Editing Ambush at Oth Lodon

{{Era|Post}}
{{Battle infobox
|name=Ambush at Oth Lodon
|prev=[[Battle of Ealen IV]]  
|image=[[File:Infinity attacked.... by a third time.jpg|300px]]
|next=[[Raid on Biko peace talks]]
|conflict=[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]<br>[[Insurrection]] ''(post-war resurgence)''
|date=[[2558|March 11, 2558]]
|place=Near [[Oth Lodon]], [[Milky Way galaxy]]
|result='''UNSC victory'''
*Daniel Clayton captured
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2=*[[New Colonial Alliance]]
*[[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group]] 
|commanders1=[[Terrence Hood|FADM Terrence Hood]]<br>[[Bradley|CDR Bradley]]†<br>[[Sarah Palmer|CDR Sarah Palmer]]
|commanders2=[[Daniel Clayton|CAPT Daniel Clayton]] {{C|POW}}<br>[[Shipmaster]] [[Vata 'Gajat]]†
|forces1=*[[UNSC Navy]]
**{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}
*Five [[SPARTAN-IV]]s
**[[Fireteam Majestic]]
**[[Sarah Palmer]]
*Five [[OF92 Booster Frame]]s
|forces2=*[[Station at Oth Lodon]]
*Covenant remnant forces
**1 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}
|casual1=*Numerous members of ''Infinity'' crew
**Commander Bradley
|casual2=*All Covenant forces
**Vata 'Gajat
**1 {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}}
}}
{{Quote|Let's show the ''UNSC'' just how mighty their flagship is '''not'''.|Captain Daniel Clayton, before ordering to attack the UNSC ''Infinity''.}}

The '''Ambush at Oth Lodon''' was an engagement fought between the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the [[New Colonial Alliance]] near the gas giant [[Oth Lodon]] in [[2558|March 2558]].<ref name="HE5">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue #5''</ref>

==Background==
===''Spirit of Fire'''s disappearance===
During the [[Battle for Arcadia]] in [[2531|February 9, 2531]], the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} arrived at the planet [[Arcadia]], where it assisted in the evacuation of civilians, and the eradication of the [[Covenant]] from the planet's surface.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref> When Professor [[Ellen Anders]] was captured by the [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]], the ''Spirit of Fire'' quickly gave chase, following the Arbiter's flagship to [[Etran Harborage|an unknown planet]].<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Anders' Signal]]''</ref> Before leaving the system, the ''Spirit of Fire'' dropped a [[log buoy]] and [[Terrence Hood]], Captain of the {{UNSCShip|Roman Blue}} was assigned to recover it. However, as the colony was already deemed lost by UNSC command, ''Roman Blue'' was also ordered to withhold from engaging the enemy in combat. However, Hood, enraged by the massive losses the Covenant had already inflicted on humanity, ordered his crew to attack the {{Class|CPV|heavy destroyer}} ''[[Radiant Perception]]''. Overwhelmed, Hood was forced to retreat. Consequently, the ''Spirit of Fire's'' log buoy was not recovered and Hood would view himself as responsible for the ''Spirit of Fire's'' disappearance.{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

Out of guilt, Hood provided financial support for both [[James Cutter]]'s legitimate family (his apparent widow [[Mary Cutter|Mary]] and [[Cutter's daughter|their daughter]]) and his secret one, supporting [[Daniel Clayton]]'s mother for years.{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

===Ealen IV===
{{Main|Battle of Ealen IV}}
In [[2558]] Clayton had come to serve under [[Horatio Temkin|Rear Admiral Horatio Temkin]], the UNSC's ambassador to [[Sanghelios]]. Clayton eventually learned that Lord Hood had been acting as a benefactor throughout his entire career in an attempt to make up for the loss of Cutter and ''Spirit of Fire''. Feeling he had never accomplished anything for himself, Clayton joined [[Mattius Drake|Admiral Mattius Drake]]'s [[New Colonial Alliance]] and sought vengeance on Lord Hood.{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

Having learned of Lord Hood's diplomatic mission to [[Ealen IV]], Captain Clayton leaked intel about the peace talks and employed the help of a Sangheili mercenary, [[Vata 'Gajat]]. On March 5, they led an attack on the peace conference.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #1''</ref> The tide of the battle changed when the delegation reestablished communications with their orbiting fleets and escaped from the planet. Not wanting to risk being identified, Clayton and 'Gajat retreated before the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and their allied Sangheili and Jiralhanae ships could engage them.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #3''</ref>

===Ambush at Artesia-702===
After their failed assault on Ealen IV, 'Gajat and Captain Clayton lured Admiral Hood and the UNSC ''Infinity'' into a trap. They launched a freighter, the ''[[Pilgrims' Pride]]'' which sent out a distress signal that was later picked up by {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. When ''Infinity'' arrived in the [[Artesia-702 system]], it found the damaged freighter leaking atomic matter with faint life signs aboard and tugged the ship into one of its deployment bays. An ambush was sprung within the bay when the freighter set itself to self-destruct and multiple UNSC aircraft exited its cargo bay. The attack was repelled by Fireteams [[Fireteam Majestic|Majestic]], [[Fireteam Colossus|Colossus]], and [[Fireteam Fenrir|Fenrir]].

