SPARTAN-IV program

"There won't be any program; not like the Spartan-Twos, anyway or the Spartan-Threes, if I can help it. We're back to using consenting adults now, like we did in Project Orion."

- Admiral Margaret Parangosky, CINCONI

The SPARTAN-IV program is the fourth iteration of the SPARTAN supersoldier projects. Like the original ORION Project, the SPARTAN-IV program utilizes consenting adult volunteers selected from the other branches of the United Nations Space Command, in contrast to the previous two programs which used children as candidates. Recruits are drawn from both career military veterans and young soldiers who show considerable promise. The SPARTAN-IVs serve in the independent Spartan branch, which was created for the oversight of their operations.

Background
At some point prior to the instatement of the current SPARTAN-IV program, elements within the Office of Naval Intelligence's Section III authorized a prototypical phase without approval from High Command. This incarnation was intended to produce supersoldiers whose physical prowess rendered MJOLNIR armor redundant. However, only one of the ten volunteer test subjects survived the augmentation process. The survivor, Ilsa Zane, was driven mad by the experience and was folded into ONI. Despite the project's failure, Zane was considered the original SPARTAN-IV. [[File:HI_Spartans.png|thumb|left|300px|The first Spartan-IV's recruited by Jun.

(l-r) Davis, Thomas, Palmer, Scruggs, and Holst]] The program as it now exists was commissioned as a result of the success of the preceding SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III projects. The SPARTAN-IV project was conceived by Lieutenant Commander Musa-096, a former SPARTAN-II candidate who was crippled by the augmentation process. Despite his grudge toward Dr. Catherine Halsey, Musa recognized the crucial role of the Spartans in defending humanity and the continued importance of the supersoldiers in the aftermath of the Human-Covenant War. The proposal was approved by Admiral Margaret Parangosky, then Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, and the new program was initiated under her orders. Parangosky initially planned to have SPARTAN-III lead Colonel James Ackerson heading the program, with SPARTAN-II project lead Dr. Catherine Halsey to be reassigned as Ackerson's subordinate. Ackerson was killed following the Battle of Mare Erythraeum and Halsey was arrested after returning from Onyx, though ONI continued the program without the two, with the help of Musa and Jun-A266, a former SPARTAN-III Alpha Company member.

In addition to the significant numbers of adult volunteers which make up the majority of the SPARTAN-IVs, the SPARTAN-IIs and SPARTAN-IIIs who survived the Human-Covenant War were offered to be integrated into the SPARTAN-IV program. The first class of SPARTAN-IVs went active in early 2553. Hundreds of SPARTAN-IVs are assigned to the, the most powerful warship ever constructed by mankind. They train with one another in simulations known as "War Games" on the Infinity 's state-of-the art combat deck (a training chamber that is capable of replicating environments), in order to constantly stay battle-ready.

The SPARTAN-IVs serve in a dedicated branch of the UNSC known simply as "Spartan", whereas their forebears operated within other chains of command. Unlike their predecessors, the SPARTAN-IVs are identified by their surnames rather than numeric tags (due to their volunteered enlistment rather than kidnapping/conscription). Unusually, the SPARTAN-IVs have shown a great deal of solidarity, especially impressive given the short time they have served together. Many of them have adopted colloquialisms first used by the SPARTAN-IIs, such as "Alpha Bravo" for "Alien Bastard". Psychologists assert that this camaraderie and cohesiveness will help distinguish the SPARTAN-IVs, and the Spartan branch as a whole, from the other UNSC branches.

List of SPARTAN-IV units and personnel

 * Unknown
 * Bethany Kossup
 * Edward Davis - KIA during the Battle of Draetheus V
 * Gamma Company
 * Joel Thomas
 * Jun-A266
 * Locke
 * Yeong-hao Holst
 * Several SPARTAN-IV killed by Gek 'Lhar

Discharged
Ten SPARTAN-IV candidates were discharged from the prototypical phase of the program after being crippled or killed by the augmentations.
 * Ilsa Zane - Discharged after her augmentations left her mentally unstable. Assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence, but subsequently escaped and defected to the Insurrection.

MJOLNIR armor
SPARTAN-IVs are equipped with the MJOLNIR [GEN2], the second-generation version of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. An assortment of armor configurations are available for all new Spartans per UNSC Regulation 3A-950, and Spartans are capable of customizing their individual armor set with modular components from a wide range of special-purpose variants, based on their personal preferences, specialization and mission requirements. Selecting variants for purely cosmetic reasons is discouraged. It is strictly forbidden for Spartans to attempt to repair or modify their armor; all armor maintenance is only to be performed by qualified Class-61 technicians in dedicated facilities. Unlike the uniformly green coloration of the SPARTAN-IIs' first-generation MJOLNIR armor, SPARTAN-IV armor comes in a profusion of distinct color patterns, with the members of specific teams often sporting a consistent coloration. However, any customization of the armor color must be in accordance to UNSC Equipment Code 20.00.62.

The standard-issue armor set for Spartan-IVs—at least those assigned to —is the Recruit variant, colored gray and orange.

Augmentation procedures
Like the augmentations performed for the SPARTAN-IIs and the improved procedures utilized in the subsequent SPARTAN-III program, the SPARTAN-IVs underwent a series of procedures to enhance their physical capabilities and to wear MJOLNIR armor. The technology used in the two preceding SPARTAN programs necessitated that the candidates meet exceedingly strict genetic qualifications as well as the application of the enhancements on preteens, to avoid the catastrophic failure rates produced by the augmentation of adult subjects in the ORION Project. By the time of the initiation of the SPARTAN-IV program, the technology had advanced to the point that adults could be augmented seemingly without major risk.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 5: Guardians