User:Shortkid808/SPARTAN-A216

"This is SPARTAN-216, signing out."

- RJ-216's last words to Star Union Team (Over-COM).

Commander RJ-216 was a SPARTAN-III commando of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. He was one of the 7 SPARTAN-IIIs that worked alone during the Fall of Reach in 2552. He was then transferred to a new SPARTAN-III commando team, Star Union Team.

Childhood and Early Career
RJ was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Earth on August, 29, 2525. He was first conscripted into the SPARTAN-III program's Alpha Company in 2534, and, after an unknown amount of training, joined Eagle Strike Team at the rank of Lt. Commander, under the leadership of Commander Brandon-248. He also shares a special bond and relationship with Lieutenant Monique-231, as they were two of the five SPARTANs that made it out of Alpha Company. Both SPARTANs were also in Eagle Strike team at the time.

Later Career
On October 17th, 2550, Commander Brandon-248 led Eagle Strike team on a recon mission in Hawaii, put together by the Commander himself, to recon local Insurrectionists attempting to destroy a UNSC Frigate. The mission was successful, but injuring the team's Special Operations Officer Lieutenant Jessica-317. Although sustaining minor injuries, she was back on Eagle Strike Team a few days after. After the mission, RJ abandoned the team, nowhere to be seen later that next morning. A week later, the members of Eagle Strike team abandoned the team as well and headed their separate ways, and Eagle Strike Team was terminated by UNSC officials.

Fall of Reach
Throughout this tragic event, RJ-216 was asked to aid many SPARTAN-III commando teams in many various operations and was later promoted to the rank of Commander. He and two other SPARTAN-IIIs were also promoted on Reach Station Gamma during an awards ceremony. Many other UNSC Personnel were also promoted as well during the event. RJ aided UNSC troops in many missions prior to the events during the Fall of Reach such as the Battle of Viery, the Raid of New Alexandria, and the Battle of Aszod. He served as a Sniper Unit during these events.

Battle of Viery
His first operation was in Viery. He aided fellow UNSC troops on an attack. The Warthog that he drove crashed into a ditch, killing the gunner and severely injuring the passenger on impact. A Troop Transport Warthog had then picked up the SPARTAN and the injured trooper, and transported them to the rendezvous point, given to them by a UNSC Grafton personnel. The troopers were transported by a Pelican dropship and RJ was transported through a UH-144 Falcon.

As a gunner of the Falcon, RJ provided air support for troopers on the ground. He was also asked to defend two SPARTAN-IIIs that were inside Spire One, as he was outside, from any Covenant forces that were anywhere near the Spire's shields. After the two SPARTANs inside of the Spire deactivated its shields, the pilot of RJ's Falcon was ordered to retreat, along with other inbound aircraft, so that the UNSC Grafton could destroy the Spire. RJ witnessed the destruction of the UNSC Grafton, as a Covenant Supercarrier destroyed the frigate.

Operation: UPPERCUT
RJ-216 was later transported to the Sabre Program Launch/Research Range in Farkas Lake. He was being briefed for the next mission. He was to pilot a Sabre in space and help destroy the Covenant Supercarrier, the Long Night of Solace. As the facility was under attack, RJ was to help defend the facility until a SPARTAN-III commando team arrived.

After the team arrived, he and a lot of other YS-1000 Sabres took off into space, in Reach's atmosphere, and arrived at the UNSC Anchor 9. RJ's job was to defend Anchor 9 from invading Covenant Space Banshees, Seraphs, and Phantom Gunboats, in which he accomplished, along with UNSC allied forces. He then docked the Sabre with Anchor 9 and was ordered to go to the UNSC Savannah, which was also docked with Anchor 9. Later, the Savannah and the escorting Sabres took off to another part of space.

Once arrived, a Covenant Corvette was at sight. RJ's job was simple, only to defend the frigate from incoming fire. After an amount of time, the frigate, in which he was in, started to fall apart. RJ took a Pelican dropship and entered Reach's atmosphere, and the frigate was then destroyed, with all hands lost. Once entered, RJ arrived at New Alexandria, in which a raid was starting.

Raid of New Alexandria
In New Alexandria, Eposz, RJ flew the Pelican to a nearby rooftop. Once he landed, the SPARTAN-III searched, unarmed, around the top floor, only to find deceased bodies of civilians. The SPARTAN then found and picked up a M392 DMR and continued to search the building for any survivors. He succeeded in finding survivors, but then the building was then struck by a plasma torpedo by a Covenant Corvette in the sky of the city. He managed to both escape the collapsing building and save the all the survivors in the top floor. RJ then flew the Pelican to a local UNSC Base Camp to drop off the survivors.

Many hours later, RJ served as a high-rise sniper unit. He was stationed on the top floor of the Olympic Tower. He had a near-death experience, as a Banshee shot its Fuel Rod Cannon, nearly hitting him. He was later evacuated ot of the building, due to the glassing of the Covenant CCS-Battlecruisers.

