Project ASTER

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Revision as of 07:27, March 14, 2015 by 90.199.120.8 (talk)

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Candidates of prepubescent age were screened based on genetic markers/SNPs that are linked to positive fitness and decreased disease incidence. The task of screening for such DNA structures was astronomical and to properly screen for correct genetic markers would require thirty-nine billion records. However, as DNA samples were covertly collected as part of the CAA's Outer Colony vaccination program, the UNSC had a rather comprehensive record of Outer Colony citizens to use for candidate selection.[1]

From 2511 until the augmentation of the SPARTAN-IIs in 2525, research continued refining and improving the chemicals to AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH c transduction. 300% increase in subject reflexes. Anecdotal evidence of marked increase in intelligence, memory, and creativity.[2] |12% of subjects can contract Parkinson's Disease and Fletcher's Syndrome.[2][3] |}

Procedure

Candidates awaiting augmentation procedures.

To prepare the subject for the augmentation procedure, the subject's head is shaved and incision vectors are lasered onto the subject's body. An intravenous drip is inserted into the subject's arm, and a general anesthetic is administered to ease the subject into a state of unconsciousness. Once the subject has been sedated, he or she is transported from the pre-op wing of the facility to another area, where the surgical procedures are performed.[4]

During the occipital capillary reversal, a neurosurgeon cuts out a small space in the skull, exposing the brain. The neurosurgeon then performs a procedure to rearrange the capillaries in the occipital lobe of the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. This redistribution of blood vessels boosts the flow of blood beneath the rods and cones of the subject's retina. Once the surgery is complete, the piece of the subject's skull that was removed in order to access the occipital lobe is repaired and the subject's head is bandaged.[5]

When the catalytic thyroid implant is inserted, surgery is performed on the thyroid gland, where an incision is made to the left thyroid gland large enough for a platinum pellet to be implanted; once done, the incision made is closed up. The growth hormone is released and progressively works its way through the body, stimulating the growth of skeletal and muscle tissue.[6][7]

As this takes place, muscular enhancement injections are administered throughout the subject's body to aid the previous procedure. This produces the most prolonged delay in the rest of the augmentation procedures as the subject's body begins to alter as a result of the previous procedure. If the subject has survived the changes, the final part of the augmentation is performed.[6][7]

The carbide ceramic ossification is likely performed next. This involves applying a grafting material to the subject's bones in key areas, most likely via injections. The process involves laying down new bone material with cells called osteoblasts to strengthen the bone. Once completed, the ossification continues while other procedures are performed.[7][8]

Once the augmentation procedures are finished, the subject begins a long recovery process. The healing process takes anywhere from weeks to months, dependent upon each individual subject's rate of recovery. Every day the subject performs stretches, isometric exercises, light sparring drills and consumes five high-protein meals. After each meal, the subject must report to the medical bay to receive a series of vitamin and mineral injections.[9]

Effects

A candidate experiencing the negative side-effects of augmentation.

Although the subject is in a state of unconsciousness during the procedure, he or she may experience excruciating pain. Physiological stress brought on by the augmentations can produce cardiac arrest,[3] in addition to cross-chemical complications that can result in augmentation failure.

Each procedure is marked by a particular type of excruciating pain. The carbide ceramic ossification is said to feel like the subject's bones are breaking, and as if their marrow is made of glass and is being shattered.[8][10] The catalytic thyroid implant and muscular enhancement injections produce extraordinary pain, as if the subject's veins had been "injected with napalm";[10][11] another sensation is pulsating and the feeling of the veins being torn out of the subject's skin. The effect of the muscles increasing in density is said to feel like the entire body is on fire, mixed with the feeling of "plated glass shattering" and being worked in the subject's body.[11] The superconducting fabrication of neural dendrites is said to feel like fire burning along the subject's spinal nerves.[8]

