John-A222

"Spartans don't fight to survive. They survive to fight."
 * - John-A222

Commander John-A222 was a SPARTAN-III commando of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. He served extensively throughout the Human-Covenant War, becoming a decorated veteran. John was the leader of NOVA Team, an elite squad of SPARTANs that was deployed numerous times since its creation in 2546. John's call sign in the team was Nova One. He served directly with the UNSC Navy, but with unspecified collaboration with the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Childhood and SPARTAN-III training
"John is advanced, even among his peers. He has what it takes, and I do not want to see that wasted."
 * - Kurt Ambrose to Franklin Mendez

John was born in 2526 on the humany colony of New Harmony to a family of Greek descent. As a child, John was thin with dark brown hair and eyes. From early on, he displayed a superior intelligence to that of his peers which benefitted him greatly in his later career as a soldier. John was conscripted into the SPARTAN-III Program in 2531 as part of the program's Alpha Company. During training, he exhibited advanced reflexes and natural leadership ability, proving himself to be one of the top candidates. John trained along with the other SPARTANs of Alpha Company at Camp Currahee on Onyx under Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose, a SPARTAN-II. They were declared active in November of 2536. The SPARTAN-IIIs of Alpha Company fought during the Insurrection of Mamore and participated in the Battle of New Constantinople. It was at this time that John truly distinguished himself as a skilled soldier and leader. His actions earned him the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. John was pulled from his unit, along with an unknown number of other candidates, by Kurt-051 and Franklin Mendez before Operation: PROMETHEUS in 2537. He and the other reassigned SPARTANs received more advanced equipment, including MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, in order to make their combat ability comparable to that of the SPARTAN-IIs.

Early military career
At some time during 2538, John began secondary training as a pilot and received standard medical training, but the extent of this training is unknown. He was deployed several times from 2540 to 2543 for unknown reasons, but received a promotion to Lieutenant during this period. These and several later deployments are suspected to involve ONI and are listed as classified on John's official service record. John engaged in defensive operations during the Battle of Miridem, during which Dr. Catherine Halsey was taken hostage and later rescued by a team of SPARTAN-IIs led by John-117. In 2546, when Sargasso was attacked by the Covenant, John-A222 was deployed to aid in its defense. It was at this battle that UNSC forces first encountered the Type-46 Spectre ISV. John managed to acquire significant intelligence regarding the vehicle and was subsequently given the rank of Lieutenant Commander of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. Unfortunately, the UNSC efforts failed as Sargasso was later glassed. During the same year, NOVA Team was created as a special operations team of SPARTAN-IIIs. John was assigned as its leader and took pride in the team, stating that it was an "effective unit". His battlefield actions and strategic command quickly earned him the respect of his squadmates.

In the next few years, John's team fought in the Battle of Skopje and the Siege of Paris IV. The SPARTANs aided in defensive and evacuation efforts on both fronts and John received a promotion to Commander sometime thereafter in 2549. During July 2552, NOVA Team was deployed on a high priority mission to Sigma Octanus IV with the objective of material retrieval or destruction in the cities of Caracas and Enfield. It is unknown what objects were recovered, although they were likely some of the various artifacts located on the planet. Concurrently, SPARTAN-IIs were on the surface, with John-117 and Blue Team engaging Covenant forces at the Côte d'Azur Museum of Natural History. With the detonation of a HAVOK Nuclear Warhead, the SPARTAN-IIs destroyed the museum and the Covenant forces in the area. In early August, John-A222 and his team were deployed along with multiple other SPARTAN fireteams to Casbah during the Battle of Tribute where they engaged in counter-assault operations. One of the other fireteams remained planetside to hold off Covenant assault forces but were eventually overrun and killed.

