Fireteam Thermal

"'There isn't much left of Thermal, they're an old unit. Started in 54, feet first on Requiem, hell they survived half a year down there when Del Rio backed out and barely made it off before the whole thing went supernova.' -Lt. Mason assessing Fireteam Thermal's practicality for a mission."

Background
Fireteam Thermal was organized in 2554 making it one of the first Spartan IV fireteam within the corps. During its infancy the team orchestrated surgical acquisition missions against insurrectionist and covenant remnant forces in the outer regions of UNSC space. Following the Human-Covenant War most of UNSC Space had fallen intro disarray and the UEG lacked the appropriate numbers or funding to reclaim such regions with sheer force. Thermal team composed originally of six members was able to infiltrate and dismantle insurrection and covenant remnant forces before they could get a foot hold on this lawless territory.

Requiem Campaign
Upon the initial arrival of the UNSC Infinity to Requiem Fireteam Thermal were issued emergency orders by Del Rio to establish an LZ and locate a potential area for the construction of a firebase if the Infinity didn't survive the crash. Using ODST Drop Pods to disembark the Infinity Thermal was vastly under-supplied and ill-prepared for the Promethean forces.

Fireteam Thermal quickly learned to utilize the portal system to escape the Promethean forces and eventually found themselves on the far side of Requiem by the time Infinity was air borne again. With communications non-existent Fireteam Thermal with the help of Sentinel forces secured a forerunner tower dubbed Citadel and made it their home until they could re-establish communications.

When the UNSC Infinity was making underway preparations to leave Infinity Fireteam Thermal was able to contact Del Rio who ordered the team to stay put and that the Infinity didn't have time for a rescue mission on "AWOL Spartans" before disconnecting and abandoning Thermal on Requiem.

When Infinity returned to Requiem Fireteam Thermal contacted the Infinity whom Lasky now commanded and informed the Spartans they had been listed KIA by Del Rio prior to disembarking requiem. The UNSC Call to Valor was then stationed on the far side of Requiem and oversaw what would become Thermal Operations.

Thermal Operations
With the help of Fireteam Thermal already establishing a secure base of operations on the far side of Requiem away from any Storm Covenant forces the UNSC would use this region as a staging ground for firebases and research installations with the comfort of only having the local Promethean forces to worry about. During these operations Thermal team was able to secure dozens of research posts and establish multiple fire bases for a permanent residence on the installation. From these missions a detailed understanding of the portal system enabled the UNSC forces in the area to make the Prometheans blind to the regions of operation locking them out of teleporting into areas controlled by the UNSC Call to Valors contingent.

Fireteam Thermal eventually discovered an island featuring an underground complex stretching under a large portion of Requiem. The team went missing in the maze for three days and narrowly escaped thanks to friendly sentinels creating a portal directing onto the Call to Valor as it began its emergency departure of Requiem.

UNSC Deliverance
Upon returning to Earth Thermal team along with the captain of the UNSC Call to Valor received awards and recognition for their performance on Requiem. Acting Captain of the Call to Valor, Lt. Commander Larose was promoted to Commander and Spartan Chandler, leader of Fireteam Thermal and veteran Spartan IV was given the title Spartan Commander. Commander Larose was then given the opportunity to captain and trial run the prototype UNSC Deliverance to which he responded ''"I want each of these Spartans aboard the ship with me." ''Spartan Chandler then became the acting XO aboard the Deliverance and lead all Spartan forces to include the four remaining members of Fireteam Thermal.

Aboard the UNSC Deliverance Fireteam Thermal would continue its former mission style of anti-insurrectionist and securing old UNSC worlds from potential enemies of the UEG.

Trivia

 * Fireteam Thermal lost only one member to a combat casualty during its operational timeline, Spartan Monte was killed during an assault on one of Requiem's portal hubs when she was forced to reset an explosive timer with too little time to escape the blast zone afterwards. A piece of her helmet actually pierced the visor of Fireteam Thermals leader Spartan Chandler.
 * After having Spartan Monte's helmet lodge itself into Spartan Chandler's visor, Spartan Chandler never again utilized armor featuring a glass visor and instead preferred the optical camera and LCD screen within the helmet.