Samuel-B256 (TPF)

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"He lost his closest friend in 2549, reassigned to my team and became a force to be reckoned with. He's been solo for a bit now, but I know how to make him more dangerous. Let me put him under my team, and you will see the true weapon Samuel is in the field."

- Oriana-A058 on Samuel-B256 to Vilda Stenbeck.

Petty Officer First Class Samuel-B256 is a that works for the UNSC Navy and Office of Naval Intelligence. Conscripted into Beta Company, Samuel became a that launched operations for the  against  and  targets throughout the.

Leading Team Specter throughout the Human-Covenant War, Samuel and Mathilda B079 conducted operations till. Following the death of Samuel's Headhunter partner, he reassigned to a Non-Company Team named Red Team under the command of Oriana-A058. Samuel participated in numerous battles against the Covenant until the end of the Human-Covenant War.

Reassigned within ONI during the, Samuel rejoined the Headhunters as a LONEWOLF who operated under the codename DOVES. Samuel conducted operations and missions for the Beta-5 Division on the species as well as other tasks. In, Samuel was asked by Oriana to join a team she was creating named Team Osage.

Leaving the Headhunters and joining Team Osage, Samuel serves as the enlisted team leader and conducts intelligence based tasks. Samuel participated in numerous missions with Team Osage to ensure the success of each mission and operation. Throughout the, Samuel and Team Osage continue to conduct missions to undermine the and its allies.

Early Life
Born Samuel Jurek Gwozdz on May 17th, 2532, Juri and Odeta Gwozdz welcomed their first son into their lives. Raised in the city of Nowy Korfantów, Samuel grew up in a wealthy agricultural community that was pioneered by the Government of Poland back on Earth. Juri Gwozdz was a Vintner who was able to sell wine across the galaxy to clients while Odeta spent her time as a Sommelier for the business that her husband ran. While remaining extremely rich and ready to have a lavish lifestyle, Samuel grew up in a much different environment compared to the others around him. Sheltered from the galaxy, the young Gwozdz grew up within the small community creating his ambitions as well as ideas he was able to pair together. Nowy Korfantów was an extremely secluded area of New Harmony, but the Gwozdz were determined to raise their only son to inherit the business that the parents owned. Known to be a utopia by the residents outside, Samuel was bound to grow up in a world that he was not going to recognize for quite some time.

Early on in Samuel's life, he remained shy of others and found comfort in his mother due to her being around more. Taught to be compassionate and caring, Samuel worked on developing his skills with the house staff that was paid to live on the plantation. The endless fountain of love that Samuel's parents regularly gave became one of the many reasons that he felt safe with them anywhere they went in the world. As Odeta took her son out to the market or stores, she found Samuel being extremely shy of the other children in the city. By the time Samuel was four years of age, he had begun his education. Being picked up by his father, Juri noticed Samuel was more quiet than usual and got a call from the school's administration that Samuel was being picked on. Samuel was scared to talk to his parents due to the bullying he was experiencing at school. Once hearing what their son had endured, both parents planned to move to another school until one girl from his class showed up that night. "I remember Kalina well. She was my first friend, the one who always had an open hand and not a closed fist. She was the sister I did not have, the friend I needed the most."

- Samuel remembering his first friend, Kalina.

Kalina, a resident from one of the plantations, arrived and went to talk with Samuel. At first, Samuel was hostile towards Kalina and cited that he was not going to trust her since she did not stick up for him. She took his words and acted upon them the next day when she attacked the most massive bully of the group with swift kicks to the shin. Samuel found that Kalina was someone he was willing to trust and began to develop a form of friendship with the girl who left his bully hollering in pain. As the years progressed, Kalina and Samuel became nearly inseparable. Often, they were found at one another houses, always trying to find a way to talk with one another during class. They stayed in touch even if they were many kilometers apart. Samuel felt extremely safe and secure with Kalina, often sharing his thoughts and ideas that he held close to his heart. Respecting the law of reciprocity, Kalina shared ideas and beliefs she held tight to him that Samuel paid extra attention to during their discussions. "I cherished the days when I woke up to the sound of my mother's singing voice and the laughter of my father filling the room. Kalina is the one person I fully trusted and cared for, protected her from the other boys that would come to pick on her. But then they came and everything changed."

- Samuel reflecting on his life before everything changed.

An Outer Colony conflict known as the Human-Covenant War was slowly making its way towards the Inner Colonies. By 2537, the New Harmony Defense Force grew in strength, and the fear of an attack by the enemy was not on the minds of many that lived in Nowy Korfantów. On a warm day, the Covenant attacked the colony, and the Battle of New Harmony was underway. Samuel's hometown was ground zero for the Covenant Empire, and the enemies made their ways onto the plantations that belonged to the wealthy citizens. Samuel was pulled away by a servant who was ordered by Odeta to take her son to a shelter and wait for them to get their little boy. Crying for his parents to come with him, Samuel tried to pry himself away from the grasp of the servant and get back to his mother. When a Covenant drop pod slammed into the ground, a Sangheili emerged and killed the servant before looking down at Samuel. The nightmare that the creature was, Samuel screamed in fear till he heard a shotgun blast from behind and turned to see his father cock the shotgun again. Keeping his focus on father, Samuel remained frozen as he watched Odeta run towards him then get shot. Juri fell quickly after, and Samuel huddled up into a small spot crying after watching his parents die before his eyes.

Not long after, Samuel heard another drop pod slam into the ground, a UNSC (SOEIV), and an  (ODST) emerged with a desire to kill. Hearing a Slavic accent, Samuel turned his head to see an ODST staring down at him, which forced Samuel to try and crawl away from the scary helmet. The ODST picked up Samuel and started to carry him away, but struggled when the young boy turned into a vicious ball of hate for being dragged away from the bodies of his parents. Being sat down, Samuel watched as the ODST removed his helmet, and he noticed that the man was not a creature that killed his parents. Only able to speak Polish, Samuel asked about if his family and friend were alive, he received no response. Picked up by a transport shuttle, Samuel was taken away from the battlefield and taken to a new location where he was hopefully going to find where his friend was. Arriving at an orphanage, Samuel lost his parents and the one friend he always kept close to his heart.

Admitted to an orphanage in Tyumen, New Harmony, Samuel became one of the million orphans that were brought in after the Battle of New Harmony. Samuel found himself in a world of sickness and strange children, which led him to be even more afraid of the situation. He often cried for his parents, hoping that their death was fake and also tried to find his close friend Kalina. Doctors tried to administer Samuel aid but failed when he attacked them as he threw punches and kicks. At one point, he stole a key off a guard and made a run for the exit but stopped by much bigger guards. Despite many failures, Samuel refused to quit and used his frustration to break out of the orphanage. Other children knew Samuel as a mean child from a Polish city that was doing everything to get what he wanted. Samuel saw himself as someone trying to get back to his family and friend.

Two Office of Naval Intelligence recruiters posed as a couple looking to adopt spotted Samuel by his last name and the work that his father did as a successful vintner. Deciding to take a chance to learn more about the child of Juri Gwozdz, the couple learned about Samuel being a royal pain in the ass due to his relentless efforts to break out. One officer went with an administrative manager to learn about all the ways Samuel tried to break out as the other sat with him. The officer with Samuel saw the hate in his eyes, the look as if he just saw the darkness of death come right at his doorstep. The glassy stare told the officer that Samuel saw the Covenant and the horrors they brought. An offer was put down for Samuel to join an exclusive group of children who were going to get revenge on the Covenant. As the other officer returned, Samuel nodded at both of the officers and wanted to go with them. Samuel did not care where he was going; he only cared about getting revenge against the enemy that took everything from him in a flash of light. Not long after meeting, the couple adopted Samuel and then erased every single record of him. Samuel Jurek Gwozdz no longer existed, he disappeared from every database and transported to a new location where he began training.

