Editing Miranda Keyes

{{Era|UNSC|HCW}}

{{Character Infobox|variant=Human

|image=[[File:H2A - Miranda.png|325px]]

|homeworld=[[Reach]]<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/catherine-elizabeth-halsey '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catherine Halsey'']</ref>

|birth = [[2525|February 28, 2525]]<ref name="news"/>

|death = [[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]<ref name="Fortitude">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/video/herofortitude/bfe5038b-314a-4f17-a6be-f7613e0e3788 '''Halo Waypoint''', ''Hero-Fortitude'']</ref> (aged 27)

|gender=Female

|height = {{Convert|178|cm|ftin}}

|mass= {{Convert|151|lb|kg}}

|hair = Dark Brown

|eyes = Green

|affiliation=[[UNSC]] [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]

|rank = [[Commander]]<ref name="evg">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 107''</ref>

|sn = 15972-19891-MK<ref name="evg"/>

|notable = She is the daughter of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] and [[Catherine Halsey]]<ref name="journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''</ref><ref name="evg"/>}}

'''Commander Miranda Keyes''',<ref name="evg"/> born '''Miranda Halsey'''<ref name="name">'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', ''April 6, 2550'' ("''Initially, she likely joined the military to impress her father; after all, she had her name legally changed.''")</ref> ([[service number]] '''15972-19891-MK'''),<ref name="evg"/> was the daughter of the late [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] and Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]].<ref name="evg"/> Miranda quickly ascended through the ranks of the [[UNSC Navy]] and served as the [[commanding officer]] of both the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} as well as the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} during the final months of the [[Human-Covenant War]].  

She was also the commander of the human expedition force to [[Installation 00]] in [[2552#December|late 2552]], leading humanity in the final battle of the war.

Miranda Halsey was born in [[2525]] to Catherine Halsey and Jacob Keyes. She lived with her mother on [[Reach]] until [[2531]] at the age of six, when she was sent to live with her father because her mother felt that she could not provide the care her daughter deserved. In the following years she changed her last name to Keyes.<ref name="name"/> She would live in an apartment at [[Mare Insularum]] on [[Luna]], where her father taught at the [[Academy at Mare Nubium]], or Luna Officer Candidate School.<ref name="journal"/><ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 36''</ref> Dr. Halsey attempted to dissuade Miranda from joining the UNSC military, to no avail.<ref name="apr 6">'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', ''April 6, 2550''</ref> Miranda was accepted to the Academy's pre-enlistment training at age 16, being the second-youngest to ever have attended the school. After graduating with honors, she immediately requested assignment to active duty.<ref name="news">'''[[Halo: Reach Limited Edition]]''', ''[[Intersystem News]], LCDR Miranda Keyes Awarded Silver Star''</ref>

[[File:Miranda with Father.png|thumb|left|200px|A sketch from Halsey's journal depicting Miranda with her father.]]

She was assigned to the {{UNSCShip|Hilbert}}, an older, unarmed science vessel patrolling the outer reaches of UNSC-controlled space. This was due to her mother's influence, who wanted to keep Miranda out of harm's way.<ref name="apr 6"/> Despite this, the ship was used by Keyes to play a critical role in the [[Battle of Gamma Pavonis VII]], ramming the ''Hilbert'' into a [[Covenant destroyer]]. Keyes was one of two of the ship’s crew to make it to the escape pods. In the following years, Keyes spent most of her time in the front lines, playing a crucial advisory role in the coordination of several major offensive strikes against Covenant targets. This proved invaluable to her as she quickly rose through the ranks of the UNSC. Throughout her career, she was forced to confront accusations of nepotism from those who ascribed her rapid rise in rank to the position and influence of her father, Jacob Keyes.<ref name="news"/>

Throughout her life, Miranda harbored a resentment for her estranged mother, and she stopped answering Halsey's letters at one point after having her name changed.<ref name="news"/> At some point while she was a Midshipman, she sent her mother a message, stating that she was somewhat aware of what Dr. Halsey [[SPARTAN-II Program|had done]]. She promised to keep who her mother was a secret, simply because she didn't want her father associated with what she had done. She ended the message promising to make sure she would take after him.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 186''</ref> A rare exception to her silence was when she invited her mother to her promotion ceremony, although Halsey did not come.<ref name="apr 6"/> According to AI [[Black-Box]], Miranda kept a journal [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|like Halsey did]], and wondered how Dr. Halsey would feel if she read it.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 148''</ref>

