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===MJOLNIR=== | ===MJOLNIR=== | ||
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===Alpha Corvi II=== | ===Alpha Corvi II=== | ||
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After a long silence the debriefing returned once more to the matter of Alpha Company's casualties. | After a long silence the debriefing returned once more to the matter of Alpha Company's casualties. | ||
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===Naraka=== | ===Naraka=== | ||
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By July 23 contact with the relay hub had been lost.<ref name="HJ72352">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 23, 2552''</ref> Given how the communications network had been hardened years back and the urgency and demand for secrecy in Sorvad's message, Halsey ruled out a rudimentary malfunction, believing the loss to be more than a coincidence. She made a short list of possible explanations for the blackout, none of which were pleasant. She figured either internal subterfuge within ONI, [[Insurrectionist|insurgent]] action, or even the Covenant could be to blame. Halsey made sure Stanforth, who had personnel addressing the situation, was aware of her vital staff in the area. She also shared her thoughts on the potential causes with him and was told she'd be notified when her people were located.<ref name="HJ72352"/> The next day she caught a rumor that a [[UNSC Special Forces|special forces]] unit had been sent to investigate the hub but that it too had disappeared.<ref name="HJ72452">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 24, 2552''</ref> Halsey learned that a second unit named "[[NOBLE Team]]" would be sent to investigate next, but she could not get anyone to give her any further details. Without even knowing what branch of the [[UNSC Armed Forces|armed forces]] this NOBLE Team belonged to, she resolved in her journal to follow up on it as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the doctor was also receiving scattered data from the usual suspects concerning atmospheric anomalies along with radar and slipspace monitoring glitches. She compared these events to those recorded near [[Sigma Octanus IV]] but there were no matches.<ref name="HJ72452"/> | By July 23 contact with the relay hub had been lost.<ref name="HJ72352">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 23, 2552''</ref> Given how the communications network had been hardened years back and the urgency and demand for secrecy in Sorvad's message, Halsey ruled out a rudimentary malfunction, believing the loss to be more than a coincidence. She made a short list of possible explanations for the blackout, none of which were pleasant. She figured either internal subterfuge within ONI, [[Insurrectionist|insurgent]] action, or even the Covenant could be to blame. Halsey made sure Stanforth, who had personnel addressing the situation, was aware of her vital staff in the area. She also shared her thoughts on the potential causes with him and was told she'd be notified when her people were located.<ref name="HJ72352"/> The next day she caught a rumor that a [[UNSC Special Forces|special forces]] unit had been sent to investigate the hub but that it too had disappeared.<ref name="HJ72452">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''July 24, 2552''</ref> Halsey learned that a second unit named "[[NOBLE Team]]" would be sent to investigate next, but she could not get anyone to give her any further details. Without even knowing what branch of the [[UNSC Armed Forces|armed forces]] this NOBLE Team belonged to, she resolved in her journal to follow up on it as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the doctor was also receiving scattered data from the usual suspects concerning atmospheric anomalies along with radar and slipspace monitoring glitches. She compared these events to those recorded near [[Sigma Octanus IV]] but there were no matches.<ref name="HJ72452"/> | ||
[[File:Jorge Deployment Details.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Halsey's attempt to access restricted information concerning Jorge-052 prompted a personal message being sent to her from [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]], who had operational control of NOBLE Team.<ref name="HJextras">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', additional materials</ref><ref name="HRNobleA">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Noble Actual]]''</ref>]] | [[File:Jorge Deployment Details.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Halsey's attempt to access restricted information concerning Jorge-052 prompted a personal message being sent to her from [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]], who had operational control of NOBLE Team.<ref name="HJextras">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', additional materials</ref><ref name="HRNobleA">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Noble Actual]]''</ref>]] | ||
