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{{Title|''Headhunters''}}
{{Title|''Headhunters''}}
{{Era|RW}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
<center>''For other uses, see [[Headhunters (disambiguation)]].''</center>
{{Center|''For other uses, see [[Headhunters (disambiguation)]].''}}
{{Article Quote|A select group of Spartan-IIIs put on a mission to succeed against a never-before-seen Elite force}}
{{Article quote|A select group of Spartan-IIIs put on a mission to succeed against a never-before-seen Elite force}}
[[File:Evo Headhunters Post.jpg|150px|thumb|right|The cover of ''Headhunters'' as illustrated by Garrett Post]]
[[File:Evo Headhunters Post.jpg|150px|thumb|The cover of ''Headhunters'' as illustrated by Garrett Post]]
'''Headhunters''' is a short story in ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', a collection of short stories by a multitude of authors. It tells the story of a specialist team of [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-IIIs]], mainly [[Roland (SPARTAN-III)|Roland]] and [[Jonah]], two top-echelon [[SPARTAN-III Program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] who are selected by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI Section Three]] to serve in a special unit under the [[Beta-5 Division]]. The story was written by [[Jonathan Goff]].
'''Headhunters''' is a short story in ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', a collection of short stories by a multitude of authors. It tells the story of [[Roland-B210]] and [[Jonah-B283]], two top-echelon [[SPARTAN-III Program|Spartan-IIIs]] who are selected by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI Section Three]] to serve in a [[Headhunters|special unit]] under the [[Beta-5 Division]]. The story was written by [[Jonathan Goff]].


''Headhunters'' has been adapted into a motion comic series by the animation studio [[MoreFrames]], with sound production by [[Pyramind Studios]]. The series was released on [[2011|June 18, 2011]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/blog/new-motion-comic-series-coming-this-june/49487 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''New motion comic series coming this June'']</ref>
''Headhunters'' has been adapted into a motion comic series by the animation studio [[MoreFrames]], with sound production by [[Pyramind Studios]]. The series was released on [[2011|June 18, 2011]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/blog/new-motion-comic-series-coming-this-june/49487 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''New motion comic series coming this June'']</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Plot Synopsis==
===Overview===
===Overview===
[[File:Newspartan3s.jpg|thumb|Members of ''Headhunters'' gathered together.]]
[[File:Newspartan3s.jpg|thumb|Members of ''Headhunters'' gathered together.]]
''Headhunters'' focuses on the ghost-like SPARTAN-III "Headhunter" operatives. Throughout their top-secret missions, the contrast between the celebrated [[SPARTAN-II Program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and the secretive SPARTAN-IIIs is a key focus. Another major theme in the story is confronting the Elites' sense of superiority over their 'inferior' foes. Despite glassing humans from orbit and using advanced cloaking technology, the Elites regard similar tactics used by the Spartans as 'dishonorable'. Jonah's sadism is also contrasted with the Elites, who mocks the notion that the aliens have any 'right' to exterminate humanity without being subject to horrific reprisals.  
''Headhunters'' focuses on the ghost-like Spartan-III [[Headhunters|"Headhunter"]] operatives. Throughout their top-secret missions, the contrast between the celebrated [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan-IIs]] and the secretive Spartan-IIIs is a key focus. Another major theme in the story is confronting the Elites' sense of superiority over their 'inferior' foes. Despite glassing humans from orbit and using advanced cloaking technology, the Elites regard similar tactics used by the Spartans as 'dishonorable'. Jonah's sadism is also contrasted with the Elites, who mock the notion that the aliens have any 'right' to exterminate humanity without being subject to horrific reprisals.  


===Plot===
===Plot===
The Headhunters are SPARTAN-IIIs selected for missions "secret even to their peers." Volunteers must complete two or more training missions before being evaluated in a following seven months of supervised field exercises. Each unit was further tested through six months of wartime insertions. At the program's height there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams, with a total of seventeen soldiers rotating in to fill gaps left from MIA or KIA soldiers. Fireteams were comprised of two Headhunters, initially paired via exhaustive interviews and ONI profiling. The soldiers Jonah and Roland are rated as 'excellent' compatibility with 97.36 percent, the second highest score ever recorded.   
The Headhunters are Spartan-IIIs selected for missions "secret even to their peers." Volunteers must complete two or more training missions before being evaluated in the following seven months of supervised field exercises. Each unit was further tested through six months of wartime insertions. At the program's height, there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams, with a total of seventeen soldiers rotating in to fill gaps left by MIA or KIA soldiers. Fireteams were comprised of two Headhunters, initially paired via exhaustive interviews and ONI profiling. Soldiers Jonah and Roland are rated as 'excellent' compatibility with 97.36 percent, the second highest score ever recorded.   


