Attack on Ealen IV

Template:New Content Template:Battle Infobox The Battle of Ealen IV was an engagement fought on Ealen IV on March 5, 2558.^[1]

Background

Following an escalation in Jiralhanae raiding attacks along the joint-occupation zones, Ealen IV was chosen as a place for peace negotiations between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae. UNSC Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood acted as a mediator between Thel 'Vadam and Jiralhanae Chieftain Lydus. Captain Thomas Lasky and the UNSC Infinity were assigned to provide security for the diplomats. Unfortunately, a human traitor who had learned of the conference placed a bounty on the heads of the diplomats. Covenant remnant mercenaries under the command of Shipmaster Vata 'Gajat launched a surprise attack on the conference, forcing SPARTAN-IV fireteams Jackknife and Bailey to defend and evacuate the ambassadors.^[1]

The battle

Having received intel on the diplomatic mission and the UNSC personnel involved, Shipmaster 'Gajat and his associates led the attack on Ealen IV. The Covenant remnant blasted into the plasma facility's conference chamber in an attempt to assassinate the ambassadors. Commander Sarah Palmer ordered Jackknife to clear the chamber and help the delegates evacuate. Despite facing heavy resistance from Covenant forces outside, Fireteam Bailey managed to clear a path for the delegates. When their evacuation shuttle was destroyed, the Spartan IV's proceeded to escort the delegation to a nearby parts depot. Once all were inside, Paul DeMarco sealed the depot to halt the oncoming Covenant forces. With their communications to their orbiting fleets having been blocked, the delegation were left without reinforcements.^[1]

Confident that the delegates were trapped within, Skirmisher Tek informed 'Gajat of their enemy's retreat. Inside the repair depot, Thel 'Vadam notified the rest of existing tunnels leading to an old fortified redoubt in which they could take refuge in. Captain Thomas Lasky ordered Palmer and the protection detail to escort the delegation to the redoubt, while he and Spartan Ray would try to reestablish communications with the fleet above the planet.

As the party escaped the storage depot, they were intercepted by a Covenant Lich. Palmer quickly acted and threw her helmet filled with grenades and destroyed the Lich. Jackknife then went ahead with the delegation's bodyguards to ensure that the redoubt was safe for the delegates to use as shelter. Lord Hood stopped to inspect a fallen Sangheili and discovered someone within the UNSC was leaking the Covenant information. As Jackknife arrived at the redoubt, Vladimir Scruggs betrayed his own team, killing them and the bodyguards. He then radioed Commander Palmer and informed her it was safe to bring the delegates into the redoubt.^[2]

Lasky and Ray attack a Covenant base and destroy a reactor, the source of the Covenant jamming signal. In the redoubt, Lydus continues to express his skepticism over whether the peace talk will succeed. Hood tells him that the Jiralhanae will need Lydus as a leader if they want to survive. Scruggs suddenly appears and holds Hood at gunpoint, stating that he will reveal his demands once his associates arrive. The situation in orbit continues to worsen as Sangheili and Jiralhanae ships begin to deploy forces against each other. Having cleared the communications interference, Lasky informs Infinity of the Covenant's attack. Upon being updated on the crisis between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, Lasky contacts the fleets and asks them to cease their infighting and send their forces to the delegates' aid instead. However, both sides refuse to listen to him while a massive Covenant force converges on the redoubt. Meanwhile, 'Gajat and his human accomplice converse aboard the Covenant forces' flagship and it is revealed that 'Gajat is secretly working for an unknown party without Jul 'Mdama's knowledge.

In the redoubt, Scruggs continues to hold Hood hostage. He denies that he is working for the Insurrectionists and indicates that he is aware of some of ONI's secrets. Palmer then shoots Lord Hood in the leg, tackles Scruggs and, after a brief struggle, kills the rogue Spartan by stabbing him in the throat with a combat knife. With the Covenant bearing on the site in force, the group find a craft they can use to evacuate. DeMarco and Fireteam Bailey remains behind to cover the ambassadors' escape with a Tyrant AA gun and they are killed when the Covenant destroy the cannon. Thanks to their sacrifice, the delegation, Lasky and the surviving Spartans make it aboard Infinity, prompting 'Gajat's fleet to retreat.

Aftermath

A funeral ceremony is held for the Spartans fallen in the battle, with an angry Palmer telling Lasky she wants to be alone. One week later, Lasky and Hood discuss the troubling prospect that someone higher-ranked than Scruggs must have leaked the location of the negotiations, indicating a severe security breach in the UNSC's hierarchy.