Editing Battle of Draetheus V

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Battle infobox
|name        = Battle of Draetheus V
|image       = [[File:HSA-Cinematic-Plummet.jpg|350px]]
|prev        = [[Spartan-IV station terror attack]]
|conc        =
|next        = [[Operation: FAR STORM]]
|conflict    = [[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|date        = [[2554]]<ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2994218_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2994218 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction (Page 43)'']</ref>
|place       = [[Draetheus V]] and [[X50]]
|result      = '''Pyrrhic UNSC victory'''
*Covenant forces repelled
*Draetheus V disintegrated and X50 sabotaged
|side1       = [[United Nations Space Command]]
|side2       = [[Merg Vol's Covenant]]
|commanders1 =[[Sarah Palmer]]<br>
[[Edward Davis]]†
|commanders2 =[[Shipmaster]] [[Merg Vol]]†<br>
[[Parg Vol]]
|forces1     =
*Two [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]]s
*[[UNSC Army]]
**[[23rd Armored Cavalry]] (86 vehicles)
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[21st Scout platoon]]
**[[3rd Helljumper Platoon]]
*{{UNSCShip|Eminent Domain}}
*Several {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}}s
*[[AV-14 Hornet]]s
*[[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]]s
*[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s
*[[M312 Elephant]]s
*[[M313 Elephant]]s
*[[M808C Scorpion]]s
*[[M850 Grizzly|M850 Grizzlie]]s
*[[M9 Wolverine]]s 
|forces2     = 
*Ground forces
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Yanme'e]]
**[[Sangheili]]
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
*Several {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s
*Several {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s
*{{Pattern|Taaku Xur|Spirit}}s
*{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}}s
*[[Type-26 Banshee]]s
*[[Type-26 Wraith]]s
*[[Type-32 Ghost]]s
*{{Pattern|Ogab'd|anti-aircraft Wraith}}s
*[[Type-52 Phantom]]s
**At least one {{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}}
|casual1     = 
*{{UNSCShip|Eminent Domain}}
*Numerous Marines
*[[Edward Davis|One]] SPARTAN-IV
*Several civilians
*78 vehicles (23rd Armored Cavalry)
|casual2     =
*Numerous Covenant forces
**[[Jiralhanae]]
**[[Kig-Yar]]
**[[Sangheili]]
***[[Merg Vol]]
**[[Unggoy]]
**[[Yanme'e]]
*Several T-25 Spirits
*Several T-26 Banshees
*Several T-26 Wraiths
*Several T-32 Ghosts
*Several T-52 AA Wraiths
*Several T-52 Phantoms
}}
{{Quote|The fighting started when a splinter sect of Covenant ignored the Ceasefire of 2552 and attacked UNSC forces. By the time the fighting was done... Well, it didn't end well for the UNSC and Covenant, either one.|[[Roland]]<ref name="umbra">'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''' - ''[[Operation A: Umbra]]''</ref>}}

The '''Battle of Draetheus V''' was an isolated military engagement fought between the [[United Nations Space Command]] against a [[Merg Vol's Covenant|new Covenant faction]] on the UNSC research colony of [[Draetheus V]] and its moon [[X50]], after the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2554]].{{Ref/Reuse|catalog}} This Covenant faction came to seize a dormant [[Forerunner]] artifact, igniting one of the first conflicts in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war era]] with the UNSC.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjakadAOic '''YouTube''': ''Halo: Spartan Assault - Debut Gameplay Reveal'']</ref>

==The battle==
===Merg Vol's Covenant arrives===
{{Quote|Spartans Davis and Palmer were both stationed on Draetheus V's moon at the time of the first attack.|Roland{{Ref/Reuse|umbra}}}}
[[File:Assault on CF-32.png|thumb|left|250px|Merg Vol's Covenant forces invade X50.]]
A [[Merg Vol's Covenant|Covenant fleet]] unexpectedly appeared in orbit over Draetheus V and deployed numerous {{Pattern|Taaku Xur|Spirit}} dropships bound for its moon, X50. [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Edward Davis]] was deployed to support the security force of a research project in a location designated CF-32 in the northern continent of X50. After thwarting the initial assault, Davis moved to secure the UNSC's [[Research Facility Alpha]] and the Forerunner artifact located therein, which appeared to be Merg Vol's Covenant's main target.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 1: Assault on CF-32|Assault on CF-32]]''</ref>

