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This topic has moved here: Poll [22 votes]: Would Operation: RED FLAG have succeeded?
  • Poll [22 votes]: Would Operation: RED FLAG have succeeded?
Subject: Would Operation: RED FLAG have succeeded?

Straight from the wandering mind of Watson 203

Poll: Would Operation: RED FLAG have succeeded?  [closed]
Yes:  18%
(4 Votes)
No:  50%
(11 Votes)
Possibly:  32%
(7 Votes)
Total Votes: 22

First things first, if you don't know what Operation: RED FLAG is, it's a plan of last resort, thought up by ONI Section III to try and end the Human-Covenant War if the worst came to the worst.
The gist of the op was to capture a Hierarch, one of the 3 San 'Shyuum, (Prophets), that lead the Covenant. Then by using the captured Hierarch as leverage the UNSC/ONI would try to negotiate the end of the war by forcing the Covenant into a truce. However It was never actually carried out due to the fall of reach and the UNSC's retreat to Earth.
A more detailed description can be found here.

My question is this, If Operation: RED FLAG was actually put into action, do you think it would've worked? Would it have failed during one of the four phases? Or would a captured Hierarch not be enough leverage to force the Covenant into a truce?

I think it would've failed when the UNSC/ONI attempted to barter with the Hierarch. If the deployed team of SPARTAN II's did manage to capture one I doubt the Covenant would've agreed to a truce.
I think a new age, (Possibly an Age of Doubt), would have been declared, renouncing the captured San 'Shyuum of it's position as a Hierarch, bringing 3 new Hierarch's in. Then the Covenant's genocidal campaign against humanity would've continued.
I imagine this could've been accomplished by some of the more powerful San 'Shyuum lying and blackmailing their way into power, such as how the three Hierarchs at the time of the Halo trilogy, (Truth, Regret & Mercy), did so. If you're want more about this, read Contact Harvest or look it up on the wiki.

The problem with what I'm thinking is that the Covenant are, (at the time of RED FLAG's proposal), in an Age of Reclamation, where their main aim is to actively seek out the Halo's and so they are likely to find them.
Because of the importance of this age, I'm not sure whether the Covenant would simply stop it to deal with the captured Hierarch and possibly not start another Age of Reclamation for a long time.
Here's more on the Covenant's ages/history

  • 04.14.2012 1:18 PM PDT

"I may not be perfect, but always been true."

Let's see.... One Supercarrier against Hundreds of them....Yeah....

  • 04.14.2012 1:23 PM PDT
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Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

Doubt it. Even if the Spartans managed to infiltrate High Charity they would still be massively outnumbered. The Covenant would never agree to a truce. If anything, the capture of a Prophet would anger them even more.

  • 04.14.2012 1:27 PM PDT

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HAHAHAHAHA...nope.

  • 04.14.2012 2:39 PM PDT

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  • 04.14.2012 3:45 PM PDT

What happened when Regret was captured?

The great schism started and Truth's plan started.

[Edited on 04.14.2012 3:48 PM PDT]

  • 04.14.2012 3:47 PM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

Posted by: Lillith
What happened when Regret was captured?

The great schism started and Truth's plan started.


Yeah, because Truth found a convenient reason to dispose of the Elites, something he had been plotting for quite a while.

  • 04.14.2012 3:50 PM PDT
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Posted by: Lillith
What happened when Regret was captured?

The great schism started and Truth's plan started.

What if they captured Truth?

  • 04.14.2012 3:51 PM PDT


Posted by: xi43

Posted by: Lillith
What happened when Regret was captured?

The great schism started and Truth's plan started.

What if they captured Truth?


Well then they would probably A) Move in a new hierarchy or B) another prophet would've pulled a Truth.

  • 04.14.2012 3:58 PM PDT

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If I recall correctly, the UNSC still didn't have much intel on the Covenant's structure and organization. I think they simply knew the Prophets were at the top of the hierarchy, and that was about it.

I might be going off out dated information though.

  • 04.14.2012 4:20 PM PDT

Straight from the wandering mind of Watson 203

They can't just bring in a new Hierarch though, they have bring in a new trio of San 'Shyuum and start another Age. Or at least that's how I thought it happens.
EDIT: Sorry forgot to quote. This is aimed at Lillith's previous post, although it's kind of obvious I thought I'd clarify to make sure.

[Edited on 04.14.2012 4:39 PM PDT]

  • 04.14.2012 4:37 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

Operation RED FLAG was a pretty stupid idea, even as a last resort. Almost every single variable is unknown to the UNSC:

What is the normal location of the Hierarchs? How well defended is it? How many escape and contingency plans do the Covenant have for this location?

Do the Hierarchs frequently change this location, or frequently leave to take care of business? What if the Spartans are sent somewhere...and there are no Hierarchs there?

Will this actually impact the Covenant's leadership, or do they have strict protocols and a clear and strong chain of command to fall back on? Do the Hierarchs actually hold any power, or are they merely symbolic, with some sort of council holding the real power? (Like the British Parliament holding the power with the Monarchy being largely symbolic?) Will the Covenant actually give in to this sort of coercion?

I mean, the UNSC knew nothing. It would have failed anyway. The Spartans would not be able to fight through all those Honor Guards, in an environment which they know nothing about yet their enemies know everything about, and the Hierarchs could easily escape. In fact, the Spartans would have been vaporized by High Charity's defense grid when their ship failed to give the proper counter-response within milliseconds of being asked for it. OP: RED FLAG would have went up in a puff of smoke before it even began.

  • 04.14.2012 8:26 PM PDT

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--------____.`=====.-.~:________\___|===================()
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Operation RED FLAG would never succeed. First they were massively outnumbered and outgunned. Second, the capture of a hierarch would only anger them further.

  • 04.14.2012 8:42 PM PDT