In [[2550#April|April 2550]], Miranda was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant Commander]] in a promotion ceremony at downtown [[Quezon]] on [[Reach]]. [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] also personally awarded her the [[Silver Star]], and it was announced that she would assume command of the {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}} {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}. Immediately following the ceremony, Keyes was deployed back to active duty, having been able to postpone a mandatory leave required for those receiving high-ranking promotions.<ref name="news"/>

In [[2552]], she accepted her father's posthumous [[Colonial Cross]] on ''[[Cairo Station]]'' immediately before the [[Battle of Earth]]. At this time, she was assigned to the Medii Battle Group of the [[UNSC Home Fleet]].<ref name="evg"/> By this point she had achieved the rank of [[Commander]] at a young age.  

[[File:H2A-KeyesMedal.jpg|thumb|250px|Commander Keyes receiving her father's posthumous Colonial Cross from Fleet Admiral Hood.]]

At the start of the Battle of Earth, Miranda's vessel was docked at ''Cairo Station'', so that she could receive her father's honors. During the awards ceremony, the station was attacked and boarded. Miranda fought her way to her ship with the help of [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]], several [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] and the [[John-117|Master Chief]], the latter of whom also repelled [[Covenant]] boarders along the way.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref> As the Covenant armada began the invasion of Earth, she took ''In Amber Clad'' down to [[New Mombasa]], where she dispatched multiple [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropships with Marines to join the massive battle with the Covenant in progress there.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Outskirts]]''</ref>

During the battle, ''In Amber Clad'' was one of the only vessels close enough to follow the High [[Prophet of Regret]] when his [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]], ''[[Solemn Penance]]'' entered [[slipspace]] inside the city.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref><ref name="follow">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 185''</ref>

Later, Keyes and Johnson went to the [[Library]] of the installation, accompanied by most of the standard Marines of the ship. They attempted to retrieve the Index, and, although Keyes was successful, most of the Marines were killed or infected by the [[Flood]] that were infecting the installation. Once Keyes and Johnson had the Index, they were ambushed by [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]]. Johnson was knocked out, but Keyes was able to take down Arbiter's shields by wielding [[M7 SMG]] before also being knocked unconscious by [[Tartarus]]' [[Fist of Rukt]]. Seconds later, Keyes and Johnson were taken from the Arbiter by Tartarus and his band of [[Jiralhanae]]. The Jiralhanae then took Keyes and Johnson to ''[[High Charity]]'', where they met the remaining [[Hierarchs|High Prophet]]s of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]]. They were then taken aboard separate [[Type-52 Phantom|Type-52 Phantom dropships]] and were transported to Delta Halo's surface to aid in the activation of the installation.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref>

Keyes was taken to the [[Control Room]] of [[Installation 05]] because she had been designated as a [[Reclaimer]] by [[343 Guilty Spark]]. Tartarus then used her to begin the Installation's activation sequence. Shortly afterward Thel 'Vadamee and Johnson arrived, and the three of them were able to kill Tartarus. At that moment, she retrieved the Index and stopped the Halo from firing. However, Spark revealed that the shutdown activated a failsafe system; the rest of the Halos were set to standby mode, and could only be activated remotely from what Spark informed them was [[Installation 00|"The Ark"]]. After the Arbiter asked him its location, Spark gave them coordinates to [[Earth]].<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 197''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref>

The release of the Flood from the ring, however, would put their plans to get to Earth on hold. The new allies would rendezvous with the Arbiter's comrade, [[Rtas 'Vadumee]], now shipmaster of the recently-captured [[assault carrier]] ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', flagship of the [[Covenant separatists|separatists']] fledgling [[Fleet of Retribution]].<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Shadow of Intent'']</ref> Together, they formulated a plan for sterilization and quarantine. Spark remained with the fleet to coordinate containment efforts while Keyes, Johnson and the Arbiter raced back to Earth aboard one of the fleet's vessels to warn humanity and to locate the Ark.<ref>'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''"The Long Road Home"''</ref><ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