Conscription and Training
Upon Samuel's arrival to in, he was quickly stripped of his name and given the phonetic identification as well as SPARTAN tag, Sierra-B256. Samuel decided to accept the name change and SPARTAN tag he received. On the first night for Beta Company training at, Samuel was forced to conduct a static airborne parachute jump which became his first test if he was SPARTAN material. Scared at first, Samuel quickly changed his mind and jumped in the hope that he was going to get back down to the ground and go to sleep. Passing the first of many tests, Samuel later met the drill instructors and the famous leader known as. The SPARTAN Indoctrination kicked off, and Samuel was thrown hard into the brutal training he underwent. Falling back into his old habits, Samuel stuck to himself and did everything he needed to make it to the next day then the next. Candidates dropped out, gave up, or quit throughout the early year of training, but Samuel hung in and kept fighting with a desire never to quit. Passing SPARTAN Indoctrination, Samuel pushed onto the next phase where he began his education as a SPARTAN.

Enrolled in academic classes, Samuel kicked off with an English Language Course which helped him understand the English language and how to speak it fluently. Enrolled in numerous classes such as Mathematics, Science, History, and English, he struggled with his ability to comprehend what the right answers were. Meeting Mathilda-B079 during a math class, Samuel found her snickering at one of his answers, and the two proceeded to fight. As a punishment for fighting, the two were forced to spend a week together due to their infractions. Despite their abilities to hide infractions, they formed an odd friendship due to their ability to hide things from the officers looking over them. Samuel came up with the ideas, while Mathilda found a way to disclose them from the eyes of the instructors. Throughout 2538 to about, the two showcased their ability to cheat on tests together using a code that no one else was able to decrypt. Samuel felt no guilt as he cheated due to the idea that he was able to win. It showcased his desire always to find a way to win, no matter the circumstances he was placed under at any time. Unfortunately,, the smart artificial intelligence was able to log the attempt as the fourth time he was able to detect the two cheating. Reprimanded for their behavior, it did not stop Samuel from creating new ways and ideas on how to get past the AI that continued to detect him and Mathilda. Eventually, the two graduated from their required academic classes and began to progress forward in their training.

rolled around, and Samuel was able to find someone he was able to trust. Quickly after spending a little downtime, Samuel and Mathilda were assigned to Team Tango where the two met and. At first, the four were at each other's necks about issues that failed to be executed during their Team Building Classes (TBC). The blame shifted around from the two groups within Team Tango, which led to a fight between Mathilda and Jonah at one point. Samuel was able to pull Mathilda off of Jonah but heard him snap a rude comment at her which resulted in Samuel and Mathilda getting in a fight with Roland and Jonah. SPARTAN Training Instructors broke up the fight, and the Office of Naval Intelligence monitored the four personnel fireteam as well as the fight. Wanting to defend his friend, Samuel felt it was right for him to attack Jonah then Roland after the two shared crude exchanges. Roland was named the Team Leader of Team Tango in, which led to protests from Samuel and Mathilda. The duo began to use teamwork, communication, and trust as a means to push through the brutal training together. During Team Tango's first assigned training mission, all members of the team were able to pass with exceptional numbers successfully. Many were impressed since nearly all other teams had failed their attempts to try and win. Enrolled in another, all members of Team Tango passed again and did it not as a cooperating fireteam. The Office of Naval Intelligence took an interest in Team Tango and the members of the team.

In, Samuel was selected to undergo a two-week assessment and selection course that was going to determine where he was going to serve as a SPARTAN. The evaluation included physical workouts, an academic course, an oral board that was, and a final test that was determined to break each candidate. Pushing through each course, Samuel lost in areas but made up for it in others. Luckily, Samuel was able to do the entire course with Mathilda, which helped him motivate her as well as she did for him. Finding where each other had their expertise, the two began to excel through the assessment and selection. Formerly known as a timid and scared child, Samuel had transformed into a sturdy and well-rounded candidate that did not flinch at any issue that was thrown at him. Taking bite sizes at a massive problem, he was able to showcase his ability to break down subjects to simple tasks. After the two-week course, Samuel was selected for a particular group along with Mathilda. Unsure of what was going to happen next, Samuel was determined to go through whatever was in front of him alongside Mathilda. Pulled aside from team training on an early morning, Samuel and Mathilda were loaded onto an unmarked Pelican and transported to a different location on Onyx where they began their training as Headhunters.

Headhunter Training
Arriving for Headhunter Training, Samuel and Mathilda underwent the desired matchmaking course to ensure if they were a good pairing. Scoring 96.92% in the matchmaking, Samuel, and Mathilda were cleared for their training together in the Headhunter Training. Samuel was more than willing to work alongside Mathilda to accomplish the mission he desired to set out. But over time, he found himself wanting to work with Mathilda due to the chemistry they showcased and becoming one of the elite eight who were bound to receive exclusive training. Enrolled in the Headhunter Operator Training Course, Samuel transformed from a SPARTAN and into a Headhunter who was going to carry out the most dangerous missions. Samuel started to undergo training with Mathilda with a focus on unit cohesion as well as their ability to achieve missions in the field. The two learned that they were to work with one another till their death, which they were happy with since there was no one else they wanted to fight alongside.

Undergoing the Headhunter Operator Training Course, Samuel was trained to become a Team Leader while Mathilda worked on becoming a marksman. Throughout the training, Samuel learned how to infiltrate, assault, gather intelligence, breach, sabotage, conduct psychological warfare, and be a spotter for Mathilda. The Operator Training Course revolved around the team's ability to work together in extremely stressful situations. Taught the Delphi method, both Samuel and Mathilda were able to accomplish the tasks set before them. Samuel found his calling to battle rifles and designated marksman rifles, which made him a well-rounded Headhunter that was able to accomplish any mission. Mathilda found herself teaching Samuel sniper tactics while he taught her demolition techniques. Both wanted to become experts in their fields to ensure that there was not a flaw in the team's ability to execute a mission.

Field Exercises included a variety of mission types that were bound to determine what type of missions Samuel and Mathilda were going to be conducting shortly. Targeted killings, sabotage, interdiction, demolition, and counter-terrorism became the top missions that the two were able to execute. Team chemistry flourished as Samuel and Mathilda continued to work together throughout their field exercises. Coming towards the end of their field exercises, Samuel noticed a change in the intensity of other candidates as well as the higher stakes. Not folding to the pressure poured on, Samuel was able to showcase being a leader that was able to adapt and win even when facing extreme adversities. By 2544, Samuel and Mathilda had passed their supervised field exercises and moved onto the final leg of their training for the Headhunter program.

Real-world wartime insertions were the final tests that Samuel needed to complete alongside Mathilda that ensured he was bound to become a SPARTAN Headhunter for the UNSC. Over six months, Samuel underwent three missions he needed to complete alongside Mathilda where they were going to earn their spot. Demolition, Interdiction, and Targeted Killing were the three that they underwent over the course. Passing all three insertions, Samuel and Mathilda were commissioned to be a Headhunter Team for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Ready to deploy against the Covenant Empire, Samuel and Mathilda spent their time going over the various armor colors and configurations of high ranking Covenant officials they needed to hone. Upon graduating from Headhunter Training, Samuel and Mathilda received the designation Cat-3 based on the SPARTAN-III Qualification Achievement Tiers. By July 1st, 2545, Samuel and Mathilda were ready to deploy.

Augmentations
was the augmentation project that gave Samuel his strength and abilities as a SPARTAN. It was known to be an altered version of, the augmentation procedure performed on a previous SPARTAN program. Seeing his chance to live longer and kill more Covenant soldiers, he accepted the augmentation without a second thought and begged for it to work. Beta Company had a perfect rate of augmenting all of their SPARTAN-III soldiers which left little worry for the procedure to fail on Samuel. Leaving on a cloudy day, Samuel prepared for the next step in his career. Arriving on, Samuel was instructed into a room, and the procedure began.

