Soren-066: Difference between revisions

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[[File:TFoR-as-Deja.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Footage of wolves taking down a moose was played many times in the early days of training in order to emphasize the importance of teamwork.<ref name="HTFOR5"/>]]

{{Quote|no=five|q1=I'm trying to decide if you're right for something I'm working on. An experiment. I can't tell you what it is, I'm afraid. But if it works in the way we hope it will you'll be stronger and faster and smarter than you could ever imagine.|Catherine Halsey|q2=Why would you want to do something like that for me? You don't even know me.|Soren|q3=It's not for you, exactly. I can't tell you much more. It won't be easy; it'll be the hardest thing you've ever done—even harder than what happened with your parents.|Catherine Halsey|q4=And what have you decided?|Soren|q5=I've decided to let you be the one to decide.|Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey reveals enough about the Spartan-II program to make him consider joining voluntarily.}}<ref name="HEPP"/>

In late August or early September Soren was visited by Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] after only a very short time spent in the custody of others.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Doctor Halsey, a [[civilian]] consultant and scientific adviser for the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], was there because Soren was the sixth of one-hundred and fifty children of similar age that had been selected based on specific genetic markers for inclusion in Project: [[SPARTAN-II]].<ref name="HEPP"/> When Halsey first asked the boy if he could tell he his name, he retorted that she'd need to tell him hers first.<ref name="HEPP"/> Before obligiing she revealed she already knew his name but only had wished to see if he would tell her. She assured Soren she was not yet another [[Wikipedia:Psychiatry|psychiatrist]] so he asked why she was there. Halsey explained that she was considering him for inclusion in an [[Project ASTER|experiment]]—one which could make him smarter, faster, and stronger than he could imagine. She also did warn him that it would be very difficult and even elected to leave the decision to participate up to him. The doctor noted that were he to stay on Dwarka, however, the planetary authorities would arrange a foster home for him. Presented with that idea, Soren immediately chose to go with her and be part of her experiment. Soren and Halsey departed Dwarka shortly thereafter abaord the diplomatic shuttle ''[[Han]]'' and under the auspices of his having been adopted by her.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> They and the doctor's military attaché, [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], had arrived at the planet [[Reach]] by [[2517#September|September 10]].<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HFORBC"/> On [[2517#September|September 23, 2517]], Soren and seventy-four other children were led into an amphitheater through four sets of double doors, each accompanied by a [[UNSC Navy|naval]] drill instructor.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> There, at around 2300 hours, far below the ground within [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|a FLEETCOM military complex]], Halsey informed them that per [[Naval Code 45812]], they were thereby conscripted into SPARTAN-II. She explained that they had been called upon to serve and that they would be the protectors of Earth and all its colonies. Halsey told them that from this moment on, the complex on Reach would be their home and their fellow trainees would be their family. And though the training that lay ahead of them would be difficult, she expressed her full confidence in their ability to overcome it. With that said, she told them to rest and that they would begin the next day. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]] had the children escorted to their barracks, fed, and put to bed.<ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref>

In late August or early September Soren was visited by Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] after only a very short time spent in the custody of others.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Doctor Halsey, a [[civilian]] consultant and scientific adviser for the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], was there because Soren was the sixth of one-hundred and fifty children of similar age that had been selected based on specific genetic markers for inclusion in Project: [[SPARTAN-II]].<ref name="HEPP"/> When Halsey first asked the boy if he could tell he his name, he retorted that she'd need to tell him hers first.<ref name="HEPP"/> Before obligiing she revealed she already knew his name but only had wished to see if he would tell her. She assured Soren she was not yet another [[Wikipedia:Psychiatry|psychiatrist]] so he asked why she was there. Halsey explained that she was considering him for inclusion in an [[Project ASTER|experiment]]—one which could make him smarter, faster, and stronger than he could imagine. She also did warn him that it would be very difficult and even elected to leave the decision to participate up to him. The doctor noted that were he to stay on Dwarka, however, the planetary authorities would arrange a foster home for him. Presented with that idea, Soren immediately chose to go with her and be part of her experiment. Soren and Halsey departed Dwarka shortly thereafter abaord the diplomatic shuttle ''[[Han]]'' and under the auspices of his having been adopted by her.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> They and the doctor's military attaché, [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], had arrived at the planet [[Reach]] by [[2517#September|September 10]].<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HFORBC"/> On [[2517#September|September 23, 2517]], Soren and the seventy-four other children ultimately chosen for the program were led into an amphitheater through four sets of double doors, each accompanied by a [[UNSC Navy|naval]] drill instructor.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> There, at around 2300 hours, far below the ground within [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|a FLEETCOM military complex]], Halsey informed them that per [[Naval Code 45812]], they were thereby conscripted into SPARTAN-II. She explained that they had been called upon to serve and that they would be the protectors of Earth and all its colonies. Halsey told them that from this moment on, the complex on Reach would be their home and their fellow trainees would be their family. And though the training that lay ahead of them would be difficult, she expressed her full confidence in their ability to overcome it. With that said, she told them to rest and that they would begin the next day. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]] had the children escorted to their barracks, fed, and put to bed.<ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref>