{{Main|Battle of Voi}}

{{Quote|no=two|q1=Now, the Prophet of Truth is looking for something called 'The Ark', where he'll be able to fire all the Halo Rings. If he succeeds, Humanity, The Covenant, every sentient being in the Galaxy...|Miranda|q2=The rings will kill us all.|John-117|Miranda debriefs Chief}}

[[File:Crow's Nest - Reunion.png|thumb|250px|Commander Keyes with Thel 'Vadam, Avery Johnson and the newly-retrieved John-117.]]

Upon their return to Earth around November 15, 2552, Keyes took up command at the [[military base|base]] [[Crow's Nest]] outside of the town of [[Voi]], near the location of the [[Portal at Voi|supposed Ark]], undergoing excavation.<ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref> Truth's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] arrived two days later, landing directly on the artifact while John-117, who had secretly stowed away during its departure from ''High Charity'', bailed out into the [[Tanzania|Tanzanian]] jungle. Johnson and the Arbiter [[Raid on Kilimanjaro|recovered]] the Chief and extracted him back to Crow's Nest, where Keyes detailed her plan to have the Spartan lead an effort to neutralize one of the [[Type-27 Mantis|AA batteries]] defending the excavation site in order to allow Lord Hood's ships to attack the Dreadnought. However, the base suddenly came under heavy Covenant attack and as it was overrun, Keyes and the command staff evacuated the wounded Marines and escaped on the last Pelican. A [[unidentified UNSC bomb|large explosive device]] that Keyes ordered left behind was detonated by the Master Chief, destroying a large portion of the attacking Covenant and most of the base itself.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref> Keyes supported the offensive towards [[Voi]] from Pelican [[Kilo 23]], from which she dropped off supplies for the Master Chief.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref>

While pushing into the main town of Voi in an attempt to stop the [[Prophet of Truth]] from activating the now fully uncovered "Ark", Keyes spotted [[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|a single Covenant battlecruiser]] coming towards Earth. However, Hood decided to ignore it, stating that they woild not have another shot at stopping Truth. After Truth succeeded in opening and retreating through [[the Portal]] outside Voi, the battlecruiser that Keyes had spotted was revealed to be infected by the [[Flood]]. It crash-landed near the Portal and the Flood began to spread throughout Voi.<ref>'''Halo 3''', ''[[The Storm]]''</ref> Keyes came up with a plan to overload the battlecruiser's engine core to destroy the city and the Flood. Keyes was contacted by the Sangheili of the newly-arrived [[Fleet of Retribution]] and informed that [[Cortana]] was seemingly aboard the cruiser. The Master Chief found the small data unit seemingly holding Cortana, but it was simply a damaged [[hologram|holographic]] message. As the Sangheili began to partially glass Voi to destroy the Flood, John-117, Keyes, Johnson, Hood, the Arbiter, [[Rtas 'Vadum]], and [[343 Guilty Spark]] met aboard the ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'' to discuss the current situation. After Guilty Spark repaired the [[Covenant storage device|Covenant storage unit]], Cortana's damaged message implied that the solution to the Flood was through the Portal. At Keyes' insistence, Hood allowed her to go through the Portal, donating his personal flagship, the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, to aid the Fleet of Retribution in the expedition.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>

{{quote|We have priorities, too. Until we kill Truth, stop the Rings from firing... nothing else matters.|Miranda underlining the importance of their mission}}

Keyes and the rest of the expedition force arrived at the real Ark--[[Installation 00]]--on [[2552#December|December 11]].<ref name="Fortitude"/> Although the ''Dawn'' was unable to best [[Truth's fleet]] in direct combat, Miranda was able to fend them off long enough to reach the Ark. During the [[Battle of Installation 00]], she landed troops and large quantities of weaponry and armor on the Ark, largely to supplement John-117's search for the [[Cartographer]] facility. Throughout the battle, she worked with Guilty Spark and 'Vadum to fight off the Covenant forces. Although Guilty Spark wished to find terminals near the core of the installation to aid in the repair of Cortana's storage unit to find the solution to the Flood, Keyes and 'Vadam agreed to focus on eliminating the Prophet of Truth to prevent the firing of the [[Halo Array]].<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref>

[[File:Keyes last stand.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Miranda Keyes moments before her death at the hands of the Prophet of Truth.]]