The project included the following drugs:


 * 8942-LQ99 - "carbide ceramic ossification catalyst" drug.


 * 88005-MX77 - "fibroid muscular protein complex" drug.


 * 88947-OP24 - "retina-inversion stabilizer" drug.


 * 87556-UD61 - "improved colloidal neural disunification solution" drug.

With the rest of his augmentations, Samuel was given a standard. Samuel accepted the interface as another tool he was able to use against the enemy. In 2553, his standard neural interface upgraded to the SPARTAN neural interface before going onto other missions across the Orion Arm.

Team Assignment
Formerly known as Team Tango II, Team Specter became the Headhunter Team name for Petty Officer Third Class Samuel-B256 and Mathilda-B079. Officially called SPARTAN Headhunters, the two became one of the four Headhunter teams that graduated from Beta Company. With high desires to go after Covenant targets that were popping up, there were other plans for Team Specter and Samuel's willingness to go after the Covenant. Team Specter was a team able to do anything to accomplish the mission; nothing seemed out of reach, and, it proved throughout their training. Aboard the, Samuel met his mission handler Lieutenant Stephan Ferguson to be handed a mission and who he was reporting to throughout the Human-Covenant War. Looking down, Samuel was frustrated, along with Mathilda upon seeing who they were going after.

Team Tango-II got a chance to change their name to something different than what it currently was. Samuel settled on the name Team Surgeon while Mathilda rested with Team Specter, the two ultimately decided to wage a chess battle to see who was going to name the team. Mathilda won, and the team name changed to Team Specter, Samuel became Specter 0-1 while Mathilda attained Specter 0-2. Later, the two learned that specter meant ghost, which ironically made for one of the better names they were able to pick from when deciding.

Operation: SILENT SERVANT
was a hotbed for Insurrectionists activity in, multiple factions continued to amass power even after Alpha Company put them down in. The head party, known as the (FLP), was making moves to secure UNSC military hardware in the southern hemisphere. The Office of Naval Intelligence was able to confirm the actions via signals intelligence and needed to deal with the issue at hand before it grew bigger. Samuel-B256 and Mathilda-B079 arrived over Mamore in July of 2545 with intentions of smoking out the Insurrection's plan to gather more UNSC technology and launching an attack against an already struggling. Deployed onto Mamore, Samuel and Mathilda began with conducting sabotage and targeted killing operations to ensure the fallout of the FLP's ability to mount an attack. "An FLP terrorist cell was planning to raid an ONI Black Site prison. Sounds bad when we discovered it and looked worse on paper if they went through."

- Samuel thinking about the reality of the situation he was in during Operation: SILENT SERVANT

Tracking down an FLP courier, Samuel and Mathilda built up a target profile with codename: Hades as their first target to engage. A former UNSC Navy Intelligence Officer that went rogue and joined the FLP was in charge of a high operation that the Office of Naval Intelligence knew very little about at the time. Once finding Hades, Mathilda recommended that they assassinate the target then and let the UNSC deal with the rest, but met with protests. Agreeing to stay on the target for a longer duration, Team Specter was able to learn the true nature of what the FLP planned to do. An ONI Black Site prison was found by the terrorists, which was housing valuable prisoners that being moved to be transported off the planet. Samuel was ordered to conduct a targeted killing against Hades, and he planned to execute that aspect of the operation.

Tracking Hades across the terrain, Samuel was able to gather information about a training camp, factories forging UNSC uniforms and, another training pilots how to handle a Pelican. Gathering intelligence on the area, Samuel was able to pick two critical spots for terrain denial that were going to deny the FLP's chance to launch an attack. Mathilda continued to build a target profile on what Hades did and when was the right time to engage the high-value target. Along with figuring out Hades, Mathilda needed to ensure that the plan did not spread across other leaders in case one were to go down. Samuel infiltrated the office of Hades to gather any information and learned about when the attack was planned to take place. Mathilda learned that the Insurrectionists were training in UNSC Armed Forces uniforms, which meant that the enemy was planning to infiltrate the area. Samuel concluded that Specter needed to take out the terrorist cell before the attack happened.

In the early months of, Samuel infiltrated the training camp where he placed to ensure a successful detonation of buildings around the area. Mathilda provided close-target support while watching Samuel and guided him to an office where he was able to engage a leader that handled the logistics of the terrorist cell. Preparing the ambush, Samuel remained close by while Mathilda worked on taking out Hades. With the Pelican arriving at dawn, Samuel detonated the charges as soon as the transport shuttle shut off its engines. Mathilda watched as Hades fled amid the chaos and engaged him while Samuel used the smoke as a means to cover his tracks as he engaged the terrorist cell. Hades was confirmed killed by Mathilda while Samuel cleaned up the stragglers that were still disoriented by the explosion.

Picked up by a Prowler, Samuel and Mathilda were able to execute a textbook demolition and targeted killing against Insurrectionists. As a result of Operation: SILENT SERVANT, the Black Site prison was able to shut down and transport all of the prisoners quickly. Once boarding the, Samuel gave a full report on what had happened to his handler. Undergoing a psychological evaluation, Samuel showcased that he was excited after completing his first mission, even if it was an Insurrectionsts target. Called upon for another mission, Samuel deployed with Mathilda in a (LRSOIP). Along the way, Samuel was able to read more on what his next operation and mission were bound to be.

Operation: RIGHTFUL DAWN
An ONI survey team was able to learn more about after  upon in the early 26th century. Ever since the breakout of the Human-Covenant War, ONI had hidden numerous assets across the planet to keep the Insurrectionists in check, along with the system being a back-up plan. By late 2456, an Insurrectionists group was known as the (URF) began to slowly grow in size. Team Specter's handler took the initiative to hand the mission off to the two Headhunters under his command to ensure the back-up plan was viable in the future. Samuel was ordered to support Operation: RIGHTFUL DAWN, which focused on special reconnaissance and interdiction to ensure the Insurrectionists did not spoil more of ONI's plans.

Setting down on Cassidy III in 2546, Samuel began gathering as much information about the Hole in the Wall along with the significant players who ran the settlement. The URF were the ones who ran almost every major group within the walls, making it easy for Samuel to generalize who he needed to go after. Setting up a reconnaissance nest, Samuel and Mathilda built up a network of people who worked for the URF and how important they posed for the success of the terrorist group. Infiltration and human intelligence gathering became another way that Samuel was able to add more information to the file he was composing for the UNSC. With the top leader identified, Samuel and Mathilda prepared for another targeted killing despite being told to follow their original mission directive.

The leader of the URF for Hole in the Wall was meeting his family as Samuel and Mathilda prepared to engage him. ONI did not fully disclose Samuel why his mission directive entailed no direct action missions, but it had to be a reason. The two cataloged what the leader did then moved to conduct interdiction once the area became vacant. Moving back to main roads, Samuel laid out and  to prevent the enemies from getting too close to what ONI had hidden on the planet. Samuel also placed down better sensors that were closer to the settlement to ensure ONI was able to gather much more data as well. By, Samuel and Mathilda were able to keep the URF at bay as well as prevent other groups from stumbling upon technology they were not supposed to see.

Identifying a communications center that was able to send and receive interstellar messages, Samuel identified the center as a critical asset that the URF had. Moving towards the communication center, Mathilda engaged guard towers using thunder as the cover for her shots as Samuel took down roaming patrols that he needed to execute. Once inside, Samuel gathered information off the center and allowed ONI within the system to gather the information they needed. Pushing out of the area, Mathilda saw that a URF guard spotted a dead body, and the area went on alert. Using, Samuel improvised a diversion by blowing up a fuel tanker and escaped while the URF sought out an investigation on what happened to the fuel tanker. One day later, Samuel and Mathilda informed their handler they had completed their mission and soon extracted from Cassidy-III. "It was a simple interdiction and special recce op! Not a damn torch and blow op!"

