Calel Bates

Calel Bates was a soldier who served with the UNSC Marine Corps throughout the Human-Covenant War, the last years of which he spent as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.
== Biography ==
=== Early career ===
In 2542 (February 26, 2542), Bates enlisted into the UNSC Marine Corps, returning to Reach to train. He is put in Fireteam Foxtrot of the Nineth Squad of the Fourteenth Platoon of Delta Company of the 4th Battalion of the 12th Regiment 21st Marine Division. He is joined by Private Daniel Mallery, Private Robbie Snart, Private Sam Carter, Private Michael Embrey, and Corporal Elijah Comley. He is promoted to Private First Class a year later (February 26, 2543). His first deployment is on Draco III in late 2544 (September 8, 2544) where they are put in a squad with nine other Marines. He is in his first battle against the Covenant later the next year (January 10, 2545). He and Fireteam Foxtrot all survive the onslaught, and the platoon is transferred to Arcadia afterwards. He is promoted to Lance Corporal soon after (February 26, 2545). Fireteam Foxtrot is sent to the colony Skopje to help defend it against the Covenant (August 27, 2547). Corporal Elijah Comley is killed in a firefight before the rest are evacuated when the planet is lost (November 3, 2547)). Soon after (February 26, 2548), Mallery is promoted to Colonel to replace Comley as fireteam leader. In 2549 (September 9, 2549) Arcadia is attacked and most of the platoon is wiped out, but the rest manage to escape the planet aboard one of the few transports that was able to avoid Covenant ships.
=== Later career ===
Bates, along with Fireteam Foxtrot, requested an official transfer to the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers; their request was granted three weeks later, on October 11 (2549). They were made Fireteam Foxtrot of the Seventh Squad of the Twenty-fourth Platoon of Delta Company of the 74th Battalion of the 2nd Division of the 105th Shock Troops Division. That same day, they are placed on a Corvette, the UNSC Kingston stationed at Gamma Pavonis VII. They are a part of the Battle of Gamma Pavonis VII (March 30, 2550). The next year they are stationed on Earth (November 1, 2551) and help Conor-322 train with his new prosthetic arm.
=== Fall of Reach ===
In 2552 (July 25, 2552), Bates leaves Earth and is sent to defend Reach. Bates and his squad are present during the Fall of Reach (August 18, 2552), fighting in New Alexandria. O.D.S.Ts Lou Cage and John Heston join his fireteam when their own is taken out by Banshees (August 22, 2552). During a fight with Covenant forces, Bates and Embrey are killed by a Hunter.
== Gallery ==