Battle of Aszod
He then piloted a D77-TC Pelican Dropship to the Aszod ship breaking yards and provided sniper cover for the Pelican dropships that were transporting a Mass Driver Cannon to a building balcony near Platform D.

With the support of a Mass Driver, piloted by SPARTAN-B312 "Noble Six", he and a few other SPARTAN-IIIs and SPARTAN-IIs escaped the planet Reach before being glassed with it. He was then put into cryo-sleep for the time being.

Installation 04
Abroad the UNSC Halcyon-class cruiser UNSC Pillar of Autumn, he and a SPARTAN-II commando emerged from their cryo-chambers. The other SPARTAN was debriefed at the Bridge of the ship, while RJ went through an armor repairment. RJ was then ordered to meet Captain Keyes on the bridge for debriefing. The Autumn was engaged by multiple covenant ships during the debriefing. Keyes ordered RJ to evacuate any remaining personnel left on the ship while he was to land the ship on the unidentified ring. The SPARTAN-III then used a Bumblebee Escape Pod to land on the ring.

Once on the ring, RJ was left unarmed with no help. He then noticed another escape pod and proceeded towards the pod. As he arrived, a Type-25 TC Dropship escorted by two Banshees were already on scene, attempting to find any survivors aboard the pod. The SPARTAN waited out the Covenant troops and proceeded to the abandoned pod, only to find no survivors. RJ then grabbed a MA5C ICWS Assault Rifle and four M9 HE-DP Grenades, and then proceed to onwards to explore the unknown lands of the ring.

After fighting through multiple waves of Covenant forces, the SPARTAN was later confronted by a Zealot-class Sangheili with a Type-1 Energy Sword. The SPARTAN quickly eliminated the Sangheili and took its Banshee. In the air, RJ witnessed the crash landing of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and piloted the Banshee to the ship's crash site. Once there, he checked the ship to see if there were any survivors. At the cryo-chambers, he was reunited with his fellow teammates and friends, Monique-231 and Jessica-317. Monique was injured, due to the fact that the cryo-chamber failed and was shut down during the crash landing, and Jessica tryed to revive her. The SPARTANs stayed with their fellow teammate and, for many hours, were forced to leave the ship because of a malfunction of the ship's engines. RJ and Jessica did not want to leave her behind and decided to carry her the whole way to the hangar. The SPARTANs took a GA-TL1 Longsword-class Interceptor and piloted it.

Journey to Earth
In space, RJ noticed a cryotube and retrieved it on the way. The cryotube contained another SPARTAN-III and another fellow friend of his, Brandon-248. RJ's former leader was responsive and helped with the medical procedures of reviving Monique-231. In many hours and attempts, she was revived. The three SPARTANS were later confronted with a UNSC Frigate and docked their Longsword in the ship's hangar bay.

Abroad the frigate, the three SPARTANS were ordered to the ship's bridge ASAP for debriefing. After many days of traveling through space, the frigate arrived at the planet Earth. The frigate arrived in Mombasa, Kenya in which a battle has already begun.

Battle of Mombasa
"SPARTANs, you guys are a team now. Now get out there and help our troops!"

- The Ship's Captain ordering the SPARTAN-IIIs (Over-COM)

"Yes sir!"

- The SPARTAN-IIIs acknowledging the Captain (Over-COM)

Covenant forces already glassed part of Mombasa and the UNSC were not winning. The ship's Captain ordered RJ-216, Brandon-248, Monique-231, and Jessica-317 to evacuate the ship and aid friendly troops on the ground, thus becoming a team, the Star Union Team. Although not an official team, Commander RJ-216 was the team leader, Commander Brandon-248 was Back-up leader, Lt. Commander Monique-231 was Second in-command, Warrant Officer Jessica-317 was the Special Operations Officer, were ordered to take a Pelican dropship and assist troubled troops. After fighting through amounts of Covenant forces the SPARTANs were ordered to rendezvous with UNSC troopers at the end of the New Mombasa Waterfront Highway. About halfway there the Star Union team was blocked by multiple CCS-Class Battlecruisers, attempting to glass the surrounding area, and RJ was forced to land their Pelican on the highway.

The team then found a M12G1 LAAV and proceeded along the highway with it. The SPARTAN were nearly there until two Type-52 TC Dropships deployed multiple Covenant troops and a Type-26 AGC. Eventually, the trio defeated the Covenant reinforcements and proceeded along the highway to the rendezvous point.

At the rendezvous point, the SPARTANs assisted friendly UNSC troops to defend the area until their Pelican arrives. And, after fighting off multiple waves of Covenant forces the Pelican arrived and airlifted the SPARTANs and remaining troopers. The dropship then arrived at the docking-station for the Quito Space Tether and "rested" there for the time being.

