BANANA KING 312

BANANA KING 312 is a seasoned member of the HCC, having first joined the community in the early days of Halo: Reach. Arguably more recognized from his association with Halo Machinima, he started his career in the United Nations clan soon after its move from Halo 3. Throughout his clan career he would go on to take part in many clan battles, while finding himself equally comfortable at the debate table. Banana acknowledges the simple truth that in order to defeat an enemy, you must know them. Currently, Banana serves as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, providing counsel and support to growing clans while also upholding justice in an ever quarreling community.

HCC Introduction
BANANA KING 312 joined the United Nations clan on April 11, 2011 after having discovered their numerous recruitment videos on YouTube. Although he would come to realize this was likely not the best time to do so. After contacting UN officials, he was directed to bobachops for boot camp. Struggling with crouch jumping in the beginning, he would grow proficient to the point of recommendation from his instructor for United Nations Army Ranger tryouts. Banana was invited to meet with current UNAR leader dustinthewind, however this meeting did not go as planned, for dustinthewind suspected Banana of joining as a spy. This was of course not the case, but an unknown player with low gamerscore and very few friends joining in the midst of the UN - GGC war would raise anyone’s eyebrows. It was deduced that Banana was no spy, and he was allowed to proceed with his training.

Following UN boot camp, Banana eagerly joined the United Nations Air Force, having high aspirations to become an effective combat pilot. Though soon after his induction he decided the UNAF was not for him, and joined the United Nations Army. However this would also be brief. Banana was summoned to speak with ShadowSniper172, who was accompanied by the recently appointed UNAR leader Panther 130210. It turns out dustinthewind had betrayed the UN, and was openly antagonizing UN personnel.

Under new leadership, Banana was sent to confront these aggressors alongside 13 and his followers. They successfully drove off dustinthewind and his forces, neutralizing the threat. Following this Banana was offered the chance to join the UNAR, which he gladly accepted. Passing the initial screening he started what would become a long career of special forces/intelligence work.

Early UNAR service
Having recently come from Third Delta, Panther 130210 and his followers filled the ranks of the UNAR. An already tight knit group, Banana was a bit of an outsider. However, his loyalty and steadfast thirst for knowledge earned him respect and acceptance. He took on the training laid out for him with humility, and in doing so became a proficient operator. This wouldn’t last unfortunately, as 13 saw fit to withdraw from the UN. His followers from Third Delta went with him, creating Third Echelon. Left with only a few peers, it would seem someone needed to step up. Banana had no intention of becoming a leader of any sorts. Having joined the UN with the desire to fly with its Air Force, he now found himself leading training and recruiting for the United Nations Army Rangers. Shadow took note of this, and saw fit to promote Banana from Privateer to Sergeant. Not long after he would make the jump from Sergeant to 1st Lieutenant. Banana took in several new members on top of what remained after 13’s departure. Rangers under the leadership of Banana during this time would include the likes of TYRANTxREAPERx, hking99, LTFraq, Kidd38, aaron10167, UN Phoenix, Ragin Moose 45, and lx DrAgoNz xl.

Banana would look back on this time as a defining chapter in his clan career, a confident step forward. Though he never would’ve anticipated where the next step would take him. The UNAR had grown, new maps were being made, its members were proficient in their specialties, morale was high. However things were about to change drastically. Shadow invited Banana to a private chat, matters regarding the UNAR needed to be discussed. It was Shadows intent to dissolve the UNAR, assimilate them into the UN army, and at a later date members could attempt to join a new special forces division.

Shocked and heartbroken, Banana found himself pacing aimlessly on the new UNAR HQ. This map was special to Banana, as all the current members had helped in its creation. Dealing with this sudden state of disarray, he was invited to talk to an unexpected account. Panther 140110, right hand to 13, took in the situation and got Banana in contact with 13. There he was offered a new opportunity, to join Third Echelon and become a Panther himself. With all that he had built being taken away, he woefully accepted this chance at a new start.