However, Vol's Covenant resumed their assault and the UNSC feared Research Facility Alpha would soon be crushed. Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]], with a Marine detachment, infiltrated artillery positions Vol's Covenant had set up and destroyed them.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 2: The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault|The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault]]''</ref> Spartan Davis later noticed Vol's Covenant's heavy reliance on dropship insertion. Davis realized they would be vulnerable to focused anti-aircraft fire, so, using [[M9 Wolverine]]s, he began establishing air defenses west of the facility at a location designated Glacial Perch.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 3: Reinforcement of the Perch|Reinforcement of the Perch]]''</ref>

While Spartan Davis was successful in slowing the enemy advance, Merg Vol's Covenant forces were too overwhelming. Sarah Palmer began fighting her way upstream through the invasion in an attempt to reach one of the northern outposts. Her plan was to destroy Covenant air support and give the [[AV-14 Hornet]]s a chance to land near the outposts. The ultimate goal was to get off X50 and warn Draetheus V of Vol's Covenant invasion. Within an hour of their arrival at X50, Vol's Covenant owned the moon. Despite the ferocity of the assault on X50, the UNSC forces on Draetheus V had no idea anything was going on because the planet's unique magnetic resonance frequently made off-world communication nearly impossible.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 4: Live to Fight|Live to Fight]]''</ref>

===Defense of Draetheus V===
{{Quote|As Spartan Davis continued fighting on the moon, Spartan Palmer and a handful of UNSC troops redeployed to the surface of Draetheus V to fend off the invaders there.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation B: Tempered Shield]]''</ref>}}
Spartan Davis fought to hold the line on X50, while Sarah Palmer executed a plan to depart for Draetheus V and warn them of the incoming Covenant invasion of the colony. Palmer ordered the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]]s in the area to fall back to the Hornet landing zones. Only six Marines made it there alive. They held out against an overwhelming Covenant force until Palmer managed to escape.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 5: The Last Stand|The Last Stand]]''</ref> Spartan Palmer was successful in warning Draetheus V of the coming attack, which soon hit the colonies' defenses like a tidal wave. Draetheus V's main outpost, [[Faraday Base]], was located on the border of an expanse of dense vegetation to the north and an enormous rock plateau to the south. 
[[File:Siege of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|left|Spartan Palmer defending Faraday Base.]]
When Merg Vol's Covenant invasion force eventually arrived, the first defense lines surrounding Faraday were quickly breached before the base's sentry turrets were fully operational. Palmer took to the field and almost singlehandedly held off the waves of [[Unggoy]] [[Suicide attack|suicide units]] crashing down on the thick concrete wall behind the defense lines.<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Mission 6: Siege of Faraday|Siege of Faraday]]''</ref>

Draetheus V's western reactor field was one of the largest of the magnetic reactor stations and was of great interest to Merg Vol's Covenant. Luckily, the trench-like layout of the reactor field provided the Marines stationed there with a terrain advantage and Covenant infantry platoons had significant difficulty in seizing the station. After supporting the Marines at Faraday, Sarah Palmer moved to provide support in the western reactor field. Palmer's prime objectives were to protect several squads of M9 Wolverines and halt the Banshees providing air support to Vol's Covenant infantry.<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Mission 7: Reactor Field Relief|Reactor Field Relief]]''</ref>

After Faraday Base's defense were stabilized Spartan Palmer began trying to establish the location of Merg Vol's Covenant officers leading the invasion. After taking significant losses, Marines of the [[21st Scout platoon]] had managed to uncover a set of promising coordinates. These commanders' locations were well hidden by Draetheus V's unique magnetic signatures. Without Palmer, the officers might have remained hidden for days. She found them within 30 minutes and eliminated them quickly.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 8: Hunt for the Sangheili Command|Hunt for the Sangheili Command]]''</ref>

