Check out the [url=https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/en-us/blogs/headlines/posts/halo-escalation-9-available-now]Preview[/url], then buy Issue #9 digitally [url=https://digital.darkhorse.com/profile/4786.halo-escalation-9/]here[/url] or buy the physical copy [url=http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Halo%3A-Escalation-9___455448]here.[/url] Miss out on Issue #8? Read the summary and lore notes [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/66644687]here![/url] [quote][b][u]Summary:[/u][/b] July 25th, 2557: Black Team watches as waves of objects exit slipspace in the sky of Installation 03. As a new wave touches down, they noticed one of the objects landed close by. As they investigate, they discover the Didact, who quickly wakes up and executes them. Shortly after, a Monitor emerges from the Composer's resting place and is surprised to find the Didact and his Prometheans on the ring. He announces himself to be 859 Static Carillon, who the Didact quickly recognizes as the Keeper of the Composers. Carillon responds by identifying the Didact and notes that he is the master of his charges. The Didact requests an explanation as to why Carillon is on Gamma Halo, and is told of a service portal to the Composer's Forge. He quickly orders Carillon to take him. July 26th, 2557: Blue Team arrives through the Portal and finds themselves in a Forerunner city. They notice a light on in a tower up ahead, and Kelly points out that Black Team's killers are probably there. However, the Master Chief expresses doubt at there being multiple killers, theorizing the Didact is the one responsible. As they traverse the city, they discover six Composers. As they approach them, the Didact reveals himself and announces they are in the Composer's Forge. As Blue Team fires on the Didact, his armor emits a shockwave, knocking them on the ground. Unimpressed at Blue Team's efforts, the Didact claims he has already won. As he summons his Prometheans to fight Blue Team, Carillon appears and expresses his anger over the Didact breaking the compact they had by creating more Prometheans. However, the Didact grabs assures his Prometheans will soon be sent to Requiem and reminds him to uphold his end of the Compact. He complies, and brings Installation 03 to the Composer's Forge where the Didact orders it to be repaired. Carillon, still upset over the compact being broken, finds Blue Team who is fighting off hordes of Prometheans and alerts them to the Didact's plans. He explains that the Didact is repairing damages caused to Gamma Halo by humans, and that he says that the issue he has with the broken compact is that the newly Composed humans are tortured souls that will be added to the whole. He goes on and confirms that the Didact plans to take Halo after he's done repairing it and burn humanity from the universe with it. However, he clarifies that while he doesn't care about what happens to humanity, he does care about the broken compact and announces he will assist Blue Team. As Blue Team reaches the portal to Gamma Halo, the Master Chief orders Carillon to close the portal behind them. As they exit the portal, they quickly realize the Didact is placing another Composer into the resting spot, and climb out before they are crushed. The Didact is waiting at the top though, and hits Blue Team. The Master Chief sneaks by though and readies his knife as the Didact is about to execute Kelly. He jumps on top of him and stabs his eye. The Didact, enraged at not taking the time to kill the Chief when he had the opportunities, grabs Chief by the head and begins to crush his helmet, cracking his visor. [/quote] [b][u]Lore Notes:[/u][/b] -Black Team killed by the Didact -859 Static Carillon ---Keeper of the Composers ---Under orders from the Didact ---Wields considerable control over Halo Array -Composer's Forge ---Didact used it to create more Prometheans ---Place where the Composers were designed and built -Didact ---Plans to fire Halo near Earth ---Sending NP Prometheans to Requiem ---Lost right eye ---Repairing damaged Halo (03?) over Composer's Forge -Chief ---Helmet cracked to due the Didact crushing his skull