Spartan Ops lays it out pretty plainly. Doesn't take me to understand her motivations. Halsey is a war criminal. That's the first thing Palmer sees and cares about. She turned her back on the UNSC and now she's being given free agency yet again. When she does "defect", all her suspicions of Halsey are confirmed.

But Halsey never really turned her back on the UNSC to begin with. If this logic is to be followed, then you could essentially call the crew of the Spirit of Fire traitors, since they fled the Battle of Arcadia to chase after one meager scientist. Beyond that, Palmer's hatred of Halsey clearly runs deeper. If what you're saying was true, then wouldn't pretty much anyone who knew even the smallest bit about Halsey be acting the same or similarly? Also, isn't it obvious to anyone who even slightly analyzes what happened on Requiem why Halsey "defected?" Thorne could easily attest to the fact that Halsey thought she was being rescued, and willingly kept a piece of Forerunner tech out of Covenant hands. Then Palmer runs in and, rather than try and rescue Halsey, shoots the woman in the flipping arm! It is Palmer's fault that Halsey is now with Jul 'Mdama and willingly cooperating with him.

[quote]But Halsey never really turned her back on the UNSC to begin with.[/quote]She sort of stole UNSC property by kidnapping Kelly-087, and requisitioning Spartans in order to hide them away until the war ended in case humanity lost. [quote]Beyond that, Palmer's hatred of Halsey clearly runs deeper. If what you're saying was true, then wouldn't pretty much anyone who knew even the smallest bit about Halsey be acting the same or similarly?[/quote]Well no. That just doesn't make sense. Not everyone has the same personality, same thoughts, or same thought process. [quote]Also, isn't it obvious to anyone who even slightly analyzes what happened on Requiem why Halsey "defected?" Thorne could easily attest to the fact that Halsey thought she was being rescued, and willingly kept a piece of Forerunner tech out of Covenant hands. Then Palmer runs in and, rather than try and rescue Halsey, shoots the woman in the flipping arm! It is Palmer's fault that Halsey is now with Jul 'Mdama and willingly cooperating with him.[/quote]If you'll note, Halsey was actually cooperating with 'Mdama before the order for her assassination even went out. And by the way, Palmer had orders to assassinate Halsey from CINCONI.

[quote]She sort of stole UNSC property by kidnapping Kelly-087, and requisitioning Spartans in order to hide them away until the war ended in case humanity lost.[/quote] Which brings me to a point of contention I have with 343i's portrayal of Halsey. So far, they have yet to acknowledge this side of Halsey, the one that deeply regrets what she's done and wants to do what she can to make things sort of right. She became attached to the Spartans, and now she doesn't want any more to die. [quote]If you'll note, Halsey was actually cooperating with 'Mdama before the order for her assassination even went out. And by the way, Palmer had orders to assassinate Halsey from CINCONI.[/quote] I'll give you that, but I'm not entirely sure she was aware of who it was she was working with. And as Halsey said when she was being interrogated by Lasky and Palmer, she gave no information. Right before she finds out that John's alive, she even sounds surprised to see that Jul is there. And I don't give a flying shit who the order came from. Palmer has the ability to disobey orders, especially if they are bad. Halsey, for all intents and purposes, was being held hostage. She was even hoping for rescue. But Palmer, being the stupid cow that she is, couldn't get beyond her stupid dislike of Halsey long enough to see these facts.

I didn't make this thread to argue semantics of the lore. I won't be your punching bag for some discontent you have with 343i. If you don't like Palmer, then you don't like Palmer. Nothing I can do about that. You've already made up your mind.

No, no. You misunderstand. I don't want you to be a punching bag. And I want to like Palmer. Really, I do. And 343i clearly wants us to like her, what with how frequently she shows up. Unfortunately, they seem to be incapable of making her likable. Every time we seem to be getting somewhere with Palmer, 343i pulls a complete 180 and gives us the gung-ho, stupid Palmer that put people off of her to begin with. Palmer has potential, and at the start of Escalation, she was actually getting somewhere with the community. But as long as 343i continues to portray Palmer as they are currently, they will be wasting what could be a great character.