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In [[2553#May|May of 2553]], the Office of Naval Intelligence learned of [[Covert Support Base 4276|a Forerunner structure]] host to [[Intrepid Eye|an ancilla]] located within the [[Montero Cave System]] on the human [[Outer Colony]] of [[Gao]] in the [[Cordoba system]]. Tom and the rest of Blue Team—Fred, Kelly, Linda, Lucy, Ash, Olivia, and Mark—were attached to ONI's [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion]], a research battalion charged with recovering the AI.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 33'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During their search for the AI, a string of murders began occurring in the cave systems; in July 2553, the UNSC forces on Gao agreed to help Gao's [[Gao Ministry of Protection|Ministry of Protection]] with the murders while they covertly located the AI, both parties unaware that the murders were caused by the ancilla. | In [[2553#May|May of 2553]], the Office of Naval Intelligence learned of [[Covert Support Base 4276|a Forerunner structure]] host to [[Intrepid Eye|an ancilla]] located within the [[Montero Cave System]] on the human [[Outer Colony]] of [[Gao]] in the [[Cordoba system]]. Tom and the rest of Blue Team—Fred, Kelly, Linda, Lucy, Ash, Olivia, and Mark—were attached to ONI's [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion]], a research battalion charged with recovering the AI.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 33'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During their search for the AI, a string of murders began occurring in the cave systems; in July 2553, the UNSC forces on Gao agreed to help Gao's [[Gao Ministry of Protection|Ministry of Protection]] with the murders while they covertly located the AI, both parties unaware that the murders were caused by the ancilla. | ||
After another victim had been discovered in the caves, Tom, Lucy, Kelly, and Linda were tasked with escorting the GMoP team and the bagged victim back to the village of [[Wendosa]], while the rest of Blue Team continued to search for the ancilla.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 146'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Upon arriving at Wendosa on [[2553#July|July 4, 2553]], the Spartans attempted to deliver the victim to a [[Pelican]] [[dropship]] for extraction. However, the four Spartans were spotted by members of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], a radical [[Covenant remnants|Covenant sect]] that had traveled to Gao in search for the ancilla. The cult's [[Jiralhanae]] leader, [[Castor]], believed that the bagged victim aboard the Pelican was actually the ancilla and ordered his forces to attack Wendosa to retrieve the AI.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 134-136'' (Google Play edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 141-142'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the Keepers of the One Freedom attacked the village, Tom and the other Spartans helped [[Charlie Company ( | After another victim had been discovered in the caves, Tom, Lucy, Kelly, and Linda were tasked with escorting the GMoP team and the bagged victim back to the village of [[Wendosa]], while the rest of Blue Team continued to search for the ancilla.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 146'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Upon arriving at Wendosa on [[2553#July|July 4, 2553]], the Spartans attempted to deliver the victim to a [[Pelican]] [[dropship]] for extraction. However, the four Spartans were spotted by members of the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], a radical [[Covenant remnants|Covenant sect]] that had traveled to Gao in search for the ancilla. The cult's [[Jiralhanae]] leader, [[Castor]], believed that the bagged victim aboard the Pelican was actually the ancilla and ordered his forces to attack Wendosa to retrieve the AI.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 134-136'' (Google Play edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 141-142'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the Keepers of the One Freedom attacked the village, Tom and the other Spartans helped [[Charlie Company (717th)|Charlie Company]] defend the rest of the research battalion. While the [[company]] took a defensive position in [[Hotel Wendosa]], Tom and the Spartans formed a skirmish ring around the hotel, attempting to disrupt enemy formations and prevent a Jiralhanae charge.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 183-185'' (Google Play edition)</ref> | ||
