UNSC Cayuga

The UNSC Cayuga was an Halberd-class light destroyer in service with the UNSC Navy's Task Force Artemis during the Human-Covenant War.
==Service history==
On or before February 11th, 2540, the Covenant discovered the Human colony world of Taratoga and dispatched a fleet consisting of a single Kerel-pattern assault carrier to glass the colony and destroy the defenses in orbit. It arrived on February 11th and began its assault on the world.
The UNSC Navy fleet in orbit, Battlegroup Nevada, consisting of nine ships, immediately engaged the Covenant carrier. Despite inflicting heavy damage to the vessel's shields, the majority of the fleet was destroyed by a barrage of plasma torpedoes launched by the carrier, leaving only the Halcyon-class light cruiser UNSC Portsmouth and the Marathon-class heavy cruiser UNSC Hammer of Resolve still intact. The destroyed UNSC ships created a debris field around the battle as the remaining two ships attempted to hold out against the attacker.
Later that day, Task Force Artemis, under the command of Navy captain Alexis Merena, arrived in the system with five ships. The captain's personal flagship, the UNSC Bainbridge, led the charge.
By the time the task force had arrived, Battlegroup Nevada was in shambles. The assault carrier then instantly destroyed the Hammer of Resolve with its plasma lance. Forming up, Task Force Artemis barraged the carrier with missiles and MAC rounds, trying to cover the UNSC Portsmouth's retreat. While the barrage disabled the carrier's shields and heavily damaged its hull, the Portsmouth would be finished off by a trio of plasma torpedoes, completely destroying Battlegroup Nevada.
Task Force Artemis broke formation to engage the carrier, maneuvering through the debris field of Battlegroup Nevada's destroyed vessels and using them as cover from the continued plasma barrages. The UNSC Mars was bisected by another shot from the carrier's plasma lance, destroying it and killing its entire crew. This provoked the UNSC Cayuga to distract the carrier, opening up and opportunity for the rest of the battlegroup to destroy the plasma lance.
The distraction was short-lived, and the Cayuga was blown apart by a pair of plasma torpedoes. However, it bought enough time for Task Force Artemis's remaining three ships to line up in an arrow formation and arm MAC cannons, targeting the plasma lance. The UNSC Bainbridge's shot directly struck the lance, causing it to explode and detonate, heavily crippling the ship.
==Source==
*YouTube - Halo: Defense of Taratoga | UE5 Space Battle
Category:Individual Ships
Category:Individual UNSC Ships
Category:Destroyers
Category:Task Force Artemis