Soren and the other children were awoken by drill instructors at 0530 hours the next morning.<ref name="HTFOR4">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 4''</ref> Chief Mendez addressed them all, saying they were to shower at the barracks aft and then return to their cots to dress. Soren stripped down and joined the other children on a conveyor to be washed in lukewarm soapy water and then rinsed in an icy cold spray. A trunk at the foot of his cot held underwear, thick socks, combat boots, and a matching set of gray sweats with "SOREN-066" stenciled on the chest. Once everyone was clothed, Mendez marched them outside and had them form five rows of fifteen children each. From there, they were ordered through a series of calisthenics which included one-hundred each of jumping jacks, sit-ups, deep squats, knee bends, and leg lifts. After the leg lifts the kids were finally given a respite in the form of water. Next, Mendez ordered them to join him on a run. They jogged through the military compound, past more barracks, along a river, and over a bridge, finally coming to a stop in the courtyard of a naval officers' academy. There Soren and the others met [[Déjà]], a [[Dumb AI|so-called "dumb" A.I.]] who had been given the job of continuing the trainees' formal education. Within the building, Soren and the others were served crackers and milk and treated to a history lesson concerning the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]]. After the lesson the trainees were told they were heading for the playground, but this turned into a two-mile run to a forest of twenty-meter-tall wooden poles, rope cargo nets and bridges, knotted climbing ropes, pulleys, and baskets. Mendez had them form three lines and declared that each row of three would be a team. Chief Mendez explained that they would be playing a game called "[[Ring the Bell]]" in which the objective was for every member of each team to ring a brass bell that hung from a slide pole next to the tallest wooden pole and then make it back to the start. The last team to make it back would go hungry that evening. This punishment ultimately fell on [[Blue Team|Team Three]], of which Soren was not a part.<ref name="HTFOR4"/>

