Jameson Locke

This article is about the ONI agent. For the Marine, see Locke (Mombasa).

"Thel 'Vadam"

Lieutenant Commander Jameson Locke is a SPARTAN-IV supersoldier and an Office of Naval Intelligence agent. He serves under ONI's Section III as an Acquisitions Specialist, his duties including the retrieval of important objects from the enemy as well as the assassination and tracking of high-profile individuals.

Childhood and early career
Born on the colony of Jericho VII, Locke was orphaned when the Covenant invaded his homeworld in 2535, being evacuated from the planet only minutes before its glassing by the Covenant. Losing everyone he had known, Locke was placed in a state orphanage with other children who had suffered a similar fate. Upon growing older many of his compatriots enlisted in the UNSC, eager for revenge against the Covenant. However, Locke continued to blame the government for their failure to defend his homeworld and came to the conclusion that the UNSC was incapable of protecting its citizens. As a result, he became a freelancer tracker and assassin. Locke's atypical behavior and questionable allegiances eventually caught the eye of the Office of Naval Intelligence, who planned to train Locke into a specific role within their organization. Seeking a greater purpose in life, Locke accepted ONI's offer to join and entered their extensive training program where he honed his skills to perfection and became one of ONI's top field operatives.

On September 26th, 2552, Locke compiled a target profile report concerning Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee, detailing 'Vadamee's personal history from the first encounter between the UNSC and Thel on the Rubble to the glassing of Reach. Locke concluded the report by recommending the immediate termination of 'Vadamee if the Covenant advance was to be slowed in any significant manner. This report was later accessed by John-117.

Sedra and Alpha Shard
On February 7th, 2556, Locke led an ONI team dispatched to the distant human colony Sedra to investigate terrorist activity. During the investigation Locke's unit and the Sedran Colonial Guard were forced to cooperate after Sedra City was targeted by a Sangheili terrorist wielding a powerful new bioweapon. Further investigation revealed that the element used to create the weapon originated from a partly functioning segment of Installation 04 orbiting perilously close to a red giant star. Locke decided to lead a joint Sedran Colonial Guard-ONI mission on the ring fragment to capture the smugglers who mined the element for interrogation and destroy the deposits of the element with a HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon. However, they would be forced to complete their expedition within the sixteen hours the ring's landscape side faced away from the star as during the "day" the temperature and radiation would become unbearable. The group traveled to the Halo fragment aboard a D81-LRT Condor and successfully caught two smugglers. However, as they were returning to the Condor, a large swarm of Lekgolo appeared and commandeered the dropship, leaving Locke and the rest of the group stranded.

Hunting 117
Following the Didact's attack on Earth, Locke was tasked with tracking down MCPO John-117. To this end, Locke met with Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and studied video recordings of the Master Chief's exploits to better learn about the legendary Spartan's history. During his meeting with the Arbiter, Locke led a fireteam of SPARTAN-IVs in a joint-mission with the Swords of Sanghelios against Covenant remnant forces.

Personality and traits
A collected and forward-thinking individual, Locke is a competent soldier who takes a professional approach to combat situations and inspires loyalty in those under his command. However, he is troubled by some aspects of the organization he serves under.

Locke was able to converse with the Yonhet Axl with the alien's own language, likely the Covenant trade pidgin.

Equipment
Locke wears what appears to be an unidentified MJOLNIR (GEN2) armor. It is painted dark gray with yellow-orange highlights much like the Recruit-class armor worn by many Spartans on. On the back, the bodysuit bears a pattern of two light blue glowing lines which begin at the upper thighs and connect at the nape, a feature not observed in other GEN2 variants. Similar lines are also featured on the front side, specifically the upper arms and chest. An ONI emblem is painted on the chest piece's left breast, with the code number 00-8221-3 painted on both sides.

During the mission to Alpha Shard, Locke wore a set of Nightfall armor.

Production notes

 * Agent Locke will be a playable character in the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians. He debuted in promotional art for Guardians and later identified in the announcement trailer for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. He is properly introduced in the digital series Halo: Nightfall, in which he is played by actor Mike Colter. Mike Colter will also serve as Locke's voice and motion capture actor in Halo 5: Guardians. He is also featured in the terminals and prologue and epilogue cinematics of Halo 2 Anniversary, setting up his story arc in Halo 5.
 * Locke was tentatively named "Marlowe" during the casting process of Halo: Nightfall.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Nightfall
 * Halo 2 Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo 5: Guardians