View source for SPARTAN-II program

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The '''SPARTAN-II Program''' was part of the [[SPARTAN Program]], an effort to produce elite soldiers through biological augmentation. The SPARTAN-II program would be the first in the series to meld [[MJOLNIR armor|advanced mechanical technology]] with the troopers' superior physiques.

== History ==

=== Origins ===
[[Image:UNSC Spartan achievement.gif|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Spartan-II program; an eagle clutching arrows and a lightning bolt.]]
Projections calculated by the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] concluded that by [[2525]] the instability of the [[outer colonies]] would result in widespread rebellions unless drastic military measures were instituted. The SPARTAN-II program would meet these requirements, creating a small group of elite soldiers meant to subdue insurrections in their infancy with precision strikes. In this way, civilian casualties might be minimized, civil war averted, and costly conventional solutions made unnecessary.

The project was led by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] of ONI's Section 3 and [[Franklin Mendez|Chief Petty Officer Mendez]] of the UNSC armed forces. Candidates for the program were selected from children deemed to possess superior physical and mental attributes. By [[2517]] 150 suitable candidates had been identified, but for budget reasons only half that number were "conscripted". Most were between 5 and 7 years old. To preserve the program's secrecy the children were replaced by [[Flash-Cloning|flash clones]].

Taken to [[Reach]] these child-soldiers began training under CPO Mendez. To marginalize the civilian lives they had once led their names became a combination of their given names and a number (like “[[John-117]]”), with family names being discarded. Seven years later they began receiving the [[Spartan Augmentation Procedures|physical augmentations]] that would ultimately make them Spartans. The procedures were risky and nearly half died as a result. A small number survived but some were physically crippled (such as [[SPARTAN-084]]), and these were discharged from the program and placed in non-combat positions where their enhanced mental faculties might still prove useful. Only 33 survived without complications and, now much improved, remained fit for combat duty.

[[2525]] would see the fulfilment of the program when the survivors were fitted with the [[MJOLNIR armor#MJOLNIR Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mark IV]] Powered Assault Armor.

=== The Human-Covenant War ===

The [[Human-Covenant War|conflict with the Covenant]] marked a change in the objectives of the program. Originally intended to quell rebellions the Spartans were now forced into battle against an opponent much superior to the UNSC. Although on an individual basis the Spartans were to frequently demonstrate their superiority over the enemy, the scope of their stunning successes was frequently only tactical in nature. Nonetheless, heroic rearguard and delaying actions saved countless human lives from the genocidal Covenant campaign. During the Covenant compaign it was decided to make the Spartan-II project public, in an effort boost morale.

Inevitably the small number of SPARTAN-IIs dwindled as casualties were sustained. As the exploits of the Spartans was a major propaganda boon to the UNSC, Section Two of ONI issued [[Spartan MIA Protocol|Directive 930]] stating that Spartans killed or crippled would be listed as “missing in action” or “wounded in action”, thus maintaining the illusion of Spartan invincibility.

In late-[[2552]] all except three of the remaining Spartans rendezvoused at [[Reach]] to receive new orders for an operation that [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]] hoped would end the war. They would commandeer a Covenant vessel, locate the [[High_Charity|Covenant “homeworld”]], and return with captured [[Prophet|Covenant leadership]]. To this end the Spartans were slated to be re-equipped with [[MJOLNIR armor#MJOLNIR Mark V|MJOLNIR Mark V]] suits. The A.I. [[Cortana]], carried within [[John-117]]'s armor, would serve as the strike force's hacker and technology specialist.

However, all preparations were interrupted (and subsequently cancelled) by the Covenant [[Battle of Reach|assault on Reach]]. In the ensuing disaster most of the SPARTAN-IIs were killed. Two escaped (one was technically dead but later revived), aboard the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, while the rest remained trapped on Reach.

Following the [[Battle of Installation 04|events at Alpha Halo]] the Spartans were reunited at Reach. They then carried out a strike that resulted in the [[Operation:_FIRST_STRIKE|destruction of a Covenant fleet anchorage]] which contributed to the UNSC victory at the [[First Battle of Earth]]. SPARTAN-IIs would go on to play pivotal roles at the [[Battle of Onyx]] and the [[Second Battle of Earth]].

