Tom-G036

Spartan Tom-G036, born Thomas Mercado Junior, is a Spartan-III Commando of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command and Spartan Operations. He is the second-in-command and intelligence specialist of the Spartan-III team, Team Bayonet and fought at the end of the Human-Covenant War, specifically in the Battle of Mombasa, Attack on Sydney, Battle of Cleveland, the Battle of Voi, the Battle of Requiem and Requiem Campaign. He was a Petty Officer First Class before joining the Spartan Branch.
==Biography==
===Early Life===
Thomas Mercado Junior was born on February 3rd, 2538 to parents Thomas and Galynn Mercado. His father worked as a miner, while his mother was a stay-at-home mom after Tom's birth. In 2540, Tom's mother died from an aggressive for of breast cancer, and whilst easily treated, his family could not afford the treatment despite their greatest efforts. Following his mothers death, his father became much closer with his son, quitting his job as a miner to spend more time with him. During the , his father took up arms in order to defend Tom. He was ultimately killed at the hands of a squad , but was able to give Tom his final words. Words which would continue to drive him throughout his career. After his father's death he was able to run to a nearby group of , who had him safely evacuated prior to the glassing.
===New Beginnings===
Following his evacuation from , he was brought to a refugee camp, which happened to the same camp that Tyler-G278 had been brought to in the year prior. He would spend his time waiting outside the . He would ask almost anyone who would walk from the compound to allow him to join the UNSC. Eventually, an ONI agent decided to listen to his story, sympathizing with him. Sometime before July of 2544, his story and the fact that he was outside one of the UNSCs largest military compounds on Reach had allowed his story to reach all the way up to the Tower's highest levels. Tom's story and willingness to fight had sparked the interest of Colonel , who had recently began his recruitment of the newest group of , leading to Tom being one of the first recruits into Gamma Company. 
===Training===
Brought to Camp Curahee, on Onyx, Trainee-G036 initially found himself at odds with two of the other kids in his group, Trainee-G076 and Trainee-G091. Tom felt challenged by them, as a natural leader, Trainee-G076 would become the de-facto leader of Team Bayonet, acting like he was in charge. This annoyed Trainee-G036 as he felt he should be in charge. This rivalry would continue for a number of years. He also developed a dislike for CPO , thinking him as being too harsh on Gamma Company. On the night of January 4th, 2548, while Mendez and Ambrose were talking in Ambrose's office, Trainee-G036 and a few other trainees who called themselves "Team Rebel", snuck out of the barracks and into the office of CPO Mendez, in an attempt to steal the Chief's cigars. Upon opening the door, a group of trainees, led by Trainee-G076 were waiting for them. A now dizzy Tom was dragged back to his bed, without the cigars ever leaving Mendez' office. This went completely sideways, as Dan-G076 and a few other trainees were waiting in the office, and as the "Rebels" attempted to scatter, Dan and Theo grabbed Tom, with whom they had a stern talking to, after which, a disorientated Tom was dragged back to his bunk. Tom was surprised by Dan's ability to thwart his plans and after much thinking and talks with the other members of Team Bayonet, Tom finally began to recognize Dan as his team leader. After this, the team's unit cohesion began to greatly increase, as Tom started to act as Dan's right hand man and second-in-command, whom Dan often turned to for situational advice. When trainees began to flee Camp Currahee in what is now known to Gamma Company as "Operation: JAILBREAK", Tom, while slightly tempted to flee, ultimately followed the lead of Dan and the rest of Team Bayonet in aiding the drill instructors to help find and secure the rogue teams of Gammas, receiving praise from both Mendez and Ambrose for their aid in the search. In the years that followed, Dan and Tom grew to become good friends, with Tom eventually becoming Dan's right hand man and intelligence specialist. 
===Augmentations===
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In February of 2551 aboard , Tom along with the rest of Gamma Company received their augmentations, which were made up of chemical compounds instead of implants unlike the Spartan-IIs. The following are the chemicals used in the operation:
Drug 	Description 	Effect
8942-LQ99 	"carbide ceramic ossification catalyst" drug. 	Skeletons become virtually unbreakable, allowing survival in harder impacts.
