: It doesn't matter how nice it would be to have them. As long as the UNSC is
: wishing, they ought to ask for a fully rebuilt Home Fleet and SMAC array
: around Earth. Good luck rebuilding any of those when your major industrial
: centers have been pounded to shreds.

They probably have that when they can afford to allocate an escort of a dozen or so brand new heavy cruisers and ten heavy frigates for Infinity.

The UNSC needs more Spartans and conscripting six year old children isn't an option anymore. By 2599, I'm sure the Twos will be long out of service, while the last Gamma Threes are soon to hang up their rifles. Protocols for Spartan candidacy going forward can only take after the Fours. Utilizing hundreds of the best adult volunteers hand picked from throughout the military is the best option for the UNSC to maintain their augmented ranks.

However, Spartan Branch is doing a disservice to their capabilities by throwing their soldiers into the fray just months after selection and augmentation. They don't need to spend eight years training like their predecessors did. Given the Fours already proven combat ability, its wasteful to be so thorough. 12-24 months would be more than enough to make sure their fireteams mesh seamlessly, and adequately humble their asses after augmentation and integrate them with MJOLNIR. Oh, and you just don't give Marine lance corporals a promotion to Commander. Dear god. :P

: And they don't expand the plot in any meaningful way.

If you discount the recent comics, of course.