Editing Avery Johnson (section)

===Human-Covenant War===
====Reassignment====
After the incident, Johnson came home and found his aunt dead of natural causes, and soon went on a massive drinking binge. He started a brawl with bouncers at a [[Dog and Pony|Chicago club]], and ended up in a gutter until he was found by [[Downs|Lieutenant Downs]], a [[UNSC Marine Corps]] [[Enlistment Officer|recruiter]].{{Ref/Reuse|CH2}} He was reassigned to the planet Harvest by [[Jilan al-Cygni]].{{Ref/Reuse|CH7}}

Officially, Johnson was reassigned to train the [[Harvest militia|Colonial Militia]] on Harvest, but their actual mission was to create a covert anti-insurgency unit, and to lay an ambush on insurgent forces suspected in the disappearances of DCS freighters around [[Harvest]].{{Ref/Reuse|CH5}}

Johnson met [[Healy]] as he came to Harvest.{{Ref/Reuse|CH4}} After the man tried to get drinks and women instead of heading straight to where they were ordered, Johnson angrily confronted him.{{Ref/Reuse|CH5}}

Upon meeting [[Byrne]] again in the barracks shortly after arriving, he was confronted on why he didn't take the shot to kill the Insurrectionist. Johnson tried to explain that he didn't want to hit the child she was holding hostage, and apologized for the loss of Byrne's squad. This did not deter Byrne from starting a brawl. Initially, Johnson had the upperhand, nearly choking the larger man into unconsciousness with a belt, but was kicked in his unprotected groin, stunning him for a few moments. Before Johnson could recover, he was grabbed by the throat and lifted off the ground. Byrne rebuked Johnson, before Captain Ponder entered. Ponder threatened to shoot Byrne if he did not release Johnson, forcing Byrne to do so. Ponder warned the two marines that if they wanted to take any anger out on each other, this was the last time they could do so. Johnson refused at first, but after being punched by Byrne, he swung so hard that the other Staff Sergeant's tooth was knocked from his mouth, coming to rest by [[Healy]].{{Ref/Reuse|CH5}}

Johnson began training the marines not long after.
{{stub|section=yes}}

[[File:SSgt Avery Johnson, UNSC Marine Corps.JPG|left|thumb|300px|Staff Sergeant Avery J. Johnson and the [[Harvest Colonial Militia]] during the Covenant's attack on the planet.]]
====First Contact====
{{References|section}}
{{Main|First Battle of Harvest}}
However, while lying in wait on a bait freighter, he and Sergeant Byrne, who was also assigned to the position, fought and defeated four [[Kig-yar|bird-like extraterrestrials]] in the first official battle between the UNSC and the alliance of alien species known as the [[Covenant]]. Johnson demonstrated exceptional bravery during the battle, succeeding in eliminating the initial enemy Kig-Yar contacts and pursuing the Kig-yar [[Shipmaster|Shipmistress]] (the final survivor of the boarding) into her ship. He subsequently survived the ships detonation of the ships [[Unngoy]] methane suite at the hands of the Kig-yar ship mistress's plasma pistol.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH8|CH|Chapter=8}} His survival was secured thanks to Sgt. Byrne's quick evacuation of Johnson before the ship and the situation onboard was lethal.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH10|CH|Chapter=10}} Following first contact, Johnson and Byrne were both involved in the training of Harvest colonial militia, despite being held to secrecy regarding first contact, both sergeants did their best within their restrictions, and only revealed the alien threat (and its potential scope) when it was imminent.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH13|CH|Chapter=13}} The recruits during the briefing on the alien threat were privileged to witness the battle through the suit cameras of Sgt. Johnson vacuum-rated battle armor, the recruits were obviously impressed by the Sergeants courageous attack on the Covenant ship, and most were emboldened to fight. Johnson and Byrne (with the rest of the Harvest colonial militia) were present at the initial negotiations between the [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] and the [[human]]s. Their initial plans coordinated with al-Cygni were spoiled as they expected the same aliens as they faced during first contact (Jiralhanae instead of Kig-yar) and misjudged the circumstances surrounding the 'ideal' true first contact. This was due to the Brute ship, Rapid Conversion, finding the survivors of the destruction of the Kig-yar ship, and as such, decided to prod at Harvest. As such, it was the only ship to initially attack Harvest following the incidental first contact. They fought Brute Chieftain [[Maccabeus]], his nephew [[Tartarus]], and several [[Unggoy|Grunts]] during their first formal contact. He aided [[Staff Sergeant]] Byrne and ONI operative [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cdr.]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] in repelling the [[Jiralhanae|Brute]] ship ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' long enough to allow most of the planet's population to escape into the [[Tiara]], a station attached to seven different space elevators stationed on the planet. Following the battle of Harvest, he would become romantically involved with al-Cygni after escaping from the planet. Although Johnson and al-Cygni seemed quite taken with each other it is unclear whether they formed a relationship, or how long it lasted.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CHE|CH|epilogue}}
{{stub|section=yes}}

