Halo: Escalation Issue 3

Halo: Escalation Issue 3 was released on February 26, 2014 and is the third comic in the Halo: Escalation series.

Plot synopsis
Issue #3 opens with Lasky and Ray attacking a Covenant base and destroying the reactor, the source of the Covenant jamming signal. In the redoubt, Lydus continues to express his skepticism over whether the peace talk will succeed. 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 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, 'Gajat and his human accomplice converse aboard the Covenant forces' flagship and it is revealed that 'Gajat is secretly working for 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 Insurrectionists and indicates that he is aware of some of ONI's secrets, including the cover-up of the New Phoenix Incident, their 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 a craft they can use to evacuate. DeMarco and Fireteam Bailey remain behind to cover the ambassadors' escape with 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, Hong, and Jones—survived the battle. 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.

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 * Halo: Escalation