Edward Buck: Difference between revisions

|birth=[[2510|August 22, 2510]]<ref name="ENC"/><ref name="waypoint"/>

{{Convert|188.1|cm|ftin}} {{C|pre-Spartan}}<ref name="waypoint"/>

|mass={{Convert|113|kg|lb}}<ref name="H5GLtd"/> <br>

{{Convert|89.3|kg|lb}} {{C|pre-Spartan}}<ref name="waypoint"/>

|hair=Brown<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

|eyes=Blue<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

|sn=92458-37017-EB<ref name="waypoint"/>

Counting time spent in [[Cryo chamber|cryo-sleep]], Buck was a 25-year veteran of the Covenant War and served in numerous battles. Regarded as an extremely skilled Marine, by the [[Battle for Earth]], he was the leader of a small specialized fireteam, [[Alpha-Nine]], which was appropriated by Captain [[Veronica Dare]] for a classified [[ONI]] mission before the [[Operation: BUMRUSH|drop]] on [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] in [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]]. Following the war, Buck was promoted to SPARTAN-IV and eventually joined [[Fireteam Osiris]], led by [[Jameson Locke]].<ref name="GI">'''Game Informer''', ''July 2015 issue''</ref> By August of [[2558]], he had completed 188 military operations, including 49 full campaigns. With the onset of the [[Created conflict]], Buck left Osiris, reformed Alpha-Nine and married Dare, his long-term girlfriend.<ref name="Bad Blood" />

Edward Malcolm Buck was born on [[2510|August 22, 2510]]<ref name="ENC"/> to working-class parents<ref name="waypoint"/> in [[Draco Mercy]] in [[New Albany]], [[Lombard]] on [[Draco III]].<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 91'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Buck's father was a dockworker and his mother formerly served in the [[UNSC Marine Corps]], until she retired to raise Buck and his younger sister, [[Buck family|Lucy]]. During his summers, Buck apprenticed with his uncle [[Buck family|Lou]] as a fisherman on Draco's [[Gold Sea]]. Serving aboard an industrial fishing ship, Buck and his uncle worked to catch the massive [[naeori]] that dwelled in the sea.<ref name="nb15">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 15-18'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During one of the fishing runs, a crew member of the ship fell into the sea. To prevent her attached safety line from snapping, Buck grabbed it while Lou hauled her back into the ship. Afterwards, Buck performed [[Wikipedia:Cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]] on her until she coughed up the water in her lungs.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 87'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Buck's last known place of residence is [[Karnak]] on Draco III, where he is also a citizen. His civilian occupation is listed as student.<ref name="squad">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODSTsquad '''Bungie.net''': ''Meet the Squad'']</ref> When he was young, he used to play a fair bit of [[Wikipedia:Football|football]] on Draco III.<ref name="meridian station">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Meridian Station]]''</ref>

On [[2528|December 5, 2528]], at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the UNSC Marine Corps.<ref>[https://twitter.com/HaloWaypoint/status/408611799164940288 '''Twitter''': ''Halo Waypoint - Today In Halo'']</ref> The night before he had to report to the UNSC for the first time, his father and uncle Lou threw him a going away party at the [[Leeward's]] dive bar. It resulted in him still being intoxicated when he reported to the recruiter's office the next day.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 103'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Upon enlisting, he trained at several training facilities at [[Earth]] and [[Reach]].<ref name="waypoint"/> In sniper school, Buck earned the top marks of his class.<ref name="nb26">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 26-29'' (Google Play edition)</ref> After the [[Covenant]] [[Fall of Madrigal|invaded]] [[Madrigal]] in [[2528]], Buck was deployed to assist in its defense.<ref name="lootcrate2"/> At an unspecified date following his enlistment, Buck participated in [[Operation: ABLE SENTRY]], a force reconnaissance mission to prepare the way for [[Operation: PHALANX]], which involved the evacuation of civilians and observation of enemy invasion patterns on [[Circinius IV]].<ref name="H5GLtd"/>{{Ref/Note|A precise date is never given for Operation: ABLE SENTRY. It may have occurred at any point during the war following the planet's initial [[Battle of Circinius IV|invasion]] in [[2526]], and might have even begun before Buck enlisted in the UNSC.}}

Buck would serve in many more battles throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]], including the [[Harvest campaign]].<ref name="squad"/> During this campaign, Buck and his unit were posted at the ruins of the capital city of [[Utgard]] and he was later commended for his actions during the Liberation of [[Harvest]]. While at Utgard he was part of [[Operation: ASTUTE TIGER]], which revolved around the placement of ADMs at predicted Covenant landing zones during a UNSC evacuation.<ref name="H5GLtd"/>{{Ref/Note|"ADMs" could refer to either atomic demolition munitions or area denial munitions.}}