Nine lofty bridges spanning an enormous gorge called the Epsilon Expanse allowed for access to the southern plateau where the majority of Covenant landing zones were located. Merg Vol's Covenant quickly secured these bridges and held UNSC forces at bay with heavy artillery. Spartan Palmer escorted the [[23rd Armored Cavalry]] to the Epsilon Expanse, but the Scorpion tanks would not survive the guaranteed [[Emp'seam-pattern Antlion|heavy artillery]] fire. Taking a small team of Marines across one of the bridges, Palmer managed to infiltrate Vol's Covenant camps and destroy several artillery turrets, giving the Scorpions the chance to advance and launch a counter-offensive.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 9: Battle for Epsilon Expanse|Battle for Epsilon Expanse]]''</ref>
[[File:Battle at Red Slate.png|thumb|250px|right|A Scorpion engages a Wraith at the Red Slate Plateau.]] 
With Vol's Covenant's southern forces exposed, Spartan Palmer and the 23rd Armored Cavalry's massive column of [[M808 Scorpion]]s and [[M850 Grizzly|M850 Grizzlies]] rushed across the Red Slate plateau on a collision course with several Covenant tank battalions. Only a UNSC counter-offensive would prevent Faraday from being crushed between the northern and southern front. The 23rd had brought eighty-six vehicles to Draetheus V. After the battle at Red Slate, there were only eight functioning vehicles left.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 10: Battle at Red Slate|Battle at Red Slate]]''</ref>

===X50's activation===
{{Quote|Even through the battle was going in the Spartan's favor, Draetheus V had a surprise in store. Its moon wasn't a moon at all. It was a Forerunner creation, designed to build and destroy entire planets. Nobody knew about this... until the Covenant cult leader found a way to reactivate the old Forerunner tech... and start disassembling Draetheus V.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation C: Monolith]]''</ref>}}
As Spartan Palmer led the charge on Draetheus V, Spartan Davis continued to face considerable enemy threat on the moon. Furthermore, it was revealed that X50 was not a natural moon after all, but a [[Forerunner]] megastructure capable of constructing and destroying planets. Upon finding his way into the control center, [[Merg Vol]] turned X50's main weapon on Draetheus V and began to dismantle the planet.

In a stroke of luck, the {{UNSCShip|Eminent Domain}} was able to outmaneuver Covenant forces in orbit over the moon and offer some support by deploying marines to the southern Mirror Flats. The [[3rd Helljumper Platoon]] was the first to land on Draetheus V's moon. Their drop zone was less than a mile from Alpha facility but the landing scattered them across the razor sharp rock face of the mountain range called Glacial Perch. They were quickly surrounded by Covenant infantry and taking heavy losses. Spartan Davis, having held out against a constant stream of Unggoy and [[Sangheili]] for a full day, quickly set out to clear the landing zone for the second wave of drop pods.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 11: Descend from the Perch|Descend from the Perch]]''</ref>

Having secured a safe landing zone at the [[Glacial Perch]], Davis moved to regroup with a second platoon of marines, whose pods were coming down among dozens of crashed Spirits. These Spirits were destroyed from orbit by the ''Eminent Domain'' just as the ship itself was destroyed. Davis and the Marines found Covenant infantry swarming from the wrecked Spirits, angry and looking for payback. They engaged and neutralized the enemy forces in the area.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 12: Spirit Graveyard Stand-Off|Spirit Graveyard Stand-Off]]''</ref>

South of the Forerunner structure, a collection of thousands of spiked rock formations known as the Basalt Maze protruded from the moon's thick ice. Covenant supply lines were running straight through the Maze to set up more defenses around the Forerunner structure. Spartan Davis connected with UNSC combat technicians who believed they could render the Forerunner structure inert; they just needed the chance to get inside the structure. Getting the combat engineers close to the Forerunner structure would be extremely difficult, so Davis created a diversion to provide them with the best chance. The Basalt Maze provided an ideal location for his plan.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 13: Assault on the Supply Lines|Assault on the Supply Lines]]''</ref>

