Siege of the Inner Colonies

The Siege of the Inner Colonies was a series of engagements taking place in humanity's Inner colonies.Xbox.com: Halo Storyline (Defunct, Copy on HBO Forums and Wayback Machine)
==Background==
Prior to Covenant attacking the Inner colonies, the Covenant had laid siege to the Outer Colonies for about a decade. Planets like Harvest and Arcadia had been attacked, killing millions in the process. The UNSC had stripped away most of the Colonial Military Administration, becoming humanity's main military force.
In 2530, following the Battle of the Great Bear, Admiral Preston Cole would devise the basis of the UNSC Emergency Priority Order 09881A-1 or the "Cole Protocol".Halo Wars: Genesis - pages 8-9 This order was devised to help make sure the Covenant would not find the inner colonies, and was mostly the reason why it took so long.Halo: The Fall of Reach - page 135
==Battle==
On June 1st, 2536, the Covenant Empire finally made their way into the Inner Colonies.Halo Wars - Collectible: Halo Wars Timeline Events
Numerous ships were pulled from their positions in the Outer Colonies to defend the Inner Colonies.Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 190 (Digital) Old ships, such as the , were refitted and brought back into service to supplement the remaining defense forces.Halo: The Fall of Reach - Page 272 (Digital), 238 (Physical)
===Early Battles===
One of the earliest battles in the Inner colonies was the Battle of Camber. 5.5 million people were killed in the battle, and the planet was glassed.Halo 2: Anniversary - Terminal: ONI File: Honor Bound Nearly a decade later, Miridem would come under attack leading to the capture of Dr. Catherine Halsey. Actium would fallHalo Waypoint: Videos - Hero (Courage) (Defunct, Copy on Youtube) with SkopjeHalo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe - Dirt: Page 313 at about the same time. In a rare moment, the colony of Ballast would come under attack and the UNSC would win the battle.Halo Encyclopedia - Page ??
===The Fall of Reach===
The Fall of Reach was one of the greatest defeats in the Human-Covenant war.
In 2552, the Covenant had discovered Reach.Halo: The Fall of Reach - Page 251 Halo Encyclopedia - Page 208 - The Fall of ReachHalo: Reach - Level: Winter Contingency The Covenant initially landed on the planet with a smaller fleet,Halo: Reach - Level: Nightfall but it began to escalate as more and more combatants arrived on either side. Dozens of Inner Colony planets were bypassed by the Covenant Fleet attacking Reach.Halo: The Fall of Reach, page ?? While Reach would end up being destroyed, a cruiser, the , would escape the destruction and begin the decisive Battle of Installation 04.Halo: Combat Evolved - Level: The Pillar of Autumn 
It can be presumed that even more inner Colonies survived, considering the next Covenant attack was Earth.
===The Battle of Earth===
After almost 27 years of war and the effort of most of humanity, Earth finally came under attack by the Prophet of Regret in late 2552. Earth's orbit would become the first area to be besieged, before the Prophet would move onto New Mombasa.Halo 2 - Level: Cairo Station The Prophet would then use slipspace to fast travel out of New MombasaHalo 2- Level: Metropolis and to Installation 05.Halo 2 - Level: Delta Halo Other Covenant forces would eventually move onto Ross Island, Havana, Cleveland, and Pawa. When the Keyship carrying the Prophet of Truth and John-117 returned to Earth,Halo 2 - Level: The Great Journey his forces would use the crater created by Regret to dig up The Artifact.Halo 3: ODST - Level: Coastal Highway This artifact would eventually lead to Installation 00Halo 3 - Level: The Ark and the end of the war.
==Aftermath==
The loss of many of the inner colonies had a severe impact on the remaining UEG. The loss of Tribute alone would have a severe economic impact on human space.Halo Waypoint: Universe - Locations - Tribute On top of this, the Inner colonies that were hit hard by glassing would take some time to come back up to full health. Reach wouldn't become habitable until 2589.Halo: Reach - Level: Lone Wolf
==Engagements==
===List of Engagements===
*Battle of Actium
*Battle of Ballast
*Battle of Camber
*Battle of Chi Rho
*Battle of Earth
**Engagements
*Battle of Mare Erythraeum
*Battle of Miridem
*Battle of October 10
*Battle of Skopje
*Battle of Tribute
*Fall of Reach
**Engagements
*Operation: DEVIL FREEDOM
==Timeline==
===2536===
====June====
=====June 1=====
*The Inner Colonies are entered by the Covenant.
===2544===
*The Battle of Miridem takes place. Dr. Catherine Halsey was captured.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx - Chapter 20: Page 173
===2545===
====May====
*The Battle of Actium begins.
====June====
*The Battle of Actium ends.
===2547===
*The Battle of Skopje is fought.
===2552===
====July====
=====July 24=====
*The Covenant Empire take down a communication relay on Reach, beginning the Fall of Reach.
*Tribute is also attacked at the same time.
====August====
=====August 30=====
*The Fall of Reach ends with Reach's glassing.Halo 2 - Level: The HereticHalo: Reach - Level: The Pillar of Autumn
====October====
=====October 10=====
*The Battle of October 10 takes place.Halo Legendary Crate - Bonus Item: First Twelve Hours
=====October 20=====
*The Battle of Earth begins. Mombasa is the first place on Earth attacked.Halo 2 - Level: Outskirts
*The Battle of Mare Erythraeum begins on Mars.Halo: Uprising Issue 1
====November====
=====November 17=====
*The UNSC and Separatist forces travel to the Ark from Earth.Halo 3 - Level: Floodgate
====December====
=====December 5=====
*One of the final battles on Earth takes place.
===Unknown===
*Camber is attacked at some point in between 2535 and 2552.
*Chi Rho was attacked at some point between 2535 and 2552.Halo: Fractures - Into the Fire, page ??
*The Battle of Ballast takes place at some point between 2551 and 2552.
*Imber was attacked.Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition - Bonus Item: Kelly-087 Dossier Card
==Sources==
Category:UNSC Victories in the Human-Covenant War