Editing Avery Johnson

{{Status|Canon}}

{{New content|[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]] and [[Halo: Silent Storm]]}}

|birth=[[2474#November|November 23, 2474]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P91|Enc22|Page=91}}

|death=[[2552#December|December 11, 2552]]  

|causeofdeath=Mortally wounded by [[343 Guilty Spark]]

{{Quote|Dear humanity: We regret being alien bastards. We regret coming to Earth. And we most definitely regret that the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!|SgtMaj. Avery Johnson, 2552<ref>'''Halo 2''', ''Outskirts''</ref>}}

'''Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson''' ([[service number|'''SN''']]: 48789-20114-AJ<ref name="GN122>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|Page 122]]''</ref>) was a [[Sergeant Major|senior non-commissioned officer]] of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] who served during in the fight against the [[Insurrection]] and the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Johnson was a highly trained marine, who also served with various units of the [[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]], most notably the highly classified [[ORION Project]], the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]]'s first super-soldier program.  

Avery Junior Johnson was born on [[2474#November|November 23, 2474]] on [[Earth]] in the [[United Republic of North America]]'s [[Greater Chicago Industrial Zone]], a sprawling metroplex covering regions that once were part of the [[United States of America|American]] states of [[Wikipedia:Illinois|Illinois]],  [[Wikipedia:Indiana|Indiana]], and [[Wikipedia:Wisconsin|Wisconsin]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P91}}<ref name="CH37">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 37''</ref> From the time he was six years old, he was raised by his aunt, [[Marcille Johnson|Marcille]], after [[Zone Protective Services|Zone social services]] placed him in her care due to an angry end to his parents' marriage.<ref name="CH42">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 42''</ref> His father had left his mother so distraught that she could no longer care for herself, let alone an active, six-year-old boy. Marcille's sons were already grown by the time she adopted Avery and consequently he was dressed with many of the worn-out clothes they had worn at his age, which did not always fit due to his tall, broad-shouldered frame. His aunt worked hard to patch and sew so that Avery always looked his best, however, especially for church. Aunt Marcille was [[Evangelical Promessic]] and her religiosity resonated with the young Avery, who accompanied her to church services. Avery's first day of attendance left him with memories he would carry for the remainder of his life: the suffocating pinch of his white, freshly starched oxford shirt, a little paisley tie, argyle socks beneath neatly cuffed tan slacks, and the smell of carnauba wax, liberally applied, to mask the scuffs in his oversized, wingtip shoes. Avery and his aunt lived in a walkup apartment on [[Blackstone Avenue]] for the entirety of Avery's upbringing.

Avery enlisted with the [[United Nations Space Command]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] when he was nineteen years old. His aunt bid him farewell by telling him to make her proud and reminding him to always do what was right. He had become convinced that innocent people, like his aunt, were threatened by those involved in the [[Insurrection]], an undeclared civil war between the [[Unified Earth Government]] and disparate groups resisting its authority that had kicked off in earnest in [[2496]].<ref name="CH45">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 45''</ref> Avery excelled as a marine and often warranted special training and special missions. By the first few years of the twenty-sixth century, he had been handpicked to become part of the [[ORION Project]], a joint effort by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] and the [[Colonial Military Authority]] to create [[biological augmentation|biologically augmented]] super-soldiers to quell the [[Insurrectionist]] tide. Avery traveled to the planet [[Reach]] where he underwent a series of bioengineering protocols and grueling physical and mental tests. As part of ORION and [[UNSC Special Forces|NavSpecWar]], he was granted entrance into the [[Naval Special Warfare Sniper School]], where he exceeded the expectations of his superiors. In addition to training as a [[sniper]], he also learned to deploy in [[Drop pod|orbital drops]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 350''</ref> and became an accomplished [[Wikipedia:Close quarters combat|close quarters battle]] fighter. In [[2502]], then-Corporal Johnson deployed to [[Harvest]] as part of [[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]], a campaign with the goal of assassinating key rebel leaders. On March 13, Avery acquired a position on a rooftop and with the assistance of a spotter, used an [[M99 Stanchion]] rifle to kill [[Jerald Ander]], the leader of the [[Secessionist Union]] on the planet, as a truck carrying him passed by. Johnson was involved in numerous other classified operations against the [[Insurrection]] during his years with ORION. The final of these for the project was [[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]]. Due to unmet expectations and exorbitant costs, the ORION Project was then deactivated in [[2506]]. Johnson was reassigned to a position in the Marine Corps once again. Avery was a leader during many black operations missions over the course of the Insurrection.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 76''</ref>  