88005-MX77	"fibroid muscular protein complex" drug. 	Increased density of individual's muscles, greatly enhancing physical strength.
88947-OP24	"retina-inversion stabilizer" drug. 	Color sharpness is significantly improved upon, and night vision is heightened.
87556-UD61	"improved colloidal neural disunification solution" drug.	Greatly improves the individual's reaction time, decreasing the time taken to react by 300%; "Spartan time".
Additionally, Kurt Ambrose, who was upset with the loss of both of his previous two companies added the following mutagens to give the Gammas a better chance of survival.
Drug 	Description 	Effect
009762-OO	Neural-altering non-carcinogenic mutagen.	Alters key regions in the individual's frontal lobe to enhance aggressive response, making the animal part of the brain more accessible in times of stress. This allows the subject access to enormous reserves of strength and endurance and enables them to remain fighting even under the influence of a wide systemic shock that would be instantly fatal to a normal human. Depresses higher reason centers of the brain over time; requires regular doses of 009127-PX and 009927-DG to be taken to avoid uncontrollable aggression.
009127-PX	cyclodexione-4, bipolar integration drug 	Counters the effects of 009762-OO.
009927-DG	miso-olanzapine 	Counters the psychological effects of 009762-OO.
=== Team Bayonet===
Main Article: Team Bayonet
Tom-G036 would become team leader of Team Bayonet following Dan-G076's requisition by ONI in 2554. As of 2558, Team Bayonet is made up of the following Spartans:
*Dan-G076 (Team Leader)
*Tom-G036 (Second-in-command, Medic, and Intelligence)
*Tyler-G278 (Recon and Marksman)
*Theo-G091 (Close Quarters)
*Alex-G141 (Heavy Weapons)
==Human-Covenant War==
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Following the completion of their training, Tom and Team Bayonet were pulled under NAVSPECWARCOM to be employed as a rapid deployment Spartan Team, and were to equipped with MJOLNIR Mark V, redesignated as Cat-2 Spartan-IIIs. While enroute to report to Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility to receive their Mark V MJOLNIR Armor, Team Bayonet, only equipped with the Mk II SPI Armor and MA5K Carbines, were redeployed to Mombasa. 
===Battle of Earth===
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====Battle of Mombasa ====
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Initially deployed to Kenya, Team Bayonet saw limited combat in the Battle of Mombasa, as they were prioritized with locating, rescuing, and evacuating civilians. This was the first time Tom really got to put his skills as a planner and intelligence specialist to the test. Whilst atop a roof overlooking the city, Tom identified three ideal landing zones for potential casualty and refugee evacuation, one being a parking garage, another being a small police station with a landing pad, and the third being a hospital. While the hospital was the largest, Tom determined the hospital offered the largest LZ, and most likely would still hold survivors inside. Dan opting for the hospital, Team Bayonet and a platoon of ODSTs made their move for hospital, finding Brutes executing wounded civilians inside. About halfway through the hospital, Dan and Team Bayonet were separated, forcing Tom to assume the reigns of Team Bayonet until the found Dan. Tom would lead Bayonet and the majority of the ODSTs floor by floor, picking survivors and wounded Marines as they went, eventually regrouping with his team leader on the roof. The ODSTs were then ordered to remain at the hospital, securing it, for further survivors, while Team Bayonet continued to search for more. By the end of the day, Team Bayonet still needed to receive their MJOLNIR armor and were ordered to report to the in Melbourne, Australia the following day.
====Attack on Sydney====
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Receiving their new shiny MJOLNIR Mark V armor, Team Bayonet and Tom were placed on stand-by at the Facility in the event of another attack elsewhere. 
