User blog comment:The Milkman/Everybody Shut Up./@comment-2250460-20120425053814/@comment-4952006-20120425154937

"Hammer" was the code name for all of the Earth-side ground forces. "Shield" was the code name for the portion of the combined human/turian/asari/etc. fleet that was protecting the Crucible. "Sword" was the remainder of the combined human/turian/asari/etc. fleet that was not protecting the Crucible and was instead engaging the reaper armada directly.