- Lieutenant Ferguson voicing his frustration after Operation: RIGHTFUL DAWN.

Aboard the, Lieutenant Ferguson was not pleased to hear that Samuel and Mathilda nearly conducted a targeted killing against the URF along with blowing up a fuel tanker. Samuel dismissed the criticism from his handler since Ferguson was not on the ground alongside him, but he took what he was able to and left the rest. With another textbook operation mixed with some improvised planning completed, Samuel and Mathilda were ready for their next mission following a psychological evaluation. With two successful missions and little problems, Samuel prepared for something that involved more of a challenge rather than more Insurrection targets that the UNSC needed to keep at bay.

Operation: URGENT TEMPEST
was one of the many recently discovered planets that ONI was able to find thanks to the. Its location was entirely due to its proximity to the and the ability for the Covenant Empire to produce  on the planet. ONI and the UNSC had multiple reasons to go after the Covenant held outpost. Two days after the success of Operation: RIGHTFUL DAWN, Samuel, and Mathilda deployed via an LRSOIP onto the surface of the Covenant occupied planet to perform targeted killings, sabotage, and demolition missions. Samuel and Mathilda were not expected to come back from the mission and told to complete their tasks at all costs.

The arrival to Ealen IV was anything but smooth for Team Specter due to where they landed. Two were training when their LRSOIP landed nearly 200 meters away from the Covenant soldiers. Opening the hatch, Samuel noticed the Mgalekgolos charging towards him and dodged the initial attack. Mathilda broke free with a that she wedged into the armor of one enemy while Samuel danced around the other. Thinking on his feet, Samuel dodged an attack and had Mathilda stuff another thermite grenade into the armor of the last target. Once the enemies were down, Samuel and Mathilda gathered their supplies from the LRSOIP and hid the vehicle to protect their cover.

After an explosive start to Operation: URGENT TEMPEST, Samuel and Mathilda were able to find their way towards a Plasma refinery and set C-7 foaming explosives while Mathilda provided overwatch. Moving back, Samuel watched as a Covenant patrol moved into the blast zone then detonated the bombs to ensure more enemies were taken down. With an explosion on Ealen IV, the Covenant Empire concluded that the UNSC was involved and deployed a group to track the enemies. Samuel stuck around with Mathilda and spotted for her as she took a shot at the. She missed and killed the second-in-command, which caused a fury of more Covenant teams deployed into the area. Samuel and Mathilda retreated into the forest, ready to battle it out with the Covenant.

Covenant forces began to push into the forest, but Samuel had another idea in mind and vacated the land. Following the failure of the wrong hit, Samuel and Mathilda moved to another staging area in to destroy more plasma refineries. Sneaking his way through another patrol, Samuel decided to sabotage the refinery instead of destroying. The in charge of the plasma refinery began to investigate, and Mathilda was able to hit her shot. Confirming the death of the Ultra, Samuel and Mathilda watched as the area exploded into chaos after the leader fell. The Silent Shadow was called upon again, Samuel told Mathilda she was going to redeem herself on their next mission. The two vacated the area and pushed forward to another target they planned to hit. By late 2548, Samuel and Mathilda were able to come upon the one enemy they were looking for after quite some time.

Coming upon the Silent Shadow compound, Samuel was prepared to engage the enemies that he had been hunted by while on Ealen IV. Moving towards the Compound, Samuel promised Mathilda she was going to get the revenge she needed on the target she missed. Using the darkness and his active camouflage, Samuel was able to get up close and personnel with the enemy before killing them. However, the Silent Shadow had set a trap that Samuel and Mathilda walked into without knowing. Samuel engaged a lance of Sangheili and retreated from his position. Mathilda provided precise sniper fire but was unaware of a Sangheili sneaking up from behind her. As Samuel evaded into the forest, he heard Mathilda call for assistance shortly before the First Blade Officer killed her. Unable to reach her in time, Samuel retreated further into the woods and planned for revenge. "That's not her. Mathilda is dead. She's not alive; it is only a trap. I will kill them all for her."

- Samuel telling himself upon seeing the body.

The Silent Blade lance placed Mathilda's body in a position to try and lure out Samuel. Samuel saw his Headhunter partner and wanted to help, but forced himself to scan for enemies. Still numb from the fact she was dead, Samuel was unable to comprehend that SPARTANs died after all he learned in training. Samuel struggled to detach from Mathilda as he continued to see her body time after time. He moved to retrieve the body but placed explosives under her armor to prevent anyone from celebrating her death. As a Sangheili approached, Samuel blew up the body and left Ealen IV. Samuel failed and lost his closest friend. As he left Ealen IV, Samuel hated the silence of his ship and filled the void with a quiet sob.

Being picked up by the and transported to the, ONI inquired what happened during Operation: URGENT TEMPEST. Samuel provided evidence that he failed to recognize a fake site as well as the death of his partner. Samuel pleaded ONI to send him back out on another mission to avenge his partner but was denied. After passing a psychological exam, Stephan Ferguson assured that he was going to let Samuel get another shot at the First Blade Officer in the future. Samuel turned from a confident and dry-wit SPARTAN into a quiet and morose SPARTAN, something that worried Stephan and others within the Beta-5 Division. Operation: URGENT TEMPEST was a failure, and Samuel learned the reality that SPARTANs were not invincible.

Reassignment
Samuel transferred from an elite offensive role into serving for a Non-Company Team for the UNSC Armed Forces. Assigned to Red Team, Samuel met the Troop Commander Oriana-A058. Samuel was initially the butt end of jokes for wearing SPI armor as the others wore (PAA) Suits. Samuel became known as a Cat-3 and Cat-2 operator according to the SPARTAN-III Qualification Achievement Tiers, making him one of the rare who had both designations. Red Team had returned from, which fell to the Covenant. Samuel was considered a Fucking New Guy (FNG) that some of his fellow Beta Company mates tried to pick on during downtime. "Welcome to Red Team, you will be filling the spot of Carson-B260."

- Oriana debriefing Samuel on his new assignment.

Following the death of Reagan-B142 and Carson-B260, Samuel came in as a replacement alongside Riley-B192, who had previously served with. Samuel had an unusual skill set as a former Headhunter, which made him a valuable asset to the team. Samuel worked for Red Team as an Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) SPARTAN to provide accurate field intelligence. Samuel was also considered to be an expert within close-quarters combat, sabotage, and demolition, which made him one of the most versatile operators for Red Team.

Red Team did not provide the resolution that he desired. A First Blade Officer continued to kill civilians and other UNSC personnel that murdered his close friend and partner. Samuel felt betrayed by Stephan Ferguson for not letting him go after the Sangheili officer. The reassignment felt like a setback and a waste of time, due to Samuel's skillsets not being as valued as others in the team. Samuel struggled to see himself make connections with others within the team after losing Mathilda. However, Samuel did connect with Oriana, and the two struck up a relationship that revolved around honoring those who died fighting.

Battle of Meridian
had been known as an Outer Colony that provided valuable resources to the UNSC in their fight for the Covenant. Originally attacked in 2548, the UNSC Armed Forces held the Covenant back for quite some time till. The Covenant had arrived over Meridian with a new group of fighters and carriers to assist with finishing off the colony. Red Team deployed to Meridian, where Samuel received the reality of the war on the defensive front. Once on Meridian, Samuel learned of a situation where pilots trapped behind enemy lines after being shot down. Samuel elected to conduct Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions to bring the pilots home. Lynn-A392 joined Samuel on the mission while a Special Tactics Team from the elected to assist. "We were going behind enemy lines to try and find people that had been missing for a time. I didn't know if they were going to be alive, but it seemed to be something Mathilda wanted me to do with my assignment."

