Editing Jacob Keyes

{{Status|Canon}}
{{disambig header|UNSC naval captain|other uses|Keyes (disambiguation)|Jacob}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Human
|name=Jacob Keyes
|image={{Pageimage|Keyes.png}}[[File:HaloMythosFullTransparentKeyes.png|301px]]
|homeworld=[[Earth]]{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|P=106}}
|birth=[[2495|February 8, 2495]]{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|death=[[2552#September 22|September 22, 2552]]{{Ref/Site|Id=wp jk|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/jacob-keyes|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Jacob Keyes|D=2|M=8|Y=2016}}
|causeofdeath=Infected by the [[Flood]] and mercy-killed by [[John-117]]
|parents=
|siblings=Unnamed Sister
|spouses=
|children=[[Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]]
|species=
|gender=Male
|height={{Convert|194.3|cm|ftin|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|mass={{Convert|212|lb|kg|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
|hair=Gray {{C|formerly black}}
|eyes=Blue
|affiliation=*[[UNSC]] [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] {{c|formerly}}
*[[Flood]] {{c|prisoner}}
|rank=[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]]
|sn=01928-19912-JK
|notable=*Fathered [[Miranda Keyes]] with [[Catherine Halsey]]
*Creator of the "Keyes' Loop" and "Air Brake Drop"
*Part of the [[Proto-Gravemind]] on Alpha Halo
*Accompanied [[Dr. Halsey]] to observe [[John-117]] as a child
}}
{{Quote|Men like him will save us, you know. We need more like Keyes.|[[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]]}}<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 354''</ref>

[[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] '''Jacob Keyes''' ([[service number]] '''01928-19912-JK''') was a [[commanding officer]] and one of the most brilliant tacticians in the [[UNSC Navy]]. He commanded great respect as a highly skilled strategist and inspirational leader to those under his command. His many decorations, thirty-five years of combat experience against the [[Covenant]] and [[Insurrectionist]]s, and ability to keep a secret made him an almost natural choice to command the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} and its secret cargo.

He was renowned as a war hero for his development of the [[Keyes Loop]] tactic, and leading the [[Battle of Installation 04]]: the ''Halo Event''.

==Biography==
===Early career===
[[File:TFoR-as-Keyes-cryo.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Keyes exiting a cryo chamber on-board the ''[[Han]]'' in [[2517]].]]
Captain Keyes was born on [[Earth]] and spent some time around the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]] during his childhood. He had a sister who later resided on the colony world of [[Dwarka]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 23''</ref> At some point in his life he read the [[Carver Findings|work]] of [[Elias Carver|Dr. Elias Carver]], but considered his view of the [[Insurrection|situation in the colonies]] to be pessimistic.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 113''</ref> During his second year of training in [[Officer Candidate School]], an incident occurred where fourteen ensigns were killed due to an instructor's error during a poorly planned test. Keyes suffered [[plasma]] burns during the test and had to be rehabilitated in a hospital for two months. Keyes refused to testify against the instructor and was nearly demoted for it. Keyes' stubbornness is what brought him to the attention of [[Dr. Halsey]].<ref name="for19">'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 19-20''</ref>

In [[2517]], [[seven]] weeks out of the OCS, [[Lieutenant, Junior Grade|Lieutenant (J.G.)]] Keyes was assigned to the {{UNSCShip|Magellan}} when those orders were rescinded and he was chosen to assist Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] with her task of searching for usable subjects for her [[SPARTAN-II]] project.{{Ref/Reuse|for19}} Keyes was chosen by Halsey for this assignment partly because he could "keep a secret". In order to fool anybody who was suspicious, they told them that they were looking for a school for their daughter, and so they both began observing the chosen subjects for the program. The first child they chose was SPARTAN subject number 117: [[John-117|John]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 25''</ref> Later, he expressed doubts when Halsey actually let [[Soren-066]] choose whether he wanted to become a Spartan, saying it was an "awful lot to lay on a child, even one who's grown up so fast."<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''page 16''</ref> Keyes never forgot this assignment or the names of each and every one of the children.

As Keyes slowly started learning of the true nature of the SPARTAN-II project, Dr. Halsey immediately sent him back to normal duty with a full [[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lieutenant]] commission.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 28''</ref> In [[2524]], he was reunited with Dr. Halsey while attending a conference at the [[University of Calippus]]; it was on this occasion that they conceived their daughter, [[Miranda Keyes|Miranda Halsey]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref>

===Human-Covenant War===
[[File:TFoR AS - Keyes 2525.jpg|left|thumb|251px|Lieutenant Keyes at the beginning of the war.]]
Early in the [[Human-Covenant War]], he became a widely known hero when he led a small group of security troops against the Covenant ambush of the frigate {{UNSCShip|Meriwether Lewis}} and held the Covenant off long enough for the ship to escape. He sustained a deep gouging plasma burn to his thigh and had his hand shattered, which was later rebuilt.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 28''</ref> 

