Project CHRYSANTHEMUM: Difference between revisions

[[File:BirthOfASpartan - Augmentation.png|thumb|300px|A screen monitoring [[Carter-A259]]'s augmentations.]]

'''Project: CHRYSANTHEMUM''' was the codename given to the [[Human augmentation|biological augmentation procedures]] performed on the [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] supersoldiers. They represented a significant improvement over [[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures|the augmentations]] used in the previous [[SPARTAN-II program]],<ref name="goo63">'''Halo: Ghost of Onyx''', ''page 63''</ref> being safer and less invasive to perform while producing similar results.<ref name="GoO102">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''pages 101-102''</ref>

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. Most of the SPARTAN-IIIs' augmentations were chemically induced instead of surgically implanted like many of the SPARTAN-II enhancements.<ref name="GoO102"/>

The genetic requirements for the SPARTAN-III candidates were loosened from the exceedingly strict criteria of the SPARTAN-II program,<ref name="goo63"/> although the range of compatible individuals still remained incredibly narrow, with any aberrations from the required genetic set geometrically increasing the failure rate.<ref name="goo82">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 82-83''</ref><ref name="goo67">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 67-68, 70''</ref> [[James Ackerson|Colonel James Ackerson]], the mastermind of the SPARTAN-III program, requested to have mandatory genetic screening put in place in the [[Outer Colonies]] in order to find more genetic matches for his program, but the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] leadership felt this would only provoke the colonists for further [[Insurrection|aggression]] against the UNSC.<ref name="goo82"/> 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>

While the CHRYSANTHEMUM augmentations still had to be administered at the onset of puberty as the bodies of either prepubescents or adults would reject the chemicals, Colonel Ackerson's age restriction protocol for the SPARTAN-III program was considerably looser than that of the SPARTAN-IIs.<ref name="goo82"/><ref name="goo98"/> The SPARTAN-III candidates' ages upon induction typically ranged from four to six years old,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 362''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 16''</ref> with the nominal ages of some of them (such as [[Carter-A259]]) exhibiting more extreme deviation from the standard age range.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=personnel&cid=24526 '''Bungie.net''': ''Carter-A259 Personnel Profile'']</ref> 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. As puberty had not yet started for the majority of candidates at this time, they were given human growth hormone as well as cartilage, muscle and bone supplements added into their food over several months to artificially induce the onset of puberty. 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 name="goo98">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 98, 100''</ref><ref group="note">These hormonal treatments supposedly replaced the catalytic thyroid implants received by the SPARTAN-IIs as part of their augmentation procedures. 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>

===All SPARTAN-IIIs===

[[File:BirthOfASpartan - AugmentationCarter.png|thumb|300px|[[Carter-A259]] undergoing Project CHRYSANTHEMUM augmentations on a biobed.]]

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 MJOLNIR armor were considered to be on par with the SPARTAN-IIs.<ref name="comm"/><ref>'''Halo: Reach'''</ref> [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] noted how [[SPARTAN-B312]]'s "hyper-lethal" rating was shared by only one other Spartan, and remarked that [[Jun-A266]]'s skills as a sniper were "unmatched".<ref name="aswr">'''[[Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise]]'''</ref>

While making his last stand on [[Reach]], SPARTAN-B312 knocked out a Sangheili General with a single elbow strike and shot it twice in the head as it was struggling to get up. He then continued to make his final effort by dealing single strikes to multiple Ultras and Zealots causing them to forcefully stagger backwards, before being subdued himself.<ref name="Lonewolf">'''Halo: Reach''' - ''Lone wolf''</ref>

During [[Operation: TORPEDO]], [[Tom-B292]], 12 years old at the time and equipped only with SPI armor, engaged a [[Sangheili]] armed with a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] and an [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] in hand-to-hand combat. The Spartan's enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge a plasma pistol bolt and sword swing at point blank range. He then proceeded to throw the Elite to the ground and finish it off with his assault rifle. During the battle, Elites and [[Kig-Yar|Jackals]] moved out of cover because they realized that it was suicide to face Spartans in close quarters.<ref name="goo21">'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''pages 21-23''</ref>

The muscular augmentations provided an individual SPARTAN-III the strength of "three normal soldiers".<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 99''</ref> During Operation: TORPEDO, SPARTAN-IIIs ran at a speed of nearly 30 KPH (around 18 MPH).<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 17''</ref> Spartan-IIIs were also described to have been moving with "speed and reflexes that no Covenant could follow". "They dodged, snapped necks and limbs, and with captured energy swords, they cut through the enemy until the field ran with rivers of gore and blue blood".<ref name="goo21"/> The Spartans of [[Team Foxtrot]] engaged six Kig-Yar in close quarters and left the aliens' bodies "snapped like rag dolls".<ref name="goo21"/> Approximately 300 Spartan-IIIs faced thousands upon thousands of Covenant, including Covenant air support, and were described to have been winning the battle until 7 [[Covenant cruiser]]s emerged as reinforcements.<ref name="goo21"/>

During the [[Battle of Onyx]], one of the SPARTAN-IIIs briefly fought the MJOLNIR-armored [[Kelly-087]]. The SPARTAN-III in question was able to momentarily hold their own against Kelly, being strong enough to twist Kelly's wrist and escape from her arm lock as well, despite wearing only SPI armor. While Kelly was able to quickly defeat the SPARTAN-III afterward with a palm strike, she took note that she would have easily torn her opponent's arm off if he or she were unaugmented.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 165''</ref>

During the battle on Pegasi Delta, most of Beta Company were roughly twelve years old. The physical abilities of any SPARTAN-IIIs who lived long enough to mature would supposedly have improved significantly as [[Franklin Mendez|CPO Mendez]] stated that Spartans only grew stronger and faster as their bodies grew accustomed to their augmentations.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 73''</ref> While his statement was in reference to the SPARTAN-IIs, it can be assumed to hold true to their successors due to the similar nature of the augmentations.

The mutagen 009762-OO, administered only to the Spartans of Gamma Company, makes the Spartans almost completely immune to shock under extreme stress, allowing them to endure injuries and physical pain beyond even a SPARTAN-II; for example, [[Dante-G188]] remained standing momentarily after a number of Needler rounds had blown his chest open, initially not even realizing his grave injuries. As a side effect, the drug suppresses higher brain functions over time; without the regularly administered counteragents, cyclodexione-4 and miso-olanzapine, the Spartan would lose their strategic judgment and become more prone to impulsive, instinct-driven behavior.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 340''</ref>

The ''[[Birth of a Spartan]]'' live-action commercial for ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' depicts [[Carter-A259]]'s eyes changing color from hazel to light blue as a byproduct of his retinal augmentations, a side effect not described in any other media. Several augmented Spartan-IIIs have been shown to have different eye colors,<ref>'''[[Halo: Last Light]]''', [[:File:Halo Last Light cover.jpg|''cover art'']]</ref><ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 98''</ref> implying that the effect was not universal to all Spartan-IIIs.