- Samuel on conducting CSAR operations.

Armed with, Samuel and Lynn pushed into the Nieuwzen State, where many pilots were presumed to been shot down. Samuel agreed with Lynn to conduct forward reconnaissance to ensure the pilots were alive and able to be reached. Conducting their first mission, Samuel saw one pilot severely injured and held back Lynn when she attempted to rescue the pilot. Samuel saw the Covenant troops lying in wait for an ambush and attacked them to secure the area. Approaching the pilot, Samuel recognized he was booby-trapped and attempted to disarm the bomb below the pilot. Samuel was unable to disarm the trap and killed the pilot in mercy to prevent any more suffering.

Samuel continued to conduct missions to find Air Force pilots and came upon a pilot that was hiding out in a nearby village. Offering assistance, a Pararescue began to administer medical care while a Combat Controller coordinated a Nightingale to bring the pilot back to safety. One of the pilots talked of an issue about Anti-Aircraft Cannons (AAC) nearby where the rescue team set up. Samuel and Lynn elected to engage the AACs to prevent the Covenant from stunting their rescue. Launching a demolition mission, Samuel infiltrated into the area and destroyed the cannon with a demolition charge. The Nightingale flew in to pull out the rescue team along with Samuel and Lynn. For the first time since Mathilda's death, Samuel felt glad about the job completed on his behalf. "Nice work on the rescue mission, other rescue teams will take care of the work now. I need you to assist our assault team in Berethadház. Covenant is banging on a door there, and we need to get some VIPs out."

- Oriana handing Samuel his next mission.

Berethadház held a UNSC Armed Forces Command Compound that the was unable to evacuate in time, which had become under siege. Red Team was elected to assist with breaking the Covenant lines to assist with the personal security detail (PSD) in charge of the commanding generals. Samuel elected to be the spotter for Emilia-A049, while the remaining six SPARTANs planned to be the main assault force. Digging into a sniper's nest, Samuel began to mark leaders of the ground force that Emilia took down with ease. Oriana and Red Team stormed the compound to free the Marines as well as the commanders. Samuel provided overwatch security and assisted with calling in danger close airstrikes. The UNSC personnel escaped out the back while Samuel and Emilia moved to a pickup location. Once back at Newly Base, a UNSC Air Force Base, the UNSC declared Meridian lost and ordered the evacuation of the entire colony.

The Covenant Navy began to Meridian in 2551 as Samuel learned about the loss of Tucker-B069 during the compound assault. Samuel noticed that Oriana dismissed those around her until he came and sat next to her. Both shared their feelings about what they needed to do to ensure the survival of the team. Samuel watched his first glassing, something that burned into his mind. Samuel proved himself in Red Team, enough, so he was no longer the butt-end of jokes among those he deployed alongside. Samuel struggled to get sleep after seeing the planet get glassed, wondering if the same ever happened to his world. Nightmares of Mathilda's death continued to linger along with the depressed image of Oriana about the UNSC ship. Samuel hated the defensive war he fought, he worked on one way to try and get back into the Headhunters to go offensive but failed.

Battle of Ballast
Samuel had little time to rest following the Battle of Meridian, declared  and got invaded by the Covenant in late 2551. Red Team deployed to assist UNSC Armed Forces that were already conducting operations to contain and eliminate the Covenant threat. A small metropolitan named Dovanočej had become an Area of Interest for the Covenant, hoping to find a artifact. Oriana informed Samuel to take Riley-B191 to deny the Covenant the chance to retrieve the Forerunner artifact. UNSC Ground Forces and Ballast's militia were putting up a good fight in Dovanočej; the two SPARTANs planned to ensure the Covenant troops never succeeded.

Samuel and Riley pushed down into a cavern named Tamsten with intentions to root out the Covenant troops. Once Samuel recognized a team was in the cavern, he relayed information to Oriana about the Zealots and a plan to engage them. Oriana gave Samuel the green light to hunt the Zealots with Riley; the two wiped out the security element first, which forced the Zealots to work faster. Samuel threw a to disorient the Zealots then engage, the enemies fell with relative ease, and Samuel pushed further down. Once Samuel noticed that an energy sword slash injured Riley, he posted her for security and moved alone. Leaving Riley back as his support, Samuel grew worried that she was going to meet the same fate as Mathilda. Returning to Riley, Samuel patched her up, and the two pushed further down into the cave. "Forerunner artifact is secure, time to get back to the surface."

- Riley informing Samuel that she secured the artifact.

Finding an opening in the cave, Samuel and Riley tracked the Zealots to the Forerunner artifact. Samuel prepared another ambush against the enemies but found himself trapped in one set by the Covenant. The Zealots knew they were stuck and decided to hold a duel against the SPARTANs for the artifact. Samuel knew it was not going to be a fair fight and used his gun to attack the enemies. After taking down the Zealots and their security, Riley secured the artifact, and the two made their way back up to the surface. Samuel and Riley were swarmed by infantry and ran out to meet an Army team to prepared to collapse the cave. Once out, the Army troopers blew the cave and crushed the remaining Yanme'e inside. Riley handed the forerunner artifact to a waiting officer and then reported to Red Team with Samuel.

Reconnecting with Red Team, Samuel and Riley learned that the assaulters from Red Team contained the threat around Dovanočej and Henihovka with no losses of the team. The Covenant was unable to sustain a foothold around the colony and pulled out only weeks after invading. The was a successful defense for the UNSC Armed Forces, a rare sight for many within Red Team. Samuel and Red Team loaded back onto a ship and headed to Reach, where he spent time to talk with Riley. "You know, you're not so bad. Sure you're quiet, but you know a thing or two."

- Lynn commenting on Samuel.

Riley thanked Samuel for not leaving her behind as he pushed forward, something Samuel learned from his previous mistake. Samuel found himself talking with Lynn, who was one of his SPARTAN Instructors in Beta Company. Once back on Reach, Samuel worked on his close-quarters combat skills to improve his combative skills while also practicing marksmanship. Emilia worked with Samuel on sniping but found he wanted to be alone to remember what Mathilda taught him during Headhunter training. Samuel continued to see Emilia trying to warm up to him, and agreed to work with her after losing a bet.

Battle of Fumirole
became another battleground in 2552 that Samuel and Red Team responded to alongside the. Samuel received orders to conduct an Advance Force Operation (AFO) with Isaac-B302 and Omar-A442. The objective was to locate and assist a UNSC task force on taking down a that had become a major threat to the UNSC Armed Force's ability to evacuate civilians in a nearby city. gave the AFO cell a general idea of where the Covenant had set up their legion, but the UNSC needed eyes-on to confirm the legion's position before launching an assault. Samuel took point as the reconnaissance troop to find a ridge to set up and assist with the assault. An Team was nearby to be a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in case Samuel and the AFO cell got into an intense firefight. "Omar, you're leading the AFO cell. Sam and Isaac, you're going to work with Omar to find this legion. Once you find it, call it in, and we'll hit it."

- Oriana laying out the plan for the AFO cell.

Moving through the forest, Samuel noticed a variety of traps and false paths to divert scout teams from finding the legion. Samuel displayed a rare trait for being an excellent tracker, which led the AFO cell to the location of the legion quickly. After doing reconnaissance and gathering information about good insertions, Samuel identified key leaders who were commanding the legion and the importance of engaging them during the assault. Isaac relayed the information back to Oriana, and the assault was planned to launch after the clearing of potential minefields.