Because of his injuries, Keyes was removed from active service and reassigned to the [[Academy at Mare Nubium|Luna OCS Academy]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 21''</ref> Some of the top brass at [[UNSC High Command]] disapproved of him and he got the nickname "Schoolmaster" from those detractors, who thought he didn't belong in command of anything but a classroom, if that. In [[2531]] he agreed to take in his daughter Miranda, when her mother felt she was unable to give her the care she needed. Miranda grew very close to her father, taking his surname, following him into the service, and becoming one of the youngest candidates ever accepted into the OCS Academy.<ref name="name">'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''April 6, 2550'' ("''Initially, she likely joined the military to impress her father; after all, she had her name legally changed.''")</ref>

In [[2535]], Keyes was placed back on active duty, transferred aboard the {{UNSCShip|Armageddon's Edge}} to [[Chi Rho]] in the [[Ectanus 45]] system. He was transported to the planet's surface by [[Jeffries|Petty Officer Jeffries]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 26''</ref> At [[Camp Patmos]], Keyes met with [[Jean Mawikizi|Vice Admiral Jean Mawikizi]], [[Dmitri Zheng|Commander Dmitri Zheng]], and [[Akio Watanabe|Major Akio Watanabe]]. He was briefed on the newly instated [[Cole Protocol]] and offered a position to serve with the bridge crew, under the command of Zheng, aboard the modified {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}} to help enforce the newly written protocol.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 31-35''</ref> Keyes accepted the offer and convinced Mawikizi to transfer Jeffries to the frigate due to his incredible skill in piloting, believing it would be useful in the unorthodox missions that the frigate would be assigned to.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 37''</ref>

===Raid on ''Finnegan's Wake''===
The ''Midsummer Night'' travelled to the edges of the Ectanus 45 system, shadowing a [[freighter]], ''[[Finnegan's Wake]]'', that had slowly edged its way past the system's ecliptic plane.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 47''</ref> To ensure that the freighter's navigation data had been deleted, Keyes led a boarding team of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s into ''Finnegan's Wake''. The ODSTs and Keyes discovered the captain of the ship and interrogated him. Before the ODSTs could make their way to delete the navigation data, an explosion in the ship went off, throwing Keyes to the ground and killing several ODSTs, including their commander, [[Canfield]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 51''</ref>

[[Insurrectionist]]s began attacking the ODSTs and an emergency beacon was activated, asking the ''Midsummer Night'' for reinforcements. Realizing that the Insurrectionists were the ones that triggered the beacon, Keyes attempted to warn the frigate, believing the freighter was rigged to blow, but communications were jammed. Keyes borrowed the [[ODST armor|armor]] of an ODST, [[Markov]], and ordered the others to pile the deceased and injured ODSTs into cargo containers.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 56''</ref> Using the force of a rigged explosion, the ODSTs, Keyes, and the cargo containers were launched from the freighter towards the frigate, using [[battle rifle]]s to propel themselves into the right direction. The insurgents realized what the ODSTs were doing and desperately blew up the freighter in an attempt to take out some of the nearby ODSTs.<ref name="cp61">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 61''</ref> Over twenty ODSTs were killed and Keyes was wounded with a piece of the freighter's hull plating. However, more ODSTs had survived than expected, earning Keyes the respect of nearly everyone on the ship.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 95''</ref>

===Charybdis IX riots===
{{Main|Scyllion Warehouse District riot}}
After the ''Finnegan's Wake'' incident, Keyes and the rest of the ''Midsummer Night'' bridge crew were debriefed by Watanabe and Zheng. It was revealed that [[Covenant]] weapons, modified for human use, were being distributed to human civilians and insurgents. Deemed a great violation of the Cole Protocol, the ''Midsummer Night'' was to find out where the weapons were coming from. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] had discovered a container of these weapons on the [[Outer Colony]] of [[Charybdis IX]], and the ''Midsummer Night'' was assigned to help the ONI operatives of the planet discover who the weapons were being distributed to.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 100''</ref> Upon arriving in the [[Charybdis system]], the ODSTs "demonstrated" that they were grateful for Keyes' service at ''Finnegan's Wake'' and [[Major]] [[Faison]], the commanding ODST after Canfield's death, had him tattooed with the ODST brand, saying any ODST would help him if he showed it to them.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 104''</ref>

Jeffries transported Keyes and Watanabe to [[Scyllion]], the planetary capital, in a [[D77-TC Pelican]]. Watanabe explained the history of Scyllion to Keyes and that rioting was becoming commonplace in the city. The two were delivered to the ONI mobile command center in the edges of the [[Scyllion Warehouse District]], where they met with [[Corinthia Hansen|Captain Corinthia Hansen]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 107''</ref> Pretending to be a insurgent, Hansen attempted to deliver the cargo container of modified weapons to rebel leader [[Jason Kincaide]], hoping to discover where Kincaide distributes his weapons. However, due to escalating riots nearby, they were forced to capture Kincaide and attempt to flee the city.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 112''</ref> However, fellow Insurrectionists and dissatisfied citizens of Scyllion destroyed the ONI convoy of vehicles, killing most of the ONI operatives and freeing Kincaide. Kincaide began to incite the rioting mob and told them to kill all surviving UNSC personnel. Keyes, Hansen, and Watanabe barely escaped the rioters as they began hunting down survivors.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 122''</ref>

