Editing Halo: Escalation Issue 12

{{Title|''Halo: Escalation Issue 12''}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Book Info
|image=[[File:HaloEscalation12.jpg|250px]]
|author=*Duffy Boudreau (writer)<br>
*Ricardo Sánchez (penciller)<br>
*Rob Lean (inker)<br>
*Michael Atiyeh (colorist)<br>
*Anthony Palumbo (cover artist)
|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|publication= November 26, 2014
|Length=32 pages
|US Price=$3.99 
|Can Price=
|UK Price=£3.00
|ISBN-10=
|ISBN-13=
|Availability=Limited series
|ISBN= 
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}}

'''''Halo: Escalation Issue 12''''' was released on [[2014|November 26, 2014]] and is the twelfth comic in the ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' series.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54804 '''Comic Book Resources:''' ''Dark Horse Comics November 2014 Solicitations'']</ref> It is the second and last part of the two-issue story arc ''"Exposure"''.

==Official summary==
{{Article Quote|“Exposure” part 2—Disaster looms as Spartans [[Naiya Ray|Ray]] and [[Gabriel Thorne|Thorne]] race against time to track down a mysterious new weapon of mass destruction. Duffy Boudreau (BlackAcre, Bloodshot) and Ricardo Sánchez (Green Arrow) bring you the stunning conclusion of another action-packed chapter of the Halo saga!}}

==Plot synopsis==
Picking up from where [[Halo: Escalation Issue 11|Issue 11]] left off, Issue 12 opens with [[Naiya Ray]] thwarting a [[Kig-yar]] guard who snuck up on her. After a brief scuffle she kills the ambusher with her [[combat knife]]. Ray then re-establishes communication with the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. [[Roland]] informs that the ''Infinity'' has been re-routed towards [[Ven III]]. Shortly after Ray discovers a turret-less [[Type-46 Spectre|Spectre]] and uses it to enter the pirate base. Aboard the ''Infinity'', [[Sarah Palmer]] briefs [[Fireteam Majestic]] about the [[Mission to Ven III|operation]] taking place on Ven III. She informs them that they will be tasked with rescuing [[Spartan]][[Gabriel Thorne]] as well as recovering a [[Bioweapon|bioweapon]]. Meanwhile the [[Unidentified Sangheili Storm|Unidentified Sangheili]] meets with a [[Kig-Yar Pirate Queen]] inside the [[pirate]] base to bargain a deal for Spartan Thore. Before a deal is established the queen questions the Sangheili's purpose for being on Ven III. He tells her he came for a bioweapon and that he captured the Spartan on her planet. He then warns her that the UNSC are aware of their location and will be on their way to rescue the Spartan.

With the impending arrival of the UNSC, a Kig-yar servant of the queen suggest turning the Spartan over to the UNSC to maintain secrecy of their base. The queen rejects his suggestion stating that the UNSC is already aware of their operation and that the only option is a counter-attack. She orders all ships to launching platform. Upon exiting [[Slipspace|slipspace]] the  ''Infinity'' is met by an advance fleet. The ''Infinity'' launches multiple fighters to counter the small fleet in space. The [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadswords]] clear a path for the rescue convey to enter Ven III's atmosphere. Meanwhile the Sangheili returns to the chamber holding Thorne so he can complete the exchange. However he and his kig-yar allies are ambushed by Ray. Ray destroys the control to the device detaining Thorne and tosses him his helmet. Ray then attempts to hold the Sangheili in-place till the arrival of the ''Infinity''. 

On board a [[SDV-class heavy corvette|covenant corvette]], the Kig-yar queen is informed by her forces that the ''Infinity'' is stationary and that their advanced fleet has taken severe losses. The queen decides to ignore the rescue convey and regroup with the fleet in space. However, before she and her forces can advance they are destroyed by a pair of [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon‎|HAVOK]] missiles deployed by a [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]. Inside the base, Sarah Palmer and fireteam Majestic take out several kig-yar pirates while they make their way towards Thorne. After the blast the unidentified Sangheili escapes from the chamber. Thorne orders Ray to pursue the Sangheili despite her wanting to stay to protect him. Ray calls in her position to Palmer and informs her that she's pursuing the sangheili. However Palmer tells Ray that she is redirecting Majestic to her position to assist in the pursuit. Ray immediately shuts off her locater to force them to rescue Thorne instead while she continues her pursuit. 

The Sangheili boards a [[Type-32 Ghost|ghost]] and takes off. Ray finds another ghost and chases him through the base. Eventually they run through a cavern and Ray fires at the ghost eventually disabling it outside the base. Ray immediately corners the sangheili and orders him to hand over the canister holding the bioweapon. He replies stating that the bioweapon isn't for him. Seconds later, a [[Sahara-class heavy prowler|prowler]] lands nearby and several [[ONI]] agents run over to their position. One of the agents tell Ray to stand down, handing her a report from [[Admiral]][[Serin Osman]] ordering them to detain the sangheili and seize the bioweapon. The agents then lead the unrestrained sangheili to the prowler.

After the mission, Ray resides by a recovering Thorne. Discussing the aftermath, Lasky tells Palmer not to be angry at Ray for her actions due to the inedible circumstances. He tells Palmer that his debriefing with Osman went well despite the covert operation turning into a battle. Palmer ask if any details were undisclosed but Lasky was told to drop the subject. He then tells her that he got a look at a memo sent to [[HIGHCOM]] about a growing number of kig-yar pirate setting up bases at trade routes and possible scenarios for ignoring the threat. Palmer downplays the threat due to her belief that their are more important issues to worry about. Lasky wonders whether it was worst that ONI played them or that they fell for the staged act. Lasky then ask Palmer to promise to not let him forget about the mission.

==Production notes==
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===Mistakes===
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==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo Escalation 12.jpg|Full cover art.
File:HE12 ambush.jpg|Naiya thwarts an ambush.
File:HE12 Kigyar Queen.jpg|The Kig-Yar pirate-queen of Ven III.
File:HE12 Deal.jpg|The Sangheili makes a deal with the queen.
File:HE12 Transport Cockpit.jpg|Ray uses a [[Type-46 Spectre|Spectre]] to reach the pirate's base.
File:HE12 Infinity Ven-III.jpg|''Infinity'' engages in battle over Ven III.
File:HE12 Rescue.jpg|Naiya Ray finds Gabriel Thorne.
File:HE12 Palmer dual wield.jpg|Palmer and Majestic fight through the pirate's nest.
File:HE12 LS Bomb.jpg|Longswords destroy the pirate's nest.
File:HE12 Chase 2.jpg|Ray pursues the Sangheili through Ven III's caverns.
File:HE12 Chase 3.jpg|Ray disables the Sangheili's ghost.
File:HE12 Oni spooks.jpg|ONI takes control of the operation.
File:HE12 Thorne Recovery.jpg|Naiya beside a recovering Gabriel.
File:HE12 Lasky Debrief.jpg|Osman debriefs Lasky about the outcome of the mission.
File:HE12 LaskyPalmer Drink.jpg|Lasky and Palmer discuss the mission over a drink‎.
</gallery>

==Sources==
<references/>

==See also==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''

{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 11|Issue 11]]''|title=[[Halo: Escalation]] comic series|years='''''Issue 12'''''|after=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue 13]]''}}

{{Comics}}

[[Category:Comics|Escalation Issue 12]]
[[Category:Canon]]