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.

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 Junior Grade 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
 * At 0430 hours; Dr. Catherine Halsey and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jacob Keyes wake from cryo champers on the Han as it arrives near Eridanus II, and discuss the plan to meet a child on the planet.
 * At 1130 hours; 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.

September
September September 10 September 11 September 14 September 15 September 16 September 18 September 21 September 23 September 24 September 25 September 28
 * On Sansar, Staffan Sentzke sneaks into his house red-and-white wrapping paper for his daughter Naomi Sentzke's birthday.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey selects the final seventy-five candidates for the Spartan-II tells the "Dumb" Artificial intelligence Déjà to give the order to kidnap them for Spartan-II program.
 * At around 1700 hours, on Sansar; Staffan Sentzke and Lena Sentzke prep for their daughter Naomi's birthday, while she is heading home from music practice. During the ride home, Naomi heads off the bus early and is conscripted for the SPARTAN-II program, and Staffan and Lena worry about where she went.
 * At 2005 hours, the local police on Sansar are hunting for Naomi using canine unit and the Pelican unit.
 * At around 0600 hours on Sansar; the flash clone of Naomi is found at a bus stop southwest of New Stockholm.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey prepares the Spartan-II program Candidate record on Carris-137.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey records in her journal that every Spartan-II candidate exceeded the selection criteria.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey records in her journal that on Imber, Kelly Shaddock eluded 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.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey prepares the Spartan-II program Candidate record on Kurt-051.
 * Dr. Catherine Halsey prepares the Spartan-II program Candidate record on Caleb Aagard.
 * 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.

November
November 4
 * John-117 had a picoliter of blood drawn for testing.

December
December 7 December 24
 * At 0901 hours; 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.

Unknown
Around seven weeks prior to August 17, 2552
 * Jacob Keyes graduates UNSC OCS as Lieutenant, JG.