The side effects of completing the augmentations vary, as the subject's brain relearns how to move his or her body with faster reflexes and stronger muscles. The subject may experience neurological confusion such as falling over, exaggerated reflexes, and problems grabbing or holding onto an object. The subject may experience bleeding from the eyes, constant headaches, and aches in the bones.[12]

Due to the risky and dangerous nature of the augmentation procedures, many of the fourteen-year-old candidates died or "washed out" as their bodies rejected the modifications being made. Rather than be buried or cremated, the bodies of the deceased were cryogenically preserved with the hopes of one day reviving these candidates.[13] Experimental rehabilitation programs were performed on more then 80% of the washouts, who had suffered varying degrees of disease, injury and deformity. The result of these programs, however, has yet to be determined.[14] The augmentation procedures performed on the SPARTAN-IIs paved the way for a set of improved procedures known as Project CHRYSANTHEMUM and thus "disposable" Spartan-IIIs.[15]

Results

Dr. Halsey: "Then they are faster and stronger than we anticipated?"
CPO Mendez: "That would be understating the situation."
— Franklin Mendez's assessment of the Spartans' capabilities following their recovery from the augmentations.[16]

The results of the augmentations on the successful candidates were unprecedented; the SPARTAN-IIs performed well beyond the projected capabilities. Dr. Halsey suspected this to be due to inexplicable, synergistic effect resulting from all the augmentations acting in concert. Combined with the Spartans' intelligence, seamless teamwork and unyielding drive for success, the augmentations made them nearly unstoppable against any conventional combatant. Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez stated that after the augmentations the Spartans would only get better as they adjusted to the changes. Therefore many of the Spartans' attributes have increased through time and acclimation.[17]

Only a few months after augmentation procedures, the SPARTAN-IIs were capable of running at speeds exceeding 55 km/h or 34.2 mph. Kelly-087 was noted as capable of running even faster. Later during the Human-Covenant war, while in her Mark V MJOLNIR armor, Kelly-087's top speed was 62 km/h or 38.5 mph.[18] John-117 has been noted to have, very briefly, run at around 105 km/h or 65.2 mph during a MJOLNIR Mark V training exercise; however, his Achilles tendon was torn because the strain put on his body was unsustainable.[19]

The SPARTAN-IIs were capable of lifting at least three times their body weight without the aid of their MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, when they were 14 years old. During their initial exercises in Reach's titanium mines, after recovering from the augmentations, the Spartans completely overpowered trainers wearing Mark I exoskeletons, outrunning their automated targeting systems and dismantling the heavy combat suits with their bare hands. A kick by John-117 flung one of the exoskeleton-clad men eight meters.[17]

Their reaction time, while impossible to chart accurately, was estimated to be twenty milliseconds.[17] The Spartans' reaction times were noted to be significantly faster in combat situations or with assistance from an AI. The reaction times of the SPARTAN-IIs were so fast that they, in heightened states of stress, were able to think, react and see things as if everything around them were simultaneously occurring at both a slow and rapid pace - a phenomenon dubbed "SPARTAN Time" by Kelly-087.[20] The motion of a Spartan in combat is nearly impossible for an outsider to follow, their movement appearing as a blur.[17] These reflexes allowed Spartans to successfully dodge gunfire on certain occasions.[17][21]

SPARTAN-IIs were also known for their sharp eyesight, their occipital capillary reversal allowing them to virtually see in the dark.[17]

When wearing MJOLNIR armor, a Spartan's strength is boosted significantly. A MJOLNIR-clad Cal-141 was capable of blocking a Jiralhanae Chieftain's gravity hammer swing with a single hand, dodging multiple swings from the Brute, using her enhanced muscle strength to jump to great heights, and wounding the Chieftain with a few punches and kicks.[22] During the Battle of Installation 04, John-117 was able to use his enhanced strength to break the skulls of Sangheili soldiers.[23] During the Battle Of Onyx, Will-043 engaged a Hunter pair in hand to hand combat, and succeeded in killing one by ripping the worms out of its body. In the same battle, Kelly-087 engaged three Sangheili in hand-to-hand combat, snapping the wrist of one Elite, taking his energy sword, and cutting two more in half with a single swing. During the Battle of Shield World 0459, the three members of Red Team (Jerome-092, Alice-130, and Douglas-042) defeated a force of over twenty Stealth Sangheili in close-quarters combat without sustaining any injuries themselves.

