Preston Cole: Difference between revisions
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|homeworld=[[Mark Twain]], [[Missouri]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]], [[Earth]]<ref name="birthinfo">'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 415''</ref> | |homeworld=[[Mark Twain]], [[Missouri]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]], [[Earth]]<ref name="birthinfo">'''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 415''</ref> | ||
|birth=[[2470|November 3, 2470]]<ref name="birthinfo"/> | |birth=[[2470|November 3, 2470]]<ref name="birthinfo"/>{{Ref/Note|According to the ONI Memorial, Cole was born April 4, 2484.}} | ||
|death=Officially [[2543|April 18, 2543]]<ref name="site">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''[[ONI Memorial]]''</ref> {{C|aged 72}} | |death=Officially [[2543|April 18, 2543]]<ref name="site">'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''[[ONI Memorial]]''</ref> {{C|aged 72}} | ||
|species=[[Human]] | |species=[[Human]] | ||
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|hair=Black<ref name="birthinfo"/> | |hair=Black<ref name="birthinfo"/>{{Ref/Note|''Halo Wars: Genesis'' depicts Cole with brown hair. His hair is contrarily established as black in ''Halo: Evolutions'', which was released eight months after the graphic novella.}} | ||
|eyes=Dark brown<ref name="birthinfo"/> | |eyes=Dark brown<ref name="birthinfo"/> | ||
|affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]] | |affiliation=[[UNSC Navy]] | ||
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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">'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 414''</ref>}} | {{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"/> | '''Vice Admiral Preston Jeremiah Cole''' ([[service number]] '''03956-26127-PC''')<ref name="site"/>{{Ref/Note|According to ''Halo: Evolutions'', Cole's service number was 00814-13094-BQ, which contradicts the typical service number format.}} 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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On [[2526#March|March 1, 2526]], Cole and his battle group arrived at the Epsilon Indi system and the [[Battle of Harvest]] began, in which the forty ships of Battle Group X-Ray engaged a single vessel, a [[Covenant super-destroyer]] in orbit over Harvest. The Covenant ship's superior weaponry and technology overwhelmed the fleet, and Cole's adjutant commanders suggested a full retreat. However, with the use of intelligence gathered during the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]], Cole realized that Covenant energy shielding technology was vulnerable to massive, concentrated fire. Cole ordered all ships in the battle group to simultaneously focus their fire at the Covenant ship, with salvos of MACs first, followed by [[Archer missile]]s and [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s. This last-minute tactical inspiration worked; the super-destroyer's shields were overwhelmed, allowing the UNSC battle group to fire their remaining armaments into the super-destroyer's hull, destroying the Covenant ship. Although Battle Group X-Ray managed to destroy the super-destroyer, thirteen UNSC ships were destroyed during the battle.<ref name="Genesis"/><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''pages 462-467''</ref> | On [[2526#March|March 1, 2526]], Cole and his battle group arrived at the Epsilon Indi system and the [[Battle of Harvest]] began, in which the forty ships of Battle Group X-Ray engaged a single vessel, a [[Covenant super-destroyer]] in orbit over Harvest. The Covenant ship's superior weaponry and technology overwhelmed the fleet, and Cole's adjutant commanders suggested a full retreat. However, with the use of intelligence gathered during the [[Battle of Chi Ceti]], Cole realized that Covenant energy shielding technology was vulnerable to massive, concentrated fire. Cole ordered all ships in the battle group to simultaneously focus their fire at the Covenant ship, with salvos of MACs first, followed by [[Archer missile]]s and [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]s. This last-minute tactical inspiration worked; the super-destroyer's shields were overwhelmed, allowing the UNSC battle group to fire their remaining armaments into the super-destroyer's hull, destroying the Covenant ship. Although Battle Group X-Ray managed to destroy the super-destroyer, thirteen UNSC ships were destroyed during the battle.<ref name="Genesis"/><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''pages 462-467''</ref> | ||
Following the Battle of Harvest, Cole returned to Earth, where he discovered that the Covenant had destroyed several other colonies.<ref name="timeline"/> The ONI-controlled [[civilian]] news media reported Cole's promotion to full admiral, though he would continue to hold the rank of vice admiral in later years. | Following the Battle of Harvest, Cole returned to Earth, where he discovered that the Covenant had destroyed several other colonies.<ref name="timeline"/> The ONI-controlled [[civilian]] news media reported Cole's promotion to full admiral, though he would continue to hold the rank of vice admiral in later years.{{Ref/Note|''Halo Wars: Genesis'', the pre-release ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' timeline, and the in-game and online ''Halo Wars'' timelines explicitly state that Cole was promoted to full admiral after the Battle of Harvest. His memorial plaque at ONI Alpha Site in ''Halo 3: ODST'' also refers to him as a full admiral. However, ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' makes no mention of Cole's promotion and consistently refers to him as a vice admiral; this is corroborated by ''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''. This may indicate that his rank was at some point [[Wikipedia:Reduction in rank|reduced or reverted]] to O-9 and that he was posthumously promoted back to O-10. In the [[ONI Directorate Memorandum Interrogation Findings]], Cole identifies himself as a fleet admiral, though he has not been referred to as such in other media.}} In order to prevent mass panic, ONI removed information of the Covenant and replaced the battle information with that of a communications satellite captured by insurrectionists, which Cole's forces were said to have destroyed. The worlds of [[Second Base]] and [[Green Hills]] were initially reported as attacked by rebel forces, but they were in fact glassed by the Covenant and their combined population of two million killed.<ref name="Genesis"/> On [[2526#March|March 7, 2526]], Cole, Stanforth, and Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] gathered in a secure conference room aboard the ''Everest'' where they discussed the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans']] recent failed [[Skirmish over Netherop|attempt]] to capture a Covenant [[Radiant Arrow|ship]] and planned their next moves. [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] was called before them and recruited to assist with [[Operation: SILENT STORM]]. Cole expressed confidence that Johnson's extensive combat experience would be of great value to the team.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS4|HSS|Chapter=4}} The next day, Cole, Halsey, and Johnson reconvened on the {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}} along with [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]], [[Captain]] [[Halima Ascot]], and [[Petty Officer First Class]] [[John-117]] to discuss the details of the mission. Cole laid out who would be responsible for which duties and suggested to Crowther that he work closely with John to create battle strategies that were best suited to the abilities of the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}} Following the [[Battle of Netherop]], Cole led a Court on Inquiry into John-117's actions on [[Netherop]] on board the ''Everest''. Due to Cole bringing in a Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander as the JAG officers, John realized Cole had purposefully stacked the deck in the favor of himself and the [[Castoffs]], earning him a great deal of John's respect. When [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]] tried to push for the Castaways to remain in custody, Cole sided more favorably with John and kept the other admiral in line, even when the Castaways stated that they wanted to go to [[Gao]]. Unlike Admiral Stanforth, Cole was more amenable to honoring the deal John had struck and after [[Roselle]] and [[Samson]] promised John to keep what they learned about the [[SPARTAN-II program]] a secret, Cole dismissed the Court with the intention of seeing to it that they got the ship they were promised and transport to Gao.<ref name="Oblivion">'''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''', ''Epilogue''</ref> | ||
===The Cole Campaigns and the Cole Protocol=== | ===The Cole Campaigns and the Cole Protocol=== | ||
