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{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{quote|Spartans never die.|[[Kurt-051]]'s last words.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref>}}
{{Disambig header|the supersoldiers|other uses|Spartan (disambiguation)}}
The '''SPARTAN Programs''' are a series of [[UNSC]] projects designed to create physically, genetically, technologically, and mentally superior "[[wikipedia:Supersoldier|supersoldiers]]" as a [[UNSC Special Forces|special fighting force]] within the UNSC Military.
{{References}}
[[File:SpartanStar.png|thumb|300px|A symbol representative of all incarnations of Spartan programs.]]
{{Article quote|They stand alone — undaunted — before the mightiest enemy in the universe. But these are no ordinary men. They are SPARTANS...<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''description''</ref>}}
'''Spartans''' or '''SPARTAN Programs''' are members of a series of [[United Nations Space Command]] projects designed to create physically, genetically, technologically, and mentally superior [[wikipedia:Supersoldier|supersoldiers]] as [[UNSC Special Forces|special fighting units]].<ref name="hwp spartan">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Spartans'']</ref> Although the word "SPARTAN" is written in all capital letters when used in reference to the programs in a formal context, it is not an acronym; the supersoldiers are known simply as "Spartans".
 
The first major effort to create [[Human augmentation|augmented]] supersoldiers was the [[ORION Project]], later retroactively dubbed "SPARTAN-I", which used operatives drafted from the UNSC. The subsequent programs, [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]], were highly successful, but also controversial because of their dubious ethics concerning the use children as candidates, particularly in the Spartan-II program where risk of injury or death in the augmentation procedures was relatively high. The latest installment, [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]], returned to the idea's roots by using consenting adult volunteers primarily drawn from the various special forces units of the UNSC. While formerly serving within the various conventional military branches of the UNSC (mainly the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]), the Spartans were brought under a single organization with the formation of the military branch known as [[Spartan Operations]] to accommodate the growing number of Spartans in the fourth-generation program following the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="H4 Story">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/story/6eeabce4-dc80-4aa3-b2aa-2f5d123b7514 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Story'']</ref>
 
The Spartan supersoldiers have traditionally been supplied with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, the most iconic being the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] first worn by the Spartan-IIs and later utilized to a great extent by the SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers.


==Background==
==Background==
The basic concept for the SPARTAN program has been around since the late 22nd century when the first bioengineering protocols were developed for interplanetary war.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', page 44</ref> Since the establishment of these protocols humans have been using performance enhancing equipment and augmentations to make them stronger and faster than previously thought. These super soldiers have been deployed numerous times throughout human conflict, leading up to and during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. The SPARTAN program first arose as a brilliant plan to enhance normal human soldiers into powerfully augmented special operations commandos. Initially the three separate programs were humanity's various attempts to create the perfect soldiers, in order to patrol the colonies, protect civilian and government populations, crush uprisings in their infancy and ensure others don't rise up as a result.
The basic concept for the SPARTAN programs has been around since the late 22nd century when the first bioengineering protocols were developed for the [[Interplanetary War]].<ref name="enc44">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 44-45''</ref> Since the establishment of these protocols humans have been using performance-enhancing equipment and augmentations to make them stronger and faster than previously possible. Spartans have been deployed numerous times throughout human conflict, leading up to and during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. The notion of creating supersoldiers first arose as a plan to enhance normal human soldiers into powerfully augmented special operations commandos. Initially the three separate programs were humanity's various attempts to create the perfect soldiers, in order to patrol the colonies, protect civilian and government populations, crush uprisings in their infancy and ensure others don't rise up as a result.


The SPARTAN soldiers of the UNSC are named after the ancient [[Sparta]]ns of Greece, specifically during the time of the Persian invasion led by [[wikipedia:Xerxes I|Xerxes I]]. The wars between invading Persians and defending Greeks would be known as the [[wikipedia:Greco-Persian Wars|Greco-Persian Wars]], and lasted from 499-448 B.C.E.. During this war, the [[wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]] occurred, in which 300 Spartan soldiers leading 5000 other Greeks under the command of [[wikipedia:Leonidas I|Leonidas I]], held back a force of approximately 1 million Persian soldiers although, according to ancient sources, most historians today think that the Persian army was around 100,000 in size although this would still be an enormous force. All of the Spartans were eventually killed, but they successfully killed 20,000 Persians (according to Herodotus), and bought the Greeks time to prepare a better defense for Greece. The Spartans' formidable resilience resulted from their rigorous training in the [[wikipedia:agoge|agoge]], which started when they reached the age of 8.
The Spartan soldiers of the UNSC are named after the [[Wikipedia:Sparta|Sparta]]ns of Ancient Greece, specifically during the time of the Persian invasion led by [[wikipedia:Xerxes I|Xerxes I]]. The wars between invading Persians and defending Greeks would be known as the [[wikipedia:Greco-Persian Wars|Greco-Persian Wars]], and lasted from 499-448 BCE. During this war, the [[wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]] occurred, in which 300 Spartan soldiers leading 5000 other Greeks under the command of [[wikipedia:Leonidas I|Leonidas I]], held back a significantly larger force of Persian soldiers. All of the Spartans were eventually killed, but they successfully killed 20,000 Persians (according to Herodotus), and bought the Greeks time to prepare a better defense for Greece. The Spartans' formidable resilience resulted from their rigorous training in the [[wikipedia:agoge|agoge]], which started when they reached the age of 7.


==History==
==History==
===Origin===
===Origin===
The SPARTAN program begun in [[2321]]<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', page 44</ref> with the activation of the ORION project. Launched by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], the project was named after the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]. The aim of ORION was to build on bioengineering protocols established in 2164 and create stronger and better soldiers than any before them. The initial beginnings of ORION were merely a test to see what could be accomplished with the advancements of that time, and candidates of the ORION project were all volunteers from the armed forces of the military - these handful of candidates went through numerous testing and augmentations throughout the duration of the project. However, the results were far less than expected and eventually the candidates were seeded into the regular chain of command after the project was declared ineffective and terminated.
The genesis of the SPARTAN programs occurred in [[2321]] with the activation of the [[ORION Project]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}} Launched by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], the project was named after the Greek mythological hero [[Wikipedia:Orion (mythology)|Orion]].<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''June 19, 2513''</ref> The aim of ORION was to build on [[Human augmentation|bioengineering protocols]] established in [[2164]] and create stronger and better soldiers than any before them.
 
