Editing Halo: The Cole Protocol

{{Status|RealWorld}}

{{Center|''Looking for the [[Cole Protocol]], a military law of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]?''}}

{{Novel infobox

|variant=GreyTeam

|image=[[File:Halocole.png|300px]]

|author=[[Tobias Buckell|Tobias S. Buckell]]

|cover artist=[[Isaac Hannaford]]

|illustrator=

|editor=

|audio=Jonathon Davis

|publisher=[[Tor Books]] (original)<br>[[Gallery Books]] (2019 edition)

|publication=[[2008|November 25, 2008]] (original)<br>April 16, 2019 (2019 edition)

|media=Print (Paperback), Audiobook

|length=358 pages (original)<br>368 pages (2019 edition)

|ISBN=[[Special:BookSources/076531570X|076531570X]], [[Special:BookSources/978-0765315700|978-0765315700]], [[Special:BookSources/978-1982111717|978-1982111717]]

|series=[[Gray Team series]]

|preceded=

|followed=''[[Halo: Envoy]]''

|multiseries=

|notable=

{{Article quote|In the first, desperate days of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the UNSC has enacted the [[Cole Protocol]] to safeguard [[Earth]] and its [[Inner Colonies]] from discovery by [[Covenant|a merciless alien foe]]. Many are called upon to rid the universe of lingering [[Astrogation|navigation]] data that would reveal the location of [[Earth]]. Among them is [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] [[Jacob Keyes|Lieutenant Jacob Keyes]]. Thrust back into action after being sidelined, Keyes is saddled with a top secret mission by [[ONI]]. One that will take him deep behind enemy lines, to a corner of the universe where nothing is as it seems.

Out beyond the Outer Colonies lies the planet [[Hesiod]], a gas giant surrounded by a vast [[asteroid]] belt. As the Covenant continues to [[Glassing|glass]] the human occupied planets near Hesiod, many of the survivors, helped by a stronghold of human [[Insurrectionist]]s, are fleeing to the asteroid belt for refuge. They have transformed the tumbling satellites into a tenuous, yet ingenious, settlement known as [[the Rubble]]--and have come face-to-face with a Covenant settlement of [[Kig-Yar]]… yet somehow survived.

News of this unlikely treaty has spread to the warring sides. Luckily for the UNSC, this uneasy alliance is in the path of the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Gray Team]], a three-man renegade squad whose simple task is to wreak havoc from behind enemy lines in any way they see fit. But the [[Hierarchs|Prophets]] have also sent their best---[[Thel 'Vadam|an ambitious and ruthless Elite]], whose quest for nobility and rank is matched only by his brutality… and who will do anything to secure his Ascendancy and walk the Path.}}

The book opens with an attack by Kig-Yar in [[the Rubble]], an [[Insurrectionist]] asteroid base which was constructed as a refugee base during the Covenant siege of Madrigal. The Jackals are attempting to steal navigation data from [[Ignatio Delgado]] and his friend [[Melko Hollister]]. The Jackals want the data because it would lead the Covenant to humanity's homeworld, [[Earth]]. Melko manages to escape the fighting at Delgado's insistence that the last remaining navigation data leading to Earth must be kept safe. Unfortunately, Melko is shot and later dies of his wounds.

While holding off the [[Kig-yar|Jackals]], Delgado is almost killed, but is saved by SPARTAN [[Adriana-111]] of [[Gray Team]]. She hands him a beacon, which will send a signal to her team to retrieve the data if he should no longer be capable of keeping it safe. She then orders him to keep Gray Team a secret from the [[Rubble Security Council]].

Meanwhile, at the colony of [[Chi Rho]], [[Lieutenant]] [[Jacob Keyes]] meets with [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Dmitri Zheng]] and is transferred from teaching at the [[Luna OCS Academy]] to enforce the newly written [[Cole Protocol]] with the [[Stalwart-class light frigate|stealth frigate]], the {{UNSCShip|Midsummer Night}}. He returns to his ship with a new pilot, [[Jeffries]], an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] officer [[Major (UNSC)|Major]] [[Akio Watanabe|Watanabe]] and Zheng in command.

