Sarah Palmer: Difference between revisions

'''Spartan Commander Sarah E. Palmer'''<ref name="Reclaimer">'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> ([[service number]] '''65287-98303-SP''') is a soldier in the [[Spartan Operations|Spartan]] branch of the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces and a veteran of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. After the war, Palmer transferred from the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|Shock Troopers]]{{Ref/Reuse|Initiation1}} to the newly-independent branch, and was augmented as one of the first [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers]].<ref name="Reed">[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/06/03/Halo-Initiation-Writer-Interview.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo Initiation Writer Interview'']</ref> She is currently assigned as the Commanding Officer of the 300-member Spartan contingent aboard {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Reuse|Initiation2}}{{Ref/Reuse|Guide}}

Vol's Covenant forces soon discovered that the X50 was a former [[Forerunner]] [[orbital reformer]] capable of planetary destruction and used it on the planet. With the planet on the verge of collapse, Palmer, with a handful of UNSC forces, assaulted Vol's Covenant landing zones on the planet and took over Vol's Covenant ships to evacuate the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Operation D: Captured Chance]]''</ref> Soon, after Spartan Davis was killed by Sangheili forces on the moon, Palmer led an operation to eliminate Merg Vol. By appropriating one of his lieutenants' ships, Palmer managed to infiltrate Vol's Covenant base on X50 and remove Merg's lieutenants before facing Merg Vol himself at the activation site. Despite the impossibilities, Palmer engaged Vol and his [[Kig-Yar]] reinforcements. After a long skirmish, Palmer executed Merg Vol with her [[M6H magnum]] and destroyed the artifact. After this, Palmer and the remaining Marines escaped the moon moments before the artifact was sabotaged.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Operation E: Frostbite]]''</ref>

Sometime later, Palmer returned to X50 after discovering a Forerunner signal from inside the "moon". Tracking the source of the signal, Palmer fought through the remaining members of Merg Vol's Covenant. After arriving at the source of the signal, she discovered that source was the remains of Edward Davis, who had died during the battle. The installation disintegrated Davis's corpse and encapsulated it in an unknown device, and with the help of a [[D77H-TCI Pelican]], Palmer took the remains of her comrade with her.<ref name="hydra">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Operation F: Hydra]]''</ref>

[[File:H4-CmdrPalmer-DoublePistols.jpg|thumb|250px|Commander Palmer aims a pair of M6H pistols during the Promethean raid on the ''Infinity''.]]

Later, after Crimson retrieved a new power supply for the [[Za'zayara-pattern Harvester|Harvester]], Miller informed Commander Palmer that they were back at the Harvester. She informed Miller that she and Majestic were almost at their objective as well. She asked Dalton about the evacuation of the planet and he informed her that everyone else was onboard and that Crimson and Majestic were the only ones left on the planet. After activating the Harvester and opening a path to the artifact, Miller reported to Commander Palmer that they had a path to the artifact. Palmer told him to just tell her when Crimson had finished and then yelled at DeMarco to check his six. She congratulated Crimson after they deactivated their artifact.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[Exodus (Spartan Ops)/One Last Time|S1E10 ''One Last Time'']]</ref>

Upon ''Infinity'''s return to [[Earth]], Palmer was requested to appear before the [[UNSC Security Council]] at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] along with Captain Lasky. There, she and Lasky were debriefed about the [[Requiem Campaign]]. Admiral Serin Osman berated Lasky over the complete destruction of Requiem and the failed assassination of Dr. Halsey. Osman then asked Commander Palmer if Lasky had deliberately sent Fireteam Majestic to stop her from eliminating Halsey. To protect Lasky from any ramifications, Palmer lied to Osman and claimed that Majestic was there for backup.  