The assault force launched against the Legion, and Samuel watched as Oriana led from the front. Samuel and the others called in orbital bombardments on fleeing Covenant troops while Oriana's assault task force swarmed the camp. Covenant forces were prepared for the assault, pushing back flanks and denying routes for the UNSC to gain an advantage. The Covenant forces pushing into the forest were setting up a counterattack that Samuel and the AFO cell needed to contain. Pushing with other scout teams, Samuel watched as the Rangers and ODSTs prepared for an assault. "Sam, you're going for the General and destroying the comms tower. The rest of us are going to distract."

- Omar telling Samuel his mission.

Omar and the scouts launched their assault, giving Samuel the valuable moment to break through the enemy lines to engage the Sangheili General and destroy the communications tower. Samuel fought and killed the General then quickly planted the explosives to destroy their communication ability. Once the destruction of the Covenant counterattack succeeded, Oriana pushed on with her task force, and Samuel regrouped with Omar to learn that Isaac died amid the firefights. Samuel told Omar not to move Isaac and stripped the body of any valuable intelligence. After, Omar and Samuel left Isaac to lie where he died fighting to protect colonies. Linking up with Oriana, Samuel informed her about the death of Isaac and also learned about the death of Riley. "We lost two more for Red Team, morale was low, and we didn't know what was going to happen next. Fumirole is a ticking time bomb."

- Samuel on the state of Fumirole.

The began to spiral out of control as the UNSC Armed Forces began to lose their grasp on the planet. Samuel felt the burden of the defensive war weighing down on him as well as the others around. Dead SPARTANs hit some of the Rangers and ODSTs hard, seeing that not everyone was invincible. Samuel took the losses and pushed them into the back of his head to deal with later. Fumirole soon fell into the hands of the Covenant, and the UNSC began their mass evacuation of the planet. Aboard a Navy ship, Samuel watched as the Covenant glassed the colony.

Members within Red Team got into fights with each other over the deaths of Isaac and Riley. Samuel noted the team was no longer at full strength, and Oriana struggled to keep her SPARTANs in line. Sitting by himself, Samuel thought about the memories of his fallen comrades and what he needed to do to be a better SPARTAN. Draven-A284, Red Team's senior troop leader, told Samuel about the value of his efforts in the field. Samuel replied, saying that anyone in his position was going to do the same task and achieve the same result. Back at Reach, Samuel continued to train for his next deployment.

Fall of Reach
had become known as a UNSC Military Fortress world that took center stage in the Human-Covenant War. Within the, Samuel and Red Team prepared to deploy to to assist the UNSC Armed Forces in the second wave of troops to support the initial defense. However, Reach declared WINTER CONTINGENCY, and the UNSC began to prepare defenses to hold down the Covenant in the affected area. Samuel and Red Team shifted their focus from preparing for an assault to moving to major cities to assist with evacuations of UNSC staff and other UEG VIPs. Following, Red Team deployed to the Jusweydan Territory to act as a force multiplier for the already existing units. "We'll launch an offensive to try and spark some life into this fight. Won't be much but any flame spark is good enough."

- Samuel on the state of Reach during the battle.

Covenant forces had amassed in the Vadul Canyon, making it another location for many Legions to set down and conduct ground operations in the. Called Objective Rampant Locker, Red Team deployed with a Unified Special Warfare Command Task Force to assist with taking down the objective. Samuel conducted a solo AFO mission to locate ways into the area along with ideas on how the Covenant planned to react. A daylight raid spelled disaster after what happened at Szurdok Ridge, and the nighttime was considered to be as dangerous as well. The task force elected to conduct the nighttime raid, and Samuel linked back up with Red Team to assist with the assault.

After a successful nighttime assault, Red Team moved back to the Viery Territory, where the Covenant had begun their invasion of significant cities. Samuel deployed to to assist with civilian evacuations before the Covenant glassed the metropolitan. Providing overwatch security, Samuel watched as some were able to escape to safety while others got shot down. After Samuel secured the airports and left it in the hands of the Army troopers, he joined Red Team in defense of the Highland Mountains against the Covenant. Lynn and Samuel prepared to conduct a special reconnaissance mission to inform Oriana of the forces coming and how to defend the area.

Samuel and Lynn snuck through enemy patrols and stumbled across a strike force neither of them had seen. Reporting back to Oriana, Samuel expressed the importance of taking the fight against the Covenant in another location due to Highlands being a death trap. Oriana resorted to pride and orders, something that frustrated Samuel but complied to defend an Army Armory. Covenant forces used their massive numbers to swarm the defensive lines the UNSC set up, making them fall quicker than being held. Lynn and Omar were sent to reinforce a flank but never seen again. Oriana and the rest of Red Team fell back with the remaining forces to hold out and buy time, which let them get out of the Highlands Mountain and to a Navy ship. "I understand you don't think that orders apply to you, but we are a team, and we function as a team. Do not doubt my orders ever again. Let's not forget your inability to lead, causing the death of your partner."

- Oriana scolding Samuel for questioning her orders to hold in the Highland Mountains.

Red Team suffered two more losses as they pulled off of Reach and watched the Covenant glass the planet. Samuel argued Oriana's choice of command, sparking a debate of being the better leader. After Oriana brought up Samuel's failure and death of Mathilda, he tackled her and was pulled off by Draven and Emilia. Hostilities cooled down after some time, Samuel still felt resentment towards Oriana in her decision to not stand up against the leaders who were ordering her around. Oriana broke break with Samuel, and the two agreed to avenge those who had fallen on Reach and the other planets.

Battle for Earth
, known as the heart of the Unified Earth Government and the next target that the Covenant intended to decimate. Samuel prepared for a variety of theaters to participate in, but Red Team received orders to deploy to Oceania to assist with defenses across the continent as well as other major cities. Red Team settled outside of Melbourne, ready to assist with any threats of Covenant troops near the city or across the continent. By October, Covenant ships were inside of the and began their assault. The began their defense; then, the ground campaign began against the Covenant. Melbourne came under siege first, and Samuel responded alongside Red Team. "We all wanted to fight and defend the capital world. It's the duty of every soldier, sailor, and airmen. Somehow, I feel this is going to be the worst fight for Red."

- Samuel thinking on the Battle for Earth before deploying.

The Siege of Melbourne became one of the many battles that the UNSC Armed Forces participated in to contain the Covenant troops. Samuel assisted with engaging troops behind enemy lines while also infiltrating teams into positions to ambush Covenant troops. Red Team continued to conduct a variety of unconventional warfare tactics to prevent the Covenant from establishing a foothold in Melbourne. Samuel worked with a variety of assets from Unified Special Warfare Command and successfully assisted in repelling the Covenant. Melbourne became secure, but quickly came under attack, and Red Team responded to the threat.

As the Battle of Sydney began to tone down, Red Team deployed to Northeast Asia to support a Unified Special Warfare Command Joint Task Force (USCW-JTF) in driving the Covenant out of the area for good. Assisting Rangers and ODST scouts, Samuel performed forward-reconnaissance missions as well as gather information on the Covenant troops movement. Moving into the Pacific Northwest, Samuel continued his jobs until reaching the southwest of the (URNA). Samuel worked with the USCW-JTF in conducting missions behind enemy lines that forced the Covenant towards a location name. During a direct action mission alongside Oriana, Samuel watched as Emilia died to a cannon that vaporized her entire body. Samuel murdered the enemy in retaliation for the death of his fellow SPARTAN. "The URNA Southwest Campaign started well for some and terrible for others. Red had it the worst."

- Samuel reflecting on the state of mind within Red Team.

In the final weeks of the Human-Covenant War, Samuel continued to push back Covenant troops and ensure the UNSC bombed the targets. Red Team continued their constant direct action missions against the Covenant to ensure there was going to be no escape. During the final battle, Draven died to a Jiralhanae Chieftain that Oriana murdered. Following the death of Draven, Samuel watched as Oriana broke down as he did after Operation: URGENT TEMPEST. Samuel got Oriana off of the frontlines and moved back to join the USCW-JTF to confirm no Covenant activity. As Samuel continued his search, he felt guilty for criticizing Oriana's leadership before the battle. By the time Samuel went to check on Oriana, she was no longer where he had left her.

