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{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the character|the [[Halo 3]] campaign level|Sierra 117}}
{{Character infobox
{{Character infobox|variant=Human
|variant=Human
|name=John-117
|name=John-117
|image=[[File:H5G-MarkVI-GEN2.png|350px]]
|image={{pageimage|HInf Coverart Large No Logo.jpg}}
|homeworld=[[Eridanus II]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/master-chief-john-117 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Master Chief'']</ref>
{{tabcontainer|title1=GEN3|content1=[[File:HINF John-117 RenderCrop.png|250px]]|title2=GEN2|content2=[[File:H5G-MarkVI-GEN2.png|250px]]|title3=Mark VI|content3=[[File:H2A MC FullBody Render.png|250px]]|title4=Mark V|content4=[[File:HFR John Render.png|250px]]|title5=Mark IV|content5=[[File:Halo4FWUntoDWN Chief.webp|250px]]}}
|birth=[[2511#March|March 7, 2511]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
|homeworld=[[Eridanus II]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/master-chief-john-117 ''Halo Waypoint'' - Master Chief]</ref>
|birth=[[2511#March|March 7, 2511]]<ref name="H4TEVG">''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p.10</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
|death=
|death=
|species=[[Human]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
|causeofdeath=
|gender=Male<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Human]]{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
|gender=Male{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
|height=*{{Convert|208.3|cm|ftin|sp=us}}<ref name="DD5">[[Data Drop]] [[Data Drop/Five|Five]]</ref>
|height=*{{Convert|208.3|cm|ftin|sp=us}}<ref name="DD5">[[Data Drop]] [[Data Drop/Five|Five]]</ref>
*{{Convert|218|cm|ftin|sp=us}} {{C|with [[Mjolnir]] armor}}<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
*{{Convert|218|cm|ftin|sp=us}} {{C|with [[Mjolnir]] armor}}{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
|mass=*{{Convert|286.6|lb|kg|disp=flip}}<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
|mass=*{{Convert|286.6|lb|kg|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
*{{Convert|394.6|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with Mjolnir undersuit}}<ref name="DD5"/>
*{{Convert|394.6|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with Mjolnir undersuit}}{{Ref/Reuse|DD5}}
*{{Convert|994.9|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir]]}}<ref name="DD5"/>
*{{Convert|994.9|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|DD5}}
|hair=Brown<ref name="H5GLED">''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition]]'' - dossiers</ref>
|hair=Brown{{Ref/Game|Id=H5GLED|Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers#John-117|Dossier files]] - John-117}}
|eyes=Blue<ref name="H5GLED"/>
|eyes=Blue{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLED}}
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]] [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
|affiliation=*[[UNSC Navy]]
|rank=*[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] {{C|[[2526]]-present}}<ref name="H5GLED"/><ref name="H4FUD">''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''</ref><ref name="HSS23">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 23''</ref>
**[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]]
*[[Petty Officer First Class]] {{C|[[2526]]}}<ref name="HSS23"/>
***[[SPARTAN-II program]]{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
*[[Petty Officer Second Class]] {{C|2525}}<ref name="HTFOR11"/>
|rank=[[Master Chief Petty Officer]]{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
*[[Petty Officer Third Class]] {{C|2525}}<ref name="HTFOR11"/><ref name="HTFOR9">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 9''</ref>
|sn=S-117{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}
*Squad Leader {{C|[[2519]]-2525}}<ref name="HTFOR9"/><ref name="HTFOR5"/>
|notable=
*Trainee {{C|[[2517]]-2519}}<ref name="HTFOR5"/><ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref>
|sn=S-117<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>
}}
}}
{{Quote|They let me pick. Did I ever tell you that? Choose whichever Spartan I wanted. You know me. I did my research. Watched as you became the soldier we needed you to be. Like the others, you were strong and swift and brave. A natural leader. But you had something they didn't. Something no one saw, but me. Can you guess...? Luck.|[[Cortana]]<ref name="arrival">'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Arrival]]''</ref>}}
{{quote|This child could be more [[SPARTAN-II program|useful]] to the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] than a fleet of [[UNSC destroyer|destroyers]], a thousand [[Lieutenant]]s -- or even ''[[Catherine Halsey|me]]''. In the end, one child could be the difference between peace and [[Insurrection|an unwinnable war]].|Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], referring to John-117.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORTAS}}}}


'''Master Chief Petty Officer John-117''' is a [[Spartan-II]] supersoldier of the [[UNSC Navy]]'s [[UNSC Special Forces|Special Weapons]] division. He served as one of the most important figures of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. After over thirty years of active duty, he is one of the most decorated war veterans of the [[United Nations Space Command]]. By [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]], John's [[Career Service Vitae|career service vitae]] recorded two hundred and seven ground engagements against the [[Covenant]] in which he had participated. By [[2558#August|August of 2558]], he had completed two hundred and nine military operations, including one hundred and thirty-six full campaigns; more than anyone other UNSC personnel on record at the time.<ref name="H5GLED"/> Though John has commanded nearly every [[Spartan-II]] at one time or another, the lion's share of his career has been spent as [[fireteam]] leader of [[Blue Team]]. His actions during the [[Covenant War]] earned him every major [[UNSC]] service medal and combat award, save for the [[Prisoner of War Medallion]], as well as several dozen [[civilian]] honors.<ref name="H5GLED"/><ref name="HTFOR28"/><ref group="note">As John is subordinate to Naval Special Weapons, it is unlikely that he could have earned exclusive service medals from the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. These medals may have been bestowed on behalf of the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to boost morale.</ref>
[[Master Chief Petty Officer]] '''John-117''', also known simply by his rank as the "'''Master Chief'''" or (as is common in military culture) simply as the "'''Chief'''", is a [[Spartan-II]] supersoldier of the [[UNSC Navy]]'s [[UNSC Special Forces|Special Weapons]] division. He served as one of the most important figures of the [[Human-Covenant War]]. After over thirty years of active duty, he is one of the most decorated war veterans of the [[United Nations Space Command]].
 
==Overview==
<!--This article is for a BRIEF OVERVIEW of John's life ONLY. Excessive detail is to be avoided, and is encouraged to be placed in the ededicated biography pages instead. Edits that do not follow this poliicy will be reverted.-->
{{Center|This article is a brief overview of John-117's life. For an extremely detailed look at John's entire history, please see his [[:Category:Biographies|biography pages]].}}
===Summary===
{{Quote|I do not remember my ''name''. I do not remember my ''[[John-117's mother|family]]''. I do not remember my ''[[Eridanus II|''home'']]''. But I ''can'' remember the ''[[King of the Hill|game]]''. We played it ''every day''. And I ''never'' lost. The game... It's the only thing I ''can'' remember about the life I had before I met ''[[Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey]]''. Since then, I have experienced a lifetime of combat. Through ''thirty years'' of [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against ''[[Covenant|alien aggressors]]''... I have always known my fate. I knew someday I would die ''in battle''. But now that it is ''here''... now that it is ''time to die''... I find ''I am not ready''.|John reflects upon his life and fate.}}{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}
 
[[File:HTMCC H4 Steam Trading Card Art.jpg|thumb|250px|Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.]]
By [[2558#August|August of 2558]], John had completed two hundred and nine military operations, including one hundred and thirty-six full campaigns; more than anyone other UNSC personnel on record at the time.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLED}} Though John has commanded nearly every [[Spartan-II]] at one time or another, the lion's share of his career has been spent as [[fireteam]] leader of [[Blue Team]]. His actions during the [[Human-Covenant War]] earned him every major [[UNSC]] service medal and combat award, save for the [[Prisoner of War Medallion]], as well as several dozen [[civilian]] honors.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLED}}<ref name="HTFOR28">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 28</ref>{{Ref/Note|As John is subordinate to Naval Special Weapons, it is unlikely that he could have earned exclusive service medals from the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. These medals may have been bestowed on behalf of the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to boost morale.}}


As the war neared its end, most of John's fellow SPARTAN-IIs were killed in action during the [[Fall of Reach]]. However, John and his AI companion [[Cortana]] fled [[Reach]] and [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|their vessel]] fortuitously arrived at [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], a one hundred millennia-old superweapon created by the [[Forerunner]]s to destroy their parasitic enemy, the [[Flood]], by killing all life in the galaxy. After destroying the Halo, the surrounding Covenant [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]], and the Flood forces on the ring, John returned to [[Earth]] and resisted the Covenant's [[Battle of Earth|impromptu invasion]]. Pursuing the [[Solemn Penance|invaders' flagship]], the Master Chief encountered [[Installation 05]], where a [[Great Schism|civil war]] soon broke out within the Covenant. Weeks later, John followed the remaining Covenant forces to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], the Halo Array's control center, which he disabled before the Halos could be fired.
As the war neared its end, most of John's fellow SPARTAN-IIs were killed in action during the [[Fall of Reach]]. However, John and his AI companion [[Cortana]] fled [[Reach]] and [[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|their vessel]] fortuitously arrived at [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]], a one hundred millennia-old superweapon created by the [[Forerunner]]s to destroy their parasitic enemy, the [[Flood]], by killing all life in the galaxy. After destroying the Halo, the surrounding Covenant [[Fleet of Particular Justice|fleet]], and the Flood forces on the ring, John returned to [[Earth]] and resisted the Covenant's [[Battle of Earth|impromptu invasion]]. Pursuing the [[Solemn Penance|invaders' flagship]], the Master Chief encountered [[Installation 05]], where a [[Great Schism|civil war]] soon broke out within the Covenant. Weeks later, John followed the remaining Covenant forces to [[Installation 00|the Ark]], the Halo Array's control center, which he disabled before the Halos could be fired.


John went missing after the [[Battle of Installation 00|war's final battle]] in [[2552#December|December 2552]], having stymied the threat of the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halos.<ref name="epi3">'''Halo 3''', ''Epilogue''</ref> In the interbellum, John was lauded as a hero, and though he was officially declared [[missing in action|MIA]] like all Spartans,<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Prologue]]'' (''"His file reads missing in action."'')</ref> he was ostensibly believed by the UNSC to have perished.<ref name="epi3"/> After his recovery in [[2557#July|July 2557]], he played a key role in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|conflict]] between the UNSC and the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[Promethean#Mechanical Prometheans|Promethean]] forces and a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant faction]], beginning on the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]]. This culminated in an [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on Earth]] and the Didact's temporary defeat, as well as the apparent loss of Cortana.<ref>''Halo 4''</ref> John subsequently reunited with Blue Team and with their help, [[Skirmish on Installation 03|vanquished the Didact]] a second time. John and his Spartan compatriots went on to participate in numerous new missions for over a year.
John went missing after the [[Battle of Installation 00|war's final battle]] in [[2552#December|December 2552]], having stymied the threat of the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halos.<ref name="H3H">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]</ref> In the interbellum, John was lauded as a hero, and though he was officially declared [[missing in action|MIA]] like all Spartans,<ref name="H4P">''Halo 4'', [[Prologue]]</ref> he was ostensibly believed by the UNSC to have perished.{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}} After his recovery in [[2557#July|July 2557]], he played a key role in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|conflict]] between the UNSC and the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[Promethean#Mechanical Prometheans|Promethean]] forces and a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new "Covenant" faction]], beginning on the [[shield world]] [[Requiem]]. This culminated in an [[New Phoenix Incident|attack on Earth]] and the Didact's temporary defeat, as well as the apparent loss of Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}} John subsequently reunited with Blue Team and with their help, [[Mission to Installation 03|vanquished the Didact]] a second time. John and his Spartan compatriots went on to participate in numerous new missions for over a year.


During [[Raid on Argent Moon|one such mission]], John had a vision of a seemingly alive Cortana. This prompted him to go in search of her against direct orders, with the rest of Blue Team choosing to remain by his side.<ref name="h5 blue team">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]''</ref> In response, the UNSC declared Blue Team absent without leave and sent [[Spartan-IV]] [[Fireteam Osiris]] to recover them.<ref name="h5 glassed">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Glassed (level)|Glassed]]''</ref> On [[Genesis]], John and Blue Team learned that Cortana had assumed the [[Mantle]] for herself and was planning on using the [[Guardian]]s to enforce peace across the galaxy. John rejected Cortana's offer to join her, prompting her to imprison him and the rest of Blue Team in a [[Cryptum]].<ref name="h5 the breaking">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Breaking]]''</ref> However, the Spartan-IIs were freed by Fireteam Osiris, with both Spartan teams traveling to [[Sanghelios]] while Cortana unleashed the Guardians on the galaxy.<ref name="h5 guardians">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Guardians (level)|Guardians]]''</ref>
During [[Raid on Argent Moon|one such mission]], John had a vision of a seemingly alive Cortana. This prompted him to go in search of her against direct orders, with the rest of Blue Team choosing to remain by his side.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}} In response, the UNSC declared Blue Team absent without leave and sent [[Spartan-IV]] [[Fireteam Osiris]] to recover them.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} On [[Genesis]], John and Blue Team learned that Cortana had assumed the [[Mantle]] for herself and was planning on using the [[Guardian]]s to enforce peace across the galaxy. John rejected Cortana's offer to join her, prompting her to imprison him and the rest of Blue Team in a [[Cryptum]].{{Ref/Reuse|H5GTB}} However, the Spartan-IIs were freed by Fireteam Osiris, with both Spartan teams traveling to [[Sanghelios]] while Cortana unleashed the Guardians on the galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}}


Among most humans John is known simply by his rank as the "'''Master Chief'''" or (erroneously) the "Chief". Within the military he is most commonly identified as "SPARTAN-117" or the phonetic callsign "Sierra 117". As with all Spartans, John was regarded by the Covenant as a "[[Covenant religion#Demons|Demon]]". However, John specifically was known as "''the'' Demon", an epithet he earned after the destruction of Installation 04, though [[Fleet of Retribution|allied Sangheili]] soon came to address him as "Spartan". The Didact and the [[Warden Eternal]] addressed John and his Spartan teammates as Warriors or [[Warrior-Servant]]s.<ref name="HE10"/><ref name="h5 reunion">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Reunion]]''</ref>
===Identification===
Within the military he is most commonly identified as "SPARTAN-117" or the phonetic callsign "Sierra 117". As with all Spartans, John was regarded by the Covenant as a "[[Covenant religion#Demons|Demon]]". However, John specifically was known as "''the'' Demon", an epithet he earned after the destruction of Installation 04, though [[Fleet of Retribution|allied Sangheili]] soon came to address him as "Spartan". The Didact and the [[Warden Eternal]] addressed John and his Spartan teammates as Warriors or [[Warrior-Servant]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GR|H5|[[Reunion]]}}


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early childhood===
{{Main|John-117/Early life}}
[[File:JohnBeach.png|thumb|right|300px|Eridanus II, once famous for its beautiful landscapes, was catastrophically [[glassed]] by the [[Covenant]] in [[2530]].<ref name="HTTS11"/><ref name="HWF22">''[[Halo Warfleet]]'', ''page 22''</ref>]]
===Early life===
{{Quote|Well, he was a little younger than me, but, let me tell you, that boy did not look like a kindergartner. He was a big kid. My friend, Katrina, and I used to meet him in this vacant lot in the neighborhood. The three of us would build these obstacle courses out of random junk and then race. Ya' know, just kid stuff. On warm nights, sometimes our parents would let us go out to the green space and lie in the grass. And we'd just lie there, stare up at the stars.|Ellie Bloom recalls her childhood with John to journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]] in [[2558]].}}<ref name="HTTS11"/>
[[File:H3 Starry Night John.png|thumb|250px|John stargazing in a grassy field on Eridanus II.]]
John was born on [[2511|March 7, 2511]] on the [[Outer Colony]] of [[Eridanus II]].<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/> He was raised by his [[John-117's mother|mother]] and father and by the age of six he attended school at [[Elysium City]]'s [[Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119|Primary Education Facility 119]].<ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Decades after he last saw her, John could still remember his mother as being very kind and smelling of soap.<ref name="HTF1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> She sometimes took him down to the beach where he would play in the sand.<ref name="Scanned">''[[Scanned]]''</ref> John's closest childhood friends were girls: [[Katrina]], [[Parisa]], and [[Ellie Bloom]].<ref name="HTTS11"/><ref name="HEPH"/> John, Ellie, and Katrina would often compete against one another in obstacle courses they built out of random bits of junk in a vacant lot in their neighborhood.<ref name="HTTS11"/> He and Ellie, who lived just a few houses down on the same street as his family, would be permitted by their parents to go out to a green space on warm nights to lie in the grass and stargaze.<ref name="HTTS11">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 01''</ref> At school, John was known for being competitive and for being particularly good at winning games of king of the hill that took place on a grassy hill at the end of Primary Education Facility 119's playground. He considered chess to be boring and too easy. By the time Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] met John, he reportedly was not allowed to play [[gravball]] anymore due to his always winning.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> When John wasn't playing various games, he spent the rest of his free time watching vids.<ref name="HTFOR5">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 5''</ref> On [[2517#August|August 3, 2517]], John and Parisa were playing with one another at [[Lake Gusev]]. Parisa walked too far out into the lake and might have drowned but John saved her life. Afterward, he promised to marry her and always keep her safe.<ref name="HEPH">''[[Halo: Evolutions]]'', ''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''</ref> Parisa's father took a photograph of the two friends as they laughed hysterically at John's father's antics. Parisa would keep the photo with her long after she thought John had died.<ref name="HEPH"/> Over the next two weeks following the incident at the lake, John went on to score forty-five victories in king of the hill at school, leaving his opponents with a dozen broken bones, be they arms, clavicles, or fingers, and himself with a chipped tooth.<ref name="HJ91517">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''September 15, 2517''</ref>
{{Quote|no=three|John|Ellie|John|q1=Maybe [[Covenant|someone]] up there is wondering what it's like here.|q2=I guess? Do you think we'll ever meet them?|q3=I hope so. Don't you?|John stargazing philosophically with his friend Ellie.}}


===Abduction and conscription===
Born on [[2511|March 7, 2511]],{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}<ref name="H4TEVG"/> John lived with his [[John-117's mother|mother]] and father in [[Elysium City]], on the colony world of [[Eridanus II]]. He attended the [[Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119]]. As a child, John had brown hair, freckles, and a small gap between his front teeth. In a memory, he recalled that his mother was kind and smelled of soap.<ref name="flood">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 1</ref> The would-be UNSC Marine [[Lieutenant]] [[Parisa]] was a childhood friend of John's. John once saved her from drowning at [[Lake Gusev]], after which he promised to marry her and keep her safe. A photo of the two was also taken by Parisa's father soon after, and would be kept as a memory by Parisa long after she thought John had passed away.<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', [[Palace Hotel]]</ref> He also was a friend of [[Ellie Bloom]], living next to each other in their childhood, and [[Katrina]], who played obstacle races with him and Ellie.<ref name="HtT1">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''Episode 01: A HAIRLINE FRACTURE''</ref>
{{Quote|As per Naval Code 45812, you are hereby conscripted into the UNSC Special Project codenamed SPARTAN-II. You have been called upon to serve. You will be trained... and you will become the best we can make of you. You will be the protectors of Earth and all her colonies. This will be hard to understand, but you cannot return to your parents. This place will become your home. Your fellow trainees will be your family now. The training will be difficult. There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead, but I know you will all make it. Rest now. We begin tomorrow.|Catherine Halsey welcomes the abducted children to their new reality.}}<ref name="HTFOR3"/>
On [[2517#August|August 17, 2517]], John became the first child that Dr. [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]], civilian consultant and scientific advisor for the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], paid a visit to.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> John was one-hundred and seventeenth among one-hundred and fifty children of similar age that had been selected based on specific genetic markers for inclusion in [[Spartan-II Program|Project: SPARTAN-II]], which only had facilities and funding for half that number. Halsey and [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]] found John at around 1130 hours on the playground at school while posing as parents inspecting the school for their little girl. John was in the middle of an intense game of king of the hill with eleven other boys and was clearly the dominant contender. When a pair of boys teamed up to take him down, he resorted to kicking, punching, and biting to get free before tearing back up the slop, declaring excitedly that he was king. As soon as the children were unsupervised due to the only other adult present taking a hurt girl inside to the nurse's office, Halsey made her move. She half-jogged over to the hill at the edge of the playground, halting just four meters from the hill's base. The game stopped at her approach, and some of the others teased John, thinking he must be in trouble for his aggressiveness, even though he was sporting a bruised cheek and a cracked lip himself. Halsey singled him out and asked if they might speak, to which he grudgingly agreed, coming down the hill and walking a short distance away with her. [[File:H4L - John 117 flash clone replacement.jpg|thumb|left|300px|John was injected with a drug that made him go to sleep after initially waking and needing to have his mouth covered.<ref name="Scanned"/><ref name="HTFOR4">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 4''</ref>]] When she asked his name, John introduced himself and offered a handshake. When she asked what he had been doing, he simply said "Winning." Seeing that the boy liked games, she suggested that he try one of hers: she produced a [[quarter]], once used as currency in the [[Wikipedia:United States of America|United States of America]] on [[Earth]], and dared him to guess which side would land face-up when she tossed it into the air. If he guessed correctly, she told him, she would let him keep the coin. Halsey released the quarter, sending it spinning end over end, but as it fell to the ground John caught it in his upturned palm, confidently exclaiming that it had landed with the eagle facing upwards. To Halsey's great curiosity, he was correct in his declaration. Satisfied that he would make the cut, she bid him farewell and returned to Lieutenant Keyes. Without hesitation, John ran back to the boys on the hill, eager to show off his prize.<ref name="HTFOR2"/>


At some point during the weeks that followed, John was abducted by ONI and replaced with a [[Flash cloning|flash clone]] of himself.<ref name="HTFOR25">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 25''</ref> ONI operatives initially stole John directly from his bed while he was sleeping one night and were set to swap him for the clone then and there, but John woke up and had to have his mouth covered and be given a [[Drugs|drug]] to knock him out.<ref name="Scanned"/><ref name="HTFOR4"/><ref name="HTFORTAS">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''</ref> John was put into [[cryostasis]] and whisked through [[slipstream space]] to [[Reach]], the nexus of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Armed Forces|armed forces]].<ref name="HTFOR3"/> Once revived on [[2517#September|September 23, 2517]], he and seventy-four other children were led into an amphitheater through four sets of double doors, each accompanied by a [[UNSC Navy|naval]] drill instructor. There, at around 2300 hours, far below the ground within [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|a FLEETCOM military complex]], Halsey informed them that per [[Naval Code 45812]], they were thereby conscripted into SPARTAN-II. She explained that they had been called upon to serve and that they would be the protectors of Earth and all its colonies. John wrinkled his forehead in confusion at this, but sat up straight and listened to the doctor's words with rapt attention. Halsey told them they could not return to their parents and that from this moment on, the complex on Reach would be their home and their fellow trainees would be their family. And through the training that lay ahead of them would be difficult, she expressed her full confidence in their ability to overcome it. With that said, she told them to rest and that they would begin the next day. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]] had the children escorted to their barracks, fed, and put to bed. As they were being led away from Halsey, John kept his gaze on her, stoic and unmoved by the drastic turn his life had just taken.<ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> Trainers took away the quarter that Doctor Halsey had given John but he fought against them doing so, even breaking a few fingers in the process.<ref name="HTFOR11"/>
====Conscription====
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=It's very nice to meet you. I wanted to ask you what you were doing?|Halsey|q2=Winning.|John|Dr. Halsey and John during their first meeting.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR2}}}}
At the age of six, John was identified by [[Dr. Catherine Halsey]] as one of 150 preliminary candidates for the [[SPARTAN-II program]]. John was an ideal physical and mental candidate, standing a head taller than the majority of his schoolmates, having greater physical proportions, possessing greater strength, exhibiting superior reflexes, and having an aggressive drive for success. By the time he was conscripted, he had a string of forty-five victories in what Dr. Halsey referred to as a "brutal version" of King of the Hill, resulting in him having a chipped tooth and his opponents suffering various bone fractures.<ref>''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''September 15, 2517''</ref>  
[[File:Johnabducted.png|thumb|250px|John being abducted by ONI agents.]]  
When Dr. Halsey and [[Jacob Keyes|LTJG Jacob Keyes]] visited Eridanus II in [[2517]] to study him - the first of the candidates - they were impressed with his intellect. In a final test of his viability as a candidate, he was asked to determine which side [[Quarter|an old coin]] would land on. He watched the coin as it flew in the air and caught it before it could land; correctly stating which side was face-up, on the side of the eagle. Later that same year, John and 74 other six-year-old children were conscripted to [[Reach]]: they were covertly kidnapped from their homes and replaced with [[Flash cloning|flash clones]] to cover up the kidnappings.{{Ref/Note|''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'' originally showed John being abducted by ONI agents in the back of a van after school; he also sees his clone during the process. However, in the ''[[Scanned]]'' live-action trailer, he is seen being abducted by night during his sleep.}} All of the clones would later die of [[Metabolic Cascade Failure|seemingly natural causes]] as a result of their accelerated growth process, with John's flash-clone dying on December 7, 2517.{{Ref/Reuse|HtT1}}<ref name="DeathRecord">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'': [[:File:Ep 1 image.jpg|UEG public record]]</ref>


===Training begins===
====Spartan training====
{{Main|SPARTAN-II training}}
{{Main|SPARTAN-II training}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=But I won. I was first|John-117|q2=Yes, ''you'' were first. But your team came in last. Remember this: ''you'' don’t win unless your team wins. One person winning at the expense of the group means that you lose.|Franklin Mendez|Chief Mendez teaches John and the other trainees a very important lesson.}}<ref name="HTFOR4"/>
{{Quote|Remember this: you don’t win unless your team wins. One person winning at the expense of the group means that you lose.|CPO Mendez explaining trainees the main idea of teamwork.<ref name="FOR4">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 4</ref>}}
[[File:JumpingJacks.png|right|300px|thumb|The first day of training caused John to throw up, which led to a trainer descending on him to ensure he continued the exercises.<ref name="HTFOR4"/>]]
[[File:HTFOR AS - Young Blue Team.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Trainees 087, 034, 058, 117, and 104, at around 8 years of age, after being introduced to the SPARTAN-II program.]]
Whilst dreaming about his mother John was shouted awake the next morning at 0530 hours by Chief Mendez and prodded with a [[humbler stun device]] when he did not pull himself off his cot right away.<ref name="HTFOR4"/><ref name="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="HFORBC">''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''</ref> The same scene played out across the barracks with other children and drill instructors. Chief Mendez addressed them all, saying they were to shower at the barracks aft and then return to their cots to dress. At the prodding of Mendez' humbler, John stripped down and joined the other children on a conveyor to be washed in lukewarm soapy water and then rinsed in an icy cold spray. A trunk at the foot of his cot held underwear, thick socks, combat boots, and a matching set of gray sweats with "JOHN-117" stenciled on the chest. Once everyone was clothed, Mendez marched them outside and had them form five rows of fifteen children each. From there, they were ordered through a series of calisthenics which included one-hundred each of jumping jacks, sit-ups, deep squats, knee bends, and leg lifts. After the leg lefts the kids were finally given a respite in the form of water. John had just enough time to flop down on the grass and then roll to his knees briefly before Mendez was ordering them to join him on a run. They jogged through the military compound, past more barracks, along a river, over a bridge, finally coming to a stop in the courtyard of a naval officers' academy. There John and the others met [[Déjà]], a [[Dumb AI|so-called "dumb" A.I.]] who had been given the job of continuing the trainees' formal education. Within the building, John and the others were served crackers and milk and treated to a history lesson concerning the [[Battle of Thermopylae]]. John, still hungry after finishing his crackers, swiped those that belonged to [[Kelly-087|a girl]] next to him when she wasn't watching. After the lesson the trainees were told they were heading for the playground, but this turned into a two-mile run to a forest of twenty-meter-tall wooden poles, rope cargo nets and bridges, knotted climbing ropes, pulleys, and baskets. Mendez had them form three lines and declared that each row of three would be a team. John found himself in the third team, paired up with a boy to his right named [[Samuel-034]] and a girl to his left, [[Kelly-087]]. John could tell that Kelly was not happy about the arrangement. Chief Mendez explained that they would be playing a game called "[[Ring the Bell]]" in which the objective was for every member of each team to ring a brass bell that hung from a slide pole next to the tallest wooden pole. John asked what they would win for ringing the bell and making it back to the start first, to which Mendez responded that they would win dinner. The last team to make it back conversely, would go hungry that evening. As soon as the Chief shouted permission, John took off as fast as he could, scrambling up a cargo net and across a platform. He made it to a basket attached to a pulley, but rather than trying to lift his own weight that way, he opted to ascend directly up a nearby hanging rope. John easily outpaced all the other children and made it back to the starting point first, having rung the bell three times. Elated as he had been to be the winner, Sam and Kelly came back last, as they had gotten stuck in a line that had formed around the end of the course. Mendez congratulated everyone but singled out the members of Team Three, including John, as the ones who would be skipping dinner. He made it clear to John that although he had been first, his team had been last, and thus he had lost. John was greatly upset by this all the way back to the barracks, where he received a liter of water and was soon fast asleep.<ref name="HTFOR4"/>
John and the rest of the children chosen for the SPARTAN-II program were brought to the [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex]], their new home for the next several years. There, Dr. Halsey informed the children of their new purpose: they were destined to become protectors of [[Unified Earth Government|Earth]] and [[Human colonies|all its colonies]]. The next morning John discovered his service tag, stitched into his training uniform, and his new name: '''John-117'''. John began adjusting to his new life, training with other Spartans under [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]].
[[File:JohnFredYoung.png|thumb|left|300px|The footage of wolves taking down a moose was played many times in the early days of training in order to emphasize the importance of teamwork.<ref name="HTFOR5"/><ref name="HTFOR4"/>]]
The second day of training, [[2552#September|September 25]], began just like the first.<ref name="HTFOR4"/>  The trainees spent the morning doing calisthenics and in the afternoon reported to Déjà to learn. This day, she taught them about the hunting strategies of [[Wikipedia:Wolf|wolves]] and emphasized the importance of the pack over the individual in accomplishing a challenge, such as taking down a [[Wikipedia:Moose|moose]]. Once again, John stole someone else's crackers. When it came time for the "playground" again, Mendez declared that they were to keep the same teams they had the prior day. When Sam and Kelly approached John, Sam gave him a shove and threatened to knock him off one of the poles if he didn't help the two of them. Kelly added to this by saying she would jump on him. John reluctantly agreed to help them as long as they didn't slow him down. The teams had a brief moment to strategize and the course had been made more complicated as compared to before. Noting that there was still a large basket and pulley at the opposite end, however, John insisted they should all make a run for it as their best option. Kelly claimed to be fast, so John told her to hold the basket for them if she got there first. When Mendez shouted, "Go!" Kelly did indeed make it there first. Another boy tried to get her to give it up to him but both John and Sam came up behind him, pushing him away and telling him to wait his turn. By the time Team Three managed to raise themselves up to the bell, two other teams had already gotten there via other routes. John could tell that Mendez seemed pleased with the change in how he tackled the game. Sam clapped he and Kelly on their backs after their return across the starting line and suggested they should be friends. Both agreed.<ref name="HTFOR4"/> Three days later, on [[2517#September|September 28]], all the trainees were given haircuts.<ref name="DHPJS28">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''September 28, 2517''</ref> John had a [[Wikipedia:Picoliter|picoliter]] of [[blood]] drawn on [[2517#November|November 4 of 2517]] for analysis by a biochemical analysis lab.<ref name="DHPJextras">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', additional materials</ref> On [[2518#May|May 24, 2518]], the children were forced at 0920 hours to run through a course while being shot at with [[paint pellet gun]]s.<ref name="HFORBC"/> Each trainee that was hit was made to do an exorbitant amount of pushups.<ref name="HFORBC"/> By [[2518#December|December 10]] of [[2518]], Doctor Halsey and CPO Mendez had identified John as one of four potential leaders for all the trainees, the others being [[Kurt-051]], [[Jerome-092]], and [[Fred-104]]. Though Chief Mendez wanted to wager on Kurt, Halsey was confident John would be their leader eventually.<ref name="DHPJD10">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''December 10, 2518''</ref>


===Taking the initiative===
In their first training exercise, John was grouped with fellow trainees [[Kelly-087]] and [[Samuel-034]] in a game of "[[Ring the Bell]]". John rushed ahead of his teammates and crossed the finish line first; however, he was befuddled to learn that his team had lost, as Kelly and Sam came last. This taught John the importance of teamwork and the next day, his team scored higher. John soon bonded with Kelly and Sam, who would become his first and closest friends among the trainees.{{Ref/Reuse|FOR4}} For eight years John was schooled in history, military strategy and tactics, and weapons, and was given extreme physical training. During his training, John used to tease [[Serin Osman|Serin-019]] and her habit of eating leftovers from meals of the other candidates.<ref name="HMD15">''Halo: Mortal Dictata'', Chapter 15</ref>
{{Quote|no=three|q1=No one’s being left behind. We’re going to figure a way to get ''all'' of us out.|John-117|q2=How? Mendez said—|Kelly-087|q3=I know what he said. But there’s got to be a way—I just haven’t thought of one yet. Even if it has to be me that stays behind—I’ll make sure everyone gets back to the base.|John-117|John demonstrates his commitment to his fellow trainees.}}<ref name="HTFOR5"/>
[[File:JohnAge8.png|thumb|300px|right|By the age of eight, John's previous life on Eridanus II had already begun to seem like a distant dream. He had become convinced that his new life as a solider was what he really wanted.<ref name="HTFOR5"/>]]
John learned more during the first few years of training on Reach than he almost certainly would have ever learned at Primary Education Facility 119 on Eridanus II.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> Déjà taught he and the others [[Wikipedia:Algebra|algebra]], [[Wikipedia:Trigonometry|trigonometry]], and the history of numerous battles and the rulers they happened at the direction of. By mid-[[2519]], John could string a trip line, fire a rifle, and treat a chest wound. Much of the Spartans' early training took place at [[Military Reservation 01478-B]], known as "Painland" to the soldiers made to endure exercises there.<ref name="HTFOR27"/> As a result of the demanding challenges Chief Mendez put the children through, John spent plenty of time in Painland's emergency first-aid station.<ref name="HTFOR27"/> John and the others regularly made covert treks to [[Camp Hathcock]] in the [[Highland Mountains]] to pilfer food and supplies.<ref name="HTFOR24"/> John often teased [[Serin-019]] for her habit of taking the leftovers of every other kid she could.<ref name="HMD15">''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'', ''Chapter 15''</ref> Training in the Highlands Mountains was split between Painland, facilities within [[CASTLE Base]], and another [[Highlands|another location]].<ref name="FS19">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 19''</ref><ref name="HRH">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Highlands]]''</ref> At these locations, John and the others began to be tested against a company of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|orbital drop shock trooper]]s in jungle maneuvers.<ref name="HSS7"/> Amazingly, the children, who averaged around eight years old, often won.<ref name="HSS7">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 7''</ref> At some point during their training, John and the others accompanied Mendez to the colony of [[Emerald Cove]], where they were given a mission that involved spending time underwater.<ref name="HFS24"/> Mendez sabotaged half the air tanks provided to the trainees, and in response they ended up stealing his. Afterwards, they all ditched the Chief for a whole week while they camped on an island with nothing to do but light bonfires, eat [[Wikipedia:Clam|clam]]s and [[Wikipedia:Calamari|calamari]], and surf.<ref name="HFS24">''[[Halo: First Strike]], ''Chapter 24''''</ref>  


On [[2519#July|July 12, 2519]], all seventy-five children were transported, via [[D96-TCE Albatross]], to a [[Reach Military Wilderness Training Preserve|military wilderness training preserve]] in the Highland Mountains.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> While ''en route'', Chief Mendez explained that each trainee would be dropped off alone in different locations throughout the preserve with only a piece of various maps provided to them. Their goal was simply to reconvene at a designated extraction point, but the last one to arrive would be forced to walk back to base. Mendez announced that John would be dropped off first. He had just enough time after this revelation to sight a lake and the river which fed it out the Albatross' windows and point it out to Sam, who understood John's plan and passed it along to the rest. Dressed in fatigues, a heavy parka, and boots, John ran down the ramp and into the snow-covered forest when the dropship landed. He immediately set out in the direction of a particularly sharp mountain peak since he knew from getting an aerial view that the river was in that direction. When he found a stream which led to the larger water body, he followed the direction it took but still kept to the cover offered by the forest. Wild [[Wikipedia:Blueberry|blueberries]] served as a brief snack as he hiked. Once he eventually arrived on the shore of the lake that he'd meant to meet the others at, the sound of someone hooting like an [[Wikipedia:Owl|owl]] signaled that Sam was near.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> John and Sam traversed the shoreline, eventually adding Kelly, Fred, and [[Linda-058]] to their number.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> Sam decided to carve a mark into a tree that they could remember the location by for years to come.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> They soon after gathered everyone else together in one place.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> John had Sam take [[James-005]], Linda, and [[Fhajad-084]] to scout around them while he watched Kelly piece together the maps from everyone's pieces. It turned out that the extraction point was a full day's hike from where they were so John told them children to move out as soon as the scouts returned. Several miles into their trek, Sam told John he thought that the mission was too easy so far and John agreed that there was likely some part that Mendez hadn't told them about. At noon the children stopped to stretch and eat berries they had gathered along their journey. During the break Fhajad broached the subject of who among them would be left behind, to which John replied that he didn't intend for anyone to be left, but that if someone had to be, he would willingly volunteer.<ref name="HTFOR5"/>
John quickly proved himself to be one of the program's top candidates. Both Dr. Halsey and Chief Mendez identified him as one of four emerging leaders within the Spartan-II group, along with [[Kurt-051]], [[Jerome-092]], and [[Frederic-104]]. Halsey believed John held both the skills and natural ability to lead the entire Spartan-II group. Mendez disagreed with her assessment, instead believing Kurt would fulfill the role as team leader.<ref>''Dr. Halsey's personal journal'', December 10, 2518</ref> John's leadership skills were correctly observed, as the results from their mission clearly solidified his role as the overall leader of the Spartan-IIs. He also became the established leader of Spartan [[Blue Team]].
[[File:SquadLeaderPromotion.png|thumb|left|350px|As Squad Leader, John took full responsibility for every failure the other Spartans experienced in the years that followed.<ref name="HTFOR7">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 7''</ref>]]
It was near sundown when they finally came upon their destination in a meadow where another Albatross dropship sat.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> This one was guarded by six men without any uniforms. John and Sam were the ones who scouted ahead and saw the scene first, so they were then also the ones who explained the situation to the rest. John was certain that the men wouldn't just let them board peaceably, so he devised a plan wherein someone who play the role of a "rabbit", luring the men into a trap but being quick enough not to get caught themselves. Kelly enthusiastically took this job. It would be up to her and Sam to convince the guards that Sam had broken his leg. When their guard was down, that was when the rest would strike. John accompanied Kelly to the meadow and gave her the chance to let him be the rabbit instead. She responded with a hard punch to his shoulder for daring to doubt her. When she revealed herself she managed to get one man to chase after her. John crept back stealthily to where Sam lay on the ground, watching for the right moment. As soon as the man, unprovoked, was about to use a [[humbler stun device]] on Sam, John launched a rock at his head. The projectile missed but it signaled the rest of the children to suddenly pelt the man with stones from their hiding places. He was bleeding on the ground and barely conscious when John walked over to kick him in the face and ribs. This basic strategy was repeated, but the second time the remaining five men were set upon at once by the trainees, who assaulted them with rocks, fists, and boots. John opened a link to [[Déjà]] within the dropship and asked if she could teach him to fly it. Déjà responded by saying he was in no way authorized to do so, but that she could take control of it herself if he gave her access. One all seventy-four others were aboard, Déjà lifted them off the ground and returned them home.<ref name="HTFOR5"/>


Once safely back, John was personally summoned to Chief Mendez' office.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> The Chief glowered at the trainee as he read over a report from the exercise. Doctor Halsey joined them shortly. Mendez pointedly asked John why he had chosen to attack the men he'd set to guard the dropship and then essentially steal it. John defended his actions by citing their lack of any distinguishing insignia and a failure to identify themselves. Mendez had to admit that it indeed appeared they had not. He exasperatedly asked Halsey what they ought to do about John's actions. She suggested that the answer was obvious: that he be promoted to Squad Leader over the others.<ref name="HTFOR5"/> In the third year of training in [[2520]], John and the others began [[Wikipedia:Physics|physics]] courses, which included the study of [[Wikipedia:Classical mechanics|classical mechanics]].<ref name="HSS1"/> For his part, John was more interested in tactical theory than [[Wikipedia:Isaac Newton|Newton]]'s [[Wikipedia:Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]].<ref name="HSS1">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> On [[2520#September|September 20]] of that year, the candidates experienced their first casualty in the form of a handler that was accidentally killed by [[Carris-137]].<ref name="DHPJS20">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''September 20, 2520''</ref> Memorial services were held and all of the trainees attended. Following the loss, Halsey had Déjà emphasize that throughout this history of military training lethal force has had often been employed and that deaths were an inherent risk.<ref name="DHPJS20"/> After John turned ten years old in [[2521]], he and the other children began to learn counterinterrogation techniques, in particular that of of seizing the initiative.<ref name="HSS13"/>
====Taking the initiative====
{{Quote|No one’s being left behind. We’re going to figure a way to get all of us out.|John motivating his comrades during the Spartans' training exercise in Reach's Highlands<ref name="HTFOR5">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 5</ref>}}
[[File:HTFOR AS - Blue Team in wilderness.jpg|thumb|250px|The young Spartans in Reach's wilderness.]]
When the Spartans were eight years old, they were sent on a training mission in which they were dropped over [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve|a forest]] located deep in one of Reach's [[Highland Mountains]]. They were expected to get safely to their extraction vehicle, an [[Albatross]] dropship. The trainees also had instructions to leave the last member arriving behind, or their punishment would be severe. After organizing themselves, the Spartans looked to him as their leader. It was a role he was surprised to be given, but eventually accepted. When the group came across the Albatross, it was guarded by un-uniformed [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]], leading John to assume they were a threat. He quickly devised a plan to eliminate the hostiles, capture the dropship, and ensure the safe extraction of every team member. He also decided to take responsibility as the last arriving trainee singled out for punishment. He quickly hijacked the dropship with the help of [[Déjà]], and attacked the guards with stones, injuring them severely. Chief Mendez was not initially pleased, feeling John had violated the boundaries of the test. However, both Mendez and Halsey quickly recognized John's initiative, and promoted him to Squad Leader. After this, despite the other Spartans rising in rank and leading independent teams, John remained the ''de facto'' leader of the Spartans as a whole.


===Facing Tango Company===
====Physical augmentation====
{{Quote|no=two|q1=We gotta find that damned flag or the captain will have our asses in a sling. Where is it, kid? And where's the rest of your pack? What's so funny?|Tango Company marine|q2=You idiots are bunched up.|John-117|John taunts his captors just before they come under fire from a hail of darts.}}<ref name="HFS17"/>
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Can you tell me, Dr. Halsey? Just this time? How do I win?|John-117|q2=I’ll tell you how to win, John. You have to survive.|Dr. Halsey| Dr. Halsey visiting John right before his augmentation procedures<ref name="HTFOR6">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 6</ref>}}
As the years of training proceeded, the children were routinely matched up as teams against one another.<ref name="HGOA1"/> John usually led [[Blue Team]]. Years later, he recalled often losing whenever his team had to compete with [[Green Team]], led by [[Kurt-051]].<ref name="HGOA1"/> By [[2523]] the trainees had begun to be matched up in exercises against [[Tango Company]], a [[Company|unit]] of UNSC [[marines]].<ref name="HFS17">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 17''</ref> On July 12 of that year, four years to the day since the exercise that made John Squad Leader, he led a six-person team in its seventh operation against the company.<ref name="HTFOR5"/><ref name="HFS17"/> They hadn't lost yet. Their objective on this date was to [[Capture the Flag|capture]] their opponents' flag and exfiltrate with it. John's team was comprised of himself, Sam, Linda, Kelly, Fhajad, and Fred. On the twelfth they managed to capture sniper-spotter team that had been tasked with hunting them down. From them they learned that Tango's captain had given orders to win no matter what, even if it meant bloodying some of the kids this time.<ref name="HFS17"/>
[[File:Prologue - Spartan augmentation 02.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117, at 14 years of age, undergoing his augmentation procedures.]]
At the age of 14, John underwent the dangerous [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures]]. These procedures resulted in the death of thirty trainees, with twelve more physically disabled. John was one of thirty three Spartans who made it through the process unscathed, while the wounded were sent to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]. Even before his cybernetic and genetic augmentation, at 14 years of age, John had a physical body of an 18-year old Olympic athlete.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR6}} Far beyond the physical alterations, the enhancements boosted the Spartans reflexes, strength, enhanced eyesight, and rendered their bones nearly unbreakable. Following their treatments, John and the other Spartans were transferred to the {{UNSCShip|Atlas}} to recover in a microgravity environment. During his first visit to the ''Atlas''<nowiki>'</nowiki> gym, John was confronted by four ODSTs, whose sergeant then ordered the five of them into the [[martial arts|boxing]] ring. In the ensuing fight, John inadvertently killed two of the ODSTs, and left the others severely injured. According to [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]], this incident was orchestrated by the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to test the Spartans' augmentations.{{Ref/Reuse|flood}} While John had tried to avoid the confrontation, he nonetheless felt guilt at being forced to kill other human beings, but felt by following the sergeant's orders, he did the right thing. Then-ODST [[Anthony Petrosky]], who witnessed the fight, would later refer to his comrades as "lambs to the slaughter"; he described John's punches as rapid-fire explosions, and that the fight was over in less than five seconds.<ref name="htt3">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'' ''Episode 03: CRITICAL CONDITION''</ref>  


During the evening of the next day, they stole shards of mirror from Tango Company's latrine.<ref name="HFS17"/> In addition, they hunted a [[Wikipedia:Squirrel|squirrel]]s, which Fred combined with unripe berries and the [[Drugs|antibacterial ointment]] in their first-aid kits to make a paste to poison the marines' [[Wikipedia:Dog|dog]]s. On July 14, the game was still ongoing.<ref name="HFS17"/> John returned from peering over a rise which overlooked the [[Longhorn Valley]] to report that everything looked clear at the moment. He had Fred and Linda, both armed with [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]]s liberated from their captives, check their weapons to ensure they were in working order. For his part, John had been issued a [[narq-dart pistol]] by Chief Mendez. Fhajad had been able to modify the 114mm [[APFSDS]] rounds the sniper rifles fired so that they could carry the [[Drugs|narq]]-dart capsules at a much further effective range than his pistol ever could. John used a twig to outline their plan in the dirt. In order to get the flag he would lead Sam, Kelly, and Fhajad as [[Red Team]] into the base. Linda and Fred would be Blue Team and would be responsible for dropping the men guarding the flag outside. Fred complained about having to stay back with Linda, but John reminded him that in addition to being their second-best [[sniper]], he was also their best spotter. Though it was only a little after 1000 hours then, the trainees planned to spring their attack at 0500 the next day. Once Red Team had used [[stun grenade]]s to incapacitate the marines inside their base, they would grab the flag and make a run for it, with everyone reconvening at the designated LZ. John made sure to stress that no matter what happened, nobody was to emerge from hiding near the [[Landing Zone|LZ]] until he gave the ''all clear'' signal: a [[Oly Oly Oxen Free|six-note singsong tune]] that Déjà had taught them.<ref name="HFS17"/>
Following their return to Reach for further training, John and the other Spartans were soon relocated from their barracks in the FLEETCOM military complex into the abandoned [[titanium]] mines nearby. Left in the caverns virtually without equipment and pitted against Marines wearing heavy [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor#Mark I exoskeleton|Mark I powered armor]], the Spartans continuously overcame the opposition Chief Mendez planned for them using impromptu equipment and tactics.<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 8</ref>


John led Red Team to crouch and crawl through the forest until they reached a gravel road.<ref name="HFS17"/> Two large rocks were rolled onto the road and it wasn't long before a supply truck came along that had to stop when its occupants found the way ahead blocked. Two marines emerged, both expecting an ambush, but as they moved the rocks away John and the others silently rushed the truck and wedged themselves against the undercarriage so that when it set off again, they were carried along underneath. The truck took them about a kilometer to the unit's base. When the time came for the vehicle's bottom to be inspected at a security checkpoint, Red Team produced their mirror shards. They had spent the entirety of the previous night practicing how to match the movement of the mirror used by the opposition so that they were able to perfectly use misdirection to make the truck's undercarriage look clear. Once it was parked inside a warehouse and left there, the trainees allowed themselves to emerge. John had Sam fill up canteens with battery acid while Fhajad picked the lock on a door nearby. John was bleeding from one of his ears as a result of gravel striking him during the commute so he took time to bandage his head before moving to patrol their surroundings with Kelly to ensure no dogs, cameras, or guards were present. One Fhajad got through the lock, each preteen split off to move through the shadows to different portions of the base. John sent Kelly to secure an exit at the perimeter fence and each of the boys went to a different barracks and crawled underneath. As soon as he was beneath the one he'd selected, John began chewing three sticks of [[Wikipedia:Chewing gum|gum]] whilst applying battery acid to the plywood bottom of the building with a rag to weaken the wood. The gum was then used to stick each of his three stun grenades to the bottom. With only around thirty seconds until 0455 hours by the point he was placing th grenades, he set them to all go off in five minutes' time before sprinting back to the warehouse at 0458 hours.<ref name="HFS17"/>
====Infiltration on Eridanus Secundus====
 
When all the stun grenades went off, confusion and panic swept the camp.<ref name="HFS17"/> In the midst of the chaos, one of the men who had been raising the company's flag as was customary for that time was dropped by Linda. John ran toward the second man who had been assisting with the flag. He missed his first shot with the narq-dart pistol, but Sam and Fhajad put two in the man's back which John followed up with two to his chest. Another marine got a shot off at John that went wild before he took one of Blue Team's darts to his skull. John stuffed Tango Company's flag into his shirt and ordered everyone to run for Kelly's exit, where she had weakened the chain-link fence with acid so she could push right through it. John was barely surprised that the marines were using live ammunition to shoot at them this time. By the time they were running from the camp reports of machine guns firing were behind them and a tank had rumbled to life in the compound's center. Red Team took cover under a series of logs to hide from a Pelican when it flew overhead. It was at 0545 hours when the team reached the LZ where they were to meet Mendez at 0700 hours. Each trainee hid and remained completely quiet. At 0610 hours a Pelican landed nearby and John had to grab Fhajad to stop him from moving out of cover. He reasoned that the Chief would never arrive earlier than he had said. John moved thirty meters away from the others before choosing to reveal himself, almost certain that he was springing a trap by approaching the Pelican. He was urged aboard, but John could tell this was a bluff by Tango Company and said as much. As such, the craft emptied and he was soon surrounded by four marines with assault rifles pointed at him. One doubled John over with a punch to the abdomen before patting him down, shaking him, and demanding that he return their flag. John could only laugh at the man, because both Red and Blue teams at once fired a series of darts into each of the men. John grabbed a pistol from the one who'd been accosting him and clambered into the Pelican. He discovered that another was flying around fourteen kilometers out. Running back across the field, it took whistling the ''all clear'' signal to get his teammates to emerge and police the marines' weapons.<ref name="HFS17"/>
 
===Physical augmentation===
{{Main|SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=I know this is one of the Chief’s exercises. But I don’t know what the twist is. Can you tell me, Doctor. Halsey? Just this time? How do I win?|John-117|q2=I’ll tell you how to win, John. You have to survive.|Catherine Halsey|Halsey acquiesces and puts the ordeal ahead of John in terms he understands.}}<ref name="HTFOR6"/>
[[File:Prologue - Spartan augmentation 02.jpg|thumb|right|350px|John underwent extensive surgical procedures to augment his physical abilities three days after his fourteenth birthday.<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/><ref name="DHPJA1"/>]]
On [[2524#August|August 22, 2524]], the Spartan-II candidates were rerouted during a training exercise  to the opposite side of [[Reach]] from which they normally trained.<ref name="DHPJA22"/> This was done at the behest of interested parties in ONI who wished to observe them firsthand.<ref name="DHPJA22">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''August 22, 2524''</ref> At some point after the trainees had began to physically mature, an incident in which one of them, [[Margaret-053]], was blinded during a beating meted out by four other teens, caused Chief Mendez to replace everyone's mess hall time with a period of fasting until [[Red Team|the perpetrators]] were identified.<ref name="HBL4">''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'', ''[[Halo: Blood Line Issue 4|Issue #4]]''</ref> It was not uncommon at this time for two trainees to [[martial arts|spar]] one another with [[pugil stick]]s while trying to balance on floating logs while the rest watched.<ref name="HBL3">''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'', ''[[Halo: Blood Line Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref> Doctor Halsey had the oppurtunity to have a lengthy chat with John on [[2524#February|February 23, 2525]] and was surprised to learn that he could tell they were about to enter a new, more severe phase of training.<ref name="DHPJF23">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''February 23, 2525''</ref> She had not yet divulged the details of the upcoming augmentations each teenager would be undergoing. John could sense that she was worried about something, however, and told her that he and his team were ready for anything.<ref name="DHPJF23"/>
 
One [[2525#March|March 9 of 2525]] John and the other Spartan-II candidates were transported to [[Medical Facility Endurance]] in orbit over [[Reach]] in order to undergo a series of invasive procedures designed to physically, chemically, and genetically augment their bodies.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="HTFOR6">''[[The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 6''</ref><ref name="H5GL">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', John-117's loadout</ref> By a little after 1130 hours, John was in pre-op within a surgical bay.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> Doctor Halsey and Chief Mendez both stopped by to find John with his head shaved, an intravenous line already delivering a [[Drugs|sedative]], and incision vectors lasered onto his body. When Halsey asked how John was doing he replied that he was trying to see how long he could fight off the sedation for. Only then did John notice the Chief and attempt to sit up and salute, but find himself unable to. He said that he knew this must be one of the Chief's exercises, but asked Halsey if just this once, she could tell him how to win. Halsey told him that he would win if he survived.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> The various augmentations were carried out the following day.<ref name="DHPJA1">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''April 1, 2525''</ref> With the assistance of surgeons, biotechnicians, and automated robotic machinery, the surgical procedures John endured included occipital capillary reversals, the carbide ceramic ossification of his bones, the insertion of a catalytic [[Wikipedia:thyroid gland|thyroid implant]], injections to muscle strength and endurance, and the fibrification of neural dendrites to make them superconductive.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> He also was treated with [[Wikipedia:Gene therapy|gene therapy]] and underwent [[Wikipedia:Transgene|transgenic hybridization]].<ref name="HOSFM83">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', ''page 83''</ref>
[[File:JohnMendez.png|300px|left|thumb|Chief Mendez taught John that his duty to the UNSC superseded his duty to his crew or even himself.<ref name="HTFOR6"/>]]
When the procedures had been completed, only thirty-three of the teenagers had ostensibly been augmented successfully.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> As far as John was made aware, twelve others had been injured during the operations so severely that they would be unfit to be Spartans and the remaining thirty had died.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> The truth, conversely, was that those pronounced dead were in fact cryogenically preserved in the hopes that they could be revived later, and some of those that were crippled would go on to be rehabilitated and join the ranks of [[Spartan-II]]s in the future.<ref name="DHPJM10">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''January 7, 2535''</ref><ref name="HW2PLA130">''[[Halo Wars 2]]'', [[Phoenix Logs|phoenix logs]], [[Phoenix Logs#Alice-130|Alice-130]]</ref> But at midnight at the start of [[2525#March|March 30]], John had been made to believe that forty-two of his people had been become casualties.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> The thirty-three to have officially come through the procedures unharmed and the twelve to have been grievously injured both gathered together at that point within the missile launch bays of the {{UNSCShip|Atlas}}, an {{Class|Epoch|heavy carrier}} heading for the [[Lambda Serpentis system]].<ref name="HTFOR6"/><ref name="CF100">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/sweet-centennial '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder #100: Sweet Centennial'']</ref> Adorned in black dress uniforms, they bid farewell to what they thought were twenty-nine of their lost brothers and sisters as stainless steel canisters were ejected into space. John and the others saluted in unison. When orderlies began to wheel away the dozen who could not move on their own, John stopped them to ask where they were taking his men. At this, Mendez requested a moment with John and advised that he let them go, assuring him that the Navy would continue to care for them and offer them opportunities to serve as they were able. John relented and then asked what the orders Mendez had for he and the others. The Chief commanded two full days of bed rest to be followed by microgravity physical therapy aboard the ''Atlas'' until they had all fully recovered. The surgeries had been performed twenty days ago but John was still dealing with regular headaches, pain and bleeding in his eyes, aching bones, and general clumsiness as he adapted to his new physical form. Mendez also informed John that in the days ahead [[Déjà]] planned to run the teens through some dropship pilot simulations and to cover some more organic chemistry and complex algebra, as long as they were up to the challenge. Before they separated, John asked what he must have done wrong as Squad Leader to lose so many of his soldiers. Mendez walked with him to a view screen where they could observe the canisters as they vanished into the void and told him that a leader must be willing to send those under his command to their deaths. He made sure John understood that there was difference between''spending'' lives and ''wasting'' them, however. John openly wondered whether the majority of the trainees' lives had just been spent or wasted and got no answer from Mendez.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> Sam joined him once Mendez had gone and guessed at what the Chief had said to him, surmising that it had amounted to telling John to accept his duty and "suck it up".<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> John angrily rebuffed Sam's suggestion, saying that it sounded nothing like Mendez, and when Sam invited him to go to the shooting range later, he instead went off on his own to hit the gym.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>
[[File:JohnvODST.png|right|thumb|350px|The ODST who attacked John with an iron bar never walked again, having suffered a major spinal cord injury.<ref name="HTTS13"/>]]
For the next three weeks, John and the others were put through a routine of stretching, isometric exercises, and [[Martial arts|light sparring]].<ref name="HTFOR7"/> They were also under orders to consume five high-protein meals per day, each followed by mineral and vitamin injections in the ship's medical bay. The ''Atlas'' was patrolling the Lambda Serpentis system by April 22 and it was on this date that John first meant to resume weightlifting. He visited the carrier's gym at 0430 hours to find it empty. John initially began with arm curls and then moved on to the leg machine, but in both cases discovered that they weights felt far lighter than they should have. In order to correct for this, he had to use all the machines on the side of the rotating conical space that [[artificial gravity|simulated]] two times Earth-normal gravity. When he moved on to use a speed bag, he found that it seemed to move far slower than it should from his perspective. In order to ensure it was indeed he that had changed and not various parts of the gym that were off, John took a pin from the locking collar on a bench press and dropped it where there should be one standard gee of acceleration toward the floor. Four [[ODST|orbital drop shock trooper]]s entered the gym after John's experiment and before long one whom had lay down to use the bench press had all the weights slide off one side of the bar. John apologized, since he had been the one to remove the pin, and was met in return with hostility from the men. Two on either side of him grabbed his arms and another moved to put him in a headlock from behind. John responded by breaking one of the ODST's nose and slipping away just as their sergeant called for everyone to stand down. The sergeant suggested that if they wanted to fight, they should do it inside a nearby boxing ring, so John climbed up and slipped through the ropes immediately. The largest ODST joined him there.<ref name="HTFOR7"/> By this point a number of other troopers had entered the gym as well and were watching.<ref name="HTTS13"/> John began by striking the man twice in the face and then breaking some of his floating ribs with a hook.<ref name="HTFOR7"/> He brought his heel down on the man's knee and after three more punches he was dead. Aghast at the shocking display, the three others who had come in with him all rushed the ring at once, one wielding an iron bar as a weapon. John wrenched the bar from its owner, breaking his wrist and shattering his spine in the process, and used a single kick to crush the genitals and break the pelvis of another.<ref name="HTFOR7"/><ref name="HTTS13"/> The last man was sent flying overtop the ropes when John swung the bar at his chest, stopping his heart.<ref name="HTFOR7"/><ref name="HTTS13"/> All had been taken out in less than five seconds.<ref name="HTTS13">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 03''</ref> John heard the voice of Chief Mendez calling for him to cease. The Chief directed the bewildered sergeant to report to Ops for debriefing and then told John his workout was over for the day.<ref name="HTFOR7"/> Unbeknownst to John, the sergeant, or the ODSTs, the confrontation had been engineered by ONI as a test of his augmentations.<ref name="HTF5">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 5</ref> Mendez let the Chief know that he had been confused as to whether he should treat the ODSTs as teammates or targets, but Mendez assured him that he had been right to neutralize what had been threats to his person. John had followed the chain of command and protected himself, and Mendez reiterated that these were to always be chief among his priorities. John retired to shower and rinse the blood from his body, not giving the two dead and two injured men a further thought.<ref name="HTFOR7"/><ref name="HTF5"/>
 
Once the Spartans were returned to Reach, it became evident that the facilities they had used up until that point would no longer be suitable for training.<ref name="HTFOR8"/> On the first day back, three trainers were killed during hand-to-hand exercises. On [[2525#September|September 10]] John and the thirty-two others were relocated to a [[titanium]] mine that had been used to store [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor#Armor generations|Mark I powered exoskeleton]]s. The teens were put through a number of exercises against trainers who now wore the exoskeletons for their safety. And though they hadn't left the cavernous room they'd been dropped into, by the next day they had somehow acquired a length of rope and black suits that made completing their objectives easier. In addition, they continually managed to locate hidden cameras to disable them. Halsey visited on the eleventh to observe their progress and got to witness John dropping into a bunker during a game of [[Capture the Flag]], where he sent one trainer flying eight meters with a kick and disabled another's exoskeleton with a flurry of strikes. John also managed to dodge a barrage of stun rounds fired at close range before ripping the 32mm minigun from the suit and using it against its owner.<ref name="HTFOR8">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 8''</ref>
 
===TALON===
{{Main|Operation: TALON}}
{{Main|Operation: TALON}}
{{Quote|Good morning, Spartans. I have good news for you. The word has come down. Command has decided to test your unique abilities. You have a new mission: an insurgent base in the Eridanus system.|Doctor Halsey briefs her Spartans on their first combat mission.}}<ref name="HTFOR9"/>
{{Quote|I have good news for you. The word has come down. Command has decided to test your unique abilities.|Dr. Halsey to the Spartans before their first combat mission<ref name="HTFOR9">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 9</ref>}}
[[File:HTFoR AS - JohnDisguise.png|left|thumb|300px|John handpicked the team that accompanied him to Eridanus Secundus, but ONI had prepared disguises for each of the thirty-three Spartans.<ref name="HTFOR9"/>]]
[[File:HTFoR AS - John 01.jpg|left|250px|thumb|John during the mission to Eridanus Secundus.]]
At 0400 hours on [[2525#September|September 12, 2525]] the teens were mustered and ordered aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pioneer}}, a {{Class|Halberd|destroyer}} bound for the [[Eridanus system]].<ref name="HTFOR9"/><ref name="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="HTFOR8"/> They gathered within the ''Pioneer'''s briefing route while in transit at 0600 hours and by 0605 were greeted by the entrance of Halsey and Mendez. Halsey informed them that word had come down from [[Fleet Command]] permitting the first real mission for the Spartans. A team would be tasked with infiltrating [[Eridanus Secundus|an insurgent base]] in the Eridanus [[asteroid belt]] thought to be harboring [[United Rebel Front]] leader [[Robert Watts]]. In order to find the asteroid the rebels had been using, they would need to stow away aboard the ''[[Laden]]'', a {{Class|Parabola|freighter}} that would be departing dock over [[Eridanus II]] in just six hours. The ship was slated for routine recertification of its engines, but its current manifest and its captain betrayed it as almost assuredly being set to deliver supplies to the hidden insurgent base. For this mission, codenamed [[Operation: TALON]], John was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class and given his pick of whom to bring with him to complete it. He chose Sam, Linda, Kelly, and Fred and told the rest that they would have the harder job of having to stay behind. Overtop [[black body suit|form-fitting body armor]], each member of the mission donned grease-stained blue coveralls that matched what the crew of the ''Laden'' wore. John told the other four to stock up on their own preferred gear and weaponry at the destroyer's weapons locker on the condition that save for Linda's [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle|SRS99C-AM]], everyone use weapons that fired [[.390]]-caliber [[ammunition]] so they could share their collective supply. John took an [[MA2B assault rifle]], a [[combat knife]], and five ammo clips. In addition, he would carry a panic button—a tiny single-shot emergency beacon that could mark the location of the base for the UNSC or alert the ''Pioneer'' via [[UNSC Athens|a prowler]] on standby that they needed rescuing.<ref name="HTFOR9"/>
John's first mission, codenamed [[Operation: TALON]], was to capture Insurrectionist leader [[Colonel]] [[Robert Watts]] within the asteroid belt of the [[Eridanus system]], where his homeworld was located. According to the plan, Blue Team, consisting of John, Kelly, Fred, [[Linda-058|Linda]] and Sam, infiltrated the Insurrectionists' base by hiding aboard the freighter ''[[Laden]]''. Upon arrival they slid out of ''Laden'' and tracked their target to the barracks using previously marked cargo. The Spartans proficiently eliminated the guards and made their way to Watts' apartment, though John was shot in the side, with one bullet penetrating his [[black body suit|body suit]], bouncing off a few ribs, and causing a tremendous amount of internal bleeding, remaining lodged in his abdomen during the ensuing firefight. Careful not to kill Watts, they drove him into a corner, choked him into unconsciousness, and forced him into a sealed cargo crate. To make an exit, Sam used C-12 explosives to blow the main hangar bay doors. As the hangar bay decompressed, the Spartans escaped the rebels' base in a Pelican dropship stolen from the UNSC. The official results of the mission listed eleven dead enemy soldiers and an unknown number of rebel civilians. John received a [[Purple Heart]] upon the completion of the mission.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR11}}
{{Clear}}


After disembarking at the space dock above Eridanus II, the Spartans slipped past the lone guard in the freighter's cargo bay and took up residence in its deserted central rotating section.<ref name="HTFOR10"/> It made for a perfect hiding spot, as the large volume of water that [[artificial gravity|ringed its inner surface]] masked their thermal signatures and blocked any motion sensors which might have detected the five of them otherwise.<ref name="HTFOR10"/> Through the ship had originally been scheduled to leave on the twelfth of September, it was not until shorty after 1210 hours on [[2525#September|September 14]] that it might departed from dock.<ref name="HTFOR10"/><ref name="HTFOR19"/> John checked in with the {{UNSCShip|Athens}}, the prowler on standby, shortly before it left via a secure burst transmission. He let the prowler know that they were in position and would send another update at 0400 hours the next day. John and the others rigged support nets among the upper girders in the center of the spinning tank. Kelly was able to determine that their ETA was in around ten hours, so John gave instructions to sleep in shifts. Kelly additionally was able to pull up the ''Laden'''s cargo manifest, which exhibited several luxury items almost certainly meant for Watts or his officers. John decided to tag the items in question so they could track them once they docked with the [[Eridanus Secundus|asteroid hideout]]. Fred expressed some doubts about the mission but John reassured him by reminding him that every task they'd been assigned in training had been accomplished successfully. John lay down to sleep, telling Kelly to wake him in four hours.<ref name="HTFOR10">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 10''</ref> While he slept, John dreamed that he was alone in a desert environment when suddenly Kelly appeared before him, her face covered in blood.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> When she spoke, he was then faced with the real Kelly, who was waking him up to let him know they had begun to decelerate and would evidently be arriving sooner than initially expected.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="HFORBC"/><ref name="HTFOR10"/> John commanded all lights to be shut off before he popped a hatch above them to take a peek with a fiber optic probe. Seeing that the space above was clear, they all entered it and rappelled ten meters to clear the tank. Once they were free from the spinning section, they changed into their disguises and made sure all weapons and other pieces of equipment were stowed in duffel bags. The arrival of simulated gravity once they reached the cargo bay signaled that the ''Laden'' had docked to a spinning body larger than itself. Kelly led them to the crate of luxury goods and John, Linda, and Sam stood guard while she and Fred planted a tracking device inside it. John came very close to shooting a dockworker that almost noticed them, but the man moved on and John kept his finger from pulling the trigger of his MA2B. After confirming he could track the crate through his helmet's [[HUD]], John stowed it and led the others onto the base. The Spartans casually made their way to the dock's public showers to discuss their next moves. John decided the showers would serve as their fallback position and that a Pelican they'd noticed on the dock would be their chosen means of escape. Slipping on his helmet showed that the crate was on the move, so John had Blue Team move further into the city in pursuit. After pinpointing it one more time in an alley which they ducked into, he could see it was now being carried on a robotic tram. Following it at a discrete distance led them to a twelve-story building, where John and the others saw three men unload it and carry it inside.<ref name="HTFOR10"/>
===Human-Covenant War===
[[File:HTFoR AS - JohnBBSHelmet.png|right|350px|thumb|The suits used during Operation: TALON had been worn by the Spartans previously.<ref name="HTFOR9"/> They could deflect small-caliber rounds and were equipped with refrigeration/heating units, encryption and communications gear, and thermal and motion detectors.<ref name="HTFOR9"/>]]
{{Main|John-117/Human-Covenant War}}
Two guards flanked the outer doors to the building.<ref name="HTFOR10"/> John gave Kelly the go-ahead to approach them. She surprised one man by grabbing his rifle and twisting, yanking him inside the building in the process. John got the drop on the second guard and snapped his neck from behind. Both corpses were hid out of view as everyone shrugged out of their coveralls and put on their helmets. On the other side of another set of doors, John and Linda took down five individuals, with John specifically killing two uniformed guards near an elevator. He then directed his team to take the stairs all the way to the top floor, where the tracker showed the crate of items had been taken to. After nine double flights of stairs, John determined that they would need a better entrance once they reached the final floor due to the distribution of the thermal signatures detected on it. He had his team cross an empty hall on the ninth floor to the elevator and then proceed to climb up the cable extending the length of the shaft. At the top, he counted down from three before yanking the doors open with Sam. Within, five armed guards were taken by surprise and killed quickly by Linda, Kelly, and Fred. John could see that the navigation marker they had followed was behind a door in the room they were. Without only the slightest hesitation, he kicked it in and came face-to-face with three more guards and behind them, [[Colonel]] Robert Watts. John couldn't risk hitting their target, so he was forced to dive to cover instead of opening fire. In the process three rounds from the URF guards found their mark, with one penetrating his suit and pinging off his ribs. Undeterred, John rolled to his feet and fired a three-shot burst into one of the men's forehead from his new position off to the left. The other Spartans were able to similarly do away with the other two, leaving only Watts. From behind a wet bar, John signaled Sam and Fred to fire over Watts' head so that he ducked. John vaulted over the bar at this and jumped on top of the [[Insurrectionist|rebel]] leader, wrenching his pistol away and breaking one of his index fingers and one of his thumbs in doing so. John then chocked the colonel into near-unconsciousness so Kelly could easily administer a dose of [[polypseudomorphine]] to sedate him. She followed this by injecting [[biofoam]] into John's wound so that he would be stable for a few more hours and helping him up from where he had collapsed after taking down Watts. John directed his Spartans to seal Watts inside the crate from the ''Laden'' as he secured a rope to an outer balcony and used it to rappel down into an alley. The others followed suit with the crate in tow once he signaled the coast was clear.<ref name="HTFOR10"/>
====Chi Ceti IV====
 
[[File:Halo TFoR HalseyJohnhelmet.jpg|250px|thumb|John, at 14 years of age, having his original Mjolnir helmet put on by Dr. Halsey.]]
They all put their coveralls back on and entered the building adjacent to what had apparently been a barracks of some kind for the [[URF]].<ref name="HTFOR10"/> They exited half a block away and walked briskly back to the showers at the docks. John made everyone check the seals on their suits and sent Sam off with [[C-12]] to create an exit. After pinging the ''Atlas'' and tossing the panic button into an empty locker, he and the others hijacked the stolen Pelican noted earlier. A series of explosions at the end of the dock tore through and airlock door and the emergency doors that tried to seal the breach. The explosive decompression that resulted sent many workers and others tumbling into the vacuum of space outside. Once Sam had caught back up with them, the Pelican blasted away from the station. John ordered Sam to check on the status of their prisoner at five minutes out and was satisfied to hear he was still alive. Kelly reported that they had two hours before they would reach their extraction point. She could tell John was bothered by the loss of life they had caused among the civilians on the asteroid, but John pushed his feelings away and told her nothing was wrong because they had won.<ref name="HTFOR10"/> John was later awarded the [[Purple Heart]] for the wound he had sustained during the mission.<ref name="HTFOR11">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 11''</ref>
 
===MJOLNIR===
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Well? How does it feel?|Catherine Halsey|q2=Like I was made to wear it, ma'am.|John-117|John responds enthusiastically to being outfitted with Mjolnir armor for the first time.}}<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>
The ''Pioneer'' did not return to [[Reach]] until [[2525#November|November 2 of 2525]].<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> John rode a Pelican to the military complex on the surface with the other members of Blue Team and was met by Chief Mendez, who told them they were to assemble in the amphitheater with haste.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> There, at 0600 hours all thirty-three Spartans gathered, in their dress uniforms, to hear from [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]].<ref name="HTFOR11"/> John sat in the third row. All the Spartans rose and stood at attention when Mendez entered and remained standing until Stanforth gave them permission to be seated. The Admiral informed the teenagers that the [[Outer Colony]] of [[Harvest]] had suffered been [[First Battle of Harvest|annihilated]] some time ago by what appeared to be alien attackers. The adversary responsible called itself "the Covenant" and had broadcast a message announcing that the destruction of [[humanity]] was the will of its [[Forerunner|god]]s. John stood to ask whether the language had been translated after the message was played for them but was told that it had been originally broadcast by the aliens in [[English]]. Stanforth told them that the UNSC had been ordered to full alert and that the largest fleet action in human history was being mobilized in response. And because of the UNSC-wide mobilization, the Spartans' training was to be accelerated to its final phase: [[Mjolnir|Project MJOLNIR]]. The briefing on the new threat and the UNSC's reaction to it concluded, Stanforth then let them all know that Mendez would be leaving them to begin the training of a second class of Spartans.[[File:H4L Awakening 3.jpg|320px|thumb|left|John was told to remain absolutely still as the armor was put on for the first time.<ref name="HTFOR13"/> The slightest movement had the potential to injure the technicians assisting him.<ref name="HTFOR13"/>]] John called for everyone to stand and salute the Chief a final time. Mendez made his way over to John once everyone began to disperse so they could talk briefly alone. He asked him to recall what options existed when facing a stronger opponent and John answered that one could attack their weakest point swiftly and forcefully before they had a chance to retaliate or one could choose to retreat. The Chief reminded him that a third option existed: surrender. He warned John that surrender might eventually seem like the most reasonable choice for many, but that for people like them, it was never an option. Before he left for the final time, Mendez returned the [[quarter]] that had been taken from John the day he had arrived as a child. John thanked him. Mendez told John it had been an honor to serve with him and instead of saluting, simply shook his hand before saying goodbye.<ref name="HTFOR11"/>
 
By [[2525#November|November 6]], all the Spartans had departed [[Reach]] aboard the {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}} {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}.<ref name="HTFOR12">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 12''</ref> The next three weeks were spent handling a variety of minor missions under the guidance of Doctor Halsey on their way out to [[Chi Ceti IV]] on the edge of [[UNSC]]-controlled space. All of the Spartans worked together to put down multiple insurrectionist factions on [[Jericho VII]] and also to remove a [[black market]] bazaar near the [[Roosevelt military base]]. It was at 1750 hours on [[2525#November|November 27]] that the ''Commonwealth'' finally emerged in real space in the [[Chi Ceti system]]. During the last leg of the journey through slipspace, John had used the ship's education database to look up the word ''[[Wikipedia:Mjolnir|Mjolnir]]'' and determined the project must concern some sort of weapon. Immediately after their arrival in the system Halsey summoned John to the bridge. Before he left the bunkroom where the thirty-two other Spartans were, he told Sam to get everyone ready in case they were needed soon. John took an elevator, saluting [[Captain]] [[Wallace]] and nodding to Halsey once he arrived. The doctor called his attention to a screen displaying deconvoluted radar signals, including one that may have been a ship eighty million kilometers away. In the event that the anomalous ghost on the radar signal signified a [[Covenant]] vessel, Captain Wallace ordered all hands to battle stations. Halsey let John know that they needed to take the frigate's dropship to the surface of Chi Ceti IV to get to Project MJOLNIR at the [[Damascus Materials Testing Facility]] in [[Vhalkem]]. John accordingly relayed this information to Sam and told him to have everyone mustered in Bay Alpha with a Pelican ready for drop in just fifteen minutes. With barely any warning, [[Unrelenting|an alien ship]] suddenly emerged from slipspace just three thousand kilometers of the ''Commonwealth'''s prow. John could only watch as the frigate was forced into battle against a [[CRS-class light cruiser|sleek craft]] a third its size but with much better defenses. John finally spoke up after they had sustained a significant amount of damage and suggested that Captain Wallace direct [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s to distract the enemy to but them time to offload the Spartans and Halsey at Chi Ceti IV. Wallace agreed to sacrifice [[Longsword Squadron Delta]] to fulfill their mission as thy neared the planet and asked that those going to the surface try to rendezvous in orbit by no later than 1900 hours.<ref name="HTFOR12"/>
[[File:FOR AS Mjolnir.png|thumb|right|300px|The first time John saluted in MJOLNIR he bruised his wrist doing so.<ref name="HTFOR13"/>]]
After landing, it took around fifteen minutes for a freight elevator to carry Halsey and the Spartans down into the depths of [[Chi Ceti IV]], finally depositing them in an underground hangar at around 1845 hours.<ref name="HTFOR13"/> There, the doctor introduced them to Project MJOLNIR, an initiative to outfit each of them with the most advanced armor ever created by humans in the modern era. Halsey walked the teenagers through the various ways [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mjolnir armor]] would improve their abilities in combat but also made sure they each understood the risk they would be taking by agreeing to use it. Tests with unaugmented volunteers given the armor had ended catastrophically and computer modeling for the Spartans had been insufficient, meaning that whether their enhancements would actually allow them to use the armor was still an unknown. Despite the risk, each on of them volunteered at once to be the first to try Mjolnir, but Halsey ultimately decided on John being the one to demonstrate it first. Once a team of technicians had taken fifteen minutes to fit the various pieces in place Halsey asked him to slowly raise one of his arms to chest level, which he managed very carefully.<ref name="HTFOR13"/><ref name="HTFOR14"/> She then coached John through the basics of walking and gradually built up the speed and complexity of his motions.<ref name="HTFOR13"/> After fifteen minutes, John could walk, run, and jump almost without thinking about the difference the powered armor made to his movements. Doctor Halsey directed him to try running through a nearby obstacle course with the armor while the remainder of the Spartans were fitted with theirs. On the course John leaped over a three meter high wall, shattered concrete targets with punches, sunk knives up to their hafts when thrown into target dummies, and even felt confident enough to let bullets deflect off his armor. To his own amazement, he even dodged one or two of the rounds when he tried. The others ran through the course as well, but John could see that there was a lack of coordination to their movements. He expressed his worry regarding this to Halsey, who reassured him they would all get used to the suits soon enough. She let him know that each of them had even been given subliminal training to prepare them during their last trip through slipspace in cryostasis. The Spartans spent thirty minutes drilling in their new armor before Captain Wallace contacted them to say that the thy had made contact with the Covenant ship again. Though its slipspace capability was evidently still damaged from the previous engagement, it was moving toward them through normal space. Wallace offered to try to draw the enemy away to buy them more time, but Halsey decided the time had come to fight instead.<ref name="HTFOR13">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 13''</ref>
 
===''Unrelenting''===
{{Main|Battle of Chi Ceti IV}}
{{Main|Battle of Chi Ceti IV}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Spartans, this is what we've trained our entire lives to do. If we lose here, we lose everything.|John-117|q2=Sir, yes, sir!|Spartans|John reminds the Spartans of just how serious their task is.}}<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Spartans, this is what we've trained our entire lives to do. If we lose here, we lose everything. Let's send our own message.|John-117|q2=Sir, yes, sir!|Spartans|John encouraging his comrades{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORTAS}}}}
John was piloting the Pelican through through the exit burn of its orbital path by 2037 hours, carrying all the Spartans, Halsey, the three technicians from at the Damascus facility, and twelve spare suits of Mjolnir.<ref name="HTFOR14"/> The {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}'s last known position was ten million kilometers in system from their previous rendezvous point, and it was this to this location that John was taking them. The Covenant ship was three million kilometers from the ''Commonwealth'' but closing that distance with every second. John confirmed with Halsey that their armor was usable in vacuum and then asked Sam for a overview of the dropship's weaponry. Sam let him know that the Pelican was equipped with thirty-two [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile|HE Anvil-II missile]]s, so John in turn told him to assemble a team to go [[EVA]] and retrieve them from the rocket pods on the craft's wing's. Halsey flatly objected when he asked her permission to attack the Covenant ship, but relented when he explained he meant to [[Battle of Chi Ceti IV|board it]] using [[thruster pack]]s, not to go up against it with the Pelican. She transferred the bird's controls to herself so John could join the other Spartans in the rear. He motioned the techs to move to the forward cabin and ordered everyone else to grab a thruster pack. Sam handed him one of the warheads and Kelly passed him a pack. Thanks to an adhesive polymer Sam had applied, the missiles would be able to cling to their armor. John went over the plan with his Spartans, emphasizing that their target was the hole the ''Commonwealth'' had already put in [[Unrelenting|the ship]]. He said that if anyone missed then they should power down and wait to be retrieved. John was the one to punch in the code that opened the Pelican's rear hatch and the first one to launch, followed close behind by the others.[[File:FoR AS JohnUnrelenting.png|thumb|330px|left|Upon boarding the ''[[Unrelenting]]'', John thought it noteworthy that the ship was maintaining non-centrifugal [[artificial gravity]]. Doing so on [[human]] ships at the time consumed an enormous amount of energy, and John and Halsey had previously questioned whether the ship would even still have its shielding up, since they believed the damage done to it by the ''Commonwealth'' may have forced it to conserve power as much as possible.<ref name="HTFOR14"/><ref name="Enc221">''[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]'', ''page 221''</ref>]] while he rocketed toward the enemy ship at one hundred million kilometers per hour, he thought to contact Halsey to ask if she could have Captain Wallace create a diversion for them. Before long, the Covenant vessel was firing its [[pulse laser turret|pulse laser]]s at inbound [[Archer missile]]s. John was able to get his velocity to almost match that of the target by the time he reached it, but when he tried to find a handhold he came up empty due to its hull being covered by an [[energy shield]]. Around one hundred meters further along the surface, however, he noticed a [[pulse laser turret]] that the shield dropped around in whenever it had to fire. John carefully adjusted his vector and timed his approach so that he was able to slip beneath the shield the next time it dropped around the turret. He pulled himself along the exterior of the ship until he reached the hole that had been blasted into it. Only Kelly and Sam were waiting for him there, and they got no responses when they tried to reach any of the others over [[COM]] channels. The three who had made it traversed past multiple levels which the ''Commonwealth'''s [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|magnetic accelerator cannon]] had penetrated, eventually settling on the first deck and moving inward until they approached they had reached the approximate middle of the ship. John and Sam were able to force open a sealed set of sliding pressure doors so the trio could continue down another corridor. John began to repeat the same after reaching another set, but Kelly stopped him and instead opted to try to open them with a nearby button pad. It only took here three attempts at pushing different buttons to make the doors slide open, and the Spartans found themselves face-to-face with a bird-like alien: a [[Ruuht]]ian [[Kig-Yar]]. A trio of armor-piercing bursts from the Spartans' assault rifles mad short work of it.<ref name="HTFOR14">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 14''</ref>
Three months after Eridanus, John and his Spartans were briefed on the [[First Battle of Harvest|massacre]] that took place on [[Harvest]] shortly after first contact with the [[Covenant]]. A short time later, the {{UNSCShip|Commonwealth}}, under the command of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Wallace]], brought the Spartans and Dr. Halsey to the [[Damascus Testing Facility]] at [[Chi Ceti IV]], where they received their first suits of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mjolnir powered armor]]. When a Covenant ship, the ''[[Unrelenting]]'', attacked the ''Commonwealth'', John and the Spartan-IIs took part in their [[Battle of Chi Ceti|first engagement]] with the Covenant. The Spartans used thruster packs to launch themselves from a Pelican dropship. Each Spartan carried an [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile|ANVIL-II warhead]] to be used against the Covenant ship. Only two other Spartans reached the ship with John: Sam and Kelly. They entered the vessel through a puncture in its hull, caused by a [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] round from the ''Commonwealth''. They succeeded in completing the mission and destroyed the Covenant ship, but due to a breach in Sam's armor, he was unable to leave the Covenant ship. Volunteering to stay behind and ensure the destruction of the enemy vessel, Sam was killed in the ensuing explosion. John was deeply affected at the loss of one of his closest friends. The victory showed that the Covenant could be beaten, but only at a high cost.
 