Though the efforts to retake Harvest would not end until [[2531]], Buck would be called elsewhere in the midst of it. On December 24, [[2530]], he was attached to [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]]'s fleet during the [[Battle of the Great Bear]] over [[Groombridge-1830]].<ref name="lootcrate2"/> He was part of one of two tactical strike teams which recovered a [[Sangheili]] [[Subject 386|survivor]] within an enclosed compartment which had survived landfall at [[Waterford]], [[Lemuria (province)|Lemuria]] on the planet that day at approximately 1805 hours [[Military Standard Time|MST]]. It was from this Sangheili, dubbed Subject 386, that the UNSC first truly learned why the Covenant was waging a war of extermination against humanity. In [[2532]], Buck fought in the [[Battle of Vodin]]. During that same year, he enrolled in an enlistment survey program for the [[ODST]] program. Three years later, he participated in the [[Battle of Charybdis IX]].<ref name="lootcrate2"/> Come [[2542]], he found himself fighting in the [[Battle for Alluvion]].

At some point prior to [[2545]], Buck's father was killed in a traffic accident.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 17'' (Google Play edition)</ref>{{Ref/Note|When entering a vehicle in ''Halo: Reach''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Firefight mode, Buck may sometimes say, ''"Hey hey! My father had one of these! It's how he died."'' While it is obvious that his father's vehicle was not of Covenant origin, this quote may be said when Buck enters any vehicle.}} In 2545, after an extended period of [[Cryo chamber|cryosleep]] during a [[slipstream space]] jump between [[Mars]] and [[Hardscrabble]], Buck learned of the Covenant attack on his homeworld and the slaughter of all its citizens, including his family and relatives. He obsessively watched video footage of the [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] hunting down and devouring the human survivors, which fueled his hatred of the Covenant and further steeled his fighting resolve. He requested an offical transfer to the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] immediately afterwards; his request was granted three weeks later, on February 27.<ref name="nb15"/><ref>[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/703617603453870081 '''Jessica Shea Twitter''' ''Today in Halo 2/27/2545'']</ref> He was placed in the [[103rd Shock Troops Battalion|103rd Battalion]] of the [[65th Shock Troops Division]].<ref name="lootcrate2"/> His [[commanding officer]] ordered Buck to take some shore leave, claiming that his presence was "jeopardizing others". Only when she threatened to send him in for a psychiatric evaluation, did he relent. He took his shore leave at [[Castellaneta]], over [[Saturn]], where he first met Captain [[Veronica Dare]]. The two spent their week together, until Buck eventually realized that she worked for the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].<ref name="nb26"/> Although the two parted on rough terms, at some point they reconciled and Buck even asked her to marry him, though Dare unfortunately remained silent, a decision that continued to haunt Buck throughout all of his career.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''' ('''Buck''': ''"The last person who looked at me like that was the Captain and I asked her to marry me, so... you know."'')</ref><ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Tayari Plaza]]'' ('''Dare''': ''"You don't really remember, that night? What you asked me in the morning?"'' '''Buck''': ''"I remember not getting an answer."'')</ref> The two were eventually forced to split up due to Dare's job with Section One of ONI.<ref name="plaza">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''Tayari Plaza''</ref> Buck soon gained command of the ODST [[squad]] [[Alpha-Nine]]. Throughout the remainder of the war, Buck intentionally sabotaged and turned down numerous promotions in order to remain a squad leader.<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

At some point between the Battle of Sargasso and the Fall of Reach, Buck fought during the Covenant's attack on [[Bounty]].<ref name="lootcrate2"/> He was then present along with the rest of Alpha-Nine during the [[Fall of Reach|Fall]] of [[Reach]] in [[2552#August|August 2552]], where he served with the [[11th Shock Troops Battalion]]. During the battle, squadmate [[Baruti Komen|Baruti "Gramps" Komen]] was killed. At the time of his death, the squad was merely holding a piece of ground for reasons undisclosed to them, leaving Buck to later wonder if Baruti had died for a noble cause.<ref name="nb56">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 56-57'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

He participated in the failed defense of [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] as part of [[Operation: SWORD 52]],<ref name="H5GLtd"/> during the Covenant's [[Siege of New Alexandria|assault]] on the city.<ref name="waypoint"/> On August 23, he requested assistance from [[SPARTAN-B312]] of [[NOBLE Team]]. After receiving assistance from the [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan]], Buck left the center of the city.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria]]''</ref>{{Ref/Note|In the level ''New Alexandria'', Buck can request the player's help in one of three objectives: He may ask for assistance in rescuing some of his squad members either from a collapsed building or from a nearby [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantom]]. Alternatively, he may require escort on a classified operation. In some playthroughs, Buck might not appear at all. However, both ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' and ''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' confirms that Buck received some form of assistance from the Spartan.}} Buck and the surviving members of Alpha-Nine were later evacuated as Reach fell to the Covenant, escaping to Earth.<ref name="nb56"/> At some point just before the fall of the planet, Buck met [[Jun-A266]].<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 49'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

