Editing Castor

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Newcontent|[[Halo: Retribution]] and [[Halo: Divine Wind]]}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Cov
|name=Castor
|image=[[File:Enc22-Castor.png|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Doisac]]<ref name="EN">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''', ''page 255''</ref>
|birth=[[2510#December|December 28, 2510]]{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|death=
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Jiralhanae]]
|gender=Male
|height=259.1 centimetres {{C|8 ft 6 in}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|mass=724.8 kilograms {{C|1598 lbs}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|hair=Gray<ref name="ll61">'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', ''pages 61-66'' (Google Play edition)</ref>
|eyes=
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}
*[[Keepers of the One Freedom]]
*[[Banished]] {{C|formerly}}
|rank-title=Title|rank=*[[Jiralhanae Stalker|Stalker]] {{C|formerly}}
*[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]]
*[[Dokab]]
*[[Legionmaster]] {{C|formerly}}
|sn=
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|multi=more
|1=Castor
|q1=Let it go.
|2=Orsun
|q2=Are you mad? Surely, this Huragok is a gift from the Oracle!
|3=Castor
|q3=No. The gift is what it just did. Let it go, Orsun. It is not for us to decide the fate of angels.
|4=Castor convinces Orsun to leave [[Roams Alone]]<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 337'' (Google Play edition)</ref>
}}

'''Castor''' is a [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] of a [[pack]] who formerly served the [[Covenant]] [[Covenant military|military]] as an army commander. After the [[Human-Covenant War]], Castor became one of the [[Dokab]]s of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], a radical [[Covenant remnants|Covenant remnant]] opposed to the [[Unified Earth Government]].{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} He believed in the [[Great Journey (religion)|Great Journey]] but also renounced the [[San'Shyuum]] as false "prophets".{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW3|DW|Chapter=3|Page=51|Quote=Though Castor and his Keepers had long ago renounced their loyalty to the Covenant's San'Shyuum "prophets," they remained devoted to the doctrine of the Great Journey}}

==Biography==
===Serving the First Blade===
By early [[2526]], Castor served the [[Covenant]] as a [[Jiralhanae Stalker|Stalker]] within the [[Bloodstars]], alongside [[Orsun]], with whom he was very close. At this time, the two them were led by [[Sangheili First Blade officer|First Blade]] [[Tel 'Szatulai]] of the [[Silent Shadow]] and served within the [[Bloodstar Flotilla]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS18|HSS|Chapter=18}} In [[2526#March|March 2526]], the flotilla was sent to [[Seoba]], one of the [[natural satellite|moon]]s of the [[human]] [[human colonies|colony]] of [[Biko]]. There they would meet with [[Insurrectionist]]s that intended to trade [[UNSC]] secrets for their continued survival.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS9|HSS|Chapter=9}} However, when the flotilla arrived at Seoba, they found [[Task Force Yama|a UNSC task force]] occupying the moon.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS12|HSS|Chapter=12}} The ensuing [[Battle of Seoba|battle]] resulted in the destruction of three of the flotilla's five [[intrusion corvette]]s, forcing 'Szatulai to retreat just as the [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience]] arrived to assault Biko.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}}

However, a lone human [[Emmeline|transport]] broke from Seoba's orbit and began trailing the ''[[Sacred Whisper]]'', 'Szatulai's flagship. After he realized that the only ones foolish enough to chase after a Covenant warship in such [[Banta-class colony ship|a poorly armed craft]] would be the insurgents that they had come to meet, 'Szatulai had his corvette dock with the vessel. The First Blade took Castor and Orsun with him into the airlock to board the transport. Much to their bewilderment, 'Szatulai ordered them to leave their weapons behind. Orsun objected to the order and Castor stated that it certainly was strange, but that he would be honored to accompany the First Blade regardless. Despite their uneasiness, they obeyed 'Szatilai's order.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS18}}

When the airlock opened, they were greeted by a group of armed Insurrectionists, each of whom had their weapons trained on them. 'Szatulai stared at their leader's weapon until he took the hint, ordering his men to lower their weapons. After they all lowered their rifles, the man led the three of them to the forward briefing compartment. The vessel's winding corridors were spacious by human standards, but the armored shoulders of Castor and Orsun consistently scraped the bulkheads and their heads kept thumping against the ceiling. Arriving at the briefing compartment, they found a group of humans that were all watching a particularly nervous man holding a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]. The man, named [[Erland Booth]], demanded that 'Szatulai call off on the attack on Biko or he would detonate the nuke. However, 'Szatulai simply approached Booth with a hand extended. While the man was confused by his actions, the First Blade swept the nuke out of his arms and used it to cave in Booth's skull, killing him instantly. A woman named [[Petora Zoyas]] and General Harper Garvin rushed over and managed to defuse the nuke, offering it to 'Szatulai as a token of their goodwill. Accepting the gift, he gave it to Orsun as Garvin began explaining how the ordeal at Seoba had not been their doing. He also offered another gift, a [[data card]] that contained schematics for the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]]' [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]. 'Szatulai motioned for Castor to take the data card and Garvin promised that they would continue to gather and share more information on the Spartans with them if the Covenant helped the Insurrectionists take control of Biko. 'Szatulai made a gesture of agreement and returned to the ''Sacred Whisper'' with Castor and Orsun, taking Zoyas with them to facilitate communications with Garvin in the future.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS18}}

