Battle of Aktis IV

"WE'VE GOT A NEW CONTACT, UNKNOWN CLASSIFICATION!"

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The Battle of Aktis IV was an engagement fought on the previously uncharted planet Aktis IV in July 19, 2558.^[1]

Prelude

Halsey with her half of the Janus Key.

Determined to combine the halves of the Janus Key and take them to the Absolute Record to fulfill the Librarian's plan, Dr. Catherine Halsey concocted a plan to recover the other half of the key from the UNSC without having to board the UNSC Infinity. Following the Battle of Oban Infinity made a slipspace jump towards Galileo II base so that Dr. Henry Glassman could further study their half of the key. However, the Infinity suddenly reappeared in an asteroid belt, colliding with an asteroid and causing some damage inside the ship. The Infinity jumped to slipspace again, just to reappear a quarter of a kilometer of her last position. Unbeknownst to the crew of Infinity, they were being stranded in the system by a Forerunner artifact, recovered by 'Mdama before Requiem exploded. The artifact allowed Halsey to contact the Infinity's Forerunner components, including her slipspace drive, and stuck them in the system. The failed attack on Oban was actually a bold move to attract the Infinity near the artifact and be able to connect the artifact and Infinity's drive. After checking the Infinity's engine room, Roland found an unusual energy reading coming from the equator of an uncharted planet near their position. Glassman and Captain Thomas Lasky supposed that the location was the source of the problem and Sarah Palmer prepared to send a team to the planet.^[2]

The battle

Palmer discovers the Forerunner structure.

Lasky deployed a reconnaissance team to investigate a potential source of interference emanating from the surface of the planet, provisionally designated Aktis IV. The mysterious signal originated from an island in a large ocean of an opaque, foamy substance impenetrable to Infinity's sensors. Upon landing, Spartan Fireteam Majestic and Commander Palmer engaged and defeated a detachment of Covenant forces and subsequently discovered a recently-excavated Forerunner structure. Afterwards Dr. Glassman arrived and examined the Forerunner structure, with the Spartans providing cover. Glassman theorized the structure to be part of a translocation grid and soon discovered a Forerunner artifact with indentations in the shape of the halves of the Janus Key, seemingly suggesting this was where the Key was meant to be placed. However, Halsey and 'Mdama were monitoring the events and the artifact was in fact a decoy created to deceive the UNSC into taking their half of the Janus Key to the surface. Halsey believed that the UNSC would never suspect a trap as no one but Glassman would realize the Key's true value.^[1]

On the planet, Glassman requested to have lab equipment brought to the Forerunner site along with the UNSC's half of the Janus Key in order to analyze the artifact; Palmer reluctantly agreed and contacted Lasky. Although 'Mdama had troops standing at the ready, waiting for the signal to ambush the UNSC forces and take the Key, Halsey reminded Jul to exercise extreme care to avoid damaging the Key until it was safely in their possession. While the Janus Key was being prepared for transport, Roland questioned the decision to move the artifact to the surface as it may distract Glassman from his task of ascertain the origin of the interference keeping Infinity stranded. However, Lasky was confident Palmer would be able to keep Glassman focused and believed taking the Key to the surface would not cost them anything either way.^[1]

The Pelican and Broadsword are shot out the sky.

As the Pelican carrying the Key approached the Forerunner site accompanied by a Broadsword escort, Commander Palmer charged Gabriel Thorne with moving the materials to the Forerunner structure. However, the incoming UNSC craft were suddenly struck by Covenant anti-air artillery operated by forces under the command of Sali 'Nyon, a Sangheili rebel who sought to overthrow Jul 'Mdama. Mdama and Halsey were caught off guard by this turn of events as 'Mdama had given no order to fire, nor did he have forces deployed in the area. Meanwhile, the shipmaster of Breath of Annihilation, one of 'Mdama's CAS-class assault carriers, received word on the unauthorized attack. Assuming he would be blamed for the incident since the unit responsible would likely be one under his direct command, the shipmaster choose not to wait for 'Mdama's signal and ordered his fleet to proceed with their planned attack against the UNSC forces. The Breath of Annihilation, another assault carrier, and a CCS-class battlecruiser then emerged from the foam ocean, having remained concealed underneath. As the Covenant began their onslaught the Spartans on the island were quickly forced to pull back into the Forerunner structure while Infinity prepared to deploy reinforcements.^[1]

On the Song of Retribution, Halsey and 'Mdama argued about their next course of action. Halsey urged 'Mdama to reposition his fleet to draw the UNSC's attention away from the Pelican's crash site, but Jul was confident they would be able to take the Janus Key via a full-on assault despite the unexpected complication. Halsey then requested 'Mdama to scour the Pelican's crash site herself, but Jul had her remain on the ship while he intended to personally land on the surface, acquire the artifact, and punish those responsible for compromising the plan. On Aktis IV, Sali 'Nyon and several of his followers searched the Pelican's crash site. After discovering the half of the Janus Key, 'Nyon proclaimed his goal to expose 'Mdama as a fraud and assume leadership of the new Covenant, declaring himself "the one true prophet".^[1]