The logo of the SPARTAN Program.

Origin
ONI's Beta-5 Division had started a decade earlier with the creation of supersoldiers as genetic advancements were made. The initial Orion Program was instituted to do it by a secret Royal Decree of the late Iulian IV. Iulian IV however tragically died in an accident, but the program was then continued without any Royal supervision. ONI operated the project in secret, until Regent MacArthur was informed of Beta-5's operations.

MacArthur soon realised that the Stoinians needed better soldiers on the ground to halt the Velutarian advance. In a special meeting with Beta-5 Division of ONI, the idea of the SPARTAN Program was born, honouring the old Spartans that fought at Thermopylae in the ancient times. The SPARTAN Program would continue with the assets of the Orion Program lead by Dr. Kathryn Halsey who would lead the Orion Program.

Orion Program/SPARTAN-I Program
The first phase of the program, around 1570 PD, was to experiment with genetic augmentation on adult soldiers. Initial results were positive, but the implications were still far too complicated for mainstream enlistment. The full potential of the augmentations also weren't reached. It was therefore decided to enlist younger people. The age of 6 was deemed fitting as children older than that would not be as susceptible for the indoctrination required and the augmentation processes planned. For this program. 1.000 children were selected and then kidnaped for indoctrination to become Spartans. 


SPARTAN-II Program
The children were trained in four companies Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, lead by ONI Offcers who drilled them to become the future super soldiers. Little mercy was shown in training. As they grew older they were genetically augmented, however not all cases went as smooth as predicted. Their bodies would also be inserted with limited cybernetics to enhance their efficiency with their combat suits. These augmentations resulted in only 300 of the initial recruits surviving the process. The first batch of SPARTAN-II was launched in their new Mjolnir Phase I Armour on planets and were met with high moral support in 1585 PD, a year into the war. They truly had become the super soldiers and heroes the Stoinians needed to keep up the war. Even though they were merely 16 years old, they had largely achieved maturity due to the augmentations. They formed Mankind's Last Defence in the first years of the war.

The Mjolnir-I Armour, the signature armour of the Spartan-II's.

 

>>>CLASSIFIED<<< SPARTAN-III Program
The Velutarian War was waging havoc and Spartan-II's couldn't fight on every front. Dr. Robert Grant would propose in 1585 PD to have another SPARTAN Program, but which could holster more supersoldiers with an increased production and lower costs. Although the Mjolnir Armour was effective, it was too tedious to produce when the Velutarians pushed into Stoinian colonies. Therefore 6.000 new orphans were conscripted at the age of 10 and would be exposed to less of the planned augmentations in the SPARTAN-II Program. Of the initial 6.000, only 4.000 survived and successfully passed the augmentation process. The Spartan-III's would be deployed a year later than the Spartan-II's and were used as more expendable soldiers whereas the Spartan-II's were used for the most elite mission, the Spartan-III's were also commonly used along the Army. Regardless they too were essential in fighting back the Velutarians.

The SPI Recon Armour, the signature armour of the Spartan-III's.

Spartan Augmentations
The first augmentations is the addition of growth hormones that speed up the aging process. These hormones speed up the puberty process and in effect makes them reach biological adulthood at around 16 T-years old. However this doesn't mean that mentally Spartans would reach adulthood, this was instead compensated with psychological indoctrination.
One of the initial augmentations Spartans receive is the inhibiting of the shortening of telomeres when cells split. [font]A Spartans cells divide perfectly every time due to this Adenoviral Telomerase Replacement Therapy. This means that a Spartans cellular biology attains a state known as cellular immortality. This doesn't mean that Spartans are immortal however, as it takes significantly more genetic engineering to various DNA strains, including the mitochondrial DNA, and control of environmental factors to attain true immortality. In effect this means that Spartans age more slowly than normal Terrans and injuries that would generally cause severely inhibited function later on in life are cancelled out by the bodies ability to rejuvenate its own cells.
The auto immune system was also enhanced. Making Spartans more impervious to diseases and infections. This also resorted in a higher than normal metabolism compared with other humans. However many candidates were crippled by this process as their auto immune systems starting attacking the body's own cells or other complications.
Muscles were injected with substances to enhance growth and strength. Granting the Spartans superterran strength and it was quite common to see a Spartan tipping over a warthog with relative ease. As a result they had enormous physical conditions compared to normal Terrans granting them the power to run effortlessly for hours on end. The same applied for normal physical tasks.
Bones and tendons were also strengthened. Bones were given more mass and density as a result, they were nearly impossible to break by normal Terran standards. Tendons could also hold more strain in them, but they could suffer effects if pushed to their utter limits.
Their sense were also heightened, ensuring that Spartans would make split second decisions without any draw back for days without rest. Spartans reacted faster to combat due to this and it is very hard to corner out a Spartan as they will sense incoming danger and act fast on it.
A small, but limited, brain implant was given to Spartans at the back of their cranium. This served as a bridge between the Spartan and its armour. Through this link a Spartan could control his armour even though a limb may have been compromised. Effectively making the armour an extension to the Spartan's body to ensure maximum combat effectiveness.[/font]


Legacy