After about two hours on stand-by, HIGHCOM launched a request for a Spartan team to their headquarters at , in fear of a recent Covenant attack on the Capital of Earth, Sydney. Team Bayonet would leave immediately, taking jet packs and deploying via Pelican jump at around three thousand feet. Upon landing just outside the facility, the Spartans immediately began to take fire, moving to establish a perimeter around the Facility, returning fire. As more and more forces began to besiege Team Bayonet, a Jiralhanae War Chieftain would be spotted in the rear directing the assault. Tyler-G278, targeting the War Chieftain, killed the Brute with a single round, causing the assault to falter and fail. Now reinforced with a platoon of Marines, Tom would be tasked to lead the Marines in a quick offensive attack, driving the Covenant forces from Sydney, leaving HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6 completely untouched, unlike the Spartans who were all injured in the fight in one capacity or another.
For their actions in both Mombasa and Sydney, Team Bayonet were all given Bronze Stars with "V" devices, and Purple Hearts. Dan-G076 would be given a Silver Star in place of a Bronze Star, as his leadership allowed both missions to be completed without significant casualties to his team or the teams supporting him. Additionally, Team Bayonet would be awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for their actions, and following the wars end, would be awarded the Presidential Naval and Marine Unit Citation after review of the mission.
====Battle of Cleveland====
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Team Bayonet would be kept in Sydney, repelling a few more Covenant attempts to attack the city. After about a month, an attack on Cleveland, Ohio began and Team Bayonet would be spun up, deployed again in support of the defense of the city. Once again, deploying from the rear of a Pelican and jumping into the city, Team Bayonet would link up a group of Marines who held a strongpoint near a bridge, establishing an LZ for civilian evacuation. Team Bayonet was sent into the city to hunt down and attempt to drive the Covenant out of the city, rescuing civilians if possible. While out hunting, Bayonet came upon a small park, which had been turned into a communications relay and forward command outpost, containing a Jiralhanae Chieftain, two Jiralhanae Captain Majors, four Jiralhanae Majors, twelve Jiralhanae Minors, three Lekgolo, and a large collection of Unggoy and Kig-Yar. Establishing a battle plan to launch an assault on the command post utilizing a pincer movement with Tom and Alex attacking from one side, Theo and Dan attacking from the opposite, with Tyler providing overwatch for her team. Team Bayonet then sprung into action, Tom and Alex attacking a majority of the Brute minors, and Theo and Dan attacking the higher ranking Brutes and the Hunters. Witnessing Theo make an attempt to take on the Chieftain, Tom watched in horror receiving a powerful Gravity Hammer swing directly to his chest, watching his friend get tossed through the air, leaving him in a ball on the ground. As a result, Tom pressed the attack, watching an infuriated Dan, catching the Chieftain's hammer mid-swing, tearing it from the Brutes hands, proceeding to beat the beast until its head was a bloody pulp, before turning his attention to the remaining Covenant. Without a word, Team Bayonet's team leader proceeded to literally tear apart the rest of the Covenant force while Team Bayonet watched, stunned, as Dan was not one to show much emotion, let alone hyper-aggression as was common with most Gamma Company Spartans. Turning back to Team Bayonet, he simply stated "Time to go, grab Theo." before heading back to the evacuation point, still carrying the Gravity Hammer.
Returning to the evacuation point, Team Bayonet loaded Theo onto a Pelican as a casualty, while not dead, he was out of the fight, with Dan sending Alex back with Theo. Before the left, Dan would give Theo the Gravity Hammer, telling him to "hang on to it, as a reminder of what not to do." before sending them to Korea.
With now three members of Bayonet in Cleveland, they began their search for civilians, eventually finding around eighty people trapped inside an apartment complex, many of them children. As they made their way back to the evac point, the group were ambushed by a much larger Covenant force, later estimated to be a company sized element. Nearing a bridge, Dan ordered Tom to lead the survivors back toward the evac point, while he and Tyler would stay to hold off the Covenant forces. After about two hours, Dan returned to Tom, with an unconscious Tyler over his shoulder. As the trio were preparing to leave for Korea, Dan was raised, requesting a Spartan team for a mission through the city. Tom was sent with Tyler to Korea, with Dan undertaking this mission alone.