Back at the Rubble, Delgado looks for clues, suspecting that someone within the Rubble Security Council is attempting to sell the navigation to the Jackals, which would cause the Insurrectionists to outlive their usefulness to the Covenant. Delgado learns of the ''[[Kestrel (freighter)|Kestrel]]'', a ship under the command of [[Peter Bonifacio]], a known smuggler who is also on the Security Council. While trying to obtain information about the ''Kestrel'', he meets Adriana again in a small bar, [[Eddie's In The Rock]]. They are both attacked by Insurrectionists, who overhear the questioning. After being saved again by Adriana, he is taken to the SPARTANs' ship, the ''[[Petya]]'', to meet [[Jai-006]] and [[Michael-120]].

Back on the ''Midsummer Night'', Jacob Keyes attempts to enforce the Cole Protocol on a [[Finnegan's Wake|civilian freighter]]. When the Lieutenant and a group of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s board the freighter, the Insurrectionist captain detonates a bomb in a container, killing a number of ODSTs, including their commander, [[First Lieutenant]] [[Canfield]]. Later, Keyes and the ODSTs are forced to leave the ship by exiting through a hull breach they created because the freighter was rigged to blow the moment the ''Midsummer Night'' was within the blast proximity of the freighter. Keyes leaves first, taking the armor of an ODST and jumping into space, using his rifle to maneuver applying Newton's 3rd law. Keyes is able to contact the ''Midsummer Night''. However, the Insurrectionists on the civilian freighter detonate the ship to kill as many of the escaping ODSTs as possible. Keyes is eventually recovered along with most of the ODSTs, including [[second Lieutenant|2nd Lieutenant]] [[Faison]], despite the dramatic explosion.

On [[Sanghelios]], the recently appointed [[Sangheili]] [[kaidon]] of clan [[Vadam]], [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee lies in wait for the inevitable attack by someone with doubts as to his capability as kaidon. He soon gets what he is waiting for as three assassins attempt to dispatch him; however, he quickly slays all three of the assassins. He then orders an assembly with all of his clan's [[elder]]s. He first shows the elders that the attack clearly failed as he had no scratch on his body. He then explains that he killed the first two assassins with relative ease, but lies and claims that he let the third assassin live in order to learn who sent the attack. He almost immediately noticed the stirring of one of the elders, [[Koida 'Vadam]]. Knowing the person responsible he calms down and explains his supremacy to all the elders. He then confronts Koida who foolishly tells Thel that he has sent the assassins. Thel then kills him and banishes his lineage from the [[Vadam keep]]. Thel then tells the elders that he is to be sent to a human colony, [[Charybdis IX]], by the [[Hierarchs]].

The ''Midsummer Night'' arrives at Charybdis in order to prevent a group of Insurrectionists from gaining a shipment of [[Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifles]] and [[Type-25 plasma pistol|plasma pistols]]. Lieutenant Keyes and Major Watanabe go planetside to meet with an ONI group in order to complete their mission. However, the mission goes bad as the UNSC group gets attacked by Insurrectionists and rioters. Major Watanabe is killed, and Keyes barely escapes the planet. As they escape the system, a [[Covenant fleet]] led by the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]] eliminates the three destroyers defending the planet and starts to glass the surface.

Meanwhile, the future Arbiter is called to meet with the High Prophet of Regret, who was traveling with the fleet to witness the burning of another human world. Regret shows 'Vadamee a modified plasma rifle and says that such modifications of Covenant weaponry by any other than the Prophets is heresy. He orders 'Vadamee to track down the weapons, which he believes originated in the [[23 Librae]] system from Jackals that may be trading with humans. He also tells 'Vadamee that the Jackal ship ''[[A Psalm Every Day]]'', along with a contingent of Brutes, will go with him on the mission. 'Vadamee is not happy about the Brute involvement but is happy that he has received the promotion and may be on the way to becoming a [[Fleet Master]]. After 'Vadamee leaves, the Prophet states that the Hierarchs did not expect that the humans would be spread out on so many worlds. This may be the reason why the Covenant lingered so long around Harvest instead of trying to find other human worlds.

