SPARTAN-III Program (AAO)

==Genesis Phase==
The Genesis Phase of the S-III Program was labeled such after its completion and the end of the Human-Covenant War, and was named thus as it offered ONI a springboard for which they could launch further Spartan projects. The primary purpose of the Genesis Phase Spartans were as suicide soldiers, intended to slow the Covenant down as much as possible until the UNSC could find a way to win the war.
===Alpha Company===
:Main article: 
Begun in 2531, all members of Alpha Company were killed in Operation: PROMETHEUS, save for a few select Spartans who were pulled from the operation, after which Alpha Company was considered inactive.
===Beta Company===
:Main article: 
Beginning operations in 2545, most members of Beta Company were killed in Operation: TORPEDO, save for a few select Spartans who were pulled from the operation. Although and are still currently active, Beta Company is currently considered inactive.
===Gamma Company===
:Main article: 
Having begun operations in 2552, only a few weeks after the Battle of Reach, Gamma Company is currently the only Spartan-III company from the Genesis Phase with the majority still active. After disappearing some time after the end of the war, Gamma Company resurfaced a couple decades later, having been kept in cryo for that time period. As of 2573, 312 SPARTAN-IIIs from Gamma Company are active.
==Reconstruction Phase==
The Reconstruction Phase of the SPARTAN-III Program are the three companies created during the reconstruction era after the Human-Covenant War.
===Delta Company===
====Conscription====
Like most Spartans, the Spartans of Delta Company were conscripted around age six, and were taken to the planet of New Quebec to begin training in August 2555. However, due to population constraints, some were younger and some older, with the youngest being 4 and the oldest conscripted being 8. It has also been found that most of the Deltas were genetically engineered while in the womb to conform to the proper DNA markers.
====Training====
Delta Company was trained by Ezekiel-254, a Class II Spartan II. The training regime was hard and quick, as each Spartan had to get used to their bodies again and again between augmentation procedures.
=====Weapons Training=====
Besides intense firearms training, Delta Company was trained to use various forms of blades, including the katara, a punching dagger, and mock forms of their gauntlet knives.
=====Hand-to-Hand Combat Training=====
The Deltas were taught many forms of hand-to hand combat, including Aikido, Sambo, and Krav Maga.
Aikido, meaning "the Way of the harmonious spirit", is a martial art form first created in the 1920s-30s. It involves using an opponents own energy against them in order to throw or hold them.
Krav Maga, meaning "contact combat", has a philosophy emphasizing threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggressive maneuvers. It was first used extensively during World War II and by the Israeli Defense Forces. Throughout the years it has continued to change and grow, becoming ever deadlier.
====Graduation====
The Delta Company Spartans graduated in the year 2567, later than earlier generations due to biological concerns. Their augmentations were spread out over a five year course, which had the side effect of allowing them to ease in to super-human bodies, rather than get dumped in to them.
Upon graduation, five Spartan teams were awarded honors, with the top team receiving high honors. They are listed in descending order:
#Phoenix Team
#Hawk Team
#Lotus Team
#Tesudo Team
#Flechette Team
====Improvements====
The technology used to enhance the Delta Spartans is the newest kind, some backwards engineered from Forerunner technology, and has made these Spartans even faster and stronger.
Delta Company Spartans can run at speeds around 160 kilometers per hour when armored in Mk. VII MJOLNIR armor. When given twitch stimulants, which increase running speeds temporarily, a fully armored Delta can sprint at slightly over 180 kph. Unarmored, a Delta can sprint at speeds of about 65 kph.
More recently implemented augmentations include rapid metabolizing of lactic acid. While the Spartan's body continues to produce the acid at higher rates, their bodies are now tuned to absorb it just as fast. This effectively gives the operator unparalleled and possibly unlimited endurance.This augmentation is based off the real world ultramarathon running Dean Karnazes. If properly hydrated and fed, it is said that Karnazes could run at an 8 to 10 minute mile pace for the rest of his life.
====Known Teams====
===Epsilon Company===
====Conscription====
Epsilon Company was conscripted at a slightly tighter age group. While the diversification of ages was still the same, a higher percentage of recruits was at the age of six.
====Known Teams====
===Team Types===
In order to spread out their usefulness, Delta Company is divided in to different teams, each one with a specific purpose.
====Standard Teams====
Standard Teams are the most well-rounded teams, consisting of five Spartans or more.
=====Tactical Strike Teams=====
Tactical Strike teams are the most versatile, their make up being a demolitions expert, sniper, medic, electronics expert, and CQC fighter.
Five Spartans comprise one Tactical Strike team. They make good use of all weapons and equipment available to them.
=====Guard Teams=====
Guard Teams are made up of six Spartans, whose purpose is generally defense or direct action against hostiles. There is generally one sniper, a demolitions expert, two CQC fighters, a medic, and a heavy weapons fighter.