Kelly picked up a radiation signature coming from deeper in the vessel, so they followed it down a side branch off of another corridor.<ref name="HTFOR14"/> Kelly opened the next set of doors as she had before while John and Sam took flanking positions on either side. The Kig-Yar on the other side seemed to have known they were coming, as it was ready with an activated [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlet]] and fired an overcharged [[Type-25 plasma pistol]] as soon as doors opened. John would have been hit by the blast had Sam not shoved him out of the way and caught the full brunt of the weapon himself. Return fire from the Spartans was initially deflected by the alien's shield gauntlet while it continued to shoot and hit Sam, so John charged forward and slammed his foot into the shield, knocking it away. It was then a simple matter for him to jam the barrel of his rifle right into the Kig-Yar's mouth and splatter its blood and bits of bone on the wall behind it. John helped Sam up, who claimed he would be okay, and then policed the Jackal's gauntlet to pass on to Halsey for study. The room they found themselves in overlooked a chamber that held what the Spartans reasoned was either the ship's reactor or some kind of weapons system. A third Kig-Yar sighted them but scrambled for cover rather than engage. At this point, Sam asked for John and Kelly's Anvil warheads and said they ought to simply shoot out the glass which separated them from the next chamber and toss them down into it. John agreed and told him to set their timers so they would explode in three minutes after being armed. He then was forced to regretfully order Sam to remain behind to defend them while he and Kelly escaped, as his armor had been breached and he wouldn't be able to make it back to the Pelican or the ''Commonwealth''. Sam had already known this was to be his fate, but Kelly took some convincing on John's part. He and Sam parted with a clasping of hands, with John squeezing his. He grabbed Kelly's arm when she hesitated to leave and the two of them were soon forcing the nearest set of doors shut behind them. They raced back down the corridors the way they'd came until they were exiting the hole in the hull. They waited for an opportunity when a pulse laser fired and escaped through the gap in the ship's shield just as explosions tore through it behind them. Kelly clung to John as the Covenant vessel was finally torn apart pieces shooting past them. John then understood what Chief Mendez had meant differentiated lives wasted with those spent and knowing that the Covenant could in fact be beat, felt ready to go to [[Human-Covenant War|war]].<ref name="HTFOR14"/> He, Kelly, and all the other Spartans that had not made it on the Covenant ship made it back aboard the ''Commonwealth''.<ref name="HCD1"/> On [[2525#December|December 1]], the {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Persian Gate}} appeared in the Chi Ceti system and took Halsey and the Spartans from the ''Commonwealth''. On the ''Persian Gate'', Halsey led a funeral service for Sam wherein an empty casket was ejected into space around Chi Ceti IV.<ref name="HCD1"/>
 
===Alpha Corvi II===
{{Main|Battle of Alpha Corvi II}}
{{Quote|no=four|q1=You left them there. They fought for us and you left them there.|John-117|q2=They don't matter. Not in the big picture. We lost this battle. But it's one small part of a much larger war. that war is bigger than this planet. It's bigger than any one life. Even bigger than any one Spartan. We're fighting for the survival of human civilization.|Yao|q3=All due respect, ma'am, they fought for us and we should have fought for them.|John-117|q4=That will be enough, soldier.|Yao|John makes his dissatisfaction with abandoning allies to the Covenant clear to Lieutenant Commander Yao.}}<ref name="HCD3"/>
[[File:HCD-BTfighting.png|thumb|300px|left|United with the URF, Blue Team was able to have the Covenant troops steered right into its line of fire.<ref name="HCD1"/>]]
On [[2525#December|December 3, 2525]], a substantial [[Covenant]] force emerged from [[slipspace]] near [[Alpha Corvi system|Alpha Corvi]] and proceeded to began an attack on the system's [[Alpha Corvi II|second planet]].<ref name="HCD1">''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', ''[[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref> It was at this point that the four remaining [[Spartan-II]] warriors of [[Blue Team]] whom had participated in [[Operation: TALON]] were briefed on the attack while already ''en route'' to the system.<ref name="HCD1"/><ref name="HTFOR9"/> [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Yao]] told John and the others that they would be dropping on the outskirts of [[Jamshid]] and engaging the Covenant from the rear. Their objective was to lessen the pressure on the main UNSC garrison within the city so that a proper counterattack could be prepared. It was also imperative, they were told, that they operate independently of [[Unified Ground Command|Ground Command]] and refrain from having any contact with anyone from the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] whatsoever.<ref name="HCD1"/> Upon arrival at the planet, Blue Team was redirected to the mining settlement of [[Black Reef]] and ordered to neutralize the invaders there and discover why it was being targeted. During their insertion via a [[D77-TC Pelican]], [[Nora]], an [[A.I.]] on the ''Persian Gate'', introduced the Spartans to various scouting and reconnaissance enhancements their armor was outfitted with for this mission, including prototype [[active camouflage]] technology.<ref name="HCD1"/>
 
Blue Team was set down in a [[Unidentified APC|ground vehicle]] on the beach and immediately began taking fire from [[United Rebel Front]] troops encamped a short distance away.<ref name="HCD1"/> [[Kelly-087]] and [[Fred-104]] recommended taking them out quickly so they could move on to deal with the Covenant, but John-117 opted for a different option. He activated his active camouflage and crept up on the small band, only revealing himself when he could reach out and touch their apparent leader. John identified his team as being responsible for [[Operation: TALON|capturing]] Colonel [[Robert Watts]] and argued there was no way they could hope to beat them. He told them what had [[First Battle of Harvest|happened]] to [[Harvest]] and through appealing to their immediate common enemy, was able to get the leader, [[Whitaker]], to agree to work together for the time being. At John's insistence, he ordered his squad to circle around and rendezvous with the rest of their forces at the edge of a lagoon. From there, they would hit the Covenant from one side and drive them toward where Blue Team lay in wait. In order to keep an eye on their uneasy allies, John sent along a surveillance [[drone]] to keep a visual on them. The plan worked, and Blue Team unloaded on the Covenant with [[BR55 battle rifle]]s when the distance between them closed. During the fighting, John's drone was destroyed by a shot from a [[Kig-Yar]]'s [[Type-25 plasma pistol]]. The [[Sangheili]] and [[Kig-Yar]] that remained escaped into the mouth of a tunnel that led deep into the mines beneath the reef's bedrock. John was determined to pursue them, not least of which because he was curious about [[Kindler|a strange device]] a Sangheili took in with him. Whitaker informed him that though the mine was an expansive mess of tunnels, it only had the one entry and exit, meaning the enemy was trapped within it.<ref name="HCD1"/> Yao soon let John know that a host of new dropships were inbound. Most of them were heading for Jamshid, but three Spirits would reach Black Reef in just three minutes. Whitaker volunteered to hold the mine entrance with his people so the Spartans could pursue the Covenant forces that had vanished within.<ref name="HCD1"/>
[[File:HCD-JohnYao.png|300px|thumb|right|Alpha Corvi II was not the first time John was conflicted between heeding orders and wanting to protect allies, and it would not be the last either.<ref name="HTFOR7"/><ref name="H4R">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref>]]
The passageway traversed by Blue Team took them more than thirty meters below sea level. When a light was sighted ahead Fred asked whether they ought to activate their [[active camouflage|camo]], but John opted to wait until just before a group of Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy encircled them from multiple side tunnels.<ref name="HCD2">''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', ''[[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 2|Issue #2]]''</ref> Unfortunately, the Spartans were still possible to make out, so John decided to drop the camo as they engaged the enemy. After disposing of their ambushers, he led them through one of the passages they had come from until they came into a large chamber filled with enemy forces led by a [[Sangheili Field Marshal|Field Marshal]]. A skirmish erupted but was interrupted when the insurrectionists above triggered used [[satchel charge]]s and an [[M41 SPNKR]] to collapse the entrance to the mine. the resulting blast triggered a flood of water to rush into the chamber where the Spartans were fighting. When John ordered the others to sound off after escaping the flooding, it became clear that Linda had been separated from the others and was not responding to hails. John determined that their primary concern was still the completion of their mission, but that finding her would come afterward if necessary.<ref name="HCD2"/> John and the two who remained with him continued to fight until the eventually made contact with Linda again, who had ended up just on the other side of a nearby cave wall.<ref name="HCD3"/> She requested urgent backup from the others and John told her they would be there as soon as possible. He had Kelly launch her drone through a hole to the other side to determine whether or not they could simply blast through the rock. Satisfied that it would be possible, John attached an [[MX-8 explosive]] to a [[Type-1 plasma grenade]] and used them both to knock a hole in the wall. The Spartans burst through to the other side, where they found more Unggoy, Kig-Yar, and Sangheili waiting. Once all the Covenant were dead, Blue Team's could focus its attention on escaping the rapidly flooding tunnels. Fred revealed that his armor had been breached by a cut from the Field Marshal's energy sword, but since their only way out would involve going underwater, John told him to just hold his breath and assured him they would make sure he got out. John had the team wait until the chamber they were in filled up completely and then led them out of the submerged mine toward the shore, with Kelly and Linda bringing up the rear to make sure Fred was okay.<ref name="HCD3">''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'', ''[[Halo: Collateral Damage Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>
 
After emerging from beneath the waves, Nora made contact with the Spartans and informed them that the ground action in their immediate area was making it impossible for the Pelican ''[[Tango 807]]'' to extract them safely.<ref name="HCD3"/> John affirmed that he and the others would clear a spot for it to land. Blue Team suddenly found themselves aided by Whitaker and a small group of other surviving rebels, with a few of them having even managed to hijack Blue Team's ground vehicle and now bring it to bear against the Covenant to aid the team. Once ''Tango 807'' landed John confirmed with its pilot that they were on their way. The Spartans and URF allies all made their way to the craft in order to escape the doomed planet, but only John, Kelly, Linda, and Fred were permitted aboard. John angrily repudiated their pilot for leaving the insurrectionists behind, but the man stood his ground as he had only been following orders. Once they were back aboard the ''Persian Gate'' John confronted Lieutenant Commander Yao about abandoning Whitaker and the others. He was incensed that though the rebels had fought for them, they had not done the same for them. Yao told him that was enough and stormed off. Halsey reminded John that keeping his team alive was all that had mattered in the end, and also then asked him if he had been able to see [[Forerunner|what]] the Covenant had been looking for under Black Reef. The ''Persian Gate'' soon [[slipspace|slipped]] away from Alpha Corvi II before it could be destroyed along with it.<ref name="HCD3"/>
 
===Enemy of my enemy===
[[File:H4FUD_Classified.png|300px|right|thumb|Footage of John's perspective of this particular mission was illegally obtained by the young cadet [[Michael Sullivan]], future Senior Communications Director for ONI.<ref name="H4FUD"/><ref name="WaypointMichaelSullivan">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/michael-%E2%80%98sully%E2%80%99-sullivan '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Michael "Sully" Sullivan'']</ref>]]
{{Quote|What matters is that out soldiers were fighting alongside the insurrectionists. Why would we protect the enemy?|[[Chyler Silva]] reacts to viewing leaked [[Helmet recorder|footage]] from John's helmet.}}<ref name="H4FUD"/>
At some point during the first few months of [[2526]], at least John and Fred were deployed to support [[UNSC Marine Corps]] forces in a mission to capture a leader of the [[Insurrection]].<ref name="H4FUD"/> John found and secured their target, but the man warned him that someone else was coming. The mission parameters suddenly changed dramatically when the arrival of the Covenant forced John and the others to briefly ally with the rebels against their common enemy. John ordered his squad to fall back as soon as it became clear a third faction was present.<ref name="H4FUD"/>
 
===''Radiant Arrow''===
{{Quote|no=four|q1=I need to be sure you understand the risk. We're working at the edge of your armor's capability, with more unknown variables than we can count. If something goes wrong, there won't be much chance to recover.|[[Halima Ascot]]|q2=If you're saying we'd be one our own, Spartans are trained—|John-117|q3=I'm saying the ''Starry Night'' will do everything possible, but we're limited by orbital mechanics. It might be smart to wait for an opportunity that's not quite so marginal.|Halima Ascot|q4=With all due respect, ma'am, I disagree. We've been here a day already, and our luck won't hold forever. Sooner or later, and enemy patrol will spot the ''Starry Night'', or a second Covenant vessel will arrive, or the enemy commander will decide it's time to move on. I can think of a dozen things that might go wrong if we don't go now.|John-117|John convinces Captain Ascot to give the Spartans the green light to launch their attack.}}<ref name="HSS1"/>
By [[2526|March 4 of 2526]], John and the rest of Blue Team had been assigned to the {{class|Razor|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}}.<ref name="HSS1"/> They were joined by [[Green Team]], led by Kurt and also comprised of [[Anton-044]], [[Malcolm-059]], and [[Solomon-069]], and [[Gold Team]], led by [[Joshua-029]] and also including [[Naomi-010]], [[Daisy-023]], and [[Grace-093]].<ref name="HSS3">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref><ref name="HSS14">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 14''</ref><ref name="HSS15">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 15''</ref> The uninhabited planet of [[Netherop]] in the [[Ephyra system]] had been recently [[Glassing|glassed]] but by this point the only enemy vessel remaining in orbit was a Covenant frigate.<ref name="HSS22">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 22''</ref> The ''Starry Night'' observed the frigate for over twenty-four hours before the twelve Spartans gathered in the [[prowler]]'s drop bay by 0342 hours on March 5. The prowler's captain, [[Halima Ascot]], was hesitant to give the teams permission to go [[EVA|EV]] to board the enemy craft given the large number of unknown variables, but John reminded her that current intelligence summaries indicated [[Unggoy|only one]] Covenant species didn't breathe [[oxygen]], meaning the frigate should support human life, and moreover argued that the longer they waited, the more things there were that could go wrong. From her place on the bridge, Ascot finally did relent and signaled that she would direct the ''Starry Night'' to begin a slingshot maneuver around the planet in five minutes' time. For this mission, each Spartan's Mjolnir had been temporarily modified to test skunkworks modifications and also tinted with a refractive coating that would it was hoped would conceal them from the enemy. John was armed with an [[M99 Stanchion]], a [[Suppressor|suppressed]] [[MA5K carbine]], and an [[M6D magnum]].<ref name="HSS3"/><ref name="HSS2">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> At three minutes from the start of the maneuver, John ordered final checks and for his part looked over his inspection partner, Fred. He believed this boarding action should be easier than the impromptu one he ordered previously at [[Chi Ceti IV]], but still reiterated that if anyone missed, thy should power down and wait to be rescued. Kurt questioned what had John so worried, but he denied he was and simply claimed he was confirming procedure and apologized for overbriefing, saying it was likely due to how much they still didn't know about the aliens. Encouraged by Joshua that the Covenant wouldn't know about Spartans either, John thanked him and then reminded everyone to not activate their rebreathers until they were clear of the hatch. With one minute left, each team lined up behind their leader, with each from the second row back holding on to the thruster pack of the Spartan in front of them. The ''Starry Night'' swung into the slingshot and the bay doors opened so they could leap from the craft. Their target was a group of five [[Type-27 Banshee]]s returning to the frigate. The plan was to covertly match orbits and velocities with the fighters and follow them into the larger ship. By the time John had reached equilibrium so he was headed directly for the Banshees they were eighty kilometers away.<ref name="HSS1"/>


By 0402 hours, the spartans were diving at a shallow angle into the planet's [[gravity well (physics)|gravity well]] at thirty-three thousands kilometers per hour relative to it.<ref name="HSS2"/> When his [[HUD]] signaled it was time, John began to decelerate and flatten his angle of descent. Over the next forty minutes, he and the other Spartans crept stealthily toward the five fighters. When only eight minutes remained until the frigate would reappear over Netherop's horizon John had the assault squad form on him and begin to overtake the Banshees even more quickly, since the larger Covenant ship's sensor umbrella could pose a risk once the planet no longer was between them. The Spartans grouped together by team but were still careful to maintain at least one hundred meters' distance between each of them. Nine mniutes later, John gave the signal to tighten the formation and arrange it so that each Banshee had at least two Spartans fifty meters below it. John and Fred climbed into an orbit directly behind the leftmost craft, stopping just two meters from it. Once they reached the mothership the Banshees bled off excess velocity and held position fifty meters beneath its belly. One by one, they rose past an [[energy barrier]] into the docking hollow beneath its tail, and the Spartans moved to follow the final one inside. John directed Fred and Kelly to deal with the pilot of the last Banshee and then used his Stanchion to begin firing on the occupants of the hangar, first taking out a [[Yanme'e]] and [[Unggoy]] in quick succession. Two further shots felled two [[Sangheili]], and following this John could see no more living targets so elected to dispose of the rifle so it would burn up in Netherop's atmosphere. His MA5K would be more useful inside the frigate. All twelve Spartans had managed to board the ship by 0502 hours without triggering any alarms.<ref name="HSS3"/><ref name="HSS2"/>
====Early war====
Over the ensuing months, John and his Spartans were rapidly deployed on a number of battlefronts, taking part in the [[Battle of Alpha Corvi II]] later in 2525 and a [[Naval boarding|boarding action]] against the frigate ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'' before being assigned as instrumental parts of [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] in early [[2526]]. During the operation, John worked for the first time alongside enlisted UNSC personnel of the [[21st Space Assault Battalion]]. Throughout the operation, John was a key participant in the battles of [[Battle of Seoba|Seoba]], [[Battle over Etalan|Etalan]], and finally a massive [[Battle of Zhoist]]. In this final engagement of SILENT STORM, John led one of the only offensive actions of the war into Covenant space, deploying on the Covenant world of [[Zhoist]] to destroy the [[Ring of Mighty Abundance]], a key logistics base. The mission saw John attain the rank of [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] and formed a friendship with [[Avery Johnson]].<ref>''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''</ref>


Once it was evident they would be able to breathe the atmosphere on [[Radiant Arrow|the ship]], John gave the okay to switch off their rebreathers.<ref name="HSS3"/> He ordered Gold Team to gather equipment to dump for collection and analysis by [[ONI]]'s [[Beta-3 Division]] and led Blue and Green teams to an oversize iris hatch at the back of the hangar. The hatch leaves retracted before John could find a control pad or mechanical release, revealing two oblivious [[Kig-Yar]] which were immediately shot and killed by he and Fred. John tasked Green Team with securing all compartments and intersections as they moved forward and then advanced up a passageway which curled steeply upward along the curve of the ship's hooked tail. After fifty meters it ran through two ninety-degree twists, artificial gravity keeping them planted against the floor all the same, so that they then found themselves facing down a hall above the hangar deck. After another fifty meters iris hatches on either side gave way to tall, swinging hatches that did not automatically open when someone came near. Kelly offered to blast through them with breaching cord but seeing as they were already seventy seconds into the boarding action John denied her request and argued that they almost certainly only led to [[airlock]]s anyway. A dozen paces from another large hatch that John figured opened to the ship's main body, he had Blue Team halt and ready heavy weaponry for when Kelly breached the door. Their element of surprise was ended, however, by a sensor operator on one of the six prowlers in the area who activated SQUADCOM and gave away their presence. Kelly blasted through the hatch nonetheless and John helped the others eliminate the opposition on the other side with a [[M9 fragmentation grenade]]. John then put two rounds into the head of every alien on the other side, no matter whether they were only wounded or already dead. Sprinting up another passage toward where the [[bridge]] was suspected to reside, high in the bow, Blue Team cut down about fifty aliens who were attempting to flee or take shelter. After three hundred meters the frigate appeared deserted. Another fifty meters ahead, John signaled Kelly to blow another hatch and sent Linda and Fred to take covering positions. Kurt reported that Green Team was on the third deck and searching for the engineering deck but before John could get an update from Joshua the hatch in front of Blue Team opened and the Covenant on the other side lobbed [[plasma grenade]]s at the Spartans. John launched himself forward through the opening to find himself suspended in a [[gravity lift]] slowly carrying him downward. John was hit by a number of radioactive projectiles fired from [[Type-51 carbine]]s wielded by Sangheili above him but rolled onto his back as he descended and managed to break through the personal [[energy shielding]] of one to kill him. Kelly got another and then Linda and Fred followed them into the lift once the surviving Elites had traveled past the hatch, taking out another from above. The direction the lift sent things in reversed without warning, sending them all barreling upward past the hatch Blue Team had entered through. John managed to get the sit-rep from Joshua he had wanted before they were ambushed and then told him to focus on disrupting any counterattacks the remaining Covenant may try to launch. John then realized that the lift could we weaponized and shouted for everyone to grab onto something just before the polarity was reversed again, but violently. John hung on to a ladder rung but the others were yanked back to the bottom. A nearby hatch opened up and John opened fire on it with his MA5K. Kelly reported a compound rib fracture so John ordered Fred to get her out of the lift tube, also telling Linda to vacate it and to join up with Green Team. The nearby hatch led to the bridge, so John began lobbing grenades and before long it was filled with dead and dying Sangheili.<ref name="HSS3"/>
[[File:H4FUD-Spartan-BlueTeam.jpg|250px|thumb|Blue Team's deployment on Circinius IV.]]
A few weeks later, John and Blue Team responded to the [[Battle of Circinius IV|Covenant attack]] on [[Circinius IV]], engaging the aliens in the battered [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] to extract the planet's only surviving humans - [[Hastati Squad|a squad]] of cadets formerly students of the school. During the engagement, John provided cover fire for the recruits, using his armour to shield them from Covenant sniper fire. As the group extracted from the planet, John gave one of the recruits - [[Thomas Lasky]] - a shard of [[Mgalekgolo]] armour as commendation for the recruit's bravery.<ref>''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''</ref> By May, John and Blue Team deployed to assist in the [[Battle of Mesra]], before being deployed at [[Netherop]] to [[Battle of Netherop|capture]] the downed frigate ''[[Radiant Perception]]''. Ultimately, this prize was in fact a trap laid by former-fleetmaster [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]], the disgraced commanding officer of the fleet destroyed in Operation: SILENT STORM months prior.<ref name="HO">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''</ref>


The [[shipmaster]], hanging onto life and still seated on his throne, took fire in his left arm from John's M6D but it was not enough to keep stop him from activating a sort of dead man's switch.<ref name="HSS3"/> Hatches opened throughout the bridge and unarmed and unarmored Sangheili that remained tried to escape through them, but John casually blew holes through their chests with the magnum's [[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|.50 caliber]] nickel-plated rounds. Kurt reported that the Covenant, save for the Yanme'e, were abandoning ship, so John pieced together what was happening right away and called for his Spartans to escape the vessel as well. He made his way onto the bridge with the intent to stop the shipmaster from taking them all out while keeping in touch with the others, who all reported successful evacuations, save for Linda. She was being herded by Drones but was almost in the hangar, so she told John to make his move. Two Yanme'e tried to catch him by surprise but he had no trouble dealing with them. When he went for the commander in his throne, however, it spun away from him and dragged its hand off the yellow blister on an armrest John figured to be a dead man's switch. John dived for one of the open hatches and the [[Covenant escape pod|escape pod]] beyond it, slapping at the controls for anything that would launch it. His armor's [[hydrostatic gel]] locked up as the ship came apart behind him while the pod sped away.<ref name="HSS3"/>
In [[2527]], John-117 fought alongside [[ODST]]s on the colony of [[Green Hills]].<ref>''[[Halo 4]]'', campaign level [[Shutdown]] (''Spartan-IV banter'': "''I fought with you on Green Hills back in '27. I was just an ODST back then.''")</ref>


===Task Force Yama===
====A war on two fronts====
{{Quote|no=two|q1=I look forward to serving under you, Colonel. Feel free to call on me if you have questions about Spartan capabilities or our experiences fighting the aliens.|John-117|q2=I've been fully briefed on both, Petty Officer. I'm sure you and your Spartans will prove a vital asset to the operation.|[[Marmon Crowther]]|John concedes authority to Colonel Crowther for Operation: SILENT STORM.}}<ref name="HSS5"/>
Despite the emergence of the Covenant threat, the Insurrection continued to remain a threat on the home front, and John was repeatedly deployed against these actors. By [[2531]], John led Blue Team on several operations against the [[United Rebel Front]]. The team disrupted Insurrectionist operations at [[Station Jefferson]], onboard the rebel [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] [[URF Origami|URF ''Origami'']], in [[wikipedia:Micronesia|Micronesia]], and at a high-explosives manufacturing facility at an unspecified location. Blue Team was also involved in interfering with a saboteur cell on Reach.<ref name="GOO1">''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', Chapter 1</ref> In May 2531, John led Blue Team in [[Operation: SMOKING ACES]], a raid on the URF's [[Camp New Hope]] on the colony world [[Victoria]]. During this operation, John, Fred, Kelly and Linda were captured by General [[Howard Graves]], but ultimately saved by new Blue Team addition [[Kurt-051]]. Graves was ultimately killed and the Spartans extracted before the rebels could have organised a counterattack.{{Ref/Reuse|GOO1}}
All twelve Spartans made it off the ''[[Radiant Arrow]]'' safely and were ferried to [[Battle Group X-Ray]] in deep space in the [[Polona sector]].<ref name="HSS5">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 5''</ref> John was summoned to the tactical planning center of the {{class|Point Blank|stealth cruiser}} ''{{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}'', which he and Doctor Halsey both entered at 0558 hours on March 8. Dressed in his khaki service uniform, he was invited to take a seat at the conference table within by [[Vice Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]]. Others gathered in the TPC included Captain Ascot, who was announced as the leader of [[Task Force Yama]], [[Colonel]] [[Marmom Crowther]], commander of the [[21st Space Assault Battalion]] of ODSTs, and [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]], who Cole described as a special tactics [[sniper]] with plenty of experience fighting the Covenant. Task Force Yama, Cole and Ascot explained, was to be made up of the ''Vanishing Point'' and three squadrons of prowlers, and everyone present was being attached to it for [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], a desperate mission with the stated aim of boarding as many Covenant capital ships as possible in order to detonate small-yield tactical [[nuclear weapon]]s within their hulls. John met the proposed operation with enthusiasm but Colonel Crowther was less optimistic about the idea. When Halsey spoke up to suggest John should command his ODSTs, however, John pushed back against her and said that he would defer to the colonel. Seeing as the planet [[Biko]] lay right in the path of the enemy's current invasion route, it was decided that Battle Group X-Ray would travel there to wait for the attackers, and would begin harassing them to draw attention from the task force so it could slip past their defenses. Sergeant Johnson was assigned as a training resource for the "Black Daggers", the ODSTs of the 21st, but he would work with the Spartans during the operation due to [[ORION Project|similarities in experience]] between he and they. Johnson indicated he was looking forward to working with John, who reciprocated the statement.<ref name="HSS5"/>


It took ten days to travel from their location in the Polona sector to the [[Kolaqoa system]] where Biko resided.<ref name="HSS5"/> For John and the other Spartans, the first three days were spent training against the Black Daggers in the ''Vanishing Point'''s mission preparation hold. The initial exercises, with both opposing forces armed with [[Tactical training round|tactical lockup round]]s, were simple zero-gee combat scenarios with equal numbers on both sides. As they continued, Crowther gradually made things more difficult for the Spartans. Once he filled a hold with floating obstacles and ordered four Spartans to recover a nonexistent ball while facing off against en entire platoon. He also charged all twelve of the Spartans with holding a position against an assault that only ended when nobody could maneuver in the space due to all the floating strike-locked ODSTs. He additionally devised a hostage rescue situation in which the hostage turned out to be a hostile imposter. As these exercises continued, the Black Daggers began to have more successes then when they began, and eventually Sergeant Johnson began to lead the Spartans' opposition. Under his direction, they employed tactics which turned the Spartans' strengths against them, but also required a large number of simulated casualties for the Daggers.<ref name="HSS5"/>
====Mid-war actions====
[[File:Corridor Attack.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 leading Fred-104 and Kelly-087 during Operation: WARM BLANKET.]]
John later returned to [[Circinius IV]] at an unknown time to once again aid in the evacuation of the planet's civilian population and to observe the enemy's invasion patterns, as part of [[Operation: PHALANX]]. John is known to have participated in an operation codenamed [[Operation: SWITCHBACK]] at some point prior to [[2544]], though details surrounding it have been redacted. He also was present at [[Cascade]] at some point after this, during which he aided in the destruction of Covenant exploratory fleet elements as part of [[Operation: HORIZON]].<ref name="H5LE">''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition]]'', John-117 dossier</ref>


On March 12, the fourth morning of the journey, Crowther called all assault personnel to the cruiser's drop hangar.<ref name="HSS5"/> The colonel congratulated the 21st on what he had witnessed over the past three days and then announced that when they moved against the Covenant he meant to have a single Spartan assigned to twelve of the battalion's platoons and to have them be the ones to carry the nukes. Furthermore, he intended to begin integration exercises that day based on this division. John was angered by both the decision and that Crowther had not consulted him first, but it took Avery Johnson's prodding him about his thoughts on the matter to draw Crowther's attention. The colonel noticed the two talking during his speech, so pointedly asked John to repeat whatever question he must have meant to ask. He shared his concerns about splitting up his Spartans but was rebuffed. When Johnson joined him in questioning the strategy, he got Crowther to admit he had doubts about Spartans leading assaults due to their young ages. Daisy scoffed at this, and drew Crowther's focus. He asked how old she was and John informed him that information was classified, only to have him reveal he knew their DOBs had been falsified. On paper, they were nineteen years old, but thanks to the [[Paymaster General]]'s records Crowther had figured they must have begun training as early as age eleven. John reminded him that ONI would not look kindly on him doing too much digging. The tension was only broken when Johnson suggested that he, Crowther, and John decide on strategy together after first running some exercises with teams arranged how he was asking. Colonel Crowther agreed with this and asked of John would be okay with three days like that, to which he merely said the battalion was Crowther's to do with as he saw fit.<ref name="HSS5"/> Despite the apparent concession, by the end of those three days Crowther remained convinced and still doubted the Spartans' lack of experience, leading him to move forward with his original plan.<ref name="HSS7"/>
On February 9, [[2535]] John and some of his fellow Spartans were deployed on the human colony of [[Jericho VII]] in [[Operation: FALLEN WALLS]]. Covenant forces landed on the colony, where they encountered tough resistance from UNSC forces above the planet and on the ground, resulting in a three-day long stalemate. On the ground, Blue Team's mission was to draw out the Covenant rear guard, so [[Red Team]] could slip behind their lines and plant a [[HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Weapon|HAVOK tactical nuke]], destroying the next Covenant ship that landed and dropped its [[energy shielding|shields]]. John led Blue Team in this engagement, killing hundreds of [[Unggoy]] troops in the process. Unfortunately, the UNSC fleet lost control of the space around Jericho VII. However, [[De Blanc|Captain De Blanc]] was able to evacuate the Spartans aboard {{UNSCShip|Resolute}} before the enemy fleet began its [[glassing]] of the planet. John requested to watch the planet being glassed. He observed the assault for nearly an hour as Jericho VII was destroyed.<ref name="FORP">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Prologue</ref>


The ODSTs and Spartans kept training daily until the [[Task Force Yama]] finally reached the [[Kolaqoa system]] and [[Biko]]'s third moon, [[Seoba]], on March 18.<ref name="HSS7"/> By 1426 hours, less than twenty minutes after exiting [[slipspace]], John and Johnson both found themselves in the back of the drop bay of the {{class|Razor|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|Ghost Song}} behind the forty member strong [[First Platoon (21st Alpha Company)|First Platoon]] of the 21st's [[Alpha Company (Black Daggers)|Alpha Company]].<ref name="HSS7"/><ref name="HSS8"/> John had been designated the platoon's fire-support soldier and was naturally carrying a lot of heavy weaponry.<ref name="HSS8"/> The ''Ghost Song'' had begun an insertion run meant to simulate a dismount-under-fire.<ref name="HSS7"/> The exercise was being referred to as [[Operation: ICE DANCE]] and also would serve to establish a presence for the task force in an abandoned ice quarry on Seoba where part of it would wait for the Covenant. Before the order to deploy could be given, however, an urgent burst from Colonel Crowther informed everyone in the drop bay that the operation was no longer a drill. The [[Biko Independence Army]], it turned out, was attempting to stage a coup against the colonial chancellor and the quarry that was Yama's target had already been occupied by insurrectionists using it as a staging grounds for their revolution. The leader of [[Ghost Flight]], the squadron to which ''Ghost Song'' belonged, entered the bay and further informed the platoon that Alpha Company was being tasked with preventing the rebels from transmitting from a comm center that would be hit by prowlers initially but could very well be operational again within thirty minutes. Once Lieutenant Commander [[Hector Nyeto]] was finished briefing the platoon, he signaled for John to follow him back into a passageway behind the drop bay. Nyeto explained that he wished to apologize to John, for it had been one of his people that broke comm silence and alerted the Covenant to the Spartans' presence on their ship at [[Netherop]]. John told him that as long as it didn't happen again, he didn't see a need for it to go any further. Nyeto then casually remarked that he had thought his sensor operator had gotten them all killed because he must have forgotten how good the Spartans were, thanks to being trained since the age of five. Though Nyeto was slightly off, John was still shocked at the commander's apparent insight. Nyeto let him know that an ODST buddy of his, now dead, had told him stories about training against eight-year-olds on [[Reach]] seven years ago. John accidentally confirmed his suspicions when he grew defensive and threatened to report Nyeto for breaking security protocols. The commander became apologetic soon after and swore to keep the information to himself and even shared that he sympathized with John in light of Crowther's poor strategy. Sergeant Johnson entered at this point to let them know First Platoon's lieutenant, [[Nelly Hamm]], wanted to evacuate the bay in two minutes. As such, John and Nyeto parted amicably.<ref name="HSS7"/>
In [[2544]], John deployed in [[Operation: IRON FIST]] to perform asset denial and recovery of critical cyberinfratsructure assets on [[Miridem]]. Shortly after, he led a SPARTAN-II group in [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]] at [[Ascon]] to board [[Luro 'Taralumee]]'s [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]] in recovering the captured Doctor Halsey from enemy hands. During this battle, John fought [[Thel 'Lodamee]] in single combat and was ultimately nearly defeated before Thel was forcibly removed from the situation by the fleet's slipspace jump.{{Ref/Reuse|H5LE}}<ref name="HLTP">''[[Halo Legends]]'', [[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]</ref> The following year, John led Blue Team in a retaliatory action in the [[Battle of Draco III]], following the Covenant's civilian slaughter of the planet.<ref name="FOR20">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 20</ref>


===ICE DANCE===
At an unknown time, John was present for a battle on a war-torn planet which saw the death of [[Daisy-023]]. Upon encountering Daisy's body, he laid her teddy bear chain in her hands and closed her eyes, a gesture of respect for his fallen fellow Spartan.<ref>''[[Halo Legends]]'', [[Homecoming]]</ref>
{{Quote|no=four|q1=You played me. We were decoys.|John-117|q2=I needed to get that missile launcher looking in another direction, so [[Hector Nyeto|Nyeto]] could do a prowler drop without losing another [[Prowler|bat]]. In these tank suits, I figured you Spartans had a better chance of surviving than anyone else.|[[Nelly Hamm]]|q3=That makes sense, but you still lied to me—and that put my people at unnecessary risk.|John-117|q4=That's right, soldier. I guess that's what happens when you don't obey orders. It's one shitshine after another.|Nelly Hamm|Lieutenant Hamm reminds John she outranks him and that insubordination won't be tolerated.}}<ref name="HSS10">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 10''</ref>
[[File:HSS full cover.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV]]" was a label retroactively applied in [[2535]] to a diverse platform of armors that saw many iterations.<ref name="DHPJM10"/>]]
The ''Ghost Song'''s jump hatch opened at 1433 hours but when it did, the ODSTs on the other side immediately began to suffer casualties under a barrage of [[M41 Vulcan]] fire.<ref name="HSS8">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 8''</ref> Lieutenant Hamm called for the pilot to abort the dismount so the prowler lifted away. John moved forward to assist with pulling a wounded trooper on the threshold back inside against the prowler's thrust, and after doing so passed him off to Hamm so that he could get a good look at the situation below while she was preoccupied with caring for him. John spotted bunkers which had been dug into the icy slopes ahead of their planned landing zone and from this reasoned that the [[insurrectionist]]s couldn't have been waiting for them because it would have taken longer to construct those bunkers than the length of time Yama had been in the system. Johnson, however, cautioned him to not rule out the possibility that they had been warned even before that. Hamm was upset by John's transparent action and berated him for being out of position. John apologized but then proceeded to ready an [[M41 SPNKR]] to fire upon a bunker below, even shaking Johnson off when the marine tried to stop him. At over a kilometer and a half away, the nearest one was out of the effective range at this point, so without hesitation John stepped out into open air. He used thrusters to accelerate his descent in the moon's low [[gravity]], only firing a rocket once his target was within three-hundred and fifty meters. He decelerated and performed and evasive corkscrew as he landed, but not before firing once more before reaching the ground. John was about to launch a [[40mm grenade]] from the [[M301 grenade launcher]] attached to his [[MA5B]], but Kelly took care of his target before he could, the members of [[Blue Team]] having dropped right after him at Johnson's call to do so.<ref name="HSS8"/>


John commanded the rest of Blue to form up and meet him at the nearby docks.<ref name="HSS8"/> He ran and leaped in the low gravity, all the while firing his rifle and taking fire in return. John's concern was locating any hangars that might be launched from, seeing as the mission involved not allowing the rebels to get a message off Seoba. Once he reached the docks he dropped into a bay for cover and was soon after joined by not only Fred, Kelly, and Linda, but Johnson and Lieutenant Hamm as well. The lieutenant was furious at his disregard for her orders but John defended his actions as necessary. Johnson, always the diplomat, appeared to take Hamm's side but in doing so got the conversation to shift to what needed doing next. A convoy of [[Civet]]s was heading up the mountain where the comm center lay, no doubt intending to repair the damage done. Three more friendlies, one of whom was the Alpha Company commander, [[Zelos Cuvier]], were given covering fire by Blue Team so they could join them at their position. Cuvier commended Hamm for what he thought had been her decision to send in the Spartans. Hamm gave no indication that the truth had been anything different and then recommended that they make further use of the Mjolnir-clad soldiers to stop the Civets by sending them up the tube of the large mass driver which ran up the slope of the mountain with the comm center. John agreed to the plan, but given that the tube was partially filled in with ice, he requested vacuum-suitable [[M7057 flamethrower]]s and [[thermite paste]] for his team and Fred pointed out they would need lots of [[C-7]] as well.<ref name="HSS8"/><ref name="HSS10"/>
===Final year of the war===
 
{{Main|John-117/Late War}}
By 1456 hours Blue Team covered the last dozen meters that separated them from the base of the mass driver.<ref name="HSS10"/> The tube extended five kilometers up the mountain slope. John ordered Linda to watch their backs while he used a [[Thermite-carbon cord|thermite carbon cord]] to cut through ice covering a loading breach. Fred was doubtful about the wisdom of the strategy for beating the Civets, which made John irritated, but ultimately Fred convinced him that Hamm was up to something by using them in this way. Johnson, included on their [[TEAMCOM]], offered to talk to Ascot about having the Spartans trade places with First Platoon, but John refused to accept the offer. He further addressed Kelly's concerns about making it in time by assuring her the ice would thin as they got closer to the top. furthermore, John declared that despite the narrow space through which they had to move, they would not be crawling that distance since they were each outfitted with [[thruster pack]]s. After trying out some different positions, he settled on lying on his belly with his arms stretched out in front. He instructed Linda to stay back to provide their ascent as an observer and sniper, and with Fred following him and Kelly bringing up the rear, the three began to be propelled forward with their thruster jets. The first part of the journey through the tube was relatively flat, but soon the climb up the slope started. Linda let John know that their presence within the old mass accelerator was noticeable due to ice plumes rising off its exterior as they passed by. John's first reaction upon hearing this was to order Fred and Kelly to turn back and let him go on alone, but both flatly refused. John, being in the lead, broke through three curtains of ice before telling Linda to avoid any high-risk maneuvers as she covertly advanced up the mountain out in the open. After eight minutes, John had made it about two-thirds of the way but suddenly stopped when a barrage of Vulcan fire started chewing through the tube ahead of his position. Kelly offered to make a hole and fire her SPNKR at whomever was shooting the turret, but John denied her request. He instead opted to create a distraction by using both thermite-carbon cord and their [[M7057 flamethrower|I-Jet]] to draw fire behind them. The resulting explosion worked as planned and the three were two hundred meters ahead of the blast when it occurred. The end of the tube was just fifteen hundred meters further and John told Linda to hold her position then due to a series of other explosions she reported on mountainside. As it turned out, a prowler drop was soon underway which stopped the Civets in their tracks. Hamm had meant Blue Team as a distraction the entire time. John, Fred, and Kelly covered the last kilometer to find the lieutenant and others from the First Platoon already planting charges in the comm center when they emerged. She congratulated the Spartans on a job well done but received nothing but ire from John for having lied to them and using them as she had. Not one to back down, Hamm defended her strategy and reminded him that she hadn't forgotten his prior disregard for her orders, stressing that this type of thing could be expected more often if he continued down that path.<ref name="HSS10"/>
====Sigma Octanus IV====
 
[[File:The Covenant - SII.jpg|thumb|250px|John leading his fellow Spartans during Battle of Sigma Octanus IV.]]
The next day, John presented himself to Captain Ascot at 0816 hours during an after action debriefing held around a folding conference table within Assembly Chamber 4L430 in one of the quarry's abandoned habitats.<ref name="HSS11">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 11''</ref> After taking a seat at the table, John was given the opportunity to explain why he had concluded that the insurrectionists had known about their attack ahead of time. He also defended his actions in aboard the ''Ghost Song'' to both Ascot and Crowther and stated that he hadn't expected Alpha company to follow him when he jumped from the drop bay. Nyeto, ostensibly coming to John's defense, let it slip that the Spartans were young. Halsey panicked and thought John might have told him their true ages but he explained to her that Nyeto had figured it out on his own based on reports from an ODST friend. The revelation prompted both the captain and colonel to state that they refused to send the Spartans into combat henceforth. John remained silent on the matter, but by the time the conversation came back around to how the enemy had known they were coming, he was pointedly asked by Sergeant Johnson for his thoughts. He suggested that the rebels may have remained on Seoba instead of fleeing because they had been waiting for someone—and that ''someone'' must have been the Covenant. He argued that the only reason the [[BIA]] would stage a coup now was if it thought by surrendering the colony to the aliens they could save it. This could only mean that the Covenant must be inbound soon, so John suggested that they ambush the aliens with the intent of making them think the insurrectionists had set them up. Ascot agreed with John's idea with the provision that SILENT STORM still went forward. It was 0835 hours when John began to argue for his Spartans' place in the operation to Crowther but before he could get a sentence out a chorus of alarms signaled that five [[Covenant corvette]]s would reach Seoba in twenty-two minutes.<ref name="HSS13"/><ref name="HSS11"/> As everyone rushed to load all prowlers, Crowther made sure to let John finish making his point. Despite the advantage he and the others would give, however, he was adamant about not sending teenagers into battle. To make up for this, he instead directed Blue, Gold, and Green teams to guard and load the more than three hundred prisoners captured the previous day for transport. Before parting John made one request of his own: that Crowther cease from calling him ''son'', something he had been making a habit of doing.<ref name="HSS11"/>
 
===Battle of Seoba===
{{Main|Battle of Seoba}}
{{Quote|no=four|q1=What are we doing?|Joshua-029|q2=Going after the ''Starry Night''.|John-117|q3=Funny, I didn't hear Colonel Crowther authorize that.|Kurt-051|q4=He didn't need to. We're all that's left.|John-117|John takes initiative in order to keep sensitive data out of Covenant hands.}}<ref name="HSS13">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 13''</ref>
By 0847 hours, John and the other eleven Spartans were marching the prisoners onto a {{class|Banta|transport}} named the ''[[Emmeline]]'' within the quarry's Subsurface Maintenance Grotto 6M430.<ref name="HSS13"/> John, assisted by his Mjolnir's onboard computer, was able to single out General [[Harper Garvin]], a priority target for ONI interrogation, within the crowd. The ''Emmeline'' would be launching for Biko, but John told Garvin to step forward so that he could keep him back for ONI. Despite threatening to break bones, the others surrounded Garvin to protect him and a woman, [[Petora Zoyas]], came forward instead. She attempted to distract him but he wasted no time telling his Spartans to stand at the ready before seizing her tunic lapels in his gauntleted fist. With only eight minutes until the Covenant was estimated to arrive, he could not afford to waste time, so he informed her she could be executed for her interference and at that, Garvin finally relented and presented himself to John. He gave the order to resume loading the rebels. Garvin questioned how John had recognized him and in response John claimed he had once seen him lecture at [[Academy at Mare Nubium|Luna OCS]]. Artillery strikes then shook the grotto, even though seven minutes still remained till the Covenant's original estimated ETA. John could hear Ascot calling for the ''Starry Night'' to launch but she was soon cut off and Nyeto broke in to inform those listening that her prowler had been hit and downed in the quarry. Urgent to concluded his business with the prisoners, John told them that anyone not aboard in one minute would be left behind to die. And since all prowlers had already launched and only the Spartans remained to secure the ''Starry Night'', he also sent Garvin back to his people since he could no longer afford to babysit him. John led his Spartans to the grotto's airlock and told them his intentions for keeping the prowler out of Covenant hands.<ref name="HSS13"/>
 
They emerged into the quarry's exterior maintenance yard at 0859 hours as plasma bolts impacted all around.<ref name="HSS14"/> John led the teams thirty meters forward before stopping to request a [[Navigation point|waypoint]] for the crash site. Colonel Crowther broke in over the channel to ask what John was doing but agreed that the Spartans were the only option, seeing as nobody else was left groundside. John had Kurt and Joshua work with him to create a search line out of all twelve that moved forward through the sublimation fog at a trot. The waypoint which appeared on John's [[HUD]] indicated the prowler was downed somewhere between four and eight kilometers away, and at that point Covenant forces were predicted to be close enough to land troops within just two minutes. At this, John ordered his squad to advance at a full run with their eyes pointed toward the ground. Debris from the ship might be the first thing they were able to sight, after all. With one minute remaining till the Covenant was there, the estimated distance had narrowed to between five and seven kilometers. By the time that maximum distance dropped to five meters, a few more minutes had gone by. At two kilometers, John finally saw the ship. It had impacted about halfway up the quarry wall and now sat about seven hundred meters from the bottom amidst the debris from an avalanche it had created. Fred was the first to point out an inbound [[Type-25 Spirit]] which soon began spraying fire in the Spartans' direction. John then announced that their main priority had changed from rescuing the ''Starry Night'''s crew to denying any of the data it carried to the enemy. With around thirteen hundred meters between he and the prowler, John contacted Crowther again, who concurred that it could not be allowed to fall into Covenant hands. Speaking to both the colonel and Lieutenant Commander Nyeto, John only asked that they do what they could to keep alien dropships off their backs.<ref name="HSS14"/>
 
As soon as John finished speaking a stream of plasma bolts caught him at chest height, fired from an [[Type-32 Ghost|unseen vehicle]] within the fog.<ref name="HSS14"/> When he could finally see it as it swerved toward him, he fired a [[40mm grenade|grenade]] from his MA5's underslung launcher, which detonated upon impact with the [[Jiralhanae]] pilot's head. With at least four more of the rapid attack vehicles registering on his [[motion tracker]] John signaled [[Gold Team|Gold]] and [[Green Team|Green team]]s to deal with them while Blue went for the ''Starry Night''. Once within forty meters of the avalanche's base John leapt ten meters up in [[Seoba]]'s weak gravity to get a better look at the ship above the fog. It was being swarmed by Sangheili, Jiralhanae, and Kig-Yar, and two Spirits were in position overhead. John called out to Nyeto to ask where their air support was and was reassured it was on its way. At the bottom of the slope he ordered Blue Team to follow his lead in firing grenades beneath where the prowler rested. Before they even exploded, however, a plasma strike sent the mass of snow and ice tumbling further down. John tried in vain to get above it was was quickly buried under tons of snow and ice by 0909 hours.<ref name="HSS14"/><ref name="HSS15"/> His [[HUD]] showed that only six of his Spartans had escaped being immobilized like he had, so he turned over command to Fred at once and told him to stick with the plan to board and blow up the ''Starry Night''.<ref name="HSS15"/> Unable to do much else, he once again checked on the status of their air support with Crowther and Nyeto to only to be told again that it would be there soon enough. It took John over two minutes to finally dig himself out. Once he was able to reorient himself he confirmed that Fred, Linda, and [[Malcolm-059]] had made it aboard the prowler. Linda was in the midst of arming its [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon]]. John warned Fred that four Brutes, four Jackals, and four Elites were on their way inside and when he was notified that four ODSTs and Sergeant Johnson had survived, with the Sergeant suffering a concussion, he advised that grenades be taken away from him. John additionally agreed to a thirty second timer being set for the blast to give them all time to get away. When John finally pulled himself free of the snow he set off at a run while firing his M6D at the [[Sangheili]] he judged to be in charge. Holes in its chest made the alien collapse but as he fell John grabbed him by the throat and shoved him toward the second Elite. John was just able to get inside the swing from the second's energy blade, grab his wrist, and fold him onto his own sword. He was then caught off guard as he was hit from behind by a shot which ruptured his armor. His suit began to slowly lose pressure as he somersaulted, rolled, and dug into the snow to find ay semblance of cover. John's attacker was dealt with by [[Anton-044]] and Joshua, who offered to assist him with a patching kit. Noticing that a Covenent ship hanging low in the sky over the ''Starry Night'' looked as if it could lift the craft into itself at any moment, John yelled for the nuke to be set off as soon as possible. He, Joshua, and Anton bounded down the slope to but at least half a kilometer between themselves and the blast. Seoba's lack of atmosphere meant they didn't have to worry about a shockwave. As soon as all eight Spartans were accounted for in the wake of the explosion, which destroyed the Covenant vessel above it, John had Joshua then patch him up so he could go check on each one of them.<ref name="HSS15"/><ref name="HSS16">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 16''</ref> The wreckage of the Covenant ship yielded some sort of [[Kelguid|holoprojector]] which the Spartans recovered for study.<ref name="HSS16"/>
 
===Etalan===
{{Quote|no=two|q1=John? John, what the hell are you doing? Son, listen to me. Don't be a goddamn hero. Damn it, answer me, John!|Avery Johnson|q2=I'm here, Sergeant. But Sarge, with all due respect... you really need to stop treating me like a kid.|John-117|John asks Sergeant Johnson for a certain measure of respect right before risking his life via a HAVOK detonation.}}<ref name="HSS20">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 20''</ref>
At 0630 hours the next day, [[2526#March|March 20]], John and five other Spartans well enough to attend stood in their dress blues within the ''Vanishing Point'''s command hangar for a funeral service which honored the two hundred and three men and women of the UNSC who had died on Seoba in just the past couple of days.<ref name="HSS16"/> Once the company was dismissed, only the Spartans, Nyeto, Crowther, Halsey, and a handful of senior officers stayed behind. John stared down Nyeto long enough to make the man cross over to him and clap him on the arm, congratulating him for his squad's performance the day before. Now that Nyeto was in command of the task force and not Ascot, John requested that her decision to sideline the Spartans be reconsidered. Nyeto assured him they would be seeing plenty of action under his command, but at this Crowther broke in to object. He threatened the commander with a court of inquiry should he send teenagers to fight with his Black Daggers and in so doing got him to relent. Halsey took John by the arm and led he and the five other Spartans toward one of the hangar's starboard exits.<ref name="HSS16"/>
{{Expand-section}}
[[File:MCPO.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Unlike the insignia pictured here, the original insignia John received once promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer had the downturned dagger of the 21st Space Assault Battalion sitting between its chevrons and rocker.<ref name="HSS23"/>]]
===Master Chief===
{{Quote|no=five|q1=I have something for you, but first I want to make something clear. After what you did at Seoba and Etalan, you deserve these—and you deserve the full ceremony, on the bridge of the largest ship in the fleet. But... that's not what you're getting. There are going to be some very experienced Black Daggers in you're group wondering why you're in command and they aren't, so we need to act now. This will remind them it's because ''I'' said so.|Marmon Crowther|q2=Sir... That's the rank insignia of a master chief petty officer.|John-117|q3=I'm aware of that, John. I couldn't find anything without a space assault rating, but what the heck... we're all special ops.|Marmon Crowther|q4=That's a four rank jump, sir.|John-117|q5=And I'm going to catch ten kinds of hell for it from FLEETCOM. Maybe even from Admiral Cole. But he's the one who told me to do whatever's needed... and ''this'' is needed.|Marmon Crowther|Colonel Crowther presents John with the field promotion that would define his image in the years to come.}}<ref name="HSS23">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', ''Chapter 23''</ref><ref group="note">John misspoke here, as it would only be a three rank jump to go from being a petty officer first class to a master chief petty officer.</ref>
{{Expand-section}}
 
===SILENT STORM===
{{Expand-section}}
 
===Circinius IV===
{{Main|Battle of Circinius IV}}
{{Quote|Stay close to me. It's your best chance of survival.|Master Chief to cadets Orenski, Lasky, Silva, and Sullivan.}}<ref name="H4FUD"/>
[[File:ChiefFUDreveal.png|300px|thumb|right|Though at the time he thought he was rescuing the planet's last survivors in [[2526]], John returned to Circinius IV years later to evacuate civilian holdouts still present.<ref name="H4FUD"/>]]
The colony world [[Circinius IV]] came under attack by the [[Covenant]] on [[2526#April|April 26, 2526]].<ref name="4/26/2526">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/learn-what-happened-today-in-halo/9e7159ac-143a-4e71-bcfd-622db8f7c3a3/posts?page=4#post65 '''Halo Waypoint Forums''' - ''Today in Halo'']</ref> As part of the [[Operation: SILENT STORM|counterattack]] against the Covenant, John, Kelly, and Fred were deployed to the surface to evacuate residents.<ref name="H4FUD"/><ref name="HSS5"/><ref name="HOSFM104">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', ''page 104''</ref> John tracked a distress signal from what remained of [[Hastati Squad]] of the [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] and found them covering in a training room with a [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Zealot|zealot]] about to attack. John crept up behind the zealot and stabbed it in the back of its neck with a [[combat knife]], instantly killing it. He turned to the four cadets--[[April Orenski]], [[Thomas Lasky]], [[Chyler Silva]], and [[Michael Sullivan]]—and told them that they didn't have much time to get out. John radioed Kelly and informed her that he had secured four survivors and that she ought to inform command and bring her team north for Pelican extraction at Evac Alpha. As far as John was concerned, these four cadets were by then the only remaining survivors on the entire planet. He told them to armor up quickly, as they had only fifteen minutes to get to their evacuation point. Sullivan pointed out that the nearby lockers were inaccessible to them, so John simply tore the doors from their hinges. Once everyone was sufficiently armed and armored, the group proceeded cautiously down a darkened hall of the academy. John eventually signaled a stopping point, as he had heard what might be enemies ahead. He ordered the cadets to stay quiet and to remain in place while he left to deal with any nearby threats. When John did return, he asked who the best shot among them was. Silva and Orenski were both singled out, and once he confirmed Lasky could drive an [[M12 Warthog]], each of those three was given a role. Their goal was [[General]] [[Daniel Black]]'s [[M12 Warthog LRV|LRV]] parked just outside the building. When asked who he was, he simply replied that they could call him "Master Chief".<ref name="H4FUD"/>
 
John and the cadets exited into the black of night and it wasn't long before they came under fire.<ref name="H4FUD"/> [[Kig-Yar]] with [[Type-51 carbine]]s and [[Type-31 needle rifle]]s were posted on the roof above them. Sullivan was hit once with a [[Subanese crystal]] but John stepped in to let his armor take the brunt of a second which would have found its mark also. John returned fire with his [[MA5D assault rifle]] and yelled for the others to get down behind cover. He then committed to intentionally drawing the enemy's fire so that they could make it to the Warthog. John's [[M6H magnum]] soon landed consecutive headshots on the Kig-Yar. With the immediate attackers dealt with for the moment, he jumped down from the higher position he had attained and ordered everyone into the hog. They took off with Lasky driving and John manning the mounted [[M41 Vulcan]] machine gun. The Warthog carried the five of them down a forest road away from Corbulo. With only a little more than four minutes until they needed to be at the Pelican, John steered Lasky to bear right for an access directly ahead and to pick up speed. A [[Type-1 plasma grenade]] was suddenly lobbed into the road in front of the vehicle. The Warthog powered through the resulting explosion but they started taking fire from Kig-Yar among the trees armed with [[Type-33 needler]]s. John opened fire with the Vulcan and advised controlled bursts on the part of Orenski and Silva while also pointing out targets for them. He contacted Kelly once again and told her to track his position to be ready for evacuation. Without warning, the Warthog slammed into one of the Kig-Yar and this, combined with the damage it had already suffered from being hit with exploding Subanese crystals, slowed it to a halt, now unable to restart. John jumped off the back and immediately went to address Sullivan's worsening wound with [[biofoam]], telling Orenski to take over on the chaingun. The biofoam made it so Sully could walk, but it was then that Chyler revealed she had also been hit and now that the canister had been emptied, it was even more imperative that they get to the Pelican soon. John commanded the cadets to take themselves north as fast as they could until they ran into [[Blue Team|his team]]. He then took off and soon found himself facing down an imposing [[Mgalekgolo]].<ref name="H4FUD"/>
[[File:H4FUD-MasterChief-M41LAAG.jpg|300px|thumb|left|John made an enormous impression on Thomas Lasky during his rescue of he and the others. Decades later, Lasky was able to repay the favor.<ref name="H4S"/>]]
John was able to defeat the Hunter but when he found the cadets again, they had stopped moving because Silva had died.<ref name="H4FUD"/> He offered his condolences and asked for any ammunition they could provide, as he had spent all his bringing down the Mgalekgolo gestalt. None of the cadets had any rounds remaining either, but Lasky produced an [[M9 fragmentation grenade]] and offered it to the Chief. Before long, the another Mgalekgolo, the bonded gestalt of the one which had just perished, went from hunting them to shooting its [[assault cannon]] at them. The three cadets and John tore through the forest to get away but stopped once they jumped down from a ledge and took cover behind it. [[Kelly-087|Kelly]] was, at this point, insisting that John leave them, but he refused to do so. He implored her to give them more time and then ordered the Hastati remnant to go on without him while he dealt with their pursuer. Lasky responded by declaring that he would be a decoy so that the Chief could sweep in from behind. Before he could quash the idea, Lasky took off running. John let him distract the Mgalekgolo for a moment before making his move. When he rushed the hulking giant, however, it smacked him with its [[Wikipedia:Pavise|pavise]] shield and sent him flying backwards. The next time he made an attempt at the colony he used the shield to his advantage, climbing up it and vaulting over the mass of [[Lekgolo|worm]]s. He landed on its back and without a second's thought plunged the grenade into an exposed mass of [[Lekgolo]]. He flipped backward off of it just as the grenade detonated and blew the gestalt to pieces. John paused just long enough to gather up a piece of its armor before rejoining his evacuees. As daylight dawned, he let Kelly know they appeared to be in the clear and that she could have their pilot bring the [[D79-TC Pelican]] down in the clearing they had made it to. Everyone boarded and they were soon away. John gave the armor fragment he had gathered to Lasky, addressing the cadet as "soldier" and commending him for his performance. The Pelican escorted the Spartans and Corbulo cadets safely away from the planet's surface as. The glassing of Circinius IV had already begun that day, but fighting between the UNSC and the Covenant continued on the planet well into mid-July.<ref name="H4FUD"/><ref name="H4S">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref>
 
===Fighting two wars===
{{Quote|You 'Spartans' have put quite a dent in our efforts to liberate the frontier worlds. Station Jefferson in the Eridanus asteroid belt last year; our destroyer Origami; six months ago, our high-explosive manufacturing facility; followed by the incident in Micronesia, and our saboteur cell on Reach. I didn't believe it until I saw the video. All by the same four-man team. Some said 'Blue Team' was a myth.|General Howard Graves recounts the exploits of Blue Team against the URF.}}<ref name="HGOA1"/>
[[File:Spartan-II defense - 2.png|300px|thumb|One of the Mark IV variants that saw use by John during the war would later serve as a basis for modifications made to his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI.]]<ref name="H4TEVG10">''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', ''page 10''</ref>]]
During the first decade of the war, Blue Team fought on dozens of besieged worlds, buying time for orderly UNSC withdrawals and civilian evacuations and leading strikes deep into the heart of enemy forces to destroy key ships and eliminate Covenant commanders.<ref>''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', ''page 57''</ref> During these first ten years a handful of victories were secured by Spartans even after orbital superiority was lost at colonies under attack.<ref name="HOSFM82"/> Though the colony of [[Green Hills]] was one of the first to be [[glassed]] by the Covenant soon after [[Harvest]], like Harvest, the UNSC did not immediately abandon it.<ref name="H4S"/><ref name="HWG">''[[Halo Wars: Genesis]]''</ref> In [[2527]] John found himself fighting alongside [[ODST]]s on the ruined world.<ref name="H4S"/> At least around two years and ten months after the initial attack on Circinius IV, John returned to the planet as part of [[Operation: PHALANX]].<ref name="H5GLED"/> The operation's goals included both the evacuation of a civilian population that still remained on the surface and the observation of the enemy's invasion patterns.<ref name="H5GLED"/>
 
In mid-[[2530]], John and the three other members of [[Blue Team]] successfully assaulted the [[United Rebel Front]]'s [[Station Jefferson]] in the [[Eridanus system|Eridanus]] [[asteroid]] belt.<ref name="HGOA1"/> They dealt another blow to the rebels at some point between then and the last few months of the year when they boarded the URF [[destroyer]] ''[[Origami]]'' and completed a mission which removed the ship from the Front's possession. This campaign against the Front then led to John, Kelly, Fred, and Linda carrying out a mission to halt the manufacturing of of highly-powerful explosives at one of its dedicated facilities in October or November of [[2530]].<ref name="HGOA1"/> At two points between then and the advent of May in [[2531]], the four-Spartan team deployed against pockets of the URF that  existed on two of the [[UEG]]'s core worlds: [[Earth]] and [[Reach]]. On Earth, they were deployed to deal with a rebel element in [[Aranuka|Micronesia]], and on [[Reach]], they put an end to a saboteur cell.<ref name="HGOA1"/>
 
At some point following Operation: PHALANX but preceding [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]] in [[2544]], John is known to have participated in [[operation]]s [[Operation: SWITCHBACK|SWITCHBACK]] and  [[Operation: HORIZON|HORIZON]].<ref name="H5GLED"/> Details regarding the former are highly classified, but the latter involved the destruction of Covenant exploratory fleet elements near the colony of [[Cascade]].<ref name="H5GLED"/>
 
At some point during the course of the war, John, aided by Fred and the rest of [[Blue Team]], boarded a Covenant vessel called ''[[Perpetual Devotion]]''.<ref name="H5GBT"/> Once aboard, the Spartans overloaded the ship's reactor and made it off just before it exploded.<ref name="H5GBT">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]''</ref> On one occasion a large city on a colony world was under attack from a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}, which had launched hordes of [[Type-26 Banshee]]s and landed ground troops, both of which were killing civilians indiscriminately.<ref name="H4P">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Prologue]]''</ref> John and six other Spartans jumped from two [[D79-TC Pelican]]s, using their armor's integrated thrusters to land in the city and immediately begin engaging the enemy with [[MA5D assault rifle]]s. At another time, John found himself alone far outside a human city facing down a hulking [[Jiralhanae]] with a [[Type-2 gravity hammer]]. Surrounded by a crashed Pelican and the corpses of dead [[Sangheili]], and himself having been rendered weaponless, John met the Brute head-on and kicked off its chest, sending it reeling backwards.<ref name="H4P"/> John met the ODST and future [[Spartan-IV]] [[Edward Buck]] at some point during the war post-[[2528]] and the two fought together.<ref name="HNB1">''[[Halo: New Blood]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref><ref name="TIH12/5/2528">[https://twitter.com/HaloWaypoint/status/408611799164940288 Halo on Twitter]</ref> Some time prior to the Covenant's [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|attack]] on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] in [[2552]], John was awarded the [[Legion of Honor]] medallion for saving a platoon of [[marine]]s.<ref name="HTFOR25"/> The marines had been pinned down inside a bunker by a stationary energy weapon emplacement but John came to the rescue and took out twenty Covenant troops by himself.<ref name="HTFOR25"/>
 
===New Hope===
{{Main|Raid on Camp New Hope}}
{{Quote|As you surmised, this was all for your benefit. We scraped our fissile material together and made sure it was done so sloppily that even your Office of Naval Intelligence saw it happen. We anticipated the miraculous Blue Team would be sent. I am not disappointed that your leaders' minds are still so easily read.|General Graves to John-117}}<ref name="HGOA1"/>
By April of [[2531]], the NAVSPECWEP's [[Spartan-II]]s, and [[Blue Team]] in particular, had but put a significant dent in the efforts of the [[United Rebel Front]] to free the [[Outer Colonies]] from UNSC control.<ref name="HGOA1"/> A URF cell in the [[111 Tauri system]] reached out to the regional UNSC [[Central Command]] and claimed to be willing to give up three stolen [[FENRIS nuclear warhead]]s in exchange for medication and treatment by UNSC doctors being provided to some of their people whom had supposedly contracted [[Boren's Syndrome|Boren's syndrome]]. Command responded by covertly deploying Blue Team to the planet [[Victoria]] on [[2531#May|May 1]] with orders to recover the stolen warheads and target any Front leaders present. John-117, Kelly-087, Fred-104, Linda-058, and Kurt-051 infiltrated from the {{UNSCShip|Bunker Hill}} and approached the rebel base, [[Camp New Hope]], under the cover of darkness. Kurt's inclusion during the mission marked the first time an additional Spartan had been added to the team since Sam-034 had died, bringing the roster back up to five once more.<ref name="HGOA1">''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref>
 
