Editing Nina Kovan

'''Nina Kovan''', nicknamed '''The Stoic''',{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Site|Id=whm|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/womens-history-month-2024|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Women's History Month 2024|D=1|M=3|Y=2024}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp31|TRP|31}} is a [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]] supersoldier of [[Fireteam Shadow]] in the [[United Nations Space Command]],{{Ref/Site|Id=rundown|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-rubicon-rundown|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder: Rubicon Rundown|D=3|M=8|Y=2022}} operating under the callsign '''Shadow Four'''.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFourward|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-fourward-unto-dawn|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder: Fourward Unto Dawn|D=10|M=11|Y=2022}}{{Ref/Note|In ''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol'', other than Nina Kovan and Bonita Stone, the two remaining members of Fireteam Shadow were only identified as Shadow One and Shadow Two. This article assumes only the callsigns of Nina Kovan and Jason Kidman—formerly Shadow Two and Shadow Four in ''Halo: Vertical Umbrage''—were swapped, while Bonita Stone retained the callsign of Shadow Three.}}

===Early life and career===

Nina Kovan was born on [[Gilgamesh]] on [[2534#March|March 21, 2534]]. For her entire military career, Kovan was considered an exemplary marksman. Eventually, when knowledge of the heroic Spartan supersoldiers like [[Linda-058]] began to be more widely known, Kovan became obsessed with the study of the Spartan's records and methods, hoping to glean anything she could apply to her own battlefield approach.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} Circa [[2550]], Kovan served on the {{UNSCShip|Relentless Watch}}, where she met [[Bonita Stone]]; the two would later go on to serve in Fireteam Shadow.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TRP30|TRP|30|Quote='Ten years,' Kovan finally said. 'We met on the reconnaissance starship ''Relentless Watch'' before joining the SPARTAN-IV program. Recon was hardwired into her DNA from the beginning.'}} When offered the opportunity to become a Spartan herself, Kovan jumped at the chance, eager to follow in the footsteps of her heroes.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} After joining the program, Kovan and Stone ran trials and tested [[HIVEMIND-class Mjolnir]] at [[ANVIL Station]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp1|TRP|1}}

===Battle of Requiem===

 

===Requiem Campaign===

On [[2558#February|February 14, 2558]], Kovan—operating under the callsign Shadow Two—and the rest of Fireteam Shadow were dispatched to the Requiem to neutralize a Covenant base established two days earlier. Kovan observed from afar while her squad mates eliminated patrols and created a breach to break into the base. However, in the middle of the operation, [[Jared Miller]] reassigned the team on [[Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE|a priority operation]] to destroy the [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} ''[[Panom's Canticle]]'', which was deploying forces to "[[The Refuge (Requiem location)|The Refuge]]".{{Ref/Reuse|rundown}} Being too far from their Pelican, Shadow stole a Phantom from the [[Covenant Summit|Summit]] to get there.{{Ref/Reuse|VU}}

While [[Fireteam Crimson]] [[Battle at The Refuge|protected the science team from the Covenant ground forces]] at "The Refuge", Shadow took advantage of the stolen Phantom to rush into the ''Panom's Canticle'' hangar before the crew activated the shields. Shadow made rapid progress through the ship, but encountered heavy resistance as they approached the core. As Kovan, [[Horatio Fry]], and [[Jason Kidman]] cleared out the last Covenant soldiers in the hallway leading to the main reactor room, Stone had already infiltrated there, armed with her [[active camouflage]]. Kovan fired her ''[[Selene's Lance]]'' at the ship's power core. With the power core overloaded, the cruiser was destroyed, bringing an end to the Covenant's attack. Kovan and the rest of Shadow escaped onboard a {{Pattern|Gloto'kef|assault carapace}}.{{Ref/Site|Id=VU|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-4-vertical-umbrage|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Halo 4 <nowiki>|</nowiki> Vertical Umbrage|D=7|M=11|Y=2022}}{{Ref/SpOps|Id=everything|Memento Mori|Everything Has Gone Wrong}}  

