Attack on Ealen IV

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

Background
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 Thel 'Vadam and Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus. Captain Thomas Lasky and the UNSC Infinity were assigned to provide security for the diplomats. Unfortunately, Jul 'Mdama, who had learned of the conference through a human traitor, had placed a bounty on the heads of the diplomats. Covenant remnant forces under the command of Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat launched a surprise attack on the conference, forcing SPARTAN-IV fireteams Jackknife and Bailey to defend and evacuate the ambassadors.

The battle
Having received intel on the diplomatic mission and the UNSC personnel involved, Shipmaster 'Gajat and his associates led the attack on Ealen IV. The Covenant remnant 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 Covenant 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 Covenant forces. With their communications to their orbiting fleets having been blocked, the delegation were left without reinforcements.

Confident that the delegates were trapped within, Skirmisher 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 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 withing the UNSC was leaking the Covenant 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.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Escalation