Operation: WHISTLE STOP
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Operation: WHISTLE STOP was the codename assigned by the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) to a military operation conducted on May 8, 2558.[3] The operation took place on Ven III, pitting several SPARTAN-IVs from UNSC Infinity against a network of Kig-Yar pirates and smugglers in response to reports of a bioweapon being developed by the Kig-Yar on the world. In reality, the bioweapon was a plot manufactured by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) designed to goad Infinity into getting involved on the planet - and thus being forced to take action against the pirate nest that had been building up for some time.[1]
Background[edit]
During the Human-Covenant War, the borderline-uninhabitable planet of Ven III was used by the Covenant as a staging area to launch offensives against humanity. After the war's end, the world fell into the Joint Occupation Zone, claimed by no major power. As such, it became an ideal site for Kig-Yar criminals to retreat to and became a hub of arms smuggling and piracy.[1] This threat, and the potential issues it may cause in the future, were noted by the UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence for some time, with numerous memorandums and notices sent up the chain of command requesting that action be taken to deal with the threat. For the UNSC Navy, however, the pirate problem was a relatively low priority on their list, and as such no action was taken. Around November 2557, ONI once again sent a memo to UNSC High Command (HIGHCOM) alerting them to the problem and outlining several worst-case scenarios that may emerge, but also admonishing the brass for their inaction in dealing with the threat. After this was once again ignored, ONI instead manufactured their own problem on Ven III to force the UNSC's hand.[2]
Using one of their undercover agents, a Sangheili mercenary Ayit 'Sevi (given the ONI codename SNAKE IN THE GRASS), ONI staged for a fake bioweapons alert on Ven III. 'Sevi and a cadre of Elite mercenaries used an old Covenant research lab to set up a convincing facade of a bioweapons experiment gone wrong.[2] By the time a UNSC spy drone was dispatched to the facility on May 8, 2558, multiple Kig-Yar at the facility had perished to a bacterial infection. The evidence from the drone was used by ONI to fabricate a cover story to sell to the UNSC, which allowed them to task seevral Spartans from UNSC Infinity to deal with the threat. The Spartans' objective was ato apprehend an unidentified Sangheili (actually 'Sevi) who had been spotted leaving the facility with a canister presumed to be carrying the biological agent. ONI's cover story framed 'Sevi as a representative of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, and pushed the narrative that the Covenant were interested in using bioweapons against humanity.[1] This was of particular note given another, similar, weapon had been unleashed on Sedra two years prior.
Admiral Serin Osman, the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence (CINCONI), contacted Captain Thomas Lasky aboard Infinity and briefed him on the situation, stating that the Sangheili may be an agent of Jul 'Mdama and may have double-crossed the Kig-Yar in the lab, or that they released the bioweapon on themselves by accident. Osman ordered Lasky to deal with the situation while exercising extreme caution before the Sangheili could use the bioweapon against humanity. Lasky hand-picked a team of two SPARTAN-IVs, Naiya Ray and Gabriel Thorne, for the task. Due to the nature of the mission, Lasky decided that he must use the smallest team possible out of risk of alerting the target Sangheili to the threat and losing him in Ven III's extensive tunnel systems. After being briefed, the Spartans were sent to Ven III.[1]
The mission[edit]
The two Spartans were deployed to Ven III's surface by a Sahara-class heavy prowler. As Ray and Thorne made their way on the planet's surface, they encountered a number of wandering Kig-Yar but no organized resistance. The two entered a narrow canyon where they lost communications with Infinity due to a nearby jamming field. As the Spartans proceeded further into the canyon, they were observed by 'Sevi, who had just destroyed the UNSC spy drone that was delivering the feed to Infinity. Infinity's shipboard artificial intelligence, Roland, immediately alerted Lasky to this as well as the communications blackout, suggesting that Infinity should change course toward Ven III to provide backup for the ground team. Having been ordered to avoid direct engagement, Lasky instead had Roland summon Commander Sarah Palmer. Meanwhile, Thorne and Ray observed a Covenant structure for some time before entering it. Once they were inside, the two SPARTAN-IVs were ambushed by the Sangheili and a contingent of Kig-Yar. As a skirmish ensured, the Spartans were able to defeat most of the Kig-Yar, catching them by surprise by rocketing out of the structure using their armor-integrated thrusters. However, the Sangheili attached a shock device onto Thorne's armor and activated it. The electronic shock knocked Thorne unconscious and the Sangheili captured him. Escaping on a Karo'etba-pattern Ghost with Thorne, Spartan Ray quickly followed.[1]
