Editing John Forge

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Character infobox

|variant=Human

|birth=[[2501|May 29, 2501]]<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 72''</ref><ref name="Waypoint">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160413005932/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/john-forge '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''John Forge'' (archived)]</ref>

|death=[[2531#February|February 25, 2531]]{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

|height={{Convert|190.5|cm|ftin}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

|mass={{Convert|97.5|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

|hair=Brown

|eyes=Brown

|rank=Sergeant{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

|sn=63292-94758-JF{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

|notable=Killed [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] in single combat<br>Destroyed [[Trove]] [[Shield World]]

'''Sergeant John Forge''' ([[service number]] '''63292-94758-JF''') was a veteran non-commissioned officer in [[Foxtrot Company]], [[13th Battalion]], in an unknown regiment of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref> Although he excelled in tactics and combat, Forge's repeated acts of insubordination caused him to receive three demotions, with infractions such as fighting with an officer, which resulted in 2.4 years in jail time, and striking a superior officer.<ref name="Prima">'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', Factions, UNSC Leaders, ''pages 22-23''</ref><ref name = "Viral">[http://halo.xbox.com/halowars/index.html?fbid=DJFJt_O2sq7 '''Xbox-Halo Wars''' - ''Accessed on 2009-02-02'']</ref>

Born on [[Earth]] on [[2501|May 29, 2501]],{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} Forge's life revolved around the military. His [[Forge family|family lineage]] had been a part of the military for generations, dating as far back as World War II. He joined boot camp at the minimum age of 16, where his superiors remarked there was "something special" about him.{{Ref/Reuse|Prima}} Forge's wife, [[Laine Forge|Laine]], gave birth to a daughter, [[Rion Forge|Lucy Orion "Rion" Forge]], around [[2525]]. Although John's marriage was strained even before the birth of his child, he and Rion would always remain on good terms.<ref name="smoke">'''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'''</ref>

Forge worked a stint as a [[military police]]man on [[Mars]] and did some "grunt work" on [[Epsilon Eridani IV]] during the [[Insurrection]]. However, he hated policing and jumped at the chance to be assigned to [[Fort Marshall]].{{Ref/Reuse|Prima}}

Forge was arrested twice during his service. His first arrest was for directly disobeying orders and disorderly conduct. Even though his actions saved four members of his squad,{{Ref/Reuse|Prima}} Forge spent a total of 2.4 years in prison, an infraction that removed any chance of moving through [[Officer Candidate School]] or even progressing beyond the rank of sergeant.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

His second arrest occurred around [[2530|August 17, 2530]]. Forge's then-five-year-old daughter, Rion, and her aunt [[Jillian]] were waiting for John in a bar when Lieutenant [[Prosser]] started making sexual advances on Jillian. When the lieutenant made a suggestive comment toward Rion, Jillian struck Prosser, prompting him to shove her against a wall.{{Ref/Reuse|smoke}} At this point John arrived and confronted the lieutenant. They engaged in a fist fight, with charges brought upon the sergeant. However, Rion proclaimed her father as a hero and all charges were dropped, where he was later reassigned to the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} by [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]] himself.{{Ref/Reuse|Prima}}{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s commanding officer, Captain [[James Cutter]], came to trust Forge so thoroughly that he granted the sergeant a degree of authority significantly exceeding that afforded by his rank.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}

{{quote|Well, well. Lookee here, the Covenant built themselves a little base.|Forge discovering a Covenant base{{Ref/Reuse|RA}}}}

Upon [[Retinal scanner|scanning his retina]] to gain access to the terminal, Forge was halted by the ship's AI, [[FitzGibbon]], who explained he could not allow him to enter due to the latter's poor [[Career Service Vitae|service record]]. Forge reminded the AI of the [[Cole Protocol]], stating that he was aboard the vessel to ensure the protocol would not to be violated. FitzGibbon then reluctantly allowed Forge into the terminal room and enabled radiation repair routines. Forge purged the navigation database and returned to the Pelicans as FitzGibbon activated ''Prophecy'''s self-destruct sequence, which soon scuttled the ship. After the Marines and Forge escaped with the survivors, they were taken to ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s medical bay. When Forge asked how the survivors were doing, Serina told him that they would all soon die due to all of them suffering extensive radiation poisoning. Forge was angered by the AI's indifference towards the survivors and comforted them in their final moments, believing that even if they would soon be dead, they were still people and so deserved better.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}}

