At the Forerunner Shield World, Shield 0459, the dropship attempted to airlift the Spirit of Fire's FTL Reactor to The Apex, where it could be planted deep in the Shield World, starting a chain reaction that would cause the Shield World's star to supernova, denying the Covenant access to a massive fleet of Forerunner warships. The dropship as well as its wingmen were shot down and subsequently destroyed by the Covenant before they could get close, however, and the UNSC was forced to deliver it by ground.