Preston Cole: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|Even if you pierce the veil of propaganda and discount the vast number of Cole's victories, promotions, and decorations as nothing more than engineered drama to prop up our population's then-sinking morale—Preston Cole still has an unparalleled battle record… even far and away more impressive than the legendary Spartan-IIs. He was the greatest hero in modern times, a legend before, and in spite of, our meddling.|[[Codename: SURGEON]]'s report, ''Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.''<ref name=" | {{Quote|Even if you pierce the veil of propaganda and discount the vast number of Cole's victories, promotions, and decorations as nothing more than engineered drama to prop up our population's then-sinking morale—Preston Cole still has an unparalleled battle record… even far and away more impressive than the legendary Spartan-IIs. He was the greatest hero in modern times, a legend before, and in spite of, our meddling.|[[Codename: SURGEON]]'s report, ''Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.''<ref name="quote">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 414''</ref>}} | ||
'''Vice Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole''' ([[service number]] '''03956-26127-PC''')<ref name="site"/><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: Evolutions'', Cole's service number was 00814-13094-BQ, which contradicts the typical service number format.</ref> was a [[human]] officer of the [[UNSC Navy]] who served during both the [[Insurrection]] and the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Cole is best known for being the commander of the majority of the UNSC Navy from [[2525]] until [[2543]] and for his role in creating the [[Cole Protocol]], a central [[UNSC]] law responsible for defending [[Earth]]'s location for decades.<ref name="site"/> A military genius, he defeated the [[Covenant]] in every major battle he fought<ref name="battles">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 470''</ref> and his battle record was considered to be without equal, even more impressive than that of the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]].<ref name=" | '''Vice Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole''' ([[service number]] '''03956-26127-PC''')<ref name="site"/><ref group="note">According to ''Halo: Evolutions'', Cole's service number was 00814-13094-BQ, which contradicts the typical service number format.</ref> was a [[human]] officer of the [[UNSC Navy]] who served during both the [[Insurrection]] and the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Cole is best known for being the commander of the majority of the UNSC Navy from [[2525]] until [[2543]] and for his role in creating the [[Cole Protocol]], a central [[UNSC]] law responsible for defending [[Earth]]'s location for decades.<ref name="site"/> A military genius, he defeated the [[Covenant]] in every major battle he fought<ref name="battles">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 470''</ref> and his battle record was considered to be without equal, even more impressive than that of the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]].<ref name="quote"/> | ||
Originally born on a small farm on Earth,<ref name="birthinfo"/> Cole eventually enlisted in the UNSC Navy and quickly accelerated through the ranks after his graduation at the [[Luna OCS Academy]]. As the Insurrection began, Cole was hailed as a hero throughout human space by the Navy as he led numerous battles and campaigns against [[insurrectionist]] and [[pirate]] forces. However, after beginning a relationship with [[Lyrenne Castilla]]—a rebel leader, unbeknownst to Cole—he was relegated to a desk job for the rest of the war, where he eventually retired and faded into relative obscurity.<ref name="he453">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''pages 453-457''</ref> | Originally born on a small farm on Earth,<ref name="birthinfo"/> Cole eventually enlisted in the UNSC Navy and quickly accelerated through the ranks after his graduation at the [[Luna OCS Academy]]. As the Insurrection began, Cole was hailed as a hero throughout human space by the Navy as he led numerous battles and campaigns against [[insurrectionist]] and [[pirate]] forces. However, after beginning a relationship with [[Lyrenne Castilla]]—a rebel leader, unbeknownst to Cole—he was relegated to a desk job for the rest of the war, where he eventually retired and faded into relative obscurity.<ref name="he453">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''pages 453-457''</ref> | ||
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{{Quote|Cole won every major engagement he committed his forces to against the Covenant. On only two occasions did he encounter an enemy fleet he considered too large to take, and then he would return in both cases with reinforcements.|Codename: SURGEON's report, ''Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.''<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 471''</ref>}} | {{Quote|Cole won every major engagement he committed his forces to against the Covenant. On only two occasions did he encounter an enemy fleet he considered too large to take, and then he would return in both cases with reinforcements.|Codename: SURGEON's report, ''Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.''<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 471''</ref>}} | ||