Covenant forces established a mile wide defense perimeter around the Forerunner structure. To protect the technicians, UNSC command had deployed snipers among the Marine reinforcements. They would provide suppressing fire from the higher ground around the structure. However, the area they were deploying to was swarming with [[Stealth Sangheili]]. Spartan Davis escorted several sniper teams to their locations and cleared the area of any distractors in the process. Without his support, the sniper squads would not have had a chance to make it safely to their assignments.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 14: Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter|Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter]]''</ref>

Spartan Davis and the remaining Marines assisted the combat technicians securing the Forerunner structure while Vol's Covenant reinforcements did everything in their power to stop the technicians. With supporting sniper fire from higher grounds, Davis and his men were able to buy the technicians just enough time to do their work. However, even with their job complete, it was too late for Draetheus V. In the sky they could see the planet had already begun to violently break apart.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 15: Superstructure Stand-off|Superstructure Stand-off]]''</ref>

===Evacuation of Draetheus V===
{{Quote|Draetheus V wasn't quite the safe and secure planet it used to be. Suddenly, Spartan Palmer wasn't just fighting off hordes of Covenant, she was heading an evacuation.|Roland<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation D: Captured Chance]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Liberation of Faraday.png|thumb|250px|UNSC personnel fighting in the perimeter of Faraday Base.]]
Across Draetheus V, the effects of the activation of the moon's Forerunner structure were being felt. Enormous slabs of rock were slowly floating away from the planet's surface and both UNSC and Covenant troops were scrambling to get to safety. Spartan Palmer needed to get every last survivor off Draetheus V as soon as possible. But as the planet started to disintegrate, a panic rippled through every infantry unit on the field. A coordinated retreat would be impossible. Fighting her way through hordes of fleeing Covenant in a rapidly disintegrating base, she managed to secure [[Series 12 Single Operator Lift Apparatus|jetpacks]] to get her to safer ground.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 16: Escape from the Southern Fields|Escape from the Southern Fields]]''</ref>

Despite the chaos, much of Merg Vol's Covenant force remained rooted in strategic locations within the area around Faraday Base. The few surviving Marines and base staff had set up defensive positions in the western sector of the facility, preparing for a last stand against the increasing influx of Covenant. Palmer arrived at the base's perimeter moments before the Marines would be overrun. Around the base, Palmer managed to secure several [[M312 Elephant|Elephants]]. She then needed to relieve the besieged Marines and get them out of their predicament. She was able to rescue several groups of Marines and escort them to the extraction zone.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 17: Liberation of Faraday|Liberation of Faraday]]''</ref>
[[File:Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones.png|thumb|left|250px|Grizzly tanks during the assault on the Covenant landing zones.]]
Draetheus V was ill-prepared for a full evacuation. Many ships had been destroyed in the initial Covenant assault. UNSC command estimated that at best, 40 percent might reach safety while the rest would die. Spartan Palmer declared those odds unacceptable and hatched a plan to abuse the rapidly degrading Covenant morale to overrun their landing zones and confiscate [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|their spacecraft]]. Merg Vol's Covenant forces stationed at the landing zones were completely surprised by the bold attack. Already displaying cracks in their morale due to earlier losses, Vol's Covenant forces quickly gave up the landing zones.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 18: Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones|Assault on the Covenant Landing Zones]]''</ref>

Strategic location at the Epsilon Expanse had been hard won, and a rear guard was established at each of the bridge's exit points to cover the convoy of Elephants taking the evacuees south. Spartan Palmer knew that taking a slow-moving pack of transport vehicles across a quickly degenerating warzone was not going to be easy. While earlier operations at the Epsilon Expanse had secured access to the Red Slate Plateau, hordes of Covenant were overrunning the area, also trying to get to their ships in the south. These forces quickly diverted their attention to the fleeing Elephants. Palmer with the help of several Marines was able to defend the Elephants.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 19: Escape from Faraday|Escape from Faraday]]''</ref>

