DOZERx8
picture ONE, i dont understand, spartan 117 could take all those elites on, how would all those spartans not make the cut? are the other spartans just ODSTs? there would have to be more detail on why master chief is the only spartan that can kill millions of aliens, and those 5+ spartans lost to 6+ elites.
This battle is right toward the end of the novel - John wasn't at this battle, he was in orbit around the planet on one of the docking stations (for reasons I dont wanna go into incase it spoils anything...) The Spartans here aren't ODST's, ODST's are sort of like SAS soldiers or Special Ops - Spartans are a lot better. The book tells us that all the ground forces were overrun by countless number of Covenant. Spartans are kick ass, but not invincible and although John seems it... not everyone has his luck. I doubt even he would have survived the attack on Reach judging from the final chapters of the novel.