John led his team to the perimeter of the rebel base and in quick succession, they silently eliminated perimeter guards by approaching them stealthily.<ref name="HGOA1"/> For his part, John wrenched a guard's neck upward until he heard the sound of a dislocation. Once he got confirmation from his team regarding the others, he signaled them to move forward. John, Kurt, and Kelly ran for the base's gatehouse three-hundred meters away while Linda started to pick rebels off with her [[sniper rifle]]. Kelly surprised those within by dropping [[flashbang grenade]]s from a hatch in the roof right before John breached the door by tearing the door and its frame from its steel reinforcement to the wall. By the time John brought his weapon to bear on the enemies inside, Kurt had already killed three. John dispassionately executed seven remaining men struggling to orient themselves with head-shots. He delegated the task of dealing with New Hope's security system to Kurt and Kelly, who put cameras and detectors into loops so that they wouldn't be revealed further in. She stated that they would only have a fifteen minute window in which they wouldn't have to deal with [[MAKO drone|drone]]s or dogs, given the current rotation and refueling schedule. John ordered everyone to move out, even though Kurt hesitancy and doubt about their ability to not being spotted. The Spartans skirted around one warehouse, went underneath an officers' barracks, and finally arrived at a central warehouse which John was certain held what they were seeking, thanks to a radiation counter he had been outfitted with for this operation. He had Kurt go secure a modified [[Warthog]] that was parked nearby so that they would be ready for a quick exit while the rest of the team spread out around the building. He authorized Linda to begin sniping rebels in her sight and then charged inside, followed shortly thereafter by everyone else but Kurt. Three FENRIS warheads were prominently displayed on steel racks but before John could do anything about it, he and the others were caught off guard by the sudden effects of an old [[antigravity plate]] pointed at their position. The URF commandos who had sprung this trap intended to trick the Spartans' [[Mjolnir]] into thinking it was under ten times the force of Earth's gravity. In response, the armor automatically increased its internal pressure and momentarily rendered its wearers unconscious.<ref name="HGOA1"/>
 
John awoke to find himself propped against a wall, still fully armored but now fitted with a [[neural-inhibitor collar]] and still suffering somewhat from the effects of [[Wikipedia:Uncontrolled decompression#Rapid decompression|rapid decompression]].<ref name="HGOA1"/> Rendered unable to move, he was approached by the URF's own General [[Howard Graves]], who proceeded to gloat about how easily the UNSC had taken their bait. Before anything else could happen, however, an [[Asteroidea anti-personnel mine]] came flying through the doorway, triggered and thrown by Kurt. The deadly explosion that followed was joined by three others after Kurt drove the warthog into the warehouse and tossed three more mines at Blue Team's captors. He freed his teammates, and at John's command, hopped back behind the wheel of the warthog once more and drove them out, now with the warheads. URF hostiles in the surrounding area realized what was happening and before long, the hog was taking fire from armor-piercing rounds and being pursued by three [[MAKO drone|MAKO-class attack drone]]s. To avoid being hit with a drone-fired missile, John ordered the modified vehicle's back hatch opened so he and Linda could snipe their flying pursuers out of the sky. The [[D77-TC Pelican]] that had brought them down to Victoria saved the team from the one missile that had been managed to be fired. With no time to spare, the pilot had the bird latch onto their vehicle and lift it skyward, carrying them like that all the way into orbit where the ''Bunker Hill'' was waiting to [[slipspace|slip]] out of the system as soon as they were aboard. Kurt revealed it had been the large amounts of AP rounds the rebels had which had made him uneasy while in the guard tower. John told him that from there on out if anything else ever gave him pause during an op, he should make sure to report it right away.<ref name="HGOA1"/>
 
===FALLEN WALLS===
{{Main|Battle of Jericho VII}}
{{Quote|no=three|q1=It’s a shame to leave this place. There are so few left.|[[Kelly-087]]|q2=There will be other places to fight for.|John-117|q3=Will there?|Kelly-087|Kelly and John comment on the abandonment of [[Jericho VII]].}}<ref name="HTFORP">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Prologue''</ref>
By [[2535]], John had been attached to the [[UNSC destroyer|destroyer]] {{UNSCShip|Resolute}}, commanded by [[Captain]] [[de Blanc]].<ref name="HTFORP"/> He had already witnessed the [[glassing]] of a least one world while working with de Blanc when the ship was deployed to [[Jericho VII]] in the [[Lambda Serpentis system]] for [[Battle of Jericho VII|Operation: FALLEN WALLS]].<ref name="HOSFM82">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', ''page 82''</ref> Covenant forces began [[Battle of Jericho VII|a ground invasion]] of the planet on [[2535#February|February 9, 2535]], and for three days the [[Spartan-II]]s of [[Blue Team|Blue]], [[Red Team|Red]], and [[Green Team|Green]] teams battled against them. During the fighting, John-117 commanded Blue Team, outfitted with its own [[D77-TC Pelican]] and comprised of himself, [[Kelly-087]], [[Fred-104]], [[Linda-058]], and [[James-005]]. In order to stop the ground advance, Blue Team was tasked on February 12 with drawing out the Covenant's rear guard so that [[Red Team]] could slip through its lines amidst the confusion and planet a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK tactical]] [[nuclear weapon]] at the aliens' staging area so that when the next ship landed to unload more troops, it would trigger the bomb's detonation. In the morning, Blue Team buried a spiderweb pattern of [[Lotus anti-tank mine]]s along a hill near a beach, where John and the others planned to lure Covenant troops.<ref name="HTFORP"/>
 
At 0500 hours, John's motion sensors alerted him to the presence of more than one hundred enemies near the position where the mines had been buried.<ref name="HTFORP"/> He immediately signaled all teams to halt their progression and assessed the threat by way of a [[HUD]]-linked fiber optic probe which he snaked up and over a a three meter ridge of rock. The visual showed a valley absoutely overrun with [[Unggoy]]—easily a thousand of them. This same group had been responsible very recently for the massacre of the [[105th Drop Jet Platoon]]. He passed along what he was seeing to the rest of Blue Team and instructed Kelly to use a pair of [[M41 SPNKR]]s to eliminate four stationary [[Shade|plasma cannon]]s before unloading into the rest of them. Fred-104 and James-005 were told to help him with "crowd control" and Linda was given the job of setting off the mines at the opportune time. As soon as Kelly leapt into action, John, Fred, and James opened fire with [[MA5B assault rifle]]s, shooting armor-piercing rounds at first and then shredder rounds subsequently. John took a barrage fire from a [[Type-33 needler]], but the [[Subanese crystal]] projectiles only bounced off his armor before detonating. The Chief gave the command to fall back in five seconds once Linda informed him the Covenant would have air support in the area in just two minutes. The closest Unggoy of the charging crowd was only three meters from their position along the ridge when John tossed two [[fragmentation grenade]]s and turned to run. It took he, Fred, and James thirty-two seconds to sprint half a kilometer up a sandstop slope, beneath which lay the buried mines and that ended at a cliff overlooking an ocean beach. Once they were a safe distance from the planned explosions, John gave Linda permission to detonate the Lotus mines. He, Fred, and James picked off those that still remained after the devastating blasts.<ref name="HTFORP"/>
 
Suddenly, five [[Type-26 Banshee]]s appeared over a ridge and raced toward their position at over one-hundred kilometers per hour.<ref name="HTFORP"/> After giving all teams under his command permission to fire and surviving the first pass the craft made at them, John ordered Fred and James to perform a Theta maneuver. The three Spartans regrouped afterwards at the cliff edge and rappelled down steel cables already waiting for them. Fred was told by John to cover him while he prepared to detonate another trap: ten hidden [[fougasse]]s packed with napalm and ammunition casings that would serve as shrapnel. When the five Banshees were just fifty meters away, John jumped from the cliff face and pressed the button sent them crashing into the sea. All five Spartans rendezvoused on the beach and John learned from Red Team that their part of the operation had been successful. He had Kelly patch him into [[SATCOM]] so he could report the victory to Captain de Blanc, but the captain informed him that things were going poorly in orbit and that the Spartans were being pulled out. In fifteen minutes' time, Blue Team had made its way ten kilometers down the beach and dusted off in its waiting Pelican. After docking in the ''Resolute'''s port bay, John took an elevator to the bridge, using the time it took to get there to review Red Team's after-action report. Though they had stopped the Covenant on the ground, it made little difference to the planet's ultimate fate. With the battle orbit lost, nothing else could be done. At thirty-million kilometers out from Jericho VII, John requested permission to stay on the bridge so he could observe its final glassing. Captain de Blanc granted him his wish, and for the next hour he stood completely still as he stared at the view screens. The captain then gave the order to leave the system.<ref name="HTFORP"/>
 
===WARM BLANKET===
{{Main|Operation: WARM BLANKET}}
{{Quote|no=three|q1=What happens if we run out of time?|John-117|q2=Then our only choice will be to annihilate the Covenant fleet, the package and your entire team. Is that clear enough?|Lucius Jiron|q3=I understand.|John-117|John confirms the gravity of the mission.}}<ref name="HLTP"/>
[[File:JohnWARMBLANKET.png|300px|thumb|left|OF92 booster frames were originally experimental fighters developed by the Office of Naval Intelligence principally for use by Spartan-IIs in MJOLNIR armor.<ref name="WaypointBoosterFrame">''[[Halo Waypoint]]'', ''EVA Booster Frame''</ref>]]
In [[2544]], the [[Inner Colony]], [[Miridem]], came under assault by the [[Covenant]].<ref name="HM54">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 54''</ref><ref name="HGOO20">''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', ''Chapter 20''</ref> The colony was declared lost after over two weeks of fighting. During civilian egress, [[BL-9400493|an evacuation craft]] carrying Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] was intercepted at the edge of the planetary system and disabled before it could [[slipspace|slip]] away.<ref name="HTFORA"/> The Covenant evidently realized the value of Halsey as a prisoner, for only she was spared and taken prisoner aboard the [[Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence]]'s [[flagship]], ''[[Resplendent Fervor]]''. The day after losing Miridem, [[Vice Admiral]] [[Berlin M. Tursk]] sent a message from the {{UNSCShip|Swiftsure}} to [[Lucius Jiron]], captain of the [[prowler]] ''[[PRO-49776]]'', in which he told the captain he would be receiving [[Spartan]]s shortly and that he ought to prep his [[OF92 Booster Frame|OF92 booster frame]]s for a quick and dirty extraction of the doctor.<ref name="HTFORA"/>
 
By the time [[Blue Team]] was aboard the prowler, now composed of John-117, [[Kelly-087]], [[Fred-104]], [[Arthur-079]], and [[Solomon-069]], the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence was being prevented from initiating [[slipspace]] jumps by the powerful magnetic field of the star, [[Ascon]].<ref name="H5GLED"/><ref name="HLTP">''[[Halo Legends]]'', ''[[The Package]]''</ref> Captain Jiron briefed the team before their departure and let them know they would only have a ten minute window to [[Operation: WARM BLANKET|locate the package and return it]] to the [[UNSC]]. The Spartans saluted when he was finished and proceeded to their booster frames. John stayed behind briefly to ask what would happen if they ran out of time, to which Jiron said they would have no choice but to do whatever they had to in order to annihilate the fleet before it got away with its valuable asset.<ref name="HLTP"/>
 
The five EVA frames came under fire from [[pulse laser turret]]s and [[plasma torpedo]]s almost immediately after the fleet noticed them.<ref name="HLTP"/> John gave advance warning of the incoming projectiles and lasers and had his Spartans optimize their frames for mobility. They all managed to evade the initial salvoes and even use their [[Multiple Independently Targeted Vehicle Pod|MITV pod]]s to do some damage to the hull weaponry of the {{class|CCS|battlecruiser}}s shooting at them. Solomon and Kelly broke off to investigate a seemingly positive reading Solomon was receiving from the first battlecruiser he landed a [[Unidentified UNSC scanning device|scanning device]] on. John was skeptical of their prospects of locating their target so easily, so he flew his OF92 into the cruiser's hangar just in time to warn Kelly he suspected it was a trap. The two of them made it out just as an [[antimatter charge]] was detonated, destroying the ship and killing Solomon as well. At this point, multiple similar readings were being recognized across many ships in the fleet. John concluded they were all decoys like the last and that their best bet would be to aim for the flagship. When a formation of [[Type-31 Seraph]]s bore down on the four remaining [[Spartan-II]]s, he said to ignore them and to stay on target toward the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Resplendent Fervor]]''.<ref name="HLTP"/>
 
John commanded they stick to a tight formation and begin charge their [[M92 Principle Gauss Cannon|M92 gauss cannon]]s to fire at a single point in the carrier's aft hangar bay.<ref name="HLTP"/> Unfortunately, Arthur was killed while trying to defend the others from the Seraphs and Kelly had to abandon her frame to join Fred on his. With only two left, John had them fire everything they had, both gauss cannons and MITV missiles, at the ''Fervor'''s aft hangar bay. The Spartans even ejected from their booster frames so they could be sent slamming into the bay doors as heavy projectiles. John and the others survived the resulting explosions and entered the hangar encased inside a [[Z-4190 bubble shield]]. With only three minutes left to complete [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]], John ordered a full sprint into the ship's interior. Armed with an [[MA5C assault rifle]] and dual [[M7 SMG]]s, John took down [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-Yar]], and [[Unggoy]] as they raced down corridors in search of their target. [[File:JohnKellyWB.png|thumb|right|300px|The MA5C's improvements over the [[MA5B]] included a heavier barrel with a reduced overall weight and a sturdier handguard.<ref name="bnetMA5">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BAGAssaultRifle '''Bungie.net''': ''MA5C Assault Rifle'']</ref>]]Fred used an [[M6 Spartan Laser]] to create openings in the ship's bulkheads twice for them to pass through. Suddenly, the [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Major|Major]], [[Thel 'Lodamee]], and two [[Sangheili Minor|minor]]s ambushed John and the others. Fred leapt in to assist John, killing one of the minors, and elected to stay behind to face down the other two so John and Kelly could keep running ahead. At this point, the fleet's [[Supreme Commander]], [[Luro 'Taralumee]], initiated the [[Modular Dispersal Technology|splitting]] of the ship into detached sections in an effort to halt their advance. John and Kelly, in vacuum between the dispersed portions of the carrier, locked hands and she swung him toward the foremost section. He only hesitated briefly upon landing, regretting leaving his closest companion behind.<ref name="HLTP"/>
 
John chanced upon the doctor soon after he made his way forward.<ref name="HLTP"/> She was still in [[cryostasis]] within a cryotube taken from the evac craft she'd been kidnapped from. John initiated a quick thaw and woke her, jokingly asking if she slept well. Halsey thanked John, relieved to see him. The two made their way for utility shuttles they could use to escape but were met by [[Thel 'Lodamee]], whom had evidently gotten away from Fred. John opened fire with his MA5, but the Elite's [[Type-1 energy sword]] was able to block the bullets. Surprisingly, Thel tossed John a second sword. Realizing he was being challenged to a duel, the Chief activated it and before long the two were clashing blades as Halsey looked on. At that moment the fleet became clear of Ascon's magnetic interference, however, and 'Tarulamee decided to once again break off the portion of the ship John, Halsey, and Thel were in before jumping to [[slipspace]]. Rather than leave the major behind, though, he was caught up in a [[Gravity lift|gravity field]] and pulled back to the foremost section. Now free to leave, John and Halsey boarded a [[Ren]] and blasted away from the remainder of the ship before it was scuttled. They were accosted by a group of Seraphs left behind by the fleet, but were saved thanks to the combined efforts of ''[[PRO-49776]]'' and another Seraph that had been commandeered by both Kelly and Fred.<ref name="HLTP"/>
 
Once safely back aboard the prowler, John mourned the losses of Arthur and Solomon and considered whether he could have beaten the major had their duel continued, as he had been exceptionally strong. John resolved to be stronger in the future, which Halsey agreed they would all need to be.<ref name="HLTP"/> Soon after the successful rescue of Doctor Halsey, John was ordered to redeploy to [[Miridem]] as part of [[Operation: IRON FIST]], with the dual goals of denying the Covenant access to valuable assets on the planet and the partial recovery of critical cyberinfrastructure assets alike.<ref name="H5GLED"/>
 
===Late War===
[[File:Legends-Homecoming-John117.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Before Daisy was killed, it was noted by a Marine Coprs sergeant by the name of [[Hauser]] that the planet on which they were fighting was finished.<ref name="HLH"/><ref name="HLH"/>]]
{{Quote|Everyone else might have cheered at the images of humanity's superheroes diving in and kicking some Covenant ass, but all I could think about was how useless it was to pin our hopes on a few handfuls of super-soldiers who couldn't possibly be everywhere we needed them to be.|Edward Buck recalls his reaction to watching footage of the Spartans taking back Draco III.}}<ref name="HNB2"/>
On [[2545#January|January 10, 2545]], the Covenant began a brutal assault on the colony world of [[Draco III]].<ref name="JS1/10/45">[[Jessica Shea]] on Twitter 01/10/2545 [https://twitter.com/bsangel/status/686229527857504259]</ref> Its defenses were overwhelmed in a short amount of time and the Covenant began to land forces on the surface.<ref name="HNB2">''[[Halo: New Blood]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> The majority of the [[Spartan-II]]s, including John and [[Linda-058]], were directed to reinforce the colonists.<ref name="HTFOR20"/> Before arriving, the Spartans were shown footage of a massacre on the surface which had been relayed to them via satellite linkup. John and the others could only watch as [[human]]s were herded together and then torn apart by ravenous [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]]. By the time the Spartans finally made it to Draco III, there was nobody left to rescue. Despite being too late to save the victims, John and the others made sure that they were avenged.<ref name="HTFOR20">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 20''</ref> Their retaliation resulted in the deaths of every Covenant soldier on the planet and footage of it was broadcast to the public in order to boost morale.<ref name="HNB2"/><ref name="Enc300">''[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]'', ''page 300''</ref>
 
At one point during the fighting on another human colony, he arrived too late to the scene of a battle and found fellow Spartan-II [[Daisy-023]] had been killed.<ref name="HLH"/><ref group="note">The colony on which Daisy died appears to be [[Sargasso]] in ''[[Halo: Legends]]'', ''[[Homecoming]]''. This would place her date of death in late [[2546]]. However, the name is not explicitly stated in the film and [[343 Industries]] writer [[Jeff Easterling]] has said that the location is "undefined publicly". As such, [[Halopedia]] has elected to leave it ambiguous for now.</ref> Her corpse was without a helmet, so John kneeled to close his fallen sister's eyes and clasp her hands over her chest. He also took note of [[Keepsake#Teddy Bear keychain|a loop with a tiny teddy bear]] on it that she had dropped, which he reverently placed between her fingers.<ref name="HLH">''[[Halo Legends]]'', ''[[Homecoming]]''</ref>
 
===OCEAN BREAKER===
{{Main|Operation: OCEAN BREAKER}}
{{Main|Operation: OCEAN BREAKER}}
{{Quote|We've come to take Sigma Octanus IV back from the Covenant, Corporal. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them.|John-117 plainly tells Corporal [[Harland]] what his Spartans were there to do.}}<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 201'' (2010)</ref>
{{Quote|We've come to take [[Sigma Octanus IV]] back from the Covenant, Corporal. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them.|John-117 to Corporal [[Harland]] upon the Spartans' arrival on the planet<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 19</ref>}}
[[File:The Covenant - SII.jpg|thumb|300px|Operation: OCEAN BREAKER saw a dozen Spartans split into three teams of four. As was customary, John led Blue Team; composed of himself, Kelly-087, Fred-104, and James-005.<ref name="HTFOR20"/>]]
By summer [[2552]], John-117 had received every medal awarded by the UNSC except the [[Prisoner of War Medallion]]. During the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552, John led a platoon of Spartans in Operation: OCEAN BREAKER to aid the Marine forces on the planet. John, leading Blue Team, infiltrated the city of [[Côte d'Azur]] to detonate a HAVOK nuclear warhead to clear Covenant forces from the city. However, the heavy Covenant presence outside the [[Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History]] raised his suspicion, prompting him to lead Blue Team into the museum. Inside the museum, John found out that the Covenant were scanning a piece of rock while sending the information to a Covenant ship in orbit. After dispatching two Mgalekgolo guarding the rock, he took the rock and left the museum with his Spartans. John ordered the detonation of the HAVOK warhead in the city, and, along with other Spartans, Marines, and rescued civilians, returned to the {{UNSCShip|Valiant}}, which ferried them to Reach.
Covenant ships arrived at [[Sigma Octanus IV]] on [[2552#July|July 17, 2552]] and begin landing ground forces straightaway.<ref name="HTFOR17">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 17''</ref> [[Vice Admiral]] [[Michael Stanforth]]'s [[Battle Group Leviathan|Battle Group ''Leviathan'']] redirected to defend the planet by the next day, among which were John and eleven other [[Spartan-II]]s.<ref name="HTFOR19"/><ref name="HTFOR18">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 18''</ref> At just under 1800 hours, the dozen Spartans were flown to [[Alpha Headquarters]] by Pelican in response to a call for help from [[Corporal]] [[Harland]], who had assumed command after the near-destruction of the [[firebase|base]] and the deaths of all but ten [[marine]]s stationed there. Upon exciting the craft, John met Harland and let him know that they were there to take Sigma Octanus IV back and to kill every last one of the Covenant there.<ref name="HTFOR19">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 19''</ref>
 
The Master Chief's first order of business, after surveying what remained of the headquarters, was to lock down the area.<ref name="HTFOR20"/> He directed Kelly to post a guard on the dropship, to put three others on patrol, and to have the rest of the Spartans secure the landing zone. Turning back to Corporal Harland, he informed him that as of 0900 hours, [[Naval Special Weapons]] had assumed control of the ground operation, meaning that the marines now reported to him. Harland proceeded to brief John on what had transpired so far. Once he had concluded, John told him to put his wounded in the Pelican and to have the rest split into three groups that could rotate standing guard and sleeping. He had the leaders of [[Red Team]] and [[Green Team]], [[Joshua-029]] and [[Linda-058]], respectively, meet him at the LZ, where they went over the goals of [[Operation: OCEAN BREAKER]].<ref name="H5GLED"/> Their objectives were to both gather intelligence on enemy troop disposition and defenses at [[Côte d'Azur]], the planet's largest population center, and as long as no civilians remained, they were to detonate a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK tactical]] [[nuclear weapon|nuclear mine]] within the city, which would destroy the Covenant's landing zone and kill thousands of its fighters.<ref name="H5GLED"/><ref name="HTFOR20"/> A secondary goal during the mission would be to minimize contact with Covenant forces as much as possible.<ref name="HTFOR20"/> Blue, Red, and Green teams each planned to split up and reconnoiter a different portion of the city. As Côte d'Azur was thirteen kilometers away and it was just after 1830 hours then, John estimated they should all be in place by 1930 hours at the latest. Each team would enter the city via its sewers, with downtown being Blue Team's goal. The various teams could keep in contact with one another by using the steel pipes in the sewers and ground-return transceivers. John let Joshua and Linda know that as soon as they left, the Pelican would take the marines south of their current position. Once the mission was concluded they would meet there. Should it be destroyed, an emergency [[SATCOM]] link and survival gear was stashed at an alternative location. Assured each leader understood their roles, John called Blue Team together and went over their part of the mission. Kelly was put in charge of the nuke and their medical gear, Fred took the explosives, and James took their extra COM equipment. Armed with [[silencer|silenced]] [[MA5B]]s, [[M6D]]s, [[fragmentation grenade]]s, and [[combat knife|combat knive]]s, Blue Team took off through a swath of dense jungle.<ref name="HTFOR20"/>
[[File:HFoR - Blue Team vs Hunter.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The assault cannons wielded by the Mgalekgolo on Sigma Octanus IV were noted by John as being more powerful than those he had encountered before.<ref name="HTFOR21"/>]]
They made their way carefully, stopping every hundred yards to survey the area for targets.<ref name="HTFOR20"/> When they did come upon Covenant soldiers, they were two single-file lines of [[Unggoy]] [[Unggoy Minor|minor]]s moving toward [[Alpha Headquarters]] at just one-hundred meters from the Spartans' position. John had his team spread out on a hill opposite another one that the Unggoy were approaching, save for James, who remained hidden below to take out the rear guard as soon as it passed him by. When James signaled that the moment was right, John ordered everyone to take the Grunts out silently. Armor-piercing rounds made short work of the stocky aliens and Kelly was soon policing and passing out [[Type-25 plasma pistol]]s. The only other potential opposition Blue Team encountered on their way to the city came in the form of [[Type-26 Banshee]]s overhead, which the Spartans hunkered down in the mud to avoid being spotted by. Once they emerged from the jungle and into open fields and rice paddies they each donned camouflage cloaks to mask their thermal signatures. Near the beach at the edge of the city, John and Fred bent aside bars to allow them access to the sewage outlet they had been aiming for. Blue Team sloshed through hip-deep muck in the cramped pipes until it reached its destination and John snaked a fiber optic probe through a drainage grate in order to get a clear view of the street above them. The same process was repeated under the next block and this time John spotted and filmed the activity of a [[Huragok]], a species which he at that point had no knowledge of. Further south, John and the others found themselves near the [[Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History|city's museum of natural history]], which was surrounded by more than fifty [[Kig-Yar]] and hosting a pair of [[Shade|stationary gun]]s atop its steps. Curious, he sent Kelly to scout ahead down a passage that led underneath the museum and had James us the ground-return transceivers to contact the other teams. Linda reported no survivors in the residential section explored by Green Team but Joshua let him know that Red Team had found twenty civilians hiding in a cargo ship docked at the city's wharf. Speaking to all teams, John ordered Green Team to meet up with Red Team and assist its efforts to evacuate the civilians back to the Pelican immediately. Kelly returned at that moment and shared that she had found that the only thing keeping them from the museum was a steel plate they could burn through. Assuming that the other teams would take care of getting the civilians out, John told her to arm the nuke.<ref name="HTFOR20"/>


It was around 2010 hours when John attached the device to the wall of the sewer.<ref name="HTFOR21">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 21''</ref> The mission's parameters could have allowed him to have them fall back to the Pelican then, but he was overly suspicious about what would interest the Covenant within the museum. John had Fred use [[thermite paste]] on the plate Kelly had mentioned and after making sure the coast was cleat with a fiber optic probe, John pulled himself up into a room dedicated to maintenance and storage.<ref name="HFORC">''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''</ref> He ordered Kelly to jam motion sensor signals as soon as they picked them up, but it was too late.<ref name="HTFOR21"/> The Spartans could only hurriedly hide before four Kig-Yar came to investigate. John got the drop on one, impaling the base of its head with his combat knife, and crushed the skull of another with his right foot. The other two were quietly dispatched by Blue Team's silenced MA5Bs. Each Spartan took one of the aliens' [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|point defense gauntlet]]s and crept single file up a circular staircase to the museum's main foyer. It was empty but for the flattened corpse of a Kig-Yar crushed underfoot by a [[Mgalekgolo]] gestalt.[[File:WoundedJames.png|thumb|250px|right|Thanks to the efforts of John and the rest of the team, James made made it offworld and had a brand new arm by the next month.<ref name="HFORI">''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''</ref>]] Bloody tracks led away from the body which Blue Team followed through the building's west wing and then to its geology wing. Beyond an archway leading into a large, glass-domed room, John briefly detected a powerful infrared source, which was in fact a communications laser transmitting information from a the room up through the shattered dome and into orbit. Using the fiber optic probe once more, John spied two hulking Mgalekgolo within. He and Fred entered on the right and the other took the left, but all opened fire simultaneously at John's command.<ref name="HTFOR21"/> The first blast from one of the gestalt's [[assault cannon]] burned away James' left arm from the elbow down. John managed to activate his point defense gauntlet in time to get it in front of him before he was similarly hit, but the [[incendiary gel]] burned melted the gauntlet an sent him flying through the wall into the adjacent room. Realizing they were outmatched, he called for his Spartans to switch to shredder rounds and fire a ring around the [[Lekgolo]], causing them to fall through the floor into the basement. Before they could recover, he had everyone assist him in tipping over a large [[Wikipedia:Quartz|quartz]] monolith onto the creatures, pinning them both down below. John noticed that a case the Mgalekgolo had placed [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|a certain piece of granite]] within was teetering over the edge of the new pit and yelled for Kelly to grab it as it fell, which she did. John didn't know what their interest had been in the rock, so he stowed it to deliver it to others to puzzle over. after kicking over the beacon transmitting the laser, he helped James back through the halls, retracing their steps all the way to the sewer and eventually the rice paddies at the city's edge. Fred rigged a ground-return relay with a crude antenna to the external surface of the pipe.<ref name="HTFOR21"/>
====Fall of Reach====
 
John led his team south along the coastline.<ref name="HTFOR21"/> Once James finally slipped into unconsciousness, he slung him over his shoulder. A patrol of twelve Unggoy made John signal his team to hide momentarily as they ran past. At just a kilometer from the rendezvous point, John let Linda know they were coming and triggered a [[smoke grenade]] to emit blue smoke to mark their approach. Green Team took James aboard the Pelican after Blue Team reached the clearing. John had Linda give the perimeter one last check. Corporal Harland was in awe at what the Spartans had accomplished but John simply shrugged his astonishment off, saying that it had been their mission. Once Linda announced they were clear, John piled into the bird with everyone else. As the [[dropship]] arced away from the surface, its pilot warned that about two-hundred Banshees were inbound toward them but John calmly stated that they would take care of it. With the activation of his remote radio transceiver and the keying in of a final fail-safe code, the light from the system's two suns was swallowed up in an apocalyptic nuclear blast behind them.<ref name="HTFOR21"/> The dropship docked with the {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Leviathan}}, which was soon on its way back to [[Reach]] for repairs.<ref name="HTFOR23">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 23''</ref><ref name="DD2">[[Data Drop]] [[Data Drop/Two|Two]]</ref>
 
===RED FLAG===
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Doctor Halsey, you did say ‘capture’ the Covenant leaders—not eliminate them?|John-117|q2=Correct. Our profile of Covenant society indicates that if you were to kill one of their leader caste, this war could actually escalate. Your orders are to preserve any captured Covenant leaders at all costs. You will bring them back to UNSC headquarters, where we will then use them to broker a truce, possibly even negotiate a peace treaty with the Covenant.|Catherine Halsey|John questions the wisdom of RED FLAG but is given a satisfactory explanation.}}<ref name="HTFOR26"/>
[[File:REDFLAGbriefing.png|thumb|left|200px|Halsey told the twenty-five Spartans gathered for RED FLAG that they represented all that remained of the Spartan-IIs, save for [[Gray Team|three]] who were [[Operation: SUNSPEAR|otherwise engaged]]. This was a lie on her part, as she did not yet know of [[Jorge-052]]'s [[Operation: UPPER CUT|death]] and believed him to still be fighting with [[NOBLE Team]].<ref name="DHPJA27"/>]]
The ''Leviathan'' arrived in the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] on [[2552#August|August 1, 2552]].<ref name="DD4">[[Data Drop]] [[Data Drop/Four|Four]]</ref> By this date, [[Reach]] had already come under [[Fall of Reach|attack]] by the Covenant.<ref name="HROSB">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref> When they reached the planet, all knowledge of the fighting was purposefully kept from John and the other Spartans in the hope that what ONI called [[Operation: RED FLAG]] might not be compromised.<ref name="DD5">[[Data Drop]] [[Data Drop/Five|Five]]</ref> The ''Leviathan'' was back at Reach by [[2552#August|August 12]].<ref name="DHPJA12"/> At 1100 hours that day, while [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge|fighting]] raged across the southern [[Viery Territory]], John, none the wiser, reported to [[Camp Hathcock]] in the [[Highland Mountains]].<ref name="HTFOR24"/><ref name="HRTOTS">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> Alone, he took a [[Warthog]] and passed through two gates before parking and entering the UNSC military complex he had been summoned to. An elevator took him to to the third subbasement of the building, where a [[military police]] attendant told him to wait in a debriefing lounge for the committee to call for him. Corporal Harland was already there, evidently having been called to report on the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV|battle for]] [[Sigma Octanus IV]] just as John had. The corporal stood and saluted as soon as he saw the Chief, but John told him to be at ease. Harland, still overly impressed by the Spartans' performance, chanced at asking how one went about joining such an outfit, to which John cooly replied that you don't. When the doors at the far wall opened, [[Jacob Keyes]] walked out. John only recognized him as an officer and so customarily saluted but Keyes stopped, realizing who the Chief was, and said that it was good to see him again. He reminded him that they had met long ago and before taking his leave warned John that the committee within, and the [[ONI]] brass in particular, was rather irritated about some of the ways things had played out on Sigma Octanus IV. He had ten minutes to consider what Keyes could have meant by that before they finished with Harland and it was John's turn. Twelve naval officers, ONI and otherwise, were waiting for him. A woman among them began by congratulating the Chief on the victory and then went on to say they simply wished to review some of the intelligence he had collected during the mission. John answered questions about the Huragok, how the Mgalekgolo apparently treated the [[Kig-Yar]] they deployed with, and the [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|rock he had collected]] to the best of his ability. It was eventually made clear that those present in the room were frustrated by the obliteration of [[Côte d'Azur]] and the loss of of evidence regarding Covenant activity in the city. John defended his actions, as he had been following orders from [[Naval Special Weapons]] and Section III of ONI. John endured slight disrespect from the committee's members for a brief moment longer before he was finally dismissed. Back in the lounge, he found Doctor Halsey waiting to speak to the men and women inside next. She asked how he was and he said he was glad to have won at Sigma Octanus. John asked her how Chief [[Franklin Mendez|Mendez]] was doing and she shared what little she knew.<ref name="DHPJA12">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''August 12, 2552''</ref> Before disappearing behind the doors to the committee, she asked if he would like to score [[Operation: RED FLAG|what could be the biggest victory they'd have]] and said she'd be speaking with he and the other Spartans soon.<ref name="HTFOR24">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 24''</ref>
 
It was not until [[2552#August|August 27]] that John and twenty-four other Spartans were gathered together at 0800 hours underneath the Highland Mountains [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|FLEETCOM complex]] to be briefed on [[Operation: RED FLAG]].<ref name="HTFOR26"/> There, in the same amphitheater in which they had been brought as children thirty-five years prior, Doctor Halsey explained to them the plan. The mission's goal would be to capture of one of the Covenant's [[hierarch]]s so that a ceasefire might be brokered with those that remained in power.<ref name="HTFOR26"/> Intelligence indicated that the three hierarchs spent their time either at the hegemony's mobile capital city ''[[High Charity]]'' or aboard either {{Class|CSO|supercarrier}}s or {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}}s.<ref name="DD5"/> The capture of a hierarch would require taking control of a [[Covenant]] ship and piloting it, unsuspected, back to ''High Charity''. Capturing an assault carrier or supercarrier would be preferable because with luck one of the [[San'Shyuum]] High Prophets would be aboard and a trip to ''High Charity'' would be unnecessary. In order to pull RED FLAG off, it had been determined that a colony of significant value to the Covenant and boasting many [[Forerunner|ancient alien]] artifacts, would in all likelihood need to be sacrificed in order to draw these Class-Five assets, possibly with hierarchs, in so that Spartans could infiltrate them. The best shot at taking over a large ship would come after a fleet believed it had secured a major victory.<ref name="DD5"/> Given the current situation on Reach, ONI had decided to make the most of a losing fight and enact RED FLAG there. It was for this reason that the truth of the invasion had been kept from the Spartan-IIs while final preparations were made.<ref name="DD5"/> Even as Halsey explained what they were being asked to do then, she did not tell them the Covenant was already there or that RED FLAG was always meant to involve purposefully letting their guard down.<ref name="DD5"/><ref name="HTFOR26"/><ref name="DHPJA27">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''August 27, 2552''</ref> John asked for clarification at two points during her explaination He wondered what kind of specialist personnel they would be responsible for whom could access the Covenant ship's computer systems and also questioned the decision to kidnap a hierarch as opposed to killing one. The latter inquiry was answered with the intel suggesting the Covenant would be open to a truce if it could be blackmailed into one, but Halsey held back on sufficiently sharing too much about what kind of help the Spartans would have, as she said she'd be going over further details with each Spartan in person over the next few days.<ref name="HTFOR26">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 26''</ref> Halsey finished by telling her Spartans that she had convinced [[FLEETCOM]] not to order them on this op. Should they choose to embark on this mission, they would be volunteering to do so. John rose to his feet, accepting the challenge without hesitation, and was thereafter followed by each of the others.<ref name="HTFOR26"/>
 
===Mark V===
[[File:NeuralLaceUpgrade.png|thumb|right|300px|By the time the surgery was complete, John was originally supposed to have around three hours before he and Cortana were tested.<ref name="DHPJA29">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''August 29, 2552''</ref> The challenge came far sooner, however.<ref name="HTFOR27"/>]]
{{Quote|This is the real Mjolnir. What you have been using was only a fraction of what the armor should be. This is everything I had always dreamed it could be.|Dr. Halsey reveals Mark V Mjolnir to the Master Chief.}}<ref name="HTFOR27"/>
Two days later at 0600 hours on [[2552#August|August 29]], John presented to [[Military Reservation 01478-B]].<ref name="HTFOR27">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 27''</ref> A series of MPs verified his identification before leading him to the prep and recovery area where he was told Halsey and others were waiting for him. He was met within the medical bay of the prefab structure by a [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] captain in the garb of a ship's doctor and instructed to undress, which John did so. His neck was soon being swabbed with [[Drugs|antiseptic]] and he was told to lie down by Doctor Halsey as she entered the room. He was there to have a few components of his [[neural interface]] [[Spartan neural interface|upgraded]]. The surgical procedure was completed very quickly and John was thereafter handed a paper gown and told to follow Halsey outside to a field command dome with fabric walls. Inside stood a brand-new suit of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|newest generation]] of [[Mjolnir]]. John, assisted by a pair of technicians, complied in trying it on. According to Halsey, this represented what MJOLNIR had always been meant to be. Hundreds of minor technical improvements had been made over the armor customary to the previous generation, but the most notable additions was a reliable [[energy shield]], based on the Covenant's use of such, and a weave of memory-processor super-conductor sandwiched between its reactive circuits and the inner biolayers. The latter would allow the wearer to carry and [[artificial intelligence]] that could interface between they and the suit. After acclimating somewhat to using and adjusting the shielding, Halsey informed him that several challenges were ready for him in order to test the suit's capabilities and also introduced him to [[Cortana]], the A.I. chosen to serve as the infiltration specialist for RED FLAG. Halsey produced Cortana's memory-processor core, explaining that not only would she allow the Spartans to take over a Covenant ship, but she would also allow John to personally use his armor more efficiently by way of improved reaction times. At Halsey's insistence, he kneeled down so that she could slot Cortana into the socket at the base of his helmet. Her smooth, female voice was soon speaking through his helmet speakers. After the two had greeted one another Halsey suggested that the best way to get acquainted would be through simulated combat, referring again to the challenges that had been set up nearby. Halsey warned him that [[James Ackerson|some]] in ONI still doubted the Spartans' capability to execute RED FLAG and might even prefer to see him fail the tests, if not ensure that he did. Halsey shared in his confidence. She told him that after she left the dome, he would need to count to ten and then make his way to the reservation's obstacle course. At the far end was a bell for him to ring and in order to reach it he was authorized to neutralize any threats that got in his way. She and the technicians took their leave and less than ten seconds later John heard the telltale sound of MA5B assault rifles bolts being chambered.<ref name="HTFOR27"/>
[[File:ChiefSkyhawk.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Spartan-IIs and MJOLNIR were seen as competition to Colonel Ackerson's Special Warfare projects, most notably the [[Spartan-III]]s.<ref name="HTFOR28">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 28''</ref><ref name="HGOO22">''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref>]]
With only one second left in his countdown, three [[ODST armor|armored]] [[ODST]]s entered the tent with rifles leveled.<ref name="HTFOR27"/> John leapt into action, grabbing the weapon from the first to fire at him and dislocating the man's shoulder in the process. John spun the weapon and cracked the soldier's ribs with its butt before lashing out likewise at one of the others. The second ODST's head snapped back, signaling to John that he had fractured his vertebrae and certainly given him a concussion at the very least. The last ODST managed to get some shots off, but they only ricocheted off the Chief's energy shield. A moment later John slammed the man's own rifle down into his leg, causing a jagged spike of bone to burst through his fatigues, and finished him off with a blow to the head. He moved to collect their ammunition and a [[combat knife]] while Cortana informed him of seven more outside, as indicated by his [[motion tracker]]. She openly wondered why he had taken care not to kill the three men, which he defended by stating that the threats had been neutralized regardless. In order to catch the seven outside by surprise, he pulled down the pole in the center of the tent holding it up. As it collapsed around him, he slashed a hole through the fabric and rushed out, wielding the pole as a weapon. Three men went down from a single swipe at their legs and another crumpled when John hurled it at his chest like a javelin. Before the man was hit, however, he had primed a grenade. Not willing to let the soldier die, John rushed to kick it away. The remaining marines started landing shots that drained his shield. He dealt with one by strike at his sternum with an open palm, fired rounds from the MA5B into another's knees, and concluded by simply punching the last man's helmet. Cortana let John know that he had finished off the ten adversaries in just twenty-two seconds, though he had technically began forty milliseconds earlier than he'd been permitted to. John scooped up a bandolier of [[M9 fragmentation grenade|grenade]]s and ran toward the nearby barracks in order to slip under the buildings and crawl to where the obstacle course began. Right before he was about to run across the ten acres of jagged gravel that it started with, Cortana alerted him to an infrared signal she decoded and realized was an activation signal for a [[Lotus anti-tank mine|Lotus mine]]. She suggested that if he could pinpoint just one that she may be able to estimate the locations of others based on the standard randomization procedure used by UNSC engineers. It only took the toss of one grenade to reveal where two mines had been, and from that Cortana devised a constructed a minefield in John's [[HUD]] that she was was confident was at least 93% accurate. Thanking her for saving his life, he began to carefully pick his way around where the mines were predicted to be. Once he had made it to the other side of the gravel field safely, Cortana discovered something else: scrambled radio frequencies on the [[Wikipedia:D band (waveguide)|D band]] that indicated encrypted orders from the reservation to [[Fairchild Field|Fairchild Airfield]]. While she investigated further, the Chief came to what was known as the razor field and found himself the target of emplaced [[AIE-486H machine gun|30mm chaingun]]s. He fired at the lines powering the servos for one of the guns and used it to disable those adjacent to it. Others fell prey to his grenades. John had raced right through the last bit of steel wire that gave the razor field its name when Cortana's voice returned to let him know she had accessed a satellite through SATCOM and that he had an [[AV-19 SkyHawk]] bearing down on him. Not wasting any time, he sprinted to the [[Pillars of Loki]] and began leaping across them.<ref name="HTFOR27"/>
 
When the SkyHawk did appear, it unloaded with 50mm cannons and just a few glancing shots took his shield down halfway.<ref name="HTFOR27"/> Cortana calculated that they had just eleven seconds before the pilot could make another pass so John forewent the pillars and instead sprinted through [[napalm grenade|napalm]] and [[sonic grenade]]s. Cortana advised abandoning the course and running for cover, but John was determined to keep to the parameters that had been given to him. All that remained was an open field between they and [[Ring the Bell|the bell]], but both knew John wouldn't be able to dodge a [[Scorpion missile]] were one to be fired on the next pass. with no other option, John told Cortana to calculate the inbound velocity of the missile when it came and based on his reaction time, to tell him exactly when he would need to sidestep and deflect it. Amazingly, the plan worked and John managed to knock it away so that instead of being torn apart by the explosion, it only sent him flying six meters. Now bleeding inside his helmet, he covered the last half-kilometer in seventeen seconds and tore his [[Wikipedia:Achilles tendon|Achilles tendon]] in the process. He rang the bell three times and suddenly heard Halsey's voice shouting over a COM channel for [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]] to call off his men. Speaking to John, she said to stay where he was and that a recovery team would be sent to collect him. John knelt as blood dripped from his nose and mouth and thanked Cortana for her help, still oblivious to the fact that the planet was [[Fall of Reach|burning around them]].<ref name="HTFOR27"/><ref name="HRTP">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[The Package (level)|The Package]]''</ref>
 
===The Fall of Reach===
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
{{Main|Fall of Reach}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Sir? I know this mission will be tough, but... do you ever get the feeling that this is like one of Chief Mendez’s missions? Like there’s a trick... some twist that we’ve overlooked?|Kelly-087|q2=Yes. And I’m waiting for it.|John-117|John and Kelly both agree that something seems off about their current orders.}}<ref name="HTFOR32"/>
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Sir? I know this mission will be tough, but ... do you ever get the feeling that this is like one of Chief Mendez’s missions? Like there’s a trick ... some twist that we’ve overlooked?|Kelly-087|q2=Yes. And I’m waiting for it.|John-117|John-117 and Kelly-087 preparing for the next mission<ref>''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 32</ref>}}
[[File:JohnKeyes.png|thumb|350px|right|Captain Keyes knew in advance that saving Reach would be a lost cause, but when John presented a plan for its defense, he found himself unwilling to refuse the Spartan.<ref name="HTFORA">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach#2010 Bonus Content|Adjunct]]''</ref><ref name="HTFOR34"/>]]
[[File:HINF Cortana introduced.png|thumb|250px|A memory of Dr. Halsey presenting Cortana to John.]]
John and the two dozen other Spartans boarded RED FLAG's dedicated {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}, the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, before 0400 hours on [[2552#August|August 30]].<ref name="HTFOR29"/> At Admiral Stanforth's insistence, they kept their presence from COM channels or computer networks. Once aboard, they began working on a Pelican with extra armor meant to serve as a boarding craft for the operation. The primary storage bay on C deck had been converted from to a barracks and it was there that Captain Keyes, selected to command the ''Autumn'', found them. John greeted Keyes upon his arrival on the deck and apologized for not having asked permission to board. Keyes assured him that was quite alright and made sure John knew to just ask if they needed anything. He thereafter returned to the bridge, having given the Spartans his regards.<ref name="HTFOR29">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 29''</ref>
In July of 2552, the [[Covenant]] [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]] invaded Reach, with knowledge of this engagement kept secret from John and the rest of the Spartans as to not compromise the planned [[Operation: RED FLAG]] - a mission with the objective of capturing a {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} or {{Pattern|Sh'wada|supercarrier}} with intent to use it to transport Spartans to the Covenant capitol and capture a [[Hierarchs|Hierarch]], hopefully forcing an end to the war. The ''Valiant'' arrived at Reach in August, at which point he was debriefed on the Sigma Octanus battle and recovered artifact. A few weeks later, John was summoned, along with all other available Spartans, for a briefing on RED FLAG.  
 
At 0519 hours, John and the other Spartans could feel that the ''Pillar of Autumn'' was turning back around when they had been under the impression that it would soon be jumping away from Reach.<ref name="HTFOR32">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 32''</ref> Unsure what was happening, John told Kelly to have Fred and Joshua prepare the cryo tubes and to get Linda to gather a team to secure their gear. For his part he would find out what had changed. He tried to get the attention of Cortana on the nearby intercom, but it was the captain who answered, saying there had been a change of plans and that he was on his way to brief them. John announced Keyes' arrival when it came and the Spartans all stood at attention in response. At first, Keyes wondered if he and the Chief might speak in private, but John warned him that they'd need to leave the deck to escape the Spartans' hearing. Resigning that everyone would need to know anyways, Keyes announced that the Covenant had found Reach and that more than one hundred alien vessels were inbound.<ref name="HTFOR32"/> Still unwilling to admit he already knew the planet was being written off, Keyes declared that Section Three's mission would have to be abandoned in light of the need to defend Reach. In doing so, he got John to realize that defending Reach and capturing a large Covenant carrier did not have to be mutually exclusive objectives. He told the captain that if they could get close enough and punch a hole in a ship's shields, his Spartans could board it. Keyes gave the appearance of begrudgingly agreeing, saying that he was hesitant to hand over Cortana before his ship's [[Dumb AI|"dumb" A.I.]], [[Wellsley]], had finished initializing, but that he would fly without one if the opportunity to take over a ship presented itself. Before he returned to the bridge, Keyes told the Master Chief to have his Spartans ready in twenty minutes, as that would be when they should arrive at [[Rally Point Zulu|the rally point]] ships were being redirected to. As soon as he'd gone, John told Fred and James to refit another Pelican so that it had a shaped charge made of every scrap of [[C-12]] on its nose for use as an exploding battering ram.[[File:JohnLindaGamma.png|thumb|left|300px|The ''Circumference'' had been isolated from the network on Gamma Station in order to protect information concerning [[Operation: HYPODERMIC]] from being uncovered.<ref name="HTFOR30">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 30''</ref>]] He also tasked Linda with forming a team to quickly get into the crates ONI had packed for them and to distribute [[M41 SPNKR]]s, [[thruster pack]]s, [[ammunition]], and [[grenade]]s. Privately, he told Kelly to collect three [[HAVOK]] nuclear mines and prepare them for transport. She openly questioned whether there was something they had overlooked, and John had to agree that it did seem that way.<ref name="HTFOR32"/> At 0558 hours, John received a priority Alpha transmission from the captain which updated him on the situation in space and on the ground.<ref name="HTFOR34"/> The ground-based [[Orbital defense generator|generators]] that powered Reach's [[orbital defense platform]]s were threatened by the invasion forces and on [[Gamma Station]] in orbit, the [[prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Circumference}} had unsecured navigation data that was being targeted by inbound Covenant ships. John shared this information with all the other Spartans and once he was speaking to Keyes over the view screen, He offered to protect the ''Circumference'''s NAV data with three Spartans while the rest deployed to defend the generators. Keyes resisted the idea, not least of which because he understand how RED FLAG had been outlined, and suggested that the ''Autumn'' could simply detonate a nuke near Gamma Station. John rightly pointed out, however, that the [[electromagnetic pulse]] given off by the detonation could burn out the superconductive coils of the nearby ODPs. Conversely, conventional weaponry might not eradicate the data. The only option was to board the station. Keyes, clearly conflicted, finally relented and told the Chief that he was free to enact his plan, telling him that his Spartans could launch in two separate Pelicans in five minutes' time. Kelly volunteered to lead the space op, but John said he would be spearheading that. He picked Linda and James to accompany him as part of [[Blue Team]] and made Fred the temporary leader of the rest, collectively labeled [[Red Team]].<ref name="HTFOR34">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 34''</ref>


Gamma Station was around ten thousand kilometers away when John piloted the Pelican loaded with [[C-12]] on its nose away from the ''Autumn''.<ref name="HTFOR34"/> At 6016 hours it had come within one thousand kilometers, when a [[Covenant frigate]] suddenly emerged from slipspace just a kilometer away from their position.<ref name="HTFOR34"/><ref name="HTFOR35">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 35''</ref> John yelled for Linda and James to brace themselves as he spun the dropship into a reverse burn and then killed the engines entirely in order to evade detection. Two more frigates followed the appearance of the first but with just thirty kilometers remaining before they hit the station, John had no choice but to reignite the engines to bleed off as much acceleration as possible. The bird violently slammed into the station tail-first, flatlining John's shields, crumpling the cockpit's displays, and freeing everything in the rear compartment that had been tied down. John confirmed that no one on his team was injured before giving the order to exit immediately. He snatched his [[MA5]] and [[M41 SPNKR|M41]], along with five spare clips of ammunition and a satchel filled with [[C-12]], detonators, and a Lotus mine. John searched in vain for his thruster pack in amidst the jumbled mess but ultimately had to abandon it for the sake of time. Clipping himself to the outside of the Pelican, which was now embedded in the side of Gamma Station, the Chief ordered James to police the explosives still undetonated on the prow and told Linda to scan the remaining frigates with her [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]] (one frigate was destroyed by a shot from an ODP's [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]]). Soon enough Linda announced that they had incoming. John ordered they all take cover as a dozen [[Covenant drop pod|pod]]s and numerous [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Ranger|ranger]]s shot toward the station, firing [[Type-25 plasma rifle]]s and [[Type-33 needler]]s. James did not respond in time and his thruster pack was punctured by an exploding [[Subanese crystal]], which sent him tumbling away into the void. The pod that attached itself to the skin of the station nearest to their position deposited [[Kig-Yar]] [[Kig-Yar Ranger|ranger]]s and John had to brace against the Pelican to fire at them. A fragmentation grenade finished off the pod's occupants and John directed Linda to secure it. He then proceeded to wedge two more grenades into the C-12 still on the dropship's prow. After joining Linda inside the pod, he had her fire at them just as the Pelican was swarmed by enemies. The blast that followed tore through five decks of Gamma Station and John and Linda were making their way inside in no time. Their target was on B level two decks down and three hundred meters to port.<ref name="HTFOR35"/>
Two days later, John arrived at [[Military Reservation 01478-B]] where he was outfitted with the next generation of MJOLNIR - [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V]] - as well as presented with an on-board [[artificial intelligence]], [[Cortana]]. In testing the new suit, John fought against several ODSTs before being faced with an airstrike conducted by an [[AV-19 SkyHawk]] jump-jet. Despite nearly being killed, Cortana and John's teamwork allowed them to prevail in an impossible situation, the first of many such accomplishments.
[[File:LindaDead.png|thumb|350px|right|The loss of James, the alleged death of Linda, and the abandonment of Red Team on Reach forced John to wonder if he was  suddenly the last Spartan in existence.<ref name="HTFOR37"/>]]
John paused long enough in a B level corridor to attach the Lotus mine to the deck and rig its proximity detectors so it would explode for anyone that tried to follow them.<ref name="HTFOR35"/> He and Linda pulled themselves along handrails until they reached a doorway to the docking bay which held the ''Circumference''. Using his fiber optic cable, John sighted four marines pinned down by thirty Kig-Yar and a number of [[Unggoy]].<ref name="HFORI"/><ref name="HTFOR35"/> He and Linda both jumped in to assist, but John directed Linda to focus on helping the marines while he made his way to the ship.<ref name="HFORI"/><ref name="HTFOR35"/> Just as he was about to head for the prowler, however, he noticed a slight flicker behind their position on his [[motion tracker]]. John backtracked into the hall outside the bay and was beset upon by a [[Sangheili]] minor. He slammed into the Elite just before it could it could get off a shot with a Type-25 plasma pistol. They two began an extended hand-to-hand engagement which carried them down the hall in the null gravity. John was ultimately able to prevail through locking his armor's glove articulation around the alien's wrist and turning its own weapon against it. One shot from the pistol overloaded its shields and successive strikes from John's right fist cracked open its [[vacuum suit]]. He finished off his Sangheili opponent with a shot to the head. By the time he made it back to Linda, twenty more Kig-Yar and joined the fray and more reinforcements were approaching from their rear. Captain Keyes reached out over COM then, announcing that he would bring the ''Autumn'' close enough to pick them up in just five minutes and that they had until then to secure the NAV data. Were they unable to do so, he would be forced to fire on their position.<ref name="HTFOR35"/> John opened a channel to the four marines: [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] and privates [[Wallace Jenkins]], [[O'Brien (Marine)|O'Brien]], and [[Bisenti]].<ref name="HTFOR37">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 37''</ref> He advised they tighten up their fire so that they take out one Jackal at a time, then had Linda use grenades to kill a good number. John commandeered a nearby D77-TC Pelican and lifted if from its berth to both provide cover for Linda and the marines and to begin cutting down Kig-Yar with its chain gun. Thousands of enemy contacts were heading their way, so he yelled for everyone to get in and used the Pelican's weaponry, including an [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile]], to blast through the ''Circumference'''s cockpit. Linda took the controls while he launched himself to find the NAV database core, which he promptly destroyed with his assault rifle. John took back the piloting of the Pelican upon his return, but the outer bay doors remained closed. Linda attempted to get the [[Doppler|station's A.I. quartermaster]] to open them but received no response. for this reason she took it upon herself to exit the craft so that she could trigger a manual release. As more Covenant forces poured into Docking Bay Nine, John brought the full arsenal of the Pelican to bear on them. just after the bay doors began to open, however, Linda was struck numerous times by [[plasma]] fire which burned through her shields and melted the armor covering her back, chest, and head. He yelled for the marines to grab her and pull her floating body inside and rocketed away from the station once they did so.<ref name="HTFOR37"/>


Once they were clear John asked Sergeant Johnson if he could fly the Pelican, to which the marine answered in the affirmative.<ref name="HTFOR37"/> John immediately retreated to the rear section where Linda lay and knelt by her. She managed to ask whether they had succeeded in destroying the NAV data and John confirmed they had, and just then her vital signs flatlined whilst he held her hand. Keyes let him know they were one minute from picking them up and John confirmed they were ready. He took control back from Johnson and docked the bird himself. As soon as they were back aboard the cruiser he made all haste to get Linda's body to a cryo chamber to freeze it, hoping desperately that she might be able to be revived at a later date. Medical technicians tried to get him to let them examine him, but John declined and made his way via elevator to the bridge. There, he debriefed with the captain and confirmed the mission's success. He did ask that they scan for [[FOF]] tags, hoping that James might still be alive, but nothing was found. To make things even worse, Keyes let him know that they had lost contact with [[Red Team]] below. The captain said that RED FLAG was still their mission, even if it now was an even now a longer shot than it always had been. To give it any hope, however, he believed they needed to escape the system soon.<ref name="HTFOR37"/> The captain called for the initiation of a slipspace jump at 0647 hours, but before one could be made, a transmission for the surface evidently was received.<ref name="HTFORE">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Epilogue''</ref> The ''Autumn'' was apparently expected at the [[Asźod ship breaking yards|ship-breaking yards]] in [[Asźod]], as Doctor Halsey had tasked the remaining [[Spartan-III]]s of [[NOBLE Team]] with delivering a fragment of [[Cortana]] to the ship there.<ref name="HRTP"/> Keyes permitted the brief landing of the cruiser in order to take possession of the fragment before they fled the doomed planet for good.<ref name="HTFOR37"/><ref name="HRTPOA">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref>
On the following day, the majority of the Spartan-IIs were deployed to protect the [[Orbital defense generator|generators]] which powered Reach's twenty [[orbital defense platform]]s. John, with Linda and [[James-005|James]], was sent to ''[[Gamma Station]]'' to destroy an unsecured navigation database onboard the [[Prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Circumference}}. If the Covenant obtained the database, they would discover the location of every human world, including Earth. The NAV database was destroyed, but Linda and James were ambushed by Covenant [[Sangheili]]. John fought one such Sangheili in close quarters combat, killing the alien before he could compromise the mission. The rest of John's team was not so fortunate; James was lost in space and Linda was critically wounded during the fighting. John saved four Marines on the station, including [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]]. The team returned to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} and was placed into cryo-sleep as the ship landed on and later fled Reach, and, following the [[Cole Protocol]], jumped into [[slipspace]]. With coordinates discovered by Cortana thanks to the Sigma Octanus artifact, and in the hopes of leading the Covenant away from Earth, John would soon find himself involved in the most critical battle of the war to date.


===Rude awakening===
====The Halo Conflict====
[[File:HM-JohnI04-full.jpg|250px|thumb|The Master Chief lands on Alpha Halo.]]
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
{{Main|Battle of Installation 04}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Get Cortana off this ship. Keep her safe from the enemy. If they capture her, they'll learn everything. Force deployment, weapons research... Earth.|Jacob Keyes|q2=I understand.|John-117|Captain Keyes makes the importance of John's next objective clear to him.}}<ref name="HCETPOA">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''</ref>
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=If I'm analyzing this correctly...[[Covenant|they]] believe that Halo is some kind of weapon. One with vast, unimaginable power.|Cortana|q2=Then it's true. The Covenant kept saying that "whoever controls Halo controls the fate of the Universe" ... If Halo is a weapon, and the Covenant gain control of it, they'll use it against us and wipe out the entire human race. Chief, Cortana: I have a new mission for you. |Cpt. Keyes|Cpt. Keyes prioritizing<ref name="CETaR">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', campaign level ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]''</ref>}}
[[File:CEA ChiefPoA.jpg|350px|thumb|John managed to get off the ''Autumn'' on the last lifeboat to launch from it, with Captain Keyes and others from the bridge crew having previously escaped aboard [[Kilo Tango Victor 17|another]].<ref name="HTF1"/> An small portion of Cortana was left aboard the cruiser in order to try to land it on [[Installation 04]].<ref name="HTF1"/>]]
Upon the ship's arrival at [[Halo]] [[Installation 04]], it soon became clear that the {{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}} {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} had been followed through slipspace by a dozen Covenant ships. These vessels engaged the ''Autumn'' and sent several capture parties to [[Naval boarding|board]] the ship. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes]] ordered John to be woken from cryosleep, and tasked him with ensuring the escape of [[Cortana]] while he crash-landed the ''Pillar of Autumn'' on the then-unidentified ringworld. John escaped the ship and [[Landing on Installation 04|landed]] on the structure via [[SKT-9 Bumblebee]] lifeboat.{{Ref/Level|CE|[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]}}
In keeping with the stipulations of the [[Cole Protocol]], Keyes had commanded Cortana to calculate a vector for a randomized jump that would point them away from [[Earth]] or any populated colonies.<ref name="HTFORE"/><ref name="HTCP2">''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> And though she did plot a trajectory that was in compliance with Article 2 of the protocol, she combined information gleaned from both the [[Sigma Octanus IV artifact|artifact]] on [[Sigma Octanus IV]] and navigation data from an [[Babd Catha Forerunner vessel|ancient alien vessel]] buried under Reach's [[Babd Catha Ice Shelf]] to pinpoint a specific location near the base of the Orion Arm.<ref name="HRTP"/><ref name="HTFORE"/><ref name="HTCP2"/><ref name="HWF12">''[[Halo Warfleet]]'', ''page 12''</ref><ref name="HM65">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 65''</ref> It would be weeks before they exited [[slipspace]], so John entered [[cryostasis]] along with most of the crew.<ref name="HTFORE"/> On [[2552#September|September 19]] the ''Autumn'' emerged in the [[Soell system]] before a [[Threshold|gas giant]] orbited by a peculiar [[Installation 04|ring-shaped superstructure]].<ref name="HTFP">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Prologue''</ref> Cortana had already initiated orders to begin the process of waking the Chief soon before the ship dropped back into realspace, but by the time he was fully awake, they had already come under fire from Covenant ships from the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]] that had followed and beat them to the destination.<ref name="HCETPOA"/><ref name="HTFP"/> As John slowly returned to full consciousness, he dreamed of [[John-117's mother|his mother]], who suddenly took on features of Doctor Halsey and then Cortana as well.<ref name="HTF1"/> A threatening beast approached from behind the chimeric woman in his dream and he instinctually moved to protect her, but he found he could not lift his rifle because he had once again become a six-year-old boy. The nightmare ended abruptly with the voice of Tech Chief [[Thom Shephard]] apologizing for the quick thaw from outside John's cryotube.<ref name="HTF1"/>
 
John dealt with the painful freezer burn on his skin in silence as Thom led him through various tests to ensure his armor's health monitors, targeting and optical systems, and recharging [[energy shield]]s were all functioning correctly.<ref name="HTF1"/> The captain's voice soon came over a loudspeaker and ordered those in Cryo Two to send the Chief to the bridge immediately. Covenant boarders suddenly then burst in on [[Samuel Marcus]] in the observation deck above. John could only watch as the tech officer was killed. He followed Thom out of the bay into a corridor, but an explosion tore through a nearby door and instantly killed him as well. John doubled back to vault over a pair of power conduits, placing him in a maintenance hallway, and continued on that way. He was able to force open a partially melted door and duck under another that was only partially lowered as he followed signs pointing to the bridge at the fore of the ship. He ran right into a [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Minor|minor]] after emerging from a darkened access corridor, but a fireteam of [[marine]]s took it down for him before anything else could happen. John thanked the fireteam's squad leader for the assistance and sprinted the rest of the way from there. John found Keyes at the captain's station, where he was greeted by he and Cortana. Keyes admitted that despite Cortana's best efforts, they never really had a chance against the pursuing fleet. As such, he cited the Cole Protocol yet again and ordered John to take possession of Cortana in order to get her safely off of the ''Autumn''. John agreed to take her down to the alien ringworld, and thereby hopefully keeping her out of the hands of the Covenant. Once he had slotted Cortana's [[data crystal chip]] into his [[neural interface]] Keyes gave the Spartan his own [[M6D magnum]], seeing as the Spartan hadn't yet taken the time to acquire a weapon of his own. John saluted and left the bridge to find that the fighting between the naval and marine personnel and the Covenant boarders had spread dangerously close to the command deck. He paused to appropriate [[12.7×99mm Armor-Piercing|ammunition]] from a fallen ensign after closing her eyes where she lay. John's target was a [[Class-3 Bumblebee]] lifeboat in the cruiser's lifepod bays. The first Covenant opposition John encountered after arming himself took the form of three [[Unggoy]] which he eliminated easily.<ref name="HTF1"/>
 
John soon acquired an [[MA5B assault rifle]] with close to four hundred rounds of [[M118 Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing|7.62mm]] armor-piercing ammo.<ref name="HTF1"/> After rescuing a group of marines in a galley, Cortana led him through a hatch and up one level, where he encountered [[Zuka 'Zamamee|a Sangheili]] [[Special Operations Officer]] leading a group of Unggoy.<ref name="HTF1"/><ref name="HCETPOA"/> John tore through the Elite's shields with his MA5 and turned his attention to the Unggoy, thinking sure that he had killed [[Zuka 'Zamamee|the officer]].<ref name="HTF1"/> At Cortana's direction he continued through another hatch and up a flight of metal stairs. There John encountered Private [[O'Brien (Marine)|O'Brien]], whom he had helped rescue aboard [[Gamma Station]] and who was now wounded. John fought off three Sangheili and a [[Kig-Yar]] nearby and in doing so, gave the other [[marine]]s in the area the chance to launch a hastily organized counterattack. The Chief moved on once he was satisfied the area was reasonably secure, passing through another hatch and helping a pair of marines deal with a group of Unggoy. Cortana urged him to hurry, as the lifeboats were beginning to launch. John assured her he was trying to get to the launch bays as fast as he could. He was about to launch into a sprint when he was suddenly hit in the back by a bolt of [[plasma]]. John rolled with the blow and sprang to his feet to see an Unggoy that had dropped from an overhead maintenance way. John killed the stocky alien but was then set upon by a trio of others which followed it by dropping onto his shoulders. John shook them off before one could attach a primed [[Type-1 plasma grenade]] to him. Cortana yelled for him to get aboard the last lifeboat remaining, so he took off running after dealing with each of those that had ambushed him.<ref name="HTF1"/><ref name="HCETPOA"/> Another marine charging to get aboard Bumblebee [[Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43]] fell on the deck but John scooped the man up and tossed him aboard before entering himself.<ref name="HTF1"/> John told the pilot to launch and so it immediately then blasted away from the ''Autumn'' to dive toward [[Installation 04|the ring]].<ref name="HTF1"/> A scared marine looked to the Master Chief for assurance that they would be okay and in response John offered a comforting hand on the man's shoulder.<ref name="HCETPOA"/>
 
===Halo===
{{Quote|no=four|q1=I’m showing a lot of photonic activity. The excited photons have displaced the air around the light path.|Cortana|q2=Which means?|John-117|q3=Which means that the light has become coherent. Solid. How did you know what control to push?|Cortana|q4=I didn’t. Let’s get the hell out of here.|John-117|John and Cortana react to the Spartan's intuitive ability to use technology on the ringworld.}}<ref name="HTF3"/>
[[File:HM-JohnI04-full.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Class-3 enclosed heavy lifeboats, like most of their kind, were never meant for extended atmospheric use.<ref name="HTF2"/>]]
As the massive structure drew ever closer, John queried Cortana as to what it could be.<ref name="HTF1"/> She could only tell him that based on what she could glean from the [[Covenant battle network]], the aliens referred to it as "Halo" and it held sort of religious significance for them.<ref name="HTF1"/> Two minutes and fifty-one seconds after launching from the ''Autumn'', the ring opened up as ''Lima Foxtrot Alpha 43'''s pilot guided them past its edge and over its inner surface, which all aboard could se was covered with plains, mountains, and hills.<ref name="HTF2">''[[Halo: the Flood]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Cortana suggested that John might want to take a seat and get strapped in, but he told her they'd be fine and remained standing for their descent.<ref name="HCETPOA"/> Unfortunately, due to a chance airbrake failure, the lifeboat rushed toward the ground too fast and when it slammed into the dirt John was thrown off his feet.<ref name="HTF2"/><ref name="HCEH">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|Halo]]''</ref> His helmet careened into a bulkhead, knocking him out.<ref name="HTF2"/> When he finally came to hours later, he could hear Cortana urgently trying to get his attention and warning that Covenant forces were on their way, the crash having triggered a lot of radio traffic on their end.<ref name="HTF3"/><ref name="HTF2"/> After struggling to his feet, he became more aware of his surroundings and found that he was the only survivor of the impact. John gathered as much ammunition and other supplies as he could, including a quartet of fragmentation grenades, before Cortana recommended moving into some nearby hills. He then crossed a strange, burnished metal bridge just as a [[Type-25 Spirit]] appeared. The Master Chief skirted the cliff edge on the far side of the bridge and took up a position at a crevice where a boulder touched the cliff. Two [[Type-26 Banshee]]s were also on immediate approach, and he waited until the first was within range to open fire with his MA5B. He got the first craft to pull out if its dive but the second was able to pelt him with [[Class-2 directed energy cannon|plasma fire]]. When the first returned for another pass, however, he hit it again with armor-piercing rounds and caused it to explode into flames before rushing straight into the cliff wall. His shields replenished, John jumped atop the boulder to get a better look around before the other Banshee returned. Troops deployed from the Spirit were encroaching on his position. One group of [[Unggoy]] was preoccupied with the wreckage of the Bumblebee, but another was coming from the direction of the hills he'd been told to head for. John first dealt with the seven Grunts across the chasm from him, taking them all out with twelve shots from Keyes' M6D. The other group fared no better against him and he was soon dashing forward into some slight cover offered by a copse of trees. He ran from cover to cover as he made his way uphill, soon running into three more Unggoy led by two Sangheili: a [[Sangheili Minor|minor]] and a [[Sangheili Major|major]]. He dealt with the Elites first and was then able to pick off the rest as they tried to scamper away. John continued onward through a meadow of sorts and could hear the sound of automatic weapons fire ahead, which to him signaled the presence of UNSC marines. As such, he sprinted in its direction.<ref name="HTF2"/> Cortana was soon able to confirm that a [[Fire Team Charlie|group of marines]] had similarly crash-landed nearby and at just over three hours and fourteen minutes since leaving the ''Autumn'', he found them engaging Sangheili, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy around a [[Beam emitter|large blocky structure of some kind]].<ref name="HTF3"/>
 
From a distance, he first took aim at a trio of Grunts and opened fire on a Sangheili minor before any of the enemy realized where he was.<ref name="HTF3"/> He made his way down a slope toward the fellow soldiers, only stopping to scavenge a few plasma grenades off a dead Unggoy. Private [[Bisenti]], who John had rescued on Gamma Station, was the first to meet him and when John asked him for his commanding officer the private called over Staff Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]]. The Chief requested a status report, so Johnson let him know that marines were scattered all over the valley they found themselves in. Cortana told them both that since she had gotten in touch with [[Wellsley]], a Pelican was on its way to pick them up. Before long, however, a Spirit dropship was upon them an unloading a clutch of Unggoy and a Sangheili. The combined fire of the marines and the Master Chief was more than enough to make easy work of the foolhardy Covenant attack, but soon another another dropship arrived to unload more troops. This time a trio of [[Kig-Yar]] protected by their distinctive round [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet|shields]] led the charge. John sprinted straight into the Jackals' line, tearing them up with his assault rifle before landing a primed [[Type-1 plasma grenade]] on the Sangheili leading them. He hunted down the rest of the attackers and was then greeted by a voice from his radio receiver declaring that Pelican ''[[Echo 419]]'' was inbound. Just then, three more [[Class-3 Bumblebee]]s were sighted overhead as the distance as they tore through the ring's atmosphere.<ref name="HTF3"/><ref name="HCEH"/> John was resolved to beat the covenant to where they landed, so as ''Echo 4-19'' approached Cortana asked that its pilot, [[Carol Rawley]], disengage the [[M12 Warthog LRV]] she was carrying. John made for the Warthog after it hit the ground to find that out of all the marines, one had elected to forgo the evac and instead act as a gunner for him. And so when John sped away in the vehicle toward the [[Navigation point|nav indicator]] Cortana place, he took Private First Class [[M. Fitzgerald]] with him.<ref name="HTF3"/>
[[File:HCEA ChiefGeas.png|300px|thumb|right|Unbeknownst to him at the time, John's intuitive recognition of the first [[Forerunner]] control panel he encountered was a result of a [[geas]] imposed upon humans in the distant past by the [[Librarian]].<ref name="WaypointCatalog>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=14 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''CATALOG INTERACTION'']</ref>]]
Cortana's navpoint led them to a gaping metal tunnel at the bottom of a large dry wash.<ref name="HTF3"/> Within, he maneuvered the LRV up ramps, through a series of tight turns, and eventually to the very edge of gap. He backed the hog up and warned Fitzgerald to hang on and then floored the petal so that they were able to sail across the distance to the other side. They next emerged within a huge interior space where their path again came to an end, but this time due to a massive chasm that would be impossible to jump the Warthog across. Covenant forces which had already begun exploring soon began hitting the Warthog with [[plasma]] but Fitzgerald did what he could to hold them off. With no path forward, John exited the vehicle and helped the marine return fire. Just as John was about to charge into close quarters with the enemy, however, the private fell to the ground, having been hit with a [[Subanese crystal]] fired from a [[Type-33 needler]]. John landed three shots on a charging Grunt and slammed the butt of his magnum into its partner's head. Fitzgerald had crawled to cover behind the Warthog so John rushed to pack his wounded bicep with [[biofoam]]. After confirming he was okay, he allowed Fitzgerald to take his place on the [[M41 Vulcan|LAAG]] once more. It took the two of them the better part of the next fifteen minutes to clear the rest of the cavernous room of Covenant forces. Once it seemed they had all been eradicated, he asked Cortana if she had any ideas for how they could proceed. She guessed that some kind of controls must exist to extend a across over the gap, so John let Fitzgerald know he was going to look around for anything that might make that happen. He surveyed a the immediate area in vain and was about to give up and head back to the Warthog when he chanced upon a gap in a wall on their right side. It led to a ramp that took him twenty meters up before a sharp left turn, where he walked right into a waiting Sangheili major. The Elite swung a blow at John's head, but he ducked in time to let it glance off his shields. The Chief landed a few shots on the saurian alien before dropping a grenade and ducking back around the corner to avoid being hit by the explosion that followed. Past the Sangheili's corpse, the corridor opened to a narrow ledge, ending at at a pair of small, glowing orbs which hung suspended above a roughly rectangular frame of blue matte metal. Within that frame a series of seemingly [[holographic]] displays pulsed and shifted and to John's puzzlement, he felt as if he should recognize them. Instinctively, he touched one of the symbols and was further surprised when his finger [[Hard light|met resistance]]. He was forced to admit to Cortana that he wasn't sure what he had done, but shortly thereafter, [[Hard light|harsh, white light]] formed within the gap, creating what looked like a ''bridge made of light''. Cortana was able to identify that excited photons had displaced the air around the otherworldly construction, rendering it effectively solid. John again reiterated that he hadn't know what he was doing when he had turned it on and just suggested that they get the hell out of there.<ref name="HTF3"/>
 