Realizing that John and Thel 'Vadam would never get there in time to stop Truth, Keyes decided to stall Truth herself. She crashed her Pelican into Truth's position, intending to stop the Array's firing and rescue Sergeant Johnson, who had been captured by Truth's forces. She exited her Pelican with an [[M90 shotgun|M90A shotgun]] and an [[M6G magnum]]. She was able to kill two Jiralhanae, and wounded (some fatally) several others but ultimately found herself outnumbered. Johnson demanded that she kill them both in order to halt Truth's plans. Keyes, unwilling to harm Johnson, hesitated. As she paused, the Prophet of Truth shot her in the back with a [[Type-25 Spiker]], killing her.<ref name="covenant"/>

[[File:H3 Miranda Keyes Death.png|250px|thumb|left|Miranda Keyes surprised after being shot in her spine as her life quickly fades.]]

Her death greatly disheartened and demoralized Johnson and he didn't resist when Truth used him to activate the Ark. Truth viewed Miranda's unwillingness to kill Johnson as proof that humans were weak and unable to set aside their compassion, which was why the Forerunners had left them behind. After the Master Chief and the Arbiter stopped Truth, Keyes' body was subsequently rescued from Flood infection by Johnson, who carried her into the Pelican which he used to escape the Ark's control room.<ref name="covenant"/> It is likely that her body was taken back to Earth, and buried there.  

[[File:H2A - Keyes with SMG.jpg|thumb|250px|Keyes with an [[M7 SMG]].]]

Due to her unexpected move to follow Regret's ship into slipspace, she was described by [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Richard Lash]] as "the ballsiest officer in the Fleet". He further suggested that she may have been trying to live up to the reputation of her father or that she was simply "nuts".<ref name="follow"/>

In-game, Keyes appears as a [[non-playable character]] and is invulnerable to damage. When [[melee]]d, she won't bleed, she'll only bleed when shot at or when caught in a [[Type-1 plasma grenade|grenade]] explosion. If you do either of the aforementioned for a period of time in the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level Cairo Station she will moan. If you shoot her for some time or melee her in ''[[Halo 3]]'' she will scream hysterically.

<br clear="all" />

*Miranda Keyes was voiced by [[Julie Benz]] in ''Halo 2''. In ''Halo 3'', she was portrayed by [[Justis Bolding]] instead, allegedly because [[Bungie]] wanted Keyes to have a distinct accent.<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting=%7B586AE81D-35CC-4DE1-AAD8-920B33FDDDFC%7D Dexter's No. 1 Gal — Julie Benz — Previews a Killer Finale] Friday, December 15, 2006 <br />'''''TVGuide.com:''' Are you all done with your voice work for the ''Halo 3'' video game?''<br />

*Notably, Keyes was born five days after the Human-Covenant War began and died during its last major battle.

*In ''Halo 2'', Keyes' uniform collar bears the silver oak leaf of a commander and she is addressed as "Commander" in a formal setting. In ''Halo 3'', her uniform's collar has the golden oak leaf of a lieutenant commander, though its shoulder boards and sleeve ends bear the three full bars of a commander rather than the two full bars and one thinner bar of a lieutenant commander. ''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' confirms that she held the rank of commander at the time of her death.<ref name="evg"/>

*The ''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'' mistakenly claims that Keyes was killed by a Brute Honor Guardsman, though she was actually killed by the Prophet of Truth.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 73''</ref>

File:KeyesMiranda.jpg|Commander Keyes at the controls of UNSC ''In Amber Clad'' during the Battle of Earth.

File:H2ainambercladcrash.png|Miranda observing ''In Amber Clad'' crash site.

**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''

*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''

{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Humans|Keyes, Miranda]]