By 1126 hours on July 26 [[SWORD Base]] had come under attack by an {{ | By 1126 hours on July 26 [[SWORD Base]] had come under attack by an {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} and Covenant ground forces from the [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]].<ref name="HROSB">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref> Following the attack's repulsion Halsey requested permission to debrief with NOBLE Team, the six members of which met her within the base's science wing thereafter. Upon seeing them her suspicions were confirmed: they were [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan]]s, as incomprehensible as that was to her at the time. Only one of them, [[Jorge-052]], was one of hers. She had already begun conversing with the team's leader, [[Carter-A259]], when Jorge and [[SPARTAN-B312|sixth member]] of the team finally joined them. She was in the midst of telling Carter to dispense with telling her about the recent engagement outside so she could hear about what happened in [[Visegrád]] when Jorge's entrance made her stop mid-sentence to greet him. She couldn't help but ask after the obvious modifications made to his armor before returning to the matter of the [[Visegrád Relay|Visegrád relay]], and Doctor Sorvad's death in particular. From Carter, Jorge, and [[Spartan-B312]] she learned that [[Devoted Sentries|a group of three]] [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]s were likely responsible. The same had ambushed NOBLE Team when they'd arrived at the relay and the one which appeared to be their leader had gotten away from the Spartans. Halsey dismissed mention of Sorvad's daughter [[Sára Sorvad|Sára]] in the interest in maintaining focus on the Elites and what their leader might have escaped with. She bristled at Carter's defense of his order not to pursue the last zealot, worried that it might have stolen valuable ONI excavation data. She let them know about the supposed latchkey discovery Sorvad had made and emphasized its importance, stressing that they should hope a [[data module]] found on his corpse contained what was so important. At this [[Catherine-B320]] handed the module over to the doctor through a transaction drawer, as a wall of glass separated her from NOBLE. She let the lieutenant commander know she'd been alerted when she'd tried to access its contents, threatening her with imprisonment for attempting to interfere with her work. This prompted Carter to rush to Kat's defense, citing the [[WINTER CONTINGENCY]] directive and the provision against civilian interference with a Spartan deployment to make the same threat to Halsey. Jorge lingered when the rest of the team began to leave, but Halsey told him they'd talked enough, allowing him to move on as well.<ref name="HROSB"/> | ||
The data in Sorvad's last message to her had been compromised along with the entire relay hub, which had been effectively destroyed.<ref name="HJ72652"/> Following her meeting with NOBLE Team Halsey noted in her journal that security measures were under way to preserve ONI's discoveries in the [[Viery Territory]] and to integrate and update [[Cortana]] with the latest intelligence from the [[Visegrád]] site. In addition, she was able to confirm definitely that the five with Jorge were indeed Spartans. She pulled Jorge's service record, but more was redacted than was usual even for a Spartan and she had trouble reconciling his recent activity with [[Naval Special Weapons]]. Seeing how he had seemed to grow in the past two decades, she made a note to herself to check [[Wikipedia:Pituitary gland|pituitary]] and [[Wikipedia:Human growth hormone|human growth hormone]] levels for enduring catalytic side effects. Halsey figured Jorge must be glad to be back on Reach, even given the circumstances, but was unsure whether or not she was only displacing or projecting her own feelings onto him. The others on NOBLE Team, of course, were a mystery to her, but seeing them did remind her once more that Mendez was missing. If time had permitted, she would have pursued this thread, but as all the pieces for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] were almost in place, she had to wait. The Covenant's presence on Reach was also enough to get her to begin preparing for [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]], which involved denying the enemy access to classified data.<ref name="HJ72652"/> | The data in Sorvad's last message to her had been compromised along with the entire relay hub, which had been effectively destroyed.