ORION Project: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Origins=== | ===Phase 1=== | ||
The beginning of the ORION program (named for the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref name="encyc44"/>) dates back to the 23rd century, when the newly formed [[United Nations Space Command]] began developing bioengineering protocols and experimenting with biochemically altering human soldiers. Although these performance-enhancing substances were very primitive and nowhere near as effective as the chemicals used to augment the soldiers of the SPARTAN programs, they did show promise and gave results and serve as the catalyst for future endeavors. Since then, human soldiers have used performance-enhancing equipment for centuries, including adrenaline injections.<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]''</ref> | ====Origins==== | ||
The beginning of the ORION program (named for the [[Orion Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]<ref name="encyc44"/>) dates back to the 23rd century, when the newly formed [[United Nations Space Command]] began developing bioengineering protocols and experimenting with biochemically altering human soldiers. Led by Doctor [[Ritsa Shephard]], the ORION Project began as an extension of the "blue sky" projects commissioned by the UEG before the [[Domus Diaspora]].<ref name="HOSFMOP1">'''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''' ''- Page 79''</ref> Although these performance-enhancing substances were very primitive and nowhere near as effective as the chemicals used to augment the soldiers of the SPARTAN programs, they did show promise and gave results and serve as the catalyst for future endeavors. Since then, human soldiers have used performance-enhancing equipment for centuries, including adrenaline injections.<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]''</ref> | |||
===Initial Project=== | ====Initial Project==== | ||
The initial version of the ORION Project was activated by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] on [[2321|April 13, 2321]] to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the [[Colonial Military Administration|Colonial Military Administration's]] elite troops. The end goal was to improve the security of future colonies outside the [[Sol system]]. At least five operators were selected as test-subjects for the experimental augmentations, although the project would be shut down due to poor early results | The initial version of the ORION Project was activated by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] on [[2321|April 13, 2321]] to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the [[Colonial Military Administration|Colonial Military Administration's]] elite troops. The end goal was to improve the security of future colonies outside the [[Sol system]]. At least five operators were selected as test-subjects for the experimental augmentations, although the project would be shut down due to poor early results, funding issues, poor personnel retention, and low reliability.<ref name="HOSFMOP1"/> The troopers were reintegrated back into the active service; however, for reasons undisclosed by ONI, all five would die within the year, while key personnel on the ORION Project were transferred to colonization missions or terraforming research.<ref name="wp spartans">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/spartans '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Spartans'']</ref><ref name="HOSFMOP1"/> By [[2558]], major aspects of the original ORION Project remained undocumented, as several encrypted UEG digital archives from 24th century have degraded or gone missing.<ref name="HOSFMOP1"/> | ||
===The relaunch of ORION=== | ===Phase 2=== | ||
====The relaunch of ORION==== | |||
As the civil wars began to intensify in the [[Outer Colonies|Outer]] and [[Inner Colonies]], the CMA found it difficult to hold onto their assets between the colonial rebellions and usurping by the UNSC. Using data supplied by ONI, along with subtle background manipulation by the [[Assembly]],<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 5]]''</ref> the CMA secretly relaunched ORION in response to insurgent attacks in the colonies. The project began on [[2491|January 29, 2491]]<ref>[[Media:say_please.ogg|say_please Axon]]</ref> with 65 test subjects. After completing their training, an additional 100 volunteers were accepted into the program. The first ORION deployment occurred on [[2496|January 12, 2496]] as part of [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]].<ref name="wp spartans"/> During this operation the full unit of ORION soldiers was deployed to recover the sub-orbital transit station over [[Eridanus II]]. This marked the only time a full unit of operators was ever deployed throughout the program's existence — they completed their mission with only a single casualty and without being detected.<ref name="encyc"/> As a result of the success of CHARLEMAGNE, tales of the military deploying advanced supersoldiers were born. This became fuel for a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation. As the legend of the supersoldiers continued to grow it gave birth to a new round of propaganda efforts by ONI in the coming decades. In the same year, an ORION team was deployed as part of [[Operation: VERITAS]], where they secured the [[Wikipedia:Non-official cover|non-official cover]] list of undercover [[Secessionist Union]] operatives who were working in various high-level offices within the CMA.<ref name="wp spartans"/> | As the civil wars began to intensify in the [[Outer Colonies|Outer]] and [[Inner Colonies]], the CMA found it difficult to hold onto their assets between the colonial rebellions and usurping by the UNSC. Using data supplied by ONI, along with subtle background manipulation by the [[Assembly]],<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 5]]''</ref> the CMA secretly relaunched ORION in response to insurgent attacks in the colonies. The project began on [[2491|January 29, 2491]]<ref>[[Media:say_please.ogg|say_please Axon]]</ref> with 65 test subjects. After completing their training, an additional 100 volunteers were accepted into the program. The first ORION deployment occurred on [[2496|January 12, 2496]] as part of [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]].<ref name="wp spartans"/> During this operation the full unit of ORION soldiers was deployed to recover the sub-orbital transit station over [[Eridanus II]]. This marked the only time a full unit of operators was ever deployed throughout the program's existence — they completed their mission with only a single casualty and without being detected.<ref name="encyc"/> As a result of the success of CHARLEMAGNE, tales of the military deploying advanced supersoldiers were born. This became fuel for a range of conspiracy theories and media speculation. As the legend of the supersoldiers continued to grow it gave birth to a new round of propaganda efforts by ONI in the coming decades. In the same year, an ORION team was deployed as part of [[Operation: VERITAS]], where they secured the [[Wikipedia:Non-official cover|non-official cover]] list of undercover [[Secessionist Union]] operatives who were working in various high-level offices within the CMA.<ref name="wp spartans"/> | ||