The initial beginnings of ORION were merely a test to see what could be accomplished with the advancements of that time, and candidates of the ORION project were all volunteers from the armed forces of the military - these handful of candidates went through numerous testing and augmentations throughout the duration of the project. However, the results were far less than expected and eventually the candidates were seeded into the regular chain of command after the project was declared ineffective and terminated.


===The Relaunch of ORION (the SPARTAN-I Program)===
===The relaunch of ORION===
[[File:Sgt Avery Junior Johnson.png|70px|left|thumb|Avery Johnson, a SPARTAN-I.]]
[[File:OrionLogoSL.png|200px|thumb|ORION Project logo.]]
In [[2491]] the [[Colonial Military Administration]] relaunched ORION in secrecy, with the new goal of learning from the mistakes of the previous attempt, and creating a soldier unlike anything seen before - and to deploy these soldiers behind enemy lines and quell insurgencies in their infancy, or destroy established insurgencies by destroying their chain of command and expanding outward. The project was headquartered in one of the many orbital docks on the fortress world [[Reach]], and the candidates were, once again, selected volunteers from all Special Force branches of the military. This iteration of the project used more advanced indoctrination and biological augmentation techniques, and after a grueling series of physical and mental tests, the first batch of soldiers, 165 in total, successfully passed and moved on to the next phase. In [[2496]] the UNSC launched [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]] in response to the [[Secessionist Union]] who executed a series of attacks on [[Eridanus II]], which resulted in numerous deaths and the kidnappings of civilian and government officials in [[2494]]. This marked the first operational deployment of the ORION soldiers, now codenamed SPARTAN-Is, who scored a decisive victory and emerged from the battle with only a single casualty. The Spartans were able to complete the mission without even being ''seen'', thereby fueling a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation, this proved to be very helpful to ONI's propaganda efforts in the coming decades. Though the Spartans were effective, their abilities fell short of the scientists' hopes, and they cost far too much to develop and field - in [[2506]] the project was deactivated and the soldiers were reassigned to various special operation units.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', pages 44-45</ref>
{{Main|ORION Project}}
In [[2491]], the [[Colonial Military Authority]] relaunched ORION in secrecy, with the new goal of learning from the mistakes of the previous attempt, and creating a soldier unlike anything seen before - and to deploy these soldiers behind enemy lines and quell insurgencies in their infancy, or destroy established insurgencies by destroying their chain of command and expanding outward.  


===The SPARTAN-II Program===
The project was headquartered in one of the many orbital docks on the fortress world [[Reach]], and the candidates were, once again, selected volunteers from the [[UNSC Special Forces]]. This iteration of the project used more advanced indoctrination and biological augmentation techniques, and after a grueling series of physical and mental tests, the first batch of soldiers, 165 in total, successfully passed and moved on to the next phase. In [[2496]] the UNSC launched [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]] in response to [[Insurrectionist#Eridanus rebels|colonial secessionists]] who executed a series of attacks on [[Eridanus II]], which resulted in numerous deaths and the kidnappings of civilian and government officials in [[2494]]. This marked the first operational deployment of the ORION soldiers, who scored a decisive victory and emerged from the battle with only a single casualty. The ORION soldiers were able to complete the mission without even being ''seen'', thereby fueling a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation; this proved to be very helpful to ONI's [[propaganda]] efforts in the coming decades. Though the ORION soldiers were effective, their abilities fell short of the scientists' hopes, and they cost far too much to develop and field - in [[2506]] the project was deactivated and the soldiers were reassigned to various special operation units.{{Ref/Reuse|enc44}}
[[File:Master Chief-H3.png|100px|thumb|John-117, a SPARTAN-II.]]
In the years following the deactivation of the SPARTAN Project in 2506, the Insurrection became too large for the UNSC to manage with small Special Forces teams. As the Insurrectionist attacks were becoming more effective, and the military's responses heavier; the need for large scale military campaigns were becoming more and more necessary. The SPARTAN-II project was conceived by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] of ONI's Section 3, as the successor to the original ORION project and the best possible solution to end the conflict with the Insurrectionists. In [[2517]] the project begins; where the former SPARTANs were chemically-enhanced volunteers from the armed forces, the SPARTAN-IIs were young children, literally kidnapped from their homes, who were indoctrinated and raised as soldiers from as young as six years old, being cybernetically and surgically enhanced once they reach physical maturity. Although it is viewed as wildly unethical and filled with controversy, the secretive program produces results, and more importantly the SPARTAN-II soldiers proved to be the most effective soldiers ever fielded by a Human armed force - and the most powerful weapon in the battle against the Insurrection. However, in [[2525]] the sudden breakout of the [[Human-Covenant War]] proves to be the most challenging and daunting war yet waged by Humans, and the SPARTAN-IIs are outfitted with the most advanced mechanized armor in Human history. While the war with the [[Covenant Empire]] continued to progress and the Insurrection was effectively cut off, the SPARTAN-IIs continued to engage Insurrectionist factions who remained strong enough to pose a genuine threat to the UNSC. The SPARTAN-IIs continued to perform their missions near-flawlessly, and ruthlessly killed off rebel leaders while engaging Covenant forces, doing whatever was necessary to protect the interests of the UNSC.