During the early stages of the Battle of Earth on [[2552#October|October 2552]], [[Alpha-Nine|Buck's squad]] was attached to the [[65th Shock Troops Division]]<ref name="lootcrate2"/> that was to be inserted from the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} onto the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[flagship]], ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', which was stationed over the city of [[New Mombasa]], as part of [[Operation: BUMRUSH]]. His mission changed when Veronica Dare, now a [[Captain (Navy)|captain]] in the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], took control of the squad immediately before the orbital drop, in order to use them for her own classified mission. At 1602 hours,<ref name="lootcrate2"/> BUMRUSH was greenlit, but during the drop, Dare ordered the squad to adjust their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIVs]] trajectory away from the [[Covenant assault carrier|assault carrier]]. Immediately after this, at 1603 hours,<ref name="lootcrate2"/> the carrier jumped into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] while above the city, generating a massive [[electromagnetic pulse]] that disabled the pods' electronic systems. As a result, the pods were scattered throughout the city.

After the EMP, Buck's pod ricocheted off the side of a building and landed upside down into [[New Mombasa Sector 6|Sector 6]]. He immediately made radio contact with Dare, whose hatch malfunctioned and would not open. After a brief discussion, he realized that Covenant forces were heading for Dare's crash site. On his way to the crash site, he found the corpses of several [[Sangheili]]; upon asking Dare about the matter, and noting that the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Great Schism|appeared to be responsible]], Dare told him that the information was classified. Later, Veronica contacted him, telling him the Covenant had found her and were moving in on her location. After fighting his way through a large unit of Covenant, including a Hunter pair, he made it to [[Tayari Plaza (location)|Tayari Plaza]], Dare's crash site, where her pod was under fire by a trio of [[Unggoy]]. After dispatching the Unggoy he opened up her pod to find it empty. A [[Huragok]] approached him holding Dare's damaged helmet, and Buck backed away from the Engineer before [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]], on a balcony overlooking the crash site and believing the Huragok to be hostile, shot it through the head.<ref name="plaza"/>

Buck and his squad guarded Vergil in the [[ONI]]-appropriated Crimson Wing of the [[Quito Space Tether]]'s terminus for the following weeks, giving him time to catch up with Dare after spending six years apart.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 72''</ref> Approximately one month after the battle, they watched as [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] interrogated the Engineer. Shortly after this, Alpha-Nine was redeployed in the field and fought in the concluding battles of the war.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 81'' (Google Play edition)</ref> One of these operations, known as [[Operation: JOINT MONITOR]], consisted of biohazard containment in the [[Voi]] Exclusion Zone, at some point following the [[Battle of Voi]].<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

At some point between the end of the war and [[2555]], he participated in reconnaissance and strike operations in an unknown [[Joint Occupation Zone]] as part of [[Operation: KINETIC STORM]].<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

In [[2555|August of 2555]], Buck participated in [[Operation: COALPEPPER|a mission]] alongside Mickey and Romeo at a [[United Rebel Front]] facility on [[Talitsa]] to recover the captured Huragok [[Quick to Adjust]], and his human handler, [[Sadie Endesha]]. The three were sent on the mission by Dare due to their past experiences with the Huragok.<ref name="nb148"/> On the way to the base, however, they were surrounded and forced to surrender by a large number of insurgents; it was revealed that Crespo had betrayed the team and revealed their mission to the URF.<ref name="nb155">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 155-157'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the rebels, led by Doctor [[Schein]], led Buck and Romeo back to their base, the latter began to insult Mickey and Schein. In response, Mickey attacked and inadvertently pushed Romeo down a hill. While the URF soldiers chased after him, Buck used the opportunity to attack Mickey and succeeded in moving the fight just out of sight of Schein, and Romeo and his pursuers. Romeo learned of Buck's situation and began to massacre the rebels. As their brawl continued, Buck eventually managed to knock Mickey unconscious with a headbutt. However, Buck was shot in the back by Schein. The doctor held him at gunpoint and attempted to use him to force Romeo to surrender, but while Schein was distracted, Buck threw his helmet at Schein's chest and knocked him to the ground. Buck grabbed Schein's rifle and smashed the shoulder stock against his face, killing him.<ref name="nb169">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 161-169'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