On December 12, 2559, Spartan Kovan was onboard {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} when it was ambushed by [[Banished]] forces upon arrival at [[Installation 07]]. As the ''Infinity'' fell to the Banished assault, [[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] was evacuated from the ship, and Spartan [[Hudson Griffin]] ordered all Spartans to evacuate.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Evacuation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Evacuation #01 - Infinity Down}} Kovan left the ship on a [[M9407 drop pod]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp2|TRP|2}} and as she entered the ring's stratosphere, she saw a trio of Phantoms attacking an [[RLT-85 Emergency Shuttlepod|RLT-85 shuttlepod]]. Kovan adjusted her drop pod trajectory for the Phantoms in an attempt to board one.{{Ref/Game|Id=e4|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Evacuation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Evacuation #04 Perfect Aim}} She successfully took control of the Phantom and landed on the ring's surface, where Kovan provided [[SRS99-S7 AM sniper rifle|sniper]] overwatch for members of [[Fireteam Taurus]] as they attacked a Banished anti-air artillery.{{Ref/Game|Id=e5|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Evacuation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Evacuation #05 - Overwatch}} While Taurus advanced towards the artillery, Kovan approached the shuttlepod and saved the survivors from an attacking Banshee by destroying the aircraft with two rounds from her [[SRS99-S7 AM sniper rifle]]. Kovan then instructed the survivors to gather the weapons, rations, and supplies from the shuttle; she handed her [[M11 combat knife]] to [[Erik Bender]] when he identified himself as a retail specialist and a barber.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=rp2}} Over the next six days, Kovan led the survivors across the region. They eventually rendezvoused with another group of survivors led by Spartan Stone. The combined group of non-combatants became the "[[boat crew]]".{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp7|TRP|7}} Led by Stone and Kovan, the boat crew travelled to the UNSC stronghold at the wreckage of the {{UNSCShip|Mortal Reverie}};{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp8|TRP|8}} they arrived on December 19.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp9|TRP|9}}

On [[2560#January|January 20, 2560]], Stone and Kovan conducted a recon sweep deep inside Banished-occupied territory.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}} They observed that Banished forces were only unified under Escharum, with internal competition among its members. Kovan reported their findings to Griffin, and suggested that an attempt on Banished [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]]'s life may fragment the Banished leadership.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Reverie 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Reverie #06 - Weakness}} On January 23, Spartan Griffin, the ''de facto'' leader at the crash site, led Spartans [[Panago]], Malik, and [[Sarkar]] in an assassination mission on Escharum.{{Ref/Game|Id=tlb|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Retaliation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Retaliation #02 - Those Left Behind}} Kovan was among the Spartans that remained to defend the ''Reverie''.{{Ref/Game|Id=dtl|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Retaliation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Retaliation #06 - Drawing the Line}} However, the assassination on Escharum failed. Griffin sent an encrypted message to the ''Reverie'' on January 31 before he was captured and handed over to [[Chak 'Lok]] for torture. In his message, Griffin warned the ''Reverie'' of [[Battle of the Mortal Reverie|an impending Banished assault]].{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Retaliation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Retaliation #05 - Encroachment}}

Under the combined leadership of [[Bertold Vettel]] and counsel of Makovich, the UNSC forces at the ''Reverie'' braced for the Banished's attack.{{Ref/Reuse|dtl}} Kovan participated in the defense of the ''Reverie'' when the Banished launched [[Battle of the Mortal Reverie|an assault]] on the wreckage on [[2560#January|January 31, 2560]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp16|TRP|16}} Despite the preparations, the Banished assault under Chieftain [[Tremonius]] forced the UNSC forces to retreat from the ''Reverie'' on February 2.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Retaliation 2|Spartan Audio log|Detail=Retaliation #08 - The Retreat}} When the UNSC forces scattered into the valley, Stone and Kovan split off from the boat crew repeatedly to fight off pursuit parties, and eventually Stone did not return after leaving the group. Kovan and the boat crew hid in a nearby cave from Banished hunting parties. As one group neared the cave, Kovan's damaged armor malfunctioned left her temporarily immobilized. As the Banished approached, Browning ran from the cave and drew the enemy away. As soon as her armor rebooted and she was able to move, Kovan left to search for him, with no success.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp18|RP|18}} The surviving members of the boat crew waited until Kovan returned with supplies, then set off on the morning of February 5.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp19|RP|19}}

Over the next month, Kovan led the boat crew across the region; with the enactment of the [[Rubicon Protocol]], they were resolved to deter the Banished's efforts.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp21|RP|21}} Led by Kovan, the boat crew carried out numerous guerilla operations against the Banished.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp23|RP|23}} On approximately April 20, Stone and Kovan spotted each other in their sniper scopes; Stone made her way to Kovan, and reunited with the rest of the boat crew.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp24|TRP|24}} They noticed the increased air traffic from [[Escharum]]'s personal fleet towards the ''Reverie''—now [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|a Banished outpost named after the Chieftain who led the assault on the wreckage]]—and decided to investigate. Arriving at the area on 22 April, while the rest of the boat crew made a supply run to scavenge from a ledge that caught some of the supplies the Banished had thrown into the chasm below the outpost,{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp30|TRP|30}} Kovan and Stone investigated the newly-constructed outpost.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp26|TRP|26}}

