Editing Malcolm Geffen

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Human
|name=
|image=
|homeworld=[[Wikipedia:Wolverhampton|Wolverhampton]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Earth]]<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 90''</ref>
|birth=c. 2520<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 83''</ref>
|death=
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Human]]
|gender=Male
|height=
|mass=
|hair=
|eyes=
|affiliation=[[UNSC Marines]]
|rank=[[Staff Sergeant]]<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/news/headline/the-halo-bulletin-101211-exclusive-book-excerpt-glasslands/280887 '''Halo Waypoint-''' ''The Halo Bulletin: 10/12/11, Exclusive Book Excerpt - Glasslands'']</ref>
|sn=
|notable=
}}
'''Staff Sergeant Malcolm J. Geffen''',<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 387''</ref> commonly known as '''Mal''', is an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]] in the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_005.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint —''' ''343 Sparkast <nowiki>#5</nowiki>'']</ref> In [[2553|January 2553]], he was assigned to [[Kilo-Five]], a highly covert intelligence unit under the command of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Serin Osman]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''"Chapter 2"''</ref>

==Biography==
===Human-Covenant War===
During the [[Human-Covenant War]], around [[2546]],<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 185''</ref> Geffen served in the same unit as fellow ODSTs [[Vasily Beloi]] and [[Emanuel Barakat]] and a solid camaraderie developed between them. During a battle on [[Imber]] near the end of the war, Geffen, Beloi and Barakat hijacked a [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] to exfiltrate from the planet,<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 64''</ref> later leaving the dropship on [[Criterion]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 429''</ref> Later in the war, Mal was stationed at [[Mars]], where the ODSTs are headquartered. On [[2552#October|October 13, 2552]], he was part of a scouting team that investigated gravitic and radiation anomalies near [[Argyre Planitia]]. On-site search and assessment revealed cloaked remote sensor platforms of unknown provenance, which triggered [[cryptonym WIDEAWAKE]]. [[2552#October|Four days later]], Mal reported multiple files detailing the initial findings of the scouting team.<ref>'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

===Post-war===
In [[2553#January|January 2553]], Mal Geffen and Vaz Beloi were hand-picked by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] Commander-in-Chief, [[Admiral]] [[Margaret Parangosky]], to serve under [[Serin Osman|Captain Serin Osman]] as part of a black operations team designated [[Kilo-Five]]. The team, comprised of pilot [[Lian Devereaux]], Dr. [[Evan Phillips]], Spartan [[Naomi-010]] and AI [[Black-Box]], were tasked with sowing discord amongst the disorganized [[Sangheili]]. On their way to the initial briefing in [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] in [[Sydney]], Mal and Vaz stopped by in the ruins of the [[Parthenon]] bar to raise a drink in honor of their friend Emanuel Barakat, who had been killed in action during the final stages of the war.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 35''</ref> 

As part of Kilo-Five, Geffen served aboard the [[UNSC prowler|prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}}, participating in several missions. They provided arms to [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] and the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], a faction opposed to the [[Swords of Sanghelios|allies]] of [[Thel 'Vadam]], the [[Arbiter]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 67''</ref> He and Vaz later extracted ONI agent [[Mike Spenser]] from the planet [[Reynes]], where they were involved in a brief firefight with several [[Kig-Yar]] who were attempting to claim the team's dropship, ''[[Tart-Cart]]'', for themselves. Kilo-Five also seized the Covenant cargo ship ''[[Piety]]'' and successfully captured an onboard [[Huragok]], [[Requires Adjustment]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 237''</ref> 

In February 2553, after ONI had established communications with the human survivors inside the [[Onyx]] [[shield world]], now known as [[Trevelyan]], Admiral Parangosky ordered Kilo-Five to arrest [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]. Geffen accompanied the party that entered the shield world via dropship, detained Halsey and brought her, along with the other survivors, aboard ''Port Stanley''. 

