User blog comment:TheUnknown285/A very interesting image from the remake of Halo (yes, this is ME-related)/@comment-4888821-20120403004435/@comment-899316-20120403042718

Spoilerishness ahead -

First I'll start with Kai Leng. He didn't spend his entire life in the military, but his service record is still impressive. Lied to enlist at sixteen, served on spec ops missions until he was allowed into the N7 program, graduated with top honors, and was dishonorably discharged after murdering a a few aliens, one of whom was a krogan, unarmed in a bar fight (Proving he doesn't need to fight only in the shadows with the element of surprise on his side. Kai Leng simply prefers it that way.). Then found by the Illusive Man, he served Cerberus as TIM's personal assassin. After Anderson shot Kai Leng repeatedly in the legs, crippling the assassin, he received substantial Reaper upgrades, making him faster, stronger, and deadlier than any other human. Leng had enhanced reflexes and new biotic powers (Or perhaps those are just his gloves? Still, he can shoot energy out of his hands.) as well. Essentially, he could do everything that Master Chief can, but Kai Leng doesn't need Mjolnir Armor.

Next is Shepard. It is difficult to discuss Shepard's skills and background, as they are entirely up to the player. However, Shepard always is a seasoned veteran and a hero of some conflict in which the Commander accomplished nearly impossible feats (Defending Elysium all alone, massacring the batarians at Torfan, or surviving a massive Thresher Maw attack.). The Commander's abilities vary, but I think a biotic Commander would have a serious edge over even a SPARTAN II supersoldier. And yes, Shep would probably have the team to back them up, but that isn't necessarily a weakness. Shepard, like the Chief, is a natural leader. I can easily see old Sierra 117 bringing Johnson and Arby to the fight. Also, if you buy my Kai Leng bit, than we must see that Shepard is also equal to or greater than the Chief, given the Commander's triumph over the famed Cerberus assassin.