Editing Mission to Installation 03

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{{Battle

|name=Skirmish on Installation 03

|prev=[[Battle of Earth (2557)|Battle of Earth]]

|conc=

|next=[[Second Battle of Requiem]]

|conflict=[[Reclamation conflict]]

|date=[[2557|July 25-26, 2557]]<ref name="HE8">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue #8''</ref>

|place=[[Installation 03]], [[Khaphrae system]]

|result=

|side1=[[United Nations Space Command]]

|side2=[[Promethean]]

|commanders1=[[Fred-104|Lt. Fred-104]] <br>

[[John-117|MCPO John-117]]

|casual2=*Several Promethean Knights

The '''Skirmish on Installation 03''' was an engagement on the surface of [[Forerunner]] [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 03]] in the [[Khaphrae system]] on [[2557#July|July 25, 2557]], between the [[United Nations Space Command]] and the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[Promethean]]s.<ref name="HE8"/>

Upon discovering [[Installation 03]], following the [[Battle of Tribute]], the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] conducted numerous searches on the Halo.<ref>'''[[Eleventh Hour reports]]''', ''#5''</ref> One of the objects they discovered on the installation was the [[Composer]], a piece of [[Forerunner]] technology that could [[mind transfer|transfer]] organic being's mental content into machine data. The Composer was brought to [[Ivanoff Station]], a research facility located on one of the [[asteroid]]s orbiting Installation 03, for further study. On [[2557#July|July 24, 2557]], the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] arrived at Ivanoff Station to recover the Composer.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>

He used it to compose the citizens of [[New Phoenix]] on [[Earth]], but was ultimately stopped by [[John-117]]. During the battle, John-117 caused the Didact to fall into a [[slipspace]] rupture.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> However, the Didact survived and crash landed on Installation 03. During this time, a science team, along with Spartan [[Team Black]], were still on Installation 03's surface, unaware of what had happened at Ivanoff. <ref name="HE8"/><ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963929_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2963929 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 6'']</ref>

On the installation, the science team and Team Black established a camp on one of the ring's deserts, nearby the [[Composer]]'s original location on the installation. However, the Didact, along with several Promethean Knights and Crawlers, arrived via a slipspace portal and crash landed near Black's location. When Black went to investigate, the Didact awoke and swiftly killed all four Spartans. At the same time, the science team was attacked and killed by [[Promethean Knight]]s and [[Promethean Crawler|Crawlers]]. Shortly afterwards, the Didact encountered [[859 Static Carillon]], monitor of the [[Composer's Forge]], who had come to investigate the opening of a service portal to the Ring. The Didact demanded that Static take him to the Composer's Forge.  Static agreed, on the condition that the Didact would not use the Forge to produce more Prometheans.<ref name="HE9">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue #9''</ref>

Due to the loss of contact with the team, [[Terrence Hood|Lord Terrence Hood]] sent [[Blue Team]], consisting of [[Fred-104]], [[John-117]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Linda-058]], to investigate Team Black's disappearance. Blue Team took a [[slipspace]]-capable [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] to Installation 03 and landed near the research camp.<ref name="HE8"/>

While walking to Team Black's last known position, Linda discovered Crawler footprints in the sand leading to the camp. As Blue Team entered the camp, they discovered the corpses of several researchers. Shortly after, Fred found the bodies of Team Black, dead. While looking for Team Black's assailant, the Spartans were attacked by Promethean Knights. After a short firefight, Blue Team destroyed the Knights and discovered the former location of the Composer. Upon entering the structure, the Spartans discovered the [[Composer's Abyss]], a facility used to store victims digitized by the Composer. At the end of the Abyss, the Spartans discovered a [[slipspace portal]].<ref name="HE8"/> After crossing it, Blue Team arrive in a seemingly empty Forerunner city, having made their way through the portal within the Composer's Abyss. They move further into the city and soon discover six [[Composer]]s, just before the Didact appears behind the Spartans. Holding an [[activation index]], the Promethean leader tells Blue Team that they have arrived at the Composer's Forge. Blue Team open fire, to no avail; the Didact stomps the ground, generating a shockwave that causes the Spartans to stumble. The Didact summons more of his Promethean minions and a frantic firefight breaks out.<ref name="HE9"/>

Static Carillon arrived in the scene and begins to complain about the Didact violating their agreement in having created more of the Promethean constructs, which it deems abominations. In retort, the Didact asks the monitor to fulfill its part of their bargain. The monitor obliges, and a [[Halo Array|Halo installation]] appears in the sky from slipspace. Satisfied, the Didact states that he will repair the ring; Static Carillon tells the Spartans that the Didact is planning to use the Halo against humanity and Earth. Furthermore, while it is indifferent to mankind's fate, the monitor takes issue at the Didact's creation of new Prometheans from the humans of New Phoenix, viewing the Prometheans as instruments of terror and chaos and deeming their presence on its installation unacceptable. Static Carillon helps the Spartans retreat back to the Gamma Halo portal in pursuit of the Didact, holding off the hordes of Promethean machines.<ref name="HE9"/>

Blue Team return to the surface of Gamma Halo from the Composer's Abyss, making it just in time as a Composer rises from the pit. John falls behind while the Didact attacks and prepares to finish off the others. As the Didact is about to execute Kelly-087, the Master Chief sneaks behind the Forerunner and stabs him in the eye with a [[combat knife]]. Intending to correct his mistake of not having killed the Spartan when he had the chance, the Didact grabs John by the helmet, lifts him in the air and seemingly crushes his head.<ref name="HE9"/>

File:Escalation - BlackTeam&Didact.png|[[Black Team]] finding the [[Ur-Didact]].

File:Composer's Abyss.jpg|Blue Team discovers the [[Composer's Abyss]].

File:Escalation - Composer's Forge Battle.png|The battle at the [[Composer's Forge]].

File:BrutalDidact2.png|The Ur-Didact crushing John-117's head.

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{{Reclamation conflict}}