Patriotism is important for any faction of any size. Sadly, its a trait less apparent in the world today. Few too many people remember the proper method to openly express their love and pride for their nation. In the times this world faces today, we need a hero to guide us to victory; a hero to inspire us. Waiting in anguish, the world has longed for someone to focus their spirit into a positive direction. The wait is over. Due to the heroic efforts of Microsoft and Bungie Studios, a leader was born in the virtual universe of Halo. Welcome into the world, Master Chief Spartan 117. Master Chief is the international symbol for nationalism, and through his actions and attitude he guides us all to represent our colors proudly.
Many people have truly been touched by Halo's devout protagonist. Brian Baker of Beatrice, Nebraska had this to say about Master Chief, “The Generation X, Y and Z now have an alpha-male hero of their own in the Master Chief that they can relate to, or use to associate different attitudes and help instill values of patriotism. In this case, patriotism is not for just a country, but an entire planet and species. I am a very patriotic person, a veteran and a father and see the values that may hide below the surface in this Trilogy” (Baker 46). Being able to relate to the emotions and thoughts of Master Chief 117 helps people grasp his mindset of unyielding patriotism.
Faced with impossible odds, Master Chief accepts his duty as a soldier to fight for the planet he loves with no selfish thought in his mind. He has no national banner; he's too great to limit himself that way. “The Master Chief does not fight for one nation or multinational polity. Our universal solider fights for the Earth and its colonies against an alien alliance bent on nothing less that exterminating the human race” (Durant 87-93)
Millions of people depend on him to hold back thousands upon thousands of Covenant troops all while learning how to finish the fight for good. In many a battle, the United Nations Marine Corps soldiers tremble in the presence of a massive Hunter. Master Chief 117 cocks his BR55HB SR Battle Rifle and gives an intimidating “hoorah”.
John 117's enemy has always been the alien race known as the Covenant. Nearly all of his heroic battles have him pitted against this hierarchal alien monstrosity. Literally thousands of Covenant soldiers charge Master Chief when he is all by himself. To the UNSC, John 117 is sort of an instant win element in all of their battles. The only way he can accomplish this feat is if he is truly selfless. The selflessness is described by Bungie concept artist Edie Smith, “He does his job, walks off, doesn't even get the girl, he's that cool he doesn't need her” (Smith). Master Chief has no reward; he doesn't need one. All he needs is to know that his planet is safe from the harm of the vile Covenant.
Master Chief wasn't always a SPARTAN super soldier. He was a regular citizen like everyone else. Kidnapped from his home when he was a small child, John was sent to UNSC base on Reach. Injected with numerous chemicals and progressed through rigorous training missions, John developed into a leader of the small regiment of SPARTAN soldiers. After several suicide missions, John was the last of his kind. By this time, he had accumulated the Master Chief rank; the highest of enlisted soldiers. UNSC soldiers would tremble in his presence.
Master Chief arrives at Halo and saves soldiers from their escape pods. They then proceed to attack Covenant troops. Captain Keyes, the commanding officer of the unit, is imprisoned, and taken aboard the alien flagship Truth and Reconciliation. Master Chief and a few marines launch an offensive against the ship. The captain learns about the destructive nature of the structure they are on and its supreme use to the Covenant. Sergeant Johnson states, “That thing has more firepower than millions of our scorpion tanks” (Nylund 114). They have prophesized that the ring is weapon of massive power and destruction. Barely evading the Covenants on their tail, Keyes assigns John 117 to find the control room for Halo.
Captain Keyes, along with a squad of soldiers, are deployed into a bog in a search for a hidden a battle facility. Trudging deeper and deeper through a deserted facility, the battalion sees dead soldiers all around. They find themselves into a room with no exit. The group realizes what happened to all of the dead soldiers they found; tiny parasitic beings leech onto the soldiers and infect their DNA with hybrid mutant alien DNA. Although the parasites are frail and easily killed, their sheer numbers overwhelm the human forces and slaughter them all. Master Chief and Cortana retrieve the index from the control room and blow up Halo in a fiery explosion from the Pillar of Autumn's engine.
