Editing Halo: Escalation Issue 14

{{Title|''Halo: Escalation Issue 14''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Comics infobox
|prev=Halo: Escalation Issue 13
|next=Halo: Escalation Issue 15
|name=''Halo: Escalation Issue 14''
|image=[[File:HaloEscalation14.jpg|250px]]
|writer=[[Duffy Boudreau]]
|artist=*Sergio Ariño (penciller)<br>
*Juan Castro (inker)
*Michael Atiyeh (colorist)
*Jean-Sébastien Rossbach (cover artist)
|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|publication= [[2015|January 28, 2015]]
|length=32 pages
|ISBN= 
}}

'''''Halo: Escalation Issue 14''''' was released on [[2015|January 28, 2015]] and is the fourteenth comic in the ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' series.<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/26-627/Halo-Escalation-14 '''Dark Horse Comics''': ''Halo: Escalation #14'']</ref>

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|The brilliant but obsessed Dr. Catherine Halsey has allied herself with fanatical Covenant commander Jul 'Mdama... and now a deadly reckoning awaits the UNSC Infinity. The thrilling sequel to Halo 4's Spartan Ops continues in this four-part story by Duffy Boudreau (BlackAcre, Bloodshot), and Sergio Ariño (Ms. Marvel)!}}

==Plot synopsis==
After {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} is stranded in a distant system by Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] and [[Jul 'Mdama]] on [[2558|July 18, 2558]], [[Thomas Lasky|Captain Thomas Lasky]] deploys a reconnaissance team to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of a nearby planet, provisionally designated [[Aktis IV]]. The mysterious signal originates from an island in a large ocean of an opaque, foamy substance impenetrable to ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sensors. Upon landing, [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Fireteam Majestic]] and [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Palmer]] engage and defeat a detachment of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|Covenant]] forces and subsequently discover a recently-excavated [[Forerunner]] structure.

On the ''[[Song of Retribution]]'', Jul 'Mdama's flagship, 'Mdama converses with Dr. Halsey regarding their ongoing plan to acquire the UNSC's half of the [[Janus Key]]. They are interrupted by one of 'Mdama's commanders, who reports on the discovery of a group of [[Treason|traitors]] conspiring against 'Mdama, some of whom were killed by forces loyal to Jul while others managed to flee. A single captive is brought before 'Mdama and is allowed to speak to "renounce his sins". However, the rebel Sangheili instead condemns 'Mdama because of his his allowing [[Requiem]] to be destroyed and his association with a [[human]]. He zealously declares that [[Sali 'Nyon]] is instead the true "Hand of the [[Didact]]" before 'Mdama impales him with his [[energy sword]]. Jul subsequently tells his followers that all "[[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]]s" are to be eliminated on the spot.

Meanwhile, [[Henry Glassman|Dr. Glassman]] arrives on the surface of Aktis IV to examine the Forerunner structure, with the Spartans providing cover. Glassman theorizes the structure to be part of a [[teleportation grid|translocation grid]] and soon discovers a Forerunner artifact with indentations the shape of the halves of the Janus Key, seemingly suggesting this is where the Key is meant to be placed. However, it is revealed that Halsey and 'Mdama are monitoring the events and that the artifact is in fact a decoy created to deceive the UNSC into taking their half of the Janus Key to the surface. Jul expresses mock abhorrence at creating a copy of a "holy" Forerunner object; to his shock, Halsey indicates that she is well aware that 'Mdama's public persona of a religious leader is a mere facade. Dropping the subject, Halsey goes on to state that the UNSC would never suspect a trap as no one but Glassman would realize the Key's true value.

On the planet, Glassman requests to have lab equipment brought to the Forerunner site along with the UNSC's half of the Janus Key in order to analyze the artifact; Palmer reluctantly agrees and contacts Lasky. Although 'Mdama has troops standing at the ready, waiting for the signal to ambush the UNSC forces and take the Key, Halsey reminds Jul to exercise extreme care to avoid damaging the Key until it is safely in their possession. While the Janus Key is being prepared for transport, [[Roland]] questions the decision to move the artifact to the surface as it may distract Glassman from his task of ascertain the origin of the interference keeping ''Infinity'' stranded. However, Lasky is confident Palmer is able to keep Glassman focused and believes taking the Key to the surface will not cost them anything either way.