After a slightly uneventful voyage to Hesiod, the [[Jiralhanae]] and the [[Kig-Yar]] [[Chur'R-Mut|Shipmistress]] betray 'Vadamee, destroying his ship, killing his crew, and taking him and his [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]] prisoner while he was unconscious.

On the ''[[UNSC Midsummer Night|Midsummer Night]]'', [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Dmitri Zheng|Zheng]] discovers that the leaders of the Rubble know of their presence. The Rubble begins a bombardment of the ship, and Zheng orders that they head out to open space. However, the engines are taken offline via sabotage, and on the bridge [[Lieutenant]] [[Badia Campbell]] shoots Zheng fatally, and wounds Lieutenants [[Dante Kirtley|Kirtley]] and [[Rai Li|Li]] before Keyes tackles her. She says that the Insurrectionists will win eventually before shooting herself in the head. With the engines out of commission and Zheng dead after locking down the nuclear warheads (rendering them unusable to the rebels), Keyes has no choice but to surrender the ship to the Rubble.

Meanwhile, upon Delgado's return to the Rubble, he is detained by Bonifacio's private forces. The Council suspects him for dealing with the Kig-Yar for the NAV data, since he was the only one apart from them who knew its location. While conversing with a guard, Delgado learns that Bonifacio's smuggling ship, the Kestrel, was sabotaged by the SPARTANs and its NAV data was destroyed; as a result, Bonifacio needs Delgado's data in order to continue his smuggling operations back to the [[Inner Colonies]]. Delgado is subsequently taken to meet with the Security Council, where he learns of the existence of the [[Exodus Project]]. While the Council refuses to tell Delgado what the Exodus Project is, [[Diego Esquival]] reassures Delgado that it is for the good of the Rubble and requires NAV data. This convinces Delgado to retrieve the data for the council. Diego and Bonifacio decide to accompany him to retrieve the data from Delgado's ship, ''[[Distancia]]''.

Thel and his Zealots, meanwhile, hijack [[Unnamed Kig-yar transport|a Kig-Yar ship]] and head down to the surface of [[Metisette]], a methane-rich moon of [[Hesiod]] where the Kig-Yar are breeding an army of [[Unggoy]]. They are able to kidnap [[Reth]], the leader of the Kig-Yar. However, Reth reveals to the Sangheili that he is also working on a mission assigned to him by the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]], which greatly confuses one of Thel's most trusted soldiers and ''de facto'' second in command, [[Zhar (Sangheili)|Zhar]]. Reth subsequently escapes with the aid of some Unggoy which he converted.

The SPARTANs arrive and save Delgado, but are too late to save Diego who dies of his wounds. They decide that with the NAV data, the Kig-Yar will no longer value the Rubble and will attack it. They need to briefly capture one of the Kig-Yar ships to find their plans. However, even three SPARTANs would not be able to capture a Covenant ship; they decide to liberate the captured ODSTs from ''Midsummer Night'' and use their help to secure the ship. With the help of the Rubble's [[smart AI|AI]], [[Juliana]], the SPARTANs are able to liberate Keyes and many of his men from prison.

Delgado joins the main UNSC forces as they assault the Kig-Yar ship ''[[Infinite Spoils]]'' in an attempt to find information on the Kig-Yar's true intentions. The humans have the element of surprise and manage to capture it; however, Faison is wounded in the leg during the battle. He insists that Delgado leave him, but secretly Delgado asks for help. Lieutenant Keyes sends Jai to rescue the ODST. Meanwhile, Thel and the surviving Sangheili also desire the Kig-Yar vessel and board it. They encounter Faison, who manages to injure Zhar with a sidearm before being killed. At this point Zhar treads on the edge of heresy by admiring the human's act of staying behind; however, they are interrupted by Jai's arrival. Jai and Thel fight each other, with neither gaining any ground; Jai leaves when he sees Faison's body. Thel himself barely survives the encounter and wonders what the human was.

