Editing Battle of Aktis IV

{{Era|Post}}
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{{Battle Infobox
|name=Battle of Aktis IV
|prev=[[Battle of Oban]]
|next=
|image=[[File:HE15 Infinity Attacked.jpg|300px]]
|conflict=[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|date=[[2558#July|July 19–20, 2558]]<ref name="HE14">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref><ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref>
|place=[[Aktis IV]], [[Aktis system]]
|result=
|side1=[[Unified Earth Government]]<br> 
*[[United Nations Space Command]] 
|side2=[[Promethean]]s<br>
[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Jul 'Mdama's]] [[Covenant remnants|Covenant faction]] 
|side3=[[Sali 'Nyon]]'s [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant faction|Covenant faction]]
|commanders1=[[Captain (Navy)|CAPT]] [[Thomas Lasky]]<br>
[[Commander|CDR]] [[Sarah Palmer]]<br>
|commanders2= [[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]]
|commanders3= [[Sali 'Nyon]]
|forces1=*[[UNSC Navy]]
**{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}
*3 [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s
*3 [[D79-TC Pelican]]s
*1 [[F-41 Broadsword]]
*2 [[Mark IX Mantis ADS]]
*10 [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]]s
*[[Henry Glassman|Dr. Glassman]] (Not a combatant)
|forces2=
*Covenant infantry
**[[Sangheili]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
**[[Unggoy]]
*Prometheans
**[[Promethean Crawler|Crawlers]]
**[[Promethean Knight|Knights]]
*1 [[Type-26 Wraith]]
*[[Type-31 Seraph]]s
*Multiple {{Class|CRS|light cruiser}}s
*Multiple {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
*Two {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
**''[[Song of Retribution]]''
**''[[Breath of Annihilation]]''
*[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Halsey]] (Not a combatant)
|forces3=
*Several Sangheili [[Zealot]]s
*One [[Sangheili Minor]] (defected)
|casual1=*3 [[pilots]]
*1 Pelican
*1 Broadsword
|casual2= Unknown number of Covenant forces
|casual3= Unknown number of religious followers
}}

The '''Battle of Aktis IV''' was an engagement fought on the previously uncharted planet [[Aktis IV]] on [[2558#July|July 19, 2558]].<ref name="HE14"/>

==Prelude==
[[File:HE13 Halsey Key Half.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Halsey with her half of the Janus Key.]]
Determined to combine the halves of the [[Janus Key]] and take them to the [[Absolute Record]] to fulfill the [[Librarian]]'s plan, Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] concocted a plan to recover the other half of the key from the [[UNSC]] without having to board the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. Following the [[Battle of Oban]] ''Infinity'' made a [[slipspace]] jump towards [[Galileo II]] base so that Dr. [[Henry Glassman]] could further study their half of the key. However, the ''Infinity'' suddenly reappeared in an [[asteroid]] belt, colliding with an asteroid and causing some damage inside the ship. The ''Infinity'' jumped to slipspace again, just to reappear a quarter of a kilometer of her last position. Unbeknownst to the crew of ''Infinity'', they were being stranded in the system by a Forerunner [[Requiem communication artifact|artifact]], recovered by 'Mdama before Requiem exploded. The artifact allowed Halsey to contact the ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Forerunner components, including her slipspace drive, and stuck them in the system. The failed attack on [[Oban]] was actually a bold move to attract the ''Infinity'' near the artifact and be able to connect the artifact and ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s drive. After checking the ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engine room, [[Roland]] found an unusual energy reading coming from the equator of an [[Aktis IV|uncharted planet]] near their position. Glassman and [[Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] supposed that the location was the source of the problem and [[Sarah Palmer]] prepared to send a team to the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue #13]]''</ref>

