Spartan Rangers

The Rangers of the "SPARTA" Order (Russian: Орден «СПАРТА») are a group of elite, battle-hardened soldiers that roam the wasteland, consisting of the most skilled and deadliest warriors in the whole Metro. The Rangers move individually or in small units, helping settlements, as well as fighting bandits and mutants. Some also appear to guard and protect Polis.
After the events of , the Spartan Order has been split into two groups: the group that follow the Aurora Crew out of Moscow to , and the remaining ones in the Metro.
==Background==
The origin of the Rangers is unknown, but some of the members may have been soldiers from the or from the before the nuclear apocalypse. They may also have been mercenaries or some sort of other armed forces. However, it's known that they have been operating in the Metro since the Great War of 2013. The group has always been led by Mel'nik, who is often referred to as "The Colonel". The Rangers have also always been the guard and military force of Polis. However, they also act independently.
Rangers seem to be greatly feared by the bandits, Reds, and Nazis alike. In the level "Dry", a conversation between a few bandits near the rails can be heard. One bandit mentions how a lone Ranger single-handedly took out large groups of men and how nothing in the tunnels can stop them. The bandit also mentioned that they might not even be human because of their fighting skills. Upon questioning him, the bandit reveals that the group was killed by a "lone Ranger" outside Riga station - the same bandit outpost taken down by Artyom when he was travelling with Bourbon. Also, in the first stage of , a Nazi officer mentions that the Fourth Reich normally doesn't interfere with the business of the Rangers.
== Bases ==
The Spartans maintain a large number of bases and outpost throughout the Metro. In both the Metro 2033 and , their main base is Polis. However, after the discovery of D6 in Metro: Last Light, they make their main base there. The Rangers maintain two permanent bases located in churches on the surface, both known as Sparta. One is located near the station, and the other near station. After the Battle for the Bunker and during the events of 2035, the Rangers moved their permanent base to Smolenskaya station, close to Polis, and to Arbat, where Mel'nik has set up his HQ.
== Description ==
=== Tech & Equipment ===
What the Rangers lack in number, they make up for in technological standards and are considered to be the most technologically advanced in the whole metro system along with Polis. Most of them were soldiers and technicians before the 2013 apocalypse, giving them an advantage in understanding various pieces of equipment. Pre-war weapons are maintained by the most skilled gunsmiths the Metro can offer, giving them a over a Bastard. While the Rangers have a superior armory over any in the metro, their mechanics also make sure that they have a steady supply of well-maintained vehicles, both rail within the Metro and off-road on the surface. Due to their alliance with Polis, they also are able to understand a lot of pre-war scientific knowledge about technology or biology, since D6 and Polis are only two stations able to analyze and understand the bio-weapon unleashed by the Red Line.
=== Uniform ===
Throughout the games, the Rangers wear a distinctive set of uniforms. In Metro 2033, almost all Rangers, except Vladimir, are seen wearing a uniform consisting of a heavy sherpa lined jacket, combat trousers, combat boots, heavy chest armor, spalders, and the iconic Ranger helmet. This uniform is usually dotted with ammunition pouches, med-kits, knives, and a few rangers wear it with a hood.
In Last Light and Redux, the Rangers' armor has had a drastic change, the only thing remaining the same being their combat helmet. The rangers use a mix of dark blue jumpsuits with armored vests, and an urban-camouflaged body armor. The distinctive helmet is also sometimes used in conjunction with a Russian K6-3 helmet, balaclavas, and woolen caps. Artyom and Anna are both seen wearing the hazard suit. Also, several Rangers, including Artyom, are seen wearing the heavy suit as well.
=== Military Forces ===
On terms of the Rangers' tactical methods, they are geared towards specializing in multiple uses of weaponry. The Rangers maintain and keep their infantry the strongest. The group uses more frontline riflemen tactics though exceptions exist. The group contains an elite sniper squad, one member being Anna, and a small demolition squad as seen in D6. While the Rangers have a wide variety of skilled specialists, they act mainly as an infantry force.
=== Strength ===
The Order has approximately 100 combat-ready members, mostly due to them only taking in the best of the best. This is very small, even compared to Reich standards. What they lack in size, however, they make up for being the greatest warriors in the whole Metro. They are the best of the best; a frequent comparison is five Red soldiers being equivalent to one Ranger. One Ranger in D6 asks another Ranger what their strength is, guessing around 200. It is possible that the Order has more than 100 people, but some may be dedicated specialists such as technicians and engineers, wounded rangers, and members deployed elsewhere, meaning that there is roughly 100 combat-ready members that can be drawn upon, but there are more in total.