Bonifacio witnesses the bombardment of Metisette, when suddenly a massive Covenant fleet jumps out of [[Slipstream space|slipspace]]. He attempts to hail them, and is momentarily glad to watch them turn towards him, but is horrified when a cruiser effortlessly vaporizes his pod.

The Exodus asteroid and the ''Midsummer Night ''arrive safely at [[18 Scorpii system|18 Scorpii]], and the asteroid's inhabitants are safely evacuated before the asteroid shakes itself to pieces while in orbit around [[Falaknuma]].

Lieutenant Keyes returns and meets with [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]], and expects to receive a court-martial for his actions but instead is congratulated and thanked by Admiral Cole then promotes Keyes to [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]]. Commander Keyes leaves and the Spartans enter; during the battle the ''Petya'' was abandoned, and they are looking for a new [[ONI prowler|prowler]]. Cole grants them the ship and gives them new orders, describing them as more dangerous than ever, to the satisfaction of Gray Team. Delgado enlists in the [[UNSC Navy]]. Soon after, Keyes returns to his apartment and his daughter, [[Miranda Keyes|Miranda]].

==Appearances==

{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters|

;UNSC

*[[Jacob Keyes]]

*[[Adriana-111]] {{1st}}

*[[Jai-006]] {{1st}}

*[[Michael-120]] {{1st}}

*[[Akio Watanabe]] {{1st}}

*[[Dmitri Zheng]] {{1st}}

*[[Faison]] {{1st}}

*[[Preston Cole]]

*[[Jean Mawikizi]] {{1st}}

*[[Badia Campbell]] {{1st}}

*[[Rai Li]] {{1st}}

*[[Dante Kirtley]] {{1st}}

*[[Catherine Halsey]]

*[[Corinthia Hansen]] {{1st}}

*[[Josh Smith]] {{1st}}

*[[Finlay]] {{1st}}

*[[Jeffries]] {{1st}}

*[[Markov]] {{1st}}

*[[Canfield]] {{1st}}

*[[Tom Gerencer]] {{1st}}

*[[Dobey]] {{Fm}}

*[[Hadley]] {{1st}}

*[[H. T. Ward]] {{Mo}}

*[[Magnus]] {{1st}}

*[[Jeremy]] {{1st}}

;Covenant

*[[Thel 'Vadam]]ee

*[[Zhar (Sangheili)|Zhar]] {{1st}}

*[[Veer]] {{1st}}

*[[Reth]] {{1st}}

*[[Lak 'Vadamee]] {{1st}}

*[[Pellius]] {{1st}}

|title-2=Species|

|title-3=Organizations|

|title-4=Locations|

|title-5=Events|

*[[Insurrection]]

|title-6=Vehicles|

|title-7=Weapons|

*[[BR55 battle rifle]]

*[[Class-2 directed energy cannon]]

*[[Energy stave]]

*[[Prowler]]

*[[Rocket-propelled grenade]] {{1st}}

*[[Shiva-class nuclear missile]]

*{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}

*''The Cole Protocol'' is the only ''Halo'' novel, aside from ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'', that does not give the current military time at the start of every chapter. This makes it somewhat difficult to keep track of time when the setting shifts radically.

*This book is the only novel that does not feature an assault rifle from the [[MA5 series]]. The BR55 Battle Rifle is almost exclusively used by UNSC forces in the book.

*On page 281, Zhar uses the term "years" rather than "[[unit]]s" or "[[cycle]]s", though this is likely a transliteration of Sangheili speech. UNSC personnel use American measurements throughout the book, while the UNSC typically uses the metric system.

*The novel is the first canon source to call a [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenade]] a "sticky grenade", which is a common nickname for the weapon in multiplayer.

==Gallery==

 

 

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{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Novels|Cole Protocol]]