Halo: Vertical Umbrage

Halo: Vertical Umbrage
Attribution information
Author(s):	Alex Wakeford Jeff Easterling
Cover artist(s):	William Cameron
Audio book narrator(s):	Alex Wakeford
Publication information
Publisher:	343 Industries
Publication date:	November 7, 2022
Media type:	Short story
Series information
Series:	Halo Waypoint Chronicles
Halo: Vertical Umbrage Halo: Winter Contention

Halo: Vertical Umbrage was the first short story in the Halo Waypoint Chronicles series written by 343 Industries and released on November 7, 2022, to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the release of Halo 4. The story is set in early 2558 during the Requiem Campaign, concurrently with the Spartan Ops mission Everything Has Gone Wrong. The story follows the SPARTAN-IV soldiers of Fireteam Shadow as they board the Zanar-pattern light cruiser Panom's Canticle - a series of events overheard in the Spartan Ops level but not visualised.

The story was also later released as a free-to-download PDF (available here), and as an audiobook on YouTube narrated by Alex Wakeford (available here).

Summary

On February 14, 2558, Fireteam Shadow prepares to execute a critical mission against Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Leader Horatio Fry casually checks in with his team, knowing that Nina Kovan, the group's sharp-eyed designated marksman, already has eyes on their target. Kovan, equipped with advanced optics in her GUNGNIR-class Mjolnir, surveys a Covenant Citadel recently established to mass-produce fighter craft. Stopping this production could cripple the Covenant's sectoral air superiority.

Bonita Stone, with her active camo module, is ready to breach the inner perimeter patrols, while Jason Kidman (Shadow Four) prepares a group of TQ-8 seeker drones fitted with high-yield explosives. The plan calls for the drones to breach the doors, allowing Stone and Fry to infiltrate and strike the heart of the Covenant base. Fry assigns Kovan to overwatch, ensuring her new weapon is ready to engage any threats or finish the mission if needed. Kovan assures Fry that she will handle any trouble they encounter.

Just as Fry is about to give the final go-ahead, Jared Miller, filling in for Commander Sarah Palmer in Operations, interrupts with a new directive: To divert from their current mission and instead infiltrate a nearby Covenant cruiser, Panom's Canticle, to destroy its power core. Fry quickly accepts the new orders, understanding their importance, and informs his team of the change, noting the challenge of infiltrating the cruiser without their usual D79 Pelican, which they affectionately call their "limo." With no time to reach a safer pickup point, Fry considers improvising, possibly "grabbing a rental" for their next move.

Sangheili Shipmaster Ryn 'Alun stands aboard the Panom's Canticle above "Refuge" and reflects on his brief lapse in composure. He mentally scolds himself for rubbing his wrist - a small, but telling gesture of his nervous anticipation. As Shipmaster, he must always appear in control, embodying the ancient Sangheili teaching that mastering oneself is essential to mastering external foes. Requiem, a world that now represents the revitalized Covenant's successes, is under assault. Once home to the Forerunner gods and now shared with the worthy, it has become a symbol of their newfound strength and purpose.

Ryn's special operations unit, the Silent Blade, has been dispatched to Refuge, where they are engaged in combat against United Nations Space Command forces including the infamous Fireteam Crimson - "Nalsaban" in the Sangheili tongue. This battle marks over three years since Jul ‘Mdama first led his fleet to Requiem, seeking to awaken the Didact, a Forerunner god, to aid in the war against humans. Six months ago, they gained access to the shield world's wonders, an achievement linked to the arrival of a human vessel, which seemed to intrigue the Didact. The arrival of humans, led by the Demon, presented a perfect opportunity to prove the Covenant's might and earn the Didact's favor. The Didact had since left Requiem to the Covenant, and over the past six months, they had begun to transform the hollow sphere into their new home. The Refuge, discovered early in their efforts to penetrate the shield world, is where the Didact was awakened by a lone human. After delivering his judgment and declaring the Forerunners' return, the Didact transported the worthy warriors to this sanctum. Here, 'Mdama was named the Hand of the Didact, and the Covenant fleet, Panom’s Canticle included, was stationed to protect this sacred site.

As Ryn anticipates an outcome, a bridge officer informs him that one of their Phantoms is approaching, but without hail response and is rapidly picking up speed. Ryn orders the hangar shields to be raised, but it's too late; a slight rumble indicates that the ship has already been breached. Igniting his energy sword, Ryn leads two guards, fully aware that the Demons have targeted a critical area of the ship. The Silent Blade is now faced with their true test of worthiness as they prepare to defend their gods.

Fireteam Shadow infiltrates the cruiser via the commandeered Phantom dropship. As they navigate the ship, Kidman overlays key waypoints on their helmet displays, guiding them toward their objective: The primary reactor chamber. Despite their stealthy entry, Covenant forces flood the passageways in resistance. Engaging as a coordinated unit, the Spartans push forward, with Stone confirming their proximity to the reactor chamber. Kidman intercepts Covenant chatter showing the aliens' awareness and displeasure with their presence. As they approach the final corridor, Stone warns of enemy targets gathering at the far end. Fry, taking point, leads the charge with a hardlight shield, allowing Kovan to eliminate several Kig-Yar and Unggoy. With the immediate threat neutralized, Fry orders Stone to go ahead with a munitions case containing a critical device. She activates her active camouflage and slips away.