Fred, the rest of Blue Team, and [[Special Inspector]] [[Veta Lopis]] arrived at the village with the captured ancilla to aid the company. Meanwhile, while Kelly and Linda fired explosives at the Keepers from the Wendosa rooftops, Tom and Lucy—armed with heavy machine guns—were helping force the cult's forces back into retreat.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 190-192'' (Google Play edition)</ref> When the Jiralhanae attempted to charge at the village, all Spartans of Blue Team worked together to thin their numbers. During the attack, Fred was ordered to return the captured ancilla to Commander [[Murtag Nelson]] at the [[Montero Vitality Clinic]]. However, while leaving Wendosa in a [[UH-144 Falcon|Falcon]], the aircraft was shot down by Keeper fire.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 219-222'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The rest of Blue Team regrouped and, with Lopis, traveled to the Falcon's crash site to locate Fred and the AI. The team was assaulted by the Keepers, but they were eventually able to defeat the charging Jiralhanae with the help of the battalion's [[Alpha Company ( | Fred, the rest of Blue Team, and [[Special Inspector]] [[Veta Lopis]] arrived at the village with the captured ancilla to aid the company. Meanwhile, while Kelly and Linda fired explosives at the Keepers from the Wendosa rooftops, Tom and Lucy—armed with heavy machine guns—were helping force the cult's forces back into retreat.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 190-192'' (Google Play edition)</ref> When the Jiralhanae attempted to charge at the village, all Spartans of Blue Team worked together to thin their numbers. During the attack, Fred was ordered to return the captured ancilla to Commander [[Murtag Nelson]] at the [[Montero Vitality Clinic]]. However, while leaving Wendosa in a [[UH-144 Falcon|Falcon]], the aircraft was shot down by Keeper fire.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 219-222'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The rest of Blue Team regrouped and, with Lopis, traveled to the Falcon's crash site to locate Fred and the AI. The team was assaulted by the Keepers, but they were eventually able to defeat the charging Jiralhanae with the help of the battalion's [[Alpha Company (717th)|Alpha Company]]. Having recovered Fred and the ancilla, the team returned to the Montero Vitality Clinic.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 225-239'' (Google Play edition)</ref> However, recently elected [[President of the Gao Republic|President of Gao]] [[Arlo Casille]] declared war on the UNSC forces on the planet and [[Gao battle-jumpers]] and [[Wyvern]]s were ordered to engage the battalion's remaining forces. | ||
As the rest of the unit began retreating from the planet, the Spartans and Lopis traveled to the [[ | As the rest of the unit began retreating from the planet, the Spartans and Lopis traveled to the [[Well of Echoes]] to detonate a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] inside to destroy the Forerunner installation within the Montero Caves, denying the anti-UNSC president access to the installation.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 289-290'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Once they retrieved the ancilla and the nuke, Blue Team and Lopis regrouped in the [[Montero Jungle]]. Tom and Lucy both drove the two Warthogs, with the rest of the team aboard, to the Well of Echoes.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 306-307'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Upon arriving at the Well of Echoes, the team boarded a nearby ONI [[Owl]] with Rear Admiral [[Serin Osman]] aboard. Mark dropped the nuke into the Well of Echoes and the Owl left the planet as the HAVOK detonated and destroyed the Forerunner installation.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 320-324'' (Google Play edition)</ref> As the Owl traveled to the UNSC task force in Gao's orbit, Osman revealed that the Gamma Company Spartan-IIIs were to be reassigned to classified infiltration teams. Despite their initial reluctance to the plan, the Beta Company survivors and the rest of Blue Team gave their "permission", although Tom openly protested to ONI's decision.<ref>'''Halo: Last Light''', ''pages 327-333'' (Google Play edition)</ref> | ||
=== | ===Training the Spartan-IVs=== | ||