 

Forge was sent to the surface of [[Harvest]] on his first mission to scout out Covenant activity in the northern polar region of the planet. He drove through [[Quadrant 4]] to find a battalion of Sangheili that an [[AV-14 Hornet]] squadron had spotted earlier.<ref name = "Viral"/> Reporting the Covenant activity to his superiors, as to how the aliens had found a [[Relic (location)|a Forerunner structure]] buried within the ice, he returned to the overrun UNSC [[Alpha Base (Harvest)|Alpha Base]], and helped organize scattered Marine units along the way.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''[[Alpha Base (Halo Wars level)|Alpha Base]]''</ref> Forge and his rag-tag assault force were able to retake Alpha Base a short-time later. Before the Relic was demolished by the Covenant, the Forerunner site is captured by Forge and Marine forces. [[Ellen Anders|Professor Ellen Anders]] was then sent to the planet's surface to personally investigate the relic, and Forge reluctantly escorted her inside.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Relic Approach (level)|Relic Approach]]''</ref> He was present when Anders activated a Forerunner holographic projection of a star map, and protected her when they were ambushed by a team of Sangheili warriors. ''Spirit of Fire'' then evacuated most of her ground troops, including Forge, and set course for [[Arcadia]], a UNSC colony planet to which the star map had pointed.<ref name="RA">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Relic Interior]]''</ref>

[[File:HW Anders captured.png|thumb|300px|Forge aiming his handgun at [[Ripa 'Moramee]], who is taking Ellen Anders hostage.]]

After arriving at Arcadia, Forge was among the first UNSC troops to set foot in the besieged capital of [[Pirth City]], where he aided the evacuation of civilians aboard three [[Banta-class transport|cargo vessels]].{{Ref/Reuse|Arcadia City}} One such civilian was a young boy named [[Adam Andrews]] whose encounter with Forge would stick in his mind for the rest of his life.{{Ref/Reuse|Hippo}} When the civilian transports took off, Forge and his men abandoned the besieged city and fell back to the outskirts.<ref name="Arcadia City">'''Halo Wars''',campaign level, ''[[Arcadia City]]''</ref> There, he took part in the destruction of a nearby Covenant base, assisted by [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] teams [[Red Team|Red]] and [[Team Omega|Omega]].<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Arcadia Outskirts]]''</ref> He also participated in the battle to destroy a Covenant energy dome<ref name="Dome of Light">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Dome of Light]]''</ref> which was protecting an unfinished {{Pattern|R'awuw|Scarab}}. After a short battle, the UNSC forces succeeded in destroying the Scarab.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]''</ref> While he and Anders were surveying the area, [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]] ambushed them. Forge was swiftly defeated and was about to be killed, until Anders stopped the Arbiter by agreeing to go with him without incident. After Spartan Red Team's unsuccessful attempt to stop the Arbiter from escaping, they immediately retreated back to the ''Spirit of Fire''. ''Spirit of Fire'' then made a [[slipspace]] jump in pursuit of 'Moramee's retreating vessel.<ref name="Girlfriend">'''Halo Wars''', ''cutscene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAwbJN6DzL4&feature=player_embedded "She is Not My Girlfriend"]''</ref>

===Trove===

{{quote|Son, I've a feeling before this is over, we'll need every last Spartan in the fight. I can do this. Report back to the ship.|Forge informing Jerome-092 of his intention to stay behind{{Ref/Reuse|Monsters}}}}

