EVA work crews).

Operational History
In July 2552, it was present at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV. The Cradle was used as a shield for the Fleet when the Covenant attacked and it was sacrificed so that the rest of the UNSC Fleet could be protected from a salvo of plasma fire. No escape Lifeboats were launched and the entire crew was killed. They were avenged moments later when the UNSC Fleet destroyed seven Covenant ships and damaged many others with their MAC volley fire. The remains of the station were pushed into high orbit above Sigma Octanus after the battle.

Legacy
The tactic would be reused at the Fall of Reach with all three of that planet's repair stations and some human ships, in order to protect the planet's MAC guns from Covenant plasma torpedoes. In retrospect, this was a grisly sacrifice for such temporary gain.

Trivia

 * Commander Richard Lash's father was a crewman engineer on the ship and was killed when it was destroyed.
 * The Covenant equivalent to the Cradle is believed to be the Unyielding Hierophant.