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Operation: Sunburst, also known as the battle for HELIOS One,[Non-game 1] was a decisive battle fought between the Mojave chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel and the New California Republic. The two sides engaged over the control of the pre-War Poseidon Energy solar plant HELIOS One in 2276 during the Brotherhood War.[2]
Background[]
The occupation of HELIOS One was a decision made by Elder Elijah, who intended to unlock the secrets of the power plant.[7] The Mojave chapter operated freely within the Vegas wastes for several years, carrying out many reclamation missions without serious opposition.[Non-game 1] In 2274, a large contingent of NCR troops entered the region and occupied Hoover Dam, coming into conflict with the chapter.[2][Non-game 2] Elder Elijah concentrated on bringing HELIOS into operation while the Brotherhood contingent engaged in guerilla skirmishes with the NCR for nearly two years.[7][Non-game 1]
Battle[]
Many in the Brotherhood believed that the solar plant was not defensible and considered the NCR approach inevitable, but Elder Elijah decided to remain, dooming the chapter.[8][5] The NCR began "Operation: Sunburst," the offensive to drive the Brotherhood out and take control of the facility.[Non-game 1][9] Troopers attacked the Brotherhood in waves, concentrating a force that outnumbered the defenders by a factor of between 15[10] and 20 to 1.[4] Then-Senior Paladin Hardin recommended fighting a retreating action, but Elder Elijah ordered the troops to dig in and protect the facility, reporting to Hardin that he almost "had it working" but never clarified what was almost working.[8][11] Brotherhood soldiers repulsed repeated NCR infantry assaults, but began running low on munitions.[5] With an already limited fighting force, and now dwindling ammunition, their positions began to collapse. Head Paladin McNamara was forced to rally the remaining forces and launch a counter attack. This action allowed them to break through NCR lines and retreat towards Hidden Valley, while Elder Elijah had disappeared during the fighting.[8][5] During their retreat, the Brotherhood quickly re-activated HELIOS One's ARCHIMEDES I security measures as a trap to the first NCR soldiers to enter the primary control area. This denied the NCR access to the facility's control center for years, as by 2281, the traps were still armed and preventing entry.[12][4]
Aftermath[]
The Brotherhood was routed, losing significant numbers including over half of its knights and paladins.[6] With Elijah's disappearance, McNamara assumed command and led survivors in a retreat eastward towards Hidden Valley. Once the Brotherhood survivors reached the Hidden Valley bunker, a strict lockdown was enacted. Many in the NCR wrote the Brotherhood off as a spent force in the Mojave, attempting to dismiss their threat level to the republic. Cassandra Moore still considered them a dangerous threat, noting that multiple NCR scouts had gone missing West of HELIOS One to presumed Brotherhood activity.[13][5]
Activity outside the bunker was drastically restricted. Only supply runs, occasional reconnaissance missions, and patrols were allowed to leave the underground installation and even then, only at night.[Non-game 1] By 2281, the lockdown persisted in response to the NCR increasing its presence in the Mojave fivefold. The Mojave chapter, according to Elder McNamara, had time to fully recuperate from their losses, although the isolation meant a portion of their new knights and paladins were not battle experienced. However, their first scouting missions revealed that the NCR's presence in the region had only increased in their absence, so the lockdown was extended. The Brotherhood used the time in lockdown to re-strategize and come up with a new plan to face the NCR.[14][Non-game 1]
Following the loss, the Brotherhood analyzed their defeat at HELIOS One. They came to the conclusion that ex-Elder Elijah was largely responsible, considering that his actions and choices leading up to the battle had endangered the lives of his fellow brethren and caused the defeat. They further concluded that his unwillingness to leave the facility despite pleads from his subordinates left Brotherhood positions non-defensible. This was clear to many other members of the Brotherhood. By 2281, the now-Head Paladin Hardin stated, "Trying to defend HELIOS was a blunder of the worst kind, and many brothers lost their lives because of it. Many of the senior paladins, myself included, advised him to fight a retreating action, but he refused to budge."[8] Paladin Ramos, another survivor of the conflict, shares this opinion, noting that "that place was hardly defensible, and we knew the NCR was moving in on us, but the Elder refused to budge."[5] Additionally, for abandoning his chapter during Operation: Sunburst and going rogue, Elijah was marked for execution by the Brotherhood and their special operations and internal affairs branch, known as the Circle of Steel.[15]
The NCR successfully captured HELIOS One and consolidated their forces to secure the power plant. When HELIOS One was deemed fully captured, the NCR then attempted to pursue the Brotherhood's forces, but it was too late as the Brotherhood of Steel had vanished without a trace.[16] The NCR were quick in their attempt to harness the power plant as a potential source of energy. However, in their haste, they had triggered the Brotherhood's trap and activated ARCHIMEDES I (HELIOS One's plant security system), resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and effectively cutting off the primary controls in the tower of the plant.[12][4]
Although the bulk of the NCR fighting force was almost immediately redeployed to secure Hoover Dam in preparation for the war with Caesar's Legion, the NCR established a garrison to remain at HELIOS One while their technician attempts to get the plant functionally efficient.[17] Due to the NCR's non-rigorous hiring standards, an incompetent con artist was hired to act as the facility's principal engineer. He has coasted on this job for an easy paycheck and has been unable to bring the facility to even moderate operational status, leaving it stuck at 1% efficiency.[12] Ignacio Rivas was posted by the Followers of the Apocalypse to research the facility independently and ensure that Fantastic would not figure out a way to discover and unlock the facility's true purpose. As he puts it, "Some things are best left buried with the old world."[18]
Appearances[]
Operation: Sunburst is mentioned only in Fallout: New Vegas, its name listed in the game guide.[Non-game 1]
References[]
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Non-game
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