At some point after the events on Talitsa, Buck wrote the [[New Blood]] report,{{Ref/Novel|Id=NBC1|NB|Chapter=1}} and was reassigned to {{UNSCShip|Meriwether Lewis}} and acted as Spartan Commander for the Spartan contingent on the ship.<ref name="H5GLtd"/> In [[2558]], Buck had become a member of [[Fireteam Osiris]], led by [[Jameson Locke]] and also consisting of Spartans [[Olympia Vale]] and [[Holly Tanaka]]. Serving as a joint-forces liaison and advisor, Buck's current position on the fireteam is engineered by his superiors to groom him for a greater role within the Spartan branch.<ref name="H5GLtd"/> Fireteam Osiris was charged with carrying out a variety of complex missions for the [[UNSC Security Council]] and [[UNSC High Command|High Command]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/fireteam-osiris '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Fireteam Osiris'']</ref> At some point, Buck began to assist with providing commentary to [[Spartans]] in [[War Games]] simulations aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref name="CF">https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/brute-force</ref>

After several [[human colonies]] were unexpectedly attacked by mysterious Forerunner entities, Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] contacted UNSC ''Infinity'' with information about the attacks. In response, Buck and the rest of Fireteam Osiris were tasked with rescuing Dr. Halsey from the custody of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|“Covenant”]] [[Supreme Leader|Supreme Commander]] [[Jul 'Mdama]] on the [[Forerunner]] world of [[Kamchatka]].<ref name="osiris"/>

After being briefed by Captain [[Thomas Lasky]] of UNSC ''Infinity'', the Spartans were delivered to Kamchatka via [[D79-TC Pelican]], where they discovered the Covenant [[Battle of Kamchatka|engaging]] their former [[Promethean]] allies. Osiris exited the Pelican [[dropship]] to free fall past battling Covenant and Promethean ships, using their armor's thrusters to control their following landing. Osiris landed on a mountainside, where the Covenant and Prometheans were currently engaged in combat and the Spartans fought their way through the terrain. While Vale eliminated Covenant forces aboard a [[Type-57 Phantom]], Buck and the rest of Osiris killed Covenant and Promethean forces on the ground. As one of the [[Sangheili blockade runner|Covenant blockade runners]] crashed into a nearby mountain peak, Osiris regrouped and was forced to outrun the ensuring avalanche. The Spartans leaped off a cliff and slide down the mountainside, where they promptly engaged nearby Covenant forces in a valley. With 'Mdama and Halsey located in a nearby Forerunner structure, Fireteam Osiris fought their way past Covenant and Promethean forces to reach their targets' location. Although 'Mdama had a [[Kraken]] deployed to fend off the hostile forces assaulting his location, the Prometheans managed to force the walker to retreat.<ref name="osiris"/>

As Osiris battled their way to the structure, they arrived at 'Mdama's and Halsey's position on a balcony. Once they had a clear shot, Buck killed one of 'Mdama's [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] guards with a [[Z-250 lightrifle]] and Locke charged towards 'Mdama to begin engaging the Supreme Leader in close-quarters combat. While Locke assassinated 'Mdama, Buck, Vale, and Tanaka eliminated the rest of the Sangheili on the platform. With Halsey recovered, Osiris and the doctor returned to UNSC ''Infinity''.<ref name="osiris"/>

Upon their return to ''Infinity'', Fireteam Osiris learned that [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]] [[John-117]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Linda-058]], and [[Frederic-104]] of [[Blue Team]] traveled to the [[Outer Colony]] of [[Meridian]]—absent without leave—to investigate [[smart AI]] [[Cortana]]'s location. Osiris was tasked with embarking to the recently resettled and now independent Meridian to track down Blue Team and take them back to the UNSC. Fireteam Osiris arrived at the Meridian [[space elevator]]—[[Pinnacle Station]]—via Pelican, where they descended to the [[moon]]'s surface. Osiris quickly discovered that Meridian was also under attack from Promethean constructs and the moon's settlers were desperately attempting to fend off the invaders. Osiris agreed to help defend Meridian's settlers from the Prometheans in exchange for the cooperation of the colony's ''de facto'' leader, [[Governor]] [[Sloan]]. After destroying numerous Promethean constructs that were assaulting the outpost at the base of Pinnacle Station, the Spartans traveled to [[Meridian Station]], the lead settlement on the moon which the Prometheans were attempting to invade. However, Sloan was initially unwilling to give the Osiris access to the road that led to Meridian Station, fearing that the Prometheans would follow. However, the Spartans defeated the nearby Prometheans and Sloane eventually gave them access to the road in response. While on the way to the settlement, Osiris aided the settlers under attack at a nearby service garage upon Sloan's request. In exchange for their help, Sloan had his men give the Spartans one of the [[Liang Dortmund Corporation]]'s [[M820 Scorpion]]s to use against the Prometheans.<ref name="glassed"/>