Aboard Infinity, Captain Lasky proposed sending another two-man Spartan team to backup Thorne and Ray. However, Commander Palmer insisted on the deployment of an entire SPARTAN-IV fireteam. As Ray continued to chase after the Sangheili, they eventually moved out of the range of the communications jammer, allowing Ray to contact Infinity. Ray followed the Sangheili and Thorne into a deep subterranean tunnel where she discovered an enormous cavern filled with former Covenant vessels and vehicles; a major hideout for Kig-Yar pirates. Although the UNSC originally estimated there to only be around a hundred Kig-Yar on the planet, Ray realized that there was at least 200,000 of them. Noticing Kig-Yar smugglers, black market arms dealers, slavers, and pirates operating with in the cavern, she saw 'Sevi and a Kig-Yar carrying Thorne's unconscious body into a hangar bay. However, a Kig-Yar snuck up behind Ray and ambushed her. As her signal with Infinity terminated, Lasky ordered Roland to carry out the course change towards Ven III and to call for all teams on deck.[1] Shortly afterward, Ray was able to kill her attacker and reestablished contact with Infinity. She then found a Spectre and proceeded into the pirates' base.[2]
Upon exiting slipspace in the Ven system, Infinity was met by an advance fleet sent by the Kig-Yar pirate queen Vrak'is. Infinity immediately retaliated by launching multiple F-41 Broadsword space fighters to counter the pirate force in space. A rescue convoy consisting of two D77 Pelicans escorted by a flight of C712 Longswords was launched and managed to break through the fleet. They immediately entered Ven III's atmosphere and launched two HAVOK nuclear missiles into the base's entrance resulting in the destruction of the back-up fleet. Palmer and Majestic were deployed into the base and eliminated many of the pirates before proceeding to Ray and Thorne's location. Ray eventually found Thorne and attempted to hold Ayit 'Sevi in place until the rescue squad arrived, though 'Sevi was able to escape. Ray relayed Thorne's location to Palmer before pursuing him. Ray then grabbed a Ghost and pursued the Elite, managing to disable his Ghost outside the base. Before Ray could take any further action against the Sangheili, two Sahara-class heavy prowlers landed nearby and several ONI agents ordered Ray to stand down. Ray was handed a report from Admiral Osman with orders to detain the Sangheili and the bioweapon. The Sangheili was then led to the prowler. Thorne was rescued and returned to the Infinity.[2]
Spartan Holly Tanaka was a part of the Spartan reinforcement team sent to Ven III, where she was involved in sweeping and clearing the pirate nest.[3]
Aftermath[edit]
Discussing the aftermath, Lasky told Palmer not to be angry at Ray for her actions due to the circumstances. He also told Palmer that his debriefing with Osman went surprisingly well despite the covert operation turning into a battle. Palmer asked if he learned anything about the captured Elite, but Lasky explained he was told to drop the subject. Lasky then informed Palmer that he had been able to call in a favour and gain access to the original HIGHCOM memo from ONI warning of the growing threat on Ven III from six months prior, growing to suspect that ONI had deliberately set up the bioweapon incident in order to trick Infinity into dealing with the problem. He wondered which was worse: that ONI played them or that they fell for the staged act. Lasky then asked Palmer not to let him forget about what they learned that day.[2]
Ultimately Ayit 'Sevi went on to work with ONI again, going on to act as a spy within Jul 'Mdama's Covenant in the battle for the Absolute Record later in the year. After Sali 'Nyon and his Covenant split off from Jul, 'Sevi remained embedded in their forces (and later, the Order of Restoration), where he would regularly report in to ONI's Admiral Jilan al-Cygni (Codename: COALMINER).
Although she survived the defeat at Ven III, Vrak'is was not able to again rise to her former prestige. Instead, she took to her raiding ship Daggerboard and became a recluse, roaming Kig-Yar space.[4]
Gallery[edit]
Cover art for Halo: Escalation Issue 11, depicting Thorne fighting a Jackal.
Kig-Yar killed by the bioweapon.
Thorne and Ray discover a Covenant base.
Thorne battling Kig-Yar.
Thorne is electrocuted.
The Sangheili carries Thorne to a Ghost.
The Kig-Yar pirate base.
A Kig-Yar ambushing Ray.
Cover art for Halo: Escalation Issue 12, depicting Ray's chase of 'Sevi.
Naiya thwarts an ambush.
Infinity engages in battle over Ven III.
The UNSC rescue convoy breach the advance fleet.
UNSC craft enter Ven III's atmosphere.
Naiya Ray finds Gabriel Thorne.
Palmer and Majestic fight through the pirates' nest.
Ray pursues the Sangheili through Ven III's caverns.
ONI takes control of the operation.
Lasky has a debriefing of the mission by Osman.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Escalation (First appearance)
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Limited Edition dossiers (Mentioned only)
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Halo: Escalation, issue 11
- ^ a b c d e f Halo: Escalation, issue 12
- ^ a b c Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition, Dossier files - Holly Tanaka
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Fleetcom Fiction (Retrieved on Aug 14, 2024) [local archive] [external archive]
