Miranda Keyes

You may also be looking for Jacob Keyes or the level Keyes. "Ma'am, squad leaders are requesting a rally point. Where should they go?"

- Communications Technician

"To war."

- Miranda Keyes, Halo 3, "Crow's Nest"

Commander Miranda Keyes was an United Nations Space Command officer, and former commanding officer of the. She was the daughter of the late Captain Jacob Keyes.

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

During the battle, the 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
The In Amber Clad followed Regret's Carrier through Slipspace and ended up at Installation 05. There, she dispatched a platoon 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 as a Reclaimer by 343 Guilty Spark. Tartarus used her to activate the Installation, when The Arbiter and Johnson arrived and killed Tartarus. At that moment she retrieved the Index and stopped the Halo from firing. When she questioned 343 Guilty Spark about the Halos, 343 Guilty Spark told her about The Ark.

Defending Earth
In Halo 3, Commander Keyes returned to Earth and is first seen in command of the UNSC base Crow's Nest. She, along with most other base personnel, are able to escape before it is overrun by Covenant. She then takes an active role as the commander of the Forward Unto Dawn. Once the Prophet of Truth succeeded in opening the Ark, Miranda was permitted by Fleet Admiral Hood to follow the Covenant Loyalist Forces through the slipspace portal.

The Ark
"Johnson! Sound off!"

- Miranda Keyes, after she boldly crashes her Pelican into the citadel to rescue him from Truth

"Get... get out of here!"

- Sergeant Johnson

"Not without you."

- Miranda Keyes

She then travels with Rtas 'Vadum and the Separatist fleet to Installation 00. Eventually, attempting to free Johnson from his capture by Truth in a Citadel, she crashed her Pelican into Truth's position. After attacking Truth and his Brutes with an M90 Shotgun, she ultimately finds herself outnumbered. Johnson asks her to kill him then commit suicide so that Truth could not use them 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. Johnson felt a great sadness for her death, possibly meaning that the two had developed a father-daughter relationship after Jacob Keyes' death.

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 is portrayed by a different voice actress, because Bungie wanted someone with an accent.
 * In the Halo 2 level Great Journey you can make Miranda Keyes jump to Tartarus' platform. To do this you must have at least two plasma grenades. Stick them on Miranda, one at a time. If you're lucky, the concussion from the detonations will jetison her onto to the platform. Tartarus may find her and become preoccupied with attempting to kill her with his Gravity Hammer. This may give you a chance to kill him.

Quotes

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


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


 * "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 referring 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 excavated 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.