Halo: Escalation

Halo: Escalation is a twelve-issue comic book series produced by Dark Horse Comics. It focuses on "how the events of Halo 4 have helped define the destiny not only of the Chief but of the galaxy as a whole". The story centers on the being assigned escort duty for a diplomatic mission between the Arbiter and the Jiralhanae around a month after the events of Spartan Ops. However, the escort team soon has to fend off an attack meant to thwart the negotiations.

Issue 1
Official summary:

Synopsis Issue #1 opens with Commander Sarah Palmer and Fireteam Jackknife inside the 's training simulation deck. Their War Games session is interrupted by Captain Thomas Lasky who asks to speak with Commander Palmer. Lasky informs her that they have been requested to appear before the UNSC Security Council at HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6. At the hearing, the council expresses misgiving about Lasky's handling of the Second Battle of Requiem. Admiral Serin Osman berates Lasky over the complete destruction of Requiem and the failed assassination of Dr. Catherine Halsey. Osman then asks Palmer if Lasky had sent Fireteam Majestic to stop her from eliminating Halsey. Wanting to protect Lasky from any ramifications, Palmer lies and tells Osman that Majestic was there as backup. Shortly after, Admiral Hood arrives onboard Infinity to speak with Lasky. He tells Lasky that the is assigned to pursue Jul 'Mdama as he needs Infinity to aid in peace talks between the Sangheili and the Jiralhanae. Two days later, Infinity arrives at Ealen IV. Lord Hood meets with the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, and the Brute Chieftain Lydus. Lasky, Palmer and Jackknife join the delegates inside the plasma center as Paul DeMarco of Majestic and Fireteam Bailey act as overwatch. The delegation is caught off guard when Covenant remnant forces blast into the conference chamber. The Spartan IVs defend the delegation and escort them to a nearby parts depot when their evacuation shuttle is destroyed. With communications with their orbiting fleets blocked, the delegation are left without reinforcements.

Issue 2
Official summary:

Synopsis Issue #2 opens with the delegation attempting to re-establish communication with the orbiting fleet. The Arbiter informs Hood of the planet's fortifications as a means for an escape route. Lasky orders Palmer to get the ambassadors to the redoubt. Palmer tasks Spartan Ray to escort Lasky and utilize her SIGINT background to re-establish communications. Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat and his forces arrive and is informed by Tek that the envoy has retreated into the repair depot. However, a human associate of 'Gajat tells him that they should move quickly before the capital ships respond. In orbit, while Infinity tries to re-establish contact with the delegation, the Jiralhanae contact the ship and demand to know why communication has been blocked. 'Gajat and his forces storm the depot, only to find the delegation missing. The Shipmaster orders his forces to prepare for deployment, noting that his agent would provide the whereabouts of the envoy.

The company make their way through the service conduits leading from the depot. Suddenly, a Lich appears and drops off several troops. Palmer takes her helmet filled with grenades and sends it up the Lich's gravity lift, destroying the Lich. Lasky and Ray make their way down the administrative wing of the facility taking out an Elite Warrior along the way. They find a network console and Ray discovers multiple signals being broadcast blocking out incoming transmissions. The destroyed Lich crashes down onto the service bridge while an Elite Storm unit is taken out by Spartan Scruggs. Palmer orders Fireteam Jackknife to move ahead to the redoubt while Hood searches the downed Elite. Hood discovers a UNSC data pad containing information on the Spartans and says someone is leaking information about the negotiations. Lasky and Ray secure two Banshees and make their way to the power source of the jammer but observe Covenant forces heading for the redoubt. Palmer is informed by Scruggs that the facility is secure. Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Scruggs has instead taken out his team and the security detail.

Issue 3
Official summary: Synopsis Issue #3 opens with Lasky and Ray attacking a Covenant base, which is the jammer' source. After encountering massive resistance by Covenant forces, they destroy the reactor. In the redoubt, Palmer sends DeMarco and Bailey to see if they can find some weapons. After receiving Scruggs' coordinates, Lydus questions whether the peace talk will succeed. Hood tells him that the Jiralhanae will need Lydus as a leader if they want to survive. Scruggs captures Hood, and holds him at gunpoint. Lydus threatens to kill him, but the Arbiter stops him and asks Scruggs what he wants. Scruggs replied that he will answer them once his associates arrive. In orbit, Infinity crew begins to worry because the Sangheili and Jiralhanae ships begin to deploy forces against their ships. Infinity receives a transmission from Lasky and Ray, who inform them that the Covenant has attacked the delegation. Bradley informs them that the Sangheili and Jiralhanae are about to attack each other. Lasky contact with both fleets and ask them not to attack and send their forces to the surface. However, both sides refuse to listen to him and the Covenant transports their forces toward the redoubt.