In March 2553, Evan Phillips, accompanied with a fragment of BB, left Kilo-Five to study Sangheili culture on Sanghelios. Mal had warned him not to get killed on his journey. Shortly after, Mal and Vaz were assigned to meet with Spenser, who was now assigned as an undercover agent on [[Venezia]]. Once in Spenser's hideout in the city of [[New Tyne]], Spenser showed them pictures of all the insurrectionist leaders based on the planet. They looked through the pictures and found one of them to be Naomi's father, [[Staffan Sentzke]]. However, their investigation was put on hold after an explosion in [[Ontom]], Sanghelios severed Kilo-Five's communication with BB's fragment and Phillips. They were retrieved by ''Port Stanley'' and sent in to recover him.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 456''</ref> 
 
===Mission on Sanghelios===
Arriving at Sanghelios during [[Blooding Years|'Telcam's assault on Vadam]], Kilo-Five searched for Phillips in the [[Temple of the Abiding Truth]]. They were initially refused entry into the temple by the Sangheili [[Olar]] because they were nonbelievers. As BB negotiated with him, a nearby Sangheili crowd became aggravated by their presence. Olar relented and allowed Kilo-Five inside the temple. After they realized that Phillips was no longer inside, they evacuated as the Sangheili mob stormed the area.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 179''</ref>

BB eventually located Phillips through an intercepted communication and they quickly traveled to [[Nes'alun keep]] in [[Acroli]] to evacuate him. They extracted Phillips in the midst of a skirmish at the keep.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 245''</ref> During their evacuation, their Pelican ''[[Tart-Cart]]'' was damaged by a [[Banshee]], forcing Devereaux to put her down for repairs. They were followed by a [[Phantom]] piloted by [[Forze 'Mdama]], who had been sent by 'Telcam to recover Phillips for them. After being instructed to help them with repairs, Forze handed over some pipes and wire and left. Devereaux was then able to get ''Tart-Cart'' off the ground.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 265''</ref>

On their flight back to ''Port Stanley'', a fire erupted and they had to re-route to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. There, they witnessed the UNSC's new flagship, ''[[UNSC Infinity|Infinity]]'', in action as it helped the Arbiter by destroying many of the Abiding Truth's vessels. Parangosky then ordered them to extract their informant 'Telcam from the ground. As Kilo-Five abducted 'Telcam from the battle, ''Port Stanley'' posed as a [[Kig-Yar]] pirate ship and destroyed a few of 'Vadam's ships in order to maintain the stalemate between the two factions. Kilo-Five dropped 'Telcam off on New Llanelli and were later retrieved by ''Port Stanley''.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 329''</ref>

===Venezian movement===
Shortly after the operation at Sanghelios, Mal was deployed to [[Venezia]]'s capital city of [[New Tyne]]. Under the cover identity of a UNSC deserter, he was to accompany Vaz in infiltrating the [[Venezian militia|local militia]] in order to gain information on the stolen Covenant battlecruiser ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]''. He replaced [[Naomi-010]] as Vaz's partner due to the risk of Naomi's relation to the rebel leader [[Staffan Sentzke]] compromising the mission.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 84''</ref>

Mal and Vaz met [[Nairn]] and were successful in infiltrating the local militia.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 147''</ref> They then met Staffan Sentzke and his son [[Edvin Sentzke|Edvin]] and were taken to see ''Pious Inquisitor'' due to their professed experience with Covenant equipment.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 183''</ref> Using a tracer planted by Vaz, Kilo-Five attempted to seize control of the ship using a slipspace FTL communicator located on Venezia. However, their hack was foiled by the ship's [[Huragok]], [[Sometimes Sinks]], who alerted Sentzke of the attempted intrusion.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 240-245''</ref>