In [[2513]], the UNSC launched [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], an extensive campaign to crush insurrectionists in the [[Outer Colonies]]. As part of this ongoing offensive, then-Staff Sergeant Johnson led [[Alpha Squad|a unit]] of Marines on June 16, [[2524]] during an effort to neutralize the bomb-making capabilities of rebels on [[Tribute]]. Before dawn, the two four-man squads took to the air with [[AV-14 Hornet]]s. At fifty-seven minutes and sixteen seconds into the mission, the hornets crested a line of crumbling hills the marines got their first line-of-sight view of their objective: one of Tribute's struggling industrial settlements; and, somewhere inside the town, a suspected Insurrectionist bomb-shop. The hornets dropped the strike force off on the edge of town and Johnson took point for his squad. He set a brisk pace and led them over a chain-link fence and around piles of plastic crates and pallets until they reached the front of what looked like nothing more than a rundown vehicle repair shop. After signaling their position to Byrne and receiving a similar confirmation, Avery kicked in the thin metal door that led inside. Most of the surprised insurrectionists were unarmed at the moment of the breach and those that were had nothing more than snub-nosed automatic pistols that did little against the marines' body armor. Johnson personally neutralized a triggerman before he could detonate any explosives. The firefight lasted less than ten seconds and resulted in the deaths of twelve insurrectionists. Four others surrendered. Avery attempted to use an [[ARGUS]] device to detect any significant chemical compounds of interest in the vicinity, but the recent firefight made it impossible to nail down the location of any hidden bombs. Johnson relayed this complication to the tactical operations center aboard the {{UNSCShip|Bum Rush}} and received approval from [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Aboim]] to extract information from their hostages by any means necessary. Byrne selected one unlucky man and proceeded to break both his legs before he confessed they had been mixing explosives into the synthetic rubber treads of tires. The explosive compound in nearby tires was quickly uploaded to the database of similar materials used by the rebels. Less than a minute later, an [[ARGUS drone]] patrolling one of the highways leading into [[Casbah City]], the planet's capital, identified the compound in skid marks left by a sixteen-wheel hauler. The truck was located as it pulled into the parking lot of a [[Jim Dandy]] roadside diner. More of the explosive was also detected inside the diner. Byrne killed the other three insurrectionists that had surrendered but kept the one who talked as a prisoner, per orders from the operation's ONI representative. He and Avery both led their squads back to the hornets.  

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However, while lying in wait on a bait freighter, he and Sergeant Byrne, who was also assigned to the position, fought and defeated four [[Kig-yar|bird-like extraterrestrials]] in the first official battle between the UNSC and the alliance of alien species known as the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. Johnson demonstrated exceptional bravery during the battle, succeeding in eliminating the initial enemy Kig-yar contacts and pursuing the Kig-yar ship mistress (the final survivor of the boarding) into her ship. He subsequently survived the ships detonation of the ships Ungoy methane suite at the hands of the Kig-yar ship mistress's plasma pistol. His survival was secured thanks to Sgt. Byrne's quick evacuation of Johnson before the ship and the situation onboard was lethal. Following first contact, Johnson and Byrne were both involved in the training of Harvest colonial militia, despite being held to secrecy regarding first contact, both sergeants did their best within their restrictions, and only revealed the alien threat (and its potential scope) when it was imminent. The recruits during the briefing on the alien threat were privileged to witness the battle through the suit cameras of Sgt. Johnson vacuum-rated battle armor, the recruits were obviously impressed by the Sergeants courageous attack on the Covenant ship, and most were emboldened to fight. Johnson and Byrne (with the rest of the Harvest colonial militia) were present at the initial negotiations between the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] and the [[human]]s. Their initial plans coordinated with al-Cygni were spoiled as they expected the same aliens as they faced during first contact (Jiralhanae instead of Kig-yar) and misjudged the circumstances surrounding the 'ideal' true first contact. This was due to the Brute ship, Rapid Conversion, finding the survivors of the destruction of the Kig-yar ship, and as such, decided to prod at Harvest. As such, it was the only ship to initially attack Harvest following the incidental first contact. They fought Brute Chieftain [[Maccabeus]], his nephew [[Tartarus]], and several [[Unggoy|Grunts]] during their first formal contact. He aided [[Staff Sergeant]] Byrne and ONI operative [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cdr.]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] in repelling the [[Jiralhanae|Brute]] ship ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' long enough to allow most of the planet's population to escape into the [[Tiara]], a station attached to seven different space elevators stationed on the planet. Following the battle of Harvest, he would become romantically involved with al-Cygni after escaping from the planet. Although Johnson and al-Cygni seemed quite taken with each other it is unclear whether they formed a relationship, or how long it lasted.  