They attempted to escape with Jeffries' Pelican, but it was destroyed by rebel [[RPG]] fire, resulting in the death of Jeffries. The trio fled to the roof of the building, where they called in for ODST reinforcements from the ''Midsummer Night'' and engaged in firefights with the rebels and rioters.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 127''</ref> Soon, Kincaide began arming rioters with the modified Covenant weapons. While attempting to listen to the rioter discussion below, Kincaide and three rioters attacked the trio. Watanabe killed two of the rioters but was killed by Kincaide, along with the third rioter. In retaliation, Keyes shot Kincaide multiple times and the two wrestled for control of Kincaide's modified {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}. Keyes gained the upper-hand, and shot Kincaide with the rifle, decapitating him. At first taken back upon realizing he had killed his first human, Keyes threw Kincaide's corpse into the streets below and warned the rioters to disperse and cease hostilities, or else they would be shot.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 131-133''</ref>

After the death of Jason Kincaide, twenty ODSTs dropped into Scyllion and broke up any remaining resistance. Two snipers eliminated any surviving RPG-wielding rebels, allowing Keyes and Hansen to be picked and taken to the ''Midsummer Night''. Although Keyes considered the engagement to be a loss, Hansen told him otherwise, informing him that they learned of the origin of the modified weapons from Kincaide.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 135''</ref> While in transit to the frigate, Zheng detected a [[Covenant fleet]] arriving near Charybdis IX. While Keyes and Zheng were in favor of making a last stand alongside the three [[UNSC destroyer]]s guarding the planet, Hansen revealed that she had a rank higher than both of them and ordered them to continue their search by following the ''[[Kestrel (freighter)|Kestrel]]'', a freighter that had supplied Kincaide. Hansen was dropped off at an orbiting depot and the ''Midsummer Night'' fled the system before the Covenant could [[Battle of Charybdis IX|attack]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 148''</ref>

===Battle of the Rubble===
{{Main|Battle of the Rubble}}
The ''Midsummer Night'' trailed the ''Kestrel'' for nearly a week, eventually following it to the [[23 Librae]] system. The freighter made its way to the [[asteroid]]s orbiting a gas giant in the system, [[Hesiod]]. Upon further inspection, the crew of the frigate discovered that all the asteroids were connected, forming an Insurrectionist metropolis known as [[the Rubble]]. The crew further learned that the Insurrectionists were working with the [[Kig-Yar]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 167''</ref> While admiring the Rubble, [[Badia Campbell]] revealed herself as a rebel-sympathizer and mortally wounded Zheng and shot [[Dante Kirtley]] and [[Rai Li]]. While Keyes and Campbell wrestled for control of her sidearm, she gained the upper-hand and proceeded to commit suicide.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 177''</ref> Campbell had damaged the ship's fusion core coolant system, leaving the frigate nearly disabled. At Zheng's orders, Keyes attacked the Rubble's fleet of freighters, with the ''Midsummer Night'' being damaged with a [[mass driver]] round. While Zheng left the bridge of the ship to check on engineering, the Rubble hailed the frigate, asking to speak with its commander. Keyes left the bridge to find Zheng dying near engineering, having surrendered to the overwhelming rebel forces. Zheng warned Keyes not to trust anyone and gave him command of the frigate before dying. As the rebels boarded the ship, Keyes ordered the ODSTs to stand down.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 180-184''</ref>

[[File:Keyes Salute Memory.jpg|251px|thumb|A middle-aged Keyes.]]
The ''Midsummer Night'' was forced to dock with the [[Habitat Asuncion]] asteroid and the frigate's crew was given the option to become a resident of the Rubble or be held in prison cells. Keyes gave a speech telling the crew that he would forgive them if they choose to become residents, but he decided that he would not join their citizenry. [[Maria Esquival]] warned him that he was not allowed to make any more speeches and had him arrested.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 204-210''</ref> Meanwhile, the leader of the Kig-Yar working with the Rubble's citizens, [[Reth]], was beginning to pre-emptively invade the Rubble to show that he was still loyal to the [[Covenant]]. [[Jai-006]], from [[Gray Team]], arrived at Keyes' holding cell and rescued him and the rest of the frigate's imprisoned crew. The Rubble's [[AI]], [[Juliana]], offered to help Keyes and his crew escape the system in a Kig-Yar ship, if he helped her discover what the Kig-Yar were attempting to do.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 250''</ref> Keyes met with [[Ignatio Delgado]] aboard the freighter ''[[Mighty Sparrow]]'' and took command of it, with several of its crew. He intended to dock it with Reth's [[flagship]], the ''[[Infinite Spoils]]'', and allow Juliana to infiltrate the vessel's systems.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 255''</ref>

