****possible spoilers**** I read the new Halo book that came out, Ghost of Onyx, and they have trained 3 new companies of Spartans III. The first 2 batches, Alpha and Beta Company, were wiped out but were successful in their missions. The third, Gamma, was sent out on a mission minus 3 or 4 squads. There are 330 Spartans in that company, minus the 3 or 4 squads remaining in Onyx. So perhaps thats the Spartans their talking about. It should be by that exact time line as when Master Chief came back from the Second Halo and met The Flood. They've been made public. Maybe Bungie include them in the game. They have different armour though, not the Mjolnir armour that Master Chief and 3 other Spartans II from Blue Team (that survived) were wearing. The Spartan III's are wearing SPI Armours, no shields, but has chameleon ability. and they are all kids, 10-12 years old.