Final protective fire

Final protective fire, also known as danger close, refers to a tactical plan for a military unit, typically infantry, to protect itself in defense against attack. The plan generally includes machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire prearranged to impede enemy movement across defensive lines or areas.

As the "final" in the name implies, it is the last resort in defensive plans, normally involving artillery and/or heavy machine gun fire directed dangerously close to friendly defensive positions that are at risk of being overrun by the enemy. A request for final protective fire generally has absolute priority over any other kind of requests.

More or less often, "danger close" salvos are typically initiated within 100 or less meters of a friendly defensive position, making them dangerous to anything within the nearby radius.

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In the Halo universe
During the evacuation of New Alexandria, the UNSC Army enacted two phases of final protective fire to protect Starport Dawn from attack by a Covenant corvette bearing down on the city. Presumably, the measures were unsuccessful in stopping the ship, as at least one of the fleeing evacuation transports was destroyed by the corvette.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach
 * Exodus