The ''Mighty Sparrow'' rammed the ''Infinite Spoils'', allowing Faison, his ODSTs, and Jai to board the raider. The ODSTs and Jai quickly eliminated the small Kig-Yar contingent aboard the ship and took control of its bridge. However, a [[Kig-Yar troop carrier]], commanded by [[Shipmaster]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee, attacked the two ships.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 262-268''</ref> The troop carrier disabled the ''Mighty Sparrow'' and Keyes ordered everyone to make their way inside the ''Infinite Spoils'', during which Faison was mortally wounded by a Kig-Yar.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 271''</ref> Keyes and the surviving members of the boarding party made their way to the docks and donned vacuum suits. Juliana released the air from the docks, killing most of the Kig-Yar inside. After the ODSTs eliminated any survivors, Keyes came aboard Gray Team's freighter, ''[[Petya]]''.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 280''</ref> 

After discovering the [[Unggoy]] army Reth had created on one of Hesiod's moons, [[Metisette]], Keyes prepared to launch [[Battle of Metisette|a counter-attack]] to destroy the Covenant forces. Keyes retook control of the repaired ''Midsummer Night'' and used the frigate to deploy Gray Team and ODSTs to the moon. To allow Juliana to orbitally bombard Metisette with the Rubble, the Spartans and ODSTs destroyed Kig-Yar AA guns and sensor stations. After they completed their mission, Keyes had Gray Team and the surviving ODSTs returned to the frigate.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 312-317''</ref> Keyes used the ''Midsummer Night'' to protect [[Habitat Exodus]] while the Rubble's citizens were evacuated inside it, during which the frigate was damaged. After the Exodus asteroid detached from the rest of the Rubble, Juliana used the asteroids to destroy the Unggoy army on Metisette and killed Reth.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 328''</ref> However, the Exodus could not make a slipspace jump to safety like it intended to do. Keyes decided to convince the [[Rubble Security Council]] to travel to an [[Inner Colony]], which was still possible at the time. After a short speech to the Council members reminding them of their duty to protect all the Rubble's citizens and the duty to fight back against the Covenant who took their homes, the Council decided to travel to [[Falaknuma]], an Inner Colony in the [[18 Scorpii system]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 343''</ref>

Keyes was brought down and debriefed by ONI [[Commander]] [[Hadley]] and [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] himself. Although Keyes expected he would be court-martialed for violating the Cole Protocol by giving the Insurrectionists navigation data, Cole congratulated Keyes for his commendable bravery and work and promoted him to Commander.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 352''</ref>

===Sigma Octanus===
{{Main|Battle of Sigma Octanus IV}}
[[File:HFoR-Iroquoisbridge.png|250px|thumb|Keyes as an older man commanding the UNSC Iroquois.]]
Keyes eventually assumed command of a [[Halberd-class light destroyer|''Halberd''-class destroyer]], the {{UNSCShip|Iroquois}} in April of 2552.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 138-139''</ref> In 2552, he foresaw a Covenant attack on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] thanks to an [[UNSC Astrophysics|astrophysics]] [[UNSC Astrophysics Journal 034-23-01|journal]] by [[Fhajad-084|SPARTAN-084]]. His actions resulted in the destruction of a [[Covenant destroyer]], two [[Covenant frigate]]s and the retreat of a [[Covenant carrier]] with a daring maneuver dubbed the "[[Keyes Loop]]", all without a ship AI to help him.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''pages 146-154''</ref> The ''Iroquois'', still in orbit and badly damaged by the maneuver pulled off by Keyes, deployed the SPARTAN-IIs to engage the Covenant forces on the surface of Sigma Octanus IV towards [[Côte d'Azur]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 156''</ref>

This unprecedented victory against a Covenant force earned him a promotion to [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] and aided him to become recognized by the entire UNSC.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 187''</ref> Keyes and the ''Iroquois'' remained in the [[Sigma Octanus system]] to fight in the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]]. Keyes' brilliance and hindsight allowed him to find out what the Covenant were up to, and intercepted a transmission beamed for a [[Covenant stealth ship]] to receive, saving Sigma Octanus IV again. During the battle, Keyes used the ''Iroquois'' to ram the stealth ship and destroyed it with [[Archer missile]]s, leaving his destroyer badly damaged.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 226''</ref> Shortly after the battle, the ''Iroquois'' was tagged by a [[Relay mite]], subsequently leading the Covenant to [[Reach]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 247''</ref> At Reach, Keyes was debriefed by an [[ONI]] council at [[Camp Hathcock]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 251''</ref> He was congratulated on his victory and assigned command of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. During his time at Hathcock, Keyes met with [[John-117]].{{Ref/Comic|ForInv|Issue=1}}

===Fall of Reach===
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
[[File:Keyes n' Six.jpg|251px|thumb|left|Noble Six delivers Cortana's fragment to Captain Keyes.]]
At Reach, Keyes was given [[Operation: RED FLAG|an important mission]] by [[Rear Admiral (Lower Half)|Rear Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth|Stanforth]]: to transport the active SPARTAN-II commandos deep into Covenant space in order to capture a [[Hierarchs|High Prophet]], who would then be used as a ransom to end the Human-Covenant War.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 276''</ref> Before the ''Autumn'' could leave Reach for slipspace, the Covenant attacked Reach. His mission scrubbed, Keyes offloaded most of the Spartans to the surface of the planet and sent three to [[Gamma Station]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 308''</ref> He then tried to aid in the defense of Reach and even destroyed a [[Kewu-pattern battleship|powerful Covenant "sniper ship"]], but ultimately, his efforts were in vain.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 346''</ref> He could only pick up John-117 along with [[Linda-058]] and a handful of Marines from the station just in time to flee the pursuing Covenant.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 329''</ref>

