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| {{era|FOR|TF|FS|GOO|HGN|UP|H1|H2|H3|HW}}
| | STILL HAVEN'T BANNED ME HALOFAG. |
| {{Ratings}}
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| {{Infobox Military Unit
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| |unit_name=Spartan-II Program
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| |image=[[Image:Fall of Reach.jpg|300px]]
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| |dates= [[2517]] - Present
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| |allegiance= [[United Nations Space Command]]
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| |branch= [[UNSC Navy|UNSC Naval]] [[ONI|Intelligence]]
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| |type= Special Operations
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| |role=
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| |size=
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| |command_structure=
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| |garrison= [[Reach]]
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| |garrison_label=
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| |nickname=
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| |patron=
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| |motto=
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| |colors=
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| |colors_label=
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| |march=
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| |mascot=
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| |anniversaries=
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| |equipment=[[MJOLNIR Mark VI|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], virtually all [[UNSC]] [[weapons]], most [[UNSC]] [[vehicles]]; appropriated [[Covenant]] [[technology]]
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| |equipment_label=
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| |battles= [[Human-Covenant War]]
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| |decorations=
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| |battle_honours=
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| |commanders=*[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]
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| *[[Lieutenant Commander|LCDR]] [[Kurt Ambrose]]
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| *[[Lieutenant, Junior Grade|Lt]] [[Fred-104]]
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| *[[Master Chief Petty Officer|MCPO]] [[John-117]]
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| |notable_members=
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| }}
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| {{Quote|You have been called upon to serve, you will be trained...and you will become the best we can make of you. You will be the Protectors of [[Earth]] and all her Colonies|Dr. Halsey to [[SPARTAN]] recruits}}
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| The '''SPARTAN-II Program''' was part of the [[SPARTAN Program]], an effort to produce "shoot first; ask questions later" 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.
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| == History ==
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| === Origins ===
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| 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 taken. The SPARTAN-II program would meet these requirements, creating a small group of elite soldiers meant to subdue insurrections in their infancy. In this way, civilian casualties might be minimized, civil war averted, and costly conventional solutions made unnecessary.
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| 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 five and seven years old. To preserve the program's secrecy, the children were replaced by [[Flash-Cloning|flash clones]] which would die soon thereafter due to numerous medical complications associated with flash-cloning an entire human being.
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| [[Image:Movie Concept 2.jpg|thumb|The SPARTANs training on Reach]]
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| 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-II 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, of which some were physically crippled (such as [[SPARTAN-084]]); 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.
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| The year [[2525]] would see the fulfillment of the program when the survivors were fitted with the [[MJOLNIR armor#MJOLNIR Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mark IV]] Powered Assault Armour.
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| === The Human-Covenant War ===
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| 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 were only tactical in nature. Nonetheless, heroic rearguard and delaying actions saved countless human lives from the genocidal [[Covenant]] campaign. During the [[Covenant]] campaign, it was decided to make the Spartan-II project public, in an effort to boost morale.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| However, all preparations were interrupted (and subsequently canceled) 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.
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| Following the [[Battle of Installation 04|events at Alpha Halo]], the Spartans was 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]].
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| The Spartan-IIs were sent on many missions, such as the one where [[John-117]], [[Kelly-087]], [[Samuel-034]], and many others were sent on a mission to destroy a [[Covenant]] Ship. [[Samuel-034]] got hit with a plasma bolt by a [[Jackal]] early in the mission. When they had to plant the explosives and jump into space, [[John]] told Sam to stay behind instead of decompressing in space. Sam died but was probably recommended for the Silver Star or [[Medal of Honor]].
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| == Technology ==
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| === Biological Augmentation ===
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| {{Main|SPARTAN-II Augmentation Procedures}}
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| [[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:
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| *''Carbide ceramic ossification:'' 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.
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| *''Muscular enhancement injections:'' An intra-muscular injection of a protein complex to increase tissue density and decrease lactose recovery time. Increased the risk of a fatal cardiac volume increase.
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| *''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.
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| *''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.
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| *''Superconducting fabrication of neural dendrites:'' Altered the bio-electrical nerve trans-duction to shielded electronic trans-duction. 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.
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| The results of these experiments were used by the [[SPARTAN-III]] program designers to refine their bio-augmentation procedures.
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| === MJOLNIR Armor ===
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| {{Main|MJOLNIR armor}}
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| [[Image:HWSPARTAN.PNG|thumb|left|A SPARTAN with Mark IV MJOLNIR armor from [[Halo Wars]]]]
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| The SPARTAN-II program was conceived in parallel with the development of the [[MJOLNIR armor]] (Pronounced: My-ol'-nir). 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]].
