When All Others Have Failed

The year is 2561. In the years after the Human-Covenant Wars, events have set the stage for a confrontation between the United States, who are fighting for independence, and the UNSC Defense Force, who will stop at nothing to put down the rebellion.

Prelude
At Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia, the pride of the UNSC Navy's sea and spaceborne fleet was in for maintenance. In the base's radar post, the operators detected a formation of around twenty aircraft inbound for Norfolk. "It's probably just some planes coming in late" their superior responded, and they thought nothing of it.

In his WSO station, Captain Maximilian Jameson looked out his window on the city below them. The pilot peeked in, and spoke to him:

"Captain, we got ten minutes ETA to the base. Prepare all munitions for the bomb drop, affirmative?"

"Affirmative" Jameson responded

In the city of Norfolk, there were sightings of low flying swing wing aircraft coming in at high speeds being reported to the authorities. But they incessantly simply stated it was just UNSC aircraft inbound from a patrol.

Over Norfolk, the B-1 Lancers prepared to release their weapons on the UNSC Navy fleet below them. Calibrating the bombs for groundburst, Jameson waited until the pilot gave him the go ahead, and proceeded to drop the bombs.

On the ground, SPARTAN Blue Team was waiting for their transport, when they saw a column of flame shoot up into the dusk sky. Rushing to the base, they saw that Norfolk's naval base was aflame, and that 90% of the fleet had been crippled in the attack, along with almost all the fuel and supplies destroyed, causing even more chaos.

At nearby Naval Air Station Oceana, the 1st Marine Division rushed the gates. With the power of shock and awe, they quickly took down the UNSC MPs guarding it, and assumed control of the base.