2517

2517 was a year in the 2510s in the 26th century. It was a very important year for the United Nations Space Command, as this marked the initiation of the candidate procurement and training of the SPARTAN-II program, which would eventually give birth to some of humanity's greatest heroes.

June
June
 * Jacob Keyes graduates UNSC OCS as Lieutenant, JG.

July
July 21
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey initiates the screening process for SPARTAN-II candidates. Vice Admiral Michael Stanforth provides her with the diplomatic shuttle Han and Lieutenant, JG Jacob Keyes as a requisite pilot and attaché. Halsey goes on to survey candidates in Sector 4 while her team does the same elsewhere in the colonies.

August
August 17
 * Dr. Halsey and Lieutenant Keyes meet 6-year-old John, candidate #117, on Eridanus II. John passes a test conducted by Halsey and is unknowingly accepted into the SPARTAN-II program. Over the course of the next month, the 75 SPARTAN-II candidates across the colonies are assessed by either Dr. Halsey or her team. Some time after the screening, the children are kidnapped and replaced with flash clone duplicates.

September
September 10 September 15 September 17 September 21 September 23 September 24 September 25 September 28
 * On Sansar, Naomi Sentzke is conscripted for the SPARTAN-II program and replaced with a flash clone.
 * On Imber, Kelly Shaddock eludes Retrieval team Gamma for six hours but eventually comes forward, thinking abduction is a game for her birthday. Her near-escape results in the implementation of new retrieval protocols to avoid further mistakes.
 * Dr. Halsey and Jacob Keyes part ways after screening candidates for the SPARTAN-II program. Afterwards, Dr. Halsey has Jacob Keyes promoted to full Lieutenant and reassigned to the.
 * Jacob Keyes and Dr. Halsey part ways again after finishing the collection of information on all the candidates for the SPARTAN-II program.
 * The 75 children kidnapped for the SPARTAN-II project are brought on Reach and conscripted into the SPARTAN-II program per Naval Code 45812.
 * The 6-year-old SPARTAN-II trainees awaken for their first day of training. They are led by Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez and are introduced to the AI Déjà.
 * The cargo vessel is boarded and seized by the Eridanus rebels.
 * John, Kelly, and Sam become friends during their second "Ring the Bell" training exercise.
 * The SPARTAN-II candidates receive haircuts. Kelly-087 disarms the master sergeant barber of his clippers; three attendants are required to pin her down and shave her head.

December
December 7 December 24
 * John-117's flash clone dies.
 * Dr. Halsey receives a report on the unexpected longevity of the SPARTAN-II flash clone replacements and assigns Codename: JACKBOOT to track their further progress.