James Cutter: Difference between revisions

===Early career===

Cutter entered the [[UNSC School of the North Star]] on [[2500|September 15, 2500]], where he studied [[astronavigation]] and political science. He was then sent to the [[Officer Candidate School]] on [[2504|June 19, 2504]] where he was taught in command and navigation. He entered the Naval service as a [[lieutenant]] and junior navigation officer aboard the ''[[Stick]]'', a diplomatic attaché vessel assigned to {{UNSCShip|Brilliant Shores}}, on [[2507|November 16, 2507]]. He was later transferred to {{UNSCShip|Final Summit}} on [[2514|January 9, 2514]], whereupon he was appointed the ship's chief navigation officer.<ref name="Genesis">''Halo Wars: Genesis''</ref>

{{Main|Harvest campaign}}

{{quote|Five years, five long years. That's how long it took us to get Harvest back. At first it was going well. Then setback after setback... Loss after loss... Made what was going to be a quick and decisive win... Into five years of Hell. Of course, that's all Harvest really is today... It's Hell down there, but now it's ours again.|Cpt. Cutter about Harvest campaign}}

On [[2531|January 3, 2531]], Cutter was handpicked by [[Preston Cole]] to command the ''Spirit of Fire'' to assist the {{UNSCship|Prophecy}} over [[Harvest]]. Around February 4, 2531, when the Spirit arrived, it was too late, and Cutter sent a team to initiate the [[Cole_Protocol#Hypodermic-FXT-J|Hypodermic-FXT-J]] in the Prophecy.<ref name="HWTE">[[Halo Wars Timeline Events]]</ref><ref name="Genesis"/>

===Battle of Arcadia===

{{Main|Battle of Arcadia}}

Upon arrival at Arcadia on [[2531#February|February 9, 2531]], Serina reported to Cutter that the colony had come under attack by the Covenant and was in the midst of a full invasion. Cutter ordered Marines to the planet to evacuate civilian population centers.<ref name="Arcadia City"/> After the Marines and [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[Red Team]] evacuated [[Pirth City]], Cutter was informed of a Covenant energy dome on the surface of the planet near an [[Arcadia ONI facility|ONI facility]], protecting Covenant forces searching for Forerunner artifacts and concealing their activities. Cutter ordered Anders down to the surface in order to deactivate the energy dome using plasma-based [[M145D Rhino|Rhino artillery tanks]].<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Dome of Light]]''</ref> After clearing out Covenant forces under the dome, Anders was captured by [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] and taken aboard a Covenant [[CPV-class heavy destroyer|destroyer]]. Forge was in strong favor of rescuing Anders, though Spartan [[Jerome-092]] referred to Anders' capture as a "significant security breach" and suggested that the Covenant ship be destroyed. Cutter gave the order to pursue the enemy vessel through slipspace on to an unknown destination.<ref name="Anders' Signal">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Anders' Signal]]''</ref> Though a log buoy detailing ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s whereabouts had been left near Arcadia, Captain [[Terrence Hood]]'s desire for vengeance against the Covenant caused the log buoy to become irretrievable; as such, Cutter and ''Spirit of Fire'' were lost to the UNSC.<ref name="HE5"/>

{{Main|Battle of Shield World 0459}}

{{quote|If the Covenant get their hands on these ships it will mean the end of the war. We'll take our chances here, to give humanity some hope.|Cpt. Cutter's gamble}}

''Spirit of Fire'' arrived at an [[Shield World 0459|uncharted, desert planet]] (in reality a Forerunner [[shield world]]) on February 23; Anders' transponder signal was detected emanating from the planet's surface. Cutter sent several Marine reconnaissance teams to the planet, where a parasitic lifeform the ship's medical team believed to be a virus<ref name="HWTE"/> (actually the [[Flood]]) was soon found to have infested the biosphere.<ref name="Anders' Signal"/><ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[The Flood (level)|The Flood]]''</ref> ''Spirit of Fire'' was eventually drawn downward through a chasm beneath an artificial lake, though Cutter was adamant that all groundside personnel would be recovered rather than abandoned to the Flood.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Shield World (level)|Shield World]]''</ref> Once inside the artificial planet's superstructure the vessel came under attack from both the Flood and local Forerunner [[Sentinel]]s; Cutter ordered response teams to the dorsal surface to keep the ship's interior from being compromised.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Cleansing]]''</ref>

===Legacy===

''Spirit of Fire'' was declared "lost with all hands" on [[2534|February 10, 2534]], the ship having previously been classified as [[missing in action]]. The reason for this change was kept top secret. A memorial service was held for the vessel's crew, but many family members chose not to attend, holding out hope that their loved ones were still alive.<ref name="HWTE"/><ref group="note">Graeme Devine, the lead writer of ''Halo Wars'', wrote several essays about ''Spirit of Fire'' to assist the game's production team; however, he admits they are "basically fanfiction" and some [[HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton#Note|blatantly contradict canon]]. According to {{Plain|[http://www.graemedevine.com/graemedevine/Spirit_of_Fire/Entries/2009/3/14_The_Mystery_of_%E2%80%9CSpirit_of_Fire%E2%80%9D.html Devine's blog]}}, various theories circulated throughout the UNSC as to the ship's fate, ranging from being lost during a covert mission for ONI, destroyed in orbit over Arcadia, defecting to Insurrectionist forces, or being stranded in space. When Captain Cutter's widow, [[Mary Cutter|Mary]], was asked about the defection theory, she physically assaulted the reporter.</ref>

===Installation 00===

{{Main|Battle of Installation 00 (2559)}}

{{Quote|If we don't stop him now, we leave the galaxy at mercy of a monster.|Cpt. Cutter calling his crew to action.<ref name="atriox">''[[Halo Wars 2 Atriox Trailer]]''</ref>}}

In [[2559]], after 28 years of being in cryo sleep, James Cutter and the rest of the crew of the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' were awakened in orbit above the Forerunner [[Installation 00]]. There Cutter and the crew encountered the [[Banished]], led by the Jiralhanae [[Atriox]].<ref name="gamespot">[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-story-details-and-images-revealed/1100-6440811/ '''GameSpot''': ''Halo Wars 2 New Story Details and Images Revealed'']</ref>

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:HW2-Cutter(trailer).png|Captain Cutter in ''[[Know Your Enemy]]''.

File:HM-Cutter&Serina.png|James Cutter in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.