Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 2

⇦ Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 2 ⇨
Publisher:	Dark Horse Comics
Publication date:	September 20, 2017
Writer(s):	Jody Houser
Artist(s):	Josan Gonzalez (artist); Jeremy Colwell (colorist); Aleksi Briclot (cover artist);
Number of pages:	21 pages

Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 2 was released on September 20, 2017 and is the second of five in the Halo: Rise of Atriox series of comics.^[1]

Official summary

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Plot synopsis

Issue 2 opens with Seth's ongoing research report on the Banished warmaster Atriox. Extracting minimal data provided from one particular incident report, Seth is able to confirm an early encounter between Atriox and the UNSC during the Covenant War, in which Atriox had led a Jiralhanae assault against a UNSC military outpost under the final command of First Sergeant Jessica Kress and the AI Beatrix.

Following the attack at the human outpost, a disillusioned Atriox returns to his Covenant outpost on Algolis. While the Jiralhanae soldiers at the base praise Atriox for his continual survival in battle, the outpost's commander, a Sangheili known as the Executioner, is irked that he has returned alive once more from yet another suicide mission. The Sangheili converses with the High Prophet of Truth and expresses his concerns that Atriox's persistent survival and growing reputation among his peers could threaten their influence over the Jiralhanae. Wondering if Atriox can be turned into a valuable asset, the Prophet of Truth asks the Executioner to speak with Atriox and inquire if he is still faithful and loyal to the Covenant. During his talk with Atriox, the Executioner learns that he has become aggressively resentful of the Covenant's orders as a result of losing his clan brothers in battle. Worried that Atriox can spread his heresy to others, Truth then tasks the Executioner to dispose of Atriox without turning him into martyr. The Executioner soon arranges for a loyal Jiralhanae pawn to tail Atriox in order to capture him in an act of open dissidence.

En route to another assault on a human fortification, Atriox notices that among his eager peers is a silent Jiralhanae watching him. As Atriox and other Jiralhanae battle UNSC marines, the Executioner observes Atriox closely from an eye's surveillance. After massacring most of the humans, Atriox trails a single marine while being pursued by the silent Jiralhanae. As Atriox kills the human soldier he voices out his frustrations about the war and the Covenant's lies. The Jiralhanae stalker then confronts Atriox about his blasphemy and attacks him for imperiling the Great Journey. Atriox defends himself and ends the fight by killing the devoted warrior. Burdened by the betrayal, Atriox returns to his post where he is met and encircled by the Executioner and a group of other Sangheili. Realizing the situation, Atriox surrenders his Type-2 gravity hammer and drops to his knees. When the Executioner pronounces him a heretic for slaying a fellow comrade, Atriox tells him that the murdered Jiralhanae was a merely puppet and a slave to the Covenant. As the Executioner sentences him to death and thrusts his Bloodblade forward, Atriox rebels and stops the incoming blade with his right hand. Promising to remind his Jiralhanae brothers of their true path, Atriox takes the energy sword and then slays the Executioner. As the remaining Sangheili activate their swords to stop Atriox, the nearby Jiralhanae, inspired by Atriox's defiance, follow in his example and proceed to slaughter the Sangheili.