After using the Scorpion to clear out the rest of the nearby Prometheans, Vale and the rest of Osiris proceeded to Meridian Station, where they discovered that Sloan was a smart AI suffering from onset [[rampancy]]. Sloan allowed the Spartans to search the settlement for clues about Blue Team's location, leading to Osiris splitting up to see if they could learn anything from the local settlers. After learning that Blue Team's [[Winter-class prowler|prowler]] was seen traveling to the nearby [[Apogee Station]], Fireteam Osiris boarded a transport Pelican and departed for the settlement.<ref name="meridian station"/> Upon arriving at Apogee, they found the settlement under attack. Working with Meridian soldiers, Buck and the other members of Osiris cleared out the Prometheans and discovered Blue Team's [[ONI Acrisius|abandoned prowler]]. Accessing the prowler's data banks, Osiris discovered that Blue Team had traveled to the mines under the settlement. After eliminating more Prometheans throughout the mines, Osiris discovered that the Meridian settlers had found a massive Forerunner structure underneath the moon's surface. As they investigated the structure, they eventually came across the [[Warden Eternal]], an [[ancilla]] that served as the protector of the [[Domain]] and claimed his loyalty belonged to Cortana. After refusing to allow the Spartans to pursue Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris engaged the Warden and eventually destroyed him. Advancing forward, Osiris came across a [[Guardian]] in a large, cavernous chamber. While exploring the area, Vale discovered a local [[slipspace translocation]] [[Teleportation grid|network]] throughout the cavern and noticed Blue Team using it on above platforms. Following Vale, Buck and the rest of Osiris pursued Blue Team as they advanced from platform to platform utilizing the translocation network. During the chase, Locke got ahead of the rest of his fireteam and was teleported to the same platform that Blue Team was on.<ref name="unconfirmed">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Unconfirmed]]''</ref>

As the Spartan-IIs prepared to travel through one last [[teleporter]] to reach the Guardian, Locke ordered them to stand down. The rest of Osiris was teleported to a higher platform, but John-117 ordered his own teammates to go through the portal ahead of him. When John refused to stand down and moved to follow his team, Locke attempted to detain him, leading to John disarming Locke and engaging him in hand-to-hand combat while the rest of Osiris watched nearby. John eventually gained the upper hand and used Locke's own [[Armor restraint|armor-locking device]] against him. As John escaped through the portal and entered the Guardian, the massive construct began to activate and the floating platforms around Osiris began falling out of place and into the lava below. Freeing Locke and with retracing their steps impossible, on Buck's suggestion the four Spartans rushed back the way Blue Team had entered, traveling back to each platform via teleporter. While the rest of Osiris was just able to enter the last teleporter with little difficulty, Buck's jump was misplaced and he nearly fell off the platform, though Locke managed to return in time to help him through the teleporter just as the platform plummeted into the lava below.<ref name="unconfirmed"/> The Spartans were teleported to Meridian's surface, where the colony was already well into its evacuation as settlers rushed into the moon's space tether. As Osiris raced to the elevator to escape the ensuring damages that would be caused by the Guardian's activation, the construct rose out of the surface nearby. While en route to the elevator, the Spartans and the evacuating settlers were once again attacked by Prometheans. After eliminating the Prometheans near the base of the elevator, Sloan allowed Osiris to enter. Vale managed to have Sloan reveal that he was warned of the Guardian's activation by Cortana, and that he intended to be a part of the future Cortana was creating for humans and AI. Osiris destroyed the remaining Prometheans nearby and, after activating it, the fireteam began ascending the elevator. On the way to the elevator terminal, while engaging more Prometheans, the Guardian sent out a shockwave that heavy damaged the elevator. The Spartans were forced to climb the elevator as the structure slowly began to fall. Just as Osiris arrived at the platform their Pelican was on, the Guardian continued to send out more frequent shockwaves that slowed the Spartans down and caused the platform they were on to collapse. Osiris barely managed to enter the dropship and promptly left Meridian's atmosphere, as the Guardian entered slipspace and left the moon.<ref name="evacuation">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Evacuation]]''</ref>