===The SPARTAN-III Program===
===SPARTAN-II===
[[File:Default_Noble_6.png|70px|left|thumb|Noble Six, a SPARTAN-III.]]
[[File:Spartan-II Insignia.png|thumb|200px|The SPARTAN-II unit patch, which would later serve as the inspiration for the Spartan branch insignia.]]
As the Human-Covenant War progressed and casualties mounted exponentially, ONI activated another program that was arguably even more morally questionable than the SPARTAN-II program. Spearheaded by a prominent opponent to Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]] establishes the SPARTAN-III Program using the previous program as a proof of concept. Designed to produce supersoldiers more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a lower life expectancy, the SPARTAN-III program is intended for extreme high risk operations conducted at the highest level of secrecy. The SPARTAN-III candidates are once again children, however rather than actually stealing children from their beds, this time the "candidates" are children in their pre- or early teens, recruited from orphanages after the loss of their homes and families from the Covenant invasion, given the opportunity to strike back at the Covenant. The S-III candidates are taken to the planet [[Onyx]] and are under the leadership of SPARTAN-II [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kurt-051|Kurt "Ambrose"]]. Throughout the Human-Covenant War, three companies of SPARTAN-IIIs are trained, deployed and killed. The first company of S-IIIs, [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]], is successful in destroying Covenant and Rebel forces during the battles of [[Mamore]], [[New Constantinople]] and in the [[Bonanza Asteroid Belt]] - their last mission [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]] in [[2537]] is deemed a success, even though all of the Spartans of Alpha Company are killed in action. The second company, [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta]], is trained soon after the loss of Alpha, their first mission [[Operation: TORPEDO]] in [[2545]] is also deemed a success, however only two Spartans, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], survive out of the three hundred soldiers that take part in the operation. Tom and Lucy become trainers for the third company of S-IIIs, [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]. The third company of SPARTAN-IIIs complete their augmentation and many are deployed on missions elsewhere during the final years of the war, when the [[Shield World]] on Onyx was activated.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', page 85</ref> Smaller, highly specialized units consisting of SPARTAN-IIIs also existed - the [[Headhunters]] and [[Noble Team]], the latter so close in effectiveness to SPARTAN-IIs that they recieved SPARTAN-II-grade MJOLNIR armor and had [[Jorge-052|a SPARTAN-II]] as a permanent member. Several teams of Gamma Company survived the [[Battle of Onyx]] and are currently trapped in the Shield World with the other remaining SPARTAN-II survivors except for [[John-117]].
{{Main|SPARTAN-II program}}
In the years following the deactivation of the ORION Project in 2506, the Insurrection became too large for the UNSC to manage with small Special Forces teams. As the Insurrectionist attacks were becoming more effective, and the military's responses heavier; the need for large scale military campaigns were becoming more and more necessary. The SPARTAN-II program was conceived by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] of ONI's Section 3, as the successor to the original ORION project and the best possible solution to end the conflict with the Insurrectionists.


===Spartan Four Program===
Whereas the former Spartans were chemically-enhanced volunteers from the armed forces, the SPARTAN-IIs were young children, who were kidnapped, indoctrinated, and raised as soldiers from as young as six years old, being surgically, genetically, and cybernetically enhanced once they reached physical maturity. Although it was viewed as wildly unethical and filled with controversy, the secretive program produced results, and more importantly the Spartan-II soldiers proved to be the most effective soldiers ever fielded by a human armed force - and the most powerful weapon in the battle against the Insurrection. However, in [[2525]] the sudden breakout of the [[Human-Covenant War]] proved to be the most challenging and daunting war yet waged by humans, and the SPARTAN-IIs were outfitted with [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]], the most advanced mechanized armor in human history.
Conceived by Admiral Parangosky following the SPARTAN-III Program, the Spartan Four Program was to be head by Colonel Ackerson with Dr. Halsey forced to work under him. <ref>[[Halo: Glasslands]], page 147</ref>  Like the original ORION Project, the Spartan Four Program would use only consenting adult volunteers. <ref>[[Halo: Glasslands]], page 434</ref>


==Subordinate Units==
While the war with the [[Covenant]] continued to progress and the Insurrection was effectively cut off, the Spartan-IIs continued to engage Insurrectionist factions who remained strong enough to pose a genuine threat to the UNSC. The Spartan-IIs continued to perform their missions near-flawlessly, and ruthlessly killed off rebel leaders while engaging Covenant forces, doing whatever was necessary to protect the interests of the UNSC.
===ORION Project===
 
{{Main|ORION Project}}
===SPARTAN-III===
The ORION project or the SPARTAN-I program was first phase of the SPARTAN program.<ref>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', page 122</ref> Initiated in [[2491]], as an element of the ORION project.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', page 16</ref> The original Spartan project was created to test genetic enhancements on volunteers from the armed forces.<ref>Jan - [[Axon Clips Chapter 5]]</ref> Despite a high mortality rate, the ORION project was successful enough to eventually warrant a SPARTAN-II program.
{{Main|SPARTAN-III program}}
As the Human-Covenant War progressed and casualties mounted exponentially, ONI activated another program that was arguably even more morally questionable than the SPARTAN-II program. Spearheaded by a prominent opponent to Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, [[Colonel]] [[James Ackerson]], the SPARTAN-III program was established using the previous program as a proof of concept.
 
Designed to produce supersoldiers more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a lower life expectancy, the SPARTAN-III program was intended for extreme high risk operations conducted at the highest level of secrecy. The SPARTAN-III candidates were once again children; however, rather than actually stealing children from their beds, this time the "candidates" were recruited from orphanages after the loss of their homes and families from the Covenant invasion, given the opportunity to strike back at the Covenant. The S-III candidates were taken to the planet [[Onyx]] and were under the leadership of Spartan-II [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Kurt Ambrose]]. Most of the Spartan-IIIs were equipped with [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]], which is less advanced and cheaper to mass-produce than the MJOLNIR suits issued to the Spartan-IIs. Throughout the Human-Covenant War, three companies of Spartan-IIIs were trained and deployed, with exceedingly high casualty rates. The first company of S-IIIs, [[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]], was successful in destroying Covenant and rebel forces during the battles of [[Mamore]], [[New Constantinople]] and in the [[Bonanza asteroid belt]] - their last mission [[Operation: PROMETHEUS]] in [[2537]] was deemed a success, even though all of the Spartans of Alpha Company were killed in action. The second company, [[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta]], was trained soon after the loss of Alpha. In [[2545]], the company participated in [[Operation: TORPEDO]], which was also deemed a success; however, only two Spartans, [[Tom-B292]] and [[Lucy-B091]], survived out of the three hundred soldiers that took part in the operation. Tom and Lucy became trainers for the third company of S-IIIs, [[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]. Gamma Company completed their augmentation and most were deployed on missions elsewhere in late 2552, when the [[Trevelyan|Shield World]] on Onyx was activated.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 85''</ref> A fourth class, [[SPARTAN-III Delta Company|Delta Company]], was slated to begin training around late 2552,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 121''</ref> until the SPARTAN-III program was discontinued after the destruction of [[Onyx]] and the creation of the [[SPARTAN-IV program]]. After the war, the surviving Spartan-IIIs were offered the chance to integrate into the fledgling [[Spartan Operations]].
 