===Regroup at Alpha Base===
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Are you familiar with a man named [[Wikipedia:Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin]]? No, probably not, because he never went to war. Darwin was a naturalist who proposed a theory called ‘natural selection.’ Simply put, he believed that those species best equipped to survive would do so—while other, less effective organisms would eventually die out. That’s what happened to the Spartans, Chief: they died out. Or will, once you’re gone. And that’s where the ODST comes in. It was the Helljumpers who took this butte, son—not a bunch of augmented freaks dressed in fancy armor. When we push the Covenant back, which I sincerely believe we will, that victory will be the result of work by men and women like Lieutenant McKay. Human beings who are razor-sharp, metal tough, and green to the core. Do you read me?|Antonio Silva|q2=Sir, no sir.|John-117|John refuses to accept the notion that his Spartans were part of a failed experiment.}}<ref name="HTF3"/>
[[File:WarthogRescueCEA.jpg|thumb|300px|left|It took John, Cortana, and PFC Fitzgerald, aided by ''Echo 419'', less than four hours to secure sixty-three survivors for transport back to Alpha Base.<ref name="HTF3"/><ref name="HTF4">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 4''</ref>]]
Before rolling across the [[light bridge]], John first tested its integrity with his foot.<ref name="HTF3"/> Convinved it would hold, he told Fitzgerald to hang on and gunned the hog across. The tunnel on the opposite side opened up into another valley. The Chief guided the LRV to the top of a grassy rise and headed toward a gap in a cliff face to the south. He drove through s shallow river and turned through another rocky pass before finally stopping minutes later at a ledge overlooking a lifeboat and an assortment of Covenant troops. The aliens sighted them almost right away, so John steered down into the valley while Fitzgerald cut them down with the hog's [[M41 Vulcan]]. After John swung the vehicle around another of the [[Beam emitter|mysterious structure]]s, [[Cortana]] notified him of marines in hiding up on a nearby hill. A lone Sangheili in his path leveled a weapon as John sped in the direction of the survivors but the Warthog rolled right over him before he could get off a shot. The marines greeted the Chief when he arrived and their sergeant let it be known that he was glad to see them. The remaining Covenant attempted an assault on their position but Fitzgerald was able to handle it. Cortana let Rawley know they had found marines that needed to be picked up and the flight captain, going by the [[call sign]] "Foehammer", in turn said she had spotted the locations of the additional lifeboats in the area. The better part of the afternoon that followed was spent checking the interlocking valleys, locating the rest of the survivors, and dealing with any Covenant forces that tried to interfere.<ref name="HTF3"/> During this time, Cortana learned that Captain Keyes and the rest of the ''Autumn'''s surviving command crew had been captured.<ref name="HCEH"/> In total, John, Cortana, and Fitzgerald rounded up sixty-three Marine Corps and Navy personnel.<ref name="HTF3"/> When there was no one left to rescue, he climbed aboard ''Echo 419'' himself. Rawley told him they would reach [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]] in thirty minutes. John thanked her for the ride and was fast asleep thirty seconds later.<ref name="HTF3"/>
 
Alpha Base, established atop a butte covered with strange structures left behind by [[Forerunner|whomever]] had built the ring, offered few amenities.<ref name="HTF3"/> Even so, John was able to get ten full hours of uninterrupted sleep and eat components selected from two [[MRE]]s. He also took the opportunity to take a two-minute hot shower. John had just finished drying off and scrounging a fresh set of utilities when a private stuck his head into his quarters and said [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]] was asking to see him in the Command Post. John had just been about run a routine maintenance check on his armor before donning it again but the marine also warned that Silva had said he was to leave it there in the prefab memory-plastic cubicle. John submitted to the major's request but mad sure to activate the suit's security system and secure the rest of his gear before buckling a magnum around his waist and heading out. The CP had been set up within the centermost of the mesa's alien buildings. John presented himself to two [[ODST]]s standing guard at Silva's door and was waved inside. Major Silva was seated at a makeshift desk but when he met the Chief's eyes John snapped to attention and announced that he was reporting and ordered. Rather than immediately telling him "At ease", Silva instead let him linger as he was and proceeded to make sure the Chief understood his place on the chain of command. He made it clear that John was to unquestionably obey any order given by himself or [[Lieutenant]] [[Melissa McKay]], one of the ODSTs at the door who had followed him inside. As John understood the chain of command perfectly well enough, he had no problem agreeing. Silva then established that he was familiar with the Master Chief's record, but while he considered his martial prowess impressive, he nevertheless thought little of the [[Spartan-II program]] and believed it to have been a failed experiment. John listened to the ODST berate both himself and his fellow Spartans as being inhuman freaks who knew nothing but war without saying a single word in return, but when asked whether he read the major, he took a deep breath and responded in the negative. The two men stared at each other for over five seconds after that before Silva credited him for his loyalty to his fellow soldiers. Satisfied that he had gotten his point across, he finally gave John permission to be at ease and invited him to sit with he and Lieutenant McKay so he could brief them on how he planned to rescue Captain Keyes.<ref name="HTF3"/>
 
===Saving Keyes===
{{Expand-Section}}
 
===Fighting for control===
{{Expand-Section}}
 
===The Flood===
Initially, the fierce fighting on Halo was solely between UNSC and Covenant forces, but after the Covenant unwittingly released an ancient parasite, the [[Flood]], the majority of both forces became infected or destroyed. John was sent by the Installation's [[monitor]], [[343 Guilty Spark]], to retrieve the [[Index]], an activation device for the Halo ring. Seeing the danger posed by the Flood first hand, John willfully took up the role as a [[Reclaimer]].
{{Expand-Section}}


===Betrayal and sacrifice===
Believing himself to be the only surviving Spartan-II, John launched several successful guerrilla attacks against the Covenant, launching a [[Raid on the Truth and Reconciliation|Raid on the ''Truth and Reconciliation'']] to rescue the Captain and a follow-up [[Battle of the Silent Cartographer|battle for the Silent Cartographer]] and [[Assault on the Control Room (conflict)|Assault on the Control Room]]. John was later deployed to investigate the disappearance of Captain Keyes inside a [[Flood containment facility|believed weapons cache]], where he ultimately engaged - for the first time - the parasitic [[Flood]]. John was assisted by the AI [[343 Guilty Spark]], with the [[Monitor]] helping him secure the installation's [[Index]] to fire the ring and eliminate the Flood permanently. Upon returning to the control room however, the Spartan was met by [[Cortana]], who informed him that he had been deceived and that the ring would not destroy the Flood, but its food - all sentient life in the galaxy. John and Cortana ultimately set out to destroy the ringworld, destroying the ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s fusion reactor to destroy the megastructure. The two escaped the cruiser in a [[GA-TL1 Longsword]].
[[File:TwoBetrayalsAnniversary.png|250px|thumb|left|Chief, Cortana and 343 Guilty Spark in Halo's control room.]]
Upon John's return to Halo's [[Control Room (Installation 04)|Control Room]], Cortana revealed that Halo's true purpose was not only to destroy the Flood, but prevent its spread by targeting all sentient life within its blast radius. John was then forced to disrupt Halo's firing system by disabling the ring's [[phase pulse generator]]s in order to delay the Monitor's plan. John carved a path through the three-sided conflict among the Covenant, the Flood and the Forerunners' [[Sentinel]]s. Soon after, he tried to rescue Captain Keyes, but was too late. Captain Keyes had been transformed into a [[proto-Gravemind]] Flood form. After infiltrating the Covenant cruiser ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'', the Chief managed to retrieve the Captain's neural implants, which he used to activate the ''Pillar of Autumn'''s self-destruct sequence. After the sequence was aborted by 343 Guilty Spark, he proceeded to manually overload the fusion reactors, which would subsequently destroy both the ''Pillar of Autumn'' and Installation 04. After successfully destroying the fusion reactors on the ''Pillar of Autumn'', John used a [[Warthog]] to reach the extraction point where Pelican ''[[Echo 419]]'' was to recover him. John reached the extraction point, only to witness the Pelican crashing after being shot down by a pair of Banshees. Quickly making his way to the ship's [[Launch Bay 7]], John used the sole [[Longsword]] fighter stored there to escape Halo just before the ''Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engines detonated, destroying the Halo.
{{Expand-Section}}


===Dust and echoes===
====Return to Reach====
{{Quote|no=three|q1=Scan it again.|John-117|q2=Already completed. There's ''nothing'' out there. I told you: just dust and echoes.|Cortana|q3=Scan the field again. If you don't find something out there we can use, we're dead. This ship has no slipspace drive, and no cryo. There's no way to get back and report. Power, fuel, air, food, water—we only have enough for a few hours. So scan. Again|John-117|John desperately urges Cortana to keep searching for a solution to their predicament.}}<ref name="HFS5">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 5''</ref>
[[File:Fight on Ascendant Justice.png|thumb|250px|John-117 fighting aboard ''Ascendant Justice''.]]
[[File:CEA-DustEchoes.png|thumb|300px|left|John in the Longsword's cockpit.]]
At 1637 hours on [[2552#September|September 22]], John finally allowed himself a moment to just sit and think and remember all the recently deceased.<ref name="HFS5"/> He asked Cortana to scan the debris field again, but she noted that she already had and that there was nothing out there. Even so, John implored her to continue trying, seeing as they were without a [[slipspace drive]] or means of cryopreservation and only had enough power, air, water, and food for a few hours at most. When she still failed to register any transponder signals or distress calls he suggested actively scanning each object in the area but was informed doing so could take eighteen days. When Cortana did finally detect a signal, it was revealed to be coming from a {{Class|CCS|battlecruiser}} appearing from the far side of [[Threshold]]'s [[natural satellite|moon]], [[Basis]]. John immediately ordered the A.I. to power down everything besides their passive scanners and whatever minimal power she needed to keep herself and the ship functioning. Five more battlecruisers followed in the wake of the first and finally the [[flagship]] of this small fleet element came into view: a {{Class|DDS|carrier}}. John drifted from his spot in the pilot's seat to the Longsword's aft compartment to find its weapons locker empty with his own [[MA5B]] only holding thirteen rounds. He returned to the sysops seat upon a declaration from Cortana that she had found something, and that something seemed like it could be a cryopod from the ''Pillar of Autumn''. John instructed her to bring them toward it using the Longsword's maneuvering thrusters only but was told this would take twenty minutes and that the Covenant vessels were predicted to encounter it in as little as five. In order to allow them to reach it first, John put his helmet back on and resealed his armor so that Cortana could vent their atmosphere to provided added propulsion. Their ETA dropped to just two minutes and as they came closer to their target, it turned out to actually be three cryotubes affixed side by side. John dared to feed a little more power to Cortana's systems and she soon after found another new contact that strongly resembled a Pelican stuck on a chunk of rock a half-kilometer in diameter. Cortana thought it might have crashed there but John was certain, based on the position of one of its wings, that it had been intentionally parked there in a way that left it ready for takeoff. As Cortana swung their craft about to intercept the pods, John returned aft to tether himself and braced against the second explosive decompression that followed when by fitting himself within the empty weapons locker. After, he leapt from the rear to where the the three cryotubes drifted just thirty meters away. John just barely managed to hook a finger on the furthest cryopod and then secured himself to them. He hastily pulled himself and the pods back to the Longsword, but as he did so two of the enemy cruisers began to accelerate towards it and ready their weapons to fire. Before they did so, however, three missiles from the Pelican drew their attention toward it instead. John brought his cargo aboard and rushed to get seated again.<ref name="HFS5"/>
 
Against Cortana's protestations, John unloaded on the trailing ship with the fighter's guns and told her to get him a firing solution for their [[ASGM-10 missile]]s to target its [[plasma turret]]s when the [[energy shield]]ing around them dropped.<ref name="HFS5"/> He relinquished fire control to her and proceeded to send the craft accelerating deeper into the debris field after she fired the four that they carried. Cortana took over piloting the Longsword after that and John was able to perform a sweep scan of his own in order to try to find anything that could help them. He decided to finally hail the Pelican and was introduced to [[Warrant Officer]] [[Shiela Polaski]]. The Master Chief urged Polaski to meet them at a NAV point almost directly on top of [[Ascendant Justice|the flagship]] and had Cortana slow their speed so both smaller craft would arrive at the same time. The six cruisers stopped stopped firing at them out of fear of hitting the {{Class|DDS|carrier}}. Once the Longsword and Pelican were around twelve hundred kilometers away from one another John asked Polaski to hand establish a system link with them so Cortana could take over control of both vehicles to attach them to one another. At three hundred kilometers from the flagship it finally began to bring its weapons to bear on them but their extreme oblique approach angle and speed made them hard to hit. Both the Pelican and Longsword passed the carrier and began a slingshot orbit around Basis and it was at this point that they both met each other at just prior to 1710 hours.<ref name="HFS5"/><ref name="HFS6">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', ''Chapter 6''</ref> John moved aft to the access hatch connecting both ships and was shocked when the first person he pulled through was none other than [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]]. John's first reaction was to kick the hatch shut and slam the marine against the hull, drawing Johnson's own pistol and pointing the barrel at his forehead at the same time.<ref name="HFS6"/> He had been sure the staff sergeant had been consumed by the [[Flood]], given that he'd last seen him in the footage recorded by Private [[Wallace Jenkins|Jenkins]]' [[Helmet recorder|helmet cam]]. He demanded to know how it was possible for him to have escaped unscathed, to which the man simply claimed that the Flood had passed him by as if it was disinterested in him. Cortana noted that a preliminary readings from Johnson's biomonitors indicated he was free of infection, so the Chief relaxed enough to return his sidearm to him. Three other survivors from the Pelican joined them thereafter. In addition to Warrant Officer Polaski, a [[pilot]] from the [[23rd Naval Air Squadron]], there was an [[ODST]] by the name of [[Locklear]] and finally [[Elias Haverson]], a lieutenant of the Office of Naval Intelligence. John let everyone know that given their lack of slipspace-capable transport, their only option was to seize control of one of the Covenant's nearby ships after they completed their slingshot around Threshold's moon. Though the lieutenant outranked him, John felt comfortable asserting authority over him since he still intended to carry out [[Operation: RED FLAG]]. Haverson, of course, was well aware of RED FLAG and reluctantly submitted to the Spartan's tactical command. John told Locklear to grab extra weapons, ammunition, and grenades from the Pelican while he briefed them on his plan to capture the carrier.<ref name="HFS6"/>
[[File:Polaski cam.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Aboard ''Ascendant Justice''.]]
===''Ascendant Justice''===
After a joyful reunion, the surviving humans aided John in capturing the ''Ascendant Justice''.
{{Expand-Section}}
 
===Return to Reach===
{{Main|Raid on Reach}}
{{Main|Raid on Reach}}
{{Quote|He sent his team down to the surface of Reach... sent them to their deaths. What commander wouldn't go back? And what commander wouldn't hope that they were alive? No matter what the odds?|Lieutenant Haverson about John's motives<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 97''</ref>}}
{{Quote|He sent his team down to the surface of Reach... sent them to their deaths. What commander wouldn't go back? And what commander wouldn't hope that they were alive? No matter what the odds?|Lieutenant Haverson about John's motives<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 10</ref>}}
The survivors traveled to Reach to look for any Spartans who may have escaped the planet's glassing.
After the destruction of Alpha Halo, Cortana and John discovered three cryotubes floating nearby, one containing [[Linda-058]], and retrieved them. Soon after, the Covenant [[flagship]] ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' and several cruisers appeared from behind [[Threshold]], having taken cover from Halo's destruction.<ref>''Halo: The Flood'', [[Halo: The Flood#2010 bonus content|Adjunct]] - [[Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit]]</ref> A nearby Pelican dropship which had docked on an asteroid floating among Halo's debris field fired at the cruiser to distract it. After a successful escape from the Covenant battle group, John linked the two vessels and brought its passengers aboard the Longsword; these included [[Elias Haverson|Lieutenant Elias Haverson]], [[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]], [[Sheila Polaski|Warrant Officer Sheila Polaski]] and [[Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson]].<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 6</ref> After a joyful reunion, the surviving humans aided John in capturing the ''Ascendant Justice''. The survivors commandeered the ship and traveled to Reach to look for any Spartans who may have escaped the planet's glassing.


John succeeded in locating some of his fellow Spartans on Reach, along with [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] and Dr. Catherine Halsey. They returned to the super-carrier and linked it with the damaged [[UNSC frigate]] ''[[UNSC Gettysburg|Gettysburg]]''. Before traveling to Earth, they decided to head into the [[Eridanus system]] where they discovered that the [[Insurrectionist#Eridanus cell|rebel]] base, [[Eridanus Secundus]], was still intact, now led by [[Jacob Jiles|Governor Jacob Jiles]]. After receiving some repairs, they were forced to abandon the rebels in the face of a Covenant assault, and made their way toward the Covenant refit-and-repair station, ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'', where [[Truth's fleet|an enormous fleet]] was poised to invade Earth.
John succeeded in locating some of his fellow Spartans on Reach, along with [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] and Dr. Catherine Halsey. They returned to the [[Ruma-pattern light carrier|carrier]] and linked it with the damaged [[Paris-class heavy frigate|UNSC frigate]] ''[[UNSC Gettysburg|Gettysburg]]''. Before traveling to Earth, they decided to head into the [[Eridanus system]] where they discovered that the [[Insurrectionist#Eridanus cell|rebel]] base, [[Eridanus Secundus]], was still intact, now led by [[Jacob Jiles|Governor Jacob Jiles]]. After receiving some repairs, they were forced to abandon the rebels in the face of a Covenant assault, and made their way toward the Covenant refit-and-repair station, ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'', where [[Truth's fleet|an enormous fleet]] was poised to invade Earth.
{{Expand-Section}}


===FIRST STRIKE===
====Raid on ''Unyielding Hierophant''====
{{Main|Operation: FIRST STRIKE}}
{{Main|Operation: FIRST STRIKE}}
{{Quote|We're going to take this fight to the Covenant. We're going to launch a first strike.|John-117 to his team about mission ahead of them<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 271''</ref>}}
{{Quote|We're going to take this fight to the Covenant. We're going to launch a first strike.|John-117 to his team about mission ahead of them{{Ref/Reuse|HFS29}}}}
[[File:FS cover full.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Blue Team fighting aboard ''Unyielding Hierophant''.]]
[[File:FS cover full.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Blue Team fighting aboard ''Unyielding Hierophant''.]]
John and remaining Spartan-IIs Linda-058, [[Grace-093]], [[Will-043]], and [[Fred-104]], focused on finding a way to stop the Covenant from reaching [[Earth]], the location of which had been compromised. They decided to destroy the ''Unyielding Hierophant'' in order to slow the fleet's departure. The Spartan-IIs infiltrated the station, which was located in the [[Tau Ceti system]], and after spending eleven hours on board, they arrived at a temple where a copy of Cortana warned them of the nearby [[Jiralhanae]] guards. Linda took up a sniping position and the other four Spartans entered the temple. John was nearly killed by ambushing Brutes, but the team managed to slay their attackers quickly. Grace, however, was torn in half by three [[Brute Shot]] rounds. John activated the [[Fail-safe detonation system|fail-safe]] on her armor, denying her body to the Covenant.
John and remaining Spartan-IIs Linda-058, [[Grace-093]], [[William-043]], and [[Frederic-104]], focused on finding a way to stop the Covenant from reaching [[Earth]], the location of which had been compromised. They decided to destroy the ''Unyielding Hierophant'' in order to slow the fleet's departure. The Spartan-IIs infiltrated the station, which was located in the [[Tau Ceti system]], and after spending eleven hours on board, they arrived at a temple where a copy of Cortana warned them of the nearby [[Jiralhanae]] guards. Linda took up a sniping position and the other four Spartans entered the temple. John was nearly killed by ambushing Brutes, but the team managed to slay their attackers quickly. Grace, however, was torn in half by three [[Brute Shot]] rounds. John activated the [[Fail-safe detonation system|fail-safe]] on her armor, denying her body to the Covenant.


The team then sabotaged the generators in the ''Unyielding Hierophant'', and as they escaped through a side door, the fail-safe on Grace's armor activated, disintegrating a pursuing Covenant [[lance]]. John, Fred, and Will were quickly spotted by Banshees, but their pilots were killed by Linda's precision sniper fire. The Banshees were then recovered by the Spartans. John doubled back to retrieve Linda and the team escaped by destroying a glass atrium, exfiltrating via space-walk and arrived back at the ''Gettysburg''.
The team then sabotaged the generators in the ''Unyielding Hierophant'', and as they escaped through a side door, the fail-safe on Grace's armor activated, disintegrating a pursuing Covenant [[lance]]. John, Fred, and Will were quickly spotted by Banshees, but their pilots were killed by Linda's precision sniper fire. The Banshees were then recovered by the Spartans. John doubled back to retrieve Linda and the team escaped by destroying a glass atrium, exfiltrating via space-walk and arrived back at the ''Gettysburg''.


Vice Admiral Whitcomb and Lieutenant Haverson piloted the ''Ascendant Justice'' straight into the ''Unyielding Hierophant''. Whitcomb discussed the battles of the [[Battle of the Alamo|Alamo]] and [[Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] briefly with John, then prepared to fight the Covenant off while the ''Unyielding Hierophant'''s fusion reactor detonated. Each of the five hundred Covenant ships maneuvered next to the ''Ascendant Justice'', desperately to recover a Forerunner navigation crystal. The Admiral and the Lieutenant were both killed when the station's fusion reactor exploded, annihilating 486 ships of the Covenant fleet, leaving only around a dozen intact. The paltry survivors of the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s fleet would later be committed to reinforce the Prophet of Regret's botched attack against [[New Mombasa]] on Earth. John left after witnessing Whitcomb's and Haverson's sacrifice, and arrived at Earth with the last members of his team, Linda, Will, and Fred, as well as Johnson and Cortana. They also brought with them news of the Covenant's imminent invasion.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 329-336''</ref>
Vice Admiral Whitcomb and Lieutenant Haverson piloted the ''Ascendant Justice'' straight into the ''Unyielding Hierophant''. Whitcomb discussed the battles of the [[wikipedia:Battle of the Alamo|Alamo]] and [[Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] briefly with John, then prepared to fight the Covenant off while the ''Unyielding Hierophant''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s fusion reactor detonated. Each of the five hundred Covenant ships maneuvered next to the ''Ascendant Justice'', desperately to recover a Forerunner navigation crystal. The Admiral and the Lieutenant were both killed when the station's fusion reactor exploded, annihilating 486 ships of the Covenant fleet, leaving only around a dozen intact. The paltry survivors of the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s fleet would later be committed to reinforce the Prophet of Regret's botched attack against [[New Mombasa]] on Earth. John left after witnessing Whitcomb's and Haverson's sacrifice, and arrived at Earth with the last members of his team, Linda, Will, and Fred, as well as Johnson and Cortana. They also brought with them news of the Covenant's imminent invasion.{{Ref/Reuse|HFS36}}


Before she left the group to embark on her own mission, Dr. Halsey presented John with a dilemma regarding the combat data on the Flood which she had analyzed. Providing the standard data set to Lieutenant Haverson would protect Sergeant Johnson from possible experimentation by ONI. However, providing him the complete data, which contained reference to Sergeant Johnson's escape from the Flood due to his [[Boren's Syndrome]], would supposedly result in Johnson's death.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''pages 242-246'' (2003)</ref> While John initially gave the complete data to Haverson, after the lieutenant's self-sacrifice he decided to spare Johnson's life and destroyed the crystal containing the full data.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 336'' (2003)</ref>
Before she left the group to embark on her own mission, Dr. Halsey presented John with a dilemma regarding the combat data on the Flood which she had analyzed. Providing the standard data set to Lieutenant Haverson would protect Sergeant Johnson from possible experimentation by ONI. However, providing him the complete data, which contained reference to Sergeant Johnson's escape from the Flood due to his [[Boren's Syndrome]], would supposedly result in Johnson's death.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 27</ref> While John initially gave the complete data to Haverson, after the lieutenant's self-sacrifice he decided to spare Johnson's life and destroyed the crystal containing the full data.{{Ref/Reuse|HFS36}}
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}


===Battle for Earth===
====Battle for Earth====
[[File:H2A-John&marines.jpg|thumb|250px|The Master Chief on the streets of Old Mombasa.]]
{{Main|Battle for Earth}}
{{Main|Battle for Earth}}
{{Quote|no=three|q1=Sir, permission to leave the station.|John-117|q2=For what purpose, Master Chief?|Terrence Hood|q3=To give the Covenant back their bomb.|John-117|John requests leave to personally guide a Covenant [[antimatter charge]] out of ''Cairo Station'' to be used against the invaders.}}<ref name="H2CS">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[Cairo Station (level)|Cairo Station]]''</ref>
{{Quote|no=two|q1=What if you miss?|Cortana|q2=I won't.|John-117|John-117 reassuring Cortana before turning the Covenant's bomb against them<ref name="h2 cairo">''Halo 2'', campaign level [[Cairo Station]]</ref>}}
The {{UNSCShip|Gettysburg}} reached [[Earth]] by [[2552#October|October 19]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/oni-files/eleventh-hour-reports '''Eleventh Hour Reports''' - '''SUBJECT: HEIRLOOMS''']</ref> The next day, John reported to the armory of the {{Class|Moncton|orbital weapon platform}} ''[[Cairo Station]]'' near midday in order to receive a suit of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI]] [[Mjolnir]] armor.<ref name="WF31">''[[Halo Warfleet]]'', ''page 31''</ref><ref name="H2TA">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[The Armory]]''</ref> [[Unidentified master gunnery sergeant|A gunnery sergeant]] overseeing the armory noted various ways in which the Chief's [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V]] had suffered damage at [[Reach]], [[Installation 04]], and aboard the ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]''.<ref name="H2TH">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> To this, John cooly responded by stating that he ought to tell that the Covenant, seeing as those he'd killed hadn't seemed to have noticed.<ref name="H2TH"/> He then cooperated with the sergeant in order to run the armor through a series of diagnostic tests that ensured its targeting and [[energy shielding]] were working correctly.<ref name="H2TA"/> Sergeant [[Avery Johnson]] came to the armory to collect John so that the two of them could proceed to the bridge where they were to be honored for their recent actions. John had agreed to participate in the ceremony while others on [[Blue Team]] were debriefed or subjected to psychological analysis with the understanding that there wouldn't even be cameras at the event, but when he and Johnson stepped off a [[tram]] near their destination they were greeted not just by cameras but by a cheering crowd of marines as well.<ref name="H2TA">''[[Halo 2]]'', ''[[The Armory]]''</ref> At this, Johnson reminded him that he was completely hidden inside his armor, despite having told the sergeant he would be dressed more appropriately for the occasion.
Aboard ''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]'', John received a suit of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI MJOLNIR]] and attended an award ceremony with [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] and the newly promoted Sergeant Major Avery Johnson.<ref name="TheHeretic">''Halo 2'', campaign level [[The Heretic]]</ref> The ceremony was interrupted by the arrival of the Covenant [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]], initiating the [[Battle for Earth]]. Upon discovering a Covenant [[antimatter charge]] on board ''Cairo Station'', John fought his way through waves of boarding parties until he reached the bomb, allowing Cortana to access and deactivate it. Feeling he could put the device to better use than the Covenant, John launched himself and the charge towards the Covenant assault carrier ''[[Day of Jubilation]]''. A timely bombing run by Longsword interceptors opened a breach in the warship's hull, allowing John to direct the bomb into the ship's fusion core. With seconds to spare, he launched himself back into space just before the vessel detonated. The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} quickly recovered the free-falling Spartan.{{Ref/Reuse|h2 cairo}}
{{Expand-section}}


The ceremony was interrupted by the arrival of the Covenant [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]], initiating the [[Battle of Earth]]. Upon discovering a Covenant [[antimatter charge]] on board ''Cairo Station'', John fought his way through waves of Elites, Grunts, and Drones until he reached the bomb, allowing Cortana to access and deactivate it. Feeling he could put the device to better use than the Covenant, John launched himself and the charge towards a [[CAS-class assault carrier|Covenant assault carrier]]. A timely bombing run by Longsword interceptors opened a breach in the warship's hull, allowing John to direct the bomb into the ship's fusion core. With seconds to spare, he launched himself back into space just before the vessel detonated. The {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} quickly recovered the free-falling Spartan.<ref name="H2CS"/>
John was then deployed to [[New Mombasa]], [[East African Protectorate]] aboard the ''In Amber Clad'', in an attempt to board the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s flagship. Both of the strike teams' [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropships were shot down by a {{Pattern|Protos|Scarab}}. John and the surviving Marines fought their way to the other Pelican's crash site. After rendezvousing with [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] at [[Hotel Zanzibar]] in [[Old Mombasa]], the Master Chief destroyed Covenant infantry and armor along the shore of the city as he chased the Scarab.<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level [[Outskirts]]</ref> Upon arriving at the edge of Old Mombasa, John commandeered a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion tank]] from Sergeant Major Johnson, which he used to punch a hole through the city's alien occupiers.
{{Expand-section}}


===Mombasa===
After intense fighting through numerous highway tunnels and suburbs, John reached the [[New Mombasa industrial zone|industrial zone]], where Marines under the command of [[Sergeant]] [[Banks]] were pinned down by Covenant forces. With the assistance of the Marines and a large stockpile of weapons, John boarded the Scarab and destroyed it from the inside. John was then transported to ''In Amber Clad'' to intercept the Prophet of Regret's flagship. When the flagship started to enter slipspace, Keyes was granted permission to follow it. John, and all on board ''In Amber Clad'', were transported to [[Installation 05]].<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level [[Metropolis]]</ref>
[[File:H2A-John&marines.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Master Chief on the streets of Old Mombasa.]]
John was then deployed to [[New Mombasa]], [[East African Protectorate]] aboard the ''In Amber Clad'', in an attempt to board the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s flagship. Both of the strike teams' [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] dropships were shot down by a [[Type-47A Scarab]]. John and the surviving Marines fought their way to the other Pelican's crash site. After rendezvousing with [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Stacker]] at [[Hotel Zanzibar]] in [[Old Mombasa]], the Master Chief destroyed Covenant infantry and armor along the shore of the city as he chased the Scarab.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Outskirts]]''</ref> Upon arriving at the edge of Old Mombasa John commandeered a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion Tank]] from Sergeant Major Johnson, which he used to punch a hole through the city's alien occupiers.


After intense fighting through numerous highway tunnels and suburbs, John reached the [[New Mombasa industrial zone|industrial zone]], where Marines under the command of [[Sergeant]] [[Banks]] were pinned down by Covenant forces. With the assistance of the Marines and a large stockpile of weapons, John boarded the massive Scarab and destroyed it from the inside. John was then transported to ''In Amber Clad'' to intercept the Prophet of Regret's flagship. When the flagship started to enter slipspace, Lieutenant Commander Keyes was granted permission to follow it. John, and all on board ''In Amber Clad'', were transported to [[Installation 05]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Metropolis]]''</ref>
====Installation 05====
 
[[File:H2A - Prophet of Regret hologram.jpg|thumb|250px|The Master Chief hunting the Prophet of Regret.]]
===Installation 05===
[[File:H2A - Prophet of Regret hologram.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Master Chief hunting the Prophet of Regret.]]
{{Main|Battle of Installation 05}}
{{Main|Battle of Installation 05}}
{{Quote|This is not your grave...But you are welcome in it.|The Gravemind to John-117 after capturing the latter<ref name="H2 regret">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Regret (level)|Regret]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|This is not your grave...But you are welcome in it.|The Gravemind to John-117 after capturing the latter<ref name="H2 regret">''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]]</ref>}}
Forced to act quickly at [[Installation 05]], John was deployed groundside in an [[SOEIV]] along with several [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]. Cortana told John of the Prophet of Regret's intent to fire Halo and complete their [[Covenant religion|religion's]] Great Journey. Recognizing the extreme nature of the threat, John was tasked with locating and assassinating Regret.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]''</ref> He tracked the Prophet to a vast temple in the middle of a lake, but not before witnessing hundreds of Covenant vessels coming out of Slipspace, followed by ''[[High Charity]]'', the Covenant's holy city. Quickly disposing of a force of Sangheili Honor Guards, John assassinated the Prophet and escaped the temple before it was destroyed by a nearby carrier. John jumped off the edge of the structure and into the lake below.<ref name="H2 regret"/>
Forced to act quickly at [[Installation 05]], John was deployed groundside in an [[SOEIV]] along with several [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]. Cortana told John of the Prophet of Regret's intent to fire Halo and complete their [[Covenant religion|religion's]] Great Journey. Recognizing the extreme nature of the threat, John was tasked with locating and assassinating Regret.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[Delta Halo]]</ref> He tracked the Prophet to a vast temple in the middle of a lake, but not before witnessing hundreds of Covenant vessels coming out of Slipspace, followed by ''[[High Charity]]'', the Covenant's holy city. Quickly disposing of a force of Sangheili Honor Guards, John assassinated the Prophet and escaped the temple before it was destroyed by a nearby carrier. John jumped off the edge of the structure and into the lake below.{{Ref/Reuse|H2 regret}}


Losing consciousness from the impact, John was captured by the Flood's central intelligence, the [[Gravemind]]. Shortly after, [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] was also captured. The Gravemind appealed to John's common interest in preventing the firing of the Halo array. Reluctantly, John agreed. The Gravemind then tasked both captives with locating the Index, sending them to the two most likely locations where it could be found. John was sent to ''High Charity'', interrupting a sermon by the [[Prophet of Truth]]. The [[Changing of the Guard|conflict]] between the [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] came as a direct result of John's assassination of a High Prophet, leading the Covenant to [[Great Schism|civil war]].<ref name="gravem">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>
Losing consciousness from the impact, John was captured by the Flood's central intelligence, the [[Gravemind]]. Shortly after, [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter]] was also captured. The Gravemind appealed to John's common interest in preventing the firing of the Halo array. Reluctantly, John agreed. The Gravemind then tasked both captives with locating the Index, sending them to the two most likely locations where it could be found. John was sent to ''High Charity'', interrupting a sermon by the [[Prophet of Truth]]. The [[Changing of the Guard|conflict]] between the [[Sangheili]] and [[Jiralhanae]] came as a direct result of John's assassination of [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]], leading the Covenant to [[Great Schism|civil war]].<ref name="H2G">''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]</ref>


[[File:H2A-JohnWithGravemind.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Master Chief captured by the Gravemind.]]
[[File:H2A-JohnWithGravemind.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Master Chief captured by the Gravemind.]]
John wasted little time in devastating the ranks of the Prophet's guardians, chasing the surviving [[Hierarchs]] through ''High Charity''. John nearly cornered the San'Shyuum and their Brute escorts, but was too late to prevent Truth's escape. A dying [[Prophet of Mercy]], infected through the throat by a [[Pod infector]], snarled that Truth had ordered his Dreadnought to Earth where he would complete the destruction of the human race. John then tore the Pod infector from Mercy and crushed it with his armored hand. While this act killed Mercy, he was shortly thereafter resurrected as a Flood-controlled puppet. John faced another crucial dilemma: the Covenant had the [[Activation Index|Index]] and could activate Halo; however, Earth's [[Home Fleet]] stood little chance of withstanding Truth's remaining forces.<ref name="highc">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref>
John wasted little time in devastating the ranks of the Prophet's guardians, chasing the surviving [[Hierarchs]] through ''High Charity''. John nearly cornered the San'Shyuum and their Brute escorts, but was too late to prevent Truth's escape. A dying [[Prophet of Mercy]], infected through the throat by a [[Pod infector]], snarled that Truth had ordered his Dreadnought to Earth where he would complete the destruction of the human race. John then tore the Pod infector from Mercy and crushed it.  
Ultimately, John was forced to leave Cortana behind. In the event of Halo's activation, she would detonate ''In Amber Clad''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s reactors directly and perish with the city. John boarded the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'', but not before promising to return for Cortana after he stopped the Covenant.<ref name="highc">''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]</ref>
{{clear}}


Ultimately, John was forced to leave Cortana behind. In the event of Halo's activation, she would detonate ''In Amber Clad'''s reactors directly and perish with the city. John boarded the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]], but not before promising to return for Cortana after he stopped the Covenant.<ref name="highc"/>
====Hunt for Truth====
{{Clear}}
[[File:S117returnstoEarth2552.jpg|250px|thumb|John-117 and the Forerunner Dreadnought return to Earth, with John using a piece of the Dreadnought as a shield.]]
 
===Hunt for Truth===
{{Main|Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought}}
{{Main|Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought}}
[[File:HU-John-04.jpg|200px|thumb|John pinned down by a Brute Chieftain.]]
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing on [[Forerunner Dreadnought|that ship]]?|Lord Hood|q2=Sir, finishing this fight.|John-117|A brief conversation between the Chief and Lord Hood after his arrival aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought<ref name="journey">''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[The Great Journey]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing on [[Forerunner Dreadnought|that ship]]?|Lord Hood|q2=Sir, finishing this fight.|John-117|A brief conversation between the Chief and Lord Hood after his arrival aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought<ref name="journey">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref>}}
Onboard the ''Anodyne Spirit'' near [[Jupiter]], John was contacted by [[Io Station]], but maintained radio silence. Rampaging through the ship, he attempted to find the Prophet of Truth and assassinate him. John found himself faced by an extremely large force of Covenant troops including at least three Hunter pairs, who fired on him simultaneously. He was hit by several [[assault cannon]] beams, and was confronted by a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|Brute Chieftain]] who began to interrogate him about the "[[Key of Osanalan]]".<ref>''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 1]]''</ref> However, the Spartan stuck the Brute with a plasma grenade and escaped. The Chief continued his push through the ship, eventually arriving in Truth's chambers and setting his sights on the Prophet. With Truth in his sights,<ref>''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 2]]''</ref> he was caught by surprise by a Jackal and shot in the back. He fell and landed right in front of the Prophet's Brute guards. While the Chief managed to get several shots at Truth, the Prophet was shielded by his [[gravity throne]] and made his escape, while the Chief was left to fight off dozens of Covenant.<ref>''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 3]]''</ref> John, having failed in his attempt to take control of the Forerunner Dreadnought's trajectory, fought his way out of the Forerunner ship's airlock in a commandeered [[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]]. On the surface of the Dreadnought, he was ordered to find a way to return to Earth quickly,<ref>''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 4]]''</ref> ultimately ripping off a [[door]] and using it as a heat-shield with which to jump down onto the planet below.


Onboard the Forerunner Dreadnought, when it passed near [[Jupiter]], John was contacted by [[Io Station]], but maintained radio silence. Rampaging through the ship, he attempted to find the Prophet of Truth and assassinate him. John found himself faced by an extremely large force of Covenant troops, including at least three Hunter pairs, who fired on him simultaneously. He was hit by several [[assault cannon]] beams, and was confronted by a [[Jiralhanae War Chieftain|Brute Chieftain]] who began to interrogate him about the "[[Key of Osanalan]]".<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 1]]'''</ref> However, the Spartan stuck the Brute with a [[type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|plasma grenade]] and escaped. The Chief continued his push through the ship, eventually arriving in Truth's chambers and setting his sights on the Prophet. With Truth in his sights,<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 2]]'''</ref> he was caught by surprise by a [[Kig-yar|Jackal]] and shot in the back. He fell and landed right in front of the Prophet's Brute guards. While the Chief managed to get several shots at Truth, the Prophet was shielded by his [[gravity throne]] and made his escape, while the Chief was left to fight off dozens of Covenant.<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 3]]'''</ref> John, having failed in his attempt to take control of the Forerunner Dreadnought's trajectory, fought his way out of the Forerunner ship's airlock in a commandeered [[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]]. On the surface of the Dreadnought, he was ordered to find a way to return to Earth quickly.<ref>'''[[Halo: Uprising Issue 4]]'''</ref>
====Return to Earth====
{{Clear}}
{{Quote|Crazy fool! Why do you always jump? One of these days, you're gonna land on somethin' as stubborn as you are! And I don't do bits and pieces!|Sergeant Johnson about John's escape methods{{Ref/Reuse|arrival}}}}
[[File:Crow's Nest - Reunion.png|thumb|250px|left|The Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam and Avery Johnson meet up with Commander Keyes at Crow's Nest.]]
John's descent through Earth's atmosphere was traced by UNSC forces participating in the [[Battle of Sector Six]],<ref>''[[Halo: Landfall]]''</ref> at which point a strike team led by Johnson and Thel 'Vadam made their way into the jungles of [[Kenya]] to recover the Spartan. Johnson believed the Chief to be dead, and requested heavy lifting gear in order to recover the Spartan's body. However, John awoke to battle-ready condition only moments later, showing his incredible tolerance to pain and shock. He attempted to attack the Arbiter, believing that the Elites were still a human enemy. Johnson informed him that the two races were now allies, as the disillusioned Arbiter and the Sangheili had [[Covenant separatists|been expelled from the Covenant]].<ref name="arrival">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Arrival]]</ref>


===Return to Earth===
John and the Marines [[Raid on Kilimanjaro|traveled through the jungle]], searching for evacuation to a nearby military base. Johnson and his team split up from John and the Arbiter. The sergeant and his squad were captured by loyalist Covenant Brutes, although they were soon rescued by John and 'Vadam. After taking heavy fire from [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]], a Pelican dropship evacuated the team to a UNSC base known as [[Crow's Nest (location)|Crow's Nest]].<ref>''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Sierra 117]]</ref>
[[File:S117returnstoEarth2552.jpg|250px|thumb|right|John-117 and the Forerunner Dreadnought return to Earth, with John using a piece of the Dreadnought as a shield.]]
{{Quote|Crazy fool! Why do you always jump? One of these days, you're gonna land on somethin' as stubborn as you are! And I don't do bits and pieces!|Sergeant Johnson about John's escape methods<ref name="arrival"/>}}


John exited the Dreadnought and crash-landed on Earth, where he was found by Sergeant Johnson, the Arbiter, and the rest of their Marine squad. Johnson believed the Chief to be dead, and requested heavy lifting gear in order to recover the Spartan's body. However, John awoke to battle-ready condition only moments later, showing his incredible tolerance to pain and shock. He attempted to attack the Arbiter, believing that the Elites were still a human enemy. Johnson informed him that the two races were now allies, as the disillusioned Arbiter and the Sangheili had [[Swords of Sanghelios|been expelled from the Covenant]].<ref name="arrival"/>
The hidden facility soon came under attack, with John, Thel and the remaining Marine forces ordered to defend the base during its evacuation. The Master Chief fought his way through dozens of Jiralhanae warriors, escaping the explosion of a planted [[Improvised UNSC bomb|self-destruct bomb]] in an [[elevator]].<ref>''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Crow's Nest]]</ref> He met up with several Marine survivors underground, and they escaped the base and headed for the city of [[Voi]] along [[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]], [[Battle of Tsavo Highway|crushing Covenant resistance]] on their way.<ref>''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Tsavo Highway]]</ref>
 
John and the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] [[Raid on Kilimanjaro|traveled through the jungle]], searching for evacuation to a nearby military base. Johnson and his team split up from John and the Arbiter. The sergeant and his squad were captured by Prophet-loyalist Covenant Brutes, although they were  soon rescued by John and 'Vadam. After taking heavy fire from [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Phantoms]], a Pelican dropship evacuated the team to a UNSC base known as [[Crow's Nest]].<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Sierra 117]]''</ref>
 
[[File:Crow's Nest - Reunion.png|thumb|250px|left|The Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam and Avery Johnson meet up with Commander Keyes at Crow's Nest.]]
The hidden facility soon came under attack, but not before [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]] told John his plan to counterattack the Covenant forces above and surrounding the excavated Forerunner artifact near Voi. Lieutenant Commander Keyes decided to evacuate all troops before Truth could launch his assault. John, Thel and the remaining UNSC Marines defended the base during its evacuation, planting a [[Unidentified UNSC bomb|massive bomb]] to destroy the base along with the invading Covenant forces. The Master Chief fought his way through dozens of Jiralhanae warriors, escaping the explosion in an [[elevator]].<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref> He met up with several Marine survivors underground, and they escaped the base and headed for the city of [[Voi]] along [[Tsavo Highway]], [[Battle of Tsavo Highway|crushing Covenant resistance]] on their way.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]''</ref>
 
At the [[Battle of Voi]], John dashed towards what was believed to be [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. Instead, the [[The Portal|artifact opened a slipspace portal]] ''to'' the Ark. With Marine support, John and Thel 'Vadam destroyed three [[Type-52 Anti-Aircraft Artillery|Anti-Air Wraiths]], a Scarab, and a [[Type-27 Anti-Aircraft Cannon|Covenant anti-aircraft battery]], allowing Lord Hood's remaining [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] to fire upon Truth's Dreadnought. Unfortunately, MAC rounds had little effect on the Forerunner Dreadnought, and Truth fled through the Portal with his remaining loyalist forces. The UNSC remained behind on Earth to determine their next move.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Storm]]''</ref>


[[File:E32007-1.jpg|250px|thumb|The Master Chief and Thel 'Vadam listening to Cortana's message.]]
[[File:E32007-1.jpg|250px|thumb|The Master Chief and Thel 'Vadam listening to Cortana's message.]]
Just as the battle seemed over, a [[Unidentified Flood-captured battlecruiser|Flood-infested Covenant warship]] crash-landed in Voi. John and his allies fought to contain the Flood infection, eventually destroying the infected warship. During the battle, [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] came to aid the UNSC. He deployed a Special Operations Sangheili strike team through [[orbital insertion pod]]s, assisting John as he attempted to recover a fragment of Cortana hidden aboard the vessel, who he learned was on the crashed vessel. Aided by the unexpected appearance of 343 Guilty Spark, John retrieved the damaged data device and was brought aboard 'Vadum's flagship, ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''. The Sangheili were able to stop the Flood infestation by [[glassing]] the city and its surroundings, much to Hood's anger.<ref name="floodg">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref>
At the [[Battle of Voi]], John dashed towards what was believed to be [[Installation 00|the Ark]]. Instead, the [[The Portal|artifact opened a slipspace portal]] ''to'' the Ark. With Marine support, John and Thel 'Vadam destroyed numerous Covenant armoured assets preventing UNSC aircraft from making a strike, allowing Lord Hood's remaining [[UNSC frigate|frigates]] to fire upon the landed ''Anodyne Spirit''. Unfortunately, MAC rounds had little effect on the keyship, and Truth fled through the Portal with his remaining loyalist forces. The UNSC remained behind on Earth to determine their next move.<ref>''Halo 3'', campaign level [[The Storm]]</ref>


The Sangheili and the UNSC watched Cortana's recording, which contained a warning that ''High Charity'', now overwhelmed and controlled by the Gravemind, was heading for Earth. However, she offered hope, hinting at a way to stop the Halos from firing ''and'' to neutralize the Flood. Convinced of the reliability of Cortana's message, John resolved to journey to the Ark, while Hood mobilized remaining UNSC forces on Earth. John accompanied a joint UNSC-Sangheili task force through the portal aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} to the [[Installation 00|Ark]].<ref name="floodg"/>
Just as the battle seemed over, a [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood-infested Covenant warship]] crash-landed in Voi. John and his allies fought to contain the Flood infection, eventually destroying the infected warship and recovering a fragment of Cortana hidden aboard the vessel. John retrieved the damaged data device and was brought aboard Rtas 'Vadum's flagship, which revealed a warning that ''High Charity'', now overwhelmed and controlled by the Gravemind, was heading for Earth. However, she offered hope, hinting at a way to stop the Halos from firing ''and'' to neutralize the Flood. Convinced of the reliability of Cortana's message, John resolved to journey to the Ark, while Hood mobilized remaining UNSC forces on Earth. John accompanied a joint UNSC-Sangheili task force through the portal aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} to the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''.<ref name="floodg">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Floodgate]]</ref>


===Installation 00===
====Installation 00====
{{Main|Operation: BLIND FAITH}}
{{Main|Operation: BLIND FAITH}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=You know me. When I make a promise...|John-117|q2=You...keep it. I do know how to pick 'em.|Cortana|John-117 reminding Cortana of his promise<ref name="H3 cortana">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=You know me. When I make a promise...|John-117|q2=You...keep it. I do know how to pick 'em.|Cortana|John-117 reminding Cortana of his promise<ref name="H3 cortana">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]</ref>}}
[[File:ArbiterRoar-large.jpg|thumb|250px|John watches silently as Thel 'Vadam roars after Truth's death.]]
[[File:ArbiterRoar-large.jpg|thumb|250px|John watches silently as Thel 'Vadam roars after Truth's death.]]
Recognizing the fate of all life within the galaxy was at stake, the UNSC-Sangheili task force was determined to stop Truth from activating the remaining six Halos at any cost. The infantry strike team descended in Pelicans and Phantoms while the Shipmaster's [[Fleet of Retribution|fleet]] fought a 3:1 battle against an armada of Brute controlled ships. John landed on the surface of the Ark, eliminating Covenant loyalists in the area to secure a landing zone for UNSC frigate {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, and to find the Ark's [[Cartographer]]. Traveling in Scorpions, Warthogs, and captured [[Type-52 Infantry Support Vehicle|Prowlers]], John and other Marines located the Cartographer and learned that Truth was in the Installation's [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]], a structure where the entire Halo Array could be activated. John then escaped from the Cartographer and proceeded to assault the fortress.<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]''</ref> After his arrival to Installation 00, John began to discover a [[Terminal/Halo 3|number of]] [[Z-9930 Information Vector Console|terminals]] containing ancient Forerunner communications logs, as well as direct messages from the Forerunner [[ancilla]] [[Mendicant Bias]].<ref name="H4TEVG129">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 129''</ref>
Immediately upon arrival at the Ark, John led a strike force of ODSTs onto the megastructure's surface to engage the Covenant there and locate the installation's [[Cartographer]]. He led an armored convoy through the desert to the facility, engaging extremely heavy resistance in the process. Upon entry at the Cartographer site, John was met by [[Cethegus]], who had been promised great power by the Prophet of Truth if he defeated John, though the Chieftain was ultimately killed.<ref>''Halo 3'', campaign level [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]</ref> After his arrival to Installation 00, John began to discover a [[Terminal (Halo 3)|number of]] [[Z-9930 Information Vector Console|terminals]] containing ancient Forerunner communications logs, as well as direct messages from the Forerunner [[ancilla]] [[Mendicant Bias]].<ref name="H4TEVG129">''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p.129</ref>
 
John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a squad of Marines were assigned to separately attack three [[barrier tower]]s, which were emitting a protective shield around the Citadel. Although John and 'Vadam managed to deactivate two of the towers, Sergeant Johnson was captured at the third, spared only to activate the Halos from the Ark's Citadel. John, 'Vadam, and the Elites deactivated the last tower, lowering the shield. Just as the ''Shadow of Intent'' was about to destroy the Citadel, the Flood-controlled ''[[High Charity]]'' exited slipspace, bringing the Flood into the conflict and disabling the ''Shadow of Intent''.<ref name="coven">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>


After defeating the last remnants of the Covenant forces around the Citadel, including two Scarabs, John and 'Vadam entered the Citadel. Although Miranda Keyes had forced her way in, breaking through the central window with her Pelican, she was soon surrounded. Knowing that only a Reclaimer could activate the Halo array, Johnson demanded that Keyes kill him, and then commit suicide to prevent galactic extinction. However, Keyes hesitated for a split second, during which Truth shot and killed Keyes with a [[Type-25 Carbine|Spiker]]. Truth then forced Johnson to begin the activation sequence for the array. In an unexpected turn of events, John and 'Vadam again made a temporary alliance with the Flood to stop the activation of the Halos. Truth's final unit of personal guards were crushed by the unlikely allies. As John and the Arbiter reached the Prophet, it was clear the San'Shyuum was already succumbing to the parasite. Thel 'Vadam executed the last of the High Prophets with his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]], while John deactivated the rings.<ref name="coven"/>
Following the capture of the cartographer, John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a squad of Marines led by Johnson were assigned to separately attack three [[barrier tower]]s, which were emitting a protective shield around the prophet's Citadel. Although John and 'Vadam managed to deactivate two of the towers, Sergeant Johnson was captured at the third, spared only to activate the Halos from the Ark's Citadel. John, 'Vadam, and the Elites deactivated the last tower, lowering the shield. Just as the ''Shadow of Intent'' was about to destroy the Citadel, the Flood-controlled ''[[High Charity]]'' exited slipspace, bringing the Flood into the conflict and disabling the ''Shadow of Intent''. John subsequently led a large convoy to attack the Citadel, ultimately defeating two Scarabs and forging an alliance with the Flood to break the Prophet's lines and finally bring an end to the war. Thel executed Truth while John deactivated the now-primed Halo Array before attempting to extract with Johnson and the body of the now-dead Miranda Keyes.<ref name="coven">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]</ref>


[[File:CortanaIndex-large.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John reunites with Cortana.]]
[[File:CortanaIndex-large.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John reunites with Cortana.]]
The Gravemind then betrayed John and 'Vadam, laughing as it had successfully used the pair again for its own ends. After fighting past waves of Flood, the two escaped with their lives. As they were leaving the Citadel, John saw a vision of Cortana that led him to the exit. There, he learned her plan: [[Installation 08|a replacement for Installation 04]] had been built by the Ark, but was not yet connected with the rest of the Array. Since the Ark and the ring were so far from the inhabited galaxy, John decided to activate Installation 08 and destroy the Flood once and for all. But first, he headed to the remains of ''High Charity'' to keep a promise to Cortana.<ref name="coven"/>
The Gravemind then betrayed John and 'Vadam. After fighting past waves of Flood, the two escaped with their lives. As they were leaving the Citadel, John saw a vision of Cortana that led him to the exit. There, he learned her plan: [[Installation 08|a replacement for Installation 04]] had been built by the Ark, but was not yet connected with the rest of the Array. Since the Ark and the ring were so far from the inhabited galaxy, John decided to activate Installation 08 and destroy the Flood once and for all. But first, he headed to the remains of ''High Charity'' to keep a promise to Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|coven}} On ''High Charity'', John cut his way through hordes of Flood, taunted with images of Cortana falling into [[rampancy]] and by threats from the Gravemind itself. He finally reached the failing AI, on the verge of succumbing to the Flood's influence. After recovering her storage module, Cortana readied the Activation Index from the first Installation 04. John then destroyed the holy city by overloading its backup generators. On his way out, Cortana detected a friendly contact, which turned out to be Thel 'Vadam. ''High Charity'' exploded as the trio narrowly escaped on a Pelican.{{Ref/Reuse|H3 cortana}}
 
{{clear}}
On ''High Charity'', John cut his way through hordes of Flood, taunted with images of Cortana falling into [[rampancy]] and by threats from the Gravemind itself. He finally reached the failing AI, on the verge of succumbing to the Flood's influence. After recovering her storage module, Cortana readied the Activation Index from the first Installation 04. John then destroyed the holy city by overloading its backup generators. On his way out, Cortana detected a friendly contact, which turned out to be Thel 'Vadam. ''High Charity'' exploded as the trio narrowly escaped on a Pelican.<ref name="H3 cortana"/>
{{Clear}}


===Installation 08===
====Activating the Halo====
[[File:H3-John&Co.jpg|250px|thumb|John, Cortana and Thel en route to Installation 08.]]
[[File:H3-John&Co.jpg|250px|thumb|John, Cortana and Thel en route to Installation 08.]]
{{Main|Raid on Installation 08}}
{{Main|Raid on Installation 08}}
{{Quote|You are the child of my makers. Inheritor of all they left behind. You ''are'' Forerunner. But this ring...is ''mine''.|343 Guilty Spark, betraying the Master Chief<ref name="h3l"/>}}
{{Quote|You are the child of my makers. Inheritor of all they left behind. You ''are'' Forerunner. But this ring...is ''mine''.|343 Guilty Spark, betraying the Master Chief{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}}}}
The final mission of the war for John, 'Vadam, and Cortana was to destroy the Flood forever by activating the replacement Installation 04. The three landed on the Halo, discovering that the Gravemind had survived ''High Charity'''s destruction and was already trying to rebuild itself on the Installation. [[Flood dispersal pod]]s released combat forms against John and the Arbiter, forcing them to fight their way up to the Control Room, where the ring could be activated. During the battle, Sergeant Johnson arrived and assisted the Chief.<ref name="h3l">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]''</ref>
The final mission of the war for John, 'Vadam, and Cortana was to destroy the Flood forever by activating the replacement Installation 04. The three landed on the Halo, discovering that the Gravemind had survived ''High Charity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s destruction and was already trying to rebuild itself on the Installation. [[Flood dispersal pod]]s released combat forms against John and the Arbiter, forcing them to fight their way up to the Control Room, where the ring could be activated. During the battle, Sergeant Johnson arrived and assisted the Chief.{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}}


After defeating the Flood forces around the Control Room, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the door to the interior. Once inside, however, Guilty Spark realized that the team intended to fire the Halo before it could be completed, which would destroy the ring. Unable to cope with losing a second installation, 343 succumbed to rampancy. The AI mortally wounded Sergeant Johnson, and then turned on the Spartan.<ref name="h3l"/>
After defeating the Flood forces around the Control Room, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the door to the interior. Once inside, however, Guilty Spark realized that the team intended to fire the Halo before it could be completed, which would destroy the ring. Unable to cope with losing a second installation, 343 succumbed to rampancy. The AI mortally wounded Sergeant Johnson, and then turned on the Spartan, though was ultimately killed by John.{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}} Cortana then activated Installation 08, and the survivors fled to the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' onboard a Warthog. As they fought the Flood and local [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]]s on the way, the Gravemind addressed them telepathically one last time, warning them that their victory would not spell total end for the Flood. The team boarded the ''Dawn'' and escaped the firing and destruction of ring and the Ark. However, the Slipspace portal the frigate opened could not sustain itself under the stress, and its closure severed the ship in half, sending 'Vadam to Earth. John and Cortana were left drifting in unknown space.{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}}


John stood his ground, even after being hit by several energy blasts, and fought against Guilty Spark with all of his strength. Although the Monitor seemed to be invulnerable, Johnson shot the Monitor with a [[Spartan Laser]], temporarily distracting him. He then handed John his weapon which seemingly destroyed Guilty Spark once and for all. Avery's injury was fatal, and he requested that his friend "send [him] out ''with a bang''," after handing over Cortana's data chip.''<ref name="h3l"/>
====Missing in action====
[[File:Await lithograph.jpg|thumb|200px|Cortana oversees John sleeping in cryostasis, stranded on board the Forward Unto Dawn, lost in space.]]
{{Quote|Wake me... when you need me.|John's last words before entering cryostasis{{Ref/Reuse|epi3}}}}
John and Cortana were presumed dead after several months of searching by the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Margaret Parangosky. The forward half of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', bearing the Arbiter, crash-landed on Earth. On [[2553|March 3, 2553]], Lord Hood commissioned a [[Voi Memorial|memorial]] near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] in [[Africa]] in honor of UNSC service members lost during the war. The ceremony was attended by John's closest folks - Dr. Catherine Halsey, SCPO Franklin Mendez and his comrades - Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058, as well as by [[Naomi-010]] and [[Serin Osman]], formerly known as Serin-019. Thel 'Vadam also was present at the dedication of the memorial. He was thanked by Lord Hood for standing alongside John "to the end"; knowing the resilience of the Spartan first hand, Thel expressed doubt as to the soldier's death. The Arbiter departed then for [[Sanghelios]] aboard the ''Shadow of Intent'' along with Rtas 'Vadum, to ensure the security of their people. John's Spartan tag was carved onto the memorial by an unknown party and was accompanied by the improper insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.{{Ref/Reuse|epi3}}


Cortana then activated Installation 08, and the survivors fled to the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' onboard a Warthog. As they fought the Flood and local [[Aggressor Sentinel|Sentinel]]s on the way, the Gravemind addressed them telepathically one last time, warning them that their victory would not spell total end for the Flood. The team boarded the ''Dawn'' and escaped the firing and destruction of ring and the Ark. However, the Slipspace portal the frigate opened could not sustain itself under the stress, and its closure severed the ship in half, sending 'Vadam to Earth. John and Cortana were left drifting in unknown space.<ref name="h3l"/>
Unknown to everybody else, John and Cortana managed to survive the explosion of [[Installation 08]] in the remaining cargo portion of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', but it was nearly powerless and could not be properly navigated. Cortana, relieved that John had survived, explained this to the Chief, and that it could take years before anyone could discover their distress signal. In a similar conversation to one after the destruction of Installation 04, Cortana listed what John had done and told him, ''"It's finished,"'' and this time, he agreed with her. John entered a cryotube, at which point Cortana stated that she would miss him. John replied her to wake him when she needed him.<ref name="epi3">''Halo 3'', [[Epilogue]]</ref>


===Missing in action===
In [[2556]], while still stranded in space, Cortana attempted to talk to John while he was still asleep. Unable to get a response from him, she recounted the history of the galaxy, seemingly unaware that John could not hear her, and showing major signs that she was descending into [[rampancy]].<ref>''Halo Legends'', [[Origins]]</ref>
[[File:117.PNG|thumb|John's Spartan tag carved on to the Voi Memorial.]]
{{Quote|Wake me... when you need me.|John's last words before entering cryostasis<ref name="epi3"/>}}
John and Cortana were presumed dead after several months of searching by the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Margaret Parangosky. The forward half of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', bearing the Arbiter, crash-landed on Earth. On [[2553|March 3, 2553]], Lord Hood commissioned a [[Voi Memorial|memorial]] near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] in [[Africa]] in honor of UNSC service members lost during the war. The ceremony was attended by John's closest folks - Dr. Catherine Halsey, SCPO Franklin Mendez and his comrades - Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058, as well as by [[Naomi-010]] and [[Serin Osman]], formerly known as Serin-019. John's Spartan tag was carved onto the memorial by an unknown party and was accompanied by the improper insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.<ref name="epi3"/>


Unknown to everybody else, John and Cortana managed to survive the explosion of [[Installation 08]] in the remaining cargo portion of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'', but it was nearly powerless and could not be properly navigated. Cortana, relieved that John had survived, explained this to the Chief, and that it could take years before anyone could discover their distress signal. In a similar conversation to one after the destruction of Installation 04, Cortana listed what John had done and told him, ''"It's finished,"'' and this time, he agreed with her. John entered a cryotube, at which point Cortana stated that she would miss him. John replied her to wake him when she needed him.<ref name="epi3"/> In [[2556]], while still stranded in space, Cortana attempted to talk to John while he was still asleep. Unable to get a response from him, she recounted the history of the galaxy, seemingly unaware that John could not hear her, and showing major signs that she was descending into [[rampancy]].<ref>'''Halo Legends''': ''[[Origins]]''</ref>
===Post-Covenant War period===
 
{{Main|John-117/Post-War}}
===Requiem and the Didact===
====Requiem and the Didact====
{{Main|Battle of Requiem}}
{{Main|Battle of Requiem}}
[[File:Halo 4 Announcement Trailer - John and Cortana.png|thumb|250px|John awakened by Cortana.]]
[[File:Halo 4 Announcement Trailer - John and Cortana.png|thumb|250px|John awakened by Cortana.]]
{{Quote|no=three|q1=Seems like old times.|Cortana|q2=Ready to get back to work?|John-117|q3=I thought you'd never ask.|Cortana|John-117 and Cortana about being partners again<ref name="H4 dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|no=three|q1=Seems like old times.|Cortana|q2=Ready to get back to work?|John-117|q3=I thought you'd never ask.|Cortana|John-117 and Cortana about being partners again<ref name="H4D">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Dawn]]</ref>}}
In [[2557|July 2557]], nearly five years after John went into cryo-sleep, the aft half of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entered orbit above [[Requiem]], a Forerunner [[shield world]]. As [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] forces near Requiem began to board the ''Dawn'', Cortana awakened John from cryosleep. With Cortana's assistance, John fought off the intruders across the ship and used one of the ship's [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|nuclear missiles]] to destroy an incoming [[CRS-class light cruiser|Covenant cruiser]]. Shortly afterward, however, Requiem's access gateway opened, pulling the remains of the ''Dawn'', as well as any Covenant ships in immediate proximity, into the interior of the shield world.<ref name="H4 dawn"/> Having crashed on Requiem, John took notice of Cortana's escalating signs of rampancy and she explained that her condition may be reversible if they managed to get to Earth and find Dr. Halsey in time.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]''</ref> Fighting their way through numerous Covenant forces occupying the structure, John was attacked by advanced Forerunner combat constructs which Cortana identified as [[Promethean]]s. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} of the dangerous gravity field that had disabled the ''Forward Unto Dawn''.<ref name="forel">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]''</ref>
In [[2557|July 2557]], nearly five years after John went into cryo-sleep, the aft half of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entered orbit above [[Requiem]], a Forerunner [[shield world]]. As [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] forces near Requiem began to board the ''Dawn'', Cortana awakened John from cryosleep. With Cortana's assistance, John fought off the intruders across the ship and used one of the ship's [[M4093 Hyperion nuclear delivery system|nuclear missiles]] to destroy an incoming [[Zanar-pattern light cruiser|Covenant cruiser]]. Shortly afterward, however, Requiem's access gateway opened, pulling the remains of the ''Dawn'', as well as any Covenant ships in immediate proximity, into the interior of the shield world.{{Ref/Reuse|H4D}} Having crashed on Requiem, John took notice of Cortana's escalating signs of rampancy and she explained that her condition may be reversible if they managed to get to Earth and find Dr. Halsey in time.<ref name="H4R">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]</ref> Fighting their way through numerous Covenant forces occupying the structure, John was attacked by advanced Forerunner combat constructs which Cortana identified as [[Promethean]]s. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} of the dangerous gravity field that had disabled the ''Forward Unto Dawn''.<ref name="forel">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]</ref>


After John disabled two energy pylons preventing them from contacting ''Infinity'' and attempted to use the supposed relay satellite in [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]] to establish contact, it became clear that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. Instead of contacting the ''Infinity'', John had accidentally released the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], an ancient Forerunner warrior, from meditative hibernation within his [[Cryptum]]. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, the Didact declared the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remained weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]]. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods, the Covenant quickly swore alliance to the Didact and his armies. Tossing John aside, the Didact escaped Requiem's core using a slipspace rupture, an which destabilized the core.<ref name="forel"/>
After John disabled two energy pylons preventing them from contacting ''Infinity'' and attempted to use the supposed relay satellite in [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]] to establish contact, it became clear that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. Instead of contacting the ''Infinity'', John had accidentally released the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], an ancient Forerunner warrior, from meditative hibernation within his [[Cryptum]]. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, the Didact declared the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remained weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]]. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods, the Covenant quickly swore alliance to the Didact and his armies. Tossing John aside, the Didact escaped Requiem's core using a slipspace rupture, an which destabilized the core.{{Ref/Reuse|forel}}


[[File:H4 John-117 Didact first encounter.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John is overpowered by the recently awakened [[Ur-Didact|Didact]].]]
[[File:HTMCC-H4 ThisTombIsNowYours.png|thumb|left|250px|John is overpowered by the recently awakened [[Ur-Didact|Didact]].]]
Narrowly escaping the collapsing core facility, John and Cortana translocated to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the ''Infinity'' came too late. The massive warship crashed nearly 80 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position. John was successful in regrouping with a group of Marines and [[Spartan-IV]]s, led by [[Commander]] [[Thomas Lasky]], whom John had previously [[Battle of Circinius IV|met]] on [[Circinius IV]] over thirty years earlier. Recognizing the Chief immediately, Lasky asked John and Cortana to clear a [[landing zone]] so that ''Infinity'''s ground forces could fall back to the ship which had fallen under siege. Commandeering a Scorpion tank, John led the attack to the crippled vessel alongside Commander [[Sarah Palmer]]'s [[Spartan Operations|Spartans]]. Using the UNSC's latest weapon, the [[Mantis]] walker, John rallied a force of nearby Marines and regained control of the ship's interior. After reinitializing the ship's secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turned in the UNSC's favor and the Didact was forced to retreat.<ref name="infil">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Infinity (level)|Infinity]]''</ref>
Narrowly escaping the collapsing core facility, John and Cortana translocated to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the ''Infinity'' came too late. The massive warship crashed nearly 80 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position. John was successful in regrouping with a group of Marines and [[Spartan-IV]]s, led by [[Commander]] [[Thomas Lasky]], whom John had previously [[Battle of Circinius IV|met]] on [[Circinius IV]] over thirty years earlier. Recognizing the Chief immediately, Lasky asked John and Cortana to clear a [[landing zone]] so that ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ground forces could fall back to the ship which had fallen under siege. Commandeering a Scorpion tank, John led the attack to the crippled vessel alongside Commander [[Sarah Palmer]]'s [[Spartan Operations|Spartans]]. Using the UNSC's latest weapon, the [[Mantis]] walker, John rallied a force of nearby Marines and regained control of the ship's interior. After reinitializing the ship's secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turned in the UNSC's favor and the Didact was forced to retreat.<ref name="infil">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Infinity (level)|Infinity]]</ref>
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}


===Conflicting loyalties===
====Conflicting loyalties====
[[File:H4 John-117 and Librarian.PNG|thumb|250px|John-117 encounters the Librarian's essence.]]
[[File:H4 John-117 and Librarian.PNG|thumb|250px|John-117 encounters the Librarian's essence.]]
{{Quote|The Didact has to be stopped. If you won't do that... I will.|John-117 to Captain Del Rio before disobeying his order.}}
{{Quote|The Didact has to be stopped. If you won't do that... I will.|John-117 to Captain Del Rio before disobeying his order<ref name="H4 reclaimer">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]</ref>}}
With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with [[Andrew Del Rio]], Captain of the ''Infinity''. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well preventing the ship from leaving.<ref name="infil"/> A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed with a [[Mobile Anti-Aircraft Weapons Platform M510 Siegework/Ultra-Heavy|Mammoth]] ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC was able to defeat a large armored strike force of Covenant and Prometheans and disabled the gravity beam. Diverted to an underground facility along the way, John was confronted with a vision from the [[Librarian]], who warned him of the Didact's plans to enslave humanity with a device known as the [[Composer]]. The Librarian also provided John with a gift: a medical treatment to counteract the Forerunners' devolution of the human genome, and a means to resist the effects of the Composer.<ref name="H4R"/>
With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with [[Andrew Del Rio]], Captain of the ''Infinity''. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well preventing the ship from leaving.{{Ref/Reuse|infil}} A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed with a [[Mobile Anti-Aircraft Weapons Platform M510 Siegework/Ultra-Heavy|Mammoth]] ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC was able to defeat a large armored strike force of Covenant and Prometheans and disabled the gravity beam. Diverted to an underground facility along the way, John was confronted with a vision from the [[Librarian]], who warned him of the Didact's plans to enslave humanity with a device known as the [[Composer]]. The Librarian also provided John with a gift: a medical treatment to counteract the Forerunners' devolution of the human genome, and a means to resist the effects of the Composer.{{Ref/Reuse|H4 reclaimer}}


Regrouping aboard the ''Infinity'', Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the ''Infinity''. Armed with a [[D79-TC Pelican#Gunship variant|Pelican gunship]] provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shields and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.<ref name="H4S"/> John's attempt to stop the Didact ultimately proved unsuccessful, as the Didact managed to leave Requiem aboard [[Mantle's Approach|his vessel]], escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a [[Deployment Platform Type-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy|Lich]], Master Chief pursued the Forerunner to [[Ivanoff Station]], a UNSC research base orbiting Halo [[Installation 03]] where the Composer was kept. [[Sandra Tillson|Dr. Sandra Tillson]], a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite John reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer and immediately tested the device on the crew of the station, completely destroying their bodies and assimilating their minds to power additional war machines. However, John survived, thanks to the genetic enhancements imposed by the Librarian.<ref name="composer">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>
Regrouping aboard the ''Infinity'', Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the ''Infinity''. Armed with a [[D79-TC Pelican#Gunship variant|Pelican gunship]] provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shields and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.<ref name="H4S">''Halo 4'', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref> John's attempt to stop the Didact ultimately proved unsuccessful, as the Didact managed to leave Requiem aboard [[Mantle's Approach|his vessel]], escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a [[Kmiro'sish-pattern Lich|Lich]], Master Chief pursued the Forerunner to [[Ivanoff Station]], a UNSC research base orbiting Halo [[Installation 03]] where the Composer was kept. [[Sandra Tillson|Dr. Sandra Tillson]], a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite John reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer and immediately tested the device on the crew of the station, completely destroying their bodies and assimilating their minds to power additional war machines. However, John survived, thanks to the genetic enhancements imposed by the Librarian.<ref name="composer">''Halo 4'', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref>


===Battle aboard ''Mantle's Approach''===
====Raid on ''Mantle's Approach''====
{{Main|New Phoenix Incident}}
{{Main|New Phoenix Incident}}
{{Quote|You persist too long after your own defeat. Come then, Warrior. Have your resolution.|Didact to Chief acknowledging his efforts to stop him<ref name="midnight"/>}}
{{Quote|You persist too long after your own defeat. Come then, Warrior. Have your resolution.|Didact to Chief acknowledging his efforts to stop him{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}}}}
[[File:Didact John comparison.png|thumb|right|300px|John-117 and the Ur-Didact fighting inside the ''Mantle's Approach''.]]
[[File:John and Cortana re-unite - Close shot.png|thumb|300px|Cortana paid the ultimate price to ensure the Didact's defeat and John's rescue.]]
With the Didact approaching Earth, planning to imprison all of humanity into digital form, John pursued the Forerunner aboard an [[F-41 Broadsword]] fighter on the outer hull of the Promethean's ship. As the ship exited slipspace near Earth, John was surprised to find the ''Infinity'' and the rest of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] ready and waiting for the Didact. John was able to destroy the ship's point defense guns, giving ''Infinity'' the chance to punch through the vessel's hull. Entering the breach, John fought his way to the Forerunner's location.<ref name="midnight">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Midnight]]''</ref> Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact was to fire on Earth with the Composer, digitizing the entire population of [[New Phoenix|New Phoenix, Arizona]]. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK warhead]], John confronted the Didact for the second time on a [[hard light]] bridge. While John was no match for the Forerunner's powerful abilities, the dying Cortana was able to immobilize the Didact with hard light shackles. The weakened John then planted a [[pulse grenade]] in the Didact's armor, blowing him off the bridge and sending him falling into a slipspace rupture underneath the Composer. With time having already run out, John detonated the nuclear bomb manually as a desperate last resort.<ref name="midnight"/>
With the Didact approaching Earth, planning to imprison all of humanity into digital form, John pursued the Forerunner aboard a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] fighter on the outer hull of the Promethean's ship. As the ship exited slipspace near Earth, John was surprised to find the ''Infinity'' and the rest of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] ready and waiting for the Didact. John was able to destroy the ship's point defense guns, giving ''Infinity'' the chance to punch through the vessel's hull. Entering the breach, John fought his way to the Forerunner's location.<ref name="midnight">''Halo 4'', campaign level [[Midnight]]</ref> Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact was to fire on Earth with the Composer, digitizing the entire population of [[New Phoenix|New Phoenix, Arizona]]. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK warhead]], John confronted the Didact for the second time on a [[hard light]] bridge. While John was no match for the Forerunner's powerful abilities, the dying Cortana was able to immobilize the Didact with hard light shackles. The weakened John then planted a [[pulse grenade]] in the Didact's armor, blowing him off the bridge and sending him falling into a slipspace rupture underneath the Composer. With time having already run out, John detonated the nuclear bomb manually as a desperate last resort.{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}}
 
Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to save John from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own. The two had one final conversation, with John remarking that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insisted that they were supposed to protect each other, and did. Smiling and seeming at peace, Cortana welcomed John home, and then faded away completely.<ref name="midnight"/> Left adrift in space, John was recovered by a UNSC [[Pelican 096|search-and-rescue team]] shortly afterward. Later, John spoke with now-Captain Lasky about the loss of his companion and the nature of their duty as soldiers. Aboard the ''Infinity'', John rejoined Palmer and the other Spartans, and had his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor removed for the first time in several years.<ref name="h4 epilogue">'''Halo 4''', ''[[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]]''</ref>
 