At some point after retrieving John-117, Keyes took the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to the [[Asźod|Asźod ship breaking yards]] on the ground to retrieve a fragment of [[Cortana]] from [[SPARTAN-B312]]. This fragment held valuable navigation data that would lead the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to [[Installation 04]]. As he met with Noble Six to receive the Cortana fragment, Keyes noted that Dr. Halsey's judgement in choosing the package's carrier had been correct. Noble Six reminded the Captain that the mission's success was thanks to the efforts of the whole of [[Noble Team]], to which Keyes replied that their sacrifice would be remembered. Noble Six gave covering fire against a Covenant {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} and waves of other Covenant aircraft with a ground-based [[Onager|mass driver]] as the ''Autumn'' took off and withdrew from the system.{{Ref/Level|Id=TPoA|HR|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}
{{Clear}}

===Halo===
[[File:Keyes Needler.jpg|thumb|200px|Captain Keyes arms himself with a [[Type-33 Needler]] and prepares to fight his way out of the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''.]]
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
{{Quote|Whoever controls Halo controls the fate of the universe.|Captain Keyes}}
The ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s [[AI]] [[Cortana]] ended up navigating the vessel to [[Installation 04]]. They were once again assaulted by Covenant forces, and Captain Keyes told Cortana to lock in a selection of landing zones on the ring and to upload them to his neural interface. Keyes then assigned the Master Chief to protect Cortana, who became a valuable asset to him, and gave the Spartan his personal [[M6D|sidearm]], which Chief would bring with him to the ring's surface.{{Ref/Novel|Id=flood2|TF|Chapter=2}} Keyes locked in the codes and the ''Pillar of Autumn'' crashed on the ring.{{Ref/Level|CE|The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn}}

Keyes and the command crew of the ''Autumn'' managed to escape in a [[Bumblebee]] life pod, [[Kilo Tango Victor 17]].{{Ref/Level|CE|Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo}} During the descent, the [[Ossoona]], [[Isna 'Nosolee]] was discovered to be lurking aboard by Keyes, and subsequently killed by the Captain. Unfortunately, they were still spotted in the descent by two [[Sangheili]] on {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}s. Due to the actions of [[Treason|traitor]] [[Ensign]] [[Ellen Dowski]], the Covenant were able to find out where Keyes and the command crew were. When they got there they incapacitated the Captain and killed the rest of the command crew, including Dowski herself. Despite being an inspirational leader to many under his command, the Captain also had a great deal of respect for each and everyone of his crew and he dearly cared for them. The death of his crew shocked him, and he had wished to die as well as he was captured by the Covenant.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 88''</ref>

Keyes was taken aboard the Covenant {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}, the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. There, he was interrogated, tortured, and held prisoner until the Master Chief, the ODSTs, and a group of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] were able to rescue him with the help of Cortana. Combining what Keyes found out from what Cortana was able to hack from the Covenant battlenet, they were able to figure out some of the truth about Halo. They were forced to commandeer a [[Spirit]] dropship, during their escape and Keyes piloted it out himself, even going so far as to ram two [[Mgalekgolo]] on the flight out for "a little payback".{{Ref/Level|Id=tnr|CE|The Truth and Reconciliation}}

Keyes then went to [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]], taking command of the base from [[Major (UNSC)|Major]] [[Antonio Silva]] briefly. He then took [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]], [[Fire Team Charlie]] and [[Second squad (Pillar of Autumn)|second squad]] to a facility they thought held a Covenant weapons cache. It turned out that the structure was one of the Halo's [[Flood containment facility|Flood containment facilities]]. Keyes and his Marines were ambushed by the [[Flood]]. During the ensuing firefight, a [[Pod infector]] latched onto his back and infected him.{{Ref/Level|CE|343 Guilty Spark(level)|343 Guilty Spark}}

===Infection and death===
{{Quote|Chief... Don't be a fool. Leave me...|Captain Jacob Keyes speaks in a twisted voice through a COM channel, struggling as he loses himself to the Flood.}}
[[File:HCEA Terminals FloodKeyes.png|thumb|200px|Keyes as he is slowly absorbed into the Flood [[proto-Gravemind]].]]
Keyes observed helplessly as the Pod infector took over his body and attacked his mind. Originally, Keyes' body was a [[Flood combat form|combat form]], but the Flood, apparently realizing his importance, merged him and several other combat forms into a [[proto-Gravemind]]. One of the tortures Keyes endured was having his memories ripped away one by one as the Flood tried to learn anything that would help attain new sources of food.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 225-227''</ref> The Flood hoped that his intelligence would help them to operate a damaged Covenant cruiser and escape the ring, but Keyes was able to fend it off by constantly accessing data that was permanently stored in his [[command neural interface]], while feeding it those of his memories that were not vital to the survival of humanity, such as his name, age, and service number (though definitely not anything that could lead to the thought of the location of Earth).<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 253-254''</ref>