In , Miller states that the Order had significant losses after the Battle for the Bunker, with only 59 Rangers surviving. After secretive negotiations, Hanza gave the order dozens of potential recruits, taken from their various special forces and elite units. Recruitment whittled them down to only 50 men, outstanding enough to join the ranks of the order. In the year 2035, the Order's full strength is 108, "including orderlies", and minus Artyom after he left the order.
== Appearances ==
=== Metro 2033 ===
The first Ranger Artyom encounters during the course of his journey is his step-father's friend, Hunter. Hunter has come to Exhibition because of reports of telepathic mutants attacking the station. He, Artyom, and Artyom's step-father, Alex, defend the entrance to the hospital against several waves of nosalises. After the battle, Hunter leaves and tells Artyom that if he doesn't return to Exhibition, Artyom must deliver a message to Polis. He then hands Artyom his Ranger Token, an enameled dog tag, and tells him to find Miller in Polis. He never returns, and in the game's canon is presumed to be dead or missing.
Artyom himself had been addressed as "Ranger" a couple of times during the game. The first takes place if Artyom rescues a group of Red soldiers captured by the Fourth Reich on the battlefield between the Red Line and the Fourth Reich. One will say "We heard there was a Ranger in the vicinity, good work". The second occurs when Artyom returns Sasha to his mother. Before Artyom walks to the surface, one of the soldiers bids him goodbye by saying "...good luck to you, Ranger".
Artyom encounters many Rangers, and much evidence of their work along his journey in the game. Hunter's message to another ranger named Red can be found near the end of "Dead City 1". The message talks about heading to Exhibition with some heavy gear, to try and help fight against the coming threat.
One man named Khan, who is affiliated with the rangers, guides Artyom to the armory. Khan has a different outlook on the situation compared to that of the other rangers. He doesn't believe the Dark Ones, mutants, or anomalies are evil, they are just now what the world is, and that humanity should move on with them.
The next group of rangers Artyom meets are Pavel and Ulman, who save Artyom from being executed by two Nazis. Ulman leaves the group, while Pavel and Artyom head to Polis. Pavel, however, does not survive the trip. Artyom meets up with Ulman later on and they reach Polis
At Polis, Artyom meets Miller, the leader of the rangers. After failing to gain support from the Polis Council, Miller and Artyom decide to find D6. Miller, Artyom, and Danila head towards the library to find the location of D6. On the way, Danila is injured and must be taken back to Polis, while Miller leaves Artyom on his own to find the documents leading to D6.
When Artyom leaves the library with the D6 dossier, he is confronted by a librarian, but before it could attack Artyom, Miller and Ulman showed up in an armored car, and run it over. They take Artyom to Sparta where Artyom meets the remainder of the rangers: Boris, Vladimir, and Stepan, along with Khan and three unnamed rangers.
Together the Rangers and Artyom travel to D6, and though citing a few casualties in their numbers, are able to get D6 functioning enough to send a missile to the botanical gardens. On the surface, Miller and Artyom encounter more Rangers, while they are all ambushed by watchers and demons. Barely making it out alive, the two make their way up Ostankino Tower where they launch the missiles at the Dark Ones.
=== Metro: Last Light ===
The Rangers (now known as The Spartan Order) of Metro: Last Light have changed very little. Outfitted with new armor with the signature "Спарта" (Sparta) written on the upper back of their uniforms, the Ranger forces have occupied D6 and fortified it into their new permanent base, although they don't have full control over the facility and many of the parts remain locked or unexplored. D6 is now more extensively shown, with the living quarters of the Rangers and Artyom, gyms, an armory, and mess hall. The Rangers now move about more quickly around the Metro, using the secret Metro-2 system for quick transport. While the Rangers pose as a key faction in Metro: Last Light, they don't share in nearly as much action as they did in Metro 2033. The Rangers are depicted prominently early in the game, as the rightful holders of D6, as well as later in the game in Sparta Base, and as a party in the Polis peace conference; but the Rangers are featured most predominantly at the very end, in the battle for D6 against the Red Line. The game's two endings serve as the deciding fate of the Rangers. In the C'est la Vie ending, the overwhelmed Rangers are forced to sacrifice themselves as martyrs, and destroy D6 so that the Red Army inside cannot get their hands on samples of a potent bioweapon. Conversely, in the Redemption ending, the tides turn at the darkest moment, and instead of throwing the detonation switch, the Baby Dark One appears with his kin and helps turn the tide of the battle for victory, but at great cost to their numbers.