With the Constructor, Halsey inputted her commands into it and the construct took off to activate the Guardian. However, the Guardian was located in the [[Csurdon Sea]] next to the city of [[Sunaion]], the last bastion of the Covenant on Sanghelios. The Arbiter's forces regrouped and prepared to attack the city to eliminate the Covenant and give Osiris a chance to board the Guardian.<ref name="before the storm">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> Traveling to Sunaion with a group of air vehicles, the Spartans, the Arbiter, and several Swords of Sanghelios forces deployed on the ground and [[Battle of Sunaion|engaged]] Covenant soldiers. While the Arbiter led his forces against the Covenant directly, Osiris eliminated [[Type-56 Shrike|anti-air emplacements]] to allow the Arbiter's [[fleet]] to move in closer to the city. Unable to receive air support for transport to the Guardian, Osiris accessed Sunaion's undercity to travel towards the construct's location. As the Constructor activated the Guardian, more Promethean forces arrived at the battle and began engaging the Arbiter and his forces. When the Guardian began rising out of the water nearby and started to activate its shockwaves, the buildings around the Spartans began to fall apart. As the Spartans moved to safety, they encountered the Arbiter engaging Promethean forces. The five battled the onslaught of Prometheans, which were soon led by the Warden Eternal, now utilizing another physical body. After a lengthy engagement, the five defeated the Warden and the nearby Prometheans just as the Guardian prepared to leave. While the Arbiter remained behind to finish eliminating Covenant and Promethean forces, Palmer and Halsey picked up Osiris in the Pelican and flew towards the Guardian. A pursuing Covenant Banshee damaged the dropship, resulting in Buck nearly falling out of the Pelican with Locke preventing him from doing so. Palmer was able to fly close enough to the Guardian's surface to drop off Osiris just as the construct entered slipspace and left Sanghelios.<ref name="sunaion"/>

Upon entering, Osiris and Exuberant Witness encountered Blue Team. While the eight Spartans agreed to work together to stop Cortana from enacting her plans, the AI suddenly teleported Blue Team to near her position.<ref name="genesis"/> Cortana ultimately placed Blue Team in a [[Cryptum]] with the intention of keeping them in stasis for ten thousand years while she initiated her plans.<ref name="breaking">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[The Breaking]]''</ref> Osiris moved to free Blue Team and, upon exiting the Gateway, noticed that the Guardians were entering into slipspace to begin enforcing Cortana's new order. As the Spartans engaged Covenant and Promethean forces while on their way to the Cryptum, Cortana revealed that hundreds of AIs had pledged their allegiance to her, including Governor Sloan. Reaching the Cryptum, Osiris had to destroy several gravitational cores keeping the Cryptum in place. As Osiris came close to freeing Blue Team, Cortana began to taunt the Spartans in hopes of demoralizing them, but to no avail. After destroying the gravitational cores, Osiris activated a terminal to lower the Cryptum. However, Cortana suddenly pulled the Cryptum to the Guardian she was preparing to leave on. As Cortana prepared to leave, she disconnected herself from Genesis' systems, giving Exuberant Witness an opportunity to take full control of the planet once again. To aid the monitor, Osiris activated two nearby auxiliary power stations to help Exuberant Witness regain control of Genesis. The monitor provided the Spartans a passage to Cortana's Guardian and the Cryptum, and Osiris rushed to stop their departure, pushing past the Guardian's shockwaves. Locke managed to reach the relay terminal that gave Cortana control and destroyed it, reinstating full control of Genesis to Exuberant Witness. Cortana prepared to leave the planet aboard her Guardian with the Cryptum, but Exuberant Witness sent a fleet of Constructors to take the Cryptum from the Guardian just as it entered slipspace. Following Cortana’s departure, both Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris together fought their way through hordes of Promethean constructs to reach [[India 127|a D79-TC Pelican]] that had previously arrived on the planet via a Guardian’s Slipspace entry. Agreeing to return to Sanghelios, the joint team requested Witness’ help, who opened a [[Slipspace portal]] for them.<ref name="Bad Blood"/>

Buck later joined his two teams in celebrating in a bar on the ''Infinity''. Dare essentially dared Buck to marry her, knowing that he would never propose if she didn't make a move. Buck agreed and was surprised when Dare immediately began preparing to be married through an automated program on a bar tablet. When Buck asked about getting Lasky to marry them, [[Roland]] interrupted to offer to marry them instead. With Roland assuring him that such a ceremony would still be legal, Buck, who held affection for the AI due to his rejection of Cortana and the Created, agreed. Buck and Dare were then married by Roland which was witnessed by their friends from Fireteam Osiris and Alpha-Nine.<ref name="Bad Blood" />