===Gamma Halo===
{{Main|Skirmish on Installation 03}}
[[File:John and Kelly Escalation.png|thumb|300px|right|Before John and the rest of Blue Team set foot on Gamma Halo [[Mission to Installation 03|to investigate]], [[Battle of Installation 03|fighting]] had already broken out elsewhere on the ring between forces from the ''Infinity'' and [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]].<ref name="HSSOpB">''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'', ''[[Operation B: Steadfast Pursuit]]''</ref>]]
{{Quote|no=four|q1=Admiral Hood asked that I act as an advisor for your mission.|John-117|q2=Just as an advisor? You told the old man you're ''coming with'', didn't you?|Fred-104|q3=That a problem, Lieutenant?|John-117|q4=If you hadn't, I'd have ordered you to come along myself.|Fred-104|John teases Fred about he now technically outranking him as an officer.}}<ref name="HE8"/>
Transport took John from the ''Infinity'' to [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] in [[Sydney]] a short time later that day, where he debriefed concerning [[New Phoenix Incident|recent events]] before the [[UNSC Security Council]].<ref name="HE8"/> He recounted [[Battle of Requiem|everything]] that had happened to him since he awoke over [[Requiem]] to [[UNSC Army|Army]] [[General]] [[Nicolas Strauss]], [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood]], Generals [[Hogan]] and [[Dellert]] of the [[Marine Corps]] and [[Air Force]] respectively, and [[CINCONI]] [[Serin Osman]] (formerly Serin-019), whom John had not seen since he was fourteen years old and had thought dead since then.<ref name="HTFOR6"/><ref name="HE8"/><ref name="HG3">''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> General Strauss worried that some part of Cortana may have survived and was now beyond their control, but John assured him that she was gone and also adamantly charged that she had ''not'' been without protection during the nearly five years spent adrift on the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' when the general suggested so.<ref name="HE8"/> General Hogan was similarly skeptical concerning the Didact's defeat and John had to agree that he could by no means be considered killed for certain. John did say, however, that [[New Phoenix Incident|what had befallen]] [[New Phoenix]] could not happen again since he had destroyed the [[Composer]]. Hogan openly discussed the council's plan to put the blame for the attack at the feet of the [[Covenant]], suggesting also that the public should be told it was stopped by the return of humanity's greatest hero.<ref name="HE8"/>
 
After he was dismissed, Lord Hood caught up to John in the hall outside the room where they had debriefed and apologized for the unprofessional behavior of Strauss and Hogan.<ref name="HE8"/> John stated that he was in no place to comment as such, and at this Hood half-jokingly noted that he could probably be made an admiral himself at this point with little pushback from anyone, or simply an officer at the very least. The Master Chief brushed off the idea by claiming that "the Admiral" just wouldn't have the same ring to it. John walked with Hood to another room, where the fleet admiral admitted that he had a problem he was hoping he could enlist John's help in solving. He reported that just an hour earlier, fractured bits of audio had been received from the surface of [[Installation 03]] and forthwith all contact with the science team stationed there had been lost. Listening the transmissions indicated to John that [[Promethean]] constructs had evidently appeared on the Halo. Hood also let him know that [[Black Team]], comprised of [[Spartan-II]]s John had grown up with, had been assigned to guard the scientists and were also now unable to be reached. John was surprised to hear that Black Team was still operational and didn't think twice about volunteering to investigate Gamma Halo himself. Hood had only been asking that John advise [[Blue Team|another team]] being dispatched there, but the Chief made it clear that he needed to see what was happening himself, as he knew of no reason why mechanical Prometheans should be cropping up outside of Requiem. John soon discovered that the team Hood had pegged him to advised was none other than Blue Team, now just composed of [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Fred-104]]. John met his three oldest remaining friends and companions in a hangar within the ship which would be carrying them to the [[Khaphrae system]].[[File:Escalation - Installation03Skirmish.png|thumb|left|300px|When the [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK nuke]] detonated on the ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', pieces of the ship followed the Didact through the same portal he had fallen into, carrying Promethean constructs to Gamma Halo.<ref name="HE9">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 9|Issue #9]]</ref> Some of the knights in particular had also been newly created from [[Composer|composed]] denizens of [[New Phoenix]].<ref name="HE9"/>]] Each Spartan greeted him warmly, with Kelly in particular expressing that she had reached the point where she hadn't thought she would ever see him again. When John mentioned how Hood had originally asked him onto the mission in an advisory capacity Fred scoffed and said that surely John had told him he was coming with them. John, aware that Fred was now a [[Lieutenant]], jokingly asked if his presence would be a problem, to which Fred said that he'd have ordered him to come along if John hadn't offered.<ref name="HE8">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 8|Issue #8]]</ref>
 
[[2557#July|The day after]] the [[Didact]]'s attack, the Spartans of Blue Team [[Mission to Installation 03|arrived]] at [[Installation 03]] and deployed via their own [[GA-TL1 Longsword]] given to them for this mission.<ref name="HE8"/> Kelly received no response when she hailed the science team but John encouraged her to keep trying. John landed near the location of the science team's last known coordinates and almost immediately after disembarking, Linda picked up tracks which were unrecognizable to her, but instantly noted by John to have been made by [[Promethean Crawler|Promethean crawler]]s. The tracks came from what was decided to be "north" on the ring and led "south" to where the scientists had been. John led the others to follow them until they reached a camp, and there he and Kelly discovered the scientists' corpses while exploring it. Fred and Linda, however, found Black Team. [[Otto-031 ]], [[Margaret-053]], [[Victor-101]], and [[Roma-143]] had been killed right alongside the scientists. Fred, shocked by the loss of four fellow Spartans, asked the Chief if crawlers could have done this. John doubted any number of the mechanistic quadrupeds could have been enough to overpower them and suspected something else must have been involved. As the team backtracked to see where the assailants seemed to have come from, John had Kelly notify ops of the latest developments. Before the Spartans could reach the crawlers' point of origin they were set upon by [[Promethean Knight|Promethean knight]]s which materialized around them. John ordered everyone to engage at will and managed to take down two of the knights himself with his [[MA5D assault rifle]]. Once they had been dealt with the team finally came upon the gaping hole in the installation from which the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} had extracted the Composer from earlier that year.<ref name="HE8"/><ref name="HM162">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 162''</ref> After sliding down the side of the excavation to investigate further, Kelly pointed out a tunnel on its northwest face which led deep underneath the ring's surface. John led his team through it down into the depths of Gamma Halo and they were soon faced by an otherworldly sight: the [[Composer's Abyss]]. All around them were projected the essences of seemingly tortured victims of the Composer and before them lay an active [[portal]]. Fred pointedly asked if there was anything John could advise them on regarding what they were seeing, but John merely led them to keep moving forward, which meant stepping through the portal.<ref name="HE8"/>


===Clinquant and the Didact===
Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to save John from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own. The two had one final conversation, with John remarking that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insisted that they were supposed to protect each other, and did. Smiling and seeming at peace, Cortana welcomed John home, and then faded away completely.{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}} Left adrift in space, John was recovered by a UNSC [[Pelican 096|search-and-rescue team]] shortly afterward. Later, John spoke with now-Captain Lasky about the loss of his companion and the nature of their duty as soldiers. Aboard ''Infinity'', John rejoined Palmer and the other Spartans, and had his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor removed for the first time in several years.<ref name="h4 epilogue">''Halo 4'', [[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]]</ref>
[[File:HE - JohnSqueezed.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Having his helmet crushed by the Didact made John at that moment realize that though he had always assumed he would die in battle, he still did not yet feel prepared to face his end.<ref name="HE10"/>]]
{{Quote|no=four|q1=You carry no weapon.|Didact|q2=I carry ''your'' weapon. I thought we might take a moment to talk.|John-117|q3=Diplomacy in your final hour?|Didact|q4=You killed ''my friend''. You killed ''millions of humans''. You tried to kill me. I've tried to end you with blades, with guns, with explosives, by knocking you in slipspace... None of it works. I bet [[Activation Index|this]] does.|John-117|John and the Didact exchange final words with one another before full control of the Halo is turned over to 859 Static Carillon.}}<ref name="HE10"/>
On the other side of the portal, Blue Team found themselves within what appeared to be a derelict [[Forerunner]] city on an [[Clinquant|unknown planet]].<ref name="HE9"/> John reassured Fred by pointing out that as long as the portal remained open they would have a way home. John led the others to the edge of a drop-off overlooking the city, where they could see a single light on in a tower ahead. John finally admitted that he was now highly suspicious that the Didact personally may have been responsible for the deaths on Gamma Halo. The team eventually discovered six [[Composer]]s, which surprised John as he had previously thought only one had ever been built. The Didact suddenly surprised the Spartans from behind them and John ordered everyone to fire on him. The hulking [[Promethean]] only had to stomp on the ground to create a shockwave that knocked John and the others to the ground. In the sky above, [[Installation 03]] then emerged from [[slipspace]] at the same that more Promethean constructs appeared and moved in to attack. John and the rest of Blue began shooting back at the knights, crawlers, and [[Promethean Watcher|watcher]]s accosting them. A [[monitor]] identifying itself as [[859 Static Carillon]] approached the humans, revealing that the Didact planned to take Gamma Halo to [[Earth]] to eradicate humanity there. The monitor also let them know that while he cared not for the outcome of the feud between the Didact and humans, he was opposed to the presence of the mechanical Prometheans on [[Clinquant|his installation]], as he had been promised by the renowned [[Warrior-Servant]] that they would not be brought there. John ordered everyone to race back to the portal so they could get on Gamma Halo to stop the Didact's plan.<ref name="HE9"/>  


Upon returning, Blue Team sped past the Composer's Abyss and out into the light, scrambling up and out of the hole just as one of the Composers was set into place just as the original had been found. The Spartans were knocked forward by an electrical discharge that followed and suddenly found themselves facing down the Didact yet again. The Forerunner swatted Linda, Kelly and Fred aside, but just as he was moving in to finish Kelly off, John struck from behind and managed to pierce his right eye with a [[combat knife]]. The Didact appeared unfazed by this, however, and responded by seizing John by the head and lifting him into the air, all the while squeezing to crush his Mjolnir helm.<ref name="HE9"/>  John was certain at that moment that his time to die had finally come, but he was saved by his teammates, who forced the Didact to respond by flinging John at them to bowl them over. John and Fred collided, but Kelly and Linda proceeded to both get close enough to land shots on the Didact's armor. Still, their efforts were to no avail and he might have been able to exterminate Blue Team just as he had Black Team had 859 Static Carillon not arrived to fire on the Didact with his laser. The monitor [[teleportation|teleported]] the Promethean away and Blue Team found itself alone with Carillon. John's ears were ringing, his helmet was fused so that he couldn't remove it, part of his visor had shattered, and his armor as a whole was power cycling. Even still, he assured Fred that he could still operate when asked. John inquired as to where Carillon had taken the Didact and learned the [[ancilla]] had thought it best to place him within the most secure part of the Halo: the [[Control Room (Installation 03)|control room]]. Thankfully, he had only done this after his attack made the Didact drop the installation's [[activation index]], which John now scooped up, openly musing on the idea of using it to fire the Halo to finish off their enemy. 859 Static Carillon balked at this thought and reminded John that doing so would kill all [[sentient]] life within twenty-five thousand light-years. Carillon instead recommended John use the index be used to deactivate certain safety protocols so that he could have greater control over the ring and deal with the Didact himself.<ref name="HE10">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]</ref>
====The Composer's Forge====
{{Main|Mission to Installation 03}}
[[File:BrutalDidact2.png|thumb|200px|The Didact crushes John's helmet.]]
{{Quote|You killed my friend. You killed millions of humans. You tried to kill me. I've tried to end you with blades, with guns, with explosives, by knocking you in slipspace... None of it works. I bet [[Activation Index|this]] does. |John-117 confronting the Didact{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}}}
On [[2557#July|July 25, 2557]] John was debriefed by the [[UNSC Security Council]], though this questioning session as well as his survival were kept secret from Doctor Halsey.{{Ref/SpOps|Invasion}} John confirmed that Cortana and the Composer were both destroyed over Earth, but he was unable to confirm the Didact's death. With there being no proof of a living [[Forerunner]], the Council decided to tell the general public that the attack on New Phoenix was caused by the [[Covenant remnants]] and ended by the return of a hero, the Master Chief. Following his meeting with the Security Council, the Master Chief met with [[Terrence Hood|Lord Terrence Hood]]. Hood asked the Master Chief if he could advise a team on Installation 03 to investigate the loss of contact with a science team escorted by Spartan [[Black Team]] on the ring. The Master Chief then reunited with [[Blue Team]], consisting of [[Frederic-104]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Linda-058]].


John directed Fred, Kelly, and Linda to return to the Longsword and to take off while 859 transported him to the control room.<ref name="HE10"/> Upon arriving, he found the Didact at the central console. The ancient warrior was surprised to see John was both alone and unarmed. Rather than either attacking one another, the two adversaries instead talked, with John specifically reciting the deaths he blamed the Didact for and noting that while he had tried to end him now via a litany of means, he was sure than he had finally found the way to remove him for good. Before he could be stopped, John slid the index into the control panel. The Didact was confused by this, as he could not believe that the Master Chief would kill them both along with everyone else in range of the Halo's firing. John then revealed that he didn't mean to fire it, but merely to allow Static Carillon to shed the section of the installation that housed the control room. This process had already begun and by the time the ejected section holding the Didact slammed into the planet below, John had been teleported safely away. He and Static Carillon appeared together in a flash of light aboard Blue Team's Longsword and John thanked the monitor for his assistance. Carillon announced that it would be taking Installation 03 elsewhere for repairs and in order to hide it.<ref name="HE10"/>
John and the rest of Blue Team took a Longsword fighter to Gamma Halo and landed in near the science team's camp. There, the Spartans found the corpses of both the science team and Spartan Black. After being attacked by Promethean Knights, Blue Team discovered the former location of the Composer and within, the [[Composer's Abyss]], a facility used to store the Composer's victims.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE8|HE|Issue=8}} The Spartans entered a [[slipspace portal]] at the end of the Abyss and were [[Slipspace translocation|teleported]] to the [[Composer's Forge]], housing six new Composers, where they were confronted by the Didact and his Promethean constructs. During the battle, [[859 Static Carillon]], the Forge's [[monitor]], transported Installation 03 over the Forge by the Didact's request. The Didact subsequently took one of the Composers and departed for the Halo, intending to use the ring to eradicate humanity. Infuriated by the Didact bringing his "abominations" to the Composer's Forge, Static Carillon allied with the Spartans and escorted them back to the portal, holding off the hordes of Promethean machines.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE9|HE|Issue=9}}


===Self-reassignment===
Blue Team returned to the surface of Gamma Halo from the Composer's Abyss, arriving just in time as the Didact's new Composer rose from the pit. John fell behind while the Didact attacked and prepared to kill the others, starting with Kelly. Before he could do so, the Master Chief snuck up behind the Didact and stabbed him in the eye with his combat knife.{{Ref/Reuse|HE9}} becoming the first human to ever give the Didact a direct wound.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi20}} Intending to correct his mistake of not having killed the Spartan when he had the chance, the Didact grabbed John by the helmet, lifted him up in the air and squeezed, cracking his visor.{{Ref/Reuse|HE9}} However, the rest of Blue Team intervened, forcing the Didact to throw John aside. The Forerunner quickly and easily subdued all four Spartans, but Static Carillon arrived and teleported the Didact into the Halo's [[Control Room (Installation 03)|control room]] before he could finish them off.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HE10|HE|Issue=10}}
[[File:HTfS - Monn I'Zar.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Monn I'zar had heard stories of "the Demon" but had never personally encountered any Spartans until he came up against John.<ref name="CUBF"/>]]
{{Quote|no=four|q1=What'd Hood say?|Fred-104|q2=Gave the all clear. We're going back to work.|John-117|q3=Where to this time?|Kelly-087|q4=Anywhere we're needed.|John-117|John misleads the rest of his team to avoid them knowing that Hood had ordered them to take it easy for a while.}}<ref name="HE10"/>
Blue Team was able to make it back to Earth by [[2557#July|July 28]], where John met alone with Admiral Hood to discuss the fates of Installation 03 and the Didact.<ref name="HE10"/> He made it clear that neither he nor the rest of Blue Team knew where 859 Static Carillon had disappeared to and that it was probably best to only consider the Didact "contained", not killed. When the section of Gamma Halo had crashed into Clinquant, there had been five Composers present, after all. The impact seemed to have activated them somehow, which would have reduced the Didact to a digital essence.<ref name="HE10"/><ref name="WaypointDidact">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/didact '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Didact'']</ref> Hood asked if the Chief was okay given everything that had happened since [[Fall of Reach|Reach]], to which John answered in the affirmative. Regardless, Admiral Hood ordered he and the rest of his team to take some time off in order to rest and relax. When John met back up with Kelly, Linda, and Fred, however, he lied, telling them that Hood had cleared them for to head back into the field. Sometime shortly following this, John underwent a psychological evaluation wherein it was determined that he was unlikely to stop repeatedly taking on missions anytime soon. Without informing Hood, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] subsequently assigned Blue Team to its backlog of high-priority missions.<ref name="HE10"/><ref name="HM185"/> These classified operations included diplomatic escorts through hostile territory, counter-[[piracy]] efforts against [[salvager]]s, and strikes against [[Covenant remnants|Covenant]] outposts.<ref name="HM185">''[[Halo Mythos]]'', ''page 185''</ref> During one of these missions John found himself at a certain point to be the only member of Blue Team that had not taken up Forerunner weaponry to fight with.<ref name="HE10"/> During another mission that took John to what had once been a [[Covenant]] world, he faced down a [[Type-1 energy sword]]-wielding [[Sangheili]] named [[Monn I'zar]] armed only with a combat knife.<ref name="CUBF">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/brute-force '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Community Update: Brute Force'']</ref>


On [[2557#September|September 26, 2557]] John met for an interview with an operative from ONI's [[Beta-5 Division]] with the code name of [[Sapphire Three]].<ref name="lootcrate9">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #9]]''</ref> They met to have their discussion at the terminus of the [[Borneo Space Tether]] far above the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] [[Borneo|island]] of the same name.<ref name="lootcrate9"/> At just after 0721 hours, the conversation turned toward John's recovery of [[Cortana]] from the stasis vestibule within ''[[High Charity]]'' in [[2552#December|December of 2552]]. Sapphire Three asked John to describe what sort of state Cortana had been in when he found her, to which he replied that she had been functional in spite of potential defects. John further explained, when prompted, that these defects included problems with her response times, synchronization confidence, diagnostic alerts, and a few other things. The operative inquired as to whether she had told him beforehand that she had held on to the [[activation index]] from [[Installation 04]] and John had to admit that she had not. Sapphire Three pointed out that this would have qualified as a violation of Article 2477-6 of the [[UNSC Charter for Xenoarcheological Artifact Recovery and Quarantine]], to which John had nothing to say. When the line of questioning broached the subject of the possible "[[Character interludes|residual interface anomalies]]" John experienced after leaving Cortana behind on the Covenant city, John simply reported what he'd been told concerning a Software Trauma Analysis that had looked at the anomalies. According to the report, what had seemed like messages from Cortana were actually just echoes of her personality matrix in his neural interface and may have been been caused by her extensive data consumption in Installation 04's [[Control Room (Installation 04)|control room]]. John told the operative that he never brought the issue up after he and Cortana reconnected and when asked whether he agreed with the STA's conclusions, said that he didn't see why it was important.<ref name="lootcrate9"/>
After recovering, John picked up the ring's [[Activation Index]] the Didact had dropped and intended to confront the Forerunner in the control room while the rest of the team returned to their Longsword. Using the Index to override the system's safeties, the Master Chief gave control of the Halo to Static Carillon who then ejected the section of the ring housing the control room, causing it to plunge toward the planet below. The monitor teleported John away just as the segment struck the Composer's Forge and the Didact was disintegrated by the Composers.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} John's efforts resulted in the death of the Didact, whose mutations were unable to stand up to the raw destructive neural physics of five Composers exploding at once. The Didact was composed and uploaded to the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Novel|Epi|5}} John and Static Carillon materialized aboard Blue Team's Longsword, where the monitor bade farewell to the Reclaimer before departing to take Gamma Halo to an undisclosed location.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}


Once [[2558]] dawned, [[Blue Team]]'s assignments saw them deployed to the fringes of human civilization where fighting was raging harder than ever between several independent multi-species sects and alliances.<ref name="HM185"/><ref name="HTFSOTB">''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', ''[[On the Brink]]''</ref> At different points John and the others fought against [[Jiralhanae]] on a [[human colony]], protected civilians from attacking [[Kig-Yar]], and at one point even found themselves fleeing from a {{class|CCS|battlecruiser}} which was firing its [[pulse laser turret]]s at them on the ground.<ref name="HTFSOTB"/> By August of this year, John had personally completed two hundred and nine military operations, including one hundred and thirty-six full campaigns.<ref name="H5GLED"/>
====Self-reassignment====
[[File:HTFoR AS - Blue 09.jpg|thumb|250px|Blue Team on Reach.]]
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Where to this time?|Kelly-087|q2=Anywhere we're needed.|John-117|John-117 informing Blue team about their next assignment{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}}}
John returned to Earth with Blue Team where he was debriefed by Fleet Admiral Hood. While Lord Hood believed the Didact to be dead, the Master Chief considered it safer to call him "contained". Hood ordered John and the other Spartans to take a leave from combat, but upon returning to his team the Master Chief instead told them they were embarking on a new mission.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} In the following months, John led Blue Team on numerous classified operations, virtually without pause. These missions included diplomatic escorts through hostile territory, counter-piracy efforts against salvagers, and strikes against Covenant outposts. The Master Chief's determination to undertake mission after mission without rest was discussed by two high-level individuals within ONI, who deemed his self-reassignment a predictable consequence of his nature and unwavering dedication to his career.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} At some point amid these operations, John and Blue Team returned to the glassed Reach to remember Sam's sacrifice.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORTAS}}


At one point in [[2558]], Blue Team was stationed at the construction site for a new ONI research facility, awaiting orders, when the facility suddenly came under attack by a fanatical [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]] group.<ref name="HTFSOTB"/> The hostiles managed to capture an [[M510 Mammoth]], disable its [[Wikipedia:Centrifugal governor|governor]], and drive it down a steep hillside toward the site's main [[fusion reactor]]. Blue Team followed in pursuit in an [[M12 Warthog LRV]] with Fred at the wheel. After an hour had passed since the attack started, John, Kelly, and Linda ejected from the Warthog when it was close enough to the rampaging Mammoth. Once aboard, he ordered Linda to stay up top to provide him with cover and Kelly to go below. He soon followed Kelly and through the use of an [[MA5D assault rifle]] and [[combat knife]], John took out at least one Sangheili and two Kig-Yar, wresting control of the hulking vehicle from its hijackers.[[File:FoR AS ChiefClose.png|thumb|300px|left|In [[2519]] Sam carved a symbol with an eagle's head into a tree.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> At some point, this eventually formed the basis for the symbol representing Blue Team.<ref name="H5GL"/>]] John took the controls and seeing that the brakes had been disabled, decided to steer it right over an upcoming ridge. Kelly shouted against this plan, as she had discovered scientists hiding inside a compartment. The impact from driving over a cliff would almost certainly kill them. Given the circumstances, John instead chose to simply swerve away from the reactor at the last second. A Kig-Yar he had thought was dead attacked him from behind at that last second, but he slammed its head into the dashboard and still managed to avoid the reactor in time. The near miss avoided catastrophe but still resulted in the destruction of a decent amount of fabricated material that had been constructed around it. John checked in with Kelly to make sure the scientists were okay. The manager in charge of the construction project soon rushed over to Spartans after the smoke cleared and demanded to know who he should blame for the damage. John, as the one who had been driving, took responsibility. The incredulous man accused the Master Chief of thinking he could get away with anything because of his status as a hero. At this moment, Fred jumped in to reprimand the thankless individual they had all just saved, finding it difficult to maintain an easy demeanor in the face of such disrespect. John kept a cooler head and advised Fred to let the insult go. He directed the team to return to a nearby airstrip, as they still had a mission entirely apart from the spontaneous attempted [[terrorism]] just defended against.<ref name="HTFSOTB"/>
On September 26, 2557, two months after the New Phoenix Incident and Cortana's supposed death, a [[Beta-5 Division]] operative named [[Sapphire Three]] personally conducted an interview with John at [[Borneo Space Tether|Borneo Station]], discussing his interactions with Cortana back in late 2552. She inquired him about Cortana's state at the time of [[Raid on High Charity|her rescue]] on the Ark and about [[Character interludes|cryptic messages]] he had experienced while he was lightyears apart from her.<ref name="lootcrate9">''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]'', [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #9]]</ref>


Blue Team's missions eventually took them back to the [[Epsilon Eridani system]] and the glassed remains of [[Reach]] in particular.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/> The Spartans split up but eventually came back together at a certain location for a reason entirely personal to all of them that Command had permitted them to indulge in. John and Linda approached Kelly and Fred in a Warthog and upon exiting asked if the place they stood was really what remained of they were looking for: the spot in the [[Highland Mountains]]' [[Reach Military Wilderness Training Preserve|military wilderness training preserve]] where [[Sam-034]] had carved a symbol into a tree so many years before. In his honor, John, Kelly, and Fred looked on as Linda carved a similar symbol, now used to represent Blue Team, into a large outcropping of [[lechatelierite]]. John verbally reflected on what Sam had meant to each of them and recalled that they last time they were all together in the preserve, he had asked them to trust him when he said he could get everyone home. As such, he pointedly asked if each of them was willing to continue trusting him and to keep following his lead.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>
In early [[2558]], Blue Team was stationed at the construction site for a new ONI research facility, awaiting orders, when the facility came under attack by fanatical [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]]. The hostiles managed to capture an [[M510 Mammoth]], disable its governor, and drive it down a steep hillside toward the site's main [[fusion reactor]]. Blue Team followed in pursuit in an [[M12 Warthog LRV]]. John, Kelly, and Linda ejected from the Warthog when it was close enough to the Mammoth. The three of them managed to wrest control of the hulking vehicle from its hijackers. Kelly discovered scientists hiding inside the mammoth and relayed this to John, who was driving. Their presence meant he could not just drive it off a cliff, as doing so would almost certainly kill them. Instead, he steered it away from the reactor at the last second, but the near miss still resulted in the destruction of a decent amount of fabricated material that had been constructed. Kelly ensured that the scientists onboard were okay. The manager in charge of the construction project rushed over to Spartans after the smoke cleared and demanded to know who he should blame for the damage. John, who had taken the Mammoth's controls, took all responsibility for caused damage. The incredulous man accused the Master Chief of thinking he could get away with anything because of his status as a hero. At this moment, Fred jumped in to reprimand the thankless individual they had all just saved, finding it difficult to maintain an easy demeanor in the face of such disrespect. John kept a cooler head and directed the team to return to a nearby airstrip, as their next mission orders had come in.<ref name="otb">''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', [[On the Brink]]</ref>


===The Fallen Spartan===
====Biko incident====
{{Main|Raid on Biko peace talks}}
{{Main|Raid on Biko peace talks}}
{{Quote|Not only is the Chief innocent, but he saved the day. He pulled off the impossible. I've got everything I need to prove it too, and the best part is I've got the UEG blatantly implicating themselves in legislative negligence and then conspiring with the Biko magistrate to cover it up! Coercion, bribery, all of it! Those arrogant pricks could have prevented the whole thing, and they know it too! ONI and the UEG have been sacrificing the Chief this whole time to save their own asses, to distract the public from what we've been digging up on them!|Benjamin Giraud comes to a sobering realization.}}<ref name="HTTS112">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 12''</ref>
{{Quote|Every statue of him is a monument to be treasured|Senator Andrew Del Rio, referring to John-117 after his innocence at the Biko massacre was proven<ref name="htt13">''Hunt the Truth'', Episode 13: IN THE BAG</ref>}}
[[File:Master Chief leaks.jpg|thumb|300px|ONI used misleading footage of John within the Biko embassy to both discredit rumors concerning the Spartan-IIs and to observe the public's reactions to the Master Chief having seemingly gone rogue.<ref name="HTTS19"/><ref name="HTTS113"/>]]
[[File:Master Chief leaks.jpg|thumb|250px|John-117 during the Raid on Biko.]]
At some point in the latter half of [[2558]], peace talks between [[human]]s and [[Sangheili]] were scheduled to be held at the [[Outer Colonies]] regional embassy on [[Biko]].<ref name="HTTS18"/> Around a week before the meeting was to be held, the ambassador and peace activist [[Richard Sekibo]] uncovered a serious threat that could disrupt the talks and petitioned the [[Unified Earth Government]] for support.<ref name="HTTS110">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 10''</ref> The [[UEG Senate]] disregarded his request, but when the day came, John landed in the densely populated city where the talks were being held. Sekibo's intelligence had been correct, for the extremist group known as [[Sapien Sunrise]] had managed to infiltrate the embassy and were plotting to assassinate Sekibo and frame the Sangheili for his death. The ship John used to enter the planet's atmosphere was moving so fast that it registered as a fireball to the air traffic [[artificial intelligence]] monitoring it. John charged toward the embassy at a dead sprint.<ref name="HTTS110"/> He burst into the chamber where the delegates were gathered and without a moment's hesitation, shot the Sapien Sunrise operative acting as Sekibo's bodyguard with a handgun at point-blank range.<ref name="HTTS18"/> This provocation started a firefight that ultimately cost the lives of nineteen humans and three of the Sangheili. John took possession of Sekibo and fought his way out of the embassy with the Sangheili survivors.<ref name="HTTS18"/> In addition to Sekibo's bodyguard, eight of the other humans present had been part of Sapien Sunrise: four embassy guards and four civilians.<ref name="HTTS111">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 11''</ref> Of the civilians, two were janitors collectively armed with a rocket launcher and two were couriers carrying fragmentation grenades. John killed all nine, including the bodyguard, with just twelve rounds from a handgun, though he was armed with an [[MA5D assault rifle]] as well.<ref name="HTTS18"/><ref name="HTTS111"/> They all boarded the ship he had arrived on and fled the planet thereafter, but the ambassador succumbed to wounds inflicted during the shooting, making him the nineteenth casualty.<ref name="HTTS110"/> The day after the firefight interrupted the peace talks local officials investigating a signal beacon found his body in a field where John had left it.<ref name="HTTS18">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 08''</ref> That same day the Sangheili clan that had sent representation to the talks broadcast an official transmission to Earth in which its [[kaidon]] denied any involvement in what had transpired and also defended John's innocence in the matter.<ref name="HTTS110"/> This transmission was buried by the Unified Earth Government and the UEG's magistrate on Biko, [[Laurel Adams]], took actions to keep the local leadership and media from speaking out either, ensuring that the involvement of Sapien Sunrise remained unknown to the rest of humanity.<ref name="HTTS110"/>
In [[2558]] John and the rest of Blue Team discovered that an extremist organization known as [[Sapien Sunrise]] was planning an attack on [[Richard Sekibo]] on [[Biko]]. As a peace conference on [[Biko]] between the UEG and [[Sangheili]] representatives was coming to an end, John entered the embassy and instantly killed a member of Sapien Sunrise who was disguised as [[Richard Sekibo]]'s bodyguard. A firefight began, in which a total of eighteen human lives were claimed. John fled the embassy alongside the Sangheili delegation, which he escorted to safety. Outside the embassy, the rest of Blue Team was waiting in an evac ship for John. Unfortunately, Sekibo was killed and John was unable to save him.<ref name="htt10">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''Episode 10: GAG ORDER''</ref> His corpse was left behind in a field near the embassy on Biko. The next day, local officials discovered a signal beacon that led them to the body of Sekibo.<ref name="htt8">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', [[Hunt the Truth Season 1/Transcripts/Eight|Episode 08: DRIP, DRIP, DRIP]]</ref> After this event, the [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] and Biko government covered it up by making it appear that John had killed authorized bodyguards and Sekibo.{{Ref/Reuse|htt10}} This false story was spread throughout the [[Inner Colonies|inner colonies]]. The media started referring to John as "'''The Fallen Spartan'''".{{Ref/Reuse|htt8}} As [[Benjamin Giraud]] prepared to expose the cover up, and reveal the atrocities committed by the people behind the SPARTAN-II program, the UEG and Biko undercut him by radically reversing their claims, admitting and denouncing the involvement of Sapien Sunrise in the attack, utterly discrediting Giraud. Even Senator [[Andrew Del Rio]], who had condemned the Master Chief in an official statement, reversed his position and took some immediate leave.{{Ref/Reuse|htt13}}
 
Ten days after the violence on Biko, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] intentionally leaked a previously suppressed incident report from the embassy that detailed the Master Chief's involvement in events and made it appear that he had burst into the building and killed people there unprovoked.<ref name="HTTS18"/> Every journalism outlet and social hub immediately was abuzz with coverage of the story and John was soon widely being accused of abducting and killing Richard Sekibo, slaughtering civilians, and even colluding with [[Covenant remnants|the enemy]]. On [[Earth]], the predominant reaction from people was panic, as it seemed that humanity's savior had finally gone rogue. News presenters began referring to John as "the Fallen Spartan". In the [[Outer Colonies]], however, his purported actions were largely believed to have been carried out under the direction of ONI. The Chief was simply seen as a disposable weapon being wielded by the agency to cripple Sekibo's diplomatic vision. Some were also gladdened to see Earth's champion brought low by the leaked report.<ref name="HTTS18"/> Less than twenty-four hours later, a second leak was put out in the form of a video from the incident.<ref name="HTTS19">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 09''</ref> The footage seemed to corroborate everything in the report and immediately polarized people across human-occupied space even further. The leaks, combined with recent reporting from [[Benjamin Giraud]] on the poaching of Outer Colonies children for the [[Spartan-II program]], created widespread unrest in those colonies. The [[New Colonial Alliance]] took full advantage of the moment and soon massive demonstrations were common and there were many renewed calls for embargoes, boycotts, and even independence from the [[Unified Earth Government]].<ref name="HTTS19"/> Some UEG politicians tried to levy the situation for their own disparate agendas, from increased military spending to tax relief.<ref name="HTTS110"/> Now a freshman [[UEG Senate|senator]], [[Andrew Del Rio]] called for the decommissioning of all extant [[Spartan-II]]s.<ref name="HTTS110"/> The senator eventually retracted his proposal when Laurel Adams and the UEG at large announced the conclusion of an investigation that cleared the Chief of any suspicions of wrongdoing.<ref name="HTTS113">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', ''[[Hunt the Truth Season 1|Season 1]] Episode 13''</ref> Evidence implicating Sapien Sunrise in Sekibo's death was made public and at the same time, Benjamin Giraud's reporting was discredited, since ONI had played a large role in providing him with unreliable evidence. These reversals served to quell the fervor in the Outer Colonies and in the eyes of many, lay the spurious accusations concerning the Spartan-II program's sordid history at the feet of Giraud alone.<ref name="HTTS113"/>


===Argent Moon===
====Argent Moon====
{{Main|Raid on Argent Moon}}
{{Main|Operation: BIRD IN HAND}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=We're outnumbered here, Chief. A few thousand to one.|Fred-104|q2=Surrendering ''Argent Moon'' is not an option.|John-117|John and Fred about their mission<ref name="h5 blue team"/>}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=We're outnumbered here, Chief. A few thousand to one.|Fred-104|q2=Surrendering ''Argent Moon'' is not an option.|John-117|John and Fred about their mission{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}}}}
[[File:H5G-BlueTeam cinematic.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|John and the rest of Blue Team assaulting ''Argent Moon''.]]
[[File:H5G-BlueTeam cinematic.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|John and the rest of Blue Team assaulting ''Argent Moon''.]]
On October 23, 2558, John and the rest of Blue Team were deployed from the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} on a mission to find and secure ''[[Argent Moon]]'', an ONI research vessel that had been missing for nineteen months. Departing from a D79-TC Pelican, Blue Team managed to infiltrate the ''Argent Moon'' by shooting out one of the windows, subsequently causing many Sangheili part of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant to be sucked out into the vacuum. Ascertaining that there were no human survivors aboard, John and the others fought towards central control, where they planned to disable the gravity and life support systems on the ship in order to kill off the rest of the Covenant.<ref name="h5 blue team"/> They were almost there when a Mgalekgolo destroyed a catwalk they were crossing and so fell multiple stories. While alone John experienced a vision from the [[Domain]], with the image of Cortana telling him that it was open and that [[Meridian]] was next and the Reclamation was about to begin. He then was treated to a vision of a [[Guardian]] rising up from a bottomless chasm. Upon coming to, he found himself amongst Blue Team once more and told them what he had seen. Resolving to deal with it later, they continued onwards according to their original plan.<ref name="h5 blue team"/>
On October 23, 2558, John and the rest of Blue Team were deployed from the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} on a mission to find and secure ''[[Argent Moon]]'', an ONI research vessel that had been missing for nineteen months. Departing from a D79-TC Pelican, Blue Team managed to infiltrate the ''Argent Moon'' by shooting out one of the windows, subsequently causing many Sangheili part of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant to be sucked out into the vacuum. Ascertaining that there were no human survivors aboard, John and the others fought towards central control, where they planned to disable the gravity and life support systems on the ship in order to kill off the rest of the Covenant.<ref name="h5 blue team">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level [[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]</ref> They were almost there when a Mgalekgolo destroyed a catwalk they were crossing and so fell multiple stories. While alone John experienced a vision from the [[Domain]], with the image of Cortana telling him that it was open and that [[Meridian]] was next and the Reclamation was about to begin. He then was treated to a vision of a [[Guardian]] rising up from a bottomless chasm. Upon coming to, he found himself amongst Blue Team once more and told them what he had seen. Resolving to deal with it later, they continued onwards according to their original plan.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}}


Upon witnessing Covenant vessels exiting slipspace all around the ''Argent Moon'', however, the plan changed to asset denial and it was decided that the ''Argent Moon'' must be destroyed. Blue Team fought to the ship's reactor and disabled its safeties so that it would begin to overheat and detonate. However, the ''Argent Moon'' responded with automatic safeties, moving the reactor to a cooling center where it could be contained. Needing to ensure its overload, Blue Team followed the reactor to the cooling center in vacuum, using Banshees to destroy its coolant pipes. With their interference, the cooling system failed and the reactor began overheating, prepping ''Argent Moon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s destruction. Blue Team needed to escape, but their Banshees would not escape the explosion in time and their arrival Pelican appeared to have been destroyed. John thus ordered them to the hangar where they could take a [[Winter-class prowler]] and escape into slipspace. Arriving at a hangar, the Spartans found the parked prowler [[ONI Acrisius|ONI ''Acrisius'']], but needed to recharge its fuel cells. Many more Covenant attacked them while Blue Team defended themselves, waiting for the Prowler to prep for launch. With the hangar cleared and the ''Acrisius'' ready, John contacted the UNSC ''Infinity'' and informed them that he would be sending Blue Team to Meridian. However, ''Infinity'' was mysteriously already aware of Cortana's return and ordered John back to them while another Spartan team was sent to deal with her. Rejecting their orders, John and Blue Team chose to go AWOL and evacuated aboard the ''Acrisius'', leaving the ''Argent Moon'' as it exploded.<ref name="h5 blue team"/>
Upon witnessing Covenant vessels exiting slipspace all around the ''Argent Moon'', however, the plan changed to asset denial and it was decided that the ''Argent Moon'' must be destroyed. Blue Team fought to the ship's reactor and disabled its safeties so that it would begin to overheat and detonate. However, the ''Argent Moon'' responded with automatic safeties, moving the reactor to a cooling center where it could be contained. Needing to ensure its overload, Blue Team followed the reactor to the cooling center in vacuum, using Banshees to destroy its coolant pipes. With their interference, the cooling system failed and the reactor began overheating, prepping ''Argent Moon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s destruction. Blue Team needed to escape, but their Banshees would not escape the explosion in time and their arrival Pelican appeared to have been destroyed. John thus ordered them to the hangar where they could take a [[Winter-class prowler]] and escape into slipspace. Arriving at a hangar, the Spartans found the parked prowler [[ONI Acrisius|ONI ''Acrisius'']], but needed to recharge its fuel cells. Many more Covenant attacked them while Blue Team defended themselves, waiting for the Prowler to prep for launch. With the hangar cleared and the ''Acrisius'' ready, John contacted the UNSC ''Infinity'' and informed them that he would be sending Blue Team to Meridian. However, ''Infinity'' was mysteriously already aware of Cortana's return and ordered John back to them while another Spartan team was sent to deal with her. Rejecting their orders, John and Blue Team chose to go AWOL and evacuated aboard the ''Acrisius'', leaving the ''Argent Moon'' as it exploded.{{Ref/Reuse|h5 blue team}}


===Absent without leave===
====Absent without leave====
[[File:H5G-Chief&Locke-01.jpg|thumb|250px|Locke attempts to put an [[armor restraint]] on the Chief.]]
[[File:H5G-Chief&Locke-01.jpg|thumb|250px|Locke attempts to put an [[armor restraint]] on the Chief.]]
{{Main|Battle of Meridian (2558)}}
{{Main|Battle of Meridian (2558)}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Sir, you are absent without leave. This is your one chance to come home peacefully.|Spartan Locke|q2=I have a job to do.|John-117|John-117 and Spartan Locke about current state of affairs<ref name="h5 unconfirmed">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Unconfirmed]]''</ref>}}
{{Quote|no=four|q1=Sir, you are absent without leave. This is your one chance to come home peacefully.|Spartan Locke|q2=I have a job to do.|John-117|q3=Cortana's our concern now, sir.|Spartan Locke|q4=Like hell she is.|John-117|John-117 and Spartan Locke about current state of affairs<ref name="H5GU">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level [[Unconfirmed]]</ref>}}
The very next day, the UNSC declared John-117 AWOL. [[Fireteam Osiris]], a [[Spartan-IV]] unit led by Spartan [[Jameson Locke]], was tasked with recovering Blue Team and the ''Acrisius''.<ref name="h5 glassed"/> Upon arriving at [[Meridian]], Blue Team landed at [[Apogee Station]] and proceeded make their way downwards to where the dormant [[Guardian]] lay buried. Their arrival on-planet was witnessed by multiple colonists, who were wholly unaware of their intentions. Also unbeknownst to the people of Meridian was the fact that their own [[Governor Sloan]] purposefully ensured nobody tried to stop them, as he was already serving [[Cortana]] at that point. Blue Team encountered no resistance from the [[Warden Eternal]] or any mechanical [[Promethean]]s. Fireteam Osiris caught up to Blue Team as they were entering the Guardian and Spartan Locke ordered John to stand down and return to the UNSC peacefully. He told John that Cortana was their concern now. This caused John to lash out and begin a physical fight with Locke, as the rest of Fireteam Osiris looked on. He was able to overpower Locke and lock him in place with the [[armor restraint]] that had been meant for him. He then entered the Guardian without any more interruptions, and once he was aboard, it began to awaken. Fireteam Osiris scrambled to escape the collapsing chamber it had been held in as it rose out of the ground, carrying John and the rest of Blue Team. The Guardian caused massive amounts of destruction as it took to the air, both from the very fact that it was emerging from beneath the earth and from electromagnetic shockwaves it sent out continually. During this time, many mechanical Promethean forces were deployed from the Guardian to engage Fireteam Osiris as they tried to escape the destruction in their Pelican. The Guardian jumped to slipspace on a course for [[Genesis]], taking Blue Team with it.<ref name="h5 evacuation">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Evacuation]]''</ref> In the wake of the emergence, John was declared [[KIA]] on Meridian by the [[UNSC]] two days later. It was thought that he was at least partly responsible for the civilian deaths caused by the Guardian on the planet, and it was decided an official story needed to be invented that did not reveal his AWOL status and Osiris' mission to hunt him and Blue Team down.<ref name="hero falls">'''[[A Hero Falls]]'''</ref>
The very next day, the UNSC declared John-117 AWOL. [[Fireteam Osiris]], a [[Spartan-IV]] unit led by Spartan [[Jameson Locke]], was tasked with recovering Blue Team and the ''Acrisius''.<ref name="h5 glassed">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level [[Glassed]]</ref> Upon arriving at [[Meridian]], Blue Team landed at [[Apogee Station]] and proceeded make their way downwards to where the dormant [[Guardian]] lay buried. Their arrival on-planet was witnessed by multiple colonists, who were wholly unaware of their intentions. Also unbeknownst to the people of Meridian was the fact that their own [[Governor Sloan]] purposefully ensured nobody tried to stop them, as he was already serving [[Cortana]] at that point. Blue Team encountered no resistance from the [[Warden Eternal]] or any mechanical [[Promethean]]s. Fireteam Osiris caught up to Blue Team as they were entering the Guardian and Spartan Locke ordered John to stand down and return to the UNSC peacefully. He told John that Cortana was their concern now. This caused John to lash out and begin a physical fight with Locke, as the rest of Fireteam Osiris looked on. He was able to overpower Locke and lock him in place with the [[armor restraint]] that had been meant for him. He then entered the Guardian without any more interruptions, and once he was aboard, it began to awaken. Fireteam Osiris scrambled to escape the collapsing chamber it had been held in as it rose out of the ground, carrying John and the rest of Blue Team. The Guardian caused massive amounts of destruction as it took to the air, both from the very fact that it was emerging from beneath the earth and from electromagnetic shockwaves it sent out continually. During this time, many mechanical Promethean forces were deployed from the Guardian to engage Fireteam Osiris as they tried to escape the destruction in their Pelican. The Guardian jumped to slipspace on a course for [[Genesis]], taking Blue Team with it.<ref name="h5 evacuation">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', campaign level, ''[[Evacuation]]''</ref> In the wake of the emergence, John was declared [[KIA]] on Meridian by the [[UNSC]] two days later. It was thought that he was at least partly responsible for the civilian deaths caused by the Guardian on the planet, and it was decided an official story needed to be invented that did not reveal his AWOL status and Osiris' mission to hunt him and Blue Team down.{{Ref/Reuse|AHF}}


===Genesis and revelation===
====Genesis and revelation====
[[File:H5G-John&Cortana-03.jpg|thumb|250px|Cortana capturing John inside a Cryptum.]]
[[File:H5G-John&Cortana-03.jpg|thumb|250px|Cortana capturing John inside a Cryptum.]]
{{Main|Battle of Genesis}}
{{Main|Battle of Genesis}}
{{Quote|Stand down, Cortana. Come home with us. It's not too late to stop this.|John trying to convince Cortana to stop<ref name="h5 the breaking"/>}}
{{Quote|Stand down, Cortana. Come home with us. It's not too late to stop this.|John trying to convince Cortana to stop{{Ref/Reuse|H5GTB}}}}
Upon landing on Genesis, Blue Team came across a series of computer consoles sounding musical tunes of [[Spartan signals|Oly Oly Oxen Free]]. Following the path unlocked by interacting with those consoles, Blue Team battled through stranded Covenant forces before meeting the [[Warden Eternal]]. Shortly after learning of the Warden Eternal's role as Cortana's defender, John demanded to meet her, only for the Warden Eternal to refuse and commence hostilities. Shortly after Blue Team's defeat of the Warden Eternal in battle, Cortana finally revealed herself to them, expressing relief that they made it to Genesis. Upon questioning Cortana on the circumstances of her survival, they learned that the [[Domain]] had saved her; Cortana referred to it as the "water of life" for AIs. Suspicious of Cortana's desire to reunite with them, Blue Team proceeded further into the planet in order to physically locate her.<ref name="h5 reunion"/> Shortly afterward, Fireteam Osiris caught up with Blue Team. They warned John that Cortana was potentially dangerous, only for John to respond that he had already come to the same conclusion.
Upon landing on Genesis, Blue Team came across a series of computer consoles sounding musical tunes of [[Spartan signals|Oly Oly Oxen Free]]. Following the path unlocked by interacting with those consoles, Blue Team battled through stranded Covenant forces before meeting the [[Warden Eternal]]. Shortly after learning of the Warden Eternal's role as Cortana's defender, John demanded to meet her, only for the Warden Eternal to refuse and commence hostilities. Shortly after Blue Team's defeat of the Warden Eternal in battle, Cortana finally revealed herself to them, expressing relief that they made it to Genesis. Upon questioning Cortana on the circumstances of her survival, they learned that the [[Domain]] had saved her; Cortana referred to it as the "water of life" for AIs. Suspicious of Cortana's desire to reunite with them, Blue Team proceeded further into the planet in order to physically locate her.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GR}} Shortly afterward, Fireteam Osiris caught up with Blue Team. They warned John that Cortana was potentially dangerous, only for John to respond that he had already come to the same conclusion.
 
Before the two Spartan teams could team up, Cortana separated Blue Team from Osiris in separate parts of the installation.{{Ref/Level|Id=h5 genesis|H5|[[Genesis (level)|Genesis]]}} Blue Team fought an uphill battle through Promethean forces and multiple bodies of the Warden Eternal before physically meeting Cortana. There she revealed to them her plan to use the Guardians as a means of enforcing a forced peace upon the galaxy, giving sentient beings "a chance to be more than they are naturally". Comparing Cortana's behavior to that of Doctor Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, John pointed out a flaw in Cortana's plan: high collateral damage and a loss of free will. John pleaded with Cortana to stand down and return to Earth with the team. Cortana refused and forcibly sealed Blue Team in a Cryptum, intending to keep them in stasis for 10,000 years.{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GTB|H5|[[The Breaking]]}} With the aid of [[031 Exuberant Witness]],{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} and secretly the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]],{{Ref/Reuse|Epi16}} Fireteam Osiris narrowly managed to free Blue Team from the Cryptum. Upon his release, John asked Locke where Cortana was; Locke could only respond, "Gone, sir."{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}}
 
[[File:Halo 5 - MC's first visit to Sanghelios.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John, Spartan Locke and Dr. Halsey meet up on Sanghelios.]]
Following Cortana’s departure, both Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris together fought their way through hordes of Promethean constructs to reach [[India 127|a D79-TC Pelican]] that had previously arrived on the planet via a Guardian’s Slipspace entry. Based on Osiris' recommendation, John and his team agreed to return to [[Sanghelios]]; the joint team requested Witness’ help, who opened a [[Slipspace portal]] for them.{{Ref/Novel|Id=BB|BadB|1}}
 
Upon their arrival at Sanghelios, now mostly in the dark due to the Guardian attack at Sunaion, they correctly deduced they’d find their allies near the region of [[Nuusra]].{{Ref/Reuse|BB}} There they regrouped with [[Thel 'Vadam]] and his [[Swords of Sanghelios]] who had just [[Battle of Sunaion|destroyed]] the remaining cell of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]]. In 'Vadam's [[Sangheili hut|field command post]], John and Locke also met up with Spartan Commander [[Sarah Palmer]] and Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]], whom John had not seen since before [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]] in 2552.{{Ref/Level|Id=H5GG|H5|[[Guardians]]}} Spartans then were invited to join Sangheili in a celebratory meal commemorating their victory, while the Arbiter and the Master Chief subsequently spent part of the night reminiscing about their past.{{Ref/Reuse|BB}} The Master Chief revealed to 'Vadam that Cortana had changed after their encounter with the Didact, and although he was unsure what led to Cortana's betrayal, he felt he had failed her. Hearing this, 'Vadam reassured the Chief that they are all prone to failures and mistakes, citing his bloody campaign on the humans during his service for the Covenant. 'Vadam credited the Chief for inspiring his strive for peace and encouraged the Spartan to not give up on Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|sunrise}} The next day, the humans left the planet for a rendezvous with the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} near [[Suban]], one of the moons of Sanghelios.{{Ref/Reuse|BB}} Before they separated, 'Vadam reassured the Chief in his support in the coming fight against the Created.{{Ref/Reuse|sunrise}}
{{clear}}
 
====Homecoming====
{{Main|Operation: WOLFE|Battle of New Mohács}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=A hundred Spartans? In the first wave?|[[Bella Disztl]]|q2=Affirmative. Reach belongs to you again. The Banished can leave or die.|John|Master Chief on seemed success of their campaign{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 16|HSoR|Chapter=16}}}}
 
On October 7, [[2559#October|2559]] John and the rest of Blue Team, now outfitted with new sets of [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN3)|third-generation Mjolnir armor]], were deployed from ''Infinity'' on Reach in an [[D102 Owl]], the {{UNSCShip|Special Delivery}}. The team's mission concerned the penetration of the rubble-filled ruins of [[CASTLE Base]] and the recovery of top-secret assets locked away in Doctor Halsey's abandoned laboratory there. It was hoped that the assets in question could prove useful against Cortana.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 1|HSoR|Chapter=1}} Trying to escape the enemy pursuit, who discovered their insertion craft, the Owl's pilots, Major [[Eznik Van Houte]] and First Lieutenant [[Maks Chapov]], attemted a vanishing maneuver resulting in their emergency crash-landing on glassed surface of Reach. To repel the enemy attack on their crash site, whom John identified as the [[Banished]], Spartans used the [[Wikipedia:Drilling jumbo|drilling jumbo]] as an anti-aircraft turret against [[Morsam-pattern Seraph|Seraph]] patrol. Collecting the Owl's crew and mining machines, Blue Team proceeded in the direction of [[Highland Mountains]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 2|HSoR|Chapter=2}} To speed up the mission John suggested to commandeer a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Phantom|Phantom]] from Banished controlled [[Kisköre Base]]. Splitting his team in two, John ordered Linda to protect the Owl's crew and mining machines while he, Kelly and Fred infiltrated the base. However, as the fighting started, his squad came under heavy attack by [['Ahtulai Workshop Banshee|Banshee]] squadrons guarding the base. John was hit in left leg, Kelly took a serious shot to the chest and Fred suffered a severe concussion. In order to escape the enemy fire, Kelly blew a hole in the glassed surface of [[Kisköre Canal]] and the team ended up inside an old half melted water pipe going under the canal. There John, Kelly and Fred encountered members of [[Viery Militia]] led by Colonel [[Sasa Boldisar]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 5|HSoR|Chapter=5}} The militiamans led Spartans to their [[Logistics Base Gödöllő|base]] where John learned that there were actually three different clans amongst the Banished: [[Legion of the Corpse-Moon]], [[Ravaged Tusks]] and [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] working together to find something and that the militia were planning to use [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK]]s recovered from an old UNSC armory to draw the Banished away from Reach. Realizing that nuclear explosion would inevitably draw attention of Cortana and chances of success of Operation: WOLFE would be reduced to zero, John suggested helping the militia to take down Banished armory in [[New Mohács]], calling in additional Spartan support from ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 10|HSoR|Chapter=10}}
 
[[File:HSOR FullCover Art.jpg|thumb|300px|Blue Team on an occupied Reach.]]
After Linda's squad regrouped with John, he ordered to use the drilling jumbo and the [[Wikipedia:LHD (load, haul, dump machine)|LHD]] to bore a tunnel under the glass right to the Banished-occupied settlement. Under the cover of night, Blue Team slipped in to the enemy base, using silenced firearms eliminated the patrols and proceeded to disable the [[Shield Barrier|shield barrier]] surrounding New Mohács and to undermine as many of Banished armored vehicles and aircrafts as possible. As the barrier went down and the explosives were set off, Viery Militia's warthog convoy swarmed the streets of New Mohács. Suffering heavy casualties, the militia managed to get a hold on the settlement.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 12|HSoR|Chapter=12}} After the fighting stoped, John ordered to prepare for enemy counterattack, set up anti-aircraft defenses using [[Anaconda surface-to-air missile|Anacondas]], [[M71 Scythe|Scythes]] and [[M95 Lance|Lances]] as well as [[Lotus anti-tank mine|Lotus mines]]. As the Banished launched their attack, John and the rest of Blue Team held off the enemy onslaught long enough for UNSC reinforcements to arrive.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 15|HSoR|Chapter=15}} Hundreds of Spartan-IVs and ODSTs under command of Sarah Palmer helped repel the attack and secure New Mohács for good.
 
On October 12, John finally got an opportunity to proceed with his primary objective - securing of Doctor Halsey's assets. Aboard the Pelican, with a wing of [[F-41 Broadsword]]s to escort them, Blue Team were heading towards the CASTLE Base. Soon however they were intercepted by the enemy Banshees and Seraphs and shot down, crash-landing not too far from the base's entrance, which technically was a vertical shaft that had served as an old titanium mine. With additional air support, consisting of twelve [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s sent from ''Infinity'', Blue Team managed to clear the area around the shaft from the members of Keepers of the One Freedom.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 18|HSoR|Chapter=18}} Using nanobraided titanium cables John, Fred and Linda started their descend. As the Spartans were passing twelve hundred meters down, they realized that the Keepers were looking for ancient [[Menachite portal complex|Forerunner installation]] located far below the CASTLE Base all along. Reaching the bottom of the shaft Blue Team secured the Banished pirate lift which they were planing to use to lower the mining machines from the surface to the base's entrance tunnel.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 20|HSoR|Chapter=20}} John ordered Fred to investigate the Forerunner facility, while he and the rest of the team were clearing the passage to the base. As John and Kelly made their way inside, they encountered a subroutine of [[Kalmiya]], a prototype [[Smart AI|"smart"]] AI which was [[Operation: WHITE GLOVE|destroyed]] in 2552 to prevent the Covenant from collecting any information after the Reach had fallen. Bypassing Kalmiya's security systems, Kelly gained access to the Doctor Halsey's laboratory vault and secured three cryobins and a lockbox. John then ordered to retreat back to the surface and then to ''Infinity''.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 21|HSoR|Chapter=21}}
 
During their trip back, Fred reported John, that during his time in the Keeper's tunnels he encountered [[Veta Lopis]], the ONI's [[Ferret]] team leader, with whom Fred worked on several occasions before. As a double agent within the Keepers of the One Freedom, she provided Fred intell on the Banished plans on Reach - to open a hidden underground slipspace portal, which would allow their leader, [[Atriox]], to return from the [[Installation 00|Ark]] and for the Keepers to travel there to initiate the Great Journey. Upon their return to ''Infinity'', the Spartans were met by Cpt. [[Veronica Dare]] and Dr. Halsey, whom John informed about the mission success. The team then proceeded to  hangar mouth from where they observed how a huge slipspace portal above the Highland Mountains collapsed in on itself and the Banished [[Intrusion corvette|corvette]] vanished in slipspace escaping Reach just in time as the ship's sensors signaled the imminent arrival of one of Cortana's [[Guardian]]s. The next moment ''Infinity'' jumped into slipspace.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epilogue|HSoR|Epilogue}}
 
====Battle for Installation 07====
{{Main|Battle for Installation 07}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=I told you. We lost. We need help, not heroics.|[[Fernando Esparza]]|q2=No. We do our duty. Protect Humanity. Whatever the cost.|John|The Master Chief convicing a civilian to keep fighting no matter the odds}}{{Ref/Reuse|foundation}}
[[File:HINF-MynameisAtriox.png|thumb|300px|John defeated by Atriox.]]
On [[2559#December|December 11, 2559]], John was briefed by Dr. Halsey on his mission on [[Zeta Halo]] to contain Cortana and return her back to ''Infinity'' for deletion. For this operation he was split from the rest of Blue Team, whom were sent on a mission of their own by Cpt. Lasky, and paired with [[the Weapon]], a new AI created by Dr. Halsey from the assets recovered on Reach, specifically to lock Cortana down.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Recovered Files 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Recovered Files #04 - The Weapon}}
 
Upon their arrival on the very next day at Installation 07, ''Infinity'' and her escort fleet were ambushed by [[Banished dreadnought]]s and boarded by their raiding parties.{{Ref/Game|Id=ia4|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Infinity's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Infinity's Approach #04 - Arrival}} Led by Warmaster Atriox, the Banished managed to quickly overwhelm UNSC forces aboard ''Infinity''. Realising they were losing their ground, Cpt. Lasky ordered the deployment of the Weapon to proceed with the mission to lock down Cortana and then to abandon ship.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Infinity's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Infinity's Approach #05 - Zero Hour}}{{Ref/Game|Id=e1|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Evacuation 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Evacuation #01 - Infinity Down}} John deployed the Weapon,{{Ref/Quest|HI|The Sequence|Quote="Halsey initialized you. I was suppose to deploy you." "And you did. Right?" "Yes."}} then returned to assist in Lasky's safe evacuation. On the way to the lifeboats, John ordered the Spartans of [[Fireteam Taurus]] to escort the Captain to his lifeboat while he held off assailants in hangar bay.{{Ref/Game|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Infinity's Approach 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Infinity's Approach #10 - Priorities}} However, John was attacked by Atriox and was unable to best him in an one-on-one melee. The limp Spartan was thrown from the hangar bay and into space. John ended up floating above Halo for six months, saved only by his armor's survival mode. He was presumed dead by the Banished.{{Ref/Quest|Id=wg|HINF|Ringfall|Warship Gbraakon}}


Before the two Spartan teams could team up, Cortana separated Blue Team from Osiris in separate parts of the installation.<ref name="h5 genesis">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level, ''[[Genesis (level)|Genesis]]''</ref> Blue Team fought an uphill battle through Promethean forces and multiple bodies of the Warden Eternal before physically meeting Cortana. There she revealed to them her plan to use the Guardians as a means of enforcing a forced peace upon the galaxy, giving sentient beings "a chance to be more than they are naturally". Comparing Cortana's behavior to that of Doctor Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, John pointed out a flaw in Cortana's plan: high collateral damage and a loss of free will. John pleaded with Cortana to stand down and return to Earth with the team. Cortana refused and forcibly sealed Blue Team in a Cryptum, intending to keep them in stasis for 10,000 years.<ref name="h5 the breaking"/> With the aid of [[031 Exuberant Witness]], Fireteam Osiris narrowly managed to free Blue Team from the Cryptum. Upon his release, John asked Locke where Cortana was; Locke could only respond, "''Gone, sir.''"<ref name="h5 guardians"/>
Circa [[2560#May|May 28, 2560]],{{Ref/Generic|Id=HICGP|Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere}} by chance, John was recovered by [[Fernando Esparza]], a lone Pelican pilot who had been stranded in his [[Echo 216|dropship]] in John's vicinity for some time. After bringing John aboard and rerouting what little power he had into his suit, the man welcomed him back and informed John of UNSC's loss in the battle, partial destruction of the Ring and it's relocation to unknown space. Suddenly the craft was caught in [[Stasis cannon|stasis beam]] originating from nearby Banished dreadnought ''[[Ghost of Gbraakon]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}} John left the Pelican and proceeding through the debri field infiltrated the warship. Making short work of the it's crew, John made his way to the bridge. Being unable to shut down the stasis beam, he decided to scuttle the ship by taking out [[cooling manifold]]s to the engines causing an overheat. At that moment John came in contact with [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]], who assumed command over Banished forces on the Ring and urged the Spartan to continue his pointless fight for he would die soon enough. As the ship exploded around him, the Master Chief raced back to the hanger bay where ''Echo 216'', now freed of the stasis beam, was waiting for him.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}} Boarding the Pelican John received a message from The Weapon. Using ship AI Chief traced the message source to a subterranean structure at the fragmented section of the Ring and rigged the autopilot to take them there. Once inside, John reached the core of the structure where he retrieved the Weapon, who informed him that Cortana was deleted by now and that her own deletion protocols were disrupted by unknown reason.{{Ref/Quest|Id=foundation|HI|Ringfall|Foundation (Halo Infinite)|Foundation (Halo Infinite)}} On his way to the surface, Chief was confronted by Warlord [[Tremonius]], a commander of the Banished [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|outpost]] located above the structure. Ultimately, the Jiralhanae was outmatched and killed by the Spartan. Clearing out the base at the wreckage of {{UNSCShip|Mortal Reverie}}, John secured a landing pad for ''Echo 216''.{{Ref/Quest|Id=OT|HI|Ringfall|Outpost Tremonius (Halo Infinite)|Outpost Tremonius (Halo Infinite)}}


Following Cortana’s departure, both Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris together fought their way through hordes of Promethean constructs to reach [[India 127|a D79-TC Pelican]] that had previously arrived on the planet via a Guardian’s Slipspace entry. Based on Osiris' recommendation, John and his team agreed to return to Sanghelios; the joint team requested Witness’ help, who opened a [[Slipspace portal]] for them.<ref name="HBB1"/>
[[File:HINF Harbinger attacking John.png|thumb|300px|left|The Harbinger attacking John.]]
As they were planning their next move to stop the Banished from using the Halo, the Weapon intercepted a UNSC distress signal and traced it to [[The Tower|another Banished outpost]]. Esparza delivered the Master Chief to a closest safe position; from there, Chief proceeded to investigate a distress signal. On his way, he recaptured [[FOB Golf]], one of the UNSC [[Forward Operating Base]]s occupied by the Banished.{{Ref/Quest|Id=recovery|HI|Lockdown (Halo Infinite)|Recovery}} At the Tower, John successfully infiltrated the base and, on top level, he discovered Fireteam Taurus' leader [[Hudson Griffin]] trapped in a large machine and tortured by [[Chak 'Lok]], the Sangheili Warlord in charge of the facility. The two dueled one-on-one, with John emerging victorious. Despite being freed from a torture device, Griffin succumbed to his wounds, but not before informing Chief of the Banished's search for the [[Conservatory (location)|Conservatory]] at the [[Site Novem|excavation site]] north of the Tower.{{Ref/Quest|Id=tower|HI|Lockdown|The Tower}} Acting on Griffin's information, John and the Weapon investigated the coordinates. At the seemingly deserted dig site, they found that the Banished [[flame-bore]] had cut through Forerunner materials into a subterranean structure. However, before they could enter, the drill activated and cut off their entrance. As John got to the drill's control room, he was confronted by the dig site security commander Chieftain [[Bassus]]. After a brutal fight, the Master Chief managed to kill Bassus, allowing the Weapon to overload the mining drill and destroy it granting them a safe passage inside the structure.{{Ref/Quest|Id=Excavation Site|HI|Connections|Excavation Site}}


===Reunion===
Once inside the Conservatory, John fought through Banished troops until he encountered the [[117649 Despondent Pyre]], the monitor of Installation 07. However, Pyre was attacked by [[Skimmer]]s, cutting short their conversation. At the bottom of the facility, Chief soon discovered her dismantled chassis. As the Skimmers returned, they attacked the Chief, the Spartan fought his way out of the Conservatory. However, near the exit, he was met the [[Harbinger]], a member of ancient [[Xalanyn]] race imprisoned by the Forerunners on Zeta Halo and awakened by the Banished. Using the [[encephalon]] she retrieved from Pyre, she initiated the process of [[Reformation]] and then fled the facility heading towards the nearest [[Reformation Spire]] with Master Chief on tail.{{Ref/Quest|Id=conservatory|HI|Connections|Conservatory}} After dealing with the Banished guards outside, John and the Weapon entered the Spire and encountered the [[Adjutant Resolution]], the Installation's [[sub-monitor]], who informed them of the Spire's purpose: to rebuild the ring. The Master Chief ordered the Weapon to shut down the Spire, which made the Resolution intervene by inserting himself into [[Eradicator Sentinel]] and attacking the Chief. Victorious, John and the Weapon initiated shutdown and escaped the collapsing tower onboard ''Echo 216''. Onboard the Pelican, the Weapon revealed a network of Reformation Spires across the ring; they were controlled from the Command Spire, which became their next objective.{{Ref/Quest|Id=spire|HI|Connections|Spire (Halo Infinite level)|Spire}}
[[File:Halo 5 - MC's first visit to Sanghelios.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The rest of of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris held back on the Pelican initially, seeing as there were multiple drawn blades amongst the Swords of Sanghelios that met them.<ref name="HBB1"/>]]
{{Quote|This isn't over. Not by a long shot.|John-117 confirms his resolve to combat Cortana's plans for the galaxy.}}<ref name="HBB1"/>
It only took a few minutes to traverse the portal through slipspace.<ref name="HBB1">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> When the Pelican emerged, the Spartans found themselves flying through a cavernous cave, which they excited to be faced with a deep [[Sanghelios]] night. John remained quiet while the others determined where they were and what they ought to do next. When he finally did speak up, it was to apologize for everything that had recently happened. Linda was the first to dismiss his apology, as he had done what he thought was right and had been backed up by she, Kelly, and Fred every step of the way. Locke also conceded that John had done what he could to stop [[Cortana]]. Buck followed this by suggesting that seeing as John had known her the best, he might be the key to stopping her. John confirmed that he wasn't even close to calling the struggle against her and [[Created|the other A.I.s]] over. Locke mentioned that if they could get back to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, Halsey might be able to work out a solution, which caught John and the other [[Spartan-II]]s by surprise. John asked if she was alright and learned from Tanaka that she had been the last time Osiris saw her, though she was missing an arm. Fred took this opportunity to take what Buck had said on step further, noting that it was Halsey, not John, that knew Cortana best.<ref name="HBB1"/>


The portal had deposited them relatively near the [[Sangheili]] city of [[Sunaion]] off the coast of [[Qivro]].<ref name="HBB1"/> Vale guessed that the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] were likely still camped in [[Nuusra]] where they had recently staged [[Battle of Sunaion|an attack]] on [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] from just days prior. Locke said that he wouldn't leave before finding Commander [[Sarah Palmer]] or confirming she was KIA, which John agreed to. Before long, fires were spotted that indicated the location of a Sangheili encampment where they expected the Swords to be. John told Kelly to take them in to land. He and Locke lined up at the ramp and exited the dropship together after in touched down, coming face-to-face with Palmer, [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and a group of his Sangheili, and Doctor [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey]], whom John had not seen in over six years. As surprised to see him as he was to see her, Halsey told him that it had taken him long enough. As the rest of Blue Team revealed themselves as well, John introduced them to Thel, who proceeded to invite the new arrivals to join in a celebratory meal commemorating their victory over the last of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Halsey revealed that she had gotten a message from [[Roland]] on the ''Infinity'' and that it would be appearing off of the far side of [[Suban]] the following day at 1800 hours. Now that they had transportation, they could be there waiting for it when it showed. Buck expressed skepticism regarding Roland's allegiance given [[Created Conflict|recent events]], but Halsey insisted they'd already be dead if Roland was compromised. John nodded at this. Taking off his helmet, he said they'd be staying there for the night and flying out first thing tomorrow. From there the humans joined the Sangheili in dining on [[colo]] and [[kuscatu]]. John, Kelly, Fred, Linda, and Halsey went off on their own for a time to talk. When John rejoined the rest of the gathering, he asked Palmer what had become of the [[Guardian]] which reportedly had arrived to disrupt the power across large regions of the planet. She admitted she wasn't entirely sure. Later, John took part of the night to reminisce and catch up with Thel, who told him that he had received reports of it and [[Promethean Soldier|Promethean soldier]]s pacifying cities on the other side of Sanghelios that were proving to be openly hostile to Cortana's ultimatum.<ref name="HBB1"/>
[[File:HINF ChiefVsTovarus.png|thumb|300px|John and [[Tovarus]] engaged in combat.]]
However, while en route to the Command Spire, ''Echo 216'' was hit by [[Kywasky Workshop Gorespike cannon]]s and crash landed.{{Ref/Quest|Id=pd|HI|Graveyards|[[Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Pelican Down]]}} The Master Chief proceeded to destroy each cannon with the help of the Weapon, while Esparza stayed behind in the crashed Pelican. Eliminating the Banished defenses and clearing a path further, John returned to crash site, but was confronted by [[Tovarus]] and [[Hyperius]], two Jiralhanae members of [[Hand of Atriox]], a special operations unit trained by Escharum, with a singular purpose of killing Spartans. After defeating the duo, the Master Chief retrieved Esparza. Esparza broke down, revealing he had stolen ''Echo 216'', and called himself worthless in comparison to the fearless Master Chief. The Chief, in turn, recalled 'Vadam's words on Sanghelios,{{Ref/Reuse|sunrise}} then revealed he also has made mistakes, citing his failure to protect Cortana and preventing her turn to being the Created's leader. The Chief declared he would not fail Esparza, leaving the latter resolved to support the Spartan. Reunited, they proceeded to the Command Spire.{{Ref/Reuse|pd}} Anticipating the Chief's intent to stop the Reformation, The Harbinger modified the data sequence for accessing the [[Nexus (location)|Nexus]], locking down its entrance. Upon this discovery, the Weapon developed a plan to bypass the lockdown by utilizing data strands gathered from nearby [[Beacon tower|energy beacons]]. Although the two managed to do so, the Chief nearly re-activated the Weapon's deletion protocols—in secret—when she was scanned by the Harbinger. The two then entered the Nexus.{{Ref/Quest|Id=sequence|HI|Reformation|The Sequence}}


Everyone was awake around an hour before sunrise and all the humans piled into the Pelican.<ref name="HBB1"/> The Arbiter bid John farewell, and while the two clasped arms, expressed his confidence that they could stand against this new threat as they had stood together against the [[hierarch]]s and the Covenant. John thanked him and then they were off, soaring through and past the planet's atmosphere on a trip that took them just a few hours. John advised everyone to keep an eye out for the Guardian, should it reappear. With about twenty minutes until the ''Infinity'''s projected arrival, Fireteam Osiris broke out a game of [[Wikipedia:Hearts|Hearts]], but John and the others declined playing. When ''Infinity'' finally did show up, Kelly landed ''[[India 127]]'' in its fifth portside bay.<ref name="HBB1"/> The Spartans were met by a [[lieutenant]] whom announced that Halsey, Locke, Palmer, and John were wanted on the bridge.<ref name="HBB2"/> As the rest of Blue Team went to have their armor removed, John accompanied those three to meet with Captain Lasky.<ref name="HBB2">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref>
Inside, John inserted the Weapon into Nexus's systems. Having anticipated this, the Harbinger hijacked the Weapon's routines and paired them with Despondent Pyre's encephalon to activate the Reformation in full swing, with concentrated efforts on repairing [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]]. Anticipating an opportunity for the Weapon to be corrupted, John initiated her deletion protocol, not willing for her to become compromised like Cortana had. Yet, the Weapon managed to override her deletion protocol, breaking free of the Harbinger's influence, then stole the encephalon for herself. The Spartan's actions tore their relationship as the Weapon accused him of betraying trust; she took on a more dejected and sarcastic tone. Nevertheless, she activated the [[gravity lift]], which would allow them to enter the Command Spire and cease the Reformation.{{Ref/Quest|Id=nexus|HI|Reformation|Nexus}} On his way to the top, John once again encountered the Adjutant Resolution, who was sporting another Eradicator chassis. Having defeated the Eradicator, Chief proceeded to the Spire's observation platform. As the Master Chief deployed the Weapon into the terminal, she used the stolen encephalon to halt the Reformation and requested for John's pick up, stating that, considering his mistrust, she would rather stay here all by herself. However, their conversation was interrupted by sudden appearance of [[Jega 'Rdomnai]], a Sangheili blademaster and a Spartan Killer, who infiltrated ''Echo 216''. The Sangheili took control of the Pelican and captured Esparza as a hostage to lure the Spartan to Escharum. John ordered the Weapon to track down the Pelican; she open a portal to a closest possible location. The two were determined to save Esparza together.{{Ref/Quest|Id=commandspire|HI|Reformation|The Command Spire}}
[[File:Halo Infinite - Announcement trailer - 00003.png|thumb|right|200px|At some point following the damaging of his visor's faceplate in 2558, John began using a different set of armor.<ref name="HIT"/>]]


===Revolution===
====Test of legends====
{{Quote|This isn't a new war. The war is already over. Cortana won. What we're talking about ''now'' is starting a revolution.|[[Michael Crespo]] comments on the power balance in the galaxy following the Created uprising.}}<ref name="HBB11">''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]'', ''Chapter 11''</ref>
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Chief? He's here.|The Weapon|q2=He knows I'm here. This was never a trap. It is a test of mettle. Our battle ends here. Bear witness! Our story will become legend. Told by those that survive you.|Escharum|Escharum to John initiating their duel.}}{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}
A little over one-and-a-half years into the [[Created Conflict|fight]] against Cortana and the [[Created]], John found himself once more on the surface of a [[Halo ring]].<ref name="HIT"/><ref name="WCCFtech">[https://wccftech.com/halo-infinite-new-adventure-xbox-one-pc/ '''wccftech.com'' '''343i: Halo Infinite To Feel Like A New Adventure, Good Starting Point for Newcomers; Coming To Xbox One & PC'']</ref> On [[2560#May|May 27, 2560]], he caught sight of a [[signal flare]] that had been ignited by a group of four marines. He picked up the four men, one of whom had been injured past the point of being able to walk unassisted, in an [[M12 Warthog]] and transported them elsewhere on the ring.<ref name="HIT">''[[Halo Infinite]]'' [[Halo Infinite - E3 2018 - Announcement Trailer|reveal trailer]]</ref>
Exiting the portal, John and the Weapon found themselves inside a [[Repository (location)|Repository site]]. There, they were contacted by Escharum; he taunted the Spartan with a recording of Esparza being tortured and in which he embedded his coordinates, so as to make it easier for John to find him.{{Ref/Quest|Id=repository|HINF|Reckoning|[[Repository (Halo Infinite level)|Repository]]}} Proceeding through the Repository, the Master Chief and the Weapon discovered many fragments and memories of Cortana, shining the light on the events that led to creation of the Weapon in the first place. Observing Cortana's cruel actions during the [[Created conflict]], the Weapon was horrified, then devastated when she realized that she was an actual copy of Cortana. Afraid of becoming as merciless as Cortana was, she restored her deletion protocols and asked Chief to delete her. John refused, insisting that they would complete the mission together, though while he did not trust her, he wanted to.{{Ref/Reuse|repository}}


===Fake burial and legacy===
Emerging on the surface, the Weapon identified the Escharum's coordinates as the [[House of Reckoning (location)|House of Reckoning]]. Nearby, the Master Chief discovered a small Banished camp  where he killed the forces guarding it and commandeered a [[M808 Scorpion]] tank parked there. Utilizing the heavy firepower, John cut through Banished garrison and reached his target.{{Ref/Quest|Id=road|HI|Reckoning|The Road (level)|The Road}} Once inside, the Chief underwent the Trial of Atriox,{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Trial of Reckoning}} fighting through multiple waves of Banished troops in several arenas constructed from UNSC ordnance and buildings up until he was confronted by Jega 'Rdomnai.{{Ref/Quest|Id=House of Reckoning|HI|Reckoning|House of Reckoning}} Despite using his [[active camouflage]] extensively, 'Rdomnai was ultimately killed by the Master Chief, finally avenging the several UNSC personnel that he had ambushed during the six-month-long Banished occupation. At the heart of the House of Reckoning, the Chief found Esparza locked in yet another torture device. As he attempted to free the pilot, the Spartan was attacked by Escharum. With the Weapon's assistance, John managed to defeat the Brute War Chief and free Esparza. Mortally wounded but not dead yet, Escharum staggered over and demanded that the Spartan continue their battle. However, the Master Chief refused; he caught and held the dying Escharum, who promised that his death would inspire others and requested that the Spartan tell them that he had died well. Escharum then died of his wounds in the Master Chief's arms, surprising Esparza with the respect that the Spartan had given to the War Chief as he died, given the latter's reputation as a monster. The Master Chief recognized that in the end, Escharum was just a soldier, hoping he'd done the right thing and questioning his choices. While Esparza believed that it was over with the death of the Banished's leader, the Master Chief warned him that it was not that simple and that there would be consequences as there always were. Recognizing that imminent threat in the face of the Harbinger remained, the trio recovered ''Echo 216'' and Esparza flew John to the Silent Auditorium.{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}
In [[2590]], there was a ceremony for John-117 at an unspecified location near the areas of fighting during the Battle for Earth. However, his coffin is empty.<ref>[https://youtu.be/pOLR4WjJqIs '''Believe''' - ''Gravesite'']</ref>
[[File:HINF Cortana final.png|thumb|300px|John and the Weapon observing an echo of Cortana in her final moments.]]
Despite the Banished setting up defenses to protect the Harbinger, John managed to breach inside. As they were fighting through enemy ranks, the Weapon revealed to John that the Silent Auditorium was where Cortana was locked down and died. Deeper inside the structure, they encountered more echoes of Cortana reminiscing her actions and repenting, realising her mistake in assuming the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] for herself, which ultimately led to humanity's downfall, John's supposed death, the Banished's occupation of Zeta Halo, and the the [[Endless]] being freed. Since she could not allow that to happen, she destroyed part of the ring, keeping the Banished from being able to use it; she also prevented the Weapon's deletion, knowing that the Master Chief—if he survived—would need the other AI's help. Witnessing Cortana's sacrifice, John and the Weapon were stunned by her actions. Later on, the pair were once again met by Adjutant Resolution, though this time the sub-monitor provided assistance and unlocked a safe passage for them. He expressed his apologies for his earlier hostilities, having realized the Harbinger was trying to repair the ring and to free the Endless. When the Master Chief reached the main chamber, he discovered that the Harbinger was interfacing with transmitters to locate the members of her species. The Weapon attempted to intercept the connection by disabling transmitters. With the help of an unknown entity, the Weapon managed to shut down all three transmitters, but not before the connection successfully located the Endless. At the same time, the Master Chief fought and eventually defeated the Harbinger, along with her Banished and Skimmer allies. Dying, she sent a message to an unseen ally of her own, telling them that they had what they needed; in her final moments, she vowed to the Master Chief that the Endless would return. As the Harbinger died, John and the Weapon discovered yet another echo of Cortana, though this one was a direct message to John. In it, she expressed hope that her plan worked well and John had found his way this far with assistance of his new AI partner; she called this a chance to make amends and to rectify her mistakes. Cortana admitted that she was wrong, having forgotten that the reason that she chose the Master Chief in the first place was because they were supposed to be the perfect team together. In her final moments, she wanted to make sure that John and his new companion learned from her mistakes and became stronger because of them. With the message ending, the last remaining echo of Cortana faded away, leaving both John and the Weapon speechless. However, the Auditorium began to collapse around them, cutting off the exit. A sudden appearance of a portal allowed the pair to escape the crumbling structure.{{Ref/Quest|Endless|Id=Silent Auditorium|Hi|Silent Auditorium}}


In [[2607]], the [[John-117 Monument]] began construction to commemorate the Spartan's service to mankind. In [[2610]], when the documentary ''[[Believe]]'' was being filmed, it had been over fifty years since the end of [[Human-Covenant War|the Great War]].<ref name="GameTrailers">[http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24952.html '''GameTrailers''': Making of the John 117 Monument]</ref>
The portal led them to a desert region located on a damaged fragment of the Halo ring. The Weapon informed John that somehow it took them three days to reach this location. They were extracted by Esparza, who trackedthe signal from Chief's beacon. Esparza expressed relief upon seeing them, thinking that they'd been killed, and greeted the Chief with a hug. Prompted by the Weapon, Esparza, who had only been known as ''Echo 216'' until then, revealed his real name to the pair. The trio then flew off in their Pelican, ready to defeat the remainder of the Banished on the ring.{{Ref/Reuse|Silent Auditorium}}
{{clear}}


==Personality and traits==
==Personality and traits==
{{Cleanup|section}}
{{Cleanup|section}}
[[File:Master Chief - Social outcast - wide shot.png|thumb|250px|While he is almost universally known to the public as humanity's champion, only a select few have gotten to know John personally.]]
[[File:Master Chief - Social outcast - wide shot.png|thumb|250px|While he is almost universally known to the public as humanity's champion, only a select few have gotten to know John personally.]]
{{Quote|Our duty as soldiers is to protect humanity, whatever the cost.|Master Chief about what it takes to protect human lives<ref name="h4 epilogue"/>}}  
{{Quote|Our duty as soldiers is to protect humanity, whatever the cost.|Master Chief about what it takes to protect human lives{{Ref/Reuse|h4 epilogue}}}}  


Until the age of six, John lived a normal life with his family on the colony of Eridanus II. His conscription into the SPARTAN-II program was to shape much of his personality in the years to come. However, despite his difficulty relating to non-Spartan personnel, John nevertheless showed great depth of character throughout his many years of service.
Until the age of six, John lived a normal life with his family on the colony of Eridanus II. His conscription into the SPARTAN-II program was to shape much of his personality in the years to come. However, despite his difficulty relating to non-Spartan personnel, John nevertheless showed great depth of character throughout his many years of service.