Smaller, highly specialized units consisting of Spartan-IIIs also existed; these included the [[Headhunters]] and [[NOBLE Team]]. These units consisted of Spartans who were deemed particularly exceptional among their peers, removed from their mainline companies and given superior equipment and armor. Notably, the members of NOBLE Team received sets of MJOLNIR armor and had [[Jorge-052|a Spartan-II]] as a permanent member.
 
===SPARTAN-IV===
[[File:Spartan Branch insignia.png|thumb|150px|The Spartan branch insignia, derived from that of the Spartan-IIs.]]
{{Main|SPARTAN-IV program}}
Conceived by a SPARTAN-II "washout", [[Commander]] [[Musa-096]], the SPARTAN-IV program was activated in early [[2553]]. Like the original ORION Project, the SPARTAN-IV program uses only consenting adult volunteers, the augmentation of adults having been made possible by advancements in the technologies pioneered by the prior Spartan programs. Unlike the mainline SPARTAN-IIIs who were forced to use cheaper equipment due to budgetary constraints, all Spartan-IVs are equipped with MJOLNIR armor, now mass-produced by several private companies. The Spartan-IVs serve in a dedicated UNSC service branch known as [[Spartan Operations]], whereas their forebears operated within other chains of command.{{Ref/Reuse|H4 Story}} Unlike the other military branches, the Spartans lack a formal rank hierarchy altogether, instead employing a more malleable framework based on an individual Spartan's skills and specialization.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 33''</ref>
{{Clear}}
 
==List of Spartans{{Ref/Note|Four identified Spartans are currently unable to be confidently placed in a certain generation with a high degree of confidence. These three are [[SPARTAN NOLA]], [[SPARTAN NV66]], [[Yasmine Zaman]], and [[Nicole-458]]. Nicole has been identified as a [[Spartan-II]], but her number suggests she may in fact be a Spartan-III. Similarly, Yasmine's given date of conscription as a Spartan-II correlates with that of the launch of the Spartan-III program's Alpha Company: 2537.}}==
===ORION Project augmented personnel ("Spartan-Is")===
*[[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] - KIA [[2552|December 11, 2552]] on [[Installation 08]] above [[Installation 00]].
*[[Gilly]] - retired from military service after the dissolution of the project in [[2506]].
*[[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Gladys Wilson]] - retired from military service after [[Operation: TREBUCHET]] in early [[2525]].
*[[James James|Jim James]] (born James Lee) - retired from military service after the dissolution of the project in [[2506]]. Killed in late [[2552]] in [[New York City]].
*[[Morales]] - retired from military service after the dissolution of the project in [[2506]].
*[[ORION candidate 047]] - died due to an adverse reaction from a [[drugs|medication]] given for augmentation.
*At least 294 others.{{Ref/Note|There were 300 "Spartan-Is" at the height of the project. It is likely that [[John Forge]]'s father (died c. 2541 in [[Chicago]], [[URNA]].) was counted among this number. It is also possible that [[Nolan Byrne]] (KIA November 17, 2552 in [[Voi]], [[Kenya]]) was a Spartan-1 as well.}}
 
====="Spartan 1.1s"{{Ref/Note|It is likely that [[Sergeant]] [[John Forge]] (died [[2531]]) was a "Spartan 1.1".}}=====
*[[Benji Wong]]
*[[Darin]]
*[[Frannie]]
*[[Guy]] - [[Prisoner|incarcerated]] as of late [[2552]].
*[[Janissary James]] - daughter of James Lee and Gilly.
*[[Kevin Morales]] - son of [[Morales]], the "Spartan-I".