====SILENT STORM====
{{Main|Operation: SILENT STORM}}
On [[2526#March|March 7, 2526]], Johnson was called to a meeting on the {{UNSCShip|Everest}} with [[Vice Admiral]]s [[Preston Cole]] and [[Michael Stanforth]] as well as Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]]. With the war with the [[Covenant]] getting desperate, the three discussed options and revealed that they wanted Johnson, as a veteran of the [[First Battle of Harvest]] and a member of the [[ORION Project]], to be a part of whatever solution they came up with. Based on his own experiences on Harvest, Johnson offered his opinions on the various Covenant races he had encountered. Johnson was informed of the existence of the [[SPARTAN-II]]s and their enhanced abilities. As the Spartans were only fifteen, Stanforth felt that they needed a sergeant to help lead and teach the Spartans, albeit one who wouldn't give orders. Though disgruntled about being effectively made into a babysitter, Johnson agreed to take up the role.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS4|HSS|Chapter=4}}

Johnson subsequently took part in Operation: SILENT STORM, a counterattack against the Covenant aimed at buying humanity time to develop effective countermeasures against their seemingly unstoppable enemy.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS4}} During [[Task Force Yama]]'s slipspace journey to their [[Biko|first destination]], Johnson began working with the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]] of the [[21st Space Assault Battalion]], also known as the "Black Daggers." At first, the marines had proved to be no match for the Spartans during their training exercises, but that changed when Johnson introduced new and unorthodox strategies. While the Spartans continued to outclass the individual ODSTs, victory was no longer certain when facing large numbers that now knew how to coordinate an effective assault. Four days into the training, [[Colonel]] [[Marmon Crowther]] had the Spartans and the entire battalion of Black Daggers gather to be briefed on his plan to board and destroy Covenant vessels. When Crowther presented a plan that made poor use of the Spartans' abilities, [[John-117]] spoke out and Johnson backed him up, helping to convince the colonel to consult with John before making his decision.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS5|HSS|Chapter=5}}

====Battle of Seoba====
{{Main|Battle of Seoba}}
Arriving at [[Seoba Ice Quarry|the ice quarry]] on [[Biko]]'s [[Natural satellite|moon]] of [[Seoba]] that had been selected as the staging point for their mission, Johnson was positioned in the troop bay of the {{UNSCShip|Ghost Song}} alongside John-117 for a practice deployment set up by Colonel Crowther. However, it was discovered that insurgents aligned with the [[Biko Independence Army]] were occupying the quarry already.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS7|HSS|Chapter=7}} With the insertion no longer a drill, [[Ghost Flight]] maintained its approach vector and began to drop off its first detachments of Black Daggers, which were immediately torn to shreds by enemy [[M41 Vulcan|weapon emplacement]]s. John disobeyed orders and jumped from the [[prowler]] before his designated time, knowing that he would withstand the fire long enough to take out the nearest bunkers. After John and [[Blue Team]] had softened up the insurgents, the ODSTs and Johnson deployed with little difficulty. Shortly afterward, Johnson regrouped with the Spartans in the shadow of a derelict [[mass driver]] as they formulated a plan to destroy a convoy of insurrectionist [[Civet]]s climbing out of the quarry to repair a communications relay that had been damaged during the insertion run.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS8|HSS|Chapter=8}} The convoy was eventually destroyed by [[Lieutenant]] [[Nelly Hamm]]'s ODSTs and the quarry was taken.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS10|HSS|Chapter=10}} A day later, Johnson was summoned by [[Captain (NAVCOM)|Captain]] [[Halima Ascot]] for a debriefing in the quarry's [[Assembly Chamber 4L430]]. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss what went wrong during the operation and what led to Alpha Company's unusually-high casualties. Ultimately, the conversation turned to the Spartans and their qualifications, which then led to a discussion about their true ages. It was revealed that they were only fifteen at the time, giving Crowther a reason to sideline them for the rest of the operation. Then, the group began to discuss the insurgents' seeming preparedness to defend the quarry. John-117 suggested that they had been waiting for the Covenant, not the UNSC. Just then, [[Bloodstar Flotilla|a Covenant flotilla]] arrived in-system. Johnson and the others rushed out of the room to prepare for battle.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS11|HSS|Chapter=11}}

