Editing Jonathan Doherty

{{Era|HCW|Post}}

{{Callsign}}

{{Title|The Rookie}}

{{Character infobox|variant=Human

|name=J.D. "Rookie"

|birth=[[2525|February 9, 2525]]<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/rookie '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Universe: Rookie'']</ref>

|death=[[2554|January 3, 2554]]<ref name="draco date">[https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/683713456873148418?lang=en '''Jessica Shea's twitter''': ''Today in Halo 1/3/2554'']</ref><ref name="nb11">'''[[Halo: New Blood]]''', ''Chapter 11''</ref> {{C|aged 28}}

|rank=[[Lance corporal]]<ref name="evg"/>

|gender=Male<ref name="evg"/><ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 61''</ref>

|height={{Convert|186|cm|ftin}}<ref name="evg"/><ref name="ENC"/>

|mass={{Convert|194|lb|kg|disp=flip}}<ref name="evg"/><ref name="ENC"/>

'''Lance Corporal J.D.''', nicknamed '''the Rookie''', ([[Service Number|SN]]: 11282-31220-JD) was a [[human]] [[Lance Corporal|junior enlistedman]] who served with the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the post-war years.<ref name="squad">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODSTsquad '''Bungie.net''': ''Meet the Squad'']</ref> He was trained as a member of the elite [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] early in his career, serving with the [[26th Marine Expeditionary Force]] at [[New Jerusalem]] and later [[Mount Haven]]. Later, he was picked by [[Edward Buck|GySgt Edward Buck]] for his team, [[Alpha-Nine]], to aid the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] in [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] during the [[Battle for Earth]].

Little is known about this Marine other than his initials ("J.D.") and that he was born in [[Crisium City]], [[Naniwa]], [[Luna]] on [[2525|February 9, 2525]].<ref name="universe"/> He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 7, [[2547]],<ref name="squad"/> and eventually advanced to the rank of Lance Corporal. Some time after, he volunteered and was accepted into the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, despite his initial lack of combat experience.<ref name="universe"/>

Shortly after completing ODST training, by [[2552#July|July]] or [[2552#August|August]] of [[2552]], the Rookie—now a [[Private First Class]] in the ODSTs—was deployed to the colony world of [[New Jerusalem]] in the [[Cygnus system]] with the [[26th Marine Expeditionary Force]], part of a Rapid Offensive Picket. He saw nearly all of his fellow troopers perish in the battle.<ref name="universe"/>

{{Quote|Sir, I can't just leave you...|The Rookie to an injured [[Gage Yevgenny]]}}

Weeks after the tragedy of New Jerusalem, the Rookie participated in [[Raid on Mount Haven|an engagement]] in the city of [[Mount Haven]] on an unspecified colony.<ref name="universe"/><ref group="note">It has been confirmed in a comment by [[Tobias Buckell]] [http://goingrampant.blogspot.com/2010/03/examination-of-female-characters-part-3.html here] that the rookie character in ''Dirt'' is indeed The Rookie from ''Halo 3: ODST''.</ref> He deployed from the {{UNSCShip|Chares}} with ODST reinforcements on orders to defend the transport of a [[Forerunner]] artifact. Shortly thereafter, he responded to a distress call requested by [[Gage Yevgenny]], a veteran ODST who had gone against orders to save a crowd of [[civilian]] children. Gage's [[Pelican]] had been shot down by rogue ODSTs near the mountains outside the city, and was found mortally wounded by the Rookie, who had just arrived with Gage's reinforcements.<ref name="dirt">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Dirt]]"</ref>

Gage, who knew he was dying, told the Rookie his life story, right up until he crashed the Pelican. The Rookie, who had listened intently, promised to remember Gage and do whatever he could against the [[Covenant]]. Gage then told the Rookie that Covenant forces and the rogue ODSTs were on their way to the crash site, and warned the Rookie to get as far away as possible, as Gage was going to detonate a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile]] he had stolen, killing them all.<ref name="dirt"/>

The Rookie ditched most of his gear and ran until he reached the other side of the mountain, at which point Gage detonated the Shiva, killing himself, his renegade teammates, and thousands of Covenant troops. The Rookie, being one of the only survivors, hailed a Pelican and was informed that [[Reach]] had just been attacked,<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Dirt]]", ''page 153''</ref> and that the survivors of Mount Haven were retreating to Earth. The Rookie would not forget Gage Yevgenny, and his long and tragic life.<ref name="dirt"/> After this, he was promoted to [[Lance Corporal]] and transferred to [[Alpha-Nine|a squad]]—then led by [[Gunnery Sergeant|GySgt]] [[Edward Buck]]—as the replacement for [[Baruti Komen|an ODST]] who had died during the [[Fall of Reach]]. After a "friendly" suggestion by his squadmates, the new guy on