<ref name="HJ72652"/> Following her meeting with NOBLE Team Halsey noted in her journal that security measures were under way to preserve ONI's discoveries in the [[Viery Territory]] and to integrate and update [[Cortana]] with the latest intelligence from the [[Visegrád]] site. In addition, she was able to confirm definitely that the five with Jorge were indeed Spartans. She pulled Jorge's service record, but more was redacted than was usual even for a Spartan and she had trouble reconciling his recent activity with [[Naval Special Weapons]]. Seeing how he had seemed to grow in the past two decades, she made a note to herself to check [[Wikipedia:Pituitary gland|pituitary]] and [[Wikipedia:Human growth hormone|human growth hormone]] levels for enduring catalytic side effects. Halsey figured Jorge must be glad to be back on Reach, even given the circumstances, but was unsure whether or not she was only displacing or projecting her own feelings onto him. The others on NOBLE Team, of course, were a mystery to her, but seeing them did remind her once more that Mendez was missing. If time had permitted, she would have pursued this thread, but as all the pieces for [[Operation: RED FLAG]] were almost in place, she had to wait. The Covenant's presence on Reach was also enough to get her to begin preparing for [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE]], which involved denying the enemy access to classified data.<ref name="HJ72652"/> | ||
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===Onyx=== | ===Onyx=== | ||
{{Main|Onyx Conflict}} | {{Main|Onyx Conflict}} | ||
[[File:HM | [[File:HM EscapeFromOnyx3.png|thumb|200px|right|Halsey and Mendez inside Shield World 006.]] | ||
Dr. Halsey and Kelly eventually arrived at [[Onyx]], where they reunited with [[Senior Chief Petty Officer|SCPO]] Mendez and eventually the remaining Spartan-IIs and the [[Spartan-III]]s, under attack by [[Onyx Sentinel]]s. Contacting the ONI AI [[Endless Summer]], she utilized Onyx's [[slipspace COM launcher]] and Cortana's slipspace transmission from [[Installation 05]] as a carrier wave to send a message to Earth, in which she requested [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] to send more Spartans to secure Forerunner technology on Onyx. Her relative expertise with Forerunner technology was vital to the survival of the UNSC forces on the planet, as she was able to interpret Forerunner glyphs when navigating the facility, guiding the Spartans to a [[Cartographer|map room]], where Onyx was revealed to be a wholly artificial construct. She also learned how to employ the local [[teleportation grid|translocation grid]], allowing the humans to move across the megastructure while evading the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]] forces that pursued them. | Dr. Halsey and Kelly eventually arrived at [[Onyx]], where they reunited with [[Senior Chief Petty Officer|SCPO]] Mendez and eventually the remaining Spartan-IIs and the [[Spartan-III]]s, under attack by [[Onyx Sentinel]]s. Contacting the ONI AI [[Endless Summer]], she utilized Onyx's [[slipspace COM launcher]] and Cortana's slipspace transmission from [[Installation 05]] as a carrier wave to send a message to Earth, in which she requested [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] to send more Spartans to secure Forerunner technology on Onyx. Her relative expertise with Forerunner technology was vital to the survival of the UNSC forces on the planet, as she was able to interpret Forerunner glyphs when navigating the facility, guiding the Spartans to a [[Cartographer|map room]], where Onyx was revealed to be a wholly artificial construct. She also learned how to employ the local [[teleportation grid|translocation grid]], allowing the humans to move across the megastructure while evading the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]] forces that pursued them. | ||
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[[File:Halsey Infinity.png|right|thumb|300px|Halsey examines the recovered Forerunner artifact.]] | [[File:Halsey Infinity.png|right|thumb|300px|Halsey examines the recovered Forerunner artifact.]] | ||
In mid-[[2558#February|February 2558]] Doctor Halsey arrived at the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]] in the [[Epoloch system]] aboard the {{Class|Sahara|heavy prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Aladdin}}.<ref name="H4SOC">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', ''[[Catherine]]''</ref> There, she was delivered to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, which had arrived just days earlier for its [[Second Battle of Requiem|second]] excursion to the massive [[Forerunner]] planetoid. Four marines turned her over to Captain [[Thomas Lasky]], to whom Catherine demanded that she be freed from her restraints on the grounds that she would not walk around the ship ''she'' built with her hands cuffed. The captain consented and [[Spartan]] [[Paul DeMarco]] proceeded to undo them, at which point the doctor told Lasky to take her to an [[Requiem translocation artifact|artifact]] which had been brought aboard the ship on February 10 and unexpectedly caused a number of problems for it.