After Spartan [[Jerome-092]] recommended destroying 'Moramee's ship and killing Anders rather than let classified information fall into Covenant hands, Forge confronted the Spartan. The altercation resulted in a broken chair, a seal malfunction on a bulkhead and a stern interruption from [[Serina]]. From then on, Forge and Jerome always ate together in the mess hall.<ref name="Timeline">'''[[Halo Wars Timeline Events]]'''</ref>{{Ref/Note|The in-game timeline states that [[Douglas-042]] made the suggestion to destroy 'Moramee's vessel, that he fought Sergeant Forge over the suggestion, and that the two later bonded over meals. However, Red Team's leader, Jerome-092, clearly makes the suggestion in the game proper. Jerome is also the only Spartan seen to interact directly with Forge during the campaign. More importantly, Forge later takes Jerome's place in the suicidal attempt to destroy the shield world's star, suggesting the camaraderie said to have developed between Forge and the Spartan in question.}}

Upon arriving at a [[Trove|mysterious planet]], Forge was sent to the planet's surface, where he and his forces encountered the [[Flood]]. Forge aided Red Team in killing the [[Proto-Gravemind]] that commanded all of the Flood forces.<ref name="Anders' Signal">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Anders' Signal]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[The Flood (level)|The Flood]]''</ref> It was soon discovered that the world was not a planet at all, but a Forerunner [[shield world]]. Immediately following this revelation, Forge was put in charge of the evacuation of the ''Spirit's'' ground troops<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Shield World (level)|Shield World]]''</ref> and the decontamination of Flood from the ship's dorsal surface.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Cleansing]]''</ref> He then led teams in protecting the ship from Covenant forces during repairs to the power core after it collided with the {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} ''[[Proclamation's Tithe]]''.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Repairs]]''</ref>

Shortly after arriving in the shield world's interior, Forge located Anders who had managed to escape by [[translocation grid|teleporting]] from the [[Apex Site]]. Forge saved Anders from three [[pod infector]]s and escorted Anders to a Pelican for evac. Under Cutter's orders, Forge proceeded to destroy four [[Covenant citadel]]s and build [[firebase]]s in their stead, establishing a beachhead in the shield world's interior.<ref name="Beachhead">'''[[Halo Wars]]''', campaign level, ''[[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]''</ref>

Following Anders' rescue, she revealed that the Covenant had used her to activate a fleet of [[Forerunner]] {{Class|Sojourner|dreadnought}}s. To stop the Covenant from using the ships, Anders decided that they must destroy Etran Harborage by using the reactor from the ''Spirit of Fire's'' [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] to induce a [[supernova]] in the shield world's artificial sun. To this end, Forge was assigned to escort the reactor to the [[Apex Site]] where an elevator existed that led into the sun. After two Pelicans were shot down while carrying the reactor, Forge was ordered to escort the reactor up a series of ramps using an [[M312 Elephant]] to tow the reactor to the Apex Base Site. Forge's target was a teleporter pad that could send the reactor to the Apex Site. Despite heavy resistance from Covenant and Flood forces, Forge succeeded in sending the reactor to the Apex Site.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Reactor (Halo Wars level)|Reactor]]''</ref>

[[File:HW Ripa is killed.png|thumb|300px|left|Forge after killing Ripa 'Moramee.]]

After being informed that the ''Spirit of Fire'' had succeeded in opening the exit portal, Forge detonated the reactor, sacrificing himself but causing the shield world's sun to go supernova. While the ''Spirit of Fire'' managed to escape, Forge's sacrifice destroyed Etran Harborage, all Covenant and Flood forces upon it and the Forerunner ships, thus depriving the Covenant of a major advantage in the ongoing war.<ref name="Escape">'''Halo Wars''', campaign level, ''[[Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape]]''</ref>

''Spirit of Fire'' was declared lost with all hands on [[2534|February 10, 2534]],<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 71''</ref> though many bereaved family members refused to accept the official statement. On his deathbed, Forge's father encouraged Rion to keep up the search for the truth regarding the ship's disappearance. Rion spent the ensuing years seeking closure for her father's disappearance, eventually becoming a scavenger. In [[2557#January|January 2557]], she followed a series of leads that pointed to the [[log buoy]] ''Spirit of Fire'' had dropped at Arcadia, which in turn took her to the remains of [[Trove]]. There she encountered what remained of the former caretaker of the facility, a fragmentary [[ancilla]] she later dubbed "[[Little Bit]]", which provided her the trajectory ''Spirit of Fire'' had followed when escaping the shield world.{{Ref/Reuse|smoke}}