Guard Teams are very skilled in the defense of a location or moving target. They make excellent use of close-quarters weapons and shield equipment. Generally their Mark VII MJOLNIR armor is modified to have the active camouflage generator removed in favor of a more powerful shielding module. Most Guard team Spartans make excellent use of the Lockdown armor modification, especially when under heavy enemy fire.
====Specialized Teams====
Specialized Teams have a more specific purpose, but can still fight like the rest.
=====Strategic Infiltration Teams=====
Strategic Infiltration teams are made up of three Spartans. These are the assassins and kidnappers of Delta Company, using close quarters weapons like the shotgun very effectively. They also come equipped with weapons most Spartans don't use, like energy garrotes and neural disruption collars. These two weapons come in handy for assassinating or capturing a target, respectively.
SI teams are geniuses with their active camouflage. It is to be noted that the only five Spartans that came within inches of beating the famed Phoenix Team during an exercise were all later put in to SI teams.
SI team members are also selected for their ability to blend in with the general population, and are picked from the shortest of the Spartans. These members are specially trained to operate undercover for extended periods of time.
Of the 3000 Spartans that Delta Company is comprised of, about 20 are used as undercover agents.
=====EVA Teams=====
Extra-Vehicular Activity teams are zero-gravity specialists. The last years of their training were done entirely in zero-g aboard the MAC station and various cruisers orbiting New Quebec.
Since EVA teams are generally fighting at long range in space, they use weapons like the BR60 and the M99 Stanchion, all modified for use in a vacuum.
EVA Teams use the Mk. VII MJOLNIR/V variant armor. It is the same in almost every aspect to regular Mk. VII armor, except that the V variant features magnetic grapple points for easier maneuvering on a ships hull, as well as attachment points for booster packs. The helmet is also concave, similar to SPI armor, but fitting tighter against the head. This allows for easier viewing of an entire situation in space.
=====Headhunters=====
Continued on from the older Headhunter initiative, Delta Company Headhunters are even deadlier than their predecessors. Armed with highly customized armor and weapons, their missions are high-risk infiltrations and assassinations. They are most often deployed deep behind enemy lines.
Headhunters require a different branch of training than the other teams. After eight years of training, all Spartans are evaluated for admission in to the Headhunter program. All factors are taken in to account, such as social habits, weapons skill, and even eating habits. Headhunters are generally even more aggressive than the average Spartan and score exceedingly well on weapons tests. If a Spartan is selected to become a Headhunter, they are taken to a remote training facility on the far side of the New Quebec super-continent and go through a more specialized training pipeline for the next four years before being put on active duty.
Headhunters are considered to be above and beyond their brethren, and thus have access to technology that even other Spartans don't have.
===Zeta Company===
==Command Structure==
Command Structure of Phase Two of the SPARTAN-III Project	Command Structure of Phase Two of the SPARTAN-III Project	Command Structure of Phase Two of the SPARTAN-III Project 	Command Structure of Phase Two of the SPARTAN-III Project
Rank 	Rank 	Purpose 	Current/Notable
 	Captain 	Tactical Commanding Officer of the entire SPARTAN program, reports to an ONI flag officer for large-scale operations or emergency situations. 	Felix-116
 	Commander 	Commanding Officer of a SPARTAN-III Company. Officially in charge of one SPARTAN-III Company, although they tend to delegate most orders to their respective Executive Officers.	
Delta Company: Ezekiel-254
Epsilon Company: Hannah-201
Zeta Company: Rykie-247
 	Lieutenant Commander 	The Executive Officer of a SPARTAN-III Company coordinates with the Company CO on deployment and strategy and issues orders to the platoon commanders. 	
Delta Company:
*Wings-D339 — Phoenix Team
 	Lieutenant 	The Executive Officer of a SPARTAN-III Company coordinates with the Company CO on deployment and strategy and issues orders to the platoon commanders. 	
Epsilon Company:
*Amber-E3072 — Griffin Team
 	Master Chief Petty Officer 	The deputy executive officers aid the XO of a Company in relaying and transmitting orders. 	
Delta Company:
*Fi-D3332
*William-D821
Epsilon Company:
*Victor-E2249
*Joseph-E974
 	Senior Chief Petty Officer 	There are ten SCPOs in each Company, each one heading one platoon of 200 Spartans. 	
Delta Company:
*Niner-D3921 — Bravo Platoon
*Evie-D2541 — Foxtrot Platoon
 	Chief Petty Officer 	Chief Petty Officers are the squad leaders, issuing tactical orders and relaying with command. 	
Delta Company: 
*Hal-D683† — Hawk Team
*Sigurd-D1010 — Hydra Team
*Nat-D5795 — Badger Team
*Watcher-D420 — Dragoon Team
*Cody-D1274 — Basilisk Team
Epsilon Company:
*Lea-E263 — Salamander Team
 	First Class Petty Officer 	PO1s are the squad's runner up in command in case of a squad leader's death or absence from an operation. 	Delta Company — See full list.
Epsilon Company — See full list.