Just as Keyes acquired the determination to defy his infection, he finally submitted to the Flood.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''', [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#Terminal 9|Terminal 9]]</ref> However, before Keyes succumbed to the overwhelming pressure, the Master Chief boarded the ship once again looking for Keyes and found only the proto-Gravemind form. The Captain was able to contact the Chief three times, warning him to leave him behind, before the proto-Gravemind fully overwhelmed him.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''pages 290, 303 and 305-306''</ref> Keyes' life officially ended when the Chief punched through his skull to retrieve his command neural interface after his mind had been absorbed by the Flood infection, with Cortana stating that she knew that "this was what he wanted."<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 306''</ref> Despite this, Keyes' corpse continued to make faint breathing sounds.{{Ref/Level|CE|Keyes}}

Keyes' command neural interface enabled Master Chief and Cortana to start up the ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s engines so they could destroy the Halo ring by overloading and exploding the engines.{{Ref/Level|CE|The Maw}}{{clear}}

===Legacy===
[[File:H2A-KeyesMedal.jpg|thumb|250px|Keyes' daughter [[Miranda Keyes|Miranda]] accepts her father's [[Colonial Cross]], posthumously awarded to him by [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Hood]] just prior to the [[Battle of Earth]].]]
{{Quote|Your father's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, his bravery in the face of impossible odds, reflecting great credit upon himself and the UNSC. The Navy has lost one of its best.|[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] to [[Miranda Keyes]] after awarding her father with a posthumous Colonial Cross.}}

The Keyes family lived on [[Luna]], including his daughter, [[Miranda Keyes]]. She accepted a posthumous [[Colonial Cross]] awarded to her father for his bravery during the events on Installation 04 by [[Lord Hood]].{{Ref/Level|H2|Cairo Station}} In [[2553]], he was remembered at the [[Voi Memorial]] alongside his daughter, Sergeant Johnson, and many other victims of the Human-Covenant War.{{Ref/Level|H3|Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo}} His courage and skill were never forgotten, making him one of the most important and remembered naval officers in human history.

After Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] learned of his death, she felt a profound shift in her logic. No longer could Halsey bear to sacrifice others for humanity's survival. Instead, she sought to save as many lives as she could.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Fifth Canticle}}

In [[2560#May|May 2560]], the Master Chief and [[the Weapon]] hear one of Cortana's memories of Keyes concerning her safety from just before the Master Chief left the ''Pillar of Autumn's'' bridge during the [[Battle of Installation 04]], prompting the Weapon to ask about him. The Master Chief states that he was a good man who was lost on the first Halo ring that they had found.{{Ref/Quest|HI|Reformation|Nexus}} Later, while teleporting through a data cluster, the Master Chief witnesses Cortana's memory of an argument between Keyes and Halsey over Halsey creating Cortana as an AI version of herself, something that Keyes is greatly displeased by.{{Ref/Quest|HI|Reckoning|Repository (Halo Infinite level)|Repository}}
{{Clear}}

==Personality and traits==
[[File:Keyes Halsey Memory.jpg|thumb|left|250px|One of Keyes' final memories of [[Catherine Halsey]] prior to being assimilated into the Proto-Gravemind.]]
Keyes was often quite officious and put the safety of the UNSC before his own personal safety, even going as far as to almost self destruct the ship he was on so that the Covenant would not find Earth. He was prepared and willing to give anything for his planet. He would often [[Keyes Loop|charge headlong into battle]] keeping a straight and calm face, along with an underlying strategy. Keyes was also known to be fearless in most situations, as he refused to tell [[Zuka 'Zamamee]] about [[John-117]], and even dared the [[Sangheili]] to kill him.

As a captain, Keyes expected the best from his Marines and ensured to maintain their morale when facing a hopeless defeat. He silenced one Marine for panicking when there was no available escape route in the ''Truth and Reconciliation'' and angrily ordered Private [[Manuel Mendoza|Mendoza]] to resume his position when the latter was attempting to flee from their first encounter of the Flood.

Jacob Keyes was very caring to those under his command and attempted to be a strong fatherly figure to his daughter, [[Miranda Keyes|Miranda]], knowing that she had limited time with both of her parents. Although he did not prefer teaching at the [[Luna OCS Academy]], he was glad that he was able to spend time with Miranda. Upon being offered a position aboard the {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}}, he was hard-pressed about leaving his daughter alone on [[Luna]], but believed that he would be protecting her by fighting [[Insurrectionist]]s and the [[Covenant]].{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Page=36}} Although they were not particularly close, Miranda aspired to be like him, even taking his last name, and joined the [[UNSC Navy]] to serve with him.{{Ref/Reuse|name}}

At times he thought of his sister and her fate on [[Dwarka]]. He had banished the guilt of not being able to save her by knowing he had saved the lives of millions from [[the Rubble]]. However, he felt guilty for the deaths of the [[ODST]]s during the raid on ''Finnegan's Wake'', despite not being responsible.{{Ref/Reuse|cp61}} He also was grieved by the death of [[Jeffries]], the pilot Keyes had transferred aboard the ''Midsummer Night'', who was killed by insurgent [[RPG]] fire on [[Charybdis IX]].{{Ref/Novel|TCP|Page=125}} Keyes also had a habit of fiddling with his [[Keyes' pipe|grandfather's pipe]], often chewing on its tip to aid in concentration.{{Ref/Novel|TFOR|Page=17}}
{{Clear}}

==Decorations==
[[File:Keyes Patches.png|thumb|200px|An artist's rendition of Captain Keyes's medal ribbons.]]
Keyes wore nine ribbons on his uniform at the time of his death in 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|tnr}} For the sake of this article, these will be numbered Ribbons 1 through 9, in this order.