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Later that same day, Johnson, the Spartans, and Dr. Halsey left the [[Kolaqoa system]] aboard the UNSC ''Vanishing Point'' with two prowlers serving as escort. During the [[slipspace]] journey, Johnson and John-117 discussed which vessels of the logistics fleet they would make priority targets. Ultimately, they decided that they would target the munitions supply vessels first and the food supply vessels second, as the loss of those necessities would bring the Covenant offensive in this part of human space to a standstill.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS19|HSS|Chapter=19}}

 

On [[2526#March|March 22]], the three ships dropped out of slipspace near Etalan, spending the next four days observing the logistics fleet's movements and trying to discern which vessel served which purpose. By [[2526#March|March 26]], the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s analysts felt confident that four of the fleet's fifteen vessels were equipment [[freighter]]s carrying spare parts and other materials that would be used to keep the Fleet of Inexorable Obedience operational in the field. At this point, the logistics fleet was seemingly preparing to break from orbit over Etalan, evidenced by the fact that they had begun syncing their orbits and bringing their [[fusion reactor]]s to full power. Since time was running out, [[Gold Team|Gold]] and [[Green Team]]s were deployed in [[S-14 Baselard]]s to destroy the equipment freighters as Johnson and Blue Team discussed what vessels they should target during the second phase of the attack. The plan called for each of them to pilot one of the [[Elsedda-pattern Banshee|Banshee]]s that the Spartans had captured in [[Skirmish over Netherop|a mission]] over [[Netherop]] a few weeks earlier. They would fly the Banshees straight into the hangars of the target vessels, crash the fighters with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] in the cockpit, and then go [[Extra-vehicular activity|EV]] and await prowler pickup. For the purpose of this mission, Johnson was equipped with [[ODST armor#Space-assault|space assault armor]], an [[M99 Stanchion]], and an [[M41 SPNKR]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}

 

Johnson suggested that they take out what the analysts believed to be {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s, but Fred pointed out that they weren't even sure of that and they could be petting zoos for all they knew. Still, Johnson argued that could destroy all of the "petting zoos," and they'd be stuck without whatever they needed them for. However, Dr. Halsey walked over and informed them that she had identified the fleet's munition supply vessels as the three large "[[Bladder ship|air-skimmer]]s" seen dipping in and out of Etalan's upper atmosphere. Johnson, unconvinced that she could have determined that, asked how she knew. After some prodding, Dr. Halsey explained that the "air-skimmers" were collecting gas from Etalan's atmosphere to refine into [[plasma]]. She then revealed that she knew that Nyeto and his subordinates were Insurrectionist spies, and that she had found surveillance devices in her lab on the ''Vanishing Point''. Despite Johnson and Blue Team's worries that the spies might have gotten access to the Spartans' armor, they prepared to follow through on their part of the mission, now targeting the three "air-skimmers" instead.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}}

 

With the ''Vanishing Point'' nearing the decided drop-off point, John gave the signal for Johnson and Blue Team to grab their HAVOKs and board their Banshees. Meanwhile, a remotely-piloted Baselard powered up on the hangar deck ahead of their craft. Moments before launch, a decoy flight of Baselards streamed past the hangar aperture with a Banshee squadron on their tails. The ''Vanishing Point'' cold-launched a number of pre-targeted [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missiles]], and an instant later, the remote Baselard shot out of the hangar, firing on the Banshee squadron as the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s missiles activated and flew after the Banshees as well. The Banshees panicked and scattered, giving the manned Baselards a chance to escape. John ordered Blue Team to launch their Banshees and fall in behind the alien fighter squadron before firing on the remote-controlled Baselard until it self-destructed into a large fireball intended to distract the Covenant forces as the ''Vanishing Point'' slipped away. Sangheili voices filled the cockpits of Blue Team's Banshees, questioning where they came from. When no response was given, a trio of Banshees broke from the main squadron to investigate the new arrivals visually. However, John was able to convince the aliens that their communications equipment had been damaged by feigning communication with a wiggle of his Banshee.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS20|HSS|Chapter=20}}