Staffan Sentzke had Mal and Vaz captured and interrogated at the [[Stuttgart armory]]. Vaz revealed that he had information about Staffan's daughter. While Sentzke continued to question Vaz at a secure location, Black-Box used Mal and Vaz's [[neural interface|neural transponders]] to locate them.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 261-283''</ref> Naomi took the team's new dropship, ''[[Bogof]]'' — retrieved only moments earlier from ''[[Anchor 10]]'' — and rescued Mal from the rebels' compound, instantly killing [[Saul|the rebel]] posted to guard him.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 322''</ref> Meanwhile, Lian Devereaux took ''Tart-Cart'' to retrieve Vaz and took Sentzke prisoner. They returned to ''Port Stanley'' where Sentzke was informed about the Spartan program and allowed to reunite with his daughter.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 338''</ref>

===''Pious Inquisitor''===
{{Main|Skirmish on Pious Inquisitor}}
Meanwhile, a crew of [[Kig-Yar]] [[piracy|pirates]] contracted by 'Telcam located ''Pious Inquisitor''. The Kig-Yar, led by [[Shipmistress]] [[Chol Von]], boarded the ''Inquisitor'' and attempted to commandeer the ship for themselves. Sinks, distrustful of the Kig-Yar and only compliant to Sentzke's orders, placed the ship in complete lock-down. Once Kilo-Five located the ship, Sentzke convinced Sinks to allow him and Vaz to come onboard.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 398''</ref> Mal and Naomi subsequently boarded the ship in a different location and eliminated several members of the Kig-Yar crew.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 421''</ref>

With Mal and Naomi pressing on the [[bridge]], Shipmistress Von set the ship to explode and escaped with her remaining crew. While Kilo-Five escaped to their dropships, Sentzke took a [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] from the [[hangar bay|shuttle bay]] but stayed in range to ensure Naomi was safe.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 445''</ref> Sentzke was assumed dead when the ship self-destructed; unknown to Kilo-Five, he had actually survived, his Spirit having been outfitted with a miniature slipspace drive by Sometimes Sinks.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 452-456''</ref> 

With ''Pious Inquisitor'' destroyed and the Venezian threat seemingly neutralized for the time being, Kilo-Five was granted shore leave on [[Cascade]]. Mal and Vaz went to drink at a bar in the [[Old Admiralty Hotel]] in [[Kowloon]].<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 480''</ref>

==Personality and traits==
Mal Geffen is known to be sarcastic, flirtatious, and has an odd sense of humor. He is good friends with fellow ODSTs [[Vasily Beloi]] and [[Emanuel Barakat]]. After Barakat's death, Mal was determined to keep a promise to Barakat: to visit his favorite bar in [[Sydney]]. Mal and Vaz enjoyed going to different bars on other [[human colonies]] to try the drinks and flirt with women.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 92''</ref> Vaz was surprised that Mal did not attempt to flirt with [[Naomi-010]] when they first met.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 103''</ref> After watching [[Staffan Sentzke]] comfort a distressed [[Sometimes Sinks]], Mal began to pity him and had a hard time seeing him as a threat.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 197''</ref>

Mal is nervous around high-ranking members of the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], especially with [[Margaret Parangosky|Admiral Margaret Parangosky]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 27''</ref> Mal suffered from slight [[Wikipedia:claustrophobia|claustrophobia]], something he thought was silly since his career involved him free-falling into an unknown terrain in a "[[HEV|glorified coffin]]".<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 62''</ref>

==Trivia==
*Geffen's medical zap badge reads "A+/NO V-CIN" indicating his [[blood type]] is A+. The meaning of "NO V-CIN" is not clear, however NO may mean "nitric oxide" suggesting he may have at one time suffered from pulmonary embolism or angina. Alternatively, and perhaps more likely, it indicates that he should not be administered "V-CIN", likely a drug that is present in UNSC medical usage.
*While writing ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', [[Karen Traviss]] originally envisioned Mal as being [[Australia]]n, but later changed his nationality to British.<ref>[https://twitter.com/#!/karentraviss/status/137140490503073793 '''Twitter''': ''Mal started in my mind as...'']</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

[[Category:Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|Geffen, Mal]]
[[Category:Human characters]]