Edward Buck is a brave soldier who consistently displays strong leadership skills and perseverance. He is also adept at de-escalating situations and hyper-focusing a team on a task, especially under great duress.<ref name="lootcrate2"/> Buck models a classical and robust strategy logic but also can think fast on his feet. He exemplifies a strong team ethic that includes a strong emphasis on the value of each member, even at the expense of the whole team.<ref name="lootcrate2"/> Decisions in the field are informed by the same wide moral framework that affects all aspects of his performance. Buck's commendable success in his early military career led to the acceptance of his application to the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]. Buck's over two decades of service at the front lines of the [[Human-Covenant War]] established him as an incredibly devoted leader and effective combatant, even among the elite ODSTs.<ref name="waypoint"/> By the time of the Battle of New Mombasa, Buck was considered to be one of the most skilled ODSTs alive, with only SPARTANs being better soldiers than him. By January [[2553]], he was being considered for both the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] by [[Musa Ghanem]] and the [[ONI]] covert intelligence unit, [[Kilo-Five]], by [[CINCONI]] [[Margaret Parangosky]]. His inclusion on Kilo-Five was ultimately judged against due to his attachment to his teammates in Alpha-Nine, ethical convictions, and prioritization of personnel over objectives.<ref name="lootcrate2"/> After Buck helped Mickey escape from the [[Spartan-IV training station]] during a covert mission for ONI, he was evasive when contacted by [[Jun-A266]] about his actions, but warned him of the possible threat coming. Though Jun initially threatened to court-martial Buck, he dropped his hostility after the formalities were over to express understanding for Buck's actions and thanks for his help in retaking the station from [[Leonidas]] as well as a promise to remember what Buck did for him.<ref>'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''page 175-176''</ref>

Watching so many of his fellow Marines die has left Buck brash and ill-tempered, but this was not always so. When he was younger, Buck never had a particular interest in school. He did, however, love fishing on the [[Gold Sea]] with his uncle and other fishers. In his view, he felt free and believed he would be happy living life as a fisherman. However, when the [[Covenant]] [[First Battle of Harvest|attacked]] [[Harvest]], he put his dreams aside to join the UNSC and aid [[human]]ity.<ref name="nb15"/> Buck is particularly stubborn, a fact that he is aware of, having been told by his mother many times.<ref name="nb49"/> Buck is able to always come up with a plan on the fly, an ability he believed was the reason he was in command of Alpha-Nine.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 23'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

His only regret during his service is that he was not given the chance to participate in the Covenant's [[Battle of Draco III|assault]] on his homeworld, [[Draco III]], in [[2545]],<ref name="waypoint"/> in which many of the planet's residents were slaughtered by starving [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]] soldiers;<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''pages 184-185'' (2001 edition); ''page 212'' (2010 edition)</ref> he only shared his remorse with his closest friends. This led to Buck forming a bloodlust against the Covenant, one which he eventually mitigated through his relationship with [[Veronica Dare]].<ref name="waypoint"/> When ever he had spare time during his service in the [[SPARTAN-IV program]], Buck generally kept close to Dare, or remained at a UNSC [[military base]] and socialized with the leaders of the [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]].<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 150'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

After the disbanding of Alpha-Nine, Buck was happy to let someone else make the decisions as part of Fireteam Osiris instead of being a leader. This was because his inability to see Mickey's betrayal coming had shaken Buck's confidence in his own leadership skills and left him preferring to let others make the decisions for him.<ref name="Bad Blood" /> However, Buck's abilities as a leader were so valued that Captain [[Thomas Lasky]] told Buck that if he ever wanted to leave Osiris to lead his own fireteam again, [[Sarah Palmer]] would have no trouble giving him one in a heartbeat.<ref>'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''page 40''</ref> When approached to reunite Alpha-Nine for a mission during the [[Created conflict]], Buck was reluctant to become a leader again following his perceived failures. After being the leader of Alpha-Nine again as well as finally understanding that he wasn't at fault for Mickey's actions, Buck's confidence was restored to the point that he left Osiris to lead his old team again full time.<ref name="Bad Blood" />

{{Quote|Take my advice, Rookie. You ever fall for a woman? Make sure she's got balls.|Buck to the Rookie, referring to Dare<ref name="coast"/>}}

Buck developed a romantic relationship with [[Veronica Dare]], an intelligence officer in [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section One|Section One]] of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]. At one point, he proposed to her, but Dare remained silent, feeling that her job would force them to split.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''Coastal Highway'' ('''Buck''': ''Oh, so full of big ONI secrets, couldn't even give a guy a yes or no answer!'' '''Dare''': ''I never thought I'd see you again!'')</ref> The two eventually agreed to end their relationship.<ref name="plaza"/> The two first met on [[Castellaneta]], a resort orbiting [[Saturn]]. Although the two enjoyed their week of shore leave together, Dare left him after Buck realized that she was a "spook".<ref name="nb26"/> After their encounter on Sargasso, the two avoided each other for the remainder of the war, until they were forced to work together in the [[Battle of Mombasa]]. Although he thought he had buried his feelings for her, Buck's search for her during the battle made him realized that he had not gotten over her.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 63'' (Google Play edition)</ref> After their time together on [[Mombasa]] reignited a spark in their relationship, the two vacationed together on [[Sundown]].<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 47-48'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