{{Spartan I}}
===SPARTAN-IIs{{Ref/Note|Of the Spartans listed KIA on Reach on August 30, 2552, two were identified as "Beta Red Actual" and "Red-Fifteen".  Another unidentified spartan perished on Reach: likely Joseph-122.}}===
{{Scrollbox|
*[[James-005]] - KIA [[2552|August 30, 2552]] above [[Reach]].
*[[Jai-006]] - Active as of [[2558|July 2558]].
*[[Li-008]] - KIA in September 2552 in [[slipstream space]].
*[[Naomi-010]] - Active as of 2558.
*[[Leon-011]] - Active as of October 2558.
*[[SPARTAN-013]] - KIA during the augmentation process on March 9, 2525.
*[[Kirk-018]] - Crippled during the [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|augmentation process]] on March 9, [[2525]] and assigned to a noncombatant role.
*[[Serin-019]] - Damaged by augmentations. Promoted to [[Admiral]]. Became [[CINCONI]] by [[2555|March 2555]].
*[[Daisy-023]] - KIA after 2535.
*[[Robert-025]] - Active as of October 2558.
*[[Riz-028/Silver|Riz-028]] - Status unknown.
*[[Joshua-029]] - KIA August 30, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Vinh-030]] - KIA September 7, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Otto-031]] - KIA [[2557|July 25, 2557]] on [[Installation 03]].
*[[Samuel-034]] - KIA [[2525|November 27, 2525]] aboard the ''[[Unrelenting]]'' in the [[Chi Ceti system]].
*[[Randall-037]] - Discharged from the [[UNSC]] in [[2546]]. Joined the [[Sedran Colonial Guard]]. KIA in [[2556|February 2556]] on [[Alpha Shard]], a piece of [[Installation 04]] that had relocated to Location 6201.
*[[Isaac-039]] - KIA September 7, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Douglas-042]] - Active as of [[2559|March 2559]]. Status remains MIA by UNSC from 2537.
*[[William-043]] - KIA November 3, 2552 on [[Onyx]].
*[[Anton-044]] - KIA in September 2552 in [[slipstream space]].
*[[Keiichi-047]] - MIA as of March 3, 2558.{{Ref/Note|Keiichi may be KIA but only represented as MIA due to [[ONI Directive 930]].}}
*[[Kurt-051]] - KIA November 3, 2552 on Onyx.
*[[Jorge-052]] - KIA August 14, 2552 above Reach onboard Covenant [[Ardent Prayer]] in [[Operation: UPPER CUT]].
*[[Margaret-053]] - KIA July 25, 2557 on Installation 03.
*[[Linda-058]] - Active as of October 2559.
*[[Malcolm-059]] - KIA August 30, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Maria-062]] - Retired from active service, but serving in the reserves as of October 2552.
*[[Sheila-065]] - KIA in 2544 on [[Miridem]].
*[[Soren-066]] - MIA as of [[2527]] after defecting to the [[Insurrection]].
*[[Solomon-069]] - KIA in [[2544]] at [[Ascon]].
*[[Cassandra-075]] - Crippled during the augmentation process on March 9, 2525. Undergoing rehabilitation as of late 2552.
*[[Arthur-079]] - KIA in 2544 at Ascon.
*[[Rene-081]] - Crippled during the augmentation process on March 9, 2525 and assigned to a noncombatant role.
*[[Fhajad-084]] - Crippled during the augmentation process on March 9, 2525 and assigned to a noncombatant role.
*[[Kelly-087]] - Active as of October 2559.
*[[Jerome-092]] - Active as of 2559. Status remains MIA by UNSC from 2537.
*[[Grace-093]] - KIA September 13, 2552 aboard the ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' in the [[Tau Ceti system]] on [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]].
*[[Caleb-095]] - Attempted abduction in [[2517]] failed.
*[[Musa-096]] - Crippled during the augmentation process on March 9, 2525. Promoted to [[Rear Admiral]]. Created the [[SPARTAN-IV Program]] and founded [[Spartan Operations]].
*[[August-099]] - Active as of October 2558.
*[[Victor-101]] - KIA July 25, 2557 on Installation 03.
*[[Ralph-103]] - Discharged at some point between 2525 and [[2531]]. Enlisted with the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] and was KIA after 2535.
*[[Frederic-104]] - Active as of October 2559.
*[[Adriana-111]] - Active as of July 2558.
*SPARTAN-116 - Status unknown.
*[[John-117]] - Active as of [[2560|May 2560]].
*SPARTAN-118 - Status unknown.
*SPARTAN-119 - Status unknown.
*[[Michael-120]] - Active as of July 2558.
*SPARTAN-121 - Status unknown.
*[[Joseph-122]] - Status unknown. Presumably KIA.
*SPARTAN-123 - Status unknown.
*SPARTAN-124 - Status unknown.
*[[Kai-125/Silver|Kai-125]] - Status unknown.
*[[Oscar-129]] - Committed suicide in early 2525.
*[[Alice-130]] - Active as of 2559. Status remains MIA by UNSC from 2537.
*[[Vannak-134/Silver|Vannak-134]] - Status unknown.
*[[Carris-137]] - Status unknown. Presumably KIA.
*[[Cal-141]] - KIA in [[2544]] on [[Heian]].
*[[Roma-143]] - KIA July 25, 2557 on Installation 03.
*18 others that were not augmented successfully in 2525.
}}


===SPARTAN-II Program===
===SPARTAN-IIIs===
{{Main|SPARTAN-II Program}}
{{Scrollbox|
The SPARTAN-II Program was the continuing effort to produce super-soldiers and would be highlighted by being the first in the series to mix an [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Advanced Powered Exoskeleton System]] with the subjects' superior physiques. The SPARTAN-IIs were heavily engaged in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Since the end of the Human-Covenant War, survivors of this group include [[SPARTAN-058]], [[SPARTAN-087]], and [[SPARTAN-104]] in the [[Micro Dyson Sphere]] in Onyx and [[John-117|SPARTAN-117]] trapped in deep space. The SPARTAN-II Program's official symbol is an eagle posed with its talons forward, ready to strike holding a lightning bolt in its left talon and arrows in its right.  
*[[Kai-A019]] - Status unknown. Presumably KIA.
{{Spartan II}}
*[[Robert-A057]] - KIA on [[2537|August 2, 2537]] on asteroid [[K7-49]].
*[[Shane-A112]] - KIA on August 2, 2537 on asteroid [[K7-49]].
*[[Jane-A203]] - KIA on August 2, 2537 on asteroid [[K7-49]].
*[[Emile-A239]] - KIA on August 30, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Carter-A259]] - KIA on August 30, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Jun-A266]] - Retired from military service. Acting [[Chief of Staff]] of Spartan Operations.
*[[Kevin-A282]] - Active as of [[2553]].
*[[Thom-A293]] - KIA on April 22, 2552 on [[Fumirole]].
*[[Hazel-A302]] - Active as of 2553.
*[[Rosenda-A344]] - Status unknown.
*[[Adam-B004]] - KIA [[2545|July 3, 2545]] on [[Pegasi Delta]].
*[[Lucy-B091]] - Active as of April [[2554]].
*[[Owen-B096]] - Active as of 2553.
*[[SPARTAN-B170]] - Status unknown. Presumably KIA.
*[[Min-B174]] - KIA July 3, 2545 on [[Pegasi Delta]].
*[[Roland-B210]] - KIA on a [[Covenant]]-occupied [[Unidentified moon|moon]].
*[[Tom-B292]] - Active as of April [[2554]].
*[[Jonah-B283]] - KIA on a [[Covenant]]-occupied [[Unidentified moon|moon]].
*[[SPARTAN-B312]] - KIA on August 30, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Catherine-B320]] - KIA on August 23, 2552 on Reach.
*[[Holly-G003]] - KIA on November 3, 2552 on Onyx.
*[[SPARTAN-G059]] - Active as of January 2558.
*[[Ash-G099]] - Active as of December 2553. Officially declared KIA.
*[[Dante-G188]] - KIA on November 3, 2552 on Onyx.
*[[Olivia-G291]] - Active as of December 2553. Officially declared KIA.
*[[Mark-G313]] - KIA on October 14, 2559 on installation 00
*1,220 others (includes all children trained; not just those that were successfully [[Project CHRYSANTHEMUM|augmented]] and put into active service).
}}