[[File:Davis last stand.jpg|thumb|250px|Spartan Davis makes his last stand against Covenant forces.]]
After getting her convoy of Elephants safely across the Plateau, Spartan Palmer organized the construction of a series of makeshift defensive structures in order to protect the ships as evacuees loaded. With a mix of outrage and desperation, Merg Vol's Covenant fought to reclaim their only means of escape. After succeeding in holding off Vol's Covenant infantry, Palmer managed to get 23 Covenant spaceships off the ground, saving hundreds of lives that would have otherwise been lost.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 20: Defense of the Enemies' Airbase|Defense of the Enemies' Airbase]]''</ref> Meanwhile, on X50, Davis' position was overrun by Vol's Covenant and he was eventually killed.<ref name="Frostbite">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Operation E: Frostbite]]''</ref>

===Hunt for Merg Vol===
{{Quote|Although the Covenant forces were broken, the UNSC command wanted the Covenant leader, Merg Vol eliminated.|Roland{{Ref/Reuse|Frostbite}}}}
With transportation secured, one last hurdle remained in getting the colonists safely off of Draetheus V. The leader of the Covenant faction, [[Merg Vol]], was still present on moon X50, providing the remaining Covenant forces with a rallying point and cry. If the colonists were to leave Draetheus V's orbit alive, Merg Vol would need to be terminated. Spartan Palmer would need a way to get to the moon unseen, but Vol's Covenant knew about her stolen Spirits and would likely open fire on any of these ships trying to land on the moon. Palmer suspected Merg Vol's Covenant's officer on Draetheus V, [[Parg Vol]], had a [[R'shwupa-pattern Phantom|personal transport]] hidden away. After completing the evacuation operation, locating Parg Vol's ship became Palmer's highest priority. After fighting through heavy Covenant forces she was able to locate Vol's Phantom and secured it for hijacking.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 21: Hunt for the Phantom|Hunt for the Phantom]]''</ref>

Parg Vol's camp was easily defensible, but Spartan Palmer neutralized the perimeter guard and moved in. The real challenge would be in accessing Parg Vol's Phantom. While a combat technician was bypassing the Phantom's security protocols, Parg Vol made his return. When he realized Palmer's intent, he ordered a full frontal assault on her position. With heavy plasma artillery raining down from a platoon of Wraiths, Palmer held off the infantry just long enough for the technician to succeed.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 22: The Scorching of the Thicket|The Scorching of the Thicket]]''</ref>

Merg Vol's base on the moon was surrounded by [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|Tyrants]]. Hearing of Spartan Palmer's theft of Parg Vol's ship, Merg Vol ordered every flying craft to be shot down, the only exception being commanding officers' Phantoms. Having successfully piloted the Phantom through Merg Vol's Covenant fleet orbiting Draetheus V's moon, Palmer was able to land south of Merg Vol's camp, out of range of his turrets. Her Trojan Horse tactic had worked. Although she was closing in on Merg Vol, she still had to fight her way through a heavily fortified camp of his most seasoned soldiers. To ease her work, she entertained possibility of a plan to persuade them to leave the safety of their positions.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 23: Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base|Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base]]''</ref>
[[File:Battle for the Moon.png|thumb|250px|right|Sarah Palmer facing down Merg Vol.]]
In the hours since launching their attack, Vol's Covenant cultists had established themselves in a long ice-covered gorge between Merg Vol's camp and the Forerunner structure, setting up an almost-impregnable position. With Merg Vol's camp neutralized, Spartan Palmer made her way to the Forerunner structure. Vol's Covenant troops there were Merg Vol's most devout followers and threw themselves at her mercilessly. Palmer would have to battle her way through heavy opposition, and before she could confront Merg Vol himself, she first needed to deal with his lieutenants. After facing heavy resistance, Palmer was able to eliminate Merg Vol's lieutenants.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 24: Hunt for the Cult Leader|Hunt for the Cult Leader]]''</ref>