The remaining Spartans reach the reactor chamber, only to find it guarded by a dozen veteran Sangheili warriors led by Ryn 'Alun. A fierce battle ensues, with Fry initiating CQB with two Elites, one of whom he defeats but the other he is momentarily overwhelmed by, giving Ryn an opening to knock Fry down and deliver a series of brutal blows. As 'Alun prepares an energy sword to execute him, Stone reappears, disrupting the attack with grenades and pulling their leader to safety. Regrouping, Fry inquires about the "solution," which Stone reveals to be with Kovan: An M6 Spartan Laser, affectionately named "Selene," which she syncs with her targeting optics. With precision, Kovan fires the weapon at the reactor core, causing it to enter runaway overload. Amid the chaos, the remaining Covenant forces retreat, the Shipmaster likewise.

With the reactor on the brink of explosion, Fireteam Shadow hurries to an escape route Kidman identified. They find a drop bay with squad pods and eject just as the Canticle begins to break apart. Ryn 'Alun, having landed at the jungle outside Refuge, watches in despair as Panom’s Canticle shudders and breaks apart. The clouds part, revealing the destruction as a shockwave ripples outward. Coolant like blue-green ichor spills from the vessel’s underbelly, and a final eruption of purple fire uproots it, sending it crashing into the shield world's dense jungles.

The words of the Didact echo in Ryn's mind: "You are Sangheili. Loyal and strong." Ryn has been loyal - to his brothers, to the Covenant, to the gods - but realizes it wasn’t enough; their numbers, might, and faith were all undone by only a handful of Demons. He recalls the Didact's words about service, recognizing that true service and sacrifice come not from victory, but enduring defeat. A warrior's strength must be drawn from not only within, but also the spirits of fallen comrades, becoming a vessel of vengeance. Their blood demands retribution, and Ryn feels this fire burning within him. He understands now that such fires have tempered the Demons through losing their worlds, just as the Covenant was reforged after being shattered.

As Panom’s Canticle collides with the ground, engulfed in smoke and fire, Ryn's purpose becomes clear: Be reforged in this defeat, and hunt the Spartans - the “Shadows” - to avenge the fallen. Now the Silent Blade, he disappears into the jungle knowing that his quest for retribution has started. As Shadow lands safely in a forest clearing, Fry contacts Infinity to confirm their successful mission and imminent evacuation. Despite their finished task, Fry hints at new orders, suggesting that their work is far from over and the chance of attending the atrium Valentine's dance is slim.

Appearances

Characters AI Roland Forerunner Ur-Didact (Mentioned only) Human Bonita Stone Horatio Fry Jared Miller Jason Kidman (First appearance) John-117 (Indirect mention) Nina Kovan Sarah Palmer (Mentioned only) Sangheili Jul 'Mdama (Mentioned only) Ryn 'Alun (First appearance) Species Forerunner (Mentioned only) Human Kig-Yar Sangheili Unggoy Organizations Covenant (Mentioned only) Unified Earth Government United Nations Space Command Spartan Operations SPARTAN-IV program Fireteam Crimson (Mentioned only) Fireteam Shadow Jul 'Mdama's Covenant Silent Blade Locations Requiem The Refuge High Charity (Mentioned only)

Events Human-Covenant War (Indirect mention) Great Schism (Indirect mention) Battle of Requiem (Mentioned only) Requiem Campaign Battle at The Refuge Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE Weapons Energy sword M20 PDW M6 Spartan Laser M6/E Spartan Laser Selene's Lance M9 fragmentation grenade MA5D assault rifle Type-33 needler SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle Abbey (First appearance) Vehicles D79-TC Pelican Charon-class light frigate UNSC Forward Unto Dawn (Indirect mention) Infinity-class supercarrier UNSC Infinity (Mentioned only) Gloto'kef-pattern Assault Carapace Ru'swum-pattern Phantom Zanar-pattern light cruiser Panom's Canticle Technology and equipment Active camouflage Covenant Citadel (Mentioned only) Covenant Summit (Mentioned only) MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2) GOBLIN-class Mjolnir GUNGNIR-class Mjolnir OPERATOR-class Mjolnir Pinch fusion reactor Summit TQ-8 seeker drone Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance Wyrd III optics suite (Indirect mention) Z-90 hardlight shield

Trivia

The Ur-Didact's quote in the story is an alternate version of his awakening originally recorded by the late voice actor David Anthony Pizzuto in the Composing A Universe featurette included in the limited edition of Halo 4: Original Soundtrack.

External links

• Halo 4 - Vertical Umbrage - The official Waypoint post in which the short story was released for free.
• Official Vertical Umbrage PDF - The PDF of the short story released on Halo Waypoint (Archived copyMedia:Vertical Umbrage.pdf).
• Halo: Vertical Umbrage | Audiobook - The audiobook narrated by Alex Wakeford.