Alpha-Nine adopted the callsign “Rookie.” Either in haste or because it was recycled, the Rookie’s nameplate had Private, First Class (PFC) rank insignia instead of Lance Corporal (LCpl).{{Ref/Generic|Id=CosplayRank|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.73}}

During the [[Battle for Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]], the Rookie and his squad, along with a large element of the [[65th Shock Troops Division]],<ref name="evg"/><ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref><ref>[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/detail/6c327f745bc043c4ac920feef4a712b0/into-hell-1 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Into Hell 1'']</ref> were stationed aboard the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} as part of [[Operation: BUMRUSH|a mission]] to assault the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' above the city of [[New Mombasa]]. At the last moment before the drop, [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] operative [[Veronica Dare]] took control of the squad, with the intent to use them in a yet-undisclosed mission. The Rookie himself, however, was largely unaware of this as he was asleep at the time. He was awakened by [[Kojo Agu]] in a rather rude manner right before the drop.<ref name="ptd">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Prepare To Drop]]''</ref>

As the squad dropped toward the ground using SOEIVs, Dare changed the squad's course towards the [[ONI Alpha Site (location)|ONI Alpha Site]] in New Mombasa. Unfortunately, moments before they were meant to hit the ground, Regret's Carrier jumped into [[slipspace]], generating a massive shockwave and an [[Electromagnetic Pulse|EMP]] that scattered the squad's [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|drop pods]] all around the city. The Rookie's pod was slammed into by [[Michael Crespo]]'s pod, cracking the window of the Rookie's pod and sending it into free-fall. Despite this, the Rookie had survived, although he was knocked unconscious.<ref name="ptd"/>

[[File:RookieAwakes.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Rookie awakes and leaves his pod.]]

Six hours later, the Rookie woke up in his pod, which had been lodged into a building in the occupied [[New Mombasa City Centre|city center]] of New Mombasa. The Superintendent had been monitoring him and waiting for him to wake up. As the Rookie dropped to the streets below and started to move on, the Superintendent provided him with valuable help, activating signs to guide him to safety and uploading a map of the city to his [[VISR]] database. As the Rookie explored the city, he tried to piece together clues to find out what happened to his squadmates while avoiding the numerous Covenant patrols in the city.<ref name="mst">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Mombasa Streets]]''</ref> During his exploration of the city, Rookie had also discovered audio logs that narrated [[Sadie Endesha]]'s [[Sadie's Story|story]], which detailed the account of a civilian teenager who attempted to find her father, [[Daniel Endesha|Dr. Endesha]], while the city was under Covenant attack. Through these audio logs, the Rookie learned that a creature had entered the city's data center and, in order to repair the Superintendent, combined itself with Vergil, a subroutine built into the Superintendent.<ref name="evg"/>

After deducing the events of the previous six hours, the Rookie picked up a message from Dare, requesting assistance in the [[New Mombasa Data Center]].<ref name="mst"/> Upon reaching the Underground, the Rookie learned she was on Sublevel 09. After reaching a Data Stack, he ran into [[Unidentified NMPD officer|an NMPD officer]] attempting to check on his men; however, the Superintendent wouldn't let the officer onto the next level until the Rookie arrived at his location. The two fought their way through Covenant forces and reached Sublevel 09 together. However, the officer suddenly stopped their progress, and entered a nearby room for a "personnel issue". Even though the officer told him to stay outside, the Rookie entered the room and discovered the corpse of Dr. Endesha. The officer, infuriated, revealed that he was working for [[Kinsler]], NMPD's corrupt commissioner who was an enemy of Sadie Endesha as Rookie had learned through the audio logs. The officer attacked the Rookie to tie up loose ends, but the more heavily armed and better-armored Rookie killed the police officer in self-defense.<ref name="datah">'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Data Hive]]''</ref><ref group="note" name="canon">While there are two possible events in the game depending on the number of audio logs the player has collected, the ''Essential Visual Guide'' has confirmed that the Rookie did collect all of the Audio Logs and learned of Sadie's Story. Thus, the article assumes that the events that followed collecting 29 Audio Logs in the level ''Mombasa Streets'' are canon.</ref>

