Editing Blunt Instruments

{{Title|''Blunt Instruments''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[File:Evo Blunt Casey.jpg|150px|thumb|right|The cover of ''Blunt Instruments'' as illustrated by Bryn Casey.]]
'''Blunt Instruments''' is the sixth short story in ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''. Written by [[Fred Van Lente]], the story shows [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN]] [[Team Black]] when the demolition of a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Beacon]] on [[Verge]] goes terribly awry.

== Plot synopsis ==
During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Team Black is sent to eliminate a heavily-fortified Covenant Beacon within the ruins of [[Ciudad de Arias]] on the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] Colony world, Verge, in order to cut off the supply of [[Helium|Helium-3]] to Covenant ships [[Battle of Tribute|blockading]] [[Tribute]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 194''</ref> While finding a safe room for Team Black to sleep in before the Op, [[Black-Two]] discovers a mutilated [[Yanme'e]], nicknamed [[Hopalong]], lying on its back and struggling to help itself up. When Black-Two decides to flip the Yanme'e over to gain intelligence, Hopalong upgrades her translation systems so that they could communicate.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''pages 197-198''</ref> Because Hopalong was a prisoner to the Covenant overseers, it decides to cooperate with Team Black so that it can free its fellow inmates. Although Team Black is uneasy with Hopalong's presence, Black-Two convinces her squadmates that they can trust the alien.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''pages 199-200''</ref>

The next morning, Team Black proceeds with their mission in destroying the Beacon with a [[C-12 shaped charge|C-12 "blow-pack"]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 202''</ref> Hopalong guides the Spartan [[Fireteam|Fire Team]] through a wrecked apartment complex's basement, where a tunnel has been hollowed out by Yanme'e inmates.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 203''</ref> Thought to be uninhabited, the team soon discovers hundreds of sleeping Yanme'e nesting throughout the tunnel.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 204''</ref> After making it through the tunnel unscathed, they engage the Covenant forces.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''pages 207-210''</ref> Hopalong then uses this chance to free the Yanme'e inmates, and Team Black then realizes that the Yanme'e used for excavation were not actually [[Slavery|slaves]], but [[Unmutuals|hostile prisoners]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 212''</ref>

When Team Black is assaulted by a swarm of Yanme'e, they lose contact with [[Black-Three]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 215''</ref> While [[Black-One]] and [[Victor-101|Black-Four]] make their way to a train to evacuate the area, Black-Two goes to find Black-Three who is struggling with the Yanme'e.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 219''</ref> She manages to save Black-Three, and she tells Black-One to start the train while being attacked by Yanme'e with grappling devices. Black-Two and Black-Three make it aboard the train after using the detonation device as a distraction to the swarm.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 220''</ref> Team Black then rides the train to be picked up by a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropship]] in a safe landing zone.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''pages 221-222''</ref>

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters|
;Human
*[[Margaret-053]] {{1st}}
*[[Otto-031]] {{1st}}
*[[Roma-143]] {{1st}}
*[[Victor-101]] {{1st}}
;Yanme'e
*[[Hopalong]] {{1st}}
|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]
*[[Jiralhanae]] {{Mo}}
*[[Kig-Yar]]
*[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[San'Shyuum]] {{Mo}}
*[[Sangheili]] {{Mo}}
*[[Yanme'e]]
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant]]
**[[Covenant military]]
*[[Unified Earth Government]]
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[UNSC Naval Command]]
*****[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]]
******[[SPARTAN-II Program]]
*****[[UNSC Fleet Command]] {{Mo}}
****[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*****[[Team Black]] {{1st}}
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Epsilon Eridani system]] {{Mo}}
**[[Tribute]] {{Mo}}
*[[Sol system]] {{Mo}}
**[[Earth]] {{Mo}}
***[[Korea]] {{Mo}}
****[[Seongnam]] {{Mo}}
*****[[Special Warfare Center]] {{Mo}}
*[[Verge]] {{1st}}
**[[Ciudad de Arias]] {{1st}}
|title-5=Events|
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Battle of Tribute]] {{Mo}}
**[[Raid on Verge]] {{1st}}
|title-6=Vehicles|
*[[Covenant cruiser]] {{Mo}}
*[[D77-TC Pelican]]
|title-7=Weapons|
*[[Assault cannon]]
*[[Battle rifle]]
*[[C-12 shaped charge]]
*[[MA5 series|MA5 series assault rifle]]
*[[Type-25 plasma pistol]]
|title-8=Technology|
*[[Grappler]]
*[[Beacon]] {{1st}}
*[[Binoculars]]
*[[Energy shielding]]
*[[Heads-up display]]
*[[Interrogator]] {{1st}}
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Black]] {{1st}}
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI]] {{Mo}}
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V]] {{Mo}}
*[[Rucksack]]
*[[VTOL]]
*[[Weapon attachments]]
**[[Flashlight]]
}}

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

{{Evolutions}}
[[Category:Halo: Evolutions]]