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Concurrent:	Battle of the Citadel (Phase I)
Next:	Battle of the Citadel (Phase II)
Battle of Ilos Part of the Eden Prime War
Artist's interpretation of the final rush to the Conduit
Date:	19 July 2183 CE
Location:	Trakkar Capital / Ilos / Refuge / Pangaea Expanse
Outcome:	Operational SA victory Saren Arterius and most of his troops make it to the Citadel Council forces caught unaware The Normandy Squad successfully use the Conduit to pursue Saren
Belligerents Normandy Squad Saren's Alliance Geth Heretics Commanders Marcus L. Shepard Saren Arterius Unit C011 Strength Normandy Squad 6 combatants 1 M35 Mako 1 Normandy-class stealth frigate SSV Normandy Geth Heretic Army 20,000 geth troops 1,000 geth recon drones 2,000 geth assault drones 11,500 geth troopers 2,000 geth destroyers 2,000 geth juggernauts 1,000 geth hoppers 300 geth primes 1,000 geth armatures 500 geth colossi Geth Heretic Navy Heretic Reserve Fleet 79 ships Indoctrinated forces 100 tank-bred krogan Casualties None Dozens of geth killed 2 ships destroyed

"If Saren reaches the Conduit, we're all screwed! We need to get to Ilos!"

— Marcus Shepard to the Council.

The Battle of Ilos, known to Saren's forces as Operation Catch Cry: Phase I, was a medium-scale engagement between the Normandy Squad and the forces of Saren's Alliance during the Eden Prime War on the planet Ilos. Following Saren's defeat at the Battle of Virmire, both sides were getting ready for what they knew was going to be the final confrontation of the war, but neither side knew exactly what steps would be taken next. Despite the losses suffered on Virmire, Saren Arterius and Sovereign were able to mobilize the remnants of their fleets and armies and headed for Ilos, having found the Conduit. While Sovereign took the Fleet of the Herald and commenced its assault on the Citadel directly, Saren would take their ground forces and use the Conduit to invade the Citadel, before securing the station's controls and keeping the arms open, allowing Sovereign to take control of the station and activate the relay to allow the awaiting Reapers to pour through. Saren however was unaware that Shepard also knew where the Conduit was, believing he had the element of surprise.

At the same time, both Saren and Shepard were unaware that the Council believed Saren was no longer a threat. When they impounded Shepard's ship, he staged a hijacking and took his team to intercept Saren's troops on Ilos. The Normandy broke through the minimal geth naval presence over the planet and made landfall, which Saren was soon alerted to. Despite their best efforts, the Normandy Squad was unable to stop Saren before he used the Conduit, with a significant portion of his forces making it onto the Citadel to carry out their assault. The Normandy Squad raced into the Conduit, bringing an end to the battle on Ilos.