== Members ==
Name 	Description
Artyom Chyornyj 	One of the youngest members, Artyom unofficially becomes a Ranger when Hunter gives him his first mission to get to Polis and find Mel'nik. After helping locate and secure D6, he is recruited into the order on the spot by Mel'nik. He is chosen for his natural fighting skill and marksmanship abilities. In the novels, he leaves the Rangers to settle down with Anna. In the video games, he is either chosen as the Rangers' commander after the Colonel's death, or killed in action after completing the mission into the Novosibirsk Metro.
Mel'nik 	Founder and leader of the Sparta Order of Rangers, he is ex-Spetsnaz. Killed in Action during the mission into the Novosibirsk Metro.
Hanter 	A high-ranked Ranger, he's considered the Colonel's "right hand man". Assigned to investigate the Dark Ones at Exhibition Station. Missing in action after setting off from Exhibition to track down the Dark Ones that were presumed to have attacked the station's outer guard.
Ulman 	A higher-ranking Ranger. Often teamed with Artyom. Killed in Action during the Battle of D6.
Pavel Zorin 	Killed in Action while escorting Artyom through a nosalis nest.
Stepan 	One of the Rangers assigned to the mission to secure D6. Former Russian military radio operator. Killed in action during the mission to D6.
Boris 	One of the Rangers assigned to the mission to secure D6. Killed in action.
Vladimir 	A former member of the Russian military, technical expert and later quartermaster of D6. A veteran ranger who is part of the team sent to locate and secure D6. After the Sparta order relocated their HQ to D6, he is reassigned and promoted to the unit's quartermaster.
Danila 	A lower ranking Ranger assigned to the team sent to the Moscow Library. Wounded in Action.
Aleksandr Krasnov 	A Ranger Captain assigned to Polis.
Anna Mel'nikova 	The daughter of Mel'nik. The Order's best sniper and sole female member.
Alex 	D6 airlock guard. Seen at the start of Metro: Last Light.
Vadim 	D6 airlock guard. Seen at the start of Metro: Last Light. He is the Ranger who radios in the door code.
Lesnitsky 	Guard. Assigned to the stockpile of biological weapons stored within D6. In actuality, he is a deep cover agent working for the Red Line.
Tomilin 	Squad Commander. Sent to help Hansa at the infected station during the events of Metro: Last Light.
Su 	Stalker. Assigned to the team sent to scavenge the Moscow Library.
Bar 	Stalker. Assigned to the team sent to scavenge the Moscow Library.
Kuzmich 	Stalker and armorer. Assigned to the team sent to scavenge the Moscow Library.
Shaman 	Stalker and artefact expert. Assigned to the team sent to scavenge the Moscow Library.
Ivan 	Squad Leader. Present at the Ranger meeting at the start of Metro: Last Light. Seen outside the D6 control room. He talks about Miller's ideas of taking back the surface.
Arseniy 	A Ranger seen outside the D6 control room. He talks about the prospect of war and the numbers of the Red Line.
Herman 	Control room door operator. One of the Rangers posted at the D6 facility.
Sanya 	A Ranger posted at the church base. He talks with the gun merchant about contacting St. Petersburg and the survivors at the nuclear power plant in northern Russia.
Letyaga 	A veteran Ranger seen in Metro 2035. A friend of Artyom, who fought in the battle for the Bunker.
Nigmatullin 	A new recruit taken from Hanza after the order's losses during the battle for the Bunker.
Yurets 	A new recruit taken from Hanza after the order's losses during the battle for the Bunker.
Lyokha 	A new recruit from Riga after being made a member of the order in 2035. A companion and ally of Artyom.
Stepan 	Heavy weapons specialist. A ranger who took part in the Battle of D6, not to be confused with the stalker of the same name who appears in the first video game only. He returns in Metro Exodus as a member that escapes the Metro aboard the Aurora.
Sergei/Idiot 	Field tactician. Considered the Colonel's "right hand man" after the Battle of D6. Second in command of the Rangers aboard the Aurora seen in Metro Exodus.
Samuel Taylor 	The Colonel's personal body guard. A member of the team aboard the Aurora in Metro Exodus. A former U.S. Marine (Lance Corporal) and U.S. embassy security guard. Recruited by the Colonel after being rescued from a lynch mob. The Order's only non-Russian member.
Igor Dukov 	Scout. A young member of the Rangers and first to volunteer to join the Aurora crew in Metro Exodus.
Alyosha 	Scout. Part of the team aboard the Aurora in Metro Exodus. Former Polis guard.
Damir 	Field Medic. Member of the team aboard the Aurora in Metro Exodus. A Kazakhstani born member of the Rangers.
Tokarev 	Technical expert. Part of the team aboard the Aurora seen in Metro Exodus.