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 [[File:TFoR-as-Deja.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Footage of wolves taking down a moose was played many times in the early days of training in order to emphasize the importance of teamwork.<ref name="HTFOR5"/>]]
 {{Quote|no=five|q1=I'm trying to decide if you're right for something I'm working on. An experiment. I can't tell you what it is, I'm afraid. But if it works in the way we hope it will you'll be stronger and faster and smarter than you could ever imagine.|Catherine Halsey|q2=Why would you want to do something like that for me? You don't even know me.|Soren|q3=It's not for you, exactly. I can't tell you much more. It won't be easy; it'll be the hardest thing you've ever done—even harder than what happened with your parents.|Catherine Halsey|q4=And what have you decided?|Soren|q5=I've decided to let you be the one to decide.|Catherine Halsey|Doctor Halsey reveals enough about the Spartan-II program to make him consider joining voluntarily.}}<ref name="HEPP"/>
-In late August or early September Soren was visited by Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] after only a very short time spent in the custody of others.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Doctor Halsey, a [[civilian]] consultant and scientific adviser for the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], was there because Soren was the sixth of one-hundred and fifty children of similar age that had been selected based on specific genetic markers for inclusion in Project: [[SPARTAN-II]].<ref name="HEPP"/> When Halsey first asked the boy if he could tell he his name, he retorted that she'd need to tell him hers first.<ref name="HEPP"/> Before obligiing she revealed she already knew his name but only had wished to see if he would tell her. She assured Soren she was not yet another [[Wikipedia:Psychiatry|psychiatrist]] so he asked why she was there. Halsey explained that she was considering him for inclusion in an [[Project ASTER|experiment]]—one which could make him smarter, faster, and stronger than he could imagine. She also did warn him that it would be very difficult and even elected to leave the decision to participate up to him. The doctor noted that were he to stay on Dwarka, however, the planetary authorities would arrange a foster home for him. Presented with that idea, Soren immediately chose to go with her and be part of her experiment. Soren and Halsey departed Dwarka shortly thereafter abaord the diplomatic shuttle ''[[Han]]'' and under the auspices of his having been adopted by her.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> They and the doctor's military attaché, [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], had arrived at the planet [[Reach]] by [[2517#September|September 10]].<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HFORBC"/> On [[2517#September|September 23, 2517]], Soren and seventy-four other children were led into an amphitheater through four sets of double doors, each accompanied by a [[UNSC Navy|naval]] drill instructor.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> There, at around 2300 hours, far below the ground within [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|a FLEETCOM military complex]], Halsey informed them that per [[Naval Code 45812]], they were thereby conscripted into SPARTAN-II. She explained that they had been called upon to serve and that they would be the protectors of Earth and all its colonies. Halsey told them that from this moment on, the complex on Reach would be their home and their fellow trainees would be their family. And though the training that lay ahead of them would be difficult, she expressed her full confidence in their ability to overcome it. With that said, she told them to rest and that they would begin the next day. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]] had the children escorted to their barracks, fed, and put to bed.<ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref>
+In late August or early September Soren was visited by Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] after only a very short time spent in the custody of others.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR2">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 2''</ref> Doctor Halsey, a [[civilian]] consultant and scientific adviser for the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]], was there because Soren was the sixth of one-hundred and fifty children of similar age that had been selected based on specific genetic markers for inclusion in Project: [[SPARTAN-II]].<ref name="HEPP"/> When Halsey first asked the boy if he could tell he his name, he retorted that she'd need to tell him hers first.<ref name="HEPP"/> Before obligiing she revealed she already knew his name but only had wished to see if he would tell her. She assured Soren she was not yet another [[Wikipedia:Psychiatry|psychiatrist]] so he asked why she was there. Halsey explained that she was considering him for inclusion in an [[Project ASTER|experiment]]—one which could make him smarter, faster, and stronger than he could imagine. She also did warn him that it would be very difficult and even elected to leave the decision to participate up to him. The doctor noted that were he to stay on Dwarka, however, the planetary authorities would arrange a foster home for him. Presented with that idea, Soren immediately chose to go with her and be part of her experiment. Soren and Halsey departed Dwarka shortly thereafter abaord the diplomatic shuttle ''[[Han]]'' and under the auspices of his having been adopted by her.<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HTFOR1">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 1''</ref> They and the doctor's military attaché, [[Lieutenant Junior Grade]] [[Jacob Keyes]], had arrived at the planet [[Reach]] by [[2517#September|September 10]].<ref name="HEPP"/><ref name="HFORBC"/> On [[2517#September|September 23, 2517]], Soren and the seventy-four other children ultimately chosen for the program were led into an amphitheater through four sets of double doors, each accompanied by a [[UNSC Navy|naval]] drill instructor.<ref name="HTFOR3"/> There, at around 2300 hours, far below the ground within [[Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex|a FLEETCOM military complex]], Halsey informed them that per [[Naval Code 45812]], they were thereby conscripted into SPARTAN-II. She explained that they had been called upon to serve and that they would be the protectors of Earth and all its colonies. Halsey told them that from this moment on, the complex on Reach would be their home and their fellow trainees would be their family. And though the training that lay ahead of them would be difficult, she expressed her full confidence in their ability to overcome it. With that said, she told them to rest and that they would begin the next day. [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]] had the children escorted to their barracks, fed, and put to bed.<ref name="HTFOR3">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 3''</ref>
 Soren and the other children were awoken by drill instructors at 0530 hours the next morning.<ref name="HTFOR4">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', ''Chapter 4''</ref> Chief Mendez addressed them all, saying they were to shower at the barracks aft and then return to their cots to dress. Soren stripped down and joined the other children on a conveyor to be washed in lukewarm soapy water and then rinsed in an icy cold spray. A trunk at the foot of his cot held underwear, thick socks, combat boots, and a matching set of gray sweats with "SOREN-066" stenciled on the chest. Once everyone was clothed, Mendez marched them outside and had them form five rows of fifteen children each. From there, they were ordered through a series of calisthenics which included one-hundred each of jumping jacks, sit-ups, deep squats, knee bends, and leg lifts. After the leg lifts the kids were finally given a respite in the form of water. Next, Mendez ordered them to join him on a run. They jogged through the military compound, past more barracks, along a river, and over a bridge, finally coming to a stop in the courtyard of a naval officers' academy. There Soren and the others met [[Déjà]], a [[Dumb AI|so-called "dumb" A.I.]] who had been given the job of continuing the trainees' formal education. Within the building, Soren and the others were served crackers and milk and treated to a history lesson concerning the [[Wikipedia:Battle of Thermopylae|Battle of Thermopylae]]. After the lesson the trainees were told they were heading for the playground, but this turned into a two-mile run to a forest of twenty-meter-tall wooden poles, rope cargo nets and bridges, knotted climbing ropes, pulleys, and baskets. Mendez had them form three lines and declared that each row of three would be a team. Chief Mendez explained that they would be playing a game called "[[Ring the Bell]]" in which the objective was for every member of each team to ring a brass bell that hung from a slide pole next to the tallest wooden pole and then make it back to the start. The last team to make it back would go hungry that evening. This punishment ultimately fell on [[Blue Team|Team Three]], of which Soren was not a part.<ref name="HTFOR4"/>