==The battle==
===Opening actions===
[[File:HE14 Forerunner Base 1.jpg‎|thumb|250px|left|Palmer discovers the Forerunner structure.]]
Lasky deployed a reconnaissance team to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of the planet, provisionally designated Aktis IV. The mysterious signal originated from an island in a large ocean of an opaque, foamy substance impenetrable to ''Infinity'''s sensors. Upon landing, [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Fireteam Majestic]] and [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Palmer]] engaged and defeated a detachment of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant]] forces and subsequently discovered a recently-excavated [[Forerunner]] structure. Afterwards Dr. Glassman arrived and examined the Forerunner structure, with the Spartans providing cover. Glassman theorized the structure to be part of a [[teleportation grid|translocation grid]] and soon discovered a Forerunner artifact with indentations in the shape of the halves of the Janus Key, seemingly suggesting this was where the Key was meant to be placed. However, Halsey and 'Mdama were monitoring the events and the artifact was in fact a decoy created to deceive the UNSC into taking their half of the Janus Key to the surface. Halsey believed that the UNSC would never suspect a trap as no one but Glassman would realize the Key's true value.<ref name="HE14"/>

On the planet, 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; Palmer reluctantly agreed and contacted Lasky. Although 'Mdama had troops standing at the ready, waiting for the signal to ambush the UNSC forces and take the Key, Halsey reminded Jul to exercise extreme care to avoid damaging the Key until it was safely in their possession. While the Janus Key was being prepared for transport, Roland questioned the decision to move the artifact to the surface as it may distract Glassman from his task of ascertain the origin of the interference keeping ''Infinity'' stranded. However, Lasky was confident Palmer would be able to keep Glassman focused and believed taking the Key to the surface would not cost them anything either way.<ref name="HE14"/>

===Split among the Covenant===
[[File:HE14 Destruction.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Pelican and Broadsword are shot out the sky.]]
As the Pelican carrying the Key approached the Forerunner site accompanied by a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] escort, Commander Palmer charged [[Gabriel Thorne]] with moving the materials to the Forerunner structure. However, the incoming UNSC craft were suddenly struck by Covenant anti-air artillery operated by forces under the command of [[Sali 'Nyon]], a [[Sangheili]] rebel who sought to overthrow Jul 'Mdama. Mdama and Halsey were caught off guard by this turn of events as 'Mdama had given no order to fire, nor did he have forces deployed in the area. Meanwhile, the [[shipmaster]] of ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', one of 'Mdama's {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s, received word on the unauthorized attack. Assuming he would be blamed for the incident since the unit responsible would likely be one under his direct command, the shipmaster choose not to wait for 'Mdama's signal and ordered his fleet to proceed with their planned attack against the UNSC forces. The ''Breath of Annihilation'' and the rest of 'Mdama's fleet then emerged from the foam ocean, having remained concealed underneath.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref> As the Covenant began their onslaught the Spartans on the island were quickly forced to pull back into the Forerunner structure while ''Infinity'' prepared to deploy reinforcements.<ref name="HE14"/>

On the ''Song of Retribution'', Halsey and 'Mdama argued about their next course of action. Halsey urged 'Mdama to reposition his fleet to draw the UNSC's attention away from the Pelican's crash site, but Jul was confident they would be able to take the Janus Key via a full-on assault despite the unexpected complication. Halsey then requested 'Mdama to scour the Pelican's crash site herself, but Jul had her remain on the ship while he intended to personally land on the surface, acquire the artifact, and punish those responsible for compromising the plan. On Aktis IV, Sali 'Nyon and several of his followers searched the Pelican's crash site. After discovering the half of the Janus Key, 'Nyon proclaimed his goal to expose 'Mdama as a fraud and assume leadership of the new Covenant, declaring himself "the one true prophet".<ref name="HE14"/>
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==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HE14 Taskforce.jpg|A UNSC taskforce is sent to the planet.
File:HE14 Attack.jpg|Palmer and Majestic attack Jul's forces.
‎File:HE14 Ray Sticky.jpg|Ray fires a sticky detonator.
File:HE14 Palmer Ray.jpg|Palmer and Ray converse after the Wraith's destruction.
‎File:HE14 Plan.jpg|Jul and Halsey reveal their plan.
File:HE14 Unload.jpg|Equipment is unloaded for Glassman.
‎File:HE14 Pelican Escort.jpg|The Janus Key carrying Pelican with a Broadsword escort arrive.
File:HE14 Foiled.jpg|The Covenant shoot down the Pelican.
‎File:HE14 Foam Rise.jpg|Covenant ships rise from under the foam.
File:HE14 Pinned.jpg|Palmer and Thorne are pinned down by gunfire. 
File:HE14 Sali Faction.jpg|Sali's forces retrieve the other half of the Janus Key.
</gallery>

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

==Sources==
<references/>

{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}