These ribbons coincide with the following UNSC and old U.S. Air Force decorations:

*''Ribbon 1:'' [[UNSC Legion of Honor]]
*''Ribbon 2:'' [[wikipedia:Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
*''Ribbon 3:'' [[Purple Heart]]
*''Ribbon 4:'' [[wikipedia:Air Force Commendation Medal|Air Force Commendation Medal]]
*''Ribbon 5:'' [[wikipedia:Combat Readiness Medal|Combat Readiness Medal]]
*''Ribbon 6:'' [[wikipedia:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal|Armed Force Expeditionary Medal]]
*''Ribbon 7:'' [[Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon]]
*''Ribbon 8:'' [[NCO Professional Military Education Graduation Ribbon]]
*''Ribbon 9:'' [[Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon]]
*[[The Colonial Cross]]{{Ref/Level|H2|Cairo Station|Detail=opening cutscene}} (Posthumous)

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Odd One Out===
{{Not canon}}
[[File:Halo Legends - Jacob Keyes.png|thumb|125px|Jacob Keyes in  ''[[Odd One Out]]''.]]
{{Quote|no=three|1=Jacob Keyes|q1=You think he'll be okay?|2=Master Chief|q2=This kind of thing happens to him all the time. Well, 1337 is still a Spartan. He's been trained with the best of 'em. There's no need for concern.|3=Jacob Keyes|q3=If you say so, Master Chief.|4=Jacob Keyes and the Master Chief on SPARTAN-1337.}}
In ''[[Odd One Out]]'', Jacob Keyes was in command of a UNSC starship and served as the superior of the Master Chief, Cortana, and [[SPARTAN-1337]]. When SPARTAN-1337 slipped and fell out of his Pelican, Keyes was reassured by the Master Chief that SPARTAN-1337 was still a Spartan and there's no need for concern over the incident. He later notified the Master Chief that they had reestablished radio contact with 1337, allowing the Chief to speak to 1337.{{Ref/Film|[[Halo Legends]]|Story=Odd One Out}}

===Silver Timeline===
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
{{Main|Jacob Keyes/Silver}}
'''Captain Jacob Keyes''' is a member of the UNSC Navy's [[Asymmetric Warfare Research Group]].{{Ref/Site|Id=halseycomputer|URL=https://halotheseries.tv/|Site=Halo: The Series|Page=Dr. Catherine Halsey's Computer|D=25|M=3|Y=2022|LocalArchive=Dr. Catherine Halsey's Computer}}{{clear}}

==Trivia==
===Miscellaneous===
{{Linkbox|quote=yes|gallery=yes}}
*It is mentioned in ''Halo: The Cole Protocol'' that Keyes received the ODST tattoo on his right arm due to the fact that he saved a group of ODSTs aboard an Insurrectionist cargo ship. The tattoo is of the [[Wikipedia:Kanji|kanji]] (a [[China|Chinese]] character adopted into the [[Japan]]ese writing system) meaning "bastard" or "bad-ass".<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 105''</ref>
*Keyes enjoyed smoking [[Sweet William cigar]]s along with many other people in the UNSC such as [[Franklin Mendez|CPO Mendez]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]], but was only ever seen using his pipe.
*On the ''[[Halo 3]] Legendary Edition'' bonus disc, [[Martin O'Donnell]] jokingly describes Captain Keyes of having at least twelve polygons. He is also jokingly called the "Captain of Exposition".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwfnAM3dBrM#t=72 '''YouTube:''' ''Halo: Combat Evolved Developer Commentary Playthrough (2007)'']</ref>
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Captain Keyes' tunic features the ''[[Marathon]]'' logo, which is also the logo of the ''Pillar of Autumn''. The text on the tunic states "Hello My Name Keyes". The missing "is" probably did not fit onto the texture for his in-game uniform model. The ''Marathon'' logo is replaced with the [[Seventh Column]] symbol in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' due to Bungie-Microsoft copyright issues, and again to a cog in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
*In the original ''Combat Evolved'', Keyes wore Marine fatigues when he arrived with the other troops at the [[Flood containment facility]]. However, in ''Anniversary'' he is still wearing and fights in his uniform.
*In ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', according to one of his memories while being consumed by the Flood, Keyes first killed a human with a pistol. However, this was retconned in ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'', in which Keyes first killed a human with a modified plasma rifle.

===Production notes===
*Captain Keyes was voiced by [[Pete Stacker]] in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo: Reach'', and ''Halo Infinite''. The Captain Keyes model for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' was created by [[Marcus R. Lehto]].