 

Rion eventually discovered the truth about her father's demise from [[343 Guilty Spark]] who revealed that Forge had left a message for Rion that [[Serina]] and Cutter had promised to leave behind in the ''Spirit of Fire's'' preprogramed maintenance sheds and data drops that the ship left behind in hopes of leaving a trail. Having gained access to the message during his time with the UNSC, Spark was able to provide the message to Rion and explain her father's sacrifice to her.<ref>'''[[Halo: Renegades]]''', ''pages 312-316''</ref> Despite knowing the truth about Forge's death and holding a funeral for him on [[Earth]], Rion and her crew decided to continue the search for the ''Spirit of Fire''{{'}}s crew Forge had sacrificed himself for. With Little Bit's projections, the fully functional Spark and the upgraded ''Ace of Spades'', the crew believed that they could complete their mission.<ref>'''[[Halo: Renegades]]'''</ref>

In [[2560]], while preparing to trade with [[Kig-Yar]] scavengers at the [[Arcadia Forerunner ruins]], [[Adam Andrews]] recalled how Forge had rescued him as a kid during the [[Battle for Arcadia]], in particular the ace of spades on Forge's armor and how the Marine had told Adam that it was the ticket to get Lady Luck on their side. Having never learned Forge's name, Adam referred to him as the magician and in the years since, had learned of the ''Spirit of Fire's'' role in the battle and its subsequent disappearance. However, Adam believed that the ship was still out there somewhere.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Hippo|Halo: Hippocratica}}

Forge was a born warrior but had difficulty coping with life outside the military. Though his wife remained a distant shadow in his mind while he was on deployment, his daughter Rion never gave up on him. Forge was decorated numerous times for valor and gallantry on the battlefield, though he received just as many demerits for insubordination, conduct unbecoming, and striking a superior officer.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Prima}}

 

According to an [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] psych evaluation, Forge exceled at tactics and combat, where he was considered indispensable to their current needs. However it recommended denying all promotions due to his predicable pattern of insubordination.{{Ref/Site|Id=HWLS|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/halowars/index.html?fbid=0eK_L23l9WQ|Site=halo.xbox.com|Page=Halo Wars Launch Site|Detail=(Defunct)|D=12|M=8|Year=2010|NoArchive=Yes|LocalArchive=Halo Wars Launch Site}}

 

In combat, Forge appreciated a strong ground force able to turn a messy situation around,{{Ref/Reuse|Card}} and had a special fondness for the [[M850 Grizzly]] tank. In what [[Serina]] described as his "pet project", Forge arranged for an unusually high number of Grizzlies to be added to the ''Spirit of Fire''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s complement. The means by which he accomplished this were convoluted and known only to Forge himself.<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] - Grizzly''</ref> During engagements, he would insist that Grizzly tanks be requested when [[M808B Scorpion]]s fall short, and a supply of [[HRUNTING Mark III (B) Cyclops]]es be available via any [[Firebase|command center]] for demolition of enemy structures.{{Ref/Reuse|Card}} Forge was also fond of the [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]], and frequently operated one during his operations to the point that he kept his own [[John Forge's Warthog|personal vehicle]] out of the motor pool circulation so he could tinker and upgrade as needed.<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] - John Forge's Warthog''</ref>

 

When faced with [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]], Forge showed himself to be a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, holding his own briefly against the skilled warlord in their first fight before being taken down, 'Moramee having had the advantage of energy shields and cloaking.{{Ref/Reuse|Girlfriend}} In their second fight, Forge proved capable of holding his own even longer, utilizing a combination of his weapons and hand-to-hand. Notably, Forge detected the cloaked Arbiter's initial attack and was able to dodge it and even landed a few hits on the Arbiter, tackling him to the ground at one point and using his pistol to disarm the Arbiter by firing into his right hand. Afterwards, 'Moramee would wield the energy sword that was once in his right hand with his left hand instead, suggesting that Forge succeeded in damaging his right hand beyond use. Though Forge was ultimately outmatched, he won by challenging the Arbiter to look him in the eyes as he killed Forge and then taking the opportunity to stab 'Moramee in the neck with "Lucy" before finishing him off with the Arbiter's own [[Type-1 energy sword|energy sword]] and taunted that he would've won the first time had Anders not intervened.{{Ref/Reuse|Monsters}}

