User:Jugus/Fall of Reach

A timeline of the significant events surrounding the Fall of Reach, to make sense out of the canon conflicts between the novels and Halo: Reach.

July 18, 2552

 * After 0500 hours: The leaves the Sigma Octanus System for Reach, carrying a Covenant tracking device onboard. (FOR)

July 24, 2552

 * 0728 hours: Noble Six arrives at Noble Team's outpost. The team heads to investigate a disturbance at the Visegrad Relay, where they encounter Covenant forces. (HR)

July 26, 2552

 * 1126 hours: Noble Team is deployed to defend Sword Base at Babd Catha Ice Shelf. Halsey is present in the base. (HR)

August 11, 2552

 * Jun and Noble Six recon Covenant positions. (HR)

August 12, 2552

 * 0800 hours: Battle of Viery: Noble Team and a massive joint UNSC force assault Covenant forces in the Viery Territory. (HR)


 * 1100 hours: John-117 arrives at Camp Hathcock to be debriefed on the mission on Sigma Octanus IV by the ONI command. Catherine Halsey and Jacob Keyes are both present. (FOR)

August 23, 2552

 * Noble Six assists the evacuation of New Alexandria, which is under siege by the Covenant. (HR)

August 25, 2552

 * 0915 hours: Dr. Halsey arrives at her office inside CASTLE Base. She and Cortana discuss the findings at Sigma Octanus IV, as well as the integration of AI into the MJOLNIR armor system. Cortana chooses John-117 as her carrier on the upcoming mission, as well as the Pillar of Autumn as the ship used on the mission with Jacob Keyes as the captain. (FOR)

August 27, 2552

 * 0800 hours: The Spartans gather at the FLEETCOM military complex secure briefing room to be briefed on Operation: RED FLAG, their mission to head out into Covenant-controlled space and capture a hierarch. (FOR)

August 29, 2552

 * 0600 hours: John-117's neural interface is upgraded and he is introduced to Cortana at Military Reservation 01478-B. The MJOLNIR Mark V is operated with an AI construct for the first time in a live-fire exercise. Dr. Halsey is present during the test. (FOR)


 * 2616 hours (Reach time): Noble Team is sent to destroy Sword Base. Dr. Catherine Halsey is present, and after Noble prevents Covenant forces from breaching her lab, she gives Noble Six a copy of Cortana with vital data. After this, the team heads to Aszod, while Jun escorts Halsey to CASTLE base. (HR)

August 30, 2552

 * 0400 hours: Captain Keyes arrives onboard the Pillar of Autumn in Reach orbit. Final preparations are made for the Spartans' mission. (FOR)


 * 0447 hours: The remote scanning outpost Fermion detects the incoming Covenant fleet and self-destructs. As the Pillar of Autumn is on her way out of the system, the Covenant attack Reach. (FOR)


 * 0519 hours: The Autumn heads back to Reach, recalled by the FLEETCOM distress transmission. (FOR)


 * 0534 hours: The Autumn is engaged in combat with a Covenant carrier that had slipped behind it. After destroying the ship, the Autumn heads for Rally Point Zulu, where the UNSC fleet is amassing to counter the Covenant invasion. During the following minutes, the UNSC and Covenant fleets start engaging each other. The Covenant release hundreds of dropships toward FLEETCOM HQ, and they quickly overwhelm the facility. (FOR)


 * 0558 hours: John-117 and Blue Team prepare for their mission to purge the Circumference's NAV data in Reach Station Gamma. (FOR)


 * 0616 hours: John-117 and Blue Team are on their way to Station Gamma, while the rest of the Spartans head to the planet surface to defend the orbital defense generators. A covenant frigate engages the Pillar of Autumn. (FOR)


 * 0631 hours: Red Team ejects from their damaged Pelican and the Spartans plummet to Reach's surface. They head for Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331. (FS)


 * 0637 hours: The Spartans complete their mission at Reach Station Gamma and head back to the Autumn. The Covenant crush the remaining orbital defenses over Reach and split their fleet into two groups, one pursuing the scattered UNSC ships and the other beginning to glass Reach. (FOR)


 * 0647 hours: The Autumn jumps into slipspace using coordinates gained from the Sigma Octanus IV artifact. (FOR)
 * The Autumn is supposedly forced to return to Reach and land at a drydock in Aszod. (HR)


 * 0649 hours: Red team has established a defensive position at Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331. (FS)


 * 0711 hours: Red Team assault and destroy a Covenant cruiser holding position over Longhorn Valley. (FS)


 * 0744 hours: The Covenant begin glassing Reach. Red team heads to CASTLE Base. (FS)


 * 0810 hours: Red Team arrives at CASTLE base and meet Dr. Halsey. (FS)


 * 0901 hours: Red Team receive new weapons and armor upgrades in CASTLE base. They, along with Dr. Halsey, head down to the caves underneath the base as it collapses. (FS)


 * 1652 hours: The remainder of Noble Team head to the Aszod ship breaking yards, where the Pillar of Autumn is waiting. Some time later (before 20.00), Noble Six successfully delivers a fragment of Cortana to the Autumn, and allows the vessel to escape. (HR)


 * 2000 hours: Noble Six remains last remaining human survivor in the area, but is soon killed by Covenant forces.