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<center>''For other uses, see [[Headhunters (disambiguation)]].''</center>
<center>''For other uses, see [[Headhunters (disambiguation)]].''</center>
'''Headhunters''' is a short story in [[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]], a collection of short stories by a number of authors. It tells the story of a specialist team of [[SPARTAN-III]]s, mainly [[Roland (Spartan)|Roland]] and [[Jonah]], two top echelon elite [[SPARTAN-III]]s who are selected by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] for a special branch under the [[Beta-5 Division]]. Headhunters is written by Jonathan Goff. <ref>[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]</ref>
{{Article Quote|But even among this collection of steadfast soldiers there were a select few with a bond deeper than the others could ever begin to imagine, as these unique IIIs were a secret even to their peers.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''' - ''[[Headhunters (Short Story)|Headhunters]]'', page 159</ref>}} 
 
'''Headhunters''' are [[Spartan-III]] Special Operations squads. Only SPARTAN-IIIs that had survived two or more specially assigned training missions would be evaluated. Once an overall list of potential candidates was compiled, each soldier's personal files and mission reports were analyzed against a set series of parameters calculated by top [[ONI]] specialists. Once selected, candidates were separated from their fellow Spartans and shipped to a special training facility on the far side of [[Onyx]]. After three months, the soldiers were broken into four two-person squads, chosen through a series of detailed evaluations and an intense interview process meant to devise the best possible pairings between members of the group. For the next two years, the Headhunters would go through seven months of supervised field exercises, followed by six months' real-world wartime insertions. These SPARTAN-IIIs would go onto missions far behind enemy lines and would more than likely be expected to die in combat.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''' - ''[[Headhunters (Short Story)|Headhunters]]</ref>
==Story Synopsis==
The story focuses on the ghost-like Spartan-IIIs codenamed "Headhunters" in their top secret missions, and also shows a contrast between the openly celebrated [[SPARTAN-II]]s and the highly-classified unknown secretive force of [[SPARTAN-III]]s in that only ONI Section Three operatives know of their glories and failures. The characters and their close bond is revealed throughout the story, with entertaining and engaging dialogue between the central characters.
 
The Headhunters are a top-secret group of unique IIIs that were "a secret, even to their peers" sent on top secret missions. Individuals had to survive two or more specially assigned training missions before being evaluated in the additional, grueling training regimen (seven months of supervised field exercises, followed by six months real-world wartime insertions). At the program's height there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams, with a total of seventeen soldiers rotating in to fill gaps when half or all of a team was lost in the field. Fireteams are comprised of two headhunters, initially paired via exhaustive interviews and ONI profiling. Jonah and Roland have excellent compatibility with 97.36 percent - only one other pair scored higher.


The story continues with an explanation of the gear Roland and Jonah have, and then finally the story begins as they stealthily recon, infiltrate, and rig a Covenant digging site on a remote planet. Roland and Jonah sneak past a perched Kig-Yar sniper, and into the outskirts of the camp, using [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance|VISR]] mode to help navigate and to look out for cloaked Elites. After gathering intel for two days, they make way. Roland, with an experimental active camouflage module on his armor, will be rigging the reactors in the base to blow while Jonah begins to hunt and kill Covenant in the camp. Other new equipment featured in the story comes in the form of an [[Energy Disruptor]], a device that disables the Covenant's plasma weapons and energy shields (those of personal armor systems as well as force-field doors in the camp). Jonah uses one of his several disruptors to attack and confront a group of [[Unggoy|Grunts]], [[Kig-Yar|Jackals]], and [[Sangheili|Elites]].
Two Headhunter teams participated in a failed mission on an unnamed Covenant moon, with notable members including [[Jonah]] and [[Roland (Spartan)|Roland]].


After Roland has set the charges using his av-cam, he meets Jonah on the other side of the camp as Jonah is about to battle his enemies, having just sliced off a dead Elite's head to taunt the enemy. Together, they kill the Covenant guards. Jonah disables the last Elite with two shots to the Elite's kneecaps. After some brief questioning, Jonah stabs the Elite in the neck, and then unloads an entire clip from his pistol into the corpse.
==Known Headhunters==
*[[Jonah]]
*[[Roland (Spartan)|Roland]]


Despite the duo being among the best of the best, they are caught off-guard by a squad of cloaked Elites, and Roland is killed by a new type of [[Energy Sword]] with a blood-red blade held by a [[Spec Ops Elite]] wearing highly customized armor, and Jonah is surrounded by several other similarly-clad Elites. He is attacked and severely injured, but is still able to release the trigger for the explosives. The Covenant camp is vaporized, along with Jonah and the Elites.
==Trivia==
*The concept of the Headhunters is quite similar to that of the SPARTAN-II group, [[Gray Team]]. Both groups are separated from their fellow Spartans and are sent far behind enemy lines for special covert operations. However, while the IIs knew about Gray Team, it is mentioned that the Headhunters were a secret even to their peers. How this is done with the Headhunter training facilities on [[Onyx]] is unknown.
*At the height of the program there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams with a total of 17 soldiers rotating in to fill gaps when half or all of a team was lost.
*It appears that they wear advanced prototype armor, likely to be MJOLNIR or SPI that includes tracking, shields, VISR technology and a prototype active camouflage, or av-cam, but it only lasts 3-5 minutes and it comes at lower power to other systems while it recharges.


==Sources==
==Sources==
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{{Books}}

Revision as of 08:24, July 4, 2010

Template:Ratings

For other uses, see Headhunters (disambiguation).

Template:Article Quote Headhunters are Spartan-III Special Operations squads. Only SPARTAN-IIIs that had survived two or more specially assigned training missions would be evaluated. Once an overall list of potential candidates was compiled, each soldier's personal files and mission reports were analyzed against a set series of parameters calculated by top ONI specialists. Once selected, candidates were separated from their fellow Spartans and shipped to a special training facility on the far side of Onyx. After three months, the soldiers were broken into four two-person squads, chosen through a series of detailed evaluations and an intense interview process meant to devise the best possible pairings between members of the group. For the next two years, the Headhunters would go through seven months of supervised field exercises, followed by six months' real-world wartime insertions. These SPARTAN-IIIs would go onto missions far behind enemy lines and would more than likely be expected to die in combat.[1]

Two Headhunter teams participated in a failed mission on an unnamed Covenant moon, with notable members including Jonah and Roland.

Known Headhunters

Trivia

  • The concept of the Headhunters is quite similar to that of the SPARTAN-II group, Gray Team. Both groups are separated from their fellow Spartans and are sent far behind enemy lines for special covert operations. However, while the IIs knew about Gray Team, it is mentioned that the Headhunters were a secret even to their peers. How this is done with the Headhunter training facilities on Onyx is unknown.
  • At the height of the program there was a maximum contingent of six squads - six teams with a total of 17 soldiers rotating in to fill gaps when half or all of a team was lost.
  • It appears that they wear advanced prototype armor, likely to be MJOLNIR or SPI that includes tracking, shields, VISR technology and a prototype active camouflage, or av-cam, but it only lasts 3-5 minutes and it comes at lower power to other systems while it recharges.

Sources