Forge wore an Ace of Spades playing card (which Rion insisted he take with him after a game of [[Wikipedia:War (card game)|War]]) on his left shoulder pauldron.{{Ref/Reuse|Viral}} He also carried a [[combat knife]] which he called "Lucy",<ref name="gd">[http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/halo-wars-character-profiles-forge-and-the-arbiter/?page=8 '''GameDaily''' - ''Halo Wars Character Profiles (defunct)'']</ref> presumably after his daughter's given name.{{Ref/Reuse|smoke}} His breastplate was painted with nine Sangheili skulls arranged with combat knives in a skull-and-crossbones motif.

Assigned to protect Professor [[Ellen Anders]], Forge was often exasperated by her desire to be on the front lines and the fact that he was essentially a glorified babysitter, something that Anders took pleasure in taunting him with at times.{{Ref/Reuse|Dome of Light}} However, Forge did genuinely care for Anders and advocated chasing after Anders to rescue Anders when [[Ripa 'Moramee]] kidnapped her on [[Arcadia]] and was already waiting in a Pelican for Cutter's command to go when the ''Spirit of Fire'' arrived at [[Trove]].{{Ref/Reuse|Girlfriend}} Additionally, Forge reacted badly to [[Jerome-092]]'s suggestion that they eliminate Anders rather than rescue her.{{Ref/Reuse|Timeline}} After rescuing Anders from three [[pod infector]]s following her escape from the Covenant, Forge took the opportunity to tease her about the rescue and her lack of initial thanks.{{Ref/Reuse|Beachhead}}

In the earliest stages of the [[Development of Halo Wars|development]] of ''Halo Wars'', Sergeant Forge was originally meant to be a [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]], before he was changed into a Marine Corps NCO.{{Ref/Twitter|zaphodgjd|1318335436431872001|Graeme Devine|Y=2020|M=10|D=20|Quote=Yeah. If you look in that original concept poster Cutter used to be younger and Forge used to be a Spartan before re-writes. I far prefer the final versions we went with, Forge’s sacrifice is meaningful because of who is he is and what he was.}} Lead writer Graeme Devine also outlined some thoughts for a potential [[Halo Wars sequel (Ensemble)|''Halo Wars'' sequel]], in which it would be revealed that Forge had survived the events of the shield world; The core of Shield World 0459 transported Forge to another location, thus saving him from the shield world's destruction. Anders, who had programmed to release herself from her cryo chamber shortly after Cutter entered cryostasis, followed Forge's signal and directed ''Spirit of Fire'' to his location. After three years and 107 days, Cutter was awakened by Serina, Anders, and Forge.{{Ref/Site|Id=RedditScript|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.reddit.com/r/HaloWars/comments/2nro3o/halo_wars_ama_with_graeme_devine_is_here/cmg8pcs/|Site=Reddit|Page=Halo Wars AMA with Graeme Devine is here!|Detail=Graeme Devine's Halo Wars 2 transcript}}

Forge is voiced by [[Nolan North]] in ''Halo Wars'' and ''Halo Wars 2'', who had previously voiced Marine NPCs in ''Halo 3'' and who later voiced [[Kojo Agu|Kojo "Romeo" Agu]] in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''.

*Jerome-092 occasionally addresses Forge as "Sir" in cutscenes despite outranking the sergeant by three grades.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint}}<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/jerome-092 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Jerome-092'']</ref> Its possible that this is merely a sign of respect by Jerome.

*In ''Halo Wars'', Forge’s left shoulder armor has the unit crest of the [[Wikipedia:48th Chemical Brigade|U.S. Army’s 110th CBRNE Battalion]].

*In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', the "Calling Card" helmet attachment has the description "Forging ahead" and consists of an Ace of Spades playing card, references to John Forge and the playing card he wore on his shoulder pauldron, respectively.

File:HWG EVAForge.png|Forge in ''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''

{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{HW Leaders}}

[[Category:Human characters|Forge, John]]