 

Shortly after this, Gold and Green Teams deployed from Baselards to attack the equipment freighters as planned. Moments later, the freighters began exploding while the Covenant fighters and [[Proselytization network|battlenet]] began to panic. The fourth explosion was so close to the Banshee squadron that they were all—including the Banshees piloted by Johnson and Blue Team—disabled by the [[electromagnetic pulse]]. Since the craft escorting them no longer had the capability to intercept transmissions, Fred-104 exclaimed his disgust at the Banshees' lack of radiation shielding over [[TEAMCOM]]. Johnson spied two of their targeted air-skimmers in an orbit that would have them pass below them shortly, pointing this out to Blue Team. When John revealed that they still planned to board the vessels, Johnson exclaimed that he was crazy. Yet, after some discussion, it was decided that Blue Team would go EV from their derelict Banshees and intercept the air-skimmers as they passed by. John-117 would board the first vessel, Kelly-087 the second, and Fred-104 the third while Linda and Johnson held back to cover them with their M99 Stanchions. John ordered Linda and Johnson to focus on protecting Kelly and Fred, but Johnson refused and told him that he needed to get over his hero complex. Linda explained that she was close enough to Fred and Kelly to cover them most of the way, and Johnson told John that he needed to get over his hero complex. John began to argue, but Johnson stated that he was already committed to the vector he was on and there was no way for him to turn back. As John grew angrier, Linda interjected, informing John that it was her who made the snap decision that Johnson would cover him. Leaving the squadron of adrift Banshees behind, Johnson's HAVOK nuke—which he had left aboard his Banshee—detonated, killing any potential witnesses aboard the other craft and covering their approach.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}}

 

Meanwhile, the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s two escort prowlers arrived to recover Gold and Green Teams. Assuming the two vessels were preparing another attack run on the logistics fleet, the Covenant attacked the prowlers and the Baselards accompanying them. As John neared the lead air-skimmer, a number of Banshees moved to intercept him, still out of range of Johnson's M99. Johnson told John to abort his approach, but the Spartan ignored him and got close enough to detonate his nuke, destroying the vessel.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}} Fred and Kelly did likewise before Johnson and the rest of Blue Team were recovered by the ''Vanishing Point'' or its escorts.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS21|HSS|Chapter=21}}

 

 

When John received a promotion to [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] from Crowther, Johnson was present and stated that he and Crowther had talked the promotion over and both had agreed that it was the best thing for the mission as the unheard of four-rank promotion solidified John's authority over the Black Daggers. Along with Crowther, Johnson cautioned John about "leading from the front" and what could happen if they lost John in combat. Before going their separate ways, John thanked Johnson for showing him how much John didn't learn during Spartan training on [[Reach]] and Johnson promised to help him again anytime.<ref>'''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''', ''chapter 23''</ref>

====Battle of Zhoist====

{{Main|Battle of Zhoist}}

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[[File:Anniversary Avery.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Sergeant Johnson on the ''Pillar of Autumn'' during the Battle of Installation 04.]]

After coming out of slipspace, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' came across a [[Forerunner]] artifact known as [[Installation 04|Halo]]. The Covenant, cautious not to damage the ring world by firing at the ''Autumn'' in space, began boarding actions to "cleanly" neutralize the ''Autumn'' by [[Naval boarding|boarding]] the ship and wiping out the crew and altering its course away from the Installation, before planting charges and blowing it up. On board, Johnson helped defend the ''Autumn'' from the invading Covenant boarding troops, but like everyone else was forced to abandon ship when [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] issued the order.

[[File:JohnsonFlood.png|thumb|250px|Johnson was able to escape the Flood thanks to his skill and biological augmentations.]]

