Editing Song of Retribution

{{Title|''Song of Retribution''}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{New content|[[Halo: Escalation]]}}
{{Individual ship infobox
|name=''Song of Retribution''
|image=[[File:H4 SongInSpace.png|300px]]
|manufacturer=
|class={{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}<ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 195''</ref><ref name="waypoint">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/song-of-retribution '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Song of Retribution'']</ref>
|role=[[Flagship]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
|length={{Convert|5347|m|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
|width={{Convert|2118|m|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
|height={{Convert|746|m|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
|engine=[[Repulsor engine]]s
|slipspace drive=Equipped
|hull=[[Nanolaminate hull plating]]
*Equipped with [[energy shielding|energy shields]]
|armament=*[[Energy projector]]s{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
*[[Plasma turret]]s{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
*[[Pulse laser turret]]s{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}
|firstuse-title=In service
|firstuse=*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{citation needed}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
|commission=
|lastsight=
|destroyed=
|battles=*[[Battle of Requiem]]
*[[Requiem Campaign]]
*[[Battle of Aktis IV]]
|fleet=
|namedcrew=
|captains=[[Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]]
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}{{citation needed}}
*[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]
}}

'''''Song of Retribution''''', informally referred to as the '''''Song''''' or the '''''Retribution''''',<ref name="HE15">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 15|Issue #15]]''</ref> is a {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} and the personal [[flagship]] of [[Jul 'Mdama]], leader of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|one faction]] of the [[Covenant remnants]].{{Ref/Reuse|VIS}} The vessel is a particularly powerful example of the ''Kerel''-pattern, which exhibits some internal variation.<ref name="twitter">[https://twitter.com/HaloArchive/status/420738117885112321 '''Twitter''': ''@HaloWaypoint It's been said that...'']</ref>

==History==
===Requiem conflicts===
[[File:Covenant fleet surrounding FUD.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Song of Retribution'' and 'Mdama's Covenant fleet surrounding the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.]]
{{Main|Battle of Requiem|Requiem Campaign}}
The ''Song of Retribution'' came into [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s possession following the formation of a new [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|faction of Covenant]] on [[Hesduros]] in [[2553]] and was chosen by 'Mdama to serve as his personal [[flagship]]. In [[2554]], 'Mdama and his followers discovered [[Requiem]] in the [[Epoloch system]]. Over the next three years, the Covenant tried to enter the planet, without success. The ''Song of Retribution'' remained in orbit over the planet during this time. In [[2557#July|July 2557]], the Covenant detected a [[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|human vessel]] heading to the planet. 'Mdama ordered his troops to board the ship and keep the humans away from Requiem.<ref name="terminal">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/halo-4-terminal-jul-mdama/0f378de5-e0e3-4f31-a1e1-2a363af4094d '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo 4 Terminal: Jul 'Mdama'']</ref> They were unsuccessful as both the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' and many nearby Covenant ships were pulled into Requiem.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level, ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]''</ref> However, the ''Song of Retribution'' survived and presumably continued to serve as 'Mdama's command ship during the [[Battle of Requiem]].

Six months after the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[New Phoenix Incident|attack]] on [[Earth]], the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} returned to Requiem and engaged Jul 'Mdama's fleet, igniting the [[Requiem Campaign]]. Although the ''Song of Retribution'' was present during this battle, it did not participate in any of the actual fighting.  Towards the end of the battle, 'Mdama put Requiem on a collision course with its sun and returned to the ''Song of Retribution'', along with Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]]. The ''Retribution'' and the remainder of Jul's fleet then fled the [[Epoloch system|system]].<ref>'''[[Spartan Ops]]''', [[S1/Exodus|S1E10 ''Exodus'']]</ref>

===Battle of Aktis IV===
[[File:HE16 Infinity Fleet.jpg|200px|thumb|left|''Song of Retribution'' battling UNSC forces.]]
{{Main|Battle of Aktis IV}}
''Song of Retribution'' later traveled to the [[Aktis system]] as part of Jul's and Halsey's plan to recover the UNSC's half of the [[Janus Key]]. Using a [[Requiem communication artifact|Forerunner artifact]] taken from Requiem. ''Infinity'' was left stranded in the system. ''Song of Retribution'' remained in orbit over [[Aktis IV]], where Jul and Halsey watched the battle from above and discussed their plan to recover the Janus Key half. When the UNSC's half of the Janus Key was en route to the planet in a [[D79-TC Pelican]], the [[dropship]] was shot down by [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant|rogue forces]] under the control of [[Sali 'Nyon]]. In order to recover the half of the Janus Key for himself, Jul traveled to the planet's surface to scourge the Pelican crash-site. Although he had initially ordered for Halsey to remain aboard ''Song of Retribution'',<ref name="HE14">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 14|Issue #14]]''</ref> 'Mdama later ordered for her to be transported to Aktis IV's surface.{{Ref/Reuse|HE15}}