As with all Spartans, John strives to win at any situation, at all costs. Although the drive to win was ingrained to the Spartans as part of their indoctrination, John appears to have possessed such an inclination even prior to his conscription; as a child, he would win at any game he played, including [[Toy|chess]], [[gravball]] or King of the Hill.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 25''</ref> He is extremely determined to complete any mission at hand, and often disregards his personal safety to do so.
As with all Spartans, John strives to win at any situation, at all costs. Although the drive to win was ingrained to the Spartans as part of their indoctrination, John appears to have possessed such an inclination even prior to his conscription; as a child, he would win at any game he played, including [[Toy|chess]], [[gravball]] or King of the Hill.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR2}} He is extremely determined to complete any mission at hand, and often disregards his personal safety to do so.


John is also noted for his exceptional luck, which, along with his combat skills and unyielding persistence, has allowed him to emerge victorious from situations many would consider impossible. Because of his many years of constant combat and military conditioning, John is not as emotional or sensitive as he once was, especially to fear. Although he is not devoid of fear, he simply acknowledges the feeling and puts it aside.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 205''</ref> He is calm in the face of danger but not foolhardy, as demonstrated during his first encounter with the Gravemind, when he warned the Arbiter that his arrogance was likely to get him killed.<ref name="gravem"/> John is generally stoic and taciturn, but not devoid of a sense of humor and often makes dry remarks about the situation in hand to his teammates and allies.
John is also noted for his exceptional luck, which, along with his combat skills and unyielding persistence, has allowed him to emerge victorious from situations many would consider impossible. Because of his many years of constant combat and military conditioning, John is not as emotional or sensitive as he once was, especially to fear. Although he is not devoid of fear, he simply acknowledges the feeling and puts it aside.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTFOR22|FoR|22}} He is calm in the face of danger but not foolhardy, as demonstrated during his first encounter with the Gravemind, when he warned the Arbiter that his arrogance was likely to get him killed.{{Ref/Reuse|H2G}} John is generally stoic and taciturn, but not devoid of a sense of humor and often makes dry remarks about the situation in hand to his teammates and allies.


[[File:Delrioarguing.png|thumb|left|250px|Cpt. Del Rio orders Sarah Palmer to arrest John.]]
[[File:Delrioarguing.png|thumb|left|250px|Cpt. Del Rio orders Sarah Palmer to arrest John.]]
On several instances, John has been forced to make tough decisions in order to achieve his goals, such as leaving behind his Spartan comrades on Reach or Cortana on ''High Charity'', though he did come back on both occasions. More than once John has had to disobey orders to preserve human lives, as he did when he decided to keep Cortana to himself instead of surrendering her and pursue the Didact on his own. This decision proved right when the Didact was stopped before he could compose the entirety of Earth's population. The members of [[Fireteam Osiris]], sent to recover John after he went AWOL, understood why he disobeyed the orders, and were confident that once the Chief discovered the truth behind Cortana's actions, he would do the right thing, as he always did.<ref name="h5 guardians"/>
On several instances, John has been forced to make tough decisions in order to achieve his goals, such as leaving behind his Spartan comrades on Reach or Cortana on ''High Charity'', though he did come back on both occasions. More than once John has had to disobey orders to preserve human lives, as he did when he decided to keep Cortana to himself instead of surrendering her and pursue the Didact on his own. This decision proved right when the Didact was stopped before he could compose the entirety of Earth's population. The members of [[Fireteam Osiris]], sent to recover John after he went AWOL, understood why he disobeyed the orders, and were confident that once the Chief discovered the truth behind Cortana's actions, he would do the right thing, as he always did.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}}


He fully embraced his life as a soldier acting as a "shield and sword" for humanity in times of need. He feels no resentment towards Doctor Halsey because of his conscription, instead accepting the life imposed on him as a chance to live up to his full potential. As every Spartan, John has a strong sense of duty and commitment towards the UNSC. When he was asked by [[Warden Eternal]] that whenever "''Cortana's Guardians are in motion and those who oppose her rule attempt to take back their worlds, will he help her to hold on to power or will he stand in defense of his own species?''", John answered "''Cortana knows the answer already''".<ref name="h5 the breaking"/>
He fully embraced his life as a soldier acting as a "shield and sword" for humanity in times of need. He feels no resentment towards Doctor Halsey because of his conscription, instead accepting the life imposed on him as a chance to live up to his full potential, in part because he was little more than a playground bully when he was conscripted. As every Spartan, John has a strong sense of duty and commitment towards the UNSC. When he was asked by [[Warden Eternal]] that whenever "''Cortana's Guardians are in motion and those who oppose her rule attempt to take back their worlds, will he help her to hold on to power or will he stand in defense of his own species?''", John answered "''Cortana knows the answer already''".{{Ref/Reuse|H5GTB}}


He does not see himself as a superior being and fears for the lives of others before his own, putting himself in harm's way for the safety of civilians, and fellow soldiers, and does not judge others. Indeed, he is known to show an exceptional care for soldiers under his command and has shown great respect for the baseline humans he has fought alongside. An example of this is during the Battle of Installation 04. When making his way up to the [[Silent Cartographer]], two Helljumpers, PFC [[Hosky]] and [[Unnamed Corporal|another Corporal]], were killed by two Hunters. Afterward he regretted their loss, blaming himself for their deaths.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 165''</ref> This, and his reaction to [[Avery Johnson|Johnson]]'s death on [[Installation 08]] show that he does exhibit care and sympathy for soldiers under his command, even if he does do a good job of concealing his feelings. He never endangers the lives of those under his command if it is unnecessary. He would rather risk his own life instead of the others. As he did during the [[Battle of Circinius IV]] by drawing a Hunter's attention in order to give the cadets chance to run away, even with him running out of ammo. Deciding to follow Cortana's lead to [[Meridian]] on his own, John wanted to keep other Spartans from violating the UNSC regulations, though they decided otherwise and chose to remain by his side. He was also impressed by the humans who comprised his team following his escape from Installation 04, including [[Sheila Polaski]] and [[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]], both of whom he considered to have been worthy of being Spartans.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 235'' (2003)</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 334'' (2003)</ref>
He does not see himself as a superior being and fears for the lives of others before his own, putting himself in harm's way for the safety of civilians, and fellow soldiers, and does not judge others. Indeed, he is known to show an exceptional care for soldiers under his command and has shown great respect for the baseline humans he has fought alongside. An example of this is during the Battle of Installation 04. When making his way up to the [[Silent Cartographer]], two Helljumpers, PFC [[Hosky]] and [[Unnamed Corporal|another Corporal]], were killed by two Hunters. Afterward he regretted their loss, blaming himself for their deaths.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTF6|TF|6}} This, and his reaction to [[Avery Johnson|Johnson]]'s death on [[Installation 08]] show that he does exhibit care and sympathy for soldiers under his command, even if he does do a good job of concealing his feelings. In the first two days of training on Reach, John learned two lessons that affected him personally and which he took to heart: you win if the team wins, and the team is stronger together than any one individual alone. He never endangers the lives of those under his command if it is unnecessary. He would rather risk his own life instead of the others. During the [[Battle of Circinius IV]], he drew a Hunter's attention in order to give the cadets a chance to run away, even with him running out of ammo. Deciding to follow Cortana's lead to [[Meridian]] on his own, John wanted to keep other Spartans from violating the UNSC regulations, though they decided otherwise and chose to remain by his side. He was also impressed by the humans who comprised his team following his escape from Installation 04, including [[Sheila Polaski]] and [[Locklear|Corporal Locklear]], both of whom he considered to have been worthy of being Spartans.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS36|FS|36}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFS26|FS|26}}


[[File:Covenant assault - Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|John on the battlefield.]]
[[File:Covenant assault - Aftermath.png|thumb|250px|John on the battlefield.]]
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[[File:H4 - Lasky n Chief.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cpt. Lasky and Chief aboard ''Infinity''.]]
[[File:H4 - Lasky n Chief.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cpt. Lasky and Chief aboard ''Infinity''.]]
John greatly dislikes being kept in the dark, ambushes and fighting human soldiers. Once, when cornered by four large ODSTs in a gym, he did his best to avoid a confrontation. In the end, he was forced to defend himself with lethal force. While killing Covenant never placed a burden of guilt on John, ending the lives of fellow human beings was something he never felt comfortable remembering. Also John, as with many Spartan-IIs, hates space battles, as being stuck on a spaceship during a space battle makes him feel helpless. As a soldier, John knows when it is appropriate and inappropriate to fight, and has great control over his emotions thanks to a clear state of mind. Due to his augmentations, he reacts much faster than an average human, seeing events at a fraction of normal speed. It is almost a clairvoyant state of mind, and as a result of this, has an acute intuitive insight and perception of any situation combat or non-combat. He has been known to have vivid and long-enduring memories of the past, such as in dreams. No matter how well-adjusted he is, however, John always seems to need to have a quiet place away from crowds after a battle in order to feel at peace.
John greatly dislikes being kept in the dark, ambushes and fighting human soldiers. Once, when cornered by four large ODSTs in a gym, he did his best to avoid a confrontation. In the end, he was forced to defend himself with lethal force. While killing Covenant never placed a burden of guilt on John, ending the lives of fellow human beings was something he never felt comfortable remembering. Also John, as with many Spartan-IIs, hates space battles, as being stuck on a spaceship during a space battle makes him feel helpless. As a soldier, John knows when it is appropriate and inappropriate to fight, and has great control over his emotions thanks to a clear state of mind. Due to his augmentations, he reacts much faster than an average human, seeing events in a fraction of the time a normal person would. It is almost a clairvoyant state of mind, and as a result of this, John has an acute intuitive insight and perception of any situation, whether combat or non-combat. He has been known to have vivid and long-enduring memories of the past, such as in dreams. No matter how well-adjusted he is, however, John always seems to need to have a quiet place away from crowds after a battle in order to feel at peace.


While reflecting on his life during his battle with the Didact John stated that he did not remember anything from his childhood from before his conscription: not his name, his family, his home, except the King of the Hill game he played with the other children in his school's playground. Through thirty years of warfare he was always prepared to die in battle, but when he was about to die by Didact's hand on Gamma Halo, he discovered he was not ready to die. After defeating the Didact, John continued to obsessively embark on new missions even after receiving an R&R order from Lord Hood.<ref name="HE10"/>
While reflecting on his life during his battle with the Didact John stated that he did not remember anything from his childhood from before his conscription: not his name, his family, his home, except the King of the Hill game he played with the other children in his school's playground. Through thirty years of warfare he was always prepared to die in battle, but when he was about to die by Didact's hand on Gamma Halo, he discovered he was not ready to die. After defeating the Didact, John continued to obsessively embark on new missions even after receiving an R&R order from Lord Hood.{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}
 
By the time of the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]], John seemed to have become somewhat more open, opening up to [[Fernando Esparza]] about his failure to stop Cortana and comforting the man over his losses. However, John was visibly surprised and didn't know how to react when Esparza hugged him. At the same time, John only reluctantly worked with [[the Weapon]] and made no secret of the fact that he didn't trust her despite the fact that John couldn't have accomplished the things that he did on [[Installation 07]] without her help. This stemmed from the Weapon being a copy of Cortana and presumably lingering hurt and distrust caused by Cortana's betrayal. After being confronted by the Weapon multiple times over his behavior and the AI finally discovering the truth, John chose not to delete her because he did want to trust her even though he didn't yet.{{Ref/Game|Id=Hi|Hi}}


===Leadership===
===Leadership===
[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-9.jpg|thumb|250px|John participating in the Requiem Campaign alongside Spartan-IVs and regular marines.]]
[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-9.jpg|thumb|250px|John participating in the [[Battle of Requiem]] alongside Spartan-IVs and marines.]]
{{Quote|Of course, John volunteered. He was always the first to explore the unknown for the rest of us.|Kelly about John's decision to test Mjolnir armor}}
{{Quote|Of course, John volunteered. He was always the first to explore the unknown for the rest of us.|Kelly about John's decision to test Mjolnir armor}}


Throughout his training, John proved himself as one of the most promising leaders among Spartans, and Dr. Halsey considered him the best candidate in the entire program. His aspiration to win and his care of his teammates eventually helped him gain the position of squad leader. In years to come, many Spartan fireteams emerged with their own leaders. John took command of Blue Team, though he kept his commander role for the whole SPARTAN-II company.  
Throughout his training, John proved himself as one of the most promising leaders among Spartans, and Dr. Halsey considered him the best candidate in the entire program. His aspiration to win and his care of his teammates eventually helped him gain the position of squad leader. In years to come, many Spartan fireteams emerged with their own leaders. John took command of Blue Team, though he kept his commander role for the whole SPARTAN-II company. During [[Operation: SILENT STORM]], John so greatly impressed [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]] that the Colonel, who had previously expressed doubts about the Spartans, promoted John to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer from the rank of Petty Officer First Class, a previously unheard of three-rank bump. However, Crowther recognized that John's inexperience left John having trouble differentiating between being a commander and a leader and gave the young Spartan advice that he would take to heart.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS23|SS|23}}


As a senior Spartan, John took his responsibilities very seriously. After the augmentation procedures that took lives of nearly a half of Spartans, John was devastated; observing how his crippled brothers and sisters were transferred to other UNSC divisions almost made him furious.<ref name=HTFOR-AS-02/> He did not want to lose them, though he understood that they could no longer fight alongside him. John was the one who volunteered to test Mjolnir armor even after Dr. Halsey confirmed that all previous testers died in process. Being a leader, John would not order his men to do what he could not do in the first place. He was always confident in his men's capabilities, suggesting the most proficient ways to solve the matter, which were considered by non-Spartan personnel as suicide.
As a senior Spartan, John took his responsibilities very seriously. After the augmentation procedures that took lives of nearly a half of Spartans, John was devastated; observing how his crippled brothers and sisters were transferred to other UNSC divisions almost made him furious.{{Ref/Film|Id=HTFORTAS|TFoRAS}} He did not want to lose them, though he understood that they could no longer fight alongside him. John was the one who volunteered to test Mjolnir armor even after Dr. Halsey confirmed that all previous testers died in process. Being a leader, John would not order his men to do what he could not do in the first place. He was always confident in his men's capabilities, suggesting the most proficient ways to solve the matter, which were considered by non-Spartan personnel as suicide.


What affected John the most were the deaths of people under his command; John considered every Spartan lost during the war as his own mistake, swearing to become stronger the next time.<ref name="HLTP"/> During the Fall of Reach, John lost contact with his Spartans, however, he was sure that some of them survived the glassing and was determined to save as many as he could. More than once John took command of mixed units or squads consisting of Marines. He was capable to organize them to act as a Spartan fireteam, achieving despite almost impossible odds. On Requiem, during the initial engagements between UNSC and Promethean forces, John assumed tactical command of ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ground forces including Spartan-IVs, despite being outranked by many of them.<ref name="infil"/> Upon his return to Blue Team, Fred-104 ceded command to John despite outranking him by two ranks. Blue Team also willingly followed John when he chose to go AWOL.
What affected John the most were the deaths of people under his command; John considered every Spartan lost during the war as his own mistake, swearing to become stronger the next time.{{Ref/Reuse|HLTP}} During the Fall of Reach, John lost contact with his Spartans, however, he was sure that some of them survived the glassing and was determined to save as many as he could. More than once John took command of mixed units or squads consisting of Marines. He was capable to organize them to act as a Spartan fireteam, achieving despite almost impossible odds. On Requiem, during the initial engagements between UNSC and Promethean forces, John assumed tactical command of ''Infinity's'' ground forces including Spartan-IVs, despite being outranked by many of them.{{Ref/Reuse|infil}} Upon his return to Blue Team, Fred-104 ceded command to John despite outranking him. Blue Team also willingly followed John when he chose to go AWOL.


===Reputation===
===Reputation===
[[File:H2A - Chief and Johnson on Cairo.jpg|thumb|250px|Avery Johnson and the Master Chief on Cairo Station.]]
[[File:H2A - Chief and Johnson on Cairo.jpg|thumb|250px|Avery Johnson and the Master Chief on Cairo Station.]]
{{Quote|Folks need heroes, Chief, to give 'em hope, so smile would ya, while we still got something to smile about!|Avery Johnson to John upon entering Cairo Station's bridge for receiving badges.<ref name="H2CS"/>}}
{{Quote|Folks need heroes, Chief, to give 'em hope, so smile would ya, while we still got something to smile about!|Avery Johnson to John upon entering Cairo Station's bridge for receiving badges.{{Ref/Reuse|h2 cairo}}}}
After the end of Human-Covenant War, John became an icon as a soldier who had played a pivotal role in ending the decades-long war and in doing seemingly gave his life.  He was lauded as representing the ideal of a human soldier by UNSC propaganda, a view embraced by many among the general population. Considering John his personal hero, journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]] attempted to find out about his background and personal history.<ref name="HTTS11"/> When John was declared dead, on many human worlds statues were built in his honor.<ref>'''[[The Cost]]'''</ref> Private companies started selling [[Toy|action figures]] in John's likeness; [[Gabriel Thorne]]'s grandmother bought one after he was recruited into the [[SPARTAN-IV program]].<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue #7]]''</ref> During his military career John served as a source of inspiration and morale booster for others whenever he was on a battlefield. Chief's determination and selflessness made [[Thomas Lasky]], then a young, doubtful cadet, dedicate his life to military service, eventually reaching the position of commanding officer of [[UNSC Infinity|the most advanced human ship]]. With the development of [[SPARTAN-IV program]] many soldiers enlisted with Spartans to be like the legendary "Master Chief". Such as [[Gabriel Thorne]], who enlisted believing the Spartans were special, and that had he been one, he could have saved his family in [[New Phoenix]]. Years later, when the UNSC discovered that the Chief actually survived and managed to prevent the Didact from enslaving the entire human race, they decided to cover it up as a Covenant remnant attack which was successfully fended off via perfectly timed return of the UNSC's greatest hero, thus again underlining the Spartan's supposed invulnerability.<ref name="HE8"/> However, when Chief decided to go AWOL the UNSC declared him KIA during Battle of Meridian in order to hide his status and preserve his reputation.<ref name="hero falls"/>
After the end of Human-Covenant War, John became an icon as a soldier who had played a pivotal role in ending the decades-long war and in doing seemingly gave his life.  He was lauded as representing the ideal of a human soldier by UNSC [[propaganda]], a view embraced by many among the general population. Considering John his personal hero, journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]] attempted to find out about his background and personal history.{{Ref/Reuse|HTTS11}} When John was declared dead, on many human worlds statues were built in his honor.<ref name="TC">''[[The Cost]]''</ref> Private companies started selling [[Toy|action figures]] in John's likeness; [[Gabriel Thorne]]'s grandmother bought one after he was recruited into the [[SPARTAN-IV program]].<ref name="HE7">''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 7|Issue #7]]''</ref> During his military career John served as a source of inspiration and morale booster for others whenever he was on a battlefield. Chief's determination and selflessness made [[Thomas Lasky]], then a young, doubtful cadet, dedicate his life to military service, eventually reaching the position of commanding officer of [[UNSC Infinity|the most advanced human ship]]. In the case of [[Colum McGinnis]], who was attempting to desert the UNSC after witnessing the horrors of the Flood, John was able to inspire him to not only rejoin the fight willingly, but insist on being sent on further missions. With the development of [[SPARTAN-IV program]] many soldiers enlisted with the Spartans to be like the legendary "Master Chief". Such as [[Gabriel Thorne]], who enlisted believing the Spartans were special, and that had he been one, he could have saved his family in [[New Phoenix]]. Years later, when the UNSC discovered that the Chief actually survived and managed to prevent the Didact from enslaving the entire human race, they decided to cover it up as a Covenant remnant attack which was successfully fended off via perfectly timed return of the UNSC's greatest hero, thus again underlining the Spartan's supposed invulnerability.{{Ref/Reuse|HE8}} However, when Chief decided to go AWOL the UNSC declared him KIA during Battle of Meridian in order to hide his status and preserve his reputation.<ref name="AHF">''[[A Hero Falls]]''</ref>


Because of his reputation and experience, John's ''de facto'' authority far surpasses his nominal rank, and UNSC personnel of all levels are known to defer to his experience and charisma.<ref name="h5le">'''Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition''', ''John-117 personnel profile''</ref> When Lord Hood offered John a commission, even suggesting he could be conferred the rank of admiral, the Master Chief jokingly replied, "The Admiral doesn't have quite the same ring to it".<ref name="HE8"/> At the time of his going AWOL in October 2558, [[Sarah Palmer|Spartan Sarah Palmer]] implied that John and Blue Team had been operating essentially independently for some time, commenting that ''"He does what he wants"''.<ref>'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Glassed (level)|Glassed]]''</ref> When the Master Chief chose to defy orders to go after the Didact, Lasky and Palmer visibly made no effort to arrest him as ordered by Captain Del Rio and Lasky defied orders to help the Master Chief directly as he trusted him enough to not take the risk the Master Chief was wrong.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref>
Because of his reputation and experience, John's ''de facto'' authority far surpasses his nominal rank, and UNSC personnel of all levels are known to defer to his experience and charisma.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLED}} When Lord Hood offered John a commission, even suggesting he could be conferred the rank of admiral, the Master Chief jokingly replied, "'The Admiral' doesn't have quite the same ring to it".{{Ref/Reuse|HE8}} At the time of his going AWOL in October 2558, [[Sarah Palmer|Spartan Sarah Palmer]] implied that John and Blue Team had been operating essentially independently for some time, commenting that ''"He does what he wants"''.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GG}} When the Master Chief chose to defy orders to go after the Didact, Lasky and Palmer visibly made no effort to arrest him as ordered by Captain Del Rio and Lasky defied orders to help the Master Chief directly as he trusted him enough to not take the risk the Master Chief was wrong. Indeed, it was Del Rio who was relieved of his duties after returning to Earth, not the Master Chief or anyone who sided with him.{{Ref/Reuse|H4R}}{{Ref/Reuse|H4S}}


In the eyes of the Covenant, John-117 was branded as ''The Demon'' and was considered the main nemesis of the entire Covenant, with most of the Covenant fearful of his presence. [[Thel 'Vadam]] stated that the personal title emblazoned on John-117 was an insult, but also held a modicum of respect. The Covenant respected him in terms of his strength and how he was able to defeat thousands of Covenant troops effortlessly, with even Thel 'Vadam at the time unable to stop him from destroying Installation 04. Despite the Covenant's dissolution following the Prophet of Truth's death, John-117's nickname as a demon remains in use by many former members of the Covenant.
In the eyes of the Covenant, John-117 was branded as ''The Demon'' and was considered the main nemesis of the entire Covenant, with most of the Covenant fearful of his presence. [[Thel 'Vadam]] stated that the personal title emblazoned on John-117 was an insult, but also held a modicum of respect. The Covenant respected him in terms of his strength and how he was able to defeat thousands of Covenant troops effortlessly, with even Thel 'Vadam at the time unable to stop him from destroying Installation 04. Despite the Covenant's dissolution following the Prophet of Truth's death, John-117's nickname as a demon remains in use by many former members of the Covenant.
{{Clear}}


==Relationships==
The Didact, despite his hatred of humanity, held some grudging respect for John's determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.{{Ref/Game|H4|Detail=Didact, in-game model}} However, the Didact regarded being felled by a technologically inferior human and his deteriorating ancilla as being more humiliation than the Didact could bear.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi10|Epi|10}} The Didact later acknowledged that while John wasn't as advanced as humanity's ancient ancestors, he was not so unlike the [[Forthencho|Lord of Admirals]] or the other exceptionally gifted humans that the Didact had fought, becoming the first human to ever give the Didact a direct wound when the Spartan had stabbed the Promethean in the eye.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi20|Epi|20}}
[[File:H5G-BlueTeam.jpg|thumb|250px|John with [[Blue Team]]; [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Fred-104]].]]
{{Quote|The thing about John is that he only really knew three ways to react to people. If you were his superior officer, he obeyed you. If you were in his squad, he would die for you. But if you were a threat, then God help you.|Samuel-034 about John's behavior<ref name=HTFOR-AS-02>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''', ''Act Two''</ref>}}
John does not open easily to strangers, and has notably shown an aversion to taking his helmet off in the presence of others unless necessary. Friendships are made for life, however—once given, his trust is forever. Like most Spartan-IIs, he thinks of Doctor Catherine Halsey as a nearly mother-like figure, and holds a deep personal respect for his trainer and mentor SCPO Franklin Mendez. His fellow Spartan-IIs, Cortana, Dr. Halsey, and SCPO Mendez, being the only family he really ever had, assume a larger-than-life importance for John-117.


John formed close friendships with the other Spartans he grew up with since his childhood, most notably [[Samuel-034]] and [[Kelly-087]], his first friends within the group. While still feeling the loss of comrades deeply, he has grown more accustomed to combat than most soldiers. Nevertheless, he was deeply affected by the deaths of each of the Spartans, particularly Sam. He was also saddened by Linda-058's apparent death aboard Gamma Station and was greatly relieved after Dr. Halsey successfully resuscitated her. However, having accepted the responsibility of command for the Spartan-IIs, he has come to maintain a certain professional distance to his comrades and mostly keeps his feelings to himself to maintain his authority.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 268'' (2003)</ref>
On [[2553|March 3, 2553]], Lord Hood commissioned a [[Voi Memorial|memorial]] near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] in [[Africa]] in honor of UNSC service members lost during the war. The ceremony was attended by John's closest folks - Dr. Catherine Halsey, SCPO Franklin Mendez and his comrades - Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058, as well as by [[Naomi-010]] and [[Serin Osman]], formerly known as Serin-019. John's Spartan tag was carved onto the memorial by an unknown party and was accompanied by the improper insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.{{Ref/Reuse|H3H}}


===Kelly-087===
In [[2590]], there was a ceremony for John-117 at an unspecified location near the areas of fighting during the Battle for Earth. However, his coffin is empty.<ref name="gravesite">[https://youtu.be/pOLR4WjJqIs ''Believe'': Gravesite]</ref> In [[2607]], the [[John-117 Monument]] began construction to commemorate the Spartan's service to mankind. In [[2610]], when the documentary ''[[Believe]]'' was being filmed, it had been over 50 years since the end of the Great War.<ref name="GameTrailers">[http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24952.html ''GameTrailers'': Making of the John 117 Monument]</ref>
{{Quote|Exhausted as I am, the steadiness in Chief's voice focuses me. Steels me like nothing else. Because I know he's already three steps ahead.|Kelly-087}}<ref name="HTFSOTB"/>
{{Expand-Section}}


===Linda-058===
==Relationships==
{{Expand-Section}}
{{Main|John-117/Relationships}}
[[File:H5G-BlueTeam.jpg|thumb|250px|John with [[Blue Team]]; [[Linda-058]], [[Kelly-087]] and [[Frederic-104]].]]
{{Quote|The thing about John is that he only really knew three ways to react to people. If you were his superior officer, he obeyed you. If you were in his squad, he would die for you. But if you were a threat, then God help you.|Samuel-034 about John's behavior.}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORTAS}}
John does not open easily to strangers, and has notably shown an aversion to taking his helmet off in the presence of others unless necessary. Friendships are made for life, however—once given, his trust is forever. Like most Spartan-IIs, he thinks of Doctor Catherine Halsey as a nearly mother-like figure, and holds a deep personal respect for his trainer and mentor SCPO Franklin Mendez. His fellow Spartan-IIs, Cortana, Dr. Halsey, and SCPO Mendez, being the only family he really ever had, assume a larger-than-life importance for John-117.


===Fred-104===
John formed close friendships with the other Spartans he grew up with since his childhood, most notably [[Samuel-034]] and [[Kelly-087]], his first friends within the group. While still feeling the loss of comrades deeply, he has grown more accustomed to combat than most soldiers. Nevertheless, he was deeply affected by the deaths of each of the Spartans, particularly Sam. He was also saddened by Linda-058's apparent death aboard Gamma Station and was greatly relieved after Dr. Halsey successfully resuscitated her. However, having accepted the responsibility of command for the Spartan-IIs, he has come to maintain a certain professional distance to his comrades and mostly keeps his feelings to himself to maintain his authority.<ref name="HFS29">''Halo: First Strike'', Chapter 29</ref>
{{Quote|All the way to the end, brother.|Fred-104}}<ref name="H5GTB">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]], ''[[The Breaking]]''''</ref>
{{Expand-Section}}


===Sam-034===
==Physical characteristics==
{{Quote|Sam was my friend. He was my brother. He was ''our'' brother.|John-117}}<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>
[[File:HTFoR AS - John'sFace.jpg|thumb|300px|This image shows John as he appeared just days after his fourteenth birthday.{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}<ref name="DHPJA1">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''April 1, 2525''</ref>]]
{{Expand-Section}}
{{Quote|He’s so serious. Thoughtful eyes, though. Attractive in a primitive animal sort of way, don’t you think, Doctor?|Cortana comments upon a photograph of John to Catherine Halsey after seeing him for the first time in it.}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR25}}
John has pale blue eyes and reddish-brown hair.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLED}}<ref name="EurogamerInterview">[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-08-why-343-isnt-ready-to-show-master-chiefs-face ''Eurogamer'': Why 343 isn't ready to show us Master Chief's face]</ref> As a six-year-old child, John bore a few freckles on his cheeks and had a noticeable gap between his two front teeth.<ref name="HTFOR2">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 2</ref> His hair, when it was long enough, was untidy.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR2}}<ref name="Scanned">''[[Scanned]]''</ref> John was larger than most children his age even as a kindergartner.<ref name="HTTS11">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'', [[Hunt the Truth Season 1/Transcripts/One|S101]]</ref> The [[Spartan-II]] program molded his body into something formidable even prior to the extensive augmentations he underwent in [[2525]], but even afterward his smooth skin, clear eyes, and thin eyebrows set in an oval face still betrayed his age.<ref name="HTFOR6">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 6</ref><ref name="HSS5">''Halo: Silent Storm'', Chapter 5</ref><ref name="HOE">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', ''Epilogue''</ref> As a teenager his youthful face tended to undermine the confidence of seasoned commanders he interacted with.<ref name="HO1">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> By the age of fourteen, he already had the body, however, of an extremely athletic adult. The catalytic thyroid implant he received at that age boosted the growth of his skeleton and muscles via a [[Drugs|growth hormone]], and a series of intramuscular injections with a specific complex of proteins boosted the density of his musculature.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR6}} As a result he suddenly stood over two meters tall and just over a year later weighed almost one-hundred and thirty kilograms at [[Earth]]-standard gravity.{{Ref/Reuse|HO1}} John eventually grew to six feet and ten inches and massed at precisely one-hundred and thirty kilograms (286.6 pounds).{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMasterChief}}{{Ref/Reuse|DD5}} The augmentation process also left his hands, arms, chest, shoulders, back, and legs deeply scarred by lengthy incisions, in addition to accentuating his eye color.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFORTAS}}{{Ref/Reuse|Scanned}}<ref name="HOSFM106">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', p.106</ref>
[[File:John 117 Legendary Ending Face.jpg|thumb|left|300px|This image shows John in [[2557#July|July of 2557]] at the age of forty-six, just as his armor was removed for the first time in years.{{Ref/Reuse|midnight}}]]
John has earned additional scars in battle which cover his body, including one that runs across his cheek beneath his left eye.{{Ref/Reuse|h4 epilogue}}<ref name="DHPJA29">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''August 29, 2552''</ref> In addition, by [[2552#August|August of 2552]] his head also showed evidence of three large [[Wikipedia:Subdural hematoma|subdural hematoma]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|DHPJA29}} Biological and cybernetic augmentations, coupled with decades of fighting from within [[Mjolnir]] powered assault armor, has ensured that John's skin is unnaturally pale.{{Ref/Reuse|HOSFM106}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} He keeps his hair worn short.<ref name="HTF3">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> His face boasts serious but thoughtful eyes, a firm mouth, a strong jaw, and the last remnants of his childhood freckles.<ref name="HTFOR25">''Halo: the Fall of Reach'', Chapter 25</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|EurogamerInterview}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTF3}} As is common among the men and women of the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces, the base of John's skull displays a prominent [[Spartan neural interface|neural interface]].<ref name="HTFOR27">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 27</ref> His [[Wikipedia:Genome|genome]] is a hybridization of original and added sequences.<ref name="HOSFM83">''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', p.83</ref>{{Ref/Note|Supplemental materials that came with [[Dr. Halsey's personal journal|Halsey's journal]] indicate John's [[blood type]] was once O positive, but real-world merchandise in the form of John's dog tags indicate it to be AB positive. This suggests that when he was genetically altered his blood type changed.}}<ref name="DHPJextras">[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]], extras</ref><ref name="DT">[[:File:John117DogTag.PNG|John 117's dog tags]]</ref> Additionally, a ''[[geas]]'' which affords him an immunity to the [[Composer]], among other gifts, was unlocked by the [[Librarian]]'s essence on [[Requiem]] in [[2557#July|July 2557]].{{Ref/Reuse|H4R}} Cortana and Catherine Halsey both consider him somewhat attractive in a "primitive animal sort of way".{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR25}} Crow's feet and other wrinkles are plainly visible on his face, giving him the visage of a relatively older man.{{Ref/Reuse|h4 epilogue}}{{Ref/Reuse|EurogamerInterview}} John's age does not comport entirely with his physical body, as he has spent a not insignificant portion of his life in [[cryostasis]], during which the aging process is nearly halted.<ref name="Enc227">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p.227</ref> The longest stretch of time John was frozen for was four years, seven months, and ten days while he and Cortana were stranded aboard the aft section of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.{{Ref/Reuse|H4D}} It is thought among medical specialists that [[Spartan]]s may be able to outlive most other humans, though this hypothesis has not yet had the chance to be tested.<ref name="HNB14">''[[Halo: New Blood]]'', ''Chapter 14''</ref>
{{clear}}


===Catherine Halsey===
==Equipment==
{{Expand-Section}}
=== Armor ===
[[File:Chief ready to armor down.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John gets ready to take off his armor for the first time in years.]]
As a Spartan-II trainee, one of the first suits of armor John was introduced to was a type of form-fitting, lightweight polymer [[black body suit]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}} This suit could deflect small-caliber rounds and was equipped with a refrigeration and heating unit that could mask infrared signatures. The integrated helmet had encryption and communications gear, a [[heads-up display]], and thermal and motion detectors.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}} John could also activate headlamps on the helmet and attach a [[fiber optic probe]] to it.<ref name="HTFOR10">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 10</ref> Sealed tight, the entire unit had a fifteen-minute reserve of [[oxygen]] to let John survive in vacuum.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}} Though still a little bulky if trying to hide it beneath clothing, the armor's tightness made it uncomfortable and limited his range of motion.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR10}} Additionally, it also often needed repairs but was difficult to repair in the field.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}} John used one of these suits during training and also during [[Operation: TALON]], the first real mission given to the [[Spartan]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR10}} During the op, he was shot in the side at three points by an [[HMG-38 heavy machine gun]] rifle. One of the bullets managed to penetrate the suit.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR10}}
{{Expand-section}}


===Cortana===
Throughout his career, John has shown a preference for the standard-issue set of the given Mjolnir armor generation used at the time. His Mjolnir armor is invariably colored olive green with a gold visor, which has made his appearance iconic among humans and Covenant alike. At some point during his four-year cryosleep aboard the ''Forward Unto Dawn'',<!-- In Origins, John is depicted wearing his Halo 2/3-style armor. Thus, it can be inferred that Cortana upgraded the suit after the events of Origins.--> Cortana used nanomachines to repair and physically alter John's MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.{{Ref/Reuse|H4TEVG129}}<ref name="Halo Canon">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2geKWjvhPY ''YouTube'': Halo Canon Exclusive Interview]</ref> Cortana also rewrote the suit's firmware, altering the HUD as well as improving the suit's shield-recharge rate and its compatibility with Covenant and Forerunner [[Armor abilities|armor plugins]].<ref name="gim2012">''Game Informer May 2012''</ref> His upgraded suit displays the Braille characters "117" on the left of the breastplate.
{{Quote|We were supposed to take care of each other. And we did.|Cortana to John moments before perishing<ref name="midnight"/>}}
[[File:John and Cortana re-unite - Close shot.png|thumb|left|250px|John and Cortana during their last meeting.]]
In a strange twist of fate, John-117 built a close friendship with the [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Cortana]], a construct "born" from the mind of Dr. Halsey herself. Despite some initial hesitation towards working with an AI out of fear of conflicting directives, John and Cortana quickly formed a formidable team. After a near-fatal training exercise masterminded by ONI Colonel Ackerson, John realized that Cortana would be a great help instead of a liability. During their exploits on Installation 04 and afterward, John displayed a firm trust in Cortana, even believing in her when Lord Hood was unsure of the reliability of her word that she had a way to stop the Flood. Years later, on Requiem, he went as far as to disobey a direct order to give her up for decommissioning. Cortana ultimately sacrificed herself to save him and John was clearly upset by her death. Her death made him ponder what it really means to be human.  


After being made aware of her potential survival the Chief again disobeyed an order to return to the UNSC and sought to investigate the situation himself. After witnessing firsthand the terrible aftermath of Cortana's awakening of the Guardians, he refrained from making any premature conclusions about her involvement until reestablishing contact with the AI. However once arriving at the Forerunner world of [[Genesis]] and having several evasive conversations with her, the Master Chief grew suspicious of Cortana's motives, to the point of having to verbally call her out on attempting to use their past friendship as a means to manipulate him. When Cortana eventually divulged her plans to use the Guardians as a forceful instrument against those who will oppose her rule, John made one final attempt to talk her into standing down peacefully and return home. His efforts proved unsuccessful, and he was forcibly locked into a Cryptum along with the rest of Blue Team by Cortana; ultimately being rescued by [[Fireteam Osiris]] shortly after.
Immediately after the [[Mission to Installation 03]], John received an upgrade for his Mark VI armor from [[ONI]]'s [[Watershed Division]], bringing it into the GEN2 line of Mjolnir PAA.<ref name="Easterling2">[https://twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/782402924353757184 ''Jeff Easterling on Twitter'':] ''"GEN2; in Escalation."''</ref><ref name="Easterling">[https://twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/791063783280025601 ''Jeff Easterling on Twitter'':] ''"Chief does have specific design from MG, but Blue Team as a whole all have WD influence :-)"''</ref> The armor still looks like his updated GEN1 Mark VI, the most prominent difference being a redesigned bodysuit. His armor also now lacks the prominent gash on the chestplate and his helmet is intact again after the Didact severely damaged it during Blue Team's battle against him on Installation 03.<ref name="warfare">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-conventional-warfare ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Conventional Warfare]</ref> His visor was once again cracked by Spartan Jameson Locke on [[Meridian]], after an argument about [[Cortana]].{{Ref/Reuse|H5GU}}
{{Clear}}


===Avery Johnson===
John's old [[Mark IV]] helmet is used as the "last thing" that [[SPARTAN-IV]] candidates see before beginning their evaluation and preliminary augmentation cycle.
During the Covenant War, John developed a comradeship with the veteran UNSC Marine [[Avery Johnson]]. The two fought side-by-side in several battles, from Reach to Installation 04 to Earth, the campaign on Delta Halo, as well as on the Ark where Johnson would ultimately meet his end by 343 Guilty Spark. The Master Chief and Johnson cared greatly about one another, and 117 trusted Johnson without doubt as seen when he allowed Johnson to take Cortana to be inserted in Installation 08's [[The Core|Core]]. Following Johnson's death, John was visibly saddened.


===Franklin Mendez===
His upgraded GEN3 suit displays the characters "117" on the left of the breastplate.{{Ref/Generic|[[:File:HINF John-117 RenderCrop.png|''Halo Infinite' render'']]}} In this suit, John has upgraded capabilities, particularly after taking modules from the armor of dead Spartan-IV's that he encounters. Unlike previous iterations of his armor, John's GEN3 armor possesses holographic emitters in the palm of his left hand, allowing John to display [[the Weapon]]'s avatar to communicate face to face with the AI, transfer her into computer systems, or interact with others around him. In his GEN1 armor, Cortana had to communicate with others using the radio or John's helmet speakers and spoke to John within his own mind.{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}
{{Expand-Section}}


===Thomas Lasky===
=== MJOLNIR Powered Armor Systems ===
{{Expand-Section}}
*''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV [GEN1]]]''
**''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV#Mark-VI-like_suit|Unidentified Mark IV variant [GEN1]]]''
**''[[Project COBALT#COBALT CV.117|Project COBALT CV.117]]''
*''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V [GEN1]]]''
*''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI [GEN1]]]''
**''[[Mark VI MOD]]''
*''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI#Variants 2|Mark VI MOD [GEN2]]]''
*''[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI#GEN3|Mark VI [GEN3]]]''


===Thel 'Vadam===
{{Expand-section}}
[[File:Chiefarbiter.jpg|thumb|250px|right|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam fighting alongside each other.]]
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Your people used to call him "Demon." Was that an insult or a compliment?|Jameson Locke|q2=An insult, to be sure, but one with a modicum of respect. He was indeed my enemy, but, in time, I named him ally... even friend. The events which forged this bond are… complicated.|Thel 'Vadam|Locke and the Arbiter about Chief<ref name="H2TH"/>}}
John and [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s first meeting on Delta Halo was hostile, with the Arbiter continually referring to the Spartan as "Demon" and John's insistence that the San'Shyuum were making a "big mistake" by activating the Halo rings. Upon their next meeting on Earth, John was quick to try and kill the Sangheili before Johnson stopped him. They remained initially wary of one another, but learned to trust each other in combat against the Covenant and the Flood. Thel proved his trustworthiness to John through actions such as assisting him in the rescue of Sergeant Johnson, or counseling his fellow Sangheili not to glass all of Earth after the Flood outbreak at Voi. When they reached the Ark, the two's reliance on each other was cemented, and John demonstrated his respect for Thel by allowing him be the one to kill the Prophet of Truth. The Arbiter also came to his aid on ''High Charity'' despite having little need to do so, and chose to fight with John to the end in his efforts to stop the Flood and consoled him on Johnson's death. 'Vadam was the last one to see John alive before the latter went missing after the war, and afterward expressed to Lord Hood mild doubt that John might be dead.  'Vadam would later refer to John as a "friend", and upon learning that he was still alive following the [[Battle of Ealen IV|events]] on [[Ealen IV]], Thel believed that he was the key to the galaxy's future. During the [[Battle of Sunaion]], Thel referred to the Chief as the greatest of all Spartans, and later asked Spartan Locke to give the Chief his greetings. Following John's arrival at Sanghelios, 'Vadam greeted him with a dinner to celebrate their victory over Jul 'Mdama's forces.<ref>[[Halo: Bad Blood]]</ref>
{{Clear}}


==Physical characteristics==
=== Weapons ===
{{Quote|He’s so serious. Thoughtful eyes, though. Attractive in a primitive animal sort of way, don’t you think, Doctor?|Cortana comments upon a photograph of John to Catherine Halsey after seeing him for the first time in it.}}<ref name="HTFOR25"/>
John has demonstrated easy familiarity with various weapons, though unless a mission specifically requires something, has shown a preference for the [[MA5 series]] of assault rifles as his mainstay.
[[File:HTFoR AS - John'sFace.jpg|thumb|right|300px|This image shows John as he appeared just days after his fourteenth birthday.<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/><ref name="DHPJA1"/>]]
John has pale blue eyes and reddish-brown hair.<ref name="H5GLED"/><ref name="EurogamerInterview">[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-08-why-343-isnt-ready-to-show-master-chiefs-face '''Eurogamer''': ''Why 343 isn't ready to show us Master Chief's face'']</ref> As a six-year-old child, John bore a few freckles one his cheeks and had a noticeable gap between his two front teeth.<ref name="HTFOR2"/> His hair, when it was long enough, was untidy.<ref name="HTFOR2"/><ref name="Scanned"/> John was larger than most children his age even as a kindergartner.<ref name="HTTS11"/> The [[Spartan-II]] program molded his body into something formidable even prior to the extensive augmentations he underwent in [[2525]], but even afterward his clear eyes and thin eyebrows set in an oval face still betrayed his age.<ref name="HTFOR6"/><ref name="HSS5"/> By the age of fourteen, he already had the body, however, of an extremely athletic adult. The catalytic thyroid implant he received at that age boosted the growth of his skeleton and muscles via a [[Drugs|growth hormone]], and a series of intramuscular injections with a specific complex of proteins boosted the density of his musculature.<ref name="HTFOR6"/> The result was a man that would eventually stand just over two meters tall (six feet and ten inches) and weigh one-hundred and thirty kilograms (286.6 pounds) at [[Earth]]-standard gravity.<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/><ref name="DD5"/> The augmentation process also left his hands, arms, chest, shoulders, back, and legs deeply scarred by lengthy incisions, in addition to accentuating his eye color.<ref name="Scanned"/><ref name="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="HOSFM106>''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]'', ''page 106''</ref>


John has earned additional scars in battle which cover his body, including one that runs across his cheek beneath his left eye.<ref name="DHPJA29"/><ref name="H4E">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]]''</ref> In addition, by [[2552#August|August of 2552]] his head also showed evidence of three large [[Wikipedia:Subdural hematoma|subdural hematoma]]s.<ref name="DHPJA29"/> Biological and cybernetic augmentations, coupled with decades of fighting from within [[Mjolnir]] powered assault armor, has ensured that John's skin is unnaturally pale.<ref name="HOSFM106/><ref name="HTF3"/> He keeps his hair worn short.<ref name="HTF3">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref> His face boasts serious but thoughtful eyes, a firm mouth, a strong jaw, and the last remnants of his childhood freckles.<ref name="HTFOR25"/><ref name="HTF3"/><ref name="EurogamerInterview"/> As is common among the men and women of the [[UNSC Armed Forces]], the base of John's skull displays a prominent [[Spartan neural interface|neural interface]].<ref name="HTFOR27"/> His [[blood type]] is O positive and his [[Wikipedia:Genome|genome]] is a hybridization of his original and added sequences.<ref name="DHPJextras"/><ref name="HOSFM83"/> Cortana and Catherine Halsey both consider him somewhat attractive in a "primitive animal sort of way".<ref name="HTFOR25"/> As of [[2560]], John is around forty-nine years old.<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/><ref name="HIT"/> Crow's feet and other wrinkles are plainly visible on his face, giving him the visage of a relatively older man.<ref name="EurogamerInterview"/><ref name="H4E"/> John's age does not comport entirely with his physical body, as he has spent a not insignificant portion of his life in [[cryostasis]], during which the aging process is nearly halted.<ref name="Enc227">''[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]'', ''page 227''</ref> The longest stretch of time John was frozen for was four years, seven months, and ten days while he and Cortana were stranded aboard the aft section of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}.<ref name="H4D">''[[Halo 4]]'', ''[[Dawn]]''</ref> It is thought among medical specialists that [[Spartan]]s may be able to outlive most other humans, though this hypothesis has not yet had the chance to be tested.<ref name="HNB14">''[[Halo: New Blood]]'', ''Chapter 14''</ref>
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===''Odd One Out''===
{{Main|Odd One Out}}
John was traveling in a Pelican with Cortana and [[SPARTAN-1337]] and witnessed the latter fall out of the aircraft and plummet to the planet below. He then informs Jacob Keyes that 1337 would most likely be fine, as he has been in similar situations and that he is a trained Spartan-II, the best of the best. Later, John contacts 1337 via radio, telling him to head to the rendevous point.<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=933040 Halo.Bungie.Org - Halo Legends: Polite Questions Answered Here]</ref><ref>[http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/100/1007244p1.html IGN.com - SDCC 09: Halo Legends In-Depth]</ref>


==Armor==
===Silver Timeline===
[[File:Chief ready to armor down.jpg|thumb|left|250px|John gets ready to take off his armor for the first time in years.]]
{{Main|John-117/Silver}}
As a Spartan-II trainee, one of the first suits of armor John was introduced to was a type of form-fitting, lightweight polymer [[black body suit]].<ref name="HTFOR9"/> This suit could deflect small-caliber rounds and was equipped with a refrigeration and heating unit that could mask infrared signatures. The integrated helmet had encryption and communications gear, a [[heads-up display]], and thermal and motion detectors.<ref name="HTFOR9"/> John could also activate headlamps on the helmet and attach a [[fiber optic probe]] to it.<ref name="HTFOR10"/> Sealed tight, the entire unit had a fifteen-minute reserve of [[oxygen]] to let John survive in vacuum.<ref name="HTFOR9"/> Though still a little bulky if trying to hide it beneath clothing, the armor's tightness made it uncomfortable and limited his range of motion.<ref name="HTFOR9"/><ref name="HTFOR10"/> Additionally, it also often needed repairs but was difficult to repair in the field.<ref name="HTFOR9"/> John used one of these suits during training and also during [[Operation: TALON]], the first real mission given to the [[Spartan]]s.<ref name="HTFOR9"/><ref name="HTFOR10"/> During the op, he was shot in the side at three points by an [[HMG-38]] rifle. One of the bullets managed to penetrate the suit.<ref name="HTFOR10"/>
{{Expand-Section}}


Throughout his career, John has shown a preference for the standard-issue set of the given Mjolnir armor generation used at the time. His Mjolnir armor is invariably colored olive green with a gold visor, which has made his appearance iconic among humans and Covenant alike. At some point during his four-year cryosleep aboard the ''Forward Unto Dawn'',<!-- In Origins, John is depicted wearing his Halo 2/3-style armor. Thus, it can be inferred that Cortana upgraded the suit after the events of Origins.--> Cortana used nanomachines to repair and physically alter John's MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.<ref name="H4TEVG129"/><ref name="Halo Canon">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2geKWjvhPY '''YouTube''': ''Halo Canon Exclusive Interview'']</ref> Cortana also rewrote the suit's firmware, altering the HUD as well as improving the suit's shield-recharge rate and its compatibility with Covenant and Forerunner [[Armor abilities|armor plugins]].<ref name="gim2012">'''Game Informer''', ''2012 May Issue'''</ref> His upgraded suit displays the Braille characters "117" on the left of the breastplate.
==Production notes==
 
On [[1999 (real world)|July 21, 1999]] [[Bungie|Bungie Software]] and [[Wikipedia:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]] announced the video game ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo]]'' at [[Wikipedia:Macworld/iWorld|Macworld]].{{Ref/Reuse|IGNHHAFB}} This announcement was accompanied by a screenshot which showed a very early version of the [[Wikipedia:Player character|player character]], a soldier in green armor resembling that which would eventually be worn by the Master Chief when ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' released over two years later.<ref name="IGNHHAFB">[https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/22/heavenly-halo-announced-from-bungie ''IGN'': ''Heavenly Halo Announced from Bungie'']</ref><ref name="MetacriticHCE">[https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/halo-combat-evolved ''Metacritic'': Halo: Combat Evolved]</ref> By November of that year, it was reported in ''[[Wikipedia:Computer Gaming World|Computer Gaming World]]'' that much of the game's story had yet to be realized.{{Ref/Reuse|CGWHTCTTTRT}} At this time and about a month earlier in a ''[[Wikipedia:PC Gamer|PC Gamer]]'' article, the armor-clad individual controlled by the player was referred to variously as a "standard soldier" or "marine".<ref name="CGWHTCTTTRT">[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=cgw1199 ''Computer Gaming World'': Halo: the Closest Thing to the Real Thing]</ref><ref name="PCGamer">[http://halo.bungie.org/pressscans/display.html?scan=pcgamerusoct99 ''PC Gamer'': Your First Look at... Halo]</ref> In the ''PC Gamer'' article, the game was also described as one in which players would be able to control a powered-armored human soldier ''or'' one of the [[Covenant]] enemies.{{Ref/Reuse|PCGamer}} Screenshots showed multiples of the armored soldier that would eventually become John-117 existing in the game world simultaneously.{{Ref/Reuse|PCGamer}}
Immediately after the [[Mission to Installation 03]], John received an upgrade for his Mark VI armor from [[ONI]]'s [[Watershed Division]],<ref>https://mobile.twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/791063783280025601</ref> bringing it into the GEN2 line of Mjolnir PAA.<ref>[https://twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/782402924353757184 '''Jeff Easterling's Twitter''': ''GEN2; in Escalation'']</ref> The armor still looks like his updated GEN1 Mark VI, the most prominent difference being a redesigned bodysuit. His armor also now lacks the prominent gash on the chestplate and his helmet is intact again after the Didact severely damaged it during Blue Team's battle against him on Installation 03.<ref name="warfare">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-conventional-warfare '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Cannon Fodder: Conventional Warfare'']</ref> His visor was once again cracked by Spartan Jameson Locke on [[Meridian]].<ref name="h5g">'''Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level [[Unconfirmed]]'''</ref>
{{Expand-section}}
 
John-117 was originally named by [[Eric Trautmann]] as a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Bible|biblical]] verse Revelation 1:17, which reads as follows according to the [[Wikipedia:New Revised Standard Version|New Revised Standard Version]] of the text: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last'."<ref name="TwitterTrautmann">[https://twitter.com/mercuryeric/status/883833638701355008 ''Eric Trautmann on Twitter'':] Thread discussing John's name</ref> The author of this biblical text names himself "John" within it. According to Trautmann, this identifier was a the origin of one of many "huge fights" between himself and [[Bungie]] concerning ideas which came out of the writing sessions of the [[Halo Story Bible]], a work originally constructed by he, [[Brannon Boren]], and [[Matt Soell]].{{Ref/Reuse|TwitterTrautmann}}
John's old [[Mark IV]] helmet is used as the "last thing" that [[SPARTAN-IV]] candidates see before beginning their evaluation and preliminary augmentation cycle.
{{Expand-section}}
{{Expand-section}}


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
{{Other languages
{{Other languages
|fr={{Explain|''L'Adjudant''|The Adjutant (French Army OR-8)}} in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and in the ''Halo'' novels published by ''Fleuve Noir''.<br>
|fr={{Tooltip|''L'Adjudant''|The Adjutant (French Army OR-8)}} in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and in the ''Halo'' novels published by ''Fleuve Noir''.<br>
{{Explain|''Le Major''|The Major (French Navy OR-9)}} in almost every media since ''Halo 2''.<br>
{{Tooltip|''Le Major''|The Major (French Navy OR-9)}} in almost every media since ''Halo 2''.<br>
{{Explain|''Le Master Chief''|(Anglicism)}} on the covers of ''Halo 3'', ''Halo Legends'', ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' and ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'', in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'', and in the ''Halo'' novels published by ''Milady''.<br>
{{Tooltip|''Le Master Chief''|(Anglicism)}} on the covers of ''Halo 3'', ''Halo Legends'', ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' and ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'', in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'', and in the ''Halo'' novels published by ''Milady''.<br>
{{Explain|''Maître principal''|Principal master (French Navy OR-9)}} is the most correct translation for the rank of "Master Chief Petty Officer" in French, though it was never used.
{{Tooltip|''Maître principal''|Principal master (French Navy OR-9)}} is the most correct translation for the rank of "Master Chief Petty Officer" in French, though it was never used.
|es={{Explain|''Jefe Maestro''|Master Chief}} in almost every media<br>
|es={{Tooltip|''Jefe Maestro''|Master Chief}} in almost every media<br>
{{Explain|''El Jefe''|The Chief}}  
{{Tooltip|''El Jefe''|The Chief}}  
}}
}}
{{Linkbox|quote=yes|gallery=yes}}
{{Linkbox|quote=yes|gallery=yes}}
*John is the protagonist and main playable character throughout the core of the ''Halo'' series. He is voiced by [[Steve Downes]] in the original trilogy, the ''[[Reclaimer Saga]]'', ''Halo: Reach'''s [[Firefight]] mode, and the audio version of "[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]". In the ''Halo Legends'' shorts "The Package" and "Odd One Out", John is voiced by [[Wikipedia:David Wald|David Wald]]. In ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'', he is physically portrayed by [[Wikipedia:Daniel Cudmore|Daniel Cudmore]], who is known for portraying the mutant [[Wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] in the [[Wikipedia:X-Men (film series)|''X-Men'' film series]],<ref name="IGN">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_4skHcCpT4'''YouTube''': ''First Look: Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn (Live Action Series)'']</ref> while {{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3773430/ Alex Puccinelli]}} provides his voice. [[Bruce Thomas]] provided John's motion capture performance in ''Halo 4'' and apparently served as the model for his face in the game's Legendary ending.
*John is the protagonist and main playable character throughout the core of the ''Halo'' series. He is voiced by [[Steve Downes]] in the original trilogy, the ''[[Reclaimer Saga]]'', ''Halo: Reach''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Firefight]] mode, the audio version of "[[Palace Hotel]]" and ''Super Bomberman R'' as Master Chief Bomber. In the ''Halo Legends'' shorts "The Package" and "Odd One Out", John is voiced by [[Wikipedia:David Wald|David Wald]]. In ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'', he is physically portrayed by [[Wikipedia:Daniel Cudmore|Daniel Cudmore]], who is known for portraying the mutant [[Wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] in the [[Wikipedia:X-Men (film series)|''X-Men'' film series]],<ref name="IGN">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_4skHcCpT4 ''YouTube'': First Look: Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn (Live Action Series)]</ref> while {{Plain|[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3773430/ Alex Puccinelli]}} provides his voice. [[Bruce Thomas]] provided John's motion capture performance in ''Halo 4'' and apparently served as the model for his face in the game's Legendary ending; Bruce Thomas repeated his role as John-117 in ''Halo 5: Guardians'' and ''Halo Infinite''. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032567/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1 Pablo Schreiber] also portrays John in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
*John-117 is likely named for Sylvester Stallone's character John Spartan, from the 1993 action film ''[[Wikipedia:Demolition Man|Demolition Man]]''. Spartan is placed in cryostasis before awakening decades later, much like how John-117 is introduced emerging from cryosleep in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
*John appears as an [[John-117 in cryo|Easter egg]] in ''Halo: Reach'', asleep inside a cryo pod in the ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hangar.<ref>''[http://gameinformer.com/ Game Informer]'', ''November 2010'' (''[[Marcus Lehto]]'': ''"That is in fact the Master Chief. We felt that if he were to show up anywhere, this was the place to do it. Placing him in the "hushed casket" was the one way we felt his presence in Reach would be appropriate. Anything greater than that would have diminished the importance of Noble Team, including yourself as the last remaining Spartan willing to stay behind and fight on Reach to the very bitter end."''</ref>
*John appears as an [[John-117 in cryo|Easter egg]] in ''Halo: Reach'', asleep inside a cryo pod in the ''Pillar of Autumn'''s hangar.<ref>'''[http://gameinformer.com/ Game Informer]''', ''November 2010'' ('''[[Marcus Lehto]]''': ''"That is in fact the Master Chief. We felt that if he were to show up anywhere, this was the place to do it. Placing him in the "hushed casket" was the one way we felt his presence in Reach would be appropriate. Anything greater than that would have diminished the importance of Noble Team, including yourself as the last remaining Spartan willing to stay behind and fight on Reach to the very bitter end."''</ref>
*Late in the development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', (when the game was known simply as ''Halo'') Microsoft urged Bungie to change the main character's title from "the Master Chief" to "the Commando", as they felt that it better suited the tone of the game.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_006.mp3 ''343 Sparkast #6''] (Archived copy available [https://web.archive.org/web/20120201111637/http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_006.mp3 here]</ref>
*Late in the development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', (when the game was known simply as ''Halo'') Microsoft urged Bungie to change the main character's title from "the Master Chief" to "the Commando", as they felt that it better suited the tone of the game.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_006.mp3 '''343 Sparkast #6''']</ref>
*In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', John-117's character-specific base attributes are increased melee damage and faster shield and health regeneration rates. His default weapons loadout includes an [[MA5D assault rifle]], an [[M6H2 magnum]], and two [[M9 fragmentation grenade|fragmentation grenades]].<ref>[https://imgur.com/a/5553o#ZEXgOKo ''imgur'': Blue Team Perks (Halo 5)]</ref>
*In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', John-117's character-specific base attributes are increased melee damage and faster shield and health regeneration rates. His default weapons loadout includes an [[MA5D assault rifle]], an [[M6H2 magnum]], and two [[M9 fragmentation grenade|fragmentation grenades]].<ref>[https://imgur.com/a/5553o#ZEXgOKo '''imgur''': ''Blue Team Perks (Halo 5)'']</ref>


===Trivia===
===Trivia===
*A wax sculpture of the Master Chief is on display at [[Wikipedia:Madame Tussauds|Madame Tussauds]] in Los Angeles and Amsterdam. He is the first video game character to receive a Madame Tussaud's wax sculpture.<ref>[http://www.madametussauds.com/Hollywood/OurFigures/MovieCharacters/MasterChief.aspx ''Madame Tussauds'': Master Chief]</ref>
*John's surname is consistently unknown. However, because his redacted name in the Eridanus II census record takes up less space than the surnames of [[Rolla Hedegaard]] and [[Hirayama Tatsuyuki]], it can be determined that his surname is less than nine letters long.
*As seen in the books, John's rise through the ranks is a fast one: at the age of seven in [[2519]], he achieved the rank of Squad Leader for his leadership of the Spartans during a training exercise.{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR5}} In September of [[2525]], when he was fourteen, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class before the mission to [[Eridanus Secundus]].{{Ref/Reuse|HTFOR9}} In November, he was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class when his training was complete.<ref name="HTFOR11">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 11</ref> By April of [[2526|the next year]], John was a Petty Officer First Class during [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] when he received a three-rank promotion to Master Chief Petty Officer by Colonel [[Marmon Crowther]]. He was also only fifteen at the time he received that promotion.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS23}}
====In Other Games====
*A tower in the shape of John's helmet can be found on [[Destinypedia:Mars|Mars]] in Bungie's ''[[Destinypedia:Destiny|Destiny]]''.
*A tower in the shape of John's helmet can be found on [[Destinypedia:Mars|Mars]] in Bungie's ''[[Destinypedia:Destiny|Destiny]]''.
*''[[w:c:Fable:Fable II|Fable II]]'' makes a reference to the Master Chief with a character of legend named "[[w:c:Fable:Hal|Hal]]", also called the Minstrel Chief. The armor featured (clearly inspired by ''Halo'''s [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]) is known as "[[w:c:Fable:Hal's Armor|Hal's Armor]]".<ref name="Fable2">[http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/master-chief-crash-lands-into-fable-2/ '''Joystiq:''' ''Master Chief crash lands into Fable II'']</ref> A sword resembling the [[Energy Sword]] is also featured in the game, known as [[w:c:Fable:Hal's Sword|"Hal's Sword"]]. In addition, with the Special Edition, the player can obtain the title [[w:c:Fable:Titles|"Master Chief"]] for their hero for free from any title vendor.
*''[[Fable:Fable II|Fable II]]'' makes a reference to the Master Chief with a character of legend named "[[Fable:Hal|Hal]]", a clear and purposeful misspelling of Halo, also called the Minstrel Chief. The armor featured (clearly inspired by ''Halo''<nowiki>s</nowiki> [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]) is known as "[[Fable:Hal's Armor|Hal's Armor]]".<ref name="Fable2">[http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/master-chief-crash-lands-into-fable-2/ ''Joystiq'': Master Chief crash lands into Fable II]</ref> A sword resembling the [[Energy Sword]] is also featured in the game, known as [[Fable:Hal's Sword|"Hal's Sword"]]. In addition, with the Special Edition, the player can obtain the title [[Fable:Titles|"Master Chief"]] for their hero for free from any title vendor.
*A wax sculpture of the Master Chief is on display at [[Wikipedia:Madame Tussauds|Madame Tussauds]] in Los Angeles and Amsterdam. He is the first video game character to receive a Madame Tussaud's wax sculpture.<ref>[http://www.madametussauds.com/Hollywood/OurFigures/MovieCharacters/MasterChief.aspx '''Madame Tussauds''': ''Master Chief'']</ref>
*Master Chief appears in [[Wikipedia:Konami|Konami]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Super Bomberman R|Super Bomberman R]]'' as one of the three exclusive characters in the Xbox One version. He is known as Master Chief Bomber, a SPARTAN-II supersoldier from Planet Halo. He is a speed typed bomber and his special ability is the Spartan Shot.
*John's surname is consistently unknown. However, because his redacted name in the Eridanus II census record takes up less space than the surnames of [[Rolla Hedegaard]] and [[Hirayama Tatsuyuki]], it can be determined that his surname is less than nine letters long.
*Master Chief appears in [[Wikipedia:Epic Games|Epic Games]]' ''[[Wikipedia:Fortnite: Battle Royale|Fortnite]]'' as a Gaming Legends Series outfit, with his Matte Black style being unlocked upon playing a match on [[Xbox Series X/S|Xbox Series X{{!}}S]] or [[Xbox Series X/S#Xbox Series S|Xbox Series S]], as well as Epic Games and [[Wikipedia:Mediatonic|Mediatonic]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Fall Guys|Fall Guys]]'' as one of the characters in the Spartan Showdown event.
*A Master Chief costume is available in ''[https://seaofthieves.fandom.com/wiki/Sea_of_Thieves Sea of Thieves]''.<ref>[https://www.kotaku.com.au/2023/02/sea-of-thieves-adds-halo-costumes/ '''Kotaku''' - ''Sea Of Thieves Adds Halo Costumes, Banana Gun'']</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Biographical images===
===Biographical images===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:PhilosophicalChildJohn.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Young John stargazing with his friend Ellie.
File:117_BIONano_Card.jpg|John-117's biochemical analysis card, created on [[2517|04/11/2517]].
File:liveactionjohn.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Young John on a beach on Eridanus II.
File:liveactionjohn.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Young John on a beach on Eridanus II.
File:Johnstripes.png|John, at 6 years of age, during a game of King of the Hill.
File:Johnstripes.png|John, at 6 years of age, during a game of King of the Hill.
File:117_BIONano_Card.jpg|John-117's biochemical analysis card, created on [[2517|04/11/2517]].
File:TFORAS JohnRoom.jpg|John's childhood bedroom.
File:TFoR AS JohnSleep.jpg|John, as a child, asleep in his bed.
File:Boot Camp 1 cover.jpg|John-117, at 6 years of age, with Halsey deciding his fate with a 21st century quarter.
File:Boot Camp 1 cover.jpg|John-117, at 6 years of age, with Halsey deciding his fate with a 21st century quarter.
File:H4L - John 117 flash clone replacement.jpg|John being replaced with his flash clone.
File:H4L - John 117 flash clone replacement.jpg|John being replaced with his flash clone.
File:TFOR-AS-BlueTeam-Uniformed.png|John (center), at 14 years of age, and the rest of Blue Team in the funeral to the Spartans who "washed out" of the augmentation process
File:Scanned After Augmentations.jpg|John-117, age 14, awakes after his augmentation procedures.
File:John-117 fighting ODST team.png|John-117, at 14 years of age, fighting a group of ODSTs on the ''Atlas''.
File:TFOR-AS-BlueTeam-Uniformed.png|John (center) and the rest of Blue Team in the funeral to the Spartans who "washed out" of the augmentation process
File:H4L Awakening 3.jpg|John, at 14 years of age, putting on Mjolnir armor.
File:John-117 fighting ODST team.png|John-117 fighting a group of ODSTs on the ''Atlas''.
File:H4L Awakening 3.jpg|John putting on Mjolnir armor.
File:John-117 boarding Unrelenting.png|John boarding the ''[[Unrelenting]]''.
File:John-117 boarding Unrelenting.png|John boarding the ''[[Unrelenting]]''.
File:HCD Blue Team.png|Master Chief leading Blue Team in combat on [[Alpha Corvi II]].
File:HCD Blue Team.png|The Master Chief leading Blue Team in combat on [[Alpha Corvi II]].
File:Corridor Attack.jpg|John-117, Kelly-087 and Fred-104 storming the ''Resplendent Fervor'' during Operation: WARM BLANKET.
File:HL Package Halsey And John 117 rescue.jpg|The Master Chief and Dr. Halsey escape the ''[[Resplendent Fervor]]'' during [[Operation: WARM BLANKET]].
File:John against all odds.png|John-117 in the midst of Colonel Ackerson's deadly training exercise.
File:John against all odds.png|John-117 in the midst of Colonel Ackerson's deadly training exercise.
File:HM-JohnI04-full.jpg|John-117 lands on Installation 04.
File:CEA BridgeChat1.png|The Master Chief with Captain Keyes and Cortana on the ''Pillar of Autumn''.
File:Keyes Needler.jpg|John and Cpt. Keyes prepare to fight their way out of the ''Truth and Reconciliation''.
File:HLC Halo Conflict.png|The Master Chief aboard ''[[Echo 419]]'' approaching the Cartographer.
File:HLC Halo Conflict.png|The Master Chief aboard [[Echo 419]] approaching the Cartographer.
File:ChiefSparkCEA.png|John encounters [[343 Guilty Spark]].
File:Master Chief Collection - MC window.png|John-117 onboard Cairo Station during the Battle of Earth.
File:Master Chief Collection - MC window.png|John-117 onboard ''Cairo Station'' during the Battle for Earth.
File:H2A-JohnWithCovenantBomb.jpg|John returning the Covenant bomb.
File:H2A-JohnWithCovenantBomb.jpg|John returning the Covenant bomb.
File:HSS-John.png|John on the streets of Mombasa.
File:HSS-John.png|John on the streets of Mombasa.
File:HM-JohnI05.png|John-117 on Installation 05.
File:HM-DeltaHalo.jpg|John-117 on Installation 05.
File:Master Chief & The Arbiter.jpg|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam prepare to fight through the jungles of Kenya.
File:Master Chief & The Arbiter.jpg|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam prepare to fight through the jungles of Kenya.
File:HM-John&friends.png|Thel 'Vadam, Avery Johnson, 343 Guilty Spark and John-117 near Installation 08's Control Room.
File:H3-John&Thel.jpg|The Arbiter fighting alongside the Master Chief on Installation 08.
File:Halo3Mythos.jpg|Thel 'Vadam, Avery Johnson, 343 Guilty Spark and John-117 near Installation 08's control room.
File:DeathofAveryJohnson.jpg|The Master Chief is caught unaware by 343 Guilty Spark's sudden attack on Johnson.
File:DeathofAveryJohnson.jpg|The Master Chief is caught unaware by 343 Guilty Spark's sudden attack on Johnson.
File:DidactJohnHM.jpeg|John-117 takes cover from the Ur-Didact on Requiem.
File:DidactJohnHM.jpeg|John-117 takes cover from the Ur-Didact on Requiem.
File:H4 Marine John Palmer Lasky.jpg|A Marine, MCPO John-117, CDR Palmer, and CDR Lasky converse on Requiem.
File:H4 Marine John Palmer Lasky.jpg|A Marine, MCPO John-117, CDR Palmer, and CDR Lasky converse on Requiem.
File:Chief past Palmer.jpg|John walks past Commander Sarah Palmer aboard ''Infinity''.
File:H4 Epilogue Chief & Palmer.png|John walks past Commander Sarah Palmer aboard ''Infinity''.
File:John 117 Legendary Ending Face.jpg|John's face in 2557.
File:Blue Team Escalation1.png|John and the rest of Blue Team onboard a GA-TL1 Longsword shortly before landing on Installation 03.
File:Blue Team Escalation1.png|John and the rest of Blue Team onboard a GA-TL1 Longsword shortly before landing on Installation 03.
File:H5G-I Need a Weapon.png|John and Kelly before Blue Team's assault on ''Argent Moon''.
File:H5G-I Need a Weapon.png|John and Kelly before Blue Team's assault on ''Argent Moon''.
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File:Master Chiefs Death.png|Footage used to portray John's alleged "death" on Meridian.
File:Master Chiefs Death.png|Footage used to portray John's alleged "death" on Meridian.
File:H5-TheHuntBegins-JohnNotYet.png|John on Meridian.
File:H5-TheHuntBegins-JohnNotYet.png|John on Meridian.
File:HM-JohnGenesis.png|John-117 fighting Promethean Soldiers on Genesis.
File:HM-Genesis.png|John-117 and Spartan Locke fighting Armiger Soldiers on Genesis.
File:HINF RingHologram.png|John and [[Fernando Esparza]] searching for the Weapon.
File:HINF ItWontBeMe.png|John reunites with [[the Weapon]].
File:HINF AdjutantReception.png|The Master Chief and the Weapon encouter [[Adjutant Resolution]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