After fighting through more Covenant, the Rookie finally arrived at Dare's location, much to her surprise. She finally told him of her mission: to retrieve the data the Superintendent recorded during the Prophet of Regret's attack on the city. Dare and the Rookie were forced to fight their way through an entire Drone hive, as well as other assorted Covenant. They found a defected [[Huragok]] called [[Quick to Adjust]]<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2997288_Is-there-an-actual-name-for-Vergil.aspx#post2997288 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Is there an actual name for Vergil?'']</ref> holding the Superintendent's data. While Dare was initially hostile towards the creature, Rookie, as he learned through the audio logs that the creature helped Endesha, was in fact friendly. He befriended it with just a single whistle, having learned from the audio logs that Vergil had been learning how to whistle to communicate with the creature. Dare learned that Quick was willing to reveal information about the Covenant.<ref name="datah"/><ref group="note" name="canon"/>

The Rookie then reunited with Buck and proceeded to assist Dare and Quick in their escape from the Data Center.<ref name="datah"/> After fighting past a Covenant outpost and up another [[elevator]], the four arrived at the [[New Mombasa Waterfront Highway|Waterfront Highway]]. Here, the Rookie and Buck used various Warthogs and a Scorpion to protect an [[M313 Heavy Recovery Vehicle#Olifant|Olifant]] containing Dare and Quick. While driving down the highway, they witnessed the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's Fleet|fleet]] arriving in force, and starting to [[Glassing|glass]] the city. After encountering a [[Type-47B Scarab|Scarab]], Buck decided to find a new location and hold position until Crespo arrived with a stolen Phantom. Once he did, the squad evacuated the city and watched as the Covenant glassed New Mombasa.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', campaign level ''[[Coastal Highway]]''</ref>

At some point, it was revealed that Covenant forces attacked some of the home colonies on Mars and Luna on their way to Earth, killing most if not all of the Rookie's relatives back on Luna. He disliked talking about it, and when asked by Buck, he just gritted his teeth and stated that “There’s nothing left there for me now.”<ref name="NB12>'''Halo: New Blood''', Chapter 12</ref>

The Rookie and his squad guarded the Huragok, now known as Vergil, in the [[ONI]]-appropriated Crimson Wing of the [[Quito Space Tether]]'s terminus for the following weeks. Approximately one month after the battle, they watched as [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] interrogated the Engineer.<ref>'''Halo 3: ODST''', ''Epilogue''</ref> Shortly after this, Alpha-Nine was redeployed in the field and fought in the concluding battles of the war.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 81'' (Google Play edition)</ref> One of these operations, known as [[Operation: JOINT MONITOR]], consisted of biohazard containment in the [[Voi]] Exclusion Zone, at some point following the [[Battle of Voi]].<ref name="H5GLtd">'''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition''', ''Spartan Locke's Classified Orders''</ref>

{{Quote|It only takes one mistake, kid. You went a long time before you made it.|Kojo "Romeo" Agu paying his respects at the Rookie's funeral<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', ''page 99'' (Google Play edition)</ref>}}

On [[2554|January 3, 2554]],<ref name="draco date"/> Alpha-Nine was deployed to [[Draco III]]'s capital city of [[New Albany]] as part of the UNSC's response to [[Draco III rebellion|an uprising]] instigated by the [[United Rebel Front]]. While the ODSTs were storming [[Draco III capitol building|Draco III's capitol building]], they were caught in an ambush in the legislature chambers. Buck ordered the Rookie to flank the rebels while the rest of the team provided cover. However, he was captured and beaten by the rebels, whose leader, [[Ingridson|Captain Ingridson]], subsequently held him hostage on a shielded presidential balcony.<ref>'''Halo: New Blood''', Chapter 4</ref> At the conclusion of a prolonged standoff, [[Michael Crespo]] charged the balcony and attempted to force Ingridson to stand down. This prompted the rebel captain to execute the Rookie with a pistol shot to the head.<ref name="nb11"/>

The UNSC won the ensuing firefight, with the remaining Insurrectionists killed or captured; Captain Ingridson was shot by [[Taylor Miles]] instantly after she killed the Rookie.<ref name="nb11"/> The Rookie was buried at sea from an old [[D96-TCE_Albatross|Albatross dropship]], far offshore in one of Draco III's oceans with only the rest of Alpha-Nine in attendance. Taylor Miles was shaken by his death and decided to retire, while Crespo continued to harbor a deep-seated guilt over his failure to save him. His death would serve as one point of motivation for the remnants of Alpha-Nine to become [[Spartan-IV]]s. While talking to Buck, [[Jun-A266]] confirmed that had he lived, the Rookie would have been offered the opportunity to become a Spartan alongside the rest of his team.<ref name="NB12" />

