Editing Vladimir Scruggs

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Human
|name=Vladimir Scruggs
|image=[[File:Vladimir2.png|300px]]
|homeworld=
|birth=
|death=[[2558#March|March 5, 2558]]
|causeofdeath=Stabbed in the throat by [[Sarah Palmer]]
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Human]]
|gender=Male
|height=
|mass=
|hair=Bald
|eyes=Blue
|affiliation=*[[Spartan Operations]] {{C|formerly}}
**[[SPARTAN-IV program]]
*[[Insurrectionist]]
**[[New Colonial Alliance]]{{Ref/Reuse|Issue 5}}
|rank=Spartan
|sn=
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|I am a Spartan. But what you fight for isn't always the same as who you fight for.|Vladimir Scruggs}}

'''Vladimir Scruggs''' was a [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV supersoldier]] who at some point in his career defected to the [[New Colonial Alliance]].<ref name="Issue 5">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 5|Issue #5]]''</ref>

==Biography==
===Becoming a Spartan===
After the [[Human-Covenant War]], Scruggs was recruited as one of the first members of the SPARTAN-IV program. Scruggs was knocked out during a training exercise in [[2553#January|January 2553]]. After Spartan [[Sarah Palmer]] completed the objective, their trainer, [[Jun-A266|Jun]], berated them for nearly losing to the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] they were competing against. Scruggs complained that if he had [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR armor]] he could take on twice as many enemies. While Spartan [[Joel Thomas]] agreed with him, [[Musa-096|Commander Musa]] said they would get the armor when they deserved to wear it.<ref name="HI2">'''[[Halo: Initiation]]''', ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 2|Issue #2]]''</ref>

Days later, Scruggs and his fellow Spartans embarked on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. There, he was struck by the enormity of the ship. However, an [[Insurrectionist]] attack led by [[Ilsa Zane]], the first SPARTAN-IV, interrupted the tour and locked the Spartans on S-deck. While Spartans Palmer and [[Edward Davis|Davis]] headed to ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bridge from space, Scruggs, Thomas, and [[Yeong-hao Holst|Holst]] repelled the Insurrectionists. At one point, Scruggs wanted to vent a group of trapped Insurrectionists into space, though he was stopped by [[Thomas Lasky|Commander Thomas Lasky]].<ref name="HI3">'''Halo: Initiation''', ''[[Halo: Initiation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

After the rebel attack on ''Infinity'', Scruggs was assigned to [[Fireteam Jackknife]].<ref name="HE1">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref>

===Battle of Ealen IV===
{{Main|Battle of Ealen IV}}
In [[2558#March|March 2558]], Scruggs and the rest of Fireteam Jackknife, along with [[Fireteam Bailey]] led by [[Paul DeMarco]], were assigned to escort and provide security for [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] and [[Kaidon]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] on a diplomatic mission to [[Ealen IV]]. While Hood and 'Vadam were negotiating with the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]], [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|Covenant mercenaries]] led by [[Shipmaster]] [[Vata 'Gajat]] attacked the delegates. Commander Palmer ordered Scruggs and the other SPARTAN-IVs to clear the chamber and help the delegates evacuate. After their [[DS-004|evacuation ship]] was destroyed, the Spartans escorted the delegates to a nearby parts depot. Once everyone was inside, DeMarco sealed the depot to halt the incoming Covenant forces.{{Ref/Reuse|HE1}}

Inside the depot, the Arbiter informed the party of a redoubt in which they could take refuge. Spartan [[Naiya Ray]] of Jackknife left with Captain Lasky to reestablish communication with ''Infinity''. As the party attempted to escape the storage depot, Scruggs and the rest of Jackknife were tasked with ensuring the safety of Lydus and his Jiralhanae bodyguards. Soon after their escape, they were intercepted by a Covenant [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Lich]]. Commander Palmer destroyed the Lich but was attacked by a surviving [[Sangheili]]. Scruggs killed the Elite, saving Palmer just in time.

Jackknife and the alien bodyguards then left the delegates to ensure that the redoubt was safe to use as shelter. As the party arrived at the redoubt, Scruggs killed his team and the Brute bodyguards. He then notified [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Daniel Clayton]], a member of the [[New Colonial Alliance]] who had leaked the location of the peace talks,{{Ref/Reuse|Issue 5}} of Fireteam Jackknife's elimination. After that he radioed Palmer to inform her that it was safe to bring the delegates into the redoubt.<ref name="HE2">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue #2]]''</ref>

[[File:HE Scruggs killed.jpg|thumb|250px|Scruggs being killed by Palmer.]]
When the party arrived, Scruggs ambushed the delegates and took Admiral Hood hostage, using him as a human shield. Palmer was shocked by Scruggs' treachery, urging him that as a Spartan he was above such behavior. Scruggs accepted that he was a Spartan but insisting that he was fighting for something else. When Palmer accused him of being an [[Insurrectionist]], Scruggs scoffed at her and told her she was unaware of a grander scheme surrounding the UNSC, mentioning the [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on New Phoenix]], the Arbiter's inability to make peace, and the disappearance of Spartan [[John-117]]. Palmer then shot Hood in the leg, causing Scruggs to lose his grip on him, and quickly tackled Scruggs out of a window onto a platform below. Scruggs tried to take aim at Palmer but she threw a knife into his wrist, forcing him to drop his pistol. When he tried to use his own combat knife, Palmer quickly disarmed him and stabbed him in the throat, killing him.<ref name="HE3">'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

==Personality and traits==
During his [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]] training, Scruggs was very headlong and rash. He charged the [[UNSC Marines]] he was competing against without any weapons, allowing the Marines to quickly eliminate him from the training exercise. After being berated by [[Jun-A266]], Scruggs complained that he deserved to wear armor, since he was a Spartan.{{Ref/Reuse|HI2}} Scruggs became disillusioned with the [[Unified Earth Government]] and the [[UNSC]]'s post-war involvement. He began questioning the events that were occurring throughout the galaxy, such as why the [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on New Phoenix]] was blamed on [[Covenant remnants]], why [[Thel 'Vadam]] was [[Blooding Years|unable to make peace]] with his species, and the disappearance of Spartan [[John-117]]. Scruggs claimed to be a Spartan, but he stated that he was not affiliated with the UNSC or the "[[Insurrectionist]]s".{{Ref/Reuse|HE3}}

==Equipment==
Scruggs wore the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Soldier|Soldier]] variant of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR GEN2]] armor with [[FOTUS]] forearms, [[Recruit]] legs, and a [[Visor color|Solar visor]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/canon-fodder-1-15-15-just-getting-started/1091aee3-f861-4b8b-b405-f3dfd01a4e65/posts?page=2#post32 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''Canon Fodder 1-15-15: Just Getting Started (Catalog Answer)'']</ref>
During the [[Raid on UNSC Infinity|Raid on UNSC ''Infinity'']], he wielded an [[MA5D assault rifle]]{{Ref/Reuse|HI3}} and an [[M739 SAW]] during the [[Battle of Ealen IV]].{{Ref/Reuse|HE1}}
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Vladimir.png|Scruggs's less detailed appearance in ''Halo: Initiation''.
File:Jackknife.png|Vladimir Scruggs alongside the rest of Jackknife.
File:HE Scruggs betraying his team.jpg|Scruggs betraying his team.
File:HoodHostage.png|Scruggs holding Lord Hood hostage.
File:HE3 Palmer vs Scruggs.jpg|Palmer battles against Scruggs.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Human characters|Scruggs, Vladimir]]
[[Category:Spartan-IVs|Scruggs, Vladimir]]
[[Category:Insurrectionists|Scruggs, Vladimir]]