Merg Vol was convinced he had been chosen by his gods to wield the power contained within the Forerunner structure. Having spent considerable resources to unlock its secrets, Vol managed to activate the structure's emergency defenses. With the deadly defenses at his command, Vol had become extremely dangerous. Unable to contact Spartan Davis since landing on Draetheus V's moon, Palmer prepared to battle Vol on her own. Vol's exact location had not been difficult to find: the direct area at the foot of the Forerunner structure was littered with a trail of dead UNSC soldiers. After facing Merg Vol's final forces and Forerunner [[beam turret]]s, she engaged Merg Vol himself. Despite a difficult fight, Palmer was able to overtake Vol and executed him with her [[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System|M6H magnum]].<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''', ''[[Mission 25: Battle for the Moon|Battle for the Moon]]''</ref>

With Merg Vol killed, his Covenant forces were defeated and the surviving colonists of Draetheus V were able to safely evacuate the system. After killing Vol, Palmer sabotaged the Forerunner device on X50 and fled the moon in Parg Vol's ship.{{Ref/Reuse|Frostbite}}

===Operation: HYDRA===
{{Quote|So I killed Merg Vol and we all went home? Is that the official version these days?|Sarah Palmer{{Ref/Reuse|hydra}}}}
[[File:Breach of the Bulwark.png|thumb|250px|Pelican dropships during Operation: HYDRA on X50.]]
With Merg Vol's Covenant defeated and most UNSC forces evacuated from Draetheus V and X50, the battle appeared to be over. However, the UNSC soon detected a looping transmission of low-frequency static, identified by UNSC analysts as a string of Forerunner code, emanating from X50. Spartan Palmer returned to X50 to discern the origin of this signal, only to discover that Vol's Covenant had also returned.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 26: Battle at the Arid Sea|Battle at the Arid Sea]]''</ref> Vol's Covenant believed that one of their gods was speaking to them and were intent on preventing the humans from intercepting the message. Once Spartan Palmer secured a landing zone, UNSC forces were re-deployed to X50's surface in a constant stream, as part of Operation: HYDRA.<ref name="m27">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 27: Breach of the Bulwark|Breach of the Bulwark]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Waypoint''': [[Catalog/Archive|Catalog]]: "''Analysis of Human OPERATION HYDRA security forces combat data [ref: Spartan Assault] indicate application of unknown [sublimation] device.''"</ref>

While UNSC scientists struggled to pinpoint the Forerunner signal's origin, Covenant forces recaptured a series of turrets along a large gorge called the [[Arid Sea]]. The UNSC forces would require significant fire power to break through. Spartan Palmer took command of a battalion of Scorpions and Grizzlies in an effort to take down Merg Vol's Covenant turrets. Meanwhile, UNSC scientists began to crack the Forerunner code. They were beginning to suspect that instead of an ancient voice, it was something much more recent in origin, and was calling for help.{{Ref/Reuse|m27}}

The disintegration of Draetheus V caused large chunks of the planet's crust to crash into X50's surface. The impact of the collisions revealed sections of a Forerunner structure that were previously hidden under the moon's ice. The structure was enormous in scale, stretching for miles in all directions. It was deduced that this structure was the origin of the Forerunner message. With the main line of Vol's Covenant defenses breached, Spartan Palmer moved to locate the source of the Forerunner transmission. The terrain of X50 was too challenging for the battalion to pass, so Palmer continued on foot towards the Forerunner signal.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 28: Superstructure Assault|Superstructure Assault]]''</ref>

===Goodbye to a friend===
{{Quote|The transmission was Davis's call for help, just before he died. That planet was made to build things out of galactic material. And it tried to build something out of was left of Davis. I shut it down.|Palmer mourning Davis' death<ref name="hydra">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Operation F: Hydra]]''</ref>}}
[[File:HSA Davis remains.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Davis' remains being absorbed.]]
After defeating Merg Vol's Covenant forces at the [[light bridge]] at the entrance to a series of caverns, Spartan Palmer entered a cave UNSC Command designated the [[Cistern]]. Palmer advanced forward, encountering and dispatching the large numbers of stealth Sangheili forces in the area. Deep within the Cistern she found the structure's entrance; large [[blast door]]s of Forerunner design, and from behind the doors, the origin of the signal. At this time, UNSC scientists decoded the first part of the Forerunner transmission, which was a single word: "Palmer." They warned the Spartan that the structure seemed to know her name.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 29: Infiltration of the Cistern|Infiltration of the Cistern]]''</ref>

