Terrence Hood

"We will take our city back. And drive our enemy into the grave they've been so happily digging."

- Lord Terrence Hood, to UNSC Marines just before the Battle of Voi.

Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood is the de facto leader of the UNSC, flag officer of the UNSC Navy and the Commanding Officer of the UNSC Home Fleet.

Before the Battle of Earth
Much of Hood's early life is unknown, but it is known that he was a member of the British nobility, which gave him the right to use the title of Lord in addition to his military rank. It is unknown whether Hood gained his title through inheritance from a family member or as recognition for his actions.

Hood joined the UNSCDF at an unknown age, and through his career, he earned several decorations, including the UNSC Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Navy "E" Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, along with a number of other service ribbons and citations. During his service, his life was saved twice by SPARTAN-II supersoldiers. His service and life before that is currently unknown, but it is probable that he engaged in dozens of actions against the Covenant before-hand to earn his position as Commander-in-Chief of UNSC forces by 2552. He rose to the rank of Fleet Admiral, and served on the UNSC Security Committee. He was present when Lieutenant Wagner presented his report on the destruction and fall of Reach. During this briefing, he also publicly and forcefully rebuked Colonel James Ackerson when he dismissed the SPARTAN-II program as 'Halsey's Freaks'.

Battle of Earth
In October 2552, Hood presented MCPON John-117, Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, and Commander Miranda Keyes (for her father Captain Jacob Keyes) with medals aboard Cairo Station for their actions on Installation 04. Lord Hood was in overall command during the Battle of Earth, when Prophet of Regret's fleet attacked Earth.

During November 2, 2552, Hood received a transmission from Catherine Halsey, piggy-backed by Cortana's update to command and was requested to send Spartans to Onyx. Hood obliged by ordering Spartans -104, -058, and -043 to the planet.

Late Battle of Earth
"Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing on that ship?"

- Lord Hood discovers the Chief's return to Earth

"Sir...finishing this fight."

- John-117

During the later stages of the Battle of Earth he is seen commanding the defense of Earth aboard a damaged Cairo Station as he finds out that Master Chief is aboard the High Prophet of Truth's Forerunner flagship. He asks the Chief what he was doing aboard the (Forerunner) ship. The Chief replies, "Sir, finishing this fight."

After Captain Dare's Helljumper squad secured the safety of a rebel Engineer from New Mombasa, Hood gave Sergeant Johnson permission to interrogate their ally as to why the Covenant is scouring the city.

During the Battle of Voi, the UNSC forces on Earth have been stretched to their limits during John-117's absence. Hood only has a few units fighting the Covenant. In addition, Hood kept several units in reserve including UNSC Frigates, single-ship fighters and several elements of ground forces. After John-117 and a selection of Marines are able to shut down Covenant AA defenses, Hood launched an attack on the Ark Portal with all his available assets. He fails, however, and the Prophet of Truth is able to activate the spatial rift to Installation 00, far outside the Milky Way galaxy. It is important to note that if the Human ships had succeeded in destroying the Forerunner ship it is likely that the Flood would never have made it to the Ark, infecting Earth.

Battle of the Ark
At the end of the Battle of Voi, Hood appears to have little faith in Cortana's "solution", and believes that following Truth through the portal could possibly turn out to be a Flood or one of the Gravemind's traps. However, this could be due to the fact that he has never fought the Flood before, and reluctantly authorizes Miranda Keyes to enter the Portal once Thel 'Vadam comments that if Cortana is wrong, then the battle would already be lost. Hood then departs the Sangheili carrier, Shadow of Intent in a Pelican before it, along with all other Covenant Separatists ships, make for the portal. His decision to remain at Earth was a sign that he would fight for it until the end, and he was just as sure that he would die protecting it.

At the end of the war, he conducted the memorial service near the city of Voi, Kenya and the Portal. He told Thel 'Vadam that he could not forgive the Sangheili for what he and the rest of the Covenant had done at the beginning of the war, but thanked him for standing by the Master Chief and the UNSC until the end. The allies then departed, ready to rebuild their home planets. Unknown to both of them, the Master Chief and Cortana had survived.

Trivia

 * His Command Neural Interface port is clearly visible at the back of his head.
 * Hood was voiced by Hollywood actor Ron Perlman in Halo 2 and in Halo 3. His appearance is closely based on Perlman's.
 * Hood is said to be both a Lord and a Knight. This is unusual as under the British system of peerages, when one is made a peer, the title of Lord supersedes that of Knight in a formal address.
 * Lord Hood's flagship is said to be the Forward Unto Dawn, which he bestowed to Commander Miranda Keyes prior to the Covenant Separatists and UNSC forces going through the Ark's portal.
 * Lord Hood's name is most likely based upon Admiral Hood who fought Napoleon at the Battle of Toulouse.
 * Lord Hood is the highest ranking UNSC officer shown in the entire Halo Trilogy.
 * Lord Hood's military decorations are (from top left) the Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy "E" Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy Rifle Marksman Ribbon, the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. It is odd that he wears his high-ranking medals below the lesser non-medal ribbons, although UNSC uniform regulations in 2552 are probably different from those in the present-day military. However, in present-day military regulations, ribbons are always worn above medals, regardless of how highly bestowed and honored these medals are.