 	Second Class Petty Officer 	PO2s are the regular squad members. 	Delta Company — See full list.
Epsilon Company — See full list.
 	Command AI 	Twenty-one Command AI exist within the SPARTAN-III Project, one for each platoon commander, and one for the XO. Each is a ninth generation AI. 	
*Deep Ocean
 	Support AI 	Approximately 60 Support AI exist, the most notable being Element. They consist of a mix of Smart and Dumb AI, but are primarily made up of ninth generation AI. 	
*Element
==Augmentations==
# Carbide ceramic ossification: Advanced material: special metal and ceramic layers, grafting onto skeletal structure to make bones virtually unbreakable. Recommended coverage not to exceed 4 percent total bone mass because of significant white blood cell necrosis. Specific risk for pre- and near-post pubescent adolescents: skeletal growth spurts may cause near irreparable bone pulverization. 
# Muscular enhancement injections: Protein complex is injected intramuscular, to increase tissue density and decrease lactate recovery time. Risk: 1 percent of test subjects experience a fatal cardiac volume increase. 
# Catalytic thyroid implant: Platinum pellet containing human growth hormone catalyst is implanted in the thyroid to boost growth of skeletal and muscle tissues. Risk: extremely rare instances of elephantiasis. Suppressed sexual drive.
# Occipital capillary reversal: Submergence and boosted blood vessel flow beneath the rods and cones of subject’s retina. Produces a marked visual perception increase. Risk: retinal rejection and detachment. Permanent blindness. 
# Superconducting fabrication of neural dendrites: Alteration of bio-electrical nerve transduction to shielded electronic transduction. Three hundred sixty percent increase in subject’s reflexes. Anecdotal evidence of marked increase in intelligence, memory, and creativity. Risk: moderate instances of Parkinson’s disease and Fletcher’s syndrome.
# Increased Balance: Specialized superconducting of the VIIIth nerve's Vestibular Portion, which increases the person's sense of balance. Risk: .5% chance of permanent disorientation due to nerve rejection.
# Boosted Immune System: Drug synthesizer bridged in to the aorta to boost the immune system and stimulate blood cell regeneration, improving resilience to disease and increasing cellular regeneration. Can also inject cortisol and adrenaline for combat, and basic sedatives afterward. Requires the user to be using Mk. VII MJOLNIR armor. Risk: Rejection of the aortic artery.
# Fifth Generation Nano-bots: Advances in nanotechnology allow microscopic robots to be inserted in to a host's circulatory system. There are three types: immune, biochemical, and plasma. Immune nano-bots are used to assist the immune system in fighting off viruses that the immune system can't fight off by itself. Biochemical assist the liver and kidneys in the breakdown of nutrients and the filtering of poisons, giving the host more energy per calorie ingested. Plasma bots are used to stimulate bone marrow to replenish red blood cells faster than normally possible.
# Cardiovascular Conditioning: Cardiovascular steroids are applied to strengthen the heart of the individual, reducing the effect of microgravity on it, and increasing cell wall regeneration. This multiplies the chance of survival in case of damage to the heart. Risk: Tachycardia or Bradycardia. Treatment requires a specific set of DNA.
# Hyper-Conduction Web: Modification of Neural DNA boosts overall brain function, raising percentage of brain use by about 2-4%, dependent on the individual. Incredible increase in intelligence and memory. Risk: 1.2% chance of late-life brain tumors. Treatment requires specific set of DNA.
===Pre-Augmentation Drugs===
In addition to their surgeries, the Delta Spartans were given drugs meant to improve their performance, mainly in the brain. These drugs were mostly laced in to the Delta's food.
# Memory Boosters: Drugs meant to stimulate inactive parts of the memory center, including the hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and the motor cortex.
# Steroids: Microscopic amounts of anabolic steroids used to increase muscular growth.
==Reasoning==
The official reasoning for the conscription of 3000 humans for Spartan training, as well as the development of their armor and superior augmentation is that the Covenant is still active. This does not hold water with most, as the Covenant are much weaker than before the official end to the war.
However, recent evidence gathered by a few teams of Delta Spartans has revealed that the reasoning behind the creation of Delta Company has to do with the recent discovery of Precursor data. The motives behind this are still not clear, and are currently under investigation. Some have gathered that new processes taken from Forerunner technology have led to easier material manufacturing, effectively cutting the cost of making a single Spartan by about one half.
In early 2570, Wings-D339 found out that the Delta Company Spartans were still suicide soldiers, but not in the same fashion as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma companies. Whereas the first three companies of SPARTAN-IIIs were secret suicide soldiers, the Deltas were never meant to be secret, but they were still supposed to give their lives as martyrs to fight the Covenant to a standstill. This was confirmed by Wings' teammate, Peec-D1074, when the hacker found out that ONI knew just exactly how many Covenant there were.
In 2572 Epsilon Company was conscripted. The reason why they were is currently unknown, although it is safe to assume that it is for a reason similar to that of Delta Company.
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