Ralph-103: Difference between revisions

|spartantag = 303<ref group="note">In a [http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive32.pl?read=967138|a forum post made on February 15, 2010], [[Frank O'Connor]] commented on Ralph's unusually high Spartan tag and stated that it may be explored later, hinting that it is related to his discharge from the program. However, the issue still has not been addressed as of summer 2014.</ref><ref group="note">During the earliest stage of the second-generation ORION Project circa 2511, the program was allotted funding for only 300 candidates. The candidate pool was later reduced to 150, from whom only half could be selected; this means that none of the children conscripted into the program could have a tag numbered higher than 150. While it seems plausible that the number "303" is merely a dialog error within the episode, the number is repeated once in the ''Fall of Reach'' Adjunct section.</ref>

|death =[[2531|January or February 2531]]<ref name="FRG">Ralph was killed by a [[Type-33 fuel rod gun]], which was first encountered by UNSC forces in 2531. The Harvest campaign ended in February 2531, placing his death in January or February of that year.</ref>

'''Ralph-303''' was a [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II commando]] of the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Weapons]] division. After being discharged from the program<ref>[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive32.pl?read=967135 '''Halo.Bungie.org''': ''Re: Spoiler-free thoughts on the new episodes: "Ralph failed out of the program."'']</ref> Ralph served in the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] until his death in [[2531]].<ref name="Legends">'''Halo Legends''', ''Homecoming''</ref>

[[File:H Legends - Escapee Ralph.png|thumb|right|150px|Ralph as a teenager after escaping the SPARTAN-II program]]

Ralph was abducted and conscripted into the SPARTAN-II program by Dr. [[Catherine Halsey]] in [[2517]] when he was about six years old. He and the other candidates were taken to the planet [[Reach]] and trained by the AI [[Déjà]] and [[Chief Petty Officer]] [[Franklin Mendez]]. In [[2525]] he and the other candidates underwent a [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|series of augmentations]] to improve their physical abilities. Ralph "washed out" before all the physical alterations could be introduced to his body. Certain enhancements were curtailed, making him physically superior to baseline humanity yet inferior to his successfully augmented comrades.<ref name="augmentation">[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive32.pl?read=967143 '''Halo.Bungie.org''': ''Re: Spoiler-free thoughts on the new episodes'']</ref><ref group="note">The Adjunct section in ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' makes no mention of Ralph failing to adapt to the augmentations. His discharge is instead noted to be due to the psychological trauma he suffered between the procedures and his recovery by ONI. However, the two explanations for his discharge do not contradict each other so they are both included in the article.</ref>

A few weeks after the augmentation procedures, Ralph, [[Daisy-023]], [[Joseph-122]], and two other Spartans rebelled against their trainers, taking them hostage and demanding that Dr. Halsey let them leave. Halsey granted them freedom and they escaped Reach as stowaways, hoping to return home to their families. Soon after escaping, Ralph returned home and encountered his [[Flash cloning|flash clone]], whom he realized was ill. Suffering a psychological breakdown, Ralph killed his clone. He was soon captured along with Daisy and was returned to Reach.<ref name="Legends"/>

Ralph was eventually discharged from the SPARTAN-II program due to his psychological condition. After his dismissal he was adopted by a family and lived a normal life. Although some of his gene treatments were curtailed and suppressed,<ref name="augmentation"/> there were some irreversible changes that made his appearance different from other children his own age when he assimilated into civilian life. Due to his upbringing and physiological differences, his transitional years were easier for him, though he had tendencies of bullying weaker children. However, this was viewed as a phase and not a trend.<ref name="for">'''''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''''' 2010 edition bonus content</ref>

===Marine Corps service and death===

Though his Spartan augmentation was largely diminished, Ralph's physique remained greater than that of a baseline human.<ref name="augmentation"/> Ralph enlisted in the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] and later participated in the [[Harvest campaign]] in early [[2531]].<ref name="FRG"/> During an engagement with the Covenant, Daisy-023 attempted to assist him and a group of other Marines. After being mortally wounded by [[Type-33 Needler|Needler]] fire Daisy unsuccessfully attempted to cover the Marines' retreat. Ralph, the other Marines, and Daisy were killed by a [[fuel rod]] projectile while trying to escape in a [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican dropship]].<ref name="Legends"/>

==Production notes==

*In ''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'', Serin Osman mentions that only one Spartan has ever retired because they failed to process any augmentations like Osman.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 367''</ref> It is possible that Osman is referring to Ralph, though she may instead have been referring to [[Maria-062]].