Engineering equipment became increasingly unreliable while moving further into the Cistern. The Forerunner signal interfered with anything capable of picking it up. Engineering worked franticly to keep their equipment in running order, though Spartan Palmer's MJOLNIR armor was able to withstand the interference. Palmer followed the signal deeper into the caves, eventually to its very source. As she got closer, the Forerunner code rippled across her sensors, translating before her very eyes as "Palmer, help me." Palmer discovered that the message had originated from her Spartan compatriot Davis, moments before his death. The structure had absorbed Davis' remains into a [[Durance]]. Fighting off a massive Covenant assault, Palmer was able to attach the Durance to a Pelican and escape. She subsequently shut it down to allow her friend to pass on peacefully.<ref name="theSource">'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''[[Mission 30: The Source|The Source]]''</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{Quote|After she managed to eliminate Merg Vol and avenge Spartan Davis, Spartan Palmer successfully sabotaged the Forerunner device, eliminating the threat once and for all.|Roland{{Ref/Reuse|Frostbite}}}}
With the Forerunner device sabotaged and Merg Vol dead, his Covenant were unable to achieve their goal. While numerous human lives were lost over the course of the battle, many more deaths were avoided thanks to the efforts of the Spartans.

Years later, the records of the Battle of Draetheus V became part of a [[UNSC Tactical Simulator|tactical simulator]] to enhance strategic skills of the SPARTAN-IVs.<ref>'''Halo: Spartan Assault''' - ''Introduction''</ref> However, the events after Palmer killing Merg Vol and sabotaging X50 were not included in the official record. Despite this, Palmer revealed the truth to a small number of Spartans aboard {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Reuse|hydra}}

Although [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] dissolved in the wake of the battle, some went on to join other [[Covenant remnants]] including [[Parg Vol]] who joined up with [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]. However, Parg Vol was later [[Assassination of Parg Vol|assassinated]] by [[Fireteam Crimson]] in [[2558#February|February 2558]] during the [[Requiem Campaign]].<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[Catherine/Hunting Trip|S1E03 ''Hunting Trip'']]</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HSA Covenant remnant fleet in DraetheusV.jpg|Merg Vol's Covenant fleet closes in on Draetheus V.
File:HSA-Cinematic-Horizon.jpg|[[Sarah Palmer|Spartan Palmer]] observes the [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction|Covenant]] invasion forces.
File:Spartan Assault cinematic.jpg|X50 is activated.
File:The Mirror Mantle Counter-Assault.png|A Phantom escorted by Banshees over X50.
File:Reinforcement of the Perch.png|A Banshee over the Glacial Perch.
File:Live to Fight.png|Wraiths advancing on Research Facility Alpha.
File:Descend from the Perch.png|The Third Helljumper Platoon deploying on X50.
File:Hunt for the Sangheli Command.png|An Unggoy-operated Shade turret on Draetheus V.
File:Battle for Epsilon Expanse.png|A Sangheili and a {{Pattern|Emp'seam|Antlion}} on Draetheus V.
File:Assault on the Supply Lines.png|An anti-air Wraith defending Vol's Covenant supply lines.
File:Infiltration of the Covenant Perimeter.png|A UNSC sniper near the Forerunner artifact.
File:Defense of the Enemies' Airbase.png|Spirits over Draetheus V.
File:Hunt for the Phantom.png|UNSC Hornets taking off during the mission to capture Parg Vol's Phantom.
File:Infiltration of the Cult Leader's Base.png|Tyrant AA guns defending Merg Vol's base.
File:Battle at the Arid Sea.png|Palmer infiltrating a Covenant anti-air emplacement.
File:Superstructure Assault.png|Kig-Yar defend the entrance to the Cistern.
File:Infiltration of the Cistern.png|Yanme'e in the caverns within X50.
</gallery>

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


==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}
{{clear}}
{{Post-Covenant War conflicts}}