Inside the repair depot, 'Vadam notified the rest of a decommissioned redoubt in which they could take refuge in. Lasky then ordered Palmer and the protection detail to escort the delegation to the redoubt, while he would try to re-establish communications with the fleet above the planet. Palmer refused to let him go alone and tasked [[Naiya Ray|Spartan Naiya Ray]] of team Jackknife to escort the captain due to her SIGINT background. As the party escaped the storage depot, they were intercepted by a Covenant [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Lich]]. Palmer quickly acted and ordered everyone to give her their grenades. She put all the grenades in her helmet, which she then threw at the Lich, destroying it. As she and the others retreated to a gravity lift, a surviving enemy Sangheili grabbed her. Scruggs killed the Elite just in time.<ref name="he2">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue #2]]''</ref>

Arriving at the redoubt, Palmer ordered DeMarco's team to sweep the courtyard and provide an inventory of supplies. As they proceeded onwards, Scruggs ambushed the delegates and held Lord Hood hostage at gunpoint. Palmer, surprised by his change of loyalty, asked whether he was an Insurrectionist. Scruggs scoffed at her assertion and told her that she was oblivious to the UNSC's secret role in regards to the [[New Phoenix Incident]], [[Kilo-Five|ONI's campaign against the Sangheili]] and John-117's recent disappearance. Palmer then shot Lord Hood in the leg and tackled Scruggs out the mezzanine. After a brief struggle, Palmer killed him by stabbing him in the throat with a combat knife. She was contacted by Lasky who informed her of Covenant ships inbound to their site. She was ordered by Lasky to escape with the ambassadors on a transport craft while DeMarco and Fireteam Bailey remained behind to cover their escape with a [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|Tyrant AA gun]]. Palmer reluctantly obeyed and asked DeMarco if she could do anything for him. DeMarco asked her to return a book [[Anthony Madsen]] had loaned to him, and he then parted ways with her. Palmer and the delegation managed to escaped back to ''Infinity'' thanks to their sacrifices. Palmer later attended a memorial service held for the fallen Spartans of the battle. Afterwards, Lasky tried to comfort Palmer about the deaths of her comrades but she asked to be left alone.<ref name="he3">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

[[File:Escalation-Freeze.png|thumb|250px|Sarah Palmer and Fireteam Majestic capturing the station.]]

On [[2558#July|July 16, 2558]], Commander Palmer 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 [[Ru'swum-pattern 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, 'Mdama's Covenant forces withdrew from the system. The next day, Lasky reprimanded Palmer for her reckless behavior on Oban and recognized that Palmer was so intent on finding Jul because she knew that he would lead to Halsey. While Lasky wished to return Halsey to UNSC custody, Palmer remained determined to execute the doctor.<ref name="HE13">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref>

Palmer, along with Majestic team, were deployed to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of a nearby planet, provisionally designated [[Aktis IV]]. Upon landing on an island, the Spartans engaged and defeated a detachment of Covenant forces and subsequently discovered a recently excavated Forerunner structure. Dr. Glassman arrived on the surface of Aktis IV to examine the Forerunner structure, with the Spartans providing cover. Glassman theorized the structure to be part of 'Mdama's [[teleportation grid|translocation grid]] and soon discovered a Forerunner artifact that was seemingly compatible with the Janus Key. Unknown to Glassman and the Spartans, the artifact was in fact a decoy created by Halsey and 'Mdama deceive the UNSC into taking their half of the Janus Key to the surface. Glassman requested to have lab equipment brought to the Forerunner site along with the UNSC's half of the Janus Key in order to analyze the artifact; although hesitant, Palmer reluctantly agreed and contacted Lasky. As the Pelican carrying the Key approached the Forerunner site accompanied by a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] escort, the UNSC craft were suddenly struck by 'Mdama's Covenant anti-air artillery. This triggered a massive ambush from 'Mdama's forces and the Spartans were quickly forced to pull back into the Forerunner structure.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref>

Upon traveling through the portal, Palmer, Ray and Thorne scouted the jungle when they spotted [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor|a Sangheili Minor]] who had defected from 'Nyon's forces. The Minor contacted Jul's Covenant and told him he wanted to rejoin 'Mdama. He then revealed he had half of the Janus Key stolen by 'Nyon, and he would lead them to 'Nyon's hideout. 'Mdama's forces agreed to set up a rendezvous with the defector in order to secure the Janus Key half. Thorne and Ray intended to ambush the Minor and recover the Janus Key immediately. However, Palmer instead ordered them to hold off and wait until Halsey arrived. Both Spartans questioned her order, pointing out that they should take the Janus Key from the Sangheili before a greater force arrived. However, Palmer was determined to carry out the ambush.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}}

