Spartan Operations: Difference between revisions

{{Center|''Were you looking for the '''[[Spartan|glossary]]''' of individual Spartan programs, or the [[Halo 4]] game mode '''[[Spartan Ops]]'''?''}}

|image=[[File:Spartan Branch insignia.png|300px]]<br><font size="1">The Spartan Operations insignia, derived from that of the Spartan-IIs.</font>

Since its instatement in early 2553, the Spartan branch has seen a number of engagements in both the resurgent [[Insurrection]] and [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|the continuing hostilities]] against [[Covenant remnants|rogue Covenant factions]]. Sometime during [[2554]], two of the first Spartan-IVs, [[Edward Davis]] and [[Sarah Palmer]], were present in a [[Battle of Draetheus V|battle]] against [[Merg Vol's Covenant]] on the former [[Forerunner]] world and UNSC research colony of [[Draetheus V]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]'''</ref> Spartans participated in numerous other conflicts, such as the [[Draco III rebellion|rebellion]] on [[Draco III]] or the numerous revolts on [[Talitsa]], both launched by the URF.<ref name="nb22">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 22-24'' (Google Play edition)</ref><ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 171''</ref>

During an exploration mission in [[2557#July|July 2557]], UNSC ''Infinity'' was pulled into [[Requiem]], an ancient Forerunner [[shield world]], by a [[Cryptum]]-occupying [[Promethean]] known as the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] and his forces. Led by Commander Palmer, the Spartans, aided by ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]], would assist [[John-117|MCPO John-117]] in [[Battle of Requiem|his fight against]] the Prometheans, as well as the distracting [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] which had followed the beleaguered Spartan-II to Requiem.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Infinity (level)|Infinity]]''</ref> The Spartans teamed with John-117 to destroy the [[Gravity well|gravity well generator]] and to defend ''Infinity'' from attacks by the Didact, but left with ''Infinity'' when [[Captain]] [[Andrew Del Rio]] chose not to stay and stop the Didact, an order John-117 disregarded.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level, ''[[Shutdown]]''</ref> In [[2558#February|February 2558]], eight months after John-117 [[New Phoenix Incident|defeated the Didact]] and saved [[Earth]], ''Infinity'' returned to Requiem and deployed forces from all five branches of the [[UNSC Armed Forces]], including numerous Spartan fireteams. On Requiem, fighting both Covenant forces and the Prometheans, the UNSC sought to [[Requiem Campaign|capture]] the shield world. Despite the efforts of numerous Spartans, the Covenant destroyed Requiem after retrieving half of the [[Janus Key]], while the UNSC held the other half.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', ''[[Spartan Ops]]''</ref>

Spartan Operations is an independent, and the most recently established, branch of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Armed Forces|Armed Forces]]. As is the state of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]], the Spartan branch is organized under both the [[Unified Ground Command]] and [[UNSC Naval Command]], specifically [[UNSC Fleet Command|Fleet Command]].<ref name="lootcrate1">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #1]]''</ref> Although originally under the jurisdiction of the [[UNSC Navy]], particularly the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], Spartan quickly evolved into an organization of its own,{{Ref/Reuse|11th hour}} until then-[[Commander]] [[Musa Ghanem]] went before a board of naval officers and proposed the branch's autonomy.{{Ref/Reuse|init3}} The success of the first class of Spartan-IVs led to UNSC leadership accepting Musa's proposal. The branch's independence offers them more freedom with its operations.{{Ref/Reuse|nb130}} Spartan Operations, while technically autonomous, maintains close relationships and often works in collaboration with the Navy and other branches when needed, most often in administrative capacities.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Because of this and the [[SPARTAN programs]]' history, the Spartans are still commonly viewed as a "Navy project" by the UNSC armed forces at large.<ref name="Infinity Briefing">'''[[Halo 4 Limited Edition]]''', ''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]''</ref> ONI has the ability to requisition the service of Spartan personnel for specific, high-importance [[operation]]s.<ref name="HitD78">'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''pages 78-79''</ref> For example, when [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] [[Blue Team]] became absent-without-leave, Spartan [[Fireteam Osiris]] was placed under the Navy's [[Logistical Operations Command]] operational command when deployed to retrieve the Spartan-IIs.{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLtd}} The branch is headed by the [[Chief of Staff (Spartan)|Chief of Staff]] of Spartan Operations; the office is currently held by [[Jun-A266]].{{Ref/Reuse|memories of reach}} As of [[2558]], Spartan Operations does not hold a seat on the [[UNSC Security Council]], unlike the other four branches of the Armed Forces and even ONI.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</ref> The branch also maintains the [[Spartan Training and Education]] department.{{Ref/Reuse|lootcrate1}}

