Tarkov was a member of the UNSC Marine Corps who participated in the Human-Covenant War [1]. Tarkov was an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, assigned to the 19th Shock Troops Battalion of the 105th ODST Division.
Background
A close friend, Staff Sergeant K. Stark, who had been a member of the 19th Battalion, was killed in action. Tarkov attended Stark's burial and afterward enlisted in the UNSC Marine Corps. He then went through a series of brutal training exercises, including live ammunition and combat crawls through mud to prepare him for combat against the Covenant Empire.
During one of his first battles, he dropped onto an unknown planet amongst other members of his battalion to engage Covenant forces. Several squads of Jiralhanae soldiers were present at the Marine's landing zone, with multiple Type-26 "Banshees" providing cover overhead.
One Jiralhanae Major had struck Tarkov while he was moving up the line, throwing him into a puddle. As the experienced Major was approaching the helpless Marine, a severely damaged Banshee crashed nearby, killing the Jiralhanae and saving Tarkov's life. Sometime later Tarkov, now a battle-hardened veteran with four other Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are seen burrying one of their dead comrades. A plasma explosion is heard in the distance, and the ODST's put on their helmets and move out.
Trivia
- After the battle scene, an older Tarkov and three other Marines can be seen around a burial for one of their men.