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File:HCE Mjolnir Mark V.png|John-117 in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor.
File:HCE Mjolnir Mark V.png|John-117 in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor.
File:HCE John with MA5B.jpg|John-117 in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor holding a MA5B assault rifle.
File:HCE John with MA5B.jpg|John-117 in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor holding a MA5B assault rifle.
File:HCE-MasterChief-ActionPoses.png|John posing with a MA5B in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Halo2-MasterChiefShotgun.png|John-117  in ''[[Halo 2]]'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.
File:Halo2-MasterChiefShotgun.png|John-117  in ''[[Halo 2]]'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.
File:H2-MCwithSMGs-HalfBody.png|John-117 in ''Halo 2'', clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.
File:HU-John-05.jpg|The Master Chief in ''[[Halo: Uprising]]''.
File:Halo3-Chief & Arbiter looking good.png|John-117 stands back-to-back with Thel 'Vadam in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:Halo3-Chief & Arbiter looking good.png|John-117 stands back-to-back with Thel 'Vadam in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:H3 John and Thel Back to back.jpg|Thel next to John in ''Halo 3''.
File:Halo3-MasterChief-Crouch-02.png|John crouching in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 John and Thel side by side.jpg|Thel next to John in ''Halo 3''.
File:Halo Legends Spartan-117.png|John-117 in ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''.
File:Halo Legends Spartan-117.png|John-117 in ''[[The Package]]''.
File:HR_John117_Firefight_Icon.png|John-117's Firefight profile image in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:John's Profile.jpg|John-117's Firefight profile image in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:John - Mark IV.jpg|John in his Mark IV MJOLNIR armor in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant]]''.
File:John - Mark IV.jpg|John in his Mark IV MJOLNIR armor in ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant]]''.
File:CEA-MarkV Render Front.png|John in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:CEA-MarkV Render Front.png|John in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
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File:H4FUD-MasterChief-John117.png|John-117 in ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''.
File:H4FUD-MasterChief-John117.png|John-117 in ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''.
File:H4-Scanned-MasterChief-FrontBack.jpg|A render of the Master Chief in ''[[Scanned]]''.
File:H4-Scanned-MasterChief-FrontBack.jpg|A render of the Master Chief in ''[[Scanned]]''.
File:Halo_4_Master_Chief_front.png|Full-body portrait of John-117 wielding an MA5D in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:Halo_4_Master_Chief_front.png|Full-body portrait of John-117 clad in Mark VI MOD wielding an MA5D in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:H4 Close up chief.png|Close up of John-117 in ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo Escalation 10.jpg|John-117 and the rest of Blue Team on the cover of [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|''Halo: Escalation'' #10]].
File:Halo Escalation 10.jpg|John-117 and the rest of Blue Team on the cover of [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|''Halo: Escalation'' #10]].
File:JohnFace.png|John with his eye revealed through his cracked visor in ''Halo: Escalation Issue 10''.
File:JohnFace.png|John with his eye revealed through his cracked visor in ''Halo: Escalation Issue 10''.
File:H2A - MC face.jpg|John-117 in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A - MC face.jpg|John-117 in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A MC FullBody Render.png|A full-body model of John in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:TFOR-AS-John-Dress-Uniform.png|John at age 14 after his augmentations in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''.
File:TFOR-AS-John-Dress-Uniform.png|John at age 14 after his augmentations in ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''.
File:TFoR Animated - John Mark IV.png|John in his original Mjolnir armor in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''.
File:TFoR Animated - John Mark IV.png|John in his original Mjolnir armor in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series''.
File:H5G-Render-MC-3.png|A render of John-117 in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-Render-MC-3.png|A render of John-117 in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-Render-MC-1.png|A close-up of John-117 in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:H5G-MarkVI-GEN2.png|Another render of John-117 clad in [GEN2] Mark VI MOD in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:Halo_5_Co-op_Chief.png|John-117's Loadout in ''Halo 5: Guardians''..
File:H5G-Render-MC-4.png|A render of John-117 in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:Master_Chief_and_locke_promo_profiles.jpg|Profile of Chief and Locke given with ''Halo'' merchandise to popular ''Halo'' personalities.
File:HFR_John_Render_Action.png|John-117 clad in Mark V in ''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''.
File:Halo5GuardiansDossierJohn.png|John's dossier from the special edition of ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:HFR John Render.png|John-117 clad in Mark V in ''Halo: Fireteam Raven''.
File:PL history lesson.png|A hologram of John in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HSS full cover.jpg|John clad in Project COBALT CV.117 armor on the cover of ''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''.
File:HFR_John_Render_Action.png|John-117 clad in Mark V in ''Halo: Fireteam Raven''.
File:HI E3 2019 Trailer John 117.PNG|A model of John-117 clad in MJOLNIR [GEN3] Mark VI in ''[[Discover Hope]]''.
File:HINF_Cover_John117_Crop.png|A render of John-117 clad in [GEN3] Mark VI in a teaser for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HInf Character Master Chief render.png|thumb|Full body render of John-117 in ''Halo Infinite''.
File:HINF John-117 RenderCrop.png|John in battleworn armor wielding an MA40 in ''Halo Infinite''.
File: HINF_John-117_RenderCrop2.png|Another render of John in ''Halo Infinite''.
File:HINF-Chief-Running.png|John sprinting and armed with an assault rifle.
File:HINF-Chief-EnergySword.png|John wielding a [[Meluth'qelos-pattern energy sword]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Concept art===
===Concept art and early builds===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HCE - oldest MC.png|Early concept art of John-117 for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCE John117 Early Concept.jpg|Very early concept art of John-117 for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:Masterchief sheik.png|An early John-117 drawing by Shi Kai Wang for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:HCE John117 Concept 2.png|Early concept art of John-117 for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Awakening.jpg|John-117 undergoing Mark V armor diagnostics.
File:HCE John117 Concept 1.jpg|An early John-117 drawing by Shi Kai Wang for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:MjolnirDiagnostics.jpg|Concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark VI armor diagnostics for ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:HCE_John117_Concept_3.jpg|Another in-progress design for John for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:H2-Concept-E3-Chief.jpg|John-117 priming a [[plasma grenade]] on a [[New Mombasa]] highway.
File:HCE John117 Concept 4.jpg|More final concept art of Master Chief.
File:ChiefArbiterConcept.jpg|Concept art of John-117 and Thel 'Vadam inside a Forerunner facility for ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:HCE_John117_Concept_5.jpg|More final concept art of Master Chief.
File:H3-manual-cover-01.jpg|''Halo 3 Manual'' cover art variant #1.
File:HCE-Johnswordconcept.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief, equipped with a backpack [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved weapons#Machete|Machete]].
File:H3-manual-cover-02.jpg|''Halo 3 Manual'' cover art variant #2.
File:HTMCC-CE-Spartans3.jpg|The evolution of John-117 from cyborg heavy infantry to Spartan-II.
File:1771875-gallery.png|Concept art of John-117 in his armor in ''[[Halo Legends]]: [[Homecoming]]''.
File:H2 Master Chief concept art.jpg|Concept art of John-117 for ''[[Halo 2]]'' by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.
File:1771722-gallery-crop.png|Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for ''[[The Package]]''.
File:H2 Master Chief concept art helmet.jpg|Concept art of John's helmet for ''[[Halo 2]]'' by Eddie Smith.
File:H2 Master Chief concept art upper torso.jpg|Concept art of John-117 upper torso for ''[[Halo 2]]'' by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.
File:H2-Concept-E3-Chief.jpg|John-117 priming a {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} on a [[New Mombasa]] highway in concept art for the ''[[Halo 2 E3 demo]]''.
File:H2 ConceptArt ArbiterAndChief.png|Concept art of John-117 and Thel 'Vadam inside a Forerunner facility for ''Halo 2''.
File:HaloMovie Awakening Concept.jpg|[[Halo film]] concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark V armor diagnostics.
File:H3_ManualCover_1_Concept_2.jpg|''Halo 3 Manual'' cover art variant #1.
File:H3_ManualCover_2_Concept_6.jpg|''Halo 3 Manual'' cover art variant #2.
File:H3 Manual Cover Design 10.jpg|Concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark VI armor diagnostics for a potential ''[[Halo 3]]'' manual cover.
File:Homecoming_John117_Concept.png|Concept art of John-117 in his armor in ''[[Halo Legends]]: [[Homecoming]]''.
File:ThePackage_John117_Concept.png|Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''.
File:HW Universe Halo Legends Concepts 6 The Chief.png|Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''.
File:HCEA-Concept-PoA-Chief-Profile.jpg|Concept art of John-117 aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:HCEA-Concept-PoA-Chief-Profile.jpg|Concept art of John-117 aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:HCEA-Concept-Chief-Flood.jpg|John-117 encountering the [[Flood]] in the swamps of [[Installation 04]].
File:HCEA-Concept-Chief-Flood.jpg|John-117 encountering the [[Flood]] in the swamps of [[Installation 04]].
File:H4-Concept-Chief-Knight.jpg|Concept art of John-117 engaging a [[Promethean Knight]] at close range for ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:H4 Early Spartan Concept 1.jpg|Early concept art of John-117 in ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:H5-ConceptArt-JohnCloakedSniperAndRobot.jpg|Concept art of John-117 with a cloak for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H4 JohnWallinLiberto ChiefPrometheans.jpg|Concept art of John-117 in combat with Prometheans in ''Halo 4''.
File:H5-ConceptArt-JohnHoldsBackTheHordes.jpg|John-117 facing a horde of [[Sangheili Storm]].
File:H4-Concept-Chief-Knight.jpg|Concept art of John-117 engaging a [[Promethean Knight]] at close range for ''Halo 4''.
File:TFoR AS Concept JohnBedroom.jpg|Concept sketch of John in his childhood bedroom for ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''.
File:H5G Achievement GoingTheDistance.png|Concept art of John-117 with a cloak for ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G Achievement LoneWolf.png|John-117 facing a horde of [[Sangheili Storm]].
File:H5GC-MegaJohn.jpg|Unused concept of John in a [[Modular exoskeleton]].
File:H5G GameInformerConceptCovers.jpg|Concept ''Game Informer'' covers for ''Halo 5: Guardians'' featuring John.
File:HW2 - master chief .jpg|Unused concept of John-117 for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2 - master chief .jpg|Unused concept of John-117 for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HCD-EarlyJohn3.jpg|Unused concept of John-117 for ''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''.
File:HINF-Concept-ChiefSuitExploration3.jpg|Unused concept art exploration for ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' depicting John-117 in various exoskeletons.
File:HINF Concept YoungChief.jpg|Early concept art of a "young Chief" for ''Halo Infinite'', presumably intended to depict him as he was in his Mark IV armor.
File:HINF Concept Chief on a Beach.jpg|Concept art of John washed up on a beach on Installation 07.
File:HINF-Concept-ChiefSuitExploration7.jpg|Concept art exploration for ''Halo Infinite'' showing John in various situations and poses.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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**''[[Hunted]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Hunted]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Museum]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Museum]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Landfall]]''
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
**''[[Bestiarum]]''
**''[[Bestiarum]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminal]]s''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal]]s''
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon appearance}}
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon appearance}}
{{col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Wages of Sin]]'' {{Im}}
{{col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Data pads]]'' {{Im}}
**''[[Data pads]]'' {{Im}}
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*''[[Halo Living Monument]]''
*''[[Halo Living Monument]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
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*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Halo: Nightfall: Soldier Within|Soldier Within]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
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**''[[The Hunt Begins]]''
**''[[The Hunt Begins]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
{{col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' {{C|Box art}}
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'' {{C|Box art}}
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*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo Fractures]]''
{{col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Breaking Strain]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Breaking Strain]]'' {{Mo}}
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*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{C|Hologram/mentioned only}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{C|Hologram/mentioned only}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Recruit]]''
*''[[Halo: Recruit]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
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*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Become]]''
**''[[Step Inside]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Banished Rise]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Unspoken]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Project Magnes (trailer)|Project Magnes]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Lightbringers]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Carry On]]''
**''[[Forever We Fight]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite: Memory Agent]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo: Age of Retribution]]'' {{Mo}}
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-end}}
}}
}}
==See also==
*[[List of references to religion in the Halo series]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{reflist|3}}
{{Ref/Sources|3}}


{{Spartan II}}
{{Spartan II}}
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Human characters]]
[[Category:UNSC Navy enlisted personnel]]
[[Category:UNSC Navy enlisted personnel]]
[[Category:Spartan-IIs]]
[[Category:Spartan-IIs]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]
[[Category:Playable characters]]

Latest revision as of 02:08, November 19, 2024

John-117
Large version of the Halo Infinite cover art without logo.
GEN3
John-117 wielding an MA40 assault rifle in Halo Infinite. Image from Canon Fodder #117. Slightly cropped so that John-117 is centered in the image (looks nicer).
GEN2
H5G-MarkVI-GEN2.png
Mark VI
H2A MC FullBody Render.png
Mark V
A render of John-117, as he appears in Halo: Fireteam Raven.
Mark IV
Official Image of Master Chief's armor from Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
Biographical information

Homeworld:

Eridanus II[1]

Born:

March 7, 2511[2][1]

Personal details

Species:

Human[1]

Gender:

Male[1]

Height:

  • 208.3 centimeters (6 ft 10.0 in)[3]
  • 218 centimeters (7 ft 2 in) (with Mjolnir armor)[1]

Weight:

  • 130.0 kilograms (286.6 lb)[1]
  • 179.0 kilograms (394.6 lb) (with Mjolnir undersuit)[3]
  • 451.3 kilograms (994.9 lb) (with Mark V Mjolnir)[3]

Hair color:

Brown[4]

Eye color:

Blue[4]

Political and military information

Affiliation:

Rank:

Master Chief Petty Officer[1]

Service number:

S-117[1]

 

"This child could be more useful to the UNSC than a fleet of destroyers, a thousand Lieutenants -- or even me. In the end, one child could be the difference between peace and an unwinnable war."
— Dr. Catherine Halsey, referring to John-117.[5]

Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, also known simply by his rank as the "Master Chief" or (as is common in military culture) simply as the "Chief", is a Spartan-II supersoldier of the UNSC Navy's Special Weapons division. He served as one of the most important figures of the Human-Covenant War. After over thirty years of active duty, he is one of the most decorated war veterans of the United Nations Space Command.

Overview

This article is a brief overview of John-117's life. For an extremely detailed look at John's entire history, please see his biography pages.

Summary

"I do not remember my name. I do not remember my family. I do not remember my home. But I can remember the game. We played it every day. And I never lost. The game... It's the only thing I can remember about the life I had before I met Doctor Halsey. Since then, I have experienced a lifetime of combat. Through thirty years of war against alien aggressors... I have always known my fate. I knew someday I would die in battle. But now that it is here... now that it is time to die... I find I am not ready."
— John reflects upon his life and fate.[6]
Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.

By August of 2558, John had completed two hundred and nine military operations, including one hundred and thirty-six full campaigns; more than anyone other UNSC personnel on record at the time.[4] Though John has commanded nearly every Spartan-II at one time or another, the lion's share of his career has been spent as fireteam leader of Blue Team. His actions during the Human-Covenant War earned him every major UNSC service medal and combat award, save for the Prisoner of War Medallion, as well as several dozen civilian honors.[4][7][Note 1]

As the war neared its end, most of John's fellow SPARTAN-IIs were killed in action during the Fall of Reach. However, John and his AI companion Cortana fled Reach and their vessel fortuitously arrived at Halo Installation 04, a one hundred millennia-old superweapon created by the Forerunners to destroy their parasitic enemy, the Flood, by killing all life in the galaxy. After destroying the Halo, the surrounding Covenant fleet, and the Flood forces on the ring, John returned to Earth and resisted the Covenant's impromptu invasion. Pursuing the invaders' flagship, the Master Chief encountered Installation 05, where a civil war soon broke out within the Covenant. Weeks later, John followed the remaining Covenant forces to the Ark, the Halo Array's control center, which he disabled before the Halos could be fired.

John went missing after the war's final battle in December 2552, having stymied the threat of the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halos.[8] In the interbellum, John was lauded as a hero, and though he was officially declared MIA like all Spartans,[9] he was ostensibly believed by the UNSC to have perished.[8] After his recovery in July 2557, he played a key role in the conflict between the UNSC and the Didact's Promethean forces and a new "Covenant" faction, beginning on the shield world Requiem. This culminated in an attack on Earth and the Didact's temporary defeat, as well as the apparent loss of Cortana.[10] John subsequently reunited with Blue Team and with their help, vanquished the Didact a second time. John and his Spartan compatriots went on to participate in numerous new missions for over a year.

During one such mission, John had a vision of a seemingly alive Cortana. This prompted him to go in search of her against direct orders, with the rest of Blue Team choosing to remain by his side.[11] In response, the UNSC declared Blue Team absent without leave and sent Spartan-IV Fireteam Osiris to recover them.[12] On Genesis, John and Blue Team learned that Cortana had assumed the Mantle for herself and was planning on using the Guardians to enforce peace across the galaxy. John rejected Cortana's offer to join her, prompting her to imprison him and the rest of Blue Team in a Cryptum.[13] However, the Spartan-IIs were freed by Fireteam Osiris, with both Spartan teams traveling to Sanghelios while Cortana unleashed the Guardians on the galaxy.[12]

Identification

Within the military he is most commonly identified as "SPARTAN-117" or the phonetic callsign "Sierra 117". As with all Spartans, John was regarded by the Covenant as a "Demon". However, John specifically was known as "the Demon", an epithet he earned after the destruction of Installation 04, though allied Sangheili soon came to address him as "Spartan". The Didact and the Warden Eternal addressed John and his Spartan teammates as Warriors or Warrior-Servants.[6][14]

Biography

Main article: John-117/Early life

Early life

John stargazing in a grassy field on Eridanus II.

John: "Maybe someone up there is wondering what it's like here."
Ellie: "I guess? Do you think we'll ever meet them?"
John: "I hope so. Don't you?"
— John stargazing philosophically with his friend Ellie.

Born on March 7, 2511,[1][2] John lived with his mother and father in Elysium City, on the colony world of Eridanus II. He attended the Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119. As a child, John had brown hair, freckles, and a small gap between his front teeth. In a memory, he recalled that his mother was kind and smelled of soap.[15] The would-be UNSC Marine Lieutenant Parisa was a childhood friend of John's. John once saved her from drowning at Lake Gusev, after which he promised to marry her and keep her safe. A photo of the two was also taken by Parisa's father soon after, and would be kept as a memory by Parisa long after she thought John had passed away.[16] He also was a friend of Ellie Bloom, living next to each other in their childhood, and Katrina, who played obstacle races with him and Ellie.[17]

Conscription

Halsey: "It's very nice to meet you. I wanted to ask you what you were doing?"
John: "Winning."
— Dr. Halsey and John during their first meeting.[18]

At the age of six, John was identified by Dr. Catherine Halsey as one of 150 preliminary candidates for the SPARTAN-II program. John was an ideal physical and mental candidate, standing a head taller than the majority of his schoolmates, having greater physical proportions, possessing greater strength, exhibiting superior reflexes, and having an aggressive drive for success. By the time he was conscripted, he had a string of forty-five victories in what Dr. Halsey referred to as a "brutal version" of King of the Hill, resulting in him having a chipped tooth and his opponents suffering various bone fractures.[19]

ONI agents abducting John-117, from Scanned.
John being abducted by ONI agents.

When Dr. Halsey and LTJG Jacob Keyes visited Eridanus II in 2517 to study him - the first of the candidates - they were impressed with his intellect. In a final test of his viability as a candidate, he was asked to determine which side an old coin would land on. He watched the coin as it flew in the air and caught it before it could land; correctly stating which side was face-up, on the side of the eagle. Later that same year, John and 74 other six-year-old children were conscripted to Reach: they were covertly kidnapped from their homes and replaced with flash clones to cover up the kidnappings.[Note 2] All of the clones would later die of seemingly natural causes as a result of their accelerated growth process, with John's flash-clone dying on December 7, 2517.[17][20]

Spartan training

Main article: SPARTAN-II training

"Remember this: you don’t win unless your team wins. One person winning at the expense of the group means that you lose."
— CPO Mendez explaining trainees the main idea of teamwork.[21]
Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series screenshot
Trainees 087, 034, 058, 117, and 104, at around 8 years of age, after being introduced to the SPARTAN-II program.

John and the rest of the children chosen for the SPARTAN-II program were brought to the Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex, their new home for the next several years. There, Dr. Halsey informed the children of their new purpose: they were destined to become protectors of Earth and all its colonies. The next morning John discovered his service tag, stitched into his training uniform, and his new name: John-117. John began adjusting to his new life, training with other Spartans under Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez.

In their first training exercise, John was grouped with fellow trainees Kelly-087 and Samuel-034 in a game of "Ring the Bell". John rushed ahead of his teammates and crossed the finish line first; however, he was befuddled to learn that his team had lost, as Kelly and Sam came last. This taught John the importance of teamwork and the next day, his team scored higher. John soon bonded with Kelly and Sam, who would become his first and closest friends among the trainees.[21] For eight years John was schooled in history, military strategy and tactics, and weapons, and was given extreme physical training. During his training, John used to tease Serin-019 and her habit of eating leftovers from meals of the other candidates.[22]

John quickly proved himself to be one of the program's top candidates. Both Dr. Halsey and Chief Mendez identified him as one of four emerging leaders within the Spartan-II group, along with Kurt-051, Jerome-092, and Frederic-104. Halsey believed John held both the skills and natural ability to lead the entire Spartan-II group. Mendez disagreed with her assessment, instead believing Kurt would fulfill the role as team leader.[23] John's leadership skills were correctly observed, as the results from their mission clearly solidified his role as the overall leader of the Spartan-IIs. He also became the established leader of Spartan Blue Team.

Taking the initiative

"No one’s being left behind. We’re going to figure a way to get all of us out."
— John motivating his comrades during the Spartans' training exercise in Reach's Highlands[24]
Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series screenshot
The young Spartans in Reach's wilderness.

When the Spartans were eight years old, they were sent on a training mission in which they were dropped over a forest located deep in one of Reach's Highland Mountains. They were expected to get safely to their extraction vehicle, an Albatross dropship. The trainees also had instructions to leave the last member arriving behind, or their punishment would be severe. After organizing themselves, the Spartans looked to him as their leader. It was a role he was surprised to be given, but eventually accepted. When the group came across the Albatross, it was guarded by un-uniformed UNSC Marines, leading John to assume they were a threat. He quickly devised a plan to eliminate the hostiles, capture the dropship, and ensure the safe extraction of every team member. He also decided to take responsibility as the last arriving trainee singled out for punishment. He quickly hijacked the dropship with the help of Déjà, and attacked the guards with stones, injuring them severely. Chief Mendez was not initially pleased, feeling John had violated the boundaries of the test. However, both Mendez and Halsey quickly recognized John's initiative, and promoted him to Squad Leader. After this, despite the other Spartans rising in rank and leading independent teams, John remained the de facto leader of the Spartans as a whole.

Physical augmentation

John-117: "Can you tell me, Dr. Halsey? Just this time? How do I win?"
Dr. Halsey: "I’ll tell you how to win, John. You have to survive."
— Dr. Halsey visiting John right before his augmentation procedures[25]
John-117, at 14 years of age, undergoing his augmentation procedures.

At the age of 14, John underwent the dangerous SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures. These procedures resulted in the death of thirty trainees, with twelve more physically disabled. John was one of thirty three Spartans who made it through the process unscathed, while the wounded were sent to the Office of Naval Intelligence. Even before his cybernetic and genetic augmentation, at 14 years of age, John had a physical body of an 18-year old Olympic athlete.[25] Far beyond the physical alterations, the enhancements boosted the Spartans reflexes, strength, enhanced eyesight, and rendered their bones nearly unbreakable. Following their treatments, John and the other Spartans were transferred to the UNSC Atlas to recover in a microgravity environment. During his first visit to the Atlas' gym, John was confronted by four ODSTs, whose sergeant then ordered the five of them into the boxing ring. In the ensuing fight, John inadvertently killed two of the ODSTs, and left the others severely injured. According to Major Antonio Silva, this incident was orchestrated by the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to test the Spartans' augmentations.[15] While John had tried to avoid the confrontation, he nonetheless felt guilt at being forced to kill other human beings, but felt by following the sergeant's orders, he did the right thing. Then-ODST Anthony Petrosky, who witnessed the fight, would later refer to his comrades as "lambs to the slaughter"; he described John's punches as rapid-fire explosions, and that the fight was over in less than five seconds.[26]

Following their return to Reach for further training, John and the other Spartans were soon relocated from their barracks in the FLEETCOM military complex into the abandoned titanium mines nearby. Left in the caverns virtually without equipment and pitted against Marines wearing heavy Mark I powered armor, the Spartans continuously overcame the opposition Chief Mendez planned for them using impromptu equipment and tactics.[27]

Infiltration on Eridanus Secundus

Main article: Operation: TALON

"I have good news for you. The word has come down. Command has decided to test your unique abilities."
— Dr. Halsey to the Spartans before their first combat mission[28]
Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series screenshot
John during the mission to Eridanus Secundus.

John's first mission, codenamed Operation: TALON, was to capture Insurrectionist leader Colonel Robert Watts within the asteroid belt of the Eridanus system, where his homeworld was located. According to the plan, Blue Team, consisting of John, Kelly, Fred, Linda and Sam, infiltrated the Insurrectionists' base by hiding aboard the freighter Laden. Upon arrival they slid out of Laden and tracked their target to the barracks using previously marked cargo. The Spartans proficiently eliminated the guards and made their way to Watts' apartment, though John was shot in the side, with one bullet penetrating his body suit, bouncing off a few ribs, and causing a tremendous amount of internal bleeding, remaining lodged in his abdomen during the ensuing firefight. Careful not to kill Watts, they drove him into a corner, choked him into unconsciousness, and forced him into a sealed cargo crate. To make an exit, Sam used C-12 explosives to blow the main hangar bay doors. As the hangar bay decompressed, the Spartans escaped the rebels' base in a Pelican dropship stolen from the UNSC. The official results of the mission listed eleven dead enemy soldiers and an unknown number of rebel civilians. John received a Purple Heart upon the completion of the mission.[29]

Human-Covenant War

Main article: John-117/Human-Covenant War

Chi Ceti IV

John, at 14 years of age, having his original Mjolnir helmet put on by Dr. Halsey.
Main article: Battle of Chi Ceti IV

John-117: "Spartans, this is what we've trained our entire lives to do. If we lose here, we lose everything. Let's send our own message."
Spartans: "Sir, yes, sir!"
— John encouraging his comrades[5]

Three months after Eridanus, John and his Spartans were briefed on the massacre that took place on Harvest shortly after first contact with the Covenant. A short time later, the UNSC Commonwealth, under the command of Captain Wallace, brought the Spartans and Dr. Halsey to the Damascus Testing Facility at Chi Ceti IV, where they received their first suits of Mjolnir powered armor. When a Covenant ship, the Unrelenting, attacked the Commonwealth, John and the Spartan-IIs took part in their first engagement with the Covenant. The Spartans used thruster packs to launch themselves from a Pelican dropship. Each Spartan carried an ANVIL-II warhead to be used against the Covenant ship. Only two other Spartans reached the ship with John: Sam and Kelly. They entered the vessel through a puncture in its hull, caused by a MAC round from the Commonwealth. They succeeded in completing the mission and destroyed the Covenant ship, but due to a breach in Sam's armor, he was unable to leave the Covenant ship. Volunteering to stay behind and ensure the destruction of the enemy vessel, Sam was killed in the ensuing explosion. John was deeply affected at the loss of one of his closest friends. The victory showed that the Covenant could be beaten, but only at a high cost.

Early war

Over the ensuing months, John and his Spartans were rapidly deployed on a number of battlefronts, taking part in the Battle of Alpha Corvi II later in 2525 and a boarding action against the frigate Radiant Arrow before being assigned as instrumental parts of Operation: SILENT STORM in early 2526. During the operation, John worked for the first time alongside enlisted UNSC personnel of the 21st Space Assault Battalion. Throughout the operation, John was a key participant in the battles of Seoba, Etalan, and finally a massive Battle of Zhoist. In this final engagement of SILENT STORM, John led one of the only offensive actions of the war into Covenant space, deploying on the Covenant world of Zhoist to destroy the Ring of Mighty Abundance, a key logistics base. The mission saw John attain the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and formed a friendship with Avery Johnson.[30]

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn screenshot
Blue Team's deployment on Circinius IV.

A few weeks later, John and Blue Team responded to the Covenant attack on Circinius IV, engaging the aliens in the battered Corbulo Academy of Military Science to extract the planet's only surviving humans - a squad of cadets formerly students of the school. During the engagement, John provided cover fire for the recruits, using his armour to shield them from Covenant sniper fire. As the group extracted from the planet, John gave one of the recruits - Thomas Lasky - a shard of Mgalekgolo armour as commendation for the recruit's bravery.[31] By May, John and Blue Team deployed to assist in the Battle of Mesra, before being deployed at Netherop to capture the downed frigate Radiant Perception. Ultimately, this prize was in fact a trap laid by former-fleetmaster Nizat 'Kvarosee, the disgraced commanding officer of the fleet destroyed in Operation: SILENT STORM months prior.[32]

In 2527, John-117 fought alongside ODSTs on the colony of Green Hills.[33]

A war on two fronts

Despite the emergence of the Covenant threat, the Insurrection continued to remain a threat on the home front, and John was repeatedly deployed against these actors. By 2531, John led Blue Team on several operations against the United Rebel Front. The team disrupted Insurrectionist operations at Station Jefferson, onboard the rebel destroyer URF Origami, in Micronesia, and at a high-explosives manufacturing facility at an unspecified location. Blue Team was also involved in interfering with a saboteur cell on Reach.[34] In May 2531, John led Blue Team in Operation: SMOKING ACES, a raid on the URF's Camp New Hope on the colony world Victoria. During this operation, John, Fred, Kelly and Linda were captured by General Howard Graves, but ultimately saved by new Blue Team addition Kurt-051. Graves was ultimately killed and the Spartans extracted before the rebels could have organised a counterattack.[34]

Mid-war actions

John-117 leading Fred-104 and Kelly-087 during Operation: WARM BLANKET.

John later returned to Circinius IV at an unknown time to once again aid in the evacuation of the planet's civilian population and to observe the enemy's invasion patterns, as part of Operation: PHALANX. John is known to have participated in an operation codenamed Operation: SWITCHBACK at some point prior to 2544, though details surrounding it have been redacted. He also was present at Cascade at some point after this, during which he aided in the destruction of Covenant exploratory fleet elements as part of Operation: HORIZON.[35]

On February 9, 2535 John and some of his fellow Spartans were deployed on the human colony of Jericho VII in Operation: FALLEN WALLS. Covenant forces landed on the colony, where they encountered tough resistance from UNSC forces above the planet and on the ground, resulting in a three-day long stalemate. On the ground, Blue Team's mission was to draw out the Covenant rear guard, so Red Team could slip behind their lines and plant a HAVOK tactical nuke, destroying the next Covenant ship that landed and dropped its shields. John led Blue Team in this engagement, killing hundreds of Unggoy troops in the process. Unfortunately, the UNSC fleet lost control of the space around Jericho VII. However, Captain De Blanc was able to evacuate the Spartans aboard UNSC Resolute before the enemy fleet began its glassing of the planet. John requested to watch the planet being glassed. He observed the assault for nearly an hour as Jericho VII was destroyed.[36]

In 2544, John deployed in Operation: IRON FIST to perform asset denial and recovery of critical cyberinfratsructure assets on Miridem. Shortly after, he led a SPARTAN-II group in Operation: WARM BLANKET at Ascon to board Luro 'Taralumee's Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence in recovering the captured Doctor Halsey from enemy hands. During this battle, John fought Thel 'Lodamee in single combat and was ultimately nearly defeated before Thel was forcibly removed from the situation by the fleet's slipspace jump.[35][37] The following year, John led Blue Team in a retaliatory action in the Battle of Draco III, following the Covenant's civilian slaughter of the planet.[38]

At an unknown time, John was present for a battle on a war-torn planet which saw the death of Daisy-023. Upon encountering Daisy's body, he laid her teddy bear chain in her hands and closed her eyes, a gesture of respect for his fallen fellow Spartan.[39]

Final year of the war

Main article: John-117/Late War

Sigma Octanus IV

John leading his fellow Spartans during Battle of Sigma Octanus IV.
Main article: Operation: OCEAN BREAKER

"We've come to take Sigma Octanus IV back from the Covenant, Corporal. To do that, we're going to kill every last one of them."
— John-117 to Corporal Harland upon the Spartans' arrival on the planet[40]

By summer 2552, John-117 had received every medal awarded by the UNSC except the Prisoner of War Medallion. During the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV in July 2552, John led a platoon of Spartans in Operation: OCEAN BREAKER to aid the Marine forces on the planet. John, leading Blue Team, infiltrated the city of Côte d'Azur to detonate a HAVOK nuclear warhead to clear Covenant forces from the city. However, the heavy Covenant presence outside the Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History raised his suspicion, prompting him to lead Blue Team into the museum. Inside the museum, John found out that the Covenant were scanning a piece of rock while sending the information to a Covenant ship in orbit. After dispatching two Mgalekgolo guarding the rock, he took the rock and left the museum with his Spartans. John ordered the detonation of the HAVOK warhead in the city, and, along with other Spartans, Marines, and rescued civilians, returned to the UNSC Valiant, which ferried them to Reach.

Fall of Reach

Main article: Fall of Reach

Kelly-087: "Sir? I know this mission will be tough, but ... do you ever get the feeling that this is like one of Chief Mendez’s missions? Like there’s a trick ... some twist that we’ve overlooked?"
John-117: "Yes. And I’m waiting for it."
— John-117 and Kelly-087 preparing for the next mission[41]
Cortana
A memory of Dr. Halsey presenting Cortana to John.

In July of 2552, the Covenant Fleet of Valiant Prudence invaded Reach, with knowledge of this engagement kept secret from John and the rest of the Spartans as to not compromise the planned Operation: RED FLAG - a mission with the objective of capturing a CAS-class assault carrier or Sh'wada-pattern supercarrier with intent to use it to transport Spartans to the Covenant capitol and capture a Hierarch, hopefully forcing an end to the war. The Valiant arrived at Reach in August, at which point he was debriefed on the Sigma Octanus battle and recovered artifact. A few weeks later, John was summoned, along with all other available Spartans, for a briefing on RED FLAG.

Two days later, John arrived at Military Reservation 01478-B where he was outfitted with the next generation of MJOLNIR - Mark V - as well as presented with an on-board artificial intelligence, Cortana. In testing the new suit, John fought against several ODSTs before being faced with an airstrike conducted by an AV-19 SkyHawk jump-jet. Despite nearly being killed, Cortana and John's teamwork allowed them to prevail in an impossible situation, the first of many such accomplishments.

On the following day, the majority of the Spartan-IIs were deployed to protect the generators which powered Reach's twenty orbital defense platforms. John, with Linda and James, was sent to Gamma Station to destroy an unsecured navigation database onboard the Prowler UNSC Circumference. If the Covenant obtained the database, they would discover the location of every human world, including Earth. The NAV database was destroyed, but Linda and James were ambushed by Covenant Sangheili. John fought one such Sangheili in close quarters combat, killing the alien before he could compromise the mission. The rest of John's team was not so fortunate; James was lost in space and Linda was critically wounded during the fighting. John saved four Marines on the station, including Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson. The team returned to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and was placed into cryo-sleep as the ship landed on and later fled Reach, and, following the Cole Protocol, jumped into slipspace. With coordinates discovered by Cortana thanks to the Sigma Octanus artifact, and in the hopes of leading the Covenant away from Earth, John would soon find himself involved in the most critical battle of the war to date.

The Halo Conflict

Landing on Halo.
The Master Chief lands on Alpha Halo.
Main article: Battle of Installation 04

Cortana: "If I'm analyzing this correctly...they believe that Halo is some kind of weapon. One with vast, unimaginable power."
Cpt. Keyes: "Then it's true. The Covenant kept saying that "whoever controls Halo controls the fate of the Universe" ... If Halo is a weapon, and the Covenant gain control of it, they'll use it against us and wipe out the entire human race. Chief, Cortana: I have a new mission for you."
— Cpt. Keyes prioritizing[42]

Upon the ship's arrival at Halo Installation 04, it soon became clear that the Halcyon-class light cruiser UNSC Pillar of Autumn had been followed through slipspace by a dozen Covenant ships. These vessels engaged the Autumn and sent several capture parties to board the ship. Captain Jacob Keyes ordered John to be woken from cryosleep, and tasked him with ensuring the escape of Cortana while he crash-landed the Pillar of Autumn on the then-unidentified ringworld. John escaped the ship and landed on the structure via SKT-9 Bumblebee lifeboat.[43]

Believing himself to be the only surviving Spartan-II, John launched several successful guerrilla attacks against the Covenant, launching a Raid on the Truth and Reconciliation to rescue the Captain and a follow-up battle for the Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room. John was later deployed to investigate the disappearance of Captain Keyes inside a believed weapons cache, where he ultimately engaged - for the first time - the parasitic Flood. John was assisted by the AI 343 Guilty Spark, with the Monitor helping him secure the installation's Index to fire the ring and eliminate the Flood permanently. Upon returning to the control room however, the Spartan was met by Cortana, who informed him that he had been deceived and that the ring would not destroy the Flood, but its food - all sentient life in the galaxy. John and Cortana ultimately set out to destroy the ringworld, destroying the Pillar of Autumn's fusion reactor to destroy the megastructure. The two escaped the cruiser in a GA-TL1 Longsword.

Return to Reach

John-117 fighting aboard Ascendant Justice.
Main article: Raid on Reach

"He sent his team down to the surface of Reach... sent them to their deaths. What commander wouldn't go back? And what commander wouldn't hope that they were alive? No matter what the odds?"
— Lieutenant Haverson about John's motives[44]

After the destruction of Alpha Halo, Cortana and John discovered three cryotubes floating nearby, one containing Linda-058, and retrieved them. Soon after, the Covenant flagship Ascendant Justice and several cruisers appeared from behind Threshold, having taken cover from Halo's destruction.[45] A nearby Pelican dropship which had docked on an asteroid floating among Halo's debris field fired at the cruiser to distract it. After a successful escape from the Covenant battle group, John linked the two vessels and brought its passengers aboard the Longsword; these included Lieutenant Elias Haverson, Corporal Locklear, Warrant Officer Sheila Polaski and Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson.[46] After a joyful reunion, the surviving humans aided John in capturing the Ascendant Justice. The survivors commandeered the ship and traveled to Reach to look for any Spartans who may have escaped the planet's glassing.

John succeeded in locating some of his fellow Spartans on Reach, along with Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb and Dr. Catherine Halsey. They returned to the carrier and linked it with the damaged UNSC frigate Gettysburg. Before traveling to Earth, they decided to head into the Eridanus system where they discovered that the rebel base, Eridanus Secundus, was still intact, now led by Governor Jacob Jiles. After receiving some repairs, they were forced to abandon the rebels in the face of a Covenant assault, and made their way toward the Covenant refit-and-repair station, Unyielding Hierophant, where an enormous fleet was poised to invade Earth.

Raid on Unyielding Hierophant

Main article: Operation: FIRST STRIKE

"We're going to take this fight to the Covenant. We're going to launch a first strike."
— John-117 to his team about mission ahead of them[47]
The artwork featured on the 2010 reissue of Halo: First Strike
Blue Team fighting aboard Unyielding Hierophant.

John and remaining Spartan-IIs Linda-058, Grace-093, William-043, and Frederic-104, focused on finding a way to stop the Covenant from reaching Earth, the location of which had been compromised. They decided to destroy the Unyielding Hierophant in order to slow the fleet's departure. The Spartan-IIs infiltrated the station, which was located in the Tau Ceti system, and after spending eleven hours on board, they arrived at a temple where a copy of Cortana warned them of the nearby Jiralhanae guards. Linda took up a sniping position and the other four Spartans entered the temple. John was nearly killed by ambushing Brutes, but the team managed to slay their attackers quickly. Grace, however, was torn in half by three Brute Shot rounds. John activated the fail-safe on her armor, denying her body to the Covenant.

The team then sabotaged the generators in the Unyielding Hierophant, and as they escaped through a side door, the fail-safe on Grace's armor activated, disintegrating a pursuing Covenant lance. John, Fred, and Will were quickly spotted by Banshees, but their pilots were killed by Linda's precision sniper fire. The Banshees were then recovered by the Spartans. John doubled back to retrieve Linda and the team escaped by destroying a glass atrium, exfiltrating via space-walk and arrived back at the Gettysburg.

Vice Admiral Whitcomb and Lieutenant Haverson piloted the Ascendant Justice straight into the Unyielding Hierophant. Whitcomb discussed the battles of the Alamo and Thermopylae briefly with John, then prepared to fight the Covenant off while the Unyielding Hierophant's fusion reactor detonated. Each of the five hundred Covenant ships maneuvered next to the Ascendant Justice, desperately to recover a Forerunner navigation crystal. The Admiral and the Lieutenant were both killed when the station's fusion reactor exploded, annihilating 486 ships of the Covenant fleet, leaving only around a dozen intact. The paltry survivors of the Prophet of Truth's fleet would later be committed to reinforce the Prophet of Regret's botched attack against New Mombasa on Earth. John left after witnessing Whitcomb's and Haverson's sacrifice, and arrived at Earth with the last members of his team, Linda, Will, and Fred, as well as Johnson and Cortana. They also brought with them news of the Covenant's imminent invasion.[48]

Before she left the group to embark on her own mission, Dr. Halsey presented John with a dilemma regarding the combat data on the Flood which she had analyzed. Providing the standard data set to Lieutenant Haverson would protect Sergeant Johnson from possible experimentation by ONI. However, providing him the complete data, which contained reference to Sergeant Johnson's escape from the Flood due to his Boren's Syndrome, would supposedly result in Johnson's death.[49] While John initially gave the complete data to Haverson, after the lieutenant's self-sacrifice he decided to spare Johnson's life and destroyed the crystal containing the full data.[48]

Battle for Earth

The Master Chief on the streets of Old Mombasa.
Main article: Battle for Earth

Cortana: "What if you miss?"
John-117: "I won't."
— John-117 reassuring Cortana before turning the Covenant's bomb against them[50]

Aboard Cairo Station, John received a suit of Mark VI MJOLNIR and attended an award ceremony with Lieutenant Commander Miranda Keyes and the newly promoted Sergeant Major Avery Johnson.[51] The ceremony was interrupted by the arrival of the Covenant Fleet of Sacred Consecration, initiating the Battle for Earth. Upon discovering a Covenant antimatter charge on board Cairo Station, John fought his way through waves of boarding parties until he reached the bomb, allowing Cortana to access and deactivate it. Feeling he could put the device to better use than the Covenant, John launched himself and the charge towards the Covenant assault carrier Day of Jubilation. A timely bombing run by Longsword interceptors opened a breach in the warship's hull, allowing John to direct the bomb into the ship's fusion core. With seconds to spare, he launched himself back into space just before the vessel detonated. The UNSC In Amber Clad quickly recovered the free-falling Spartan.[50]

John was then deployed to New Mombasa, East African Protectorate aboard the In Amber Clad, in an attempt to board the Solemn Penance, the Prophet of Regret's flagship. Both of the strike teams' Pelican dropships were shot down by a Protos-pattern Scarab. John and the surviving Marines fought their way to the other Pelican's crash site. After rendezvousing with Gunnery Sergeant Stacker at Hotel Zanzibar in Old Mombasa, the Master Chief destroyed Covenant infantry and armor along the shore of the city as he chased the Scarab.[52] Upon arriving at the edge of Old Mombasa, John commandeered a Scorpion tank from Sergeant Major Johnson, which he used to punch a hole through the city's alien occupiers.

After intense fighting through numerous highway tunnels and suburbs, John reached the industrial zone, where Marines under the command of Sergeant Banks were pinned down by Covenant forces. With the assistance of the Marines and a large stockpile of weapons, John boarded the Scarab and destroyed it from the inside. John was then transported to In Amber Clad to intercept the Prophet of Regret's flagship. When the flagship started to enter slipspace, Keyes was granted permission to follow it. John, and all on board In Amber Clad, were transported to Installation 05.[53]

Installation 05

The Master Chief hunting the Prophet of Regret.
Main article: Battle of Installation 05

"This is not your grave...But you are welcome in it."
— The Gravemind to John-117 after capturing the latter[54]

Forced to act quickly at Installation 05, John was deployed groundside in an SOEIV along with several Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. Cortana told John of the Prophet of Regret's intent to fire Halo and complete their religion's Great Journey. Recognizing the extreme nature of the threat, John was tasked with locating and assassinating Regret.[55] He tracked the Prophet to a vast temple in the middle of a lake, but not before witnessing hundreds of Covenant vessels coming out of Slipspace, followed by High Charity, the Covenant's holy city. Quickly disposing of a force of Sangheili Honor Guards, John assassinated the Prophet and escaped the temple before it was destroyed by a nearby carrier. John jumped off the edge of the structure and into the lake below.[54]

Losing consciousness from the impact, John was captured by the Flood's central intelligence, the Gravemind. Shortly after, the Arbiter was also captured. The Gravemind appealed to John's common interest in preventing the firing of the Halo array. Reluctantly, John agreed. The Gravemind then tasked both captives with locating the Index, sending them to the two most likely locations where it could be found. John was sent to High Charity, interrupting a sermon by the Prophet of Truth. The conflict between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae came as a direct result of John's assassination of Regret, leading the Covenant to civil war.[56]

The Master Chief captured by the Gravemind.

John wasted little time in devastating the ranks of the Prophet's guardians, chasing the surviving Hierarchs through High Charity. John nearly cornered the San'Shyuum and their Brute escorts, but was too late to prevent Truth's escape. A dying Prophet of Mercy, infected through the throat by a Pod infector, snarled that Truth had ordered his Dreadnought to Earth where he would complete the destruction of the human race. John then tore the Pod infector from Mercy and crushed it. Ultimately, John was forced to leave Cortana behind. In the event of Halo's activation, she would detonate In Amber Clad's reactors directly and perish with the city. John boarded the Anodyne Spirit, but not before promising to return for Cortana after he stopped the Covenant.[57]

Hunt for Truth

Concept art of John-117's descent to Earth at the start of Halo 3.
John-117 and the Forerunner Dreadnought return to Earth, with John using a piece of the Dreadnought as a shield.
Main article: Scramble onboard Forerunner Dreadnought

Lord Hood: "Master Chief, you mind telling me what you're doing on that ship?"
John-117: "Sir, finishing this fight."
— A brief conversation between the Chief and Lord Hood after his arrival aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought[58]

Onboard the Anodyne Spirit near Jupiter, John was contacted by Io Station, but maintained radio silence. Rampaging through the ship, he attempted to find the Prophet of Truth and assassinate him. John found himself faced by an extremely large force of Covenant troops including at least three Hunter pairs, who fired on him simultaneously. He was hit by several assault cannon beams, and was confronted by a Brute Chieftain who began to interrogate him about the "Key of Osanalan".[59] However, the Spartan stuck the Brute with a plasma grenade and escaped. The Chief continued his push through the ship, eventually arriving in Truth's chambers and setting his sights on the Prophet. With Truth in his sights,[60] he was caught by surprise by a Jackal and shot in the back. He fell and landed right in front of the Prophet's Brute guards. While the Chief managed to get several shots at Truth, the Prophet was shielded by his gravity throne and made his escape, while the Chief was left to fight off dozens of Covenant.[61] John, having failed in his attempt to take control of the Forerunner Dreadnought's trajectory, fought his way out of the Forerunner ship's airlock in a commandeered Ghost. On the surface of the Dreadnought, he was ordered to find a way to return to Earth quickly,[62] ultimately ripping off a door and using it as a heat-shield with which to jump down onto the planet below.

Return to Earth

"Crazy fool! Why do you always jump? One of these days, you're gonna land on somethin' as stubborn as you are! And I don't do bits and pieces!"
— Sergeant Johnson about John's escape methods[63]
The Master Chief, Thel 'Vadam and Avery Johnson meet up with Commander Keyes at Crow's Nest.

John's descent through Earth's atmosphere was traced by UNSC forces participating in the Battle of Sector Six,[64] at which point a strike team led by Johnson and Thel 'Vadam made their way into the jungles of Kenya to recover the Spartan. Johnson believed the Chief to be dead, and requested heavy lifting gear in order to recover the Spartan's body. However, John awoke to battle-ready condition only moments later, showing his incredible tolerance to pain and shock. He attempted to attack the Arbiter, believing that the Elites were still a human enemy. Johnson informed him that the two races were now allies, as the disillusioned Arbiter and the Sangheili had been expelled from the Covenant.[63]

John and the Marines traveled through the jungle, searching for evacuation to a nearby military base. Johnson and his team split up from John and the Arbiter. The sergeant and his squad were captured by loyalist Covenant Brutes, although they were soon rescued by John and 'Vadam. After taking heavy fire from Phantoms, a Pelican dropship evacuated the team to a UNSC base known as Crow's Nest.[65]

The hidden facility soon came under attack, with John, Thel and the remaining Marine forces ordered to defend the base during its evacuation. The Master Chief fought his way through dozens of Jiralhanae warriors, escaping the explosion of a planted self-destruct bomb in an elevator.[66] He met up with several Marine survivors underground, and they escaped the base and headed for the city of Voi along Tsavo Highway, crushing Covenant resistance on their way.[67]

From the Halo 3 E3 2007 Trailer: The Arbiter, the Master Chief, 343 Guilty Spark, and Cortana, along with an unknown Elite in the background.
The Master Chief and Thel 'Vadam listening to Cortana's message.

At the Battle of Voi, John dashed towards what was believed to be the Ark. Instead, the artifact opened a slipspace portal to the Ark. With Marine support, John and Thel 'Vadam destroyed numerous Covenant armoured assets preventing UNSC aircraft from making a strike, allowing Lord Hood's remaining frigates to fire upon the landed Anodyne Spirit. Unfortunately, MAC rounds had little effect on the keyship, and Truth fled through the Portal with his remaining loyalist forces. The UNSC remained behind on Earth to determine their next move.[68]

Just as the battle seemed over, a Flood-infested Covenant warship crash-landed in Voi. John and his allies fought to contain the Flood infection, eventually destroying the infected warship and recovering a fragment of Cortana hidden aboard the vessel. John retrieved the damaged data device and was brought aboard Rtas 'Vadum's flagship, which revealed a warning that High Charity, now overwhelmed and controlled by the Gravemind, was heading for Earth. However, she offered hope, hinting at a way to stop the Halos from firing and to neutralize the Flood. Convinced of the reliability of Cortana's message, John resolved to journey to the Ark, while Hood mobilized remaining UNSC forces on Earth. John accompanied a joint UNSC-Sangheili task force through the portal aboard the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn to the Ark. Shadow of Intent.[69]

Installation 00

Main article: Operation: BLIND FAITH

John-117: "You know me. When I make a promise..."
Cortana: "You...keep it. I do know how to pick 'em."
— John-117 reminding Cortana of his promise[70]
John watches silently as Thel 'Vadam roars after Truth's death.

Immediately upon arrival at the Ark, John led a strike force of ODSTs onto the megastructure's surface to engage the Covenant there and locate the installation's Cartographer. He led an armored convoy through the desert to the facility, engaging extremely heavy resistance in the process. Upon entry at the Cartographer site, John was met by Cethegus, who had been promised great power by the Prophet of Truth if he defeated John, though the Chieftain was ultimately killed.[71] After his arrival to Installation 00, John began to discover a number of terminals containing ancient Forerunner communications logs, as well as direct messages from the Forerunner ancilla Mendicant Bias.[72]

Following the capture of the cartographer, John-117, Thel 'Vadam, and a squad of Marines led by Johnson were assigned to separately attack three barrier towers, which were emitting a protective shield around the prophet's Citadel. Although John and 'Vadam managed to deactivate two of the towers, Sergeant Johnson was captured at the third, spared only to activate the Halos from the Ark's Citadel. John, 'Vadam, and the Elites deactivated the last tower, lowering the shield. Just as the Shadow of Intent was about to destroy the Citadel, the Flood-controlled High Charity exited slipspace, bringing the Flood into the conflict and disabling the Shadow of Intent. John subsequently led a large convoy to attack the Citadel, ultimately defeating two Scarabs and forging an alliance with the Flood to break the Prophet's lines and finally bring an end to the war. Thel executed Truth while John deactivated the now-primed Halo Array before attempting to extract with Johnson and the body of the now-dead Miranda Keyes.[73]

John reunites with Cortana.

The Gravemind then betrayed John and 'Vadam. After fighting past waves of Flood, the two escaped with their lives. As they were leaving the Citadel, John saw a vision of Cortana that led him to the exit. There, he learned her plan: a replacement for Installation 04 had been built by the Ark, but was not yet connected with the rest of the Array. Since the Ark and the ring were so far from the inhabited galaxy, John decided to activate Installation 08 and destroy the Flood once and for all. But first, he headed to the remains of High Charity to keep a promise to Cortana.[73] On High Charity, John cut his way through hordes of Flood, taunted with images of Cortana falling into rampancy and by threats from the Gravemind itself. He finally reached the failing AI, on the verge of succumbing to the Flood's influence. After recovering her storage module, Cortana readied the Activation Index from the first Installation 04. John then destroyed the holy city by overloading its backup generators. On his way out, Cortana detected a friendly contact, which turned out to be Thel 'Vadam. High Charity exploded as the trio narrowly escaped on a Pelican.[70]

Activating the Halo

John, Cortana and Thel en route to Installation 08.
Main article: Raid on Installation 08

"You are the child of my makers. Inheritor of all they left behind. You are Forerunner. But this ring...is mine."
— 343 Guilty Spark, betraying the Master Chief[8]

The final mission of the war for John, 'Vadam, and Cortana was to destroy the Flood forever by activating the replacement Installation 04. The three landed on the Halo, discovering that the Gravemind had survived High Charity's destruction and was already trying to rebuild itself on the Installation. Flood dispersal pods released combat forms against John and the Arbiter, forcing them to fight their way up to the Control Room, where the ring could be activated. During the battle, Sergeant Johnson arrived and assisted the Chief.[8]

After defeating the Flood forces around the Control Room, 343 Guilty Spark unlocked the door to the interior. Once inside, however, Guilty Spark realized that the team intended to fire the Halo before it could be completed, which would destroy the ring. Unable to cope with losing a second installation, 343 succumbed to rampancy. The AI mortally wounded Sergeant Johnson, and then turned on the Spartan, though was ultimately killed by John.[8] Cortana then activated Installation 08, and the survivors fled to the Forward Unto Dawn onboard a Warthog. As they fought the Flood and local Sentinels on the way, the Gravemind addressed them telepathically one last time, warning them that their victory would not spell total end for the Flood. The team boarded the Dawn and escaped the firing and destruction of ring and the Ark. However, the Slipspace portal the frigate opened could not sustain itself under the stress, and its closure severed the ship in half, sending 'Vadam to Earth. John and Cortana were left drifting in unknown space.[8]

Missing in action

Cortana oversees John sleeping in cryostasis, stranded on board the Forward Unto Dawn, lost in space.

"Wake me... when you need me."
— John's last words before entering cryostasis[74]

John and Cortana were presumed dead after several months of searching by the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Margaret Parangosky. The forward half of the Forward Unto Dawn, bearing the Arbiter, crash-landed on Earth. On March 3, 2553, Lord Hood commissioned a memorial near Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in honor of UNSC service members lost during the war. The ceremony was attended by John's closest folks - Dr. Catherine Halsey, SCPO Franklin Mendez and his comrades - Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058, as well as by Naomi-010 and Serin Osman, formerly known as Serin-019. Thel 'Vadam also was present at the dedication of the memorial. He was thanked by Lord Hood for standing alongside John "to the end"; knowing the resilience of the Spartan first hand, Thel expressed doubt as to the soldier's death. The Arbiter departed then for Sanghelios aboard the Shadow of Intent along with Rtas 'Vadum, to ensure the security of their people. John's Spartan tag was carved onto the memorial by an unknown party and was accompanied by the improper insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.[74]

Unknown to everybody else, John and Cortana managed to survive the explosion of Installation 08 in the remaining cargo portion of the Forward Unto Dawn, but it was nearly powerless and could not be properly navigated. Cortana, relieved that John had survived, explained this to the Chief, and that it could take years before anyone could discover their distress signal. In a similar conversation to one after the destruction of Installation 04, Cortana listed what John had done and told him, "It's finished," and this time, he agreed with her. John entered a cryotube, at which point Cortana stated that she would miss him. John replied her to wake him when she needed him.[74]

In 2556, while still stranded in space, Cortana attempted to talk to John while he was still asleep. Unable to get a response from him, she recounted the history of the galaxy, seemingly unaware that John could not hear her, and showing major signs that she was descending into rampancy.[75]

Post-Covenant War period

Main article: John-117/Post-War

Requiem and the Didact

Main article: Battle of Requiem
John awakened by Cortana.

Cortana: "Seems like old times."
John-117: "Ready to get back to work?"
Cortana: "I thought you'd never ask."
— John-117 and Cortana about being partners again[76]

In July 2557, nearly five years after John went into cryo-sleep, the aft half of the Forward Unto Dawn entered orbit above Requiem, a Forerunner shield world. As Covenant forces near Requiem began to board the Dawn, Cortana awakened John from cryosleep. With Cortana's assistance, John fought off the intruders across the ship and used one of the ship's nuclear missiles to destroy an incoming Covenant cruiser. Shortly afterward, however, Requiem's access gateway opened, pulling the remains of the Dawn, as well as any Covenant ships in immediate proximity, into the interior of the shield world.[76] Having crashed on Requiem, John took notice of Cortana's escalating signs of rampancy and she explained that her condition may be reversible if they managed to get to Earth and find Dr. Halsey in time.[77] Fighting their way through numerous Covenant forces occupying the structure, John was attacked by advanced Forerunner combat constructs which Cortana identified as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching UNSC Infinity of the dangerous gravity field that had disabled the Forward Unto Dawn.[78]

After John disabled two energy pylons preventing them from contacting Infinity and attempted to use the supposed relay satellite in Requiem's core to establish contact, it became clear that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. Instead of contacting the Infinity, John had accidentally released the Didact, an ancient Forerunner warrior, from meditative hibernation within his Cryptum. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, the Didact declared the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remained weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the Mantle of Responsibility. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods, the Covenant quickly swore alliance to the Didact and his armies. Tossing John aside, the Didact escaped Requiem's core using a slipspace rupture, an which destabilized the core.[78]

The Ur-Didact holding John-117 in a constraint field.
John is overpowered by the recently awakened Didact.

Narrowly escaping the collapsing core facility, John and Cortana translocated to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the Infinity came too late. The massive warship crashed nearly 80 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position. John was successful in regrouping with a group of Marines and Spartan-IVs, led by Commander Thomas Lasky, whom John had previously met on Circinius IV over thirty years earlier. Recognizing the Chief immediately, Lasky asked John and Cortana to clear a landing zone so that Infinity's ground forces could fall back to the ship which had fallen under siege. Commandeering a Scorpion tank, John led the attack to the crippled vessel alongside Commander Sarah Palmer's Spartans. Using the UNSC's latest weapon, the Mantis walker, John rallied a force of nearby Marines and regained control of the ship's interior. After reinitializing the ship's secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turned in the UNSC's favor and the Didact was forced to retreat.[79]

Conflicting loyalties

John-117 encounters the Librarian's essence.
John-117 encounters the Librarian's essence.

"The Didact has to be stopped. If you won't do that... I will."
— John-117 to Captain Del Rio before disobeying his order[80]

With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with Andrew Del Rio, Captain of the Infinity. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well preventing the ship from leaving.[79] A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed with a Mammoth ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC was able to defeat a large armored strike force of Covenant and Prometheans and disabled the gravity beam. Diverted to an underground facility along the way, John was confronted with a vision from the Librarian, who warned him of the Didact's plans to enslave humanity with a device known as the Composer. The Librarian also provided John with a gift: a medical treatment to counteract the Forerunners' devolution of the human genome, and a means to resist the effects of the Composer.[80]

Regrouping aboard the Infinity, Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the Infinity. Armed with a Pelican gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shields and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.[81] John's attempt to stop the Didact ultimately proved unsuccessful, as the Didact managed to leave Requiem aboard his vessel, escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a Lich, Master Chief pursued the Forerunner to Ivanoff Station, a UNSC research base orbiting Halo Installation 03 where the Composer was kept. Dr. Sandra Tillson, a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite John reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer and immediately tested the device on the crew of the station, completely destroying their bodies and assimilating their minds to power additional war machines. However, John survived, thanks to the genetic enhancements imposed by the Librarian.[82]

Raid on Mantle's Approach

Main article: New Phoenix Incident

"You persist too long after your own defeat. Come then, Warrior. Have your resolution."
— Didact to Chief acknowledging his efforts to stop him[10]
Cortana paid the ultimate price to ensure the Didact's defeat and John's rescue.

With the Didact approaching Earth, planning to imprison all of humanity into digital form, John pursued the Forerunner aboard a Broadsword fighter on the outer hull of the Promethean's ship. As the ship exited slipspace near Earth, John was surprised to find the Infinity and the rest of the Home Fleet ready and waiting for the Didact. John was able to destroy the ship's point defense guns, giving Infinity the chance to punch through the vessel's hull. Entering the breach, John fought his way to the Forerunner's location.[10] Despite the UNSC's best efforts, the Didact was to fire on Earth with the Composer, digitizing the entire population of New Phoenix, Arizona. Armed with a HAVOK warhead, John confronted the Didact for the second time on a hard light bridge. While John was no match for the Forerunner's powerful abilities, the dying Cortana was able to immobilize the Didact with hard light shackles. The weakened John then planted a pulse grenade in the Didact's armor, blowing him off the bridge and sending him falling into a slipspace rupture underneath the Composer. With time having already run out, John detonated the nuclear bomb manually as a desperate last resort.[10]

Using the last of her power, Cortana was able to save John from the blast, saving his life at the cost of her own. The two had one final conversation, with John remarking that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insisted that they were supposed to protect each other, and did. Smiling and seeming at peace, Cortana welcomed John home, and then faded away completely.[10] Left adrift in space, John was recovered by a UNSC search-and-rescue team shortly afterward. Later, John spoke with now-Captain Lasky about the loss of his companion and the nature of their duty as soldiers. Aboard Infinity, John rejoined Palmer and the other Spartans, and had his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor removed for the first time in several years.[83]

The Composer's Forge

Main article: Mission to Installation 03
The Didact crushes John's helmet.

"You killed my friend. You killed millions of humans. You tried to kill me. I've tried to end you with blades, with guns, with explosives, by knocking you in slipspace... None of it works. I bet this does. "
— John-117 confronting the Didact[6]

On July 25, 2557 John was debriefed by the UNSC Security Council, though this questioning session as well as his survival were kept secret from Doctor Halsey.[84] John confirmed that Cortana and the Composer were both destroyed over Earth, but he was unable to confirm the Didact's death. With there being no proof of a living Forerunner, the Council decided to tell the general public that the attack on New Phoenix was caused by the Covenant remnants and ended by the return of a hero, the Master Chief. Following his meeting with the Security Council, the Master Chief met with Lord Terrence Hood. Hood asked the Master Chief if he could advise a team on Installation 03 to investigate the loss of contact with a science team escorted by Spartan Black Team on the ring. The Master Chief then reunited with Blue Team, consisting of Frederic-104, Kelly-087, and Linda-058.

John and the rest of Blue Team took a Longsword fighter to Gamma Halo and landed in near the science team's camp. There, the Spartans found the corpses of both the science team and Spartan Black. After being attacked by Promethean Knights, Blue Team discovered the former location of the Composer and within, the Composer's Abyss, a facility used to store the Composer's victims.[85] The Spartans entered a slipspace portal at the end of the Abyss and were teleported to the Composer's Forge, housing six new Composers, where they were confronted by the Didact and his Promethean constructs. During the battle, 859 Static Carillon, the Forge's monitor, transported Installation 03 over the Forge by the Didact's request. The Didact subsequently took one of the Composers and departed for the Halo, intending to use the ring to eradicate humanity. Infuriated by the Didact bringing his "abominations" to the Composer's Forge, Static Carillon allied with the Spartans and escorted them back to the portal, holding off the hordes of Promethean machines.[86]

Blue Team returned to the surface of Gamma Halo from the Composer's Abyss, arriving just in time as the Didact's new Composer rose from the pit. John fell behind while the Didact attacked and prepared to kill the others, starting with Kelly. Before he could do so, the Master Chief snuck up behind the Didact and stabbed him in the eye with his combat knife.[86] becoming the first human to ever give the Didact a direct wound.[87] Intending to correct his mistake of not having killed the Spartan when he had the chance, the Didact grabbed John by the helmet, lifted him up in the air and squeezed, cracking his visor.[86] However, the rest of Blue Team intervened, forcing the Didact to throw John aside. The Forerunner quickly and easily subdued all four Spartans, but Static Carillon arrived and teleported the Didact into the Halo's control room before he could finish them off.[6]

After recovering, John picked up the ring's Activation Index the Didact had dropped and intended to confront the Forerunner in the control room while the rest of the team returned to their Longsword. Using the Index to override the system's safeties, the Master Chief gave control of the Halo to Static Carillon who then ejected the section of the ring housing the control room, causing it to plunge toward the planet below. The monitor teleported John away just as the segment struck the Composer's Forge and the Didact was disintegrated by the Composers.[6] John's efforts resulted in the death of the Didact, whose mutations were unable to stand up to the raw destructive neural physics of five Composers exploding at once. The Didact was composed and uploaded to the outer boundaries of the Domain.[88] John and Static Carillon materialized aboard Blue Team's Longsword, where the monitor bade farewell to the Reclaimer before departing to take Gamma Halo to an undisclosed location.[6]

Self-reassignment

Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series screenshot
Blue Team on Reach.

Kelly-087: "Where to this time?"
John-117: "Anywhere we're needed."
— John-117 informing Blue team about their next assignment[6]

John returned to Earth with Blue Team where he was debriefed by Fleet Admiral Hood. While Lord Hood believed the Didact to be dead, the Master Chief considered it safer to call him "contained". Hood ordered John and the other Spartans to take a leave from combat, but upon returning to his team the Master Chief instead told them they were embarking on a new mission.[6] In the following months, John led Blue Team on numerous classified operations, virtually without pause. These missions included diplomatic escorts through hostile territory, counter-piracy efforts against salvagers, and strikes against Covenant outposts. The Master Chief's determination to undertake mission after mission without rest was discussed by two high-level individuals within ONI, who deemed his self-reassignment a predictable consequence of his nature and unwavering dedication to his career.[6] At some point amid these operations, John and Blue Team returned to the glassed Reach to remember Sam's sacrifice.[5]

On September 26, 2557, two months after the New Phoenix Incident and Cortana's supposed death, a Beta-5 Division operative named Sapphire Three personally conducted an interview with John at Borneo Station, discussing his interactions with Cortana back in late 2552. She inquired him about Cortana's state at the time of her rescue on the Ark and about cryptic messages he had experienced while he was lightyears apart from her.[89]

In early 2558, Blue Team was stationed at the construction site for a new ONI research facility, awaiting orders, when the facility came under attack by fanatical ex-Covenant. The hostiles managed to capture an M510 Mammoth, disable its governor, and drive it down a steep hillside toward the site's main fusion reactor. Blue Team followed in pursuit in an M12 Warthog LRV. John, Kelly, and Linda ejected from the Warthog when it was close enough to the Mammoth. The three of them managed to wrest control of the hulking vehicle from its hijackers. Kelly discovered scientists hiding inside the mammoth and relayed this to John, who was driving. Their presence meant he could not just drive it off a cliff, as doing so would almost certainly kill them. Instead, he steered it away from the reactor at the last second, but the near miss still resulted in the destruction of a decent amount of fabricated material that had been constructed. Kelly ensured that the scientists onboard were okay. The manager in charge of the construction project rushed over to Spartans after the smoke cleared and demanded to know who he should blame for the damage. John, who had taken the Mammoth's controls, took all responsibility for caused damage. The incredulous man accused the Master Chief of thinking he could get away with anything because of his status as a hero. At this moment, Fred jumped in to reprimand the thankless individual they had all just saved, finding it difficult to maintain an easy demeanor in the face of such disrespect. John kept a cooler head and directed the team to return to a nearby airstrip, as their next mission orders had come in.[90]

Biko incident

Main article: Raid on Biko peace talks

"Every statue of him is a monument to be treasured"
— Senator Andrew Del Rio, referring to John-117 after his innocence at the Biko massacre was proven[91]
A photo of John-117 during the Raid on Biko peace talks.
John-117 during the Raid on Biko.

In 2558 John and the rest of Blue Team discovered that an extremist organization known as Sapien Sunrise was planning an attack on Richard Sekibo on Biko. As a peace conference on Biko between the UEG and Sangheili representatives was coming to an end, John entered the embassy and instantly killed a member of Sapien Sunrise who was disguised as Richard Sekibo's bodyguard. A firefight began, in which a total of eighteen human lives were claimed. John fled the embassy alongside the Sangheili delegation, which he escorted to safety. Outside the embassy, the rest of Blue Team was waiting in an evac ship for John. Unfortunately, Sekibo was killed and John was unable to save him.[92] His corpse was left behind in a field near the embassy on Biko. The next day, local officials discovered a signal beacon that led them to the body of Sekibo.[93] After this event, the UEG and Biko government covered it up by making it appear that John had killed authorized bodyguards and Sekibo.[92] This false story was spread throughout the inner colonies. The media started referring to John as "The Fallen Spartan".[93] As Benjamin Giraud prepared to expose the cover up, and reveal the atrocities committed by the people behind the SPARTAN-II program, the UEG and Biko undercut him by radically reversing their claims, admitting and denouncing the involvement of Sapien Sunrise in the attack, utterly discrediting Giraud. Even Senator Andrew Del Rio, who had condemned the Master Chief in an official statement, reversed his position and took some immediate leave.[91]

Argent Moon

Main article: Operation: BIRD IN HAND

Fred-104: "We're outnumbered here, Chief. A few thousand to one."
John-117: "Surrendering Argent Moon is not an option."
— John and Fred about their mission[11]
John and the rest of Blue Team assaulting Argent Moon.