Spartan personnel are typically organized into [[fireteam]]s, consisting of five or four Spartans, led by a Spartan designated as team leader.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Most Spartan combat units are composed of personnel which would complement each other's skillsets and abilities, mitigating any individual deficiencies.{{Ref/Reuse|osiris}} Some Spartans operate in smaller or even individual units. All detachments of Spartans operate under a Spartan Commander.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Although most Spartan-IVs are attached to the Spartan branch, several still serve directly under the Office of Naval Intelligence's divisions, such as the [[Delta-6 Division]]<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 171''</ref> or the [[Asymmetrical Action Group]].<ref>'''Halo 5: Guardians''', ''Legendary visor description''</ref> The Spartan branch has a dedicated facility on [[Mars]], where personnel undergo their [[SPARTAN-IV Augmentation Program|augmentations]].<ref name="nb113">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 113-120'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

Despite these efforts, [[Rudolf Schein]] of the [[United Rebel Front]] was still able to infiltrate the branch and become successfully augmented as a Spartan-IV, having prior led a successful career within another branch of the [[UNSC Armed Forces]].{{Ref/Reuse|nb139}} Schein was later partially responsible for Spartan [[Michael Crespo]]'s defection to the URF, with both Spartans growing disillusioned with the UEG and UNSC after being deployed to combat human [[insurrectionist]] forces, having originally enlisted with the UNSC to combat the alien [[Covenant]].<ref name="nb177">'''Halo: New Blood''', ''pages 177-179'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Likewise, Spartan [[Vladimir Scruggs]] was recruited as a member of the first class of Spartan-IVs, but later became disillusioned with the UNSC's ideals and joined the [[New Colonial Alliance]] to [[Battle of Ealen IV|sabotage peace talks]] between the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and [[Lydus' clan]] on [[Ealen IV]].{{Ref/Reuse|he3}} After these incidents, Musa and Jun decided to review their recruitment procedures to look for mistakes, but did not expect to find anything.{{Ref/Reuse|nb177}}

UNSC Armed Forces retirees can also be enlisted in Spartan Operations under a recommendation regardless of how long they have been retired. [[Taylor Miles]] and [[Gretchen Ketola]], both former ODSTs that were retired for years, re-enlisted as Spartans.

With no formal rank structure, each Spartan of the branch is given the informal rank of "Spartan". Each Spartan detachment is under the authority of a Spartan Commander;{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} for example, [[Edward Buck]] formerly served as Spartan Commander of the detachment aboard {{UNSCShip|Meriwether Lewis}},{{Ref/Reuse|H5GLtd}} while [[Sarah Palmer]] continues to serve as Spartan Commander of the Spartans of {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/sarah-palmer '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sarah Palmer'']</ref> Despite being the ranking Spartan on the ship, Palmer deferred to the [[John-117|Master Chief]] while he was aboard during the [[Battle of Requiem]] with the Master Chief effectively acting as the ranking Spartan during this time.<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref> While "Commander" is often used to address a Spartan detachment's overall leader, this merely refers to their administrative role instead of being a formal rank and the Commander is technically equal in rank to their subordinates.<ref name="h4evg">'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 33''</ref>