Halsey eventually arrived, escorted by a large convoy of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Ray and Thorne fruitlessly attempted to talk Palmer out of her plan, but after most of the convoy departed and the Minor handed over the Janus Key half, the trio proceeded with the ambush. While Thorne and Ray created a distraction, Palmer drove a Ghost into a Wraith in the midst of 'Mdama's Covenant forces. Palmer began to eliminate the Zealots guarding Halsey and gave chase as one of them attempted to take the doctor into the jungle, leaving Ray and Thorne to fend off 'Mdama's Covenant on their own. She killed the Zealot and took Halsey captive, finding that she could not bring herself to kill the doctor despite her original plans. While she was leading Halsey through the jungle the doctor confronted Palmer about her unquestioning loyalty to [[Serin Osman|Admiral Osman]]. Palmer insisted that her loyalties lay with the UNSC and continued to express her utter contempt for Halsey. After Halsey revealed that ONI was using her as a scapegoat for projects that had their full support, Palmer became momentarily lost in thought over what she had been told. Using this to her advantage, Halsey ran off. Palmer gave chase but came up against a [[Za'zayara-pattern Harvester|Harvester]]. 'Mdama's Covenant excavator attacked her with its [[plasma drill]], knocking her down a cliff. Palmer attempted to propel herself back up using her armor's thrusters, only to be knocked into a narrow crevice by a falling rock.<ref name="HE16">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue #16]]''</ref>

After the battle at Aktis IV, Palmer began to triple her required hours in War Games simulations. On [[2558#September|September 15, 2558]], Admiral Osman organized a team consisting of Spartans Palmer, Thorne, [[Holly Tanaka]], Dr. Glassman, and [[Ayit 'Sevi]]. Lasky then briefed the team on [[Operation: ATHENA]], a mission in which the team would enter Jul 'Mdama's Covenant [[CAS-class assault carrier|carrier]] ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'' in a [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] operated by 'Sevi, who had infiltrated 'Mdama's ranks. Once aboard, the team would wait until 'Mdama's fleet—including the carrier—arrived at the Absolute Record and then use a [[telemetry probe]] to transmit their location to the UNSC. Despite Lasky's concerns about Palmer's priorities due to her personal feud with Halsey, Palmer felt she was fully up to the task. On [[2558#September|September 17, 2558]], the team entered the carrier just as the fleet left for the Absolute Record's supposed location. Upon arriving at an artificial gas giant, a slipspace portal to the installation began to open. However, slipspace ruptures suddenly materialized and destroyed two cruisers and damaged ''Annihilation'', destroying the telemetry probe in the process.<ref name="HE19">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue #19]]''</ref>

The team was forced to flee their damaged dropship and fight their way through 'Mdama's Covenant forces in a corridor in order to reach an undamaged hangar bay. 'Sevi soon procured a Phantom and transported everyone directly to Jul 'Mdama's flagship, ''[[Song of Retribution]]''. With news that 'Mdama intended for ''Retribution'' to push forward through the portal alone and reach the Absolute Record, the team resolved to split-up. While Palmer, Tanaka, and Glassman remained on ''Retribution'', Thorne and 'Sevi returned to ''Annihilation'' in an attempt to regain contact with ONI. After Thorne and 'Sevi departed, ''Retribution'' entered the portal and arrived at part of the Absolute Record, where a [[Contender-class artificial intelligence]] detected the humans aboard the carrier.<ref name="HE20">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 20|Issue #20]]''</ref> The carrier was soon forced into a slipspace portal, where it arrived at a large chamber inside the installation and was held in place by a gravitational anchor. While 'Mdama, Halsey, and a contingent of Zealots traveled to a lower platform where the AI was, Palmer, Tanaka, and Glassman waited for their chance to escape the carrier. However, confused by their need to conceal themselves, the [[Invariant Bias|Custodian]] AI had its [[Sentinel]]s transport the Spartans and Glassman down to the platform beside Halsey and the Sangheili. When an argument broke out between both sides, the AI silenced them and stated its intentions to allow each human account for their presence at the installation. While the AI began questioning Glassman, an impatient Zealot attacked a Sentinel, despite Palmer's warnings. As a firefight broke out between the Sentinels and the Sangheili and humans, the AI removed the flooring from under the Sangheili's feet, with Tanaka, Palmer, and Glassman remaining on one platform and Halsey standing on another, while 'Mdama managed to grab onto Halsey's platform while the Zealots fell to their deaths. The AI insisted that a more direct examination was in order to decide who the legitimate steward of the Absolute Record was.<ref name="HE21">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 21|Issue #21]]''</ref>

