Taylor Miles: Difference between revisions

|birth      = [[2519|June 3, 2519]]<ref name="ENC"/>

|mass        = {{Convert|91|kg|lb}}<ref name="ENC"/> {{C|pre-augmentation}}

'''Spartan Taylor Henry "Dutch" Miles'''<ref name="ENC"/><ref name="waypoint">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/dutch '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo Universe: Dutch'']</ref> ([[service number]] '''21175-12121-TM''') is a former [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]].<ref name="fieldguide">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Field Guide'']</ref> He served in [[Alpha-Nine]], a squad led by [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]] during the [[Battle for Earth]] and in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war era]]. He is married to [[Gretchen Ketola]]. Though the two retired, they eventually came out of retirement to become [[Spartan-IV]]s just in time to join the reformed Alpha-Nine in fighting the [[Created conflict]].<ref name="Bad Blood" />

Taylor H. Miles was born in [[2519]] in [[Losantiville]], [[Seven Hills]], [[Mars]]. Originally a road-train driver before becoming an ODST, (at some point driving the [[Flying Dutchman]]) his former occupation has prepared him for the arduous tasks of a heavy weapons specialist and driver in the ODSTs. He also went to university for some time, studying religion and philosophy, as he was interested in the subjects at the time.<ref name="oni"/> During this time, he adopted a world view he would carry for the rest of his life.<ref name="video"/>

He was drafted while attending university<ref name="video"/> and properly enlisted on [[2540|September 9, 2540]]; he eventually became a corporal.<ref name="fieldguide"/> The last time he visited Earth prior to the Battle of Earth was at a weekend pass, the day before he applied to the ODSTs. During his time in the Marine Corps, he befriended [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]] and became romantically involved with another marine, [[Gretchen Ketola]], whom he later married. Gretchen's injury by an [[Insurrectionist]] mine changed Miles' personality and he became more serious than before.<ref name="helljumper"/> He also served in operations on the [[Coral]] asteroid belt, and the [[Jericho Space Elevator]].<ref name="oni"/>

After this, the ODSTs were deployed to the UNSC colony world of [[Ariel]], where all the colonists seemed to have mysteriously disappeared.<ref name="helljumper"/> After the ODSTs split into two man teams, Miles and Romeo entered a structure, where they encountered a heavy [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] presence. After a brief engagement with two [[Sangheili]], the colony's generators went critical, forcing Miles and Romeo to grab the corpses and use them as personal shields against the blast. Miles then decided to tell Romeo his "last words": he was going to get a transfer.

After Operation: FIRESIDE, Miles volunteered in time to participate [[Battle for Tribute]], where he witnessed the destruction of the majority of UNSC naval forces present. This gave him a deep respect for Naval personnel.<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''Firefight character description''</ref> He also participated in the [[Fall of Reach]].<ref name="video"/>

After the Covenant War, Miles and his squad took part in several engagements against [[Insurrectionist]] forces. In [[2554]], his squad participated in a UNSC assault against the [[United Rebel Front]] on [[Draco III]], where the rebels had fortified themselves in the planet's capitol building in [[New Albany]]. During the mission, the Rookie was taken hostage and ultimately killed by the rebels' leader, [[Ingridson|Captain Ingridson]], before they were defeated; Miles killed Ingridson with his shotgun instantly after she executed the Rookie.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 94''</ref> The loss of his comrade profoundly affected Miles and, during the Rookie's funeral the following week, he announced his decision to retire from military service to be with Gretchen and possibly return to his former career as a road train driver.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 99''</ref> The two continued to contact their old squadmates and friends after their retirement.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 149''</ref> Dutch later admitted that civilian life wasn't really working out for the couple and struggling to adapt to it put a strain on their marriage and nearly led to a divorce.<ref name="Bad Blood" />

{{Quote|Behind the death's head rictus, jolly roger, and layer upon layer of black and gray armor is a man of deep spiritual convictions and respect for those he serves alongside.|Description<ref name="fieldguide"/>}}

The second oldest member of Buck's squad at the time of the Battle for Earth, Dutch is good friends with the squad's marksman, [[Kojo Agu]].<ref name="helljumper">'''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''' - ''[[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|Issue One]]''</ref> He has extensive experience in close-quarters combat.<ref name="oni">[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]</ref> Miles' last known place of residence is [[Paris Island]] on Mars, where he is also a citizen. His civilian occupation is listed as road train driver.<ref name="fieldguide"/>

In accordance with his specialty, Dutch's BDU is optimized for close-quarters combat. He wears a specialized ODST-HS Combat Helmet, which is equipped with extra metallic reinforcement to protect from head trauma.<ref name="visual"/> Miles has the upper half of a jaw bone painted onto his helmet right below his visor, and a Jolly Roger on his chest plate, making him the only member of the squad with an emblem on his chest plate. He carries an M/LBE Hard Case backpack.<ref name="visual"/> His standard loadout on Halo 3: ODST gameplay is M6 Spartan Laser and M7S SMG.