Tom and Lucy left Blue Team to serve as instructors in the recently-established [[Spartan Operations]] branch in [[2553|August 2553]].<ref name="catalog">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=38#post745 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 38'']</ref> They were subsequently assigned under [[Commander]] [[Musa-096]], and trained [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]] recruits on the program's top-secret training station.<ref name="lessons">'''Halo: Fractures''', | {{quote|multi=yes|q1=This is insane. It can't possibly work.|Tom|q2=Not even going to try?|Lucy|Tom and Lucy on their impromptu plan to save Jun.<ref name="lessons"/>}} | ||
Tom and Lucy left Blue Team to serve as instructors in the recently-established [[Spartan Operations]] branch in [[2553|August 2553]].<ref name="catalog">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=38#post745 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 38'']</ref> They were subsequently assigned under [[Commander]] [[Musa-096]], and trained [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan-IV]] recruits on the program's top-secret training station.<ref name="lessons">'''Halo: Fractures''', "Lessons Learned"</ref> | |||
On [[2554|March 29, 2554]], Tom and Lucy were in their office reviewing the performance of the new Spartan-IV class when an explosion rocked the station, causing a loss of gravity | On [[2554|March 29, 2554]], Tom and Lucy were in their office reviewing the performance of the new Spartan-IV class when an explosion rocked the station, causing a loss of gravity. Tom contacted Captain [[Chu]] to find out what happened; the captain informed him of a rupture in the rec room where Commander Musa had been interrogating someone about a homicide. With Tom unaware that a homicide had taken place and asking for clarification, Lucy brought his attention to the window where they saw two men fighting outside in space: [[Rudolf Schein]], a Spartan-IV recruit, and [[Jun-A266]]. Soon Jun was able to break from Schein's grip and kick off from Schein's chest, sending Schein deeper into space and Jun towards the station. At Lucy's prompting, the two entered an [[airlock]]. With a tether and without a [[vacuum suit]], Tom attempted to anticipate Jun's path and shot himself out the airlock. He missed at first, and when the tether went taut he attempted to correct himself when he realized Lucy was helping him. Jun managed to get caught in Tom's tether and Lucy was able to pull the both of them in, but not before both he and Jun lost consciousness.<ref name="lessons"/> Commander Musa later visited Tom in the infirmary and informed him of what had happened. Schein had killed [[Hideo Wakahisa]], a fellow Spartan-IV recruit, and had torn out Wakahisa's locator implant. Musa and Jun conducted an investigation which led them to Schein. While interrogating him, Schein detonated a hidden grenade which killed Captain [[O'Day]].<ref name="lessons"/> | ||
===Return to Onyx=== | ===Return to Onyx=== | ||
{{Quote|I guess we could get used to this.|Tom upon arrival at the shield world.<ref name="lessons"/> }} | |||
After Tom and Lucy had recovered from the incident, Musa visited them in their office with Jun and offered them a job working as security at the [[Onyx United Research Project]] on [[Trevelyan]]. While initially reluctant due to the [[Sangheili]] presence there, they eventually accepted.<ref name="lessons"/> | After Tom and Lucy had recovered from the incident, Musa visited them in their office with Jun and offered them a job working as security at the [[Onyx United Research Project]] on [[Trevelyan]]. While initially reluctant due to the [[Sangheili]] presence there, they eventually accepted.<ref name="lessons"/> | ||
Upon arriving back at Trevelyan Tom and Lucy met [[Franklin Mendez]], who they learned was assigned as head of security for the research settlements. Soon after they were joined by [[Kasha 'Hilot]], a female Sangheili who was working as Mendez's second-in-command of security. While Lucy was hostile toward the Sangheili, Tom attempted to keep things from going too far. While Mendez took Lucy to find transportation, Tom conversed with Kasha for a while about matters such as the war and the Sangheili. However, a UNSC soldier overheard her talking about [[John-117]] and became hostile towards Kasha. The soldier blamed Kasha for the Covenant's genocide of humanity, claiming she had been part of the system that enabled the Sangheili males to go off and fight. Tom tried to calm the soldier down but he only got angrier at Kasha and began poking her in the chest. She grabbed the soldier's finger, in Tom's opinion showing great restraint, but the soldier head-butted Kasha, knocking her down. The soldier then attempted to stab her but Tom stopped him, taking several punches in Kasha's defense. Tom then picked up the soldier and threw him into the latter's group of friends. Mendez arrived firing his pistol into the air and informed the soldiers they would be leaving the shield world. Kasha thanked them for teaching the soldiers a lesson, and was comforted knowing that not all humans there wanted to kill the Sangheili.<ref name="lessons"/> | |||