Deployed to a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]-held moon which was believed to be a dig-site for a hidden artifact, Jonah and Roland are tasked to destroy six of the ten basecamps situated around perimeter of a massive central compound. The confusion and reshuffling of troops and supplies by the Covenant contingent following each basecamp's destruction were to pave the way for a full-scale assault by a dozen SPARTAN-III fireteams and their support.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''' - '''''Headhunters''''', pages 161-162</ref>
Deployed to a [[Covenant]]-held moon which was believed to be a dig-site for a hidden artifact, Jonah and Roland are tasked to destroy six of the ten basecamps situated around the perimeter of a massive central compound. The confusion and reshuffling of troops and supplies by the Covenant contingent following each basecamp's destruction were to pave the way for a full-scale assault by a dozen Spartan-III fireteams and their support.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''' - '''''Headhunters''''', pages 161-162</ref>


Armed with [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]s and [[M6C/SOCOM]] pistols, and equipped with experimental technology, the two soldiers prepare for their assault. Roland is a level-headed tactician, while Jonah takes sadistic pleasure in killing Covenant soldiers. While never explicitly stated, it is likely this cruelty was motivated by the loss of Jonah's family like most SPARTAN-IIIs. The Headhunters infiltrate past a [[Kig-Yar]] sniper and into the outskirts of the camp. After gathering intelligence for two days, they decide on a plan of attack. Roland, with an experimental active camouflage module, will sabotage the base's reactors, while Jonah will neutralize any surviving soldiers. Using an [[energy disruptor]], a device that disables the Covenant's plasma weapons and energy shields, Jonah makes quick work of a unit of [[Unggoy]], Kig-Yar, and [[Sangheili]].
Armed with [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]s and [[M6C/SOCOM]] pistols, and equipped with experimental technology, the two soldiers prepare for their assault. Roland is a level-headed tactician, while Jonah takes sadistic pleasure in killing Covenant soldiers. While never explicitly stated, it is likely this cruelty was motivated by the loss of Jonah's family like most Spartan-IIIs. The Headhunters infiltrate past a [[Kig-Yar]] sniper and into the outskirts of the camp. After gathering intelligence for two days, they decide on a plan of attack. Roland, with an experimental active camouflage module, will sabotage the base's reactors, while Jonah will neutralize any surviving soldiers. Using an [[energy disruptor]], a device that disables the Covenant's plasma weapons and energy shields, Jonah makes quick work of a unit of [[Unggoy]], Kig-Yar, and [[Sangheili]].


After planting the bombs, Roland meets Jonah on the other side of the camp. Taking advantage of the Elites' sense of honor and superiority, Jonah taunts the surviving soldiers with a decapitated Sangheili head. Together, the Headhunters kill the remaining Covenant guards with little effort. Jonah disables the last Elite with two shots to the knee.  
After planting the bombs, Roland meets Jonah on the other side of the camp. Taking advantage of the Elites' sense of honor and superiority, Jonah taunts the surviving soldiers with a decapitated Sangheili head. Together, the Headhunters kill the remaining Covenant guards with little effort. Jonah disables the last Elite with two shots to the knee.  
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The wounded Sangheili accuses the Spartans of being dishonorable assassins; human vermin who strike from the shadows. Jonah in turn mercilessly mocks the wounded alien, pointing out the Elites' hypocrisy: they are soldiers who massacre unarmed civilians from orbit and use active camouflage to hide like cowards. Before the Elite can respond, Jonah executes the warrior with extreme prejudice, stabbing him in the throat and riddling his corpse with bullets.  
The wounded Sangheili accuses the Spartans of being dishonorable assassins; human vermin who strike from the shadows. Jonah in turn mercilessly mocks the wounded alien, pointing out the Elites' hypocrisy: they are soldiers who massacre unarmed civilians from orbit and use active camouflage to hide like cowards. Before the Elite can respond, Jonah executes the warrior with extreme prejudice, stabbing him in the throat and riddling his corpse with bullets.  


Following this exchange, Roland is killed by a [[Special Operations Sangheili]] wielding an [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] with a blood-red blade. Jonah turns on his VISR, revealing several more cloaked Elites. Surrounded, Jonah provokes the Covenant warriors, ridiculing the great lengths they went to trap a mere two humans (an offense that would drive most Elites to a feral state). He attacks the Elites, but his bullets bounce off their armor. The Spec Ops [[Legion]] closes in and quickly subdues the lone Spartan. Wounded and captured, the Elites prepare to torture Jonah for their own amusement. Jonah realizes the importance of the Spec-Ops warriors, who were tasked specifically to kill Headhunters, and is comforted by the thought of trading his life for the six Sangheili. Even after his eye is burned out, Jonah is still able to detonate trigger for the explosives that Roland had rigged around the camp earlier. The Covenant camp is vaporized, along with Jonah and the advanced Sangheili specialists.
Following this exchange, Roland is killed by a warrior of the [[Silent Shadow]] wielding a blood-red [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]]. Jonah turns on his VISR, revealing several more cloaked Elites. Surrounded, Jonah provokes the Covenant warriors, ridiculing the great lengths they went to trap a mere two humans (an offense that would drive most Elites to a feral state). He attacks the Elites, but his bullets bounce off their armor. The Spec Ops team closes in and quickly subdues the lone Spartan. The Elites prepare to torture the wounded and captured Jonah for their own amusement. Jonah realizes the importance of the Spec-Ops warriors, who were tasked specifically to kill Headhunters, and is comforted by the thought of trading his life for the six Sangheili. Even after his eye is burned out, Jonah is still able to detonate the trigger for the explosives that Roland had rigged around the camp earlier. The Covenant camp is vaporized, along with Jonah and the Silent Shadow squad,<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/brute-force '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Brute Force'']</ref> with only one Sangheili surviving the event: [[Jega 'Rdomnai]].{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=454}}
 