Fall of Reach

 * Main article: Fall of Reach

After the discovery of a Covenant advance force by NOBLE Team in late July 2552 and several engagements, sixty percent of the UNSC Fleet was recalled to Reach to aid in its defense. NOVA Team was among the reinforcements scheduled to arrive by August 15. John assisted in the evacuation of New Alexandria after the Covenant initiated an aggressive raid on the city. As the metropolis was later glassed, John and his men were evacuated to an underground ONI bunker along with NOBLE Team and other UNSC personnel. During their deployment, NOVA Team engaged in numerous defensive and counter-assault operations throughout Eposz. In the final days of the Battle of Reach, John's team was one of the several that defended the shipyard and pipelines in Aszod. The SPARTANs held off Covenant forces as the remnants of NOBLE Team transported a high priority package to the dry-docked Pillar of Autumn. As the UNSC defenses weakened, NOVA Team was withdrawn along with the remaining SPARTANs.

Defense of Earth

 * Main article: Battle of Earth

John was deployed to Earth in September 2552 where UNSC forces began to fortify for a final stand against the Covenant. The first Covenant force, led by the Prophet of Regret, arrived at Earth on October 20. After deployment, John and other UNSC forces engaged in New Mombasa by means of intense urban warfare. The fighting was constant until the Covenant Assault Carrier, Solemn Penance, made a sudden slipspace jump above the city, devastating the ground below. John continued to help resist the Covenant ground forces even as hostile reinforcements arrived. He engaged in defensive and counter-assault operations against the new Jiralhanae-led invasion force. After the loss in Mombasa, John was relocated, fighting across a variety of fronts in North America, Europe, and Australia. From October 25 to November 17, he fought in Athens, Sydney, New York City, and Geneva as the Prophet of Truth's fleet arrived. During the Battle of Installation 00, John persisted with the rest of the UNSC forces until the fighting relented on Earth.

Traits and Personality
John is known to be a serious and intelligent SPARTAN, always thinking tactically on the battlefield. He has grown accustomed to his status and often exhibits his leadership. As a leader, he has a strong contempt for disrespect and mistreatment. John appreciates receiveing due recognition, but sometimes gets frustrated if he is looked down on or ignored. Regardless, John shows great pride in being a SPARTAN. During the Human-Covenant War, he came to recognize the Sangheili as formidable opponents and exhibits great respect of them. This being said, he never hesitated to kill during engagements. John also seems to be compassionate toward the Huragok given their passive nature, and shows disgust for Jiralhanae.

John possesses a dry and often sarcastic sense of humor. He is known to remain calm under fire and almost always completes his tasks efficiently. Regarding his fellow SPARTANS, John harbors great respect and sees each of them as one of man's greatest advances. He cares for his squadmates and does everything in his power to help them be content.

Given his heritage, John seems to be fluent in the Greek language. It is believed that his ancestors lived in the country of Greece on Earth. For this reason, the insignia of a Greek Spartan helmet is displayed on John's armor.

Equipment
John's preferred weapons are the MA37/MA5C Assault Rifle, M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, SRS99-AM Sniper Rifle, and the M319 Individual Grenade Launcher although he has shown profficiency with the majority of UNSC weapons. He is also capable of using Covenant weaponry when the combat situation demands it. His armor is supplemented with MJOLNIR Active Camouflage (AV-CAM).

John wears MJOLNIR Mark V armor and a Recon helmet. Typically, his helmet is known to feature a UA Blast Shield, a gold visor, and a 3rd Generation External Hardened Uplink (HUL) for MILINT acquisition. The rest of his armor consists of a Collar/Breacher chestpiece, K-variant (Commando) right shoulder pauldron, Recon left shoulder pauldron, and FJ/PARA knee guards. His armor also features a MC5 Individual Data Net/Terminal (TACPAD) on the left forearm and a combat knife near the left shoulder. John is known to keep a Tactical/Trauma Kit as part of his utility. John's armor is Sage (Olive) with Steel (Charcoal) as a secondary color. The image of a Greek Spartan helmet is desplayed on his chestpiece.