Editing Kip Silas

{{Status|Canon}}
{{New content|Halo: Smoke and Shadow}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Human
|name=Kip Silas
|image=[[File:Silas kipley.png|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Sedra]]
|birth=
|death=
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Human]]
|gender=Male
|height=
|mass=
|hair=Black or brown
|eyes=
|affiliation=*[[Sedran Colonial Guard]] {{C|Formerly}}
*[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
|rank=*Engineer
*Undercover agent
|sn=KS-67159-021127{{Ref/Novel|Id=HRenP|HRen|Chapter=Prologue}}
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=You gonna report it?|Kip Silas|q2=Yeah, rookie. I'm going to report it.|Rion Forge|Captain Rion Forge and Kip Silas discuss what to do concerning the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Roman Blue}}.{{Ref/Anthology|Id=HFraItF|HFra|Into the Fire}}}}
'''Kip Silas''', formerly '''Silas Kipley''', is an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] agent who formerly served undercover as an engineer aboard the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'', a heavily-modified {{Class|Mariner|transport ship}} captained by [[Rion Forge]]. He is the newest hire to join the ship's small crew.<ref name="hsas">'''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'''</ref>

==Biography==
At least according to his cover legend, Kip loved spacecraft as a child. He had models of {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}s and dreamed of getting to see one up close. Like many others, he lost people he cared about during the [[Human-Covenant War|war]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HFraItF}}

Silas Kipley was serving as a forensics expert for the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]] at the time of the [[2556]] [[terrorist attack on Sedra City]],<ref>'''[[Halo Channel]]''', ''Cooperative Protocol''</ref> in which his wife [[Talia Kipley|Talia]] and their unborn child were killed.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HRen8|HRen|Chapter=8}} Some time following the event, he was approached by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], who offered him a job as an undercover agent. Devastated by the loss of his family, Kipley accepted, hoping to prevent similar tragedies from befalling others. He was subsequently given a new identity as "Kip Silas" and was tasked with infiltrating an independent [[Salvaging|salvager]] crew led by [[Rion Forge]].<ref name="hsas"/>

Prior to being hired by [[Captain]] Forge in the last weeks or months of [[2556]], he conducted extensive research on her and her ship. Unbeknownst to Kip, she did even more research on him, though she did not manage to uncover his true nature as an ONI operative. When the time did come for a role on the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' to be offered and accepted, Rion made sure to clearly state the rules that would govern how they salvaged: there was to be no smuggling of any kind and no sales of large arms or WMDs.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HFraItF}}

In January of [[2557]], after having been out on a specific job for the past six weeks, the crew of the ''Ace of Spades'' returned to [[New Tyne]], [[Venezia]] for less than a day. Kip and the others dared to think that they were due for some rest and relaxation, but after valuable intel was offered to Rion, that idea shattered quickly. Kip accompanied Rion and [[Lessa]] to meetings with [[Nor Fel]] and [[Rouse]], at [[Nor Fel's clearing house]] and [[Tiny Birds]], respectively. Both individuals were instrumental in the acquisition of the location of a ship of unknown class or design, which turned out to be the wreck of the {{UNSCShip|Roman Blue}}. Having secured this data, the three made their way to the [[New Tyne Airfield]] where their ship and the rest of the crew waited. During a discussion about the possible finds that might await them at their destination, Kip revealed himself to be uncomfortable with operating outside the strict parameters set forth by the [[UNSC Salvage Directive]]. The others reassured him that the [[United Nations Space Command]] couldn't afford to waste time on salvagers like them and Rion reminded him that there were still moral precepts the crew adhered to in spite of breaking a law or two when the situation called for it.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HFraItF}}

Upon arriving at [[Eiro]], the moon of [[Chi Rho]] in the [[Ectanus 45 system]], Kip needed to be shown by the others both how to link the [[heads-up display]] of his helmet and communications to theirs, as well as how to activate the [[antigravity plate]]s on the carts used for collecting salvage. Thanks to Kip's expertise, the ''Roman Blue'' was instantly identified as a {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}. Forge split the crew up to investigate different parts of the wreck, with Kip and her heading for the bridge. It took them forty-five minutes and they had to backtrack numerous times before finally arriving. After [[Niko]] reported [[cryo chamber]]s that could be scavenged in the ship's cryo bay, Rion sent Kip to assist him. Before long, ordnance rocked the vessel as unknown assailants fired upon it.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=HFraItF}}

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==Personality and traits==
Kip Silas is a muscular man with a well-built frame. He is calm and easy-going. Most notably, he has been likened to a "walking data chip of every class of ship in the known universe". This knowledge makes him a great engineer. From an ethical perspective, Kip is very concerned with doing things carefully and correctly. He does not want to break the law if it is unnecessary, and he shows genuine concern for people he has never met that could be affected by his actions. Despite his reservations, he is drawn to adventure and discovery. Rion Forge was happy with his addition to her crew, and the two of them have been known to share smiles with one another at times at the expense of other crew members. He is described [[Walter Hahn]] with a lingering moral compass, and as someone who wants to see the best in people.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HRen3|HRen|Chapter=3}} Despite the difference in ethical viewpoints between himself and his employers, Silas believes that ONI is best suited to keep a disaster like the attack on [[Sedra City]] from happening in the future. He wishes to spare others his pain and is willing to work with ONI to help save lives.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HRen7|HRen|Chapter=7}}

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==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Nightfall: Cooperative Protocol|Cooperative Protocol]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Into the Fire]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''

==Sources==
{{References}}

[[Category:Human characters]]