===Mistakes===
*Despite holding the [[Captain (Navy)|Naval rank of captain (O-6)]], Keyes is consistently depicted with the bars of a [[Unified Ground Command|UNICOM]] [[Captain (ground forces)|captain (O-3)]] rather than the proper Captain's Eagle. This mistake was first made in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and remained uncorrected in both ''Halo: Reach'' and ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
*The Captain Keyes model seen in the PC port of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' is from a prerelease version of the Xbox game. The older model uses a much lower resolution texture, and the uniform design is more symmetrical barring the ID and ribbons. This incorrect model appears in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', and the issue was later patched in the ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'' [[Series 7: Elite]] update.
*Ribbon 7 on Keyes' uniform is out of order. In the modern U.S. Military, it would be worn before Ribbon 6 (however, this can be the common occurrence in works of fiction of portraying military personnel as slightly off regulations). Then again, it is also unlikely that Keyes, a naval captain, won an award for being an enlisted member of the Air Force. We can only assume that the meaning of these ribbons has changed.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HaloCE-CaptainJacobKeyes.png|Captain Jacob Keyes wearing Marine fatigues in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Captain Jacob Keyes.png|A close-up of Captain Keyes in [[Halo: Combat Evolved (PC port)|the PC port for ''Halo: Combat Evolved'']].
File:HCE-CaptainJacobKeyes.png|A full body render of Captain Keyes in the PC port for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Data chip.jpg|Keyes hands Cortana's storage chip to John-117.
File:Keyes.jpg|Captain Jacob Keyes in combat on the ''Truth and Reconciliation'', wielding a needler.
File:HCE - John killing Keyes.png|John-117 punches Keyes who was assimilated into a Proto-Gravemind.
File:HCE_ProtoKeyes.jpg|Jacob Keyes' remains before and after John-117 punched a hole through his face to retrieve his neural implants.
File:HM-JacobKeyes.png|Concept art of Keyes for ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR-HCEA-Concept-CaptJacobKeyes.jpg|''Halo: Reach'' concept art of Keyes.
File:HR Screenshot Keyes1.png|Keyes preparing to take possession of the Package in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Keyes.png|Captain Keyes holding the Package in ''Halo: Reach'', showing uniform detail.
File:HR Screenshot Keyes2.png|Keyes and a squad of Marines depart from the landing pad in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HJ Jacob Keyes.png|Keyes, age 22, as drawn by Dr. Catherine Halsey in [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|her journal]] in 2517.
File:HJ Keyes Resting.png|A drawing by Dr. Halsey of Lieutenant Keyes napping.
File:HJ Keyes smoking.png|Halsey's drawing of Keyes lighting [[Keyes' pipe|his smoking pipe]].
File:YoungKeyes.png|A young Jacob Keyes with Dr. Halsey.
File:FoR - HathcockBoardroom.png|Captain Keyes debriefed at Camp Hathcock.
File:JohnKeyes.png|Captain Keyes and the Master Chief during the Fall of Reach.
File:CEA_Keyes1.png|Keyes in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:2817468-gallery.jpg|Keyes and the Master Chief on the bridge of the ''Pillar of Autumn'' in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:Keyes With Pipe.png|Keyes smoking his pipe.
File:KeyesJohnsonCEA.png|Keyes and Sergeant Johnson engaging [[Pod infector]]s as their squad is overwhelmed.
File:CEA Keyes Death.jpg|Jacob Keyes' remains before and after John-117 punched a hole through his face to retrieve his neural implants.
File:Keyes Memory.jpg|Keyes in [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#Terminal 9|Terminal 9]] of ''Anniversary''. 
File:Anniversary, flood outbreak.jpg|Keyes remembering his Marine squad being ambushed by the Flood in the [[Flood containment facility]].
File:Keyes Paper Memory.jpg|Keyes remembering holding tickets to a show he couldn't remember.
File:Keyes Date Memory.jpg|A memory of a date Keyes had within his youth.
File:Keyes Protogravemind.jpg|Keyes being assimilated by the [[proto-Gravemind]].
File:Keyes Transition Flood.jpg|Keyes recollecting his transformation into a [[Flood combat form]].
File:KeyesFamily.png|Art of Keyes in ''Halo Mythos'', and art of [[Miranda Keyes|his daughter]] from ''The Art of Halo 3''.
File:HaloMythosFullTransparentKeyes.png|Close-up of Keyes in ''Halo Mythos''.
File:Mega-Render-Keyes.jpg|A MegaConstrux render of Keyes holding an [[M6H2 magnum]].
File:HINF-ShadowKeyes.jpg|A hologram of Jacob Keyes on [[Installation 07]] in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:Enc22-JacobKeyes.png|Jacob Keyes in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' 
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{C|Picture only}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon appearance}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{C|Hologram only}}
*''[[Halo: Fifth Canticle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Campaign Evolved]]
{{Col-end}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|3}}

[[Category:Human characters|Keyes, Jacob]]
[[Category:Educators|Keyes, Jacob]]
[[Category:UNSC Navy officers|Keyes, Jacob]]