When the UNSC task force launched an [[Attack on Zhoist|attack]] on [[Zhoist]], Castor and Orsun encountered [[Blue Team]] on the [[Ring of Mighty Abundance]], where the Spartans had already been engaged by Tel 'Szatulai. By the time the two arrived, 'Szatulai and all of his [[Sangheili]] warriors were dead and the two [[Jiralhanae]] quickly fled in [[Banshee]]s before Blue Team's nuclear weapons detonated, surviving to make their report to the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'''</ref>

===Continued service===
Following this conflict, Castor continued to serve with Orsun, as well as a young [[Atriox]], as Stalkers in the Bloodstars. They would be tasked with hunting down and killing Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|R}} Eventually, Castor rose to the position of [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]].{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} At some point, Castor and Orsun captured and interrogated a squad of [[ODST]]s for three days, and they learned of the rumor that the Spartan-II program had abducted children to use as its subjects.<ref name="R">'''[[Halo: Retribution]]''', ''page 265''</ref> Later in the war, Castor encountered [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-IIIs]].<ref name="ll125">'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 125-136'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During his service, he captured many useful things from the United Nations Space Command, including schematics of the Spartan-IIs' MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}}{{Ref/Note|Id=Schematics|It is unknown if these schematics were the same ones that where given to Tel 'Szatulai by General Harper Garvin. It is possible that Castor procured them following 'Szatulai's death, but it is equally possible that those schematics were lost and that he found more later on via alternate means.}}

===Dokab of the Keepers===
Even after the war, Castor's faith in the [[Forerunner]]s and the [[The Great Journey|Great Journey]] remained strong, simply regarding the [[San'Shyuum]] as false prophets.{{Ref/Reuse|DW3}} He eventually became a [[Dokab]] within the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], a radical [[Covenant remnants|Covenant remnant]] based in [[New Tyne]] on [[Venezia]]. The cult shared Castor's unwavering faith and grew throughout the [[Outer Colonies]], gathering more members.{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}}
{{Expand-section}}

===Dealings on Gao===
{{Quote|You also have the support of the Keepers of the One Freedom. Your foes will cower before our fellowship.|Castor to Minister Arlo Casille<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 62'' (Google Play edition)</ref>}}
On [[2553#July|July 2, 2553]], after learning of the presence of [[Intrepid Eye|a Forerunner ancilla]] on Gao, [[Minister of Protection]] [[Arlo Casille]] called his allies within the Keepers of the One Freedom and the [[Venezian Militia]] to discuss the situation. Meeting aboard Casille's [[flagship]] ''[[Esmeralda]]'', the minister was visited by Castor and [[Reza Linberk]] of the Venezian Militia. Casille informed them that [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion|UNSC forces]] on the planet were seeking to claim the AI for themselves. Not wanting the UNSC to take the "Oracle", Castor felt that it was necessary to launch an attack on the UNSC forces. With Casille's and Linberk's support, Casille brought five hundred of his troops from his ship—''[[One Light]]''—to the surface of Gao to begin his assault.{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} The Keepers of the One Freedom's forces landed in the [[Montero]] region on Gao and made their way to the region's [[Montero Cave System|cave systems]], where the ancilla was believed to be located. At the caves, Castor met with human [[insurrectionist]] [[Petora Zoyas]], an ally of Casille. Zoyas had the [[Committee to Preserve Gao Independence]] distract the UNSC forces, giving the Keepers an opportunity to move covertly to [[Wendosa]], the village the UNSC was taking up residence in. Castor sent his second-in-command Orsun into the caves to lead the first [[pack]], and had Zoyas accompany them. Meanwhile, Castor realized that the Venezian Militia and Casille both intended to steal the ancilla for themselves. However, Castor was not worried by his allies' ulterior motives, as he had several of his human forces sneak aboard the minister's [[MV-29 Wyvern]]s—aircraft that Casille would use to retrieve the ancilla. While his forces made their way into the caves, Castor spotted Spartans of [[Blue Team]] loading a package into a [[Pelican]] [[dropship]]. The package was actually a bagged human murder victim, but Castor believed that the humans were attempting to escape with the ancilla. He ordered his forces to attack the village and recover the ancilla.{{Ref/Reuse|ll125}}