The entire 21st Space Assault Battalion was loaded onto the prowlers of Task Force Yama, with Captain Ascot's {{UNSCShip|Starry Night}} and the rest of [[Night Flight]] receiving the last company.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS13|HSS|Chapter=13}} Johnson was among the Black Daggers who boarded the ''Starry Night''.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS15|HSS|Chapter=15}} As Night Flight prepared to launch, the alien flotilla began bombarding their berth within the quarry. Ascot was alerted of this, and she ordered the four prowlers to launch immediately. Before it could clear the edge of the quarry, the ''Starry Night'' was struck by the bombardment,{{Ref/Reuse|HSS13}} sending it crashing into the quarry's terraced ice walls, coming to a rest halfway up a fresh avalanche of ice.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS14|HSS|Chapter=14}} The prowler was heavily damaged, with its bow ripped off and the rest of its fuselage crumpled and warped. Johnson—now with a concussion—and four ODSTs survived the crash, but Captain Ascot and the rest of the crew were killed.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS15}} Because no other units were available to check on the status of the downed ''Starry Night'', John-117 diverted his Spartans to search for survivors.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS13}} By the time they reached the prowler, [[Worthy Silence|a]] Covenant [[intrusion corvette]] had already arrived to recover the human stealth vessel for study, deploying [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]]-equipped infantry to secure their prize. To delay them and also bring the ''Starry Night'' down to the quarry floor, John had [[Blue Team|his team]] fire just below the prowler with their [[M301 grenade launcher|grenade launcher]]s, causing another avalanche.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS14}} This allowed [[Fred-104]] to lead a team into the ''Starry Night'', secure Johnson and the other survivors, and prepare the vessel's [[Fury tactical nuclear weapon|nuclear]] [[self-destruct]] system. The Spartans fought off Covenant boarders and the concussed Johnson "guarded" the ship's escape pod as [[Linda-058]] finished arming the [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]]. With it set to detonate in thirty seconds, Fred led his two fellow Spartans, the ODSTs, and Johnson into the ''Starry Night''{{'}}s escape pod and ejected into the moon's low gravity. With everyone clear of the blast radius, the nuke blew, destroying the prowler and the corvette that had been drawing it upward via [[gravity lift]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS15}}

====Working with Crowther====
Johnson was still recovering from his concussion the next day, [[2526#March|March 20]], when he attended a funeral service for the two-hundred-and-three UNSC men and women killed at Seoba. The ceremony was held in the {{UNSCShip|Vanishing Point}}{{'}}s command hangar as it skulked in high orbit over Biko. After [[Ojombo|a chaplain]] gave the eulogy, [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Hector Nyeto]]—Task Force Yama's de facto commander following Captain Ascot's death—had Johnson call the two formations of the honor company to attention, order the hangar crew to raise the [[AlON pressure barrier|pressure barrier]], and then open the outer hatch. Johnson performed these duties with the appropriate pomp, and the capsules were lifted out into the void of space by the decompression wave. Nyeto saluted and recited the Committal he had prepared, having Johnson close the outer hatch and dismiss the honor company once he had completed his brief speech. Most of those present filed out of the hangar, only leaving the six Spartans well enough to attend and a few senior officers. When Nyeto promised to John-117 that he and his compatriots would continue to see action despite their young ages, Colonel Crowther contested this, saying that the Spartans reported to him. In response, Nyeto reminded Crowther that he now reported to ''him'', and that Admiral Cole surely knew about their unique situation before assigning them to the operation. What followed was a heated debate that ended in Nyeto conceding to Crowther after being threatened with a report to a UNSC board of inquiry.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS16|HSS|Chapter=16}}

