Sarah Palmer

Palmer redirects here. For the Marine corporal, see Palmer (Marine).

"They believe this is the home of one of their gods! Way I see it, if those freaks wanna meet God, it's our duty to help them along!"

- Commander Palmer discussing the Covenant presence on Requiem.

Commander Sarah Palmer is a senior officer of the Spartan branch and a veteran of the Human-Covenant War. After the war, Palmer transferred from the UNSC Marine Corps Shock Troopers into the newly independent branch and was augmented as the first SPARTAN-IV supersoldier. Now a commander, she is currently assigned as the commanding officer of the Spartan contingent aboard.

Biography
Palmer was born to embittered colonial parents, though she did not share their disdain for the United Nations Space Command. She joined the Marine Corps sometime during the 2540s and served in twelve tours on eight different worlds as an ODST. She spent much of her career in the Marine Corps as a lieutenant. She participated in an unknown battle in October 2552, during which she proved her qualification for the Spartans. After the battle, because of her physical prowess, innate tactical leadership, and unquestioning loyalty to the UNSC, the Office of Naval Intelligence and the former SPARTAN-III Jun-A266 accepted her as the first recruit for the SPARTAN-IV program.

Battle of Draetheus V
Between March 2553 and July 2557 she was stationed, along the Spartan Davis, in X50, Draetheus V's moon, when Merg Vol' Covenant forces attacked the moon. Despite the efforts of the UNSC forces, the Covenant managed to surpass them in less than an hour, forcing Palmer to go to Draetheus V to inform the planet of the impending attack.

When Merg Vol discovered that X50 was actually a Forerunner artifact capable of destroying planets and used it on Draetheus V, the artifact left the planet unstable and on the verge of collapse. When Palmer was informed that she could only save less than 40% of the population of the planet, she refused to accept that situation and planned to take the Covenant landing zones on the planet, taking their ships and use them to evacuate the planet. The plan succeeded and she managed to save more lives than initially planned.

The UNSC informed Palmer that she had one last mission: go to X50 and kill Merg Vol. Knowing that Merg Vol was aware of the defeat of his forces on the planet and that he would shoot down any ship that get out of Draetheus V except of his lieutenants' ships, Palmer and a handful of Marines captured the Phantom of one of Merg's lieutenants, Parg Vol. After this, Palmer infiltrated in the Covenant base on the moon and eliminated the rest of Merg's lieutenants. Palmer went to the activation site of the device, where she faced Merg Vol. Despite the possibilities, Palmer killed Merg Vol and destroyed the artifact. After this, Palmer and the Marines escaped the moon moments before X50 was destroyed along Draetheus V.

First tour on Requiem
"I thought you'd be taller."

- Palmer upon meeting John-117

In July 2557, Infinity intercepted a distress beacon from the near the Forerunner shield world Requiem; the remains of the vessel carried MCPO John-117, one of the few remaining SPARTAN-IIs, as well as his AI companion Cortana. Infinity was soon drawn inside the shield world, where its Spartan contingent was deployed to battle both local Promethean constructs under the command of the Didact, as well as Covenant forces. The Master Chief rendezvoused with the Spartans under Palmer's command and eventually made his way aboard Infinity. In contrast to Commander Lasky's joy at being reunited with John, Palmer reacted to the presence of a legend with a teasing comment about his height. Palmer later sent Gypsy Company to aid the Master Chief and Lasky in an attack on the gravity well generator, but did not participate in the battle herself, though she offered the Master Chief the advice to take a jetpack. Later, when the Master Chief refused to hand over Cortana, determined to stop the Didact alone, Captain Del Rio ordered Palmer was ordered to arrest the Spartan; however, she and the rest of the bridge crew ignored the order, allowing the Master Chief to leave without attempting to stop him, presumably due to her agreeing with his plan.

Second tour on Requiem
"Your new workplace is a planet called 'Requiem'. Some of the old hands here know what you're in for. The rest of you - you're due for an education."

- Palmer briefing the Infinity's Spartans on their deployment to Requiem.

