Miranda Keyes

Looking for Jacob Keyes or the level Keyes?''

"...one of the ballsiest officers in the fleet"

- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 185.

Commander Miranda Keyes is a female United Nations Space Command officer, and former commanding officer of the. She is the daughter of Captain Jacob Keyes.

Introduction
As of 2552, she held the rank of Commander in the UNSC Navy, and commanded the frigate UNSC In Amber Clad. In 2552 she accepted her father's posthumously awarded Colonial Cross, which was awarded for his actions during the events of Installation 04.

The First Battle of Earth
At the start of the First Battle for Earth, her vessel was docked with Cairo Station. After the station was boarded she fought her way to her ship with the help of Sergeant Major Johnson and SPARTAN-117. As the Covenant had invaded Earth, she took In Amber Clad down to New Mombasa, where she dispatched Pelican dropships full of forces to join the massive battle with the Covenant in progress there.

During the battle, In Amber Clad was the only vessel close enough to follow the High Prophet of Regret when his Assault Carrier entered Slipspace inside the city. Everything in the city was destroyed following the Carrier's jump to Slipspace.

Discovering Halo
In Amber Clad followed Regret's Carrier through Slipspace and ended up at Installation 05. There, she dispatched her full compliment of ODSTs to assist the Master Chief in his pursuit of the Prophet of Regret. Once she learned of Regret's plan to activate Halo, she ordered the Master Chief to eliminate him.

Meanwhile, Commander Keyes and Sergeant Major Johnson went to the Library of Halo, accompanied by most of the standard Marines of the ship. They attempted to retrieve the Index and although Keyes was successful, most of the Marines were killed or infected by the Flood. After a brief fight with the Arbiter, Keyes and Johnson were captured by Tartarus and his band of Brutes. The Brutes then took Keyes and Johnson to High Charity, where they met the High Prophets of Truth and Mercy. They were then taken aboard separate Phantom dropships before the Master Chief could rescue them.

Keyes was taken to the Control Room of Installation 05 because she had been designated a Reclaimer by 343 Guilty Spark. Tartarus used her to activate the Installation, then The Arbiter and Johnson arrived and killed Tartarus. At that moment she retrieved the Index and stopped the Halo from firing. Then she questioned 343 Guilty Spark about the Halos and was told that due to the halting of Installation 05's activation, all of the other installations were now on standby and could be remotely activated at The Ark.

Halo 3


Miranda reappears on Earth in Halo 3. In the chaos on Earth, she takes an active leadership role, often piloting a Pelican into combat to defend or extract the Master Chief. Eventually, attempting to free Johnson from his capture by Truth in the Ark, she crashes her Pelican into Truth's position. Attacking Truth and his Brutes with an M90 Shotgun, she kills one, but ultimately finds herself outnumbered. Johnson asks her to kill him so that Truth can not use him to activate the Ark. She hesitates however, giving Truth the opportunity to shoot her in the back with a Spiker. After the Master Chief and the Arbiter kill Truth, Johnson is seen carrying Miranda's body into a Pelican.

Gameplay
In-game, Keyes appears as a non-playable character and is invulnerable to damage. An interesting fact is when you melee her, she won't bleed. She'll only bleed when shot at or when an explosive device is activated or fired.

Trivia

 * On her left cheek is a scar in the shape of a 7.
 * In Halo 3 she will be portrayed by a different voice actress, because Bungie wanted someone with an accent.
 * In the level you can make Miranda Keyes jump to Tartarus' platform. To this you must have at least two plasma grenades. Stick them on Miranda one at a time. If you're lucky she will jump to the platform. Tartarus may find and he will keep trying to smash her with his hammer. He will be distracted with her for a very long time. This may give you a chance to kill him with a energy sword.

Quotes

 * "Catchy. Any idea what it means?" - To Cortana on the level Outskirts.


 * "I'll secure the Index, Chief, you take out the Prophet of Regret. He's given us all the intel we need" - To the Master Chief on the level Regret (level)


 * "The Index is secure." - To Johnson on the level Quarantine Zone.


 * "We need to find out why he came to Earth, why he came here. Chief, take first platoon, hardrop secure a landing zone, Johnson, load up two flights of Pelicans and follow them in. Until I can move and fight I'm going to keep a low profile. Once you leave the ship your on your own." - To crew on the In Amber Clad reffering to the Prophet of Regret.


 * "Cortana, what exactly am I looking at?"


 * "That, is another Halo."


 * "So this is what my Father found. I thought Halo was some kind of super weapon?" - To Cortana on the level Delta Halo.


 * "Johnson? You all right? Johnson!" - To Johnson on the level Quarantine Zone.


 * "Where would someone go to activate the other rings?" - On the level The Great Journey.


 * "I was almost on board when they showed up." - To Johnson and Master Chief on the level Cairo Station.


 * "Thanks, Chief, I owe you one." - To the Master Chief on the level Cairo Station.


 * "Lord Hood, we made it."


 * "Music to my ears commander, what about the Ark?"


 * "Fully uncovered, Sir." - Tsavo Highway cutscene


 * "Master Chief! Finally a good connection, Truth has escavated a Forerunner artifact we have to assume it's the Ark."


 * "Chief, please respond. What is your status? Over. If you can hear me find transport; head to the town of Voi." At the beginning of Tsavo highway.
 * "Ma'am. Squad leaders are asking for a rally point. Where should they go?"


 * "To war." - In the UNSC base right after intercepting Truth's transmission.