Third Echelon and early Republic of Halo
One of the first things to change was his gamertag, this would mark the only time Banana deterred from his otherwise unchanging moniker. For his time in Third Echelon he was Panther 230310. He chose to specialize as a sniper, and proceeded to undertake more advanced marksmanship training. Many more changes were to come. One thing Banana immediately noticed about Third Echelon that set it apart from the UNAR was the alignment. Whereas the United Nations was the bastion of peace and upholding good morals, Third Echelon had its own agenda. A shroud of darkness surrounded its members, and for a time Banana embraced it. He undertook further training with 13, sharpening his ears and tongue in tandem with his combat prowess.

Banana took part in multiple operations laid out for Third Echelon personnel. Few questions were asked if at all, his loyalty was absolute. Banana enjoyed his time in Third Echelon, he’d come to respect and admire his fellow Panthers. Despite this sense of fellowship, he felt some of the actions Third Echelon were performing were not in keeping with his own morals. This came to a breaking point when Third Echelon entered a conflict with the Spartan Brotherhood. Banana couldn’t shake the feeling it was wrong, he needed out. Taking his leave from Third Echelon, he sought out his former rangers. The UN had changed, ShadowSniper172 had left, and the ripple effect this caused resulted in many of Banana’s associates to be in different places. Rather than return to the UN, Banana saw fit to make his own clan. He founded a clan with the goal of aspiring to the reputation of the United Nations. Honoring his old mentor, he named this clan in a similar fashion to one of Shadow’s older clans. With old and new friends behind him, the Republic of Halo was born.

New beginnings
Though it was meant to emulate the United Nations, ROH was a very different clan. Four branches, four directors, Banana wanted equal say amongst all the leaders despite himself being the founder. The Army would originally be led by JacKINATOR1998, a former member of the UN army. However he would later be encouraged to leave the ROH altogether by I8I Grizzly I8I (Kidd 38). The means through which this was achieved were less than admirable, but the army needed a leader, and Grizzly was quite satisfied to take the role.

The ROH Air Force (later Navy) would originally be led by N0W 0R N3V3R, though after his departure the position would be filled by his second-in-command, Pwnlegend54. The Military Police seemed to constantly shift in leadership, though it would often come back to Warchild1914. Lastly would be Banana’s very own ROH Rangers. Several members of the UNAR would reunite with Banana such as TYRANTxREAPERx, Ragin Moose 45, hking99, and lx DrAgoNz xl. Notable newcomers included PhoenixGhost56, DarkNinjaAssain, and xShadowfeind69x.

The Republic of Halo would see many battles, but few wars. At one point being labeled on a HCC world map as comparable to Canada. “Keeping an eye on the community, but mostly keeping to themselves”, a fair description. ROH made alliances but scarcely interacted with other clans, thriving on internal activity. Notable clans ROH would do battle with over the years would include Section 12, UNF, Forsaken Eternals, UAF (under sideshow bob) as well as dealing with troublesome community figures like Snugbag. The first and strongest generation of the ROH would stand for over a year. However all good things must come to an end. As was such for the ROH, and at what would seem to be a most opportune time for expansion. With the release of Halo 4, and the mass migration (albeit brief for many clans), the timing couldn’t have been worse for the foundations to come crashing down on Banana.