The carrier battled UNSC ''Infinity'' and her {{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} sub-vessels over the planet, alongside ''[[Breath of Annihilation]]'' and smaller [[Covenant cruiser]]s. After Halsey retrieved 'Nyon's half of the Janus Key from [[Unidentified Sangheili Minor (Aktis IV)|a defector]] among his forces, she attempted to return to ''Song of Retribution''. However, Halsey and her [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] escorts were attacked by Spartans [[Sarah Palmer]], [[Gabriel Thorne]], and [[Naiya Ray]]. After a brief engagement, Halsey managed to escape the Spartans and 'Mdama had a [[Ru'swum-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] escort her back to ''Song of Retribution''. With both halves of the Janus Key under their control, 'Mdama and his forces fled the system.<ref name="HE16">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 16|Issue #16]]''</ref>

{{clear|left}}
===The Absolute Record===
[[File:HE21 Retribution.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Song of Retribution'' arrives at the installation.]]
Using the now-complete Janus Key, 'Mdama's fleet attempted to pinpoint the location of the [[Absolute Record]], a repository of [[Forerunner]] information. On [[2558#September|September 15, 2558]], while within the [[Urs system]], Doctor Halsey believed she discovered the Absolute Record's location while analyzing the Janus Key aboard ''Song of Retribution''. When ''Song of Retribution'' and the rest of the fleet departed for the Absolute Record's apparent location, they discovered an apparently artificial gas giant with a [[slipspace portal]] leading to their true destination. However, slipspace ruptures suddenly destroyed two cruisers within the fleet and heavily damaged ''Breath of Annihilation''.<ref name="HE19">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 19|Issue #19]]''</ref> While 'Mdama and Halsey decided their next course of action, a five-man team—consisting of Spartans Palmer, Thorne, [[Holly Tanaka|Tanaka]], [[Henry Glassman|Dr. Glassman]], and [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] operative [[Ayit 'Sevi]]—who had infiltrated ''Breath of Annihilation'' were forced to abandon the damaged carrier and travel to ''Song of Retribution'' in a Phantom. 'Mdama decided for ''Song of Retribution'' to enter the portal to the Absolute Record alone while ''Breath of Annihilation'' makes emergency repairs at a nearby [[moon]]. As ''Retribution'' transferred its prisoners to ''Annihilation'', 'Sevi and Thorne returned to the damaged carrier to give them a better chance at re-establishing contact with the UNSC while the rest of the team remained aboard ''Retribution'' to stop 'Mdama and Halsey.<ref name="HE20">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 20|Issue #20]]''</ref>

On [[2558#September|September 18, 2558]], ''Song of Retribution'' traveled through the portal and arrived at the Absolute Record's exterior, where the carrier was observed by the installation's [[Contender-class artificial intelligence]], who detected the humans aboard the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|HE20}} While attempting to enter its interior, ''Retribution''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s suddenly lost control of the carrier as a slipspace portal formed nearby. Forced through the portal, ''Retribution'' arrived inside a large chamber and was halted in place by a gravitational anchor; Halsey and 'Mdama decided to use this opportunity to travel down to a lower platform. Meanwhile, while [[Kig-Yar]] in a [[hangar bay]] begun breaking down damaged vehicles to use their materials to repair the carrier's damaged hull, the Spartans and Glassman in the same hangar waited for their chance to leave their position and exit the carrier. Halsey, 'Mdama, and a contingent of Zealots traveled down to the platform and encountered the AI. Confused as to why there was humans hiding aboard ''Retribution'', the AI had its [[Sentinel]]s extract the Spartans and Glassman from within the carrier and brought to the platform. When an impatient Zealot attacked a Sentinel, a fight broke out and the AI removed the floor under all the [[Sangheili]]'s feet, with 'Mdama barely surviving with the rest of the humans.<ref name="HE21">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 21|Issue #21]]''</ref> To prevent further intervention from 'Mdama's forces, the AI encased ''Song of Retribution'' in an energy shield.<ref name="HE22">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 22|Issue #22]]''</ref>

==Trivia==
''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' states that ''Song of Retribution'', despite being evenly matched against the UNSC ''Infinity'' in size, may have been outmatched in arsenal. It is unclear if this refers to all Covenant ''Kerel''-pattern assault carriers post-[[Great Schism|Schism]] or just ''Song of Retribution''.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''</ref> According to a [[343 Industries]] employee on Twitter, ''Song of Retribution'' is a "powerful example" of a Covenant assault carrier and further states that different assault carriers possess differing capabilities.{{Ref/Reuse|twitter}}

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
File:H4 TerminalCovFleet Concept.jpg|Concept art for a radically different look for ''Song of Retribution'', for ''Halo 4''{{'}}s terminals.
File:H4 SongOfRequiem.png|''Song of Retribution'' discovers Requiem.
File:H4 CaptainLook!.png|A [[Sangheili Storm]] on the ''Retribution''{{'}}s bridge.
File:Song of Retribution bridge.jpg|Jul 'Mdama on the bridge of ''Song of Retribution''.
File:HE14 Plan.jpg|Halsey and 'Mdama discuss their plan on the ship.
File:HE14 Foam Rise.jpg|Covenant ships rise from under the foam.
File:HE20 Onward Retribution.jpg|The ''Retribution'' enters the portal to the Absolute Record.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Machine Breaks]]''

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

[[Category:CAS-class assault carriers]]
[[Category:Covenant ships]]