Editing Halo: Escalation Issue 3

{{Title|''Halo: Escalation Issue 3''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Comics infobox
|prev=Halo: Escalation Issue 2
|next=Halo: Escalation Issue 4
|image=[[File:HaloEscalation3.jpg|250px]]
|writer=[[Christopher Schlerf]]
|artist=*Sergio Ariño (penciller)<br>
*Juan Castro (inker)
*Michael Atiyeh (colorist)
*Anthony Palumbo (cover artist)
|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|publication= February 26, 2014
|length=32 pages
}}

'''''Halo: Escalation Issue 3''''' was released on [[2014|February 26, 2014]] and is the third comic in the ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' series.<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-703/Halo-Escalation-3/ '''Dark Horse:''' ''Halo: Escalation Issue 3'']</ref>

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|Commander Palmer confronts [[Vladimir Scruggs|the traitor]] who has betrayed her team, as the Covenant closes in on their position. With time running out, Lasky is forced to make a costly sacrifice to save the peace delegation from the impending attack.

“Atiyeh’s colors... make the action pop off the page.” ''—Comic Book Therapy''}}

==Plot synopsis==
Issue #3 opens with Lasky and [[Naiya Ray|Ray]] attacking a Covenant base and destroying the [[pinch fusion reactor|reactor]], the source of the Covenant jamming signal. In the redoubt, [[Lydus]] continues to express his skepticism over whether the peace talk will succeed. [[Terrence Hood|Hood]] tells him that the [[Jiralhanae]] will need Lydus as a leader if they want to survive. Scruggs suddenly appears and holds Hood at gunpoint, stating that he will reveal his demands once his associates arrive. The situation in orbit continues to worsen as [[Sangheili]] and Jiralhanae ships begin to deploy forces against each other. Having cleared the communications interference, Lasky informs ''[[UNSC Infinity|Infinity]]'' of the Covenant's attack. Upon being updated on the crisis between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, Lasky contacts the fleets and asks them to cease their infighting and send their forces to the delegates' aid instead. However, both sides refuse to listen to him while a massive Covenant force converges on the redoubt. Meanwhile, [[Vata 'Gajat|'Gajat]] and [[Daniel Clayton|his human accomplice]] converse aboard the Covenant forces' flagship and it is revealed that 'Gajat is secretly working for [[New Colonial Alliance|an unknown party]] without [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s knowledge.

In the redoubt, Scruggs continues to hold Hood hostage. He denies that he is working for the [[Insurrectionist]]s and indicates that he is aware of some of ONI's secrets, including the cover-up of the [[New Phoenix Incident]], their [[Kilo-Five|covert campaign]] against the Sangheili and [[John-117]]'s recent disappearance. Palmer then shoots Lord Hood in the leg, tackles Scruggs and, after a brief struggle, kills the rogue Spartan by stabbing him in the throat with a [[combat knife]]. With the Covenant bearing on the site in force, the group find [[Covenant cargo tug|a craft]] they can use to evacuate. DeMarco and Fireteam Bailey remain behind to cover the ambassadors' escape with [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|Tyrant AA guns]] and DeMarco is killed when the Covenant destroy the cannon he is manning. Thanks to his sacrifice, the delegation, Lasky and the surviving Spartans make it aboard ''Infinity'', prompting 'Gajat's fleet to retreat. A funeral ceremony is held for the Spartans fallen in the battle, with an angry Palmer telling Lasky she wants to be alone. One week later, Lasky and Hood discuss the troubling prospect that someone higher-ranked than Scruggs must have leaked the location of the negotiations, indicating a severe security breach in the UNSC's hierarchy.

==Production notes==
The comic suggests that all members of [[Fireteam Bailey]] sacrifice their lives to cover the delegation's escape; although only DeMarco's death is shown, there are six coffins in the funeral ceremony commemorating the fallen Spartans, ostensibly coinciding with the Spartans of Bailey along with [[Newman]] and [[To]], the two members of [[Fireteam Jackknife]] killed by Scruggs. Nonetheless, it was later clarified that the three other members of Bailey—[[Dunn (Spartan-IV)|Dunn]], [[Hong]], and [[Jones (Spartan-IV)|Jones]]—survived the battle.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/canon-fodder-1-15-15-just-getting-started/1091aee3-f861-4b8b-b405-f3dfd01a4e65/posts?page=2#post25 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - '' Canon Fodder 1-15-15: Just Getting Started'']</ref> It is possible that the other Spartans of Bailey were presumed dead and recognized at the memorial service only to be recovered later. It is possible that the additional caskets belong to Spartans who were kept in reserve aboard the shuttle and killed when it was destroyed.

===Mistakes===
The first casket during the funeral loses its pall between panels.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo Escalation 3.jpg|Full cover art.
File:HE3 Ray Reactor.jpg|Spartan Ray destroys a reactor.
File:HoodHostage.png|Vladimir Scruggs holds Lord Hood hostage.
File:ThelcalmsLydus.png|Lydus threatens to kill Scruggs while 'Vadam attempts to learn why Scruggs has turned on them.
File:HE3 Lydus' pack.jpg|Chieftain [[Lydus' clan]].
File:Vata Gajat's fleet.jpg|'Gajat's forces inbound to the redoubt.
File:HE John-117.jpg|Scruggs mentions the Master Chief's disappearance.
File:HE3 Palmer vs Scruggs.jpg|Palmer battles against Scruggs.
File:HE Scruggs killed.jpg|Palmer kills Scruggs using her combat knife.
File:HE-T38-Tyrant-AAC.jpg|Paul DeMarco must stay behind and man the AA cannon.
File:DeMarco Death.png|DeMarco pushes on through to end.
File:HE3 DeMarco.jpg|DeMarco in his lasts moments.
File:Escalation - Ealen and Corvette.png|'Gajat's corvette prepares to leave Ealen IV.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue 2]]''|title=[[Halo: Escalation]] comic series|years='''''Issue 3'''''|after=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 4|Issue 4]]''}}

{{Comics|HE}}
==See also==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
[[Category:Comics|Escalation Issue 3]]
[[Category:Canon]]