[[File:HGenesis-ColesInterrogationAtGreatBear.png|thumb|250px|left|Cole interrogates a Sangheili survivor of the Battle of the Great Bear.]] | [[File:HGenesis-ColesInterrogationAtGreatBear.png|thumb|250px|left|Cole interrogates a Sangheili survivor of the Battle of the Great Bear.]] | ||
Due to the impossibility of keeping the war a secret indefinitely, ONI's Section II publicly unveiled the conflict. Cole was then given command of the majority of the fleet.<ref name="Genesis"/> He continued the fight throughout the Outer Colonies for five more years, participating in a series of battles later known as the "Cole Campaigns".<ref name="he458"/> At the [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]] in the [[Origami Asteroid Field]] in [[2526#October|October 2526]], Cole had a total of one hundred and seventeen UNSC ships and defeated a [[Covenant fleet]] of twelve ships—at least three of which were {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s. However, thirty-seven UNSC ships were lost by the battle's end. The [[Battle of XI Boötis A]] in [[2528]] saw seventy UNSC ships engage eight Covenant warships in the [[XI Boötis A system]]. While Cole was victorious, the UNSC lost thirty ships.<ref name=" | Due to the impossibility of keeping the war a secret indefinitely, ONI's Section II publicly unveiled the conflict. Cole was then given command of the majority of the fleet.<ref name="Genesis"/> He continued the fight throughout the Outer Colonies for five more years, participating in a series of battles later known as the "Cole Campaigns".<ref name="he458"/> At the [[Battle of Alpha Aurigae]] in the [[Origami Asteroid Field]] in [[2526#October|October 2526]], Cole had a total of one hundred and seventeen UNSC ships and defeated a [[Covenant fleet]] of twelve ships—at least three of which were {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s. However, thirty-seven UNSC ships were lost by the battle's end. The [[Battle of XI Boötis A]] in [[2528]] saw seventy UNSC ships engage eight Covenant warships in the [[XI Boötis A system]]. While Cole was victorious, the UNSC lost thirty ships.<ref name="battles"/><ref name="Genesis"/> | ||
The [[Battle of the Great Bear]] at the [[Groombridge 1830 system]] on [[2530|December 24, 2530]] saw Cole lead a fleet of seventeen warships against three Covenant ships. The UNSC lost eleven destroyers in the battle, though Cole's fleet managed to destroy two of the Covenant ships and caused the third to crash-land on [[Groombridge 1830]]. Following the conclusion of the battle, a [[Sangheili]] [[Subject 386|survivor]] was recovered.<ref name=" | The [[Battle of the Great Bear]] at the [[Groombridge 1830 system]] on [[2530|December 24, 2530]] saw Cole lead a fleet of seventeen warships against three Covenant ships. The UNSC lost eleven destroyers in the battle, though Cole's fleet managed to destroy two of the Covenant ships and caused the third to crash-land on [[Groombridge 1830]]. Following the conclusion of the battle, a [[Sangheili]] [[Subject 386|survivor]] was recovered.<ref name="battles"/><ref name="Genesis"/> Cole, along with First Lieutenant [[Richard Barclay]], [[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings|interrogated]] the Sangheili and learned that the Covenant intended to wipe out all human worlds as they saw humanity as an affront to their [[Forerunner|gods]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''Bonus Content'' (2010)</ref> After realizing that the Covenant had little knowledge of humanity, Cole began writing a new protocol that would allow the UNSC to use secrecy as a defense against the Covenant.<ref name="battles"/><ref name="Genesis"/> | ||
Cole would return to Harvest in [[2531]] with the UNSC Navy's [[Third Fleet]] under his command,<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 188''</ref> removing the Covenant forces that had [[Harvest campaign|encroached]] on the Epsilon Indi system for the last five years.<ref name="Genesis"/><ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> Near the end of battle on January 3, Cole received a message from Commander [[Orez]] saying that the {{ | Cole would return to Harvest in [[2531]] with the UNSC Navy's [[Third Fleet]] under his command,<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 188''</ref> removing the Covenant forces that had [[Harvest campaign|encroached]] on the Epsilon Indi system for the last five years.<ref name="Genesis"/><ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref> Near the end of battle on January 3, Cole received a message from Commander [[Orez]] saying that the {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}} needed assistance. This led Cole to send the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} to aid the ''Prophecy''. He approved the ''Spirit of Fire'' traveling to [[Arcadia]] in the [[Procyon system]] in February of 2531 on Captain [[James Gregory Cutter]]'s request after the [[Relic]] pointed towards Arcadia as the Covenant's next destination.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref> Cole and his fleet then traveled to [[Arcadia]] to assist UNSC forces on the world after the planet had been [[Battle for Arcadia|attacked]] by the Covenant. After a brief battle, Cole's forces were able to repel the Covenant invaders from the planet.<ref name="journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref> | ||
[[File:ColeWritingProtocol.png|thumb|250px|Preston Cole creating the Cole Protocol.]] | [[File:ColeWritingProtocol.png|thumb|250px|Preston Cole creating the Cole Protocol.]] | ||
