Editing Halo: Escalation Issue 4

{{Title|''Halo: Escalation Issue 4''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Comics infobox
|prev=Halo: Escalation Issue 3
|next=Halo: Escalation Issue 5
|image=[[File:HaloEscalation4.jpg|250px]]
|writer=[[Christopher Schlerf]]
|artist=*Ricardo Sanchez Arreola (penciller)<br>
*Rob Lean (inker)<br>
*Michael Atiyeh (colorist)<br>
*Anthony Palumbo (cover artist)
|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|publication= March 26, 2014
|length=32 pages
|ISBN=
}}

'''''Halo: Escalation Issue 4''''' was released on [[2014|March 26, 2014]] and is the fourth of twelve in the ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' series of comics.<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-704/Halo-Escalation-4/ '''Dark Horse:''' ''Halo: Escalation Issue 4'']</ref>

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|The UNSC Infinity is ambushed by an unexpected enemy while on a mission to rescue a damaged civilian freighter. Across the galaxy, an undercover Lasky enlists the help of an [[Petra Janecek|old friend]] in rooting out a spy inside the UNSC.}}

==Plot synopsis==
Issue #4 opens with the ''Infinity'' under attack by an unknown adversary using UNSC aircraft. The story cuts back 74 hours earlier with Lasky and Hood discussing the failed peace negotiations at Ealen IV. Lasky suggests enlisting help from the outside to find out who leaked the information. Spartan Ray notifies Lasky that the [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] he requested is ready for departure. However, she expresses confusion as to what their mission involves. Lasky tells her that he'll let her know when they leave. Hood gives Lasky 96 hours to return to the ship. Meanwhile Fireteam Majestic and several other SPARTAN-IVs spar against one another. [[Anthony Madsen|Madsen]] reveals to [[Gabriel Thorne|Thorne]] that DeMarco was transferred to Fireteam Bailey because Palmer wanted Thorne to be the new leader of Majestic. Later, Hood requests Commander [[Bradley]] to give a demonstration of the ''Infinity'''s Forerunner engines. Before [[Roland]] can plot a course they are interrupted by Jespersen who has detected a distress signal on an old maritime channel. The ''Infinity'' makes a slipspace jump to the [[Chaudier trade route]] where the signal originated.

Lasky and Ray arrive at [[Escala III]] and travel through [[Castiglione]] where they are to rendezvous with Lasky's contact. Lasky asks Ray what her first name is, which she reveals to be Naiya. Shortly after, they spot Lasky's contact, Petra Janecek, climbing down a balcony. The trio head to a boardwalk where Lasky and Petra catch up on old times. Lasky asks Naiya if she can give him and Petra a few minutes to keep Naiya from hearing anything that could implicate her. In the [[Artesia-702 system]], the ''Infinity'' discovers a damaged [[freighter]], ''[[Pilgrims Pride]]''. [[TJ Murphy]] relays to the ''Infinity'' that it is leaking atmosphere and there are faint life signs aboard. Hood orders Bradley to have the ship tugged into one of the sub-vessel deployment bays. A battle ensues inside the bay between the ''Infinity'''s [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadswords]] and UNSC aircraft that deployed from the freighter. Fireteams Majestic, [[Fireteam Colossus|Colossus]], and [[Fireteam Fenrir|Fenrir]] infiltrate the freighter to stop it from self-destructing. Upon inspecting the interior they are attacked by an [[M202 XP machine gun|automated weapon emplacement]] which Madsen swiftly destroys. Hood orders the Broadswords to provide cover for the Pelican tugs as they get the freighter out the deployment bay. With the ship back in space, [[Tedra Grant|Grant]] ejects the core from the ship before it self-destructs. After the core explodes, Majestic notifies [[Jared Miller|Miller]] that they are alive and request pickup.

Back in Castiglione, Lasky tells Petra that they need help rooting out a mole inside the UNSC. He states that a secret diplomatic meeting was ambushed despite its location being highly classified. Petra agrees to do the job but wants the whereabouts of John-117 in exchange. Back aboard the ''Infinity'', Hood and Bradley inspect the remains of the aircraft that the freighter was carrying which were composed of [[Vulture]]s and [[Sparrowhawk]]s. They run an I.D. check on the vessels and trace the craft back to the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}. Before they can file a report on the ship, Hood reveals that he was the reason why the starship went missing.

==Mistakes==
*At the start of the issue, during the attack on ''Infinity'', Lasky gives an order over the comm to evacuate the bay, despite the fact that Lasky is not onboard ''Infinity'' at this point.
*When ''Infinity'' makes the jump to the [[Artesia-702 system]] it is depicted entering the slipspace portal backwards, stern-first.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo Escalation 4.jpg|Full cover art.
File:HE Thorne and Fireteams.jpg|Thorne leads Fireteams Majestic, Colossus, and Fenrir.
File:Castiglione.PNG|Escala III's capital city, Castiglione.
File:Ray Lasky Cast.jpg|Lasky and Ray in Castiglione.
File:HE-Petra.jpg|Petra Janecek.
File:HE infinity and pilgrims pride.png|The ''Infinity'' encounters the ''Pilgrims Pride''.
File:Thorne and the other Fireteams boarding the Pilgrim's Pride.png|Fireteams Majestic, Colossus, and Fenrir board the ''Pilgrims Pride''. 
File:Escalation-Turrets.jpg|Automated turrents aboard the ''Pilgrims Pride''.
File:HE Pilgrims Pride 3.jpg|''Infinity'' gets rid of the ''Pilgrims Pride'' moments before it is set to self-destruct.
File:Pilgrims Pride destroyed.jpg|The ''Pilgrims Pride'''s core explodes just outside the ship.
File:Escalation - Lasky and Petra.png|Petra agrees to help search for the UNSC traitor.
File:HoloSOF.png|Lord Hood learns the attack vehicles are connected to the ''UNSC Spirit of Fire''.
</gallery>

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

{{succession box|before=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue 3]]''|title=[[Halo: Escalation]] comic series|years='''''Issue 4'''''|after=''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue 5]]''}}

{{Comics|HE}}
==Related articles==
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Halo: Escalation]]