==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters|
*[[Jega 'Rdomnai]] {{1st}}
*[[Jonah-B283]] {{1st}}
*[[Roland-B210]] {{1st}}
|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]
*[[Jiralhanae]] {{Mo}}
*[[Kig-Yar]]
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Unggoy]]
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant]]
**[[Covenant military]]
**[[Special Warfare Group]]
***[[Covenant Special Operations]]
****[[Silent Shadow]]
*[[Unified Earth Government]]
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*****[[SPARTAN-III program]]
******[[Headhunters]] {{1st}}
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Eirene]] {{Fm}}
*[[Unidentified moon (Headhunters)|Unidentified moon]] {{1st}}
|title-5=Events|
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Mission to an unidentified moon]]
|title-6=Weapons|
*[[Combat knife]]
*[[M6C magnum]]
*[[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]
*[[Type-1 energy sword]]
*{{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}}
*{{Pattern|Vostu|carbine}}
|title-7=Technology|
*[[Active camouflage]]
*[[Energy disruptor]] {{1st}}
*[[Heads-up display]]
*[[Kig-Yar targeting headgear]]
*[[Energy shielding]]
**[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
*[[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]]
*[[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]]
*[[Weapon attachments]]
**[[Laser aiming module]]
**[[SS/M 49]]
**[[Suppressor]]
}}


==Motion comic==
==Motion comic==
Line 35: Line 86:


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
In the short story, Roland covers Jonah with a [[Type-51 Carbine|Covenant carbine]], firing three shots into a Sangheili's head and then expending the rest of his magazine on the remaining hostiles. In the motion comic, Roland dispatches the Sangheili with a single shot from a [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|particle beam rifle]], then kills the remaining hostiles with single shots. Strangely, Roland's particle beam rifle emits the distinctive report of the Covenant carbine when fired.
In the short story, Roland covers Jonah with a [[Vostu-pattern carbine|Covenant carbine]], firing three shots into a Sangheili's head and then expending the rest of his magazine on the remaining hostiles. In the motion comic, Roland dispatches the Sangheili with a single shot from a [[Sulok-pattern beam rifle|particle beam rifle]], then kills the remaining hostiles with single shots. Roland's particle beam rifle emits the distinctive report of the Covenant carbine when fired.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Jonahprofile.png|A profile image of Jonah from the ''Headhunters'' motion comic adaptation.
File:Headhunters - Jonah profile.png|A profile image of Jonah from the ''Headhunters'' motion comic adaptation
File:Spec op elite by transistor-d53f9x4.png|Render of a [[Special Operations Sangheili]] used in the motion comic adaptation.
File:Headhunters - Elite concept.png|Render of a [[Special Operations Sangheili]] used in the motion comic adaptation
File:Barrel and generator by transistor-d53f7li.png|Renders of a Covenant barrel and [[generator]] from the motion comic.
File:Headhunters - barrel and generator.png|Renders of a Covenant barrel and [[generator]] from the motion comic
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Evolutions}}
{{Evolutions}}
{{Books}}
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Halo: Evolutions]]
[[Category:Halo: Evolutions]]
[[Category:Motion comics]]
[[Category:Motion comics]]

Latest revision as of 10:55, April 12, 2023

For other uses, see Headhunters (disambiguation).
A select group of Spartan-IIIs put on a mission to succeed against a never-before-seen Elite force
The cover of Headhunters as illustrated by Garrett Post

Headhunters is a short story in Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, a collection of short stories by a multitude of authors. It tells the story of Roland-B210 and Jonah-B283, two top-echelon Spartan-IIIs who are selected by ONI Section Three to serve in a special unit under the Beta-5 Division. The story was written by Jonathan Goff.

Headhunters has been adapted into a motion comic series by the animation studio MoreFrames, with sound production by Pyramind Studios. The series was released on June 18, 2011.[1]

Plot Synopsis[edit]

Overview[edit]

Members of Headhunters gathered together.

