Skirmish on Mona Lisa: Difference between revisions
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|date=October 2552 | |date=[[2552#October|October 25, 2552]]<ref name="Catalog">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=46#post454 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2976443)]</ref><ref group="note">According to a summary on Halo Waypoint, ''The Mona Lisa'' is set [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/the-mona-lisa-1/1f69c960-2eb1-42e0-89b4-89a58fa153b8 "between the events of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2"], which would limit the possible timeframe for the skirmish between October 1 and October 20. However, in ''Halo: First Strike'', it is suggested that ''High Charity'' is already on its way to the Soell system by September 22, having sent a smaller scouting party in advance. In ''Halo 2'', it is seen that ''High Charity'' and its fleet were present in the system until October 20, when they departed for Installation 05. ''The Mona Lisa'' makes a reference to a large Covenant fleet having left the system recently, which would coincide with ''High Charity'' and its fleet leaving on October 20th; no other large Covenant fleet is known to have left the system between September and October. Catalog later [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=46#post454 reported] that Sergeant Lopez was listed as KIA on October 25, invalidating the former Waypoint summary.</ref> | ||
|place=''Mona Lisa'', Soell system, Installation 04 debris field<ref name="tml223"/> | |place=''Mona Lisa'', Soell system, Installation 04 debris field<ref name="tml223">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 223''</ref> | ||
|result=UNSC Pyrrhic victory | |result=UNSC Pyrrhic victory | ||
*Flood outbreak successfully contained | *Flood outbreak successfully contained | ||
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|casual4= | |casual4= | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Skirmish on ''Mona Lisa''''' was fought in the [[Soell|Soell system]] within [[Installation 04]]'s debris field aboard the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]]-commissioned [[civilian]] [[Prison ship|prisoner transport]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' | The '''Skirmish on ''Mona Lisa''''' was fought in the [[Soell|Soell system]] within [[Installation 04]]'s debris field aboard the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]]-commissioned [[civilian]] [[Prison ship|prisoner transport]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' on [[2552#October|October 25, 2552]].<ref name="Catalog"/> Having suffered a catastrophic [[Flood]] outbreak as a result of the actions of the ONI operative [[John Smith]], the ship was later [[Boarding|boarded]] by an ill-fated [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] unit and destroyed only hours afterward.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"''</ref> | ||
The ONI [[operation]]s codenamed '''RED CLOUD''' and '''WHITE SAND''' were linked with the engagement.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963929_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2963929 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Catalog Interaction'' (page 18)]</ref> | The ONI [[operation]]s codenamed '''RED CLOUD''' and '''WHITE SAND''' were linked with the engagement.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963929_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2963929 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Catalog Interaction'' (page 18)]</ref> | ||
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When scouting an infirmary on their way to the bridge, Lopez's team discovered a safe room, finding John Smith inside. Smith, not revealing his true identity, claimed to be the ship's medical officer while continuously insisting they should leave the ship immediately, but his pleas were ignored by Lopez.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 265-271''</ref> Meanwhile, Cranker and Maller, who had been repurposed as [[Flood combat form]]s, approached the Marines' Pelican. The pilot, [[Burgundy]], assumed they were injured and opened the rear ramp, only to be attacked by the two who then proceeded to drag her through the ship toward the proto-Gravemind in the engine room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 271-272''</ref> | When scouting an infirmary on their way to the bridge, Lopez's team discovered a safe room, finding John Smith inside. Smith, not revealing his true identity, claimed to be the ship's medical officer while continuously insisting they should leave the ship immediately, but his pleas were ignored by Lopez.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 265-271''</ref> Meanwhile, Cranker and Maller, who had been repurposed as [[Flood combat form]]s, approached the Marines' Pelican. The pilot, [[Burgundy]], assumed they were injured and opened the rear ramp, only to be attacked by the two who then proceeded to drag her through the ship toward the proto-Gravemind in the engine room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 271-272''</ref> | ||
[[File:TML - Rebecca n Foucault.png|thumb|left|250px|Rebecca and Foucault on the bridge of the ''Red Horse''.]] | |||
When cutting through the ship's recycling plant, Benti and her team were attacked by a group of Flood. As they were being chased by the Flood, Tsardikos fell behind and was immediately killed. Soon after, Orlav was infected and bit Gersten before being shot by Clarence. The rest of the team then made it to safety in a maintenance room, where they encountered Patrick Rimmer and his Sangheili companion, "Henry", armed with a cricket bat. Here, Gersten began to show symptoms of infection and was promptly executed by Clarence.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 285-292''</ref> | |||