After the battle, ''Infinity'' crew discovered, after running an I.D. check on the [[Vulture]]s and [[Sparrowhawk]]s used on the ambush, that the assault crafts used were from the ''Spirit of Fire''.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #4''</ref>

==The battle==
[[File:Escalation-Freeze.png|thumb|left|250px|Commander Sarah Palmer and Fireteam Majestic capture the station.]]
[[Roland]] discovered the ''Pilgrims' Pride'' was supposedly built five years ago, despite its assault craft being from the ''Spirit of Fire'', which has been missing for 30 years. [[Sarah Palmer]] suggested the craft were smuggled off beforehand, but Roland disagreed as the craft were in too good of condition. Moving on, he revealed the ship's logs were wiped and then filled with false data. Despite that, he was able to retrieve the real data, coordinates from where it originated: Oth Lodon, a gas giant located deep in [[Jiralhanae]] space.

With the ''Spirit's'' possible location found, Palmer expressed that the ship might not even be there and that it might be a trap. Lord Hood authorized Palmer to conduct a search-and-rescue mission without being detected. Equipped with [[OF92 Booster Frame]]s, Palmer and Fireteam Majestic scouted Oth Lodon's system. Exploring an asteroid field, the Spartans came across not the ''Spirit of Fire'' but instead an {{Class|SDV|heavy corvette}} docked at a [[Station at Oth Lodon|Covenant station]]. Palmer restored communications to inform ''Infinity'' about the discovery.

Soon after, ''Infinity'' jumps in system right in front of the space station. Expecting this, Clayton opened a channel to ''Infinity''. Talking to Hood, he identified him as being the one who sent his mother and him money because he was the one responsible for the ''Spirit'''s disappearance. Upset at feeling like he never accomplished anything, he turned to Admiral Mattius Drake when he offered him an opportunity. Revealing that he had intended for Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] to kill Hood on Ealen IV, he announced that he lured ''Infinity'' to the station to kill Hood. He ordered the station's [[energy projector|glassing cannon]] to fire on ''Infinity'', piercing all the way through the side of the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|HE5}}

The station rapidly fired two more shots through ''Infinity'', crippling the ship and incapacitating its bridge crew; Commander Bradley was killed while Admiral Hood was paralyzed. The attacks quickly overheated the cannon, requiring some time to recharge. In the meantime, Palmer and Fireteam Majestic were deployed to board the station and stop Clayton using Booster Frames. The insurgents detected the Spartans and opened fire with the station's missile batteries on Clayton's orders. However, the Spartans successfully evaded the missiles.<ref name="esc6">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''Issue #6''</ref> 

Clayton ordered Shipmaster 'Gajat to stop the Spartans, but 'Gajat, in a burst of ambition, saw ''Infinity'' as the more valuable target and decided to destroy it instead. While Spartan [[Carlo Hoya|Hoya]] noticed 'Gajat's flagship undocking from the station, the Spartans decided to board the station anyway. 'Gajat received a distress signal from Clayton, but ignored it, instead proceeding with his plan to destroy ''Infinity''. Palmer and Majestic entered the station's command center and forced the crew to cease their operations, ignoring Clayton's orders to the contrary. Spartan [[Anthony Madsen|Madsen]] knocked Clayton out as revenge for DeMarco's death on Ealen IV. 'Gajat contacted the station to tell Clayton he was about to destroy the ''Infinity'', but was answered by Palmer instead. Palmer ordered Spartan Thorne to fire the cannon, destroying 'Gajat's ship.{{Ref/Reuse|esc6}}

==Aftermath==
Three days later, the UNSC dispatched a task force comprising an {{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}, a {{Class|Charon|light frigate}} and a {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} to repair ''Infinity'' and monitor the station. Lasky and Ray also returned to ''Infinity'' after their intelligence-gathering mission with [[Petra Janecek]] on [[Karava]].{{Ref/Reuse|esc6}}

A now wheelchair-bound Hood visited Clayton in his cell, asking why Admiral Drake wanted to destroy the ''Infinity'' despite intending to [[Raid on UNSC Infinity|capture it]] five years before. Clayton only told Hood the NCA was stronger than before and had agents on every colony, even Earth. Hood then ordered his men to take Clayton to [[Midnight Facility]]; while being taken away, Clayton told the admiral they would meet again.{{Ref/Reuse|esc6}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HE6-HoodInjured.jpg|Lord Hood injured by the attack
File:HE Bradley dead.jpg|Bradley is killed during Clayton's assault
File:HE6 infinity damaged.jpg|The ''Infinity'' sustains considerable damage
File:Madsen leaving Clayton unconscious.jpg|Spartan Madsen knocking Clayton unconscious
File:HE Gajat's flagship destroyed.jpg|'Gajat's flagship is destroyed
File:Escalation6-OthLodonAftermath.jpg|A UNSC task group arrives to police the station and repair ''Infinity''
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}
{{Insurrection}}

[[Category:Post-Covenant War conflicts|Oth Lodon]]
[[Category:Insurrection|Oth Lodon]]
[[Category:Battle|Oth Lodon]]