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| The demands of the armor were such that only the Spartans could wear them. A number of unaugmented Humans were killed attempting to use the suit during test trials because of the power the suit translated from normal movements. Project MJOLNIR's main rival in the race to create an armor for the SPARTAN-II Program was [[Project HAYABUSA]], the Japanese equivalent to [[Dr. Catherine Halsey]] and [[Project MJOLNIR]]. Each Spartan’s armor must be 2 inches taller than the man inside the suit, for example: John-117 is 6'10" but inside the armor he stands 7ft tall. This means that the taller the armor, the taller the Spartan.
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| This 2 inch gap from the Spartan's head to the inside of the armor's helmet was made because if there was any damage to the armor or indents it would not hit, or have any interaction with, the user's head.{{Verify_source}}
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| == Background ==
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| === Surviving SPARTAN-IIs ===
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| {{Quote|Die? Didn't you hear... Spartans never die.|Kurt-051 upon his death.}}
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| 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.
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| Beginning 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."
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| SPARTAN-II ("Second" Spartans) is these 75 "test subjects."
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| SPARTANS were not "allowed" to be marked as [[Wikipedia:killed in action|KIA]] as it was thought that the idea that SPARTANs were dying would be a crushing blow to morale. This gave rise to the idea that SPARTANs could not die.
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| ==== SPARTAN-II: 2525 ====
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| *[[Li-008|SPARTAN-008: Li]] - MIA during complicated slipspace battle.
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| *[[Joshua-029|SPARTAN-029: Joshua]] - [[MIA]] during [[The Battle of Reach]]
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| *[[Vinh-030|SPARTAN-030: Vinh]] - [[MIA]] during [[Battle of Reach]]
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| *[[Samuel-034|SPARTAN-034: Samuel]] - Confirmed KIA, first to actually destroy a Covenant ship in a non-ship to ship (MIA/WIA) [[Battle of Chi Ceti|battle]]
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| *[[Isaac-039|SPARTAN-039: Isaac]] - [[MIA]] during [[Battle of Reach]]
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| *[[William-043|SPARTAN-043: William]] - Confirmed KIA by Hunter pair during [[Battle of Onyx]], first to fight a Hunter Pair using Hand-to-Hand Combat (MIA/WIA).
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| *[[Anton-044|SPARTAN-044: Anton]] - MIA during complicated slipspace battle
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| *[[Kurt-051|SPARTAN-051: Kurt]] - KIA after the detonation of 2 FENRIS nukes on Onyx
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| *[[Linda-058|SPARTAN-058: Linda]] - Active in Shield World
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| *[[Malcolm-059|SPARTAN-059: Malcolm]] - Confirmed KIA during [[Battle of Reach]] (MIA/WIA)
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| *[[Maria-062|SPARTAN-062: Maria]] - Retired
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| *[[Kelly-087|SPARTAN-087: Kelly]] - Active in Shield World
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| *[[Grace-093|SPARTAN-093: Grace]] - Confirmed KIA During [[Operation: First Strike|Battle]] on ''[[Unyielding Heirophant]]'' (MIA/WIA)
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| *[[Frederic-104|SPARTAN-104: Frederic]] - Active in Shield World
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| *[[John-117|SPARTAN-117: John]] - MIA(Active), on the back section of the ''[[Forward Unto Dawn]]'', last seen drifting toward an unknown planet
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| *[[Spartan-James|James]] - MIA
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| *[[Cassandra|Cassandra]] - [[WIA]]
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| *[[Spartan-Randall|Randall]] - MIA
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| *[[Spartan-Sheila|Sheila]] - Confirmed KIA during [[Battle of Miridem]] (MIA)
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| *[[Gray Team]] - MIA(Probably Active).
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| *[[Spartan Group Omega]] - Status Unknown
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| However Spartans are only recorded as [[Wikipedia:missing in action|MIA]], even if there are eyewitnesses to their deaths. This maintains the morale of UNSC soldiers and the rumor that Spartans never die.
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| "No Spartan could be listed [[KIA]], only [[MIA]] or [[WIA]]. This is so it could be said that no Spartan could ever be killed in combat." -- Lt Niraj Shah; [[UNSC]] (retired; active duty: 2548-2573)
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| ==== SPARTAN-II: 2525 ====
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| These are Spartans that were trained, but never made it through the physical augmentations. Thus, they were considered unfit for active duty, so they never got to wear the MJOLNIR armor.
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| *[[Fhajad-084|SPARTAN-084: Fhajad]] - Discharged
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| *[[Spartan-Kirk|Kirk]] - Discharged
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| *[[Spartan-Rene|Rene]] - Discharged
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| ==== SPARTAN-II: 2537 ====
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| 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:
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| *[[Spartan-Yasmine|Yasmine]] - Killed in Augmentation
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| *[[Nicole-458]] - Trapped in the 21st Century (non-canon)
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| ==== SPARTAN-II: 2547 ====
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| While Spartans were previously something of legend, Section Two decided to begin public promotion of the [[Spartan-II]] program in [[2547]] in order to boost morale during the [[Human-Covenant War]]. It should also be noted that only the Spartan-II Program was publicly promoted, while the existence of the [[SPARTAN-III Program]] continued to remain strictly confidential. <ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 139 </ref>
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| ==== SPARTAN-II: 2552 ====
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| These are the known SPARTANs that were not on Reach or were killed before the Battle of Reach took place.