== Technology ==

=== Biological Augmentation ===
{{Main|SPARTAN-II Augmentation Procedures}}
[[Admiral Ysionris Jeromi]] of the research station ''[[Hopeful]]'' documented the following experimental procedures on Bonobo Chimpanzees. These operations were later performed on the Spartan soldiers:

*Carbide ceramic fossification: The grafting of advanced materials onto the skeletal structure to make bones almost unbreakable. If coverage exceeded 3 percent of the total bone, mass white blood cell necrosis was common. In adolescents, growth spurts could result in bone pulverization.
*Muscular enhancement injections: An intramuscular injection of a protein complex to increase tissue density and decrease lactase recovery time. Increased the risk of a fatal cardiac volume increase.
*Catalytic thyroid implant: The implantation of a platinum pellet in the thyroid containing human growth hormone catalyst. This boosted growth of skeletal and muscle tissues. It was known to suppress the sexual drive and cause elephantiasis
*Occipital capillary reversal: Increased blood vessel flow beneath the rods and cones of the retina. Increases visual perception. Known to cause retina rejection and detachment, as well as permanent blindness.
*Superconducting fabrication of neural dendrites: Altered the bioelectrical nerve transduction to shielded electronic transduction. Resulted in a 300 percent increase in reflexes. Showed evidence of an increase in intelligence, memory, and creativity. Often caused Parkinson's disease and Fletcher's syndrome.

=== MJOLNIR Armor ===
{{Main|MJOLNIR armor}}
The SPARTAN-II program was conceived in parallel with the development of the [[MJOLNIR armor]]. The Spartans received the first practical forms of the armor, the Mark IV, in [[2525]], followed by the Mark V and Mark VI in [[2552]].

The demands of the armor was such that only the Spartans could wear them. A number of baseline humans were killed attempting to use the suit during test trials.

== Background ==

=== Surviving SPARTAN-IIs ===

The identities of the Spartans' full names have been deleted from the military records. These are the tags of all known Spartans, and their current status.

Begining of SPARTAN-II("First" Spartans) originally selected 150 potential candidates, however there was only funding for half that number, so the Spartan candidates were further scrutinized, producing 75 "test subjects."

SPARTAN-II("Second" Spartans) are these 75 "test subjects."

SPARTAN-III ("Third" Spartans) is not well known. However there were at least 1200 potential "test subjects".

==== SPARTAN-II: 2525 ====

*[[SPARTAN-008|SPARTAN-008: Li]] - Confirmed KIA by Covenant Plasma Torpedo
*[[SPARTAN-029|SPARTAN-029: Joshua]] - MIA/KIA
*[[SPARTAN-030|SPARTAN-030: Vinh]] - MIA/KIA
*[[SPARTAN-034|SPARTAN-034: Samuel]] - Confirmed KIA, first to actually destroy a Covenant ship in a non-ship to ship [[Battle of Chi Ceti|battle]]
*[[SPARTAN-039|SPARTAN-039: Isaac]] - MIA/KIA during [[Battle of Reach]]
*[[SPARTAN-043|SPARTAN-043: William]] - Confirmed KIA During A [[Battle of Onyx|Raid]] On ''Onyx''
*[[SPARTAN-044|SPARTAN-044: Anton]] - Confirmed KIA by Covenant Plasma Torpedo
*[[SPARTAN-051|SPARTAN-051: Kurt]] - Confirmed KIA During A [[Battle of Onyx|Raid]] On ''Onyx''
*[[SPARTAN-058|SPARTAN-058: Linda]] - Active on Onyx
*[[SPARTAN-059|SPARTAN-059: Malcom]] - Confirmed KIA during [[Battle of Reach]]
*[[SPARTAN-062|SPARTAN-062: Maria]] - Retired
*[[SPARTAN-084|SPARTAN-084: Fhajad]] - Discharged
*[[SPARTAN-087|SPARTAN-087: Kelly]] - Active on Onyx
*[[SPARTAN-093|SPARTAN-093: Grace]] - Confirmed KIA During [[Operation: First Strike|Battle]] On ''[[Unyielding Heirophant]]''
*[[SPARTAN-104|SPARTAN-104: Fredric]] - Active on Onyx
*[[John-117|SPARTAN-117: John]] - MIA (In reality Active, but in cryostasis, on the aft section of the Forward Unto Dawn)[[Image:Master Chief with his MA5C.JPG|Right|thumb|117 is the [[Master Chief]]]]
*[[Ryu-201|SPARTAN-201: Ryu]] - MIA/KIA[[Image:Mr HALO:Master Rex Halo Petty Officer SPARTAN-201,Ryu]]  
*[[Spartan-James|James]] - MIA/KIA
*[[Spartan-Kirk|Kirk]] - Discharged
*[[Spartan-Rene|Rene]] - Discharged
*[[Cassandra|Cassandra]] - WIA
*[[Spartan-Randall|Randall]] - MIA
*[[Spartan-Sheila|Sheila]] - Confirmed KIA during [[Battle of Miridem]]
*[[Gray Team]] - MIA

