Project CHRYSANTHEMUM: Difference between revisions

The CHRYSANTHEMUM bioaugmentation set improved upon the augmentations of the SPARTAN-II program,<ref name="goo63"/> pioneered by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]. With advances in technology, the casualty rate for SPARTAN-III candidates was usually 0%, as opposed to the 56% casualty rate of the SPARTAN-IIs. The genetic requirements for the candidates were loosened from the exceedingly strict criteria of the previous program,<ref name="goo63"/> although the range of compatible individuals still remained incredibly narrow, with any aberrations from the required genetic set increasing the risk of failure to an unacceptable level.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 82-83''</ref><ref name="goo67">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 67-68, 70''</ref> As a result of the more lenient selection criteria, the SPARTAN-III candidate pool was less physically and psychologically consistent, with a higher likelihood of behavioral problems;<ref name="goo63"/> many of the SPARTAN-III candidates were more lively and predisposed for aggression than their forebears.<ref name="goo67"/> In contrast to the SPARTAN-IIs who were consistently taller than the average human, the SPARTAN-III candidates were also less uniform in terms of physical stature.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 26-27''</ref> However, there were a small number of SPARTAN-III candidates—called "cat 2s" by [[Kurt Ambrose]]—who would have met the requirements for the SPARTAN-II program; some of them would later be removed from their mainline companies, given better equipment and assigned to separate special forces units.<ref name="comm">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=personnel&cid=24040 '''Bungie.net''': ''Communique from Kurt to Mendez'']</ref>

Most of the SPARTAN-IIIs' augmentations were chemically induced instead of surgically implanted like many of the SPARTAN-II enhancements.<ref name="GoO102"/><ref group="note">When describing the CHRYSANTHEMUM augmentations, ''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' does not mention the SPARTAN-IIIs receiving the growth hormone catalyst in the form of a thyroid implant like the SPARTAN-IIs. Since the SPARTAN-IIIs received human growth hormone months prior to receiving their augmentations, it can be inferred that the catalytic thyroid implant was rendered redundant since both serve the same purpose.</ref> However, the augmentations also still had to be administered at the onset of puberty like in the previous program, as the bodies of either prepubescents or adults would reject the chemicals. The schedule of the SPARTAN-III program was also accelerated from that of the SPARTAN-IIs; because the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] wanted to have the Spartans deployed in the field as rapidly as possible, the candidates were augmented at an average age of twelve, whereas the SPARTAN-IIs were fourteen during their augmentations. Puberty was artificially induced for the candidates via human growth hormone as well as cartilage, muscle and bone supplements added into their food. As a result, the candidates had the bodies of near-adult Olympic athletes at an average of only twelve years of age, and it took some time for them to acclimatize to their larger physiques.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 98, 100''</ref>

Despite the SPARTAN-IIIs' expendable nature and lower-grade equipment than the SPARTAN-IIs, their enhancements represented a "quantum leap" over the previous program's bioaugmentation set.<ref name="goo63"/> While most SPARTAN-IIIs were issued with [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor|SPI armor]] as opposed to [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] for budgetary reasons, the small number that did receive SPARTAN-II grade equipment were on par with the SPARTAN-IIs.<ref>'''Halo: Reach'''</ref>