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| *[[Samuel-034|SPARTAN-034: Samuel]] - Confirmed KIA, first to actually destroy a Covenant ship in a non-ship to ship (MIA/WIA) [[Battle of Chi Ceti|battle]]
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| *[[Kurt-051|SPARTAN-051: Kurt]] - KIA at the end of the Covenant invasion of Onyx
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| *[[Maria-062|SPARTAN-062: Maria]] - Retired
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| *[[Cassandra|Cassandra]] - [[WIA]]
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| *[[Spartan-Randall|Randall]] - only true spartan MIA
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| *[[Spartan-Sheila|Sheila]] - Confirmed KIA during [[Battle of Miridem]] (MIA)
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| *[[Gray Team]] - MIA(Probably Active)
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| ==== Last known surviving SPARTAN-IIs ====
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| The last known surviving Spartan-IIs are:
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| *[[John-117]]
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| *[[Kelly-087]]
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| *[[Fred-104]]
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| *[[Linda-058]]
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| *[[Maria-062]] (from the ''Halo: Graphic Novel'' story ''[[Armor Testing]], retired'')
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| *[[Cassandra]]
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| *[[Fhajad-084]] (Discharged due to side-effects of augmentations)
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| *Members of the conspicuous [[Gray Team]] and those of Class 3 still remain as well.
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| A number of SPARTAN-IIs have 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:
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| *[[Anton-044]]
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| *[[Li-008]]
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| *[[Spartan-James]] (number unknown)
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| *[[Joshua-029]]
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| *[[Isaac-039]]
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| *[[Vinh-030]]
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| 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.
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| The status of SPARTAN-IIs is muddied further in the novels. For example, [[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]]. 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]]<ref>The Cole Protocol Official announcement</ref>. As in ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' these three were said not to have been heard from for a year. Their fate will finally be resolved in the upcoming book ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''.
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| [[Bungie]] has said that these discrepancies only ''seem'' to be errors and that everything will be made clear in time. These might be clarified ''[[Halo: Chronicles]]'' or the officially unannounced Bungie ''Halo'' project (which was to be unveiled at E3 '08.)
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| It is said that [[John-117]] was the only Spartan to return from [[Reach]] without life threatening injuries.
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| == Trivia ==
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| *The SPARTAN-IIs, in [[MJOLNIR]] Mark V armor, have a reaction time of approximately 4 milliseconds and can lift around twelve times the body weight of a normal person, according to the book ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''.
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| *The [[Marines]] refer to all [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] personnel as ''Swabbie'', including Spartans (though it has only been observed with John-117).
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| *The Spartans are based on the ancient Greeks from Sparta, known for their military might and extreme training regiments plus are known to be the world's greatest army.
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| *The SPARTAN-II Program was incorrectly referred to as the first super soldiers ever made by [[humanity]] on the back cover of ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''.
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| *They can also lift many times their own body weight that is almost double the normal amount because of their increased muscle density.
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| *In gameplay, [[John-117]] is the only Spartan that you can control and you can see. The games refer to him as the last surviving Spartan, contradicting other sources.
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| *The Spartan-IIs were said to look as alien as the [[Covenant]] in their [[MJOLNIR]] armor.
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| *In Halo Wars, SPARTAN IIs are capable of hijacking enemy vehicles, as seen during G4's hands-on Halo Wars coverage on July 14th.
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| *The Spartans are never listed as KIA instead they are listed as MIA or WIA. This is what makes them mistakenly seem invincible.
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| *Spartan-IIs are named in an XYZ manner with each letter representing a number, such as 117, 048 and so on.
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| *In Sparta to become a warrior the child had to have no mental disabillity and could not be crippled. Training also began at an early age, usually at the age of 7. This is much like the SPARTAN-II's augmentations and training.
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| ==Pictures==
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| <gallery>
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| Image:Fall of Reach.jpg|Four SPARTAN-II Soldiers in 2552
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| Image:Goingtoactivatehalo.JPG|SPARTAN-117: John, the most infamous SPARTAN
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| Image:Hood.jpg|An award Ceremony for SPARTAN-117
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| Image:Kelly2.JPG|[[SPARTAN-087]]: Kelly
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| Image:Fred.JPG|[[SPARTAN-104]]: Frederic
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| Image:Master Chief with his MA5C.JPG|SPARTAN-117 is the [[Master Chief]]
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| </Gallery>
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| == Sources ==
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| <references/>
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| {{SpartanPrograms}}
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| {{Spartan II}}
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| [[de:SPARTAN-II]]
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| [[Category:UNSC]]
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