Arriving in Korea, Tom handed off Tyler for medical treatment and regrouped with Alex, before being raised for immediate deployment to Voi, as the Flood had just landed outside the city. 
====Battle of Voi====
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With Dan still in Cleveland, Tyler and Theo out of commission, Tom and Alex departed for Voi, and upon arriving on the outskirts of the city, the two were horrified to see how quickly the parasite had spread through the city. Tom and Alex met up with a group of Marines, Soldiers, and Elites who were held up at a roadblock, attempting to deny the flood access to deeper portions of city. Continuous fighting ensued, with Tom eventually ordering a retreat to a defensive position further behind them, as their current position began to get overrun by the Flood hoards. Tom found it greatly disturbing at how quickly the Flood was able to spread, and even more so, how they were able to take nearly any life form as a host. Eventually Tom and Alex were pulled from the city as the Covenant separatists began to glass the city in an effort to cleanse the city of the parasite. For his actions between the 16th and 17th of November, 2552, Tom was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a Purple Heart.
==Post Human-Covenant War==
After the war, Team Bayonet would continue to run small operations for the Navy, often dealing with Covenant remnant groups or insurrectionist forces. In June of 2553, Tom would take control of Team Bayonet, as Dan-G076 was pulled under , with Tyler-G278 following suit a few months later, leaving three members of Team Bayonet.
===Spartan Operations ===
About a month after Tom became team leader, he was approached by Spartan Commander about Team Bayonet joining the , to which he accepted and was fitted with armor. Sarah Palmer, realizing she now had a Spartan-III team whom at this point were decently experienced in combat and were masters of their augmentations, decided the best place for them was Mars, at the where they would train and aid new adapt to their new bodies and sharpen their skills as Spartans. Tom felt very odd about this, as the majority of his trainees were ten years his seniors. During his time on Mars, Tom would assist in training almost every Spartan-IV between September 2553 to October of 2556 to include the likes of . By October of 2556, Team Bayonet was reassigned to the , serving as a conventional Spartan team in conjunction with the same Spartan-IVs they'd trained.
=== Battle of Requiem===
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On July 21st, 2557, the UNSC Infinity was pulled into the of , after hearing an emergency distress beacon from within the planet. Team Bayonet were among the Spartan Teams deployed to the surface of Requiem, often working alongside a company of Marines from the ship. Tom proved highly proficient in leading defensive orders, but was hesitant while leading offensive actions, causing him to misjudge, wasting both time and lives. Whilst Tom successfully led Team Bayonet during the Battle, he made many calls which led to the deaths of a number of the Marines with him, later saying to Alex that he felt Dan was better suited for combat leadership, and that if he were to return, Tom would relinquish leadership without incident. 
===Requiem Campaign===
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Much to Tom's relief, Dan was released by ONI in December of 2557, right in time for the Requiem Campaign. Back under G-076, Tom had a new found respect for his position as Dan's right-hand, helping, advising, and planning for Team Bayonet. This showed during the Requiem Campaign, for Team Bayonet had their best set of combat missions yet, with Tom playing a key role in their success, planning almost every major action Team Bayonet undertook. Additionally, Team Bayonet added a new member, Dan's AI, Freyja. Tom racked in more kills during the campaign than any mission he had run, killing a total of one-hundred and thirty-seven Covenant and Promethean forces.
==Created Conflict==
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At the start of the Created Conflict, Team Bayonet was aboard the Infinity. Team Bayonet were still aboard the Infinity when it began random jumps throughout space. When the Infinity deployed in support of , Bayonet was aboard, accompanying the ship to Reach.
===Battle of New Mohács===
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Dan and Team Bayonet were among the Spartans deployed alongside Sarah Palmer onto Reach's surface in support of the Master Chief in securing New Mohács. Team Bayonet provided critical assistance in securing the region. Following this, Dan and his entire team were able to return to Infinity where they remained following the success of Operation: WOLFE. 
