Chapter 12

As the Spartan Program started, Axel already plans in place for how the project would go. But the first thing that they would need to do is to acquire some volunteers.

Well considering they wouldn't exactly be volunteers since all of them will be kids taken from various worlds across the UNSC. But Axel wasn't going to allow what happened in the original Halo Universe to happen this time.

Using his knowledge of Forerunner technology and Ancient Artifacts, he had managed to make it so that when the kids are injected with the Biological enhancements they would not die from it.

The success rate was 97% according to Axel's calculations and simulations. But that success rate was only for specific subjects. And luckily Halsey had picked the correct subjects for the program.

The subjects must fit into a certain age restriction protocol. They must also have possessed superior physical and mental attributes. 

Halsey had gathered about 150 suitable candidate roster's on her personnel computer. Most of these candidates were children who would be both physically and mentally built from the ground up to withstand the program and to learn how to be a soldier.

Axel, too, had his own list of possible candidates. He cross-checked these names against Halsey's roster and found a surprising number of matches.

As the days passed, Axel continued to refine his technology and methods, making subtle adjustments here and there to ensure the success of the program. It wasn't just about surviving the physical enhancements but about thriving under them.

In a nondescript office deep within the new Section Three facility, Halsey began painstakingly combing through the children's files. Each name was a potential pillar of this new world, a beacon of hope against the encroaching darkness. It was a heavy weight, one she bore willingly.

She considered each candidate, their medical records and aptitude test scores spread out before her. She could see their heights, weights, their intellectual grasps and physical prowess all quantified and numbers crunched into an algorithm that Axel had programmed himself. But it wasn't enough to have the numbers; there was something else she looked for, some spark of survival, of resilience that couldn't be measured by standard tests.

The first name on her list was John. An orphan from Eridanus II with remarkable physical strength and high cognitive ability. There were others like him too - Samuel, Kelly, Linda who showed promising results as well.

Axel had taken the data Halsey gathered and ran it through multiple simulations, checking for consistency and reliability in each candidate's profile to ensure they wouldn't break during enhancement or training. He spent long sleepless nights running permutations, tweaking the formula until he was confident in his selection process.

Once that was finalized, Halsey began to approach the families of these potential children, her persuasive talents put to work as she presented the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance for their children to become part of something greater than themselves; heroes that would stand tall against the encroaching darkness.

Despite some initial resistance, many parents eventually agreed. The promise of a bright future for their offspring was too alluring to resist.

Preparations for the first phase of the Spartan Program were nearly complete. Axel reviewed the final list of volunteers one last time before he initiated the process. The chosen candidates were to be transported to the new facility where they would undergo the complicated surgeries and treatments.

As Axel stood overlooking the vast expanse of the facility below him, he knew that this was just part of his grand plan to gain influence within the UNSC and make his way to the top until nobody else outranks him.

And if that didn't work then he can always create a new organization with him as the leader.

The Spartan Program had officially begun. As they ventured into this brave new world of possibilities, Axel had made sure to treat all the children not as test subjects or machines, he treated each of them as if they were his own child forming a close relationship with each of them.

He devised training programs to unleash the full potential of each child, focusing not only on their physical prowess but also their intellectual capacity. He worked tirelessly, observing the progress of each one, tweaking the programs to suit their individual strengths and weaknesses. All the while he maintained a firm yet caring demeanor, pushing them hard but always ready to listen and offer guidance.

As the weeks turned into months, Axel began to see significant changes in each participant. They were growing stronger, faster and smarter. Their camaraderie was also growing; they started to act like a unit, helping each other through the grueling exercises and training simulations he set up for them.

At night, Axel would review each child's progress and make notes for adjustments in their training. The success rate of his program was indeed 97% as predicted. As the Spartan Program continued to grow.

Halsey also played a significant role in each child's progress. She watched as they transformed from ordinary children into extraordinary super soldiers.

She began to develop a bond with them, despite attempting to maintain a professional distance. Seeing their determination, resilience, and raw potential, she found herself immensely proud.

Alongside Axel, Halsey developed strict training regimens and protocols to ensure the children would be prepared for what lay ahead. They focused not only on physical strength but mental agility and resilience, tactical knowledge, and teamwork.

In their downtime, the children were encouraged to bond with one another. There was some natural resistance at first - they were just kids after all, taken from their homes and plunged into an intense military program.

However, over time, they grew closer. They formed friendships forged in shared hardship and mutual trust. John became something of a de facto leader among them - his quiet strength inspiring the others.

To Axel John would be a key ally in the future and would achieve a lot once he enters the battlefield.