Thomas Lasky

Lasky redirects here. For his mother, see Lasky (colonel). For his brother, see Cadmon Lasky.

Template:Character Infobox Commander Thomas J. Lasky is a human senior officer of the UNSC Navy who served throughout the Human-Covenant War and in the post war years.^[1] Since at least 2552, Lasky has served as Captain Del Rio's executive officer aboard the UNSC Infinity. ^[2]

Biography

Childhood and education

Thomas Lasky was born in the late 2500's or early 2510's to Colonel Lasky, his mother, and an unknown father on Mars. As the growing Insurrection in the Outer Colonies demanded the effort of millions of soldiers, sailors, and Marines, Lasky rarely saw his mother and their relationship faltered because of it. He still maintained a very close relation with his older brother Cadmon, even following in his footsteps with acceptance for schooling at the elite Corbulo Academy of Military Science on Circinius IV, a prestigious school for the children of high ranking and influential government and military personnel of the United Earth Government. Thomas began his officer training as a freshman cadet sometime following spring 2526, months after hostilities between the Human colonies and the Covenant began; this development was kept from the students and much of the staff at Corbulo however. Thomas and his brother Cadmon, both seeming to be avid chess players, maintained an ongoing game through video messages while the two were at Corbulo and on Jericho VII, respectively. His health declined rapidly during the school's mandatory acclimation to cryosleep caused by the dangerous side effects, including large blistering, of "flash thawing."

Organized into Hastati Squad, a freshman unit in the class of 2529, Lasky originally began as a team leader during field exercises. Lasky's reputation suffered at his constantly disregard for the orders of his superiors and displaying a lack of proficient knowledge of infantry tactics. He was subsequently relived as his duties, which then fell to squadmate Walter Vickers. Despite this, he continued to ignore the orders and continued to lead Hastati in receiving low combat scores. Many believed that Thomas would not live up to the level of excellency set by his brother Cadmon, now a Marine junior officer in the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, nor the expectations of his estranged mother to at the very least, graduate from the academy. Lasky was not hesitant whatsoever to express his views on the ongoing conflict with the colonies, even with the ardent stance on the conquering of the rebel effort by the majority of Corbulo Academy's staff and cadet corps. The constant display of pacifism and sympathy towards the Insurrectionist cause did not hamper his enthusiasm to successfully lead his team into combat using tactics that would overwhelm the enemy, albeit with tactics that would cause them to peacefully capitulate.

A renegade attitude and "innie sympathizer," he was shunned universally by squadmates and other classmates, alike. The hawkish Walter Vickers aggressively despised Lasky, lashing out at him with verbal abuse and eventually resorting to public physical altercations. Junjie Chen, a Terran, blamed his failing scores in combat exercises on the incompetence of his classmate. Her parents both being very high ranking officers on Reach, Dimah Tchakova expressed her disdain for Lasky because of his pacifism and beliefs on the war. He was not without more tolerant contemporaries however. Michael Sullivan, despite being "killed" consistently in exercises, found common ground with Lasky in their circumstances, generally not caring for Lasky's reputation as he harbored no ill-feelings towards the Insurrectionists and lacked any blind ambition within the UNSC. He ultimately found support in Chyler Silva, a colonist accustomed to the horrors of the war, attempting to influence her friend in becoming a successful cadet at the academy. Chyler and Thomas' relationship grew into a common affection for each other as the year progressed.

The cadets at Corbulo Academy were caught off guard in mid-2526 when a hostile alien force, the Covenant, assaulted the school. The school's Marine guard was overwhelmed by the attack, which prompted one of the first deployments of SPARTAN-II's in the war, led by Special Warfare Operator John-117. Marines, including those in the ODST divisions, accompanied Blue Team in their rescue of the academy's cadets. Thomas Lasky became inspired by the heroism and leadership of the young Spartan supersoldier, influencing him to help combat the enemy forces that were slaughtering his classmates and professors. Lasky's relationship with John-117 would prove vital to the Spartan's recovery in the post-war years on Requiem. ^[3]^[4]

Production notes

Lasky is the main protagonist in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn and is primarily portrayed by Australian actor Tom Green. An older Lasky was seen following the end titles for the premiere trailer, though no confirmation has been given as to who this actor may be.

Gallery

A young Cadet Lasky.
Cadet Lasky brooding near the space elevator of the Corbulo Academy complex.
Full-body portrait of CDR Lasky.
CDR Lasky, John-117, Cortana and Captain Del Rio on the bridge of the Infinity.
CDR Lasky conversing with a fellow shipmate aboard Infinity.
CDR Lasky in the post-war era, as seen in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.
A Marine, MCPO John-117, CDR Palmer and CDR Lasky converse.