As the attack began, Linberk was killed by a sniper.{{Ref/Reuse|ll125}} The Keepers attack the village, but the four Spartans of Blue Team were able to help the human battalion hold off their attackers. The Spartans disrupted the Keeper formations and prevented the Jiralhanae from charging at Wendosa. The four Spartans were soon joined by the rest of Blue Team, who had actually managed to recover ancilla [[Intrepid Eye]], as well as [[Lifeworker]] [[Huragok]] [[Roams Alone]]. As Castor and Orsun overlooked the battle, Intrepid Eye and Roams Alone attempted to escape the humans. As Spartan [[Frederic-104]] gave chase, he was spotted by Castor. Taking a [[Type-50 particle beam rifle]], Castor prepared to fire on the Spartan when he noticed the Huragok. Certain that the UNSC had captured the ancilla,<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 202-206'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Castor attempted to kill Fred with the beam rifle, but the Spartan avoided the shots and the Jiralhanae were pushed back by rocket fire.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 209'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Later, when Fred attempted to leave the battlefield aboard a [[UH-144 Falcon]] with the ancilla, the aircraft was shot down. Blue Team made it to the Falcon's crash site just before Castor and several other Jiralhanae arrived. While his forces provided him cover, Castor searched the wreckage for the ancilla. While pulling Fred's armor-locked body out of the debris, Castor was attacked by [[Special Inspector]] [[Veta Lopis]]. Lopis shot the chieftain in the hand and knee, causing him to drop the Spartan. As Fred's body rolled down the hill, a small rockslide began that knocked Lopis away from the Jiralhanae. As the Spartans defeated most of his forces and the battalion's [[Alpha Company]] arrived to reinforce them, the heavily injured Castor escaped without the ancilla.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 237-242'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The Keepers attack on the UNSC forces was soon ended and the survivors attempted to escape aboard ''One Light''. After the UNSC forces had withdrawn from the area, Orsun searched for and found the mortally wounded Castor. Orsun then helped his chieftain walk slowly towards the rendezvous point for dozens of kilometers. As they traveled, Castor and Orsun soon encountered Roams Alone. The Huragok approached the Jiralhanae and healed Castor's wounds. Although Orsun wished to bring the Huragok with them, Castor decided to allow Roams Alone to remain on Gao. As the two Jiralhanae continued to the rendezvous point, Castor desired to enact vengeance on Minister Casille.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 334-337'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

===Reconstruction and retribution===
{{Expand-section}}

===Alliance with the Banished===
The Keepers of the One Freedom joined the [[Banished]] as a [[Legion#Banished|legion]] in [[2558|April 2558]], six months before [[Cortana|Cortana's]] [[Created]] declared martial law across the [[Orion Arm]]. The Keepers were held in low regard in the Banished. Things were made worse for them when Castor's war brother Atriox left for the [[Ark]] and [[Escharum]] was left in control of Banished within the galaxy. As of [[2559|October next year]], [[Legionmaster]] Castor was working on uncovering a Forerunner portal on [[Reach]] when he once again came into contact with Blue Team.<ref>'''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''', ''page 54-55''</ref> Eventually, he would find the portal in the same structure Blue Team [[Raid on Reach|found]] the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal]] and, seeing his opportunity to travel to the Ark, would abandon the Banished and travel to the other side, satisfied that even if he should die to the Banished still stationed on the Ark, doing so on the foundry of the Halos would be one of the highest honors.
{{Expand-section}}

===Attempting to Start the Great Journey===
{{Expand-section}}

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|Never underestimate what humans will dare. That has been the death of more than one shipmaster.|Castor<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 203'' (Google Play edition)</ref>}}
Castor is a competent military commander, having served as an army [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|chieftain]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the commander of many "battle [[pack]]s".{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} He believed that any good commander was able to anticipate their opponents and was able to adjust their plan when necessary.{{Ref/Reuse|ll125}} Castor is a deeply religious [[Jiralhanae]], still believing in the [[Covenant religion|religion]] of the [[Covenant]],{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} but also renounced the [[San'Shyuum]] as false "prophets".{{Ref/Reuse|Id=DW3}} Although he did not trust many of them, Castor can work with [[Kig-Yar]] and [[human]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|ll125}} Castor is opposed to the [[Unified Earth Government]] and its [[United Nations Space Command]], believing them to be leading a "[[List of known Covenant heretics|heretic]]al tyranny". He believes that UEG and UNSC presence at [[Forerunner]] sites is an insult to the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], fearing that they "defile" the artifacts.{{Ref/Reuse|ll61}} He is unique among the Jiralhanae as being willing to accept humans among his ranks if they pledge to be believers of the Great Journey, as he truly believes the faithful should have a chance to ascend. He also treats the Unggoy under his command with relatively high respect, knowing they'll frantically do his bidding out of gratitude and loyalty.<ref>''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'', Page 64-65</ref> He deeply respects his former war brothers as seen by his decision to prepare Orsun's son, [[Krelis]] for a higher station.<ref>''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'', Chapter 7</ref>

Unlike most Jiralhanae, he has a preference for ranged weaponry.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Shadows of Reach|Chapter=??}}

==Trivia==
"Castor" means "[[:Wikipedia:Beaver|beaver]]" in [[Latin]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Castor.jpg|Castor on the cover of ''[[Halo: Retribution]]''.
File:Enc22 Castor.png|Full body version of the previous image
File:HDW Castor.png|Castor's appearance in Halo: Divine Wind
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Jiralhanae characters]]
[[Category:Covenant military personnel]]