On April 23, when Spartan Stone was scouting out the Banished outpost, she recognized Browning in the outpost from afar, then returned to Kovan to share her findings. That evening, while Stone provided overwatch, Kovan snuck into Outpost Tremonius and into the Phantom that held Browning. He couldn't be rescued, however, as the [[Harbinger]] and the Banished had put a pair of shackles on Browning's wrists, with a node on the Phantom's hull that would detect the sensors and detonate explosives within the shackles if Browning left the Phantom. Browning informed Kovan of the Harbinger, and opted to stay under captivity. Kovan gave him several recording transmitters, instructing Browning to learn whatever he could about the Harbinger or the Banished, and left a tracking beacon to Browning's neck. The Spartan made a promise to find Browning, then left as a pair of Jiralhanae patrol approached.{{Ref/Reuse|rp26}} Seeing two Jiralhanae patrols approaching Kovan, Stone created a distraction to allow Kovan to escape, but was unable to regroup with Kovan, because the Banished was tracking her closely.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp28|TRP|28}} Only Kovan returned to the camp to link up with the boat crew.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp30|RP|30}}

Having caught attention of UNSC activity at the beacon tower, Jega 'Rdomnai led a massive reinforcement from [[Site Novem|their nearby excavation site into the Conservatory]] to the beacon tower. Before he could reach the beacon, Cameron was run down and killed by a Banished [[Terror Wraith]]. After Bender managed to kill the Wraith's pilot, Kovan hurried to Cameron—knowing he had passed—and dragged his lifeless body by the collar behind cover at the beacon.{{Ref/Reuse|rp36}}

In the ensuing battle, while Kovan fought off Banished troops,{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp39|TRP|39}} Horvath managed to kill Gorian, but was teleported away.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp38|RP|38}} At around the same time, Dimik took a plasma round in the shoulder from Banished forces while she scrambled to rejoin Bender and Kovan.{{Ref/Reuse|rp36}} As the Banished surrounded the trio, they were rescued by Veridity, who flew in and fired her [[focus beam]] at the Banished, then teleported the survivors to another location before disappearing. The three spent the next four days treating their wounds and repairing equipment; Kovan's armor in particular proved to have taken much more effort for Bender and Dimik to repair. As they rested and contemplated their wins and losses at the beacon tower, they agreed their next step would be rescuing Browning from the [[Tower]].{{Ref/Reuse|rp39}}

Holding a reputation among other Spartans as a nut they could never crack, Nina Kovan is nicknamed "The Stoic" due to her lack of external emotion and often expressionless face,{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Reuse|whm}} though Horvath noted she has a perpetual frown.{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}} Because of her stoicism, Kovan stays calm and even-keeled in any situation,{{Ref/Reuse|rp1}} as well as never responds to sarcasm. However, if something Kovan planned had gone wrong, Stone noted that Kovan would take it the hardest, though she would refuse to let it show in her demeanor or let it affect her work.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}} Kovan also holds a reputation that [[Henri Malik]] remained unfazed when Kovan claimed she intended to board a Phantom by ramming her drop pod into the dropship.{{Ref/Reuse|rp2}}{{Ref/Reuse|e4}} In addition to being an exceptional marksman,{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}} Kovan is also known for her stealth ability, capable of avoiding detection even by other Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}

Due to the camaraderie between Kovan and her longtime friend and squad mate Bonita Stone, the latter is often able to prompt Kovan to joke, smirk, or even snort.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp24}} Stone notably was known to be the only one who could make Kovan laugh.{{Ref/Reuse|whm}} The two held a close bond; Kovan empathized and reassured Stone when they considered whether Fry and Kidman survived the battle over Installation 07;{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}} when the two reunited after the battle of the ''Mortal Reverie'', Kovan revealed her vulnerable and weakened condition—due to her armor's malfunctioning density regulator—to Stone, while keeping her condition a secret from the rest of the boat crew.{{Ref/Reuse|rp24}} Kovan was visibly sad and grieving when she found Stone's body,{{Ref/Reuse|rp30}} and upon hearing the name of Stone's killer from Horvath, she dropped her calm demeanor and gripped Horvath closely, allowing him to see the pain and fury in her eyes.{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}} Although Kovan was initially quite cold and blunt to members of the boat crew,{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp15}} she grew to care for each member, especially for Browning—who saved the lives of the boat crew, including Kovan's, by leading away Banished pursuers while Kovan's armor locked her in place. Due to the guilt and pain of this incident, Kovan considered breaking out Browning by herself when she learned that he was being held at Outpost Tremonius. When she could not escape with Browning, she was gripped with heartbreak and made a promise to rescue him eventually.{{Ref/Reuse|rp26}}  

