Fireteam Majestic: Difference between revisions

On [[2558#July|July 16, 2558]], Commander Palmer and Thorne participated in the Battle of Oban against Jul 'Mdama's forces. Desperate to find Jul, Palmer and Thorne drove a Warthog and engaged Promethean forces. Palmer recklessly drove the Warthog off of a cliff, landed on a [[Type-44 Phantom|Phantom]] [[dropship]], and crashed to the ground. Thorne was injured in the process and the Spartans were only saved after the Phantoms were destroyed by a [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] called in by Spartan [[Joel Thomas]]. After a short engagement, the Covenant forces withdrew from the system. On July 18, ''Infinity'' entered slipspace to leave the Oban system while Palmer discussed preparations for [[Galileo II]] with Dr. Glassman. However, ''Infinity'' was forced back into normal space and the vessel collided with an asteroid in an uncharted system. The crew of ''Infinity'' quickly realized that they were stranded in space and the engines were not functioning properly. Lasky met with Glassman and Palmer in the engine room of ''Infinity''. Glassman discovered that something was overriding the engine controls of ''Infinity'', while Roland reported an unusual energy reading coming from a nearby planet.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref>

Palmer assumed tactical command of Fireteam Majestic for a mission to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of a nearby planet, provisionally designated [[Aktis IV]]. The mysterious signal originated from an island in a large ocean of an opaque, foamy substance impenetrable to ''Infinity'''s sensors. Upon landing, Commander Palmer and Fireteam Majestic engaged and defeated a detachment of Covenant forces and subsequently discovered a recently-excavated Forerunner structure. The Spartans provided cover for Dr. Glassman as he arrived on Aktis IV to examine the structure. At Glassman's request, the UNSC's half of the Janus Key was brought to the site along with lab equipment so he could analyze a Forerunner artifact he had discovered inside the structure. As the Pelican carrying the Key approached the Forerunner site accompanied by a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] escort, Commander Palmer charged Gabriel Thorne with moving the materials to the structure. However, the incoming UNSC craft were shot down by [[Sali 'Nyon]]'s [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant faction|rebel forces]]. This triggered a massive Covenant ambush, and as 'Mdama's forces began their onslaught the Spartans on the island were quickly forced to pull back into the Forerunner structure.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref>

Commander Palmer, Fireteam Majestic and Glassman remained under attack by Covenant forces inside the Forerunner structure for over seven hours and were unable to establish contact with ''Infinity''. While they retreated inside the facility, Hoya was left behind outside. Fending off Covenant and Promethean forces in the jungle, Hoya spotted a Phantom with Dr. Halsey inside. He contacted Ray about his discovery, who, in turn, informed Palmer that Hoya had spotted Dr. Halsey. At Palmer's urging, Glassman managed to get the structure's [[teleportation grid]] operational before the Covenant breached the structure. At Palmer's request, Glassman opened portals to both the jungle and the other end of the island. She ordered Grant, Glassman and three other Spartans to take the latter portal while Palmer, Ray and Thorne took the former. On the other end of the island, ''Infinity'' had managed to deploy two [[Mark IX Mantis ADS|Mantises]] as reinforcements. As they were fighting the Covenant forces, Grant's team arrived through the portal and were almost killed by friendly fire from the Mantises.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>

Upon traveling through the portal, Palmer, Ray and Thorne scouted the jungle when they spotted the Sangheili Minor who had defected from 'Nyon's forces in a [[Type-32 Ghost|Ghost]]. The Minor contacted a Zealot of Jul's Covenant and told him he wanted to rejoin 'Mdama, having reached the conclusion that Jul was the true Didact's Hand because the Prometheans would never obey an impostor. He then revealed he had the half of the Janus Key stolen by 'Nyon, and he would lead them to 'Nyon's hideout. The Zealot ordered him to conceal himself until they arrived and established a rendezvous point. Thorne and Ray intended to ambush the Minor in order to take the Janus Key before Dr. Halsey arrived with a greater force. However, Palmer instead ordered them to hold off and wait until Halsey arrived so they could catch the doctor by surprise.<ref name="HE15"/>