Editing Operation: COALPEPPER

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=*[[Draco III rebellion]] <small>([[Insurrection]])</small>
*[[Operation: FAR STORM]]
|conc=
|next=*[[Terrorist attack on Sedra City]]
*[[Attack on Ealen IV]] <small>([[Insurrection]])</small>
|image=[[File:HM BetrayalOnTalitsa.jpg|300px]]
|conflict=[[Insurrection]]
|date=[[2555|August 2555]]<ref name="nb9">'''[[Halo: New Blood]]''', ''pages 9-10'' (Google Play edition)</ref>
|place=[[Talitsa]], [[Sverdlovsk system]]
|result=;UNSC victory
*Insurgents are defeated, defected SPARTAN-IV captured
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=[[United Rebel Front]]
|commanders1=Spartan [[Edward Buck]]
|commanders2=Doctor [[Anton Schein]]†
|forces1=*2 [[SPARTAN-IVs]]
**Edward Buck
**[[Kojo Agu]]
|forces2=*Dozens of soldiers
*1 SPARTAN-IV {{C|defected}}
|casual1=None
|casual2=*Most soldiers
*Schein killed
*Mickey captured
}}
{{Quote|The Talitsa incident served as a warning for the UNSC, who were forced to acknowledge the risks involved in the recruitment of the new Spartans, even those who had loyally served the UNSC for years.|[[Curator]] on the mission<ref name="Mythos">'''[[Halo Mythos]]''', ''page 157''</ref>}}
'''Operation: COALPEPPER''', later referred to as the '''Talitsa incident''', was a [[United Nations Space Command]] operation, arranged by the [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]] and [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], to rescue [[Huragok]] [[Quick to Adjust]] and his [[human]] handler, [[Sadie Endesha]], on the [[United Rebel Front]]-controlled [[moon]] of [[Talitsa]].{{Ref/Game|Id=H5GLtd|Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers#Edward Buck|Dossier files]] - Edward Buck}}

==Prelude==
[[Huragok]] [[Quick to Adjust]] and his [[human]] handler, [[Sadie Endesha]], participated in a variety of field operations issued by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], including one in which they possibly aided in a new [[WETWORK-class Mjolnir|MJOLNIR development project]] on [[Talitsa]] in [[2555|August 2555]]. However, while on the [[moon]], they were captured by the [[United Rebel Front]] and taken to one of the URF's [[military base]]s on Talitsa. Due to their past experiences with the Huragok, ONI Captain [[Veronica Dare]] selected [[SPARTAN-IVs]] [[Edward Buck]], [[Kojo Agu|Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], and [[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] for the mission to Talitsa to rescue the two.{{Ref/Reuse|nb9}}

==The mission==
On the way to the base Alpha-Nine was surrounded and forced to surrender by a large number of insurgents; it was revealed that Crespo had betrayed the team and revealed their mission to the URF.<ref name="nb155">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 155-157'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the rebels, led by Doctor [[Schein]], led Buck and Romeo back to their base, the latter began to insult Mickey and Schein. In response, Mickey attacked and inadvertently pushed Romeo down a hill. While the URF soldiers chased after him, Buck used the opportunity to attack Mickey and succeeded in moving the fight just out of sight of Schein, and Romeo and his pursuers. Romeo learned of Buck's situation and began to massacre the rebels. As their brawl continued, Buck eventually managed to knock Mickey unconscious with a headbutt. However, Buck was shot in the back by Schein. The doctor held him at gunpoint and attempted to use him to force Romeo to surrender, but while Schein was distracted, Buck threw his helmet at Schein's chest and knocked him to the ground. Buck grabbed Schein's rifle and smashed the shoulder stock against his face, killing him.<ref name="nb169">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 161-169'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

Taking Schein's rifle, Buck waited for Mickey to regain consciousness and watched as Romeo eliminated the rebels. After eliminating the rebels nearby, Romeo moved on to rescue Quick to Adjust and Sadie Endesha. When Mickey awoke, he asked Buck to kill him. However, Buck opted not to and the two sat down together until a [[dropship]] arrived to extract them.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 170-173'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

==Aftermath==
When they returned to the Spartan base on Mars, Buck had Mickey handed over to Jun-A266 instead of the ONI operatives that were waiting for their return, since he believed that Mickey was still a Spartan. Afterwards, Buck and Romeo were reassigned to another team at Buck's request, with Buck as a member of the team rather than as its leader.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 175-179'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Following the incident, Buck and Romeo were both debriefed in light of the issues regarding conflicting loyalties and emotions among the soldiers of the SPARTAN-IV program. Buck later told his life story to ONI archivists, beginning with his early life to his career as a SPARTAN-IV supersoldier.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 5'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HM-Mickey.png|Mickey betrays Alpha-Nine.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'' {{Mo}}

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

{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}
{{Insurrection}}