Halo 4 and the downfall of ROH
A new platform often meant new beginnings for the HCC, and Halo 4 appeared to provide no deviation from that standard. Banana saw fit to take this as an opportunity to reorganize the Rangers training regimen. Spending many an hour forging and testing the new assets Halo 4 had to offer. While Banana spent his time building and testing, Grizzly too had gotten busy. However his work would once again be less than admirable. A new website was created for the clan, undisclosed to Banana. Upon discovery the first thing he noticed was the Christmas season newsletter. Amongst the standard recruiting influx and internal activity schedule, another article had been published that didn’t fit the holiday spirit. A challenge, calling out Banana for spending too much time forging, rather than training with his rangers. This article went so far as to question his capabilities as a director, and the possibility of new leadership altogether. Taken aback by this brazen rebuke, Banana went to confront the articles publisher. This led him to a meeting that had gone unannounced to Banana, though he would come to find out he was expected to appear. The rest of the lobby clad in white armor, Banana walked into the meeting confused and concerned. Entering the hall he was greeted by none other than Grizzly, his former right hand in the UNAR, and a dear friend. He would not soon forget the first words spoken in this infamous meeting. “Welcome Banana, please have a seat, we’re choosing the new Ranger leader”. Words failed him, the meeting dragged on like the slow methodical turn of a dagger, his faith and trust in his friends ebbing away like blood from an open wound. Grizzly had garnered the support of the Military Police in tandem with his own branch, which was also the largest. Unable or unwilling to utter the words, Pwnlegend54 gestures to Grizzly to show his support, as well as to who they had planned depose him. Daedari had been selected as their new Ranger leader. Banana was offered a lower officer position, salt in an already festering wound. He left ROH, and soon after the clan fell apart.

Return to the UNAR & Machinima
ROH would come and go a handful of times, ranging in different levels of legitimacy. It was after the fall on Halo 4 that Banana would find himself returning not only to an old game, but an old clan as well. The United Nations was back, with Blackrose FTW as it’s leader. Originally intending to stop this new generation from starting, he was convinced to join as UNAR leader once again. In this generation Banana worked alongside llx OMiNOUS xll and Vash of Reach.

As fun as it was being back in the UNAR, this too would not last forever. After this rendition of the UN, Banana would not join again. Having balanced his role in clans and halo machinima for several years at this point, he began to focus more on machinima. Taking part in such projects as Rise of the Spartans, Assassination Tower: Uprising, and Reach: The Last War.

One final clan experience before his hiatus would be the return of ShadowSniper172, and the Commonwealth’s beginning on Halo: Reach. Banana was brought in as the commanding officer of Bravo Company, this would also be the first time he met Ehrgeizig. He would also lend his editing abilities to create the first recruitment video for the Commonwealth, which would be featured on “DividableHaloHD”. However this too would not last. The Commonwealth transitioned into Halo 5, and Banana had no interest in leaving Reach. This would be the end of his clan career, or so he thought.

A Chance Meeting
After a brief hiatus, Banana would return to the HCC in early 2018. He didn’t have much experience with Mandalorians, only joining their games alongside his friend Ehrgeizig (who had been Mand’Alor at the time). He joined to a mixed reception of welcoming and confused onlookers. Become more engaged in the Star Wars side of the community, he began to have aspirations of making a CIS clan.

Banana was then introduced to the current leader of a Galactic Republic clan, IXI Driver IXI. The two quickly became friends, bonding over a shared sense of humor and interest in the clan community. When the CIS didn’t live up to his hopes, Banana saw fit to join the Galactic Republic. He became the Clone Marshal Commander for the duration of its tenure under the callsign “Winter”. However he would soon realize this was not an ordinary clan, but a program run by members of the Jedi Order. Programs such as this and the Hutt Cartel were used to help stimulate the Star Wars side of the community with new maps, bounties, battles, even pod racing.

The time for this rendition of the Galactic Republic had come to its end, and the Jedi Order would return to its default state. During this transition, Banana would be welcomed into the fold. With Driver as his guide, he would rise to the rank of Master, and serve as right hand to Driver (the current Grand Master). They would work with many different Star Wars groups in this time. Banana would witness the rise and fall of many Mand’Alors, providing counsel and training assistance to those who were willing to work with them. The Jedi Order also extended help to growing Galactic Republic groups, as well as other original military clans.

In late 2020, Driver would pass the mantle of Grand Master to Banana. Having not been a clan leader since his days in the Republic of Halo, Banana was hesitant to take on this role. But with Driver serving as his right hand, things couldn’t be better. Banana currently serves as Grand Master of the Jedi Order alongside IXI Driver IXI, The Di5traction and DnB JoJoBear850.