Editing Breath of Annihilation

{{Status|Canon}}

|class={{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}<ref name="HE14">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref>

|width={{Convert|2118|m|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

|height={{Convert|746|m|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}

|affiliation=*[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] {{c|Formerly}}

{{Quote|Here we go, head first into Annihilation.|Spartan [[Gabriel Thorne]], while traveling to the ''Breath of Annihilation''<ref name="he20">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 20|Issue #20]]''</ref>}}

'''''Breath of Annihilation''''', informally referred to as the '''''Annihilation''''',<ref name="HE19">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue #19]]''</ref> is a {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} in service with [[Sali 'Nyon]]'s [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|Covenant]],<ref>''Halo: Escalation'', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 24|Issue #24]]''</ref> formerly belonging to [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant faction]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}} Along with 'Mdama's ''[[Song of Retribution]]'', ''Breath of Annihilation'' was one of the two assault carriers that made up the faction's primary contingent fleet.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Have S'moa'']</ref>

During the [[Battle of Aktis IV]], ''Breath of Annihilation'' along with another ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier and a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} were hidden underneath an ocean of an unknown, foam-like substance on [[Aktis IV]] which prevented {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}'s sensors from detecting them. The ships were to be used by 'Mdama in his plan to ambush the UNSC forces in order to take possession of their half of the [[Janus Key]]. After the [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]] carrying the key was shot down by [[Sali 'Nyon]]'s artillery, however, the ''Breath of Annihilation''{{'}}s [[shipmaster]] gave the order to assault the UNSC forces despite receiving no attack order from 'Mdama. ''Breath of Annihilation'' and the other Covenant ships then emerged from the ocean and launched their attack against the human forces on the nearby island.{{Ref/Reuse|HE14}}

The carrier battled UNSC ''Infinity'' and her {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} sub-vessels over the planet, alongside ''Song of Retribution'' and smaller [[Covenant cruiser]]s, preventing ''Infinity'' from moving or supporting its deployed ground forces.<ref name="HE15">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref> After Jul's forces managed to procure both halves of the Janus Key, 'Mdama and his forces fled [[Aktis system|the system]].<ref name="HE16">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue #16]]''</ref>

Using the Janus Key, 'Mdama's faction worked to pinpoint the location of the [[Absolute Record]], a repository of [[Forerunner]] knowledge. On [[2558#September|September 15, 2558]], while within the [[Urs system]], Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] believed she discovered the Absolute Record's location while analyzing the Janus Key. Meanwhile, the UNSC's [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] put together a team composed of Spartans [[Sarah Palmer]], [[Gabriel Thorne]], [[Holly Tanaka]], Doctor [[Henry Glassman]], and [[Ayit 'Sevi]]—a mercenary within Jul's ranks working for ONI. Using 'Sevi's false affiliation with Jul's forces, the team took a [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] and stalled away aboard ''Breath of Annihilation'', with the intention of revealing the location of the Absolute Record to the UNSC. When ''Breath of Annihilation'' and the rest of the fleet departed for the Absolute Record's apparent location, they discovered an apparently artificial gas giant with a [[slipspace portal]] leading to their true destination. However, slipspace ruptures suddenly destroyed two cruisers within the fleet and heavily damaged ''Annihilation''.{{Ref/Reuse|HE19}}

While the carrier's crew rushed to repair their ship, the UNSC team aboard ''Breath of Annihilation'' lost their [[Telemetry probe|way of communication]] with ONI when the slipspace rupture formed. With their Phantom damaged, they resolved to travel to a nearby [[hangar bay]] to steal another Phantom. Creating a smoke screen, 'Sevi exited his [[dropship]] and began eliminating the Covenant soldiers in the hangar. He traveled to a nearby hangar and hijacked a Phantom, while the Spartans and Glassman followed. While moving to 'Sevi's position, the humans encountered a group of oncoming Covenant soldiers. After a quick firefight, the humans made their way to the hangar, where a [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]] prepared to fire upon them. However, 'Sevi destroyed the tank with the Phantom. The team escaped the damaged carrier aboard the dropship and embarked for ''Song of Retribution''. Rumors of a Spartan attack in ''Breath of Annihilation'' spread to the carrier's shipmaster, and eventually reached ''Retribution''. While the shipmaster sent out search teams to check for Spartans, 'Mdama decided that only his carrier would enter the slipspace portal to the Absolute Record while ''Breath of Annihilation'' remained behind with the rest of the fleet to make emergency repairs at a nearby [[moon]]. Still needing to make contact with ONI, 'Sevi and Thorne traveled back to ''Annihilation'' in their Phantom. Before entering the portal, ''Retribution'' transferred several of its prisoners to ''Annihilation'', including Sali 'Nyon.{{Ref/Reuse|he20}}

[[File:HE21 - Support ships.jpg|thumb|250px|''Breath of Annihilation'' being repaired by several {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s.]]

In order to keep the Covenant forces from uniting to kill Thorne, Ayit freed Sali 'Nyon, and encouraged him to lead the revolt against 'Mdama's leadership aboard the assault carrier. Thorne escaped to the swamps outside of the ship, pursued by Kig-Yar with Banshee support, but these were recalled to help defend the ship from 'Nyon's forces, leaving only a handful of Kig-Yar to continue the hunt for Thorne, who managed to take them out while wounded. Triumphing over 'Mdama's forces, 'Nyon seized control of 'Mdama's cache of Forerunner artifacts taken from Requiem to secure an edge against 'Mdama.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue 23''</ref> When the artifacts activated, returning Commander Palmer and her team from the Absolute Record, Ayit convinced 'Nyon that the glow of the artifacts was a sign of approval from the gods, hiding them until the ''Breath of Annihilation'' reached Sangheili space, where they left the ship to meet up with an ONI extraction team. Shortly afterwards, the ''Song of Retribution'' arrived with 'Mdama aboard, and immediately engaged the ''Breath of Annihilation'' in an unsuccessful attempt to take the ship back. It remained in 'Nyon's control as he rallied support among the rest of the Covenant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', ''Issue 24''</ref>

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:CAS-class assault carriers]]

[[Category:Covenant ships]]