Attack on Ealen IV

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Attack on Ealen IV
Conflict:	Post-Covenant War conflicts Sangheili-Jiralhanae war
Date:	March 5, 2558, after 0702 MST
Location:	Ealen IV, Ealen system, Milky Way galaxy
Outcome:	Indecisive UNSC saves the ambassadors Peace negotiations stalled
Details Belligerents United Earth Government United Nations Space Command Swords of Sanghelios Children of Oth Sonin New Colonial Alliance Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group Commanders Delegation leaders FADM Terrence Hood Arbiter Thel 'Vadam Chieftain Lydus Protection detail CAPT Thomas Lasky CDR Sarah Palmer CDR Bradley Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat Champion Tek CAPT Daniel Clayton Strength UNSC UNSC Infinity Two SPARTAN-IV fireteams Bailey Paul DeMarco† Hong Dunn Jones Jackknife Naiya Ray Newman† To† Sangheili fleet Lydus' fleet One Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette At least four Covenant carriers At least two Covenant cruisers Vladimir Scruggs† Numerous ex-Covenant infantry Jiralhanae Sangheili Kig-Yar T'vaoans Mgalekgolo Unggoy Several T-26 Banshees Several T-27 Banshees Several Phantoms Several Spirits 1 Lich Casualties One diplomatic shuttle Unidentified Lieutenant Three Sangheili Two Jiralhanae Six SPARTAN-IVs Paul DeMarco To Newman Three unknown Spartans 1 Type-56 Lich Several Sangheili Several Kig-Yar Several Unggoy Vladimir Scruggs Several T-26 Banshees

The Attack on Ealen IV was an engagement fought on Ealen IV on March 5, 2558.

Background

Main article: Great Schism

Following an escalation in Jiralhanae raiding attacks along the joint-occupation zones, Ealen IV was chosen as a place for peace negotiations between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae. UNSC Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood acted as a mediator between Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus. Captain Thomas Lasky and the UNSC Infinity were assigned to provide security for the diplomats. Unfortunately, Daniel Clayton, a UNSC captain and defector to the New Colonial Alliance bent on revenge against Lord Hood, placed a bounty on the heads of the diplomats, hiring Covenant mercenaries under the command of Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat to stop the negotiations. The mercenaries launched a surprise attack on the conference, forcing SPARTAN-IV fireteams Jackknife and Bailey to defend and evacuate the ambassadors. 'Gajat chose to keep the attack, as well his involvement with the New Colonial Alliance, secret from the new Covenant's leader Jul 'Mdama.

Battle

Having received intel on the diplomatic mission and the UNSC personnel involved, Shipmaster 'Gajat and Daniel Clayton led the attack on Ealen IV. The mercenaries blasted into the plasma facility's conference chamber in an attempt to assassinate the ambassadors. Commander Sarah Palmer ordered Jackknife to clear the chamber and help the delegates evacuate. Despite facing heavy resistance from mercenary forces outside, Fireteam Bailey managed to clear a path for the delegates. When their evacuation shuttle was destroyed, the Spartan IV's proceeded to escort the delegation to a nearby parts depot. Once all were inside, Paul DeMarco sealed the depot to halt the oncoming mercenary forces. With their communications to their orbiting fleets having been blocked, the delegation were left without reinforcements.

Confident that the delegates were trapped within, the Skirmisher Champion Tek informed 'Gajat of their enemy's retreat. Inside the repair depot, Thel 'Vadam notified the rest of existing tunnels leading to an old fortified redoubt in which they could take refuge in. Captain Thomas Lasky ordered Palmer and the protection detail to escort the delegation to the redoubt, while he and Spartan Naiya Ray would try to reestablish communications with the fleet above the planet.

As the party escaped the storage depot, they were intercepted by a Covenant Lich. Palmer quickly acted and threw her helmet filled with grenades and destroyed the Lich. Jackknife then went ahead with the delegation's bodyguards to ensure that the redoubt was safe for the delegates to use as shelter. Lord Hood stopped to inspect a fallen Sangheili and discovered someone within the UNSC was leaking the mercenary information. As Jackknife arrived at the redoubt, Vladimir Scruggs betrayed his own team, killing them and the bodyguards. He then radioed Commander Palmer and informed her it was safe to bring the delegates into the redoubt.

Lasky and Ray attacked a mercenary base and destroyed a reactor, the source of the mercenary jamming signal. In the redoubt, Lydus continued to express his skepticism over whether the peace talk would succeed. Hood told him that the Jiralhanae would need Lydus as a leader if they were to survive. Scruggs suddenly appeared and held Hood at gunpoint, stating that he would reveal his demands once his associates arrived. The situation in orbit continued to worsen as Sangh