Remember way back when when 343 released data logs explaining the inconsistencies between Halo:Reach and Fall or Reach? Does anyone know where they can be found, or at least know what exactly was talked about in them? It’d be a massive help 
Google Halo data drops. Halopedia has full transcripts. They are mostly message logs between Admiral Stanforth and Margaret Parangosky discussing events leading up to Reach. Basically they decide to authorize RED FLAG and use Reach as bait to give the Spartans an opportunity to capture a large Covenant ship which fails because apparently they failed to inform anyone of the plan.