Andrei Ivanovich Yermak	Chief engineer of the Aurora seen in Metro Exodus. Recruited and informally inducted during the escape from the Metro. Formerly worked for Hanza until helping two Rangers escape.
Red 	Mentioned by Hunter in a hidden tape in the English dub (a possible reference to the character from the novel , a precursor to and therefore Metro 2033).
Ivan Petrovich 	The guard captain of Polis, mentioned by one of the soldiers at the airlock.
Romanov 	The sole survivor of the swamp ambush, he is found alone at the church base by the rescue squad, but refuses to talk or eat anymore after his experience.
Korneyev 	A high-ranking ranger stationed at D6. He is given the orders to set the bunker to self destruct.
Petr 	A Stalker from the library, reported to have owned a pair of night vision goggles. Only his corpse is found.
Grisha 	A Stalker from the library, reported to have owned a "crossbow". Only his corpse is found.
Scalp 	A Ranger Sentry at Exhibition. Mentioned in a conversation with three Rangers in D6. Was found shot in the head with the main suspects being Nazis.
Rost 	A Ranger Sentry at Exhibition. Mentioned in a conversation with three Rangers in D6. Was found shot in the head with the main suspects being Nazis. One ranger mentions it was Rost's birthday just a week prior.
Blizzard 	A D6 Forward guard. He, or his squad, are codenamed Blizzard and warn Miller of the advancing red threat.
Styopa 	A Ranger mentioned by Artyom in Metro 2035.
Timur 	A Ranger mentioned by Artyom in Metro 2035.
Prince 	A Ranger mentioned by Artyom in Metro 2035.
Mikhailych 	A Door operator in D6, heard briefly on the radio to Vadim.
==Trivia==
* In both the game and book series, it had been mentioned that the Rangers are an "Order". In Metro Exodus, it's revealed that the order was formed specifically by Miller as a continuation and preservation of the Spetsnaz.
** In Metro 2034, it's noted that the punishment for betraying "the order" is considered to be "worse than death". This is never alluded upon in the game, despite one of the main plot elements in Metro: Last Light consisting of hunting a traitorous Ranger.
** It's confirmed in Metro: Last Light that there are ranks within the order. This is shown in the English dub, when Melnik addresses a Ranger as "Sergeant".
===Novel===
* Hunter described his order of Stalkers (Rangers) as "" circling around Moscow's metro system.
* When Artyom is being saved from the savage cannibals, several of the Stalkers wore dark-brown trench coats, similar to Hunter's uniform. This could be a way for the rangers to identify rank: ones with the trench coats are veterans, ones without could be new recruits.
===Video Games===
* Rangers are equipped with the best weapons and armor the metro can offer. Their arsenal at Sparta Base is quite extensive, containing "latest military equipment with outrageous costs in blood".
** They are also known for using MGRs on their primary weapons, though in-game, Boris used dirty rounds on his VSV.
** Rangers are the only faction that use the Kalash 2012 (except for Metro: Last Light, where the weapon can be found on Red Line soldiers).
* In the live-action short "Enter the Metro", the Ranger in the film looks similar to how the Stalkers are described in the novel, than the in-game model.
* It appears that the Rangers allow those outside of the original military to serve in their ranks. For example Ulman, who was ten when the world ended, and Artyom who was allowed in the Rangers after helping Melnik's squad with the Dark Ones.
* Ranger armor can be purchased for an Xbox Live avatar for 320 Microsoft points.
* One piece of equipment that most Rangers don't possess during the events of Metro 2033 is proper camouflage clothing. During the time the surface was frozen, many of the Rangers seem to be wearing faded woodland camo. When the snow is starting to melt and a lush green swamp starts to form, some Rangers are seen wearing urban camo, such as Noch 91M (Kamish urban) or GOROD-1 camo. This may be due to the fact that D6 held unique weapons and armor that the Rangers immediately utilized.
** This is most likely due to the fact most monsters hunt through non-visual means, making camouflage redundant as protection. Camouflage would also be useless in tunnels where there are few places to hide, and be a poor choice on the surface when compared to the need for NBC suits to protect against radiation hazards.
* In Metro: Last Light, although the camouflage version of their uniforms seem to be used as the non-camo uniforms, Rangers only wear their non-camo uniforms during the battle of D6.
* In Metro Exodus, Melnik states that the actual name of the Order is the "Joint Special Operations Forces Squadron of Moscow". Their name as the SPARTA Order is presumably just to masque their real purpose. Although, after realizing that the Russian Army no longer exists, he only refers to them as the Spartan Order.
==Licensing==
This article contains content derived from the "Spartan Rangers" article on the Metro Wiki, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
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