The Rookie employed a late-war variation of the venerable [[ODST armor]]{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.26}} The Rookie's nickname was derived from a nickname given to him by Alpha-Nine and painted on his chest plate, alongside a hastily-painted (or leftover) Private, First Class rank insignia.{{Ref/Reuse|CosplayRank}} His helmet was painted with a white stripe, an identifying symbol of his old unit prior to Alpha-Nine.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.22}} He preferred a snug fit for his gear to prevent noise, and tightly secured equipment to his armor, and stashed snacks salvaged from otherwise-unpalatable meal packs in his hard-shell backpack.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.32}} His shoulder plates were painted in an urban camouflage scheme, and during the Battle of Mombasa he employed fingerless shooting gloves. To store equipment outside of his backpack, Rookie employed whatever pouches he could salvage or borrow, and kept non mission-critical contents in two pouches on his right leg.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.43-44}} He used his thigh pouches to store extra ammunition, candy and restraining cable.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.46}}

The Rookie employed a fairly simple loadout on his belt, consisting of six grenades with optional spine, groin and upper thigh armor.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.49}} The back of his belt was fitted with a small cushion - handy for the marine's habit of sleeping wherever he could.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|The Rookie Cosplay Guide]]|p.50}} In combat, the Rookie favoured a standard loadout consisting of an [[M7S SMG]] and a [[M6C/SOCOM]] handgun.

Like [[John-117]] and [[SPARTAN-B312]], the Rookie is meant to be a largely undefined character with whom the player can easily identify. As such, his face is never seen and he never speaks. He is thus a true silent protagonist, in contrast to all other playable characters in the ''Halo'' series, who have dialogue at least in cutscenes. Even the Rookie’s initials, "JD", reflect this narrative approach: they likely stand for “John Doe”, a typical placeholder name given to a male when their true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons.

*The Rookie's enlistment date is July 7, 2547. This is because of Bungie's love of the number [[seven]] and is an obvious reference to [[Bungie Day]], which is held on July 7.

*The Rookie is often seen asleep. Minutes before he was dropped into New Mombasa, he napped by his pod while the rest of the squad conversed. Upon crashing within the city, he remained unconscious for six hours. One month after his mission in New Mombasa, while the rest of the squad and Sergeant Major Johnson interrogated Vergil, he slept beneath a staircase.

*In the Rookie's SOEIV, on [[Legendary]], there is a picture of a person who appears to be a girl.<ref>[[:File:Rookie%27s_Pic.jpg|'''NextGenWalkthru''': ''Screencapture of the girl in HEV'']]</ref> According to [[Joseph Staten]], this is the Rookie's "beautiful girlfriend", but is actually an edited image of Bungie engineer [[Chris Butcher]].<ref name="chris">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Od4VCsy9k& '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest 2011 - Bungie: Hatching the Cosmic Halo Egg Panel! PART 3'']</ref>

*The Rookie's backpack bears the ''[[Marathon]]'' logo.

*When completing the "Good Samaritan" achievement, the player will get ODST armor similar to the Rookie's, yet it will have a "flame drop pod" decal, and the blood type will be "A+".

*On September 23rd, 2020, an [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/cosplay-guide-the-rookie|official cosplay guide for the Rookie] was released on Halo Waypoint.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/cosplay-guide-the-rookie|SiteName=Halo Waypoint|PageName=Official Cosplay Guide: The Rookie}} A backup of the PDF file is hosted by Halopedia, and can be found [[:File:H3ODST Cosplay Guide.pdf|here]].

File:H3ODST-TheRookie.jpeg|Concept art of the Rookie.

File:1223676408 Keepright-large.png|The Rookie follows the guidance of the [[Superintendent]].

File:H3ODST Rookie&ExplosiveRemains.png|The Rookie inspecting a piece of a detonator used by [[Dutch|his squad member]].

File:The Rookie.jpg|The Rookie aiming at a target from a standing position.

File:Halo3 ODST-Rookie.png|The Rookie standing at arms.

File:H3ODST RookieCinematic.jpg|The Rookie sleeping beside his drop pod while the rest of the squad discuss the mission.

File:Pods slam.png|The Rookie's pod, as it smashes into [[Mickey]]'s, sending him off-course and unconscious as he crash-lands.

File:Download_intel2.jpg|The [[Superintendent]] observing The Rookie.

File:Halo-3-ODST-rookie-wide.jpg|The Rookie inspecting a can of [[Biofoam]].

File:H3ODST Data Hive Dare and Rookie.jpg|The Rookie and Dare fighting in the [[Yanme'e]] hive.

File:RookieAsleep.png|The Rookie sleeping under the staircase in the ONI facility.

<references group="note"/>

[[Category:Humans|D,J]]