Editing Biological augmentation

{{Status|Canon}}

Several species and civilizations, including [[Forerunner]]s, [[human]]s, and [[San'Shyuum]], have implemented various biochemical, surgical and cybernetic means to enhance the physical and cognitive abilities of biological individuals.

==Forerunner==

The [[Forerunner]]s used artificially-induced [[Forerunner mutation|mutations]] consisting of a combination of directed genetic modification, gene therapy and biochemical manipulation to custom-tailor an individual's body to a [[form]] considered suited for their social standing and field of work in a [[rate]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/forerunners '''Halo Waypoint - Universe''': ''Forerunners'']</ref> While many of the changes were ostensibly cosmetic and made for cultural reasons, others were designed to enhance a Forerunner's abilities. Many of the enhancements were to the neurological and cognitive abilities of the individual,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 261''</ref> although at least the [[Warrior-Servant]]s' mutations also made them physically stronger and more robust.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 279''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 86''</ref>

 

As unrest began to brew in humanity's fledgling space territories, eventually breaking out as the [[Interplanetary War]], biological augmentations were first appropriated for military use. Despite providing subtle enhancement in the areas of strength and speed, these augmentations were rather primitive in comparison to the supersoldiers created centuries later. However, they did encourage the [[UNSC]] to continue research into human enhancement.{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}}

The first major effort to create biochemically-augmented supersoldiers was known as [[Project ORION]]. The beginnings of the program can be traced back to [[2321]], when the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] began to build upon bioengineering protocols developed during the Interplanetary Wars. However, after five military candidates were selected and tested, the project was declared ineffective and the candidates were returned to their respective chains of command.{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}} Within a year, all candidates would die of unknown causes. The project was secretly relaunched by the [[Colonial Military Authority]] well over a century later in [[2491]], with the recruitment of 65 adult test subjects; hundreds more were added after the first batch completed their training. The ORION augmentations included enhancements to muscle density, lung capacity, vision, hearing and balance.<ref>'''[[Media:ILB Cochlear tuning.ogg|cochlear_tuning Axon]]'''</ref> While the ORION operatives were highly successful, the project on the whole was deemed a failure due to many factors, among the most prominent being the high "washout" rate of the augmentations as well as the limited effectiveness of the enhancements themselves.<ref name="journal">'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]'''</ref> Former ORION project member [[Avery Johnson]] remembers the experience as being agonizing filled with confusing, hormone-inducing rages.{{Ref/Novel|SiSto|Chapter=4}}

{{Main|Project ASTER}}

Research on the [[SPARTAN-II program]]'s augmentations began five years after the deactivation of the ORION Project. Headed by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], early analysis concluded that next-generation candidates must have "more malleable, robust DNA structure and repair enzymes" and be selected through a stringent genetic screening process to avoid the washout rates of the ORION program. Because of the requirements, the best suitable candidates who would adapt without severe side effects were those of prepubescent age. Thus, despite being highly unethical and illegal, it was decided that the program's trainees be drafted as children and augmented as they began to reach puberty.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

The SPARTAN-II augmentations included many previously-untested procedures, among them synthetic bone grafts, hormonal supplements, retinal surgery, intramuscular protein injections and major alteration of the subject's nervous system. While the SPARTAN-II augmentations would make the soldier significantly stronger and faster than an ORION operative, this came with a price: out of 75 candidates, only 33 survived the augmentation procedures, with the rest either killed or maimed for life. However, the Spartans who did survive became the most effective soldiers to be ever fielded by humanity, with superhuman strength, reflexes and stamina as well as virtually unbreakable bones. To complement their biological augmentation, the SPARTAN-IIs were given state-of-the-art [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] which interfaces with the wearer's nervous system and greatly boosts their strength and speed. When paired with a [[smart AI]] through a [[Spartan neural interface|specialized neural implant]], a Spartan's tactical awareness and reaction time are improved even further.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

Initiated by [[James Ackerson|Colonel James Ackerson]], the [[SPARTAN-III program]] built upon Dr. Halsey's pioneering work on the preceding SPARTAN-II project. The new augmentation set encompassed enhancements derived from those given to the Spartan-IIs. Technologically, however, the new augmentations represented a major improvement over the previous program, while being cheaper than before: much less surgery was required, with most of the enhancements administered via chemical means. The selection criteria could be loosened, and the procedures' mortality rate could be eliminated to zero. This allowed the creation of much larger numbers of supersoldiers than before, although the procedures still had to be performed at the onset of puberty.<ref name="goo63">'''Halo: Ghost of Onyx''', ''page 63''</ref><ref name="GoO102">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 101-102''</ref>

{{Main|Project ORCHID}}

The [[SPARTAN-IV program]] was the first supersoldier project after ORION to use volunteering adult subjects, something that had been discarded in the previous programs due to the technological and psychological challenges involved. By the time the [[Human-Covenant War]] had ended, new techniques had been developed, allowing adults to be augmented without major risk. However, the muscular and neurological alterations are not as effective as those used in the previous two programs, although the SPARTAN-IVs' [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|GEN2]] [[MJOLNIR armor]] compensates for this through its more extensive performance enhancement.<ref name="frankie">[http://members.shaw.ca/laird2/temp/derp/interview.mp3 '''Frank O'Connor interview during San Diego Comic-Con 2012''' (1:15 - 2:10)]</ref> The SPARTAN-IVs' augmentations also include several new procedures, including various improvements to the subject's internal organs.<ref name="HI2">'''[[Halo: Initiation]]''', ''Issue #2''</ref><ref name="lootcrate1">'''[[Halo Legendary Crate]]''', ''[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop #1]]'' ([[:File:Lootcrate - SpartanIV augmentations.jpg|Spartan-IV augmentations sheet]])</ref>

 

 

 

 

As a crude replication of the technologies used to forge the Spartans, human [[Insurrectionist]]s use "[[Rumbledrug]]s" which degenerate the user's body but grant them superhuman abilities for a short time, potentially giving them a fighting chance against Spartans.{{Ref/Reuse|midlothian}}

Following the Human-Covenant War any sufficiently wealthy private party could replicate the effects of the Spartan augmentations. However, cheaper and more invasive augmentations with unknown medical drawbacks and psychological costs were considered more viable given the high cost and amount of effort required to create actual Spartans.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-armory-amore 1/22/2016: Armory Amore]</ref>

File:Mus aug.jpg|An illustration detailing the muscular augmentations performed on a Spartan-II's arm

{{Ref/Sources}}