===SPARTAN-III Program===
===SPARTAN-IVs===
{{Main|Spartan-III Program}}
{{Scrollbox|
Outfitted and engineered by James Ackerson and the Office of Naval Intelligence, the SPARTAN-III program was the next generation of Spartan super soldiers, perfecting and rectifying all that the SPARTAN-II program could not. While they are inferior to the SPARTAN-IIs in terms of general strength, speed, etc, they were designed to be more numerous, better trained, cheaper, and expendable.
*[[92738-61842-LC]] - Active as of September 2558.
*[[Anthony Madsen]] - Active as of July 2558.
*[[Bradford Gale]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Bethany Kossup]] - Active as of [[2557]].
*[[Cara Costabile]] - KIA February 2558 on Requiem.
*[[Carlo Hoya]] - Active as of July 2558.
*[[Carmichael]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Casillas]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Dunlap]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Dunn (Spartan-IV)|Dunn]] - Active as of March 2558.
*[[Edward Buck]] - Active as of November 2558.
*[[Edward Davis]] - KIA in [[2554]] on [[X50]]. Portions of his personality were stored in a [[durance]] and recovered by the [[UNSC]].
*[[Elias Holt]] - Active as of March 2555.
*[[Ernst Deming]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Estey-Bethel]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Frank Kodiak]] - Active as of March 2555.
*[[Fredric Zurenia]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Gabriel Thorne]] - Active as of September 2558.
*[[Gustavo Esposito]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Gretchen Ketola]] - Re-enlisted from retirement. Active as of November 2558.
*[[Hideo Wakahisa]] - KIA March 29, 2554 onboard an [[Unidentified Spartan-IV training station|orbital station]] over a dwarf planet.
*[[Holly Tanaka]] - Active as of November 2558.
*[[Hong]] - Active as of March 2558
*[[Horatio Fry]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Ilsa Zane]] - Defected to the New Colonial Alliance.
*[[Jameson Locke]] - Active as of November 2558.
*[[Jared Miller]] - Active as of March 2558.
*[[Joel Thomas]] - Active as of July 2558.
*[[Jones (Spartan-IV)|Jones]] - Active as of March 2558.
*[[Kojo Agu]] - Active as of 2558.
*[[Kovsky]] - Active as of 2554.
*[[Lincoln]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Michael Crespo]] - Defected to the [[United Rebel Front]]. Active as of November 2558, returning to [[Alpha-Nine]].
*[[Naiya Ray]] - Active as of July 2558.
*[[Newman]] - KIA March 5, 2558 on [[Ealen IV]].
*[[Olympia Vale]] - Active as of November 2558.
*[[Orzel]] - Active as of November 2558.
*[[Paul DeMarco]] - KIA March 5, 2558 on [[Ealen IV]].
*[[Robert Dalton]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Rudolf Schein]] - Defected to the United Rebel Front. Killed March 29, 2554 onboard an [[Unidentified Spartan-IV training station|orbital station]] over a dwarf planet.
*[[Commander]] [[Sarah Palmer]] - Active as of January 2559.
*[[Scott Macrae]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Tashi]] - KIA February 2558 on [[Requiem]].
*[[Tedra Grant]] - Active as of July 2558.
*[[Terry Hedge]] - Active as of February 2558.
*[[Taylor Miles]] - Re-enlisted from retirement. Active as of November 2558.
*[[To]] - KIA March 5, 2558 on [[Ealen IV]].
*[[Vladimir Scruggs]] - Defected to the [[New Colonial Alliance]]. Killed March 5, 2558 on Ealen IV.
*[[Yeong-hao Holst]] - Active as of January 2553.
*At least 456 others.
}}


{{Spartan III}}
==''Halo: Fleet Battles''==
===UNSC Pelican Boarding Craft (Spartans)===
*Flight slots: 0
*Movement: 12"
*Damage track: 6
*Security detail: 5
*Systems loadout:
**Assault specialist (2)
**Heroic save (Spartan)


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*In order to preserve morale during the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC promoted the belief that Spartans could not be killed, hence why all deceased Spartans are listed either as [[Missing in Action]] or [[Wounded in Action]].
*At least five Spartans are known to have defected from the UNSC to various Insurrectionist cells: [[Soren-066]], [[Ilsa Zane]], [[Rudolf Schein]], [[Michael Crespo]], and [[Vladimir Scruggs]].
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]'' is the only official work to date that depicts at least one member from each SPARTAN generation.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Halo3_ODST_Sgt._Johnson.png|[[Avery Johnson]], a Spartan-I, clad in [[ODST armor|ODST battle dress uniform]].
File:HInf Character Master Chief render.png|[[John-117]], a Spartan-II, clad in [[GEN3|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN3]]].
File:HR-MCC-B312.png|[[SPARTAN-B312]], a Spartan-III, clad in [[B-class Mjolnir|Mark V[B]]] MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN1].
File:H5G-Render-Locke-fullbody.png|[[Jameson Locke]], a Spartan-IV, clad in [[HUNTER-class Mjolnir|HUNTER-class]] MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2].
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
**''[[Conversations from the Universe]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Armor Testing]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Believe]]''
**''[[Diorama]]'' {{C|Diorama only}}
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
Line 69: Line 277:
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Armor Testing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
**''[[Patrol]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Data pads]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
{{col-2}}
**''[[The Package]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon}}
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Patrol]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Deliver Hope]]''
**''[[Infinity Briefing Packet]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*[[Believe|''Believe'' campaign]] {{C|Non-canon}}
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[All Hail]]''
**''[[The Cost]]''
**''[[Hunt the Signal]]''
**''[[A Hero Falls]]''
**''[[The Hunt Begins]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Fractures]]''
**''[[Lessons Learned]]''
**''[[Breaking Strain]]''
**''[[A Necessary Truth]]''
**''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Something has Happened]]''
**''[[Fireteam Majestic Poker Night]]''
**''[[On the Brink]]''
**''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''
**''[[Dominion Splinter]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle Born]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Vertical Umbrage]]''
*''[[Halo: Winter Contention]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
*''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]''
*''[[Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]''
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
==See also==
* [[Biological augmentation]]
* [[Rumbledrug]]
* [[Prelate]]
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
{{SpartanPrograms}}
{{SpartanPrograms}}
[[Category:UNSC Special Forces]]
[[Category:UNSC Special Forces]]
[[Category:Spartans| ]]
[[Category:Spartans| ]]
[[Category:UNSC projects]]
[[Category:UNSC projects]]