Battle of Tsavo
Commander RJ-216 participated in the Battle of Tsavo, as well as Commander Brandon-248, Lt. Commander Monique-231, Warrant Officer Jessica-317, and the team's recent member, Special Operations Officer Warrant Officer Lacey-383. The Star Union team's mission was to assist any UNSC ground forces from the air. Like always, RJ piloted the Pelican to anywhere troops may be.

After many treacherous firefights, Covenant forces were pulled back to their ships. The Covenant ships, along with a Forerunner Dreadnought with the Prophet of Truth held inside, were heading through an unknown portal. UNSC forces and Covenant Separatists grouped together and headed through the portal as well.

Battle of Installation 00
On the other side of the portal, a tremendous space battle occurred with the Covenant Loyalists, Covenant Separatists and UNSC forces. Star Union Team were ordered to head down to the Forerunner Installation, which revealed to be "The Ark", by Pelican, as well as many other UNSC troopers and SPARTANs.

On The Ark, RJ-216 ordered Star Union team to split into two groups and were to meet up at the rendezvous point. Already at the rendezvous point was the UNSC Frigate UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, which was hovering over the rendezvous point. RJ picked up the two SPARTANs on the ground and docked the dropship in the Dawn's Hangar Bay.

Later the same day, RJ-216 and the rest of the team were ordered to rescue a stranded UNSC trooper squad before escaping The Ark. RJ took a modified D77H-TCI Pelican, which had upgraded armour, a stronger jet propulsion, a much more upgraded chin-mounted turret (an extremely compact version of this turret), a much more upgraded wing-mounted missile turret (en extremely compact version of this missile battery), and a compact rear facing Gauss Cannon in the rear cargo hatch. Before he took off, he attached a Troop Transport Warthog, with an extended roll cage cargo/troop bay and a portable machine gun turret, to the hoist of the modified Pelican.

A few miles away from the extraction zone, RJ detached the TT Warthog from the hoist and ordered Brandon-248, Jessica-317, and Lacey-383 to drive the modified Troop Transport to the extraction zone. The three SPARTANs picked up the remaining troopers and were ordered to follow the Pelican piloted by RJ-216 to the Frigate. Before reaching the Frigate, RJ attached the Warthog to the dropship's hoist and docked it in the Hangar Bay. The Frigate then took off into space leaving The Ark.

Journey Back to Earth
As the Frigate was leaving The Ark's atmosphere, the Installation started to destroy itself, along with the replacement Halo ring in it. The Frigate then headed back into The Portal back to Earth.

Aftermath
At Voi, Earth, RJ attended the Hillside Memorial and was honoring all the UNSC soldiers and SPARTANs that helped him survive the war. After the memorial, RJ ordered the whole team, including himself, to engage in a 21-gun Salute, in an honor for the SPARTANs that saved his whole team.

The next day, Commander RJ-216 flew a Pelican, holding Star Union Team, back to Honolulu, Hawaii, Star Union Team's hometown.

Traits and Personality
RJ-216 was a rather quiet, but hard-working SPARTAN-III Supersoldier. He is unlike other SPARTAN-IIIs because his quietness leads him to completing objectives better than any other SPARTAN can do. On the other hand, when he is talkative he doesn't complete his objectives with as much expectations. His pin-point eyesight also makes him one of the most accurate snipers amongst the SPARTANs.

RJ is part Filipino and part Spanish. He doesn't speak [as] fluent of his Filipino language (Ilocano), and he never speaks Spanish. The only time he speaks Filipino is when he is around people of his ethnicity. When he greets someone that's not his ethnicity, he would say "My name is Ritchie". In Ilocano, he would say "Iti naganco ket Ritchie" ("My name is Ritchie"). Like other SPARTANs, he doesn't mention his middle or last name.

Equipment
RJ wore a MJOLNIR Mark V Scout helmet, the Tactical/Patrol chest piece, Sniper shoulder piece for his left and right shoulder, FJ/PARA knee guards, and Tactical/UGPS as his supplementary forearm armor. His weapon of choice was a modified Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Matériel with an easy removable nozzle and barrel, outfitted to hold smaller ammunition and regular ammunition.

Vehicles
RJ owned three particular vehicles. He owned one of each Pelican variant. A D77-TC variant and a D77-TCI variant, both personally modified by RJ himself. He also owned a modified UH-144 Falcon, which had upgraded armour, stronger and faster side turret and nose turret ammunition, upgraded jet and rotor propulsion, and a compact searchlight near the nose turret. He also owned a modified M831 Troop Transport Warthog, personally modified by himself. His TT Warthog had reinforced body armour, a slightly extended Roll Caged Cargo/Troop Bay, and a portable AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun Turret in the back of the vehicle. It also had a Bull Bar in the front of the vehicle.

All vehicles had a colour combination of Black, White, Yellow, and/or Red.