Upon their arrival at Sanghelios, Sarah Palmer, along with Dr. Halsey and Fireteam Osiris, were escorted by a [[Sword of Sanghelios]] to the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] while he was engaged in combat. After a quick firefight, the Spartans and Dr. Halsey were taken to the Arbiter's base camp. There they acknowledged that the Guardian was in [[Sunaion]], 'Mdama's Covenant's last stronghold. To gain access to the Guardian the Spartans had to obtain [[Constructor]], which could interface with the Guardian and delay Cortana's control of it, lessen the damage at its point of exit, and slow it down so Osiris could board and follow the Guardian.<ref name="alliance">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Alliance]]''</ref> During the [[Battle of Nuusra|Constructor's extraction]] Sarah Palmer provided Osiris with transportation and battlefield support. After the retrieval of the Constructor Palmer returned to the Arbiter's base camp to prepare for their [[Battle of Sunaion|assault on Sunaion]].<ref name="enemy lines">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Enemy Lines]]''</ref> During this joint Spartan-Sword of Sanghelios operation she escorted Dr. Halsey aboard the Pelican while the Osiris and Arbiter's forces were fighting on the ground. During the ensuing battle, the Guardian was awakened. Palmer ordered Fireteam Osiris to board her Pelican so she could deliver them to the Guardian. Though their Pelican was hit by a Banshee, Osiris managed to board the Guardian which transported them to [[Genesis]]. Jumping into slipspace, the Guardian launched an EMP attack which shut down Palmer's Pelican, making them fall straight towards the ocean.{{Ref/Reuse|sunaion}}

[[File:H5G Damaged Palmer.png|thumb|300px|Palmer.]]

{{Quote|no=four|q1=Do you think [[Cortana|she]] should have been committed to [[final dispensation]], Commander?|92738-61842-LC|q2=It wasn't my call, [[Fireteam Apollo|Apollo]]. I was following orders.|Sarah Palmer|q3=I was asking for your opinion, ma'am. Do you personally think Cortana should have been committed to final dispensation?|92738-61842-LC|q4=No, I don't. Maybe stasis, maybe something else. Final dispensation was unnecessary at that time. But did it really matter in the end? Do I need to remind you that we're running from her and the Guardians as we speak?|Sarah Palmer|Commander Palmer freely shares her thoughts on the fraught situation facing the ''Infinity'' and the futility of speculating on what might have been.}}<ref name="lootcrate11">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'' ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #11]]''</ref>