On the ''Red Horse'', Commander Foucault, still unaware of the threat aboard the ''Mona Lisa'', prepared to have Sergeant [[Fugazi]] and two squads sent to the ''Mona Lisa'' in order to reinforce Lopez's squad, which had dropped out of contact. Rebecca, however, pointed out that their orders were to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' immediately if contact with the recon team aboard was lost. The AI then showed the Commander the true nature of the Flood in order to convince him.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 297-299''</ref> Upon seeing recordings of the Flood from Installation 04, Foucault withdrew his order to send more Marines, but would still remain reluctant to fire upon the ''Mona Lisa'' with Lopez's squad on board.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 316-317''</ref> | On the ''Red Horse'', Commander Foucault, still unaware of the threat aboard the ''Mona Lisa'', prepared to have Sergeant [[Fugazi]] and two squads sent to the ''Mona Lisa'' in order to reinforce Lopez's squad, which had dropped out of contact. Rebecca, however, pointed out that their orders were to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' immediately if contact with the recon team aboard was lost. The AI then showed the Commander the true nature of the Flood in order to convince him.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 297-299''</ref> Upon seeing recordings of the Flood from Installation 04, Foucault withdrew his order to send more Marines, but would still remain reluctant to fire upon the ''Mona Lisa'' with Lopez's squad on board.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 316-317''</ref> | ||
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===Finale=== | ===Finale=== | ||
Percy and Singh were killed by a combat form that had been Ayad before Lopez's team reached the bridge, leaving only the Sergeant and MacCraw. On the bridge, Lopez contacted the ''Red Horse'', learning that Foucault was preparing to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' with a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shiva warhead]] immediately once Smith was aboard the ''Red Horse'', as the Major's Pelican had attracted the attention of the Covenant ship which now changed course, bearing down on the ''Red Horse''. Lopez and MacCraw then began to make their way to the two escape pods still left on the lower deck.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 322-327''</ref> | Percy and Singh were killed by a combat form that had been Ayad before Lopez's team reached the bridge, leaving only the Sergeant and MacCraw. On the bridge, Lopez contacted the ''Red Horse'', learning that Foucault was preparing to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' with a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shiva warhead]] immediately once Smith was aboard the ''Red Horse'', as the Major's Pelican had attracted the attention of the Covenant ship which now changed course, bearing down on the ''Red Horse''. Lopez and MacCraw then began to make their way to the two escape pods still left on the lower deck.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 322-327''</ref> | ||
[[File:TML - finale.png|thumb|250px|The final standoff between Henry and Lopez.]] | |||
Meanwhile, Benti's party made it into the engine room, where they discovered the proto-Gravemind and witnessed Burgundy being merged with it. At the same time, Lopez's exchange with the ''Red Horse'' rang through the ''Mona Lisa'''s PA system, driving the Flood into a mad frenzy. Benti then used a pair of [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenade|fragmentation grenades]] to destroy the proto-Gravemind, also causing the ship's slipspace drive to destabilize.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 328-332''</ref> | |||
The Marines eventually regrouped outside the [[airlock]] with the two remaining escape pods, learning that each could only hold a single occupant. As Lopez and MacCraw held their ground at the airlock, the rest of the survivors arrived, with "Henry" carrying an injured Benti. Suddenly, Clarence executed Rimmer and trained his rifle on an infuriated Henry, revealing his status as an ONI agent. In the ensuing standoff, MacCraw suddenly escaped in one of the escape pods, abandoning the rest of the survivors. Simultaneously, Benti pushed herself and Clarence into an approaching horde of Flood.<ref name="fin">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 338-342''</ref> | The Marines eventually regrouped outside the [[airlock]] with the two remaining escape pods, learning that each could only hold a single occupant. As Lopez and MacCraw held their ground at the airlock, the rest of the survivors arrived, with "Henry" carrying an injured Benti. Suddenly, Clarence executed Rimmer and trained his rifle on an infuriated Henry, revealing his status as an ONI agent. In the ensuing standoff, MacCraw suddenly escaped in one of the escape pods, abandoning the rest of the survivors. Simultaneously, Benti pushed herself and Clarence into an approaching horde of Flood.<ref name="fin">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 338-342''</ref> | ||
Holding off the Flood mob, Lopez and "Henry" then entered the airlock. Realizing only one of them could escape, Lopez proceeded to shoot Henry, only to find that she was out of ammunition. The two would then fight for the last escape pod, with thirty seconds left until the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by the Shiva missile.<ref name="fin"/> | Holding off the Flood mob, Lopez and "Henry" then entered the airlock. Realizing only one of them could escape, Lopez proceeded to shoot Henry, only to find that she was out of ammunition. The two would then fight for the last escape pod, with thirty seconds left until the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by the Shiva missile.<ref name="fin"/> It is apparent that both "Henry" and Sergeant Lopez were killed before either could escape the ''Mona Lisa''; no Sangheili was listed in the ''Red Horse''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s records following the event,<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=11#post105 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2963929)]</ref> and Lopez was designated KIA on October 25.<ref name="Catalog"/> | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
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==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
Time stamps based on UNSC [[Military Standard Time]] exist for most of the key events during the Marines' mission aboard ''Mona Lisa'' on October 25, 2552.<ref name="Catalog"/> | |||
*'''0610-0623 hours''': Marines and Naval personnel aboard the ''[[UNSC Red Horse|Red Horse]]'' inspect an escape pod launched from the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' and discover a delirious survivor inside. | *'''0610-0623 hours''': Marines and Naval personnel aboard the ''[[UNSC Red Horse|Red Horse]]'' inspect an escape pod launched from the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' and discover a delirious survivor inside. | ||