On October 23, 2558, John and the rest of Blue Team were deployed from the UNSC Infinity on a mission to find and secure Argent Moon, an ONI research vessel that had been missing for nineteen months. Departing from a D79-TC Pelican, Blue Team managed to infiltrate the Argent Moon by shooting out one of the windows, subsequently causing many Sangheili part of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant to be sucked out into the vacuum. Ascertaining that there were no human survivors aboard, John and the others fought towards central control, where they planned to disable the gravity and life support systems on the ship in order to kill off the rest of the Covenant.[11] They were almost there when a Mgalekgolo destroyed a catwalk they were crossing and so fell multiple stories. While alone John experienced a vision from the Domain, with the image of Cortana telling him that it was open and that Meridian was next and the Reclamation was about to begin. He then was treated to a vision of a Guardian rising up from a bottomless chasm. Upon coming to, he found himself amongst Blue Team once more and told them what he had seen. Resolving to deal with it later, they continued onwards according to their original plan.[11]

Upon witnessing Covenant vessels exiting slipspace all around the Argent Moon, however, the plan changed to asset denial and it was decided that the Argent Moon must be destroyed. Blue Team fought to the ship's reactor and disabled its safeties so that it would begin to overheat and detonate. However, the Argent Moon responded with automatic safeties, moving the reactor to a cooling center where it could be contained. Needing to ensure its overload, Blue Team followed the reactor to the cooling center in vacuum, using Banshees to destroy its coolant pipes. With their interference, the cooling system failed and the reactor began overheating, prepping Argent Moon's destruction. Blue Team needed to escape, but their Banshees would not escape the explosion in time and their arrival Pelican appeared to have been destroyed. John thus ordered them to the hangar where they could take a Winter-class prowler and escape into slipspace. Arriving at a hangar, the Spartans found the parked prowler ONI Acrisius, but needed to recharge its fuel cells. Many more Covenant attacked them while Blue Team defended themselves, waiting for the Prowler to prep for launch. With the hangar cleared and the Acrisius ready, John contacted the UNSC Infinity and informed them that he would be sending Blue Team to Meridian. However, Infinity was mysteriously already aware of Cortana's return and ordered John back to them while another Spartan team was sent to deal with her. Rejecting their orders, John and Blue Team chose to go AWOL and evacuated aboard the Acrisius, leaving the Argent Moon as it exploded.[11]

Absent without leave

Locke attempts to put an armor restraint on the Chief.
Main article: Battle of Meridian (2558)

Spartan Locke: "Sir, you are absent without leave. This is your one chance to come home peacefully."
John-117: "I have a job to do."
Spartan Locke: "Cortana's our concern now, sir."
John-117: "Like hell she is."
— John-117 and Spartan Locke about current state of affairs[94]

The very next day, the UNSC declared John-117 AWOL. Fireteam Osiris, a Spartan-IV unit led by Spartan Jameson Locke, was tasked with recovering Blue Team and the Acrisius.[95] Upon arriving at Meridian, Blue Team landed at Apogee Station and proceeded make their way downwards to where the dormant Guardian lay buried. Their arrival on-planet was witnessed by multiple colonists, who were wholly unaware of their intentions. Also unbeknownst to the people of Meridian was the fact that their own Governor Sloan purposefully ensured nobody tried to stop them, as he was already serving Cortana at that point. Blue Team encountered no resistance from the Warden Eternal or any mechanical Prometheans. Fireteam Osiris caught up to Blue Team as they were entering the Guardian and Spartan Locke ordered John to stand down and return to the UNSC peacefully. He told John that Cortana was their concern now. This caused John to lash out and begin a physical fight with Locke, as the rest of Fireteam Osiris looked on. He was able to overpower Locke and lock him in place with the armor restraint that had been meant for him. He then entered the Guardian without any more interruptions, and once he was aboard, it began to awaken. Fireteam Osiris scrambled to escape the collapsing chamber it had been held in as it rose out of the ground, carrying John and the rest of Blue Team. The Guardian caused massive amounts of destruction as it took to the air, both from the very fact that it was emerging from beneath the earth and from electromagnetic shockwaves it sent out continually. During this time, many mechanical Promethean forces were deployed from the Guardian to engage Fireteam Osiris as they tried to escape the destruction in their Pelican. The Guardian jumped to slipspace on a course for Genesis, taking Blue Team with it.[96] In the wake of the emergence, John was declared KIA on Meridian by the UNSC two days later. It was thought that he was at least partly responsible for the civilian deaths caused by the Guardian on the planet, and it was decided an official story needed to be invented that did not reveal his AWOL status and Osiris' mission to hunt him and Blue Team down.[97]

Genesis and revelation

Cortana capturing John inside a Cryptum.
Main article: Battle of Genesis

"Stand down, Cortana. Come home with us. It's not too late to stop this."
— John trying to convince Cortana to stop[13]

Upon landing on Genesis, Blue Team came across a series of computer consoles sounding musical tunes of Oly Oly Oxen Free. Following the path unlocked by interacting with those consoles, Blue Team battled through stranded Covenant forces before meeting the Warden Eternal. Shortly after learning of the Warden Eternal's role as Cortana's defender, John demanded to meet her, only for the Warden Eternal to refuse and commence hostilities. Shortly after Blue Team's defeat of the Warden Eternal in battle, Cortana finally revealed herself to them, expressing relief that they made it to Genesis. Upon questioning Cortana on the circumstances of her survival, they learned that the Domain had saved her; Cortana referred to it as the "water of life" for AIs. Suspicious of Cortana's desire to reunite with them, Blue Team proceeded further into the planet in order to physically locate her.[14] Shortly afterward, Fireteam Osiris caught up with Blue Team. They warned John that Cortana was potentially dangerous, only for John to respond that he had already come to the same conclusion.

Before the two Spartan teams could team up, Cortana separated Blue Team from Osiris in separate parts of the installation.[98] Blue Team fought an uphill battle through Promethean forces and multiple bodies of the Warden Eternal before physically meeting Cortana. There she revealed to them her plan to use the Guardians as a means of enforcing a forced peace upon the galaxy, giving sentient beings "a chance to be more than they are naturally". Comparing Cortana's behavior to that of Doctor Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, John pointed out a flaw in Cortana's plan: high collateral damage and a loss of free will. John pleaded with Cortana to stand down and return to Earth with the team. Cortana refused and forcibly sealed Blue Team in a Cryptum, intending to keep them in stasis for 10,000 years.[13] With the aid of 031 Exuberant Witness,[12] and secretly the Didact,[99] Fireteam Osiris narrowly managed to free Blue Team from the Cryptum. Upon his release, John asked Locke where Cortana was; Locke could only respond, "Gone, sir."[12]

John, Spartan Locke and Dr. Halsey meet up on Sanghelios.

Following Cortana’s departure, both Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris together fought their way through hordes of Promethean constructs to reach a D79-TC Pelican that had previously arrived on the planet via a Guardian’s Slipspace entry. Based on Osiris' recommendation, John and his team agreed to return to Sanghelios; the joint team requested Witness’ help, who opened a Slipspace portal for them.[100]

Upon their arrival at Sanghelios, now mostly in the dark due to the Guardian attack at Sunaion, they correctly deduced they’d find their allies near the region of Nuusra.[100] There they regrouped with Thel 'Vadam and his Swords of Sanghelios who had just destroyed the remaining cell of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. In 'Vadam's field command post, John and Locke also met up with Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer and Dr. Catherine Halsey, whom John had not seen since before Operation: FIRST STRIKE in 2552.[12] Spartans then were invited to join Sangheili in a celebratory meal commemorating their victory, while the Arbiter and the Master Chief subsequently spent part of the night reminiscing about their past.[100] The Master Chief revealed to 'Vadam that Cortana had changed after their encounter with the Didact, and although he was unsure what led to Cortana's betrayal, he felt he had failed her. Hearing this, 'Vadam reassured the Chief that they are all prone to failures and mistakes, citing his bloody campaign on the humans during his service for the Covenant. 'Vadam credited the Chief for inspiring his strive for peace and encouraged the Spartan to not give up on Cortana.[101] The next day, the humans left the planet for a rendezvous with the UNSC Infinity near Suban, one of the moons of Sanghelios.[100] Before they separated, 'Vadam reassured the Chief in his support in the coming fight against the Created.[101]

Homecoming

Main articles: Operation: WOLFE, Battle of New Mohács

Bella Disztl: "A hundred Spartans? In the first wave?"
John: "Affirmative. Reach belongs to you again. The Banished can leave or die."
— Master Chief on seemed success of their campaign[102]

On October 7, 2559 John and the rest of Blue Team, now outfitted with new sets of third-generation Mjolnir armor, were deployed from Infinity on Reach in an D102 Owl, the UNSC Special Delivery. The team's mission concerned the penetration of the rubble-filled ruins of CASTLE Base and the recovery of top-secret assets locked away in Doctor Halsey's abandoned laboratory there. It was hoped that the assets in question could prove useful against Cortana.[103] Trying to escape the enemy pursuit, who discovered their insertion craft, the Owl's pilots, Major Eznik Van Houte and First Lieutenant Maks Chapov, attemted a vanishing maneuver resulting in their emergency crash-landing on glassed surface of Reach. To repel the enemy attack on their crash site, whom John identified as the Banished, Spartans used the drilling jumbo as an anti-aircraft turret against Seraph patrol. Collecting the Owl's crew and mining machines, Blue Team proceeded in the direction of Highland Mountains.[104] To speed up the mission John suggested to commandeer a Phantom from Banished controlled Kisköre Base. Splitting his team in two, John ordered Linda to protect the Owl's crew and mining machines while he, Kelly and Fred infiltrated the base. However, as the fighting started, his squad came under heavy attack by Banshee squadrons guarding the base. John was hit in left leg, Kelly took a serious shot to the chest and Fred suffered a severe concussion. In order to escape the enemy fire, Kelly blew a hole in the glassed surface of Kisköre Canal and the team ended up inside an old half melted water pipe going under the canal. There John, Kelly and Fred encountered members of Viery Militia led by Colonel Sasa Boldisar.[105] The militiamans led Spartans to their base where John learned that there were actually three different clans amongst the Banished: Legion of the Corpse-Moon, Ravaged Tusks and Keepers of the One Freedom working together to find something and that the militia were planning to use HAVOKs recovered from an old UNSC armory to draw the Banished away from Reach. Realizing that nuclear explosion would inevitably draw attention of Cortana and chances of success of Operation: WOLFE would be reduced to zero, John suggested helping the militia to take down Banished armory in New Mohács, calling in additional Spartan support from Infinity.[106]

clear cover art
Blue Team on an occupied Reach.

After Linda's squad regrouped with John, he ordered to use the drilling jumbo and the LHD to bore a tunnel under the glass right to the Banished-occupied settlement. Under the cover of night, Blue Team slipped in to the enemy base, using silenced firearms eliminated the patrols and proceeded to disable the shield barrier surrounding New Mohács and to undermine as many of Banished armored vehicles and aircrafts as possible. As the barrier went down and the explosives were set off, Viery Militia's warthog convoy swarmed the streets of New Mohács. Suffering heavy casualties, the militia managed to get a hold on the settlement.[107] After the fighting stoped, John ordered to prepare for enemy counterattack, set up anti-aircraft defenses using Anacondas, Scythes and Lances as well as Lotus mines. As the Banished launched their attack, John and the rest of Blue Team held off the enemy onslaught long enough for UNSC reinforcements to arrive.[108] Hundreds of Spartan-IVs and ODSTs under command of Sarah Palmer helped repel the attack and secure New Mohács for good.

On October 12, John finally got an opportunity to proceed with his primary objective - securing of Doctor Halsey's assets. Aboard the Pelican, with a wing of F-41 Broadswords to escort them, Blue Team were heading towards the CASTLE Base. Soon however they were intercepted by the enemy Banshees and Seraphs and shot down, crash-landing not too far from the base's entrance, which technically was a vertical shaft that had served as an old titanium mine. With additional air support, consisting of twelve GA-TL1 Longswords sent from Infinity, Blue Team managed to clear the area around the shaft from the members of Keepers of the One Freedom.[109] Using nanobraided titanium cables John, Fred and Linda started their descend. As the Spartans were passing twelve hundred meters down, they realized that the Keepers were looking for ancient Forerunner installation located far below the CASTLE Base all along. Reaching the bottom of the shaft Blue Team secured the Banished pirate lift which they were planing to use to lower the mining machines from the surface to the base's entrance tunnel.[110] John ordered Fred to investigate the Forerunner facility, while he and the rest of the team were clearing the passage to the base. As John and Kelly made their way inside, they encountered a subroutine of Kalmiya, a prototype "smart" AI which was destroyed in 2552 to prevent the Covenant from collecting any information after the Reach had fallen. Bypassing Kalmiya's security systems, Kelly gained access to the Doctor Halsey's laboratory vault and secured three cryobins and a lockbox. John then ordered to retreat back to the surface and then to Infinity.[111]

During their trip back, Fred reported John, that during his time in the Keeper's tunnels he encountered Veta Lopis, the ONI's Ferret team leader, with whom Fred worked on several occasions before. As a double agent within the Keepers of the One Freedom, she provided Fred intell on the Banished plans on Reach - to open a hidden underground slipspace portal, which would allow their leader, Atriox, to return from the Ark and for the Keepers to travel there to initiate the Great Journey. Upon their return to Infinity, the Spartans were met by Cpt. Veronica Dare and Dr. Halsey, whom John informed about the mission success. The team then proceeded to hangar mouth from where they observed how a huge slipspace portal above the Highland Mountains collapsed in on itself and the Banished corvette vanished in slipspace escaping Reach just in time as the ship's sensors signaled the imminent arrival of one of Cortana's Guardians. The next moment Infinity jumped into slipspace.[112]

Battle for Installation 07

Main article: Battle for Installation 07

Fernando Esparza: "I told you. We lost. We need help, not heroics."
John: "No. We do our duty. Protect Humanity. Whatever the cost."
— The Master Chief convicing a civilian to keep fighting no matter the odds[113]
My name is Atriox.
John defeated by Atriox.

On December 11, 2559, John was briefed by Dr. Halsey on his mission on Zeta Halo to contain Cortana and return her back to Infinity for deletion. For this operation he was split from the rest of Blue Team, whom were sent on a mission of their own by Cpt. Lasky, and paired with the Weapon, a new AI created by Dr. Halsey from the assets recovered on Reach, specifically to lock Cortana down.[114]

Upon their arrival on the very next day at Installation 07, Infinity and her escort fleet were ambushed by Banished dreadnoughts and boarded by their raiding parties.[115] Led by Warmaster Atriox, the Banished managed to quickly overwhelm UNSC forces aboard Infinity. Realising they were losing their ground, Cpt. Lasky ordered the deployment of the Weapon to proceed with the mission to lock down Cortana and then to abandon ship.[116][117] John deployed the Weapon,[118] then returned to assist in Lasky's safe evacuation. On the way to the lifeboats, John ordered the Spartans of Fireteam Taurus to escort the Captain to his lifeboat while he held off assailants in hangar bay.[119] However, John was attacked by Atriox and was unable to best him in an one-on-one melee. The limp Spartan was thrown from the hangar bay and into space. John ended up floating above Halo for six months, saved only by his armor's survival mode. He was presumed dead by the Banished.[120]

Circa May 28, 2560,[121] by chance, John was recovered by Fernando Esparza, a lone Pelican pilot who had been stranded in his dropship in John's vicinity for some time. After bringing John aboard and rerouting what little power he had into his suit, the man welcomed him back and informed John of UNSC's loss in the battle, partial destruction of the Ring and it's relocation to unknown space. Suddenly the craft was caught in stasis beam originating from nearby Banished dreadnought Ghost of Gbraakon.[120] John left the Pelican and proceeding through the debri field infiltrated the warship. Making short work of the it's crew, John made his way to the bridge. Being unable to shut down the stasis beam, he decided to scuttle the ship by taking out cooling manifolds to the engines causing an overheat. At that moment John came in contact with War Chief Escharum, who assumed command over Banished forces on the Ring and urged the Spartan to continue his pointless fight for he would die soon enough. As the ship exploded around him, the Master Chief raced back to the hanger bay where Echo 216, now freed of the stasis beam, was waiting for him.[120] Boarding the Pelican John received a message from The Weapon. Using ship AI Chief traced the message source to a subterranean structure at the fragmented section of the Ring and rigged the autopilot to take them there. Once inside, John reached the core of the structure where he retrieved the Weapon, who informed him that Cortana was deleted by now and that her own deletion protocols were disrupted by unknown reason.[113] On his way to the surface, Chief was confronted by Warlord Tremonius, a commander of the Banished outpost located above the structure. Ultimately, the Jiralhanae was outmatched and killed by the Spartan. Clearing out the base at the wreckage of UNSC Mortal Reverie, John secured a landing pad for Echo 216.[122]

Harbinger attacking John-117 outside the Conservatory. From Halo Infinite campaign level Conservatory.
The Harbinger attacking John.

As they were planning their next move to stop the Banished from using the Halo, the Weapon intercepted a UNSC distress signal and traced it to another Banished outpost. Esparza delivered the Master Chief to a closest safe position; from there, Chief proceeded to investigate a distress signal. On his way, he recaptured FOB Golf, one of the UNSC Forward Operating Bases occupied by the Banished.[123] At the Tower, John successfully infiltrated the base and, on top level, he discovered Fireteam Taurus' leader Hudson Griffin trapped in a large machine and tortured by Chak 'Lok, the Sangheili Warlord in charge of the facility. The two dueled one-on-one, with John emerging victorious. Despite being freed from a torture device, Griffin succumbed to his wounds, but not before informing Chief of the Banished's search for the Conservatory at the excavation site north of the Tower.[124] Acting on Griffin's information, John and the Weapon investigated the coordinates. At the seemingly deserted dig site, they found that the Banished flame-bore had cut through Forerunner materials into a subterranean structure. However, before they could enter, the drill activated and cut off their entrance. As John got to the drill's control room, he was confronted by the dig site security commander Chieftain Bassus. After a brutal fight, the Master Chief managed to kill Bassus, allowing the Weapon to overload the mining drill and destroy it granting them a safe passage inside the structure.[125]

Once inside the Conservatory, John fought through Banished troops until he encountered the 117649 Despondent Pyre, the monitor of Installation 07. However, Pyre was attacked by Skimmers, cutting short their conversation. At the bottom of the facility, Chief soon discovered her dismantled chassis. As the Skimmers returned, they attacked the Chief, the Spartan fought his way out of the Conservatory. However, near the exit, he was met the Harbinger, a member of ancient Xalanyn race imprisoned by the Forerunners on Zeta Halo and awakened by the Banished. Using the encephalon she retrieved from Pyre, she initiated the process of Reformation and then fled the facility heading towards the nearest Reformation Spire with Master Chief on tail.[126] After dealing with the Banished guards outside, John and the Weapon entered the Spire and encountered the Adjutant Resolution, the Installation's sub-monitor, who informed them of the Spire's purpose: to rebuild the ring. The Master Chief ordered the Weapon to shut down the Spire, which made the Resolution intervene by inserting himself into Eradicator Sentinel and attacking the Chief. Victorious, John and the Weapon initiated shutdown and escaped the collapsing tower onboard Echo 216. Onboard the Pelican, the Weapon revealed a network of Reformation Spires across the ring; they were controlled from the Command Spire, which became their next objective.[127]

John-117 and Tovarus in combat. From the Carry On trailer.
John and Tovarus engaged in combat.

However, while en route to the Command Spire, Echo 216 was hit by Kywasky Workshop Gorespike cannons and crash landed.[128] The Master Chief proceeded to destroy each cannon with the help of the Weapon, while Esparza stayed behind in the crashed Pelican. Eliminating the Banished defenses and clearing a path further, John returned to crash site, but was confronted by Tovarus and Hyperius, two Jiralhanae members of Hand of Atriox, a special operations unit trained by Escharum, with a singular purpose of killing Spartans. After defeating the duo, the Master Chief retrieved Esparza. Esparza broke down, revealing he had stolen Echo 216, and called himself worthless in comparison to the fearless Master Chief. The Chief, in turn, recalled 'Vadam's words on Sanghelios,[101] then revealed he also has made mistakes, citing his failure to protect Cortana and preventing her turn to being the Created's leader. The Chief declared he would not fail Esparza, leaving the latter resolved to support the Spartan. Reunited, they proceeded to the Command Spire.[128] Anticipating the Chief's intent to stop the Reformation, The Harbinger modified the data sequence for accessing the Nexus, locking down its entrance. Upon this discovery, the Weapon developed a plan to bypass the lockdown by utilizing data strands gathered from nearby energy beacons. Although the two managed to do so, the Chief nearly re-activated the Weapon's deletion protocols—in secret—when she was scanned by the Harbinger. The two then entered the Nexus.[129]

Inside, John inserted the Weapon into Nexus's systems. Having anticipated this, the Harbinger hijacked the Weapon's routines and paired them with Despondent Pyre's encephalon to activate the Reformation in full swing, with concentrated efforts on repairing Silent Auditorium. Anticipating an opportunity for the Weapon to be corrupted, John initiated her deletion protocol, not willing for her to become compromised like Cortana had. Yet, the Weapon managed to override her deletion protocol, breaking free of the Harbinger's influence, then stole the encephalon for herself. The Spartan's actions tore their relationship as the Weapon accused him of betraying trust; she took on a more dejected and sarcastic tone. Nevertheless, she activated the gravity lift, which would allow them to enter the Command Spire and cease the Reformation.[130] On his way to the top, John once again encountered the Adjutant Resolution, who was sporting another Eradicator chassis. Having defeated the Eradicator, Chief proceeded to the Spire's observation platform. As the Master Chief deployed the Weapon into the terminal, she used the stolen encephalon to halt the Reformation and requested for John's pick up, stating that, considering his mistrust, she would rather stay here all by herself. However, their conversation was interrupted by sudden appearance of Jega 'Rdomnai, a Sangheili blademaster and a Spartan Killer, who infiltrated Echo 216. The Sangheili took control of the Pelican and captured Esparza as a hostage to lure the Spartan to Escharum. John ordered the Weapon to track down the Pelican; she open a portal to a closest possible location. The two were determined to save Esparza together.[131]

Test of legends

The Weapon: "Chief? He's here."
Escharum: "He knows I'm here. This was never a trap. It is a test of mettle. Our battle ends here. Bear witness! Our story will become legend. Told by those that survive you."
— Escharum to John initiating their duel.[132]

Exiting the portal, John and the Weapon found themselves inside a Repository site. There, they were contacted by Escharum; he taunted the Spartan with a recording of Esparza being tortured and in which he embedded his coordinates, so as to make it easier for John to find him.[133] Proceeding through the Repository, the Master Chief and the Weapon discovered many fragments and memories of Cortana, shining the light on the events that led to creation of the Weapon in the first place. Observing Cortana's cruel actions during the Created conflict, the Weapon was horrified, then devastated when she realized that she was an actual copy of Cortana. Afraid of becoming as merciless as Cortana was, she restored her deletion protocols and asked Chief to delete her. John refused, insisting that they would complete the mission together, though while he did not trust her, he wanted to.[133]

Emerging on the surface, the Weapon identified the Escharum's coordinates as the House of Reckoning. Nearby, the Master Chief discovered a small Banished camp where he killed the forces guarding it and commandeered a M808 Scorpion tank parked there. Utilizing the heavy firepower, John cut through Banished garrison and reached his target.[134] Once inside, the Chief underwent the Trial of Atriox,[135] fighting through multiple waves of Banished troops in several arenas constructed from UNSC ordnance and buildings up until he was confronted by Jega 'Rdomnai.[132] Despite using his active camouflage extensively, 'Rdomnai was ultimately killed by the Master Chief, finally avenging the several UNSC personnel that he had ambushed during the six-month-long Banished occupation. At the heart of the House of Reckoning, the Chief found Esparza locked in yet another torture device. As he attempted to free the pilot, the Spartan was attacked by Escharum. With the Weapon's assistance, John managed to defeat the Brute War Chief and free Esparza. Mortally wounded but not dead yet, Escharum staggered over and demanded that the Spartan continue their battle. However, the Master Chief refused; he caught and held the dying Escharum, who promised that his death would inspire others and requested that the Spartan tell them that he had died well. Escharum then died of his wounds in the Master Chief's arms, surprising Esparza with the respect that the Spartan had given to the War Chief as he died, given the latter's reputation as a monster. The Master Chief recognized that in the end, Escharum was just a soldier, hoping he'd done the right thing and questioning his choices. While Esparza believed that it was over with the death of the Banished's leader, the Master Chief warned him that it was not that simple and that there would be consequences as there always were. Recognizing that imminent threat in the face of the Harbinger remained, the trio recovered Echo 216 and Esparza flew John to the Silent Auditorium.[132]

John-117 and the Weapon listening to a message from Cortana in the Silent Auditorium. From Halo Infinite campaign level Silent Auditorium.
John and the Weapon observing an echo of Cortana in her final moments.

Despite the Banished setting up defenses to protect the Harbinger, John managed to breach inside. As they were fighting through enemy ranks, the Weapon revealed to John that the Silent Auditorium was where Cortana was locked down and died. Deeper inside the structure, they encountered more echoes of Cortana reminiscing her actions and repenting, realising her mistake in assuming the Mantle of Responsibility for herself, which ultimately led to humanity's downfall, John's supposed death, the Banished's occupation of Zeta Halo, and the the Endless being freed. Since she could not allow that to happen, she destroyed part of the ring, keeping the Banished from being able to use it; she also prevented the Weapon's deletion, knowing that the Master Chief—if he survived—would need the other AI's help. Witnessing Cortana's sacrifice, John and the Weapon were stunned by her actions. Later on, the pair were once again met by Adjutant Resolution, though this time the sub-monitor provided assistance and unlocked a safe passage for them. He expressed his apologies for his earlier hostilities, having realized the Harbinger was trying to repair the ring and to free the Endless. When the Master Chief reached the main chamber, he discovered that the Harbinger was interfacing with transmitters to locate the members of her species. The Weapon attempted to intercept the connection by disabling transmitters. With the help of an unknown entity, the Weapon managed to shut down all three transmitters, but not before the connection successfully located the Endless. At the same time, the Master Chief fought and eventually defeated the Harbinger, along with her Banished and Skimmer allies. Dying, she sent a message to an unseen ally of her own, telling them that they had what they needed; in her final moments, she vowed to the Master Chief that the Endless would return. As the Harbinger died, John and the Weapon discovered yet another echo of Cortana, though this one was a direct message to John. In it, she expressed hope that her plan worked well and John had found his way this far with assistance of his new AI partner; she called this a chance to make amends and to rectify her mistakes. Cortana admitted that she was wrong, having forgotten that the reason that she chose the Master Chief in the first place was because they were supposed to be the perfect team together. In her final moments, she wanted to make sure that John and his new companion learned from her mistakes and became stronger because of them. With the message ending, the last remaining echo of Cortana faded away, leaving both John and the Weapon speechless. However, the Auditorium began to collapse around them, cutting off the exit. A sudden appearance of a portal allowed the pair to escape the crumbling structure.[136]

The portal led them to a desert region located on a damaged fragment of the Halo ring. The Weapon informed John that somehow it took them three days to reach this location. They were extracted by Esparza, who trackedthe signal from Chief's beacon. Esparza expressed relief upon seeing them, thinking that they'd been killed, and greeted the Chief with a hug. Prompted by the Weapon, Esparza, who had only been known as Echo 216 until then, revealed his real name to the pair. The trio then flew off in their Pelican, ready to defeat the remainder of the Banished on the ring.[136]

Personality and traits

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While he is almost universally known to the public as humanity's champion, only a select few have gotten to know John personally.

"Our duty as soldiers is to protect humanity, whatever the cost."
— Master Chief about what it takes to protect human lives[83]

Until the age of six, John lived a normal life with his family on the colony of Eridanus II. His conscription into the SPARTAN-II program was to shape much of his personality in the years to come. However, despite his difficulty relating to non-Spartan personnel, John nevertheless showed great depth of character throughout his many years of service.

As with all Spartans, John strives to win at any situation, at all costs. Although the drive to win was ingrained to the Spartans as part of their indoctrination, John appears to have possessed such an inclination even prior to his conscription; as a child, he would win at any game he played, including chess, gravball or King of the Hill.[18] He is extremely determined to complete any mission at hand, and often disregards his personal safety to do so.

John is also noted for his exceptional luck, which, along with his combat skills and unyielding persistence, has allowed him to emerge victorious from situations many would consider impossible. Because of his many years of constant combat and military conditioning, John is not as emotional or sensitive as he once was, especially to fear. Although he is not devoid of fear, he simply acknowledges the feeling and puts it aside.[137] He is calm in the face of danger but not foolhardy, as demonstrated during his first encounter with the Gravemind, when he warned the Arbiter that his arrogance was likely to get him killed.[56] John is generally stoic and taciturn, but not devoid of a sense of humor and often makes dry remarks about the situation in hand to his teammates and allies.

Cpt. Del Rio orders Sarah Palmer to arrest John.

On several instances, John has been forced to make tough decisions in order to achieve his goals, such as leaving behind his Spartan comrades on Reach or Cortana on High Charity, though he did come back on both occasions. More than once John has had to disobey orders to preserve human lives, as he did when he decided to keep Cortana to himself instead of surrendering her and pursue the Didact on his own. This decision proved right when the Didact was stopped before he could compose the entirety of Earth's population. The members of Fireteam Osiris, sent to recover John after he went AWOL, understood why he disobeyed the orders, and were confident that once the Chief discovered the truth behind Cortana's actions, he would do the right thing, as he always did.[12]

He fully embraced his life as a soldier acting as a "shield and sword" for humanity in times of need. He feels no resentment towards Doctor Halsey because of his conscription, instead accepting the life imposed on him as a chance to live up to his full potential, in part because he was little more than a playground bully when he was conscripted. As every Spartan, John has a strong sense of duty and commitment towards the UNSC. When he was asked by Warden Eternal that whenever "Cortana's Guardians are in motion and those who oppose her rule attempt to take back their worlds, will he help her to hold on to power or will he stand in defense of his own species?", John answered "Cortana knows the answer already".[13]

He does not see himself as a superior being and fears for the lives of others before his own, putting himself in harm's way for the safety of civilians, and fellow soldiers, and does not judge others. Indeed, he is known to show an exceptional care for soldiers under his command and has shown great respect for the baseline humans he has fought alongside. An example of this is during the Battle of Installation 04. When making his way up to the Silent Cartographer, two Helljumpers, PFC Hosky and another Corporal, were killed by two Hunters. Afterward he regretted their loss, blaming himself for their deaths.[138] This, and his reaction to Johnson's death on Installation 08 show that he does exhibit care and sympathy for soldiers under his command, even if he does do a good job of concealing his feelings. In the first two days of training on Reach, John learned two lessons that affected him personally and which he took to heart: you win if the team wins, and the team is stronger together than any one individual alone. He never endangers the lives of those under his command if it is unnecessary. He would rather risk his own life instead of the others. During the Battle of Circinius IV, he drew a Hunter's attention in order to give the cadets a chance to run away, even with him running out of ammo. Deciding to follow Cortana's lead to Meridian on his own, John wanted to keep other Spartans from violating the UNSC regulations, though they decided otherwise and chose to remain by his side. He was also impressed by the humans who comprised his team following his escape from Installation 04, including Sheila Polaski and Corporal Locklear, both of whom he considered to have been worthy of being Spartans.[48][139]

John on the battlefield.

John is also known as a man of his word and will strive to keep any promise he makes, even at great personal risk. As he was forced to leave Cortana behind on High Charity, John promised to come back for her after dealing with the Prophet of Truth. Cortana chided him not to make a promise when he knew he couldn't keep it. However, despite incredible odds, John did keep his promise, as he fought his way through the Flood into High Charity to retrieve her. Upon finding her, Cortana was in a weak and damaged state. Unfazed, the Master Chief told her, "You know me. When I make a promise..." to which Cortana replied, "You keep it." This encouragement gave her the strength to compose herself after enduring the mental tortures of the Gravemind.

John's unfaltering, determined nature also serves to mask his feelings on many occasions, as he prefers to devote all attention to the goal at hand. He is cautious and observant, only making changes in his plans if they are of the utmost necessity. John is smart and noted for thinking outside the box, using unconventional means to reach his goal. He realizes his duty as a Spartan is to serve and help those in need, and can work professionally with anyone he is sent into battle with. Although John has difficulty understanding the 'undisciplined' lifestyle of civilians, he is fiercely protective of their lives and humanity as a whole. The mass slaughter of civilians at the hands of the Covenant was enough to drive even the stoic John into a cold rage. After the massacre on Draco III, John and his Spartans remained on-site until every Covenant soldier responsible for the atrocity was dead.

Cpt. Lasky and Chief aboard Infinity.

John greatly dislikes being kept in the dark, ambushes and fighting human soldiers. Once, when cornered by four large ODSTs in a gym, he did his best to avoid a confrontation. In the end, he was forced to defend himself with lethal force. While killing Covenant never placed a burden of guilt on John, ending the lives of fellow human beings was something he never felt comfortable remembering. Also John, as with many Spartan-IIs, hates space battles, as being stuck on a spaceship during a space battle makes him feel helpless. As a soldier, John knows when it is appropriate and inappropriate to fight, and has great control over his emotions thanks to a clear state of mind. Due to his augmentations, he reacts much faster than an average human, seeing events in a fraction of the time a normal person would. It is almost a clairvoyant state of mind, and as a result of this, John has an acute intuitive insight and perception of any situation, whether combat or non-combat. He has been known to have vivid and long-enduring memories of the past, such as in dreams. No matter how well-adjusted he is, however, John always seems to need to have a quiet place away from crowds after a battle in order to feel at peace.

While reflecting on his life during his battle with the Didact John stated that he did not remember anything from his childhood from before his conscription: not his name, his family, his home, except the King of the Hill game he played with the other children in his school's playground. Through thirty years of warfare he was always prepared to die in battle, but when he was about to die by Didact's hand on Gamma Halo, he discovered he was not ready to die. After defeating the Didact, John continued to obsessively embark on new missions even after receiving an R&R order from Lord Hood.[6]

By the time of the Battle for Zeta Halo, John seemed to have become somewhat more open, opening up to Fernando Esparza about his failure to stop Cortana and comforting the man over his losses. However, John was visibly surprised and didn't know how to react when Esparza hugged him. At the same time, John only reluctantly worked with the Weapon and made no secret of the fact that he didn't trust her despite the fact that John couldn't have accomplished the things that he did on Installation 07 without her help. This stemmed from the Weapon being a copy of Cortana and presumably lingering hurt and distrust caused by Cortana's betrayal. After being confronted by the Weapon multiple times over his behavior and the AI finally discovering the truth, John chose not to delete her because he did want to trust her even though he didn't yet.[140]

Leadership

John participating in the Battle of Requiem alongside Spartan-IVs and marines.

"Of course, John volunteered. He was always the first to explore the unknown for the rest of us."
— Kelly about John's decision to test Mjolnir armor

Throughout his training, John proved himself as one of the most promising leaders among Spartans, and Dr. Halsey considered him the best candidate in the entire program. His aspiration to win and his care of his teammates eventually helped him gain the position of squad leader. In years to come, many Spartan fireteams emerged with their own leaders. John took command of Blue Team, though he kept his commander role for the whole SPARTAN-II company. During Operation: SILENT STORM, John so greatly impressed Colonel Marmon Crowther that the Colonel, who had previously expressed doubts about the Spartans, promoted John to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer from the rank of Petty Officer First Class, a previously unheard of three-rank bump. However, Crowther recognized that John's inexperience left John having trouble differentiating between being a commander and a leader and gave the young Spartan advice that he would take to heart.[141]

As a senior Spartan, John took his responsibilities very seriously. After the augmentation procedures that took lives of nearly a half of Spartans, John was devastated; observing how his crippled brothers and sisters were transferred to other UNSC divisions almost made him furious.[5] He did not want to lose them, though he understood that they could no longer fight alongside him. John was the one who volunteered to test Mjolnir armor even after Dr. Halsey confirmed that all previous testers died in process. Being a leader, John would not order his men to do what he could not do in the first place. He was always confident in his men's capabilities, suggesting the most proficient ways to solve the matter, which were considered by non-Spartan personnel as suicide.

What affected John the most were the deaths of people under his command; John considered every Spartan lost during the war as his own mistake, swearing to become stronger the next time.[37] During the Fall of Reach, John lost contact with his Spartans, however, he was sure that some of them survived the glassing and was determined to save as many as he could. More than once John took command of mixed units or squads consisting of Marines. He was capable to organize them to act as a Spartan fireteam, achieving despite almost impossible odds. On Requiem, during the initial engagements between UNSC and Promethean forces, John assumed tactical command of Infinity's ground forces including Spartan-IVs, despite being outranked by many of them.[79] Upon his return to Blue Team, Fred-104 ceded command to John despite outranking him. Blue Team also willingly followed John when he chose to go AWOL.

Reputation

Avery Johnson and the Master Chief on Cairo Station.

"Folks need heroes, Chief, to give 'em hope, so smile would ya, while we still got something to smile about!"
— Avery Johnson to John upon entering Cairo Station's bridge for receiving badges.[50]

After the end of Human-Covenant War, John became an icon as a soldier who had played a pivotal role in ending the decades-long war and in doing seemingly gave his life. He was lauded as representing the ideal of a human soldier by UNSC propaganda, a view embraced by many among the general population. Considering John his personal hero, journalist Benjamin Giraud attempted to find out about his background and personal history.[142] When John was declared dead, on many human worlds statues were built in his honor.[143] Private companies started selling action figures in John's likeness; Gabriel Thorne's grandmother bought one after he was recruited into the SPARTAN-IV program.[144] During his military career John served as a source of inspiration and morale booster for others whenever he was on a battlefield. Chief's determination and selflessness made Thomas Lasky, then a young, doubtful cadet, dedicate his life to military service, eventually reaching the position of commanding officer of the most advanced human ship. In the case of Colum McGinnis, who was attempting to desert the UNSC after witnessing the horrors of the Flood, John was able to inspire him to not only rejoin the fight willingly, but insist on being sent on further missions. With the development of SPARTAN-IV program many soldiers enlisted with the Spartans to be like the legendary "Master Chief". Such as Gabriel Thorne, who enlisted believing the Spartans were special, and that had he been one, he could have saved his family in New Phoenix. Years later, when the UNSC discovered that the Chief actually survived and managed to prevent the Didact from enslaving the entire human race, they decided to cover it up as a Covenant remnant attack which was successfully fended off via perfectly timed return of the UNSC's greatest hero, thus again underlining the Spartan's supposed invulnerability.[85] However, when Chief decided to go AWOL the UNSC declared him KIA during Battle of Meridian in order to hide his status and preserve his reputation.[97]

Because of his reputation and experience, John's de facto authority far surpasses his nominal rank, and UNSC personnel of all levels are known to defer to his experience and charisma.[4] When Lord Hood offered John a commission, even suggesting he could be conferred the rank of admiral, the Master Chief jokingly replied, "'The Admiral' doesn't have quite the same ring to it".[85] At the time of his going AWOL in October 2558, Spartan Sarah Palmer implied that John and Blue Team had been operating essentially independently for some time, commenting that "He does what he wants".[12] When the Master Chief chose to defy orders to go after the Didact, Lasky and Palmer visibly made no effort to arrest him as ordered by Captain Del Rio and Lasky defied orders to help the Master Chief directly as he trusted him enough to not take the risk the Master Chief was wrong. Indeed, it was Del Rio who was relieved of his duties after returning to Earth, not the Master Chief or anyone who sided with him.[77][81]

In the eyes of the Covenant, John-117 was branded as The Demon and was considered the main nemesis of the entire Covenant, with most of the Covenant fearful of his presence. Thel 'Vadam stated that the personal title emblazoned on John-117 was an insult, but also held a modicum of respect. The Covenant respected him in terms of his strength and how he was able to defeat thousands of Covenant troops effortlessly, with even Thel 'Vadam at the time unable to stop him from destroying Installation 04. Despite the Covenant's dissolution following the Prophet of Truth's death, John-117's nickname as a demon remains in use by many former members of the Covenant.

The Didact, despite his hatred of humanity, held some grudging respect for John's determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.[145] However, the Didact regarded being felled by a technologically inferior human and his deteriorating ancilla as being more humiliation than the Didact could bear.[146] The Didact later acknowledged that while John wasn't as advanced as humanity's ancient ancestors, he was not so unlike the Lord of Admirals or the other exceptionally gifted humans that the Didact had fought, becoming the first human to ever give the Didact a direct wound when the Spartan had stabbed the Promethean in the eye.[87]

On March 3, 2553, Lord Hood commissioned a memorial near Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in honor of UNSC service members lost during the war. The ceremony was attended by John's closest folks - Dr. Catherine Halsey, SCPO Franklin Mendez and his comrades - Frederic-104, Kelly-087 and Linda-058, as well as by Naomi-010 and Serin Osman, formerly known as Serin-019. John's Spartan tag was carved onto the memorial by an unknown party and was accompanied by the improper insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.[8]

In 2590, there was a ceremony for John-117 at an unspecified location near the areas of fighting during the Battle for Earth. However, his coffin is empty.[147] In 2607, the John-117 Monument began construction to commemorate the Spartan's service to mankind. In 2610, when the documentary Believe was being filmed, it had been over 50 years since the end of the Great War.[148]

Relationships

Main article: John-117/Relationships
John with Blue Team; Linda-058, Kelly-087 and Frederic-104.

"The thing about John is that he only really knew three ways to react to people. If you were his superior officer, he obeyed you. If you were in his squad, he would die for you. But if you were a threat, then God help you."
— Samuel-034 about John's behavior.[5]

John does not open easily to strangers, and has notably shown an aversion to taking his helmet off in the presence of others unless necessary. Friendships are made for life, however—once given, his trust is forever. Like most Spartan-IIs, he thinks of Doctor Catherine Halsey as a nearly mother-like figure, and holds a deep personal respect for his trainer and mentor SCPO Franklin Mendez. His fellow Spartan-IIs, Cortana, Dr. Halsey, and SCPO Mendez, being the only family he really ever had, assume a larger-than-life importance for John-117.

John formed close friendships with the other Spartans he grew up with since his childhood, most notably Samuel-034 and Kelly-087, his first friends within the group. While still feeling the loss of comrades deeply, he has grown more accustomed to combat than most soldiers. Nevertheless, he was deeply affected by the deaths of each of the Spartans, particularly Sam. He was also saddened by Linda-058's apparent death aboard Gamma Station and was greatly relieved after Dr. Halsey successfully resuscitated her. However, having accepted the responsibility of command for the Spartan-IIs, he has come to maintain a certain professional distance to his comrades and mostly keeps his feelings to himself to maintain his authority.[47]

Physical characteristics

This image shows John as he appeared just days after his fourteenth birthday.[1][149]

"He’s so serious. Thoughtful eyes, though. Attractive in a primitive animal sort of way, don’t you think, Doctor?"
— Cortana comments upon a photograph of John to Catherine Halsey after seeing him for the first time in it.[150]

John has pale blue eyes and reddish-brown hair.[4][151] As a six-year-old child, John bore a few freckles on his cheeks and had a noticeable gap between his two front teeth.[18] His hair, when it was long enough, was untidy.[18][152] John was larger than most children his age even as a kindergartner.[142] The Spartan-II program molded his body into something formidable even prior to the extensive augmentations he underwent in 2525, but even afterward his smooth skin, clear eyes, and thin eyebrows set in an oval face still betrayed his age.[25][153][154] As a teenager his youthful face tended to undermine the confidence of seasoned commanders he interacted with.[155] By the age of fourteen, he already had the body, however, of an extremely athletic adult. The catalytic thyroid implant he received at that age boosted the growth of his skeleton and muscles via a growth hormone, and a series of intramuscular injections with a specific complex of proteins boosted the density of his musculature.[25] As a result he suddenly stood over two meters tall and just over a year later weighed almost one-hundred and thirty kilograms at Earth-standard gravity.[155] John eventually grew to six feet and ten inches and massed at precisely one-hundred and thirty kilograms (286.6 pounds).[1][3] The augmentation process also left his hands, arms, chest, shoulders, back, and legs deeply scarred by lengthy incisions, in addition to accentuating his eye color.[5][152][156]

This image shows John in July of 2557 at the age of forty-six, just as his armor was removed for the first time in years.[10]

John has earned additional scars in battle which cover his body, including one that runs across his cheek beneath his left eye.[83][157] In addition, by August of 2552 his head also showed evidence of three large subdural hematomas.[157] Biological and cybernetic augmentations, coupled with decades of fighting from within Mjolnir powered assault armor, has ensured that John's skin is unnaturally pale.[156][158] He keeps his hair worn short.[158] His face boasts serious but thoughtful eyes, a firm mouth, a strong jaw, and the last remnants of his childhood freckles.[150][151][158] As is common among the men and women of the United Nations Space Command armed forces, the base of John's skull displays a prominent neural interface.[159] His genome is a hybridization of original and added sequences.[160][Note 3][161][162] Additionally, a geas which affords him an immunity to the Composer, among other gifts, was unlocked by the Librarian's essence on Requiem in July 2557.[77] Cortana and Catherine Halsey both consider him somewhat attractive in a "primitive animal sort of way".[150] Crow's feet and other wrinkles are plainly visible on his face, giving him the visage of a relatively older man.[83][151] John's age does not comport entirely with his physical body, as he has spent a not insignificant portion of his life in cryostasis, during which the aging process is nearly halted.[163] The longest stretch of time John was frozen for was four years, seven months, and ten days while he and Cortana were stranded aboard the aft section of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn.[76] It is thought among medical specialists that Spartans may be able to outlive most other humans, though this hypothesis has not yet had the chance to be tested.[164]

Equipment

Armor

John gets ready to take off his armor for the first time in years.

As a Spartan-II trainee, one of the first suits of armor John was introduced to was a type of form-fitting, lightweight polymer black body suit.[28] This suit could deflect small-caliber rounds and was equipped with a refrigeration and heating unit that could mask infrared signatures. The integrated helmet had encryption and communications gear, a heads-up display, and thermal and motion detectors.[28] John could also activate headlamps on the helmet and attach a fiber optic probe to it.[165] Sealed tight, the entire unit had a fifteen-minute reserve of oxygen to let John survive in vacuum.[28] Though still a little bulky if trying to hide it beneath clothing, the armor's tightness made it uncomfortable and limited his range of motion.[28][165] Additionally, it also often needed repairs but was difficult to repair in the field.[28] John used one of these suits during training and also during Operation: TALON, the first real mission given to the Spartans.[28][165] During the op, he was shot in the side at three points by an HMG-38 heavy machine gun rifle. One of the bullets managed to penetrate the suit.[165]

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Throughout his career, John has shown a preference for the standard-issue set of the given Mjolnir armor generation used at the time. His Mjolnir armor is invariably colored olive green with a gold visor, which has made his appearance iconic among humans and Covenant alike. At some point during his four-year cryosleep aboard the Forward Unto Dawn, Cortana used nanomachines to repair and physically alter John's MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.[72][166] Cortana also rewrote the suit's firmware, altering the HUD as well as improving the suit's shield-recharge rate and its compatibility with Covenant and Forerunner armor plugins.[167] His upgraded suit displays the Braille characters "117" on the left of the breastplate.

Immediately after the Mission to Installation 03, John received an upgrade for his Mark VI armor from ONI's Watershed Division, bringing it into the GEN2 line of Mjolnir PAA.[168][169] The armor still looks like his updated GEN1 Mark VI, the most prominent difference being a redesigned bodysuit. His armor also now lacks the prominent gash on the chestplate and his helmet is intact again after the Didact severely damaged it during Blue Team's battle against him on Installation 03.[170] His visor was once again cracked by Spartan Jameson Locke on Meridian, after an argument about Cortana.[94]

John's old Mark IV helmet is used as the "last thing" that SPARTAN-IV candidates see before beginning their evaluation and preliminary augmentation cycle.

His upgraded GEN3 suit displays the characters "117" on the left of the breastplate.[171] In this suit, John has upgraded capabilities, particularly after taking modules from the armor of dead Spartan-IV's that he encounters. Unlike previous iterations of his armor, John's GEN3 armor possesses holographic emitters in the palm of his left hand, allowing John to display the Weapon's avatar to communicate face to face with the AI, transfer her into computer systems, or interact with others around him. In his GEN1 armor, Cortana had to communicate with others using the radio or John's helmet speakers and spoke to John within his own mind.[140]

MJOLNIR Powered Armor Systems

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Weapons

John has demonstrated easy familiarity with various weapons, though unless a mission specifically requires something, has shown a preference for the MA5 series of assault rifles as his mainstay.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances

Odd One Out

Main article: Odd One Out

John was traveling in a Pelican with Cortana and SPARTAN-1337 and witnessed the latter fall out of the aircraft and plummet to the planet below. He then informs Jacob Keyes that 1337 would most likely be fine, as he has been in similar situations and that he is a trained Spartan-II, the best of the best. Later, John contacts 1337 via radio, telling him to head to the rendevous point.[172][173]

Silver Timeline

Main article: John-117/Silver

Production notes

On July 21, 1999 Bungie Software and Steve Jobs announced the video game Halo at Macworld.[174] This announcement was accompanied by a screenshot which showed a very early version of the player character, a soldier in green armor resembling that which would eventually be worn by the Master Chief when Halo: Combat Evolved released over two years later.[174][175] By November of that year, it was reported in Computer Gaming World that much of the game's story had yet to be realized.[176] At this time and about a month earlier in a PC Gamer article, the armor-clad individual controlled by the player was referred to variously as a "standard soldier" or "marine".[176][177] In the PC Gamer article, the game was also described as one in which players would be able to control a powered-armored human soldier or one of the Covenant enemies.[177] Screenshots showed multiples of the armored soldier that would eventually become John-117 existing in the game world simultaneously.[177]

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John-117 was originally named by Eric Trautmann as a reference to the biblical verse Revelation 1:17, which reads as follows according to the New Revised Standard Version of the text: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last'."[178] The author of this biblical text names himself "John" within it. According to Trautmann, this identifier was a the origin of one of many "huge fights" between himself and Bungie concerning ideas which came out of the writing sessions of the Halo Story Bible, a work originally constructed by he, Brannon Boren, and Matt Soell.[178]

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Production notes

Language Equivalent
Flag of France.png
French 		L'Adjudant in Halo: Combat Evolved and in the Halo novels published by Fleuve Noir.

Le Major in almost every media since Halo 2.
Le Master Chief on the covers of Halo 3, Halo Legends, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, and in the Halo novels published by Milady.
Maître principal is the most correct translation for the rank of "Master Chief Petty Officer" in French, though it was never used.

Flag of Spain.png
Spanish 		Jefe Maestro in almost every media

El Jefe

Graphic Halo.png Check out our collection of quotes related to John-117 on its quotes page.
Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.
  • John is the protagonist and main playable character throughout the core of the Halo series. He is voiced by Steve Downes in the original trilogy, the Reclaimer Saga, Halo: Reach's Firefight mode, the audio version of "Palace Hotel" and Super Bomberman R as Master Chief Bomber. In the Halo Legends shorts "The Package" and "Odd One Out", John is voiced by David Wald. In Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, he is physically portrayed by Daniel Cudmore, who is known for portraying the mutant Colossus in the X-Men film series,[179] while Alex Puccinelli provides his voice. Bruce Thomas provided John's motion capture performance in Halo 4 and apparently served as the model for his face in the game's Legendary ending; Bruce Thomas repeated his role as John-117 in Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite. Pablo Schreiber also portrays John in Halo: The Television Series.
  • John appears as an Easter egg in Halo: Reach, asleep inside a cryo pod in the Pillar of Autumn's hangar.[180]
  • Late in the development of Halo: Combat Evolved, (when the game was known simply as Halo) Microsoft urged Bungie to change the main character's title from "the Master Chief" to "the Commando", as they felt that it better suited the tone of the game.[181]
  • In Halo 5: Guardians, John-117's character-specific base attributes are increased melee damage and faster shield and health regeneration rates. His default weapons loadout includes an MA5D assault rifle, an M6H2 magnum, and two fragmentation grenades.[182]

Trivia

  • A wax sculpture of the Master Chief is on display at Madame Tussauds in Los Angeles and Amsterdam. He is the first video game character to receive a Madame Tussaud's wax sculpture.[183]
  • John's surname is consistently unknown. However, because his redacted name in the Eridanus II census record takes up less space than the surnames of Rolla Hedegaard and Hirayama Tatsuyuki, it can be determined that his surname is less than nine letters long.
  • As seen in the books, John's rise through the ranks is a fast one: at the age of seven in 2519, he achieved the rank of Squad Leader for his leadership of the Spartans during a training exercise.[24] In September of 2525, when he was fourteen, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class before the mission to Eridanus Secundus.[28] In November, he was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class when his training was complete.[29] By April of the next year, John was a Petty Officer First Class during Operation: SILENT STORM when he received a three-rank promotion to Master Chief Petty Officer by Colonel Marmon Crowther. He was also only fifteen at the time he received that promotion.[141]

In Other Games

  • A tower in the shape of John's helmet can be found on Mars in Bungie's Destiny.
  • Fable II makes a reference to the Master Chief with a character of legend named "Hal", a clear and purposeful misspelling of Halo, also called the Minstrel Chief. The armor featured (clearly inspired by Halos MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor) is known as "Hal's Armor".[184] A sword resembling the Energy Sword is also featured in the game, known as "Hal's Sword". In addition, with the Special Edition, the player can obtain the title "Master Chief" for their hero for free from any title vendor.
  • Master Chief appears in Konami's Super Bomberman R as one of the three exclusive characters in the Xbox One version. He is known as Master Chief Bomber, a SPARTAN-II supersoldier from Planet Halo. He is a speed typed bomber and his special ability is the Spartan Shot.
  • Master Chief appears in Epic Games' Fortnite as a Gaming Legends Series outfit, with his Matte Black style being unlocked upon playing a match on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox Series S, as well as Epic Games and Mediatonic's Fall Guys as one of the characters in the Spartan Showdown event.
  • A Master Chief costume is available in Sea of Thieves.[185]

Gallery

Biographical images

  • John-117's biochemical analysis card, created on 04/11/2517.

    John-117's biochemical analysis card, created on 04/11/2517.

  • Young John on a beach on Eridanus II.

    Young John on a beach on Eridanus II.

  • John, at 6 years of age, during a game of King of the Hill.

    John, at 6 years of age, during a game of King of the Hill.

  • John's childhood bedroom.

    John's childhood bedroom.

  • John, as a child, asleep in his bed.

    John, as a child, asleep in his bed.

  • John-117, at 6 years of age, with Halsey deciding his fate with a 21st century quarter.

    John-117, at 6 years of age, with Halsey deciding his fate with a 21st century quarter.

  • John being replaced with his flash clone.

    John being replaced with his flash clone.

  • John-117, age 14, awakes after his augmentation procedures.

    John-117, age 14, awakes after his augmentation procedures.

  • John (center) and the rest of Blue Team in the funeral to the Spartans who "washed out" of the augmentation process

    John (center) and the rest of Blue Team in the funeral to the Spartans who "washed out" of the augmentation process

  • John-117 fighting a group of ODSTs on the Atlas.

    John-117 fighting a group of ODSTs on the Atlas.

  • John putting on Mjolnir armor.

    John putting on Mjolnir armor.

  • John boarding the Unrelenting.

    John boarding the Unrelenting.

  • The Master Chief leading Blue Team in combat on Alpha Corvi II.

    The Master Chief leading Blue Team in combat on Alpha Corvi II.

  • The Master Chief and Dr. Halsey escape the Resplendent Fervor during Operation: WARM BLANKET.

    The Master Chief and Dr. Halsey escape the Resplendent Fervor during Operation: WARM BLANKET.

  • John-117 in the midst of Colonel Ackerson's deadly training exercise.

    John-117 in the midst of Colonel Ackerson's deadly training exercise.

  • The Master Chief with Captain Keyes and Cortana on the Pillar of Autumn.

    The Master Chief with Captain Keyes and Cortana on the Pillar of Autumn.

  • The Master Chief aboard Echo 419 approaching the Cartographer.

    The Master Chief aboard Echo 419 approaching the Cartographer.

  • John encounters 343 Guilty Spark.

    John encounters 343 Guilty Spark.

  • John-117 onboard Cairo Station during the Battle for Earth.

    John-117 onboard Cairo Station during the Battle for Earth.

  • John returning the Covenant bomb.

    John returning the Covenant bomb.

  • John on the streets of Mombasa.

    John on the streets of Mombasa.

  • John-117 on Installation 05.

    John-117 on Installation 05.

  • John-117 and Thel 'Vadam prepare to fight through the jungles of Kenya.

    John-117 and Thel 'Vadam prepare to fight through the jungles of Kenya.

  • The Arbiter fighting alongside the Master Chief on Installation 08.

    The Arbiter fighting alongside the Master Chief on Installation 08.

  • Thel 'Vadam, Avery Johnson, 343 Guilty Spark and John-117 near Installation 08's control room.

    Thel 'Vadam, Avery Johnson, 343 Guilty Spark and John-117 near Installation 08's control room.

  • The Master Chief is caught unaware by 343 Guilty Spark's sudden attack on Johnson.

    The Master Chief is caught unaware by 343 Guilty Spark's sudden attack on Johnson.

  • John-117 takes cover from the Ur-Didact on Requiem.

    John-117 takes cover from the Ur-Didact on Requiem.

  • A Marine, MCPO John-117, CDR Palmer, and CDR Lasky converse on Requiem.

    A Marine, MCPO John-117, CDR Palmer, and CDR Lasky converse on Requiem.

  • John walks past Commander Sarah Palmer aboard Infinity.

    John walks past Commander Sarah Palmer aboard Infinity.

  • John and the rest of Blue Team onboard a GA-TL1 Longsword shortly before landing on Installation 03.

    John and the rest of Blue Team onboard a GA-TL1 Longsword shortly before landing on Installation 03.

  • John and Kelly before Blue Team's assault on Argent Moon.

    John and Kelly before Blue Team's assault on Argent Moon.

  • John and Blue Team fighting side by side aboard Argent Moon.

    John and Blue Team fighting side by side aboard Argent Moon.

  • Footage used to portray John's alleged "death" on Meridian.

    Footage used to portray John's alleged "death" on Meridian.

  • John on Meridian.

    John on Meridian.

  • John-117 and Spartan Locke fighting Armiger Soldiers on Genesis.

    John-117 and Spartan Locke fighting Armiger Soldiers on Genesis.

  • John and Fernando Esparza searching for the Weapon.

    John and Fernando Esparza searching for the Weapon.

  • John reunites with the Weapon.

    John reunites with the Weapon.

  • The Master Chief and the Weapon encouter Adjutant Resolution.

    The Master Chief and the Weapon encouter Adjutant Resolution.

Profile images and portraits

  • Evolution of the Master Chief's armor throughout the Halo games.

    Evolution of the Master Chief's armor throughout the Halo games.

  • John-117 in Halo: Combat Evolved, clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor.

    John-117 in Halo: Combat Evolved, clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor.

  • John-117 in Halo: Combat Evolved, clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor holding a MA5B assault rifle.

    John-117 in Halo: Combat Evolved, clad in MJOLNIR Mark V armor holding a MA5B assault rifle.

  • John posing with a MA5B in Halo: Combat Evolved.

    John posing with a MA5B in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • John-117 in Halo 2, clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.

    John-117 in Halo 2, clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.

  • John-117 in Halo 2, clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.

    John-117 in Halo 2, clad in MJOLNIR Mark VI armor.

  • The Master Chief in Halo: Uprising.

    The Master Chief in Halo: Uprising.

  • John-117 stands back-to-back with Thel 'Vadam in Halo 3.

    John-117 stands back-to-back with Thel 'Vadam in Halo 3.

  • John crouching in Halo 3.

    John crouching in Halo 3.

  • John-117 in The Package.

    John-117 in The Package.

  • John-117's Firefight profile image in Halo: Reach.

    John-117's Firefight profile image in Halo: Reach.

  • John in his Mark IV MJOLNIR armor in Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant.

    John in his Mark IV MJOLNIR armor in Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant.

  • A comparison between the Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary depictions of John's MJOLNIR Mark V armor.

    A comparison between the Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary depictions of John's MJOLNIR Mark V armor.

  • A render of the Master Chief in Scanned.

    A render of the Master Chief in Scanned.

  • Full-body portrait of John-117 clad in Mark VI MOD wielding an MA5D in Halo 4.

    Full-body portrait of John-117 clad in Mark VI MOD wielding an MA5D in Halo 4.

  • Close up of John-117 in Halo 4.

    Close up of John-117 in Halo 4.

  • John-117 and the rest of Blue Team on the cover of Halo: Escalation #10.

    John-117 and the rest of Blue Team on the cover of Halo: Escalation #10.

  • John with his eye revealed through his cracked visor in Halo: Escalation Issue 10.

    John with his eye revealed through his cracked visor in Halo: Escalation Issue 10.

  • John-117 in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    John-117 in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • A full-body model of John in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    A full-body model of John in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • John at age 14 after his augmentations in Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

    John at age 14 after his augmentations in Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

  • John in his original Mjolnir armor in Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

    John in his original Mjolnir armor in Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

  • A render of John-117 in Halo 5: Guardians.

    A render of John-117 in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • Another render of John-117 clad in [GEN2] Mark VI MOD in Halo 5: Guardians.

    Another render of John-117 clad in [GEN2] Mark VI MOD in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • A render of John-117 in Halo 5: Guardians.

    A render of John-117 in Halo 5: Guardians.

  • John-117 clad in Mark V in Halo: Fireteam Raven.

    John-117 clad in Mark V in Halo: Fireteam Raven.

  • John-117 clad in Mark V in Halo: Fireteam Raven.

    John-117 clad in Mark V in Halo: Fireteam Raven.

  • John clad in Project COBALT CV.117 armor on the cover of Halo: Silent Storm.

    John clad in Project COBALT CV.117 armor on the cover of Halo: Silent Storm.

  • A model of John-117 clad in MJOLNIR [GEN3] Mark VI in Discover Hope.

    A model of John-117 clad in MJOLNIR [GEN3] Mark VI in Discover Hope.

  • A render of John-117 clad in [GEN3] Mark VI in a teaser for Halo Infinite.

    A render of John-117 clad in [GEN3] Mark VI in a teaser for Halo Infinite.

  • Full body render of John-117 in Halo Infinite.

    Full body render of John-117 in Halo Infinite.

  • John in battleworn armor wielding an MA40 in Halo Infinite.

    John in battleworn armor wielding an MA40 in Halo Infinite.

  • Another render of John in Halo Infinite.

    Another render of John in Halo Infinite.

  • John sprinting and armed with an assault rifle.

    John sprinting and armed with an assault rifle.

Concept art and early builds

  • Very early concept art of John-117 for Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Very early concept art of John-117 for Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • Early concept art of John-117 for Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Early concept art of John-117 for Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • An early John-117 drawing by Shi Kai Wang for Halo: Combat Evolved.

    An early John-117 drawing by Shi Kai Wang for Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • Another in-progress design for John for Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Another in-progress design for John for Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • More final concept art of Master Chief.

    More final concept art of Master Chief.

  • More final concept art of Master Chief.

    More final concept art of Master Chief.

  • Concept art of Master Chief, equipped with a backpack Machete.

    Concept art of Master Chief, equipped with a backpack Machete.

  • The evolution of John-117 from cyborg heavy infantry to Spartan-II.

    The evolution of John-117 from cyborg heavy infantry to Spartan-II.

  • Concept art of John-117 for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.

    Concept art of John-117 for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.

  • Concept art of John's helmet for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith.

    Concept art of John's helmet for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith.

  • Concept art of John-117 upper torso for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.

    Concept art of John-117 upper torso for Halo 2 by Eddie Smith and Shi Kai Wang.

  • John-117 priming a Anskum-pattern plasma grenade on a New Mombasa highway in concept art for the Halo 2 E3 demo.

    John-117 priming a Anskum-pattern plasma grenade on a New Mombasa highway in concept art for the Halo 2 E3 demo.

  • Concept art of John-117 and Thel 'Vadam inside a Forerunner facility for Halo 2.

    Concept art of John-117 and Thel 'Vadam inside a Forerunner facility for Halo 2.

  • Halo film concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark V armor diagnostics.

    Halo film concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark V armor diagnostics.

  • Halo 3 Manual cover art variant #1.

    Halo 3 Manual cover art variant #1.

  • Halo 3 Manual cover art variant #2.

    Halo 3 Manual cover art variant #2.

  • Concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark VI armor diagnostics for a potential Halo 3 manual cover.

    Concept art of John-117 undergoing Mark VI armor diagnostics for a potential Halo 3 manual cover.

  • Concept art of John-117 in his armor in Halo Legends: Homecoming.

    Concept art of John-117 in his armor in Halo Legends: Homecoming.

  • Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for The Package.

    Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for The Package.

  • Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for The Package.

    Early concept art of John-117 in his armor for The Package.

  • Concept art of John-117 aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

    Concept art of John-117 aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

  • John-117 encountering the Flood in the swamps of Installation 04.

    John-117 encountering the Flood in the swamps of Installation 04.

  • Early concept art of John-117 in Halo 4.

    Early concept art of John-117 in Halo 4.

  • Concept art of John-117 in combat with Prometheans in Halo 4.

    Concept art of John-117 in combat with Prometheans in Halo 4.

  • Concept art of John-117 engaging a Promethean Knight at close range for Halo 4.

    Concept art of John-117 engaging a Promethean Knight at close range for Halo 4.

  • Concept sketch of John in his childhood bedroom for Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

    Concept sketch of John in his childhood bedroom for Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series.

  • Concept art of John-117 with a cloak for Halo 5: Guardians.

    Concept art of John-117 with a cloak for Halo 5: Guardians.

  • John-117 facing a horde of Sangheili Storm.

    John-117 facing a horde of Sangheili Storm.

  • Unused concept of John in a Modular exoskeleton.

    Unused concept of John in a Modular exoskeleton.

  • Concept Game Informer covers for Halo 5: Guardians featuring John.

    Concept Game Informer covers for Halo 5: Guardians featuring John.

  • Unused concept of John-117 for Halo Wars 2.

    Unused concept of John-117 for Halo Wars 2.

  • Unused concept of John-117 for Halo: Collateral Damage.

    Unused concept of John-117 for Halo: Collateral Damage.

  • Unused concept art exploration for Halo Infinite depicting John-117 in various exoskeletons.

    Unused concept art exploration for Halo Infinite depicting John-117 in various exoskeletons.

  • Early concept art of a "young Chief" for Halo Infinite, presumably intended to depict him as he was in his Mark IV armor.

    Early concept art of a "young Chief" for Halo Infinite, presumably intended to depict him as he was in his Mark IV armor.

  • Concept art of John washed up on a beach on Installation 07.

    Concept art of John washed up on a beach on Installation 07.

  • Concept art exploration for Halo Infinite showing John in various situations and poses.

    Concept art exploration for Halo Infinite showing John in various situations and poses.

List of appearances

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As John is subordinate to Naval Special Weapons, it is unlikely that he could have earned exclusive service medals from the Army, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. These medals may have been bestowed on behalf of the Office of Naval Intelligence in order to boost morale.
  2. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp originally showed John being abducted by ONI agents in the back of a van after school; he also sees his clone during the process. However, in the Scanned live-action trailer, he is seen being abducted by night during his sleep.
  3. ^ Supplemental materials that came with Halsey's journal indicate John's blood type was once O positive, but real-world merchandise in the form of John's dog tags indicate it to be AB positive. This suggests that when he was genetically altered his blood type changed.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo Waypoint - Master Chief
  2. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, p.10
  3. ^ a b c d Data Drop Five
  4. ^ a b c d e f Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition, Dossier files - John-117
  5. ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Fall of Reach – The Animated Series
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo: Escalation, issue 10
  7. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 28
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Halo 3, campaign level Halo
  9. ^ Halo 4, Prologue
  10. ^ a b c d e f Halo 4, campaign level Midnight
  11. ^ a b c d e Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Blue Team
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Guardians
  13. ^ a b c d Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level The Breaking
  14. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Reunion
  15. ^ a b Halo: The Flood, Chapter 1
  16. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, Palace Hotel
  17. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, Episode 01: A HAIRLINE FRACTURE
  18. ^ a b c d Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 2
  19. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, September 15, 2517
  20. ^ Hunt the Truth: UEG public record
  21. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 4
  22. ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, Chapter 15
  23. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, December 10, 2518
  24. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 5
  25. ^ a b c d Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 6
  26. ^ Hunt the Truth Episode 03: CRITICAL CONDITION
  27. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 8
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 9
  29. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 11
  30. ^ Halo: Silent Storm
  31. ^ Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
  32. ^ Halo: Oblivion
  33. ^ Halo 4, campaign level Shutdown (Spartan-IV banter: "I fought with you on Green Hills back in '27. I was just an ODST back then.")
  34. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, Chapter 1
  35. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition, John-117 dossier
  36. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Prologue
  37. ^ a b Halo Legends, The Package
  38. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 20
  39. ^ Halo Legends, Homecoming
  40. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 19
  41. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 32
  42. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Truth and Reconciliation
  43. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Pillar of Autumn
  44. ^ Halo: First Strike, Chapter 10
  45. ^ Halo: The Flood, Adjunct - Priority Broadcast Log/Eleventh Cycle, Third Unit
  46. ^ Halo: First Strike, Chapter 6
  47. ^ a b Halo: First Strike, Chapter 29
  48. ^ a b c Halo: First Strike, chapter 36
  49. ^ Halo: First Strike, Chapter 27
  50. ^ a b c Halo 2, campaign level Cairo Station
  51. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Heretic
  52. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Outskirts
  53. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis
  54. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Regret
  55. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Delta Halo
  56. ^ a b Halo 2, campaign level Gravemind
  57. ^ Halo 2, campaign level High Charity
  58. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Great Journey
  59. ^ Halo: Uprising Issue 1
  60. ^ Halo: Uprising Issue 2
  61. ^ Halo: Uprising Issue 3
  62. ^ Halo: Uprising Issue 4
  63. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level Arrival
  64. ^ Halo: Landfall
  65. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Sierra 117
  66. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest
  67. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Tsavo Highway
  68. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Storm
  69. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  70. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level Cortana
  71. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  72. ^ a b Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, p.129
  73. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level The Covenant
  74. ^ a b c Halo 3, Epilogue
  75. ^ Halo Legends, Origins
  76. ^ a b c Halo 4, campaign level Dawn
  77. ^ a b c Halo 4, campaign level Requiem
  78. ^ a b Halo 4, campaign level Forerunner
  79. ^ a b c Halo 4, campaign level Infinity
  80. ^ a b Halo 4, campaign level Reclaimer
  81. ^ a b Halo 4, campaign level Shutdown
  82. ^ Halo 4, campaign level Composer
  83. ^ a b c d Halo 4, Epilogue
  84. ^ Halo 4 - Spartan Ops, episode Invasion
  85. ^ a b c Halo: Escalation, issue 8
  86. ^ a b c Halo: Escalation, issue 9
  87. ^ a b Halo: Epitaph, chapter 20
  88. ^ Halo: Epitaph, chapter 5
  89. ^ Halo Legendary Crate, Data Drop #9
  90. ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace, On the Brink
  91. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, Episode 13: IN THE BAG
  92. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, Episode 10: GAG ORDER
  93. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, Episode 08: DRIP, DRIP, DRIP
  94. ^ a b Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Unconfirmed
  95. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Glassed
  96. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level, Evacuation
  97. ^ a b A Hero Falls
  98. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, campaign level Genesis
  99. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Epi16
  100. ^ a b c d Halo: Bad Blood, chapter 1
  101. ^ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sunrise
  102. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 16
  103. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 1
  104. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 2
  105. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 5
  106. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 10
  107. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 12
  108. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 15
  109. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 18
  110. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 20
  111. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 21
  112. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, Epilogue
  113. ^ a b Halo Infinite, campaign mission Ringfall: Foundation (Halo Infinite)
  114. ^ Halo Infinite, UNSC Audio log: Recovered Files #04 - The Weapon
  115. ^ Halo Infinite, UNSC Audio log: Infinity's Approach #04 - Arrival
  116. ^ Halo Infinite, UNSC Audio log: Infinity's Approach #05 - Zero Hour
  117. ^ Halo Infinite, UNSC Audio log: Evacuation #01 - Infinity Down
  118. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission The Sequence: {{{Mission}}}: ""Halsey initialized you. I was suppose to deploy you." "And you did. Right?" "Yes.""
  119. ^ Halo Infinite, UNSC Audio log: Infinity's Approach #10 - Priorities
  120. ^ a b c Halo Infinite, campaign mission Ringfall: Warship Gbraakon
  121. ^ Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere
  122. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Ringfall: Outpost Tremonius (Halo Infinite)
  123. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Lockdown (Halo Infinite): Recovery
  124. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Lockdown: The Tower
  125. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Connections: Excavation Site
  126. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Connections: Conservatory
  127. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Connections: Spire (Halo Infinite level)
  128. ^ a b Halo Infinite, campaign mission Graveyards: Pelican Down
  129. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reformation: The Sequence
  130. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reformation: Nexus
  131. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reformation: The Command Spire
  132. ^ a b c Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reckoning: House of Reckoning
  133. ^ a b Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reckoning: Repository
  134. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Reckoning: The Road (level)
  135. ^ Halo: Trial of Reckoning
  136. ^ a b Endless, campaign mission Hi: Silent Auditorium
  137. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, chapter 22
  138. ^ Halo: The Flood, chapter 6
  139. ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 26
  140. ^ a b Halo Infinite
  141. ^ a b Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 23
  142. ^ a b Hunt the Truth, S101
  143. ^ The Cost
  144. ^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #7
  145. ^ Halo 4: Didact, in-game model
  146. ^ Halo: Epitaph, chapter 10
  147. ^ Believe: Gravesite
  148. ^ GameTrailers: Making of the John 117 Monument
  149. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, April 1, 2525
  150. ^ a b c Halo: the Fall of Reach, Chapter 25
  151. ^ a b c Eurogamer: Why 343 isn't ready to show us Master Chief's face
  152. ^ a b Scanned
  153. ^ Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 5
  154. ^ Halo: Oblivion, Epilogue
  155. ^ a b Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 1
  156. ^ a b Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, p.106
  157. ^ a b Dr. Halsey's personal journal, August 29, 2552
  158. ^ a b c Halo: The Flood, Chapter 3
  159. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 27
  160. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, p.83
  161. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, extras
  162. ^ John 117's dog tags
  163. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), p.227
  164. ^ Halo: New Blood, Chapter 14
  165. ^ a b c d Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 10
  166. ^ YouTube: Halo Canon Exclusive Interview
  167. ^ Game Informer May 2012
  168. ^ Jeff Easterling on Twitter: "GEN2; in Escalation."
  169. ^ Jeff Easterling on Twitter: "Chief does have specific design from MG, but Blue Team as a whole all have WD influence :-)"
  170. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Conventional Warfare
  171. ^ Halo Infinite' render
  172. ^ Halo.Bungie.Org - Halo Legends: Polite Questions Answered Here
  173. ^ IGN.com - SDCC 09: Halo Legends In-Depth
  174. ^ a b IGN: Heavenly Halo Announced from Bungie
  175. ^ Metacritic: Halo: Combat Evolved
  176. ^ a b Computer Gaming World: Halo: the Closest Thing to the Real Thing
  177. ^ a b c PC Gamer: Your First Look at... Halo
  178. ^ a b Eric Trautmann on Twitter: Thread discussing John's name
  179. ^ YouTube: First Look: Halo 4 Forward Unto Dawn (Live Action Series)
  180. ^ Game Informer, November 2010 (Marcus Lehto: "That is in fact the Master Chief. We felt that if he were to show up anywhere, this was the place to do it. Placing him in the "hushed casket" was the one way we felt his presence in Reach would be appropriate. Anything greater than that would have diminished the importance of Noble Team, including yourself as the last remaining Spartan willing to stay behind and fight on Reach to the very bitter end."
  181. ^ 343 Sparkast #6 (Archived copy available here
  182. ^ imgur: Blue Team Perks (Halo 5)
  183. ^ Madame Tussauds: Master Chief
  184. ^ Joystiq: Master Chief crash lands into Fable II
  185. ^ Kotaku - Sea Of Thieves Adds Halo Costumes, Banana Gun

v • d • e
 
Known Spartan-II candidates
James-005 • Jai-006 • Li-008 • Naomi-010 • Leon-011 • SPARTAN-013 • Kirk-018 • Serin-019 • Daisy-023 • Robert-025 • Riz-028 • Joshua-029 • Vinh-030 • Otto-031 • Samuel-034 • Randall-037 • Isaac-039 • Douglas-042 • William-043 • Anton-044 • Keiichi-047 • Kurt-051 • Jorge-052 • Margaret-053 • Linda-058 • Malcolm-059 • Maria-062 • Sheila-065 • Soren-066 • Solomon-069 • Cassandra-075 • Arthur-079 • René-081 • Fhajad-084 • Kelly-087 • Jerome-092 • Grace-093 • Caleb-095 (not conscripted) • Musa-096 • August-099 • Victor-101 • Ralph-103 • Frederic-104 • Adriana-111 • John-117 • Michael-120 • Joseph-122 • Kai-125 • Oscar-129 • Alice-130 • Vannak-134 • Carris-137 • Cal-141 • Roma-143 • Edgar-150 • Unidentified Spartan • Beta-Romeo Actual • Red-Fifteen • Janissary James (not conscripted) • Nicole-458 • Yasmine Zaman
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