Halo: Aileron

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Halo: Aileron
Attribution information
Author(s):	Alex Wakeford Jeff Easterling
Audio book narrator(s):	Jeff Easterling
Publication information
Publisher:	Halo Studios
Publication date:	May 26, 2026 (part of Halo: Waypoint Chronicles Volume One)
Media type:	Short story

Halo: Aileron is a short story in the Waypoint Chronicle series written by Jeff Easterling and Alex Wakeford. It is exclusively included in the print compilation Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One, released on May 26, 2026.

Official summary

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Plot synopsis

On January 23, 2560, Kona Squadron, the primary element of the 22nd First Response Wing, prepares in their FSS-1000 Sabres for a Banished attack on Dormire III after the arrival of a capital ship between the planet and its shattered moon. Waiting to launch, Kona speculates on the Banished's motives, guessing that it has something to do with the fact that the moon had housed a Guardian Custode that shattered it upon emergence. The moon shattering has wreaked havoc on the planet's tides while raining chunks of deadly debris onto its tides. While the moon's remains have since settled into a semblance of gravitational stability in orbit, the danger from them still remains and planetary defense artillery has been repurposed to fire upon any larger pieces that threaten to enter the atmosphere and cause a catastrophe. Kona Squadron launches, dodging debris as they head for the Banished capital ship.

Two hours later, the Sabres arrive to discover a Banished flagship of an unknown design accompanied by two karves. Blackjack guesses that the ship likely contains a high-ranking Banished officer of importance, giving them the chance to stop the raid and eliminate a Banished leader. Kona Squadron engages the Banished fleet, but their Medusa Missiles are shot down by pulse laser turrets or do no damage upon impact. Kona Squadron succeeds in taking down four Phantoms, but Kona Four takes damage that leaves it dead in the water and a Phantom and a Spirit gang up on it. Kona One takes out the Phantom, but the Spirit confuses their missiles by venting plasma streams like flares. Despite the other Sabres attempts to save their comrades, the Spirit collides with Kona Four, destroying both vessels.

One of the karves disengages and heads for the planet while the flagship and the other karve heads for the moon, suggesting that there is more Forerunner technology there than just the Guardian. Hex orders that a long-range transmission be sent warning the UNSC forces on the ground of this development while Kona Squadron continues after the Banished flagship. For twelve minutes, the Sabres engage the Banished, desperately trying every hit-and-run tactic in their arsenal to slow the Banished. Kona Three is disabled by fire from the two warships and Hex orders Samba to go dark in the hopes that it will cause the Banished to ignore them.

Suddenly, dozens of Phaetons appear and engage both factions, forcing Kona Squadron to switch to evasion and survival in the hopes of surviving long enough for the Banished to take the biggest losses and hope that the Forerunner craft will then see them as insignificant. A Spirit gunship releases proximity mines into the Sabres' path, blowing Kona One in half and forcing Blackjack and Hex to eject. A Phaeton pulls the two into its cockpit, recognizing them as Reclaimers, and giving Hex control. Hex attacks the Banished fleet with fury while Blackjack discovers that he has full command of the entire force of Phaetons. Under Hex and Blackjack's command, the Phaetons target the Banished capital ships, destroying the nearest karve and causing the flagship to flee into slipspace. With all nearby Banished forces gone, Hex orders Blackjack to find a way to contact the rest of Kona Squadron and then send a signal to the UNSC ground forces fighting the Banished that they have found reinforcements.

Appearances

Characters Artificial intelligence Cortana (Mentioned only) Human Blackjack (First appearance) Candle (First appearance) Gazebo (First appearance) Hex (First appearance) Juke (First appearance) Moonlight (First appearance) Roadie (First appearance) Samba (First appearance) Snapshot Vinyl (First appearance) Species Forerunner (Mentioned only) Human Jiralhanae (Mentioned only) Organizations Colonial Military Authority (Mentioned only) Covenant remnants Banished Created (Mentioned only) Unified Earth Government United Nations Space Command UNSC Air Force 22nd First Response Wing Kona Squadron Locations Dormire system Dormire III (First named) Dormire's moon Epsilon Eridani system Tribute (Mentioned only)

Events Human-Covenant War (Mentioned only) Post-Covenant War conflicts Battle for Zeta Halo (Indirect mention) Battle over Installation 07 (Indirect mention) Battle of Dormire III (First appearance) Created uprising (Mentioned only) Cortana Event (Mentioned only) Weapons Banished Plasma torpedo Pulse laser turret Forerunner Light mass cannon Pulse missile Human Machine-linked autocannon ST/Medusa Missile Vehicles Banished Banished dreadnought (Mentioned only) Phantom Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom Spirit Eklon'Dal Workshop Spirit Karve Forerunner Phaeton Human Epoch-class heavy carrier Lyonesse (First mentioned) Estoc strike fighter (First mentioned) F-99 Wombat (Mentioned only) FSS-1000 Sabre Kona One (First appearance) Kona Two (First appearance) Kona Three (First appearance) Kona Four (First appearance) Kona Five (First appearance) G79H Pelican (Mentioned only) Technology and equipment Forerunner Guardian Custode (Mentioned only) Human Mariner-class helmet Smart AI (Mentioned only)