In February 2558, Infinity was deployed back to Requiem. On February 8, Palmer authorized Fireteam Majestic's deployment to the surface to recover a Forerunner artifact. She also deployed Fireteam Crimson with a similar objective in support of Majestic. After the artifact was secured by Crimson it was brought back to Infinity. When the artifact started draining power from the ship, Palmer magnetized her boots to stay on the ground. She then ran at the artifact and kicked it, temporarily deactivating it. After Dr. Glassman began examining the artifact it reactivated pulling Dr. Glassman inside it through a portal. Captain Lasky attempted to save Glassman when Palmer noticed he was being pulled in as well and tackled him, keeping him out of harm's way. Sometime later, Dr. Catherine Halsey was brought in to examine the artifact in Glassman's absence. This didn't keep her from showing her disdain of Halsey however, and her suspicion was later proven correct when it was revealed Halsey was talking with someone. After this discovery Lasky ordered Palmer to arrest Dr. Halsey. She was not heard from for sometime, forcing Miller to run Spartan operations with Roland in her absence. Palmer eventually returned to run operations again, and later held off the Covenant/Promethean forces when the alliance attempted to retake the artifact that Crimson had recovered. However, she failed to realize the true goal of their invasion until it was too late, while arguing with Dr. Halsey, a Promethean Knight translocated behind her and temporarily incapacitated her before taking Dr. Halsey. Angered by this Palmer slams down on the holo-table, denting it, and leaves the bridge.

She later returns to running Ops just as Crimson was redeployed to the Apex. She ordered Crimson to shut down three slipspace portals in the area. While that was going on, Miller detected an SOS signal on a Covenant frequency, she responded quickly that the Covenant don't use SOS. After Crimson secured the Apex for Fireteam Lancer, Paul DeMarco radioed in that they were under attack from Covenant artillery and needed assistance. She ordered Crimson to take out the artillery. As they arrived at the artillery's location, Miller told her the Covenant seemed prepared for them, as if they knew they were coming, she told him not to be paranoid. After realizing the artillery was shielded, she ordered them to destroy the nearby conduits, which would overload and destroy them. After Crimson destroyed two of them DeMarco radioed in asking how many more, Palmer told him to relax and that there was one more. Miller noticed the Covenant converged on the third location immediately after he told Crimson where to go, Commander Palmer became suspicious. After Crimson destroyed the final piece of artillery she told Majestic they owed Crimson a round, and told Crimson to secure the LZ for evac. Terry Ledge of Fireteam Lancer informed her that they had found a Covenant base in the Warrens. After Crimson cleared the area she ordered them to head for the Warrens. When Crimson and Lancer arrived at the Warrens they encountered shields with cloaked generators, she ordered Miller to find out how to de-cloak them. While Crimson and Lancer engaged the Covenant forces in the area, Miller found the SOS again, Palmer quickly yelled that he should be focused on the generators. Miller located a Covenant soldier with the cloaking device, when Crimson killed him the generators were de-cloaked, Palmer told Crimson to "kindly exercise extreme force" on the generators. When they proceeded to the next area, Palmer informed Lancer that Crimson would have point for the remainder of the mission. After encountering a locked door Palmer told Crimson to take out the hostiles in the area to force those inside to open the door. After entering the cave Miller informed her the SOS was coming from inside the cave. She told Crimson to take out the Covenant forces in the area and keep their eyes open. Later, Miller informed Poker Squad had captured a wounded Elite willing to give up a Covenant listening post in exchange for its life. After clearing out the cave and opening another door, Crimson discovered the source of the SOS was from Fireteam Switchback who were being held prisoner by the Covenant. Palmer asked where Spartan Costabile was, Bradford Gale informed her that Costabile had been killed by the Covenant. After taking out Covenant reinforcements Palmer congratulated Crimson and Lancer on rescuing Switchback. After Crimson arrived at the listening posts location and secured the area, Miller told her there were jammers possibly present somewhere nearby, she told Crimson to keep a look out for them. After Crimson moved to where the listening post was she was surprised to see them using an Army pelican to listen in on UNSC communications. As Dalton prepared to fire on the pelican Palmer told him to wait until Crimson left the area. After Dalton destroyed the Pelican she commented on how it would be "nice to have the element of surprise again". Later Dr. Glassman needed help reading the map Madsen found. Palmer ordered Crimson to check out a location marked by Thorne, after securing the location Palmer asked what they found out, Glassman said nothing as they needed more proof. Palmer asked what Crimson was doing, Glassman said he may be able to free Infinity from Requiem. Using the map Glassman helped Crimson activate a friendly automated defense turret grid and heavy weapons, Palmer was impressed with this. She asked what else they could do, Glassman helped Crimson activate four anti-aircraft cannons. After this she decided to end the mission, after Crimson eliminated the Covenant in the area they were evacuated.