==Personality and traits== | ==Personality and traits== | ||
Tom is a collected and good-natured individual with a strong sense of duty and loyalty; for example refusing to leave [[Kurt Ambrose|Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose]] behind at the end of the [[Battle of Onyx]], or saving [[Jun-A266]]'s life not out of a desire to be a hero, but rather merely viewing it as something he had been trained to do.<ref name="lessons"/> | Tom is a collected and good-natured individual with a strong sense of duty and loyalty; for example refusing to leave [[Kurt Ambrose|Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose]] behind at the end of the [[Battle of Onyx]], or saving [[Jun-A266]]'s life not out of a desire to be a hero, but rather merely viewing it as something he had been trained to do.<ref name="lessons"/> Lieutenant Commander Ambrose considered Tom and [[Lucy-B091]] highly competent, and implicitly trusted in their abilities in any situation.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 137''</ref> Tom was highly protective of the [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]] Spartans he had helped train,<ref name="ll386"/> and maintained a casual, friendly relationship with the former members of [[Team Saber]] when they were assigned to [[Blue Team]] together.<ref name="ll265"/> While generally disciplined around his superiors,<ref name="g98"/><ref name="lessons"/> Tom has been known to lapse from his professional demeanor somewhat on shocking or unexpected occasions; for example, at [[Serin Osman|Admiral Osman]]'s announcement that the members of Gamma Company would be disappeared, Tom demanded to know what would happen to the younger Spartans and commented that ONI's insistence to keep the Gammas' fate in the dark "sucked".<ref name="ll386">'''Halo: Last Light''', ''page 386-388'' (Google Play edition)</ref> | ||
Tom enjoys challenges and mastering new skills.<ref name="goo92"/><ref name="lessons"/> He showed great tenacity and tactical aptitude during [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]]'s training, and him and Lucy were singled out by [[Franklin Mendez|CPO Mendez]] for their toughness.<ref name="goo92"/> As the leader of [[Team Foxtrot]], Tom was committed to his team and felt immensely fulfilled when they succeeded in their mission.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 96''</ref> During [[Operation: TORPEDO]], he was determined to complete the objective despite the declaration of the universal "panic code", [[Omega three]], and the unexpected appearance of Covenant reinforcements.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 22''</ref> While he was close friends with all of his teammates Tom was still able to accept [[Adam-B004]]'s and [[Min-B174]]'s deaths and go on without hesitation; conversely, he stubbornly refused to leave Kurt Ambrose's side years later, prompting Kurt to knock him out.<ref name="goo368"/> Tom later reaffirmed that he would never have let Kurt to fend off the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]] army on his own<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 42''</ref> and even then he wanted to hold on to the hope that he may have survived.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 71''</ref> | Tom enjoys challenges and mastering new skills.<ref name="goo92"/><ref name="lessons"/> He showed great tenacity and tactical aptitude during [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]]'s training, and him and Lucy were singled out by [[Franklin Mendez|CPO Mendez]] for their toughness.<ref name="goo92"/> As the leader of [[Team Foxtrot]], Tom was committed to his team and felt immensely fulfilled when they succeeded in their mission.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 96''</ref> During [[Operation: TORPEDO]], he was determined to complete the objective despite the declaration of the universal "panic code", [[Omega three]], and the unexpected appearance of Covenant reinforcements.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 22''</ref> While he was close friends with all of his teammates Tom was still able to accept [[Adam-B004]]'s and [[Min-B174]]'s deaths and go on without hesitation; conversely, he stubbornly refused to leave Kurt Ambrose's side years later, prompting Kurt to knock him out.<ref name="goo368"/> Tom later reaffirmed that he would never have let Kurt to fend off the [[Joyous Exultation Covenant|Covenant]] army on his own<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 42''</ref> and even then he wanted to hold on to the hope that he may have survived.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 71''</ref> | ||