<ref name="H4SOA">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', ''[[Artifact (Spartan Ops)|Artifact]]''</ref><ref name="H4SOA"/> Among these was the disappearance of [[Henry Glassman]], the ''Infinity'''s chief engineer, who had been unwillingly [[Slipspace translocation|teleported]] by the artifact to an unknown location.<ref name="H4SOC"/><ref name="H4SOA"/> Lasky had been forced to request Halsey's aid following the loss of Glassman.<ref name="HM179">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 179''</ref> As she approached the artifact in question she asked if any other unexplained reactions had followed.<ref name="H4SOC"/> She was told that none had, but Lasky still cautioned her once she touched it, fearing the same could happen to her. | In mid-[[2558#February|February 2558]] Doctor Halsey arrived at the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]] in the [[Epoloch system]] aboard the {{Class|Sahara|heavy prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Aladdin}}.<ref name="H4SOC">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', ''[[Catherine]]''</ref> There, she was delivered to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, which had arrived just days earlier for its [[Second Battle of Requiem|second]] excursion to the massive [[Forerunner]] planetoid. Four marines turned her over to Captain [[Thomas Lasky]], to whom Catherine demanded that she be freed from her restraints on the grounds that she would not walk around the ship ''she'' built with her hands cuffed. The captain consented and [[Spartan]] [[Paul DeMarco]] proceeded to undo them, at which point the doctor told Lasky to take her to an [[Requiem translocation artifact|artifact]] which had been brought aboard the ship on February 10 and unexpectedly caused a number of problems for it.<ref name="H4SOA">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Spartan Ops]]'', ''[[Artifact (Spartan Ops)|Artifact]]''</ref><ref name="H4SOA"/> Among these was the disappearance of [[Henry Glassman]], the ''Infinity'''s chief engineer, who had been unwillingly [[Slipspace translocation|teleported]] by the artifact to an unknown location.<ref name="H4SOC"/><ref name="H4SOA"/> Lasky had been forced to request Halsey's aid following the loss of Glassman.<ref name="HM179">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 179''</ref> As she approached the artifact in question she asked if any other unexplained reactions had followed.<ref name="H4SOC"/> She was told that none had, but Lasky still cautioned her once she touched it, fearing the same could happen to her. | ||
{{Expand- | {{Expand-section}} | ||
Parangosky had sent Halsey a note in which she asked for her aid in the matter, appealing to her on a professional level to protect ''Infinity'' and its crew despite her less than ideal conditions.<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''Infinity Briefing Packet''</ref> Many of the crew had mixed feelings about bringing her aboard, [[Sarah Palmer]] suspicious of her and feeling she might try to sabotage the ship, [[Thomas Lasky]] sharing her worries but feeling there was no choice. Halsey was unimpressed by the Spartan-IVs assigned to guard her, wryly questioning their competence and general attitude. With a few gestures from her, the artifact began reacting to her, she translating its actions as signs that she should examine the ship's engines. Upon doing so, her conclusion was that the artifact was "communicating" with multiple parts of the ship and transmitting to Requiem. Some time later, she analyzed a Forerunner [[ | Parangosky had sent Halsey a note in which she asked for her aid in the matter, appealing to her on a professional level to protect ''Infinity'' and its crew despite her less than ideal conditions.<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''Infinity Briefing Packet''</ref> Many of the crew had mixed feelings about bringing her aboard, [[Sarah Palmer]] suspicious of her and feeling she might try to sabotage the ship, [[Thomas Lasky]] sharing her worries but feeling there was no choice. Halsey was unimpressed by the Spartan-IVs assigned to guard her, wryly questioning their competence and general attitude. With a few gestures from her, the artifact began reacting to her, she translating its actions as signs that she should examine the ship's engines. Upon doing so, her conclusion was that the artifact was "communicating" with multiple parts of the ship and transmitting to Requiem. Some time later, she analyzed a Forerunner [[Beacon tower|beam tower]] encountered by [[Fireteam Crimson]] in the location codenamed [[Two Giants]].<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Catherine|S1E3 ''Catherine'']]</ref> | ||
[[File:H4-SO Halsey discover John' status.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Halsey discovering John-117 is alive.]] | [[File:H4-SO Halsey discover John' status.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Halsey discovering John-117 is alive.]] | ||
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}} | }} | ||
[[File:HE14 Plan.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Halsey and 'Mdama plot against the UNSC.]] | [[File:HE14 Plan.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Halsey and 'Mdama plot against the UNSC.]] | ||
By [[2558#March|March 2558]], the {{UNSCShip|Vociferous}} was put in charge of finding Halsey and 'Mdama.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref> At some point on Requiem, Jul's forces had recovered a Forerunner [[Requiem communication artifact|artifact]] that would be able to communicate with the Forerunner-derived engine systems of ''Infinity'', and therefore the artifact would be able to blockade the engines of ''Infinity'' and allow Jul to steal the other half of the Janus Key. On [[2558#July|July 15, 2558]], Halsey made a personal journal entry on her views of the Forerunners and recent events.<ref name="HE13">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref> The next day, Jul's forces [[Battle of Oban|attacked]] [[Oban]], a human colony in the midst of settlement, as advocated by Halsey. She believed that a bold move was the only way to attract ''Infinity''. After the attack failed, 'Mdama's lieutenants called for Halsey's head, however Jul seemingly defended her actions. After ''Infinity'' attempted to enter slipspace for [[Galileo II]] base, 'Mdama's Forerunner artifact forcefully brought it back into normal space and trapped the vessel in an uncharted system. Aboard a {{ | By [[2558#March|March 2558]], the {{UNSCShip|Vociferous}} was put in charge of finding Halsey and 'Mdama.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref> At some point on Requiem, Jul's forces had recovered a Forerunner [[Requiem communication artifact|artifact]] that would be able to communicate with the Forerunner-derived engine systems of ''Infinity'', and therefore the artifact would be able to blockade the engines of ''Infinity'' and allow Jul to steal the other half of the Janus Key. On [[2558#July|July 15, 2558]], Halsey made a personal journal entry on her views of the Forerunners and recent events.<ref name="HE13">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref> The next day, Jul's forces [[Battle of Oban|attacked]] [[Oban]], a human colony in the midst of settlement, as advocated by Halsey. She believed that a bold move was the only way to attract ''Infinity''. After the attack failed, 'Mdama's lieutenants called for Halsey's head, however Jul seemingly defended her actions. After ''Infinity'' attempted to enter slipspace for [[Galileo II]] base, 'Mdama's Forerunner artifact forcefully brought it back into normal space and trapped the vessel in an uncharted system. Aboard a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}, Halsey informed Jul that they did not need to attack the ship, as the crew of ''Infinity'' would now be willing to hand over the other half of the Janus Key directly.<ref name="HE13"/> | ||
At Halsey's suggestion, 'Mdama had a fake Forerunner artifact placed in a Forerunner structure on the nearby [[Aktis IV]]. As per Halsey's plan, Dr. Glassman and the Spartan-IVs of ''Infinity'' discovered the artifact and believed that it was related to the Janus Key. Halsey and Jul watched Glassman's investigation from ''Song of Retribution'' and Halsey revealed that she knew Jul's public persona was a mere façade when 'Mdama expressed mock abhorrence at creating a copy of a "holy" Forerunner object. Meanwhile, Glassman requested for ''Infinity'' to deliver their half of the Janus Key to him on the planet's surface for further analysis. Anticipating this, Halsey ensured that 'Mdama had troops ready to ambush the UNSC convoy carrying their half of the Key. Much to both Halsey's and 'Mdama's surprise, the Pelican carrying the half was shot down before he could give an order. In the confusion, the rest of the Covenant ambush group began the attack. Halsey insisted on personally searching the crash-site, but 'Mdama decided to scourge the crash-site himself, and he ordered Halsey to remain aboard his carrier. Unbeknownst to him, rebel [[Sali 'Nyon]] was responsible for shooting down the Pelican and he claimed half of the Janus Key for himself.<ref name="HE14">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref> | At Halsey's suggestion, 'Mdama had a fake Forerunner artifact placed in a Forerunner structure on the nearby [[Aktis IV]]. As per Halsey's plan, Dr. Glassman and the Spartan-IVs of ''Infinity'' discovered the artifact and believed that it was related to the Janus Key. Halsey and Jul watched Glassman's investigation from ''Song of Retribution'' and Halsey revealed that she knew Jul's public persona was a mere façade when 'Mdama expressed mock abhorrence at creating a copy of a "holy" Forerunner object. Meanwhile, Glassman requested for ''Infinity'' to deliver their half of the Janus Key to him on the planet's surface for further analysis. Anticipating this, Halsey ensured that 'Mdama had troops ready to ambush the UNSC convoy carrying their half of the Key. Much to both Halsey's and 'Mdama's surprise, the Pelican carrying the half was shot down before he could give an order. In the confusion, the rest of the Covenant ambush group began the attack. Halsey insisted on personally searching the crash-site, but 'Mdama decided to scourge the crash-site himself, and he ordered Halsey to remain aboard his carrier. Unbeknownst to him, rebel [[Sali 'Nyon]] was responsible for shooting down the Pelican and he claimed half of the Janus Key for himself.<ref name="HE14">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref> | ||
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The fleet arrived at an apparently artificial gas giant with a slipspace portal leading to the Absolute Record. Before the fleet could press forward, slipspace ruptures materialized around the fleet, destroying at least two ships and damaging ''Breath of Annihilation''.<ref name="HE19">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue #19]]''</ref> Furious at the damage done to his fleet, 'Mdama blamed Halsey for the loss and threw her across ''Song of Retribution''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bridge. While Halsey and 'Mdama argued about the situation, she reminded him that once they reached the Absolute Record, they will discover technology beyond their comprehension that will more than compensate for the ships that were destroyed. Halsey further exaggerated that once he was in control of the Absolute Record's "treasures", 'Mdama would be seen as a god. Thus 'Mdama decided to travel to the Absolute Record, with only ''Retribution'' entering the portal while the rest made repairs. As Halsey and 'Mdama prepared to enter the portal, they learned of rumors of the Spartans attacking personnel of ''Breath of Annihilation''. Halsey dismissed 'Mdama's fears and stated that the Spartans could not stop them from reaching the Absolute Record, though she was unaware that Palmer, Tanaka, and Glassman had boarded ''Retribution''. | The fleet arrived at an apparently artificial gas giant with a slipspace portal leading to the Absolute Record. Before the fleet could press forward, slipspace ruptures materialized around the fleet, destroying at least two ships and damaging ''Breath of Annihilation''.<ref name="HE19">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue #19]]''</ref> Furious at the damage done to his fleet, 'Mdama blamed Halsey for the loss and threw her across ''Song of Retribution''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bridge. While Halsey and 'Mdama argued about the situation, she reminded him that once they reached the Absolute Record, they will discover technology beyond their comprehension that will more than compensate for the ships that were destroyed. Halsey further exaggerated that once he was in control of the Absolute Record's "treasures", 'Mdama would be seen as a god. Thus 'Mdama decided to travel to the Absolute Record, with only ''Retribution'' entering the portal while the rest made repairs. As Halsey and 'Mdama prepared to enter the portal, they learned of rumors of the Spartans attacking personnel of ''Breath of Annihilation''. Halsey dismissed 'Mdama's fears and stated that the Spartans could not stop them from reaching the Absolute Record, though she was unaware that Palmer, Tanaka, and Glassman had boarded ''Retribution''. | ||
The carrier traveled through the portal and arrived into the Record, where Halsey, along with the other humans who had infiltrated the carrier, were detected by a [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]] [[ | The carrier traveled through the portal and arrived into the Record, where Halsey, along with the other humans who had infiltrated the carrier, were detected by a [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]] [[Invariant Bias|Custodian]].<ref name="HE20">'''Halo: Escalation''' ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 20|Issue #20]]''</ref> After ''Retribution'' was forcefully brought through a portal to a large chamber, Halsey, 'Mdama, and a contingent of Zealots traveled to a lower platform, where Halsey addressed the ancilla and told it that she was selected by the Librarian and her possession of the Janus Key was proof. However, the AI was skeptical of her claims, claiming Halsey could've obtained the Key by force and especially pondering why the other humans felt the need to conceal themselves. The AI had its Sentinels bring the other humans down to the platform, and stated its intent to let each human have a chance to account for its presence at the installation, despite Halsey's assertions that there was nothing to discuss as she had the Janus Key. As she continued to argue with the AI and Glassman, an impatient Zealot attacked a Sentinel, leading to a conflict on the platform. Frustrated, the AI removed the flooring from under the feet of the Sangheili, with Tanaka, Palmer, and Glassman remaining on one platform and Halsey standing on another, 'Mdama managing to grab its edge just in time.<ref name="HE21">'''Halo: Escalation''' ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 21|Issue #21]]''</ref> | ||
In order to decide who would be the legitimate steward of the Absolute Record, the AI decided on a direct examination. It had both factions isolated and gave them a hypothetical scenario, in which a sapient species (represented by [[Yonhet]]) turned out to have bodies conducive to a Flood vaccine. Abducting and harvesting live beings would give a thirty-five percent chance of Flood-immune material, but receiving dead bodies from the beings would give them a thirty-three percent chance. Despite Jul's advice, Halsey chose live capture while Glassman chose the peaceful option, and the ancilla commended both. It then asked if their opponents in this test should be kept confined or immediately killed, but instead of answering, Halsey hacked the ancilla and shut it down, taking control of the Record for herself.<ref name="HE22">'''Halo: Escalation''' ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 22|Issue #22]]''</ref> | In order to decide who would be the legitimate steward of the Absolute Record, the AI decided on a direct examination. It had both factions isolated and gave them a hypothetical scenario, in which a sapient species (represented by [[Yonhet]]) turned out to have bodies conducive to a Flood vaccine. Abducting and harvesting live beings would give a thirty-five percent chance of Flood-immune material, but receiving dead bodies from the beings would give them a thirty-three percent chance. Despite Jul's advice, Halsey chose live capture while Glassman chose the peaceful option, and the ancilla commended both. It then asked if their opponents in this test should be kept confined or immediately killed, but instead of answering, Halsey hacked the ancilla and shut it down, taking control of the Record for herself.<ref name="HE22">'''Halo: Escalation''' ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 22|Issue #22]]''</ref> | ||
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While she continued to devise a strategy Halsey recorded a status update for the [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], in which she assured him the Guardian would be in the sky over Sunaion before it initiated a [[slipspace]] jump, as he had asked.<ref name="H5GAMI">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Alliance]]'' [[Mission Intel#Alliance|mission intel]]</ref> In return for her cooperation with his request she also made one of her own for more intelligent assistants to aid her and urged him to loosen the security placed on her.<ref name="H5GAMI"/> Sometime after this she contacted Locke over an open communications channel to let him know she'd prepared the briefing but preferred to discuss it in person to avoid being eavesdropped upon.<ref name="H5GA"/> From atop a [[Forerunner]]-built structure overlooking the camp she waved the Spartans over to her as they neared and then proceeded to introduce them to what a [[Constructor]] [[sentinel]] was. She explained that if one could be acquired from the support stations which riddled the hills around them then she could use it to interface with the Guardian. She further informed them that Palmer had the location of one such station.<ref name="H5GA"/> In a supplemental status update for Thel, she pointed out that while making stubborn claims to not need her or the Guardian he ought to remember the [[ONI|organization]] she represented and its history.<ref name="H5GBTSMI">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Before the Storm]]'' [[Mission Intel#Before the Storm|mission intel]]</ref> She hoped that this would get him to show her some respect and signed off by claiming this was to be her last mandatory update.<ref name="H5GBTSMI"/> Osiris secured a Constructor before the suns had set and returned to the camp with it.<ref name="H5GBTS">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> Halsey observed that it seemed to be working as she had planned for it to but told Locke's team that it could take some time until she was finished calibrating it. She then let them know that Palmer wished to see them. When she was ready, she called Osiris back over to her spot on the Forerunner structure, which she informed them she was using to upload the coordinates recorded on [[Meridian]] into the sentinel. She wanted them to be ready to go as soon as she signaled it was time but admitted it might before hours until then. However, the Constructor suddenly took off just then, flying toward Sunaion. As Osiris and the Swords of Sanghelios prepared to follow it Halsey made sure Locke knew Cortana had been built from a matrix of her own mind, cautioning him that like her, she would take drastic measures if she thought they served the greater good. The [[Domain]], she added, would give her incredible power with which to enact those measures. As Locke walked away she called out to him again and pleaded with him to stop Cortana but to bring [[John-117|John]] home to her.<ref name="H5GBTS"/> | While she continued to devise a strategy Halsey recorded a status update for the [[Arbiter]], [[Thel 'Vadam]], in which she assured him the Guardian would be in the sky over Sunaion before it initiated a [[slipspace]] jump, as he had asked.<ref name="H5GAMI">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Alliance]]'' [[Mission Intel#Alliance|mission intel]]</ref> In return for her cooperation with his request she also made one of her own for more intelligent assistants to aid her and urged him to loosen the security placed on her.<ref name="H5GAMI"/> Sometime after this she contacted Locke over an open communications channel to let him know she'd prepared the briefing but preferred to discuss it in person to avoid being eavesdropped upon.<ref name="H5GA"/> From atop a [[Forerunner]]-built structure overlooking the camp she waved the Spartans over to her as they neared and then proceeded to introduce them to what a [[Constructor]] [[sentinel]] was. She explained that if one could be acquired from the support stations which riddled the hills around them then she could use it to interface with the Guardian. She further informed them that Palmer had the location of one such station.<ref name="H5GA"/> In a supplemental status update for Thel, she pointed out that while making stubborn claims to not need her or the Guardian he ought to remember the [[ONI|organization]] she represented and its history.<ref name="H5GBTSMI">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Before the Storm]]'' [[Mission Intel#Before the Storm|mission intel]]</ref> She hoped that this would get him to show her some respect and signed off by claiming this was to be her last mandatory update.<ref name="H5GBTSMI"/> Osiris secured a Constructor before the suns had set and returned to the camp with it.<ref name="H5GBTS">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> Halsey observed that it seemed to be working as she had planned for it to but told Locke's team that it could take some time until she was finished calibrating it. She then let them know that Palmer wished to see them. When she was ready, she called Osiris back over to her spot on the Forerunner structure, which she informed them she was using to upload the coordinates recorded on [[Meridian]] into the sentinel. She wanted them to be ready to go as soon as she signaled it was time but admitted it might before hours until then. However, the Constructor suddenly took off just then, flying toward Sunaion. As Osiris and the Swords of Sanghelios prepared to follow it Halsey made sure Locke knew Cortana had been built from a matrix of her own mind, cautioning him that like her, she would take drastic measures if she thought they served the greater good. The [[Domain]], she added, would give her incredible power with which to enact those measures. As Locke walked away she called out to him again and pleaded with him to stop Cortana but to bring [[John-117|John]] home to her.<ref name="H5GBTS"/> | ||
Palmer had planned to get the doctor off-world once the [[Battle of Sunaion|attack]] on the ocean city began, but she and Halsey eventually arrived at the battle near its end.<ref name="H5GBTS"/><ref name="H5GBOS">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]''</ref> The Guardian had risen above the waves by that point and was preparing to depart, so Palmer meant to pick up Osiris to deliver them to it before it did so.<ref name="H5GBOS"/> Halsey could not bear to even keep her eyes open for very long as the conflict rained plasma fire all around them. Palmer managed to get the other Spartans to the Guardian, but in the process their Pelican's left thruster was struck by a | Palmer had planned to get the doctor off-world once the [[Battle of Sunaion|attack]] on the ocean city began, but she and Halsey eventually arrived at the battle near its end.<ref name="H5GBTS"/><ref name="H5GBOS">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Battle of Sunaion (level)|Battle of Sunaion]]''</ref> The Guardian had risen above the waves by that point and was preparing to depart, so Palmer meant to pick up Osiris to deliver them to it before it did so.<ref name="H5GBOS"/> Halsey could not bear to even keep her eyes open for very long as the conflict rained plasma fire all around them. Palmer managed to get the other Spartans to the Guardian, but in the process their Pelican's left thruster was struck by a {{Pattern|D'nomlhe|Banshee}}'s [[fuel rod]] and set ablaze. Though it seemed as if Palmer would be able to get them out of there regardless, the Guardian then sent out an [[attenuation pulse]] which neutralized the dropship's power and sent it spiraling toward the [[Csurdon Sea]] below.<ref name="H5GBOS"/> | ||
===On the run=== | ===On the run=== | ||