SPARTAN Program

The SPARTAn-II Program was an effort by the UNSC to produce elite soldiers through biological augmentation. The SPARTAN-II program would be the first in the series to meld advanced mechanical technology with the troopers' superior physiques.

Origins
Projections calculated by the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence in 2525 concluded that the instability of the outer colonies would result in widespread rebellions unless drastic military measures were instituted. The SPARTAN-II program would meet these requirement, creating a small group of elite soldiers meant to subdue insurrections in their infancy with precision strikes. In this way, civilian casualties might be minimized, civil war averted, and costly conventional solutions made unnecessary.

The project was led by Dr. Catherine Halsey of ONI's Section 3 and Chief Petty Officer Mendez of the UNSC armed forces. Candidates for the program were selected from children deemed to possess superior physical and mental attributes. By 2517 150 suitable candidates had been identified, but for budget reasons only half that number were "conscripted". Most were between 5 and 7 years old. To preserve the program's secrecy the children were replaced by flash clones.

Taken to Reach these child-soldiers began training under CPO Mendez. To marginalize the civilian lives they had once led their names became a combination of their given names and a number (like “John-117”), with family names being discarded. Seven years later they began receiving the physical augmentations that would ultimately make them Spartans. The procedures were risky and nearly half died as a result. A small number survived but were physically crippled (such as SPARTAN-084), and these were discharged from the program and placed in non-combat positions where their enhanced mental faculties might still prove useful. Only 33 survived without complications and, now much improved, remained fit for combat duty.

In 2525 would see the fulfilment of the program when the survivors were be fitted with the MJOLNIR Mark IV armor suit.

The Human-Covenant War
The conflict with the Covenant marked a change in the objectives of the program. Originally intended to quell rebellions the Spartans were now forced into battle against an opponent much superior to the UNSC. Although on an individual basis the Spartans were to frequently demonstrate their superiority over the enemy, the scope of their stunning successes was frequently only tactical in nature. Nonetheless, heroic rearguard and delaying actions saved countless human lives from the genocidal Covenant campaign. By this point the existence of the Spartans had become well known to the public.

Inevitably the small number of SPARTAN-IIs dwindled as casualties were sustained. As the exploits of the Spartans was a major propaganda boon to the UNSC, Section Two of ONI issued Directive 930 stating that Spartans killed or crippled would be listed as “missing in action” or “wounded in action”, thus maintaining the illusion of Spartan invincibility.

In 2552 the majority of the remaining Spartans rendezvoused at Reach to receive new orders for an operation that HIGHCOM hoped would end the war. They would commandeer a Covenant vessel, locate the Covenant “homeworld”, and return with captured Covenant leadership. Preparations were interrupted by the Covenant assault on Reach and in the ensuing disaster most of the SPARTAN-IIs were killed. Two escaped, one critically wounded, aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, while a few remained trapped on Reach.

Following the events at Alpha Halo the Spartans were reunited at Reach. They then carried out a strike that resulted in the destruction of a Covenant fleet anchorage which contributed to the UNSC victory at the First Battle of Earth. SPARTAN-IIs would go on to play pivotal roles at the Battle of Onyx and the Second Battle of Earth.

Roster
At the start of the SPARTAN-II Program, there were 150 candidates and out of those numbers, only 75 were selected into training. After the augmentation process in 2525, only 33 survived the augmentation, 12 crippled, and 30 killed as a result of the procedures.

MIA/KIA/Active (25/33)

 * SPARTAN-005: James (MIA) - Most likely KIA during the Battle of Reach.
 * SPARTAN-006: Jai (MIA) - With the rest of Gray Team, last seen with Adriana-111 and Mike making the evac of The Rubble.
 * SPARTAN-008: Li (MIA) - During Slipspace anomaly battle, though assumed KIA due to close plasma torpedo detonation.
 * SPARTAN-029: Joshua (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though assumed KIA during The Battle of Reach due to a direct hit from a Covenant cruiser's plasma weaponry.
 * SPARTAN-030: Vinh (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though assumed KIA during Battle of Reach.
 * SPARTAN-034: Samuel (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA due to a breach in his MJOLNIR armor, first to destroy a Covenant ship in a non-ship to ship (MIA/KIA) battle.
 * SPARTAN-039: Isaac (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though assumed KIA during Battle of Reach.
 * SPARTAN-042: Douglas (MIA) - Last seen aboard Spirit of Fire in 2531. Listed as MIA.
 * SPARTAN-043: William (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA by Hunter pair during Battle of Onyx, first to fight a Hunter Pair using hand-to-hand combat.
 * SPARTAN-044: Anton (MIA) - MIA during Slipspace anomaly battle, though assumed KIA due to close plasma torpedo detonation.
 * SPARTAN-047: Keiichi (MIA) - Last seen during the First Battle of Arcadia.
 * SPARTAN-051: Kurt (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA after the detonation of 2 FENRIS nukes in Onyx.
 * SPARTAN-058: Linda (MIA) - Active in Shield World, although she was briefly KIA from the Battle of Reach until after the destruction of Installation-04, due to SPARTAN-117's quick action to put -058 into a cryo tube.
 * SPARTAN-059: Malcolm (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA during Battle of Reach.
 * SPARTAN-062: Maria ( ACTIVE ) - Retired.
 * SPARTAN-087: Kelly (MIA) - Active in Shield World.
 * SPARTAN-092: Jerome (MIA) - Last seen aboard Spirit of Fire in 2531. Listed as MIA
 * SPARTAN-093: Grace (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA During Operation: First Strike on Unyielding Hierophant.
 * SPARTAN-104: Frederic (MIA) - Active in Shield World.
 * SPARTAN-111: Adriana (MIA) - MIA with the rest of Gray Team, last seen with Jai-006 and Mike during the evac of The Rubble.
 * SPARTAN-117: John (MIA) - MIA though presumed (by the UNSC) KIA. Last seen drifting toward an unknown planet.
 * SPARTAN-130: Alice (MIA) - Last seen aboard Spirit of Fire in 2531. Listed as MIA
 * Randall (MIA) - Dr. Catherine Halsey considers him one of the few Spartans truly MIA.
 * Sheila (MIA) - Listed as MIA, though confirmed KIA during Battle of Miridem.
 * Mike (MIA) - MIA with the rest of Gray Team, last seen with Adriana-111 and Jai-006 during the evac of The Rubble.

Discharged/Crippled (4/12)

 * SPARTAN-084: Fhajad - Discharged, sent to work for ONI due to uncontrollable muscle spams, current status unknown.
 * Cassandra - WIA.
 * Kirk - Discharged.
 * Rene - Discharged.