Johnson, however, was able to survive the ambush uninfected due to his skill, tenacity and physiological enhancement, though when asked how he survived, he claimed that the Flood had not been able to infect him. Later, a query by the [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]] into Johnson's medical history claimed that he had a condition known as [[Boren's Syndrome]]. This disease was supposedly contracted while he was stationed at [[Paris IV]]. When the Covenant [[Siege of Paris IV|attacked]] Paris IV, Johnson fought valiantly; during the battle, he repossessed a crate of Covenant [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|plasma grenades]] when his troops needed them and used them all against the enemy troops to keep them at bay so his fellow soldiers could evacuate. He received a commendation for bravery, and a twelve-hundred-rad cumulative dose of radiation as an unanticipated "bonus" from all the plasma detonations.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 244''</ref> Allegedly, the Boren's Syndrome had an unexpected side effect, as it made him effectively immune to infection by the Flood because the radiation scrambled his nervous system so much that Pod infectors could not force a match. This supposedly rendered the Flood unable to control him. However, the Boren's Syndrome story (referred to as the "Paris/BS Spoof"), was a hoax to cover up Johnson's involvement in the ORION Project,{{Ref/Reuse|GN122}}<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 81''</ref> and his survival from the Flood was solely due to his ability to fight off the parasite before it could infect him thanks to his augmented physique and superior skill, as opposed to an actual immunity.<ref name="Catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969315_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969315 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction - Page 14'' (''"No known biological <nowiki>[scaffolding]</nowiki> augmentation impedes efficacy of parasite conversion process."'')]</ref><ref name="hgn">'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''</ref>{{Ref/Note|Johnson's supposed biological immunity to the Flood as a result of Boren's Syndrome was originally presented as factual in the novel ''Halo: First Strike''. As stated by [[Joseph Staten]] {{Plain|[http://halostory.bungie.org/staten102204.html here]}}, Bungie disliked the notion of a Flood immunity and established the disease as being fictitious on page 122 of the ''Halo Graphic Novel''. As stated in the introduction to ''[[Breaking Quarantine]]'', the comic was intended to further cement Bungie's original vision for Johnson's escape from the Flood. The comic indicates that he simply fought his way out of the containment facility and did not suffer lacerations which would expose him to Flood infection in the process.}}

[[File:Polaski cam.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Johnson and John-117 on a Covenant ship.]]

After they had captured the Covenant ship, not being able to return to Earth because of the [[Cole Protocol]], Master Chief suggested they return to Reach to regroup. They proceeded with this plan despite protests that Reach was almost certainly a dead world. When they arrived at Reach, the planet was almost completely glassed, except for a small portion. Using a [[Taaku Xur-pattern Spirit|Covenant dropship]], they traveled to the surface of the desecrated planet, where Johnson was becoming nervous. After they landed, they found the surviving [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] and [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]. Johnson was the first to realize that they were surrounded by thousands of invisible Covenant, and pointed it out to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb|Whitcomb]] before their dropship walked into the trap.

*All relevant data on Halsey’s analysis and the possible technology to counter an initial Flood infestation, as well as Jenkins’s and Johnson’s mission logs and Johnson’s medical files, focusing on the interaction between [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|Flood super cell]]s and Boren's Syndrome.

[[File:H2A-John&Johnson.jpg|250px|thumb|Master Chief John-117 and Sergeant Major Johnson salute Lord Hood during ceremony aboard Cairo Station.]]

As they arrived on the surface, Cortana intercepted data that pointed towards one of the Covenant’s spiritual leaders being present in the invasion. Johnson led [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]] full of marines into battle, but they were shot down by a Covenant {{Pattern|Protos|Scarab}} before they got close to the [[covenant assault carrier|ship]] that carried the High Prophet of Regret. Wielding a [[Sniper Rifle System 99C-S2 Anti-Matériel|sniper rifle]], Johnson fought in the residential district of the city, providing cover fire and serving as a lookout. As the Master Chief went on to find [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] from another downed Pelican, Johnson stayed back and joined the rescue units to provide cover. Viewing the Scarab as a threat to the mission, he returned to ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' to bring a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]] tank for the Chief to use in a front line assault against the Covenant invasion force.

Johnson, Keyes and other UNSC soldiers were held prisoner in the city, until the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] instructed Tartarus to activate the ring and initiate the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. Tartarus ordered his Jiralhanae to split Johnson, Keyes, and the captured [[343 Guilty Spark|Oracle]] into two different [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]] as they descended back towards the ring. Johnson was joined by [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Banks]] and [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] for execution by a pack of Jiralhanae at the [[Bastion of the Brutes]] near Halo's [[Control Room (Installation 05)|control room]]. Moments before their deaths, the Arbiter and his squad burst out of the nearby structure and attacked the Jiralhanae, distracting them long enough for Johnson and his Marines to board the nearby Scarab walker.  