In late [[2558]], after reuniting [[Alpha-Nine]] to negotiate with the [[United Rebel Front]] on [[Cassidy III]], the two discussed their relationship and the possibility of getting married. Though Buck had proposed in the past at least a couple of times, both had agreed that it was a bad idea with their jobs and the dangers that came with them. When Buck thought he was going to fall to his death, he admitted regret for not marrying Dare when he had the chance before being saved by his teammates when Dare overrode Buck's orders to leave him behind.<ref name="Bad Blood" /> After returning to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, Dare proposed to Buck in the form of a dare when she realized that he would never propose first. They were subsequently married by [[Roland]] in a bar on the ''Infinity'' moments after Dare proposed, witnessed by both Fireteam Osiris and Alpha-Nine.<ref name="BB328">'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''pages 328-330''</ref>

Buck formed close relationships with his squadmates in [[Alpha-Nine]]. One of Buck's primary reasons for not originally joining the SPARTAN-IV program was due to his unwillingness to leave his teammates behind.<ref name="nb49"/> He developed particularly close friendships with [[Taylor Miles|Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], and [[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]], having served with them for several years. Though he sometimes lost his temper with them, Buck genuinely cared for his squad mates safety, going to far as to abandon Dare's mission in order to find them. He held himself accountable for the lives of each member of his squad.<ref name="nb56"/> Even after joining [[Fireteam Osiris]], Buck maintains contact with his former subordinates.<ref name="H5GLtd"/>

Due to Mickey's betrayal on [[Talitsa]], Buck felt a great deal of anger and resentment towards his former friend and questioned his decision to let the man live instead of executing him. Much of this came from not just the betrayal, but the fact that he didn't see it coming and that Mickey hadn't tried to come to him with his concerns before turning [[Treason|traitor]]. When ordered to break Mickey out of prison, Buck was reluctant and outright considered just leaving Mickey behind when he actually found him. Throughout the reunited Alpha-Nine's mission, Buck was extremely hostile towards Mickey and his insurrectionist views. However, when [[Cassidy III]] came under attack by a [[Guardian]], the two men were able to reach an understanding with each other. After Mickey risked his own life to save Buck, Buck lost much of his hostility towards him and advocated for his remaining free and stated that he might be able to forgive Mickey, but he would never forget what he did. Buck also acknowledged that Mickey could never be fully trusted again, at least with regards to the Front, but was someone they needed. Buck later admitted to Locke that much of his anger and resentment came from his belief that he should've seen Mickey's betrayal coming and he now recognized that while he was open and honest with Mickey and a good friend, Mickey didn't honor that in return.<ref name="Bad Blood" />

Buck's impression of the [[Spartan-II]]s lined up with the rest of the ODST sentiment that they are "glory hounds," but softened into having an admiration for [[John-117]] after learning his military history and entering the SPARTAN-IV program, considering John as a "superhero."<ref name="coda">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''Coda''</ref> When Fireteam Osiris was assigned to hunt down [[Blue Team]] on Meridian, Buck vocally raised his concerns about hunting Blue Team, stating that everyone in the UNSC military would hate Osiris for carrying out their mission.<ref name="glassed"/> While he grew to respect the Master Chief, he was disturbed by the relationship he and the Spartan-IIs had with [[Catherine Halsey]], as she had a role in kidnapping, militarily enlisting, and cybernetically augmenting them since they were kids, and yet still has a motherly attitude towards them; he stated that he would not feel "clean" if he read the Spartans' psyche evaluation.

Buck developed a budding friendship with his squadmates in [[Fireteam Osiris]] as well, maintaining some levity with the high-risk situations they were trust into. Buck opened up about his relationship with Dare to [[Olympia Vale]], stating that the two women would get along well.<ref name="alliance"/> Compared to his professional experience with Dare, Buck has a friendly working relationship with ONI agent [[Jameson Locke]], even cracking jokes when Locke saves him from fatal situations.<ref name="sunaion"/> When it comes to addressing his concerns about the nature of their mission, Locke is transparent in what must be done with some explanation.<ref name="glassed"/> Buck was able to talk to Dare about his assignment to Fireteam Osiris with Locke's permission much to Dare's surprise, especially with Locke's reputation as "ONI to the bone."<ref name="coda"/> Buck would later state that working with any member of Fireteam Osiris was easier than working with Romeo.<ref>'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''page 34''</ref>

*Canonically, Buck's [[blood type]] is O-, making him a universal blood donor, but O- is also the hardest type to match.<ref name="squad"/> However, in ''Halo: Reach'', his MEDREF patch shows his blood type to be O+. This is because he has the same character model as all other ODSTs in the game, as he is not meant to be seen up close.