Headhunters focuses on the ghost-like Spartan-III "Headhunter" operatives. Throughout their top-secret missions, the contrast between the celebrated Spartan-IIs and the secretive Spartan-IIIs is a key focus. Another major theme in the story is confronting the Elites' sense of superiority over their 'inferior' foes. Despite glassing humans from orbit and using advanced cloaking technology, the Elites regard similar tactics used by the Spartans as 'dishonorable'. Jonah's sadism is also contrasted with the Elites, who mock the notion that the aliens have any 'right' to exterminate humanity without being subject to horrific reprisals.

Plot[edit]

The Headhunters are Spartan-IIIs selected for missions "secret even to their peers." Volunteers must complete two or more training missions before being evaluated in the following seven months of supervised field exercises. Each unit was further tested through six months of wartime insertions. At the program's height, there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams, with a total of seventeen soldiers rotating in to fill gaps left by MIA or KIA soldiers. Fireteams were comprised of two Headhunters, initially paired via exhaustive interviews and ONI profiling. Soldiers Jonah and Roland are rated as 'excellent' compatibility with 97.36 percent, the second highest score ever recorded.

Deployed to a Covenant-held moon which was believed to be a dig-site for a hidden artifact, Jonah and Roland are tasked to destroy six of the ten basecamps situated around the perimeter of a massive central compound. The confusion and reshuffling of troops and supplies by the Covenant contingent following each basecamp's destruction were to pave the way for a full-scale assault by a dozen Spartan-III fireteams and their support.[2]

Armed with M7S Caseless Submachine Guns and M6C/SOCOM pistols, and equipped with experimental technology, the two soldiers prepare for their assault. Roland is a level-headed tactician, while Jonah takes sadistic pleasure in killing Covenant soldiers. While never explicitly stated, it is likely this cruelty was motivated by the loss of Jonah's family like most Spartan-IIIs. The Headhunters infiltrate past a Kig-Yar sniper and into the outskirts of the camp. After gathering intelligence for two days, they decide on a plan of attack. Roland, with an experimental active camouflage module, will sabotage the base's reactors, while Jonah will neutralize any surviving soldiers. Using an energy disruptor, a device that disables the Covenant's plasma weapons and energy shields, Jonah makes quick work of a unit of Unggoy, Kig-Yar, and Sangheili.

After planting the bombs, Roland meets Jonah on the other side of the camp. Taking advantage of the Elites' sense of honor and superiority, Jonah taunts the surviving soldiers with a decapitated Sangheili head. Together, the Headhunters kill the remaining Covenant guards with little effort. Jonah disables the last Elite with two shots to the knee.

The wounded Sangheili accuses the Spartans of being dishonorable assassins; human vermin who strike from the shadows. Jonah in turn mercilessly mocks the wounded alien, pointing out the Elites' hypocrisy: they are soldiers who massacre unarmed civilians from orbit and use active camouflage to hide like cowards. Before the Elite can respond, Jonah executes the warrior with extreme prejudice, stabbing him in the throat and riddling his corpse with bullets.

Following this exchange, Roland is killed by a warrior of the Silent Shadow wielding a blood-red energy sword. Jonah turns on his VISR, revealing several more cloaked Elites. Surrounded, Jonah provokes the Covenant warriors, ridiculing the great lengths they went to trap a mere two humans (an offense that would drive most Elites to a feral state). He attacks the Elites, but his bullets bounce off their armor. The Spec Ops team closes in and quickly subdues the lone Spartan. The Elites prepare to torture the wounded and captured Jonah for their own amusement. Jonah realizes the importance of the Spec-Ops warriors, who were tasked specifically to kill Headhunters, and is comforted by the thought of trading his life for the six Sangheili. Even after his eye is burned out, Jonah is still able to detonate the trigger for the explosives that Roland had rigged around the camp earlier. The Covenant camp is vaporized, along with Jonah and the Silent Shadow squad,[3] with only one Sangheili surviving the event: Jega 'Rdomnai.[4]

Appearances[edit]

Characters

Species

Locations



Motion comic[edit]

The Zune Video Marketplace logo for the motion comic.

At three installments, Headhunters is so far the shortest running Halo motion comic. The series is available for download on the Zune Video Marketplace. Each episode can be purchased for 80 points or a season pass can be purchased for 200 points.[5] Below are links to the episodes featured on Halo Waypoint:

Trivia[edit]

In the short story, Roland covers Jonah with a Covenant carbine, firing three shots into a Sangheili's head and then expending the rest of his magazine on the remaining hostiles. In the motion comic, Roland dispatches the Sangheili with a single shot from a particle beam rifle, then kills the remaining hostiles with single shots. Roland's particle beam rifle emits the distinctive report of the Covenant carbine when fired.

Gallery[edit]

Sources[edit]