Latest revision as of 11:53, June 15, 2024

This article is about the supersoldiers. For other uses, see Spartan (disambiguation).
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A symbol representative of all incarnations of Spartan programs.
“ They stand alone — undaunted — before the mightiest enemy in the universe. But these are no ordinary men. They are SPARTANS...[1] ”

Spartans or SPARTAN Programs are members of a series of United Nations Space Command projects designed to create physically, genetically, technologically, and mentally superior supersoldiers as special fighting units.[2] Although the word "SPARTAN" is written in all capital letters when used in reference to the programs in a formal context, it is not an acronym; the supersoldiers are known simply as "Spartans".

The first major effort to create augmented supersoldiers was the ORION Project, later retroactively dubbed "SPARTAN-I", which used operatives drafted from the UNSC. The subsequent programs, SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III, were highly successful, but also controversial because of their dubious ethics concerning the use children as candidates, particularly in the Spartan-II program where risk of injury or death in the augmentation procedures was relatively high. The latest installment, SPARTAN-IV, returned to the idea's roots by using consenting adult volunteers primarily drawn from the various special forces units of the UNSC. While formerly serving within the various conventional military branches of the UNSC (mainly the Navy), the Spartans were brought under a single organization with the formation of the military branch known as Spartan Operations to accommodate the growing number of Spartans in the fourth-generation program following the end of the Human-Covenant War.[3]

The Spartan supersoldiers have traditionally been supplied with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, the most iconic being the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor first worn by the Spartan-IIs and later utilized to a great extent by the SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers.

Background

The basic concept for the SPARTAN programs has been around since the late 22nd century when the first bioengineering protocols were developed for the Interplanetary War.[4] Since the establishment of these protocols humans have been using performance-enhancing equipment and augmentations to make them stronger and faster than previously possible. Spartans have been deployed numerous times throughout human conflict, leading up to and during the Human-Covenant War. The notion of creating supersoldiers first arose as a plan to enhance normal human soldiers into powerfully augmented special operations commandos. Initially the three separate programs were humanity's various attempts to create the perfect soldiers, in order to patrol the colonies, protect civilian and government populations, crush uprisings in their infancy and ensure others don't rise up as a result.

The Spartan soldiers of the UNSC are named after the Spartans of Ancient Greece, specifically during the time of the Persian invasion led by Xerxes I. The wars between invading Persians and defending Greeks would be known as the Greco-Persian Wars, and lasted from 499-448 BCE. During this war, the Battle of Thermopylae occurred, in which 300 Spartan soldiers leading 5000 other Greeks under the command of Leonidas I, held back a significantly larger force of Persian soldiers. All of the Spartans were eventually killed, but they successfully killed 20,000 Persians (according to Herodotus), and bought the Greeks time to prepare a better defense for Greece. The Spartans' formidable resilience resulted from their rigorous training in the agoge, which started when they reached the age of 7.

History

Origin

The genesis of the SPARTAN programs occurred in 2321 with the activation of the ORION Project.[4] Launched by the Office of Naval Intelligence, the project was named after the Greek mythological hero Orion.[5] The aim of ORION was to build on bioengineering protocols established in 2164 and create stronger and better soldiers than any before them.

The initial beginnings of ORION were merely a test to see what could be accomplished with the advancements of that time, and candidates of the ORION project were all volunteers from the armed forces of the military - these handful of candidates went through numerous testing and augmentations throughout the duration of the project. However, the results were far less than expected and eventually the candidates were seeded into the regular chain of command after the project was declared ineffective and terminated.

The relaunch of ORION

ORION Project logo.
Main article: ORION Project

In 2491, the Colonial Military Authority relaunched ORION in secrecy, with the new goal of learning from the mistakes of the previous attempt, and creating a soldier unlike anything seen before - and to deploy these soldiers behind enemy lines and quell insurgencies in their infancy, or destroy established insurgencies by destroying their chain of command and expanding outward.

The project was headquartered in one of the many orbital docks on the fortress world Reach, and the candidates were, once again, selected volunteers from the UNSC Special Forces. This iteration of the project used more advanced indoctrination and biological augmentation techniques, and after a grueling series of physical and mental tests, the first batch of soldiers, 165 in total, successfully passed and moved on to the next phase. In 2496 the UNSC launched Operation: CHARLEMAGNE in response to colonial secessionists who executed a series of attacks on Eridanus II, which resulted in numerous deaths and the kidnappings of civilian and government officials in 2494. This marked the first operational deployment of the ORION soldiers, who scored a decisive victory and emerged from the battle with only a single casualty. The ORION soldiers were able to complete the mission without even being seen, thereby fueling a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation; this proved to be very helpful to ONI's propaganda efforts in the coming decades. Though the ORION soldiers were effective, their abilities fell short of the scientists' hopes, and they cost far too much to develop and field - in 2506 the project was deactivated and the soldiers were reassigned to various special operation units.[4]

SPARTAN-II

The SPARTAN-II unit patch, which would later serve as the inspiration for the Spartan branch insignia.
Main article: SPARTAN-II program

In the years following the deactivation of the ORION Project in 2506, the Insurrection became too large for the UNSC to manage with small Special Forces teams. As the Insurrectionist attacks were becoming more effective, and the military's responses heavier; the need for large scale military campaigns were becoming more and more necessary. The SPARTAN-II program was conceived by Dr. Catherine Halsey of ONI's Section 3, as the successor to the original ORION project and the best possible solution to end the conflict with the Insurrectionists.