When orders from Admiral Serin Osman came down to kill Dr. Halsey, Palmer decided to carry it out personally. Captain Lasky felt responsible for Halsey, Plamer responded Halsey knew the consequences of betrayal. When Lasky said they shouldn't have to kill civilians, she agreed but said it had to be done. When Lasky continued to protest Palmer said she wouldn't see him court-martialed because of Halsey. When Lasky ordered her to stand down, she responded that orders were orders. She eventually made her way to Halsey's position, quietly taking out Elite guards with her combat knife. She made it into the "shrine" shortly after Gabriel Thorne had, killing an Elite about to sneak up on him. She tried to shoot and kill Dr. Halsey but hit her in the shoulder. Promethean Knights started to translocate into the area and she was forced to engage them. The rest of Fireteam Majestic showed up and engaged the knights, Palmer attempted to make her way to Halsey. However, just as she and Thorne were about to reach her a Promethean Knight translocated in behind 'Mdama and escaped with him and Halsey. She yelled in frustration and asked why Majestic was there, DeMarco told her Captain Lasky had ordered them to rescue Dr. Halsey. She questioned why he would do that when she was a traitor. Thorne then told her about how Halsey made sure he got half of the Janus Key. She then redeployed all Spartan fireteams to help in recovering Dr. Halsey.

Later, she and Fireteam Majestic were sent the deactivation codes of one of the Requiem translocation artifacts in order to free Infinity, while Fireteam Crimson deactivated the third. Suddenly the Covenant fleet flew overhead and left the planet entering slipspace, the entire planet then began to move towards the nearby sun, Palmer quickly ordered Majestic to move out. Later, after Crimson retrieved a new power supply for the Harvester Miller informed Commander Palmer that they were back at the Harvester. She informed Miller that she and Majestic were almost at their objective as well. She asked Dalton about the evacuation of the planet and he informed her that everyone else was onboard and that Crimson and Majestic were the only ones left on the planet. After activating the Harvester and opening a path to the artifact, Miller reported to Commander Palmer that they had a path to the artifact. Palmer told him to just tell her when Crimson had finished and then yelled at DeMarco to check his six. She congratulated Crimson after they deactivated their artifact. Shortly after, Captain Lasky asked how things were going she reported that Crimson had accomplished their mission, but Majestic was still working on theirs. She covered Thorne as he deactivated the device, once they cleared the area and deactivated the artifact they evacuated. Palmer and Tedra Grant piloted their Pelican back to Infinity and arrived at the ship at the same time as Crimson. Later after they successfully escaped, Palmer and Lasky visited Dr. Glassman's lab. On the way there she felt that Lasky sent Majestic to stop her, Lasky said it was to rescue Halsey, but Palmer saw no difference.

Equipment
Palmer wears the Scout variant of the MJOLNIR GEN2 armor, in lieu of specialized communications models built specifically for Spartan officers. She favors using a pair of M6H magnum sidearms.

Production notes

 * Palmer is voiced by actress Jennifer Hale, who is best known for providing the voice of the female Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect trilogy. Her facial appearance is based on Vedette Lim.
 * Then-Lieutenant Palmer is the protagonist of the Halo: Initiation comic book series, which details her career as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper prior to her induction into the SPARTAN-IVs.
 * Palmer's in-game model has copper brown hair; she is also shown with this hair color in Halo: Spartan Assault's motion comic-style cutscenes. However, she is depicted with much darker hair in the campaign's prerendered epilogue cutscene, in Spartan Ops ' cinematics, and in the Halo: Initiation comic series. While she presumably dyed her hair after the events of the campaign, her "talking head" vignettes during Spartan Ops missions use her in-game model; as such, she is shown with the reddish hair she sports in the campaign, though the lighting of her video transmissions makes this difficult to notice.
 * In Dark Horse Comics' digital preview for Issue #1 of Halo: Initiation, then-ODST Palmer's locker is erroneously stenciled "L CPL PALMER". She was actually a second or first lieutenant at the time.

List of appearances

 * Halo 4
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation