Editing Halo: Escalation Issue 11

{{Title|''Halo: Escalation Issue 11''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Comics infobox
|prev=Halo: Escalation Issue 10
|next=Halo: Escalation Issue 12
|image=[[File:HaloEscalation11.jpg|250px]]
|writer=Duffy Boudreau
|artist=*Ricardo Sánchez (penciller)<br>
*Douglas Franchin (penciller)
*Rob Lean (inker)
*Juan Castro (inker)
*Denis Freitas (inker)
*Michael Atiyeh (colorist)
*Anthony Palumbo (cover artist)
|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|publication= October 22, 2014
|length=32 pages
|ISBN= 
}}

'''''Halo: Escalation Issue 11''''' was released on [[2014|October 22, 2014]] and is the eleventh comic in the ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' series.<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-711/Halo-Escalation-11/ '''Dark Horse Comics:''' ''Halo: Escalation #11'']</ref> It is the first part of the two-issue story arc ''"Exposure"''.

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|Spartans [[Naiya Ray|Ray]] and [[Gabriel Thorne|Thorne]] set out on a secret mission to uncover the origin of a monstrous new bioweapon... but is it too late to prevent total catastrophe? Halo lead writer [[Brian Reed]] (Amazing Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel), Duffy Boudreau (BlackAcre), and Ricardo Sánchez (Green Arrow) team up to present one of the most dangerous Spartan ops yet!}}

==Plot synopsis==
On [[2558#May|May 8, 2558]], a [[UNSC]] [[spy drone]] scouts the barren surface of the unclaimed planet [[Ven III]], located at the borders of the [[Joint Occupation Zone]]. While investigating a structure, the drone finds the diseased corpses of several [[Kig-Yar]] in a laboratory. Aboard {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, [[Thomas Lasky|Captain Thomas Lasky]] is briefed about the situation by [[Serin Osman|Admiral Serin Osman]] over [[Superluminal communications|remote communications]]. Osman explains that the Kig-Yar were killed by an unknown type of [[biological agent]] and that Lasky needs to contain the situation exercising extreme caution before the weapon can be used against [[human]]ity. After Osman signs off, Lasky's hand-picked team, [[Spartan Operations|Spartans]] [[Gabriel Thorne]] and [[Naiya Ray]], enter the room. Lasky explains that Ven III is home to a small number of Jackals who attempted to use an old Covenant research laboratory on the planet. After the demise of the Kig-Yar in the lab, the UNSC observed a sole [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Storm|Storm]] exiting the structure wielding a mysterious canister—one that is likely to house the new bioweapon. The UNSC believes the Sangheili may be an agent of [[Jul 'Mdama]] and may have double-crossed the Kig-Yar in the lab, or that they released the bioweapon on themselves by accident. Thorne and Ray are to capture the Elite for interrogation; [[Fireteam Majestic]] will not accompany them as Lasky must use the smallest team possible to avoid detection and losing their target in Ven III's extensive tunnel systems.

A [[prowler]] deploys Ray and Thorne onto Ven III. On the surface, the Spartans encounter a small number of wandering Jackals but no organized resistance. The duo enter a narrow canyon where they lose communications with ''Infinity'' due to a jamming field. As the Spartans proceed further into the canyon they are observed by the Sangheili, who is revealed to have destroyed the UNSC drone delivering the feed to ''Infinity''. [[Roland]] immediately alerts Lasky to this as well as the communications blackout, suggesting that ''Infinity'' change course toward Ven III to provide backup for the ground team. Having been ordered to avoid direct engagement, Lasky instead has Roland summon [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Palmer]].

Back on Ven III, Thorne and Ray enter a Covenant structure after observing it for some time. Just as they make it inside, they are ambushed by the Elite and a contingent of Jackals. However, the Spartans escape the structure using [[Spartan abilities|armor-integrated thrusters]] and engage their attackers. During the skirmish, the Sangheili attaches [[Shock device|a device]] on Thorne's [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Recruit|armor]] which knocks the Spartan unconscious. The Elite takes Thorne aboard his [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|Ghost]] and escapes.

On ''Infinity'', Lasky proposes they send in another two-man team as backup for Ray and Thorne, but Palmer insists that they either deploy an entire Spartan team or do nothing. However, she believes Lasky to be incapable of the latter; the captain reproves her about this, stating that she should know him better than that due to their experiences together over the past year. Roland then receives a transmission from Ray, who is giving chase to Thorne's captor and has now moved out of reach of the communications jammer. She enters a deep subterranean tunnel where she discovers an enormous pirate hideout filled with Covenant vessels and vehicles, including [[Lich]]es, [[Phantom]]s, {{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}s, [[Spirit]]s and a single {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}. Ray estimates the Jackals' numbers to be in the hundreds of thousands as opposed to UNSC intelligence's estimate of hundreds. There are [[black market]] arms dealers and slavers selling captives from the [[Covenant fringe]]—including humans, [[Unggoy]] as well as [[:File:HE Slavers.jpg|unidentified humanoids]] (seemingly [[Yonhet]]). Ray then spots the Sangheili she was pursuing and a Kig-Yar carrying Thorne's unconscious body into a bay. However, a Jackal sneaks up on Ray and her signal terminates. Palmer asks Lasky whether he will heed her advice now; Lasky orders Roland to carry out the proposed course change and call all teams on deck.

==Production notes==
The issue marks the first canonical appearance of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[Spartan abilities]] mechanic; the abilities are showcased when Ray and Thorne battle their ambushers, using at least the thruster pack and [[:File:HE Ray Fight.jpg|possibly]] the ground pound ability.

===Mistakes===
*The Jackal that Ray kills near the beginning of the issue is drawn holding a {{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}} in the first panel in which he appears, yet he is consistently shown wielding a {{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}} in subsequent panels.
*The Unggoy prisoners shown near the end of the issue lack any apparent breathing apparatus. The same mistake was made in [[Halo: Escalation Issue 5#Mistakes|Issue 5]].
*The main Sangheili antagonist is depicted with a human-like hand with a single thumb instead of a symmetrical, two-thumbed Sangheili hand. This mistake was previously made with [[Zef 'Trahl]]'s hand in Issue 5.
*Many of the Covenant vehicles in the pirate hideout are depicted out of scale, including [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraiths]] the size of [[Phantom]]s, and [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] dropships smaller than either vehicle. Additionally, a Kig-Yar is seen selling a missile battery which is clearly modeled after the [[M95 Lance|M95]] or [[M97 Lance]] missile systems, but is only slightly larger than the Jackals and thus significantly smaller than either known model of the weapon.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo Escalation 11.jpg|Full cover art.
File:HE dead jackals.jpg|Dead Kig-Yar in the laboratory.
File:HE Infinity Transport.jpg|An {{Class|Ibis|freighter}} approaching ''Infinity''.
File:HE Briefing.jpg|Captain Lasky being briefed by Admiral Osman.
File:HE Thorne Ray.jpg|Thorne and Ray before the mission.
File:HE Ven Surface 2.jpg|A Jackal sentry on Ven III.
File:HE Ven Hideout.jpg|Ray and Thorne observe a Covenant building.
File:HE Covie Group.jpg|The Sangheili agent and his Kig-Yar troop after ambushing the Spartans.
File:HE Ray Fight.jpg|Ray fighting the Jackals.
File:HE Spartan Ability.jpg|Thorne rockets out of the structure using thrusters.
File:HE Thorne Shocked.jpg|Thorne is disabled by the shock device.
File:HE Thorne Captured.jpg|The Sangheili captures Thorne.
File:HE Ven Base.jpg|The pirate stronghold.
File:HE Slavers.jpg|Kig-Yar slavers with their captives.
File:HE Ambush.jpg|Spartan Ray is ambushed.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue 10]]''|title=[[Halo: Escalation]] comic series|years='''''Issue 11'''''|after=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 12|Issue 12]]''}}

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[[Category:Comics|Escalation Issue 11]]
[[Category:Canon]]