The Human-Covenant War came to a close, and Samuel learned that Oriana was no longer fit for command after an ONI psychological exam. Samuel met with Oriana one last time before she left the UNSC Army compound, remarking she did the unthinkable and survived the Human-Covenant War. As Oriana prepared to take a drastic step in a different direction, Samuel met with a Lieutenant Commander of the Beta-5 Division named Vilda Stenbeck. Samuel had no team and nobody to work alongside, he requested to rejoin the Headhunters as a LONEWOLF operative for ONI. Earth began to rebuild, Oriana left SPARTAN Active Duty and, Samuel started his training as a LONEWOLF Headhunter.

Operation: HYBRID VANGUARD
became an Area of Responsibility for the Beta-5 Division, Samuel recently graduated from Headhunter relook and joined the program as a LONEWOLF operative under the codename DOVES. Human terrorists had been planning an attack on a Sangheili neighborhood in protest of the UEG's decision to make allies with the Sangheili. Vilda showed Samuel the importance as well as the result of the terrorist attack. Samuel prepared to hunt down the small cell of terrorists to prevent an attack in the then trace the supplies to ensure another attack was impossible. "We dodged our extinction by building an alliance with the Sangheili. Some of us felt it was the right thing to do, while others felt it was necessary for our survival. We need to maintain that peace while we build back up."

- Samuel on the state of the UNSC in 2553.

Samuel deployed to Carrow, where he began to narrow down the search of the terrorist compound. Vilda sent information from the Mission Support Activity to assist with cutting the valuable time down on Samuel having to spend on potential sites. Once Samuel located the compound, he launched a direct action raid to capture or kill the enemies inside. After killing all the enemies, Samuel searched through the intelligence, where he found a group of smugglers. Vilda sent Samuel after the smugglers to figure out where the supplies came from and investigate further. Samuel connected with a Prowler and began to track the smugglers to a planet called.

Arriving over Aleria, Samuel worked with the Prowler staff to narrow down the location of the potential enemies. Once locating an Area of Interest, Samuel deployed to investigate the area and report back to the Prowler. Due to a mirage on the surface of Aleria, Samuel found himself seeing Mathilda in the distance and moved to investigate the figure. The hallucination led Samuel into an ambush by pirates that he fended off with relative ease after getting his mind straight. Finding the compound of the smugglers, Samuel engaged the enemies and learned of their operations. No other threat was on Aleria, and Samuel knew that the operation was complete. "I saw her. I swear I saw her. She was right there looking back at me. She can't be alive, I blew her up on Ealen IV to be sure."

- Samuel on seeing Mathilda during a heavy mirage.

On the way back to the Prowler, Samuel saw the same image of Mathilda as he did before. Samuel sprinted after Mathilda, but she matched his speed running away. After hearing words she said bounce inside of his head, Samuel readied his rifle and shot at her. After the sounded, he no longer saw her and felt an eerie sense of the planet. Samuel made up for the lost time and boarded the Prowler not long after to return to UNSC Controlled Space. The Prowler Commander asked Samuel about the unknown detours and the reason, only to get a reply of checking out one last threat.

Samuel returned to Earth and underwent a psychological exam that noted he was experiencing hallucinations. Undergoing a further review, Samuel informed the tester that it was nothing that seemed to be a significant issue. Vilda theorized the more extended mission on a planet like Aleria attributed to the problem and prepared to give Samuel a means to close the door on a promise he made to himself back during the Human-Covenant War. As Samuel got cleared for missions, Vilda met with Samuel's former handler to learn more about the failure during Operation: URGENT TEMPEST.

Operation: HOPE OUTREACH
Syra 'Losumai made a name for himself as a First Blade Officer who executed a textbook SPARTAN trap in 2549. Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, Syra sided with the and popped up on the radar of ONI not too long after his movements from  to. Stephan Ferguson met with Vilda about the history of Syra, stating he was the Sangheili who killed Mathilda during Operation: URGENT TEMPEST. Samuel continued to be affected by the death of Mathilda, even if he didn't admit at the time. Vilda began to track down a location of Syra and put together a targeting profile to get her Headhunter squared away. Samuel received the mission from Vilda with orders to assassinate the targets in the way he saw fit on Qikost.

Before departing to Qikost, Vilda gave Samuel a smart AI named Emerysen to assist with his locating of the target as well as navigations. Samuel launched and landed onto Qikost in late 2554 with a general idea of the enemy and how to approach the target. Emerysen gave Samuel need-to-know information about the politics on Quikost as well as groups like the Servants of Abiding Truth and the who were operating on the satellite. Samuel closed in on Syra's location, where a small base made up of warriors that had previously served with the Silent Shadow during the Human-Covenant War. Once locating the former First Blade Officer, Samuel prepared for his attack on the enemy.

Samuel tracked Syra outside of the base to a location where he went to study the planet. With little security, Samuel prepared to engage the enemy and suffice his revenge. However, Samuel's hate-fueled mind pushed him too much, and he attacked early. Syra deflected the attack of the SPARTAN and prepared for a duel after activating his energy sword. The demon slayer faced off against the SPARTAN, eager to add another to his list while Samuel made to eliminate the officer who killed his friend. Engaging in a destructive duel, Samuel was successful in using his tomahawk to block a swing from Syra and use his knife to jab into the opening of his combat harness.

Gaining the edge on Syra, Samuel disarmed Syra and prepared to kill him but let the Sangheili continue to try. Samuel evaded each attack by Syra and struck a devasting blow to him at every move. Samuel's rage-fueled the precise stabbing and slicing with his knife and tomahawk. Once Syra found no more strength to battle, Samuel him down and cut his head off. Cutting off a mandible, Samuel secured it as evidence for the death of Syra and moved to the base to throw the head inside of the walls. Once the Sangheili saw the head of their dead leader, Samuel disappeared off of Quikost with a feeling of relief that he had finally avenged Mathilda.

Once back on Earth, Samuel informed Vilda about the death of Syra 'Losumai by showing her the mandible. Samuele expressed mixed feelings of emotions, citing he was glad that he killed Mathilda's killer, but the memories of Mathilda still lingered in his mind. After passing another psychological exam, Samuel felt he owed a lot to Vilda after she worked to give him the killer of Mathilda. As a result, Samuel rotated out of the Headhunters to become a personal asset for Vilda to use. With new orders to serve directly under Vilda, Samuel prepared for his next assignment based on whatever Vilda gave him to execute.

Objective Personnel Retrieval

 * Elsa-A033 - STOLEN GAUNTLET
 * Hunt across Escala III
 * 2555

Mission on Venezia

 * Personal Security Detail for Vilda Stenbeck
 * Venezia and Gao - problems on Gao and fight out.
 * 2556-2557

Mission to Gao

 * Samuel-B256-2558-TPF.png - now with Team Osage

Personality
"It's not a reality unless it's shared."

- Samuel's personal motto.

Shaped by years of war, Samuel is known for being a sturdy and sound SPARTAN that knows what the right and wrong are. Throughout his life, Samuel has made decisions where people lost their lives while he saved others. With no in-between, Samuel has found a way to stay mentally healthy when everything is against him. Even with the number of people he knew that have died, Samuel continues to hold as the weight that keeps his peers on the same ground as him. As a Headhunter, Samuel is conditioned to become a SPARTAN that will never fail under pressure.

