Admiral Hood

A British noble, Hood served as James Cutter's executive officer onboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire until November 2530, when Hood took command of his own vessel, the UNSC Roman Blue.

Three months later, during the Battle of Arcadia, Hood was assigned to recover a log buoy dropped by the Spirit of Fire. However, as the colony was already deemed lost by UNSC command, Roman Blue was also ordered to withhold from engaging the enemy in combat. However, Hood, enraged by the massive losses the Covenant had already inflicted on humanity, ordered his crew to attack a Sinaris-pattern heavy destroyer. Consequently, the Spirit of Fire's log buoy was not recovered. Hood would subsequently view himself as responsible for the Spirit of Fire's disappearance.

Captain Hood ordering a battle guided by anger, a mistake he would learn and grow from. Out of guilt, Hood provided financial support for both Cutter's legitimate family (his apparent widow Mary and their daughter) and his secret one, supporting Daniel Clayton's mother for years.

After the battle on Arcadia, Hood was reassigned to the frigate UNSC Burlington in a fleet-support role, and the command of the Roman Blue passed to Captain William Webb.

Hood was a decorated officer and veteran as the Human-Covenant War neared its end. SPARTAN-IIs saved his life twice and he generally defended the program against its detractors, such as Colonel James Ackerson. Hood met John-117 prior to the Fall of Reach.

By September 4, 2552, Hood had been promoted to Fleet Admiral and taken the seat of Chief of Naval Operations, while serving as the Chairman of the UNSC Security Council. Holding these three powerful positions, Hood was effectively the de facto leader of the UNSC. In the aftermath of the Fall of Reach, Hood received Lieutenant Wagner's report on the Fall of Reach in front of the Council. The admiral was interested in the fate of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and its SPARTAN-IIs, and was dismayed to find most of the supersoldiers had been expended during the battle. Hood also considered Wagner's petition to authorize a mission to search for survivors on Reach.

Battle of Earth Main article: Battle of Earth

In October 2552, Hood presided over an awards ceremony aboard Cairo Station recognizing the participants of the Battle of Installation 04. Captain Jacob Keyes and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson were awarded the Colonial Cross; Lieutenant Commander Miranda Keyes received her father's posthumous award.

The ceremony was interrupted by the attack on Earth by the Prophet of Regret's fleet. The admiral ordered John-117 to defend Cairo from enemy boarders and assumed command of the defense from the station into the following weeks.

Some time afterwards, Frederic-104 was subjected to a psychological analysis conducted by Dr. Veronica Clayton of the Office of Naval Intelligence. As the doctor began pressuring the Spartan on decisions he made during the battle for Reach, Hood, who had not authorized the evaluation, came in and had MPs escort the doctor away, ordering Fred to rejoin Blue Team and defend the planet.

On November 3, 2552, Doctor Catherine Halsey sent a request to Admiral Hood requesting Spartan support on Onyx. The admiral obliged; he authorized SPARTAN-II Blue Team, consisting of Frederic-104, Linda-058, and William-043, to assist.

Hood was commanding from a damaged Cairo when John-117 arrived in the Sol System aboard a Covenant-controlled Forerunner Dreadnought. The Spartan established communications with the admiral, indicating he was aboard the alien ship

John-117 was not the only returnee from Installation 05. Commander Keyes and Sergeant Johnson preceded him. Hood gave Johnson permission to interrogate a rebel Huragok, which had been extracted several weeks earlier from New Mombasa by Captain Dare's Helljumper squad. The UNSC was interested in what the Covenant were looking for.

The Sangheili, or "Elites" as they are known by humans, served as the military leaders of the Covenant. The Sangheili are the only race within the Covenant permitted to build and command starships within the Covenant, though the crews are always composed of a mix of races. The Jiralhanae, or "Brutes" as they are known by humans, were the most recent addition to the Covenant, and served as soldiers and bodyguards within the Covenant military. The Lekgolo are a race of worm-like creatures that can combine to form large, intelligent assemblages called Mgalekgolo, known by humans as "Hunters". Clad in nearly impenetrable armor and armed with their trademark Assault Cannon, they served as the Covenant's heaviest ground troops. Hailing from Balaho, the Unggoy, or "Grunts" as they are known by humans, were the most common and low-ranking caste of the Covenant. They breathe methane gas, and thus must wear a large tank on their back full of methane to survive on other planets. The Kig-Yar, or "Jackals" or "Skirmishers" as they are known by humans, were the scouts and marksmen of the Covenant military due to their superior senses.

The Human-Covenant War was instigated by the High Prophets of the Covenant following a discovery which led them to believe that humans were directly related to the Forerunners, contradicting their ancient religion. Seeking to keep various political and religious orders intact, the High Prophets declared a holy war of genocide against the human species, and the discovery of their relation to the Forerunners was kept a secret. With superior firepower, numbers and technology, the Covenant would repeatedly overpower the UNSC across hundreds of human-inhabited worlds, including the heavily defended strongholds of Reach and Earth. Humanity would win only scattered and costly victories.