Curtailing the effects

Three discharged Spartans have had the effects of their augmentations reduced through unknown means. Of these, Serin-019 and Ralph-103 were maimed by the procedures. Serin was declared dead and was secretly incorporated into the Office of Naval Intelligence, who reversed the physical damage she had suffered. She stood 6' 3" (191cm) tall in her mid-forties,[24] though whether this was due to the lingering effects of the catalytic thyroid implant or her own genetics is unclear. Ralph was discharged from the program due to a combination of psychological trauma[25] and biological rejection of the various implants;[26] his augmentations were likewise partially negated, leaving him physically inferior to the successfully augmented Spartans but superior to ordinary humans.[26] He was allowed to return to civilian life and joined the Marine Corps by the age of twenty.[27]

Randall-037 emerged from the augmentation procedures unscathed and served on the frontlines until he went missing in action in 2532. When ONI discovered Randall in 2546, he accepted their offer to have his enhancements suppressed in exchange for being allowed to remain a civilian. The process was particularly excruciating.[28] Ultimately he came to be much shorter than other Spartans.[29]

Gallery

  • Illustration of augmented skeletal muscle.

    Illustration of augmented skeletal muscle.

  • Illustration of the Carbide Ceramic Ossification.

    Illustration of the Carbide Ceramic Ossification.

  • Illustration of the Catalytic Thyroid Implant.

    Illustration of the Catalytic Thyroid Implant.

  • Illustration of the rods and cones of the human eye.

    Illustration of the rods and cones of the human eye.

  • Illustration of the human nerve cell.

    Illustration of the human nerve cell.

  • An illustration showing the arm before augmentation and after.

    An illustration showing the arm before augmentation and after.

  • John-117 after going through the augmentation procedures.

    John-117 after going through the augmentation procedures.

  • A Spartan candidate readies himself to undergo the augmentation procedures

    A Spartan candidate readies himself to undergo the augmentation procedures

  • Detail of the surgical augmentations performed on the forearms of a SPARTAN-II, in this case John-117.

    Detail of the surgical augmentations performed on the forearms of a SPARTAN-II, in this case John-117.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hal jour
  2. ^ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named reach
  3. ^ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named halsey1
  4. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach page 59 (2001 edition) page 66 (definitive edition) page 77 (2010 edition)
  5. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp
  6. ^ a b Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Pariah page 39
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pariah2
  8. ^ a b c Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 63
  9. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 64(2001 edition) page 71 (definitive edition) page 82 (2010 edition)
  10. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 101-102
  11. ^ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pariah
  12. ^ Halo: Fall of Reach, page 62 (2001 edition) page 69 (definitive edition) page 80 (2010 edition)
  13. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal April 1st, 2525
  14. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal June 27th, 2525
  15. ^ Halo: Ghost of Onyx, page 63
  16. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 71 (2001)
  17. ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Fall of Reach, pages 71-74 (2001) Page 83 (Definitive Edition)
  18. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 168
  19. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 264 (2001 edition) page 305 (definitive edition) page 299 (2010 edition)
  20. ^ Halo: First Strike page 12 page 22 (definitive edition)
  21. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 257 (2001 edition)
  22. ^ Halo Legends The Babysitter
  23. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 350
  24. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 26
  25. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach (2011) - Adjunct
  26. ^ a b Halo.Bungie.org: Re: Spoiler-free thoughts on the new episodes
  27. ^ Halo Legends, Homecoming
  28. ^ Halo Waypoint - Randall Aiken
  29. ^ Halo: Nightfall

See also

v • d • e
 
The SPARTAN programs and related topics
Training and protocol
Technology
Non-UNSC super soldiers
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