-[[Spartan Group Omega]] - Unknown

However spartans are only recorded as MIA, even if there are eyewitnesses to their deaths.  This maintains the morale of soldiers and the rumor that Spartans never die.

==== SPARTAN-II: 2537 ====

According to the [[I Love Bees]] story line some Spartans were drafted or conscripted into the Spartan program eleven years after the second class of Spartans IIs graduated.<ref>http://transmit.ilovebees.com/outbound/zero_motor_function.wav</ref> The only known Spartans from this third class are:			
*[[Spartan-Yasmine|Yasmine]] - Killed in Augmentation
*[[Nicole|Nicole-458]] - Trapped in the 21st Century (non-canon)

==== Last known surviving Spartans IIs ====

The last known surviving Spartan IIs are: 
*John-117
*Kelly-087
*Ryu-201
*Fred-104
*Linda-058
*Maria-062 (from the Halo: Graphic Novel story ''[[Armor Testing]], retired'')
*Members of the conspicuous [[Gray Team]] and those of class 3 still remain as well.

A number of SPARTAN-IIs disappeared under dire circumstances and are presumed dead. However, since nobody witnessed their final fate it is possible they may reappear later. Some of those that fit into this category are: [[SPARTAN-044|Anton-044]], [[Spartan-James]] (number unknown), [[SPARTAN-029|Joshua-029]], [[SPARTAN-039|Isaac-039]] [[SPARTAN-008|Li-008]] and [[SPARTAN-030|Vinh-030]].

There is also some confusion concerning the number of SPARTAN-IIs in general. In [[Halo: The Fall of Reach]] it is cited that 68 children were in the program two years after its initiation out of 75 that were originally drafted. No mention is made of the whereabouts of the missing 7. After the augmentation process all 75 reappear, with 33 being successfully upgraded, 12 surviving but being crippled, and 30 being killed as a result of the procedures.

The status of SPARTAN-IIs is muddied further in the novels. For example, [[SPARTAN-051|Kurt-051]] is listed as dead in [[2531]] when in reality he was drafted into the secret [[SPARTAN-III Program]] until his ''real'' death in [[2552]] on [[Onyx]]. Further ambiguity arises from page 260 of [[Halo: The Fall of Reach]] where three Spartans, designated “Gray Team”, were said to have been on “fields of battle too distant to be easily recalled” prior to the [[Battle of Reach]]. Their fates remain unresolved as in [[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]] these three were said not to have been heard from for a year. Finally, it is not certain whether [[Cassandra ]] is a Spartan or not.

[[Bungie Studios|Bungie]] has said that these discrepancies only ''seem'' to be errors, and that everything will be made clear in time.

It is said that John-117 was the only spartan to return from Reach without life threatening injuries

== Sources ==

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{{SpartanPrograms}}
{{Spartan II}}

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