The release of the Flood from the ring, however, would put their plans to get to Earth on hold. The new allies would rendezvous with the Arbiter's comrade, [[Rtas 'Vadumee]], now shipmaster of the recently captured [[assault carrier]] ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', flagship of the separatists' fledgling [[Fleet of Retribution]].<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Shadow of Intent'']</ref> Together, they formulated a plan for sterilization and quarantine. Spark remained with the fleet to coordinate containment efforts while Johnson, Keyes and the Arbiter raced back to Earth aboard one of the fleet's vessels to warn humanity and to locate the Ark.{{Ref/Marketing|Id=LongRoad|Halo Waypoint|The Long Road Home}}<ref name="lootcrate2">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #2]]''</ref>

Johnson warned the Chief that the Covenant had uncovered what he thought was the Ark, and that the humans had to get to it. Johnson provided air support for the Spartan and the Marine survivors, dropping off Warthogs so the Chief and his Marines could [[Assault on the Tsavo Highway|break through]] Jiralhanae blockades on the [[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]]. During the [[Battle of Voi]], he dropped off several [[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle|Mongoose]] ATVs to assist the Master Chief in destroying a Covenant {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}}. Johnson remained in a Pelican dropship for most, if not all of the Battle of Voi, dispersing armor and troops throughout the city as necessary to help push the Covenant back. When the Pelican made a crash-landing in Voi, Johnson probably docked on the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} along with Commander Keyes. He was present when the Master Chief retrieved a message from Cortana, who had been left behind on the Flood-infested ''High Charity''. Johnson was one of the Marines that followed the High Prophet of Truth to the ''real'' Ark, which was located past the [[slipspace portal]] generated by the [[Portal at Voi|device]] the Covenant uncovered on Earth.

The Prophet of Truth attempted to use Johnson to activate the Ark, and set off the Halo array, but he only taunted the Jiralhanae, in particular a [[Chieftain]], in hopes of angering the Brute to the point where he would kill him, and deny Truth the ability to activate the array. Miranda Keyes attempted to rescue him by crashing a Pelican through a large observatory window. Keyes was able to kill one brute, a Chieftain, and fatally wounded another, but was surrounded. Realizing what the Prophet of Truth wished to use them for, Johnson told her that she should kill them both so they could not be used. While Keyes hesitated, Truth shot her in the back with a [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spiker]], killing her instantly and used the demoralized Johnson to activate the Array. Johnson was rescued by John-117 and Thel 'Vadam, along with a horde of Flood. After the Master Chief deactivated the array, the Flood turned on the three, and while Johnson managed to escape on Keyes' Pelican with her body, the Chief and the Arbiter were knocked off by the Gravemind, forced to fight their way back through the Flood.

[[File:DeathofAveryJohnson.jpg|thumb|343 Guilty Spark mortally wounds Johnson in front of the Master Chief.|250px]]

[[File:Memorial pictures.PNG|250px|thumb|Johnson's picture was included in the legacy of fallen heroes and leaders during the Human-Covenant war.]]

[[File:H2A-SgtAveryJohnson-Main.jpg|250px|thumb|A close up of Sergeant Major Johnson's face.]]

Johnson has received three known medals in his service: The [[Colonial Cross]] and the [[Purple Heart]],<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Halo 2]], ''[[Cairo Station]]''</ref> as well as the [[UNSC Legion of Honor]], which may have been a posthumous decoration.<ref>[[Halo 3]], ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)]]''</ref> Johnson was not awarded any medals during his time with the ORION detachment, due to the sensitive nature of its missions.{{citation needed}}

{{Linkbox|quote=yes|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes|gameplaypage=Johnson (disambiguation)#Gameplay}}

*Johnson is a playable character in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]]. In the original Xbox 360 release, he is available only to those who pre-ordered the game from participating retailers, while in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', he is unlocked at rank 50 of [[Series 3: Recon]].

*Johnson's dress uniform in Halo 2 features a gold star and 4 stripes. In ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', this was amended to a gold star and two stripes. It is unknown whether or not this correctly reflects his rank of Sergeant Major.{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}}