An emphasis on communication, he is known for speaking his mind on a variety of subject matters. From debating an AI to fellow SPARTANs, Samuel wants to make sure that his peers understand what they are getting into before it ever happens. Sharing knowledge and information with Mathilda and others has allowed him to show a reality that very few others can paint. Allowing those people to see that reality, Samuel can get better ideas of what needs to be done to secure a successful mission. Basing his motto off communication, Samuel knows he would not be alive if it weren't for his methods of communicating with others.

Samuel is trained to be an independent thinker that does not rely on the decisions of others to guide his fate in the field of battle. Due to his training, Samuel becomes a burden for other officers who try to control his decisions and actions. Samuel has built up a history of resisting against direct orders and requests simply because of the officer's desire to send him into battle. Even with Samuel's attempts to push back against leaders, his ability to lead in the field is unparallel to others who attempted the same tactics.

Becoming a SPARTAN, Samuel developed a motivational drive that outmatched many of his peers. As Samuel learned in training, there is nothing that he cannot do. His refusal to never stop and fail has prevailed him to survive a variety of missions that were to kill him. The words can't, quit, and refuse, do not apply to Samuel when it comes to being in the field. Simply because he will never accept the fact that someone can fail a task they have been told to become masters of in their life.

Even though the SPARTANs are claimed to be emotionless, Samuel shares affection and care towards his partner that he continues to deploy with on numerous missions. Samuel has always found himself treating his close peers with a degree of respect that he rarely shares with others. His affection towards Mathilda often borderlines the fraternization laws the UNSC Navy has in store, yet they still operate exceptionally during suicide missions. After Emerysen left Samuel psychologically scarred from her attack, he found the affection of his close partner extremely valuable to his mental recovery.

Skills and Abilities
"Dangerous, that's the one word to describe Samuel. He's extremely teachable, which allows for anything to be taught to him. Give Samuel enough time, and he will become an expert at anything set in front of him."

- A file excerpt on Samuel.

Becoming a Category-3 candidate within Beta Company of the SPARTAN-III program Samuel, trained in conducting demolition, sabotage, and assassination missions behind enemy lines with no support or backup. Samuel became an expert in asymmetrical and unconventional warfare, giving him a leg up against opponents during a confrontation. Along with his primary specialties, Samuel became an expert in combative and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

Samuel went through Headhunter relook after the Human-Covenant War that trained him to operate as a LONEWOLF or singleton operator. While he did have a Smart AI to accompany him on missions, Samuel learned about working a variety of tasks such as hacking, infiltration, advanced sniper warfare, and low-intensity tracking. Samuel transformed from a SPARTAN who knew how to hunt a target, as well as have means to escape. Samuel's skillset has allowed him to become an extremely reliable Headhunter to accomplish any mission that the Beta-5 Division requests.

As a result of extensive training, Samuel speaks Polish, French, German, English and, Russian as a means to decipher any intelligence written or spoken. Samuel has received high military marks in the five languages, making him a poly-lingual. Making him one of the few SPARTANs who took many language classes, Samuel can handle linguistic tasks to ensure the success of a mission. The skillset lacks when engaging Covenant troops but shines when investigating illegal human activities.

Mathilda-B079
Mathilda-B079 was Samuel's training partner, close friend, and Headhunter partner that served with him during the Human-Covenant War. In 2538, they formed a friendship that helped them become Headhunter candidates for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Samuel and Mathilda nearly did everything together while in training, ensuring they were the strongest SPARTANs to deploy into the field when they graduated. Samuel felt extremely safe and comfortable with Mathilda, often calling her the one person he trusted in his life. By the time the two graduated from Headhunter training in 2545, they prepared for combat operations and missions.

Ultimately, Mathilda died during a Headhunter mission alongside Samuel, at the hands of the Silent Shadow. Samuel took full blame for the result of her death, citing he wasn't smart enough to recognize the compound had been a decoy. To make matters worse, Samuel watched as the physical body of his close friend carried around the species that murdered her. Samuel ultimately blew up Mathilda, leaving little to nothing of her and cried on his way back to UNSC Controlled Space for losing the closest person to him. Samuel struggled in the following years to accept it wasn't his fault for her death, but the feeling of not having her around remained with him for the years to come.

In 2554, Samuel killed the First Blade Officer, who killed Mathilda, sufficing his revenge for the killer of his friend. Samuel then wrote in a small memoir of Mathilda onto The Missing Wall as another way to remember her; he etched her SPARTAN tag into his armor and traces during a stressful situation. Samuel accepted that Mathilda died on Ealen IV and felt that she remains on overwatch for him in the times to come. As time goes on, Samuel remembers the quality times in their relationship and hopes that one day, he will join her wherever she is in the galaxy.

Oriana-A058
Oriana serves as the one companion that Samuel is willing to follow into battle after the years of serving with her. Samuel and Oriana met in 2549, sharing a common feeling of guilt for losing people under their command. As a member of Red Team, Samuel showcased his ability to be an effective leader who used intelligence and asymmetrical tactics to beat the Covenant throughout the Human-Covenant War. By the end of the Human-Covenant War, Samuel saw that Oriana was unfit for command and silently resented her for leaving SPARTAN Active Duty service.

Samuel felt Oriana was not a good SPARTAN because she left everyone behind to take care of herself. The selfish move made Samuel frustrated because they both struggled with survivor's guilt, and Oriana had found a solution to the problem while Samuel did not. When Samuel came back from a deployment, he saw Oriana with an offer to join her team. Samuel rejected the offer at first but later joined after seeing she had changed for the better since 2553. Oriana gave Samuel a team and a family, something he had been dreading forever since the death of Mathilda.

Since Oriana had taken command of Team Osage, Samuel became her enlisted leader and called the shots when she went home for her required days off. Oriana remained in touch with Samuel, ensuring he was not the only one struggling with the issues inside of his mind. Oriana became the big sister and mentor Samuel needed in his life, to assist with the hard questions. Samuel understands that someone like Oriana is important in his life to ensure he will be able to grow as a human and a SPARTAN.

Vilda Stenbeck
Vilda Stenbeck served as Samuel's mission handler while he was a Beta-5 Division LONEWOLF Headhunter, along with being apart of Team Osage. Vilda became the one non-augmented officer who gave Samuel exactly what he wanted. From the First Blade Officer, who killed Mathilda to the death of powerful Sangheili leaders, Samuel became extremely loyal to Vilda. While not on missions, Vilda traveled with Samuel as her security detail. The relationship between the two grew on the fact she unleashed him upon the enemies he longed to go after.

Samuel valued Vilda as a friend and a respectable officer, something Vilda desired in her assets. Vilda understood the pain that Samuel suffered in his life and worked on getting him better by the usage of therapy and coping mechanisms. With Vilda's help, she gave Samuel a path to find his humanity as well as a calling to pursue as a SPARTAN asset under her command. As Samuel continues to serve under Vilda's leadership, the two operate under an understanding that he will do anything she asks for in any situation. Samuel has proven himself loyal to Vilda and she is willing to use that relationship to better the UNSC and UEG.

Team Osage
Team Osage is Oriana's SPARTAN Assault Team under the command of Vilda Stenbeck. Oriana created the team in 2557 once she returned to active duty and asked for Samuel to join the team. After joining the team, Samuel found it to be his family. The Gammas within the team showcased their desire to impress the older SPARTAN-IIIs that Samuel saw, and quickly became a mentor for each of the Gammas under the team. As the Team Leader of Osage and a former Headhunter, Samuel strikes a fine line of being loved and feared. Samuel uses his experience as a means to guide him in making the right decision for the team and himself.

Samuel understands that all of those in the team are not immortal, as the instructors claimed during training. Worried about becoming too attached to those around him, Samuel continues to work on building a relationship with his teammates to ensure they work together to live. Ever since Oriana came back as a more experienced leader, Samuel is confident in her decision-making ability as well as being the one who holds executive authority on the ground for all missions. After a number of successful missions, Samuel is sure that Team Osage is the right team.
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