John-117: Difference between revisions

|birth=[[2511#March|March 7, 2511]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

|species=[[Human]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

|gender=Male<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

*{{Convert|218|cm|ftin|sp=us}} {{C|with [[Mjolnir]] armor}}<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

|mass=*{{Convert|286.6|lb|kg|disp=flip}}<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

*{{Convert|394.6|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with Mjolnir undersuit}}<ref name="DD5"/>

*{{Convert|994.9|lb|kg|sigfig=4|disp=flip}} {{C|with [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V Mjolnir]]}}<ref name="DD5"/>

|eyes=Blue<ref name="H5GLED"/>

***[[SPARTAN-II program]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

|rank=[[Master Chief Petty Officer]]<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

|sn=S-117<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/>

{{quote|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 a unwinnable war.|Dr. Catherine Halsey referring to John-117.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>}}

{{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 name="HE10"/>

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 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">''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.}}  

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 name="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 name="midnight"/> 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.

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"/> In response, the UNSC declared Blue Team absent without leave and sent [[Spartan-IV]] [[Fireteam Osiris]] to recover them.<ref name="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 name="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 name="H5GG"/>

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="H5GR">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', ''[[Reunion]]''</ref>

Born on [[2511|March 7, 2511]],<ref name="WaypointMasterChief"/><ref name="H4TEVG">''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p.10</ref> 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|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 name="HTFOR2"/>}}

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 name="HtT1"/><ref name="DeathRecord">''[[Hunt the Truth]]'': [[:File:Ep 1 image.jpg|UEG public record]]</ref>

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 name="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>

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 name="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 name="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>  

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 name="HTFOR11"/>

{{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 name="HTFORTAS"/>}}

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]] ''[[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 name="GOO1"/>

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 name="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>

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 [[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 name="hcea autumn"/>

{{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 name="HFS29"/>}}

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''<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 name="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'', 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 name="HFS36"/>

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 of 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 name="h2 cairo"/>

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 name="H2 regret"/>

{{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"/>}}

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 name="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 name="H3 cortana"/>

{{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="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''<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 name="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, though was ultimately killed by John.<ref name="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 name="H3H"/>

{{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. 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 name="epi3"/>

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="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"/>

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="H4 reclaimer"/>

{{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"/>}}

With the Didact approaching Earth, planning to imprison all of humanity into digital form, John pursued the Forerunner aboard an [[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 name="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 ''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>

{{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 name="HE10"/>}}

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. 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 name="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 name="HE10">''Halo: Escalation'', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 10|Issue #10]]</ref>

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. 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 name="HE10"/>

{{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 name="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 name="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 name="HE10"/> At some point amid these operations, John and Blue Team returned to the glassed Reach to remember Sam's sacrifice.<ref name="HTFORTAS"/>

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 name="htt10"/> This false story was spread throughout the [[Inner Colonies|inner colonies]]. The media started referring to John as "'''The Fallen Spartan'''".<ref name="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 name="htt13"/>

{{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"/>}}

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 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 name="h5 blue team"/>

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 name="AHF"/>

{{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="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="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 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="H5GTB">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level [[The Breaking]]</ref> 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="H5GG"/>

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="BB"/>

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 name="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 name="H5GG">''Halo 5: Guardians'', campaign level [[Guardians]]</ref> 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. Also the Arbiter reassured the Chief in his support in the coming fight against the Created. The next day, the humans left the planet for a rendezvous with the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} near [[Suban]], one of the moons of Sanghelios.<ref name="BB">'''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''', ''Chapter 1''</ref>

In [[2559#December|December 2559]], John took part in huge conflict between the UNSC and the [[Banished]] on Halo [[Installation 07]]. Led by Jiralhanae war chief, [[Escharum]], the Banished managed to overpower, scatter and ultimately defeat the UNSC forces on the ring.<ref name="HICGP"/> John himself ended up floating lifelessly in space above Halo for months, saved only by his armor's survival mode. He was presumed dead by the Banished.<ref name="HIgameplay"/>

On May 28, John and the pilot crash-landed on the damaged Halo ring, being shot down by [[Banished anti-aircraft cannon]]s. While the pilot stayed behind in crashed Pelican, the Chief proceeded to assault AA guns. After dealing with guards, John made his way to one of the cannon's control room where he was contacted by [[Escharum]], who openly challenged the Spartan for a fight. <ref name="HICGP"/>

Some time later the Chief found himself in Halo's control room where he presumably came in contact with Cortana.<ref name="DH"/>{{Ref/Note|In ''[[Discover Hope]]'' [[Cortana]]'s voice is heard while John walks toward the blue light in the control room, extolling John's uniqueness and their partnership. Whether or not this voice-over strictly corresponds with the scene in question canonically is undetermined.}}

{{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"/>}}  

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 name="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 name="HTFOR22">''Halo: The Fall of Reach'', Chapter 22</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="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.

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="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, 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 name="H5GTB"/>

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"/>

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. Blue Team also willingly followed John when he chose to go AWOL.

{{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="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 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]]. 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="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="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 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 name="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.<ref name="H4R"/><ref name="H4S"/>

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="H3H"/>

{{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="HTFORTAS"/>

[[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">''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'', ''April 1, 2525''</ref>]]

{{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 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 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 name="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 name="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 name="HO1"/> John eventually grew to six feet and ten inches and massed at precisely one-hundred and thirty kilograms (286.6 pounds).<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="HTFORTAS"/><ref name="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 name="midnight"/>]]

John has earned additional scars in battle which cover his body, including one that runs across his cheek beneath his left eye.<ref name="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 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">''Halo: the Fall of Reach'', Chapter 25</ref><ref name="EurogamerInterview"/><ref name="HTF3"/> 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">''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 name="H4R"/> Cortana and Catherine Halsey both consider him somewhat attractive in a "primitive animal sort of way".<ref name="HTFOR25"/> Crow's feet and other wrinkles are plainly visible on his face, giving him the visage of a relatively older man.<ref name="h4 epilogue"/><ref name="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: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]'', 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 name="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>

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">''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 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"/>

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 May 2012''</ref> 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.<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/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-conventional-warfare ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Conventional Warfare]</ref> His visor was once again cracked by Spartan Jameson Locke on [[Meridian]].<ref name="H5GU"/>

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 name="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 name="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 name="PCGamer"/> Screenshots showed multiples of the armored soldier that would eventually become John-117 existing in the game world simultaneously.<ref name="PCGamer"/>

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 name="TwitterTrautmann"/>

*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 name="HTFOR5"/> In September of [[2525]], when he was fourteen, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class before the mission to [[Eridanus Secundus]].<ref name="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 name="HSS23"/>