Kovan has glacial blue eyes and pale-blond hair that she generally has cut above her ears.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp30}} During the Battle for Zeta Halo, months of staying on the move resulted in her hair growing long enough to touch her shoulders, at which point it was described as wavy.{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}} Kovan has pale cheeks and a rigid jaw,{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp26}} as well as a face possessing strong bone structure that made her easily recognisable.{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}}  

During the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]], she wore a Mjolnir [[GEN3]] [[Mark VII]] armor with jungle camo,{{Ref/Reuse|rp15}}{{Ref/Reuse|rp31}} employing the [[STORMFALL-class Mjolnir|Stormfall]] helmet, the [[UA attachments|UA/Faunus]] shoulder pads, and UA/Type SA knee pads.{{Ref/Novel|TRP|cover art}} She gave her [[M11 combat knife]] to Erik Bender.{{Ref/Reuse|rp2}}

Kovan's personal AI was [[Mouse]]; she liked Mouse's quiet demeanor.{{Ref/Reuse|rp2}} The months of constant battle on Installation 07 severely damaged Kovan's armor, rendering many of its systems inoperable and in need of repair.{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp38|TRP|38}} This included a bad shield sensor that Kovan couldn't get replaced before the fall of the ''Reverie'',{{Ref/Reuse|rp14}} an [[active camouflage]] module that was operating with 80% efficiency by April 2560,{{Ref/Reuse|rp26}} a malfunctioning density regulator, fried long-range comms and a fried AI from a shock rifle hit, and short-range comms that only connected half of the time.{{Ref/Reuse|rp24}} Up until it was lost during the Banished assault on the ''Mortal Reverie'', Kovan used a custom sniper rig called "[[Abbey Lime]]". After this, she often carried a standard [[SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp23|TRP|23}}

*In ''Halo Infinite'', Nina Kovan was portrayed by voice actress [[Wikipedia:Sarah Elmaleh|Sarah Elmaleh]],{{Ref/Reuse|whm}} who also lent her voice to [[117649 Despondent Pyre]],{{Ref/Game|HI|Halo Infinite credits|credits}} along with the Spartan Voiceprint 2FP4 in the [[multiplayer]] component of ''Halo Infinite''.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://sarahelmaleh.com/project/haloinfinite|Site=Sarah Elmaleh|Page=Project - Halo: Infinite|Quote=Sarah was very honored to join the cast of Halo: Infinite, and delighted to see the response from fans and critics alike. The game features a range of accents from Sarah: for special-reveal Despondent Pyre, Monitor of Zeta Halo, she deploys an imperious British RP; gutsy sniper Spartan Nina Kovan hails from Russia; and she's all good old-fashioned US grit for selectable Spartan Multiplayer voiceprint 2FP4.|D=4|M=12|Y=2022}}

*Nina Kovan, along with [[Tomas Horvath]], was set to be killed in the ''Halo Infinite'' audio logs. [[Kelly Gay]], while writing ''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]'', discussed with [[343 Industries]] to cut the audio logs that depicted their deaths, allowing Gay to expand on the fates of the two Spartans in the novel.{{Ref/Twitter|KellyHGay|1626704260959199232|Kelly Gay|Quote=Glad you enjoyed it! :D Fun Fact: During game development Kovan & Horvath were originally KIA in the campaign audio logs story. Writing the book during development, gave me the chance to work w/343 to pick certain Spartans to keep alive & kicking. 🤗}} As with other Spartans in the audio logs, the bodies of Kovan and Horvath are available as Forge objects; [[Bertold Vettel]]'s body is similarly available in Forge while being unused in the campaign, but his fate was not expanded in the novel. Additionally, their armor configurations are depicted differently from their canon appearances in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)|Halo Encyclopedia]]'' and on the cover of ''Halo: The Rubicon Protocol''. In Kovan's case, the in-game version employs UA/Agathius shoulder pads—similar to other Spartans whose bodies ''are'' depicted in the campaign—and, like Horvath's [[ANUBIS-class Mjolnir|Anubis]] helmet, the Stormfall helmet on Kovan's body is equipped with the [[Hardened Uplink#Model 990101-1 FLAMINGO|HUL-I/XFTREC/FLAMINGO]] attachment—a permutation unavailable to [[Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|player customization]].

File:H5G_NinaKovan_Gen2.png|Nina Kovan in her GEN2 GUNGNIR armor, wielding ''[[Selene's Lance]]'' during [[Operation: VERTICAL UMBRAGE]].

File:HINF HW NinaKovan.jpg|Portrait of Kovan in her GEN3 Stormfall armor.

File:HINF_Coating_Wild_Kovan_Armor.png|Kovan's appearance and [[Armor coatings (Halo Infinite)|armor coating]], Wild Kovan, available in ''Halo Infinite''{{'}}s multiplayer.

File:HINF ForgeKovanBody.png|Kovan's body as a Forge object in ''Halo Infinite''.