S. Hartley

"Package retrieved; need immediate evac, over. Package retrieved!"

- Hartley on recovering a UNSC Laser Designator

Biography
S. Hartley was a United Nations Space Command Orbital Drop Shock Trooper during the Human-Covenant War. He was part of Alpha Team of 2BN/3U as Bravo-22 with Bravo-21, T. Rymann.

He participated in a battle on Earth, retrieving what is later revealed to be a Laser Target Designator to extrapolate Spartan-117's landing co-coordinates during the Second Battle of Earth. T. Rymann gave covering fire and then together evacuated in a Warthog. Hartley was riding in the passenger seat firing suppressing fire at the Covenant Loyalists but during this escape Hartley was hit in the abdomen by a spiker round. The Warthog was then rerouted to the nearest medic, who was in Sector Six, attached to another Marine outfit which was under heavy fire.

When the Warthog arrived at the scene, a female medic, R. Coney, attended to Hartley's wound, removing the spiker round from his abdomen, and applying what likely was biofoam. During this, his ODST comrade, T. Rymann, was killed by a Brute Chieftain with a Gravity Hammer. With the Master Chief's landing only minutes away, Hartley was able to acquire the Spartan's re-entry path using the scanner retrieved earlier and pass along the information to the rescue team. Once the Chief's position had been fixed, the order to fall back was given; Hartley was able to retreat and was last seen sitting inside the entrance to a UNSC bunker as the doors closed behind Corpsman Coney and Private Scottlee.

Subsequent Fate
It is possible that Hartley succumbs to his wounds and dies. However, seeing that he is capable to aim a Laser Designator and then make his way into a UNSC bunker without any support, it is most likely that he returned to action and fought alongside the Master Chief in other engagements.

Personality
Like all ODSTs, Hartley does not give up. After being shot, even though he is in considerable pain, he is adamant that he will complete his mission.

Trivia

 * It is a common mistake amongst fans that Hartley does not fire his weapon, but just before he is shot by an unknown Brute's Spiker, he opens fire with his battle rifle.
 * Although it is hard to hear, in Halo Combat Part 2, Rymann refers to Hartley as 'Private'.