Palmer and Halsey both managed to survive the downing of their Pelican and by the next day they had made it to [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]]'s encampment in [[Nuusra]].<ref name="HBB1">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> Palmer, by that point, was walking with a pronounced limp and sporting facial injuries alongside her now heavily damaged armor.<ref name="H5GGU">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Guardians]]''</ref> Using [[Forerunner]] technology she had been fiddling with since first arriving on the planet, Halsey was able to receive a coded message from [[Roland]] on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, who informed her that [[Earth]] had been [[Subjugation of Earth|taken offline]] by the rogue A.I.s and that they had just managed to escape.{{Ref/Reuse|HBB1}} He said the ship was now slipspace-hopping on a random trajectory but would be showing up off the far side of [[Suban]] the next day at 1800 hours and remaining there for fifteen minutes. The coordinates the A.I. provided could be reached in a matter of hours with space-capable transportation. Fortunately, after darkness had fallen over the region the approach of [[India 127|a Pelican]] drew Palmer, Halsey, 'Vadam, and two other [[Swords of Sanghelios]] to emerge from a tent to meet it. Spartan Locke and the [[Master Chief]] had barely disembarked before Palmer used comms to direct the bird's pilot, [[Kelly-087]], to shut down all its lights. She explained that a Guardian had blacked out the entire area soon after Cortana's ultimatum had been broadcast, and she certainly did not want it noticing them. The rest of [[Fireteam Osiris]] and [[Blue Team]] followed their leaders. After Halsey explained her recent point of contact with Roland, Palmer had to admit to Locke she'd had nothing to do with the message's receipt, seeing as all her off-world communications systems were shot. Sarah jokingly pointed out that for all she knew the doctor had rigged a [[wavespace|subspace radio]] hidden in her lab coat to send [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]], which only earned her the older woman's annoyance. Midway through a meal of [[colo]] and [[kuscatu]] served by their [[Sangheili]] hosts, Palmer sat down with Osiris and Blue Team and debriefed with her fellow Spartans, elaborating on the arrival of another Guardian at the planet and its subsequent neutralization of what remained of the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] fleet. The Chief, [[John-117]], asked what had become of this Guardian, to which she replied that they couldn't be sure. Some reports indicated it was on the other side of [[Sanghelios]]. A little less than an hour before sunrise the next day the Spartans and Halsey all piled into the Pelican.{{Ref/Reuse|HBB1}} The ''Infinity'' arrived almost exactly on schedule.{{Ref/Reuse|HBB1}} Kelly docked the Pelican in the ship's Portside Bay Five and all were then met there by a lieutenant who had come to escort Palmer, Halsey, John, and Locke to the bridge to see Captain [[Thomas Lasky|Lasky]].<ref name="HBB2">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> The commander dismissed the others with a sharp nod, telling them to get cleaned up and decompress for a bit before she met with them again.{{Ref/Reuse|HBB2}}

[[File:LC 11 doc3.jpg|thumb|300px|Palmer is interviewed.]]

On [[2559#December|December 12, 2559]] the ''Infinity'' arrived at [[Installation 07]] with the mission to lock down and destroy Cortana once and for all. Before the start of the mission, Captain Lasky spoke with Palmer who assured him that the ''Infinity''{{'}}s Spartan contingent was ready to go.{{Ref/Game|Id=AudioLogIA02|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Infiniy's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=''Infinity''{{'}}s Approach #02 - Captain's Report}} However, before the mission could start, the ship came under [[Battle over Installation 07|attack]] by [[Banished]] forces led personally by [[Atriox]]. As soon as the battle started, Palmer ordered to all Spartans to engage the Banished forces.{{Ref/Site|Id=RPPre|D=08|M=07|Y=2022|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-the-rubicon-protocol-preview-1|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: The Rubicon Protocol - Preview 1}} With the ''Infinity'' taking heavy damage, Lasky ordered the crew to abandon ship. Palmer, with the help of Spartan [[Bonita Stone]], escorted a number of military personnel to the lifeboats. At some point, Palmer ordered Stone to get the lifeboats deployed, while she diverted the remaining personnel to Bay Ten.{{Ref/Site|Id=RPPre|D=08|M=07|Y=2022|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-the-rubicon-protocol-preview-1|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo: The Rubicon Protocol - Preview 1}}{{Ref/Game|Id=AudioLogIA12|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Infiniy's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=''Infinity''{{'}}s Approach #12 - Abandon Ship}} It's unknown if Palmer made it off the ship or, if she did, survived the [[Battle for Zeta Halo|ensuing conflict]] on the ring.

Palmer wears the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/S variant|Scout]] variant of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] armor, in lieu of specialized communications models built specifically for Spartan officers, with Inner-Plated forearms and Outer-plated legs. At some point between February and October 2559, she upgraded to a GEN3 Mjolnir kit.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 16|HSoR|Chapter=16}} She favors using a pair of [[M6H magnum|M6H magnum sidearms]].<ref name="Invasion">'''Spartan Ops'''. [[S1/Invasion|S1E7 ''Invasion'']]</ref> Additionally, Palmer often arms herself with a [[M395 DMR]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE1}}

File:SarahPalmerLaser SpartanAssault.png|Palmer using an [[M6 Spartan Laser]] against a {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}} in ''Halo: Spartan Assault''.

File:HM SpartanIVs.jpg|Palmer and a Spartan-IV fireteam in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.

File:HINF-PalmerEmblem.jpg|Sarah Palmer emblem in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.

{{Col-end}}