As the remaining personnel departed from the hangar in a shocked silence, Johnson was joined by Crowther on the walk back to the Black Daggers' quarters. Crowther apologized to him for having that exchange in front of everyone, but he told the colonel that he had seen worse. Truthfully, Johnson had never seen two commanding officers openly threaten each other with career ending charges like that. He also warned Crowther that his disagreement with Nyeto was not a "pissing match" he was going to win, as it had been decided far above his pay grade that the Spartans were ''not'' children and that they were the right fit for the mission. Crowther surprised Johnson by agreeing with this sentiment, saying that the young supersoldiers had saved them at Seoba and that they were ready for battle. He then revealed that he was suspicious of Nyeto and his strange attitude toward the Spartans. It had seemed to him that Nyeto had purposefully stalled in supporting them during the previous day's battle. As such, Crowther wanted to keep the Spartans away from Nyeto until he figured out what was going on. Inwardly, Johnson agreed that he had similar suspicions about the lieutenant commander. To keep the Spartans away for a time, Crowther informed Johnson that he was sending them on [[Battle over Etalan|a mission]] to sabotage the Covenant's supply chain at [[Etalan]].{{Ref/Reuse|HSS16}}

Despite Johnson being ordered to get some rest and let the effects of his concussion subside, Crowther sent him to visit Blue Team in one of the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s maintenance hangars later that day. At this point, [[Fleet of Inexorable Obedience|a Covenant fleet]] had arrived and begun its assault on Biko, and the Black Daggers had been deployed to attempt boarding operations. When Johnson strode into the hangar still in pain with a hangover-like headache, he was dressed in blue light-duty utilities and a pair of boots. After John and Fred asked him how he was feeling, Johnson asked Blue Team if they were just going to sit in the hangar all day bellyaching and watching the battle from a distance. John told him that's all they could do with Crowther standing in their way. With that, Johnson informed them of their new mission from the colonel. The Spartans—especially Linda-058 and [[Kelly-087]]—were skeptical given Crowther's apparent past attitude toward them. Johnson leveled with them and admitted that the secrecy was warranted given the suspicions surrounding Nyeto. While the Spartans had their own suspicions of the lieutenant commander, John presented the possibility of Crowther using this mission to Etalan as a way to eliminate them—the Black Daggers' primary competition. Johnson admitted that the idea had never crossed his mind, but that it was possible. However, he asserted that the only way to determine if the mission was a setup would be to accept it. With this, John agreed.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS17|HSS|Chapter=17}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{{stub|section=yes}}

====Battle of Zhoist====
{{Main|Battle of Zhoist}}
During the attack on [[Zhoist]], Johnson was stationed on the [[prowler]] {{UNSCShip|Ghost Song}} with Crowther and waited on the flight deck as backup for Crowther to relieve Hector Nyeto of command when he revealed his true colors. After Nyeto tried to betray Sierra Force to the Covenant, Crowther made his move to relieve Nyeto of his command and arrest him for [[treason]]. However, the entire Ghost Flight turned out to be Insurrectionists loyal to Nyeto and the bridge crew turned on Johnson and Crowther, killing Crowther. Johnson killed the sensor operator, Crowther's killer and fled, single-handedly taking down seven Insurrectionists on board the ''Ghost Song''. However, Nyeto blew the Black Daggers, who were all wearing sealed assault armor, into space. To stop Nyeto's plot, Johnson briefly activated his [[distress beacon]], drawing the Covenant's attention to Nyeto and ultimately forcing the [[Treason|traitor]] to flee into slipspace. Having realized what Johnson was up to, John managed to keep Sierra Force from giving away their posi