As the Pelican carrying the Key approaches the Forerunner site accompanied by a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] escort, Commander Palmer charges [[Gabriel Thorne]] with moving the materials to the Forerunner structure. However, the incoming UNSC craft are suddenly struck by Covenant anti-air artillery, but Jul 'Mdama and Halsey are as surprised as the UNSC as 'Mdama gave no order to fire, nor does he have forces deployed in the area. Meanwhile, the [[shipmaster]] of ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'', one of 'Mdama's {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s, receives word on the unauthorized attack. Assuming he would be blamed for the incident since the unit responsible is likely one under his direct command, the shipmaster chooses not to wait for 'Mdama's signal and orders his fleet to proceed with their planned attack against the UNSC forces. The ''Breath of Annihilation'', another assault carrier, and a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} then emerge from the foam ocean, having remained concealed underneath. As the Covenant begin their onslaught the Spartans on the island are quickly forced to pull back into the Forerunner structure while ''Infinity'' prepares to deploy reinforcements.

On the ''Song of Retribution'', Halsey and 'Mdama argue about their next course of action. Halsey urges 'Mdama to reposition his fleet to draw the UNSC's attention away from the Pelican's crash site, but Jul is confident they will be able to take the Janus Key via a full-on assault despite the unexpected complication. Halsey then requests 'Mdama to scour the Pelican's crash site herself, but Jul has her remain on the ship while he intends to personally land on the surface, acquire the artifact, and punish those responsible for compromising the plan. Back on Aktis IV, the rebel Sali 'Nyon and his followers are revealed to have orchestrated the premature strike and now search the Pelican's crash site. After discovering the half of the Janus Key, 'Nyon proclaims his goal to expose 'Mdama as a fraud and assume leadership of the new Covenant, declaring himself "the one true prophet".

==Trivia==
The [[:File:HE14 Forerunner Base 2.jpg|structure]] inside the Forerunner cavern is identical to the Forerunner structure in central area of the ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' location [[The Refuge]], while the [[:File:HE14 Decoy 2.jpg|decoy Forerunner artifact]] is clearly modeled after the [[Requiem slipspace artifacts]].

===Mistakes===
*During the initial skirmish on Aktis IV, Commander Palmer tells [[Naiya Ray|Spartan Ray]] to shoot a [[Jackal]] moving toward a plasma cannon, yet the art depicts a pair of Jackals attempting to man a [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]] tank. While Palmer may be referring to the Wraith's pintle-mounted plasma cannon, the tank (and consequently the cannon) are facing away from the Spartans. This also understates the much greater threat presented by the Wraith itself.
*A few pages in on the first panel depicting Captain Lasky, a graphic artifact of a piece of a speech balloon is on his head.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HE14 EarlyPage WIP 1.jpg|Early version of one of the pages in the comic.
File:HE14 EarlyPage WIP 2.jpg|Early version of one of the pages in the comic.
File:HE Issues8&14 EarlyCovers.jpg|Early cover art (right) for Issue #14, alongside early cover art for [[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Issue 8]] (left).
File:Halo Escalation 14.jpg|Full cover art.
File:HE14 Atkis IV.jpg|The ''Infinity'' looms over Aktis IV.
File:HE14 Taskforce.jpg|A UNSC taskforce is sent to the planet.
File:HE14 Attack.jpg|Palmer and Majestic attack Jul's forces. 
File:HE14 Palmer Ray.jpg|Palmer and Ray converse after the Wraith's destruction.
File:HE14 Forerunner Base 1.jpg|Palmer discovers the Forerunner structure.
File:HE14 Traitor 1.jpg|A traitor is discovered among the ranks.
File:HE14 Traitor 2.jpg|Jul and the traitor converse.  
File:HE14 Traitor 4.jpg|Jul impales the traitor with his energy sword.
File:HE14 Forerunner Base 2.jpg|Palmer and company enter the Forerunner structure.
File:HE14 Decoy 2.jpg|Glassman finds an artifact.
File:HE14 Plan.jpg|Jul and Halsey reveal their plan.
File:HE14 Janus Offload.jpg|The Janus Key is loaded onto a Pelican.
File:HE14 Pelican Escort.jpg|The Janus Key carrying Pelican with a Broadsword escort arrive. 
File:HE14 Destruction.jpg|The Pelican along with escorting Broadsword is destroyed.
File:HE14 Suprise.jpg|Jul and Halsey are taken off guard.  
File:HE14 Foam Rise.jpg|Covenant ships rise from under the foam.
File:HE14 Pinned.jpg|Palmer and Thorne are pinned down by gunfire. 
File:HE14 Sali Faction.jpg|Sali's forces retrieve the UNSC's half of the Janus Key.
File:HE14 Sali 'Nyon Full.jpg|Sali 'Nyon takes possession of the Janus Key.
</gallery>

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

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

{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 13|Issue 13]]''|title=''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' comic series|years='''''Issue 14'''''|after=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue 15]]''}}

{{Comics|HE}}

[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Halo: Escalation]]