Richard Lash

"Commander Keyes is the ball-siest officer in the fleet!"

— Richard Lash, Halo: Ghosts of Onyx

Commander Richard Lash was a UNSC naval officer in the 2550's. Transferring to the Prowler Corp 2545, by 2552 he was the first officer of the prowler Dusk, but had to assume command after Captain Iglesias was injured.

He took the Dusk into the fight during The First Battle of Earth, and eventually had to take it into Slipspace to follow the UNSC In Amber Clad as well as the Prophet of Regret's Assault Carrier. Once they arrived at Installation 05, Lash witnessed the Civil War of the Covenant, as the Second Fleet of Homogenous Clarity destroyed itself. Lash was the first Human to return to Earth and give details of the Covenant civil war.

Lash was quickly ordered to take the Dusk to Onyx to provide the UNSC Stalingrad and its battle group with tactical data as well as observe the battlefield. Against Lash's better judgment, the Stalingrad's battle group charged into Onyx and was crushed by superior Covenant forces, forcing the Dusk to float adrift in space until they could escape. This opportunity came when Onyx exploded into a Shield World. Lash was able to escape The Battle of Onyx and keep his crew alive.

Lash's father was a welder on the Cradle and was killed when it was destroyed during the Battle of Sigma Octanus in 2552. Lash also owned an ancient gear watch, similar to that of Kurt's when he graduated from the OCS.