==Personality and Traits==
Whilst he was initially rejected by Team Bayonet for his highly cynical attitude toward Dan and ever decision his team leader made, he eventually became a respected and trustworthy member of his team. Following his little excursion with "Team Rebel", Tom changed his attitude, honing the skills he was already proficient at. Eventually turning the heads of his trainers for his inept ability to rapidly plan various courses of action in a variety of situations. What he always lacked, was the natural ability to have others follow his lead, socially awkward even with other Spartans, people had a hard time identifying with Tom, as a leader must be confident with their actions. Tom was not that. While in garrison, Tom mostly sticks to himself, going over battle situations and intelligence reports for upcoming missions. If he is found socializing, its usually with Team Bayonet after they drag him away from his desk to enjoy himself. 
==Equipment==
===Armors:===
* (2551-2552)
* (2552-2553)
**Tom utilized the JFO/UA variant helmet, OPERATOR left shoulder armor, EVA right shoulder armor, ASSAULT/COMMANDO chest pouches, TACTICAL/TACPAD wrist mount, TACTICAL/TRAUMA KIT as a utility piece, a Blue visor, and GUNGNIR kneeguards, in the colors of Cobalt and White.
* (2553-2559) 
**Tom had his OPERATOR helmet to work with the GEN 2 systems, only changing the visor color in the process. He is equipped with the armor, in Persian Blue and Salt, with his visor changed to Beltane.
* (2559-Present)
===Weapons:===
====Battle of Mombasa: ====
*
*
*
*
====Attack on Sydney:====
*M392 Designated Marksman Rifle
*MA5K Carbine
*M6G Personal Defense Weapon System
*Combat Knife
Battle of Cleveland:
*M392 Designated Marksman Rifle
*M6G Personal Defense Weapon System
*Combat Knife
Battle of Requiem:
*
*
* Combat Knife
Requiem Campaign:
*M395 Designated Marksman Rifle
*M6H2 Personal Defense Weapon
*Combat Knife
====Battle of New Mohács:====
*
*
*Combat Knife
==Decorations==
The following is a complete list of the medals which Tom-G036 has earned as of 2558.
			
			
			
			
			
			
1st Row	Navy Cross 	Navy and Marine Corps Medal 	Bronze Star (1 "V" Device)
2nd Row	Purple Heart (2 gold 5/16 stars) 	Navy Commendation Medal (1 gold 5/16 star) 	Combat Action Ribbon (4 gold 5/16 stars)
3rd Row	Navy Good Conduct Medal 	Navy Expeditionary Medal 	Colonial Defense Service Medal (2 gold 5/16 stars)
4th Row	Defense Forces Service Medal (1 bronze service star) 	Humanitarian Service Medal (1 bronze service stars) 	Defense of Earth Campaign Medal
5th Row	Requiem Campaign Medal (1 arrowhead device, 3 bronze service stars)	Great War Medal 	Insurrection War Service Medal (3 bronze service star)
7th Row	SPECWAR Group SPARTAN-III Service Medal (2 bronze service stars) 	Naval Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon (with Expert Device)	Naval Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon (with Expert Device)
Team Bayonet Unit Citations
	
Team Bayonet Unit Citations Descriptions
Presidential Naval and Marine Unit Citation (2 bronze stars)	Presidential Naval and Marine Unit Citation (2 bronze stars)	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 bronze 3/16 stars)
==Promotions==
Rank 	Dates
Petty Officer Third Class 	February 19th, 2551 - April 19th, 2552
Petty Officer Second Class	April 19th, 2552 - June 4th, 2553
Petty Officer First Class 	June 4th, 2553 - September 10th, 2553
 	September 10th, 2553 - Present
==Trivia==
*Tom is of Irish, Germanic, and British descent .
*Tom brought his father's football with him to Onyx as a keepsake.
*When off-duty, Tom wears a brown jacket, with a black shirt, and cargo pants.
==Gallery==
TomWarGames.jpg|Tom-G036 engaging an enemy Wraith in War Games aboard the Infinity
Category:Gamma Company