Whereas the former Spartans were chemically-enhanced volunteers from the armed forces, the SPARTAN-IIs were young children, who were kidnapped, indoctrinated, and raised as soldiers from as young as six years old, being surgically, genetically, and cybernetically enhanced once they reached physical maturity. Although it was viewed as wildly unethical and filled with controversy, the secretive program produced results, and more importantly the Spartan-II soldiers proved to be the most effective soldiers ever fielded by a human armed force - and the most powerful weapon in the battle against the Insurrection. However, in 2525 the sudden breakout of the Human-Covenant War proved to be the most challenging and daunting war yet waged by humans, and the SPARTAN-IIs were outfitted with MJOLNIR, the most advanced mechanized armor in human history.

While the war with the Covenant continued to progress and the Insurrection was effectively cut off, the Spartan-IIs continued to engage Insurrectionist factions who remained strong enough to pose a genuine threat to the UNSC. The Spartan-IIs continued to perform their missions near-flawlessly, and ruthlessly killed off rebel leaders while engaging Covenant forces, doing whatever was necessary to protect the interests of the UNSC.

SPARTAN-III

Main article: SPARTAN-III program

As the Human-Covenant War progressed and casualties mounted exponentially, ONI activated another program that was arguably even more morally questionable than the SPARTAN-II program. Spearheaded by a prominent opponent to Halsey's SPARTAN-II program, Colonel James Ackerson, the SPARTAN-III program was established using the previous program as a proof of concept.

Designed to produce supersoldiers more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a lower life expectancy, the SPARTAN-III program was intended for extreme high risk operations conducted at the highest level of secrecy. The SPARTAN-III candidates were once again children; however, rather than actually stealing children from their beds, this time the "candidates" were recruited from orphanages after the loss of their homes and families from the Covenant invasion, given the opportunity to strike back at the Covenant. The S-III candidates were taken to the planet Onyx and were under the leadership of Spartan-II Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose. Most of the Spartan-IIIs were equipped with Semi-Powered Infiltration armor, which is less advanced and cheaper to mass-produce than the MJOLNIR suits issued to the Spartan-IIs. Throughout the Human-Covenant War, three companies of Spartan-IIIs were trained and deployed, with exceedingly high casualty rates. The first company of S-IIIs, Alpha Company, was successful in destroying Covenant and rebel forces during the battles of Mamore, New Constantinople and in the Bonanza asteroid belt - their last mission Operation: PROMETHEUS in 2537 was deemed a success, even though all of the Spartans of Alpha Company were killed in action. The second company, Beta, was trained soon after the loss of Alpha. In 2545, the company participated in Operation: TORPEDO, which was also deemed a success; however, only two Spartans, Tom-B292 and Lucy-B091, survived out of the three hundred soldiers that took part in the operation. Tom and Lucy became trainers for the third company of S-IIIs, Gamma Company. Gamma Company completed their augmentation and most were deployed on missions elsewhere in late 2552, when the Shield World on Onyx was activated.[6] A fourth class, Delta Company, was slated to begin training around late 2552,[7] until the SPARTAN-III program was discontinued after the destruction of Onyx and the creation of the SPARTAN-IV program. After the war, the surviving Spartan-IIIs were offered the chance to integrate into the fledgling Spartan Operations.

Smaller, highly specialized units consisting of Spartan-IIIs also existed; these included the Headhunters and NOBLE Team. These units consisted of Spartans who were deemed particularly exceptional among their peers, removed from their mainline companies and given superior equipment and armor. Notably, the members of NOBLE Team received sets of MJOLNIR armor and had a Spartan-II as a permanent member.

SPARTAN-IV

The Spartan branch insignia, derived from that of the Spartan-IIs.
Main article: SPARTAN-IV program

Conceived by a SPARTAN-II "washout", Commander Musa-096, the SPARTAN-IV program was activated in early 2553. Like the original ORION Project, the SPARTAN-IV program uses only consenting adult volunteers, the augmentation of adults having been made possible by advancements in the technologies pioneered by the prior Spartan programs. Unlike the mainline SPARTAN-IIIs who were forced to use cheaper equipment due to budgetary constraints, all Spartan-IVs are equipped with MJOLNIR armor, now mass-produced by several private companies. The Spartan-IVs serve in a dedicated UNSC service branch known as Spartan Operations, whereas their forebears operated within other chains of command.[3] Unlike the other military branches, the Spartans lack a formal rank hierarchy altogether, instead employing a more malleable framework based on an individual Spartan's skills and specialization.[8]

List of Spartans[Note 1]

ORION Project augmented personnel ("Spartan-Is")

"Spartan 1.1s"[Note 3]

SPARTAN-IIs[Note 4]

SPARTAN-IIIs

SPARTAN-IVs

Halo: Fleet Battles

UNSC Pelican Boarding Craft (Spartans)

  • Flight slots: 0
  • Movement: 12"
  • Damage track: 6
  • Security detail: 5
  • Systems loadout:
    • Assault specialist (2)
    • Heroic save (Spartan)

Trivia

Gallery

List of appearances

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Four identified Spartans are currently unable to be confidently placed in a certain generation with a high degree of confidence. These three are SPARTAN NOLA, SPARTAN NV66, Yasmine Zaman, and Nicole-458. Nicole has been identified as a Spartan-II, but her number suggests she may in fact be a Spartan-III. Similarly, Yasmine's given date of conscription as a Spartan-II correlates with that of the launch of the Spartan-III program's Alpha Company: 2537.
  2. ^ There were 300 "Spartan-Is" at the height of the project. It is likely that John Forge's father (died c. 2541 in Chicago, URNA.) was counted among this number. It is also possible that Nolan Byrne (KIA November 17, 2552 in Voi, Kenya) was a Spartan-1 as well.
  3. ^ It is likely that Sergeant John Forge (died 2531) was a "Spartan 1.1".
  4. ^ Of the Spartans listed KIA on Reach on August 30, 2552, two were identified as "Beta Red Actual" and "Red-Fifteen". Another unidentified spartan perished on Reach: likely Joseph-122.
  5. ^ Keiichi may be KIA but only represented as MIA due to ONI Directive 930.

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, description
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint: Spartans
  3. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Story
  4. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 44-45
  5. ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal, June 19, 2513
  6. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 85
  7. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 121
  8. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 33

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