Halo’s Project Javelin History & Spartan-II Connection Explained

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 6, “Onyx.”

In Halo season 2, episode 6, “Onyx,” the series makes reference to “Javelin” — a term that has connections to the core canon’s Spartan-II program. Although the Paramount+ show exists in the alternative Silver Timeline, a thread that’s separate from the franchise’s pre-existing canon, it still borrows from established Halo lore. The sophomore season features some deep-cut Halo references, from its use of Halo season 2’s Thermopylae ship to the introduction of ONI officer James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan). After the Fall of Reach, episode 5 doesn’t spend time with the planet’s civilian survivors.

In fact, Corporal Talia Perez (Cristina Rodlo), who led the civilian evacuation of Reach alongside the late Admiral Jacob Keyes (Danny Sapani), doesn’t even make an appearance in episode 5. Instead, the immediate aftermath of Reach’s destruction gives way to a much more personal story about Silver Team’s Spartans. Bentley Kalu’s Vannak, one of the characters who died in Halo season 2, episode 4, prompts Riz (Natasha Culzac) to retire from Spartan life. Meanwhile, John (Pablo Schreiber) contemplates whether he’s a human or a weapon. Elsewhere, Ackerson has already prepared Silver Team’s replacements: the Spartan-III Javelin Team.

Kai Trains The Spartan-III Javelin Team In Halo Season 2, Episode 6

At the end of episode 5, Halo introduces its Spartan-III program, which has been established by Ackerson on the UNSC-controlled planet of Onyx. Sanctioned by Admiral Parangosky (Shabana Azmi), the Spartan-III program is meant to replace Master Chief (Schreiber) and the rest of Dr. Halsey’s (Natascha McElhone) Spartan-II soldiers. Not only have Halsey’s Spartans failed to substantially turn the tide in the Human-Covenant War, but the program is riddled with moral missteps. Dr. Halsey abducted John and the other Spartans when they were children, and very few of her subjects survived the supersoldier augmentation process.

The Spartan-III program is a numbers game. Since there’s no genetic augmentation process, the pool of candidates is much larger. Essentially, Ackerson can make more Spartan units at less of a cost. To Parangosky and ONI, trading lives for time is a worthwhile strategy in Halo‘s Human-Covenant War. Ackerson tasks former Silver Team member Kai (Kate Kennedy) with training Perez and the other Spartan-III recruits. Using a simulated mission, Kai has to make the recruits believe they’re Spartan material. Both Kai and the would-be Spartans refer to themselves as Javelin Team, which references Halo canon.

Project JAVELIN Is A Deep-Cut Reference To Halo: Reach

Dr. Halsey’s journal, a catalog of 42 years of the scientist’s thoughts and discoveries, makes an appearance in Halo: Reach. When Halsey first encounters Noble Team, Halo: Reach‘s key Spartan unit, she surmises that all but one of the soldiers are likely products of Project JAVELIN or an even later generation of her Spartan-II program (via Halopedia). At the time, Dr. Halsey wasn’t aware of the Spartan-III program’s existence, making her unable to identify the majority of Noble Team’s members’ origins. That said, calling Perez’s Spartan-III unit Javelin Team is a deep-cut reference for Halo fans.