As with | As with all Spartan-IIIs, Tom was initially motivated to become a Spartan by the rage he felt against the [[Covenant]] for destroying his homeworld and killing his parents, and he had long struggled with himself to let go of the anger. While he did not enjoy the prospect of fighting other [[human]]s, something that had increased in frequency after the [[Human-Covenant War]], he still considered [[insurrectionists]] "ungrateful traitors" for wanting to destroy what the Spartans had sacrificed so much to preserve. Upon learning of [[Rudolf Schein]]'s betrayal he was revolted that a Spartan would turn on another. Although he had major reservations about working with the [[Sangheili]] on [[Trevelyan]], he was quick to adapt to the new state of affairs, not only recognizing it as his duty to help keep all inhabitants of the shield world safe but also genuinely looking forward to the new responsibilities and challenges of his new post. He consequently attempted to dispel the tension between Lucy and [[Kasha 'Hilot]], and ended up siding with the Sangheili against a UNSC soldier harassing her.<ref name="lessons"/> | ||
Tom-B292 shares a close bond with Lucy-B091 because of their shared experiences; the two Spartans are virtually always assigned to the same duties, and tend to establish a common understanding before making significant decisions, with Tom often deferring to Lucy's intuition.<ref name="ll386"/><ref name="lessons"/> This unusual rapport became more pronounced after Operation: TORPEDO;<ref name="lessons"/> while Tom was affected by Beta Company's demise he was not as thoroughly traumatized as Lucy, who was [[Posttraumatic vocal disarticulation|rendered mute]] by the shock of her friends dying. Tom continued to reflect on Lucy's last words—''"How are you sure we're alive?"''—for years to come.<ref name="goo27"/> Although Lucy would remain silent, Tom had little difficulty communicating with her,<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 99-100''</ref> the two having developed an intricate sign language based on the [[Spartan signals]] over the years.<ref name="lessons"/> Because of Lucy's inability to speak Tom would often be the one to carry out more complex conversations whenever the two interacted with others, such as making reports or communicating over [[COM]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 99, 137, 324''</ref> Even after Lucy overcame her disability, this was often the case,<ref name="ll265"/> with the pair lapsing back to their old habit, although Tom enjoyed not having to speculate as to her intent anymore when it came to critical situations.<ref name="lessons"/> | Tom-B292 shares a close bond with Lucy-B091 because of their shared experiences; the two Spartans are virtually always assigned to the same duties, and tend to establish a common understanding before making significant decisions, with Tom often deferring to Lucy's intuition.<ref name="ll386"/><ref name="lessons"/> This unusual rapport became more pronounced after Operation: TORPEDO;<ref name="lessons"/> while Tom was affected by Beta Company's demise he was not as thoroughly traumatized as Lucy, who was [[Posttraumatic vocal disarticulation|rendered mute]] by the shock of her friends dying. Tom continued to reflect on Lucy's last words—''"How are you sure we're alive?"''—for years to come.<ref name="goo27"/> Although Lucy would remain silent, Tom had little difficulty communicating with her,<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 99-100''</ref> the two having developed an intricate sign language based on the [[Spartan signals]] over the years.<ref name="lessons"/> Because of Lucy's inability to speak Tom would often be the one to carry out more complex conversations whenever the two interacted with others, such as making reports or communicating over [[COM]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 99, 137, 324''</ref> Even after Lucy overcame her disability, this was often the case,<ref name="ll265"/> with the pair lapsing back to their old habit, although Tom enjoyed not having to speculate as to her intent anymore when it came to critical situations.<ref name="lessons"/> | ||