Issue 4
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Issue 5
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Issue 6
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Characters

 * Andrew Del Rio
 * Bradley
 * Catherine Halsey
 * Dellert
 * Gabriel Thorne
 * Gomez
 * Hogan
 * James Cutter
 * Jespersen
 * Jul 'Mdama
 * Lydus
 * Nicolas Strauss
 * Paul DeMarco
 * Petra Janecek
 * Ray
 * Roland
 * Ryder
 * Sarah Palmer
 * Serin Osman
 * Tek
 * Terrence Hood
 * Thel 'Vadam
 * Thomas Lasky
 * Vata 'Gajat
 * Vladimir Scruggs

Species

 * Forerunner
 * Human
 * Jiralhanae
 * Kig-Yar
 * Skirmisher
 * Mgalekgolo
 * Sangheili
 * Unggoy

Organizations

 * Covenant remnant
 * Sanghelios government
 * Ascetics
 * United Nations Space Command
 * UNSC High Command
 * UNSC Security Council
 * UNSC Defense Force
 * Spartan
 * SPARTAN-IV Program
 * Fireteam Bailey
 * Fireteam Jackknife
 * Fireteam Majestic
 * UNSC Air Force
 * UNSC Army
 * UNSC Marine Corps
 * Orbital Drop Shock Troopers
 * UNSC Navy
 * Fleet Command
 * Orbital Defense Command
 * Office of Naval Intelligence

Locations

 * Epoloch system
 * Requiem
 * Sol system
 * Luna
 * Mare Imbrium
 * Ankara
 * Earth
 * Australia
 * Sydney
 * HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6
 * United Republic of North America
 * New Phoenix
 * Ealen IV

Events

 * Great Schism
 * Human-Covenant War
 * Reclamation conflict
 * Battle of Earth (2557)
 * Second Battle of Requiem
 * Battle of Ealen IV

Vehicles

 * AC-220 Vulture
 * D79-TC Pelican
 * Diplomatic shuttle
 * DS-004
 * F-41 Broadsword
 * Freighter
 * M12 Warthog
 * M808 Scorpion
 * OF92 Booster Frame
 * Type-25 Chopper
 * Type-25 Spirit
 * Type-26 Banshee
 * Type-27 Banshee
 * Type-52 Phantom
 * Type-56 Lich
 * Type-25 Chopper
 * Type-25 Spirit
 * Type-26 Banshee
 * Type-27 Banshee
 * Type-52 Phantom
 * Type-56 Lich

Weapons

 * ARC-920
 * BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle
 * Combat knife
 * Hardlight blade
 * M395 Designated Marksman Rifle
 * M45D Tactical Shotgun
 * M6H Personal Defense Weapon System
 * M739 Light Machine Gun
 * MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System
 * SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle
 * Type-1 plasma grenade
 * Type-1 energy sword
 * Type-2 gravity hammer
 * Type-25 plasma pistol
 * Type-25 spiker
 * Type-33 needler
 * Type-38 Tyrant
 * Type-50 concussion rifle
 * Type-50 particle beam rifle
 * Type-51 carbine
 * Type-55 storm rifle
 * Z-250 lightrifle

Technology

 * Artificial intelligence
 * Avatar
 * Promethean Knight
 * Promethean Watcher
 * Combat simulation deck
 * Holography
 * Holotank
 * Data pad
 * Deployable lookout tower
 * Gravity lift
 * Jiralhanae combat harness
 * Chieftain variant
 * Captain Major variant
 * Minor variant
 * Kig-Yar combat harness
 * Minor variant
 * Sniper variant
 * Storm variant
 * Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet
 * Kig-Yar targeting headgear
 * MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor
 * MJOLNIR [GEN2]
 * Commando variant
 * HAZOP variant
 * Infiltrator variant
 * Recon variant
 * Recruit variant
 * Scout variant
 * Soldier variant
 * War Master variant
 * Pinch fusion reactor
 * Plasma battery
 * Requiem slipspace artifacts
 * Sangheili combat harness
 * Arbiter body armor
 * Ascetic variant
 * Assault variant
 * Commander variant
 * Minor variant
 * Ranger variant
 * Storm variant
 * Warrior variant
 * Zealot variant
 * Skirmisher combat harness
 * Champion variant
 * UNSC Navy uniforms
 * UNSC Navy Service Uniform
 * Unggoy combat harness
 * Heavy variant
 * Imperial variant
 * Minor variant
 * Storm variant

Production notes
Though the series primarily uses Halo 4 ' s designs for the Covenant species and their equipment, the Halo 3 and Halo: Reach incarnations of certain elements also appear in some panels. Most notably, Lydus resembles the Brutes seen in Halo: Reach, yet his bodyguards are clearly drawn in their Halo 3 likeness. Pre-Halo: Reach and post-Halo: Reach Banshees are shown side-by-side in Issue 2, and a Halo 3/Reach-style Grunt makes a cameo in the same issue. Curiously, despite his recognizable classic appearance, Escalation depicts the Arbiter much like the Sangheili in Halo 4 with regard to his skin tone and mouth structure.

Mistakes

 * In some panels in Issue 1, Kig-Yar are seen with four fingers instead of three.
 * In Issue 1, the visor color of the Spartan with War Master armor is orange, yet in Issue 2 it is blue.