===Effectiveness and shortcomings=== | ====Effectiveness and shortcomings==== | ||
As the war against the [[Insurrectionist]]s continued to escalate, the UNSC escalated their counter-insurgent activities under [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], created in response to the defector UNSC Marine [[Colonel]] [[Robert Watts]].<ref name="enyc45">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 45''</ref> The ORIONs proved key in the fight against the rebel attacks across the colonies, taking down insurgents as soon as they cropped up. However, as time went on the insurgent attacks became more effective and insurgent personnel more difficult to root out; and over the ensuing decades they became more organized and more difficult to combat. Bombings continued despite the best efforts of both regular military personnel and the ORION soldiers — civilians became caught in the crossfire of these conflicts and casualties began to mount exponentially, adding fuel to the simmering hatred harbored against the UNSC by many colonists. This prompted the UNSC to recruit more soldiers to the ORION program, culminating in a peak roster of 300 active personnel.<ref name="encyc"/> | As the war against the [[Insurrectionist]]s continued to escalate, the UNSC escalated their counter-insurgent activities under [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], created in response to the defector UNSC Marine [[Colonel]] [[Robert Watts]].<ref name="enyc45">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 45''</ref> The ORIONs proved key in the fight against the rebel attacks across the colonies, taking down insurgents as soon as they cropped up. However, as time went on the insurgent attacks became more effective and insurgent personnel more difficult to root out; and over the ensuing decades they became more organized and more difficult to combat. Bombings continued despite the best efforts of both regular military personnel and the ORION soldiers — civilians became caught in the crossfire of these conflicts and casualties began to mount exponentially, adding fuel to the simmering hatred harbored against the UNSC by many colonists. This prompted the UNSC to recruit more soldiers to the ORION program, culminating in a peak roster of 300 active personnel.<ref name="encyc"/> | ||
Though the ORION operatives continued to prove their effectiveness, some of the older conscripts began to exhibit flaws which were passed off as natural defects or stress from the war. Many ORION candidates exhibited post-traumatic stress disorder or repressed insurgent sympathies; some in the latter category refused to participate in the program post-augmentation and were incarcerated.<ref name="journal"/> Despite the nominal effectiveness of the ORION soldiers, the results of the ORIONs' abilities were falling short of the scientists' hopes. Because of the candidates's age and inadequate genetic screening for specific genetic sequences, the genetic modifications led to minimal improvement and the inserted immunosuppressants failed in most of the subjects. This caused irreversible genetic fragmentation and degenerative conditions in many of the ORION personnel.<ref name="halsey">'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''February 15, 2511''</ref> | Though the ORION operatives continued to prove their effectiveness, some of the older conscripts began to exhibit flaws which were passed off as natural defects or stress from the war. Many ORION candidates exhibited post-traumatic stress disorder or repressed insurgent sympathies; some in the latter category refused to participate in the program post-augmentation and were incarcerated.<ref name="journal"/> Despite the nominal effectiveness of the ORION soldiers, the results of the ORIONs' abilities were falling short of the scientists' hopes. Because of the candidates's age and inadequate genetic screening for specific genetic sequences, the genetic modifications led to minimal improvement and the inserted immunosuppressants failed in most of the subjects. This caused irreversible genetic fragmentation and degenerative conditions in many of the ORION personnel.<ref name="halsey">'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''February 15, 2511''</ref> | ||
===KALEIDOSCOPE and deactivation=== | ====KALEIDOSCOPE and deactivation==== | ||
In [[2502]], [[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]] (part of the UNSC's greater plan to pacify the entirety of human-colonized space) was put into action. Many ORION supersoldiers were deployed to neutralize insurgent strongholds, but one of the key goals was to eliminate [[Jerald Mulkey Ander]], the leader of the [[Secessionist Union]]. On [[2502|March 13, 2502]], Ander was assassinated by ORION operative [[Corporal]] [[Avery Johnson]].<ref name="HGN">'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''' ''[[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]]''</ref> With Ander dead the Secessionist Union fell apart, though his death did not deter those who wished to be free from the control of the UNSC and only strengthened the resolve of the insurrectionist movement in the colonies.<ref name="encyc44"/> Although KALEIDOSCOPE dealt a heavy blow to the insurgents, the overall strategy of the operation failed to pacify the colonies. Worse was the fact that some of the older ORION soldiers were beginning to develop severe side effects from their augmentations, that ranged from physical to mental illnesses. Their performance was also continuing to decline in addition to the ineffective strategies the UNSC were using. [[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]] would be the last operation the ORIONs participated in.<ref name="encyc"/> | In [[2502]], [[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]] (part of the UNSC's greater plan to pacify the entirety of human-colonized space) was put into action. Many ORION supersoldiers were deployed to neutralize insurgent strongholds, but one of the key goals was to eliminate [[Jerald Mulkey Ander]], the leader of the [[Secessionist Union]]. On [[2502|March 13, 2502]], Ander was assassinated by ORION operative [[Corporal]] [[Avery Johnson]].<ref name="HGN">'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''' ''[[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]]''</ref> With Ander dead the Secessionist Union fell apart, though his death did not deter those who wished to be free from the control of the UNSC and only strengthened the resolve of the insurrectionist movement in the colonies.<ref name="encyc44"/> Although KALEIDOSCOPE dealt a heavy blow to the insurgents, the overall strategy of the operation failed to pacify the colonies. Worse was the fact that some of the older ORION soldiers were beginning to develop severe side effects from their augmentations, that ranged from physical to mental illnesses. Their performance was also continuing to decline in addition to the ineffective strategies the UNSC were using. [[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]] would be the last operation the ORIONs participated in.<ref name="encyc"/> | ||
